trinacriabob

MECHANICAL PHOTOS A full view of the engine bay and this car has a prop rod to keep the hood up; my guess would be that the orange harnesses are a way to easily identify elements critical to the hybrid/electric system In front of the engine and behind the radiator and fan shroud, that appears to possibly be an emission control component - is it an O2 sensor and is that a catalytic converter or related component? They often have metallic shields like that around them. Left side of the engine bay with the pulley area Right side of the engine bay with air intake and easy to access battery

INTERIOR PHOTOS Overall view of dash, center stack, and console from passenger door Bucket seat ergonomics (cloth); very comfortable Sensible main instrument pod: the left is not a tachometer, but battery charge status. This cluster has it all: digital speed readout (my selection), clock, temperature (ouch), gear selected, driving mode (econ), and odometer. Songs via Bluetooth would show up above the digital clock readout. Easy to use climate control Console to center stack transition; clock shows up again on infotainment center as does the date Metal accents on the pedals and wheel well footrest This diagonal or diamond pattern is not to my liking and I've not liked it on any automotive application The car has generous trunk space

EXTERIOR PHOTOS Side view Angled front view Angled rear view Aerial view (from the room); note the sunroof This "entry" price model is a the Sport Hybrid; the top end ($) is anchored by Touring Hybrid and there are 2 hybrid models with price points between these two

I had never driven any Honda vehicle until this year and, after being assigned a 2022 Accord as my rental car in March, I was again assigned an Accord in May. However, this time it was a hybrid. I had never driven any hybrid vehicle until recently, either. First, all Honda Accord sedan models were refreshed for this model year and the minor changes took this car in the right direction. The front grille and rear fascia, together with their lights, are simpler, cleaner, and, somehow, pack an even better punch. It has become a more attractive vehicle. Inside, things are much the same except that the cloth seating surfaces have also been changed for the better compared to last year. The only thing I didn’t like is the updated dashboard. It’s not as pleasing as last year’s largely because I don’t like the diagonal cross hatch or egg crate pattern in the applique running at about the middle of the dashboard and from the driver door to the passenger door. There is also a bigger(wider) infotainment center than last year. I prefer that those be integrated into the dashboard rather than stand up, but most of them are not. As one pulls away, the stance is a placid one and the car is mostly quiet. That’s because, at low speeds, the electric power is doing the work. The engine is a 2.0 L 4 cylinder in this version of the Hybrid, and it has 2 electric motors which assist. The transmission is a CVT (continuously variable) but it behaves well and is hushed, not spooling up too much in rpms unless really pushed. The engagement of the hybrid motor, or motors, is almost seamless. It comes into play at low speeds, when maintaining speed or coasting at, say, 35 to 45 mph, and even when the cruise control is engaged on the interstate. The latter was a little strange at times because it would kick in along with cruise control which seemed to adapt to the driving conditions. (Maybe I didn’t understand how it worked.) So, in these very rare instances, I tapped the brake pedal to disengage the cruise control and used my foot to drive the car on the interstate. The Accord Hybrid’s instrument pod is attractive. It doesn’t take too long to get used to it. One of the key gauges alongside the speedometer is the extent to which the battery is charged. There is other useful information, such as drive mode (sport, eco, etc.) and even what song Bluetooth is sending through. The dash graphics and illumination are pleasing and soothing. With hybrids, the logic is inverted. Highway driving isn’t its most economical mode. City driving is, whereby braking and slowing down charge the battery. Either way, I could tell that the fuel needle was not moving much. I put about 500 miles on the car over these 6 days, and it consisted of fast moving interstate, clogged up interstate, major surface streets with speeds of about 40 to 45mph, and stop and go city driving. The mileage obtained was almost 44 mpg, which is what the EPA rating for the car shows. The leather trimmed steering wheel, with its remote commands, is nicely finished and feels good … and the Accord Hybrid rides along and handles with confidence. Again, the hybrid set up seems to make things a little quieter, even when the gasoline engine is working. The ride is controlled and, while smooth, the suspension and steering still communicate the interaction between the tires and the road. This Accord had a sunroof. I tried it a few times, with and without air conditioning, but preferred to have it closed and the retractable shade in place beneath it. In the Sunshine State, I preferred a sealed cabin environment with the quiet and powerful enough air conditioning working, which seemingly didn’t affect fuel economy much, if at all. Depending on how it is equipped, the MSRP appears to come in the low- to mid-$30K range. Of course, that doesn’t take into account dealer mark-ups, something that supply chain hiccups and strange supply and demand situations of recent times have created. People are interested in this car. In a few instances, a few folks asked me about it as I exited from the vehicle at a few different businesses. I was surprised that I liked the first Honda Accord (with a gasoline engine) I have ever driven, which was several months ago. I liked this Accord Hybrid sedan even more, and it wasn’t just its fuel economy, but the level of refinement and build quality seemed to be slightly better than in the 2022 model. Moreover, it made for a quiet motoring experience, which is something I really appreciate. The price difference between the gasoline version and the Hybrid isn’t prohibitive, and, for those expecting a longer holding period, it could pencil out and justify itself. I think that, as someone who has habitually driven domestic cars as daily drivers, I could be quite happy with this latest competent Accord Hybrid sedan. - - - - - Photos forthcoming

