i beat my car’s “check engine” light yesterday and passed my emissions test. in the process of doing so, i’ve successfully put off having to replace the old (and expensive) catalytic converter for the time being. thanks to those that saved me a thousand bucks; you know who you are.

behold: the Lada Riva, a car famous for being virtually unchanged for the past 30 years since it was first produced in the Soviet Union. it’s about as basic as it gets: some seats, a steering wheel, lights for when it gets dark and windows for when it isn’t.

i saw this Lada 1500 (as it’s known in Canada) stuttering its way through Toronto a few months ago. it didn’t look or sound too good but hey, at least it was out there and not in a junkyard. i’ve always admired the rugged simplicity of Soviet-era machinery. in many ways, the Riva is like an automotive version of the AK-47, the ubiquitous assault rifle that’s simple, reliable and almost impossible to jam. there’s no power windows to fail, no power locks to jam, no seat warmers to overheat and no satellite navigation to get you lost. this car was not built to invoke passion, pioneer technology or showcase engineering prowess; this car was built to be an appliance.

a glorious Soviet appliance.

hooray for WRC!

i finally got the yellow card of doom in the mail today, the notice that says i have to bring my car in for emissions testing. problem is, my car’s ‘check engine’ light has been on for quite some time now and i’m sure rolling up to the test facility with it burning brightly for the masses will result in instant failure. groan.

aptly named after déesse, the French word for ‘goddess,’ i think the Citroën DS is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cars ever made. its subtle, graceful curves make it look decidedly sexier and more aerodynamic than many of its contemporaries while its ground-breaking equipment list included power disc brakes, swiveling headlights, independent suspension, fiberglass roof (for lower center of gravity), power steering and adaptive hydropneumatic suspension that’s both height adjustable and self-leveling. to say that the DS was, in many respects, far ahead of its time is an understatement at best.

anyway, i came across this particular DS about a year ago while walking through Amsterdam with a comically large cone of mayonnaise-smothered frites in hand. now, as i gaze upon this gorgeous DS again half a world away in snowy Chicago, i can recall with surprising clarity the crisp autumn air breezing wistfully through the trees, the gentle bobbing of aged canal boats, a greasy but not entirely unpleasant warmth in my stomach and a sense that, for one wavering moment, all is right in the world.

yeah, those frites were fantastic.

three more days until the World Rally Championship starts up again. three more days until the wintry Swedish countryside explodes in a symphony of roaring engines, turbo whine and blowoff valves. three more days until i can get my racing fix. just three more days.