First car that driving was the primary concern? The bogan hate machine.

I’m a full decade older. It’s complicated, but I’d argue that the mid-to-late aughts are peak car. That said, the late 90's were a special time on the edge of the past and the now. We had grandparents with rotary phones while we were downloading video game ROMs and music between shitposting on the internet. A good…

The Celsior was just the Toyota-badged version of the LS400 until they launched the Lexus brand domestically. The F1 project explicitly did not use any pre-existing Toyota platforms and was about as close to a “clean-sheet” design as you’ll see today. The 1UZ-FE V8 debuted here, even if the A-341E transmission was…

I like the C4's looks. It’s a cool 80's wedge car. I just object to the 15K or less comment/challenge as you can build a turbo NA Miata for less, which will be as fast if not faster and (IIRC and somewhat ironically) Mr. Regular pointed out “works on girls.”

It’s in here where you’ll find this E88’s party piece, which is the shifter for the car’s General Motors-sourced six-speed manual transmission.

Fair, but I’m also this old:

They’re never gonna be Civic cheap but FCP Euro and ECS Tuning are your friends. Given the huge sales numbers and cross-platform components, there’s also tons of used parts available from the usual sources. Plus a lot of dumb plastic can now be replaced with buy once, cry once metal. In the case of my charge pipe, I…

I feel like this ship might not have fully sailed yet but at least ready to pull away from the dock. We picked up a 2012 2500HD with 65K last year and to grab the same truck today is at least three grand more.

I’ve owned an LS-powered car (‘04 GTO). I currently have a 2500HD Silverado. My father had a C4 ‘Vert and C6 Z06 that lived in my garage and a C5 ‘Vert that he bought after he moved to the beach. So understand that I’m well familiar with GM V8's and I know where you’re coming from when I say this:

Turbo Miata.

That downside is huuuuuuuuuge though if you’re a troglodyte like me.

Yup. I’ve a 2011 335i xDrive manual. One of the more problem-free cars I’ve owned. I may be lucky, though: our 2015 Jeep (Renegade) is a FIAT in disguise and the only warranty item there was a failed clutch pedal sensor.

Granted, it was up against the NB at first, which was a better car than the NA but was a lessor Miata, and eventually the NC, which is an even better car than the NB but the “bad” Miata.

No dice. For five figures, it needs to be immaculate and well below 100K mileage.

Quick addendum: I’ve also seen Honda Beats, in ‘Murrica, titled and ready to rock, for less than this.

My experience has been that used German is fine if you turn your own wrenches for most items. The tougher jobs really come down to if you have the time/space/spare car to deal with it over a few days.

That said, if you’re buying a BMW without a north-south engine, you’re doing it wrong.

Seriously. For laughs I skimmed the procedure on Bimmerpost for the G05 X5 and it’s about as hard as my Renegade. Remove panel, open housing, swap filter, reverse. Maybe an hour the first time, and half of that’s watching the instructional video on Youtube twice.

Knock on wood, my E90 335i has been no more expensive…

Here in Freedomland, we received the 1.4T FIRE and the 2.4 Tigershark, with the former being replaced with the 1.3T GSE as part of the refresh. Sadly, they also dumped the manual option at that point. Being globally sold, there were a lot of other engine and trans options we didn’t get, most lamentably the diesels.

How about an hour long dive into the actual flight data and evidence available by an actual pilot?

It goes against everything you would think, but you would be actually be wrong. The Tigershark had oil-consumption issues and was paired with the ZF 9HP auto transmission, which was problematic to say the least.

I’ve a Renegade 4x4 since new in 2015. It uses the same driveline as this Dart with the addition of a…

Which is exactly what the white space under the curve is about: that’s discretionary income in the budget, aka the money left over after you’ve covered your essentials to just live. In 1985, there’s roughly 2/5th’s just wanting to be put to use; by 2015 it’s entirely consumed. Interestingly, at least through that…

This is true. The oldest Miata is still new enough to feel like a modern car, unlike some fussy post-war British thing. Or peak Detroit iron, to be perfectly honest.

Still, the Eye of Sauron has finally swung around the the NA/NB. Deals can still be had but the old $1-2000 car is now more likely a $7-8000 proposition…