Tesla Gets Dangerously Coal-Rolled by Pickup Truck

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s a dangerous trend on the roads right now: coal-rolling. Coal-rolling involves diesel pickup trucks and unsuspecting motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians. Recently a woman in a Tesla faced a terrifying encounter with a pickup – with her child in the backseat.

2021 Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

What is coal-rolling?

Coal-rolling is done by diesel pickup trucks. Not just any diesel pickups, but those which aren’t meeting new emissions standards. These pickup trucks expel excessive amounts of soot, and proudly. Usually, their trucks are producing so much exhaust because they’ve tampered with their trucks to make them faster or louder, or both.

In coal-rolling, the truck driver accelerates while shooting its exhaust fumes at its target. In this case the truck driver repeatedly cut off the woman while braking. According to reports, the woman was traveling with her child, which makes the whole situation that much more terrifying.

What happened in this incident?

This incident was captured on TeslaCam, Tesla’s dashboard camera. In the video, a pickup truck is shown moving in front of the woman in her Tesla. The driver does this twice, even braking in front of her, which forced her to brake as well. This is especially dangerous since they were on the highway. A crash at that speed could have been deadly, and completely avoidable.

Why are truck drivers targeting Teslas?

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. There have been a bunch of reports recently that trucks have been harassing Tesla drivers, but also other electric vehicle drivers as well.

So why are truck drivers targeting Teslas? Maybe they feel that the Tesla is the antithesis of a pickup truck. It’s small and green, and probably not going off-roading. Except for the Cybertruck, which is totally going to go off-roading, and with special cameras that will be able to see the terrain-like eyes. Plus, the Cybertruck will be able to display that terrain on a screen inside the truck, which is super cool. 

It seems that the group of people who are into coal-rolling are against the progress being made to fight climate change. 

Of course, it’s also possible that the pickup truck drivers are just coal-rolling random people, and the Tesla drivers have been able to document it with their dashboard cameras. This seems unlikely though, as Electrek spoke with one driver who admitted that he had a thing against Tesla drivers. (Later, it turned out that what he thought he knew about Teslas wasn’t even accurate. Go figure.)

Coal-rolling is dangerous, perhaps more so than those doing it realize. When people mess around at high speeds with large vehicles, the risk of a crash increases. The faster the vehicles are traveling, the more likely it is that that crash will be fatal. 

If you find yourself in a situation where someone is coal-rolling you, try to take down their information. If you have a dashboard cam like TeslaCam, all the better. Dangerous driving is illegal, and in some states coal-rolling is illegal. Add to this the fact that tampering with a car’s emissions is illegal, and those doing the coal-rolling could face punishment for their dangerous actions.

RELATED: Tesla Scraps Radar, Ships Cars Without It

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How Much Does It Cost to Replace Your Brakes and When to Do It?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

One of the most critical aspects of car safety and ownership is knowing when to replace your brakes. However, there’s some nuance to the process that some may not be aware of. Getting new brakes can entail a litany of things, each with different pricing and results. It’s an important distinction, and one you’ll want to be aware of to avoid getting taken for all you’ve got at the dealership.

Know what to look for

The brakes on a Mercedes-Benz | Silas Stein via Getty Images

First, a little terminology. In essence, there’s a few components to your brakes, each requiring a different brake job or service. The big banana on your brakes is called the caliper. In it, there’s two pads moved by a set of pistons. In turn, those pads and pistons squeeze the circular disk in the middle, known as the rotor. Finally, there’s the brake lines, which carry the fluid that pushes the pistons and pads into the rotor.

If you need to replace your brakes, any of these parts may need to be serviced. For now, let’s look at some of the symptoms. First, you’ll notice poor stopping power. This is the first sign of brake wear and can be caused by a number of things, like a brake fluid leak. Next, there’ll likely be some squeaking on stopping; that is your brakes telling you it’s time to get them replaced. Finally, you may notice some wheel shake when you stop.

There are different ways to replace your brakes

The brake caliper of a new Mercedes-Benz in the factory
The caliper of a Mercedes-Benz | Lennart Preiss via Getty Images

Generally, each of these different symptoms requires a different part of your brakes to be serviced. If you want to replace your brakes entirely, that’ll require both new pads and rotors, if not a new caliper. That last bit is wholly dependent on the condition of the calipers. Thankfully, it’s usually the case that you only need parts of a full brake job.

