I don’t know. I think in this market, something that sells for north of $250k might be the right answer.  Today’s market is crazier than A Trump Rally on Meth Mountain.

Oh man, I think I’m going to barf. Since my first choice was taken (Miata), that leaves the idea of something comfortable with an all glass roof.

There’s the GM I know and loath!

I remember working at a place that used 8" floppies. In the 2000s.

There’s also a pay off. Companies won’t spend a dime if they can’t make it back.

Those were running better than new.  Most of the crappy Factory parts had been replaced with quality aftermarket parts (that cost less).   The floor boards were likely teflon coated cookie sheets after about a year of winter use, and those lasted longer and rattled less than the original 400 gage pot metal.

Let’s talk about the 2006 Chevy Malibu. It was designed to pass a test were the front wheel would be turned full lock and the suspension would be taken full range and not have the tire touch the fender. This requirement had been added to GM from complaints from Alaska back in the 1930s.

The Pinto was worlds better than the Vega or Chevette. The Vega had major cooling problems and needed engines quicker than fill ups sometimes. The Chevette set a new standard with rust that even the Italians and Japanese couldn’t match. Both had electrical systems that Lucas would have rejected.  Pintos may have been…

It’s the traditional sound of horsepower

I remember Ford’s Quality is Job 1. Or as they spelled it on a 1983 Tempo owner’s manual Qulity is Job 1.

My dad was raised during the Depression. His father was a blacksmith. Dad NEVER threw anything away. And it drove me nuts. “A new tool that does this exact job is $10, but we spent a full day trying to make an old tool do this job!”

Electronics and software have been the boon and bane of a lot of industries.

I’ve had my cars paid off for a decade. I think of the repairs in terms of car payments. “Oh, new exhaust manifold and cat, $800 installed. 2 car payments.”

I remember when $100k was a Ferrari.

So, other than North Korean spies that work at defunct car companies, who exactly can afford this thing?

I was impressed with a Malibu as a rental once too. Then a month later, I ended up with a Camry. Night and day. The fabric on the seats didn’t feel like Blair rejects. I could push on the touch screen and not feel it move at ALL. Fuel economy was better, ride better etc.

All I can think is that it’s a shame that Phillip Caldwell (CEO of Ford from 1980-1985) didn’t drive a Japanese car for 6 months and see how bad they were kicking Ford’s ass.

TIL that I am paid less than some North Koreans.

Baggage is a problem too.

I don’t gate check, because I ALWAYS have a connection. It’s a trade off. The good news is that I never have more than 5 people ahead of me in TSA, even without having any special TSA status. The bad news is that I have something like 4 cities to fly to. One of which I could drive to faster than they can board and…