Friday, January 07, 2005

The Ultimate Driving Machine

I bought this car about two years ago after owning a few newer, more "refined" and "comfortable" vehicles. So-called refinement is subjective -- somebody else's idea of refinement. And comfort is overrated and again, subjective. This car is a little wabi-sabi here and there. Worn leather seats and shifter knob. Faint smell of oil and gas -- none of that new car smell (which is really just a marketing term for plastic vapor). And I only get AM radio stations and it plays only cassette tapes. But you know what? This car delivers an authentic driving experience -- you feel the connection to the machine and to the road. Back in '86 when I was fresh out of college, this was the symbol that you had arrived. Sure it breaks down a little now and then, but I haven't loved a car this much since my parent's 1968 Dodge Dart which I drove in high school.