Car Mama

Teen Driving: Navigating the Permit Requirements

2017-04-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

I wrote this when our son was 15 years, 7 months old. That means he was old enough to get his learner's permit so that he can practice driving while I practice patience. And praying. I'm sure I'll do a lot of praying while he's driving. I got my learner's permit 29 years ago and I only remember how excited I was. I don't remember the process, but I don't think it was this difficult.

We live in California (which might be part of the problem), and Drivers Education is not part of the high school curriculum. I took Drivers Ed one summer and passed all of my tests with flying colors (not surprising, I was a car lover back then, too). Now kids and parents have to find an online Drivers Ed course, complete all of the lessons, pass the test, and get an official certificate to take to the DMV to take another test to get the permit. Are you as confused as I am?

In August, I spent hours on the California Department of Motor Vehicles website reading all about teen drivers, requirements, restrictions, and risks. I just wanted to find the answer to: What does my teen do to get a learner's permit? I found the checklist, but the links still led to confusing statements. For example, how can a teen apply for their permit with "Certificate of Completion of Driver Education and Driver Training"? Don't they need the permit to take the driver training? So confusing.

I finally got the answer from our neighbor who has a daughter the same age as our son. Her instructions: Get a Groupon to get a discount on an online course; get a DMV appointment ASAP (before your child has completed an online course) because they go fast; have kid study. Thank goodness for those parents who go before us and share their knowledge!

I got the Groupon, showed our son the website, he set up his account, and I left him to it. I didn't offer any help other than offering to quiz him if he wanted me to. I tried to set up his DMV appointment to get the permit but again couldn't decipher the language on the DMV website. My husband accused me of thinking too hard and therefore making it more difficult than it need be. He set up an appointment for October 27th after school. Our son did all the reading, watched the videos, took the chapter quizzes, and passed the online test on the second try at 8:00 PM on October 26th. He was so excited. And then he got the confirmation email from the testing website that said he should call the DMV to make an appointment once he receives his official completion certificate in the mail. What now? They're going to mail us a certificate? We can't just print it out and take it to the DMV and get his damn permit? That part wasn't clearly explained to us.

So we're waiting for the certificate. We also have to get an official form from the DMV (via mail or by going to the DMV in person to pick it up because printed off the website is not acceptable) and both parents have to sign it. And we have to locate his Social Security card and birth certificate, as well as show proof of good oral hygiene and have a California State flag autographed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Good grief.

Each of our united states has different requirements. I found a chart on the IIHS website that is helpful for ages and some restrictions but won't give you all the details. You'll need to go to your state's DMV website or ask an experienced neighbor. Keep in mind that the laws do change and they may not be the same as when you got your license.

So here's what I learned:

Find a Groupon or other discount coupon for online driver's education (unless your child's school offers classes).
Learn to navigate your state's DMV website.
Make an appointment for your child to take the permit test at the DMV. Put some thought into this date. (In California it's a test about the laws and signs.)
Get your child set up with online drivers ed course. Give them a solid deadline to finish and pass the test at least two weeks before their DMV appointment to allow for the certificate to be mailed to you.
Gather all required documents, signatures, and certificates to take to DMV appointment.
Set up a swear jar and find a lucky totem to carry with you at all times.

Best of luck to us all!

He'd rather be fishing. So would I.

2007 Audi Q7 Update: 104,000 Miles and Going Strong

2017-03-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

As I type this, I'm keeping my fingers crossed (typing with crossed fingers is difficult, maybe I'll cross my toes). I'm not usually superstitious, but I'm sitting in the local Audi dealership while my 2007 Q7 (with 104,300 miles on it) is in the service center getting new brakes, a new brake light, a recall repair, and hopefully a good bill of health. I love my Q7 and I don't want anyone to say anything derogatory about it, especially a service tech after he looks under the hood. Those types of conversations are expensive. I do have a "Mature Audi" coupon to get 10% off this service, so there's that. I'm mature driving a mature Audi. Damn. This day is starting to get rough.

We bought this Q7 as a Certified Pre-Owned (used) vehicle in 2011 when it had

Still going strong in the snow in 2016

33,000 miles on it. (First review here.) It was in great shape and has carried us safely through rain, snow, wind, heat, and rush hour. Most of those 71,000 miles are highway miles, and besides a few summer road trips, we mainly use it in the winter to get us to Lake Tahoe for skiing. When I think about it, we really haven't had to do much to the Q7 in these six years. Like the rest of our family, it plays hard and it works hard, and when it's clean and well-fed, it's beautiful and calm.

There are a few drawbacks to having a ten-year-old vehicle. Our Q7 doesn't have Bluetooth or USB ports for easy phone charging or podcast listening. It does have Sirius/XM satellite radio, but no Pandora. I love Pandora, so this is a bummer during those long trips to and from Lake Tahoe. I would also like cooled/ventilated seats. We have four heated seats that work very well, but some days a well-timed breeze on my back would be so refreshing.

Why am I writing about a ten-year-old SUV? Basically to let you know that I wasn't a dummy to buy this Certified Pre-Owned Q7 in 2011. And I haven't been a dummy to keep it this long. It's a great SUV. It gets the job done and still looks stylish, feels safe, and is as solid as the day it was built. There have been a few repairs, but nothing major. I found a great local mechanic who gives it check-ups and replaced the gas cap when it failed a smog check. (The smog check place should have done the same, but instead suggested my Q7 needed some new valves according to the warning code. Turns out it was just a $10 gas cap.) We did replace the defroster/AC fan that is located behind the glove box after it started squeaking and suddenly stopped working during a frosty drive home from the mountains. A drive that reminded us of the Toyota Tercel we drove as newlyweds that couldn't keep the windows clear once the temp dropped below 40 degrees F. The Q7 fan is located in a tricky spot so that repair cost a few hundred dollars.

The screen on the big sunroof still works

The only other issues are a broken latch for the screen for the third-row sunroof and the gear shift leather needs conditioning. The sunroof screen isn't a big deal since we rarely sit in the third row -- I'm the only one in the family who comfortably fits there now -- but it's nice to have when we need it. And we really appreciate the extra cargo space when the third row is folded flat. My kids are now 17 (5'10' tall) and 12 (5'5" tall) and they still sit comfortably in the backseat. Oh, I also think the driver's door speaker has a wire loose, but the other speakers are working, so we ignore that.

Now I sit and wait for the prognosis from the service center with the same feeling of hope and dread as one does while waiting for news from a doctor or auditor. To distract myself, I cheated and took a brand new 2017 Q7 out for a spin. It was lovely. Beautiful. Smooth. Smart. Everything you would want in a new vehicle. I wonder if my old Q7 will smell the new leather on my jeans and give me the third-degree like our dog does when we come home from mingling with other dogs.

UPDATE: My Q7 just needed new brakes. Front and back. Rotors and pads and sensors. No biggie, right? (EEEEK!!) I elected to have a local mechanic install brakes which I bought online. This saved us about $1000, which isn't a shocker. Just be forewarned, there is a special tool needed for the rear brakes on Audis so make sure your mechanic has one or can easily get one before taking your Audi in for service.

The Boy's Bug

So there you have it. Our 2007 Audi Q7 is running well and still keeping us happy with 104,000 miles. So if you're asking if spending a big chunk of change on an Audi Q7 is a wise idea, keep in mind that it may outlast your need for such a large SUV. My 17-year-old son does drive the Q7 occasionally, but he prefers to drive his 2008 VW Beetle. He finds the Q7 to be too much to handle with his skill level, but I'm sure he'll get used to as he drives more. Not that I want him driving my Q7. I am babying it a bit with leather oil and soft cloths for dusting inside and out. I was online today looking for a soft cover to keep the pollen and sap off of it while it sits in our driveway. (The teens took over the garage as a rec room --complete with a broken down couch and a TV with PlayStation -- and now all three cars sit in the driveway. We are way too nice.)

Get a Grip, Wherever You Are

2015-10-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

In a yoga class last week, Daniel, our teacher, led us through a series of deep leg stretches. He kept saying, "Get a grip, wherever you are." On the surface, he meant to hold on to our legs, whether that was our ankles or our knees. But it meant so much more.

"Get a grip." We use this phrase to tell people to calm down, to get in touch with reality, or to get some perspective. It's not often received as a positive phrase; more often we hear it when someone is exasperated with us.

"Get a grip, wherever you are," is a much gentler phrase. It reminds us to keep perspective, or regain

Image from
www.dailyperricone.com

perspective, and accept where we are in our journey today. Today. Not tomorrow, not next year, and certainly not yesterday, but today. I need this reminder more often lately. I need to come to grips with my kids getting older and pushing for more autonomy, but still needing me; with the likelihood of our son not getting accepted to our alma mater; with the detours in my career path; with my aching knee and squishy belly; and with my cluttered office. Get a grip.

I have a wonderful family, a house, a car, an income, and we are all healthy. It may not be the house of my dreams or a new car or the wealth I would like, but it is all fine. In the big picture, I'm fine. We're fine, and in so many ways we're thriving.

Today in class, Daniel asked us to stretch and bend and get uncomfortable. He instructed us on Plow Pose. Plow Pose is uncomfortable for me both physically and mentally; I allowed all sorts of negative thoughts into my mind today. And just when I was feeling the lowest of my morning practice, Daniel asked us to sit up and practice self-acceptance. He asked that we embrace our whole selves, even those "problem" areas that we usually grumble about: our knees, our midsections, our legs. Embrace my whole self and body and accept it all and be kind. How did he know? Did he see me scowl at my belly rolls that were threatening to suffocate me in Plow Pose? Did he see me wince at my stubborn stiff hip in Pigeon Pose? I guess it doesn't matter why Daniel led us to a place of self-acceptance. It does matter that I went there and felt release and love for myself and almost cried because I am often so hard on myself.

Today I will continue to work on my grip. I will accept where I am today, and I will accept where my kids and husband are today. I will love myself as I should. And wherever you are, I hope you get a grip, too.

Car Mama Cooks: Easy Homemade Applesauce

2014-10-14T13:42:00.001-07:00

The weather is finally changing from hot summer to cooler autumn. Yesterday the searing hot sun drove our temperatures up to 90 degrees, today it's overcast, drizzly and the high temp will likely be around 66. I love it. Time to cook, bake, and drink hot drinks! We recently picked a ton of fresh apples, but because of the hot weather I didn't want to bake the apple cake I'm craving, so I made applesauce instead. (Two weeks later and I'm still craving a warm, gooey slice of apple cake.)

U-Pick Saturday

Beautiful Chileno Valley

In September, my mom came for a visit (from Iowa) and we had several gorgeous fall days that weren't too hot. One Saturday we headed to Chileno Valley Ranch in western Marin County for their U-Pick Weekend. Any road from Highway 101 to any western destination in Marin or Sonoma County is fun -- the roads are hilly, curvy, narrow, and lined with trees, cows, or vineyards. Quite a few car commercials are filmed on these roads. I put my Q7 in Sport mode and pretended I was in an Audi commercial while my kids talked non-stop to my mom.

Chileno Valley Ranch is beautiful, and the owners are wonderful. Sally is a Master Gardener and it shows in the flowers and trees all over the property. They have several varieties of heritage apple trees (I can't remember the names) that were planted with apple-picking in mind. Therefore, it was easy for the kids to pick $30 worth of apples.

Pick-a-peck

The Rams

"I lost a bracket from my braces."

