Now Is a Great Time to Buy a Ford Mustang Bullitt

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re interested in buying a Ford Mustang but are somehow not sure which trim level to get, we recommend buying a Mustang Bullitt. Modeled after the famous chase scene in the popular movie Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen, the Mustang Bullitt has been around for the past few decades, and now could be a great time to buy one.

The Ford Mustang Bullitt was discontinued last year

2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is on display at the 110th Annual Chicago Auto Show. | (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

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We’re sad to say that the final iteration of the Ford Mustang Bullitt was quietly discontinued last year, according to CNET Roadshow. That’s why it’s probably a good time to get a lightly used one now so that you can keep it for a while in case their value starts to climb in the coming years.

If you want the latest version, then you’ll be looking at either a 2019 or 2020 model. A nationwide search on Cargurus reveals that you can currently buy one of those for around $40,000 and the price goes up to the high $40,000 range the newer the car and lower the miles. That’s pretty good considering the 2020 Mustang Bullitt retailed for around $50,000 when it was new.

If you can swing that price of entry, then you’ll be treated to a slightly gussied-up version of the existing Mustang GT. The Mustang Bullitt came with the same 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, but it produced 480 hp, which was 20 more than the GT version.

The Bullitt is only available with a six-speed manual transmission, and aside from its cue ball style shift knob and Bullitt badging, the car’s main aesthetic difference is its Dark Highland Green paint job, which is an homage to that the car used in the original movie.

2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is on display at the 110th Annual Chicago Auto Show.
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is on display at the 110th Annual Chicago Auto Show. | (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

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The older Ford Mustang Bullitt cars are collectible as well

2002 Ford Mustang Bullitt cornering on a country road.
2002 Ford Mustang Bullitt cornering on a country road. | (Photo by National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

If you don’t want to shell out $40,000 for a newer Mustang Bullitt, then you can always tap further into the used market to find one. The first homage to the movie car was released in 2001 when Ford first massaged the Mustang GT to put out slightly more power and don the famous dark green paint job.

That car featured a revised 265-hp, 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission and could go 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds, according to Steeda. Other revisions included sport pedals, retro gauges, and a cue ball-style shift knob. You can currently find a 2001 mustang Bullitt for around $13,000, but do note that the price can climb to $25,000 for the low-mileage examples.

If a 2001 Mustang Bullitt is too old, try a 2008 model

a side shot of a 2008 Mustang Bullitt at the beach
Ford has come out with a Mustang that is a spinoff of the car Steve McQueen drove in the classic chase movie “Bullitt.” | (Photo by Michael Robinson Chavez/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

If you decide that the 2001 Mustang Bullitt is a little too old for your tastes, then you can also opt for a 2008 model. This model was based on the S197 chassis and again was a revised version of the Mustang GT at the time.

According to Steeda, the Ford engineers went back to the drawing board for this one and revised not only the engine but also the suspension components for upgraded ride and handling characteristics.

Ultimately, this version of the Mustang Bullitt featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine that pushed out 315 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque that was mated to a five-speed transmission. Its performance numbers were increased too as it could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. And to top it all off, this Mustang Bullitt featured the same sporty interior updates like sport pedals and the cue ball shift knob and was also painted Dark Highland Green.

You can currently find one for around $15,000 to $25,000 nationwide depending on the car’s location, condition, and mileage. No matter which Ford Mustang Bullitt you choose, it’s a good idea to buy one now before prices start to go up in the future.

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Your Kids Will Ride in Style in the Luxurious Kia Carnival (and Maybe Destroy It)

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Traditional carnivals involve fire breathers, wild animals, and heaps of greasy food. Let’s hope the Kia Carnival won’t have those things. But when you add kids to the mix, anything can happen. The automaker is marketing its new not-a-minivan as the perfect family vehicle, after all.

Even so, will the Kia Carnival be up to driving small children around, no matter what the name implies?

