What Is the Cheapest Bugatti Model?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

World-famous Bugatti cars are many things, but they’re certainly not budget-friendly. As a result, fans must shell out a pretty penny to claim one as their own. Still, the feeling of absolute luxury and unmatched performance is well worth the cost for many owners. And though some Bugatti supercars fetch a cool $114 million, others are comparatively more affordable. 

Even so-called cheap Bugatti models honor the automaker’s reputation for comfort and quality. Their classic designs (and the number of zeroes on their price tags) make them iconic. But some models are only one lottery win away, as opposed to two or three. 

Bugatti’s history dates back to the 19th century

Even those who don’t consider themselves car enthusiasts are likely familiar with the name “Bugatti.” That worldwide brand recognition has been building for centuries, beginning with the birth of Carlo Bugatti in 1856.

According to Bugatti‘s website, Carlo was an incredible artist and silversmith who would play an instrumental role in the interests of his son, Ettore Bugatti. Drawing from his father’s design background, Ettore took a tremendous interest in the automobile craze that swept the early 1900s. As a result, he built and debuted his first vehicle, the Type 1, in 1901. 

Bugatti found success through its one-of-a-kind design and Ettore’s passion. Unfortunately, the founder’s 1947 death, which came only eight years after his son’s, left the burgeoning business with no head or successor. For a while, it seemed the iconic brand would die in the 1950s after only releasing 8,000 vehicles. 

Bugatti supercars are known for their hefty price tags

Fortunately for 21st-century fans, the brand eventually saw two successful revivals. The first was the newly established Bugatti Automobili S.p.A., based in Italy. Then came Volkswagen’s era, which began with a 1998 acquisition and continues to today. 

Volkswagen’s line of offerings pays homage to Ettore’s original vision for the company while offering luxury that surpasses his wildest imagination. Bugatti has produced five models: the Centodieci, Chiron, Divo, La Voiture Noire, and Veyron. Each offers a distinct body design and range of features. But one similarity is their jaw-dropping price. 

The La Voiture Noire is the most expensive, coming in at $12 million. But for the wealthy on a budget, Bugatti also makes the Veyron, whose latest models cost around $1.9 million. 

The Veyron is the brand’s cheapest model 

Bugatti discontinued the Veyron in 2014 but produced special editions until 2015. Thus, its lower cost is explained by the fact that any Veyron you buy will be at least 6 years old. Still, its high-quality materials — and its history, which helped define an entire Bugatti era — justify the price for some fans.  

Shopping for a used Bugatti isn’t like shopping for an average starter car. Though you’ll certainly save millions by skipping the La Voiture Noire, it’s worth noting any maintenance on these supercars comes with its own high costs. Materials to maintain and repair older models become obscurer each year, and Luxe Digital estimates that replacing a Veyron’s fuel tank alone costs $42,000. 

RELATED: This Mind-Boggling Bugatti Chiron Watch Costs a Fraction of the $3 Million Supercar’s Price

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Only 1 2021 Minivan Model Earned the ‘Best Buy’ Badge From Consumer Guide

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s no denying that some shoppers looking for their next family mobile won’t touch a minivan with a 10 ft. pole. However, there are others who find the ultimate family wagon beautiful in its practicality. But what’s the best minivan? While this is hard to say for sure, there’s only one 2021 minivan model that earned the ‘Best Buy’ badge from Consumer Guide. 

2021 Chrysler Pacifica all-new Pinnacle trim | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

What is the best 2021 minivan model? 

While saying which van is the best is pretty subjective, Consumer Guide isn’t the only publication to recommend the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. This 2021 minivan model also earned awards from others like CarBuzz and Cars.com. In fact, on Chrysler’s website there’s a banner that names it the “most awarded minivan five years in a row.”

a white 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid parked outside in front of a scenic forested area
2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid | Chrysler/Stellantis

It’s no secret that the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is one of the best family vehicles on the market. With new available features like the “fam cam,” that allows the driver to see several different angles of the back seats. 

