by Gabrielle DeSantis

Consumers look at many factors when car shopping. For example, dog lovers might consider features that are great for dogs. And fortunately, that’s where Autotrader comes in. Here’s a look at why the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica is ranked the best car for dog lovers on Autotrader’s annual list.

An overview of the Chrysler Pacifica

2021 Chrysler Pacifica | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

The Chrysler Pacifica has made a name for itself as an excellent minivan. But it wasn’t always a minivan. In fact, Chrysler introduced the Pacifica nameplate as an SUV in 2004. However, that version died in 2008. By 2016, Chrysler decided it was a good idea to revamp the Pacifica into a minivan. This proved to be a great decision.

The 2021 Pacifica is arguably the best minivan on the market today. It offers many family-friendly features that can come in handy. For example, it has a FamCam system, which allows parents in the front row to see their kids in the rear seats easily. On top of that, the Pacifica, like other minivans, has a ton of space.

It can seat either seven or eight comfortably. Plus, it provides up to 140 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Even without folding any seats down, it still has 32 cubic feet of cargo room.

Furthermore, Chrysler offers all-wheel drive, a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and many other great features on the Pacifica.

Why is the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica a dog lover’s best friend?

Not only is the Chrysler Pacifica great for families, but it’s also ideal for dog lovers. In fact, there’s some overlap between what makes the Pacifica a great vehicle in both categories. For example, Autotrader says one of the perks of the Pacifica is its trademark Stow ‘n Go seating. It allows users to fold the Pacifica’s second and third-row seats quickly and easily. 

This perk is great for families who need to carry groceries and dog lovers who need to cart kennels. Plus, because the Pacifica wants to make everyone comfortable, its rear A/C vents keep kids and fur friends cool. And, like most minivans, the Pacifica has a low cargo floor. This makes it easier for smaller or older dogs to jump into the Pacifica.

Additionally, this minivan offers dog-friendly features. One of the most notable is the Stow ‘n Vac built-in vacuum system. This can help clean up after your dog.

The above features explain why Autotrader named the Pacifica the best car for dog lovers in 2021.

Other models for dog lovers to consider

Though the Chrysler Pacifica earned top honors, Autotrader recommends nine other great cars for dog lovers. For instance, the only other minivan on the list is the Toyota Sienna. It comes in ninth place and has many of the same good qualities as the Pacifica.

Another excellent vehicle for dog lovers is the Kia Telluride. This midsize SUV has won many awards, so it’s no surprise it takes fifth place on Autotrader’s list. But one of the greatest things about the Telluride is its value. It starts at about $32,000, a few thousand dollars less than the Pacifica. For dog lovers who don’t need a minivan, the Telluride is a fine choice.

RELATED: Top 10 Best Cars for Dog Lovers Recommended by Autotrader

The post Chrysler Pacifica Named the #1 Best Car for Dog Lovers, According to Autotrader appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Say it isn’t so! One of the classic cars used in The Dukes of Hazzard series was damaged during Hurricane Ida. John Schneider had one General Lee on his property in Louisiana when Ida came roaring through. A tree crushed General Lee in an almost picture-perfect scenario. What happened to this famous car since filming, and what other vehicles were involved in the show?

Who owns the General Lee car now?

Dukes of Hazzard star, John Schneider’s General Lee damaged in Hurricane Ida | Sean Rayford/Getty Images

In the Dukes of Hazzard series, John Schneider drove a myriad of vehicles that looked like the General Lee. According to an interview with the Daily Mail, there were over 300 replicas used in the movie for various parts. 329, to be specific. Technically, the real General Lee was a 1969 Dodge Charger. The one that Schneider kept on his property was a Ford Crown Victoria modified to look like the famous Charger. The Crown Vic General Lee was one of the original stunt cars used throughout the series.

Schneider has his own studio now, John Schneider Studios, and uses the car for stunts. It has been involved in filming for a few movies. When not in use, it sat outside by the entrance to the property. Sometime during Hurricane Ida, a tree came down on the roof of the historic movie car.

Since production used so many vehicles in the movie, there were a bunch of General Lee’s floating around at one point. That doesn’t make it any less sad, though. The good news is the orange car doesn’t seem totalled.

