Friday Flashback: ABC15 News Feature
Odometer (Legend): 521,642
Odometer (ILX): 34,848
On June 16, 2009, my Acura Legend made news headlines on the morning program of Phoenix, Arizona’s ABC15 program. Automotive journalist Michael Hagerty had interviewed me a couple of weeks prior regarding a piece he was putting together on vehicles with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. My Legend, with just over 378,000 at the time, qualified. Here’s a picture from our meet-up:
I was lucky that a friend saved a copy of the video, since the article has now expired on ABC15’s website.
In the nearly four years since the clip aired, much has happened. My Legend went on to drive to 500,000, and Michael Hagerty moved on to other career avenues. He’s currently the editor of auto-review site TireKicker. He’s featured my Legend as one of his “TireKicker Time Machines.” (Page Link)
I also recently checked in with Dave Poore, the owner of that 1972 Chevy Impala that was featured in the same video. The Impala, “Archie,” is alive and well. It’s since been wrecked – and totaled (for the second time) – but, as the license plate says, it “STILRNS.” Here’s Dave’s latest report from his email to me:
Archie is still sitting at about 400k. He blew a front tire at 70mph on the 101 in mildly heavy traffic in the middle lane. That was a little scary.
In fact, Dave has even recently used the car in an annual drive called the Cannonball.
Dave has a fun website about his adventures with Archie and the other cars in his stable. Check it out at StillRuns.com.
Now, moving forward to 2013 (and very fitting for this blog), TireKicker just a week or so ago posted an article about the 2013 Acura ILX. Michael discusses some of the pros and cons of Acura’s entry level luxury compact. Check out the write-up here.
Happy Friday to all!
drivetofive 
April 20, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Tyson, that story they did on you in ABC15 was awesome! You’ve really sparked some interest out there! It was cool to learn about “Archie.” That car has to have a lot of respect for the kind of life it’s had.
April 21, 2013 at 9:12 am
Jason, that’s for sure! I’ve gotta hand it to Dave for his ability to keep that old tank on the road! I don’t know if today’s cars would put up with that kind of abuse and still be running!
April 21, 2013 at 6:40 am
It’s always a breath of fresh air (warm air, thank you very much) to sit down and read your blog entries. I remember well that video! My car recently passed the 108,000 mark and, though I am 1000 miles short of putting 50,000 of those miles on myself in the last (nearly) three years, I realize that’s how many you have racked up in a YEAR! Is that the average? Carry on, son!
P.S. If you were here right now, I’d fix you Danish hotcakes!
April 21, 2013 at 9:13 am
Hotcakes would hit the spot right now! Throw some on a plane in Salt Lake and they’ll be here in 90 minutes. My average mileage is in the 42,000 range, I think. That’s where it’s been for the last 10 years or so. Congrats on 108,000! Have a great rest of your weekend.