Zoom Zoom Zoom

Driving to the event, overcast and threatening rain all day...but it largely held off at the track.

The event consisted of 4 "tracks".

One in the CX7 SUV was a target course...get the wheel exactly 12 inches from the cones in 7 locations and get 2 points. 1 pt for 6-18. I was 12 of 14...pretty good. Full points...but boring.

2 was a "match time" track. Get around in the exact time (30 sec) for a chance to win a bose wave. I was off by .4 and nowhere near winning..as the winner was 29.999. Oh well.

Now for the fun...the sport track let you pick RX8 or Miata to rip around a sport course. Not much chance to get beyond 3rd gear but ...DAMN...the RX8 can motor...did that course 3 times. No prizes..but you leave that course with a big smile on your face.

Last...and what I went for..was to drive the speed6. This was a timed course..tiny prizes awarded (I won a model car)...a little better prize for hourly low time...which I missed by .01 with a time of 41.019. Fasted of the day was sub 40...and since the mist had been in there was no way I was going to get there. Trying would have taken me through the cones...a big no no.

Did that track 4 times...best time was the 3rd though I think the last run would have been better. Problem...it was 5:45 and they were closing. The car ahead of me went sideways in the last corner and wiped the cones. Normally that would have earned me another shot (I think I'd have beat my time) but since it was over they pulled me in.

They say I'll have a pic to download from the site on Monday. If its there I'll post it.

Definitely fun to work out a car and not have to worry about killing it..since it belongs to someone else.

Serious fun though..

and almost all of them are down to their last 2 or 3 2006 vehicles.

Went to another dealer this morning. They had a 2006 i Sport 4 door hatchback on the lot, with most of the good stuff listed above as standards, not additional options. The only real option they had were the $40 wheel locks. However, that guy's MSRP was a little over $24K, with another $500 in dealer added options (pinstriping and window tinting). Best they could do on that was $21,500 OTD. That's $1K over last night's price, so we passed on it too.

Hitting a real close Toyota dealer tonight. Even though dealing with them sucks, I'll see what I can push for on a Camry. They suck big time because they generally add $1000 - $1500 in dealer added options (tint, pin stripe, fabric protection, paint sealer, etc.) However, sales manager on the phone says they can order one through Gulf States (distributor) without any add-ons if I can wait 2 - 3 weeks.

