Hey y’all! It’s the end of our second full week of the year on the website, so I thought I’d check in and see what you’re up to, your thoughts about the site, and what car projects might be happening in your world. Or whatever. This is a fairly open place to discuss things website-related, motorsports-related, and automotive-related. Or snacks. I love talking about snacks.
Many of you mentioned at the end of last year that you wanted to see more reviews from us, and I’m excited to say that’s coming. Many of you also asked that these cars be cheaper vehicles, and that’s coming as well, although the way the fleet system works (since I’m sharing cars with roughly 30-40 other journalists in the area), I get some nicer stuff mixed in as well. I’ve already written up the Acura Integra Type S, and I’ve got reviews of the Toyota Sienna, Toyota Crown, and Lexus TX400 in the future.
In the coming weeks, I should be able to get into the new Sentra, which is apparently very good, as well as the cheapest trim of the Chevy Trax. And a Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon… because I’m only human. As always happens, I have a performance car on snow tires, which means it’s like 50 degrees outside.
What’s the weather like where you are? The snacks? Let’s chat!
[Ed Note: Hi, DT here! Speaking of reviews, I just drove the Kia K4 hatchback, but they didn’t let us try the base model. So instead of a $24K-ish car to review, I had to review a $32K-ish car, which sorta defeats the point. But it was fun regardless, and I’m grateful for the opportunity; I’ll tell you more when that embargo drops in a few weeks. I’m installing the suspension on my WWII Jeep, and trying to button up the motor. I got super lucky on a part that was basically unobtainium except for from one source from France.
Otherwise, I’m struggling to find a place that can machine my flywheel. Honestly, I worry about the future of the car hobby, as the old-timers who can rebuild speedometers and starter motor and make custom leaf spring U-bolts and braze an old radiator are becoming really ancient-timers. We’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Besides wrenching, I’m spending time with my wife and baby, who is a bit nuts, but so much fun. Let’s chat! -DT]
Top photo: Saab
I’m currently at a resort in Barbados on our yearly trip to escape the MN winter. Happy that we also got to escape the nonsense going on there but that was just a happy accident. No big car projects planned until we move and I have more space for said projects.
The weather down here is alternating between pleasant in the shade and hot, which is not the best time to build a new shed but it’s most of what’s happening anyway. Keen to get it done though.. my Alfa has been stuck at my sister’s place since July with busted brakes but I have no space here to store the car or to fix them, so there it sits, waiting to be revived and mended.
I still have to get to the engine in the Olds as it’s still in pieces in the garage, also the Tahoe decided to not start one morning and I still haven’t diagnosed that. Naturally we bought another car because the Tahoe shit the bed,so now I have three cars to work on while renovating a house. The site is doing great I think,I just miss the podcast,hope you get back to it soon, although I guess you are making more money off the video maybe?
Having recently relocated from NJ to NC, my only thought is…what is it about the Raleigh/Durham area that makes VinFast so popular? Up in NJ, I saw exactly one. Here, I see at least one a day. They hurt my eyes.
Once I get over my illness and start working again, I plan on getting either a hatchback or a wagon to give our Mach E a rest. If I would’ve known a year ago that we were moving, I never would’ve gotten another EV. Most apartment complexes here don’t offer Level 2 chargers for residents.
Vinvast has a planned US factory is here in NC so they have a presence, probably a dealer or two in the area. Going by initial reviews I don’t understand why anyone would buy one who even did a cursory look up on them, maybe employee cars?
Ah, that makes sense!
As a fellow Raleigh/Durhaminian, I can offer the keen insight that I have no frigging idea how Vinfasts keep popping up. I thought I kept seeing the same one, until I kept track and there are definitely three on a regular basis within five miles of me.I can’t imagine who looked at a no-name brand that sprung up overnight with all the charm of an Amazon fly-by-night seller and horrible, horrible reviews, and decided that was where they’d put their next forty thousand dollars.
I though it was an abstract punchline of a vehicle until I saw one in person.
Now that I’ve seem them, they’re a concrete punchline of a vehicle.
I like your idea to send members to the PR events that have nothing to do with cars. I imagine you could find a good guest writer with some of those reports, and it’s a really nice way to engage the members outside of the site.
The only car project I’ve done recently has been sanding my headlights to get the yellowing off. I have been having this odd, occasional, cold start issue where I’ll turn my Journey on, drive less than a block away and the engine starts surging and shaking. It’s stalled a couple of times. Restarting the car, or just pulling over and waiting a couple minutes for it to sort itself out, makes it drive completely normally. Doesn’t happen all the time, but seems most common when it’s below 20° and the car sits for over 8 hours. No idea where to start with this issue, though I do know my O2 sensors are toast and I probably need new plugs and wires.
I look forward to the incoming reviews, but I’m excited for the Toyota Crown review the most. I’ve only seen a few in my area, and the majority of them seemed to be Ubers. I’m curious how good of an Avalon replacement it is. This seems to be the only car blog that actually takes into account the use case and target buyer for the car when doing reviews. I’m a little sick of seeing complaints about 0-60 times and how little Gs of grip an economy car or family hauler has.
