The Coolest Teardrop Campers You Can Buy Right Now

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Teardrop campers are pretty cool. They aren’t as massive as your typical RV but still make for a great base camp during outdoor adventures. Teardrop campers are typically more affordable than an RV too. And, really, what’s not to like about that? As for the coolest teardrop campers you can buy right now? These teardrop trailers are plenty cool. 

The Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer is one of the coolest teardrop campers

Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer | Timberleaf

The Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer is a teardrop camper that puts quality at its forefront. It’s available with three different suspension packages, including Standard, All-Road, and Off-Road. Step inside this teardrop trailer, and you’ll be pleased to find that no detail goes unnoticed. The trailer is fully insulated and is available in several colors. It also features enamel-baked aluminum siding and a clear anodized top. Inside, the Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer is spacious and open.

The Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer isn’t just a spacious teardrop camper. According to Timberleaf, this camper comes outfitted with one of the largest skylights of any teardrop trailer on the market today. It also comes standard with a custom-made Colorado Queen mattress that’s only three inches narrower than your typical queen mattress. As for how much it costs? Opting for this teardrop camper will set you back a minimum of $23,400.

The Mount Massive is a new teardrop camper under $30,000

Say the Timberleaf Classic Teardrop Trailer isn’t quite your style, but you’re still interested in grabbing one before embarking on your next camping trip. If that’s the case, consider the Mount Massive. This new teardrop trailer is one of the coolest teardrop campers you can buy right now and starts at just $26,500. 

As for what this new teardrop camper has going for it? Much like the Timberleaf, this new teardrop trailer comes fully insulated. Inside, the trailer features a 15” x 60″ countertop for cooking, along with convenient features such as an ice cooler, water tank, and adjustable shelves for a camp stove. This trailer also offers up plenty of room for charcoal and firewood. And when it comes to sleeping accommodations? The Mount Massive comes standard with a 60″ x 78″ queen-size bed. 

The Polydrops P17 is a teardrop camper with space-age looks

The Polydrops P17 isn’t just one of the coolest teardrop campers. In fact, according to Men’s Health, the Polydrops P17 is one of the best teardrop trailers you can buy right now. It boasts an undeniably futuristic look and, let’s be honest, would fit right in with an alien spaceship. This new teardrop trailer is modestly priced too. Starting at just $14,495, there’s no denying that the Polydrops P17 is an affordable teardrop camper.

But looks and pricing and aren’t everything. This teardrop trailer has plenty more to offer. It’s lightweight enough to be towed by nearly any vehicle and comes outfitted with a corrosion-resistant aluminum frame. Its interior also features a moveable table and open galley, along with a 4” trifold mattress. 

Gear up for your next vacation with a new teardrop camper

There’s no denying it. There are plenty of cool teardrop campers out there. But is buying a teardrop trailer the right choice for you? If you’re a fan of outdoor adventures and weekend getaways, it just might be.

RELATED: Easy RV Maintenance Tasks Every Owner Should Know How to Do Themselves

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Why Don’t Exotic Car Collectors Drive Their Cars?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Some car collectors do get out and drive the cars they own, such as Jay Leno. But more often than not, the exotic cars bought by billionaires sit on display in their car collections. The only mileage they clock is the distance between the truck it’s offloaded from and the pedestal it’ll sit on. But why is that, and is it okay for such complex pieces of machinery to rarely see the asphalt?

Jay Leno’s Car Collection Paul Harris/Getty Images

Why do collectors buy exotic cars in the first place?

Before we dive into why collectors buy cars, it’s important to discuss what they’re buying in the first place. It can vary from the fastest hypercars to vintage cruisers and everything in between. There really are no “rules” to collecting cars, they just have to be cars. It all depends on the collector’s tastes.

But it’s also important to remember that car collectors aren’t that different from toy collectors. Those original Star Wars figurines are in mint condition because they’re left in the box. Sure, the toy isn’t being played with, but if stored in the proper environment it’s not necessarily doing any harm. And the collector is enjoying it all the same, able to talk about the history of the piece and why it’s lucrative to collect in the first place.

