That driving is mandatory for most people and in most places in the US.

You’re not wrong. This generation and the 2011+ are quite reliable, and the 2004 to 2010 were really unreliable.

There are good dealerships out there. In general, Lexus has excellent dealer service. It’s a cornerstone of their brand. I’ve had nothing but excellent experiences with Volvo dealerships as well.

Same here. My dad bought a Panamera when he retired. I was a teen then, and thought it was hideous, too big, and way more expensive than an M5 or E63 which were much faster. But now I totally understand why he bought it.

Every boring commuter car. That means pretty much every single SUV, except (ironically) the 4Runner, Bronco and Wrangler. Those are the only real enthusiast SUVs on the market at the moment and the only ones it would make sense to have a manual (and indeed 2 of the 3 do).

Heads up Displays, parking mirrors, Rain sensing wipers, coat hangers and TPMS are very mainstream. In fact, TPMS is federally mandated on every car.

It is, and it worked really well too. Just make sure the battery is in good condition and can handle the HVAC fan running for 30 mins without the engine on. In general, just make sure your battery is good for the winter in any car.

Saab Night Panel. Pressing a button turns off all cabin lighting except the speedometer between 0 and 100 MPH. As someone who hates bright screens and gauges at night, I wish this was standard

BMW e90 328i. Unfortunately the E90 335i has both unreliable engine (the 07 to ‘10 N54 engine) and is far too fast for a young driver (all years). The 328i has a much more reliable engine, is fun to drive and has a reasonable amount of power for a new driver (don’t give a teenager 300 horsepower. Even 240 is a lot).

Some neighborhoods don’t require permits, but you are STILL required to pay for a city sticker if you’re a Chicago resident. Was your car Illinois plated and registered to a city of Chicago address? If you had out of state plates or your car was registered in Illinois outside of Chicago, you don’t have to buy the city…

Maybe EVs require permits, except if charging? Either way, he hasn't got a ticket yet so charging seems to be the safe harbor. If a Bolt parks in a regular spot without a permit, who knows? 

In Chicago, you have to pay $200 just to park anywhere in the city, and that’s not including the cost of the permits and meters on top. Literally just a sticker saying you paid the city, so you can pay the meters more. He’s going to learn quickly about the real world.

You could buy either of these used for under $25k. Depreciation isn’t bad, because the first owners took the hit.

DIN made sense when radios were gigantic, heavy and unreliable. You could swap them easily. Today they’re light, compact and reliable.

I interned at Toyota for a year. Never a fan of the brand before, but after seeing how it works on the inside, you can’t help but admire their discipline, organization and values - even here in the US. It’s run in a way that feels very well-thought-out and resilient, and above the flavor of the month trends in the…

Don't forget the all electric Focus! It was... An attempt! 

My employer ended their corporate contract with National and made everyone switch to Avis or Hertz. Was a huge downgrade and everyone complained so much, they reinstated it the next year. It's really a cut above the others. Especially when something goes wrong, they handle it properly without trying to screw you over. 

Minimalist, timeless, well built and fits like a glove. Bonus was the LED lights on the tach that showed how far you could Rev at that engine temp.

I'll never use them. My friend showed up to JFK with a Cheap-O-air flight to Greece. She had the confirmation number (and the credit card transaction) but the airline didn't have a ticket. Cheap-o-Air never picked up the phone, so she paid $2k for a last minute flight at the counter to avoid missing our 3 week…

Uber doesn't work well outside of Oahu and the main towns in Maui. Hawaii is a state best enjoyed out in nature, which means a car is a must.