I'm with you on this. Those seats you show above look great. It's easy to see they are substantial and comfortable. In that tight span of years, seating was more comfortable. In another Cadillac of that time - the DTS - the seats were excellent. I test sat in one on Pensacola Blvd. and, being on vacation, the salesman knew I wouldn't be buying and was still laid back and friendly. Like the car above, the DTS I sat in also had a console, so these seats were similar to 40-40 buckets. The last refresh of the 2006-2007 Monte Carlo also had big, comfortable bucket seats - for a car of that price point. Along the same lines, when the Pontiac Bonneville got reformulated the very last time for 2000, the bucket seats also became a lot nicer, and bigger, and moved in the right direction from those of the upside-down boat/jelly bean Bonneville model (1992-1999 +/-) that preceded it. More recently, many automakers are going for high design and flash more so than aiming for comfort. And charging way more for their cars!

I am not a fan of firm seats in cars. They cite support. When I had the Cutlass Brougham, I could drive for 10 hours in one day and feel pretty good when the day was over. As for the Impala, I drove one for a day. It was new and it rode and handled well, but I hadn't driven a car with such hindered visibility ... yet. I took it back the following day and got that mid-2010s Malibu, which I had for a week in Reno/Tahoe, the Bay Area, and NorCal. I was much more at ease driving that.

Very much so. I believe it is, or is almost, the same. So, the Equinox also has a nice dash. Besides the fact that the Equiox is a CUV/SU and the Malibu is a sedan, I believe they have the same engine, but the Equinox keeps a 6-speed automatic transmission ... a plus. My opinion may not be popular, but, of the last 10 years of Malibu, I liked the one with the Camaro-esque rear lamps and taller trunk ... possibly a 2015 or thereabouts. I see so many on the road. It has a 2.5 L Ecotec 4, which was base power for very the last Impala.

PHOTOS: Side view of the Malibu Front angled side view of the Malibu Rear angled side view of the Malibu; here you can see the attractive sweep of the rear fascia and the taillamps, but also the relationship of the greenhouse and the trunk that I think could have been handled a little better. You can't argue with the beauty of the beaches on Florida's Panhandle The main instrument pod is really sensible and has good graphics: symmetrical big tach and speedo, symmetrical but smaller main gauges (fuel and temp) at the top, and center information square area with digital speed (my selection), compass, odometer, and gear. For temperature and time, you need to check the infotainment center screen. The dashboard has a good feel about it, is nicely shaped, and things are sensibly clustered together Photo # 7, not 7-7-7, but still a bonus! (Or maybe not.) - - - - - End of photos

