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Having your own car is a great way to assert your independence and strike out on your own—no more waiting for the boyfriend to do the hatid-sundo routine, no more fighting about his perennial lateness, and—if you’re currently without a man and playing the dating field—no need to stay stuck in a boring date because you need a ride home.

But having your own wheels doesn’t mean always going solo: you can use your car to bond with the man in your life, too! Here are some hot ideas for steaming up your windows and going for an honest-to-goodness joy ride.

• Sound Trip - Nothing gets the mood going like a great song. Take a long romantic drive with your significant other and play all your favorite tunes. Compile the soundtrack to your relationship and put on the playlist at your favorite lookout or rest spot. Innovations in iPod-to-stereo connection, like the setup in the new Honda City, will leave your hands free, so when your attention wanders to more physical matters the musical ambiance remains under control.
• Trunk-ated - Do dinner and drinks the creative way. Pack a picnic for two and drive to some secluded spot, then pop the trunk to reveal the pièce de résistance—a mini-bar! Make sure to set up your bar with the works—mini bottles of assorted liquor, glassware, ice, maybe some chocolate-covered strawberries. A bottle of champagne would be impressive—just be sure to aim the cork away from your car.
• License to Date - A good way of bonding with someone is by teaching them something new. For instance, if the object of your affection is a highway virgin, treat him to driving lessons, with yourself as the personal instructor. Not only does it give you an excuse to spend time with them, it also opens up valuable opportunities for trust—and hopefully, other deeper emotions. Take the cue from John Cusack in Say Anything—he taught Ione Skye’s character how to drive, and got a kiss in return!
• Manly Maintenance – Men love to feel useful, especially when they get to do “guy things” for their ladies. Asking your man to help you keep track of your oil change and tire rotation schedule will not only make him feel needed, it will also help you learn about your car. (Unless, like Megan Fox in Transformers, you actually know more than he does!) Knowing how to change your own tires is cool—but if he wants to flex some serious muscle cranking the tire iron for you, then just step back and enjoy the show!
• Wash and Win - Retro as it seems, a good old-fashioned car wash could be just the thing to bring you closer to your amour. Just imagine: the two of you, horsing around in sudsy water, shooting sidelong glances at one another’s soaked t-shirts, hands overlapping as you rub down the sides of your car. You could easily hit the jackpot with a hot date later on in the day—and at the very least, you get a clean vehicle.
• Private Matters - Need one-on-one time with your special someone? There’s no better place to be alone than in your own ride. Cars are great for little rendezvous because they are completely private, obviously mobile, and compact enough to make close body contact unavoidable. The individual front seats allow for cosy conversations, while the backseat is perfect for a quick snuggle—and then some.