Edit: Added Picture Gallery

Despite the calls for my man card, and the urging to stay away because people driving a Yaris in North Alabama could be labeled a communist and let’s not forget the very pointed “Yaris is a chick car” post on my buddy Grant’s blog, we have purchased a 2008 Toyota Yaris in Dark Blue Mica.

Personally I think Grant is trying to cover for the fact that he bought a car that is clearly chick oriented, a Yellow Xterra. Grant… shifting the focus to me doesn’t help your case. It makes you seem defensive.

Anyway, I have several things I would like to bring before the man-council before my card is revoked.

1. My Yaris is a respectable color. Dark Blue is unquestionably manly. (See Photo Gallery Here)
2. It is the Yaris Sedan, and as such would not fit in the bed of any normal pickup truck.
3. It has a manual transmission. How many chicks do you see driving a stick? (Insert obvious witch/broomstick jokes here)
4. Leg room is an important thing for any man. This car has alot of it, both in the front seat and in the back seat. At the same time.
5. I didn’t get rid of my truck. I still have a very manly Chevrolet pickup, it has a spray-in bedliner (Black… none of that sissy color matched stuff) and if it would make the man-council feel better I could have a trailer hitch installed despite my lack of anything to pull.
6. As an argument for my manliness, I would like to present exhibit A: A 50″ DLP HDTV.
7. As an argument for my manliness, I would also like to present exhibit B: My gun collection, currently up to 5 firearms. 3 handguns, a shotgun and a rifle. I have hunted and killed animals. This is, without question, a manly activity.
8. I am a musician, but I play all the manly instruments: Drums, Bass Guitar and Low Brass.

So, in closing I would like to ask mercy from the man council, and consideration of one more fact. I calculated my fuel mileage today and I got nearly 40mpg. It will likely get better after 500 miles. Think of all the cool manly stuff I can afford because of saving that much fuel!