Chileno Valley Lamb & Very Pregnant Ewe

If you haven't ventured out to pick apples yourself, I encourage you to do so. The kids loved the whole experience (especially finding wormy apples), and sneaking bites from freshly picked apples before they were weighed. (I think we all ate one apple in the orchard before our bags were weighed. Sorry, Sally.) Once our apples were weighed, we took our cores and threw them to the rams and then went on a little tour of the ranch. We spent time watching the ewes and crooning over the lambs. I turn into a softy around lambs and puppies. Lambs and puppies could convince me to do anything.

Chileno Valley Ranch Home

When we got home, my mom made an apple pie. Two days later, she made an apple crisp. And then she left and we still had apples. The kids ate them for lunch and snacks, but I had to come up with something that was easy, wheat-free (husband doesn't eat wheat), and didn't require the oven: Applesauce. My brother makes applesauce all the time and he gave me this easy recipe. (Please keep in mind that this is my first recipe post, and the first use of my new iPhone camera, so it isn't exactly what you're used to.)

Homemade Applesauce
Apples
Water or Apple Cider
Cinnamon Sticks (optional)
Cloves (optional)
Ground Cinnamon (optional)
Grated Nutmeg (optional)

Step 1: Peel apples. I peeled about 10 apples of various sizes and varieties, some were tart, some were sweet. (Try to keep the peel in one long ribbon to impress your kids.) Some people include the peel--it's all up to your preferences for texture and color. (Red-skinned apples will make pink sauce.)

Step 2: Core and slice. I just used a paring knife, but you can use one of those apple-corer things. No need for uniform sizes or perfect anything. You just want apples without seeds and stems.

Real apples with real blemishes.

Step 3: Add water and spices. In a pot on the stove, add apple slices, about 1/2 inch of water (or apple cider), and several cinnamon sticks and a few cloves if you want to. No need to add sugar unless the apples are super tart or you like things super sweet. Turn the heat to medium-low and cover.

Step 4: Cook. Let apples break down for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to check the mushiness level (technical term). Turn the heat down to simmer and let it all soften for another 30 minutes. Stir a few times to make sure it isn't burning. Keep it covered.

Step 5: Mash or puree. Once sauce reaches the desired texture, turn off heat. Remove the cinnamon sticks and cloves from the pot, and then mash up the apples. I use our potato masher because I like chunky sauce and I don't like to wash extra dishes. If you want a smoother texture, use a food mill, a blender, or a food processor.

Step 6: Taste. If you would like more cinnamon flavor, add some ground cinnamon. If you like nutmeg, add some nutmeg. I happened to have whole nutmeg so I grated a pinch in along with some extra cinnamon. Stir it all together and you're done. Serve warm (yum) or refrigerate.

Step 7: Store. I put my sauce in a large mason jar and put it in the refrigerator. The jar isn't properly sealed for long-term storage, so we're eating it within a few weeks. If you want to keep the sauce for a few months, you'll need to take the time to can it. You can easily find solid instructions online, or you can ask your dad, mom, grandma, or anyone who knows the mechanics of canning.

Easier Than Pie

Making applesauce at home is incredibly easy, and is a fun way to get the kids to help out in the kitchen (and then sneak out and leave them to clean up). I have fond memories of watching my mom and grandma peel apples (expertly peeled into one long ribbon), slice them against their thumbs (No cuts!), and then make the best apple pies and crisps. The apple cake I want to make involves shredding the apples--I guess it's time to get out my box grater and get busy!

My first serving of this applesauce was over plain Greek yogurt. It was the perfect blend of cold, tart yogurt and warm, sweet apple. This was easy, the applesauce was delicious, the house smelled like apple-cinnamon goodness, and I had only five things to wash, but beautiful memories of apple picking with my kids and my mom.

(I showed my husband this post and he immediately asked, "What's Car Mama cooking for dinner?" Guess I better get to the store...)

Please Share

How do you like to prepare, eat, or serve your applesauce? And what great apple recipes do you make in the fall?

West Coast Summer Road Trip

2014-07-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

We're going on a road trip this summer. Two kids, two parents, and a car full of shtuff. We're driving from Marin County, California to Pt. Townsend, Washington. It'll be great. It'll be fun. I'm sure I'll lose my mind by the time we hit the Oregon border.

A house full of family and friends awaits us in Pt. Townsend. We'll have a family reunion as well as visit the free-flowing Elwha River to celebrate my late Uncle Russ and the work he did to get the two dams on the Elwha River removed. I wish he could join us. We'll drink good wine, eat fresh salmon, and laugh in his honor.

I've already made one sanity-saving decision: The dog will NOT be going with us. He's going to Grandma's house here in California. More fun for him, less dog hair and panting for me.

We're still ironing out a few details about route, stops, and number of days to drive the 830 miles. Listed below are some of the things we know we must do on our trip north.

Must Do List:
* Visit Voodoo Donuts in Portland, OR
* Find a good wine store before arriving in Pt. Townsend, WA (must come prepared)
* Fish, fish, fish (the activity of fishing and the consumption of fish)
* Explore every nook and cranny of Fort Worden State Park in Pt. Townsend
* Remain in good spirits as much as possible

Hmmm. It appears that I need to start planning in earnest.

Please help! Here is our route map; what are some other Must Dos for us?

Relevant Info: Our kids are 14 and 10 years old and are accustomed to staying in the car for 3-6 hours at a time. We all like good food (no Happy Meals here) and comfy beds. We can take two or three days to drive from here to there.

Our trip home will take a detour to Lake Almanor in California, and we'd like to mix up the drive a bit through Oregon. Here is the return route map that I like today. What do you think?

Our time at Lake Almanor will involve fishing, swimming, reading, eating, and drinking. I doubt I'll have any desire to get in the car and explore after so many hours of driving, but if my family does, where should they explore in Northeastern California?

Thank you, friends. I'm so overwhelmed by packing for this road trip. I think I'll grab a pint of ice cream, a good book, and go hide in my closet until we leave. (But I'll read all comments and suggestions via my phone in the dark.)

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

How Do You Baby Your Car?

2014-06-20T07:55:00.002-07:00

Yes, this Subaru is in our driveway.
Photo: Erika JN Fish

We have two vehicles and a one-and-one-half-car garage. I've always wondered about the size of our garage; it's wider than a one-car, but not wide enough for two. Our house was built in the 1960s when cars were long and wide. So maybe this was considered a one-car garage back then. Now it's just a weird size. I refer to it as our one-car-and-a-moped garage because that's all that will fit once we hang up our bikes and all those reusable Trader Joe's bags.

One Car, Two Car, Clean Car, Poo Car

Shiny, Happy Q7
Photo: Erika JN Fish

This is really a post about how I don't baby my cars. With kids and dogs and work, I just push that chore down the list. I have neighbors who baby their cars; washing and waxing and polishing headlights. I'll add "regularly wash and polish cars" to my list of Things I Really Ought To Do.

I wish we had room in the garage for both cars because one car will be in the driveway and I just can't be bothered to keep both of them all sparkly clean at the same time. I baby my favorite vehicle (Q7) and let it stay in the garage, while my second-favorite vehicle (Prius) gets to sit in the driveway under an oak tree that hosts a million of birds. We try to keep the garaged SUV washed and vacuumed, but it's our ski car and therefore spends most of the winter muddy both inside and out. We do wash and vacuum the Q7 and get the undercarriage washed as often as possible in the winter, but it isn't as often as we'd like. Once spring comes the SUV sits nice and pretty in the cool garage waiting for our next trip. The only babying the Q7 needs now is some leather conditioner around the gear shift. One of my favorite things about this Q7 is that it cleans up easily and sparkles like new after every wash -- even the washes we do at home.

I do feel sorry for the Prius, but it's a good-natured little car that never

Doesn't look exciting, but it is!
H2O at Home Mitt
Photo: H2O at Home

complains. I suppose I could buy a car cover, but as noted above, I can't be bothered. Tomorrow, my daughter and I plan to drive it onto our drought-stricken lawn and give it a good wash. We use a nifty hand mitt that gently scrubs the surface but doesn't require any soap. We also have some towels specifically for windows that work really well to keep them spot-free, and we have extra-absorbent towels to use to dry off the body quickly. (All of these items are from H2O at Home.) I let my kids vacuum and dust the inside of the Prius. I make it sound like a privilege so they get overly excited to get started. Occasionally I pay them, but they really should pay me.

Do Car Thieves Like Clean or Dirty Cars?

Dropcam Video Camera
Photo: Cnet

I hope car thieves like clean cars and therefore won't like my dirty grey Prius that sits in the driveway. It's always locked with the windows rolled up, and I imagine it just doesn't look very appealing with all that bird poop on the roof. My husband and I are careful to keep all valuables out of the car, but soon our son will be driving and I have a good idea of all the junk he's going to leave in whichever car he drives. It's going to drive me crazy. Hopefully he won't leave the keys in the car.

When I was a kid in rural Montana, I think everyone left their keys in their vehicles. And usually in the ignition. Times have changed, and leaving keys in the ignition just isn't a good plan anymore no matter where you live. (Like it ever was.) But we all had yard lights and dogs, and I don't remember anyone having their pickup stolen.

Other than locking our cars, what other ways can we thwart car thieves?

Lug Nut Protector
Photo: The Club

Naturally, I have some brilliant ideas:

Motion-sensor lights that light up your driveway or parking spot
Alarm systems (on vehicles and in garages)
Security cameras
Tire boots (be sure to protect your lug nuts)
The Club for steering wheels
Parking under a streetlamp
Install a gate at the end of your driveway to keep the riff-raff out or in (depends on your circumstances)
Take all of the valuables out of the vehicle
Plaster the windshield with fake parking tickets
Sell your car and buy a bike with panniers

My son has some of those fake parking tickets which he used liberally a few years ago when we had a party. Our friends walked out of our house and were shocked to find parking tickets on their cars that were parked in our driveway. Some of them didn't think it was that funny, so be sure to pick your pranks wisely.

The inspiration for this post came from Dropcam and a blogging campaign they are running. They're interested in hearing your tips on how to keep your vehicles safe and sound. You can also visit the new Home Security section on their site. And questions can go to tpham@dropcam.com. (I did not receive compensation for this post.)

Please tell us: How do you baby your car? How do you keep it safe? But more importantly, how do you teach your teenagers to keep their cars clean and safe?

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

2014 Toyota Highlander Limited: Home Run for Families

2014-06-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

Photo: Toyota

Toyota hit a home run with the new 2014 Highlander. This family-friendly SUV has everything a family on-the-go requires, plus a few extras that we don't need, but we sure do appreciate. This Highlander is quiet, powerful, and roomy with interior materials that please the hand and the eye.

Toyota obviously listened to consumers when they designed and built the new

Animal! Animal! (That's a lot of cargo space.)
Photo: Patrick Wymore/Toyota

Highlander. I described earlier versions of the Highlander as having interiors that felt and looked cheap. There was too much textured plastic hardscape, and the third row was so uncomfortable I felt mean putting my whiniest kid back there. The exterior design was a bit boring after a few years, so this refresh with the "No Room for Boring" tagline was needed. The 2014 model has a new design outside and is way more comfortable inside. If you don't trust me, then trust The Muppets.

Highlights:

LE Plus, XLE & Limited have powerful V6 engines
LE has 4-cylinder engine with pep
Comfortable third row that splits 60/40
Quiet inside the cabin; very little road noise
Second row captain's chairs available in Limited
Seats 7 or 8 people
LATCH for 3 or 4 car seats
Panoramic sunroof available
Giant concealable storage space between front seats
Quick turn signal for lane changes
19 MPG city/25 MPG highway for the V6 engine
Standard Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEVII) (Hybrid not available)
AWD on this Limited Platinum (Standard Front Wheel Drive)
Price of test vehicle: $45,070

Champagne Wishes and Platinum Dreams

Photo: Toyota

Well, maybe not quite that fancy, but I did drive the Highlander Limited Platinum edition which has everything except a massage chair. You know, only the best for this mom. (Just kidding. I don't have the best of everything; I haven't bought new shoes for myself in a year.) (My kids, on the other hand, have sweet new Nikes.) Many parents say they "live" in their vehicles after picking the kids up from school and you wouldn't mind living in the Limited Platinum Highlander. This is a great family hauler that has comfort and style.

