GM Only Makes $14 Profit On These Cars

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We’ve written before about the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. The Chinese minicar is a product of General Motors and Wuling. It is the hottest-selling new car in China. GM is expected to sell over 400,000 in 2021.  That should represent a lot of profit, right?

Is the Mini EV’s popularity due to its price or GM’s profit?

Wuling Hongguang Mini EV | GM

It stands to become the best-selling electric vehicle in the world. Part of that demand and popularity might be seen as being its price. But that price doesn’t make much for Wuling. So what is it? 

CarNewsChina has compiled some curious numbers that reveal some interesting facts. The site calculated that if Wuling sells 500,000 cars it will make a profit of $7.8 million. That represents an RMB89 profit for each car. That’s $14 in US money. 

But even that small amount of profit is not what Hongguang is about. In this case, it is about carbon credits. For every Mini EV sold Wuling gets two carbon credits. Each carbon credit is worth RMB3,000 or $464 in US money. 

The Mini EV is actually worth a lot more than $14 profit to GM

Wuling Hongguang Mini EV with rear hatch open
Wuling Hongguang Mini EV | GM

So the Mini EV is worth almost $1,000 to Wuling. Each. With 560,000 Mini EVs sold, that represents almost $260 million in credits. But there are other benefits that come with the sale of Mini EVs. 

There is a lot of media that is generated from news about the Mini EV-like the post you’re reading now. It creates brand recognition-even in markets the Mini EV isn’t sold in. When the Tesla Model 3 was surpassed by the Mini EV a number of times last year it brought a wave of publicity. 

There is something intrinsically compelling to Chinese buyers about the Mini EV

Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV
Wuling Hongguang Mini EV | GM

And if you’re thinking that the price is the reason for selling so many, it actually isn’t. There are a number of EVs sold in China that have a cheaper price than the Mini EV. So there is something intrinsically compelling to the Chinese about the Mini EV. Soon, we’ll see if it has the same appeal in Europe. 

An upgraded Mini EV will hit some European markets soon. Sold as the FreZe Nikrob, it gets a larger battery pack and some structural improvements. That 13.8 kWh battery gives it a range of 125 miles.

RELATED: How Come GM Makes These Cheap Hong Guang EVs Only For China?

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Hyundai Tops Toyota With 2 of the Best Used Cars For 2021 Under $15,000

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Although Toyota and Honda are commonly regarded as two carmakers that provide the best value, Hyundai has recently improved its reputation in providing affordable and reliable used cars. Learn more about used Hyundai vehicles, whether Hyundai is becoming better than Toyota, and what other used vehicles provide a great value under $15,000.

Is Hyundai better than Toyota?

Hyundai hasn’t gotten nearly as much respect as Toyota in the world of automakers, but that might be about to change. Hyundai has produced some excellent cars over the past few years and has consistently created more affordable cars than Toyota. 

Price will always be a major consideration for anyone looking to buy a car, used or new, and Hyundai offers plenty of great features for less than most other carmakers. Another benefit that Hyundai offers is one of the best warranties in the industry. Toyota’s warranty isn’t awful by any means, but Hyundai’s definitely takes the cake in a head-to-head competition between the two. 

Hyundai offers a five-year/60,000-mile warranty for its minor coverage, whereas Toyota only offers a three-year/36,000-mile warranty. When it comes to powertrain warranties, Hyundai provides coverage for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Toyota only gives five years or 60,000 miles worth of coverage for its vehicles’ powertrains. 

Car buying doesn’t just come down to price and warranties, however, and both Toyota and Hyundai are working hard to provide value for their customers. It’s impossible to say whether one of these carmakers is better than the other, as they both have their own set of strengths and weaknesses, and each driver has a unique set of wants and needs. 

Hyundai captures two spots on a prestigious Carmax list

2021 Hyundai Sonata | Hyundai Motor America

Carmax recently released its list of “Best Used Cars For 2021 Under $15,000”, and Hyundai was the only carmaker to show up on the list twice. The 2021 Hyundai Elantra finished in third place on the list, and the Hyundai Sonata came in fifth. This may have surprised some, as many regard Toyota as the carmaker with the most reliable and value-holding cars. Toyota only ended up taking one spot on the list, as the Toyota Corolla came in second. 

In the Toyota brand’s defense, it did have two cars on the list of Best Used Cars for 2021 under $30,000, but are people who can’t afford to spend more than $15,000 on a used car better off going with Hyundai instead?

Other excellent used cars under 15K in 2021

According to Carmax’s list, the Nissan Sentra is the used car under 15K to look at this year. This is an excellent car for those looking for an affordable and reliable used car, as Nissan has really upped its Sentra game in the past few years. U.S. News reports that Sentras may not come with all the bells and whistles more expensive cars do, such as powerful engines or extra infotainment features. Still, the model provides better-than-decent reliability, a notable standard safety feature list, and competitive fuel efficiency. It’s certainly not the most stylish car on the market, but it will get you from point A to B in a way that’s easy on your wallet. 

Carmax also placed the Chevy Cruze on its list, which is another fantastic choice for those looking to get a good bang for their buck. The Chevy Cruise offers more infotainment features, better gas mileage, and higher reliability ratings than the Nissan Sentra in some models. However, it may also come with a slightly higher price tag. 

When selecting an affordable used car, the best choice for you comes down to personal preferences, but it’s hard to go wrong with any of the vehicles Carmax outlined on its list. 

RELATED: Edmunds Called the Hyundai Kona ‘Standout’ in Its Class

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Why Do American Cars Have the Steering Wheel On the Left?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Even though the overwhelming majority of the world has chosen to put the steering wheel on the left, it is still a hotly debated issue between the right and left-handers. American cars are among the majority of cars that put their steering wheels on the left side of the car. But why is this something that varies across the world? It seems like it would be easier for companies like Honda or Ford not to make different steering wheel configurations. Alas.

