I asked whether the 2021 Mercedes E450 would have any significant changes from the 2020, before we bought our 2020. I had seen some ‘rumblings’ about a midcycle refresh.

My ‘14 Civic Si. I had the entire deal worked out in advance. Got to finance, and they were pushing the heck out of the extended warranty for $3K or whatever. I said I have Geico’s mechanical breakdown protection; it’s about $40 every 6 months, covers 7 years 100K miles, has $250 deductible. They were like yeah, but…

Not dealership, but national border.

Once, circa 2000. My father in law left his car with us while he flew somewhere, encouraging us to feel free to drive it. So we did.

One item that surprised me recently is around valuation of a special, albeit somewhat old, vehicle.

Many, many trips between my then home near Utica, NY, and my girlfriend’s college in Plattsburgh, NY, circa 1996. That meant driving through the Adirondacks, on NY route 8, frequently at night, frequently in snow, with the (*ahem*) desire to get there quickly... it was exciting.

Pardon my asking, but you say you read it in a Greenpeace pamphlet?

Did you drive the Changli back to the 70's to get it?

Thankfully, no.

Keep landings = takeoffs, and you’ll be fine. Don’t get stuck up there.

I didn’t know they were THAT rare. Makes my 1 of 107 R63 AMG look totally common.

In a suburb of Raleigh, NC, not a chance. When it snows here, the town shuts down for days. When it MIGHT snow here, schools close. It does get chilly, but all seasons are sufficient when coupled with reasonable driving habits.

We’re still traveling. But where my in-laws would normally join us at our shared condo, this time it’s my household traveling from one “island” where we don’t go out to another “island” where we don’t go out.

Is that the road I once searched Google Maps for, seeking a fun-to-drive twisty thing in the mountains to take my Civic Si on? I programmed a bunch of intermediate points into my GPS to get there.

I purchased a new 2001 VW Jetta 1.8T. I quickly learned that on trips it wouldn’t have any torque. I’d pull into a toll booth or up to a light, and when I’d pull away it would begin building boost and torque, make a flatulent noise, and fall flat. A second or two later, it would begin building again, fart, and lose…

It sounds like something I would just accept and avoid, Raphael.

I bought the damn minivan... or nearly so.

My wife just got her 2020 E450 a couple months ago. It joins her 209K mile 2009 E350 in our stable, which was itself preceded by a 2006 C280. That was our entry to the brand.

What manuals can we really buy anymore?

Love the idea... but that price is insane.