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These seem so cheap to me inside, probably because they are. They're the new Cavalier.

Rivian R1S

Less than zero interest in these, they do sort of look good, but about as exciting as a pre-owned roll of toilet paper. I want to continue to know less than nothing about them. I don't trust these tiny little engines.

This is a vehicle where there's nothing really wrong with it but it has less than zero personality. I've had them as rentals a few times and I always wish I could have had a Grand Cherokee instead.

As someone who lives in an area with actual bridge collapses (right around the corner from where we had lunch years ago @A Horse With No Name) I'm in favor of raising gas taxes to pay for these repairs. Luckily, no one was seriously injured in this. Many of our bridges around here have netting on their undersides to catch the chunks that fall off them. One bridge, before it was replaced, had another bridge built under it solely to catch concrete falling and was featured on John Oliver.

it would certainly force a lot of people into EVs. $1/gal in tax seems pretty insane. That's, what, 20-40%, depending on your state/area? That's pretty insane.

I really want an EV for around town use. I have a really crappy Italian restaurant here in Columbus where you can get much less for a much higher price. Looks fantastic.

I've got less than $3k left on the Avalanche loan. The Chrysler loan final payment is this month. I'll redirect that to finish off the Avalanche early. I've only got 63k miles on the Avalanche. $75k for an EValanche buys a lot of gas. We're heading into motorcycle season where the truck stays parked as much as possible. I think we're just going to be in a holding position on vehicles for a while.

There does need to be some equilibrium. Yes it hits poor people the most because they tend to drive older and less efficient cars. At the same time, it really needs to be indexed to inflation the next time they decide to adjust it. I don't think they should do it all at once to the 50c+ that is being discussed here.

The Feds cover a portion most interstates and some national highways. However, the funds are dispersed to the states to administer those highways within their boundaries. So, for example, I-80 across PA is maintained by PA, but paid for partially by the Feds. That's why when you cross the border on I-80 into Ohio, the quality of the road immediately improves. If you're seeing a lot of construction, it also could be the Biden Infrastructure plan. I love that they moved fast with funding these projects, but at least in my area, they seem to have started them all at once and made getting around very difficult.

What matters is on the inside, right?  Luckily, the Corvette already sports a sexy exterior, but for 2026, Chevrolet updated the interior to address some of the common complaints in the latest iteration of their legendary sports car. The biggest news is that the wall of buttons between the driver and passenger has been moved to a more conventional location under the screen, though not all buttons make the jump.  Some functions such as heated/cooled seats are now controlled from the central touch screen. And screens they are aplenty! The updated infotainment screen increases in size to 12.7-inches diagonal, a larger 14-inch diagonal driver information cluster, and a new 6.6-inch diagonal auxiliary display to the left of the steering wheel.  The drive mode selector has been relocated in line with the gear selector which opens up spaces for a new wireless phone charging pad, complete with a cover to keep the phone in place.  The new left-side auxiliary screen display gives dedicated access to trip information or performance management. All three screens features sharper and more vivid graphics. The animations have been made smoother and cleaner. Drivers can select their preferred layout or allow the system to adjust automatically based on drive mode. The Performance Data Recorder's user interface has been completely redesigned to take advantage of the new, larger screens. For 2026, four new colors are available on all models: Sky Cool and Medium Ash Gray with Habanero accents: Monochrome cool grays with unexpected pops of bright Habanero Santorini Blue: Vivid shade of blue that is both vibrant and electric Very Dark Atmosphere: Rich chocolate brown paired with Jet Black and Natural Tan accents Ultimate Suede: Jet Black suede interior customizable through Adrenaline Red, Santorini Blue, and Competition Yellow accent stitch colors and matching seatbelts Customers can even spec a mixed seating option in Asymmetrical Adrenaline Red, with a racing-inspired Adrenaline Red Competition driver’s seat and a Jet Black GT2 passenger seat. The Ultimate Suede interior brings sueded microfiber to nearly all interior surfaces. Other new changes include: A new, available electrochromic roof, which allows customers to change the tint level of their targa roof glass at the press of a button – selecting between full, medium, and low tint options. The button to activate Charge+, which enables E-Ray drivers to replenish battery life more quickly or sustain battery charge for a track session, has been relocated to the steering wheel. Located just below the Z Mode button, Charge+ now has a more prominent location for ease of use. Two new exterior color options are available for all models: Roswell Green Metallic and Blade Silver Metallic.   View full article

