Good tips. Fortunately for me my taste and budget are a bit more modest than Ferraris and De Tomaso. I just bought two Subaru BRAT's as so-called barn finds for a price that, if all else fails (and it often does), I could recoup my investment plus a little extra for aggravation by selling parts if they turned out to be basket cases. One is a parts car with a good motor but bad body and the other decent body and tired engine. I did a hasty engine swap while I was out recovering them (they are 1600 miles from home). Last year I found a 1989 SAAB 900 turbo in an abandoned storage unit and paid $1000 for it. The body is excellent and interior is in great shape. The car also had parts in the trunk that I sold for $950, so the SAAb owes me $50 so far. The good thing about bottom feeding is the risks aren't so dire. ... View more

No manual transmission no sale. I can get a silent, soulless, shiftless experience from any cross over on any dealers lot. Very nice workmanship and cool technology but pass. ... View more

But the love affair continues non the less. Electric cars are soulless transportation tombs and I'm not looking forward to suffering under them. I'll enjoy the wonderful ICE every minute I can. Spoiler alert: once EVs hit a substantial market penetration, stay tuned for rolling blackouts and power rationing. ... View more

Coincidently, I'm driving my Honda ridgeline 1600 miles to drag a 1984 BRAT (Brumby) back home next week. Can't wait to drive and wrench on it. ... View more

Most folks won't be cross shopping the maverick with the F-150, Silverado, or Fiat Ram but rather the Golf, Elantra, or Corolla. This is (mostly) for people who would never consider a truck. People who look at the $19k price and 40MPG and think, maybe it would be nice to bring that new fridge home myself instead of paying a delivery fee. Or, it might be nice to put the we camping gear in a bed I can hose out. This is not for people who need to pull a lo-boy with a bulldozer on it. I'd like one to replace my 50 MPG fiesta, I have a truck to haul and tow with. My only objection is the lack of a manual transmission. ... View more

I have always had mid-nineties Subaru Legacy wagons with 5-speed manuals (because auto boxes stink). They were great in the snow, had a cheap tire size, millions of junk yard parts available, decent MPG's, and ran like tractors with the old 2.2L engine. Unfortunately, they aren't ten a penny anymore so this year it's a 6-speed Mazda 5 micro van, or I just stay home. ... View more

I think this truck's competition are the VW Golf, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and other compact cars. One of this truck's target markets are compact car buyers who wouldn't normally think about a truck until they see the Maverick's price and MPG. Then they start thinking, maybe it would be better to throw my muddy mountain bike in the bed rather than straping it to a contraption on the back of my car. ... View more

Fun read, thank you. It is an amazing shift in perspective when a 3,000 lb car seems light. These are the days, however, when giants roam the earth. This article makes me pine for the Focus and Fiesta to return to the American market. Since the 1980's I have had a manual transmission economy car as my daily. I drive them with verve but maintain them with diligence and all have survived 150-200k miles. My 170k Fiesta only felled by two deer strikes in 8 months. Light weight and simplicity are their own rewards and you either get it or you don't. ... View more

I'm staging an intervention here, no one should wish for an automatic of any description. ... View more

Sorry, I meant the hyundai Santa Cruz mini truck, not Santa Fe SUV. ... View more

I thought Ford was going in the right direction with the base model high MPG low price hybrid. Hyundai decided to go the other way with the Santa Fe, more power, more gadgets, more money. Their base model seems like an annoying afterthought. ... View more

Fortunately, I'm a weirdo and my tastes often run to the unloved and unusual, so the big high dollar cars are almost never on my radar. My first rule, however, is to never tear a running car to bits. Make a running car run, steer, and stop better, then enjoy driving it (even if its ugly) for a while. If you're still in love with it after a year or two try to do a rolling restoration. If you find out you hate it, it's far easier to sell a running, inspected, and licensed car than a project in baskets. I'll even go so far as, if the car needs an engine rebuild, to find a replacement motor, swap it in so I can still drive it, and work on the original engine on the stand. Again if you run out of time or money you are still selling a running car with a numbers matching motor thrown in. ... View more

It is a SMALL truck designed to replace a small or midsized car or SUV. And it has a bed which is far more practical than an SUV because the Maverick can haul a 4X8 sheet of plywood. I would look at the basiest, base, base model I can find as I don't need heated and cooled steering wheel or seats. If the vehicle has AC I'm good to go. ... View more

