Are Electric Cars Good for Rural Drivers?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Electric cars are fast becoming a top priority for automakers as consumers recognize the benefits of EV tech. Going green is becoming more mainstream and is widely accepted. And though EVs benefit city drivers, some rural communities are sampling them, too.

Rural driving is prominent across much of the country, with millions of acres of farmland, woodlands, and rolling hills. So, are electric cars a smart choice for them, too? Can rural drivers experience the same benefits as city drivers? And will they be as quick to adopt the latest technology? There are two sides to this EV coin. If you live in a rural area, consider these points before buying an electric car.

Country drivers can benefit from EVs

The Union of Concerned Scientists shared studies that suggest electric cars are smart for rural drivers. In terms of fuel expenses, EVs can actually be more beneficial to country drivers. Rural communities present greater distances to much-needed retail and services. Driving longer distances mean spending more money on gas to do everyday things.

Switching to an electric car could save rural drivers $1,900 to $2,800 each year. So buying an EV could translate to substantial savings for anyone driving beyond city limits. And it’s this financial incentive that’s causing some rural drivers to explore their EV options. 

A few rural driving challenges

Electric cars are great when charging stations are plentiful. But their proximity can be challenging for those who live in more rural communities or out in the country. While those remote-living individuals might be fine to charge their EVs at home, finding ancillary stations can be nearly impossible. According to Forbes, rural households need more than a juiced-up golf cart for an electric car to be viable transportation. 

Remote consumers won’t be quick to adopt electric cars until small towns adopt EV infrastructure. It’s just not practical to drive a vehicle that requires a plug-in when you live in a place without charging stations. Some experts suggest that until small towns and rural communities invest in those charging stations, rural drivers will remain hesitant to buy EVs.

For instance, in North Dakota, electric cars are piquing local interest, E&E News reports. Ford has offered a North Dakota dealership a few incentives to install two charging stations. This proposition might make electric cars in rural areas more attractive. But in the end, EVs won’t necessarily fare well in that state’s brutally cold winters. And many residents aren’t necessarily willing to give up the versatility of their pickup trucks for working and hauling just yet. 

Resources for finding EV charging stations

For anyone new to electric cars, some smartphone apps can help locate charging stations. Rural drivers might have to travel farther to find them, but charging stations are popping up more and more. PlugShare, Open Charge Map, ChargeHub, and ChargeMap are just a few apps. If you consider yourself a rural resident, you might want to use these tools to identify the closest charging stations for you before you buy an EV.

Electric cars are here, and many automakers have already committed to producing all-electric lineups in the next several years. At some point, rural residents will likely be ready to own and drive them. The development of more robust charging station infrastructures will likely determine whether rural drivers buy EVs sooner or later. 

RELATED: Rural Drivers Can Save Over $2,800 a Year By Switching to an Electric Car

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Rare Exotic Cars With Manual Transmissions are Hidden Gems to Collectors

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Whether we like it or not, it’s only a matter of time before the manual transmission becomes fully extinct. It’s a sad thought, however, according to U.S. News, only 1% of the cars produced today have manual transmissions and only 18% of Americans know how to drive them. Knowing that we can see why automakers have been phasing them out over the past decade.

That may be sad news for all of the three-pedal enthusiasts out there, but it’s actually a good thing for car collectors. Many stick-shift-equipped exotic cars are hard to find nowadays, making them hidden gems across the auction landscape.

Three-pedal cars are worth more

2007 Ferrari GTB Fioriano | Netcarshow

In the 90s and early 2000s, new cars equipped with manual transmissions cost less than their automatic-shifting counterparts. But today, cars equipped with three pedals actually fetch more than ever before, especially in the exotic collector car world. According to the New York Times, many exotic car companies like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren phased out the use of manual transmissions in their cars years ago, however, those older models are making a comeback on the auction block.

Car collectors are practically car enthusiasts “turned up to 11.” That means the rarer the car they can find, the better, especially if it’s the first or last in the production line. After all, uber exclusivity means uber value. As is the case for cars like this 2007 Ferrari GTB Fiorano equipped with a stick shift that recently sold for $692,500.

If that number doesn’t mean much to you, then consider that the car originally retailed for $313,000 when it was brand new. Also, it fetched about three to four times what its automatic counterpart would have sold for.

It’s not just the stick shift that makes the cars rare

While having a stick shift in the center console and third pedal on the floor ups the value of these collector cars, there’s more to their exclusivity than just that. The NY Times also noted that the manual transmission cars were often used as second cars by their owners, while they daily drove automatics. This typically means that the manual transmission cars have fewer miles on the odometer, which is what increases their values even more.

There are also plenty of collectors that will pay big money for rare cars with unique modifications. The Times cited cars like BMW M3s with automatic-to-manual transmission swaps and Aston Martin Vanquishes that have been converted as well. While the owners of these cars might not make much over the cost that they put into these cars, the high auction paydays mean that it is worth all of the effort in the end.

Will all manual transmission cars be worth more someday?

It’s hard to say since there’s a different demand for different types of cars. For example, a rare Ferrari with a six-speed manual transmission can easily be auctioned for half a million dollars, but no one might really care about a 2005 Toyota Corolla with a five-speed manual. Then again, you never know. As we can see from these collectors bidding for these stick-shift exotics, there’s a hidden gem to be found in almost anything.

