Shawdesh Desk:

You’re all amped up about buying your new car. You negotiated its price, calculated your monthly payment, purchased insurance, and now it’s time to register it. But surprise! With the closing of registration loopholes in California and Utah that reduced some residents’ fees, these states will pull more cash out of their citizens’ wallets. Vermont, too, recently slammed its registration loopholes shut.

Like it or not, states have very variable registration costs. Some can be pretty reasonable, while others can set you back a considerable chunk of change. And as you can imagine, many factors go into how a state develops its fee structure for motor vehicle registration. What could be a relatively simple fee structure in one state can be completely different in another.

States often look at things like the car’s weight, age, value, miles per gallon, transportation improvement initiatives, and the county where the vehicle is to be registered. With all these variables, it’s somewhat difficult to pin down precisely what it’s going to cost you to get your ride on the road. So we’re going to take a look at the approximate average yearly car registration fee in the five most expensive U.S. states, and show you how much dough you’re going to have to take out of your piggy bank there to satisfy those fees.

What are the damages?
zmotions/Shutterstock
In fifth place is Alaska, with an average yearly cost of $100. It uses a simple flat base registration fee, which makes understanding how much the registration is going to cost you a breeze. There are other fees outside the base registration, but they’re relatively small.

The District of Columbia isn’t a state, but we should note that it costs $114 to register your car there. Then buckle up for the next most expensive state.

Big Sky Country holds fourth place. It’s an attractive place to register a car for some out-of-state people. That’s because Montana doesn’t have a sales tax, so some people have registered their cars there in an attempt to avoid paying the tax in their real home state. Lots of people take advantage of this scheme, but when analyzed, there are pitfalls to the Montana license plate scam. Registering your car in the lightly populated and wide-open spaces of Montana will set you back approximately $127 a year.

The third most expensive place is the Beaver State. If you’re not up on your tree-eating quadruped named states, Oregon is the median of this high-price grouping. It bases its fee rates not only on the car’s model year but also on the miles per gallon it’s rated for.

The heavy hitters
SuperSonic337/Wikimedia Commons
We’re now up to the two most expensive states to register your car in the U.S. One of the two states is highly populated, while the other is less so.

Coming in as the penultimate most expensive place to register your car is Illinois. Getting your car registered is going to set you back a flat fee of $151 each year. While Illinois’ car registration is pricey, at least you know what it will cost you when you step into the confines of the Department of Motor Vehicles each year, if the state don’t raise its fees.

Finally, winning the contest for the most expensive state to register your car in the U.S. goes to … North Dakota! Drivers registering their cars in this state will have to hand over an average of $162 per year. Fees are based on your car’s age and weight, and this formula makes North Dakota the most expensive state in the U.S. to register a car.

These Are The Most Forgettable Cars
BY LAWRENCE HODGE FEB. 25, 2025 10:30 AM EST
Cadillac
A forgettable car is a strange thing to pinpoint. Like an automotive shrug, you can totally forget they were made until the moment you see one. Even then, despite a car having no memorable qualities, you may still recall why a particular model is forgettable. Maybe it was underwhelming to drive, maybe no one bought it, or maybe the car just blended into the background. Last week we asked readers what they thought the most forgettable car was. These were their responses.

Chevrolet Equinox
Chevrolet
The Chevy Equinox. My wife and I joke whenever we see one that to buy that car you need to be entirely, almost violently devoid of any sort of personality. Like you plopped down a blank piece of paper where your personality should go and then redacted all of the blank lines to avoid ever spilling something there and getting a personality by accident. Like, ironing your socks and licking stamps are living on the edge for Equinox owners. They stare at white walls for fun. The next time you see one in the wild just look at the driver. See what I mean? Zero personality.

I wouldn’t say the Equinox is that boring. The recent redesign is probably the best the crossover has ever looked. It is yet another crossover though, and while the styling looks good, it almost looks like as if designers just copy and pasted the design of the larger Traverse onto a smaller SUV.

Submitted by: Matt T.

Buick Cascada
Buick
I work at a GM dealership, got handed a repair order for a Cascada and stood there staring at the RO, wracking my brain over what a Buick Cascada even was. Then once I went out to it, and remembered that Buick made a convertible styled like an upside-down bathtub, I had to check to see if they even still made them (and, yes, they were still in production at the time). So, when you work for a manufacturer and can’t remember what a car that’s still in production is, that’s pretty peak forgettable.

A convertible would have to be pretty boring if dealer techs can’t even recall what it is. The only thing I remember about the Cascada was rental agencyHertz’ strange move of putting it in its Fun Collection. Just because it’s a convertible doesn’t mean it’s fun.

Submitted by: Nick Dixon via Facebook

Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet
Gotta be the Chevy Lumina. Soul sucking in all areas, tired looking when it was in the showroom. Happy to say I have not seen one on the road in a very long time.

Chevy’s attempt to take on the Ford Taurus, the Lumina was just the car middle-class families would go for if they needed something affordable and spacious. There was nothing exciting about it, though. Sure, Chevy made a Z34 performance version of the first-generation Lumina, but that didn’t make it onto the second-gen model when it was redesigned for the 1995 model year. Instead, Chevy just took the sedan, removed the rear doors and created the near-identical fifth-gen Monte Carlo.

Submitted by: aratapuss

Cadillac ELR
Cadillac
The Cadillac ELR was forgettable to me, not necessarily because it was a bad car (I never driven one, I believe it was shared with the Volt), But I don’t think I’ve EVER seen one in the wild before, I though it should have at least done well enough with the volt. It looks rather good actually. But …

You don’t ever see them in the wild because no one bought these things. Over the three years it was on sale from 2013 to 2016 just 2,874 were sold in the United States. If you throw in the 84 total sales from Canada — that’s 84 sales over the three years — total ELR production amounted to just 2,958 units.

Submitted by: Agon Targeryan

Buick Enclave
Buick
That 06 to 13? GM 3 row crossover. Saturn had one called the outlook then the GMC Acadia maybe the Chevy traverse? They existed they sold but you never see them. You see the trailblazer and the Tahoe and Yukons older then them but they seem to not almost not exist anymore.

I’m going to assume that this reader meant the Buick Enclave since that’s the only one of the GM Lambda platform crossovers they didn’t mention.

Submitted by: MSV

Dodge Stratus
Dodge
Dodge Stratus. Beige/tan mainstay of meh rental fleets from the late 90s to early aughts. Mostly sold as a completely unremarkable four-speed auto, 2.0 L inline-four with a 0-60 in 7-8 seconds, depending on your mood.

At least the Stratus looked pretty good, especially the coupe version. But to get those good looks, you had to get something more than the base models such as the Stratus R/T, which at least got you a 200-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 from Mitsubishi.

Submitted by: Gin and Panic

Mercury Mystique
Mercury
Ford Contour and whatever the Mercury sibling car was. I haven’t seen one on the road in years but did see one yesterday passing local junkyard. I worked in a body shop many years ago and still remember thinking what garbage they were as I was taking it apart to pull the frame.

The car they’re referring to is the Mercury Mystique, a car so forgettable you either haven’t seen one in a long time or you’ve never seen one. The only memorable things about the Mystique and its Ford Contour sibling was that the Contour got an SVT performance version, and the Mystique shares its name with a mutant from the X-Men universe.

Submitted by: Stinky Stu

Non-Escalade Cadillac SUVs
Cadillac
Cadillac XT4/XT5. Until I see one, I live life like they don’t exist. Even when I see one, my life is unchanged apart from the, “Oh, that’s right, those exist.”

The XT6 could also land in that category, except I like those.

Basically any Caddy SUV that’s not an Escalade, I don’t think I’d bring to…

I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen any Cadillac SUV that wasn’t an Escalade. It sucks, especially when you consider the XT5 started out as the V8-powered RWD SRX.

Submitted by: potbellyjoe

These Are The Dumbest Looking Cars Of All Time, According To You
Some cars just look dumber than others. It is what it is.
BY  ANDY KALMOWITZ MARCH 4, 2024 7:15 AM EST
Ferrari
Sometimes cars look beautiful. Sometimes cars look functional. Sometimes cars look downright ugly. And sometimes, well, cars just look dumb as hell. Of course, “dumb” is a very subjective concept, possibly even more subjective than beautiful and ugly. It’s an interesting concept in that way, and it’s what led us to our question from last week.

We wanted to know what you thought the dumbest-looking car of all time was, and by George did you deliver. We’ve got everything from the highest-end exotics that look goofy to three-wheeled economy vehicle mistakes and pre-Great Recession American cars.

What I’m saying is, you folks understood the assignment. You get that “dumb” is more of a feeling and a vibe than an actual objective observation. I’m really proud of all of you. And with that, let’s take a look at what cars your fellow Jalops think are the dumbest looking of all time.

Reliant Robin

Riiiiiiiight, put one wheel in the front for maximum instability…it’s “genius”.

And then there was the time on Old Fart Top Gear when Clarkson took one of these deathtraps for a literal spin.

Un-effing-believable.

The Robin does look dumb as hell, but I really appreciate it for the sheer fact it gave us so many iconic bits on Top Gear.

Submitted by: the1969DodgeChargerFan

Fiat Multipla
Fiat
It just looks like no adult was involved in the design process.

Here’s the thing, 4jim. You’re wrong. The first gen Multipla is actually really cool looking. I will not debate this. Sorry, amigo.

Submitted by: 4jim

1960 Plymouth Valiant
Plymouth
1960 Plymouth Valiant -The wimpiest of Mopars with lines going all the wrong directions that helped kill the fin craze

Holy hell, this thing is dogshit. The auto industry was in a dire situation before the muscle car came around, wasn’t it?

Submitted by: Alan Schwarz

Ferrari Enzo
Ferrari
Veeerrrryyy unpopular opinion incoming.

I know, I know. It’s a technological wonder. I know Ferrari made you own a GTO, F40, and F50 just to be allowed to buy it. I know it’s a Ferrari halo car.

It’s goofy looking. It’s got an overbite that just screams “My parents couldn’t afford braces.” No car should look like it was rear-ended so hard that the body got pushed forward.

You’re braver than me for saying this. The Enzo is confusing. I think it’s overall a good-looking car, but when you compare it to the rest of the Ferrari hypercar lineup (F40, F50, LaFerrari), it’s not very good.

Submitted by: JohnnyWasASchoolBoy

The Amber
NEXTA/Twitter
The anticipated Amber Russian EV…a face only a tadpole could love.

Lol I forgot about this thing.

Submitted by: gokstate

Youabian Puma

You mean other than the Youabian Puma? It’s the de-facto answer to this question…

I remember seeing this thing on some Discovery Channel show when I was a kid. I thought it looked badass, and honestly, I still do.

Submitted by: Skamanda

Gen. 2 Dodge Durango
Dodge
There’s something about the 2nd gen Dodge Durango that never sat quite right with me. Most of it from the A-pillar aft is fine, if a bit boring, but the front fascia just looks a mess. The bumper juts out like a French Bulldog with an underbite, and they tried to make the headlights and crosshair grille look like a Ram but instead of blending into the wheel arch it awkwardly juts out like it was tacked on. Even though its Chrysler Aspen sibling was a forgettable badge-engineering job, it at least had a coherent design throughout.

These things looked bad then, and they look even worse now. However, the Durango that followed it (which is still on sale) actually held up pretty well in the looks department.

Submitted by: pardsecar

The Amphicar
Amphicar
May I submit for your consideration, the Amphicar. It’s a car! It’s a boat! It’s not really good at being either! And it’s ugly…

Well, LBJ was a pretty cool dude, and a cool dude would never own anything that was dumb, so I am inclined to say the Amphicar does not look dumb. Sorry, fella.

Submitted by: GTB

Gen. 1 Hyundai Tiburon
Hyundai
Look at this thing.

It’s not designed for practicality so it doesn’t get a pass there, it’s supposed to be a “cool” car you wanted to buy to look sporty. But those headlight bulges with oddly-proportioned outside lights and signals/reflectors, none of which lined up, weird badge in intake that looks like a booger, and the HUGE hips both front and rear that make the already tiny wheels look even tinier. And finally the rear spoiler which was inexplicably kinked at the ends with straight lines when the rest of the car is all swoopy. Just dumb.

This is indeed dumb looking, but the second-generation Tuburon was so cool I am willing to forget it.

Submitted by: savethemanualsbmw335ix

Diahtsu Copen
Diahatsu
Do we like the Daihatsu Copen here. i always thought the design language looked.. a little confused and “doofy” the low headlights.. the almost sporty nature of it… not sure what it is about this thing that bugs me.

HORRIBE TAKE. STOP IT.

Submitted by: the_AUGHT

‘58-’60 Dodge Truck
Dodge
Can we put fins on a truck? and stick its tongue out behind braces?

The 58 face looks like a geek with horned rim glasses being upset because you knocked over his chocolate Milk.

The removal of the bumper guards and additional chrome make the 59 just say “Ahhhh”

The 60 changed the grill but kept the tongue out. It also looks like it’s caught between thoughts it will never have.

Fortunately Dodge, Changed the style dramatically in 1961.

And the scale drifted from “So Stupid it’s ugly” to “So Ugly it’s stupid.”

I’m sorry, dude, but this looks good. This is not dumb. Fins are cool.

Submitted by: hoser68

Ssangyong Actyon
Ssangyong
A coupé SUV before coupé SUVs were a thing, with the ugliest nose and butt to ever disgrace the roads (and yes I’m saying this knowing that the Edsel and the Aztek exist)

That’s the dumbest boy I’ve ever seen, good lord.

Submitted by: edu-petrolhead

Landau Baby
Cutlass via Wikimedia Commons
The anodyne Japanese sedan with the dealer-installed vinyl roof. It’s already kind of dumb enough on a big boxy Malaise era land yacht, but it’s even worse stripped of full context. Like, imagine walking around in athleisure wear with a massive powdered wig on your head because that’s what classy people wore like 200 years ago.

I (please don’t judge me) really enjoy a Landau top on cars that don’t deserve one.

Submitted by: Maymar

Chevy HHR Panel
Chevrolet
In line with the SSR, I’m going to go with the HHR. Specifically the work-ified version with no side windows. It practically screams “I shouldn’t be allowed within 500′ of a school”.

Sounds like there are some issues here that need to be worked through.

Submitted by: IstillmissmyXJ

Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla
We’re all hear to say Cybertruck, right?

Yeah.

Submitted by: skeffles

Elon Musk’s ‘Unprecedented Brand Damage’ Means Tesla’s Sales Drop Could Get A Lot Worse
BY ANDY KALMOWITZ APRIL 4, 2025 10:18 AM EST
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Good morning! It’s Friday, April 4, 2025, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. This is where you’ll find the most important stories that are shaping the way Americans drive and get around.

In this morning’s edition, we’re taking a look at the impact of Musk’s political activities on Tesla’s brand, as well as the moves Mercedes-Benz might make to get around President Trump’s tariffs. We’re also going to talk about Infiniti’s decision to cut some models from the U.S. that are built in Mexico, and a recall that is hitting over 100,000 large Ford SUVs.

1st Gear: Tesla has an image problem
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst Ryan Brinkman gave a deeply pessimistic estimate of Tesla’s future, saying that the deeply underwhelming sales report confirmed “the unprecedented brand damage we had earlier feared.” You really never want to hear the people who believed in you say stuff like that. He added that the sales report “causes us to think that — if anything — we may have underestimated the degree of consumer reaction.”

Since hitting a record high on December 17 — a little over a month after Donald Trump won the November Presidential election — sales have dropped 44%. You can probably expect a trend like that to continue if the Austin, Texas-based automaker’s first-quarter sales are any indication. From Bloomberg:

During the first three months of the year, Tesla delivered 336,681 vehicles, its worst quarterly total since 2022. In addition to changing over production lines at each of its assembly plants to build the redesigned Model Y, the automaker was contending with Musk, its chief executive officer, becoming a more polarizing figure due to his interventions in global politics.

JPMorgan now expects Tesla’s first-quarter earnings to slip to 36 cents a share, short of its previous projection of 40 cents and analysts’ average estimate of 46 cents.

Brinkman also trimmed his full-year projection to $2.30 a share. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg are on average estimating the company will earn $2.70 per share — and Brinkman notes that this figure has dropped 17% since Tesla last reported quarterly earnings in late January.

In what could be some good news for Tesla shareholders, Musk is expected to take a big step back from his role of leading the Department of Government Efficiency after his 130-day period as a temporary advisor to Trump has lapsed.

Right now, Musk is considered a special government employee. That’s a classification for temporary federal hires who are only supposed to work for 130 days out of the year in their roles. There’s currently no formal date for him to leave, however, and the White House counsel’s office is in charge of deciding when Musk has worked those 130 days.

In the 2024 election cycle, Musk became Trump’s biggest donor — giving him over $250 million. He also attacked mainstream political figures in Europe and aligned himself with the far-right AfD party in Germany. Tesla sales in Germany dropped 62% in the last quarter.

2nd Gear: Mercedes-Benz may shift production over Trump’s tariffs
Buyenlarge/Getty Images
Mercedes-Benz is thinking about moving the production of one of its vehicles to the U.S. to get around President Trump’s 25% automotive tariffs. Right now, there’s no word on exactly which model would be moved to the automaker’s plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which currently builds the EQS SUV among others. Production chief Jörg Burzer told reporters on April 3 that the move might be necessary to deal with the cost of the new duties. From Bloomberg:

“We’re still assessing the impacts of these tariffs,” Burzer said on the sidelines of a company event in Stuttgart, Germany. “We have made some plans, but flexibility is absolutely key.”

In 2024, Mercedes’ most popular imported model was the GLC, of which it sold 64,163 units in the U.S. That represents a 58% increase over the prior year. Since it starts at around $50,000, it has much smaller margins and faces stiffer competition than flagship models like the S-Class and G-Wagon.

Since the automaker already uses the Tuscaloosa plant to build other SUVs like GLE and GLS, it would make a lot of sense if the GLC were to join them. It’s similar to how BMW builds the X3, X5, and X7 at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

On top of this possible move, Mercedes-Benz has apparently considered cutting sales of lower-margin imports like the compact GLA crossover. It’s a real messy time right now, folks.

3rd Gear: Nissan cuts off U.S. orders on Mexican-built Infinitis
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
In the wake of the new tariffs, Nissan announced that it will no longer take U.S.-based orders for two Infiniti SUVs it builds in Mexico. It’s a pretty sizable scale-back of its operations at the joint-venture plant. Additionally, Nissan says it’s going to keep a second shift at its plant that builds the Rogue crossover in Smyrna, Tennessee. Earlier this year, the Japanese automaker announced it would end one of the two shifts this month.

Now, Nissan is saying it won’t accept any additional orders of the QX50 or QX55 for the U.S. Both crossovers are built at its COMPAS plant it operates with Mercedes-Benz (which uses the facility to build the GLB compact crossover) in Mexico. Production of both of those models is expected to be continued for other markets. From Reuters:

It was not immediately clear how much of the production is sold in other markets. The two Infiniti models have only been exported from Mexico to the U.S., according to data from Mexico’s national statistics agency.

A Japan-based Nissan spokesperson said on Friday the models do go to other markets such as the Middle East and Canada, but could not immediately provide more details.

[…]

It is particularly exposed to the new tariffs as it exports the biggest number of cars from Mexico to the U.S. of any Japanese automaker.

Nissan has had a pretty rough go of it for a while, now, as sales continue to slide due to an aging lineup and a lack of hybrid options. These troubles have caused the automaker to cut its profit forecast three times in the fiscal year, and its debt was downgraded to “junk” status.

4th Gear: Ford recalls 105,322 Expeditions, Navigators for busted seat belts
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
Ford and recalls go together like peanut butter and jelly, and that’s why the Blue Oval is contacting 105,322 2018-2020 Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition owners because of an issue with their seat belts. Apparently, they might fail to retract or extend, which is something you generally want your seatbelts to do. Luckily, the automaker isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to the defective part made by German supplier ZF, according to an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here’s more from Automotive News:

On affected vehicles, the driver or front passenger seat belt retractor pretensioners may deploy inadvertently, the report said. The seat belt will then be locked in position, unable to retract or extend, increasing the likelihood of injury in a crash. The defect is because of oxidation in a portion of the seat belt pretensioner.

[…]

Those impacted can take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the pretensioners replaced. Ford has a reimbursement plan for those who have already paid for the issue to be remedied.

The report from NHTSA says dealers were notified of the recall on March 31, and owners should expect to be contacted between April 14-18.

Reverse: Harrison Croaked!
Bettmann/Getty Images
On this day in 1841, President William Henry Harrison died just 32 days after being sworn into office — giving him the distinct honor of having the shortest presidential term in office.

Harrison developed a fatal case of pneumonia after giving what was — ironically — the longest inaugural address in history on a cold March morning. The speech clocked in at a feature-length one hour and 45 minutes. Here’s a little more on ‘ol Billy Harrison’s life, from History.com:

Harrison was the last president born as an English subject before the American Revolution. A native of Virginia, he attended college with the intent of studying medicine, but opted to join the army before finishing his degree. President John Adams took note of Harrison’s exemplary service in the Indian Wars of the Northwest Territories and, in 1801, appointed him governor of the Northwest Territories (now Indiana and Illinois). Harrison later fought in the Battle of the Thames River during the War of 1812. He went on to become a congressman and the ambassador to Colombia before running with John Tyler on the Whig Party ticket in the presidential election of 1840.

Much to the horror of the political establishment, Harrison and Tyler campaigned in a vigorous style considered unseemly in their era. They used Harrison’s nickname, Tippecanoe, which he had earned during a brutal Indian War campaign at Tippecanoe Creek, and concocted the campaign slogan Tippecanoe and Tyler, too. Harrison and Tyler held boisterous rallies during which they handed out free bottles of hard cider housed in little log cabin-shaped bottles. Their tactics, however controversial, were successful, and on March 4, 1841, Harrison was sworn in as the ninth U.S. president.

You’d Only Drive These Cars If They Were Free
Sometimes a car is only worth it if it’s given to you for free.
BY  ANDY KALMOWITZ DECEMBER 26, 2024 9:00 AM EST
Mazda
Last week, we told you about a screaming deal one Colorado Fiat dealership was offering on brand new 500es: $0/down and $0/month for 27 months. All a lessee has to pay is the sales tax, which comes out to something less than $1,800. In today’s day and age, that’s about as close to free as you’re going to get, and it spurred on the question I asked you last Friday.

I wanted to know what car you’d only drive if it was free. What car are you so repulsed by that the only way you could stomach driving it was if you didn’t have to pay a cent? Well, you all answered the call with a huge variance of answers.

We’ve got everything from cheap, boring economy cars and entire model lineups to sporty cars with the wrong transmissions and junk from the early 2000s. Some of you even got creative, using the “free” car as an excuse to get an incredibly expensive car for zero money. I see what you did there, and I appreciate your creativity.

Anyway, that’s enough from me. Why don’t you scroll on down and take a look a the cars your fellow Jalops would only drive if they were totally free. Did you notice I said scroll? That’s right baby, no more slideshows.

Ford EcoSport
Ford
Even free I would still be disappointed in my self every time I had to drive it.

Submitted by: PDM33

Any Tesla
Tesla
I’d say a Tesla but you’d honestly have to pay me an awful lot of money to drive one and somehow live with myself for directly supporting this duo

&

Any Tesla, and maybe even then most likely I wouldn’t drive it all that much. I truly hate the way they are designed.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate EV’s, just Teslas, I’d gladly pay for a Rivian, Lightning F-150, GMC Sierra EV, Mercedes EQ or anything else but a Tesla.

Submitted by: J-BodyBuilder & Jorge R R Gomez

Jeep Liberty
Jeep
I haven’t even been in one in decades, but my experience was such dog shit I would never do it again. If someone gave it to me for free, I would only drive it as far as A. a cliff. or B. a car lot. Whichever was closer to minimize time in that hellhole of a car.

Submitted by: Ac_slater

Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi
A brand-spankin’ new 90’s econobox in 2024!

Submitted by: OutForARip

Volkswagen ID Buzz
Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
I work for a dealer group that owns two VW showrooms. Every now and then, there are some absolutely absurd employee lease deals, and I’ve said that if we ever get one for the ID.Buzz, I’ll jump on it.

I’m a single dude with a dog – I really have no use for a van like that, and it doesn’t really answer the question because it wouldn’t be “free,” but the deals are so generous that it might as well be, considering the $60k starting price of these things.

Submitted by: Aldairion

Fiat 500e
Fiat
That one in the picture. Fiat 500. Had one as a rental and absolutely hated it. One of the VERY few cars I’ve truly just hated to drive. Even free would be a stretch to get me to drive one. And I’ve had 3 Minis FYI, love small fun cars. Hate Fiat.

Submitted by: Patrick Baldwin

Ferrari 250 GTO
Ferrari
Define “free”? Is that just purchase price or does that include maintenance and other associated costs? If it includes other costs, I am going with something super rare and expensive since I couldn’t afford it otherwise. I’ll go with a Ferrari 250GTO, I will never be able to afford one and wouldn’t even be able to pay the insurance for a month since I am sure insurance on a car I am driving that is worth $30mm+ isn’t going to be cheap.

Submitted by: Big Block I-4

Hyundai Accent
Hyundai
I actually did get saddled with a free Hyundai Accent. Twice. Hateful little shitboxes (especially the second which didn’t have A/C, and I had to drive for work), but functional enough it was hard to justify spending money for something nicer.

Submitted by: Maymar

Sport Compatcs With Automatic Transmissions
Audi
S3, Golf GTI/R, Elantra N, GR Corolla. An automatic defeats the point imo.

Submitted by: James II

Nissan Versa
Nissan
I had one for a rental and it was awful.

Submitted by: James II

Any Non-Wrangler Jeep
Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
Pretty much any Jeep product that isn’t Wrangler-based. If you’re not driving a Jeep for the iconic look or decent offroad prowess, their whole SUV+CUV lineup is gussied-up, questionably reliable FCA products with steer-and-pray chassis tuning at eyewatering prices.

The Compass is the worst of the bunch…I’m not sure I’d drive it even if I was given one free.

Submitted by: Turbolence1988 Loves Magic Turn Circles

Nissan Kicks
Nissan
I rented a Nissan Kicks a couple of years ago and couldn’t conceive of spending money for that driving experience.

Submitted by: Angus Wilson

Automatic Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda
Wow, this is a rather apropos question for me. I’ve really been wanting to get a new MX-5, as I had to sell my old ’96 long ago when my daughter was born. She’s old enough now to ride safely in a two seat car, and I want to get one that I can give to her when she’s old enough to drive. So I really want another black MX-5, an RF 6 speed stick.

But the combination of black, stick shift, GT RF is not as easy to find as I would think. The bulk are automatics, including one here in my town.

Now I know that the auto is more popular and probably easier to sell for the dealer, but I really want a stick, not just for the fun, but partly because when my daughter drives it, no stupid boy will be able to drive it. Though really, where I live, a stick isn’t much fun. City driving and no good twisty roads.

So I kind of wondered just how low they would go for that auto at the dealership. And then I started thinking, “how low would I go? I just have this one car I want, and am I going to be happy with the car I don’t entirely want, even if it was significantly discounted.” I mean, an RF is about $40k, and would I even want this automatic version for even $25k? I really don’t think so.

Submitted by: Joe Sledge

Toyota Corolla
Toyota
My answer would be have to be the Toyota Corolla. Not because it’s bad. I had one as a rental for four days and found it solid, smooth, and efficient. But I barely remember anything because it was so appliance-like and bland. If bland had an odor you could smell it around the corner downwind, but it doesn’t which is the whole point of being bland, so it doesn’t smell like anything.

I get why they sell a million of these.Well- built, inexpensive, immensely practical. But like, say, Raising Cane’s chicken, the overall quality of the product doesn’t hide the general lack of any real flavor to the experience. It’s built for the masses; a mundane, monotonous, middling product that many, many like but few actually love. Just like Cane’s.

Submitted by: LarriveeC05

Huge Trucks
Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
I used to own a Tacoma and I thought that was too big of a car, so I’d only drive your standard, pedestrian mowing, rural cosplayin’, boulevard queen, big ass american truck if it was free and even then I’d still be embarrassed to be seen in one

Submitted by: WayDude

America Is Getting Too Woke For Big Pickup Trucks And SUVs
BY COLLIN WOODARD MAY 3, 2025 3:25 PM EST
Chevrolet
For so long, it felt like there was no limit to the U.S.’s love of huge trucks and SUVs. No matter how big or expensive they got, we just kept buying more and more of them. Their high curb weights and tall, upright hoods made them especially dangerous to others, but buyers didn’t care. As it turns out, even though the party that doesn’t care about safety or clean air won the last election, the limit may actually exist, after all. As Motor1 reports, the latest analysis from automotive consulting firm Dave Cantin Group suggests we may have actually reached “Peak Truck.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean you can expect to see full-size truck sales crater this year, but affordability concerns are finally beginning to override that Big Truck Lust. “What we’re seeing is consumer sentiment beginning to change,” Brian Gordon, at that point Dave Cantin Group’s chief business and strategy officer, told Autoline in a recent interview. “So, this isn’t Americans walking away from all their trucks and SUVs and falling back in love with the sedan. This is a trend that is really spurred by affordability and the challenges Americans are having with car payments.”

The sedan is back, baby

The Dave Cantin Group’s analysis comes from surveys of both car shoppers and dealers that showed declining interest in both full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. Instead, they’re focusing more on smaller, more affordable vehicles, and that includes renewed interest in the same sedans Americans fell out of love with when SUVs and crossovers took over. Well, not necessarily the same sedans, since so many automakers stopped selling those cars in the U.S. to focus on crossovers. Chevrolet even gave the Malibu the axe late last year.

As Motor1 points out, a quick look at Q1’s full-size truck sales shows sales are actually up across the board in that segment, except for the Ram 1500. Full-size trucks also sold well in 2024. However, midsize truck sales are up even more significantly year-over-year, with the first-quarter Toyota Tacoma sales jumping 177%, Chevrolet Colorado sales up 73% and Ford Ranger sales up 677%. That massive increase in Ranger sales is likely an anomaly related to Q1 production issues last year, but still. The people are buying a lot more midsize trucks.

You can see a similar trend with sedans, where even Nissan is suddenly selling a lot more Altimas and Sentras. The Toyota Camry appears to be one of the few exceptions to that rule, but whether we’re talking about the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Forte/K4 or the Toyota Prius, sedan sales are generally up, too. Thank God.

Tariffs spell trouble
Ford
While Trump finally agreed not to double-dip on automotive tariffs, the remaining tariffs will still drive up the price of new cars, due, in part, to the complex, highly interconnected international supply chain the automotive industry depends on. It’s also hard for automakers to have any idea what Trump will do next, especially since that reportedly depends largely on who he talked to last. With the cost of all goods rising and millions of Americans justifiably worried about the likely recession, it makes sense that car buying trends would change, too.

Still, no one really knows what’s going to happen with the industry. Including anyone at the Dave Cantin Group. But based on the evidence they have available, don’t be surprised when full-size pickup trucks and SUVs become much less popular in the previously truck-loving U.S. of A.

“Peak Truck is a really, really important concept to watch because we’re not sure how far that trend goes,” Gordon, now president of the consulting firm, told Autoline. “But what we believe is, the longer the conditions on the ground stay the same or get worse from an economic perspective or an uncertainty perspective, consumers are going to continue to be more pragmatic in the choices they make in terms of the vehicles that they’re out there looking to purchase.”

America Is Getting Too Woke For Big Pickup Trucks And SUVs
BY COLLIN WOODARD MAY 3, 2025 3:25 PM EST
Chevrolet
For so long, it felt like there was no limit to the U.S.’s love of huge trucks and SUVs. No matter how big or expensive they got, we just kept buying more and more of them. Their high curb weights and tall, upright hoods made them especially dangerous to others, but buyers didn’t care. As it turns out, even though the party that doesn’t care about safety or clean air won the last election, the limit may actually exist, after all. As Motor1 reports, the latest analysis from automotive consulting firm Dave Cantin Group suggests we may have actually reached “Peak Truck.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean you can expect to see full-size truck sales crater this year, but affordability concerns are finally beginning to override that Big Truck Lust. “What we’re seeing is consumer sentiment beginning to change,” Brian Gordon, at that point Dave Cantin Group’s chief business and strategy officer, told Autoline in a recent interview. “So, this isn’t Americans walking away from all their trucks and SUVs and falling back in love with the sedan. This is a trend that is really spurred by affordability and the challenges Americans are having with car payments.”

The sedan is back, baby

The Dave Cantin Group’s analysis comes from surveys of both car shoppers and dealers that showed declining interest in both full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. Instead, they’re focusing more on smaller, more affordable vehicles, and that includes renewed interest in the same sedans Americans fell out of love with when SUVs and crossovers took over. Well, not necessarily the same sedans, since so many automakers stopped selling those cars in the U.S. to focus on crossovers. Chevrolet even gave the Malibu the axe late last year.

As Motor1 points out, a quick look at Q1’s full-size truck sales shows sales are actually up across the board in that segment, except for the Ram 1500. Full-size trucks also sold well in 2024. However, midsize truck sales are up even more significantly year-over-year, with the first-quarter Toyota Tacoma sales jumping 177%, Chevrolet Colorado sales up 73% and Ford Ranger sales up 677%. That massive increase in Ranger sales is likely an anomaly related to Q1 production issues last year, but still. The people are buying a lot more midsize trucks.

You can see a similar trend with sedans, where even Nissan is suddenly selling a lot more Altimas and Sentras. The Toyota Camry appears to be one of the few exceptions to that rule, but whether we’re talking about the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Forte/K4 or the Toyota Prius, sedan sales are generally up, too. Thank God.

Tariffs spell trouble
Ford
While Trump finally agreed not to double-dip on automotive tariffs, the remaining tariffs will still drive up the price of new cars, due, in part, to the complex, highly interconnected international supply chain the automotive industry depends on. It’s also hard for automakers to have any idea what Trump will do next, especially since that reportedly depends largely on who he talked to last. With the cost of all goods rising and millions of Americans justifiably worried about the likely recession, it makes sense that car buying trends would change, too.

Still, no one really knows what’s going to happen with the industry. Including anyone at the Dave Cantin Group. But based on the evidence they have available, don’t be surprised when full-size pickup trucks and SUVs become much less popular in the previously truck-loving U.S. of A.

“Peak Truck is a really, really important concept to watch because we’re not sure how far that trend goes,” Gordon, now president of the consulting firm, told Autoline. “But what we believe is, the longer the conditions on the ground stay the same or get worse from an economic perspective or an uncertainty perspective, consumers are going to continue to be more pragmatic in the choices they make in terms of the vehicles that they’re out there looking to purchase.”

These Are Your Worst Experiences With A Recall
BY RYAN ERIK KING MARCH 26, 2025 10:30 AM EST
OWS Photography / Wikimedia Commons
Car owners worldwide wish that every vehicle rolled off the assembly line perfectly designed and manufactured, but nobody’s perfect. We asked earlier this week for your worst experiences with a recall. The comments section was filled to the brim with tales of mechanical woes and lackluster customer service spanning decades of automotive. There were faulty cars that were refused recall service, and vehicles claimed to be repaired but still had the reported issue. Not to spoil anything, but not even dealership employee are immune from a frustrating recall. Without further ado, here are the most egregious stories:

Shoddy repair just made things exponentially worse
Greg Gjerdingen / Wikimedia Commons
In 1991, I had a 1986 Fiero and there was a recall about the exhaust manifold, which could crack and lead to a fire risk. I was in college and took it into the local Pontiac/BMW place for the recall, which took a couple hours.
When I drove off, the gauges were all messed up, the windows rolled up and down without commands, the headlights came on and turned off randomly, etc . I turned around within 100 feet of the dealership and drove it back, and told them they had messed it up, which of course they claimed they did not. So, I opened the engine hatch/truck and found the problem.
Instead of unplugging the wiring harness to get to the exhaust manifold, they had cut it. They butted the two halves together and wrapped it with tape. They claimed the car was like that when they got it, but I happened to have a picture of the engine bay available. They refused to replace the wiring harness, but they did splice each wire they cut. I ended up with the car running right, but a ball of electrical tape the size of a softball back there.
The entire time, the BMW salespeople kept strongly suggesting that I get a new car. They offered $100 for the Fiero in trade-in because it was messed up.

Submitted by: hoser68

Dreading a date with a recall repair
Benespit / Wikimedia Commons
The Kia Stinger forums are filled with horror stories of people getting their Turbo Oil line recall done and the dealerships having no idea how to work on the engines, Kia quoting a 3-hour job that supposedly takes six and some places thinking they need to drop the whole engine.
I need to get mine done, and I’m worried.

Submitted by: ProjectNeo

Who needs replacements anyway
Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons
My dad had a 1975 Corvette and back around 1978 or so he had a set of Firestone 500 radials put on the car. They were recalled and replaced before there was any issue, fortunately.
Fast forward 20 years and my dad lets me take the car on a road trip about 200 miles from home. My buddy and I hear a noise from the right rear and sure enough, the tire’s gone flat. I nurse the car to a safe spot, jack it up and drop the spare from underneath and, boom… there’s a 20-year-old Firestone 500 just waiting to finally see daylight.

Submitted by: BuddyS

Not our Saab to deal with
Daboo / Wikimedia Commons
Getting a recall taken care of from a defunct OEM is really difficult… I had a 2006 Saab 9-2X (essentially a rebadged Subaru Impreza) that fell under the Takata recall. I get the recall letter from GM telling me that the car needs to be taken to a certified Saab service center in order to get it taken care of. Problem is, Saab had gone under 8 years prior. Logic would dictate that any GM dealership or even a Subaru dealership could handle it but nope. I had to call GM’s customer support line to find an aftermarket shop that GM was willing to work with to handle the recall. The shop was a 2-hour drive in a complete different county from mine.

Submitted by: RemainKalm916

Impacted by my own employer’s recall
Cjp24 / Wikimedia Commons
Where to start? Well, my worst experience with a recall was the Chrysler A-604 transmission back in the early ’90s. Good old Lee Iacocca pushed this new FWD application 4-speed auto out to the market well before it was fully baked.
It was a disaster on all fronts.
As a young Chrysler District Service Manager at the time, I had the misfortune of dealing with a lot of VERY angry customers who bought new cars that very quickly failed spectacularly.
Typically, the cars went into limp-in mode, which locked them in 2nd gear and made them barely drivable, aside from limping them into one of our overwhelmed dealers who neither had the parts nor enough transmission techs to fix them.
The issue was not so much that there was a recall. It was that we were ill-prepared to fix them, even when the recall came out.

One of the challenges with NHTSA regulations is manufacturers are required to send recall notices out within a very tight time window, regardless if they have the parts or training to do the fix.
Of course, being Chrysler in the early ’90s, we ran fast and loose with quality on most fronts. There were plenty of disasters somewhat akin to the A-604, but it was the pinnacle of doing things the wrong way.
I still remember driving in one morning to see one of my dealers when my own company car’s transmission went into limp-in mode.
I was not amused.

Submitted by: Factoryhack

Knock, knock! Don’t let anyone sue us
HJUdall / Wikimedia Commons
2017 Kia Optima PHEV. Get a recall notification to install anti-knock software to keep the engine from grenading. Never had an issue with knocking or ticking before this. Pick the car up after the work is “done”. Within 20 miles of driving, engine starts knocking on the freeway and completely grenades. Between that, hybrid battery failure, wiring harness failure, and a short in the stereo that drained the 12V system, it sat at the dealer for 18 months between Dec 2021 and April 2024
Cherry on top: they offered me a $2000 “goodwill” payment tied to an NDA and a clause that said if I sold the car and the next owner sued them, I was on the hook for the damages. No thank you

Submitted by: dubgasm

Stellarly poor service from Stellantis
HJUdall / Wikimedia Commons
2018 Pacifica hybrid. It was undrivable due to a wiring issue in the transmission. We had to wait 4 months for a new transmission because of the UAW strike. Chrysler did cover a rental.
We’re still waiting to get the charging system recall fixed (again) so it doesn’t burst into flames when charging. We haven’t been able to charge it for over a year, and that’s the main reason we bought it over Honda/Toyota.
The first and absolutely last FCA product we will ever buy…

Submitted by: DCnative

A refusal to repair
Michael Gil / Wikimedia Commons
The Hyundai engine recalls on my manual 2014 Elantra GT.
In mid-2021, I got the knock-sensor recall upgrade from Hyundai Canada meant to monitor my engine for signs of engine knocking. It would put my engine into a safety mode if any engine knocking was discovered. Potentially, I could get the engine replaced under warranty. The warranty had been extended to 10 years or 200,000km. I fell within both criteria, luckily.
Early January 2022, the knock sensor engages and I limp back to the dealership in safe mode (can’t rev the engine over 2000 RPM in safe mode). Hyundai Canada had the car for 4 weeks, no communication with me. Finally, they gave me back the car, claiming my oil filter was the issue (they said it wasn’t OEM and that caused the knock sensor to falsely engage). Next day, the knock sensor kicks in while on the highway as I drove 110kmph; it was like someone slammed on the brakes and I nearly got rear-ended getting off the highway when it happened. I parked the car at home, called the dealership back, told them to come tow the car back and fix the issue and that I wouldn’t drive it again until fixed as it was not safe to drive.
For 3 weeks, they wouldn’t give me an update or rental. Finally, after 4 weeks, they said they found metal shavings in the oil pan and engine and I got a rental car. 6 weeks total elapsed before I got the car back with a brand new engine, but they made me pay for a new oil pan (they said the warranty wouldn’t cover it and it was needed).

Sold the car only a few months later.

Submitted by: Jeffaulburn

A Veloster’s handbrake-only challenge
order_242 / Wikimedia Commons
Here in Canada, some Hyundai models have a recall for premature rusting on the brake lines and subframe. My 2015 Veloster was under this recall. As a tech of a Hyundai dealer, I knew it had to be done. The day I drove it in, the brakes were getting worse and worse. After being left in the parking lot for a few hours, the brakes were completely lost and it had to be driven in using the handbrake to stop it.

Submitted by: ThatYoteGal

Acura parked until further notice
Wolterk/Getty Images
The airbag recall for Acura several years ago…. Was told to park my car and not drive until parts became available…. That ultimately was 6 months… Fortunately, my lawyer got Acura to supply a free rental from Hertz for the entire time. The Hertz rental experience is a whole other story and near disaster.

Submitted by: Jdg000

There’s no such thing as a free repair
Heritage Images/Getty Images
I got a ticket due to a recall once. I brought my Miata in for an annual inspection/preventative maintenance. The recall fix required a computer reset, which they did before running the emissions test. But when you reset the computer, you’ve got to run the engine for some number of miles (maybe 100?) before you can run the test. I only drive the car maybe 1500 miles a year, so it took me a while to hit 100 miles. And in that time, I got a late registration ticket.

Submitted by: Give Me Tacos or Give Me Death

The defect en route to the recall notice
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
I knew a guy in college who was on his way to pick up some mail that had been delivered to his previous address. On the way, he was in an accident and was seriously injured by a bad Takata airbag. The mail he was going to get included a recall notice for the airbag.

Submitted by: Tycho

These Are The Best Tires For Your Car, Truck Or SUV, According To Consumer Reports
Good tires are arguably the most important safety feature on your car
BY  COLLIN WOODARD OCTOBER 25, 2024 8:00 AM EST
Honda
Outside of enthusiast circles, most people don’t think about tires all that often. You have to have them to drive, they’re expensive to replace, and then they’re mostly forgotten until you get a flat. The thing is, tires are important. Really important. They’re the only thing that connects your car to the ground, and unfortunately, they aren’t all basically the same.

So if you’re looking to replace your tires, which ones are going to be the best for your particular vehicle? Well, it depends on what you drive, but our friends over at Consumer Reports recently published a list of the best car tires, as well as one for trucks and SUVs. These likely won’t be the least expensive tires you can buy, but the driving experience and significantly longer tread life should more than make up for it.

Click through to see which tires performed the best in Consumer Reports’ testing. We also included a separate video review to give you a different perspective on the top tire for each segment.

Car – All-Season

If you just want a tire you can use year-round, it’s going to be hard to beat the $189 Michelin Defender2. It performed well in all weather conditions and also comes with a shockingly high predicted tread life of 100,000 miles. Alternatively, consider the Hankook Kinergy XP, which scored almost as well as the Michelin. It’s less expensive but has a lower projected tread life of 75,000 miles, which is still impressive.

Car – High-Performance All-Season

While you probably don’t need performance tires on your Mazda CX-50, if you drive something sportier, it helps to pair it with tires that will help it handle and steer like it should. If you want one tire to do it all, you’re going to want the $195 Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. Rolling resistance is higher than average, but that’s to be expected from a performance tire, and it still has a 60,000-mile projected tread life.

Alternatively, you could go with the BFGoodrich G-force Comp-2 A/S plus, which barely lost to the Michelin. It really shines in dry weather and may be the better choice if you don’t get much rain.

Car – High-Performance Summer

All-season tires are a good choice for most drivers, but if you want to get the most out of your performance car, you probably want a pair of dedicated summer tires. If that’s the case, then the Michelin Pilot Sport 4s is still the tire to get. It costs more than $200, but Consumer Reports loves it, owners love it and you probably will, too.

You could also look at the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02. It scored similarly but comes with a slightly shorter shelf life and lower owner satisfaction.

Car – Winter/Snow

All-season and all-weather tires are significantly better than they were in the relatively recent past, but if you live in an area that gets extremely cold and snows a lot in winter, it’s likely worth it to invest in winter tires. If that’s the case, look at the $189 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5. You’ll see the benefits more on snow or ice than on dry pavement, but it still did well there, too.

As far as alternatives go, Consumer Reports actually recommends two options here — the Continental Viking Contact and the Michelin X-Ice Snow.

Car – High-Performance Winter/Snow

It may sound crazy to drive a sports car in winter if it snows so much that you need dedicated tires for it, but why shouldn’t you get to enjoy your performance car just because a blizzard just blew through? Throw a set of pricey ($278!) Bridgestone Blizzak LM005s on your Corvette, though, and you’ll be free to drive all winter.

If you can’t justify paying so much for tires you only use part of the year, the next-best alternative is the Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 3, which scored nearly as well but is also cheaper.

SUV – All-Season

Michelin has a reputation for making some of the best tires you can buy, but the Michelin CrossClimate2 really stands out among other all-weather and all-season SUV tires. They cost more than $250 each, but it’s also important to remember these tires are projected to last 95,000 miles and will last for years.

Alternatively, you could go for the Vredestein HiTrac that placed second. Its projected tread life is significantly shorter at 60,000 miles, though and isn’t as comfortable, so there will be tradeoffs even if it’s probably $50 cheaper per tire.

Truck – All-Season

If you drive a truck, Consumer Reports recommends the Continental TerrainContact H/T. It also costs more than $200, but that’s just the price you have to pay to get the best all-around truck tire. It also stood out for being quiet, as well as its snow performance, and it has a projected tread life of 70,000 miles.

If you live in an area that gets a lot more rain than snow, you should probably look at the General Grabber HTS60 for its better hydroplaning resistance. Its projected tread life is shorter at 55,000 miles.

Truck – All-Terrain

When choosing a truck tire, weather and temperature aren’t the only things to consider. You also have to think about how much off-roading you expect to do. If it’s going to be a regular thing, it may be worth investing in some all-terrain tires like the pricey Continental TerrainContact A/T. It should also last about 65,000 miles, which is pretty impressive for a good off-road tire.

If you want a longer tread life and don’t mind additional tire noise, the Michelin LTX A/T 2 and its 80,000-mile projected tread life would make a great alternative. Plus, it offers better resistance to hydroplaning.

General Truck/SUV – Winter/Snow

If you own a high-riding vehicle of any kind, wouldn’t you know it, Consumer Reports still recommends you buy the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5. As far as alternatives go, the Continental Viking Contact 7 and Michelin X-Ice Snow are also recommended. Hey, a good tire’s a good tire, and your CR-V probably has more in common with a sedan than a Suburban.

(Either that, or some intern created a linking error while building the post.)

SUV – Winter/Snow

You can also get an SUV-specific version of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV if you want to make sure your SUV has the best possible tire for the winter. It’s not like the regular Hakkapeliitta R5 will cause you to crash, but it will likely be a bit better suited for an SUV. They’re more than $200, though, so you may want to consider the less expensive GT Radial IcePro SUV 3.

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Turbocharging A Carburetor Isn’t As Ridiculous As It Sounds
BY RICHARD SACHEK MAY 4, 2025 12:25 PM EST
Bring A Trailer
If you’re the proud owner of a classic or specialty car, you’ve no doubt had the mental debate between retaining an old-school carburetor or modernizing the fuel injection. With electronic fuel injection, there’s extra wiring to contend with and potentially, modifications required for the vehicle’s fuel system. For example, some EFI systems require a second fuel line for returning unused gasoline back to the tank. However, you’ll be rewarded with improved performance and fuel economy, along with self-tuning capability for improved drivability in all sorts of environments.

That all sounds attractive, but the great equalizer between the two fuel delivery methods is budget. New and used carbs are cheap and plentiful, not to mention that you might already have a perfectly good one installed. But what about when boost, like turbochargers or superchargers, comes into play? That $200 “eBay special” turbo doesn’t sound so good anymore if you’re obligated to buy a $1,500 EFI kit to go along with it. So, does turbocharging your vehicle automatically mandate eighty-sixing your faithful old carb? Actually, no.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several major American automakers combined turbocharging with carburetors, so it’s definitely a thing. A couple of examples are Pontiac’s Turbo Trans Am and the early turbocharged Buick Regals, which would later morph into Buick’s Grand National. Of course, OEMs have the resources to engineer things correctly. For the shadetree mechanic, certain modifications to the carb will be required. You can’t just slap a turbo hat atop your Holley and call it good.

You’ll need to modify the carb for boost
SickSnails/YouTube
Carburetors can be combined with boost in either draw-through or blow-through configurations. The former situates the carb ahead of the turbo, while the latter pushes the already-pressurized air through a carb in its original location. Focusing on the more common blow-through applications, the first order of business will be sealing up your carburetor.

Surprisingly, carburetors can have large openings for boost to leak out, such as where the choke linkage passes through the body of the carb. These openings can be filled with a gasoline-resistant epoxy. And speaking of the choke, you’ll also need to remove the choke horn, if equipped, by milling or grinding. On a typical Holley, that’s the rectangular, tent-like structure atop the carb that would prevent the turbo plumbing from fitting correctly.

At the risk of boring readers to death with specifics, suffice to say that a host of other subtle modifications like new power valves are also required for mating a turbo to a carb. The good news is that this type of work isn’t terribly expensive if you’re up to the task of doing it. Several years ago, the staff at Hot Rod magazine built a killer blow-through carb rated for up to 600 horsepower with just $48 worth of new parts. There’s an old saying that a task can be accomplished fast, cheap, or good — pick any two. With some elbow grease, hanging onto your old carb in boost applications just might check the “cheap” and “good” boxes.

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These V6 Engines Put The LS1 V8 To Shame
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 15, 2025 2:25 PM EST
JoshBryan/Shutterstock
There are no two ways about it, General Motors’ LS1 V8 engine is an automotive icon. The raw American motor has been ripping up drag strips and terrorizing neighborhoods for almost three decades now in cars like the C5 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro.

Across different models, the all-American V8 kicks out as much as 350 horsepower and helped the C5 Corvette onto a top speed of 175 mph. These days, however, V8 power isn’t as mighty as it once was.

In fact, there are some V6 motors out there today that put the LS1 to shame in terms of power, performance and, less excitingly, in terms of things like fuel economy. So, where can you find these might V6 motors, I hear you ask?

Mercedes-Benz M112
Mercedes-Benz
Applications: Mercedes Benz C32 AMG and Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG

Max power: 350 horsepower

At roughly the same time that General Motors was making 350 horsepower from eight cylinders, engineers at Mercedes were managing the same with two fewer. That’s right, the M112 engine from Mercedes-Benz was a V6 that kicked out 350 hp back in 2000.

