We have one simple goal: helping people find cars which meet their needs and are still fun to drive. Badges are mostly irrelevant to us, as every carmaker offers a range of good and bad vehicles.

Sometimes people have raged at us for not believing every BMW is amazing, or every Hyundai is terrible. We try to judge each car on its individual merits. But once a brand gets a certain reputation, good or bad, it proves very difficult to change the public’s perception. Witness Hyundai’s current tag-line of “Think about it”, acknowledging that most consumers won’t even consider their growing number of really competitive cars.

Which brings me to Toyota. In the past few decades, they have pursued the goal of surpassing GM as the largest car company in the world. And in the process, Americans not only bought millions of Toyota products, but embraced them as the leader in safe and reliable transportation for the masses.

Now due to sticking gas pedals and failing brakes, Toyota has issued recalls for more than 8 Million vehicles worldwide. That’s equivalent to nearly 5 years worth of Toyota sales in the US. And now that the Prius is included, even their most cutting edge product shows weakness.

How does this happen?

First, we must remember that every carmaker does recalls. And over the years there have been many huge recalls. With thousands of parts in each car, made by many suppliers, and built at high speed … something, somewhere is going to prove faulty. A recall doesn’t make a car fundamentally unsafe. A tiny percentage of vehicles ever suffer from faulty parts, but once that number reaches a boiling point of potential lawsuit and public outcry then the automaker must cast a wide net and try to cover everyone. A quick viewing of “Fight Club” will explain this nicely.

The real unknown is the potential damage to Toyota’s image.

Remember the Audi 5000? In the late 1980s, the 5000 was blamed for a series of accidents and deaths reportedly caused by “unintended acceleration” (Toyota’s current problem). It became a huge news story and eventually even had a live demonstration on 60 Minutes. Except that the problem was ultimately proven to not exist, the accidents were attributed to driver error, and the 60 Minutes report debunked as staged for TV. But Audi’s sales fell off a cliff, and they gained a reputation as cars that would dart off without warning. Perception was as good as truth, and Audi nearly pulled out of the US market all together.

The damning part for Toyota is the reports that they knew of these problems and never admitted it publicly until there was no choice. For a company priding itself on safety and reliability, this feels shady even if it proves to be an honest mistake lost in the red-tape of an enormous company. But Toyota is running scared, as evidenced by their new commercial showing dedicated folks hard at work fixing… well, we aren’t actually shown but every part of it has been well crafted to give us the impression that Toyota cares.

The biggest suggestion we can offer is this: Don’t Panic. If you own one of the cars in the recall, driving it to your dealer is not going to get you killed. Toyota grew quickly and began to cut corners to save costs. The result is some faulty parts. They aren’t the first automaker to do it, and they won’t be the last.

The other thing to remember is that no car company is incapable of failure… or greatness. Branch out from the brands you’ve always bought and test-drive the best cars in your market segment. We’re here to help you. And you deserve to drive something worthwhile.

There are no great brands. But there are many great cars.

The Smoking Tire is hosted by Matt Farah, and grew out of the well known Garage 419. Matt is a great guy who seeks out anything fun on wheels, from scooters to track cars and everything in between. He was one of the first journalists to drive the Ford Raptor pickup, and excels at giving viewers an insider look at car events like SEMA. Plus, he speaks his mind on the cars he drives, so we were instant friends.

Motorz is hosted by Chris Duke, and grew out of the F-150 community into one of the best known installation shows anywhere. Chris demonstrates all kinds of installations for cars and trucks in an easy to follow and enjoyable style. Motorz has a reputation for inspiring its viewers to pick up tools and do things for themselves. Chris is a great guy and natural teacher.  Watch and learn the confidence and tools to make your ride more your own.

Both of these shows are promoting Everyday Driver, and we all already enjoying our involvement with AutoStream. Be sure to give these shows a try!

Due to glacially slow car sales, nearly every automaker is offering APR far below your bank. In many cases, 0% financing is available… and I’m no math guru, but paying for just the car is always better than paying for the car plus interest. If you plan to keep it until you pay off your loan (five years) then plan on saving more than $5,000 in interest costs alone!

