by "CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
Published 11/19/2017 at 16:35
by "CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
Published 11/19/2017 at 16:35
Tags: Embiggen this
; Canadalopnik
; COFLWriting
; Best of COFL
; COFL Photos
STARS: 9
I took a trip to Nova Scotia over the summer to look at possibly relocating from the west coast to the east. Mainly because I could buy a moderately sized fishing village for the same price as a condo in Vancouver. But also to celebrate our nation’s 150th birthday in an epicentre of Canadian history.
Nova Scotia is a wonderful place and the people that live there are very lucky. I regrettably won’t be able to move, the insurance industry there is not as big as I’d hoped.
The natural beauty, great people and historical importance to not only Canada, but the world, made it a truly amazing place to visit. I’ve never felt so sad to leave somewhere, and I hope to return very soon.
I rented a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited, fresh of the dealer’s lot the day before, so unlike most rentals, it was clean and worked well. It had 50km on it when I got in.
First impressions were that the build quality and material quality left something to be desired. But after driving for a while (especially with the Freedom Panels® removed) you get an appreciation for why these are so beloved by their owners.
The totally open cabin filled with sunshine and the fresh Atlantic air. The Jeep felt like less of a conveyance and more part of the adventure as we rolled along the coast.
Now, I’ve only ever really driven on pavement. I avoid non-paved surfaces as much as possible. I’ve never even taken one of my vehicles on a gravel road, because I am afraid of rocks damaging the paint.
But, in the Jeep, I went down every weird bush road, every gravel road and onto any surface I could drive over and not worry about being stuck. This is when I really understood why people buy these. They aren’t an A to B, they are an A to A(dventure) car.
My favorite part about driving the Jeep however, was the fabled “Wrangler Wave”. I had no idea how widespread this is! Even though I’m driving a Soccer Mom spec Wrangler (stock, automatic, 4 door) every bro in an custom offroad rig is greeting me with a friendly wave! This made my desire for a Wrangler of my own even stronger.
When I arrived back in Vancouver however, I realized that I commute 2.5 hours a day, gas is $1.40 a litre and the Wrangler drives badly on the highway. So I had to let the dream die.
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Back to Nova Scotia itself, While there, I stumbled upon a village called Mahone Bay, where, as it turns out a fellow Oppo RallyDarkstrike happens to live. This was back in July, before I had joined Oppo, so I had no idea.
This is the only place I’ve ever experienced that felt immediately like home to me. It was pretty and quaint with lots of little shops and restaurants. It reminded me so much of my own village.
I mean, it has a candy/bike store called “Sweet Ride”. That’s the level of quaintness we’re dealing with.
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Other decent photos from Nova Scotia:
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"facw" (facw)
11/19/2017 at 16:48, STARS: 1
I went there this summer as well! But I didn’t have a Jeep, I had some giant Kia SUV that was so bland I can’t remember what it was now. Drove fine though.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/19/2017 at 17:01, STARS: 0
Where did you go in Nova Scotia?
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
11/19/2017 at 17:30, STARS: 1
Great write up. As a Jeep owner, I couldn’t agree with your assesment more. Mine is a manual 2 door, which gives you even more of that “adventure” feeling (along with even worse ride quality).
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/19/2017 at 18:15, STARS: 1
Holy crap they are terrible road cars, but I want one so badly
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/19/2017 at 18:44, STARS: 1
Ironically, I rented a completely identical Wrangler this year, except mine was beat up and at the very end of its rental life (50k kms, CEL, squeaky wheel hub).
Guess I had a different impression of it – it’s certainly no S-class, but I can’t say I noticed any bad ride or build quality/materials... I was even impressed, as based on all the complaints everyone has, I expected much, much worse.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/19/2017 at 18:53, STARS: 0
Where in BC were you visiting?
" The Compromiser" (charger)
11/19/2017 at 19:28, STARS: 1
I too, went east for 150 this year. Spent the first two weeks of July in PEI. We drove though. SWONTARIO is only 17 hours away. 21 hours with children....
