Recently I had the privilege of being caught in traffic. Yes, I know that this is more of a curse to most of us, but the reason for my delay was of a Presidential nature.
Being a Chicagoan, I was inconvenienced and excited when I learned that the leader of the free world would be stopping by his home city to vote. The problem came when I realized that his polling place was near my child’s school – on the route I take to get home. I rebounded and took full advantage of the situation, picked up my child early, found a distant parking spot and joined the gathering throng outside the polling place, hoping for a glimpse of the Commander-in-Chief. As his motorcade passed by, we did get a peek. “The Beast”, with President Obama on board, even slowed down and waved to us. It was a sobering moment.
I, of course, couldn’t bask in that moment for too long without a wayward thought brewing in my head: “It’s been four years since The President was last able to drive a car for himself. No beer runs, no taking the family to Wal-Mart, no quick trips to the cleaners, nothing! He probably hasn’t even seen the front seat of a car since his first campaign.
Were I the President, having waited for so long and being a car guy, when my term(s) end, what steering wheels would I be itching to get my hands around? After all, they have had a few new models since I would have last peered into a showroom. Here is my (short) list:
1. 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
It’s American!! And it is nostalgic. I don’t need a real reason to want to drive this car – I was the President! If you have a problem with that, talk to the secret service that is assigned to me for the rest of my life.
2. Fisker Karma Eco Chic
THIS THING IS BAD- A##. It is smooth and cool, just like Mr. President and I would want to know what the technology behind it feels like to drive. It is also the only thing I can keep that has as many curves as Michelle.
3. Lotus Elise
Couldn’t you see me tearing around the PCH with the road completely blocked off? TMZ would love it.
4. Ford Focus ST
I would have to try one. If this car was as fun to drive and tractable as the automotive press say it is, this would be a fact-finding mission. I would want to see what Ford was doing right all this time and perhaps regret dishing out all that bail-out money to the other two stooges.
5. Jeep Wrangler
What else does America have that is all-terrain capable, time-tested, still gets tons of respect as a war veteran and hasn’t changed since WWII? Oh, yeah, John McCain.
6. Lamborghini Aventador
You had to ask? I’ve been drinking Red Bulls to stay up late nights for four years. May as well drive one!
7. Range Rover Evoque
My kids have been schlepped around in big chunky SUV’s ever since I got the job. They have done a great service and I am indeed appreciative of Chevrolet for providing such great service. However, I am a father, you know and pretty soon the girls are going to want to borrow the car. May as well be something incredibly cool and technically savvy. I have an image (and two daughters) to protect.
8. Noble M12 GTO
I missed it! The car was mythical, and then gray market, then it was gone! I never got to even see it. Incredibly a car came and went while I was in office. Maybe if I get my hands on one, Joe and I could drive by our old digs, paintball the place and get away in a hurry.
9. Mercedes-Benz S55 / Audi S5
These are the kinds of cars a President should drive. That is all.
10. Chrysler 300
Hey, the last time I had one, I made history and the guy who got it after me became a bit of a celebrity. Follow a winning formula, I always say.
What cars would you want to drive after you finished your term(s) as President of the United States? Leave a comment and let us know!
