Time Off or Being Organized

I have, recently, spent some time in transition. The great thing about that is any new big start in your life is an opportunity to begin again and get organized. Anything that you wanted to change but felt that you couldn't, a new start will let you get to.

So, I thought that I would discuss the idea of being organized and some basic ways that you can be more organized starting today.

1. Cut the Clutter-- the first step in getting organized is to fire your junk. Do you need that piece of paper that you wrote on in 1997 about a warm lead? If you haven't used it--and I mean really used it-- in a whole year, shred it. I don't mean your tax records, of course, you should hold into those for about 5-10 years. But if you have t seen something in a year, get rid of it. Would you be comfortable getting rid of something from six months ago? I would. I recommend getting rid of as much as possible.

2. Make Sure You Can Access EVERYTHING Without Moving Anything-- I am an extremely organized individual, and part of what helps me to be such is that I follow one basic idea: I never place things in a way that I need to move them in order to access something else. Everything has its place in my life and if other things get in the way, I either throw those things out or get more space. The former is usually the better option.

3. Don't Let Someone Tell You How To Be Organized-- This is a weird one, because it seems like that's exactly what I'm doing. But, the system that works best for you will be what you stick with, you just have to commit. Don't think that I'm saying that you're allowed to be messy but "organized" because there's nothing that I hate more than hearing a messy person say that they know where everything is. Looking like you're organized is 70% of the battle, the other 30% is being able to produce something on demand. If it looks like you're organized and you can find anything that you need to, that's 100% of the challenge.

How do you start getting organized? Begin by employing your idea of the concept and work it from there. Your system will work best for you, but it doesn't hurt to start with some basic ideas.

Any questions? E-mail me at gentlemanautomotive@gmail.com.

The Chevy SS

I have mostly enjoyed the General Motors line-up. I’m not a die-hard GM fan like some of the men you see driving their Silverados with the little guy urinating on the Ford symbol. But my father owned a Camaro, I’ve owned a Camaro, I’ve owned a Pontiac and I think that the General does a good job overall.

As such, I watched the Pontiac G8 develop into an excellent car with a significant level of excitement. Some car mags called the G8 GXP an M3 killer, and to someone who was rooting for the old red arrow division, that got my pulse going.

But then GM announced that it was putting Pontiac out to pasture all together and I think a little part of me died. It was like in a movie where they shut the lights off in a room slowly—set by set—and the main character is left in the final light before the whole screen cuts to black.

My beloved G8, after only two model years was lost to the annals of a once great company.

Fast forward to the announcement that the G8 would essentially be back, but wearing a bowtie on the front. My heart was brought out of arrest with a jolt of hope and electricity. The car would be Chevy’s first return to a rear-drive platform since the mid 1990’s Caprice and Impala SS adventure. Not only that, but Mark Reuss was having a hand in the project—a man who admittedly loved the G8. I expected the new car to be the G8 but even better! There were rumors that it would get the new Corvette LT1 and a six-speed manual plus a bunch of tech upgrades that the G8 never could have imagined.

As more details were announced, however, my eagerness waned. And now, my dear readers, I would like to complain a bit.

First off, the name. Chevy SS. Are you kidding me? Does anyone else remember the last thing that Chevy made in which they employed their legendary trim level indicator in the name? The SSR, you say? Yes, you’re right. That confused, LSx powered, convertible bubble truck that sold just one more unit than I could hold in my hand and to this day makes me smack my open palm on the entirety of my face in disgust every time that I see one. That car sullied the good mojo of the SS idea.

But it’s not just that, it’s the fact that SS has always BEEN a trim level. Sure it’s associated with being sportier and more fun than any other trim level, but it’s always symbolized that it’s a different TRIM LEVEL, not a different car. I wouldn’t have cared if they had put any other name in front of the SS—it could have been Rainbow SS and I would have been happier than I am now (though I think they could have done well with a Caprice SS or even an Impala SS).

And it’s a bit plain. I mean, for a $44,000+, LSx powered car, I would have hoped for a bit more aggression. I understand that the G8 base and GT were not  very aggressive looking cars, but the GXP was. Give us something to drool over. Maybe an appearance package for those of us who want to drive something that isn’t quite a sleeper.

That’s another thing. According to Car and Driver, there will be two options: a power sunroof at $900 and a full-size spare at $500. When you’re looking at the options sheet at the dealership, don’t worry. It’s not you who Chevy thinks is completely incapable of making good decisions about improving your driving experience—they think that about all of their SS customers.

I like the interior, I think, but there’s no manual transmission and there’s no Corvette-sourced LT1. Don’t worry, instead of a better engine and a slushbox you get Chevrolet MyLink, a color heads up display, heated seats, and park assist. So, essentially, five model years have passed since the G8’s last hurrah and there have been no advancements to the engine (the G8 GXP had the same LS3), a step backward in transmission options (the G8 GXP had the flappy-paddle gearbox and a proper 6-speed manual) and, in my opinion, a worse exterior. Chevy is hoping that you’ll ignore all of that, though, when you’re being pampered by your heated seats and Bose sound system.

The best part, of course, will be when you’re driving off the lot in your new S.S. Confused and see a Camaro 2SS staring you right in the eyes—fully loaded with the same LS3 and a manual transmission plus all of the attitude you could ever want for about $7000 less.

I have my own issues with the Camaro, but you get the point. If it’s all about the extra set of doors for you, then go for it. Otherwise, there are other options **cough, cough used Cadillac CTS-V**, in my opinion, that may suit you better. At the very least, I would recommend that you don’t go out and buy one right away. I feel like we might see Chevrolet shift the LT1 into the “SS” in a potentially detuned iteration (maybe called LT4 just to comprehensively confuse everyone who remembers the LTx stratification from the 90’s).

