drivetofive

Odometer:  504,500

For each of the many milestones that I’ve celebrated with my Acura Legend, I’ve had plenty of photo & video documentation.  When I rolled 500,000 miles last month on-site at Acura’s corporate office in Torrance, California, though, I didn’t even have a camera with me.  Thankfully, there were plenty of other people in attendance to capture the moment and share it with me and everyone else later.

Tonight a video was released on Acura’s Facebook page which captures in fewer than 3 minutes an achievement that took my Legend almost 18 years to accomplish.  Thanks to the skilled folks who put this together (and again to Acura for throwing the party!) so I can remember this memorable day for many years to come!

Odometer:  502,006

The Drive “Past” Five is well underway and quite a bit has happened since the red-carpet reception at Acura a couple of weeks ago.

This past weekend, the old Legend was exercised on a fun excursion to witness a piece of history.

Union Pacific 844, also known as the “Living Legend,” is a steam locomotive that’s been in service since 1944, 50 years before my Acura, and the only survivor of 10 such locomotives delivered to Union Pacific that year.  The train came through Arizona this weekend in connection with the state’s centennial celebration.  My friend Matt and I had a chance to see 844 roll past us and it was an incredible experience to witness the sheer momentum it carries (220 tons worth!).

Here we are parked alongside a frontage road in Picacho, Arizona upon the train’s arrival on Saturday, November 12th.

We were able to “pace” the train for several miles before stopping to watch it be serviced.

The locomotive was serviced in Coolidge, Arizona before continuing its journey into the Phoenix area.

The Legend made the trip effortlessly.

The following day, I entered the car in a “Battle of the Brands” car show in Chandler, Arizona.  This show was hosted by SanTan Honda and SanTan Subaru who operate dealerships that are adjacent to each other.  There was a great turnout from the Honda & Acura community, including my friend Spencer and his dad, Warren, who brought out their extremely well kept 1994 Legend LS coupe in Cashmere Silver Metallic.  It looks pretty showroom fresh for having around 210,000 miles on it.

Spencer and his dad were also sporting their “500,000” congratulatory shirts that my friend Dave from the acuralegend.org forums developed as part of a group buy.  Awesome!

My friend CJ and his brother Neil stopped by to check out the rides.  As you can see we battled the rain most of the morning but still had a great time at the show.

I couldn’t resist a classic hubcap picture with an exotic 1991 formula red NSX in the reflection.

In the end, neither Spencer nor I took home a trophy in the “Stock Honda” class but two Legends with a combined nearly 3/4 million miles certainly represented very well how enduring and reliable that Acura products can be.

This week I had the privilege of being one of Acura’s guests at a launch of the 2012 Acura TL in connection with Zagat.  It was hosted at Siren Studios in Los Angeles and featured some of the best food & company I’ve enjoyed in a long time.

A high-class affair for a high-class brand with an exceptional car.

In other news:  It was time to get the 2-year registration renewal taken care of on the Legend.  Residents of Maricopa County, Arizona get to go through an emissions inspection if we want to keep our cars registered.  Last week it was time to get the coupe checked out.

As I pulled the car into the Scottsdale, Arizona station, the technician asked me if my Legend was rear wheel drive.  This happens every time I take the car to get smog tested.  The 1991-1995 Legend’s 3.2 liter longitudinally-mounted engine (engineered that way for optimal weight distribution) always throws people off.  I assured the guy that my Legend is front wheel drive.

“Did you just have this detailed at the dealer?” he asked.  I told him I keep the car that clean all the time.  And finally, when he looked at the odometer.  “Did you hear about the guy with a million miles who got a brand new Honda?”  And yes, of course, I told him I was familiar with Joe’s story.

Here are the test results, historic through current.  The Legend got straight A’s yet again.

December, 2006:  255,000 Miles

• Hydrocarbons:  .43
• Carbon Monoxide:  6.18
• NOX:  .81

November, 2007:  302,000 Miles

• Hydrocarbons:  .26
• Carbon Monoxide:  6.66
• NOX:  .37

November, 2009:  401,000 Miles

• Hydrocarbons:  .59
• Carbon Monoxide:  5.97
• NOX:  1.15

November, 2011:  500,000 Miles

• Hydrocarbons:  .18
• Carbon Monoxide:  2.72
• NOX:  1.19

After the technician handed me the paperwork and told me the car had passed with flying colors, he said, “Good luck on the next half million!”

In looking through some of my paperwork I discovered that I still have the very first safety inspection that was performed on the Legend in my ownership.  This is dated 3/27/2003 – just a day after I bought the car.  It had 96,160 miles on it.  The mechanic had mistakenly written the make as “Honda” instead of “Acura” and later crossed it out.  A common oversight!

And I even have the receipt from the first time I ever put gas in this car, on 3/26/2003 in Firebaugh, CA right off Interstate 5 Southbound.  $2.49 for Premium octane — not too shabby!

Lastly:  I was lucky to purchase this Legend from an owner who took equally good (if not better!) care of it.  My Legend’s life started in the San Francisco Bay area and was original sold from Pleasanton Acura.  Patricia, who bought the car at the end of 1994 with 294 miles on it, was able to dig up these pictures a few days ago from when the car was a brand new baby.

Interesting how the car still looks almost identical today.  As you can see there’s still plenty of activity for the Legend as things roll onward beyond the half-million milestone.  I’ll keep the updates coming as we continue the adventure.  Thanks again for being a part of the ride.

