I love the keyless ignition in my Altima. A lot of the issues he described can be solved by keeping the fob in your pocket. My system will beep four times if you leave the car running and exit the car (with the fob on you). I don't understand how someone could ignore that plus the sound of a running engine in their garage, unless the car is a hybrid and has shut its engine off.
I like the keyless ignition in my 2006 LS just fine because, though keyless, you still turn the ignition switch same as before, you just don't need a key. No push button. I am not sold on push button.
I'm betting against it, since it states it right on the Monroney sticker...
It's also possible that the RDX and the MDX don't use the same system...
I'll check on Tuesday when I'm at the Honda/Acura dealer waiting on the Pilot to get the rear hatch/bumper issue fixed.
I think the Civic is trying to tell hubby something, he went to drive it tonight and it had a dead battery. Nobody has touched the car in a week, no doors open, nothing. That's the first time in 2 1/2 years and 70k miles its failed to start. Only thing I can think is maybe the LED light bar he had installed 2 weeks ago is somehow draining the battery, although it certainly should not be.
He's planning on car shopping this week while the roads are bad, poor little Civic's time may be limited. He really wants AWD and something bigger.
We took a 400 mile trip today with the Pilot, averaged 21 mpg for the whole trip, not too bad at all especially considering we were going through the mountains.
Bummer. Could be the light bar. As others have commented here before, batteries these days seem to go out without warning. My wife's 07 Odyssey was at the dealer for trans work last summer and the battery died. If it had been at home I would have just bought a new one, but the dealer replaced it under warranty which cost me $0! I would not have even thought to ask. I wonder how long the warranty is on a factory Honda battery?
2011 Toyota Camry, 2014 Jeep Wrangler, 2017 Honda Civic Coupe, 2019 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid XSE, 2021 Toyota Tundra, 2022 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Tesla Model 3
The Mazda's went while we were loading up for Thanksgiving dinner in 2010...our 1st battery that we had to pay for...what timing. But since it wasn't that old, they just prorated a new one for us. This **** happens though, especially when one doesn't expect it to happen. Just loaded everyone into my car & we were off. But bad timing all around!
Don't rush into buying anything...just replace it & get it through the summer months & then go shopping. Replacing the Civic is really a "want", not a "need"...correct?
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I had a bad install job done of an LED bar dash light (ran the middle half of the front windshield line) for the fire company installed in my Taurus along with strobe lights, and apparently the installers didn't quite wire it up right and led to a slow drain.
Didn't discover it until it sat for about 3 days and it finished off my battery (which was probably already on the way out, in all fairness).
I took it back and had the install checked and they fixed the slow drain in about 30 minutes after testing every wire they'd run.
2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
Our Honda CR-V had it's battery replaced too about 1/2 way during the warranty. When the Honda had about 3,000 miles on it, I killed the battery once because I didn't pull the radio/nav fuse while towing. After that I had a radio/nav cut-off switch installed which has worked very well.
Just last November, while in Las Vegas, it seemed like the battery was slow starting so I just drove over to AutoZone and had a new one installed. I didn't want to be caught in the Honda in some strange area with a dead battery. About $100 bucks and I was good to go!
I had an emergency braking system installed on the Honda that is connected to the battery. If the Honda were too ever break away from the motorhome, the brakes would be applied to stop it as quickly as possible.
A long time ago, my two Maxima's ('87 and '89), the batteries only lasted 2.5 yrs each for some reason. Both died without notice.
Mark156
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
We have these in both cars, our mechanic only carries this brand. But when the wife's died prematurely on Thanksgiving, they pro-rated it on the new one so didn't cost too much to swap it out. On mine, by the 40 month mark, I just went ahead & changed it out as I didn't want a similar situation like the Mazda had. Cheap insurance in my mind & I've never gotten stuck with the Civic yet.
Picked up a Car & Truck Buyers Guide at the supermarket earlier & saw some pretty nice pre-owned cars in there...a few RX's struck my eye. Love the blue color Lexus used in the 2004 to 2007 model year. Might go test a couple in the next few weeks...doesn't hurt to look & drive one, as I never have driven an RX to date. Never know what I could get for the Civic. I understand that this is a "want" and not a "need", but could be fun to just drive one...haven't done anything just for "fun" in a long time!!
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Don't rush into buying anything...just replace it & get it through the summer months & then go shopping. Replacing the Civic is really a "want", not a "need"...correct?
Hahahahahahahahahaha!......
This IS Jolie we are talking about.....
Well, actually it's her husband so maybe it is a want instead of a need....
Hmmmm. My experiences with Honda batteries has been great. That 00 Accord with 209K on it is only on it's second - maybe third - battery.
Mark - good years to have Maximas. I loved those things.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Might go test a couple in the next few weeks...doesn't hurt to look & drive one, as I never have driven an RX to date.
The RX is a smooth, competent car but it's not terribly exciting. Then again, one really can't use the words "Lexus" & "exciting" in the same sentence. I should know; my wife's car is an ES 350, which is pretty much the sedan version of the RX 350. Before that, she had an ES 300.
At least once a year, Lexus corporate offers to pay us to test drive a new car. In 2009, we picked up a $75 Visa gift card in return for driving an RX 350. Last year, we scooped up another $75 card for driving a GS 350. Just a few days ago, Lexus mailed us another offer: a $100 Visa gift card if we'll drive any new Lexus.
