Thank you - I haven’t re-fi’d yet, I’m waiting to see how things go politically this year. It’s at 5.5% right now, so it’s not horrible. If there’s any kind of relief that ends up getting offered, then I can weigh my options. I’ve been trying to toss an extra $100 at it every month to shorten the payback period, but…

Yes, this. The markets are doing great, but in this timeline it just means a decreasing, more concentrated few investors are growing richer.

Just a reminder that in 20 years, I’ll be in my late 50s. Paying the minimum ~$400/mo, my student loans will be paid off when I’m 63. I hope I can still ride at all lol

Yeah, I find that you have to be the type that doesn’t find the 3-act, “heroes journey”-type storytelling interesting or even tolerable to really get/enjoy things like the Culture series. (not hating, just an observation)

I think this had a lot to do with it, yes. I grew up in NYC, so every Gen-Xer uncle / older cousin of mine had a Gen III Supra or Celica, and the Gen IVs were all over billboards and Motor Trend (which I’ve had a subscription to since I was 12 in ‘94). I can imagine that if you were in a rural area, it was still very…

I am someone who disagrees with your opinion. These are all opinions, we’re allowed to have them. If you don’t like mine, that’s fine.

Seems to be that the majority of Jalopnik commentors don’t understand the Japanese legal system

It’s not a guilt or innocence issue. It’s a due process issue. This isn’t hard.

... what?

Also, we might otherwise run afoul of some bystander laws./s

Yeah, I think it just comes down to the “quarter tank factor”. I rented a FitEV for a week a few years ago with an (at the time) 21 mile commute to try it out as I was considering leasing one.

I live in the sf bay area, where commutes can be quite long. However, mine is 17 miles each way, and each of the other 6 members of my team have commutes of roughly 16 miles, 18 miles, 4 miles, 3 miles and about a mile and a half (he walks half the time). What ends up sucking is drive time - my 17 mile commute can…

This needs a content warning. I’m now reminded of every drunk, ornery uncle to roll up to a family function sporting these (especially the ones on the right end of the bottom row.) Lord help me and the cousins if one of the wheelcovers actually went for an independent jaunt down the sidewalk when one of said angry,…

I believe they dropped the ‘n’ in ‘never’

Remember: that’s 170 real-world miles as experienced by Helava vs. 208 miles estimated by the EPA. I’m guessing the “real world” range of a 2013 Model S 60 was more like ~190, in which case 170 is not a huge drop. We also don’t know: Helava’s mileage, his charging habits, and what the environment looks like where he…

This was great. Well before my time but it helps fill in some knowledge gaps between the Muscle era, which seems well documented, and the Malaise era, which I was born into.

Absolutely - for me, I needed enough space and comfort for my fat ass and new family. I came from a CX-5 AWD lease. The Mazda had faaaar more communicative steering and just all-around better handling, but the Optima SXL-T bests it by about 70HP and like 90ft/lb of torque. The SXL is the range-topper with every…

Been very happy with my ‘16 SXL Turbo. It’s what the Ford Fusion should have been.

Damnit, now we can’t be friends. :(

Chiming in - even my “lowly” “wrong wheel drive” ‘16 Optima (K5!!) SXL Turbo makes me smile any time I wake up the spool at 1450RPM. I really hope the 2020 K5 offers an N-Line variant... or that Baby Jesus brings me enough of a raise for me to afford a Stinger GT2... KIA is doing what the domestics SHOULD have: high…