The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Opinions

SAMANTHA SHELTON

I figured since the semester is closing, I'd wrap the column with a bang and write about "it"- knocking boots, the horizontal Macarena, you know ... sex. Now I'll be the first to admit I'm not an expert since I prefer quality over quantity, and this isn't a subject I can go out and research.

Well I guess I could, but I'm not going to.

Sex is incorporated into our daily lives, whether we like it or not … hell, it's in the title of this column. But I believe there's a "sex" overload, especially in the media, so I'm going to refrain from using the word while I deliver what is expected from "Sex in the Classic City."

Right now, at 21 years of age, I've driven two cars. The 1971 Mach 1 required a lot of searching and to this day is still my favorite car - mostly because it was my first.

My second car was more of a snap decision - not as much of a big deal as my first car, and I acquired it because I needed to drive. And quite frankly, I've always been a sucker for a Mustang.

And that's the Carfax history report on my cars.

I understand my view on "driving" is more on the conservative side and might be hard for some to relate to, but it's just my outlook on things.

Despite my minimal vehicular experience, I do think, however, it is a good idea to test drive a few cars before you decide on the make and model that you will drive for the rest of your life. And that's where I come up on the conventional side ... I only like to test drive cars that possibly could be in it for the long haul.

Sure, anytime I pass a lot filled with shiny cars I think of how fun it would be to just hop on in and take off ... this urge is even harder to resist when I park by the same beautiful automobile for several weeks and see it every day. Yet, I remind myself that it's just a car, and resist the temptation to slide into the driver's seat.

I'm not here to pass judgment on the University population ... if you like to test drive numerous cars weekly, go for it. My only suggestion is to avoid doing it under the influence and, of course, make sure it's been through the appropriate emissions tests.

When I find a car that has features I want in a vehicle, I refrain from driving it until I have the title in my name, or at least an insurance policy. Now, you might be thinking that there isn't much you can do with a car you're not driving, but I have found there are other ways to have equal amounts of fun without ever putting a car in gear - which has left me with a big reputation as a "stick-shift tease."

You can wax the hood to shiny perfection, maintain the performance by inflating the tires or you can always take it easy and adjust the mirrors so you can see in the right direction once you decide to get behind the wheel.

If your car isn't reliable or has left you stranded before, you might want to go back to square one and change the oil so the next time you drive, you'll actually arrive at your journey's end.

Let's face it. You know more about cars than when you first got your license, and we've all learned from our mistakes - which led to our first accident or speeding ticket. So although I still believe it is a good idea to drive a few models, I will never just jump behind the wheel without checking the mirrors or adjusting the seat … because when I drive a car, I expect it to get me where I want to go.

- Samantha Shelton is a junior from Auburn majoring in newspapers.

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