Say hello to the Kia Carnival

If you’ve been looking for a new Sedona and can’t find one, that’s because it no longer exists. At least not under that name. Like the Kia Optima/K5 before it, the Sedona is now the Carnival.

Though it seems strange that the automaker renamed two vehicles, that’s apparently de rigueur for the brand now. In fact, Kia Motors shortened its moniker to Kia and has rebranded itself to showcase its evolution from decent and cheap to sporty and luxurious.

The Kia Carnival is the epitome of luxury

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Minivans are no longer the most popular vehicles, but consumers still want convenient family haulers. Their faithful following has encouraged automakers to step up their game and put more money into designing their minivans in the hopes of stealing consumers away from rival SUVs.

Kia is trying to get back in the game with the Carnival. It’s following the Telluride formula by making its self-described multipurpose vehicle (MPV) as upscale as possible for an affordable price. In fact, the exterior blew the folks at Car and Driver away.

“The textured grille makes a strong first impression, and the interesting shiny C-pillar trim is an upscale touch,” they said. “We don’t fully buy into Kia’s assertion that it looks more like an SUV than a van, but as minivan aficionados, we like the unapologetically boxy shape.”

The interior is even more upscale, abounding with tech features like automated emergency braking, an optional dual-display setup with digital gauges, and a navigation-equipped center touchscreen.

The Kia Carnival’s SX-Prestige trim is where things get really fancy. Expect high-quality leather upholstery and reclining second-row seats with pop-up footrests.

All of this sounds totally amazing, but what about the children?

Would you want small kids destroying this paradise on wheels?

Sure, it’s easy to slip into a daydream about a happy family vacation filled with laughter and birds singing along the way. Then there’s reality. Stinky diapers will overtake the newest of new-car smells. Goldfish crackers will become flying fish every time you hit a bump. And the sound system won’t drown out the wails of despair when you refuse to stop at McDonald’s.

Older kids bring a whole other slew of problems. They’ll sling their dirty hockey gear in the back without thought. They’ll drop French fries on the carpet and wipe their greasy fingers on the seats. And they’ll put their feet everywhere.

So, what does this mean for the Carnival? Is it a match for the forces of little ones? “Kia’s form-over-function approach inside is questionable in a kid hauler, though,” C/D muses, “and we do wonder how that nice leather and all the shiny gloss-black plastic trim will hold up to abuse from children over time.”

That doesn’t mean you should avoid the Kia Carnival. But you might want to skip the higher trim levels if you’re looking for something to ferry your offspring to soccer practice. On the flip side, the Carnival will make most adults feel spoiled with its reclining captain’s chairs, ottomans, and heated seats. With that in mind, the Carnival actually might be the perfect empty-nester vehicle.

The post Your Kids Will Ride in Style in the Luxurious Kia Carnival (and Maybe Destroy It) appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Are Remote Starters Bad For Your Car’s Engine?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Whether you live in an area where it snows in the winter or gets really hot in the summer, being able to remote start your car is a luxury. With the simple push of a button, you can easily start your car and get it up to operating temperature while pre-conditioning the cabin. It’s a convenient feature, for sure, but could a remote starter actually be bad for your car’s engine?

Remotely starting your car has the same effect on the engine

Remote start for the Kia Seltos | Kia Accessories

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Before we get into whether or not remotely starting your car is bad for the engine, we have to first realize that there are two different opinions about idling your car in the first place.

According to Reader’s Digest, some automotive experts believe that remote starting your car in the Winter and letting it idle while you get ready for work can put a lot of stress on the engine since it’s working harder to warm up.

Technically speaking, it’s far better to drive your car lightly after starting it as that is a more efficient way to get it up to the proper operating temperature. On the other hand, some automotive experts believe that the added benefit of pre-conditioning the car’s cabin while you get ready for work outweighs any strain that the engine might go through.

In any case, remote starting the car is the same as starting it when you’re sitting inside of the car, so technically, the feature itself wouldn’t have any negative effects on the engine.

