That's it, I must officially be an old fart

Lesley wrote: I love the Fit. What's wrong with the Fit? Uh oh, am I that far gone? I drove the Allure (LaCrosse to you guys) four years ago and nearly died of boredom. Now that it's reborn up here as the LaCrosse... it's not a bad car. Honest. E36 M3. Pass me the remote. Bingo's on.

Back when I was younger, I accepted a lot of compromises in cars because I wanted them to handle and perform as crisply as possible. Unfortunately most of the occupiers of the other seats didn't see it my way what with the noise and the harshness.

Now I want cars that perform their stated tasks well. If it's a daily driver, then I want the good daily driver stuff. Decent acceleration and handling, relatively quiet, good trunk for Home Depot visits and road trips. Satellite radio is also good. Manual or auto, it doesn't matter as long as it functions as intended.

So is the LaCrosse the Ultimate Driving Machine? No, but it sounds from y'all like it does exactly what it's designed to do really well. When you need a big framing hammer, the tack hammer doesn't do. The framing hammer doesn't handle the little stuff well because it's a physically bigger tool with a long handle. But you can drive big framing nails with two or three blows. Different tools, different purposes. Same with cars.

So appreciating the suitability of a car or a hammer to do its job well doesn't mean one is ready for the glue factory. It means your brain is pliable enough to accept what works well in the face of obstinacy continuing to prevail among the more rigid non-thinkers we free-thinkers must deal with every day.

That, and you were getting hit on by a guy whose screen name begins with "old."

Jerry From LA wrote: That, and you were getting hit on by a guy whose screen name begins with "old."

Meh! Asked facetioulsy, or not, she did pose the question. Considering the responses, links and photos Lesley has posted over the years, the evidence is insurmountable.

Besides, it's my natural inclination to compliment talented women who express any doubt about themselves.

You should try it sometime.

540i wagon?

oldsaw wrote: Besides, it's my natural inclination to compliment talented women who express any doubt about themselves. You should try it sometime.

I did. She married me.

Good one

In reply to Jerry From LA:

Good one, indeed!

And a testimonial for honesty and sincerity FTW.

Jerry From LA wrote:

oldsaw wrote: Besides, it's my natural inclination to compliment talented women who express any doubt about themselves. You should try it sometime.

I did. She married me.

Where's the "thumbs up" icon? I'm hoping for the same luck, but she's a bunch younger than me and thinks I'm just saying those things because I'm a horny old man. Never mind that saying the same kind of things back when I was in my "she's too young!" phase is what attracted her to me in the first place..

Oh, well. She'll be a great lady after she grows up a little bit..

In reply to Lesley:

Lesley, have you ever thought about doing what a lot of us aging guys do? Think of the performance luxury cars you wanted when you were 20, and go find out if they're still luxurious enough. I've been kind of looking at BMW E28s (I've been tempted by E32s, but they have too much electric BMW E36 on them, and I don't think they'll be reliable).

Weird thing here: I actually drove something like that quite often back during my college days..I had a bone-rattling E21 323i as a daily driver, but bought an E3 just beause I couldn't afford an E9. It was a lot more comfortable on long trips with a bunch of people in the car. IIRC, people would actually buy my tix to the concert if I'd agree to take them there (lived in Mississippi at the time, anyone worth seeing was a 4-5hr drive).

As an aside, oldsaw's right. You're still hot, you're still talented, and you're still having fun. Recall the alternative to getting older, and congratulate yerself that you haven't ended up like that.

Thanks for the compliments, wasn't fishing but it's nice to hear. My budget barely lets me finish my project cars, let alone think about luxury, even with a few years on it. When I was 20 I lusted after 60s fastback Mustangs... now I'd rather admire the ones that someone else is looking after.
Still, I wouldn't mind a 512 like Sammy Hagar's... if only I had his millions too.

friedgreencorrado wrote: Oh, well. She'll be a great lady after she grows up a little bit..

