The Worst Bike Rack Problems and How You Can Avoid Them

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Bike racks are some of the most functional car accessories. They allow you to fasten your bicycle securely to the outside of your vehicle. Several types are available, all of them freeing up valuable cargo space in smaller cars.

However, first-time buyers might have trouble deciding which model is right for their vehicle. Additionally, they might not be aware of the potential problems these products can cause. Here are some of the biggest complaints associated with bike racks.

The 4 types of bike racks

Rear bike racks | Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images

The most common type of bike rack is the trunk-mounted kind, attached to the rear of a car. Trunk-mounted racks are designed to fit the widest range of vehicles and are often the cheapest. Some drivers also might consider these models more secure than fastening bicycles to the vehicle’s roof, BackRoads reports.

Roof-mounted racks still have advantages, though your car should have roof racks to accommodate them. They’re still secure, easy to install, and foldable for storage when not in use. Roof-mounted ones also don’t obscure your taillights and license plate. 

A hitch-mounted bike rack clamps securely to the towing point of your vehicle. Although these models are typically heavier than other options, most can carry up to five bikes. Many can also be tilted so that you can access the car’s trunk without too much hassle.

Spare tire–mounted bike racks are much more affordable, with some equipped to hold up to three bicycles. Aside from a spare tire, you don’t need any additional equipment to use these accessories. No tools are usually required for installation, and these models are easy to remove if needed.

Although most bike racks can accommodate a couple of bicycles, some consumers don’t consider various sizes. For example, a rack might accommodate three child-sized bikes but struggle with three adult-sized ones. Improperly fitted bikes (and sometimes your vehicle) can often become damaged in transit as a result. 

Similarly, a rack that’s worn out can fail during the trip, possibly detaching from the vehicle. BikerGuyD cautions against stolen bicycles. Though the racks are easy to install and detach, they’re also perfect targets for speedy thieves. 

Roof-mounted racks add additional height to your vehicle, so you likely can’t enter a parking garage with them attached. According to Consumer Reports, roof-mounted bike racks can also lower your vehicle’s gas mileage. 

According to CR’s testing, a roof-mounted rack with two bicycles caused a fuel reduction of 19% to 28%, depending upon the vehicle’s size. By comparison, a hitch-mounted rack caused as little as a 12% reduction in mileage. Even empty, both roof racks caused the vehicles to consume slightly more fuel.

Plus, some bike racks might not adhere to safety regulations. In many states, it’s illegal for your license plate to be covered in any way. You can also get a ticket for choosing the wrong bike rack for your vehicle’s size or improper installation, BicycleUniverse reports.

How to avoid problems

Before loading your bicycles, ensure the rack is properly secured to your vehicle. The bikes should fit properly so that you needn’t stretch the loading straps more than the manufacturer intended. The bicycles should also be high off the ground so that they don’t drag on the asphalt.

Replace damaged or worn-out components of your bike rack as soon as possible. If you have to take a rest stop during the drive, leave someone to watch the bikes, or buy extra cable locks.

RELATED: Do Bike Racks Actually Ruin Your Car’s Fuel Economy?

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How Does Carfax Know If a Vehicle Has Had an Accident?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Carfax has become a reliable source for ranking vehicles and helping consumers with car shopping. But it also continues a long history of reporting accident and damage history. Carfax vehicle history reports have become the industry standard for ensuring everything is on the up-and-up with used cars. This web-based service helps break down the information barrier between a dealership and a buyer, putting everyone on the same negotiation level.

But does a Carfax report really include everything in a vehicle’s history? And how does Carfax know if a vehicle was in an accident?

Getting a vehicle’s history through Carfax

Scene of a car accident involving a guardrail | Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

Carfax grew in popularity in the late 2000s as the “Car Fox” TV campaign began: “Not Car Fox — Carfax!” Inexplicably, the Carfax Car Fox leaped into the mainstream and helped car shoppers realize they could access most of the same data that dealerships could.

But Carfax actually existed long before that ad campaign. Founded in the mid-1980s, the web-based service worked to combat the odometer fraud that’s largely been eradicated as manufacturers moved forward with technology.

