A few weeks ago, I misplaced my beloved Quicksilver sunglasses, probably the nicest pair I have ever owned. A couple days later, my beloved neighbor Susan lent me the above pair of DKNY shades. And they ROCK. They have a slight red/pink tint that give the world a look of perennial sunset. Things are sharper, as with all good shades, but a tiny bit redder. And because I love them so much, Susan let me keep 'em...
Such is with the Ferrari 308. It just makes people happy. Every single guy (at least one a day) who shouts out "Yo Magnum" or "Thomas Magnum, private eye" sees himself as urbane and witty. People smile, give the thumbs up, and ask about the car They tell me I look good in it. They shout that it's a classic and they love it. It just makes people happy. And I love driving it. I've gotten used to its quirks, and mostly I just appreciate the sounds of the needle climbing the tach and the metallic snick of the gearshift running through the gates.
Now, in the interest of factual journalism: The radio is not presently getting any reception, and one of the speakers is not functioning, so any old tapes lose either a vocal track or the drums. Damn. I'm forced to listen to the sonorous baritone of the mighty V8. I can actually feel my ears curling into a satisfactory grin. Editor Oldham has offered to investigate through the car's Medusa hair of electrics. We'll letcha know.
Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor, @ 53,451 miles
misterfusion says:
04:47 PM, 04/28/08
So, they're a woman's sunglasses?
"Not that there's anything wrong with that..."
Funny how universal the reactions seem to be. I suppose it's better to drive a 308 and get called Magnum all the time, then to drive a TransAm and be called The Hoff. Although somehow I think that if I drove around in a '64 Aston-Martin DB5, *nobody* would call me Bond. :(
srlracing says:
05:18 PM, 04/28/08
Classics make people smile.
Modern supercars make people try to ignore you.
firstwagon says:
05:37 PM, 04/28/08
Well put srlracing, I agree completely
robert4380 says:
06:07 PM, 04/28/08
I hate to tell you, but those are womens glasses. Anything with that brownish-cheetah print indicates it's for the ladies. No one's judging you though *cough cough Californians! cough cough*
altimadude00 says:
08:59 PM, 04/28/08
TransAm = Rockford Files to me
aps2 says:
09:07 PM, 04/28/08
Doug,
Before they fix the radio, have them check the idle - 2K is way high.
Also, check the fuel hoses/lines(including filler neck) and coolant hoses - this is a very important precautionary service check that will help keep you smiling.
Oh yes...nice woman's glasses...Californians...they all see the world through rose colored glasses...
johnnyturbo says:
11:52 PM, 04/28/08
altimadude,
Jim Rockford drove a Firebird Esprit (the luxury trim level), not a Firebird Trans Am.
730 says:
11:54 PM, 04/28/08
Yeah nice shades man. You have matching nylons for that?
Magnum kicks ass in case you did not know.
stephen987 says:
05:04 AM, 04/29/08
Jim Rockford drove the stealth Firebird, the Formula 400, at least in the first season (watch for the dual hood scoops). After that he may have switched to an Esprit. (In the pilot episode, he drove a Vega, but even Stephen J. Cannell could tell that wouldn't last.)
dougtheeng says:
06:14 AM, 04/29/08
'Magnum kicks ass in case you did not know.'
Seconded.
stingray454 says:
07:25 AM, 04/29/08
Glad to see a photo of the 308's gauges and steering wheel, both of which are very nice. Everything you need to know front and center in nice easy to read gauges. The only downside I see is the gauge cluster seems to rise very high up above the rest of the dash, to the point it looks like it would obstruct some of your forward view out of the windshield.
funkymunky says:
11:42 AM, 04/29/08
Robert 4380, 730, et al:
I so appreciate your digs at my allegedly feminine sunglasses. Nothing like getting fashion advice from someone from Michigan. Let's see: Lakers, Pat Riley, best dressed coach in NBA history. Pistons, Chuck Daly. 'Nuff said.
Aps 2: Thanks for the observation. I shot this photo just out of the garage. The car starts at very high idle, but mellows out after about 10 minutes of warmup. If I let it warm up in my garage, the fumes would kill me. Car runs like a dream.
desmolicious says:
02:26 PM, 04/29/08
There's a reason your beloved neighbour Susan let you keep the sunglasses! What part of Donna Karan New York did you not understand?!
Susan obviously has a great sense of humor!
"Oh you spilt ketchup on your pants? Here, why don't you borrow my skirt I mean kilt"...
;)
Ya, and I'm from LA!
estreka says:
05:14 PM, 04/29/08
lol