A Nissan 240SX Prerunner Is The Dumbest, Best Idea I've Ever Seen
To be clear, this is a dumb build. S-chassis cars are built to slide around corners endlessly, never driving straight, turning tires into smoke the whole time. Building an S14.5 (an S14 with an S15 front end) up to have this kind of suspension travel should be a fool's errand, but it's an errand Jake O'Donnell decided to cross off his to-do list. I'm thankful he did, because this Silvia is one of those genres of dumb that loops all the way around to being incredibly cool.
Read more: You Can Buy One Of The Best Modern Sports Sedans For Less Than A Toyota Corolla
Why build a prerunner out of such a small, low car? Because it's hard, and because doing so leaves you with a build that no one else out in the desert will have. There are a million Tacomas done up in this style, and one of those can be made with plenty of off-the-shelf parts — not so with an LS2-powered S-chassis. This is a very custom build, and all the time spent on it (the car's been drivable in some state for years) paid off by making something truly unique. Plus, putting out 700 horsepower doesn't hurt.
Yet, somehow, this isn't the first off-road 240SX we've seen. A Japanese garage called Top Rankaz put one together a decade ago, with a Rocket Bunny Boss body kit and plenty of lift to fit the dirt tires. That Silvia lacked this 240's long-travel suspension, though, and certainly lacked the desert playgrounds of the United States to hoon around in. This is my new favorite off-road vehicle, bar none.
Read the original article on Jalopnik.
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Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Sensible commuter cars you can buy today for less than $10,000
Somewhere there's a Porsche 911 adorned with a bumper sticker that reads: 'My other car is a Kia Forte.' Just kidding. Inexpensive cars rarely get our attention and adoration. Owners don't really boast about them, and they're often parked on the street, not in a choice spot on the driveway. But times are changing. Given the present economic uncertainty, consumers are thinking twice about big expenditures. New cars continue to sell, albeit at a slower pace. The market is losing momentum after a strong start to the year, wrote Andrew King, managing partner of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, in a business update. For those that need a durable car to get to work — hey, the office mandate is real — buying used makes infinite sense right now. But popular cars are pricey: a 2014 Toyota Corolla can still fetch $15,000 on used-car lots (not far off the base sticker price 11 years ago). There are sensible commuter cars you can buy today for less than $10,000. They may have high mileage — cars today can easily attain 350,000 km and more — yet these vehicles deliver reliability and bang-for-the-buck in spades. Here are our picks: 2011-15 Scion xB: Remember Scion? It was Toyota's hipster brand for disaffected millennials who had a licence, but didn't know what to drive. Scion didn't come to Canada until 2011. When it did, it was offering a lineup of tidy front-drive econoboxes with unconventional styling, draped over reliable Toyota drivetrains that power Corollas and Camrys. One of the best buys is the Scion xB with a design inspired by the toaster in your kitchen. Its boxy profile provides an astonishing amount of room for a wagon that's easy to drive and park. The high roofline yields excellent headroom front and back, and rear-seat passengers aren't relegated to a cramped penalty box. The xB is powered by the same 158-horsepower, 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine found in the Camry, mated to either a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic. Fuel economy is not quite miserly, but the ride is decent and the steering is accurate. Other Scion models to consider: the subcompact xD with its Corolla mechanicals and the sporty tC coupe. They're thin on the ground, but all are worthy finds. 2014-15 Mazda 3: Redesigned for 2014, the Mazda 3 is a driver's car that is well above the econobox class and sells for a considerable discount compared to the Honda Civic. Available as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback, the Mazda 3 is a sporty little number that delivers a lot of satisfaction, although the well-appointed cabin does feel a little claustrophobic. There are two engines to choose from: a 155-hp, 2.0-L four cylinder, or a 184-hp, 2.5-L four working through a manual or automatic transmission, both with six gears. Its all-new chassis and suspension provided a more refined, substantial ride without making the 3 feel any less athletic during quick drives on back roads. Reliability is very good. The most common complaint has to do with fast-wearing brakes, which isn't helped by a rust issue that's involved a recall. Infotainment displays may malfunction and reboot often, and software updates don't always restore order. There are complaints about easily chipped paint and windshields, and air-conditioners that check out early. 