It was a mild spin followed by an off. No contact — not even a position battle. I’d merely overcooked a corner, tried to get my Miata turned before I ran out of track, and failed. I went straight off (albeit backwards) and found myself looking back at Summit Point’s turn five, watching the other drivers in my session zing in from house left at a yellow-flag pace. Upon receiving the go-ahead from … [Read more...]

Ford began selling the Ford Crown Victoria in the 1992 model year, and its incredible two decades of sales success with law enforcement organizations and taxi companies tended to overshadow its popularity as a civilian vehicle. Naturally, plenty of Crown Vics have been customized, with highlights including tank engine swaps, Police Interceptor lowriders and so on, and today's Junkyard Gem is … [Read more...]

On a recent trip to Paris, we needed to get from the City of Light to the Pop Culture Museum about 30 minutes away. Scrolling the transportation options, we discovered a Budget rental car location in the city offering a Lynk & Co Co 01 plug-in hybrid crossover. We don't write much about Lynk & Co anymore, I’d forgotten about them until I kept seeing the shapely, full-figured Co 1 driving … [Read more...]

The rumors suggested it, and now it’s official: Adrian Newey is moving to the Aston Martin Formula 1 team as the Managing Technical Partner. This comes months after he announced his departure from Red Bull amidst turmoil surrounding Christian Horner. Ever since Newey made his decision to leave Red Bull, he’s been the hottest commodity in the paddock thanks to his ability to design … [Read more...]

In 1958, the four Walklett brothers founded Ginetta as a race car maker with the same focus on light weight and super-sharp performance as better-known companies like Ace, Caterham and Lotus. Today, the company makes race and road cars, organizes one-make series' like the Ginetta Challenge run here in the U.S., and sells the GT6 Evo for FIA GT racing around the world. At the 2019 Geneva Motor … [Read more...]

It’s a cop-out move to say there won’t be a loser in a comparison test between two cars, but when the pair is as similar to each other as these are here, it wouldn’t be a surprising conclusion. But we’re not cop-outs, and there is a winner to be picked between the Honda Civic Type R and Acura Integra Type S. Anybody shopping for one should deeply consider the other. Even if you’re a hardcore Type … [Read more...]

The Wagoneer name came back to life recently, nearly three decades after being used for about ten minutes on a trim-level designation for a woodie-fied first-year Grand Cherokee, but the vehicle we're supposed to think of when we see the word Wagoneer is the original SJ version, which was designed by the legendary Brooks Stevens and built from the 1963 through 1991 model years. We saw a 1966 … [Read more...]

At some point, every vehicle has delivered its intended purpose, no matter how dear it is to a family or owner. When that time comes, it’s essential to consider your options in order to figure out how to get the best price for your trade-in, whether it be trading, selling, or mothballing the car for a future family owner. If you’re considering getting rid of the vehicle, you have several avenues … [Read more...]

In the beginning, there was a Hyundai Palisade in Portland, Ore. In the end, there will be a Porsche Panamera in Agoura Hills, Calif. After almost exactly five years, this Luggage Test will be the 157th. It will also be the last.  I started doing luggage tests for a few key reasons. First, we're a blog that needs a lot of content. The more the merrier. Second, I needed a secondary review … [Read more...]

One of the most underrated joys of life is simply having a nice, comfortable place to sit down and take a load off. Plopping down and settling into a good book, a show, or even a drive can be a mental health essential. Sometimes, though, our choice of seating does us more harm than good. If your seat isn't appropriately supported, it could exacerbate problems like run-of-the-mill back pain or even … [Read more...]

Autopilot is a Tesla feature that gets a lot of attention. But the cars come equipped with many more, including the "frunk," which competitors have copied. Other unique Tesla features include "Dog mode" and "Ludicrous Plus Mode." Tesla vehicles are engineered with a plethora of interesting add-ons and easter eggs. Some of the features are what you might expect from a tech-savvy car … [Read more...]

Chrysler sold PT Cruisers in the United States for the 2001 through 2010 model years, with sales strong at first and then gradually diminishing as the 21st century got rolling and the initial retro-styling novelty wore off. Because it was based on the Dodge/Plymouth Neon, performance parts were readily available for the PT Cruiser; eventually, an aftermarket for body kits and other exterior … [Read more...]

At a time when many people are feeling the crush of higher prices and stagnant wages, any ability to save money can be a lifeline. Owning a car is a significant expense of a substantial number of people, but it turns out that where you live can have a big impact on how much it costs to have a vehicle. National Business Capital recently released a list of the best states to own and operate a car in … [Read more...]

For those collectors with vested interests in German machines — and who may have a stash of frequent-flyer miles they’re able to cash in — consider attending a high profile auction of stunning cars to be held from RM Sotheby’s in Munich in November. The event, the third of its kind, will offer more than 40 classics, culled mostly from brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and BMW. There’s even a … [Read more...]

New cars are packed with all sorts of tech and safety features, but more isn’t always better for buyers. J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study found that the loads of features in new vehicles can be polarizing for owners, with some praising the tech and others saying it was frustrating. The organization ranks vehicle features on a “problems per 100 vehicles” (PP100) scale. Owners … [Read more...]

A while back, one automaker ran commercials saying something like, “The best new cars make the best used cars.” That might be hyped-up marketing speak, but there’s logic to the statement. Consumer Reports recently put that thinking to the test with an evaluation of the brands and models that make the best used purchases, and there are few surprises with the top brands. The publication polled its … [Read more...]

For some drivers, the audible warning of an unbuckled seatbelt that repeats in a car’s cockpit is a mighty annoyance. For some, it's a welcome reminder to buckle up. For Californians — in a state where automotive safety issues often take center stage before emerging nationally — it's likely that yet another chime “reminder” will makes its way into vehicles: one that beeps when the driver exceeds … [Read more...]

If you live anywhere near an urban center, there’s a good chance that you will spend more time than you’d like looking for parking. Planners try to incorporate as many parking spaces as possible, but it’s rarely enough to handle the influx of commuters and everyday drivers that most cities endure. Waiting on a solution can take a lifetime, so it’s up to the market and technology to help frustrated … [Read more...]

American fans of the Mitsubishi Chariot family enjoyed a gratifying range of badging choices for their vehicles during the middle 1990s, with the shortened three-door version available here with Mitsubishi, Dodge, Plymouth and Eagle badging. Of those, the one sold as the Eagle Summit Wagon is the hardest to find today. I was able to document this discarded '93 in a Denver boneyard recently. … [Read more...]

For EV drivers traversing the great state of Wyoming, the Smith’s grocery store in Rock Springs is an oasis. It’s just off I-80, there’s a Petco across the street, and it has six plugs promising to charge at 350 kilowatts. At that rate, a Tesla Model 3 could go from empty to full in the time it takes to hit the bathroom and grab a Snickers. But when I limped up to the station last month … [Read more...]