Panoramic Sunroof
(c) Erika JN Fish

This Limited Platinum Highlander didn't have a DVD player because it had a huge, panoramic sunroof, which could be a bummer for some families. But I think it all works out since most of us have iPads (or equivalent) that our kids use on long car rides anyway. If you're moving from a minivan that has a DVD player with screen for the kiddos and want the same in your Highlander, a Blue-ray Disc (TM) system with 9-inch screen, remote and two wireless headphones is available in the XLE and Limited models. Or you can save some money, get creative, and MacGyver a tablet-holding device with duct tape and bungee cords. This could morph into a cool school project.

The Platinum Package does include the Driver Technology Package that has Safety Connect (R), a Pre-Collision warning system that has Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, and automatic High Beam Headlights. Which means if you're distracted by a flying stuffed animal from the back seat and drift into another lane or forget to brake, all sorts of beeps and lights will jolt you back to paying attention. The panoramic sunroof, heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel, and second-row captain's chairs are also part of this fancy-pants package.

Third Row Delivers
I really dislike the third row in my friend's older Highlander, so I crawled to the way-back first thing before my test drive. It was comfy. This third row has reclining seats and more butt cushioning than previously, even if it is a bit tight for anyone over 5'2" tall (meaning everyone but me). The second row seats have plenty of room to travel forward and back, so getting in and out of the third row is easy. The Limited edition has captain's chairs with this little airplane bulkhead-style table with cup holders that flips up and down easily so your kids can use the "aisle."

Easy Access to 3rd Row
(c) Erika JN Fish

2nd Row Table
(c) Erika JN Fish

Driver's Rule

2014 Highlander Dash. Photo: Toyota

The ride was quiet and comfortable.
In fact, I was surprised at how quiet the interior was when the windows were up. Obviously well-insulated and, according to a sales person I asked, the glass is thicker as well. The controls are very driver-oriented and fairly easy to figure out. There is ample storage for the driver including a HUGE section in the center console that will hold a purse, camera bag, iPad, lunch box, secret stash of Swedish Fish, water bottles, etc. (See photos below.) The USB port is easy to access and there is a nice shelf to hold your phone, iPod, or MP3 player. The designers did a nice job throughout.

This Highlander is easy and fun to drive. I thought it had nice acceleration, gentle braking, and an all-around solid feel. The turning radius is good for a 3-row SUV, which means it's easy to park in tight lots and easy to make U-turns when you see that perfect parking spot.

While the new Highlander isn't boring, it also isn't too flashy. It's a solid SUV that deserves a look. Take one out for a drive. Test the LATCH system, have a kid crawl in the way-back. Test the seats: sit on them, fold them, slide and tilt. I'm impressed. I have a nice Audi SUV, but if I was in the market for a new SUV, I would seriously consider the Highlander. More specifically, I would consider the Highlander Limited Platinum edition -- I like panoramic sunroofs and cooled seats.

Command Center
(c) Erika JN Fish

Open Shelf Under Dash
Photo: Toyota

Front USB Port & Shelf
(c) Erika JN Fish

2nd Row Climate Controls
(c) Erika JN Fish

3rd Row with Recline
Photo: Toyota

Cargo Area
Photo: Toyota

"Secret" Compartment
Photo: Toyota

Ta Da!
Photo: Toyota

Thank you to Novato Toyota for giving me the keys and answering all of my questions.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Compliments Mean More Than You Realize

2014-06-02T13:13:00.004-07:00

My sweeties in 2008.

I just received the nicest compliment and I feel like I'm gliding through the afternoon. The compliment came from a mom I've never met who has two students at my son's middle school. She didn't compliment me on my hair, any perceived weight loss, or my beautiful Prius. She simply told me how kind and sweet my son is. As a parent, this is what I strive for: Happy children who are kind to others.

I rarely visit my son's middle school because I respect his wish to appear parent-less, and he's never in trouble, so we've not experienced the walk of shame to the vice principal's office. Today I went to school to give my son his lunch and his medicine (two antibiotics that are hopefully killing all the bacteria in his system including the ones that caused last weeks pneumonia). There were kids everywhere and I was trying to blend into the fence. A few yards away from us was a mom looking at her phone. Most of the other eighth graders were over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, and looked like college students. My son looked extremely short and thin, and I felt extremely short and old. My son took his pills, a PB&J, and a banana from me, thanked me, and walked away.

I start to leave when this mom says, "Is that your son?"

"Yes..." I reply, a little worried about what's coming next.

"Your son is so kind and sweet. I see him interacting with other students when I'm here, and he is always so nice to everyone."

I have no idea how long it took for me to close my mouth and thank this angel, but I did eventually squeak out a thank you. We exchanged a few pleasantries and then she drove off and I glided to my car.

Imagine that? A stranger took a pause in her busy day to tell me this. Wow. I don't think this happens very often in our go-go-go world; especially at the end of the school year. She could have walked by us and gone on her merry way, but she made a conscious effort to wait for me.

I know I have nice children, so why is this blog-worthy?

I'm impressed with the goodness of people. We are soaked in negativity, so when the good shines through, it's worth noting. Right now my life resembles a wagon wheel and I'm in the center, not knowing which path to choose. I have many options and many responsibilities, but all seem equally important. Where do I focus now? My kids are older and more independent, so I don't need to be home all day monitoring naps, playtime, and the Goldfish:veggie ratio. I've been home with our kids for 14 years. Just writing that causes my eye to twitch. I didn't plan on being a stay-at-home mom for 14 years, but here I am and I feel a little lost.

Do I give a little less time to my stay-at-home mom duties so that I can concentrate more on my social marketing business? Do I pull back on my hours of working so that I can blog more? Or should I get back to giving most of my attention to my kids, the dog, and the clutter that surrounds me?

The comment about my sweet son snapped me back to the center and affirmed that I am a good mom and that parenting has value for me and those I love. The last 14 years of the hard work, firm rules, tears, attention, and love are bearing fruit. My husband and I know that we have incredibly sweet, generous, fun children and now I know that other people see it too.

I know I'll continue to wobble and worry about my next path, but I will stop questioning my decision to stay home with my children. I'll stop berating myself for waiting so long to build a business; for letting my blogging wane; for devoting so much time to being the best mom I can be. I'll give myself a break when I make a mistake or need to ask for help.

I'm sure she doesn't know how much her comment means to me. Or maybe she does and someone took the time to tell her that she was sweet children. I'll be sure to take a moment to compliment mothers, fathers, teachers and anyone who deserves it. You just never know what it'll mean.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Time. It Just Takes Time

2014-03-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I came back to my blog last week with the intention of writing daily, and posting three or four times per week. Well...I guess I didn't solidify my goals very well. I realize now just how easy it is to let the housework, the kids, the dog, and the research take over. I allowed all those other things to take over for a year. I thought I'd conquered my issues with completing tasks and posts, but my 11 draft posts tell a different story.

Today I went to a Speak to Me Lunch & Learning event where a business coach talked about the steps we should take to get started on living outside our comfort zones. It was an excellent talk, with excellent points. I know that the "magic" happens in the doing. What I need to figure out now is how the laundry gets done and the dinners get cooked while I'm making the "magic" happen with my blog. I'm always doing, but I'm rarely completing.

The first goal for myself is to set up a schedule where I can start and finish tasks within a specified time. (Laundry washed, folded, and put away in one day; dishes in and out of the dishwasher before lunch; house vacuumed before the kids get home from school; blog updated Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before 2:00pm.) I'll add in yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and look for another class on Friday mornings. And I better not forget my volunteer time with my 4th grade math group on Monday mornings. Oh, Danny Boy. Oh boy, oh boy.

I want to make some money with my endeavors here, so I better work on some goals that get me to that larger goal. I hoped that I would have time to explore those goals today in this post, but my son needs me to take him to the mall to exchange some shoes that are a half size too big. And since I really, really, REALLY want to complete this post today, I'm going to stop here and ask that you help me figure out this get-er-done issue that I have. And by that I mean, How in the hell am I supposed to get this all done??

Oh yeah, my in-laws are coming over for dinner tonight. Thank goodness my husband is a good and willing cook, and I'll put the kids in charge of vacuuming and doing the dishes tonight. I'll be in charge of the wine and witty conversation.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Automotive Recall Round-up

2014-03-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

There have been a few automotive-related recalls in 2014. And by a few, I mean 4,843,405 vehicles, and 4,176,601 car or booster seats. Those numbers are crazy; they're too big. And now my head hurts.

Without the two huge GM recalls, the number would still be 2,299,852 recalled vehicles since February 10, 2014. Imagine if I were to add in all the motorcycles, trailers and RVs that are on the NHSTA list? It would be a number so big, I don't think my iPhone calculator could handle the addition.

Here is a list (current as of March 20, 2014) of vehicles that have recently been recalled. It's in alphabetical order by make or model so you can easily find your vehicle. I also included links so you can read the full NHSTA reports. If your vehicle was recalled, contact the manufacturer or a local dealer and get it fixed; you don't have to wait for the manufacturer to contact you.

I'm disturbed by a few of these recalls, but I have to say that the manufacture of over four million car seats with a potentially serious issue is mind boggling. How does one company miss a sticky buckle in it's Quality Control? That's a lot of sticky buckles. And how does that not make the national news? According to an article I read, Graco may add 1.8 million more car seats to the 4.2 million already recalled. WTH? The list of all the Graco car seats/booster seats that were recalled this year is at the bottom of this post. Scroll down for that list and links to the recall notices.

Vehicle Make, Model, Years Involved, Reason for Recall

Buick Enclave, 2008-2013; faulty side impact air bags and seat belt issues (Part of a larger GM recall)

Cadillac XTS sedans, 2013-2014; increased risk of fire due to potential corrosion of brake booster pump relay connector

Chevrolet Cobalt, 2005-2007; ignition switch issues that may turn off engine which may impede air bag deployment in a crash (Part of a larger GM recall)

Chevrolet Express, 2009-2014; increased risk of injury to front seat passengers (read this report; it involves injury if a front passenger is not wearing a seat belt)

Chrysler vehicles with certain Aisin World transmission models; there is a potential loss of power (1,330 total vehicles affected)

Chevrolet HHR, 2006-2007; ignition switch issues that may turn off engine which may impede air bag deployment in a crash (Part of a larger GM recall)

Chrysler Ram ProMaster, 2014; two separate recalls; potential brake fluid leakage; AND gas pedals that may get stuck

Chevrolet Traverse

Chevrolet Traverse, 2009-2013; faulty side impact air bags and seat belt issues (Part of a larger GM recall)

Dodge Durango, 2012-2013; "hard brake pedal feel" that may lengthen stopping distance

Fiat 500L, 2014; issues with gear not shifting properly in certain temperatures

GM Vehicles, 2008-2013; faulty side impact air bags and seat belt issues (Includes Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook)

GM Vehicles, 2003-2007; ignition switch issues that may turn off engine which may impede air bag deployment in a crash (Includes Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac G5, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Ion, and Saturn Sky)

GM Vans, 2009-2014; increased risk of injury to front seat passengers (read this report; it involves injury if you're not wearing a seat belt)
(Includes GMC Savana, Chevrolet Express)

GMC Acadia, 2008-2013; faulty side impact air bags and seat belt issues (Part of a larger GM recall)

