A3: on the go

Snow in October!

2005-10-30T22:24:00.000-06:00

I couldn't believe it, but this past Wednesday I awoke to discover that I was covered in snow. You gotta love Vermont. Right?

Ford with a good cause

2005-10-12T21:49:00.000-05:00

I can't help but support this cause, as Driver has diabetes. Life with diabetes is a bitch--there's no doubt about it, but I feel better knowing that driving me makes Driver happy. Indeed, it would make nearly any driver happy. Go test drive an Audi A3 and see for yourself!

10 inches of rain!

2005-10-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

10 inches! That's how much it rained this past weekend here in southwest Vermont. No wonder the Hannafords parking lot flooded.

It wasn't 40 days or 40 nights...

2005-10-09T19:45:00.000-05:00

It was only a day and a half. But this past Saturday night, while making a run up to the local Rite-Aid for sinus medication for Driver, I was stopped cold in my tracks. It began raining Friday evening, and not too heavily at that, but by Saturday afternoon it was really coming down hard. Anyway, Saturday night I was just about to pull into the parking lot of the Rite-Aid from the only entrance/exit to the whole thing when Driver noticed that the car in front of us was in water up to the tops of its wheels. This is not an exageration! The parking lot was under water, and I was about to be driven right into it. Well, I quickly turned around and Driver got out to take a picture, but wouldn't you know it; the camera's battery had died. We stayed and tried to warn other cars, but to no avail. We watched in horror as other cars tried to make it through the water. This struck me as a futile effort, and indeed it was. One car after another stalled, and their drivers had to get out and wade thigh-high through the muck to get to the Hannafords and Rite-Aid. I have no idea if they ever got out that night, but there were numerous work crews and trucks in the lot this morning presumably trying to fix the problem.

I'm wondering what will happen when the snow comes!

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up...without driving a stick!

2005-09-30T22:17:00.000-05:00

Ok, so there are lots of folks out there that like to claim the Audi DSG automatic transmission (and it is an automatic) makes the manual transmission obsolete. I don't buy that shit. It is, in my humble opinion, the best automatic transmission out there. But quite frankly I get pissy when people use the phrase "row through the gears" like it's a bad thing. It's called driving a car, people, learn how. No really, learn how to drive. If you don't like to control a car through three pedals and choose not to, that's fine. That is 100% acceptable. In that case I highly reccomend one of my brethren with a DSG transmission; it really is awesome. But to not be able to drive any car in a pinch? That's just crazy. The guy in this anecdote is a loser--plain and simple.

ManCar if the Weekend

2005-09-23T21:35:00.000-05:00

Alright, I would be remiss not to include this bad boy as a MCotW at some point. Quite frankly, if you don't understand why the Bugatti Veyron is a sexy piece of carflesh, then I don't want you around this website. I wonder what our lovechild would look like if I were ever lucky enough to spend the night with him.

A3 Cabrio!!!!

2005-09-20T12:27:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I wish I could go topless! Thanks to our friend at the German Car Blog for this little nugget about the upcoming A3 Cabrio.

VW Jetta GLI review...

2005-09-20T12:14:00.000-05:00

Why would I point you to a VW Jetta review? Because it's a natural option to compare with myself, the Audi A3. And I'm not afraid of the comparison! Anyway, Car and Driver mag seems to think the comparison is natural as well, as they mention me a lot in this review of the Jetta GLI.

Vanderbilt? 3-0?

2005-09-19T00:11:00.000-05:00

Now, let me be clear. I am a car. But even cars know that SEC college football teams just aren't supposed to lose to Vanderbilt. Yet, that is exactly what the University of Mississippi football team did this weekend. So, I thought I would post a picture of me parked in the middle of Manning Way on the Ole Miss campus. This is a similar image to one that I stitched together from three others and posted weeks ago. I show up better in this one, though. In light of the state of Ole Miss football right now, that's probably a good thing!

ManCar of the Weekend!

2005-09-16T00:06:00.000-05:00

I don't even have the words this week. I just wish I could water ski! Click on that bad boy to find out just what it is. Hint: it's a bloody Corvette!

MSN autos reviews the A3

2005-09-15T12:36:00.000-05:00

Check out the review that MSN autos had on their front page recently. Yet another complimentary review! They also have a link to a video walkaround if you're on a broadband connection which is very cool.

