Cars and Candy Bars

I recently was told by a good friend that I go through cars like candy. When she said it, I laughed. But later, I paused to give it further thought...

Candy. Well... that depends. Which candy? Jelly Beans? Hate them. I try them every once in a while thinking that I might like them, but my taste buds haven't changed. Yuck. No matter how much I want to like them, they get spit out every time. Kit Kats? I don't ever buy them because I LOVE them. I eat one and then I go back and get another one. At the movies they sell the GIANT Kit Kat that has 8 bars and not just 4. I can eat all 8 before the previews even start, then I am left sitting through the movie with nothing but a large Diet Coke and a strong urgency to pee. (Yes, I get Diet Coke and still eat Kit Kats with a whopping 497 calories - hey - every little bit helps...)And you can buy the Kit Kat miniatures... well lets just say they don't last long. I avoid them at all costs.

So, are cars like candy to me? Let's look at my car history.
2002 Bought a Jaguar S-Type 3.0 (love, love, loved this car)
2004 Sold Jaguar. Out of warranty. Husband said we had to sell it. Can't have a Jaguar with no warranty.
2004 Bought a Toyota Prius. Fun car. I felt like I was in the Jetson's. Constantly scared people in the Target parking lot because they couldn't hear me coming. hehe. The only time in my life I was in stealth mode!
2005 Sold Toyota Prius to Dad for one of his employees to use. Started Driving Nissan Armada AKA "The Beast" as company car. Company shouldn't get all the benefits of that great gas mileage!
2006 Rewarded myself (big bonus) and bought a VW EOS convertible. I have always wanted a convertible. It was my "zippy" car. Couldn't drive to work - I had the Beast for that. But, I drove the convertible whenever I could.
Jan 2008 - Cutter born. Carseats won't fit in a convertible and Chad drives the Beast to pull the boat. Must have bigger car.
Apr 2008 - Bye bye convertible... Hello BMW X-5. Everyone in the family fit. I really like this SUV. Not huge. 6 cyl. Decent gas mileage. Goes in for service once per year and they are really nice there!
May 2009 - Kenzie born. With 2 carseats PROPERLY installed, this 5 passenger vehicle becomes a 2 adult 2 baby car. We have 2 adults, one teenager that thinks she's an adult, a pre-teen boy that is the size of an adult, one forward facing carseat, and one rear facing car seat. The Beast was the solution vehicle. But, again, it is the only vehicle that can tow the boat. And Chad goes fishing, I can't say a lot, but enough to be inconvenient for me.

We have to get another car... Chad planned a fishing trip to Louisiana and I planned a trip to my parents house. But wait... Where will Hailey and Hunter sit? They can't stay home...

So I start researching. Let me start by say Minivans are not an option. I am not one of those moms! At a minimum, I will settle for an SUV. (The Beast has >100000 miles, and has retirement in its sites. Chad and I agreed that when it goes to its resting place, it will be replaced with a truck...) So I have to have family vehicle. That EVERYONE can fit in.

As I previously said, minivans are off the list. Non-negotiable.

GM and Chrysler are off the list. We choose not to patron Government Motors. (I have boycotted Wal-Mart as much as possible and don't eat at La Madeleine either for reasons if you know me well you already know.) I have strong convictions, and stick to them! (Which sometimes I regret ;) )

What's left? Ford and the Imports. Ford Expedition? Toyota Sequoia? Too big. May not even fit in the garage... Mazda CX-9, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander? New BMW X-5? Midget 3rd rows that you cant put a carseat or a 5 foot 8 Hunter into which just won't work. It is pretty funny to watch a car salesman help you install a carseat and ask them to sit in the 3rd row with it... So, I ended up buying a Mercedes R-500. Most people don't know what an Mercedes R class is. Google it... But basically, it is a 6 passenger Mercedes that is referred to as a Sport Wagon. A cross between a Cross Over and a Station Wagon. Or what I have been lovingly referring to as my "Mercedes Minivan".

My new Mercedes is like a 3 Musketeers. The low fat candy bar. Tastes pretty good. But you don't have to eat it every day. A nice treat. My X-5 was my Kit Kat. One day I will have another one. And minivans are my jelly beans. Take a bite and spit them right out!