Look forward to seeing you there!

Yup, it is. I’m packing today and driving down tomorrow morning with my friend who will be running a blacktop 20V-swapped AE86 hatch. #becausedriftcar. I’ll probably run a car next year too.

Parallel parking is a very valuable skill. That said, I have not needed it in the eight years I’ve lived in Connecticut, and only needed to use it probably three times in that same amount of time total.

What happened to the hatch and hatch wing? Fugly rear on this. I also refuse to believe. Try again in 24hrs.

Haha, man. As a Connecticut resident, I'm supremely amused Hartford is one of the PDs doing this.

Stumbled again on this review of the FiST after a while since my first read of it. And you know what? The various tests out there, the 0-60 times, the skidpad figures, braking distances, etc, they don't really matter. What one of the biggest compliments—one of the longest lasting ones—you can pay to a car, you did in…

On the chance of being promptly apprehended by my fellow jalops, dunked in water repeatedly, read a summary of my crimes against Hoonmanity, and then fastened to the stake and burned as a Witch... should we really be that upset?

I am very happy the FiST made this list. I love mine. I'd really like to put a Quaife LSD in it, some sways, KW adjustable coilovers, and a better intercooler.

Kat Callahan probably has something to say about this variant of the 86. We've been down this road before...

I think the front end looks a lot better than the ZN6/ZC6's current front end options. But hey, I'm a woman, what do I know?

Want level: higher than we can measure, sir!

Disclaimer: I own a Ford Fiesta ST, my second Ford in a row. I am also a staff moderator/admin on a Ford enthusiast site. Take what I'm saying at a grain of salt / in that context.

Indeed. The Mk3 focus platform is a lot larger than its predecessor, which was much closer in size to a Mk7 Fiesta. It's no small car, and the Focus ST weighs in the range of 3300lbs in FWD layout. An AWD Focus is going to be big, and weighty.

Is this a job for Mr. Lehto?

Looks great, Kat! It's a pretty tight set-up; not too much, nor too little Great for a little commuter vehicle. Pretty sensible.

Not going to lie, if I find myself in the need of a strictly commuter, practical vehicle as-new, I'm going to strongly consider the TDI Sportwagen. AWD, with a DSG. I can probably live without the stick in that car. If, of course, I can stomach the DSG service. Set it up with a set of Nokian Hak R2s for winter,…

I wonder if the Audi RS7 could hit 204 if it weren't regulated to 186mph /300kmh. It's down on power, but (I think?) it's also a bit lighter. And probably has less aero drag. All things like drag, gearing, weight, etc being equal, the RS7 would need a lot more power to make up that 18mph (exponentially more…

Kat, this was an awesome piece! (Though, I tend to love most of your write-ups.) The N/ is a pretty funky box for a kei, certainly more stylish than a lot of them. Some I'll just never like—I have an entire group of friends who are Honda SM-X fetishists, and that car can go screw itself. It's not Wagon R. But this…

Bill Auberlen's a boss, though, one of my favorite sportscar racers. You know someone is properly mad with a rant like that—not, 'hey you, fuck you'—but 'don't tell me you and everyone else don't realize this person is an idiot'. Haha.

You had me at 'boomer assholes'.