I’ve rented the Chevrolet Malibu before and I was treated to a normal weekly rate that didn’t have a drop charge in the Florida Panhandle, most likely because their tourist season is beginning and that area could use the cars. It didn’t really drive in from Malibu, but from elsewhere within Florida! It’s last call because the Malibu is bowing out this year. Chevy and its General Motors stablemates are overhauling their product lines in a big way. Nonetheless, whether as daily drivers or company cars and fleet cars, there are quite a few of these on the road, first arriving in 2017. With newer powertrains, first a smaller turbocharged 4 cylinder engine and then the arrival of the CVT (continuously variable transmission), the Malibu appears to have been reliable enough. I don’t know what Consumer Reports has to say, but most of the automotive press seems to give the nod to Toyota and Honda products. The only issue I’ve had with rented Malibus having over 30,000 miles was a road drone in the rear that could have been a failing hub bearing. (This last rental vehicle had less than 10,000 miles.) However, if a person wants an American “Camcord,” this is it. Basically, the car saw few changes during this last generation. One would distinguish model years through changes in the front grille and colors. Mostly, I like the Malibu and it would make a good daily driver. There are a few things about it I don’t like and have never liked. The Malibu doesn’t look good from every vantage point. Its “best side” is its rear fascia, which was refined with new patterns in the taillamps in the last few years. The front end is a little clunky, and the layered latticed grille didn’t help all that much. Inside, I’ve come to appreciate its very sensible dashboard and seating, especially after being in other mid-size and full-size rental cars where the dashboard and cockpit are a “fail.” The Malibu is economical in its use of fuel. What is worth nothing is that, at highway speeds, an extra 5 to 10 mph can have quite an impact on fuel economy. With cruise set at 70 mph, the legal speed limit on some treks, the mileage was coming in at under 35 mpg. When I went to 65 mph on cruise, the engine was laboring less, at about 2,000 rpms or slightly lower, and fuel consumption (with minimal city driving thrown in) came up to about 37 mpg. Considering that early Malibus with V8s couldn’t even get 20 mpg on the highway, that’s quite a leap! Driving on a road with a 55 or 60 mph speed limit would make for less consumption - at or even slightly exceeding the 40 mpg mark at constant speed. The ride is pleasant, but not refined. The handling is easy, as it seems to be with so many electric power steering units, but not agile. The controls and instruments are easy to use or, at least, quickly become acclimated to. The seating is comfortable and supportive enough. The Malibu does what it needs to do without much fuss, but without impressing. Power from the 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and its turbocharger is enough for most situations, such as smartly moving away from stop lights and picking up speed on an on-ramp to merge. I don’t know how I’d feel about a high speed pass with its less than 200 horses. As with other cars, the CVT seems to be getting more predictable … or not as erratic. The important thing is that its service life is long. CVTs also need periodic servicing. The engine bay is very neatly organized. However, it uses a prop rod. When Malibus were ‘80s RWD GM mid-sizes, struts automatically keep the hood up. The trunk is roomy. Fuel tank capacity is generous and makes for respectable range with the car’s highway mileage numbers, but it won’t get you from one side of Texas to the other on I-10! Maybe close, though. In my mind, the Malibu could have been more, especially after the Impala was discontinued. It looks like GM does not want to keep a single sedan in their stable, so they didn’t invest in it and let it wither. First, a 1.8 or 2.0 L 4 cylinder engine without a turbocharger could have been tuned to get the same fuel mileage. While an 8 speed automatic would have been preferable, I’d take the CVT if paired with a larger non-turbo engine. The CVT is mechanically simpler (and also sits inside one casing) while an engine with a turbocharger is a more complicated set up. Once it made its initial splash, the Malibu wore on and may have become ho hum to consumers. The greenhouse looks elongated and has some strange quirks, making the rear deck lid look too short. A more upright domed shape to make the greenhouse look more proportionate would have been preferable. This is all about fractions of an inch, or centimeters, but they make a big difference when it comes to styling. (One example of a vehicle that accomplished this is the Mazda 6 sedan from about the same time this last Malibu was introduced.) In short, it’s wishful thinking that General Motors - via Chevrolet – would be keeping a bread and butter sedan they’d work a little magic on to make it more refined, more compelling, and more reputable such that a buyer’s choice between a domestic and a foreign sedan would be moot: the Malibu would be just as good as a “Camcord.” However, it won’t be happening. The curtain is falling and the Malibu’s chapter is closing. - - - - - Photos forthcoming

This one is a classic from the mid-'70s ... perfect to pilot a Cutlass Supreme to ... and its only lyrics throughout the entire song are "do the hustle." That's it. When I was younger and heard it the first few times, I thought they were saying "to Nassau" ... wishful thinking and projecting on my part.

It's still Saturday night somewhere in America, but I doubt there's any Saturday night fever to speak of. A childhood friend who is a Spanish-Italian-Irish mix born in the Bronx and ended up going to parochial schools with me in SoCal when her family moved out West thought that this song was about her, so that's who it reminds me of. IT's one of the songs that stands out more in the collection because this one Gibb brother can get his voice this high, just like Tracy Chapman can get her voice real low ... either way, great vocal acrobatics for both of these artists.

Bison is a relevant thing and word these days. People like to take selfies with them in very close proximity.

June 2 National Donut Day At some places, they'll give you one for free. At some places, it requires a purchase. So, if at Dunkin' and you bought a cup of coffee, I believe they wouldn't lose much money on this and that it could possibly even yield some profit. They should all just give you one free f***in' donut. But they're probably worried about a select few folks who may keep coming back and/or going to different stores (LOL).

