DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Pam At Placer County Museum

Q: Welcome to Defend Your Ride Sacramento. Let's start with the basics. How old are you? Where do you live?

A: Fifty-nine and three quarters. Foresthill, 95631.

Q: What is your RAV4's main use?

A: To get to work. My commute is only five minutes, so there's nothing bad about it. It's very simple. Then I do use it to go back and forth to school. That's going to become very tiresome because that's two classes 40 minutes away.

Q: What's your favorite day trip from home?

A: Going to my son and his wife's house in Sacramento. Once you take that trip, you take it a lot--Thanksgiving, Christmas.

Q: Do you ever take it anywhere else?

A: No, but I get lost a lot, so I have little adventures sometimes.

Q: Any rules for your passengers?

A: No smoking! And if you bring stuff into my car, I appreciate it if you take it out.

Q: If your RAV4 had an emotion, what would it be?

A: If it had a human emotion, it would be trustworthy.

Q: Is this your first Toyota?

A: I had that Corolla and loved it. I slid down that icy hill three times in it. The third time, I said, "I'm not sliding down this road again." I went down and bought it. I wanted a silver one, and they had a silver one. I asked them, "How much?" They told me how much. I walked out of there in an hour and a half with my car. It was brand new. I believe I have about 150,000 left on the life of this car.

Q: You are pleased with the RAV4. What's next?

A: I want a Toyota truck. I can't haul anything now. Not a Tundra, a smaller truck. I see Toyotas all of the time. My dream car? My dream car would be a Toyota Highlander.

Q: Is there anything else you want to tell us about your car?

A:It's been extremely dependable and economical. It's been pretty economical for gas. I really haven't had to do anything with it other than tires and a battery, little incidental things. I love it.

Q: Your Toyota RAV4 actually has six cylinders with four-wheel drive, so it has power. In Foresthill, there's always the chance that you will have to deal with snow. Ever been four-wheeling in the snow in your SUV?

A: Only in my driveway. When I came back from Maryland, I came down my driveway with all kinds of snow. Sometimes my street is an adventure with it. Held onto my steering wheel, I put it on low, and stepped on the gas. I almost got close to the porch!