1/9/07

I'm locked out of AOL at the moment. Mom has logged on and forgotten to log off before leaving the house. I have no right to bitch because she’s letting me use her account for free. It is still annoying. She’s one of those people who minimize everything on the screen rather than shutting it down. And I do mean everything. She’ll have five games of solitaire, AOL, Word, Excel, and whatever else she’s looked at since turning the damned thing on, minimized on the bottom task bar. I can’t help think it’s slowing the thing down like crazy. But enough of that, John and I met at the Nissan dealer to attempt to trade the Pimpmobile for a new Versa last night. They had promised us a silver one with a six-speed, ABS, and power package would be there on Monday. When I arrived John informed me that it had been sold out from under us but there was a red one they could get. I emphatically vetoed red. They began scrambling to find another one nearby. They found one in Midland and one in Houston. The one in Midland was virtually identical to mine but in white I believe. The one in Houston didn’t have the power package and was also white. For some reason, I think because it was a dealer demo that the owner’s kid had been driving, we all vetoed the one in Midland. They couldn’t reach the dealer in Houston so they were going to call this morning. I still haven’t heard anything. John and I decided to go see what the Toyota dealer had by way of a five-speed Yaris. They had one but it was red. John walked I to find me sitting in it and threatened to kick my ass if I vetoed a red Versa and bought a red Yaris. I assured him I would not. We went out and looked at other Yari on the lot and I fell in smit with a black two-door. We discussed Scions and then they had a look in the system for a six-speed two-door in anything but red. They found me a black one nearby and even promised they could cut me a check for the difference in the Pimpmobile and the price. I said I'd have to consult with mom, see what Nissan comes up with, and I'd let them know. John and I went to talk to mom. It was decided that we’d see if the Nissan dealer could get us the white car in Houston first. Failing that, John wants me to decide if I want the black Yaris as our second course of action. If I don’t, he’s willing to grab the red Versa for his family. Either way, John winds up with a “new” Versa. I, however, will either wind up with Matilda, a white Versa, or a black Yaris. Mom isn’t 100% on board for the Yaris and to be honest, I'm not sure I am either. Wait, wait, let me ‘splain. The Versa is a more “upscale” entry-level vehicle. It feels a little more solid. It does have the bigger engine and a six-speed. The shifter in the Yaris was a tad rubbery and vague compared to the Versa. I know I like the way Matilda hoons but the few test drives I've taken in a Yaris have been fun as well. It would take some getting used to the center mounted speedometer and lack of tachometer. On the plus side for the Yaris is aftermarket support. I can already buy hot rod parts for it, from the dealer for crying out loud! It is a tad smaller and probably lighter than the Versa. It is a two-door. And, as I said before, I am smitten with it in black. I just got off the phone with John and he reiterated his preference for my blue Versa. He is of the opinion that I should call Toyota if the white car falls through. We discussed the virtues of each and I guess it is going to come down to me deciding between torque and horsepower, smaller versus bigger, two versus four doors, six versus five speeds, a hoon I know versus one with potential, and whether or not I want us to be “Versa Buddies.” Speaking of hoon potential, every time I've driven a Toyota 1.5 liter car, be it a Scion xB or a Yaris, it has had plenty of power to run up to freeway speed. In fact, I had to slow down to merge into traffic last night after pulling up the hill onto the freeway. With springs, wheels, and tires it should turn as well if not better than the Versa. I'm not sure but it might even have rear wheel disc brakes. In fact, I'm so not sure of that that I probably shouldn’t even mention it. Damn, I think I might have talked myself into the Yaris. Well, let’s see what they can do about the white Versa and go from there. I think I'm through here for today. Talk to y'all tomorrow.