Sold my BMW 335i for a 2013 Leaf this spring. I realized that with two small kids, mostly city driving and the impending maintenance doom of a 9 year old high performance BMW I would research the perfect short trip car. Leaf it was!

Preach it! Sunroofs/moon roofs should be an individually deletable option on all make/model/trims. I need that 1.5 inch of headroom that gets eaten by the now ubiquitous “luxury” moonroof.

Was Jordan not available?!?

Agreed about the up-sell. But let me decide whether I want more than three rug rats OR cargo in my car on any given day.

I hate that we are looking at the Rogue only because of that third row option.

Try your local BMW dealer and see if the have an in-network dealer warranty. I got one through the Hendrick dealer for my 335i but sold it before using it. Costs more than no name warranties but I thought the advantage of the same company doing the repairs (no co pay) that sold the warranty was worth it. Never used it…

And that fine BMW could actually be Made in America as well! Although it’s my understanding that all E36s made in Greer SC were for export.

And... I now realize there is nothing in the launch information about either a hybrid or plug in hybrid . I seem to be basing this off a rumor. Wishful thinking I suppose....

Besides the upmarket Volvo, I believe the plug-in hybrid version will be a unique offering in this segment. It will warrant a long look from us if the Acura MDX sport hybrid is $55k or something. I don’t think I’m alone in thinking it would be great to charge every night and then shuttle the carpool kiddies on…

Been keeping my eyes out for a 996 era Porsche 911 for weekend fun. That should bring balance the the Force.

Truth! I should have mentioned Mom’s 76 Plymouth Volare Brown Wagon! So Jalop! But so Malaise era! My brother and I prayed that it would catch fire and die a horrible death. I think we left it on the side of the road one day and told a family friend they could have it if it was still there.

Even though I’m an engineer and love all things clever I would never be able to sleep at night knowing I would have to start this thing up in the morning, hoping all those tolerances hadn’t gone all pear shaped.

You’re being kind. It is horrendous. But I will defend it, like he BMW Z clown shoe, as being function before form type of design. It does a great many things well as a A to B type of car. Also, there is a certain freedom to be had by driving an ugly car.

Neither! Only in the SL spec does it come with the solar panel, and then it’s only used to trickle charge the 12V battery. Yes, it still has a 12V system for the accessories.

Welcome to 2013! My used Nissan Leaf does this already. There are a few advantages to driving a Ned Flanders mobile. (It also saves me money for Toyo R888s for tracking the Miata)

Somehow I missed the 900 days not run. So I will now run away from this 996.

Strip it and take it to the track. Who cares about the body. Spend all the eBay/Craigslist money from selling the interior and bumpers for suspension and engine. You know what, that’s not going to cover a season of HPDEs tires. I would like to change my vote to CP.

This was our driveway in high school (circa 1992). The ‘90 Corrado was a much smoother ride than the ‘89 GTI 16V, but nothing beat the GTI in the twisties. Both cars were tremendously unreliable, but fun.

We had to batten down the hatches in the RV at Hogpen. The wind was crazy!

THAT’S NOT RAIN