Hot Honda Experience to Spurr 2011 Baby-Boom?

The Ride:  2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite

The Price:  $44,030.00

Seats: 8

I'll be the first to admit, my adoration for the 2011 Honda Odyssey was not love at first sight.  In fact, I have yet to meet a minivan I would call attractive. Truth.  However, as soon as I snuggled into the plush, leather heated driver's seat, and listened as my kids buckled themselves in quickly and peacefully engaged themselves in a couple of hours of sinfully-silent movie-watching, Odysseys sultry seduction scheme began.

Here are just a few features that had me begging for more:

Built in trash bag holder!

Place for the purse! And room to store it
in the center console too!

Slim screen can play two movies/games at once
without disrupting your view from the rear-view mirror.



Cup holders everywhere!







 


 

 



  






Room to roam.  No kicking the back of
 Mama's seat in the Odyssey.





Count 'em four sets of LATCH connectors here...
that means four car seats can be buckled in safely
in Odyssey.



Shades on all four rear windows - all four!

Roomy third row - even for adults.  Notice the cup-holders and

accessory plug-ins?



Easy to use headphones for when you
 DON'T want to hear their movies and games.
And they turn on automatically when the kids put them on.



Remove the center seat from the second row and voila!
Instant pass-thru.



Loads of space - LOADS! This extra-deep cargo area

held unbelievable amounts of stuff.

To add to my adoration, the Honda Odyssey was as comfortable as

it was convenient. Automatic heated and adjustable seats with ample

lumbar support made this Mama feel right at home - better than home actually,

my couch isn't heated.

Ahhhh, heated seats. The one thing that can mirror the warm-rosy feeling you

get from that happy glass of wine at the end of a long day. Great for

those aching muscles.

With comfort and convenience covered, let's talk performance - what

does it feel like to drive the Odyssey? Perhaps my husband would

be a better person to ask since HE is the one who tacked a speeding

ticket onto our turkey-day travels. Yep, Odyssey is quick, but smooth-

quick, not roller-coaster-quick. Braking was also smooth, but what was

most refreshing with Odyssey's drive feel was the handling. Odyssey

cornered very well with little to no top-heavy tilting during sharp or

never-ending corners. That is new and notable in the minivan class.

Now, I know this review may seem "gushy" to some. But the 2011 Odyssey

is truly fantastic. Some may even be so inspired by it they decide to

start a family just for an excuse to buy one. Now, I am not predicting the

2011 Honda Odyssey will start a baby-boom or anything.

What I am promising, however, is that any hubby who manages to

produce this stunning piece of metal over the holidays will certainly be getting

a lil' extra himself this season. Just sayin'...





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Even Oprah Makes Mistakes...

As cool as the 2012 VW Beetle will be, why didn't Oprah take this opportunity to shine some light on one of our domestic automotive brands?  I was really surprised this partnership was made with VW and not with one of the big three for several reasons:

1. Oprah, having been such a huge supporter of Mr. Obama during his campaign and beyond, must be aware of his efforts to save our automotive industry.  Perhaps she forgot - those "favorite things" episodes can get pretty insane.
2. With Chicago so geographically close to the Motor City, there would certainly be an economic benefit to boosting domestic auto-sales - right?
3. The products! GM's Volt or Cruze, Ford's new Focus, and perhaps even Chrysler's nearly hatched Fiat 500 would have been just as exciting as a VW- even the Beetle.

Like many people, I adore Oprah and have followed her show religiously since I was a kid.  I have always been impressed by her ability to give, inspire and draw attention to important issues.  While I loved watching most of today's episode, the ending could have been so much more powerful - at least from a Detroiter's perspective.

Mazda 5 at LA Auto Show

Awwwww, Lori from MotherProof.com is right - this one is ADORABLE and always one of my favorites. Can't wait to see the new model for myself...

http://www.motherproof.com/news-rants/story/2010-L.A.-Auto-Show-2012-Mazda5-Makes-Most-of-its-Microvan/

LA Auto Show 2010

Since I can't be there this year, I am sharing the best posts from my fav friends/sources at the show. Check out what Micah Muzio and Micheal Delano have done with the Camaro -fun stuff!

http://social-gen.com/chevy/?u=fA7

OMG!!!! The kids are back to school!!!!

