DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Mikey On South Street

Q: Hi Mikey. Let's start with how driving your Audi makes you feel?

A: Although I loathe traffic to the core of my being, to say I love driving is an understatement. I prefer real driving, the kind done with three pedals and a manual shifter. To get weirdly philosophical, I sometimes feel that when I'm behind the wheel, it's an extension of my own body.

Q: How did you get your car?

A: I spotted the used car on Cars.com one day and I had to have it. At the time, I was driving around a '99 A4, the original Rowdy Audi. This car was pretty much the same thing except newer with preferable interior/exterior colors--red on black with silver trim as opposed to dark gray on a gross tan and wood trim interior--and updates like a six-speed transmission versus the five gears in my previous A4.

Q: Who did you buy the car from?

A: The car was at J&S Autohaus in Ewing, N.J., a dealership that specializes in Audis and other luxury makes. The experience was pretty cut and dry. I came in one morning and was out of there by the early afternoon with my new car. I wish I could have gotten more for my trade-in, but I knew I'd driven it into the ground.

Q: How do you feel about the Rowdy Audi 2.0?

A: I used to be a hater of Audis and more of a Japanese-car person. It's flipped around now. I don't think I'll ever drive anything other than an Audi or VW. Maybe I'd consider other European makes like BMW.

Q: Have you taken it on any weekend trips?

A: In the two and a half years I've owned this car, I've taken it on plenty of trips. I've gone to Toronto, Canada, Hartford, Connecticut, Boston, Massachusetts and several trips to New York City and all over New Jersey. I've yet to really drive it down south. My favorite trip is definitely going up along the eastern part of Pennsylvania through New York, west and into the Great Lakes area.

Q: What's the one thing you would change or add to your car if you could?

A: I've been meaning to get a new front grille so that I can finally use this European license plate I had ordered for my previous Audi. Aside from that, blacking out the chrome that runs along the windows for the length of the car is also a consideration.

Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us about your ride?

A: There are little nicks and dents that most people would overlook but they're huge eyesores to me. Also, my car's rear is pretty unique. I had the taillights tinted when I had the windows done and the bottom part of the bumper used to be gray plastic. I had it painted gloss black when I had the rear bumper repaired in an insurance claim.

Photos by Allie Harcharek and interview by Michaelangelo Ilagan

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