I used to be a Volvo brand loyalist. In the mid-90s, Volvo switched upmarket, with sexier, better cars. But reliability was down. Now I accept worse seats and comparably dismal ergonomics in exchange for low running costs...in our Honda, Toyota and tincan Nissan Leaf.

The real issue is with the American way of organizing life: Settlement patterns, education systems, unequal treatment of the population. It's one of the richest and one of the poorer countries in the world - simultaneously. If you guys had better schools, a more equal access to education and science, a media landscape…

Excellent post. Here in Norway, last summer's heat buckled both roads and rail roads. The Arctic is generally not prepared for the drastic changes that happen right now.

What’s the blinky thing in the top right corner of their windshields?

> The F-35 program has already cranked out 400 jets

Cool, 4WD must be heaven on these, as the FWD has traction issues even on gravel roads. These are now super popular in Central Asia:

This is my Honda Stream I am currently trying to sell. The kids are big enough now to get to and from school on their own, so we don’t need the seven seats anymore. But I will miss this van’s load capacity, overall practicality and robust simplicity.

What’s your total mileage? Have you considered battery cell replacements? We have lost one of the charging indicator dots. My impression from googling the topic is that both the battery and car hold up surprisingly well. It is especially the 30 kw battery (2013 and onwards) that has struggled, and mostly in warmer…

I recently bought a 2011 Leaf with 65000 km. Its as-new-optimist-range with the 24kw battery was 160 kilometers. Realistic range now is half that, less so in cold conditions. What we bought is basically a commuting golf cart with a roof. It is charged on a normal 10A outlet where it uses about 8-8.5A, like a washing…

I am currently trying to sell my Honda Stream.

My first car was parted out after I sold it, too. Horrible story, really.

Hush, you fool!

Ten years ago, my uncle replaced his Rover 75 V6 with a then fresh Mazda 6, top of the line. I was a bit “Huh?” about it, but the Mazda was really just better in every aspect. He is currently driving a Mercedes, but the whole “What is luxury?”-question is really just an individual one.

Another classic for your next travels: Kyrgyzstan rivals Iceland in its beauty. Less tourists, 1/20th the prices, and UAZ vans to rent:

But...Renault makes pretty decent cars these days. FCA? Bottom barrel brand issues!

The two door conundrum aside, you are asking for a long distance, sporty car, that you can sell to your wife as a safe choice, too? Volvo’s got you covered:

It’s nice when the car thinks of nasty insurance agents: Best to finish itself off with as many elements as possible. Clear outcome.

You can't make functioning brains mandatory in people, so regulating cars is just an easier way out.

I don’t have much help in this mystery case, just bringing up that Tatra did pick up this same design idea, too:

The fact that people don't check their mirrors, apparently, is just one more bit in the "Stupid American"-trope. Pretty unbelievable that accidents like this should be so common.