My first week test driving the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart seemed to revolve around the Recaro front seats. My kids were nearly obsessed with them. They wanted to know why the seats have two holes just below the head restraint; I just wanted to know why I couldn’t adjust the seat’s height so I could have a better view of the road.

My eldest daughter thought the holes were to “hold onto when you turn around to look behind you when backing up.” However, my younger daughter, Cade, had a much more imaginative explanation: “I think they’re to stick your pigtails through.”

Let’s face it; a quick test drive around a dealership isn’t enough time to figure out if a car will fit into your family life. Even the one to two weeks we spend in our test cars here at MotherProof.com is barely enough time to uncover a car’s endearing traits and maddening quirks.

With that in mind, Mitsubishi is extending our test drive of the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart to about six months. That’s right, folks. This poor car is really going to go through the ringer, especially when my daughters and their friends get in the backseat.

I’ll be documenting the six-month test drive in detail here in our News and Rants section as well as at Twitter.com/MotherProof. 

Dorel Juvenile Group is recalling 22,850 Maxi-Cosi Mico infant-safety seats that were made from Feb. 18-June 28, 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It may be difficult to attach or detach the shell from the base if the base has warped or there’s inadequate mating between the car seat’s shell and base mounting bracket.

If the car seat’s shell is improperly mounted to the base, the child could be injured in a crash.

Maxi-Cosi Mico models affected by this recall:

Toyota’s president apologized Friday for the problems that have led to massive global recalls of the automaker’s vehicles. Akio Toyoda also said the automaker would reveal its plans to fix the braking problem in the 2010 Prius, but he didn’t say if there would be a recall of the popular hybrid, the New York Times reported. 

“I deeply regret that I caused concern among so many people,” Toyoda said. “We will do our utmost to regain the trust of our customers.”

Consumer Reports is reporting that Ford will issue a Customer Satisfaction Program this month to cover the braking system in the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids. This is a voluntary recall for all vehicles made on or before Oct. 17, 2009, and owners will be alerted by mail. You can check the label on your car’s driver side doorjamb to see when your car was built.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood backed away from his off-the-cuff remarks that Toyota owners should “stop driving” their cars until the accelerator can be fixed by their local dealer. “What I said in there was obviously a misstatement,” LaHood said at a press conference held after he testified before a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation this morning.

In a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, LaHood said: “I want to encourage owners of any recalled Toyota models to contact their local dealer and get their vehicles fixed as soon as possible.”

In other Toyota-related news:

Honda is recalling 141,100 Fit subcompact cars from the 2007-08 model years over a faulty window switch that can overheat if exposed to liquid. It can smoke, melt and even catch fire. Unfortunately, a fatal accident involving a child led to the recall.

Honda explained: “Under some severe operating conditions, water, rain or other liquid may enter the driver’s window and reach the master power window switch, resulting in impaired function of the switch. If the master power window switch is damaged as a result of the liquid intrusion, it may result in failure of the switch and overheating.”

The recall has not yet been announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners should expect notification by Honda of the recall in the coming weeks. Or they can call Honda’s customer service line at 800-999-1009.

Tell the truth: What comes to mind when you think of Buick? Cardigan sweaters and BenGay, right? Octogenarians in Miami Beach and your grandparents? These days, Buick is having some work done — an eye lift, a facial peel and a little under-the-hood rejuvenation. It’s no longer your grandfather’s car company, and the 2011 Buick Regal launch party was the perfect example of this.

When I first got invited to the party for “Buick enthusiasts,” I hesitated. I mean, who is a “Buick enthusiast?” I had visions of old guys playing checkers on the front porch of the local market and grandmothers who carry their knitting in their purses. But the invitation said singer Colbie Caillat was going to play, and I love her. Also it’s kind of my job to go to these things, so I took a deep breath and went to the party. Wow, was I ever wrong about Buick.