8/02/07

Sporty Hatchback Suits Multiple Personalities

By: Emily Hansen

Do you have an exotic dancer name? I have a friend who constantly sends me links to the latest personality quiz or name-generator test. Most of the time I just hit delete, but she recently sent me a link to a quiz to determine my official stripper name. I am not afraid to admit that I took the bait. At the risk of over-analyzing why I decided to take the exotic-dancer/burlesque-queen name quiz instead of the TV Mom name quiz, I concluded I was in desperate need of an alter ego and might have puked if I came out as June Cleaver. So, allow me to introduce myself: Emily Hansen, mom, aka Destiny Butterfly, sexy single chick. Are you still with me?

My Destiny Butterfly persona came in handy while driving the latest car to come out of the car-safety-Mecca of Gothenburg, Sweden — Volvo headquarters. The Volvo C30 is a departure from what I think of when I picture a Volvo. Don't get me wrong; all the safety and security I expect from Volvo is still intact, it's just packaged in a cute, sporty, city car.

My Volvo C30 experience started with an exterior color palette that was to die for. The java trim color was so yummy, Destiny wanted to lick the fender (and she would). The interior features a cool etched center control panel reminiscent of the tramp stamp Destiny wants to get on her lower back. The two bucket seats in back complete the single-girl trifecta of exterior design, interior design and room for chatty girlfriends. The rear seats are pushed toward the middle of the car with no third seat in between, so my gals are centered between the front seats — perfect for those giggly chats on the way to the latest hot spot.

For ladies like Ms. Butterfly, having a customized ride is really the ultimate in fabulous. She spent a couple hours creating her dream-mobile on the "Unbox Your C30" site (note the photo above and imagine a two-tone interior with quartz-colored carpet). According to the folks at Volvo, vendors are lining up to create even more custom options for the C30. Destiny is wetting herself as I write.

After a long night, I left Destiny hung over in the hotel and took the car out for a drive myself. I appreciated all the urban coolness she found so appealing, but also found some features that families can appreciate. There's an available iPod jack that lets you scroll through your songs on the car's interface rather than looking at your iPod screen. I, Emily, the suburban wife and mother of three, also appreciated the easy-to-clean, wetsuit-like material — called Kalix T-tech — that's available for the seats. Also, the Latch connectors appeared to be fairly accessible (Destiny made me leave my child seats behind, so I couldn't test that one for you). I actually think the C30 would make a great vehicle for either Destiny (the sexy, single city girl), my husband (the commuter), or my teenage son (the soon-to-be driver). OK, seriously, did I just admit I am the parent of a driving teenager? Destiny Butterfly would never admit to that.

Stay tuned for our full two-week test drive, with the family in tow, in the near future. Destiny will have to stay holed up in her trendy SoCal neighborhood for that one.

*For more information on the Volvo C30 and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to .

Test drove: 7/15/2007 – 7/18/2007

Chrysler Hopes Old-School Transport Has Some Magic Left

By: Kristin Varela

Being the parent of a 7-year-old who's just starting to catch on to the Harry Potter craze, the biggest debate in my house lately has been if and when Harry will perish. Second only to that has been the question of whether or not the minivan will survive the crossover coup, as Ford and GM have turned into murderous Lord Voldemorts, morbidly placing their minivan lines on the chopping block. Yet Chrysler is pulling off its own wizardry, gambling on the renewal of the minivan and its rise as the greatest mode of transportation since the Nimbus 2001.

I recently got a brief, three-day stint in the highly anticipated 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, with my children in tow. Although I'm looking forward to our typical two-week test drive, I can let you in on a few of Chrysler's highly guarded chamber of Town & Country secrets.

The highly functional Stow 'n Go seats are still available on this '08 version, but an upgrade from that is the new Swivel 'n Go seats. These second-row captain's chairs rotate 180 degrees and lock in place facing the rear of the vehicle. This creates a living-room-like conversation zone between passengers in the second and third rows. A table can then be installed between these two rows, creating the perfect spot to share secrets of the Dark Arts while dining on Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (watch out for the ones that taste like rotten eggs).

With the entertainment system in this minivan, second-row passengers can watch the latest Harry Potter DVD while third-row passengers independently play the "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" video game. Up front, parents can listen to their own music. The optional Sirius (oh, too easy) Satellite TV system streams three live television channels into the entertainment system (Disney Channel, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon) — just when you thought you'd left the chaos behind at home.

