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My BS is one year old today! Well, technically it was "born" June 23rd of last year, but we brought it home for the first time July 8th. So what are my thoughts after a year's ownership, and what have I done to (and with) it?
Total mileage: 8,656 miles for a daily average of 23.7 miles. Oil changes: 2, including a 1,000 mile break-in change. Recalls: 1 (instrument cluster, but never had a problem with it).
What do I like most? Hard to say, there's a ton of little things that all feed into my enjoyment. It's just overall been a very pleasant driving experience. It's pretty much exactly what I expected and wanted out of it with no real positive surprises. It's been great in town, in traffic, on long highway stretches, on trails and in the back country twisties. Basically, it does everything I need it to and meets my expectations. Its capabilities definitely exceed my bravery.
My biggest gripe? Fuel economy. My lifetime numbers are around 21 mpg. Given where I live and do most of my driving (Phoenix metro), and the fact it's a Badlands Sasquatch, that's not too bad, really. Add in much of the off-roading I've done really tanks the economy numbers, I'm not really all that disappointed. I have found that my best numbers in-town come when I can stay in the 45mph or so range, regardless of drive mode. Highway is best under 70mph, but if you know Phoenix, you know that's hard to do without getting run over. So yeah, I'd love to get 30 mpg, but I know that's not in the cards.
Where's it taken me? Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Winslow, Moab, Sedona, Prescott, Crown King, Wickenburg, Globe, Tucson and the surrounding areas of each of those. So about a third of its total mileage is just from road trips. I haven't tracked my off-road mileage separately, but I'd estimate at least a couple hundred miles so far.
What have I done to it? Not that much, just a few bolt-ons, really. Rubigrid for the dash, Dashcam, Tyger step for the hitch receiver, gas struts for the hood, retractable cargo cover, ceramic window tint all around. Nothing that cost too much, actually added utility, and nothing I'd regret having purchased in the event I had to trade it in for whatever reason. I'm not as much into modding for its own sake as I used to be. It has to have a definable, functional value before I'll consider it. Lighting may be in the future, but I don't really need it at this point. Tires will be upgraded when the current ones need replacement, but not before. A mounted GMRS is a possibility, but my handheld has been good enough for me thus far. Don't have a use case for a roof rack or awning yet. I tend to look at things I can 3D print more than peruse the off-road shop online catalogs.
So, after a year, I'd say I'm happy with the BS. Not screamingly overjoyed, but pretty chuffed nonetheless. I do note that I'm more aware of it as a unique thing as opposed to just "the car" even after a year. In that sense, it reminds me of my Miata, I'm always conscious of it being a BS and not some generic, forgettable econobox or grocery-getter.
Hopefully in a year I can just copy/paste this post with the same outlook, with just the additions of more road trips, back country adventures, and some fun (but useful!) bling.
Total mileage: 8,656 miles for a daily average of 23.7 miles. Oil changes: 2, including a 1,000 mile break-in change. Recalls: 1 (instrument cluster, but never had a problem with it).
What do I like most? Hard to say, there's a ton of little things that all feed into my enjoyment. It's just overall been a very pleasant driving experience. It's pretty much exactly what I expected and wanted out of it with no real positive surprises. It's been great in town, in traffic, on long highway stretches, on trails and in the back country twisties. Basically, it does everything I need it to and meets my expectations. Its capabilities definitely exceed my bravery.
My biggest gripe? Fuel economy. My lifetime numbers are around 21 mpg. Given where I live and do most of my driving (Phoenix metro), and the fact it's a Badlands Sasquatch, that's not too bad, really. Add in much of the off-roading I've done really tanks the economy numbers, I'm not really all that disappointed. I have found that my best numbers in-town come when I can stay in the 45mph or so range, regardless of drive mode. Highway is best under 70mph, but if you know Phoenix, you know that's hard to do without getting run over. So yeah, I'd love to get 30 mpg, but I know that's not in the cards.
Where's it taken me? Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Winslow, Moab, Sedona, Prescott, Crown King, Wickenburg, Globe, Tucson and the surrounding areas of each of those. So about a third of its total mileage is just from road trips. I haven't tracked my off-road mileage separately, but I'd estimate at least a couple hundred miles so far.
What have I done to it? Not that much, just a few bolt-ons, really. Rubigrid for the dash, Dashcam, Tyger step for the hitch receiver, gas struts for the hood, retractable cargo cover, ceramic window tint all around. Nothing that cost too much, actually added utility, and nothing I'd regret having purchased in the event I had to trade it in for whatever reason. I'm not as much into modding for its own sake as I used to be. It has to have a definable, functional value before I'll consider it. Lighting may be in the future, but I don't really need it at this point. Tires will be upgraded when the current ones need replacement, but not before. A mounted GMRS is a possibility, but my handheld has been good enough for me thus far. Don't have a use case for a roof rack or awning yet. I tend to look at things I can 3D print more than peruse the off-road shop online catalogs.
So, after a year, I'd say I'm happy with the BS. Not screamingly overjoyed, but pretty chuffed nonetheless. I do note that I'm more aware of it as a unique thing as opposed to just "the car" even after a year. In that sense, it reminds me of my Miata, I'm always conscious of it being a BS and not some generic, forgettable econobox or grocery-getter.
Hopefully in a year I can just copy/paste this post with the same outlook, with just the additions of more road trips, back country adventures, and some fun (but useful!) bling.
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