It’s not gold foil (would be extremely heavy) it is likely aluminized kapton (for space applications) and not sure what car manufacturers do, usually it’s a colorized aluminum tape I would assume. Here’s a sales brochure from a company that specializes in aerospace insulation:

Agreed with the other poster, the DSG I drove (on a ‘13 Jetta) was in no way a replacement for MT fun, at best it’s a good AT.

You’re right, “cheap” implies you could pick it up for pocket change, not a change to your spending habits and $10k is definitely too much for that for the average guy.

Your MT and AT fuel economy numbers are flipped.

Volkswagen GTI MK6

I am under zero delusions that I will have anything interesting to say to any racing driver, and I don’t believe they would have much to say back.

Cheers, we’re on the same page, I just want to clarify semantics and I enjoy bullshitting. I bring up British roadsters because the same criticism leveled at the Toyobaru has been and will continue to be leveled at the MX-5 when compared to it’s predecessors (less character, excitement, charm, in some cases…

How much of that seat time was spent over 5,000 rpm? I agree with you, it is not a charming motor (or gearbox for that matter), it’s a workhorse appliance with excellent response and delivery when it’s up in the powerband. For me the charm is that you can beat it all day long, beat it the next day and the day after…

Implemented on the Toyobaru it’s a hose that connects to the firewall to pipe in some noise from the intake. Gives you an ok grumble from the front end when under WOT as you cross over 3.5k rpm, otherwise it just adds noise to the cabin.

SF Bay Area, it took calling dozens of dealers over four months to get a car with no add-ons at MSRP. We had dealerships literally tell us “No we can’t help you” and “No we HAVE to add a clear bra and leather to every FR-S we receive”. Even now there are cars with a few TRD bolt ons like an exhaust and spoiler for…

*penchant

Have you tried to buy a Scion? Miserable process, all the ads say ‘no haggle’ all the dealerships walk in and calmly explain that what that ACTUALLY means is that the price they advertise is the price they sell at.

I’m sure the comparison is coming up soon, likely a major magazine will do a 2015 sports car comparison including both.

I drove the FR-S 10 minutes before I drove a Mustang for the first time.

Check out GTO, G8 and GXP prices, they’ve held their value incredibly well. There certainly is a following for V8 sleepers that will keep SS values afloat much higher than any Chevy that isn’t a Corvette.

Just like nobody wants that Holden they called a GTO?

Pretty sure the AW11 is within 50 lbs. of the ND Miata, wikipedia is saying curb weight of a U.S. AW11 is 2,350 lbs. and Mazda is claiming 2,332 lbs.

No kidding, looking through some of these the F1 passes stick out as not terribly impressive from an objective standpoint, I really hope this makes the cut ahead of some of the Schumacher and after era passes

Romain Grosjean in GP2, 2011 Barcelona, he takes three cars in two corners for position from 14th to 11th (including everybodies favorite F1 backmarker Max Chilton) with excellent Will Buxton commentary you'd think it was for the lead:

To be honest the show lost it's sheen when it became painfully obvious that it was no longer a "Pokey little motoring show on BBC2" in Clarkson's own words.