Taking a break from long trips, our Intrepid spent the month with VP "Low-Mileage" Lev. Having spent a few uneventful weeks commuting back and forth from home to work, averaging 20 miles per day, the only driving excitement our VP and Intrepid saw all month were a few rain storms. But as many of you may already know, a few drops on the L.A. pavement bring Angelinos to new heights of ineffectual driving. This of course means that our driver got to spend a disproportionate amount of time in stop-and-go traffic up and down the Santa Monica Freeway.

But this report is not an editorial about the competency, or lack thereof, of Los Angeles drivers (whose idea of a cold front is a mild breeze on a 65-degree day), rather this is a reflective report of our vehicle's stamina, performance and durability in its 24th month in our long-term fleet. Suffice it to say, having the in-dash CD player and the ever-so-funky Infinity speakers allowed our staff member to drown out the sounds of honks and rain and enjoy Shania Twain's latest CD.

The comment log noted that the vehicle's handling was sufficient in the inclement weather and dealt exceptionally well with turns. Its wide stance allowed for that hugging-road feeling we all appreciate in wet weather. Another note recorded a windshield-wiper-blade problem we already knew about and prompted us to replace the blades this month.

Our driver, who could be considered an automotive information ignoramus, does know how to drive and has had the luxury of piloting a cornucopia of vehicles during his 5-year tenure at Edmunds.com. He felt that in creating their uniquely-designed vehicle, the folks at Dodge might have forgotten some of the more practical issues of exterior design, namely, visibility. Without it, our driver found himself many-a-time leaving too much room in front or in back of cars parked on the street, prompting a note from a neighbor complaining about taking up two spots on the already overcrowded streets. This neighborly message affected Lev's paramount complaint with the Intrepid -- his inability to judge the size of the car while trying to park. He opined, "The small rear window, sloping front and inadequately small exterior mirrors make it quite difficult to see the extremities of the vehicle." His remarks echo similar comments from other staff members who've driven the Intrepid.

Accompanying Lev as a passenger on many occasions, his pregnant wife Amy also had a couple of issues with the Intrepid. "The doors kept bumping into curbs of average height making it impossible to open them and get out," said Amy. Let's face it people, with a trunk the size of Toledo, this vehicle was intended for people who will be traveling with a pregnant wife and potentially a little one or two in tow.

While we're on the subject of the trunk, our driver did have an interesting observation. He said, "The opening of the trunk is relatively small in comparison to its capacity. If you're looking to haul the groceries, it's perfect, but if you want to transport a small piece of furniture, as I did, you can't get it in." So, here's an Intrepid rule of thumb: If it's bigger than a breadbox, it probably won't fit in the trunk.

Lastly, both our driver and his wife enjoyed the comfort of the leather seats but did miss the lumbar support found in other vehicles, which is always helpful for a pregnant woman with lower back pain.

Total Odometer Reading: 36,935
Best Fuel Economy: 18.7 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 14.1 mpg
Body Damage: $0
Maintenance Cost: $11.77 for wiper blades
Problems: None.