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Shortcuts - Josh Elam

Josh Elam’s three-wheeling 4-Runner
Josh Elam’s three-wheeling 4-Runner

Car: 1993 Toyota 4-Runner V6 4WD

Previous cars: 1988 Mustang GT, 1992 Mustang LX, 1988 Mustang 5.0 Notchback, 1973 Ford F100, 1997 E39 BMW 540i.

How’s your commute? About 25 minutes from Rancho San Diego to Chula Vista.

Cheapest gas? I usually go to Costco for gas, it’s generally about 10-15% cheaper on average. I think it’s worth waiting in line for, most of the time it’s only 5-10 minutes and I save almost $3.00 per tank.

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What’s wrong with your car? Same problems any car it’s age displays, it has 220K miles on it so just the little things you’d expect.

What cool cars have you driven? Honestly my ‘73 F100 was really fun. It was lifted all high and stuff so we’d tow off-road skateboarders around Pine Valley with it. My ‘88 Mustang had some pretty sweet modifications to it, Wilwood 6-piston front brakes and drums in the rear made it... exciting [dangerous].

What do you listen to while you drive? I’m mostly into metal, I was considering getting a ‘Slayer’ tattoo if that gives you any idea.

Do you use your cell phone and drive? No, it really annoys me to see other people talking on their cell phones and I’m no hypocrite. Maybe if I was expecting an important call for a second but, no.

Where do you experience the worst traffic in San Diego? I usually get to go the opposite way of traffic, I’m headed south in the morning and north in the evening, but there’s always accidents by the 94-125 exchange.

Tickets? I have 4 or 5 speeding tickets. All my cars have been sort-of loud or obtrusive and tend to attract a lot of attention from law enforcement. One time I got flagged down by an on foot police officer, he was not pleased.

Any good hitchhiking stories? No, I’ve never had any desire to hitchhike or pick up a hitchhiker. I might be just sort of an asshole who doesn’t care enough to help other people.

Accidents? I got hit by a Camry one time in a parking lot. I had a solid stainless steel bumper and I was in the F100 so the front of the Camry got destroyed. Accidents are typically pretty avoidable so I haven’t been in anything serious.

What is your favorite drive? I really like the 52 west down into La Jolla all through the San Clemente valley, I think it’s one of the best freeways in San Diego.

Your best ShortCut? If you’re on 125 north near that sharp right near the 94 you can bypass almost all the traffic by instead taking the 94 east, getting off at the first exit and making a u-turn to get back on the 125 north well ahead of most of the traffic.

What is your dream car? 2003 E39 BMW M5 with a bunch of modifications, brakes, suspension, some engine. White with a black interior would be perfect.

What bothers you most about other peoples’ driving? Probably the biggest thing is when people drive slow in the passing lane. If there’s somebody behind you, you should move over!

Do you use any shortcuts in real life? I work on my own car so I don’t have to pay for mechanics. If you have even basic mechanical knowhow you can get a manual that explains almost any project on your car and most mechanics charge $100+ per hour.

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Josh Elam’s three-wheeling 4-Runner
Josh Elam’s three-wheeling 4-Runner

Car: 1993 Toyota 4-Runner V6 4WD

Previous cars: 1988 Mustang GT, 1992 Mustang LX, 1988 Mustang 5.0 Notchback, 1973 Ford F100, 1997 E39 BMW 540i.

How’s your commute? About 25 minutes from Rancho San Diego to Chula Vista.

Cheapest gas? I usually go to Costco for gas, it’s generally about 10-15% cheaper on average. I think it’s worth waiting in line for, most of the time it’s only 5-10 minutes and I save almost $3.00 per tank.

Sponsored
Sponsored

What’s wrong with your car? Same problems any car it’s age displays, it has 220K miles on it so just the little things you’d expect.

What cool cars have you driven? Honestly my ‘73 F100 was really fun. It was lifted all high and stuff so we’d tow off-road skateboarders around Pine Valley with it. My ‘88 Mustang had some pretty sweet modifications to it, Wilwood 6-piston front brakes and drums in the rear made it... exciting [dangerous].

What do you listen to while you drive? I’m mostly into metal, I was considering getting a ‘Slayer’ tattoo if that gives you any idea.

Do you use your cell phone and drive? No, it really annoys me to see other people talking on their cell phones and I’m no hypocrite. Maybe if I was expecting an important call for a second but, no.

Where do you experience the worst traffic in San Diego? I usually get to go the opposite way of traffic, I’m headed south in the morning and north in the evening, but there’s always accidents by the 94-125 exchange.

Tickets? I have 4 or 5 speeding tickets. All my cars have been sort-of loud or obtrusive and tend to attract a lot of attention from law enforcement. One time I got flagged down by an on foot police officer, he was not pleased.

Any good hitchhiking stories? No, I’ve never had any desire to hitchhike or pick up a hitchhiker. I might be just sort of an asshole who doesn’t care enough to help other people.

Accidents? I got hit by a Camry one time in a parking lot. I had a solid stainless steel bumper and I was in the F100 so the front of the Camry got destroyed. Accidents are typically pretty avoidable so I haven’t been in anything serious.

What is your favorite drive? I really like the 52 west down into La Jolla all through the San Clemente valley, I think it’s one of the best freeways in San Diego.

Your best ShortCut? If you’re on 125 north near that sharp right near the 94 you can bypass almost all the traffic by instead taking the 94 east, getting off at the first exit and making a u-turn to get back on the 125 north well ahead of most of the traffic.

What is your dream car? 2003 E39 BMW M5 with a bunch of modifications, brakes, suspension, some engine. White with a black interior would be perfect.

What bothers you most about other peoples’ driving? Probably the biggest thing is when people drive slow in the passing lane. If there’s somebody behind you, you should move over!

Do you use any shortcuts in real life? I work on my own car so I don’t have to pay for mechanics. If you have even basic mechanical knowhow you can get a manual that explains almost any project on your car and most mechanics charge $100+ per hour.

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The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

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Submit a free classified
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Birding & Brews: Breakfast Edition, ZZ Ward, Doggie Street Festival & Pet Adopt-A-Thon

Events November 21-November 23, 2024
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A concert I didn't know I needed
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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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