Thinking Out Loud Reviews

Join the Save Josh Campaign

OK, here’s my one-woman crusade: My friend’s kid’s friend Josh has a problem. It’s not that he gets good grades, or that he plays the trumpet in both the marching band and the jazz band. His problem is that he’s a terrible driver.

Iranian Racer a Champion for Women, Too

While doing a little research into female racecar drivers, I came across a few articles about a woman named Laleh Seddigh. Read any of those articles, and your idea of the “hostile” environs that female racecar drivers face in the U.S. will be turned on its head.

What Your Car Says About Your Parenting Style

Here at MPGH (MotherProof.com Global Headquarters, don't cha know), our Mom-Reviewers each drive drastically different types of cars. This is (pardon the pun) proof positive that one size does not fit all. Chief Mother Kristin is about to purchase a compact car. Courtney, mom to Harry and a soon-to-arrive sibling drives a sedan. L.A. Lori sits behind the wheel of a minivan, and I drive a two-row SUV/crossover. Emily drives a three-row SUV/crossover. That led us to wonder, what does your car choice say about you?

Audi Embraces Gender Differences

I’m so thankful we’ve gotten past the uber-feminist movement of the ‘80s that dictated men and women be treated in exactly the same manner all the time in a completely gender-squelching way. This is why I was so thrilled when Audi hosted a women’s-only weekend for lifestyle media to preview the 2009 Audi A4.

Audi R8 is 'Iron Man's' Automotive Soul Mate

It’s every woman’s fantasy: The sexy bad boy with a crazy hot car (Audi R8) who realizes the error of his ways and turns into a good guy superhero with enough electronic gizmos to save the world, satisfy his woman and fix her leaky kitchen sink.

Roadside Assistance a Worthwhile Addition

Insurance is one of those things you don’t think about until you either need to use it or need to pay your premium. I’ve mentioned before that the cost of insuring a teen is quite shocking, so it might come as a surprise to you to hear that I really love my insurance company.

Volvo Commits to Injury-Proof Car

Our friends at Volvo are on a quest to create an injury-proof car. This may sound like oh-so-many concept cars that appear really cool but never actually make it to production, but Volvo has given this mission some teeth by announcing a 2020 deadline.

Stop It Indeed

I’m one of those moms who’s adamantly against any sort of toilet humor, which makes for pretty constant vigilance around my house with my 3- and 5-year-olds. I’m also adamantly against vandalism of any sort.

Banish Stick Figure Decals

It started with some fish. First it was one outline of a fish on the back of the car, then there were as many fish as there were people in the family. Awww, cute (wretch). Now the fish have evolved into stick people on the window.

When They Gotta Go, Give Them This

The next time you’re trying to think of that monster idea or product to make your million, you can cross this one off your list: My Pee Pee Bottle. Like the name implies, it’s a simple, on-the-go “potty and hygiene aid” for traveling toddlers, according to its manufacturers.

Keep an Eye on Young Drivers

When I hit driving age, there were occasionally things going on in the car that I did not want my parents to know about. I’m sure for that reason (at least in part), a handful of in-vehicle video systems are now being introduced. How very exciting for voyeuristic parents everywhere!

Holy Yoda! Holograms in My Car

I am a total geek. I really love learning about all stuff nerdy and am usually an early adopter of new technological toys, and I’m really interested in the holographic dashboard being developed by Daihatsu and Provision Interactive Technologies, which was displayed in a Daihatsu concept car last month at the Tokyo auto show.

Danica Patrick Takes Checkered Flag

Do you know what it’s like when you’ve been dating someone a while and everyone asks, “When are you gonna get married?” Do you remember how sick you got of it? Now imagine you get asked that like 20 times a day for three years. You may have an inkling of what it’s been like to be Danica Patrick.

The Re-Birth of the Glass Hatch

You know what? I didn’t even notice that rear glass hatches had seemed to disappear until recently, when one showed up on my Toyota Highlander test vehicle. Again this week, I found one on the 2009 Honda Pilot. I didn’t realize I’d missed it until I started using it again, and remembered how handy it can be.

Hooray for Tax Day!

I hereby declare that it’s time to throw practicality out the window, even if only for one day. I’m talking about how we spend our tax refunds (if we get one). Too often, people put their refund toward outstanding bills or drop some into their child’s college savings. I say, “Let’s stop with the sensibility! Let’s use our tax refunds to trick out our rides! And ourselves!”

Do We Need In-Car WiFi?

As if the plethora of media devices inside the car were not distracting enough, the Washington Post is reporting that Chrysler will be equipping their cars with a WiFi radio that will allow “passengers” to surf the internet while driving.

It's Stress Awareness Month?! #@$!

April is Stress Awareness Month. I mean puh-leeze! You people think I’m not aware of my stress? Seriously? Come on!!! For the love of chocolate!!! I KNOW ABOUT MY STRESS!!! I’M AWARE OF MY FREAKING STRESS, OK?!!! Particularly while driving, stress is dangerous not only to ourselves but to everyone around us.