With any luck, you might be blessed with Potter fans who'd prefer to stick their noses in hundreds of pages of the latest Rowling adventure than watch live TV on long road trips. That's just nowhere near normal. What is this world coming to, anyhow?

Test drove: 7/12/2007 – 7/13/2007

Toyota Packs SUV With Family-Friendly Features

By: Kristin Varela

I had the opportunity last week to preview the 2008 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid in the gorgeous mountains of Vail, Colo. After an entertaining presentation by Natae Rayner, the head of product education at Toyota University, I was more convinced than ever that vehicle manufacturers are finally starting to hear what consumers (particularly female consumers) really want in their cars.

A slew of female- and family-friendly features can be found in the '08 Highlander: power-adjustable seat-cushion depth, a second row that folds with the pull of a lever in the cargo area, a hang-down pull tab to help close the cargo door if you're not tall enough to reach the door itself, and a conversation mirror that lets you keep an eye on the rug rats in the back (although this needs a slight adjustment, as I was only able to see rear passengers on the right side of the vehicle).

My favorite feature of all — and quite possibly my favorite new feature in any 2008 vehicle — is a second row that converts from a bench seat for three into two captain's chairs. This is accomplished by removing the center seat, folding it, and storing it in a cubby under the center console. When that seat is in use, the cubby is the perfect spot to store, well, just about everything kid-related. Duh! Why didn't someone think of that earlier?

Although this new Highlander is larger and more stylized than before, the third row certainly wouldn't be large enough for adult passengers, but it's the perfect place to stash your kids' friends who you really don't care for. You know the ones I'm talking about — the ones who you might "forget" to mention called for a play date, who eat glue, pick their noses and have an affinity for playing any game resulting in pretend death or serious maiming.

I can't wait to get this car to test for an extended period of time, with real live children, and see how these features function in the real world. I'll be waiting with bated breath.

7/11/2007

Rare Slip Leads to Ticket — and Fast-Food Scolding

By: Sara Lacey

I must be getting old. The other night I saw a police officer on the highway and instinctively hit the brakes. Looking down at the speedometer, I realized I was only doing 5 mph over the speed limit in the first place. That's usually the case these days; I’m almost always doing the speed limit (if not under it) when I hit the brakes or downshift at the sight of a cop. For some reason, this cracks me up every time it happens and I realize I'm not the Speed Racer I was at 16.

Apparently, though, that Speed Racer lives on. Yesterday, driving in a very purple Dark Amethyst Lincoln MKX, the one time I didn’t hit the brakes I got a ticket. I have to say, the officer was great. He was very friendly and funny (at least, as funny as he could be under the circumstances, joking about the interesting color of my test car). I totally acknowledged that I was speeding, and that I was sorry. I was reconciled with it, telling myself, “Well, Sara, that was dumb. Stop playing with the radio and pay attention.” I proceeded to head to lunch feeling relatively fine. I called my husband and told him about the ticket, and even when he said, "Guess we won't be enjoying those low insurance rates anymore," I wasn't horrendously bummed.

But then I got a lecture from the cashier at Qdoba. He asked me how my day was and, as usual, I provided too much information: “Oh man," I said, "I just got a speeding ticket. Slow down on Motsenbocker, there's a speed trap.” Unsympathetic as all get-out, he tells me I shouldn’t blame a speed trap for getting a ticket. I didn't think I had, and I certainly didn't feel like a victim. I was just trying to help a buddy out, you know? That is, I didn't feel like a victim until I went to lunch, because then Mr. High-and-Mighty says, "Since I've moved here from California, I am amazed at how many people speed and run red lights. It's crazy; drivers here are crazy."

Now I'm shouldering the burden of my state's vehicular idiocy? Until a few years ago, I hadn't had a speeding ticket for 11 years! I’m a good driver! I'm very attentive, anticipating and aware — I even pull over most of the time to use my cell phone. And why did I feel the need to justify this to the burrito joint's cashier? I had been shamed, and I had no argument. It totally sucked. He finished with "Have a happy Fourth of July!" I don't have to tell you the kind of names I was calling him in my head. I don't even want to go back there, but they have the best queso dip in town and I don't think I can cope without it.

