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DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Corriann At The Hyland Ski Jump

"It fits the kids really well."

The Ride
The Driver: Corriann 
Car in Question: Black 2009 Mazda 5
Spotted at: Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Hyland Ski Jump, 8800 Chalet Road, Bloomington, MN 55438
Odometer: 30,000

THE DEFENSE

Q: Hi Corriann. What brings you to the Hyland Park area today?

A: I grew up in Bloomington. I've always really enjoyed coming back to Bloomington to this and the Normandale Lake there and going around the lake with the kids. I used to work at Hyland Hills Ski Resort with my husband. That's how we met. So we like to go there. We like to take the kids there for skiing. They have a ton of bike trails around the lake, Bush Lake, which is right across from Hyland. Rollerblading. They have a chutes and ladders park for the kids. So there are just a lot of family activities to do here.

Q: Did you buy your vehicle with those kinds of activities in mind?

A: My original car, yes. This one, yes a little bit, because it fits the kids really well. And the back of the car, the seats fold down and stuff, so we can store some more things in there. It fits the bike trailer.

Q: Do you use your car mostly for biking trips? Is that the primary use?

A: The primary use is carting kids around. So either commuting to and from work or picking up kids from activities, or going to do things together, or traveling up to the cabin.

Q: How far away is the cabin?

A: It's a two-hour drive, so 150 miles round trip I think.

Q: Have you ever given any of your cars nicknames?

A: Yes. I had an old '84 Subaru that I named Betsy.

Q: Why haven't you named this one?

A: I haven't thought about it yet and it's very new. I purchased it in January.

Q: Do you have any rules about your car?

A: No, I don't think so. Food is ok. No cigarettes. No smoking.

Q: Do you listen to anything in the car?

A: I mostly listen to whatever video the kids are playing. Currently it's Max and Ruby!

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

A: Can't think of a theme song for my car. But I can think of one for my husband. It's "You can get with this or you can get with that" because he's got the toaster. The car that looks like the toaster!

Q: If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?

A: Hard to say. Maybe sexy because it looks like a slipper, a lady's slipper. That's what I've been told at least.

Q: What are some of your favorite features of the car?

A: The sliding doors because my daughter is at the age where she can kind of get in and out of the car on her own. So I don't have to worry about her slamming the other cars that we're parked next to. I like the leather heated seats. And they've got the volume control on the steering wheel. We've got the third row, so if we did want to take anybody extra, they'd fit, like one of our little cousins.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about your non-minivan Mazda?

A: It's considered a mini-minivan. It has been a really good car so far. Good gas mileage. And my daughter thinks it is cool. It fits two car seats. And it's got pretty good legroom in the back, so that's nice. The kids aren't kicking the back of the seats.

Photos and interview by Marla Geary

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



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