Sarah Fisher Gets Grilled

What is it about the kids of Mother Proof that makes it so darn easy for them to score the interviews that the rest of us have a tough time landing? Before attending a recent IndyCar race in St. Petersburg, 5-year-old guest columnist Cade Varela chatted with IndyCar driver Sarah Fisher about all things safety.

Where's My Hydrogen Car?

With recent news indicating that gasoline will be approaching $4.00 per gallon this summer-or, now-I have been thinking a lot more about alternative fuels. One of the most promising technologies is Hydrogen Fuel Cells (HFC). This is great, but if Fuel Cell vehicles were available tomorrow, not only would I not understand how they work, I would also have no idea how to “fill ‘er up.”

Site Helps Slug-Bug Referees

It was just a matter of time before my kids uttered that whimsical, violence-inducing phrase from the backseat: Slug bug! My son was the first to do it, and in short order he’d gleefully complied with the orders of the phrase. His target, my daughter, was not so happy.

Saudi Arabian Women Driving Toward Equality

I saw a thought-provoking post on Autopia awhile ago about Saudi Arabian women earning the right to drive. This was interesting to me in more ways than one. For starters, what was the religious/cultural reason for women not being allowed to drive in the first place?

Toyota Gets High Marks for Sienna Ad

OK, plant your tongue firmly in your cheek and go check out the new Toyota Sienna ad, which brilliantly mimics a Calvin Klein spot. It may not make you run out and buy a Sienna, but it will probably make you laugh.

Safety More Important Than Trendy Parenting

I like trends. While I don’t necessarily bite on every jelly shoe or skinny/flared jean that comes my way, I do enjoy a good, fun shot of something novel. We’ve written about a few trends here, but none more important than the teen driving trends we’ve discussed in the past few weeks.

Celebrate National Read a Road Map Day

I love MapQuest, Google Maps and Google Earth, as well as some manufacturers’ navigation systems. National Read a Road Map Day reminds me that as far as maps are concerned, I might be a little, um, rusty. Shoot, I can’t even fold a paper one.

Have Your Own First Moment in Motorsports

In honor of Women’s History Month last month (OK, you caught me, I totally blew my deadline on this), I wanted to offer a little history of women in motorsports. Believe me, there’s plenty of material there.

Even Cowgirls Like Cars

The Denver International Auto Show may not have the sexy reputation that the Detroit, L.A. or Chicago shows have, but for this hometown cowgirl, it was still pretty good.

Track-Inspired Travel Wear a Must-Have

I was doing a little online shopping in search of a new outfit for a party the other day when I stumbled across something totally fantastic: travel-wear inspired by auto racing, aka the new matching sweat suit.

Say it With a Bumper Sticker

I am categorically against bumper stickers. I’ve never had one on my car and probably never will. Naturally, my convictions in this regard give me license to analyze the bumper stickers I see around town.

Rite of Passage Changing for New Generation

I remember the day I got my driver’s license. I felt so empowered, so strong, so in control of my destiny. At least, I did until that night, when my foot slipped off the clutch and I backed my truck into the car parked behind me.

A New Car Star is Born

Mother Proof is a big fan of OnStar, as we’ve written about it before and sung its praises. The only problem with it is that it’s solely for GM vehicles. Well, soon there will be CarShield, good for any car manufactured after 1995.

Dorking Out Over Consumer Reports

If you’re looking for some high-quality, easily digestible auto information, you should know that Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue is out on newsstands now. I picked it up the other day, sat down with a cup of coffee and dove into it like other gals do InStyle, Cooking Light, People or Tiger Beat.

Toyota Takes Corolla Campaign to YouTube

I’ve never given the Toyota Corolla much thought, but if forced to characterize it, I would probably go with “nondescript economy car.” Well, Toyota apparently knows this is how many people think about the Corolla, because it’s out to prove us wrong.

Seeing Green: Moms Love Green Machines

In honor of people’s proclivity to go green for St. Patty’s every March, I thought now would be a good time to give you the lowdown on some of Mother Proof’s favorite hybrids.

Seeing Green: Color of the Irish Not Bad on Cars

St. Patrick’s Day brings green in many forms: green clothes, green milkshakes, green face-paint, green beer, green rivers. Here at Mother Proof, of course, it brings talk of green cars.

Even Greater Woman Behind Great Car

You’ve heard the old saying, “Behind every great man is an even greater woman.” Well, that idea is exemplified by Karl Benz, the creator of what we now know as Mercedes-Benz, and his wife, Bertha.

Don't Bend Rules When it Comes to Cars

I had to chuckle when I read the story of the “Meanest Mom on the Planet” — you know, the woman who placed an ad to sell her son’s car after she found alcohol in it. When I read that the car had sold, I was reminded that we’re all flying by the seat of our pants in this parenting job.

Traveling With Kids Raises Booster Seat Questions

In a completely spontaneous move, I recently jumped on a plane with my two children for a quick weekend jaunt to the beach. As a single parent traveling with two young children, I’m still trying to figure out how I’m supposed to schlep all the necessary stuff plus their car seats through the airport.

What's a Crossover?

