National Drive Electric Week 2023

Brian checks out electric cars in 2014

Come on now, you've heard of electric cars and trucks by now! Shoot, you might even own or lease one. Maybe you know somebody with one. OK, or maybe you hate the idea of electric vehicles. Regardless, you can learn more about electric vehicles and test drive some during National Drive Electric Week! Formore info, or to find an event near you, check out their website: National Drive Electric Week

2014 BMW i3, our previous pick for best electric

I don't have anything to do with this event, and I don't know if the folks in charge have already thought of this or need a cool slogan, but if it were up to me, I'd recommend they use "DEW" for "Drive Electric Week." How about "Just DEW It America!" In their email they refer to it as NDEW, but I think they could cut 25% of those letters and save some ink while they're at it!

Nissan Leaf: we liked it just a hair less than the BMW i3

We attended a Drive Electric Week a few years ago in Blythewood SC (future home of the Audi Scout SUV all electric factory) and had a blast test driving some all-electric cars, so we'll hopefully get to do the same this weekend up in North Carolina. I think electrics are like hybrids, they may or may not fit your driving needs, such as commuting or long-distance trips. If they do fit your plans, then it's worth taking a look. 

Clover SC Car Show and Fall Festival

Modern kit-car version of the epic Ford Cobra, one of two at the car show!

Here in York County SC, last Saturday was the annual Clover Auto Show and Fall Festival. If you've never heard of Clover, that's OK, it's not the largest city in the USA. OK, it's not even the largest city in South Carolina. Oh, and it's not the largest city in York County. However, it is in the top 5 for York County, coming in at a population of 7363, so way ahead of 6th place Sharon with 475. Anyway, 

There was a big turn-out of classic cars, lots of other booths selling stuff, bouncy houses for the kids, so let's take a look at just some of the cool cars that we spotted.

The original Ford Maverick was a car.

What says "THE 70s" like this Maverick interior!?!?

1964 Mercury Comet, bring it on!

They don't make rear ends like this anymore!
Gas filler panel in the center too. 

Mercury logo

When station wagons ruled the world!

Plymouth Custom Suburban!

When station wagons ruled the world part II
1956 Dodge Sierra
I think the bit of rust gives the two-toned paint scheme more of a three-toned look!

Dodge with "Mad Max" plate!

Random trivia, the Dodge had this dealership badge from Great Neck NY, which is where we just lived on Long Island!

1966 Chevrolet Corvette

It's always a great day for a car show!

Awesome Buick circa 1959

Sorry I didn't check out the Army Jeep, but I drove one in 1986 in basic training

Decal on an old VW Beetle

What's better than a Four Barrel?

A SIX Barrel!

We Rented a Ford Edge "or Similar." Guess What We Got?

Rainbow, Bishop California. About to drive up to 9200 feet elevation in our "Similar."

I took this as an awesome sign on the day we were spreading my parents ashes. 

On a previous trip this summer, we headed to Michigan to visit some family, and rented a Toyota Camry "OR SIMILAR" and ended up with a RAM 1500 full size truck! Keeping that theme in mind, and still wondering who makes a car named "SIMILAR," our latest trip was to California. We reserved a "Ford Edge or similar" to haul 4 of us around, from Los Angeles out to the eastern Sierra mountains, and over to Sequioa National Park. Guess what we got?

Cool billboard near Edwards Air Force Base.

HINT #1: It wasn't a Ford Edge; therefore, it was the proverbial "or similar." This time it wasn't a Ram pickup either! (There, that should narrow it down a bit!)

Seats 4 people with luggage

HINT #2: It is a very popular vehicle, one of the top 10 sellers in the USA. Since it wasn't a truck, that eliminates the Ford, Chevy, GMC, Dodge and Toyota Tacoma trucks, so that narrows it down to maybe 5 out of the top 10 sellers. How many hints do you need?

Here's all the relatives that met up on this trip. They all did NOT fit in our rental. 

BONUS HINT #2A: It's NOT a Tesla, which is also in the top 10, so now I've got you down to only 4 vehicles! You're welcome!

Panoramic shot. Which one of these cars was ours?

HINT #3: Pick one: Toyota RAV 4, Toyota Camry, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Honda CR-V. 

If you don't believe me on the top ten selling vehicles, here's my source: CNBC ARTICLE

In the Owens Valley we visited the Manzanar Historic Site, where 10,000 Japanese Americans were held during WWII. 

HINT#4: OK, it was a Toyota RAV 4. 

Toyota RAV 4 at Sequoia National Park. Nice sunlight in the afternoon and GIANT trees! Seriously, Toyota, you can use this photo in an ad!

It held all 4 of our family members, and our suitcases, and kept us on the road around Southern California. It survived Los Angeles freeways, up and down to 9,200 feet in the Sierras, as well as say 7,000 feet in Sequoia National Park. Brian and I both drove on this trip, and we agree that the radar cruise control on ANY car is not worth it, but other than that the Rav4 was OK. Not my favorite car, and it felt pretty average, but with the reliability of Toyota in general, well, I guess that's why people buy them. 

Julie and Katie HIGHLY recommend you visit Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequioa National Parks. Holy crap these trees are HUGE. Plus, the driving up to 7,000 or more feet is AWESOME with a capital "A."

Mostly we learned that when a rental car place offers you model X "OR SIMLAR" we keep ending up with "or similar." Oh, and if you really want to drive some awesome roads, head out to California and check out the Owens Valley and the Sierras, the Kern River valley, and Sequioa National Park. Lots of great scenery, and especially in the park you will be on some awesome 2 lane very slow roads in an awesome landscape. LA traffic, not so exciting! Maybe you should do like my brother and fly into Las Vegas and drive from there! He was going to go thru Death Valley, but the recent storm closed all the roads!

Brian and Julie in Vegas. We did NOT win millions of dollars and buy matching Ferraris. Yet.