For the record, my wife and I are the same age, give or take a year. We got married three years ago (me for the first time). The rewards and pitfalls are pretty much the same as the younger kids along with the crazy changes that occur when one reaches the extreme stage of life we find ourselves in now (mid-50s).

So really, we all have to laugh at all the stuff that happens between now and the end because we can't do anything about it except to maintain our health as best we can. Besides, what's the alternative? With the years we may have left (Big Guy willing), it's a long time to get down over stuff that's largely out of our control. Besides, we have plenty of stuff to get down over that is in our control.

Jerry From LA wrote: For the record, my wife and I are the same age, give or take a year. We got married three years ago (me for the first time). The rewards and pitfalls are pretty much the same as the younger kids along with the crazy changes that occur when one reaches the extreme stage of life we find ourselves in now (mid-50s).

I'm mid 48 next April, but seriously mis-spent my youth, so I suppose I'm not that far behind ya! Odd thing is, I'd always dated women older than myself. My first wife was actually about 10yrs older than myself. Am I correct when I think you're suggesting that when it comes to emotions, age doesn't really matter? I've got a wonderful ex-girlfriend (still a friend) from years ago who recently said that the person you are at 15yrs old is the person you'll be for the rest of your life-you'll just be that person with more "life experience" when you're older. Looking upon my own life, I can't quite say that she's wrong!

Jerry From LA wrote: So really, we all have to laugh at all the stuff that happens between now and the end because we can't do anything about it except to maintain our health as best we can. Besides, what's the alternative? With the years we may have left (Big Guy willing), it's a long time to get down over stuff that's largely out of our control. Besides, we have plenty of stuff to get down over that is in our control.

I've always thought that any relationship is hard work. I still think she'll come around once she's discovered the difference between the things she can and can't control. The woman just needs to learn to relax a little bit.

Aside to Lesley: This is not a thread hijack if it helps ya remember that you'd rather be your age instead of going through that process again..

Lesley wrote: Thanks for the compliments, wasn't fishing but it's nice to hear. My budget barely lets me finish my project cars, let alone think about luxury, even with a few years on it.

Oh, so a rhetorical question, was it? You drove a Buick, but aren't thinking about how to actually buy one? And yes, to me a Buick would be more luxurious-compared to my lowered/stiffened/aging VWs.

Lesley wrote: When I was 20 I lusted after 60s fastback Mustangs... now I'd rather admire the ones that someone else is looking after. Still, I wouldn't mind a 512 like Sammy Hagar's... if only I had his millions too.

If I was rich, I'd probably "split the difference". I'd buy four or five of the best E9s in the world. One stock, one with the Alpina parts, one restomod, and probably an old Group 4 or 5 touring car.

Hell no, I'm not buying it! It's a press car, mine for a week only. Not even lusting after it, just surprised at how agreeable it is, considering Buicks for the last 25 years ago have given me the shudders.

I buy $1,000 teenage cars.

Lesley wrote: Hell no, I'm not buying it! It's a press car, mine for a week only. Not even lusting after it, just surprised at how agreeable it is, considering Buicks for the last 25 years ago have given me the shudders. I buy $1,000 teenage cars.

I shoulda trusted ya. After all, you're here with the likes of us, right?

The night shift is on.........

friedgreencorrado wrote: Am I correct when I think you're suggesting that when it comes to emotions, age doesn't really matter?

As long as two people are happy, who cares? It's nobody's business but yours. Everybody who has something to say is just jealous.

Jerry From LA wrote: The night shift is on.........

friedgreencorrado wrote: Am I correct when I think you're suggesting that when it comes to emotions, age doesn't really matter?

As long as two people are happy, who cares? It's nobody's business but yours. Everybody who has something to say is just jealous.

Thanks for the advice, Jerry. People who know us don't bother us, most of it's in public (women my age look at her with daggers in their eyes, and men her age just mumble about money)

And yeah, I don't get home from work until 11p local time (Eastern). Most of the Forza online I do is with West Coast folks too.