Car Review - Chevrolet Tahoe

It's been a while since my last car review!  Months actually!  And this one is a bit overdue, as I was able to drive this puppy around the weekend after Thanksgiving.  But between the constant vomming that was my first trimester, and the hustle and bustle of the holidays, time got away from me!  So here it is sweet friends.  My weekend with a Tahoe...

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe

Type of car: Large SUV

Price Range of car: The average paid for this car is $40,000 - $60,000 and that is according to US News.   So this is a bit on the higher end range for sure. 

How does it drive: Spoiler alert!  I.  Love.  This.  Car.  It drives smooth and I love feeling “big” on the road.  It was easy to navigate and had blind spot protection.  Truthfully I was afraid I would hate driving the Tahoe because it is so big, but it was so easy to handle that I could still whip around town, despite the size.   

Safety Review:   This car is so safe and it feels so safe.  It has all the airbags you could ever want, while also having traction for the rain.  I would pack up my entire family in this and drive for days. 

Interior Review:   The interior is so comfy y’all.  It is spacious and feels luxurious while also being practical.  Being that Matt is 6’4’’ his comfort is always key when driving cars and, as you can imagine, he felt right at home.  I love the DVD option in the back so that when G can watch a shower or movie on long car rides.  The dashboard is amazing - so many features that make driving easier and safer.  And as you can see by the fingerprints on the photo, I had quite the time figuring them all out!  The steering wheel and speedometers were easy to read and easy to follow. This may sound basic but in my current SUV, I have the speedometer set to digital because I just cannot read the circle part!  So no, in the Tahoe, that is not an issue at all J

Trunk/Back Compartment Review:  The back compartment is roomy for sure and has a third seat option which is nice.  There is plenty of room to pack a family, some luggage and then some.

Exterior Review:  I mean y'all can see for yourself.  I think Tahoes are so classic.  And classy.  And just plain ole’ nice looking!  I love the sleek design on the newer models and my favorite color in a car is black so I was smitten with this one.    

Specials:  And as always Jeff Gordon offers the service guarantee that comes standard with cars purchased or leased that are an eligible, new 2014 Chevrolet, Buick or GMC car, truck or crossover in the U.S.   The car is covered by a new maintenance program that includes certain scheduled services for two years or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first.  Here’s the link to all the jazz for your further reading J   http://www.chevrolet.com/comprehensive-coverage.html

From me to you:  I mean I love this car.  If money were no object than Matt and I would snatch this bad boy up in a second.  Shoot, we’d get two! It is a bit on the pricier side for cars, but it is a great car.  I can promise that if you take the plunge you won’t regret it.  

Find me here: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Subscribe

Jeff Gordon Review - Malibu

Happy Thursday!  

I’m excited to continue with my Jeff Gordon Car Reviews today as I talk about my weekend with the Malibu!  If you missed my review on the Equinox you can find that here.  And as always you can check out all available Chevrolet cars at Jeff Gordon Chevrolet or online here.

2014 Chevrolet Malibu

Type of car: Small Sedan

Price Range of car: The average paid for this car is $22,000 - $29,000 and that is according to US News.   

How does it drive:  This car is a good ride for sure.  It drove smooth and was so easy to navigate.  It is a compact car so my sister-in-laws and I took it shopping one day to test it out.  It was very easy to pull in and out of small parking spaces and drive through those tiny streets of shopping centers.  It was also pouring down rain and I will say the car felt safe even during the downpour. 

Safety Review:   I have no doubt in my mind that I was safe while driving this car.  It has all-over airbags and a superb safety rating by the USN.  With that said, it is a small car.  And I think I may have a complex or something, but I’m just not going to feel as safe in a small sedan as I am in a big SUV.  Is anyone?  But, again I never felt unsafe in any way and this car is much easier to navigate than a big ole SUV that’s for sure!  Like I said I chose to drive it around Myrtle Beach and on highways in hurricane-like weather and it never lost traction or made me feel out of control.  I attribute some of that to the traction control (I talked about that in the Equinox as well) and I am convinced all of my cars from now on must have this! Overall, this car is safe and I would pack up my family in it in a heartbeat. 

