A 2016 Honda CRV.
My pride and joy, the 2001 BMW 330ci has been gone for two weeks now having some work done. A standard OEM oil leak, new RTAB’s, new sub frame bushings, shock tower reinforcement, an electrical gremlin… and it’s being measured up for an X brace and some welding to ensure the subframe and chassis do what they need to do.
Let’s quickly gloss over the new fog lights being installed and bumper realignment after I parked it over an awkward curb.
And anyway we are talking about.. not the BMW.
We are talking about driving my wife’s brand spanking new Honda CRV. The opposite of the BMW. It’s automatic, it’s front wheel drive, and it’s a crossover SUV whatever that means. I should be able to tell you, but whenever it’s explained my mind blanks it out and I start thinking about soup.
First thing is… oh such joy having suspension that soaks up the bumps in our seriously bumpy city. No dropping to second to go through the silly drainage channels or picking routes based on how bumpy roads are. The previous daily vehicle we had was a Honda Accord coupe, and that wasn’t particularly low but still could pick up a scrape around town if you weren’t paying attention.
Then there is the wonder of technology that is keyless entry and start. Oh man can I get used to this. Key thing just goes in the pocket and says there. Walk out the house door, pull the handle, foot on the brake and press the button to be on your way.
I know it’s all car guy and macho to like blipping the alarm, pushing a key in the ignition and having that tactile start but screw that. Reality is that jumping in the thing and going is awesome.
The BMW has Blu-tooth audio already courtesy of Bavsound, so that’s not an issue…
What I’ve noticed having not driven an SUV for quite a while is how it effects the way you drive and your mentality. In a vehicle that doesn’t really do fast, you have no choice other than to just accept and roll with it. You’re up high so most of the time you can see further ahead in traffic and my favorite bit – little fools in their hairdryer powered fart can exhaust driven Honda Civic’s don’t try and race me at every red light.
I swear, my resting heart rate has dropped because it’s now always resting. I can grab a coffee and drink it rather than find I’m at the end of my journey with a cold cup of coffee.
It’s great. I can see why my wife has fallen in love with it. She can drive a manual and grab a car by the scruff of it’s neck, but the reality is she drives 60 miles per day in traffic. It’s definitely the tool for the job.
Today though… today we decided to take a drive up into the mountains and only the CRV was available.
When I say mountains, I mean 6000 feet upwards with this:
Joy. Absolute joy.
I’ve been itchy already, but right now I’m suffering. The BMW’s a bit bumpy round town, the manual gearbox is a pain in the arse in traffic, little ricers want to race it all the time, it’s a cop magnet, it’s speeding tickets waiting to happen… but man it’s quick and it’s fun.
The one thing… every couple of weeks I have to drive an hour and a half to San Diego and/or Orange County and I suspect the wife will be left with my keys for a few hours at those times and those short runs across town might be taken in a little more low key comfort.
Cars… they are all about tools for the jobs.
