Buy the 2021 Tesla Model X, Not the 2021 Audi e-Tron

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re looking for a green, midsize luxury SUV, you’ve likely considered both the 2021 Tesla Model X and 2021 Audi e-Tron. Each SUV has a lot going for it. The Tesla X is full of the latest technology and the Audi e-Tron is known for its luxury. So which SUV is the better choice for you? Consumer Reports explored them both, and from their ratings it’s clear that the 2021 Tesla Model X is a better choice than the 2021 Audi e-Tron.

2021 Tesla Model X | Tesla

The Audi e-Tron has a better road test score, but a lower overall rating

The 2021 Audi e-Tron gets a 90 for its road test score, while the 2021 Tesla Model X gets an 83. However, the e-Tron’s overall score is lower. It only gets a 54 to the Model X’s 65. What’s the difference between the two luxury SUV road test scores?

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Audi e-Tron a 5/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 6.3 seconds. Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Tesla Model X a 5/5 for its acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in a super fast 4.9 seconds. 

The e-Tron’s transmission scores a perfect 5/5. Routine handling receives a very good 4/5. However, the emergency handling rating is only a 3/5. The Audi e-Tron max avoidance speed is 50 mph. On the other hand, the Model X’s transmission scores a perfect 5/5. Routine and emergency handling both receive a very good 4/5. The Tesla Model X’s max avoidance speed is 54 mph.

Braking is very good in the e-Tron. It scores a 4/5 and can brake from 60 mph on wet pavement in 131 feet and dry pavement in 134 feet. Yet it is fantastic in the X. It scores a 5/5 and can brake from 60 mph on wet pavement in 127 feet and dry pavement in 135 feet. 

The Model X is more reliable

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Tesla Model X just a 2/5 for its predicted reliability. Although there are no reliability ratings for 2020, 2019 shows a poor reliability rating. Major problem spots in the 2019 include the drive system, climate system, and suspension. Other major problem areas include paint and trim, as well as body integrity and body hardware. The power equipment in the 2019 Tesla Model X didn’t get a great rating, either. 

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Audi e-Tron just a 1/5 for its predicted reliability. There are also no reliability ratings for 2020. However, 2019 shows a poor reliability rating. Major problem spots in the 2019 include the drive system and power equipment. Other problem areas include the brakes, electric system, and engine major. 

Owner satisfaction in the Tesla Model X is also better

Despite the Model X’s poor reliability rating, Tesla Model X owners seem to love their SUVs. The owner satisfaction score is a perfect 5/5. Owners give the driving experience a 95 and comfort a 76. Styling gets an 85. Value is only a 26. 82% of people would buy their Tesla Model X again.

That’s not to say that e-Tron owners hate their SUVs. The owner satisfaction rating for the e-Tron is very high, at a 4/5. Owners give the driving experience an 88 and comfort an 83. Styling gets a 93. Value is only a 21. 75% of people would buy their Audi e-Tron again. 

If you’re torn between the 2021 Tesla Model X and the 2021 Audi e-Tron, you can’t go wrong with the Model X. It combines an excellent road test rating with better reliability and owner satisfaction scores than the Audi e-Tron. However, it can’t help but be said that the e-Tron is fairly comparable, and if you have your heart set on an e-Tron, it’s not terribly different from the Model X.

RELATED: Head to Head: the 2021 Jaguar I-Pace vs the 2021 Tesla Model X

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Street Racing The Worlds Smallest RC Cars

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Street racing is never a good idea. Perhaps some of us are guilty of it, but the truth is street racing is illegal and incredibly dangerous. Though, some still find it difficult to resist the urge. There is always legal racing at a local drag strip or race track, but that is not always accessible.

What if there was a safe, fun way to race against a friend without all the bad stuff like the risk of death, destruction or losing your car? What if we told you that there is a way to settle things on the track without technically having to leave your home?

All it takes is a pair of these impossibly small RC cars.

Tiny RC car street racing is amazing

The global pandemic had a lot of obvious negative effects. On the other hand, there have been some small positives to come out of it. One of those is that people had much more time on their hands to invest in hobbies and start new ones. One of the most popular new hobbies among gearheads on YouTube is taking small die-cast scale cars like Hot Wheels and converting them into RC cars.

