2 New Corvettes Stolen From the Same Owner in 3 Months

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If this doesn’t take the cake for bad luck we don’t know what does? A woman in Dallas, Texas, had her new Corvette stolen from her apartment complex this past February. Her Corvette was Torch Red and loaded. When it wasn’t recovered she purchased another one. Same Torch Red, same options. 

Having two new Corvettes stolen was “the most expensive mistake of my life”

New Torch Red Corvette | GM

She even bought a locking car cover for it as an extra layer of protection. Or so she thought. Now she told NBC5 she made “the most expensive mistake in my life.” That is because earlier this month her second Corvette was stolen, too. 

Taken together the amount of the claims is around $180k. Now Melissa Anderson is saying she is sure the apartment complex attracts burglaries. We would have to agree. That’s because according to the Dallas Police Department, there have been at least 10 reports of grand theft auto at the AMLI Design District apartment complex. 

The Corvette owner thinks her apartment complex is a theft target

New red Corvette rear 3/4 view
New red Corvette | GM

“It’s a target. There is an organized crime operation when it comes to auto thefts and burglary when it comes to this building,” she said. The time frame for all of these thefts has been fairly short, according to Anderson. 

Of course, this raises all kinds of questions. Is there video surveillance? If not, why not under the circumstances? Why didn’t she have a system like Lojack so the location of the stolen Corvette could be determined? Why aren’t there better safeguards for entering and exiting the parking area?

With two new Corvettes gone, it raises many questions about what is happening

Torh Red corvette detail
Luxury supercar Chevrolet Corvette in red at the Canada International Auto Show | Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

Have the Dallas Police stepped up patrols of the area, especially if it can be determined these burglaries happen at certain times of the day? We’re only getting started but you probably had similar questions yourself. If nothing else a cheap shut-off to the ignition source would give a bit more protection unless the thieves are just yanking the Corvettes onto a flatbed.

But Anderson’s last comment may paint a better picture of what is happening. She says the apartment management “dismissed the whole thing, they haven’t sent out notices about various crimes happening in our building.”

RELATED: The Worst States in America for Stolen Vehicles

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The Outrageous Price of the 2020 BMW X6 Didn’t Stop People From Buying

by Gabrielle DeSantis

BMW has never been known for making cheap cars, but the BMW X6 is beyond expensive. One of the most expensive SUVs on the market, the top trim for the X6 has a six-figure price tag. Is this particular luxury SUV worth the high price? Apparently, it is. Not only was it ranked as the highest quality family SUV by J.D. Power, but the 2020 model has also sold the most units since 2015.

This is even more impressive when you remember 2020 was the year the world burned to the ground. Figuratively, of course.

The BMW X6 is anything but cheap

As we said, the top trim, the BMW X6 M Competition, has a six-figure price tag, starting at $117,600. The next trim down, the high-performance X6 M, starts at $108,600. And these are the starting prices, performance packages not included. The X6 M50i trim is one of the “midlevel” trims, and it starts at $85,650.

The base model starts at $64,300, which, even among luxury midsize SUVS, is one of the priciest.  

Is the 2020 BMW X6 a good SUV?

The BMW X6 | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

The BMW X6 has three basic trims; the sDrive40i, the xDrive40i, and the M50i. There are also two X6 M trims, the high-performance X6 M, which is actually the base trim among the M models, and the Competition X6M. Both the sDrive40i and xDrive40i trims come with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six that produces 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque.

The M50i has a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 that produces 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Both X6 M trims have a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

The X6 M Competition trim puts out a little more horsepower at 617 hp. An eight-speed automatic is standard on all trims, and except for the sDrive40i, which has rear-wheel drive, all trims have all-wheel drive as standard. 

All trims come with Live Cockpit Professional with iDrive7 and navigation, as well as a panoramic moonroof, Vernasca leather upholstery, a rearview camera, and heated front seats. The three X6 trims have 20-inch alloy wheels, while the base X6 M has 21-inch wheels, and the Competition trim has staggered wheels with 22-inch wheels in the rear.

