2023 Ford Mustang Mach e Review
Tesla made the first modern electric cars, beginning about 15 years ago. It also made the first electric cars that weren’t focused on being economical or practical cars as the first electric cars (like the Baker electrics) were designed to be, some 120 years ago. Tesla’s concept was to make electric performance cars, so as […]
2022 Mercedes EQS Review
Here’s something that’s hard to find: An electric version of a car that costs less than the engine version of the same car. That would be the Mercedes EQS. What It Is The EQS is essentially an electrified S-Class sedan, which is Mercedes’ top-of-the-line (and full-size) luxury sedan. The body of the EQS is more streamlined, with […]
Going No Faster in Cars That Can, Safely
Cars have changed a lot over the past 50 years. Speed limits and how people drive haven’t. Fifty years ago, most cars still had drum brakes in the back and marginal disc brakes up front. None had ABS. It took them longer to stop. Unless you knew how to brake, they would go into a skid if […]
2022 Toyota Prius Review
The best electric car is the one you never have to plug in—a hybrid electric car like the Toyota Prius. It has all of the advantages of an electric car including the ability to be plugged in (if you buy the plug-in version) and run on battery alone for about 25 miles without ever having […]
A Tale of Two Geniuses
Elon Musk is hailed as a “genius” by some. And he is, but not in the way they mean it. Like Henry Ford, Musk took something he didn’t invent that was essentially a curiosity and recast it in a different way. The difference is that when Henry Ford simplified the car by standardizing parts and mass […]
2022 Ford Maverick Review
Trucks used to be affordable, practical things. The new Ford Maverick resurrects that idea and adds one more. It is also easier on gas than most economy cars because none of them have a bed you can haul stuff in. What It Is The Maverick is not a ‘70s spin-off of the Pinto/Mustang II as […]
If “Safety” Really Mattered
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared as NMA weekly E-Newsletter #716 from October 2022. In several objective ways, new cars are less “safe” than cars built decades ago. A strong statement. One that probably seems ridiculous, too, given all the “safety” features new cars have that old cars did not, and the fact that new […]
2022 Lexus GX460 Review
The blockbuster novel and movie Jurassic Park was all about resurrecting the dinosaurs, but wouldn’t it have been better to just keep them from going extinct in the first place? The Lexus GX460 is one such dinosaur well worth preserving. It’s been around and largely unchanged since 2010–an automotive Jurassic Era ago. Most cars and trucks get a […]
Making the Hydraulic Systems in your Vehicles Last
A great way to save money is to not spend it. One great way not to spend money is by doing everything possible to extend the service life of your vehicle and its systems. This idea of extending life is especially important for the hydraulic system. Vehicles with manual transmissions have two hydraulic systems. Most people have […]
2022 Nissan Titan Review
The only new half-ton truck that still comes standard with a big V8 engine isn’t an American truck. It’s the Nissan Titan. Who’d a thunk it? Some new half-tons, the new Toyota Tundra, for instance, don’t even offer V8s anymore. On the other hand, if you want a regular cab or an eight foot bed, the Titan doesn’t […]