Where I am now

2005-09-13T12:02:00.000-05:00

Just in case anyone was wondering what my life is like here in Bennington, Vermont, I have a picture taken just the other afternoon. That's me right next to the house on the left there. I like Vermont. There are lots of twisty roads and the weather hasn't been nearly as hot as it is in Mississippi. But I hear the snow is coming!

Yet another A3 review...and news about Greer, SC

2005-09-12T00:06:00.000-05:00

This one is from the NY Times. If you're curious, you can read it here.

Also, apparently a worker at the Greer, SC BMW plant that I visited two weeks ago has been stealing Navi units. Dude looks like he has a lazy eye to me. But as Autoblog points out, the Navi units are supposed to be stolen after the car is bought! Right?

MCOTW

2005-09-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

I've been dreaming about that Caddy for weeks now, and so you may be wondering when there will be a new ManCar of the Weekend. Does that mean you don't like the Caddy? I've been left alone by Driver (who is understandably busy starting a new job) so I've been listening to my Sirius radio a lot. Channel 13 is All Elvis, all the time, and so Cadillacs have naturally been on my mind. One more weekend won't hurt, will it? Am I addicted? I will spend the weekend contemplating that very question.

Driver is usually better than this...

2005-09-07T12:02:00.000-05:00

...parking-wise, that is. I can't believe that he parked me this close to another car, much less two of them! Ugh! I just can't be bothered with door dings and the like. Luckily for Driver, I escaped this situation on Monument Avenue in Richmond, VA without incident. I did enjoy the conversations I had with the Jetta 1.8T parked to my left, though. He was a true VWAG gentleman.

Here I am in Greer, SC

2005-09-06T00:07:00.000-05:00

Why Greer, you ask? Because there's a BMW manufacturing plant there. I cruised on in there, heckled a few X5's (I'm a Q7 gal myself), took this picture, and I was on my way. Did you know that in 2002 one out of every six BMW's were made in South Carolina? I didn't either, but apparently it's true! I wonder what the ratio is now...

Driver's been ignoring me lately...

2005-09-05T20:14:00.000-05:00

...what do you think I should do to get back at him?

Still settling in...

2005-09-01T12:28:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I haven't posted pictures in awhile. There's been a bit of culture shock coming from Mississippi to Vermont. Cars here actually use their turn signals!

Anyway, in lieu of the promised pictures I have a link to a ranking of the universities in the US where students study the least. What does this have to do with cars? Nothing. But having spent much of my young life in Oxford, MS, I'm amused by the #1 school on the list. Check it out.

Confession time.

2005-08-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

Well, 1600 miles later, and here I am in Soutwestern Vermont. Despite receiving a speeding ticket by an Erik Estrada wannabe with a supertroopers mustache in Washington D.C., it was a pretty good trip. I enjoyed much of the driving, but after the ticket I had to restrain myself for the benefit of my driver and his pocketbook. Unfortunately, in the interest of making as goof of time as I could, I did not take as many pictures of myself as I would have liked. America (at least the Eastern part) is just not very photogenic from much of its interstate highway system--and where it is scenic, it's just not feasible to stop on the side of the road, or there is no exit. In short I only took two pictures, which I will be posting tomorrow. I am sincerely sorry for breaking my promise, but please stay tuned.

Last days in Oxford (for awhile)

2005-08-25T12:01:00.000-05:00

I know I promised pictures after the tint removal, but strange things are afoot at the Circle K, if you know what I mean. You don't? Oh. Well, driver activity has really picked up, and a radar detector has been purchased. Oil level, tire pressure, and all that other good stuff have been checked. In short, it seems that a road trip (certainly the longest of my young life) is afoot.

Thus, pictures (and posts) will be delayed for the duration. I will try to check in, but if the frequency of posts isn't satisfactory I can at least promise plenty of pictures at the conclusion. Just in case you are wondering, the longest trip I've taken so far is ~360 miles one-way. This one is going to be much, much, much longer. I can feel it.

An Audi A3 review for the layperson

2005-08-23T00:07:00.000-05:00

Here's a recent review of the 2006 Audi A3 Sportback (that's me!) from the Boston Herald. The fifth and sixth sentence, taken together, really lifted this gal's self esteem. Thanks, Eric Convey, you motormouth, you! What a doll!

Monday update

2005-08-22T14:15:00.000-05:00

I've spent much of the day dodging University of Mississippi students who don't understand how to walk, drive, or be considerate to others. Oxford, MS is entirely too crowded when the students are in town. So, if you are planning to visit, I suggest googling "Ole Miss academic calendar" and finding out when school will not be in session.