We also drove an FCA product. Dodge Durango. Held us and all the crap you need for three kids.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/19/2017 at 19:40, STARS: 1
Hey!!! I know that place! :D
Glad you enjoyed your time here and that the Jeep left a pleasant impression! I’ve always been far more of a car guy than SUVs, trucks and Jeeps, but I’ve always had a soft spot for what they stand for and what they can be capable of. :)
Town looks deserted in some of those pics, which is odd during the summer (LOADS of tourists here in the summer!). Were they taken on a Sunday? Hit me up if you’re ever out this way again! :)
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/19/2017 at 19:51, STARS: 0
There is a slight chance I actually may be back this coming summer. We’ll have to see!
I think it was a weekday? I don’t recall, but it wasn’t busy at all!
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/19/2017 at 19:54, STARS: 0
21 hours with kids? Holy crap, I couldn’t do it.
"facw" (facw)
11/19/2017 at 20:32, STARS: 1
Halifax, Lunenburg, Bridgewater, Grand-Pre, and a few other little places.
My dad’s family came over to Lunenburg from Germany in the mid-18th century as part of the English effort to dilute the French with “Foreign Protestants”, so we were visiting some family-related sites.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/19/2017 at 20:37, STARS: 1
That’s basically where we went too
" The Compromiser" (charger)
11/19/2017 at 22:00, STARS: 1
Neither can I . I got to the cottage and had to run into town for groceries. Came back and pretty much fell over. I’d also been at work all day when we left. And we left two and a half hours after I got home.
They weren’t too bad. A lot of pee breaks and stretching for a bit. And the electronic menus at McDs got us through the really non-English speaking part of Quebec. They have english as a display option! I just had to remember my counting into hundreds when they called my number
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/19/2017 at 22:35, STARS: 0
Coolness! Will keep my eye open for posts next summer just in case! :)
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/20/2017 at 02:53, STARS: 0
I live here lol
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/20/2017 at 07:55, STARS: 0
Oh! In metro Vancouver?
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/20/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0
Neat, seems like a cool place to visit! And yes dirt roads are fun in any car, especially one without a roof and with paint you do not care about!
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Dont mind my terrible recording from a Tablet while holding it out of the top of my Miata.
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/20/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 2
Yeah haha
I’m the guy who owns this:
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/20/2017 at 16:02, STARS: 1
ZASTAVA! :D How is the little fella? :)
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/20/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 0
Did you stop at the Mahone Bay Museum on your way through? I used to work there and they have a fair amount of information on early settling families! What family was yours? :)
On mom’s side, our ancestors came over from Germany as well - your family and mine may have even come over on the same ship! :D
"facw" (facw)
11/20/2017 at 16:08, STARS: 0
Didn’t make it to Mahone Bay Museum. Think we were time-limited that day. As for the rest, we’ve had this conversation before :)
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/20/2017 at 16:24, STARS: 1
Did I mention I have a terrible memory? :P
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/20/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 1
Next time we do a Vancouver Oppo meet you should come!
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/21/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 1
Better! I had the carb rebuilt, and replaced a few mechanical parts – seems to be running right now as a result. Should be back home from the shop soon, so that thorough testing may begin! :P
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/21/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 1
Sounds good!
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/21/2017 at 18:59, STARS: 0
Please post more often about the little 750 - it is thoroughly in the classification of ‘my kind of car’ :P
Really wish my situation would improve so I could import my 126! If so, then I say we each do a road trip and meet in the middle of the country, how crazy would that be :P
"Spasoje" (Spasoje)
11/22/2017 at 14:51, STARS: 1
I definitely will! The car’s been sitting broken for a while (botched restoration). Bought new parts and sent it to my mechanic for a mini overhaul last year, but he’s been having some health issues which have delayed my car and the others he’s been working on... That’s why I haven’t been posting about it at all hehe
The road trip idea would definitely be crazy! But, if my little bastard ends up being sorted out mechanically, we could make it happen... I’ve got at least one other guy interested, too (owns a Fiat 600D).
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/22/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 0
Awesomeness!