I had the 1979 Mercury Capri which was their version of the Mustang. It had the 2.8L German engine and a 50/50 weight distribution. I wish that I had it today. These were the cars that saved us from the Mustang II generation. Rousch Racing successfully campaigned Capris in the Trans-Am series. These cars deserve to have a place in a museum. ... View more

Take a look at the Mazda 3 Turbo. 50% of the price, 90% of the fun of the Lexus. ... View more

Always copy and paste your comment into Notepad or Apple's text editor before hitting the onscreen post button. I've been burned too many times on this and other websites. ... View more

LOL, Tesla has become the new "Ultimate Driving Machine" for Chicagoland's "Ultimate Drivers".  What a joke ! ... View more

The shark reminds me of the time I almost got kicked off the Captain Nemo Nautilus ride at Disney World. That would have made it worth spending 90 minutes waiting in line. Complexity doesn't sell in the long run. None of the enduring designs seem to be really that complex. I just found my October 1978 Car & Driver annual new car issue in my garage. It is similar to the one that you pulled from the archives a few weeks ago. The full page fine print ads that you mention are in there. There is one where R. Buckminster Fuller endorses the Honda Civic Hatchback. Apparently its handling is second only to his own design: The Dymaxion. My favorite ad from this era was the one that implied that a Mercedes Benz 4-door sedan was the engineering equivalent of the Ford Granada because from 20 feet it looked like they shared similar looking tail lights, wheel covers, and several other features. If you have to explain a car to people, they just won't "get it". You have already lost your market. If they drive it and then "get it" it will sell. I think that I will pass on the Polestar as well. It appears to have been designed for a market that does not exist yet and probably never will. ... View more

I always thought it was due to the driver lifting the throttle and suddenly breaking the rear tires free. Also with the 911T versions the sudden onset of increased torque after the turbo spooled up during a turn exit could also break the rears free with "end swapping" consequences. ... View more

My father-in-law's hobby was fixing up old barns that were basket cases. His trick was to take all of it down to the ground, measure and catalog all the pieces. He would then rebuild a slightly smaller version of the original barn that eliminated the wood that could not be salvaged. The barns that I remember that were rebuilt had loft space for storing parts or even a desk or small studio. ... View more

I'll take you up on the invitation. Anyone who understands human nature and thermodynamics like you do deserves a free beer. Extra bonus shots if you know who George R. Price is. I just want a five car garage with an attached house. The kids can use the upstairs when they visit. ... View more

After test driving the Mazda 3 Turbo, I did not realize that the rear end was not an IRS. I had to read about it in a review. I guess that my **bleep**) could not tell the difference. I bought the car anyway. ... View more

After driving a hybrid for about 12 years and being in the same demographic as you my wife and I wanted a sedan that was as fun but more reliable than our 2001 A6 2.7T. We stumbled upon the Mazda 3 Turbo and never looked back. Our 15 year old Prius covered the taxes and registration and we were out the door for the MSRP of 34K. They also gave me a loyalty discount for owning a 30 year old Miata. Sure, it only has memory seating on the drivers side but it has heated steering and the programmable remote. It's not bad for a 5 second car that still runs on regular. I hope that Mazda continues to develop and market in the luxury niche. ... View more

The only time I was ever **bleep**ed on The Hagerty forum was when I mentioned Ralph Lauren's real name. ... View more

Also whether or not beer is actually consumed it is often used as a measurement of the intensity of the job performed, i.e. Number of beers (12oz.) = time X difficulty of job So, a tire rotation for example would be a "one beer job"; a plug and points change on an older straight 6 is a "two beer job" etc. This provides a universal frame of reference when discussing auto projects and is especially helpful when asking others for help. ... View more

Pull out a JC Whitney catalog and have at it! Can you do that any more? ... View more

I thought that our car on the Magic Skyway was a Fairlane convertible, but I could be wrong. The Mustang was up on a pedestal if I recall. I remember that the radio buttons were labeled for various languages like French English and German. I was about ten at the time. ... View more

Yeah, the guys that park 30 miles outside of Sturgis LOL. ... View more

I was in a cowboy bar down in Fort Worth Texas. In the restroom there was the usual graffiti on the walls plus a large number of ranch brand symbols. One item of graffiti really stood out though. "TRAILERED HARLEYS S@CK". ... View more

Don't forget zip-ties, duct tape and picture hanging (hay bale) wire. ... View more

Pack your spare parts and tools in a plastic bucket. I once had to refill my leaking radiator several times (including water from a ditch alongside the Ohio Turnpike) when it blew just east of Cleveland. Water hoses are not always available. An index card will not only gently file your points but also serves as a "ball park" gap gauge. ... View more

The 1952 Power Wagon might make a great off-road camper. ... View more

If my 30 year old convertible hibernated in the summer, then it would hibernate all year. Life is too short for hibernating cars. ... View more

When my daughter was in college she was gifted a '90's W210 from her grandfather. As you stated it was a pure joy to drive. I appreciated the detailed appointments such as the radio with the NOAA weather stations and the intricate and robotic cup holder that screamed, "Take that you American coffee-hunds!". After discovering that Dupli-color Ford Oxford white was an excellent match for the bodywork, I painstakingly repaired all the dings and such that it had accumulated. It was a great car. I was heartbroken when my daughter told me that she could not keep it because in the urban environment of Milwaukee where she was studying, the car made her look like a "target". We unceremoniously traded it for another "300", but this time it was an L300 wagon from Saturn. I wished that I had a space in my own automotive stable at the time. ... View more

I believe my neighbor had the Buick Sport Wagon. It had the roof skylight and was a mint green metallic. Correct me if I am wrong but I remember it having wheel covers that had simulated racing "spinners". ... View more

