Jesus. We've a 5km limit due to Covid in Ireland. When they relax it, we can go within our county, then, maybe in June, with vaccines, we can actually go for an aimless drive.  Totally get the concept though. Jealously so.

We’ve had 2 audi to coupes. Wife did a 6ft Christmas tree in it this year. We had an audi a1. Did a family holiday with two kids in one. Small is rarely a problem. Did a scuba weekend in a Leyland mini. 2 of us. Have done 3 up snorkel weekends in winter in same car. Europeans know how to pack a car.

Noteworthy: Firies, Kerry, Ireland, 1996. In a Leyland Mini. Iced road, downhill, car has lost control, as passenger, I got out and dragged the still sliding car into a farmyard because there was an Austin Montego coming behind us sideways. Lesson is, daylight and slow speed helps you cope and react to dire…

Ireland. No creativity whatsoever. Half year of registration/ county / sequential number. Lord Mayor gets dibs # 1. Otherwise generic EU plate, with county name in Irish language in small font on top. Really envy US license plates. Plus we have to ruin the front of the car / get pictured speeding with front plates.…

Peaky Turbos... though these would be great fun. Wife’s TTS has 306bhp out of 2L displacement. It is always trying to instantly break the speed limit. Cant just “settle” at a civilised (legal) speed. Or power arrives all at once too early or too late. This gets really old, really fast. Give me linear power delivery…

As an aside, putting the age of the vehicle on the licence plate started in 1987 in Ireland too. We went retrospective for 2nd hand imports from then, so 84 D ### would be an import after 1987, registered in Dublin.

I can remember some weird "don't sit there" instructions when riding in these vans when over in the US as a tourist.  Now it makes sense.  And these always felt "sketchy" compared the the EU equivalent minibuses. 

2004 Opel Vectra ate H7 bulbs. Another GM joy due to pressed steel housings. Renault Megane through the wheel arch liner access panel,, similar issue. Audi A1? You remove the entire headlamp to do it. This is far less awful. Now, none of these are difficult compared to a clutch or timing belt, but they are owner…

Voice command tech is terrible. And in a panic, I will have done the action before you will have thought of the word. And then you have to hope the car hears you right. In a cloudburst. At highway speed.

Today, on a 4 hr drive with intermittent light rain, there was a sudden 10 min cloud burst which my wipers on full could barely cope with. And Auto wipers had thrown in the towel.

Me too. Same for most classics, the non metallic pastels alway look "vulnerable" in damp conditions..   I fear for them...

Wife had one (pre wife stage) and they were terribly uncomfortable. That era fiesta with the base 1.3 motor gave me one of the best drives of my life, on back roads across Northern Ireland in 1999. Slow car fast.  You could use all the "power" all the time.  Rental cars are wonderful. Ford made brilliant handling…

A1 has two latches. Both Lexus I’ve had has just 1. Can’t remember the BMW’s.

I am the third child, and the oldest sibling was starting school when I was 5 months old. (Mid 70's, Ireland) So mum got a Renault 4 (think very small station wagon). I rode in a carry-cot in the trunk. Within 8 years, the floor had rusted out and while there were (non inertia) front belts, these were attached to said…

We have two garbage companies doing collections on our street, each has a separate run for trash and recycling waste.  So 4 visits a week, starting at 6am.  I, for one, welcome something quieter than the thunderous roar of their current diesel fleets.  Retro fitting would be great, but probably not worth it?

ESP aside, Add metallic Blue and tan leather and you have my E90 318i. 143bhp but sideways whenever you want at a speed you can handle at speeds the cops don’t notice and the Karen's don't report.

Problem is leasing and residual. Dealers want what they can shift.

Irish guy here. 2 points for minor speeding, 3 for more serious speeding. Then it really escalates. Get 12 in 3 years, lose your licence. Get more than 6 and Insurance becomes fun. 5 points for using your phone. And Insurance companies view that like DUI. Which is a ban.

Cyprus, 8-9 years ago, I’m “enjoying” the rental Ford Focus in the mountains on the way down (1.4L motor) and comment to the wife that it is great that the kids don’t get car sick . 10 seconds later.... “Mum..... Daaaad.... BLEUGH.....”

Years back in Ireland, we had occasional amnesty’s for learners on second learner permits. And back then, there was no theory test, so you could have never driven and got a licence. And not just cars. Tick whatever category of vehicles you want...