2021 Truck Wars: Silverado and Ram Crush F-150 in 2nd Quarter

by Gabrielle DeSantis

After decades of being the number one best-selling vehicle in the US Ford’s F-150 pickup truck may be knocked off of its pedestal. The Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups overtook the F-150 for the second quarter of 2021. Most of the blame can be placed at the feet of the global microchip crisis. 

F-150 sales slip to third place

2021 Ford F-150 | Ford

But the F-150 also lost to the Ram 1500 pickup. So for the second quarter of 2021, GM and Stellantis are eating Ford’s lunch. And the numbers aren’t even close. Chevy was able to crank out 164,731 Silverado full-size pickups, easily beating Ford’s numbers. And, it did this with the semiconductor crisis in full swing limiting the production of all vehicles worldwide. But Ram wasn’t far behind.

Stellantis sold 164,232 Ram pickups last quarter. Though easily taking over the F-150 it was still behind Ram’s all-time sales-best quarter in the second quarter of 2019. But the second quarter of 2021 was not kind to Ford.

In the second quarter of 2021, Ford sold only 159,235 F-Series trucks. As a comparison, it sold 233,787 F-150s. This tumbled the F-150 to a third-place finish against both GM and Stellantis in sales. And when you combine the virtually identical GMC Sierra, you can add an additional 75,495 pickups to those Silverado numbers. 

How good is this for GM?

A dark blue 2021 Chevrolet Silverado RST driving, the Silverado is one of the best new diesel trucks
2021 Chevrolet Silverado RST | Chevrolet

That number put GMC up 40 percent from last year, and 33 percent from 2019 which was a more normal pre-pandemic year. And combined with the Silverado’s numbers puts GM around 50 percent above Ram and Ford. Plus, GM makes massive amounts of profit with its pickups. So in all, things are mighty rosy at GM’s silver silos in downtown Detroit right now. 

GM isn’t resting on its laurels. It is currently about ready to add a fourth pickup truck assembly plant. This should substantially increase its build capacity, further increasing profits. Of course, the current climate for pickup truck sales would need to continue and it looks like it will. 

Things are far from bleak at Ford

A grey 2021 Ford F-150, the F-150 diesel is one of the best new diesel pickups according to Edmunds
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid | Ford

But things aren’t bleak at Ford. Far from it. Ford has recently launched some of the hottest products this year. The Bronco Sport and Bronco, Mustang Mach-E, and soon to be available all-electric F-150 Lightning should be padding Ford’s coffers soon. 

These are the right products for 2021 and in spite of the chip shortage, Ford should still see huge sales. Even the Mustang is selling well, though it was overtaken by the Dodge Challenger in the muscle car segment. But at least it is doing better than Chevy’s Camaro.

2021 Camaro sales are only nine percent for the segment

Two 2021 Chevrolet Camaros parked, the Camaro is one of the fastest affordable cars
Chevrolet Camaro | Chevrolet

The lowly Camaro has grabbed only nine percent of the muscle car segment. Plagued by a number of ills including GM temporarily stopping production to make more microchips available elsewhere, sales have plummeted. GM says the Camaro will stick around for a while. 

But with these sales numbers, it makes no sense. GM can use the production capacity, microchips, and momentum from more popular, good-selling vehicles. We may be seeing the end of the line for the Camaro. With sales numbers like the Silverado, nobody at GM is thinking about the Camaro right now.

RELATED: The Chevy Silverado Finally Stomped the Ford F-150

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Want to Rebuild a Wrecked Exotic? Here’s How to Start

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Buying a wrecked exotic car can be the ultimate project car, but the world of exotic cars can be stressful, expensive, and most of all, intimidating. Besides all of the downsides, buying a wrecked exotic car is a great way to find an affordable version of some really cool and exciting cars without costing an arm, a leg, and, in some cases, half of a mortgage. If you’re interested in the world of wrecked exotic cars and supercars but don’t know how to get started, these tips might just give you the confidence boost you need to start looking.

Start looking for wrecked exotic cars — the best time to buy is when you find the best deal

A badly damaged Lamborghini | STR, AFP, Getty Images

One of the biggest questions I am asked — and you can see from watching many famous exotic car buyers and wrecked car buyers on YouTube is when we made the decision to buy a wrecked exotic car. The biggest trick is patience, and when you’re talking about buying something exciting like a McLaren 12C or a Lotus Evora, sometimes that can be hard. It doesn’t seem like there are many of these cars on the market, even if you’re looking at wrecked or sketchy-history holding vehicles, but the worst thing you can do is buy a wrecked car out of fear of missing it.

