July 2, 2018

We're getting a new car this morning.

Trading in the Honda CRV.

UPDATE: New baby delivered:

P1180273

128 comments:

Ann Althouse said...

We still have the Audi TT, which I just drove to Chicago and back and don't want to replace. It's just too pretty and too much fun to drive.

We're replacing the utility vehicle.

gilbar said...

What are you getting? Is it a Tesla? I heard they made 5000 of them about a week ago

Wince said...

CRV? Poor "utility vehicle" gets no respect, no respect at all.

Bob R said...

Did you hear the one about the dyslexic blues musician who went down to the crossroads and sold his soul to Santa?

Rick.T. said...

For a smaller utility vehicle, I'd go with the Mazda CX-5 but I'd guess a Subaru Crosstrek.

David Begley said...

High confidence in the American economy by consumers. Optimism. Animal spirits. 4% GDP. MAGA.

Danno said...

Dyslexic are we this morning?

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

I'd go with the new Volvo XC 60.

I'm envisioning a Subaru for Meadehouse.

tcrosse said...

In Madison you should be able to get a good deal on an Oscar Mayer Wiener Wagon.

Ann Althouse said...

Oops. I wrote CVR.

You have to understand... when I was growing up, there was a member of my extended family whose name was CVR. Just the initials. I heard "CVR" a lot!

MadisonMan said...

I'd say 'Enjoy that new car smell' but, well, ....

Michael said...

I would go with a 4x4 Nissan Titan with four doors and extended bed. Perfect for Madison in every way and a winner in Austin.

mockturtle said...

Loved my CRV. Sold it to my sister who loves it, too. So, are you gong to surprise us?

Original Mike said...

Blogger tcrosse said...”In Madison you should be able to get a good deal on an Oscar Mayer Wiener Wagon.”

I remember a night in The Blue Moon debating whether a joy ride in the Weinermobile, which was parked across the street, would be worth a night in jail. Didn’t do it, of course.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Blogger Rick Turley said...

...I'd guess a Subaru...

Blogger Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

I'm envisioning a Subaru...

I don't see how it could be a Subaru. Neither the Professor nor Meade are lesbians. Or did I miss some big news about Meade recently...

Big Mike said...

Why? Is it too small for your needs? Do you need a pickup truck for your bicycles?

I'm Full of Soup said...

You should consider the Nissan Frontier Pro-X small pick up with full size back seat. I had two of those and they were great.

Unknown said...


Diversity in a Unitarian church is different colored Subarus in the parking lot.

Nonapod said...

I've been happy with my Nissan Rogue. The model is ridiculously popular, I see my cars exact twin at least once every time I go anywhere, not sure if you'd mind that.

rhhardin said...

I bought my car online from dealer stock.

Leland said...

I have a 2017 CRV Touring, I average about 35mpg.

MountainMan said...

I’m on my second CR-V, a 2013, which replaced a 2005. My wife just got a new 2018 Pilot, which is her third, after having a 2010 and a 2004. The Pilot is our traveling vehicle and we love it, especially the navigation aids. We have never spent a penny on repairs on the 5 Hondas we’ve owned, other than normal scheduled maintenance. I don’t think we’ll ever own anything else.

rehajm said...

What are you getting?

Kevin said...

The 2017-2018 model CR-Vs are amazing. They have best in class safety features and gas mileage that beats many sedans. It is a really great value for the money. I tend to like cars that are more fun to drive but as we get older we really saw the value of a vehicle you just slide straight into instead of having to bend. And a big flat and tall cargo area can't be beat either. We've never been SUV people but the '17-'18 CR-V has changed that for us.

Kevin said...

Another thing that surprised us greatly now is the degree to which YouTube is a valuable resource for reviews and model comparisons. Of course, being YouTube, there is a lot of crap, but some creators put on video series of better quality than anything I've ever seen in a car review show on TV.

An excellent example is a channel called Redline Reviews.

Curious George said...

Ford F-150. Do it!

jim said...

F-150 with a big cab

The Drill SGT said...

I suspect it's a new CRV

Ray - SoCal said...

Use Costco - eliminates a lot of bs on purchases.

narayanan said...

Can the Professora sell used CRV through the Amazon Portal????

chuck said...

> Do you need a pickup truck for your bicycles?

That was my first thought. Or maybe a newer car with the latest electronics and cameras. The new cars are just amazingly better for safety and convenience for older folks.

Leland said...

YouTube is a valuable resource

Technically, you can actually watch YouTube via a 2017-18 CRV. You have to be in park, but it works. You can even review the Althouse blog and comment via the CRV, but the CRV is not very efficient at it.

Rusty said...

Had I known I would have made you an offer on the CRV. Hondas tend to be very reliable.

Birkel said...

I would get a pre-leased car and save the 40% on the purchase price that you would lose as soon as you drive off the car lot.

Maybe the Volkswagen Touareg would satisfy your needs.

Doug said...

I'm with Curious George and Jim Harvey. F-150 ... c'mon, America, let's be honest about our transportation needs.

Big Mike said...

@chuck (lower case ‘c’), “older folks”?!? You is in the deepest shit of your life!

tim in vermont said...

I just bought a pickup truck.I never did because I was judgmental about them, but since I bought one, I have come to realize that not owning one was cramping my style. Still, it’s nice to have a little runabout that is better on gas and easier to park, and doesn’t feel like you. are losing control when you cross a railroad track at 50 MPH on a curve. My suggestion is a cheap used pickup and a nice new car.

tim in vermont said...

I don’t get the two rows of seats and short bed for a pickup truck. I bought the standard cab with the long bed, and if I am driving people around, I use the car. Since they are going to have the Audi still... I just could never envision anybody riding back there, and I just picked up an implement for my tractor, and the pallet just barely fit the long bed as it was.

J. Farmer said...

I have leased Fords pretty much my entire adult life. First a Lariat then a King Ranch then an Edge and now on my second Explorer. When I was in my late 20s and starting to make a little bit of money, I also purchased a Jaguar XJ. Terrible decision that I undid less than two years later.

tim in vermont said...

Of course, as long as you have a hitch, you can buy a cargo trailer for under 2 grand that will do most everything a pickup would do for you.

Art in LA said...

That's two bloggers I follow that drive/drove a CR-V. Kirk Tuck at the Visual Science Lab drives one too ... we have three Hondas. Reliability first for us. Looking forward to see what you end up getting ...

rcocean said...

I see Althouse in a Yukon SUV.

rcocean said...

Everytime I see these monster SUV's - there's some tiny woman behind the wheel.

Michael K said...

The Pilot is our traveling vehicle and we love it, especially the navigation aids.

I bought a low mileage 2013 Pilot a couple of years ago because I don't like the rounded style of the new Pilots.

I had a 2006 Highlander that I loved but the new ones also got that bulbous look that I didn't like. The Highlander had almost 200,000 miles on it. I was going to give it to my son for his daughter who will be driving soon but he decided he didn't want it so I traded it in.

I drive a lot. I commute to Phoenix from Tucson twice a week. That's 220 miles round trip and we go to California about every two months, which is 1500 miles round trip.

The blue tooth radio is nice and I listen to audio books driving. The navigation system is also useful.

The book for that electronics system is the size of a long novel. Before we go to California again, I have to figure out how to turn off daylight saving time. Arizona doesn't do it and, in summer, the car thinks it does and flips the clock when we cross the CA state line.

I highly recommend the Pilot and where you are the 4 wheel drive version is probably better.

My wife likes her CRV but we take the Pilot everywhere we go.

Even Juliet, the basset hound, loves the Pilot.

dreams said...

"High confidence in the American economy by consumers. Optimism. Animal spirits. 4% GDP. MAGA."

Maybe 5% soon.

Fabi said...

Lamborghini has a new SUV. Just do it, Althouse!

etbass said...

What you will like in a new car are the bluetooth features for phone, texts, music, etc.

