That’s what you get for being a front runner. Anyone who pays over MSRP on a production car (particularly a domestic compact!) has the financial intelligence of a bucket of sand.

Nobody pays MSRP so using that as your value basis is not accurate to gauge depreciation.

In the immediate future SA could drop oil prices, flood the market, higher cost location stop pumping, and prices go up. The end result is what people worry about.

Why do the Jalopnik writers and commentariate feel so sure that oil prices are going to skyrocket at any minute? The global economy is moving way from fossil fuels at an accelerating rate (demand is being reduced). We are also getting better at extracting previously inaccessible reserves (supply is being increased).…

It’s not worth it to you. Don’t assume everyone has the same wants, needs, and desires as yourself. I’d drive an A7, but have no desire for an A5. The styling works much better on the A7's proportions and the additional size lends it more presence in person.

Holy shit! 5,100lbs is more than most F-150's. Ford claim the supercrew/4x4/5.5'box weighs less than 5,000!

I don’t disagree, I was merely pointing out that 20% of his argument was bullshit.

I get your point, but the dude specifically talks about non linearity in response to the pedal travel and throttle opening. That’s a problem that’s been solved.

Actually there are several strategies that modern engines use to decrease spool time over purely mechanical systems. Also, high compression, DI turbo motors have pretty marginal lag to start with.

I drove a late model Hemi Ram recently, the aggressive throttle tip-in was beyond obnoxious. It made the thing hard to drive smoothly around town.

His point about non-linear throttles is accurate, but not really relevant. Almost all new cars use throttle by wire and the ECU can very easily linearize the throttle response or otherwise tailor it to however they want it to respond. Also, even older cable actuated throttles had an eccentric that would at least slow…

A friend of mine had a new (at the time) Trooper with the 3.2. It was a pig and the body roll was as alarming as the fuel consumption. On the other hand it’s off-road capability was most excellent and the quality was undeniable (particularly in contrast to the domestic garbage from the 90's I was usually driving).

Good point. The OEM lights were hot garbage.

Is that supposed to be an example of good? That looks terrible.

I thought they looked tacky when they came out. Light pipes aren’t exactly new technology.

No practical place? How about safety? Halogens suck for light output. Source: I’ve owned many cars with halogens and now have two vehicles with LED headlights. The quantity and quality of light isn’t even close.

The “string of pearls” LED’s in some headlamps. It looks beyond cheap! Also, mismatched light temperature on the front (halogen fogs and LED or HID headlights). Finally, I have yet to see a good looking aftermarket tail or headlight. They all look like total shit.

Bonus internet points for the Homestar Runner reference.

Absolutely. Sometimes it’s fun to throw down a six (or more) pack with your buddies and still be able to remember your middle name.

You must not have kids. Try “parenting”, as you call it, while driving. I’d rather be driving next to a drunk, texting teenager than the parent trying to occupy their kids time in the backseat with something wholesome.