So where exactly is the refund check that lying squinty-eyed fuck mortgaged my future for?
The Most Curious Thing – Errol Morris wonders how the girl in the Abu Ghraib picture could be smiling, and why. This is an outstanding article.
I’ve lately been scouring back issues of Consumer Reports, reading on different cars, determined to find the one that will provide the best balance of mileage, protection, space, and value. Reliability is key, because if we actually do buy a car, it’s going to need to last the three of us a good long time. I started with the Honda Fit, thinking small and nimble meant gas-frugal. When my neighbor found out what I was looking at, he told me to consider an Accord, which he claimed had comparable gas mileage and offered more protection. Consumer Reports put that myth to bed, but I then looked at a Civic, which isn’t that much more expensive than a Fit but offers plenty of room and similar efficiency.
For comparable cars, I’m adding in the Scion Xd due to the mileage and reliability ratings, as well as the Nissan Versa and the Toyota Matrix. Even though Jen’s 10-year-old Saturn coupe gets 40mpg, modern Saturns are out due to reliability issues and lousy gas mileage, and I’m ruling out any other American brands for the same reason. Subarus are out due to thirsty AWD, as is the Mazda3. I refuse to buy a Hyundai, Kia or Suzuki because I already own enough plastic toys.
Note: I also looked at hybrids but I’m not impressed with the available space: if I need to cart baby, luggage, and X-mas presents around, interior room will already be at a premium. I also looked at VW’s TDI offerings, but their cumulative reliability ratings leave me shivering with fear.
To level the playing field, I’m trying to stick with the same basic setup in each car. As much as I hate the idea of a 4-cylinder for durability, it’s the best mileage option. A stick shift is a no-brainer; we both prefer them, they’re cheaper, and they get better mileage. Crash ratings are important to us, obviously, but I understand I can’t own an Excursion and expect to afford the gas, so I’m going with the offense-is-the-best-defense strategy. Each of these cars have standard front and side curtain airbags and ABS brakes.
| Honda Fit Sport | Honda Civic | Honda Accord | Nissan Versa SL | Scion Xd | Toyota Matrix | |
| Price | $15,765 | $18,260 | $23,515 | $14,452 | $13,822 | $14,973 |
| Engine (4cyl) | 1.5L 109hp | 1.8L 113hp | 2.4L 177hp | 1.8L 122hp | 1.8L 128hp | 1.8L 132hp |
| Transmission | 5-spd man. | 6-spd man. | 5-spd man. | |||
| MPG (avg) | 34 | 31 | 24 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
| City/Highway | 33/38 | 22/40 | 22/31 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| IIHS offset | Good | Good | Good | Good | Acceptable | N/A |
(All statistics courtesy of Consumer Reports)
So what’s the deal with the Civic getting 22 city and 40 highway? That seems like an awful big spread to me. If I lived in a more rural area, I’d say Civic all the way, but I’m in one of the more congested corridors of the East Coast. I’ll take 33mpg in the city, thank you. I like the idea of a hatchback, and I intend on putting a good-quality roof rack on whatever we buy, as well as a hitch (if I can).
We also have two glowing reviews from Fit owners vs. one from a former Accord owner. My ex used to have a Civic, and I enjoyed that car well enough to consider one of my own. Much of the final decision will involve a test drive.
To be continued…
I’m currently upstate visiting my Dad, who’s recovering from surgery on his ticker. He’s currently waiting to get the stupid tube taken out of his throat so he can talk again instead of us having to struggle to understand his handwriting.
Last night, Jen and I took advantage of the warm weather and clear evening sky to take a long walk around the neighborhood, stopping to smell the last of the blooming plants, shrubs, and trees, say hello to the people we’ve met along our route, and finish the walk with a cone of chocolate ice cream. Sometimes the greatest pleasures in life really are the simple ones.
Sweet! Club-level Orioles tickets on Wednesday, and it’s supposed to be 65° and sunny!
We’re still working remotely from the local Panera because the crack Verizon repair team can’t get off their asses to fix our phone line until next Wednesday. Meanwhile, the clutch on our commuting vehicle blew up yesterday, stranding Jen on the side of the road. No word on the damage to the car or our bank account yet, but when the repair bill, taxes for 2007 and projected taxes for Q1 of 2008 are paid, we’re going to be left with pennies to rub together. Let us hope the news gets better the further we get into April.
Update: It’s only the shift linkage, which is a $500 repair and not a $2,000 repair, thank Jeebus. And, it was Wednesday, not Tuesday; this is what happens when I don’t have my internets.
This morning, waiting for coffee to brew, I was sleepily cleaning the dishes in the sink when I spied the first three dirty yellow male finches of the season on our thistle feeders, munching away. By the time I was able to get to my camera and put the long lens on, they were gone.
Where last week was a blur of focused energy and productive creativity, this week seems to be a shapeless, formless blob of fog. My attention span is scattered across several fronts and I’m finding it hard to concentrate. Perhaps more coffee will help.
I couldn’t wait for the full two weeks to pass, so I popped one of the beers in our basement and sampled the brew this evening. The result: A rich, medium hopped wheat beer with a sweet finish and a pleasant carbonation. Very tasty.