Here we are, a car enthusiast site preparing our mothers gift just a few days away from Mother’s Day. The thought pops into my head, “I’ve always wanted to get my Mom a car,” just so I can see the jaw dropping look on her face. Here is a rundown of a few do’s and don’ts.

First, does your Mom like her current car? Is it a jalopy that she complains about? Is it costing her an arm and a leg in gas every time she wants to take a ride? You don’t want to fix what is not broken, save your big gift for another year if this is your ideal gesture.

Does she have access to park in a garage? I know many of us have lived without garages for ages and it doesn’t affect some of us, but you don’t want to turn what was once a great memory into an endless headache later down the line.

Does she have her own car to begin with, or does she share with someone else in the house? This might seem like an obvious question, but you might want to break this down. Sometimes Mom might have her car, but she isn’t the one driving it most of the time. Maybe it would be nice to get her something she can truly call her own.

Don’t totally surprise her with a new car! The last thing you would like to do is push your love for a car towards her, and she will just hate it and hate that she has to hide it, unless if you have a very honest mother like me that will only make you trade it in for something more expensive. Slip some words in and see how she reacts to the specific car in question.  Let her drive your car to see if she likes it (if you want to get her a Ford Fusion variant.)

Find out what colors she likes. Yes, this is something you should know already, but hey, sometimes the color doesn’t fit the car in someone’s eye.

She’s MOM after all, so make sure you get her the loaded model with at LEAST leather seats. Some people don’t like leather, so be sure of which she likes.

Let’s not beat around the bush, your Mom is getting old. Look into features that resemble their comfort zone. Wood trim is a great upgrade and reaches out to many generations. But like anything else, maybe she might not like it.

Pick out the right model, color, and all the bells and whistles that you think she would like and use.

It is now time for you to deliver the car, but how? Some like the Ribbon approach. It makes it clear that THIS is a gift, and this is for you. It’s a good approach and a perfect one depending on the mother. Just make sure that you have information about the car ready for her. The brochure is a must and possibly an article from a magazine that gives the car a good review can take the edge off any uncertainties (Plenty of them for the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ.)

Now maybe some of you are wondering why I decided to write about buying my Mom a car. Well, I shouldn’t need an explanation, but I have dreamed of buying a car for Mom. I have wanted to do this since I was in high school wanting to see the look on her face, and see her enjoy it. Plus I pick up my Mom’s new car on Friday, a 2007 Mercury Milan V6 Premium.

Here is a list of common options that suite well as a gift.

-The Wood Trim. I got my Mom the “blackwood: dash kit from a source at the dealership.

-Fog Lights. Thankfully this is a standard option with the Premium Milan.

-Pin Striping. I don’t know why, and I don’t like the looks of it on a Fusion, but she likes it, and I had to opt for it, as many women in her age bracket feel that it’s a great accent to the car.

-Hand Free Cell kit. Not something my Mom wanted, but it will come in handy.

-3M Clear Paint Guard. Most of us can’t wait until our fronts are banged up enough so we can put on a bodykit or do a custom paint job, but this is Mom were talking about.

Here is a list of options that I opted for.

-Tint. Mild tint will go a long way, and your mom will appreciate it. The Milan is getting 50% to the back windows and the rear windshield, as that is the legal limit here for sedans.

-The Smokers Package. Hey, some moms smoke. It’s a plug in lighter and an ashtray the fit into one of the many cup holders in this car.

-Rust and Weather Proofing. I want this thing to last her, or at least keep as much of its resale value as possible. But aside from the gimmick of the Teflon, Zinc or Rubber undercoating, the package also comes with a lengthy paint warranty from most dealerships. The one I opted for costs $850 for the Teflon package, silicon protected interior(10 year warranty on the interior for this one, any stains that cant be steamed out will get her new seat fabric and if the dash cracks, it is also replaced.)

-Maintenance Package. Now all her lube, filter, and tune up needs will be free for 60,000 miles.

All of this brings the total to just over $24,500. I finally get to give her the surprise of her life(next to her having me, of course.) I’ll see if she lets me get some pictures of her with the car. I would love to share this experience with all of you, but she isn’t the first to jump in front of a camera any more, and it’s her car to decide what happens. Nevertheless, I’m stoked that she’s getting a better car than mine! She’s worth it, and I hope you all feel that way about your Mother come Sunday.