Spotted on May 28 Well, it's apparent that that this is a Rite Aid store. I know the car's owner and the owner likes their popular mid-'90s value-packed rendition of the big RWD Thunderbird coupe. Without the little V8 badge, it runs with FoMoCo's 3.8 L V6 which, unlike Buick's 3.8 V6, has a cast iron block and aluminum heads. This car also has a sunroof and there's a spoiler in the back. I've only driven this type of T-bird once, albeit equipped with the reliable and smooth FoMoCo SOHC 4.6 L V8, and I enjoyed spending a long weekend behind the wheel of one. I liked it more than I thought I would.

Spotted on May 26 About to leave Starbucks and I see this coming in to park, so I took out my phone Side view - I spoke with the owner, he said it's a 350 V8 when I asked "350 or 305?", and, so I could take a "better" photo, he ducked ... the color is the firethorn metallic two-tone of that year, those are some of the wheel trim options that were offered, and they had their heads screwed on correctly for the 1976 MY in offering a deep burgundy for the interior trim, but lost their minds for the 1977 MY when they went over to potent firethorn (red) interior trim. I'd prefer some thin whitewalls, which look great on Lincolns and larger FoMoCo RWD products. The interior had the regular bench seat without an armrest, manual windows, simple warning lamps instead of the full instrument cluster, and air conditioning. Angled rear view - if only they could have grafted similar simpler rear lamps onto the very last-gen MC instead of the ones with the squiggly Coke bottle contours. Angled front view - this thing was menacing and you could easily have a gathering for a picnic on its hood ... a very unique window of time for American automotive styling.

It very much looks like something that could double as an ambulance rounding a busy traffic circle in Sofia, Bulgaria with the ambulance graphics in Cyrillic characters but making the wailing sounds of an ambulance in Paris. Just a thought.

I'm mixed on this car. The styling is a little too derivative. I am not crazy about the square retro front. I do like the rear light bar ... the way they've sort of layered it in there. The greenhouse is really weird when seen from the side. Is this meant to be a coupe with ready access to the rear seats? I want coupes to look like coupes.

Unless everyone is redeeming miles or being comped, those sitting at the front of the aircraft (business, first, similar) more than pay for the fuel used for a flight.

Good morning ... Wishing you all a happy Memorial Day.

Tzatziki is perfect the way it is. Also, I can't believe how many different incorrect ways tzatziki is spelled by both restaurants and people here. I believe the same happens with pastitzio. That's how I spell it. I've seen it spelled pastichio. - - - - - I was doing some errands and passed by a Honda dealer. After renting a regular Accord, I was given an Accord Hybrid at another rental shortly after that. I wanted to see how much they cost. The Hybrid MSRP was about $32,500 (USD). The regular Accord, possibly not the base, was about $30,000, with a urethane (?) steering wheel. Both had sunroofs! I thought the spread would be much more. This spread makes the hybrid worth considering and it could pay for itself over a long ownership period. It sips fuel. However, I didn't mention the additional mark-up, on all types of Accords: $2,995. I went over and looked at some Civics. These are now baby Accords. The rear light bar now looks great and its front end looks like a big pug compared to the Accord. This was a Sport edition but it had an MSRP of about $28,000. That's not a big savings from a new base Accord. The nice thing is that it runs with a 2.0 L and NO turbocharger. The additional mark-up on Civics was $1,995.

Per the birthday news, today's is an interesting one! It's the birthday of Charger4U. It's also his big 3-0. He joined us when he was just a teenager and had the kind of moxie where he could hold his own with the adults (chronologically, at least) on C&G. His parents had moved their family from SoCal to a small town in South Dakota, IIRC, like a lot of people were doing and have been doing by moving to other less populated and quieter states in the West ... my parents included. He had a high level of intelligence and high ambitions. I hope he's having a great birthday, wherever he may be, and wish him every success.

I like the second livery. Aegean is in the Star Alliance, therefore it's grouped in with United and Air Canada. I'd sure like the seem them cross the ocean to North America, like Olympic did. @oldshurst442 Classic reliable "olds" humor!

There are some strict rules about the Gateway Arch, folks! I know you know. I'm sure this thing flew over it.

A random spotting Pensacola, FL - I had never seen this vehicle by Chevrolet before ... a "City Express." The angled front driver and passenger windows made it look like something you'd see in Europe

Some pony car and sports car spotting Pensacola Beach, FL - "Smile, you're on C&G" ... I just know it's a Corvette ... I have a hard time telling the MYs apart "Treasure Coast" area, FL - here's a grumbling and rumbling Camaro of 1970 to 1973 vintage. I only liked from second-gen models from 1975 onward ... hey, there's a Wawa "Treasure Coast" area, FL - here's what is probably a 1988 (+/-) Ford Mustang convertible, with burgundy cloth bucket seats (cloth? in a convertible?) and a 5.0 (302 c.i.) V8