Why Your Mileage Will Vary…
The window sticker says 25 city, 34 highway - but you find that you're seeing much less than that.
Is it false advertising?
Arguably, yes.
Minimally, it's a case of not-so-good explaining.
I'll try to...
The “Low Maintenance” and “Reliable” Long Con
The best con is one you never recognize. The one that keeps you paying - and keeps you smiling.
You thinking you got the best end of the deal.
Modern cars get you...
Don’t Buy New
Whatever you do, don't buy new. It no longer makes sense - and can be very bad for your wallet. I advise this as an automotive journalist, a guy who writes...
“Gas Hogs”?
It's taken as gospel that pre-modern cars, especially those made in America, and particularly those with big V8s, were "gas hogs."
But were they, really?
And are new cars as fuel-efficient as advertised?
The answer...
Hemi Horror Story
The other day, I ran into a guy I know who owns a late model Dodge Ram pick-up with the 5.7 Hemi V8. The truck has just over 100k on the clock....
Three Things To Know About Oil Changes
You've heard the saying, your mileage may vary? The same applies to oil and filter changes, too. The intervals (time and mileage accrued) are general recommendations that may not apply in...
Car Cliffs Notes
I always read the owner's manuals that come with the new cars I test-drive and review. They've morphed from pamphlets to Moby Dick-esque semi-novels over the past 20 years or so. And...
The Domino Effect
When most people can't afford to buy things outright, the cost of money - interest - becomes even more important than the cost of the things themselves.
For the past eight years,...
The Four-Wheeled Bubble
Bubbles are always obvious ... in retrospect.
Here's one you might not see coming.
The Car Bubble.
People are taking out eight-year car loans.
This is - or ought to be - alarming. The automotive equivalent...
Things You Won’t Find In Your Next New Car
It's almost impossible to find a new car that doesn't come standard with amenities that used to be expensive options such as air conditioning (usually, automatic climate controlled air conditioning), power...