Probably the saddest new member ;-(

[Schenley]

Just drove home in my new CR-V, and I'm probably the saddest new member here.

I got a Chevy Avalanche in October 2001, put 85,000 miles on it. In October 2004, I got another, almost identical truck. It now has 56,000 miles on it. I absolutely love that truck.

Anyway, I was offered a company vehicle for which I would only need to pay gas and maintenance. With the way the gas prices are going, I am now paying over $1000 a month between payments, insurance, and gas for my 'Lanche.

So, it was with much trepidation that I agreed to my employer's offer.

I picked up the brand new CR-V with 21 miles on the odometer. In the 15 mile trip home, I got just about double the gas mileage as my Lanche. And, so far, that's the only thing I like better about it... ;-(

Well, I'll probably get pretty active around here for a couple of months or so - talk to you later. [Off to play some more GTA IV] ;)

[Black Pearl]

I don't know what to say. Most of our new members pay for their CR-Vs and are ecstatic.

You did notice that this was a CR-V Owners Club, and not an Avalanche club?

Well we are glad to have you none the less and hope that your V will grow on you.

If nothing else you can author a series of "Unfortunate Events" posts, describing your ill fortune of having a CR-V foisted upon you.

Again welcome to our club and you have our deepest sympathies!

[tsmithvt]

"Black Pearl", you handled that beautifully. I was at a complete loss for words.:o

[Schenley]

Just the reaction I was looking for! :)

I have been a member of the Avalanche club since 2001, that's why I immediately sought out this club. I have met so many friends from that club - friends that I will keep even without the truck. I've been to Tennesee, Georgia, Niagara Falls for get togethers with that club. (I live in NJ).

Do you guys have get togethers like that?

I'm sure that it will grow on me. In fact, I feel much better today. I'm starting to look for some mounting brackets for my cell and some XM stuff.

By the way, I'll have some pictures this weekend if anyone's interested. I plan on shooting my Lanche and the V side by side...

[tsmithvt]

Just the reaction I was looking for! :)

I have been a member of the Avalanche club since 2001, that's why I immediately sought out this club. I have met so many friends from that club - friends that I will keep even without the truck. I've been to Tennesee, Georgia, Niagara Falls for get togethers with that club. (I live in NJ).

Do you guys have get togethers like that?

I'm sure that it will grow on me. In fact, I feel much better today. I'm starting to look for some mounting brackets for my cell and some XM stuff.

By the way, I'll have some pictures this weekend if anyone's interested. I plan on shooting my Lanche and the V side by side...

Are you kidding? Love pictures. :D Would also love to see some meets. Got any suggestions? Vermont maybe (hint hint).

[Black Pearl]

Just the reaction I was looking for! :)

I hate being so damned predictable! Photos would be really cool.

Again welcome to the club!

[Schenley]

Well, I haven't gotten around to the photos yet, due to work/family and weather issues...

But, I've got Saturday set aside to fart around with the cars and trucks. I'm planning on taking some photos, taking the 'Lanche for one last off-roading trip, and mounting some of my phone / mp3 / gps / XM equipment.

I've got about 600 miles in it now, and it's starting to feel like mine. I do like the smooth, quiet ride.

My biggest complaint is the stupid folding console tray. I see no purpose in folding it down. What do they think - we're walking around like it's a van? :)

[tsmithvt]

My biggest complaint is the stupid folding console tray. I see no purpose in folding it down. What do they think - we're walking around like it's a van? :)

I frequently put things like a camera, walkie talkies and binoculars between the seats and pull the tray up to keep them out of sight. It's a nice little hidden area that's quickly accessible by dropping the tray.

[T Mac]

Schenley - it could be a LOT worse. Sorry to hear you had to get rid of the truck you love but at least you are moving into a quality vehicle.

Glad to have you here on the forum and we hope to see you back often!

[Schenley]

I frequently put things like a camera, walkie talkies and binoculars between the seats and pull the tray up to keep them out of sight. It's a nice little hidden area that's quickly accessible by dropping the tray.

