Front Seat Freak Out!

This is Ian in the front seat.  I am still not used to this view.  It really freaks me out to look over and see Ian chilling in the front as I drive us around.  Now that he is 12 years old and over 100 pounds, Ian can legitimately be in the front. Heck, he isn't that much shorter than I am.  Ian has been waiting for this day for a very long time. And now its finally here.

I have one question as a result of Ian's new priority seating...where do I put my purse?

30,000

I feel like we just drove the car home from the dealer yesterday. 30,000 miles later and I still get a thrill getting in my car.  I love my car. While it doesn't have the 3rd row I desperately wanted, it is perfect for our family of 4 plus Lucy.

The car is not even 2 years old yet!  Pretty soon we will pass Jeff's car's mileage. His car is a 2013 and has 45,000 miles on it.  At the rate we are going, this could occur in the next two years.

It's a good thing this is a Honda.  I know it will be chugging along for a very long time.  Most likely this will be Ian's car he drives when he gets old enough.  Yowzer!  I can't believe we are even thinking in terms like this.  Ian driving?   Actually, given the way Ian is, I think he is going to be a very safe driver.  Sam, on the other hand, we may want to brace ourselves for. 

An unexpected surprise and delight

I REALLY wanted to see my car turn 200,000 miles.  It became a challenge I imposed on myself. And, when I set my mind to something, I am pretty good about making it happen.  I was at 193,000 miles and could see the finish line within shooting distance.  My 13 year old car had been very good to me and kept me safe in many crazy situations I found myself driving over the years.  I adored my car. 

With that said, it was getting to the point that parts on the car were just wearing out.  As well made as it is, nothing is going to last forever.  I had it in my head that the next big repair it needed (anything costing over $500) was the moment I knew it was time to say good-bye. 

It finally happened.  The day after we got back from our trip to NYC, we were meeting friends at their pool for the afternoon.  I had been using the car all morning and everything was fine.  We left the pool and all of sudden, the power locks went kaput, the air conditioning went kaput and the emergency brake light was permanently lit even though the brake wasn't being used. Uh-oh!

I got my car in for service early the next morning and found out a multi-control unit fuse box needed to be replaced.  It was going to cost $795.  Thanks, but no thanks I said to my guy Milton who has serviced my car for the last 13 years.  I went one room over at the dealer and asked them to tell me what I could get for my car as a trade-in. 

My ending mileage

Saying good-bye to my car.

The next morning Jeff, the kids and I went to test drive two cars at the dealer.  I really wanted the Honda Pilot (well, I really wanted the Acura MDX but you have to wake-up sometime and realize how far fetched that idea was).  The 2016 model had just come out.  It was completely redesigned and looks amazing.  Jeff preferred I stuck with the CR-V and get the 2015 version.  He had a hard time justifying the additional $13,000 in cost for the Pilot because I so badly wanted a car with 3 rows of seats.


If I got the Pilot my life as I knew it would be over.  No dinners out, no movie nights, no girl's weekends, no taking the kids to NYC for 4 days, etc.  You get the point.  I'd have the car I want, but I wouldn't be able to do anything else. And you all know how I like a good adventure!  This would've been a selfish move on my part and the kids would've suffered too.

At the end of the day I picked the CR-V.  A lot of technology has happened in the past 13 years.  I got the exact color I wanted and the EX-L model with leather seats and all the bells and whistles.    Once we got back from our latest vacation, Jeff and I made the new car purchase happen quickly.

When I woke up the next day with my new wheels in the driveway, I got very excited.  This car is perfect for me.  It's true that I don't have that 3rd row of seats I've wanted for years, but I can't really mourn something I never had anyway.  Right?

One of the coolest things is when you use your blinker to indicate you are making a right-hand turn and you get a view of the right-hand side of your car.  There is a camera that displays what is going on in the lane next to you.    The other thing I love is the smart entry and push button engine start.  I leave my keys in my purse and NEVER have to take them out.  As I approach the car, it unlocks automatically.  As I leave the car it locks automatically.   And once I am in the car, all I have to do is hit the button to turn the car on.  Good-bye "old school" keys!

