I spend a significant portion of my day behind the wheel. Starting from the early morning drop off to school, groceries, errands and after school activities – it all adds up to many miles in my car and multiple trips during the day! You could perhaps say that I’m a high mileage mom!
My vehicle of choice: The Honda – MRV. Or as it is known in some countries the Honda Pilot. As an expat, we have had our fair shares of moves, and every time I have had to buy a car, I always end up getting the Honda MRV. I don’t know what it is, but I have a strong affinity with that particular car. Perhaps it is the reliability or safety of the car? Or maybe the familiarity that I have developed with it over time? It just seems to have a certain je n’ais se quoi that makes me choose it every time! I have driven the Honda MRV for the last 11 years across 3 different countries! It is essentially a practical car for me which is more than I can say about my husband’s brand affinity with Audi’s (but that is for another blog post!)
The MRV has gone through 5 face lifts during the time I’ve owned them. Yet I somehow always end up with the shape from 2005! By the looks of it, it is by no means a petite vehicle and competes with the likes of a Ford Explorer or a Nissan Pathfinder in the Middle East. But this petite girl loves driving this beastly family car ! Maneuvering your way through Doha, you need to make your presence felt on the road, and this car delivers!
The one I currently drive, is a pretty basic 2008 model with no bells and whistles. In fact all of the ones I ever had, have been very basic with standard options. No upgrades at all!
My ride was previously owned, with minor scratches and dents, but functions perfectly well and gets me from A to B (which is the point anyway). It has weathered a lot during the last few years. It has gotten me through some tough times, and steered me in the right direction – pun intended!
It is the small things that make me love it. For example, the reliability of an empty tank while driving on a highway, with no exit in sight! I have driven many miles with the dimly lit empty fuel tank light on! I have tested its limits on many occasions than I care to admit, and it has never failed. #notrustissueshere
I also quite like (and need) the third row seating option in my car too!
Girls night out, pull up that third row. Bringing five of your daughters’ friends home from school; you have that third row. Family visiting or your own children fighting and bickering – toss one in the back! #thirdrowseatingforthewin
It’s a basic and reliable 4-wheel drive with a 3.5L V6 engine, but has not been pushed to its limit in the Qatar sand dunes. We did try that once, and let’s just say, that was the end of our experiences in dune-bashing! It has good ground clearance and the suspension feels rock solid on the dug-up roads of Doha. Not a rock climbing machine like a Jeep, but good enough to handle the large potholes in our ‘under construction‘ city of Doha! The acceleration is excellent for a 4WD and matters most when trying to cross dreaded roundabouts in the city when you only have a fraction of a second to merge with the other high-speed drivers!
My dashboard is a plain dull grey. The interior is not aesthetically pleasing at all. There is however, a covered compartment in the console that provides plenty of storage for me! If you’ve ever caught my Instastory, you will know it has everything from lanyards, pens, binder clips, throat lozenges and even my kids left over foam from their science projects. It can all be stored in that console away from plain sight!
Since the kids and I spend our days in the car rushing from one activity to another, smack in the middle of lunch time, we often grab food on the way! By the end of the week, we have dried, blackened banana peels, biscuit wrappers, and very old cups of smoothies all neatly shoved in the door pockets. The Honda MRV has ample space for all our leftovers! Because the seats are clad in leather, we have managed to scrub off the pasta stains! But unfortunately, we’ve got some serious wear and tear now. Quite literally!
I like to think that my car is pretty good with its maneuverability! I can get into pretty tight parking spots, without much trouble. I think it’s the familiarity that helps. I don’t think I would even want any parking assist features in a new car.
When I drive my husband’s car, I get totally thrown off, because the mirrors start moving the minute I put it into reverse, and I’m caught off guard. And of course everything starts beeping, slowly at first and then furiously faster. Relax Becky! I know how to park the damn car!
Over the last 11 years of having a Honda Pilot, there’s a sense of security, a sense of familiarity, ….a sense of sitting on a comfortable couch.
But my life has moved into the 21st century with technology – iPhones, ipads, smart TVs, fitbits, and other electronic gadgets. But I look at my comfortable MRV and I feel that it’s still in the last century!
I think it’s finally time I had a car that was more in tune to the 21st century. There’s no GPS, keyless start, hands free tailgate open/close, virtual cockpit, entertainment system, or surround sound. I don’t even have Bluetooth!
Listening to my audio book or music on my iPhone is quite the challenge in my out dated car. I have to end up plugging in this contraption (that is like an outdated cassette tape and plug that into my phone) to be able to listen to anything! The retro look is often cool, but this is a tad much! Otherwise my other option is to listen to QBS radio (which is a challenge in itself!)
On the contrary when I get the privilege of a ride in the Audi Q7, I am a child that has seen the inside of a plane’s cockpit. Totally captivated (yet panicked!). You sit inside and the dashboard illuminates. The infotainment system offers you endless options, and the navigation is on point! The hand stitched leather, wood accents, and a distinctive metal trim – all seem blindingly luxurious!!
I am not certain what would steer my choice or decision towards a certain make of car – performance, design, safety, or perhaps reliability. But I think I am ready for a change!
Is it car-envy that is making me think of a change in my vehicle. Or is it that I’ve reached a point in my life (after 11 years of driving the same/similar car) that I now want something different? It’s a point I’ve been pondering, but not something that I will lose sleep over – just yet!
Do you have a strong affinity towards your car brand? Or are you good with anything that drives?
Until next time,
Safe driving!
an introverted blogger 
I look forward to your comments!