Then there’s the CARS program, or as it’s commonly known, “Cash for Clunkers”. There are many rules (this is a government program after all), but if you qualify then you can roll into a dealer knowing exactly how much your trade in is worth. But be sure to check that you qualify and don’t submit your car if it’s worth more than the rebate amount. If you have an old SUV with a bunch of miles, there’s a good chance that $4,500 is more than you’d get if you sold it yourself.

And you haven’t even begun to negotiate! In this market, a real buyer is an endangered species. If you’re serious about a purchase, dealers are going to offer rock bottom prices. And if you find one who won’t, go down the block because someone else will. Whatever you have your eye on can be talked down to the the basement.  In addition to the struggling domestic brands, most everyone from Toyota to BMW are dealing and offering 0% or cash back.

Finally, even the taxman is helping for once. Buying a car in 2009 allows you to write off the income tax (the nasty part of the “tax, title, and license” equation) of your purchase. It will operate as a direct deduction on your taxable income. We are not accountants, but your tax adviser will back us up here.

Now unfortunately most of these great deals only apply to new cars. We love used cars and think the Cash for Clunkers program should apply to any vehicle purchase meeting the requirements, new or used. However, no one asked us. But this is a rare moment, like a solar eclipse, where the perfect alignment of trade in, timing, and financing can make new more affordable than used. Just do your research.

All told, with tax benefits, low or no interest financing, desperate dealers, and government trade in programs, this can quickly add up to well over $10,000 in savings. And if you have your eye on a car that’s especially slow selling or on it’s way to extinction (I’m looking at you, Pontiac!), then fight for the deal of a lifetime.

Shop while the shopping is good, cause this alignment of incentives is unlikely to come around again.

Todd: The death of Pontiac almost feels personal for me. My first car was a Pontiac Firebird. It wasn’t as good as advertised, but I loved it. And more recently, when asked to tell people of interesting American cars (an increasingly more common question), I always said the same two: Pontiac Solstice & Pontiac G8 GT.

Yes, Pontiac is a niche market brand. But for the first time in my driving life it seemed to be living up to its promise. For drivers, the future at Pontiac seemed bright. Have you seen the Solstice Coupe? Stunning. Powerful. And the G8 is a whole lot of car for not much money.

I can understand killing Saturn and Saab, those are rebadged versions of other GM cars. Ending those marquees allows the General to focus it’s brand. But Pontiac was always billed as the enthusiast brand, and GM needs enthusiasts.

Meanwhile… they are keeping Buick. Quick… name one Buick product? Or, I’ll go one better: If you are under sixty years old, can you name one Buick car you want to buy? They are uninteresting cars for old people. The Buick buyer is literally dying.

Now, I realize they are keeping Buick because China has decided it’s the new Mercedes Benz, and it’s the only market where GM is showing growth and profit. Too bad that in the process of surviving a global meltdown, the two cars I championed for GM are going away.

The good news is this: The parts in these cars aren’t going to be rare, but the cars will be. Buy them now, and you’ll get a great car for a steal.

Paul: I’ve got mixed emotions about the death of Pontiac. I didn’t grow up in the golden age of GM, during which it was unthinkable for the company to flounder. Back then, Pontiac was the wild child who advocated the idea of performance driving. Folks who experienced the muscle car era know that Pontiac created the segment in the sixties, when Pontiac offered the GTO option for the Tempest. Instead, I got to watch GM car design become a marketing exercise, rather than a singular, focused effort to produce beautiful machinery.

The seventies brought the Firebird and Firebird Trans Am. In the eighties, car platforms were unified, and similar models throughout GM were marketed as unique. The Fiero aside, Pontiacs became cars I couldn’t ignore quickly enough. Pontiac 6000, anyone? In the nineties, I felt continued indifference towards the design approach, as the brand became synonymous with plastic body cladding that left me stupefied. The Sunfire and Montana minivan caused me to lose sleep. Finally, when the Aztec checked all the right boxes for the marketing team, I reveled in its failure.

