I have respect for the fact that someone built this, and likely devoted a very substantial portion of their life for several years (or more) to something I could never hope to do.

Oh please. The Porter Ranch gas leak is bad, but most people are getting nausea just because it smells awful (ie, it is psychological more than biological) and a few are getting nosebleeds, but no connection is proven. No one is getting seriously ill, and it affects one community of several thousand in a state of…

But think of all the interesting insects you could collect!

Who is estimating that the 124 will cost that? I see a bunch of pubs speculating out of their rear-ends that it “might cost the same” and many others saying it will be “substantially more.” I was definitely assuming the latter.

All depends on how long your legs are, from what I’ve gathered. I’m 6’1” and fit in my ND perfectly snugly, but some guy here who’s 6’0” said he couldn’t even get his legs to clear the steering wheel (but he also said he had something like a 38” inseam). You’ll probably be OK on headroom (barely) even at 6’3” unless…

Having had my ND 2.0 here in the states for about a month now, I’d really like to try out the 1.5. The higher revs sound like they could make for a more characterful drivetrain, even if it is slower. The 2.0 is a nice little engine, but I will admit it has all the pizzazz of a kitchen appliance when it really comes…

You can hear what sound like multiple skids well before he tries to correct and rolls it. Maybe something caused a wheel, or wheels, to lock up?

It was on the short side, but the story was so compelling I didn’t even care.

Both the Ford STs are remarked as having some of the most divisive seats on any current performance car - most people absolutely hate them. So it’s not much of a bar to live up to.

Yeah, maybe a Saab that hit the buffet and the cheap plastic factory.

Yep. This poor man’s GTI just doesn’t get the juices flowing like the real thing, and I think that’s 90% of the buyers for this car. If you want a hot hatch, the only real choice in this price bracket in the US is Fiesta ST. The Abarth is cool, but it’s tiny and kind of a piece of junk on the inside, and nowhere near…

Hah, no way. They definitely sell them or put them into service in the company fleet. I’ll also bet this car was flogged many times after Clarkson got a hold of it. I kind of doubt a single Top Gear stint was the source of all the damage alone, this car was probably lent out to other journos and such before it was…

That’s good, because they have exactly zero overlapping production years. :P

BURN THE INFIDEL

Cosworth was never the official name in any market, but yes, that one. The model designation is 190E 2.3-16. The standard 190Es in the US were merely the 2.3 and the 2.6.

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…