by "Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
Published 03/14/2017 at 10:37
by "Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
Published 03/14/2017 at 10:37
No Tags
STARS: 11
Today is my 20
th
birthday, and, conveniently, my
trusty Lexus RX crossed 220,000 miles just last Thursday. I guess today is as
good of a time as any for a little update since my last big post on the car
20,000 miles ago.
After my 200,000 mile ode, the Grocery Grabber faced a rather uneventful year. I went off to college, so my dad ended up driving it most of the time. However, it was still my main source of transportation when I was home for breaks, and over the past summer.
The big event of the summer was, of course, the OppoMeet , which I’m sure you all know how much I enjoyed. And despite being a Lexus RX, the Grocery Grabber was also the chariot that whisked my father and me around the state of Illinois in my first ever car meet. We put about 750 miles on that day without a hiccup, even with the heat and about 216,000 miles on the car.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Towards the end of the summer, we decided that I would end up taking the Grocery Grabber back up to school with me for the upcoming school year. I decided to wax the car to try to protect it as much as possible for the future months parked outside. This was the first time that I had ever waxed a car, and it was definitely a learning experience. The car still cleaned up well, though.
Then, about a month after that, my dad ended up effectively replacing it with another Grocery Grabber that’s almost identical, except it’s a 2008 graced with 120,000 less miles and 40 extra hp from the 3.5 V6. The most exciting part of this transaction was that the ’04 RX officially became my car.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Winter hit and the Grocery Grabber still was not fazed. Even when the wind chill was -20ºF, it started with only the slightest hesitation. So far over the six months of being continuously exposed to the elements, the only issues I have faced were the two tailgate mounted taillights would fill with water when it rained. A set of taillight assemblies from RockAuto solved that issue.
I have bonded a lot with the Grocery Grabber over this past
year. It has been my faithful companion in every situation I threw at it. I
have crammed five people and all of their stuff in the cargo area for a trip
home. When I was extremely stressed out, it took me on a wonderful drive where
I saw some amazing scenery.
The RX has also been an amazing all weather companion. I seriously cannot say enough good things about it, but I’ll try to keep it short. It took me through a three-hour drive in freezing rain, and just yesterday it took me into Milwaukee in a snowstorm. Each experience was entirely drama free, even on all season tires. I never spun a tire unintentionally once.
I couldn’t get the traction control to kick in unless I was intentionally
accelerating quickly. When I stopped to take the pictures by the lake, I ended
up having to push through a snow mound about a foot and a half tall built up by
the snowplows at the exit. Just a little momentum and generous throttle got me through it
with no problem.
The Grocery Grabber has been the perfect car for me. I could list all of the things that make it work so well, but the most important thing is that it has relatively few sacrifices. The gas mileage could be a bit better, and it is not sporty in any way, shape, or form, but that’s not really the point of a luxury crossover. The Lexus RX is extremely comfortable, practical, decently powerful, and reliable.
It truly has been my faithful and useful companion through everything. I guess that’s exactly what it was designed to do, and I must say Toyota did a damn good job.
"GE90man" (ge90man)
03/14/2017 at 10:46, STARS: 0
happy birthday!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
03/14/2017 at 10:50, STARS: 0
Happy Birthday! Seems to be a popular day for Oppo’s Wisconsin contingent.
"TysMagic" (twjeffery)
03/14/2017 at 10:50, STARS: 0
happy day to you and your grocery grabber haha
My abarth rolled over 20222 miles today, sort of relate-able?
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
03/14/2017 at 10:56, STARS: 0
Looks identical to the one my mom just purchased.
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
03/14/2017 at 10:59, STARS: 1
Thank you! Apparently Wisconsin is the place for pi day babies.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
03/14/2017 at 11:02, STARS: 0
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUUUUUUUUDE!!!!!
"$kaycog" (skaycog)
03/14/2017 at 11:10, STARS: 2
Happy Birthday! Have some cake and chocolate-dipped strawberries!
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
03/14/2017 at 11:25, STARS: 1
Haha, thank you! Definitely relatable, all you have to do is take off or add a 2 and we’re almost at the same mileage. I’m looking forward to 222,222 miles. All of the 2's!
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
03/14/2017 at 11:28, STARS: 0
Nice, I love the dark grey paint! The metallic flakes in it are really nice. Hopefully it treats your family as well as our RX has treated mine!
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
03/14/2017 at 11:28, STARS: 0
Thank you!
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
03/14/2017 at 11:30, STARS: 1
Thank you! That looks much better than the cake I’ll be having tonight, but it’s an ice cream cake so it’s got that going for it haha!
"$kaycog" (skaycog)
03/14/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 1
I’m sure your ice cream cake will be delicious!
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
03/14/2017 at 12:10, STARS: 0
Thank you!
"Svart Smart, traded in his Smart" (svartsmart)
03/14/2017 at 12:22, STARS: 1
Happy birthday to you and happy milestone to the car. I’m ten years older than you but I admire you for paying attention to maintenance and longevity on a car that some people would consider old, worn out, worth replacing. And the fact that you see the fun and utility of an ‘uncool’ car is worth something too.
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
03/14/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 0
Thank you! That means a lot! I do take pride in my car and, like I said, it’s the perfect car for me right now so I’d like to keep it going as long as possible. I love watching the milestones roll by!
"Brooks Rowburrey" (brooks2is)
04/17/2017 at 21:35, STARS: 0
Brilliant writing. You’re older than me!
"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
04/17/2017 at 21:52, STARS: 0
Thank you! I think we’re in the same class, so I’m probably not older by much haha!
"Brooks Rowburrey" (brooks2is)
04/18/2017 at 07:19, STARS: 0
I’ll be turning 20 in two months, so I believe you are correct.