...and much like the communications from the Trump administration, whenever I encounter people like this, I continually point out how irrational and incorrect these beliefs and thoughts are.  

Because people still stupidly think American OEMs pump out the same quality of vehicle as they did in the 70s and 80s.

Is it a manual?

Or conversely they value higher gas mileage numbers.

The Tribeca carried 7 people too, clearly that selling point wasn’t enough to get them to roll off the dealer lots...

The value of used OBXT/Legacy GT Wagons is insane, especially ones with a manual.

How many LL Bean editions are there out in the wild? like 5?

Don’t forget northern CA.

...and those are all things you can find in the Forester and Outback.

Judging by my 4 month search for ‘05+ era Outback and Forester XTs, few people opted for the XTs and even fewer opted for fully loaded versions...

I don’t think so, Subaru buyers are about minimalism in a Swiss army knife package. This thing isn’t minimalist and there isn’t anything that this can do better than the Outback or Forester. The B9 Tribeca suffered the same problem.

Yeah, most industry folk aren’t Tesla-fanbois in my experience.

That sucks, Fiat Industrial definitely doesn’t have that vibe.

Yeah, real automotive engineers exist on here even if we are few and far between. ;) I used to work for a FIAT company in product validation, there was nothing that I found alarming in the testing and validation procedures for things like transmissions and engines. I would be shocked if things were that much different…

Do you work for AVL, FEV, or something?

right? They’re really complete pieces of garbage and any E-series with the 7.3 powerstrokes would blow the doors off of it in terms of reliability and repair costs, yet it’s the only van out there that I want.

Ok and I bought a car for $2700, and I saved $35.3k by not buying a Tesla, what do I win?

Practical and sensible is a matter of opinion. For most people that can only afford one car, it is neither sensible nor practical.

Tesla owners are also idiots for the most part.

Tesla owners bring me the same worries.

I still would rather have an Alfa Giulia Ti Q4.