Girls LOVE original Minis.

Not sure about that one. I think a lot of women love these things, just like Range Rovers (except I'd actually buy a Range Rover).

That is very, very cool...but I have to admit, my first thought was 'Oh god, an E-series that handles even WORSE than stock!'.

Not my fiance. I dread the day she shows up with one and tells me she just bought it.

Yes! The problem being, of course, that the girls abandon you after you high-center the car, they get burnt, and they need a tetanus shot.

God yes. My fiance is awesome and a car nut; she gushes about Ford Raptors, drifts her Legacy GT in snowy parking lots and eggs me on doing donuts in my XJR. But she just hates anythign that feels 'domesticated'. Any wagon, most hatches, she just can't stand them. Doesn't care what's in them, how fast or fun they are.

Haha, I know, and that's awesome, just love to give you crap :-) I can add an LSD to my car, but I don't think I'll ever be able to swap a stick into it...

Because it's a great ski vehicle! I swear!

When I bought my Jag, it was because 'Holy crap, I can get an all aluminium, supercharged V8 RWD car for THAT little?!'. 

Er-don't offer your mother a rider then.

Oh, I understand-all of those reasons, plus the whole hard-to-sell thing. But it would be cool to have them as options. C'mon, wouldn't you love to see dealers trying to explain how differentials make your car faster?

Fancy differentials. I want sweet diffs available as downmarket items. Get me a RevoKnuckle in a regular FWD car. Three LSDs in the base Impreza. 

Keep up the good work!

The age of the turbine and the speed of the boat are the big reasons behind the fuel economy issues he experienced. Modern turbines can see 40% efficiency, pretty competitive with a marine diesel, but the old turbines (60s) had low compression ratios and operating temperatures, so peak efficiency was more like 25%;…

What do you mean, they're inefficient at low altitudes? I mean, I know corrected power and heat rate are correlated for them, but if you're operating the turbines with the bleed valves closed, I wouldn't have thought altitude would make a big difference. Now, a modern gas turbine vs an old hunk of junk, sure-new…

Ah, yes. Since car regulations are relatively lax in Europe (for better or worse, I'm not sure), basically anything that meets US standards can be sold in Europe. 

That is amazing. I hope it empties every gas station on the way :-)

There are a few little differences; some cars need a few mods to be legal, some need quite a lot, and a few aren't allowed altogether. It was probably a decision based on profits vs costs of filing all the paperwork and passing the tests necessary; GM may figures anyone keen enough to know what the hell this thing is…

A friend was driving 120 kph, left lane, Hwy 401, March blizzard. We finally hit a bad patch of road and spun 2 times before hitting the median; 20 seconds later, a semi passed us on the right.

My god, an actual disgruntled owner speaks! That stinks, it's way less fun to imagine with what sounds like a dieselesque powerplant.