Since we have our own board now, I guess we better use it for it's intended purpose - wouldn't want them to take it away.

After driving my "kid-pool" for the first time in my new car this week, I have decided that this will be the real true-test of Audi's interior craftsmanship.

Here's how the first day went. Picture in your mind my 13 yr. old in the front seat (busy playing with the cd's) in the backseat are three out-of-control monkey-children - One six year old and two eight year olds. I swear they each have 4 arms with a six foot reach.

And the fun begins....

"Mrs. Welch, can we eat a snack in your car???" "NO, put your backpacks in the trunk - don't try to sneak that lunchbox into the car!"

"When do you think we'll get to eat in your car? Next year?" "NO - Never!" (haven't informed their parents this will be our last year carpooling)

They climb in and the real fun begins! Our ride from school to their drop-off is 15 miles..... 15 looonnnggg miles. Where'd I leave that valium? Thank God there's a carpool lane on Hwy85, if you live in the bay area and see me coming up behind you, please let me pass :) some days every second counts towards maintaining my sanity. (or what's left)

So, after about five minutes of hearing "what does this do?" about 100 times and hearing things opening and closing multiple times. I'm about ready to lose it. I turn around and give them the 'evil eye' I calmly ask "How many times do you have to open that? Nothing's going to magically appear in there - Now STOP!" By this time, I've pushed the 'child lock' in the driver's door, however, the door window shades are still accessible - pull up about half-way, let go, pull up, let go..... "STOP THAT"!

"Mrs. Welch, how come when I try to change the temperature it gives me a funny message?" By this time I'm grinding my teeth. "Just leave it alone - please...."

By the time we get to the drop-off place, they had the first aid kit out - kinda tricky since the 6 yr. old was sitting in the middle! The center headrest had been put up and down about 500 times and my nerves were definately shot. Of course, the mother that was supposed to meet us was late - so here I am, waiting in a parking lot with these wild chilren - by now, they've removed their seat belts and really checking everything out. "Why don't the lights back here work?" "I'm too short, I can't see myself in the mirror" "Mrs. Welch, is Casey supposed to be sitting on the arm rest?" I turn around and tell them "THAT'S IT! NO MORE!" Their response "We're only wrestling - but we're keeping our feet on the floor."

This will be a true test of the A8's interior finish. If it survives through these little monkeys it'll survive anything.

One final item. As one of the 8 yr olds was climbing into the back, he announces in awe "WOW, my dad's new volvo doesn't have any room in the back for my legs!"

depressed by various narcotics. .. a thought, the trunk in our cars is large enough to hold all 3. . .ask them if they want to play a new game. . tell them the trunk is a cave and the goal of the game is to find Osama. :)

We do an annual trip halfway accross the country ever summer and I have been tempted to invest in something similar. So far, we've survived with my laptop and DVD's, I keep telling them the object of going on a trip is to see the country :)

That way, you could enjoy the back seat of your new A8L!

My sincere sympathy. I hope you are traveling south and not north on 85 in the morning :)

He drives north, I drive south. The rest of the week somebody else gets to deal with the chaos!

Gina, this is hilarious, and matches my experience pound for pound. The first time one of my 7-year-olds pulled up on the side door sun screen and then let it slam back into its recessed pocket, I thought I might blow a gasket (I think there is an MMI command to keep my gasket from blowing, however, so my kids are safe). I regularly find the rear-seat heater settings on 89 degrees, find the armrest pulled down and the first aid kit has become a Pokemon battle arena, and the dirt footprints on the back side of the front seats are suspiciously small.

My paranoia has ebbed over time, but it rears its ugly head every time I clean the car and find a Spider Man fruit chewy tucked between the back seat cushions. :-)

So, you're a MB defector too? I traded my E320 wagon in on my A8L - it was a good car, and served it's purpose. The only MB that tempts me (at this point in my life) is the SL600, I keep telling myself - kids through college first! Course, by then, who knows.....

The carpool kids are still asking if they can eat in the car - if nothing else, they are persistent. The best investment I've made in the past week was three Garfield comic books - it was quiet as library on the way home today :)

Yep, defected after a long line of six MBs, all served me well, but as Greenie will attest, they started losing their cache' when Chrysler got into the picture...poor service, bad build quality, etc. Couldn't see paying a premium for an S-Class and get less car than the A8L. I've never looked back. But now that you mention it, that SL 600 is a beaut......hmmmmmm. If I can only get my kids into junior high.... :-)

Sorry to hear you're in the pokemon stage - I'm sure if I looked hard enough, my kids probably have some cards stashed somewhere.

The SL600 is beautiful, however, I was really sold on it when I heard the V12 start up while I was waiting for my service advisor. When I cross that $$ threshold my husband will probably make me go back to work :)

Wait til your kids get to high school and ask for homework help... sorry son, you'll have to wait for your father to come home...