Harry P.

I don't think it's possible for GM to look any worse than they do right now. I mean, today alone, SIX separate recalls. Today alone! That's several years worth of bad publicity... in one day! On top of all the other recalls already! And all the ones to come. I wish I had the Maalox concession at GM HQ!

If I worked as a GM PR/advertising guy, I'd be looking for a bridge to jump off of right about now...

Give it a day or two... they'll find something wrong!

All mine were just that... nails or screws.

Let's be honest: no spare, a few bucks cheaper to make the car. And for every customer that orders that $200 spare tire... ka-CHING! It's all about the $$$, nothing else.

I don't know if I'm just "lucky," but I've had 4-5 flats within a two-year span a few years ago. Not off-roading or anything... just normal commuting on normal suburban streets. Just bad luck, I guess. I don't know how "rare" a flat is these days, but for me they're not rare at all. And I'm glad my car (the one previous to the one I own now) had a spare tire.

A detailed timeline of the whole GM mess here if you're interested: http://money.cnn.com/infographic/pf/autos/gm-recall-timeline/ Maybe the most embarrassing part: June 5: GM’s internal probe into the delayed ignition switch recall finds "a pattern of incompetence and neglect" throughout the company. (GM CEO Mary) Barra says she has dismissed 15 employees and disciplined 5 more for their handling of the matter. The automaker also says the number of deaths tied to its flawed ignition switch may be more than the total of 13 it has disclosed publicly.

Another day, another massive recall announced today... General Motors said it will recall 3.16 million mid-size and large cars to modify their ignition keys to prevent the same problem that has been blamed for 13 deaths and 54 crashes in small cars that GM recalled earlier this year. Along with five other smaller recalls for other matters that GM announced simultaneously today, GM now has announced 44 recalls this year covering 17 million U.S. vehicles. Wow.

Revised photo. I didn't realize that the photo I posted was a one-off wagon conversion. This is the actual production car.

And a loaf of bread used to be ten cents. Why would model cars and supplies be immune to inflation? Those prices go up just like the price of everything.

From the Ford Roadside Assistance sheet: It does seem that today nobody gets a flat tire, but what if you did? Not to worry. Roadside Assistance will be there to change your tire for you. Tire change service requires the customer to have a useable spare tire. Um, if the new Mustang doesn't come with a spare tire, how is that supposed to work?

Actually it all ties together... needlessly over-priced coffee in your needlessly heated/cooled car cupholder...

Exactly. Tried it once, could barely get it down. Probably the worst tasting cup of coffee I've ever had (it was just plain coffee, not one of their frou-frou "coffee drinks"). How they sell the stuff at five bucks a pop is a mystery to me.

I found out that a spare tire is now a $200 option. No run-flat tires, but a spare is optional? I wonder how many irate phone calls Ford will get from future Mustang owners with flats who didn't realize that the car came without a spare tire (unless they paid extra for one).

Remember, don't post any hints or answers here! PM me with year, make, and model. The answer: 1961 Vauxhall Velox Estate

As you say, all of the things you mentioned (as have others) aren't anywhere near the level of "major" that would cause anyone to throw up their hands in disgust and say "I quit." I still hope Roger decides to tell us about the issues he found.

Mmmmmmmmmm!

I also like Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Again, not the "coffee drinks," but good old plain undisguised coffee. Very good.

Well done.

He could clear up all the mystery if he would just tell us about this "major flaw" he found, couldn't he? Why the game playing?

That is absolutely beautiful!

Rich... you can do it!