Moscow Trip Report

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I was never too worried about Anna getting here, getting her license and then driving as she drives all over the place in Russia. Until she mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, "We can just get me a cheap car because I will be crashing it a lot".... Her new Schwin is awaiting her arrival.

Get her a cheap car. She will be crashing it a lot.

If you ever want to be terrorized, just ride with them a little while after they get a license...Oh Holy Mother of God!!!!!!!!!

[AKguy 1]

Get her a cheap car. She will be crashing it a lot.

If you ever want to be terrorized, just ride with them a little while after they get a license...Oh Holy Mother of God!!!!!!!!!

I've already experienced it in Russia!! Add to that her car is right hand drive and she drives like a bat out of hell! Passing cars on the left when I'm the only one who could see the ONCOMING traffic. "Why you staring at me? I had to pass."... She loves to tell me how she can't wait to drive my truck. Hell may have frozen over in Russia, but it ain't quite happened yet in Alaska, Sweet Cheeks!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I've already experienced it in Russia!! Add to that her car is right hand drive and she drives like a bat out of hell! Passing cars on the left when I'm the only one who could see the ONCOMING traffic. "Why you staring at me? I had to pass."... She loves to tell me how she can't wait to drive my truck. Hell may have frozen over in Russia, but it ain't quite happened yet in Alaska, Sweet Cheeks!

Maybe worse than I experienced! Alla had never drove and was afraid of the center of the road (that is where the other cars are coming "right at me") So she was always hugging the shoulder, which means she often heard "Alla! You are going to hit the....THUMP...mailbox" She would say "Oh, are those expensive?" I swear she was adding it up in a secret diary somewhere. But I guess mailboxes are less terrifying than oncoming traffic. Sounds like she is marrying you so she can have a full time guy to ride shotgun and spot oncoming traffic for her!

She woul dusually manage to get the car parked somewhere on our property (3 acres) but I was real proud of her the first time she parked all four wheels on the driveway!

[Advanced Aardvark 82]

I defintely think you would not fit. I am 5' 11" and 180 (ish) and my leg hits a place where it doesn't want to go any further in and I am kind of "stuck", after some pain and unusual bending, I get in and then it is OK. The car is fun to drive, really. It reminds me of a go-kart in handling and Alla much prefers that to the minivan which she says is like "floating", not driving. Comparatively, yes, that is true. But there is little room for all her "stuff", extra pair of heels, make up, shoe polish...you know, essentials.

I always wanted to drive a Mazda Miata too. That is the modern day MGB. No luck with the fit either.

Leg, head and shoulder room limit how small I can go with cars. This is why I pretty much collect 1960s and earlier cars. In 50s -60s sports cars, the floor pan is much lower than the door sill, and this gives me the extra room I need. My 68 MGB-GT is probably the best fit for me, followed by the 66 Porsche.

It sounds like Alla likes the way a sports car grips the road. Let her drive one with soft tires, someting with a B or C wear rating, and see how she likes it. Those tires do not last long, but they sure do grip the road.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I always wanted to drive a Mazda Miata too. That is the modern day MGB. No luck with the fit either.

Leg, head and shoulder room limit how small I can go with cars. This is why I pretty much collect 1960s and earlier cars. In 50s -60s sports cars, the floor pan is much lower than the door sill, and this gives me the extra room I need. My 68 MGB-GT is probably the best fit for me, followed by the 66 Porsche.

It sounds like Alla likes the way a sports car grips the road. Let her drive one with soft tires, someting with a B or C wear rating, and see how she likes it. Those tires do not last long, but they sure do grip the road.

She says she likes to "feel" she is driving, which you certainly do in a sports car and I think she likes the quick handling and small size for parking, which she does very much better in the small car. She will whip it right into a parking spot, look at me and say "I LIKE my care...no, I LOVE my car" She caught on to that American trait in no time. For a coming home presnt I took it to get it detailed for her and she was thrilled. Better than the flowers I met her with but she made me go with her a few times as she was afraid she "lost" her ability to drive. She just doesn't want to drive the mini-van at all anymore. I guess that defaults to me. She said she badly missed having a car in Ukraine and Russia and didn't like the busses and subways. It takes too long to go anywhere and she feels it is really slow now.

For all that, she likes to walk and she will park outside downtown and walk all over, she definitely does not need to be parking at the door of every place she goes.

I like the Miata also and always had a hankering for one.

[Neonred 3,600]

She says she likes to "feel" she is driving, which you certainly do in a sports car and I think she likes the quick handling and small size for parking, which she does very much better in the small car. She will whip it right into a parking spot, look at me and say "I LIKE my care...no, I LOVE my car" She caught on to that American trait in no time. For a coming home presnt I took it to get it detailed for her and she was thrilled. Better than the flowers I met her with but she made me go with her a few times as she was afraid she "lost" her ability to drive. She just doesn't want to drive the mini-van at all anymore. I guess that defaults to me. She said she badly missed having a car in Ukraine and Russia and didn't like the busses and subways. It takes too long to go anywhere and she feels it is really slow now.

For all that, she likes to walk and she will park outside downtown and walk all over, she definitely does not need to be parking at the door of every place she goes.

I like the Miata also and always had a hankering for one.

Spoiled girl! LOL

[bainbridge558 0]

I was never too worried about Anna getting here, getting her license and then driving as she drives all over the place in Russia. Until she mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, "We can just get me a cheap car because I will be crashing it a lot".... Her new Schwin is awaiting her arrival.

[Salsa Shark 0]

We just got back from our Moscow/Chelyabinsk trip and I'll post some more details shortly, including the K-1 interview details.

For what it's worth, Olga and I both survived Anna's driving