Domestic Cars

by tgriffith

Tesla: The World’s Most Popular Automaker?

We can’t seem to escape news about Tesla lately. The company is dominating headlines on auto blogs and news websites across the Internet. If the story isn’t about a new innovation, idea, or product from Tesla, it’s about another car company trying to beat Tesla at its own game.

Never, in my lifetime at least, has one automaker demanded so much attention and inspired so much competition.

Here’s a rundown of stories, from this week alone, showing Tesla’s dominance over the automotive news cycle: Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Buick Regal GS: Handsome, Strong, and Fast

I’m going to try to avoid mentioning grandparents in this post, because the days of Buicks coming with AARP cards are officially gone.

It’s taken a while to get to this point, though. In fact, the words “performance,” “sporty,” and “Buick,” were last used together 30 years ago when the Grand National GNX was intimidating Toyota drivers everywhere.

Today’s Buicks are evoking memories of the GNX and making folks forget about the automaker’s stodgy and drab past. Yes, the GM-owned automaker is now building some of the most attractive cars on the road—and providing the performance to go with it. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Could This Become the New Ford Bronco?

If you’ve never heard of the Troller T4, it might be time for you to copy and paste that name into a Google search and then marvel at the images staring back at you.

The Troller is a boxy off-roader sold in Brazil and built by a company now owned by Ford. For fans of the Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, and Ford Bronco, the Troller might look like the fantasy car you never knew existed.

And get this: One source has said the upcoming 2020 Ford Bronco will look like the Troller, but “a 4-door version of that.”

How excited are you right now? Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

The End of an Era: Viper Ending Production

In 1998 a friend purchased a used 1994 Dodge Viper. I’d never seen a Viper in person, and the car took my breath away. Its glistening red paint and exotic curves were unlike anything I’d seen on a car before.

I got more than my fair share of seat time in that car and am even proud to say I got at least one “Viper Kiss,” the infamous burn on the calf from the exhaust pipes mounted just under the doors.

As time went on, my taste in cars shifted more toward German engineering, but the Viper always held a special spot in my car-loving heart.

Next month the Viper, which has had a tumultuous past couple of years, will cease production and fade into the past as a relic of a gas-fueled era. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

New Teslas Could Last 1,000,000 Miles

We’ve all known people who sell their cars before they turn past 100,000 miles.

That was probably a wise move back in the 1980s, but today’s vehicles can live well past that mark, even doubling or tripling it with proper care.

Diesel engines can go even farther, routinely cruising past 500,000 miles.

The longevity of gasoline and diesel motors are ultimately limited by all the moving parts and heat generated by the process of turning liquid fuel into energy. Pistons, valves, injectors, gaskets, and more are subject to eventual failure, thereby limiting how long a motor can last.

Electric cars don’t have those parts and are sometimes advertised as needing less maintenance. But just how many miles can an EV go? Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

The Best Vehicle for a Summer Family Road Trip?

The open roads of America are hard to ignore this time of year. Millions of people heed their call and embark on trips throughout this grand country. Whether you’re the kind of road-tripper who lackadaisically putts down quiet 2-lane roads in search of lost American culture or blasts through states at 75 mph on the nation’s Interstate system, the vehicle you choose for your adventure will play a vital role in your trip’s success.

Choose a car that’s too small and you’ll drown in stuff. Choose one that’s too big and you’ll spend more money than necessary on fuel. Choose one that doesn’t offer the perfect seating position and your back may never recover. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Fog Lights: The Latest in Obsolete Car Tech

Fog is a known killer on highways around the world, but a popular accessory to battle the soupy stuff is starting to fade away from today’s vehicles.

The New York Times says,

Fog was a factor in nearly 20 percent of deadly multicar pileups involving 10 or more vehicles.

Fog is especially prevalent in some regions, including much of the Southeast, northern New England, the Pacific Northwest and the Central Valley of California, and it forms most often in winter. Deadly multicar crashes generally occur when cars and trucks traveling at interstate speed drive into what is essentially a low-lying cloud and quickly lose visibility. Drivers may not see the slowed cars ahead until it is too late, with one vehicle crashing into the next, including huge tractor-trailers.

Fog presents a real danger, and many car shoppers make sure their new cars are equipped with fog lights. In fact, the lower lights are expected on higher-end cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Some automakers, though, are removing the lights, because they’re no longer deemed necessary as headlight technology improves. Yes, add fog lights to the once-common list of features on cars that are going away forever. Continue reading >>>

by Matt Smith

Boston to Nashville: A Cheap Car Challenge Results in a Bargain Mazda RX-7

Cheap_car_challenge

When people shop for cars, they typically stay local. But a new CarGurus study revealed that expanding your search to other metro areas can yield substantial savings. Buying a Ford Mustang in Miami, FL, rather than Albany, NY, could save you close to $2,000. Picking up a BMW 3 Series in Albuquerque, NM, instead of Dallas, TX, might net you as much as $1,900 in savings—all after considering the cost of airfare and gas for the drive back home. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Dodge Demon Danger: Can’t Buy It Without a Waiver

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

There aren’t many cars that require the buyer to sign a waiver before driving it off the lot. In fact, there might be only one.

The Dodge Demon, which is actually a Challenger in SRT Demon dress, might look close enough to a standard-issue Challenger to fool the non-initiated, but make no mistake, the Demon is a devil just waiting to prove how delightfully dastardly it can be.

While the Challenger, especially in Hellcat guise, is a perfectly capable performance car, the Demon is a deceptively dangerous track car that’s been approved to freely roam the streets. This isn’t a car for just anyone, though. There’s enough potential danger lurking under the hood (and in the tires), that buyers must sign a waiver before actually buying one. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Regular Cars That Cost as Much as Luxury Cars

Barring the stratospheric price of the Ford GT, the Blue Oval isn’t exactly known for high-priced luxury. That could be about to change, as an $80,000 Ford family hauler is now a reality.

Cars that cost upward of $60,000 and approach $80,000 used to be the realm of ultimate luxury and performance. We’re talking top-end BMWs and Jaguars that blend plush driving pleasure with spirited performance, not to mention a certain brand panache that justifies the price tag.

Today, the $80,000 price point is starting to encroach on mass-market brands. While we are not likely to see an $80,000 Taurus anytime soon, another Ford is dangerously close to breaking that not-so-budget-friendly milestone. Continue reading >>>