2009-2013 Acura TSX: Smaller and sportier than the American-scaled Honda Accord, Acura's TSX features an upscale interior, lots of standard gear and, with its Euro-spec suspension, lively road manners. Its agile handling recalls one of the best front-wheel-drive cars ever made, the Honda Prelude, and the TSX is one Japanese car that's actually assembled in Japan. Honda's K-series 201-hp, 2.4-L, four-cylinder engine loves to rev, yet it avoids gas stations. The slick six-speed manual gearbox is one of the best on the market, and there's a five-speed automatic available, too. In response to complaints that the TSX's four-cylinder was short of torque, Acura made its 280-hp, 3.5-L V6 engine available starting in 2010, coupled exclusively with the automatic transmission. Craving durability? Consider that the TSX achieved Consumer Reports' highest possible reliability rating every year between 2009 and 2014. The few mechanical complaints mention malfunctioning power-steering units, short-lived brake pads and batteries and blown stereo speakers. Do inspect for rust along the rocker panels! 2010-11 Honda CR-V: We'd be remiss if we didn't include a couple of crossover SUVs, especially the immensely popular Honda's CR-V. Unfortunately, we have to go back to 2010 to find a used CR-V that meets our intended budget. Regardless of the model year, every CR-V has a roomy, inviting cabin that can coddle five occupants with its tall seating and great sightlines. The 2010 and '11 models feature a revised 2.4-L, four-cylinder engine making 180 hp and 161 pounds-feet of torque — a welcome improvement. A five-speed automatic and front-wheel drive were standard, while all-wheel drive was a popular option. The CR-V sets itself apart with nimble handling, sharp steering and effective braking performance. If there's a downside, wind and road noise can be intrusive. The CR-V is the epitome of reliability. Don't shy away from high-mileage examples (but remember to inspect before you buy)! The AWD rear differential can become noisy or fail outright, so look for evidence that regular maintenance was done. The air-conditioning compressor is also fragile, and door locks may malfunction. 2011-14 Mitsubishi RVR: Addicted to extreme couponing, Mitsubishi Motors has a habit of creating new products on a shoestring budget. It took its Outlander sport-ute and trimmed 37 centimetres of sheet metal and 180 kg of mass to create the RVR crossover. It recycled the Lancer's 2.0-L, DOHC, four-cylinder, rated at 148 hp, mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable (CVT) automatic. The base model was front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive came bundled with the CVT. The RVR is a value-packed and reliable buy — as long as you're not in a hurry to get anywhere. Two litres is not enough motor to move the RVR with much authority, although owners praised its relaxed ride, precise steering, quiet operation and AWD traction. Later models offered a larger 168-hp, 2.4-L, four-banger as an option. Best of all, there are scant mechanical lapses. 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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
What's The Dumbest Car On Sale Today?
There's a lot to consider when you're buying a new car. Does it fit in my budget? Is it practical enough for what I plan to do with it? How does it compare against other vehicles? There's one thing, though, that not enough people are considering: Is this car dumb? That idea is what has led me to today's question. I want to know what you all think is the dumbest car on sale today. Crucially, I don't want to know what you think is the worst car on sale. I already asked you that, and this question has a very different spirit. That being said, I won't sit here and tell you what your criteria for a dumb car should be. That's up to you. It can be dumb because of its size (either big or small), dumb because of its looks, dumb because of its engine or dumb because of its useless battery range. This is your world, friend. I'm just living in it. Read more: These Are The Cars You'd Buy If They Were $20,000 Cheaper My Choice If you were to ask me what my answer to this question would be — which you didn't, but I'm in charge — I'd probably say something like the Tesla Cybertruck. It's very obviously one of the dumbest vehicles on sale today, but that's too easy of an answer, and that's why I'm going to say the Toyota Mirai is the dumbest vehicle you can currently buy. Please keep in mind that I don't think the Mirai is the worst car you can buy, because that's also the Cybertruck, but it is still incredibly dumb. Sure, it's a nice-enough luxury sedan with good looks and a solid interior, but the fuel it runs on makes all of that a moot point. The Mirai famously runs on hydrogen, and there are exactly 51 hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S., and those are all in California. That means the car is pretty much useless anywhere that isn't California. If you want to take it on a road trip, too damn bad. You're never going to be going somewhere else that has a hydrogen fueling station. There's a reason that sales for Mirais are in the tank and they depreciate faster than you can finish this sentence. Maybe one day hydrogen will catch on and the Mirai will make sense, but today certainly isn't that day. That's why I think the Mirai is the dumbest car currently on sale. OK, that's enough of me yapping. I think it's time for you goons to head on down below and let everyone know what you consider to be the dumbest vehicle currently on sale. Don't hold back. The car companies aren't going to get mad at you. And, as always, if you tell me why you think a car is dumb, let me know why. I'll be handing out $15 Chili's gift cards to those who do. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
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