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!"

;-)