Happy New Year 2023!

Heading into the new year the right way!

Happy 2023, and thanks for following along on the NMS blog. I hope your 2022 was the best so far, and that this year will be even better!

After ringing in the New Year at midnight, this morning I headed out to a local Cars and Coffee to start the new year off right. It warmed up into the 50s, so it was very nice for January, and the small group of cars included some awesome sights to behold, so let's go!

Porsche Boxster Spyder in a not so common green.

Maserati MC20, with 621 horsepower

Maserati top speed 202mph, starts at about $217,000

Looks like a Transformer, with a top speed of 207mph. 

This is the Mercedes SLR McLaren

They only built about 2157 of these from 04-09, so you don't see them every day!

SLR badge, with the red McLaren logo

Doors up!

Spoiler Alert! Porsche 911 GT3 with 4.0-liter engine

Spoiler Alert! Porsche 911 GT3 with 3.8-liter engine. 

Spoiler Alert! Porsche 911 GT3 with 4.0-liter engine and swan neck attachment. 

Detail of the GT3 swan neck attachment.

Lamborghini Huracan "It's Hers"

Carbon ceramic brakes. 

Huracan Evo Rear Wheel Drive

Lambo cockpit

Rivian electric R1S SUV

Rivian starts at $78,000

Rivian headlight detail.

R1S seats 7.

Take A Breath of Fresh Air!

Left side old, right side new air filters!

Here's a little tip: Check your car's air filter. Then, while you're at it, check the cabin air filter if you have one. I was reminded of this because it was time to change filters on the old Toyota Camry. Since it's still going strong at 160,000 miles, we're just trying to keep it that way. Judging by the amount of dirt and leaves these things collected, it looks like I was a little overdue for checking them. In the picture above are the old and new filters. The only real issue I had was these ridiculous bolts that thread into ridiculously odd nuts to hold the air filter box closed. Even though I ordered a new set, it was just too difficult for my weak skills to get this thing to fasten. For now it's held firmly in place with a couple of zip ties!

On to the cabin air filter for job #2!

This would be the "old" cabin air filter

1: Glovebox is lowered out of the way
2: The two attachment spots that the glovebox just slides into
3: Where the air filter lives, behind the covered opening
4: Extra fun, the glovebox damper came loose, so I had to figure out how to reattach it

New air filter, new gas cap, and hardware for those two items.

Job #3, not really a big deal, but the old gas cap tether was worn and wouldn't stay attached. 

The little tether piece just pops into that opening above it, but it's worn out. 

The new gas cap had this variety pack of fasteners, just figure out which works best. 

New gas cap. Things are exciting around NMS!

Rental Car Review: Dodge Similar!

Artist's Concept for the new Dodge SIMILAR!

A few weeks ago, I went online and rented a car for our holiday season travels. While I was looking at Econo-Boxes, (cheap implements of non-mass transportation,) and Appliances-With-Four-Wheels-For-Cheap, believe it or not the best deal I found was for a "Dodge Charger or Similar!"  Personally, I was really hoping to get the Challenger, because I did a LOT of Googling but couldn't find out ANYTHING about the Dodge Similar. Maybe the Similar is an import? Perhaps the Dodge Similar is a Canadian import! Was the online ad a typo, and I was going to get a Dodge "Scimitar?" A car named the SCIMITAR would make a pretty catchy name, so I can't imagine why the people at Dodge/Chrysler/FIAT/Stellantis would name a car Similar instead of Scimitar. Scimitar is snappy, and better than the Dodge Bowie Knife, Chrysler Swiss Folding Knife, and the Fiat Serrated Bread Knife.

Over the years I've rented a few cars, and usually just drove whatever is the cheapest thing that will get the job done. There's been plenty of Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, and other normal cars. A few times I've even splurged for a Ford Mustang, like in HAWAII or for a wedding anniversary, but I have a warning about this. Once I rented a convertible Mustang for a fun anniversary dinner in Washington DC, and well, it kinda made me want to BUY ONE! So, I did, a new 2004 Mustang GT 40th Anniversary convertible. That car was fun, lasted just fine, and even survived a tornado, but the take-away is that you should be careful what you rent, because then you might want to buy one!

So, back to the Dodge Similar. I still don't know what it is, because we had to change our travel plans and cancel that trip. If anyone out there rents a "Similar," please let me know how you like it!