Then came the Pontiac Solstice. Suddenly, Pontiac produced fresh clean design—they had formulated a tasty new recipe, and the motoring world was astonished. Then followed the Vibe, the GTO, the G8 and the upcoming Solstice Coupe, which in my opinion, has the distinction as the prettiest car Pontiac has ever produced.

Just when I believe Pontiac had inaugurated a bright new future, it was killed. While I understand that tough decisions had to be made in response to the government bailout, I would have rather seen Pontiac create machines that touch a nerve among enthusiasts. Here’s where my mixed feelings arise, however. If Pontiac had constructed a new Trans Am from a Camaro chassis, I would have been disappointed. Enough of this badge marketing business, already. I’ve started to crave the originality Pontiac has established, and therefore wish Pontiac had persevered.

I won’t miss the marketing geniuses who created the forgettable cars, but I’ll miss the creative spirit that made the brand significant again. I am saddened by its passing. Long live Pontiac.

THE FOUR DOOR SPORTS CAR:

‘09 NISSAN MAXIMA: Nissan coined the term four-door sports car for their Maxima (4DSC for short) but the last few generations lost their way. The new model marks a return to the concept.

Todd: This is definitely the most interesting Maxima in quite a while. As the Altima has grown, the two cars had become almost indistinguishable. Now, this new Maxima looks unique, not just for Nissan, but among any brand.

But these days there’s a lot more models trying to get the family into a fun four door, so it’s gonna take more than a great profile and arrow shaped lights to stand out. Seems to me this four-door sports car needs to be Rear Wheel Drive. I realize that would mean it could step on Infiniti’s toes – but the interior already looks like the Infiniti sedan. Good seats, nice interior materials except for a few plastics. A great Maxima, I just wish it wasn’t just sports car in name.

Paul: For the 2009 Maxima, the simple, refined surface treatment has re-appeared. A lot of what I haven’t liked about Nissan styling has gone away, and the styling doesn’t look heavy or careless anymore.

I would have loved to be in the meeting when Nissan decided on these new corporate styling shapes. I still can’t figure out the odd lines of the headlights & taillights—they feel like they’re forced onto the car, but without them, the Maxima looks plain boring. The only saving grace is the muscular fender flares, which make you wonder if that sporting character is still lurking underneath somewhere.

If you’re unable create a beautiful shape to begin with, then start over. The details shouldn’t drive the design; the details should dress the car like a nice belt or quality pair of shoes. Unless the Maxima puts a big smile on my face when I drive it, Nissan hasn’t delivered a compelling reason to choose this over any other competitor.

PONTIAC G8 GT: GM’s latest attempt to bring an Australian car to the US. And from the day it was announced, this car was declared the American answer to the 5 Series BMW.

Todd: This is, truly, a four door sports car. Now, let’s not pretend it has the refinement of the German rocket sedans, but it lacks their price as well. Even though there will be a GXP extra-spicy version, this G8 will do 0-60 in close to 5 seconds! With you and and the whole family!

Now, the interior isn’t cutting edge. Very middle of the road with everything you expect or want, but nothing revolutionary. Yet considering this car starts at $29,000, you’re getting a lot of family HAULING. This is one of the reasons we should all want GM to survive.

Paul: This car is the school bully your mother warned you about. If you get too close, you’re gonna get hurt. Nothing about the styling is conservative, but that’s what makes it so cool!

The G8 is the tattoo under your business suit—it’s pretty aggressive looking, but the power hidden underneath is reason fast sedans with big motors will always have audience appeal. Like Todd said, much hauling will occur, whether it be golf clubs, kids, co-workers or ass.

You’ll have to sacrifice a few things, like refinement and forward-thinking technology, but we all know there’s no replacement for displacement. Combine that with the low price; like a street performer, this car is difficult to ignore.

Look for more commentary soon. Plus upcoming drives of these cars!

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MUSCLE CARS:

CAMARO SS: While we aren’t big muscle-car fans, we love the new resurgence of this long-forgotten segment.  It’s been a long decade since the Camaro went away, and it’s good to have it back.

