5 Best Jet Skis for Tubing, Wakeboarding, and Waterskiing

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Watersports are fun and exciting. But there’s more to them than taking your boat out on the water. Jet skis make for an exhilarating experience, especially when you add water skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing. With so many brands and models available, we’ve narrowed the list to the five best jet skis for tow sports. 

Sea-Doo Wake Pro 230

Jet ski tubing | Vitaly NevarTASS via Getty Images

If you’re looking for the best, the Wake Pro 230 delivers the most stable ride for tow sports, Sea-Doo claims. It has pre-programmed launch settings for the most precise wakeboard and ski launches. Its big swim platform makes it ideal for stability and prepping for tow sports. Because it has a wider hull, it delivers stability from its lower center of gravity, even when traversing rough waters. The Wake Pro 230’s engine produces 230 hp.

In terms of extras, this jet ski offers great waterproof front storage to haul belongings and keep things dry. It also has a retractable ski pylon and a Bluetooth audio system.

Sea-Doo GTI SE 130

This Sea-Doo offers the perfect balance between fun and tow sports, Jet Ski Advice reports. It’s more economical than the Wake Pro 230, but the GTI SE 130 still delivers an impressive 130 hp. Even though it’s featured as part of Sea-Doo’s general recreation line, the GTI is equipped with a tow hook and can handle towing two adults tubing with ease. It’s great for riding on the ocean and traversing other waterways. 

To keep your phone or camera dry, this jet ski has a watertight storage compartment with an optional integrated USB port for charging devices. There are two riding modes — Eco and Sport — to customize your experience on the water.

Yamaha WaveRunner EX Sport

According to Jet Ski Tips outlines, the WaveRunner EX Sport is designed for towing. It has a larger storage space, dual rear-view mirrors, an upgraded tow hook, and a reboarding step that can retract when not in use. This WaveRunner can also accommodate up to three people. Not only that, but its lightweight three-cylinder engine also has great fuel economy.

It’s not as expensive as some other models and is a solid choice for tow sports.

Yamaha FX Cruiser HO

This jet ski offers both performance and a reasonable price, according to Jet Ski Advice. It has good handling and has a supercharged engine to boot. Yamaha attributes that to the FX Cruiser HO’s Nanoxcel technology, delivering a remarkable power-to-weight ratio. Riders have accommodating deep seats that are easy to hold for support. 

The FX Cruiser HO also has a touchscreen display to customize your ride, monitor vital functions, and security features. It provides a dry storage area to store towels or other items as well. 

Yamaha FX Limited SVHO

The Yamaha FX Limited SVHO is a seriously impressive luxury model. Jet Ski advice assures its performance is suited for towing two adults on a tube, along with the driver and a spotter riding. It’s also on the high end of the price range, but it delivers great features and handling.

The FX Limited SVHO is equipped with lots of extras, including a 4.3-inch touchscreen, which Yamaha says offers customization and security to prevent unauthorized use. The engine delivers more torque than other jet skis, and it even has a custom cooler and storage area. Plus, the FX Limited Accessory Package brings all kinds of tech, such as waterproof Bluetooth wireless speakers and a mounted Garmin Striker GPS Fish Finder. 

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These Are Some of the Weirdest Car Problems Ever

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Nearly every car has an odd problem that owners at some point need to deal with, even electric cars. Some stop the car from running, others create minor inconveniences. Either way, these weird car problems can get frustrating. Luckily each one has a solution, and most of these fixes aren’t expensive.

SN95 Mustang Problems

2004 Ford Mustang GT convertible | Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

The Mustang from the mid-90s up until the mid-2000s has a lot of baggage, but two problems stand out. Early 2000s models had a unique problem, where after a while of sitting in the sun, the door window motor would seize. Owners figured out the motor got too hot, so they would park their car in the shade. Eventually, the motor would free up, and the window could operate again. The culprit is likely the window reset circuit breaker, located in the engine bay.

The second problem was with the SN95’s Modular V8, which it got in 1996 and kept until 2010. Early on in this motor’s life, owners would experience spark plugs popping out of the cylinder banks. The issue was that the spark plug threads weren’t tapped deep enough. Ford ended up selling Heli-Coil kits to help owners fix this bizarre problem.

