DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Laura At The Inner Harbor

Q: Why does your car have two nicknames Laura?

A: Vladimir because I had a thing back in high school where I named everything with a V. Serv because that's phonetically how you would say CR-V.

Q: So it's a coincidence that they both sound kind of Russian?

A: I guess so. I never thought about that.

Q: Is Vladimir a.k.a. Serv a particularly cultured car?

A: It actually has been all over the world. It's been in Europe. I lived in Spain and this car is what I drove there.

Q: How did they get it from Spain to Baltimore? A boat?

A: [laughs] I guess, yeah. A ship or something. But yeah, I had it in Spain and it was dope. I lived in the very most Southern tip of Spain, near all the beaches. It was sick.

Q: Where else have you been with this car?

A: I've been to Maine a bunch. My aunt and uncle live there and it's a sweet place to go camping.

Q: You have had this car since high school. How have you evolved as a driver?

A: In high school, I was definitely an aggressive speeder. I was horrible with speeding but now, I won't ever go more than five over the speed limit. I think people in Baltimore drive poorly. And honestly, it's so easy to drive poorly in the city. Cops are never around and I feel like they're not going to pull you over for that.

Q: Do you ever get confused or annoyed at the one-way streets?

A: No, I never really get confused by it. I get a little annoyed when other people do, though.

Q: What do you listen to when you drive around?

A: I don't have any CDs. Also, my iPod cord is broken. It's not a big deal though. In the city I mainly use a bike to get to school, so my car is usually parked outside my place.

Q: Was it bequeathed to you from your parents?

A: My parents got it when it came on the market. It was one of the first smaller SUVs. Then when I turned 16, they just gave it to me.

Q: It's getting pretty old. Is it holding up well?

A: I mean, the work I put into it is probably exceeding the value of the car. Recently, I had to get my brakes replaced in the back. It was making a weird noise, rubbing against the axle or something.

Q: Do you think if you hang onto it a little longer it will be an antique or classic?

A: [laughs] I wouldn't go with antique, but it's definitely a '90s classic.

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

A: Chill. It just is.

Q: What do you want your next car to be?

A: A hybrid because the gas will be so cheap. The gas isn't horrible on this. It's better than you'd think. I think it's 23.

Q: What's your absolute dream car?

A: An Audi. I'd probably get a four-door, not a two-door.

Q: You'd zip that around Fed Hill?

A: Yeah. Woo! Coming down Light Street.

Q: Do you like riding down Light Street?

A: Coming down Light Street into the Harbor at night is really cool looking. You can see all of the city, then boom, you're in. It's beautiful.