Ahh... New car smell

[sparkydave]

The wife and I finally decided to replace my daily driver, even though it was only 4 years old. Now that my commute involves frequent bumper-to-bumper traffic, the manual transmission was getting to be a real drag. So, we traded it for a 2008 Honda CR-V with a 5 speed automatic. Like it a lot so far. It's amazing reading about all the technology cars have now, like drive-by-wire and all the equipment related to things like the air bags and seat belt tensioners. Sure makes the MG seem downright stone age in comparison. Heck, the new car even tells me if the tires are low, and if they are it automatically enables the traction control if you turned it off. Gas mileage should be slightly better too; the old CR-V wasn't geared very well for the highway, so the engine was doing about 3200 RPM at 65, but the new one purrs along at about 1800.

 

[DART]

Nice looking ride, Dave
Nothing beats that "essence of new car" scent!

 

[sparkydave]

Thanks!

 

[DrEntropy]

I MUCH prefer the "Olde English Rot & Mold" odeur...

But congrats on th' NEW ride anyhow, Dave! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[vagt6]

Those Honda CRVs are wonderful cars, Dave. My neighbor has one, it's sweet and smooth as silk!

BTW, after riding around in a modern, high-tech car (my wife drives a new Ford 500, heckuva nice ride), the pleasure derived from driving an LBC is greatly enhanced, I think.

The smell of the old grease, gas, oil and rubber; the sound of the engine turning over; the tight fit of the interior; watching the analog gauges rise to life (I HATE digital gauges!). The LBC is entirely different from a modern car, and down right exciting.

It's darn near as different as mounting a horse, with the obvious anomalies of being attached to a living animal, of course!

 

[Banjo]

Nice ride Dave. Hondas are a good car. The tire pressure monitors are federally mandated. I believe all new cars by 08 or 09 have to have them. They're a pain, but I believe they do serve a very good purpose. Once people get used to how they work, they'll be ok.
Just in the last 7-10 years, auto technology has come ahead light years. And most of that has been in the last 4 years. I'd put money on seeing a hard drive in most cars within the next 6-8 years. (Some already have them)
It's getting crazy.
Somebody ask me about the Toyota Highlander hybrids Computer controlled fuel door. No kidding. There's an ECM for the fuel door on the hybrid Highlander. It delays the opening of the fuel door while a pump draws a vacuume on the fuel tank so when you take off the fuel cap, you don't release any vapors into the air. All part of the newest PZEV (partial zero emmissions vehicle) emissions rating.

 

[DrEntropy]

I'm nonplussed.

On consideration I s'pose we NEED such things, tho.


...to keep a non-product economy alive.


/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif