Study: Can the Ram 1500 Last As Long as the Average Pickup?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ram 1500 is a popular midsize pickup truck that, when it comes down to it, has plenty going for it. Car and Driver gave this year’s model an Editors’ Choice award. MotorTrend also tapped it as its Truck of the Year. But as much as it has going for it, how many miles can the Ram 1500 last and does it have what it takes to outlast the average pickup?

How many miles can a pickup truck last?

Ram 1500 | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Before jumping into how many miles a Ram 1500 can last, let’s talk about how many miles the average pickup truck can last. After analyzing over 11.8 million cars sold in 2020, iSeeCars determined that 1.0% of all vehicles sold reached 200,000-miles.

As for pickups specifically? iSeeCars determined that of all the trucks sold in 2020, an average of 1.9% reached 200,000-miles or more. Of those analyzed, six pickup trucks rated above the 1.9% average for the segment. 

How many miles the Ram 1500 can last

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The good news is that iSeeCars found six pickups that will last longer than the average truck. The bad news is that the Ram 1500 wasn’t among them. In fact, based on iSeeCars’ data, it wasn’t even close. 

According to iSeeCars, only 1.2% of Ram 1500 models sold in 2020 reached 200,000 miles. While that’s above average for all types of vehicles, that 1.2% does fall below the 1.9% segment average that iSeeCars already laid out. 

The 1500 wasn’t the only pickup to fall below the segment average either. iSeeCars’ reports that models like the Nissan Frontier (1.1%), Chevy Colorado (0.8%), and the GMC Canyon (0.7%) also struggled to rank among the longest-lasting pickups on the market today.

There are longer-lasting pickups out there

RELATED: The Toyota Tundra May Outlast the Toyota Tacoma But Does That Mean You Should Buy One?

Now, let’s get back to those six pickups that iSeeCars claims will last longer than not only the average truck but also the 1500. The three longest-lasting pickups include the Toyota Tundra (3.7%), Honda Ridgeline (3.4%), and the Toyota Tacoma (2.8%).

“Known for being indestructible, the Toyota Tacoma and the Toyota Tundra offer trademark Toyota quality and reliability. The Honda Ridgeline’s unique unibody design gives it the function of a pickup truck with the ride comfort and fuel efficiency of a crossover SUV, making it one of the most flexible, multi-purpose vehicles you can buy.”

iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer

Of course, the Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, and the Honda Ridgeline weren’t the only pickups able to last 200,000 miles or more. According to iSeeCars, models like the Nissan Titan (2.3%), the Chevy Silverado (2.1%), and the Ford F-150 (2.0%) were also among the six longest-lasting pickups.

Is the Ram 1500 a bad truck?

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Here’s the thing, while only 1.2% of Ram 1500 models sold in 2020 reached 200,000 miles, that doesn’t mean the Ram 1500 is a bad truck. In fact, we’ve already established that the Ram 1500 has earned some pretty impressive awards. 

That’s not all it has going for it either. Car and Driver reports that the Ram 1500 is among the most luxurious pickup trucks on the market today. Consumer Reports also gave it an 83 overall score in road tests.

And when it comes to towing? The Ram 1500 can tow a maximum of 12,750 pounds. So, while iSeeCars reports that the Ram 1500 may not last as long as other trucks, at least you can rest assured knowing it does have plenty to offer otherwise.

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The 2021 Mazda3 Is the Perfect High School Daily Driver

by Gabrielle DeSantis

One of the most stressful times of being a parent is when your teens start driving. Finding a new car, like the 2021 Mazda3, will help them stay safe and practice their driving skills. And you can relax a bit knowing they’re in a safe car that didn’t blow your budget. 

The Mazda3 is one of the safest but cheapest vehicles you can buy this year for your teens, MotorTrend reports. Why is it so safe, and which model does MT recommend?

How safe and reliable is the Mazda3?

Both the Mazda3’s hatchback and the sedan body styles performed well in crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration evaluated it in frontal, side, and rollover tests. Because the Mazda3 checked every box, the NHTSA gave the it an overall safety rating of 5 stars, the highest the agency awards vehicles. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rigorously tested the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback as well. The IIHS evaluates several areas involving both the driver’s and passenger’s sides. The results earned the Mazda3 a Good rating in all crashworthiness tests, which secured it the highest award of Top Safety Pick+. 