In the parking lot, I decided to call my boss to ask her what the procedure is if one gets a speeding ticket in a test car. Her response? "I don't know because, frankly, I've never gotten one in a test car. I've only gotten one ticket in my life and that was when I was 17. But it's off my record now." Sweet. Rub a little salt in that fresh wound there, Boss Lady.

I need to get over it, I know. But isn't it funny that the one person in the speeding-ticket experience I'm not bitter about turns out to be the policeman who gave it to me? I must be getting old.

7/06/2007

Hospitalized Kids Get Mini SUVs to Drive

By: Sara Lacey

I've been trying lately to do good deeds without asking for gratitude or attention, but the truth is I can be a bit of an attention hog. I know it's not PC to admit this, but it's true — and it would seem I'm not the only one. Mother Proof recently received an interesting heads-up from Hummer about a program called Courageous Kids, which involves hospitalized kids driving Hummer SUVs. No, it's not the bad idea I make it sound like. The program actually has dealerships donating child-sized Hummers to hospitals.

Hummer is utilizing a concept called diversion therapy to ease kids' anxiety about having surgery. Diversion therapy has traditionally consisted of bringing in pets to visit patients in hospitals and kids getting rides to surgery in a golf cart or wagon. In this case, instead of being wheeled to the operating room on a traditional gurney (which can be scary in itself), kids can drive themselves in a mini Hummer. According to GM, "the results have been overwhelmingly positive"; the company says that some children even require less anesthesia after a ride into surgery in one of these little gems because their stress has been eased.

What a great idea: Hummers for everyone! What if we all commuted to work on pint-sized Hummers? What if I drove to the grocery store or post office in one? Would we finally have a handle on world peace? Of course, on the downside, isn't this just paving the way for all those kids to drive themselves to elective surgery in an actual-sized SUV when they get older? Talk about developing brand loyalty.

For better or worse, Hummer's not ashamed to toot its own horn about the program. Maybe it's because I'm attempting selfless giving in my own life that this kind of irks me. Regardless, what I should be saying here is that it shouldn't matter why Hummer (or any corporate giver, for that matter) is doing what it's doing. All ribbing aside, I do think this is a neat project.

With Hummer's help, kids can get through their procedures without as much fear and anxiety, and that should be grounds for all the applause and horn-tooting we can bestow upon the company.

7/03/2007

Tips, Advice From Racecar-Driving Mom

By: Sara Lacey

For our first interview, we mom-reviewers decided there was no better subject than a mom who not only anchors the evening news at KUSA in Denver, but also races Porsches in her spare time. Adele Arakawa’s racecar isn’t even street legal; it has a roll cage and everything, so she has plenty of expertise to offer. Not only that, but Arakawa is also a driving instructor with the Rocky Mountain Region Porsche Club. Here are her thoughts on everything from teaching your kids to drive to how women should shop for cars. (Editor’s note: Responses have been trimmed for length.)

MP: What was your first mom-mobile?

AA: When my son was born, I was still in my sports-car mode. I had a 280Z and realized that it wasn’t going to work too well with a little one. I realized I was going to have to get a domestic four-door sedan, which was like, “Nooooo!” So I did some research and bought a Volvo, drove it for less than a year and got rid of it. It was a fine little car. It was a little underpowered, which is all right. But after that I thought, “OK, you know what? We can have something else for a little family car,” and I went back and got a 300Z.

MP: How did you teach your son to drive? Did you do it yourself?

AA: Yes and no. He has always been around cars, and he’s always been around sports cars. He comes by it honestly; he has a passion for cars. At 15-and-a-half, I put him in my racecar, behind the wheel. There were two reasons: One reason was, if he wanted to drive fast I wanted him to drive fast in a controlled condition on a racetrack in a car that was set up for safety. And the second was that I was never out of the car; I was always in the car with him.

MP: We talked a little bit about skills from the track that translate to street driving. What are maybe one or two of those things that are the most important?

