2005 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5

I did it! I got my license and bought my first car all in a weeks time. I've been car shopping for a few weeks now and had narrowed my search down to a 3 Series BMW, a Z4, or possibly a Pontiac Solstice. Then on Friday morning, the day I was heading out to test drive cars after two previous visits to dealerships, I got a car insurance reality check. Being a brand new driver some places wouldn't even insure me. Those that would had astronomical premiums. Insurance alone was higher then the car payments I had planned on so I had to completely rework my budget and put off my dreams of driving a luxury/sports car. Boo.

I went back to my car research and came up with a plan B. At the top of the list, a Volkswagen Beetle and a used BMW Z3. Both had everything I was looking for and were priced right. Off to CarMax to spend the afternoon test driving. I brought Jeff with me so of course we had to take out some cars for him too. The first on the list, a Chrysler 300 with the SRT8 package. Ooooo, Ahhhhh. It has everything, power, luxury, a big fat price tag.

Moving on. Next we took out the convertible VW Beetle. Immediately we started having problems with the top indicator light. It kept saying there was a problem so we couldn't test that specific car. We took out a second Bug, which was fine, but the problem with the first one tainted the whole thing for me. I also felt it was a little too low on power. You really have to hit the gas to get it to go. Jeff suggested a Jetta. DUH! Of course. I had considered it many times before. We glanced over an older model Jetta and then discovered a 2005 across the lot in Silver. I never thought of myself as a silver sedan sort of girl. Booor-ing! But as soon as I was behind the wheel I knew this was the car. Aside from lacking in the sun-roof department it had all the bells and whistles I was looking for and then some.

6 Disk CD Changer
Dual Climate zones
Leatherette upholstery (no cows harmed in the making of my Jetta)
Two seat warmers
Power everything
and it came with Z rated tires to boot.







We finished the day test driving a BMW 330i, which was REALLY nice but out of my price range. Jeff says it's his next car. He loved it. Secretly, I hope it is his next car.

In the mean time, if you see me cruising in my Jetta, give me a wave.

The San Diego Zoo - 1st Visit

The day the wildfires started Jeff and I went to the San Diego Zoo. Being "zoo people" we knew that we would be buying a membership so that we could visit often. As you all probably know, the San Diego Zoo is slated as being the best in America and of the best in the world. Seeing everything in one day is virtually impossible not to mention they have a second location, The Wild Animal Park we still haven't seen north of the city. If Jeff and I go to each once the membership has paid for itself so it was well worth it.

That Saturday afternoon we made it through about 2/3 of the park. There is almost too much to describe. For me, the highlights were the Polar Bears, the Great Apes, the Koalas and Jeff and both agreed our most favorite animal to watch was the Black Panther (Jaguar) which was very active as he paced just in front of the visitors. Even as an avid zoo enthusiast I can't recall ever seeing one before. It was pretty cool.

We didn't take a lot of photos but here's what I do have.



Many of the Tortoises at the San Diego Zoo arrived full grown in the early 1920s. Their actual age isn't known but they are believed to be over 100 years old.


Birds were fluttering all around the bird house.