Surely there is some connection between this and Winds of Winter?

Fwiw, I used to work at test-crashing cars (to test the safety of guardrails, signs, bridge decking, etc., not the cars themselves). We acquired a fleet of Yugos, which at the time (mid-90s), barely met the requirements for compact car testing. We had a lot of fun driving them around the long stretch of flat concrete…

Don’t sleep on the Honda Odyssey minivan.
0-60 in a little over 6 seconds and quarter mile time of 14.5 seconds.

Not super fast, but faster than you’d think.
Faster than ‘70s Lamborghini Countach.

If you want to haul a bike around on the regular, install a hitch, and get a hitch rack.  Infinitely easier, better for the bike and car, and most modern hitches are barely even visible (and cheap and easy to install).

Looks like we have accessories to the crimes, to me.

I longed for years for another Civic hatch (had a ‘91 previously), and was disappointed at the (now) previous gen’s styling, options and price.
I reluctantly went with a CR-V, which in leather trim was within $1200 of the comparably equipped Civic hatch, and a whole lot more car (and had much better safety options and…

How many miles did you end up riding?

This peace and tranquility felt on the electric motorcycle is further added to, by experiencing this kind of trip on a (non-electric) gravel bicycle.
I see a lot of future potential for more e-bike/e-motorcycle cross-over. E-bike likely to have more range, provided you’re willing to…

It’s been a long time since I drove and had this experience in Michigan - like 25 years. And at that time, I hadn’t encountered toll roads anywhere else. But I was struck both by the expense of the tolls, and how terrible the roads were.
I thought there were a fair amount of toll roads, on the drive into Detroit.
Perhap…

Umm...

Nah, the 3 states I’ve lived in long term have far better roads than the rest of the country.
The worst roads are an adjacent state, and a state that i’ve only driven thru once.
Familiarity does not breed contempt.

Michigan and Oklahoma are dead even. Just not as many people drive through Oklahoma.
What do they have in common?  Almost all of their shitty roads are pay-to-drive turnpikes.  Which you’d think would make them among the better roads.

Honda Odyssey is superior in every way, with the exception of stroking the owner’s ego.

Not even joking.

I think Honda could take a cue on EVs from their history.
They should be innovating NOW (actually, 3-5 years ago) on motorcycles, mowers, hell, even e-bikes, to cut their teeth on battery tech, etc.
Become the very best at those things (like they did on those same items, with IC engines), and then springboard that…

Sorry, I re-read my post, and it comes off pretty douchey.  Sorry about that.

I’m glad you like your Civic Hatch, and that it found a broad audience, which will help it continue to exist for future gens.
Definitely need more hatches (and car-based wagons) as options on the market.
Hoping the Fit comes back to the U.S.…

I wanted an EX-L, with manual, and Android Auto, and at least some of the driver’s assist/safety features (the ones that don’t require shifting).
Didn’t exist at the time, and still doesn’t.
Sport Touring at the time had no manual option, but now does.

Paying an extra $1500 for an undesired navigation system (that’s…

Buick Encore.

I’ve always liked the Civic hatchbacks, and was anxiously awaiting the (current generation), before it arrived.
But, once it was released, I really didn’t like the looks, or utility, or price.
And Honda botched the options packages.

So, I reluctantly bought the CR-V instead. For the options I wanted, it was only ~$1000…

Yours is a valid point; many people are confused by % grade.

My point is that even though it’s ‘only 40%’ grade, that is exceptionally steep, for humans or vehicles, over any distance.
As for you doing worse, that’s considered one of the steepest mile paths in the world (that’s run).
It’s adjacent to the Barr Trail that…

Try running (or just walking) this 1-mile path, in under 30 minutes, and then tell me it’s ‘only’ 45% grade.

I’m not sure why all of the fawning over the Fords, but can we talk for a moment about how most of the houses on this block have all of their cars parked in their driveways, and seemingly none in their ample garages?

#1 attractor of thieves to your neighborhood.  And ugly.  And hard on your vehicles.