This was a delightful post! I really think the key is : do they still function correctly after ~10 plus years? So many of the newer Mercedes and Volvos that I see with headlight wipers have them skewed at some odd angle that just throws the whole look of the car off.

Wow, someone needs to audit the history of relationships of that State Auditor, because that sounds like the rationalizations of a total creep. But it also is mind-bending in other ways : is he implying that Joseph was really Jesus’s father, not “God” after all?

I know it likely to be a typo, but I really hope that CarMax is indeed offering $5k for the cat in the video. It does seem like one chill cat.

It sounds like you have the right approach then - wait for the 2018s to start coming off lease, and it will likely be pretty cheap. Due in part to perceived range anxiety and the $7,500 tax credit, they seem to depreciate really fast. Perhaps the 2018s will hold their value better, but there will also be a lot more…

Yeah, for a car their size they have a fair amount of torque and really beefy brakes. I imagine on a tight course a Leaf could be pretty quick. For a few laps at least...

The C-Max only has an electric range of about 20 miles though...and the additional complexity and maintenance of an ICE. One huge advantage of EVs is the relative lack of needed maintenance. Cost of ownership has been super low on our Leaf, especially since we can charge it for free locally.

Fair point regarding loss of range, but I think the better way to look at it is in dollars spent per usable battery capacity. If it is a second or third vehicle, range doesn’t matter as much as you think. It is rare that I drive more than 60 miles a day, so paying $8k for a car that realistically meets that need makes…

For value, I would recommend a 2013 or 2014. They redid the charge control placement after 2012, and the trunk on the 2013 and newer is a bit larger and more useful. Get a Leaf that is just coming off lease from a state that does not see high temps in summer, like Pacific Northwest. The battery lasts longer if it is…

If you have not already seen one, I recommend a drive in the Sinclair’s bigger Swiss 2-seater cousin : The Twike. I got to use one for a summer in Seattle and it was fun wacky experience. Also, you steer with a wood-handled tiller, instead of a wheel or handlebar.

I have one as my 4th vehicle, and it gets a lot more use than I thought it would originally. It is absolutely great around town. I even put lighter Enkei wheels and upgraded Conti tires on it...with grip it is pretty fun to drive. The stock Ecopia tires are garbage.

Oooh, a SV model even - classy! You can tell by the, umm, small foglights.

Yup, you need the distance to target.

Creative accountants can find ways to reduce taxable liability even with high income (or rather, because of it). This tax credit is one such mechanism, and my understanding is that the Model X also qualifies for the Section 179 $25,000 tax credit for vehicles over 6,000 pounds. While this is intended for “business…

I’m kind of seeing a Euro-spec VW Scirocco front end when I look at this Talbot. Considering the parts-bin nature of the car, perhaps they did even more borrowing. To be honest, I kind of like the way it looks. But then again, I have a soft spot for anything French, no matter how shitty.

You are on to something, but I think it happens in various ways for different people. Speaking for myself, I also own a small collection of diesel vehicles of dubious running condition, but also a Nissan Leaf.

Well, at least it is better than “hold my beer and watch this...”

So what are accessories 8-18? WE NEED TO KNOW!

While it seems pretty unwise for most normal people to get involved in a multi-car transaction involving someone who controls your living situation, somehow you make this seem like a logical sequence of events.

Like others, I absolutely wanted to make sure that this element was covered.

This is the truth, in so many way.