Even for many contractors the regular cab long bed isn't as appealing as you might think. Many jobs require more people than can fit in one of those and the rear seat offers weatherproof and locking tool storage. If you can get by with only two people a cargo van better serves a lot of needs for a work truck.

Leasing has historically made sense if you want to get a new (not just new to you, but new) car every three years or so. If you do, then leasing has historically been more attractive then buying, and then trading in, every three years.

You nailed it. My ‘19 Q7 was due for expiration and I was going to get another leased Q7. Had the same dealer quote it out and money factor on it was so insane that it nearly doubled the lease cost for about the same residual. This was going to be the 3rd Q7 since 2017 that we leased. I bought the ‘19 out, traded it…

Not really, but I can’t speak for all brands. We dont hammer people on down payments, because it really only affects monthly payment, there’s no advantage to it other than that. Maybe 500 or 1000 to get the payment from $415 to a better-feeling $389 or whatever, but now when your talking a 10-15 dollar a month…

People arent leasing right now because the manufacturers have completely stopped subventing lease rates and residuals.

I wonder how many folks who leased shortly before Covid found themselves with a relatively cheap buyout in the last 12 months and just decided to buy the car outright. My parents were in that boat with a 3 year old Q5 that had like 12k miles on it. The pre-determined buyout price made it a steal.

No, induction has more control, some models even specific degree settings like an oven.

Disagree. I had an induction stove in my last house and it was FAR superior to any gas stove I’ve ever used. There is a learning curve to it, but once I got the hang of it going back to gas was AWFUL when I moved. 

Ah! The old "it didnt happen to me so it doesnt count" argument. Lol. Favts are facts. Gas stoves cause respiratory problems. Your hand waving doesnt make that not true.

It works, you’re just bad at reading. You haven’t had any adverse health reactions YET. Something else will probably kill you first, but on a long enough timeline, you’re almost certainly going to develop some kind of condition. and WTF are you talking about? There are mountains of evidence that gas stoves can cause…

So we should say “screw everyone else, the Professional cooks have spoken!”?

my induction cooktop gets better sears on meat than i ever got on my old gas range. and it boils water almost instantly. i don’t have a strong opinion about gas stoves being banned, but i find it ridiculous that people are saying that all electric stovetops are trash. 

The right take is to impose strict rules on the emissions...... That will provide a transition that may eventually lead to them being phased out. The additional controls will cost money to develop which will be reflected in the price of gas stoves going up —- reducing the number of gas stoves bought in general. Those…

This is the first electric truck I’d actually want to own. To each their own, but I find it both functional with features I'd actually use, and weirdly stylish.

Auto shows have been dying a slow death since before introducing vehicles at CES became the thing to do. With the rise of the internet automakers have discovered that they can have their own combination of virtual/in person debuts at a time of their choosing, and without risking being overshadowed by a surprise from a…

I’m paying >$1k/month.

A base model CRV is $33k now and about $575-600 payment.  

Go price out a new Honda Pilot TrailSport AWD. On a 5 year loan at 5.0% and 10% down payment, you’re already at $847/mo. If you want a large SUV that’s a step up from a Honda, you could easily hit the $1k mark.

I know a few. usually buying large tricked out trucks that serve no purpose beyond ferry them to walmart and for a place to keep their truck nuts hanging loose.