For the three X6 trims, there are nine optional packages available. A few of the packages include a Parking Assistance package, a Luxury Seating package, a Dynamic Handling package, an Off-Road package, and an Executive package.

If you go with the X6 M trims, you have two optional packages available, a Driving Assistance Professional package, and an Executive package.  

Despite the price and the pandemic, people flocked to buy it

In a year that saw millions of people lose their jobs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and car sales dropped in general, sales of the ridiculously expensive BMW X6 rose. Yep, you read that right. In fact, 2020 saw the highest number of X6 models sold since 2015. According to GoodCarBadCar, 7,291 units were sold in the U.S. in 2020.

This shows a 72 percent increase in sales from 2019 when only 4,240 units were sold. It is also the second-highest number of units sold since the X6 came out, behind 2015 when 7,906 units were sold. This is a testament to BMW’s brand loyalty.

It might seem counterintuitive for sales of one of the most expensive luxury SUVs to increase during a time when people were not sure what the future held, but maybe it is not so odd. Everyone has just been looking for things to feel good about. For some people, it is a super expensive BMW SUV. Plus, if the world feels like it’s ending, you might as well go out in style. 

RELATED: The BMW X6 Is Just Weird Enough to Be Incredibly Good

The post The Outrageous Price of the 2020 BMW X6 Didn’t Stop People From Buying appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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How to Enjoy Your Summer as a Car Enthusiast

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Feeling a little cooped up? Glad summer is here, but not sure how to resume your pre-pandemic car person lifestyle? Fear not. New to the scene or seasoned Cars and Coffee veteran, there’s always a fun car-related activity to do in the summer, no matter where you live. From C&C to Concourse De Elegance, these are the best ways to get out and enjoy that car enthusiast lifestyle this summer.

Summertime Cars and Coffee

A Lamborghini Gallardo at a car show | Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Depending on where you live, you may be lucky enough that Cars and Coffee is a year-round event. Even if it isn’t in your area, summer is when C&C really heats up. Finding a Cars and Coffee can be a little intimidating at first if you’re new, or don’t have friends who share your obsession for all things mechanical. Honestly, the best way to find them is to take to Facebook. Most of the time, C&C organizers operate a Facebook page to make their events easier to find. Scrolling through those results often yields many events across the week, Cars and Coffee or not.

Reader be warned: if you’re not a morning person Cars and Coffee can be a stretch. Some events start as early as eight in the morning, meaning you’ve got to be up at the crack of dawn to get to them, and what lunatic wants to do that on their day off? Luckily, these events usually run for several hours, especially as those summer days get warmer. Even if you do oversleep, and who can blame you on the weekend, members often organize drives after the event. So, even if you do show up a little late there’s still some car-related fun to be had

Summer Formula Drift series

Two Formula Drift cars slide out of a corner spewing smoke
Formula Drift cars | Scott Varley via Getty Images

RELATED: 8 Best Summer Cars You Can Buy at Every Price Range

Formula Drift events are another great way to get yourself and your ride out of the house on a nice summer day. By now, the FD circuit is in full swing, and it’ll be hard not to find an event in your area. Formula Drift events are fantastic. Drivers are inches from other cars at an absurd speed, well past the limits of their tires, and sometimes their skill; and it’s not uncommon to see a driver spin out or spin off.