What are the future plans for General Lee?

General Lee after Hurricane Ida
General Lee after Hurricane Ida | Sean Rayford/Getty Images

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Schneider is pretty active on social media with fans. In the comments of some of his posts, he is adamant he will fix General Lee right up. The property had heavy flooding right after Hurricane Ida, but it didn’t seem to be damaged by the water. The car in the tree is just decoration.

“Oh I can bang out a few dents. That car is me. I am going to straighten it out a little bit and leave it that way. Because I believe that people who have no scars shouldn’t be trusted.”

John Schneider | The Daily Mail

Since the hurricane, Schneider and his wife have been out helping the people in the area. While General Lee was left a bit damaged, much of the community was devastated. Schneider has been working on fundraisers and other initiatives to help the area.

The Dukes of Hazzard was an original that used tons of cars

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While films like the Fast and Furious are famous these days, The Dukes of Hazzard was one of the originals. In comparison, the Fast & Furious franchises have destroyed about 2,000 cars and one submarine to the 300 car versions of General Lee used. The television show had 147 episodes and featured a bunch of vehicles that people grew to love. In addition to the 1969 Dodge Charger, production used a Plymouth Road Runner, Jeep CJ-7, and a Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

A complete list of all the vehicles used can be found on the Internet Movie Cars Database, including various Dodge Chargers in varying conditions. It isn’t surprising that production needed so many cars for such a long-running show, but the sheer number of vehicles featured is enormous. In addition to the Charger, there were tons of other Dodge cars.

From a 1978 Dodge Aspen, a few different Coronets, a D-200, D-300, and even some Dodge Dart and Dart Sports made it into production. And yet, even with so many cars available, General Lee was the star of the show. It sounds like Schneider has gotten right to work after Hurricane Ida, so it likely won’t be long until the pair is back on the road.

RELATED: Car Salesman Kidnapped During a Dodge Challenger Test Drive, Jumped from Trunk

The post John Schneider’s General Lee Stunt Car Crushed During Hurricane Ida appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Whether you’re looking to have fun on your vacation or are a professional diver, sea scooters are a great option for propelling yourself underwater. They are important accessories if you love exploring the waters because they allow you to navigate the ocean with ease, giving you more time to enjoy what it has to offer. Sea scooters, however, are sometimes expensive, but we’ve come up with 3 models that you can buy when on a budget. 

Yamaha logo

A quick overview of sea scooters

A sea scooter is a small hand-held device that helps divers and swimmers navigate through the water. It comes with a propeller, and most models have a speed range of 2 km/hr to 7 km/ hr. The diver holds on to the sea scooter, and it thrusts them through the water.

With a scooter, you use less energy paddling and swimming in the ocean. This then results in longer sessions allowing you to explore the deep ends of the oceans. Sea scooters run on batteries and are a convenient solution for divers who enjoy gliding through strong currents or deep waters. They are also referred to as underwater scooters, aqua scooters, and Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV).

There are various scooter models, and you can get one on a budget, especially if you’re a beginner or enjoy short and shallow dives. Here are our top 3 picks models below $600 based on DiveIn.

Yamaha Seal sea scooter

The Yamaha Seal sea scooter is highly compact and lightweight. It’s reliable and is a perfect option for children that love snorkeling or playing in the pool. This sea scooter has a well-guarded propeller, so you’re young one does not get hurt and comes with auto cut out and dual trigger operation feature. 

This sea scooter weighs 12 pounds which is enough for a child and has a run time of up to 1.5 hours. While it isn’t a reliable option for scuba diving, the Yamaha Seal sea scooter guarantees lots of fun for your child.  It is compact and the GoPro mount made it easy to stream videos in the water. However, it’s very slow, at 2mph, and can only be used up to depths of 15 feet. Its current cost is around $295.

Yamaha RDS200 sea scooter

This sea scooter is currently retailing at $475 and offers you great value for your money. It can be used in depths of up to 65 feet and moves at 2mph. It has a small compact size of 612 x 385 x 312 mm and weighs 13 pounds, including the battery.

