I received a free week in this vehicle in exchange for my honest opinion. Read my Disclosure Policy.

So I spent the last week driving around in the luxurious 2016 Lexus NX 200t F-Sport SUV.

Pros:
//The AWD of this SUV was amazing.  It was great on the rainy days I had to travel on the highway or around town.  I didn't feel nervous once that I was going to spin out, slip, or be affected by the road conditions.  I love a vehicle that can keep it's cool along with me.


//The NX 200t handled around corners and sharp turns exceptionally well.  Surprisingly, the contents of my purse didn't spill out like I'm used to. 

//The best way to describe the exterior of this SUV is sexy and fierce.  I love the trim both inside and out but the headlights and the overall exterior design has such a badass look.  And while it's an SUV it doesn't have a bulky appearance.

//I love that you can select the driving mode - there's Normal, ECO (fuel efficient) and Sport.  I really love ECO mode because it truly had great gas mileage.

//The 2016 Lexus NC 200t F-Sport has amazing lighting on the inside and out.  Tap to turn on the interior lights if you're rooting around for something and don't worry about driving at night - the LED headlights are fantastic.  And for someone who squints all the time because driving at night means bright lights in my side and rear view mirrors - this vehicle was a miracle! Gotta love that sunlight reflection feature!

//The center console sits high up and I love it as not only an arm rest if I'm waiting in the car, but also it has amazing storage  space. 

//I have to say that the seats of this vehicle are the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in when it comes to driving.  Even after a 2 hour drive I wasn't sore or stiff. 

//I can't believe how much cargo space this SUV has.  I love it!

//The temperature control and heating system is a true blessing and I didn't have to wait 20 minutes till I could comfortably drive to work in the morning.

//This vehicle has a great sound system with an eight-channel amplifier and 8 speakers!   I also am in love with the Qi wireless charging tray inside the console box. 

//The 200t has some great safety features like a roof impact system in case the roof is impacted, Whiplash-Injury Lessening front seats, and 8 SRS airbags.  There's even a Pre-Collision System.  Talk about peace of mind.

Cons:

//The amount of knobs and buttons on the front dash was a bit overwhelming for me.  I tend to like more of a minimalist dashboard but I'm sure after a month in this vehicle, one would be used to where everything is and what it all does.    

//It may be because I'm used to having large open windows in my current card but I thought the windows were a bit small, especially the windshield and at times I felt "cramped" in a way.

//Obviously this is an SUV so it will be larger than most cars meant to fit into a parking spot. Still, I found it relatively easy to pull in and out of a parking spot and while it was especially tricky to parallel park in the city, the backup camera helped!

Overall, this is a great vehicle for anyone  that wants a comfortable ride, great technology, and PLENTY of cargo space!!!  This is like the queen of SUVs to me!

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15 Reasons I LOVE My Honda Civic

I love cars.  All different types of cars.  But I REALLY love my Honda Civic.  I've had her since 2006 (6/6/06) to be exact and I am definitely attached.  Maybe it's the experience I've had with her and how reliable she's been that I just can't think of getting rid of her and risking a new car that may not be as awesome. 

But for anyone considering a Honda as their next car, here are 20 reasons why I LOVE mine!

1. Great Gas Milage
It's no secret that Honda's are known for being great on gas, but I still can't believe that my 8 year old car is STILL a saint with that!  

2. Reliability
As long as you keep up with maintenance like oil changes and routine inspections, a Honda is generally a reliable vehicle.  I can vouch for this as the only things I've needed in the past 8 years were brakes, tires, a fuse, and a new battery.

3. Easy Maintenance
The beauty of a Honda is that a lot of people are very familiar with them so it's easy to find someone to do maintenance on one.  And if you're a girl and you want an easy maintenance car for you to learn on, I definitely suggest a Honda.

4. Affordable Maintenance
When you do need a part or two to keep your Honda running sound, the parts are affordable, even the factory ones.  This also makes it easier and quicker to get the parts you need.

5. Ease of Parking
Mind you I have a compact car but it's still easy to parallel park or to fit into narrow spots.  I always feel like it's easy to see what's around me too.

6. Spacious Interior
I know there are some older models that may be small but for the most part, even though a Honda can look compact, I always find the interiors to be designed with the average person in mind.  I have no problems fitting in my car or fitting my luggage when travelling.  And passenger that sit in the back have never complained.

7. 93,000 and Counting...
Friends used to joke with me that "She won't even be broken in until 150,000 miles" but I really do believe that now.  My car currently has 93k miles and I am hoping to get 300,000 out of her, hehe!

8. Sporty and Stylish Look
My car has a nice sporty sleek look and that's one of the main reasons I fell in love with her on the lot.  I see some oddly shaped vehicles these days but I'm always impressed with the Honda's!

9. It's Fun to "Modify"
I used black plastidip to make the chrome trim on my car black. A harmless, cheap modification of her appearance, and I also purchased Civic Si Factory Wheels and plastidipped those black and put them on.   Nice and simple upgrade!

10. Great Customer Service
Everytime I take my car in for service, the people at Bobby Rahal Honda are excellent!   And I'm also impressed with the great communication that Honda has with their customers with updating us on recalls, etc.

11. Practical Thinking
One of the things that makes sense to me is to make a vehicle reliable by putting more practical parts under the hood.  And with my car, it has a timing chain not a belt, which has often snapped in older vehicles.  I mean, it makes WAY more sense to use something that is more reliable and longer lasting in the newer models...like the chain!

12. Honda Owners are Like Family
It's always fun to find something in common with other Honda owners like how much you love your Honda.  It feels like you're all one big happy Honda family!

13. Honda Always Tweets Me Back
This may be goofy but I love when I tweet something and mention Honda and they respond back!

14. POWER!
Don't let my little car fool you, she can accelerate in the blink of an eye when I need to merge onto the highway and avoid tractor trailers. 

15. They Hold Their Value
If you ever want to resell or trade in an older Honda, they tend to have a great resale value as long as you maintain them properly.  This makes a Honda an even more worthy investment that other vehicles.

I could keep going but I would never sleep!

Do you have a Honda?  What's your favorite thing about it?

Exploring Central PA in Luxury with the 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum

I was provided a week long loan for this vehicle in exchange for my honest opinion.  Read my Disclosure Policy.

At first glance, the 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum SUV may look like your everyday SUV but it's not.  Not only can you enjoy the luxurious ride but you can also explore thanks to it's rugged edge. I decided to check out a few spots with the Highlander.

Thanks to the reliable GPS system I was able to find exactly where I needed to go and the first stop was next to the Harrisburg International Airport runway in Middletown, PA.  It was a Friday afternoon so traffic was pretty heavy.

Luckily, the safety features like the Blind Spot Monitor with Cross Traffic Alert helped me on the highway when I had to maneuver my way through traffic. 

It was a comfortable ride thanks to the heated/cooled seats, the amazingly enjoyable climate control and the comfortable seating. There was so much space in the Highlander so I had no problem bringing along snacks, my camera tripod, and some other goodies.

The fact that there is seating for 7 and a 2nd row that folds down is great for anyone who likes to travel a lot or who has big dogs and brings them along. With a 6 speed automatic transmission and a V6 Engine, this SUV has a 5,000 lb towing capacity.   Despite the sleek and stylish exterior, this SUV has SO much room inside.

Here I am driving around waiting for the planes to take off.

And here I am enjoying the HUGE panoramic sunroof. 

Oh look...finally a plane!

The next day, we took the 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum up towards Centralia, PA.  If you don't know what Centralia is, google it, but basically it's a tiny town that almost no one lives in because there's an underground mine fire going on. 

