Ride, doggy, ride!
By Gina Spadafori
October 1, 2007
Since the 16th of March, when the first pet-food recall was announced, I’ve fallen just a bit behind on my reviews for DogCars.com. Like, um, a dozen reviews, maybe, of vehicles and about half that many of products. I have all my notes, just haven’t been able to sit down and write all the reviews. (Something about 24/7 pet food recall coverage and three book deadlines sort of got in my way.)
Before this month is up, and as God is my witness, I will be caught up. I have just a wee bit of spare time in the next three weeks, while everyone except me is huddled somewhere negotiating the finer legal points of contracts for the next two books.
Because I have no idea what it’s like to actually enjoy some down time, I started a DogCars.com blog, although I honestly mean for my friend, syndicated auto columnist and total gearhead Keith Turner (a/k/a The CarGuy) to do most of the blogging. (And, um, ex-boyfriend, but let’s not go there.)
In any case, check it out.
And stay tuned: Tomorrow I get a week with the new Scion xB, the redesign of the vehicle formerly and affectionately known as “The Toaster” by its cult following. (Christie’s mom is a member of the xB Toaster cult, and so is our “Why Do Horses Sleep Standing Up?” co-author Audrey Pavia. And they’re both way cool, and so is The Toaster — albeit a tick too small for my pack.)
Will it beat out the Honda Element for the title of Best Dog Car Ever?
The love my mom has for her Scion is scary. And when I drive it for any reason, others Scionites come up to me and try to talk to me about it. It really IS a cult, I swear it.
I don’t think it’s a good dog car. The seats don’t fold absolutely flat, and it leaves a gap between the front and back that the dogs can fall into. JMO.
Comment by Christie Keith — October 1, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
When I was shopping for a new car a couple of years ago, I went to a Toyota dealer on a referral. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, and my salesman was actually okay with that and didn’t push me for more than I was after (one of the reasons people liked him well enough to send him referrals, I suspect). So he was walking me around showing me various cars that might be suitable to what I was looking for, and when he walked me up to a Scion B, I burst out laughing! I had never seen one before, and I thought he was showing this car to me to be funny.
After I controlled myself (with some effort - he was laughing, too!) he said that no - he needed me to look at this car (maybe not this EXACT car - it had been painted with flames for a Car Expo!) and that those who drove it really, really liked it.
Well, I just couldn’t get myself to take it seriously (really, now!) and ended up with a Toyota Matrix (which I like a lot).
But I still giggle whenever I see one on the road.
Oh - and then the other day I saw a Smart car. Talk about a REAL candidate for a giggle-fest!
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/
Comment by The OTHER Pat — October 2, 2007 @ 8:16 am
I just bought a 2008 xB (Some call it the ‘toaster oven’ since it is wider and shorter than the original xB toaster).
I’ll finish getting it ready for my ‘Girls’ (3 labs, each around 50 lbs) this weekend and will let you know how that goes. I am putting in padded plywood boards in the back so they have a level floor, and using a painter’s splatter canvas to protect the sides of the car.
Comment by MikeAndAnnie — October 31, 2007 @ 11:53 am