If this car evolves into something else, which it might when production shifts from Down Under to the United States, it could be amazing. But for right now I’m not holding my breath.

Update 7/2/13

Today's update:

So you want to be fashionable without giving yourself heatstroke this summer. Check out my Food and Fashion page for some tips on doing just that.

theautomotivegentlemanfood.blogspot.com

Oh, and by the way, Tim Cahill of the New York Red Bulls favorited my tweet yesterday, so I posted an exceptional feature on him from MLS Insider. Check out my Sports and Film page to learn what it takes to be a man on and off the pitch.

theautomotivegentlemansports.blogspot.com

Until tomorrow.

Edit: Added a shot of Heath Pearce in his Summer best on Food and Fashion.

Update 7/1/13

Check out today's post on T.A.G.: Sports and Film. New York Red Bulls v. Houston Dynamo game review!

http://theautomotivegentlemansports.blogspot.com/

Also, I've changed the name of the Sports and Food pages to include Film and Fashion respectively. Be sure to follow me here and on Twitter to learn about updates as they happen!

@TheAutoGent

The Cobra

Life is a mashing together of yawns and mouth-watering moments that can end up kicking you in the face while wearing a cream colored jacket with a yellow scorpion on the back of it if you aren't careful. But caution takes on many forms, and simple actions can turn into life-threatening acts of idiocy.

Say, for instance, that you drive a black Cadillac. A nice, luxurious black Cadillac with climate control, built in Nav and Bluetooth, a six speed automatic and heated bucket seats. You love your Cadillac, and it loves you. The truth is that you've liked Cadillacs your entire life, whether you've known it or not. They are dependable and beautiful.

That's grand.

One day, you take your Cadillac to the dealership for an oil change. Your passion for your Cadillac never wavers--you even tell the techs to top it off with synthetic even though you know that you're going to change your oil in 3000 miles anyway (you're in this for the long-haul). While you're waiting for your beloved yacht-of-the-road to get it's new drink, you step outside onto the lot just to see what your favorite car brand has come out with for the next model year.

And then, there it is.

Suddenly, the sky shifts and the sun pokes out through the holes in an oddly-shaped grey sky. The world seems a little less beautiful, somehow. It sits trapped in a beam of light from the menace sun that just moments before filled blue skies and made birds chirp. A 2004 Cobra, Cinnamon Red. You know, the supercharged dirty one that your mother always warned you about.

You never wanted this, but now your life is different.

You walk over to it tepidly, attempting to appear as though your heart hasn't dropped into your stomach. It's a 6-speed manual, low to the ground, chrome exhaust tips and the single most aggressive hood that you've ever seen. That glorious, bulging hood that literally grabs you by the collar and then screams at you not to look if you want to preserve any of your dignity.

It's angry, it's rear-wheel drive and you know that driving it for even an hour could kill you, literally. And yet, there you are--still looking at it like a fox eyeing a hen. Except then you realize that it's the other way around.

The last barrier between you and total lunacy is the price tag, and your logic stands like Gary Cooper in the third row of a Megadeath concert, struggling helplessly against your curiosity. And then the stump of logic is pounded into the ground. You look. And your next thought...

"I could probably get that and more if I trade in my Cadillac."

And now you're actually considering it, you're actually considering downgrading; sacrificing the comfort of your loved Cadillac for the thrill and excitement of that dreadful, coarse and wildly beautiful deathtrap-to-be as piloted by the still immortal child inside of you.

And the hood... The inhumanity of that hood.

Just then, your salesman walks out to you to let you know that your car is ready. You've been his customer for years, maybe even a decade or two, so he has both of your interests in mind. He sees you giving that old Cobra a nice how's-your-father and gets a worried but sympathetic expression.

"Yeah...." He draws it out real slow-like. "We got that on a trade for a new ATS."

Logic suddenly triumphs and you realize a myriad of things all at once. The car isn't practical (this is New York, for Christ's sake, we have a bad winter), it has none of the creature comforts you love, it's probably way too much car for you to handle (and you're not afraid to admit it, because some humility will keep you alive sometimes) and you still have that Cadillac.

The most important thing that you realize is that this inferno of a vehicle has been around the block a few times. Hell, it might have even killed somebody. It's just that much of a lunatic. And someone else gave it up for something that you already have.

You look up at Stew (come on, what would you have named him?) with a look of relief, sweat pouring down your face even though it's a crisp 67 degrees. You smile what you're sure must be a toothless smile as a result of the pounding you've taken for your internal struggle.

Someday you'll buy Stew a beer. Or, maybe you'll buy a useless trunk cargo net the next time you buy a car from him. The sky clears up again and as you walk away you look back at that source of your Harvey Dent-esque mood swings. Approaching the car is a young man in a sideways hat with his mom and dad.

You came to the dealership looking for an oil change and you almost left with a death wish.

But every now and then when someone passes you in their supped-up and blacked-out LS1 Camaro, you wonder, "How bad could it really have been?" Then you look at the exceptionally tasteful Napa Valley wood trim and turn on the heated leather seat.

It doesn't matter, because your Cadillac has and always will feel like home. Sometimes you should just leave good enough alone.

Update 6/27/13

Today's update is my favorite episode of Dinner: Impossible with a special guest! Be sure to check it out (along with the Audi S5 in the intro) on TAG: Food!

theautomotivegentlemanfood.blogspot.com

The Mustang 1 Concept

Here's a nice video from ford about the Mustang 1 concept. Be sure to pay attention to the interior shots and the gauge pods on the dash. Classic.