Zippy Z

8/23/2012

Zippy Z

Jeff and I own a two seater BMW convertible - a "zippy z" kind of car.  This is an impractical vehicle, she's useless in the winter, pricey to maintain and yet even with the negatives an absolute hoot to drive.

When you get behind the wheel of the "z", you take on a completely new persona.  You can't even help yourself.  All of a sudden you take on the mental image of a racecar driver.  Jeff is particularly heavy footed in the "z" and I'm more of a wanna be.  Admittedly, it's fun to zip around corners faster than I would in my regular car and you can absolutely park it anywhere.

For errand running, provided you're not a big shopper, this is the car to have.  Downside - no trunk space. Two bags of groceries and you're headed home or else sitting on top of the rolls of toilet paper.  A limited trunk space is a bonus for credit card usage - unless, like me, you just come home and order anything and everything on line!

You do not want to drive the "z" with the top up and windows closed.  It's a very small car and feels very confining if you do.  Nope, windows and top down is the only way to go.  There is something completely freeing about the wind blowing your hair (if you have any) every which way.  A ride through the country roads is enough to turn a blue day around.  Jeff and I have even driven it in the winter (pre-snow) with the top down and the heater on full blast - perfect.  I know that the cars we pass (because few pass us) think we're nuts but they have no idea how actually comfy we are and how much fun we are having.

Mythbusters did a show once on whether you will get wet if it rains and the top of your car is open.  Truth?  Provided it's not a deluge - and you don't stop - then you really don't get wet.  Hard to believe but you can outrun drops.  Of course traffic on 270 sometimes makes it near impossible to keep moving so after a while you admit defeat, pullover and put the top up.  Bummer.

We have on more than one occasion taken the car out in our spare time (ha) just to clear the cobwebs that build up in our heads.  By the time we get home, normally with an ice cream cone in hand, everything is better.

Once snow starts, the "z" is stored at the company warehouse for the remainder of the winter and Jeff then resumes driving the big truck aptly named "Blue Ox".  The ox isn't as much fun to drive but if you take that for a shopping trip - you never have to stop!

So put a "zippy z" car on your wish list - you'll never regret it!

Have a great Thursday.

P