Misaligned Tesla panels

tesla model 3 inside mall in china
Tesla Model 3 | Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images

It’s no secret that Teslas have fallen prey to a unique problem of their own. Owners report sizable gaps in the interior of the car, according to MotorTrend, some with the center console. Owners have lost vital paperwork to the area underneath the center console and must tear apart the interior to get them back. Thankfully there are do-it-yourself guides online for how to rectify this oversight with certain parts of the car. However, gaps between the panels of a Tesla aren’t news. Many owners have complained about this for years.

Another Mustang foible

2011 ford mustang gt parked outside
2011 Ford Mustang GT Coupe | Getty Images

Some cars have problems throughout their lifetimes, and the Mustang is such a car. As it turns out, any prospective buyer looking at a Mustang with an MT-82 manual transmission should proceed with caution. For a few years, they had problems with the shifter linkage, where the bolts holding it in place could back out without much fuss. Ford has approached these problems throughout the years, and slowly patched it to the point where it’s a solid shifter setup. By 2014 many problems with the linkage were ironed out. It’s still one of the best Mustangs to buy used.

Unruly W210 Mercedes-Benz Problems

Unfortunately, even Mercedes-Benz can’t escape the occasional pitfalls of mediocre design. Its W210 chassis, which is the E-Class from 1996-2003, suffers from a few odd and expensive problems. Specifically with the E55 AMG, every couple of years the engine will crank but not start. Replacing the fuel filter fixes the issue, and luckily this is an easy and cheap fix.

Another problem the AMG faces is warped front disc brakes. Some owners have had to replace their front disc brake rotors every six months or so, regardless of their driving style. The cause could come down to brake cooling, or as with the G-Class in later years, the lug nuts could be torqued too tight, and unevenly. The golden rule is 110 lb-ft of torque for the G-Class. Replacing warped rotors on an AMG is unfortunately an expensive proposition. 

While these problems aren’t detrimental to the car’s health (warped rotors aside), they are annoying and can potentially damage other parts of the car. Even with these problems, these cars are great in their own way, so it’s worth taking care of these little issues.

RELATED: Can You Avoid the Most Common Auto Repair Issues?

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Lewis Hamilton Was Caught Cheating on EVs in His Pagani Zonda This Week

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton made quite a splash last year when he vowed to give up his supercars. The F1 champ said that he would stick to electric vehicles only after announcing he was the new owner of an electric off-road series called Extreme E. However, just this week, Hamilton was seen driving his bright purple Pagani Zonda around.

Lewis Hamilton and his purple Pagani Zonda

Onlookers caught Lewis Hamilton cheating on EVs in his Pagani Zonda this week | Martyn Lucy/Getty Images

Hamilton is known to have a supercar collection worth millions that he supposedly doesn’t drive anymore. He has been doing his best to be more environmentally friendly, which meant switching to electric vehicles. According to an old ESPN article, Hamilton said he only drives his electric Mercedes-Benz these days.

“Some of it’s education because not everyone knows the footprint that our sport currently has and what we’re doing in terms of trying to improve that. But I’m making a lot of changes in my personal life. I don’t drive any of the cars that I own any more. I only drive my [electric Mercedes] EQC.”

Lewis Hamilton | ESPN

He is aware of the comments that Formula 1 isn’t exactly a sustainable sport. In fact, he has been vocal about how F1 cars are at odds with sustainability. The higher-ups agreed, noting that all F1 events would be sustainable by 2025.

The custom made Pagani Zonda 760 LH for Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton owns some of the vehicles include a Ferrari LaFerrari, Pagani Zonda, McLaren P1, and 1960s Shelby Cobra. He also owns a variety of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. But Hamilton drew a crowd this week when he pulled up in the purple Pagani Zonda 760 LH. Pagani made the Pagani Zonda 760 LH specifically for him.

