@BroncoMech: Indeed. I guess the SHO V8 excuses the Taurus interior to some degree, as well.

@vavon205: It's funny, it looks like the radio in the Focus could be replaced with something better, but the radio you'd really want to replace is the ovoid radio/climate control combo in the Taurus.

At the time, my mom dismissed it as a "jellybean car." Our family's fleet cobsisted of a Jeep Cherokee and a Nissan Stanza, both of which where designed by men with rulers. I didn't (and still don't) think it looked bad on the outside, but the interior... No thanks. Not as bad as the Focus interior would be a few…

@zadtheinhaler: Bob Lutz tried his best, but he's being retired now.

@Roberto G.: Not really a 'mino, just a statndard body-on frame pickup truck.

The Nissan NV isn't just a big van, it's also a small Euro/Japanese van. I don't think that naming scheme for comnercial/utility vehicles dates back to the '90s, though.

"What would you do?"

@FrankGrimes: The key word is "Euro." They still sell plenty of city cars over there that weigh under 2000 pounds. Base models of the Toyota iQ, Ford Ka, Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, and Suzuki Swift weigh in around 1900 lbs.

Lighter, yes, but I can't imagine a carbon piece like this being cheaper than a steel tube welded to some stamped steel brackets. Very cool, though.

@Elhigh: Blame the market forces at work in the US that conspire against making a business case for selling the diesel Smart in the US. It'd still be a tiny two-seater, but it'd get 60-70 MPG.

@bacon117 - Escort Owner, Lover: Sorry, I just figured that out.

@bacon117 - Escort Owner, Lover: "Driving on a highway, no matter how frozen, or how big and scary the trucks are..." They weren't on an episode of Ice Road Truckers, they drove to the North Pole.

@lance.uppercut: You forgot this.

@cobrajoe: I was thinking of using the same combo for the mid engine/rear drive LeMons racer I'm probably never going to build. Other than the expense of having someone else design and build a rollcage that also supports the engine cradle and rear suspension, it should be pretty straightforward. I figure the guts…

@Maxichamp: Not only do they sponsor a lot of race teams, but they own the F1 and NASCAR teams that run Red Bull sponsorship. They actually also own the TV station that shows NASCAR in Germany.

@bmoreDLJ: Serge, cancel security clearance for Wes Siler.

@Jorsh: A bit of research shows that the Germans deviate from the standard shift knob removal procedure. You need tools to get the Porsche knob, as you have to take apart the center console, lift up the shifter boot, and remove the Torx screw holding the knob to the shift lever. On BMWs and Minis you just have to pull…

@Cooluser23: Either they see the 5 years/50,000 miles label and they figure it means they won't have to dump coolant in their car as often, or they just figure more expensive coolant = better for your car.

@Jorsh: They don't rip the shift knobs off, they unscrew them. Shift knobs (manual ones, anyway) are so easily removed that if the dealers didn't remove them at auto shows, they'd be stolen.

@Instructor: Nothing a little money can't fix.