Honestly. Chinese and/or mandarin/cantonese speaking people out there, please explain one thing to me. What. Is. Up. With. The. Name? Geely??

On gp.se, Göteborgsposten, I read that Geely (I dont’ even want to say it out loud!) is placing a bid on Volvo. Fine, whatever. We’re all buying each other for some reason and cars will no longer have an original origin. But that’s another topic.

Geely. Just look at it. Say it out loud (if you dare). This is what comes to my mind with the word: Geeky, Eely, Eel, Gills, Eew and so forth. Not really anything nice. Anything…automobile. Anything…substantial. The combination of phonems are terrible. Period.

And what on EARTH does it mean? Such an intensely uncool and discouraging name MUST mean something powerful, awsome and forceful in Mandarin. Or Cantonese. No?

On the bright side, here are some car makers that popped up in my head. They know what a cool name is.

• Ferrari
• Maserati
• Lamborghini
• Ascari
• Uhm. Are all of them ending on ‘i’ or is it just me?
• Zonda (Pagani)
• Ah, that’s better
• Bugatti
• Doh!
• Porsche
• Aston Martin

After repeatedly reading tributes on how great the GTI goes in corners and how much fun it is to take is out for a spin on snaky roads it was finally time. Unfortunately I kept ending up behind Sunday drivers and it was only when I left the small isles and was back on the mainland the GTI could stretch properly.

I’m still trying to wipe of that grin that inevitably takes your face hostage. It IS a wonderful little car. But why isn’t there a good Swedish word for hothatch? I refuse to refer to my car as a …kombi. No matter what Transportstyrelsen says in their registration papers.

Waiting FOR the ferry. A longer wait than the actual 3 minute ride ON the ferry. Lucky I have a good view.

Stopping for g…no, wait. No, I was right, it’s just another beautyshot with an abandoned gas station.

My German tiger and its sister Scirocco (Sciroccos owner would probably say it’s the other way around) teamed up for a beauty shot in the after warmth of the sunset at Hinsholmen yesterday. It’s harder than you’d imagine to shoot cars in a flattering angle, the right light and a dramatic composition. Here’s the first try but by the look of it my first investment this month will be a gorillapod. Kissing the tarmac is the key.

I’m a happy kid in GTI heaven.

Some reading and test results for the (G)Tiger for those interested in The Car of The Year 2009:
http://www.svd.se/naringsliv/motor/artikel_2975003.svd
http://www.bilsport.se/news.php?id=67152
http://www.automotorsport.se/news/18258/tv-vi-provk%C3%B6r-nya-golf-gti/
http://www.alltommotor.se/2.149/2.150/2.203/1.11349
http://www.topgear.com/uk/volkswagen/golf-gti/road-test/mk-vi
http://fwd.five.tv/cars/small-family/volkswagen-golf

Mind, chassis and soul. To be continued.

The past week has been exiting. To a degree where sleep felt unnecessary, food meaningless and life sparkling. All because of a key and what it unlocks.

To be continued…

Göteborgs 32nd International Film Festival did not let my cultural needs down. It even added some other, more unexpected input to feed my inner child with a new addition to my eternal wishlist.

I’ll re-phrase:
I want a Ferrari.

Now how did this happen? I was just sitting there in the dark of the movie theater quietly watching a German movie about four men in their 50’s with various personal crisis from last-stage cancer to perfectly well functioning infidelity threatened by ultimatums. And then the beauty gently purred up on the driveway. After that I sort of forgot the story so I will refrain from writing a review on the movie (links to trailer).

Anyway, until I get my Ferrari I suppose I can practise here. Who’s up?