Car and Driver’s Best Cars to Crash at a Demolition Derby

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Have you ever joined in the fun of a demolition derby? If not, you might want to try it out. Car and Driver brought in some demolition derby experts that helped find the best car to crash. On the list of the best used cars one could buy right now is a Lincoln Mark V, a classic Rolls-Royce, a Mercedes-Benz S-class option, a Lincoln Town Car, and a 4×4 AMC Eagle. We won’t spoil it for you and tell you who won.

1979 Ford Lincoln Mark V is the best car to crash

The 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V is one of the best cars to crash | RK Motors

Car and Driver brought on some experts to share the best demolition derby cars on the market right now. While the used car market is in turmoil, there are still plenty of options on the market to crash. In the quaint town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the 1979 Ford Lincoln Mark V was for sale on Craigslist for $2,000. Derek Powell calls the Mark V indestructible, both in body and engine.

This 1979 Ford Lincoln Mark V offered in-tact vents for maximum cooling and hasn’t run since 2012, the last time it turned on. But it came with a title. It isn’t a clean title, but who needs a clean title for demolition derby anyway?

Why not a 1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 2?

The second option might surprise you. A 1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 2 was up for sale in California. The price was a bit steep at $4,000, but the Rolls doesn’t start. It has exhaust issues, but who needs that for demolition derby? The people want to see the Rolls-Royce crash, so let’s see how it does. Is it the best car to crash? It might not make it very far in the process, but it’ll be fun to watch while it lasts. This is the car that the team chose as the best demolition derby vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz S-class might not be the best car to crash

1988 Mercedes-Benz S-500 | Alexander James Towle/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

The 1988 Mercedes-Benz S-500 class is up for grabs for $5,988. It has 230,562 miles, and the price is a little steep for crashing. But the inside looks pretty impeccable to drive into another car. With 238 hp, you still have enough power to play around. The Car and Driver experts suggest keeping the radiator intact will be your best bet. Plus, Mercedes is known for being one of the best cars to crash. You may as well go for it.

A 2003 Lincoln Town Car Executive option for class

2003 Lincoln Town Car Executive Ballistic Series | Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

Personally, the 2003 Lincoln Town Car Executive is the best option on the list. For $2,299, the Town Car is a beast. It might be the best car to crash at a demolition derby simply for the body style. You can crash into the Rolls-Royce and take that thing out before moving on to your next target. Plus, there are plenty of Lincoln Town Cars on the road.

The best car to crash: a 1982 AMC Eagle 4×4

The 1982 AMC Eagle 4×4 was listed on Craigslist for $3,995. The price on the website actually says $6,995, which is far too high. The Eagle was the winner of this competition, primarily due to its 4×4 nature. It’s already damaged and missing a window, so you won’t feel bad destroying it. It also has a “keep Portland weird” sticker, making it the perfect target for the other cars. It currently isn’t running, but that’s easy enough. The Car and Driver team almost chose the Eagle as the best car to crash, which makes a lot of sense.

It would be a shame to watch a 1980 Rolls-Royce or a 1988 Mercedes-Benz S-500 get crush in a demolition derby, but that’s the name of the game. These used cars have a lot of value in a demolition derby. The best car to crash at an event might not be the best car to drive daily, but it sure will be fun while it lasts. Watch the video and decide for yourself.

RELATED: American Trucks and SUVs Are Bigger Than World War II Tanks

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Do Safety Features Really Prevent Accidents?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re a current car shopper, you’re probably hearing a whole lot about which safety features the car you’re looking at comes with, and which are optional. You may be wondering; do I need pedestrian detection? Do safety systems really prevent accidents? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released an infographic detailing just how effective different safety systems are, and the results may surprise you. 

Chevy Silverado crash test | IIHS

What is the IIHS and what does it do?

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers and safety professionals.” They test a variety of vehicles each year. They also publish the results of their crash tests so that people can make informed decisions when car shopping. 

The IIHS also tracks the effectiveness of safety systems. Along with the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), the IIHS compared rates of police-reported accidents as well as insurance claims for vehicles with safety features and without them. What they found was surprising. 

