Bentleys and RRs from that era were terrible, terrible cars, if you define "automobile" as something that moves under its own power. When working, they ride like Caddys of the same period, but with nicer leather and more wood trim. Unless you have a live-in mechanic, your grandpa's Fleetwood was surely a nicer ride.

The W116 has lightyears better driving dynamics. But yeah, Mercedes engineers admitted the Caddy had better air conditioning.

No Maseratis? Sigh.

Do you like the dollar being the world's reserve currency?

Nature abhors a power vacuum. If we don't do it, someone else will - and we may not like how they do it.

Yes, rapeseeds are a thing. "Canola" oil (contraction of "Canada oil") is made from them - they changed the name because it'd be hard to market "rape oil." (I hope)

Everyone who saw the 2nd Lethal Weapon movie knows what "kaffir" means.

Buying is cheaper. Maintaining is another story.

Yeah, I didn't think I liked them until I drove one. They're not super-fast, but they're fun.

Not to mention the better MRI machines Phillips could've produced.

If there were exceptions, unscrupulous countries would exploit them and frame diplomats.

I got around 14-15 mpg, combined. About the same as my (Leyland era) Range Rover.

I'm sure. Does the GL have 4wd? At the time we lived in Jersey City, where snow plowing streets was performed indifferently, if at all. I'm in general not an SUV fan, but the Suburban is remarkably car-like - albeit a boring car - to drive. The Chevy dealer (and GMAC) OTOH, were absolute bastards.

In the late 90s, when I was building giant speaker cabinets, the Chevy Suburban had absolutely the most cargo room of any SUV. (I measured them all) I suspect that's still true.

Yes. I regularly see one in the local IHOP parking lot.

I do hope there's a follow-up. It's hard to say. Some people with expensive toys are chill about them, others, not so much....

There aren't that many qualified Ferrari mechanics, either. F-ing up in fast, twitchy, exotic cars is an occupational hazard. Engineers say "experience is directly proportional to the amount of equipment ruined." These guys learned a valuable lesson. I suspect they'll be forgiven, in time.

Didn't Einstein have a son with disabilities, as well?

Maplethorpe didn't print his own work though, so it's debatable how much of his look is really "his."

He's a post-modernist. He appropriates the tropes of the snapshot, much as William Eggleston did for his groundbreaking "The Guide" show at MOMA in the 70s.