This $140,000 Italian Camper Van Is Already Selling Fast in the U.S.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Camper vans are a popular way to go on vacation nowadays, and there are many options available for customers. While many camper van and RV manufacturers are based in the U.S., manufacturers from abroad are getting in on the action too. Here’s a look at the $140,000 Italian camper van that’s looking to do some serious business in America.

An overview of the Wingamm Oasi 540 camper van

A camper van motorhome parked in Quartzite, Arizona | Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Unlike the huge RVs somewhat common in America, the Wingamm Oasi 540 is actually on the smaller side. The Oasi 540 is just over 17 feet long, and that’s almost half the length of many RVs. In fact, full-size pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 can be longer than the Oasi 540. That being said, Wingamm makes up for that small size with luxury features. After all, the Oasi 540 costs about $140,000, according to Business Insider.

That high price tag will provide customers with access to a bathroom with a shower, a toilet, and a sink, a kitchen with a fridge, and of course, a bedroom. All of these places are immaculately designed in addition to being luxurious. For example, although the little camper can only comfortably house up to four people, they can enjoy features like memory foam mattresses and heated floors. 

There’s also enough seating space so that up to six passengers can relax in the Oasi 540. Additionally, while the Oasi 540 is a luxurious camper, it’s also a practical one as Wingamm has equipped it with quite a few storage options. Due to how great these features look and sound, Americans are already excited to buy one. Indeed, many are on a waitlist to buy an Oasi 540, according to Business Insider.

How the Wingamm Oasi 540 is already doing well

As Business Insider reports, Wingamm usually sells its camper vans in Europe. While many Americans in the past have asked Wingamm to bring its camper vans to the U.S., Wingamm didn’t do that until recently, according to Business Insider. In any case, Wingamm plans to sell the Oasi 540 in the U.S. in 2022, but only in two areas, LA and New Jersey.

Wingamm then plans on selling its camper van nationwide in 2023. As a result of these moves, many Americans have already joined Wingamm’s growing waitlist. Business Insider wrote that, after an article was written about the Oasi 540 in June, its waitlist grew quickly. It’s slowed down now, with the waitlist currently at about 550 units. However, this was before Wingamm even started marketing the camper van.

However, even when Wingamm starts selling those camper vans in 2022, it may be a while until people can enjoy them. As Business Insider said, Wingamm currently plans to make, at most, 200 units in its debut season. That number will grow to 500 units per season later, though, depending on the popularity and success of the model.

The camper van and RV business is booming

If nothing goes wrong, then Wingamm’s going to make a lot of money from this entry into the U.S. market. After all, other RV companies are doing great, thanks to the pandemic. The initial shock of the pandemic caused huge drops in stock prices for RV companies, but the popularity of RVs has since allowed those companies to bounce back stronger than ever.

Wingamm has a good advantage in that the Oasi 540 will not compete with many other RVs. After all, it’s a luxury camper van that’s on the smaller side. As such, the Oasi 540 has a good chance of doing as well as some of its bigger rivals. That said, it may not compete too well with its cheaper peers.

RELATED: How an 11-Year-Old Bought and Renovated a Camper for Only $800

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Is Fisker Automotive a Scam? All Indications Point to One Answer

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With the feds now taking a look at both Lordstown Motors and Nikola Motor Company, electric vehicle startups are under scrutiny like never before. Especially, when financing is done through a SPAC offering. That’s where Fisker finds itself right now.

Fisker is years away from making cars

Fisker Ocean prototype | Fisker

SPAC transactions involve going public with an initial public offering. Then, the IPO company merges with a private company that takes on the public listing. So, it is used as a way to bring investment capital when the startup is not manufacturing anything, has no production facilities, and is years away from the possibility of doing so. 

Some, like Rivian, have manufacturing capabilities, running prototypes, and a timeline for when production will begin. Others, like Fisker Automotive, don’t. You only need to look at Nikola to see what can happen when a SPAC goes bad. We’re not saying all SPACs are bad, but they lack the same regulations as traditional public offerings. 

Where we are at in mid-2021, Fisker has an agreement with Foxconn Technology to manufacture its Ocean SUV. But published reports that it will begin production in 2022 seem impossible without a running, staffed assembly line. With that said, here are some facts about the former and current company that has many investors nervous.

The previous Fisker car venture ended badly

Karma sedan
Karma sedan |KA

Henrik Fisker, the man behind Fisker Automotive, has manufacturing experience. His former Fisker Karma was manufactured for a short time in 2011. But quality issues and well-publicized cars catching on fire doomed the effort. 

