car meme.

ok, so weekends are good for memes. toast has this one up at his place, and he has tagged "everyone" (such hubris, that one!). and since i'm not getting him anything for christmas, well, i'll capitulate.

1. Favorite Car?

ummm i dunno. i have always been kinda infatuated with VW cabrios. i know, i know, but really? they are cute.

2. Favorite Car you've ever owned?

i haven’t owned that many, so i have to say celie, the 1991 celica. oh, she was a good little sportscar, and she got me through four years of college and then some.

3. Car you would be embarrassed to be seen driving?

a hummer. an escalade. anything that i’d have to hoist myself into in order to drive it.

4. Next car you plan to buy?

a hybrid, but hopefully not for awhile (we’ve gotta run this 2003 corolla into the ground first…)

5. Next car you would buy for daily use if money were no object?

hybrid. hybridhybridhybrid. yes, still.

6. What bumper stickers or other decorations, if any, do you have on your car?

we have an HRC equal sign on the back bumper.

7. Average annual miles you put on your primary vehicle?

not many, relatively. Maybe 3,000-4,000.

8. Describe your driving style.

aggressively defensive. that seems to make no sense, i know. i was indoctrinated in the “defensive driver” motif as a teenager, but then had to adapt that somewhat to the reality of city driving over the past five years.

9. Average highway cruising speed.

70-80 mph

10. Fastest you've ever driven?

i’m honestly not sure. don’t think i’ve ever topped 100, but i have topped 90.

11. Do you race people at stop lights?

um, in my corolla? no.

12. Will you cross a solid yellow or double yellow to pass someone?

no. that is the kind of move that makes me yell and gesticulate wildly. because, you know, what’s the rush? are you having a baby at the moment? no? then chill out.

13. Do you tailgate or flash your high-beams at people in front of you?

i rarely tailgate on the highway, but i probably get complacent and ride too close on side streets sometimes. i hardly ever flash people (what? yes. in every sense, i do not do that.)

14. Worst accident you've ever been in?

oh, i’ve talked about this one before. route 2. a snowstorm. a woman with one front tooth. i so don’t want to talk about it, except to say it was definitely not my fault.

15. About how many speeding tickets have you gotten?

zero (knock on wood)

16. Ever gotten a DUI/DWI?

no

17. What kind of car repairs and/or maintenance can you do?

oh, my dad is going to be so embarrassed. none, really, i can check my oil. i can change my washer fluid. that’s about it.

18. Have you ever modified a car you own from stock?

see above.

19. What do you listen to while driving?

usually the radio, though i am really disappointed with the options here in DC. for longer roadtrips we break out the iPods.

20. Favorite driving song?

very good question. tori amos’s “professional widow” is a surprisingly great driving song. also, “new york, new york” by ryan adams. i’m sure i can think of more.

21. Do you use an air freshener in your car, and if so, what scent?

no. how sad.

22. Messy or clean?

our car was pretty damn clean, until the 700 mile move. now the backseat is kind of a wreck. and it could use a carwash, too.

23. When you and the spouse/significant other go out together, who drives?

it’s pretty evenly divided. but have you noticed that in car commercials, it’s almost always the man driving? this is a pet peeve of mine. equity in fake driving, i say.