Lately, the dashboard of my truck has been illuminated by more and more little warning lights. In addition to the Check Engine light, which is quite literally perpetually lit, and the Door Ajar light, which remains on for some 2 minutes after all the doors have been securely shut, the Brake light has been showing itself more and more frequently, along with the O/D Off light showing its bazaar face from time to time.
After work tonight, Traci and I went to test drive a Nissan Pathfinder at Carmax. We enjoyed the drive and would've been content to leave the dealership with the intent to purchase one. We then decided to drive a Honda Pilot since we were already there, and we were astounded by how much more we liked it.
There was more room, the ride was smoother, and it was more comfortable overall. The only problem was that the Pilot we test drove was 2 years older and had twice the amount of miles of the Pathfinder (mid-30s), but was the same price. Obviously the Pilots held their value longer, but we still weren't completely convinced.
We left Carmax and planned to do more shopping during the weekend. While Traci was searching more local dealerships for prices /reviews on Pathfinders and Pilots, I went to O'reilly's to get some spark plugs to remedy my Check Engine light.
This was the last time I would change the spark plugs in my truck. I've had some good times in this truck and I wouldn't have been able to do hardly any of our landscaping work without it. However, most dependable thing about the truck is the fact that the Check Engine light will come on every 3 months to notify me that the spark plug in cylinder #4 is shot.