DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Hayden At The Village Theatre
"As an actor, I drive a lot around L.A., so [my car] is like a second home."
- The Ride
- The Driver: Hayden
- Car in Question: Silver 2003 Toyota Tacoma Pickup Truck
- Spotted at: The Village Theatre, 961 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- Odometer: 73,809
- Car's Nickname: Lunar Mist
THE DEFENSE
Q: What neighborhood do you live in and what's the zip code?
A: I live in West L.A., 90025.
Q: How long have you owned your truck?
A: Eight years. I was the first owner.
Q: And why did you buy it?
A: Well, originally I wanted a Toyota 4Runner, but I couldn't afford it. It's a four-door truck, so it's the next best thing. I liked it for a while, so then I went to the dealership and bought it.
Q: Did you buy it here in California?
A: Yeah, I bought it here in L.A., in Culver City.
Q: What is your car's nickname?
A: I don't really have a nickname for it. However, the color of the paint is Lunar Mist, so I think that's really cool. I can call it the Lunar Mist!
Q: How much time do you spend in your car?
A: I spend a lot of time in it. As an actor, I drive a lot around L.A. for auditions and acting class. So it's like a second home, definitely.
Q: What's the worst part about driving in L.A.?
A: The worst part is, I mean, it's got to be the traffic. What else can you say except dealing with people who can't drive?
Q: How many hours a day do you spend in your car?
A: At least one or two hours.
Q: Do you ever use Lunar Mist for weekend trips?
A: Yeah, I do actually. I cycle and scuba dive, so I'd drive up to Santa Barbara or down to San Diego or go to Catalina.
Q: Can you think of a favorite daytrip you've done recently?
A: A few weeks ago, my friends and I drove up to Palm Springs with Lunar Mist, and we loaded all of our stuff in the back. We had a barbecue, rented a house. It was awesome!
Q: How long were you up there?
A: Three days.
Q: How long did it take for you to get there?
A: Well, going there took like five hours because of the aforementioned traffic, but on the way back it took an hour and a half because there was no traffic.
Q: Where is the farthest place you've driven to with this truck?
A: The farthest is probably around Lake Tahoe, roughly about 450 miles.
Q: Where's the craziest place you've ever driven to?
A: It would probably be getting lost after an acting class in Downtown L.A. I was lost in Skid Row with all the homeless people coming up to the truck and getting on the windows at night when my gaslight was coming on. That was pretty crazy.
Q: How long ago was that?
A: About three years ago.
Q: How did you get out of that?
A: I just kept circling around looking for the freeway, and then I finally found the 10.
Q: Do you have any rules in the car?
A: Rules? No backseat driving. Just shut up, don't touch the radio dial, and just let me do my thing.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
A: I mostly just listen to whatever is on the radio.
Q: Do you ever rock out?
A: Oh yeah, all the time. At red lights, people think I'm crazy because I'm like rocking out to Lady Gaga. They must think I'm nuts, but I don't care.
Q: If your car had a theme song, what would it be?
A: Well, maybe because it's also my theme song, "My Life" by Billy Joel. Like, I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life.
Q: If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?
A: It would probably be perseverance. Because you know my car's characteristics take on my characteristics. You gotta have perseverance!
Q: What do you think your next car will realistically be?
A: I've had a great time with my big pickup truck, but my next car will probably be some smaller two-door coupe, so I never have to help anyone move ever again.
Q: What's your dream car, your ideal car?
A: I don't know. I really want a convertible. Maybe like a three-series BMW convertible in a dark blue.
Q: If you got one, what would you name it?
A: Stealth!
Q: Do you have any philosophies about driving in L.A.?
A: I've just learned to accept that people in L.A. can't drive, and I'm willing to accept the traffic. So now I just try to be very calm and very Zen-like when people cut me off or they're making a wrong turn onto a one-way street. You just have to accept it. There's no sense in getting road rage because it's just bad for yourself.
Q: Is there anything else we should know about your truck?
A: It's a good truck. I'm proud that it's mine.
Are you ready to Defend Your Ride? If so, email localautos@cbs.com with "Defend Your Ride L.A." in the subject line for submission details.
Photos and interview by Michael Shen, blogger of lacantdrive.com