The Ride: 2011 Honda Odyssey

The Price: $27,800 - $43,250

Yippeee, the kids are gone so I'm hopping back onto the blogging bus and to celebrate, let's kick off the school year with a new minivan review! Wait! Wait! Don't click away, it's cool I promise!

I recently attended the reveal of the redesigned 2011 Honda Odyssey and I fell in love with all the creature comforts the interior offered up. I wasn't as ecstatic about the modified exterior with "lightning bolt" accent along the side, it reminded me of the Lincoln MKT and therefore didn't seem as unique -to me- as Odyssey designers intended.

Once again, engineers promised fun-to-drive performance and once again, it felt like a minivan to me. Nice ride by all means, but nothing to work up a sweat over.

That said, let's hit on those fabulous interior features that would have me buying one of these babies in a second despite lackluster drive-feel. In no particular order, here we go!

1. Front row removable center console, large enough to actually house a medium sized purse!

2. Front row cool box capable of chilling 6 twelve ounce cans or 4 bottles of water!

3. Second row flip-up trash bag ring - finally a place to hang a trash bag!

4. Second row wide-mode seats allow outboard seats to slide left to right (not front to back) a max of 3 inches to more easily accommodate huuuuge child safety seats and/or larger passengers!



5. Available rear entertainment system with 16.2 inch screen! Yes, you can do split-screen here for viewing two movies at once - yay, everyone is happy!

6. Improved fuel economy with 18/27 city/hwy for the LX, EX and EXL models but 19/28 city/hwy for the Touring Elite.

7. LATCH connectors in 5 seating locations! That's right, 5 car seats can be LATCH'd up in Odyssey!

Yes, those were exclamation points at the end of each line and yes, I put them there on purpose. These features "Wowed" me and to think, you could get all of these on top of the typical minivan goodies we already love like sun-shades to keep the kids from squinting, flexible seating that is easy to maneuver, and safety equipment we trust.

While my search continues for the speedy and agile family hauler, the Honda Odyssey certainly got me excited and you better believe I'll be chatting it up to all the Mom's before and after school.

Oh, and for my amusement only, I would love for Honda to challenge Toyota to a minivan rap-off. Come on Honda, let's give the "Swagger-Wagon" a run for its money...

Isn't She Lovely...

Finally!!! Much like the anticipation a Mother feels prior to the birth of a new child, I don't think I could have waited one more day for my precious bundle to arrive.

Meet "Sugar," my new ride. She was "born" on May 19th in a Michigan assembly plant, that's right, built right here in the mitten which makes me love her even more. Go Deeeeeeeeetroit!

She is 175 inches long and weighs 2,691 pounds.

Her name comes from the obvious, she's white and sweet. Simple enough. But there's more. My Grandpa, a proud Ford retiree, helped me get the Ford A plan which made the lease-price realistic for my budget. Without his help the car would not be in my driveway - period.

When I was little, Grandpa would greet me with a big smile, a hug and a tap to his cheek with the signature phrase,"Give Grandpa some sugar." So the name fits. The car fits. Everyone is happy. Amen. Thanks Grandpa!

Many thanks also to Bob Pugh over at Jack Demmer Ford. Hooray to him for hearing my requirements and sticking to them - thanks Bob! By the time I found my way to Bob I was so exhausted by the run-around I received from a laundry list of other dealers, I hardly had any hope left in me.

Dealers, please work on this:

DO NOT advertise a price you cannot realistically offer (marketing departments are apparently to blame for this, please stop).

DO NOT waste your clients time.

Ex. If someone tells you they are willing to put X-amount down to achieve a payment of X, please tell them whether this is possible BEFORE you start playing patty-cake games with your finance manager. FYI - we hate waiting for you and hate it even more when you return from your games only to reveal a sheet of paper with a monthly payment $100 or more over what we were asking for and over what was advertised. I am very tempted to name names here and totally call out all of the dealerships that drove me to the brink, but I will refrain. For now...

