Anyone who's ever visited New York City knows that you only drive when you have to. This probably has more to do with the crazy cabbies on the roads than the notorious parking dilemmas, but that's debatable. Either way, our long-term Dodge Intrepid spent little time on city streets this month, venturing instead to more remote areas for some rest and relaxation.

On a drive into the surrounding mountains for a hiking trip, front and rear occupants raved about the roominess of the Intrepid and our driver was delighted with the smoothness of the car's powertrain. She also noticed that the deep shelf beneath the stereo was the perfect place to store her cell phone because passersby looking for a quick steal could not see it (these are things one must think about in New York City).

The rear end of the Intrepid, which was crumpled in a fender-bender last month, was fixed in two days by Venice Auto Body in Englewood, N.J. The insurance company of the driver at fault paid $378 to fix the dent. We were surprised and delighted when Pete, the service representative at Grand Dodge, called to ask about our dealership experience and to field any complaints we might have. We had none. At the end of the month, the once-again fixed Intrepid heads to Boston to spend some quality time with our used-car database manager.

Total Odometer Reading: 20,240
Best Fuel Economy: 25.3 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 25.3 mpg
Body Repair Costs: $378
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None