As I am driving around in my new car, I feel like I was two steps away from having driven a Fred Flinstone vehicle...you know, my feet through the floor board pedaling.  I will never say a bad thing about the first CR-V, but boy have their been improvements over the past decade. 

Ian says he can't wait to see what happens when I get the next new car in another 13 years.  He predicts we will be flying around in our cars.  I already feel like I am now!  What a smooth ride!

On a side note, I believe I had negotiated a really good deal on the trade-in and the price for the new car.  However, it makes you wonder just how good of a deal you got when your car salesman insists you go to dinner and give him the receipt afterwards for reimbursement while they get your car ready to deliver to you.  Things that make you go hmmmm.  ;)

My new car!!

This was my Pilot.  It was waiting for me when I returned from the cruise.

 

They even had a "SOLD" sign in the window with my name written 

in the top corner.

  

So close to the big number.

BIG NEWS!  I've just hit 190,000 miles on my car.  At this point I am even impressing myself with the kind of numbers I'm seeing. My plan to see it turn 200,000 is looking more like a reality every day.

It took a full year to get this last 10,000 miles completed.   With my tires and brakes only a year old, there is no reason why I can't make it another year.  The biggest problem at the moment is that I am burning oil at a rapid rate.  I make sure to check my oil every 2 months or so. And it usually requires 3 quarts when I do get it checked.  There isn't an oil leak because that issue had been taken care of about 4 months ago.  Other than that, the car is humming along nicely.  I am still very fond of it.  Don't get me wrong, I've got my eye a new car. It would certainly be nice to drive something using all this new technology they've invented (back-up camera, bluetooth enabled, USB ports, multiple charging ports, 3rd row of seats, etc).  I don't lack a list of features that are being included in even the base models of cars these days.  But it is not time yet to say good-bye. 

Fortunately, 13 years ago, I made a wise decision in what I purchased and am not tired of my CR-V yet.   The car has certainly been good to me.

Miles and miles of fun

Yes, 180,000 miles and my Honda is still going strong.  My friends have long stopped asking when a new car will be happening.  I am not sure I'd even be recognizable without my silver CR-V attached to me on the streets of Burke.

I've slowed down a bit on adding on the mileage. It took nearly a full year to get this last 10,000 miles.   Since we got Jeff's car at the end of May, we primarily use that when the Toppall Team is hitting the road.  Jeff has put over 17,000 miles on his car in the last 10 months.  Yowzer!  Eventually, the goal is to slow down using Jeff's car when I get a new car.  As of now, there are no plans for that to happen.  Maybe in 2 or 3 years?  At this point, what's the rush?  I just put new tires and brakes on my car.  I plan to get my money's worth out of both.  And, I think it would be really cool to see my car turn 200,000.  That's my new goal.

Ian's invention

Back when Ian could first put words together, around age 3, he used to say all the time when we were in the car when it was raining, "I wish there were windshield wipers on my window".  It was brilliant and I loved the idea.

It's been more than few years since Ian has said this idea of his.  Just the other day he said it again. Ian didn't even realize he used to say this before.  He was surprised when I told him this was not an original thought of his.

I thinks its pretty cool that Ian said this again about 5 years later. 

Shiny, awesome and that wonderful new car smell.

It finally happened!  Jeff got a new car.  It's the 2013 Honda Accord.  Yay!!

As much as it is necessary for me to get a new car (which we will try to get another year out of), Jeff's car was in greater need of a replacement.  His service engine light came on and the repair was going to cost $1,200.  This was very hard to justify fixing when we knew the inevitable was going to happen sooner rather than later in needing a new car.  And we should probably get started on the car payments on one car before having to finance two cars.

In a moment of brilliance, Jeff agreed to let me be the lead negotiator.  We both think I did a fabulous job!  As we were driving out of the dealer (6 HOURS later!), Jeff said, "I am not vomiting over what I just bought.  This is a good sign."