GMC Savana, 2009-2014; increased risk of injury to front seat passengers (read this report; it involves injury if you're not wearing a seat belt)

Honda Odyssey minivans, 2005-2010; potential fuel leaks which could increase

risk of fire

Isuzu vehicles with certain Aisin World transmission models; there is a potential loss of power (1,330 total vehicles affected)

Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2012-2013; "hard brake pedal feel" that may lengthen stopping distance (Same as Dodge Durango)

Kia Sportage, 2014 (only those vehicles manufactured between September 2013-January 2014); incorrect tire pressure labels that could lead to tire damage

Lexus RX350, 2012-2013; various systems may become inoperative (i.e., ABS, stability and traction control)

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 2013; issues with improper wiring of driver side seat mounted air bags only with leather seats (733 total vehicles affected)

Nissan Frontier, 2012-2014; improper installation of circuit breaker which could lead to an electrical short

Pontiac G5, 2007; ignition switch issues that may turn off engine which may impede air bag deployment in a crash (Part of larger GM recall)

Pontiac Solstice, 2006-2007; ignition switch issues that may turn off engine which may impede air bag deployment in a crash (Part of larger GM recall)

Saturn Ion, 2003-2007; ignition switch issues that may turn off engine which may impede air bag deployment in a crash (Part of larger GM recall)

Saturn Outlook, 2008-2010; faulty side impact air bags and seat belt issues (Part of a larger GM recall)

Saturn Sky, 2007; ignition switch issues that may turn off engine which may impede air bag deployment in a crash (Part of larger GM recall)

Toyota Pruis

Toyota Highlander, 2014 (only those vehicles manufactured between November 2013-January 2014); issue with third row seat belt anchoring that may increase risk of injury in a crash

Toyota Prius, 2010-2014; potential damage to transistors related to high-operating temperatures

Toyota Rav4, 2012; various systems may become inoperative (i.e., ABS, stability and traction control)

Toyota Tacoma, 2012-2013; various systems may become inoperative (i.e., ABS, stability and traction control)

Car Seats/Booster Seats Recalls
All four million car/booster seats that were recalled were made by Graco. All have the same issue with the harness buckle not releasing, making it difficult to remove child quickly, especially in an emergency. Graco has redesigned the buckles for 2014 and beyond, but ask them if you have a newer seat. And be sure to keep those car seat buckles clean no matter what make and model you have. Recalls include the models listed below.

Manufactured 2009-2013:

Graco Argos 70

Argos 70
Classic Ride 50
Comfort Sport
Cozy Cline
My Ride 65
My Ride w/Safety Surround
My Ride 70
Nautilus
Nautilus Elite
Size 4 Me 70
Smart Seat

Manufactured 2006-2014:

Argos 70 Elite
Head Wise 70 with Safety Surround
My Ride 65 with Safety Surround
My Size 70
Nautilus 3-in-1
Nautilus Plus
Ready Ride
Smart Seat with Safety Surround
Step 2

I Was Lost

2014-03-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

It's time to get back to work. Ok, I admit that I "work" a bit everyday as a mother, homeowner, volunteer, and freelancer, but now I mean that it's time I got back into the groove of driving cars and writing about them. I took a year off from blogging because I got discouraged and was lost. Ironic that a person who loves to drive got lost.

There were some benefits to stepping away from my daily writing for a year, like a smaller waist, a more committed yoga practice, and some kickass Pinterest boards. But I could have made the same advances in my health while continuing to grow my blog readership (although all that pinning took work). The real benefit of my time off is acknowledging (yet again) that I'm still afraid of criticism and I'm still afraid to take some very valuable risks. That realization totally contradicts a few of my favorite quotes that I like to say to my kids, "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best." (Henry Van Dyke) As well as, "And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more."

So how risky is writing a blog about cars? Not very risky. But the more I put out

Found at http://youngfrankk.tumblr.com/
via Pinterest.

there into the blogosphere, and the more exposure I get, then the more opportunity for a challenge to come my way, or a disagreement from a reader. It's a very basic avoidance of confrontation. And now that I'm typing all this, it's also very embarrassing. Geez. Me and my first-world problems!

Back in March 2013 I got discouraged because I felt pressure to write a full car review every day, which I simply can't do. I can write something else every day, but not the thorough, thoughtful reviews that I like/want to write. So I threw a little tantrum, stomped my foot, and grabbed my laptop and went home. That's me, Miss Maturity. In the year off of regular writing, I started helping car dealerships with their social media efforts on a freelance basis, and I work weekends in marketing at my favorite ski resort near Lake Tahoe, but I haven't come up with any better plan for my work life than the one I designed four years ago with Car Mama. Imagine that, I actually had a good thing going and I got in my own way and tripped. Fortunately, this is my own blog of my own design, so I can tweak and come back just as easily as I quit.

There are many blogs and articles available on other sites that are devoted to showing how easy it is to make money with a blog, to have success, and be a professional blogger. I love all those ideas! But that isn't the reality of many writers and bloggers. It's time to be honest and share how I didn't make money with my blog. And I'll still drive cars and write about my experiences.

For now, I'm happy to be back on Car Mama. I'm excited and terrified to stick my neck out there, albeit a little bit at a time. Please join me on the next leg of my journey. I'll be posting more frequently to my Car Mama Facebook page, on Twitter (@car_mama), and here. I may need to back off on my Pinterest obsession, but do visit my boards - I have a great Quote Board.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Social Media Survival for Car Dealerships

2013-09-17T13:11:00.002-07:00

Engaging consumers through social media is important for both car companies and local dealerships.

What is social media?

Social media is digital networking. It’s done online, either on computers, phones or tablets. It’s quick, it’s short, and it’s targeted. Twitter, Facebook, Four Square, Pinterest, Google+, Yelp are the first that come to mind. Using social networking allows you to interact with customers before they come in to your dealership.

Why is social media important?

Most buyers (90%) use social sites and search engines to research car buying decisions. They also use social sites to complain about issues; and to let others know what they like and don't like.

Who's buying?

Gen X (ages 35-50) are buying now; Gen Y (ages 18-34) are 40% of buyers now; but will buy 75% of all new cars by 2025

Why is online social interaction important?

It seems obvious, but these can be a make-or-break interactions. You must be available when people want you -- 30 seconds is a long time to wait for Gen Y and Gen X; most of us have become accustomed to immediate interactions.

Dealerships who are nice, quick to respond, and offer valuable information are more likely to get the buyer to come in to drive a car. Consistency is key here. Buyers are fickle, and they can be loyal, although not as loyal as previous generations. If Dealership B has a better interaction online with a potential buyer than Dealership A, then it’s more likely that the buyer will visit Dealership B.

What content is important?

Funny, helpful, interesting, and relevant is always good for social networking. If you have a YouTube page, then post videos, share corporate ads, show how the mechanics are doing what they do, and then share links via Twitter and Facebook. Tell about sales, service specials, the latest article in a magazine -- always with links. Answer questions. Respond to issues. And do it all quickly.

Who should be in charge of social media?

The people who build the content, respond to the tweets, and interact digitally with buyers should be knowledgeable, kind, passionate, and on task all day. The only way to build up followers and interactions is to be there. Sporadic and lukewarm won’t cut it. You need a dedicated social networking staff to do it right. Ideally, someone should be watching the streams 24/7, but realistically, always during business hours, 10-7, Monday-Sunday. The person doesn’t have to be on-site, they just need a laptop and the ability to post to your Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ sites.

How does it get done?
Digital Media/Social Media software/apps are necessary to help wrangle the digital media world into one manageable spot. Apps like Hootsuite and SproutSocial have free trials and you pay for more robust systems as you grow. Scheduling posts is a good use of time, and such apps allow that.

Having someone who knows their way around a video camera and YouTube is essential. The 18-34 demographic is accustomed to visual interactions, watching rather than reading, and they like to see and listen to their news and information. So film it, post it, and link to it. Keep it clean of any date specifics and you can cycle back to videos throughout the year. Make it educational (how to sync a phone, how to install a car seat) and you’ve got something that others will share and talk about.

Engage consumers and tell stories. But make them short and to the point.
Engaging in social media/networking is no longer a choice -- it’s survival. The younger buyers will visit an average of 25 websites for research, and travel over 50 miles to get to the dealer they like and with whom they have engaged online. Your digital interactions can make you shine, or bring you down.

What successes have you had at the intersection of social media and car buying or research? Where do you look for information? And what do you want to get out of these interactions? Let's talk.

Sources: Time magazine and autonews.com

Tips for Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation

2013-03-06T11:47:00.001-08:00

(c)Car Mama

In my opinion, February was too warm in California. I'm not in the mood to ski, or make hot chocolate, or bake cookies. I'm in the mood for shorts and enjoying umbrella drinks by the pool. Our pool at home is about 37 degrees Fahrenheit so I'll skip that one and wait until April to dip my toes in the pools at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

That's right: this crazy family is headed back to WDW -- it's a long flight from San Francisco to Orlando and we'll miss a week of skiing. But our kids love it (even the newly-minted teenager), I love it (even though I'm a cynic), and my husband loves it (because he's just a big kid). Since my husband plans the vacations, we seem to go to Florida every-other year. To make this vacation different, we are starting with a Disney Cruise for the four of us and then meeting my parents in Orlando for another 7 days of fun. This will be my dad's first trip to WDW, so we hope he learns to reluctantly love it, too. (Our two adorable, charming children will certainly do their best to help him have fun.)

Pretty in Pink
(c)Car Mama

We were last at WDW in 2011 (when I reviewed a nice little Volvo S40). Our other trips were in 2006 with my mother-in-law (who let our daughter swim in the Polynesian hotel pool with a regular diaper and we all learned what "maximum absorbency" means). Our family went again in 2009 with my mother (her first visit) and had a great vacation. On the trip home, our son lost a school copy of James and the Giant Peach and his teacher wouldn't accept the new one we bought to replace it because it had different cover art. (Who knew that if cover art is different then the content is different as well?)

Since warm weather and walking 10 miles a day are on my mind, I feel compelled to share information gleaned from our Walt Disney World trip-planning mania and past experiences. Did I mention that my husband is an amazing trip planner and knows his way around some great discount gear sites?

First Things First: Do Your Research (and then do some more)

Wilderness Lodge. The geyser is a nice touch
(and doesn't smell like rotten eggs).
(c)Car Mama

It's not possible to have a really fun and complete Disney experience unless you do some serious research, planning, and make reservations. If it were a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of place, then there wouldn't be so many websites and books about how to plan your Disney vacation. So take the plunge, do some reading, check out the touring plans, and pick a few that suit your family.

If you're really not able to take the time to plan, or just have no idea what you're doing, use a Disney "Earmarked" Travel Agent -- they are specialists and know all the ins and outs, and ups and downs of a Disney vacation.

Here are a few of the helpful websites we use:

www.touringplans.com (also has app for smart phones called "Lines")
www.ourlaughingplace.com (transportation calculator)

www.kennythepirate.com (character meet and greet times/schedules)
www.disboards.com (Disney Forums)
www.disneyfoodblog.com (food/restaurant reviews and a few recipes)
www.easywdw.com (crowd calendars/crowd predictions)
www.mousesavers.com (comprehensive list of every single discount offered)

The book we use as a reference guide is The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.

Make a Plan and Work The Plan: Touring plans are a must at the Disney resorts -- there are too many people, too many attractions, and never enough time. My friends who traveled to WDW without a plan for each day were miserable and cut their Disney time short and went to a hotel on the beach instead. You must make a plan A and a plan B for each day, and then you must stick to the plan, yet be flexible if something unexpected happens. A WDW vacation requires flexibility -- not something most kids have.

