Hello everybody!
I’ve been so busy with college graduations, working, gardening, spending time with family, and searching for a new car that it’s been impossible to keep up with reading Substack, let alone write my own posts.
I am sure the creative energies will return in order to write about my experiences with the medical industrial complex, the parallels between water theme parks and Roman gladiator arenas, my encounters with colorful and shady used car dealers from Jersey, and conversations with old midwestern Marines who fought in Korea.
Until then, to paying subscribers, billing is paused for a month until June 10.
I like quirky cars.
I was looking into a Pontiac Vibe or Toyota Matrix because I love the fuel economy (hard to beat 37 mpg highway), large flat cargo space in which you can sleep, position of the seating, the roof rack, and the fact that you can still find them in a 5-speed. But I just couldn’t seem to find the right one at the right price.
I remembered that I’d seen a cute Suzuki X-90 at a local dealership (albeit with clutch problems and at a ridiculous price), so I decided to see what other Suzuki models were available in the US. I’m not afraid of Suzukis because they are extremely common in other countries and generally quite reliable. I drove a Suzuki Swift in New Zealand for 6 years.
The Swift is not available in the US but there is a similar car here, the Suzuki SX4, which has slightly more cargo space with less fuel efficiency, but a bigger engine and AWD.
So, that’s what I settled on and I love it.
My cousin just fresh out of college loves it too. She learned to drive manual when she inherited my last Pontiac Vibe. We both agree this is more fun to drive and you can see for yourself, below. I’ve always been a little amused by Americans who think they need a giant expensive vehicle to have fun on the road, or off-road, as the case may be.
Amidst ludicrous headlines that every day demonstrate the craziness of our times (MONKEYPOX, Jacinda Ardern receiving an honorary doctorate from Harvard [LOL], etc.) it’s still important to live our lives.
So here’s 2.5 minutes of somewhat cheesy inspiration to do just that!
Glad you have been doing all the important stuff!!! Living our lives as we see fit is the best antidote to the societal idiocy all around us.
Love your car, used to drive similar. Stick shift is the millennial anti-theft device! Never figured out how to fit three car seats in there (or five large people nowadays) plus the dog and accoutrements. Or hardware, tools camping gear, etc. THAT is why we love our Yank Tanks!