Yea, but in order to do that, you have to remove your drinks, and any crap that's on there in order to drop the tray. Also, the stuff stowed there will slide around while driving.

I guess this will be less of an issue when I get all my gear mounted on the dashboard...

[Honda 367]

Welcome to the Forum. Being in CR-V is not the worst thing that could happen. I am sure you will like the CR-V experience as time goes on. You are actually in far better shape than the rest of the nation as NJ gas price is considerably lower than other states. I look forward to taking advantage of lower NJ gas price when I drive up to NYC.

[Schenley]

Welcome to the Forum. Being in CR-V is not the worst thing that could happen. I am sure you will like the CR-V experience as time goes on. You are actually in far better shape than the rest of the nation as NJ gas price is considerably lower than other states. I look forward to taking advantage of lower NJ gas price when I drive up to NYC.

Yea, I know. Our gas is about $3.60 now (regular). I've noticed that most stations are now giving about .09 discount for cash. One station closed for a week to change over to cash/credit. It was really getting bad with the 'Lanche - I was hitting the $100 mark to fill up!

I do wish we could pump our own gas, though. I think this is the only place in the world that you cannot pump your own gas.

[Honda 367]

^Actually, American Express Card gives 3% rebate for gas. That would be better than carrying cash in my view. I have to agree with Blackpearl that you should not be labeled as the "saddest member." By the way, you've got to appreciate Blackpearl's quote of Yeats.

“Being Irish he had an abiding sense of tragedy which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.” W. B. Yeats

You pay less than the rest of the nation and still want to pump your own gas. Why? They are not going to charge you any less and this allows people to have jobs. :) If you insist on pumping your own gas, they'll have to raise the price. :)

[WaterTiger]

Yea, but in order to do that, you have to remove your drinks, and any crap that's on there in order to drop the tray. Also, the stuff stowed there will slide around while driving.

I guess this will be less of an issue when I get all my gear mounted on the dashboard...

And you need to drop the tray why, exactly? I just slide it underneath from the back - no problem. Unless the thing is completely different over the pond, I can't see your problem.

And they don't slide around, either.

[fatboyslim]

...Our gas is about $3.60 now (regular)...

OH what I'd give to only pay that little!!
So that works out about $1 per litre (50p) in the UK our petrol is £1.119 per litre ($2.20), so £5.05($10) per UK gallon or £4.19($8.30) per US gallon:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Hughesy]

OH what I'd give to only pay that little!!
So that works out about $1 per litre (50p) in the UK our petrol is £1.119 per litre ($2.20), so £5.05($10) per UK gallon or £4.19($8.30) per US gallon:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I've seen diesel at £1.309 per litre, thats about $10 per US gallon! Luckily I am getting over 40 UK mpg. :-)

[Black Pearl]

I bet there are not many Avalanches, Hummers, Lincoln Navigators, Ford F350s, or Dodge Rams running about in merry old England.

It is written in the US constitution that all men* have the inalienable right to drive the largest vehicles on the face of the earth, pay the least for fuel, and moan the most about prices.


*Women were not allowed to drive or vote when the constitution was written.

[Schenley]

You pay less than the rest of the nation and still want to pump your own gas. Why? They are not going to charge you any less and this allows people to have jobs. :) If you insist on pumping your own gas, they'll have to raise the price. :)
Grass is always greener... huh? ;-)

I hate having to wait for either a punk kid who wants to be somewhere else or someone who doesn't speak English to take their sweet ass time in getting over to pump some gas.

I love visiting other states - zip in, swipe card, fill, leave.

[Schenley]

Now, to get this thread back on track...

As promised, here's a quick picture of the new and the old...

More pictures later... I did a lot of work on it today - moving all my gadgets from the 'Lanche.

[Schenley]

And another.

[Schenley]

All right... it's been a month later, and over 1500 miles are now on the V.

I've got all my gadgets mounted (http://www.crvownersclub.com/forums/t3395/), and I'm now a happy CRV driver.