Here’s what the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is up against

A red 2021 Toyota Sienna parked outdoors
2021 Toyota Sienna | Toyota

This year, the Toyota Sienna is fully redesigned on a brand new platform that offers only a hybrid powertrain. The 2021 Toyota Sienna offers all-wheel drive. In fact, it’s the only minivan with an available-wheel-drive powertrain other than the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. According to Consumer Guide, the Sienna uses a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine combined with two electric motors. This generates up to 243 hp. 

In addition, the new Honda Odyssey got some subtle exterior enhancements and a few new details on the interior as well. The production of the Dodge Caravan is over, as the model is now discontinued. Soon, the Chrysler Pacifica will also come up against an all-new Kia minivan called the Kia Carnival. 

In addition to these, Chrysler’s budget van––the Voyager––gained available safety tech upgrades like automatic emergency braking. The 2021 Ford Transit Connect family wagon is the standing underdog in the minivan segment. It offers both 5 and 7 passenger configurations.

All of these minivans have their own specific appeal. Although the segment isn’t very large,there is at least some variety. The individual quality of each minivan is part of the reason it’s difficult to say which one is best. In fact, I had the privilege of driving the 2021 Toyota Sienna, 2021 Honda Odyssey, and Chrysler Pacifica (both gas and hybrid powertrains) back to back at the Texas Auto Roundup. 

2021 Honda Odyssey driving in an urban area
2021 Honda Odyssey | Honda

It’s hard to say which one is the best––even with the opportunity to compare them so closely. However, I can say that I understand why the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica keeps winning awards. 

“The Pacifica offers class-leading horsepower, excellent road manners and ride quality, and an unmatched array of family-friendly features…all wrapped up in a stylish package.”

Consumer Guide

The Consumer Guide ‘Best Buy’ badge 

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica earned the ‘Best Buy’ badge from Consumer Guide for its “class-leading” 287-hp 3.6 liter V6 combined with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This minivan is commended for its cabin comfort and quality of handling. Plus, Consumer Guide conveys that the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica “unmatched” options in terms of family-oriented available features. 

RELATED: These 2021 Subaru Models Are Both Consumer Reports ‘Top Picks’

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Watch: Tesla Roadster With Rocket Thrusters Rips the Pavement

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We thought that Tesla founder Elon Musk was kidding when he tweeted about “rocket thrusters” on the new Tesla Roadster. But he isn’t. The car really does have thrusters as an option. Now we get a chance to see them in action against a non-rocket thrust Roadster.

Musk claims with the rocket thrusters the Tesla Roadster can accelerate from zero to sixty in 1.1 seconds

Tesla Roadster | Tesla

When Rimac claimed that the Nevera was the world’s quickest accelerating road car, Musk was quick to reveal the whole rocket thruster deal. Rimac claims the Nevera can go from zero to sixty in 1.85 seconds. Musk claims that with the rocket thrusters the Tesla Roadster can accelerate from zero to sixty in 1.1 seconds and 1.9 seconds without. 

Now Slav Popovski has provided a simulation showing the difference between the two vehicles upon acceleration. The animation is based on the math if the thrusters are only engaged for 1.1 seconds according to insideevs. What becomes immediately evident is that the sinister gray Roadster is so much quicker than the red one. 

This is only a visualization

An image of a Tesla Roadster outdoors.
Tesla Roadster | Tesla

The cones indicate a quarter-mile to give some comparison of where each vehicle would be at were they accelerating that quickly. You know, if this was an actual videotaped race rather than a visualization. Popovski used 3D StudioMax to create the simulation. 

There was chatter over the Twitterverse that street tires could not withstand these numbers. The Nevera has at least substantiated that they can stand up to a sub-2 second blast. Those same naysayers now say that street tires can’t stand up to zero to sixty mph times at 1.1 seconds. 

