10

One of the more amusing things about Tiger Woods 10, unfortunately not featured prominently, is that it includes all of the USGA Rules and Decisions. Much of it is comprised of gems like the following:

Q. A player's ball came to rest overhanging the edge of the hole. The player walked up to the hole and cast his shadow on the ball, believing that this would cause the grass to wilt and his ball to fall into the hole. Was the player in breach of Rule 1-2 (Exerting
Influence on Ball) when he cast his shadow on the ball?

A. No.

sometimes you got to fight

I went to the Hyundai dealers again today. At Premier Hyundai, as soon as I got out of my car a cocky lackey came up and presumptively asked,"Cash for Clunkers?" I'm sorry, the Malibu is NOT a clunker. If he hadn't caught me so off guard I would have told him to step off, although I was pretty firm about it anyway*. I asked clackey about GCs with navigation, since the forum online says the first models are starting to trickle in, but he insisted it would still be six months yet.

I then went over to Beaverton Hyundai, where I was oddly not accosted as soon as I got out of the car. Since we last met they have stocked up on turbo GCs, presumably because those qualify for C4C (whereas the V6 I want does not). After poking around a bit on the lot I went inside, where Lackey 1 greeted me and knew who I was. So it's not that they weren't paying attention - they were able to pull my file up as soon as I arrived, and were scrambling to get the guy who is 'assigned' to me.

Lackey 1 offered to show me the same navigation system in another car, which I correctly pointed out is the same unit as the Sonata rather than the Genesis sedan. I played with that a little bit and I think it would work, although I am not looking forward to using the touchscreen for stereo controls. Most likely I will just be using iPod with the steering wheel mounted controls anyway. Lackey 1 offered to get some info on availability and fetched a man in a Hawaiian shirt, who told me they wouldn't be getting any navigation-equipped models until March.

When I pressed further, Hawaiian Shirt Man explained that what he means is that he knows of navi-equipped GCs 'on the ground' but he isn't ordering any until the 2011 models. Based on the information I have pieced together it sounds like navi will be equipped as standard on the V6 GT and Track models, so I hope he intends to see out the rest of the year with his current stock. In any case, the cars he knew of were all GT trims and he was not aware of any Track models equipped with the navi yet, although he said he would check on Monday. Hawaiian Shirt Man also suggested that Hyundai was now only providing Track models to dealers with technicians sufficiently trained to maintain them, which they happen to be, and that he would be OK to trade for a Track model even if I didn't buy it because they were good cars to have. I told him to find a Mirabeau Blue one, and hope that my file already says I'm after the A/T - although so far I have no reason to doubt the completeness of their files.

So, it seems like the local dealers are not going to be of much further use unless I enter into negotiations with one of them.

*I am opposed to 'Cash for Clunkers'. I am opposed to it on a personal basis, on a car enthusiast basis, and if I were environmentally minded I would be opposed to it on that basis as well. I don't like my car being called a clunker (although I don't know if it even qualifies - damned if I am going to check). I don't want the government giving my car the sodium silicate lethal injection. I don't want the government demolishing other cars that are rare or interesting, like the people who clunkered a C4 Corvette and a Maserati. I don't want somebody destroying my Firebird before I get to it! We should also not be cashing in our cultural heritage for shortsighted gain. How about we tear down the White House to help support our country's floundering homebuilding industry? I am further appalled that this whole business is being tauted as an environmentally friendly initiative, because it is better to just keep an old car running than to go through the trouble of destroying it and then building a whole new car - especially hybrids, with their nickel battery packs. Whatever happened to reduce, reuse, recycle?

fell asleep on tuesday woke up monday afternoon

So when the dealership said they would contact me when they found a Mirabeau Blue 3.8 Track A/T, what they really meant was Lackey 1 would call me every other day to try to sell me their Acqua Minerale 3.8 Grand Touring M/T. I am letting them continue to see how long it takes for them to get bored. I am actually waiting for the navigation system to come out which will probably be another couple months...just hope there will still be some summer left to enjoy the summer tires.

it felt good to be out of the rain

I saw that one of the dealers has a car like the one I want, just a different color. So I decided to test drive it because it's mechanically the same. I am concerned about finding a workable driving position, and how hard the suspension is on the Track model. I know it's a hot car and they may not let just anyone drive it so I dressed up a little nice and even shaved so I look respectable.

Car was at the Hyundai dealer that has been stalking me anyway. As soon as I get out of the car a lackey comes over. I told him I was looking at the Genesis Coupe among other cars like it. He goes off to fetch a Genesis specialist. The car is fortunately out in their drive and not on the showroom floor. I took the opportunity to take some pictures. The lackey comes back some time later and says their Genesis guys are busy but he has the key. He goes to open the door and it won't open. He has the wrong key. He goes back inside, and after some more waiting he comes out with the right one. He opens up the car and starts rambling again and mentions a test drive so I stopped him there and said yes, I'd like a test drive. So we went inside to do paperwork.Now I have read some car buying books so I am ready to scan the test drive form for any tiny print that will say they can pull a credit check on me. I am feeling savvy.

