DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Marin In Golden Gate Park

Q: Let's start with the basics. What neighborhood do you live in? What's the zip code? And how old are you?

A: I live in the Presidio, 94129. I'm 25.

Q: What's your car's main use?

A: My Zipcar is my weekend escape up the coast. It's a late night cheesecake enabler, a Christmas tree shopping helper, or a best friend rescue-mobile. I find a reason to get behind the wheel maybe once a month.

Q: So its name is Matador? Why Matador?

A: Well besides being the name that Zipcar chose for it, Matador suits my fearless daredevil side.

Q: Sounds saucy. Can you tell us about one day trip you've taken recently?

A: I love going up highway one, past Olema and Inverness to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. The first time I went up there, I had woken up grumpy that morning and decided to cure my mood by going on an adventure in a white Mini Cooper convertible. I intended to go horseback riding near Olema, but grossly underestimated the drive. I went past the closed stables, top down, through a dense forest, and ended up in open farmland before I found a nearly empty parking lot. A short hike brought me to the edge of a rocky point with an awe-inspiring view of the ocean. On the way home I stopped at the Olema Farm House for dinner, cruised a little too fast down a straight stretch past a cop, and made it home refreshed and lighthearted before midnight.

Q: Is that the furthest place you've ever driven?

A: I drove a Mazda 3 from San Francisco all the way up to a place called Loon Lake. It is about an hour up a winding road in the middle of nowhere--off of Highway 50 close to Tahoe--in the middle of the night. It takes about five hours all said and done. That trip was also pretty crazy because I was all alone out in the middle of absolute nowhere at two in the morning and a man jumped out at me from the woods and tried to wave me down. I hit the gas.

Q: Do you have any rules in your car? 

A: Zipcar has six rules: Report any pre-existing damage to the car before you drive. Keep the Zipcar clean. Make sure the gas tank is at least a quarter full. No smoking, ever. Return the car on time. Always keep animals in a pet carrier.

Q: What's your favorite driving music?

A: I like to listen to any kind of music that gets me pumped up, or sometimes totally sappy music that I can belt out like the world's coming to an end. Ha ha, I love it all! Something about a great song, the movement of the car, and the beautiful vistas, it's freeing.

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

A: That would depend on the Zipcar. I generally choose the can't-keep-me-down-so-I'm-going-to-bust-out-of-this-town types.

Q: So do you ever plan on getting a car of your own in the future? 

A: At some point I definitely want to own a car, probably a Kia Sorento just so I can have it parked right outside my door.

Q: Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?

A: I don't pay for gas. Insurance is included. I never have to worry about moving my car around for street cleaning and yet it's always there when I need it. I also get great deals at restaurants and stores around the Bay Area. Yup, proud to be a zipster!