Chris Collins - DAX Street

7 Crossovers Whose Door Hinges Never Sag vs 7 That Need Pin Repairs

2020 Acura MDX (Credit: Acura)

Door sagging represents one of the most visible quality failures affecting aging vehicles. When hinges wear prematurely, doors drop noticeably, creating alignment problems that worsen progressively. What starts as a slight misalignment becomes pronounced sagging,…

5 Minivans With Seat Tracks That Don’t Wobble vs 5 That Loosen Over Time

Fleet of Minivans (Credit: Getty Images)

Listen, buying a minivan is already a big enough decision without having to worry about whether your seats will still slide properly after a few years of use. You have got kids climbing in and…

8 AWD Systems That Don’t Punish Mismatched Tires vs 8 That Do

Tires on AWD Vehicle (Credit: Alamy)

You just discovered a nail in your tire, and now you’re facing a choice that could cost you thousands. Replace all four tires or just buy one? For people driving two-wheel-drive vehicles, this is simple:…

7 Engines That Stay Smooth at 6,000 RPM vs 7 That Get Coarse With Age

Mercedes M273 Engine (Credit: Mercedes)

Rev your engine to 6,000 RPM and you’ll learn everything about its character in seconds. Some powerplants spin smoothly like a Swiss watch, humming beautifully even after 150,000 miles of hard use. Well, they vibrate…

5 Platforms With Durable Under-tray Fasteners vs 5 That Rip Out in Snow

2023 Audi A4 AWD Quattro (Credit: Audi)

Under-tray panels protect vital engine and transmission components from road debris, moisture, and salt spray. These plastic or composite shields mount beneath vehicles using clips, screws, and push-pin fasteners that seem simple until winter conditions…

7 Trucks That Keep Alignment While Towing vs 7 That Scrub Front Tires

Chevrolet Truck (Credit: Chevrolet)

Nothing eats money faster than replacing front tires every 15,000 miles because your truck can’t hold proper alignment. You hook up a trailer, drive a few hundred miles, and suddenly your tires are wearing on…

5 Compact Crossovers With Hardy ABS Sensors vs 9 That Trip Lights in Winter

Subaru Crosstrek Sport (Credit: Subaru)

Winter arrives, temperatures drop below freezing, and suddenly your dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree. That ABS warning light glowing at you isn’t just annoying; it means your anti-lock braking system has stopped working.…

6 Models With UV-resistant Dash Materials Vs 6 That Crack In Sun States

2020 Lexus GS 350 (Credit: Lexus)

Dashboard cracking ruins vehicle interiors faster than any other visible deterioration problem. Sunny climates turn poorly engineered dashboards into cracked eyesores within just a few years of ownership. Arizona, Texas, California, Florida, and Nevada residents…

5 City-Proof Compacts and 5 That Hate Stop-and-Go

2019 Toyota Yaris (Credit: Toyota)

City driving tests vehicles in ways highway cruising never does. Constant acceleration and braking, extended idling at traffic lights, crawling through congested streets, and endless stop-start cycles separate capable urban warriors from machines that suffer…

5 Commuter Cars With Real 40+ MPG Lifetime and 5 EPA-Optimists

2013 Mazda2 (Credit: Mazda)

Fuel economy numbers on window stickers tell beautiful stories that reality often contradicts. EPA estimates promise impressive mileage figures that get buyers excited about potential savings at the pump. Then actual ownership begins, and those…

8 Platforms With Reliable Fuel Pumps vs 8 That Strand Owners

2013 Honda Civic (Credit: Honda)

Fuel pump failures rank among the most frustrating mechanical problems drivers face because symptoms appear suddenly without warning. One moment your vehicle runs perfectly, the next it sputters and dies, leaving you stranded in traffic…

7 Transmissions That Avoid Torque-converter Shudder vs 7 That Develop It

Automatic Transmission

You’re cruising down the highway, enjoying your favorite song, when suddenly your car starts vibrating like it’s possessed. Is that uncomfortable shaking at low speeds or during acceleration? That’s torque-converter shudder, and it’s one of…

6 Sedans With Headlights That Resist Haze vs 6 That Cloud After Two Summers

BMW M3 Sedan Competition (Credit: BMW)