Lackey brings a stack of forms and the top one says CREDIT APPLICATION.

I told him no, I'm not filling that out.

Lackey says that's how he was told they do things and I tell him I'm still not going to fill it out. Lackey scurries off.

Lackey comes back with a Level 2 Lackey, who sits down and explains that they get a lot of inquiries about the Genesis Coupe, and they only have the one car, and if they let just anyone drive it then their new car would have 500 miles on it. Even the lackies haven't driven in it. So their stance is to "run the numbers, and see if it would work" before they allow test drives. Level 1 Lackey also comes back and I can see he's got a 'four-square' worksheet started.

However, the whole time I am saying nothing and giving Level 2 Lackey my patented condescending blank stare. Level 2 Lackey keeps going on but it's not looking good, and I'm getting ready to walk.

From out of nowhere a third salesman walks up, grabs the keyfob out of Level 2 Lackey's hand and says "C'mon, let's go for a spin."

We go outside again and he asks what car I am interested in. I told him I am looking at one like theirs but in the blue, but since the mechanicals are the same I'd like to drive it to compare it with the 370Z and the RX-8 since I haven't decided which car of this type to get. [Lie] He is OK with this and just asks for my driver's license. I pull it out of my wallet and present it between my fingers. He goes to grab it but I have a firm grip on it and I tell him "I do not authorize you to do a credit check on me." He is kind of offended, says he needs my SSN for that and tells me to "take a deep breathhh, we're going to have some fun!"

He goes and presumably copies the license. I haven't signed anything. Lackies are jealous. Guy comes back, we get in the car and fire it up (push-button start) to get the A/C going...it was about 70 and sunny today. A/C is not bad...saw several reports from people online that the A/C was not as cold as they want but didn't notice that.

I try and adjust the seat, but I am still at the roof. Did you put the seat down? Yes it's down, it won't go anymore. I have to recline the seat back instead of sitting bolt upright. It's not going to drive like the Malibu, but I think I could get used to it.

Put it in gear and...off we go!

Pull out of the dealership and drive away...then car hangs and won't go faster. I am not used to gated automatic shifters and I have put it in sport (flappy paddle) mode. I put it in normal auto and it starts behaving properly.

Track model has stiffer suspension. I haven't driven normal so I don't know if it's any worse, but the car is a little bumpy on the road in front of dealer. Maybe just more communicative. Also not like the Malibu.

Kind of stop and go traffic on this street - brakes are firm but not jerky. I like.

Turn the corner - steering feels pretty nice.

Onto the main drag. Trying to behave and watch speed, which is hard since gauges are reversed from Malibu. I figure guy is going to just have me drive it around the block but we keep going straight.

Salesman asks what I am driving right now. Well, a Malibu, but now that I am settled into work I can get something new.

I ask about the nav system. Guy is very condescending - nav systems don't belong in sports cars, the nav system is a vicious lie by bloggers and it won't be available until 2010, it's just another thing to go wrong. I ask him if that means he thinks there is a quality problem with the Hyundai nav systems. (After all they use them in other models.) He says oh no, we use LG, they are great. Whatever. He is not going to give useful information about that.

Guy talks about how the Genesis Coupe is better than the 370Z, cheaper than the Infiniti G37. I say, what about Mazda? "What ABOUT Mazda." Well, the RX-8. "Oh well that only has 250 HP in it and Mazda is making it the female car for when they bring out the RX-7 in about three years, THAT will have a manly engine in it." So he's continuing to be condescending.

We get to the end of main drag and hop onto highway. Unfortunately other cars in the way so I can't really open it up, but car has been manageable so far for being in excess of 300 HP. Get some practice with visibility. I comment on how it's not bad, to throw the salesman a bone, but he doesn't bite. The dip in the rear quarter window doesn't help much though and I do kind of have to put my whole body into checking blind spot. Salesman goes on about how he feels the Track trim level is a waste of money because of all the aftermarket stuff - I think the aftermarket people are still just prototyping their components, and I don't want to meddle in that anyway.

Merge onto other freeway. We get off at the second exit and the salesman starts going off again. He says everyone around us is looking at the car. I did see one guy in a truck that looked pretty stunned but I don't know about the others. Not why I'm getting a new car anyway. Salesman continues - car has stability control so it's difficult to crash. He knows because he's tried! (??!?) He mentions the button to turn it off, "but that only reduces the traction control about 20%". You can COMPLETELY disable the traction control, "I can show you what fuse to pull, I have to do it after work though." What a pal.

