And remember: all names will be changed to protect the letter writer, in case you want to ask a stupid question like whether it’s acceptable to buy an automatic NSX.

including mechanical testing

I agree with you, but that’s why a Mini (or any road car, really) will never handle like a kart. Karts aren’t meant to coddle the driver. They’re extremely physical to drive fast, and that’s part of what makes them so rewarding.

I’ve always had a fondness for that generation of TL. A good friend of mine had one as a service loaner back when they were brand new while his NSX was in the shop. We took it on a road trip and it left a pretty good impression. I’ve considered one as a boring daily driver but a sedan just wouldn’t work for my family.…

Which one is Doug’s office?

That only speaks to your capability, not the karts.

That’s because rental chassis are built with 35+mm tubing instead of 30 and 32mm tubing which is typical for 100cc chassis. They have to accommodate 200lb drivers and durability is of higher importance.

Sure, we could both site plenty of individual turbo cars that have been maintained and are shining examples of longevity. The carbon buildup days are gone? Yeah, and VW’s are the most reliable cars on the road. The people who neglect their cars and treat them like appliances are exactly the ones that I’m referring to.…

Proper maintenance, or the lack thereof, is what I’m getting at. You can get by with so much less on a chain-timed port-injected N/A engine, which is what the typical economy car owner has come to expect. You can generally neglect an old Corolla and it’ll still go 150-200k easily. Just make sure that it has oil in it,…

I’m envisioning these economy turbo cars being maintenance nightmares by the time they reach the second and third-hand market in 6-10 years. When all the issues of long interval oil changes, direct injection carbon buildup, vacuum leaks from age and heat exposure, and general neglect all start cashing in. They’re so…

It’s about the closest thing to a 1970s Italian exotic you can buy new.

I see this way too often (because Florida). It's usually some near death FWD shitbox like this, but sometimes it's something so late model that it surprises me. The most recent was a newish Nissan Pathfinder on a 70 mph tollway with the rear end bouncing so badly that both shocks had to be completely broken.

They borrowed the sad clown steering wheel from an S600!

The irony...

Water based lubrication is also unnecessary since nylon is pretty chemical and solvent resistant. I agree that there are also much better lubricants that are non-water based if you had your choice. However, it could work if you designed for it, which is far from impossible as you originally claimed. An automotive…

Of course nylon gets stronger/tougher with water absorption as well.

GT3, based on the wheels and brakes.

...but the steering feel!