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A Decade Later and Still In Love
8 years ago
General
"Think of it more in terms of being a... a long term companion, rather than a... fiery one-night stand."
It's hard to believe that a little over 10 years ago, I grabbed my backpack, headed out the door and walked a half-mile to the local CarMax to sign the final paperwork on a used 2004 Volkswagen R32. It had been quite the courtship,,, finding her on the CarMax website and having her shipped in from Texas. I went down and took a test drive and then found out it was decision time: if I didn't buy it right then, others would get a shot... and the vultures were already circling. I swallowed my anxiety and said yes.
Best. Decision. Ever.
That first night, I drove off the lot and up into the northern Valley, parking at a convenience store just to take it all in and get to know her better. It hadn't even been five minutes before a red GTI pulled up alongside and two guys I had never met before got out. They had seen the R and wanted a closer look. We talked shop for a little bit before parting ways,. I can't remember if I drove Little Tujunga Canyon that night... it probably doesn't matter. The world was sparkly and new and amazing.
Looking back, it's been quite the decade. At least three SoCal R32 gatherings. The trip to Oklahoma for a more centralized meet. Too many track days at Buttonwillow, Streets of Willow Springs, Horse Thief Canyon, California Speedway, Hallett Motorsport Park in Oklahoma and even a day at Laguna Seca. At least three trips to Las Vegas for Wustefest (one of those a collaborative driving experience between
and I), Multiple trips between SoCal and Oregon before finally moving here. Turning 100,000 miles on the way to Family Camp (and pulling over to take pictures). And now, hundreds of miles of highways through forests and mountains, along the coastline, through canyons... it never gets old!
I've loved that quote from Jeremy Clarkson ever since I first heard it and it's funny to think that after ten years it might actually be true. My R32 has been a long term companion, my daily driver who I'm always happy to see, who makes my heart beat quick every time I hear her voice. After ten years and over 110,000 miles that I've put on her, the love is as strong as ever. She's not the car she used to be... she creaks, has scratches here and there. Her bumper doesn't fit quite as well as before, her rims are curbed and she has that big dent in the hatch. But she's still my baby.
Others might buy a hot car and have a whirlwind affair for a few years before the excitement wears off and they trade it in for the newer, hotter model. Somehow that didn't happen in this case. Maybe some of that is the rarity of the R32 in the United States, but I like to think it's a grown-up sports car for the mature boy-racer. The kind that is equally at home on the track as in the parking lot of your accounting job. The kind that can lure you in when you want the excitement, but is content to chill with you and be mellow as you both mature. The perfect long-term life companion.
Here's to another 10 years of driving bliss.
One of my friends up here once said the R32 is not a sports car because (for one) it has too many seats. Coming from someone whose fun car is a Miata, I can see what they're saying. And you know, they're right. The R32 is not a sports car. What it is, is a Grand Tourer. It's a performance car, but not to the point of sacrificing the nice things. So it's got the sport suspension, big wheels, big engine... but also the bolstered leather seats, fat steering wheel, power accessories and premium sound. It doesn't perform like a flat out sports car... but it won't make you pay for it when you take a cross-country road trip.
Something tells me that Grand Tourers make better long term companions.
- Jeremy ClarksonIt's hard to believe that a little over 10 years ago, I grabbed my backpack, headed out the door and walked a half-mile to the local CarMax to sign the final paperwork on a used 2004 Volkswagen R32. It had been quite the courtship,,, finding her on the CarMax website and having her shipped in from Texas. I went down and took a test drive and then found out it was decision time: if I didn't buy it right then, others would get a shot... and the vultures were already circling. I swallowed my anxiety and said yes.
Best. Decision. Ever.
That first night, I drove off the lot and up into the northern Valley, parking at a convenience store just to take it all in and get to know her better. It hadn't even been five minutes before a red GTI pulled up alongside and two guys I had never met before got out. They had seen the R and wanted a closer look. We talked shop for a little bit before parting ways,. I can't remember if I drove Little Tujunga Canyon that night... it probably doesn't matter. The world was sparkly and new and amazing.
Looking back, it's been quite the decade. At least three SoCal R32 gatherings. The trip to Oklahoma for a more centralized meet. Too many track days at Buttonwillow, Streets of Willow Springs, Horse Thief Canyon, California Speedway, Hallett Motorsport Park in Oklahoma and even a day at Laguna Seca. At least three trips to Las Vegas for Wustefest (one of those a collaborative driving experience between
and I), Multiple trips between SoCal and Oregon before finally moving here. Turning 100,000 miles on the way to Family Camp (and pulling over to take pictures). And now, hundreds of miles of highways through forests and mountains, along the coastline, through canyons... it never gets old!I've loved that quote from Jeremy Clarkson ever since I first heard it and it's funny to think that after ten years it might actually be true. My R32 has been a long term companion, my daily driver who I'm always happy to see, who makes my heart beat quick every time I hear her voice. After ten years and over 110,000 miles that I've put on her, the love is as strong as ever. She's not the car she used to be... she creaks, has scratches here and there. Her bumper doesn't fit quite as well as before, her rims are curbed and she has that big dent in the hatch. But she's still my baby.
Others might buy a hot car and have a whirlwind affair for a few years before the excitement wears off and they trade it in for the newer, hotter model. Somehow that didn't happen in this case. Maybe some of that is the rarity of the R32 in the United States, but I like to think it's a grown-up sports car for the mature boy-racer. The kind that is equally at home on the track as in the parking lot of your accounting job. The kind that can lure you in when you want the excitement, but is content to chill with you and be mellow as you both mature. The perfect long-term life companion.
Here's to another 10 years of driving bliss.
One of my friends up here once said the R32 is not a sports car because (for one) it has too many seats. Coming from someone whose fun car is a Miata, I can see what they're saying. And you know, they're right. The R32 is not a sports car. What it is, is a Grand Tourer. It's a performance car, but not to the point of sacrificing the nice things. So it's got the sport suspension, big wheels, big engine... but also the bolstered leather seats, fat steering wheel, power accessories and premium sound. It doesn't perform like a flat out sports car... but it won't make you pay for it when you take a cross-country road trip.
Something tells me that Grand Tourers make better long term companions.
Of course, it sounds like you still get a thrill from jumping in the blue '32 and carving up some back roads, which is awesome!
On a semi-related note, you still have your GSX-R?
I have been commuting on my Ninja 650 nearly everyday. Don't know if I mentioned it, but the commute has change from San Jose-Mountain View. Now it is San Jose-South San Francisco, which is 42 miles one-way. That is a pretty hefty commute, even for a bike. But thankfully, the close calls have been few and far between. I just dropped about $500 in maintenance on the green machine last month in preparation of wracking up so many miles (80+ a day really adds up, along with fuel costs). Still, it is much more enjoyable than being stuck in a car stuck in traffic; and gas expense is cheaper on the bike.
Wish we could go riding sometime.
I've still got the Chocobo... although getting out on a ride isn't quite as easy and spontaneous as back in SoCal. Weather really figured in, especially this time of the year. Granted, maybe if I was more hardcore I'd go out and ride in the rain. I have a co-worker who sold his car to get a car both he and his wife could drive and now he motorcycles to work every day, rain or shine. I think he made an exception during the big ice storm... but I can totally understand that.
Quite a commute you've got there... seems like on one hand you have the benefit of lower costs, but on the other hand... probably rough to deal with traffic and that kind of distance on a daily basis. Plus as you said... the close calls. It's a jungle out there! Try to keep the rubber side up.
The co-worker and I went on a ride with a group one day and what d'you suppose happened?
Hey, I'm married, not dead, right?