Whenever I use the word “crossover,” it’s very common to get a blank stare. Like a trick knee, the blank stare alerts me to the question coming next: What is a crossover?

Seeing Green: Can a Car Wash Be Earth-Friendly?

Mommy Guilt comes in many forms. One that’s plagued me recently is taking my car through my local car wash, worrying that I’m single-handedly destroying the planet for my children.

Kids at Risk in Cars Even Before They Drive

If you’ve ever thought about locking your kids up when they turn 16 and never letting them out of the house for fear of them dying or being maimed in an automobile accident, you’ll be happy to hear that a recent study indicates you might want to lock them up a lot sooner. Say, before they turn 12.

Divide the Ride Helps You Carpool

It’s a common drill: Mom has to be at soccer practice, tae kwon do and gymnastics all at the same time. Well, I’ve got news for you: Life just got a little less complicated for overscheduled, activity-bound families.

Whatever Happened to Road Manners?

I was raised to say “please” and “thank you,” RSVP to invitations on time and gesture politely when fellow motorists are kind. These days, I feel like most of these things are totally lost on people. In short, people are rude, both on and off the road.

What's Wrong With Loving a Cupholder?

Does Caddy not want us cupholder-oriented women as customers? Are non-cupholder girls sexier? Because if that’s the case, Caddy, don’t use sex appeal to get me to like your horsepower and available features, try making a car that actually fits a “different kind of woman.”

I'm Bored With Carbon-Copy Cars

I’ve always been perplexed at major manufacturers making several versions of the same vehicle in multiple flavors of vanilla. Are we so indecisive that we can’t choose between a few different designs?

Watch Out: Recalls Issued for Seats, Fords, Acuras

Heads up, Mamas! The automotive world is awash in recalls these days, and there’s a good chance one of them may affect you and yours. Find out what you need to know about car seats, Fords and Acuras.

Woman Unlocks Secret of Car Dealerships

Joni Stuker wanted to be a writer, but like most writers she needed another job so she could actually live. Joni decided to try her hand at selling cars, and since that day the old boys’ club of car sales hasn’t been quite the same.

Bill a Victory for Child Safety

The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 swept through the Senate on Valentine’s Day, and I can’t think of anything more loving and appropriate the Senate could have done on that day.

Hydrogen Car Shows Up for Oscar Night

And the Oscar goes to… Cameron Diaz! She fully deserves a nod this year for arriving at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony in the impressively green BMW Hydrogen 7 fuel-cell vehicle.

Don't Leave Your Motor Running

Police in a Denver suburb have started ticketing owners of idling cars, but the practice doesn’t have anything to do with emissions or the environment. The reason these people are getting tickets is because more idling cars are being stolen.

Volvo Launches Hot New SUV

Volvo says its new XC60 is the company’s “most sensual Volvo ever.” Let’s do a little word association game. I say “sensual Volvo,” and you say the first thing that comes to mind.

Volvo for Life Gets it Wrong

The Volvo For Life heroes awards were announced Tuesday, and it turns out, the Volvo for Life hero award in the Safety category didn’t go to Driver’s Edge, so we’ll just have to keep stumping for the program on our own.

Mom-Chauffeur's Dream: A Driverless Car

I’ve written before about how nice it would be to have a chauffeur. Well, it seems that pipe dream may not be as far-fetched as it appears. The way technology is advancing, in a few years I may not even need another person to drive me around.

How Do I Love Thee, Car?

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’d like to write an ode to my car, a 2006 Nissan Murano. Hey, we all need a little bit of love sometimes! So, how do I love thee, Murano? Let me count the ways.

NHTSA Rolls Out Child Safety Seat Ratings

The stork is set to visit my house again this summer and I am left, as usual, overwhelmed by the car-seat choices. I pick my friends’ brains and they’re helpful, but everyone has a different opinion, which leaves me right where I began. Now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a new rating system for car seats called “Ease of Use” ratings.

Beep, Beep! Tata Nano is Cheap, Cheap!

You’ve probably heard about Indian carmaker Tata’s new “cheapest car on the planet,” the Tata Nano, which will sell in India for the equivalent of about $2,500. Cheap indeed.

New Year's Resolution: Ideas for Stress-Free Driving

We all have one thing in common: We dwindle away oodles of time stuck in our cars. That’s not going to change, so how about taking a few steps to improve our daily driving lives?

What Do You Call More Than One Prius?

I vaguely remember learning Latin roots as part of an English class more moons ago than I care to count, but that’s the extent of my knowledge. Still, I like Latin, or at least the idea of it. I think it would be fun to find out where words come from and what they mean. Plus, it’d make me sound wicked smart.

New Year's Resolution: Accidents Happen, So Be Prepared

Imagine this scenario: It’s bone-chillingly cold outside, snowing like mad, and all you want is to get yourself and your overtired brood home pronto, after a last-minute grocery-store run (for milk, of course). As you roll along, a car appears out of nowhere and slams right into you.

Rental Car Counter a Good Place to Be on Alert

Last fall, my husband rented a car he drove about five miles before the “check engine” light came on and the car stalled. He pulled over safely, and the rental car agency brought him a new car. Wouldn’t be a very good story if it ended there, would it?

