Hell a new top line V6 Camry would have had "sports car" performance a while back, in a straight line anyway.

I agree with you, just wanted to add something from a Samurai owner.

A tiny bit of research shows that Consumer Reports intentionally rigged their test in order to make the Samurai roll over. Testing it multiple times more than others in the test at increasing speeds and steering input severity. Then reported it as…

This sort of goes along with your Swedish brick suggestion but with a twist. It needs to be stated that I was coming of car-age in the early 2000's, so right as hot Sport Compacts were really hitting their stride.

No, electric steering just like the cobalt it shares the platform with.

Because GM likes to pretend it didn't create Saturn as a test bed for new ideas then get frightened when it started succeeding only to begin forcing the brand to need mother GM by expanding its range rather than allowing them to update the long-in tooth S-cars.

Ok, so I am a bitter Saturn fanboy. So sue me.

My wife and I were talking about this the other day. She is a therapist at a nursing/assisted living home. I guess the topic of driving comes up often with the old folks. Many of the older generation apparently were taught to not accelerate until you are ON the main road, no matter how much run up time you have from…

Sounds like you are a little biased because of your own personal history. Well guess what, I have seen pictures of countless Samurais that were right side up and not rusty. Seems like our personal experiences differ. If we lived by your logic, that means that every car that has ever rolled or is in disrepair, or…

If you still believe the "rollin' death wagon" crap, History would like a word with you. Suzuki sued Consumer reports and won easily because of documents released quoting the the higher-ups that were running the roll-over comparison as saying "we will test until this thing rolls" or along those lines. The number of…

THAT is not a Swift, THAT is a Samurai in the us or Jimny in the rest of the world.

I hate to nit pick....but did anyone else notice the directional tire tread is going the wrong way?

Seriously if I can do it, you can do it. As long as your car is SAFE, and not at risk for rolling, have at it. Most SCCA events are around 30-50 bucks for a day full of scrubbing tires, hot brakes, car talk, sun, and oh yea, driving the wheels off your car LEGALLY!

except while driving at any speed, the air will try to enter the vehicle from back there. Unless they got fancy with the roof aero.

Please explain to us how removing a properly sized and properly functioning Cat (read as 'modern') and replacing it with an equally sized pipe will do anything for producing more power?

Terrible you say? What are you basing this on? It was a bare bones, body on frame 'jeep' with a robust albeit, under powered, engine , true 4x4, and simple mechanics that were a easy to fix in a pinch. This hits the nail on the head for the segment.

Pikes Peak:
We made the trek last summer in our 07 Ion Redline. We were not expecting to actually drive, just soak in the experience. You just can't flog it, but its an amazing experience none the less.

You are very, very right. I have been saying the same thing for a while now when people ask my opinion of modifying older cars etc.

...But can't get half the places off-road that the Hilux could stock. Approach/Departure angles > you. Ever seen a lifted Suzuki Samurai? sure its about as tall as a 2wd 1/2 ton, but it can get places the full size couldn't dream of.

For whatever reason, it always struck me as a SRT 4 Neon. But I haven't looked into it much.

I totally agree, I am not naive. at least I don't think so. However it is up to manufactures and maybe even law makers to deal with the escalation of cost. If they continue the trend, they may just price even 'basic' cars out of reach for the intended market.

I'm sure you are right, but do they sell? All I was saying is that people (on both sides of the transaction) need to re-evaluate their priorities.