More pictures will be coming soon after I have my tint removed tomorrow.

ManCar of the Weekend

2005-08-19T15:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend I will try to cure my blues by daydreaming about a good, old fashioned pink Cadillac. Now, you may say that a pink car can't be manly, but the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible pictured in the sidebar is definitely a man.

Bad News

2005-08-19T14:21:00.000-05:00

I spent all of yesterday afternoon trying to get my state of Mississippi inspection sticker. Normally, it's a smooth process and a five dollar fee. Cake. But (as of July 2005) Mississippi's tint laws are now being enforced at the point of inspection. While any level of factory tint is legal, windows with aftermarket tint are required to allow at least 35% of the light in. Mine were tested yesterday and they allow 11.4% of light through. Illegal. Thus I've failed inspection, which is more disappointing than I can express. As if my brake lights didn't work or something! My self esteem has taken a hit. Tint should be removed on Tuesday, and I guess I'll resume baking in the August heat.

MCotW coming soon.

Hangin' out with a TT

2005-08-18T00:37:00.000-05:00

Here I am in Candyland, which is a little niche just off "The Historic Square" of Oxford, MS. It's a nice little neighborhood, and called Candyland because each door has an oval frosted glass window in it that really looks like it should be licked. I don't reccomend it, however. Try the rock candy that you can get just up the road (and a bit of a hill) at the Hallmark store in the NW corner of the Oxford square if you have a sweet tooth.

I'm not a big candy fan. I obviously can't eat it, and sugar in my gas tank is disaster!

But the point of this post was to show a picture of me and my new friend, Gretchen. Gretchen is an Audi TT. I'm not sure what year, because she's older than me (I'm a 2006) and so she wouldn't tell me what model year she is. She's cute though, without a doubt, but I'm a little biased towards the new Audi grill which I have (see picture). I feel it accentuates Audi's racing heritage from the first half of the 20th century. Or maybe I just think it looks better. Anyway, there was a bit of rain, or Grethchen's top would have been down. But even with her top up, she's a hottie. Makes me want to get a little auto-lesbian, to be quite honest. We didn't though. We were good girls.

Got a wet nose in the rain yesterday.

2005-08-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

Subject says it all, really.

Wheel picture taken at night

2005-08-16T14:40:00.000-05:00

Yes, it really is as exciting as the subject line would lead you to believe.

Not going to be in Oxford for much longer...

2005-08-15T10:49:00.000-05:00

So here's another Oxford, MS picture: Audi A3 at the recently-renovated-but-no-longer-operational Oxford train depot.

Saturday morning readin'

2005-08-13T12:47:00.000-05:00

The following is a tasty read if you're interested in Audi--or an explanation of why you should be interested in Audi if you aren't. Just click the link, ok?

Hot Audi

Caveats: It's a long article, and it's an old article (from March '05). Some would say an oldie-but-a-goodie. Lucky for you, I won't say that.

ManCar of the Weekend

2005-08-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

This weekend I'm going back to my roots and choosing to dream about a 1938 Horch 853A Voll-Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet. A Horch 8-cylinder engine is a thing of beauty, but regardless of the classy powerplant this car exudes European style. From the Audi world site:

Ever since 1927, Horch had made a 'Horch 8 Sport Cabriolet'. These were initially two-door, two-seat open cars with two side windows only, and two 'dickey' seats at the back. As the years passed, the models acquired more space at the back. In 1932, the relevant model in the Horch catalogue was the Type 780. Its successor in 1935 was the 853, one of the most beautifully styled cars of its entire era.

I'll say! Think of the '38 as the mustachioed version of the '35. See for yourself by clicking on the image in the sidebar.

Ever wonder how much beer fits in my trunk?

2005-08-12T08:23:00.000-05:00

This is a 2006 Audi A3 Sportback, but alas, it is not me...

It is, however, a fine illustration of just how much trunk space there is in my (identical) backside. It certainly shows how much beer and water can fit in there! In my fantasy, there are quarts of synthetic motor oil in the white box on the left.

Last one!

2005-08-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

And that's all of the pictures. What do you think about the new tint?

Rear end view...

2005-08-10T00:37:00.000-05:00

Does this angle make me look fat? Actually, does any angle?

Two more pictures

2005-08-09T13:26:00.000-05:00

The Big Surprise!