At the moment I just want to enjoy the new car - ahhhhhh...

"Hey! Gimme a minivan!"

The pole has closed and the results are in for the, "do chicks dig minivans?" survey. Turns out, Moms are still the true saints of society as 45 percent of responders said they love minivans, but like most other things, they buy them for the kids. I too have been in the market for a minivan lately, primarily for the great deals available right now, but also because, well - appeasement works!

The problem I have found is those bells and whistles and up. If you long for auto-sliding doors, DVD-entertainment and comfy-leather chairs, be prepared to spike that monthly payment up.

Unfortunately for me, my budget still lingers in the bare-bones and slightly used territory so I doubt I will actually end up with a minivan to call my own, but I have developed a disgusting case of minivan envy. It's a really strong bout for sure because since I've been bitten I've learned apparently there is no antidote. No amount of vehicular-sexiness, horsepower or revved-up engine noise can tear the keys away from a person with minivan-itis!

Off to the clinic for me, antibiotics anyone???

The Mercury Isn't Rising Anymore

Reports from both the Detroit Free Press and Fox News of Detroit noted Ford's Mercury brand may be on the outs. As sales continue to decline for the brand, down 70 percent in fact, I have certainly been wondering why Ford has kept them around so long? I don't want one. I certainly want a few Ford's and Lincoln's but a Mercury? Nahhhh!

Ford and Lincoln seem to be doing just fine on their own with plenty of demand for their wide array of new, competitive products. Apparently, we will learn the fate of Mercury in October. I will not be holding my breath...

Guilt-free Green Cabs

I have been seeing these little hybrid cruisers all over Royal Oak, have you? Michigan Green Cabs provides hybrid rides and according to reviews on Yelp.com, they have a great reputation going for them so far. Comments like, "prompt," "Clean," "courteous," and "cheaper than other taxi providers," filled the reviews I saw.

Hmmm, I'm going to have to give them a whirl some time, perhaps on my next trip to the airport since they offer flat-fee airport transport and I can book my cab on-line- nice!

Check 'em out at www.migreencabs.com

Forget work, go for a drive!!!

Wow! What an awesome Monday in Detroit! Eighty-plus degrees and super-sunny! It's hard to work with such great weather tapping on your shoulder, so screw it! Grab your keys and get outside! Well, outside for a minute and then inside your car of course.

Even if you just go for a lunch-break cruise, it will be worth it. Roll down the windows , turn the phone off and the music up!!! See the sites. Grab some drive-through and a cool fountain Coke (Yum!). Some people lay out to soak up the sun, some head to the beach, I go for a drive - "Weeeeeeeeeeeee!"

;-)

Learning to let go...

Yeah, so I have been in the market to buy a new car since roughly 2006. See, my 2001 Saturn SL1 has literally had it at 155, 000 miles with scratches on every exterior surface and stains on every interior surface - even on the ceiling where a mascara swipe still lingers. She wobbles at slow speeds and shudders at higher speeds. The poor girl shakes so much I can no longer really see anything out of the rear-view mirror it vibrates so intensely (eh-eh, don't start making sly vibrator jokes here, this is serious business).

Today her frail-self could hardly gain traction on the wet pavement. I wonder how many more miles she can handle without a complete overhaul of every mechanical system she houses.

So sad though to think of giving her up. Yes, she is a "she", not because I'm sexist and think all cars are "she," but because she has proven herself to be. Her name is Bella and she was my first new car. Purchased right after I graduated from college, Bella symbolized freedom, independence and a sheer moving-on-up attitude.

She has survived two years of intense commuting at over 140 miles per day. She kept me safe when a pregnant-me spun out on an ice-covered I-69. Bella transported my husband and I to our honeymoon in Hog Island, MI (don't ask cuz I won't tell). Bottom line, this car has been through it and has NEVER left me stranded nor has she ever required pricey maintenance. I bet in the whole 9 years we've been hitting the road together she might have needed about $650 worth of work, other than regular oil changes and a new tire here and there.

