Mid-Life Crisis
February 7, 2008 at 4:03 pm 5 comments
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!
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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
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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!
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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.
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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 !!!!
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