ND for the combination of high miles and its relative rarity. I doubt that it’ll ever reach true classic stage and I suspect that sourcing parts would sideline it after even a minor issue or incident.

Related - https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/02/second-boeing-whistleblower-dies

If you liked it, it wasn’t “lame”. For me, it was the car I could afford, not just lust after. First, it was a ratty, rusty, base, two-speed automatic Corvair, followed by a brand new Gremlin with 5 mph bumpers.

I’m not a fan.  I’m tall and I despise the solar heat gain they bring.

The downside to brighter dashboard lights is not being able to see as well using your own headlights when there are no other vehicles around (again, contrast).

Friction, and how it changes with the weather.  For the most part, new drivers learn to drive on dry or wet pavement, but rarely on icy or slushy pavement, nor on gravel.  Knowing when to slow down (and why) took “falling off the road” a few times.

“Unless your purchase is primarily dictated by cost . . .” For many, if not most potential buyers, cost IS a big part of the equation, especially when looking at midsize pickups. If funds are virtually unlimited, those lucky buyers will, most likely, be looking at their full-size options.

Meanwhile, Rivian keeps cranking out those Amazon vans . . .

It’s primarily a Maryland problem, why shouldn’t Maryland be stepping up with emergency funding? Wildfires are big issue in California and that state funds a robust fire service to deal with their inevitable “problem”/disaster(s).

Why limit it to just new owners? The second and, especially, the third owners seem to be the ones lacking in “skills” . . .

Why should the shippers be responsible for the ship and its actions? And why should the federal government be responsible for “the majority of the costs”? This bridge was part of a beltway, primarily serving local traffic, not interstate traffic (which moves on I-95). Maryland can both float bonds to pay for the…

“Janky” or “patina”? It’s at that awkward age where it’s moving from the former to the latter.  Still, ND, for the price and miles, and the fact that they weren’t very popular when new.

“Bad” is a matter of personal expectations and priorities (and those change over time). “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” looms large in any discussion of mechanized equipment, since they all involve compromises.

Having seatbelts available, requiring kids to buckle up, and seeing every kid stay buckled up for the duration of their trip are three very different things.  

Visually, it makes a statement (and would be conversation piece for C&C), but it seems like it can only be a trailer queen, given both is provenance and chasing parts.  ND

So, “another one bites the dust”?!  When did The Takeout disappear?

Fourth gear - the best schedule that I ever had was four tens with alternating start days.  The first week, we worked Monday-Thursday, the next we worked Tuesday-Friday, then the following week we went back to Monday-Thursday, again.  The combination of alternating two-day and four-day weekends rocked, especially when…

Unfortunately, $4500 is the new $1500 . . .

Either something old-school and non-computerized (‘70-’71 VW van) or a new PHEV (Prius Prime or some other Prime Toyota) that can “roll with the punches” when it comes to fuel sources.

The driving part is no different from driving at night. It’ll be dark, turn on your headlights. That part ain’t rocket science. As for the actual eclipse, if you want to look at it, just pick a place and plant yourself. It won’t be any different a mile away or 5 miles away. There’s absolutely no point in “chasing it”,…