1 Honda Accord Model Year Is the Best Used Midsize Car for Teens, U.S. News Claims

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It can be difficult trying to find a new car for your teen to drive. You want an affordable car and one that prioritizes road safety, so your teen is safer during a crash if the worst were to happen. Thankfully, U.S. News published its 2021 list of the best-used cars for teens, making the choice that much easier. One of the cars it chose was the 2018 Honda Accord, listed as the “Best Used Midsize Car for Teens.” Read on to find out U.S. News’ methodology behind its list, more about the 2018 Honda Accord, and tips to keep in mind when car shopping for teens.

U.S. News’ methodology behind its “Best Used Cars for Teens” list

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid sedan | American Honda Motor Co., Inc

Each year, U.S. News puts out its list of the best new and used cars for teens. U.S. News states that its criteria are “across five segments, and looks for a winning combination of several components. This includes overall quality, high safety ratings, strong reliability, low long-term ownership costs, and accident avoidance technologies.”

The cars also include relevant data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which publishes its Top Safety Pick winners each year. Some of the models even earned the Top Safety Pick+, which is its highest honor. It also considers data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), another trusted source for safety rankings.

While U.S. News states that used cars don’t necessarily offer the best combination of features, they tend to be more affordable than newer models. The used model years it chose this year include cars from 2016-2018, where the 2018 Honda Accord was a notable pick.

Overview of the 2018 Honda Accord

Among its list, U.S. News chose the 2018 Honda Accord, which was rated as the “Best Used Midsize Car for Teens.” In terms of IIHS ratings, it was a Top Safety Pick in 2018 and scored ‘Good’ on its six different crash tests. The NHTSA listed it as earning five stars. Along with raw safety data, it also has numerous safety features which aren’t always found on older models. It has limited automation features, such as lane keep assist and automatic emergency braking. It also has a rearview camera, which is useful for parking.

The Honda Accord also earned its place on the list for affordability. It has a fuel efficiency of about 33 mpg, which is generally considered good. Choosing a vehicle with a greater fuel efficiency winds up costing you less over the long term since you don’t have to refuel as often. In addition, it retails at around $25,000-$32,000. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a midsize car is $25,000. Depending on where you purchase it from, it will meet that average cost barrier.

What to avoid when buying a teen a car

Beyond the Honda Accord as a top pick, U.S. News has a few tips on what to avoid when buying a teen a car. The first is size. You don’t want to buy a car that’s too small because it’s usually less safe in crashes. However, you don’t want to buy a large truck either, as trucks require more driving skills.

The second is a high seating capacity. Teens shouldn’t have many passengers because each new passenger is at risk of injury if the inexperienced teen crashes. Increased passengers can also be distracting, especially with people who are rather loud or rowdy. This makes it increasingly difficult for the teen driver to focus.

The last is too much horsepower. Cars capable of reaching higher hp can be tempting for many teens, who may want to drive faster than they should. Cars with higher horsepower also have higher acceleration, which means they can also be more difficult to control at those high speeds.

RELATED: No Doubt — U.S. News Calls the 2021 Cadillac Escalade 1 of the Most Luxurious SUVs This Year

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Is Winterizing a Boat Necessary?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When the summer boating fun is over, and fall and winter are just around the corner, it’s time to decide what to do with your boat. Should you have it prepared and shrink-wrapped for the off-season, or can you get by just leaving it in the water? According to Best Boat Report, winterizing your vessel is important. What you end up doing to prepare it might depend on where you’re located, though. Should you really winterize it? What could happen if you don’t?

Do you really need to winterize your boat?

A pair of icebreaker boats sailing in frozen water | Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images

In a lot of situations, the answer would have to be yes. However, there’s obviously more to it. If you live in a state that tends to get really cold in the wintertime, you will have to winterize the boat to prevent any damage from occurring due to the freezing temps. When the warmer weather rolls around, you can pull it out of storage, get it ready and take it out on the lake.

Even if you live where it doesn’t get freezing in the winter season, you still might have to winterize your boat. You’ll have to play it by ear. Some areas, like California, don’t see that many freezing temperatures, so you might get away with leaving the boat in the water and not taking too many extra steps.

However, according to Boat U.S, states like Texas and Florida have many insurance claims regarding damage to their boats from freezing temps. According to Boating World, that’s usually due to an unforeseen weather change people didn’t account for. Anytime the temperatures dip below freezing point, your boat is at risk of potential damage. 

Winterizing a vessel involves removing any water that might be left lingering inside of your motor or other components. If moisture remains and the weather happens to drop below freezing, the water will freeze, and that is the start of disaster for some boats. If you know a freeze is coming, consider getting the boat out of the water and draining as much moisture as you can.

If you fail to do this, the water could cause the motor to crack and damage any plumbing lines the boat may have from showers or sinks. Come springtime, and you might find yourself facing a huge repair bill, if not a whole new engine replacement or plumbing reinstalled. Plus, you might be without your boat for a few months while you wait for someone to fix the problems. 

