That car pretty much set the template for my favorite type of car: small, light, 2 door coupe with a stick. It taught me so much about how to toss a car around corners. (FWD cars, at least; I had to re-learn a lot of it years later when I got a Miata.)

There are a couple.

Well, it’s certainly... yellow. Had a Focus that color for a while. It worked on there; not sure if I like it on the Mustang. That shift knob is an abomination, though.

I still love the styling of these things. It looks like something Pininfarina would have designed in whatever universe The Incredibles takes place in. I’m with you: I need to see them on the streets.

Somebody go tell them all the PT Crusiers were built in Mexico. That should be good for a laugh...

Wow, I guess the old “speed costs money” rule is in full effect here...

I could happily commute in this for the next 20 years, if the seats are decent. Small, efficient, easy to park, no extra bullshit, buttons and knobs for controls, and practically maintenance-free? Sign me up. 140 miles is plenty of range for 99% of my driving; I’ll just plug it in every night Or, hell, every 2-3 nights…

For me, honestly, it’s not that manuals are more “fun.” And I don’t give a damn about any performance differences. I buy standard (yes, standard) transmission cars for two reasons.

Ask the man who owned one...

So kinda like one of these, with wheels?

Yep, base model, or LT or whatever the next trim up was that year. IROCs and Z28s had skirts along the rocker panels that I don’t see here (unless they’re still at the bottom of the lake).

...Like I can afford to buy new instruments... I’m more of a well-used $99 Strat copy guy. And for cheap secondhand guitars, the damage is already done. I just try to use eco-friendly paint if I refinish ‘em.

Somebody tell Pat Benatar her moment has arrived...

(sniff) RIP Eddie...

It’s definitely a consideration, and it informs lots of decisions in my life, not just car-related. But in terms of cars, I was daily-driving a pickup truck that gets 12-13 mpg, and as much as I like it, my conscience told me I should be using less gas. So I bought a cheap small car for daily commuting use that gets…

Guys. Come on.

My Corolla’s water pump was almost exactly the same situation. The pump wasn’t so bad to get out (one of those flop it around until it comes out, but you’re not sure exactly how deals), but getting the 4 bolts that hold the pulley on and off was a nightmare. There was no room to maueuver the pump with the pulley…

I never dreamed that I would drive
Into crowds at Cars & Coffee
But nevertheless it’s there that I’m shortly about to be
‘Cause I got a golden ticket
I got a car that’s much too fast for me...

How about we simplify the whole thing?