Car update

More things I’ve learned about our new Subaru:

• The cup holder situation definitely sucks. There is only one of a decent size, a CD-tray sort of affair in the dash, which does not really hold things reliably upright; it’s relatively large, but I know its capacity an be easily exceeded.
  There’s also a cubbyhole by the gear shift and parking brake lever, but it’s about the size of a soda can, max; a large drink will not fit inside of it. Bleah.

• The air flow through the vehicle is awesome. Even with the fan off, air flows through (when traveling on the freeway) with a strong draft. I’m going to need to adjust the heater on it during the winter. (The heater, btw, works great, as does the a/c.) I’m very pleased by this.

  I can also get a nice cross-breeze with the front-driver and rear-passenger windows down. One minor drawback: the seatbelt/carseat strap thing that hangs down behind the rear right passenger seat has a goofy tag on it with the instructions that insists on flapping in a loud and annoying fashion when that window is down, unless I somehow snag it under the rear compartment cover.

  A negative (though hardly a unique one): the rear windows only roll down part way. Common with smaller sedans, I know, but it would bug the heck out of me as a passenger.

• I so like having a CD player. Especially a multi-disc CD player. Especially during pledge week on our local NPR affiliate.

  And the (upgraded) sound system works just fine.

• Pulling onto the freeway today, I was behind a slower line of cars, and wanted to swing into the fast lane, but I could see another car coming up in that lane. With the Saturn, if I’d done it, it would have lagged and lugged and probably been irksome to that oncoming car, and me. In the Subaru, it was zoom-zoom, and no worries.

  I like having a zippy car.