Depends on what the spirally thing is. To balance impedances, (because the radio waves are so much longer than the antenna), a wire is wrapped around the outside and sealed against the antenna. This results in better reception. Is that spirally thing wrapped around the antenna's body? If so, then it is there so that a 'too short' antenna can better receive signals. (Better reception would not be apparent until well out in the country - ie the Susquehanna Valley or Jersey shore - and still trying to receive Philadelphia stations.)

Don't think it's weird at all.

When my wife and I decided it was time to have a l1ttl3_f3rr3t, we knew that our vehicles, a Chevy S-10 pickup and a 2-door Cavalier, weren't gonna cut it for transporting us and the little one.

We lokked at just about every non-car vehicle available and we settled on a (beige) Pontiac Aztek as a replacement for the S-10.

She drove that for about a year and then we looked again and found another one (red) to replace the Cavalier.

We are known in the neighborhood as the couple with the matching Azteks, though they are of different color and model-year.

I don't think it's weird.

I think the reason it's not more common is that couples firstly do not have the same needs and secondly the same tastes. If you do, it's a given!

If I had had more $$$, I probably would have gotten a RAV4, which is what my wife owns. As long as you like your car, who cares if your SO owns the same thing?

Congrats, J...I'm still loving my new car...and it still smells like a new car too!

The real question is: when you go somewhere together, how do you decide which one to take?

Our decision usually goes like this:

Do you want to take the blue car or the yellow one?

It looks like it might snow, we'd better take the gray car.

or

My car is low on gas, we'd better take yours.

Given that J is on the road 3 hours a day, I suspect they'll take UT's on weekends.

Those look very gas efficient. I am so jealous right now. Just how good is the gas mileage? They are cute......It's not like you guys are wearing the same outfit or anything....lol! Don't worry about it!!

Yea, most important, what is the gas milage?

Having the same cars is a sign of freedom. We have two incredibly different cars (Windstar, Focus) and, while beest usually drives the Focus and I usually drive the Windstar, it's all based on what we are doing. Sometimes we call them "my car" and "your car", but not often. neither are our dream cars, but they do the A to B thing.

Usually, he goes to work by himself, 30 miles. Focus.
Usually, I am carpooling kids, local. Windstar.
Either of us takes 1 or 2 kids, limited equipment -Focus
Either of us takes all 3 or 2 and lots of equipment - Windstar.....

Not weird, but -- I think it would be more practical to have two different types. Like, a sedan for passenger trips, and a pickup for hauling stuff.

Or a minivan for the mom and a sports car for the dad. or vice versa. Just would give you more options.

They get about 26-7 mpg driving around, about 31 highway.

My wife wants to trade in the Sequoia, we are looking at the Camry since it has some of the best gas mileage. I am a bit afraid of getting rid of anything that cannot tow a trailer in case we need to hightail it out of here in the case of a big assed hurricane. I am taking a serious look at the Mini Cooper as a commuter.

Oh yeah, an overpriced, uncomfortable little commuter is just what you need ;)

No, I just need a cool car that gets great gas mileage. The Cooper is pretty cool. 25k is about right.

Coopers suck in wet or snowy conditions - poor braking too or so I've heard.