In future posts I will relate the troubles I've had searching for a new car, the frustration over learning there aren't any auto-Brokers in Michigan to wheel and deal for me, and that the prices in the ads are NEVER, ever, ever true. The wealth of vehicle choices out there does not make the decision any easier either. Who knows, maybe eventually I will even write about getting to know my new car. Maybe the next one will be a boy. Anybody have that Chinese gender calendar handy? LOL!

While I am searching though, I want to hear your first car story too. Go ahead, I am listening...

Miss Michigan Wins!!! Ford, can ya' help a girl out?

Miss Michigan, Rima Fakih of Dearborn, won the the Miss USA pageant last night!!! Congrats girl and I hope you got the pizza you so deserved!

During the program, it was divulged that Rima was forced to sell her Ford in order to cover the expense of the Miss USA competition. Despite losing her beloved car, she still took the time to encourage viewers to buy American.

Now, I know a lot of super-cool folks over at Ford and I am wondering, "Hey Ford, how about showing some love for our local girl?" With the showroom launch of Ford's new Fiesta fast approaching, this Motor City gal thinks the newly crowned Miss USA would look lovely touring our fine country in Fiesta-style this year, don't you?

GM - time to put down the shovel?

Looks like GM can stop, or at least take a rest from digging out of their dreadful despair. First quarter earnings show the first profit for GM in three years according to a recent news update on WDIV, Local 4 news in Detroit.

Go Detroit!!!! If any of you out there own an Equinox, LaCrosse, or Terrain, GM is saying your purchases have saved the day... or the quarter...whatever.

The Ride: Lincoln MKT Elite, 3.7 liter

The Price: $52,180

The Pics - with video on how to access the third row!

Lincoln MKT is a tall (or long) glass o' water! It's so long, you almost wonder if you should stop after a turn to let the rear end catch up! No really, for the most part, the MKT's size was really convenient, allowing me the same seating capacity as a minivan with a load of extra luxury features you aren't likely to see in a minivan like heated AND cooled second row seating (optional).

That long-toothed grille will either impress or frighten you - at least that's what I got from my friends and family. The height of MKT confused me as it was easy to slip in and out of the drivers seat, but from said perch I felt elevated with a great view of the road.

Comfy seats and beautiful finishes fill the interior where brilliant shimmers caught my eye with every glance. I would actually look forward to getting into this car...it took care of me. A pretty important statement coming from an admittedly frazzled mom. Yep, MKT made me feel comfy, pampered, safe and sassy all at once.

Despite it's size, my MKT was fast!!! I caught myself squawking the tires doing a Michigan left onto Woodward Ave. - in front of a bunch of construction workers who looked at me as if they thought I was 'bout to run 'em over. "Sorry guys! It's the car, she's got spunk!"

Our absolute favorite feature of the MKT was the freezer/fridge in the second row center console. This thing was awesome and it really worked. My son loved putting his drinks in there and I daydreamed about all the options; family picnics, baby bottles, ice packs for soccer games, etc... it really opened the vehicle up to a variety of useful possibilities.

Hey Mamas!!! Weigh in on this one, share your opinion!

Link to: What was the worst car you have ever driven?

On Deck: Full reviews of the 2011 Toyota Sienna and Lincoln MKT are coming soon as part of my ode to Moms for the month of May.

Does news media coverage accurately portray reality? I'm betting most people will chuckle at this question and may even shake their head with some measure of disgust. I know, I hear you.

As metro-Detroiters, we are barraged on a daily basis with stories of shootings, hit and runs and arson fires (yep, all of these were just from today's news alone). I have often wondered what the news would look and feel like if news were not a business but strictly a municipal service in which coverage was limited by true community statistics; i.e. - if only three percent of the crimes committed in your community were murders, than only three percent of the news reported could cover murder. Make sense?

Blah, blah, blah, what does this have to do with cars? Well, with all of the good press our domestic OEMs have been receiving lately, I'll admit I was SHOCKED last night when I found myself drowning in the HUGE divide that still remains between Ford and Toyota stock prices.

At todays' close Ford had nearly reached $13 per share while Toyota, who according to the media coverage over the past several months has been completely immersed in a speedy downward spiral, still trades at nearly $80 per share. Huh???