Todd: I still don’t agree with the retro trend in the latest muscle cars, but this Camaro does look great. Great presence and big, American styling cues. I like this even more than the Challenger.

And to my complete surprise, the interior is as purpose built as the exterior. Here is the first good execution of modernizing the classic muscle car interior. The Challenger and Mustang look like they raided the corporate parts bin. The Camaro looks like they actually paid someone to design the inside!

Now we have to all hope GM survives and sells this car. Because if you aren’t convinced yet, the 400hp SS starts at $31,000. That’s thousands less than the 400hp versions of the other options. If you’re idea of fun is leaving figure 11s at the stoplight, your car has arrived.

Paul: I’m not a muscle-car enthusiast either, but I gotta admit, the Camaro looks pretty cool. I guess sometimes you have to look back to move forward, and in this case, it’s worked well.

Because the styling is so right, I think it will bring buyers from the ends of the earth. It’s pulling on those nostalgic heart strings, which we all know are directly attached to Visa and Mastercard. The Camaro is aggressive and muscular without being too in-your-face. There are some styling clichés, but overall the surfaces are well resolved and clean. And the interior looks like an amusement park ride—I dare you to show me someone who refuses to drive this car.

I’m having a hard time finding fault with the new Camaro. It’s kind of like a forgone conclusion—Dodge resurrected the Challenger, and Ford has the Mustang. So, GM had to build this car. Even though the trend is retro, the 60’s thinking has been updated, refined and polished, and I think the old chicken makes good soup…

MUSTANG: Another LA Auto Show debut. The 2010 model was out in force with Ford patting itself on the back and the press drooling on the paint.

Todd: For most people, you’d have to park this new model next to the old model for them to notice the difference. Yes, it’s different from almost every angle. But it looks like they took the last design, stuck an air compressor up the tailpipe, and inflated it until all the seams expanded. It reminds me of those mylar balloon versions of cars and planes. It looks like the vehicle in question, but every good seam is rounded off and bulging. And I hate the new sloping rear, even if it does have sequential turn signals – how uninteresting does a car have to be for the turn signals to get mentioned in the press release?

Now, it does have improvements. The presence is there, more so than the last version and you can feel that this version will better hold its own when parked beside a Challenger. Plus the interior now looks like some of was built for the Mustang instead of filling the car with parts stolen from the rest of the Ford line. I get the sense Ford saw the Challenger and Camaro and realized they had to up their game. They’ve come to play here, but the Mustang is still my last choice.

Paul: I’ve always felt that Mustang interior designs suffered from lack of attention, budget, or both. All previous Mustangs have a slap-dash feel to the build quality. But this caught my attention—I think I could finally be happy driving this car, and it feels like it will keep me entertained longer than a single drive.

Regarding the “new” exterior styling though, I want to howl in despair. The car appears to have a severe underbite, like Forrest Gump’s Benjamin Buford Blue. The front hood has been sat upon by an elephant, and the rear quarter panels are now child-birthing hips hidden under a thick denim skirt. There is nothing nice about that rear shoulder line that ends like an escalator to nowhere.

When it comes to change for the sake of change, sometimes it’s not better, it’s merely different. Pull out that 2003 Mustang concept, Ford design team, and study those clean proportions again! That’s exactly what was so right about that car! The 2010 Mustang styling already looks like it’s drifting away into the pages of automobile history books.

Look for more commentary soon.  Plus upcoming drives of these cars!

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SPORTS SEDANS:

AUDI A4 – Redesigned for the 2009 model, with all the standard trends of larger and more powerful:

Todd: Look, Audi’s are awesome, with the most amazing interiors in the business… but this new A4 – I can’t tell it’s an Audi from the outside. Yes, it’s got the Audi Corporate front end with the huge grill and eye-liner LED driving lights. But from the side –

“What’s that, the new Honda Accord? No? A Bimmer? No?… wait… that’s an Audi?” I just don’t care, it’s completely uninteresting and I liked the last A4 better.

