isketerol
05-15-2003, 10:41 PM
I promised BB I would give my first ride impressons, so here there are:
I picked up the "E" on Wednesday. I was in Kitchener in the morning to deliver a seminar. I drove back to Mississauga like a mad thing to get to the dealer's at about 2:00. :twisted:
I asked to see the salesman, and was asked to wait in the service area. A few minutes later he called me to tell me that the "E" was ready. I told him I was in the waiting area and he came over to get me.
I paid for the license registration for my new plates, and then we went out to install them. As I popped the manuals and papers into the glove box, I discovered I had a set of wheel locks there. A nice gift from the salesman, I imagine. :D This was definitely an accessory I was going to think about getting at a later time - so these go on this weekend when I get back from Ottawa. (Had to leave my baby within a few hours of getting her to fly off to deliver a two day course here in Ottawa.)
The salesman said we should just drive around the front to exchange the luggage I had in the loaner vehicle to my "E". A little bit through never having driven with this transmission, a little bit from excitement and a little bit from nervousness, I had difficulty with the shifter. I could not quite seem to feel the gear positions at first. Unfortunately, the mechanics had parked on a slight incline, and the "E" rolled back to touch the building. :oops: I got the feel of the clutch and the gears and managed to get around to the front. It must have been quite noisy - I revved a bit high. The clutch is very, very different from that I had on the Chevy S-10, and the throw on the shifter is very short. It took a little getting used to.
Dropped the luggage into the "E" and I was off for a quick tour around Oakville. The grin on my face must have been big enough to split it in half. I could feel the eyes of people on me as I cruised along. As I had promised myself, I played my Emerson, Lake and Palmer cd - see the "First cd to be played" thread. I loved the sound. So nice to have a appreciable bass. Within minutes I was okay with the shifts and clutch. It was a bit difficult to have driven an automatic for a month - so glad to be back to a manual. :D
I had a quick ride around before my partner called me and then I scooted home. After parking, as I came around to the back, I could see where my "E" had kissed the building. There is a very slight mar on the rear bumper - not enough to worry about, and nothing I can really blame on anyone but myself. I will consider my the first badge of honour on my "E". :roll:
My partner came over and told me he loves my "E" (and me, too, I hope). He loves the roominess and the comfortable seats. He's decided I get to drive him all over to new walking and hiking adventures. He saw all sorts of people looking at the "E" - staring into their sideview mirrors or driving right beside me to figure out "What the heck is that!". :wink:
This weekend, I am going to install the Momo shift knob, carpets, the exhaust finisher, shock covers, the wheel locks, the MP3 player, my cell phone holder, my cd holder, and my stuffed ape toy ( a present from my previous partner). I'll also see about getting a carpet for the rear. I hope to get my partner to get some pictures of the tricked out "E".
Off on Sunday to show off the "E" to my parents and older sister. It's a nice 400 km round trip on Queen's highways, so it should make for a good portion of a breakin. Can't wait to get back to my baby tomorrow night.
Loving the "E". Thanks for the support, guys and gals!
I picked up the "E" on Wednesday. I was in Kitchener in the morning to deliver a seminar. I drove back to Mississauga like a mad thing to get to the dealer's at about 2:00. :twisted:
I asked to see the salesman, and was asked to wait in the service area. A few minutes later he called me to tell me that the "E" was ready. I told him I was in the waiting area and he came over to get me.
I paid for the license registration for my new plates, and then we went out to install them. As I popped the manuals and papers into the glove box, I discovered I had a set of wheel locks there. A nice gift from the salesman, I imagine. :D This was definitely an accessory I was going to think about getting at a later time - so these go on this weekend when I get back from Ottawa. (Had to leave my baby within a few hours of getting her to fly off to deliver a two day course here in Ottawa.)
The salesman said we should just drive around the front to exchange the luggage I had in the loaner vehicle to my "E". A little bit through never having driven with this transmission, a little bit from excitement and a little bit from nervousness, I had difficulty with the shifter. I could not quite seem to feel the gear positions at first. Unfortunately, the mechanics had parked on a slight incline, and the "E" rolled back to touch the building. :oops: I got the feel of the clutch and the gears and managed to get around to the front. It must have been quite noisy - I revved a bit high. The clutch is very, very different from that I had on the Chevy S-10, and the throw on the shifter is very short. It took a little getting used to.
Dropped the luggage into the "E" and I was off for a quick tour around Oakville. The grin on my face must have been big enough to split it in half. I could feel the eyes of people on me as I cruised along. As I had promised myself, I played my Emerson, Lake and Palmer cd - see the "First cd to be played" thread. I loved the sound. So nice to have a appreciable bass. Within minutes I was okay with the shifts and clutch. It was a bit difficult to have driven an automatic for a month - so glad to be back to a manual. :D
I had a quick ride around before my partner called me and then I scooted home. After parking, as I came around to the back, I could see where my "E" had kissed the building. There is a very slight mar on the rear bumper - not enough to worry about, and nothing I can really blame on anyone but myself. I will consider my the first badge of honour on my "E". :roll:
My partner came over and told me he loves my "E" (and me, too, I hope). He loves the roominess and the comfortable seats. He's decided I get to drive him all over to new walking and hiking adventures. He saw all sorts of people looking at the "E" - staring into their sideview mirrors or driving right beside me to figure out "What the heck is that!". :wink:
This weekend, I am going to install the Momo shift knob, carpets, the exhaust finisher, shock covers, the wheel locks, the MP3 player, my cell phone holder, my cd holder, and my stuffed ape toy ( a present from my previous partner). I'll also see about getting a carpet for the rear. I hope to get my partner to get some pictures of the tricked out "E".
Off on Sunday to show off the "E" to my parents and older sister. It's a nice 400 km round trip on Queen's highways, so it should make for a good portion of a breakin. Can't wait to get back to my baby tomorrow night.
Loving the "E". Thanks for the support, guys and gals!