Category: vehicles

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People Share Their Hilariously Bad First Car Stories

Jimmy Fallon took to Twitter and asked everyone one specific question: what was your worst car?

I think my answer would probably be the Ford Probe I had as a teenager. Don’t even remember what year it was. It was a stick shift that didn’t handle so great, and the AC had broken years ago. If it was hot outside, my choices were to either keep the windows up and show up to wherever I was going drenched in sweat, or roll the windows down and show up absolutely windswept. Or, most often, some combination of both.

But what are so other stories of vehicular horror? Let’s see what Twitter had on offer.

10. The Baja Bug

I’m not sure that even actually counts as a car to be honest with you.

9. The Ford Temp

Hey, it was just trying to keep time.

8. The Lada

In Soviet Russia, car draws you.

7. The Datsun

As in “Dang, where’d you get dat, son?”

6. The Icemobile

I sure hope you were spouting Mr. Freeze lines the entire time.

5. The Renault LeCar

I’m sorry, were you just driving backward down highways like a lunatic?

4. The AMC Hornet

Ok that’s one of the most dangerous things I’ve ever heard.

3. The Runt

It’s kinda cute tho?

2. The Toyota Station Wagon

That sounds super secure.

1. The Alarmist

Guess that’s how you always beat the traffic, huh?

Glad those days are behind us, eh?

What’s the worst car you ever had?

Tell us in the comments.

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The 10 Car Brands That Cost the Least to Repair

Some of us don’t think about how much potential repairs cost when we’re shopping for a new car because that’s usually the last thing on our mind. But you have to face the facts: at some point, your vehicle is going to have problems – it might even break down and need major repairs.

So if you’re looking for a new ride, you might want to take this list into serious consideration. It could save you some money down the road.

This data is based on crunching the numbers from 5.6 million vehicles that had their check engine lights go on in 2018. Take a look.

1. Mazda

This Japanese producer had the lowest repair rate for check engine problems, costing an average of $285.70. The 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata was the least expensive Mazda to fix.

2. KIA

From South Korea, KIA’s average repair cost was $319.97. The 2016 KIA Soul was the least expensive model to repair.

3. Dodge

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The first American car company on the list, Dodge’s average cost was $326.41 with the 2017 Dodge Durango as their most cost-efficient model.

4. Hyundai

Hyundai, from South Korea, averaged $328.32 for check engine light repairs in 2018. Their least expensive model to fix was the 2017 Hyundai Tucson.

5. Chrysler

Chrysler came in at fifth place on the list with an average of $329.43. The 2017 Chrysler 200 was the carmaker’s cheapest car to repair.

6. Jeep

A check engine light cost Jeep owners an average of $338.57. The cheapest model was the 2017 Wrangler.

7. Chevrolet

Chevy owners paid an average of $341.19 to get their rides fixed up. The 2016 Chevrolet Traverse was the most economical model.

8. Volkswagen

The automaker from Germany cost drivers an average of $357.92. The 2017 VW Tiguan cost VW drivers the least amount of cash in the repair shop.

9. Honda

Since I see sooooooooo many Hondas on the street, I’m surprised that the Japanese company was not higher up on the list. The average repair cost was $426.86 and the most economical model was the 2016 Honda CR-V.

10. Toyota

Finally, another Japanese carmaker rounds out the top 10. For Toyota drivers, the 2014 Prius C is your best bet if you want to save money on repairs.

There you have it! Good luck on your car search!

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On October 6, 1909, Vancouver…

On October 6, 1909, Vancouver revealed its first Auto Ambulance and was taken on a test drive, when it ran over and almost instantly killed a wealthy man from Austin, Texas. Ironically, this man was the first person the ambulance picked up.

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Remember the “Dad Wagon?” It’s Making a Trendy Comeback

Fashion/trendiness is whatever looks great today, will look ridiculous in 10 years, and become “vintage cool” in 20 years.

It’s a tale as old as time. Whether it’s clothes, music, or cars, it seems that what is old will always become new again given enough time.

Take the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon, for example. Popularly dubbed the “Dad Wagon,” it was the subject of a lot of ridicule when it first came out… and for many, many years after.

Well, these babies are back on the road – thanks largely to millennials who are quite obviously digging them in a major way.

Hagerty Insurance reported an almost 50% increase in quotes for the vintage Buicks from 2017 to 2018, meaning that the Roadmaster Estate Wagon was the most requested car by 14 percentage points.

What??

The Roadmaster Estate Wagons were produced by Buick from 1991 until 1996, and they just scream 1990s style, don’t they? The Roadmaster Wagons are a whopping 18 feet long, can seat 8 people, and feature a sunroof, which we all need in our lives. But there’s another reason why these vehicles are appealing: under the hood is a 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine that has 260 horsepower. That engine, by the way, is the same kind used in Corvettes, Camaros, and Firebird Trans-AMs.

The price tag is nice as well. The average listing price for a Roadmaster Wagon in the Kelley Blue Book is $2,990. Not bad, not bad at all.

Jonathan Klinger, a spokesperson for Hagerty, said, “It’s a fun way to stand out for not a whole lot of money. It’s like driving a couch down the road: Big comfy seats that lack any sort of real driver-oriented support, but they’re just cushy and comfortable. And with the V-8 engine, it’s got a little bit of sleeper status to it.”

What do you think? Are you going to run out and get your hands on one of these vintage beauties?

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Amsterdam Enacts a Ban on All Gas and Diesel Vehicles

Pollution is the global issue of our time, and around the world more and more cities are trying to take measures to reduce their carbon impact.

Most recently, the city of Amsterdam has taken a MAJOR step towards cleaner air: the Dutch city has announced that it is planning to phase out all gas and diesel vehicles by 2030.

Amsterdam’s traffic councillor recently said, “Pollution often is a silent killer and is one of the greatest health hazards in Amsterdam.” You might be surprised that such a world-renowned bike-friendly city (30% of Dutch commuters travel by bike) has such an awful pollution problem, but air pollution in the Netherlands is worse than European rules permit. This is mainly due to the heavy traffic in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The city’s plan is to replace all gas and diesel engines with electric or hydrogen cars, or other emission-free alternatives, by 2030. The plan will begin next year when diesel engines built before 2005 will be banned from Amsterdam. The plan then calls for gradual banning of more vehicles from city streets.

The current levels of nitrogen dioxide and particle matter in Amsterdam’s air can cause respiratory illnesses and shorten life expectancy by more than a year. The city plans to get rid of public buses that run on gas by 2022, to increase the number of electrical charging stations to 23,000 by 2025, and to offer subsidies and special parking permits to encourage residents to make the switch to electric and hydrogen cars sooner than later. We all know how crucial a nice parking spot can be, right?

Hopefully, other cities around the globe will take note – and in fact Brussels, Belgium, is already looking to follow Amsterdam’s lead.

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The largest non-commercial…

The largest non-commercial rocket launch in European history was done for an episode of Top Gear where they tried to send a Reliant Robin into space.