Drive American

When I reserved my rental car earlier this week, my choice was a Toyota RAV4, which was qualified on the Hertz web site as "...or other similar model."

This is what I got

I'm not complaining, but I really don't like American cars. You've looked at the headlines lately, right? USA car manufacturers are doing poorly to put it politely.

Hertz didn't have my RAV4, which I wanted to test out to see if I'd actually like to buy one, but I did get to try this other mid-size SUV, the Ford Escape. Not a bad car, but the biggest minus was rear visibility. Very limited. That, and I've never driven such a new car with so many bells and whistles. I was afraid to touch any of the buttons!

It was interesting to feel my American-ness as I tooled around in an SUV. I felt slightly superior to surrounding drivers as I towered above them, and I was tempted to wave a little American flag out the window in support of our gas-guzzling ways.

As for my own car, it's all better. My mechanics were actually quite quick in the repair of the radiator. When I picked it up, they made fun of me, telling me to take good care of "ole Smokey." I only had to endure one day feeling like an a**hole driving around in my space-hogging rental.


My March Madness: Actually, none to speak of at this time. I've got a fun weekend planned: soondubu with a friend I haven't seen for a while later today, an early IMAX showing with Mark of "Watchmen" tomorrow, followed by ramen, and then plenty of napping and lazing around on Sunday. It doesn't get any better than this.