Is it throwing any codes? Sounds like it could maybe be a mass airflow sensor issue
No codes other than o2 sensors and a random multiple cylinder misfire code.
I would suggest checking the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve, as with the moisture than can build up in them it can cause it to freeze until the engine compartment warms up.
On gm 2.4L GDI ecotecs, for example, the PCV orifice can freeze up so bad it causes the engine to blow out the rear main seal. This can affect the equinox, terrain, malibu, verano, captiva sport, regal, aura, and vue.
I’ll check the PCV valve, thanks for the idea.
Good luck, hope it’s something that simple.
It got up to 1F today, tomorrow should be a little bit warmer, but the wind is forecast to gust to 50 MPG and maybe a couple inches of snow. Welcome to North Dakota!
Grrr, grrwhinr GRR, chuff CHUFF BANG bang bebang thum? thump THUMP THUMP thumph thumpph thumph thum, humm purrrrr, growl and purr and purr.
The Bentley asked my to type this as it does not have fingers, or oddly. any knowledge of the internet. It is a happy car, amazingly the last engine out rebuild was in 1956, since when it has gone a long way (107,00 miles) good for the next now!
My day: I finally got to drive my late grandmother’s 3.0L Topaz, which was been parked outside since she drive it home in 1992, growing a rich patina of lichen. Mould is nouveau-riche. Lichen is Autopian royalty.
Is this a chance to post my website wish list?
1) Reviews of new cars that are the Autopian icons of the future. I used to be a car guy but find nearly all new cars too boring to learn about. The Velosters, the Smarts, the Vinfasts — the automobile meeks we want to inherit the earth even if theyre unlikely to last the decade. Restore my faith.
2) Speculative fiction about categories of production cars we wish existed. I’ll go first:
a) Domestic Stunt Car. (For those of us who grew up on ’70s cop shows. Requires transmissions that shift into reverse at 60 kph and land on their roofs.)
b) Recce Car (for those of us with a background in Rally and who daydream on graveltravel.ca)
c) Korean shooting brakes
3) More articles about non-North American car culture. Autopian needs a 27 year old Sierra Leone correspondent. And someone who can report on the current population of Argentina’s Ford Falcons. And who can explain why I saw an R32 with California plates in a post-apocolyptic Romanian Transylvania industial town. And if it’s illegal stuff being done in cars, give it six extra columns. I like Autopian because I’m a North American Gen Xer with a Toyota, a bald spot, and an RRSP. But I love Autopian because a trans woman once got me me excited about trains. Trains?! WTF!
4) A poet
5) Matra Murena Day
Mark in this, how little that which thou deniest me is
— Rob
Yes to Matra Murena Day!
A poet sounds like a fine idea.
Maybe a synopsis of the weeks Autopian in musical form?
Jonathan Coulton is probably too busy, but he would be ideal.
There is another idea I have , but once I move I’d like to propose it myself.
It would be great if there was a section on the main page that linked to all the newest videos. The header could be “Latest Videos” and then just a list of who has posted and the link to each post. Or, of you can, just host the videos so you can watch them via the main page.
I want to see some praise for that new Sentra’s undoubtedly superior transmission. No more CVT slander.
All praise the mighty CVT, may it deliver smooth power always. Praise be the lifetime fluid, save us from the evils of maintenance. Praise be the lack of disruption from shifts! All praise the the Jatco Xtronic CVT! In Altima’s name, Amen.
(And now I sound like a nutzoid cultist.)
It’s good to see you!
…
..sort of.
(<3)
David, I feel your pain. Once was a time when most GOOD auto parts stores turned drums and rotors on site. Now, they are just disposable. I know a few places locally (Pittsburgh region) that still rebuild starters/generators/alternators and can custom make a driveshaft. These are all becoming lost arts.
Being an old fart all I can say is maybe AI can machine it. You won’t actually need a machinist, just a robot and a program. Maybe in 30 years there still might be a YT video showing the process. Who knows?
“Otherwise, I’m struggling to find a place that can machine my flywheel.”
Sounds like a personal issue…
But seriously: You’re in Southern California, which is the home of some of the greatest car collections, collectors, hobbyists, customizers, etc.
Go to the Peterson or the Nethercutt – (I knew a couple guys who were docents there due to their obsessive interest in cars) The Peterson even has periodic car shows there on the top deck of their parking garage – such as their Breakfast Club and marque-specific and country-specific Cruise-Ins….
Go to Cars and Coffee in Malibu, Rolling Hills and Palm Springs.
Go to Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank on any Friday night.
Talk to the folks at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Long Beach
Go to Bimmerfest West in Fontana this year
Infiltrate a Porsche Club get together.
Call the people at Pelican Parts who sponsor a lot of these events
Talk to Jay Leno or Keanu (He part-owns Arch Motorcycles) – they often show up to these events without notice and will talk to almost anyone who isn’t creepy.
You’ll find people who will tell you where you can find stuff & get stuff done.
And maybe you can even get some content to write about.