If you're about to retire, you should look into this as a source of extra income, although you might have to be a current Lexus owner to qualify.
Don't rush into buying anything...just replace it & get it through the summer months & then go shopping. Replacing the Civic is really a "want", not a "need"...correct
Its hard to say its only just a "want" to replace the Civic, he's been thinking about it for months. His drive to work is through some very dangerous areas and he's gotten into trouble more than once with the Civic. Plowing through a foot of snow going uphill isn't exactly fun or safe in a front wheel drive car. His main "want" is stability control and traction control, just to make things safer.
The Civic is a great car and I'd like to see him hold out until fall time on replacing it. Right now he's wanting to test drive on bad roads to get a feel for a car, something he didn't do with the Civic and regrets it. The Civic can be a real handful in the snow, I won't drive it. It has brand new winter tires on it which helps, but I do see where stability control, traction control, and awd would be a lot safer. Not to mention something bigger, lots of animals on his drive..........moose, caribou, coyotes ($1k damage to the bumper), and I'm sure a few other little buggers.
A lot can happen in 275 miles through the mountains.
Was poking around just looking at cars online (oh, yeah. Great idea when I'm supposedly on probation...). Man, a nice 07 Maxima for $16K..... I like Maximas a bunch. Too bad they don't still make wagons.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Something about that generation doesn't really do it for me. It is a good car, but had a lot of torque steer and the oddly shaped little window on the rear door always bothered me.
I always liked the 2000-2003 especially the 02/03 models since they were the first with 3.5L.
I always wondered why he bought a Civic in the first place - for exactly the reasons you are outlining now.
I tried to talk him out of it, point him towards an AWD car or suv, but he was so focused on gas mileage that he wanted the Civic. Now here we are 2 1/2 years later looking at AWD suvs.........go figure.
I'm hoping some new information comes out soon on the 2012 CR-V, maybe it will be the right fit. Guess I'm kind of stuck on Hondas.
Was poking around just looking at cars online (oh, yeah. Great idea when I'm supposedly on probation...). Man, a nice 07 Maxima for $16K..... I like Maximas a bunch. Too bad they don't still make wagons.
G35 sedan ftw. I realize it might not be ideal for your situation, but it doesn't seem like the prices are that different between a Maxima and G35, and the driving dynamics (if not the ergonomics) of the G35 are stellar.
2006 Ridgeline, bought in Dec 2005. It had a 'green eye' battery just like old Delco's had. After about 3 years or so, the 'eye' wasn't green any more. I threw my big charger on it, and the battery seemed ok. I drove it for about 2 more years with a black 'eye' showing.
Thinking I might be hearing a slight slow down on cranking, several months ago I did something for the first time - I replaced a battery before it failed. Wally-world checked it with a load tester and it checked fine. I think their printout indicated more CCA's than it was rated at. But I put their best battery in for about $85. This truck is my daily driver and I didn't want it to fail away from home.
Also saves undue strain on the alternator/voltage regulator, which cost a lot more than a battery. Sometimes super hard to see, but older cars sometimes end up very corroded connections at the starter etc, and can be hard to tell just looking visually. If u ever have a battery issue (what you think is) and put new stuff on car and still have the problem, check those connections. Often they are at fault before the parts replacements happen.
There is a pink substance that you can add to any battery that is not sealed. Can't recall the name. I plan to rejuvenate my CRV battery (original since 2005) with thsi pink stuff once i find who sells it. I had some years ago and rejuv'd my ATV battery to like new. Miracle product. Not cheap but cheaper than a new battery. Once i find the stuff, i'll post how my battery in the car does, I can tell it is a bit tired. I leave an electronic maintainer on it year round though cuz i don't drive for days at a time sometimes. And that does preserve a battery a lot. You might say I spoil my batteries. The battery in the bike I have another maintainer on it and it is like new still and it will be 8 years old this summer. That one is sealed.
I had some years ago and rejuv'd my ATV battery to like new
Those darn ATV batteries are fussy without a battery tender. If you dare let it get too low, it can ruin it. My GF's family has one that really doesn't get used. They don't have a tender/trickle charger so I pull the main fuse on the ATV so they is absolutely no draw and try and remind them to run it a few times a month.
I found my old contr - ResureX by Duo-Regen Tech in Florida. www.batteryadditive.com
That happened to my ATV battery. I let it get a bit too low, and decided to try this stuff i bought at a specialty battery and charger shop. They swore the stuff works. I was skeptical but toke them at their word and am glad I had. I forget the cost, but i think 20 bucks to treat one avg car battery.
My ATV battery just turned 8 years old also last Jan. I have had good luck though with small RV type batteries. I just maintain them. Here is what i do if anyone is interested.
