@Susan: Explaining the hate thread...ha! You should have demanded that they justify their lovie-dovieness.

Sync is a Ford/Microsoft technology that lets you use voice commands -- among other things -- in your car.

@CS: Never any doubt about Sync. It worked great on my overnight demo.

BTW, my son pulled the "pull my finger" on me w/style. Pretended he had jammed a finger, then nuked me. Dad was so proud.

Toyotas are great. My wife has a Camry Hybrid and I had a little Tercel hatch that was my b-school/pizza delivery car.

Ford has seriously stepped up its game though. The better half is Fusion Hybrid bound.

Wasn't that hard as I never was much of a fan anyway. An occasional Caddy or truck tempted me as I got older, but the memory of my '77 Monte or mid-80's McDonald's company car would creep in.

Try negotiating with chaps.

This guy is a pro. He was working a deal with an older woman when I returned my overnight.

He had worked up numbers and my trade already. He was about $500 away from the car buying service price and spot on the Edmunds price I had in my back pocket. The trade was more than fair.

I'll be back first thing tomorrow...probably buying a full trim level from where I was thinking at first.

And cash money...Dave Ramsey all the way.

Moving from a Santa Fe. Liked the Venza, but it was just a little bigger than what I wanted. The Rav-4 was a close call...the Escape had a better driving position for a big guy like me (which is not what the reviews said).

Had the opposite experience Toyota vs. Ford. Very clear that I was early stage comparison shopping, but the Toyota sales guy pulled the "make them cool their heels while I pull a credit report" before the test drive stunt. One more "wait while I get the manager."

Bush league...I've been on both sides of $200MM+ deals so I've been [CoC violated] by the best.

I told the Toyota sales manager very politely that I was very clear to his sales guy that I was here for a no muss, no fuss test drive. Better ways to qualify me as a lead or get me to deal than trying to sweat or freeze me.

More than happy to play Angry Birds Space with my son.

BTW, it looks like I'll buy a new car today. Ford Escape. Nice drive, solid sales guy. Had the car overnight. Now to quibble about trim and price.

As much as it pains me to support the Obama economy, at least it isn't a bailoutmobile.

Happy Hate Anniversary, BTW.

They'll need to upgrade to Ricochet 2.0 just to keep the hate rolling.

Confusion to your enemies and a smooth launch to the new R2.0. It should be awesome.

Is it blasphemous for me to say this prayer?

Lord, if it be Thy Will, please allow President Obama to say: "People have got to know whether or not their President's a crook."

To prolong the agony.

BREAKING: A long-haul truck driver named Dave Carter -- also known for pungent right-wing commentary on Ricochet.com -- broke into a Tractor Supply store at 2:48 AM, grabbed 10 gallons of iodine, and poured it all over himself.

When asked for comment, Mr. Carter kept mumbling "gotta get those hater cooties off me... I can feel them writing about me..."

Stall, schmall. Why do you think they call it the "Ride of Pride?"