It would be a fable to say that I adore children and dream of having a family someday; it’s just not my reality. I can’t scrounge up an inkling of a maternal instinct. Yet there was something (almost) tempting about the idea when I drove the Volvo XC70 T6 AWD — it’s the perfect car for parents. The XC70 has always been a dedicated family vehicle, but the new 2009 model has become the ideal family crossover vehicle. Volvo is known for its safety record, but has gone the extra step wit...

Thirty years after the introduction of the Dodge Caravan, the idolatry associated with the minivan — that sacred family vehicle — is no more. Overweight and thirsty, the minivan has been eclipsed by its mini-me: the Mazda5. Always on the cutting edge, Mazda foresaw changing consumer needs when they replaced the aging MPV with the 5 in 2006. Since its introduction, the Mazda5 has managed to carve its own little niche as a “Multi-Activity Vehicle.” The 5 has a distinctive look (admi...

The day I picked up the 2008 Volkswagen GTI, I felt five years old again — with a brand new toy. The GTI has received phenomenal reviews within the past year and I couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about. I was not disappointed. Every time I got behind the wheel of the car, I had a maniacal grin on my face and found myself in blind ignorance of posted speed limits. At first glance, you could mistake the GTI for the re-styled VW Rabbit; the only obvious exterior difference is th...

From my experience, the Porsche Boxster has just never seemed to be a chick car. You rarely see a woman behind the wheel; they usually occupy the passenger seat. I don’t understand why: It’s a sleek, stylish ride that is eco-friendly and reasonably priced compared to the competition. My test vehicle, a 2008 Porsche Boxster base model, is $58,100. It comes with six airbags (driver and passenger airbags, thorax airbags, and head airbags), ABS, air conditioning, an anti-theft system, keyless...

In 1956, the Female Employees Equal Pay Act came into force. In 1993, Canada welcomed (if for only a brief moment) our first female prime minister. In 2004, half of the Supreme Court was, for the first time, female. In 2005, Danica Patrick became a household name as the first NASCAR female driver. Citing these momentous events, Sebastian Centner, Downtown Porsche’s MC for the day, concluded with one last date. On July 29, 2008, Helen Ching-Kircher, president and COO of Downtown Fine Cars ...

"Brrrrrrrrrring!” I’m being woken up to my annoying cell phone ring tone. (I should really change that thing.) “What’s that? You want me to come pick you up from the airport because your flight was cancelled?” Of course, as the girlfriend, it’s my duty. “Oh, it’s raining so hard there is flash-flooding,” says the boyfriend. Perfect. I loathe driving in horrible weather. But wait! I have the Volvo C70. The Volvo C70 is a retractable hardtop convertible. This design makes sen...

The days of gas-guzzling SUVs that corner like drunken woolly mammoths are extinct. The archetypal North American SUV has been transformed into a compact five-door crossover vehicle with European design, and sporty ride and handling. The 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid epitomizes this new breed. I deem the Saturn Vue Green Line ideal for city dwellers, who adore escaping on weekends. The Vue provides SUV practicality, but also offers the fuel economy you desire when driving in the city. Co...