Move Your Car Doors Out of the Way

One of my biggest pet peeves in life is the shimmy-shuffle-squeeze-it-in dance I have to do to get in and out of my car. There are a couple of solutions to this problem: Build a bigger garage, or get some Disappearing Car Doors.

The Meanest Mom on the Planet Got It Right

A woman recently listed her son’s car for sale because he broke the rules of ownership set forth when he was given the car. She calls herself a “totally uncool parent,” but I say she deserves a trophy.

New Year's Resolution: Learn Your State's Car-Seat Laws

It’s fair to say that whatever child-safety seat law applied to your first child probably won’t apply to your second or third. And it’s not like there’s just one set of rules to play by; laws vary by state.

Lampooned Road Trips a Reality for Families

Taking a car trip longer than an hour with the whole family always proves to be very “National Lampoon’s Vacation”-esque. To avoid having an absurd — but totally true — movie made about my family, I’ve come up with a series of small operational changes to ensure that all future road trips are smooth and comfy.

Striking Lightning With an Electric Car

I am not now, nor have I ever been a fan of Tesla (the band, that is). Then I heard about this other Tesla, an electric sports car under development that is modeled after the Lotus Elise. If ever an electric car was going to make it big, it is now, so bring it on!

Get Mother Proof on Your Mobile

Hear ye, hear ye: Calling all moms with too much time on their hands (if only)! Starting today, you can read our snarky, informative and entertaining articles on your mobile device, through Cars.com’s mobile site.

I Love My All-Weather Floormats

Without the luxury of having a vehicular mudroom, the amount of muck that is tracked into my car, especially during the winter, is astounding. I’ve given up on the seat backs for now, but the floor has won my attention.

Music Makes the People Drive Dangerously

A British foundation did a study to determine which songs were the most dangerous to drive to, as well as which were the safest. Since I hadn’t heard of most of the songs on their list, I decided to come up with my own.

Little Passenger Seat Lets You Add Seating to Your SUV

If you drive an SUV you adore but need more seating than it provides, and if you don’t want to buy a new car, you simply must look into an aftermarket option called The Little Passenger Seat.

Make Art From Your Dirty Car

Dirtycarart.com immediately appealed to me not because I’m dirty (oh, stop), but because I love innovative and interesting ways people choose to express themselves. You’d think this would make me more appreciative of crayons on the wall, but, alas, no.

Sippy Cup Madness

I spotted a friend’s vehicle with the telltale all-doors-wide-open look. This was part of a desperate airing-out effort after another case of nasty milk stench caused by a NOT SO spill-proof sippy cup. Here are a few tips if you happen to encounter this dreadful problem yourself.

Are Presidential Candidates as Green as They Say?

Presidential contenders from both sides are preening, primping and preying on primary voters, and the competition is getting hot, hot, hot. Earlier this year, the Associated Press did a little digging and discovered what cars the candidates were ‘fessing up to driving. It seems the hybrid is as hot as the competition.

Lazy Driver vs. Big Brother: A Ridiculous Argument

I have a couple friends who are terrible drivers. They don’t do well in spite of their efforts; one even managed to damage BOTH her cars in a single incident. I doubt any amount of training could help them, but perhaps technology can.

Resolve to Join the Clean Car Revolution

It’s time for a Clean Car Revolution! Figure out whatever that is in the back of your car that goes “skssssssssss, thunk” every time you make a turn, and stop freaking out about the ground-in goldfish crackers in the carpet and the juice spots on the seats. Do something!

Driver's Edge in Line for Safety Honor

At the risk of being fired, I have a confession to make: I failed my driver’s test the first time I took it. Had Driver’s Edge existed during my high school days, that might not have happened.

I Pledge to Do Doughnuts

My baby brother has been urging me for years to “stop being a wuss and just get out on the snow and do a bunch of doughnuts” in an effort to overcome winter driving fears. In the past, I’ve always associated this seemingly haphazard activity with crazed, testosterone-bubbling men, heehawing loudly while aimlessly skidding about. I am slowly changing my tune, however.

Ice Skating No Fun on Tires

With winter upon us, the idea of bundling up in a flowing chenille scarf and cozy mittens and turning a few pirouettes on the ice is a tempting one. Of course, the pirouettes are only a figment of my imagination; the art of graceful movement on ice completely eludes me. Add wheels into the picture and it’s chaos.

I Must Need a Tuneup

I recently received a recall notice for my car, which got me wishing medicine had an equivalent process for us. You see, as I write this I am going though my third miscarriage. It would have been nice if (like my car’s manufacturer) my OB/GYN had a system by which I got a letter warning me this could happen, but that if I came in at my earliest convenience, they could fix the problem and things would be OK.

Car Racing for Dummies

As the newest addition to the Mother Proof team, I am also the dumbest; I’m not nearly as well-versed as my colleagues when it comes to the world of automobiles. These ladies even know a thing or two about racing, whereas all I know is that Ashley Judd is married to a guy who races cars for a living.

Share a Car With Your Neighbors

Something I’ve never figured out — yet have been guilty of myself — is why people buy a car for something they only do once or twice a year rather than for their daily lifestyle.