The Yamaga RDS200 sea scooter comes with a sealed lead-acid battery and can run for up to an hour. It also has a removable buoyancy and a camera mount to take videos as you explore the waters. It is relatively slow, and the battery sometimes requires maintenance, but this sea scooter is perfect for children below the age of 16 years. 

Yamaha RDS250 sea scooter

This sea scooter allows you to dive in deeper waters and run for around 2 hours which is impressive. It has a depth range of up to 98 ft and weighs 18 pounds, including the battery. This scooter comes with a removable buoyancy and has a built-in camera mount for seamless video streaming while in the water. The battery could, however use an upgrade. 

You can use the above devices for various water-based activities, including; blue diving, technical diving, recreational diving, snorkeling, and open water swimming. You can also use them in several water environments, including open lakes, oceans, and swimming pools. 

While all are great options, it all comes down for what you plan to use the sea scooter for. At least these three are more economically friendly and makes it more obtainable to go on your water adventure.

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The post 3 Best Sea Scooters Under $600 According to Divers appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re one of the lucky customers to get your Ford Bronco, congratulations, you get to enjoy a highly capable SUV. Like many other Bronco owners, you bought the SUV because of its ability to head far off into the wilderness. The heart of the Bronco’s off-road capabilities is its advanced 4×4 traction systems. Read more to learn how to use them.

What type of 4×4 traction systems does the Ford Bronco offer?

2021 Ford Bronco | Ford

The Ford Bronco is nicknamed the G.O.A.T., which stands for Goes Over Any Type of Terrain. The G.O.A.T. nickname is well-deserved. This is because the Bronco can drive over many types of changing surfaces.

The Bronco offers two types of four-wheel drive systems. The first is an electronic shift on the fly 4×4, which has three different engagement modes: two-wheel drive high (2H), four-wheel drive high (4H), and four-wheel drive low (4L). The second system is an all-wheel drive advanced 4×4 with automatic on-demand engagement. This system has the same three modes as the ESOF system, along with a four-wheel drive automatic (4A).

How to use the different modes for the Bronco 4×4 traction systems

The default setting for the 4×4 traction systems is two-wheel drive high. You use 2H for general on-road driving. If you want to drive at higher speeds when heading off-road or encounter winter driving conditions, select the four-wheel drive high mode. 

The four-wheel drive low mode provides increased torque multiplication. You can use the 4L mode when towing heavy loads, driving up steep grades, or driving through deep sand. Finally, the four-wheel drive automatic gives the Bronco more traction by applying torque to both the front and rear wheels as needed. You’ll want to use the 4A mode when you drive over varying terrain conditions.

What are the Ford Bronco G.O.A.T. modes?

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The Ford Bronco also has preset G.O.A.T. modes. These further solidify the Bronco’s ability to Go Over Any Type of Terrain. With the G.O.A.T modes, you can customize the Bronco for various types of driving situations, such as trudging through sand or sloshing through the snow. 

Depending on the Bronco trim level, you can access up to seven of the eight available modes via the rotary knob at the center console. This includes Normal, Sport, Eco, Sand, and Slippery. For extreme off-road driving, you can select the Rock Crawl, Mud/Ruts, and Baja modes. The Baja mode is for when you want to drive off-road very fast.

What does the electronic-locking differential do in the Ford Bronco?

Silver 2021 Ford Bronco driving on sandy terrain
2021 Ford Bronco | Ford

Some Ford Bronco models have an electronic-locking differential. The ELD is for when you drive off-road on sand, mud, or rocks. It functions by making both of the wheels on the same axle turn at the same time. This helps improve the traction for the Bronco, which is essential when navigating challenging terrain. You can activate the ELD via a switch at the center of the dashboard. Also, for specific G.O.A.T. modes, the ELD will automatically engage.

What does the stabilizer bar disconnect do in the Ford Bronco?

Another off-road-enhancing feature that some Bronco models have is stabilizer bar disconnect. To turn on the stabilizer bar disconnect, press the button at the center of the dashboard. The feature will then disconnect the front stabilizer bar. This enables the front wheels to remain on the ground, with enhanced capability and comfort when driving on very demanding terrain.

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The post How to Use the 4×4 Traction Systems in the Ford Bronco appeared first on MotorBiscuit.