Interior Review:   The interior is perfectly comfortable and the girls and I had no problem getting in and out and packing in our Anthropologie bags.  My mom has a Malibu for her job because she travels so much and I know she raves about the comfort.  She spends a lot of time in hers and a lot of miles on the road and she is always saying how easy it is to drive.  However, I have to give the opinion of my husband as well.  He drove it back from Myrtle Beach and well, he was a little uncomfortable.  He is 6’4’’ and he was uncomfortable in my old Lexus SUV too – I mean my man’s got some long legs, ya know?  So if you are a tall man or woman, say over 6’2’’ I’m sure you would agree that maybe a car with a bit more leg room is a better fit for you.  Other than that, comfort is your friend here!  Another amazing feature to mention: IT HAS WIFI!  Yes, you heard me right.  This car has WiFi so when using my maps on my phone I didn't have to use my data via 3G.  It also makes it nice for passengers to search their phone without using data.  Amazing my friends.  Truly amazing.  

Trunk/Back Compartment Review:  The back compartment is pretty standard to that of a small sedan.  The guys could fit two sets of golf clubs in the trunk with no problem at all.  It also has the grocery net and I’m not sure why, but I just love those things!

Exterior Review:  I love the cute little look of these Malibu’s.  I think my mama looks so chic driving around in hers.  I loved the color of the one I drove as well.  The blue shines in the sun and makes me feel oh so fancy J

Specials: (This section will stay the same most months – unless there is a specific special they are running for the time-being!) One thing I love about Jeff Gordon is the service guarantee that comes standard with cars purchased or leased that are an eligible, new 2014 Chevrolet, Buick or GMC car, truck or crossover in the U.S.   The car is covered by a new maintenance program that includes certain scheduled services for two years or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first.  Here’s the link to all the jazz for your further reading J   http://www.chevrolet.com/comprehensive-coverage.html

From me to you:  Total honesty friends.  I really like this car.  I felt comfortable in it, totally safe and it was so easy for me to drive around town.  Is it the right car for our family?  No.  Matt was uncomfortable driving a smaller car and if we had Georgia and Sevilla with us, things would have been a bit cramped.  Who is this car right for?  I would say this car is perfect for someone who does a lot of traveling (the gas mileage is AMAZINGGGGGGGG), a single adult or a couple looking for a small, economical, but nice car.  If you have kids in college who you visit a lot?  This car would make perfect sense! 

Any one have any experience with a Malibu?  What other small sedans do yall like?

Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Website

(910) 338-1690

Find me here: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Subscribe

Car Review - Chevrolet Equinox

Happy Thursday!  

So yesterday I told y'all my super exciting announcement.  I talked about my last (and first!) experience with buying a car.  Well, this next experience is going to be better, I’m sure of it.  One reason for that is that for the next few months I will be test driving and writing real, honest, mom-to-mom, woman-to-woman car reviews for a variety of Chevrolet cars.  Jeff Gordon Chevrolet has been so kind to work with me during this process and have offered to work with any of you out there who are looking for a car.  You can go to their website and even purchase a car online.  You can also call their sales team with any questions, concerns or just to say hey!  I have not met someone I didn’t want to hug over there, especially my boy Errington and sweet (now friend!) Leacy. 

So today I’m going to start off those reviews with a little about the Chevy Equinox.  I chose this one first because like y’all already know, Matt and I wanted (still do) a small SUV – something that will fit my baby (one day that will be plural) and all of my stuff, and not to mention I like being off the ground a little bit.  Maybe I have a complex, ha.  Nonetheless, here is what I thought of my weekend with an Equinox
(and be on the lookout early next week for my YouTube Video.  I’ll post a link here, so you can get an actual tour of this gem of car).

