Topic: New addition to the family

[5 Wheel Drive]

Ahhh...you got the better built phase 1 houses.  Small world....

Which house on Burnaby is your friends?  Ok, which car is there's, that I'll know for sure. 

Next time I'm outside, stop and show off the new BMW... 

Sandfield with 2 black cars (Rav4 and Cavalier). Now you know
We are going to their house this coming Saturday for a surprise baby shower for my wife. There will be lots of cars parked round the corner that day

I know exactly who you're talking about.  I don't know them, but I've said hello to them if I've passed by them on the sidewalk.

[5 Wheel Drive]

Ok, so I've had the car for about 6 weeks.  Time for a quick update. 

I gotta say I'm really enjoying driving a small car again.  Not that there's anything wrong with the Forester.  I'm really enjoying the quicker steering and firmer suspension.  It just goes where I point it.  The engine so much smoother and quieter that the Subaru as well.  I find myself driving in 1 gear lower that I would do in the Forester.  The 2.3 definitely has some pull once you get past 5k rpm.   

I knew the Mazda's weren't as fuel efficient as a Civic or an Elantra.  But, wow!  Now that it's colder I'm averaging around 10l/100km's for a tank of gas.  Not that much better than the Forester.  Oh well, fun to drive is a little higher on my priority list  for a car anyway...

The Honkook snow tires I bought for it have been ok so far.  They're loud.  We haven't really had any snow so far.  I did get to try them out during the 1 snowfall we did have a couple of weeks ago.  In the snow they're actually pretty good.  Having driven the Forester with snow tires for the last few winters I was expecting the traction to be worse than it was.  I had to stop for a couple of red lights and I was fully expecting the abs to kick in, and it didn't. 

I've only had 1 issue with it, and I did it myself.     In my quest to improve the fuel economy, I checked the plugs and air filter.  When I removed the top of the airbox to check the filter I accidently disconnected the idle air control sensor.  When I started it, it idled fast.  I took it all apart, reseated everything.  Re-tightened everything.  Same thing, fast, erratic idle.  Then an intermittent CEL.  Off to Kanata Mazda I went.  I told them what I did.  She was pretty sure it was something small.  So all I got charged was half price for the diagnosic, just $49 + tax.  That was nice of them.  It's been fine since.  I'll see if my economy gets any better. 

Note to self...  find out where that sensor is before the next time I check the filter.

[tortoise]

10L/100 km seems about right.  In the first measured tank in our 5 I calculated 12.5, but that consisted entirely of short city trips where the engine didn't have time to fully warm.   My wife and I were also not driving in a manner that was any way geared towards economy, heavy on the gas, shifting at 4500 rpm (since it's so smooth).  Our winter tires were also down on air pressure since they were installed in warmer weather.   

For our last tank I've been doing most of the driving (wife gave birth to our second and has been staying home).  I've been shifting at 2500 rpm or lower,  I inflated the tires and generally thinking about economy.  Should be able to eek out close to 10 L/100 km, which is what I expected.

This tank also has premium in it (Costco's premium was the same price as Shell's regular).  Not sure if the higher octane or lower ethanol % makes a difference.  I'll know more when the next tank of regular goes through it.

[5 Wheel Drive]

This thing seems to have a washer fluid reservoir that never ends.  It was only about 1/3 full when I picked up the car.  I've been trying to completely empty it so I can fill it up with the good Rain-x stuff.  The low fluid light has been on for 4 days, and it still not empty...