X: I can’t believe Grandma is turning 90 this month. So how old does that make you?

Boomer: Old enough to be your mother–and a grandmother.

X: As you keep reminding me.

Boomer: Anyway, there is no better way to celebrate such an event than to throw a surprise birthday party. My mom is going to love the New York theme party we have planned this weekend.

X: Oh, it’s a surprise? That’s OK, she doesn’t read our column anyway. She has no idea that I’m going to chauffeur her around in the 2006 Hyundai Azera Limited over the weekend. The “Powder White Pearl” exterior of the car we’re test driving all week makes the vehicle look like a luxurious town car.

Boomer: Not only is the Azera luxurious on the outside, but the interior is quite comfortable–like a town car. I’d say the stylish interior competes with the Lexus ES 330. It has a clean look with elegant wood and aluminum trim, and quality touches like a thick headliner, fabric‑wrapped door pillars and triple door seals a woman of my age and refinement appreciates.

X: It is also extremely roomy for a woman of your age who gets bloated often. There are 44 inches of leg room in the front and 38 inches of legroom in the backseat. Grandma will have plenty of space to stretch out her 4‑foot‑9‑inch frame. Thank goodness I get my height from Dad.

Boomer: And your sarcasm. Please don’t forget that you are in charge of picking up the New York‑style pizza at Ray’s.

X: Who is Ray? Mom, don’t tell me you are trying to match me up with a guy who makes pizza out of his house. The last time you set me up with a guy from New York, he tried to sell me a fake Rolex out of the trunk of his car.

Boomer: Ray’s is the name of the pizza place on Bell Road. However, that sounds like a great gift for your grandmother. She still has her Timex watch from the 1950s.

X: Or we could get her something similar to what comes standard with the Azera, an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system–except the Azera’s system has steering‑wheel controls. She couldn’t play her 8‑track tapes in it, but we can record her favorite songs to an MP3 player as a birthday gift. What do you think?

Boomer: I think it may be too complicated for her. She still calls our stereo a high‑fidelity record player. Maybe we should stick with the back massager that your sister Julia suggested, or the foot massager that your brother Jason suggested.

X: It sounds like by the time you’re 90 years old, you’ll want everything massaged.

Boomer: I will, and I mean everything!

X: Too much information. I hope Gram gets a thrill, though, when she sits inside the Azera and gets her ride to the surprise party. It can go from 0‑60 in 6.5 seconds. The Azera is said to be the quickest Hyundai ever. It comes with an ultralow emissions (ULEV) DOHC 3.8‑liter, V6 engine with continuously variable valve timing (CVVT). Also, the Azera has 263 horsepower and 255 pound‑feet of torque. Not that Gram cares about that.

Boomer: Don’t be so sure. She still drives her Nissan Altima pretty fast on the 101 from Sun City West to Cave Creek Road. I believe she’d find driving the Azera very relaxing. She would love driving it cross country to New York.

X: By herself? What about Pop–wouldn’t he go along?

Boomer: Then it wouldn’t be relaxing.

X: You know, Grandma isn’t the only one celebrating a birthday. Hyundai turned 20 this year, and the 2006 Azera is new to the Korean car company’s lineup. I would say the Azera is definitely getting the attention of people who doubted the manufacturer’s ability to mix style, function and their great warranty.

Boomer: Do you know what Hyundai means in Korean?

X: I believe it means modern, which is why they decided to replace the Hyundai XG350 with the new Azera, which is big brother to the Sonata.

Boomer: Speaking of family, I need to call your brother and remind him that he is in charge of picking up the deli food at Chompie’s.

X: I thought we were having pizza.

Boomer: Well, we decided to represent New York cuisine the best we can by offering several different types of food, so we’re going to have pizza, deli food, Chinese and Italian.

X: Then we should also invite some pushy people like you to accurately portray New York, to make Gram really feel at home. 

Boomer: Don’t worry ’about it.Very funny!

X: Very good! Also very good is that the Azera Limited has even more on its huge list of standard features, which include 17‑inch, 10‑spoke alloy wheels with a full‑size spare, remote keyless entry, power rear sunshade, leather seats, heated seats, wood‑grain steering wheel, automatic headlight control and cruise control.

Boomer: Wow! And the Limited starts just under $27,000. Sounds like a great deal. Maybe we should all chip in and buy an Azera for your grandmother.

X: A plastic model, maybe. Mom, Grandma is the most vibrant, funny, loving woman I know, but she’s turning 90. How many more driving years can she have left?

Boomer: She had her license renewed on Tuesday for ten more years, my dear.

X: I hope I stay as young as Grandma has. She is still so much fun to be around. She loves test driving convertibles with us because she likes the feel of the wind blowing through her white hair.

Boomer: And it gets her out of the house and away from Pop for a few hours.

X: All I know is that I want to be a grandma like her when I get older.

Boomer: Don’t you want to be a mom like me first?

X: Let me think about that.