DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Richard At The John G. Shedd Mansion

Q: Hi Richard! Thank you for participating in Defend Your Ride Chicago. Tell us, how did you acquire this vehicle?

A: Believe it or not, this is actually my fifth car in four years. My first car was a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. My next car was a 1995 red Ford pickup truck. After that, it was a 2004 BMW. Then I bought a 2007 Jeep. I really didn't like that car, so I went back to the dealer and traded the Jeep in for this car. That was about six months ago.

Q: Did you purchase all of these cars yourself or did your parents help you out?

A: My parents have been really good to me. Ever since I was sixteen, they wanted me to have a car, which is nice of them. I know a lot of people whose parents won't even help them purchase one, let alone just give them one. My first three cars were hand me downs from my dad. They were originally all his cars, so as he upgraded his cars, he would give me his old ones. With this car though, I felt I was finally ready to take on grown up responsibilities and buy my own car.

Q: So what happened to all of those cars?

A: They sold the Ford pickup. They gave my sister the Pontiac. They kept the BMW. I traded in the Jeep for the Malibu. The only reason why I didn't keep the BMW, or the Jeep, was because those cars used up entirely too much gas. I work in retail, so I don't make a whole lot of money right now. I don't want to blow all of my cash on gas.

Q: What are some of the features that attracted you to this car?

A: I like the double moon roofs in the back. I also like the fact that it was extremely spacious. It's really almost shaped like a new day station wagon. I can recline the back passenger seats all the way down, or all the way forward depending on what I need to do, which is great because if I have large things to transport. I have the room to do it. Plus, my friends and I have had to sleep out in this car several times when we've gone to Wisconsin, so it really suits my needs.

Q: What is up in Wisconsin?

A: I went to a private boarding Catholic school up in Wisconsin for two years. I look at a lot of those guys like my brothers, so now that they're in college, I try to go up there as much as I can.

Q: Can you tell me the backstory behind the ukulele?

A: My friend left it in the car. I keep forgetting to give it back to him. Every time I'm waiting to pick up a friend or something, I whip it out and play it. At first I just did it to be funny, but now it's kind of my ritual.

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

A: I'm really into Batman, so if I could give it a nickname, it would be the Batmobile. I guess it doesn't really make sense since the car is white. So I guess I have to call it The White Mobile, even though it's a corny name.

Q: Finally, if the sky were the limit, what would be your absolute dream car?

A: A safari type Jeep Wrangler with no doors and top. That would be pretty awesome, but I don't know how practical that would be with Chicago weather. I guess it could only be a summer car.