Once I started looking into it, there have been a few failures but nothing that made it onto any of our sim or CRM courses. Engine falls off - same as severe damage as far as we’re concerned.

Sure, as long as you’re not on the receiving end of 4 tonnes of Rolls Royce turbofan. That would ruin the barbecue.

This isn’t overly surprising to be honest. Every jet I’ve flown has breakaway pins or bolts in the fairing which will quite happily detach the engine and dump it on the unsuspecting public 35,000 feet below if vibration exceeds a design stress.

I’m never serious. I do enjoy writing something I think other people might find amusing but occasionally there’s a culture gap and I misjudge it. That’s my fault.

Great reply to my points. They are just my opinion on the car and not a personal attack on the people who buy them, and I completely agree with what you said here:

An excellent riposte. We (and by that I mean myself and most other commentators) are separated by the Atlantic and very different car cultures but I’m struggling to find something to argue with what you’re saying.

Bass.. can I call you bass? It sounds cool.

It was never a fair contest to be honest and I now feel bad for typing that response which was a little condescending and verging on insulting - I’m not that kind of guy usually.

Up here in Scotland that would be called ‘whiskey talk’. A topic so deep, it can’t be settled without a 25 year old malt.

I cannot fault your reply. Thank you for disagreeing with a personal statement, a mission statement in support of the class, an anecdote and just general ‘car-ness.’ It beats the ‘Subarus rule, dumbass’ replies I’ve got. Not many have punctuation.

I’ve just bought my eldest daughter a Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon to you folks I think) and, whilst it didn’t break me, I’m glad I’m not driving it on a daily basis!

My dear chap,

Actually, no, so that’s a fair point to bring up.

The replies seem to imagine that I’m talking about the cars as if they were some low-slung supercar. We all know they’re not.

I’m really not sure why you have taken an instant dislike to me.

I think we have crossed wires here - it’s not that the WRX/STi has a height or door issue - it’s that after x number of hours in it your spine has turned into pixie dust and is incapable of supporting your weight.

All of my posts... all of them.. are tongue-in-cheek. I understand it’s difficult for people who don’t get out and meet people to get this, but some of us are actually affable people who laugh and joke with strangers.

The 3 litre diesel in the A5 is fantastic. Not sure if it will be available after That Which Won’t Be Brought Up Again but if it is, get it. It’s got the usual emissions kit to be aware of (EGR, DPF, MAF) but it’s chain-cam and eats miles for breakfast. It doesn’t like regular, short journeys but it sounds like you…

I did say I didn’t expect my opinion to be popular...

You got the car you wanted, it lives up to your expectations. That’s a win.