I love seeing this kind of outward, proud, and brash brand rivalry. It should (in theory) force manufacturers to up their game. Cars of all makes and styles have largely become become soulless transportation appliances. This kind of car exec trash talk can only be good for consumers. Go on!

It would be cool if Dodge brought back the Ramcharger as a direct competitor to the Wrangler and the new Bronco. Never owned one, but I’ve seen many and they do seem to exude the proper off-road, truckish grunt. 

What does it mean to “rabbit hole” a car?

I love Jalopnik in that the Lada Niva was mentioned here. I learned a lot reading about them. These no-frills small SUVs really wee made for Russian rural roads which really are not roads at all but more rutted oxcart paths. Sparse on amenities, but big on bottom-line core durability and fixability. This car is still…

Nissan seems very back on track lately. I’m really looking forward to seeing a new Frontier in person once they finally hit dealer lots around 2025. 

Car dealerships are cancer. Period. They add zero value to a new car transaction, and are probably one of the best examples of a useless middleman. 

Can someone explain to me the American obsession with “off-roading,” and always needing appear ready to “off-road,” 24-hours per day? For 99.99% of vehicle owners this is just an image. 

So much this.

Not true. The two occasions per year I need a truck to haul yard waste or brush, I rent one for $25.00 for the day. Home Depot, Lowe’s and U-Haul have historically had the same rates. Although you’re right at in the current bizarre market, rentals are insane. But this will pass. 

This. I drive a manual Accord Sport. But I own a house. The two times per year I need a truck to haul yard waste or brush, I rent one for $25.00 for the day.

I want to know whether any dealers will order the Maverick in specs under $38,000?

I’m really curious to see follow-up on this post concerning the imported Toyota. Keep us updated. 

This is actually what I’m worried about. Carmakers will realize they don’t need to keep 500 trucks on the lot to sell way under MSRP. They can just keep a handful and gouge prices. Let consumers fight it out. 

There is only rule right now for buying a new car in this market: DO NOT BUY A NEW CAR IN THIS MARKET. Every dealer in my area (Anchorage, Alaska) is still gouging: new Chevy Tahoe has a +$9,995 market adjustment. Same with Telluride. Every Toyota truck & SUV has a $3,000 markup. Nissan gouges by doing something even…

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) suggests that most commercial agreements can be enforceable even when unwritten. However, the UCC requires contracts to be in writing in these limited situations:

This is an incredibly brilliant point you make and it has actually happened to me: bought a new manual Accord, and dealer kept pointing out during negotiations that “supply is low” for manuals. This year, went to same dealer to see what I could trade my Accord in for: “Demand for manuals is low. It’ll sit on our lot…

The morally correct response from the airlines should be hiring private, trained, unarmed security on every flight. Flight attendants should not be expected to deliver or receive violence. Flight security is the airlines’ responsibility. But of course, profit.

This response is exactly why Jalopnik is my religion. You just taught me a bunch of stuff I didn’t know, but am very glad I do now after reading your post. If only more of the internest was like this. 

Like most recent hotly-anticipated releases, I’m sure this will be ruined by the dealers. Although it starts under $24k, the lots will be packed with only loaded models for $35-40k. Therefore, while the “youths” are the target market, sales will be weak because few young people under 40 can afford, or are willing to…

I’m really looking forward to being completely and totally disappointed by this!