The standard M112 was a 3.2 liter motor that could produce around 225hp, but when AMG strapped two superchargers to the unit that jumped by around 100 hp. The motor was used in the C32 AMG sedan and SLK32 AMG sports car between 2000 and 2004.

Toyota 2GR-FE
Lotus
Applications: Toyota Sienna and Lotus Evora

Max power: 400 horsepower

Toyota has a whole warehouse full of pretty fun little V6 motors that it fits to family haulers like the Sienna minivan. Put the company’s 2GR-FE V6 in the right hands, though, and it becomes a proper little pocket rocket.

The correct hands, it turns out, are at British sports car maker Lotus, which put the Toyota V6 to excellent use when the Evora launched in 2009 and a supercharged variant was even put in the hardcore Lotus Exige. In fact, a derivative of this mighty motor is still used today in the Lotus Emira.

Ford Duratec V6
Noble
Applications: Ford Fusion and Noble M400

Max power: 425 horsepower

Another motor found in humble family cars that can put the LS1 to shame is Ford’s Duratec V6, which debuted way back in 1996 on the Taurus. It evolved over the years to become more economical and powerful, until the engineers at British sports car maker Noble got their hands on it and really ripped up the rulebook.

By the time the Duratec V6 was finally fitted to the M400, the engine had been stripped down, re-tuned and fitted with two turbochargers. The engine then kicked out 425hp and could propel the Noble on to a top speed of 185mph.

Honda JNC1
Honda
Applications: Acura NSX

Max power: 500 horsepower

Nobody’s out there is Honda-swapping old Land Rovers, but maybe they should consider replacing the old, unreliable inline four with a Honda V6. After all, the JNC1 that Honda developed for the second-gen Acura NSX is quite the machine.

The 3.5 liter V6 has two turbochargers and, in the second-gen NSX, the JNC1 is also paired with three electrical motors, which up the car’s total output to 573hp. Just imagine that in a rusty old Land Rover. Much better than an LS-swapped Defender.

Alfa Romeo 690T
Alfa Romeo
Applications: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA

Max power: 533 horsepower

People say the European mind can’t comprehend the American V8, but maybe it doesn’t have to. After all, the continent’s hot sedans and family SUVs are out there making more power with fewer cylinders, as Alfa Romeo proves with the 690T motor that it fits to cars like the Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Giulia GTA.

The 690T V6 motor has been in production at Alfa since 2015 and in that time it’s only been hit by one recall. Impressive, Alfa. In its most powerful guise, the 690T kicks out 533 hp, which Alfa reserves for the Giulia GTA, while the standard motor still manages more than 500hp in the Quadrifoglio cars.

Jaguar JRV-6
Jaguar
Applications: Jaguar XJ220

Max power: 542 horsepower

Not every engine that can outperform the LS1 has been built in the last 20 years. In fact, those clever folks in England had an engine that could produce almost 200 hp more with two fewer cylinders way back in 1992.

The engine in question was a V6 unit that Jaguar fitted to the XJ220 supercar, which was the fastest production car in the world when it launched. Sure, the JRV-6 engine that made the production model wasn’t quite as exciting as the V12 Jag initially promised, but it still howled like a banshee and took the XJ220 to a top speed of 217 mph. Imagine the shame of building a less powerful engine than the Brits could manage.

Mercedes-Benz PU106B
Paul-henri Cahier/Getty Images
Application: Mercedes AMG One, Mercedes F1 W06

Max power: 566 horsepower

Because Mercedes decided to put its Formula 1 engine in the back of a supercar, we get to compare a 1990s General Motors engine to the might of German engineering and, unsurprisingly, the 2015 Formula 1 motor comes out on top.

The PU106B was the second iteration of Mercedes’ hybrid power unit that was developed for F1’s new engine regs and it kicks out 566hp when revving at 15,000 rpm. When racing on tracks around the world, the combustion engine is paired with a kinetic energy recovery system and a heat energy recovery system, which adds even more power. In addition, the recovery systems make this one of the most efficient combustion engines out there, with modern F1 motors managing more than 50 percent thermal efficiency. In contrast, the efficiency of an LS1 motor is closer to 30 percent.

Mclaren M630
McLaren
Applications: McLaren Artura

Max power: 577 horsepower

British supercar maker McLaren developed an all-new V6 motor for its second-ever hybrid model: the Artura. On its own, the three-liter M630 V6 unit produces 577 hp and 431 pound-feet, but because it’s used in a hybrid model, the extra electric power brings the total output up to 671 hp.

While it’s great that in the nearly 30 years since the LS1 was first released, the world’s automakers have managed to almost double the output they can muster, but this kind of power won’t come cheap. Today, you could pick up an LS1 for as much as $4,000 if you’re really splashing out, while an Artura’s replacement electric motor alone will set you back more than double.

Nissan VR38DETT
Nissan
Applications: Nissan Juke-R and Nissan GT-R

Max power: 600 horsepower

Nissan has a whole series of formidable V6 motors that it calls the VR Engine range. At the top of this tree is the VR38DETT, which you’ll find in high-performance machines like the Nissan GT-R and ultra-rare Nissan Juke-R.

The VR38 has been in production since 2007, when it produced around 470 hp, right up to the final-edition GT-Rs that will be sold this year. Those much newer models kick out 565 hp, while special-editions like the GT-R Track Edition are capable of around 600hp.

Maserati Nettuno
Maserati
Applications: Maserati MC20

Max power: 621 horsepower

Another V6 that kicks out more than 100hp per cylinder (I know that’s not really how it works) is the Nettuno unit that Maserati developed specifically for its latest flagship: the Maserati MC20. The three-liter unit is capable of producing more than 620hp at 7,500 rpm and roars onward to a redline at 8,000 rpm.

The unit has two turbochargers, but unlike most other super-powerful V6 units is not paired up with electric motors and battery packs in the MC20. Sure, an electric version of that car was slated for launch at some point, but Maserati confirmed just last week that those plans were off. Shame.

Ferrari Tipo F163
James Moy Photography/Getty Images
Applications: Ferrari 296 and Ferrari 499P

Max power: 654 horsepower

Those Italians sure do know how to get a lot of power from a small engine, as Ferrari tops Alfa Romeo and Maserati as the country’s most powerful V6 slinger. What sets this engine apart from the Alfa and Maserati units is that derivatives of Ferrari’s F163 V6 are put to use on the road and on race tracks around the world.

Developed for the 296 that Ferrari launched in 2022, the Tipo F163 is a three-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine that produces more than 650hp. In the road car, it’s paired with a 165 hp electric motor, while Ferrari’s Le Mans winning racer gets the V6 and a 268 hp electric motor mounted onto the front axle.

Ford Ecoboost V6
Ford
Applications: Ford GT

Max power: 660 horsepower

The term Ecoboost may not conjure up images of raw power and ultimate performance, and instead might make you think of pokey city cars like the Ford Focus. But, believe it or not, the 3.5 liter D35 Ecoboost V6 that you’ll find in the Ford Transit is actually the most powerful V6 out there.

Of course, it’s not in the Transit that you’ll find it performing at its best, as the van has just 310 hp. But when Ford let its engineers loose on the second-generation GT, the Ecoboost was given two turbochargers and upgrades like an aluminum intake manifold and unique camshafts to more than double that output.

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These Are The Dumbest Car Myths
From not reversing on a cold engine to not switching fuel brands, we somehow heard it all
BY  RYAN ERIK KING FEBRUARY 28, 2024 9:00 AM EST
Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Earlier this week when I asked what the dumbest car myths are, it opened the floodgates to everything from tall tales to flat-out lies. I had no idea the absurd lengths drivers are willing to go to prevent any potential damage to their cars. It arguably borders on superstition, because there isn’t any evidence that their methods even work. Without further ado, here are the dumbest car myths:

The Magic Hypermiling Carburetor
Rich Niewiroski Jr. / Wikimedia Commons
Everyone has probably heard some variation of the unknown scientist, who in the mid-20th century, invented a magic carburetor which allowed vehicles to get 100+ MPG but was either silenced or murdered through some shadowy plot carried out by the big oil and automotive companies.

Submitted by: Hankel_Wankel

GMC Trucks Are Different
SsmIntrigue / Wikimedia Commons
GMC trucks were stamped out of thicker steel than Chevy trucks.

Submitted by: Garland – Last Top Comment on Splinter

Plus-Two Coupes Have Cheaper Insurance
Carfanatic2019 / Wikimedia Commons
“The +2 seats are to bring down insurance rates.”

Nonsense. Never sourced. Insurance companies are in the business of knowing exactly what does and does not make them money, and they’ve had bunches of data with which to do that for a very long time.

The +2 seats are so that you can tell your new spouse “See, honey, the 911 is really a family car.”

Submitted by: DGUTS

No Seatbelt Is Safer
CZmarlin / Wikimedia Commons
This is no longer as prevalent as it once was, but I used to hear people say they wouldn’t wear their seatbelt because it could trap them in case of a crash and they’d be safer without it.

Submitted by: RSA

Switching Fuel Makers Does Damage
Downtowngal / Wikimedia Commons
I’m not sure how myth-worthy this is, but I always get gas as the same company. My dad was a mechanic in the 70s and 80s and told me that different companies had different fuel refining processes, and despite the octane, a car would respond differently.

While I don’t doubt that there may be some kernel of truth to that, I do not believe it’s the case anymore. That said, I stick to a single brand as much as I can.

Submitted by: Jerk Gently, Hole-istic Detective

Can’t Drive Barefoot
XtraJovial / Wikimedia Commons
It’s illegal to drive barefoot. Heard that in the ’80s and every now and then since.

Submitted by: endosymbiont

Knew a guy who got fired from his school bus gig for driving barefoot, he wore Birkenstocks year round in northern Alberta. The school board fired him and he took them to court, was over pretty quick, he just took the money as he really didn’t like driving.

Submitted by: sklooner

Super Duty, Small Appendage
Charles & Hudson / Wikimedia Commons
Big truck = Small Penis.

Multitude of reasons here, first, it’s such a lazy and unoriginal thing, it’s low brow, it’s mean-spirited as it gets, commenting on someone’s private parts, being a generalization and judgment in the first place, it’s forced mention of someone else’s private parts, and didn’t we decide a while back that body-shaming is generally shitty behavior?

I get it, free speech and all, but if someone sees a guy driving a big truck and their first reaction is to offer up a comment on the size of a guy’s genitalia, my first reaction is that they are just a fragile, spiteful person.

Submitted by: R4ndyD4ndy

Electric Is Less Efficient
eVgo Network
Aside from what was already mentioned, I’m gonna mention a couple of extra dumb myths repeated by the anti-BEV crowd (likely oil industry shills much of the time)

-That electric vehicles are less ‘green’ than ICE vehicles because of power plant emissions… which was bullshit from day 1. Even in a situation where all power being generated by coal, BEVs are still more efficient on an end-to-end basis. And with coal making less and less of the electricity generation mix, BEVs continue to get better in terms of pollution and emissions… with their owners having to do nothing.

-Electric cars are worse for the environment because of battery manufacturing. This one has always been bullshit as well. It takes emissions to build any vehicle.. BEV or otherwise. The difference is the emissions caused by all the extra consumables ICE vehicles will use over their life. And because of this, a BEV will produce far less emissions compared to an ICE vehicle on a cradle-to-grave basis.

Submitted by: Manwich – now Keto-Friendly

Driving Cold Does Damage
Vanderbilt University/University Images
You have to warm up your car before driving

Nope, not unless you have a really old car, this one has just stuck around. Yes, you should let it warm up before you drive it hard so just get in and drive and that will warm it up, then you can send it

Submitted by: WayDude

Right, keep the revs on the lower side to allow for everything to come up to temp. Perhaps “don’t beat on a cold engine” would be a more useful example.

Submitted by: TheSchrat

Engine Braking Does Damage
Natelee2003 / Wikimedia Commons
Engine braking causes engine wear.

Yeah, that came from a driver of 40 years accustomed to driving up and down mountain roads. Where its engine brake or else brake fade and certain death down 300+ corners on dual carriageways.

I had my doubts about the man who taught me false facts throughout my formative years, called me stupid and slow in public, and eventually abandoned the family to remarry. Good riddance.

Submitted by: Kali Sharma

A Trade Is A Trade
Scott Olson/Getty Images
“Don’t tell your salesperson you have a trade until you agree on numbers for the new car.” After 13 years of selling cars, I can tell you this is a myth. All it does is slow down the deal. Bottom line, your car is worth what it is worth.

Submitted by: LAYDOWN

Reversing Cold Does Damage
Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Someone told my wife when she was young that backing up your car right after you turn it on (like getting out of a parking space) damages the engine. She will go to almost any length to back into every parking space so she can start her drive going forward. Nothing I say can dissuade her from believing that car manufacturers can’t account for this extremely common circumstance in driving.

Submitted by: Kolgrim

Manuals Are Safer
Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald/Getty Images
Manual cars are safer.

Anyone that drove a manual in a non-occasional way knows this is not true. I’ve owned manual vehicles from 1996 to 2021, then finally made the move to an automatic. There’s absolutely nothing I can do with automatic that I was not able to do with a manual. That includes fiddling with my phone, drinking a Chai latte or even driving with a broken left arm.

No, I do not get bored more with the automatic that with a manual. When you drive a car with a manual everyday it’s not long that you completely stop thinking about it, it becomes an automatism.

Submitted by: Margin Of Error

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5 People Survive Small Plane Crash But 12 Cars In The Parking Lot Were Not So Lucky
BY RYAN ERIK KING MARCH 10, 2025 11:45 AM EST
WGAL / YouTube
While the number of small plane crashes hasn’t increased this year, the public is far more aware when they happen in light of the fatal mid-air collision at Reagan National Airport. This weekend was no different after a Beechcraft Bonanza carved a path of destruction through a row of parked cars in suburban Pennsylvania on Sunday. Despite the fiery crash, all five people onboard survived the violent wreck and were taken to nearby hospitals.

The small single-engine plane took off from Lancaster Airport and immediately suffered a severe mechanical issue, WPVI reports. The pilot told air traffic control that a door on the plane was open. He tried to return to the airport but never made it. The plane came down in Manheim near a retirement village roughly a mile from the runway. The Bonanza hit the ground in a fireball and slid for 100 feet, hitting a dozen cars before coming to a halt. The plane and several vehicles burned to a crisp. Duane Fisher, Manheim police chief, said at a press conference, “I don’t know if I consider it a miracle but the fact we have a plane crash where everybody survives and nobody on the ground is hurt is a wonderful thing.”

Trump doesn’t see anything unusual with recent plane crashes
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
While no one was killed, the plane’s occupants didn’t walk away unscathed. Three people were taken to Lehigh Valley Burn Center, and the other two onboard were sent to Lancaster General Hospital. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash to determine its cause, but the head of the federal government already gave his two cents. President Donald Trump was asked if the crash was related to the recent mass firings at the FAA.  According to WGAL, Trump brushed off any implication that this might be his fault and answered:

Well, that has nothing to do with the department. There was a small plane and that would have happened whether he had a big department or a small department, as you understand. It’s just they have spaces like this, you know, they have times when things happen a little bit more often than normal, and then it goes back, and you go many years without having a problem.

Local authorities pointed out that no one on the ground was hurt, and the plane didn’t hit any buildings. This wasn’t the case when a Jet Rescue Air Ambulance crashed near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia earlier this year. The Learjet crashed just after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport and hit a gas line. Along with all six people on the jet, a person in a car was also killed and the massive explosion destroyed four homes. While there isn’t a spike in plane crashes, the incidents are getting deadlier.

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Here’s Why You Always Board Planes On The Left
And no, it’s not because that’s the side of the plane that has the doors.
BY  OWEN BELLWOOD APRIL 30, 2024 8:25 AM EST
James D. Morgan/Getty Images
Flying is one of those strange times where you just have to go with the flow and do as everyone else does. So you put your liquids in a small separate bag, make an impromptu whiskey purchase at 5 a.m. and always board your plane on the left hand side. Hang on, you’re right, you do always board your flight on the left-hand side. Have you ever stopped to wonder why that might be?

Well, dear reader, I’m here to tell you exactly why that might be. And, like most things in life, it all goes back to good old fashioned tradition.

I’ll be honest, I’d never really clocked that we always board planes on the left until I was sitting in a suitably hipster craft brewery with a buddy last week. They pointed out that they’d only ever boarded planes on the left-hand side, to a raft of “oh yeah, I never thought of thats” from our assembled group. It turns out we were far from the first people to ask this question, as social media popped off with the very topic recently.

According to several users, the tradition of boarding planes on the left hand side stems back to our days cruising the globe on ships and ocean liners. As British outlet UniLad explained:

You’re probably already familiar with the terminology of port and starboard on a ship, right?

Starboard refers to the right side of a ship looking to the front of the vessel, while port is the left side.

The word ‘starboard’ actually comes from Anglo-Saxon, which often smashed words together to describe something.

With ‘starboard’ this is actually a combination of the Old English word stéor (steer) and bord (side of the boat) because the steering oar was placed on the right hand side of the ship.

That meant it was easier for the left side, the ‘port’ side, to be the side where a vessel would dock, and where any passengers would disembark and cargo be unloaded.

It’s for this very reason that the left side of a ship became known as the ‘port’ side, as it was the side that touched the port. The name stuck in the shipping industry for generations, so when it came time to move onto ships of the skies, the terminology stayed very much the same.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
This meant that the port side of an aircraft remained the side that touched port. But in this case, port is no longer a rickety wooden jetty and is instead a swanky airport bridge or a set of stairs on wheels. And because we’d always boarded ships on the port side, we just carried on boarding planes from the port side too.

So, there you have it. We board planes on the left, because the left side of a ship was where it was easiest to get on and off. The More You Know.

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Hyundai Says The Ioniq 5 N Is Selling Well Despite It Making Up Just Five Percent Of Ioniq Sales
BY LAWRENCE HODGE FEB. 26, 2025 11:48 AM EST
Hyundai
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a performance EV that’s actually amazing to drive, and that’s not just something we’re saying here at Jalopnik — it’s backed up in the automotive world as a whole. Since its debut in 2023, the Ioniq 5 N has racked up award after award. It was the 2024 World Performance Car of the Year, Road & Track named it the 2025 Performance EV of the Year in their sub-$100,000 category, it recently received the Driver’s Choice Award from MotorWeek, and it even beat the Chevy Corvette in a MotorTrend comparison test.

The Ioniq 5 N’s performance for the price point is nothing short of astonishing. Here’s an EV that costs less than $70,000 that’s just three tenths of a second slower to 60 mph than a PDK-equipped Porsche 911 GT3 and is only a couple seconds slower around the Nürburgring than a BMW M2 CS. Any enthusiast should appreciate that kind of performance. According to Hyundai, there aren’t that many buyers going for the Ioniq 5 N, but that doesn’t mean it’s a flop — despite its low volume, Hyundai sees the Ioniq 5 N as a sales success.

A niche model that’s selling just fine
Hyundai
Road & Track spoke to Hyundai’s senior product planning manager Mike Evanhoff about just how well the Ioniq 5 N is doing for the brand. Like most automakers, Hyundai doesn’t separate sales numbers for specific trims of a single model when reporting quarterly sales; every Ioniq 5 sold is grouped into one big number. While Evanhoff couldn’t exactly say how many Ioniq 5 Ns have been sold, he did give a rough estimate. From Road & Track:

“It was never intended to be a huge mix,” Evanoff tells Road & Track. “So it is less than 5% and below … but yes, it’s selling well, and it’s a very niche product.”

The Ioniq 5 N being a niche product isn’t exactly surprising. The buyer pool for those who want a near-$70,000, 601-horsepower electric hot hatch is only so big. Some might see that percentage and call the Ioniq 5 N a flop, but crunch the numbers like Road & Track did and you’ll see its sales results aren’t really out of the ordinary.

Let’s do some quick math. The Ioniq 5 N went on sale in Q2 last year, and Hyundai sold a total of 37,578 Ioniq 5s in the United States from Q2 through the end of 2024. If around 5% of those were N models, that’d put 2024 sales just under the 1900 mark. Considering that Evanoff suggested the proportion of Ns was 5% “and below,” however, the actual number of sales could be well below that, perhaps dipping closer to 1500 than 2000 for the year.

Around 2,000 units sold of such a niche performance product sounds pretty good to us — Porsche sold 2,693 Taycans in the U.S. over the same time frame, for example. Road & Track mentions the Ioniq 5 N’s sales results also line up with the Elantra N’s sales, which they estimate to be about 5,500 during the same time last year. And things could always be worse. Consider that Kia once said that the performance version of the Forte sedan, the Forte GT, made up just two percent of Forte sales. When you consider that Kia sold almost 140,000 Fortes in its last full year on sale, that amounts to fewer than 2,800 being the Forte GT. Now that’s a flop.

The Ioniq 5 N also seems to be bringing in buyers from other brands. Road & Track pressed Evanoff about what kinds of cars Hyundai seeing people trade in for the Ioniq 5 N. While he didn’t name a specific brand or model, Evanoff did say that buyers are coming from both gas and EV models. “A lot of it, it’s coming from you know either higher horsepower cars or just pure ICE cars. This is their first EV, but they want a performance EV,” Evanoff told Road & Track. So don’t let the low sales of the Ioniq 5 N fool you. It’s selling just fine for what it is.

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The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Is The Crossover To End All Crossovers
With funky boxy styling, a lovely interior and increased space, the new Santa Fe just became the gold standard of crossovers.
BY  ANDY KALMOWITZ MARCH 19, 2024 8:00 AM EST
Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik/Other
A little less than a year ago, I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the fifth-generation 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe in its namesake city in New Mexico. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to drive it at the time, but now that has changed — I just got back from driving Hyundai’s latest “compact” crossover in Tennessee, experiencing how it conducts itself both on and off the road as well as how all of its features work in the real world. And I’ve gotta say, damn this thing is good. No matter what situation you find yourself in with the new Santa Fe, it is more than up to the task, especially if that task is delivering Land Rover Defender styling for about half the price.

Few vehicles really deliver on what their looks and spec sheets promise, but the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe is absolutely one of those cars.

Full Disclosure: Hyundai flew me out to Franklin, Tennessee, put me up in a very nice hotel and fed me delicious food all so I could try out their newest vehicle that was already on sale.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
If I were a different kind of guy — someone who didn’t know his audience — I’d probably bury how the Santa Fe drives at the end of this story. After all, who the hell cares how a crossover with a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine and six comfy seats actually drives? Well, nerds, I know we all do.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
Starting with the boilerplate facts, the new Santa Fe’s standard engine is the aforementioned turbo four, which is good for 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. All that torque is routed through an extremely responsive 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. If you’re looking to go electric (sort of), you can also opt for a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four hybrid paired up with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both powerplants can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive (an $1,800 option) on every trim level in the lineup other than the off-road-focused XRT trim.

I drove two Santa Fes during my testing, a top-of-the-line Calligraphy ($50,375 as tested) on-road and a middle-of-the-range XRT ($43,205 as tested) off-road. Both vehicles were fitted with the 2.5-liter engine, and it proved to be a super strong power unit no matter the terrain. I wouldn’t exactly call it fast, because it isn’t, but it’ll get the job done for anyone who is buying this type of vehicle.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
On pavement, the Santa Fe is extremely quiet and relaxing. You hear the grumble of the 2.5-liter engine from time to time — it’s the nature of a four-popper, after all — but it’s not exactly intrusive. Wind and road noise is kept to a minimum, even when the surface is less-than-ideal. The eight-speed dual-clutch was surprisingly snappy for this type of application. It fired off up- and down-shifts as quickly as you could ever really want them to be, even when using the steering wheel–mounted paddle shifters.

The Santa Fe’s cornering isn’t anything to write home about, but what exactly did you expect? This is a 4,500-pound crossover after all. It isn’t offensive by any means, but a corner carver the Santa Fe is not. I suppose you feel something through the leather-wrapped steering wheel, but it isn’t the road. There’s a Sport mode you can select, but it’s mostly just there for vibes. I suppose the steering gets a little bit heavier and the throttle response is a bit snappier, but that’s about it. Again, what did you expect? Leave it in the “Normal” and you’ll be fine.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
When it comes to leaving the pavement, the Santa Fe really surprises. Hyundai built the XRT trim to be able to hold its own off-road, and it did — I’m not going to sit here and tell you the XRT is better than something like a Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco or Defender off-road, but it’s solid, and I did a way more intense off-road course than any Hyundai Santa Fe owner would ever dare to do.

All of the Santa Fe’s off-roading is done without fancy modes. There are only two things you can change to make the Santa Fe more off-road ready: locking the all-wheel-drive system and enabling hill descent control. Everything else is accomplished through the Santa Fe’s pure willpower.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
The XRT does get a number of actual modifications to better attack the trails. It’s fitted with 18-inch wheels and chunkier all-terrain tires, and its overall ride height is raised to 8.3 inches, a 1.3-inch bump over the standard Santa Fes. Hyundai also says the XRT can tow up to 4,500 pounds, while regular Santa Fes can only muster 3,500 pounds.

On the outside, the Santa Fe has gone through one of the biggest generational glow-ups I’ve ever seen. The previous-gen crossover wasn’t bad-looking, but the new car just looks exceptional. Gone are the curved lines and soft edges of the previous Santa Fe. In their places are boxy shapes, hard lines and right angles. Damn, does it look good, and the fact it’s so solid off-road is a relief — I’d hate if this thing didn’t deliver on what its looks promised.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
Aside from the styling, the Santa Fe’s size is the biggest (I’m so sorry) change. It has grown in every dimension over the fourth-generation car, and it’s now only six inches shorter than its Palisade stablemate, but Hyundai is adamant the two SUVs do not compete with each other. Please disregard the fact they have similar prices, seat the same amount of people and are now basically the same size. Okay, to be fair to Hyundai, the next-generation Palisade is rumored to be getting both bigger and boxier to make room for the new Santa Fe. Still, Hyundai doesn’t even consider the Santa Fe to be a mid-size crossover. It still classifies the vehicle as a “compact crossover.” Sure, Jan.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
At last year’s event, ​​Hyundai’s Design Chief SangYup Lee told us the design process for the new Santa Fe started with its incredibly wide tailgate at the back, and everything else about the car was designed with that feature in mind. If you’re thinking the taillights are sort of low, well, you’re not wrong. They are, but that positioning serves a purpose. With the taillights mounted lower on the body, it allows for a thinner tailgate strut, which makes the housing for the tailgate thinner as well. All that allowed the designers and engineers to make that huge rear hatch opening. It’s also meant to harken back to SUVs of years gone by that had low taillights. Love it or hate it, it’s certainly distinctive.

The rest of the exterior design is super cohesive, and it doesn’t look like much else on the road (if you ignore Defenders). There are little “H” easter eggs everywhere, including the headlights, taillights, bumpers and grille, just to name a few. They’re a little corny, but it’s cute. There’s one little feature of the exterior that really caught my attention: the weird little rectangle on the C-pillar. As it turns out, it’s a handle, which Hyundai explains makes it easier for folks to climb up onto the roof to access their active lifestyle equipment strapped upon it.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
The themes of the exterior continue once you step inside the Santa Fe namely the “H” motif and clean lines. Hyundai is offering five interior colors to choose from; the only interesting color options are Pecan Brown and Forest Green. It would be cool if those two could be mashed together, but alas. That’s right, you can spec an “Earthy Brass Matte” or “Terracotta Orange” Santa Fe with a green interior, which has quickly made this one of my favorite vehicles ever. Despite its utilitarian nature, all the materials inside the Santa Fe feel quite premium and everything seems well put together.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
Anyone who has spent time inside Hyundai or Kia’s EVs will feel right at home in the Santa Fe. Similarities include Hyundai’s trick “Relaxation Seat” with a leg rest for front-row occupants. I just always assumed they were just for EV drivers waiting for their vehicles to charge. The “H” theme continues through the cabin with the dashboard air vents, but take notice that there isn’t any lettering or Hyundai logo on the steering wheel. Instead, there are just four dots that designers noted represent the letter “H” in Morse code. How cute.

Hyundai also moved the gear shifter from the center console to the steering column, which freed up a ton of space that the designers filled with a lot of other things. For example, there are now two wireless charging pads that’ll both get your phone decently hot, though it does charge them quickly. Underneath that area is a huge cubby hole to throw your junk in.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
Above that center console is a 6.6-inch touchscreen climate control display that does include some physical buttons. I suppose it’s nice that you can control temperature through a dial, but I wish the whole thing would be real buttons rather than a screen, as it did require me to take my eyes off the road to operate.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
The main focal point of the interior are the dual 12.3-inch curved displays that serve as the gauge cluster and center infotainment screen. Both displays are fairly customizable and easy to use, and they’re standard on the Limited and Calligraphy models. Lower trims like the SE, SEL and XRT keep the 12.3-inch center display but lose the digital gauge cluster in favor of a small 4.3-inch screen flanked by two gauges. On the tech side of things, Hyundai was very proud to share that its designers and engineers included a UV sanitizing tray in the interior, which was apparently a decision brought on by the pandemic. It’s definitely unique and not something I’ve come across in a car before, though I’m not sure exactly how useful it is. There’s also a digital rear-view mirror with a camera to better aid drivers, especially when there is too much junk in the trunk.

It will not come as too much of a surprise to learn that the Santa Fe comes with every driver assistance and safety feature currently on the market — lane-keeping assist, forward collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control are all here and accounted for. Also, as is a growing trend in the industry, you can use your phone as a car key in the new Santa Fe. Hyundai will also provide over-the-air updates to make sure the car is up to snuff for buyers.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
Roominess is the name of the game when it comes to the Santa Fe’s interior, and that makes a whole of sense — it is a family vehicle at the end of the day. Hyundai says the Santa Fe now has class-leading interior space because of its 110.8-inch wheelbase and 190.2-inch overall length. That roominess is evident the second you fold the rear seats flat. There’s nearly 80 cubic feet of interior cargo volume behind the front seats, and that number shrinks to a still-respectable 14.6 cubes of cargo room with all the seats up.

The Santa Fe also has class-leading second- and third-row legroom, according to the Korean manufacturer. Second-row citizens in the gas-powered crossover are treated to 42.3 inches of legroom. If you’re piloting a hybrid, though, second-row passengers will have to make do with a slightly smaller 41.5 inches. As for those stuck in the third row, don’t worry. You’ve got plenty of space with 29.9 inches of legroom, and you can even recline the third-row seats by 10 degrees. All that is to say my 6’1″ self fits extremely comfortably in the second row, and the third row is bearable.

Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik
After spending a whole lot of time — and a couple hundred miles — with this new “compact” crossover, I can say without a doubt in my mind that Hyundai has a winner on its hands with the 2024 Santa Fe It doesn’t matter how you spec your Santa Fe or what trim you go with, the Santa Fe is as solid at its $35,455 (including $1,395 for shipping) base price as it is fully loaded at $50,695.

Whatever you plan to do with the new Santa Fe, whether it’s carrying all your friends and their stuff or blasting up what seems like an impossibly steep and muddy road, it delivers. This is a good vehicle through and through — just don’t call it a compact crossover.

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Moon Mission May Be Safe After All Now That Billionaire NASA Nominee Wants To Beat China
BY RYAN ERIK KING APRIL 8, 2025 5:25 PM EST
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
President Donald Trump’s return to the White House provoked fears that NASA’s Artemis Program could be canceled in the name of reducing the federal budget, especially with Elon Musk’s fixation on colonizing Mars. However, the fear of losing a new space race may light a fire to return to the Moon. Jared Isaacman, Trump’s nominee for NASA Administration, told Senate staff last week that it was a matter of national importance that the United States returns astronauts to the lunar surface before China. NASA’s 21st-century Moon program has been on the ropes for years due to technical issues and development delays.

Isaacman isn’t a typical nominee for NASA Administrator. The 42-year-old became a billionaire after founding Shift4 Payments in 1999. Through his interest in flight, he became a qualified military jet pilot as a civilian and then founded Draken International, the world’s largest private air force, in 2012. In recent years, Isaacman has become a private astronaut, contracting SpaceX to conduct his mission. Before his nomination, he conducted the first commercial spacewalk during Polaris Dawn last September, the first mission of his three-part Polaris Program.

China is closer to the Moon that you’d think
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Despite his ties to Elon Musk, Isaacman seems to disagree with SpaceX’s CEO on the future of the federal space agency. The billionaire astronaut told Senator Ted Cruz that the Artemis Program would be NASA’s main focus under his leadership, Reuters reports. Musk, on the other hand, has been doing his best to cancel the lunar missions despite SpaceX’s contracts to provide a lander. Isaacman promised that he’ll cancel his Polaris contracts with SpaceX if nominated.

Isaacman’s concerns about losing to China’s space agency aren’t outlandish. Chinese Lunar Exploration Program announced plans to land a pair of taikonauts on the Moon by 2030. So far, the program has sent an uncrewed lander to the Moon and conducted a successful sample return mission. While crewed spaceflight is far more difficult, the agency is currently operating the third iteration of its Tiangong space station. China has the capability to meet its deadline.

The United States is on the back foot. Artemis III, NASA’s first Moon landing this century, was initially scheduled for this year. However, multiple delays have pushed the mission back to 2027. NASA announced in December last year that the most recent delay was caused by a cracked heat shield on the uncrewed Artemis I’s Orion capsule in 2022. The space agency is adamant that temperatures remain at a safe and comfortable level and will use the same shield design for Artemis II. The crewed lunar flyby is scheduled for February 2026.

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These Are The Worst Transmission Recalls Of The Last 5 Years
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 7, 2025 12:25 PM EST
Zephyr_p/Shutterstock
These days, it feels like not a week goes by without some kind of enormous recall hitting the American auto industry. Heck, recently we saw huge recalls on cars like the Volkswagen ID4 — even brands like Mercedes and Kia have taken a hit. When they occur, recalls can impact everything from rear-view cameras and dodgy tailgates to more serious issues, like faulty transmissions. And when it comes to transmission recalls, there have been some enormous issues uncovered in America that have impacted hundreds of thousands of cars.

Transmission recalls are particularly important as this component is the piece that ensures all the power from your engine goes to the road and, with lots of moving parts inside, there is a ton that can go wrong with your transmission. When problems do arise, they command everything from quick fixes to full transmission replacements.

Here are some of the biggest transmission recalls to hit the American auto industry over the past five years listed from least to most potentially affected vehicles. We’ll cover what went wrong in each case, and the steps automakers took to ensure the problems wouldn’t arise again. If you are worried that your car might be affected by a recall, there are a few easy ways to check. First up, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has a super handy app that you can use to see if your vehicle is impacted by a recall, or you can head to the regulator’s website and plug your VIN into its recall search tool.

Ram 2500 and 3500
betto rodrigues/Shutterstock
Model years impacted: 2019 – 2020

Number of potential vehicles affected: 84,202

In early 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall of certain 2019 and 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks due to an increased risk of fire. An investigation revealed that a buildup of pressure and heat inside the transmission could result in a fluid leak. The leaking transmission fluid could then splash onto hot spots in the engine bay, increasing the risk of fire in impacted models.

Increased risk of fire isn’t something anybody wants in their cars, so Dodge’s parent company, Stellantis, quickly uncovered a fix and recalled more than 84,000 trucks that could be impacted by the problem. To fix the issue, the automaker worked to replace the transmission valve body separator plate and reprogrammed the powertrain control module.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 and GLS 450
Mercedes-Benz
Model years impacted: 2020 – 2023

Number of potential vehicles affected: 105,071

Just last year, German automaker Mercedes-Benz issued a recall of its GLE and GLS vehicles, reports CarScoops. The issue related to the transmission fitted to the two models, which the NHTSA explained may not “fully downshift in certain conditions, causing the engine to stall.”

The defect impacted more than 100,000 GLE and GLS cars across the 2020 to 2023 model years, the agency said in recall documents. However, to rectify the problem, Mercedes had a pretty simple fix and just updated the transmission control software in impacted cars. This was done free of charge to all owners.

Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac
General Motors
Model years impacted: 2018 – 2020

Number of potential vehicles affected: 194,105

This one was a real doozy, and hit 12 different models across four different brands owned by General Motors. The recall impacted almost 200,000 cars from Buick, GMC, Cadillac, and Chevrolet that were all at risk of leaking transmission fluids, reports SlashGear.

The recall related to bolts that may be missing from impacted vehicles’ start/stop accumulator end caps, the NHTSA explained in its documents. This meant that transmission fluid could leak, increasing the risk of a crash or fire. The issue was uncovered in the Buick LaCrosse, Enclave and Encore; GMC’s Terrain and Acadia; the Cadillac XT4 and XT6; and the Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze, Equinox, Traverse, and Blazer. To rectify the problem, GM dealers inspected the start-stop transmission accumulator and replaced it if any bolts were missing.

Subaru Ascent, Legacy, and Outback
Subaru
Model years impacted: 2019 – 2020

Number of potential vehicles affected: 198,255

The biggest transmission recall to hit Japanese automaker Subaru came in December 2021, when the company was forced to roll out a fix on almost 200,000 Ascent, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold across the U.S. The recall was issued after Subaru found a weakness in the drive chain on some cars, which could break and result in a loss of power on impacted cars.

The root cause of the issue was a programming error in the Transmission Control Unit, which could allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain was completely clamped, CNET explained at the time. As a result, the first fix rolled out by Subaru was to reprogram the TCU before dealers inspected the chain guide for any evidence of chain slippage or damage. If issues were found, the brand replaced the transmission in impacted vehicles.

Nissan Frontier, Titan, and Z
Nissan
Model years impacted: 2020 – 2023

Number of potential vehicles affected: 203,223

In September 2020, the NHTSA issued a recall that hit more than 200,000 Nissan cars across the Frontier, Titan, and Z lines. The models, made between 2020 and 2023 were all found to have an issue with their transmissions that correlated to the parking pawl potentially not engaging when they were shifted into park. The NHTSA explained that this could increase the risk of rollaway on impacted models.

The problem got so bad that in 2022 Nissan stopped selling automatic Zs due to the rollaway risk but did eventually unearth a fix for the issue. As per NHTSA documents, the Japanese automaker initially advised drivers to apply the parking brake every time they parked their vehicles, just to be sure, but soon began inspecting and repairing impacted vehicles by reprogramming the transmission control module and the engine control module in certain cars.

Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty
Ford
Model years impacted: 2017 – 2022

Number of potential vehicles affected: 247,445

What is it with big trucks and big recalls? After Ram was forced to issue a fix for its 2500 and 3500 trucks, Ford followed suit with a recall of its Super Duty models. The recall hit 2017-2022 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks that were fitted with gasoline engines and aluminum driveshafts.

According to the NHTSA, there was a risk that underbody heat and noise insulators could loosen over time and come into contact with the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and lead to a loss in power. While Ford said it wasn’t aware of any incident or injuries as a result of the defect, it quickly notified owners of impacted vehicles that their trucks would need to be brought into a dealer for inspection. There, engineers inspected and repaired the driveshaft and correctly fastened the underbody insulators.

More Ram 2500s and 3500s
Dodge
Model years impacted: 2020 – 2023

Number of potential vehicles affected: 248,342

Another enormous recall hit the Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks in November 2022, adds Kelley Blue Book. After recalling 2019 to 2020 over issues with transmission fluid leaks, the recall was expanded to cover 2020 to 2023 model year trucks as well.

The issue, which was uncovered more than two years after the initial Ram 2500 recall, found that increased pressure and heat inside the transmission could cause a leak through the car’s dipstick. This increased the risk of fire in almost 250,000 trucks, so a fix was essential. Ram’s solution was, once again, to replace the transmission dipstick and the transmission vent assembly, which would reduce the buildup in pressure from happening again.

Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, and Lexus LX600
Toyota
Model years impacted: 2022 – 2024

Number of potential vehicles affected: 280,663

A slew of models from Toyota were found to have an issue that could lead to “unexpected vehicle movement,” according to the NHTSA. The issue could occur when certain Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, and Lexus LX600 vehicles were in neutral without the brakes applied.

The issue impacted more than 280,000 vehicles across the three models, but thankfully Toyota had a pretty simple fix for the problem: a software update. Dealers began rolling out a software patch to impacted models in early 2024, which saw them update the transmission control software to patch the problem.

Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC
Chevrolet
Model years impacted: 2020 – 2022

Number of potential vehicles affected: 461,839

A whole heap of General Motors trucks and SUVs were caught up in an enormous recall related to locking rear wheels late 2024. Chevrolet’s Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban; GMC’s Sierra and Yukon; and the Cadillac Escalade were all hit by the recall, which impacted more than 460,000 vehicles across America.

The recall hit models equipped with diesel engines, which were found to have a faulty transmission control valve that could fail and cause the rear wheels to lock, the NHTSA explained at the time. Owners were encouraged to take affected vehicles to dealerships, where a new transmission control software could be installed to remedy the issue. The patch helped GM identify models with transmissions that needed more thorough repairs, which were subsequently carried out.

Ford Escape, C-Max, Fusion, Transit Connect and Edge
Ford
Model years impacted: 2013 – 2019

Number of potential vehicles affected: 2,925,968

The final transmission recall we’ll cover from the past five years was a real big one. It hit almost three million vehicles across five different models and was, of course, a Ford recall.

The June 2022 recall hit Ford’s Escape, C-Max, Fusion, Edge, and even the Transit Connect when it was announced. In total, 2,925,968 vehicles were impacted by the issue, which related to bushings that attached the shifter cable to the transmission. Those bushings could degrade or detach, which could mean that a car didn’t shift into the gear you were expecting.

To fix the issue, Ford called on owners to take their vehicles to dealerships where the shift bushings were replaced and a protective cap was installed to prevent wear and tear. This was the biggest in a long string of recalls to hit Ford, which struggled with quality issues for years. In 2024, the automaker finally pledged to clean up its act after it was hit with a $165 million fine over its handling of recalls in America.

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THE MORNING SHIFT
F-150 Production Halted, Ford Temporarily Lays Off 9,700 Workers
Plus Apple is getting serious about its self-driving car and Tesla pays $1.5 million for dumping hazardous waste.
BY  OWEN BELLWOOD FEBRUARY 5, 2024 7:30 AM EST
Ford
Welcome to a new week! It’s Monday, February 5, 2024, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. Here are the important stories you need to know.

1st Gear: Ford Halts F-150 Production
It’s been a tough start to the new year for fans of the Ford F-150. After the Blue Oval announced it was slashing production of the electric Lightning variant, the Michigan automaker has now revealed that it halted production of the 2024 F-150 pickup for more than five days in January.

According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Ford stopped production of the 2024 truck between January 25 and January 31, 2024 at its Dearborn Truck Plant. Production of America’s best-selling truck was also stopped at the Kansas City Assembly Plant from January 25 until February 1. The Free Press reports:

“Production has resumed after being paused temporarily because of a supplier parts concern,” [Ford spokeswoman Jessica Enoch] said. “We are vigilant about ensuring that the vehicles our customers receive are built with the quality they expect and we are taking appropriate actions to deliver on that commitment.”

Enoch said Lightning production was also stopped Jan. 25 through Jan. 31 because ICE production was stopped at Dearborn Truck; the Dearborn Truck paint shop services both the internal combustion and electric trucks.

During the shutdown, United Auto Workers union employees working at both facilities were laid off temporarily. In Kansas, 4,500 workers were affected while the figure in Dearborn was around 5,200. However, workers are now back on site and regular shifts have returned at both facilities.

The 2024 F-150 was first unveiled last year and marks a mid-cycle refresh for the Ford truck. In the new models you’ll find performance upgrades, new driver assistance tech and features that can even tell if your truck is being stolen.

2nd Gear: Apple Takes Self-Driving Car Testing Seriously
It’s no secret that Apple is working on a car of its own. The Californian tech giant has had a four–wheeled creation in the works for years and has been spied testing its autonomous driving tech out on the streets of California. Now, it turns out that the iPhone maker has been ramping up its testing programs in recent months.

A new report from Wired looked into the hours self-driving car companies spent testing their models last year, and Apple has seriously stepped things up compared with 12 months ago. According to Wired, paperwork from the California DMV shows that Apple almost quadrupled the number of miles it covered on public roads in 2023 compared with 2022. The site reports:

The data covers December 2022 to November 2023. The majority of the testing miles were in the second half of the reporting period, with miles tested peaking in August at 83,900.

Apple’s testing totals are well below those of more advanced autonomous vehicle developers’, though the state’s reporting guidelines make them difficult to compare directly. Waymo drove 3.7 million testing miles in California with a safety driver behind the wheel and 1.2 million testing miles with no one behind the wheel. The company drove more than 1.6 million additional miles with passengers in the car, according to separate government documents.

In total, Apple tested its tech on the road across 452,744 miles of Californian highway in 2023.

According to Bloomberg, Apple’s car-shaped ambitions have somewhat changed in recent years. When the project started, the company reportedly hoped to create an electric vehicle that could drive itself anywhere and everywhere. However, that changed last year and now Apple is hoping to create “automated driving-assistance features more in line with those offered by automakers like Tesla, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz,” reports Wired.

3rd Gear: Tesla Pays Up For Dumping Hazardous Chemicals
Last week, local authorities in California threatened legal action against Tesla after they claimed it had been dumping hazardous chemicals in an unsafe manner. Now, the electric vehicle maker has agreed to pay $1.5 million for mishandling hazardous chemicals such as paint, diesel and used batteries.

According to a report from Automotive News, the U.S.-based automaker has settled the lawsuit that was brought by 25 local authorities from across California. The site explains:

The settlement was approved by Judge Jayne Lee on Thursday in San Joaquin County state court, just two days after the counties sued claiming Tesla improperly labeled waste, like paint materials, used batteries and diesel fuel, at its facilities across the state, and sent hazardous materials to landfills that cannot accept such materials.

The company, which did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, agreed to pay a $1.3 million civil penalty and $200,000 to reimburse the counties for the costs of the investigation. It also agreed to take steps to properly handle waste and hire a third-party auditor to examine its waste practices over five years.

As well as paying the fine, which is worth less than a 5000th of Tesla’s 2023 profits, the automaker has agreed to correctly screen and quarantine any hazardous chemicals it disposes of.

Rather worryingly, this isn’t the first time the supposedly eco-minded company has been caught mishandling hazardous chemicals. In 2019, Tesla reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over alleged federal hazardous waste violations. As a result of that case, it pledged to properly manage waste and paid a fine of $31,000, reports Automotive News.

4th Gear: Volvo Is Doing Just Fine
Fear swept the Jalopnik office last week when it emerged that Volvo was offloading its shares in Polestar as both firms were struggling. Could it all be going wrong for the only real purveyor of station wagons? It turns out no, and things are going just fine for the creator of the V60. Phew.

According to sales figures shared by Reuters, Volvo shifted 10 percent more cars in January than it managed during the same month in 2023. The boost was helped by a 40 percent increase in sales of electric models in Europe. Reuters reports:

Volvo Cars, which is majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding (0175.HK), opens new tab, said in a statement sales of fully electric cars were in all up 17%, to account for 17% of total sales. In China and the United States, they were down.

Reuters explains that Volvo’s sales in Europe were up eight percent, while in the US they remained “unchanged”. The biggest winner around the world came in China, where sales were up 36 percent. That’s probably because of the launch of Volvo’s rad electric minivan, the EM90, but Volvo hasn’t said.

Sales of Volvo’s Recharge models, which includes battery-powered and hybrid models, dropped three percent in January. The company’s latest sales figures impacted its share value, with Volvo’s value dipping one percent in early trade.

On The Radio: Ray Charles – ‘Georgia On My Mind’

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Tesla Odometers Could Be Overestimating Mileage By As Much As 117%: Lawsuit
BY ERIN MARQUIS APRIL 15, 2025 2:55 PM EST
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Tesla, no stranger to lawsuits, has a brand new one to add to the list: A multiple-Tesla owner in Northern California is suing the automaker, claiming the odometers incorrectly measures milage using a faulty algorithm which ups the supposed miles driven from 15% to 117%. The lawsuit alleges Tesla does this to close out warranties early on their products. The lawsuit, however, stands on a filed patent which may or may not be in use in Tesla vehicles.

Tesla owner Nyree Hinton brought the case against Tesla forward. Here’s what they’re claiming, according to CarScoops:

The case was filed by Nyree Hinton, who says they bought a 2020 Tesla Model Y in December 2022 with 36,772 miles on it. Hinton states that from December 14, 2022, to February 6, 2023, they averaged 55.54 miles per day, but between March 26, 2023, and June 28, 2023, this spiked to 72.53 miles per day, just as the Model Y was approaching its warranty expiration. The owner estimates that the average mileage should have been roughly 20 miles fewer per day because of their consistent routine during this time.

In the instance of their Model Y, Hinton says they drove 6,086 miles but the Tesla recorded 13,228 miles. The lawsuit is based on a patent that Tesla filed for a seemingly tricky form of recording milage. The patent calls for a “miles-to-electrical energy conversion factor” that would take in factors like charging behavior and road conditions into the calculation of miles traveled instead of a direct recording of miles traveled. The lawsuit alleges Tesla is using this technology instead of mechanical or electrical systems that faithfully record miles traveled, in order to shorten warranties based on miles-driven in the cars.

Tesla’s many woes
Cheng Xin/Getty Images
There’s no proof that Tesla ever put that technology into use in its cars, but there’s been talk on forums about Teslas over-estimating miles driven for years. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in discovery should this lawsuit go to trial. As it stands, Tesla warranties on its vehicles range from 100,000 to 150,000 miles, depending on the model.

Tesla has faced plenty of litigation over the years, though its outlook in 2025 is very different. In 2024, it faced legal battles on everything from being accused of spewing pollution from its plant in California, to settling the lawsuit of the family of an Apple engineer who burned to death in a Model X, to a massive class action lawsuit from Tesla owners over self-driving promises.

Yet none of those cases could do to Tesla’s reputation quite what the actions of its own CEO have achieved. Elon Musk’s unpopular political involvement has sent sales of his company’s cars plummeting around the world and here at home. Despite falling demand and growing problems, Musk has still found the time to work towards on getting his $56 billion pay day out of litigation from the state of Delaware, most recently by attempting to change the law that’s preventing this truly dazzling sum of money from hitting his bank account.

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Buy One Of These Electric Pickup Trucks Instead Of Humiliating Yourself With A Tesla Cybertruck
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 19, 2025 1:25 PM EST
Jetcityimage/Getty Images
When it was first revealed back in 2019, the Tesla Cybertruck was just a ridiculously angular truck that nobody thought would ever actually exist. By the time it finally went on sale in December 2023, it had become an emblem of everything wrong with Tesla boss Elon Musk, and over the past year that’s only got worse for the big dumb truck.

Things have now gotten so bad for Cybertruck owners that they’re getting poop and eggs thrown at their stainless steel trucks, and some are resorting to novelty bumper stickers to argue that they aren’t fans of Musk anymore, either. If all the abuse has got too bad for your friendly neighborhood Cybertruck owner, then they needn’t worry, as there are a handful of other electric pickup trucks out there that aren’t half as dumb as Tesla’s Cybertruck.

Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford
Starting price: $65,090

Range: 240 – 320 miles

If you just want a pickup truck that happens to be electric, then the F-150 Lightning is Ford’s truck for you. It looks like a regular F-150, drives like a regular F-150 and, despite having to haul around its own weight, is still rated to tow around 8,500 pounds of stuff whenever you need it to.

When compared to the Cybertruck, the F-150 Lightning is much more likely to blend in and avoid the assaults of any eco-minded activists that brand trucks like this as greenwashing. It’s also much cheaper, but isn’t able to charge quite as quickly as Tesla’s truck, and can also share its power in an emergency situation through clever tech called bidirectional charging, which the Cybertruck also has.

Rivian R1T
Rivian
Price: $71,900

Range: 258 – 420 miles

The slickest alternative to the Cybertruck you can buy right now is the R1T electric pickup from Rivian. The American startup’s flagship boasts distinctive style, but not in an “I was designed by a five-year-old” kind of way, a very usable range and a host of innovative flourishes baked into the design.

