Ah, Manwich. Normally a man after my own heart. Forgive the pun.

It’s deserving of the nomination, certainly. The X6, for me, is the pinnacle of pointlessness in the BMW range, though, but into that dumpster fire can go the 5-series GT, no doubt. I had to pick one and it was a target-rich environment...

China has lived with the situation re. Taiwan for a long period of time and I don’t imagine they would look to extend their influence further south than the border. Hong Kong has been mostly left alone after we Brits handed it back, so my own opinion is that China would preserve a status quo that doesn’t directly…

I nominate this pointless disaster of a car that has no idea what it wants to be. The BMW X6. As ugly as it is expensive.

The first generation Neons are all pretty much dead here, but they did have that Disney cartoon car factor. They probably look better with a young lady driving than a knackered and grumpy old bastard like me, but rust or gearbox failure did for them. The second gen is a bit nicer inside and better screwed together…

I’m on a bit of leave at the moment, watching the rain lash against the windows on my own, so I have little to do except read and coax the internet into life inbetween lightning strikes.

I haven’t studied the situation and China’s military for many years now, but it was tricky even back then. You can look at a situation, see the figures, analyse the photographs, estimate the expenditure and then realise you have no idea how to apply this to an analysis.

You were right. I did need to Google it! I don’t spend a lot of time in front of the TV and whilst I’m obviously aware of the Dakar rally, I didn’t realise it was this technology powering the big busses.

I’ll take your word for it - I’m not allowed to go to China for a good few years yet, but it’s on my bucket list along with Japan.

It starts with a human heart powering a VW beetle. It ends like this.

They’re the automotive equivalent of cockroaches. Just hit it hard enough in the right place and it will start moving.

I am. I’m on one of those commuting contracts with an Asian airline so I’m out there for around 8 weeks, then 2 weeks off back home. Repeat.

Transactional policy vs. strategic policy...

I had no idea these were still built.

The Neon is a bit of an odd case because barely anyone bought it here when it was new. It’s also designed to go 200,000 miles in the US market if looked after (electrical system aside!) so it’s become a bit of a favourite amongst ex-pat airline crew here.

You understand sir. A replica. Not a kit car. A replica.

This is the sort of car that replica manufacturers should be producing, rather than this kind of nonsense:

This is ‘airport car.’:

Lancer. The UK’s most reliable car according to the companies who issue used car warranties, in a report last year.

Your second paragraph would be my ideal solution if I was in government. There would have to be concessions from the US govt. and I’m not sure your current administration, as it stands, is either inclined or skilled enough to negotiate this kind of deal.