First I wrote about life without one. Meanwhile, bought a piece of land nearby, to grow tomatoes - 11 years in the US makes you a man of love, sorrow and remembrance - you learn to love tomatoes, are sad you can't get any decent ones, and fondly remember how they used to be back home.
I should be able to buy them, but that's capitalism: there is no market for real ones; sufficient number of people go for the US-style plastic pink crap.
Um, yes, the car. First, I never really bought a car here before. I drove a lot, but it was either my parents' car, or company cars. So I don't remember exactly what the paperwork was, I only know you had to wait in at least six queues, at three or four places. Luckily, this is a small town so these weren't too far apart.
This time, it was very simple. The agency took care of everything, except that the seller and I had to go to the city hall in person to register the contract (and he went to pay something - not necessarily in a post office or SDK, but any bank, and there are banks like mud)(crappy english... "there are as many banks as there is mud", OK?). I only had to take the ready paperwork to the cops, and after about 20 minutes' wait I got my tags. Insurance, inspection, tax etc, all taken care of, for just 6€ extra. That's progress.
After the matrix I drove there, this car is rather small - 1.1l engine instead of 1.8, some 85HP instead of 180, weaker sound system, no AC, no electric windows nor mirrors... but who cares. It still has 5 doors (so I don't have to do acrobatics loading tools and crates), makes about 45-47MPG (and matrix was good with 26), and given the distances, it consumes one tank a month of about 11 gallons - pretty much the same size as matrix had... but that one had to be filled about thee times a month.
Because I don't do groceries with this car, and don't just drive around. Sure, it gets around town - when it has to carry anything that's too large, bulky or fragile for the bicycle, or when I'm in a real hurry (not often nowadays, good :)). So I didn't even bother to fit it with a gas (propane!) tank, like many do. Sure, propane is about half cheaper, so the rig pays off in a year, but even at 1.28€ per liter (that's close to $7 per gallon), what this toy consumes is no worry.
They also got me scared with the new traffic laws... except that I don't see cops ambushing every curve. Maybe I'm not hitting the fast roads, or getting seen to leave from a bar with the key in my hand. Whatever it is, in these four months I wasn't even greeted by a cop.
Do I miss the AC? Well, a bit. It's still hot, the summer is extended deep into september, ninth week without rain, but I manage. It's dry heat, and the distances are short. Even if I had AC, by the time it would cool the cabin, we'd be halfway there. Not worth the bother.
Conclusion? I hope my washing the car (finally!) will cause some rain. It's long overdue.
(note: capitalization is by my rules - this is my blog and I'll capitalize on it my way)
I should be able to buy them, but that's capitalism: there is no market for real ones; sufficient number of people go for the US-style plastic pink crap.
Um, yes, the car. First, I never really bought a car here before. I drove a lot, but it was either my parents' car, or company cars. So I don't remember exactly what the paperwork was, I only know you had to wait in at least six queues, at three or four places. Luckily, this is a small town so these weren't too far apart.
This time, it was very simple. The agency took care of everything, except that the seller and I had to go to the city hall in person to register the contract (and he went to pay something - not necessarily in a post office or SDK, but any bank, and there are banks like mud)(crappy english... "there are as many banks as there is mud", OK?). I only had to take the ready paperwork to the cops, and after about 20 minutes' wait I got my tags. Insurance, inspection, tax etc, all taken care of, for just 6€ extra. That's progress.
After the matrix I drove there, this car is rather small - 1.1l engine instead of 1.8, some 85HP instead of 180, weaker sound system, no AC, no electric windows nor mirrors... but who cares. It still has 5 doors (so I don't have to do acrobatics loading tools and crates), makes about 45-47MPG (and matrix was good with 26), and given the distances, it consumes one tank a month of about 11 gallons - pretty much the same size as matrix had... but that one had to be filled about thee times a month.
Because I don't do groceries with this car, and don't just drive around. Sure, it gets around town - when it has to carry anything that's too large, bulky or fragile for the bicycle, or when I'm in a real hurry (not often nowadays, good :)). So I didn't even bother to fit it with a gas (propane!) tank, like many do. Sure, propane is about half cheaper, so the rig pays off in a year, but even at 1.28€ per liter (that's close to $7 per gallon), what this toy consumes is no worry.
They also got me scared with the new traffic laws... except that I don't see cops ambushing every curve. Maybe I'm not hitting the fast roads, or getting seen to leave from a bar with the key in my hand. Whatever it is, in these four months I wasn't even greeted by a cop.
Do I miss the AC? Well, a bit. It's still hot, the summer is extended deep into september, ninth week without rain, but I manage. It's dry heat, and the distances are short. Even if I had AC, by the time it would cool the cabin, we'd be halfway there. Not worth the bother.
Conclusion? I hope my washing the car (finally!) will cause some rain. It's long overdue.
(note: capitalization is by my rules - this is my blog and I'll capitalize on it my way)
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