Counterpoint to my other statement. In the aughts, I was an Acura tech. That was when the whole “transmission third gear clutch pack explodes” thing was going on. We had a 45 day backlog on turnaround. Myself and 2 other techs did transmissions nonstop. For 18 months, I did one every single morning. Every. Single.…

Oh gods. The warranty labor was laughable. The only way you could break even was if you had all the tools, parts, lift, engine stand, and a partridge in a pear tree at the ready in your area. And you had NO problems. And muscle memory on having done numerous units. Otherwise, it was ramen and rainwater for lunch. 

Were they ever able to ascertain the cause of the fire? My default go-to in cases of widespread underhood fires is an oil leak. 10 years ago, I was an Acura tech changing out power steering hoses en masse because they never insulated the rubber sections properly. When Honda went to the no exhaust manifold engines with…

As a parts manager for Hyundai 2 years ago when the shit hit the fan over the Sonata engines, that seems....odd. I’m not doubting the truth that they had one in stock. I think they may have had a non-warranty engine there. Those engines were VIN-locked; Hyundai would not release one without an open RO and “proof” the…

Ok, so this has a slight tinkle into the story here. Since I am a half-disabled masochist luddite that absolutely HAS to have a stick, the search for my now current car was an ordeal. I was looking for a manual Honda/Acura sedan. Working for the local Acura dealer in Alabama, I kept me feelers open.

We NEED to talk about the one thing that will never ever EVER make me get an Accord from this generation: the brake rotors.

Yeah, I got nothing on that. Mine was a stick, so I’ve got virtually no commonality on that problem. Also, I gave up trying to get familiar enough with GM to do armchair diagnostics. If it was a Honda/Acura, I’d have a good suggestion. 

Jesus H. Tap-Dancing Christ in a Hula Skirt!

I’m the stupidly relevant person here on that issue. For years, I would have back pain here and there. Nothing too bad. Never even talked to a doctor about it because I was working 50-ish hours a week at a new car dealership as a tech. Also renovating my house at the time.

The experience to owning it was akin to eating at Applebee’s. It served its purpose, but no one is about to rave about it.

Growing up on a farm, we were huge loyalists to Chevrolet. Had nothing but GM products for years. That may have bitten my father in the bum.

Let’s step into the ol’ wayback machine for just a second. It was a simpler time, the very beginning of 2006. I was working for Acura at the time. The 2006 RL had a suite of safety technologies that was unheard of at that time. They were radar assisted Collision Mitigated Braking System (CMBS) and Active Cruise…

Well, holy balls! I stand corrected. 

During the summer of 02, my good friend from college was getting married. He lived in northwest Iowa, whereas I was living in northwest Ohio. It’s about a 17 hour drive from A to B.

Well, shit. He did me right with my “questionable reward.” Now I’m off to find these bad puns. 

Where TF is kaycog? For context, I have been light on Kinja for quite a bit, though. 

I really want to like this. But in the end, it’s a pre-OBDII German sport compact that can qualify for an antique plate. CP

As my first real car was a 1987 CRX Si, I am in peak nostalgia. But I gotta know, where in all that is holy did he get the die cast CRX? I need one of those, like now. 

The Highwayman did it better.

THIS is the holy grail. A clean, well kept diesel manual wagon. It ticks all 5 of the boxes. It should be a no-brainer.