I was sixteen, had just gotten my license, when I rolled into a car driven by a middle-aged woman and passenger as a light turned green. It’s kind of a blur how it happened and memory’s played tricks with various scenarios, including being backed into. I’m fairly certain it was my fault, however.

Thanks for writing about these people and their cars. I’ve seen a few restorations like these—even a Chevette, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen it—admire the owners and wonder about their thinking. In that regard I’d be interested in reading a more in depth interview with some of them.

You could write a short story about an automotive journalist who tries to search for the words for a favorite automotive brand, hears “BMW” emerge from her or his mouth, while internally screaming “No?! Why did I say that?!” and delves into a deep sci-fi-style conspiracy. There has to be a scene with shaking hands at…

This is likely an obvious, somewhat boring answer, but a Mazda 3 hatch. Getting one without a sunroof should provide plenty of headroom. It’ll have enough space in the back for a bike (with the back seat down). It’s a comfortable place to be for a couple hours a day (although I gather some recent ones have …

When I was in my early 20s I had a turquoise car and was somewhat embarrassed while driving it in a funeral procession. Now that I’m older I have a black car (albeit one with a big grin) and am somewhat troubled it could fit in a funeral procession.

I want to know the story of the Beetle. Is it in a hotel parking lot because someone is driving it on a long trip? If so, I think this person is awesome.

Yup. In the mid-late 80s it was common to see 70s Cutlasses with wooden bumper replacements. I was one of them. To this day whenever I briefly think about buying a GM vehicle I recall standing at the side of the road, looking at the just-fallen-off bumper on my 79 (I think) Cutlass Supreme, and laughing. I wasn’t…

Good idea. A well-cared for G37 is another option.  Still a lot to handle, however.

I wasn’t aware others did this, although I try to be somewhat subtle to avoid undue suspicion. A couple weeks ago I visited an Apple store and noticed some interesting cars in the lot. After a few glances revealing automatics, I spotted a Civic R and Golf R parked next to each other, close to my car. I had to take…

Thanks. It’s been a while since I’ve even seen one being driven, but I’ll have to watch.

Thanks.  That sounds great, and a fun, unique, and somewhat challenging way to see more of the world. 

Very cool!  Thanks. 

But that stupid is part of a cool story. A lot of stupids are not.

I also really want to compete in a rally.

Well, at least they don’t have eight legs, morphine and procaine syringes, and olfactory tracking systems. Yet. (If anyone’s confused, these remind me of the hound in Fahrenheit 451).

A few I discovered that caused people to question my sexuality:

Thanks; it sounds like it was a great car for you. I also had two-hour round trip commutes for several years. I’m surprised the steering rack was hydraulic, as the one I drove didn’t seem to have any feedback, at least in terms of communicating the road surface and what the tires were doing. I felt bumps through the…

Cool. Have you owned one for a while? I only had a short time with a G37, but it was less than ideal conditions. It was the sedan version with a manual (I didn’t know how rare they were at the time), but I didn’t really care for how the stick felt, how much it vibrated, nor how it felt a bit disconnected. The…

When reading the comment about the Stinger’s being “an interesting amalgamation of a muscle car and a luxury sedan,” I recalled test driving an Infiniti G37. It struck me as more of a muscle car with amenities than a sports sedan, which sounds a bit like the Stinger. So I’m wondering how they’d compare.

I never thought about Porsches looking dorky. But my favorite people are dorky. I’m utterly dorky. Seeing Porsches has always made me feel funny inside (in a good—I suppose dorky—way). So it all makes sense now! Thanks?