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Curbside Classics Archives
About Author: johnli
Posts by johnli
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![I really liked my 2012 Ford Focus SE. It was practical, it was fuel efficient, and it was yellow. It was perfectly content on my daily commute, and surprisingly […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_0903.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 2014 Focus ST – Baked Brakes")
COAL: 2014 Focus ST – Baked Brakes
Posted on June 28, 2020 | 21 CommentsI really liked my 2012 Ford Focus SE. It was practical, it was fuel efficient, and it was yellow. It was perfectly content on my daily commute, and surprisingly […] -
![In 1964, Ford introduced the Mustang to the world. Fifty years later, Ford would introduce a new Mustang, the first one ever with independent rear suspension, and Mustang clubs around […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/54700035.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: Taking My ’66 To The Mustang’s 50th Birthday Party")
COAL: Taking My ’66 To The Mustang’s 50th Birthday Party
Posted on June 21, 2020 | 12 CommentsIn 1964, Ford introduced the Mustang to the world. Fifty years later, Ford would introduce a new Mustang, the first one ever with independent rear suspension, and Mustang clubs around […] -
![Things were going well. I had moved to Michigan to work a job in the auto industry, I had brought my Miata with me to and purchased a brand […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/mustang_rantoul.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1966 Ford Mustang – The Perfect “First Classic Car”")
COAL: 1966 Ford Mustang – The Perfect “First Classic Car”
Posted on June 14, 2020 | 27 CommentsThings were going well. I had moved to Michigan to work a job in the auto industry, I had brought my Miata with me to and purchased a brand […] -
![Having moved from Central Illinois to Southeast Michigan and finding myself a condo with a two car garage, I was determined to retire the 2009 Mazda Miata from daily driver […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_6358.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 2012 Ford Focus SE – Doing Hot Hatch Things With A Not-Hot Hatch")
COAL: 2012 Ford Focus SE – Doing Hot Hatch Things With A Not-Hot Hatch
Posted on June 7, 2020 | 19 CommentsHaving moved from Central Illinois to Southeast Michigan and finding myself a condo with a two car garage, I was determined to retire the 2009 Mazda Miata from daily driver […] -
![I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December of 2008. By then, the Great Recession was in full swing, and my new Mechanical Engineering degree didn’t […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/JJL_1876.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: New Miata, New Beginnings")
COAL: New Miata, New Beginnings
Posted on May 31, 2020 | 16 CommentsI graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December of 2008. By then, the Great Recession was in full swing, and my new Mechanical Engineering degree didn’t […] -
![My 1991 Mazda Miata was purchased from Gurnee, Illinois, one of the many suburbs ringing the city of Chicago. It was a relatively high mileage car that was originally equipped […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/0102080934.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: Learning To Wrench On a Rust Belt Car, Or How I learned Not To Fear the Cutting Wheel")
COAL: Learning To Wrench On a Rust Belt Car, Or How I learned Not To Fear the Cutting Wheel
Posted on May 24, 2020 | 15 CommentsMy 1991 Mazda Miata was purchased from Gurnee, Illinois, one of the many suburbs ringing the city of Chicago. It was a relatively high mileage car that was originally equipped […] -
![After I sold my Audi A4, I was determined to have a cool little sports car for my next ride. I had taken up autocrossing, and as good as the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3341148225_f3c4cb8a08_o.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1991 Mazda Miata – The Perfect Sports Car For A College Student")
COAL: 1991 Mazda Miata – The Perfect Sports Car For A College Student
Posted on May 17, 2020 | 19 CommentsAfter I sold my Audi A4, I was determined to have a cool little sports car for my next ride. I had taken up autocrossing, and as good as the […] -
![(this revised version replaces the one that was posted earlier) Despite the mechanical maladies I had with my 1998 Audi A4, I am thankful that the Audi was my […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG_1789.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: Motorsports With a Sedan")
COAL: Motorsports With a Sedan
Posted on May 10, 2020 | 6 Comments(this revised version replaces the one that was posted earlier) Despite the mechanical maladies I had with my 1998 Audi A4, I am thankful that the Audi was my […] -
![After the demise of my first car, my 1991 Subaru Legacy, I decided that my next car had to be a manual transmission car. After all, the cool sports cars […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_5830.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: Teaching Myself To Drive Stick In A 1998 Audi A4")
COAL: Teaching Myself To Drive Stick In A 1998 Audi A4
Posted on May 3, 2020 | 34 CommentsAfter the demise of my first car, my 1991 Subaru Legacy, I decided that my next car had to be a manual transmission car. After all, the cool sports cars […] -
![(a slightly belated welcome to John Li, our new Sunday COALman. He’s got some great stories to share) I grew up the only gearhead in the family. My parents viewed […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/img_1873.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: My Very First Car, a 1991 Subaru Legacy – Who Needs An Oil Change Anyway?")
COAL: My Very First Car, a 1991 Subaru Legacy – Who Needs An Oil Change Anyway?
Posted on April 26, 2020 | 30 Comments(a slightly belated welcome to John Li, our new Sunday COALman. He’s got some great stories to share) I grew up the only gearhead in the family. My parents viewed […]
