1. Biting the bullet and learning how to drive manual by buying a new manual car. I had had a few sessions driving kind friends’ cars here and there. I bought a 2011 RX-8 R3 new, sight-unseen (saw internet dealer ad for 2k less than what the local dealer was asking for). It had about 100 miles on it, unloved for over…

Manual, hydraulic steering, most come in just around $100,000 with reasonably low miles.  I still keep my current cars for those likely days when the fun car is out of commission or when it snows.

Me too! I’ve never been skiing out West, but I claim that the icy New England slopes build character! ;)

I don’t think you can find one? there’s a 4S in NH with low miles tho ... I posted it above

... Or nearly new one that’s still under budget and available locally just north of the border? this is a 2022 4S with the 5th seat for under $117

Under budget!

Interesting ... they do have a couple of RC-F available at Herb Chambers (huge dealer up here), one is the track edition ... 

just fly to Colorado or Utah. Skiing is better there.

A lot of their criteria seem loosey goosey, so I am playing it fast and loose:

2017 Macan GTS, about 1300 a month for 5 years, so that ended last year.

I did really like the Wrangler [...] Sure, it was impossible to drive in a straight line

I am probably over-analyzing, but it’s funny to me that you mention how dealers are essentially hiding their EVs to prevent sales, yet at the same time you talk about the same dealers being kneecapped by the Inflation Reduction Act...

Suburbans and F-150s. They represent so much American insecurity.

Wranglers are definitely number one on my list.

I was looking forward to this vehicle as an alternative to the Taycan — essentially a modern interpretation of the sports sedan. Seems like Lotus has been turned down the same street as BMW already. I’d love to drive one to see for myself, but the vibes I get from these early reviews suggest that it is not better than…

718 Cayman has been way overhyped. Have to go illegal speeds to be fun. On the street, it’s just too heavy to be any more fun than a good sports sedan.  For a 2-seater 4-banger, it just does not feel light on its feet, nor is it tossable

Finally, you are starting to make an attempt to ask me for my perspective.

You didn’t ask how I arrived at my conclusion, yet you drew a conclusion anyway, based on very limited information. That’s literally the definition of jumping to conclusions.

I had the R3. I sold it for dumb reasons. I am interested in redeeming myself.