Wait for the right kind of damage

a wrecked exotic car wrecked ferrari
A damaged Ferrari after collision with a Lamborghini | Feature China, Barcroft Media, Getty Images

Instead, watching the market for certain cars, especially for wrecked exotics, is a form of staying educated on what the cars should go for at certain levels of damage. For example, in the summer of 2021, you can expect to find a wrecked BMW i8 at auctions like Copart, which specializes in wrecked vehicles, for around $25,000 – $30,000. When we purchased our wrecked BMW i8 for $26,000, it had minor cosmetic damage, but mostly suspension problems, and, like any other modern BMW that gets into an accident in which the airbags deploy, the system had been shut down as a safety fail-safe.

For us, suspension issues and minor bodywork weren’t a big deal, and my husband, an electrical engineer, was confident in his ability to resolve any issues with the hybrid drivetrain. On the contrary, looking at many of the wrecked BMW i8 at auction this summer, they are going for the same price with significantly more damage — this has a lot to do with the current market for all used vehicles right now and wrecked exotic cars are no exception to it. Because we were more familiar with the market from years of watching it, we were able to recognize that these prices were abnormally high for the amount of damage to the vehicle and decided to wait until the prices began to decrease once again.

What do you do once you’ve found your dream wrecked exotic car?

If you’ve already purchased your dream-wrecked exotic car — congratulations! If you’ve just recently found one at auction and you don’t have a dealer’s license, chances are you will spend a few hundred dollars extra to pay for a broker. Once the car is in your garage or tucked away at your mechanic’s shop, the real adventure of rebuilding wrecked exotic cars begins. The instructions from here are rather easy to start but can get more complicated, expensive, and time-consuming depending on the extent and type of damage to the vehicle.

  • Assess the damage to the greatest detail possible — often times you may find more problems arise as the rebuilding process begins, but to start, it’s best to get an overall idea of how much work needs to be accomplished
  • Start pricing out parts — this is one of the least fun aspects (spending more money) but my recommendation here is to cross-reference part numbers, and check auction sites like Ebay. You will find many exotic cars share some parts with more common vehicles from the same parent company, and while that isn’t always the case, it can save you money, and even time, when trying to replace parts. If you can’t find them there, there next step is…
  • Sign up for online forums — I cannot stress the amount of help that is presented in the forum community of exotic car owners. You can find everything from parts for sale, to advice on common problems the car may have. This is also a great place to ask questions, and you may even find another owner who has rebuilt the same exotic car and can offer advice or direction
  • Assess value, and then keep it in mind — for the most part (with the exception being rare collector cars like Lotus) cars with branded titles are worth less than the clean-titled counterpart.

In the past several years, with the help of social media and platforms like YouTube, buying and fixing wrecked exotic cars has become a hot topic, certainly stirring the interest of more and more potential hobbyists. It doesn’t take a YouTube sensation to put in the wrench hours to build the car of your dreams, either, and you might be surprised by what you can actually manage in the world of rebuilding wrecked exotic cars.

RELATED: Christmas Eve Chaos — Dodge Viper Versus Ditch

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2021 Ram 1500: Consumer Reports, KBB, and Edmunds Review Roundup

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Ram 1500 has pretty positive reviews across the board, but what did Consumer Reports, KBB, and Edmunds have to say? Check out the review roundup to see what all of the experts had to say about the 2021 Ram 1500 truck.

Consumer Reports approves of the 2021 Ram 1500

2021 Ram 1500 | Stellantis

Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Ram 1500 a score of 63 overall. However, that 63 was still enough to take first place on the list of full-sized pickup trucks. CR gave the Ram truck a four out of five for predicted owner satisfaction, and the predicted reliability was two out of five. One area where it lacked was safety features. Things like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot warning are all optional. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and a rear-view camera come standard.

The fuel economy score was one out of five, with the overall mileage coming in at 17 mpg. The annual fuel cost was estimated to be $1,695. Overall, Consumer Reports approved the quiet ride, cabin room, and fuel economy in the diesel engine. The engine options are a 3.6L V6, V6 diesel, and a gasoline V8 – with an optional eTorque system.

How does Kelley Blue Book feel about the 2021 Ram 1500?

Kelley Blue Book is a wealth of information like many of the other critics’ websites. KBB gave the Ram 1500 4.5 stars overall. The TRX model was a major plus with the diesel, noted as efficient and towing well. The optional air suspension system added to the score, along with the abundant onboard storage.

