I agree that the Supra is not that much of a looker. But the Crosstour’s rear fenders do sit heavily above those wheels. It reminds me a bit of the BMW 5 series GT - so heavily conceptualized that it’s hard to tell what the car actually looks like. The 1st gen Audi 100 Avant or even the current Opel Insignia hatchback…

Yes, but the Crosstour is not a shooting brake. It’s an ugly example of a body type I find quite intriguing since the days of the first Passat, though I am unsure what to call it (four-door fastback?).

Is that black coupé in the background a Pegaso?

I think that was the Passat plagued with bowden-cables-for-the-gearbox-gremlins. Not sure about the VR6, though.

If you are really keen on seeing one, go to Italy. In other parts of Europe you might spot one, but the odds are heavily against you.

Not using snow tires in a snowy area is a bad idea, period. FWD/RWD/AWD notwithstanding.

Frankly, I don’t get this whole “vehicle not made for towing” thing. AFAIK, a towing hitch is usually a factory option on German luxury cars, at least in Germany and surrounding countries. It definitely is for the S-class, I just checked. The simple reason is that hereabouts affluent people often are very much into…

I blame my cancer on the litters that replaced the letters.

The Countryman is slightly smaller than a Golf Mark 7. But a current 2-door Mini is still 60 cm (or 20 %) longer than an original model.

So, so true. Spending next week getting dog hair out of the trunk carpeting, anyone?

Was also going to post the Pajero Mini. It was called the Pajero Pinin hereabouts, but from my experience in the thing, “mini” is a very fitting moniker.

Audi Avus. Strangely proportioned, but gorgeous all the same.

I don’t get it. Showing a cigarette is not advertising, because no brand is visible. No one in the history of smoking and advertising has ever advertised smoking. Advertising has always been done for brands and products, not for activities (except PSA-type advertising like “get more exercise”). Doctoring a Marlboro…

A long time ago, I ran over a mattress on the highway (no room to dodge left or right, so I went over it at about 50 mp/h). The guy had “secured” it to his roof rack with elastic luggage cords, and no, that did not work out as he had hoped for.

Berwick is at the top end of England, not at the top end of the island. That one is a bit farther.

Oh great. Now I feel I need a Fiat Panda just so I can stick that decal on it. Many thanks indeed.

Vel Sates, most definitely.

Ah. Yes. My parents had the same, only with the round (Euro-spec) headlights. Nice how that car needed only 70 hp to actually get out of its own way, weighing less than 900 kg, IIRC.

and a convex rear window

Those wheel-replacement tracks were posted a while back. They come in various sizes vor various vehicles. IIRC, they cost about as much as the SUV they fit.