The Prius and the Economist

I am in the habit of glancing inside cars to see if I can make connections between the type of car someone drives and their personality. We know that cars are an extension of ourselves, even if we seem to not care what we drive, what we have in our car tells us a lot about our lives.

I drive a Honda CrossTour and let's see what I see as I glance in: a tennis bag with multiple racquets, a pair of golf shoes, and a golf umbrella are in my trunk. The back seat has an empty Snapple bottle, and a Hardy Boys book from the library. Next to the drivers seat you can find a CD book series called The Compound Effect (I love a good self help/success book), and a bunch of jumbled power cords for the phone/ipod/DS/DVD player. And Jane Iredale lip drink....always a quality lip product in the consol. I know I have an updated insurance card in my glove box, but only because I just had my oil changed, and had to make the extra trip back as the updated card had never made it to the car.

My car completely reflects my life. It is obvious I play sports, that I am slightly disorganized (golf shoes, but club aren't in the car), that I have children, that I hate chapped lips.

So when I walked by the Prius today, I sort of expected to see the Economist magazine on the passengers seat. Neat and tidy. Nothing out of place. No food wrappers. Probably had a survival kit tucked under the wheel well. And you know there were towelettes in the glove box. Not only can I put money down that there was an updated insurance card, but I bet there is a 4 x 6 index card with dated gas purchases and miles written down to do the miles per hour math.

It is Difficult to Find New Car Colors....

But this one is original...Ice Blue from Mini Cooper. It is very BMW of Cooper to pick an elegant, nautical, rich color for their Minis. Gorgeous. I would buy a car this color any day of the week. And especially in a sporty convertible Mini.

Hot Car Siteing: Audi R8 Convertible

Date: July 7, 2012
Place: outside a local diner in Saxtons River, Vermont
Car: A gold Audi R8 Convertible
The conversation said outloud: "That is the coolest car I have ever seen in Saxtons River, VT" said my son Sam, 11.
The result: The owner told Sam to sit in it. Which he did willingly, and then his sister Megan slid into the seat next to him.
The moral: When you see an awesome car (MSRP $150,00) or more) and the owner is there, ask him or her about it.They love it more than you do and want to share it. And it helps to get to sit in it if you are young and cute.

The Secret Society of Jeep Wranglers

I am not even sure if this is public knowledge. It may even be so secret only the Harley guys know about it.

Once you drive a Jeep Wrangler, you are forever in the society of Jeep-ites. Jeep-ers? Jeep-ians?
Wrangler drivers wave to each other. Everyday. All the time. In fact, as you read this hundreds of people are driving with the top down perfecting their Jeep wave.

We have a Wrangler, and have had Wranglers for years. I left the church on my wedding day in a black one. My husband drives it mostly, but once in a while I remember that I should take the top of and go for a ride by myself. I call it my mini vacation.

Well, what I don't remember is that you get waved to...over and over again. And frankly, if you want to drive a car that makes you feel good....the Wrangler does. Every other Jeep is your friend. Your coolness factor goes up. You feel glad you too own a Jeep. It is brilliant marketing. Or is it? How did this Jeep wave come to be? In 1941...were they waving in Willys?

Let me know if you have the answer. Until then, I will be watching for my husbands signature two finger left hand raise on the steering wheel as he salutes his fellow Wrangler men and women.

My First Crush

My first crush was posted on the wall of my bedroom as a 15 year old girl. The poster was in a place of honor...over my desk where I could view it from my twin bed. I had been to California for a family vacation and brought this poster cross country with me, careful not to crush it during our week drive back to Vermont.

Jaguar XJ. It was perfect in every way. Hunter green, sleek, fast. It was sporty. It had old world style.
This was the car I would aspire to own, the one that would let me know I had made it.

Welcome to the Women & Driver blog!

This is where we can have lively conversations about cars: from the female perspective.

My brother suggested I create a blog to talk about one of my passions. Cars. I love to read about cars, test drive cars, buy and negotiate the sale of cars, and if my path had gone that way, I would have been a great car salesperson.

A little about me: My names is Sara Daly, and I am many things: 40 year old woman, owner of a day spa, physical therapist, writer, mother of two children, and married to a PGA golf pro who likes to talk endlessly about cars with me.