I’ve always had to have the latest and greatest when it came to my family’s vehicles. The new Sienna came out, and I was there. Then the Odyssey Touring finally had my beloved (and often behated) 8th seat–guess what? I was there! And when you think about what vehicle manufacturer is hands-down considered creator of the safest fleet on the road, you think Volvo right? Guess what DH drives? Yup, I’m a safety geek through and through.
BLI to OAK via SEA
Our teenaged son will be driving next year, and I’ve spent hours, days, and perhaps even weeks, going through various safety ratings and reading reviews on all of the potential new driveway jewelry on his list. I’m agonizing over all of the options, all the while balancing safety, fuel economy and style. Is there a perfect car? One that looks great, sips at the tank, AND can propel into a brick wall at 80mph without so much as a scratch on my beloved offspring?
But what could top that Volvo XC90 and Odyssey Touring in the driveway? In fact, what vehicle could have me giving up my much-loved XC90 for something new? What could be safer than Tank Volvo, right? And why did I just travel 900 miles to find said vehicle? Better yet–will I ever allow my teens to drive it?
Quassmobile
We’ve had to make a few compromises. Life is full of compromises. Not everyone can afford the 2011 Odyssey Touring–some of us are stuck babying that 1995 Plunko Calciomamma with 7 passenger seating and 4 top tether anchors…for just a few more years. (Fingers crossed.) The new Quassmobile has air conditioning and power doorlocks and windows–heck, it even has power mirrors. But, a few things are missing–like top tethers. It has none. Zero. Ziltch. It’s also shy a few airbags as compared to my Odyssey–but what vehicle isn’t, right? Okay, I have to admit–the Quassmobile is completely absent of airbagage. Again–zero, ziltch..Naaada.
Mason w/ Porsche (Photo: Malcolm Parry, Vancouver Sun)
My new car is fun to drive, will tow the kids’ boat, and can navigate well off the beaten track. Every dollar we’re able to bank by “downgrading” our vehicle is another dollar we can put towards buying the latest and greatest once again–but for the next chapter in our lives. I gained the Quassmobile, and sometime in the next 12 months our oldest son will be behind the wheel of his own new car–and I full well anticipate that one will be nicknamed the Airbagmobile.
Hahahaha, it’s like one of the joke cars in your signature came true :).
No, seriously, it’s so YOU, it really is. Enjoy! (And feel free to PM my hubby to convince him that a ‘solid metal 69 Camaro’ is NOT a safe choice for my soon-to-be-driving teen (my jaw hit the floor on that suggestion, when he kept saying it was ‘safer’…like, who are you married to? Have you not heard a single word I’ve said about car safety over the last 14 years????).
I hope the Quassmobile brings you and your family much joy over the next year.