Greetings from that mecca of global culture, Goodyear, Ariz. Home to a Target, a Macaroni Grill, the Cleveland Indians and the parents of one James Tiberius Riswick.
In the past two Thanksgiving journeys out here, I've written letters to myself in the future to warn against repeating that year's calamities. Leaving stupidly on Wednesday in the G35 for one, and leaving my wallet behind the other. This year, I'm happy to report that I heeded my own advice and no such letter is warranted. I won't need to reiterate to myself next year that I should just celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. Outside of an unfortunate accident-caused traffic jam just outside of Ontario, my Tuesday trip went muck-up-free.
In fact, this was the best Thanksgiving trip thus far largely thanks to a marvelous road trip companion -- our Dodge Challenger. I've been meaning to take it a long distance ever since I decided it wasn't solely just a car for balding, 50-year-old men in Tommy Bahama shirts pining for days gone by. It's powerful, the ride is excellent, the stereo is awesome and the trunk is huge (more on that Monday). People are also apt to notice you and clear out of your way. The more I drive the Challenger the more I like it and the more I think Dodge nailed the muscle car thing perfectly -- making a 6-hour cross-desert road trip is far more important for this sort of car than trying to make it handle well.
The Challenger hit 15,000 miles somewhere west of Blythe, Calif., but since it was pitch dark outside I couldn't take the picture while driving and didn't think it was safe (or important enough) to pull over just to nab the money shot. I lack Dan Edmunds' devotion. Sorry.
More on driving through the dark in the desert later this weekend.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 15,000 miles (sort of)
audisport says:
06:26 AM, 11/28/09
Cleveland Indians??? Or... Maybe the Arizona D' Backs....
alex4515 says:
06:38 AM, 11/28/09
I was in the same area (Buckeye) for Thanksgiving, though our drive from the DFW area was a bit further at 1100+ miles. We are returning home today and planning to take the northern route through Flagstaff, Albuquerque, etc. for a change of pace. Our 2009 Accord worked well for me, my wife, and our 6 month old and got well over 30mpg on the long stretches of highway, though I wouldn't mind making the trip in a car with longer legs like the Challenger...
siarizona says:
07:46 AM, 11/28/09
@audisport: Cleveland Indians go to Goodyear for spring training
cr_driver says:
09:44 AM, 11/28/09
Good one siari
bankerdanny says:
11:49 AM, 11/28/09
Please tell me that your middle name really is Tiberius. It's borderline embarassing to say it, but that would be very cool.
huyracing says:
01:35 PM, 11/28/09
nerd!
clarkma5 says:
03:38 PM, 11/28/09
...you're named after Captain Kirk?
greenpony says:
06:58 PM, 11/28/09
Boldly going where only a few have gone before.
greenpony says:
07:05 PM, 11/28/09
Consumer Reports rates the Chally as the most beloved car, with a whopping 92% of owners who responded to the CR survey saying they would definitely buy another.
bodyblue says:
05:20 AM, 11/29/09
That CR survey must really upset the MOPAR haters out there...(along with CR) The Challenger has lost every pony car comparison I have seen, yet the owners love them and even the IL staff has really come around on it. It shows that there is a lot more to a car than skid pad g's and 1/4 mile times. A car is a sum of its parts and driving experience. It also really shows the value of using one's own judgement and not relying on the "experts" in the car mags. That is why several of us on here really want more mainstream cars in the IL fleet. Yes, they are the experts but long term use brings out what a car really is.....not just a two or three day test. The Challenger has really been a flawless performer...the clutch was the fault of a brother in law...no car can withstand one of those. MOPAR CAN still build a car that Americans want to buy and one that is dependable (look a the Ram so far) now it just needs to build MORE of cars like the Challenger and Ram and less like the squeaky interior of the DGC and the buzzy CVT World Engine in the Caliber.
firstwagon says:
03:26 PM, 11/29/09
"It shows that there is a lot more to a car than skid pad g's and 1/4 mile times. A car is a sum of its parts and driving experience. It also really shows the value of using one's own judgement and not relying on the "experts" in the car mags."
Words of wisdom.
chuckg says:
04:52 PM, 11/29/09
I own a Challenger R/T, so understand I'm biased. Also understand, if it was a piece of junk I'd state that.
The Challenger is not comparable to the Mustang or Camaro. It's more of a GT car than a true pony car. When you step on the pedal, yeah it will go plenty fast. But it's more of a cruiser than anything.....superior ride, no rattles, comfortable, quiet, TIGHT, a blast to drive, and it has the presence of few automobiles.
It's hard to describe what it's like owning one of these cars. Sometimes you want to just go out and drive the thing, and sometimes you just want to look at it in the garage. I will say this....the Challenger has reignited my love of driving.
jriz says:
10:09 AM, 02/ 3/10
"clarkma5 says:
03:38 PM, 11/28/09
...you're named after Captain Kirk?"
See, that would be impossible, for I was born in 1983 and the "T" in James T Kirk wasn't revealed to stand for Tiberius until "Star Trek VI," which of course came out in 1991.