Engage scary gear

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Last updated on July 16th, 2017 at 09:49 am

Andrea gets wheels.

Posted by Tim B. on 10/03/2007 at 11:47 AM
    1. Wonderful article, Andrea, can’t wait for more.

      I lived in, or near, Raleigh for years, and it can get pretty confusing, what with the “beltline” and so forth. Incidentally, I’d move back there tomorrow, if I could find a job (have fedora, will travel).

      As you probably discovered, it’s generally a good idea to stay off of US 1 for long hauls.

      Posted by paco on 2007 10 03 at 12:03 PM • permalink

 

    1. Strictly speaking, you don’t need to use the clutch at all.  Just get the engine going the right speed and put it in the corresponding gear.

      You need a hefty starter motor to begin, since you start in gear, though.

      The extra pedal is there for beginners.

      Posted by rhhardin on 2007 10 03 at 12:33 PM • permalink

 

    1. Just you wait until she discovers 5th, 6th and 7th gears!
      Does it have a SuperTurboAfterBurner lever?

      Posted by Harry Bergeron on 2007 10 03 at 12:41 PM • permalink

 

    1. Andrea: BTW, that car looks like something I saw on Cold Cases not long ago. Better spray the trunk area with lumenol – just to be on the safe side.

      Posted by paco on 2007 10 03 at 12:54 PM • permalink

 

    1. If you drive backwards, Andrea, you need never worry about shifting.  ;-P

      Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 10 03 at 01:06 PM • permalink

 

    1. Harry: sorry, it’s a four-speed.

      Paco: don’t worry, I paid a visit to Winston Wolfe.

      Jeff_S: I have proved that I can kill the engine in reverse too, so that won’t do me any good.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 10 03 at 02:25 PM • permalink

 

    1. I suppose I should probably learn to drive a stick one of these days (probably when I get some sort of toy car that I don’t have to use as a daily driver in traffic.) Those old Toyotas will run forever if you maintain them, although they certainly won’t look pretty doing so.  This is what I spent nearly ten years driving before I finally replaced it with a new 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit in Arrest-Me-Red (that’s a Golf to those outside of the US.) I kind of miss the old piece of junk at times, but the new one is fun to drive, and has plenty of bells and whistles.

      (By the way, I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned here that I’m blogging these days…)

      Posted by Vexorg on 2007 10 03 at 02:41 PM • permalink

 

    1. I’d pay real money to watch Andrea launch or retrieve a boat at a ramp with her new wheels.
      This from someone who has had his own share of vehicle meltdowns at various boat ramps.

      Posted by greene on 2007 10 03 at 02:48 PM • permalink

 

    1. Vexorg: that looks like my old Camry. It was an ‘84—it was sixteen years old when I finally had to get rid of it. (I put up with the huge rust holes around the moon roof that let in the rain, but then it started to overheat all the time.)

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 10 03 at 03:02 PM • permalink

 

    1. Greene: I stay away from boats. They go in the water, which is full of dangerous things like sharks, alligators, brain-eating amoebas, and tourists.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 10 03 at 03:03 PM • permalink

 

    1. heh heh, I visited your blog, Vexorg.

      Don’t worry, I didn’t leave a mess. Much. Formula 409 should take care of any lingering stains.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 10 03 at 03:06 PM • permalink

 

    1. I haz wheelz! And Im driving on ur roadz

      Hoorah, Andrea. Florida will never recover. Fuck ‘em though, that’s what I told ‘em.

      Safety, driving and car tips for women drivers…

      1. Show some cleavage.
      2. Show some leg.
      3. Those with teeth, smile.
      4. Those without teeth, show more cleavage and/or leg.
      5. Make sure all weapons are out of sight, yet readily available. (for instance, pointy end of key great for poking through eyes)
      6. Change oil every 30,000 miles, whether needed or not.
      7. Close eyes
      8. You’re all set…ROAD TRIP.

      Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 03 at 03:13 PM • permalink

 

    1. Oh gosh, I can sympathize.  I learned to drive on a stick (because in those days, that’s just about all there was [/codger]).  And I drove various sticks until the mid-80s, usually with small, noisy children and a couple of anxious dogs stowed away in the back seat.  But I probably couldn’t drive one now unless I were being chased by cannibal zombies, and maybe not even then.  And certainly not on the freeway, that’s hard enough with an automatic.

