These 5 Used Car Prices Are Insane

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The semiconductor chip shortage and other production delays have created a massive used car price jump. Since so many new models are delayed, car lots are running out of new inventory, making used cars a huge commodity. Although nearly all used car prices are rising, five models, in particular, are going gangbusters. 

Used car prices are skyrocketing due to demand | Steven Miric/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

Used Chevrolet Corvettes prices are out of this world

A red mid-engine 2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray at the Next Generation Corvette Reveal event in Irvine, California, on July 18, 2019
2020 Chevy Corvette | DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images

The 2020 C8 Corvette has been in the news often since its debut. Corvette fans were excited to hear that the new generation would be moving to a proper supercar set up with a mid-engine configuration. Although the C8 is one of the best bangs for the buck in the sports car world, the recalls and delays have made getting a good one nearly impossible. 

Yes. The launch of the C8 was a bit of a flub, the car is still rad, and buyers apparently still really want one. According to Gear Patrol, used Corvettes have skyrocketed in value. These used cars, on average, cost $68,804. This represents a $17,000 increase and a 34 percent increase. 

The Mercedes G Wagen has blown the used car market up 

Mercedes G Wagens are like Toyota Camrys in places like LA, California. But, make no mistake about it, these are a bit more expensive than the humble Camry. In fact, the G-Wagen’s prices are so high that it really doesn’t make that much sense given the current trends. 

As EVs and hybrids replace thirsty SUVs, the G-class’s average used price of $148,937 is pretty wild. These monster V8 cubes have grown $37,000, which represents a 33 percent increase over the year. 

Forget trying to get a good deal on a used pickup truck

A 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 in a field.
2021 Dodge Ram 1500 | Dodge

This used car price jump isn’t only for the fancy stuff. In fact, the used pickup truck market is blowing up just as much, if not more, than the rest. The Ram 1500, in particular, is blowing up. Unlike the Corvette or Mercedes G-Wagen, the Ram 1500 is a used car price that makes sense to be climbing. 

Pickup trucks aren’t just toy cars or something that is super susceptible to fads or trends. These trucks are always needed for work. So, when the chip shortage hit the truck market, the used trucks had to go up in value. In fact, the average used truck price for a Ram 1500 right now is $35,798. This is an increase of over $8,000 and a percentage increase of over 28 percent. 

Used truck prices are up across the board but the GMC Sierra is a big one

A 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 parked in a field
2021 GMC Sierra | GMC

It took a little while for the chip shortage to become unanimous, but it eventually happened. Just like the Used Ram 1500 prices, used GMC Sierra prices have also blown up. 

Used GMC Sierra prices have gone up by a whopping $9,500, making the average price $42,347. That used truck price bump represents a 29 percent growth. 

Another Mercedes makes the used car price increase trip to the moon

The used G-Wagens aren’t the only Mercs that are seeing crazy value increases. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars are going like a lost balloon, up and up. Gear Patrol says that these luxury sedans are seeing an average price of $74,326. This is a $16,000 price bump for used models and a percentage increase of nearly 28 percent. 

From executive-class luxury sedans to blue-collar work trucks, used car prices are getting out of hand. 

When will the chip shortage end? 

Unfortunately, there is no real end in sight for the semiconductor chip shortage. This, along with other production log jambs, will likely hinder new car production for the foreseeable future. The results will be a booming used car market until the production delays are resolved. 

RELATED: The Prices of Saturns are Increasing Faster Than Other Brands

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Watch Out for This Major Hidden Danger When Driving a Big Pickup Truck

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As pickup trucks grow in popularity and size, we are learning there are some genuine dangers that need to be considered as more people move to these big pickup trucks. Even the Jeep Gladiator, which is technically a midsize truck, is objectively huge. Just last year, a young driver killed a pedestrian because he couldn’t see the senior citizen over the Jeep‘s hood. So what do we do about these hidden dangers of driving big pickup trucks? 

2021 Jeep Gladiator | Stellantis

Consumer Reports is worried about the size of your pickup truck

According to Consumer Reports, last December, an 18-year-old driver accidentally killed a pedestrian crossing the street because he claims he simply couldn’t see her. After an extensive investigation, the driver was never cited nor charged with any crime or civil suit. 

A family member of the victim has since started a group called Families for Safe Streets in New York. This group is urging the New York Legislature to lower speed limits in crowded urban areas. The other regulation the group is pushing for is warnings upon purchasing bigger vehicles like the Jeep Gladiator in question. 

