I hear that. I’m currently in the last bit of my attempt for now to get out there, but it’s not looking strong and I don’t want to force it, so if I’m stuck in the Midwest for now, so be it. 

Yep, this is one I used to frequent back when I lived in the south - Cherohala Skyway, very near to Tail of the Dragon but less famous. It’s about 54 miles through the mountains and only connects two small towns so it’s not very busy. It’s not as tight as the Dragon, so more sweepers than simply hairpins.

No makes perfect sense to me and seems Jalop-like.

I will add that I dropped from 18s to 17s with my Focus, and my daily wheels are 55 sidewalls instead of the stock 40s. Much, much better on these awful roads lol.

Haha yep I know the exact roads in Hell you’re referring to. Knowing that’s some of the “best” you can get to around here is... so sad. I think Top Gear or something like that made the point one time - when you see the area they’re made, it makes sense why American cars were so bad at corners for so long.

Can relate to this. I got really lucky and had a GT-R for a semi-company car for a while, and early on I utilized it’s power quite a bit at any reasonable chance I got... but quickly tired of, both for the novelty wearing off and realizing just 2nd gear could get me easily arrested. I still had a lot of fun with it,…

First up, given budget constraints, is it better to aim for more performance or more features?

Ahh I didn’t realize that to fold the Fiesta’s flat you had to remove the seat bottom. On the Focus you can just flip it up. Though I am jealous the Fiesta appears to actually be flush with the trunk after instead of the 4 inch shelf I have.

Honestly if you treat it like a 2-seater instead of a 4-seater, it suddenly becomes a whole lot more practical haha. That’s what I do with my FoST. 

Completely agree. My argument is that if gas cars disappear in either of our lifetimes (which I don’t even know if I do think, or if it’ll be EV or some other alternative propulsion), I’m not going to sit on the couch talking all grumpy about the “good ole days.” I’m just going to find the joy available in the new…

Look I completely hear you on that second paragraph for sure... it was me talking to you about looking into getting a Viper a few weeks ago, so I’m definitely completely there with you on the other visceral elements an EV doesn’t have. And also, the EV I was referencing by the racing drivers is that ridiculous 1,400 hp…

I hear what you’re saying, but I still think you’re at least partially wrong on No. 1. I’ve personally seen an EV make professional racing drivers used to ridiculous gas cars giggle like kids driving an all-out EV. No, it’s not the same comprehensive experience but there’s still joy at some level.

Chicago to Detroit on 94, heavy blizzard conditions the entire way. Took nearly 8 hours.

Well aware. I’m also aware that the car culture I grew up in also uses the term in specific reference to car culture. Things can mean several things, mate. 

I’m aware of the broader source of the name, but in the context of car culture, it’s very common to refer to this area as the rust belt as well, at least in the rural parts where I grew up. 

To be fair, you could also interpret it as resources for humans, but overall I agree with your sentiment either way. 

Oh not at all, I also currently work for a company that’s pretty progressive so that’s not too foreign to hear. But it is rare to have that privilege, indeed. 

Unfortunately what I’ve learned and been taught is that HR is there to protect the company, not employees. Yes, I know there’s exceptions as there always are, but still. 

Having grown up in an area where that salty slush stayed on the roads most of the winter, it’s always weird to read these more measured responses, even though that’s more like where I live now.

The problem is that the salt in question does not simply bounce up and hit the car and then go away, like if you were driving over gravel. It crusts up on the underside of your car in a frozen, slushy mess. If it’s not washed away, it will sit there and just eat away at the metal underbody - that’s what drives the…