I’m back, again.
 

Been a really awful nearly two years. In the meantime my Civic has been retired due to a tree limb which landed on the roof. I’m really sad as that car suited me extremely well. I enjoyed driving it, especially with one of the best manual transmissions ever. I probably will never find an equivalent, unmolested Civic.

I’ve moved from Texas to Western NY and have been driving my wife’s 2014 Chrysler Town and Country. It’s a really good big car but of course I’m getting about half the fuel economy, and driving an automatic is killing me inside a little bit at a time. Nonetheless, approaching 5000lb with me in the captain’s seat and with a nominal load, I’d say just over 22mpg average isn’t all that terrible, especially since I’ve gotten even more lax than I already was with my techniques. My commute is longish but has stabilized with mostly freeway miles where this thing shines. I’ll note that as I’ve driven this thing close to 20,000 miles in the last year and change, I’ve gotten to know it well and the factory FCD is sadly optimistic.

Hope all my friends here are well!

Good to hear from you!

Do you need the cargo capacity of the van? How about a 2004-2008ish Acura RSX or TSX 6-speed? The only cars I've heard of that are more enjoyable to shift is a Honda S2000, or other higher priced sporty cars. Expect about 30 MPG from the TSX, and perhaps a bit more from the RSX.

I'm probably about 1 year out from needing a van myself. Will probably go with a Toyota Sienna hybrid since it gets 36 MPG.

Need is debatable but I can say it doesn’t go unused. It hauled about 1200lbs of stuff from Texas to NY, and there’s family up here so when the seats are up it is past capacity multiple times per year…it allows us to take two cars instead of three in those cases. But car shopping isn’t really in the cards right now. A number of Hondas and Acuras are on my short list when the time comes - the RSX is one of them, high on the list, the TSX lower down. Top candidates are a bit of a mix, any ‘96-05 Civic, some Accords, Ford Fusions, Camrys, Corollas, Mirages, and three cylinder Metros, as well as some more fun cars like an NB Miata, a Fiesta RS, or a Fiat 500 Abarth. Outside choices include some manual transmission SUVs if they have 4wd as I don’t know how to drive in snow, or anything else cheap with stick.

Rochester is serious rustbelt country. Ouch. Hard to find a good local used vehicle without optional floor ventilation.

Yeah, no joke. I used to work auto parts and I am absolutely appalled at what this place does to vehicles. I was selling parts for 10 year old cars that I barely sold down south for 30 year old vehicles. I don’t know how salt is still in use.

EDIT: I was also gonna say, I have a built-in reason to visit Texas since my Ma is still there, so I could fly one way and come back in a car from down there. Alternatively, my FIL is contemplating starting a business buying cars from Copart and rehabbing them overseas where he resells them, so it’s possible I could score a wreck and make it good.

Practice in an empty parking lot, or drive something with stability control. Good tires are important. 4WD only matters in deep snow. Like a foot or more.

I'm near Rochester and I love having an aluminum car! Almost 24 years old and no rust on the body!

Welcome back :)