New Truck Review: 2024 Ford Lightning
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist Ford has been having some trouble persuading people who want to buy a truck to buy an electric truck. While sales of the F-150 have remained as healthy as ever (the F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in North America) sales of the battery-powered version of the same […]
Another Target Missed
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist You may recall when GM promised the battery-powered iteration of its Equinox crossover would have a starting price “around $30,000” when it became available for the ’24 model year. How’s around $50,000 grab you? Once again, the “target” has been missed — as if Stevie Wonder were […]
New Car Review: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist Last year — which is still actually this model year — Subaru’s Crosstrek was pretty much the only small crossover that still came standard with a manual transmission. Or even offered one. Next model year — which is still this calendar year — the Crosstrek joins the […]
The Costs of the Mafia
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist Why is it a bad idea to force people to buy car insurance — leaving aside the forcing them to buy it? Well, because it enables the insurance mafia — how else to describe a business that uses threats of retaliation if you don’t agree to pay […]
New Car Review: 2024 Mazda3
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist The Mazda3 offers something that’s become uncommon . . . Variety. It does not come just one way — with just one engine. Or just one transmission (invariably an automatic) as many of its small-car rivals do. It’s also like one other car — the Miata — […]
The Mobility Show
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist There used to be car shows — annual events at which the car manufacturers would show off their latest designs, to whet the appetite of car buyers. How about a mobility show, instead? That’s what the Tokyo Motor Show — which until now was like the Detroit […]
New Car Review: 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist Sedans — which used to be the best-selling vehicles — have become a harder sell since the early 2000s, chiefly because crossovers (and SUVs) offer the roominess and practicality that used to sell sedans, plus the usually available AWD or 4WD that makes crossovers and SUVs better […]
If it Risks Even 20 Million Lives
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist We’ve all heard the evil mantra that a thing is worth imposing on everyone if it “saves even one life.” How about when the thing imposes the risk of death on 20 million people? Then, apparently, it is worth the risk — imposed on those 20 millions […]
The $41,000 Dent Repair
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist If you’re wondering, as many American drivers are wondering, why your insurance premium recently got “adjusted” — even though you’ve not been in an accident or even gotten a ticket — you might want to watch the video below. The owner of a Rivian electric truck took […]
Most Annoying New Car Feature?
By Eric Peters, NMA Member and Syndicated Columnist The title of this article begs an interesting question, for openers. If a feature is annoying, why would anyone choose to pay for it? The answer, of course, is that they have no choice — assuming they want the car — because these annoying features are standard […]