Friday, February 15, 2013
Patch readers will remember Angela Youngblood from her "Patch Drives" test-driving series last year. Read about her new vehicle — and about how her big, old van turned into a teachable moment for her whole family.
Editor's note: Rochester mom Angela Youngblood chronicled her car-shopping adventure across Oakland and Macomb counties last year for a series we called Patch Drives. Patch readers went along as Youngblood test drove a Honda Odyssey, Ford Flex, MINI Cooper, Chevy Suburban, Dodge Journey and Chrysler Town & Country. Here is the long-awaited ending to her research and travels. Last spring, I was van shopping. I was searching for the right fit for our family. You all went along for the ride while I tried out different SUVs, minivans and even a MINI Cooper. Eight long months have passed and I finally got my new ride. Let me back up a bit. Since we last talked, the van has been falling apart little by little, sort of like my pride. After …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
You can, indeed, relate a fear of getting older and a love for '80s hair bands to shopping for minivans.
Editor's note: This is the final installment in a two-month series. To read the full report, including all of Angela's car reviews, see our Patch Drives page. I began this car-shopping, test-driving experience as a total non-car person. I couldn’t even tell you the year, make or model of my current ride. To be honest, after two months of car talk, I still couldn’t tell you the year, make or model of my current ride. But I can tell you that this experience has taught me so much. It’s taught me that you can indeed relate a fear of getting older and a love for '80s hair bands to shopping for minivans. It’s taught me that there’s a reason that we are somewhat auto-obsessed in America. It’s taught me that a stay-at-home mother who just …
Thursday, May 31, 2012
I'm shifting gears — and shifting into gear — in a two-seater. Because a mom can dream all kinds of movie-scene cool, right?
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series; Angela, a mom of four, is writing about her search for a replacement for her full-size van. So far she has driven a Ford Flex, a Honda Odyssey, a Chevy Suburban and a Dodge Journey. My 20th high school reunion is this August. Not to go all When Harry Met Sally on you, but I will be 40 ... someday. Except my someday is only a couple years away. I still expect to see my 28-year-old self when I look in the mirror. And if I’m totally being honest, some days it’s more like my 15-year-old self. Some days I get overwhelmed with all this aging. Not because I can see every bad sunbathing decision in the form of a new wrinkle on my face. No. More because I feel like someone else should be in charge…
42.629112
-83.091685
45550 Dequindre Rd, Rochester Hills, MI
Motor City MINI
/articles/patch-drives-why-the-mini-cooper-is-a-perfect-not-so-perfect-car-for-moms
/locations/7188255
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Dodge Journey helped me accept the fact that maybe 'soccer mom' isn't such a bad label after all.
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series. Read all of the Patch Drives installments here. This car-shopping, test-driving experience is changing me. As I search for a replacement for my full-size van, I’m caring about things I never thought I would care about. I know things I never thought I would know about. I want for technology that I didn’t even know existed: Whatever car I end up choosing must sync with my iPhone, for starters. This week, when I walked into the dealership with (dare I say) a bit of confidence — or maybe it was cockiness — I declared “I’m here for the Patch Drives series” and waited. I waited for the “Oh, of course my lady, let me get your car for you.” Alas, they didn’t know me. And the one person who was …
42.66254
-83.13303
Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge
1301 S Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, MI
/articles/patch-drives-my-journey-to-acceptance
693218
/locations/7085805
Thursday, May 17, 2012
I thought I wanted to ditch the big ride – until I drove a loaded 2012 Chevy Suburban.
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series. Read all of the Patch Drives installments here. Here’s the thing: I thought I was ready to ditch the big ride. I thought I was looking for something more compact — well, as compact as you can get while loading four kids and all their stuff. I thought those things until I drove a loaded 2012 Chevy Suburban. Two days in the Suburban rekindled my passion for extra large cars (and big hair bands, too, courtesy of SiriusXM Radio). When I drove my giant custom van into the parking lot of Matthews-Hargreaves Chevrolet in Royal Oak, I admit I got what is becoming a familiar twinge of nerves. Like I’m going on yet another first date. Will they like me? Will I like them? Before I jumped down out of …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
This minivan is a smart person's car. But am I ready for that?
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series. Read all of the Patch Drives installments here. Who says boring isn’t cool? OK, I said that, just a couple days ago. But after driving a Honda Odyssey I realized boring still isn’t cool, but smart is. And the Odyssey is a smart person’s car. This week I headed over to Honda Bloomfield to test drive an Odyssey. Here’s the thing: I know a few Honda people. You probably know Honda people, too. People who swear there is nothing better than a Honda. People that are practical. People that are serious. People that read the safety reports before shopping for a car. People that are, well, kind of boring. I like to think of myself as more of an edgy, fun, cool kind of chick (that’s why I drive a …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
I didn't see it coming, but I fell hard for the oh-so-polarizing crossover. Not only did it fit my family, but it awoke a rebellious spirit that was repressed years ago — all from a three-hour test drive.
Editor's note: This is the latest in a series. Read all of the Patch Drives installments here. I learned a few things with my first test drive: captain's chairs are important, my kids are kind of annoying in giant old vans as well as brand new shiny cars and I haven’t lost my inner rebel. Oh, and this: the Ford Flex is a pretty great ride. In my quest to research and shop for a new ride (and chronicle the adventure for Patch readers along the way), I took my first potential "next ride" for a test drive this week. Here's how it went. I was and still am way out of my comfort zone. Car dealerships have always made me nervous. What I am about to say goes against every feminist bone in my body: I was hoping the salesperson would be a woman. …
Thursday, April 26, 2012
I need to put my vehicular demons to bed and begin my search for the perfect car for my family. Armed with a compatibility checklist and optimism, I'm ready to make a love connection.
Editor's note: This is the second in a series. I’m not really a car person. I feel like I just offended half of southeast Michigan with that statement. I know it’s not right. Living in Metro Detroit and confessing to being not really a car person ... it’s not right. That’s why this journey to find the right car for my family is a bit challenging. That’s why your help is greatly appreciated. Last week, I told my story in the kickoff to this new series on Patch. In Patch Drives: Help This Van-Driving Mama Find Her Next Ride, you heard all about the many reasons I need to break up with the full-size van that has worked for my family of six up until now. Over the past 22 years, I have driven a lot of different cars, never really falling in …
Cheryl Junker
10:19 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
I love this story! The musical references made me smile. I so miss my old duct taped Escort Wagon ( the old grocery getter ). I actually DID sleep in mine a few times in Nevada I think.....just about the time I gave up on affordable hotels in L.V. and about an hour out of town when I was sure those lights in the distance meant an approaching hotel. Little did I know, it was just a mirage :)... … more ›