User:Gtimandan

GTImanDan

My username is derived from my love for the venerable Volkswagen GTI, the original "hot hatch", and my name, Dan.

For more info on the GTI, and for all things VW, check out the Vortex.

I also have a 1981 VW Jetta diesel which can fetch 54 mpg, but it's on the shelf awaiting resuscitation where it was keeping company with the GTI until I finally breathed some life back into it and returned it to the road. At the rate of current gas prices, the Jetta may find itself back on the road sooner than later.

Also in my VW collection is a 2003 VW Eurovan which I got when it was announced that VW would stop bringing them into the US. Although it's a terrific vehicle which I would buy again in a second, I hate that the US is deprived yet again from another amazing European automotibile, the next Eurovan which is available in Germany among other countries where it's called the Multivan. Enjoy the pics there, just don't try to read it.

My newest addition is a somewhat rare 1990 Volkswagen Corrado. I just bought it on Sept 16, 2007, so it will be a work-in-progress for a short time while I get it back to where it needs to be.

VW has indicated that it's going to bring the scorching-hot R32 to the US around 2007. It's currently on sale in Europe, riding on the fifth generation of the Volkswagen Golf body [originally the Volkswagen Rabbit in the US]. Speculation has it that VW will greatly up the ante, however, and punch the motor up to 3.6 liters of displacement making over 300 hp, effectively changing the name to the R36. I've even read in car magazines that this motor will possibly be turbocharged for additional horsepower, which would be in VW's best interest if they wish to remain competitive with the likes of the Subaru WRX STi and the Mitsubishi Evo. Although IMHO there's no comparison between the VW and those Japanese automobiles in terms of materials, fit & finish, build quality, and safety, horsepower is horsepower and whoever dies with the most ponies wins. Right? RIGHT?!? UPDATE: VW is indeed making it the R32, not the R36 since their wonderful "DSG" Direct-Shift_Gearbox robotically-shifted manual transmission doesn't leave enough room underhood for the bigger 3.6 motor. It will go on sale before the end of 2007 for a sticker price of $32,990 and will likely have no options available. Once again, only 5000 of them will be made.

I'm obviously a fan of the brand, but I'm not totally VW-centric...I mean, I do go to sleep. :D

I'm originally from Johnstown, PA, the original Flood City. There have been innumerable documentaries made on Johnstown's unfortunate history with cataclysmic flooding and the resulting loss of life and devasation that followed. These can regularly be seen on TLC, Discovery and even on PBS. Alternately, most libraries [even yours!] have Johnstown Flood documentaries on video that you can check out. On Johnstown's bright side, two movies have been filmed there: Slap Shot with Paul Newman in 1977 and a then fresh-faced Tom Cruise starred in 1983's All The Right Moves with Craig T. Nelson.

Other things that I greatly enjoy are Futurama on Fox and also on Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network, along with Family Guy, American Dad, King Of The Hill, Scrubs and most non-anime 'toons on Adult Swim.

I've also got a couple Pygmy Goats and various other pets including a Ragdoll cat. Ragdoll's are the most-awesome cat but can't ever go outside as they're the fearless lemmings of the feline world and probably wouldn't last a day or two outdoors. And NO, the Pygmy Goats aren't in the house. Why does everyone ask that?! :Þ I don't know that it's possible to house-train them as they "#2" while they walk.

That's all for now...more later ;) Gtimandan 07:23, 17 October 2005 (UTC)