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review
(c)Car Mama

Make Dining Reservations: No matter when you travel to WDW (or Disneyland), there will be thousands of other people with you. To make mealtimes a bit less stressful, call ahead 180 days and make reservations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This requires that you have a plan on where to go each day, but that's something you should plan well in advance as well (see above).

Go to The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review: This is a great show for the whole family at Fort Wilderness. Funny and good-natured in an air-conditioned venue with good food and pretty good Sangria. Totally worth it in my opinion.

We Roll with Carry-ons: Literally. Each person has a backpack and a perfectly-sized rolling carry-on from Costco. The suitcases can unzip and expand for our return trip, but we like to use the Ship-Your-Shit Home program (see below) so we can skip the slowest baggage unloading airport in the world: San Francisco. All the hotels have laundry rooms, our clothes are quick-dry, and who wants to wait at the Orlando airport upon arrival and miss one minute of the crowds, the giant turkey legs, and the pool-and-umbrella-drink time?

Typhoon Lagoon even has cool cars.
(c)Car Mama

To Rental Car or Not: We usually rent a car in Orlando to help us get around (perhaps a trip to Universal Studios, Hogwarts, and Sea World would be fun), and we've used the car to get us to Disney's two water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. But this year we're going to use Disney transportation all the way from arriving at the airport to departing on our last day. We'll see how that goes, but Disney has a great system of busses, boats, and the monorail to get us from one place to another, and we've decided to skip Universal Studios this year.

Dress In Bright Colors and Quick Dry Fabrics: We have some favorite brands and fabrics to deal with the humidity, potential thunderstorms, sun, and lack of packing space. Quick-dry fabrics are a must. We also opt to wear bright colors so we can easily spot one another within the crowds. On the last two trips the boys wore bright orange and the girls wore bright pink. This trip we're diversifying a bit on the colors because our daughter (8) hates pink and our son (13) now has opinions about his clothes and everything else.

Our favorite brands are: Patagonia, Columbia, Nike, Adidas, basically any sports-minded brand. The key is quick-drying material with names containing "cool," "dry/dri," or "wick." Another important article of clothing is quick-dry underwear -- something that doesn't hold water from Splash Mountain. You really don't want to be walking around in your quick-dry shorts that keep getting wet from your super-absorbent cotton skivvies.

Two or three swimsuits per person is also a good idea. We go to the hotel pool every afternoon, and also spend a few days at Disney's water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Since swimsuits can take a while to dry in Florida's humidity, it's good to have extras.

When good kids go bad.
(c)Car Mama

Another VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Check your shorts/pants before you go for see-thruness. I recommend skipping white or light colored see-thru-when-wet shorts or pants. (Just ask my mom about her sweet grandchildren singing, "I see Grandma's golden underpants!" after a ride on Splash Mountain.) (It's true. We could see all the details of her hotel keycard that was in her back pocket.)

Walk 10 Miles per Day in My Shoes: Our preferred shoe brands keep our toes protected, but have some holes to let water out and air in. All of us wear classic Keens or Ahnu sandals, as well as Teva or Chaco. Our water socks this year are "Drainsocks" from Columbia. We find that water socks/shoes are essential for those hot walkways at the water parks. Who wants burning feet? We also take running shoes with good support that are broken-in so that blister potential is limited. I usually have New Balance tennies with bungie laces for easy on/off, and our son loves his Nike Free Runs. I'm also going to bring a pedometer to see if we really do walk 10 miles every day. My mom will bring her Fitbit.

Socks: Smart Wool works best for us. They are short and thin, dry quickly and are anti-microbial, which means they don't stink like cotton socks. I also find that my feet get oddly cold and clammy in cotton socks -- a feeling that is rather distracting.

One of the many Disney
transportation options.
(c)Car Mama

Swim Shirts/Rash Guards: These help in two ways: The good ones are UPF rated so they protect agains sunburn on shoulders and backs; and they keep you cool even when it's hot. I get so cold when wearing a rash guard, that I have to wrap up in a warm towel. Sometimes our kids whine for hours about being cold when it's 90 and sunny. They take off their rash guards and they're fine. We have both long and short-sleeved just to cover all bases and any sunburned arms.

Hats and Sunglasses: Something to protect eyes and delicate ears. I like hats with chin straps so they don't fly off when I'm riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But my kids and husband like baseball caps. We hardly ever wear our personalized Mickey Mouse ears in the parks; they're too precious. As for sunglasses, I buy good ones for the kids at REI or Sierra Trading Post that have UVA and B protection; and I like polarized lenses for better color representation. We also buy Croakies for the kids so we can secure those sunglasses to their sweet little faces.

3-out-of-4 riders find
Expedition Everest fun.
(The other rider clearly
finds it terrifying.)
(c)Car Mama

Photo Pass/Photo Pass+: We take a lot of photos while on vacation, and we usually end up buying the funny photos from the rides, but we also really appreciate the great photographers that Disney employs throughout all the parks. I'm usually the one taking pictures, so I'm never in any vacation pictures. By using Disney's Photo Pass (now there is Photo Pass+ that we've already pre-ordered), we get a few great family photos to use on the annual Christmas card, to print and frame and display, and to add to the digital photo album that clogs up my computer.

Disney Dollars: This past year my husband learned that you can buy Disney Dollars gift cards at Target and use your Target Red Card to get the gift cards at 5% off. Saves a few bucks, and when you're spending a butt-load on a vacation, every dollar saved is worth the extra effort.

Getting Your Loot Home: When we're at WDW or Disneyland, we utilize the deliver-to-my-hotel program at the Disney shops so we aren't carrying around bags of t-shirts and mugs. We have also used Disney's very effective ship-home program. You package up your loot and Disney sends it home for you. This saves us in several ways: we don't need to check any luggage on the way home, breakable items can stay well-packed in bubble wrap and cardboard, and we don't have to unpack everything on our first day back home. Packages shipped from the resort take a few days to get to our house. Just enough time for the kids to forget about their new Mickey bobble-heads and be super excited when they arrive. Also a good option for any gifts you don't want the kids to see before birthdays/Christmas/etc.

On the floor in my office is a big plastic bin labeled "Disney World." It's our drop zone for things we don't want to forget to pack. Right now it contains moleskin, croakies, band-aids, and a few pairs of water shoes. I'll start packing the suitcases next week now that winter has returned and we don't need our shorts and flip flops.

Enjoy your trip!

All photos (c) Car Mama.

Car News: It's Super Bowl Commercial Time!

2013-01-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

It's Super Bowl time in the US and that's about all we're hearing about in our local San Francisco Bay Area news this week. This is the time of year when many of us are planning to overeat, wear elastic-waist warm-up pants all day, and shop for our next vehicle.

(Continue reading to view commercials.)

Wait. Shop for cars? On Super Bowl Sunday? That's what many auto makers are hoping. Based on the number of car commercials and the expense of those commercials, it isn't hard to figure out that auto makers are spending big to bring customers in to dealerships in 2013. These ads make big promises as well: bravery, happiness, allure, sophistication, and attention-grabbing good looks. The business of selling cars is a very BIG business indeed.

The first Super Bowl 2013 commercials I saw were from Audi and VW. They also "leaked" their commercials last year before Super Bowl Sunday and got more views online than number of viewers who saw the commercials on TV. I did receive an email from Toyota saying "click here to sneak a peek at our Super Bowl commercial," but when I clicked through to their website, there were several purple genie ads, so I'm not sure which one they were referring to in the email.

Audi "Prom" -- I understand that there are three different endings and you cast your vote for your favorite on the Audi America website on February 3rd.

VW "Get In. Get Happy." -- My favorite line: "Da land of ten tousand lakes. Da gopher state!" You rarely hear reference to Minnesota's third nickname.

Mercedes-Benz, Kate Upton & a dirty CLA -- It doesn't matter much if some think this commercial is too sexy for family viewing, the over 5.5 million views on MBUSA's Youtube channel are drowning out any dissenting voices. (However, when I see Kate Upton, I just want a hamburger with jalapeños.)

Toyota's RAV4 Genie -- There are two purple genie commercials I found. Nothing too exciting. I'm certainly not fond of the dementor-esque witches flying around at the end.

Fiat seems to have a few ads in store for us this Sunday. If it's this one, Kate Upton won't be the only topic of conversations on Monday.

I also found Doritos and Coca-Cola commercials, but I'll wait to post those when I start my junk food blog. (And I'll be sure to include our beef chili recipe.)

Happy Super Bowl Week!

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Bring on Winter! 11 Winter Driving Tips

2012-12-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

Winter is here! Or it'll soon be here. Or will hopefully start soon.

I love winter. I love the snow, the frost, and the cold, dry air. One of my favorite things is being outside on a clear, cold day and having my nostrils freeze together with each intake of breath. Makes me feel alive!

Driving in the snow and ice takes special care, and should never be done with complacency. Even if we have four-wheel drive, snow tires, or chains, we all must continue to drive with great caution and awareness. Don't forget: You are not invincible, but someone else on the road thinks they are.

Plowed street, Truckee, CA
(c) 2010 Car Mama

1) Pay attention to weather reports.
I used to tease my dad about watching The Weather Channel all the time, but I'm more understanding now that I drive to the mountains regularly in the winter. As a farmer and a skier, weather forecasts will forever be something my dad needs to know. One of my favorite weather websites is Intellicast. It's also a great idea to find a local weather blogger to distill all the technical mumbo jumbo into every-day language. (In the winter, we read the Tahoe Loco Weather Geek every day.)

2) Take the advice of more experienced, local drivers. (i.e., the old guys at the local coffee shop or tire store)
Just because you can afford to drive a nice all-wheel-drive SUV, doesn't mean you know how to drive that SUV; especially on slippery roadways. Do everyone a favor and ditch the ego and learn how your vehicle responds in the snow and ice, and how to handle spinouts. Go to an empty parking lot that has snow and ice and test it out. Check with the local police or driving school to see if they have a winter practice course. Practice putting on your chains before you head to the ski hill. Read up on traction control, stability control, ABS, shifting into 4WD, and please find your fog lights.

Got Snow?
Snow drifts along driveway in Truckee, CA
(c) 2010 Car Mama

3) Always drive with your headlights AND taillights on.
I abide by this even on sunny days and I wish more people would follow my lead. Some days, even your Daytime Running Lights (DRL) aren't enough. Most DRL are only headlights and can leave you invisible from behind. Also, many new vehicles in the US do not have DRL -- it's not a law here, but it should be.

White cars and fog or snow don't mix well. White cars without lights on in fog or snow can quickly equal disaster. I don't know why, but there seem to be more white vehicles in California than in any other state in which I've driven. Foggy mornings around here can be scary. Please turn on your lights like you do at night and eliminate that one variable from the accident equation.

Stuck on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Feb 2011

4) Keep your gas tank at least 1/2 full all winter; 3/4 full is even better.
You just never know what could happen. Remember all those Chicago drivers who got stuck on Lake Shore Drive last year? They were just driving home from work and got stuck. Be prepared.

5) Read these guidelines before you get stuck or stranded in the snow:
Weather Safety Rules

6) Keep a fleece blanket, water, gloves, and cell phone charger in your car at all times.
You can throw in a few protein bars for good measure and snack emergencies. Fleece blankets are best because they stay warm even when wet. (Have you ever fallen asleep under one? They are super warm and sweat-inducing.) You can never have too many pairs of gloves in a vehicle. You'll be happy that you have extras if you have to put on chains and one pair gets filthy dirty and wet.

Followed "shortest route" suggestion on GPS. Oops.

7) Remember: There are hundreds of inexperienced and distracted drivers on the roads every hour of every day.
Therefore, you should be experienced and never distracted.

