Greetings NAMily,

We (the Mrs, the boy and I) will be taking a road trip over Easter break, So Cal to San Francisco and back, with a side trip to near Bakersfield. We have two cars, Basil and the toaster (silver 06 honda element). The question is which car to take. The boy and I prefer Basil, Mrs wants the toaster. Since she will be stuck with a lot less legroom (the boy will be in the rear seat behind her, and is 17 and almost 6' tall), I have to let her have the final vote.

Any ideas on witty reasons that we should motor instead of ride in the toaster, other than the obvious tanning/open top things?

Thanks in advance!

 

If you go HWY 1 then take the MINI . If you go the 'I' 5 then take the toaster. HWY 1 is the way to go with all the twist and turns you won't get bored . Sell the Mrs. on the idea. Top down next to the Pacific all the way . It takes a bit longer but it's ideal for your MINI...If you are doing a rush job, taking the MINI for that kind of long hour drive with limited leg room,you'll never hear the end of that...

 

No problem, easy sell here. Ask her to drive and let the son sit behind you!

 

In my family, I would tell my son it's up to him to turn her . The kids can talk her into anything and they don't seem to be bothered about whatever heat they have to take to get their way. We call "relentless persuasion"

 

I can't talk her into driving Basil - she totalled my last car and gets a little nervous when the topic comes up.... She does like riding in the Mini though. Keep those ideas coming!

 

Ask yourself - is the boy really necessary?
I ask that all the time with regards to our foul smelling, freakishly tall, 17-year old male, walking food disposal unit (most times the answer is no but I guess I should have asked that about 17 years ago).

 

I bet homerwest didn't expect that kind of advice!

 

At least his older brother moved out.... The only other option I could think of is to leave him home with the dog, but I would be nervous about the condition of the wine cellar (and the rest of the mansion) while we are on the road!

I did also consider one of the mini trailers - kinda like a sidecar only different.:impatient

 

What, no duct tape?

 

Take the MINI. I've driven from my office 25 miles north of San Francisco to and from Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego for work numerous times in my 2006 MINI S. I enjoy driving the car so much that these distances are easy and sure beats the hassles associated with planes & air ports.

 

Take the Mini, the wife.....bring the dog....leave the teen home.....problem solved!

 

Tell her to imagine how the ride will actually be an enjoyable Calgon take me away adventure if you take the Mini. Imagine all scenery to behold if you travel the Pacific Hwy route.

If you take the toaster the ride will be a chuggin-down-the-highway chore

Tell her life's too short to spend it in a toaster

 

Hey kids,

Thanks for the assist. I think we will be motoring instead of riding in a box! A few word pictures (Imagine heading up PCH on a spring day with the wind and sun....) and she was convinced! I'll have to do some experimenting on which pieces of luggage will fit in the boot, and maybe the back seat behind the pilot. We can save some room by not needing the windscreen.

Woohoo - let the adventure begin!