The 760 LH is essentially a 760 RS with an AMG V12 engine producing 760 hp. It has a 0-62 mph time of 2.6 seconds and a top speed of 217 mpg. While this one is one-of-a-kind, Pagani made only three of the Pagani Zonda 760 series. The best part of the story? Hamilton was heading to a yacht to hang out with Samuel L. Jackson.

Formula 1 is currently on summer break, and the drivers are catching up on some much-needed rest. Or just hanging out with Samuel L. Jackson.

No matter how expensive it is, it doens’t handle the best

The funny part about the Pagani Zonda 760 LH is that Hamilton said he doesn’t exactly love driving the car. Back in 2018, he told The Sunday Times, “the Zonda is terrible to drive! It’s the best-sounding car I own, but handling-wise it’s the worst. I got it in manual because I didn’t like the Tiptronic version.”

He even compared it to the Smart Roadster, one of the smallest and silliest looking vehicles in Europe back in the early 2000s. He also told the magazine his dream car was a 1958 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, like the one in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The Zonda is one of the rarest supercars ever made, so it makes sense Lewis Hamilton owns one.

RELATED: Formula 1: Should the Guilty Team Have to Pay for Repairs After a Crash?

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Toyota Makes 2 of the 3 Best Road Trip Cars, According to CarGurus

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Road trips are a fun and easy way to take a summer vacation, but some cars are better than others for long trips. In fact, an important factor is fuel economy because gas costs add up on long hauls. Here’s a look at three of the best road trip cars in terms of gas mileage, and Toyota makes two of them.

2021 Toyota Prius Prime

2021 Toyota Prius Prime | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

CarGurus recently tweeted about the three best cars for road trips, and Toyota was the big winner. The smallest of the three vehicles is the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime, a midsize hatchback. Because the Prime is a plug-in hybrid, it gets excellent fuel economy. On highways, it gets about 53 mpg, CarGurus reports.

That said, the Toyota Prius Prime is still a relatively small car, so it’s not the best option for large families or groups. But because it’s a hatchback, at least it has a bit more cargo room than a midsize sedan. However, it’s relatively affordable, starting at about $28,000. That purchase price also pays for some tech features, such as a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a host of smart safety features.

2021 Audi Q5 PHEV

Like the Toyota Prius Prime, the 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV made CarGurus’ list thanks to its fuel-efficient powertrain. The Q5 PHEV gets about 64 MPGe on highways and 50 MPGe combined, but this luxury crossover isn’t cheap. Because it’s an Audi and a plug-in hybrid, this Q5 starts at about $53,000. That said, not only is this PHEV larger than the Prius Prime, but it’s also probably more fun to drive.

The Audi Q5 PHEV produces 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which allows this compact SUV to go pretty fast. In fact, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds. That means it’s actually faster than the regular Q5 and SQ5 in addition to being more fuel-efficient.

Furthermore, it’s an Audi, so the Q5 PHEV has a luxurious interior. It also has a more spacious cabin than the Toyota Prius Prime, so the Q5 PHEV is big enough for most families on a road trip. Plus, it’s supremely comfortable thanks to its heated leather seats and quiet cabin. It also has a 10-inch touchscreen display and myriad smart safety features.

2021 Toyota Sienna

One of the best cars for road trips is the 2021 Toyota Sienna, CarGurus reports. This makes sense because the Sienna is a hybrid. In fact, the 2021 Sienna is available only as a hybrid. That said, this minivan isn’t a plug-in hybrid but rather a regular hybrid. That means it doesn’t need to be plugged in to recharge its battery because it has regenerative braking.

Regardless, for about $51,000, families can take road trips and go plenty of other places in a Sienna. CarGurus says it gets about 36 mpg — that’s a great fuel economy for a vehicle of this size. And because it’s a minivan, the Toyota Sienna can seat up to eight people comfortably. So for some families, a minivan like the Sienna is an ideal option for road trips.

More important, though, the Sienna provides plenty of cargo space, too. It offers 33.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity without folding a single seat, and that’s great for a road trip. And, of course, like other Toyota models, the Sienna is safe and reliable, making it even worthier as a road trip vehicle.

RELATED: Can All Cars Use Premium Gas?

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