May 24, 2002

More test-drive fun yesterday. I drove a couple of Subaru Imprezas–the plain-vanilla RS, and the completely insane WRX.

The RS is a good car–it drives well, and Consumer Reports rates it highly for durability. It’s got a pretty potent engine for a car of its size, good handling, and that all-wheel drive really does make a difference, I think, on iffier maneuvers.

The WRX is another beast entirely. Its engine is considerably more powerful, its handling tighter, brakes stronger, everything. It’s very direct and as subtle as a sledgehammer. Tap the gas and get pushed back in the seat.

Both cars are definitely more on the sporty side–in both, you really hear the engine and are aware of what’s going on. This contrasts with the Jetta, which drives well, but doesn’t constantly remind you of everything that’s going on–it’s a lot more like a luxury car in that regard. Likewise, the Subarus have cheesy interiors, compared to the posh Jetta. Not badly engineered, necessarily, but obvious skimping here and there with vinyl sun visors, that sort of thing.

The RT Impreza is a good deal, and I could certainly content myself with it…but driving the WRX really captured my imagination. It’s more car than I need, and might even prove to be a bit annoying for long road trips. And it’s quite a bit more money, and this is a serious consideration for me. Though the price is reasonable for what it is–basically a race car disguised as a sedan.

This is truly hilarious.

Once upon a time, I was a member of the Japan Association of Translators. In fact, I served for a few years as a director, during which time I helped the group purchase its domain name and set up its website. So my name and address got stuck in Network Solution’s database. At the time, the president of JAT was Jeremy Whipple, a friend who lives in a suburb of Tokyo.

Now, somehow, Jeremy’s name and my address got mis-associated by direct-marketing scumbags, so I get a huge amount of junk mail and telephone solicitations for Jeremy.

But the best piece of junk mail ever just arrived. I’ve taken the liberty of opening it because it obviously isn’t meant for the Jeremy I know–a real human being–it’s meant for some completely fictional Jeremy. It’s from Dick Cheney, inviting him to “a private dinner here in Washington, D.C. [note the superfluous periods] on June 19th and also to ask you to serve as a representative of Austin, Texas at The President’s Dinner…In fact, a special place of honor has already been reserved for you to recognize your steadfast support of President Bush.”

Obviously this is a come-on for money, but the pomp and circumstance, the flourishes, and most importantly, the amounts are really impressive–they want Jeremy to spend $2,500 for a seat at a table. And I’ve never really discussed partisan politics with Jeremy, but something tells me he has not been a steadfast supporter of W.