Is there a MINI, SMART or FIT future?

Well the 03 REX is still going strong at 108,000. A completely new experience for me, for most of my life working for Auto Manufacturers company cars got moved to the auction block and  dealer lots with around 12,000 miles on them. For me about 6 weeks on the road.

The REX is a fabulous Michigan commuter care, fast fun, awd, reliable  but not that comfortable or frugal. So the question is do I run it on and on and on. Or do I take the value I have in it and trade for a lower mileage different set of wheels. Histronics out in the market demands consideration of the SMART or Yaris, but the SMART would require extensive modification, (hint SMARTUKI). To my mind a low mileage Cooper S or Honda Fit are worthy of consideration. Yes they are a step down  performance wise from REX. But  I am of the opinion that driving a slower car faster  is more entertaining than driving a fast car at only 70% is more interesting. I am reminded of driving Peugeot Turbo Diesels around Ford XR3is in Essex in the late 80s.

From a green perspective rather than a new car late used seems to make most sense. So what do you think, any other interesting ideas for new wheels

What would you recommend as an interesting performance orientated daily driver with stick for a 6 foot 6 with a 65 mile each way commute, all responses of course subject to spousal review and approval?

Commuter rendez-vous

Compared to most people I enjoy my daily drive to and from work. It gives me time to prepare, unwind, listen to podcasts and inevitably see one or two interesting sights.

At one time driving I94 into downtown Detroit I would see a blue Honda S200O driven by a tall driver who looked over rather than through the windshield. I know that issue being 6″6′ many of my car choices are filtered first by what I can fit in comfortably rather than by driving dynamics or automotive lust.

Whether it was due to a complete lack of forward vision if the hood was raised or an appreciation of the true nature of convertibles that raising ( or remembering ‘classic’ sports cars of my youth ‘erecting’) the top was the exception rather than the rule I do not know. But rain or shine this car was driven top down. The registration ‘Nurburg’ added to the already huge smile on my face knowing that here was some one else who got it and loved their car and driving as much as I.

Two incidents reminded me of ‘Nurburg’ this week. Merging on to 696 on thursday morning amongst all the trucks and SUVs I saw a flash of red and chrome out the corner of my eye…. an MGA? Of course, I had to accelerate change lane, catch up and find out.

Yes it was amongst the commuter traffic into Detroit on a sunny spring morning someone was driving a red MGA, even better the top was down. The driver sat erect sports jacket and cap matching the style of the 60s roadster perfectly. Even the large wheel set close to the chest in a manner that would have NHTSA reaching for the smelling salts was held in the appropriate ‘ten to two’ position by hands clad in leather string back driving gloves!!!! The driver sensed my gaze and looked across and smiled and nodded in response to me. No vulgar thumbs up or whoops just a dignified recognition of our common bond on the road on that spring morning.

Thursday on my way home near Ann Arbor I saw for the first time a Nissan GT-R the current darling of the automotive press and blogosphere. As I had hoped in the flesh it looked better than the pictures I had seen which left it looking to me more like a pastiche of Fast and the Furious ‘aero’ aids to create a race car look for the road. Albeit across the median once moving everything harmonized. In motion the car seemed to metamorphize like comparing an ungainly seal on land compared to its natural element slicing through the water.

These two experiences so different but similar in the auto response that they generate are what this blog is all about, interest and passion in all things automotive. For me and I think for Mark too this blog is less editorial and more autobiographical. There are many many magazines, books, blogs, podcasts that focus on particular automotive subjects, topics or vehicle, but this is more about who we are based on the things that motivate us to blog. Be it modern vehicles and the state of the industry, classic or historic racing, our own memories or experiences, books, games or TV what you will get here is an insight into the eclectic minds of two family men who have spent their lives involved directly or indirectly with the universe of the automobile and everything that surrounds it! if nothing else it might help our long suffering wives understand us a little better- although as it was their suggestion we start this blog I have to admitt that they already know us better than we do ourselves. Thank you!

Another way to enjoy the last gas on the planet.. with 3 very good friends

What could be better, the Stelvio, a Lambo, Aston and Porsche?

Toyota Avalon- windshield wiper craziness

Yes I made it with my mother in law and grand mother in law from FL to MI.

Notable sightings, MGB and an E -Type, in 1300 miles I had hoped for more…

It was a surprisingly good long distance car, the seats were a little uncomfortable.  The shocking thing is the rain sensitive windshield wipers, not so much the function but replacements use a top lock system that clips directly into the channel of the arm assembly, saw a Dealer price of $80 for the driver side and $25 for the passenger for that price I would expect a trained rodent to sit on the hood and clean the windshield on command! Those prices make $34 and $30 from Tire Rack seem almost reasonable!

A first sign of spring in Michigan

Seen on the drive home a lucky owner taking their 550 Spyder (replica I assume) maybe a Beck out for its first spring run…

WELCOME!

The Rumble Strip is hosted by Andrew Smith and Mark McChesney. Andrew is a Senior Marketing VP, I am an automotive styling designer. We are friends that share a common obsession with internal combustion. We have many other interests, but we will concentrate (or scatter) our prose on our passion for great automobiles – history, racing, design, marketing, leadership, personalities, and just about anything else that moves us on wheels, wings, or water.

My co-conspirator is a man of great intellect, wit and charm. Expect great things from Andrew. My contribution however will likely be more ramble than rumble.

I am going to dive straight into the shallow end here and tell you what I have been doing for the past 2 weekends. I have been busting some knuckles.

I do not like to wrench on cars, I’d rather drive them, look at them, design them, critique them, wax them, anything but work on them. But necessity has a habit of producing a mechanic now and then.

Last weekend I replaced the front struts on my Gen 7 Civic (my beater/commuter/winter car err and summer/fall/spring car). I will talk more specifically about my choice to own this car at another time, but tonight is DIY report.

The strut issue seemed to start after I bought new tires at Discount Tire. A vibration had developed. I took it back and had the balance rechecked – they told me it was right. Instead of arguing I swallowed my pride and set my mind at figuring out what else may be wrong. I noticed that the wheel shook when I hit ruts or pot holes (Michigan). A check of the ball joints/tie rods showed them to be good. After some more deep thought I came to the conclusion that the problem was the struts.

This was a job that would have cost me $600 or more at the dealer. I paid $199 for the struts at Parts+ (net – fast shipping btw) and did job in an afternoon and learned some things – chiefly that I COULD do it myself. Struts are not as difficult as might be imagined. Advanced Auto has a great tutorial (I didn’t watch it = male ego). It only required a few hand tools (ratchet, torque wrench, 6 sided metric sockets, various swear words, a blanket, and a space heater). First side took 3 hours – mostly wasted looking for the right wrenches. Side two took an hour. Steep learning curve.

I did not use a coil spring compressor, that would would have taken an extra 5 minutes to go rent at AutoZone. I took the dangerous route, wrapping the removed strut assembly in the blanket to contain the recoil and undoing the top mount with one hand while covering my privates with the other. No damage done, but remember that there is a lot of energy in a spring. Do not be hasty – be careful. Do as I say not as I do and rent a strut compression tool.
The car is doing great now. I feel great for doing it myself, and my wife feels great that $400 was saved for doing better things.

Later that night, sporting my new found mechanical confidence, I tore into the front suspension of my son’s 1st Gen Miata. More on that tomorrow. – Mark

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