esrosedotblog

I got the urge this morning to take a drive in the new Volvo convertible.

I cannot tell you how long it has been since I have wanted or done a joy ride.

And it was joyful.

I went out to the airport, right to El Cielo which goes to 111 and becomes Sunrise. A left on Toledo and a run up the mountain on Bogert to the very top where I could see the beginning of sun hitting the big mountains to the west.

Specfuckingtacular!

I had hardly left the house and I could smell the air. Horse shit as it happened, I think. At that hour, 4AM, no exhaust at all.

The sky was just beginning to light and as I drove all the colors arrived. Your pinks, your blues, your yellows that you can't see but are there. The green of the trees showed up. All in the open air with a 360 degree view.

From the top of Bogert you can see all the way west and north in our part of the valley. The mountains on the left, the small homes nearby, the desert in-between me and the place we used to live on the Mesa. Then beyond the village into the desert beyond, the windmills, the far desert and, of course, the inevitable mountains. The big pass just to the left heading toward LA and all that.

The car is quite something. It can make a fast getaway and it will stop on a dime. I was gawking and forgot about a light which had changed. No screeching tires and a nice grippy brake action.

At first the ride felt bumpy. Later, when it became a lot smoother, I realized that I had been on a street that had a lot of bumps and this Volvo takes them and passes them on. I realize that this is also a function of having a lot of pressure in the tires but they recommend that be the case.

I was feeling the ride. Nice. Once I got used to it I also realized that I could do something about it. I can't tell you what that is but I remember from the Saab convertible that the bumps transmit to the driver and very subtle corrections take place that translate to an interesting alive driving experience.

The only thing that would make it livelier would be to have an old style standard drive but that has been lost a long time ago in most cars. There is an SD or special drive setting on this which will allow shifting. We had this on our SUV Volvo. I don't use it as it is so phony it is hurtful.

This car has an identity. I got to that some on this drive. I got to know it. I feel at home.

Labels: Volvo