That sounds divine, actually. Low weight, reasonable power, an engine to wring out, and an affordable price tag? I’ve been looking at cars in the $70k range, but if that existed I’d buy one and then buy something else for commuting.

When did Audi Care become a thing? I think it was within the time range you cited.

I’m approaching 3 years with my 2018 S3, and so far the only faults I can find are just some small rattles and a sunroof shade that likes to slowly work its way backward over the course of a week. I do detect some uneven pulses in the idle, but it is approaching the time to replace the spark plugs so I think that will…

Meh. Still pales next to a Bentley.

I find it weird that VW is so far down the list while Audi is so high up. I can draw no conclusions from this, but I can speculate that 1.) VAG is cutting extreme corners to meet a price with VW and/or 2.) Audis are taken in for regular service way more consistently and flipped before anything can go kaboom. I doubt…

You listed nothing but mechanical time bombs.

Can’t say I disagree on any particular point, but a GR Yaris-like homologation special would probably sell well on the combination of exclusivity and the guaranteed performance chops. Or an end-of-generation uber model like the WRX S209.

Marketing is perhaps the wrong term to describe their inadequacies; a more accurate phrase might be “product planning” because it’s the full stack of considerations they can’t seem to get right.

TL;DR:

Gauges from the 1980s were far more primitive but also far cooler-looking. Their aged look can invoke nostalgia in some, like me. This? This is just bland.

Not gonna lie, a $45,000 performance trim on a car like this sounds incredibly appealing. But, as others have said, now that’s Supra money and Toyota isn’t about to toss the investment made into the Supra just to sell a budget M2 (that probably actually drives better than an M2).

I don’t think they are gung-ho to get rid of them as much as they are gung-ho for more power and they see that a form-fit-function replacement with a turbocharger that is already built and likely matched to the transmission options in this car is the “quickest and easiest” solution.

Ok boomer.

Cry moar, boomer.

Yes, I do actually.

Yes, in July, it was an S60 T6 R-Design. In no way, shape, or form was it an improvement over the S3 I already have when it comes to comfort or driving dynamics.

That is a severe case of projection you have going on there. Have a better one!

Right on.

Whoosh.

I will say Volvo’s interiors are nicer than a Tesla. When I start comparing it against other comparably priced luxury segment competitors, though, I find myself trying to rationalize the meh materials are compensated for by looking nice on the whole and simply being different. The reality when I take off the…