But while toys will be fine if they’re on shelves, cars shouldn’t just sit in place. Engines were built to run, they have fluids in them that can expire, and parts that want to expand with heat. In short, letting a car sit is can actually damage it.

Is it good for cars to only be displayed?

Classic Car Collection worth an estimated £40million
Classic Car Collection Marcus Hessenberg/Barcroft Ima/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

I’m a firm believer that cars are meant to be driven, not just gawked at forever. They’re supposed to take part in events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed. And classic cars especially are expected to be driven, or else they’ll deteriorate over time.

But the thing to remember about these billionaire collectors is that they, most likely, have hired a team of mechanics to keep the cars frozen in time. All the potential issues are quickly addressed so that, if the owner ever feels like it, they could grab the keys and take any one of them for a spin. Consider a collector’s collection to be more like a museum, where each piece of history or testament to speed is meticulously maintained. These cars are certainly healthier than a classic sitting outside in someone’s driveway.

And the low mileage of these exotic cars is often tied to their value. Take for example a limited production, or even one-of-one vehicle. If there aren’t many of that particular car, getting into an accident would be devastating and expensive. It’s no secret that driving is risky, no matter if you’re in a high-performance exotic car or a daily beater.

So keeping them tucked away is often the safest strategy. And the low mileage paired with the incredible diligence of the mechanics hired does have its perks. If the owner ever decides to sell, these cars often fetch ludicrous prices at auction.

Selling a low-mileage exotic car

A collectable Ferrari Enzo up for sale at auction
Ferrari Enzo At Auction | John Keeble/Getty Images

Depreciation exists for every car, not even billionaires can escape it. The more miles on the odometer, the less it’ll cost. But the price points of luxury exotics are often different from your average car. Obviously, the car will be worth the most within its first 5,000 miles. But according to SupercarPro, exotic car prices eventually bottom out. Most collectors aren’t after one with more than 50,000 miles, so the price gap between a 50,000-mile car and an 80,000-mile car isn’t that different.

From the outside, it does seem like these billionaires are simply showing off their worth, as if they buy cars they like at the moment because they have the coin, then leave them alone. But in truth, the low mileage is simply a bi-product of how valuable they really are.

RELATED: Fire Kills $3 Million Ferrari LaFerrari and Ultra-Rare Car Collection

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GM Thinks the US Doesn’t Deserve This New Buick Model

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Not being one of the bean counters at GM sometimes it is hard to understand how it rolls. GM usually won’t tool up a bracket unless it knows it will sell six million of them. Usually. But then you see things like the for-China-only GL8 Avenir MPV and wonder why this Buick is only sold there?

Buick should give it a slight lift and call it an SUV

2022 Buick GL8 Avenir for China only | GM

Yeah, we know minivans aren’t killing the market, but Subaru has a universal plan for that. Just lift the suspension an inch or two and put black plastic around the wheel gaps and call it an SUV.  It seems to work every time. 

The thing is that GM spent millions of dollars tooling this sucker up. Why won’t it consider selling it elsewhere besides in The People’s Republic of China? But when you look at how many it sells there you sort of get it.

In the last three years, GM has sold around 150,000. Minivans may be slow-selling in the US but they’re smoking in China. And don’t forget that 2020 was a tough year for carmakers. 

What makes the Buick GL8 Avenir so great?

2022 Buick GL8 Avenir for China only
2022 Buick GL8 Avenir for China only | GM

So far this year the GL8 Avenir is only slightly off those numbers. But some of that could be due to it being a few years old. And that is why Buick did a facelift and some upgrades for 2022. 

In December GM worked its V2X technology into the GL8. Now it has added a hybrid system. That increases power and also fuel economy by six percent. 

