The Smart Car in my Parking Lot!

My blog can now b found at http://fatherof10.com

New format and a different take on things. I will not be posting here any more.

It's there. Almost everyday. Small, Silver and Short. Really Short.

Yup, it is a Smart Car!

When I drive my suburban to work I seek out the Smart Car to park next to it. I'm hoping I can hide it so the owner can't find it and then buys a real car. Last week I parked my SL600 next to it, hoping some of the SL's horsepower would leak off and give itty-bitty a little boost. Maybe I could loan it a cylinder since my SL600 has plenty of them.



WHY would someone want a car like this? Seriously? Because it is cheap and cutesy. No other reason. You can get a new Smart For Two for a measely MSRP $12,490 - $17,690. In 1967 you could've got a new Corvette for half of that. I guess a dollar doesn't go very far these days when it takes $15K to buy the modern version of Citroen 2CV, and the 2CV has a back seat. Both are ugly. Both are cheap.



Here are the performance stats:
0-60 mph acceleration at 12.8 seconds;
70 horsepower
1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine
5-speed paddle-shift automatic

Gas mileage isn't really that spectacular with results of 33 city and 41 highway.

Chick Magnet Factor? I guess it depends on the kind of chick you're after. My chick was all over me and my Corvette back in the day, and now we have 10 kids and have had a plethora of cool cars. A Smart Car is not in the works. I think it should be reserved for granola-crunching hairy arm-pitted commie pinko liberal girls that can't get dates on Sadie-Hawkins Day.

Tell your date that you have the convertible out at the curb, she steps out the door and sees these three. which one do you want to be yours?

If I Had to Replace My Mercedes

So, if I had to replace my 1997 Mercedes SL600, what would I get? The other day my wife asked me if I had thought about how long I was going to keep my roadster and I honestly told her that I was so satisfied with it that I hadn't thought about what next. With my previous cars, I was on to thinking about what next fairly quickly. I like the M-B SL600 so much that I am not looking for the next best thing. At least, not yet.

But since she mentioned it, I started to look around just a little. I don't like to buy brand new cars for myself because I find I can get so much more car for the money if I buy used or vintage. That tactic has enabled me to own a 2001 Cadillac STS, a 2001 M-B CLK55 AMG and a 1997 M-B SL600 . . . all together for less than the price of a Cadillac STS. That is over $265,000 worth of cars for less than $60,000.

In response to my looking around, here is what I have come up with as a nice replacement for the Benz:


A 2001 Ferrari 456M (GT)


Here is some info:
The 456M GT is a 2+2 berlinetta coupe, which means it has a snug two-place rear seat in addition to the customary front buckets. As the company puts it, this is “the evolution of a very popular concept amongst Ferrari clients who want a real Ferrari with the practicality of rear seats for two additional passengers.” In contrast to the mid-engine 360 Modena, Ferrari’s least costly model that is equipped with a V-8 behind the seats, the 456M GT has a V-12 engine mounted up front. The list price for the 456M GT is (in 2001) $226,975, while the automatic-transmission GTA goes for $232,170. That makes the 456M Ferrari’s most expensive model in the U.S. market — at least until the 550 Barchetta goes on sale in spring 2001.

MPG City: 10 Highway: 15 – 16
Available Engines
442-hp, 5.5-liter V-12 (premium)

Transmissions
6-speed manual w/OD
4-speed automatic w/OD

0 to 60 time is about 5 seconds, which is about the same as my M-B SL600. The top end is faster and the quarter mile time is close to the same. Maintenance costs are higher than the Mercedes and insurance costs are probably just a little higher, but probably not much.



All in all, I would say it would be a nice upgrade. I think I could stroke my ego just a bit with this car!

Saturday's Airplane Ride

Last week my son and I went out flying with a friend. He has a couple of biplanes, but his Cessna 337 Super Skymaster was our ride for the day. See this link for info on the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster.Here are pictures of our little event:





My son





Cessna:
Empty weight: 2,655 lb
Powerplant: 2 × Continental IO-360-C air-cooled flat-six piston engine, 210 hp each

Mercedes:
Curb weight 4,455 lb
Powerplant: 6.0 liter DOHC 4 valves per cylinder V12 slightly modified 420 hp

Here are some videos:
Take Off



Landing



Fly By



Taxiing

Tucson Cars and Coffee December Edition

December 10th was Cars and Coffee at Encantada Mall in Tucson. My son and I drove the SL600 up there. many people commented about cramming a six liter V-12 engine into such a little car. We had a lot of fun. My highlight was the 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. My son was thrilled with the Lotus Elige and the Lamborghini Diablo VT. Here are the pics:

My son thinks he could fit in a Lotus and for sure the Lamborghini Diablo. I have my doubts. He is 6' 4" and about 210 lbs. Not a giant, but a bit over the average. I don't think he can fit . . . at least not comfortably. See:

I think he would be far more comfortable in the next car, but not near as happy!

Or maybe this one: