Well suspension could use a refresh but it's not worth it economically, some squeaks and rattles in the back from something (could just be all the junk my wife leaves in the back), that kind of thing. Car is not falling apart by any means but if definitely has a slightly tired feeling, no worse than any other car of…

VW fan or German car fan and that was the best I could afford at the time? I'm not sure to be honest.

I have a MkV in that very same color. It's now showing its age at 128k miles, but from a road car perspective I always felt the steering was very precise and communicative without being too busy. It goes where you point it without drama. As a point of reference, I have owned/driven B3/B4/B5 Passats, a Corrado VR6, and…

I have a 2007 MkV GTI, with the DSG. It has close to 130k miles on it, and other than regular maintenance (which, to be fair, included at $1200 timing belt job), the only real issues I've had with it are the coil packs (common with VWs), a long neglected fuel filter (never changed until 115k miles), and my mechanic…

Agreed. When I bought my Mk5, I went out of my way to locate a four (five?) door. It was more important than having a manual transmission (though I would have loved both). The car has been super useful and fun to drive in the 130k miles we've put on it.

I wonder how much venture capital money went into this?

It's better than an MiG-21 or -29.

You can blame the English for this. We inherited the felony murder rule from them. Of course, back then, under English common law, there were only 9 felonies, all of them punishable by death.

Maybach Exelero, a one-off based on the sedans, built to promote some tire company.

It's got my vote too. It's so unashamedly 80's, like Miami Vice, loafers without socks, big blonde hair, and coke.

Why didn't they stop to help? What is the custom/practice/rule when somebody else eats it on the Nurburgring? Do you just assume that there will be tow truck/ambulance forthcoming?

I beg to differ. I think it was one of the most handsome, understated liveries ever. Plus the NW logo was pure genius — it has the letters N and W, with the left tip of the W pointing northwest.

I went from a GTI (Mk5) to an X5 (E70). The back can fill up with stuff way quicker than I thought. I know someone with a GL, and I could definitely use the space on of a similar sized vehicle on more than one occasion (though I don't regret buying the X5 at all). Even still, if you put a GL next to a Tahoe or a…

I know I'm probably in the minority but I find the current Z4 extremely attractive (the wider look and slightly longer rear deck made all the difference in the world compared to the first Z4) and would cross-shop that with a Boxster.

It's the round vents that make it look empty. BMWs have always had the sparse look, with a thin strip of controls for the climate, a thin strip of controls for the audio, maybe a thin strip on the bottom for misc. buttons. On top its some rectangular-ish vents (and iDrive display) that fill out the space visually.

CNN reported earlier today that the U.S.S. Truxton is passing through/has passed through the Bosporus en route to the Black Sea for "training exercises".

Looks too smooth and refined, and dare I say it, Audi-like. I like the interior though, it does have the 80's/Bertone-wedgy vibe to it.

The back end looks all hunchback-y cockroach-y. All Porsche needs to do is release the Sport Turismo. Now that's a beautiful car, and you gain some useful cargo space too.

Yeah, I drive an X5 and yet am strangely fascinated by the X1. It reminds of the original Forester, in that it was obviously more a slightly jacked up wagon than a true SUV. The outside does take getting used to, and looks better in certain colors and "lines" that minimalize it's clown shoe-ish-ness.

One nice thing about the 4 Gran Coupe is that it rides on the extended wheelbase of the 3GT and Chinese market LWB 3 series. Of the 3/4 series, I would totally get this one, if it could be had with a manual (3 series wagon didn't, so I decided that if I had to drive an automatic, I would instead get a gently used X5…