Trucks have the worst blind spots by a long shot

Image showing the dangerously huge blind spot that many big pickup trucks have
Pickup truck Blind Spot | Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports decided to test the blind spots on pickup trucks, and the findings were alarming. CR measured the blind spot distance for 15 new pickup trucks. The test subjects were mostly in the full-size and heavy-duty pickup truck segments. 

Due to most of these trucks’ height and sheer size, some models had blind spots that stretched 11 feet longer than some sedans and seven feet longer than some SUVs. This is an extremely alarmingly huge blind spot. 

We tend to think of blind spots as that weird little spot over your shoulder that requires a bit of faith (and a blinker) to safely change lanes. However, these massive pickup trucks have significant blind spots directly in front of the vehicle. Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center calls accidents of people being hit while in this front blind spot as a “frontover.” 

Small children are particularly vulnerable to frontovers

“Small children are especially vulnerable to frontover crashes,” she says. She goes on to say that between 1990 and 2019, there were more than 931 frontover fatalities. The majority of the victims were between the ages of 23-months- and 12-years-old. 

The ever-increasing desire for increasingly huge pickup trucks is a real safety concern. Not only are these trucks harboring massive blind spots, but they are also getting heavier and taller. The weight and height of these full-size pickup trucks are also usually sitting on rigid body-on-frame designs that are known to be less nimble on the road. 

How can we fix these dangerous pickup trucks?

An image of a 2021 GMC Sierra HD parked outdoors shows off the big pickup truck
2021 GMC Sierra HD | GMC

Is it a coincidence that as our love for bigger trucks and SUVs increases, so too have car accident fatalities? Last year saw the lowest mileage driven by Americans and the highest death toll in the recent past. These horrible numbers not only implicate the massive pickups but also shines a bright light on the social and economic inequities of our country. The research simply shows that low-income people are more likely to be struck due to how often they are walking instead of driving. 

If that isn’t enough, elderly pedestrians and wheelchair users are also at higher risk of mortality when hit by a vehicle. And, you guessed it, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans are overrepresented in pedestrian crash fatalities. 

Of course, not all of these gut-wrenching figures are due to massive pickup trucks. However, they definitely play a part. Hopefully, the growing number of driver aids and exterior sensors and cameras can start to assuage this painful reality. 

RELATED: The 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro Is Bigger Than You Think

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The Toyota Land Cruiser and Its Humanitarian Efforts

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Toyota Land Cruiser might look like a regular large SUV from the outside, but it goes further than that. Literally and figuratively. What has the Toyota Land Cruiser accomplished in the last 70 years? A lot, actually, especially with humanitarian efforts globally. However, the Cruiser will still happily take your groceries home and settle into your two-car garage if needed.

What is so special about Toyota Land Cruiser?

The Toyota Land Cruiser Game Viewer drives along Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya | Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

In a press release, the brand pointed out that the Toyota Land Cruiser has symbolized safety and security for over 70 years. In 1951 when the LC first came out, the original Toyota BJ had a powerful engine of its own. This was the first vehicle to climb past the sixth checkpoint of Mount Fuji. After that, Japan adopted the BJ as the official police patrol car.

Since then, more than 10.4 million SUVs have made the way through over 170 countries. That same drive has ensured the cruiser was able to get to places other vehicles couldn’t get to.

Toyota notes that the Land Cruiser has been a tool to help support the livelihood of those in remote areas, a humanitarian and disaster relief aid, and beyond that, a vehicle that can be a tool for adventure. Toyota set the expectations for the Land Cruiser as “a vehicle that promises to take you anywhere & everywhere and come back alive and safe.” Though the vehicle has changed slightly over the years, Toyota has not strayed from those expectations very much.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is not just a vehicle for humanitarian efforts

Paul Currion wrote about the Toyota Land Cruiser in the Panorama Journal. One satirical website (Stuff Expat Aid Workers Like) noted that no one would take you seriously without your Land Cruiser in tow. But there is a point beyond the joke. The Land Cruiser can traverse areas other vehicles wouldn’t be able to.

“it’s also true that if you can’t successfully traverse the mountains of Pakistan, penetrate the jungles of the DR Congo, cruise the desert highways of Iraq, or navigate the ruined cities like Mogadishu, then you can’t do the job.”

Paul Currion | Panorama Journal

Currion continued on to say that while the LC is important in transportation and getting to the people who need help, it is also a station of its own. While out in areas with extreme weather or situations, the Cruiser allowed workers a moment of quiet. It provided an office for work, an air-conditioned space for a break, and a vessel to travel in.

