Good Enough Mother:
Heels and Wheels..
Life Beyond The Mini-Van!
(disclosure: My travel expenses were covered by Heels and Wheels to attend this event.)
Y’all.. lemme tell you something.. I have driven a mini-van or an SUV from the time my kids were born until they got out of high school. Do the math; that’s a lot of years! And guess what? I STILL drive an SUV! But for the last several years I have been thinking about my next car, my post-kids, post-hairy dog car. You know, the one that won’t have petrified french fries and blond hair from Olivia swirling around when the windows are open.
Yeah.. that one. And I LUST for that time..
I don’t have to be 20-something again.. but for a day at least, I felt like I was! I was invited to spend the day with female automotive influencers driving a bunch of really cool cars as part of Heels and Wheels.
According to Kelly Blue Book, women have 80 percent of purchase power and make up about half of the car-buying market, so it makes total sense that carmakers listen to that powerful voice.
SO MANY CARS, SO LITTLE TIME!
I teamed up with my drive partner, Christen Rochon of DivasandDorks.com, to tool around the streets of Portland, Oregon in more than a dozen cars and SUVs and CUVs (Crossover Utility Vehicles).
Okay so here’s a rundown of a few of my favorites, in no particular order.
2017 Range Rover Evoque Convertible
Did someone say FUN? The 2017 Range Rover Evoque Convertible is all that and so much more! Christen and I jumped in the front seat with the representative in the back seat and away we went! I have had very little experience with the Land Rover family but so far I like what I see! if you’re looking for a vehicle with lots of trunk space and a roomy back seat, this is not it. HOW-EVER there a lot of pluses. Oxford leather electric memory seats, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, navigation with tons of information and 3-D maps and a 10.2 inch display monitor.
Come on now.. Let’s GOOOOO!
Details: The Range Rover Evoque Convertible is 4-cylandir, 4 wheel drive, gets 20 city / 28 hwy / 23 comb and will run you just under $70000 ($69,685).
2017 Lexus GX 460
I know.. I KNOW! I said I wanted to look at my life beyond the SUV but guess what? When I slid behind the wheel of the 2017 Lexus GX 460 it was like I was.. how shall we say….
YASSSS!
Because here’s the thing; I’m a practical person. I’m an active person. But I also like a bit of luxury and the Lexus GX 460 checked off all those boxes. It has space and luxury. It has all the creature comforts and of course safety. Remember when I did this? Even though I’m not looking to take her off road, it’s nice to know the GX 460 could handle anything I throw at her.
The GX 460 comes with Lexus Navigation with Voice Command, Backup Camera and eight-inch touchscreen. It’s all covered on the safety front with Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Intelligent High Beam (IHB) Lane Keep Assist/Lane Departure, Alert with Steering Assist.
Details: The 2017 Lexus GX 460 gets about 17 mpg combined driving and will run you between $51,680 – $63,380.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
A minivan that uses hybrid technology? Yep you’re looking at it. The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the first in its class. Features include a smartphone app, deliver relevant vehicle information, such as charge status and scheduling, charging station locations and an “efficiency coach” for more efficient driving.
This vehicle is perfect for busy moms and dad! Features include Keyless Enter ‘n Go, remote start, and heated and ventilated seats as well as segment-first handsfree sliding doors and liftgate, which are operated by making a kicking motion under the sliding door or bumper to open the sliding doors or liftgate. Did we mention Uconnect® 8.4-Inch Touchscreen and heated seats? Yeah.. that!
Details: The Chrysler Pacifica will go and go and GO for you.. 84 (combined city- and highway-cycle) or 19 city /28 hwy /22comb mpg. Cost: $44,995
2017 Nissan Rogue Sport SL AWD
Okay I am partial to the Nissan Rogue because my mom drives one and when I visit her I get to have a turn behind the wheel. But now, introducing the 2017 Nissan Rogue SPORT! A little smaller than its big sister, the Rogue Sport though new to this country, is already popular in other parts of the world. Around View® Monitor with Moving Object Detection, Advanced Drive-Assist® Display, Power outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators are all things that add to its appeal. I loved the smart handling and, thought a tad bit smaller than the Rogue, it is totally works!
Details: Look for 24 city/30 hwy/27 comb and priced at $31,105.
2017 Aston Martin DB11
Bond. James Bond. What do you think of when you see the iconic Aston Martin?
Cool. Slick. SEXXXXXXY .. and the 2017 Aston Martin DB11 is all of those things! This photo doesn’t even really do it justice; the finish on this was unlike any I have ever seen, in part because the paint actually has bits of glass in it to make it luminescent. The V12 twin-turbo is the most powerful DB in the company’s history and that is something you can really feel.
Side note: I did NOT drive it; I was nervous being behind the wheel of a $230,000 vehicle so I let Christen do all that!
Details: The price tag on this one is north of $230,000 but if you’re rolling like that this is a great vehicle! Look for 15 city / 21 hwy /17 comb.
2018 Lexus LC 500
For as long as I can remember I’ve liked sports cars. In fact, my first car, was a Fiat X19.. oh the fond memories I have of that vehicle.
Then I went through a practical phase of my life. Then motherhood and the mini-van (see above) but my love for fast cars has always simmered just below the surface.
That thirst was quenched with the 2018 Lexus LC 500.
GRRRRRRRR…….
471 horsepower, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, 10 speed automatic transmission, this baby purrs and moves. 10-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic with paddle shift and manual mode. The one thing I had to get used to was it is LOOOOW to the ground. And and bring my blood pressure under control while driving a vehicle that costs $92,000. It was hella fun though!
Details: The Lexus LC 500 has a bunch of creature comforts like heated steering wheel, windshield de-icer, 12 speakers, digital sound processing. It gets 16 city / 25 hwy / 19 comb.
2018 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400
WOWSA! The 2017 INFINITI Q60 Red Sport 400 stands out with its inspired styling. Daring curves, deep creases and flowing lines intensify the sport coupe’s low, wide, powerful stance. Signature elements like eye-inspired headlights and double-arch grille make it unmistakably INFINITI. The driver can select from Standard, Sport, Sport +, Snow, Eco or Personal mode in order to personalize the driving experience.
Details: Look to get about 20 city / 27 hwy / 22 comb. MSRP: $56,705.
2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupe
The Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupe has scooped the prestigious World Car of Year and World Car Design of the Year titles at this year’s 2017 World Car Awards. But you can have safety and sexy in the same souped up package. The F-Type SVR Coupe comes with JaguarDrive Control w/ Driving Modes, Intelligent Stop-Start, Xenon Headlights w/ LED Signature,Rear View Camera Navigation. Then there are the 10-Way Heated Front Seats & 4-way Lumbar, 380 Watt Meridian Sound System, 12 speakers, Digital signal processing with Automatic Sound Levelizer. What more could you possible want?
Details: The Jaguar F-Type gets 15 city/ 23 hwy / 18 comb and will run you about $152,645, every dime will be worth it!
Thanks to Heels and Wheels and all the car manufacturers for reminding me that there is life after the mini-van.
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