- buy the battery, hopefully get to add my own acid. Be very careful no debris of any sort contaminates it. Fill to proper level. Let battery sit unused for a day as the plates will absorb some of the acid. The next day top up with acid. Do NOT overfill. Fill to indicated full range if indicated, or if not to just over the plates plus a bit...grey area here..maybe 1/4 inch depending on size of batt. - then put the battery on a very high quality charger maintainer and bring right up to full charge BEFORE using the battery. I recommend a CTEK Multi-use 3300 3.3A Battery Charger. It uses electronic control. It can also desulphate some batteries depending on how bad they were. If you don't want to invest in a special charger then use a (preferably a 1 amp instead of a 2 amp, but 2 amp will do, just don't put it on and walk away). Put it on charge for 5 minutes at a time, let it sit for 1 or 2 hours, put it back on charge for another 5 or 10 minutes. Do this a few times during the day. - then after the initial surface charge wears down, you should still have about 12.6 or 7 volts on a 12 v batt. To accelerate a surface chg bleed off, just hook up an old headlight to it for 5 or 10 seconds. Use long-wired alligator clips, but don't hook them to the light first, as u don't want a spark near a freshly charged battery. - then install battery and enjoy it. - keep the top of battery very clean - this is very important so that u don't have trace resistance current flowing between the terminals. A humid enviro would accelerate that. - once a year confirm the level in the battery. The goal is to not over fill but keep just a bit of extra over the top of the plates. They should be just covered, plus a bit. Always make sure vent tube is installed and not pinched. If u do have to add water, this part is EXTREMELY important. Use only properly sterile distilled water. (do not use water from a home dehumidifier, or put a cup under your A/C as it is too dirty) You can buy it cheap at a hardware store. (This same water is what you should use if you do your own coolant system flushes too).
- then, if item is not used on a reg basis then throw a little 1 amp charger on the battery for 5 min once a month. That's all it takes. A battery has only two states. It is either being charged artificially, or it is discharging. Even with nothing attached to battery it self-discharges. Or use that CTEK or other similar (but known good electronic chgr/maintainer. Do NOT use auto battery chargers. They are notorious for wrecking batteries by over charging. You can use the auto chrgr in the 2 amp (1 preferred) position, but just treat it as a manual. Put iton for 5 or 10 min and take it off. Also do not leave batt terminals connected even if yopu have unplugged chrgr.
And of course all the usual things, don't leave lights on and kill a battery totally - very bad - don't try to put too fast a charge into a battery - using a vehicles charging system to 'charge' a battery is a perfect example of drastically putting a super aggressive fast charge into a battery. VERY bad. That is why that very first charge i mentioned when the battery is new is so important to charge it up manually first. (when you first add the acid, battery will be about 75% charge) Even if you are buying a bike or watercraft etc etc. Insist they use a shop battery for PDI etc. And have them hand you your brand new new battery to you in a box. Unused. Also, if buying at Walmart or similar pick a battery at the back of the roller rack. Check the dates, they usually prefill these and stock rotate, but the newer/fresher the better. Just ask them where the date code will be, they should know. Usually 4 digits. Feb2011 would be 0211.
I wish i had known all this when I was a teenager. Wouldn't have gone through near the number of batteries that I have.
One more thing, leaving a battery on concrete floor does not drain the battery off. That is an old myth. What drained the battery was all the damp dirt between the posts, and the neglect that most batteries endure in those basements that were 'blamed' for wrecking a battery. Keep a battery cool tho if it is in storage. Cold temps slow the chemical reaction of self-discharge. Believe it or not, some cars (VW) use a battery blanket to wrap the battery. Not for cold winter starting (desirable), but to insulate the battery 'away' from excess conductive heat under the hood of modern cars. Heat helps kill it. Not sure if Vdube still does that or not.
For all that, I think I'd just about rather buy a new battery every few years (although buying them at ~$28 a pop got old back when I had access to the neighbor's old lawn tractor). I got 8 years out of my last Walmart car battery (I know, amazed me too).
Altho to be fair it took me longer to type that than if I was prepping or maintaining a new battery. There is also the convenience and lack of expense to actually go to the store and buy. And it is getting so that what u buy, is, while new, not as good a quality as what you are replacing. Plus, there is our responsibility to not excessively contribute to landfill or recycle costs/emissions.
The older I get, the more resistant I am to throwing out and buying new. Why... in the past few days I have re-glued a handle on a rake, refitted and wedged my own splitting axe and have a DVD recorder apart that I'm awaiting parts on.
I got rid of the acre and don't have anything mobile that needs a battery now, except for the cars. And one day those are getting downsized again to just one ride (oops, forgot what discussion I was in - sorry for the heresy).
btw, I did try to save a car battery a year or two ago with the "desulfur" setting on my neighbor's fancy battery charger but it didn't work. Too far gone I suppose.
I have an Accumate charger/trickle charger that I use on my bike and my two mowers. It does an excellent job and will also charge an automotive battery if you are patient.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Spoke with our Honda service advisor and he didn't think it was a battery issue, his thinking is something is draining the battery. So, went back to the shop that installed the LED light bar and they want to run a test on the car to see if that's what's causing the issue. We will take it in tomorrow.
Had a trim piece on the rear bumper of my Pilot replaced today, now I can open the rear hatch again, which is rather nice.
Hubby has narrowed his search down, but wants to wait and see what the 2012 CR-V and Escape look like before buying. On the top of the list is the Subaru Outback, next is the Chevy Equinox. Both very nice vehicles. Kias aren't bad either, but reliability is too much of an unknown to take a chance.
Yes, that is another well known name. It's true that a slow charge over a longer period of time is a gentler, better charge.
Something I have never quite understood, but apparently when charging an RV type (the deep cycle ones that are used in travel trailers and for electric trolling motors, and get drained and recharged numerous times) they claim a small 1 or 2 amp will not completely charge it right up. I am still skeptical about that. 1 amp is still a fair amount of current. Certainly tons more than any type of battery rate would self-discharge. Certainly not if it was kept clean on the top between the terminals.