And then there are significant safety features in the new Toyotas, and probably other makes as well such as:

Lane change alerts when someone is in your blind spot.
Radar enhanced cruise control that automatically slows you down when pulling up on a slowpoke, then resumes automatically.
Audible warning when you move out of your lane, unless you have signalled.
A slight bias in steering to help you stay in your lane.

I have to say I am pretty impressed with some of the latest such features, introduced within only the past couple years.

traditionalguy said...

Try a new Hyundae Kona electric. Get one with a heated steering wheel.

Or go up to the Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows. You have earned it.

etbass said...

Forget navigation systems. Toyota's is hopelessly complex. Just use your iPhone with the iMaps feature. Updates from the cloud so is always up to date, picks up bogged traffic situations and sends you to an alternate route. This happened to me several times recently and I am sure saved me sitting in interstate traffic for an hour or so.

Leland said...

And then there are significant safety features in the new Toyotas

All of which is also available in Honda's, including CRV's. I know, I use them daily. There's also CarPlay/Android Auto (in both Honda and Toyota) and rain sensing wipers (not sure if Toyota has this).

Left Bank of the Charles said...

"Audible warning when you move out of your lane, unless you have signaled." - Annoying when driving on windy mountain roads.

Original Mike said...

”rain sensing wipers”

Eliminating the millstone of having to turn them on yourself.

RigelDog said...

I'm a Honda lover. It's unseemly how much I love my 2006 Pilot. Son now drives it and I'm stuck with 2006 CRV because his long legs just don't really fit in the smaller car. But the CRV has its own charms which I appreciate, such as being nimble and incredibly practical rear cargo area. We have not had one repair for either Honda other than maintenance. I'll get a new-ish car in the not too distant future but it's just grand not having any car payments so no hurry.

dreams said...

I can't buy a new car, I've still got to drive 90,000 more miles on my 2004 Honda Civic to reach my goal of 300,000 miles.

Yancey Ward said...

I wouldn't buy new- buy a car at least a couple of years old- preferably a returned lease vehicle with between 20,000 and 30,000 miles. Toyota or Honda.

chuck said...

> Annoying when driving on windy mountain roads.

Can be turned off, or a least I can do that.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Nice to hear about the CR-V. Bought a 2014 a year ago - it's been great so far.

Yancey Ward said...

My mother owned an 1988 Accord that she put over 450,000 miles on before trading it in for a new vehicle in 2007 (she was a home health care nurse and they rack up the miles here in TN). While I have always bought Toyotas, I do like the Hondas a lot.

rehajm said...

Audible warning when you move out of your lane, unless you have signaled." - Annoying when driving on windy mountain roads

While were on crappy lane sensing technology: can we make sure we cut the fucking rumble strips outside the lane? I mean I think the white line is still in bounds but at least don't cut them inside of the white line. I'm using that area for driving...

CStanley said...

Love my 2018 Subaru Outback which replaced the ‘02 4 runner that has > 250 k on it (which is now our student drivers vehicle.)

Only issue with my Outback is that my bike rack blocks the back up arbor so it disables one of the safety features, the reverse automatic braking.

Original Mike said...

We want to replace our 20 year old Saab hatch back. The challenge will be we want a manual transmission. Seems like that limits us to a VW Alltrack or a Subaru.

BJM said...

rcocean said...Everytime I see these monster SUV's - there's some tiny woman behind the wheel.

Welp, I'm not a tiny woman at 5'10" but after a Ram 3500 illegally passed on a two lane country road and totaled my Passat wagon (that I wasn't injured or killed was a matter of seconds and luck). I bought a Ford Explorer. I calls it The Hulk, but it's surprisingly nimble in town and parking lots. Plus I'll have a better chance against the large pickups on the roads in rural horse country.

I really like Ford's onboard nav and comm system and fully adjustable seat ergonomics...the three (upper,middle and lower) heated lumber settings are really nice on a long drive.

Michael said...

I love my Touareg TDI. In Georgia it is considered an "alternative fuel" vehicle and thus does not have to be inspected. I eschewed the "fix" offered by VW knowing it would negatively impact performance. Very impressive torque, decent mileage, comfortable and paid for.

