A few years ago, I bought a Honda Element. I've owned a few other Hondas over the years, and they've always been durable. Always a lot more pleasant to work on (when I used to do all my own car work) than any of the Big 3s.

I live in snow country, work in areas that are up dirt roads and cross the passes frequently, so AWD/4x4 was a requirement. I needed to be able to carry carpentry tools, and wanted to keep them dry, most of the time. I also wanted something that got better mileage than a Toyota truck. Something that was relatively kid proof was desirable, too.

It gets around in the snow better than either of the 2 Subarus I've owned, and the rubber mats mean I don't have to worry about spilled bait or leaky coolers (or kids throwing food) ruining the carpet! If I take out the back seats, I can carry a surprising amount of cargo. I also sometimes pull a small trailer.

It just went over 100,000 miles today, and except when I took out a mulie, I haven't had to do anything else except regular maintenance.