Hey Gary, did you figure out a way to hook-up an 8-Track player? In another post here, I also mentioned the fact that although the original Honda press-release was targeting the 30-somethings age group, it seems like (in this Forum anyway) that the majority of the buyers are in the 50+ age group (like me!).
Anyway, here's what and how I ended up with a Passport:
In early 2018, my daughter was planning to go away to college and my wife suggested selling the 2016 Accord (Sport) that we had bought her (new). Well, I was tired of driving my 328 BMW Coupe and since it was the only of our three cars that was paid for, I suggested selling my BMW and driving our daughters car until she returns from college for summer 2019.
With the plan in place, I started my search, having had a 1998 4-Runner for 17 years, Toyota was my first thought, but after seeing how painfully overdue for an update it was, and the 17/20 mpg sealed the rejection. So I expended my search outward, to all the available SUV's and mid-size trucks, Nissan? - nope, Mazda? - nope, VW? - no way, Subaru? maybe, never had one but the Outback looked kinda cool, Highlander & Pilot?, both too big, too van-like and no off-road capabilities, Trucks? Tacoma not too bad but probably more truck-like than I needed, the Ridgeline? - beat the Tacoma in all the areas that mattered to me, but since I wanted to be able to sleep in what I bought (while camping), with a truck, I would also need a Shell, and a kit for the back, so Trucks were out.
Then I found the press release and all the specs and hopla surrounding the redesigned 2019 RAV4. Everything I was reading about it sounded good and I seriously thought that would be my next vehicle. Then it was released - ARGH! (Charlie Brown reference) and suddenly all the things being bashed, were things that were important to me.
Somewhere around that time (Sept 2019) I was at the Honda dealer getting an oil change for the Accord and I while chatting up the Receptionist, she mentioned that Honda has a new one coming out soon and I recall thinking: "yeah right", a Honda SUV with off-road capabilities?!#$%!
I saw the that teaser-trailer was released showing the overview of the Passport driving on dirt roads, I thought, hmm, this looks interesting, then the major press release at the end of Oct-2018 and the showing at the LA Auto Show (Nov-2018) The Passport was my new targeted vehicle.
With my daughter not returning from college until May-2019 and my wife's last payment on her Lexus in Apr-2019, my target date for purchase was early May-2019, I still went and test drove one on Feb 1st (3-days before the official sales release date), which pretty much convinced me that the Passport was the "one".
Knowing my buying period was still months away, I began contacting various (at least 6 or 7) Honda dealers probing for discount pricing. With none of them willing to sell sub-MSRP, it was frustrating, but I was still "ok", due to my timing.
Then I realized I could get a decent discount going through the Navy Federal Credit Union Buying Service and coupled with the fact that there was only one vehicle Modern Steel Gray w/Blk interior, AWD Touring model within 800 miles of my location and faced with the fact that if I waited another 6 weeks to buy (as planned), I might have to settle for different colors or the more expensive Elite model (I'm a card-carrying member of the Hate-Black Rims Club) I decided it was in my best interest to buy now (March-2019) and I lived happily ever after...
