Maine man given new Honda after driving old one for million miles

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

If you think you’ve put a lot of miles on your old tin can of a car, meet Joe LoCicero of Saco, Maine.

LoCicero, 53, hit the 1-million-mile mark on his 1990 Honda last month, and the car maker decided to give him a new one -- and throw a parade in his honor, according to autoblog.com.

The parade came complete with a middle school marching band, a banner with LoCicero’s photo on it, and a float of a giant odometer. The odometer was powered by six people spinning what appeared to be life-sized hamster wheels marked with numbers.

LoCicero is a consultant for car warranty companies and he drives a lot for work -- an average of 62,000 miles a year, compared with a typical driver, who does 14,000, according to autoblog.com. He began monitoring his miles when he had racked up about 300,000.

Honda started a page called millionmilejoe.com to promote his story. And of course, there’s a YouTube video (see above).

LoCicero told Portland’s WCSH that he was surprised that his whole town turned out for a parade and that seeing his face on flags in the parade was ‘even a bigger surprise.’

As for what he’ll do with True Blue now that he has a new blue car, LoCicero’s sister Sue Young told WCSH, ‘He’ll probably drive it until it turns into dust.’

ALSO:

A vicious cycle in the used car business

2 key L.A. officials warn against ending business tax

Toyota recalls 420,000 cars in U.S. for possible steering problems

-- Geraldine Baum in New York