It’s the Cologne V6, we’re talking 60s technology.

NP all the way. The Ranger underpinnings are pretty bulletproof (I’ve never really heard anything overly negative on the e-AWD system), there is space for days, and, in my humble opinion anyway, an old Aerostar has more character than one of the new minivans.

80s? Are you kidding? The Aerostar is the embodiment of all that is futuristic: the Space Shuttle, which came out in ... the 80s. Dammit.

Inquiring minds want to know: will the turbo be available with the manual?

One could view the Flex (and predecessor Freestyle/Taurus X) as really an Outback’d Taurus wagon, but yeah, the 4th gen Taurus wagon was the last true Ford wagon.

N: Outside of one week-long trip, I have not found any need for a CUV/SUV to replace my Fusion. It gets winter tires, so no need for AWD, and as a trade-off for that one week where the additional cargo room of a midsize CUV would’ve been useful (2% of the year), I enjoy better fuel economy and driving dynamics 100% of…

Can you double-dip and be a manual sedan lover?

What I would give for a Fusion wagon.

Over the summer we got saddled with a silver (naturally) 2017 RAV4 LE AWD as a rental for a week while the wife’s Civic was in the body shop, and all I can say is it did not meet my already-low expectations. Other than being a roomy box to put shit in, I cannot think of one positive thing to say about the Toyota.…

First, the 7th gen Eldorado had a longer wheelbase than the Mark V, but shorter overall length. The smaller Mark you’re thinking of was the Panther-based Mark VI released for 1980 (which corresponded with the downsized 8th gen Eldorado which came out in 1979).

N: Since $1 trillion will definitely (probably not) be flowing into infrastructure soon, I’ll throw I-70 west of Denver into the list of requests. It should be widened to three lanes from Idaho Springs to Dillon (which would include The Tunnel). Also, how about a bit of money for state highway 7? It’s been just…

I believe you are referring to the “Lounge Lizard.”

For those who aren’t enamored with chrome, here’s the actual XL grille.

There are plenty of parts/fluids where it’s fine to go cheaper (brakes, tires, oil, shocks), but definitely not blinker fluid. I love my family and would never take a chance on discounted parts for a vital safety feature, so I insist on Valvoline MaxLife Blinker Fluid. Sure, it’s more expensive than the discount…

Shouldn’t this be a 357i now?

Cobra Jet is pretty badass.

Just get a Mazda3 or Golf. Either are practical enough for a single guy in his 20s, will handle occasional snow (especially with winter tires), are reasonably fun to drive, and will present the grown up image he’s after.

4th: Wait, so this was the Interesting Period at Toyota?

N: Lately, yes. When faced with a new job that included a 50-mile round trip commute, I sought out a used car that got good mileage. When needing to trade up to a family car, mileage was again a factor. I haven’t bought a hybrid or electric car, but both recent purchases have been in the 35 MPG highway range.

Typically, after football practice I’d hit up the Subway down the street for a pre-dinner snack footlong of whatever was cheap (usually cold cut trio or meatball). Then home for dinner (pound of pasta was typical).