by Gabrielle DeSantis

The story of Wally the Walrus and his penchant for stealing boats is taking the world by storm. Wally has been seen in various locations recently, from Tenby, Wales to Ardmore, Ireland, and even to Clonakilty Distillery in West Cork. Still, each time he is commandeering a boat. If you plan on buying a pickup truck to tow your boat, you might need to factor in the weight of a walrus first.

How does Wally the Walrus steal boats?

Wally the Walrus driving a boat | Wally the Walrus Via SWNS YouTube

Have you heard about this four-year-old Walrus in Ireland? Wally the Walrus might not be swimming to these boats under cover of darkness with nefarious intentions, but he sure is taking over. As you can see, Wall doesn’t discriminate when it comes to watercraft. According to the Good News Network, the boat belongs to the Clonakilty Distillery in Cork. It is used to forage for rock samphire, a botanical used in gin production at the Distillery.

According to the official Seal Rescue Ireland group’s Facebook page, the WalrusWatch group appealed to locals. Wally the Walrus has been on a 2,500-mile journey and needed a place to land. The walrus named Wally is only semi-aquatic and needs to float on a boat to take a rest occasionally. You can watch him appear to drive this boat on the SWNS YouTube channel.

WalrusWatch was hoping to find a boat for this famous Walrus to rest upon. It didn’t need to have an engine or anything fancy, just a nice place for Wally the Walrus to have a rest while he moves around the coast of western Europe.

It appears Wally the Walrus is on the move again, but after a quick nap

Wally the Walrus
Wally the Walrus photographed in Tenby, Wales before the boat theft | Huw Fairclough/Getty Images

Wally Walrus has been seen sunning himself in various places, but he seems to enjoy boats the most. A walrus can weigh over 2,000 pounds, which is enough to sink some smaller vessels. While Wally appears quite relaxed, he is easily spooked.

This Walrus in Ireland was recently seen in the Isles of Scilly in England and must have stolen another boat to head to Ireland. While in Scilly, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group built Wally a large pontoon boat to rest on. This kept the sea pup safe and gave the divers an unusual project.

While Wally the Walrus hasn’t exactly asked for permission to board these boast before hopping on, most don’t seem to mind. He did sink a few vessels in the Isles of Scilly before the rescue group provided the pontoon.

Keeping the famous boater safe

Wally enjoys larger boats that are easier to board, and you can’t blame him for that. Some people tried to deter the theft with air horns and other techniques, but that didn’t work for long. It seems the rescue groups have come together to try and find a suitable boat for the sneaky fellow. The good news is that Wally the Walrus does not have a boating license, so he isn’t taking these vessels very far. Plus, this has to be good for resale value. If you live in the area and have a boat for Wally, contact the local WalrusWatch rescue shared above.

RELATED: 3 of the Best Boats for Lakes

The post Watch Wally the Walrus Steal a Boat in Ireland appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re moving slowly in the left lane, it’s time to move over or get a ticket, especially in South Carolina. The move right or slowpoke law is officially going into effect with the purpose of getting people to move out of the way. 

New South Carolina law gets slowpokes out of the way 

Motorists Driving In Highway Traffic | Philipp von Ditfurth/picture alliance via Getty Images

South Carolina’s move right law has officially taken effect as of Sunday, August 15th. Meaning if you’re cruising in the left lane through Columbia, on the way to Myrtle Beach, etc., it’s time to move out of the left lane. 

The new law bans people from driving too slowly in the left lane and requires them to move over, allowing faster traffic to pass. This law makes sense. People often find themselves unable to move around semi-trucks, campers, or slower vehicles in the right lane because someone is just cruising slowly in the left lane. 

This can impact traffic flow, lead to road rage, and cause people to pass vehicles on the right, which is dangerous. James Miller from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety shared that moving over cuts down on traffic flow and keeps a lane open for emergency responders if needed. It also reduces road rage. 

