As a recent convert to your particular view on the automotive world (I actually bought the 124 Spider instead of the Miata on purpose, THEN found your column), I now find my mind blown that you owned a 5-speed Milan, just like me. Well, actually I had a 5-speed 2008 Fusion SEL with the Sport Appearance Package. So it had (as you well know) the better suspension as well as the frou-frou. Aside from the leaky valve-cover gasket at 60k miles (!) and having to replace the oil filter housing after the Carmax tech distorted it into slag with too much torque, I out over 100,000 miles of fun-ish, carefree driving , enjoying all the benefits you so eloquently described. Minus the funky smells and panel distortion. But, wait! There's more! In 2019, I bought a 2010 Milan Premier V6 AWD and did another 60k before the aforementioned 124 Spider. You hit the nail- perfect size, perfect manners, decent mileage (even with the flex-fuel V6). Oh, and surprisingly, the 2013-up car is actually the same size. It just feels like a Crown Vic in comparison. Owned plenty of those, too.
