To be fair, I’d be scared to drive the 76

The Taxicab cop car...

My kid is keeping this alive for the time being. They drive our 2017 Grand Caravan to get to school (which has the full-length antenna even with the long-expired satellite radio), and they have an assortment of antenna toppers they use.

Back in early 2023, I was blissfully unaware they were making these until I looked over and wondered why there was a Chevy Suburban on the showroom floor. I wandered over, saw it was a “Jeep”, and that the sticker said it was a shade under 100k.

Our version of “that guy” had a mid-80s Trans Am converted to a stretch limo, with an open air hot tub in the back. It would occasionally be seen driving around town, otherwise would be parked outside of his club.

Yes, but the state of the trail is drastically different than it was.  There are youtube videos that show the obstacles over the years and how they have completely changed from all of the vehicles that have passed over them.

But even then, the level of “uncivilized” of today’s wranglers vs. the ones 20+ years ago is a wide gulf.

Uh, so every stereotypical dealer?  In any waiting room of any service center, sales people will walk by, offer a bottle of water, chit chat, and see if there’s someone willing to turn their perfectly good car that is in for an oil change, tire rotation, cabin filter change, etc into a trade in on a new model.

Hard disagree here about the plate not being the reason you are pulled over.

My cats were the same way when I bought the anti-cat spray for Christmas trees.  It was like seasoning to them as they started eating and licking it even more,

As God as my witness, I thought drones could fly

Starred for the Mustang II comments. One of mine was built for the 1/8th mile and I loved smoking Fox bodies, 300 Zs, and Camaros off the line back in the 90s.

I had a Mustang that got <10 MPG at 65mph (first and last 100+ mile trip I took in that one).

We bought a nicely equipped Hybrid Corolla for 25k. The key was waiting for one to come in stock - they don’t seem to take orders, so you put down a refundable deposit on a future arrival (you’re able to see the color, options, etc, but can’t customize) and basically take it or leave it when it comes in.

They were the sweet spot the muscle cars of old paired with the station wagons with big engines.

Back when they first came out, I parked next to the guy who had the first 2006 Dodge Charger in our area. Coincidentally, it was Magnesium Pearl which was the same color as my Magnum.

At this point, rarity is driving the market more than anything. 20 years ago, cars of this vintage were a lot more plentiful but as the years have passed they are becoming scarce.

Ah, I see you’re a man of culture as well

The dealers being upset over the rising MSRP is tempered by the fact that they slap on any number of random parts on their Wranglers with a 100-200% mark-up. Lift kits, light bars, stripes and other decals, and over-sized tires on street wheels.

Is that a banana in your pocket? Yes, and an orange and a pocket comb and an extra set of keys and my sunglasses.