For example, it may be that your pads wear out before the rotor. If that’s the case, a shop will refinish the rotor to keep things nice and flat, and then install new pads. It could also be that you simply need new brake fluid. Unfortunately, aside from the symptoms listed above, you’ll need a shop or some mechanical know-how to know exactly what is up with your brakes. That is exactly why finding a trustworthy shop is so important. As long as your vehicle leaves the shop and stops correctly, it’s pretty easy for a shady shop to say and charge whatever they want.

Do a little research

A mechanic works under a car in a shop
Basic maintenance is key | David Ebener via Getty Images

So, that begs the question: how do you choose a good shop? In short, do your research. Use customer reviews and word-of-mouth to deduce who to trust with your brake job. As far as pricing is concerned, costs can vary wildly for new brakes. Generally, expect to pay less than $1,000 for a totally new braking system, or even less for parts of a job, like new brake fluid. Regardless, being able to deduce what’s up with your brakes and finding a good shop can save you both money and time. And at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

RELATED: How to Choose a Quality Mechanic

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What Are the 2022 Ford Maverick Trim Levels?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ford has always been a front-runner in the crossover, SUV, and pickup market. Sure to impress, the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick is an exciting addition to the automaker’s truck lineup. The compact pickup will fill a niche in the marketplace if pre-orders are any indication. The affordable Maverick offers the best of both worlds and is available in several trim levels creating a harmonious blend between the workhorse truck and conventional SUV.

The all-new 2022 Ford Maverick 

2022 Ford Maverick | Ford Motor Company

With a starting price of $19,995, the compact pickup truck is sure to lure some SUV consumers its way. Sitting almost 2.5 inches lower than the Ford Ranger, the new Maverick is 199.7 inches long, with 54.5 inches utilized by a practical cargo box. It is one of the smallest pickup trucks on the market today, at only 68.7 inches in height.

The 2022 Ford Maverick is only available as a four-door crew cab but comes with two four-cylinder engine variants. The EcoBoost configuration is comparable to the Ford Bronco Sport, generating a hearty 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. The estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

The 2.5-liter hybrid, built on the same chassis as the popular Ford Escape, has an estimated fuel economy rating of 40 mpg. The front-wheel-drive pickup generates a combined 191 hp with an electric engine and continuously variable transmission.

The 2022 Ford Maverick is an affordable choice for consumers looking for a great deal on a quality all-around pickup truck. According to Motor1, it is the “cheapest hybrid on the market among all cars, trucks, and SUVs.”

Which Ford Maverick trim level offers the best value?

For just under $20K, the 2022 Ford Maverick XL is the most affordable option in the new product lineup. The base model includes unique cargo features such as the Ford Integrated Tether System, the superior Sync 4 infotainment system, Ford Co-Pilot 360 technology, and standard safety features to complete the package.

With an MSRP of $22,280, the Maverick XLT trim offers cruise control, power mirrors, and much more to enhance the driving experience. A 4.2-inch productivity screen complements the gauge cluster and is standard on both the XL and XLT trim.

The Maverick Lariat trim starts at $25,490 and comes with driver-assist upgrades, ambient lighting, and an enlarged infotainment display. Fully loaded models will cost around $28,295 and include leatherette interior trim and a power sliding rear window.

The XLT trim is the sweet spot of the lineup, with an MSRP of $25,585. An FX4 off-road package and impressive upgrades offer the best value. Motor1 said, “a well-equipped XLT FX4 might not even be $30,000, which strikes us as a great deal for an all-weather everyday adventure machine that barely costs more than a two-wheel drive Toyota Tacoma.”

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost is available in all trim levels for a $1,085 surcharge. All-wheel drive is also optional for another $2,220. The launch of the 2022 Ford Maverick will include a limited First Edition package that is fully loaded. 

Standing up to the competition

The 2022 Ford Maverick has a substantial 1,500-poung payload rating, making the new compact truck an enticing concept. The hybrid and EcoBoost powertrain models can tow 2,000 pounds, while the turbo variant can handle up to 4,000 lbs.

