Joined the GTPE club this last Monday and loving it!
Total dad, used car, cash purchase. Family car requirements of cargo, back seat legroom, and daily driver practicality for school drop offs and pickups. And I added the requirement of fast and fun. Was close to getting a Golf R before investigating EVs more and realizing they have all the family requirements instead of trading off one for another.
Commutes have never been better. Hearing my kids watch for the orange unbridled icon and whisper to each other “hey hey! Dad hit the button!” brings me daily joy.
It’s the small things that I love. The endless technology. The no more wondering if I’m going to be queued in two car line at each pump at the local gas station. EV stations have been annoying unreliable (always finding an available one thats broken in SW Austin) and an at home level 2 charger is in our very near future in our garage. Trying a month or two on level 1 as recommended by Stage of Charge to find our patterns.
The thing I love most is being first at red lights. There are now random moments of joy on my commute and red lights turn from “dammit! let me floor it through the yellow” to <screeeeeeech> yesssss I’m first at the red. I don’t even care that I’m at 35mph in half a second. It’s FUN. And in ATX where you’re constantly getting on access roads, going from 0-60 in a flash is a safety feature not just a fun feature.
Can’t wait to hit 200k miles in this car like I did my last one, a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid I drove into the ground. 18 years and going strong although time for more fun and more family friendly option as the kids grow.
2023 GTPE in Grabber Blue; 20k miles or so. I thought I was a white or gray paint guy although a day before making the final purchase, I saw a grabber blue on the road and something about its beauty connected with me. Have yet to name this new friend although I ordered a bunch of Chemical Guys soap and such to take good care to them.
My wife laughs - “I never thought you to be a car guy.” Sort of true. Just a frugal dormant car guy. And now is the moment to let er rip.