Wow - dat'sa lotta posts for one quick question. LOL
We live in central PA where we get weather (whether we like it or not, it snows a lot). On the search for a new car, we just got an SUV with lotsa torque and plenty of HP.
The little black 'tour will still be in service - going on regular business trips with my wife and me, and as a daily driver when my oldest daughter gets her DL.
If this were my son, I'm sure he'd be after me to pop on a S/C or a turbo (when he's old enough to appreciate it, he'll want the Turbo but will get the SC). But, my girl is more concerned that I clean the carpets and keep the paint shiney until she can drive it regularly.
Either way, I'm keeping the my Zetec. As a matter of priciple, you can have the 'tour when you pry the steering wheel out of my cold, dead hands.
Thanks again for all the posts. Great information.