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…
Is your mechanic overlooking important components in your car for routine maintenance? By now, every car-owner should know how important semiannual engine oil changes and seasonal tire, wiper, battery, and brake checks are. But those aren’t the only maintenance needs your vehicle has — they’re just the most frequent. There are many other services that…
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…
Earlier this month, several sources reached out to GM Authority with a… Everybody loves Friday. Everybody, it seems, except for General Motors. First, news… Yesterday, General Motors announced that it is expanding its previous recall of…
Remember that iconic scene from Beverly Hills Cop when Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley sneakily shoves his banana (technically three of them) into the tailpipe of the patrol car trying to tail him? Have you ever wondered if that trick works in real life? We’ve all seen it happen in movies and television shows: some prankster–whether…
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…
As autumn rolls in and temperatures fall, more and more drivers will be out on country roads for Sunday afternoon drives to behold the breathtaking scenery. You might be one of those nature-lovers planning to round up the family and set out on a sightseeing tour of fall leaves. Just because deciduous trees are more…
Consider everything that affects your auto financing options before making a purchase If you are in the market for a new or used car, you can usually get a better deal at a dealership if you agree to finance the purchase with an auto loan. Before deciding to finance your car, though, you need to…
Photo: The News Wheel Many drivers treat their car’s dual-clutch transmission in the same way that they would drive a car that had an automatic transmission. But, a dual-clutch transmission is more like a manual transmission than automatic. And if you don’t treat it properly, you could permanently damage it. Some of your current driving…
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…
There are many entertaining shows on Netflix for adults who love seeing cars in action and learning about how to customize them, but many of these shows are either uninteresting or inappropriate for young viewers. Luckily, the digital streaming service has many titles in its kid-friendly library that will please children who love cartoons and…
My family and our tan Ford Taurus station wagon Photo: The News Wheel I grew up riding in the backseat of a Ford Taurus station wagon — and I mean the rearward-facing backseat where we made faces at other drivers! That seems like ages ago, as station wagons have disappeared from America’s roads quite suddenly….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The perpetrator in question at the scene of the incident Photo: library_dragon via cc/Flickr Some jokes are timeless … while others inexplicably survive year after year. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who said that their favorite joke was a “why did the chicken cross the road” gag, but yet the format persists against all…
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…
Photo: The News Wheel As the debate rages regarding the future of physical media, my mind has been reflecting on the types of audio-visual media that I grew up with 30 years ago. I’ve been particularly nostalgic for the VHS cassette and its associated equipment, including the giant bulky VCR and — one of the…
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…
Photo: The News Wheel A car’s tires slowly lose air as the seasons change and time passes, and it’s important to keep those tires properly inflated for safety and efficiency reasons. A portable air compressor is a valuable tool to have in those situations — or when you have a roadside emergency out-of-state. Digital tire…
Photo: The News Wheel When it comes to the most esteemed motorsports board games, Rallyman is near the top of the list. Unfortunately, not many people have gotten to play the game because its original 2009 release immediately sold out, and it’s been hard to obtain ever since. The result was an ongoing demand for…
The Dodge Magnum topped Edmunds.com’s Most Popular Used Cars for Millennials list Photo: Allen If you want to know what’s trendy at the moment, then you should always look to see what the Millennial generation is doing. Recently, it looks like one of the trendiest things to do is to buy a Dodge Magnum. According…
Photo: The News Wheel It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which means a blanket of snow on your car and a sheet of ice on the road. Winter brings dangerous weather conditions, so it’s crucial that you adjust your driving and maintenance habits accordingly. Make sure you keep these tips for safe winter…
While driving around town is a fairly uneventful activity most of the time, there are situations where you may feel anxious behind the wheel — especially if you recently experienced an accident, are still learning to drive, have a new car, or are somewhere unfamiliar. While we at The News Wheel are certainly not medical…
Why do people keep rubber ducks on their vehicle dashboards? Photo: Kendra via Creative Commons 2.0 Have you noticed a Jeep in traffic or in a parking lot that has rubber ducks lined across its dashboard? This trend is becoming increasingly popular, yet many people don’t know what these rubber ducks on Jeep dashboards are…
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…
Photo: The News Wheel The prices of new vehicles are climbing up and up every year. Even used car prices have been at record heights. How can you afford to replace your broken-down ride with something that runs reliably? It all starts with a down payment. While not every car dealership will expect a down…
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…
In the world of motorsports, there’s nothing as wild and rowdy as a sprint car race on a dirt track. Vehicles and drivers are pushed to the limit as they trade paint and claw their way across the finish line. It’s quite different from the prim and proper international racing that’s more about precision than aggression….
Photo: The News Wheel Even in the most luxurious models, sitting in a car seat never feels wholly comfortable due to the frustrating, unnatural contour of the headrest. While the rest of the seat is ergonomically shaped around your body, the headrest awkwardly juts out. Why is that? Here’s why car seat headrests are uncomfortable…
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…
Your car’s air vents might not look dirty, but they’ll filled with dust and particulate that blows into your lungs every time you run the air conditioning. If the air ducts are filthy and neglected, they’ll fill the cabin with pollutants and irritants that could be harmful to your lungs. When you’re cleaning your vehicle’s…
As the first automaker to use a Japanese word as its name, Subaru has established a universal brand identity thanks to global use of its six-star emblem. Have you ever wondered what those stars represent, and where the automaker got its name? Related: Could the 2017 Subaru Impreza be a game-changer for the sedan market?…
Is this an SUV, a CUV, or a crossover? Pictured: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport There’s a lot of jargon the automotive industry tosses around that it assumes everyone understands, but — in actuality — they don’t. One of the most common questions that I hear is, what is the difference between an SUV and a…
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…
Photo: The News Wheel There’s much more to driving a car than what you learn in driver’s ed — and I’m not just talking about the wisdom that years of driving experience will bring. We all have habits we’ve picked up from our parents and friends growing up, routines that are outside of the “rules of…
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…
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…
If your car key fob’s range has diminished, the buttons aren’t responding to your touch, or the vehicle is having trouble recognizing its proximity, the key fob battery is probably dead. Yes, it is possible to replace the battery in your key fob, and it’s easier than you think. All you need is a small,…
Turtles crossing the road…are they safe from belligerent drivers? Photo: squamatologist via CC Human beings are capable of some dark and demented things, but would people purposefully swerve onto the shoulder of the road—outside their driving path—just to run over a small animal? The idea is appalling to most of us. Mind you, we’re not…
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…
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…
Photo: All vehicle images above are attributed to their respective OEMs Are you looking for a new car, truck, or SUV in a unique color? Green exterior paint is a great way to stand apart from the abundance of vehicles on the road in gray, silver, black, or white. A few years ago, I predicted…
Photo: The News Wheel You can do a lot more than fill up your car’s gas tank at a gas station. You can inflate a low tire, run it through the automatic car wash, and vacuum it out. You can even wash your car’s windshield using that fluid-soaked squeegee — for free! But is it…
Why is the spare tire noticeably smaller than a standard wheel? Photo: robmba via CC You’re driving your car along the highway, and you hear that sickening POP! as that rear tire blows. You pull your vehicle over and go to obtain the spare tire from inside the trunk. When you lift it out, you notice…
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…
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…
Photo: The News Wheel Buying a used car can save you a lot of money on a great vehicle. But, buying the wrong pre-owned car will actually lose you a lot of cash by being a money pit. How do you avoid purchasing a lemon from a car dealership? Here are the deal-breakers that should…
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