“Plus learning how to properly engine brake is a massive plus during bad weather.”

Think about it this way: Downshifting for engine braking saves some wear on your brakes. It also increases wear on your clutch, synchronizers, and throwout bearing.
Just decide which of those parts you’d rather replace sooner, and make your decision from there.

TRUE.
Do not use a liquid fueled leaf blower for this, or you’ll regret it when you’re clay barring in the spring.
But an electric leaf blower is very effective for the right kind of snow. They’re also great for blowing most of the water off after a wash, before you grab the drying towel. I have one specifically for…

It does work better than a snow blower for the fluffy stuff. Faster and with a cleaner end result. But stick with your corded electric one for the car. You don’t want all that 2-stroke exhaust blowing at your paint. You’ll have a hell of a time clay barring it back out in the spring.

As you correctly point out, the word crossover could be applied to just about anything. My rusty old pickup truck parked in the “hybrids only” spot knows all about using vague, insufficient descriptions to describe cars. (Don’t worry; it’s really a hybrid. In addition to the gasoline engine, it’s got an electrically…

“Engine options include the 1.5-, 2.0- and 2.5-liter versions of the latest Skyactiv-G engine. There will also be the Skyactiv-D 1.8-liter diesel engine, as well as Mazda’s revolutionary Skyactiv-X engine.”

It gets a B for daily driving, because it’s small? I haven’t been in a G70 yet, but I have been in the gigantic Stinger it shares a platform with. So how small can the G70 really be? And isn’t small considered a positive for daily driving duties anyway? Fitting into parking spots with ease and whatnot?

“Delta, for example, will refund “reasonable expenses”of $50 per day for the first five days the bag is delayed. Make sure you keep the receipts.”

Gravity just isn’t that big a force, at least compared to the force of combustion pressing the piston down the cylinder. The wear on piston skirts due to gravity being not-quite-axial would be so small as to be immeasurable. Especially when that same part is experiencing forces orders of magnitude higher as part of…

If you’re applying a lot of force on the shifter to do it, yeah it’s bad. If you time your force application on the stick to when the gears are unloaded, then it’s just fine.
Same applies for going INTO gear without using the clutch. If you can do it without grinding noises or hard pushing on the stick, it’s fine.

Why do so many people buy cars that I personally know to be bad cars instead of buying cars that I personally know to be good cars? How can I help them see the light?

My kids and their car seats fit great in our Miata. One kid at a time, obviously. If both of them are headed the same place, then they always go in the big car.

I wonder if there is any treatment available for someone that finds himself progressing through these stages about 20-30 years too early. Asking for a friend...

Different cars for different life stages, in my opinion.
When you’re young, most likely single and poor, probably renting, it makes a lot of sense to have only one car. In that case, the GTI is damn near perfect. It can do everything, and it’s fun.
Later, when you have partnered up, maybe with a kid or two, probably in…

You don’t think acceleration times are parameters that existed before? Honestly I don’t know what you’re on about.

I’m doubtful that they can do this in the US. And even more doubtful that they can hit that price AND their target range. Maybe the low cost one will have a smaller battery pack.

Have you guys ever thought about formatting these reviews to have the extra photos on a separate page? The in-line photos are tied in to the content of the surrounding text and fit there fine. But then the giant blob of photos at the end could just be in a linked gallery instead. Loading a page like this one chews…

Exactly my thoughts. Everybody’s definition of “sports car” seems to be getting pretty loose these days. (Note: Only a pair of 2-seaters on the entire list.) But even knowing that, this list is ridiculous.

Thermometers are also quite common on watches made for hiking and other outdoor sports. You’d have to take it off of your wrist and set it on the table for a few minutes to get a good reading unaffected by your body temperature. If you’re someone that wears a watch everyday anyway, you could upgrade to one of these.…

Yup. There’s very little chance that I would not have one of those sitting in the garage if it were offered here.