The answer is in the architechture. H-D uses a single pin crank engine and then rubber mounts it. That means it makes power (massive torque right off idle, no HP at all up top) like a one cylinder engine, and while it vibrates at idle, it's smoother at speed.

Your math is dead wrong. Harley's start off at well under ten grand and the "biggest, baddest" touring bike (non-CVO / non-special edition) with a great stereo, cruise control, massive saddlebags, etc is like $24K.

"2500 cc Harleys", LOL.

"learning to ride well" (sorry).

You need wind and weather protection for "long distance highway driving" IMHO. The naked / standard bikes are great for a couple hours, but you won't see many "iron butt" riders on Speed Triples et all.

THIS. Ask Buell how well they sold the Blast - which I submit was a better first bike than this, because belt drive rules.

That is, unless that commute is to your evening gig in South Beach as a Ska band.

$42K buys WAY cooler, older collector cars (Austin-Healey's, Early C3 Corvettes, etc) or a faster, newer used car (BMW M3, C6 Z06, 996 Turbo) by a mile. Either way it's a bad buy.

Most Jalopnik subscribers don't have the style or the panache to drive the chop-top Buick; I can honestly say that I'm not sure I do.

AWESOME. Born in the mid-seventies - this was my favorite matchbox car ever, like an exaggerated. non-Rally oriented Lancia Stratos. I had never researched the story behind it until today. Thank you, Benjinator12.

"Modern three box coupe" - My brother's 135i begs to differ, and considering he picked it up for around $20K, low mileage CPO - I think it holds up well to "dollar per smile"

Along the same vein - the BRZ STi / FT-86 Turbo.

The 4.0 in the 2010 and before was a turd, but the 3.7 is legitimately over 300 HP at the crank and is surprisingly competent. You won't confuse it with a Ferrari, but with a stick and the Performance Pack - it will smoke a BRZ around a track.

When did you drive / own this vehicle? I don't want to call you out - but...

You clearly never owned either car discussed here.

200 HP would have been 10 years ago, which is when this car should have come out. It sucks to get embarrassed off the line by everything from V6 Camaro's and Mustangs (the latter of which will beat you around VIR - ask Car and Driver) to a freakin' Dodge Caravan.

I think he meant "from the factory". It seems terribly illogical for Toyota / Subaru to not offer a blown version of this car that would add maybe 50 lbs, 65-90 HP, and about $2-$3000.

Great price. For another $800, plus a couple weekends and several junkyard trips, I can fix the damage, get 300-ish HP out of it (any carbureted four bolt will swap in easy) and have an epic 'mullet-mobile'.

Isn't that just a four bolt GM small-block either way? This is a GREAT price if it has no glaring mechanical issues. For those "Miata is always the answer" girly types who have neither the testicular fortitude to drive such a behemoth nor the mechanical aptitude for a simple junkyard engine swap - I submit that…

I stand corrected, my apologies. "When your Aisin AW55 grenades..."