The R1T produces up to 1,025 hp, more than the Cybertruck; has an 11,000-pound tow capacity, more than the F-150; and comes with a nifty gear tunnel to add in extra storage space, also not offered on any of its rivals. It also starts at nearly $10,000 less than Tesla’s offering.

Chevrolet Silverado EV
Chevrolet
Starting price: $75,195

Range: 390 – 492 miles

Prefer your electric pickup truck from a legacy automaker? Then the Silverado EV could be the option for you. The electric iteration of Chevy’s iconic truck comes with a little design flair to set it apart from the gas-powered truck, as well as increased range compared with the options from Ford and Rivian — albeit at a premium.

More expensive doesn’t always mean more better, however, and while the Silverado EV is an impressive machine, our testing of the truck found that it didn’t quite live up to the polish of the F-150 Lightning or Rivian R1T.

GMC Sierra EV
GMC
Starting price: $91,995

Range: 390 – 460 miles

If you want to be able to cover more than 500 miles in your electric truck, then the GMC Sierra EV could be the perfect replacement for your Cybertruck. Based on the same platform as the Silverado EV, GMC’s offering comes with more range and a whiff of luxury that you might miss in Chevy’s EV.

It is, however, a pretty ugly truck and might not appeal to everybody out there. At least its looks might not get you egged, but it’s something you’ll be aware of while utilizing its 10,000-pound towing claims or its charging speeds of up to 350 kW.

GMC Hummer EV
GM
Starting price: $98,845

Range: 282 – 318 miles

Like the sound of all that but don’t totally want to lose the attention your Cybertruck brings, get a Hummer EV instead. Based on the same platform as Chevy’s Silverado and GMC’s Sierra trucks, the Hummer EV is a brute that’s almost as ridiculous as the Cybertruck. Almost.

For pretty much the same price as the Cybertruck, GM will sell you a Hummer with an extra 1,000 pounds of towing capacity, the ability to drive sideways (like a crab), and the largest battery of any EV in America. What more could you want from an enormous electric pickup?

RAM 1500 REV
Stellantis
Starting price: Unknown

Range: 350 miles

If you aren’t in a rush to abandon your Cybertruck out of fear it’ll be the victim of a domestic terrorism, then you could soon swap it for Stellantis’ electric truck offering: the Ram 1500 REV. This beast will be the first all-electric pickup from Ram and is slated to launch once the hybrid Ramcharger model hits the market.

When it launches in 2026, the 1500 REV will offer the greatest towing capacity of the trucks listed here at around 14,000 pounds, a range of roughly 350 miles on a single charge, and a payload capacity of more than 2,600 pounds, which is over 100 more than the Cybertruck can manage.

Scout Terra
Scout Motors
Starting price: Under $60,000

Range: 350 miles

Another electric truck that might be worth waiting for is the Terra from the relaunched Scout brand. Revived by VW last year, the Scout Terra is an all-electric truck that offers 350 miles of range, a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, and it’ll be sold direct-to-consumers, so you won’t have to deal with a salesperson piling on markups.

What’s more, the Terra will also be available with an optional range extender in the form of a gas-powered motor. The range-extender models will be capable of covering around 500 miles on a charge, but will take a hit on towing capacity, which will be around 5,000 pounds when the new trucks launch in 2027.

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The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Is Exactly What You Want It To Be
Forget what you heard, the Ranger Raptor is the rowdy little off-roader you’ve been waiting for
BY  RORY CARROLL MARCH 21, 2024 5:00 AM EST
Ford/Other

Ford
Two, maybe three times in the lead up to driving the new Ford Ranger Raptor, I heard it compared to a rally car. This something that car companies have been increasingly eager to say about their cars in the last few years, and it’s also something that trips the old switch in my brain marked “skepticism.” As I approached the end of my day driving the Ranger Raptor, my I was feeling pretty good about my skepticism and kind of weirdly bummed, or at least undecided about the truck which, as I was about to discover, rips. Or at least can rip, and is not at all a bummer.

Full disclosure: Ford wanted me to drive the Ranger Raptor, so I got to go to Utah. Utah is so beautiful.

When we first saw the F-150 Raptor in 2010, the high speed off-roader was a miracle of automaker exuberance, a truck that for a million reasons should and could not exist. You, or someone like you could walk into a Ford store and walk out with a machine capable of traveling at highway speeds in the open desert. Obviously, it sold like crazy and hasn’t been off the F-150 menu since.

Ford
With the American reintroduction of the Ranger nameplate in 2019, there were a lot of people kind of eyeballing the F-150 Raptor, then looking back to the Ranger and saying “EHHHH?, EHHHHH?” like a Ranger Raptor was the most obvious thing in the world. As it turned out, it was obvious in the world, but not in North America. We didn’t get one. But, we got one now.

The Ranger Raptor shares Ford’s T6 platform with the Bronco Raptor and its twin-turbo V6, making 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque here. The frame has been reinforced, lightened upper and lower control arms mounted, and Fox’s live-valve suspension installed. But, really, all the stuff is there: Two lockers, decent angles (approach 33 degrees, breakover 24.2 degrees, departure 26.4 degrees), manageable dimensions, 10.7 inches of ground clearance, two-speed transfer case, BFG KO3 tires. It looks cool too, though I’d have to pull the stickers off mine.

Ford
We started our day at the Raptor Assault School, a driving school that will be available for free to Ranger Raptor owners. I have to pause here and say, that’s not the name I would have picked for it. I am being one-hundred percent serious when I say that when I saw “Assault School” on the itinerary, I wondered if there’d be shooting involved and if I was going to to be asked to practice clearing a room. The word “assault” describes a felony, it does not make off-roading seem fun or approachable. Ford is generally very good about welcoming all kinds of people into their cars, into off-roading. It take pains to emphasize that off-roaders have a responsibility to the land they adventure on. The name just feels a little out of step with all that. Not a huge deal, but I feel compelled to meddle. Someone suggested you could call it the Ranger Raptor Flight school, as you get to do a fun little jump. Bingo bango.

Ford
Anyway, you wouldn’t know it from the name, but Raptor Assault School is a fun place. After a short on-road drive were I learned that the Raptor Ranger can drive on the road and has better steering than the standard Ranger, we got set up to do a little rock crawl into the mountains. We activated and deactivated the rear locker, tried the hill descent system, used the camera to place the tires, and generally kind of became aware that the Raptor Ranger was not exactly being challenged by any part of the course. In fact, we probably could have fully removed any two of the trucks wheels and still made it around. The program we were on hosted a lot of different people and they all had different levels of off-roading experience. I wasn’t expecting the Rubicon Trail, and the point, that the Ranger Raptor can handle crawling, was made.

We also learned about the many modes that are available to the driver of a Ranger Raptor. It’s not that the modes aren’t useful, or effective, they do what they say they do. It’s just that there are so many of them. In order, the modes are: Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja. I kept thinking of my CJ2A, GX470 and F-150, which have zero modes, or I guess one mode.

Ford
After the rock crawl, we did some familiarization exercises to get us used to how the Ranger Raptor performed at higher speeds on loose surfaces. This is why you buy a Raptor instead of say, a Wrangler Rubicon. Raptors don’t just trundle over rocks or through the woods, they go fast.

As I said, this program was designed to demonstrate the truck to people with varying levels of experience doing this sort of thing. We got strict instructions not to select gears with the paddle shifters and we got just a couple of chances to do each exercise. The first was more or less one of those loops you do at your first track day. Accelerate, turn, brake.

Ford
Pretty quickly, I became aware of a couple things. One, if you try to upset the Raptor and initiate a slide by braking with your left foot, you really, really have to jam it or the suspension just soaks it up. The other is that under certain circumstances, the Raptor is going to cut power on you, even in the most permissive “Baja” mode. I obviously haven’t read anyone else’s review of the truck, but there was some grumbling on-site about it, and some of the other journalists seemed a little less than in-love with the truck after their time on the high-speed course. The Ranger Raptor value proposition is big hooning on the gravel or in the desert.

I asked Ranger Raptor Program Manager and affable Australian, Justin Capicchiano what was going on. He said basically that the truck would let you have the your first big, satisfying slide, but that they didn’t want drivers chasing big slides and getting into trouble trying to correct them. So, once the wheel comes back to center from slide one, power is reduced and the truck settles down. He said that once you know this, you can drive around it and still have fun, which as I found out on the larger, faster Baja course, is true. It’s just a thing you have to learn.

Ford
Another thing you can learn about the Ranger Raptor (sorry) is that if you push, then release, then hold the traction control button on the center console, you can turn that off. I wasn’t explicitly told not to do that, but I understand that it was probably outside the spirit of the program, which again was first and foremost, focused on keeping everyone safe, regardless of their level of off-roading experience. You should not do it, and you should definitely not do it at Raptor Assault School. I was coming off a rally school and feeling pretty confident, so I did it.

What I learned by pressing the forbidden button is that the Ranger Raptor is everything you hope it is. It’s too tall an heavy to be exactly a rally car, but it slides beautifully and controllably, it will absolutely explode out of a corner and carry enough speed to leave the ground when you hit the dip on the back straight of the Ranger Assault School’s Baja course. It is a profoundly fun machine and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

Ford
With destination, you’ll pay at least $56,960 for a Ranger Raptor. That’s the tough thing about mid-size trucks, it’s so easy to get out of whack on the value end of things. $60k buys a lot of pickup and for people who want to use their truck as a base for longer camping trips, choosing a Raptor reduces the Ranger’s payload to 1375 pounds.

But, if you want to use your pickup to go sideways or fly through the air, there’s the Ranger Raptor and it’s absolutely worth the price of admission. I haven’t driven a ZR2/AT4X, but as it stands right now, driving the Ranger Raptor is as much fun as I’ve had in a modern pickup truck.

Ford

Ford

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Convicted Fraudster And Nikola Founder Trevor Milton Reportedly Pardoned By Trump
BY COLLIN WOODARD MARCH 28, 2025 12:24 PM EST
ABC News/YouTube
EV startup Nikola founder Trevor Milton was charged with fraud in the summer of 2021, found guilty in the fall of 2022 and sentenced to four years in prison. Thursday night, however, news broke that President Trump had pardoned Milton. At the time, there were questions over the validity of the pardon since it could not be found in any official channels. Even this morning, more than 12 hours later, there is no mention of Milton’s pardon on the official list of Presidential actions or the Justice Department’s official list of pardons. According to both CNBC and Marketwatch, however, the White House has since confirmed Milton’s pardon.

Trump is, of course, no stranger to pardoning convicted fraudsters. It was a favorite activity of his during his first term, and prior to reportedly pardoning Milton, he also pardoned Devon Archer, who was found guilty of defrauding the Oglala Nation. According to Marketwatch, earlier this month, the Southern District of New York filed a request with the court asking that Milton be forced to repay $661 million in restitution to investors he defrauded. That figure is reportedly based on an analysis from Compass Lexicon, a consulting firm brought in to determine the extent of Milton’s fraud. Now, those investors can kiss any chance of receiving any restitution goodbye.

Following the money

As you would probably expect from a pardoned fraudster, Milton has several ties to the current Trump administration. During his trial, TechCrunch reports he was represented by Brad Bondi, brother of Attorney General Pam Bondi. And while there are no records of him making large political donations prior to 2024, following his conviction, CNBC reports he gave $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee, as well as $750,000 to the MAHA Alliance, a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. political action committee.

Milton’s press release also pushed the narrative that Trump was unjustly convicted, saying, “The striking similarities between Milton’s case and those brought against President Trump highlight systemic issues within the justice system, particularly within the Southern District of New York.” A jury found Trump guilty of 34 felonies related to his attempt to buy the silence of the woman he cheated on his wife with shortly after his youngest child was born and then conceal the money.

Milton also announced in his press release that he plans to soon release a documentary that will tell his side of the story. So that’s neat. It sure has to suck to be one of the people who lost money investing in Nikola, though. It’s also probably not great that the president is signaling once again that fraud is fine as long as you’re rich. Although, you never know. Maybe the documentary will provide all the proof we need to conclude Milton is completely innocent. It probably won’t, but sure, it could happen.

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What Car Has The Worst Build Quality You’ve Ever Seen?
Whether it’s loose switches, massive panel gaps or faults at delivery, we want to know the cars that you think have the worst build quality of all time.
BY  OWEN BELLWOOD MAY 24, 2024 7:15 AM EST
Mason Trinca for The Washington Post/Getty Images
It takes a lot to build a car, you’ve got to have wheels and engines and seats and all kinds of body panels that fit together seamlessly to create something that’s safe to hit 75 mph on our highways. And while we’ve been building cars like this for decades now, there are still automakers out there that haven’t quite mastered the craft just yet.

Whether it’s stories of massive panel gaps on Tesla cars, Italian automobiles that rust into oblivion or paint so thin you can see the bodywork below, we’ve all heard tales of poor build quality across the board. With this in mind, we want to uncover the models that you think have the worst build quality out there. So, what have you got?

Maybe you’re the kind of person who can’t let the never-ending issues at Tesla go. You might be one of the customers caught out by the soapy accelerator pedals that were flying off the Cybertruck, or you might have a Model X with panel gaps so wide you can park a Model 3 within them.

Alternatively, you might think that Ford’s recent run of quality control leaves little to be desired. After all, it’s had the title of most recalled car maker several times in recent years after its cars were called in for repairs for issues ranging from loose windscreens to faulty engines.

Lets not forget that things have gotten better in recent years, much better. So your pick for the shoddiest build quality out there could come in the form of a 90s Cadillac or, worse still, something from British Leyland.

But whatever car you think is the worst offender, we want to know. So head to the comments section below with your picks for the cars with the worst build quality you’ve ever seen. We’ll round up some of the worst in a slideshow next week.

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Turbocharging A Carburetor Isn’t As Ridiculous As It Sounds
BY RICHARD SACHEK MAY 4, 2025 12:25 PM EST
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If you’re the proud owner of a classic or specialty car, you’ve no doubt had the mental debate between retaining an old-school carburetor or modernizing the fuel injection. With electronic fuel injection, there’s extra wiring to contend with and potentially, modifications required for the vehicle’s fuel system. For example, some EFI systems require a second fuel line for returning unused gasoline back to the tank. However, you’ll be rewarded with improved performance and fuel economy, along with self-tuning capability for improved drivability in all sorts of environments.

That all sounds attractive, but the great equalizer between the two fuel delivery methods is budget. New and used carbs are cheap and plentiful, not to mention that you might already have a perfectly good one installed. But what about when boost, like turbochargers or superchargers, comes into play? That $200 “eBay special” turbo doesn’t sound so good anymore if you’re obligated to buy a $1,500 EFI kit to go along with it. So, does turbocharging your vehicle automatically mandate eighty-sixing your faithful old carb? Actually, no.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, several major American automakers combined turbocharging with carburetors, so it’s definitely a thing. A couple of examples are Pontiac’s Turbo Trans Am and the early turbocharged Buick Regals, which would later morph into Buick’s Grand National. Of course, OEMs have the resources to engineer things correctly. For the shadetree mechanic, certain modifications to the carb will be required. You can’t just slap a turbo hat atop your Holley and call it good.

You’ll need to modify the carb for boost
SickSnails/YouTube
Carburetors can be combined with boost in either draw-through or blow-through configurations. The former situates the carb ahead of the turbo, while the latter pushes the already-pressurized air through a carb in its original location. Focusing on the more common blow-through applications, the first order of business will be sealing up your carburetor.

Surprisingly, carburetors can have large openings for boost to leak out, such as where the choke linkage passes through the body of the carb. These openings can be filled with a gasoline-resistant epoxy. And speaking of the choke, you’ll also need to remove the choke horn, if equipped, by milling or grinding. On a typical Holley, that’s the rectangular, tent-like structure atop the carb that would prevent the turbo plumbing from fitting correctly.

At the risk of boring readers to death with specifics, suffice to say that a host of other subtle modifications like new power valves are also required for mating a turbo to a carb. The good news is that this type of work isn’t terribly expensive if you’re up to the task of doing it. Several years ago, the staff at Hot Rod magazine built a killer blow-through carb rated for up to 600 horsepower with just $48 worth of new parts. There’s an old saying that a task can be accomplished fast, cheap, or good — pick any two. With some elbow grease, hanging onto your old carb in boost applications just might check the “cheap” and “good” boxes.

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These V6 Engines Put The LS1 V8 To Shame
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 15, 2025 2:25 PM EST
JoshBryan/Shutterstock
There are no two ways about it, General Motors’ LS1 V8 engine is an automotive icon. The raw American motor has been ripping up drag strips and terrorizing neighborhoods for almost three decades now in cars like the C5 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro.

Across different models, the all-American V8 kicks out as much as 350 horsepower and helped the C5 Corvette onto a top speed of 175 mph. These days, however, V8 power isn’t as mighty as it once was.

In fact, there are some V6 motors out there today that put the LS1 to shame in terms of power, performance and, less excitingly, in terms of things like fuel economy. So, where can you find these might V6 motors, I hear you ask?

Mercedes-Benz M112
Mercedes-Benz
Applications: Mercedes Benz C32 AMG and Mercedes-Benz SLK32 AMG

Max power: 350 horsepower

At roughly the same time that General Motors was making 350 horsepower from eight cylinders, engineers at Mercedes were managing the same with two fewer. That’s right, the M112 engine from Mercedes-Benz was a V6 that kicked out 350 hp back in 2000.

The standard M112 was a 3.2 liter motor that could produce around 225hp, but when AMG strapped two superchargers to the unit that jumped by around 100 hp. The motor was used in the C32 AMG sedan and SLK32 AMG sports car between 2000 and 2004.

Toyota 2GR-FE
Lotus
Applications: Toyota Sienna and Lotus Evora

Max power: 400 horsepower

Toyota has a whole warehouse full of pretty fun little V6 motors that it fits to family haulers like the Sienna minivan. Put the company’s 2GR-FE V6 in the right hands, though, and it becomes a proper little pocket rocket.

The correct hands, it turns out, are at British sports car maker Lotus, which put the Toyota V6 to excellent use when the Evora launched in 2009 and a supercharged variant was even put in the hardcore Lotus Exige. In fact, a derivative of this mighty motor is still used today in the Lotus Emira.

Ford Duratec V6
Noble
Applications: Ford Fusion and Noble M400

Max power: 425 horsepower

Another motor found in humble family cars that can put the LS1 to shame is Ford’s Duratec V6, which debuted way back in 1996 on the Taurus. It evolved over the years to become more economical and powerful, until the engineers at British sports car maker Noble got their hands on it and really ripped up the rulebook.

By the time the Duratec V6 was finally fitted to the M400, the engine had been stripped down, re-tuned and fitted with two turbochargers. The engine then kicked out 425hp and could propel the Noble on to a top speed of 185mph.

Honda JNC1
Honda
Applications: Acura NSX

Max power: 500 horsepower

Nobody’s out there is Honda-swapping old Land Rovers, but maybe they should consider replacing the old, unreliable inline four with a Honda V6. After all, the JNC1 that Honda developed for the second-gen Acura NSX is quite the machine.

The 3.5 liter V6 has two turbochargers and, in the second-gen NSX, the JNC1 is also paired with three electrical motors, which up the car’s total output to 573hp. Just imagine that in a rusty old Land Rover. Much better than an LS-swapped Defender.

Alfa Romeo 690T
Alfa Romeo
Applications: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA

Max power: 533 horsepower

People say the European mind can’t comprehend the American V8, but maybe it doesn’t have to. After all, the continent’s hot sedans and family SUVs are out there making more power with fewer cylinders, as Alfa Romeo proves with the 690T motor that it fits to cars like the Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Giulia GTA.

The 690T V6 motor has been in production at Alfa since 2015 and in that time it’s only been hit by one recall. Impressive, Alfa. In its most powerful guise, the 690T kicks out 533 hp, which Alfa reserves for the Giulia GTA, while the standard motor still manages more than 500hp in the Quadrifoglio cars.

Jaguar JRV-6
Jaguar
Applications: Jaguar XJ220

Max power: 542 horsepower

Not every engine that can outperform the LS1 has been built in the last 20 years. In fact, those clever folks in England had an engine that could produce almost 200 hp more with two fewer cylinders way back in 1992.

The engine in question was a V6 unit that Jaguar fitted to the XJ220 supercar, which was the fastest production car in the world when it launched. Sure, the JRV-6 engine that made the production model wasn’t quite as exciting as the V12 Jag initially promised, but it still howled like a banshee and took the XJ220 to a top speed of 217 mph. Imagine the shame of building a less powerful engine than the Brits could manage.

Mercedes-Benz PU106B
Paul-henri Cahier/Getty Images
Application: Mercedes AMG One, Mercedes F1 W06

Max power: 566 horsepower

Because Mercedes decided to put its Formula 1 engine in the back of a supercar, we get to compare a 1990s General Motors engine to the might of German engineering and, unsurprisingly, the 2015 Formula 1 motor comes out on top.

The PU106B was the second iteration of Mercedes’ hybrid power unit that was developed for F1’s new engine regs and it kicks out 566hp when revving at 15,000 rpm. When racing on tracks around the world, the combustion engine is paired with a kinetic energy recovery system and a heat energy recovery system, which adds even more power. In addition, the recovery systems make this one of the most efficient combustion engines out there, with modern F1 motors managing more than 50 percent thermal efficiency. In contrast, the efficiency of an LS1 motor is closer to 30 percent.

Mclaren M630
McLaren
Applications: McLaren Artura

Max power: 577 horsepower

British supercar maker McLaren developed an all-new V6 motor for its second-ever hybrid model: the Artura. On its own, the three-liter M630 V6 unit produces 577 hp and 431 pound-feet, but because it’s used in a hybrid model, the extra electric power brings the total output up to 671 hp.

While it’s great that in the nearly 30 years since the LS1 was first released, the world’s automakers have managed to almost double the output they can muster, but this kind of power won’t come cheap. Today, you could pick up an LS1 for as much as $4,000 if you’re really splashing out, while an Artura’s replacement electric motor alone will set you back more than double.

Nissan VR38DETT
Nissan
Applications: Nissan Juke-R and Nissan GT-R

Max power: 600 horsepower

Nissan has a whole series of formidable V6 motors that it calls the VR Engine range. At the top of this tree is the VR38DETT, which you’ll find in high-performance machines like the Nissan GT-R and ultra-rare Nissan Juke-R.

The VR38 has been in production since 2007, when it produced around 470 hp, right up to the final-edition GT-Rs that will be sold this year. Those much newer models kick out 565 hp, while special-editions like the GT-R Track Edition are capable of around 600hp.

Maserati Nettuno
Maserati
Applications: Maserati MC20

Max power: 621 horsepower

Another V6 that kicks out more than 100hp per cylinder (I know that’s not really how it works) is the Nettuno unit that Maserati developed specifically for its latest flagship: the Maserati MC20. The three-liter unit is capable of producing more than 620hp at 7,500 rpm and roars onward to a redline at 8,000 rpm.

The unit has two turbochargers, but unlike most other super-powerful V6 units is not paired up with electric motors and battery packs in the MC20. Sure, an electric version of that car was slated for launch at some point, but Maserati confirmed just last week that those plans were off. Shame.

Ferrari Tipo F163
James Moy Photography/Getty Images
Applications: Ferrari 296 and Ferrari 499P

Max power: 654 horsepower

Those Italians sure do know how to get a lot of power from a small engine, as Ferrari tops Alfa Romeo and Maserati as the country’s most powerful V6 slinger. What sets this engine apart from the Alfa and Maserati units is that derivatives of Ferrari’s F163 V6 are put to use on the road and on race tracks around the world.

Developed for the 296 that Ferrari launched in 2022, the Tipo F163 is a three-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine that produces more than 650hp. In the road car, it’s paired with a 165 hp electric motor, while Ferrari’s Le Mans winning racer gets the V6 and a 268 hp electric motor mounted onto the front axle.

Ford Ecoboost V6
Ford
Applications: Ford GT

Max power: 660 horsepower

The term Ecoboost may not conjure up images of raw power and ultimate performance, and instead might make you think of pokey city cars like the Ford Focus. But, believe it or not, the 3.5 liter D35 Ecoboost V6 that you’ll find in the Ford Transit is actually the most powerful V6 out there.

Of course, it’s not in the Transit that you’ll find it performing at its best, as the van has just 310 hp. But when Ford let its engineers loose on the second-generation GT, the Ecoboost was given two turbochargers and upgrades like an aluminum intake manifold and unique camshafts to more than double that output.

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Here’s Why The Dealer Doesn’t Want You To Pay That Car Loan Off Right Away
BY TOM MCPARLAND FEB. 28, 2025 11:25 AM EST
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When shopping for your next new or used car, it’s wise to examine your financing options before you go to the dealership. Even if you don’t plan on taking a loan for your purchase, knowing whether or not to leverage a loan could make the difference in scoring your deal.

Recently, I’ve been reading various scenarios on my social feeds about customers who were frustrated with the car buying experience, and who walked away from what may have been a good deal because they didn’t like the terms of how the car would be paid for. Often these were cash buyers who didn’t want to take a dealer loan, or folks who did the smart thing and had pre-approvals but felt the dealer was “forcing” them to take another route. There are many times when it’s worth walking away from a deal, but a lot of consumers don’t realize that they could have chosen another way and still ended up with both a good price and a favorable way to pay for the car.

Consumers need to understand how dealers make money, because knowing these pathways can give them insight on which to leverage for their own deal.

The three ways car dealers make money
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Dealer income comes from three primary avenues: the vehicle, add-ons like accessories and warranties, and the loan. The first is the profit on the car itself. In the case of a new car, the dealer has their wholesale cost, often referred to as a “dealer invoice,” and the retail cost is the MSRP (or “sticker price”). The gap between these two is not as wide as most consumers think, usually about 5%. Even on used cars, by the time the dealer factors in the reconditioning and overhead cost, they typically aren’t making several thousands of dollars in margin between what they bought it for and what they sell it for. Savvy shoppers may score a deal on a car at, or even below, the dealer’s “cost” for a new or used model.

Therefore, most dealers rely on the “back office” or finance to make a chunk of their profit. Dealers are happy to sell you extended warranties and service plans that, more often than not, don’t give the consumer a great value considering their cost. There are exceptions to this rule but, statistically, most buyers don’t get the full monetary benefit from these plans.

Then there is the profit that happens when you get a loan. In this arena a dealer can profit from the interest rate: this practice is known as “dealer reserve.” If a dealer says they have you “approved” at a 7% APR, but they really have you approved at 5%, you take that 7% loan and they get to pocket the 2% difference. This is why it is critical to get pre-approvals from other lenders before you shop for your next car, especially if your credit score is below 700, as the “reserve” tactic is commonly targeted towards buyers who don’t have great credit.

Why cash isn’t king at a car dealership
Maskot/Getty Images
Even without the “reserve” profit from the finance office, the dealer gets a kickback from the bank for acting as an intermediary for that loan. This is perfectly fine, assuming you’re getting a competitive rate. These “back end” profit streams are the crux as to why dealers don’t usually prefer “cash” buyers because those additional income streams are closed. Sometimes, a lower price or a factory rebate will be contingent upon financing with the dealership.

It’s at this point where a lot of “cash buyers” get frustrated, because they just want to write a check and pay for the car without the additional hassle. I will often recommend that the consumer take the loan to get the extra discounts, then simply pay it off immediately.

Often, in the finance office, the manager will tell the customer that they need to make a certain number of payments–usually 3 months–before wiping the loan out. This is not legally binding at all, and the reason dealers tell people to wait is, if that loan is paid off too early, the bank will pull that “kickback” that the dealer got for signing you up.

Auto loan refinancing is a trick to keep in your back pocket
jd8/Shutterstock
This brings me to another avenue that most buyers don’t know about: auto loan refinancing. Unlike refinancing a mortgage, which can be costly and very time-consuming, refinancing an auto loan is relatively easy and usually does not have any additional costs. If you don’t have the luxury of paying cash for a car, but do have a pre-approval through a local bank or credit union at a more competitive rate than what the dealer will offer, often these lenders will refinance car loans at a similar rate.

When shopping for pre-approvals also inquire about the possibility of refinancing loans as well. This can allow you to take the dealer’s offer with whatever caveats are necessary to get the most competitive price, then have your other lender take over the loan with you benefiting from the lower rate.

The better dealerships out there likely won’t care if you are paying with cash, using your own lender, or taking their financing. Still, if you do plan on doing an immediate payoff, or a loan refinance, I would advise buyers to keep those cards in their pocket when discussing terms with the dealership.

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These New Cars Just Aren’t Worth The Money
Stellantis is taking a lot of heat in today’s Answer Of The Day
BY  AMBER DASILVA FEBRUARY 7, 2024 7:30 AM EST
Stellantis
Cars: They cost too much. Big cars, little cars, fast cars, slow cars — the only things they all share are that they’re too expensive to buy, too expensive to own, and never worth enough when you’re trying to sell yours. Earlier this week, we asked you for the most overpriced new cars, and you gave us a wealth of answers. Here are some of the best.

Infiniti QX80
Infiniti
For me, it’s the 2024 Infiniti QX80 (MSRP: $74,150 – $88,450). I’ve driven one as a rental car and couldn’t believe the price they charge for this land barge. It’s old, slow, inefficient, large (but not roomy), cumbersome to drive, and, at least to my eyes, not even great to look at.

To top it off, Infiniti has already teased a replacement that will (ostensibly) be a whole heck of a lot nicer, so why would you plunk down your hard-earned greenbacks on a new one of these? Literally any other option at this price point is a win, or do the responsible thing and get the Toyota Grand Highlander/GR86 combo: have your cake, eat it too, and you would still save thousands.

I’ve always thought that the QX80 looks like a Lexus GX 460 that’s sitting underwater. You could also be underwater, looking at the Infiniti on dry land. Either way, it’s a watery Lexus.

Submitted by: paradsecar

Toyota Supra
Toyota
Really hard to justify this thing being $13,090 more than the Nissan Z, with (in my opinion) worse looks, objectively less power, and the inherent BMW-ness of the whole thing.

It’s okay to be wrong sometimes. The Z is great-looking, but to say it’s better than the Supra? C’mon.

The Supra is really an interesting case, because I can’t think of a vehicle for its price that I’d rather own. The Z, the Mustang, nothing else really grabs me the way the Supra does.

Submitted by: Give Me Tacos or Give Me Death

Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Stellantis
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is the first car that comes to mind. First off, its hideous at any price, especially for a 6-figure car competing with the Escalade, Range Rover Heavy, X7, and others in its class. Second, why make it a Jeep? Sure, its the only passenger vehicle brand in Stellantis’ portfolio that is doing well and has a future, but nobody is going offroading in this behemoth. It should have been a Chrysler, especially at this high pricepoint. If this vehicle started out around $50K or $60K and topped out at around $80K, it might be more paletable. Third, does the market really need another full-size, gas-guzzling vehicle like this?

Regardless, this ugly-ass monster is selling like hotcakes in my town so there are plenty of people feel the need to have a huge, ugly vehicle so what do I know?

The Grand Wagoneer is difficult to understand until you see one in person. It’s sort of like the Grand Canyon — it always looks smaller in photos. Then you actually see it, and you go “Jesus Christ, people go inside that? Why?

Submitted by: oddseth

Dodge Hornet
Stellantis
The new Dodge Hornet. Somehow, Dodge has decided a car that’s smaller than a Honda CR-V, should cost $49,000 when spec’d with AWD and a hybrid powertrain. The interior has some very nice features, but for what you get, $49K is a tough pill to swallow.

I appreciate the Hornet’s design, but I can’t get over that badge. Just two red stripes slashed diagonally down the center of the uppermost grille. Uppermost of three grilles, by the way.

Submitted by: Deal Killer – Powered by Audi

Lucid Air Sapphire
Lucid
I can’t get behind the Lucid Air Sapphire being worth $219,000 more than the Air Pure. In Canada the Air Pure is $108,000. The Sapphire is $327,000.

It’s a weird scenario because I do think the Pure is a $100K car and the Sapphire has hypercar numbers: 1200(+) hp, 0-60 in 2 seconds, 330km/h top speed, and it has 675 km of range. Those are $300,000 car stats.

But to have a $200,000 price variation on the same platform seems absurd to me.

I know Porsche has a similar spread but when you get to the $300,000 and up mark, you’re getting some pretty dedicated equipment. Plus there’s like 37,000 models between a 911 Carrera and a top end GT3 RS.

Yeah, but that’s 219,000 Canadian dollars difference. Here in the U.S., that’s something like 30 bucks. Not a small jump, to be sure, but many buyers find it worth it for what they get.

Submitted by: JohnnyWasASchoolBoy

Any ICE Car
Ford
Any internal combustion engined car. When gas costs $100 / gallon in 2030 and you’re still paying your 96 month loan, you will have regrets

Eventually, sure, the lack of demand will cause a collapse on the supplier side of the supply chain for gasoline and negate any benefits gained from the past few decades of economies of scale. I’m not sure it’ll happen in the next 96 months, though. We’ve got at least a 120-month loan before we hit $100/gallon.

Submitted by: neverspeakawordagain

GMC Yukon Denali
GM
GMC Denali. Tahoes/Yukons are already over priced lumps of junk. Then you have a dressed up version pushing 100K? I can not think of one redeeming quality for one of these.

You can guarantee its transporting max 1 kid, maybe a Toy size dog, a couple Stanley cups, overpriced pocket book, golf clubs, your missing visor and half zip pullover, your Target pickup order and ChickFila lunch.

I used to work at a GM dealer, and I can tell you that no Yukon Denali has ever held more cargo than listed in that comment. Most of them have less.

Submitted by: waveridin1959

‘90s Skyline GT-Rs
MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
if new old car that you can bought via special program is included then Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, R33 and R34 (via Skyline Restoration Program)

It started from 400k usd excluding the car, and yes you can request them to source the car for additional cost so I suspect it’s around 500k USD

Hayase, we’re really pushing the definition of a car’s MSRP here, but I’ll allow it purely because I love Skyline GT-Rs so much. If I ever win Powerball, I’ll have to get myself a new-old-stock R34. I’ll let you drive it, to see if it’s worth the cost.

Submitted by: hayase

Mansory, Just All Of It
Mansory
Anything Mansory releases.

Sure, I’d love to pay way more than MSRP for a exotic, that has been beaten within an inch of it’s life with an ugly stick.

I genuinely wonder who the target market is for these builds. People with way too much money, way too little taste, and a desperate need for everyone they see to know both those facts? It’s a car for Logan Paul, I guess.

Submitted by: Knyte

Top-Spec Jeep Wranglers
Stellantis
It’s a shorter list of what actually IS worth the money. But I’ll try to show how nuanced and tricky this is:

Take, for example, the Jeep Wrangler. Accounting for inflation, the Base model 2 door at 31,895 has SO MUCH more standard than you could ever get on a JK, TJ, YJ, etc. Adjusted for inflation, it’s no more expensive than a Jeep has ever been.

Couple that with the resale, you have yourself a vehicle that is worth every penny.

However, if you go crazy ordering the options up, and you do it wrongly enough, you can end up with a $60,000 jeep that has bone stock wheels, cloth seats, no heated seats or remote start, just a base model looking Jeep that somehow costs $60,000 dollars. Worth that? Not even close.

I still think base Jeeps should sell in the low $20k range new. You should be able to go out as a young adult and purchase a convertible SUV to take all your friends down to the beach in, and it should be genuinely affordably on entry-level wages.

Submitted by: R4ndyD4ndy

Dodge Durango
Stellantis
Dodge Durango. It was last redesigned 13 years ago and still costs over $41k for a 2WD base trim with cloth seats.

If that $41k included the Hemi, maybe Stellantis would have something nice on its hands. Probably not, but maybe.

Submitted by: StevieWelles

BMW XM
BMW
BMW XM. Starting price is $160K for what is essentially a spruced up X5 PHEV with a V8 and polarizing style. Is it a nice car to drive? Yes, absolutely. It is worth as much as a new M3 and an X5 50e combined? Hell no.

The thing with the XM is that it doesn’t look comparable to the X5. It looks about six times larger. Bavarian Canyonero energy.

Submitted by: Wampasaurus

Any Mini
Mini
I mean, pretty much all of them. Car prices are stupid high. However, gun to my head time? Pretty much any Mini. They aren’t bad cars, per se, but for what they are they are weirdly overpriced.

Skeffles, who’s threatening your life over this question? Tell them to stop. Better yet, put me on the phone, and I’ll tell them to stop. There’s no need for this to be difficult.

Submitted by: skeffles

Toyota Crown
Toyota
Toyota Crown, I really like it for its weirdness. But the interior is not worth its $40,000 base price, for that price you could almost get the fully loaded Outback Wilderness far better appointed.

The Toyota Crown has a head start in earning its MSRP, in that it seems targeted at folks who’ve been earning Social Security and their union pension for 15 years by the time of purchase.

Submitted by: Chris

Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Mirage. (How many people were either just reminded that the Mirage is a thing or googled if it’s still being made?) For ages, the only thing going for it was that it was cheap. With promos and dealer discounts, not too long ago you could get one new off the lot for under $10k. They may still be the cheapest new car, but they’re venturing for from cheap.

Let me correct that, the price is venturing far from cheap. The car itself is still cheap as hell. Now the only thing it has going for it is that it’s one of the few cars still on the market.

This is an interesting question here. The Mirage is one of, if not the singular cheapest car on the market right now, but it’s still possible for it to feel too cheap for its asking price. So long as Mitsubishi keeps finance rates down, though, it may not be an issue.

Submitted by: TRath

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A Texan Ostrich Biting Boris Johnson At A Drive-Thru Safari Park Is Justice For His Awful Car Writing
BY COLLIN WOODARD APRIL 8, 2025 1:25 PM EST
Jemal Countess/Getty Images
There’s something unnerving and completely unnatural about an ostrich. Birds aren’t supposed to be that big, and nothing they do can convince me otherwise. Well, almost anything. I’m now officially Team Ostrich after one of them attacked Boris Johnson, the disgraced former British Prime Minister, Brexit supporter, sole human alive whose haircut would actually be improved by a Flowbee, and, most iconically to us, absolutely awful car writer. I bet the ostrich would do it again, too.

You’d think Johnson would be too ashamed to show his face in public, but apparently he thought he’d be safe in Texas, since no one there outside of Austin can read. And yet, the Daily Mail reports that while driving through one of those animal safari parks with his multi-decade-younger wife and their three kids, one of whom is only a year old, an ostrich took it upon itself to remind Johnson that couldn’t have been further from the truth. You shouldn’t have been so horny for the cars, Boris.

Maybe the ostrich was still upset about the cost-of-living crisis that Johnson helped cause in the UK, but since it attacked him in a car, I have to conclude it was at least partly related to Boris’ time as the world’s worst automotive journalist.

Make sure you have sound on

Now, you don’t exactly have to be an award-winning writer to get a job writing about cars. If you did, I certainly wouldn’t be in the second decade of my career as an automotive journalist. But Boris had a way of writing about cars that could make you physically uncomfortable just reading his words. For example, while reviewing the Ferrari F430, he wrote, “It was as though the whole county of Hampshire was lying back and opening her well-bred legs to be ravished by the Italian stallion.” Eww, Boris. Gross. No, thank you.

Johnson wasn’t just weirdly, uncomfortably horny for the cars, either. He also had a reputation for racking up parking violations, getting loaner cars impounded, and expecting anyone other than himself to take care of the fines. Considering all that, would it also surprise you to learn his editors at GQ also claim he regularly turned in his articles late and couldn’t even be counted on to remember what color car he had been given?

And yet, he managed to keep getting paid, all while writers who actually took their jobs seriously struggled to earn enough money to cover their bills and put food on the table. Then again, would you expect anything other than entitlement and incompetence from an Eton grad? Even though it’s trapped in Texas, there are probably at least a few million people in the UK who are jealous that ostrich had the courage and opportunity to do what they only wish they could.

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The Biggest Disadvantages Of All-Season Tires
BY LOGAN K. CARTER MARCH 10, 2025 11:25 AM EST
Chris Ware/Getty Images
Life is full of compromises. Sure, you could buy the four-in-one combination shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and toothpaste, but deep down you know that dedicated shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and toothpastes will do their respective jobs better. You have to compromise the efficacy of purpose-built products for the convenience of an all-in-one magic pill that makes life simpler.

This applies to the automotive world too, where everything is about compromise. You can have the highest performance car ever, but you sacrifice daily drivability and affordability; or you could have the most practical minivan ever, but you sacrifice style, driving dynamics, and panache. Tires are no different — regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive and whether your car is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive.

There are several different considerations to take into account when shopping for tires, and your specific needs will vary based on how you use your car, where you live, how much you drive, and your budget.

Differences between tire types
Chonlatee42/Shutterstock
Every type of tire contributes to a very different driving experience: Summer tires provide exceptional performance and grip in temperate conditions, but don’t have particularly long treadwear — and, much like me, they break down in cold temperatures. The opposite goes for winter tires which offer brilliant traction in cold temperatures and inclement weather, but they break down fast in warm temperatures and aren’t good for sporty driving in dry conditions.

All-season tires are the four-in-one shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and toothpaste of the tire world. They offer a convenient middle ground that combines reasonable traction in most road conditions, but they don’t offer the same performance as summer or winter tires in extreme conditions. I experienced these conditions first-hand at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School last year, which you can read about here.

Here are some general pros and cons of all-season tires to help you make an informed purchase when replacing tires on your vehicle.

Let’s start on a positive note for all-seasons
Logan K. Carter/Jalopnik
All-season tires are a good option for most drivers in most conditions, and that’s why they’re the most common type of tire on new cars. In our fast-paced capitalist society, very few people have the time, desire, and/or the mental capacity to switch their vehicle’s tires every time the season changes. Consumer Reports’ tire program manager Ryan Pszczolkowski calls modern all-season tires “the Swiss Army knife of tires … they provide good year-round grip for most consumers including modest winter and snow traction.”

If you own one car and live somewhere with volatile weather conditions, or you crave simplicity, then all-season tires might be the best option for you. Traction is the most important safety consideration when buying new tires. If you have good traction, your car will stop in a shorter distance, grip better to safely swerve around hazards, and allow you to maintain control of your vehicle.

All-season tires provide good traction in the summer, they’re good at evacuating water for wet-weather traction, and the rubber compound is designed to retain traction and longevity in relatively low temperatures. The majority of all-season tires also offer low rolling-resistance and high treadwear ratings, which means they are designed to maximize your car’s fuel efficiency and last for several thousands of miles. So what’s the catch?

Compromises you make with all-season tires
Logan K. Carter/Jalopnik
The most dangerous situation that most all-season tires don’t account for is extreme cold, and the weather conditions that come with it. Generally speaking, it’s recommended to keep most all-season tires warmer than 45-degrees Fahrenheit. Below that temperature, the rubber that an all-season tire is made of can harden, which will cause you to have less control of your car — increasing the distance it takes for your car to stop. Winter tires are made of a rubber that’s specially formulated to retain their grip, even in extremely low temperatures.

Beyond the negative impact of cold temperatures, snowy, icy, and slushy conditions will also expose the limitations of all-season tires. The tread pattern on most all-season tires is not designed to handle the unique challenges posed by snow, ice, and slush. Dedicated winter tires have specially designed tread patterns that make them very effective at forcing snow and slush out from beneath the tire, allowing the rubber to remain in direct contact with the road — and, thus, allowing the driver to remain in control of their vehicle.

All-season tires will provide sufficient grip for most drivers in the summertime, but if you enjoy performance driving, then performance tires will be a lot more satisfying for you in regions with nice weather or during the warmer seasons. The rubber compounds that give all-season tires their fuel-efficient low rolling resistance and long-lasting treadwear also make them less sticky. This means they offer less grip than dedicated performance or summer tires in performance driving situations.

What about all-weather tires and ultra-high-performance all-season tires?
Logan K. Carter/Jalopnik
If you live somewhere that regularly gets colder than the 45 degrees, negatively impacting the performance of most all-season tires, then it may be necessary to get a dedicated set of winter tires to maximize your safety. Alternatively, the recent advent of all-weather tires might be a good solution for you.

All-weather tires can provide most of the warm weather traits of all-season tires, but they can have what’s called a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating. A 3PMSF rating just means that these tires meet certain U.S. Tire Manufacturer Association (USTMA) requirements for performance in severe snow conditions. They aren’t as effective as true winter tires in extreme conditions, but they do meet snow, slush, and cold weather traction standards for occasional snow use. Not every set of all-weather tires have the 3PMSF rating, so make sure you check before you buy the wrong tire.

Ultra-high-performance all-season tires are the opposite of all-weather tires; they emphasize responsive handling and aggressive dry and wet weather grip levels, but sacrifice some of the winter traction of traditional all-seasons. The tread pattern is slightly shallower with a wider and flatter footprint that allows the tire to have a larger contact patch with the road surface, thus allowing for higher levels of grip than a traditional all-season.

They’re made from softer rubber than all-season tires, but ultra-high-performance all-season rubber is not as soft as the rubber used for summer or performance tires. The softer rubber, shallower grooves, and flatter tread pattern on ultra-high-performance all-season tires allows them to provide better grip for handling, stopping, and accelerating than normal all-seasons. However, that means they are slightly less effective than regular all-seasons in temperatures around 40 degrees.

So what should you buy?
Logan K. Carter/Jalopnik
That was a lot of information, but as with everything in life, there’s no “one size fits all” solution. Think of it as a bell curve — winter tires are the start of the bell curve, all-season tires are the huge middle section, and performance summer tires are the other low extreme at the edge of the curve. All-weather tires are the compromise between full-blown winter tires and regular all-season tires — as long as they’re 3PMSF rated. Ultra-high-performance all-season tires are the compromise between the regular all-seasons and performance summer tires.

You have to take stock of your unique priorities as a driver. Since you’re reading this article on Jalopnik I’d assume that you’re at least a little bit interested in having fun behind the wheel, so watch some tire comparisons on YouTube, check out Consumer Reports tire ratings, and do your research to find the perfect tire for you. As always, be smart, don’t break the bank, and keep the rubber side down.

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What’s The Point Of Mid-Grade Gasoline?
It’s actually a relic from the days of leaded gasoline, and it’s useless for most of the car driving community.
BY  LOGAN CARTER MARCH 26, 2024 12:00 PM EST
Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
If you’re like most of us here at Jalopnik, you’ve probably wondered why gas stations offer mid-grade gasoline when almost every automaker recommends either regular or premium fuel. As it turns out, very few cars are designed to use mid-grade gas, so it exists mostly to coax unknowing consumers into spending more on gas, and it’s a relic from the days of leaded gasoline. To explain how, we have to look into the annals of history.

Cars used to run on leaded gasoline until the EPA began banning the use of it in new cars in the ’70s, and it stopped being available at gas pumps around the mid-1990s. During the transition from leaded to unleaded gasoline, most gas stations offered regular leaded gasoline, regular unleaded gasoline, and premium unleaded gasoline.

Once gas stations stopped offering toxic leaded gasoline at the pumps, the pumps still had an extra button, so companies started mixing premium and regular unleaded gasoline to produce a mid-grade. This was done in anticipation of automakers producing cars intended to run on mid-grade gasoline, however the automakers didn’t actually end up doing that., according to CNET,

Most refiners don’t really make midgrade gas. They make regular and premium and that’s what’s stocked underground at the gas station. When you squeeze the midgrade handle you get a cocktail of the two fuels, “splash blended” as you pump. Thank the EPA, because it tightened underground storage tank rules in 1988 and again in 2015, causing a lot of service stations to dig up and replace their old gas storage tanks. When they put new ones in they often installed just two and started to blend on the fly.

According to FuelEconomy.gov, the only new vehicles that are recommended to run on mid-grade fuel are Stellantis vehicles, including some Ram trucks, some V8 Chargers, Challengers, and 300s, some Durangos and some Jeeps.

Mid-grade fuel accounts for about seven percent of all gasoline sales, which means probably five or six percent of gasoline sales were unnecessarily upcharged. To the general public that isn’t car obsessed, it’s a fair logical assumption that the more expensive gasoline is better for your car, but putting high octane fuel in a car that’s not engineered to run on it doesn’t actually help your engine. Higher octane ratings mean that the fuel resists detonation longer, and allows higher compression engines to produce more power while being more efficient. If your vehicle isn’t designed to run on higher octane fuels, then filling it with a higher octane fuel won’t necessarily result in more power or economy since the grade of fuel doesn’t impact the engine’s programming.

For those car people who don’t understand why anyone would buy higher octane fuel thinking it’s higher quality, think about it this way, if you’re buying wine and you want something a bit nicer than Franzia, you look one shelf higher and find more expensive options that should be higher quality, and usually that’s true. So why wouldn’t the same concept apply to gasoline? Unfortunately, it doesn’t.

If your car does recommend mid-grade gasoline, it might be cheaper for you to make your own blend of regular gas and premium gas, since mid-grade gas is just mixed at the pump. A 50/50 split between regular and premium gas is the same as the mid-grade gas, so mixing five gallons of regular and five gallons of premium will be the same as 10 gallons of mid-grade, and you’re likely to save a few cents per gallon over using the pump-mixed mid-grade gasoline.

It seems like mid-grade fuel is still sold at pumps because ignorant consumers still buy it assuming they’re doing their car a favor, but they’re really just padding the wallets of the oil companies and gas stations. As always, read your vehicle’s owners manual or check inside your fuel filler door to make sure you’re not needlessly wasting money on more expensive fuel.

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What Car Does Your Kid Have On Their Wall?
BY ERIN MARQUIS MARCH 25, 2025 9:00 AM EST
Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB/Shutterstock
In 1989, the indie rock ground Neutral Milk Hotel formed outside of Ruston, Louisiana, but it wouldn’t be until 1998, with their incredible album “Aeroplane Over The Sea,” that…

OK, now that anyone under 35 has stopped reading — kids today, am I right? I mean, I assume, as I am without kids of my own, but I do have a niece and three nephews and they are all under seven and all of them love cars. It seems an appreciation of goes-fast-with-wheels is intrinsic in humans. My niece loves to quiz me in parking lots, asking the name of every car and even hugging a lime green Honda Fit once just for being pretty. I’m fascinated to see how my little relations grow from little regular people into little twisted car people under the tenderest of direction from their dear aunt Erin. My little niece Ellie is turning seven this year and already has a bright green Corvette Stingray poster on her wall. She is a Flint kid of course, so she probably got the poster for free somewhere, but even so it is still proudly displayed on purple walls next to frilly curtains and her ceramic black cat collection.

I was a bit older before I first applied car posters to my wall, but the age of 10 is right around when I started really getting into cars and noticing the different models around me. So my question is, what are the young car people of today into? What posters are going up on the bedroom walls or, more likely, as iPad or smartphone wallpaper, of your kid or your sibling’s kids or friend’s kids. What car is your kid obsessed with? And if you don’t have kids and don’t know any kids, what poster would go up on your wall if you were a pre-teen now with a need for speed? We accept kids of all ages around here.

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Tesla Is No Longer A Trillion-Dollar Company
BY OWEN BELLWOOD FEB. 26, 2025 9:18 AM EST
Pool/Getty Images
Good morning! It’s Wednesday, February 26, 2025, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. This is where you’ll find the most important stories that are shaping the way Americans drive and get around.

In this morning’s roundup, find out how fast the value of American automaker Tesla is falling and see what the awful year that Stellantis faced did to its 2024 profits. We also find out which premium automaker is the latest to push back its first electric vehicle and see how Donald Trump’s cuts are hitting the teams researching safer transport.

1st Gear: Tesla loses trillion-dollar status as shares plummet
Frederic Legrand – COMEO/Shutterstock
After years at the forefront of global electric vehicles sales, Tesla’s crown is starting to tarnish and its spot at the top is in doubt. The automaker saw sales fall last year for the first time in more than a decade and company boss Elon Musk is slowly tanking the brand’s reputation with his far-right tirade. As you’d expect, Musk’s shift to the right hasn’t gone down well with many buyers and just days after the political shift was blamed on plummeting sales in Europe, the American automaker lost its ranking as a trillion-dollar company.