And as internet access grew, Carfax positioned itself as the go-to source for a vehicle’s honest history. The relationship between buyers and dealers has always been somewhat combative. Having a neutral third party as a source of truth goes a long way toward reassuring consumers they’re getting what they pay for.

How does Carfax find out about accidents?

According to Carfax, the service gets its data from various sources. They include motor vehicle agencies in the U.S. and Canada, auctions, repair facilities, insurance companies, body shops, recyclers, fleet and rental companies, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, import/export companies, and dealerships and manufacturers. It’s likely that if an accident was reported to anyone — or damage repaired — Carfax is aware of it, and you’ll find the data in vehicle history reports.

Not only does Carfax maintain a history of accidents on a vehicle, but it also tracks service and ownership history. Two vehicles with similar make/model years and mileage could command very different prices if one is on its fifth owner and had four accidents, even if the two cars appear similar. Reading through the data will help buyers avoid purchasing a lemon at a non-lemon price.

How the service helps post-accident car buyers

With today’s standards of repair and detailing, an accident doesn’t have to be the end of a car’s road life. But if you’re thinking of purchasing a post-accident vehicle, it’s critical to know exactly what kind of damage it sustained. Though cars that have been in an accident typically cost less (an average of $500 across the board), repairs aren’t always enough to make it new again. Each vehicle requires the buyer to make an informed decision about what corners they’re willing to cut for the price, and that’s where the Carfax report comes in handy.

There’s no magic signal that relays data from the scene of an accident to Carfax (yet). Still, thanks to close work with various sources, the company can usually get a relatively clear idea of what has happened and update the vehicle history accordingly.

As new companies, like Carvana, enter the auto sales game, Carfax works alongside them to streamline the information delivery process and ensure buyers know what they’re getting. The age of dealerships holding all the cards is over, and consumers can now access most of the same information thanks to Carfax’s myriad sources.

RELATED: The Worst Things on a Carfax Report You Never Want to See

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Tesla Cybertruck Might Be ‘Getting’ More Unnecessary Features

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla Cybertruck has been officially delayed. Even though Tesla planned to release the Cybertruck in 2021, many saw the delay coming from a distance. Now, Elon Musk and Co. at Tesla are claiming that they are taking the extra time to add another new feature to the already overpromised and undersold electric truck. 

Consumer Reports Previewed the Tesla Cybertruck | Tesla

The Tesla Cybertruck is getting fancy curved windows

Tesla has promised everything from crazy speeds to a bulletproof body for the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck. There have been so many hastily lobbed features that it can be hard to keep up with everything the Cybertruck might be able to do. 

In classic Tesla fashion, the Cybertruck is officially delayed until 2022. Instead of trying to shore up production materials and tooling, Tesla has taken the opportunity to file a patent for another unnecessary but cool feature for the wild-looking EV. 

According to Road Show, Tesla filed a patent application for a glass-forming method that involves intricate curves and “feature lines.” This application suggests a more stylish and complex windshield design for the already busy and complex Cybertruck. 

If nothing else, the Tesla Cybertruck is fun

The decision to add more stuff to the already delayed and over-complicated Tesla Cybertruck seems a bit silly. That being said, Tesla is nothing if not over the top. 

Because it’s Tesla, the patent application mentions heat treatment using lasers to make the layered glass more malleable. Tesla believes the engineers can create curves with a radius of between 0.07 and 0.2 inches, to add even more flair to what is already one of the most wild-looking trucks ever to see production. As mentioned earlier, the patent also describes multiple layers of glass for more intricate designs.

Now Tesla wants to make other things out of glass, too

A Tesla Cybertruck driving around a desert track with mountains in the background.
2021 Cybertruck | Tesla

The application says that Tesla also thinks it can start adding this curved glass to more than just, you know, glass. Tesla mentioned using this patented method to create dashboards made entirely of glass. 

While this sounds not only difficult, it also sounds perilous in a crash. However, Tesla’s patent application notes a layer of film that acts as a cushion. This would, hopefully, provide durability and keep the dashboard from shattering in the event of a crash.

