Nah, I couldn't afford a new Toyota. This was one of the cheapest imports on the market in 1986, IIRC...a [1987] Dodge Colt E (aka Mitsubishi Mirage..."Imported for Dodge"). I remember Salsbury Dodge running a newspaper ad for this absolute base-model car for either $5k or $6k (don't remember). I traded up my POS 1978 Mustang II (4-banger Pinto with horse badges). Salesman's name was Rick Arnett (couldn't tell you this for any other car I've purchased...but I sure remember my first one).
Just couldn't do a base Chevette/J1000, Shadow/Sundance or Escort. The Colt sold me mostly on the super-smooth clutch and shifter (still carbureted though...maybe 80hp? lol.).
The plan was to add A/C (future-wife insisted) while she sells her early-80's Dodge Omni for $2k to pay for wedding/reception. We live a while with one car (new and dependable) then when we get really good jobs in Atlanta (place was booming), we save for a new Fiero GT 5-speed with dealer-installed T-tops. But Pontiac killed my dream! By the time we were ready in '89, we settled for a new CRX Si (240SX and Eclipse were options, MR2 a bit pricey). The Corolla SR-5 was pretty darn sharp as well, IMO.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
My sister had a 1981 or 82 Chevette (can't remember). My Dad tried telling her not to buy it, but she wouldn't listen. It ended up being a piece of garbage. The Colt was a cool little car. I remember most affordable smaller American made cars in the 80's didn't have very smooth clutches. The Japanese were way ahead on that one.
Yeah, the Japanese had mastered slick shifting and road feel. My brother-in-law's '81 Celica GT fastback was a great example, helped sell me on imports. IIRC, you had an earlier Celica (w/classic Mustang styling?) so you know what I mean.
Oops...J1000 should have been T1000, the Pontiac sister car to the Chevette.
I remember driving a Ford Tempo rental in Atlanta and the steering felt so rubbery and disconnected, and with so much play (you had to turn the wheel a certain amount before the steering responded), that I had difficulty staying in my lane on the tight downtown interstate. It was scary.
My wife's Dodge Omni was fine until you reached ~60+ mph and then the steering wheel would start shaking (her local mechanic could never solve it)...
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,463PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,463
Miami, FL USA
Great photo of you and your wife Mark! I remember October 1986 quite well too considering that I've been a hardcore Red Sox fan my whole life. That was not a good month for me.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Thanks, again. PM. The old pics I show on this board are me bending over a photograph with a digital camera, thus the angles can get weird (my basketball goal never leaned and my wheels weren't egg shaped ). One day I'll scan them for better pics.
++++++++++
I have only one non-family friend whom I consider close...kind of. He lives in Atlanta with wife and kids, and is also a hardcore Red Sox fan who always felt Buckner was a scapegoat and unfairly treated.
+++++++++
Something a little different from my normal tunes...
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,463PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,463
Miami, FL USA
I like Peter Gabriel's solo stuff quite a bit as well as his Genesis era music. No doubt an extremely talented musician.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
If you ask a hundred people to list the world’s greatest guitar players, chances are very few will include Glen Campbell. And it’a a crying shame! Just listen to this, possibly the greatest acoustic guitar solo of all time!
In all my years I've never seen the like. It has to be more than a hundred sea miles and he brings us up on his tail. That's seamanship, Mr. Pullings. My God, that's seamanship!
Although I have "Rhinestone Cowboy" (along with "Southern Nights") on my Country playlist. The music video is goofy as hell, but if I judged all of my tunes by their official videos, I'd have a lot less music (shudders at the non-US FGTH "Relax" video...and this from a RHPS fan...nostalgia runs deep).
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Early 1984... seemed like overnight I lost all interest in sci-fi as 100% of my interest went elsewhere. Unfortunately my fascination with sci-fi never returned.
But the sci-fi I had enjoyed up to that point still entertains me today, and there's so many good classics. Been geeking to old musical scores all day...
Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Main Theme • Jerry Goldsmith
EDIT: The YT videos for Battlestar Galactica credit "Boston Pops Orchestra, John Williams" as the Artist. Elsewhere I'm reading that it's Richard Gibbs and nothing about it under John Williams's Wikipedia, so I dunno.
Last edited by MarkG; 10/22/2111:02 PM.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,463PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,463
Miami, FL USA
Out of curiosity I looked up the discography for "Alabama" and judging by their album sales it seems the peak of their popularity was from 1980 to 1985.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
). One day I'll scan them for better pics.