My current life. Our first will eventually be of age for forward facing (hooray boss 302!), but if we want another that’s out of the question unless I find a way to convince my better half that it’s a good idea to buy a $35k 2-day cruiser.

In what industry are entry level (meaning little to no previous experience) managers making 6 figures?

Step 1: Don’t be married.

You could go with the Focus RS 2.3 in that case

While nothing has been announced, I would assume the 325hp figures and that Ford currently has a 2.7tt v6 making that amount of power in their F150 is what is leading many to believe that it was will be in the Fusion Sport. It makes sense.

Some enthusiasts are taller than 6'4 and have kids.

It’s a shame, too. I am looking to replace my Mazdaspeed6 in the next year or two and would love this with a manual. It would be the perfect evolution of the car I currently own and love, just with some more modern tech and power that would make my daily commute more enjoyable.

Does “performance cred” suddenly put more dollars in the pocket of the manufacturer? They will only produce it if it makes sense from a business standpoint. An AWD 400hp turbo manual wagon would a) sell for 50k and everyone would balk at the price, which brings me to b) no sales would cost them money per car given the…

Not a chance, unfortunately. I don’t know of any transverse-engine layouts that are strictly RWD

I agree, give it something out of the way like a rotary dial a la Jaguar, I think that is one of the neatest auto selectors currently available. You could stick them in place of the redundant HVAC controls, even if you wanted to stay with the push button setup.

Chevy SS? Mustang GT? Charger SRT? 400hp isn’t earth shattering like it was maybe 10 years ago.

Are they using a different transaxle in the Lincoln, unavailable to the Taurus? Or could, oh dream of dreams, this be a longitudinal RWD-biased layout on the new model?

Perhaps they are getting close to the capabilities of the Lincoln mill knowing that most buyers won’t look to upgrade with aftermarket bits, while with the SHO they left a bit on the table. Not to mention from a marketing standpoint, you wouldn’t want the lower priced Taurus SHO-ing (*boo, hiss*) up the flagship…

Agreed, with hints of Audi in the headlights. It’s appealing but lost in the crowd.

Secure Foam from Demolition Man

You’re talking like a V8 equipped RV or malaise-era Mustang, right? Because I’ve never seen an NA Eclipse that didn’t need a hand getting out of its own way.

Is it really “granting the wishes” of UAW members, when the alternative is to throw a tantrum when they don’t get their way and strike?

How many luxury performance mid-size sedans are available with a manual anymore? Has Mercedes even had a manual option in the past 15-20 years? Agreed that more power is part of the equation to pony up to the table, but you better bring a crapload of tech and a slick transmission while you’re at it.

For being “a car this cherry”, that looks like some serious cancer.

There is a difference in appreciating the finer things in life, and ONLY appreciating the finer things in life. Your wife sounds like the latter.