The Ford Maverick is ideal for towing small recreational vehicles, but it doesn’t hold up to the 5,000 lb limit available in the Hyundai Santa Cruz. However, it does make up for its limited towing capacity with an FX4 off-road package that beats out the competition.

The LED headlights, horizontal bed rails, and traditional grille bar on the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick evoke a feeling of the best-selling Ford F-150 truck. Going head to head with the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, the new Ford Maverick hybrid is more efficient with unmatched style and design features. The Honda Ridgeline and Kia Telluride will also be stiff competitors for the new Ford product, but fans of the Blue Oval will most likely navigate toward the Maverick.

RELATED: 2022 Ford Maverick: Ground Clearance Depends on the Drivetrain

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Maine Taking Back Car Registrations: How Can it Do That?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We haven’t heard of this before and didn’t know states could even do it. But the state of Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles is taking back legally registered Mitsubishi Delicas. Those are the Japan-only minivans that became importable with the 25-year federal import rule. How can any state deregister legally imported vehicles?

Mitsubishi Delica owners are receiving deregistration packages from the state of Maine

Mitsubishi Delica | Mitsubishi

Crankshaft Culture is a casual car website that was the first to bring this to the interweb. It posted at the beginning of July that Maine was actively canceling Delica registrations. Additionally, it is not allowing any further importation of Delicas into the state. 

Delica owners are getting cancellation letters in the mail that advises state law 29A MSRA 354 precludes vehicles like Delicas to be registered. The statute centers around what the state considers legal for both safety and emissions. It specifically says, “So-called minitrucks do not meet United States safety and emissions requirements for automobiles.”

There are all kinds of red flags that pop up after reading that. The most obvious is the term “minitruck.” It may be semantics, but a minitruck is a scaled-down pickup truck. The Delica is not a minitruck. 

Mitsubishi sold Delica minivans here legally in the late-1980s

Mitsubishi Delica minivan rear 3/4 view
Mitsubishi Delica minivan | Mitsubishi

Another red flag is that Mitsubishi sold Delica vans in the US, legally (we might add), for four years. That would be 1987 to 1990. It also sold an almost identical wagon version with windows for passengers. 

So, how can a van be a minitruck? And, how can it have been legal to register when new but not 24 years later? To be honest, it defies logic. 

Some victims of the deregistration have corresponded with Maine representatives. They have been told that the minitruck moniker is meant to take in numerous types of vehicles. It covers vehicles that weren’t sold here when new. And it covers vehicles that don’t meet the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards).

Does this mean other 25-year imports may also see deregistration?

Mitsubishi Delica in snow
Mitsubishi Delica | Mitsubishi

So, this wording raises some concerns. Could this statute apply to all vehicles imported under the 25-year rule? Will Mainers be seeing various other vehicles formerly legal to sell there, for a variety of reasons, suddenly become illegal? 

Maine officials have communicated back to some unfortunate Delica owners. Its main concern around the van is that it doesn’t pass FMVSS, EPA, and NHTSA requirements. But that is confusing because, don’t forget, the Delica was sold in the US for a time.

Maine says that the 25-year law is for importing vehicles into the US. It has nothing to do with registering a vehicle. That seems like it is sidestepping the issue. But it gets worse.

Maine answers a few more questions causing more questions

Mitsubishi Delica with cargo doors open
Mitsubishi Delica | Mitsubishi

Autoblog got wind of the problem and was able to get a few more questions answered from the state. But the answers pose even more problems. The state insists that vehicles like Delica were wrongly registered as “on-road” vehicles. But Maine sees the Delica as an off-road vehicle. 

It says that any vehicle meeting the same points as the Delica can be subject to deregistration. Most other states allow cars to be imported if they meet federal restrictions. Only states like Oregon won’t allow the same vehicles the federal law no longer restricts. 

It seems like Maine is stirring up a big dust storm over nothing. Statistically, as hobby vehicles, these get driven so few miles every year as to be almost non-existent. Their exposure and amount of pollution, as related to its output, is negligible. 

So why even bother taking back registration when these vehicles have such little environmental and safety effect? And one last thing; does the state of Maine return your registration fees since it is taking them back? And if it does, how far back does it think it should go? 

RELATED: Hate Minivans? You’ll Love The Mitsubishi Delica Bushmaster

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