You get a combo of wet snow then colder temps. A layer of icy snow forms on the car. You can’t srape it off, you dont want to scratch the paint. With the heat of the car interior and bumping down the road the sheet of icy snow gets loose. You step on the brakes and then you get an avalanche down your windsheild.

Will it be a rust bucket like other mazdas ?

I want the leather wrapped vent slats marked “Hybrid” option on mine.  That will be about $1500.

Gas is taxed like crazy in Germany.  I’m sure there is some ecotax or carbon tax on the price of gasoline.  Drive fast, use more gas, pay more ecotax.

Just make an extended bed pickup of the transit connect. Maybe beef up the rear subframe and suspension. Use the same 2l NA engine and lower the first 4 gears of the 8 speed tranny.  If someone wants something more heavy duty or more powerful there are plenty of choices out there. 

Is Colorado one of those stupid states that have the “chains or 4wd” when it snows ?  Like California ?

I do the black duct tape thing on the upper grill in the winter. Better aero and the engine bay seems to stay warm a little longer when parked.

Try out the back seats.

Many years ago, 80s - 90s, one retired neighbour did just that. For him it was a hobby. He didn’t ask or knock on the door, but at 10:30 pm you would hear him attacking our driveway. Then he would go work on some more random driveways. Not everytime it snowed but I guess whenever he felt like it. 

Whenever anyone asked my Dad wether he had a snowblower or was going to buy one he just pointed at me.

Its not realy more expensive than a rockys/west vacation. And in France they offer a ‘carte blanche’, which for about $5 a day it gives you insurance.

When you ski in the alps make sure you have some good travel/health insurance  because the rescue is not free. 

RWD makes for more simple axles and front suspension.

Not a sedan but cheap

I’m sitting in my car in a busy parking lot and a lady pulls up beside me. She turns to the back seat and tells her young son to get out. He swings open the door, hits my (old accent) car. She thinks nothing of it and walks away with the kid. She got a real nice scratch on her drivers door as a souvenir.

Is the spectator parking lot full of Opel Manta’s ?

In the 89 Tour de France just before the famous final time trial stage, Greg Lemond’s aero bars were slipping. His mechanic quickly fashioned some shims from a coke can. You see some of the red painted aluminum peeking out by the clamps.

My driver side wiper blade broke off in the parking lot just after a day of skiing at Kirkwood. A 2.5 hour drive home, in a soggy snow/rainstorm. I managed to tie it back on with some shoelaces. Despite near constant use it stayed tight until about 20mins from home and I had to retie it.

Castlegar !

I read somewhere that at Pikes Peak Michele did a burnout just before the start to heat up the tires. The race officials tried to prevent her from starting on some BS that it was against the rules.