Some pie for us all

Remember when I mentioned my mother's desire for a car that wasn't an old, white van? We all laughed then, oh yes, but now she's gone and found one.

My two conditions for this "new car" were that it not be an SUV, and that it not be a Honda Element. I was fighting a hard battle there, because she insists that she needs a "tall car". All tall cars, aside from old, white vans, are SUVs or Honda Elements. She was against an SUV, thank god, but thought the Element was "cute!" and "weee!". I don't feel like going into my argument against the Honda Element right now, because I've been discussing it with everyone I see lately, and they all seem to love it, so my confidence is a little battered. Suffice to say it's a gut reaction to its appearance. And advertising campaign.

Right, so my mother enlisted the help of the long-suffering Lizette - Lizette is a car person. She set my father and I on the Volkswagen path, freeing us from a certain brownish domestic vehicle that we won't name, lest it read this blog from wherever it is now and be upset - and a car was found. The Toyota Rav4, a compact SUV. On hearing the news I began vigorously pitching a fit. This is evil! This is wrong! Shut up! Go away!

But apparently, it's ethical. Does anyone know anything about green cars? Because I'm not sure I should let this convince me. But it's starting to. It's no hybrid (too short, she says), but it it's no Touareg (shame on you, VW) or Lexus either, am I right? Am I wrong? Tell me so I can tell my mother. Loudly.