Anyway, we decided it was time to start the very long process of new car shopping. Both of our cars are over 200km and given how much we drive, we need a very reliable car. I've done a bit of research and we've got 12-14 models at 4-5 different dealerships we want to test drive.
We had to take the CR-V into Honda for some service, there are a couple warning lights that were coming on, and it needs an oil change too. Since we were already there, we decided to start test driving at Honda. We started with the Fit, which really didn't fit (seriously, I'm only 6 feet tall, but I couldn't drive it at all!!!!). Then we tried out the Civic SI, which is an absolutely fantastic car. I had a 1995 Civic SI and it was the second best car I ever owned. What was the best car? More on that in a minute.
I loved the Civic SI enough that I would have bought it on the spot....although the wife put the kaibosh on that.
Next car we test drove was the CR-Z Hybrid. I really didn't know what to expect. I drove it and liked it quite a bit. Tracey drove it and LOVED it. She loved it so much she wanted to buy it then and there. Can you see where this is headed?
For comparison, we next tried out the Insight Hybrid, which is a 4 seater. It was nice, but nothing too special.
We then went back to the dealership and bought the CR-Z. It was time the wife got her way :-)
We actually traded in the CR-V while it was being serviced, so it became Honda's problem while we were negotiating the deal. We definitely saved a bunch of money on that one as the warning lights probably meant the brakes had to be replaced, and we also saved about $1500 on the new tires that it needed.
Here it is:
To answer the question above of what was the best car I ever owned? My first new car, the 1988 Honda CR-X. This car is nearly a carbon copy, except for the obvious fact that it is 24 years newer and has the technology you would expect from a 2012, and it's a hybrid. We expect to save quite a bit on gas.
If there is anything negative about this car, it's that it doesn't have a sunroof. Not available. A few of the cars we had intended to test drive were actually convertibles, so we couldn't have possibly got much further away from a convertible...but it's a fabulous car and we are very pleased with it so far.
Finally I can make phone calls legally while driving. Now if only I could figure out how to text and play Words with Friends hands free I'd really have something.....
