DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Peter At The Beverly Hills Hotel

Q: Hi Peter. It's time to Defend Your Ride. What can you tell us about it?

A: I bought it new. A little over a year. I had a business lunch today and now I'm going to see my wife because we have some things to do. Then I'm going to see my absolutely delicious grandson.

Q: Excellent. How much time do you spend in your car?

A: I used to spend a lot of time in it. I probably spend a couple to three hours a day.

Q: What's the farthest you've ever driven in this car?

A: Newport Beach and Laguna, I guess.

Q: Was that just a daytrip or were you running errands?

A: It was a daytrip. We just went down for dinner.

Q: Do you like your car?

A: I do. I like the car, although I bought the car because of my grandson. I thought it would be a lot easier when he's with me to just put him in and take him out as opposed to bending deep down into some kind of lower car.

Q: Has it been easier?

A: It has. The only problem is no matter how sleek SUVs are, they're too top heavy for me. They don't have the suspension anywhere close to the cars that I've had. I find them to be a little wobbly. I don't prefer that as a driver.

Q: Do you have any rules in the car?

A: No smoking. No drinking. Lots of laughter. Only happy people can come into my car. If you have an attitude or you have a sad occasion, you may not ride in the car with me.

Q: If your car had a theme song, what would it be?

A: "Sloop John B" by The Beach Boys. I like the song. Every time I think of the song I have fond memories. When I drive the car, I like to have a nice attitude and a fond memory of some place I've been. That song reminds me of it.

Q: Great. If your car had a human emotion, what would it be and why?

A: Compassion. Why? I have compassion for all the other drivers in Los Angeles because it is starting to become—has become—a city filled with cars. And it wasn't that way when we moved here from New York in 1972. Every so often I think about that, particularly when things like Carmageddon come around.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about the car?

A: My daughter loves the car, and she would really like to own it. My grandson loves riding in the car, two reasons of which I haven't gotten rid of it already.

Photos and interview by Michael Shen, blogger of lacantdrive.com

View previous Defend Your Ride features as well as other great stories for people who love cars at CBSLA.com/Autos.