Spicoli Approved: The 5 Best Cars For Surfers

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re a surfer, you know how hard it can be to get your boards to the beach, especially if you don’t live close. Hard surf racks can be installed on most vehicles, making things easier, and soft racks are an option if you don’t want to spend time or money. Still, not every car can equally carry a surfboard or three, especially long boards and paddle boards. If you’re a surfer who’s car shopping, you’ll want to know what the best cars for surfers are. 

2021 Subaru Outback | Subaru

What makes a vehicle one of the best cars for surfers?

A sizeable car is great for putting your surfboard or surfboards either in or on it. You’ll also want something that can withstand the wear and tear of the outdoor elements you’ll undoubtedly with you. Sand, salt and wax have a way of staying on everything for ages. Something that’s rugged and easy to clean is a good option for surfers. 

With that said, here are the five best cars for surfers:

Subaru Outback

A blue 2021 Subaru Outback parked on a mountainside with kayaks on top.
2021 Subaru Outback | Subaru

The Subaru Outback is a great choice for surfers because it’s basically built for adventure. Look at all the pictures of people in the woods/mountains/oceans with their Subarus! A Subaru must be designed for the adventurous.

The Outback is easy to clean and comes with a roof rack. One person on Reddit planned on putting their surfboards inside of their Subaru, and wanted to know if they could put in internal racks. If that’s more your speed, you may want to check out the Forester, which has a higher roof. 

Chevy Suburban

A gray 2021 Chevy Suburban against a white background.
2021 Chevrolet Suburban | Chevrolet

The biggest downside to the Chevy Suburban is also its biggest advantage when it comes to transporting surfboards: its size. The Chevy Suburban is a massive vehicle that’s terrible on gas and probably not great for the environment, either. If you have a need for a larger vehicle than average though, and you happen to be a surfer, the Suburban is a great option. (Not to mention heavier vehicles tend to be safer.)

It’s easy to put racks on a Suburban and transport your board, but it’s also easy to open up the trunk, put down the back seats, and stick a couple of surfboards in the back as well. If you won’t have any passengers in back, you’d be surprised at how many surfboards you can carry.

Toyota Tacoma

A person skateboards in front of a 2021 Toyota Tacoma.
2021 Toyota Tacoma | Toyota

A pickup truck is probably the easiest way to transport your surfboard to the beach. Just toss it in the back, throw a strap over it so it’s secure, and you’re good to go. The best part of the Toyota Tacoma is that you won’t get the inside of your vehicle dirty. The biggest downside is that it can be more difficult to transport a long board (if it’s really long) or a paddle board because too much may stick out of the bed of the truck. 

Ram Promaster City Wagon

A man and woman sit inside a Ram Promaster City Wagon writing in notebooks.
2021 Ram Promaster City Wagon | Ram

Don’t let the “City” name fool you – this Ram van is a great choice for carrying your surfboards. This is also a great option if you’ve always kinda wanted to look like a mobile dry cleaner (or you are a mobile dry cleaner). You can buy roof racks for your boards, but why would you when you can just open the doors and gently set your boards inside?

Tesla Model X

The Tesla Model X is the largest Tesla out there. It’s a great choice for surfers, who tend to be more environmentally conscious than the average bear (except for polar bears, who are in serious trouble and are probably very environmentally conscious).

Worried about putting a surfboard in your Model X? Loads of people have done it. There are posts all over that great big expanse of nothingness and everythingness called the internet detailing just how people have fit 9’ and 10’ boards inside of their Model X. If you’d rather not get your Tesla sandy and salty, you can always buy surf racks and put them on top. 

As an added bonus, Tesla once made a Tesla surfboard. You won’t get one if you buy a Model X, as only 200 were made, but Tesla gets some street (sand?) cred for having once made a surfable surfboard.

When it comes down to it, any vehicle can be a great option for surfers. If you’re determined and creative, you can find a way to put nearly any surfboard on or in your vehicle. If you want to make life easier though (and who doesn’t), take a look at some of these options.

