DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Sawyer At Princess Bay On Staten Island

Q: Welcome to Defend Your Ride New York! Where are we and what brings you here?

A: We are at Princess Bay by the Staten Island Shore. I like hanging out at beaches. This place is a nice, quiet area to relax and enjoy the water. Today, I actually had to go pick up a chair from a friend in the neighborhood, so I figured I would stop by here for a little bit.

Q: Nice. Do you often use this car to go to the beach?

A: Yes, absolutely. It's very easy to fit everything I need for the beach. I love being able to just throw everything back in the car afterwards without having to deal with making room. It's also great to open the back door, put on some music, maybe have a bite to eat and relax while checking out the view of the ocean.

Q: Sounds fun. Are there some other features you like about your car?

A: I like that I can change the radio stations and the volume on the steering wheel, which is convenient when driving. My wife loves the seat warmers and the way the rearview mirror has a digital compass. It is pretty cool, but probably my favorite thing about the car is the size. You can't overstate how convenient it is to have all that space.

Q: It must be great to have this vehicle to transport anything big. That chair you picked up from your friend looks like it was easy to get in and even seems designed for the back because it fits so nicely.

A: <laughing> After putting it back there, I was even thinking of leaving the chair permanently for some extra seating. It would be great when chilling with the back open, but I think it would be put to better use in an apartment. Besides, I do love having all that extra space back there.

Q: Have you ever used your vehicle when moving?

A: Yes. The car is great for moving and was a lifesaver when my wife and I moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn. We also used it for my wife's business when she changed her office location. All in all, it went smooth, but it can be rough driving through the city with a packed car and many blinds spots!

Q: Are there any other advantages of having a large vehicle?

A: There was this one time, my wife and I were a few hours away from home having fun at the beach and it got very late. Instead of driving back home, we decided to sleep in the car. We folded down the back seats and made a bed out of the whole back. It was actually pretty comfortable and I was able to stretch out completely, which can be difficult because of my height.

Q: That's awesome! Sounds fun.

A: We might even do it again. We ended up spending more time at the beach the next morning and checked out other areas before heading back home. It was like a mini vacation. I am not sure if it was legal, but we didn't get in trouble.

Photos and interview by Steven Markovits

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