Tesla stock is plummeting in value right now, after a lackluster presentation about the future of autonomy and Musk’s declining reputation. As a result of a further eight percent drop in the share price, Tesla lost its trillion dollar valuation yesterday, reports NBC News:

On Tuesday, the stock closed down another 8% to $302.80 and is off 25% year to date. The latest drawdown comes as new data showed new Tesla vehicle registrations plummeting in Europe, down 45% year-on-year for January, even as overall sales growth of electric-battery vehicles on the continent climbed. Sales in China also recently came in trending down.
Some reports have suggested European buyers are revolting against Musk’s active role in the Trump administration, which is effectively resetting longstanding European relations.

As well as hitting the value of Tesla, the drop in share price also hit Musk’s own pocket, as his net worth is closely tied to the value of the electric vehicle maker. In fact, the fall in Tesla shares means that Musk lost more than $100 billion since December 2024 and his position as the world’s richest man is under threat.

At the time of writing, Bloomberg reports that Musk is worth $358 billion and his fortune is down more than $20 billion compared to the start of this week. For context, that’s enough to buy 5,000 Bugatti Tourbillon hypercars.

2nd Gear: Stellantis profits drop 70 percent
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
While we’re on the subject of struggling automakers, we might as well check in with Stellantis. The Jeep owner is having a pretty rough time of it, with its CEO stepping down suddenly, sales floundering and dealers in revolt. It turns out that this isn’t a great way to make money, and the automaker saw profits fall 70 percent last year.

Alfa Romeo owner Stellantis saw profits drop 70 percent to $5.8 billion over the course of 2024, reports Automotive News. The decline came as revenue fell, shipments dropped and cash flow was negative:

Operating margin in 2024 was 5.5 percent — down from 12.8 percent in 2023 — on an adjusted operating income of €8.6 billion ($9 billion), at the low end of guidance provided after a shock profit warning last September.

Total revenues fell 17 percent last year, to €157 billion ($165 billion), with a 12 percent drop in global shipments, due to “temporary gaps” in the product range and “now-complete inventory reduction initiatives”, the company said. Net profit was down 70 percent to €5.5 billion, versus €18.6 billion in 2023.

There is a turning point on the horizon, however, as the Chrysler parent company says cash flow could be positive in 2025 and improvements in profitability could be on the cards. The change in fortunes comes as the automaker reduces inventory and backtracked on some pretty bad decisions brought in under old CEO Carlos Tavares, as Automotive News adds:

Stellantis is forecasting an adjusted operating margin of “mid-single digits” in 2025, with “positive” free cash flow and net revenue growth, the automaker said Feb. 26.

The guidance reflects the “early stage of the commercial recovery as well as elevated industry uncertainties, Stellantis said.

“We are firmly focused on gaining market share and improving financial performance as 2025 progresses,” Chairman John Elkann said in a statement.

Are we on the precipice of the great Stellantis recovery train, or is this only a short term blip in fortunes for the struggling brand? We may not find out the answer to that until this time next year, as AN adds that saving a struggling automaker is a “long-term and expensive process.”

3rd Gear: Aston Martin delays first EV again
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
There are no two ways about it, sales of electric vehicles haven’t quite matched many automakers’ expectations. As a result, companies across the spectrum have delayed or cancelled electric models, and now Aston Martin is delaying its first electric supercar yet again.

Aston Martin was planning to release an EV developed with tech from Lucid in 2026, but that deadline was pushed back to “the latter part of this decade,” reports Reuters. The delay comes amid a harsh round of cost cuts at the automaker to try and turn around its fortunes:

Aston Martin will prioritize its mid-engined Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), ‘Valhalla’, which Hallmark said would be a “significant contributor” to financial performance over the next few years.

It plans to produce only 999 units, opens new tab of Valhalla, each reportedly priced at 850,000 pounds ($1.1 million), with deliveries to begin in the second half of 2025. Aston Martin declined to confirm the price.

The company pushed back the launch of its first electric vehicle (BEV) to the latter part of this decade.

Valhalla is expected to help drive positive adjusted operating earnings in 2025 and free cash flow in the second half, the company said. Overall core wholesales volumes will be similar to 2024 levels, it said.

The delay to Aston’s first EV will also accompany a five percent cut to its workforce in an attempt to save around $31 million. As a result of the bleak outlook, Aston’s shares fell around nine percent in trading yesterday.

4th Gear: Trump’s cuts hit transportation research
Rabbittose/Shutterstock
We might as well go four for four on the bad news this week, so let’s find out the new ways president Donald Trump has found to make our lives miserable. After cutting support for electrification and sending Musk out to gut the department for transportation, Trump is now slashing funding for transportation research projects across America.

Trump’s budget cuts have come thick and fast since he took office last month. Now, the “Home Alone 2” actor slashed support for researchers working on studies examining road safety and other topics, reports Bloomberg:

The Trump administration has wasted little time launching a multipronged assault on scientific research across an array of fields. Mass layoffs have roiled the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institutes of Health, and the administration has sought to sharply reduce the federal contribution to universities’ “research overhead,” aiming a staggering blow at US higher education.

Transportation research typically occupies a comparatively nonpartisan and uncontroversial position, but the Trump administration’s early moves have sent shock waves through the field. Federally supported projects have been canceled, experts have been fired, and datasets have disappeared. TRB, a longtime bridge between academia and government, now faces existential questions about its future. The tumult has stunned many transportation veterans, leaving them worried about the US’s ability to ensure that its mobility network — from roads, bridges and rails to maritime and aviation infrastructure — grows more productive, affordable and safe in the years ahead.

“It’s going to have a decimating effect on transportation research — at every level,” said Sandi Rosenbloom, also a planning professor at the University of Texas and a previous chair of the TRB executive committee.

The cuts don’t just mean that we may never find out how mice behave behind the wheel, they’ll also hit all manner of real-world research that shapes the way we get around. Topics such as more durable asphalt production, city planning and safe street design are all at risk as a result of Trump’s ham-fisted approach.

Neutral: F1 is back, baby!
Clive Mason/Getty Images
The drivers have settled into their new teams, the new liveries have been unveiled and now testing is kicking off in Bahrain. That’s right, Formula 1 is back, baby!

The F1 circus descended on the Bahrain International Circuit for three days of testing that will set the scene for the year ahead. It’s already offered us our first glimpse of Lewis Hamilton driving his 2025 Ferrari F1 racer, and Mercedes newbie Kimi Antonelli stamped his mark on the new car with the fastest time of the first session. Oh, and Red Bull youngster Liam Lawson also showed some quick pace, if turbulent at times.

Of course, the timings only tell half the story in testing, but with solid reliability, close times and nobody looking too far off the pace so far, it’s shaping up to be an exciting start to the season. Well, except for Sauber.

All three days of F1 testing will be streaming on ESPN, if you want to nerd out over race car for the rest of the week.

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Tesla Cybertrucks Are Rusting Despite Being Made Of Stainless Steel
Owners say they are noticing orange stains on the stainless steel panels of their new Cybertrucks.
BY  JOSÉ RODRÍGUEZ JR. FEBRUARY 14, 2024 1:40 PM EST
Suzanne Cordeiro/Getty Images
It seems the stainless steel panels of the Tesla Cybertruck are not really stain “less,” and are turning out to be no less susceptible to stains than stainless kitchen appliances, which easily develop grease and water stains. Some Tesla Cybertruck owners are reporting persistent orange stains on the exterior of their EVs, which could be early signs of rust and corrosion, according to Futurism.

Despite the recent release of these Tesla EVs — and the little road time they’ve been subjected to — Cybertrucks are already developing imperfections on their body panels, leading owners to debate what’s causing the early signs of rust on forums. From Futurism:

One Cybertruck Owners Club forum member says they started noticing small orange flecks appearing on his truck after driving it in the rain for just two days.

“Just picked up my Cybertruck today,” they wrote. “The advisor specifically mentioned the cybertrucks develop orange rust marks in the rain and that required the vehicle to be buffed out.”

The Cybertruck owner posted followup photos after washing the vehicle down with soap, and they didn’t inspire much confidence, showing body panels already pockmarked with small orange spots.

Another user noticed similar orange specks on his truck after driving it through rain in Los Angeles.

“They documented the corrosion, and told me they’ll give me a call next month when the tools have arrived and they can perform the service/repair,” the user wrote after taking their vehicle to their local service center. “The Cybertruck has 381 miles on it, and has spent much of the 11 days in my custody parked in front of my house.”

Debate raged in response to the threads, with some arguing that the discoloration could be due to carbon dust, stray filings, or other contaminants.

The stainless steel construction of the Cybertruck has proven to be a headache not only for Elon Musk and Tesla assembly lines, but for early adopters as well. Owners say the EVs are not actually stain proof, and even the Tesla Cybertruck manual confirms the steel panels are susceptible to such corrosive substances as grease, oil, tree resin, dead insects, etc., which should be washed off quickly to prevent corrosion.

YouTube
The forum thread from the Cybertruck Owners Club even declares that rust spots and corrosion are “the norm,” which doesn’t inspire confidence in the long-term prospects of the boxy EV touted as bulletproof by Musk. Despite its name and what it implies, stainless steel is susceptible to staining and marring. It’s not exactly stain- and rust-proof, but is merely resistant to these, as the German tech experts at Notebook Check explain:

Refining steel does not automatically mean making it stainless. Depending on the proportion of chromium, titanium, nickel, nitrogen and other additives, this results in very different properties. These range from better formability and a maximum degree of hardness to permanent rust resistance, even against acids.

The choice of additives and the subsequent shaping of the components with a particular type of steel is, of course, always a question of cost. And Tesla may have made the wrong decision here with the Cybertruck.

Tesla’s cleaning recommendations for the Cybertruck also confirm the impression that the steel grade is one of the less resistant variants.

In particular, oil and acidic soiling, such as tar or bird droppings, should be cleaned immediately with an alcohol-based solvent. Immediately afterwards, rinsing with clear water or a pH-adjusted soap is recommended. This type of cleaning should be necessary after every longer ride.

Some Cybertruck owners say their fellow Cybertruckers are blowing things out of proportion, and one said it’s a good idea to not “…drive it in the rain, or get it wet.” Others expressed anger that Tesla’s options for protecting the steel panels cost thousands of dollars. The Cybertruck’s price upon its release was already more than originally advertised, so dishing out more money for a Tesla wrap is hardly ideal. Others are in favor of their Cybertrucks developing orange stains, saying that they’re looking forward to the patina the stainless steel may develop.

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The Coolest Paint In Motorcycling Is Only Available On The Yamaha R3 For Some Reason
BY AMBER DASILVA MARCH 31, 2025 2:25 PM EST
Yamaha
Yamaha routinely has some of the prettiest motorcycles on two wheels. From great designs to fantastic liveries, Yamaha just knows how to make a bike look good. Occasionally, though, the company outdoes even its own high standard with a particularly cool bike like the XSR900 GP, the 60th anniversary R1, or… the 2025 R3?

For some reason, Yamaha’s smallest U.S.-market sportbike — and only the smallest — comes with the world’s coolest bike paint scheme for 2025. This design uses two colors, Lunar White and Nebula Blue, and put together they make one of the most beautiful motorcycles I’ve ever seen — all on a 321-cc beginner bike. I don’t understand the game you’re playing, Yamaha, but I’m sure glad you’re playing it.

There’s so much flake in this paint

Look at the way the white paint gets a warm sparkle when sunlight hits it, the way the purple shifts to a blue that’s almost teal. This bike costs $5,500, and the paint is included in the same base price Yamaha charges for black or blue! If a luxury car offered either of these colors, the paint alone would cost more than this entire R3. This color even gets unique graphics that aren’t shared by the other two hues.

Yamaha’s no stranger to purple — the recent run of retro dirt bikes showed just how well the tuning fork company can use the color — but Nebula Blue is on another level. It’s iridescent in a K/DA ALL OUT way that I very much love, and for some reason it’s only available on Yamaha’s littlest sportbike. Is the market for good colors simply too small among buyers getting more serious machines? Are R1 owners boring? I don’t understand Yamaha’s plan here, but some part of the company’s strategy gave us this color. For that alone, I’m thankful.

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Cale Yarborough Won The Daytona 500 In A Show Car Borrowed From A Local Hardee’s Restaurant
Yarborough died at the tail end of 2023, age 84. We’re remembering him through one of his wildest career moments
BY  ELIZABETH BLACKSTOCK JANUARY 2, 2024 9:04 AM EST
NASCARAllOut via YouTube
Qualifying for the 1983 Daytona 500 was a story of highs and lows for NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough. He became the first driver in history to run a qualifying lap faster than 200 miles per hour, but on his second pass of the Daytona International Speedway, Yarborough lost control of his No. 28 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The car was destroyed, and his Ranier-Lundy team didn’t have a backup. But Yarborough still won the race — behind the wheel of a Pontiac LeMans that had been serving as as static display car outside of a local Hardee’s restaurant.

Having crested 200.5 miles per hour on his first quali lap, Yarborough felt he had more in him. He had just moved to the Ranier-Lundy team for the ’83 season, and it was clear that the partnership was going to be a fruitful one.

But on the second lap, Yarborough lost control. His car spun in Turn 4, flipping before smashing into the outside wall. Video footage of the wreck is wild — you can see his windshield popping out before the car comes to rest, a crumpled wreck, in the infield:

 

Because the Daytona 500 is the first race of the NASCAR season, not every team would be prepared with a full complement of spares and back-up cars, and that was the case for the Ranier-Lundy team. But with Yarborough’s impressive pace, it would have been absolutely criminal for him to miss such an important race.

That meant Ranier-Lundy had to get creative. As it scrambled to find a vehicle for its driver, the team cast a wide net. Ultimately, it landed on a most unlikely candidate. Yarborough was sponsored by the Hardee’s fast food chain for the 1983 Daytona 500, and one of the local restaurants actually had a static show car out front to promote the big race. While Ranier-Lundy had showed up with a Chevy Monte Carlo, it would have to settle for a manufacturer swap, as the show car was a Pontiac LeMans. Anything was possible, so long as it meant getting Yarborough back behind the wheel.

So, the team commandeered the show car, it stuck a powerplant into the empty engine bay and it sent Yarborough off to race.

And on race day, Yarborough won his third Daytona 500 under what should have been impossible conditions. On the very final lap, Buddy Baker led a tight pack of cars that included Yarborough, Joe Ruttman, and Bill Elliott and looked set to win — until Yarborough slipstreamed by Baker on the backstretch. Ruttman drafted into second while Baker attempted to sneak under Ruttman, just in time for Elliott to catch up and stick his nose ahead. It was a three-wide finish for second place — but up front, it was Yarborough who took the checkered flag.

And just in case you thought the 1983 500 couldn’t have any more historic firsts, we got just one more. Yarborough’s Pontiac was fitted with an in-car camera, which was a pretty rare piece of technology at the time thanks to its expense. As a result, it was the first time viewers at home got to see live footage from the victor as he cruised into victory lane. Not only did we get incredible footage of Yarborough’s win from trackside cameras, but we also had the pleasure of listening to him make his very own set of race car noises inside the car:

 

Yarborough died on December 31, 2023 at the age of 84, and motorsport fans around the world have paid tribute to the South Carolina racer’s fantastic career. There’s plenty to celebrate: He was the first driver to win three consecutive Cup Series championships, secured four Daytona 500 wins, and was a natural inductee for motorsport halls of fame around America. In an exceptionally fascinating life, Yarborough’s win behind the wheel of a show car is one of his most incredible moments.

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McLaren Is Pulling The Plug On Formula E Program As Saudi Money Dries Up
BY BRAD BROWNELL APRIL 24, 2025 2:25 PM EST
Bradley Brownell
Reports from The Race indicate that supercar manufacturer McLaren is backing out of its Formula E commitments when the series shifts to Gen 4 for the 2027 season. McLaren joined the series when it took over the championship-winning team abandoned by Mercedes, for the 2023 season as a customer Nissan team with financial sponsorship support from the Saudi Arabian dystopian super city project NEOM. The contract with NEOM was for the entirety of Gen 3, from 2023 to 2026, with an option to extend the deal another four years. As the wildly-exciting Gen 3 rule set comes to a close next year, NEOM has reportedly opted not to extend the contract, and McLaren has informed the team that it will be exiting the series as a result to focus on its newly-announced Le Mans Hypercar program. This leaves team boss Ian James looking for a new title sponsor and manufacturer partnership for his HWA team to continue to fight in the championship in the future.

McLaren has, thus far, had middling success in Formula E winning just once in early 2024 despite securing four pole positions and a few podiums with veteran racer Sam Bird and newcomer Taylor Barnard. The team seems to be on the right track in 2025, though the hectic shuffle of Gen 3 Evo racing hasn’t seemed to fall in their favor quite yet, I suspect the team will see the top step of the podium at some point this season.

What is NEOM, anyway?

Newsweek reports that construction on Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “The Line” future city continues apace, despite documentary footage from ITV alleging that 21,000 foreign workers had been killed in the construction process and a further 100,000 have gone missing. The Line, a 110-mile long hollow skyscraper “contained city” began construction earlier this year and will allegedly house some nine million residents following its planned 2030 completion. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund will allegedly put over one trillion dollars into the NEOM project, which will include four mega cities; The Line, Oxagon the “intelligent” port city, Trojena the fake-snow desert skiing destination, and Sindalah an island run almost exclusively by Marriott luxury hotels.

If Saudi Arabia’s PIF is already running out of money for its sportswashing campaign partnership with McLaren, the global economy might be worse off than any of us could have imagined. Is this the first sign of a mass motorsport exodus in a similar fashion to what happened following the 2008 global financial crisis, or just a blip on the radar of Saudi pulling back on its recent marketing efforts? Time will tell.

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The Weirdest Car To Ever Race The 24 Hours Of Le Mans Was A Pair Of Torpedos With A German Motorcycle Engine
BY BRAD BROWNELL MARCH 7, 2025 11:25 AM EST
24 Hours of Le Mans
The scientific study of automotive aerodynamics was still practically in its infancy in 1955 when Enrico Nardi—yes, the steering wheel guy—rolled the ridiculous monster pictured above onto the grid at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Looking to beat the French at their own small-displacement race car game, alongside other Italian hopefuls Stangeullini, and Moretti. Nardi hired engineer Carlo Mollino to design a car as slippery as possible for the high-speed straights of Mulsanne, France, to make the best of the 750cc class displacement limit. And, what slips through the air better than a torpedo? Take one part BMW 750cc motorcycle and one part Fiat 500, wrap it in as little bodywork as possible, and you’ve got yourself the weird and wonderful 1955 Nardi Bisiluro. This might just be the most unique and ambitious privateer projects in the long history of the twice-round-the-clock race through the French countryside. I love it dearly, and I want to share its story with you.

The Bisiluro, literally twin-torpedo, is best broken down into three parts. The driver compartment is the larger of the two asymmetrical fuselages, housing all of the car’s controls and instruments. The left side is home to the engine and transmission, a BMW motorcycle 750cc engine built up by Giannini Automobili making a claimed 62 horsepower to the rear wheels. My favorite part of the car, however, is the massive art-deco radiator housed by the bridge between the two halves. That bridge, meanwhile, is shaped on the top and underside like a reverse airplane wing, allegedly helping to stick the car to the track with aerodynamic downforce. When the car showed up to Le Mans, it also had a little party trick in that a large panel of the center section would lift up under braking to create a large aerodynamic drag air brake. Unfortunately that part of the plan was scrapped at the last minute because the Le Mans rulebook required (and still does require to this day) a second seat for a riding mechanic.

Was it a success?
Nardi
Again, this whole thing was built on the chassis of Italy’s post-war people’s car, the incredible Fiat 500. Using that tiny car as a backbone meant the Nardi Bisiluro is also quite tiny, and weighs practically nothing. Allegedly this car weighs around 880 pounds ready to race. The concept proved itself absolutely perfectly in practice ahead of the 24 Hour, as the car was capable of around 137 miles per hour. Sure, that’s a far cry from the 180-ish mph speeds that the fastest Ferraris and Jaguars were capable of, but they were running four or five times as much engine! The Nardi’s speeds put it well ahead of the rest of its 750cc class competition, and on par with the speeds Porsche had in its well-developed 1.5-liter 550 RS Spyder.

The 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans will forever be remembered for the incredibly tragic crash which launched Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes 300SLR into the gathered crowds, killing 84 and injuring a further 120. There’s no way around that. Nardi’s absurd little machine is a mere footnote in that year’s race, as it crashed just past the two-hour mark of the race. According to reports from Enrico Nardi at the time, the car lost its footing in the turbulent wash as a faster Jaguar D-Type sprinted past at full speed. The air kicked up by the passing Jag literally blew the lightweight torpedo off its course and into the weeds.

Legacy
Nardi
It was the failure of the Bisiluro, combined with the tragedy of Le Mans, that pushed Enrico Nardi to move away from building and racing cars. From the mid-1950s onward the company focused primarily on aftermarket components for other cars, including engine hop up parts. Obviously the company’s best known product today was its wooden steering wheels, typically crafted from African mahogany. Nardi did sell a limited edition commemorative replica of its flat-bottomed Bisiluro steering wheel decades later, and examples still fetch into the several thousands of dollars at auction. The Bisiluro remains a very strange, if tiny, piece of motorsport history.

It’s been 70 years since this car competed, and if it weren’t for this totally unorthodox design, it would have been utterly lost to time. And yet, despite its uncompetitive effort, I adore this plucky little machine. Remember the Bisiluro, for as long as you can. One of Italy’s own prototypes, too weird to live, and too rare to die.

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A Nissan 240SX Prerunner Is The Dumbest, Best Idea I’ve Ever Seen
BY AMBER DASILVA FEB. 21, 2025 2:25 PM EST
Terra Crew / YouTube
Prerunners have a pretty standard definition: Pickups (or what’s left of them) with tall tires and taller suspension, meant to shoot across the desert at terrifying speeds to scout the route ahead of a race truck. What if you wanted to do a prerunner’s job, but your mind was stuck in the world of Tokyo Drift? Well, you might build this Nissan 240SX prerunner, which is one of my favorite cars I’ve ever seen.

To be clear, this is a dumb build. S-chassis cars are built to slide around corners endlessly, never driving straight, turning tires into smoke the whole time. Building an S14.5 (an S14 with an S15 front end) up to have this kind of suspension travel should be a fool’s errand, but it’s an errand Jake O’Donnell decided to cross off his to-do list. I’m thankful he did, because this Silvia is one of those genres of dumb that loops all the way around to being incredibly cool.

Just look at this thing

Why build a prerunner out of such a small, low car? Because it’s hard, and because doing so leaves you with a build that no one else out in the desert will have. There are a million Tacomas done up in this style, and one of those can be made with plenty of off-the-shelf parts — not so with an LS2-powered S-chassis. This is a very custom build, and all the time spent on it (the car’s been drivable in some state for years) paid off by making something truly unique. Plus, putting out 700 horsepower doesn’t hurt.

Yet, somehow, this isn’t the first off-road 240SX we’ve seen. A Japanese garage called Top Rankaz put one together a decade ago, with a Rocket Bunny Boss body kit and plenty of lift to fit the dirt tires. That Silvia lacked this 240’s long-travel suspension, though, and certainly lacked the desert playgrounds of the United States to hoon around in. This is my new favorite off-road vehicle, bar none.

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You Can Buy One Of The Best Modern Sports Sedans For Less Than A Toyota Corolla
Used Genesis G70s are so cheap they might be one of the best enthusiast buys on the market right now.
BY  LAWRENCE HODGE APRIL 9, 2024 1:25 PM EST
Genesis
Let’s say you’re in the car market looking for something fun or, at the very least, somewhat interesting to drive. There are some great options to be had on the used market and, if you’re not picky or a badge snob, one of the best sport sedans to come to market in the last decade can be had for compact car money, the Genesis G70.

Genesis
The introduction of the Genesis G70 marked a turning point for the Korean luxury brand when it debuted for the 2018 model year. Just a few years prior, the brand started life with a luxury sedan (and a two-door coupe) for Hyundai, a signal that there were bigger and better things to come. Here was Hyundai going after the BMW 3 Series, the best driving king of the segment that included other heavy hitters like the Mercedes C-Class and Lexus IS, all with a baby-faced new brand.

Once the automotive press got behind the wheel of the G70, everyone knew that Genesis was serious. This was probably the closest anyone had come to besting the 3 Series driving dynamics. The G70 had everything right. Front engine, rear-wheel drive with a choice of either a turbocharged 252 horsepower I4 or a twin-turbo 365 hp V6. You could even have all wheel drive with either of those engines with either a six-speed manual (only on the I4) or an eight speed automatic transmission.

Genesis
A recent refresh made the styling more handsome and brought a new 300 horsepower turbocharged engine. Pricing for new G70s is typical for the segment. A base G70 with the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine and rear wheel drive starts at $42,750 including destination and can run to nearly $60,000 for a loaded G70 with the turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive. You don’t want to pay that though.

Phil Smith Acura
The G70, being a Korean luxury car, gets hit with a double whammy of depreciation. If you’re ok with going for a pre-facelift G70, you can find them for as cheap as $20,000, like this 2019 G70 2.0T Sport in Florida. What’s even more amazing is that it has just under 39,000 miles on it and it’s a manual. If you’re ok with higher miles you can find G70s even cheaper—under $20,000 in some places

HGreg
Want to splurge a bit on the V6? Go ahead, you’ll still come out dumb cheap. Like this 2020 G70 3.3T for sale in Houston, Texas. It’s equipped with the Sport package which means goodies like Brembo brakes and an electronically controlled suspension. If you’re OK with just under 75,000 miles, this G70 can be yours for just $25,000.

Even the recently refreshed models are cheap, like this 2022 G70 2.5T. With 47,158 miles it’s only $22,889. If you are willing to spend a bit more on a newer G70 V6, you’ll still come out with a good deal. This 2022 G70 3.3T in Colorado has just under 33,000 miles and is just $32,779. So if you’re in the market for something near luxury that’s great to drive and won’t hurt your pockets as much as a comparable BMW or Mercedes, the G70 is hard to pass at these prices.

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What’s Your Favorite American-Made Car?
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 28, 2025 9:00 AM EST
Cadillac
President Donald Trump confirmed that a 25% tax is coming for any cars that are sold in America but not made here. This means that some of the most popular models from brands like Mazda, Toyota, and even Chevrolet could be about to get a whole heap more expensive.

The tariffs will hit complete cars as well as automotive components that are shipped into America from overseas, and while around 10 million cars are made in America every year, they aren’t all exclusively sold in the U.S. In fact, of the 16 million cars that were sold in America last year, roughly 50% were imported.

So, if half the cars on sale in the U.S. suddenly become more expensive when the tariffs come into effect on April 2 and you have to buy American, what car would you love to get behind the wheel of for your next daily driver instead?

Leaking red, white and blue
Acura
This got us thinking about the cars that are sold and made in America, and which of them we’d want to live with. So, Jalopnik readers, if you had to pick a favorite American-made motor, what model would you opt for?

Maybe you’re a sucker for a modern electric pickup truck, so can’t help but love the Rivian R1T. Or perhaps you’re more interested in raw American power, so have always dreamed of owning a V-Series Cadillac. Personally, I’m a sucker for the latest Integra Type S, which is proudly American and made in Ohio.

But which American-made model would you opt for? Head to the comments section below and let us know what you’d pick, and we’ll round up some of the best responses next week. If you need a little inspiration, check out our roundup of the most American-made cars on sale right here.

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Dodge Will Pay You $10 Per Horsepower To Buy A New Charger, Challenger, Or Durango
Dodge Power Dollars are back, but can’t be applied to Hellcats this time around.
BY  LOGAN CARTER FEBRUARY 13, 2024 2:29 PM EST
Dodge
Headlines have lamented the not-so-gradual jump in new car prices over the past several years, but we’re finally starting to see some good, old fashioned new car discounts come back around including Dodge Power Dollars which offers buyers $10 for every horsepower that their new car produces. Unfortunately, this time the promotion excludes the most powerful versions of each car, and it only covers 2023 Challengers, Chargers, and Durangos. This national promotion is pretty tempting, but depending on how you plan to finance your new Dodge, it might be a better deal for you to take the 0 percent APR financing offer or other incentives.

The last time Dodge offered buyers Power Dollars was way back in the glorious BP (before pandemic) days of 2019, but that deal actually included Hellcat models. Despite the latest Power Dollars rebates not covering Hellcat models, this President’s Day offer is a welcomed departure from headlines documenting eye watering upcharges and price adjustments.

Dodge is also offering regional discounts on these models, including a California discount of an additional $4,250 off the price of a 2023 Durango, meaning Californians looking for a 2023 Durango R/T RWD could receive $7,850 off the price of their new SUV.

Dodge
While all the models included in these offers are older designs, discounts and deals like these aren’t commonplace in our post pandemic lives, and are worth a closer look if you are in the market for a full-sized sedan, muscle car, or three-row SUV. Another benefit to these older designs is their popularity, so buyers should have no problem finding experienced repair shops or parts for these American automotive stalwarts.

This promotion is only advertised to remain in effect until February 29, so check with your local dealer to take advantage of these tempting offers on America’s last full-sized sedan, a comfortable and powerful muscle car, or a capable full-sized family SUV. Buyers won’t have the chance to buy new Chargers or Challengers for long since Dodge already ceased production at the end of 2023, and the Durango is nearing its end, too with the promise of a few more special final edition packages before it leaves the market at the end of this year.

H/T Cars Direct

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The History Of Dodge’s Daytona — The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
BY JASON MARKER APRIL 20, 2025 11:25 AM EST
Nichole Park/Shutterstock
Dodge is really, really good at naming things. One of the best to ever do it, in fact. For the century and change that Dodge has been around, vehicles with names like Ram, Challenger, Charger, Magnum, Dart, Demon, and Viper have graced this country’s streets and tracks. It’s not just car and truck models, either. Dodge has coined memorable names for everything from trim levels (Hellcat, R/T, Scat Pack, Dude, L’il Red Express, Warlock) to engines (HEMI, Max Wedge) and shows no sign of stopping.

One of Dodge’s most storied names, used as both a trim level and a standalone model name, is Daytona. Derived from the legendary Daytona 500 race at Daytona Beach, FL, the name has been used on various Dodges since the late ’60s. Some of these cars are iconic, some pedestrian, and some utterly forgettable. They include NASCAR barn burners, homologation muscle cars, anemic Malaise-era land barges, K-car-based pocket rockets, modern, hi-po street cars, and even high tech EVs.

In this article we’re going to trace the history of Dodge’s Daytona nameplate by looking at where it came from, how it’s been used, and what cars have worn it.

The Charger Daytona Trim
Heritage Images/Getty Images
The first Dodge Daytona, the Charger Daytona, was a homologation special of Dodge’s 1969 NASCAR racer. Essentially a Charger R/T, just over 500 of these cars were built. The ’69 Charger Daytona was powered by the R/T’s 440 Magnum V8, but around 70 were optioned with the 426 Hemi V8. The car’s most iconic feature was the eye-catching aero designed by Chrysler missile division engineer John Pointer. The aero — wind-cutting nose-cone-shaped fenders and a massive, rear-mounted wing — allowed the stock car to break the 200 mph barrier and made for an awkward yet striking high-performance street car.

Bull-Doser/Wikimedia
After the first Charger Daytona, the name disappeared from Dodge showrooms until the mid-’70s. In 1975, Dodge produced a Daytona package for that model year’s Charger. Far from the rip snorting, NASCAR-bred Daytona of years past, the ’75-’77 Charger Daytona was primarily a paint-and-decal cosmetic package. While it came with either a 318 or a big block 400, neither of these wheezing mills could be called high performance.

Stellantis Media
After a hiatus of almost 30 years, the Charger Daytona came roaring back in the mid-aughts with a limited production version of the all-new Charger based on Chrysler’s new LX platform. From 2006-2009, Dodge built just under 14,000 Charger Daytonas. These cars were powered by the 5.7L Hemi, were painted in old school Chrysler High-Impact colors, and featured a raft of bespoke features like blacked out grilles, custom wheels, and strobe stripes. Two more limited runs of Charger Daytonas were launched over the next two decades, one in 2013 and one that ran 2015-2023.

The Dodge Daytona
Chrysler
It’s not exactly hyperbole to say that the K-car saved Chrysler from oblivion back in the ’80s. Introduced for the 1981 model year, the K-car platform underpinned everything from anonymous sedans and station wagons to turbocharged performance machines and the revolutionary Caravan/Voyager/Town and Country minivan triplets. There were even K-car-based limos. The K-car platform reigned supreme on American roads, for better or worse, for 14 years. Among the dozens of variants churned out over that time was a new, compact sports car bearing an iconic name — The Daytona.

Dodge’s new Daytona debuted in 1984 as a stand alone model instead of a Charger trim level. It was a two-door hatchback coupe with dashing, sharp-edged styling and came with a 2.2-liter inline four you could get in one of two flavors — naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Pretty quickly it got a bigger engine, a better turbo, and a stiffer suspension, along with a host of other upgrades. Over the next few years, the Daytona got even more upgrades and a special Carol Shelby edition was added to the mix. Snazzy pop-up headlights were added in ’87, while still coming with the extremely rad T-tops.

In 1990, the Daytona got a big interior upgrade with a new wraparound, cockpit-style dashboard. I had one of these cars for nearly a decade — equipped with the middle-range I4, a five-speed gearbox, an aftermarket sunroof, and kickin’ rad louvers on the rear window — and it absolutely ruled. In ’92, the Daytona got a facelift once again, and it lost the pop-up lights in favor of more “modern” aerodynamic ones. Additionally, production moved from St. Louis to Sterling Heights, MI but ended nearly a year later.

Daytonas of the future
Dodge
So, what does the future hold for the storied Daytona name? Well, in 2025 it looks like electrification is the name of the game. The latest Charger Daytona is a sleek, powerful electric muscle car that comes in R/T and Scat Pack flavors. Both cars are powered by 400V G2500 Front/Rear electric drive motors that provide gobs of power — 496 horsepower in the R/T and a thunderous 670 horses in the Scat Pack — and come complete with all-wheel drive, cyberpunk styling, and a host of high-tech gewgaws and driving modes. Despite what some traditionalists might think about it, these new hi-po electric Charger Daytonas are a pretty great homage to the old days. Not that the hemi-powered, LX-based cars weren’t, but these EVs are as well.

Speaking of hemis, rumor has it that Dodge might be shoehorning a reborn hemi V8 into the new Challenger in 2026 for those who can’t or won’t get onboard with electric muscle. Will these bad boys also be Charger Daytonas? Maybe Dodge will go all out and just make it a whole model by itself again like the K-car Daytonas.

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What Car Is Even Uglier Than A New Tesla Model Y?
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 14, 2025 9:30 AM EST
Tesla
Depending on who you ask, looks can be one of the most important factors when choosing a new car. Sure, power is nice to have and range is handy in an electric vehicle but if you like shiny things as much as me, then a pretty car shows the world that you care, right?

While models like the new Morgan Supersport or the updated Nissan Z are definitely winning style points right now, not every car can be quite so pretty. In fact, some cars are, quite frankly, ugly.

After irritating many of you by arguing that the naff look of the new Tesla Model Y wasn’t even one of the main reasons not to buy one, we thought it was time to settle the debate: So, what car would you say is even uglier than a new Tesla Model Y?

Curse of the facelifts
Fiat
The old Model Y wasn’t a looker, and took the worst parts of both the Model X and Model 3 and smushed them together. For the new generation, the designers stuck a light bar up front and hoped none of us would notice the weird looks anymore.

That didn’t really work, but it’s not the first time that designers have failed to polish a turd. You could argue that the second-generation Fiat Multipla was even worse than the first as it lost all of the original car’s ugly distinction in a refresh.

So, if you had to choose a car that’s even uglier than the Model Y, would the Fiat Multipla be your first pick? Or, have you got an even worse suggestion bursting from your very soul? If so, head to the comments section below and let us know. We’ll round up some of the top offenders next week.

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Police Bust $3 Million Chop Shop Ring Specializing In Hellcat And Trackhawk Parts
BY ANDY KALMOWITZ MARCH 18, 2025 12:25 PM EST
Fresno Police Department via Facebook
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawks and Dodge Hellcats are some of the most stolen vehicles in the U.S. right now. If you’re one of the unlucky folks who have had their high-powered Mopar muscle stolen in the past few years, there’s a non-zero chance it ended up at this chop shop in Huntington Park, California.

All in all, the Fresno Police Department says they identified over 75 stolen vehicles at the garage as well as a second location in Fresno, with a total value north of $3,000,000. In a Facebook post, police said they found “high performance vehicles” including Chargers, Challengers, Durangos, Infinitis, Trackhawks and Chevy Camaros. There’s nothing too shocking here, including the fact the bust has resulted in seven arrests and 110 felony counts… so far. Two suspects still remain at large. From the pictures, it looks as if hundreds if not thousands of parts have been recovered, along with ten firearms and a handful of short-barrel rifles.

Car thefts are a growing problem
Fresno Police Department via Facebook
The Fresno Police Department didn’t mention a location for where these fells carried out all of their car-based thievery. It could have been local to Fresno, in all of California or possibly across the entire country. I’m sure more information will come out soon. In a 2023 report, the California Highway Patrol said 51.7 percent of the state’s car thefts happened in Southern California. It was followed by the Bay Area (21.6 percent) and the Central Valley (11.9) percent, according to The Drive. That just so happens to be where Fresno is located.

Fresno Police Department via Facebook
Car theft seems to be a really hot activity right now. Last July, we told you about a car theft ring that stole over 400 vehicles from dealerships and factories. Obviously, we’ve also got the whole #KiaBoyz fiasco and catalytic converters are being cut out of cars all the time. Because of all this, we decided to take a look at the most stolen cars in America.

h/t The Drive

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Judge Takes Away Man’s Dodge Charger Hellcat After He Acted Like A Hellcat Owner
A Seattle judge said the “Belltown Hellcat” owner is barred from driving his Charger Hellcat, but he can still drive anything else.
BY  ANDY KALMOWITZ APRIL 10, 2024 8:40 AM EST
srt.miles
An infamous Dodge Charger Hellcat driver who would film himself recklessly driving and speeding in his “Belltown Hellcat” has been barred from driving the car. Not any car. He can still drive if he wants to. He just cannot drive his Hellcat anymore. I thought this was America.

At the end of March, Miles Hudson was pulled over in the Sodo neighborhood of Seattle, Washington when police heard him revving his engine to a “deafening” degree, according to a police report Then, just a couple days later on April 2, Hudson was pulled over again and cops let him know they had seen his Instagram videos and knew he had over 700,000 followers, according to the Seattle Times.

Now though, as a condition of his release from jail after a hearing on April 9, the 20-year-old can’t drive the 2023 Charger Hellcat Jailbreak locals absolutely hate for at least a year, KING NBC 5 reports. Like I said, he can still drive any other car. I’ve never seen anything like this, and it’s so funny.

Here’s more about how this whole ordeal started and what exactly Hudson did to loose his cherished Hellcat, from KING 5:

Hudson was first stopped in early January this year for driving recklessly in downtown Seattle around 1:30 a.m. Officers gave him a verbal warning about speeding in highly populated city areas, and he was released.

In the report, officers noted that Hudson’s car was wrapped with tiger stripes and an enlarged Hellcat logo and had colorful LED headlights. Based on prior experience, the officer said they “could tell that the exhaust was modified to be exceedingly loud … as I could hear the engine exhaust from blocks away with my windows up.”

The car also had additional engine modifications, which resulted in the gunshot-like backfiring.

Officers said on several occasions since January, they have been working in downtown Seattle and heard the distinctive noise of Hudson’s Hellcat. Belltown residents and Seattleites took to Reddit to vent their grievances over the noise.

Hudson’s social media profile features videos of himself driving the Hellcat and hitting 107 miles per hour. In one video, Hudson is seen challenging two other drivers in Dodge Chargers to a race in downtown Seattle along Fourth Avenue South. When he pans the camera to the dashboard, the speedometer reads 107 mph, before he begins to slow down.

On March 20, the goofus maloofus was stopped for speeding in a 25 mph zone, and police reminded him about his run-in with them back in January for reckless driving. He told cops that he makes money by filming videos of him driving, and he said the videos have paid for his car and that he plans to “keep doing what I’m doing.” He went on to tell them he was planning to “make a career out of this.” Good lord, all that rain in Seattle is messing with people’s brains.

His attorney has questioned the restriction for driving Hudson’s car, according to the Times. She said it would prohibit him from being able to go to work. I don’t know what his day job is, but I’m going to assume Hellcat hooligan is not it.

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Can Quattro Make A 4,600 Pound Long-Wheelbase Diesel Luxury Sedan A Rally God?
BY BRAD BROWNELL MARCH 1, 2025 2:25 PM EST
Team O’Neil
There’s no way that a 4,500 pound long-wheelbase diesel-powered luxury sedan from a decade ago could be any good at rallying, right? It’d be too big and heavy, plodding around the rally stage like a depressed elephant, though maybe its aluminum-intensive construction will give it an edge?

Would you be surprised if I told you that this 2014 Audi A8 L TDI–a car with the same 3-liter diesel found in my Porsche Cayenne–was faster on stage than a Porsche Cayman S, a Toyota GR Corolla, or a 700-horsepower Ram TRX? Prepare to be surprised, and watch the video below from Team O’Neil for all the goods.

 

As it turns out, the old-school Quattro mechanical all-wheel drive and Torsen differentials in this monster, paired with a good set of grippy winter tires, make all the difference.

Grip makes all the difference
Team O’Neil
We didn’t get the more powerful diesel V8s that Europe enjoyed, with its 346 horsepower and an impressive 590 lb-ft, but the so-called Clean Diesel Quattros got the North America-approved 3.0-liter TDI V6 which made a not-insubstantial 247 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to shift the big sedan from 0-60 on dry ground in just 6.2 seconds, so it may be a large machine, but it’ll still get a little boogie on.

Part of this car’s speed comes down to Team O’Neil’s driving instructor and the guy with the rally chops, Wyatt Knox. He might have been able to stretch even a little bit more speed out of it if he had been paddle shifting the car and anticipating the lag a little better. Might it have been able to beat a Tuthill-built rally-spec Porsche? Maybe if Wyatt ever changed out of his hiking boots.

“Turbo lag is a real thing. It is often hunting between gears and that kind of stuff,” Knox said. “But considering it was never really designed with snow rally racing in mind I’d say it did just fine.”

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You’ve Probably Never Heard Of The Coolest Canadian Car Ever Built
The fast-but-fragile Dailu Mk1 roadster had a big American heart
BY  BRADLEY BROWNELL JANUARY 8, 2024 8:15 AM EST
Jonanthony James on YouTube
Name a car from the early 1960s built by a famed racing driver with curvy, lightweight aluminum bodywork, a big American engine, and a reputation for being unruly and fast as all hell. Your first thought was probably the famed Shelby Cobra, did you know there was a Canadian racer named David Greenblatt who built the radical 400-horsepower, 1600-pound Dailu Mk I? And he did it in 1961, before ‘ol Shelby ever talked to AC about supplying the Cobra’s chassis. The hand-built Canadian monsters were accelerated so quickly and had such unruly mid-corner behavior, that Belgian superstar driver Olivier Gendebien allegedly refused to race it.

 

The 1960s were packed to the gills with so-called Garagiste racers building their own wild specials to try to race against the best sports cars from Europe. Greenblatt and his co-conspirators built dozens of race cars over the years, but none of them had the success of the Mk I. In 1961 and 1962, the Dailu was consistently quicker than the competition, winning five of the ten major races it entered. It even qualified on pole for one of the biggest races at the 1962 Nassau Speed Week in the Bahamas, but a fuel line broke in the race and the resulting fire severely damaged the car, sidelining it for the next 15 years.

In the late 1970s the car returned to the race track, though a bit like the ship of Theseus, it’s difficult to tell how much of the original car remains. The chassis and much of the bodywork needed to be fabricated and replaced in order to get it wheeling again. Greenblatt raced the car on the vintage stage for a few years before losing interest and digging into cigarette boat racing around 1980.

As for the Gendebien comment in the opening paragraph, I will refer you to a highly interesting forum post by Mr. Greenblatt in 2006:

Gendebien practiced in the Dailu Mk I, (Dailu Bardahl Special) in June 1962. The engine was leaking oil from a valve cover gasket on to the floor by the pedals. Oliver wanted to drive his Porsche instead., so the car was sidelined.

Upon meeting Olivier a few years later he admitted it was not the oil leak, but the terrifying acceleration up the back straight was unlike any F1 car he had ever driven, and the not so nimble handling [compared to] his Porsche. He opted out.

One of Greenblatt’s former employees, Pasquale Cerasuolo, bought the restored car in 1980 and raced it for an additional 11 years. A condition of the sale was that Cerasuolo one day retire the car from its life of racing and convert it into the street-legal car Greenblatt always wanted to build. That’s exactly where it is today, roaming the Quebecois streets.

This is a gorgeous little video with the owner telling the whole story from beginning to the current day. It’s well worth a watch, and comes to us from a tiny channel on YouTube with 68 subscribers. Give it a watch. I promise you’ll enjoy it.

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This $1,500 Homebuilt Volkswagen Beetle Hot Rod Says You Don’t Have To Be Rich To Go Fast
BY BRAD BROWNELL APRIL 5, 2025 12:25 PM EST
Grassroots Motorsports
In the current automotive marketplace speed is a very expensive commodity. The average 0-to-60 time of the vehicle lineup available to new car consumers in 2025 is lower than ever, and even hyper-efficient economy cars seem to be capable of running the quarter-mile in 15 seconds or so. The problem with new cars is that they’re hilariously expensive. If you want to go fast but don’t have any money, you have to have a reserve of scrappiness, skill, and ingenuity. It seems that Derek Penner, the builder of this turbocharged Miata-powered tube-frame Beetle, has all of those in spades, because he just won Grassroots Motorsports’ $2,000 Challenge with it.

Penner was inspired to build this monster over a decade ago when he saw a Miata-based Exocet skeleton car and was impressed by the car’s light weight and capability. “Now, I don’t like the way those look–like sharks jumping out of the water to me–but I knew I wanted the weight and the trackability of those cars,” he explained to GRM. “I also really like rat rods–I love patina–and nobody was doing a fat-tired car on all four corners back then. So, I wanted to mix those two ideas. I wanted to make a rat rod that could turn instead of just going straight.”

Grassroots Motorsports
Derek started with a wrecked Miata, his own, which donated the suspension and steering. The Beetle shell came up for sale locally to Derek and he bought it for just $100. Between cheap parts, fabrication, and scrounging, Derek had a running and driving car for just a few hundred dollars. The real expense of this car came when he wanted to go faster and a friend offered his turbo Miata engine, including everything to make it run, for just $800.

What is the $2,000 Challenge?

If you aren’t familiar with the Grassroots Motorsports $2,000 Challenge Presented By Tire Rack and Powered By AutoBidMaster, you’re missing out. With an all-in build budget of just $2,000 hot rodders from around the country travel to Florida every year to prove they have what it takes to win. There are three separate challenges to the, er, Challenge. Quarter-mile drag, autocross, and concours points determine your finishing final order. By winning the Autocross with this ultra-lightweight Beetle and fat Hoosier slicks, coming second in the quarter mile bit with a 13.3-second run, and placing second in the concours (largely for the ingenuity of the incredible matching center-pivot trailer and the gorgeous hand-assembled mahogany trim), this little home-built machine won while running over $500 under budget!

Grassroots Motorsports
Events like this prove that car enthusiasm doesn’t have to be exclusively for or by multi-millionaires. If you take the time to learn a few fabrication and welding skills and scrape the Craigslist barrel for some cheap stuff, you can have a car that wins trophies and races well. Don’t say you can’t afford it, get out there and bust your ass for the scene. You’ll have fun doing it.

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Everrati’s Electric Porsche 911 RSR Has Me Driving Into The Future With Open Arms
BY DANIEL GOLSON UPDATED: MARCH 30, 2025 10:55 AM EST
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
I live close by to Mulholland Drive, specifically some of the best twistiest sections that have been revered by car enthusiasts for decades, so often in the afternoon or evening I’ll head up into the canyons for a brain-clearing rip (or leisurely drive, depending on what I’m in). But often on these drives I run into a huge problem: Los Angeles traffic. Whether it be because of people commuting up and over the mountain, picking up their kids from one of the fancy schools along the crest, or just tourists going for a scenic drive, sometimes a jaunt along Mulholland ends up being a couple hours of maddening single-lane stop-and-go movement.

It’s even worse if you’re in a sports car, something classic, or both. On this uncharacteristically sunny winter afternoon, as I’m behind the wheel of a 964-generation Porsche 911 with a huge wing on the back, heading down Benedict Canyon where I haven’t gone faster than 5 mph in about half an hour, you’d expect that I’m pretty miserable. It’s probably hot inside, my left leg is sore, my ears are ringing, my butt hurts, the car is unhappy. Right?

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Not today. No, this time I’m calm, comfortable and not even sweaty, and the car is just as composed. That’s not just because this 964 has been fitted with a new air conditioning system, but because it has been given a fully electric conversion by UK-based outfit Everrati. There’s no old engine to overheat, no manual clutch to worry about, no gas and oil to burn. There’s no constant vibrations, no loud noises. The car ahead of me moves forward a few meters, and I silently creep ahead with nary a jerky movement. I’ve been sitting in a traffic jam in a thirty-year-old sports car, and I haven’t once needed to complain to my passenger, Everrati founder and CEO Justin Lunny.

Blasphemy, you’re saying. I can’t possibly be genuinely enjoying a Porsche that’s had its mechanical heart ripped out and replaced by a soulless electric motor, you’re commenting. OK, maybe it’s kinda nice around town, but surely before I got stuck in traffic this thing wasn’t enjoyable at all on James Dean’s old stomping grounds, you’re thinking. Wrong, wrong, wrong again, baby. Everrati’s electric 911 is a joy to drive when the going gets fast and twisty, both in the same ways as a normal 964 and in totally new ones, while being as easy around town as a modern EV. This is the classic car future I’ve been waiting for.

Full disclosure: Everrati CEO Justin Lunny met up with me in West Hollywood and handed me the keys for a couple hours of driving around the city.

It looks like, well, a 911
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Called the Evergreen Commission, this particular Everrati 964 was built for Steve Rimmer, founder of the DirtFish Rally School. Rimmer went with the race-ready 964 RSR as inspiration for his build, but don’t worry, the donor car was a normal Carrera, not one of the 51 real RSRs out there. The wider bodywork was custom-made from carbon fiber, even including a new carbon roof panel, and the RSR-style wing is impossible to miss. I think the 18-inch gold wheels look horrible, though the stance is great, and the Oak Green Metallic is an excellent choice. Apart from the lack of exhaust tips, nothing about the Everrati’s styling belie its lack of an engine.

You’d never guess the powertrain by sitting in the cabin, either. Almost every surface, including the roll cage, is covered in bio-based leather from Bridge of Weir that feels appropriately nice. Porsche’s factory upfit radio is present in the dashboard, and Everrati designed a new center console with an integrated touchscreen to control vehicle functions. The gauges look just like old Porsche dials, but they’re new units that show things like battery and motor temperatures, and a small digital readout tells you range and battery percentage. It even has a normal physical key that you insert into a slot on the left side of the steering wheel and twist to turn the car on, a feature that Lunny says they didn’t want to get rid of — even if Porsche itself has in new 911s.

Yeah, it’s pretty damn quick
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Pop the rear engine cover, though, and you’re sure to provoke intense conversations at any car show. 70 percent of the battery pack is found underneath that decklid, along with the electric motor and transmission, and the remainder of the battery cells are under the hood. (A lot of frunk space is taken up, but there’s still enough room for small bags.) This 964 has 62 kWh of total battery capacity, which is good for a range of more than 200 miles. Given that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N only gets an EPA-rated 221 miles out of an 84-kWh battery pack, that’s not bad at all. The J1772 port is behind the 911’s signature fuel-filler door on the front fender for 6.6-kW AC charging, but if you want to fast-charge the Everrati you’ve gotta open up the rear decklid, as that port is found next to the battery pack. Parking a vintage 911 with the engine cover up at a public fast-charger is an amusing sight. It has 70-kW DC fast-charging capability — better than a Chevy Bolt — and plugging in for about 40 minutes will take you from 20 to 80 percent charge.

