The Great American Road Trip, Part I

One of the greatest freedoms allowed by having a driver's license and access to America's highways and byways is the "Great American Road Trip." As the owner of a new car (a 1988 Saab 900 SPG, the one with the 16-valve turbo motor) and a student on spring break, a friend and I decided a road trip was in order.  Plans were laid, money was made, and preparations were undertaken - and now we're on the road.  I'll be posting pictures, videos and observations from the trip in separate parts as we go along - so stay tuned!

We fired up the packed up Saab and left from Raleigh, North Carolina at 11am, with the destination being Asheville, NC.  Raleigh rests in the Piedmont of North Carolina, a rather geographically uninteresting (if financially prosperous) area - while Asheville sits in the mountainous Western region of North Carolina.  Your loyal writer, at the wheel...

And while sanity mostly prevailed in the driver's seat, the same couldn't be said of my passenger - the infamous Steve.  Geez, can't you at least keep your blasted head in the car?

Anyway, while Steve was busy sticking his head out the sunroof, we decided to make a stop along the way on I-40 in Greensboro, at Foreign Cars Italia.  If you're wondering why we stopped at a car dealer while on vacation, here's your answer:

That's a Ferrari F40.  Next to a Ferrari Enzo.  Next to a Ferrari F50.  Considering there were 1,317 F40's made as well as 349 each of the F50 and Enzo, the chances of seeing all three parked next to each other is pretty dang slim.  Truly a breathtaking site.  I really don't think the Enzo has all the drama and presence in real life that it does in pictures, which is odd - it's still a truly fantastic automobile.   But parked next to an F40, it just looks a little false.  Not sure why - it's just perception.

This picture should tell you a little something about Foreign Cars Italia; they manage to make Ferraris look dull.  Maybe that's because in this picture you can see: 2 F360 Spyders, 2 F430's (one hardtop and one convertible), one 348ts, the aforementioned F40, a 575 HGTC, and a 612 Scaglietti.  That's a lot of screaming Italian iron for one picture...

If you're not in Fezza's, how about a (997) 911 GT2?  This is the ultra-rare RWD version of the 911 Turbo, with less weight and more power.  I'd imagine this is a handful to drive.

This might look like a regular late-model Acura NSX, but underneath it's equipped with a Comptech supercharger, custom coilover suspension, and massive  Brembo big brakes.  I'm still not sold on the later fixed-headlight styling, but there's no denying that this is a supremely desirable car.  Mmmm, NSX.

Now if Ferrari's and Porsche's aren't your thing, perhaps a room full of Aston Martins will grab your attention?  It's not my cup of tea, but these cars are undeniably gorgeous.

Ferrari's 456M (which was replaced by the 612 Scaglietti) is still the better-styled car in my eyes.  It debuted in 1992 and still looks gorgeous and modern, whereas the more recent 612 Scaglietti is already looking a bit old to my jaded eyes.  Maybe I'm just not a fan of the unusual styling, though.

Outside on the used lot sat an ultra-rare Audi RS4 Cabriolet, of which only a few hundred were produced and imported.  This car is fitted with Audi's stunning high-revving 4.2L V8, making 420 horsepower.  Yellow seems like an appropriate color for the sound this car must create.

And finally, if you were thinking that the people working at a store like this surely can't have a sense of humor, you'd be wrong...

That's a Ferrari...  wait, Buick Regal GS?  Hahahaha

So after wasting about an hour and a half at Foreign Cars Italia, we'd gotten our fill and pointed the nose of the Saab westward.  The road trip continues...