Bakersfield, California

Everyone was off work, the process of renting a Ford Edge was complete and we were on the road.

I had always thought it would be great to rent the model car you were interested in buying and taking a trip to see how you really like it before shelling out all the money. This trip confirmed it's a great idea...it also confirmed that people in San Francisco are CRAAAAZY drivers.

In fact, I don't think I'd take my own car into San Francisco again. Someone cuts you off by passing through the parallel parking spaces on the right and cutting across three lanes of traffic to turn left? No problem. Super narrow streets and no one stays in their own lane? No stress at all. I had insurance on the rental and didn't care if they ran into me.

Three months later I bought my own Edge and I love it. I'm so glad I had the rented one that weekend.