You have time to adjust 

This new law only applies to South Carolina interstates and highways. Also, the law is not being implemented to create an excuse for speeding. Speed limits are will out there, and they will continue to be enforced. 

During the first 90 days, police will only warn the turtles clogging up the left lane. Then those warnings will turn into tickets around the middle of November, just in time for the influx of holiday travel. The tickets will be similar to a seatbelt ticket. 

South Carolina transportation officials would like to remind drivers to stay alert. You can avoid the fines by being aware of your surroundings, the speed limit, and the speed of the vehicles around you. 

To help drivers remember this new move right law, the department of transportation will install new signs along highways to remind people. The SCDOT will also install new overhead message boards. 

The Southern Squat is also out 

You can’t camp in the left lane in South Carolina anymore, and you also can’t have a southern squat in North Carolina. Well, this is as long as your squatted lift isn’t too extreme. To be clear, the southern squat began in Califonia and is also referred to as the Cali Lean. 

It refers to a vehicle, and most commonly trucks, that is modified in a way to where the front end is lifted, and the rear is lowered. The squat makes trucks pretty much useless in terms of performance or for carrying cargo. Plus, it reduces visibility over the hood. 

To pass in North Carolina, the truck shall not be elevated or lowered in the front or back by more than six inches. But you don’t want this look. It increases aerodynamic drag making your fuel economy worse, and can cause the suspension to become unbalanced.

RELATED: How to Stop Your Ford F-150 From Squatting When Hauling or Towing

The post Move Over: South Carolina Bans Camping in the Left Lane appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Everyone knows the saying, “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” That phrase might have saved Nick Rienzo a lot of time and money had he taken it to heart. This is the sad supercar story about Mr. Rienzo’s $85,000 Lamborghini Gallardo that was not, in fact, in “terrific condition.”

The $85,000 Lamborghini Gallardo in terrific condition

A 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo supercar | BigKleib34 via YouTube

Florida can be a treasure trove for those looking to buy a supercar. There is no snow or ice on the roads to rust a car like up north. Plus, people can drive supercars all year round due to the weather. Nick Rienzo found a great deal on a 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo in Tampa, Florida. Select Motors of Tampa listed the attributes of the supercar in the ad.

In the original listing, it said the Gallardo was a “stunning Italian masterpiece.” It also said, “This High Profile EXOTIC SUPERCAR is in terrific condition and is priced below market value.” The crux of the whole issue is within that one sentence. Why is a place in Tampa selling a stunning Italian masterpiece in terrific condition below market value? Remember that pesky phrase from before, “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”

The Lamborghini Gallardo had been wrecked, repaired, and repainted

According to his FaceBook page, Rienzo lived out of state when he found the deal. He ended up buying the Gallardo sight-unseen based on the photos provided by Select Motors of Tampa. At this point, a pre-purchase inspection might have been a good idea. One of the first red flags came when Select Motors sent a video of the Lamborghini Gallardo getting loaded up for transport.

In the ad photos, the brake calipers were gold. In the video uploaded by BigKleib34 on YouYube, the calipers were bright green. Rienzo said he tried to back out of the deal at that point, but the company hung up on him multiple times. Upon receiving the cheapest Lamborghini on the market, it was apparent he had been bamboozled.

The list of issues with the car is astronomical. The door panels did not line up and looked off. Upon looking at more of the panels, it appeared a previous owner originally painted the car yellow. It had been repainted white, but not well enough. On the back end, the frame around the taillights was loose. The car was leaking fluid upon getting it into the garage, and the tires were dangerously bald. The state of the Lamborghini Gallardo engine couldn’t be any better.

There was a random dent in the driver’s side door, and when he turned the Gallardo on, the dash flashed “BRAKE WEAR.” The calipers that had been “powder coated” had been spray painted. Underneath, the car showed signs of significant scraping, damage, and missing pieces. Rienzo found out the Gallardo had been wrecked on a track and “repaired with a little more investigating.”