RELATED: The Surprisingly Poor IIHS Rating the 2021 Chevy Silverado Received

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Most Drivers Won’t Do This Safe Driving Technique AAA Recommends

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The auto world is full of myths, bad advice, and questionable driving tips. But there’s something to be said for safe driving techniques. They can help prevent wrecks, promote car safety, and make cruising down the highway a more pleasant experience. So why isn’t every driver using the zipper merge, a technique that AAA recommends?

What exactly is a zipper merge?

Drivers eschew the zipper merge at road construction in Pennsylvania | Bill Uhrich/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

Have you ever been driving down the highway when you see one of those dreaded traffic signs announcing a lane is closed? Now you’re faced with a dilemma. Should you immediately move into the open lane and watch everyone else pull ahead of you? Or should you zoom to the front of the line and merge just as the lane closes?

Though it can be infuriating watching other drivers pull to the head of the merging line while you’re sitting there waiting, USA Today reports they have the right idea, according to the AAA. When done properly, the zipper merge should look like two sides of a zipper joining together. Instead of a lane closing early, both lanes remain open, and the lane that will close should merge at the last moment rather than sitting still.

What happens when drivers don’t perform the zipper merge?

Sitting in traffic is no fun, especially not when you see other drivers cruising past you as if you haven’t been patiently waiting your turn. There’s a wide range of emotions for the drivers who don’t get to move, including frustration, boredom, and growing road rage. Then there are the drivers who can’t make up their minds which lane they should choose and hesitate to do anything. 

So why do drivers continue ignoring the zipper merge method? Some don’t know about it and consider other motorists trying to use it as line cutters. Those who know about it might think that it’s not fair and that everyone should wait their turn. They’re unspoken road rules, after all. Yet if the traffic keeps moving, they need to wait their turn because traffic doesn’t actually stop.

Is this all theoretical, or does the zipper merge actually work?

Can drivers use this technique safely?

Farmers Insurance took the time to find out if the zipper merge works. “We’ve found that zipper merging reduces the length of traffic backup by 40 percent when there’s a lane reduction ahead and helps keep exit lanes accessible,” Ken Johnson, a Minnesota worksite traffic engineer, told the insurance company.

“In my opinion, it can also be safer because both lanes are traveling at the same speed. In general, accidents are more likely to happen when there’s a speed differential.”

It makes sense when you think of it that way. When you’re traveling about 65 mph and someone cuts in front of you doing 35 mph, you’re forced to brake hard. If you were far enough back when the other car merged, you could stop in time. If not, you would slam into their back bumper. And guess who’s walking away with the ticket? That is unless you have a dashcam, of course.

Johnson added that the zipper merge method doesn’t mean you have to act rude and cut everyone off. Drivers take turns merging, and the flow continues moving. There will always be a few drivers who refuse to take turns, but for the most part, they’re few and far between.

RELATED: Is It Bad for Your Car to Drive in the Heat?

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Jeff Gordon’s 2009 Corvette ZR1 with 835 Miles is For Sale

by Gabrielle DeSantis

This 2009 ZR1 Corvette checks all of the right boxes. It’s desirable, limited production has super-low miles, and was owned by NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. And it could be yours! With only 835 miles on the ticker, it is a virtually brand new 2009 Corvette. 

This Corvette is one of only 502 2009 models painted Cyber Gray Metallic

2009 ZR1 Corvette | BAT

Currently listed on Bring a Trailer, it was owned for a short time by Gordon before being auctioned off for charity. It is one of only 502 2009 Corvettes painted in Cyber Gray Metallic. And it’s loaded.

2009 ZR1 Corvette Ebony interior
2009 ZR1 Corvette | BAT

The Gordon Corvette features a carbon fiber hood, fenders, and floor panels. It runs Xenon headlights, heated mirrors, rear spoiler, ZR1 badges, 19-inch and 20-inch wheels, and carbon-ceramic brakes sporting blue calipers. The tires are 285/30 front and 335/25 rear Michelin Pilot Sport rubber. Magnetic Select Ride Control is also an option. 