2005-08-08T11:31:00.000-05:00

I got my windows tinted late last week in Memphis. You can tell if you look at the Memphis picture from Friday, but you can definitely tell in the pictures today. I got 15% Llumar all the way around (except for the windshield). It turned out pretty dark, but you can still see silhouettes so I m hoping the police don't get strict with the law. In any case, I am much cooler now sitting out in the Mississippi sun all day, and that was the point all along.

See today's previous post for pictures.

Pictures of the tint...

2005-08-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

I'm using the top picture as my profile picture, but the host isn't working right now. Go figure.

Pimpest A3 interior (to hit US shores) yet!

2005-08-07T21:57:00.000-05:00

The wood trim, well, it looks a bit odd...

Honda euro-Accord drives itself!

2005-08-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

Car starts itself at the push of a button --check. Lights turn on by themselves--check. Windshield wipers manage themselves--check. Automatic transmission shifts gears--check. Cruise control controls the speed--check. And now the car can even keep you between the white lines! I gotta admit that I'm a bit jealous of the Honda. I'd love to drive myself!

ManCar of the Weekend

2005-08-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

This weekend will be spent lusting after an Italian brute with the sensitive touch. Click on the image in the sidebar to get a look at that engine clad in red.

Just back from Memphis, Tn...

2005-08-05T12:51:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, ten seconds after taking this picture the camera battery went dead. Point being, this is the only picture I have from my trip up to Memphis and back. But, from a half-full perspective, I did manage to get The Pyramid, the Memphis sign that looms over the MIssissippi River, a trolley car, and a Mud Island sign all in one frame, which is kind of cool. Anyway, notice anything different about me?

The Orgeron Era

2005-08-03T00:24:00.000-05:00

Before any of you click on this picture, I feel that I have to warn you that the file is quite large. In any case, Coach Ed Orgeron is the new head football coach for the University of Mississippi, and many Ole Miss fans are expecting big things from him. Personally, I don't understand any sports except for motorsports, but my feeling is that my driver would be happy if this Orgeron fella did well. I'm told that Oxford is truly hopping on home football game weekends and that the air is electric. People assure me this is no exaggeration; you must live it to believe it.

Above is a picture of me in the parking lot to the west of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (the season hasn't started yet). To my right is the road across which the picture on Manning Way was taken (though it was taken several hundred yards south of this position). I genuinely wish 'Coach O' and the Rebels good fortune this season.

Dubai insanity...

2005-08-02T11:50:00.000-05:00

You have to see it to believe it.

Heavy metal parking lot

2005-08-02T00:11:00.000-05:00

I hung out with an old hippie bus yesterday afternoon. The Oxford police department is right across the street. Total buzzkill.

The University of Mississippi campus

2005-08-01T01:32:00.000-05:00

Manning Way is the soon to be completed entrance to the football complex here at 'Ole Miss'. The long red-roofed building is a new state-of-the-art indoor practice facility, and you can just make out the south end zone side of Vaught-Hemingway stadium on the far left (which is the largest stadium in the state of Mississippi). Oh yeah, and Manning Way is named after the Archie Manning clan. There's not much happening on campus these days. I don't think that classes are in session right now. Pointing out the obvious: this spot needs landscaping.

One more from Sardis

2005-07-31T12:52:00.000-05:00

I found another picture from Sardis Lake yesterday. It shows off the pearl effect in my paint a little better. I believe this color (called Lava Gray) is exclusive to the Audi A3.

HOT!

2005-07-30T20:13:00.000-05:00

It was so hot today, I almost drove myself down this boat ramp and into Sardis Lake.

New USA Today review

2005-07-29T11:50:00.000-05:00

USA Today test drives the new 2006 model Audi A3 Sportback. That's me--except I'm a three pedal version, and I suspect the test model was a premium package and not sport like me. At any rate, click here to read it.

Oh, and here's a review that I think is Canadian. Some good quotes in there.

ManCar of the Weekend

2005-07-29T00:29:00.000-05:00

Each Friday I will choose a new ManCar of the Weekend. Unlike some other beauty contests, there will be no strenuous list of duties to be performed. The MCotW will have exactly one simple task: to look sexy. Thus no need for a runner-up. I look forward to spending entire weekends lusting after the de rigueur ManCar. For the inaugural edition of MCotW, and after much deliberation, I've decided to go with pure unadulterated American beefcake. This weekend, it's a '69 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray T-top that will be turning my engine. Check out those gills!

