So, on my way home today, this woman decided she wasn't happy with me for one reason or another.
The Beetle, which has been out of commission for a couple of months, is finally drivable again, and as such, I'm putting it through its paces to see if I can find anything wrong with the engine or suspension. Downside is that the transmission's slow and there's something wrong with the brakes, as well as a few other things. Biggest one I can think of is that I need a new lower radiator hose. Lucky for me, all the local roads have top speeds of about 45 around here.
Now, keep in mind that the Beetle is a TDI, and as such, already doesn't have good acceleration. I didn't want to run the engine too hard, so I settled for long, even acceleration all day while I was driving, as well as keeping the speedometer under 50 (meaning around about 45 after compensating for the speedometer's inability to read correctly). After stopping and turning, I changed to the left-hand lane, though I spend a good bit of time on the line because people really like to cut around you on the outside, and I've had four or five accidents nearly happen because of it. This took me up to about 20 mph, and after another thirty seconds, I topped out at the speed limit for that road, which is around 35 (no signs posted near the turn, but there's one a little ways down that clearly displays it).
I think this is where she first decided she didn't like me. Maybe it was because I was driving carefully, or maybe it was because I had decided to Captain Slow my way home. I doubt I'll ever know.
Regardless, she decided to ride my ass all the way up to 35, and stayed there until it became clearly evident to her that I wasn't going to speed up anymore. When she finally backed up, I went up to around 37, because the transmission decided to complain about changing gears.
So, anyway, she decided to follow me into a turn lane, and, as I slowed down to turn, cut in front of me and slammed on the brakes to make gestures at me that I couldn't understand. It was far too dark for something like that.
Am I the only one who has a problem with almost hitting someone because they've decided there's a 'point' to be made?
I don't get that very often. Probably because I have a rather large truck that would probably tear any other vehicle up if involved in an accident. Although, I have been tailed for miles down a four lane road only for them to pass me when I change lanes to the inside. Then, to top it off, I pull up next to them at the stop light. This happens most often on a stretch of road that has a speed limit of 35 on it. I'll usually do 40 on my way home from work. I get passed by people doing 45 or even 50. I then pull up next to them at the stop light and wave at them.
I then pull up next to them at the stop light and wave at them.
I like to give people the thumbs down sign when they are being stupid.
It is weird, riding my motorcycle for work has decreased my driving stress level a hundred fold. Since it is perfectly legal to lane share in California as long as you are not breaking the speed limit I have way more patience knowing that pretty soon your cage is going to be stuck in traffic and I am going to whizz by without a care in the world that you were able to gain 20 feet by cutting someone off.
I wave at them, but I doubt they ever see me, even if they look in my direction. Windows are tinted in the truck and its hard to see inside. Works fine for me.
I park my truck like that, but its so long that I can't park in a single space. The back of the truck sticks out too far and causes a bottle neck in parking lots like that.
What annoys me at the University is when people with huge trucks park in the garages instead of the lots, then stick out halfway into the lane because of it. Thanks for being considerate of that.
My grandma can't park her truck to save her life. I always tell her "if your truck gets keyed, or shows up on the internet, you have no right to complain."
I am waiting for the day both of them happen at the same time.
... if you slam into a parked car on a straight road at a good 10+ over the limit heading into a school zone, you should either have been run off the road, or had a major and immediate health problem.
Either that or they should have just thought to themselves - "nah, I won't drive because I am an idiot" much in the same way that a drunk should say "nah, I won't drive because I am drunk"
Gallardo runs from $182k to $280k. A Diablo will set you back about the same, but they're harder to find, require more maintenance, and are not as easy to drive. Diablos are for the connoisseur collector, not rich wannabe-racers. The kind of car that wouldn't think twice about killing you if you stop paying attention.
Think about what you're saying. You really think a limited-production Italian supercar, of which many of the already-small number made have been wrecked, would have depreciated that much? For many people it's a collector's item, as well as an investment.
Everyone wants one. That's part of why they're expensive.