I never really considered rust and rot original, very few cars rolled out the factory that way and most history is with the first owner. Dings, dents, tears, and rips done by the third or fourth owner does not interest me. I completely understand preserving materials and craftsmanship that aren't available anymore or have some history to them. Damage that tells an important story are worth preserving, and I do like patina on military, police, or hired vehicles like cabs, as that is part of their story. On the modification theme I have to say if you pick up a drill to perforate a classic car's body work to fit running boards, a truck sun visor or a wing...please stop...and think about what you're doing. ... View more

When I was young I would get in the car and end up somewhere; Toronto, New York, Key West, the middle of Kentucky. I had a 1988 Ford festiva that I could fill up with ash tray change. Later, I joined the army and they taught me to plan in great detail. A handy thing when a trip gone wrong could end up needing close air support, or hasty re-supply, or an alternate rally point. Now, retired,I know I can plan if I have to; check block go. I also have a real appreciation for the United States and the ease of first world living. With that in mind I have happily returned to ending up somewhere. ... View more

I hear that the take on the manual transmission model is well above Ford's expectations, good. I know my brother placed an order for one and has had his build date moved twice. Hopefully that means they'll make more and maybe expand the manual's options. I couldn't care less about the electric model, but some people like those. For me, if I can't shift my own gears then forget it. ... View more

The weakest link in any plan is when you have to depend on someone else. We should fast track all permits and suspend many onerous regulations for domestic technology manufacturing. We should also give all new microchip manufacturing facilities in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, ten years of zero corporate income taxes and tax breaks for all domestic companies that support the industry (transportation, suppliers, production machinery). If you want to get serious you have to get serious. ... View more

I try not to take it personally, but I have turned around quickly and caught it making faces at me. ... View more

My wife's truck-UV, (2007 Honda Ridgeline) is still sitting broken after I tried to get tires installed on April 9th. The guys installing the tires couldn't get a lug nut off and said they weren't allowed by policy to force it. So with two tires installed and two in the bed I went to my garage, and with much effort, got the lug nut off. The stud, however, was damaged from someone (same tire shop) putting the nut on with the gun instead of starting it by hand. Free tire rotation my ass. So I got a new lug stud and proceeded to take the wheel hub off. The CV axle wouldn't come out of the hub for love or money. I tried dead blow hammers, gallons of penetrating oil, and using a sledge against the dead blow hammer. Finally, in desperation,  I had to resort to heat and a 10lb sledge directly on the axle to free it. The heat destroyed the bearings and no one had replacements so I had to order them. The hub wouldn't fit on my press so I couldn't separate the two pieces to get to the bearings. I took the hub to a shop that did separate the pieces but broke the brake caliper mounting ear off in the process. So now I needed a new hub which no one had except Honda at $400 a piece. After a few days searching I found a place that had a good used one for $100. While everything was apart I notice that my lower control arm bushings were shot, so I ordered new lower control arms for both sides. While I was in there I replaced the rotors and cleaned and lubricated the brake calipers. Finally, last week, all the parts were in and installed. I used the truck last Friday only to have every dash light illuminate like the Vegas strip. The truck broke down and had to be towed home. After running some tests I found the alternator to be at fault. I had replaced it in 2019 (that's why I keep a maintenance log book) and the part was under warranty. So I boxed the alternator up and shipped it to the manufacturer. The truck is sitting in the garage now waiting for a new alternator, and all I wanted was tires.    ... View more

Good article and well worth the read. I didn't realize that people think cars on Bring a Trailer are vetted by the site, is that a common misconception? I always assumed that it was the same risk as buying any car you're not standing in front of. If I was bidding on a car I'd go see it if it was 12 hours or less drive from me. A 12 hour drive is my maximum turn and burn time, drive out, spend one night, drive home. I have gone home with an empty trailer many times or arrived to look at an "excellent condition" car only to find it a hopeless pile of tasteless lawn art. If your doctor was as optimistic his pronouncement of excellent health should have you pre-planning funeral services. I have a win-win philosophy on car buying; if I go home with a car I win, if I go home with my money I win. ... View more

I bought a 1989 Saab 900 turbo from an abandoned storage unit. In the trunk was an entire aero kit and half of another that I will sell. It should net the entire cost of the car plus a couple of hundred extra.  The unpleasant surprises have been too numerous this past couple of weeks, so I wanted to reach back a couple of months for a positive experience. ... View more

I’ve had two 1991 special editions, a 2000, and currently a 1994 R Edition in Laguna Blue. I’m keeping the 94 forever. I addition I’ve had three of the Miata’s step brother the Mercury Capri in turbo and non turbo form. The Miata is the better sports car but the Capri the better touring car. Both are mechanically durable and fairly easy to work on. For me the less equipped a MX-5 is the better. I find leather and the power accessories a bother and limited slip differentials can be had easily enough. If you always wanted an early Miata now is the time, they aren’t gettin any younger and certainly won’t be any cheaper. ... View more

