turboDan - blog

Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm

Posted by Dan on Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 9:57 PM

It's amazing how fast people can get things done when they know they're going to be making money off of you. I called my credit union around 9:30am this morning and had a check in my hand by 1:30pm (it could have been sooner, but I had lunch and actual work to attend to). I hadn't really planned on things coming together this quickly, but I can't complain. The last piece of the puzzle was getting the current (now previous) owner of the M3 up here to sign some documents that needed to be notarized. And to bring the car, of course. A word to anyone who has never lived in Washington state... buying/selling a car privately here is a pain in the ass.

By 2:30pm I had a time and place set. Being that we weren't meeting until a little after 4pm, I spent the next hour and a half skipping through the halls at work distracted by what was soon to be my new toy. I also conned Bernie into helping me get both the M and my Z home. It didn't really take much convincing. Tomorrow I plan on getting up at the ass-crack of dawn to head to the DMV and file my transfer of ownership papers, register the car in my name, and otherwise make things nice and legal. Did I mention tonight is the start of a 4 day weekend for me? A 4 day weekend that I will likely spend cleaning, detailing, and driving my new toy.

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I fail at negotiation

Posted by Dan on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 7:29 PM

I can't negotiate to save my life. Just like Mark Wahlberg's character in "The Big Hit," I can't stand the idea of anybody not liking me. Therefore, I find it difficult if not impossible to be forceful with someone when negotiating a price, terms, etc. I guess it's better to be known as a nice guy who pays a little too much than a dick who pinches pennies (even though I am a cheap bastard in general).

That said, I will soon have an M3 in my driveway, for the price of $12,500. Maybe I should have started with a lower offer?

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Anticipation

Posted by Dan on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 1:47 PM

I've been looking at cars lately. Specifically, cars that could replace the Audi. While I enjoy most aspects of the Audi, it's come to my attention, after driving the Z again for the past few months, that it's just not sporty enough for my tastes. So the search started for a new daily driver. I believe I've found one. It's a 1997 BMW M3 Sedan (see photo at right). I've been in contact with the owner on and off over the past week and a half, test drove it on Sunday, and just made an offer to him via e-mail 15 minutes ago. I am now waiting for a reply, and the anticipation is killing me. Wish me luck.

As an aside, my Audi is now for sale, or rather, will be very soon. Watch this space for more info.

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SUV drivers can suck my hairy, white wang

Posted by Dan on Wednesday, August 09, 2006 at 8:41 AM

Especially those still sporting "W04" stickers after all the shit that has gone down over the past few years. I was getting onto WA-520 west from Union Hill Road/Avondale in Redmond this morning. Always a point of congestion as the on-ramp starts out as two lanes and narrows to one before merging with 520. One would think that those who drive this route every day, who I would assume to be most people on the road at that time, would know this happens, know the fact that the RIGHT lane is the one that ends, and make an attempt to merge BEFORE the last minute. This is usually not the case, but usually people manage to merge in a civil manner. From time to time I have to deal with a pushy soccer mom in her SUV who thinks she has the right to merge as the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th car ahead of me, but I can usually scare her off if I stay next to her long enough after the white line in the center of the road disappears and the lane starts to narrow.

Today, however, I met the biggest jackass I have ever had to deal with on said stretch of road. Driving his black Acura MDX, sipping his latte, dressed business casual, with aforementioned "W04" sticker prominently affixed to his rear window. When the road narrowed and I let the requisite 1 car merge in front of me, he floors it and almost RAMS the car in front of him (the one that I let merge). So I keep next to him. I glance over. He's glaring at me. Flipping me the bird. And using his other hand to point at said gesture, no hands on the wheel. I kept at it until we were both driving on the shoulder, and the road was down to one lane. I honestly fail to comprehend how some people can't understand that when their lane ends they do NOT have the right of way, nor do they understand the correct way to merge (like a zipper, 1 car from each lane). When you act like a self-important asshat you slow everybody else down. I finally backed off as I realized the situation was hopeless, and we'd end up two abreast on 520 soon if one of us didn't.

Which brings me back to my original point. SUV drivers can suck my hairy, white wang.

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