RELATED: The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the Coolest Collector’s Car on Earth and …

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2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Is the Best Truck

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro might sound like a random choice for the best truck, but hear us out. The Toyota Tundra is a popular truck anyway, but the TRD Pro option makes an already popular truck even better. What makes a truck the best truck? Comfortable seats and bigger wheels, obviously.

Is the Tundra TRD Pro worth it?

The 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Is the Best Truck | Toyota

The 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro might not be everyone’s idea of a perfect truck, but it does a lot of things right. Starting with the base of the truck. The 2017 Toyota Tundra isn’t the Tesla of trucks by any means, but it is more like an old sweater you can’t give up. Tundra trucks happen to have excellent resell value too. This makes it more like an old expensive sweater you might not lose money on should you sell it.

Consumer Reports recommended the 2017 Toyota Tundra back then and still do now. It received a score of four out of five for both reliability and owner satisfaction, which was harder to do in 2017. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated most of the crash tests five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Tundra several “good” ratings.

Why is the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro the trim to buy?

Since the year 2000, the Toyota Tundra has been a classic on the roads. By the time the 2015 TRD Pro trim level came around, an established fan base was established to support such a truck. As with any Toyota car, truck, or SUV, you could say people are obsessed with these vehicles.

The TRD Pro is a good in-between for the regular Tundra and the top-of-the-line trim. It has bigger 32-inch tires, a sway bar for stability, extra cushioned shocks, and some other features that are mostly decorative. The 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro basically gets you the best of all of the worlds. It’s a solid truck with upgraded Bilstein suspension and other tidbits, it isn’t $100,000, and it has the Toyota reliability other trucks can’t hold a flame to.

Plus, the 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro is basically a sleeper. No one will expect a low-key truck to pack so much excitement into one little cement grey cab. In the grand scheme of things, the TRD Pro can get a little expensive. Especially when you compare it to trucks like the Ford Raptor – which was only about $15,000 away.

Don’t just take our word for it

There are a few areas where the 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro might fall a little bit short. The Tundra has a few open recalls related to the seatbelts, incorrect load information, cracked lug-nuts, and a shifty bumper. These are all older recalls from 2017, so the issues might have been remedied before the truck came into your possession.

The TRD Pro model has only gotten better as the years went on, so the 2017 model is the only good option. Many changes have happened to vehicles and trucks in the last five years, which means a 2017 truck can seem really old even when it isn’t.

But the 2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro and its comfortable seats have a sort of je ne sais quoi that other trucks don’t. Take that as you wish, but we can’t quit this truck. The 2022 Tundra TRD Pro is due out later this year, and it should make a big splash, too.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: The 2020 Toyota Tacoma Is Better Than the 2021 Tacoma

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Consumer Reports: 2021 Honda Ridgeline Has High Predicted Reliability

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline is considered one of the best compact pickup trucks on the market this year. Consumer Reports has the Ridgeline ranked high on almost every list crafted, so what makes this truck such a good buy? The standard safety features and fuel economy certainly help.

Should I buy a 2021 Honda Ridgeline?

Consumer Reports: 2021 Honda Ridgeline Has High Predicted Reliability | Honda

Consumer Reports ranked some pickup trucks that have been highly rated by owners. The 2021 Honda Ridgeline made the list of Most Satisfying New Pickup Trucks – and only six trucks qualified. The Honda Ridgeline also came in first on the list of compact pickup trucks.

So what makes the Ridgeline a good buy? On the road test, the truck scored a fairly high 83/100. As far as predicted reliability, it scored a four out of five. And finally, the predicted owner satisfaction was a five out of five. All three of these items combined usually mean the vehicle being described is a pretty solid truck.

In the area of standard safety features, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline has an abundant amount. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. It also has such items as pedestrian detection, rearview camera, traction control, and anti-lock brakes.

Consumer Reports said the 2021 Honda Ridgeline was satisfying

On a list of Most Satisfying New Pickup Trucks by Consumer Reports, the Ridgeline came in second. With the 20 mpg overall fuel economy and price below $44,000, it isn’t surprising drivers love the Honda truck.

Consumer Reports noted that the Ridgeline has a unibody construction, independent suspension, and locking trunk space. The aforementioned 20 mpg overall was the highest mileage noted on the list. The Ridgeline can tow 5,000 pounds which covers most bases for those looking to tow occasionally. The inside is comfortable, and it has room for five passengers. CR notes that the bed is a bit shallow for regular work towing, but it’ll get most jobs done.

The payload capacity is 1,584 pounds which is comparable to some smaller trucks. The composite bed is scratch-resistant and won’t rust. The built-in locking trunk space is weathertight so that you can leave your wallet in there, should you need to. Overall the 2021 Honda Ridgeline does a lot of things right.

What we liked, what could be improved

The list of highs versus lows put together by Consumer Reports has some valuable information. The brand calls the Ridgeline the “Most car-like pickup available.” Additionally, it has a quiet and well-finished cabin with a comfortable ride. The dual-action tailgate can either swing out or open like a normal truck bed. The locking trunk area has huge benefits.

The payload works for the side of the truck, and the fuel economy is good enough. Plus, the composite bed is pretty useful. The safety equipment noted before is also a huge plus. Drivers will be able to rely on the 2021 Honda Ridgeline for years to come.

Some of the lows associated with the Ridgeline are the shallow bed, low towing capacity, and the truck’s inability to go off-road. However, if you can look past those things, the 2021 Honda Ridgeline is a great buy. Reliability is a huge issue these days, and it sounds like you can rely on the Ridgeline for years to come.

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

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