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PaperclipPerfector  10mo ago (text post)   3441 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for June 21, 2024

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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One thing I feel like we discuss rarely here is cars.

I drive a late 90s/early 00s German sedan. When I made less money, I spent a good amount of time wrenching on it. I wanted to have some minimal competence and understanding of the car, and it was a great way to save money.

It still would be a great way to save money - I won't kid myself there - but the stress of preparing for a maintenance job, buying the specialized tools/parts, and working in my extremely cramped garage has lost some magic. I still feel accomplished doing little things but when I'm constantly under pressure to be doing work or parenting, there's less magic in DIY. Bike maintenance provides a similar dopamine hit with far less commitment.

That said, I just picked it up from the mechanic this week after a month-long absence and some significant work being done. I truly do not understand how people put up with newer cars.

This thing is absolutely sublime. It strikes a perfect balance between the precision and feedback from all of its systems while driving and what you'd define as "luxury" and comfort. I splurged on an aftermarket exhaust that fades into the background on the highway and absolutely rips when I'm driving like I stole it late at night on more empty roads.

Not to mention how it looks. Of course, any car you see as a teenager is what you base everything else on, but the slightly angular design language of this period right before everything turned into aero blobs for fuel efficiency and crash standards just really gets me going. I absolutely still look back at it when walking into the office and find myself getting excited when I step back into it after a long day.

Whenever I'm on the road watching hundreds of drones driving dirty shitboxes without using their turn signals or trying to drive efficiently, I fall into such a superiority complex. How could you care so little about something you do so much? For a country supposedly in love with its cars, it would be tough for Americans to give less of a shit about how driving feels and how they perform at it. For all I'm made fun of about the time and money I've invested in an older car, when I spread that out over the time I've used it and the joy I derive from it it seems like an obvious trade.

How could you care so little about something you do so much?

I simply don't give a shit. I bought a nine year old Prius and drove it into the ground. Then I bought a four year old Prius which I am currently driving into the ground. 60 miles a gallon. Maintenance manual recommends oil changes every 15k miles. That's about all it needs to work flawlessly for 150+k miles. It even has a volume knob.

How much do you care about your pillowcases? You presumably spend more time on them then in your car.

  • I'm quite literally unconscious when using a pillow
  • Have you driven a high quality car? Are you a good driver? Do you value control over the multi-thousand-pound death machine you helm?

It's not a great analogy. I understand valuing reliability and low cost of ownership at different levels. Ironically I kinda enjoy driving Priuses - Hybrid powertrains are fun.

You're unconscious, but you're still affected by what goes on. I assume you don't sleep on a brick floor.

Have you driven a high quality car?

I've driven teslas and bmws, depending on if you consider that a quality car or not.

Are you a good driver?

Never so much as a speeding ticket.

Do you value control over the multi-thousand-pound death machine you helm?

Well, it would be difficult to drive if I didn't have control, so I guess I do.

Are you a good driver?

Never so much as a speeding ticket.

So no then?

You need speeding tickets to be a good driver?

Unless you just run from the cops every time.

Every time what? The cops don't give tickets for going over the speed limit if everyone is (around here, anyway).

If not vastly exceeding the speed of traffic makes me a bad driver, I guess I am.

Yes.

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Bwahahaha. But I do agree with @sarker I'm mostly a utilitarian driver. I've driven many a prius into the ground. There is something to be said for the thrill of a high end car with nice appointments while you go fast, I do that too. I see the merits of both.

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