Thanks for the input everyone! I went out this week and test drove a number of cars, but I'm going to wait until the 2009 Honda Fit and Civic come out in September before I make my decision. As of now, here are my impressions: the Prius, I saw one but could not test drive one. The one I saw was being reconditioned to sell as certified used. If I want a new one, it could take 6 to 7 Months! Some parts come from China so production has been at a standstill since the earthquake. I won't be buying one anyway. The controls look like a rocket ship, and although the visibility from the front and sides are fabulous, it is almost impossible to see out the rear window. I'm sure my height does not help. I test drove the Matrix while I was there but I did not like it. The steering was not as responsive as on our Hondas, and the ride was rough. Next I tried out the Pontiac Vibe. I did like it a lot; it is very comparable to the CR-V but less expensive. It is a bit bigger than I wanted though. I drove the 2008 Fit (which I reaaally wanted to love) and although the steering was responsive, the ride was rough and the road noise was awful. The seat height can not be adjusted and I felt like I was sitting in a hole, I could barely see over the dash! It also looked like the interior was made of cheap plastic, I expected better after driving around in our CR-Vs. They are supposed to be fixing these issues on the 2009 model so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I also tried the Civic Sedan while at the Honda dealer, I really liked it. The ride was smooth, the steering responsive, the blind spots were minimal, it was very nice. When the 2009s come out I might try the coupe out. Unfortunately the hybrid version has a smaller trunk because of the battery. Next I test drove the MINI Cooper Clubman. Boy was that fun! I loved driving it around! Unfortunately it is not very practical here in Illinois as a main car. The first time it snowed I would be plowed in! It is really low to the ground. The last car I tried was the Scion xD. I really liked it! It was exactly what I was hoping the Fit would be (and almost exactly the same size). So now I have to wait until mid Sept. for the new Hondas to come out and I can make my decision and order my car. Depending on the dealer they said between 4 and 8 weeks for delivery (other than the Prius). If anyone else has a suggestion I will look into it. I do prefer a wagon over a car since I do haul stuff sometimes (furniture, wood, etc...). I agree about never buying a silver car again! We have a Silver CR-V and a mist blue (almost a silvery blue) CR-V. Where ever I park there are always several identical CR-Vs! I'm thinking of getting red or blue. There are not that many cars in our area in those colors. At least 75% of the cars in our area are silver, gray, white or black. Joanne

Guess I'm fortunate, that we don't often see deer here in the suburbs--although it's not completely unheard of for one to wander through the residential streets every 5 years or so. My brother has had a couple of unpleasant run-in's with deer, living as he does in a more rural area. One of the scariest driving things that ever happened to us, I'd say, was one day we were driving out in the country, there was a field next to us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a deer heading straight toward us. Had he gone through (or over--do they jump?) the wire fence, he'd have definitely crashed into my side of the car. There was nothing we really could do--I saw the deer at the last second, as he approached the road. Miraculously, he made a sharp right, and ran alongside of us for a few seconds, before we outdistanced him. We were safe, so was he--but boy was my heart racing! Oh, no--no deer whistles on our car. Probably won't get them now--but something to remember if we retire to a less congested, more rural area in a few years.

I'm having very similar problems, although my fridge is not a Bosch. The original audio links are no longer working, so I can't compare. The high-pitched, whining / whistling noise really bothers me, but I think I've also become a bit sensitive to the frequency. I would love to hear your objective opinion on the sounds. Near the compressor: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HSDg_A8Upfv2MEcP6-wUoqoV6EPqdi9l/view?usp=share_link A bit higher, further from the compressor: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1skZHkIzP4I-huGCET4N0LlycjuaPRI5y/view?usp=share_link

Did you decide yet, jewels? I think there are many good cars out there, and you probably will be happy with whatever you get. I'm driving a new CRV and am happy with it. The back up camera, lane assist warning, right turn camera and other safety features are great. We've driven Hondas for decades. DH has a pilot, others in the family have the Odyssey and an Accord. I considered the Accord, but the CRV is a little smaller and fit in the garage better, also in parking spaces better. My other car was 12 years old and still had a lot of life left in it, but I'm very happy to be driving something newer.