The Autopian’s Project Cars Go through So Much Torture: COTD

One of the things that I love most about our website, aside from the great people I work with and the rockin’ stories we put out, is that we do really dumb things with cars. We tried to make the ultimate snow car, only to beat the crap of it off-road. We bought a NYC taxi, and somehow almost everything went wrong with it until now. Our Pontiac Aztek tried to do its best impression of Tesla Full Self Driving. Now, we have a Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, and gee, we’re really giving it hell.

We bought a CrossCab and then covered half of it in XPEL PPF before putting it through the wringer. Thus far, we’ve been doing all of the silly stuff that probably exists as intrusive thoughts in many enthusiasts. What happens if you tried a cop slide on your hood? A whole lot of damage, that’s what. What if your poor car gets beaten up by the horrors of parking lots? We did that, too.

Admittedly, I feel bad for our Nissan. I would have totally bought it as a daily driver. Now, eh, not so much. Sid Bridge says:

It’s a good thing that the car isn’t sentient. After all this damage you’ve done, it would be one cross cabriolet.

1978fiatspyderfan:

Who says it isn’t? If they get a Mercedes level catastrophe we know it is.

Data turns a typo into something funny:

“[Ed note: This pots was done in partnership with XPEL,”

Yes, I think much pot was done…

Today, Thomas wrote about the latest Tesla Model S updates. Nsane In The MembraNe:

This has always been a very attractive car and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I’d never buy one, but I’ll concede that it’s easily the best design Tesla has ever come up with.

Don’t worry, Nsane, you’re not alone. The Model S is pretty hot!

Finally, Jason is so excited about his new-to-him Citroën 2CV, but maybe he isn’t the only one. Comme çi, come alt:

Be careful, because the deer of central North Carolina are buffing their hooves as they wait in anticipation.

Also, I just want to point out just how awesome Stephen Walter Gossin is:

Note: someone literally ripped every wire from the fuse box to the headlights out of this car (for some strange reason) as it sat from 2013-2024 in a field, getting shot at, in Garland, NC.

The alternator and starter were wired correctly by Yours Truly, but the rest of the wires you see in Jason’s shots are in very, very poor condition and need to be repaired correctly (solder and heat shrink).

The good news is that all those jank-ass wires/wire connections are solely for the parking lights, city lights, low-beams and high-beams (except for the oil pressure wire), so as long as the lights are off, Jason can address the wiring repair when it’s convenient for him.

I wanted to put this info out there, as using wire nuts and Mickey Mouse wiring such as you see in the photos is not my move/my style, ever.

I’m wicked pumped for my buddy Jason! Today is a great day in Autopia. Mazel!

Have a great weekend, everyone.