Can remote starting a car be bad for its battery?

A car being remotely started in the snow
A car being remotely started in the snow | JustAudioVideo.com

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Remote car starters also get blamed for causing premature wear on car batteries. But just like we mentioned above, remote starting a car has the same effect a starting the car from inside of it. That being said, your car’s starting will undergo the same amount of use that it would if you didn’t remote start it.

However, Reader’s Digest goes onto explain that if your car came with the remote start system as a factory-installed option, then you don’t have to worry about it taxing the starter or the battery. The OEM manufacturer has likely set the system up to work well with the car and be reliable.

But if you add an aftermarket remote starter to your car, then it is possible that it could be taxing on the car’s battery or starter depending on how it was installed.

Adding remote start to your car

If you do want to add an aftermarket remote start system to your car, then you can do it yourself, if you have some automotive electrical experience. With some kits, it’s as easy as relaying a few wires to the ignition.

However, the process can be more difficult depending on the car that you’re working on. If you need help, then there are many qualified car audio installers that can assist you with the process. Installing a remote start system incorrectly could lead to bigger problems with your car’s electrical system later on.

The post Are Remote Starters Bad For Your Car’s Engine? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Michelin Is Making Your Tires From Plastic Trash

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Well, maybe not yet. But Michelin wants to be relevant and progressive in these global warming times. It knows there’s a bunch of plastic trash floating around suffocating the oceans. So, it wants to do something environmental and also make some cash. What better way than to take all of that plastic trash and turn it into what it makes gazillions of tires?

The e.Primacy is the world’s first carbon-neutral tire

Michelin e.Primacy recycled tires | Michelin

This would be the world’s first carbon-neutral tire and Michelin even has a name for it. This tire is the “e.Primacy.” It is mostly made from recycled plastic bottles which are particularly tricky. That’s because plastic is hard, and tires need to be rubbery. 

Michelin logos on signs
The Michelin plant in Hallstadt, a banner with the company logo can be seen on a fence | Photo by Nicolas Armer/picture alliance via Getty Images

Working in conjunction with the French company Carbios, Michelin wants to convert 3 billion plastic bottles into tires. To do it Michelin uses a certain enzyme to make the plastic pliable. It is called “depolymerize polyethylene terephthalate.” This is some stout stuff. But would it make burnouts small like burning plastic?

It is great for making tires because of its high thermal stability and breakage resistance characteristics

Michelin e.Primacy recycled tires
Michelin e.Primacy recycled tires | Michelin

Michelin says it is great for making tires because of its high thermal stability and breakage resistance characteristics. “These high-tech reinforcements have demonstrated their ability to provide performance identical to those from the oil industry,” director of polymer research at Michelin Nicolas Seeboth said in a statement. We believe him. 

“We are very proud to be the first to have produced and tested recycled technical fibers for tires,” he said. “These reinforcements were made from colored bottles and recycled using the enzymatic technology of our partner, Carbios.”

By 2030 Michelin wants renewable or recycled materials to make up 40% of its manufacturing

By 2030 Michelin wants renewable or recycled materials to make up 40% of its manufacturing raw materials. It is then shooting for 100% by 2050. Taken as a whole if the entire industry followed Michelin’s lead 800,000 tons of PET fibers would be used every year. 

Michelin Pilot Sport EV
Michelin Pilot Sport EV | Michelin

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“In 2019, Carbios announced it had produced the first PET bottles with 100% Purified Terephthalic Acid, made from the enzymatic recycling of post-consumer PET waste,” Carbios chief scientific officer Alain Marty stated. “Today, with Michelin, we are demonstrating the full extent of our process by obtaining from this same plastic waste, recycled PET that is suitable for highly technical fibers such as those used in Michelin’s tires.”

There is no word on how much these might cost. But since the raw materials are trash they should be cheaper than starting with rubber. This is just another unique way industry is finding to do something about the accumulating plastic crisis.

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