8) Use common sense over your GPS-suggested "shortest route."
Our Tom Tom is set with Homer Simpson's voice, and while Homer usually gets the directions correct, he can't see the weather or road conditions. So use your brain and your eyes and stay safe.

Winter in Marin County, CA. Not too bad.
(c) 2012 Car Mama

9) Don't use your phone to talk or text or check the weather while driving. Period. In any weather.
Even using a Bluetooth device in your ear or your vehicle's handsfree phone system can still be distracting. Doubly distracting when it's rainy, snowy, or foggy. Please keep your hands on the wheel and your focus on the road.

10) Don't wash your car if the temperature is, or will be, below 32*F.
When my husband and I were dating, we lived in Minnesota. He's always been very thoughtful and he wanted to have a freshly washed car when we went out on a date one January evening. It was nose-numbing cold outside, likely below 0 (just the way I like it), and when we came out of the movie he couldn't get his Toyota Tercel unlocked (we used keys to unlock doors in those days). The lock was frozen. He bought some lock deicer at a Walgreen's and the only lock that would open was the hatchback. By this time, all my attempts at being lady-like were gone and I crawled through the hatchback and unlocked the driver's door from the inside. We were numb from head to toe, but had a good laugh and now have a good story to tell.

11) If you find snow drifts, park in a safe spot and have fun.
When I was a kid in Montana we took advantage of the awesome snowy weather every day. If we weren't skiing or at school, then we were making snowmen, jumping off drifts, or trying to build forts. My brother and I had a great childhood! (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

What a great life!
Having fun with my big brother and a big drift.
(c) Donel Nelson

My brief list of good snow vehicles I've reviewed:

Be safe and have a wonderful winter!

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Car News: Week of November 12, 2012

2012-11-16T11:15:00.002-08:00

This week while reading or watching the news, the phrase I kept repeating to myself was, "Is everyone here bananas?"

Photo from The Onion

I'm going to comb through all the crazy and find a few news stories related to automobiles, and anything else that I find worth sharing, and share with you here. I was hoping that life would return to a more "normal" state next week, but then I remembered that we're heading into the holiday season. I think the only way to survive is to read The Onion. This is how The Onion can help: Pistons Lose to Elementary School Girls Team After Big Night From 4'9" Center

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle / SF

Bio-diesel 'B20' now available in Northern California for about $4.25 per gallon. At least the smell won't have me craving french fries... (SF Gate)

Photo from Toyota Motor Co.

More recalls for Toyota: this time for 2nd generation Prius (built between 2004-2009). Here is a short story from Autoweek: Toyota Prius recalled for two fixes. For the press release from Toyota, go here to the Toyota USA Newsroom page. (Thankfully, our 2012 Prius is not included in this recall.)

In April 2013, our family will head to Walt Disney World resort in Florida for a week of fun and humidity. We're all looking forward to visiting the new Test Track that's been closed for remodeling. WDW and Chevrolet teamed up and the new Test Track is opening December 6th. It was a fun ride before, and with new virtual design features, I'm sure the lines will continue to be long. (Car and Driver)

Photo from the AP

I still see too many people driving while talking on the phone, or texting, or putting on makeup. Drives me nuts! However, I have not seen any evidence of sophisticated mobile offices like this one in Germany: Man With Mobile Office in His Car Arrested by German Police. (Huffington Post)

Hostess and Twinkies have been in our local news this week with layoffs and drama. Sad news for employees and Twinkie lovers. I'll end with a tribute to Twinkie The Kid. Have a great weekend.

2013 Kia Sorento EX: A Good SUV

2012-11-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

I drove a 2013 Kia Sorento for a week, logging 165 miles of combined town and highway driving. I found the Sorento to be a capable family vehicle with a third row that could deploy for emergency car pool situations. The interior was nice, the ride was comfortable, and the kids weren't embarrassed by the Sorento. For some reason, however, the 12-year old is embarrassed by me no matter what I drive, wear, or say. I have a feeling it has everything to do with me.

The Sorento I borrowed for the week was a front-wheel drive EX model with a 3.6 liter CVVT (Continuous Variable Valve Timing) V6 engine. That V6 was a powerful engine and I had no trouble getting up to speed on the freeway. I find CVT engines easy to drive and they certainly offer a smoother ride for my passengers. This Sorento EX did have the Sportmatic option so that I could shift manually if I so desired. I didn't find it necessary with my trips, but I do see it helpful when wanting to lay off the brakes when going downhill.

Highlights:

Third Row

3.6L CVVT V6 or 2.4L 4 cylinder Engine
Push-button Start
Power-folding Outside Mirrors
Back-up Camera
USB/Auxiliary Jack in Center Console
Bluetooth Technology for Phone and Music (i.e. iTunes, Pandora)
Heated and Cooled Front Seats
Memory Driver Seat
60/40 Split 2nd Row
3rd Row (50/50 split) (3rd row not available on all models)
2 Moon Roofs
Cool Brake Lights
All Wheel Drive available

It's Good

The Sorento is a nice SUV to drive around town and down the freeway. It's quiet and you can warm your buns on cold mornings or evenings. But it wasn't all that exciting. It's a middle-of-the-road family transport vehicle that won't cost too much to buy ($27,950 for the base EX; $34,390 as tested) or cost that much to operate. The warranty is good: 10 year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty; 5 year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty. The mileage is good for a 7-passanger vehicle: 20 MPG city/26 MPG highway and 22 MPG combined (I got just under 22 MPG with my combined driving). The Sorento is even in the middle of the pack on US News Best Cars "Most Affordable Midsize SUV" list (#13 out of 25).

The exterior and interior design is nice. It doesn't look or sound cheap. The doors are heavy and shut with a solid sound. The dash has a nice finish and wood grain. The seats are comfortable. The lines on the exterior are neither flashy nor weak.

It's a good vehicle, but it doesn't elicit any "Wow!" Perhaps that's why the Sorento was Kia's #1 seller in the U.S. in 2011. It is a good vehicle with many amenities for the cost but it isn't so flashy that neighbors will talk.

It's Good, But...

I don't have many gripes about the Sorento. One issue I had was the loose steering when driving on winding country roads. The over-steer caused me to back off on the throttle and lose confidence in the Sorento's ability to go exactly where I wanted it to go. I wasn't driving too fast for the road or the conditions, this SUV just didn't have the chops for the hilly, fun roads around our town. That was a disappointment.

Rear Window Wiper Controls+

It rained the week of my drive, and while the front windshield wipers were easy to use, had a nice delay, and didn't cause any issues or streaks, I had a heck of a time finding the control for the rear window wiper. It's a button to the left of the steering column. An odd and unexpected placement. But once I figured it out, the back wiper worked just fine.

Another issue I had was with the awkwardness of the cargo cover vs. the third row seats. In order to unfold the third row seats for use, I had to reach in and pull on a nylon strap which I couldn't do if the cargo cover holder was in place. In order to get that third row up and ready for kids, I had to put my stuff down, take the cargo cover holder out of it's little grooves (always a challenge of my flexibility and patience), store the holder, reach back in and pull on those straps. Not easy to do if you have a kid/bag/groceries in one arm and other kids running around. Definitely not going to work if you pull into the car pool lane at school and realize that you have two extra kids to take home. Climbing in the third row is another flexibility and patience challenge for an adult; kids rarely care.

The second row of seats in the Sorento fold, but don't slide forward to give the third row passengers extra leg room. The ability of a second row to slide forward is also great for reaching back to the little ones in car seats while the car is in motion. When our kids were in car seats, I often found myself in the front passenger seat with many jobs: bottle/sippy cup/toy retriever; navigator; soother of frayed nerves; Cheerio dispenser; and lullaby singer. The closer I could be to the kids in the second row, the less my husband could hear my made-up words to Twinkle, Twinkle, Rock-a-bye Baby. Our old Lexus RX300 had a second row that slid forward and it was as close to the front seats as I could get it until our older child figured out how fun it is to kick the front seat.

Safety is Good
I found no safety concerns with the Kia Sorento. It has all of the safety features and stability, traction, anti-lock, anti-roll features you expect on all vehicles these days. The Sorento gets an overall 4 out of 5 stars from the US Department of Transportation crash tests.

MPG Unchanged for 3.6L
Also important to note in light of the recent Kia and Hyundai MPG changes, the Sorento with the 3.6L engine does not have new MPG numbers. The sticker shows 20/22/26 for the front wheel drive I had. However, the 2013 2.4L Sorento does have updated MPG: 21/24/30 for the front wheel drive; 20/22/26 for the AWD. You can find all new and old MPG numbers for Kia on their KiaMPGinfo website.

As I stated above, the Kia Sorento is a good family vehicle. It's middle-of-the-road good and will certainly get you and your family from here to there without any hassles. Plus, the LED brake lights are cool.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Co. and Evox Productions.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Car News: Week of November 5, 2012

2012-11-11T19:49:00.003-08:00

Here are some news stories, automotive related and not, that I found interesting or funny this past week.

I've been in love with James Bond and his modified sports cars since I was a little girl in the 1970s. Last week, I found this article and associated photo gallery on the LA Times website. Swoon.

Here is another slideshow with photos from Skyfall. It shows some of the special camera set-ups required to film the movie. I went to Skyfall this weekend and really enjoyed it (but I'm enough of a flake/fan to enjoy Moonraker). I appreciated the many references to older Bond stories, and the villan is an awesome, so-calm-he's-extra-scary type that we don't usually see in Bond films.

One of the best birthday gifts I've ever received from my husband was the entire James Bond Collection on DVD. Unfortunately, that same husband left th "Goldfinger" and "Goldeneye" DVDs on an airplane soon after, so my collection is no longer complete. However the stars seemed to be aligned this year: our son also loves James Bond movies; my birthday is this week; and Costco has a new Bond DVD collection in stock. Perfect gift as we head into winter with more time to watch movies.

Women have passion for cars just like men. CBS had this little story on women and their cars: Women are blazing a trail in the auto industry.

Beautiful Ferrari F12 Berlinetta/Ferrari North America

Ferrari is joining many other auto makers in donating to the American Red Cross and Hurricane Sandy relief: the first Ferrari F12 Berlinetta to be sold in the US will be auctioned off in Austin Texas on November 17 at the Formula One US Grand Prix. If you want a shot at winning but won't be at the event in Austin, visit your local Ferrari dealer and put in a bid.

The New York Times Wheels blog has a nice list of which companies have donated what. I hope the generosity continues to grow.

"Ferrari joins a long list of automakers that have contributed to hurricane relief. Among them:

• BMW of North America donated $1 million to the American Red Cross.

• Chrysler‘s Ram brand gave $100,000 and 20 Ram 1500 Tradesman trucks to the American Red Cross.

• Ford has donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross through its Red Cross Disaster Responder Program.

• General Motors gave 50 Chevy Silverado full-size pickups and Express cargo vans to the Red Cross and the GM Foundation contributed $250,000 to the Red Cross Disaster Responder Program.

• Hyundai is giving $500,000 to the American Red Cross.

• Mazda contributed $100,000 to the Red Cross and made $5,000 grants to two food banks.

• Mercedes-Benz donated $1 million to the Red Cross.

• Toyota gave $1 million to the Red Cross.

• Volkswagen contributed $500,000 to the Red Cross through its Volkswagen of America Foundation."

Air bag issues prompt Chrysler to recall nearly 750,000 Jeeps this past week. That's a lot of airbags.

2013 Range Rover/Land Rover

One of my favorite auto journalists, Dan Neil, reviews the new Range Rover. And a review of the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish that requires most of us to suspend reality and just go along for the ride. (I thought it fitting to include both since I'm creating a bit of a James Bond theme here.)

