We're going to replace our 1993 Accord with a Honda Element. Four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive can be a near-necessity here in Idaho, especially if we ever get a real, old-fasheioned winter again (shovel off the roofs, etc.).

But the Element gets about 30 mpg, not much less than our Accord and well within the range of my Civic. It's floor is urethane, not carpet, so it can be hosed out if need be. It's got decent cargo space. It's well engineered. And it's funky enough looking that my wife likes it, even though she won't buy the green one with the black trim so that I can paint brown splotches on it to complete the camouflage pattern.

We did think long and hard about it, though. Most folks don't need four wheel drive. Most folks should learn to drive well, actually.