Back at the rear axle is a single permanent-magnet electric motor that puts out 500 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through a Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential and single-speed transmission. That’s 253 hp and 140 lb-ft more than the 964 Carrera’s standard flat-6 engine, and it’s good enough to send the Everrati from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, quicker than a new 992 Carrera with a PDK dual-clutch. For today’s drive its peak power has been turned down by about 20 percent, but the car is still mighty quick. Everrati has tuned the electric motor not for instant punch-you-in-the-gut acceleration but a torque curve more akin to that of the original car, and it’s quite satisfying.

It still drives like a 911, too
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Splitting the batteries into two packs and using that carbon-fiber body means the Everrati 964 RSR has the same 40/60 weight distribution as a gas 964, and it weighs 40 pounds less than a 964 Turbo. All of the same handling characteristics as a normal 911 are present, from the way weight transfers to the way it acts when I lift off the throttle to the way it sharply darts into corners. Power steering has been fitted, but it’s also been tuned to behave like the unassisted rack of an original 964; it’s heavy at low speeds, lightening up and becoming delightful and chatty as speeds increase. Electronically controlled active dampers have multiple stiffness settings controlled through that ‘lil touchscreen, and the ride is pretty nice even over the roughest pavement. The wider staggered tire setup makes the car tramline a bit, but that’s a fair tradeoff for a huge leap forward in grip and handling capability.

Everrati also gave the 964 a regenerative braking system along with larger physical brakes. For today’s drive the regen is dialed down in a way that mimics lifting off the throttle in a gas car, so for most deceleration I’m still pressing the left pedal, which has great feel and linear progression. Everrati is able to crank up the regen to give a legit one-pedal setting if the customer wishes, with the regen settings also controlled through the screen. Driving an EV hard and relying completely (or almost completely) on regen for deceleration is a unique experience, one that would add another dimension to a car like this, so I hope some customers go for it. Still, even in this car’s current setup, the softer regen is nice to have.

Do I miss the signature sounds of a half-dozen cylinders singing behind me? Honestly, not really. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sound of a good engine, but the fact that Lunny and I are able to hold a conversation at a normal volume, even when I’m really wheeling, is wonderful. I’m usually listening to music in the car anyway (especially when I’m driving fast), and if you do want some aural engineering excitement, the electric motor makes a fairly distinct whine. With the windows down, hearing birds chirping, rubber squealing, rocks pinging against the underbody all while near-silently zipping along at a nice rate of speed is just plain nice.

An existential threat to sports cars, or a revelation?
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
A major part of the appeal of a classic car is the analog experience; this I totally understand and appreciate. But that experience is achieved through more than just the powertrain. The Everrati 964 drives like an old car in the way it handles, the way it steers, the way it accelerates, the way it brakes. Drive it blindfolded, and you’d easily know you’re in an old 911 — just one that doesn’t shift or make noise. And it feels like an old car, because it’s still just a 964 after all. The visibility, the driving position, the buttons and knobs and other interior accoutrements, the way the door feels to slam. A brand new 992-gen 911 might be a fantastic car that’s easy to daily, but it’s not nearly as special as something like this.

And, of course, it looks like an old car. Cruising down Rodeo Drive it turns heads like any green 911 with a big wing would. Are peoples’ stares lingering because they’ve noticed it’s not making any noise, or just because they like the gold wheels and big wing? Do the people on the TMZ tour bus know or care that my 911 is powered by electrons or are they just excited to see a cool sports car? I pull up next to a Taycan at a light. We’re both saving the planet with our electric Porsches, but only one of us can run collector car plates and really fit in at our favorite local car show.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
For some people, putting up with all of a classic car’s downsides around town is just the price you have to pay to have a fantastic time on your favorite back road. Maybe you genuinely enjoy doing everyday stuff in your old sports car, no matter how annoying it can be. Or, if you’re lucky, you have a whole stable of cars to choose from, so something like a 964 could be restricted to only your Sunday canyon runs. That would be a shame, though. Cars deserve to be driven, especially old ones, and the more time that goes on, the fewer classics that are still out there on the roads. New rules and regulations around emissions and safety threaten how easily we can keep our favorite older models around, as do things like taxes, maintenance costs and parts availability.

This is a classic sports car that I would want to drive all of the time, and would be unafraid to do so. Gotta run errands? Have a dinner date across the city? Heading up the coast for a long weekend with friends? Going to a fancy event where people will judge you in the valet? Just want to go for a fun weekend drive? Everrati’s electric conversion makes saying “let’s take the 964” a no-brainer. Not having to worry about nearly as many mechanical problems is a bonus. An even bigger bonus still is the thought of waking up every morning to a fully charged 911, ready for whatever sort of day I want to have. Not needing to stop at a gas station where your green Porsche will get bombarded with nerdy questions, and getting to use EV-only parking spots? Those are some cherries on top.

You get an EV swap, you get an EV swap, you get an EV swap!
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
If you want an Everrati 964 you’ll have to shell out at least $450,000, which covers the conversion along with a full restoration and styling overhaul. If you want the RSR, tack on another fifty large. That’s pretty in line with other high-end 911 restomods these days. Everrati will dial in the chassis and powertrain tuning exactly how you want, and of course the sky is basically the limit when it comes to your spec. Oh, and before you start complaining in the comments, the conversion is fully reversible, so if you ever want to stick your 911’s engine back in, you can.

Everrati’s other offerings include EV conversions for the Land Rover Series II, Mercedes-Benz Pagoda SL, and Superformance Ford GT40, but the company is also open to custom commissions. Lunny says they’re currently working on EV swapping a Lamborghini LM002 for a Middle Eastern customer (more than a ton of weight has already been removed), and Everrati might do a couple more of them if there’s interest. One of Lunny’s favorite customers is a woman in London who uses her EV-swapped Landie to pick up the kids from school in the city’s EV-only congestion zone, another example of an electric powertrain broadening your classic car horizons.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
As for what Porsche could be next, Lunny said Everrati has considered the 993 generation of 911 that followed the 964, also an extremely popular platform for restomodders. While the 993 is probably the 911 for Porsche fans, that also means it has the most fervent fans. Lunny isn’t really concerned with the online haters — the people who buy these EV conversions love them anyway — but the 993’s popularity make it a less interesting choice. What he’s leaning more toward, and what I encouraged, is to develop an electric conversion for the controversial 996 generation. There’s so many of them out there to use as a baseline, they’re much less precious to enthusiasts, and the blobby styling could lend itself well to some modern enhancements.

For the extent of my drive in the Everrati 964 RSR, I’m smiling. Smiling because the car is so good in the canyons, smiling because it’s relaxing in the city, smiling because no matter what online commenters tell you, EV acceleration never gets old. The reason my grin is lasting, though, is because of how this electric 911 has me excited to keep being an enthusiast. I can think of so many classic cars that could benefit from a swap like this, across all sorts of segments and price points. If the most iconic sports car of them all works this well with an electric heart transplant, and in the relative infancy of this technology, I say bring on the future.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
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Porsche Taycan Turbos Have Lost Up To $100,000 Value In 4 Years
This high-performance, German EV has taken a big drop in value.
BY  TOM MCPARLAND FEBRUARY 23, 2024 9:45 AM EST
David Tracy/Jalopnik
Depreciation is hitting EVs harder than most other vehicles. A combination of technology upgrades, price fluctuations on new cars, and lack of demand has meant a rapid drop in value for many electric models. This phenomenon is especially dramatic for Porsche’s Taycan EV, with high-spec Turbo models losing almost $100,000 in value within four years.

The Porsche Taycan, first launched in 2019, was to be the German automaker’s attempt to take on the super popular Tesla Model S. While the Taycan offered solid build quality and a driving experience that you would expect from the maker of some legendary sports cars, the EV model was expensive. Porsche decided to launch the model with the top-of-the-range Turbo and Turbo S versions with starting prices of $151,000 and $185,000 respectively, and that is before you start checking off all the option boxes. Porsche later expanded the model range to include more “reasonably” priced models from the base Taycan to the 4S, and GTS trims. Buyers could even opt for the SportTurismo wagon body style.

There is an updated Taycan on its way for 2025 that will provide even more power and faster charging, but this upgrade comes at a price with MSRPs starting at $101,395 for a “base” spec all the way up to the Turbo S Sport Turismo with a sticker price of $213,695. But even if you have that kind of cash, a savvy shopper for a six-figure performance EV should look into the pre-owned market because they could save serious money.

Here is a sampling of three-to-four-year-old Taycaon Turbo and Turbo S models that illustrate the massive depreciation.

Autotrader.com

VinAnaylitcs.com
Here we have a Porsche Certified 2020 Turbo with just under 15,000 miles with a current asking price of $89,998 and an original MSRP of $179,630. That’s a drop of $89,632

Autotrader.com

iPacket.com
Next up is a Porsche Certified 2020 Turbo S with 21,635 miles and a current asking price of $105,900; it had an original MSRP of $206,950. That’s a depreciation drop of $101,050

Porsche Colorado Springs

VinAnalyitcs.com
Another 2020 Turbo S model with 24,265 miles and an asking price of $112,890; the original MSRP was $222,770. That is a drop of $109,880.

The Taycan depreciation is especially interesting contrasted with the current generation 992 series 911 where it’s not uncommon for lightly used examples to sell for over their original sticker price. While Porsche’s icon seems to hold value across generations, the pace of Taycan depreciation doesn’t look to slow down anytime soon.

Tom McParland is a contributing writer for Jalopnik and runs AutomatchConsulting.com. He takes the hassle out of buying or leasing a car. Got a car buying question? Send it to Tom@AutomatchConsulting.com

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Cadillac Will Pay Each F1 Team A $45,000,000 Fee To Enter The Championship
BY BRAD BROWNELL MARCH 18, 2025 12:01 PM EST
F1
American automaker Cadillac will join the Formula 1 grid for the first time in 2026, and it’ll have to pay out the nose for the privilege. Parent company General Motors will provide a one-time entry fee of $450,000,000, split equally among the other ten teams on the grid, as an “anti-dilution” payment. Because each F1 team derives some of its annual income from a share of the sport’s television revenue and prize money, and in 2026 that pot will be split among 11 teams instead of ten, Cadillac’s payment will help diffuse some of that revenue loss in the first couple of years of the new team’s participation.

The Concorde Agreement, the commercial contract between Formula 1 and the teams running in the sport, has stipulated an anti-dilution payment from any team joining the grid. The existing agreement which runs the 2025 season specified a $200,000,000 anti-dilution fee. A new agreement was signed by all teams ahead of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix governing the 2026 season, which increased the fee to $450,000,000, though many of the teams started the negotiation with a desire to pump it up to $600,000,000. The most recent team to join F1 was Aston Martin in 2021, though it did not pay an anti-dilution fee because it purchased an existing team and did not expand the grid. Audi, which similarly purchased a stake in the Sauber team, is joining alongside Cadillac, but will not have to shell out the same fee.

How do the payouts work?
Clive Rose/Getty Images
In addition to the money teams make from selling sponsorship Formula 1 pays out about 61 percent of its operating budget to teams, totaling around $1.3 billion in 2024. The basic way teams are paid is by points earned through the season. By winning the constructors’ championship last year McLaren earned a payout of $132.9 million, while last placed team Sauber earned $57.9 million. There are additional bonuses paid out for “success” to previous championship winning teams Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Williams, and Ferrari famously receives a $63.3 million bonus for being a “historic” team. For a team like Ferrari, which reportedly took home a quarter of a billion dollars for its middling success in 2024, Cadillac’s $45M won’t be much of a game changer, but for Williams or Sauber it could mean a huge difference in team investment opportunities and choices.

Ahead of the new Concorde Agreement signing, the series issued a statement saying that “Formula 1 has never been in a stronger position—and all stakeholders have seen positive benefits and significant growth.”

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F1’s Mario Kart-Inspired Saudi Track Proves It Has More Money Than Sense
Formula 1 has unveiled a bonkers track in Saudi Arabia with more than 350 feet of elevation changes and a first corner that’s right out of Mario Kart.
BY  OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 6, 2024 9:00 AM EST
Saudi Press Agency
On Saturday, Formula 1 will race in Saudi Arabia on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the fourth time. It’s officially the longest track in the calendar and boasts the most corners of any circuit in F1, but it’s not the only ridiculous location that F1 could race in the kingdom. Now, race promoters in the region have unveiled plans for a new track that looks right out of Mario Kart.

The new circuit, which is proposed to be built near the country’s capital of Riyadh, is called the Qiddiya City Speed Park Track, and it’s absolutely bonkers. Scheduled for completion ahead of the 2027 F1 season, the track comprises 21 corners and flows around the city’s landscape to offer up more than 350 feet of elevation changes. For reference, the famously hilly Spa circuit in Belgium has around 330 feet of elevation changes.

That’s all well and good, but it’s far from the most mind-bending aspect of this track. That, instead, is something designers Alex Wurz and Hermann Tilke have called the Blade at turn one. This wholly ridiculous creation is a first corner that towers more than 20 stories above the ground in some kind of Rainbow Road-like design.

 

Below, it’s not all trampolines, bouncy castles and other things that could offer a soft landing should things go south; instead images released of the track show a shopping center-like creation. No doubt where spectators will be treated to video of the action going on above their heads.

There’s no word on how much the construction of the new track is set to cost, but it’s sure to be a lot. However, when the city’s masterplan was relaunched late last year, it’s budget was set at more than $36 billion, reports travel site Skift.

The whole thing looks insane, like it’s gunning for Las Vegas’ crown as the biggest visual spectacle on the F1 calendar. But is that really what the sport needs?

If you head online right now, you can still pick up face value grandstand tickets for this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while events like Monza in Italy and Suzuka in Japan are either limited to pricey VIP offerings or are completely sold out of race day tickets months in advance.

To make matters more concerning, promoters aren’t posing this new track as a direct replacement for Jeddah when construction comes to an end ahead of the 2027 season. Instead, they’re saying that it could even sit alongside Jeddah on the calendar if a deal can be reached.

If three races in the U.S. irks some fans, imagine how pleased they’ll be about two in Saudi — even if they are more than 10 hours drive apart.

Saudi Press Agency
The track’s unveiling comes as Saudi Arabia continues pouring money into Formula 1. First, the company’s state-owned oil company Aramco signed a 10-year sponsorship deal worth more than $450 million, report ESPN. Then, the country agreed a 10-year contract to host a race in the country each year from 2021.

The two deals mean Saudi Arabia is one of F1’s biggest single contributors as they are valued at an estimated $505 million. It should come as no real surprise then, that the handling of last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the hands of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is currently under investigation for some pretty suspicious activity.

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New Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer Promises Exploding Cars, Cool Old Trucks, And ‘Fast And Furious’ Shoutouts
BY AMBER DASILVA MAY 6, 2025 2:03 PM EST
Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games delayed “Grand Theft Auto VI” to “mid-2026” last week, but today we get our consolation prize: A new trailer, showing off a bit more of the game’s story and characters compared to the last trailer’s focus on setting. It also shows off plenty of the new game’s vehicles, and the myriad ways in which those vehicles can be blown up, crashed, and otherwise used for crime.

“GTA VI” is full of supercars, neat old trucks, jet skis, Crown Vics, utes, and either 1,000 Ford Raptors or one Ford Raptor 1,000 times. It’s actually interesting to see just how many trucks and SUVs are out on the streets of Vice City now, relative to past games in the series — vehicle bloat is real, even in the world of “Grand Theft Auto.” Let’s take a look at some of the automotive shenanigans and chicanery in the second “Grand Theft Auto VI” trailer — and its fun little shoutout to “Fast Five.”

Updated cars

Vice City is playing host to some new cars this time around, though old classics are still here. The supercar lineup outside the Dominion Hotel in the trailer has Rockstar’s takes on a modern Mercedes and what looks like a Lamborghini Sián, but there’s a fan-favorite Banshee in the lineup too. Shots of normal traffic, though, show an emphasis on SUVs and trucks that previous entries in the series didn’t have — even here, the hood heights keep getting taller.

Perhaps most fascinating to me is a brief shot of a motorcycle that seems to draw inspiration from the Honda Rune. It’ll almost certainly turn out to be a more West Coast Choppers-style bike in the finished game, but the detail work around the headlight really looks like it could be ripped right off of Honda’s weirdest, most expensive cruiser. Maybe it’ll split the difference in the final game, and end up as a Honda Fury.

Fast Five, anyone?
Rockstar Games
There’s also a moment, deep into the trailer, where a pickup — seemingly the same model as the Ford Raptor or Shelby-inspired truck earlier on — drags a crate behind it through the streets, sliding side to side as it goes. That feels like a very direct shout-out to “Fast Five,” where Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Conner pull the same move between two blacked-out Dodge Chargers.

There’s only one truck here, unless Rockstar is doing some Marvel-style edits to cut spoilers out of a trailer, but the moment still feels very inspired by the Fast series. I, for one, am looking forward to living out those heist-movie dreams. Eventually. Once it goes on sale for less than $80, because I still refuse to acknowledge that games cost that much now.

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NICE PRICE OR NO DICE
These Movies And TV Shows Have The Best Car Casting
BY AMBER DASILVA MARCH 5, 2025 10:30 AM EST
Apple TV
Have you ever tuned in to a movie or TV show and seen a car that absolutely ruins the movie for you? Well, today we’re not talking about that. Today we’re here to talk about the vehicles that actually made a movie or show better — cars so well-cast that they improve the atmosphere, speak to a character, or just generally make watching a better time. Earlier this week, I asked you for your favorite examples of car casting in movies and TV, and today we’re looking through your answers. Let’s dive in.

Stranger Things

Stranger Things.

What makes it impressive to me is that they didn’t fall into the classic trap of period pieces.

Most street scenes in most period pieces populate the roads and parking lots with cool cars of that era. All the movies and TV shows based in the 50s have bright pastel colored tail finned cars that look to have about 30 coats of wax on them.

Stranger Things got it right (well other than Barbara’s car, but there’s a LOT of not right about how that character was treated). It’s supposed to be 1983. The parents generally own 5-10 year old cars. The cool car that is driven in 1984/85 by a high school student is a 79, or 6 year old Camaro. The street scenes and parking lots have a lot of dirty late 70s cars with some missing a hubcap or the like.

Which is reality. Imagine a show 30 years ago based in 2025 high school life. And half the parking lot was Hellcats and C8s with an occasional Telsa X or the like and not a single 2010 Camry in sight.

The thing is that Stranger Things Casting must have been hard. Finding a perfect 1983 325 Convertible is do-able in 2023. Finding a rusted out 4 door 1977 4 door sedan… not so doable, because that would have been scrapped

Have you considered that Steve might really just be that rich?

Submitted by: hoser68

The Batman

The Batman (the most recent one with Pattinson) quietly had some brilliant car casting. Bruce Wayne showing up to a funeral in a C2 Corvette, Penguin driving a Quattroporte, the DA in his Lincoln. The scene where they are looking for clues in the garage had some pretty legit hardware in it too. On top of all of that, they took the Batmobile in a new direction that was sort of demon lovechild of a classic muscle car and a Dakar prerunner.

All of that mixed with insane Batman/Penguin chase scene has me convinced that somebody on the production team was a serious car person.

One of my first videos for Jalopnik was, when you really got down to it, just being horny for the Batmobile from this movie. I stand by that take.

Submitted by: Tahoe Guy

Gattaca

I loved the cars in “Gattaca” at first sight. Every single one of them is gorgeous without being over the top. And the combo of futuristic e-sounds and greenish headlights still works perfectly for me.

I’m a big fan of colored headlights, though I do think they should be yellow. Can we do that to all cars now, to signify that we live in the future?

Submitted by: Ara Can

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, beautiful classics from the ’20s perfect match with the story and great cinematography. Honorable mention for the short lived HBO series, Perry Mason.

Gatsby has the advantage of being set in an era of truly beautiful cars. It’s cheating, really.

Submitted by: towman

Robocop

The Ford Taurus in the original Robocop was a major change from the blocky cars of the 70’s to this more organic and rounded car. It really shaped a new generation of design.

I’m so thankful you specified the original Robocop here. I do not want to think about the other one.

Submitted by: milanst

Magnum PI

the entire cannonball run line up.

magnum PI. there is a guy in my area with a black 308. He drives it all the time and fully rocks the mustache. I even saw him with the short shorts on at the gas station.

station wagon from Better off dead (John Cusack)

I’d ask if it really counts as a Magnum PI reference if the car is black, but the mustache really seals the deal.

Submitted by: Roberto Arango

Breaking Bad

It’s been discussed ad nauseum, but Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul have some of the best car casting there is. Walt’s Aztek then his 300, Saul’s Esteem then his Cadillac, and even the Eclipse driven by Kim Wexler. Jesse had that low rider Monte Carlo at first, but then when he hooked up with Walter, he got that low profile Tercel. They’re all just perfect for each character.

Remember that time they paused the show to do a dubstep Chrysler ad? I remember that. No matter how hard I try, i’ll never forget that.

Submitted by: Stillnotatony

Mindhunter

The super creepy series Mindhunter NAILED the car casting. I also recently finished Dark Winds and that one was pretty good other than Longhorns Suburban being lifted and having a 90’s steering wheel. Love old period-correct cop cars.

Personally, I think if someone’s hunting minds in a vehicle, it should be a nautiloid. Maybe I’m just a traditionalist.

Submitted by: DustynNguyenDood

CHiPs

Pure 70’s cheese….CHiPs.The vehicles matched the characters perfectly.

The fact that none of these cars appear to be made from tortillas or potatoes makes me question the creators’ true commitment to chip accuracy.

Submitted by: Stinky Stu

Archer

Archer

Archer has the advantage of being sort of unmoored in time, which lets the creators pick and choose their favorite cars. They’ve got good taste.

Submitted by: 4speed

Iron Man

Iron man. When he first rolled up in that V10 Audi R8, oof. That car just fit the character so well, it’s subtlety, beauty and tech. Then we have a scene in his Garage. you can see a Shelby, what I think is a Saleen S7, a Tesla roadster, and a couple of bikes. Interesting cast of vehicles.

Audi paid good money for Iron Man, and boy did it work. I still remember my first time seeing an R8 after the movie.

Submitted by: Agon Targeryan

Glass Onion

Glass Onion.

The rich facing Bro Influencer D-bag has a 70 charger, 69 Mustang and a custom Harley, another drives an S Class.

There’s a Ducati Panigale V4S and the utlra rich Elon stand in has a “custom one off” car which is actually just a Porsche 918 Spyder with a Weissach package

I do still want to ride a Panigale V4S, that’s still on my bucket list, but a rich guy buying one as a display piece is so very on brand for rich guys.

Submitted by: JaredOfLondon

True Detective

First season of True Detective.

I grew up in the Gulf Coast of Florida in the Nineties, it’s the only show I’ve ever seen that nailed life in that part of the country, and it was pretty much the same from Louisiana to Florida.

The cops rolled hard in unmarked Caprices and you could not throw a rock without hitting some 4x4s beat to hell but still running. Hell, even the riding mowers are correct.

If someone’s getting the lawn mowers right, you know they’re dedicated to an absurd degree.

Submitted by: Omer Carrothers

Transformers

Here’s a different opinion. The original Transformers had a great cast of cars. From the at that time unreleased Camaro to the rest of the GM fleet of vehicles it featured

10-year-old Amber absolutely adored the Camaro from that movie. It was the coolest thing she’d ever seen at the time.

Submitted by: Gerrit DeBoer

The Fast And The Furious

Millennium ones: Taxi (1998), Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), The Fast and the Furious (2001) & The Transporter (2002)

I still want every car from this movie. Nearly every car from this series, honestly. I  want Mia’s Integra so incredibly badly.

Submitted by: GTSpecial

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These Are The Dumbest Looking Cars Of All Time, According To You
Some cars just look dumber than others. It is what it is.
BY  ANDY KALMOWITZ MARCH 4, 2024 7:15 AM EST
Ferrari
Sometimes cars look beautiful. Sometimes cars look functional. Sometimes cars look downright ugly. And sometimes, well, cars just look dumb as hell. Of course, “dumb” is a very subjective concept, possibly even more subjective than beautiful and ugly. It’s an interesting concept in that way, and it’s what led us to our question from last week.

We wanted to know what you thought the dumbest-looking car of all time was, and by George did you deliver. We’ve got everything from the highest-end exotics that look goofy to three-wheeled economy vehicle mistakes and pre-Great Recession American cars.

What I’m saying is, you folks understood the assignment. You get that “dumb” is more of a feeling and a vibe than an actual objective observation. I’m really proud of all of you. And with that, let’s take a look at what cars your fellow Jalops think are the dumbest looking of all time.

Reliant Robin

Riiiiiiiight, put one wheel in the front for maximum instability…it’s “genius”.

And then there was the time on Old Fart Top Gear when Clarkson took one of these deathtraps for a literal spin.

Un-effing-believable.

The Robin does look dumb as hell, but I really appreciate it for the sheer fact it gave us so many iconic bits on Top Gear.

Submitted by: the1969DodgeChargerFan

Fiat Multipla
Fiat
It just looks like no adult was involved in the design process.

Here’s the thing, 4jim. You’re wrong. The first gen Multipla is actually really cool looking. I will not debate this. Sorry, amigo.

Submitted by: 4jim

1960 Plymouth Valiant
Plymouth
1960 Plymouth Valiant -The wimpiest of Mopars with lines going all the wrong directions that helped kill the fin craze

Holy hell, this thing is dogshit. The auto industry was in a dire situation before the muscle car came around, wasn’t it?

Submitted by: Alan Schwarz

Ferrari Enzo
Ferrari
Veeerrrryyy unpopular opinion incoming.

I know, I know. It’s a technological wonder. I know Ferrari made you own a GTO, F40, and F50 just to be allowed to buy it. I know it’s a Ferrari halo car.

It’s goofy looking. It’s got an overbite that just screams “My parents couldn’t afford braces.” No car should look like it was rear-ended so hard that the body got pushed forward.

You’re braver than me for saying this. The Enzo is confusing. I think it’s overall a good-looking car, but when you compare it to the rest of the Ferrari hypercar lineup (F40, F50, LaFerrari), it’s not very good.

Submitted by: JohnnyWasASchoolBoy

The Amber
NEXTA/Twitter
The anticipated Amber Russian EV…a face only a tadpole could love.

Lol I forgot about this thing.

Submitted by: gokstate

Youabian Puma

You mean other than the Youabian Puma? It’s the de-facto answer to this question…

I remember seeing this thing on some Discovery Channel show when I was a kid. I thought it looked badass, and honestly, I still do.

Submitted by: Skamanda

Gen. 2 Dodge Durango
Dodge
There’s something about the 2nd gen Dodge Durango that never sat quite right with me. Most of it from the A-pillar aft is fine, if a bit boring, but the front fascia just looks a mess. The bumper juts out like a French Bulldog with an underbite, and they tried to make the headlights and crosshair grille look like a Ram but instead of blending into the wheel arch it awkwardly juts out like it was tacked on. Even though its Chrysler Aspen sibling was a forgettable badge-engineering job, it at least had a coherent design throughout.

These things looked bad then, and they look even worse now. However, the Durango that followed it (which is still on sale) actually held up pretty well in the looks department.

Submitted by: pardsecar

The Amphicar
Amphicar
May I submit for your consideration, the Amphicar. It’s a car! It’s a boat! It’s not really good at being either! And it’s ugly…

Well, LBJ was a pretty cool dude, and a cool dude would never own anything that was dumb, so I am inclined to say the Amphicar does not look dumb. Sorry, fella.

Submitted by: GTB

Gen. 1 Hyundai Tiburon
Hyundai
Look at this thing.

It’s not designed for practicality so it doesn’t get a pass there, it’s supposed to be a “cool” car you wanted to buy to look sporty. But those headlight bulges with oddly-proportioned outside lights and signals/reflectors, none of which lined up, weird badge in intake that looks like a booger, and the HUGE hips both front and rear that make the already tiny wheels look even tinier. And finally the rear spoiler which was inexplicably kinked at the ends with straight lines when the rest of the car is all swoopy. Just dumb.

This is indeed dumb looking, but the second-generation Tuburon was so cool I am willing to forget it.

Submitted by: savethemanualsbmw335ix

Diahtsu Copen
Diahatsu
Do we like the Daihatsu Copen here. i always thought the design language looked.. a little confused and “doofy” the low headlights.. the almost sporty nature of it… not sure what it is about this thing that bugs me.

HORRIBE TAKE. STOP IT.

Submitted by: the_AUGHT

‘58-’60 Dodge Truck
Dodge
Can we put fins on a truck? and stick its tongue out behind braces?

The 58 face looks like a geek with horned rim glasses being upset because you knocked over his chocolate Milk.

The removal of the bumper guards and additional chrome make the 59 just say “Ahhhh”

The 60 changed the grill but kept the tongue out. It also looks like it’s caught between thoughts it will never have.

Fortunately Dodge, Changed the style dramatically in 1961.

And the scale drifted from “So Stupid it’s ugly” to “So Ugly it’s stupid.”

I’m sorry, dude, but this looks good. This is not dumb. Fins are cool.

Submitted by: hoser68

Ssangyong Actyon
Ssangyong
A coupé SUV before coupé SUVs were a thing, with the ugliest nose and butt to ever disgrace the roads (and yes I’m saying this knowing that the Edsel and the Aztek exist)

That’s the dumbest boy I’ve ever seen, good lord.

Submitted by: edu-petrolhead

Landau Baby
Cutlass via Wikimedia Commons
The anodyne Japanese sedan with the dealer-installed vinyl roof. It’s already kind of dumb enough on a big boxy Malaise era land yacht, but it’s even worse stripped of full context. Like, imagine walking around in athleisure wear with a massive powdered wig on your head because that’s what classy people wore like 200 years ago.

I (please don’t judge me) really enjoy a Landau top on cars that don’t deserve one.

Submitted by: Maymar

Chevy HHR Panel
Chevrolet
In line with the SSR, I’m going to go with the HHR. Specifically the work-ified version with no side windows. It practically screams “I shouldn’t be allowed within 500′ of a school”.

Sounds like there are some issues here that need to be worked through.

Submitted by: IstillmissmyXJ

Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla
We’re all hear to say Cybertruck, right?

Yeah.

Submitted by: skeffles

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America’s Last Simple Truck Is About To Go Plug-In Hybrid
BY ANDY KALMOWITZ APRIL 22, 2025 2:14 PM EST
Nissan
If you ask me, the Nissan Frontier is the last totally simple pickup truck for sale in America. As far as I can tell, it’s the only midsize truck that you can buy that doesn’t have forced induction, some sort of hybrid component or a combination of the two. All you get is a tried-and-true 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6. Well, it’s sure looking like that’s about to change.

The next Nissan Frontier will be offered with a hybrid, and it could even merge with the midsize truck Nissan sells in other global markets, according to MotorTrend. The current third-generation Frontier, which has been on sale since the 2022 model year, just received a minor facelift for 2025. Many of its more complicated competitors, like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Colorado, have been fully redesigned in the last handful of years.

Even though the truck got some worthwhile improvements like a bigger touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a telescoping steering wheel, its powertrain was virtually unchanged. It’s still the same V6 mated to a 9-speed automatic. It looks like that’s about to change. Chief planning officer for Nissan in the Americas, Ponz Pandikuthira, told MotorTrend for the Frontier’s lifecycle to “make sense and be compliant,” it’ll have to be electrified in some way.

A new (hybrid) frontier
Nissan
Pandikuthira says we should expect the hybridized Frontier around 2028. Here’s what else she told MT:

A plug-in hybrid makes the most sense to maintain towing capacity and body-on-frame ruggedness, meet emissions, and continue to offer a good day-to-day truck that is seen as unbreakable but stylish and polished enough to drive around town, Pandikuthira says. “To keep that full spectrum of use, I think a plug-in hybrid would be the ultimate solution. We’re still working on it.”

I’ve got no idea what sort of motor a hybrid Frontier would have. Nissan currently doesn’t offer any hybrids across its model lineup in the U.S., but a Rogue Hybrid is expected to show up for 2026. I’m doubtful that will be the same motor we find in the Frontier Hybrid a few years from now. I also doubt it’s going to be mated up to the 3.8-liter V6 in the current truck.

It’s a bit of a bittersweet moment, for sure. Obviously, the current Frontier is a bit behind the times when it comes to powertrain tech, so it’s good that there’s a hybrid coming. However, it’s sort of sad to see the final simple midsize truck bite the dust. Here’s hoping Nissan can create a hybrid system that has been as robust as this V6.

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These Are The Dumbest Car Crashes You’ve Ever Seen
BY LOGAN K. CARTER FEB. 27, 2025 10:30 AM EST
Carl Smith/Getty & undefined
Earlier this week we asked you to tell us the dumbest car crashes you have ever seen. It seems like y’all have seen no shortage of inattentive folks making stupid mistakes behind the wheel, since there were plenty of answers. I wish I could add a “womp womp” sound effect to these comments because most of the crashes you have witnessed are impressively dumb and they deserve the theatrics. I appreciate that there were no graphic stories that involved gore or anything, just cringeworthy mistakes that led to some funny accidents.

I lost a bit of faith in humanity after reading through your answers, but they also increased my understanding of the importance of defensive driving. When you’re out there on the roads, keep checking your mirrors and for Pete’s sake please remain focused on the task at hand, which is driving, to be clear. Not ogling some cuties crossing the street or lookie-looing at a fender bender while you cause one of your own. The old adage applies here almost better than anywhere else; stay in your lane. These are the dumbest car crashes you have ever seen, but if you think you’ve seen dumber feel free to drop the story in the comments.

Co-existing gone wrong
Gary Hershorn/Getty
Many years ago before EZpass was a thing and we all had to head for the toll booths, saw a Volvo and a Subaru wedged into the same booth (neither willing to give the other a go). One car had a PEACE bumper sticker and the other a similar COEXIST or the like.

Submitted by: Not me

Sweet, sweet karma
OSX II/ Wiki Commons
Back in the 80’s, when I was in high school, my good buddy Steve had an old Ford Maverick that would sometimes just die at inopportune moments. We called it Puff the Tragic Wagon.

We’d sing “Puff the tragic wagon lived at Steve’s…”

That was as far as we got.

Anyway, one day, we were all in Puff headed out of school for lunch. It died on Grandview Blvd, and Steve steered it into the center turn lane to try and restart it. A brand new IROC Z drove past us loaded with exactly the kind of high school guys you’re imagining driving an IROC Z in the 80’s.

As they went past us, they were all yelling at us and mocking us for being stuck in stalled Puff.

They were ALL looking at us. Including the driver.

Then they rear ended a Cadillac. Hard enough that a cloud of steam burst out from the radiator.

At that moment, Puff sprang back to life, and we drove slowly past them (Steve, then and now, drove like a Granny), making eye contact the whole time.

Lunch was especially tasty that day…

Submitted by: Stillnotatony

Can you hear me now?
Prostock-Studio
About 6 years ago, I watched someone cause a 5 car accident because they were looking at their phone. The driver was glued to their phone and plowed their late model Caravan into the back of a CR-V at probably 45 MPH, which then cause an accordion effect into three other cars.

Three ambulances had to be called and the Caravan driver had a broken nose and some other facial damage because the airbag shoved her hand and phone right into her face. Sweet karma if you ask me.

Submitted by: Fiji ST

Grand Ammit
IFCAR/ WIki Commons
My first job was a supermarket cashier – place had a pretty normal setup, row of tills in front of a giant window overlooking the typical suburban parking lot. One night, a little before close, I look out and see a ’99ish Grand Am on its roof in the otherwise empty lot. I still have no idea how it happened, and I didn’t hear anything. So much for wide-track handling.

Submitted by: Maymar

Thank goodness for back-up cameras
Cheunghyo/Getty
A few years ago I was going to lunch with coworkers, as we pulled into the lot we saw two cars backing out directly across from each other. I said to my friend who was driving to honk, they don’t see each other. She honked, both cars stopped, assessed their surroundings (presumably) and then they both continued to back up for a low speed rear end to rear end crash, parking lot fender bender. Both crossover SUVs, this was several years ago, probably didn’t have backup cameras, not that that is an excuse.

Submitted by: Greg Lemon

Between an alpha and a hard place
Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock
Dave Barry once wrote about an incident in heavy gridlock: one driver wanted to change lanes, the other guy did not want to cooperate. Neither alpha wanted to back down.

So, driving at maybe one mile per hour, the two cars touched and kept moving forward, grinding bumpers, then quarter panels, then entire sides of their cars. It was the slowest crash in history… but both drivers had the satisfaction of knowing he did not back down.

Submitted by: Jason Shepherd

Startled
Carl Smith/Getty & undefined
A car had stopped on the shoulder of the road. As another car traveling down the roadway approached from behind the stopped car, the stopped car moved forward slightly as it was going to enter the roadway after the approaching car passed. The driver of the approaching car thought that the car on the shoulder was about to pull out In front of him. He panicked, locked up his brakes, and slid off the road smashing into the parked car.

Submitted by: YetAnotherDavid

Lookie-loo
Halfpoint
I was a deputy sheriff working a fender-bender on a section of a four-lane divided highway. The road was straight then curved toward the lanes I was in. I glanced at a car in the opposite lane coming toward me and the driver was looking at the accident scene. I saw her keep staring as her car went off the right side of the road and over an embankment. She never looked at where she was going and never turned into the curve. She wasn’t injured besides a few bumps but the car was totaled.

Submitted by: TeamJay

Explorer? I hardly know’er
IFCAR/ WIki Commons
Following a 90’s Explorer, entering a freeway construction zone funneling to one lane, 50mph. Suddenly Explorer swerved right and was up on 2 wheel, BAM, just like that, instant Thrill Show. One second then down it comes probably from braking steering left to the median. Median is soft gravel and strongly banked. Straddled the pavement and gravel, tried to steer back on the road. Rear end stepped to the left , Explorer rolled sideways down embankment 1 and a half times ending on roof well into the median. It was slow and like a cartoon .

*He swerved because traffic cone was well into the road he hadn’t seen it till, Thrill Show.

Submitted by: Halfkidding

Renault Cli-oh no!
OSX II/ Wiki Commons
early 2010s, wife was driving around by herself in this strange neighborhood, no GPS or anything, just trying to figure out where to go by reading street signs. thought she was cruising down a regular road, but it turned out to be an access ramp to a building garage. she didn’t see it coming at all, so she didn’t even hit the brakes. scraped the bottom of our ’94 Renault Clio 1.9 D pretty bad/hard, so much so that the gear shift got stuck for a couple of minutes! Thankfully, she didn’t get hurt. the gear shift also eventually freed up and the car ended up driving just fine with no damage not even a cracked oil pan or any leaks!

Submitted by: SoCal

Some people don’t deserve a second chance
Tricky_Shark/ Shutterstock
I had to attend a traffic school class to dismiss a ticket, and when the instructor gave us a lunch break I walked out into the parking lot to see one of the students back up into another student’s car.

When I told the instructor about it, he just looked deeply sad.

Submitted by: Matt Emm

Lemme get uhhhhhhh
Tupungato/ WIki Commons
Tim Horton’s drive thru. Car in front me placed order at the speaker and while still looking at the display, pulled forward rapidly into a waiting Ambulance. Ambulance bumper went thought front of car and was impact was hard enough to trigger the airbags.

Submitted by: Skylrw

Don’t be a perv
Caboosemoose/ Wiki Commons
After saving madly, I bought my first, dream car as a teen: a then-decade old BMW 328i. I hadn’t owned the car for a year when I took a drive to pick some friends. After cresting a hill, I began slowing down two girls were walking on the shoulder of the quite narrow road. The guy driving behind me stared at them and crashed into me. Having swerved at the last minute but still making impact, he wrote my car off. It was his third accident, and he openly told the cops at the scene he crashed because he was looking at the girls. I still miss that car.

Submitted by: Dano

Second time’s the charm
Staffan Andersson/ WIki Commons
In a parking garage in irvine california I had a guy as I was stationary in traffic going up a parking level back very gently into the rear quarter of my BRIGHT RED 70s 911, wonder why he wasn’t moving, go forward then do it again. so recap, he backed into my car twice as me and the car behind me were honking and I was hitting his car since his rear bumper was next to my window.

you might ask, was this a old car with bad sightlines and no reverse cam? nope it was a 2021 BMW x1, equipped with back up cam…… he paid 4k in damages

Submitted by: rickymollinedo

So I creep, yeah
James Whitaker
In the summer of 2004, my father and I found ourselves stranded in South-Eastern Ohio, after the clutch failed in my Mazda MX-3. We found an independent garage that could change the clutch (no one else could touch it on short notice).

While standing outside, watching the traffic, I noticed a cop car waiting at a red light and an old guy in a Buick behind him… The Buick was creeping forward really slowly. It’s not stopping… he HIT THE COP CAR!

Lights go on and the cop gets out to talk to the guy. He’s trying to stay composed while talking to the old man, and he sees us watching… trying not to laugh. He told us later, that the old guy thought the cop backed into him. Fortunately, no damage.

It was a good laugh on an otherwise trying weekend. I took pictures!

Submitted by: James Whitaker

Maybe she was colorblind?
XtraJovial/ Wiki Commons
When we were teenagers we were walking past an intersection. A woman stopped at a stop sign and a full length bright yellow school bus was turning left into her opposing lane.

She accelerated right into the side of the bus, then proceeded to get out of her car and say ‘oh my god, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you’.

She failed to see a full size bright yellow school bus taking up her entire view.

Submitted by: Daniel

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Alleged Horse-And-Buggy Thief In Way More Trouble Than If She Had Just Stolen A Car
A buggy isn’t legally a motor vehicle, which makes things much worse for the thief in court.
BY  AMBER DASILVA JANUARY 26, 2024 7:30 AM EST
Bruce Yuanyue Bi/Getty Images
A Michigan woman allegedly stole a horse and buggy from an Amish couple while they shopped at a Walmart last weekend. The appeal of the crime is obvious — no USB cables to mess with, no sensors to fool, just hop in and go. Yet, if you’re looking to follow in this woman’s footsteps, a word of caution: The penalties for stealing a horse and buggy are much, much worse than just stealing a car.

First the details of the case from the local Sturgis, Michigan, Fox affiliate, Fox 59:

Police in Sturgis, Michigan, about 90 miles south of Grand Rapids along the Indiana border, were called to a local Walmart on Saturday after an Amish family reported that their buggy and horse had been stolen.

A truck driver, who was parked nearby, told investigators that he saw it happen and gave a description of the suspect.

Police said they had already made contact with the suspect, a 31-year-old Sturgis woman, earlier in the day at the same Walmart. They did not detail the circumstances surrounding the earlier encounter.

Later in the evening, the horse and buggy were found unoccupied nearby, police said. The woman was found at a nearby motel and taken into custody without incident.

Sounds like the suspect’s life might not be going great. It got much worse when she decided to go low tech with her larceny. In fact, she’d be in way less trouble if she’d just stolen a car.

The distinction between the two comes from an odd bifurcation within auto theft law. Stealing a car with the intent to take it from its owner forever is different — and more harshly penalized — than nabbing one for a simple joyride. Within Horse Law, however, no such distinction exists. Steve Lehto, former Jalop contributor, broke it all down.

 

Had this woman stolen a car for a joyride, she may well have been charged with a misdemeanor. Had she stolen one with the intent to deprive the owner of it permanently, she’d be charged with auto theft — a felony, sure, but only one felony.

Instead, by stealing both a horse and a buggy, this women managed to be charged with two felonies. Larceny of livestock — the horse — is unambiguously a felony offense in Michigan. Regular larceny — the buggy — can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of the item stolen, but Amish buggies don’t come cheap. It’s entirely possible that this woman could be convincted of two separate felonies from one single Walmart visit.

So, for the enterprising thieves in the audience, stick to cars. Horse and buggies are slower, harder to hide in a garage, and much worse for you if you get caught. Plus, a car is a lot less likely to kick you.

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You’re Wrong For Hating Speed Racer
BY BRAD BROWNELL APRIL 23, 2025 11:25 AM EST
Speed Racer/Warner Brothers
Following the wild success of the Matrix trilogy Wachowski sisters Lana and Lilly were handed what is known in Hollywood as a “blank check,” giving them an opportunity to make whatever crazy passion project they want. Sometimes those checks clear, but the Wachowskis big sweeping brightly-colored cartoonish future race car film based on the Japanese animated series “Mach Go Go Go” with an anti-capitalist message was a big fat bounce with critics and audiences alike when it hit screens in 2008. Allegedly the resulting “Speed Racer” cost Warner Brothers a massive $200 million and only managed to clear $93 million at the box office. It was met with vicious vitriol in its time, and some still deride it today, but they’re wrong.

With the benefit of hindsight, or perhaps nostalgia for a time before the current homogenized and hideous grey CGI landscape of big Hollywood productions, cinephiles are realizing just how incredible this movie really was. In fact, it might be the most important movie of the 21st century. There is no other movie in history like “Speed Racer,” and there never will be another like it. “Speed Racer” was created to look something like an eye-searing fever dream of colors and visual collages of wipes and dissolves, wild motion and background action. It’s live action mixed with bold CGI to create a look that feels much more like the cartoon it’s based on. The insane shots are part of the joy, and everything is in glorious focus.

Bold and dramatic storytelling

Even if you don’t like “Speed Racer,” you have to admit that it’s entirely different from anything you’ve ever seen. It’s an incredibly faithful adaptation of the original cartoon, creatively capturing the tone and style of the original. If you haven’t seen the “Speed Racer” cartoon in a while, go watch a couple episodes and then re-watch the Wachowski film, you’ll instantly see where they were coming from. Instead of making something dull, boring, bleak, pessimistic, or derivative, the most creative filmmakers of a generation set out to pave new ground. “Speed Racer” is a love letter to the world, to the craft of making art, and to bold, dramatic storytelling. I love it to death.

If you’re a film buff and you aren’t already following the Patrick (H) Willems film essay channel, you really need to be. This is an incredible one-hour epic about one of the most visually incredible films of all time, and you owe it to yourself to give it a watch. I’ve written about many of his videos in the past, and even the ones that aren’t transportation-related are great.

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Cheap-Feeling, Underpowered, Or Just Ugly, These Cars Don’t Justify Their Price
BY ERIN MARQUIS MARCH 20, 2025 1:25 PM EST
Subaru
There’s nothing quite like a new car. The cancer-causing chemicals are still off-gassing, the seats are still fresh from no on-gassings and the crisp piano black details and touchscreens are unsullied by grubby fingerprints. It feels like heaven. But when the shine wears off, and you’re left with just A Car, are you still going to love it? Or are you going to regret paying way too much for a car that can’t keep up with normal wear and tear?

It’s easy for a new car to look like a million bucks, and cost that much too, but looks can be deceiving. There are some cars driving around right now like their MSRPs don’t stink, and frankly, we’ve had it. Each member of the Jalopnik team called out the cars we find are the worse offenders here. I’m sure you have your own opinions as to what new cars are the most overpriced, and we’d love to hear them in the comments.

Rob Emslie – Lamborghini Urus
Sjoerd Van Der Wal/Getty Images
Lamborghini’s Urus totally does not live up to its $250,000-ish cost of entry. Yes, as a brand, Lamborghini does hold a significant cachet, rubbing Armani-swaddled elbows with the likes of Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, but it’s hard to cut the Urus much slack when so little of it actually is Lamborghini.

Based on the same platform as the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Bentley Bentayga, and powered by an Audi-derived drivetrain, all the Urus brings to the table is the Lamborghini nameplate and over-the top styling that looks like it was penned by a hyperactive 12-year-old.

Consider too that in top Turbo E-Hybrid form, the Urus’ closest-in-intent platform mate, the Porsche Cayenne, is nearly as quick, almost as fast, and comes in at a good one-hundred grand cheaper. Even BMW’s weird-ass uber-SUV, the XM, is nearly $90K cheaper. It offers more combined power than the Urus and greater interior space. The Porsche and BMW also have more elegant cabins and, in the BMW’s case, similarly polarizing exterior styling as the Urus.

Even putting the aesthetics and specs aside for a moment, it’s equally important to acknowledge just how complicated a car the Urus is. That engenders having a good relationship with a dealer or factory-authorized service and repair facility. Consider how many of those there are for Lamborghini compared to those servicing Audi, BMW, or Porsche.

When it comes down to it, all you’re really getting with the Urus and its outrageous price tag is a nameplate and some wacky styling that you’ll probably get sick of looking at well before the $3K a month lease is up.

Ryan King – Audi E-Tron GT
Sjoerd Van Der Wal/Getty Images
The Audi E-Tron GT never felt like it warranted a six-figure price tag. Despite debuting four years ago, the sedan’s exterior design is already dated. The E-Tron GT prominently features a grille cover that acts like a visual megaphone telling everyone that it’s, in fact, an electric car. Most high-priced electric cars have leaned into the idea of elegant, understated luxury. The E-Tron GT, on the other hand, looks brash and aggressive.

On the inside, I can’t stand the E-Tron GT’s paddle shifters. They aren’t used for shifting, but regenerative braking. It’s a feature ripped straight from a Formula E car, which I bet amuses the championship’s dozen fans. Most luxury EV owners would rather have one-pedal driving instead. If you’re in the market for a luxury EV sedan, just get a Lucid Air Touring. It’s over $20,000 cheaper, and you get an extra 168 miles in range.

Andy Kalmowitz – Volkswagen ID Buzz
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
The Volkswagen ID Buzz is a fine van. I’ll give it a lot of leeway because of how good it looks — few vehicles get such a positive reaction from just about everyone who sees it. Unfortunately, it costs about $25,000 too much. The interior materials and driving experience scream “cargo van” not “$70,000 lifestyle vehicle.” There’s far too much hard plastic and mediocre-at-best technology onboard to feel comfortable spending over $70,000. You’ve also got to consider the range is pretty piss poor for a vehicle this expensive. The EPA says it’ll get at most 234 miles of range on a full charge, and that number drops to 231 for the all-wheel-drive dual-motor car. At the prices VW is asking for it, that’s just not enough. None of this is to say the ID Buzz is an intrinsically bad car. It’s just not a car that is good enough to justify its hefty price tag. I don’t care how much the company wants to pull at your nostalgic heartstrings. I’m not sold. If a fully loaded ID Buzz cost $50,000, I’d be signing a much different tune, but that is, unfortunately, not the way the world works.

Logan Carter – Mercedes-Benz CLE300
Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz CLE300 4Matic starts at $59,150. That gets you a 4,000-pound all-wheel-drive coupe that’s powered by a pedestrian turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Granted this is the base powertrain, but it feels underpowered, especially when you compare it to the silky inline-6 in the CLE450. The interior looks cute, but there are a disappointing amount of hard scratchy plastics that wouldn’t offend in a Mitsubishi, but in Mercedes-Benz’s sole coupe? (The Mercedes-AMG GT is an AMG, and I refuse to acknowledge any of the “four-door coupes” as coupes.) The CLE300 just doesn’t feel like a car that should cost over $75,000 when desirable options are added. Save your money and buy a used E-Class Coupe; it has nicer materials and feels more premium.

Amber DaSilva – Subaru Solterra
Sjoerd Van Der Wal/Getty Images
The most overpriced car on the market today is the Subaru Solterra. It isn’t an incredibly expensive car, which might make it seem like an odd choice, but it’s not meant to be — the Solterra is your average midsize crossover, except that it happens to be electric. Yet the Solterra doesn’t feel like an average $38,500 car. Its interior is loud, its ride is stiff, its plastics are cheap to the touch. It feels like Subaru (and Toyota) had a $38,500 electric crossover due at midnight and only started the project at 9pm. You can see where the companies were headed, what they were going for, but the result just doesn’t live up to a nearly $40,000 price point. If the Solterra wants to be a mass-market EV with the ride and interior quality it has, it simply can’t cost as much as it does. If it wants to be a $38,500 car, it needs to be nicer.