We hoped to see steam rising from the ground but the temps were too hot out.  We did get to drive around on some of the dirt roads and I felt very safe inside this vehicle.  It was so easy to get around the iffy spots and even follow some abandoned roadways and trails.

Overall, this SUV is fantastic for the everyday explorers out there!!

3 Versatile Reasons to Own a 2014 Toyota Camry

I was provided with a vehicle for one week in order to write my review, however all opinions are my own.  Read my Disclosure Policy.

Nothing is more important these days than the versatility of your daily driver so when you go to purchase a car, keep in mind these 3 versatile ways that the 2014 Toyota Camry is a great fit.

1. It's great for getting around town.

Not only does it zip in and out of parking spots with ease, but it's super easy to parallel park.  The windows give you plenty of room to see your surroundings but you won't even need to turn your head thanks to the in dash- back up camera.   

The handling of the 2014 Toyota Camry is fantastic! It did a great job with sharp curves and surprisingly, my shopping bags in the back seat didn't go spilling out onto the seats and floor.   And when you need to accelerate quickly or hit the brakes at a moment's notice, the Camry responded very well! 

2. You'll enjoy the technology!

At least I did!   The sound system is fantastic and it's very easy to use the simple LED screen.  Of course you can control

And not only will the passengers in the back seat feel comfortable but they'll enjoy the quality sound as well.   In fact, the seats are so comfy, it put some of my friends to sleep, despite the volume of the music!

3. It's budget-friendly.

You're wallet will thank you after each ride because the 2014 Toyota Camry was great on gas.  I even did half highway and half city driving and it still impressed me.

It was so spacious that it's easy to carpool in a vehicle such as this one, and once again that saves you money.

So those reasons are just some of the many that this is a great everyday car for the everyday person!

5 Reasons the 2014 Toyota RAV4 is Great for Outdoor People

Toyota provided me with this vehicle for one week for review purposes.  All opinions are my own. Read my Disclosure Policy.

I'm so happy that Spring is here and that means it's time for outdoor fun! I decided to put together 5 reasons why the  2014 Toyota RAV4 is a great pick as a vehicle for people who love the outdoors. 

1. It can handle rough terrain. 
The 2014 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD has  4-wheel independent suspension and dynamic torque control so it's great with roads that may have bumps and bends.  It handled rocky terrain when I took it down near the creek to watch the sunset.  Even though it can handle the bumps, you won't notice because it's got such a smooth ride for the passengers!

Plus the Power Steering System and 6-speed automatic transmission will keep it moving efficiently and easily.  I love how this SUV handled around turns too.  I wasn't clenching my hands on the steering wheel like I do in my car.

2.  It's comfortable in hot AND cold climates.
The dual zone Climate Control was amazing.  This SUV heats up fast and cools down quickly and it really made it nice with the bipolar Pennsylvania weather.  No need to wait for the vehicle to cool down or heat up, you only need a few seconds!   The passengers in the backseat will enjoy it as well, not to mention the fact that backseats recline! 

3. It's safe and comfortable for long road trips or group getaways.
To ensure safety, there are eight standard airbags and Driver and Front Passenger Whiplash-Injury-Lessening Seats. You won't have to worry about your tires thanks to the tire pressure monitoring system and of course there is enhanced vehicle stability control, brake assist, traction control, and anti lock brakes. 

There is a great sound system with 6 speakers so everyone can listen to music if they get stir crazy. There is also an ECO and Sport mode option which does great on the wallet when it's being fuel efficient.

4. It's roomy and efficient.
Whether it's a long road trip or a monthly excursion, the seating in the 2014 Toyota RAV4 is comfortable and spacious with plenty of room for seating adjustments.  The gas mileage is great and the navigation system is on point! This is great when you map out your random excursions or when you want a dependable set of directions for your kayak trip.

5. There's plenty of storage space. 
If you like fishing, throw the rods in the back!   And if you like camping, you'll have no issue fitting all of your survival goods into the trunk.  The backseats fold flat which gives you even more room!