DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Mark At The Breakfast Club
"I was jobless, broke, and without direction. I needed to get out of Michigan."
- The Ride
- The Driver: Mark
- Car in Question: Black 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5L
- Spotted at: The Breakfast Club, 270 Western Avenue, Allston, MA 02134
- Odometer: 53,031
- Car's Nickname: Black Mamba
THE DEFENSE
Q: How long have you owned the car?
A: Around three years.
Q: Where did you buy it?
A: I actually bought it in Illinois, while I was living in Michigan.
Q: Ooh, so your car made a road trip from Michigan to Boston?
A: Yup. I made the 14-hour road trip solo after finishing undergrad at Michigan State University. I was jobless, broke, and without direction. I needed to get out of Michigan. I headed south on I-75, and as I approached I-90, I needed to make a decision to drive east to Boston, or west to Chicago. I chose east, and moved in with my dad.
Q: I noticed you are missing a hubcap. Did that happen during your journey east?
A: The hubcap was a victim of Boston. Specifically last year's weekly nor'easters. I hit a pothole so massive it broke my alloy wheel. I went with the cheapest replacement possible.
Q: What brings you to The Breakfast Club this morning?
A: Pumpkin pancakes, the most delicious breakfast treat available in the Bay State. I'd go as far as saying New England.
Q: Well, I am going to have to try them now! I have to ask, what is with the plastic snake coming out of your air vent?
A: It was the summer of '09. For the oddest reason, for about two weeks, everywhere I looked I saw a plastic snake. They turned up on my walk to class, a parking lot, the front lawn, my living room. I started to get a little freaked out, thinking the universe's snake god/omen/spirit was out to get me. As the saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. So, I invited one of the little guys into my life, or should I say car. He's been riding dirty with me ever since, and my car developed a nice nickname out of it, Black Mamba.
Q: That is quite the story! I see you have several CDs in your car. Do you listen to a lot of music while you're driving?
A: All day, every day. I prefer MP3 CDs. My car has a six-disc CD changer, and with six MP3 CDs I have access to over 500 songs. Makes for easy road trips.
Q: Is the VW Jetta your dream car?
A: No, just the right decision at the time, affordable and low maintenance.
Q: If money were no object, what would be your dream car?
A: Cadillac CTS-V.
Photos and interview by Caroline O'Donnell
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