@SeanKHotay: Yet another in the growing catalog of reasons why I hate IIHS.

Oh no! Which new color to choose? Alabaster Silver Metallic or Polished Metal Metallic?

Can't think of a cooler job. You get to hang out with your dogs in the desert with a bunch of high end camera gear carspotting. Sign me up.

That's just Mjolnir and the welcoming committee.

@vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in: Ooh! A goddess on the salt, that would be magnifique! I think Pujo! would fare pretty well, he handled Reno's heat pretty well (once we fixed the junkyard oil cooler).

@Ash78: Bravo...

This streamliner Alfa would be fun. I think it might have already made the trip.

Has the LeMons record been set?

What a time-warp. It even has the 1985-specific 85mph speedo! All it needs is a set of Metric wheels and TRX tires to top off the end of the Malaise era.

@Scandinavian Flick: There are some fun towns along Hwy 1. I spotted this lovely DOTS-worthy e12 Bimmer in Duarte. Had a great lunch at Duarte's cafe - worth a stop if you're in the area.

@TimTim wears black for our banned brethren: Highway 101 from Forks to Monterey is my favorite stretch of road. Mid-week in the early Fall is heaven. I allot myself one spreeding ticket each time I drive that route in a fun car.

@Bullitt417: Not surprised at that. I'm betting the pedal box from the Lincoln LS or whatever Jaguar shared that platform wouldn't be too difficult to install. Then make an adapter plate (if needed?) for a T56, perform whatever driveshaft length mods are needed and bingbangboom there's the perfect American cruising…

@Bullitt417: Heart clicky for agreement on the the nouveau retro 'Bird being a great boulevardier. Mine would need a manual transmission swap and some suspension tweaking to increase both fun and Q quotient.

@Bacchus1976: To the contrary, I would argue that the insurance lobby and creeping levels of perceived need for luxury and safety devices have increased average vehicle weight to the point that, even with the great increases in engine efficiency, vehicle fuel efficiency has stagnated. The popular auto media has…

@Bacchus1976: Perhaps you and I have different definitions of the word "fun"? I'll take my myopic view with my Blizzak equipped hatchback in the snow, thank you very much.

@Bacchus1976: Yes, this blog is populated by hatch and wagon fans. You say that you have yet to hear how a wagon improves dramatically over a sedan, but you provide your own answer in the next sentence - more room for junk than in your trunk.

@MyDinnerWithAndreDawson: I continue to be amazed by the amount of pushback this car is getting.

@Mobius mourns his fallen comrades: This would be a class of idiots who expect to get "city" mpg on a road trip?

@FP - Funny how it seems quiet around here, eh?: I noticed that too. Kudos to Matt for Continentally correct stock photo selection.

@P161911 now with M POWER!: I thought that too and am pretty sure it is. Here's a shot from a similar angle I took of an MGA {hopes linked image works...}