Convertible High Heels Make Driving a Cinch

A sassy new pair of shoes can lift my lowest spirits, conquer my biggest fears and slim down my pudgiest-feeling days. However, as a serious automotive journalist, sensible driving shoes are a MUST. Sensible often means boring, but not this time.

How Do You Respond to Road Rage?

I was driving along, minding my own business, when out of nowhere some guy was driving so close he was practically in my trunk, shaking his middle finger furiously at me. How to respond to such an aggressor? I had no idea, so I sought a second opinion. And where do we gals go when we really need help? To our girlfriends, of course!

Blinded By the Night

I just got some cool new specs. They’re red, they’re funky and they make me look uber-intelligent. Oh, and they allow me to see while driving at night. Evidently, we women are more commonly afflicted with this night vision problem than men.

Put Your Average Joe in an Exotic Car

I am constantly struggling to find the perfect gift for my hubby on birthdays and holidays. Should I buy another sweater? Then I heard about Supercar Life, which offers the chance to drive some of the world’s coolest cars on private racetracks at speeds you normally wouldn’t get to go (without being thrown in the slammer).

Automakers Give Working Moms Top Spot

I’m always surprised at how much the auto industry is skewed to the masculine side of the world. That’s why I was so impressed when I saw that both Chrysler and Ford had made Working Mother Magazine’s list of the Top 100 companies for working moms.

Put the Fun Back in Road Trips

Our family car is a home away from home for us, but claustrophobia can strike faster than a bolt of lightening. All it takes is a meltdown from the backseat to make me wish I had an eject button to transport me straight into the stratosphere.

Confessions of a Former Features Fiend

I just bought an iPhone. I love everything it can do, but I also kind of hate it. My experience with the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country was much the same.

Ashley's a Driving Force in Drag Racing

After watching several rounds of nitro-induced racing blurs, I sat down with Ashley Force for a little Q&A in her bipolar trailer (decked out with high-tech racing equipment on one end and purple leather sofas and scented candles on the other). Did I mention she loves to shop at Target? Love her!

Fast and Furious Crowd Not Just for Boys

When I got the chance to interview the only U.S. female drift driver, I decided to get to the bottom of a mystery: Who is this dichotomy of a 25-year-old-model-turned-driver named Verena Mei, and what the heck is this thing called drifting?

Smart Cars: Coming to America

“Far, they’ve been travelin’ far … they’re coming to America.” I realize I’m showing my age, but that song rocks. Plus, it’s apropos, as I’m excited to report that the Smart ForTwo IS coming to America.

Can a Roadster Be Your Family Car?

This situation brought up some questions in my household that we’ve since been asking ourselves: Can you get away with a two-seater as a second car?

Winterizing: A Pedicure for Your Car

I’ve gotten really good at getting my “summer feet” on. I treat myself to a couple pedicures before each summer to make sure my tootsies are presentable to the general public, but somehow these preparedness skills don’t seem to apply when it comes to my car, which I have yet to winterize.

VW Gets Into Carbon-Offsetting Game

Are you one of those people who just doesn’t want a hybrid? Do you think they’re too dippy-looking, or is it just that those space-age voodoo cars freak you out? Even if you think hybrids belong in the future with food capsules and robot housekeepers, you can still help out the planet.

Love in the Fast Lane

This proposal was so unique you may think I made it up. A guy painted his marriage proposal on the car he was racing in a demolition derby, to which he also attached a stuffed bunny with a plastic engagement ring.

Santa, Please Leave Me a Lexus

To help augment my fantasy life, every year about this time, I receive “The Christmas Book” from Neiman Marcus. In keeping with the spirit of our business here at Mother Proof, I am most smitten this year with the incredible 2008 Lexus IS-F sedan nestled within the pages of the Fantasy Gifts section.

Demystifying Hybrid Cars

We can’t tell you why no manufacturer has made a hybrid minivan yet, and we don’t always know when manufacturers will lend us their hybrids to test, but we can tell you what a hybrid is. We can even help you choose one that will work for your family.

Don't Think Too Big When Buying Your Car

Babies require a lot of gear. How much? As much as you’re willing to buy, really. Seriously, you could probably justify the purchase of a moving van if you really wanted to.

OnStar Switch Leaves Customers in the Dust

Yesterday, I bought the pitch that OnStar can and will save lives. So why am I all confused now? Well, when OnStar is no longer available to owners with just analog equipment in their cars — which will happen in a couple of months — many subscribers will be left high and dry.

OnStar Says 'Stop, Thief'

They say OnStar is deeply committed to safety. “Yes,” I say, “but isn’t OnStar’s true purpose helping Kelly Ripa find her way to a posh NYC day spa?” Well, Kelly is a paid spokesperson, but there are plenty of other experts who say OnStar can do much more than that.

Test Your Car Smarts

Simple, basic knowledge of your car goes a long way. Simple maintenance is key and can help you avoid major incidents. Maybe you’re not a burgeoning gearhead, but take this simple quiz to figure out if you need to brush up on your vehicular knowledge.

