Could by a nice WRX for that and have 10x the utility plus 10x the fun.

Anyone who CPs this deserves... a ‘96 corolla, for eternity

Yup. Massachussetts. Don’t really need the clearance. And if you saw my wrx, you’d see it’s clear that I treat it as my jeep. I utterly abuse it, but it refuses to die on me. And I have gone up to NH for mild off-roading.

Interesting. I have three cars and they line up against yours in an almost one-to-one fashion. I have: ‘07 s2000, ‘01 540i 6sp, and an ‘02 WRX. You and I must have been shooting for the exact same constellation of fun.

One of these, among other things.

Zip ties! Other things, too, but zip ties!

Random question to all: does the M-sport have an LSD? I recently got an ‘01 540i and was surprised that it has an open diff. There are lots of new single-stripe burnouts appearing near my house lately. Anyone know *why* bmw went with an open diff for so many of these cars?

A few months ago, I bought an ‘01 540i 6sp with 115k miles based on your writing. It runs like a dream and I love it. It is incredibly fast and couldn’t make me happier. I think I got lucky because no mechanical issues yet (the car came with extensive service records from prior owner). It really is a great car.…

I have a semi-frequent example of that on my drive home from work. There one long stretch of ramp that curves sharp to the right. I get on in teh right lane, but need to be in the left lane by the end. So in theory, I need to use my left turn signal while my wheel is turned sharply to the right. Since I do it…

I like the car, but CP. You can reliably find a 540i wagon with ballpark 110k miles and sub-10k $ on CL. Today’s car does not offer any upside.

Someone should compare AWD with open diffs all around versus RWD with LSD, both cars on the same tires. I’d be curios to see if there was a significant difference in snow driving.

A few years ago, with a Boston winter looming, I looked at my s2000 and decided I wanted a winter beater. I bought a high-mileage ‘02 WRX and but Blizzaks on it. I was certain the car had only a few months left in it.

“Hey Preston, it’s your cousin, let’s go bowling!”
“But Roman, another settlement needs your help.”

Readers, help! I do not know where to ask this question. I want to start going to amateur track days for reasons very similar to those addressed by this article. I want or need some kind of happiness or relief from my current life. But I don’t think any of my current cars would pass muster. If I’m open to buying a <…

“Mechanical Sympathy” should be the title of this video. If you don’t physically cringe watching it, you’ve probably stripped many float-bowl screw heads in your desperate attempts to force the screws out.

Right, pull away from the lake that is source of all the lake effect wind and ice? I think you’re right, after I had initially disagreed with their approach. But I still wonder if there could have been yet a better way. I don’t know what. Hit it with the hot air of 1,000 Subaru exhausts? I dunno.

Oh please, please, please make sure you write a column on the day the Range Rover and Aston Martin are both in the shop.

Adding a front trunk to a typical family sedan. An Accord or a WRX or something, and in front of the hood, there’s another hood-like lid that opens to give access to a big, carpet-lined storage space. (Like the reverse of the back of a 1st-gen MR2.) Bad idea because your mechanic will hate you and who needs cooling?

I’ve wanted someone to do a GTA IV Roman/ Preston meme:

Ever time I see Motorola, I am reminded, “You can’t outrun Motorola”. I wonder if they use that as a trademark or slogan in marketing to law enforcement.