Let me focus in on one minor point of this article to grandstand my not-humble-enough opinion. It's no wonder the last real manual Ferraris are gaining in value over their paddle shifted decedents. Manual transmissions are far better for the enthusiast driver than the paddle shifters. I know the auto/manuals can shift gears in one millionth of a blink-o-second, so what? If I made my living being 1/10th of a second faster than the next guy, OK, but I don't. Sports cars serve no practical purpose at all and no one needs one. They exist for fun and fun alone, and I think a true manual is much more fun than flicking two shifting spatulas protruding from the wheel. My soap box and I will be going now. ... View more

In spite of the title I think this article was more about driving a slow car slow. I do love driving a slow car fast, my 94 Miata R gets it's neck wrung regularly, carving corners at 65 and blasting straights at 80+. My daily is a Ford Fiesta Ecoboost 1.0, and I live in an area where I don't see my first traffic light until I'm 20 miles from home. The two mountains between me and civilization have that little triple pinging. Older small cars have a attribute we will never have again, light weight, and I realized some time ago that that is my favorite quality in any car. ... View more

A good read, and worth considering. I have always been a step off of my enthusiasts peers so I'm a little more sympathetic to younger car guys. I have loved 80's hot hatchbacks, sports cars, and drooled over mid-70's Escort Mexico's and RS 2000's while my buddies drove around in jacked up Novas. In addition, at 50 years old, I attended a two year automotive school where I was 30 years older than the rest of the students. I had a great time and learned a lot. I go to car shows but the experience is diminished by lawn chair car guys scowling from behind their GTO's. Is it any wonder the kids don't support those traditional events? I also blame automotive journalists who are fully bought into global warming mythology and self-driving cars, let the rest of the world worry about that, you should be defending the hobby. ... View more

So you're saying every worker in a right to work state is dumb and doesn't know what's best for them? ... View more

With so many amazing ICE out there now the possibilities are endless. As for electrics, I simply can't hate them enough, one optioned that way would be reasonable for those who hate driving but like cars ;). ... View more

Gee, it's a wonder Henry Ford was able to jump all these regulatory hurdles when he wheeled his quadracycle out on city streets for the first time. ... View more

The knee-jerk reaction to small cars by most cars guys is usually one word; junk. You hear that about every small car ever made. My cousin had one and it got a flat tire and we never bought a _____ again. Kudos to this kid finding something she likes and diving in the deep end. I don't find any value placed on a car by an auction house to have much bearing on desirability. Some super expensive cars would be fun to drive but a pain to own. Her Saturns are interesting collectibles for so many reasons; they have a unique story, millions have shared memories of them, and they have their own character. Unlike that super exotic, these cars can still serve their primary purpose on a daily basis and there's a lot to be said for that. ... View more

I agree I think there are good motors from every make and you can keep it in the family. Several years ago one of the hot rod magazines took a Chevy LS and a Ford 4.6 out of a junk yard and turbo charged them both. The Chevy did make more HP, by 2, and cost $1500 more for the build then the Mod motor. The LS parts are cheaper but it if you believe there is more to an old car than looks, like its original character, then go original if at all possible. ... View more

I'm really surprised this article was allowed out of the corral, were all the ladies in the office out for lunch? I don't own a BMW and probably wouldn't own one past say, 1999, so I don't have a dog in this fight. The advertising you describe, however, is all too common, trashing past male customers and catering to the self-aggrandizing social justice worriers. I wonder about marketing that says, "Hey, we hate men too!" How about treating all customers, past and future with a little dignity and respect? ... View more

Every time I see a list like this I breath a sigh of relief. They still aren't on to me! Generally, when there are lists like 10 Cars We're watching at... or The 5 Cars You Want to Buy Now...they are the cars or truck I already consider beyond bargain rates. I check these lists to see how close the value jumpers are in the rear view mirror. ... View more

I'd say the GT350 because it is the more all-around driver's car. I don't 1000 HP but I'll take a car as balanced and as light as possible. Most people run out of skill long before they run out of power. ... View more

It sounds like you are damning it with faint praise. Electric cars are the harbinger of the future death of enthusiast motoring. They will lead to self-driving cars and you will not be able to gas up your classic in California or New York and other places may let you buy gas at $100 a gallon. Tow your 62 Corvette to the car show in your electric truck, roll it off the trailer, and sit behind it in your lawn chair until it's time to go home. It's is funny that I never hear any auto enthusiast site ever really criticize electric cars. Consensus is fine, it's even critical if you're a joined Siamese twin, but its a little creepy in journalism. I'm interested in the technology and I'm glad an American company (Tesla) figures so prominently, but I'm not excited about shiftless, soulless, silent propulsion while staring at a big screen TV. ... View more

