The Accord at Thirty (Thousand Miles)

Posted on Nov 30, 2015 in Editorials | 1 comment

Twenty-three months ago, your humble author did what virtually nobody in this auto-journo game does — I went out and paid my own money for a thoroughly mass-market, middle-of-the-road vehicle. In just seven months, my 2014 Accord V6 Coupe 6MT and I made it to twelve thousand miles. Starting this spring, the pace at which I put miles on the big Honda slackened...

Beaten by a Winter Beater?

Posted on Oct 23, 2015 in Editorials | 1 comment

Mo writes: Sir, I’m hoping to get advice from you and/or the B&B regarding my new-to-me 2004 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport (soon to be superleggera due to rust). Included is a link to pictures I took of the underside of my car and brakes with descriptions. [Thanks for those! – SM] Questions: – First and most important: Is it even worth fixing/preventing the...

Does a Front-wheel-drive Honda S’Accorde with Canadian Weather?

Posted on Aug 1, 2015 in Editorials | 2 comments

Pete writes: I find myself in a situation uniquely suited to seek out the counsel of the wise and insightful folks at TTAC (Sajeev, Mark, and the B&B). I have been a long time resident of Tampa, Florida, where my ’98 Honda Accord and my wife’s ’04 Honda Accord perfectly suit the needs of my family (which includes our two boys, ages one and three). The ’98...

Because You Don’t Sell Your First!

Posted on Jul 14, 2015 in Editorials | 2 comments

Dear Sajeev/Sanjeev, I own two cars (and two older pickup trucks): a 1995 LeSabre with 223,000 miles and a 2001 Audi A6 Avant with 165,000 miles on the clock. I drive 80-100 miles per day for work. Between work and personal miles, I drive about 45,000 miles per year. The trucks aren’t daily driven too often and are only used when I need to move something that...

From Auction to Flip, This Is How a Salvage Car Makes It to Craigslist

Posted on Jun 18, 2015 in Editorials | 2 comments

Salvage and rebuilt vehicle listings on Craigslist (and other classified sites) are ubiquitous. They often manifest themselves as late-model metal with low prices and even lower standards of ad copy. But have you ever wondered how those vehicles end up on Craigslist in the first place? What happens to a salvage or rebuilt vehicle between the time it’s...

Si or No to ‘Minus 1′ Tire Sizing?

Posted on Apr 7, 2015 in Editorials | 1 comment

70Cougar writes: Sajeev, I am probably the first owner of a Civic Si to ever want to downsize his rims, so I’m looking to the expert on -1 matters: you. (Woot! –SM) I have a 2007 Honda Civic Si sedan with the factory 17-inch wheels. I’ve always preferred the same generation EX’s 16-inch five spoke rims, and I wouldn’t mind a smoother ride and cheaper...

Steven Lang And Doug DeMuro Debate Carmax

Posted on Mar 6, 2015 in Editorials | 1 comment

Earlier this week I wrote about how CarMax is heavily constrained by a market that has flip-flopped between six years worth of heavy car sales and about 18 months of resurgent truck and SUV demand. Long story short, CarMax’s acquisition costs for trucks, SUVs and crossovers has gone up considerably, and the supply of this inventory has cratered due to new car...

The Nissan Maximum Replacement?

Posted on Feb 1, 2015 in Editorials | 1 comment

Eliyahu writes: Sajeev, My 2001 Maxima, bought new, just rolled past 100,000 miles. It’s still a good car, but the mechanic says it has a very slight oil leak from the main seal. While not strictly necessary, the pitted original windshield could be replaced, the radio only gets Click and Clack, and the driver’s window motor sounds tired. The engine control...

Has Audi Given Up On Making Cars?

Posted on Jan 7, 2015 in Editorials | 1 comment

I was driving along the other day, and I found myself behind an Audi A6. A new Audi A6. A brand-new, midsize, luxurious Audi A6 sedan. And I thought to myself: When was the last time I saw one of these things? This wasn’t always the case. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, you saw the Audi A6 everywhere. They had that cool rounded design, and they were the...

All Signs Point to Bronco and Here’s Why

Posted on Dec 3, 2014 in Editorials | 1 comment

Ford is bringing back the Bronco. This is not a fantasy. It is not a request. And although our friends in Dearborn are not ready to talk about it, we do not need their official confirmation to see why a genuine Bronco will be back in showrooms in as few as 24 months. The return of the Bronco starts with the incredible emphasis Ford places on its leadership in...

Dodging the Grand Wagoneer’s Destiny?

Posted on Oct 20, 2014 in Editorials | 1 comment

Shandor writes: I used to have an ’84 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. When it died, I replaced it with a new ’99 Dodge Durango. It seemed to be a fairly solid, updated replacement for the Wagoneer. My mechanic, who was a master Jeep mechanic, said that Chrysler came up with the Durango to fill the gap in the market created after the Grand Wagoneer stopped production in...

High Mileage, Low Maintenance Camaro?

Posted on Sep 1, 2014 in Editorials | 2 comments

Casey writes: Hello Sajeev, I have another question for you. My wife has wanted a Camaro and lately I have been thinking about surprising her with one for her birthday or maybe Christmas, so I have been searching the listings for a nice used example. First thing I noticed is these cars sure seem to hold their value! I found a Craigslist ad for a very nice...