"Roanoke? Pfft. They're just a bunch of try-hards."

"Whatever. I was making cities disappear way before Roanoke."

Protectionism seemed to work out okay for the Japanese manufacturers.

@Demon-Xanth: Yeah, I read the comment above yours and thought, "That's funny, I've owned two V4 Hondas." Both were VFRs, and though cruisers usually don't do much for me, I admit to lusting after a Super Magna.

Exactly. I grew up on C/D in the '70s and '80s, and it was a fun read. But DED, Jr. and the Assassin both suffered from a greatly inflated sense of self-importance. And elitism.

Number 7: Just about everything ever written by Brock Yates?

@Slid Pissed Tossed Mazda3hatch sideways into a effin DITCH: Here's a picture of the unfortunately-hot-rodded Duett. Can't wait to get a set of stock wheels and the correct grille. Really can't wait to get rid of the current color...

Can't post pics at the moment, because I'm having problems with ca.jalopnik and the hated new-format Jalopnik won't let me post pics from my computer.

My driveway is currently home to Volvos spanning the years 1959 to 2000. I really dig Volvos, but there is no such thing as a 242 that is worth $18K.

@ Ubel: I don't believe that's true, but no time to sift through the Vehicle Code. My point wasn't just about bumper height, however. I'm talking about visibility in general. I know for a fact that in Michigan, there is a statute dealing with impaired outward visibility (probably enacted to deal with people who…

Not having any specific information on the wheel/tire combo that guy is running, or any other wheel/tire combo for that matter, there is no way I could "produce the data that shows exactly the additional forces required by tire size and weight." And even if you knew the static weight of a wheel and tire, one of the…

A truck this stupidly high cannot be legal. The bumper is only at the driver's shoulder height because he is standing on a curb. Otherwise, it would be much more like head height. Beyond that, I'd like to see a side profile of the truck with the driver in it, and draw a straight line from his eyes to the leading…

Do a little reading on rotating mass and you might understand why it would be much more difficult to stop this truck with the standard brakes. All four wheels/tires act essentially like gigantic flywheels.

"She's been charged with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance."

Does it come with Grandma and Grandpappy?

I just can't get past the hack job on the rear-speaker install. It's a pretty good bet there are other corners that have been cut on this car. What are the odds this car has a full service history? Has the profile gasket been done on this car? Or other routine maintenance (guibo, trailing arm bushings, etc)? I'm…

@87CE 95PV Type Я: I should have clarified that I was referring to the A3 chassis. The final year it was offered in the States was '99, and all of those had power windows, even the GL model (which up until then had crank windows). When the A4 chassis debuted as a '99.5 model, the GL once again had crank windows,…

@Muscles Marinara: For over 20 years, VWs that did not come with a radio have still come with a "radio prep," meaning the wiring harness, antenna, and speakers are all there, just waiting for the radio to be installed. I assume that this one is no different, especially given how the speakers are typically installed…

It's semi-amusing to hear the collective horror that a car might come without A/C. On the other hand, it makes me feel a little old, because when I started driving, it was a rarity among me and my friends to have a car with (working) A/C. Hell, I felt like a *pimp* the first time I had a car with power windows!

@dangertree: It's all about the price you can advertise. At least it was when leasing was hot. Back in the late '90s, I managed a VW dealership and I managed to get my hands on a couple of no-A/C, no-stereo '99 Jettas (the A3 chassis). I have no idea how these cars showed up in the port, because even though they…