Jeff giving his new car a hug.

The Accord is Jeff's dream car.  I remember when we first met and he told me that he hopes to one day be able to get a Honda Accord.  So incredibly practical of him, right?  This goes to show you how much I love my husband.  Despite both of us thinking that I would've gotten the first new car to come in to our lives, I am so thrilled for him that it worked out like this and he was able to get such an awesome car.  It was nice to see the smile on his face as we were driving off the dealer's lot.

Riding with a smile on his face.

None of this would've been possible without the amazing assistance of Jen and her family.  We originally asked them to watch the kids for 2 hours while we went test driving and exploring our options. Turned out we liked what we saw and got the car.  Over 6 hours later we made it out alive!   Could you imagine if we had Ian and Samantha with us during this experience?  Oh my!  Actually, Sam's screaming and whining might have made the process go faster.

I do have to say this experience was like birth control for me.  I no longer want to repeat this experience any time soon, even if it results in me getting an Acura MDX.  It was exhausting.  Jeff and I went over 6 hours without food!   I am fine driving my 171,000 + mile car and getting behind the wheel of Jeff's new car whenever I can.  I've already programmed my phone with the car's bluetooth.  :)

Jeff kissing his old car good-bye.  Buh-bye Sentra.

Young at heart.

  

This just in....I have officially hit 170,000 miles on my car.  It's pretty amazing.  More and more of my friends keep asking when I will be getting a new car.  Ha!  Why do I need a new car?  Everything is working perfectly fine on this one.  And if this car was a person, you wouldn't be trading it in for a younger, sexier model, would you? 

Honestly, I would LOVE a new car, but realistically it is not happening any time soon.  There has been a huge a pay-off to me waiting as long as I have.  Honda has announced their 2014 Odyessy (minivan) will now be equipped with a vacuum cleaner built-in.  Seriously, how cool is that!?!?  While I have no desire to drive a minivan, I can easily wait another year or two until all the Honda vehicles come equipped with a vacuum cleaner. I have to believe this can't be too far behind to the minivan having it available. This is the kind of accessory that is right up there with a electric windows and locks.  Too cool.

Until then, and oh yeah, a huge amount of money becomes available for a monthly car payment, me and my CR-V will be driving around the streets of NoVa. 

I heart Honda

Numbers displayed in the photo are real, not made-up.

Does anyone buy a car thinking that they will see it turn 160k?  I sure didn't.  Maybe 75,000, 100,00 tops,  but certainly not 160,000.   As long as my 2002 Honda CR-V will have me, we will have it.  These cars are built to last.  And since the likelihood that a pile of cash will not become available to get me a new car, I am now taking bets to see how high the mileage will be when Ian learns to drive on it.  I could see Ian sitting behind the wheel, navigating the streets of Burke. 

I drove the car off the lot with exactly 4 miles on the odometer, back on January 18, 2002.  It was a very exciting day for me as I never had a brand new car before, nor had bought one completely on my own.  I enjoyed inhaling that new car smell each day I got behind the wheel.  I think that smell lasted for at least a month, if not more. 

Fast forward close to 11 years later, and we are still going strong together.  I only take my car to be serviced at the Honda dealer I bought it at.  They are good to me and know that when I have a kid or two by my side, I need to get in and out quick. I have followed their recommendations for all scheduled maintenance and love the fact that I can trust my car on long road trips to get me where I need to go.

I will never own another car other than Hondas.  My dream car is the Acura MDX (Acura is made by Honda), but will settle for a Honda Pilot if given the chance, any chance to get a new car.  And by the time I am getting a new car, it will have all the bells and whistles that it can come with, plus a few others they haven't thought of yet.  Because, as experienced by me, once it becomes part of our family, it can never leave.  I am just thankful that back in 2002, it was standard for my model car to have automatic windows, doors and a sunroof.

The only really good thing about having a car this up there in age is that every October, our personal property tax bill is something completely manageable.  It's not even scary opening the envelope to see what we owe.

Three cheers for Honda!