As for reliability, the Mazda3 gets good marks from Consumer Reports. For several years, this model earned a 5-star predicted reliability rating. Then, in 2019, it had a hiccup and fell to 3. 

But Mazda3 saw improvements and returned to a 5 rating. This year, however, it went down to 4 with body integrity issues. Overall, though, it remains a reliable vehicle for any consumer, especially teens just learning to drive.

2021 Mazda3 safety features

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Mazda offers a decent number of safety features as standard equipment on its models. For instance, the Mazda3 has an automatic emergency braking system. It alerts the driver if it detects a potential collision in front of the car. If the driver doesn’t take corrective action fast enough, the car will apply the brakes to ensure no crash takes place. It’s a great feature for teenagers who are just developing their road reflexes. 

You’ll also get adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a rear cross-traffic alert system. Another feature that can help teen drivers stay safe is blind-spot monitoring. The car can detect another vehicle in that area and alert the driver or steer the vehicle clear of the potential threat. 

Which model is right for your teen?

This year, the Mazda3 has numerous trims to choose from. The base model has the 2.0-liter engine and comes only in the sedan version. Next up is the 2.5S model, which you can get in Select, Preferred, and Premium trims. Each packs a 2.5-liter engine producing 186 hp.

Then there are the top-tier trims, the 2.5 Turbo, Turbo Premium, and Turbo Premium Plus. These models come with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. All also come with front-wheel drive as standard. All-wheel drive is available, but not on the base version. Sportier hatchbacks are also optional except for the base model. 

MotorTrend recommends the base version of the Mazda3 for plenty of safety and driver’s assist features to keep your teen safe. It’s also the most affordable, starting at $21,645. However, if you live in an area where there’s snowy weather, consider a model with all-wheel drive instead. The cheapest AWD version costs $25,245.

Keeping your teens safe while they practice their new driving skills will lift some of that weight off your shoulders. Let the Mazda3 be their protective shell. For an affordable price, you can’t go wrong for your teen. 

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Taco Tuesday: Why Is the Toyota Tacoma So Popular?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Toyota Tacoma is far and away the best-selling compact pickup truck in the segment. It embodies a certain undeniable appeal across a wide range of North American consumers. But why is the Toyota Tacoma so popular?

2020 Toyota Tacoma | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

There are definitely a number of reasons. Let’s go over a few of them to get to the bottom of this truck’s success. In fact, here are three major reasons that consumers turn to this Toyota pickup truck, the Tacoma when shopping in the midsize truck class.

The Taco has the best midsize pickup truck resale value

This midsize pickup truck is “known for quality,” Kelley Blue Book reports. Moreover, the 2021 Toyota Tacoma holds its value better than any other model in the compact pickup truck segment. According to Kelley Blue Book, every model from each Toyota Tacoma generation earned the award year over year.

“This truck has been in the top spot of the BRVA podium every year since we launched these awards in 2003 and we awarded it to the first-gen Tacoma.”

Kelley Blue Book | Best Resale Value Award

In 2021, this Toyota pickup truck is “the Midsize Truck Best Resale Value Award winner for the 19th consecutive year and is one of the 10 Best overall Best Resale Values for the 10th year in a row.” If you want a compact pickup truck that holds its value better than the rest, you’ll find the beloved Taco particularly compelling. Trucks in general tend to hold their value pretty well, but the Tacoma takes the prize. That’s one major reason the Toyota Tacoma is so popular.

Is the Toyota Tacoma the most reliable pickup truck in its class?

The Toyota Tacoma is one of the most reliable midsize pickup trucks. In all three generations, the Taco has earned and maintained a fantastic reputation for reliability. It often finds itself on lists of the most reliable vehicles like this one published by U.S. News and World Report.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma in the dirt
2021 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

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That said, there are other reliable compact trucks on the market as well. The 2021 Honda Ridgeline and the 2021 Jeep Gladiator both scored high reliability ratings from Consumer Reports. However, the Toyota Tacoma has one of the most solid histories in terms of reliability, quality, and durability not only from Consumer Reports but other critics like J.D. Power as well.

