Breaking Down...but, Driving On

honda
Originally uploaded by andebos.

Two years ago, shortly after graduation my car broke down on the road. Annie and I were traveling up to Rochester for the week together - she was driving a rental and I rode in my civic. Unfortunately as we hit Iowa I made a slow turn and heard a weird 'pop!' Then a funky dragging noise - so I called her and asked her if I dropped something under my car...having no clue what I was referring to she said nope. We stopped and sure enough the exhaust pipe under my car had rusted and snapped in half. We sat there for about an hour talking and waiting for the tow truck. Funny thing was seeing her run off into the bushes to take a trip to the little girl's room. She'd shoot me if she knew I ever blogged this, but oh well. Can still picture laughing at her blushing on the way back. We traveled the rest of the way together, up to Rochester, in her rental. It was good because I sill remember we had some major breakthrough talks and memories. The car got fixed a few days later and my roommates traveled to pick it up. Well it stayed strong for a year or so until a trip to visit Phil...where it broke on I-70, suck! Luckily it wasn't dragging. But, imagine the sound of a shotgun blast...now freeze that sound at its loudest point and that's what it was like driving my car. A constant shotgun blast for an hour or so - annoying, but, fun to see people's heads turn as they pass you with the look, "why don't you fix your car." Well I went to visit Phil this weekend in Columbia since Kerri was out of town. It was the first time we've hung out since his wedding, for the most part. It was good. We discussed religion, community, how to get some guys involved in accountability, life, getting older, and the need for canine psychologists! Whatever. Anyway, it was awesome because I forgot that, next to Annie, I probably talk easiest with Phil about matters on my heart and Christ. Not only that but I was completely comfortable being honest with him about petty things...and just sitting in silence when we ran out of things to say. Good to see one of my best friends. Now for the bad news - my car broke down again. Blah...yep the old shotgun blast exhaust pipe decided it was too old to keep going, so it died today. I'm getting it fixed tomorrow so it's no big deal. However, it made me appreciate what an awesome car I own. Not only do I love the look and feel of it - but it has been incredibly reliable. The only thing I've fixed is that pipe - which I never really fixed....just welded. The second thing was the ignition coil and that needed to be replaced anyway at 100,000 miles. I just got my tune up a little late. This baby has been a model car for me and I hope I can get several more years out of it before she retires. Where I will most likely buy an Accord or Acura.

This brings me to my overall point - if you've gotta get a new car anytime soon, let me recommend Honda. I have been very pleased...Toyota has been a good brand. I ralize there is an issue of keeping with American made automobiles but this is my opinion: typically american cars get worse gas mileage, look silly, pollute more, and break down quite often...so I pick the brand I feel takes pride in what they make. Not a negative pride but a pride that cares about their quality and customer satisfaction. Final recommendation: buy a Honda, loving it.

Have you seen your Honda dealer lately?