The Cook said...

> On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:54:43 -0400, George >
> wrote:
>
>>Andy wrote:
>>> Nancy Young said...
>>>
>>>> George wrote:
>>>>> Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>>>>>> cute. I like the mini Cooper a lot.
>>>>> They are a great conversation starter. Every time I parked at least
>>>>> a couple people would walk over and want to know all about the car
>>>>> and remark how neat looking it was and where they could by one.
>>>> They're awfully cute, and were in serious contention when I was
>>>> thinking of replacing my car, which was the second, around town
>>>> kind a vehicle. Those looks, and at that price. Could still happen.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> nancy
>>>
>>>
>>> I test drove one of the first mini coopers in Philly. Maybe 6 years
>>> ago? It was actually comfortable for 6'3" in shoes. Then I thought
>>> what if I have car trouble in Des Moines. With the mechanics
>>> scratching their heads, like in the movie Doc Hollywood.
>>>
>>> I do smile when I see them.
>>>
>>> I played on their "Build Your Own Mini" website many times. They can
>>> build 'em 1,001 ways practically.
>>>
>>> I'm still waiting to see a "Smart" car on the road.
>>>
>>> Andy
>>
>>I think this part of the conversation might be about Smartcars.
>>
>>I counted 4 on the pike on the ride to Philly last week. They have only
>>been coming in to the US for under two months and there won't be tons of
>>them this model year. When my buddy and I went to the roadshow in
>>University City over a year ago (only 3 months after they decided to
>>bring them here) we were talking to someone on the side and he said they
>>were available in Europe for maybe 5 years but they were concerned about
>>being laughed off the planet if they brought them here. When we picked
>>up my buddies car last week the dealer told us they could sell as many
>>as they could get their hands on and had a constant stream of people
>>showing up ready to buy.
>
>
> I think that was the reaction to the first VW Beetles to arrive in the
> US.


I don't remember when they debuted in America but my first car was a used
1967 1800cc beetle. I loved that car, with the crank sunroof, and I could
actually do my own repairs! It was a Porsche in sheep's clothing!

I might've bought the re-introduced VW Bug but the clutch and brake pedals
were too close for the width of my feet so I bought the 1998 VW GTI/VR6
instead, still with no regrets!

I met a new 2008 VW GTI at a red light last week, we rolled down the
windows and chatted up GTIs. Held up traffic for a whole cycle (they were
honking mad). He wouldn't trade and neither would I. I smoked him off the
line on the green. So unlike me!!!

Andy