This was what was on our 1970 96:

Wow!!! those are the same three I was thinking, but Studebaker first, then Saab, then A-C-D.

I am not sure where these guys would fit. I wish there was a market for entry luxury cars here in the US that doesn’t need to still have a Marquee badge. My aunt had a manual 9-5 wagon and that was a close to perfect car. 

Give Saab back to the Swedes and let them build it as they would want.  I have also craved a Studebaker Avanti, even the attempted resurrection 4-door, since childhood.

The Highlander Hybrid uses this V6 (2GR) with a hybrid assist. Retuned to Lotus levels of power with forced induction, it won’t suck.

Completely disagree. The 2016 Miata absolutely does not “feel slow”. And you will absolutely notice the difference between an LSD and an open diff. 

And where will you install that new head unit in a current Mazda like the ND? It isn’t the easy DIN or double DIN swap like the good old days, might be easier to swap an LSD in.

Yeah but your Cruze is a turbo motor. It’s easy to tune turbo engines for more horsepower. But the Miata is a high strung naturally aspirated engine. A $300 tune on a Miata is only going to get you 12-14 max HP and torque gain.

Apples to oranges

As someone who owns an ND1 and has driven an ND2, there is no noticeable difference between the two as long as you don’t go over 6000 rpm. If anything, the ND1 is more tractable, which has also been shown on multiple dynos: both have the same peak torque, but there’s more of it lower in the rev range on the ND1.

On the Miata topic, ask yourself what would be easier to upgrade in the future? An LSD and suspension are not necessarily cheap, but they are upgradeable in one’s own garage when money becomes available. In contrast, getting the hp bump of the newer car, which may be the difference between being satisfied with the…

You care about furniture brands?  Why on earth would you care about what brand your furniture is?  

Next to David “What rust?” Tracy, this is the next best choice. Though I feel that David is in the “I cannot suggest a Jeep, let me show em”.

Chevy Vega  you say?

Right Wing Nut: [builds shitty “bomb”]

I can appreciate that many people don’t want to pay *extra* for power windows, locks, and blueteeth, but the fact is that that’s what a standard car comes with these days. And unless you’re trying to get bent over buying a Wrangler, you’ll get those plus AC for the base price of the vehicle.

So, let me get this right.

I literally lol’d at this.   I have one of those boxes and it currently contains my cufflinks and original wedding ring.   I can’t get the damn thing open.

A new Mazda 6 with an inline six engine and RWD.

LOL