I know there was more car news this week than this, but I had a busy week being grumpy about turning a year older. Birthdays used to be a fun anticipation. And then I turned 40 and something clicked inside and now I get grumpy. Oh well, nothing I can do about it. The positives: I am the owner of that new 50th Anniversary James Bond DVD collection, and copper Moscow Mule mugs. 007 and Moscow Mules is how I celebrated my birthday. Not so bad after all.

Car News: Week of October 29, 2012

2012-11-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some automotive stories and other news items that I thought were interesting and/or fun this week.

Oops. EPA audits Hyundai America & Kia America for fuel economy claims. Hyundai & Kia will issue personalized debit cards to owners of affected vehicles. The amount on the debit cards will depend on the fuel price in owners' region and the miles driven. Hyundai & Kia will continue to add money to the debit cards as long as the vehicles are owned. Even those who had the vehicles and sold them can get reimbursed for the "inconvenience" and extra cost associated with their ownership. (Now I don't feel so bad that I couldn't get the Kia Optima Hybrid to return the mileage numbers that were on the sticker.)

San Francisco Giants Sweep the World Series!
We live north of San Francisco, so this is our hometown team. They have great spirit and we had fun watching the Series with our kids. Our favorite game was guessing when and who Sergio Romo would photobomb. (And now our daughter wants soccer socks that look like Romo's.)

How can I pass on this Hot Wheels article? I loved, loved, LOVED my Hot Wheels tracks when I was a kid. If someone gave my a Kinetic Blue Hot Wheels-inspired Camaro, I'd have to add orange Hot Wheels tracks to my driveway and garage. So cool.

Now a hard-hitting piece from SEMA:Guy Fieri and Tony Stewart unveil customized Chevy's at SEMA in Las Vegas

This next article is much more serious than Hot Wheels made life-size. Superstorm Sandy messed up nearly a third of the US this week. Consumer Reports has some good tips on what to do and what not to do after a storm. The images of destruction and chaos I'm seeing on TV and the web are crazy.

Due to "Frankenstorm," Halloween has been moved to Monday for those living in New Jersey. Smart decision for safety reasons, and a bonus 5 days for procrastinators who still need to find pumpkins and costumes.

Need a new car, but only have a pig or BBQ to use as a trade-in? Head to Vermont or watch the latest reality TV show, "Family Trade."

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Happy Halloween!

2012-10-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not very good at carving pumpkins, even with a pumpkin carving kit. I can scoop the goop out like a pro, but the creative carving part alludes me every year. Our 8-year old daughter wants to carve the pumpkin this year, so I'm going to let her loose with knives and saws and see how it goes. I'll be up to my elbows in pumpkin guts this afternoon, so send carving suggestions ASAP!

Meanwhile, here are some great pumpkin designs to inspire us all.

From the VW Facebook page.

I could probably do the letters, but not the oval.
(From Mike Finnin Kia in Dubuque, Iowa)

From Porsche Pumpkin Carving Templates

This is from 2009, but there is a template.

I do love these clever more-than-one-pumpkin designs.
From Martha Stewart.com

I hope you all have a safe, dry, and fun Halloween!

Kia Optima Hybrid: Quietly Turning Heads

2012-10-09T09:12:00.004-07:00

(c) Hyundai Motor Co

I had fun driving a 2013 Kia Optima Premium for a day. I had even more fun driving a Kia Optima Hybrid Premium for a week. My challenge was to empty the gas tank, but I couldn't do it. I drove around town, I went shopping in various towns, I went to Sonoma and sipped wine, but I didn't drain the tank, and therefore my gasoline costs for the week were low. Looks like I flunked my assignment, but the Optima Hybrid seems to have done well on it's assignment.

(c) Hyundai Motor Co

It was fun to have a hybrid version of a car I like driving. I can't imagine driving a Prius that didn't have the Prius lag and the sneaky silent take-off. Actually, I would feel stupid driving such an odd looking car that didn't need to look so odd (after all, the odd design is just to make it instantly recognizable). So I think Kia did the right thing when they made the same exact vehicle with two different engines. The Optima Hybrid looks the same as the gasoline version on both the outside and in the cabin. The Optima Hybrid I had was a cool blue-purplish color and several people wondered into our driveway when it was sitting there. They wanted to know what it was, if Kia's are worth a look, and if it really was a hybrid. Based on my recommendations, Northern California Kia dealers may have experienced a spike in people checking out Optimas.

Highlights:

(c) Hyundai Motor Co

Looks like a new Kia Optima (can't tell it's a hybrid)
Fun to drive
6-speed Sportmatic (R) Transmission
Excellent Safety** (See Below)
UVO "Infotainment" System
Sirius/XM Satellite Radio
Memory Driver's Seat & Power Passenger Seat
Heated/Cooled Front Seats; Heated Rear Seats
Panoramic Sunroof

Back-up Camera

Mileage Chart Showing 2 Minute
Consumption (c) Car Mama

Apples-to-Apples
The knock that the Optima Hybrid gets is that it's actual, real-world fuel consumption is not as advertised. The sticker shows 35 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway, with a combined of 37 MPG. My mileage ranged from 25-30 MPG in town to 35-45 MPG on the highway according to the on-board computer. I did fill the tank once to figure out my mileage and came up with 30 MPG, combined. Of those 82 miles, 62 were within a range of 20-45 MPH, and only 20 miles were at 60-70 MPH. Again, I didn't have the opportunity to drain the tank enough to fill it up again. Somehow Kia came up with those numbers on the sticker, and I would like to think they have a system more accurate than mine. (When I drove the Kia Optima Premium with a gas-only engine, the computer said I had a combined 27 MPG.)

** Additional Note added November 4, 2012: The EPA audited Hyundai America and Kia America and the manufacturers are lowering their mileage numbers from 1-6 MPG depending on the vehicle. See this LA Times article.

As for the acceleration, the Optima Hybrid is certainly peppier than my Prius, and if you get out of Eco mode, the Optima is off like a shot. The Hybrid doesn't have the stick-you-to-the-seatback take-off that the Optima gas-only turbo has, but I didn't think the Hybrid's acceleration should be criticized at all. During my drive, I compared the Optima Hybrid with my Prius. If you want the acceleration of a turbo, get the Optima Premium non-hybrid.

(c) Hyundai Motor Co

Observations from the Back Seat
The two differences I found between the gasoline-only Optima and the Hybrid were under the hood and in the trunk. The battery is housed in 1/3 of the trunk, so the cargo space is reduced by as much. Makes for an odd "ski" pass through hatch, but shows how car manufacturers can keep a design and make at least two engine variations.

(c) Hyundai Motor Co

Both of our kids liked the Optima Hybrid just as they liked the gas-only Optima I reviewed in the summer. They saw no differences between the two vehicles other than the leaf graphics. And they both liked the Optima Hybrid more than they like our Prius. Our 12-year old son actually asked me to drive him places and drop him off RIGHT IN FRONT (usually he wants me to have a low-profile and drop him off before we get to the front of school/church/the store). So if you're looking for kid's approval, the Optima gets four sticky thumbs up. (The only thing we didn't really like are the wheels. Too styled for this crew.)

(c) Hyundai Motor Co

Ease of Use
The UVO "Infotainment" system looks intimidating, but once you get started, it's fairly easy to use. You can use the buttons on the steering wheel, the buttons on the console, or you can touch the screen. I found it easy to store radio stations and to adjust the volume as needed. It was super easy to pair my iPhone and use the voice commands to call people. I have the Pandora app on my iPhone and was able to play a Pandora playlist through the Bluetooth connection while I was driving. It's a data hog if you do it for a long drive, but I have an unlimited data plan and like the music Pandora puts together more than Sirius some days. In 2012 it should be super easy to play an iTunes playlist from your iPhone or iPod in your car with a simple cord connection. I'm happy to report that it was super easy, and the cord for such a connection is included with the car.

** Safety

As with all cars now, safety is abundant, whether they highlight it on TV ads or not. Standard safety in the Kia Optima includes:

(c) Car Mama

Dual Front Advanced Airbags
Front Seat Mounted Side Aribags
Full-Length Side Curtain Airbags
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Traction Control Ssytem (TCS)
Electronic Stability Control System (ECS)
Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Warranty
Let me mention the Kia warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles for a limited powertrain coverage, and 5 years or 50,000 miles for a limited basic warranty and roadside assistance. You can get details from your Kia dealer, but it seems to be a good, basic warranty plan. After losing my Lexus RX300 transmission at 90,000 miles, I now pay attention to warranties.

Good Value

Trunk Space (c) Evox Images

Based on the price of fuel ($4.19 for 87 octane in September 2012), it doesn't make sense to drive anything with a gas-powered engine. But we drive cars, we consume gasoline, and that's the way it is. So I believe we should look for vehicles that consume the least amount of gasoline while trying to find enjoyment while we drive. The Kia Optima Hybrid fits the bill, especially when used as a commuter vehicle. It isn't the most fuel-efficient hybrid on the market, and hybrids are the end-all, be-all, but in my opinion, every little step helps. And it isn't a drag to drive; it's actually fun to drive. Two boxes checked. As for the price, The Optima Hybrid Premium I drove cost $32,500 (the same price as the Optima Premium gas-only I reviewed). The based MSRP is $25,700, plus $700 for the Hybrid Convenience Package and $5350 for the Premium Technology Package. Add in the $750 for inland freight and you get $32,500.

Looks Good in the Driveway (c) Car Mama

Hamsters Sell Cars
My guess is that the Optima Hybrid would sell better if the Ad Department for Kia put together an Optima Hybrid advertisement that involved cute critters who wore clothes and danced or biked or something anthropomorphic. Never underestimate the power of those Kia hamster ads -- my 12-year old son wants to test drive and review a Kia Sol with me so he can channel hamster cuteness. My daughter has a brown and white hamster. Maybe he should make an appearance in all of my car reviews. Might add a level of cuteness that appeals to the younger readers.

Thanks to Kia Motors for lending me a nice Optima Hybrid.

Photos from Edmunds.com & Car Mama.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Out of Balance? So Am I.

2012-09-04T12:27:00.004-07:00

I'm out of balance in almost every sense of the word.

Physically, I'm still out of balance after my left-knee surgery two years ago and my quadriceps aren't the same size. And last week I did something to my right shoulder so that now I should put my right arm in a sling (but I haven't). I have no idea what happened. I either slept funny, used my computer mouse too aggressively, or simply over-used my right arm while petting the dog. Having this physical limitation is especially stinky because the pain radiates from my shoulder up my neck and down my right arm and therefore it is painful to drive and painful to type. Maybe a pinched nerve?

It is my job to drive and type. And since I'm self-employed, Worker's Comp isn't gonna help me.

I'm mentally out of balance because I'm in pain. Being in pain makes me restless. Being restless makes me grumpy. And being grumpy makes me out of balance. See where I'm going here?

When I'm out of balance, the whole family is out of balance. This is a bad time to be out of balance: school started two weeks ago and our kids need me to be on my game. I keep striking out.

On the first day of school, I forgot to make dinner (although I did help with homework and remembered soccer practice at least 5 minutes before it started). On Thursday, I made dinner early and helped with homework as needed, but forgot to bathe the kids so they went to school a bit smelly on Friday. Friday dawned without too much drama, even though both kids were exhausted. I do give the kids huge props for even completing their weekend homework before 5:00 pm Friday. That's always preferable to the late-night Sunday homework hell that we'll find ourselves in throughout the school year.