Like all trucks, this midsize Toyota pickup truck isn’t perfect. There are model years that rank lower than other in terms of reliability. Still, while it’s difficult to say exactly which compact pickup truck is the most reliable in the class, the Toyota Tacoma maintains a strong reputation for being a reliable truck.

A call to off-road adventure draws buyers to this Toyota pickup truck

For some buyers, this may be the most compelling reason to choose the Toyota Tacoma over other midsize pickups. Some want to buy a Taco as a base for their overland build. Others are drawn to the TRD Pro model or one of the other off-road enhanced trim levels like the TRD Off-Road version.

a 2018 Toyota Tacoma crawling down a sandy red hill
2018 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota USA

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The base model Toyota Tacoma comes standard with a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine. However, buyers can upgrade to the more powerful 3.6-liter V6 on any trim level––in addition to opting for the available four-wheel-drive system. The Toyota Tacoma SR trim comes standard with a skid plate over the front suspension, hill assist, and (of course) a tough body-on-frame construction. Now, you can also upgrade your Taco with a factory TRD lift kit.

Plus, the access cab SR model of sturdy little truck has an approach angle of 29 degrees, a 23.5-degree departure angle, and a 24-degree break over angle, according to Toyota. If you opt for the range-topping 2021 TRD Pro Tacoma with a double cab those numbers change to 35, 19.1, 23.9 degrees respectively. Overall, when these numbers combine with the Tacoma’s midsize truck dimensions it’s highly capable off-road. That’s one more reason the Toyota Tacoma is so popular.

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Could Flashing Your Headlights at an Oncoming Car Lead to a Potentially Deadly Gang Initiation Rite?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Have you seen social media posts warning you not to flash your headlights at oncoming vehicles lest you become a target of gang violence? If so, you might be concerned. However, this story is an urban legend. Flashing your headlights at vehicles without their lights on won’t provoke a gang attack. Here’s more about this urban legend, its origins, and proper car safety etiquette.

The urban legend of the flashing headlights gang initiation

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Although several iterations of this story have made the rounds over the years, the basic premise is always the same, Reuters reports. The legend describes an initiation rite allegedly performed by new members of the Bloods, a Los Angeles-based gang. It states that new members drive around with their lights off and chase down and shoot the occupants of the first car to flash its headlights at them.

Recently, this story has appeared as a warning letter shared on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Though it certainly sounds alarming, this story has no basis in truth. In actuality, it’s stretching back several decades.

Where this story originated

The urban legend warning people not to flash their headlights has been around since at least 1998, when Snopes released a fact-check proving the story to be false. According to Snopes, the first print references of this legend date back to 1993. However, anecdotal evidence suggests it appeared even earlier, potentially in the early 1980s.

This story did not begin with the Bloods. Early versions of the legend first said it was an initiation rite performed by the Hell’s Angels bike gang. Snopes then tracks the legend to Oregon in 1984, at which point the story shifted to implicate LA street gangs.

Over the decades, this story has often appeared in chain emails or social media posts. It frequently claims the warning comes from police officers working with Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.). 

However, D.A.R.E. disputes this claim. Chief Operating Officer Richard Mahan told Reuters: “Neither I nor my six regional directors and vice president of regional operations, each of whom is a retired law enforcement officer, has ever heard of a D.A.R.E. officer issuing such a warning to his/her classes or to members of their community.”

Proper headlight flashing etiquette

Thankfully, flashing your headlights at an oncoming car won’t provoke gang violence. But should you be flashing your headlights at all? According to the New York Times, maybe not.

Logically, it makes sense to flash your headlights to let an oncoming car know their lights are off or high beams are on. Though there isn’t a universal rule about whether this is a good thing to do, the New York Times points out several reasons you might want to avoid doing it. And none of the reasons involves gang violence.

Flashing your high beams at someone risks temporarily blinding them in the darkness. Though this is dangerous no matter what, it’s particularly harmful if the driver in the oncoming vehicle is intoxicated. That’s because their vision will already be somewhat impaired.

Additionally, though flashing your headlights isn’t part of a gang initiation rite, it puts you at risk of something else: the moth effect. According to the New York Times, drivers may have trouble looking away from the bright lights and could end up accidentally driving straight toward your vehicle.

Overall, if you see a letter circulating on social media warning you of this false gang initiation rite, you can ignore it. However, it might be a good idea to avoid flashing your headlights at others regardless.

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