the friday five — automotive edition

1. Do you have a car? If so, what kind of car is it?

Dodge Dakota. My feelings on this are mixed, in that (a) It’s a great truck that I enjoy driving. (b) I like trucks in general. (c) I firmly believe most American cars are complete crap and would like to invest in some solid european engineering. (d) European car companies don’t market trucks over here.

Sort through all that and you come to the conclusion that I’ll have this truck for a good long time.

2. Do you drive very often?

Every day, but not far: it’s a five minute drive to get to work which I would bike if I ever got up early enough.

3. What’s your dream car?

Jeep Grand Cherokee with all the bells and whistles. My folks have one. It rides like a dream. Too expensive, though. How about a completely tricked out Mini Cooper S?

4. Have you ever received a ticket?

Yes. No speeding tickets since I moved to Denver, however, and only one ticket of any kind in that same period.

5. Have you ever been in an accident?

I was in a real humdinger when I was in Jr. High (folks were driving). Totaled the car. I was hit twice in college, once by a station wagon and once by a ‘51 Chevy truck going about 58 on a backstreet in Ontario, Oregon. Oddly, the station wagon crash did more damage. I hit some black ice with a small hatchback in ‘91 and hit a guard rail/cable going backwards… that screwed up the hatchback door.

Other than that, no. I’ve gone in the ditch a couple times due to icy roads and bad weather, but drove right back out again. Again, no accidents since moving to Denver.

Statistically, I’m an above-average driver, especially for Denver. Don’t know if that’s really the case or if I’ve just been lucky.