Oh, and the more room being advertised for this new model… the back seats are still unusable. And it costs more. Go buy a used one, and you’re better off.

Paul: I’m a fan of Audi, evidenced by the fact that I own an A4 avante and find Audi’s to be the best-looking, best-built and most engaging cars available. When I saw the new A4, however, I mis-took it for a Corolla from the rear angle. What happened to the logical and refined styling?

Shoehorning corporate styling cues onto all shapes and sizes is not always the recipe for success. The new A4 is a slightly larger car, and the fierce grille and headlights work great on the big A6 & A8, but in this case, it turns out to be a bit uninteresting, like vanilla ice cream missing its chocolate sauce.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, though, I feel like I’m inside an expensive car. The materials and fit & finish are unassailable. Car ownership is about interaction with the machine, and if things just don’t feel right, then you don’t like it. But the interior quality is fantastic—I feel like a million bucks. How can I not like it?

VW Passat CC: – Volkswagen follows the trend started by the Mercedes CLS and makes a sweeping coupe-like four-door.  The most interesting VW in years.

Todd: I don’t think this has ever been said before – what we have here is a sexy VW sedan! I like this car from every single angle. The Audi connection is clear here, but I like this more than the A4 or A6.

A driver focused interior, with fantastic materials, fit, and finish. Plus, great seats for passengers front and rear! Actual adults with legs can sit in the back, ideally they should be under six-feet tall, but even I’d rather ride back here than the back of an A4 or 3 series BMW.

Loaded, with the full 4motion AWD and all the options it comes in a few thousand less than a similar A4. I can’t say I’d tell anyone to get the A4 instead.

Paul: I really like the styling direction VW is going with the CC. Never before have you been able to call a VW beautiful. Functional and cool-looking, yes, but this car finally brings style to the party. The CC could be painted in colors inspired by the local landfill and it would still be gorgeous.

After sitting in the CC, though, it fear it’s going to be like a leftover Valentine’s Day chocolate—all soft and gooey on the inside. I don’t perceive any sporting intentions about this car at all, so in what market is the CC positioned? Maybe VW is chasing aspirational Lexus buyers, which is odd. Is it a 5-series competitor? A Jaguar XF alternative? Something to poach sales from Infiniti or Volvo?

Whatever the case, the driving position feels like a spa chair, ready to magically conjure up new road-trip destinations. I can sense the breeding in the build quality, so maybe the CC is the new reason to use gasoline! I can’t wait to drive it, and feel what it’s really like…

That wraps up our two sedans of note from the 2009 LA Auto Show. Look for other market segment discussions here.

SPORTS CARS:

NISSAN 370z – The world debut of the new Zcar – using Nissan’s fantastic 3.7 liter V6. It’s smaller, lighter, and more powerful. That’s a great sentence.

Todd: I want to love this car. I own a 300zx and I keep waiting for a new Z car to come out and be as revolutionary and lust-inducing as the ’90-’96 version.

Sadly, this ain’t it. The styling is evolutionary, not revolutionary. It’s the 350 with influence from the 260z and the Nissan’s new arrowhead light obsession. While I like some of the details by themselves: like the lights, the shark tooth front facia, and the light up Z logos on the quarter panels, put all together and it starts to feel gimmicky. I fear this design will not age well, and in some colors the car looks fat-assed.

The interior, however, is a revelation. This is the nice material, well-designed cockpit which the 350z should have had. A great place to sit, and it has all the nav and electronic options of the modern interior while still feeling focused on driving. That’s an amazing feat.

Paul: I liked the 350 a lot, so I had high hopes riding on the next generation. At first glance, I wouldn’t call the 370 ugly, but I think this is a case of trying too hard—as if it was left in the oven too long, like a deflated soufflé.

I don’t understand the overly aggressive headlight and taillight treatment—I’m sure the sketches were very nice, but my poor eyes tired of looking at the real thing after only 10 minutes. Extremely fiddly and fussy surface treatment, with details that don’t mesh well—they look pasted on.

