Are these all the same car, or what?

It is the safest way to travel. Much safer than driving, biking, or taking the bus. I've done extensive research on train vs. plane safety, and my conclusion has been that they're practically neck and neck, but trains are getting safer while planes, not so much. Depending on the survey and source, trains are often…

Let the trolling commence in 3...2...1...

Because American airliner sounds like a bigger defeat than Canadian airliner.

I always click on these kinds of lists. Just to make sure no blind or ignorant editor has decided to throw in the Tempo in there just to get to me.

Still no Tempo Diesel. Not even a GLS, or AWD...

There's no such thing as perfectly safe. Every mode of transportation has had its goose-bump inducing horror stories. With that in mind, I am of the opinion there's no safer car than a 1989 Ford Tempo. Everything you need and nothing you don't. Its trained me to hate even ABS brakes, which remove the control I have…

I always thought Pandas were violent. At least, that's what I've been told.

I've been well. Busy with college. Still driving my trusty Tempo. It got me from Alaska to Oregon without a hitch. Well, almost. Lost the muffler about 2/3rds of the way down, but no matter.

Hey. World. While its cool and all that Cadillac is finally catching up to Ford, let me remind you all that Tempo offered both an excellent manual transmission and all wheel drive in its 1987 Tempo.

I'd like to see my truck make it into the game. After all, 1990 was the best year for Ford trucks. Ever.

That only applies to Amtrak. Other, private railroads don't get the same luxury. I'm sure in some ways the government gives them some change, but if we're playing that game, who built the airports? Who builds the roads? Not American Airlines or General Motors, that's for damn sure.

The ICC has been notoriously disrupting to passenger train travel even before Amtrak, and was without a doubt the single biggest force of destruction to private passenger train travel here. The list of rules and regulations is long. But I will give you one example.

You are exactly right that trains need to become faster and more economical. I wouldn't say it'll never happen, though. Other countries have implemented high speed networks in record time, and its not as though America hasn't had the luxury of high speed trains before. For example take Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe…

I wasn't referring to Amtrak, although I should have clarified. I was referring to America's private railroad industry. CSX, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern. The only major North American railroad that didn't see an upswing in numbers (stocks, freight, profits,…

I concede the speed thing. Don't blame Amtrak for that though. The amount of speed restrictions on trains is incredible. Its a wonder they can move at all.

Not for me. Flying home costs me over a grand, all said and done. $550 of that just in flight. The most expensive Amtrak train I've taken was about $70. Which I was glad to pay, given at the time the Tempo was broken and my truck gets 6-7MPG out of a 14 gallon tank.

That? That's Amtrak's Coast Starlight observation car. It operates (since 1971) from Seattle to Los Angeles. It has an on-board library, theater, bar, and hosts evening wine tasting. Why anyone takes the plane over this is beyond me.

Or, you know, there's always the train..

One is my ex-gf, one I paid, and one says she's a friend of mine.