It might seem pretty complicated at first, but plenty of videos on YouTube demonstrate how to do it. It just takes a few tools, a little soldering, and some patience. Once you get the hang of it, you can convert any die-cast car into the tiny RC car of your dreams. That Lamborghini die-cast on your desk can be your weapon of choice in your next mini street racing exhibition.

You don’t have to build your own

Mazda RX-7 1:76 scale RC car | Turbo Racing

It is understandable if the thought of taking apart a perfectly good die-cast car and going full McGuyver on it is intimidating. No one wants to mess up a collectible Hot Wheels car accidentally or potentially burn themselves soldering. Not to mention that some of us aren’t thrilled with the idea of fiddling with tiny parts that can easily be lost.

Then there is the time it takes to do it. Not everyone gained an abundance of time during pandemic lockdowns, and many people are working from home. For those who just want to jump into some fun tiny RC street racing as fas as possible, pre-built mini RC cars are available from anywhere between $60 to $90.

Some of the tiny RC cars we found aren’t exactly “licensed” by OEMs, but they are close enough to cars you know, like the Mazda RX-7 or MINI. If you look in the right place, you can find just about any sports car in tiny RC form.

If you don’t want to spend that much Hot Wheels sells their own mini RC cars and they go for about $23 each. Hot Wheels even has a mini RC Nissan GT-R.

How well do tiny RC cars work?

In a recent video, RC YouTuber Kevin Talbot picked up a pair of mini RC cars as a departure from the more serious cars he is used to. Upon testing, he noticed that the small RC cars have features a step above larger RC cars of lower quality. The steering is more precise than he expected, and the car’s speed surprised him.

The true test would be a tiny street racing session against a friend on a make-shift track in his workshop. After watching, we must admit we are combing the internet looking for a tiny RC car of our own!

RELATED: Lego Builds Life-Sized Toyota GR Supra Model

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How to Get up to $7,500 off Your Next Ford, Including the New Mach-E

by Gabrielle DeSantis

You’ve bought that all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. Maybe you got one because it’s green. But the good news is that it could help put some green back in your pocket. That’s because a tax credit is available. The federal government creates these EV tax credits as incentives to get more consumers to buy electric vehicles. Not every electric vehicle is eligible, but the new 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is on the list.

The federal tax credit for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT | Ford Motor Company

A tax credit is available and covers qualified plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and all-electric vehicles (EVs), including passenger vehicles and light trucks. The credit is for up to $7,500. It applies to EVs and PHEVs purchased after December 31, 2009, and placed in service in or after 2010. The credit is only for vehicles purchased new (not leased) and mainly used in the United States.

In addition, the vehicle must be considered a motor vehicle and have come from the factory as a PHEV or EV. Its gross vehicle weight rating should be less than or equal to 14,000 pounds. It should be significantly powered by an electric motor and an electric battery, which can be recharged and has a capacity not less than 4 kilowatt-hours, Fueleconomy.gov explains.

The credit amount is based on battery size and starts at $2,500. There is an additional $417 for “a vehicle which draws propulsion energy from a battery with at least 5 kilowatt-hours of capacity” and “an additional $417 for each kilowatt-hour of battery capacity in excess of 5 kilowatt-hours,” the IRS says. The credit is up to $7,500 but can’t be any larger than the total amount of tax that’s owed, though, Edmunds reports. It cannot be requested as a refund or applied to the next year’s taxes.

The credit begins to phase out for vehicles from manufacturers that have sold at least 200,000 qualifying vehicles. The sales are cumulative and start after December 31, 2009. However, Fueleconomy.gov adds that there may also be state and local incentives. In addition, a reform bill passing through Congress would increase and expand these tax credits.

The 2021 Mustang Mach-E and other eligible Ford vehicles

Ford is one of the many automakers with models eligible for the federal EV tax credit. For the 2021 model year, Ford and its luxury brand, Lincoln, offer four eligible options, including multiple versions of the Mustang Mach-E. The list includes the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring (eligible for a $6,534 tax credit), Lincoln Corsair Reserve Grand Touring ($6,843), Ford Escape ($6,843), and 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E ($7,500).