The company was storing built Karmas in a New Jersey port not authorized for EV storage. When hurricane Sandy hit the port was flooded, destroying many Karmas. Fisker tried to file insurance claims to recover what the ruined cars represented. 

Fisker was one of the fortunate companies to take advantage of the government’s ATVM loan program. The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program was first authorized by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. It planned to loan the startup over half a billion dollars. 

Fisker paid back only a small portion of its ATVM loan

A low-angle front 3/4 view of an orange Fisker Ocean prototype on a beach
Fisker Ocean prototype low-angle front 3/4 | Fisker

Red flags immediately began to be raised. Fisker wound up with almost $200 million as of June 2011. It paid back only a quarter of that loan before filing for bankruptcy. “The jobs that were promised never materialized and, once again, taxpayers are on the hook,” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-MI, and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy, R-PA, said.

Forums were ripe with complaints about its warranty plan. Some have said they were charged for things that should have been covered by the warranty. And some service groups said they were never paid for warranty work by the company. 

That covers just some of the events that occurred with Fisker’s first effort. Here’s what we know about plans for the current Ocean model. Back in 2016 Fisker touted a breakthrough in graphene production.

Graphene batteries are considered the future of chargeable systems. But as of now, it is expensive to manufacture and uses lots of natural resources in doing so. So it’s expensive to make, and only a few companies are currently licensed to manufacture it. Fisker claimed it would be making graphene batteries by 2017. It also claimed it could make it for pennies. 

No graphene or solid-state batteries as promised

Fisker OCean with Henrik Fisker
Fisker Ocean with Henrik Fisker

There were also claims about using solid-state batteries. But that talking point vanished once the company went public. And that’s the other thing about this company.

Many dates have come and gone for when the Ocean will be produced. Now Fisker says sometime in 2022. Things happen, and Tesla is a perfect example. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is famous for predicting when its next new model will debut, only to push it back and back. 

We also hear complaints about Henrik Fisker not being an engineer. His background is in transportation design. But neither Musk nor GM CEO Mary Barra has an engineering background. Mostly, these top positions need financial and organizational skills. So that complaint is weak at best.

The engineering and manufacturing challenges are monumental. If it were easy… But as time moves on and companies like GM and Ford begin producing EVs, the economies of scale make the Ocean seem impossible to sell competitively. We wish Fisker the best and hope it becomes a success like Tesla, as far off as that seems.

RELATED: Bombshell: Is The Fisker Karma Co Just One Big Fake?

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Elon Musk Says the Tesla Yoke Wheel Is Mandatory on the Model S Plaid

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It seems the Tesla yoke wheel is here to stay. At least, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Twitter. Whether that is a good or bad thing, however, remains to be seen. Models have not yet made it into the hands of consumers, so feedback on the item is somewhat limited at the moment. However, initial reviews of the most controversial aspect of the Model S Plaid have not been kind.

Elon Musk isn’t Yoking around

Tesla CEO Elon Musk | Britta Pedersen via Getty Images

Clearly, Musk thinks this is the way forward, at least in regards to the Tesla yoke wheel. The discussion regarding it started on Twitter, in the comments of a Marques Brownlee review. The automotive personality and journalist posted the review on his Twitter account, where a user, @fredsterrrr, asked Musk “Any chance of a normal steering wheel option?” Musk’s reply was simple and to the point. “No,” he said.

Now that reply raises a question. Will the yoke be mandatory in only the Tesla Model S Plaid, or will it eventually make its way into the base Model S? Moreover, will it stay exclusive to the Model S if that is the case? Right now, there simply aren’t a lot of answers to that. Frankly, given the critiques the Telsa yoke wheel has received, and Musk’s views on its utility, it’s hard to say if the thing will be sticking around.

The Tesla Yoke wheel has stirried up much controversy

A rendering of the interior of the new Tesla Model S Plaid, complete with yoke wheel
The Plaid’s not-so-plaid interior | Tesla

As we said above, the Tesla yoke wheel has caused some stir once the hardware reached reviewers. For example, this video shows just how awkward the thing can be for maneuvering about day-to-day. Notice how the driver reaches for a wheel that isn’t there several times. Additionally, it looks to be somewhat difficult to make multi-point turns with. Usually, cars with this type of wheel are special-built racecars with a much tighter steering rack than a road car. That negates the need for multiple rotations of the wheel.

That need to rotate the Tesla yoke wheel is key to the controversy. Think about how many times your hands have to leave the 9-and-3 position on a day-to-day basis. Pretty much constantly, right? A racing driver doesn’t often have to do that during a race, where big rotations of the steering wheel can upset the car and cause a crash, again due to that tighter steering rack.

