What was your first car?

My first car was a 1989 Honda Civic. My dad had kept it in tip-top condition and it ran great. The trouble was in the lack of power steering, power windows, air conditioning and the ever dreaded to a 16 year old driver – the clutch. The worst part of the lack of features in the car was that the manufacturer didn’t re-do the dashboard with just a few buttons. No, there were blank grey boxes all over the dash as a reminder that this car has absolutely nothing fancy about it. 

Given that this was going to be my car to drive to school, my father taught me to drive in it. I have vivid memories of his frustration to my lack of getting the hang of the clutch as we circled around and around in an empty church parking lot over and over and over again. The poor man must have had such a headache after all the jerking and hard stops as I tried to learn to drive a stick shift. I remember one day he got so frustrated that he left me in the church parking lot and walked home. He told me to figure it out on my own and drive home. I guess I figured it out that day because I don’t have any recollection of him returning to save me.

My sisters and I all drove this car at one point or another. We dubbed the lack of air conditioning ‘sweaty back syndrome.’ The only way to survive driving this car in the summer was to put your hair in the tightest ponytail possible, wear a tank top, roll down all the windows and hope you didn’t sweat every last bit of makeup off before you arrived at your destination.

This car was a full on workout just to make a sharp turn, all while you’re staying nice and sweaty. You could just forget about making a u-turn; not even possible for a little 16 year old girl. I think you would have had to have pumped some serious iron to be able to maneuver that! If you have ever driven a car without power steering, you know what I mean.

But, just like every 16 year knows—all I cared about was that the car ran and got me around.

What was your first vehicle? Do you have any funny memories from when you learned to drive? Share them with us!

My Plunge into a Minivan

My husband has been trying to get me to drive a minivan for years, and for years I have been resistant.  I truly tried to understand why I needed such a big vehicle when I only have two kids.  Recently, my oldest son started t-ball and I realized my time had come.  I found myself squeezing all his baseball gear into the back of my SUV while battling my backseat to fit a third booster seat to be able to carpool with his friend.  My final ah-hah moment came at Target, when I found myself with this dilemma.

I had so much kid gear in my car -- all of which I use on a daily basis and didn't want to remove -- that I could not fit my groceries in.  I immediately called my husband and said...it's time.  My time has come.

I did it.  I took the plunge into becoming a 'minivan mom.'  I had to laugh at my older sister, who became a minivan mom a few years ago, when she said, "Ten years ago, if you would have told me I'd be living in the suburbs driving a minivan I would have laughed at you."  We both commented on how convenient the Chrysler Town and Country is, and that we are happy we took the plunge into the minivan.

 

I have had my Town and Country for just 3 days and I will admit that I love it.  As I was moving all my belongings into the Town and Country, I was appalled at all the space and storage!  I am now left wondering why I was so resistant all those years.

 

I will keep you updated on my minivan adventures and what I think of the car.  Do you love your minivan?  Tell me about your plunge into your minivan.

Seven Man-Made Wonders of the US

Check out the Travel Channel's picks of the seven best man-made wonders of the US.

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, welcomes more than 2.6 million visitors per year.

The Brooklyn Bridge



John Roebling designed the Brooklyn Bridge hoping it would be perceived as a great work of art. It now is.

Washington Monument



It doesn't matter where in the world people come from, one glimpse of this and they know they're in Washington, DC.

Golden Gate Bridge



The Golden Gate Bridge is the first non-building structure to receive the "Distinguished Building Award."

The Space Needle

Seattle's 605-foot-tall Space Needle is designed to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour.

Empire State Building



Built during the Great Depression, New York City's Empire State Building is a work of determination and pride.

Hoover Dam



It took 5 years to complete the mammoth Hoover Dam on the Nevada-Arizona border.

How many of the man-made wonders have you seen?  Let us know!

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas for 2012

We have all been there...what to give Dad, Grandpa, Aunt Cindy, and on and on.  Well, this year your holiday list just got a whole lot easier.  GET has gifts that everyone will enjoy!  From the car enthusiast to the average commuter, we have something for every person on your Holiday gift list!

The GET 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Floor Mats: $60-100 - available in carpet and rubber. If you go outdoors, this is a great way to protect your floors

Remote start: $300-$500 for most cars 2008 and newer

Locking gas cap: $26 for most cars

Custom fit splash guards: $26-$49.95 for a set of two (most vehicles)

Wheel locks: $50 - a must for Wranglers, but available for most Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram vehicles

Wrangler hood lock: $160 plus $65 for install

Cargo Tray: This is the most popular accessory for new Grand Cherokee owners, but is also available for minivans and SUVs

Ram seat covers: Great protection for those who work in their trucks!

To purchase these items, or to view other items we have, contact our parts department at (877) 532-1132.

