What has that got to do with an acceptable budget? My budget is derived from the amount of money I have left over after the rest of ‘life’ has been (mostly) paid for, (and don’t think I don’t live relatively comfortably).
When a perfectly good bike or car can be bought for £4000 that will last 10+ years simply with…

And still 10K out of my acceptable budget.

“Ride like every car on the road is actively trying to kill you.”

“It didn’t make much sense at 30 grand, but down here under twenty, it’s a no-brainer.”

Two things...

“For a lot of people who live in a city, this is all the transportation they would ever need.”

You’re not going to ‘grenade’ the bike simply by going down a gear instead of up once or twice.

TBF, German fashion tastes are always..... unusual.

Hah! I’ve done that (in 2020), and in a 5l Mustang no less. :D

Worth also bearing in mind that the US has probably the cheapest fuel costs in the western world (yes I know this is a US-centric forum, but it DOES have global reach).

Combine that with a market of buyers who don’t want to be crushed under a large truck/SUV (perceptional fear rather than genuine risk).

This.

Ah - ok - like I say - apart from the colours (which I’m guessing aren’t actually copyrighted  - but then nothing would surprise me these days), there’s only a tiny little sticker on the rear of the body that says Gulf, the sort of thing that is probably on most of the cars.... somewhere.

America?  Go home, you’re drunk.

I can’t actually tell from the photos, but is anyone in F1 sponsored by Gulf these days anyway?

Not read it, but will look out for it now.  Thanks for bringing this book to my attention.

Indeed - it sounds a bit cheap to say it - but in every vehicle, every manouevre should be assessed with the view to ending up in a safe place at the end, WHATEVER happens.

What the hell is the POINT of holding a phone like this, UNLESS you’re broadcasting the other side of the conversation for everyone else in the building to hear? If you’re having a private conversation, the small speaker can  generates exactly the right amount of volume for you, and you alone, to hear the other side…

Came here to say the same thing.
Nothing much ‘christmassy’ about the plot (well - a bit of existential ‘suicidal depressive realises he does have a place in society’ - kinda like It’s a Wonderful Life) : but it does take place at the right time.

Whatever you get, do NOT buy new.