Who am I Kidding, I’ve Checked Out till 2016

Did your brain turn itself off too? Did you notice today everyone also felt like, grey, dragging and meh?

Do we just always forget this happens to us,
every year, at this time?

To say “here come some awesome car posts” would be lying, oh they’re coming, just not soon. I think things are going to slow down here till the New Year.

Because ok I’ll admit it – I am _wiped_.

It was my first full week with one of these, a 2016 Jeep Wrangler.

Was spoiled too it’s the Willy’s trim edition, and you bet I Jeep-waved everyone all week long.

What I realized just now…. there’s well over $500,000 in cars in this post, mwah.

What I realized this morning.

Plus these days my focus is offline, on finding a job.

The hunt is going great. Even though I feel like I should be introducing myself like, “Hi I’m Keri and I’m growing out my bangs.”

Since I published that “I need a job” post a week ago, I’ve had 3 interviews.

Above is Interview-Me on the day of the job I want the most.

Leave it with me guys, and soon enough we’ll be back to automotive fun and nonsense, and security too.

Like how security is relative (that’s my real stereo password.)

How much I like the instrument cluster on the 2016 Mazda3. 

Posts about driving.

Posts about a recent personal best.

About how I’ve been directionless driving for a week, you ever do that?  To think and contemplate?  It’s effective.

How a rare, small feature on the 2016 Hyundai Tuscon makes a huge difference.

If I could drive one all the time I would – 2015 Ram Rebel.

I’ve got enough posts drafted to do a theme-week, “About the all-new 2016 Honda Civic”

A week with a Top 5 Favourite – 2016 Chevy Tahoe.

Driving a 2015 BMW i8 for 30 km.

And never even told you about the Jag, maybe I’ll end the year on that review…

The all-new 2017 Jaguar XE.

Short review – Slick. Will crush its segment. AWD is standard #GoodToBeBad

1st journalist to drive it on Canadian soil ha, and autocross at that, have video.

Anyway please send good job luck! 

Oh the adventures we’d get up to if it works out…  Guys. GUYS.

TTYS

xo Keri

 

 

The All-new 2016 Mazda MX-5

This photo eh. One of my best in a while.

Except where I forgot to wipe the screen smudges.

Taken during a road-trip afternoon adventure. My co-pilot was a photographer, which is why these photos are so sharp.

This ‘Soul Red Mica’ paint job is +$300.

Non-car nerds: You may know the MX-5 by its more colloquial name – Miata. You can still call it that, but it shows your information is dated.

2016 is a big year for the MX-5.

The 26th model year is all-new and fully redesigned, a big deal since it’s the Guinness World Records best-selling two-seat roadster of all time. I bet the designers flipped between, “all right all-new!” and “well if it’s not broke…”

So when I reviewed the 2015 model, I said: because of the rumoured addition of driving aids and a dash screen, my vote goes to buying the outgoing, more pure model.

That’s why I booked a 2016 – did my prediction come true?

I know disliking dash screens makes me the odd one out, and the installation of one was inevitable. But it doesn’t clutter things up like I thought it would, actually, the opposite happened.

But what’s great is how wrong I was about the addition of driving aids – there’s not even a backup camera!

And while there is Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Departure Warning, it’s offered only on the top 2 trims, therefore, totally avoidable.  Nice one Mazda.

The 2016’s more aggressive lines look sharp eh.

The trunk is now larger, too. According to Mazda, it will hold “a pair of standard carry-on bags.” For a barometer, below is one bag of groceries and This Weeks Flowers.

2016 Mazda MX-5 GS

2.0 L 4-cylinder engine
155 horsepower
148 lb.-ft. of torque

Rear-wheel drive
6-speed manual or automatic transmission

Mazda is the only automaker in Canada to offer an Unlimited Mileage Warranty

Starting at $31,900
This one $35,300

Top left > clockwise:

– it seems like your elbow will hit the drink holders while shifting, but it won’t

– it’s the same, slick manual-convertible design – put it down with one-hand in 12 seconds 

– 2 USB ports, a 12-volt power outlet, and Bluetooth is now standard

– a sleeker instrument cluster, reduced from 5 to 3 gauges

While available with an automatic transmission, to actually order one is eye roll.

But the MX-5’s best feature is one you can’t hold.

We drivers want to tear it up, always, everywhere we go. Maybe like me, you have to lecture yourself to stop constantly pressing on the throttle.

But because of the MX-5’s excellent power-to-weight ratio and low stance, the speed feels heightened. The driving experience is fast and exhilarating like we want, but at a speed the law wants, meaning…

… you can’t get yourself into too much trouble in an MX-5.

Blog tag = Mazda MX-5

 

 

Can you Park Here or Not?

I genuinely didn’t know what to do when parking in downtown Toronto recently.

Possible Outcomes:

– there is no No Parking sign, and that’s my Jeep parked directly behind the meter, it’s ok

– but this is a Canadian thing to do, take a moment to warn others of a ticket, staying could be a $50 mistake

– or is this a trick, to keep that space open and available, hmmm

Went with Canadians being Canadian, and moved.

Found at Peter & Adelaide West, here’s a map.

If you know the answer, please advise in the comments.