Tag: jalopnik.com

There’s no shortage of “these are the most stolen cars” articles, and they’re usually grounded in research by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The problem with these lists is that the NICB is looking at aggregate theft data (that is, how many of each model are stolen across the country in a year). There are certainly…

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is, by most accounts, a perfectly good commuter vehicle. It’s small enough to feel versatile on the road, big enough to qualify as practical, quite affordable starting at $28,415 (including $1,420 for destination), and its symmetrical Subaru all-wheel drive and slightly lifted nature mean it holds its own on a trail…

Car safety has come a long way, and no matter how you look at it, that sort of progress is a general win for the many pedestrians and motorists you see on the road. If, however, your purchase decision hinges on one car (or car brand) being safer than the other, then this Consumer Reports…

The range of aftermarket engine tuning available to enthusiasts is incredibly wide, and we all have our own favorite car mods. When it comes to engine computer software, modern fuel injection has made it easy for companies to pick up where manufacturers left off, and squeeze out a little — or a lot of —…

Car advertisements have always stretched the truth, but in the early 1980s, some manufacturers found a more creative way to do it: just change the finish line. If you’ve spent any time digging through old car ads, you’ve probably noticed something odd tucked into the performance claims of a few early-1980s models. These claims advertised 0-50 mph…

If you’re reading that headline and thinking that those words don’t belong in the same sentence, you’d almost always be right. However, for one very brief moment in time, they did actually make sense together.  That’s because in 1995, Chrysler created a concept car designed to pay tribute to the stunning, exotic grand touring cars of the…

Out of all the manufactured hierarchies and naming schemes in the automotive industry, Porsche has got to be in the running for having the most convoluted setup. Even if you ignore the nerd-nip chassis codes, there are S models, T models, Targas, Turbos, Spyders, and all sorts of Turismos to make sense of and choose…

You wouldn’t have to think about the 3% rule when replacing tires of the same size. But if you’re looking to upsize on new wheels or downsize when buying the best winter tires, the rule applies. An industry standard for tire replacements, the 3% rule states that new tires should never be 3% larger or…

In my car-selling days, we had a mix of buyers at the dealership. Some paid cash, but more financed their purchases. There was leasing, too, but that’s another story. Taking out a loan is logical because not everyone can pay for a five-figure purchase out of pocket. Still, many of my customers felt comfortable writing…

A niche automaker focused predominantly on the production of cost-effective, durable taxicabs, the Checker Motors Corporation was best known for now-iconic models such as the Marathon. The Marathon changed very little during its time in production, and became an internationally recognized symbol of American urban transport, much like the later Crown Victoria. Having kicked off…