From The Missing Persons File...

[Iron Chef]

Finally a few minutes to check in. Thought I'd stop in to say hey, wish everyone a Happy New Year. Work is in overdrive. I basically work, come home and eat dinner and fall asleep around 8PM (I had to re-try my password 4 times ). Crazy life, but they're making it worth my while and then some. I was just extended another 2 years (and then told that I should expect to be extended after that). I guess when you have a director that's a total metal head and likes to text AC/DC videos to you over the weekend, you're in good stead. Timing for Social Security and Medicare may be just right. Otherwise kids are doing great, out on their own, making lives for themselves. I couldn't be prouder.

Last week, I rejoined the Corvette world. Got a 1996 Collector's Edition. LT-1, 45,000 miles, garage kept and all service records. Not a scratch on this car and it was riding on what was probably only its second set of tires: Goodyear Eagle GS-C EMT's. The ride home was really noisy. They have been replaced. The stupid mud flaps are going too...it's not a Peterbilt. And I need some LED headlights. My eyesight isn't spectacular at night and what I'm driving with is like two candlesticks. I included a few pics for those who don't hate C4's. The C4 was my first Vette and has always been my favorite.

To all my old friends and those I don't know, hope you all have a happy, healthy New Year and that life is good for all.

[Old Ben]

Nice C-4. Wouldn't mind having my old 92 back.

[Tikiman]

Looks good with those wheels.

[LATB]

Happy new year Mike. And I love the vette. I actually bought that exact same model new in 1996. Still think it is one of the best looking Corvettes ever offered.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

Looks good with those wheels.

Those wheels are OEM on that car. And a reason I bought the car.
Of the 5 Corvette’s that I have owned, the 96 CE is one I’d like to have back.

[snide]

Happy New Year Mike!

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024!

[Torqaholic]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

... I included a few pics for those who don't hate C4's...

That's a great looking car

I don't hate them. I just wish I could sit behind the wheel without bruising my knees on the dashboard.

Hurry up and retire. Sounds like you've earned it.

[Big bob]

Take a peek at this before ebaying your lights.


Daniel Stern Lighting

[09CTSV]

Congrats on the CE. I wish I would have kept the 96 Grandsport, it was a fun vehicle to drive and always got compliments on it.

[Rikki Z-06]

Very nice CE. Happy New Year to you and your family.

[Datawiz]

Nice looking car Mike! Welcome back from the dead.

[DJ_Critterus]

IC, I found a pic of you and Sir Snarls Barkley making friends years ago. was a great pic and great time. I wont post it without your permission.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

Looks good with those wheels.

Originally Posted by LATB

Those wheels are OEM on that car. And a reason I bought the car.
Of the 5 Corvette’s that I have owned, the 96 CE is one I’d like to have back.

.

[LilRedCorvette]

A Happy and Healthy New Year to you too, Mike! 🎉

It’s C4s or bust for me (and I have driven C5/6/7s…they just lack the ‘soul’ mine have). If I want a more modern (as in, comfortable ) driving experience, I have the Bimmer for that.

I’ve done the LED headlight conversion on mine, a night and day difference, highly recommend I wish you many miles of smiles in yours, and congrats!

Good to see you back here

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

Congrats on the CE. I wish I would have kept the 96 Grandsport, it was a fun vehicle to drive and always got compliments on it.

The Grand Sport and ZR-1 are definitely ones I’d love to add

[Stangkiller]

Congrats Mike! You better be off for the UCF-TCU game, I’ll see you there!

[Iron Chef]

Originally Posted by LATB

Those wheels are OEM on that car. And a reason I bought the car.
Of the 5 Corvette’s that I have owned, the 96 CE is one I’d like to have back.

I wish I had my ZR-1 back, but this will do just fine. I've wanted a CE for a very long time. The wheels are called A-Molds. They came standard on the ZR-1 and the Collector's Edition. They were also Standard on the Grand Sport but painted gloss black. I think they are some of the best looking wheels Chevy put out.

Originally Posted by Torqaholic

Hurry up and retire. Sounds like you've earned it.

Thanks, but no retirement for this boy. I tried that a few years ago and was bored out of my mind. I like what I do and I'm well paid, so I'll just keep going.

Originally Posted by LilRedCorvette

A Happy and Healthy New Year to you too, Mike! 🎉

It’s C4s or bust for me (and I have driven C5/6/7s…they just lack the ‘soul’ mine have). If I want a more modern (as in, comfortable ) driving experience, I have the Bimmer for that.

I’ve done the LED headlight conversion on mine, a night and day difference, highly recommend I wish you many miles of smiles in yours, and congrats!

Good to see you back here

Awwww, you've always been one of my faves Laurie And you're absolutely right. I love the way the C4 straddles old and new tech. And I've got the Benz for when I want the car to think for me or it's a Country Club kind of night. A lot of people really like the Holley LED's. I'll look into Daniel Stern as well.

Is that your Bimmer? Sharp!!! M3? M5? I looked long and hard at the M850i XDrive but in the end it was a little too big and a little more than I wanted to pay.

Originally Posted by Stangkiller

Congrats Mike! You better be off for the UCF-TCU game, I’ll see you there!

Of course! It's a home game, so I'll have tix. You're and Karen are more than welcome to stay here.

[jw38]

Beautiful car. I've always liked the look of the C4. Bonus points for being an AMG fan...me too!

[Iron Chef]

Originally Posted by jw38

Beautiful car. I've always liked the look of the C4. Bonus points for being an AMG fan...me too!

Yeaaahhh I test drove one of those...about made the sales guy (who is a friend) shit his pants. Holy hell...it was tough not to write a check right there. But in the end I "settled" for an E450 Coupe that I ordered from Germany with an AMG package on it. No regrets.

[LilRedCorvette]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

Awwww, you've always been one of my faves Laurie And you're absolutely right. I love the way the C4 straddles old and new tech. And I've got the Benz for when I want the car to think for me or it's a Country Club kind of night. A lot of people really like the Holley LED's. I'll look into Daniel Stern as well.

Is that your Bimmer? Sharp!!! M3? M5? I looked long and hard at the M850i XDrive but in the end it was a little too big and a little more than I wanted to pay.

It’s a 2023 M240i xDrive, no M2 this model year, this is its replacement…but it’s the same car (same B58 platform, hp/tq #s, suspension, brakes, exhaust, etc). Got just about every option available (including the 50th anniversary of M roundels). I got the 1 dealer allocation as it’s a limited production car…it’s actually easier to get an M3/M4 right now, but I don’t like what they did to the kidney grilles on them (look more like ‘lungs’ than kidneys ), just envision the Buc’ees logo on the front bumper and you’ll get an accurate representation

Ordered in Aug 2022, expected Nov 2022, received Mar 2023 been enjoying the heck out of it since then