“The GL8 Avenir family has been defining the premium MPV segment with strong demand since it was launched,” said Executive Director of Buick Sales and Marketing at SAIC-GM, Molly Peck, in a statement. “The 48V mild-hybrid technology is solid proof of Buick’s commitment to electrifying its portfolio for lower emissions. With enhanced styling and technology, the 2022 GL8 Avenir not only provides better fuel efficiency but also a more luxurious and intelligent in-vehicle experience, giving it additional strength for continued momentum,” she said.

The GL8 Avenir comes in three trims and can go to over $80,000

2022 Buick GL8 Avenir for China only
2022 Buick GL8 Avenir for China only | GM

Buick has added a bunch of luxury features to distinguish it from the competition. This may be why the price can go north of $80,000 depending on trim packages. A seven-, six-, and luxury four-seat versions are available. The four-seater is considered Buick’s flagship model. 

Now the turbocharged 2.0-liter LSY engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. To that is added an electric motor and 48-volt electrical system, replacing the traditional 12-volt we are all familiar with. No power numbers are available right now. 

So, while we sometimes wonder how GM works, digging a little deeper can tell you a lot. Still, we wonder why it doesn’t make sense to bring the GL8 Avenir to the states to see if it strikes magic here.

RELATED: The Best-Selling EV In China Is Made By GM Not Tesla

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The 2021 Honda Passport Is a Worthy Jeep Grand Cherokee Rival

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Things are getting spicy with the 2021 Honda Passport. It serves as an example of a modern two-row crossover with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is more of a traditional SUV. Can the Honda Passport tackle the long-reigning champion? 

2021 Honda Passport vs. 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee 

2021 Honda Passport | Honda

Let’s start with pricing. You can get started in a 2021 Honda Passport for about $32,790. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee begins at about $33,275. That’s only a $485 difference between the MSRPs. 

Both of these options aren’t great on fuel. The Honda Passport gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and up to 25 mpg on the highway. The Grand Cherokee gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. 

Is the Passport or Grand Cherokee more capable? 

The base engine in the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a 3.6-liter V6 unit with 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 5.7-liter V8 for 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The 6.4-liter V8 provides 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and the Trackhawk has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. 

With the 2021 Honda Passport, you get a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 5,000 lbs which is pretty good. The Grand Cherokee can tow up to 7,200 lbs, so it’s better for pulling campers and larger trailers. 

The Grand Cherokee is the more capable off-roader, so the ride is firm compared to the sportier Passport. The Passport may experience squishy brakes, though. It’s known for doing nose dives with harsh stops. The Grand Cherokee may feel a little more stable. 

Both the Passport and Grand Cherokee receive praise for having a quiet interior. But the Grand Cherokee may rattle over larger bumps. The Grand Cherokee has more comfortable seats, while the Passport has a faster-acting climate control system. 

Does the Grand Cherokee or Passport have better features? 

A red 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked in a lot
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee | Jeep

Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Honda Passport have spacious cabins in the front and second row. The Passport provides 50.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat with up to 100.7 cubes total. 

The Grand Cherokee has 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear with up to 68.3 cubes. Storage space may be limited, but that’s because the Grand Cherokee comes with a full-size spare tire. 

With the 2021 Honda Passport, you get an attractive enough cabin with a simple layout. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee blends a sense of luxury with rugged capability. Along with soft-touch materials and leather, you’ll find hard plastics. 

The Passport comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen. A 5-inch screen comes standard in the Grand Cherokee, but you can upgrade to the 8.4-inch screen. Both SUVs include AppleCarPlay and Android Auto. 

Not many standard safety features come with the Grand Cherokee. The Passport includes standard forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. 

The Honda Passport is the more spacious and comfortable option for families and as a daily driver. However, the Jeep Grand Cherokee may feel more luxurious and is more capable of towing and off-roading.

RELATED: The Toyota 4Runner Outshines the Honda Passport In 1 Crucial Way

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