[jyl]

Thanks!

Picked up a orange 2007 AWD Element EX with 116,777 miles, one owner, all service records, airbag recall done, clean Carfax, everything works, only one slight cosmetic issue on interior trim. Will need new tires in a year. Drives very nicely and will hopefully serve her for the next ten years. She'll only drive it 5K miles/yr for the next 3-4 years of school.

This is an interesting car. Very basic for a modern car, minimal doodads, utilitarian and spacious.

This summer, she and her little brother will take the car to the camp where they work, in the mountains about 20 miles outside of So Lake Tahoe. Either I or my wife will drive down with them from Portland. During the summer, the car will mostly sit parked since they will be working six days/week. I'm slightly concerned about the battery going flat. I'm going to replace the battery and look into one of those small solar panels that you keep on the dash and plug into the accessory port. Problem is the ports are only live when the ignition is on, so I either need to make them always on, or wire the panel directly to the battery.

I've also stocked the car with a roadside repair kit (emergency light, air compressor, tools, etc), tire pressure gauge, flashlight, AAA card. Yes, I'm a nervous dad. Yes, I realize the only thing she'll ever use is the AAA card.