You're going to hate me Travis, but no car is "better" with a manual. More fun on the street, and in other "nine-tenths" environments, but I really like the idea of downshifting at the track without worrying about fragging my engine.

Two points -

Speak for yourself. I like A/C, entertainment systems and other modern conveniences. I wouldn't want them on a track-day only car but, since that really is the topic, is that really the issue?

"Exotic Skittles" looks like a very small operation, with only 3 2 cars available. This Mario Kart-ed Lambo still figures prominently on their non-quite-finished website...

I have worked on them. They have the kind of charm that is only imparted by a sad, inadequate little device that still somehow gives you the feeling that "car person" designed it. Think of it as fireplace mantle tchotchke that looks like a car...but don't think of it as a car. I'm totally serious when I say I would…

The best name for a care is no name at all. What's true in farming is true for cars and bikes: you don't name that which you might have to kill. I love cars, but I ain't agin puttin one down.

The car? Like.

Not to quibble, but if the question is about what was actually developed "in the military", I would have to say "not much". Most, if not all, of what has already been mentioned here has been developed for the military, but not by the military. Please clarify...

I can't remember not being into things with wheels and motors; also anything that flew and all things electronic. I started riding POS dirt-bikes when I was 12. My grandmother, a frikken twin of Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies, started to teach me how to drive when I kid by taking me to empty parking lots. One of…

That seems to be the inescapable conclusion...

Don't know if she's gonna dig this, but...

Precisely. I'm not the smartest guy on the planet, but if I've learned one thing it's never buy a car or a bike with test-driving it first. I don't care if it's your one-of-one dream car, custom-made for you by your grandmother...don't ever buy anything without driving it first.

OK, the mob has spoken...

Yes, if everyone considers a Viper a supercar. Not going to write a book if the consensus is "don't bother because Viper"...

The Nevada Silver State Classic Challenge:

The engine was shot from never having an oil change."

Good article, and the powertrain engineering community would, I think, largely agree with many of the points that you made. I think that market pressure would have eventually driven the development of more efficient powertrain systems, but OEMs wouldn't have pursued air quality unless compelled to do so.

I actually do as time permits, mainly on my project cars. But almost everything on the daily-drivers gets farmed-out, as it doesn't make economic sense (for me) to perform routine repairs and most of my D-Ds are leases...

I have come arcoss precisely one (1), as one of my children was thinking of buying one with a defective 4WS system. The quote to fix it was eye-opening...

Google "Prelude 4WS repair", and then hide your wallet. I know the mechanical systems are considered to be more dependable than the latter electronic systems, but this is still an "exceeds retail value of car" repair with dealer parts. Or was the last time I looked...