Brad Brownell – Nissan Z Nismo
Nissan
In today’s ridiculously price inflated new car market, I don’t really think the standard Nissan Z’s $42,970 MSRP is really all that out of line. Nissan building a 400-horsepower sports car with classically handsome sheetmetal and an available manual transmission at all is pretty cool, but considering it costs less than a Toyota GR Supra, Ford Mustang GT, or BMW M240i makes it reasonable. What isn’t reasonable, however is the automatic-only ostensibly track-focused Nissan Z Nismo being tragically overpriced at $65,750.

At sixty-six grand the Z Nismo is priced ten percent higher than the significantly faster 500-hp Mustang Dark Horse, and pushes up against a base model C8 Corvette or Porsche Cayman. Nissan justifies the $22,780 price difference between base model and Nismo by giving the latter 20 extra horsepower, 34 extra pound-feet of torque, track-tuned suspension, and Akebono brake calipers. There is nothing Nissan could do to convince me this package is worth the base price of an entire 2025 Nissan Kicks more than a standard Z. Ultimately, I think the Z Nismo is a really cool car, and will likely be looked upon quite fondly in twenty years, but that shouldn’t distract from the fact that it’s drastically overpriced. I wish it was closer to $50,000 and could be ordered with a manual transmission. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Erin Marquis – Jeep Grand Wagoneer L
Jeep
I know I’m not setting the world on fire with this pick. It’s a pretty well-known situation that Stellantis’ quality is dropping, and yet it turns around and sells some models for way, way too much. This big bus of a Jeep stands out in my mind, however, because it stands out every where it goes; it’s a massive wall of plasticky parts with a starting MSRP of $91,190​​. It’s pretty easy to push that price into the six-figure range when you start looking at options, packages and trim levels.

I remember when I first saw one in a neighbor’s driveway and I stood there staring at it like an early hominid in a Stanley Kubrick film trying to understand how Jeep thought building something so massive was a good idea. Turns out, it wasn’t. Stellantis began cheaping out on parts and labor right around when it tried to make Jeep something it wasn’t and never should be — a luxury nameplate. The Wagoneer was supposed to be a Cadillac Escalade equivalent, but if you come for the king you better not miss, and Jeep missed big time. Jeep is a brand folks associate with rugged and affordable vehicles, but this opulent family hauler is none of those things. It’s a perfect representation of what has happened to the Jeep brand in general — bloated, poorly built SUVs that shock shoppers with their MSRPs. It’s an expensive boondoggle that has only hurt a brand once cherished for lack of nonsense.

Daniel Golson – Maserati MC20
Maserati
The Maserati MC20 is one of the most interesting cars the brand has made in years; a mid-engine supercar with butterfly doors, a newly developed twin-turbo V6, and absolutely gorgeous styling. It should be a hit, right? Sadly, while I think the MC20 is pretty great to drive, it just doesn’t live up to its $239,000 starting price, which can surge well past $300,000 with options. The MC20 is saddled by some of the worst and weirdest ergonomics I’ve experienced in a supercar, from things like an uncomfortable driving position and bad visibility to lack of any meaningful storage space. It’s not very well built either, and the Stellantis parts-bin sharing is obvious.

The MC20 is fast as hell and a blast on a good twisty road, plus fairly comfortable around town, but it doesn’t feel that special from behind the wheel, and an Italian supercar should feel special. The engine is powerful and makes fun turbo noises, but it doesn’t have a lot of character. Similarly priced competitors like the McLaren Artura offer a better breadth of ability, or you can save tens of thousands of dollars and go for any variety of Porsche 911, which won’t frustrate you around town.

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The Fastest Electric Passenger Vessel On Water Is A Hydrofoil Ferry That Seats 30 People
BY LOGAN K. CARTER APRIL 18, 2025 3:25 PM EST
Candela
Electrification has been the hot topic of the automotive industry for several years now, but the transition away from fossil fuels has proven difficult and quite political. In the nautical world, electric boats have silently cruised along lakes and in marinas since the late 1960s, but never with any remarkable speed or range. Candela, a Swedish boat maker, is leading the modern nautical electric revolution, first with its C-8 Daycruiser hydrofoil which uses Polestar batteries, and now with the P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry. The P-12 is the world’s fastest and longest-range electric passenger vessel, and it achieves this feat via an ultra-efficient electric C-Pod propulsion system and hydrofoil technology to vastly reduce hydrodynamic drag. Despite what Donald Trump thinks, these boats are safe, efficient, and fast.

A P-12 ferry called Nova is already in service in Stockholm, Sweden, where its daily routes create 98% fewer carbon emissions than diesel ferries while traveling faster than not only diesel ferries, but also faster than cars and buses. The hydrofoil design virtually eliminates wakes that limit the permitted speeds of diesel ferries, so the average daily commute time from the Ekerö suburb into Stockholm’s city center is cut down from 55 minutes to just 25 minutes on Nova. Plus since it’s cheaper to fuel, operating costs are about 50% less than diesel vessels.

Not science fiction

Candela’s P-12s cruise at a speed of 25 knots or about 30 mph, which may not sound like much but is double the speed of a typical U.S. ferry, and it can travel around 40 nautical miles at that speed. The P-12 is designed with 30 seats, and has room to store bikes, skis, or other gear.

The first Candela P-12 coming to the United States will find a home on the second-deepest lake in the country, California’s massively popular Lake Tahoe. It’s expected to offer zero-emission, 30-minute rides across the lake, which is about half the time it takes to complete the journey around the lake in one of 20,000 daily car trips. The ferry won’t cause any ecosystem disruption either, thanks to the impossibility of oil spills and its lack of shoreline-damaging wakes, and since it rides above the water it’s impervious to choppy waters making it a great choice even for folks who suffer from sea sickness.

Its battery is less than twice as big as a single Hummer EV’s battery
Candela
You’d be forgiven if you assume that a 40-foot, 30-passenger ferry would require a tremendous battery, but that’s another challenge that’s solved by the P-12’s hydrofoils. When in motion, the hull of the P-12 rises up out of the water, where it’s held up by five narrow struts that connect the hull to the hydrofoils and propellers that stay below the surface. Those propellers are powered by two Candela C-Pod motors that produce a combined peak power output of 429 horsepower. Once the hull is out of the water, the C-Pods don’t need much power to keep the ship moving thanks to the minimal drag caused by the struts.

The P-12 is powered by a 336-kWh battery. That’s less than twice the size of the largest battery available in the Cadillac Escalade IQ, GMC Hummer and Sierra EV, and Chevy Silverado EV, which are all powered by a 205-kWh battery pack. The P-12 can DC fast charge at speeds up to 200 kW, and Nova uses two EV superchargers at the port to recharge after the morning and evening commuter rushes. P-12s can run for about two hours before requiring about an hour to recharge, making it totally feasible for most ferry routes as long as charging infrastructure is sufficient.

What’s the catch?
Candela
So far, there doesn’t seem to be a catch. As long as the route being traveled is within the P-12’s 40-mile cruising range and there’s access to DC fast chargers, there is no downside unless you’re in the oil industry. The P-12’s price was competitive with diesel vessels at around €1.7 million when it was first released in 2023, and drastic fuel expenditure savings of about 90% when compared to diesel vessels will add up quickly. Plus, it emits 95% fewer CO2 emissions than those diesel ferries, so it’s faster, cheaper to operate, and more environmentally friendly than its diesel counterparts.

In Stockholm, Nova is actually converting car commuters into ferry riders, something that is very challenging for city planners. On average, Nova operates with about 80% occupancy with many trips fully booked. When Lake Tahoe gets its P-12, those 20,000 daily car commutes around the lake may be drastically reduced, which will not only benefit congestion but also benefit Lake Tahoe’s world-renowned beauty, as road debris negatively impacts the lake’s waters. And because the lake never freezes, the P-12 will be able to operate year-round, serving the region’s famous ski resorts in the winters as well as tourists in the summers.

Candela
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The Fastest Electric Passenger Vessel On Water Is A Hydrofoil Ferry That Seats 30 People
BY LOGAN K. CARTER APRIL 18, 2025 3:25 PM EST
Candela
Electrification has been the hot topic of the automotive industry for several years now, but the transition away from fossil fuels has proven difficult and quite political. In the nautical world, electric boats have silently cruised along lakes and in marinas since the late 1960s, but never with any remarkable speed or range. Candela, a Swedish boat maker, is leading the modern nautical electric revolution, first with its C-8 Daycruiser hydrofoil which uses Polestar batteries, and now with the P-12 electric hydrofoil ferry. The P-12 is the world’s fastest and longest-range electric passenger vessel, and it achieves this feat via an ultra-efficient electric C-Pod propulsion system and hydrofoil technology to vastly reduce hydrodynamic drag. Despite what Donald Trump thinks, these boats are safe, efficient, and fast.

A P-12 ferry called Nova is already in service in Stockholm, Sweden, where its daily routes create 98% fewer carbon emissions than diesel ferries while traveling faster than not only diesel ferries, but also faster than cars and buses. The hydrofoil design virtually eliminates wakes that limit the permitted speeds of diesel ferries, so the average daily commute time from the Ekerö suburb into Stockholm’s city center is cut down from 55 minutes to just 25 minutes on Nova. Plus since it’s cheaper to fuel, operating costs are about 50% less than diesel vessels.

Not science fiction

Candela’s P-12s cruise at a speed of 25 knots or about 30 mph, which may not sound like much but is double the speed of a typical U.S. ferry, and it can travel around 40 nautical miles at that speed. The P-12 is designed with 30 seats, and has room to store bikes, skis, or other gear.

The first Candela P-12 coming to the United States will find a home on the second-deepest lake in the country, California’s massively popular Lake Tahoe. It’s expected to offer zero-emission, 30-minute rides across the lake, which is about half the time it takes to complete the journey around the lake in one of 20,000 daily car trips. The ferry won’t cause any ecosystem disruption either, thanks to the impossibility of oil spills and its lack of shoreline-damaging wakes, and since it rides above the water it’s impervious to choppy waters making it a great choice even for folks who suffer from sea sickness.

Its battery is less than twice as big as a single Hummer EV’s battery
Candela
You’d be forgiven if you assume that a 40-foot, 30-passenger ferry would require a tremendous battery, but that’s another challenge that’s solved by the P-12’s hydrofoils. When in motion, the hull of the P-12 rises up out of the water, where it’s held up by five narrow struts that connect the hull to the hydrofoils and propellers that stay below the surface. Those propellers are powered by two Candela C-Pod motors that produce a combined peak power output of 429 horsepower. Once the hull is out of the water, the C-Pods don’t need much power to keep the ship moving thanks to the minimal drag caused by the struts.

The P-12 is powered by a 336-kWh battery. That’s less than twice the size of the largest battery available in the Cadillac Escalade IQ, GMC Hummer and Sierra EV, and Chevy Silverado EV, which are all powered by a 205-kWh battery pack. The P-12 can DC fast charge at speeds up to 200 kW, and Nova uses two EV superchargers at the port to recharge after the morning and evening commuter rushes. P-12s can run for about two hours before requiring about an hour to recharge, making it totally feasible for most ferry routes as long as charging infrastructure is sufficient.

What’s the catch?
Candela
So far, there doesn’t seem to be a catch. As long as the route being traveled is within the P-12’s 40-mile cruising range and there’s access to DC fast chargers, there is no downside unless you’re in the oil industry. The P-12’s price was competitive with diesel vessels at around €1.7 million when it was first released in 2023, and drastic fuel expenditure savings of about 90% when compared to diesel vessels will add up quickly. Plus, it emits 95% fewer CO2 emissions than those diesel ferries, so it’s faster, cheaper to operate, and more environmentally friendly than its diesel counterparts.

In Stockholm, Nova is actually converting car commuters into ferry riders, something that is very challenging for city planners. On average, Nova operates with about 80% occupancy with many trips fully booked. When Lake Tahoe gets its P-12, those 20,000 daily car commutes around the lake may be drastically reduced, which will not only benefit congestion but also benefit Lake Tahoe’s world-renowned beauty, as road debris negatively impacts the lake’s waters. And because the lake never freezes, the P-12 will be able to operate year-round, serving the region’s famous ski resorts in the winters as well as tourists in the summers.

Candela
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FIRST DRIVE
Everrati’s Electric Porsche 911 RSR Has Me Driving Into The Future With Open Arms
BY DANIEL GOLSON UPDATED: MARCH 30, 2025 10:55 AM EST
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
I live close by to Mulholland Drive, specifically some of the best twistiest sections that have been revered by car enthusiasts for decades, so often in the afternoon or evening I’ll head up into the canyons for a brain-clearing rip (or leisurely drive, depending on what I’m in). But often on these drives I run into a huge problem: Los Angeles traffic. Whether it be because of people commuting up and over the mountain, picking up their kids from one of the fancy schools along the crest, or just tourists going for a scenic drive, sometimes a jaunt along Mulholland ends up being a couple hours of maddening single-lane stop-and-go movement.

It’s even worse if you’re in a sports car, something classic, or both. On this uncharacteristically sunny winter afternoon, as I’m behind the wheel of a 964-generation Porsche 911 with a huge wing on the back, heading down Benedict Canyon where I haven’t gone faster than 5 mph in about half an hour, you’d expect that I’m pretty miserable. It’s probably hot inside, my left leg is sore, my ears are ringing, my butt hurts, the car is unhappy. Right?

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Not today. No, this time I’m calm, comfortable and not even sweaty, and the car is just as composed. That’s not just because this 964 has been fitted with a new air conditioning system, but because it has been given a fully electric conversion by UK-based outfit Everrati. There’s no old engine to overheat, no manual clutch to worry about, no gas and oil to burn. There’s no constant vibrations, no loud noises. The car ahead of me moves forward a few meters, and I silently creep ahead with nary a jerky movement. I’ve been sitting in a traffic jam in a thirty-year-old sports car, and I haven’t once needed to complain to my passenger, Everrati founder and CEO Justin Lunny.

Blasphemy, you’re saying. I can’t possibly be genuinely enjoying a Porsche that’s had its mechanical heart ripped out and replaced by a soulless electric motor, you’re commenting. OK, maybe it’s kinda nice around town, but surely before I got stuck in traffic this thing wasn’t enjoyable at all on James Dean’s old stomping grounds, you’re thinking. Wrong, wrong, wrong again, baby. Everrati’s electric 911 is a joy to drive when the going gets fast and twisty, both in the same ways as a normal 964 and in totally new ones, while being as easy around town as a modern EV. This is the classic car future I’ve been waiting for.

Full disclosure: Everrati CEO Justin Lunny met up with me in West Hollywood and handed me the keys for a couple hours of driving around the city.

It looks like, well, a 911
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Called the Evergreen Commission, this particular Everrati 964 was built for Steve Rimmer, founder of the DirtFish Rally School. Rimmer went with the race-ready 964 RSR as inspiration for his build, but don’t worry, the donor car was a normal Carrera, not one of the 51 real RSRs out there. The wider bodywork was custom-made from carbon fiber, even including a new carbon roof panel, and the RSR-style wing is impossible to miss. I think the 18-inch gold wheels look horrible, though the stance is great, and the Oak Green Metallic is an excellent choice. Apart from the lack of exhaust tips, nothing about the Everrati’s styling belie its lack of an engine.

You’d never guess the powertrain by sitting in the cabin, either. Almost every surface, including the roll cage, is covered in bio-based leather from Bridge of Weir that feels appropriately nice. Porsche’s factory upfit radio is present in the dashboard, and Everrati designed a new center console with an integrated touchscreen to control vehicle functions. The gauges look just like old Porsche dials, but they’re new units that show things like battery and motor temperatures, and a small digital readout tells you range and battery percentage. It even has a normal physical key that you insert into a slot on the left side of the steering wheel and twist to turn the car on, a feature that Lunny says they didn’t want to get rid of — even if Porsche itself has in new 911s.

Yeah, it’s pretty damn quick
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Pop the rear engine cover, though, and you’re sure to provoke intense conversations at any car show. 70 percent of the battery pack is found underneath that decklid, along with the electric motor and transmission, and the remainder of the battery cells are under the hood. (A lot of frunk space is taken up, but there’s still enough room for small bags.) This 964 has 62 kWh of total battery capacity, which is good for a range of more than 200 miles. Given that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N only gets an EPA-rated 221 miles out of an 84-kWh battery pack, that’s not bad at all. The J1772 port is behind the 911’s signature fuel-filler door on the front fender for 6.6-kW AC charging, but if you want to fast-charge the Everrati you’ve gotta open up the rear decklid, as that port is found next to the battery pack. Parking a vintage 911 with the engine cover up at a public fast-charger is an amusing sight. It has 70-kW DC fast-charging capability — better than a Chevy Bolt — and plugging in for about 40 minutes will take you from 20 to 80 percent charge.

Back at the rear axle is a single permanent-magnet electric motor that puts out 500 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through a Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential and single-speed transmission. That’s 253 hp and 140 lb-ft more than the 964 Carrera’s standard flat-6 engine, and it’s good enough to send the Everrati from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, quicker than a new 992 Carrera with a PDK dual-clutch. For today’s drive its peak power has been turned down by about 20 percent, but the car is still mighty quick. Everrati has tuned the electric motor not for instant punch-you-in-the-gut acceleration but a torque curve more akin to that of the original car, and it’s quite satisfying.

It still drives like a 911, too
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Splitting the batteries into two packs and using that carbon-fiber body means the Everrati 964 RSR has the same 40/60 weight distribution as a gas 964, and it weighs 40 pounds less than a 964 Turbo. All of the same handling characteristics as a normal 911 are present, from the way weight transfers to the way it acts when I lift off the throttle to the way it sharply darts into corners. Power steering has been fitted, but it’s also been tuned to behave like the unassisted rack of an original 964; it’s heavy at low speeds, lightening up and becoming delightful and chatty as speeds increase. Electronically controlled active dampers have multiple stiffness settings controlled through that ‘lil touchscreen, and the ride is pretty nice even over the roughest pavement. The wider staggered tire setup makes the car tramline a bit, but that’s a fair tradeoff for a huge leap forward in grip and handling capability.

Everrati also gave the 964 a regenerative braking system along with larger physical brakes. For today’s drive the regen is dialed down in a way that mimics lifting off the throttle in a gas car, so for most deceleration I’m still pressing the left pedal, which has great feel and linear progression. Everrati is able to crank up the regen to give a legit one-pedal setting if the customer wishes, with the regen settings also controlled through the screen. Driving an EV hard and relying completely (or almost completely) on regen for deceleration is a unique experience, one that would add another dimension to a car like this, so I hope some customers go for it. Still, even in this car’s current setup, the softer regen is nice to have.

Do I miss the signature sounds of a half-dozen cylinders singing behind me? Honestly, not really. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sound of a good engine, but the fact that Lunny and I are able to hold a conversation at a normal volume, even when I’m really wheeling, is wonderful. I’m usually listening to music in the car anyway (especially when I’m driving fast), and if you do want some aural engineering excitement, the electric motor makes a fairly distinct whine. With the windows down, hearing birds chirping, rubber squealing, rocks pinging against the underbody all while near-silently zipping along at a nice rate of speed is just plain nice.

An existential threat to sports cars, or a revelation?
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
A major part of the appeal of a classic car is the analog experience; this I totally understand and appreciate. But that experience is achieved through more than just the powertrain. The Everrati 964 drives like an old car in the way it handles, the way it steers, the way it accelerates, the way it brakes. Drive it blindfolded, and you’d easily know you’re in an old 911 — just one that doesn’t shift or make noise. And it feels like an old car, because it’s still just a 964 after all. The visibility, the driving position, the buttons and knobs and other interior accoutrements, the way the door feels to slam. A brand new 992-gen 911 might be a fantastic car that’s easy to daily, but it’s not nearly as special as something like this.

And, of course, it looks like an old car. Cruising down Rodeo Drive it turns heads like any green 911 with a big wing would. Are peoples’ stares lingering because they’ve noticed it’s not making any noise, or just because they like the gold wheels and big wing? Do the people on the TMZ tour bus know or care that my 911 is powered by electrons or are they just excited to see a cool sports car? I pull up next to a Taycan at a light. We’re both saving the planet with our electric Porsches, but only one of us can run collector car plates and really fit in at our favorite local car show.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
For some people, putting up with all of a classic car’s downsides around town is just the price you have to pay to have a fantastic time on your favorite back road. Maybe you genuinely enjoy doing everyday stuff in your old sports car, no matter how annoying it can be. Or, if you’re lucky, you have a whole stable of cars to choose from, so something like a 964 could be restricted to only your Sunday canyon runs. That would be a shame, though. Cars deserve to be driven, especially old ones, and the more time that goes on, the fewer classics that are still out there on the roads. New rules and regulations around emissions and safety threaten how easily we can keep our favorite older models around, as do things like taxes, maintenance costs and parts availability.

This is a classic sports car that I would want to drive all of the time, and would be unafraid to do so. Gotta run errands? Have a dinner date across the city? Heading up the coast for a long weekend with friends? Going to a fancy event where people will judge you in the valet? Just want to go for a fun weekend drive? Everrati’s electric conversion makes saying “let’s take the 964” a no-brainer. Not having to worry about nearly as many mechanical problems is a bonus. An even bigger bonus still is the thought of waking up every morning to a fully charged 911, ready for whatever sort of day I want to have. Not needing to stop at a gas station where your green Porsche will get bombarded with nerdy questions, and getting to use EV-only parking spots? Those are some cherries on top.

You get an EV swap, you get an EV swap, you get an EV swap!
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
If you want an Everrati 964 you’ll have to shell out at least $450,000, which covers the conversion along with a full restoration and styling overhaul. If you want the RSR, tack on another fifty large. That’s pretty in line with other high-end 911 restomods these days. Everrati will dial in the chassis and powertrain tuning exactly how you want, and of course the sky is basically the limit when it comes to your spec. Oh, and before you start complaining in the comments, the conversion is fully reversible, so if you ever want to stick your 911’s engine back in, you can.

Everrati’s other offerings include EV conversions for the Land Rover Series II, Mercedes-Benz Pagoda SL, and Superformance Ford GT40, but the company is also open to custom commissions. Lunny says they’re currently working on EV swapping a Lamborghini LM002 for a Middle Eastern customer (more than a ton of weight has already been removed), and Everrati might do a couple more of them if there’s interest. One of Lunny’s favorite customers is a woman in London who uses her EV-swapped Landie to pick up the kids from school in the city’s EV-only congestion zone, another example of an electric powertrain broadening your classic car horizons.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
As for what Porsche could be next, Lunny said Everrati has considered the 993 generation of 911 that followed the 964, also an extremely popular platform for restomodders. While the 993 is probably the 911 for Porsche fans, that also means it has the most fervent fans. Lunny isn’t really concerned with the online haters — the people who buy these EV conversions love them anyway — but the 993’s popularity make it a less interesting choice. What he’s leaning more toward, and what I encouraged, is to develop an electric conversion for the controversial 996 generation. There’s so many of them out there to use as a baseline, they’re much less precious to enthusiasts, and the blobby styling could lend itself well to some modern enhancements.

For the extent of my drive in the Everrati 964 RSR, I’m smiling. Smiling because the car is so good in the canyons, smiling because it’s relaxing in the city, smiling because no matter what online commenters tell you, EV acceleration never gets old. The reason my grin is lasting, though, is because of how this electric 911 has me excited to keep being an enthusiast. I can think of so many classic cars that could benefit from a swap like this, across all sorts of segments and price points. If the most iconic sports car of them all works this well with an electric heart transplant, and in the relative infancy of this technology, I say bring on the future.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
Daniel Golson / Jalopnik
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Cars, Trucks And SUVs Most Likely To Last 200,000 Miles Or More, According To Consumer Reports
BY COLLIN WOODARD MARCH 3, 2025 5:25 PM EST
Chevrolet
Sometimes, you buy a car knowing you’ll only keep it for a few years, and that’s perfectly fine. Go buy that Miata before you start having kids. You deserve it. Other times, you walk into the dealership looking for a car that’s going to last until the heat death of the universe. Whether it’s because you want to keep it for the next 15 years or because you have one of those jobs where it feels like you’re constantly on the road, you want something that will work for a long time. The good news is, in addition to being safer than ever, it also isn’t uncommon for most new cars to easily last past 100,000 miles. What about 200,000 miles, though?

While there are no guarantees, past reliability does tend to be a strong predictor of future reliability, and thanks to their annual member survey, our friends at Consumer Reports have all sorts of data on long-term reliability. Recently, they released a list of the vehicles that owners report lasting past the 200,000-mile mark with the most frequency. That doesn’t mean other vehicles won’t last 200,000 miles, but if you’re gambling $30,000 or more on a new vehicle, the cars, trucks and SUVS on this list are the ones that are the most likely to make it. As you can imagine, it’s mostly Toyotas, but if you aren’t a Toyota fan, don’t worry. There are several non-Toyotas, too.

Toyota Tundra
Toyota
Toyota’s had an issue with some redesigned Tundra engines grenading themselves, which you might have thought would have kept the Tundra off the list, but that’s not the case. You definitely want to be aware of the recall and keep an eye out for other potential problems, although that should have been fixed by now. Will other problems crop up in the future? Maybe. As reliable as the Tundra has been in the past and considering how many examples have made it past the 200,000-mile mark, you’d think Toyota would at least be good about issuing recalls and fixing any problems that crop up for free.

Still, it’s totally understandable if you aren’t entirely confident dropping $70,000 on a truck with an asterisk next to its inclusion on this list. Especially since it isn’t even the highest-ranked full-size truck on this list. With an overall score of 54, you can probably do better.

Toyota Sienna
Toyota
Three-row SUVs are all the rage these days, but if you want a family hauler that will last, you’re going to want the Toyota Sienna. Sure, it’s a minivan, and minivans are lame, but do you really think anyone thinks the Subaru Ascent is cool? Really? Everyone who gets the minivan is happier, healthier and more attractive because minivans are designed specifically to take the headache out of transporting kids. If you already have kids and drive them around in something else, a new Sienna will make you wonder why you ever considered anything that wasn’t a minivan.

Is it entirely possible that I’m overselling the benefits of a minivan, and a better life actually isn’t possible? Sure. Isn’t it at least worth a test drive to find out, though? If I’m wrong, and the Sienna isn’t actually the best family hauler you’ve ever experienced, please direct your angry emails to akalmowitz at jalopnik dot com.

Toyota RAV4
Toyota
The Toyota RAV4 is old, and it definitely isn’t the best compact crossover that you can buy, especially if you were planning to use it for kids. The rear doors don’t open as wide as the Honda CR-V’s, making it particularly annoying to deal with booster seats. That said, there’s nothing specifically wrong with the RAV4, and these things do have a reputation for being incredibly reliable. If your main requirement when you buy is making sure it runs well past 200,000 miles, the RAV4 may be the compact crossover for you.

The hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are higher-rated, so if you can afford the higher price, they’re probably worth looking at, especially if you plan to keep it for 15 years. In the short-term, getting 30 percent better gas mileage won’t make up for spending several thousand dollars to get the hybrid, but over the course of 200,000 miles? It’s hard to see how you’d regret that decision unless you’re paying over MSRP.

Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra
Chevrolet
Mechanically, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are essentially identical. They have slightly different designs, and you may not be able to buy them at the same dealership, but when it comes to things such as reliability, they’re the same truck. They also both come with a strong likelihood of lasting longer than 200,000 miles, so if you’re in the market for a truck that will last that long, pick your poison.

They also both happen to be better-reviewed than the Toyota Tundra, earning an overall score of 64 in a segment where the highest score is a 68. Let your friends pay over sticker to get a Tundra while you slip in and get a Silverado or Sierra that will be both a better truck and also more likely to make it past 200,000 miles.

Ford F-150
Ford
While all the nice things I said about the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are true, the Ford F-150 is actually the full-size truck that Consumer Reports’ data shows is the most likely to make it past the 200,000-mile mark. Sadly, a Jalopnik post about a Consumer Reports list likely won’t be enough to stop the haters from regurgitating “Found On Road Dead” instinctively, but yet again, we’re looking at a full-size truck that’s better-reviewed than the Toyota Tundra while also being about as likely as it gets to last beyond 200,000 miles.

The Ram 1500 is probably still the better truck when new, but if it’s less reliable and won’t last as long, is it really the better truck? That’s up to you to decide, but if it were my money, I’d probably go with the Ford.

Toyota Tacoma
Toyota
Toyota finally redesigned the Tacoma after what felt like 50 years, which was huge news for those of us who were brave enough to admit the old Tacoma wasn’t very comfortable. It still isn’t, and there are definitely better mid-size trucks that you can buy. Heck, Consumer Reports gives the Jeep Gladiator a better overall score than it gave the Tacoma. On the other hand, if you’re buying a truck to keep for a long time, you’ll probably appreciate having fewer things to fix over the next 15 years more than you’ll wish the ride had been more comfortable and the interior.

Do keep in mind, though, that while I’m not aware of any engine issues, the new Tacoma has had some transmission issues that should have been resolved by now. If you do run into a problem, Toyota will fix it for you for free, but it’s still something to be aware of when buying, especially if the dealer wants more than MSRP.

Toyota Highlander
Toyota
Like the RAV4, the Toyota Highlander is also old. It’s a three-row crossover, too, which makes it the sworn enemy of Team Minivan. And yet, if you insist on buying a lifted minivan without sliding doors, you’re going to have a hard time beating the Highlander. Turns out, the same people who know how to build the best minivan also know how to build the best minivan-that-technically-isn’t-a-minivan. And since it’s so likely to last 200,000 miles, you can expect it to still be on the road by the time your youngest leaves for college.

While a lot of older Toyotas lean heavily on their reliability to sell cars that aren’t otherwise competitive anymore, the Highlander bucks that trend, with the Highlander Hybrid taking the top spot in Consumer Reports’ three-row crossover rankings. The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid may have outperformed the Highlander Hybrid in the road test, but a lower reliability score means the two are tied with overall scores of 81.

Toyota Corolla
Toyota
If you have more than $40,000 to spend, you can get an all-wheel drive Corolla hatchback with a turbocharged, 300-horsepower engine and a manual transmission that will tear up any track you take it to. Sadly, you can’t feel any of that sporty spirit in the regular Corollas that most people drive, but what you do get is an inexpensive, reliable car that gets great gas mileage.

Buy the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid if you want the best compact car right out of the box, but the Corolla Hybrid’s slightly better reliability makes it the better buy if you plan to keep it for a long time. And while some hybrids are significantly more expensive than their non-hybrid counterparts, you’ll only pay $1,500 more to get much better gas mileage. If you don’t make your money back over 200,000 miles, there’s something wrong with your car.

Toyota Prius
Toyota
The Toyota Prius isn’t just likely to last beyond 200,000 miles; it’s one of the new cars that’s most likely to do so. Despite all the anti-electric, “What are you going to do when you have to replace the battery?” hysteria, the Prius has proven that hybrid batteries can also come with bulletproof dependability. And while previous versions of the Prius were basically fuel-efficient and reliable at the expense of all else, the new Prius looks fantastic and is actually, against all odds, cool.

You don’t get much refinement from Toyota’s four-cylinder engines, and that’s an issue with the Prius, too, but with the styling finally sorted out, that’s about the only complaint anyone is going to have unless they don’t like the compromises made in the rear that allowed it to look so darn sleek and desirable in the first place.

Honda Accord
Honda
When Honda revealed the new Accord, Jalopnik’s first reaction was that it looked fantastic. In a world of LOOK AT ME styling, the new Accord was subtle but still handsome. Commenters, however, strongly disagreed. There’s a lot more to a car than just the way it looks, though, and if you’re the kind of person who wants a car that will last at least 200,000 miles, odds are, you’re OK with buying a car you think looks a little boring.

Spend some time making sure you find the front seats comfortable, but if you’re good there, you’ll probably love everything else about the car you’ll probably drive for the next 15 years. If you’re looking for a separate Accord Hybrid, though, it doesn’t exist anymore. Instead, a hybrid powertrain comes standard on all mid-range Accords and higher.

Honda CR-V
Honda
Plenty of people read my complaint about the Toyota RAV4’s rear doors not opening wide enough and dismissed it as silly or nitpicky. And to some degree, maybe it is. No everyone has kids or even regularly loads up the back of their compact crossover. If you thought it was a valid point, though, maybe the Honda CR-V is a better choice for you. It’s still a compact crossover, and it’s still about as likely as it gets to last past 200,000 miles, but it also feels like Honda pays closer attention to smaller things such as interior storage, door openings, fuel doors, etc.

You might find yourself wishing the CR-V was quicker, and some of its competitors get better gas mileage. Still, the new CR-V is the kind of easy-to-live-with SUV that you’ll probably enjoy driving more in 10 or 15 years than some of the other vehicles that made this list.

Toyota Camry
Toyota
For the final entry on this list — the car you can most expect will make it past 200,000 miles — I would have loved it if there was a surprise. Like, maybe the Porsche 718 is so dang reliable, you’d be foolish to buy something practical and reliable instead? But no, there is no surprise. I mean, you should probably still buy a manual 718 if you can afford it, but the car that takes the number one spot is none other than the Toyota Camry. You’re all shocked, I know.

If you want to get technical, Toyota just gave the Camry a heavy refresh, not a full redesign. Still, the new Camry Hybrid is Consumer Reports’ top-ranked mid-size sedan. The number two mid-size sedan? The non-hybrid Toyota Camry. So if you tend to like the same kinds of cars that Consumer Reports does, you’re probably going to absolutely love the new Camry. And you better hope you do, too, because if you buy one, it isn’t going to die on you anytime soon.

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CONCEPT CARS
SEMA Was Full Of Wild Concepts In 2002
From tuner Acuras to custom work vans from GMC, early 2000s SEMA was a great place.
BY  LAWRENCE HODGE APRIL 16, 2024 11:40 AM EST
Chevrolet
The Specialty Equipment Market Association show is known for its brash excess and questionable design choices. No matter what your automotive passion, you will see something to both delight and infuriate you from some well-heeled turner shop. But there was a time when automakers ruled the SEMA concept floor with badass version of familiar vehicles.

One of the greatest episodes in SEMA history was the 2002 show. It was a year after The Fast and the Furious hit theaters and all the automakers wanted in on the tuner craze to attract younger buyers. The result was some great — and sometimes unexpected — concept cars and tuner vibes.

Acura 3.2 CL Type-S Concept
Acura
The production version of the 3.2 CL Type-S hit the market in 2001. For 2002, Acura showed an enthusiasts version of the Type-S at SEMA. It’s five-speed automatic transmission was replaced by a close ratio six-speed manual along with a limited slip differential.

Outside, Acura dropped the suspension 1.5″ and threw on 19″ wheels with prototype Brembo brakes and an aero kit designed by Honda R&D America. The biggest changes were under the hood where a Comptech supercharger was bolted to the 3.2-liter V6. Along with a high flow exhaust system and custom headers, Acura said this CL Type-S made 312 horsepower at the wheels, an increase of 52 hp over the stock Type-S.

Acura RSX Type-S Factory Performance Package
Acura
This was less a concept and more a preview of what was to come in 2003. Acura offered a factory performance package for the RSK Type-S. For $4,800 you got performance tuned shocks and springs, slotted brake rotors with performance pads, factory aero kit with unique front and rear spoilers, lightweight 17″ wheels, performance tires, a unique shift knob and factory performance badging. Sadly there were no engine upgrades.

Cadillac CTS M Concept
Cadillac
Inspired by it’s role in the Matrix Reloaded, the CTS M wore all black just as Neo, Trinity and Morpheus did in the films. Cadillac customized the CTS in a partnership with GM Performance. Outside it wore a special Ebony Diamond paint, black chrome grille, 19″ black chrome wheels, ground effects package and HID headlights and fog lights.

No pictures were shown of the interior, but Cadillac said there were ebony leather seats with cashmere piping, Alcantara headliner, leather bound floor mats, ebony leather wrapped dash and black chrome trim used throughout the interior.

Cadillac DTS Icon Concept
Cadillac
Information on the DTS Icon Concept is hard to come by these days. What can be found — and seen aside from obvious visual upgrades like the wheels and body kit — says the best part of the concept was its interior. It’s said it had amenities that were inspired by private jets and high end luxury cars.

Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Concept
Cadillac
This was actually thinly disguised concept version of a production trim. The ESV Platinum Concept showed what Cadillac could do given the task of making the most luxurious Escalade you can buy. Some of the features like heated and cooled cupholders and dual 7″ rear DVD screens, would make it onto the $70,000 production version a couple of years later.

Cadillac Escalade EXT M Concept
Cadillac
Similar to the CTS M Concept, the EXT M Concept was inspired by the Matrix Reloaded film (the Escalade EXT also had a role in the film.) It was blacked out, from the big black chrome wheels to the tinted windows and headlights and black chrome trim.

Chevrolet Suburban Lucchese Concept
Chevrolet
The Suburban Lucchese Concept was Chevy’s way of testing the waters by collaborating with a lifestyle brand. Ford had been successful with its Eddie Bauer, Harley Davidson and King Ranch trims and Chevy wanted in. So it partnered with (expensive) cowboy boot brand Lucchese for a Suburban concept.

Outside it wore unique front and rear facias, big wheels and Lucchese badges on the c-pillars. Power came from the big block 8.1-liter V8 with a K&N air filter along with a custom exhaust system with Edelbrock mufflers and Corsa tips.

Inside was where the Suburban Lucchese really shined. Inspired by the “southwest lifestyle”, the seats were covered in two-tone Perone leather with Klein Karoo Ostrich leather inserts with the Lucchese Mission logo on the headrests as well as the dash and floor mats. The interior was also covered in walnut wood and sterling silver on everything from the grab assist handles and armrests to a custom Truckvalut storage unit in the rear.

Chevrolet Silverado SS Regular Cab
Chevrolet
Chevy showed the production version of the Silverado SS at SEMA in 2002. It was an all new model for 2003. It was cool and pretty quick with its 345 hp V8 and all wheel drive. But buyers could only get it in an extended cab configuration. So Chevy brought a concept to SMEA that was what the Silverado SS should have been from the beginning, a regular cab SS

Everything about it was the same as the production SS, just in a sportier looking regular cab body. Sadly Chevy never produced was essentially a new age 454 SS.

Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 Supercharged Concept
Chevrolet
This Cavalier concept was obviously a SEMA special. Behind the admittedly nice looking body work and wheels, there was some production intent here. Bolted to GM’s Ecotech I4 in this concept was a supercharger that you could actually buy.

On the production version of the Cavalier Z24, buyers could option an Eaton M45 supercharger kit for the Ecotech. With 4.7 PSI of pressure you got 40 extra horsepower and 40 more lb-ft of torque for a total of 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque.

Chevrolet Cavalier 2.2 Turbo Sport Coupe Concept
Chevrolet
The second of GM’s Cavalier concepts at SEMA ’02, the Cavalier 2.2 Turbo Sport Coupe showed Chevy wanted in on the tuner compact world. The brand wanted to do battle with the Civic Si’s Ford SVT Foci and Nissan Sentra SE-Rs of the world.

The result was the work of GM Performance. Outside it received an agressive body kit that GM actually considered offering as a dealer option, yellow paint, 19″ Racing Hart M5 wheels, ram air hood and a nice sized rear spoiler. The suspension also had an airbag system for some reason that could drop the suspension a few inches.

The real goodies were under the hood. A Garret turbocharger, ported head, higher compression ratio and modified exhaust resulted in 182 hp and a zero to 60 mph time of 7.5 seconds.

Chevrolet Trailblazer SS Concept
Chevrolet
While Chevy eventually brought the Trailblazer SS to market in 2006, it was previewed by this SEMA concept in 2002. Power came from the same 6.0-liter 345 hp V8 from the Cadillac Escalade. This was paired with a four speed automatic transmission and all wheel drive. There was also SS specific wheels and exterior styling, most of which made it to the production version.

Chevrolet Tahoe SS Concept
Chevrolet
The 2000’s saw Chevy bring back the SS performance badge with a vengeance. By the end of the decade, the SS badge had graced no less than eight different models. One model that had never had a SS version in production was the Tahoe.

While this wasn’t the first time Chevy had toyed with the idea of a Tahoe SS — the brand first showed a Tahoe SS Concept back in 1997 — everything here could have easily gone into production, mostly because it was just a visual package. Outside it got more aggressive styling with a lowered ride height, big lower air intakes and HID headlights. Power came from the same 345 hp Vortec V8 that powered regular Tahoes.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 “White Shark” Concept
Chevrolet
The Corvette Z06 “White Shark” Concept was a tribute to another Chevy concept car from the 1960s, the Mako Shark Corvette. While that concept was all black, Chevy went with white for this modern reinterpretation. The exterior was painted in Shark Sand tri-stage pearl paint, a unique front facia with chin spoiler, air extracting hood, nickel plated five-spoke alloy wheels and a European tail light package. Inside there was aluminum pedals and black/Klein Karoo ostrich/cowhide leather trim interior.

It wasn’t all about styling of course. This C5 Corvette Z06 made C6 Z06 power. Sat inside a carbon fiber engine bay was a 6.6-liter V8 making 512 hp. Weirdly, the engine was mated to a four speed automatic transmission.

Chrysler PT Cruiser Big Sky Concept
Chrysler
The PT Cruiser Big Sky Concept showed Chrysler fine tuning the styling of the PT Cruiser and throwing on a big, multi-pane glass roof. Similiar to the one seen on the Pontiac G6, the roof was made using an innovative glass glazing interlayer technique developed by Solutia Automotive. Called Vanceva Color, it resulted in a tinting of the class that matched the exterior color of the concept.

The real reason for the concept was much more interesting though. The Big Sky Concept was Chrysler’s way of testing the waters of the market. Chrysler wanted to see how the public would respond to the idea of an all wheel drive PT Cruiser. Sadly it seems PT Cruiser buyers weren’t interested in all wheel drive as the idea was axed by Chrysler just two years later.

Dodge Stratus Turbo Concept
Dodge
The Dodge Stratus Turbo Concept looked like your typical, early 2000s tuner concept — and not in a great way. Underneath that custom front facia, functional hood scoop, Euro-style tail lights and huge rear wing was some actual performance.

Dodge engineers lifted the 2.4-liter turbocharged I4 from the Neon SRT-4 and threw it in the Stratus. The result was 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. There was also a lowered performance tuned suspension from the Stratus R/T, short throw five-speed manual transmission and performance brakes.

Ford Hot Wheels Focus Concept
Ford
Ford brought a real life-sized Hot Wheel to SEMA in 2002 in the form of a Ford Focus ZX3 hatchback. It was done up exactly how you’d imagine a real life Hot Wheel would be: lots of bright colors and flames. Power came from a supercharged version of Ford’s Zetec I4 engine with 180 hp.

GMC Envoy XL Project Pro Concept
GMC
The Envoy XL Project Pro was GMC’s attempt to show professionals another vehicle option outside of the usual Savana cargo van. Based on the long wheelbase Envoy XL, it had an integrated tie down system in the cargo area as well as a load floor that could be pulled out and a cargo management system. Other unique features included an on-board wet/dry vac, 110-volt rear outlet and a rear seat DVD entertainment system.

GMC Savana Pro Installer Concept
GMC
Called a contractors dream, GMC partnered with Home Depot and conducted focus groups with contractors to create what they thought the perfect work van would be. It came with features like dual side access panels that could be accessed with the remote entry system and enhanced interior lighting for the cargo area.

The van was so well received that GMC made the Savana a production model the following year. It came with both dealer and factory installed features for contractors and workers.

Honda Pro Drag Civic Si
Honda
Pro drag racer Adam Saruwatari used SEMA 2002 to show off his new Civic Si drag racer. Designed to compete in the NHRA’s Pro-Comp class, it featured a tube chassis and rear wheel drive. The best bits were underneath of course.

Power for this drag racer came from a heavily modified version of the NSX’s 3.2-liter V6. With mods like a Tial Sport turbo and Motec M880 ECU, the engine made over 1,000 hp and was paired with a five-speed sequential transmission. It also had Enkei drag wheels, Nitto drag slick tires, Sparco seats and Eibach springs.

Honda Accord Concept Coupe
Honda
The seventh generation Accord was all new for 2002. So SEMA was a perfect opportunity to showcase the new Accord and what could be with Honda Performance accessories. The Accord Concept Coupe was powered by a modified version of Honda’s 3.2-liter V6. With high flow intake and exhaust it made 300 hp and was paried with a six-speed manual transmission. Other modifications included 20″ black chrome wheels, a carbon fiber rear wing, Sparco carbon/Kevlar backed bucket seats covered in Alcantera, a three-spoke race steering wheel, lowered racing suspension and Brembo brakes with prototype eight piston calipers.

King Motorsports Mugen Honda Civic Si Hatchback
Honda
Honda allowed the only authorized Mugen distributor — King Motorsports — in North America to show off a modified Civic Si at SEMA ’02. Power came from a modified version of the JDM K20 engine used in the Civic Type R. Many parts in the engine were Mugen from a cold airbox to a stainless steel twin-loop cat-back exhaust. The result was 240 hp. The suspension used Mugen parts like a rear stabilizer bar and coil over suspension.

Outside, the Si was done up with parts like Type R front and rear bumpers, Mugen MF10 forged wheels, Mugen carbon fiber hood and a Mugen carbon fiber radiator duct kit. Inside there were Mugen gauges, seats, pedal set and racing wheel.

Jaguar X-Type Racing Concept
Jaguar
The Jaguar X-Type Racing Concept was strange. On one hand, it was Jaguar’s way of exploring racing options for North America, which is cool. But on the other, it was the brand’s way of testing the waters for “the potential of Jaguar’s X-TYPE sports sedan as a ‘project car’ for the enthusiast market.” Jaguar’s strange words.

But Jaguar was serious. Inspiration for concept was taken from Trans-Am and the European DTM race cars. Jag partnered with Paul Gentilozzi’s Rocketsports Racing for the design. It featured a wider track, full width rear wing, Michelin Pilot race tires, Brembo six-piston racing brakes and Jaguar leaper graphics. Unfortunately the race similarities stopped there. Aside from all the race ready stuff, the 231 hp 3.0-liter AJ V6 and five-speed manual transmission were bone stock. But hey, it had all wheel drive.

MazdaSpeed Protegé
Mazda
The Mazdaspeed Protégé was just a year old when Mazda showed a mid-year updated version of the performance compact at SEMA ’02. It featured revised front and rear skirts, new rear wing, Mazdaspeed exhaust tip, and Racing hart aluminum wheels.

Inside there was new Mazdaspeed branded shift knob, floor mats and pedals along with yellow accented stitching throughout the interior. Only 4,500 Mazdaspeed Protégés were ever made with just over half (2,750) being the updated mid-year model.

Pontiac Vibe GXP
Pontiac
Pontiac’s GXP high performance line made it’s official debut at SEMA ’02. While the brand showed both the V8 powered Bonneville and Grand Prix GXP concepts that eventually made it to production, there were a couple concepts that never saw the light of day. Pontiac showed a Sunfire GXP, Grand Am GXP and the Vibe GXP you see here.

This could have easily went into production. It featured subtly aggressive styling with a new lower front spoiler, five spoke wheels and a rear spoiler. Power came from a supercharged version of Toyota’s (Remember, the Vibe was the result of GM’s NUMMI partnership with Toyota, who got it’s version of the Vibe as the Matrix.) Toyota’s 1ZZ-FE I4 engine. Pontiac claimed a 35 percent increase in power over base Vibe’s, which made 130 hp.

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What Is A Tire’s Load Index And Why Is It Important?
BY JASON MARKER MARCH 17, 2025 5:25 PM EST
Zigmunds Dizgalvis/Shutterstock
There’s a lot of information on a tire’s sidewall if you know where to look. Of course you have your make and model, but if you look closer you’ll see an alphanumeric string on there — something like 195/75R15 — that tells you everything you need to know about your tire. You got your tire class on there, your aspect ratio and tire diameter, and all kinds of other useful stuff. All the way at the right, at the end of the string, there’s a two or three-digit number followed by a letter. The letter is your speed rating, but what we’re interested in is that number — the load index.

A tire’s load index, as the name suggests, indicates how much weight a tire can support when it’s properly inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications. It’s a two or three digit number (depending on application) that corresponds to a given weight on the load index chart. The higher the number, the more weight a tire can carry. When multiplied by four, your total should be larger than your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight.

For example, my 2022 Kia Soul GT-Line calls for 235/45R18s (I run Coopers, if you’re curious) with a load rating of 94. Looking at this chart, 94 is 1,477 pounds. Multiplied by four, that’s a total of 5,908 pounds. The Soul’s curb weight is 2,844 pounds, and its GVWR is 4,023 pounds. That’s well within the tires’ total weight index, so I’m good to go.

So, why does it matter?

In a word? Safety. If your tires can’t handle the weight of your vehicle and any passengers and cargo, they won’t keep you on the road very well. Think about it this way. How much weight can you carry? Now imagine you had to double or triple that amount of weight. What do you think would happen? Your legs would give out, right? Same with overloaded tires. At best, overloaded tires will wear more quickly and degrade performance. At worst, they’ll blow out and cause a crash. You should always buy tires that meet or exceed the manufacturer’s load index rating.

To make sure you’re getting the right tires with the correct load index, the manufacturer typically provides that information in two handy, easy-to-find places — on a tire data plaque on the driver’s door jamb and in the owner’s manual. If your car is missing both of these, there’s always the internet.

It’s also important to note that the load indexes and tire types discussed in this article are for passenger cars as designated by the letter P at the beginning of the tire sidewall data. Light truck or trailer tires, those with an LT or ST tire code prefix respectively, have two load indexes separated by a forward slash. For example, Toyo makes a light truck tire called the Open Country that can be had in LT235/75R15/6 104/101S. See how the load index is 104/101? Light truck tires are rated like this because they’re often used as a pair on a dually, like a Silverado 3500HD. The smaller number is used to factor your load index when used on a dually, and the higher number is for single use.

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Apparently It’s Illegal To Put A ‘For Sale’ Sign In Your Truck Now
Pennsylvania teacher sues after being ticketed for advertising his truck for sale.
BY  BRADLEY BROWNELL APRIL 19, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Institute for Justice
A retired Pennsylvania school teacher got an opportunity to move to the Philippines to teach English. After failing to offload his old pickup truck online, in an effort to sell everything off before moving, Will Cramer decided to throw a For Sale sign in the window to let passersby know it was on the market. One day his 1987 Chevrolet had a ticket under the wiper stating he’d run afoul of a local ordinance forbidding “parking a vehicle in public for the purposes of selling it.”

“I was retiring, and I was finally going to move to another country, so there was urgency to sell my truck,” Will Cramer said. “I wanted to sell some of my items and not take them with me. I didn’t want to store them.”

Initially Cramer went ahead and paid the fine, but his check was returned because the city said it was owed an additional late fee. Incensed by the ridiculousness and bureaucratic nonsense of the situation, he set out to do something about it. Cramer has teamed up with Institute for Justice, a non-profit law firm, to sue Nazareth over the ordinance, claiming it is a violation of his First Amendment rights.

“People have put For Sale signs in car windows for as long as cars have been around, and there is no legitimate reason for the government to ban doing so,” said Bobbi Taylor, one of the attorneys representing Cramer.

“Americans have a First Amendment right to truthfully advertise things they are selling, and that includes putting a For Sale sign in their car window.”

Nazareth instituted the law in 1991, according to Leheigh Valley Live, explicitly to prevent an entrepreneurial car enthusiast from selling cars in front of his house. A resident at that point would buy mechanics specials, fix them up, and sell them, according to Council President Daniel Chiavaroli. He went on to say that he did not want the streets to be used for commercial purposes, and that parking on the street in Nazareth is a privilege, not a right. That guy sounds like he sucks.

