Small car minimalism

The small car. Two doors. Tiny trunk. Small cupholders.

I have gone all minimalistic in my Audi A4 Cab.

After having many large, throw 4 golf bags in the hatch vehicle, get the chocolate lab in the back and two car seats,  I am now reduced to a zen approach to manage my car life.

Going to the driving range? Kids, pick two clubs. Thats all we can fit.

Dropping a box off at the post office? Do it now, 'cuz otherwise can't get my child in the backseat.

Grocery shopping? 4 reusable bags fit exactly in the trunk. Choose wisely at the store.

It has been refreshing to not buy 'that rug' as I know it won't fit in my car. It is calming to realize I can say no to energy sucks as I don't have the space. Costco? You are dead to me.

Everyone should try a small car once just as everyone needs to have gone camping. It is a form of "roughing it" that leaves you feeling balanced.

I Now Have my Smooth Jazz Lounge

It was crazy how intensive this search became. With two vehicles up for lease within 2 months of each other, the "what do we do now" factor for vehicles was like a chess match.  I wanted to give up and knock the board over, but my patient and determined husband wanted me to find the car I really wanted. Which was hard as I wasn't clear on what I wanted.

I knew I wanted red leather interior, and I love a nice sun roof. I also care a lot about seating, enjoying all the power positioning I can get. And heated seats. And a sporty engine. And it has to be cool without being too obnoxious. Oh wait, now I sound obnoxious.

And I wanted to spend less money a month.


So here it is, my new car that is more smooth jazz lounge than british cool.

                                                      The Audi 2005 A4 Cabriolet.

Megan listening to a little smooth jazz

Mini Cooper: Wrong car, right salesman

As I am searching for a new car, I am running into a frequent problem. The wrong car or the wrong salesperson.

I had a great match of a salesman at the Mini Cooper dealership. He was accurate, to the point, energetic without being pushy. He really wanted me to like the car.

Unfortunately, I didn't.

The test drive made my head hurt. The suspension was too tight, and I felt like a mom trying too hard to be a rally car driver. It truly is a fun car that will give you an exciting driving experience.

The Mini is like a cool edgy British bar where they name the drinks as puns (the 007 Goldfinger -made with 7up and Goldschalger), and everyone on the waitstaff has a meaningful tattoo.

Sigh. I wish that was was me right now, but alas it is not.

I need a car that can be my sanctuary, a calm oasis of leather and moonroofs, and a little navigation.

I need a car that is a smooth jazz lounge where the lighting is calming, they serve Prosecco in hand blown stemware, and the staff gives meaningful eye contact.

So where do I find that?

Car shopping

My lease on my Honda CrossTour is up in 2 months.

For the first time in a while, I am unclear of what I would like to do next.

I am very fond of the car I have, but then I think this.....

If I live to 80 and starting driving cars at 16, that gives me 64 years to drive. If you get a car every 5 years, that is about 12 cars average. I have had 9 cars registered in my name.

So, I am doing the math......

and I am absolutely going to get the car I want.

Punch Buggy

You know the game....Punch Buggy Red! And then you unexpectedly get punched in the arm.

My kids thought the game was hysterical. But to a focused mom of two kids, the game was horrible.

There is a "don't hit your sibling" rule in my house. So they would punch buggy me.
It always startled me and I felt like they were going to make me crash the car.

5 years ago I said no more punch buggy, find a new game.

So my kids came up with Square Car. Anytime they see a Honda Element, a Nissan Cube, or the like you get a nice gentle squeeze on the arm.

Square Car is the 21st centuries Punch Buggy game. Rules are simple, so go play!

What Mercedes has that I need

Location: Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, NY
Reason: PGA Championship
Car Sighting: Mercedes


The last major of the year was sponsored in part by Mercedes. And could you tell.
Every official car was a gorgeous sleek new Mercedes.
As you entered the course, there was a showroom full of new models, interactive displays and good looking salesmen and women in purple golf shirts.

Here's what they had that I needed: There was a man there whose only job was to continually rotate wiping smudges of the vehicles. We hopped out of the drivers seat, and he was there to wipe the car doors, check the steering wheel for errant fingerprints, clean the glass from any residual moisture as we inhaled and then exhaled the new car smell.

If every Mercedes could come with an anti-smudge protection package like these do, they may be on to something.

I Played a Game Called Guess Your Car

We had a service tech at the spa this week to rewire our sound system. He has spent many hours giving us good ambient music. As he was pulling wire thru a hole in the wall, I asked him what car he drove and then said, no wait let me guess.

I figured I might get it on the first try. He told me he was not that into cars, and preferred to drive his work van. I stuck my neck out and said,
Nissan Sentra.
 Wrong.
Toyota Tacoma.
 Wrong.
Ok, is it an American car?
 No.
Subaru Impreza.
 No.
VW.
 No
Honda, Mitsubishi, Fiat, Kia, BMW...
 Nope.

At this point I am scrambling....and my assistant says, I bet you ride a motorcycle.
 No.

I gave up. I ran out of options that I thought this single 33 year old hipster would be driving.

The answer: Mercedes C300

I was astounded. 

And so was he frankly. He hates the car. Doesn't know why he bought it two weeks ago. 

Wishes he had his BMW back. Gets more looks in this car then the BMW. Prefers to not be so flashy and is not sure what his intention was when he bought it used with 40,000 miles on it. 

It got me thinking.....

Did he buy for the iconic Mercedes symbol?