DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Katie At The Hollywood Sign

Q: Cougar. Is that a self-description of the owner?

A: Haha, I never thought of that. I do like younger men. No, the thing is my other car was Maverick. I name all of my cars off of the characters from Top Gun. This was going to be Ice Man because it's silver, but then he's kind of a jerk, so then I was going to change it to Goose. But then I remembered that he dies in the end, so then that wasn't cool.

Q: How long have you owned this car?

A: A year. I purchased it from my mother when she got a new SAAB.

Q: How many of those miles have you personally put on?

A: About 10,000…15,000.

Q: So why are we by the Hollywood Sign?

A: I love the view from here. I also used to play ultimate Frisbee up here, but then I twisted my ankle, and so it was no longer any fun.

Q: So what's your car's main use? Do you use it only for commuting or do you take day trips?

A: I take day trips. Been down to San Diego a few times. I have a lot of friends in the West Side. I go to class at The Groundlings.

Q: What's your favorite day trip from your home?

A: The best day trip was to San Diego driving on the 5 when you hit that front where you can see the water after you get past all the oil refineries. It's actually quite a nice drive.

Q: Who did you go with?

A: The last trip was last year with my friends, Jim and Melissa. My friend Katie was running her first triathlon down in San Diego, so we drove down to yell, scream and support. And I jumped in a bounce house, it was very exciting.

Q: Oh, they had a bounce house at the end of the finish line?

A: Well, people of my weight capacity were probably not welcome, but my height kind of got me in, so that was good.

Q: How tall are you?

A: Five foot, without heels.

Q: Do you have any rules in this car?

A: Let's see, I don't mind if people eat, I just don't like it when people aren't good car eaters.

Q: What's a good car eater?

A: Like somebody who picks up stuff that's empty. And the crumbs. I'm not a crumby...I'm not a fan of that. So I like it when people place napkins in appropriate places to support juices flowing from food as well as crumbs.

Q: So you're not a crumby, but a crumbist.

A: Yes! A crumbist, I love that word! Yes, that's exactly what it is.

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

A: "Born to Run."

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

A: It would be a little aggressive, like it would be a mixture. A little aggressive, yet unassuming. It's a guy... a guy car.

Q: Right, it's a guy car, because its name is Cougar.

A: I don't like it when people call a car a "she." I don't get that, because it's an aggressive thing. It's more manly. Cars in general...boats. I don't know why they say like, "Oh, she's a beaut," not to say beaut but...I just think cars should be more masculine.

Q: Lastly, what would you say you are most proud of about this car?

A: It's five years-old, but you wouldn't guess based on its body that it's as old as it is. I like the wood interior. For having it be a small sedan and for having a six-cylinder engine, that's pretty kick-ass, if I can say so myself.

Photos and interview by Michael Shen, blogger of lacantdrive.com

View previous Defend Your Ride features as well as other great stories for people who love cars at CBSLA.com/Autos.