Hello everyone. My name is Matthew Walker and I am a Sophomore and a Geology major. I am actually a new student here this semester and its nice here. I got to go karting in Richmond with the group so far and hopefully more events too. I drive a 1996 Honda Accord, nothing special, but it's MY BABY none the less. I really really really like driving, and mostly just driving. I don't really know a lot about cars with respect to mechanics, just the basic stuff and whatever I pick up from my Dad and friends and I guess now here! I wish I could have been a race car driver but that didn't happen. I also hope to attend one of the BMW race driver teaching school things, it sounds awesome. Oh yeah, BMW's are pretty much my favorite car of all time. The E39 being my ultimate most favorite. Best car on earth. Recently I've also fallen in love with the Hyundai Genesis coupe, the mazdspeed3 and the new Lexus GS 350 F Sport, its gorgeous! Oh yeah the Mini Cooper S has also been in my book of favorites. I think thats all I have got to share today. So hopefully, I'll see some of you guys at events and have some good conversation here on the forum!

Adios!

Where are the Orioles fans at? Chris Davis has 4 home runs in 4 games and 16 RBIs. He also hit a grand slam tonight. The AL East is going to be exciting this year.

So I am looking for marital finance advice from those MMers who have taken the plunge. I have a pretty good feel for how we are going to figure things out but I value any feedback I can get at this point. I know every family is in a different financial situation and what works for one couple wouldn't work for another. I am just curious to hear how you guys handle your finances, especially the couples in which one of the spouses is the primary / only breadwinner. IE is there accountability for what is spent, joint vs. separate accounts, etc.

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My friend is selling this. He suggested I post this for you people who like turning left and right.

Knowing that E85 is available for Subraus with upgraded fuel pumps and injectors, I have looked in the past for VA stations that support E85. Usually the closest stations have been in MD. On a whim today I checked out the e85 site again and noticed that there is now a station in Ashburn taht supplies E85 and is about 10 miles from my house.

Schmitz Sunoco Goose Creek

I have to say, I am interested in E85, dont know if I will ever go that route. I would prefer there to be more stations in the area supporting the fuel before I buy in. Thought I would share for people in the area. Here is the website for chekcing E85 stations by state (the direct link i included is for VA).

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Aka legend Alex Roy and have read his book- finally, the movie is here!!!

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How many times have you read the book??

Post it up -- who's driving, working, karting, bring stuff to grill, coming to Vixens?!, etc..

1. Navin: driving + possibly interested in karting enduro if we have enough people. I guess I can bring some ribs to Summit as well :thumbup:

Its a slow day on the forums so you get to see my new car. No turbos or v8s or track machinery unfortunately, so temper your expectations.

With fresh offspring and a couple of mutts, Annes focus 5 door was proving to be way too cramped for family duty, and ever since selling my 99 miata (*tear) Ive been jonesin for a new DD anyway, as my Titan is neither fun to drive, park in dc, or put gas in.

Now I love me some wagons, but Im not about to pay $50k for a new 3 series wagon, Id have to mortgage my house to pay for the gas on a CTS-V wagon, and the TSX wagon is more outdated than RJs wardrobe.
And since Mazda decided to be a dick and not bring this over here, that left me with SUVs, and the CX-5 is the most un-SUV SUV out there short of a Cayenne. And at least IMO, it looks better than anything else out there by far.

So the deal was made and this followed me home


2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring in Soul Red.
DI "skyactiv" 2.4L 188hp and crazy high compression. Quick locking auto trans that shifts like a dual clutch without the shudder. Its about as light as a SUV comes (~3200 lbs iirc) and handles damn good. Slightly less boring than your typical family mover.

I originally planned on getting a touring, as I dont like leather or a sunroof and I can upgrade some of the rest myself, but the GT has a bunch of cool exclusive shit so I said fuckit, Im old and cranky, time to get something nice. GT with tech package. Like a boss. Or something.


"project" stuff
All weather floormats.
Cargo protector.
dc door dings
dog hair
LED DRL
HID Fogs
baby spitup
springs with a light drop to get some of the wagon look back
wheels

so there ya go.


the detailing crew wasnt there when I bought it, so Ill get it shined up soon and post some more pics. the soul red really pops.

At the NY Auto Show Aston Martin had a couple of its turnkey Vantage GT4 race cars on display, presumably to drum up interest for the forthcoming American version of its spec GT4 series. With the impending arrival of the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo series next year as well, that means there will now be 4 rich guy spec supercar racing series in the US.

I can't help but to think that one or more of the new comers is going to fail miserably. I don't think there are that many rich guys dying to play racecar driver that aren't already racing because they couldn't race a spec Aston Martin or Lambo.



Surely there's a market for a cheaper series

But then I got to thinking, there's probably a market out there for far less rich guys that would like to race a cool turnkey racecar. Like if there were a program where you buy an already race prepped racecar for maybe $30k and you can either maintain and transport it to the races yourself, or pay to have someone else handle all the logistics the way they do with Ferrari Challenge.

VW already kind of did this with the TDI Cup, but I have to admit I'm not gonna get off my couch to race diesel Jettas. What kind of car would be cool enough to attract people to an arrive and drive spec series?

My thought is the BRZ/FR-S. If they snatched some cars off the production line before the full interior is put in and installed a rollcage and safety equipment, slapped on some suspension and basic engine mods I think they could do a race car for $30k-ish. If Subaru/Scion were smart, they'd sell them at a small loss and write it off as a marketing expenditure.

Just seems to me that there are people other than the obscenely rich who'd like to do a turnkey race program. And in the case of a cheaper car, it could do a lot more for the brand than Ferrari Challenge, Porsche Cup, or whatever.

My 59cm road bike is for sale. $200 MM price. Was a great commuter bike, has double cages, new tubes and wheel tape. Needs a tune-up as she is a litte louder than new, but runs great. What you see is what you get.