Cars...

I have always loved cars, they fascinate me! Here I would like to share my future potentials as well as past vehicles.

I always love to keep an eye on what is out there. I have no intention on giving up my Element, it is a wonderful and versatile car! It is also paid off, which is another bonus! But my husband has a lease on his vehicle, so he probably will take over my Element and I will get something new.. we share (but what he has now is too big for me.. I'm not comfortable in BIG vehicles!)... so what we get next most likely will be something I will be comfortable in so we can swap with out an issue.

I am very fond of Hondas, their styling can be kind of drab and dry. Love their reliability and just how wonderful cars they are!

I think what American manufacturers have done to their own selves.. I am glad to see they are "trying" to improve. I wish they would realize making several of the same vehicle under different names does not improve the car..they need to try to make ONE car right. GM is famous for that, which is a good reason they are one of the bottom dwellers of the reliability ratings.

The NEW SUVs..crossovers & Subaru's.. they are not SUVs.. they are hatchbacks or station wagons.. why did they "need" to change the name? I think station wagons & hatchbacks are great.. versatile vehicles! As you can see by the upcoming vehicles I am looking at they are "cross-over's".. they are not too larger, good gas mileage, and versatile!

What I am looking for next?

I love a car that is versatile, not too big, has good gas mileage, of course reliable, good acceleration & power, can handle most driving conditions... and a compliment to what we have (our Element).. so looking to have something that is more comfortable for long drives, and little more luxury.

My Potential Next Vehicle...

Toyota Venza 2009

2009_Toyota_Venza_CARPREVIEW_Interior dash Love what I saw online.. can not wait to see them in person and check them out (drive)! (You can see a video & more info on my links at the right).

CR site describes this vehicle...

base will have 19" wheels, 20"on the v6.
5 seater, fold flat rear seats for more cargo.
panoramic roof, with separate glass panels over the passenger rows.
anti-lock breaks, traction control, stability control, & active head restraints.
mix of sports sedan (handling), suv (flexibility), and luxury (amenities).
Mix of the Camry, Avalon & highlander! (three wonderful vehicles from Toyota!) And also a perfect combo to me.. I loved the Highlander, but felt it was too big, the Avalon loved the luxury of it but too low and long, the Camry is a wonderful vehicle but lacked a little something I like.. and looks like the Venza has combined all my wants quite nicely.. shall see when they release it!

Honda CRV 2008

Wow did they change the CRV over the years! And I do actually like this change.. it really is no longer an SUV but still has versatility, with some luxury to it.. but not overkill.

Comfortable, nice acceleration, easy in-and-out!

Honda Fit 2009.

2009_Honda_Fit_CARPREVIEW_Exterior front

Reading about this and watching the video on CR, it really does intrigue me... though it is a tiny bug of a car, it really looks like it can offer allot!

Comparing the Prius to the Fit...

Price

Prius Touring $24605
Fit Sport $16705

MPG

Prius 48/45
Fit 27/33

Sizes

length Prius 175 vs. Fit 157.4
width Prius 67.9 vs. Fit 66.2
Height Prius 58.7 vs. Fit 60
Ground Clearance Prius 5.6 vs. Fit ?
Passenger Vol Prius 96.2 vs. Fit 90.0
Cargo Vol Prius 14.4 vs. Fit 21.3
Headroom Prius 39.1 vs. Fit 40.6

Significant size difference, Prius much larger, but the Prius gets about 20 mpg better! The Prius does cost nearly $10k more... but figuring the current gas prices that could be made up quickly!

Toyota Prius

This little wonder has amazing gas mileage, and has come out very impressive in reviews!

Past/Current

Current: Honda Element 2003

I was drawn to this car before it was released. Initially the what they had proposed for this car was definitely not attractive. I continued to watch what they were coming up with, and saw a fabulous vehicle! I basically chased it off the truck!

One of the bummer with current versions of the Element is the interior color is now ONLY variations of grey... what I have is grey & blue (I love that). The color I have is no longer available (Eternal Blue Pearl). If you want the EX (which I always prefer Honda's EX models) you can not have the matt black body panels.. blah how boring! I love the "patchwork" look!

What I loved/love!

Versatile interior: Seats you don't have to remove but you can. The seats fold flat, fold up against the walls.. either individually or together.
Easy to clean: rubber floors, water proof/easy clean seats. (perfect for families! vs. the carpeted floors, and fabric/velour fabrics.. or pricey leather).
Easy in-out: I don't need a ladder to get into it, and I don't need to jump to get out. I also do to the high ceiling.. I don't bash my head when I get in and out!
Gas mileage: for an SUV the gas mileage is pretty darn good!
ROOMY! I am not tall.. but this vehicle has tons of head room for tall folk.. at my height I probably could ride with someone on my shoulders.
Stadium seating: people in the back can see over the front seat heads... neat!
Unique style: You actually can find this vehicle in the parking lot!

Down sides: (for me these are so minor! for others they can/could be make or break).

ground clearance: not meant to be an off-road vehicle.. but still wish the clearance was better.
Seating room: as roomy as this car is.. the back seat is only designed for 2 front & 2 back.. while this car is great for moms (easy to clean) if you have more than 2 kids this car would not work.
acceleration is weak & overall underpowered. (but this is where the MPG is helped).
Wind is not the Element's friend, it can get pushed around quite a bit.
long drives are not all that comfortable.

Acura Integra 1996

Never have been an Acura fan (I do love Hondas) but the Acura line-up just have been too boring to me.. at leas this one looked more interesting with the round headlights (of course the next generation took that away).

Pros:

stylish, comfortable, good MPG, overall reliable great car.

Cons:

wimpy (no umph when driving).

Honda Prelude 2.0 Si 1986

(above is not a picture of the actual car I had.. but my prelude was this color, make, model & year. So it is a good representation.)

Loved this car! It was wonderful! Even was in an accident with a HUGE deer.. my prelude won the deer lost! My car was still running, the deer was someone's dinner. Icy, rain, anything Delaware slung at this baby it could take it!

Pros:

gas Mileage was fantastic!
Fun to drive, great acceleration! (ok that was good and bad)
Comfortable! could drive forever in this car!

Cons:

the fun to drive/acceleration got me acquainted with local cops more than it should have! I affectionately called the color pull-me-over red.
low to the ground (speed bumps took "out" my muffler). the low profile also made it so you pretty much had to lay on the ground and roll into it!

Mercury Topaz 1987 LX

(above is not a picture of the actual car I had.. but my topaz was this color, make, model & year... except I think mine had 2 doors.. don't recall anymore. But it is a good representation.)

Hated this car from day one.. and only hated it more as the days went forward! Eventually was in a 5 mph accident and the front end was in the front seat! No integrity what-so-ever! I had to hope for a hill, so I could restart it (it was manual, so I could pop the clutch).. I just had to hope for no stop signs or lights! It was a lemon, and I bought it new! I was young and needed a car.. so this piece of garbage was it!

I ended up "trading" this in for a car that was a year older.. that I had until it was 10 years old (prelude), and still was able to trade the older car for a nice amount. (love how Honda's keep their value!)

Really don't know why Ford Holds onto its Mercury line, they would do better to improve one name plate... instead of duplicates of the same name!

pros...

ok I will have to get back to you on that!

Cons

body integrity
ability to start, not to mention continue moving!
gas mileage was horrible for this vehicle!
JUNK!

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