Mid-Life Crisis
February 7, 2008
Mid-Life Crisis
I have bought a new car. I have bought a new Audi TT. Shiny and black with beige leather. SatNav, iPOd connection, parking assist. 3.2 litres. V6. Tiptronic. Quattro four-wheel drive. 0 to 62 mph in 5.7 seconds. Top speed of 155 mph. She purrs.
At least she will purr when I take delivery at the end of November. It is like waiting for Christmas as a kid.
I was quite disciplined in my selection. I researched all of my options on the web. I received glossy, shiny brochures from various motor manufacturers. I consulted What Car and Jeremy Clarkson (virtually of course, not in person). I ruled out a Mercedes or a BMW for being, well, indistinctive. Samey. Boring. I know that they are good cars but they just look like a better styled Vauxhall or Ford. Same for the Lexus. I ruled out an S2000 or an MX5 as being impractical. I dismissed the Chrysler Crossfire as being a hairdresser’s car and for being noisy with poor visibility.
So, it came down to a choice between the TT, a Nissan 350Z, or a Mazda RX8. I had previously driven the old style TT; the old 1.8 engine. So, I thought it might be nice to try something else for a change. All of the reviews told me that there was little to choose between them. The RX8 was slightly slower than the other two but looked great, I thought. Design-wise and engineering-wise it was quite different, with innovative door design giving access to practical back seats which would actually seat two adults without the need for an osteopath or a shoehorn. The engine has only three moving parts. It had been voted best coupe for four years on the trot and I found several online reviews which claimed that it was a better drive and more “fun” than its two rivals. It was more economical and significantly cheaper; by at least eight grand. I test drove one and I loved it. And, what is more, they could deliver one by my 1st December deadline – I have to hand back my current company car on 30th November. For me it was a done deal.
But then I made two mistakes. Firstly, I took C to have a look. And, secondly, I told my neighbour, J (who is a bit of a car fanatic), that I was thinking of buying the RX8. C didn’t like it. She moaned about pointy “Star Trek seats” and back seats that looked like they needed a “sperm-resistant” material. J mostly complained that it was a Mazda. She is a bit of a brand snob when it comes to cars.
She also claimed that the RX8 had a boy-racer image – she was concerned of the impression that I would be giving when I start my new job. She went on at length about how I needed a good, solid, reliable car for the amount of motorway driving that I would be doing. For a while I thought she was going to suggest a Volvo.
And so, despite my weeks of painstaking scientific research and consideration of performance, economy, driveability, etc. I was bullied out of it by two women because they didn’t like the styling of the car seats. Not that I am complaining really. The TT is truly gorgeous. Roll on December.
Entry Filed under: driving, humour, middleman. Tags: audi tt, change, chrysler crossfire, driving, jeremy clarkson, life, mazda rx8, men, mid-life crisis, middle age, nissan 350z, women.
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1.
c0y0te | May 14, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I think those women have figured out the secret about men, namely that no matter what age we are in real life, we’re still fifteen in our heads
Good luck with the mid life crisis and car!
2.
Guy on Midlife Crisis | May 23, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I’ve written about my own early signs of a midlife crisis coming my way here
3.
Lori | May 23, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Oh, so you’re one of those guys I was talking about in my post…the ones who buy shiny new cars to relieve their mid-life angst:). Thanks for commenting on my blog. Although BetweenUsGirls is geared toward women I do have some male readers. I hope they come and check you out!
4.
saneyuki | August 14, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I have an Audi TT – and I must say that its in a league of its own.
its just soo well designed. the other cars (rx8, 350, s2000) are just soooo bland.. those cars are good – but the build is just not up to par to a german car.
performance is just bit – *meh*! BMW M4 coupe is definitely a must check out car.. anyway
midlife crisis… heh.. my garage will definitely look like midlife crisis central.
5.
Lee Robinson | August 15, 2008 at 10:52 am
Well i,m one of them mid life crisis people i guess , as i,ve just bought an audi TT,after driving it i was hooked , what a smart looking car , yes , tight in back but cant have it all ,looks fab and drives great , My brother -in-law keeps ribbing about the hairdressers car but really wants one him self ,guess i might let him have the pleasure of sitting in it as bless he has to drive a Kia Sportage ,one day he will have a mid life crisis like us .Hairdressers car Mmm DONT THINK SO !!!!