Bye Bye Mini!! Hello Scion IQ!!

After 10 months of driving a money pit, I finally decided to trade it in. Yes, my Mini Cooper was super cute. But...cute just doesn't cut it when you are constantly worrying about what is going to break next!

My love affair with my Mini, soon turned ugly after replacing the strut mount towers. It had been making such a horrible noise and after taking it in to the local BMW dealership, I learned they were needing replacement. And of course, BMW couldn't do it. So, I would have to drive to Mini of Charleston, pay a ridiculous amount to have it fixed, and be without a car for however long it took. Oh, there were so many things, but the worst finally came down to the transmission needing to be replaced. Oh yes, you heard me! And, it was to the tune of $6000 or $7000! Well, my love affair (already having grown cold) was definitely done for! My Mini Money Pit had broken the last straw and it was time to end things, and for good!

Though I stood to lose thousands of dollars over this for trading it in, the peace of mind going forward was worth every cent to me. My previous car had been a Scion Xa. It was a slow burning love affair I developed for it. Looking back, I wish I would've just kept it, instead of being seduced by German engineering! Well, though I couldn't go back to "Hudson" (the name my son and me called him), I could start fresh with a new Scion love. I actually did look for another Scion Xa, but they only made them for a few years. They are not easy to find, and many had higher miles than what I truly wanted. I did my research, and visited a few dealerships. I also hadn't intended on buying a new car, as I have always been one to purchase used ones. Oh well!

Skip to my new Scion IQ :-)! Yes, I did purchase a 2013 model and I absolutely LOVE it! We have named it "Yoda" (my son's suggestion). Kind of looks like a "Yoda" actually. Short on length, but absolutely long on features and gas mileage! I am 5' 11 with long legs, and this little thing gives me plenty of head room, as well as, leg room! I had test driven the new Fiat, which is super cute too. However, I found the cabin to be tight. The Scion has lots of space in the front to maneuver, and since I work out of my car, that is a huge pre-requisite. It gets 37 mpg with regular gas, in both city and highway driving. That in itself is a reason to jump on in! No more having to use premium gas either. I just filled the gas tank yesterday and it cost me $22, and had taken me a little over 300 miles. Whoo Hoo! It can turn on a dime with an amazing turn radius, so you can get out of even the tightest spots easily. My view in all directions is phenomenal, unlike the Mini which needed a rear sensor to alert you of things you might hit (and believe me, you might hit a lot of things since there were several blind spots). I get a lifetime plan which includes free oil changes and regular maintenance, plus, I also get roadside assistance for anything. It also has a 3 year/36k warranty. This is a HUGE relief for me! There is a nice pull-out drawer under the passenger seat for your laptop or other goodies. The power windows go completely down with one touch (like my Mini), and I also have radio controls on my steering wheel (like the Mini also). My iPod plays beautifully through the USB port, and the Bluetooth push-button technology is fantastic! Love that I no longer have to fumble to answer my phone!! The owners manual comes with a well-stocked first aid kit and lots of useful information too. The back seats do come completely down and give you a bit of storage space. You can fit a couple of small children with seats up, but, it is a little tight. Still, I love it! Oh, and there are airbags all the way around this baby. So, those are just a few of the many things I love about "Yoda". Oh, and I must say, the light blue color is sharp.

I am on week 2 of owning this cutie. It does attract quite a bit of attention as people wonder if it is a "Smart Car". I tell them "No, not a Smart Car. It's more intelligent :-)".