20 October 2006 - New car...

Today I finally traded in my rental car, a Ford Taurus, for my own rig. I'd thought about going "Alaskan" and getting a huge 5 litre pick up truck. Indeed when I was here 8 years before, virtually everyone had a pick up truck. Meanwhile I had a small European-size but American built Dodge Colt. It was somewhat scary driving on the icy roads, knowing you had no chance in a crunch, against what might have well been tanks. And my little front-wheel car and I almost came to grief one day while coming down Chena Ridge Road in the first snowfall of the year. And anywhere that wasn't ploughed in the winter was more or less off limits to me and my car because the front wheel drive just couldn't cope with the conditions.

Environmentally, I really wanted something that would get good miles per gallon. Good for America that is, i.e. 25-30. But I also wanted something that would be safe, and would let me travel everywhere. Fortunately, and I mean that, gas prices have more than doubled since 1998, and now far more Alaskans are driving cars. And of all the cars, the make recommended by almost all Alaskans is Subaru. It has the best all-wheel-drive system on the market making it much less likely to skid, its good at starting in the subzero temperatures, and gas mileage is around 27. It also has a bit of power, allowing it to nip out of the way of those monster trucks on the road.

Another great thing about it - you can fold down the back seats and practically throw a double mattress in there. And it has not one, but two sunroofs. Ideal for roadtrips and watching the aurora.

So here it is - my 2004 Subaru Legacy...