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid interior | American Honda Motor Co., Inc

What countries drive on the left side of the road? 

According to Gear Patrol, the British, Japanese, Indians, and Australians, among others, say the steering wheel belongs on the right-hand side of the car and the vehicle on the left-hand side of the road. 

Most countries have opted to have the steering wheel on the left side of the car and drive on the right side of the road. However, some countries do the opposite. This feels like a strange thing to vary from country to country. So, why do American cars have the steering wheel on the left? 

Deciding which side is better is impossible

Subaru interior with the steering wheel on the right side of the car
Interior detail of a Subaru Impreza with a customized by Tiley Motors of Bristol | Joby Sessions/Future via Getty Images

The argument for either side can never be settled from an objective standpoint. However, we can figure out why it is the way it is. 

Although there are plenty of stories and rumors that attempt to explain the origins of the two driving positions, the most likely explanation is something that might feel a bit out of LEFT field. 

“Teamsters” isn’t just a term for truck driving union members. In fact, we are talking about the group that gave Jimmy Hoffa’s boys their name, the horse team drivers back in the pre-automotive days. 

According to Gear Patrol, these horse-drawn wagons lacked a place to sit while piloting these hoss pulling teams. As a result, the teamster who drove the wagon would sit in the next best place, atop one of the horses themselves. Since most people are right-handed, the teamsters would use the crop or whip in their right hand, meaning they needed to sit on the left-hand horse. 

How did we decide which side of the road to drive on? 

sign telling European drivers to drive on the left side of the road in the U.K. in case they have left-hand drive American cars
European road sign | Getty

Given that most teamsters were most comfortable whipping with the right hand and sitting on the left-hand horse, it only made sense to organize traffic in such a way that set drivers on the right side of the road. With drivers on the left side of the vehicle and the right side of the road, drivers are closer to the center lines and better judge how close they are to oncoming traffic.

So, then why do other countries put their steering wheels on the other side? 

Gear Patrol notes that the history in these instances, like England, in particular, is a bit murkier. GP says that one of the earliest written records about the British driving position dates back to 1753 and pertains to traversing London Bridge. However, some suggest that the left-side road rules might even date back to the Middle Ages. 

Even on the other side, right-handedness is the cause of it all. The idea is travelers who carried swords would have them sheathed on the left-hand side of their bodies to draw the blades with their right hands. Walking on the right-hand side of the road would mean those sheathed swords would slap against each other and could potentially cause some obvious problems. 

Interestingly, by the time the colonies that would eventually become the United States were being settled by Europeans, the pre-Americans had pistols making the sword calculus less important giving way to the proper driving position we would one day come to adopt. As is the explanation for so many other things here, American cars have their steering wheels on the left because of guns and horses.

RELATED: Jay Leno’s Bristol 403 Is ‘the Most British of British Cars’

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How Fast Is Too Fast for Towable Tubing?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you have never gone tubing before, you are missing out on one of the best boating activities there is. It is fun for the whole family, provided you don’t have an uncle whose mission is to make you fall off the tube. It’s also fun for everyone else on the boat, and it is a great way to spend time with family and friends. Before you head out to the lake, let’s look at the best boats for water sports and understand what speeds are too fast for tubing.

Water tubing basics

Water Tubing | GHI/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Water tubing, also called inner tubing, is being pulled behind a boat on a tube. It is mostly done on lakes or rivers, or other large bodies of water, though you probably won’t see people tubing in the ocean. There are a few different kinds of tubes you can use. Some are better for beginners, and some are great if you are trying to do fancy tricks. Different options meet different needs.

A single-person tube is one of the best choices if you want to try some tricks, and as the name implies, only one rider fits. A double-rider or multi-rider tube fits more people, which is great for younger or first-time riders, but they are not as fast or agile as other options. A banana tube, which, yep, looks like a banana, fits multiple riders, and you straddle it as opposed to sitting or lying down. It is definitely not the one you want if you are trying to go fast. If you are looking for a high-speed option, your best bet is a deck tube, which is flat and skips across the water much more easily. 

Super fast may seem fun, but it isn’t safe

Speed is relative. Einstein taught us that. Speeds considered safe on the freeway are indeed very different from speeds that are safe on the water. According to Blain’s Farm and Fleet, the recommended speed for tubing is between 20 and 25 mph. In addition to safety reasons, pulling a rider too fast and constantly knocking them into the water often makes them not want to do it again. Furthermore, higher speeds can cause more injuries, particularly when combined with sharp turns and whipping across the boat’s wake. 

If you are going too fast and your rider falls off, they can be injured. Injuries can come from the impact of falling off and being vulnerable in the water while waiting for you to come back around. Like cars, boats don’t stop on a dime, and if you are in a crowded lake, there is always a risk that another boat will not see them. That is also why it is super important to have a spotter who watches the rider and throws up an orange safety flag if they fall off. You can’t safely drive a boat and watch the tube at the same time.

Best boats for tubing

Some boats are better than others for tubing. For example, a sailboat is not the boat you want. A ski boat is usually the go-to choice for water sports such as tubing, but it is not the only choice. Even though originally designed for fishing and laid-back cruising, Pontoon boats are now being designed to go faster, and with the right pick, they can be just as fast and fun as a ski boat. Bowriders and deck boats are also good choices for tubing and other water sports.

Heading out in a boat with family and friends and going tubing can be a ton of fun. However, you want to be safe when you do it. Superfast does not equal super fun on the water, and always remember to wear a life jacket. 

RELATED: 4 Classic Mistakes to Avoid When Towing a Boat

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