How Are Vehicle History Reports Compiled?

When buying a used car, it’s crucial that you check its vehicle history report before sealing the deal. That account can tell you a lot of secrets about the vehicle that simply looking at the car itself wouldn’t reveal, such as accident history, flood damage, or title issues. Where do companies like CARFAX and AutoCheck get their…

Why Should I Buy a Coupe? Is It Practical?

Pictured: 2018 Nisan 370Z coupe Every vehicle type has its own usefulness: trucks can haul and tow, minivans offer lots of seating, hatchbacks are fuel-efficient and versatile — the list goes on. But when it comes to coupes, what does that vehicle style offer that other types don’t? Is it just a nice-looking car that’s…

Should I Refinance My Used Car Loan?

A car loan can help you afford a nicer pre-owned vehicle by paying for the purchase in monthly installments rather than all at once. When you initially finance the deal, you’re subject to the best rates and terms your available lenders will offer you. However, factors like your credit score and monthly income can change…

Behind the Badge: Yes, There's Meaning Behind the smart Car Emblem & Name

A couple months ago, I encountered a cross-country caravan of smart cars parked outside an automobile museum. After marveling at the various decorative styles adorning each different car, I also began noticing the same design element proudly adorning each grille: the circular arrow badge. It reminded me of the power button on an electronic device; but did the smart…

Why Are Stretch Limousines So Long? A Short History

Want a ride in a classic Lincoln limousine? Photo: vapi photographie via CC Today’s automobiles are all about efficiency, practicality, and streamlining. But for a century, one type of vehicle has consistently gone against the grain and deliberately become more outrageous and ostentatious: the limousine. The subject of many visual jokes, the stretch limousine is…

pre-owned cars Archives

Good luck following your dad’s advice to always buy low-mileage, good-condition used… If you’re shopping for a car and are constrained by a tight… It is important to be careful when you are shopping for a… How do you know when it’s time to get rid of your… The automotive industry took a pretty big…

Getaway Driver Review: A Rousing Homage to Cinematic Car Chases

Photo: The News Wheel The vast majority of automotive-themed board games fall under one of two categories: Either they’re motorsports races or they simulate the economics of vehicle manufacturing. Even with the abundance of inventive games being produced in this golden age, rarely does a title tackle automobiles from any other angle. Designer Jeff Beck…

Cartoon Car Spotlight: Creepy 'Turbo Teen' TV Show Should Stay Buried in the '80s

Turbo Teen is much more sinister than it first appears Photo: Ruby-Spears Productions Admittedly, I’m a big fan of obscure, oft-forgotten cartoons from childhood. I still think Cadillacs & Dinosaurs was criminally underrated and deserves a live-action reboot (it’d be far better than the recent Transformers and Jurassic World movies). But there are some old…

Top 10 Weirdest Car Fads You Won't Believe

Over the past century, the automotive industry developed rapidly, due majorly to the influence of unorthodox thinkers and creative minds. A lot of new ground has been broken when it comes to automotive transportation over those years. With such cutting-edge innovation comes a trail of bizarre inventions and fads. It’s baffling what people will do…

Cars you Didn't Know Were in 'Apollo 13'

Photo: Steve Jurveston via Flikr There’s a strong argument to be made that the most iconic vehicle in any movie about the Apollo Space Program should be some variant of the Saturn V rocket. Then again, that brings up the larger conversation about whether spacecraft should be qualified as vehicles. Regardless of where you come…

David Hasselhoff's “True Survivor” Music Video Showcases an '80s Lamborghini Countach

The Hoff leans against a Lamborghini Countach Photo: David Hasselhoff via YouTube One of this year’s biggest cinematic epics wasn’t released on theater screens by a major studio, but rather on computer screens in homes across the world. Fans of cheesy 1980s nostalgia helped make Kung Fury a hit when it debuted online. The crowd-funded…

7 Ways to Stay Clean at Gross Highway Rest Stops

Public restroom at Kuromaru Parking Area along Meishin Expressway in Japan Photo: Yuya Tamai via Flickr/CC 2.0 There’s nothing better than spending the time in the car traveling the highways and byways of America on a cross-country road trip … and there are few things worse than having your journey interrupted by the call of nature at…

Book Review: 'Making a Morgan' Exquisitely Captures the Vintage Brand's Spirit

The Morgan Motor Company is a David among an industry of Goliaths. England’s last independent, privately-owned automaker has been resistant to the changing production methods and neutered styles of the modern automotive industry–despite being advised to “get with the times.” This high-end automaker has established a consistent identity for nearly a century as a producer…

The Rise and Fall of the Chrysler Crossfire

Remember the Chrysler Crossfire? Photo: Wikimedia Commons Chrysler’s lineup is pretty small now, focusing on just the family-friendly Pacifica and the posh 300, but over the years, the luxury brand has released a number of memorable models. For a couple years, the Crossfire was the automaker’s flagship model, but its presence in the Chrysler lineup…

What's the History of the Car Antenna Topper?

Ever wonder how these things started? Photo: smysnbrg via CC Fads come and go, and that truth applies to cars too. As technology improves and style changes, vehicles change with the times–and I’m not just talking about old woodies or blowers. For decades, many people topped their metal car antenna rods with novelty items what swayed back and…

Who Is the Actress Playing the Awkward Grandma in BMW’s X5 Commercials?

Who is this mysterious woman? We have the answer! Photo: BMW USA It didn’t take long for us to become fans of the awkward, dirty grandmother who disclosed her husband’s S&M fetishes in BMW’s commercial for the X5. She’s brought more personality to BMW’s advertisements than they’ve had in years–doing so in a lighthearted, memorable…

The Origin and Meaning of Padiddle, the One-Headlight Car Game

Before smartphones kept passengers occupied during car rides, families had other ways of passing time on the road. Activities like “I Spy” engaged travelers with their surroundings, turning passing landmarks into games. One game rarely played by families these days but fondly remembered by older generations is Padiddle. Referred to by a range of names…

Behind the Badge: Why Alfa Romeo's Logo Features a Snake Eating a Guy

There are boring automotive logos–like the completely uncreative Kia badge – and there are clever ones –  like the many hidden messages in Toyota’s emblem. Then there are a couple automotive logos that are just…weird. Have you ever taken a close look at Alfa Romeo‘s badge, specifically the right portion showing a giant snake devouring a…

History of McDonald's Hot Wheels Happy Meal Toy Cars

McDonald’s Happy Meals Hot Wheels Toys from 1993 series release Photo: The News Wheel Countless children first became interested in automotive culture and mechanical engineering through toys. And for many kids in the 1980s and ‘90s, their first introduction to vehicles’ appeal was the Hot Wheels cars in McDonald’s Happy Meals. These miniature models have…

Behind the Badge: The Fascinating History of the Mazda Logo

Have you ever stopped and looked at the Mazda logo? Photo: Justine Ellifrits Unless you’re a graphic designer, you probably didn’t realize a lot of thought goes into auto brands’ logos. For instance, Mazda’s current badge might remind you of those simplified cartoon sketches of birds in flight. Look! It’s a flock of Mazdas! While…

Behind the Badge: The Mysterious Origin of Chevy’s Iconic Bowtie

In the world of automotive branding, there are boring logos…there are lazy text-based logos…there are run-of-the-mill logos…there are complex logos…and then there’s the Chevrolet bowtie. For a hundred years, this symbol of American automotive ingenuity has remained unparalleled in brand identity around the globe. Arguably, it’s the best out there. Everyone agrees that the iconic…