I have to say, my last car purchase, even though I'm indistinguishable on LA streets, is a very pleasing one. I know I was obstructive to helpful people because of my unfounded 6 cylinder insistence (apologies to ND and Colin on that one), but...it's a thing. But! Everyone was patient and helpful otherwise, and MFNLaw saved me $2K with her savviness and finger on the pulsiness (I got to the dealership before they'd put labels on the car, in fact before the one I ended up buying was available for test driving--I test drove a 2003 Mercedes, and I couldn't have been more at odds with the car for shallow reasons--and when I came back to seal the deal, they had added $2K to the price I'd originally seen, but the sales guy honoured our initial discussion). The dealership itself was very simple and straightforward, despite the sales guy being a little shifty and hard to pin down on stuff (which is why I only have the one key), and so I ended up going home with the one car I looked hard at--within my price range, ridiculously low mileage and good condition for its age, and fuck--it is a nice car, even if I don't have the Jetta-squee anymore.

Also Buffista-advice helped me with deciding how to pay for it and do the best things for my credit rating, and Polgara was my in person helpmeet, so alla y'all made it the simplest possible procedure. BLESS.

Speaking of Polgara--I took my Mac into the Apple Store yesterday to get it looked at. The "genius" couldn't have been more dismissive and snippy (I treat my home laptop's battery like I do my work laptop's--*all* batteries don't give up the ghost in those conditions, so stop being pissy), but four other employees were excited by my Batman decal, and one of them even took a picture. But, fuck, I just saw this decal, and ita ! might need an upgrade.

I live pretty much right between two Tesla dealerships, within walking distance. So I see more than average around. I'd always thought it's kinda odd that they sold cars period in my local mall, but I'm wondering if Tesla bought the previous electric car company, because the space transitioned from "economy" electrics to Tesla a few months ago.

"Porsche sedan" just sounds wrong.

my Batman decal, and one of them even took a picture. But, fuck, I just saw this decal, and ita ! might need an upgrade.

WHAT. WHY DID I NOT KNOW OF THESE.

"Porsche sedan" just sounds wrong.

Not as wrong as "Porsche SUV."

I actually like the sedan. I'd probably never buy one, but you can rent them. I might have to do that some day.

There was a Lotus Elise in the parking garage the other day. I think I know who drives it, but I could be wrong.

It's very....yellow.

Though we did have a station wagon and sometimes got to fight over who sat in the "way back"...if there was room among the luggage/shopping/etc. I suspect that doesn't even exist anymore.

Our old family station wagon had two back-facing seats in the trunk that you could flip down if you needed that space for storage. I used to love sitting back there, even if in retrospect it was probably a death trap.

I cannot say enough good things about my Outback Sport. Nice and zippy and suprisingly roomy. I think I've mentioned I call it the Tardis because it feels bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. If only it was blue like my stolen Civic, Illyria.

Yay, house for Dana!

The pizza pub near me has something called "white ketchup" on some of their pizzas. We finally had to ask and it is basically just Ranch.

You mean white ketchup isn't cream of mushroom soup?

I just cannot with the minivan. Crossover, yes. Station wagon, also yes. minivan, cannot.

I think my ultimate mom car would be some big ol' finned Caddy that's bench seats had been retrofitted with extra seat belts. You could easily sit four across the back of one of those suckers, three or four in the front, soccer gear and the odd kayak in the trunk...

Serious Eats did an amateur chemical analysis on halal cart "white sauce" once and determined that it's basically mayonnaise.