No bragging here; I’m a competent driver like most of us. I did live for a long time in a place that got a lot of snow. It didn’t take long to learn that AWD is an expensive way to have a small impact. Tires are a less expensive way to have a bigger impact. And shifting your schedule a little when necessary to avoid…

Could a different crossover solve these issues though? Most of them seem inherent in the high ground clearance that defines the category. That’s what drives the high floor and high seats that make putting kids in so difficult. And that’s what makes the frontal area so large to burn the extra fuel. And that’s what…

Unfortunately you’re correct that there are very few wagon options in the US. Off the top of my head, I believe wagons are also offered from Volvo, Buick, VW, and BMW. Or at least they were within the last few years. But finding one at a dealership to test drive can be very challenging.
The inability to even find one…

“All this means is that a crossover doesn’t work for you, not that crossovers don’t make sense for most people.”
That’s one interpretation. Another interpretation is that the performance metrics commonly cited for the crossover craze aren’t the real reasons people are buying them. As I explained above, the perceived…

I thought this too.
But our family wagon is currently in the shop, so we ended up with a crossover temporarily. Based on my experience over the last few weeks, these points fall apart quickly.

Yep. I hate to let go of Windows Media Center.

After I typed that comment, I went out for lunch. I was driving along thinking “Is an Element maybe actually a small car?” Then I happened to pass one on the road, and I thought “no way; that thing is huge.”

Should the Element be back on the market? Of course it should.
Is the Element a SMALL CAR that should be back on the market? No.

Reverse: The year DST went too far? Every year DST happens, it goes too far. It is arbitrary and pointless complication added to our lives. Makes no difference whether we lock in standard time, stay on daylight time forever, or make the smart move and all just start using UTC. Any of those are better than having the…

This seems as good a place as any to ask: What is proper signaling protocol when turning left from the rightmost of a double left turn lane?
I have always believed that it is best to NOT use a signal in this situation. If I am in the leftmost left turn lane and the driver to my right has his signal on, I take it as…

Yeah, packing like that will eat up space fast.
I’ve been spending my vacation days backpacking and cross-country camping by motorcycle for decades, so packing light and small is second nature to me. It’s a different mentality. Will there be food and diapers available at a store somewhere near where we’re stopping?…

Starred because I love the Sportwagen. We’re on our second one. It’s the perfect for our family size. But...
It’s perfect for our family size because of the big dog that often joins us. It’s not because of the two car seats. Every time I see one of these conversations on Jalopnik about family cars, I find myself…

Was this sarcasm?

Craigslist really needs a bulk flagging option.

“I know it’s petty and probably shitty to go after grammar...”

I lived in majority-winter places for years, and somehow I never had this problem. Other bolts getting stuck? Oh hell yes. Working on suspension, brakes, or exhaust? Go ahead and get the torch and grinder out. But lug nuts? Nah, they’ve never been a problem.
The mating you’re describing takes time, right? Even without…

Every single one of those moving parts being eliminated has engineers behind it, doing R&D and Design work. Also drafters, checkers, technical support staff.
ICE cars are highly technical products, and electric cars are too. I don’t see an obvious impact to the number of engineers and other tech workers needed, just a…

While technically true, the implication that this was some intentional and nefarious corner-cutting by the automakers is misleading.
The testing was only on the driver side, and they added structural reinforcement to the driver side to help pass it. This makes sense. Could they have done the same on the passenger side?…

It isn’t.
I’m sorry, maybe I don’t understand the question.

62 mph is 100 kph. 0-62 mph has been the metric standard as long as I can remember.