Clearly, the wheel is here to stay

The Tesla Model S Plaid sits in a photo box with the Plaid logo surrounding it
2021 Telsa Model S Plaid | Tesla

As for safety, well, it’s hard to imagine that people reaching for a wheel that isn’t there in an emergency is very safe. Weaknesses of the Tesla yoke wheel aside, it’s clear the thing is here to stay. At least, it’s here to stay in the Plaid model. If it’s not, expect to see those changes made on the next model year refresh, unless Musk is told to change it by some higher power, which is always a possibility.

RELATED: Just What Exactly Is Tesla’s Powerwall System?

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24 Hours of LeMons vs. HooptieX: Two Ways to Turn a Junk Car Into a Race Car

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Do you have a $500 piece junk car lying around? Or do you have $500 to go on Craigslist and buy one? Why not turn that cheap car into a race car! You read that right: if you’re crazy enough, you can take your hooptie to the track and race it in the big leagues. Well, maybe not the big leagues, but the big leagues in terms of beater car racing. Whether it’s the car’s final hurrah, or you want to get some track action, the 24 Hours of Lemons and HooptieX racing series are two ways to turn that broken-down jalopy into a race car.

Honda CR-V at LeMons Race | 24 Hours of LeMons

The LeMons 500 is the cheapest racing series around.

If you’ve never heard of the 24 Hours of LeMons (its name derived from the much more professional 24 Hours of LeMans), it’s the cheapest endurance racing series you can enter. Decorated junkers and clunkers racing around actual tracks across the US, each laced with humor and embarrassment as cars conk out. Bring a car and some friends to help you get it race ready.

While the events are meant to be fun, in terms of safety and professionalism, the coordinators don’t mess around. It says $500 racing, there will be other entry fees and expenses you’ll have to pay. For starters, you can’t just bring a car and expect to race. In order for the car to be up to code, it needs a roll cage, racing seat belts, a fire extinguisher, and other necessary precautions. And you’ll need a certified racing helmet and firesuit as well, especially if you find yourself in a Ford Pinto.

The costs for participating will rack up, but at the end of the day, this is real racing. And anyone who’s participated will tell you it’s a ridiculously amazing (or amazingly ridiculous) experience. Pit lanes and pit stops, teams with spare parts, servicing the car on the fly. These are all things LeMons participants can and should expect. That, as well as lots of love for the reject cars. And while it can be a real blast, it can also be intense. If you’re not quite at that level, direct your attention to HooptieX.

HooptieX is off-road rally cross for clunkers

Beetle Rally Racing At HooptieX
Volkswagen Beetle At HooptieX | HooptieX

The HooptieX racing series and its parent organization the Gambler 500 put a slight twist on cheap car racing. Rather than taking your car to a track, you’ll be welcomed to thrash it around in the dirt for a much smaller fee and with less regulation. The cars don’t require roll cages or safety equipment (unless you drive a soft-top convertible), though they’re highly recommended. And all you need to bring is a race helmet, just be sure to buy the right kind.

The one trick to this equation is your hooptie has to be able to handle the dirt. Otherwise, it’s either going to break, get stuck, or worse, both. It’s called the Gambler 500 because you’re gambling on your car, and whether it’ll make it out or not. Provided, the helpful folks at HooptieX would likely lend a hand. But it’s best to prepare your car for this harsher terrain ahead of time.

Off-road tires are common at these events, even if they don’t fit. And lifted suspension setups help keep the car from bottoming out, and makes it look more off road ready. Though there’s no limit to how much modification you can do.

But HooptieX isn’t just offroad racing. One of the perks is that Gambler 500 events help clean up garbage in national parks and communities. The philosophy is to get a group together, hit the trails in your clunkers, and pick up trash. No entry fees and so forth, just tidying up the planet.

Which cheap car racing series is right for you?

The two cheap car races: HooptieX (top) vs LeMons (bottom)
HooptieX (top) vs LeMons (bottom)| HooptieX/24 Hours of LeMons

Make no mistake, both of these events have strong communities and plenty of support for newcomers. You may feel out of place in your first few events, but as you get in the swing of things, eventually, newbies will flock to you for advice and assistance.

If you’re new to junk car racing or don’t have a car to begin with, I’d suggest HooptieX. At some events, they offer rentals. Or if you hang out with some folks long enough they may let you tag along. It’s much more casual, the teams are friendy, and the upfront costs are ludicrously low in comparison to LeMons. However, if you’re looking for a full weekend of fun and a taste of professional racing (minus the car selection), then the 24 Hours of LeMons can provide that. Just bring a car and a team and you’re sure to have a blast.

RELATED: 5 Cheap Cars That can Last at Least 500,000 Miles

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