I would just buy a Toyota Corolla Hybrid and call it a decade (or two, or three). Inexpensive to buy and operate, reliable, efficient, safe, and a good bridge to BEVs until they become practical for me to own. It’s exactly as much car as I need; nothing more, nothing less.

In a year when gaming news has been all about layoffs, generative AI, and the slow death of games preservation, it’s nice to see a heart warming story that reminds us that not all is lost and there’s still good to be found in the gaming world.

You say the Echo impresses no one, but it impresses me and says everything I need to know: the driver doesn’t need the extrinsic reward of validation by others for their portable display of wealth. When I first meet the parents of my daughter’s friends in a parking lot and one drives an Echo and another in some big,…

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the little Honda Civic del Sol. My 16-year-old self wanted one so badly, but my parents made me settle for the more mainstream Civic coupe instead. So, the del Sol will always be my “the one that got away”, because they were long discontinued and mistreated by their…

I once hitched a ride from my hometown to college from a “friend of a friend” that I didn’t know very well. They were fine at driving and their car was nice. Their taste in music, however, was questionable. Being subjected to listening to Yanni for five hours straight is no pain I would wish on my worst of enemies.

“Inspired by the flowing motion of a superhero’s cape in the wind”. Hmmm…I’m not seeing it. Now, if they would have said “inspired by the monster truck Carbortion Rex from the show Paradise PD”, that I could get behind.

The cars themselves may or may not be tuned, but the article mentions paint wraps and tuner fads, so I thought this was fair game.

Using badges to unsuccessfully turn your car into one that was not sold in your region. Case in point: I saw an Acura RSX the other day, with what clearly looked like a homebrew job of removing the Acura and RSX logos and replacing them with a Honda and Integra badge.

I’d rather have the Avtotr Amber instead, thank you very much.

There’s also a Pokemon GO-like AR monster catching game that can be played on the center screen. Under no circumstances would that make driving unsafe. Nope, not at all...

The year of my birth, 1979, also coincided with the launch of the Chevrolet Citation, an abysmal car if there ever was one. I should know, my parents bought one, and they often debate whether this or the Chevy Chevette they later owned was worse, but really that’s like deciding which bodily injury is the least bad.

I just checked Toyota’s website and the 4Runner uses a 5-speed transmission. I think the last Toyota that used the ancient 4-speed was the Corolla before getting the CVT.

I’d go beyond a mere poster and wallpaper my entire room with the Avtotor Amber. In fact, I’d have the complete bedding set, model car kit, and Trapper Keeper, all adorned with this Russian wet-dream fantasy of an EV.

What were the sales of the Toyobaru twins? I think for those of us with more, ahem, modest means, a GR86 or BRZ could get us most (part?) of the way there for a fraction of the price.

Have you ever owned or driven one? I was one of those goobers that made the mistake of buying one new, and it was hateful. I agree that it’s great to have affordable cars, and that’s what lead me to buy one, but I sold it after 3 months if that tells you anything. I’ve been driving cheap Civics and Corollas ever…

My vote would be for the Toyota 4Runner. I love them. One of my family members owns one. But it’s time for the current generation to ride off into the great beyond (still selling for ridiculous amounts in the used car market post-mortem, naturally) and rise from the ashes like a phoenix, infusing the new Tacoma…

I never could get into any kind of competitive online game, like CoD or Fortnite. Mostly because I’m anti-social, mind you, but also just the whole culture around them seems non-inclusive and possibly toxic.

If you want to have even more fun, turn this episode into a drinking game. Whenever anyone says “Mitchell”, take a drink. I promise you will not stay sober long.

It was meant to be a joke, for fuck’s sake.

Dude “drives” more in one night than most people do their entire lives. For the rest of the year, Santa says “Fuck it, I’m taking an Uber”.