What do the process involve?

When doing a full-on winterization of your boat, there are a few different tasks that take place. The most important thing is, of course, removing the water from all of the components. It also involves preparing the engine. A fresh oil change will prevent damage from old, dirty oil contaminating the motor and corroding it. Fresh gasoline should also go into the fuel tank with a fuel additive to stabilize it.

If your boat has a water tank or plumbing, you should have marine-grade antifreeze added to prevent freezing, which could crack the components and make them leak when spring comes around. If you perform these steps yourself, you’re likely going to prevent the cost of damages. However, it would involve the cost of the oil-changing materials and the antifreeze. There may also be the price to store your boat. Some marinas have affordable dry dock options to keep your boat in the off-season.

If you choose to have a professional winterize your boat, you could pay up to $300 to get it done. This price, however, covers the cost of the equipment that your boat may have that would need preparation. It will cost more if your boat has a shower, sinks, and a toilet. If the only thing you need to worry about is a motor, the costs will be much less. 

Tips for winterizing your boat

If you feel it’s best to have an expert prepare your boat for the winter, make sure to follow a few tips, so you don’t end up with damage in the springtime. First, in writing, lay out what exactly you want to be done to get your boat ready for storage. Don’t just say, “winterize it.” What you consider winterizing and what they think it means could be completely different. Also, consider using a credit card to pay so you can dispute the charges should the professional not do a perfect job. 

If you plan to use your boat during the winter season and it doesn’t typically get down to freezing temperatures, pay attention to weather alerts in your area. A freak storm can appear out of the blue, and your boat could get exposed to freezing weather and temperatures for a few days, causing damage to the motor and other components. If you know temps will be dropping soon, take the necessary action on your boat to keep it protected, if you can. 

Winterizing your vessel isn’t a leave-it-and-forget-it type of maintenance. For extra caution, check your boat out every couple of weeks or so to make sure everything’s still good. Lines may have become loose, or critters may have invaded your storage space. Take care of these surprising tasks right away to avoid the cost of repairs when you take the boat out for its first spring/summer ride. 

Preparing to store your boat in the off-season takes some time, but it could save you money from the potential damage that winter can cause. That way, when it’s time to get it back out and take it for a drive on the water, you won’t have to worry about taking it in for repairs. You can de-winterize it and get it ready for springtime activities right away. 

RELATED: How Much Does It Cost To Shrink Wrap a Boat?

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Is the Toyota RAV4 Prime Bigger Than the RAV4 Hybrid?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When you buy a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), you’re usually buying a vehicle a bit bigger than its purely gas-guzzling counterpart. HEVs must make room for the gasoline engine, motor (or motors), and the electric battery that power the vehicle. However, what about a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)? PHEVs typically have a larger battery than hybrids, allowing them to travel a longer distance on pure battery power. Additionally, a PHEV needs room for an onboard charger and an inverter, among other components. One might naturally think that the PHEV would be the larger vehicle, but, as with the Toyota RAV4 Prime (a PHEV) and the RAV4 Hybrid, this is not always the case.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV SUV | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

With a wheelbase of 105.9 inches and a total length of 181 inches, the RAV4 Prime is the kind of vehicle prospective buyers looking for cargo room need. The standard RAV4 Prime comes with a 2.5-liter I-4 engine, AWD, 17-inch wheels, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It produces 302 horsepower and has a 42-mile electric-only range and a 600-mile total driving range. 

The five-seater affords owners a generous 33.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 63.1 cubic feet with the back row down, as well as 41 inches of legroom in the front and 37.8 inches in the back. The interior is filled with soft materials that add to rider comfort, and controls are laid out in a simple, uncluttered design. The driver and passengers are treated to a standard 7-inch touchscreen, compatible with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth. Additionally, higher-level trims upgrade the standard 7-inch screen with an 8-inch one and increase the cluster display size from the standard 4.2 inches to 7 inches.

The standard RAV4 itself boasts some impressive safety features, such as a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Whether a RAV4 Prime or RAV4 Hybrid, each model includes lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane centering as standard features. Furthermore, except for the base model, every trim comes with rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Advanced safety features and technology are not the main points of differentiation between the RAV4 Prime and the RAV4 Hybrid. The key differences lie in their powertrain, performance, interior cargo room, price, and trim levels. The Hybrid sports a 2.5-liter I-4 engine and produces 219 horsepower. It comes standard with AWD, delivers 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, and provides owners with 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space (69.8 cubic feet with the back row folded down).

Prospective buyers considering either vehicle will also factor price and ownership costs into their decision. The RAV4 Hybrid comes in significantly cheaper at a starting MSRP of $28,500, as per U.S. News and World Report. As the RAV4 Prime starts at $38,100, it may turn off budget-conscious shoppers. Still, the higher initial price may be offset by fuel cost savings over time. For a driver with a daily commute of 20 to 30 miles, overnight and afternoon charging can save them a pretty penny in fuel costs.

