"As to the making fun part. It's all good-natured ribbing since many of us have known each other for years."

Bit of a knee-jerk response on my part. I've just heard it so much over the years when I knew it wasn't intended kindly.

"I'm surprised that they haven't thought of front-wheel drives. It is much more convenient when it snows since the weight is on the tires that do the work."

Having front-wheel drive sure kept me going on many occasions, but then I've usually had weenie little cars. Do any pickup trucks have front-wheel drive? The van I sometimes drive now does not. It seems like an obvious solution to me, but mainly my knowledge about trucks is confined to knowing one when I see it.