A Week of 10s Day 5: Dream Garage

I'm slightly behind, yup. Even though I sometimes feel like I'm on vacation here in Denmark, I still am a full time student and this week has been my last week of class and some classes also are holding finals as well. Today was my final marketing report and presentation for my International Marketing class. We had to do a report focusing on how H&M should brand it's new Concious Collection of eco-friendly clothing. Long story short, my group's recommendation ended up becoming a 13 page report detailing a complete company revamp and 30 minute presentation which ended up with our professor calling our report and presentation "perfect". The only fault he could find? He wished we included a table of contents. Basically we aced it. Fucking awesome!

So what I have for today is actually a question I had for another blog I follow, Closet Car Guy, who is also doing a post-per-day type thing all December. I asked him (and he awesomely answered) about his dream garage. I asked for his top 5 regardless of price which I will now answer myself except with ten, given this is a Week of 10s afterall.

1. Toyota Land Cruiser

It's a big brute of an SUV, but if the zombie apocalypse were to ever happen, I can not think of a better go-anywhere luxo-tank to be in when running them over.

2. Volvo V60 T6 AWD

The perfect everyday driver. 300HP, all-wheel drive, wagon space and versatility, sporty driving dynamics, and traditional Volvo comfort and safety. Too bad it can't be bought in the US.

3. Lexus LFA

Have you heard this thing!?


Total track day car

4. Aston Martin DBS

Because I get a boner just looking at it. My ultimate "time to impress" car. Pure class.

5. Scion FR-S

It's a no-nonsense, fun to drive coupe that's affordable too. Good for those mountain roads.

6. Jaguar XJ-L Supersport

Because large cars don't have to be boring. 510HP on tap also helps for when you want a little oomph as you waft about.

7. Lexus RX 450h

Another everyday driver. 30mpg from a pretty large sized SUV is quite good, plus I'm sure mom would love it.

8. Volkswagen Golf TDI

I've actually tried one of these out, and it's brilliant. The DSG geabox is solid and it's almost GTI like in handling. Plus this evens out the all the supercars and SUVs along with the RX Hybrid above.

9. Jeep Wrangler

I read somewhere once that the Wrangler was voted the gayest car in the US. While I don't know if I would agree with that, for a pure off roader, it's the obvious choice. Classic.

10. Volvo 940 Turbo

I've always had a fascination with those old boxy Volvos. The 940 is one of my favorites, and in Turbo guise, it's a bit of a sleeper too. Overall, more of a weird childhood dream car than anything.


If you have any suggestions for future 10s, comment below or shoot me an email.

In the Works:
-Favorite feel good songs
-Life goals

If I keep getting suggestions, I'll probably kep writing about them so keep them coming.

All the best,

JP

Photo Source Credits: Edmunds.com

Video: Hybrid Power

This is the new Toyota TS030 Hybrid LeMans racecar...and it sounds fucking epic. It's like if a pod racer from Starwars and the Batmobile had a lovechild, this would be the result. Damn.

My Dream Garage

If I only had the money....

1991 Toyota Corolla (102HP)

-My practice car and the first car I ever drove courtesy of my uncle

1985 Mercedes 190E 2.3 (120HP)

-The first car I ever rode in and a car my dad owned for over 19 years before selling it.

2011 Volvo C30 T5 (227HP)

-A better looking hot-hatch

1979 Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 (250-286HP)
-The ultimate symbol of excess in the 70s and 80s, a sure to be future classic

2003 Lexus GS430 (300 HP)

-Better than the current one, fast, and bulletproof reliability

2011 Volvo V70 T6 R-design Heico Sportiv (330HP)

-Hot station wagons are so underrated

2011 Maserati Gran Turismo S (434 HP)

-Pretty, fast, and did I mention pretty? (see top)

2011 Aston Martin DB9 Volante (470HP)
-Everyone needs a fast convertible

2012 Lexus LFA (552HP)

-Only 500 made, the ultimate toy. Plus it sounds like heaven

I'll keep dreaming haha.

JP

Insured! and Prop 1

Today I finally did something I've procrastinated for too long a time, me and my mom finally paid visit to our car insurance agent to get me added onto my parent's car insurance plan. We had planned to do this for about two months now but we always seemed to find some way to push it another two weeks until now- we finally got it done. Apart form all the techincal jazz, at the end of the day, it really means one thing - I will finally be allowed to drive by myself, so, if you live in the D.C. area, get off the roads or brush up on your emergency avoidance skills, haha. No worries though, I'm not a reckless driver by any means, i don't use my phone while driving and I can barely text properly even when I'm not distracted so I definitely won't be doing that either. Speeding shouldn't be a big issue either, traffic in the area, while not extreme, will naturally limit me to well below posted speed limits for the majority of the day and evening. I guess then if I do every want to let loose, I'll have to spend the $1,000 plane ticket, $1,500 hotel fee and $800 car rental to go to germany and experience it's Autobahn. (Effectively #6 on my to-do list for life according to what I wrote back in 8th grade for an English assignment)

Anyways, the meeting went all well and smooth in the end. The guy we worked with was funny and very likable and we worked out every possible discount we could, a good student discount and a some safe-driving booklet thing was was essentially like a homework book that I had to do- essentially, I had to fill out a book totalling an hour of work which eventually ends up as an $240 savings per year that I get in return, nice! Despite all of this though, I still effectively almost doubled my mom's yearly rates, one of the great bonuses associated with being a male, teenage driver.

Being Friday, it means there is now only three days until school officially starts up again for me. I finally got my schedule a few days ago and I got lucky this year and got some classes with friends I haven't had classes with since freshman year, I am also guaranteed at least 4 classes with Matt this year including journalism which I will thoroughly enjoy. I plan to enjoy this last weekend of summer with some quiet relaxation time before the inevitable bustle of Labour Day packing and getting everything ready for school. Anyways, I hope everyone who starts school this coming week a pleasant final weekend of summer, and for everyone who has already started school, I hope you had a pleasant return back to school and I wish you a successful year.

Also, for anyone who lives in the great state up north known as Maine, I implore you and anyone you know to please vote "no" on Proposition 1. Proposition 1 is much like the highly covered Prop 8 initiative in California which aimed to limit equality for gay couples. Even if you do not live in Maine, it is imperative that everyone try to contribute something to the effort to prevent Prop 1 from being passed in November.

More Info - Protect Maine Equality