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 10 03 at 03:17 PM • permalink

 

    1. Andrea:

      Mine lasted until this June, and although I was already planning to get a new car at the time, I had to buy a bit sooner than I planned on due to reverse on the transmission going out (it was headed that way for a while though.) It had nearly 225,000 miles on it at the time, and looked every day of its 23 years.

      Posted by Vexorg on 2007 10 03 at 03:36 PM • permalink

 

    1. I drove a stick for years–until my body decided not to work.  Now I don’t drive at all.

      I owned a very basic little blue Volkswagon for years; I bought it when I was going to school in Miami.  I paid $1600 for that car, brand new.  Now guess how old I am!

      I used to make the trip to Pensacola to visit with my Navy fly-boy hubby every few weeks.  And I drove down the Keys almost every weekend.  That car took me to Boston, and then clear across the country to San Diego, where I stored it while I was in Viet Nam.  I drove it into the ground.  When I finally bought a new car, it was like going from living in a shack to living in a mansion.

      Congratulations, Andrea.  Hang in there.

      Posted by saltydog on 2007 10 03 at 04:19 PM • permalink

 

    1. Nice for a virtually free car!  I had a 1989 Camry that was 100% failure-free in over 120K miles.  It was great… for a car.

      BTW: If you drive a full-sized 4×4 pickup with a four inch suspension lift and a trailer hitch on a six inch drop bar, nobody will ever tailgate you.  Ever.

      Posted by Hucbald on 2007 10 03 at 04:20 PM • permalink

 

    1. Actually driving on the highway is easy. Just put it in fourth and stay in the right lane. It’s going from zero to 30 (mph) that’s the problem. In my case it’s more like zero to cursing, as I lift up on the clutch to fast and the car goes dead.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 10 03 at 06:06 PM • permalink

 

    1. Goodbye all, it’s been nice.

      Posted by dean martin on 2007 10 03 at 07:03 PM • permalink

 

    1. #18
      The Enfield series is a gold mine of sage advice for the gentler sex

      Posted by Pickles on 2007 10 03 at 07:56 PM • permalink

 

    1. In short, this country has turned into a nation of assriders

      Exactly what I thought of Italy. And then I went for a drive…

      Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 10 03 at 08:18 PM • permalink

 

    1. So Andrea drives stick.

      We learn a little more each day.

      Posted by joe bagadonuts on 2007 10 03 at 08:18 PM • permalink

 

    1. Anyone who has driven in Florida will appreciate this sign seen at a Florida gas station:

      WELCOME VISITORS
      Oil Change $19.95
      Check Tires
      Check Filters
      Set Turn Indicator
      To Permanent Left

      Posted by ErnieG on 2007 10 03 at 08:40 PM • permalink

 

    1. Dean: nonsense. That brick wall was defective. I just grazed it a little.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 10 03 at 08:43 PM • permalink

 

    1. Andrea’s vehicle, after a few minor changes

      Posted by El Cid on 2007 10 03 at 08:58 PM • permalink

 

    1. I molestradamus will now reveal the most likely fate of Andreas car.

      Here.

      /donations to the victims of women driver association instead of flowers at the funeral please

      Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 10 03 at 11:34 PM • permalink

 

    1. I especially love the close-up on the bumper sticker.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 10 04 at 11:58 AM • permalink

 

    1. You know that little clip illustrates a very good reason we just don’t need Hillary as prez…them hot flashes can KILL people!  8D

      Congratulations on making the trip, Andrea. Ya done good for not driving a stick in so long.

      Posted by KC on 2007 10 04 at 07:37 PM • permalink

 

    1. Andrea, I love your new car.
      It’s got, er, character, yeah, that’s it. Character.
      And the price was right!I drive a manual and if I get into an automagic I am concerned ‘cos there’s not enough pedals.

      Posted by kae on 2007 10 05 at 03:06 AM • permalink

 

  1. Drive a stick for a while, then borrow a friends car which is an automatic with the shifter on the console.

    Then watch your friends expression as you explain to him how you accidentally shifted his car from drive into reverse while moving down the street.

    Not that I would know anything about that.

    Posted by fclark on 2007 10 05 at 10:06 AM • permalink