So, lesson learned. Listen to, watch and read any kind of news you like. Really, have at it. Just remember to always keep the ol' money trail in your periphery because those damn numbers (I hate math) are stubborn! They can't be bias, are immune to spin and are void of any emotion.

How can anyone resist the "swagger-wagon?"

Once I saw this I had to share it with the Moms of metro Detroit!

Enjoy!

Technology Rocks!

The Ride: 2010 Lincoln MKS w/ EcoBoost
The Price: $53, 930
The Pics - (click here for Photos)

Wow! Check out the auto park feature on that Lincoln - hot!

The 2010 Lincoln MKT was not only strikingly beautiful, but also one of the most autonomous cars I have tested to date. Heaven forbid I should get withing 15 feet of the car ahead of me, or worse - should another car attempt to slip into my blindspot (naughty!), MKS was having none of these shenanigans! Chimes would sound, lights would flash and I am pretty sure had I ignored these alerts, an old polish lady with an apron might have appeared ready to slap me or the other drivers up-side the head in disgust!

I am a fan of these warning signals. With two boys and occasionally even more children forever residing in my second row, I am a distracted driver - all Moms are really. My favorite Mommy's aide was the huge DVD screen featuring the back-up camera. Yes, chimes would sound if an object was in your way while backing up too, but the picture is so much more helpful, especially in school parking lots where chaos abounds and where children and parents alike forget how to be cautious.

Stressful situations like trying to evacuate the school parking lot safely, provided perfect opportunities to try out MKS' heated seats and dual-pane sun roof to just relax and enjoy the view for a second. "Mooooo-oooommmm, what's taking sooo LONG !?!" One swift kick to the back of my seat and I was back to reality and wondering why my sons legs were able to reach my seat.

Later, I hopped back there myself to find despite this Lincoln's hefty size, the backseat was definitely slim. Even at five foot four, my legs were scrunched. Bummer. What with all the leather upholstery and pretty finishes, I guess I expected more. Lincoln peeps are smart though. They've thrown in some luxurious distractions to remove your focus from your aching knees. Heated and cooled second row seats were a thrill, although not for the kids who were propped up in boosters. The drop-down arm rest included cup holders AND storage cubbies to hold snacks, crayons, Bakugans and Go-Gos. Convenient.

Not-so-convenient were the LATCH connectors that straddled the buckle receptors (see pics link at top). This didn't make sense because child safety seats cannot straddle the receptors, so this arrangement cannot be effective.

Overall Impression: The Lincoln MKS was a nice treat. It wrapped me in luxury and provided features that helped me through my daily life. Although it won't earn you cost-saving bonus points, it will make you feel like everyday is a spa day. For that, MKS earns an MCM-seal of approval!

Lincoln MKT Pays Respects to Ernie Harwell

Woke up to the sad news of Ernie Harwell's passing...could not think of a better place to photograph the MKT than in front of Tigers' Stadium/Comerica Park in his honor...

Played hookey...the Sienna made me do it...

Guilty! I couldn't resist. The powers that be tempted me with great weather, hubby home for the day AND a new Toyota Sienna in my driveway with only about 50 miles on it. Sorry folks, that's just too many carrots a-dangling for me power through. So, yeah, we totally played hookey today and instead of gearing up for work and school we headed Kensington Metro Park instead. Jealous? You will be...

Sienna made the 30 minute trip even more amazing with the dual-DVD entertainment system in the second row. My boys were able to watch different movies at the same time! Amazing - and headphones allowed them to hear their movies while I could still hear the radio, just WOW!

Not to mention my husband and I were in complete agreement, "This minivan looks cool, I'd totally drive it!"

For sure! More Sienna tidbits to come, today was just a sneak peek ;-)

Um, does it get any better than this?

I was just introduced to www.sweetandsassy.com, a spa/salon specializing in parties for the youngest of young ladies. Book a birthday party for your daughter or just share a special mother/daughter spa day - either way be sure to request a ride in their PINK STRETCH LIMO!!! Ahh, what I wouldn't give to be 5 again or to have a lil' girl of my own. "Boys! Hey, boys! Anybody wanna hit the spa with Mom for a mani and pedi? There's a pink limo!"

