How about instead of the typical E30 M3, its counterpoint: the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16? They cost far less, so you could do two cars again, and one in absolutely premo condition can easily be had under $20k. Trouble is finding one in premo condition, but you've got time.

There’s also a version of the Skyactiv 6AT for high-torque apps as well, up to 340lbft. I don’t know what they’ve ever used it in, but when they unveiled the Skyactiv platform in 2011, there were two ATs - one for normal applications, one for high power.

They’re clearly common for a reason.

Sick burn, bro. You keep that one, it’s clearly a winner.

My uneducated guess is (and it really is just a guess) that in the broad sense this is because we’ve focused on [very expensive] air superiority from the air instead of from the ground. Is there much of a need for an advanced anti-aircraft SAM system in the US arsenal when our air force is easily the most capable and…

What’s also funny is that everyone seems to have forgotten this car is not at all Panamera sized. It’s no bigger than a 911.

Love the concept, but IMO this thing has been beaten with a truly unforgiving racecar ugly stick.

GM isn’t messing around here. That said, I saw one of these at the auto show finally, and yikes: I can see why they have a hard time moving them. It’s just not a very attractive car in person, at least to my eyes. Can’t ever recall seeing one on the road.

I think science could benefit from a camera upgrade here, unless these clips were down-converted from ultra high-frame rate HD to 480p30.

I understand your point, but I’m still not sure what you have against TCS, because you seem to be shoehorning your beliefs about it into the argument in a way that makes no sense. TCS is a hugely beneficial safety feature for your average person driving a powerful, or even not-very-powerful-but-driven-like-an-idiot…

Aren’t most cars these days using gyroscopes to determine directional impacts pretty actively? In this case, I think there was no reason for the bag to deploy. Unless the car experiences sudden negative longitudinal Gs, it shouldn’t pop, right?

Yeah, this is definitely more about the power than the TCS, even though the TCS would have definitely saved his butt (TCS absolutely does make a difference on RWD cars, I have to strongly disagree with your assessment there). I also have to think that it’s a lot to do with the throttle response on modern performance…

I thought I noticed an uptick in the number of beaters I was riding in. I got a 2nd gen Prius the other week and I was thinking “what the heck, does Uber allow older cars now or something, or did this guy find a loophole?” Thing had old stains on the seats and the suspension was clearly blown on at least one corner.…

There was a general understanding of “if you don’t get it at MSRP today, someone else will tomorrow.” So, I paid MSRP (but I’m also in Los Angeles, where convertible demand is much higher than most of the US). Given the invoice on these cars is something like $1200 below sticker, that speaks to demand being what it is…

I still can’t believe how much they wanted for that crazy Biposto. 50,000 euro for a Fiat 500. Lunacy.

Yeah, there are some Club manuals with the BBS package lingering, and I think that’s largely down to the price. I ordered my Club and did not opt for the BBS/Brembo package, and I seriously don’t think it’s worth anywhere near what they’re charging ($3.5k) for what amounts to some nice rims and a set of beefed-up…

Give it a few months, especially once winter sets in, and I bet the test drive policy will relax as they start to realize they won’t move as many of these as they think they will right now. There’s not much elasticity in the demand for a car like this EXCEPT for the first six months or so after a brand-new model comes…

Do it, if you can get a dealer to let you take one for more than 5 minutes. Sadly the consensus right now seems to be that dealers are usually only allowing very short test drives and generally only of automatics because manuals are snapped up almost immediately at the moment. If you want a manual, you’ll either have…

Yeah, unless you’ve got the proportions of 1930s High Suspender Guy, there’s no way you “can’t fit” in a Miata at six feet tall. If your definition of “can’t fit” is “my knees must be at a ninety degree resting angle” that’s just not how any roadster works. There is a difference between “can’t fit” and “I don’t like…

Don’t be obtuse. Mercedes’ dominance still results in a two-driver chase for the championship, and everyone knows that dominance will not be ever-lasting. If it were, the sport would simply wither and die. And the notion that Mercedes’ dominance also has been good for F1, which is implicit if you’re attempting to poke…