Over the long Labor Day weekend we went to Northstar-at-Tahoe near Lake Tahoe, and I took a break from all driving and typing and felt 80% better. On Monday we spent 6 hours in our Audi Q7 getting home. "Epic Fail" was the term used by our 12-year old son. And now on Tuesday morning my entire right arm is screaming to be amputated.

Throughout most of this discomfort I've had a beautiful 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid at my disposal. Kia dropped it off and I was only able to drive 130 miles over the week. I really wanted to put on at least 200 miles, but driving is so incredibly uncomfortable.

I have a review to write and a beautifully designed spreadsheet detailing my posts for the next year. Guess I may need to adjust my spreadsheet...

I'm now looking for dictation software for my Mac and some new yoga poses for idiots with typing injuries. Any suggestions?

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

How'd You Sleep?

2012-08-13T15:12:00.001-07:00

Our Littlest Angel
(c) Erika Fish

It's summertime here and the kid's want to have sleepovers. Which in my mind means extra kids in the house making extra messes, eating extra food, leaving extra wet bathing suits on the floors, and taking over the TV room. Bet you can't tell that I don't like sleepovers. I can barely handle my own two kids, let alone extras who may or may not annoy me.

Our kids have actually stopped asking to have sleepovers at our house. I'm happy to ship my own two off to some other family, but my kids usually know what I'm going to say about another kid staying here. I haven't changed my position on this since 2005 when our son was in Kindergarten. Neither kid sleeps well, we don't have an extra bed so someone has to sleep on the floor, and I'm always afraid the unfamiliar child will wake me up at 1:00 AM and ask to go home.

I want to be an easy-going, fun mom who encourages play dates and sleepovers. I have dreams of baking batches of cookies for afternoon snacks, s'more making in the evening accompanied by fun songs by the firepit, and making delicious waffles with whipped cream smiley faces for breakfast. But that's just not me.

(I'll bake the cookies, but they have to last through breakfast the next day. S'mores are just too sticky and I don't want any kid feeling "too sugary" before bed. I know how to make waffles, but rarely have un-expired buttermilk on hand.)

Idea for Time-out Corner at Home
(c) Erika Fish

When other kids are at our house, I'm a basket of nerves, frenetically moving around the house. I can't calm down enough to even find the chocolate chips, let alone bake cookies or turn on the fire. And if they're all in the swimming pool, then I can't get anything accomplished. I should probably hire a neighbor kid to be the lifeguard so the neighborhood doesn't have to listen to me screaming at the kids. Or get a whistle on a cord -- one that I can twirl around my hand a la the cool lifeguards.

Pool Fun with Buster
(c) Erika Fish

Another crazy aspect of this whole one-more-kid-might-push-me-over-the-edge deal is that our sweet 2-year old Golden Retriever, Buster, loves the water. If he sees anyone in a bathing suit, he goes bananas. If we leave him in the house when we go out, he jumps and barks and turns into a whirling dervish. If he's really hyped up, we put him in his crate and then he has a tantrum. Yesterday he tried to obey and stay out of the pool, but it required constant re-directing. It's difficult to play with the kids in the pool while keeping one eye on the dog. Maybe I'll put he pool fence back up...

Buster swims with us almost everyday, but when new kids are in the pool, they might not understand how it works. Buster's working when he gets in the water, his focus is on that orange retrieving thing, and if you swim in his path, he may scratch you by accident.

I always thought I was pretty good at hiding my dislike of things like sleepovers, birthday parties, and Van Halen, but my husband recently told me I'm terrible at hiding my disgust. Apparently I have a look that says it all. I'm not judging -- you can have all the sleepovers, Batman birthday parties, and Van Halen CDs you want. Just beware if you ask me to help.

So if you know my kids and want to have them for a sleepover, just ask, I'm sure they're free. And please don't be offended if I don't return the invitation, it's nothing personal.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

2013 Kia Optima SX Pemium: Sporty Fun for Every One

2012-08-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

2013 Kia Optima
(c) Hyundai Motor Co.

Up until recently, I would rarely gave a Kia a second look. But when the redesigned Kia Optima came out for 2011, I started to pay attention. I think a lot of us did. This 3rd generation Optima projects a strong, sporty attitude and seems to have a lot of features for substantially less $ than you'd pay for a new luxury sedan. I held off driving an Optima until the 2013 models hit the dealer. You shouldn't wait too long -- the 2012 and 2013 models are in demand. I hope you'll be as pleasantly surprised as we were.

Sporty Exterior
(c) Erika Fish

It's summer vacation and getting any test drives in while the kids are around is a bit tricky. So when our Prius needed it's first service at the Toyota dealer next door to the Kia dealer, I pulled our 8-year old daughter away from Duck Dynasty on the TV so she could join me on a test drive. It was actually nice to have her along because she gave me her child-specific input and reactions to the back seat, but not so much during the "education" session when she rolled her eyes and was "sooooooooooooo bored." What's this? An 8-year old with some tween 'tude?

Our daughter is young, but she knows what she likes and she isn't afraid to share it. She isn't a fan of the Prius because "it's boring," and despises it's cloth interior because she can't slide across the backseat. She loves our Audi Q7 because it has good visibility from every seat, a sunroof over the back two rows, easy-to-slide-upon leather seats, and it goes fast. (That's my girl!) I was naturally interested in her reactions to the Kia Optima. Here are her highlights with a few of mine added for good measure.

Highlights:

Front Seats
(c) Hyundai Motor Co.

Sporty Drive (which Kia calls Sportmatic (R); love it)
Leather Interior
Comfortable Seats with ample legroom
Heated Front & Rear seats on the EX & SX models
Cooled front seats (Daughter was mad that the rear seats weren't cooled as well)
Panoramic Sunroof with automatic shades
Back-up Camera display shows crisp image and has guides
Bluetooth for phone calls and audio play from a smart phone (like Pandora or Spotify)
UVO system for voice control, touch screen, audio, and 700MB of digital storage (UVO is "Powered by Microsoft")
Latch system (hooks are there, you just have to dig a bit to find them)

The Drive

Steering Wheel Command Center
(c) Hyundai Motor Co.

The new Kia Optima is a sporty little thing. The shifting is seamless, and stepping on the gas pedal gets you the response you're looking for. There are paddle shifters on the steering wheel, but I couldn't use them because my hands are too small and I couldn't grip the wheel and reach my fingers to the paddles. That was a disappointment. (Yes, the gear shift manual option worked just fine, but I like both hands on the wheel.)

Using the steering wheel controls for the car information and entertainment system was simple, but all those controls made the cross bar on the steering wheel so thick, it was hard to cruise with my hands at anywhere other than 10-and-2. (My high school driving instructor would be so proud.) I like the idea of steering wheel controls, but the designers need to consider that many drivers have small to medium-sized hands. Have fewer buttons that do more. Designers should also consider that our thumbs are going numb from all the texting and emailing most of us do on our smart phones, so perhaps buttons and toggles that fit other fingers. Those little fingers could handle a little extra work, so perhaps some buttons on the backside of the steering wheel.

UVO Info/Entertainment System
(c) eVox Productions

The Voice Controls with UVO seemed to work just fine. That functionality would help tremendously when driving in rush hour traffic and needing to make a call or find out where in the hell you are. It's also helpful when you need to quickly change the radio station, but don't have the station numbers memorized. Just say "Spectrum" and the UVO system will (theoretically) take you there. (UVO understood the Kia salesman's voice more readily than mine.)

The Back Seat Driver Report

Rear Seat
(c) eVox Productions

The report I received from the back seat was fairly good, although she was frustrated with the height of the windows. My eight-year old is tall, but without her booster seat (which she technically doesn't need anymore), she couldn't see out the windows without levitating off her bucket seat.

The temperature controls for the whole car were simple and at my fingertips, so I didn't have to fret over the youngster in the back seat messing with those. She could only control the vents. The arm rest came down in the middle to reveal two cup holders. That same arm rest will also open up to the trunk and allow for longer items to pass through to the passenger compartment. The back seat also folds 60/40 via handy pulls in the trunk compartment.

Rear Seat Heater Button
(c) Erika JN Fish

In the SX premium that we drove, the rear seat cushions were heated and the controls are conveniently located on the doors by the window controls. When asked to give them a try, my daughter responded, "What?? Are you kidding me?? It's 100 degrees outside!" I assume the heaters'll do the trick to warm chilled rears on cold days. Just remember to not use them under car seats or booster seats.

Worth a Look

Cool Box/Glove Box
(c) Erika JN Fish

I could tell that an Audi designer had a hand in the design of the 2013 Optima. (His name is Peter Schreyer; Automobile Magazine's 2012 Man of the Year.) It is very refined and well thought out (except the paddle shift/short fingers issue I had). The glove box has an AC vent so you can keep your lunch or fine chocolates cool; there is a panoramic sunroof; the wheels are beautiful; the instrument panel is driver-focused; the ride is very European; and the HID head lights and LED tail lights are awesome strips of light, reminiscent of a newer Audi.

Rear Tail Lights
(c) eVox Productions

For all of the bells and whistles, not to (again) mention the great handling, I think the 2013 Kia Optima is worth serious consideration. It is a great sedan for families, commuters, and retired people who still want a little pep in their ride and admiring nods from the younger set. The price starts in a good range ($21,200 for an LX base model), but quickly climbs into the $30,000+ range when you look at the premium with turbo and limited packages. The SX Premium Touring that we drove had a sticker of $32,520.

Lever to Fold Rear Seat from Trunk
(c) Erika JN Fish

As for gas mileage, Kia says this Optima returns 24 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. My shortish drive returned an average of 27 MPG with mixed driving, and the salesman at the dealer said his gets about 37 MPG on the highway.

There is a hybrid Optima, but it isn't getting great reviews. Although it would certainly be a snazzier hybrid when compared to my Prius. The knock against the hybrid Optima is poor real-world mileage that doesn't match the company predictions, and boring handling. Either way, I definitely recommend finding a Costco with gas pumps and filling up a new turbo-charged Optima and taking it for a long drive through the countryside.

Photos courtesy of Erika JN Fish, Edmunds.com and eVox Productions (via Edmunds).

Thank you to Kia Marin for the education and test drive opportunity.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.

Audi A3 Overnight

2012-07-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

A cute little Audi A3 spent the night in our garage last week and the whole family was smitten. As posted in my earlier review, it is an adorable car that's fun to drive. My 8-year old daughter loved the overall size and the backseat legroom and window height (it was low enough). Now that she's out of a booster seat, some backseats are so low she has a hard time seeing the world as it rushes past.

In my real life driving of this A3 for a few days, I averaged 27 MPG -- just as predicted. I'm a fan of diesels, but this little gasoline engine was peppy and fun to drive. When I can pass other cars going 65 MPH uphill, I'm a happy girl.

I stand by my recommendation: the Audi A3 is a great car for small families, commuters, couples, dog lovers, and for anyone who needs a small wagon with loads of pep. Zipping around the city in this would be a pleasure.

Cargo Area: 2 Carry-ons & 2 Bags of Groceries
Note the height of the open lift gate.
(c) Erika Fish

Back doors open WIDE. Easy for transporting kids;
especially those in car seats.(c) Erika Fish

Arm rest in back seat comes with pop-out cup holders
and little storage area. Great for pencils & a book of Mad Libs for the kids.(c) Erika Fish

LATCH hooks are visible
& easy to access. Best I've seen.(c) Erika Fish

Sun for everyone.
Moonroof over back seat has a shade.(c) Erika Fish

Full review of the Audi A3 diesel can be found here.

Thanks to Sonnen Audi for the loan of the A3 & the great service.

Photos by Car Mama.

(c) Copyright 2010-2016. Erika JN Fish. Car Mama. All Rights Reserved.