Forward collision warning systems are highly effective

Forward collision warning reduced the likelihood of a front-to-rear collision by 27%, and front-to-rear crashes with injuries by 20%. Notably, it reduced large truck front-to-rear crashes by 44%. Collisions with large trucks often don’t end well for occupants of the smaller vehicle. Safety systems like forward collision warning in bigger vehicles can be life-saving. 

When the forward collision warning was combined with autobrake, the results were even better. Front-to-rear crashes were reduced by 50%, and front-to-rear crashes with injuries were reduced by 56%. Large truck front-to-rear crashes were reduced by 41% in trucks with forward collision warning and autobrake. 

Rear automatic braking reduces most backing up accidents

Backing crashes (when combined with rearview camera and parking sensors) were reduced by an astonishing 78% with rear automatic braking. Moreover, laim rates for damage to other vehicles were cut down by 28% in vehicles equipped with rear automatic braking. Rearview cameras cut down on 17% of backing crashes, and rear cross-traffic alert helped by reducing them by 22%.

Lane departure warning eliminates 11% of single-vehicle, sideswipe and head-on crashes, as well as 21% of injury crashes of the same types. Additionally, blind spot warning reduces lane-change crashes by 14% and lane-change crashes with injuries by 23%.

If you’re shopping for a new car, it isn’t hard to see why buying a vehicle with as many of these safety features as you can is important. In addition to saving the lives of you and your family, you may also save the lives of other people on the road. When you can, you should always opt for the safest vehicle with the most safety features.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: 10 2021 Midsize Luxury SUVs With Advanced Safety Systems

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Comparing the Toyota Tacoma to Other Trucks Isn’t Fair

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Toyota Tacoma literally can’t be caught. As much as we enjoy rivals such as the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator, they seem to be out of their league. No other mid-size truck is coming close to matching the Toyota Tacoma’s performance. 

The Toyota Tacoma is the favorite truck 

2021 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We initially went to the Ford Authority article to read about how the Ford Ranger is outselling the Jeep Gladiator. But then we learned something that completely sidetracked us. The Toyota Tacoma has more than double the sales compared to other trucks. 

In the second quarter of 2021, Tacoma sales increased by 42.66 percent compared to the second quarter of 2020. In Q2, the Tacoma sold 72,847 units with the Ford Ranger sold 34,205 units, and the Jeep Gladiator sold 29,962 units. 

It feels like 34,205 and 29,962 are fair numbers to compare, but 72,847 blows the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator out of the water. When this report was published, the Toyota Tacoma has 139,296 sales under its belt for 2021, while the Ford Ranger has sold 58,371 units, and the Jeep Gladiator has sold 48,784 units. Again, the Tacoma’s number seems too big to compare fairly. 

How does the Tacoma compare to other trucks? 

Even if the Toyota Tacoma is weaker in some areas compared to other trucks, that’s not slowing down sales. For example, the Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lbs. The Ford Ranger can tow up to 7,500 lbs. 

That’s only a 700 lb difference. The Tacoma can still pull boats and campers. It can also carry a payload of 1,609 lbs, while the Ranger can carry up to 2,128 lbs in its truck bed. This creates a 519 lb difference which is a little more sizable. 

The base engine in the Tacoma is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder unit with 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 3.5-liter V6 engine for 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.7 seconds. 

With the Ford Ranger, you get the 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo-four engine with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. This is an impressive base engine, but it’s also the only option. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.8 seconds.

The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is supposed to be setting the new standard for off-roading. However, it has a wider stance and a longer wheelbase than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. This can make it more challenging to navigate on narrow trails. 

What features does the Tacoma offer? 

A silver 2021 Toyota Tacoma midsize truck in a desert mountainous area.
2021 Toyota Tacoma | 2021 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

The Toyota Tacoma was recently updated with thicker side-window glass to cut down on interior noise. The ride is also smoother than before. The Ford ranger is known for having a bumpy ride, but wind noise is nicely controlled. 

