Headline Surfer photos by Serafina Frederick / Henry Frederick stands with his shiny red Audi TT quattro near the International Speedway Bridge in Daytona Beach. He's shown below with his former shiny white Audi TT convertible that has been featured on his Facebook page.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- I said goodbye today for the final time to my shiny white 2002 Audi TT. It was a great little car. After all, what's not to like about a turbo-charged 5-speed convertible.
But with 158,000-plus miles, a broken stick shift, a catalytic converter that was shot and a timing belt replacement imminent, I had no choice.
It's not the end of the world, though. I still have the shiny red 2001 Audi TT.
It, too, is a 5-speed turbo, but it also is equipped with a "chip" that gives it far greater horsepower. It's a quattro, which makes for awesome handling. With just over 80,000 miles, it has a lot of road life yet. When I downshift to third to pick up speed, it pushes me back against the seat (and yes, I always wear my seat belt).
Two years ago, I actually traded the white TT in at Park Avenue Motors so I could buy the red TT, But then I missed it and bought it back a few months later. Big mistake!
I tend to keep things a long time as I appreciate what I have in life (not just material, but family, friends, mementos, etc). But the white TT was battle worn and gave me extra repair costs I could have avoided, had I listened to my wife.
This past Sunday, I was getting ready to get on I-95 at the 17-92 ramp in Daytona on our return drive home to New Smyrna Beach when the stick shift literally snapped in half. It's a good thing traffic was slow. Had i gone on the interstate and this happened, it might have been curtains for my wife and I, never mind the car.
This past Sunday, I was getting ready to get on I-95 at the 17-92 ramp in Daytona on our return drive home to New Smyrna Beach when the stick shift literally snapped in half. It's a good thing traffic was slow. Had i gone on the interstate and this happened, it might have been curtains for my wife and I, never mind the car.
I was able to push down on the shift and get it into first gear and pulled onto the side. I had it towed to Park Avenue. The prognosis wasn't good: At least a grand, maybe more as the cables were shot. And with the other mechanical issues, it was time to let go for good.
After locating the title, I signed it over to Park Avenue Motors for $850, which is not chump change this time of year with tight finances.
I bought the white TT in 2004, my last year with the Daytona Beach News-Journal. It wasn't cheap, but it was a head turner.
When I left Park Avenue with the check in hand, I felt at peace and very appreciative of the shiny red TT, a car that fits my personality to a tee. It was like a big burden was lifted from my shoulders and my wallet. My car insurance was cut in half, too.
It's kind of bittersweet knowing those who saw me always asked about the other TT, depending which one I was driving at the time.
And while the shiny white TT convertible was a head turner back in the day, the shiny red TT coupe stands out even more, turning heads in New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and all points Volusia County. It's kind of a poor-man's Porsche.
In my line of work -- dual role of internet editor and publisher -- you kind of have to look the part of success, especially in the latter. And the shiny red TT gets the job done.
When I need that pick-up speed, the red TT delivers without fail. Of course, I'm mindful of being a careful, courteous and safe driver. Yes, I've had a couple of speeding tickets over the years, but who hasn't.
In Florida, especially around here, you're going to get that slow-poke driver that stays in the left passing lane on I-95 or I-4 and refuses to budge. I have the muscle to deal with that with the red TT's raw power (that tack swings to the right in the blink of an eye).
For those of you concerned about buying American, the German engineering in the TT is superb. After all, it's an Audi! Besides, my wife has a Jeep Liberty. That's American, isn't it? Whatever. Besides, I also own a Harley-Davidson Road King, which I bought from Bruce Rossmeyer's dealership in New Smyrna Beach for my Dad up in Connecticut.
You can't any more American than that, now can you?
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