Since they are no longer made they can be purchased relatively cheaply. Will last longer than you will want to drive them.

Sigivald said...

Lemme guess ... for a RAV4, the Same Car But Toyota?

pwa31953 said...

My wife drives an '03 pilot with 135,000 miles. It has always gotten terrible gas mileage - 15 'round town and once on I-40 between Flagstaff and Albuquerque in the winter with no air conditioning, we got 19.9999. Looking to replace with CRV/Rav or updgrade to Acura RDX. I like the larger vehicle for trips.

Michael K said...

"It has always gotten terrible gas mileage "

Probably the year. Mine is 2013 and gets 20 and a little more highway driving.

I had a jeep 4 wheel drive about 1989 that got 14.

Ron said...

Finally springing for the Lambo, eh? I recommend the Usus.... Lambo's first SUV!

madAsHell said...

I hate fucking Lesbaru's. It's a special tool to fix anything, and they come standard with a "RESIST" bumper sticker. I have inherited several from my mother-in-law right before they encountered major maintenance.

I prefer Fords because I've been working on them since I was a kid.

I've always thought that AWD was a waste of money, and then I bought an AWD Ford Escape. I was wrong about AWD, and I highly recommend it. No more chaining-up for the mountain pass.

Funny, nobody seems to be recommending any GM products.

Michael K said...

I don't recognize that SUV. It has a sort of GM look about it.

traditionalguy said...

The Nissan Titan and the Toyota Yukon seem to be the most popular things on the road around here. They are a cross between a luxury SUV and a work truck with drag race acceleration. Golf clubs and mountain bikes room for 4 and Boze sound systems
I blame Trump for the confidence to buy them.

MountainMan said...

New CR-V. Nice choice. Which model did you get?

Art in LA said...

Very nice. What year was the old one? We have a 2012 ... still goes and goes.

Larry J said...

I bought my wife a new CR-V touring edition last December. It's a very nice car - economical, comfortable, and loaded with safety features (we're both getting older).

mockturtle said...

Great choice!

MountainMan said...

With my wife's new 2018 Pilot we get about 29-30 mpg going from East TN down to Atlanta and back. I run it in ECON mode most of the way, which significantly changes driving parameters to reduce fuel consumption, except I turn it off when I climb over the gap at the TN/NC line on I-26 and when making the climb back up to the Blue Ridge going north from Franklin, NC to Asheville. Have been very pleased with the engine performance and the 9-speed transmission. Lots of improvements since our 2004 Pilot, which had a 6-4-2 system on the engine, I think.

etbass said...

White-- the most popular color on the road.

Ann Althouse said...

"New CR-V. Nice choice. Which model did you get?"

EX-L.

rhhardin said...

There's a war of angles in the styling.

stevew said...

Climate change denier!

-sw

rhhardin said...

Safety features are less cost-effective as you get older.

rhhardin said...

If there were any sense in the world, men would ride side-saddle, and old people would take all the risks.

mtrobertslaw said...

Aw,too bad. You missed out on the opportunity to own a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 4 door model.

This vehicle has Meade written all over it.

Michael K said...

Well, at least you avoided GM.

My wife likes her CRV. We still use the Pilot for longer trips.

Meade said...

"Safety features are less cost-effective as you get older."

Except for the Backing Over Baby Crawling Under Bumper Mitigation System. Priceless!

tcrosse said...

You missed out on the opportunity to own a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 4 door model.

You'd have to get two, to have one to drive while the other one is in the shop.

Rabel said...

Assembled in Ohio, I think.

MAGA

Sheridan said...

Here in NW Montana it's all 4WD F-150's and Subarus'. (Chevys' and Rams' are wannabes.) I don't own a Subaru. But if reincarnation is real, I plan on returning as a Subaru dealer. Fantastic margins, I'm told.

Bob R said...

If you have any joint pain in your neck and shoulders, the back-up camera gets more cost effective as you get older.

Leland said...

She's a beauty.

rehajm said...

Good call on shelling out extra for the 19" wheels.

Anthony said...