Salesman keeps going - the Genesis Coupe is obviously better than any of the other cars, just nobody knows what to make of it, and any LOGICAL person would choose it, and if they don't then they shouldn't waste his time.

Turn back on to dealer's street. Ride gets a little bumpy again. Traffic is backed up and moving slow, so of course salesman tells me to put the car in sport mode. What good would that possibly do? Whatever. I put it in sport mode. As salesman points out, sport mode acts like a manual transmission and the car suddenly has a noticeable drag when coasting - apparently like a stick does? Anyway I can't do much besides blip it between first and second, and the drag is making life more difficult, but at least the paddles are intuitive. Some last minute drama - I have to cut a short yellow light close, and this is in Beaverton where they have red light cameras, and a motorcycle turns onto my street right in front of me so I can't speed up to clear the yellow faster. No idea if I triggered it or not. Not my car anyway.

Salesman starts telling me a sob story about how he had to downgrade his car and make lifestyle adjustments because of economy and asks what I do. Well. I do feel like rubbing it in so I tell him I'm in implantable medical and we are still expanding, and then talk a little about pacemakers and the implantable defibrillators, which he doesn't believe me about. He is condescending again and says if someone needs a defibrillator what is their quality of life, and maybe they should just hang it up. Never mind the point is to IMPROVE quality of life. Maybe he will change his tone in 40 years.

Shut the car down with push button start and get out. Salesman is not optimistic - "I can't sell you this car today, can I." I tell him no, but I also didn't see any dealbreakers and it's still on my list. Salesman is now motivated to find one like this in Mirabeau Blue. He is OK with letting me add some miles to this car because apparently not many people are interested in the Track A/T model, seems like the Grand Touring trim is more popular.

We go inside again and salesman tells me how he is rebadging all the Geneses that come in because he hates the Hyundai H - well I like it. Wrapping things up - salesman gives me a brochure about suspension upgrades for some reason, and turns me back over to Level 1 Lackey, who gives me his card. I like the guy who helped last time better but I don't know if he's still there - who knows what their turnover is. Level 1 Lackey takes my phone number, which I'm pretty sure they have anyway, and says they will get in touch if they track down a Mirabeau Blue 3.8 Track A/T. And I am free!

liquid metal through my veins

The first Genesis Coupes are starting to trickle into the area but I haven't seen any on the road yet. I've hit up the five main dealers in the Portland area and only one seemed decent. One of the other dealers did have a 3.8 Track in Interlagos (School Bus / Banana) Yellow. The spoiler doesn't impact rear visibility like I thought it would but I still wish the seats went further down and back.

the list

Just to make sure I'm not overlooking anything I went to Edmunds.com and put in some high-level filters on all new cars, then crossed off things I know won't work. The resulting list:

Hyundai Genesis Coupe (3.8 Track)
Mazda RX-8 (Grand Touring)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (MR)
Subaru Impreza (2.5GT)

no one's jamming their transmission

Auto show has come and gone. Of the stuff I tried, I still like the Genesis Coupe the best, but there are some annoyances. It looks like the sunroof is standard on the V6 and the spoiler is standard on the Track trim level that has all the go faster bits. The trunk also has kind of a small opening so I'll be giving up more practicality than I thought.

Things have been going pretty well at work. I have subtly caused a ton of trouble as my reports and data analysis get mailed around. I heard one thing I found is now a bonus goal for upper management to fix in 2009. I have been using unstructured time to develop new reports to cause further trouble. And here boss squared thought systems work was a dead end.

knowing everything could come undone

I found my grad school acceptance letters for Purdue and UCSD. I pitched them. It's stupid to play what if.

but all i hear are low sounds

It snowed last night. Apparently it all got dumped around 5AM because it definitely wasn't looking that way when I was out last night. So the first thing I did was drop everything, get around and go driving. I needed groceries at some point and I don't patronize the hippie mart because they don't carry things like pasteurized processed grape food. I also hurried to catch the heathen window when the few brave souls that were out would be at church. The roads were pretty treacherous - it just came down as light puffy snow but it just got mashed into the ground because Portland has almost no anti-snow infrastructure. I did make it to the grocery store in town and back in one piece. I had to drive quite slow but somehow was still passing Land Rovers. It's been a while since I drove on snow. It reminds me of home.

waiting for the light to come back

My new camera showed up earlier this week. Unfortunately it's always dark after I get back from work so I haven't been able to get out and play with it yet. I have tried it out a little though. It feels cheaper than I thought, which is pretty lame for the king of the A-series. Also I'm used to my old camera's manual flash open so I have to get used to autoflash again. It also has face detection, and was smart enough to work on an episode of Top Gear.