The ride: 2010 Ford Flex w/ EcoBoost
The Price: $39,940
The Pics
My favorite Mommy super-hero is Elastigirl from the Pixar Studios favorite The Incredibles. A phenomenally loving wife and mother, this super-mom could stretch her arms to reach two kids running in opposite directions (wow!) or turn herself into a parachute to secure a soft landing after leaping from a tumbling airplane. Despite Flex’s sturdy-steel frame, it too quickly adapted to whatever I threw at it.
Three rows of comfort cradled my family on our daily commutes. The kids were able to buckle easily and could manipulate that second row to gain access to the third row (they always opt to be as far away from the parents as possible) just as effortlessly. I didn’t have to help at all. Mama appreciated leather upholstery, heated seats and surprisingly good visibility from all angles plus the ability to carry seven passengers with LATCH connectors enough for three car seats!
My husband felt right at home in Flex and noted it one of the most comfortable and roomy cars I have ever tested.
Flex joined our family on a journey to Great Lakes Crossing for our annual OshKosh adventure. The cruise up I-75 was a breeze as the four of us plus grandma likened the ride to being in a living-room on wheels. Despite its size and boxy shape, Flex was able to pick up speed easily and maneuver through traffic just as I imagine Elastigirl would.
As I ran through my daily errands in Flex, I asked people what they thought of it. Many were not sure about the retro exterior styling. To them I said, “You should drive one.” Unfortunately, Flex is one whose most venerable attributes may never be realized because people are so used to making snap judgments based on surface features.

Must See Ford Raptor Video!!!

You will thank me for this!

The ride: 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon V6 Premium Collection
The price: $51,215.00
The Pics
As much as I wanted to make paddy-wagon/Caddy-wagon references with this car – it just wasn’t happening. There was nothing prison-like about the CTS wagon – although, the combination of A and B pillars with the intermingling rear-view mirrors did make for an obstructed view possibly comparable to looking out from behind bars. Other than that, the ride in the CTS was immaculate. Comfortable and pretty and fun to be seen in because, despite the reputation of Cady’s being for older folks, the CTS wagon had a certain menacing look that oozed youthful appeal.
As I drove along curvy suburban streets with manicured boulevards, CTS felt right at home. The CTS also looked extremely fitting in front of the beautiful Shrine church on Woodward Ave., in Royal Oak. I was tempted to take CTS out of its comfort zone to pose artfully amongst run-down buildings, but she wasn’t having it.
CTS met the needs of my family; comfort, convenience and cargo-space for Mom, lots of leg-room and technology for Dad (my kids LOVED the DVD screen that rose and fell automatically when needed) and a mostly usable second row for the kids - albeit the lumpy bolsters were not necessary for my booster-bound boys. Those of you with infants in bulky car-seats are likely to struggle with the close-quarters and bolsters (not to mention the awkwardly placed LATCH connectors – you actually need to zip open the seating to reveal the LATCH hooks) in CTS…a fact that made me want to place CTS back in the older-crowd category.
In truth, I don’t know many people in their late 20’s or early 30’s that are ready to drop this kind of coin on a car anyways. Perhaps CTS prefers a more mature following…perhaps.
For more detailed info on the CTS, send me your comments, I’d be happy to chat!

"Celebrate Good Times - Come On!"

It's official, things are looking up for Ford, GM and even Chrysler. GM payed off debts early (not getting into the controversy some would like to drum up about how it was paid, nope, not here), Ford is profiting like crazy and I think I heard that Chrysler showed modest profits in the first Quarter as well.

Ahhhhhh...finally some hope for Michigan! Keep up the hard work OEM's, we're proud of you and happy to see progress after such a long period of painful turmoil.

This Mama may even consider increasing your allowance if you keep up the good behavior!

Date Night!

Date Night Pics!!!!!!