Post #265,830 by bepatient 8/25/06 12:45:25 AM Reply	Zoom Zoom Zoom I've signed up and will be attending what looks to be like a great way to spend a saturday afternoon. Mazda's [link\|https://zoomzoomlive.com/\|Zoom Zoom Live] I'm looking forward to the Speed6 drive...since I was forced while buying my puny 150bhp Mazda3 to stare at a flame red Speed, hood open...for about 3 hours while doing paperwork. It was taunting me. Now I get to taunt back :-) Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #265,843 by imqwerky 8/25/06 9:53:31 AM Reply	Cool! Sounds like a blast :-) Smile, Amy [link\|http://kevan.org/brain.cgi?Amy%20Rathman\|Pics of the Family]
Post #265,856 by bepatient 8/25/06 1:15:03 PM Reply	I am looking forward to it! Full report on my return. Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #265,918 by bepatient 8/27/06 12:18:08 AM Reply	Yahoo Driving to the event, overcast and threatening rain all day...but it largely held off at the track. The event consisted of 4 "tracks". One in the CX7 SUV was a target course...get the wheel exactly 12 inches from the cones in 7 locations and get 2 points. 1 pt for 6-18. I was 12 of 14...pretty good. Full points...but boring. 2 was a "match time" track. Get around in the exact time (30 sec) for a chance to win a bose wave. I was off by .4 and nowhere near winning..as the winner was 29.999. Oh well. Now for the fun...the sport track let you pick RX8 or Miata to rip around a sport course. Not much chance to get beyond 3rd gear but ...DAMN...the RX8 can motor...did that course 3 times. No prizes..but you leave that course with a big smile on your face. Last...and what I went for..was to drive the speed6. This was a timed course..tiny prizes awarded (I won a model car)...a little better prize for hourly low time...which I missed by .01 with a time of 41.019. Fasted of the day was sub 40...and since the mist had been in there was no way I was going to get there. Trying would have taken me through the cones...a big no no. Did that track 4 times...best time was the 3rd though I think the last run would have been better. Problem...it was 5:45 and they were closing. The car ahead of me went sideways in the last corner and wiped the cones. Normally that would have earned me another shot (I think I'd have beat my time) but since it was over they pulled me in. They say I'll have a pic to download from the site on Monday. If its there I'll post it. Definitely fun to work out a car and not have to worry about killing it..since it belongs to someone else. Serious fun though.. Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #265,967 by imqwerky 8/27/06 1:14:19 PM Reply	Sounds like you had a great time. If I ever get a chance to do that, damn the cones :) Smile, Amy [link\|http://kevan.org/brain.cgi?Amy%20Rathman\|Pics of the Family]
Post #267,222 by lincoln 9/11/06 3:17:39 PM Reply	Did you ever try out a Mazda6i? Just asking, since that's one of the vehicles still in the running for replacing my wife's current chariot. lincoln "Chicago to my mind was the only place to be. ... I above all liked the city because it was filled with people all a-bustle, and the clatter of hooves and carriages, and with delivery wagons and drays and peddlers and the boom and clank of freight trains. And when those black clouds came sailing in from the west, pouring thunderstorms upon us so that you couldn't hear the cries or curses of humankind, I liked that best of all. Chicago could stand up to the worst God had to offer. I understood why it was built--a place for trade, of course, with railroads and ships and so on, but mostly to give all of us a magnitude of defiance that is not provided by one house on the plains. And the plains is where those storms come from." -- E.L. Doctorow Never apply a Star Trek solution to a Babylon 5 problem. I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a *Citizen* of the United States. [link\|mailto:bconnors@ev1.net\|contact me]
Post #267,227 by bepatient 9/11/06 3:42:58 PM Reply	Have driven the 6 several times very nice car. The 6cyl is very peppy. The 4 is a bit underpowered by Mazda standard...but equal to most in class. Another surprising vehicle in that class is the new Hyundai Sonata. It is the first Hyundai with a good powerplant...and it handles surprisingly well. Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #267,261 by lincoln 9/11/06 9:29:23 PM Reply	99% usage will be local stop and go driving so a V6 will be passed over based upon MPG ratings: the 4 is 24/31 versus 20/27 for the 6. Thanks for the opinion. lincoln "Chicago to my mind was the only place to be. ... I above all liked the city because it was filled with people all a-bustle, and the clatter of hooves and carriages, and with delivery wagons and drays and peddlers and the boom and clank of freight trains. And when those black clouds came sailing in from the west, pouring thunderstorms upon us so that you couldn't hear the cries or curses of humankind, I liked that best of all. Chicago could stand up to the worst God had to offer. I understood why it was built--a place for trade, of course, with railroads and ships and so on, but mostly to give all of us a magnitude of defiance that is not provided by one house on the plains. And the plains is where those storms come from." -- E.L. Doctorow Never apply a Star Trek solution to a Babylon 5 problem. I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a *Citizen* of the United States. [link\|mailto:bconnors@ev1.net\|contact me]
Post #267,228 by tonytib 9/11/06 3:45:20 PM Reply	If I were buying now I'd seriously look at Mazda 6 hatchback
Post #267,250 by Meerkat 9/11/06 7:42:28 PM Reply	I've driven the '6i' a few times Though here it's just called the Mazda6. Mazda Australia has chosen not to give us the 6 cyl one for some reason :( We do get the MPS ('Speed 6') though. In short, it's fun enough to drive, very comfortable, the hatch offers heaps of storage, it has airbags out the wazoo... so definitely one to consider. Two out of three people wonder where the other one is.
Post #267,757 by lincoln 9/16/06 4:30:37 PM Reply	Almost bought the 2000 Mazda6 i last night Went to the dealer, test drove it one more time, then sat down to negotiate. Here's the skinny: base price = $19,100 covenience package = $1,000 (contains) -- perimeter alarm -- 17' alloy wheels w/ 215/50R17 tires -- 8 way power driver's seat automatic trans = $900 front side curtain airbags = $500 rear spoiler = $325 autodim mirror w/ compass = $175 sport grill ("non-chrome") = $100 wheel locks = $40 cargo net = $40 delivery = $560 Total MSRP = $22,750 Mazda is offering $2500 cash back to the customer on any 2006 Mazda6 cars. Tax is 6.25%, and don't forget title, license and other fees. Dealer offered $20,500 out the door. He said "that's my last and final offer; I'm losing money on the deal!" Invoice price on the car as shown is $20,758. I told him I won't go above $19,999. He said "forget it". So I did. lincoln "Chicago to my mind was the only place to be. ... I above all liked the city because it was filled with people all a-bustle, and the clatter of hooves and carriages, and with delivery wagons and drays and peddlers and the boom and clank of freight trains. And when those black clouds came sailing in from the west, pouring thunderstorms upon us so that you couldn't hear the cries or curses of humankind, I liked that best of all. Chicago could stand up to the worst God had to offer. I understood why it was built--a place for trade, of course, with railroads and ships and so on, but mostly to give all of us a magnitude of defiance that is not provided by one house on the plains. And the plains is where those storms come from." -- E.L. Doctorow Never apply a Star Trek solution to a Babylon 5 problem. I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a *Citizen* of the United States. [link\|mailto:bconnors@ev1.net\|contact me]
Post #267,760 by bepatient 9/16/06 5:27:40 PM Reply	Well now you know. Push point is higher than you want. Lots of other dealers. Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #267,769 by lincoln 9/16/06 6:14:08 PM Reply	Only 7 in this town and almost all of them are down to their last 2 or 3 2006 vehicles. Went to another dealer this morning. They had a 2006 i Sport 4 door hatchback on the lot, with most of the good stuff listed above as standards, not additional options. The only real option they had were the $40 wheel locks. However, that guy's MSRP was a little over $24K, with another $500 in dealer added options (pinstriping and window tinting). Best they could do on that was $21,500 OTD. That's $1K over last night's price, so we passed on it too. Hitting a real close Toyota dealer tonight. Even though dealing with them sucks, I'll see what I can push for on a Camry. They suck big time because they generally add $1000 - $1500 in dealer added options (tint, pin stripe, fabric protection, paint sealer, etc.) However, sales manager on the phone says they can order one through Gulf States (distributor) without any add-ons if I can wait 2 - 3 weeks. lincoln "Chicago to my mind was the only place to be. ... I above all liked the city because it was filled with people all a-bustle, and the clatter of hooves and carriages, and with delivery wagons and drays and peddlers and the boom and clank of freight trains. And when those black clouds came sailing in from the west, pouring thunderstorms upon us so that you couldn't hear the cries or curses of humankind, I liked that best of all. Chicago could stand up to the worst God had to offer. I understood why it was built--a place for trade, of course, with railroads and ships and so on, but mostly to give all of us a magnitude of defiance that is not provided by one house on the plains. And the plains is where those storms come from." -- E.L. Doctorow Never apply a Star Trek solution to a Babylon 5 problem. I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a *Citizen* of the United States. [link\|mailto:bconnors@ev1.net\|contact me]

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