Headlight clarity separates well-engineered sedans from vehicles that look neglected after minimal use. Fresh headlights provide crisp illumination while maintaining a crystal-clear appearance that keeps vehicles looking newer longer. After just two summers, some vehicles…

8 Trucks Whose Frames Resist Midwest Road Salt vs 8 That Scale and Flake

2020 Nissan Titan (Credit: Nissan)

Winter driving in cold climates brings a silent killer that destroys trucks faster than accidents, floods, or mechanical failures combined. Road salt. That white powder scattered across icy highways might keep you safe during snowstorms,…

10 Vehicles That Got Quieter and Tougher After the Refresh

Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy (Credit: Hyundai)

Car manufacturers love to talk about their mid-cycle refreshes like they’ve reinvented the wheel. Most times, it’s just new headlights, a slightly different grille, and maybe some updated tech that nobody really needs. But every…

10 Urban Warriors That Survive Tight Parking and Curb Hits

2024 Suzuki Jimny Horizon (Credit: Suzuki)

City driving punishes vehicles in ways highway cruising never does. Narrow parking spaces demand precision that results in countless bumper scrapes and fender dings. Aggressive curbs lurk everywhere, waiting to damage wheels and tear off…

10 Mazda Models With Long-Term Reliability Records

Different Mazda Models

Mazda’s reputation for reliability often gets overshadowed by Toyota and Honda, despite producing vehicles that last just as long. Many buyers assume Japanese reliability begins and ends with those two brands, overlooking Mazda’s impressive engineering…

10 Vehicles That Barely Depreciate After 100,000 Miles

2025 Toyota SUV (Credit: Toyota)

Most cars lose value faster than ice melts in the sun. You drive a new vehicle off the dealership lot, and within three years, it’s worth half what you paid. Then you hit 100,000 miles,…

5 Steel-Frame vs. Aluminum-Body Trucks: Durability Verdict

Ford F 150 (Credit: Ford)

Truck buyers face a serious question these days: Should you trust old-school steel construction or embrace modern aluminum bodies? This debate has been raging in workshops, forums, and parking lots ever since Ford shocked everyone…

12 Vehicles That Banks Still Love at High Miles

Rivian SUV (Credit: Rivian)

Getting approved for an auto loan becomes challenging when vehicles show high mileage on their odometers. Most lenders reject financing applications for cars exceeding 100,000 miles because statistical data shows increased default risk. Banks worry…

7 Fluids That Make or Break Longevity After 100,000 Miles

Routine Check (Credit: Alamy)

When a vehicle surpasses 100,000 miles, it enters a critical stage where maintenance quality determines whether it continues running smoothly or begins to deteriorate. Many drivers celebrate this milestone unaware that their vehicles now demand…

5 Automatic Transmissions That Are Bulletproof and 5 That Fail Early

Jeep with Bulletproof Transmission (Credit: Jeep)

Nothing ruins a perfectly good car faster than a failing transmission. You’re cruising down the highway, enjoying your favorite music, and suddenly you feel that dreaded shudder. Gears slip, strange noises emerge from underneath, and…

10 Road-Trip Cars That Won’t Overheat in Desert Summers

2018 Honda Accord Touring 2.0T (Credit: Honda)

There’s nothing quite like planning a road trip across scorching desert highways, windows down, music playing, and adventure calling your name. But wait, have you thought about what happens when your car starts steaming like…

10 Subaru Engines From the Head-Gasket-Fixed Era

Subaru Engine (Credit: Alamy)

Head gasket failures haunted Subaru’s reputation for decades, like unwelcome relatives who never leave. Owners watched temperature gauges nervously while checking for milky oil and coolant loss. Forums overflowed with complaints about expensive repairs required…

5 Old-School Trucks vs. New Tech Trucks: Long-Term Winners

1948 Chevrolet Truck (Credit: Alamy)

Pickup truck evolution tells two competing stories about what matters for long-term ownership. Modern trucks arrive loaded with technology promising convenience, efficiency, and capability through electronic wizardry. Touchscreens control everything, cameras eliminate blind spots, turbocharged…