Tariff Tuesday is the day where we cover how President Trump’s tariffs, if fully enacted, will impact the auto industry, increase costs, and limit consumer choice. We started this series on April 15, Tax Day for those in the United States, because Trump’s tariffs amount to one of the largest single increases in taxes on the American People. The tariffs which, if fully implemented, will raise $1.4 trillion in revenue, and increase costs per household between $1,900 to $7,600 per year. Manufacturers are shuffling their decks Since the Trump tariffs have gone into place, automobile manufacturers have been rushing to shift production to avoid tariffs and reciprocal tariffs imposed by other countries. This has lead to some breathless and inaccurate or incomplete headlines like: Mazda set to stop U.S. production on this popular model. Here’s what that means for you - Daily Dot First major auto manufacturer (Mazda) pulls plug on US production due to tariffs - MSN Massive blow to Trump as Japanese car giant (Subaru) moves manufacturing OUT of US in tariff twist - Daily Mail Trump tariffs cost U.S. millions as Subaru shifts supply to Japan - MSN While some of the above articles explain the truth in the body of the stories, in these days of click-bait headlines, it is important that we don't bury the lead. For both Mazda and Subaru, the production shifts are for vehicles built in the U.S. and bound for Canada. Because of Trump's tariffs on imported vehicles, Canada placed a reciprocal tariff on vehicles imported from the U.S. Going forward, Subarus sold in Canada will have a "Made in Japan" sticker on them. Prior to Trump's election, the popular Forrester model was slated start production in Indiana taking over allocation from the outgoing Subaru Outback. The new Subaru Outback Crossover is slated to be built in Japan, however that may change with the tariffs in place. Unlike the domestic manufacturers, Subaru does not have multiple plants in the U.S. to move overseas production to their Lafayette, IN plant. The Subaru CrossTrek entered into production in the U.S. in 2023, only certain trimlines are made here with the base and premium trims still built in Japan. It is likely that Subaru will shift all US Crosstrek production to Indiana. Subaru's sports car, the Subaru BR-Z, is unlikely to survive the tariff regime as we explained in our Sports Cars are Dead piece. The Mazda CX-50 is the only Mazda model offered for sale in the U.S. that is built in the U.S in Huntsville, Alabama. The Huntsville plant is a joint venture with Toyota who builds the Corolla Cross there as well. Mazda announced a pause in production of the CX-50 after the tariffs went into affect to regroup. The plant had been supplying roughly 11,000 CX-50s to the Canadian market. It is likely that Canadian CX-50s will be imported from China in future, though there has been no official word on that from Mazda yet. In a statement, Mazda says that overall production of the CX-50 at Huntsville should remain the same, meaning that factory's output will be entirely for the U.S. market. It is likely that Mazda expects sales of the CX-5, a roughly similar sized crossover at a lower price and imported from Japan, will fall as the tariffs push the price above the CX-50's price. It's also possible that Mazda sees opportunity for increased sales of the CX-50 being one of the few small crossovers built in the US. Audi, which paused all imports in early April and has no production in the U.S., is looking to move production of certain models to Volkswagen's Chattanooga TN plant. The Audi Q4 eTron is built on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.4 built in Chattanooga while the next version of the Audi Q8 eTron could join production of the new Scout truck and SUV at that brand's new plant in South Carolina. The larger brands like Toyota, GM, and Ford have more flexibility to move production around. GM in particular is looking to restructure its supply lines on trucks if the tariffs remain permanent, however, that does not necessarily mean a return to US production if they can prove enough of their sourced parts come from the U.S. Playing the cards in their hand Across the board, manufacturers are digging into their supply chains to tag parts made in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In the new tariff requirements there is an exemption for raw materials and parts sourced from the U.S. in vehicles that have their final assembly in Mexico or Canada. Even with the supply-chain turmoil of the Covid-19 years, manufacturers do not have their parts content sourcing mapped to the raw material level. However, in order to qualify for that exemption, the vehicle must have 75-percent or more of its content sourced from North America. Calculating those savings correctly could make or break a model. According to The Peterson Institute for International Economics, Mexican built vehicles already have an average of 40-percent to as high as 50-percent U.S. content. (Automotive News - Subscription Required). Previously, an engine assembled in Mexico would be tariff free as long as some of the parts were made in the U.S. Now, manufacturers have to calculate which parts come from where, where were the raw materials sourced, and how much value was added in a particular country in order to calculate the tax. Unfortunately, even those calculations cost time and money manufacturers will pass an increase cost to consumers without an increase in value. Gotta know when to fold'em One of the many reasons cited by Trump for imposing these tariffs is to correct what he sees as an unfair trade imbalance between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Setting aside the fact that Canada has the same size population as the State of California and as such there would never be balanced trade between the U.S. and Canada, the unintended consequences are the reactions by auto manufacturers are making the trade imbalance worse with at least roughly 40,000 fewer U.S. built vehicles being exported to Canada and the remainder scrambling to prove their content sources to avoid the Trump tariffs and leave production in Mexico or Canada. Any trade imbalance is not going to be fixed by Audi moving a few low volume products to existing U.S. factories. This works out to a net loss for the American consumer. Read more Tariff Tuesday articles below: Tariff Tuesday - Big Trouble in Little Crossovers Tariff Tuesday - Buick Killing it in China; Killed in the U.S. Tariff Tuesday - Sports Cars are Dead View full article

I so want to own an EV if I own another car.

The graphic images are all from the first link and you can organize the graph by state on regular gas or click the header for Diesel and get it shown by state for that fuel type. The second link show additional info but if you click the link in that second writing by the government, it takes you here where you clearly see the latest taxation per state. fueltaxes.xlsx Taxes have to go up if we are to have functional roads, bridges are coming to end of life and need to be replaced.

