BOYS AND THEIR TOYS

My brother and I went to a General Motors car show today, where you can actually test drive cars and trucks out on a course without the hassle of a salesman breathing down you shoulder. Just pick a car, get in line, and drive! Granted it's not a race course, nor is it intended to be (no squeeling tires), but you get a good idea for how the car or truck performs and 'feels'. Some doofuses thought it was NASCAR and sped out of control into the safety cones. They lost their driving privileges (ie, got booted out.)

Lots of GM cars along with some of their competitors. Here's what I drove:

Hummer H3: Drove through an off-road SUV 'obstacle' course with hills, bends, ditches, mud. That was fun, pseudo four-wheeling. Nice manageable size, not too overbearing like its big brother H2. Handled the obstacles with aplomb. Comfortable cockpit and driver vantage point. Not much visibility inside, windows are more like slits, like gun turrets, but I'm sure I'd manage. Have to pick one up.

Lincoln Navigator: plush land yacht.

Ford SSR: Two seater, convertible truck, 390 HP(!). I must say I love the open air cockpit, sun on my face, wind in my hair (okay head). I think I need a convertible (though not this one), yes, need. Contributes to my joy. Imagine a cool sunny day, driving down the coast, favorite 'roadtrip' music playing. Practical? Maybe not. So what's your point?

Mercedes Benz E Series: Oh yes. Plush, powerful, smooth, quiet. Black. Extension from my feet and hands to the road. I like. A lot. Need to pick one up.

Lots of other cars on site that we didn't have the desire or time to drive: new Corvette, Pontiac Solstice, GTO, Saabs, BMWs, Cadillacs, SVTs, Escalades, Denalis, Acura TL, Lexus ES.

Sat (but didn't drive) an $80,000 Cadillac XLR Convertible (see pic.) Very nice. Fit like a glove. Need to pick one up.

Ask most guys how many cars they would own if money were no object and most would already have a dream stable of cars in their mind. An SUV, a sports sedan, a sports coupe, a hot rod, a touring convertible, a sports convertible, a truck-much to the chagrin of their women counterparts. But us guys don't understand why women need several black shoes and purses. Same thing, right?

My picks (for now):
SUV: Range Rover
Sports Sedan: MB CLS55 AMG
Sports Coupe: Ford Shelby GR1
Hot Rod: Custom Mustang GT
Convertible: Porsche Speedster
Truck: ?

All pewter grey. Ahh, boys and their toys.