In the Tacoma, you’ll find comfortable seats and a convenient layout for the tech controls. The Ranger provides supportive seats too, but they’re hard to properly adjust for the right amount of visibility. Also, the infotainment system lacks hard controls. The Jeep Gladiator has the largest backseat, but the Tacoma is still pretty spacious. It also has better storage options compared to the Ford Ranger.  

We could continue to discuss truck stats all day, but it doesn’t change the outcome. The Toyota Tacoma is still the most popular truck. The Coronavisurs (COVID-19) outbreak and global semiconductor shortage may have impacted inventory and sales, but the Tacoma is still pretty far ahead of the competition.

The post Comparing the Toyota Tacoma to Other Trucks Isn’t Fair appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Online Car Buying Site Clicklane Is ‘Exceeding Expectations,’ CEO Says

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Car buying isn’t what it used to be. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Consumers increasingly have options for purchasing cars entirely online without ever having to visit a dealer. One of the newest entries into the online car buying market is Asbury Automotive’s Clicklane. The company’s CEO, David Hult, recently shared some good news about its striking success. 

What is Clicklane?

A tiny toy minivan placed on a keyboard | Wodicka/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Like its better-known rival, Carvana, Clicklane simplifies the car purchasing process by putting it online. However, Clicklane goes several steps beyond the strategy of Carvana.

First, it provides what the company calls penny-perfect trade-in values and penny-perfect loan payoffs. All you have to do to trade in your current vehicle is enter the VIN, and Clicklane will come up with an offer. It also breaks down exact figures based on local fees and taxes and even offers a loan marketplace that includes 30 lenders.

Speaking of loans, Clicklane says it offers a complete loan approval process online, making the entire process much more efficient than many of its competitors. Efficiency is also enhanced by the company’s ability to complete all document signing online through DocuSign. 

Clicklane has really taken off

If all this sounds great to you, you’re apparently not alone. Alongside its parent company, Asbury, Clicklane has seen booming business recently, as Automotive News recently shared. In Q2 of 2021, Asbury reported a record net income of $152 million. Its reported total revenue in the quarter was $2.58 billion, up 79% from the year before. 

In honor of these accomplishments, Clicklane CEO David Hult released a statement celebrating its success and Clicklane’s role in it. He reported, “This quarter, new inventory supply continued to be unpredictable, but our teams met the challenge and performed at record levels in revenue, volume, margins, net income [and earnings per share.].”

He went on to say that  “In addition to this record performance, our online car buying platform, Clicklane, now fully active across all of our dealerships for the entire quarter, is exceeding our expectations, with its growth trajectory ahead of target.” Another indication of Asbury’s success is Hult’s recognition that the company is “tracking well” on its goal of more than doubling in size by 2025. 

Car sales are through the roof

Asbury isn’t the only company in the automotive world to be experiencing increased sales. Many car manufacturers have been reporting similar trends. 

Take Mazda, for example. Though the Japanese manufacturer had faced tough times in 2020 (alongside many other carmakers), 2021 has been a different story. In May 2021, Mazda experienced a 58.4% increase in sales compared to the same month in 2020. Two Mazda models that did particularly well in May 2021 were the CX-9 and the CX-30. The CX-9 saw its best month ever, selling 4,409 units. Similarly, the CX-30 broke its own previous record by selling 7,959 units. 

Another manufacturer touting its impressive 2021 sales is Hyundai. The company recently announced that its sales were up 56% in May 2021 compared to the same month in 2020. This set a company record for Hyundai. Hyundai Sales Chief Randy Parker explained this success by producing its most popular models, the Elantra, Tucson, and Santa Fe. 

As crossover vehicles, the Tucson and Santa Fe deliver many of the benefits of their larger SUV counterparts at much more affordable prices, which might explain their popularity. The Santa Fe even received a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. Elsewhere, the Elantra has won awards of its own, picking up Car of the Year at the 2012 North American International Road Show. Thus, it’s not surprising that the popularity of these vehicles has fueled record sales for Hyundai this year. 

RELATED: The Right Way to Maximize Your Car’s Trade-In Value

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