I didn't like the CRV when I was looking (2014), it felt more like steering it than actually driving it, and my car-friends (I write for a car blog, btw) thought it had bad traction on suboptimal surfaces.

Ended up with a SuBAru Forester. Drives nice, good torquey little boxer 4-banger, but an incredibly irritating CVT.

Though I have never named an automobile in my life (the 1975 Buick Century that I frequently called "You f***ing piece of s***!" excepted), I have pronounced this one to be named Lezzie, for obvious reasons.

Jim at said...

Ford F-150. Do it! - George

I still have my 1995 XLT. 4WD, 5.8 liter. 112k on it. Still a baby.
Hauls anything. Tows everything.

Probably never need another truck.

Ann Althouse said...

"Good call on shelling out extra for the 19" wheels."

Thanks for noticing!

The "diamond cut" (???) wheels added $2000+ to the price. So I hope they look very sharp and that they actually do something that Meade enjoys.

MadisonMan said...

The State of WI appreciates the sales tax, I'm sure.

Rabel said...

"So I hope they look very sharp and that they actually do something that Meade enjoys."

Diamond cut is cosmetic. I guess he likes looking good.

chuck said...

> bad traction on suboptimal surfaces.

I think that got fixed in the 2017 models.

Rusty said...

Nice ride, Althouse.

The older super cars are so cheap is because their cost of maintenance is high and repair parts are scarce.

Jason said...

Love the CRV. Especially the one some drunk totaled when he rear ended me. Bought another one.

I like the older ones that actually FEEL like you're driving an SUV. The newer (after 2009 or so) models are so well put together it feels like you're driving a minivan.

A little over 100k miles on mine now and I like it very much. Bought it used with about 60k on it.

The compressors tend to go bad on them for some reason, so watch your AC carefully. I had to replace mine. That's a thousand bucks, but I imagine you have a good warranty that covers it.

RigelDog said...

White CRV, excellent choice! I read a study that found that white vehicles are the most likely to be spotted by other drivers. Next time I have a choice in a car, I'll make sure it's white.

johns said...

Original Mike "we want a manual transmission. Seems like that limits us to a VW Alltrack or a Subaru."
The Honda HR-V has a manual available. is that too small for you? My daughter just bought one (with an automatic) and it seems to have quite a bit of space.

wild chicken said...

Agree on wheel option. The stock wheels were comically small or at least they were on the older models.

LYNNDH said...

We like our Jeep Cherokee.
I note that Ann went with White Privilege White.

Art in LA said...

Low profile rims are like jewelry for men, or a bright necktie, or flashy socks ... a subtle flourish ... I got the Accord Sport a couple of years ago because of the 19" rims, LOL. FYI, 19" tires are a lot more expensive!!

Ralph L said...

You'll regret the rubber band tires when you get old.

Ralph L said...

If it's a good looking car, you don't need fancy wheels. They're penis extensions.

What pisses me off about crossovers is the short rear overhang. If they were ~6 inches longer, they'd have much more space that won't block the rear view or let stuff slide forward.

But then they'd look like tall wagons, which is verboten.

Unknown said...

Very nice. Enjoy it!

Original Mike said...

@johns: We’ll take a look at it. Thanks!

Left Bank of the Charles said...

I drive a 1993 Jeep Cherokee. I am trying to warm up to the new look-a-like compact SUVs (the ones that don't look alike are all ugly). Honda would be a good choice as there is a dealership in Cambridge. I rented a Subaru Outback for a jaunt to Connecticut and Vermont last week (the Jeep needs to go to the shop for a death wobble that develops at speeds above 55). The Outback was a nice ride but a little bigger than I need.

MayBee said...

Great! Congratulations!!

rehajm said...

They're penis extensions.

Nothing about a CRV says 'penis extension'.

walter said...

Blogger Rabel said...
Assembled in Ohio, I think.
MAGA
--
Profits to Japan! Make Asia Great Again! (and Germany!)

Larry J said...

rhhardin said...

Safety features are less cost-effective as you get older.