When my husband won tickets to see 30 Seconds to Mars via an 89X contest, images of the perfect date-night car began to swirl about in my brain. Excited by the prospect of a night out without the kids, I wanted something super-fun that could help me escape from my day-to-day Mommy-dom. It had to be hot, it had to be fast and it had to be built for two…hmmmm…

The Nissan 370Z it was and this dazzling number was a convertible to boot! Yeehaw! After attempting to go top-down in cold, gloomy weather that seemed insistent upon spitting on us, we realized defeat and put the top back up. Off we went to enjoy a peaceful dinner sans kids! Yippee!

Little did we know, God had another trick up his sleeve aside from the weather. As we sat down I quickly realized we were surrounded by not one, not two but 10 drooling, bald-headed babes! Can you hear God laughing??? I am not exaggerating either – ten kids, ten! I began to feel as though we were now in the Date Night movie, I was Tina Fey and hubby had transformed into Steve Carell.

Somehow we managed to turn the blind eye to all the toddler-trickery and found a way to enjoy the dinner. After eating, instead of heading straight to the concert, we ponied up that Z and headed straight back to our front door cuz stuff just doesn’t digest the way it used to and one person in our party needed to make a pit-stop. I will not name names, if you know us you already know which one of us had to make a lil’ potty before going out for the night.

Next we were back on I-75 headed to Detroit to take in the show at the Fillmore (eh-hem, State Theater). The Z turned heads all the way down Woodward Ave. and even caught a few compliments from the parking attendants. I asked hubby to get a picture of me in front of the Z – no offense hun, but photography is not your forte. At any rate, the pic is in the attached gallery, albeit missing the entire front end, oh well.

While waiting for the band, our age was really showing as we – seemingly for the first time even though as kids we had been there several times – remarked about the fan-flippin-tastic architecture and trim details inside the Fillmore – gorgeous!

After the show, Z got us home like a true chauffer. It wasn’t until the next day that my cousin told me the lead singer of 30 Seconds to Mars was none other than Jared Leto, the hottie heart-throb from My So Called Life (this is a show that was popular among apathetic teen sin the 90’s if you didn’t know)!!! Why didn’t anyone tell me this in advance? He was, in fact, still very adorable and man did could he sing! Ah well, I guess I am too old to have asked him to sign my boob anyway. I’ll certainly do a little more research though the next time date-night rolls around!

GM Finds Religion?

Um, it's Sunday morning and I am admittedly groggy at the moment - BUT, very sure I just heard GM will be bringing new models to local church's so parishioners can get a little test-drive with their Sunday service.

I really don't know what to think of this latest ploy to please consumers - sounds desperate right? Church? Really?

Not too surprising I guess. We all have a tendency to seek spiritual inspiration when times are tough. Wonder who we would find in the confessionals...

Oddly enough, the picture of the Caddy CTS piously posed behind Shrine Church in Royal Oak was NOT taken during one of GM's test-drives. It was taken about two weeks ago, long before I heard of GM's latest campaign. Yep, I'm a lil' pyschic like that.

My Pics

In perusing the May issue of Car and Driver magazine, one article in particular caught my eye. Their "25 Cars Worth Waiting For," had me immediately flipping to page 57, primarily to see if their predictions meshed with my own. "Aha!" Sure enough, there it was on page 66, nestled near the binding and somewhat buried in the lower-right - the 2012 Ford C-Max! An adorable, agile-little 7 passenger family-lover that may single-handedly mark the dawn of a sexier era in minivans.

Throw out your vision of the over sized bubble with horrible driving dynamics that ages you 10 years before you drive it off the lot and imagine a car that can carry more than 5 in comfort while also being fun to drive and fuel efficient. Come on all you SUV fans, admit it, you are plain tired of trying to gain access to your stingy third row seating! Button or no-button, automatic or manual, there is no easy way to get back there without hurting yourself. We need the second row pass-through. We need it, long for it and at this point I am sure many of us will do just about anything to get it.

To its credit, Mazda 5 has been the only compact 7 passenger carrier offering the pass-through, but not all have the ability to appreciate its ultra-mod, somewhat alien looks. Ford C-Max promises the same cargo capacity, same smaller car handling and a potentially prettier package. I cannot wait to get in this car - ugh! Two more years - I'm in agony!

