Both the product and sum of two 2s are 4. Obvious, but still interesting to my math-obsessed, OCD-addled brain.
Every moment of your life, except the first and last, you are older than you’ve ever been before and younger than you’ll ever be again. That realization has stuck with me since I was a teenager.
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An “update” on my Z06: the service advisor at the Chevy dealer called me yesterday morning. (Wait a minute, that’s not my name.) He said the techs were still working on the car, but had discovered that the battery was not operating properly and wanted my permission to install a new one. Maybe I added two and two and got six, but I inferred that the battery might be the cause of the engine fault codes. When I didn’t hear from the service advisor the rest of the day, I realized that I would–once again–not be so lucky as to have something simple like that be the source of trouble.
Kicked in the shins every f*cking day…
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A CarGurus search for used convertibles in my area, with mileage and price limits, yielded no Saturn Sky Red Lines and mostly a bunch of German cars. One exception was a car like this:
This is a 2015 Mazda MX-5, known–of course–in the US as the Miata. By the way, the car’s aficionados, of which there are many, often say that Miata stands for “Miata Is Always The Answer.”
I have always liked the look of these cars in all generations. On paper, they do seem underpowered, though. The engine for this model, with its automatic transmission, is rated at just 158 HP/140 LB-FT of torque. Even for a 2,500-pound car, that doesn’t seem like enough power.
With my car in the shop and with my wonderful wife away for much of the day yesterday–and graciously leaving her car behind–I had the opportunity to drive her Corvette to run an errand. Even with 460 HP/460 LB-FT her car seemed much different than mine. Maybe no one needs a car with 700+ HP/700+ LB-FT, but I’m sure it drives like very few other cars have ever driven. If I ever drive it again, that is…
Anyway…this MX-5 with about 48,000 miles has an asking price of $18,750. CarGurus rates the car as a Good, but not Great, deal. Yes, I don’t need to buy a car, but I am older now than I have ever been before. I hear the clock ticking.
#4-22-22
#RealityOfLife
#MazdaMX-5Miata
#somanyCARSjustonelife
#disaffectedmusings
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Disaffected Musings 
That seems like a glass half full/half empty concept. Are you as as old as you have ever been, or as young as you will ever be? I’m bringing in a team of consultants who can solve your problem. May I introduce Elrod Hendricks, Andy Etchebarren, Dave Duncan and Earl Willams.
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“That seems like a glass half full/half empty concept.”
I don’t even see the glass.
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Funny you should bring that up. I have a bunch of photos taken of me when I was younger… ohm wait… they were all taken of me when I was younger. 😉
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Well done, JS.
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“I hear the clock ticking.”
I guess I heard it ticking at an early age. Several friends died during, and right after, high school. One in particular I was quite close to. He had been putting up money to buy his dream car, a 66-67 Chevelle SS396. He died before he could when the brakes on a dump truck failed and rear ended him. I kinda decided then, “why wait?” Pretty much since, if I had an itch, I scratched it. Still pretty much do. In addition to the cars I intend to finish, the Bacaruda is coming along nicely, I decided to build a “hot rod Harley.” Few weeks back was talking to a local guy that builds some strong engines, and he will be starting one for me soon. Goal is around 120-124 cubic inches, with a minimum of 150 lb/ft of torque and around the same in horsepower. It will be going into a 1987 FXRS which is a light, but VERY fun size Harley.
Not sure if I’m trying to slow down the clock, or speed it up.
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“Not sure if I’m trying to slow down the clock, or speed it up.”
As usual, you have written something both humorous and insightful. My father watched his family murdered by Nazi troops and, not surprisingly, that changed his life view forever. He also scratched every itch he could as quickly as possible. That attitude meant divorcing my mother after 29 years of marriage and marrying a much younger woman. With the benefit of hindsight (I was going to write “maturity,” but I don’t know how mature I am) I can understand why he lived his life the way he did even though some of the consequences were painful for my mother and me.
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One of the “benefits” of living in Arizona and its heat is the fact that car batteries come here to die. The intense ambient heat and the under hood temperatures at which modern cars operate result in the shortest life span of car batteries of any of the 50 states. It is a fact so just get used to it. Replace the battery and then continue the search for the elusive gremlin.
WRT the age thing: How can I act my age if I’ve never been this old before?
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Thanks, Philip. A brief update on the Z06 will appear in today’s post, if I ever get it written.
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