Buy a Car Without a Fuss, Even With Your Kids: Part 2

The delightful concept of retail therapy is as foreign to the car-buying process as a night of uninterrupted sleep is to motherhood. So why not have the internet do your dirty work for you?

Buy a Car Without a Fuss, Even With Your Kids

Forgive me for being brazenly blunt, but buying a car stinks! It stinks almost as much as the recently vomit-drenched carpet in my son’s room. It’s about time this perception changed, especially since cyberspace has completely simplified the process.

Listen Up, America: Bigger Isn't Always Better

In Milan, I wondered why cars are so much bigger in America than in Europe. To get to the bottom of this international mystery, I decided to interrogate my kind taxi driver. Imagine these insights being spoken by a beautiful man with a thick, sexy Italian accent. Ah-ha! Now I’ve got your attention.

Avoid These Deadly Parking Lot Sins

I have become hyper-aware of the impending commercial onslaught that is Hallowthankschrisanukkahanza, which runs from October through December. This time of year seems to make people lose their senses, and one place that becomes most apparent is in the parking lot of the local shop-o-rama.

Lick Your Way to a New Car

Sweetest Day is Saturday. To celebrate, Jeep offered seven contestants a chance to lick their way through a chocolate-covered Jeep, with one person ending up the proud new owner of a 2008 Jeep Liberty.

Study: Luxury Car Bumpers Cost Owners

IIHS recently published a report showing that all 11 luxury sedans it tested sustained expensive bumper damage during tests. One of the biggest factors is that the bumpers lack adequate reinforcement to avoid damage — even at speeds not much faster than our pace in those trendy stroller-fitness classes in the park.

Pay Attention and End Driveway Deaths

Being a card-carrying Mother Proofer has led me to focus even more on the many precarious situations that can arise when kids and cars come together. At least 50 children are backed over in this country each week. Do I need to say that again to get your jaw to drop on the floor like mine did, or was once sufficient?

Change How You Drive, Save Money

Even if you drive a huge SUV, you can maximize your gas. I mean, you can have more gas. Well, you know what I’m trying to say. There are all kinds of things we can do, short of buying a new car, that can help us reduce both our expenses at the pump and our “carbon footprint.”

Driving Toward Success

I have been crowned the resident Mother Proof sucker for good deeds! I’ve discovered Cars for Success, a program started by Strengthen Our Sisters, to help low-income women make the transition from welfare to work. By providing these women with donated cars, these women experience independence — often for the first time.

Absolution for Your Pollution

Waiting in the drive-thru the other day, I saw a car with a bumper sticker that read, “This car’s CO2 balanced by TerraPass.” Of course I looked up the website when I got home — I mean, all I have to do to reduce my car’s icky emissions is apply a bumper sticker to the back window? Sign me up!

It's Time to End Road Rage

What’s happened to us? Have we become so stressed as a society that the occasional “jerk” my mother muttered under her breath when someone cut her off has escalated into vigilante suburbanites just waiting for someone to make their day?

Put Down Your Cell Phones!

The message is not getting through: Even for experienced drivers, cell phones are a dangerous distraction in the car. Even worse, we’re teaching our kids to behave exactly like us. Example matters, my friends.

Are Little Kids Safe on a Big Yellow Bus?

My first-born started kindergarten this year, and nothing freaked me out more than putting my itty bitty kiddo on that giant school bus. I revisited this “freak attack” recently when he went on his first field trip, which included being on the bus an hour each way. In an effort to calm my nerves, I figured I’d put in a call to some people in the industry.

Amphibious Car Means End of Traffic Woes

After my son was born and my all-too-brief maternity leave ended, I went back to work full-time in a downtown office. Days when I sat in traffic for miles, hands clenched tightly on the wheel, were probably my most frustrating, guilt-inducing times. Now, there just might be a solution to working moms’ traffic issues.

Even NHTSA Boss Can't Get Her Car Seats Right

Recently, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made a startling confession: She had been installing her children’s car seats incorrectly. After taking a clinic this summer, Nicole Nason realized she “almost put it in right,” but that she hadn’t utilized one of the Latches on the car seat.

GM Engineers Hit the Road in Drag

Imagine a team of manly man GM engineers dressed in tight skirts made of garbage bags, wearing high heels and rubber gloves with press-on nails attached. Now imagine them driving around the company’s proving grounds to experience womanhood, thereby enabling them to design full-size SUVs that are more female-friendly. Well, imagine no more, dear reader, for this really happened.

Ford Mustang Goes Pink

According to the National Cancer Institute, women have a one in eight chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Isn’t that reason enough to be vigilant warriors against this disease?

Danica Patrick Reveals Her Expensive Tastes

While getting my hair cut the other day, I stumbled across a snippet in a popular women’s magazine titled ”I Can’t Get Through This Month Without My…” as told by Danica Patrick (“age 25, the first woman ever to lead a lap in the Indianapolis 500”). Now, please humor me as I cattily dissect this list.

