I sat across the desk from Jason Crowley, Maverick Car Company finance guy and resident walking auto encyclopedia.
“I think it’s time for a little field trip,” I told him, then
asked (because I know he knows everything about every car on the lot), “what
should I test drive?”
“What’s your purpose?” he queried.
“What if my purpose was to have fun, and at the same time,
feel sort of powerful?” I said, a little giddy with the possibilities.
“I’ve already driven the Xterra and liked it,” I added.
Something to know about Jason Crowley: he does the best dead
pan of anyone I know.
Even if he’s being completely serious, to me, it’s still
completely funny.
“Fun, powerful, as in the mountains, or as in prestigious,
like entertaining a client?” he asked, not smiling.
Which, of course, made me smile.
“Maybe a little of both,” I told him.
“I would suggest you drive the Audi A4,” Jason told me.
“Is that the one on the lot that everyone’s got their eye on
right now?” I asked.
“As far as customers, or employees?” he said.
“Both,” I said.
“They’re usually pretty popular,” Jason nodded, “The Audi is a prestigious and a very, very high performance car.”
That actually made me nervous.
“I’ve never driven an Audi,” I divulged, “What should I
expect?”
“---you can expect premier performance at super high speeds,”
Jason immediately contributed, “quietness, responsiveness.”
I wanted to laugh again for some reason. Jason really knew his cars.
“Perfect,” I replied, then got up to locate the Audi’s keys
on the company key wall.
As I was walking out the door, Jason added, “—and don’t be
afraid to stomp on it.”
It’s a little too convenient that my sister just happens to
work right around the corner, and that she just happens to be the owner of her
own business and can join me on a test drive whenever. Sunroof open, radio on,
and two siblings laughing as we “stomped it” (just a little) on Chinden, taking
a moment to catch up and chill out in the very powerful, very sleek and
smooth-riding Audi.
When we turned down a side road, we were surrounded by
multiple gracious country manors.
“Pick your favorite and we’ll take your photo in the car by
it,” I told Melissa.
“Definitely that one,” she said, pointing. We pulled over.
On the return trip, we found that the Audi was indeed “responsive”.
Rarely have I gotten such immediate reaction from a vehicle when stepping on
the gas. I could get used to that.
There are times in life when you wish you had a picture of
yourself from behind. What we’d have seen was two heads together, leaning in,
enjoying each other’s company in a gorgeous black panther of a car, with the
sunlight streaming in through the sunroof onto our blond and brunette hair.
It was a great day for a test drive.