I disagree, you can actually shift and drive a Mustang II or a Fox body, this is just a Sharper Image toy for those who love gadgets but hate to drive. ... View more

Maybe we should do a project swapping initiative. We each take over each other's projects for that initial burst of enthusiasm, then when that runs out, swap them again. ... View more

I wonder if this will temp the ladies who like the Wranglers with the big tires and frowny plastic eye make-up over the headlights to run to Walmart in? So few people really off road, even those that drive the monster truck with "off road" packages that this vehicle were serve most people's needs outside of towing. I also don't get the idea that a car based SUV can't handle trails, haven't people seen world rally events?  Car makers cater to image because that's what people want and this is a stylish little SUV, I especially love the aluminium wheels that look like steelies wish the aftermarket would do that. It is a no-way for me because no manual transmission but it is an alternative to Fiat's Jeep Renegade.  ... View more

H.A. Boyd VW in Steubenville, Oh. When I was about four years old my dad went to trade his Beetle in on a new Type 3 Fastback. I still remember the smell of that white vinyl  interior and the sound of the engine on the test drive. There was something different about that dealership and its cars. They looked different, sounded different, and smelled different. My Dad bought a Maverick Grabber instead and we never had VW's again even though we had owned a bus, a camper, and that beetle.  ... View more

I wish all who like this vehicle and purchase one a long and happy life... That being said, I have never understood the high performance SUV thing.  To me, a performance car should be small, light, have cat like reflexes, and most importantly, have a manual transmission. Big, heavy, tall, and challenged by physics does not do it for me.  Again, please feel free to wish a horrible lingering, suffering death upon me for having this opinion but I simply don't get it. If mashing the throttle and being pushed back in your seat while being surrounded by more gadgets than a Sharper Image website is all there is to driving, then live and be well. I just want every limb and all my senses involved with my performance car.  ... View more

I've been fortunate as an Army camera man from 1988 to 2013 to have access to the latest and greatest in photography equipment including night vision and thermal. Now that I'm  victim of my own means I use a Canon D60 and two older Panasonic GH2's with Canon and Nikon prime lenses from the 1970's for both photo and video. ... View more

Must have a stick shift and I prefer AWD to 4WD for winter roads, so it would probably be a Subaru wagon for me. The domestics don't offer much with manuals and AWD, in fact, I'm at a loss to think of any right now.  ... View more

I really don't care much what a car looks like, if its pretty that's a plus, if it's ugly it better be useful. Electric cars, however, are like a cloud of impending doom. Quiet, soulless, and no manual gearbox to keep you entertained.  The technology is cool and it is an American company leading the way; those are good things. The death of the ICE and of real involved driving, not looking forward to that. ... View more

And sitting in my storage unit is a 1991 Special Edition Miata I bought for $800. It was parked next to a shop and my Miata radar is always on. A deer ran into the right front fender damaging it and the headlight bucket. The car's owner didn't want to fix it and the shop wanted it gone. I have all the replacement parts and I think it may be worth doing right by her now. ... View more

This will probably be the last manual available in any Ford truck period. That alone is worth the price of admission. Automatic transmissions are gateway drugs for electric cars. ... View more

Entry level is not a 1.5 in this vehicle. ... View more

Wrong vehicle. The Bronco sport is the Escaped based cross-over with the 1.5. The Bronco here is the truck based SUV.  ... View more

I know your article was talking about non-running basket cases but I have a point to make so I'm going to stray from that framework (like a typical opinionated curmudgeon). If you buy a car that runs and drives resist the temptation to pull it apart. I've seen many projects die because people pulled a running car to bits to "prep it for paint" then years later sell it as a project with boxes of parts in the trunk. If it runs; make it safe, functional, and legal and enjoy it ugly for a while. Then when you have the time, the money in the bank, and the the appointment with the paint shop, prep it for paint.  It's much easier to lose enthusiasm for a car that's a garage obstruction and a shelf hog then one you can use and enjoy. ... View more

We have an 07 we bought used, it's primarily my wife's as automatic transmissions give me a rare and annoying twitching condition. We call it the TruckUV and I too consider it a four door El Camino. It tows enough to bring home a small sports car and the bed is enough to haul oily engines, transmissions, yard clippings and other assorted trappings of modern living. As for looks, I can't image why I'd care what it looks like, its a utility vehicle not a designer purse. ... View more