Check out Suzuki Grand Vitaras by subscribing to Car Gurus. I have noticed that there are a few nice ones still around especially in the Pacific northwest. ... View more

He will never get a better deal on a car in his life. I hope he buys it and runs the wheels off of it. Tell him to put some of his car budget into a no load market index mutual fund. That's the way to get even with dealers. ... View more

Great, now I don't have to read the book. The only customers that might really have an advantage now are those who are coming off a lease with a buyout option. If they like their car and it is reliable it could be a bargain depending on the buyout price. ... View more

Richard, that's a really nice build with a lot of thought and heart in it. Congratulations! ... View more

I had the 4.6L in my 2004 Aviator AWD and loved that engine. My only disappointment with that vehicle was that they should have had an overdrive gear for the highways. I never could get better than 17 MPG even on the flats with the cruise control set at 55. ... View more

There is am engineering team in the UK that is trying to do this. Imagine an 8 cylinder 2 stroke for bursts of acceleration that converts instantly to a 2 cylinder 4 stroke for cruising plus every combination in between. ... View more

I would like to see the aluminum body technology trickle down to the Mustang no matter which engine they use. Get the whole car below 2900#. ... View more

Jack, Thanks for a very candid and comprehensive article regarding the realities of racing. Years ago I found the appropriate niche for myself i.e. club autocross which is inexpensive and fun. Your comments about seat time with a quality instructor are spot on. Working on the "gap" in lap times between what my instructor does vs. my own times proves to be much more valuable than tweaking sway bars and tire pressures. In addition to your sage advice I would only add one more thing to "Do". That is to learn the meaning of the phrase "That's racing." and learn at times to just move on and let it go ... View more

It reminds me of the golf bag compartment doors that were available on the 1929 Packard and the 1937 Cord automobiles. ... View more

I have a 1993 Miata that except for an air box is completely stock. In my opinion the air box just adds a few HP at the top end but sacrifices torque at the bottom where it needs it. I believe that it would be a near perfect car if it had the 2L engine. Just a few more cubes would do it for me. The post 2018 ND really intrigues me. However I am reluctant to test drive a new ND because I would really like it but it would not seem to be a simple Miata anymore. Quick question: MIG-15, rate or radius fighter? ... View more

Don't forget that at altitude you are pushing the car through less air and that will increase your mileage a bit. If you have a closed loop EFI system your engine will use less gas at altitude to keep the air/fuel ratio constant. I am not sure about carburetors, but I believe that they also lean out. ... View more

There was only one NASCAR race held at Road America in Elkhart Lake WI between 1955 and 2009. ... View more

Wow! That's like finding out that Ralph Lauren's real name is Ralph Lif**bleep**z. ... View more

Postwar Jeeps had 4 cylinder engines with the intake valves in the OHV configuration with rocker arms. The exhaust valves were in a flat head configuration with no rockers. The head was referred to as "F-head".   ... View more

  That's interesting since all of my relatives that lived in Toledo pronounced it Willee's. Even the guy that worked there. But hey, you never know. ... View more

Wow, it looks like he has it dialed in for maximum downforce in the rear. ... View more

I would bet even money that if you wanted an Offy intake now for a 2.8L Ford or even a small block Chevy, they would cast it instead of pulling it from a shelf. ... View more

Yeah, I hate it when they ask you for your engine size when you need a tail light bulb. Apparently the software is clunky enough to demand that data point. ... View more

The MX-5 appears to be the most common road race car on earth right now. Unfortunately for the collector or restorer this means that parts and donor cars are being cannibalized at a very rapid rate. I wonder what the cost of restoring the 1st generation car pictured in the article was. ... View more

Ah the good old days when you could upgrade your car to the more expensive "Euro-edition" with a can of flat black. The most memorable use of a spray can was after my son pinched the nose of his Saturn SC-1 in a low speed rear-ender. He could only get his keys back after enduring a "male Bondo-ing" session with the old man. He learned how to fill and wet sand, apply primer etc. I am proud to say that now he knows cars and does most of his own maintenance himself. ... View more

As the former owner of a 1965 AMC Rambler Classic 660 who envied those who could afford to drive a Maverick, I salute you. "But Dude, those *seats*..." made my day. ... View more

Dealers stock their inventory with "safe" colors which are the least likely to be rejected by buyers. That is why there are so many boring white, black, silver and dark red vehicles on the road today. ... View more

What I would like to see in future Mustangs: Aluminum technology as used in the F150 to lighten the car AWD Optional V6 EcoBoost A plug in hybrid version makes more sense to me than pure electric. ... View more

I took it to mean driving with two hands on the wheel and two thumbs on the iPhone while sporting a BMW badge. ... View more

From my Uncle Irv who was a transmission engineer for General Motors: You have to understand the difference between "bread" and "gravy". Always give a problem at least 2 weeks to resolve if you can. ... View more

It's about time that there be standardization in EV engineering the same way there is standardization in most consumer products. Electric lighting in a house is not a hard sell because anyone can go down to a store and buy a standard base light bulb and replace it themselves. EV battery technology should be the same way with easily accessible "plug and play" replaceable cells for batteries that are self diagnosing. The technology for this exists today but no manufacturer has the guts to give up their proprietary stance regarding repair and maintenance. Ironically, whoever would do so could probably corner the market in vehicles much like Ford did with the simplicity and high volume of the model T. ... View more

Re: SNL, Nice floor mats Mr. Iacocca !! ... View more

It was St. Joe's in Pontiac, just south of the loop at the end of Woodward Avenue. As a student I also served at Wayne County General and Henry Ford Hospital. All were excellent in their delivery of health care and would have made the Russian envoy envious. ... View more