DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Akinyele At The Museum Of Science And Industry

Q: How long have you owned your vehicle?

A: Around a year now.

Q: How did you come about your vehicle?

A: Well I bought it from an auction. It was a really terrible experience. When I bought the car, they didn't reveal to me that there were numerous things wrong with it. I've had to spend quite a bit of money fixing those things.

Q: Were you able to bring a mechanic with you at all to help you check the car?

A: There was about an hour before the auction where you could look at the cars you were interested in. The only problem with that was there were hundreds of cars in the lot. It was very difficult to search out and seek everything that was wrong with each car. I would suggest that anyone choosing to go to an auction find about four or five cars that you like. Bring different mechanics with you to look at the cars. Also, research different auctions. Some auctions allow you to start the car up. Others offer warranties. Make sure you thoroughly understand the process beforehand.

Q: How many cars have you owned prior to buying this one?

A: Four. I owned a 1996 Land Rover Discovery, a 1992 Lexus LS 400, a 1996 Mercedes 350, and a 1994 Buick LeSabre.

Q: Did you purchase all these cars yourself?

A: One car was purchased for me, but all the other cars my parents and I had an arrangement where we both paid a percentage of the cost. I would probably do the same thing for my kids--purchase the first one or two for them. After that I would ask for a plan of action on how we're going to get the car paid off. I would want them to learn how to take responsibility just like I had to learn.

Q: What are your views on American cars versus foreign cars?

A: All my cars were great at what they did. The only downside to certain cars was that it cost more to fix some than others. For example, to get the brakes fixed on this car, it didn't cost that much, but with the Mercedes and the Land Rover, it was a lot more.

Q: What is your car's main use?

A: Business, work, and play. I spend about 10 to 30 hours a week in my car.

Q: What's the furthest place you've ever driven to in this car?

A: I haven't driven there yet in this car, but I would probably say Champaign, Illinois. It's probably going to be a long and boring drive.

Q:  What are you going to do to help deal with the boredom?

A: It will probably be a mix of speeding, listening to music, and motivational CDs.

Q: What type of music do you listen to in your car?

A: I listen to a lot of different types of music, but I primarily play a lot of '60s, '70s, and '80s, R&B and soul music--Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, and Prince, for example.

Q: Do you ever rock out, pump it up, or dance in the car, while you're listening to music?

A: Depends on the day. When Michael Jackson died and they were playing his music 24/7, I was definitely in the car doing all of his dances.

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

A: Positive, just like me. I like to surround myself with positive people and positive things, so my car would have to be positive.

Q: Do you have a nickname for your car?

A: Champagne.

Q: Why do you call it Champagne?

A: I refer to it as Champagne because it is champagne colored. It's also the name of the town where I went to college [Champaign, Il].

Q: Do you have any rules for your car?

A: No smoking, no smoking, no smoking. I like my lungs. If you put something down or finish something, don't leave it in my car. Just don't treat my car any differently than how you would want your car to be treated.

Q: What are some of the features you like about this car?

A: I appreciate the CD player, cruise control, antilock brakes, leather seats, the fact it's easy on gas and it's low-maintenance.

Q: What's the craziest place you've ever driven to in this car?

A: I can't say I've ever driven to a crazy place, but I can tell you one of the craziest things I've ever done. I had to leave my house in the middle of the night, drive to Elk Grove Village, and help a friend fix her tire. When I got there, I tried to put the doughnut on the car, but it wouldn't fit. We had to wait for a tow truck, which took hours. After that, I took her to work, took her kids to school, and then I headed to work. It was a very long night.

Q: What do you think your next car will realistically be?

A: Probably another Chevy. Maybe a 2008 or 2009 Chevy Malibu. I want another Chevy because I know the brand is dependable and easy to fix, if something does happen.

Q: What would your dream car be?

A: A Bentley Azure. It's the greatest car ever made.