Doctor Seuess working at local Popeye's???

2005-07-28T13:38:00.000-05:00

Ok, so here's a picture of me getting gas at the Oxford, MS Popeye's/BP which share a building. The trucks partially hidden on the left are travelling south on MS Hwy 7. This Popeye's is not a well run business. Interestingly, some of the folks that work at the BP also seem to suffer from the same personal problems that plague those at the Popeye's. Just pay at the pump if you must stop. That's my advice.

PS: It should be $4.69, right? Right?

Overheard at Popeye's drive-thru

2005-07-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

To be brutally frank, the Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits here in Oxford, MS is absolute pants. I would organize a boycott if I were going to be here for any length of time, but I'll be leaving in a few weeks so why bother? Just don't go there if any of the following apply:

a) You want the cashier to show any expression on her face (or in her voice) besides boredom, or irritance.
b) You think standing in line for 15 minutes is unreasonable when there is only one person ahead of you.
c) You value cleanliness.
d) You want chicken strips.

To illustrate what I mean by (d), I overheard this at the drive-thru yesterday (Note: the price of a two piece combo is $3.26 after tax and that of a chicken strip meal is $5.44):

Speaker (bored/questioning): Welcome to Popeyes?
Driver: Uhh, can I get a three piece chicken strip meal......spicy......with red beans and rice......and a diet coke?
Speaker (bored/NOT questioning): That's a two-piece combo, mild or spicy.
Driver: No, uhh, I want a three...piece...chicken...strip...meal...uhh, spicy.
Speaker (irritated/questioning): Yes. Mild or spicy?
Driver: Spicy!
Speaker (bored/irritated): Ok sir, that'll be $3.26.
Driver: Uhh, I'm sorry. I think you got my order wrong.
Speaker (bored/questioning): Welcome to Popeyes?
Driver: Jesus.

At that point my driver drove off. I wish I could say that this was an isolated incident, but it wasn't. It's very difficult to order chicken strips at this Popeye's. One usually receives a Po'Boy sandwich (with fries) instead of chicken strips (with red beans and a biscuit), so I suppose there is value in the new alternative of a two piece combo (at least the two-piece doesn't come drenched in mayonaise and does have a biscuit).

But not enough. Avoid this Popeye's! I'll try to get a picture later in the day.

Hit 2,000 miles somewhere near Jackson, MS

2005-07-27T13:06:00.000-05:00

No picture, unfortunately. I broke in my engine over the first 1200 miles or so, and I've let myself have a little bit of fun in the time since. It's been mostly highway miles, and I've averaged 30mpg at speeds that have mostly fallen between 75-85mph. That reminds me--just the other day between Jackson and Grenada on I-55, some jackass Suzuki seemed intent on either pacing me in my left blind spot, or passing me just to slow down (still in the fast lane) to pace the car in front of me that I was just about to pass. It was so frustrating! This went on for about 45 minutes, and just when I had resigned myself to spending the rest of the trip in what must surely be one of the circles of hell in the car version of Dante's Inferno, the little Suzuki took off at about 90mph and was never to be seen again. It still had new car plates taped to its rear windshield, so maybe this Suzuki was breaking its engine in. Seems like a pretty dangerous way to keep from driving at a constant speed/rpm, but it's the only thing I can think of. Or the Suzuki was just messing with me. I'm not much of a Suzuki fan in either case.

Spent the past few days in...

2005-07-26T20:02:00.000-05:00

Here I am in Mobile, AL. I was there for the past few days, and it was really hot! Luckily, I have a sunshade (not pictured) for the windshield. Check out the sand in the driveway. Sand is fun! Except when it gets in my floorboard!!!

"I decline to accept the end of man."

2005-07-22T14:13:00.000-05:00

Here I am in Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner's grave is just off camera to the right.

It's a shame that the only thing a man can do for eight hours a day is work. He can't eat for eight hours; he can't drink for eight hours; he can't make love for eight hours. The only thing a man can do for eight hours is work.

--William Faulkner

Welcome to my blog!

2005-07-21T16:26:00.000-05:00

My name is Claudia3, and I am a 2006 model Audi A3 Sportback. I have a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged powerplant with FSI (that's what Audi calls its direct fuel injection) and a sport suspension. I'm pretty proud of my engine, but don't just take my word for it--check out this review.

Anyway, I thought I would start this blog to work as a sort of photo album for my travels. Something tells me I'm going to be putting some miles on pretty soon! Photos to come!