I don't think that's true at all. With age comes stiffness that makes it harder to swivel around a lot. When in reverse, my wife's car warns her when something (person or vehicle) is approaching from either side. It's blind spot monitoring system is quite effective. I love the adaptive cruise control. We don't use the lane assist very often, but it's handy if I'm feeling a little tired on a long road trip.

Michael K said...

Blogger Jim at said...
Ford F-150. Do it! - George

I still have my 1995 XLT. 4WD, 5.8 liter. 112k on it. Still a baby.
Hauls anything. Tows everything.

Probably never need another truck.


I gave my 2003 F 150 to my son. I was thinking he could have his daughter drive it when she began to drive. Big vehicles are important when kids are first driving.

He traded it in on a new Ram truck.

Aargh !

zipity said...

My wife's car is a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser. We bought it new. It has the fewest options available on it. It has power windows, and a CD player, but that's it.

No fob, no remote start, no electric door locks, manual seat adjustments, and a 5 speed manual transmission.

She just turned over 65,000 miles. In 15 years.

When we had our own business, that consumed our every waking hour, it took us a decade to put 30,000 miles on a car.

Hunter said...

The CR-V is dead. Long live the CR-V.

Megthered said...

I'm sorry, I can't recognize the car. They all look the same to me. What is it really?

The Bergall said...

Beats my faded blue 71 Ford Maverick............

Ann Althouse said...

I would not have chosen white, but it is a utilitarian choice for summer camping, which is what Meade wants to do — camp and mountain bike.

Jim at said...

He traded it in on a new Ram truck.

Look on the bright side. It could've been a Chevy.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

I would get a pre-leased car and save the 40% on the purchase price that you would lose as soon as you drive off the car lot.

Husband shopped for a long time to replace his 2011 Mercedes C class sport sedan and then found the perfect deal - a beautiful 2017 E300 in chocolate brown with cream interior which had 9,000 miles on it. It was still on the books as a new vehicle because it had been given to a salesman to drive around to get used to. Still belonged to the dealership, carried all the warranties and qualified for a new car rate for the financing, but had the price cut of a used vehicle. It was still a splurge, but was a good value. It's really incredible how much more the technology has evolved over six model years.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Profits to Japan!

Jobs for Americans!

chickelit said...

That’s the new Meadewagen (pronounced MEED-vahgun)

tim in vermont said...

You know what I hate about the lane holding feature in some cars, like one that I own. If there is a bicyclist on the shoulder, and you want to give them a little more room, and you forget to signal, it tries to steer the car right back at the cyclist. Yesterday, there was a cyclist on the other shoulder, and an oncoming pickup complete with dualies was giving way to them, so I was moving over into the shoulder a little, and it tried to steer my right into the truck.

Unknown said...

I drive a no-rust 2004 Camry LE with 91K miles. My longest trip most weeks is 40 miles a day (round trip). Gas mileage isn't an issue. Does anyone need a learner car for a teen driver?

Michael K said...


Blogger Jim at said...
He traded it in on a new Ram truck.

Look on the bright side. It could've been a Chevy.


He posted a thing on facebook last week about his truck being stolen and my hopes soared for a moment but it was a friend's Ram pickup.

I gave him the F 150 because it was too long for the medical school parking structure. With the tuition they are charging you would think they could afford a normal size parking space but it is LA.

Known Unknown said...

We recently bought a used 2016 Pilot Elite (it has all the bellz and whistlez) and it's been great to travel in. Also gets 5 more MPH than my Ford Explorer did.

Known Unknown said...

"You know what I hate about the lane holding feature in some cars, like one that I own. If there is a bicyclist on the shoulder, and you want to give them a little more room, and you forget to signal, it tries to steer the car right back at the cyclist. Yesterday, there was a cyclist on the other shoulder, and an oncoming pickup complete with dualies was giving way to them, so I was moving over into the shoulder a little, and it tried to steer my right into the truck."

I turn LKAS off unless it's a real road trip with interstates and whatnot. Otherwise, it's a pain in the ass.

gadfly said...

The XC60 is probably the best looking Volvo SUV I have ever seen.