Old vs New(er)

Shopping for a car drives me totally crazy. I spend all hours of the day shopping... on Craigslist, looking at dealer websites, stalking car lots... then when I find a potential car I read all the reviews, cost of ownership, KBB, Carfax...

I remember January of 2007 when I found a used 2005 Altima and fell in love despite it being Coral Sand color (gold). This one had sat for a while because of the color and being stick (no one in Michigan drives stick). Got a killer deal, they took my Sentra (weirdly also gold and stick) and off I went.

I did a few upgrades to her: tinted windows, Momo knob and the first Redline Goods shift boots ever made for an 05-06 Altima (I made templates and they now reproduce). Look at the site... its my car on there! Some Infiniti G35 Coupe 18in. wheels, Mobil1 synthetic, K&N Airfilter and with only the best she was loved... but... there is always a but in a good love story.

Heather never picked up driving stick, and with a baby the "I can't drive your car shuffle" is hard... (why I wanted her to learn) I lost that battle along with all the rest of them I guess... On the practical side though, as a home owner I need something bigger for getting landscaping materials or 2x4s and a new storm door. Doesn't fit in the Altima...

The Altima had to go... I wanted something interessting, with some style and fun! I started shopping around... and looking for a place to trade in my baby.
I found the vehicle... I remember the 2001 Detroit Autoshow when I saw the "Model X". It was supposed to be all the functionality of a truck, but the drive of an SUV and the gas mileage of a car. It was a cool copper color, not sure why I remember that but I do (can't find online pics of car at show).

I was shopping for a Pathfinder, Vue or something boring like that... after some test drives and frustration one day on my way to work on a lot I saw a nice fully loaded Alabaster Gray Honda Element... research time! Websites, showing friends, talking to other owners for feedback... I drove the car... worked on the deal... got financing (rates are good right now!) and made a deal on my new(er) toy...

Surprisingly the car is almost 20 inches shorter than the Altima and barely an inch wider. So she will take LESS space in the drive, haul MORE stuff and get the same mileage or BETTER than the Altima. WIN. WIN. WIN. So welcome Honda back into my life... its been a long time since my CRX and Acura days... cheers to the Element!