Recent content by carviewsonic

I’ve bought five new and 20 used cars (and one truck) over 45 years. New is initially more satisfying, but for long term ownership I’ve gotten the most enjoyment from used cars that were too expensive for me to want to buy new.

Only once that I recall. Buick 3800 idled rough and check engine light came on immediately after a fill up, I was guessing water contaminated fuel. Filled up at 1/2 tank a couple days later and the problems cleared up. I have avoided that gas station in the twenty years since.

Age 62 and I've owned 25 cars so far, most of them bought used. My favourite car for city driving is our '07 K24 Accord, bought new. Completely reliable (now at 200,000 kms) and fun, responsive handling to drive around the city. Favourite car for highway driving is our previous ('03) or current...

I've been using Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 in our 2007 Honda Accord K24 for many years. At 200,000 kms (124,000 miles) it runs/sounds great and stays on the dipstick full mark between changes. My oil change interval is 6000 kms (3700 miles) for the last few years, since it does all city...

Way, way above my pay grade, but IMO their healthy years should be twice as long as it is, for all the love, joy, and companionship they bring to our lives. Our little guy is 15, so I cherish our time we have left with him.

I payed for a subscription to an auto club (AMA here in Alberta), when our daughter left for college. That would be AAA or Good Sam’s in the U.S.? Our daughter did use it a couple of times (locked keys in car, battery boost) and it was a bit of peace of mind for me. I would keep the old car you...

I'm not familiar with Subaru oil life monitors, but most manufacturers use an algorithm which takes operating conditions (cold starts, idle time, city vs highway driving cycles, etc.) into account. If yours shows 15% - 25% oil life remaining when you reach 10,000 kms, then that can give you...

Is it possible that an undercover was damaged or loosened in the car wash incident? The reason I ask, during a 6 hr highway trip recently in our AWD Ford Fusion a low frequency vibration showed up that was bad enough to blur the rear view mirror. The accompanying noise came from the back of the...

Everything we like to see in an oil filter quality wise. Nice to see after all the quality issues we've seen with many other brands lately. I wish I could still find the 7317 on Amazon, I would buy a case of them.

A commercial flight with a major airline is probably the safest part of the entire trip / vacation.

When it needs repairs which will cost more than the vehicle is worth (after the repairs are done), it's time to sell and move on. If repair cost vs market value is a wash, but you know the rest of the vehicle is in good condition and you still like driving it, then the cost might be worth it...

I was riding a VStar 1300 at the time, so in comparision = The Harley really impressed on the highway, effortless torque and a very smooth stable ride. In the twisties though, that extra +/- 200 lbs and longer wheelbase made it a chore to ride compared to the VStar I was used to. Other than...

I rented a Street Glide from Eagle Riders for a couple days, a few years ago in Sedona Az. Always wanted try out a Harley, kind of a bucket list thing. I’ve ridden Japanese bikes since high school. I was age 58 at the time, and was told that if the Street Glide came back with any new scratches...

Even on a long highway trip (6 hrs) that I have done dozens of times over decades (to visit family), mpg drops 20 - 25% in -30 degree weather compared to milder weather. Higher air density and rolling resistance, winter fuel blend, and transmissions not warming up completely are some of the causes.

Aside from routine maintenance, a bottle of Redline Si-1 once a year, and a good highway run (1 - 2 hours) occasionally is all your Corolla needs to keep the engine running at its' best.