That CTEK I posted though, while only being a max of 3.3 amp, they claim it does all batteries.
I'm also curious to what the 2012 Honda CR-V will look like. I have 40,000 miles (as of today) on the CR-V plus another 38,000 miles of towing (78,000 miles total).
Although I've had no major issues with the CR-V... I'm always looking for something new!
Mark156
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
Still not sure I read this one right - 1968 Ford pickup, 3 speed manual with a bit less than 37,000 miles on it. Saw it on an ad on the bulletin board at one of the local diners. That's less than 1,000 miles a year.
It does have a camper so maybe the owner just used it to drive to deer camp and back every fall.
I think the handwriting in the ad would have said so, especially since you have to declare the mileage on the title when you sell a car. The ad was sort of chicken scratched on a piece of shirt board though. Maybe I can get a snapshot of it in a day or two.
that sounds like a good shopping list. I wouldn't worry on the Kias these days but then I'm not driving out in miles of nowhere...
The Kias are really a lot nicer than I remember. The Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium is on the top of the list, it hit all the right notes. Subaru dealer offered $10k for the Civic, so we may try selling it on our own.
We are still chasing the battery issue with the Civic, had to jump it again this morning to get it started. Took it back to the place that installed the aftermarket lights, they ran some tests on it, said nothing is drawing on the system when the key is off. So we took it to another place for a second opinion, same thing, no draw, but they said that although the battery shows good cells, it could be borderline. They also said it could be the alternator, but I doubt that.
At this point we can't do anything since hubby has to go to work tonight, I guess we will see what next week brings. May have to take it to the dealer if this continues. I offered him the Pilot for his drive to work tonight and I would take care of getting the Civic fixed. He refused, doesn't want to drive the Pilot to work.
I've known people who've ditched cars for less ... I think.
About a block from home the wife heard a loud noise from the VUE. Turns out the rear wiper arm snapped off from the base!
I've got an appointment to get it replaced at the dealer (er, "Authorized Saturn Service Facility") on Saturday, but the wife also commented (again) on perhaps getting something a bit smaller that gets better mileage. She's got a lot of driving to do this summer and with gas now poking through the $3 barrier here in Colorado, she's wondering if a new car is in the cards.
So, while my wife taught class last night, I hit a couple of dealers.
First up was Volvo, as my wife has always liked them and feels they are safe. Looked at an XC60 in the showroom - $42K, but no idea how well equipped it was. Nice looking, but again I noticed that the front shoulder belts don't adjust up or down. Perhaps you're meant to raise or lower the seat instead? Got a brochure and moved on.
Second stop was the MINI dealer where we got our daughter's '10 last April. Saw and test drove the Countryman S All4. Cute little thing that still maintained about 98% of the MINI DNA, but with a slightly larger package. Same responsive steering, same "feel of the road" handling. Quick, too, with the turbo, even though the S All4 weighs in at around 3200 pounds. And, since it's got AWD, it sits a bit higher than the rest of the MINI range, but it certainly doesn't have the same view of the road as a traditional CUV / SUV.
About the only downside of the MINI is the lack of storage space, but in a vehicle that small, it's to be expected. Can still get a set of golf clubs into the back with the rear seats folded down, and the rear seat leg room seemed decent.
MPG on the Countryman S All4 with the automatic is 23/30, which is better than the current 16/22 of the VUE (the Volvo, for comparison, was 18/24, I think).
I bet the truck is sold before you can check it out. In that market at that price, condition trumps mileage big time. In the 60's dealers like my uncle always spun the odometers back to zero on all his used cars. Standard practice in western Pa.
volvo belts are adjustable somehow. I think it is automatic though (they slide up, you don't have to move a lever to pick a height).
and 42K is a pretty loaded up XC60. You can sticker them out for less than that, with a smaller engine. But don't expect any better RW MPG than the Vue gives you.
if you want to stay with AWD, the Mini is probably gonna be the highest rated for MPG. Honda CRV is not bad either. maybe a 4 cyl Rav 4?
or even better, buy your convertible and tell her to just live with the Saturn!
I priced out an XC60 online and came up around $38K .. versus $35K for the Countryman equipped the way I think she would want it.
4-cylinders are out. The wife actually likes the looks of the CR-V, but whenever I mention that it comes as a 4-cyl only, she dismisses it.
Girl likes her ponies, that's for sure.
I've thought about a Juke ... similar to Countryman in that it's small-ish, turbo 4-cyl, AWD and still get OK mileage.
If only I could convince her to go to a car rather than an SUV / CUV, there would be so many more options.
Girl likes her some hatchback utility, too.
I think the convertible idea is tabled for now .. I'm keeping the ION for the foreseeable future, since it really only does pizza duty and light errand running. Just crossed 50K a couple weeks ago, and will be paid off in just a few months.
Nissan Juke ... 25/30 with AWD and CVT. $25K for top trim level with leather and sunroof. Funky looking thing, however .. not sure if the wife would want something that ... that ... noticeable.
CR just tested one in the latest issue (the Juke). Not favorable.
so lets see. She wants a tall box, with AWD drag and weight, and lots of HP to scoot it around.
basically tell her the laws of physics say give up on getting better MPG that what the Vue gets. Maybe 1-2 MPG, but that will take 10 years to even make back the sales tax!
and you can run a Tiguan up to 35K? Man, I thought they started in the low 20s, and maybe pushed 30 loaded to the gills. Damned thing is just a glorified Golf.
so lets see. She wants a tall box, with AWD drag and weight, and lots of HP to scoot it around.
basically tell her the laws of physics say give up on getting better MPG that what the Vue gets. Maybe 1-2 MPG, but that will take 10 years to even make back the sales tax!