Fortunately, if you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, you won’t have to worry about all that. The only concern will be which fun, gadgety feature to experience next. The interior excites me, like it wants to get me drunk and tease me about how much fun this car is to drive. The materials feel good, and the controls are extremely driver-oriented. It’s almost like a wanna-be Ferrari cockpit, which is a very good thing.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe – Not a debut, but not in your showroom just yet either. Though it’s odd to us that it bears the same name as Hyundai’s new Lexus-chasing sedan, this one is no less surprising.

Todd: I’ve sat in this car a few times now and I continue to be impressed every time I see it. It’s essentially a bargain sports car – which typically meant something awful and front wheel drive like the Mitsubishi Eclipse. But here’s a car trying to be the Infiniti G coupe for less money.

There’s plenty to like here, with rear wheel drive, two plus two seating, and a couple of engine choices. The styling is pleasing without taking any risks. The only place “Hyundai” begins to show is the quality of some interior plastics, but it’s better than the interior of the 350z, the Mazda Rx8, or the Mustang! The designers must have had desktop wallpaper of the G35 coupe, cause the influence is obvious in the center stack.

But if the worst thing I can say is this car reminds me of something more expensive – I think that actually becomes an endorsement. Can’t wait to drive it.

Paul: I’ve felt for years that Hyundai, like a teenager, has been searching for its own sense of self. The Genesis Coupe indicates not only has that discovery process happened, but there’s been an awakening that could spawn its own self-help program. Welcome to adulthood, Hyundai.

The styling is delicate and refined. The front of the Genesis Coupe looks aggressive without appearing pinched or harsh. The inverting character lines running the length of the shoulder are treated with a new-found sensitivity, and the careful shape of the windows indicate a possible corporate standard. The rear of the car looks solid and resolved, and will cause many people to double-take.

Not only is the Coupe rear-wheel drive, but it has an available 3.8L V6. The interior is thoughtful, logical and smartly laid out. I noticed some cheaper-feeling materials, but overall, there’s a lot of room, and combined with the best car warranty you can buy, what’s there not to like?

That wraps up our two sports cars of note from the 2009 LA Auto Show.  Look for other market segment discussions here.

For 2009, Acura has completely redesigned the TL, and it’s grown in every way except beauty. Acura’s new grill design looks like the Batmobile from 1950s comics, and that’s not a good thing. But it means great deals can be found on the more attractive third generation TL, the 2004-08 model. If you’re in the market for a nice four-door sedan and you’ve even looked at the Accord or Camry, you must keep reading.

The TL stands out like the head cheerleader among band girls. Park it in a line of four-door sameness and you’ll notice its wedge shape and crisp angles. It looks rear-wheel drive and ready to fight the Germans. Except it isn’t RWD.

The TL sends 258 horses to the front wheels. That’s a perfect recipe for torque steer, but the TL does a good job of hiding the problem. On tight mountain roads the overworked front wheels only complained when things got far into sports car territory. Most will probably never notice, especially if they’re used to less sporty front-drivers. The suspension tells the tale best, with better road sensation and a firmer ride than the Camry’s of the world. The Nissan Maxima may have coined the four-door-sports-car slogan, but since ‘04 the TL has carried the torch.

So it isn’t a BMW, but neither is the pricetag. Acura remains the oft-forgotten Japanese luxury brand with the bomb-proof performance of Hondas everywhere. Getting all these options from the Germans would add a whole Civic to the price of a TL. If you’ve never cared about how the power gets to the road, then forget the Rondel, the Star, or the Rings and buy the Acura.

One of the first and best of the current style navigation systems was introduced with the ’04 TL, and even in the ’08 it remains a marvel. In this world where car-salesman sound more like computer salesmen there’s plenty to show off here. Any voice-activated, auto-dialing, restaurant finding, traffic-avoiding, or route-guiding feature you’ve drooled over can be found in the TL. And some engineer tried to connect all of this to buttons on the steering wheel, resulting in more than a dozen across the huge center hub. While it’s cool to punch the voice button and tell the car to lower the fan speed, I can turn it down myself in half the time.

