Tom: In which ways, if any was growing up in Sandefjord Norway different than a youth might experience in the United States during the same time? In what ways was it similar?
Terje: The difference as I see it is that growing up in Norway was all about being outside, no matter the weather and temperature.
It was bicycling to the beach in the summer, in the winter skiing on the weekends and skating and hockey after school. Going into the woods picking blueberries in the fall (or cloudberries if we were in the high mountains). We picked apples, pears, plums and many berries in our own yard. Everyone I knew had fruit trees they got fruit from. There were week-long school trips hiking in the mountains. In pre-school I remember everyone playing outside – in the pouring rain. In elementary school we waded through two feet of snow to get to school. A school closing, for any reason was unthinkable! Being driven to school was unthinkable! When I started the first grade my mom walked with us to school the first few days so we learned the route. I remember most winters after a very cold January, we’d open our jackets and loosen our scarves when temperatures got into the 20’s (F). I didn’t know anyone who couldn’t ski, skate, or swim. I also didn’t know anyone growing up who was obese, or who didn’t have food or a safe home.
I think many Americans also were active outside at that time, but I am sure we were much more active and not affected by weather or temperatures. I will also say that it is different now, as a much more diverse culture mix has different ways of looking at life.
Tom: Aside from bicycling, skiing, skating, hockey, etc., any other hobbies or interests growing up?
Terje: I started building my toolbox at age 11 or 12 and have been working on things with tools since then forever. It started with bicycles, then mopeds, motorcycles, cars etc. That was my main thing throughout all my teen years and things sort of never stopped.
Tom: Was the posting to the Defense Attache’s office in Washington DC your first trip to the United States?
Terje: Yes that was my first trip to the United States. I had never thought I would ever visit the U.S. much less live and work here. Travel to Europe was so easy that the U.S. seemed so much further away and unreachable. Of course this has also changed over these 30 years. Today the travel across the Atlantic is considered unremarkable.
Tom: OK, time to discuss your Stinger! What year and trim do you have? What brought you to buy it?
Terje: Mine is a 2019 GTS limited edition.
When the Stinger first came out, at my very first glimpse of it seeing the specs, I knew it was going to be my next car. This was sometime back in 2017. I had recently leased an Optima and was “stuck” in that for some time before I could consider getting a new car. But I didn’t consider any other car leading up to the purchase of the Stinger.
I really liked the Optima actually, so it wasn’t a problem really.
In the meantime I was considering models, colors and options. Based on budgetary considerations and what I felt I really needed I had decided on a red GT1. It checked the boxes of what I really wanted and it was substantially less costly than a GT2. The added features of the GT2 were not worth it for me personally. I wanted a sunroof, the Brembos (if only for showing-off) and the big stereo. Everything else was secondary. I had briefly considered the 4-cylinder, but I reconsidered and figured I wanted to go all out.
So a couple years go by, and I was purposefully working on my credit score and preparing to buy this time. The Optima lease was good because of my situation at the time but I didn’t consider it an “enthusiast car.” This time I was going to buy one.
Some time in 2019 I saw the GTS and its really striking color. It also had the main features I wanted and the price is very similar to the GT1. So after some back and forth I decided that the GTS was just a cooler car, even if it gave up a few features to the GT1. The Optima lease was ending in 2020 but I couldn’t wait any longer, so November/December 2019 I went to the dealer. They had a bunch of Stingers on the lot but of course no GTS! I asked them to set me up with a deal on a GTS anyway. They even had 0% financing, that sealed the deal. They found a GTS in Delaware and brought it in. I bought the car without any test drive (I did the same with the Optima). I knew it would be right and I was right.
It’s orders of magnitude more expensive than any car I’ve had before, but I feel that it’s a great deal for the money. I’ve been extremely happy with it the entire time. I spent a lot of money on upgrades, but technically I think the car is fantastic stock from the factory.