Yep, that about sums it up. I've explained to her that the simple requirement of AWD will kill most vehicles MPG rating.
She'd like to have an SUV / CUV type vehicle for the hauling capabilities that we need 2 or 3 times a year, plus the AWD for the 5-7 days of really bad weather here in Colorado - the rest of the time, she'd probably be fine with a MINI Cooper S.
If the ION didn't smell like a pizza kitchen (and was 100% reliable), I might be able to convince her to use it when commuting Colorado Springs this summer. Sigh.
(sounds a bit like q's wife, eh? - buy for the possibility, not 95% of the time)
And, the Tiguan starts at $23K - FWD, S trim level. Gets expensive when you want extra features and 4Motion. Base MSRP of the SEL w/ 4Motion is $33K.
When it's all said and done, we'll probably stick with the VUE. Not that there is anything majorly wrong with it, just a spot of concern that it's an "orphan" with limited service options. We're not 100% happy with the Chevy dealer that is our "Authorized Saturn Service Center", but we really don't have much choice.
I like that Countryman a lot. I saw my first one on the road recently and it really caught my eye. I envisioned it to be a bit bigger from the pictures, but in person it seems about the size of a Golf.
I was surprised to see the pricing is almost the same as the Clubman - plus a premium for the AWD if you want it.
It's nice to have another option for a "premium" 4-door hatchback.
I envisioned it to be a bit bigger from the pictures, but in person it seems about the size of a Golf.
I was surprised to see the pricing is almost the same as the Clubman - plus a premium for the AWD if you want it.
Depends on your frame of reference. Park a Countryman next to a regular Cooper hatch and you can see that it's bigger. Park it next to a Golf, Focus, etc. and it's probably smaller. I think it's probably the size of the Fiesta in most respects.
Well, there's premium and then there's premium. I'm not sure that the Countryman can be cross shopped with anything.
A3? Yeah, it's available with Quattro WRX? Subie is much, much faster
Nobody who's looking for a premium hatch (Focus Titanium, Golf GTI) will consider the Countryman, IMO. It's a very unique vehicle that will appeal to those who like MINI's, but want a skosh more space for people and stuff.
Why is it every time you are seriously talking car it's for your wife? It's supposed to be your turn.....
As has been mentioned, buying anything in this category would have a payoff for the improved mileage of ten years - maybe more. I'd vote to just keep buying the gas but I'm remembering what group I'm talking to here.
Jolie - there's a good reason the Kias look nicer than you remember - they ARE nicer. They, like Hyundai, are getting way better very quickly. That said, I vote for the Outback...
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Comments
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
It's also possible that the RDX and the MDX don't use the same system...
I'll check on Tuesday when I'm at the Honda/Acura dealer waiting on the Pilot to get the rear hatch/bumper issue fixed.
I think the Civic is trying to tell hubby something, he went to drive it tonight and it had a dead battery. Nobody has touched the car in a week, no doors open, nothing. That's the first time in 2 1/2 years and 70k miles its failed to start. Only thing I can think is maybe the LED light bar he had installed 2 weeks ago is somehow draining the battery, although it certainly should not be.
He's planning on car shopping this week while the roads are bad, poor little Civic's time may be limited. He really wants AWD and something bigger.
We took a 400 mile trip today with the Pilot, averaged 21 mpg for the whole trip, not too bad at all especially considering we were going through the mountains.
Don't rush into buying anything...just replace it & get it through the summer months & then go shopping. Replacing the Civic is really a "want", not a "need"...correct?
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Didn't discover it until it sat for about 3 days and it finished off my battery (which was probably already on the way out, in all fairness).
I took it back and had the install checked and they fixed the slow drain in about 30 minutes after testing every wire they'd run.
Just last November, while in Las Vegas, it seemed like the battery was slow starting so I just drove over to AutoZone and had a new one installed. I didn't want to be caught in the Honda in some strange area with a dead battery. About $100 bucks and I was good to go!
I had an emergency braking system installed on the Honda that is connected to the battery. If the Honda were too ever break away from the motorhome, the brakes would be applied to stop it as quickly as possible.
A long time ago, my two Maxima's ('87 and '89), the batteries only lasted 2.5 yrs each for some reason. Both died without notice.
Mark156
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Also had to do brakes on it just before the lease was up which torqued me pretty good. I don't even think I had 30k on the car.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Picked up a Car & Truck Buyers Guide at the supermarket earlier & saw some pretty nice pre-owned cars in there...a few RX's struck my eye. Love the blue color Lexus used in the 2004 to 2007 model year. Might go test a couple in the next few weeks...doesn't hurt to look & drive one, as I never have driven an RX to date. Never know what I could get for the Civic. I understand that this is a "want" and not a "need", but could be fun to just drive one...haven't done anything just for "fun" in a long time!!
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Hahahahahahahahahaha!......
This IS Jolie we are talking about.....
Well, actually it's her husband so maybe it is a want instead of a need....
Hmmmm. My experiences with Honda batteries has been great. That 00 Accord with 209K on it is only on it's second - maybe third - battery.