AA: The basic rule is that the car is going to go where your eyes are looking. On a racetrack, you never look at where you are, you always look at where you’re going to be next. I’m always upset and disturbed by the amount of accidents teenagers — and adults, though, not just kids — [are in when] cars are overcorrected. Say you’re driving down the road and you drive off the shoulder and your two right wheels go off the pavement. The common reaction is to jerk the wheel back onto the pavement. That’s the worst thing in the world you can do; that’s when you lose control of the car. You can hook a wheel and flip the car when you go out of control and go across the highway. The basic thing that’s hard to teach, [because] it goes against every bit of self-preservation and instinct, is to drive a car off the road and hold it in a straight line. You may have to take down a marker or you may have to hit something like a rock, but the idea is to slow down — not slam on your brakes, but slow down, come off the gas and drive the car off [the road] if you have to.

MP: Tell us about the driving course for teenagers you’re involved with, Street Survival.

AA: What we teach the kids in Street Survival is the dynamics of the car. We put them on a skid pad, put them on a slick surface and have them drive in a circle so they can kind of feel the car skidding out of control so they know what it feels like. If you’ve never felt that, you might be inclined to panic and not know what to do so you might slam on the brake or steer a little harder. We teach emergency avoidance. We have them go breakneck speed into a Y, and then at the last second they’re signaled to go left or right and they kind of feel how the car’s going to react, the shifting of weight on the car. I think the big thing is that nothing replaces time spent behind the wheel. I don’t care how inexperienced you are, you’re going to get better if you do it more and more, just like with anything. Practice, practice, practice. You can’t stress it enough.

MP: Do you have any advice for women when it comes to buying a car?

AA: You don’t have to be a gearhead and you don’t have to be a car nut to be able to get a good buy, it’s just common sense. There’s the internet; there are so many websites out there that you need to do your homework, and if you do your homework you can save yourself hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars. Know that there are different pricing levels. There’s wholesale value, trade value, there’s private party value, all these different values. You need to know what those numbers are. You need to do your homework to find out what that car is worth before you go waltzing in the door of the dealership. If safety ratings are important to you, research safety ratings. If gas mileage is important, do your homework on gas mileage. Do a Google search on the make and model of the car to find out if there have been any recalls on that car. It can take some time, but it’s a huge investment. If you’re going to spend that much money on an item, you want to make sure it’s a good value, that it’s going to last a long time, and that it’s reliable. Be an informed consumer, be a smart consumer. You know, you don’t have to be a manly woman to go in and get a good deal on a car.

MP: Do you have any words of advice for a newbie, fledgling automotive journalist?

AA: There are so few women in that aspect of writing that I can imagine there are some opportunities. Most women do not get into the specifications of a car — for them it’s basic transportation, and that’s fine. But I think as far as that goes, women still need to be more informed, they need to take more of an interest. It’s your transportation; it gets you from point A to point B safely, so it’s an important part of your everyday life. You don’t need to be a racecar driver by any stretch of the imagination, but I think you should be informed.

Tested: 5/27/2007 to 5/29/07

Lessons of a Race (and Tire) Virgin

By: Emily Hansen

If you'd asked me if I wanted to go to the Indianapolis 500 a couple years ago, I probably would have told you that you were nuts. Large crowds, unrecognizable cars and loud noises sound more like a Larry the Cable Guy stand-up routine than a weekend in paradise for me. Well, I went. Yes, the crowds were huge and relatively inebriated, but that energy seemed to add to the excitement and anticipation of the big race.

As a complete race virgin, there was much for me to learn about this sport. I found myself asking seemingly stupid questions, like, “What happens if one of the drivers needs to pee during this 500-mile race?” Well, turns out the answer to that one is they pee in their suits. Eewww! Unfortunately, the suits weren't the only wet things around; the forecast for race day called for rain. I assumed this meant the race would be cancelled, as slick racing tires on even slicker racetracks couldn't possibly make for safe driving.

When the race was indeed delayed by rain, I sought shelter in the Firestone Pavilion to dry off. By the time I'd gotten out of the rain and dragged my cold, soggy-pickle feet to the pavilion, my hair had turned into one giant frizz puff. Not so cute. The three-hour rain delay and track-drying ritual gave me plenty of time to contemplate why on earth I was there and why an average mom like me should care about auto racing.

What's probably most relevant to my everyday existence is the fact that much of the safety technology in my car was born on a racetrack. For instance, the synthetic oil that affords me a couple more miles per gallon — developed for racing. How about the seat belts I cheerfully click around my family? Yep, developed for racing. The racing technology that probably impacts me the most, however, is the one I think about the least: the tire.

