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DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Matt On East Carson Street

"This car brought my babies home from the hospital."

The Ride
The Driver: Matt
Car in Question: Blue 2008 Subaru Forester
Spotted at: The Smiling Moose, 1306 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Odometer: 54,384

THE DEFENSE

Q: I see that you have a pair of pink car seats in your backseat. I'm guessing you have two young daughters?

A: Yeah, Maggie and Emmi, three and one, in that order.

Q: So I'd imagine you use your car to tote them around a lot, huh?

A: Quite a bit, yes. I take them to the malls and let them play in the play areas, to the parks so they can run outside and swing on the swings, or climb up castles and do little obstacle courses. I like taking them to South Park, where there's a big, giant play area.

Q: Other than carrying your kids around from place to place, what do you use your car for?

A: I'm a DJ. I use my car for work. I play music and run karaoke at a few different bars around the city, at The Smiling Moose, right behind me. I do weddings, too, all over around Pittsburgh, as well as out in Ohio, West Virginia, and New York.

Q: Wow. You really get around! Where do you call home? What's your zip code?

A: I live in Mt. Washington with my wife and daughters, 15211.

Q: Ah, that's a pretty central part of Pittsburgh. Any particular commute from home that you dislike or don't like to drive?

A: Anywhere during the hours of 3:30 in the afternoon to 7:30 at night. Traffic is insane anywhere in Pittsburgh at that time, especially on Route 51 or headed towards Monroeville.

Q: Now, you said you work at the bar behind you? Is that why you're here today?

A: No, I'm just down here dropping off some flyers for an upcoming show. I do karaoke at The Smiling Moose every Wednesday and an open band night every other Thursday. I also run karaoke at Cappy's in Shadyside every Friday night for Cappy-oke. But today? I'm on my way to band practice after this.

Q: Cool, you're in a band then?

A: Actually, I am. I'm in a brand new band called Black Maiden. "Like" us on Facebook.

Q: Sure thing, I'll add that. So, Black Maiden, what's that all about?

A: We're a Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden tribute band, playing A to Z everything Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.

Q: Alrighty then! Let's see. What's your car's name or nickname?

A: Blueberry.

Q: Why Blueberry?

A: Blueberry, like the flavor of a Lifesaver. This Subaru Forester is one of the safest vehicles I've ever owned. I was playing a gig out in Morningside one night. Coming home up McArdle Roadway, some guy came up the hill about 90 miles per hour, tried to pass me, and smashed into the rear driver's side of my car. He spun out of control, smashed into the wall, demolished his whole vehicle. There was hardly a dent in the Forester.

Q: Oh my. Have you been in any other accidents?

A: Actually, yes. Coming back from Oglebay, out in West Virginia, after I did a wedding out there, I hit a deer on the way home. The deer had already been struck by another vehicle and was lying in the middle of the road. I came around the curve and all I could see was this poor deer disabled in the middle of the road. Then all of a sudden, SMASH! There was nothing I could do to avoid it. There was minimal damage to the car compared to the deer. What lasted longer for me was the image of that deer in my headlights, very haunting.

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

A: It would be happy. This car has been to the beach more times than I can remember. It brought my babies home from the hospital, and helped me DJ a lot of weddings. It's seen a lot of good times and helped make a lot of people happy.

Photos and interview by Sarah Beth Martin

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

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