Also, I decided to keep the Lanche and only use it for ocassional off roading or Home Depot trips. I figured out that I would only save $50 / month by getting rid of it now. So, I'm going to hold on to it til July 09.

:D

[GoGreen]

Schenley - glad you are coming to terms with your new CRV :D

Seriously, I'm glad you are enjoying the new CRV - hope it continues to be a great ride for you.

Have you gotten your CRV-OC tattoo yet??
Remember... CRV-OC high on the left butt cheek, Honda H on the right... :D

[kann]

Though I'm not a CR-V owner YET (hopefully Monday I'll pay them for it and get it set up for me), I can feel your pain!

I bought a 2005 Dodge Ram 4x4 new in July of '05. I had it lifted 3" and put different wheels and A/T tires on it (I HATED the 20's that came on it stock!). Obnoxiously loud dual-exit exhaust, bed cover, off road lights and electric retractable step rails (a necessity I'll get to in a second) rounded it out and made it "mine". Oh, can't forget the little Notre Dame logo on the tailgate! :D

I bought everything on line while I was deployed in 2006, and my wife had my truck waiting for me when I returned. Two weeks later I lost my legs in a motorcycle accident. One is gone above the knee, and the left one, though still attached, is virtually useless. So much for my nice big obnoxious compensation on wheels...

Long story not quite as long yet still more than you want to know... It took about a year and a half, but I was finally able to get hand controls installed and the aforementioned step rails (which are the only ones I've yet to find that come down and out far enough for me to be able to get in; I didn't get them just for the novelty) put on. I've been back driving around for about 8 months now, and I can't tell you how good it STILL feels every time I turn a key. I absolutely loved this truck to begin with, but through all this it has managed to become just the second vehicle I've ever been emotionally/sentimentally attached to.

Anywayyyyyyyy... recently I've been having more and more trouble and pain getting in and out of the truck. I really thought that I was going to have to get rid of it, and even went to look at Subaru Outbacks the other day. I was all set to buy a beautiful brand new Outback (and trade my truck in at a ridiculously low figure), but be it luck or be it fate, I am not able to get in/out of the Subaru's as is, and it would be impossible with the hand controls installed on it.

So, that's how I came upon the CR-V. I was perusing the local used lots for something I could pick up pretty cheap and pay cash for and still keep my truck. I fit well in it and ingress/egress is pretty much a breeze with much room leftover for the installation of the hand controls. The sales guy and I came to an accord... errrr... agreement and now I'm just waiting to hear back from the conversions place about putting the apparatus in.

Wow, that was long-winded. Sorry. I'm very happy I am keeping my truck, though! Not to sound sappy, but seeing that truck out there as it is (still BIG) is kind of a mental victory after all the ****e I've dealt with in the last two years. It sounds stupid, but it still puts a smile on my face and getting rid of it for such a low amount would have only made it that much worse. I know I'm gonna love the Honda, too. It's going to be great to throw the kids in the back, hit the highway, and get more than 15 mpg (with the A/C off!). :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/kannn/odd%20stuff/100_0248.jpg

The Blizzard Of '08:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/kannn/odd%20stuff/snowtruck.jpg

Ok, all pictures from here on out will have a CR-V in them. I promise. ;)

[Black Pearl]

I was wondering about your avatar in your other posts. Makes sense now. Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. It puts our problems in perspective.

Great looking truck. I can see why you didn't want to part with it. Well, we hope that your Honda will work out for you, give you the gas mileage and let you keep your truck. Good luck and welcome to our club.

[GoGreen]

Hi Kann!

Welcome to the forum!

I haven't posted for a little while, so sorry if my welcome is delayed.

Great looking truck - we won't hold that against ya, though. ;)

I am inspired by your courage and the way in which you have dealt with your personal difficulties. Cool avatar...says it all. :)

I'm so glad that you were able to keep the truck and still get a vehicle you like.
You will really enjoy the CRV - the more you drive it, the more you can appreciate it's engineering.

Be sure to post pics when you can. We all LOVE pictures of the V! :)