Ahhh, the car wash. A tradition with all car lovers whether heading to the quarter wash or hoisting your bucket of cleaning supplies from their dusty perch in the garage - spring is car washin' time!

In years passed, a trip to the car wash with the kids was nearly as stress-inducing as taking them to the pediatrician for immunizations - lots of screaming and tears involved, cuz the car wash is friggin scary!

I never really thought of how frightening the whole process was until the looks of horror on my boys' faces enlightened me. What with all the water spraying and foam squirting and huge swaths of fabric slapping your car this way and that - yikes! And it's dark in there. Very dark. And isolated. Very isolated. Palms grow clammy. The stomach starts to remind you of how much coffee you've consumed. Thoughts of an escape plan ensue, just in case all of the machines freeze up. Or worse, what if all the flips and flaps develop minds of their own and start smashing the cars up instead of gently mopping the mud away???

So, with the warm weather taking over, I certainly hope this season will be the one in which MY KIDS outgrow THEIR fears of the car wash. Fortunately for THEM, the forecast in Detroit calls for clouds and rain all week, so there will be no car-washing in our immediate future. Phew! I gotta get me some chamomile tea!

We teach them young in my household! Before you take the R8 to cub scouts, you absolutely must scrub it down first. Can't be showin' off a dirty R8, that would be sacrilege!

But seriously, as a treat to my sons scout troop, I gave the boys a lesson in writing (booo!) by letting them ride in the R8 (yippee!) and then having them document their thoughts on the car. I absolutely love taking these cars and doing things with them no other automotive writer would or could - it makes me laugh. I also love being a woman and driving cars like the R8... just cuz. It shouldn't ruffle feathers, but it does...oh how it does.

So, the plan is to take some cars, match them up with unique places and events - the way a sommelier matches wine with a meal - and then to present the whole package to you. Sound good?

Mark your calendars - May 1st is fast approaching!

Gotta love re-living your past...well, at least the fun parts. My BFF and I got to troll about the streets of our hometown yesterday (good ol' Royal Oak, Mi)- just like in the good old days, except this time we looked a little less punk-rock than we did in 1996. Just a little less.

We stopped into some of our fav old shops like incognito - a forever favorite for their unique clothing, sunglasses and shoes. Also checked out some newer stores like Pitaya and The Pink Pump - very fun, one-of-a-kind fashion finds in both places. Our most exciting stop of the day was at Funky 7, the only store that has ever made me excited to pay $30 for a T-Shirt! I found the perfect light purple Made in Detroit shirt for me and tons of cute stuff I wanted to buy for everyone else - ex. the black and white striped Folsom Prison onesie for some baby somewhere- how cute is that!?!

The BFF and I wrapped up our day in the Claw (Clawson, Mi) by enjoying a wholesome meal at the Old Port Inn. Yes, this is the place we may have dreaded when we were 10, but somehow, at thirty-something - nothing sounded better.

Cheers to an incredible day with an incredible friend!

My non-compete clause expires the end of April, making May 1st the official start-date for this blog! Until then, all you get is pics of things I love and some timely commentary.

Welcome!

I am so anxious to fill this blog with mind blowing adventures of this Mom's life trying to make a living as an automotive reviewer while raising two boys in metro-Detroit. With this unique combination of ingredients, everyday has adventure potential.

Whether I am hitting the road in a stunning Audi R8 or simply adding up the number of times in a day I can holler, "Get your finger out of your nose!" - each morning presents another chapter, another page one to fill and share with you.

Along the way I also plan to pepper in some over-the-top adoration and free PR for this crazy State I call home. Ahhh, yes. Michigan. Poor mitten has taken a beating in the past few years and could use a solid pat-on-the-back for a change. So throw me the soap-box cuz I'm 'bout to hop on it. You've been warned.

With that I am going to get back to this sunny- Sunday afternoon. I encourage you to join me next time, and when you do, be sure to bring a tasty beverage of choice (mine would be a frothy chai latte) and something cozy (Snuggies optional).

Cheers!