Mark - good years to have Maximas. I loved those things.
The RX is a smooth, competent car but it's not terribly exciting. Then again, one really can't use the words "Lexus" & "exciting" in the same sentence. I should know; my wife's car is an ES 350, which is pretty much the sedan version of the RX 350. Before that, she had an ES 300.
At least once a year, Lexus corporate offers to pay us to test drive a new car. In 2009, we picked up a $75 Visa gift card in return for driving an RX 350. Last year, we scooped up another $75 card for driving a GS 350. Just a few days ago, Lexus mailed us another offer: a $100 Visa gift card if we'll drive any new Lexus.
If you're about to retire, you should look into this as a source of extra income, although you might have to be a current Lexus owner to qualify.
Its hard to say its only just a "want" to replace the Civic, he's been thinking about it for months. His drive to work is through some very dangerous areas and he's gotten into trouble more than once with the Civic. Plowing through a foot of snow going uphill isn't exactly fun or safe in a front wheel drive car. His main "want" is stability control and traction control, just to make things safer.
The Civic is a great car and I'd like to see him hold out until fall time on replacing it. Right now he's wanting to test drive on bad roads to get a feel for a car, something he didn't do with the Civic and regrets it. The Civic can be a real handful in the snow, I won't drive it. It has brand new winter tires on it which helps, but I do see where stability control, traction control, and awd would be a lot safer. Not to mention something bigger, lots of animals on his drive..........moose, caribou, coyotes ($1k damage to the bumper), and I'm sure a few other little buggers.
A lot can happen in 275 miles through the mountains.
Something about that generation doesn't really do it for me. It is a good car, but had a lot of torque steer and the oddly shaped little window on the rear door always bothered me.
I always liked the 2000-2003 especially the 02/03 models since they were the first with 3.5L.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I tried to talk him out of it, point him towards an AWD car or suv, but he was so focused on gas mileage that he wanted the Civic. Now here we are 2 1/2 years later looking at AWD suvs.........go figure.
I'm hoping some new information comes out soon on the 2012 CR-V, maybe it will be the right fit. Guess I'm kind of stuck on Hondas.
G35 sedan ftw. I realize it might not be ideal for your situation, but it doesn't seem like the prices are that different between a Maxima and G35, and the driving dynamics (if not the ergonomics) of the G35 are stellar.
Thinking I might be hearing a slight slow down on cranking, several months ago I did something for the first time - I replaced a battery before it failed. Wally-world checked it with a load tester and it checked fine. I think their printout indicated more CCA's than it was rated at. But I put their best battery in for about $85. This truck is my daily driver and I didn't want it to fail away from home.
There is a pink substance that you can add to any battery that is not sealed. Can't recall the name. I plan to rejuvenate my CRV battery (original since 2005) with thsi pink stuff once i find who sells it. I had some years ago and rejuv'd my ATV battery to like new. Miracle product. Not cheap but cheaper than a new battery. Once i find the stuff, i'll post how my battery in the car does, I can tell it is a bit tired. I leave an electronic maintainer on it year round though cuz i don't drive for days at a time sometimes. And that does preserve a battery a lot. You might say I spoil my batteries. The battery in the bike I have another maintainer on it and it is like new still and it will be 8 years old this summer. That one is sealed.
Those darn ATV batteries are fussy without a battery tender. If you dare let it get too low, it can ruin it. My GF's family has one that really doesn't get used. They don't have a tender/trickle charger so I pull the main fuse on the ATV so they is absolutely no draw and try and remind them to run it a few times a month.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
www.batteryadditive.com
That happened to my ATV battery. I let it get a bit too low, and decided to try this stuff i bought at a specialty battery and charger shop. They swore the stuff works. I was skeptical but toke them at their word and am glad I had. I forget the cost, but i think 20 bucks to treat one avg car battery.
My ATV battery just turned 8 years old also last Jan. I have had good luck though with small RV type batteries. I just maintain them. Here is what i do if anyone is interested.
- buy the battery, hopefully get to add my own acid. Be very careful no debris of any sort contaminates it. Fill to proper level. Let battery sit unused for a day as the plates will absorb some of the acid. The next day top up with acid. Do NOT overfill. Fill to indicated full range if indicated, or if not to just over the plates plus a bit...grey area here..maybe 1/4 inch depending on size of batt.
- then put the battery on a very high quality charger maintainer and bring right up to full charge BEFORE using the battery. I recommend a CTEK Multi-use 3300 3.3A Battery Charger. It uses electronic control. It can also desulphate some batteries depending on how bad they were. If you don't want to invest in a special charger then use a (preferably a 1 amp instead of a 2 amp, but 2 amp will do, just don't put it on and walk away). Put it on charge for 5 minutes at a time, let it sit for 1 or 2 hours, put it back on charge for another 5 or 10 minutes. Do this a few times during the day.
- then after the initial surface charge wears down, you should still have about 12.6 or 7 volts on a 12 v batt. To accelerate a surface chg bleed off, just hook up an old headlight to it for 5 or 10 seconds. Use long-wired alligator clips, but don't hook them to the light first, as u don't want a spark near a freshly charged battery.
- then install battery and enjoy it.
- keep the top of battery very clean - this is very important so that u don't have trace resistance current flowing between the terminals. A humid enviro would accelerate that.