The Mustang Mach-E is the only all-electric vehicle Ford makes, and the credit is available for all of the EV’s trim levels. According to Ford, the Mach-E has a battery power of 68 kWh for the Standard Range model and 88 kWh for the Extended Range model. The other eligible 2021 Ford and Lincoln models are PHEVs.

How to get the federal tax credit for a Ford EV

You’ll need to fill out tax paperwork to claim the federal credit. If you have a qualified PHEV for personal use, complete IRS Form 8936, “Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit,” with your taxes, and include the credit on your Form 1040. The tax credit applies toward the alternative minimum tax (AMT). If you have a qualified PHEV for business use, you’ll need to fill out IRS Form 3800, “General Business Credit,” instead.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at $42,895. But with the full tax credit of $7,500, buyers will end up paying only $35,395 for this all-electric version of the iconic pony car.

RELATED: Something Smells Funny With Ford’s New Mustang Mach-E GT Ploy

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How Far Can Your Tires Stick Out in Florida?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

People love customizing their cars. Customization can run the gamut from racing modifications to off-roading performance tweaks. It can be functional, cosmetic, or both. One thing that many car owners do is change the size of their vehicle’s tires. But some customizations aren’t street-legal.

It’s up to you to know the local laws regarding customization. For example, if you plan to put bigger tires on your vehicle in Florida, you should know what’s legal and what’s not.

Tire size is regulated

A 1955 Chevy pickup with a raised suspension and huge off-road tires | Lyle Setter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Many places have regulations dictating tire size. For example, owners in Florida must keep their vehicles under a certain height to remain street-legal, StateofFlorida.com reports.

For trucks that weigh 3,000 to 5,000 pounds, Florida requires that the rear bumper cannot be more than 30 inches off the ground, and the front bumper cannot be more than 28 inches. Those heights get shorter as the truck gets smaller. For instance, trucks that weigh 2,000 pounds have regulated height limits of 26 inches in the rear and 24 inches in the front. 

Florida’s code states no limit on how wide tires can be, but most other states have limits. Some states say tires must be covered by original equipment manufacturer (OEM) fenders, while others are laxer about modifications.

You should always check your state and local laws before going full speed ahead on any major customizations, no matter what you’re planning on upgrading or replacing.

Larger tires seem to be one of the most common customizations. 

Pros and cons to putting larger tires on your vehicle

One of the first things that most off-road enthusiasts do is switch out their factory tires for larger ones. There are several reasons for doing this, but it mostly comes down to one important thing: ground clearance. 

Crawling on off-road trails often means traveling up and over rocks, brush, or other obstacles. Larger tires add clearance, allowing the vehicle to go more places, increasing its capability, and protecting the undercarriage.

Bigger tires can also help improve capability on dirt and gravel. More rubber is in contact with the surface, which offers a better grip on unstable ground. 

More rubber on the ground can also improve braking, both on pavement and off. Adding larger tires usually means larger rims as well, meaning you can upgrade your brake rotors to improve performance even more. 

Most of these improvements help with capability off-road, so if that’s what you’re looking for, bigger tires are a great first step toward fully customizing an off-road beast.

Large tires also look pretty sweet too.

But there are some drawbacks.

Big tires do cost more to replace. If you’re off-roading, you’ll wear them out faster, too. Cost is definitely something to take into consideration.

In addition, larger tires can make your vehicle ride noisier and less smoothly. Manufacturers of bigger tires usually try to mitigate those issues by thickening the sidewalls, but doing so can throw off sensors in your truck. Gauges like your speedometer and odometer might not work correctly if your vehicle’s tires are larger than the factory models.

Whether for off-roading or aesthetic reasons, adding bigger tires is still one of the most popular customizations. That’s because they look cool and actually improve off-road performance.

But squatting the back of the truck and raising the front — called the Cali Lean — has to go. It’s completely impractical unless you’re into extreme off-roading, and it can actually be dangerous on roads. The way the truck is squatted in the back and lifted in the front severely limits visibility, and there’s no practical use on pavement.

RELATED: Here’s Why Driving on a Flat Tire Is the Worst Idea

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