A (slightly) NEWER CAR!!

 So, Juanita, my CRV, had to go to a farm.  REALLY.  Not like that dog a governor shot.  Actually to a farm.  Here is photographic proof:

She's quite happy there even with her wonky fender from an unfortunate encounter with a deer.  Less fortunate for the deer really....

I don't have a name for the new rig yet...working on it....

Another Honda.  2003 Element (replacing a 2002 CRV).   SUPER fun to drive.  Only 91000 miles.  For me, there is well and truly an "only" in front of that mileage.   Juanita had 165,000.

I paid more than planned, probably more than I had to if I had infinite time to shop and didn't REALLY REALLY like this car.  I've wanted an Element for a while.  Even more after driving a friend's for a few days around Santa Fe (Thanks Lynn!  Sorry about the near miss while you were in the car....let's focus on the "miss" part of that).

Anyway, it's basically a van you can hose out with GIANT doors and the back doors open backwards making an even bigger space to get crap/people in and out.

I sat in it for the test drive and went "ahhh" because it super fits my back and butt.  It's, much like Juanita's, seats are like straight back kitchen chairs.   Those work well with the giant stick reportedly up my butt.  I took it to a friend's house and he sat in it and said "ahhh"...also fit his back.  

It was towed behind and RV mostly so the back wheels have been yanked about a bit.  Otherwise, in pretty sweet shape.  Even came with a scotche (scoach?) BIT of dog hair.   There was a husky riding in it so they tell me.  Whatever.

No matter what I paid, pretty sure I can hit my purchase metric:  10,000miles/1k$ in purchase and unexpected repairs.

Juanita was a 5k$ purchase.  Let's say 1k$ in unexpected repairs (she went through brakes fast!) and I was at 68,000 miles and change that I put on her in 3years and  few months.  So, we were roughly even.

BUT GET THIS!!!  The dealer would NOT take Juanita in trade!  Not even for scrap.  The salesperson said she didn't want to give me 300$ scrap for a car that could still be driven.  I didn't want to mess with selling a vehicle or keeping plates/insurance on another rig if I owned it along with the newer car.  So I gave it away to a friend.  Worst case scenario the winter tires on rims will fit the friend's other vehicle and she can junk Juanita if she wants.   But, she's driving it!  She doesn't drive as much as me and has more back up drivers with vehicles in her area.  Juanita just wasn't up to being my daily driver with a 50mile/day commute minimum.  

Anyway, driving a car to the point the USED car dealer won't take it is a new personal best!  And Juanita gets to live out her natural life on a farm.   The farmer's helper said "this is a great car" and did some deliveries the day after they got her.  Nice.

The Element is a blast to drive.  Has good tires.  Still a rough ride because ...honda...but NOTHING like the 50mile kidney punch that was commuting in Juanita.  

The Element has good clearance, ooooooodles of hauling space (like enough that I wouldn't need a truck immediately should my pickup be undrivable for some reason)  (but so far Prince, the pick up, is doing GREAT!).  

Well, that's the news for now.