- once a year confirm the level in the battery. The goal is to not over fill but keep just a bit of extra over the top of the plates. They should be just covered, plus a bit. Always make sure vent tube is installed and not pinched. If u do have to add water, this part is EXTREMELY important. Use only properly sterile distilled water. (do not use water from a home dehumidifier, or put a cup under your A/C as it is too dirty) You can buy it cheap at a hardware store. (This same water is what you should use if you do your own coolant system flushes too).
- then, if item is not used on a reg basis then throw a little 1 amp charger on the battery for 5 min once a month. That's all it takes. A battery has only two states. It is either being charged artificially, or it is discharging. Even with nothing attached to battery it self-discharges. Or use that CTEK or other similar (but known good electronic chgr/maintainer. Do NOT use auto battery chargers. They are notorious for wrecking batteries by over charging. You can use the auto chrgr in the 2 amp (1 preferred) position, but just treat it as a manual. Put iton for 5 or 10 min and take it off. Also do not leave batt terminals connected even if yopu have unplugged chrgr.
And of course all the usual things, don't leave lights on and kill a battery totally - very bad
- don't try to put too fast a charge into a battery - using a vehicles charging system to 'charge' a battery is a perfect example of drastically putting a super aggressive fast charge into a battery. VERY bad. That is why that very first charge i mentioned when the battery is new is so important to charge it up manually first. (when you first add the acid, battery will be about 75% charge) Even if you are buying a bike or watercraft etc etc. Insist they use a shop battery for PDI etc. And have them hand you your brand new new battery to you in a box. Unused. Also, if buying at Walmart or similar pick a battery at the back of the roller rack. Check the dates, they usually prefill these and stock rotate, but the newer/fresher the better. Just ask them where the date code will be, they should know. Usually 4 digits. Feb2011 would be 0211.
I wish i had known all this when I was a teenager. Wouldn't have gone through near the number of batteries that I have.
One more thing, leaving a battery on concrete floor does not drain the battery off. That is an old myth. What drained the battery was all the damp dirt between the posts, and the neglect that most batteries endure in those basements that were 'blamed' for wrecking a battery. Keep a battery cool tho if it is in storage. Cold temps slow the chemical reaction of self-discharge.
Believe it or not, some cars (VW) use a battery blanket to wrap the battery. Not for cold winter starting (desirable), but to insulate the battery 'away' from excess conductive heat under the hood of modern cars. Heat helps kill it. Not sure if Vdube still does that or not.
Phew!! Done i think..
I'm at the "weld the hood shut" stage.
Plus, there is our responsibility to not excessively contribute to landfill or recycle costs/emissions.
The older I get, the more resistant I am to throwing out and buying new.
Why... in the past few days I have re-glued a handle on a rake, refitted and wedged my own splitting axe and have a DVD recorder apart that I'm awaiting parts on.
btw, I did try to save a car battery a year or two ago with the "desulfur" setting on my neighbor's fancy battery charger but it didn't work. Too far gone I suppose.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Had a trim piece on the rear bumper of my Pilot replaced today, now I can open the rear hatch again, which is rather nice.
Hubby has narrowed his search down, but wants to wait and see what the 2012 CR-V and Escape look like before buying. On the top of the list is the Subaru Outback, next is the Chevy Equinox. Both very nice vehicles. Kias aren't bad either, but reliability is too much of an unknown to take a chance.
It's true that a slow charge over a longer period of time is a gentler, better charge.
Something I have never quite understood, but apparently when charging an RV type (the deep cycle ones that are used in travel trailers and for electric trolling motors, and get drained and recharged numerous times) they claim a small 1 or 2 amp will not completely charge it right up. I am still skeptical about that. 1 amp is still a fair amount of current. Certainly tons more than any type of battery rate would self-discharge. Certainly not if it was kept clean on the top between the terminals.
That CTEK I posted though, while only being a max of 3.3 amp, they claim it does all batteries.
Although I've had no major issues with the CR-V... I'm always looking for something new!
Mark156
rb - your presence has been requested in frontlines....
Jolie - that sounds like a good shopping list. I wouldn't worry on the Kias these days but then I'm not driving out in miles of nowhere...
It does have a camper so maybe the owner just used it to drive to deer camp and back every fall.
Mark156
The Kias are really a lot nicer than I remember. The Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium is on the top of the list, it hit all the right notes. Subaru dealer offered $10k for the Civic, so we may try selling it on our own.
We are still chasing the battery issue with the Civic, had to jump it again this morning to get it started. Took it back to the place that installed the aftermarket lights, they ran some tests on it, said nothing is drawing on the system when the key is off. So we took it to another place for a second opinion, same thing, no draw, but they said that although the battery shows good cells, it could be borderline. They also said it could be the alternator, but I doubt that.
At this point we can't do anything since hubby has to go to work tonight, I guess we will see what next week brings. May have to take it to the dealer if this continues. I offered him the Pilot for his drive to work tonight and I would take care of getting the Civic fixed. He refused, doesn't want to drive the Pilot to work.
About a block from home the wife heard a loud noise from the VUE. Turns out the rear wiper arm snapped off from the base!
I've got an appointment to get it replaced at the dealer (er, "Authorized Saturn Service Facility") on Saturday, but the wife also commented (again) on perhaps getting something a bit smaller that gets better mileage. She's got a lot of driving to do this summer and with gas now poking through the $3 barrier here in Colorado, she's wondering if a new car is in the cards.
So, while my wife taught class last night, I hit a couple of dealers.