And though it has many uses for various aid programs worldwide, it also provides vehicles for safaris, off-road adventures, and regular street driving.

Other uses for the famous Toyota SUV

Not long ago, the Pope used a bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser to make his rounds. The World Health Organization (WHO) used a refrigerated 70-Series Land Cruiser to help deliver and distribute COVID-19 vaccines. This was the first vehicle in the world to obtain the Performance, Quality, and Safety (PQS) pre-qualification.

This is a huge deal. The PQS “was established to promote the development of medical devices and equipment applicable for the United Nations’ procurement as well as to set quality standards.”

The International Federation of Red Cross has a program that incorporates the Land Cruiser and humanitarian action. The global fleet solutions mission helps provide efficient and cost-effective vehicles.

The IFRC offers a vehicle rental program for those who might not afford outright purchases. This allows groups to rent vehicles for as long as needed instead of purchasing. This offers about a 25% savings and includes the required maintenance. Four of the eight vehicles offered are some Land Cruiser.

The Land Cruiser might look like a normal SUV to some, but it isn’t. Toyota is responsible for aiding countries around the world that otherwise might not have such assistance. Thank you, Toyota Land Cruiser, for your humanitarian aid around the world. And also for taking popsicles home from Publix when necessary.

RELATED: Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series: Reliability, Durability, and Off-Road Performance

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Can Your Car Support a Rooftop Tent?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you love the outdoors, you may have seen images of rooftop tents circulating on social media in recent years. This type of tent offers many advantages, but it’s not always a viable option. Let’s discuss some of the car safety requirements you should know about before deciding if roof tents are right for your vehicle.

Types of cars that can handle a rooftop tent

According to Camping Pro Shop, almost any vehicle can theoretically support a rooftop tent. However, some cars are certainly better suited to it than others. For example, rugged vehicles designed with outdoor adventuring in mind — such as Jeeps and SUVs — can support a rooftop tent much more easily.

Smaller cars, such as sedans and hatchbacks, have the potential to support a roof tent. But due to the weight of these tents, it will be much more challenging to set one up on the roof of a smaller car safely.

Your roof rack system will be a major consideration when determining whether your car will work with a rooftop tent. Off Road Tents explains that you’ll need to take two things into account: Your rack’s dynamic weight capacity (DWC) and its static weight capacity (SWC).

The DWC measures the amount of weight your rack can handle while the vehicle is in motion, while the SWC measures the amount of weight your rack can handle when the vehicle is stopped. The SWC will typically be much higher because the car’s frame can support the tent’s weight and its occupants.

A factory roof rack will generally not be strong enough to support a rooftop tent because it can weigh up to 200 pounds or more. Check your owner’s manual to find out if your rack is compatible with a rooftop tent. If it’s not, you’ll need to purchase a third-party rack.

Advantages of rooftop tents

Perhaps the most obvious advantage of rooftop camping is that it’s a fun experience. REI even notes that many rooftop campers state that “a high vantage point resonates with them on a primal level.” 

Rooftop tents are also quick to set up once you reach your campsite. They tend to be more robust than regular tents, and they allow you to camp just about anywhere. Being off the ground also means you’ll stay away from sticks, uncomfortable rocks, and damp earth. In addition, because rooftop tents often come with a foam mattress, you’ll likely be more comfortable than if you were sleeping on the ground.

What are the downsides?

Though they’re fun and convenient, rooftop tents come with a few cons, too. According to Wirecutter, if you mistakenly install a tent that’s too heavy for your vehicle, you can cause a fair amount of damage. The additional weight and drag could reduce your car’s mileage and create unnecessary stress on your suspension. This makes your vehicle deteriorate much more quickly, and it’s likelier to occur if you install a rooftop tent on a smaller car. A large tent on the roof will also raise your car’s center of gravity, making it more prone to flipping in an accident.

Finally, rooftop tents are much more expensive than most standard camping gear. Wirecutter points out that even on the cheaper side, this type of tent often costs at least $1,500. And if you need to purchase a new roof rack, that’s an additional cost.

However, despite these downsides, the enjoyment and convenience of a rooftop tent might still be worth it to you. If you drive a sedan or hatchback, be sure to do a significant amount of research to ensure you don’t purchase a tent that’s too heavy for your car.

RELATED: The Top U.S. Cities for Your Summer Road Trip According to Tripadvisor

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