The only reason I question it is because bumper covers are plastic along with many other items.

Apparently they have 2 final drive ratios for the automatic. Maybe you drove the higher ratio (non-Z51). It can't be that bad, it probably has lockup so it doesn't matter much that it also has a torque converter.

GLA250 uses plastic front fenders, why not that instead? Is it easier to stamp aluminum?

That's what I'm saying. The linked article says it's so much better, but it's still not in use.

Not much has changed in FEA, it's just gotten faster and the elements have gotten smaller.

And Koenigsegg has them too right? But this is better than that anyway so what's the delay...

If your valve design is so good, why not make a bunch of heads and sell them to enthusiasts. It's simple. Sell them to Honda guys or WRX guys or somebody.

Exactly what I'm saying. A few thousand more and you get a vastly different vehicle.

They're perfectly cromulent cars.

Those cars can be decent but they get expensive quickly too.

I meant Jalopnik people.

$2000 more for a Focus SE hatch vs. Fiesta SE hatch. Features are similar but with the Focus you get a larger car that can seat adults more comfortably and allow for more things inside. Fuel economy difference is so minimal but the 2.0 liter is more powerful than the 1.6L.

Mazda 2 is shit.

It's nice yeah, but it's not a good car.

Drive a true sportscar and you'll realize how wrong you are about how that car feels.

False. I forgot about it. That's a fact.

There are Tercels pushing 250k miles.

That's my point. Subcompacts are perfectly acceptable if you can forget that so many other features and experiences are available with more expensive vehicles.

Nothing is wrong with the Spark.

People buy them, but at least 3 times as many people buy the next segment up from that car. For example, Focus sales are 3 times that of Fiesta sale, Mazda 3 sales are 3 times that of Mazda 2, and Corolla sales are 10 times that of Yaris. The only discrepancy is Versa, which is about the same Sentra but if you look at…