What’s more, they’re basically a car meet and a race all wrapped into one. Even walking the parking lot can be an interesting way to kill half an hour or so. It’s not uncommon to see some sweet modified rides at Formula Drift events. Pits access is often pretty open, meaning you can walk up and see the cars that will be out on track drifting later in the day.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

A white and black hill climb car with a huge wing, driven by Sebastian Loeb crosses the line at Pikes Peak.
Sebastian Loeb crosses the line at Pikes Peak | Joe Klamar via Getty Images

If you want to do a little more traveling mixed in with your summer car person plans, it doesn’t get better than the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. In this historic race, competitors fight to see who can get up this massive 14,000 ft mountain the fastest. Spectators sit close to the action and sitting in the woods watching the cars pass gives off some old Group B rally racing vibes. Additionally, there’s typically a car show held before the race where all of the competing cars can be seen going the slowest they’ll go all weekend. No matter your car-themed interest, there’s an event for you this summer.

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The 2021 Land Rover Defender Is the Best Luxury Midsize SUV to Buy This Year

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Land Rover’s SUVs aren’t exactly cheap, but they’re definitely some of the best options on the market. Models like the Land Rover Defender prove that they can be capable off-roaders while shuttling passengers in style and luxury. The Defender is even on par with the highly dependable and legendary Toyota Land Cruiser.

It’s also got the chops to compete with luxury rivals, like the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and BMW X5. Both the Defender and the Range Rover Velar were featured on MotorTrend’s Best Luxury Midsize SUVs list. However, the Land Rover Defender was the one to take first place.

What’s so great about the Land Rover Defender?

Many critics, including MotorTrend, are quick to point out the Land Rover Defender’s fantastic off-roading abilities. It rides on unibody construction and a fully independent suspension, but available air springs can adjust the Defender’s ground clearance. It has a maximum of 11.5 inches of lift and can ford water almost three feet deep.

Every Defender comes standard with locking differentials and 4WD. MotorTrend says its rides smoothly no matter which powertrain you choose, including the base motor. It’s a turbo-four that makes 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Drivers can also get their Defender with a turbocharged six-cylinder capable of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. This motor is reportedly nearly two seconds faster than the turbo-four option and has better fuel economy numbers. The 2022 Land Rover Defender has an optional V8 capable of 518 hp, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

MotorTrend was also a fan of the Land Rover Defender’s boxy exterior shape, which unquestionably differentiates it from its rivals. Even on the luxurious interior, there are unique touches that speak volumes about the Defender’s rugged character. Screws on the door panels are exposed, door pockets aren’t lined, and there are some sturdy plastic bits inside the cabin.

The Land Rover Defender can seat up to seven riders. The standard seats are nicely padded, leather-lined cloth with intricate stitching. Drivers will appreciate the high-riding position of the front seat, even if visibility is slightly obscured in the back. The side bolsters also make the front seats feel like lounge chairs rather than car seats.

The second row offers plenty of stretch-out space for its riders as well, plus adequate thigh support. The Land Rover Defender is also decked out with some nice tech like an optional 11-inch display and Meridian stereo system.

This SUV’s disappointing qualities

RELATED: The 2021 Land Rover Defender Can’t Stop Winning This Year

While the second row is fairly accommodating, the last row is too cramped for adult riders. It only offers 20 inches of legroom compared to the 39 inches in the Land Rover Defender 110’s second row. These models also offer only 11 cubic feet of storage with every seat in use.

The base engine, while capable, also doesn’t get the best gas mileage. At best, it scores 18/21 mpg city/highway. The optional inline-six isn’t much better, rated for 17/22 mpg city/highway. Fuel economy estimates for the V8 haven’t been released.

Is the Land Rover Defender a good value?

MotorTrend’s 2021 SUV of the Year is available in several trims for varying budgets. The Land Rover Defender 90 is the entry-level model, retailing for $47,700. The 90 S and S-Dynamic X stray into the $50,000 range but have more interior trappings.

Every X-Dynamic variation also comes standard with the smoother inline-six and larger tires. The 90 X model comes with even more tech, like wireless charging and a head-up display. The Land Rover Defender 90 V8, with the most powerful engine and a full array of safety features, starts at $97,200.

Although the prices are on the higher end, you definitely get what you pay for with a vehicle that some, like MotorTrend, consider to be the best luxury midsize SUV this year.

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