“I don’t want to ride through the desert without air conditioning.” Last week I drove through the Mojave with the A/C off because I figured it was better for me to be uncomfortable than for the engine to overheat. It was 114°F/45.5°C in Needles, 108°F/42°C inside the van. The vehicle and I survived.

Many people were conceived in a Nash. Some parents wouldn’t let their daughters date any guy who drove a Nash.

“Van Life Is “In” And Bench Seats Make Great Beds”

VW heaters remind me of arguments with my college roommate. When he was driving, he insisted it was proper for the driver to control the heat since he had to have the most favorable environment when controlling the car. When he was the passenger, though, he insisted it was the driver’s duty, as the host, to make the…

One thing I miss about old VWs is the ability to heat your feet but have fresh air at face level without opening any windows. (I also miss vent windows.)

You can reduce the level of stress by considering the likelihood of the feared thing actually happening. A car in decent condition at home is still a car in decent condition away from home. 

Would a driver be able to see over/around the front fenders?

I think the difference between driving at sea level and driving in the mountains is mostly state of mind.

The consequences of a breakdown do not increase the likelihood of a breakdown. So when we worry more about a breakdown in the middle of nowhere, we’re putting extra emotional work into something that doesn’t really call for it. Sure, if your vehicle is a sketchy rust bucket like one of Tracey’s, then worry about…

Right, that’s the anxiety, but the likelihood of breaking down far from home is no greater than breaking down in your home town. 

It amuses me that so many people think nothing of putting 3,000 miles on a vehicle over the course of a few months while driving around town, but freak out at the thought of driving the same distance over a few days. It’s mostly about humans being in unfamiliar territory. It’s not like the vehicle is thinking, “Oh,…

In the desert, in winter, I see lots of Samurais, Sidekicks and their Geo/Chevrolet step-siblings towed behind RVs. Folks who gladly spend the price of a house on a Class A motorhome don’t hesitate to pay more than they should for these little 4x4's.

Nah, it’s not missing bumpers, it’s freedom from the bland uniformity of no-choice factory bumpers, a blank slate for whatever you might prefer.

When did the fastback-owning market decide, “Eh, you know what, we don’t really need louvers?”

Coming up, a 4-door Mustang. Just don’t call it a sedan.

Or, to insert other vowels:
TRAX = Tracks, as in follow any tracks, etc.
TREX = Treks, go on a lot of them
TRIX = Tricks, we’ve got a lot of them
TORX = Torques, we’ve got a lot of that too
TRYX = Trikes, for when one wheel is off the ground

Ooooo, now the Bozos can dig themselves hub deep even quicker.

TRX = Trucks. 

I hate Targas for butchering one of the most beautiful rooflines ever.

About 90% of my driving is out in the boonies, away from the usual pollutants. But then there are occasional feed lots and hog farms.