Inside, you’ll find Ebony leather, heated and power-adjustable seats, Memory Package, carbon fiber trim, dual-zone climate control, head-up display, Bose audio system, and much more. There is a 220 mph speedo, a tach, digital information center, and gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, boost pressure, and fuel level. As we said, it’s loaded.

The ZR1 is powered by a 6.2-liter LS9 V8

2009 ZR1 Corvette 6.2-liter V8
2009 ZR1 Corvette | BAT

The heart of any ZR1 is the engine. This one features a 6.2-liter supercharged LS9 V8 with 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is hooked to the back of the engine. The top speed is listed at 205 mph. 

In all, the Jeff Gordon ZR1 is a magnificent Corvette. The car was originally delivered to him at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was later sold through the charity. The Corvette was later sold for charity. It is currently bid at $60,000. 

RELATED: Extreme Vetting: The World’s 10 Quickest Corvettes

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Worlds Most Expensive Supercar Crash: $3.8 Million in Damage

by Gabrielle DeSantis

One wild day, a group of friends took off from Hiroshima, Japan, to adventure in different cars. Of these cars, eight were Ferraris, three were Mercedes-Benz, and a lone Lamborghini Diablo, a Nissan Skyline, and a pesky Toyota Prius. By the end of the trip, most vehicles ended up in one of the most expensive supercar crashes to date.

What kind of cars were involved in the $3.8 million supercar crash?

$3.8 million supercar crash including Ferrari and Lamborghini | Associated Press

According to Associated Press, the friends were out driving when one Ferrari driver tries to switch lanes. The Ferrari driver tried to overtake the Prius and hit the median while attempting to do so. The first Ferrari F430 Scuderia crashed and caused a chain reaction, taking most of the other cars. The group appeared to be driving in pairs simultaneously, with two cars alongside one another traveling down the roads.

No one was seriously hurt in the incident, but 10 people sustained minor injuries. Eiichiro Kamitani, highway patrol lieutenant, told the Associated Press, “I’ve never seen such a thing. Ferraris rarely travel in such large numbers.” Since the group was all friends, it makes sense that there were so many supercars in one area.

Some of the vehicles, including the Ferraris, were damaged beyond repair. The total amount was upwards of $3.8 million or ¥300m.

How does such a supercar crash happen?

Eye witness reports noted that the cars were speeding as they traveled in a pack. The police estimated the speeds to be around 85 mph to 100 mph. There were mixed reports about the weather. Some said it was raining, but the photos show the ground did not appear to be wet. However, roads could have dried in the meantime.

The Google Street View for the area shows fairly narrow two-lane roads without much wiggle room on the shoulder. The news footage from that day can be seen in the above video. In a sea of red Ferraris, the little red Toyota Prius sits damaged on the road. Multiple Ferraris can be seen strewn about on the roads, victims of the first Ferrari’s driving.

Since some cars were a bit older, the traction-control systems might have been subpar for the conditions. Add some slow traffic into that and the narrow roads, and you can see how such a supercar crash could happen.

What can we learn from this?

The Ferrari F430 Scuderia crashed first, causing the Ferrari 512 to hit a Mercedes. One Ferrari avoided the accident, but the two red F355 and F360 Ferraris weren’t so lucky. Another F455 tried to avoid the rest of the accident but hit the guard rail. The rest of the cars continued the process until all 14 were damaged, plus the Prius.

What can drivers learn from this? Don’t drive in pairs? Maybe even don’t drive fast? Don’t speed on two-lane roads? Any of these are true, but that’s why accidents are accidents. Also, maybe don’t drive your red Ferrari in a pack of other red Ferraris. Just don’t do it.

RELATED: Lamborghini Almost Sold Out for the Year After “Revenge Spending”

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