As I have learned from Bridgestone's www.tiresafety.com website, tires are arguably the most important safety feature on my car: Not all-wheel drive, not antilock brakes, not traction control, but the ugly black rubber circle all those systems rely upon. At any given moment, I have just four points of contact with the road. All of my car's traction and much of its performance come directly from its tires. According to the Bridgestone site, wider tire widths increase the surface area that touches the road. A lower profile to the tire helps me steer more effectively, and stickier rubber extends the life of tire tread and offers better grip on the road. An improved tread pattern helps decrease the likelihood of hydroplaning. These are just a few examples of technology that came to consumer tires directly from racing tires.

This link between my life as an everyday driver and my presence at the Speedway was far more satisfying than watching drunken people in ponchos wander around in the rain, and considering how much time I spend driving around precious cargo, I think stepping onto the soapbox for a moment is called for.

No. 1: Check the pressure in your tires at least monthly. An improperly inflated tire can lead to a loss of control in a vehicle.

No. 2: Learn how to check your tires for wear. The only tools you need are your eyes and a single penny.

No. 3: Check out http://www.tiresafety.com to learn more about tires and the technology behind them. While you're there, sign up for a monthly reminder to help you remember your tire tasks. That's it — easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The race finally did resume, but rather than join the crowd I sat and watched it on a huge screen just steps away from the dry climate of the pavilion. About 50 laps later, it began to pour again and the checkered flag was waved. The race was over, and a very happy Ashley Judd (wife of Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti) was jumping around, splashing in the puddles and looking more like a soaked puppy than a glamorous movie star. Aha — another connection: Ashley digs racing, and she’s cool.

Of course, I bet she doesn’t feel like a frizzy pickle, and I'm sure her tires are always well-maintained. Biatch. Love her.

Tested: 5/25/2007

Danica's Not the Only One

By: Kristin Varela

I fully admit to getting roped into watching the Indy 500 a couple of years ago by Danica Patrick's over-commercialized entry onto the scene. I watched strictly out of curiosity, but was totally shocked to find myself on the edge of my seat, actually enjoying it. I wouldn't have been nearly as intrigued, or even watched in the first place, if there hadn't been a woman racing.

We've all heard of Danica by now. She raced in this year's Indy 500 as well, so when an opportunity to attend the race in person presented itself, I jumped at the chance. Of course, after recently reading a very odd interview wherein Danica begins by referring to an emergency appointment with her bikini waxer (yes, I understand the importance of this, but honestly — just suck it up and grab a razor), I'm slightly over the Danica thing.

Well, not so over it that I didn't buy my daughters pink camouflage Danica T-Shirts at the official Danica Patrick merchandise store. Completely shameful, I know. Unfortunately, there wasn't an official Sarah Fisher merchandise store, which is who my girls were rooting for since they "know lots of people named Sarah."

That's right — Danica wasn't the only woman in the big race. In fact, I went to the Indy 500 thinking our coverage would focus on the historic start of three (yes, THREE) women in the Indy 500: Danica "Too Much Information" Patrick, Sarah Fisher and Milka Duno. The closest I got to Sarah was catching a glimpse of her car in its garage. I sat at a dinner table with Milka, but she doesn't speak a lick of decipherable English. And, well, I just don't think Ms. Patrick does interviews with anyone but her aesthetician anymore.

As it turned out, Milka wrecked her car and Sarah finished 18th, but Danica brought one home for the women with an eighth-place finish.

Lucky for me, the even bigger news for this year's race is that it turned out to be the 30th anniversary of the first female driver in the Indy 500: Janet Guthrie. Why didn't someone tell me that before? We were all thinking Danica was hot stuff, but three decades ago, before Brazilians were topics of conversation, Janet Guthrie paved the way. After starting in the Indy 500 in 1977, she managed to finish ninth the following year.

It's nice that we're "making progress," having three women start in the race this year, but the fact that it's such big news is proof that we're moving at a snail's pace. Thirty years later, it shouldn't be a surprise to have women on the racing scene; it should be the norm. And we shouldn't have to have our body hair painfully ripped out just because it's swimsuit season. We'll keep working on that one.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair

Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Groove On