Which brings me to the few strange occurrences in this comfortable and well thought-out interior. There’s a tape deck in the center, which even in 2004 was so outdated that it sticks out like an 8-trak in a Gremlin. And this NASA quality navi-computer doesn’t have a USB port for your iPod. Sure, there’s a mini-plug auxiliary port, but the hands-free designing doesn’t work if you’ve still got your thumb in the center console scrolling through playlists.

In the end, we’re far more interested in the driving experience than Blue-tooth or Navigation help. And the TL bridges the gap between affordable front driver boredom and expensive European luxury. The engine has plenty of power after it gets past three-thousand revs, and it even makes a nice rumble which drifts into the otherwise quiet cabin. Only the abrupt downshifting spoils the smoothness, with the automatic lurching through a two-cog kick-down when you need to pass. Though the TL is available in a 6 speed manual, most will go for the 5 speed auto. And with it, I’d trade half the steering-wheel buttons for a good pair of shift paddles and quick-blipping transmission. But that’s me, and not this market segment.

Interior materials offer various textures, all of them pleasing to the touch and as precisely placed as a well-made watch. Comfortable seats and rear leg room for actual adults. Even decent gas mileage. A real car, with a bit of standout style.

If you’re looking for a roomy, affordable, four-door which still gives some sensation of fun, then the TL is calling you. Prices for a clean ’04 start under $20,000. And dealers who still have new ‘08s on their lots are looking to unload them for close to $30,000.

Whatever you’re eyeing… give the TL a glance.

1—I’m fortunate to say I already own one of the cars in my dream $100K garage. It’s a silver 2004 Audi A4 Avant Ultrasport 3.0. Okay, you say, it’s a station wagon. Yeah, but this ain’t no ordinary wagon. It’s a sharp-looking, sporty little cargo carrier with Quattro all-wheel-drive, adequate space for people, comfortable for road trips, gets pretty good gas mileage for as much power as it has, and I’ve got space in the back for my snowboard or beach cooler or camping gear. At this point in my life, I don’t have kids or a dog, but I want to haul stuff, and pick up friends. It also works well as a car to drive every day to work. It’s small enough to fit in parking garage spaces, maneuver around parking lots, and big enough to carry groceries and gear. Slightly used, it’s $30K well spent.

2—Okay, I’m not much of a truck person, but I like them. I like the ability to haul even more/bigger stuff. (We Americans and our stuff.) I don’t quite need the cargo-hauling capacity of a pickup truck or a big SUV, but I may need to tow a boat or a trailer under 5000 pounds. I’d like the ability to truly go off-road. I’d like something with terrific build quality, lots of power, decent gas mileage, good resale value, true off-highway ability, fairly compact on the outside, but can still haul a fair amount of cargo in the back when I fold the seats down. And it has to look good. All I can think of is one car that fits these requirements. The Porsche Cayenne S. Now, before you start throwing stones, let me explain. The only thing the Cayenne shares with the VW Touareg is the chassis. Everything else, from seats and interior to engine and drivetrain, is Porsche specific. The Cayenne S has 340 hp, it’s still fairly compact in exterior dimensions, and most importantly, it has true off-road ability. Porsche built these things to take extreme temperatures and conditions. It can cruise at speeds above 130, and then turn its wheels to dirt and rocks. As far as styling goes, it’s polarizing, I agree. Yes, some things I would change. But overall, the designers did a great job combining corporate Porsche styling with a large vehicle. A good used 2004 Cayenne S is about $32K. Done.

3—My third choice is easy. I want a sports car. Something that is so much fun to drive, I never want to stop. I’ve got $38K left to spend. It has to be striking in design, beautiful to look at, reliable, quick, corners/handles amazingly well, and affordable in insurance costs. Insert a Lotus Elise here. I think I’ll take one in Red. Or Solar Yellow. It’s a car that grabs your eyeballs, refuses to let them go, and absolutely beats them into submission with its good looks. It looks like a whole bunch of fun standing still. Just wait ‘till you drive one…..

Tell us about your $100k garage.