Easy NP.  Side note:  I never liked those wheels and don’t generally like any dark wheels, but somehow these wheels painted like that on this silver car look absolutely fantastic!

Would have sold better with a red top, amirite?

I dunno... I think the Cayman is the direct “true driver’s car” competition here, and your choices there are a 365hp 4-cylinder GTS starting at $80k or the 414hp 6-cylinder GT4 for $100k. So (new ‘vette notwithstanding) I don’t feel like this is overpriced at $100k, considering what a niche manufacturer Lotus is…

Agreed: it makes no sense whatsoever.

Nice. I had a Beagle mix for 15 years and she went all over the place with me, in a variety of cars, but our favorite was the NB Miata. 100mph Beagle!

I admit I don’t know the current 2019 status regarding this, but in the course of researching my recent purchase of a ten-year-old BMW 128i I discovered that BMW did sell different engines in different states: an “N51 SULEV” for the CARB states and the “N52" for non-CARB states. So it DID happen before, and may still…

My grandfather was an AMC fan: at one time he and my mom had yin-yang Matadors: his was white with a green vinyl top and hers was green with a white vinyl top. He eventually traded his in for a tan Concord Hatchback, which as a kid I thought was a pretty cool car.

I think it’s mostly a perception problem: just like lower tier consumers are driving past Mazda dealerships to get to Honda and Toyota, most luxury buyers won’t seriously consider anything but Mercedes or BMW. Has nothing to do with the quality of the vehicles. People can’t be bothered to educate themselves or shop…

I’ve never, ever been a truck guy, but damn if those Raptors don’t give me just a little bit of a stiffie whenever I see one. I don’t care about performance, I’m just in it for the looks: so make mine a 1st gen in orange or that flat tan color, with the big graphics. I want to drive over stuff; just because I can.

Best-looking Japanese car of all time, for certain. AND one of the best-looking ever, anywhere.

This. Same: I rented one in January in Chicago when temps were near zero. It got me from point A to point B, but there was absolutely nothing noteworthy or interesting about the experience. And in the cold the transmission really seemed to struggle to find the right gear.

NOTE: increasing wheel size may or may not increase wheel weight, depending on the brand/style of the new rims. And it will often reduce tire weight, because less rubber. The net result wheel+tire *can* be lighter.  Most often not, though.

Pointy seems to be the theme of that photo.

I know I’m commenting on a dead story here, many months late, but just in case anyone is still there I just wanted to say THANK YOU. Because of this random Weekend Wallpaper post and the comments the followed, I went out and bought one! Couldn’t be happier. Had wanted a fun car for a long time and had been looking at…

We’ll have to agree to disagree. I love sunroofs. I did not get one on my 2014 Mazda6 and have regretted it for the last 6.5 years.

This. This right here. This is a nice way to start the week. Thank you.

Mazda has a marketing problem. A PERCEPTION problem. Folks who will happily buy Honda / Toyota / even Nissan won’t even consider Mazda. Which is ridiculous, since Mazda makes great cars. Mazda needs to figure out how to fix that perception problem before they can be successful. I don’t think going upmarket helps: if a…

Yes, this. It’s not often I disagree with Ms. Lee but I have to say more choice is more better. To each, their own. Different strokes for different folks. (Plenty of euphemism choices here, as well!)

5th Gear - Hot take: perhaps Mitsubishi can improve Nissan..?  I somewhat reluctantly rented a Mitsubishi Outlander on a business trip recently, with very low expectations.  But it proved to be a willing, pleasant, and capable vehicle.  I enjoyed it way way more than any of the Rogue, Rogue Sports, or Pathfinders I’ve…

Sorry to see Bombardier exit commercial aircraft, as I always felt they made excellent products. I know their CRJ did not invent the RJ category, but it certainly MADE the category; made it work for airlines. But since then the copycat Embraers (also fine aircraft) seem to have taken over the category.