Finally on oppo!

"AlmostJalop" (almostjalop)
09/20/2014 at 22:34 • Filed to: Intro

My neighbor AM3R told me I should check out oppositelock a few days ago, I've been hooked ever since. I was a fan of Jalopnik for a while now, and I spent some time lurking on Oppo when Jalopnik used to do the "Best of Oppo" posts.

First off, I'm young. Not even licensed in the great state of Virginia. I'm about 30 minutes outside of DC in the suburbs. I got my permit in June so I've been doing quiet a bit of driving even though I started driving about a year and a half ago (just places near my house when the roads were empty with my dad). I'm in my sophmore year of High School right now. I'm a few years ahead of my class in math, but it's probably my least favorite subject, and the subject I struggle in the most. I enjoy writing but just leisurely, I'm nowhere near good enough to turn it into a viable career.

I recently started working as a cashier at Wegmans. They really are an amazing company. As a 15 year old, most places wouldn't even give me the time of day because they didn't want to deal with the pesky labor laws I face being so young. It definitely doesn't hurt that they pay well AND give me time and a half on Sunday (I only work weekends during the school year)!

I haven't completely decided on what I want to buy with the money I make. Depending on how long I'm willing to save and how I manage my money, I'm looking at dozens of different cars.. Ideally I'd love an E39 M5. VERY ambitious for someone who isn't even licensed, but that's been my dream car for as long as I remember, and I'm not waking up early on Saturday mornings so I can buy myself something that doesn't make me WANT to wake up and drive to work. To help increase cash flow, I've recenlty began reselling shoes (Mainly Jordan's, etc.) with a friend of mine. I'm probably one of the only 15 year olds that finds the stock market interesting, but reselling shoes is my way of investing. I spend 2 weekends pay on a pair of shoes, have my friend sell it for 3x the initial price. I love supply and demand.

I'm a big german fan, with BMW holding the crown, but I have a very diverse taste. I dislike badge snobbery. A good car is a good car, I don't care if it's a Kia or a Ford. I can pretty much pick a car I like from any manufacturer. I love Porsche, Ferrari, and many other manufactures I can't afford.

Sometimes I think I'm secretly 40. I love luxo barges and classy cars. Don't get me wrong, I'd PROUDLY rock an STi with a big wing on it, but I'd jump on any 2001 E38 740i sport I could find. I remember spending some time at a Mercedes Benz dealer when the w222 S-class came out because my dad wanted to take a look at them (he surprisingly wasn't a big fan of the 7 series) and I spent a good 20 minutes arguing with one of the salesmen about what the best mobster car was. I still think an armored B7 Alpina was the right choice.

Let me know if you want to know anything else about me, I feel like this hastily typed post is missing some stuff. Feel free to ask me anything you'd like to know, I'm looking forward to talking to you guys and gals. I'm the only enthusiast in my family so it'll be great to finally be able to converse with people who share a similar interest.

Also, I can't upload images or even change my avatar. I'm guessing it's because this is a new account.

DISCUSSION (31)

twinturbobmw > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:36

Welcome to Oppositelock! I'm another quite young Oppo member. Sounds like we have very similar taste in cars.

Haimatox > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:36

Welcome!

GhostZ > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:38

Lincoln, Ford's Luxury Brand. Self-leveling air suspension shows up and you're shopping at Wegman's exclusively now.

Get a beater for the first 6 months of your driving. Something around $1000 or less that you can crash and walk away from it, because you will. You will floor it on every highway on ramp and you will not replace the tires. Don't spend money modifying it or improving it, because this is your crapcan. As a first car, you will have more fun in a beat-up 1990 Nissan maxima than an M5, and it will make the M5 all the more special when you do get it. This also gives you more time to save up for a more serious car.

AlmostJalop > twinturbobmw
09/20/2014 at 22:39

Thank you! Seeing your C&C posts makes me want to go to Katies before I go to work on Saturdays. You're a phenomenal photographer.

Nice to meet another young oppo member, it'd be cool to talk sometime.

GhostZ > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:42

Also, if you want to talk finance and/or feel like you're way older than you should be, we will quickly become good friends. I'm an econ geek and love private equity.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:44

Welcome! Fellow DC area oppo here, if you want to ever be in the know for meetups or be on the email list, shoot me an email at nickdezarn@hotmail.com.

AlmostJalop > GhostZ
09/20/2014 at 22:45

there's a '99 maxima 5 speed near me for $6k with under 100k on it. It's definitely got my attention.

I know I said I WANT to save up for an M5, but that doesn't mean it'll happen. I know my parents are very against me getting a powerful car.

I feel like no matter what I'll get I'll end up modding it. I have no expenses, I could put 90% of what I make into my car and not feel bad about it. Oh how I love being 15...

I've been regularly driving for almost a year and a half now, and regularly driving to and from DC since June. Knock on wood I haven't been close to getting into any accidents.

AlmostJalop > GhostZ
09/20/2014 at 22:47

I'm definitely gonna be taking you up on that offer soon.