Patents don’t mean production

It’s important to note, just because Tesla has applied for this curved glass patent doesn’t mean it plans to actually put it into production immediately or even ever. The idea could fall apart in many ways. It could be too expensive for production or simply take too long. The other possibility is that Tesla is patenting the idea so that if anyone else wants to use it, they either need to make their own method or license the idea from Tesla. 

As with all things Tesla and Elon Musk, there is no telling what will actually get made or when. Tesla seems to keep everything fairly fluid. The important thing to note is that Tesla does have its eyes on the Cybertruck. This means that those of us who are excited about it can rest knowing that it’s getting some attention from its maker. 

RELATED: Consumer Reports Previewed the Tesla Cybertruck While Delays Plague Production

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Tesla’s Success Doesn’t Prove Americans Are All in on EVs, NADA CEO Claims

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Every year has seemed like the end of Tesla’s bull run. After all, the manufacturer that built so much hype in the late 2000s and early 2010s surely has to crash sometime, right? If that’s the case, don’t tell Elon Musk. Under his management, Tesla is surging and finally hitting profitability markers. In 2021, Tesla is on pace to sell more vehicles than they did in 2016, 2017, and 2018 combined. Tesla stock is through the roof, even as Musk’s eccentric leadership triggers the occasional SEC investigation. Does this mean that the electric vehicle (EV) is catching on across the country, or is Tesla simply an outlier? The president and CEO of NADA recently shared his opinion.

Non-Tesla EV options in America

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S EV SUV model | Volkswagen of America, Inc. Newspress Limited

Tesla isn’t the only EV automaker in America, but they’re the only one to succeed at such an impressive level. Other manufacturers have run into a handful of issues that prevented widespread adoption up to this point. However, the Toyota Prius existed long before any of Tesla’s models, and hybrid sedans in the early 2000s went a long way toward establishing EVs as a viable option. Now, seemingly every automaker is getting in on EVs, such as Volkswagen rolling out its ID. series and Stellantis planning for all of its brands’ vehicles to be EVs by the end of the decade.

Still, with Musk dominating the headlines, it’s difficult to tell if people are excited about EVs themselves or can’t stop talking about the iconoclast CEO. For Tesla’s bottom line, it doesn’t matter. Its EVs are still selling as fast as they can produce them.

NADA CEO Stanton’s statement on Tesla’s success

In a piece for the National Auto Dealers Association blog, NADA CEO and President Mike Stanton dove into Tesla’s place in the market and what the rest of the manufacturers need to do to catch up. “What Tesla has proven,” Stanton writes, “is that you can sell Teslas very successfully in America to a certain, and pretty small, subset of our population.” He’s correct that Tesla buyers are a niche subset, and some of them are even proud of the high prices they’ve paid. That sentiment is unlikely to carry over to the greater population as they consider purchasing EVs for obvious reasons.

Also, in the piece, Stanton takes some time to explain how auto dealers are critical to EV adoption. Tesla’s luxury boutique model has removed most of the dealership process from car shopping, but Stanton argues that this is the exception and not the rule. Tesla has carved out a niche in the market, appealing to people happy to complete the entire purchasing process online, but this isn’t the case for most car buyers.

“Dealers are absolutely essential in this world of new EVs,” according to Stanton. “Because once you get past luxury vehicles and into the mass market, you will not achieve broad acceptance of any product, regardless of how it’s powered, by rejecting the attributes of the sales and service process.” Perhaps he’s biased as the National Auto Dealers Association CEO, but Stanton raises some good points. 

The future of dealership and EV purchases

Dealerships already have a century of infrastructure and know what works. Aside from some early EV adopters, Americans are used to walking into a dealership, test driving a model, and getting answers to their questions. As more traditional manufacturers attempt to break into the EV market, they will need to provide a more traditional dealership experience. Selling EVs directly to the consumer is a great plan for tech-savvy Tesla customers, but as the rest of the world moves toward electric vehicles, they’re going to need live-in-dealership help.

RELATED:  Does Tesla Still Make the Best Electric Car You Can Buy?

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