Some of the cons noted were that the 2021 Ram 1500 falls short of the Ford F-150 in towing and payload. There is no regular cab option, and the upper trim levels like the TRX can be pricey.

The 2021 Ram 1500 comes in an extended can and crew cab. There are two bed sizes, short or standard. The prices range from around $32,795 to $70,425. Ram offers Tradesman, Tradesman HFE, Rebel, Big Horn, Laramie, Laramie Longhorn, Limited, and TRX. The trims offer two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive, except the Tradesman HFE is only 2WD, and the TRX is 4WD only.

Edmunds approves of the truck, too

Edmunds found many highs when it came to the 2021 Ram 1500. The unique suspension led to a smooth ride, and there was another point for the diesel engine. “Cabin is roomy, quiet, and laden with useful storage and tech features,” Edmunds said. The top TRX trim was also noted to have exceptional off-road capabilities.

Edmunds has rated the truck highly since its inception in 2019, and the 2021 model is no different. One of the only drawbacks noted was the same piece about not having driver safety features standard. These are available on the higher trims only. The TRX trim is pricey but worth it, it seems.

Expert reviews don’t trump real-live driving and personal opinions, but these reviews are helpful to have. It seems that the 2021 Ram 1500 was approved across the board. With various trim levels and configurations, the Ram 1500 is a good buy for many drivers.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: Best Trucks For Acceleration & Fuel Economy

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The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Is Perfect for Small Tailgate Parties

by Gabrielle DeSantis

For those of us with pickup trucks, football season means tailgating season. That’s why Hyundai is hoping its new pickup truck/crossover Santa Cruz — stocked with plenty of party-centric features — will be the perfect tailgating companion. 

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz at a glance

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | Hyundai Motor America

The Santa Cruz, a brand-new model debuting this year, has the luxury of learning from decades of pickup trucks before it. That means Hyundai has packed it with all the features you’ve come to love from competitors like the Honda Ridgeline and Chevy Avalanche.

Under the hood of the Santa Cruz sits a 2.5-liter inline-four making 191 hp and 181 lb-ft torque. Or you can upgrade to a 2.5-liter turbo-four harnessing 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. Both come with automatic transmissions, though the latter is a dual-clutch with paddle shifters. And both offer optional all-wheel drive, MotorTrend reports.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is also loaded with advanced safety features and driver assists. Expect driver-attention warnings, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automated braking, lane-departure warnings, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, and a rear-view camera.

The unique truck bed is perfect for tailgating

The 2022 Santa Cruz’s bed might seem small, but it’s loaded with unique features. They include easy-access steps, plywood storage ledges, a secured under-bed compartment, numerous storage compartments throughout the vehicle, a rollover cover, GoPro mounts, a 115-Volt charger, and more — according to MotorTrend.

According to Car and Driver, the 2022 Santa Cruz’s bed is on the shorter side — measuring 48.4 to 52.1 inches. That’s about a foot shorter than the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Honda Ridgeline beds.

However, the Santa Cruz’s shorter bed makes for a great tailgate partner thanks to its easy-access nature. Plus, all of those handy compartments can help you store food, drinks, chairs, tables, tents, and everything else you might need to throw the perfect tailgate party from the back of this unique vehicle.

But there’s more. The Santa Cruz’s biggest tailgating feature lies hidden below the truck bed in the lockable, sealed-off compartment. This special spot comes with its own drain, too, which makes for a perfect ice chest to store your favorite snacks and beverages. 

The Hyundai Santa Cruz also offers an ‘SUV-like’ cabin

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is considered a compact truck because its bed is just a little smaller than the one found in a typical pickup truck. But what it lacks in bed space, it more than makes up for in its top-of-the-line cabin.

Nearly identical to the 2022 Hyundai Tucson’s interior, the Santa Cruz’s cabin and cockpit offer many of the features you’ve come to expect in an SUV. They include a Bose stereo, Apple CarPlay, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, a wireless phone charger, and plenty of USB ports. Higher-end models get a 10-inch touchscreen, optional heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, and more.

The main difference between the Tucson and Santa Cruz is the back seat. To make room for the truck bed, Hyundai made the Santa Cruz’s back seat slightly smaller.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a unique take on the compact pickup truck. Combining features from SUVs, larger pickups, and its direct rivals, this vehicle is packed with features that make it one of the most interesting automotive debuts of the past decade and something truck lovers should keep on their radar.

RELATED: The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Is 1 of the Most Fuel-Efficient Pickups to Buy

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