Vickroy: Dream cars provide a road trip from reality

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Jeff Johnson of Tinley Park said his dream car is the Aston Martin, such as the one James Bond drives.

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The Chicago Auto Show runs Friday through Feb. 19 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive; (312) 791-7000

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:23AM

Another Chicago Auto Show, another road trip down fantasy lane.

Most days a car is a car is a car. It’s a mode of transportation, a means of getting from point A to point B, sometimes with kids, sometimes with groceries, sometimes with five flats of impatiens.

But every now and then, say when a glitzy fleet of brand spanking new vehicles rolls into town, a driver gets to pimping her ride.

Wow, wish I had satellite radio or a built-in GPS or heated seats.

And sometimes, things get out of hand and she opts for a whole new ride altogether — one that is indicative of her taste, her style, her personality.

Or maybe indicative of the taste, style and personality she wishes she had.

Say, the Toyota FJ.

Rugged, sporty, tough.

Truth be told, I am driving the car that perfectly reflects my practical lifestyle, shortcomings included.

My small SUV is big enough to handle a trip to Sam’s Club, spiffy enough to be valet parked and rugged enough to take the occasional curb I’ve been known to hit when making a hard right.

But we can dream. I may be a middle-aged suburban mom but that doesn’t mean I’ve totally relinquished my inner, teenage sports car driver.

A big portion of my youth was devoted to seeing myself in the driver’s seat of a Ford Mustang or a Chevy Z-28 Camaro.

Alas, I had to settle for a used yellow Maverick and then, a very used silver Chevy Vega. The Vega sported a hole in the roof and another in the floor and required a quart of oil a week.

Good to know I am not the only one who sacrifices precious brain cells to silly what-ifs.

I recently asked people if money, brand loyalty and common sense were not an object, what car would they be driving right now.

Without even pausing to reflect, Joe Tekiela, 32, answered, “A Corvette. Black.”

The architect, who lives in Chicago, said he’s always liked the Chevy sports car.

“But if I was going to put some sense into my choice, I’d get a new Jeep Grand Cherokee. I have one now but I like the new ones.”

He likes how it looks, how it drives and the practicality of it.

“Can’t put much in a Corvette.”

Dawn Thompson, 35, surprised me with her choice, but who am I to judge a dream?

“I would love my own motorcycle,” said Thompson, 35, of Tinley Park. “I always get stuck on the back of my husband’s.”

After a few seconds, she added, “I’m really interested in the 3-wheel Spyder bikes.”

Then, rubbing her belly, she added, “I know, not very practical for a woman who’s eight months pregnant.”

Last I heard, the ATV trikes do not come with a baby seat but, hey, where there’s a need ...

Jeff Johnson, 32, of Tinley Park, knew almost instantly which vehicle he’d be driving if practicality flew out the window.

The sleek, sporty, very British Aston Martin.

“It’s the Bond car.”

’Nuff said.

Angie White tells her two “pesty” kids all the time, if not for them, she’d dump her Honda minivan and drive around in a Cadillac STS.

“Black metallic, black leather interior, decked out, everything on it,” she said.

Then the 41-year-old Tinley Parker sighed, came back to Earth, and said, “Yeah, looks like I’m stuck in a minivan for awhile.”

Yes, many people know exactly what they’d choose and then some.

Take Kermit Kelly, owner of Three’s Company Interiors in Chicago’s Beverly community: “I’d say ’49 Merc, chopped and lowered, plus about four other vehicles, as long as we are wishing. Low ride and cruise.”

Diane Sika, an estimator at Riverdale Body Shop in Tinley Park, said given carte blanche, she’d buy a Buick Lucerne.

“Because they’re sharp and they ride nice,” she reasoned.

Jerry Ward, industrial technology teacher at Bremen High School in Midlothian, said after careful consideration and much consultation with his students, he’d opt for the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport car — a cool $2.4 million.

If Valerie Gawal had her way, a Dodge Challenger would be in her driveway right now.

The customer service representative for Gerber Collision and Glass in Oak Lawn, said, “I like the body, it has lots of curves.”

She admits there are fancier, higher priced vehicles.

“But I’m realistic,” she said.