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practicality ([personal profile] practicality) wrote2005-07-22 08:10 pm
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My Adventures With Cars

So, driver's test went well this time. We managed to get there five minutes early, after much panicking on my part, and the test was surprisingly easy. Just a bunch of turns, backing up in a straight line, and a three-point turn. I passed, no problem ^^

Came home, had dinner, had my previous plans for the evening cancelled, and then decided to take 'my' car out for my first solo drive (people who know my family's cars, 'mine' is the red '92 Honda. You know, the one that keeps breaking). I did fine until I decided to pay a surprise visit to Anthony, who lives over a very big hill from me. I got part-way up, and then the car just started dying. I was in the highest gear, and it just keep going slower, until I pulled over and cut the engine, at which point smoke starting coming out from under the hood. Got the hell out after putting on the emergency brake and lights, and called my mom. After a few minutes the smoking stopped, so I opened the hood and waited for her to come. She tried driving the car, and didn't have any problem, so I dunno what was up with it. I got to take the minivan out for a while, though, which was nice.

Ah, I so fail at cars XD
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[identity profile] momijizukamori.dreamwidth.org 2005-07-22 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I failed on parallel parking the first time, so I practiced lots and totally expected to get tested on it, but I didn't. Although, the place I took it is apparently ridiculously easy - one of my friends almost hit some old guy and still passed XD;

Yeah, it's nice being higher than everybody else, but they're a bitch to park and you can really feel them move in the wind when you get going fast on the highway.

[identity profile] ext_374336 (from dreamwidth.org) 2005-07-22 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! And that's what I failed as well. The second time, I passed it easily because the young guy wasn't so anal about an inch or two. Like everyone who has a license are oh-so-perfect ~~;

I got used to parking our van and reversing it as smoothly as I do my car. And with our van, I actually don't know how fast I'm going until I glance down. It's so smooth and tricky xx;

[identity profile] momijizukamori.dreamwidth.org 2005-07-22 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Parking the van in our driveway is a little odd, because you have to swing to the left of the road to get enough space to turn in without hitting the other two cars. And yeah, I don't feel the speed until I hit about 80 mph, but then you can _really_ feel it moving in the wind.

[identity profile] ext_374336 (from dreamwidth.org) 2005-07-22 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
That does sound odd x.o;

I usually don't go any faster that sixty-five in my own car. That's the highest speed I'm comfortable with and he's also a little '92 model. Not that he's ready to fall apart on me, no, but I just feel better XD;

[identity profile] momijizukamori.dreamwidth.org 2005-07-22 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure I'd want to take my car, which is a '92 as well, although as mentioned, not in great shape (we keep having all sorts of little things go wrong with it, it's awful) that fast, but the minivan I'll go 75 on the highway with, if it's pretty straight and not very busy. 'Course, I live in MA, so everybody _else_ is going 80, and you're liable to get run over if you do any less than 65.

[identity profile] ext_374336 (from dreamwidth.org) 2005-07-22 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
XD;; Massachusetts' traffic is plain EVIL. Of course, so is New Jersey traffic @_@;

[identity profile] momijizukamori.dreamwidth.org 2005-07-22 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
The NJ Turnpike, at least, depends on what time of day you hit it - I've seen it be stop and go for three or four hours (going to Otakon last summer), or have pretty much no problem at all (going to NC this summer). However, I think the NJ Turnpike is the _ugliest_ stretch of road I've ever seeen. MA is more just on total crack, I think.

[identity profile] ext_374336 (from dreamwidth.org) 2005-07-22 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Drivers in New Jersey are insane. Yellow lights basically mean 'SPEED UP' to them, so I've noted. And the streets aren't all that clean, at least in East Brunswick. I think it was East Brunswick and not New Brunswick, NJ. Maybe both were filthy.

And I agree. The NJ Turnpike is just awful. I mean, it was always a site that disgusted me because of the ugly and cheered me up because I was finally heading where I wanted to be XD; Massachusetts has mostly beautiful highways. Then again, New England is so pretty ;o;

[identity profile] momijizukamori.dreamwidth.org 2005-07-22 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, MA drivers have the same attitude to yellow lights. But yeah, it's prettier to drive in, if more crazy. (Road signs? What road signs? Oh, have some one-way streets while you're at it. In fact, have a lot!)

[identity profile] ext_374336 (from dreamwidth.org) 2005-07-24 05:43 am (UTC)(link)
One-ways streets are HORRIBLE. Especially the ones that aren't labeled well xx;;
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