The importance of a pre-purchase inspection

A 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo supercar
A 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo supercar | Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

There were a lot of rumors about the Lamborghini supercar. It had been in a flood and owned by a drug dealer. It was also part of an exotic car rental fleet and someone wrecked it. Overall, Rienzo did not win this round. Spending $85,000 without an inspection is just asking for it.

The Yelp page for Select Motors of Tampa is full of one-star reviews from buyers and those who read this story. Cars sold with bald tires, bad paint jobs, and even the delivery guys running tolls en route and charging it to the new buyer. As you can guess, Select is no longer in business. Nick ended up keeping the car and fixing it up, which is admirable. What’s the lesson in this story? Always get a pre-purchase inspection on your Lamborghini Gallardo.

RELATED: Are These Leaked Lamborghini Countach Photos Legit?

The post Don’t Buy an $85k Lamborghini Gallardo Supercar In “Terrific Condition” Sight Unseen appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

All-wheel drive cars speak to a deliberate side of the market. Some drivers want a lightweight, small front-wheel-drive car with great gas mileage. Others want their car to spin in a circle with the slightest blip of the throttle. Then there are other drivers who want maximum grip, all the time no matter the terrain. All-wheel drive cars fill the void for the latter group in spades. For those who want maximum grip and a sporty ride, these cars might be some of the most interesting choices they could make.

Reliable all-wheel drive: 2010 BMW 328 Xi

The new BMW 3 Series CoupÈ | BMW

The 2006-2011 era represents one of the most reliable generations of BMW’s 3-series, and it’s all-wheel drive. The non-turbo inline-six holds up well to severe abuse, and while the rest of the car may fall apart, the engine soldiers on, dragging the drivetrain with it. The 2010 328xi used a 3.0-liter inline-six to send 230 horsepower to all four wheels. It could also have a manual transmission and only weighed 3,770 pounds at its heaviest. While the seats of this generation 3-series may not have been the comfiest, the acceleration, grip, and shifting were on point. Autotempest shows several on sale, at $10,000 or less.

Fun and practical: 2011 Mini Countryman S

2011 mini countryman s parked outside
2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman | Getty Images

Even with a front-wheel-drive layout, Mini cars handle surprisingly well. Light on their feet, they hop around mountain passes like a rabbit through the woods. Shifting feels a little rushed as if trying to keep up with the car’s acceleration. The 2011 Mini Countryman S uses a tiny 1.6-liter inline-four with a turbocharger and makes 181 horsepower. It might not sound like a lot of power, but considering the light curb weight of 3,208 pounds, with all-wheel drive, it should be more than plenty. The car also gets decent gas mileage but has a tendency to burn oil. As long as the oil level gets consistent attention, the engine should run for a while. Finding a cheap one shouldn’t be a problem.

Vicious and capable: 2006 Audi A3 S-Line Quattro

2006 audi a3 s line parked outside
2006 Audi A3 Sportback S-Line | Getty Images

It wouldn’t be a proper all-wheel drive list without an honorary Audi mention. The A3 S-line Quattro from 2006 used a 3.2-liter V6 with 250 horsepower and direct injection. The engine is naturally aspirated, which should do wonders for reliability. Audi cars accelerate like wild banshees and controlling them is like using reigns on a wild stallion. Once tame, however, the Audi becomes a grip factory, sticking to the tarmac as it was bred to do. At its core, the Audi is a Volkswagen, so reliability can be difficult to pin down.

The used all-wheel drive market is saturated with Audis and BMWs. It may be because their depreciation goes straight to the Earth’s core within a few years, and they offer many all-wheel drive options. Sometimes a less common car muscles its way through, but it’s not often. Regardless, Audis are fine choices for proper all-wheel drive performance, BMWs are solid for reliability (at least in this era), and the Mini provides good clean fun, just as long as it’s a short and spirited drive. If budget is not an option, consider a newer all-wheel drive sports car.

RELATED: All-Wheel-Drive SUVs for Under $15,000

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