AlmostJalop > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
09/20/2014 at 22:48

I'd love to get involved in some of these meet ups. How frequent are they? It's kind of hard not yet having my license.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:51

I jsut got my license about a month ago (Idaho) and I'm 17, which in Idaho, you can have your license at 15, and drive at night at 16, so I'm rather old for getting my license, anyway, I love the freedom it gives you. Congratulations on getting a job at wegmens, we don't have any in this part of the country, but I have heard only good things about them.

scoob > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:52

Welcome to Oppo!

I, too am a young Oppo member. 18 to be exact. Glad to see more young Opponauts on here! :D Car culture has a glimmer of hope.

GhostZ > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:52

The A33 Maxima is one of the best sleeper cars in existence, BTW. They had a 220-250HP engine but only weighted 3200 lbs . That's a power/weight somewhere around the Mustang Cobra of the same era. Top speed is limited to like, 145. It's stupid.

Sounds like you're pretty set though. Did you start driving on a school permit to be able to drive that young? (I did, and also drove a 1990 Nissan Maxima as my first car. To turn the key in the ignition, you had to open the driver's door. So many electrical quirks...)

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:53

So far there's only been one, but I'm going to try to find a good day before it gets too cold. I know what you mean by permit limitations, though. If you think you can work something out (AM3R is on the list) feel free to send me an email!

ttyymmnn > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 22:56

Congratulations. You're hired. Can you start right away?

AlmostJalop > GhostZ
09/20/2014 at 22:57

I love the looks of the A33. I knew they were pretty potent, but damn I didn't know they were that light!

Nah, my sister is a year older than me so when she got her permit my dad took us out to an empty parking lot to teach her how to drive. I was just supposed to watch, but she was awful (she's licensed and much better now) so he let me have a go. Years of video games allowed me to be pretty good, so I would beg him every weekend to take me out driving. After a month he got tired of being in an empty parking lot and he let me drive home. It was pretty risky, but I had a lot of practice.

AlmostJalop > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
09/20/2014 at 22:59

Congrats on getting your license! Thanks, they're a great place to work. I know they really are mainly up north on the east coast. They spread down to the Mid Atlantic a few years ago.

AlmostJalop > scoob
09/20/2014 at 23:01

Thank you! Yes, we've gotta keep car culture alive!

AlmostJalop > ttyymmnn
09/20/2014 at 23:01

basically how my interview at wegmans ended!

AlmostJalop > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
09/20/2014 at 23:03

Awesome, he's my neighbor, so I can possibly just hitch a ride with him but I know his work schedule is really weird.

GhostZ > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 23:05

My parent's car in high school was a 2001 Maxima SE Anniversary Edition with the Infiniti i30 engine. There's a plastic block under the accelerator that was used as a "speed governor" and prevents the throttle cable from extending all the way (stretch it out too much and you can break the throttle also). Remove it by unscrewing it from the floorboards and putting the upholstery back in place, and it will go 145. I can confirm this.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 23:07

Seriously, get a small to midsize SUV. Sure, it will not be a corner carver, but they have a special thing that most cars don't have: Offroad capability. You can teach yourself a lot of car control offroad. You can find your driving limit offroad. All while not endangering other drivers. Plus they are good in the winter, and also fun in the winter.

AlmostJalop > GhostZ
09/20/2014 at 23:08

That's extremely valuable information haha. Not sure risking a ticket in VA is worth it, but if I end up with a maxima I think I know what the first mod will be.

AlmostJalop > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/20/2014 at 23:13

I'd love an FJ80 or really any land cruiser or jeep, but they hold value amazingly well. The nice ones around me all have ~200k and still have $7k asking prices.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 23:20

I was thinking more like 3rd generation 4Runner. They'll last easily over 300-400k miles with simple maintenance, and they have a decent aftermarket. If you're not overly picky, you can get a good deal on one.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 23:27

That was what I'm thinking, although it obviously depends on a number of factors. The meet will probably take place at a C&C, so it would really suck if he had to work on a weekend morning!

AlmostJalop > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/20/2014 at 23:30

I LOVE THOSE. Especially in that dark purple color they came in. They came with 3 pedals right? I remember reading a conversion thread on some 4Runner forum a while back.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 23:31

They were available, but they are kind of rare. You can also get a factory supercharger for it, and the internals are good for about 400 hp.

AlmostJalop > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
09/20/2014 at 23:31

I usually work on weekend mornings! I could probably get some time off if I knew the date in advance though.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > AlmostJalop
09/20/2014 at 23:34

I'll try to get on organizing this thing tomorrow. I'm no stranger to weekend morning work myself, wear it as a badge of honor in the midst of all those soundly sleeping sonsabitches out there.

AlmostJalop > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
09/20/2014 at 23:37

Better start looking for one now!

Picking up a used supercharger sounds like a good plan. Without the chrome bumpers they still look relatively modern too.

AlmostJalop > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
09/20/2014 at 23:41

Haha I definitely will. I'm excited I get to sleep in tomorrow, I don't need to be in until noon! I have to stay until 6 though, bleh.