2014 Chevrolet Equinox 2LT

Type of car: Small (Compact) SUV

Price Range of car: The average paid for this car is $24,000 - $33,000 and that is according to US News.   The 2014 LTZ that I drove (had only 60ish miles) was about $34,000.

How does it drive: Y’all this car drives so smooth.  I felt like the brakes were somewhere in between my old Lexus SUV (loose) and a Mercedes SUV (tight).  One of my favorite features is that the steering wheel has so many positions.  You can move it up, down, forward and backward.  I SO wish I would’ve had that option when I was pregnant!  As my belly grew, driving became such a pain and so uncomfortable, not to mention the fact that I felt more and more unsafe with my belly so close to the steering wheel.  The Equinox allows you to adjust all of that to make sure you always have a comfortable fit no matter what shape or size you are.  And as a woman I love that even when I’m not preggy!

such a great back-up camera

probably my favorite thing about the car

Safety Review:   One of the most important things to me when potentially buying a car is safety – especially now that my heart and soul are packed carefully in the backseat with cheerios and a sippy cup.  I need to know that if I were in a wreck, my baby angel would be protected as best as possible by the car I’m driving.  I will say that in the Chevy Equinox, I felt just that.  It has all over air bags which is key, but another feature I love is the traction control.  In Wilmington when it rains a lot (aka THIS WEEK), our streets and roads flood easily, leaving the sides of our roads filled with huge puddles that are somewhat unavoidable when driving.  I can’t tell you how many times I have hydroplaned or saw wrecks around these puddles.  Luckily with the Equinox I didn’t have to worry about it.  I felt completely safe when I had to drive in uneasy conditions because of the traction control.  Another one of my favorite features?!?  This may be my most favorite of all – the side view mirrors!  They provide an excellent view of side traffic… And!  And!  They have another tiny mirror in the top corner that allows you to see the blind spot.  I’m not going to lie, there has been a time or two where I may have not seen a car in my blind spot and tried to switch lanes, only to be honked and beeped at and been left with severe heart palpitations!  Well, with this trusty little helper, that is never an issue.  Overall, this car is safe and I would pack up my family in it in a heartbeat. 

Interior Review:   The interior is so comfy y’all.  One of my biggest concerns was the back seat comfort level, because well, since having a baby, I find myself riding back there with her more than usual (I mean hello, who is going to provide and unending supply of Puffs and peek-a-boo on the way to church?!).  So I was so pleased to find that I had plenty of room sitting behind the driver’s seat.  And that is saying a lot considering my 6’4’’ husband was in the driver’s seat and also requires plenty of space up front.  So the interior passed my first test for sure.  A few other things I loved: the dashboard and the center console.  You can clearly see the pictures of the dashboard – so many amazing features.  I love a back-up camera, because again, I may have backed into a parked car… or mailbox… or five.  It happens ya know?  Not with these cameras.  So clear and easy to use.  You can play your Pandora through this car too(G loves the Disney channel so she can sing along to Little Mermaid songs!).  The Bluetooth feature is nice so I’m not fumbling with my phone when someone calls.  And while I’m talking about phones here, you can charge your phone through the USB cord in the center console, so again, you are not tempted to mess with it.  Love that.  One thing I wish it had, and to be honest my last two compact SUV’s did not have this so I’m beginning to think it’s not a thing with this size car, was an overhead AC vent in the back.  It gets hot here and I always hate putting G in the car seat even with the AC on full blast because I feel like she just can’t feel it.  Maybe this is a silly worry of mine, and it has by no means affected whether I purchase a car or not, but just something to note. 

Trunk/Back Compartment Review:  The back compartment is pretty standard to that of a Compact SUV.  It is on the bigger side for sure and I love the grocery/storage net.  The seats can also fold down for more room. 

Exterior Review:  This car looks niiiiiiiiiiiice.  I felt pretty snazzy driving around all weekend in this baby.  I love the rounded front and the color of the one I drove is probably my favorite.  I’m a simple girl when it comes to cars.  I stick to neutrals – whites, blacks, grays and occasionally champagne (I’m crazy I know!).  But this car definitely gives the feel of luxury.  You can get the Equinox in 11 different colors, however (if you want to live on the wild side):

And there are also a bunch of trims and options available so you can customize your car which is so fun.