Empty Your Wallet for Teen Drivers

It seems every insurance company on the planet is charging enormous rates for those on the younger side of the chasm between experience and inexperience behind the wheel. Because I have a teenager who will be eligible for his driver’s license in February (please, shoot me now), I am preparing to say, goodbye arm and leg, I’ll see you when my son is on his own.

Finding Your First Family-Mobile

Are you in a panic because you’re expecting your first child and you’re certain that whatever you’re driving now will no longer be an adequate mode of transportation? Are you so overwhelmed you don’t even know what to look for? Let us help you. Really. The first step in parenting is admitting when you need help and taking it.

Real Cars Running on Hydrogen, Really

Imagine a tailpipe that emits steam rather than stinky exhaust. Seem like crazy talk? Well, hold on to your garage-door openers, ladies, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could be in your future.

Engineering an Answer to Motion Sickness

I recently learned about a phenomenon called low-frequency boom in cars, one effect of which might be motion sickness. Car manufacturers spend big money to improve what they call the “noise, vibration and harshness” of each car. Wouldn’t it be great if they could come up with a “pukeless sedan”? The potential is huge.

Flashy Red Heels Go Mobile

Marshall’s has a new advertising gimmick, a Roving Stiletto driving around to notify the public about the company’s new shoe megashops. This sassy, five-gear red heel can go up to 60 mph and has a 7-foot, 8-inch heel. Are we the only ones wondering if this burlesque roadster is currently being chased down side streets by the Wienermobile?

Why So Many Men, NASCAR?

There are several aspects of the whole NASCAR craze that I find mystifying, but this one tops them all: Where are the women? I’m not talking about the bikini-clad variety that are ubiquitous in motor sports, or even the female fans, who are as fervent as their male counterparts.

Does Anybody Actually Use Their Sunroof?

I think I’ve only opened my sunroof about a dozen times since buying my car. When the day is just too glorious to go without, I get a wild urge and open the glass, yet within moments I’m so annoyed by the noise, sun and reverberation that I hit the express close button. When did this happen? Do you use the sunroof in your car?

Jeep’s Hurricane Concept is Reality for Kids

Remember Jeep’s Hurricane concept car? The toy-making elves at the Fisher-Price factory evidently figured that if adults were so excited about it, then children between the ages of 3 and 6 would go nuts for it. Now, I’m sure this would be fun and all, but my son is often like a hurricane himself. He certainly doesn’t need the help of a $400 vehicle to create chaos in and around our home.

Do You Use Your Car Seat Correctly?

I recently heard that between 80 and 90 percent of people use their car seats incorrectly. Yikes! Upon hearing this, I called up my local fire department to see if I could get the skinny. Truth be told, I was secretly hoping to have a tête-à-tête with a hunky fireman.

Navigation System Gets Updated Perspective

I must confess to a bit of myopic bias in my initial assessment of how much the average person may use their nav system. I didn’t think they’d be very helpful on a day-to-day basis. Enter my friend Tracy, who told me her car was in the shop to get the nav system updated. I made some sort of joke about how necessary an update is on something she hardly uses, and she immediately corrected me. “I use that thing all the time,” Tracy told me. “I love it!”

Those Crazy Teen Drivers Again

A study concluded that senior drivers account for fewer accidents than teens. I can already hear my neighbor’s teenager’s voice in my head: “Ohmigod, that’s so totally not true!” Certainly, it would be followed up with, “that’s so not fair!” and punctuated by, “god-duh!”

Drive Through, I Love You

I used to be a drive-through snob. I thought only fast food restaurants had drive-throughs, and only in a severe moment of dietary weakness would I succumb to a fast-food craving. Then I had a baby.

Looking Cool in Carpool

How can we moms get through carpool looking our best, even if it’s in jammies? Read on, friends, Mother Proof is here to help (without Joan Rivers, thank God). Try to view this as more of a runway (dare we say driveway) show and less as the Golden Globes on E!

Will New GM Hybrids Be Comeback Kids for SUVs?

Mary J. Blige is partnered with the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid in new GM ads. Apparently, their angle is, “She’s an award-winning artist, and a wife and mother as well. If you want it all too, the obvious vehicle choice is the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid.” In the ad, Mary J. is all glammed up in a silver trench. Is that how I’ll look in the carpool lane if I get one? If so, please pass the Tahoe.

Minivan Donation Serves Multiple Purposes

Last week, Chrysler donated a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan to the family of Tramaine Gibson, victim of a recent deadly bank robbery. I’d encourage every car manufacturer to give away cars to folks who really need them, publicizing it and getting into a philanthropic competition. It would be cheaper than primetime TV spots, and they would be acting as benefactors to people who could really use some help.

Paris/Lindsay/Nicole/Britney, Hire a Driver!

paris hilton britney spears nicole ritchie

Driving in Los Angeles must be like being on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride with all these starlets behind the wheel. For the sake of us all, I offer the following advice, free of charge: Hire yourselves a driver!

The Red-Headed Step-Wagon

Mazda recently announced it would not produce the Mazda6 wagon for 2008. This got me thinking about station wagons. They seem to be the red-headed stepchildren of the automotive world, and I don’t know why. I understand why people don’t want the wood-paneled land yachts so prevalent in our youth, but the wagons of today are barely reminiscent of their ancestors.

