Cars

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Writing this page made me wonder where I got my liking for cars and everything about them from. It can’t be a men’s thing, that’s too sexist of myself, and to be honest I can’t think of anything in my life experiences that was so different than other kids that steered me into a car enthusiast. I personally like the sense of freedom and independence that a car gives you without mentioning the thrill and adrenaline it produces. If you ask me to sum it all, this would be:

Cars are more than just machines; they’re an extension of one’s personality. The thrill of driving a powerful car, the feel of cornering, and the buzz of acceleration are unmatched. It’s about the freedom, the adventure and the sheer joy of driving.

My dad and growing up in Baja drove me towards off-road and 4×4 cars as the region is great for off-road adventure, camping and all of that. However, my engineering mindset and my economy steered me to more efficient cars. My dad owned several Toyota’s pickup trucks and 4Runners which he used them to take to beaches in the Baja California peninsula, regardless of if it had vehicle access or not. Off-roading towards a secret beach, or anyplace really, has no comparison; think about it, when have you heard or seen a kid excited saying wow, we did 65mpg on our Prius? That’s right, take your kids off-roading.

Ensenada hosts the SCORE Baja 1000 event, amount several others, which is an off-road race from Ensenada all the way to reach Los Cabos San Lucas in Baja California Sur. Literally 1000 miles of raw and cruel dessert, definitely not a race for the weak. La revision (the registration) is a huge event where the public have access to racers, pilots and most of all the vehicles. Anyway, here are the cars I had the chance to experienced and owned myself.

• 1990 Toyota Pick-up
• 1987 Honda Accord
• 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2002 Focus SVT
• 2012 Nissan Altima
• 2012 Chevrolet Spark
• 2015 Audi A3 Quattro

As shown in the picture, it was red and it had 32-inch tires mounted on 15-inch American Racing Outlaw II rims, best rims of the 90s if you ask me, and it had a roll bar with two headlights. It was a small effort to make it look like Ivan Stewart’s famous Trophy Truck. The truck suffered many transformations, different rims and tires, but not under my ownership. I drove this car until my dad found me a replacement car as he wanted his truck back.

The story I like to talk about this car is how I blew away the moonroof but backstory first. A weekend before I blew the moonroof I went to a Fall Out Boy concert in San Diego where I was designated driver; I drove back home my friend’s new 2004 Chevrolet Astra. It was a Mexican car, meaning the dashboard had kilometers instead of miles. I speed the limit, “cruising” around 220kmph (more or less), thinking I was driving close to 85-90mph. I was so wrong; no wonder my friend’s brother and his friends had their faces as if they’ve seen a ghost or something haha

Back to my car’s story, I jumped onto the highway toward the city of Tijuana, Baja California; I had a volleyball game to attend to. By the way you must drive the toll road between Tijuana and Ensenada in Baja California; it’s one or the most scenic roads in Mexico. A long stretch came and so I stepped on the gas wanting to see how fast my car could go. Trying to see if my car was as fast as my friend’s Chevy Astra. The speedometer was slowly increasing 80, 90 100…, 120 when suddenly, I felt, heard a “suction” que moonroof was “open”. The friction caused by the air and speed sucked out the moonroof. And so there it went, my rear-view mirror captured the whole scene, the moonroof flew through the air until it splashed into pieces once it hit the road.

I sold my 1987 Honda Accord to buy my next car. I gave the money to my mom, so it was properly saved. I don’t know where she stored the money, but she got robbed by the house-maid we had at the time. Pushing out the purchasing date of my new car. The next story happened after an Eskimo concert while I was parked outside of my parents’ house. I was inside my house making me a sandwich when this neighbor’s crashed into it. The neighbor fell asleep, stepping onto the gas hitting the car. The impact pushed the car onto the sidewalk and if it wasn’t for the two big palm trees in front of the house, the car would have ended in the middle of my parents’ living room.

I might be nostalgic or it might be that it was my first “sportscar” but I haven’t felt the same driving experience this car gave me. Although it was a 4-cylinder engine it had plenty of power, it had a good sound and the whistle noise it made when going into third gear, gave you the confidence to keep going. I upgraded its headlight to 6500k HID lights which improved visibility and its looks as this headlights had a blueish tint. The stock rims, extended fenders and chromed exhaust pipe completed the look.

The cockpit was designed for the driving experience as everything was within pilot’s reach, this feature was hardly seen in cars back in the day. The 6 speed transmission had a aluminum knob that added to the dual tone seat which matched the pedals. Whether AC/DC or Snoop Dogg were rocking through the speakers, the sound system set the mood ride. I can’t count the number sunset I drove and speed the limit with this baby.

In my opinion the Nissan Altima isn’t a car known due to its reliability and a good car, however my car never complained or gave me trouble. The only complaint (if any) I could said it’s its MPG, its 2.5L engine was gas thirsty but it never bother me as it was compensated with power and speed. If I remember correctly it cruised at freeway speeds, 90mph @ 2500rpm, having plenty of power left to speed more.

I tried to add personality to it by upgrading its wheels, a trunk lid spoiler, tinted taillights, sound system and upgrading its headlights to 6500k, so it had a blueish tint. I say it had all the bells and whistles, for being a Nissan Altima, but despite of all this effort the car lacked character. Although it felt good looking at it, it was a boring car once you started driving it. It’s reliability and practicality felt bland and soulless; it didn’t evoke passion or excitement.

Winning something “big” is always nice, and given how it happens made a good story. If you want to know the story click here: https://angellucero.com/2012-chevrolet-spark/

My Audi A3 its It’s like a finely tailored suit: sharp, sophisticated, and ready to conquer any road. Under the hood lies a beating heart, a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that roars like a lion. It’s got more torque than a politician dodging questions and accelerates faster than a cheetah on an espresso binge. It has the AWD magic sauce the “Quattro”, its an AWD on steroids. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife with a bazooka attachment. When rain pours, snow falls, or gravel taunts you, Quattro laughs. It sends power to all four wheels, distributing it like a wise bartender pouring shots, equally and precise. Inside the cockpit you’re greeted by plush leather seats that hug you tighter than the elastic of a new pair of socks and the infotainment system it’s smoother than a Guns N’ Roses guitar solo. This car dances through corners more precise than a Swiss watchmaker assembling an chronograph. This is not only a car, its an experience, like James Bond in a tuxedo; classy on the outside but with a hint of menace.