Cars, Patty Taboada

It’s the MINI Things

Posted on January 31, 2021by Patty

Sometimes, I think I just really need to pick on ~~someone~~ something my own size.

As someone who has always driven a trusty subcompact sedan, the experience of bigger cars has eluded me save for the occasional test drives. This has only added to my fascination with them, that I rarely spare much smaller vehicles a glance—well, perhaps a glare because a bunch of them have those god-awful “Caution: New Lady Driver” stickers (… why).

The only exception is a MINI Cooper, because how could I look away? The vintage charm of its exteriors is enough to catch my attention, and also no one who owns one would have the right mind to stick those misogynistic signs on them.

At least, I certainly hope not.

Despite never straying too far from the classic looks that have made the MINI such an iconic vehicle, everything is completely modern on the inside, which lends to a very comfortable and enjoyable ride. It’s a great companion for navigating the streets of Cebu, even as a daily driver. I’ve said that before about the MINI Cooper F56, and I can definitely say it again with the all-new MINI Cooper S 3-door.

Cars, Reviews

In Case You May Be Wondering What a GAC Motor is, I Did Too.

Posted on January 23, 2020by Patty

First of all, let me just say I don’t go looking for vehicles to review. Cars, for some reason, just find me.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not complaining, although it is amusing to think the universe somehow believes I’m someone who can talk on and on about cars, because all I know is how to make them work getting from one place to the next.

Cars, Reviews

Ford For Thought

Posted on May 2, 2019by Patty

A few years ago, I was in my car in the parking lot when this huge red pick-up took the slot in front of me, and out stepped the tiniest lady driver.

I fell in love.

No, I don’t know who that woman is, nor do I even remember what make the pick-up was. All I know is that someday, I want to be that woman who owns and drives around a car obviously too large for her like she owns the damn streets.

You can’t blame me for my lofty aspirations. I mean, I’m 4’11″—the world has always felt big, can’t reach shelves and all, and someone uses me as an armrest on occasion. For someone so vertically-challenged, it’s especially empowering to conquer something that’s beyond me, which likely explains my fascination with driving a large vehicle (but not why I’m nowhere close to writing a book in my 20’s, and I’m already 28. Send help.)

Well, the non-existent New York Times bestseller is one thing, but at least I did get one #goal off my bucket list when the Ford Motor Company‘s official dealership in Cebu reached out and asked if I could take one of their newest Ford Rangers out for a spin.

Of course I was all Ford it.