“how many manual transmission-equipped station wagons you can buy new here in the U.S. these days?”

Unfortunately the infection has spread, there are now a fair number of states with CARB style smog laws. You could be living in one now.

To be fair, I cut off Smart4two drivers on principle. That and for hypermiling in the fast lane. You’re welcome to drive like you own a tractor trailer but both belong in the right-hand lane. The rest of us have places to be.

Valid point. Toyota’s hold their value quite well, arguably better than they should. It just seemed absurd that you averaged around 3 years per car since the 350 didn’t come out till 2005.

KHAAAAN!

If you plant a crate LS motor from JEGS in your Miata I’m pretty sure you can still get it warranteed (albeit not the reinstall), it just won’t work after you throw forced injection and stiff valve springs into it. Either way California will very likely reject it (having a blue airbox vs the factory black one is OMG…

My apologies for saying “several years”, I thought this model lasted way longer than it actually did. In reality it was only good for 3 years, one of which was very arguably inferior to the G8 it replaced.

The G8 used to be the only way to get a manual LS based 4 door but that changed years ago. Both the SS and CTS-V offered the option. (The SS did not for several years)

It won’t but I grew up with the crappy interiors of older cars and yes for a few $$$ you can get custom seats in any style or color you like.

This is better than a LS Miata, how? (which I can answer, since California DMV will laugh and laugh at your engine swapped post-smog car ... and then ask you to wait 4 hours in a second line until ultimately being denied) There is a reason pre-smog cars carry such a huge premium and this is it.

If you’ve owned 4 Toyotas in that timeframe shouldn’t you be leasing?

I agree, the CTS does not have a great interior for a modern luxury sedan.

Sadly correct. The G8 GXP is even more. I don’t know in which universe those two sedans should cost more than an older CTS-V but...they do in this one.

“proper” maintenance on the many electrical things under the dash seems difficult. How often should we be doing complete teardowns on those?

The chassis design perhaps, but when was the last time Germany made a beefy OHV engine? That’s not really their thing.

So you had the V6 then...the Scat pack option is a 6.4L V8. While I’d hestitate to recommend one to a Camry owner, it is fun and more or less within budget.

Indeed, in the long long ago you could literally buy a car with a factory 2-tone “Salmon” color if you wanted one

In other news, water is wet. Most EVs are second cars for people who own their own homes, even budget ones like the Leaf. They're just not practical without a place to charge them.

‘65 AMC Ambassador, not mine

“Peoplereally seem to forget that BMW makes some awesome V8's.”