The RAV4 Hybrid also comes in two trims beyond the base model LE: the XLE and the XLE Premium. The XLE’s interior materials are of higher quality than those of the LE, and it comes with a sunroof, heated door mirrors, and fog lights. In addition to these XLE features, the XLE Premium upgrades the interior materials even further and includes amenities like 18-inch wheels and front and rear parking assistance. Meanwhile, the RAV4 Prime is available in an SE and XSE trim, in addition to the LE base model. In addition to higher-quality interior trim, the SE features a sunroof and 18-inch wheels, while the XSE adds 19-inch wheels, parking assistance, and a voice-activated navigation system.

So, which RAV4 is bigger?

Conventional wisdom would hold that the RAV4 Prime would be the larger vehicle. After all, more room is needed for the larger battery and necessary plug-in components. However, by examining both vehicles’ total wheelbase and length, they are the same size. The RAV4 Prime and RAV4 Hybrid share the same total width and height as well.

Rather than manufacture a larger PHEV, Toyota decided to reduce RAV4 Prime owners’ cargo space to account for the extra powertrain volume needed. From a production standpoint, this decision was a smart one. Manufacturing two different-sized vehicles would have increased manufacturing and distribution costs and the risk of production errors.

However, the RAV4 Prime and RAV4 Hybrid’s differences require scrutiny before purchasing despite their shared dimensions. The standard Toyota RAV4 itself is Toyota’s best-selling SUV as it has garnered considerable critical and consumer praise. As such, both RAV4 variants are solid vehicles, but depending on a buyer’s priorities, one may be considerably more attractive than the other.

RELATED: Is the Toyota RAV4 Prime Eligible for the Tax Rebate?

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Has Anyone Ever Died in a Demolition Derby?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Typical motorsports involve racing cars or motorcycles around the track, with the winner being the fastest of them all. Some of these competitions can be a little more dangerous, such as ice racing. Although monster truck rallies are highly entertaining to watch, they seem more destructive than safe, with plenty of accidents.

The same applies to demolition derby events, where drivers ram their cars into each other until only one remains. As you might expect, the Daily Mail reports that some drivers have been involved in fatal derby accidents. How did demolition derby become so popular despite its obvious safety concerns?

The history of demolition derby

A demolition derby at the Shenandoah County Fair | Matt McClain for The Washington Post via Getty Images

According to the official Demolition Derby League, the sport was created by stock car racer Larry Mendelsohn. However, evidence suggests that unofficial demolition derbies might have been in operation several years prior. Historians speculate that these events gained traction at local fairs, where national sports media coverage was unlikely.

Don Basile is also credited for hosting one of the first big demolition derbies, but his involvement is somewhat controversial. Instead of a typical endurance test, the cars were stealthily altered to suffer severe damage upon the first impact. Basile would also host more conventional demolition derbies, including one with several guests from the Indy 500.

Demolition derby events would continue to occur at local fairs, getting national television news coverage in the 1970s. A demolition derby was even featured as a small plotline in the popular sitcom Happy Days. Today, competitions like the Tour of Destruction in Tennessee attract as many as 5,000 watchers.

Demolition derby events also take place in Europe, though the rules are slightly different. It’s acceptable to intentionally hit drivers or attempt to run them off the track. U.S. derby rules usually state that you’re not allowed to hit the driver’s door or target specific riders. Additionally, the winner is the last fully operational car, not the one that has disabled the most rivals.

In 2019, a spectator was tragically killed after a derby driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed into the audience. Officials say a mechanical problem caused the driver to experience persistent acceleration out of a turn. The vehicle proceeded to jump the fence and injure seven other spectators, including an infant.

Matthew Newton also recounts the death of an actual derby driver named Dave Cosper. It’s worth noting that he didn’t die from any spectacular injuries but lifelong heart complications. Still, the chaotic nature of demolition derbies can be fatal for those with similar conditions.

What are the rules of a demolition derby?

While rules and regulations vary between each event, they aim to keep drivers and bystanders as safe as possible. The 5 Flags Speedway competition only accepts sedan entries, meaning no heavy-duty truck can crush an unfortunate subcompact SUV. All cars have to pass inspection before competing, with special attention to the brakes. 

All drivers are also required to wear DOT-approved protection gear. The driver’s side of the door must be wired shut using metal straps. The trunk also has to be chained shut and remain empty throughout the event. Except for the driver’s side door, you can’t reinforce the car’s body in any way. The rear ends, transmission, engine, and radiator also have to be stock parts, and the competing vehicle must have its original suspension.

All the car’s glass must be removed for additional safety, and a fire extinguisher must be inside the vehicle for emergencies. Drivers also have to remain inside their vehicles throughout the event unless notified by officials. Even with all these precautions, the rules say to enter demolition derbies at your own risk.

RELATED: Car and Driver’s Best Cars to Crash at a Demolition Derby

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