i have my Dad here through tuesday. it's been really nice. Kitty made a rack of lamb last night for us and we just hung out today and did a lot of nothing.

we did however play a "pick your five dream cars" game after watching youtube video and i figured i'd share our results and throw it out here:

the rules are that these cars can't be investments- you need to keep them forever and they are the only cars you are allowed to have. You can't sell them, replace them, upgrade them, or even paint them. you have free maintenance for life though and don't worry about not being able to find parts or anything like that. If you care about what people think about you or what owning or driving a particular automobile says about you or makes you feel- of course you can take that in to account. If you don't want to pollute- or you like being able to park in small spots on the street- have that influence your choices. We didn't let chance of theft or any other financial issue play into our decisions though as a rule.

They do need to serve all your automotive needs though- so if you drive to work you need something to commute in. If you race or do track days- you'll need to use one of your slots for a tow vehicle or you'll need a street legal race car. oh! and the cars must exist and be legal to drive in the United States. It was A LOT harder that we expected!
me:

2018 RUF CTR (if i could only have one car in the world this would be it. the Ruf Yellow Bird was the most amazing thing in the world to me- and this is the modern rendition and it looks even better than the old one.)

any year De Tomaso Pantera (this is the car that i've always identified with. i have pictures of it cut up an on my wall when i was four or five and always wanted on. from the age of four util about 16 i thought i was going to be a car designer when i grew up and Ferry Porsche and Alejandro de Tomaso were my heroes and the guys I somehow picked out from all car people to learn everything about...i actually wrote them both letters in third grade. Mr. Tomaso wrote back. I love these cars and it's actually pretty depressing that they're basically out of reach to own. i've always been intrigued and inspired by this car and what it was. it lacked the storied pretension of a Ferrari Daytona or the totality of concept of the Countach. The thing used a Ford Cleveland for Christ's sake, but they were beautiful and could be built up into personalized sports cars or dedicated track cars. if i ever come across one with good bones that i can afford- i will pick it up and shove the engine and transmission from my GT500 in it.)

2015 Bentley Continental GT3-R (This is the car that would serve as the daily driver I guess. I've always loved the idea of a Bentley- a big refined british bruiser. one of my dream cars as a kid was Bentley Turbo R from the '80s. Not sure why they appeal to me- because they have nothing to do with my taste in anything else- but these things are actually really- really cool. It's funny but it was really hard to decide between this and a Dodge Demon/Hellcat. They are actually very similar cars in a way. They're both big fat super overpowered two door cars that handle far better than they ever should and are stupid fast and have wonderful engines.)

1986 Ferrari F40 (As a kid i certainly fell into the 959 camp when it came to the debate between the F40 and that Porsche. Now though- there's no contest. The ultimate visceral analog handmade bad ass super car has aged so much better than the technological marvel of 1986 that was the 959. Sorry Porsche- but a 959 is kind of meh- an F40 is throat punch that still kills 30 years later. Plus I needed a Ferrari and a gated transmission on this list right?)

Some bad ass barely street legal two wheel drive Pre-Runner Trophy Truck thing that I could use whenever I need to haul stuff around and to go play in the deset. I imagine I'd want something that has all the suspension in the world and uses a Ford Aluminator engine. We'd have it tubbed but with comfortable seats- and it'd be two wheel drive because I live in So-Cal and Baja racing and jumping around in the dirt doesn't need four wheel drive. I guess I'd like the body to look like either a Ranger to match the engine or maybe a Tacoma. I'd probably want a DSG transmission with paddles- I think the new 10 speed thing Ford is using can hook up well enough to their Crate engines. I'd want it to look kind of mad maxey- have a useable bed to lug everything from bikes to furniture- and to be totally capable of driving the OG Paris-Dakar course and get major air over giant sand dune jumps. I've always had a soft spot for Pre-Runners and the simplicity and lightweight of the two wheeled drive ones always appealed to my contrarian nature that has always favored stripped down uncompromising things that are kinda dumb and impractical but awesome.

Kate:
2018 Alfa-Romeo 4C Spider (Kate loves this car's looks. Actually she loves every modern Alfa. She also has zero nostalgia for cars and would never want or be interested in an old car. It will need to be yellow or white too.)
2018 Porsche Macan GTS (She again- really likes the way these look. She wants it "murdered out". I added the GTS part- she honestly doesn't care what engine the thing has.)
2018 Aston-Martin Vantage (This is one of her new favorite cars. She loves the way it looks and loves their on-line car builder. It sounds absurd- but to her the ability to customize every aspect of the car and the user interface Aston developed is hugely appealing to her. If she could afford it, she says she would buy this car. She also made me promise that if our family could ever afford a $150,000+ car that we get this one. She wants the fluo green color with everything else in matte black)
2018 Lamborghini Aventador (Kate HATES Ferraris and thinks they are pretentious and for "douche bags" whereas she absolutely loves Lamborghinis. The whole story of their founder getting shunned by Enzo Ferrari and creating an amazing car company as a "fuuuck you" appeals to her- as does the brazen envelope pushing garish style and performance. She'd get one the same color Kanye did- murdered out matte black with black interior.)
2019 Dodge Hellcat (Nothing makes Kitty happier on the road than when she sees a "special" Challenger. She really loved our ScatPack and she thinks they're the best looking cars on the road. She likes the name and logo of the Hellcat better than the name and logo of the demon. She'd get it in either black or white and she says she wouldn't drive it at first because it is too big- but she'd ride in it and maybe try to learn how to drive it.)

Dad:
2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom (My Dad has always thought Rolls Royces were the best and this is the best one.)
2018 Lamborghini Ursus (He says he'd need a truck or an SUV to lug stuff and this one must be pretty good and if cost is no object then.....)
1986 Porsche 959 (My dad had to deal with me as a kid talking endlessly about this car. In his mind it's the best car ever built and a real classic that he'd love to have and drive on Sunday mornings while laughing at people with "regular" Porsches.)
1958 Corvette (I don't know where this came from- but my old man really likes this year 'vette. Can't say I blame him. I'm generally not a fan of early Corvettes. The

1963 GrandSport is one of my favorite cars of all time- it almost made my list- but the earlier Vettes seem kinda anemic and small and not all that interesting. But my dad thinks an old convertible vette is the "tits" as he said and he'd like to own one someday. (Which is insane. He's never going to own one. If he really wanted to he could have one now- but this is the guy who got it in his head after shooting the shit with me that the circa 2012 Mustang Boss 302 was the last "real" car- and he's probably right- and came really close to buying one last week. the he got his 2012 Mini (not a John Cooper version- not even an "S" just a base level stipper manual tranny Mini in white) back from the shop- and told me, "nah- I don't need that Mustang. This Mini is the best. It handles perfectly and is the most fun car to drive. Believe me it goes "plenty" fast. My old man is fucking insane.)

1961 Amphicar (You have the choice of any car in the world- and you have to live with that choice for the rest of your life....and you choose a piece of shit car that is also a piece of shit boat. I told you guys my old man was crazy.....but this is absurd. I think he saw something about this car on TV in 1961 and thought it was amazing and still does. I'm sure these things are probably either worth $1500 or $150,000 who knows. But really? an Amphicar?