It’s worth noting that Cramer’s residence does not have a driveway, and he was still using the truck for transportation when it had the sign in the window.

As luck would have it, Cramer did end up selling the truck to someone who saw the sign in the window. Now that the truck is gone, he’s still fighting this tyrannical municipal overreach. I, for one, hope he wins. Dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance to come back here and tell Nazareth, Penn. that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom?

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‘S**t Happens!’ F1 Driver Carlos Sainz Could Be Fined For Complaining About Prior Fine
BY RYAN ERIK KING APRIL 10, 2025 3:28 PM EST
Clive Rose/Getty Images
It’s been clear that drivers, team executives and fans hate the FIA’s sudden crackdown on pronity during Formula 1 race weekends. Since the change last September, the sport’s global governing body has only doubled down on its stance by stiffening penalties for repeat offenders to include points deductions and month-long suspensions. Williams driver Carlos Sainz could be the next to be slapped with a fine for foul language after an outburst during a press conference in Bahrain on Thursday. The Spaniard was complaining about a fine received for arriving late to the national anthem before last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The FIA’s race stewards initially fined Sainz €60,000 ($67,400) for not being at his assigned place at the front of the grid at the scheduled time for the national anthem. The fine was reduced to €10,000 (($11,200) after he stated he was experiencing stomach issues and a doctor verified his story. After acknowledging that he could be fined again, the Williams driver expressed frustration over the ridiculous situation. According to Racer, Sainz said:

“But yeah, I don’t know if I’m going to get another fine for saying this, but s**t happens! It’s the way it is. It’s the way it goes sometimes. It is €10,000. I mean, you guys know what €10,000 is here. And for five seconds, it’s disappointing.”

The FIA’s leadership is crumbling apart
Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Yes, Sainz claims he was five seconds late. For viewers watching the pre-race ceremonies at home, there wasn’t a way to tell that Sainz was late. All the cameras were understandably focused on Yuki Tsunoda, who was just moments away from making his race debut with Red Bull Racing in his home race. In fact, most of the drivers were hidden from view by a row of delegates, including F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Princess Akiko of Mikasa, the Emperor’s second cousin. A photograph from behind during the anthem was the only way I could prove that Sainz was there, showing how inconsequential this incident was.

The Sainz’s outbreak comes as the FIA’s current leadership is crumbling apart. FIA Deputy President Robert Reid resigned on Thursday with expectations that he will run against FIA President Mohammed Ben Suleyam in the scheduled election later this year. Reid and David Richards, chairman of Motorsport UK, weren’t allowed to attend a recent meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council after they refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

International motorsport is fiercely pushing back against Ben Suleyam’s efforts to govern as an authoritarian. The head of Britain’s governing body has criticized the FIA President for doing the exact opposite of his 2021 campaign platform. The Emirati rally champion promised to be a hands-off President with a CEO transparently running the organization day-to-day. Instead, Natalie Robyn resigned as CEO in May 2024, 18 months after her appointment. She told the BBC this week that there was “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport’s global governing body.” Only time will tell if the FIA’s national member organizations re-elect Ben Suleyam for a second term in December.

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Consumer Reports’ 10 Best Used Cars Under $20,000 Are A Great Way To Dodge Republican Tariffs
BY LOGAN K. CARTER MARCH 31, 2025 5:25 PM EST
Toyota
While President Donald Trump’s strategy to make America great again continues to make the lives of America’s non-billionaires harder and less affordable, Consumer Reports just released a list of the top 10 sub-$20,000 used cars. The models on this list aren’t necessarily the most exciting, flashiest, or fastest vehicles on sale, but they all perform well in Consumer Reports’ rigorous tests, and perhaps most importantly, in long-term reliability. With worsening inflation and impending new car tariffs set to skyrocket the price of most new cars starting April 2, it’s a tough time to be an average American consumer.

If you aren’t rich and you’re looking for a new-to-you car that is likely to provide safe, comfortable, and trouble-free ownership for years to come, you might want to keep the cars on this list at the top of yours. In order to compile this list, several factors were considered including crash prevention, crash safety, predicted long-term reliability, resale value, and efficiency. Consumer Reports says:

“The strategy we employ for selecting used cars emphasizes value within a price range, and it means that the highlighted models may not have been the highest-scoring models when tested new. Instead, they’re often good cars that depreciated more than others, making them more attractive as used cars than they were when new…. At the same price, rivals are often years older—potentially from a previous generation. In other words, to buy a direct rival at the same model year and mileage, you would have to pay thousands of dollars more.”

These are the 10 sub-$20,000 used cars that Consumer Reports recommends, along with some of our thoughts on each selection.

Best car under $10,000: 2016 Mazda 6
Mazda
The Mazda 6 is the only car on this list that’s likely to be below $15,000. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for affordable, safe, practical, and efficient motoring, and it also happens to be one of the more fun-to-drive cars in the mid-size sedan segment. It’s even available with a genuine six-speed manual transmission.

The entire 2014-2021 generation of the Mazda 6 is recommended here, but the 2016 Mazda 6 offers the most under the $10,000 mark. Its road test scores and reliability ratings are above average, and owner satisfaction is average in Consumer Reports findings.

Top sedan under $15,000: 2019 Toyota Corolla
Toyota
You knew it would be here, the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla. Its legendary reliability is legendary for a reason; like every Corolla that came before it, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. It’s certainly not the most exciting car ever produced, but it will deliver years of affordable, reliable, efficient, and safe motoring for anyone pragmatic enough to buy one.

Toyota included its safety suite, Toyota Safety Sense P, as standard on all Corollas starting in 2017, so from that year on all Corollas included desirable safety features including standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-keep assist. Whenever you’re discussing intelligent used car purchases, the Corolla should be on the list.

Best SUV under $15,000: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Mazda
Now that we got the prerequisite boring-to-drive-but-great-to-own Corolla out of the way, you can also find Mazda’s handsome and fun-to-drive compact crossover, the CX-5, at a comparable price. The CX-5 was redesigned for 2017, and 2018 brought desirable safety features like standard blind spot warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic warning systems.

In higher trim levels, the CX-5 is quite luxurious, and it offered a turbocharged engine on some models after 2019. The CX-5 scored above average in its road test and reliability testing, so it’s a great choice for anyone who wants an affordable, reliable, and somewhat fun-to-drive crossover.

Best Hybrid Under $20,000: 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota
Alongside the Corolla, the Camry may not be the most exciting choice, but it is a very intelligent one, and its hybrid models offer impressive reliability and outrageous fuel efficiency, around 45 miles per gallon according to owner-reported mileage, though Consumer Reports’ Camry Hybrid got 52 mpg. It scores well above average in its road test scores, reliability, and owner satisfaction ratings.

It also offers the same standard safety equipment as the Corolla, with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning with lane-keep assist, and yes, standard Apple CarPlay was introduced for 2019.

Best small SUV under $20,000: 2021 Kia Sportage
Kia
Kia updated the Sportage in the 2020 model year, bringing improved reliability, refreshed styling inside and out, and standard safety features including automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assistance. It scores above average in the road test, well above average in reliability, but below average in owner satisfaction surveys. This is a case of a model that might not have been top of its class when new, but still offers a great package for a lower price than its competitors due to depreciation.

Since you didn’t buy it new, you don’t have to shoulder the brunt of that inflation, so you can get a newer model with desirable features for less money than a comparable RAV4 or CR-V.

Best Hybrid SUV under $20,000: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Toyota
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, like the Camry Hybrid and Corolla, is an easy vehicle to recommend to buyers looking for reliable and efficient transportation, as long as excitement isn’t on the wishlist. The RAV4 received a hybrid powertrain option in its 2016 update, but Consumer Reports highlights 2017 and 2018 model years as the ones to look for thanks to a bump in reliability reports from its surveys and additional features.

2017 and 2018 RAV4 Hybrids earned above average scores in road tests, well above average reliability rankings, and average owner satisfaction.

Best three-row SUV under $20,000: 2020 Mazda CX-9
mazda
Another Mazda made the list, which means another win for those who find joy in the act of driving. The CX-9 is not the biggest three-row SUV in the segment, but it received above-average scores in the road test, reliability, and owner satisfaction rankings. Mazda dealers can retrofit CX-9s with Apple CarPlay, and the 2020 model year is recommended because it received a refresh that brought standard pedestrian detection for the automatic emergency braking system.

2021 models got a new infotainment system, but its reliability predictions dropped below average. A used CX-9 offers a lot of car for the money, and it’s a fun-to-drive car at that.

Best luxury SUV under $20,000: 2017 Lexus NX
Lexus
If you’re really concerned about looking fancy despite being on a tight budget, the Lexus NX offers the best combination of affordable, reliable, and safe motoring, if you find one with the right options. CR recommends finding a model with the optional blind-spot detection system since some drivers find the NX’s outward visibility to be subpar.

While it is a Lexus, it’s based on the Toyota RAV4 and doesn’t offer occupants the same levels of isolation and coddling as other Lexus models, but it’s still a good choice. 2018 models may push over the $20,000 mark, but they include standard automatic emergency braking which is an important feature. It scored above average in its road test, well above average in reliability, and average in owner satisfaction.

Best pickup truck under $20,000: 2015 Toyota Tacoma
Toyota
If you need a sub-$20,000 pickup truck that won’t leave you stranded or hemorrhaging money on repair costs, the 2015 Tacoma is the truck for you. It ain’t perfect – it received average road test scores and owner satisfaction scores – but it is reliable with an above average predicted reliability score.

It’s a 10-year-old truck now, but it holds its resale value for a reason, and though it was the final year of this bodystyle, the update didn’t drastically change much.

Best sports car under $20,000: 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda
The fourth and final Mazda on this list is the most fun to drive, the legendary Miata. If you’re vertically gifted like me it might not be a good fit for you (literally,) but if you’re closer to average height and you want a fun, reliable, and satisfying-to-own sports car, get a Miata.

It got a big power bump in 2019, so look for 2019-or-newer cars, and if the one you find doesn’t have CarPlay, it can be retrofitted by a Mazda dealer. It earns above average reliability and road test scores, and scores well above average in owner satisfaction, plus owners say it can easily return over 30 mpg.

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These New Cars Just Aren’t Worth The Money
Stellantis is taking a lot of heat in today’s Answer Of The Day
BY  AMBER DASILVA FEBRUARY 7, 2024 7:30 AM EST
Stellantis
Cars: They cost too much. Big cars, little cars, fast cars, slow cars — the only things they all share are that they’re too expensive to buy, too expensive to own, and never worth enough when you’re trying to sell yours. Earlier this week, we asked you for the most overpriced new cars, and you gave us a wealth of answers. Here are some of the best.

Infiniti QX80
Infiniti
For me, it’s the 2024 Infiniti QX80 (MSRP: $74,150 – $88,450). I’ve driven one as a rental car and couldn’t believe the price they charge for this land barge. It’s old, slow, inefficient, large (but not roomy), cumbersome to drive, and, at least to my eyes, not even great to look at.

To top it off, Infiniti has already teased a replacement that will (ostensibly) be a whole heck of a lot nicer, so why would you plunk down your hard-earned greenbacks on a new one of these? Literally any other option at this price point is a win, or do the responsible thing and get the Toyota Grand Highlander/GR86 combo: have your cake, eat it too, and you would still save thousands.

I’ve always thought that the QX80 looks like a Lexus GX 460 that’s sitting underwater. You could also be underwater, looking at the Infiniti on dry land. Either way, it’s a watery Lexus.

Submitted by: paradsecar

Toyota Supra
Toyota
Really hard to justify this thing being $13,090 more than the Nissan Z, with (in my opinion) worse looks, objectively less power, and the inherent BMW-ness of the whole thing.

It’s okay to be wrong sometimes. The Z is great-looking, but to say it’s better than the Supra? C’mon.

The Supra is really an interesting case, because I can’t think of a vehicle for its price that I’d rather own. The Z, the Mustang, nothing else really grabs me the way the Supra does.

Submitted by: Give Me Tacos or Give Me Death

Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Stellantis
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is the first car that comes to mind. First off, its hideous at any price, especially for a 6-figure car competing with the Escalade, Range Rover Heavy, X7, and others in its class. Second, why make it a Jeep? Sure, its the only passenger vehicle brand in Stellantis’ portfolio that is doing well and has a future, but nobody is going offroading in this behemoth. It should have been a Chrysler, especially at this high pricepoint. If this vehicle started out around $50K or $60K and topped out at around $80K, it might be more paletable. Third, does the market really need another full-size, gas-guzzling vehicle like this?

Regardless, this ugly-ass monster is selling like hotcakes in my town so there are plenty of people feel the need to have a huge, ugly vehicle so what do I know?

The Grand Wagoneer is difficult to understand until you see one in person. It’s sort of like the Grand Canyon — it always looks smaller in photos. Then you actually see it, and you go “Jesus Christ, people go inside that? Why?

Submitted by: oddseth

Dodge Hornet
Stellantis
The new Dodge Hornet. Somehow, Dodge has decided a car that’s smaller than a Honda CR-V, should cost $49,000 when spec’d with AWD and a hybrid powertrain. The interior has some very nice features, but for what you get, $49K is a tough pill to swallow.

I appreciate the Hornet’s design, but I can’t get over that badge. Just two red stripes slashed diagonally down the center of the uppermost grille. Uppermost of three grilles, by the way.

Submitted by: Deal Killer – Powered by Audi

Lucid Air Sapphire
Lucid
I can’t get behind the Lucid Air Sapphire being worth $219,000 more than the Air Pure. In Canada the Air Pure is $108,000. The Sapphire is $327,000.

It’s a weird scenario because I do think the Pure is a $100K car and the Sapphire has hypercar numbers: 1200(+) hp, 0-60 in 2 seconds, 330km/h top speed, and it has 675 km of range. Those are $300,000 car stats.

But to have a $200,000 price variation on the same platform seems absurd to me.

I know Porsche has a similar spread but when you get to the $300,000 and up mark, you’re getting some pretty dedicated equipment. Plus there’s like 37,000 models between a 911 Carrera and a top end GT3 RS.

Yeah, but that’s 219,000 Canadian dollars difference. Here in the U.S., that’s something like 30 bucks. Not a small jump, to be sure, but many buyers find it worth it for what they get.

Submitted by: JohnnyWasASchoolBoy

Any ICE Car
Ford
Any internal combustion engined car. When gas costs $100 / gallon in 2030 and you’re still paying your 96 month loan, you will have regrets

Eventually, sure, the lack of demand will cause a collapse on the supplier side of the supply chain for gasoline and negate any benefits gained from the past few decades of economies of scale. I’m not sure it’ll happen in the next 96 months, though. We’ve got at least a 120-month loan before we hit $100/gallon.

Submitted by: neverspeakawordagain

GMC Yukon Denali
GM
GMC Denali. Tahoes/Yukons are already over priced lumps of junk. Then you have a dressed up version pushing 100K? I can not think of one redeeming quality for one of these.

You can guarantee its transporting max 1 kid, maybe a Toy size dog, a couple Stanley cups, overpriced pocket book, golf clubs, your missing visor and half zip pullover, your Target pickup order and ChickFila lunch.

I used to work at a GM dealer, and I can tell you that no Yukon Denali has ever held more cargo than listed in that comment. Most of them have less.

Submitted by: waveridin1959

‘90s Skyline GT-Rs
MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
if new old car that you can bought via special program is included then Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, R33 and R34 (via Skyline Restoration Program)

It started from 400k usd excluding the car, and yes you can request them to source the car for additional cost so I suspect it’s around 500k USD

Hayase, we’re really pushing the definition of a car’s MSRP here, but I’ll allow it purely because I love Skyline GT-Rs so much. If I ever win Powerball, I’ll have to get myself a new-old-stock R34. I’ll let you drive it, to see if it’s worth the cost.

Submitted by: hayase

Mansory, Just All Of It
Mansory
Anything Mansory releases.

Sure, I’d love to pay way more than MSRP for a exotic, that has been beaten within an inch of it’s life with an ugly stick.

I genuinely wonder who the target market is for these builds. People with way too much money, way too little taste, and a desperate need for everyone they see to know both those facts? It’s a car for Logan Paul, I guess.

Submitted by: Knyte

Top-Spec Jeep Wranglers
Stellantis
It’s a shorter list of what actually IS worth the money. But I’ll try to show how nuanced and tricky this is:

Take, for example, the Jeep Wrangler. Accounting for inflation, the Base model 2 door at 31,895 has SO MUCH more standard than you could ever get on a JK, TJ, YJ, etc. Adjusted for inflation, it’s no more expensive than a Jeep has ever been.

Couple that with the resale, you have yourself a vehicle that is worth every penny.

However, if you go crazy ordering the options up, and you do it wrongly enough, you can end up with a $60,000 jeep that has bone stock wheels, cloth seats, no heated seats or remote start, just a base model looking Jeep that somehow costs $60,000 dollars. Worth that? Not even close.

I still think base Jeeps should sell in the low $20k range new. You should be able to go out as a young adult and purchase a convertible SUV to take all your friends down to the beach in, and it should be genuinely affordably on entry-level wages.

Submitted by: R4ndyD4ndy

Dodge Durango
Stellantis
Dodge Durango. It was last redesigned 13 years ago and still costs over $41k for a 2WD base trim with cloth seats.

If that $41k included the Hemi, maybe Stellantis would have something nice on its hands. Probably not, but maybe.

Submitted by: StevieWelles

BMW XM
BMW
BMW XM. Starting price is $160K for what is essentially a spruced up X5 PHEV with a V8 and polarizing style. Is it a nice car to drive? Yes, absolutely. It is worth as much as a new M3 and an X5 50e combined? Hell no.

The thing with the XM is that it doesn’t look comparable to the X5. It looks about six times larger. Bavarian Canyonero energy.

Submitted by: Wampasaurus

Any Mini
Mini
I mean, pretty much all of them. Car prices are stupid high. However, gun to my head time? Pretty much any Mini. They aren’t bad cars, per se, but for what they are they are weirdly overpriced.

Skeffles, who’s threatening your life over this question? Tell them to stop. Better yet, put me on the phone, and I’ll tell them to stop. There’s no need for this to be difficult.

Submitted by: skeffles

Toyota Crown
Toyota
Toyota Crown, I really like it for its weirdness. But the interior is not worth its $40,000 base price, for that price you could almost get the fully loaded Outback Wilderness far better appointed.

The Toyota Crown has a head start in earning its MSRP, in that it seems targeted at folks who’ve been earning Social Security and their union pension for 15 years by the time of purchase.

Submitted by: Chris

Mitsubishi Mirage
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Mirage. (How many people were either just reminded that the Mirage is a thing or googled if it’s still being made?) For ages, the only thing going for it was that it was cheap. With promos and dealer discounts, not too long ago you could get one new off the lot for under $10k. They may still be the cheapest new car, but they’re venturing for from cheap.

Let me correct that, the price is venturing far from cheap. The car itself is still cheap as hell. Now the only thing it has going for it is that it’s one of the few cars still on the market.

This is an interesting question here. The Mirage is one of, if not the singular cheapest car on the market right now, but it’s still possible for it to feel too cheap for its asking price. So long as Mitsubishi keeps finance rates down, though, it may not be an issue.

Submitted by: TRath

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A Texan Ostrich Biting Boris Johnson At A Drive-Thru Safari Park Is Justice For His Awful Car Writing
BY COLLIN WOODARD APRIL 8, 2025 1:25 PM EST
Jemal Countess/Getty Images
There’s something unnerving and completely unnatural about an ostrich. Birds aren’t supposed to be that big, and nothing they do can convince me otherwise. Well, almost anything. I’m now officially Team Ostrich after one of them attacked Boris Johnson, the disgraced former British Prime Minister, Brexit supporter, sole human alive whose haircut would actually be improved by a Flowbee, and, most iconically to us, absolutely awful car writer. I bet the ostrich would do it again, too.

You’d think Johnson would be too ashamed to show his face in public, but apparently he thought he’d be safe in Texas, since no one there outside of Austin can read. And yet, the Daily Mail reports that while driving through one of those animal safari parks with his multi-decade-younger wife and their three kids, one of whom is only a year old, an ostrich took it upon itself to remind Johnson that couldn’t have been further from the truth. You shouldn’t have been so horny for the cars, Boris.

Maybe the ostrich was still upset about the cost-of-living crisis that Johnson helped cause in the UK, but since it attacked him in a car, I have to conclude it was at least partly related to Boris’ time as the world’s worst automotive journalist.

Make sure you have sound on

Now, you don’t exactly have to be an award-winning writer to get a job writing about cars. If you did, I certainly wouldn’t be in the second decade of my career as an automotive journalist. But Boris had a way of writing about cars that could make you physically uncomfortable just reading his words. For example, while reviewing the Ferrari F430, he wrote, “It was as though the whole county of Hampshire was lying back and opening her well-bred legs to be ravished by the Italian stallion.” Eww, Boris. Gross. No, thank you.

Johnson wasn’t just weirdly, uncomfortably horny for the cars, either. He also had a reputation for racking up parking violations, getting loaner cars impounded, and expecting anyone other than himself to take care of the fines. Considering all that, would it also surprise you to learn his editors at GQ also claim he regularly turned in his articles late and couldn’t even be counted on to remember what color car he had been given?

And yet, he managed to keep getting paid, all while writers who actually took their jobs seriously struggled to earn enough money to cover their bills and put food on the table. Then again, would you expect anything other than entitlement and incompetence from an Eton grad? Even though it’s trapped in Texas, there are probably at least a few million people in the UK who are jealous that ostrich had the courage and opportunity to do what they only wish they could.

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THE MORNING SHIFT
Tesla Stock Is Down 45 Percent And Still Dropping
BY AMBER DASILVA MARCH 10, 2025 9:58 AM EST
David Ryder/Getty Images
Good morning! It’s Monday, March 10, 2025, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. This is where you’ll find the most important stories that are shaping the way Americans drive and get around.

In this morning’s edition, find out how Tesla stock is pushing ever downwards. Plus, Toyota pauses further production lines after last week’s explosion, Nissan wants a new boss, and Trump wants India’s auto tariffs gone for Tesla.

1st Gear: Tesla stock set to entirely wipe out Trump-era gains
TradingView
Tesla is the most valued automaker in the world, and that value skyrocketed after CEO Elon Musk poured a quarter of a billion dollars into President Donald Trump’s campaign. The stock peaked on December 17 of last year, when Tesla was worth nearly 6.5 times the total value of Toyota — a company that sells more cars and makes more money. Musk has long claimed that Tesla’s value is totally reasonable, given the company’s as-yet-unmet annual promise to “solve autonomy,” but it seems Wall Street is starting to disagree. From Reuters:

The company’s market capitalization has dropped 45% since hitting an all-time high of $1.5 trillion on December 17, erasing most of the gains the stock made after CEO Musk helped finance the election victory of U.S. President Donald Trump.
…
Tesla’s electric-vehicle business accounts for almost all of its revenue but less than a quarter of its stock-market value, according to a Reuters review of more than a dozen analyses by banks and investment firms. The bulk of its worth rests on hopes for autonomous vehicles Tesla hasn’t yet delivered, despite Musk’s promises in every year since 2016 that driverless Teslas would arrive no later than the following year.

Generally, investors get into the whole “investing” thing to make money. Sometimes they do it for cult reasons, sure, but a large swath of Tesla shareholders are likely in it for returns rather than the love of the game. How low will the stock have to get before they start cutting their losses and running?

2nd Gear: Toyota pauses production lines after explosion
Toyota
Last week, an explosion at a Toyota supplier killed a worker. Now the company is pausing production lines due to the supply chain interruption, including the line that makes the Rav4 in the country. Production overseas hasn’t been affected yet, and may never be, but the explosion has really thrown a wrench in Toyota’s domestic production according to Automotive News:

After suspending operations for the March 10 morning shift at two factories, Toyota Motor Corp. decided to extend the shutdown at the affected lines through that afternoon and for the March 11 first shift. A Daihatsu plant supplying Toyota was added to the operations offline.

The halt affects one of two lines at Toyota’s Takaoka assembly plant, which makes the RAV4 and Harrier. Also impacted are two lines at Toyota Industries Corp.’s Nagakusa factory that assembles the RAV4. One line at Daihatsu’s Kyoto plant is also down. It makes the Probox, a subcompact commercial wagon supplied to Toyota for the domestic market.

The Harrier is better known to us as the Venza, but the Probox is unfortunately not known to us U.S. buyers at all. This is a shame, because it seems like a cool little practical wagon that’s not as full of itself as most modern cars. Maybe that’s what you get when you revise a model exactly once over the course of its 23-year-and-counting lifespan. Toyota, bring us the Probox once you start the assembly line back up. I guarantee you’ll sell at least six.

3rd Gear: Nissan wants a new boss
Tricky_Shark/Shutterstock
Nissan’s merger with Honda, a move meant to save the company, is dead by Nissan’s own hand. Now the automaker’s board of directors is out for blood, and they want it from CEO Makoto Uchida. A committee is set to meet today to discuss Uchida’s successor, and tomorrow the company’s board will come to a conclusion on the matter tomorrow. From Automotive News:

It is not so much a matter of whether CEO Makoto Uchida steps down but when and how, say people familiar with the thinking of Nissan’s board and management.

“The management must change because it has lost trust in implementing the turnaround,” said one person familiar with the plans. “We need a fresh start and the benefit of the doubt.”

I rewatched some early Succession with my roommate this past weekend, and all this Nissan closed-door scheming sounds very familiar. Who will end up with the reins when all these meetings and debates are over? Personally, I’m throwing my support behind Uzi Nissan’s next of kin.

4th Gear: Trump wants India to lower tariffs for Tesla
George Trumpeter/Shutterstock
India has incredibly high tariffs on imported cars. The country prefers that automakers spin up factories over there, rather than just ship cars out, and it seems the tariffs have done a pretty good job ensuring that plenty of automakers have invested in joint ventures with Indian companies to produce cars locally. Folks in India, though, miss out on American cars: Tesla and GM aren’t active in the country, though the former wants to change that. It just needs a little help from the White House. From the Detroit Free Press:

India’s high auto tariffs will be central in formal talks for a bilateral trade deal that are yet to begin, said one of the three sources, all of whom were briefed on the matter, paving the way for American electric vehicle maker Tesla, which is gearing up for an India launch.

Taxes on cars imported into India are as high as 110%, which Tesla chief Elon Musk has criticized as being among the steepest in the world. The EV giant last year shelved its plans to enter the world’s third-largest car market for a second time. It recently signed a lease deal to open its first showroom in Mumbai, registration papers show.

India’s tariff situation sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? A country using high import taxes to encourage domestic production? On the one hand, India’s method has worked thus far with companies from Stellantis to BMW to Volkswagen all have Indian joint ventures. On the other hand, the country misses out on plenty of vehicles from foreign manufacturers, and that’s a country with more people and more registered cars than us. If a market force like India loses out on choice thanks to tariffs, how would the little old United States fare?

Reverse: Enter the Whedon-Verse
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

It’s hard for me to imagine, since “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” premiered when I was less than a year old, but there was a time before Whedon quippiness. A time when emotional beats were allowed to land, rather than being undercut with a joke every time. Remember stakes? Well, actually, I guess a vampire hunting show would be pretty stake-heavy.

On The Radio: Gidropony – ‘Princess Coca’

A friend of mine gave me a playlist containing this track back in college, and I’m only now discovering that no one else seems to listen to it. Under 600 YouTube views! How is that possible? This song is so fun.

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Tesla Recalls Almost Every Car It’s Sold In The US
The issue affects more than 2 million cars and is the first recall to hit the long-awaited Cybertruck.
BY  OWEN BELLWOOD FEBRUARY 2, 2024 9:20 AM EST
Tesla
Tesla has issued a recall for almost every car it sold in the U.S. because of illegible warning lights. The massive recall affects more than 2 million cars and follows a similarly huge recall that hit almost every car Tesla has sold in China. Great start to 2024.

The latest recall for the electric vehicle maker was sparked due to issues with warning lights on the dash, reports Automotive News. The font on certain warning lights is too small. The outlet explains:

The latest recall includes vehicles across Tesla’s various models, including the Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles, the NHTSA said.

“Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash,” the NHTSA said.

The font in question is used to mark the brake, park and anti lock brake controls. The NHTSA reports that the text used on the Tesla dashboards falls under the 3.2mm (1/8 inch) size required and, as such, is harder for drivers to read. Because of this, they’re more at risk of making a mistake or crashing.

To fix the situation, it won’t require anything dramatic like ripping out dashboards and installing new interiors, oh no. Instead, the cars need nothing more than a software update that Tesla created in January 2024.

According to Automotive News, the patch has already started rolling out to impacted Teslas. The over-the-air update was made available from January 23, free of charge to Tesla owners. Once installed, it brings the fonts in line with U.S. regulations.

This recall is now officially the first recall of the Tesla Cybertruck. The long awaited electric pickup finally went into production in 2023 with deliveries starting at the end of the year. How exciting!

Tesla hasn’t said how many Cybertrucks were delivered, or how many are in need of a software patch as part of this recall. However, it did confirm that new software was being installed on trucks currently being assembled in the U.S.

If you are worried that your car might be affected by a recall, there are a few easy ways to check if it’s the case. First up, the NHTSA has a super handy app that you can use to see if your vehicle is impacted by a recall, or you can head to the regulator’s website and plug your VIN into its recall search tool.

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U.S. Air Crashes Are Down In 2025 But Fatalities Are Way Up
BY OWEN BELLWOOD FEB. 25, 2025 1:20 PM EST
Al Drago/Getty Images
Air travelers in the United States faced a scary start to 2025 after a series of deadly crashes. Incidents in Pennsylvania and Washington DC claimed the lives of more than 70 people, but the number of crashes occurring in the U.S. is actually down this year. The bad news, however, is that fatalities have risen to alarming levels as a result of plane crashes.

After deadly crashes rocked the country and a disaster in Canada saw an American jet roll when landing, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the U.S. was in the midst of a spike in plane crashes. That’s not the case, though, and the 87 aviation incidents that have happened so far this year mark a 30 percent reduction in crashes compared with 2024, reports Newsweek.

Between January 1 and February 19 2024, Newsweek reports that there were 123 aviation incidents “of various severity.” Of the crashes recorded, 18 were fatal and resulted in the deaths of 42 people, as the side reports:

None of the incidents between January 1, 2024, and February 19, 2024, involved planes with more than six people onboard. The most significant incident occurred on an Airbus helicopter on February 9, 2024, with all six people onboard reported dead.

Throughout the year, 1,415 aviation accidents were reported, including 257 fatal incidents. Of the 179 fatal incidents that Newsweek obtained records of, there were 306 reported deaths. The deadliest incident was a Pilatus aircraft crash in Recluse, Wyoming, which killed six of the seven people on board, including the pilot.

While the number of crashes is down compared with 2024, the amount of fatalities as a result of air crashes in America is much higher so far this year.

How many crashes have there been in 2025?
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
There were 62 air crashes in January and a further 25 incidents have occurred so far in February. Of the 87 crashes, 13 of them were fatal and led to the deaths of 85 people across the U.S.

The death toll from those fatal crashes means that the number of people killed in air travel doubled compared with 2024. The rise was attributed to crashes in Washington and Alaska, as Newsweek adds:

Of the fatal crashes, most planes had a few people on board, with the largest flight being the American Airlines regional jet that collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. in late January. The collision killed all 67 people onboard.

The second largest was the single-engine Cessna Caravan aircraft operated by Bering Air in Nome, Alaska. All 10 people onboard the flight were killed and have since been identified.

In contrast, the fatal crashes in early 2024 were much smaller aircraft that resulted in a much smaller loss of life.

What is America doing to calm air travelers?
J. David Ake/Getty Images
The shocking number of deaths in American airspace sparked a strong response from the government. Sadly, the response it’s sparked saw president Donald Trump blame the crashes on diversity schemes in the Federal Aviation Administration.

Trump also sent his pet billionaire Elon Musk to the FAA in an attempt to tighten things up at the agency responsible for air safety. Musk gutted the agency and fired hundreds of workers, before he sent in his own team of engineers into the FAA’s secure facilities.

The new administration also attempted to push the blame for the increased deaths onto Joe Biden’s government, which left office just days before the Washington D.C. crash. That didn’t really work, though, and former transport boss Pete Buttigieg took to Twitter X to defend his administration’s record on safety.

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Lawmaker Asks Delta Pilot About Being A ‘Stewardess’ Immediately After Being Told She’s A Pilot
First officer Laura Haynor introduced herself as a pilot, but it seems like Minnesota lawmaker Gene Dornink didn’t notice
BY  ELIZABETH BLACKSTOCK MARCH 15, 2024 10:01 AM EST
Heartland Signal via X
Ah, to be a woman in a male-dominated industry! During a hearing regarding amendments to Minnesota’s safe and sick time law, first officer Laura Haynor introduced herself as a pilot for Delta. In his immediate response, state senator Gene Dornink asked her about her typical week as a stewardess. Whoops!

Beginning at the start of 2024, Minnesota introduced an earned sick and safe time law that requires employers to provide leave for state employees that work at least 80 hours a year. The law allows those employees to take leave for their own illness, to take care of an ill loved one, or to escape instances of domestic abuse.

Haynor spoke on behalf of the Air Line Pilots Association International. When she introduced herself, she mentioned her job as a pilot, and that she’s the acting representative for Minnesota’s 2,400 pilots.

“My name is Laura Haynor, and I’m a Minnesota resident and a Minneapolis-based pilot for Delta Airlines,” Haynor said in her introduction.

Almost immediately afterward, Senator Dornink asks, “Can you tell me what a typical work week looks like for you as a stewardess?”

Haynor responded, “I’m a first officer for Delta?”

“I’m sorry?” Dornink asked.

“I’m a pilot.”

Dornink apologized immediately during the hearing, then later admitted, “I don’t know why I said that.” And while he did sound sincere and embarrassed at his error, it does shed some light on the fact that many people somehow still seem surprised to learn that a woman can competently do the same jobs that society has coded as masculine.

As a woman who is also an automotive journalist, I’ve had similar run-ins. On press trips, other journalists have asked me product questions or requested I organize some video time for them; they’re operating under the assumption that I’m a press representative for the brand, not a fellow journalist. On motorsport-based trips, many folks struggle to wrap their head around the fact that I’m not an influencer. I’ve lost count of how many times someone has asked me if I work for a “lifestyle brand.”

According to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, fewer than six percent of pilots worldwide identified as women in 2021. The study shows that India has the highest ratio of women pilots when compared to men, while the United States ranks fourth, with 5.5 percent of all pilots identifying as women.

So, sure. It’s probably still a little surprising to run into a female pilot. It’s also generally a pretty smart idea to listen to women when they introduce themselves.

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NASA, SpaceX Delay Mission To Rescue Stranded Boeing Astronauts
BY OWEN BELLWOOD MARCH 13, 2025 10:18 AM EST
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
NASA and Elon Musk’s rocket company SpaceX delayed a mission to the International Space Station that would have brought back stranded Boeing astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The pair boarded the ISS in June 2024 after launching to the station for what was meant to be an eight day trip to space.

Williams and Wilmore flew to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner craft, but problems emerged with the spaceship shortly after launch. Issues were uncovered with its engines and it was decided that it was safer to bring the craft back to Earth empty and leave the pair on the ISS until a new crew launched.

A replacement crew was due to launch to the ISS this morning onboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission. However, after company boss Elon Musk claimed SpaceX could have rescued the pair months ago, the launch was delayed, reports the BBC.

Another day in space
Nasa/Getty Images
The recovery mission that will bring Williams and Wilmore back to Terra Firma was due to launch this morning, but was scrubbed by NASA after strong wind and rain hit the flight path of the rocket. The launch will now take place “no earlier than 7:03 p.m. EDT Friday, March 14,” NASA explained in a recent post.

After the Crew Dragon capsule takes off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, it will dock with the ISS at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. Once docked, a new crew will board the ISS and Williams and Wilmore will finally be able to fly home. On the trip back to Earth, they’ll be joined by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

As it stands, NASA is targeting a return flight “no earlier than Wednesday, March 19,” provided the weather conditions back on Earth are right for a safe splash landing. By this time, Williams and Wilmore will have spent 286 days in space.

A long week in orbit
Nasa/Getty Images
This eye-watering stint in space is almost 280 days longer than Boeing initially planned for Williams and Wilmore, who were the first astronauts to fly to the ISS onboard Boeing’s Starliner craft.

The pair’s extended stay in space began back in June 2024 when they launched up to the space station on a test flight of Boeing’s new craft. During the craft’s approach to the ISS, six of its 28 thrusters stopped working, which forced NASA to delay the return flight to find out what went wrong. A week in space turned into a month while investigators dug into the cause, and during that time the cursed craft started making some pretty strange noises.

NASA ultimately decided it wasn’t worth the risk to bring Williams and Wilmore back in Starliner, and the call was made to leave them on the ISS for a little longer where they have worked as regular astronauts ever since.

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John Oliver Explains How All Of Boeing’s Problems Can Be Traced Back To Stock Buybacks And Incompetent Leadership
Once a paragon of quality, Boeing’s focus on its stock price has caused hundreds to die.
BY  BRADLEY BROWNELL MARCH 7, 2024 8:35 AM EST
LastWeekTonight on YouTube
When asked how Boeing’s recent door plug incident came about, company CEO Dave Calhoun cryptically explained “a quality escape occurred.” That kind of corporate doublespeak is indicative of the problem at hand. Boeing used to have quality, but it escaped, apparently sometime around when it merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.

For the last three decades, the company has spent substantial amounts of money buying back its own shares to pump up the stock price, and issuing dividends, instead of researching and developing new high-quality high-efficiency airplanes. The results have been catastrophic, as HBO’s funny Sunday night news man John Oliver explains.

 

Corporate culture is a hell of a thing. The change of a CEO and the implementation of their priorities can completely undo decades of good will and earned trust. All of this began with the flawed strategy and lax controls of then-Boeing CEO Phil Condit, and has continued with all of his successors.

The desire to push R&D costs off to the company’s suppliers meant that Boeing was essentially building its planes from kits that weren’t designed together, didn’t fit together, and didn’t meet the standard of quality the company had once been known for. This move may have been a short-term boon for company profits, the share price, or for CEO bonuses, but the reduction in quality has given rise to the phrase “If it’s a Boeing, I ain’t going.” I’m not sure there has ever been a more aggressive about-face on a company’s view by the global public.

There was a time that Boeing could have waxed the floor with Airbus, but it rested on its laurels for far too long. Boeing’s under-developed and shoddily-assembled kit planes can kill people, and they certainly have.

As with almost everything bad in this modern shit sludge we call society, we can conveniently blame Ronald Reagan. Prior to Reagan-era deregulation, stock buybacks were considered illegal market manipulation. If a company wanted to boost its stock, it had to do something worth crowing about, like develop good fucking product.

Anyway, go watch Oliver explain it. It’s a good video.

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New And Used Car Panic-Buying Is Going To Make Finding A New Ride A Nightmare
BY COLLIN WOODARD APRIL 17, 2025 11:25 AM EST
Ljubaphoto/Getty Images
While Trump promised to stop inflation and lower prices during his campaign, after less than three months in office, he’s done exactly the opposite. And while he quickly folded to pressure on some of those tariffs, the chaos and economic uncertainty Republicans have unleashed are hitting the new and used car markets hard. We’re already seeing the supply of new and used vehicles listed for sale drop significantly as buyers rush to get a deal before prices increase, CNBC reports.

“Consumers are trying to get ahead of tariffs on imports,” Jonathan Smoke, head economist for Cox Automotive, told an online audience earlier this week. “The decline in [new] days’ supply was one of the largest drops we’ve seen in several years.” Unfortunately for consumers, the sudden drop in inventory doesn’t just mean fewer options when it’s time to buy. Due to an obscure economic theory known as “supply and demand,” it also means higher prices.

Both new and used vehicles affected
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Back at the beginning of March, new car dealers were reportedly sitting on 91 days’ worth of inventory. Fast forward to today, and that supply has dropped to only 70 days. In a normal month, you’d typically expect to see inventory fluctuations of seven days at most, not more than 20. New car sales volume is also up about 8% year to date, with the seasonally adjusted pace up 22% compared to last year.

Meanwhile, used car inventory has been low for a while and has dropped even lower since Trump fulfilled one of his most consistent campaign promises and began instituting tariffs. Currently, used car dealers are sitting on a 39-day supply, down four days since last month. Sales are also “up sharply,” climbing about 7% year to date. The limited supply is already raising prices, too, with Cox reporting the average price for a 2022 model year vehicle rose 0.3% in just the last week, while the average wholesale price jumped 1.0%.

That may not sound like much, but remember, we’re talking weekly increases here, not monthly. And a 1% increase every week adds up pretty quickly over the course of a couple months.

Dealers are in for a rude awakening
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
New and used car dealers may currently be raking in the cash, but that trend won’t last long. Once the tariff-free cars are gone, expect those sales to dry up quickly. CNBC reports one estimate suggests increased vehicle costs from Republican tariffs will result in more than 2,000,000 fewer annual vehicle sales in the U.S. and Canada. Consumers may not end up paying the full cost of the tariffs, but they’ll at least pay part of them, and with the price of insurance also expected to rise, higher overall costs for new vehicles are expected to push more buyers into used cars.

With used cars already in short supply, the increase in demand will only drive prices higher than they already are. Throw in rising unemployment, the increased cost of everything else and stalling wage growth, and things aren’t looking great. So while you definitely shouldn’t rush out to buy a car you don’t need, it’s also completely understandable that so many people are trying to get ahead of higher prices. I mean, heck, I did exactly that last month, even if I wasn’t planning to until my car got hit.

Of course, it’s entirely possible Trump could reverse course on tariffs, but considering how hard he campaigned on them, his use of tariffs during his first term and his vocal support for them since at least the 1980s, that doesn’t seem likely. For the sake of all our wallets, though, let’s cross our fingers and hope he does.

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No Spare? No Problem. Here’s What Every Car Should Carry In Case Of A Flat
Something as simple as fixing a flat tire has gotten more challenging in recent years, but here’s what you need to know
BY  LOGAN CARTER FEBRUARY 4, 2025 11:25 AM EST

Not long ago, virtually every single new car was sold with a spare tire, a jack and a small tool kit to allow owners to swap out a flat tire for the spare on the side of the road. That has changed over recent years, with many carmakers dropping the standard spare tire to cut costs and reduce vehicle weight to aid fuel economy. Often, cars that are sold without spare tires will instead come fitted with run-flat tires that can still be driven on for short distances when the tire is completely flat, or they’re offered with a can of tire sealant and an air compressor that plugs into the 12V socket that you plug your phone charger into. This also applies for electric vehicles and internal combustion vehicles, naturally.

We’ve previously published everything you need to know about fixing a flat tire here, but this list applies to cars that are not equipped with a spare tire, though most of these items are still good to have in your car in case of emergency. If you get a flat and your car doesn’t have a spare, it might be best to call a tow truck or roadside assistance if you have it depending on your comfort levels and safety; do not exit your car if you are in an unsafe spot on the road. If you’re pulled over to a safe location, here are five things to keep in your car to help out in case of a flat tire emergency. Each of these items are readily available at hardware stores, automotive parts retailers, and at big-box retail stores around the country.

Basic Road Safety Kit
New Africa/Shutterstock/Shutterstock
A basic safety kit may contain things like reflective hazard triangles and/or road flares to warn other motorists that there’s a disabled car on the roadway, a head lamp or flashlight should issues arise at nighttime, and a pair of gloves to keep your hands safe and warm. The safety kit should also contain some basic tools that may come in handy should a roadside emergency occur.

Portable Air Compressor
Afanasiev Andrii/Shutterstock/Shutterstock
A portable air compressor is a great tool in the event of a flat tire emergency. Some cars come equipped with them from the factory but many aren’t, so make sure you know for certain what emergency devices you have in your car before an emergency arises. Portable air compressors usually plug into the 12V socket in your car and are reasonably compact and affordable to buy. That said, a tire that is punctured needs to be patched before it can be reinflated, which is where the third item on the list comes in handy.

Tire Sealant
Nature/Shutterstock/Shutterstock
Tire sealant is a valuable resource in a pinch, but not all flat tires can be fixed with tire sealant and a portable air compressor, though. If you get a pinch flat from hitting a bad pothole or driving over something at a weird angle that tears a hole in your tire sidewall, you’re going to have to call roadside assistance. But, with most punctures like driving over a nail or something sharp, all you have to do is attach the sealant hose to the air valve and squirt the sealant into your tire. Once you fill it back up with air and drive around, the sealant moves inside the tire, finds the air leak, and seals it up allowing a temporary fix that should be enough to get you to a tire shop.

Tire Pressure Gauge
Tetra Images/Getty/Getty Images
Modern cars are legally required to come equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that will alert the driver should a tire lose air pressure. In new cars these systems are very accurate and precise, but older models may just alert you that one of your tires is low on air, so keeping a traditional tire pressure gauge in your car for emergencies is helpful. Most cars require owners to drive several miles before the onboard tire pressure monitors can get an accurate reading, which isn’t always possible if you’re trying to repair a flat on the side of the road. Some are bulkier than others, but you don’t need a fancy one. A simple tire pressure gauge the size of a ballpoint pen will be all you need.

Drinking Water
Gulcin Ragiboglu/Getty/Getty Images
Having a few bottles of clean drinking water stashed away in your car could be a lifesaver, especially if you’re traveling anywhere remotely remote. Even if you have roadside assistance it may take them hours to reach you, so it’s best to have some emergency resources in your car if you’re traveling anywhere off the beaten path. Water is a priority over food, but it never hurts to have some emergency food resources, too.

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Boeing Caught In Tariff War Crossfire As Chinese Customers Return Jets In Protest
BY RYAN ERIK KING APRIL 18, 2025 12:36 PM EST
Kevin Burkholder/Getty Images
It’s naive to think that imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese goods would have no repercussions on American companies trying to sell products overseas, but most people didn’t write “The Art of the Deal.” A Boeing 737 Max at the planemaker’s completion facility in Zhoushan, China wasn’t delivered to its Chinese customer and flew back to the United States. The jet was one in a three-plane batch sent across the Pacific in March, but President Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs provoked the Chinese government to call on its airlines to boycott Boeing.

The undelivered Boeing 737 Max was spotted in Guam, signalling that the aircraft would be returning to Seattle, Reuters reports. This will likely be the first of many dropped orders. The American aviation giant was preparing ten planes for delivery, with their locations split between Seattle and Zhoushan. Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, the country’s Big Three carriers, are slated to receive 179 Boeing planes through 2027. As a point of reference, Boeing delivered 130 commercial flights in total during the first quarter of this year. Some of the orders placed by Chinese carriers have already been taken by customers in other growing markets, like India. However, Boeing can’t afford to have other countries follow in China’s direction.

China’s Boeing boycott could self-destructive, but better than the tariffs
Getty Images/Getty Images
The Chinese government encouraged its country’s carriers to sever all existing ties with Boeing, including terminating leases and not importing parts to maintain the Boeing planes in their fleets. While there isn’t a formal ban or boycott, the government imposed a requirement that it must approve the delivery of Boeing planes going forward. China’s Big Three airlines are state-owned entities. The White House has taken notice and is undoubtedly feeling the pressure. Trump took to Truth Social earlier this week to say, “They just reneged on the big Boeing deal.”

It’s debatable whether or not China’s commercial aviation sector could weather the tariff storm. COMAC, the country’s domestic plane manufacturer, debuted the C919 in 2023 as a 737 Max competitor. However, the Chinese-built plane is dependent on American-made components. Also, COMAC doesn’t have the production capacity to replace the Boeing planes in Chinese fleets. Only 16 C919s have been delivered so far. In fact, Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center is a joint venture with COMAC. Airbus might emerge as the only winner in this scenario as the European giant has an A320 assembly plant in China. The boycott is self-destructive, but not as financially destructive as paying double the previous price for American planes and parts.

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These Are The Car-Related Movie Mistakes That Really Bother You
BY BRAD BROWNELL MARCH 14, 2025 10:30 AM EST
Focus Features
Sometimes movies get things wrong about cars. Heck, the cars don’t even have to actually be present in the movie for it to be wrong. The 2013 film “Dallas Buyers Club” is a period piece set in 1985, so how did Matthew McConaughey’s Ron Woodroof get a Lamborghini Aventador poster to hang on his wall when that car wouldn’t be launched for nearly three decades? This is just one of many Hollywood automotive mistakes that our readers pointed out this week when we asked which car-related movie mistakes bothered them most. Maybe Hollywood should hire the staff and commentariat of Jalopnik.com to help them with their car questions, because we certainly know a lot more about automobiles, how they work, and continuity errors than anyone at a movie studio seems to. So without further ado, here are my favorite picks from your automotive movie pet peeves.

This is one of the most-answered questions I’ve ever asked, and there were way too many good ones to fit in this post, so go check out the comments section of the question post for all the suggestions missed. I promise, it’s worth it.

Flippin’ Aston Martins

In Casino Royale, after Vesper gets kidnapped and Bond chases after the villains in his Aston Martin DBS. He’s supposedly going fast enough that he catches some air on a hill but when he jerks the wheel to avoid running over Vesper the DBS somehow flips and rolls while executing a simple accident avoidance maneuver that’s not that dissimilar from what you might see on MotorWeek. All resulting in a barrel roll (admittedly quite spectacular and rivaled only by the minutes-long rollover scene in Talladega Nights.)

At the very worst that should have been a spinout and instead, an exotic car somehow failed the Moose Test. That scene, as a car guy, always bother me.

Suggested by LarriveeC05

Clean 911

The self healing Porsche 911 in Commando. The car goes on its side, but Arnold pushes it over and we see a damage free car on his departure…

Suggested by Mikeuptain

Fast and Furious wasn’t a documentary?

That whole first race in Fast n Furious where Brian was racing his Eclipse against Dom. After hitting the Nos, his tuning computer reads danger to Manifold…Ok like which manifold? intake, Exhaust? and then the floor in the passenger seat falls off, like what?

Suggested by Agon Targeryan

Downshifts at Daytona

Downshifting in a situation where they are supposedly already driving as fast as possible.

Also somewhat related – when the dubbed engine sound doesn’t match the vehicle. This happens way more often than you might expect.

Suggested by Stephen

Better burnouts

OK, you know what I absolutely hate more than anything else? When there’s tire marks on the road from the previous takes…. “OK, great burnout scene, but lets do it one more time in the exact same spot”. Whether it’s parallel stripes from a burnout or fun swirls from something more intense, it always kills the mood for me. Just pick a different location, dammit!

Suggested by Kumciho

Forever fuel

That movie fuel never degrades. You often see it in Zombie movies or other similar world-as-we-know-it-ended type movies. Someone comes upon a car that’s been sitting for years, they find a battery (if they even bother to address needing a battery), they hop in, start it up and away they go! That is just not how octane-based fuel works, let alone the sea of other issues that come with an engine that has sat for years, mice chewing wires and nesting in things, moisture-related damage, etc, etc.

Suggested by Dakiraun

NASCAR engine in an EV

Gotta go with the E-Tron in the avengers making V8 noises. It seems small, and is overdubbing cars incorrectly is a running hollywood theme but this is supposed to be Tony Stark’s super cool high tech expensive future car. Like it being an EV was the entire point they picked it and yet…vroom vroom.

Suggested by JaredOfLondon

Pull up like skrrrt

Squealing tires on dirt/gravel roads. Grinds my gears every time.

Suggested by Thomas Hajicek

What’s the payload capacity of a Ford Ranchero?

In Goldfinger, crushing a 5000lb Lincoln Continental (plus anonymous mobster and what apparently should’ve been another 2000lb of gold based on value), and placing the cube in the bed of a Ford Ranchero with an 800lb payload. Odd Job should’ve been driving one of the very first lowriders.

Suggested by Maymar

Dude, where’s most of my car?

