Comments on: The Versa cometh

By: Lea

Lea — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:09:48 +0000

I liked the CR-V until the day I was late for Aaron’s first well baby visit. It was the first time I drove the CRV with the infant seat deployed. It was behind the driver’s seat and Nathan’s car seat was behind the passenger’s seat. When I went to pop the infant seat on the base it wouldn’t fit. There was no room. I was late and I was already stressed trying to get an infant and a toddler out the door. There was no way I was going to start moving car seats around. So, I pulled the driver’s seat as far forward as it would go and finally got the infant seat in there. I drove to the doctor that way. Not the most comfortable situation for me but we made it there and back.

Naturally in the short term, we swapped the car seats around and pulled the passenger seat as far forward as it would go. That was not going to work as a long term solution,though, unless I wanted to take our next vacation with my head pressed against the wind-shield for the entire drive.

So, that’s the story of why I parted with my beloved CR-V. I guess in my case, I needed a vehicle to say “Mom” instead of “Mama!”…

By: Suzie

Suzie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:58:05 +0000

There ya go… Sooze magic!

I learned today that the way I drive is called “hyper-miling.” I’d call it old-lady driving myself. Defensive, non-aggressive, happy to take my time… but then, I’m between jobs and never have to get anywhere in a hurry. Saves a lot on gas mileage.

Btw, TJ recommended this particular vehicle model when I was car shopping a couple of years ago. He NAILED it. When I test drove it, it said “Mama!”

By: Bo

Bo — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:03:45 +0000

Lea had an ’01 CR-V until we sold it to her sister to get the Odyssey. I liked it quite a lot, and I don’t like SUVs. My only gripe with it was that I thought it needed more guts on the interstate. Cullman Mountain was a solid five grand on the tach.

You’re doing better than she ever did. Lea’s got 26 all the time–city, highway, whatever.

By: Suzie

Suzie — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:46:30 +0000

I hesitate to tell ya this, but my 7-year-old Honda CRV (aka “The Pu$$y Wagon) gets 30ish mpg in town. Bit more when we take it on the road.

Maybe it’s just the special Sooze Magic…

By: saintseester

saintseester — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:41:51 +0000

My sister got a white Toyota Highlander. My sister hits A LOT of things (trees, curbs, San Antonio City Buses), so they hope it will bounce. They named it the “Bumble.”

By: Bo

Bo — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:37:05 +0000

Gerry: It is better for the earth, I suppose, but I won’t pretend that was a primary motivation. It’s pocketbook pain. Still, thanks.

‘seester: I’ve never owned a Nissan before, much less bought one new. I do, however, consider the third-generation Maxima (’89-’94) one of the finest four-door cars anyone’s ever built. And Nissan products enjoy strong resale value, which generally implies some measure of reliability. I think it’ll be fine.

Chili: It’s not THAT big. It’s still an F-150, and not a -250 or higher, after all.

cajunvegan: Thanks. The look is growing on me. I named the first three cars I had, and my fourth car was already named when I got it (purchased from my dad). I quit after that. I may name a fun/project car one day, but I think I’m done naming daily drivers.

By: cajunvegan

cajunvegan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:28:35 +0000

It … come on, a beauty like her needs a name.

By: gerry rosser

gerry rosser — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:07:44 +0000

mrschili–any car “coasting” down a hill will get tremendous mileage, depending, of course, on the steepness of the hill. Gravity is the friend of both automatic and standard transmissions. My car pegs the instant mileage readout (100mpg) on the downhills, and it is automatic. This is true even if I leave the cruise control engaged.

Nevertheless, your “hypermiling” technique is to be commended.

By: Mrs. Chili

Mrs. Chili — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:38:16 +0000

I was wondering what you were sinking into that GINORMOUS truck you roll around in.

Mr. Chili’s office mate just bought a hybrid something-or-other. He had paid off his car and wasn’t wild about taking on a car payment, but he did the math and figured that he’d be breaking even in what he was spending in gas. Can you IMAGINE?!

I’ve started getting careful about how I drive my Golf, and I was up to 32 MPG last tank. Coasting down hills helps a lot (and, Gerry, here’s where that manual transmission comes in handy – I can just pop it into neutral (or, more safely, engage the clutch while keeping it in gear) and let gravity do most of the work).

By: saintseester

saintseester — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:23:54 +0000

I love Nissans. Ever since we got that Altima. It gets about 30MPG when I drive it. The Maxima doesn’t get that good, but I like it too. They live for a long while. If my sister’s 10 year old maxima had not committed suicide earlier this year, she’d still be driving it and it would have been old enough for us to bedazzle it with fleurs des lis and get away with it.