Here we see Mr. Stockholm Swedishdiesel tending to the topic at hand. It makes a fella proud to see a CEO working on his own fleet in this economy.

I suppose this is the inaugural MSIMA review update, the first of it’s kind because so many of the vehicles we cover are single-chapter experiences. But alas, the Donkey Van continues to weave in and out of my life like some vile sickness always in relapse. Well, it had, until the sudden and violent death of its high-pressure power steering line. In a surprise attack from the spiteful machine, the braided line completely ruptured at a random point along its length, showering the Odyssey’s hot exhaust manifolds and creating an instant glycol smokescreen. The threat of flame and total destruction was imminent, and for a moment we were tempted to let the poor machine go. But alas, too much is still owed.

The new line arrived, and a replacement serpentine belt was found in storage as an added bonus. Proper preventative planning prevents piss-poor performance, after all

Shortly after we got to work, one bright and sunny afternoon, the heavens opened and let forth a biblical flood in attempt to thwart our efforts. But no such stalling is acceptable.

This shit ain’t nothing to me man.

I said; soaked to the bone with rainwater, acetone, and various oils. Honda’s hydraulic lines run over the back of the J-series V6 and down through a chasm to the hidden steering rack. More than three hands are required for this task, and none of the brackets will fit. Why would they anyway?

I digress. We blessed the radiator with a dash of puddle water and windshield washer fluid, and after a dormant week and a laborious afternoon, the foul beast clattered back to life with an oil light shining on the dashboard where there previously was none. Anxiety peaked as we let the thing idle for ten, fifteen minutes and get up to temperature. All sounds remained ordinary, and all fluids within their systems. This, dear reader, means that it must be fine and we should ignore it.

So we did, and the Donkey drives on until its intended replacement with something far more interesting. Far more impressive. Far more truck.

Review coming someday.