Whatcha Wearing Wednesday- WAPA Rally 2013

Rockland Manor, home of this year’s rally

It was a ridiculously rainy October day last Friday. The kind that makes you want to shrink back under the covers and call it a day right after a mug of hot tea.

Unless of course that day is the annual WAPA (Washington Automotive Press Association) Rally. I’m a fairly new and overly excited member, think Ritalin-infused Chihuahua puppy kind of excited, and this was my first rally. I had no idea what to expect beyond the fact that I was headed into Potomac, Maryland to spend the day driving cars of all types and horsepower. Mmm….horsepower. Like 429 horsepower in the Hyundai Equus. Leather seating, fuel economy, diesel, torque and superior sound systems. All words that get the reaction from me that some women get from designer shoes. Speaking of shoes…

I had no idea what to wear to this event.

The Volvo XC60 I waited around for and at $51,000 it is a roomy cross-over with a bigger second row than I anticipated.  At lunch talk went around that the cross-over will probably the car that this generation loathes and refuses to drive much like I hate the minivan.  Range Rover’s LR4 was quite a surprise for me. I am in love with how high up I felt without being intimidated by the size.  It’s gas mileage is laughable though with about 14 mpg.

Then there is the Equus.  I mean seriously it is one hot beast when it comes to Hyundai.  Getting behind the wheel was somewhat exciting but the more I drove it the more I fell in love.  I’m not going to compare it to some Mercedes class because it just doesn’t seem right.  It’s not the same field but …almost.  It was my favorite car of the day when it came to sheer driving enjoyment.  On an off ramp I slammed the brakes and felt nothing.  As in total complete stop and that is all.  Perfection.  No softness, no jerking you around. Just full stop. The end.  Lovely.  And oddly rare. Then I took a sharp corner and accelerated down an on-ramp and let out a sound like this, “WHOOHOOOO! THIS IS WHY I JOINED WAPA! THIS IS WHY I LIKE CARS!”  Some expletives might have been in there too.

Fun times.

I waited on that white beauty of an AMG all morning and never got a turn.   The rain masked my tears.  Heh.  The e350 convertible was worthy of a stop and photo op as I texted H, “My current ride” climbed back in and sped off down the parkway.  The only drawback was that buckets of rain poured down at that moment. I had to spend the entire ride doing about 30 mph.  It felt criminal.  The Ford C-Max Energi was my first drive of the day. It’s a fun, eco-conscious little hatchback that gives good green love.  While the Fiat 500L was always there waiting and I just never got around to it.

Next year, new rally, all new cars.  All new fun.

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Don’t forget to enter to win 4 tickets to Disney on Ice Presents Let’s Celebrate!

October 23-27, 2013, Fairfax, VA

Today is the last day to enter!