Last month I wrote a bit about the “Four Circles of Hell” and the start of our search for replacement cars. Phases one, two and three two have been completed, but phase four is not going so well. 

(For the record, phases one and two were combined when we traded in my Subaru for a Honda Ridgeline, providing us with a vehicle that can tow and haul people and stuff in a massive amount of comfort. Phase three happened on Thursday when our trusty truck, Declan, went to a new home.)

Phase four was actually started before phases one, two and three were completed. Totally putting the cart before the horse, I know, but that’s what I do. I obsess about cars. I like cars. I like to talk about cars. I like to think, intensively, about cars. I like to look at cars. And drive cars. I love to drive cars.

My wife, as pretty and smart as she is, does not understand this. At all. If there were ever to be a total catastrophic failure of our marriage, I am certain it will involve some sort of automobile and my obsession with it. It is sad, but it is also true. 

So, on Friday’s run up to Greenville, I convinced my traveling companions to stop and look at a car. It turned out to be nothing I was interested in, so I put it out of my mind and continued on.

And then, as we wandered around the downtown area, my mind clear of cars and focused on journalism, I started to see signs. Signs for car things. Signs for tires. 

And, I’ll be honest, by the time we drove home, a lot of my silent moments were

Canon G10, 12 mm, ISO 80, 1/640, f/5.6

 filled with thoughts of cars again … have I ever had a road car with Michelin tires? I don’t think so. I ran used Michelin rally tires on my 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and the last Subaru, but I don’t think I’ve ever put standard Michelins on a car … Greg had a set of Michelin Alpine snow tires, I drove his rally car with them on it once in Canada. Nasty, nasty tire with no lateral grip at all … I heard the Arctic Alpines were much better … 

So, car update: I’m leaning against an Audi at the moment (even though I just

Canon G10, 25 mm, ISO 200, 1/200, f/5.6

 finished reading the corporate history, which was fascinating yet poorly written) and am thinking of a BMW. There’s a 1991 318iS available about two hours from here … it’s a coupe, which is tough with the kids, but it’s the body style I love … 

Anyone know a divorce attorney? I may need one soon …