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

Teaching Our Children What Thanksgiving is all About

As the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, I have been thinking a lot about how much I have to be thankful for. In the past, I have found myself overlooking Thanksgiving and simply going from Halloween to Christmas with a simple turkey dinner and football day with the family in between. This year I have made a point to take full advantage of the amazing Thanksgiving holiday, its significance, and the teaching opportunity it holds for my two small children. Since my husband went through a battle with cancer last year, I have found myself much more grateful for the small things in life that I often took for granted before. My heart melts every night when my 4 year old son thanks God for a healthy Daddy, but I am often wondering how I can instill a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the simple and often overlooked things in life in my children’s hearts and minds at young age.

I read this article and thought my Kori’s Corner readers would appreciate it. It is a good reminder to all age groups to take a step back this Thanksgiving and appreciate all the wonderful people in our lives and all we have to be grateful for.

Helping your Child be Thankful:Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude

GET Olympic Team of Cars

We are really excited for the London Summer Olympics at GET. We love watching the Olympic Trials and are amazed at the talented and gifted athletes! We decided it would be fun to make our own Glenn E. Thomas Olympic Team of Cars! Here is what we came up with…

Beach Volleyball: Jeep Wrangler. 

The Wrangler is always fun in the sun, yet strong. It always enjoys having all the eyes on it!

Rowing: Dodge Durango. 

The Durango is tough as nails and loves a challenge. This SUV knows how to keep the pace and turn up the power when necessary.

Gymnast: Jeep Patriot. 

The Patriot is small but packs a lot of punch behind it!

Hurdles: Jeep Grand Cherokee. 

The Grand Cherokee is fast with that HEMI power and can get up when it needs to with its air suspension and quadralift.

Swimmer: Dodge Challenger. 

The Challenger with fly through the water with its aerodynamic build, low profile and HEMI power.

What do you think of our Olympic team? I would love to hear from you. Email me at kori@getdodge.com

US Presidents Love their Cars

We all know our Presidents of the United States are chauffeured in state of the art limousines, but what about their own personal fleet? I loved looking into what vehicles were owned by our Presidents both before and after they were elected. I hope you enjoy the journey down memory lane!


Automobiles arrived in the White House a little over 100 years ago, with William McKinley being the first president to ride in an automobile in 1899 (a Locomobile steam carriage). Take a look at some of our President’s vehicles:

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT:

He had the White House stables replaced with a garage. The first Presidential fleet included two Pierce-Arrows, a White Steam car, and a Baker electric car.

WOODROW WILSON:

Wilson owned a Pierce Arrow and a Rolls Royce.

HERBERT HOOVER:

Hoover owned a variety of cars including Chevrolets, Fords, and Packards. His favorite is said to have been his 1932 Cadillac V16 Fleetwood.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT:

FDR realized that vehicles with hand controls allowed him to get out and meet people despite the limitations of his wheelchair. He had a variety of cars including Cadillacs, Fords, Lincolns, Packards, and Plymouths.

The most famous car of the Roosevelt administration was the Sunshine Special. It was a 12-cylinder 1939 Lincoln convertible. This car was the first vehicle designed and built to Secret Service specifications for a President.

HARRY TRUMAN:

Truman’s personal vehicles included Dodge, Chryslers, and Plymouths. One of his very first cars was a 1917 Dodge. His last vehicle was a 1972 Chrysler Newport.

Two of his cars, a 1941 Chrysler coupe and a 1941 Chrysler sedan are on display at his Presidential Library in Missouri.

DWIGHT EISENHOWER:

Eisenhower’s personal vehicles included a 1940 Chrysler Royal, a 1949 Chrysler Windsor, and a 1968 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron.

JOHN F. KENNEDY:

JFK owned a 1959 Pontiac convertible before he was elected President. For his inauguration, he requested Ford Thunderbirds be used. Ford had a difficulty finding 25 of the vehicles for the parade because the restyled T-bird was such a hot car. Customers were actually put on hold for their new T-birds until after the inauguration.

GERALD FORD:

His first car was a 1924 Ford coupe. He purchased it in 1930 for $75. His later vehicles included a 1968 Chrysler, 1969 Ford Mustang, and a 1972 Jeep.

JIMMY CARTER:

Carter’s first personal car was a 1947 Studebaker.

RONALD REAGAN:

Reagan’s personal vehicles included a new 1934 Nash, which was his first car. He later owned a 1946 Cadillac convertible, a 1965 Lincoln stretch limousine, a 1969 Ford station wagon, and a 1976 Mercury Monarch sedan.

GEORGE BUSH:

His first car was a 1947, red Studebaker Champ. A restored Studebaker, identical to this, is on display at his Presidential Library.

BILL CLINTON:

Clinton’s father ran a Buick dealership in Arkansas, where President Clinton actually worked in the parts department. His parents gave him a 1963 white Buick LaSabre when he enrolled at Georgetown University. Clinton also owned a Gremlin, Chevrolet El Camino, and his favorite – a 1967 Ford Mustang.

GEORGE W. BUSH:

In his younger days, he owned a Triumph sports car and an Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible.

BARACK OBAMA:

President Barack Obama’s first car was his grandfather’s Ford Granada. He drove a Toyota Tercel while attending law school, and later drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee. His next vehicle was the Chrysler 300!

Thank you for looking back at our President’s vehicle history with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Contact me at kori@getdodge.com.