Don't let the space bugs bite!

Kaylee ,'Objects In Space'


Natter 68: Bork Bork Bork  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Liese S. - Aug 26, 2011 6:16:02 pm PDT #22516 of 30001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."

No, the swag wag is still running along just fine, although we did treble the mileage from what was on it from 1996-2010 already. It's just that it has less cargo space and doesn't handle very well on ice and mud.

The previous two Astros were great and lasted a long time and a lot of miles and were AWD. But Chevy doesn't make a minivan anymore, and of course, communal we are angry at GM right now.

Jason seems to like the Toyota Sienna, and I like that it also has AWD. But our board guy, the car dude, says we don't need AWD and it contributes to the higher maintenance costs going forward and of course since it's on all the time, it costs gas mileage. The SO wants Stow-n-Go seating, but the Dodge/Chryslers with that don't have AWD, it's an either or, and they review poorly.

So I'm down to the Odyssey, because although it doesn't have AWD, it has traction control. And although it doesn't have 2nd row stow-n-go, the 3rd row stows. And the big selling point for me is that it does have variable cylinder management, which will be the biggest fuel economy factor for us, because a good 85-90% of our driving is long empty open roads at high speeds. So hybrids don't help us that much because we never brake, but having the cylinders drop out over 60 would help us a lot.

Wow. That was more than all y'all needed to see about the inside of my research brain today. But does that logic make sense? If I can find one cheap enough?


Kat - Aug 26, 2011 6:20:41 pm PDT #22517 of 30001
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo

Odysseys, I assume, will be expensive-ish even used because Hondas do that.

I would think, though, given your experiences with snow and your DH last season that AWD would be a good thing. But yes, bad on fuel economy.

I love our new car. It's aggressively red (for which they knocked $3000 off the price) but it's a manual transmission and it has just enough extra space over a Toyota Matrix that it makes a difference. Plus much cheaper.


Anne W. - Aug 26, 2011 6:26:10 pm PDT #22518 of 30001
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.

Thanks, Jesse. That seems much more informative and much less alarmist than what I've been reading.


Kat - Aug 26, 2011 6:28:00 pm PDT #22519 of 30001
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo

Holy shit! Spy Daddy is playing Prince Charles! That's just fucking wrong.


SuziQ - Aug 26, 2011 6:31:59 pm PDT #22520 of 30001
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame

I adored my Sienna. It didn't have the stow and go seats though.


Liese S. - Aug 26, 2011 6:51:48 pm PDT #22521 of 30001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."

I think I missed it, Kat, what did K. end up getting?

What kind of mileage did you get with it, Suzi?


Liese S. - Aug 26, 2011 6:54:10 pm PDT #22522 of 30001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."

Oh, and what I actually came over here to post...I almost just gave to the electronics waste recyclers a laptop bag with some rolling papers and a large gaudy pot leaf necklace in it. Hee! That I confiscated from kids at camp years ago!


Scrappy - Aug 26, 2011 6:58:49 pm PDT #22523 of 30001
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

don't have a minivan, but you know who has opinions/reviews on them: [link]

msbelle is the nicest.


Kat - Aug 26, 2011 7:02:44 pm PDT #22524 of 30001
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo

Liese, [link] this one!


SuziQ - Aug 26, 2011 7:29:44 pm PDT #22525 of 30001
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame

Liese, I don't remember, but it wasn't bad.