First up was Volvo, as my wife has always liked them and feels they are safe. Looked at an XC60 in the showroom - $42K, but no idea how well equipped it was. Nice looking, but again I noticed that the front shoulder belts don't adjust up or down. Perhaps you're meant to raise or lower the seat instead? Got a brochure and moved on.
Second stop was the MINI dealer where we got our daughter's '10 last April. Saw and test drove the Countryman S All4. Cute little thing that still maintained about 98% of the MINI DNA, but with a slightly larger package. Same responsive steering, same "feel of the road" handling. Quick, too, with the turbo, even though the S All4 weighs in at around 3200 pounds. And, since it's got AWD, it sits a bit higher than the rest of the MINI range, but it certainly doesn't have the same view of the road as a traditional CUV / SUV.
About the only downside of the MINI is the lack of storage space, but in a vehicle that small, it's to be expected. Can still get a set of golf clubs into the back with the rear seats folded down, and the rear seat leg room seemed decent.
MPG on the Countryman S All4 with the automatic is 23/30, which is better than the current 16/22 of the VUE (the Volvo, for comparison, was 18/24, I think).
I have a feeling these trucks are getting retired to the farm after a couple of years and then just used for dump runs.
and 42K is a pretty loaded up XC60. You can sticker them out for less than that, with a smaller engine. But don't expect any better RW MPG than the Vue gives you.
if you want to stay with AWD, the Mini is probably gonna be the highest rated for MPG. Honda CRV is not bad either. maybe a 4 cyl Rav 4?
or even better, buy your convertible and tell her to just live with the Saturn!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
4-cylinders are out. The wife actually likes the looks of the CR-V, but whenever I mention that it comes as a 4-cyl only, she dismisses it.
Girl likes her ponies, that's for sure.
I've thought about a Juke ... similar to Countryman in that it's small-ish, turbo 4-cyl, AWD and still get OK mileage.
If only I could convince her to go to a car rather than an SUV / CUV, there would be so many more options.
Girl likes her some hatchback utility, too.
I think the convertible idea is tabled for now .. I'm keeping the ION for the foreseeable future, since it really only does pizza duty and light errand running. Just crossed 50K a couple weeks ago, and will be paid off in just a few months.
Perhaps when I turn 50 (December 2013) .....
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
18/24 w/ 4Motion.
$33K for SE w/o leather but with sunroof.
$35K for SEL (leather / sunroof std)
Nissan Juke ... 25/30 with AWD and CVT. $25K for top trim level with leather and sunroof. Funky looking thing, however .. not sure if the wife would want something that ... that ... noticeable.
so lets see. She wants a tall box, with AWD drag and weight, and lots of HP to scoot it around.
basically tell her the laws of physics say give up on getting better MPG that what the Vue gets. Maybe 1-2 MPG, but that will take 10 years to even make back the sales tax!
and you can run a Tiguan up to 35K? Man, I thought they started in the low 20s, and maybe pushed 30 loaded to the gills. Damned thing is just a glorified Golf.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
basically tell her the laws of physics say give up on getting better MPG that what the Vue gets. Maybe 1-2 MPG, but that will take 10 years to even make back the sales tax!
Yep, that about sums it up. I've explained to her that the simple requirement of AWD will kill most vehicles MPG rating.
She'd like to have an SUV / CUV type vehicle for the hauling capabilities that we need 2 or 3 times a year, plus the AWD for the 5-7 days of really bad weather here in Colorado - the rest of the time, she'd probably be fine with a MINI Cooper S.
If the ION didn't smell like a pizza kitchen (and was 100% reliable), I might be able to convince her to use it when commuting Colorado Springs this summer. Sigh.
(sounds a bit like q's wife, eh? - buy for the possibility, not 95% of the time)
And, the Tiguan starts at $23K - FWD, S trim level. Gets expensive when you want extra features and 4Motion. Base MSRP of the SEL w/ 4Motion is $33K.
When it's all said and done, we'll probably stick with the VUE. Not that there is anything majorly wrong with it, just a spot of concern that it's an "orphan" with limited service options. We're not 100% happy with the Chevy dealer that is our "Authorized Saturn Service Center", but we really don't have much choice.
I was surprised to see the pricing is almost the same as the Clubman - plus a premium for the AWD if you want it.
It's nice to have another option for a "premium" 4-door hatchback.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
I was surprised to see the pricing is almost the same as the Clubman - plus a premium for the AWD if you want it.
Depends on your frame of reference. Park a Countryman next to a regular Cooper hatch and you can see that it's bigger. Park it next to a Golf, Focus, etc. and it's probably smaller. I think it's probably the size of the Fiesta in most respects.
Well, there's premium and then there's premium. I'm not sure that the Countryman can be cross shopped with anything.
A3? Yeah, it's available with Quattro
WRX? Subie is much, much faster
Nobody who's looking for a premium hatch (Focus Titanium, Golf GTI) will consider the Countryman, IMO. It's a very unique vehicle that will appeal to those who like MINI's, but want a skosh more space for people and stuff.
As has been mentioned, buying anything in this category would have a payoff for the improved mileage of ten years - maybe more. I'd vote to just keep buying the gas but I'm remembering what group I'm talking to here.
Jolie - there's a good reason the Kias look nicer than you remember - they ARE nicer. They, like Hyundai, are getting way better very quickly. That said, I vote for the Outback...