car versus pole

[kirkcudbright]

And the pole wins again.





The raggedy bits at the bottom of the pole are pre-existing. I'm responsible for the scuffs of paint, the broken reflector, and the scraps of plastic on the ground.

I got everything out of the car, and said my goodbyes. It's kind of animistic to be thankful to an inanimate object, but I thanked it for its years of service, and for saving my life.

In further eitage, I already had my eye on the Honda Fit, but now that I need one now, it turns out that a) most dealers don't have any in stock, and b) the few that are in stock are all i) the "Sport" model (extra trim and stuff I don't need), ii) with even more extra stuff that I don't need, like $600 Simonizing, iii) with automatic transmission. Plus a $1500 "Market Adjustment" for being a popular vehicle. If I want the base model, manual transmission, no extra crap, I have to order it, and wait 6-8 weeks for delivery. And I still have to pay the "Market Adjustment".

I have the creepy suspicion that if I want *any* new car with manual transmission, I'm going to have to special-order it. I might be in the market for decent used car, or maybe a longish-term rental.

Comments

[solarbird]

godt dammit that's scary. yay, crash cage!

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

yea to a good crash.BTW, Mark likes his Yaris and it got much better stats on Consumer Reports

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

Yes, and no "market adjust". The only drawback was that I wanted one quickly, and thus was unable to get the color I wanted.

But I got 5-speed manual, "power package" (rear window defogger, power windows, cruise control, etc.), and none of that "sport trim" bullshit.

And I've been getting 40 to 43 mpg (the latter with the air conditioning on in August).

[coraline]

aie. you are one very very lucky man.

[frobzwiththingz.livejournal.com]

Glad that it was only the car that got destroyed. As for what to do next, you could always join the Cult of the Kenmore Shaped Box.

[kirkcudbright.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and don't think I'm not considering it.

[wereterrier.livejournal.com]

The Ugliest Car Ever?

[lara68.livejournal.com]

that damn pole looks so smug!

i'm glad you're okay.

manual

[n2mlq.livejournal.com]

If you're not bent avoiding the 'big three' at least the dealers up here have 5 speed foci in stock in both sedan and wagon. No 'market adjust' either.

[chocorua.livejournal.com]

I submit the Civic Hybrid for your consideration (56 MPG average for an '05 with manual). Of course, I'm not sure you can still get a manual.

Also, at the risk of being paternal, I (the Old One) suggest you stick to igniting one end of the candle, as I was kind of expecting you to have a good time at my wake, rather than vice versa.

[ceo]

Hey, he only smashed in one end of the car, does that count?

[(Anonymous)]

glad you're ok. I had my own accident the other week, and am just thankful it wasn't worse.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you assured us that you were OK first before you showed the picture.

Damn, that's one seriously messed up car. And I agree: the pole does look smug.

[c1.livejournal.com]

I've got a Toyota Matrix. Comes in standard. I had to order one, but I had a particular laundry list of needs, including colour. But manual Matrixes do exist in reasonable quantity, particularly now that the model year has flipped.
They're roomier than a Fit, and have a few neat features, like a dash mounted 110v inverter.
And they're made in Ontario, so even ordering one is only a 3-4 week wait.

[gravitrue.livejournal.com]

Shortly after high school a friend of mine scored pole: 0.5, car: 1. We were picking glass out of my girlfriend's purse for three weeks, the car was in the shop for months, but I've never before or since seen a pole tilt and the light on top go out.

Glad you're ok!