To those "hardcore" aircooled types on the vintagvw and bus lists....this
will probably be my last (?) post on the New Beetle.....

As I posted yesterday, my New Beetle showed up at the dealer's
yesterday...this morning I dropped off the loan application, copies of my
tax returns, and other assorted paperwork around 8 am...and figured that by
tomorrow I'd be driving it home.

Round about noon the salesmanger called and said that all the paperwork was
done and that I could pick the new beetle up at 5 pm. So I called my wife
and asked her to pick me up at work (given that the new beetle arrival was
imminent, I signed the 78 bus over to my son, and he registered it this
morning in his name).....we quickly went home (after a brief stop at the
dealer to make sure this was all not a dream) got the camera, check book,
etc.

At 4:45 we arrived, went to the "detailing" room and my wife started taking
pictures...we have pictures of the beetle from every angle...pictures of the
flower in the vase (yep, they even went to find an appropriate flower for
it)...and pictures of the dealer handing over the keys and papers....

Then it was time to head out...I had brought my CD player with me (the
dealer is tracking one down for the beetle) and popped in a CD that I bought
in London called "Perfect Day". Perfect Day is an old Lou Reed song..this
version has Lou Reed, David Bowie,Tom Jones, Dr. john, Suzanne Vega, Laurie
Anderson and about 20 others singing a line of the song...I think the BBC
put it together for a fund raiser....anywho...the song basically set the
mood for the day.

I filled up with gas (had to spend some time explaining the car to a few
people)....watched as a "gawker" almost rear-ended the car ahead of him as
he was paying attention to the beetle....it's going to be an interesting
experience driving this as far as "visibility" goes. I thought the '56
beetle got "looks"....

The highlight of the day occured when I went back to the University to get a
parking sticker. I presented myself at the "desk" and asked for a Faculty
Parking Sticker. After filling out the application the officer went to a
cabinet and returned with a parking sticker...number 1300.

There was no way in HELL I was going to take number 1300...and I politely
expressed that feeling. She smiled, went back to the cabinet and came back
with sticker 1196... Already this car seems to have a "fun" aura.

That's it for now folks....my oldest just came back after his first full day
in command of the 78 bus....he wants to go for a ride in the beetle.

Ric