DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Jeff At The Brighton Faneuil Library

Q: Hey Jeff, great car. Love the Mazda. What can you tell us about it?

A: I call it My Little Truck, just because I do everything in it. It's a black Mazda3 hatchback, automatic, with a four-cylinder engine. It didn't come with the roof rack, but I made a point of getting one. I feel like you can always put stuff in the car, but the roof is often underutilized. I wanted to make sure if I was transporting stuff that I could also use the roof.

Q: How often do you use it?

A: You would be surprised. I've used it a few times now. My wife made fun of me when I was persistent about getting a roof rack, but I moved my little sister's whole apartment in my little hatchback. I used the roof to move a dresser and her mattress, in separate trips of course.

Q: Why do you call it My Little Truck?

A: It just fits everything and I put everything in there. I'm a daddy when my son is in there and I'm a business guy when I'm alone in there. I fit the kid and the business inside.

Q: What is the main use for your car?

A: The main use for my car is for my business, Dress Code Boston. I have to transport a lot of clothing and mannequins. If I'm doing an event, I pack it full of clothes, clothing racks and pretty much everything. We had to put commercial plates on the car because I was going into town a lot and kept getting tickets. I liked the Mazda because it had a little zip to it and was small enough to get in parking spots. I literally use the car for everything.

Q: What's the strangest thing you've had in the car?

A: Just this Sunday, I had four mannequins in there. Their names are Wally, Walter, Wallace and William.

Q: Can you tell me about having commercial plates?

A: Commercial plates make the car a business deduction, so it helps in that end. The insurance is definitely a little higher, but then again I get to deduct that when I do taxes as well. Being self-employed, I need all the tax deductions I can get.

Q: Are there any downfalls?

A: The insurance goes up a few hundred bucks and the tolls went up significantly. When most cars are paying a $1/$1.25 for tolls, I'm paying $3/$4.

Q: Have you ever had any conflict with a messy kid and the clothing?

A: No, the clothes stay away from my son. I put them in the back--the clothes, not my son. But when my son is in the car, he rules the roost. When he is in the car, it's his car. When he is not there, it's my car. The minute he gets in the car, he turns on his music and when it's time to get out of the car, he says, 'bye, bye, music.' God forbid I listen to my own music. I have to listen to kids music.