Confession #59: The SUV-sedan is the strangest combination that won't go away

Most wagon fans have come to terms as much as possible with jacked-up wagons, if only as a way of keeping the breed alive somehow. With successes like the Subaru Outback, you can't really argue with it – and it's about all of the SUV many, many people need.

But the offshoot of this wagon-with-cladding trend is the curious sedan-with-cladding, the likes of which haven't been seen since 2007. Thanks to Volvo and the S60 Cross Country, it's back and as charmingly confusing as ever.

Confession #31: Nostalgia sometimes trumps good judgement

1987 Renault GTA

If the Internet has done anything (other than make normal people think they won’t miss local newspapers if they were to disappear) then it’s made the ability to buy something in a matter of seconds way too easy. The other day, my roommate was looking at buying 5 lbs. of pens online for $18. I didn’t know you could buy pens the same way one would buy flour.

I’m stuck with a similar affliction, but at least my bank balance has been kept intact. So far, that is. I’ve already admitted my tendency to shop for cars on eBay, AutoTrader.com, etc. that only an eccentric would long for – cars that no sane person would buy. Alfa Romeos from the 1980s and ‘90s, anything French (there was a really good-looking 1987 Renault GTA coupe – basically a “hot-ish” Renault Alliance – going for cheap the other day), some offbeat German models, you name it.

Confession #17: It must be tough to sell cars

I once flirted with the idea of selling cars. Being a journalist isn’t exactly a cakewalk these days and being a new car salesman, minus a garish blazer and greasy hair, seems good in comparison. At least when the economy gets better.

Car companies have been trying for years to get creative with marketing videos promoting their new products. And it’s ranged from the boring to the ridiculous.

AMC/Renault clearly thought the best way to distract people from the box-inspired 1985 Alliance Convertible was to make a very 1980s-ish music video featuring their new flagship. Except they decided to stage the dance routines in what looked like an old John Wayne movie set. And there are mimes for French effect because ... why wouldn't there be?

Confession #5: Ugliness loves company

What is Acura thinking these days?

The downhill march in terms of styling was already starting to happen before they took the handsome TL from 2004-08, and made it into the bucktoothed blob currently for sale today. And being such wise marketers, they decided to fit the top-spec Type-S version with basically the same drivetrain as the more expensive flagship RL sedan, thus rendering it redundant. Good job, guys.

But nothing seems as stupid as their newest monstrosity--the ZDX. After listening to an Autoblog podcast where the three men were discussing Acura's newest thing, I have discovered people who aren't completely disgusted by this car. I don't see why they need to defend it.

The ZDX is hideous from every angle. I've never seen so many cutlines on a car's exterior, nor as many sharp points. The whole point of a sloping roofline is to make a car look more rakish, but I don't see what purpose it serves the ZDX, other than to make it more impractical. It may have five seats and the same engine from the TL Type-S mated to a new six-speed automatic, but let's cut to the chase: it's just a tall hatchback. Who is going to buy this? And more importantly, what made Acura build it?

Oh yeah, it was BMW. Remember the X6? Someone at Acura apparently thought it was a good idea.