Surely Beau knows someone…
He is not keeping these old show-cars and microcars running on a wing and a prayer. I’m almost surprised the Galpin empire does not have some of these services for sale.
Or your buddy Jay Leno! I bet they have a machine shop on premises!
Only issue with that is DT will write an article about “How Jay Leno turned my Flywheel!”
And then Jay will have to unfriend DT due to about 2K nuts asking him to both turn and autograph their own flywheels.
As if Jay doesn’t have enough crap on his plate these days.
I’d really like to meet Keanu one day. He just seems like a really cool guy, legitimately. I first saw him in the Matrix, with his pretty stiff acting, but Keanu the guy seems super down to earth, and over time I’ve gained a lot of respect for actors that work hard for their roles, and he put in the time for The Matrix and John Wick for sure. And he co-wrote a book with China Mieville! It was actually pretty decent, I read it on a beach trip a year or two ago.
He seems fine when you treat him like a regular guy.
But when people get all google-eyed and say gushing things like “I’ve been a fan since…” or “I loved you in….” – he walks away.
He (and many others in his industry) hates that stuff.
Understandably! When I met Brent Spiner and Johnathan Frakes last year (“met” is a strong word, it was a 20 second photo op), I said it was a pleasure to meet them and addressed them as Mr. Spiner and Mr. Frakes. I’m not on a first name basis with anyone until they say so, explicitly or implicitly.
At least you didn’t call them “Mr Data” and “Riker”
Rn I’m kinda stuck waiting for the Ram 1500 REV and the Ford F-150 Lightning REV to come out and I’m hoping at least one of them will have seating for 6.
I also hope that they’ll get height adjustable air suspension.
To be fair I’m living at like 7500 ft of elevation so any future automobile of mine has to be turbocharged (gas, not diesel) or a BEV of some sort, but also needs seating for 6 MINIMUM.
What I really wish I could get is a F-150 Raptor with a 3 seat front bench setup, it’s really hard to beat long travel suspension.
Pull a bench seat from an F150 single cab, should mostly bolt right in.
You gotta relocate the shifter too, so probably would have to end up going with a column shift.
US CBP had/has? some Raptors setup for duty, I wonder if they had bench seats and column shifters to make room for radios and such? Might be worth seeing if there are any at government auctions.
They all have center consoles, and Hennessey won’t do the conversion either, so it’s pretty dead in the water.
Oh bummer. Doing a front interior swap from an F-150 Police Responder or other base model is probably more effort than it’s worth then, especially with having to relocate all the Raptor off-road buttons and such.
> What’s the weather like where you are?
We got 12 inches of snow in the past 36 hours. Calf deep!
> Snacks
Now I’m hungry.
More reviews will be fun. The “regular car reviews” feature is fun to read even if I’m not in the market.
I love this site.
But for the love of Dog, get the comments sorting oldest first when you get to the end of the article, so that when you make your way through them don’t repeat what someone else has said, often more eloquently than I can. Or did, after I saw that it had already been done.
Full disclosure: I didn’t read through the 125 comments before me.
OMG YES.. this x100
2025 was the year of the rip off. Started off in January with front suspension on the Metro. Most of it new parts that were junk. Went right in the recycling bin. Repaid for some nice five-3 parts.
February found a Subaru specialty shop 4 hours away to rebuild the Brat motor since I didn’t feel like clogging up the small garage all summer. My job (which I still despise after six years) takes up most of my time. One delay after another and I got back a turd for $3,450. Despite complaints, the shop owner said I needed to keep driving because it was still “breaking in.”
July and I gave up to do what I should’ve done in the beginning. Rebuild it myself. Teardown revealed it needed bored, oversize pistons, new bearings, valve job, different crank, timing gears and an oil pump. WTF did I pay for?! Shop owner said I violated the warranty since I took it apart. Took it to a machine shop that was nice at first but things started to go south. Lost some of my new parts and delayed the job for months. Just picked it up last week and they could have been a little friendlier after giving them over $1,600.
August I wanted to upgrade my ’98 civic with rear disks and suspension, but the ebay seller with 100% reviews stuffed the $600 in one box for UPS to smash up. No response.
October I worked on a Subaru owned by a friend I’ve known for two years. Needed timing belt & water pump. Did the work for free but asked for payment on the parts. Never heard from him. Out almost $300
November my ’95 Civic got some body work but aftermarket parts are a joke. Manufacturer basically hung up on me. When I disputed one of the charges, I went into a rant about the entire automotive industry being a crock of shit.
Could’ve imported something nice from Japan with what I lost in the last year. I think I might be done with cars.
Your altruism was epic.
I am muddling through the Michigan winter, it’s cold, it’s snowy. Have had to deal with more snow on the roads than expected for a few of my commutes this week, but my Evo has proved to be a good dance partner in the snow, at least when it has been working. Finally traced my inconsistent boost issue down to a wastegate actuator that once I disassembled it looked like it was recover from the bottom of a pond inside. With that fixed the issues it’s been having are getting down to minor annoyances or things I’d change due to preference rather than serious issues.