The specs on the Leaf look pretty darn good, so I would expect them to carry over. Nissan and Mitsubishi might be back in the game.

That is pretty much what I do. I find a protein shake or a bit of toast are perfect for dinner. I don't eat much alter in the day. Absolutely the kind of place I for no rational reason want to check out.

Oh yes. Also, this way, I skip dinner and/or just eat a snack.

IL's has skyrocketed in the last 5 years. It doubled in 2019 and has gone up every year since. I believe it's set to go up again in June or July. Your link and graphics aren't the same information. I am finding it difficult to get an accurate number.

I know most of us here love food. Here's what €14 got me for lunch: 4 spinach and ricotta cannelloni tubes, a nice piece of swordfish, steamed spinach with tasty garnishes, and a bottle of ice cold water. Delicious ... and good for you. I went here yesterday and they didn't have pasta and main choices that were as good. Big supermarkets tend to have a large cafe' section that features good lunch specials and the locals gladly go there. And I tend to be cheap, so ...

I think unless your forced to have to buy something, most people are going to wait and see where prices and availability heads. Recession here we come.

I hate it as it has the same bunker look at the GM auto's and that high belt line with little green house and hard to see out, not a fan.

Raising the gas tax also hits low income people the worst. Although if they are going to make the EV fee a thing then they should raise gas taxes also to balance it. They can let the 2017 tax cut expire, that will create a trillion dollars and do a lot more than trying to discourage EV purchases with a $250 annual fee.

I do not think the current monitoring websites are current with all the new tax raises. Gas Taxes by State 2025 Average state tax rates for retail gasoline and diesel fuel nearly flat since July 2024 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) OUCH, Crazy the diesel tax rate of PA Gas taxes are no joke either.

I believe this will end in LESS variety and options for the U.S. consumer not more. This will push up prices and reduce variety leaving us behind the world in how we choose what we drive.

@smk4565with all the good points lately! I also think that $50b over 10 years in new funding isn’t enough to cover the deficit the Highway dept is facing. If they’ve had to do $275b over 18 years, the math doesn’t add up.

Bad idea for 2 reasons. First the avg amount paid in gas taxes for a person is about $100 a year, so you are penalized for a hybrid or EV. Second, if you are someone who doesn't drive much, or has a couple cars, maybe a fixed income senior with a Chevy Bolt that drives 4,000 miles a year, now you are paying $250 to drive 4,000 miles vs about $20 in gas tax.

So one, cannot download the Movie, so cannot see how many gallons or anything, I am glad you can fuel so fast. My reality is that it takes much longer to fuel my ESV than most people and it is amusing how everyone assumes everyone drives autos with their tiny tanks and fuels all the same speed and rate. End result, even for me, gas station days are coming to an end. I fuel the ESV every 4 to 5 weeks now, charge at home and even on road trips in the EV, I am able to find a fast charger near where I am stopping to eat or visit and have not had any waste of time at a gas station. Drew pretty much hits all the points well about this.

Have to laugh at this, in Texas. Seems to be pretty standard there for people driving up and attempting to go over a K rail. LOL

Impressive recovery work. IMG_4778.HEIC

These two statements that have changed based on what has been changed in society will be interesting to see if we get updates. L.A. is a great big freeway - BEEN REPLACED BY HOUSTON "26 lanes wide" Are parking cars and pumping gas - EVs IS MAKING THIS HISTORY. LOL

Today I'm deep fried in "trinacria" ... Three days of this. I didn't want to leave and go to a more rural place with no view in another area. The outline across is the Italian mainland, so I'm about 30 miles south of Messina, where the distance across the strait is about a mere 1.5 miles. As I'm traveling south on the autostrada after checking out, this pullout with an Autogrill has a nice view of Mt. Etna. I went into a store to pick up some groceries and saw this: Fonzies and Cipster! Cipster is spelled for Italian phonetics because Chipster would be pronounced "Keep-stare." While going for a haircut based on Google reviews, I passed by this place. I had to take a photo showing the "team spirit."

Honestly, that's probably around when I'd buy again, too. I'm in no rush. I'd love a large EV SUV or truck, but I don't have the monies for an R1S, Lightning, Sierra EV or whenever the Scouts show up.

Just last week, I saw a few newer Traxes. They are more sloped in the rear than the Trailblazer and there is no protuding "ridge" over the rear window. I'd say they are more attractive than the new Trailblazer. I know next to nothing about them.

These are attractive little vehicles *for their class*. I'm slowly seeing more and more of them. Then again, I have no clue if I'm seeing the new Trax or Trailblazers...hahaha.

MECHANICAL PHOTOS The engine bay is neatly arranged as it typically is in GM products, with dipsticks, reservoirs, and an easy to reach battery ... someone would have had to help me find the turbocharger One can see 3 exhaust manifold passages below the engine shroud The engine placard says 1.3 liters and long running OBD II diagnostics - - - - - END OF PHOTOS

Ford Maverick, Bronco Sport and Mach-E prices all went up $1100-2000 today. The 2025 Maverick is now $5000 more than a 2024 Maverick. That's a 20% increase in 1 year.