School Bus Saga

When I was a kid, I had school bus fantasies inspired by “The Partridge Family” that were quickly shattered the first time I stepped on a bus. Now, the crabby bus driver of my youth has become the cautious, take-no-crap, make-order-out-of-chaos hero of my parental world. I have a huge amount of respect for those who take that responsibility seriously.

Extra! Extra! A Shocking Revelation

Heads up, ladies, have I got a news flash for you: According to CarMax Inc., “buying a car remains a hassle for women, according to a recent poll.” Well, no @#$%! Despite the not-exactly-earth-shattering nature of this news, the poll did result in some interesting numbers.

Driving School Paranoia

Who chooses to take a job at their local driving school? A thrill-seeker who can’t afford to go sky diving? A part-time insurance salesman who secretly wants to increase traffic accidents in order to benefit his day job?

Relief From Parking Meter Anxiety?

If I could pin my angst about downtown driving on one thing, it wouldn’t be the congestion, the micromini parking spots, the one-way streets or even the maze-like feeling. It would be the parking meters. I don’t like constantly looking at my watch in fear, trying to remember when I parked and how much time I have left.

The Psychological Impact of New Car Smell

Any initial positive feelings I get for a car must be held at arm’s length because of the unbelievable sway New Car Smell has on me. I can drive a real lemon, but as long as it smells new it doesn’t seem so bad. It’s like vehicular pheromones.

Road Trip Survival

Those of us who have failed to do anything that resembles family togetherness this summer are scrambling. I took the easy way out of vacation planning: A road trip with five kids and one huge dog to visit my parents 300 miles away. What are your favorite tricks for surviving the ultimate summer road trip?

Driving In Circles

I’m slightly embarrassed to say that I didn’t know how exactly roundabouts were supposed to work, so I called my friend, Ellen From England. Ellen From England is a champ at rescuing me from confusion regarding the metric system, cockney accents, football (soccer) and, now, roundabouts.

Options for Paranoid Parents

When I was asked to write an article about a magnet you stick on your teenager’s car to warn other drivers of the inexperienced driver within, the teenager in me reacted with complete heebie-jeebies. My more rational parent-self wanted to agree with the woman who designed this product, but I just can’t seem to get there.

Crowded Brain Syndrome Causes Pain At The Pump

The last thing you need is some ridiculous mnemonic device in order to remember what side your gas tank is on (like singing “The door is on the driver’s side, the driver’s side, the driver’s side…” to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”). I take comfort in the fact I’m not the only one with this problem.

Does Your Car Seat Fit?

If you have a minute (funny joke, I know), please post in the comments below your car’s review, the number and brand of car seats, and how well they fit. That way, we can all share our knowledge and help accomplish this mountainous task. Power to the people!

What Do You Keep In Your Car?

A few nights ago, I was stuck in late-night internet surfing session, reading about the stuff women carry in their purses. Ladies, some of you carry some weird crap in your purses. This made me think about the ultimate in stuff collectors, our cars.

Proper Tire Pressure, Peer Pressure Can Save Lives

Even though you don’t want your kids jumping off a bridge just because their friends are, driving safely just because their friends are is a great thing to endorse.

Summer's a Hot Time for Car Shopping

It may be a great time to buy a family-mobile, but don't end up getting something that doesn't fit your needs just because you can get a good deal on it. That's like going to Nordstrom Rack or T.J. Maxx and getting a shirt that really isn't your style but only costs $3.99 and you just can't help yourself. Don’t get Markdown Blindness!

Does Mom Want The Same Thing As Dad?

Momifesto

Our friend Patrick Olsen over at Cars.com's KickingTires recently published his Suburban Dad Manifesto, a video about car features he finds indispensable. It got me thinking about the things I can't live without, all of which seem to have a common purpose: If mama's happy, everybody's happy.

Power Plant, Chassis, Mani/Pedi?

MKZ

What is it about new-car paint colors that make them perfectly suited for my toenails? One of our recent test cars here at Mother Proof was a Dark Amethyst Lincoln MKX. Dark Amethyst, as in goth black at a certain angle and shockingly purple metallic at another.

Parking Lot Dynamics

Rondo

I’ve noticed something about parking lots. When the lot is pretty full, a spot halfway out seems like a dream (think malls during the holidays). But when the lot is empty, all of a sudden that same spot is crappy and not worth parking in.

Mom's Speed-Racer Past Resurfaces

I got a lecture from the cashier at Qdoba about speeding. I had been shamed, and I had no argument. It totally sucked. 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.

Hummer's Good Deeds

Hummer is utilizing a concept called diversion therapy to ease kids’ anxiety about having surgery. 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.

The Rise of Man Vans

If husbands started driving the minivans, we moms could have our Minis, convertibles and Smart Cars. Start embracing the pimped-out Man-Van concept, ladies. Now we can have our cars and drive them, too!

Indy 500 Makes Room for Women

I'm over the whole Danica thing by now. 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 store, which is who my girls were rooting for since they "know lots of people named Sarah."

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