Specials:  One thing I love about Jeff Gordon is the service guarantee that comes standard with cars purchased or leased that are an eligible, new 2014 Chevrolet, Buick or GMC car, truck or crossover in the U.S.   The car is covered by a new maintenance program that includes certain scheduled services for two years or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first.  Here’s the link to all the jazz for your further reading:  http://www.chevrolet.com/comprehensive-coverage.html. Also Jeff Gordon has discounts for teachers, military & their spouses, Costco members, college students, and more.  Discounts on cars?  I'll take it!  Here's a link to more incentives offered: http://www.jeffgordonchevy.com/CorporateIncentives

From me to you:  Total honesty friends.  I love this car.  It may be the winner for Matt and I in the end, but only time will tell.  It’s perfect for a slew of people.  A growing family, a mom toting up to 2 kids, a couple who wants a car with some storage, a single parent who needs something bigger but still great on gas (It gets an EPA-estimated 22 MPG city/32 highway).  This is the perfect transition from a sedan to an SUV.  It has four thumbs up from G and I that’s for sure.

Check out the available Equinox SUVs HERE

So that's what I thought.  Any of y'all have an Equinox?  Anything you are curious about that I didn't cover?  Any car you would like me to review in particular?  Maybe one you are interested in?  Comment below or send an email to denise.lopatka@gmail.com and I'll see what I can do!

Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Website
(910) 338-1690

Find me here: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Subscribe

that time we bought a car on ebay

just reading up on the safety features....

matt and i have always been extremely blessed in the car situation.  my parents gave me their old car in college and it was in great condition.  matt bought his car from his brother for very little when he was in college and we have never had to worry about car stuff.  no payments or anything.  well both of those events happened years ago.  and both of our cars have started to struggle (although my husband would argue with that).  his car is reaching 200,000 miles (and still kickin!  yay for hondas!) and my car had started to have a lot of problems - more problems than it was worth.  so we took the plunge in December and bought our first car!  such an adult thing to do.  and even crazier than that, we bought it on ebay!  i know i know.  but that's my husband for you.  he finds the best deal possible, does TONS of research - for months and months and months - (I love you babe) and then pulls the trigger.  he's a smart man you know.  one of the many thousand reasons i married him (yay me!).  so that's kinda how this went.  we test drove a similar car in Wilmington before making our purchase. we knew we wanted a small SUV and we love our car.  we really do.  but i'd be lying if i said it didn't come with a few disappointments.  

for starters, the back seat and back storage area are both a little smaller than we had hoped.  that's the main issue for little ole me.  because i ride back there at times now with baby G while Matt drives.  so it can get a little cramped.  also - there is no AC vent in the back on the ceiling leaving our tiny baby lady so sweaty despite the AC being on high.  so matt and i are looking at some options.  we may keep our car, because, like i said, we really do like it.  it's safe and does the job.  but we are also looking again.  and we are starting with chevys.  which leads me to some exciting news and a little secret i've been keeping.  for the next few months (starting NOW!) i will be collaborating with Jeff Gordan Chevrolet.  i'll be test driving some cars and writing honest reviews!  they aren't paying me or anything, just being kind enough to let me drive some cars.  so these reviews are all me yall.  no beating around the bush.  so excited to give yall straight-up opinions.  because buying a car is intense.  and scary.  and as a woman, i sometimes feel so clueless.  well no more!  so with that i will leave ya, but come back tomorrow because i'm reviewing my first car - a Chevrolet Equinox!

Have you had any experience car shopping lately?  Any tips or things I should be aware of?  Anything imparticular you would like for me to mention in the review? 

see yall tomorrow!!

ps - how pumped does gigi look about driving that equinox for the weekend?
she was bit emotional when we had to give it back....

xox

Find me here: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Subscribe