Show and tell time.

[Spinning Hat]

I don't remember if I told you guys about my car dying over the Thanksgiving weekend or not, but it did, right after I got home from Phoenix. I sent that car to the salvage yard, and waited patiently for my accident settlement to come so I could buy a new car. It finally happened, so last week I went back to AZ to get into the dealer auction down there with my dad, and there was something wrong with the dealer card he had, and couldn't get in... So I only bought a one way ticket to AZ, so I HAD to find a car to get back home... So, off to the trusty internet we go, and I found some OK cars for sale, but an ad from Hertz kind of drew me to it. So we drove over there, and found a 2005 Malibu Classic there for a reasonable price, and I bought it.



This isn't the actual car I bought, but it's an identical looking onefrom another dealers' website.

After driving it back from AZ to MN, I have to say, I like the car even more than when I first bought it. Great mileage, (34-36mpg highway) and lots of room for a big guy like me. And I have to say that dealing with a "no pressure" type dealership is a nice change. It kind of sucks not being able to haggle on the price a bit, but geting to see all the maintenance records for the car, and not really paying too much was worth the trip.

[BlackRider]

Congrats! There are some days I wish I had a larger car like that. We once rented an Impala for a week. I loved that car.

I'll have to agree w/ you... roomy is a +.

[XMEN Gambit]

I believe you did mention the incident at Thanksgiving.

As we get older, it seems like comfort and roomy become more important. Remember when you were a teenager and would willingly fold yourself up to fit in that tiny little (whatever)?

Nice car, BTW. What MPG in town?

[XMENPorsche]

Nice car, but I really can't picture you as a "Malibu" kind of guy.

[BlackRider]

yes... a tiny one of these! (If you look, Diamond Katana is in one of the pictures.....) Its always comforting looking over at the eye level lug nuts on the truck next to you.

Porsche... what is a "Malibu kind of guy"? I thought it was just a soccer mom car. (jk)

Manual or automagic? You ever find yourself stomping on the floor when you get into an auto?

[XMEN Diamond Katana]

If you look, Diamond Katana is in one of the pictures.....

Uh oh! Gotta' pull out Photoshop now!

[XMENPorsche]

Where on earth do you guys live? I swear that IMG_1519 looks like it has a Pig Crossing sign on the side of the road.

That kills me.

As for, "What's a 'Malibu kind of guy'".... I agree, I've always looked at those as "soccer mom" cars. I've never thought of SH as someone I'd see in a Malibu. A Hummer, yes. A Malibu, no. But then again, it looks like the car has a lot of potential. Any of you Photoshop gurus wanna take a stab at what you think the car will look like after SH has had it for a year?

[BlackRider]

Porsche, that is a small village (population 20?) with a dog for a mayor. We stopped at the general store for refreshments after about 2.5 hours of backroad twisties. The store's a historic landmark and has been there since... the beginning of time or something... Its located in NW Kentucky right on the river. But there was this old redneck sitting on his front porch yelling at us for parking infront of his house. (I think we had 24 MR2s and 2-3 misc cars... so we out numbered the locals and that made some of them angry.)

What hat needs is an '05+ Mustang. (or better, a '66'-'67)

[XMEN Gambit]

Those back-road twisties look like the main roads where I learned to drive.

[BlackRider]

Those are what's called "sports car" backroads... we don't do gravel.

[Spinning Hat]

I get about 29mpg n the city. I've got some plans for this car, nothing real radical, but it will definitely stand out in the next year. Window tint, Aluminum Rims, New stereo, and maybe a spoiler. I'm at the point in my lfe with kids that Mileage and space are at a premium for me, and if I want sporty, I ride the motorcycle. It's been a nice ride the last week, and I'm glad I got it.