Some interesting comparisons for sure and odd how some turned out.   I can't believe you missed the most obvious comparison though. My first thought went to whether the Silhouette or TranSport would fetch more on the open market. I know people have been stashing them away for years waiting for the right time to list them on BaT. ... View more

Thank you as always for taking the time for my favorite column.   And that's not a leaf, that's mf-ing helicopter. My neighbor has a tree that showers the cars in my driveway in them every spring. They get absolutely everywhere, which I must quietly admire since that's exactly what they should do, but one day I will have a tree grow out of my fender as they collect and trap water in the drain area.   As a certified unwashed plebe, I was never impressed by the Maybach and some of the details you show are a little unnerving thinking about what this car cost new. Were I to be in the position to afford such an automobile (or train, as it were) I wouldn't consider it simply because it doesn't have show stopping presence. It looks like a Benz.   Also, for a 2020 faux-baller in the market for a luxury ride on a Best Buy car stereo installation manager budget, what advantage does this offer over other similarly priced high end used cars? Which brings me to the ultimate horror of super-expensive luxury car ownership - not the eye watering normal service costs, not the Ivy annual tuition levels of depreciation, or the average new car MSRP failed component replacement costs - it's that my car has become laughably out of date with less fancy technology in it than a 2 year old Kia Forte. The most comfort and quietness will only go so far if I have to have a Case Logic 136 CD binder in the back seat.   One last thing, on the photo facing the hood ornament from the driver's door mirror - does the hood line really transition to almost touch the fender? Or is that just an illusion from the angle you're standing? ... View more

I just went and looked, mine is a KDC-X792 https://www.crutchfield.com/S-0dpq8wPlKm3/p_113KDCX792/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X792.html I have built a custom setup in the glovebox so I could put a factory AM radio in place - which replaced the Kenwood tape deck I had installed in 1994 - which replaced the original AM radio. The new one has 1 USB which I ran to the slide out ashtray just below the radio and for a while I had an MP3 player connected to it. But each time I started the car it would start on the same track and I'd have to go into the glovebox and hit random since it sits with the battery disconnected most of the time. The struggle is real. I'm happy with it and realistically as long as I was able to get Bluetooth to work, it's more than adequate - especially since no one ever sees it. I'm just surprised that overall the looks of the units hasn't changed. I remember a few years back you could get one with a mini LCD display - think 2.5" TV. That seems to have been abandoned and overall only features have been added. But what I'm really excited about is figuring out how to reinstall my ultra '90s HiPhonics Olympian Series II 12" subs and Profile 4x400 California amp. The original way of bungee cording it to the car just doesn't suit me anymore. Especially since after every tight turn I'd have to go slide it back in place and plug it back in. ... View more

My contribution would be to add Kia Souls were (are?) available with Beats speakers and I recall that when I was looking at Suzuki Kizashis I noted that the upgraded stereo was branded Rockford Fosgate. And while RF is fine, it certainly doesn't provide the panache of some of the higher end offerings. Though I think I'd prefer it over Fender - who I appreciate for making my Strat, but I didn't think they made audio equipment.   I recently went looking for a replacement for my approximately decade old Kenwood Excelon single din head unit and I was really disappointed by what is available. It's as if development of the units stopped in 2008. The displays are no different with the blocky digital letters/numbers. I ended up getting a USB Bluetooth receiver and kept my old unit. ... View more

It really is a shame about the Cobalt, I think one day there will be a nostalgic market for them similar to the current Japanese car craze. I don't know when that will happen but that one was the right version (turbo) with the right color and option. I think they look best in black because it hides some of the... less fortunate stylings of the Cobalt. One thing I can say is from my experience with Cobalts at work, I had to replace the turn signal bulbs after roughly every 300 miles of driving. I don't know what it was about the front signals, they weren't the DRLs. The fleet cars were lightly driven but it seemed like every 3rd time I got behind the wheel, fast blink! It drove me nuts. You have to take the headlight assembly out to replace it and it always seemed to happen about 3/4 of the way to my destination or when I was running late for a meeting. And I had to take it to the mechanic to fix it - like a regular person!   I see the Lincoln is coming along... well, it doesn't seem to be coming along. But I am not one to judge as my car was sidelined for over 3 years because a gremlin got into it and crossed 2 plug wires - but I digress. You're going to have to have someone make those stripes for you, unfortunately. But luckily, you still have the originals to color sample. The bigger challenge will be the interior unless you are just planning to clean up the seats and keep them. What you've done so far is amazing. I'd be half tempted to put the body panels back on, wash it, and rock it. Rest assured though, once done you'll be king of the "I don't get it but I love it" guys at Cars and Coffee. ... View more

Because of the cool reception it seemed to be getting I was thinking they'd take it back and make some changes. But I think you've pretty well convinced me this is probably what it'll be. Minus the passenger screen and Sable-light bar in front. It's worth remembering the last gen Wagoneer was yesterday's technology at today's prices. It was practically agricultural compared to other vehicles at the time. Very Range Rover-esq in that sense. So that this new one seems underwhelming and overpriced is on brand for the Wagoneer name.   I have a mild obsession with noticing modern cars with body-colored b-pillars. Toyota seemed to be the last real holdout on a few vehicles until fairly recently. ... View more

Definitely some questionable details. Most of all the lower front fender / rocker area. If only that photo was given there's no chance I would have thought that was on a $100+ car. Truly, as you mentioned, it shows that someone could build  car that looks like this for a much more affordable price.   Thanks as always for taking the time to put this together. VV always shocks me how intensely interesting tiny details you spot can be. ... View more