DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Edna At The Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Q: What neighborhood do you live in?

A: Downtown, Los Angeles.

Q: What are you doing in Beverly Hills?

A: Shopping. There's everything from Pottery Barn to high-end boutiques, and it's nice to be outside.

Q: How long have you owned your car?

A: I got it in February, but this is actually my third version of the BMW X3 in the same color, so...

Q: So you really like the car.

A: Yes. I also don't like change.

Q: How long have you owned this model?

A: I got my first X3 in 2004.

Q: How old are you, if you don't mind my asking?

A: I'm 33. And actually, three is my lucky number. This is my third X3, and I'm 33.

Q: Fantastic. That means you'll have good luck this year.

A: I know, right?

Q: And what is your car's main use?

A: To get me from A to B without having to be too careful with it. I drive over potholes galore because we're in Los Angeles, and I feel like I don't hurt my car.

Q: Is it mainly for commuting, or do you take day-trips?

A: I drive it to San Diego because that's where my family is, and this particular version of my car has a ski rack because I love going up to Mammoth, so we take it to Mammoth all the time.

Q: Can you tell me about a trip to Mammoth?

A: Actually, I wish that my car had better snow tires because I did go up a hill and didn't quite make it.

Q: Oh no, what happened?

A: Yeah, it sucked. I went up the hill. I must have hit like an ice patch, and I could feel my car's tires spinning, and I then I just slid backwards.

Q: There was no one behind you?

A: No one was behind me, and somebody helped us push the car into a parking spot that was behind us, so we just had to walk all our stuff up the hill, and it wasn't that large of a hill.

Q: Who did you go with?

A: My husband and my brother. In February, actually like two weeks after I got my car. So perhaps it was user error. I am OK with saying that.

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

A: [From L.A.] to Mammoth. It's like a five to six hour drive.

Q: Would you say that's the craziest place you've ever driven to?

A: Yes, only because the two times we drove up to Mammoth were during two of the largest snowstorms, and I don't ever drive in snow except for going to Mammoth, so it was a little nerve racking.

Q: Do you have any rules in your car?

A: No smoking. I don't care if people eat in it.

Q: What do you listen to in the car?

A: On my drive home, sometimes I just listen to Top 40s. But I don't usually bring my own CDs or anything. It's just whatever is on the radio. Although actually I would much rather prefer to speak with somebody and get that out of the way than listen to music. I have to call my mom, my dad, and my brother often, so it's nice for me to get that out of my day, while I'm in my car and can't do productive work.

Q: How long is your commute?

A: My commute can be anywhere from 20 minutes with no traffic whatsoever to an hour and 20 minutes, depending on the time of day and which route I take.

Q: What's your least favorite part about your commute?

A: I have to drive and can't get work done.

Q: Why did you get the X3?

A: It was reasonably priced for a high-end car, which made me not have to look into whether or not it was safe because you think that being a high-end car it would be. And this particular time around, I just got it because it was what I was used to and what I liked. It works for me and hauls all the crap I need to haul around.

Q: How did you come about the first X3 you bought?

A: Well, it first came out, and I saw the commercials, and I loved the commercials so much. And we were already going up to Mammoth a lot, and my husband and I did not—at the time he was boyfriend—have an SUV, so we knew that our next car had to be an SUV. I was like I want that car. I had no idea how much it cost, if it fit my budget. I went from a Honda Civic to that.

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

A: Aloof. It just flies under the radar. It's a normal car, trustworthy, unassuming.

Q: OK, and now for a really random question. If your car slept with a stuffed animal at night, what would it be?

A: It would be my brother's Koala bear called Win-Win, because my brother's name is Edwin. Win-Win is probably the only toy from my or my brother's childhood that we've saved.

Q: What's your absolute dream car?

A: I don't have a dream car. Cars for me aren't material objects, like I don't look at my BMW as a status symbol. I don't care for fancy Ferraris or Lamborghinis.

Q: Any classic cars?

A: I love the old Ford Model T because it's adorable, if I had a museum. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love going to car shows and seeing all the new features cars have nowadays, and I love to see all the exotic cars. And you know if I could afford a driver, maybe I'd get a Rolls-Royce.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about your car?

A: My X3 has never broke down, never gave me a problem. It always tells me when it needs its oil changed or if its tire is going flat.

Q: What's your general philosophy about driving?

A: I need to get where I need to get. I use common sense. I'm an aggressive driver, but a safe driver. I never cut people off. If I'm swerving in and out of traffic, I do it very safely, and I really wish other people would practice that as well.

Q: Do you have pet peeves about other drivers?

A: That they drive slowly and are in my way!