@wkiernan: Agreed. The engineers do as much as they can with what they're given; the workers (usually) take pride in what they build, unless conditions are so bad that they simply don't care. Management is the first place to look for trouble.

@powermatic: Don't get angry at all of us - if the passing zone is remotely uphill, I'll floor it and still barely manage to pass the vehicle in front. Old N/A Volvos have their limitations, sadly.

With a mid-mounted six out of an Alfa-Romeo 164 or Ford Taurus SHO, and if it didn't overheat? Maybe. It'd be worth a look, though still difficult to stomach.

@MushyHeirloom: Also, 2002 is new enough that it shouldn't catch fire in your driveway/garage, unless the modifications are even less properly done than they sound. Even the wheels are passable. I'll admit to having a bit of a bias toward New Beetles, given their sleeper status and the number of idiots who build…

I'd say it's a Nice Price.

@87CapriceEstate: The only one I've personally witnessed was in a second-generation Taurus sedan, but I've heard horror stories about newer cars as well. The AX4S was more reliable than the AXOD, and the AX4N less terrible again.

@87CapriceEstate: My mother had a Pinto as her first car, and even that didn't stop her from buying a '90 Bronco II and '95 Contour (both of which were good to her). My grandfather's had fair luck, too - two Sable wagons (2001 and '03) with zero transmission problems, and a '97 Mystique that wasn't very good (the CD4E…

@BMIV: Using? Isn't that the pedal that you keep your left foot barely on at all times to confuse following traffic?

@MushyHeirloom: Damn it, Nibbles and/or someone's site administrator.

Oh, hey there, Prius Coupe Utility.

@MinardiGP: The earlier cupholders will hold 16-ounce Snapple bottles... if you're willing to risk the coating on the underside of the centre stack. Other than that, it's cans or precariously-tilted bottles for you.

@rickerbr: Indeed, a 1991-'94. If it HAD been a ZAZ, and had been relatively successful, we'd probably be looking at a different IoE result...

@RadioFlyerPartDeux: This is why I heart-clicked you, see. There's an enormous soft spot in my heart for MST3K.

There were a few great comments on that post, and this one was the best. Good work, Quat'!

Well, shit.

@Jagvar: Oh, man, you are so right. I'd happily 'settle' for a later Mulsanne, though, particularly a Turbo R with quad rounds.

Oh, there are a lot of things in the category of 'cars I want but don't claim that I'll own, because I know I won't'. I suppose the closest thing to reality would be an El Camino replacement - with a few inches behind the front seats and riding on a car chassis, especially with RWD, it'd be practical, but I wouldn't…

Well, there are a few reasons that I stay in New Hampshire, but the roads here are a big one. I can't compete, though...

@invincible-delta-88: I was certainly referring to a somewhat-additionally-motivated, four-wheel-discked, ultra-clean and ultra-classy example - I don't hate 'em, though they're not really my sort of car. If anything, this thing is worth less than the full Monte.

@Tossed Mazda3hatch's Chicken Salad all over Accord's face with a plate of croutons and Bleu Cheese dressing: Yeah. Hell, my morning coffee is light on the JD. Well, comparatively.