Latest Just for Fun Reviews
2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review
Upon hearing that I was testing a 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata, my friend Meredith told me her Miata story. When she went to buy her first car after her daughter was born, she settled on a station wagon. After the ink dried on all the paperwork, her husband asked her if she was excited. She said that while she was content with the wagon, there was really a Miata in her soul.
Read more2007 Volkswagen Eos Review
In ancient Greek mythology, Eos was the goddess of the dawn. As in, here comes the sun, break out the SPF and put on your shades. As I drove the Eos, I embraced my own inner sun goddess and shared my light with the world.
Read more2008 Audi S5 Review
I took my son to a birthday party in a full-blown blizzard in the S5, and she didn’t bat an eyelash. Everyone was all over the place on the slippery, slushy roads, but I just cruised right through like someone who’d had the red carpet cleared for them.
Read more2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe Review
If driving a non-family car is your idea of fun, or if you’re ready to burst out of your parental stage of life, the Z4 M coupe is a great manifestation of that desire. If you’re not quite there yet, I’d look for something with a couple seats in the back.
Read moreHonda Calls All Cool Moms
The last time anyone asked me if I was craving anything, I was pregnant. The only reason they were asking was because they wanted to hear some bizzaro pregnancy craving, like pickles and ice cream. Well, guess what? Honda now wants to know what I and all “cool moms in their 30s” (which I totally am, by the way) crave as part of a new advertising campaign for the CR-V.
Read more2008 Audi TT Review
When I was driving the TT I felt younger, cooler, more in love—just better. I went cruising up and down city streets with the music blaring, singing at the top of my lungs and not even caring that a carload of teenagers was blatantly making fun of me. Oh well, they were driving a crap car. Jealous much, kids?
Read more2007 Dodge Charger SRT8
I listened to more classic rock during my week in the Charger than I had in the previous 10 because, well, this car is just too much for overly sensitive music. It’s been a blast. I think I have insight now as to what it was like to be a 17-year-old guy in 1976. And no, I didn’t test the backseat for anything other than car seats, you sickos.
Read more2008 Nissan Altima Coupe
During my first outing in this car, onlookers stopped to ogle its sleek lines. Next to a slight caffeine infusion, the best way to start a day is with an ego boost like that — or a really hot shower, both of which are few and far between for us busy moms. Look at me in my Altima Coupe! I’m a cool mom, my hair’s been washed and I drive a hot car. Boom chicka bow wow!
Read more2007 Pontiac G6 Convertible
When my daughter first spots me in this shiny beauty, top down to take advantage of the weather, a grin as wide as — and spreading like — the fungal-like mess in her bedroom appears on her face. “Mom!” she exclaims. “You look sooo cool in that car!”
Read more2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
I am greeted with heated/cooled cupholders (my favorite feature of all). The Sebring R&D team went to Starbucks to inquire about the ideal temperature for their coffee drinks. Per Starbucks' temperature recommendations, the Sebring will keep my tall extra hot two pump chai heated to the perfect degree.
Read more2006 Pontiac Solstice
The car's doors lock as I drive, but there is no button to unlock them when I arrive at my destination. A simple pull of the handle does not pop the lock so I must turn around to manually pull up the lock button. The last time I had to do that was when I had a crush on Matt Dillon and a mixed tape (yes, I mean a cassette) playing in my car!
Read more2006 Honda Civic Si
There's a time when I may have been intrigued by the Honda Civic Si, but truthfully, that time has long since come and gone. My present status weighs in heavily: mom of two, wife to one, organizer of all, directress of the house, maid of the bathrooms, gate keeper to the refrigerator...the list goes on.
Read more2006 Mercury Discover Mercury Tour
Between the coloring table, rock climbing wall, aromatherapy oxygen bar (peppermint seems to be a popular choice for kids), game boy in the back of a display vehicle, and all the yummy healthy snacks and drinks you could ever want, why not bring the whole family! Mercury's golf carts will even lug car seats to and from your vehicle, to make test driving their fleet of cars a cinch...now that's service!
Read more2006 Volvo C70
Can a convertible be a family car? Can a convertible be safe and secure? Can the C70 fit in at the Volvo family picnic, or will it be shunned like poor Cousin Junior who hasn't been invited back since dying his hair purple?
Read more2006 Bridgestone Winter Driving School
It's so empowering learning that my car and I can handle tricky and potentially dangerous situations. I find new respect for myself as a driver. All day, I'm pushing the car and myself and learning more and more. Amazing!
Read more2006 Mazda Miata MX-5
The Mazda Miata is not a mom-mobile in any way, but with its reasonable price tag, side-impact air bags, and fairly small engine, it might be a fun car to buy for your responsible teenager. Did I just say that? Strike that from the record — NOW — before my son reads this!
Read more2005 Lexus SC 430
It starts out rather innocently. I'm informed that my next test car won't really fit into my "normal" demographics. Then I see it pull into my driveway: a shining, "absolutely red" Lexus SC430. My eyes glass over with daydreams of a night out on the town, hair blowing in the wind, sultry music slinking through the stereo.
Read more2005 GM Auto Show in Motion
Stop the press! Did we just have fun at an auto show? Moms, cancel that trip to the park. Instead, grab the kids, the sun block and head to the GM Auto Show in Motion! Bring the husband too; he might enjoy it as well.
Read more2005 Ford Mustang Convertible V6
I realize that this is not the "quintessential mom-mobile" so please don't send me hoards of e-mails asking me why I'm writing about a car that is obviously not a family car. The 2005 Ford Mustang convertible is an affordable choice for a second car that's just for fun.
Read more2005 Volvo V50 and XC90
I recently traveled 300 kilometers above the Arctic Circle to test the Volvo V50 and XC90 on the ice tracks. OK, the real truth is that 13 hours in the plane each way without kids was quite appealing to me. A good book, some mindless magazines and a long nap would do any mom a world of good.
Read more2004 Mini Cooper
Although the Mini Cooper certainly isn't meant as a mom-mobile, I surprisingly discovered some mom (and dad) friendly features. Can't guess what they are? I'll give you a hint: ease of loading and unloading children isn't one of them.
Read more2005 Chrysler Crossfire
I've never understood the concept of owning an impractical car just for fun. If I had enough disposable income to purchase a ridiculously expensive "toy," I figure I could do more meaningful and important things with it (like invest in my personal flip-flop fetish). How much use can a mommy get out of a two-seat convertible?
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