Random musings on a Monday morning when I'm too pissed at my new company to do "work" from home.
Drove the Cmax to Maine this weekend. It is a fucking champ. The shocks are blown on it, or on their way out, it "womps" over big road imperfections. So I'll need to get new ones. Not bad though, it has 90k on it, presumably all east coast driving so lunar surface. It's about time anyway.
45 MPG highway at 75 MPH
60 MPG in "town" which many people call "city" driving 30-50 MPH.
50 MPG in "city"
All on donkey piss 87
In a car that can get to 60 in 8 flat and doesn't handle like a barge.
Good stereo.
Comfy super adjustable seats.
It's also quiet.
It also rattles. A LOT.
Anyways. The roads, in New York City area. Cross Bronx Expy.... holy FUCK that road is trashed. It's obliterated. GW bridge is $15 to cross now, where does that go? And 95? A disaster the whole way. 84 was a bit better coming home through CT but my God... they pave the fucking thing which is awesome but then they don't pave the bridges or transition them so you WOMP down onto the bridge and BANG off the bump stops going back onto the road. My car would have been a rage fest on this trip likely with a few flat or bubbled tires and a broken wheel. Not even lying.
Saw a bunch of Outbacks, and a handful of Volvo XC60s. I like them, a lot. I think I should look at those two for a new car when the time comes (i.e. job stability). An Outback would be great for a small family, bike rack or kayaks on top, doggie in back, kiddo in back, etc. Good in snow, rugged enough for a fire road. XC60 more on road oriented but still about the same size, nice inside, supposedly rides great, good engines, etc. I think those two are the ticket. Not quite MPG champs that the Cmax is, but as good or better road trippers, excellent for bombed out road conditions, Outback takes 87, both have plenty of power. Not thrilled with the 91 requirement on the Volvo T5/T6 engines.
I want to take more road trips like this one. Maine is incredible. It was 60F during the day up there, on the bay, fresh salt breeze and surrounded by trees so everything smelled awesome. Bad roads but whatever who cares you don't drive for fun up there you drive to get to places. Which is more in line with my desires anymore anyway.