My kid loves the style of the PT Cruiser, enough to have a fine collection of models and PT posters in her room. With the turbo and Getrag transmission it can now get out of it's own way. We did look at them and drove a couple of examples, but they "feel" so cheap after a Volvo! Not just me, my kid also noticed the plasticky controls.

Another possibility is the 210 hp Subaru Forester XT turbo, available this summer. Subaru has the sort of "tupperware" feel typical of mainline Japanese designs. But at least the boxer 4 was inspired by Dr. Porsche's design. As you might have read, the fothcoming Saab 9-2 will be built in Japan by Fuji Industries (Subaru) so it looks like they've thrown in the towel.



Part of my rationale for buying the T5 in the first place was that the car would still be amusing after the shine wore off. It still is. But I'm getting just slightly apprehensive because I make 100 mile trecks into the boondocks and mechanical problems could ruin my whole day.

Yannis notes vast improvements to the Volvo model line coming for 2005. Hmmmmm. Well, it would only have 150k on it by then....

-Punxsutawney Phil