Continuing to drive a car that has no source of fuel, among other issues. See: ‘View to a Kill’

Suggested by 007 Guest

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These Common Car Buying Myths Refuse To Die
BY TOM MCPARLAND AUG. 10, 2018 2:26 PM EST
ViDI Studio/Shutterstock
More than ever, the internet has leveled the playing field for car buyers. However, despite a wealth of useful information out there, we still encounter a ton of misconceptions about buying from a dealership. As a professional car buyer, I’m going to clear up some of the most common ones, and hopefully save you some frustration the next time you go shopping.

Cash is king
Alfexe/Getty Images
If you are buying a car from a private seller and you want to haggle them down, telling them you have cash right now will sometimes motivate them to give you the price you want even — if they “know what they have.” At the dealership, the ability to flash your bills gives you no leverage on the price whatsoever.

In this current competitive market, dealers aren’t making much on the cars themselves. If you are a good negotiator, the dealer may even take what they claim is a “loss” on the car, but in order for those deals to work, they need to make some money somewhere. After all, the dealership would have a hard time keeping the lights on if it didn’t make some kind of profit somewhere.

Often this profit comes from financing, namely loans. Even if you get a low-interest loan, the dealer still gets a little money on the deal by selling you that loan. Of course, really shady operations can make a lot of money on these loans if you aren’t careful. So that is why it’s key to shop these loans around and get pre-approved before you arrive. If a dealer sees you are a cash buyer and therefore loses their opportunity to make some profit in the finance office, may be less likely to wheel and deal on the car itself.

You need to service the car where you bought it
Jetcityimage/Getty Images
This is an incredibly outdated myth: I’ve spoken with a lot of folks who seemed discouraged about traveling to buy their car because they were afraid they would have to do the drive all over again when it came down to service.

The truth is that if your new car is under warranty, that warranty is good at any dealer anywhere in the country, regardless of where you bought your car. For example, let’s say you bought a new Honda in Pennsylvania and had to relocate to Florida. If your car needs a repair that is covered under the manufacturer warranty, the local Florida Honda store can handle it.

What this means for buyers is that when you are shopping for a new car you should spread your net beyond your immediate area because you could find significant savings if you are either willing to travel or ship a vehicle.

You can avoid sales tax by purchasing out of state
Artur Debat/Getty Images
This concept is kind of the opposite of the local-service-only misconception. I’ve had clients in high tax areas think they can save a chunk of money by simply making their purchase in a region with a lower tax rate.

While this sounds like a great plan for folks living in places like Los Angeles and New York City, the fact is; no matter where you buy your car, the sales tax is assessed based on the area of registration, not the location of the purchase.

Here is a common example: The city of Philadelphia imposes an extra sales tax on top of the state tax. Folks who live in Philly pay more in sales tax than the folks that live in the suburbs. Some buyers are under the impression that if they buy their car outside city limits, they can avoid the premium. However, it doesn’t matter if a Philly resident purchased their vehicle in Reading, or even as far away as New Jersey — they still have to pay the full Philly sales tax.

Now that isn’t to say that people in high tax areas shouldn’t shop outside their region to get savings, and it is likely that they may find better discounts elsewhere, but they aren’t going to save on the sales tax.

You will get the best price if you go when the dealer is closing on the last day of the month
TippaPatt/Shutterstock
Spend enough time on the internet and talking with car buyers, and eventually, someone will tell the story about how they got the deal of a lifetime by rolling into the dealership an hour before it was about to close on the last day of the month. They will swear that their timing and negotiating skills beat the dealer into submission, forcing them to offer the lowest price in the history of the automobile.

This strategy comes from an old-school bit of car buying advice that says that dealers are more likely to offer you a bigger discount at the end of the month because they are trying to hit a sales quota. While it is true that dealers do try to meet or exceed a certain number of units sold, the problem with that advice is it makes two key assumptions: First, that the dealer has not yet met their sales quota and is desperate to do so. Second, that the dealer sells enough volume to meet or exceed that quota and therefore go “deeper” on their discounts.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that some dealers have the ability to discount deeper than others, even though they are all purchasing that unit from the automaker for the same price. Higher volume stores that meet or exceed quotas can often “afford” to offer steeper discounts, while smaller stores don’t have that luxury and need to make their profits on the units themselves.

If a buyer goes into the wrong dealer at the 11th hour on the last day of the month, and the sales manager hands them a price and says “This is the best we can do,” they are probably not lying. What that buyer doesn’t know is that the dealer down the street can do better because they sell more cars. However, that high volume dealer may have already met their quota for the month and may not be as willing to take a loss on a sale.

The only way to know for sure who has the best price is to do your shopping from the comfort of your phone or computer and compare several quotes in writing. However, that process is most effective when it is done within a few weeks time.

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Consumer Reports’ 10 Best Used Cars Under $20,000 Are A Great Way To Dodge Republican Tariffs
BY LOGAN K. CARTER MARCH 31, 2025 5:25 PM EST
Toyota
While President Donald Trump’s strategy to make America great again continues to make the lives of America’s non-billionaires harder and less affordable, Consumer Reports just released a list of the top 10 sub-$20,000 used cars. The models on this list aren’t necessarily the most exciting, flashiest, or fastest vehicles on sale, but they all perform well in Consumer Reports’ rigorous tests, and perhaps most importantly, in long-term reliability. With worsening inflation and impending new car tariffs set to skyrocket the price of most new cars starting April 2, it’s a tough time to be an average American consumer.

If you aren’t rich and you’re looking for a new-to-you car that is likely to provide safe, comfortable, and trouble-free ownership for years to come, you might want to keep the cars on this list at the top of yours. In order to compile this list, several factors were considered including crash prevention, crash safety, predicted long-term reliability, resale value, and efficiency. Consumer Reports says:

“The strategy we employ for selecting used cars emphasizes value within a price range, and it means that the highlighted models may not have been the highest-scoring models when tested new. Instead, they’re often good cars that depreciated more than others, making them more attractive as used cars than they were when new…. At the same price, rivals are often years older—potentially from a previous generation. In other words, to buy a direct rival at the same model year and mileage, you would have to pay thousands of dollars more.”

These are the 10 sub-$20,000 used cars that Consumer Reports recommends, along with some of our thoughts on each selection.

Best car under $10,000: 2016 Mazda 6
Mazda
The Mazda 6 is the only car on this list that’s likely to be below $15,000. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for affordable, safe, practical, and efficient motoring, and it also happens to be one of the more fun-to-drive cars in the mid-size sedan segment. It’s even available with a genuine six-speed manual transmission.

The entire 2014-2021 generation of the Mazda 6 is recommended here, but the 2016 Mazda 6 offers the most under the $10,000 mark. Its road test scores and reliability ratings are above average, and owner satisfaction is average in Consumer Reports findings.

Top sedan under $15,000: 2019 Toyota Corolla
Toyota
You knew it would be here, the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla. Its legendary reliability is legendary for a reason; like every Corolla that came before it, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. It’s certainly not the most exciting car ever produced, but it will deliver years of affordable, reliable, efficient, and safe motoring for anyone pragmatic enough to buy one.

Toyota included its safety suite, Toyota Safety Sense P, as standard on all Corollas starting in 2017, so from that year on all Corollas included desirable safety features including standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-keep assist. Whenever you’re discussing intelligent used car purchases, the Corolla should be on the list.

Best SUV under $15,000: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Mazda
Now that we got the prerequisite boring-to-drive-but-great-to-own Corolla out of the way, you can also find Mazda’s handsome and fun-to-drive compact crossover, the CX-5, at a comparable price. The CX-5 was redesigned for 2017, and 2018 brought desirable safety features like standard blind spot warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic warning systems.

In higher trim levels, the CX-5 is quite luxurious, and it offered a turbocharged engine on some models after 2019. The CX-5 scored above average in its road test and reliability testing, so it’s a great choice for anyone who wants an affordable, reliable, and somewhat fun-to-drive crossover.

Best Hybrid Under $20,000: 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Toyota
Alongside the Corolla, the Camry may not be the most exciting choice, but it is a very intelligent one, and its hybrid models offer impressive reliability and outrageous fuel efficiency, around 45 miles per gallon according to owner-reported mileage, though Consumer Reports’ Camry Hybrid got 52 mpg. It scores well above average in its road test scores, reliability, and owner satisfaction ratings.

It also offers the same standard safety equipment as the Corolla, with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning with lane-keep assist, and yes, standard Apple CarPlay was introduced for 2019.

Best small SUV under $20,000: 2021 Kia Sportage
Kia
Kia updated the Sportage in the 2020 model year, bringing improved reliability, refreshed styling inside and out, and standard safety features including automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assistance. It scores above average in the road test, well above average in reliability, but below average in owner satisfaction surveys. This is a case of a model that might not have been top of its class when new, but still offers a great package for a lower price than its competitors due to depreciation.

Since you didn’t buy it new, you don’t have to shoulder the brunt of that inflation, so you can get a newer model with desirable features for less money than a comparable RAV4 or CR-V.

Best Hybrid SUV under $20,000: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Toyota
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, like the Camry Hybrid and Corolla, is an easy vehicle to recommend to buyers looking for reliable and efficient transportation, as long as excitement isn’t on the wishlist. The RAV4 received a hybrid powertrain option in its 2016 update, but Consumer Reports highlights 2017 and 2018 model years as the ones to look for thanks to a bump in reliability reports from its surveys and additional features.

2017 and 2018 RAV4 Hybrids earned above average scores in road tests, well above average reliability rankings, and average owner satisfaction.

Best three-row SUV under $20,000: 2020 Mazda CX-9
mazda
Another Mazda made the list, which means another win for those who find joy in the act of driving. The CX-9 is not the biggest three-row SUV in the segment, but it received above-average scores in the road test, reliability, and owner satisfaction rankings. Mazda dealers can retrofit CX-9s with Apple CarPlay, and the 2020 model year is recommended because it received a refresh that brought standard pedestrian detection for the automatic emergency braking system.

2021 models got a new infotainment system, but its reliability predictions dropped below average. A used CX-9 offers a lot of car for the money, and it’s a fun-to-drive car at that.

Best luxury SUV under $20,000: 2017 Lexus NX
Lexus
If you’re really concerned about looking fancy despite being on a tight budget, the Lexus NX offers the best combination of affordable, reliable, and safe motoring, if you find one with the right options. CR recommends finding a model with the optional blind-spot detection system since some drivers find the NX’s outward visibility to be subpar.

While it is a Lexus, it’s based on the Toyota RAV4 and doesn’t offer occupants the same levels of isolation and coddling as other Lexus models, but it’s still a good choice. 2018 models may push over the $20,000 mark, but they include standard automatic emergency braking which is an important feature. It scored above average in its road test, well above average in reliability, and average in owner satisfaction.

Best pickup truck under $20,000: 2015 Toyota Tacoma
Toyota
If you need a sub-$20,000 pickup truck that won’t leave you stranded or hemorrhaging money on repair costs, the 2015 Tacoma is the truck for you. It ain’t perfect – it received average road test scores and owner satisfaction scores – but it is reliable with an above average predicted reliability score.

It’s a 10-year-old truck now, but it holds its resale value for a reason, and though it was the final year of this bodystyle, the update didn’t drastically change much.

Best sports car under $20,000: 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda
The fourth and final Mazda on this list is the most fun to drive, the legendary Miata. If you’re vertically gifted like me it might not be a good fit for you (literally,) but if you’re closer to average height and you want a fun, reliable, and satisfying-to-own sports car, get a Miata.

It got a big power bump in 2019, so look for 2019-or-newer cars, and if the one you find doesn’t have CarPlay, it can be retrofitted by a Mazda dealer. It earns above average reliability and road test scores, and scores well above average in owner satisfaction, plus owners say it can easily return over 30 mpg.

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Europe Wants To Ban Carbon Fiber From New Cars
BY RYAN ERIK KING APRIL 14, 2025 2:25 PM EST
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The lightness and strength of carbon fiber have made it a near-ubiquitous means of reducing the weight of new cars, especially heavier, battery-laden electric vehicles. However, the European Union wants to classify carbon fiber as a “hazardous material.” An amendment to the EU’s End of Life Vehicles Directive proposed last week would take effect in 2029. While the European Parliament will likely carve out exceptions, it would reduce the amount of carbon fiber used, so say goodbye to carbon-fiber-clad interiors on performance cars.

The European Union’s issue with carbon fiber stems from the potential dangers of its disposal, Motor1 reports. The material consists of micrometer-thin carbon filaments bonded together with resin. When carbon fiber is thrown away in a junkyard, it’ll start to degrade. The filaments will erode and become conductive airborne dust that could cause short circuits if it gets caught in machinery. While not as bad as asbestos, a very low bar, it can be painful if carbon fiber dust comes in contact with your skin or you breathe it in.

Japan would suffer the most with an EU carbon fiber ban
stockphoto-graf/Shutterstock
The potential EU ban has raised a significant concern for Japanese carbon-fiber producers as they account for over half the world’s market share, according to Nikkei Asia. Toray Industries, one of the companies impacted, has 50% of its automotive carbon fiber sales in Europe. A Toray representative said, “This is not an issue for an individual company, and we need to coordinate with industry groups of fiber and automobiles to deal with this.”

Lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium are all already on the EU’s hazardous material list, but companies are still using them in manufacturing. Carbon fiber would face different difficulties if used on an exceptional basis. The material’s design benefits are best utilized if it replaces significant parts. For example, European aviation giant Airbus is exploring methods of replacing aluminum structural components with composites on its next-generation planes. Companies want to reap the weight benefits, and a less-harmful alternative is not readily available.

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These Are The Worst New Car And SUV Deals Right Now, According To Consumer Reports
BY COLLIN WOODARD MARCH 19, 2025 2:25 PM EST
Toyota
Republican tariffs may soon wreak havoc on new car sales, but at least for now, we haven’t seen any massive changes. Supply is generally back to where it needs to be, and you should be able to find most cars at or below MSRP. That isn’t necessarily the case with every new car, though. Some of the most in-demand models still command a premium, and if you can find a comparable alternative, it could easily save you thousands of dollars.

So which new cars are currently the worst deals? Our friends at Consumer Reports recently crunched the numbers on actual transaction data from TrueCar and found 10 of the worst offenders. Unfortunately for Toyota fans, more than half of the vehicles on this list are Toyotas. You may still decide to pull the trigger on one anyway, but at least you’ll know what you’re getting yourself into before you drive onto the lot. Here’s what they found, ranked by the percentage over MSRP that customers are actually paying.

Ford Bronco – 7 Percent
Ford
2025 Ford Bronco Base 4-Door 4×4

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 48

MSRP: $37,995

Average Price Paid: $40,479

Average Markup: $2,484

Kia Soul – 7 Percent
Kia
2025 Kia Soul GT-Line

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 73

MSRP: $24,090

Average Price Paid: $25,687

Average Markup: $1,597

Toyota Sequoia – 7 Percent
Toyota
2025 Toyota Sequoia SR5 RWD

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 59

MSRP: $62,425

Average Price Paid: $66,783

Average Markup: $4,358

Ford Mustang Mach-E – 7 Percent
Ford
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select RWD

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 68

MSRP: $36,495

Average Price Paid: $39,058

Average Markup: $2,563

Toyota bZ4X – 7 Percent
Toyota
2025 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 55

MSRP: $43,880

Average Price Paid: $46,972

Average Markup: $3,092

Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid – 7 Percent
Toyota
2025 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid SE

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 75

MSRP: $33,375

Average Price Paid: $35,804

Average Markup: $2,429

Toyota Grand Highlander – 7 Percent
Toyota
2025 Toyota Grand Highlander XLE AWD

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 74

MSRP: $45,230

Average Price Paid: $48,528

Average Markup: $3,298

GMC Sierra 1500 – 7 Percent
GMC
2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Reg Cab 4WD

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 64

MSRP: $43,100

Average Price Paid: $46,296

Average Markup: $3,196

Toyota GR86 – 8 Percent
Toyota
2025 Toyota 86 Manual

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 72

MSRP: $30,000

Average Price Paid: $32,302

Average Markup: $2,302

Toyota Prius Hybrid – 8 Percent
Toyota
2025 Toyota Prius LE AWD

Consumer Reports Overall Score: 77

MSRP: $29,750

Average Price Paid: $32,043

Average Markup: $2,293

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2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Blows Away Every Truck In Its Segment
There’s no beating the new Taco when it comes to power or off-road capability
BY  ELIZABETH BLACKSTOCK APRIL 23, 2024 6:00 AM EST
Jalopnik / Elizabeth Blackstock/Other
There was a moment where, with all four wheels of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma hybrid hovering through the air, I felt firmly invincible. I was jumping a pickup truck, after all — if I could do that, then by god, I could do anything. With all of its off-road capabilities, the new Taco hybrid is exactly the kind of vehicle that can let you dream big, then hit the trail and actually see those dreams become a reality.

If you’re a pickup truck fan, you know that Toyota introduced a full redesign of the trusty Tacoma for the 2024 model year, and it came with a new body-on-frame TNGA-F platform, stunning bodywork, top-of-the-line features, tons of trim options, and a whole slew of trim and powertrain options to choose from. Earlier in April, I had a chance to test each of the hybrid-powered trims (with the exception of the TRD Sport) before they make their way to their designated truck-buying audience, with each trim being paired to a set of conditions that best suited it. Here’s what I learned.

Full disclosure: Toyota invited me to Coronado Island in San Diego, California for an all-out trip test driving four new or refreshed Toyota models in just two days. It was an impressive display of event organization, though I think I was most taken by the ducklings and flamingos living in the pond outside the hotel. Toyota provided its full slate of hybrid pickups for us to try throughout the weekend.

Jalopnik / Elizabeth Blackstock
2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid TRD Sport
While I didn’t have a chance to test drive the TRD Sport trim, this does give me an excellent opportunity to note the features that come standard on the Tacoma’s hybrid trims:

Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, which pairs a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4 engine with a 48-hp electric motor

326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque (a 75-percent boost in torque compared to the V6 in the Taco’s previous generation)

8-speed automatic transmission

12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system

Part-time 4WD with a two-speed transfer case

Active traction control

Hill-start assist control

Drive modes including Normal, Eco, and Sport; and Tow/Haul settings

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 driver-assist stuite

2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid TRD Off-Road
Jalopnik / Elizabeth Blackstock
Toyota had us take the TRD Off-Road trim out on a course it called the “playground,” which lived up to its name. This was a fairly straightforward off-road loop that featured massive elevation changes, sharp turns, and some simple rocky outcrops to offer a sense of what’s possible for even the more base trims of these hybrid trucks. In addition to the features listed above, you can opt for an available front stabilizer disconnect mechanism that offers an impressive amount of suspension articulation, as well as an electronically locking rear differential, monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shocks, and an end stop control valve to increase damping force.

I was impressed with the hybrid TRD Off-Road and its performance on the playground loop. This is a well-rounded can-do trim that’s got just enough of the good stuff to make it a really great vehicle for folks like me, who live in rural Texas. It’s a great truck for running to the grocery store, but it can also capably handle the tight, rutted, one-lane rural roads that make up the region I live in. For what it’s worth, this is also the Tacoma trim I’ve seen most in the driveways of the ranchers near my house — and if the previous generation V6 has left that much of an impression, I’m sure the even more powerful turbo hybrid will further define the Tacoma’s legacy as a no-nonsense, capable truck.

2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Limited
If you want a nice road-going truck that can also capably hit the trail when you get the occasional off-road itch, then you’ll best benefit from the Limited trim. I had a chance to drive this trim a few times, since it regularly ended up as my shuttle from Coronado Island to Vogt Ranch.

Since this isn’t an off-road–specific trim, the Limited is a little different than the other models on this list. It’s a premium vehicle with full-time four-wheel drive, an electronic locking center differential, adaptive variable suspension that continually adjusts to road conditions, and additional drive Sport S+ and Comfort drive modes, along with a Custom drive mode that owners can curate themselves. Inside, you get heated and ventilated synthetic leather seats, a head-up display, walnut-look accents, a 14-inch touchscreen, a premium JBL sound system, a digital rearview mirror and a power moonroof.

The Limited was a great on-road machine. There’s a little bit of turbo whine that makes its way into the cabin, but I’m pretty certain the only reason I focused on that sound is because everything else felt easy. As a mid-size pickup, the Tacoma doesn’t feel too big to serve as a comfortable highway driver. It also boasts responsive handling, rapid get-up-and-go acceleration, and enough visibility that it made both congested San Diego traffic and sharp mountain turns feel equally comfortable.

2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid TRD Trailhunter
Jalopnik / Elizabeth Blackstock
If you’re looking for a from-the-factory overlanding rig, Toyota will have just the right option to meet your needs. Newly created for this new generation, the Trailhunter model is the one Taco trim that’s only available on the hybrid models. It’s wholly designed with long-distance off-road trips in mind, which means it includes standard Old Man Emu monotube shocks, a low-profile high-mount air intake, 33-inch Goodyear Territory Rugged-Terrain tires with 18-inch bronze-finish alloy wheels, and tons of neat aesthetic features like Toyota’s bronze heritage-inspired grille.

Also standard are features like part-time four-wheel drive, an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case, and a front stabilizer disconnect mechanism, all of which are designed to make your ride as capable as it is comfortable. You can select different terrain options in both 4WD-High and 4WD-Low, and you can use Crawl Control to serve as your off-road version of cruise control.

These capabilities alone are fantastic. We had a chance to take the Trailhunter out for a slow cruise around a very technical off-road loop that featured steep inclines, sharp rocks and river fording, where the trim proved itself as an immensely adept off-roader. But I have to give a special shout-out to the Multi-Terrain monitor, which shows you multiple camera angles all around the exterior of the truck to help you best position the truck for oncoming obstacles. There’s one key difference in this Multi-Terrain Monitor when compared to the one in the Land Cruiser: In the Tacoma, it features shadows of your tires.

In the Land Cruiser, the additional camera views displayed on the infotainment screen were really helpful, but I also felt that it’d take me a while to get used to the dimensions of the vehicle as translated on a wide-lens camera shot of the path in front of me. The Tacoma eliminates that learning process entirely by simply featuring two black shadows designed to represent your tires, which gives you an immediate sense of where your truck is aiming and what you might run into. That’s a huge benefit for folks who aren’t super familiar with the whole off-roading thing, or for those of us who are often too short to peer around the bodywork of a big ol’ truck.

Toyota refers to both the Trailhunter and the TRD Pro trims as “halo” trims, which means they’re both designed to sit at the very top of the Tacoma lineup. However, they’re designed to serve more specific needs. The TRD Pro trim is inspired by high-speed Baja racing, which prioritizes a lightweight machine that’s well suited for rapid jaunts across the desert. It’s not perfectly suited for the slower pace of overlanding, which often also involves a truck weighed down with supplies. As the overlanding trend continues to grow, Toyota decided that it needed a trim like the Trailhunter to help cater to that specific market — and it’s a winner.

2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid TRD Pro
Jalopnik / Elizabeth Blackstock
For a capable truck that can do just about anything — including launching through the air — then you need to look at the TRD Pro trim. This is the top-of-the-line offering for the Taco hybrid, and the hybrid powertrain is standard here (though you can opt for a purely combustion engine if you choose). You’re getting a ton of great off-road tech, but there’s one component I want to highlight: the front seats.

For this trim, Toyota is introducing standard IsoDynamic Performance Front Seats — that is to say, seats that have a built-in air-over-oil shock absorber system. These seats are designed to reduce all that jostling around you do when you’re bumping along the trail, and they absolutely rip.

Jalopnik / Elizabeth Blackstock
Let me illustrate the capabilities of those seats with a story. One of the TRD Pro models at Toyota’s test day had an IsoDynamic seat for the driver, but not for the passenger. During his first few laps of the high-speed test course, stunt-driver-turned-off-road-Toyota-instructor Art Haynie told me he had the misfortune of riding shotgun in one of those standard seats — but he didn’t know it. When it came time for him to drive, he joked with me that he thought he must have been a way better driver than the guy who took him out for those initial laps, since the ride was so much smoother. It wasn’t until later that he learned it was a seat issue, not a skills issue.

I haven’t done a ton of high-speed off-roading, but I’ve done just enough that I have a healthy, slightly terrified respect for the discipline. It takes a lot of effort to maintain high speeds over bumpy terrain when you’re being rattled around in your seat, but after jumping the Tacoma TRD Pro, careening it through a banked turn, and flying through hairpins, I was pretty damn confident that I could win the Baja 1000 tomorrow — as long as I was driving a Tacoma TRD Pro. Even relative novices like myself can master the finer points of high-speed off-roading with those damn seats.

Also specific for the TRD Pro are other standard off-road upgrades like FOX QS3 adjustable shocks with rear remote reservoirs that have been specially tuned for the Tacoma, a performance air intake, and 33-inch Goodyear Territory Rugged-Terrain tires with 18-inch black alloy wheels. On the looks side of things, you can opt for a TRD Pro–specific paint shade, as well as two-tone paint. You’ll have a ground clearance of 11.5 inches, along with 35.7-degree approach, 24.6-degree breakover and 22.6-degree departure angles, which are specific to this trim.

Let’s Talk About Mid-Size Pickups
Jalopnik / Elizabeth Blackstock
I’ll be entirely honest — I can’t think of a more impressive mid-size pickup on the market than the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, and these hybrid powertrain options make an already-great machine even better. The updated Tacoma feels truly generational thanks to its wholesale improvements in everything from aesthetics to suspension, while the hybrid options provide a big boost in power. Toyota offers more trims and a more diverse array of powertrains than its competitors in the mid-size truck market, and this new Tacoma generation will force other automakers to reevaluate just what makes a good truck.

Not Ready For The Hybrid Revolution?
Toyota is well aware that the jump to electrification might not appeal to all of its loyal customers, which is why you can still nab a full slate of trims powered by its turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4, untouched by the addition of a battery and electric motor as an integral part of the powertrain. In that configuration, you’ll have access to cheaper, more base-level trims, like the SR, SR5, and TRD PreRunner. Unless your purchase is primarily dictated by cost, though, I think prospective Taco buyers will likely appreciate the boost in capability offered by the more advanced hybrid trims.

Other trims, like the TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road and Limited all come with the option for the standard four-cylinder or the turbo hybrid, but you’re looking at a decrease in power if you go for conventional combustion. With non-hybrid power, you’ll max out at 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque on your Taco; bump up to the hybrid, and you’re looking at 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. If you want the all-new Trailhunter trim, though, your only option is the hybrid powertrain.

Full pricing for the Tacoma Hybrid trims haven’t been released yet, but Toyota did tell us that the MSRP for the base-level hybrid TRD Sport trim should start just under $48,000, including handling fees. Expect the ultra-capable TRD Pro to start somewhere in the mid- to high-$60,000 range.

COMMENT(S)
RECOMMENDED
RACING
Porsche Teases 963 Street Car To Celebrate Count Rossi’s One-Off 917 Daily Driver 50 Years Later
BY BRAD BROWNELL APRIL 25, 2025 8:00 AM EST
Porsche
Porsche’s 700-horsepower mid-engine hybrid-and-turbocharged V8-powered 963 hypercar has been racing, and winning, in the FIA WEC and IMSA endurance sports car series since its introduction for the 2023 season. While the 963 has not yet found the ultimate success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it has won the 24 Hours of Daytona the last two years running and is undefeated in IMSA across the first three rounds of the IMSA championship in 2025. This is another in a long line of winning top-class prototypes from Porsche, which stretches all the way back to the iconic Le Mans-dominating 917 introduced in 1968. In June of this year, when Porsche aims to add another Le Mans victory to its already impressive tally of 19, the German sports car brand will unveil what is likely to be a street-legal version of the very car it will race there.

Porsche
So far Porsche hasn’t actually said anything confirming the existence of such a vehicle, though the teaser image above was appended to a video commemorating Count Martine heir Teofilo Guiscardo Rossi di Montelera’s (of Martini & Rossi fame) one-off street-legal 917 built by Porsche for the Count in 1975. The connection, these fifty years later, could not be more blunt.

Rossi was one of those well-to-do eccentric wealthy folks with plenty of hobbies, including powerboat racing, bobsledding, and Porsches. His famed support of the Porsche factory race squad was vigorous, so when he commissioned Porsche to build him a street-legal 917, the company wasn’t going to say no.

What of the 917 Strassenversion?
Porsche
Once its life as a race car was over, 917 chassis 030 was brought back to the Porsche factory for transformation into Count Rossi’s personal street-legal 5-liter flat-twelve rocket ship. In order to meet road legality ordinances, the low-slung tube-frame fiberglass monster was fitted with mufflers, fender mirrors, turn signals, and a horn. The rules at Le Mans at the time required all race cars to be fitted with two seats and a spare tire, so those didn’t need to be added, but the seats were reupholstered with leather from Hermès and a custom suede headliner.

Porsche
This also would not be the first time Porsche has flirted with turning a top-flight Le Mans race car into a road-going hypercar for the jetset, as it even went so far as to commission a street-legal concept of its thrice-Le Mans winning 919 eight years ago. The 919 Street Concept (below) was floated as a 1,000 horsepower follow-up to the 918 Hybrid, but ultimately decided it was too hardcore for drivers without a racing license. There were also street-legal versions of Porsche’s iconic 956, 962, and 911 GT1 Le Mans racers built, so this would hardly be new territory for the German brand.

Porsche
There’s no telling just yet what we can expect from a street-legal Porsche 963, but by the looks of things it’ll stick even more closely to the race car formula than the 919 Street Concept did, including the massive rear wing and billboard “shark fin” of the race car’s aerodynamics. Knowing Porsche, and the Penske-operated race team, it’ll be incredibly fast, set a few track records, and cost a whole lot of money. Look for more when Porsche finally unveils the finished product in a couple of months.

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RECOMMENDED
QOTD
These Cars Have The Best Wings Ever
BY ANDY KALMOWITZ MARCH 24, 2025 10:30 AM EST
Ferrari
Cars are meant to be fun, and one of the most fun things a car can have is a massive spoiler or wing slapped on its rear end. I know they’re sort of silly, but our world — as it is — is such a bleak and depressing place. Don’t you think adding a bit of silly whimsy to it would be beneficial for everyone? I do, and that’s what led me to my question from last week.

I wanted to know what car you thought had the best rear wing of all time, and boy, did you folks deliver. We’ve got cars that run the entire automotive spectrum on here, and more importantly, we’ve got wings that run the usefulness spectrum. That’s what it’s all about, baby. On one end, we’ve got front-wheel-drive cars with rear wings that do nothing. On the other, we’ve got super advanced deployable spoilers that provide meaningful downforce to serious supercars. Of course, we’ve even got the most useless wing of all, but you’ll have to scroll through to see what I’m talking about.

Anyway, that’s enough out of me. Head on down below and check out what your fellow Jalops think the best rear wings of all time are.

Merkur XR4Ti

Merkur XR4Ti. A factory double decker wing in the late ’80’s was kinda crazy.

From a styling perspective, the wing made the car stand out and drove sales of this relatively obscure re-badged Ford Sierra, (which was ironically only sold at Lincoln Mercury dealers here in the U.S.)

I’m sure the LM dealers weren’t exactly sure what to make of it, but Bob Lutz wanted a cool import for Mercury and he made it happen, well, at least for 3 years.

I remember wanting one.

Submitted by: Factoryhack

Porsche Panamera

Porsche Panamera! I mean that’s a wing that could release 20 years from now and still be seen as modern.

Submitted by: Ismail

Bugatti Veyron

The Veyron. It looks great and it’s not only functional, it’s dual-purpose functional. Provides downforce at high speeds and works as an air brake to help slow the car down from the aforementioned high speeds.

Submitted by: Bossrday

Second-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse

’97-’99 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST/GSX

Submitted by: smricha2

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII

Mitsubishi Evo VIII. It came with a FULL carbon wing. The wing element was unpainted, but if you sanded down the sides, it showed a beautiful weave underneath as well. In Japan, their MR version came with it unpainted showing it’s full 1×1 glory.

Submitted by: RenFoto

Lotus Esprit

The version on the 95-97 Lotus Esprit. So swoopy.

Submitted by: Ed

Ferrari F40

F40 and it isn’t close

Submitted by: ThatDon

You don’t get it
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock
I’m personally in camp that either no wing or if it’s actual supercar then it’s all the wings. Also as nordic person I kinda shy away from showing weath, especially if it’s not earned. If I ever would get really really really rich from some own enterprice (don’t have any), I would get Murchielago SV in orange. That’s top lambo and wing right there.

Othervise it’s no wing for me.

Submitted by: Matti Sillanpää

Volvo 850 T5R Wagon

Volvo 850 T5R wagon roof spoiler. Proportionate, fits well, and come on, its on one of the coolest car ever!

Submitted by: towman

Porsche 911

Porsche 911 whale tail, of course!

Now the worst is undoubtedly the wing on the 3rd gen Taurus SHO that Car and Driver described as looking like a skateboard clinging embarrassedly to the trunk lid.

Submitted by: Stillnotatony

Audi TT

I’ll say it… the first generation Audi TT. Is it the biggest, baddest wing? No, but it was an after-thought that stopped the entire car from going airborne at speed. When you build a car that’s shaped like an airplane wing, it will lift off the ground just like an airplane. Apparently Audi learned the hard way after the car was released to the general public.

Dodge Viper ACR

Viper ACR has to be somewhere on this list. Doubles as a bed, a picnic table, and whatever else you need to use it for. At 1776mm wide, it’s also a fun nod to the US.

Submitted by: MoparMap

BMW E30 M3

E30 M3. Since it was a homologation car, the rules for the racing series would only allow the spoiler to be a certain height from the trunk. They wanted it higher, so they raised the trunk lid on the production car.

Submitted by: Ian

Dodge Daytona & Plymouth Superbird

Best wing of all time? Easily the 1969 Dodge Daytona/1970 Plymouth Superbird.

Submitted by: HemiWagon

Lamborghini Countach

Countach, and I don’t care if it was useless!

Submitted by: BunkyTheMelon

COMMENT(S)
RECOMMENDED
CULTURE
Stop Wearing Headphones While You Drive
BY AMBER DASILVA FEB. 24, 2025 1:34 PM EST
Photoalto/frederic Cirou/Getty Images
One of the fun things about motorcycles is that, without pesky windows in the way, I get a pretty good view into the cars around me on crowded, slow-moving streets. This is also one of the least fun things, because I get to see exactly what drivers are doing behind the wheel — texting, scrolling TikTok, eating gas station sushi, all sorts of horrors. One of the worst offenses, though, is wearing headphones while driving. This is an dangerous form of distracted driving and if you do this, you need to stop immediately.

I started thinking about this again this morning after seeing a Reddit post complaining that modern cars don’t offer MagSafe iPhone mounts preinstalled. I’m actually on that poster’s side about that, built-in magnetic wireless charging would be fantastic, but their reasons for wanting it are where they lose me: They don’t want to run their phone through CarPlay, they want to run it straight to their headphones for better noise cancellation. This is, to be clear, dumb as hell.

Don’t be this guy
fast-stock/Shutterstock
That Reddit poster mentioned owning a Miata, and a desire to cancel out wind noise is understandable — it’s an absolute must for longer motorcycle trips, where earplugs are a necessity to avoid wind noise headaches — but a Miata keeps the wind off your ears with the finest in modern automotive technology, a device called a “windshield.” If it’s really that bad, roll up your window. If you truly can’t stand the increased road noise of a top-down Miata, maybe ask yourself if this car is the right one for you.

A windshield won’t distract you or limit your spatial awareness the way headphones do. In fact, headphones are a measurable impediment to reaction times while driving: A study out of the UK showed marked delays in reaction time to auditory input for drivers wearing headphones compared to drivers using speakers. Headphones can reduce the noise of your engine, of nearby cars, even of ambulance sirens in your vicinity. You’re supposed to be paying attention to the world outside your car with as many senses as possible, and cutting one of them off is never a good idea.

Beyond that, driving with headphones is illegal in many jurisdictions. Particularly so if you’re wearing headphones in both ears, as opposed to just one — the latter is something of a standard for rideshare drivers here in Brooklyn, who often have a phone call in one ear and road noise in the other. Driving with headphones is unsafe, rightfully illegal in many places, and yet still far too common. Please stop this. I’m begging you.

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EVENTS
NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
2026 Subaru Solterra Hits Puberty With Better Looks, More Range, NACS Charging And A 338-HP XT Trim
BY LOGAN K. CARTER APRIL 16, 2025 9:25 AM EST
Logan K. Carter/ Jalopnik
With the slogan More Than A Car Company, Subaru donates millions of dollars to charities and environmental causes each year, and it has run the first zero-landfill car manufacturing facility in the U.S. for the past 20 years. For a company so involved in environmental protection, Subaru’s efforts to electrify its cars has lagged, but that’s beginning to change. It recently unveiled new Forester and Crosstrek Hybrid variants, but the Solterra, Subaru’s lone EV that’s twinned with the Toyota bZ4X, has always felt half-baked and premature. For 2026 however, Subaru is giving its humble little Solterra a big boost in style, performance overall appeal. Remember when you emerged from the awkward stage of puberty with a stronger jawline, a more developed body, and more muscle than when you were a kid? The Solterra just hit that milestone, and not a minute too soon.

The outgoing Solterra faced complaints about its low range that barely breaches 200 miles in real-world driving, its slow charging speeds, and its overall underwhelming performance. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but modern cars are so well-sorted that every new car must be exceptional to succeed, and the Solterra was quite unexceptional. The refreshed Solterra has more powerful motors for quicker acceleration, a longer-range battery and improved charging capabilities, a nicer interior and new tech features. Possibly the biggest boon? The new Solterra has access to Tesla Superchargers thanks to its now-standard NACS charge port. Looks like Subie’s forgettable EV just became memorable.

Solterra? I hardly know ya
Subaru
The Solterra needed more than the usual mid-cycle refresh in order to revamp its image, so it’s a good thing Subaru didn’t skimp out on the improvements. The outgoing Solterra suffered from funky looks that I doubt have ever been referred to as cool or good in any way. The facelift brings some character with a much cleaner bumper design and Subaru’s new corporate split headlight motif that has six clusters of LED running lights, representing the six stars on the newly illuminated Subaru badge. In some specs the Solterra’s fenders are even color matched, turning from frumpy into downright demure.

The new NACS charge port is relocated from the driver’s side front fender to the passenger side for easier access to those shortsightedly short Tesla Supercharger cords. Once you plug the new Solterra into that oh-so-convenient Supercharger, you’ll be endlessly grateful that the old Solterra’s embarrassingly poor charge speeds have been catapulted closer into the realm of competitiveness. While the old Solterra’s 72.8-kWh battery pack could only charge at 100 kW, the updated model’s 74.7-kWh pack can accept up to 150 kW of charging power, and there’s a new battery preconditioning system to make fast-charging easier and more efficient, especially in bad weather. Subaru says the 2026 Solterra can charge from 10% to 80% in “less than 35 minutes,” which I guess is an improvement from last year’s model achieving that in “as little as 35 minutes.” At least range is now up to more than 285 miles, a big jump from the 227-mile max range of the outgoing Solterra.

Even quicker than a WRX
Logan K. Carter/ Jalopnik
Remember those more-powerful motors I mentioned earlier? Subaru says the 2026 Solterra’s pair of electric motors combine to make 233 horsepower that gets sent to all four wheels, a modest jump of just 18 ponies, but that’s not the whole story. For the first time, Subaru is introducing a performance-oriented XT trim to the Solterra that further increases output to a maximum of 338 horsepower, or more than 100 horsepower greater than the outgoing Solterra. Subaru says the new Solterra XT will complete the 0-to-60-mph run in less than 5 seconds. That means it beats out the Subaru WRX ts, the brand’s highest performance model at the moment, to 60 mph from a standstill by nearly a whole second. Those are the only Solterra XT details that are currently available, but we’re eager to learn more.

Beyond straight-line performance, the 2026 Solterra has a new all-wheel-drive system with better power distribution and control, and updates to the suspension and electric power steering. It still has a good-for-its-class 8.3 inches of ground clearance, and Subaru’s X-Mode system with off-road drive modes and Downhill Assist Control. Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features is standard, with automated emergency braking, front cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam and lane-change assist, and a panoramic view monitor among the included tech features.

It’s what’s inside that counts
Subaru
Inside, the 2026 Solterra has undergone a major redesign with a horizontal design theme, with everything from the dashboard to the center console and door panels getting overhauled. Nice upgrades include a new 14-inch touchscreen (nearly two inches bigger than before) that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and runs a newer version of the Toyota-based infotainment system. Two side-by-side 15-kW wireless phone chargers in the center console allow both front passengers to wirelessly charge at the same time, but if you prefer analog charging, you can plug into the new high-power USB-C charge points.

The hulking new infotainment screen does away with the dedicated climate controls underneath the old screen, replacing those switches and touch-sensitive controls them with two physical temperature knobs and a climate menu in the touchscreen itself that’s always present, showing things like fan speed and seat controls. You also get a real volume knob! The polarizing squircle steering wheel remains, so you still have to look over the steering wheel to see your gauges instead of looking through it as on almost every other car.

The 2026 Solterra is slated to go on sale later this year, though Subaru didn’t announce pricing or any other specifications beyond what’s noted here. We’ll blog like the wind as soon as we hear more info about it. Until then, the Solterra’s updates appear to have transformed it into a more worthy competitor. Ah, the magic of puberty.

COMMENT(S)
RECOMMENDED
CULTURE
NICE PRICE OR NO DICE
At $6,200, Could This 2004 Land Rover Get You Disco Dancing?
BY ROB EMSLIE FEB. 28, 2025 8:30 AM EST
Craigslist
Off-roaders should look like they go off-road, and today’s “Nice Price or No Dice” Land Rover Discovery wears the warm patina of outdoor adventure. Let’s see if its price tag has us beating a path to its door.

Given enough time, even the mundane can appear marvelous. The 1987 BMW 325e we looked at yesterday was the company’s economy six, which, while good enough, is hardly the ultimate driving machine. At $8,500, though, that was good enough to impress, earning the frugal Bimmer a solid 71% Nice Price win.

Hitting the trail
Craigslist
When it was first introduced to the European market in 1989, Land Rover’s Discovery became an instant hit. Based largely on the fancier Range Rover, the Disco–as it affectionately came to be known–brought that upscale model’s solid capability and a bit of panache to a whole new, more affordable price bracket.

Unfortunately, another aspect the Disco shared with its valet-friendly older brother was a penchant for poor build quality and disappointing durability of numerous parts and subsystems. That affliction damaged Land Rover’s brand reputation, especially in America, where the Disco had yet to arrive.

A better sequel
Craigslist
In 1999, Land Rover brought to all markets, including the U.S., the Discovery II. The company claimed it was 85% new, despite looking much the same as its predecessor. Still sharing its frame and drivetrain with the Range Rover, the Disco II offered a lengthened and widened body that could accommodate a third row of seating.

It also received a spate of updates to comply with the safety and emissions regulations demanded here in the U.S.

A melting pot of brands
Craigslist
At the time of the Discovery II’s debut here in the U.S., Land Rover was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company, having just been offloaded by Germany’s BMW. At the same time, the only engine Land Rover had certified for the U.S. market was its all-alloy V8, an engine that started out life in the 1960s as a Buick mill. That’s quite the spectrum of companies all involved in getting the Disco dance hopping.

Trail Edition
Craigslist
This 2004 Land Rover Discovery II is touted as having been optioned with the Trail Edition package. From the dealer, that included a front brush guard, to which were mounted auxiliary driving lights, additional brush guards on the tail lamps, and a ladder on the back door. On this one, the front guard has been replaced with a beefier ARB bumper and full-width bull bar. That’s matched with another aftermarket bumper in the back. Another change is the replacement of the running boards with chrome running tubes along the rockers.

Per the ad, this Disco is in excellent running condition, but is aesthetically a bit rough. The clear coat is jumping ship on the hood, and both the ladder and lamp guards in the back show signs of surface rust. On the plus side, all of the bodywork is straight, and, being an off-roader, the visual blight might actually be taken as appropriate.

The cabin seems to be in surprisingly solid shape. This model features leather seating surfaces, and Land Rover typically got its skins from cows with a surprisingly short sell-by date. That makes this truck’s still-together interior all the more impressive. Another issue endemic to these is a failing headliner, which also surprisingly seems intact on this one. There’s no mention in the ad as to whether this truck has the optional third row or not. The pictures show it with a bike in the back, not waving rugrats.

The mechanicals make up for the looks
Craigslist
The seller does say that they have owned this Discovery since 2007, and claims it to be a “Very Solid Driving Truck” that is in “Excellent Running Condition.” The drivetrain consists of the Rover, née, Buick V8 in 4.6-liter displacement and offering 217 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, a four-speed automatic transmission, and Land Rover’s stout 4WD. This being an ’04 model, it has the lever-operated center diff lock.

It also has what is colloquially known as the “Three Amigos”: a series of dash lights that indicate an issue with the ABS, anything from a bad wheel sensor to a failed controller module. The truck should run fine with this scenario, but off-road braking and hill descent would be impacted.

What’ll it cost?
Craigslist
Despite Land Rover’s reputation for poor quality and fan-girling service writers at the dealership, most of those up for sale have lots of miles under their belts. That’s not the case with this one, as it has a modest 130K on the clock. It also has decent-looking tires, and a clean title. The asking price is $6,200.

Our survey says…
Craigslist
What’s your take on this Land Rover and that $6,200 asking price? Does that seem like a fair deal to have a Disco ball? Or does the truck’s patina take the shine off of that price?

You decide!

San Francisco Bay Area, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.

H/T to Don R. for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at robemslie@gmail.com and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your commenting handle.

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BUYING
ADVICE
I Need A City Car To Pair With Our SUV! What Should I Buy?
BY TOM MCPARLAND APRIL 24, 2025 12:00 PM EST
Kia
Brant is moving and will have enough room for two cars. He is looking for a small city commuter car for around-town driving that would pair with a Telluride. It needs to be able to handle two kids comfortably, but also cheap and easy to park. With a budget of around ten grand, what car should he buy?

(Welcome back to What Car Should You Buy? Where we give real people real advice about buying cars. Do you want us to help you find a car? Submit your story on our form.)

Here is the scenario.

My family is moving from Dumbo, Brooklyn to Red Hook, Brooklyn and need a small second car for taking the kids (7 and 5 yo) to school in Brooklyn Heights, running occasional errands, and a rare commute into midtown. We already have a Telluride (which we love), so we don’t need something for road trips, highway driving, or moving large loads. Really, we’re looking for something a little fun (but still practical), easy to park, will hold a booster seat and a car seat, and that we can sell in a year or two without a big loss. Amazingly, our new place has its own garage – but it’s small! Our Telluride is about 2 inches too long (but as tall as we want – it’s an old commercial garage I think). So we can leave it in the garage most of the time, and park the Telluride on the street. HEre is the thing, we don’t want to spend a lot of money…thinking like ten grand max. And no mammals, I don’t want to deal with a clutch in the city.

Quick Facts:
Budget: $10,000

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Daily Driver: Yes

Wants: Small, easy to park, comfortable for two kids

Doesn’t want: Something giant

Expert 1: Tom McParland – Charge It Up And Zip It Around
Autotrader.com
So let’s get something out of the way, if your budget is around $10,000, you don’t have to worry about “losing value” too much as those cars are already at the end of their depreciation curves, so any further value loss over a year or two will be minimal. That being said, finding a quality car at this price point will be a challenge, especially in the city. Filtering through the listings to find something that isn’t a complete basket case will be a time-consuming process.

My suggestion is to pivot to the EV space since you can score something a little newer, with more reasonable mileage, for cheap. Since you have a garage, I would imagine you can add a charger, and since this is a car for short trips, it is the ideal use case for an electric. The big hiccup with finding inexpensive EVs is that so many have advertised prices that already bake in the $4,000 used vehicle tax credit, so it is critical that you examine the details of the ad if something looks too good to be true. However, this 2016 Kia Soul EV for under $8,000 doesn’t list any caveats. It only has 93 miles of range, which isn’t awesome compared to more modern electrics, but with only 56,000 miles, it would be a cheap and zippy runabout. Like its gas-powered version, the Soul is a spacious compact that can easily fit two kids in the back and slots into parking spots with not problem.

Expert 2: Amber DaSilva — The Official Vehicle of Red Hook
Triumph
Next time you’re wandering the streets of your new home, take a look around you. On every block, street-parked outside seemingly every building, there’s one vehicle that links the trendy bits of Red Hook together: The Triumph Bonneville. Sure, the neighborhood has its fair share of vintage Hondas and modern Tenere 700s, but the Bonneville is the true vehicle of Red Hook. Williamsburg gets the Thruxton.

I’ve found you not one, but two local Bonnevilles that can be had — together — for less than your $10,000 budget. That’s one per parent-kid combo, meaning you’ll get to ride together over those long, harsh two miles between you and Brooklyn Heights. Adults at the controls, kids on the back, it’s a setup that only works in the low-speed, high-visibility driving situations of urban centers. Sure, you could just take the bus, but why do that when there are motorcycles to be had?

Now, you did say that a clutch was a dealbreaker. I’m hoping that that’s only referring to a foot-operated clutch, but if you really don’t want to operate one with your left hand then I have a solution for you: The Honda Rebel 1100 DCT, like this example that even comes with a backrest for the kids. At $8,000, you’ll only get one within your budget, but maybe you can get a bulk rate.

Red Hook may be New York’s worst transit desert — there are only two real bus options between you and Brooklyn Heights — but a motorcycle cures all of that. Get yourself a pair of Bonnevilles, and fit right in to your new neighborhood. I have it on good authority that five years old is a perfectly fine time to start riding pillion.

Expert 3: Bradley Brownell – Scoot City
Vespa
You already have a massive SUV in one of the most densely packed cities in America, so what you really need is the opposite of that. Something lively and nimble for your extremely short school run, and fun enough that you’ll want to use it to run and grab groceries or whatever. The real answer to your conundrum is a lightly used electric Italian scooter, the delightful and cheery Vespa Elettrica.

Your already small garage will thank you for not jamming a full-sized vehicle in it, and the Vespa will easily charge overnight so you can put your five-ish mile commute to bed without any kind of range anxiety. These little 6-horsepower scoots go about 60 miles on a full charge and top up from flat in about four hours. Here’s one just a short drive away from the city in Albany for $4,999, and it seems unlikely you’ll lose much on this if you decide to sell it, but it’s cheap enough you can keep it for your kids to ride around the city solo when they’re old enough. With a low seat height and lots of legroom, you’ll have no problem getting your kids to school and picking up an espresso on the way home. Ciao!

Expert 4: Colin Woodard – A real color that actually fits your budget
Green Light Auto Sales
Well, my initial reaction was that you should just throw your kids on a bus or train and skip this whole “buying a car just to take your kids to school two miles away” thing, but our resident New Yorkers have since informed me that Red Hook is one of the few parts of Brooklyn where transit is so bad, you probably actually do need something else. And right now, I’m hearing e-bikes. Your kids will love them, exercise is good for you, the family can bond and you can splash out on multiple bikes with all the accessories you might possibly need for less than $10,000.Since this is America, though, you probably won’t do that, even if, objectively, it’s the correct thing to do.

So now I have to find a car that will do the work of the e-bikes you probably won’t buy. Tom’s probably right about the Kia, but since we can’t recommend the same car multiple times, how about we think smaller and go with the old Fiat 500e? The range isn’t great, but you aren’t going to drive it more than 20 miles round trip anyway, so who cares? Even in winter, you’ll be fine. And it’s cute, which is always fun. Plus, my oldest niece and nephew are a little older than your kids, and they fit in my blue one, so I can’t imagine your kids will have any issues.

Here’s one close enough to you that you could probably drive it home without charging, and it also costs less than $10k while coming in a real color. The driver’s seat looks fairly worn, but you’re the one who turned down my e-bike suggestion. This is also assuming there’s a power outlet somewhere in that garage you’re currently parking the Telluride in. If there isn’t, you could still make it work, but it would be a little more complicated since old 500es don’t exactly do fast charging. The e-bikes would still work, though. You can just charge those batteries inside.

Read More: https://www.jalopnik.com/1801053/2004-land-rover-discovery-nice-price-or-no-dice/