There was a time when physicists were able to show that cars would never be able to go faster than 125 mph. The current record stands at 763.035 mph by Andy Green in 1997. We include this because there will always be those who calculate this or that. But in reality, things can go much differently than numbers on paper. 

The Tesla Roadster is a bargain compared to the Nevera

An image of a Tesla Roadster outdoors.
Tesla Roadster | Tesla

If these zero to sixty mph times are your thing, the Tesla Roadster is a bargain compared to the Nevera. The Nevera costs $2.5 million and Rimac will only build 150. A Tesla Roadster is estimated to sell for $250,000. 

That price is for the “Founders Series” and will be limited to 1,000 copies. But Tesla plans on making many more than that. We don’t know how much the rocket thruster option will cost. But if we could pop for $250,000 then we’d go the extra cost and get those thrusters. There has never been anything like it, and the experience will be worth whatever it costs.

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Why Does This New Jersey Zoo Have Such a Bizarre Speed Limit?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Speed limits are a part of daily life here in America, even if we have supercars capable of hitting three to four times our highest speed limits. We are used to seeing fairly standard speed limits, like 40, 55, and 70 mph. However, in this New Jersey zoo, there is a very bizarre and specific posted speed limit. Not only is it incredibly slow, but it is also incredibly specific. Why would they post such a hard-to-follow speed limit? 

What is the weirdest speed limit in America? 

According to CarScoops, speed limits are usually calculated based on the conditions and use of a specific road. They are also usually in 5 mph increments. Between these two norms – especially the second one – this speed limit at the Cape May County Zoo in Cape May, New Jersey sticks out like more of a gag sign from the defunct Spencer’s Gifts than it does a legally enforceable road sign. 

A video recently released by a woman on YouTube shows her confusion with the posted 9.5 mph limit sign. Although it may look like a joke, it is, in fact, a legal speed advisory sign and even kind of makes sense. 

This New Jersey zoo speed limit sign is actually pretty clever

9.5 mph sign in NJ | Viral Hog via YouTube

RELATED: Lamborghini Huracan Owner Faces Charges After Going 4x Faster than the Speed Limit

At first glance, this speed limit sign might seem silly or even downright annoying. However, a transportation engineer named Vignesh Swaminathan came across the video and decided to explain it to the rest of us on his Tik Tok as Mr. Barricade. 

Swaminathan suggests that the bizarre speed limit sign is most likely on a low-volume road without a centerline. He goes on to say that these types of roads often see more speeding because the lack of a centerline makes drivers perceive the road as wider. 

Certainly going 10 mph isn’t any less safe than going 9.5? Of course, it’s not. But, the sign is attention-grabbing because of how much it sticks out for being so specific and odd-numbered. Swaminathan says a bizarre speed limit sign like this will not only get people’s attention, but they will also be more likely to adhere to the limit because that 9.5 mph will stick in their brains. 

It is truly a genius tactic to raise awareness for that specific speed and urge drivers to stay within the posted limit. Let’s be honest, how many people would see that sign and make it a goal to try and hit 9.5 mph? Well, at least those of us who still have an analog speedometer. 

Is driving slower actually safer? 

Obviously, at this New Jersey zoo, there is no argument to be made for driving much faster than 10 mph. However, there seem to be varying beliefs surrounding this question, in general. While driving fast varies depending on context and the vehicle you are driving, the higher the speed, the easier it is to lose control. Also, the faster the speed, the higher the chance of a small problem like a flat tire or hitting road debris, which can turn into a major problem. 

Safe driving speeds truly depend on the vehicle, the condition of the road, the skill of the driver, and the number of other drivers on the road. The truth is too many drivers think they are more skilled than they truly are, and too few drivers care to learn how to develop the necessary skills to keep them safe on the road. 

It is for these reasons that speed limits are often slower than an individual needs to drive safely. We share the roads with all sorts of drivers and all sorts of vehicles, meaning we all need to bend to safer median speeds. Regardless of most speed limits, few will likely miss the 9.5 mph sign at the Cape May County Zoo in Cape May, New Jersey.

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