Cool Stuff

In June, I was getting very tired of the continuously variable transmission in the Saturn Vue I was driving. It took a lot of torque to get it to downshift. Since it was always trying to gear up, it usually couldn't find that torque without putting the pedal to the floor and waiting. And waiting. I'd normally end up downshifting it manually just to make sure it was revving high enough so I could accelerate when I needed to.

There were only a few payments left and it still had some value so I decided to look into trading it in for a Mustang. I've always liked Mustangs and wanted to own one. I thought the previous design was getting back to what a Mustang ought to look like but the new retro models really blew me away. My favorite models were the '67 and '68. I think the new retro models are based on the '69.

I looked around a bit and found I could get a better price on a 2007 since Ford was offering additional incentives on it. I found a local dealer that still had a few. We went to look at the GT convertible. Between the X-Plan price, the extra incentives, and the trade-in value of the Vue, we were able to get the price to a point we could afford so we bought it.

Although the convertible is nice (I actually have a tan - probably my first since I was a kid), what I think I like best about it is the fact that when you hit the gas the car moves - even if it's already moving. The Vue would have to take a few moments to think about it first. Even the Saturn LW300 we own - which is no slouch at 170HP - takes a while to react when you punch the gas pedal. The Mustang just gets up and goes.

Everyone thinks getting a sports car would get you into trouble but I actually think I've calmed down a lot since I got this car. Since it reacts so quickly, I no longer feel I have to try to stay ahead of things. It's so much fun to drive that I just sit back and enjoy the drive instead of getting all hung up on the problems in traffic. I'd love to put the car on the track and see what it can do but I won't do that on the roads.

If you saw a site named TurnYourHead.com, what would you think it was about? I bet you were wrong. This is cool.

via Mental Floss Magazine.