Odometer:  500,588

That 500,000 milestone is now eating my dust!  As it grows more distant in the Legend’s rearview mirror I’ve had some time to reflect on all the amazing events of the past few days.  I’ve been overwhelmed by the support of Acura, of my family, and of my friends in commemorating my car’s achievement.  The staircase at the W Hotel in Hollywood was just one of many places I would be seeing red carpet during my weekend.  Here I am with my mother in the lobby of the hotel.

When I retrieved the Legend from the W’s valet parking team on Friday morning before the event, the guy who pulled the car up to me asked as he got out, “How many miles does it really have on it?”  I assured him that the odometer, which sat at 499,965 at the time, was 100% accurate.  My trip to the Acura headquarters in Torrance was filled with mixed emotions:  I was excited, nervous, hopeful.  Knowing that this was a one-shot ordeal, I wanted so badly for everything to come together just perfectly.  And it did.

Long ago, I had promised the passenger seat in my Acura to my mother, Tia, for the 500k occasion.  My biggest concern as I approached the campus on Torrance Boulevard was that I’d blow past the milestone without having the chance to pick her up.  However, as the odometer read 499,999.8 and I rounded the corner toward the main entrance, I knew we were spot-on!  My heart raced because I knew I’d reached the point of no return.  Mom joined me in the car and we turned 500,000 right on cue.  When we then pulled around the corner, I saw a huge group of people awaiting our arrival with anticipation!

I can’t even describe what it felt like to see my name in print, larger than life, in a banner on the building announcing “me” as Acura’s “newest Legend.”  My jaw dropped as the event coordinators waved me up to the red carpet reception area at the base of a podium to the entrance to Acura’s lobby.  I got out of the car amid tons of cheering and clapping.  It felt unreal!  Jeff Conrad, VP of Acura Sales, asked me to join him at the podium.  I started picking faces out of the crowd – people who had traveled from all across the country to be there, from as far away as New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Salt Lake, Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix and many other places.

Jeff presented me with an embroidered jacket which immediately was put to use in the overcast (but dry!) weather.  Acura also sponsored a number of different tokens of recognition, including a certificate that will cover my maintenance through 2012, a duffel bag absolutely packed with Acura goodies, and even a timing belt & water pump from the Parts & Service Department.  At this point I’m only about 16,000 miles away from my next timing belt change, so you can bet I’ll be putting that to use!  People with driving habits like mine, I am told, are bad for new car sales numbers but are great for parts & service business!   Acura has graciously given me the opportunity fly to the Detroit Auto Show as their guest this coming January.  Needless to say I was overwhelmed with the generosity.

After the red carpet reception, the next several hours were filled with an inside look at the heritage of Acura & Honda as my guests and I were invited to visit the Honda Collection museum, complete with mint condition examples of many of the important vehicles in the company’s history.  Acura provided lunch and goody bags for all guests.

My Legend got to be pulled into the museum for the afternoon!

A short program was kicked off by John Watts, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing at Acura.  My friend Dave Ballance spoke on behalf of my “family” at the acuralegend.org forums and presented me with an engraved crystal plaque commemorating the event.  He had also headed up the development of a custom T-shirt design.

Following Dave’s remarks, Patricia Lasalle (the original owner of my Legend) shared a few thoughts.  My 500k achievement is thanks in large part to her care of the Legend over its first 8 years of life.  She noted during her talk that she’d never taken the car through an automatic car wash during her ownership.  It was always washed by hand.  Lastly, my mom spoke a little about how obsessive-compulsive tendencies run in the family!  She also took the “blame” for introducing me to Acura when she purchased her first Acura, a 1990 Integra GS, back in 1996.  That car set the standard by which we’ve measured all our subsequent cars.

Later on, I met up with my friends from the acuralegend.org community for some photos on-site in the Honda America headquarters parking lot.

Checking out of the luxurious W Hotel and awaiting the car from valet.

I drove home to Phoenix with my now finally broken-in 1994 Acura Legend LS coupe and had about 6 hours of solitude in the car to truly reflect on the half million miles of travels that I’ve been through with this car and the amazing people that it has led me to meet.  Many have asked about the future of the Legend and of Drive to Five.  I intend to keep driving the car and will maintain the blog occasionally as I’m sure there are road trips and adventures yet to be enjoyed.

I thank Acura for the incredible hospitality that far surpassed any expectations I had for this event.  Acura’s willingness to honor and commemorate this type of occasion for just one loyal owner is a true testament to the level of commitment that the company has toward its customers.  To my friends and family who traveled to be a part of the 500k celebration, you made my day.  Better said, you made my year!  Thanks so much for being a part of not only this weekend’s events, but also playing a key role in the journey that got me here.

Drive on!

Odometer:  500,032

Red carpet?  All the way!

I can’t even start to convey the excitement and enthusiasm that were overflowing in today’s 500,000 mile event held at the Acura headquarters in Torrance, California.  A day of recognition for an incredible car, its loving driver, and a network of friends and family who have each played a huge role in making this very long journey a success.  It’s been an exhausting day but I wanted to at least quickly update my loyal readers that the day has in fact arrived.

As soon as I can find my laptop AC adapter I’ll begin to sort through the many pictures that were captured today and share some of the memories, but in the meantime, coming to you from the Business Center at the W Hotel in Hollywood:  the Drive to Five has now crossed the finish line!  In fact, the alignment of the odometer, timing, and predetermined location were absolutely & unmistakably perfect this morning.

I’m overwhelmed by the support from Acura and from my friends who traveled from near and far to share this occasion with me.  Stay tuned as I’ll share some of today’s events in the next couple of days.  In the meantime, you can view a few pictures at AcuraConnected.com and my friend Kevin’s album on Facebook if the link works.

TONS more here too. Thanks Efong for the great documentation!

Thanks for riding along!