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The Top 5 Cars That People Drive for 15+ Years Are All Toyotas

When it comes to cars, longevity is a big deal. No one wants to purchase a car that won’t last long or is difficult to repair. It’s no secret that when looking for a used car, you typically want to try to find one with a lot of life left in it.

The car research site ISeeCars discovered the top 15 cars that drivers keep for 15 or more years. They analyzed over 650,000 cars that were from the model years of 1981- 2002, and were sold in 2017. This data tells us about how long these cars can last, with their original owners keeping them for at least a decade and a half.

As it turns out, Toyota is a brand that loyalists can trust. The top five on the list are:

1. Toyota Highlander

2. Toyota Sienna

3. Toyota Tundra

4. Toyota Prius

5. Toyota RAV4

The brand has long had a reputation of being extremely reliable long term. So, why is it that Toyotas tend to last so long? There are a few reasons. One is that Toyota has a unique approach to change. They typically stray from major design changes and instead limit innovation in each new model to focus on durability. Another reason is that the cars are built to last long and be easily repaired. They have a basic design that helps them stay on the road longer.

Overall, Toyota is the clear winner on the list with nine spots. The rest of the cars are as follows:

6. Honda Odyssey

7. Toyota Sequoia

8. Toyota Tacoma

9. Honda CR-V

10. Toyota Avalon

11. Acura MDX

12. Toyota Camry

13. Subaru Forester

14. Nissan Frontier

15. Volkswagen Golf

If you’re looking for a used car that will last you a while, you can’t go wrong with one of the above options… especially the Toyota models from the early 2000s.

Not-So-Smart Man Steals Car, Later Calls Owner for Help When He Can’t Get It Started

Nobody knows your car the way you know your car. Sitting in the driver’s seat of my friend’s car essentially feels like manning the controls to a rocket ship to me. I could maybe figure it out in a life-or-death situation, but I’d rather just stick with my own ride that I know and love. A Minnesota woman was recently shopping inside a local Walmart. While checking out, she decided to start her car remotely from inside the store, so that she would be able to sit in an already warm vehicle when she got outside. Instead, she was able to sit in no car at all, as it had been stolen by the time she got there. 37-year-old Edward Wilson took the car, drove to a town about an hour away, and promptly forgot that he didn’t have the keys. He shut the car off and soon realized that he wouldn’t be able to start it back up again. Instead of dumping the car and moving on with his life like a normal criminal, he made a call to the owner, pretended to be a glass repairman named Wayne, and asked if she would contact someone to start the car for him. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/02/09/man-steals-car-outside-minnesota-walmart-calls-owner-help/322678002/ Meanwhile, the local police responded to a suspicious person complaint on Wilson, who admitted to stealing the car. So, who’s to blame here? The women who thought a running car would be perfectly safe by itself in a Walmart parking lot, the man who was dumb enough to steal a car for which he didn’t have a key, or the genius inventor who made it possible for someone to start their car from 300 feet away? Either way, there is a lesson to be learned here: Never start your car remotely unless you are on the inside, or at least have it in your line of sight.

The Future Is Now Because There’s a Tesla Convertible Casually Orbiting Through Space

By now, you’ve probably seen that picture of a red convertible and an eerily futuristic looking astronaut chilling up in space. If you’re anything like me, you initially told yourself that it was just a really good photoshop job. But it’s very real, and it has us thinking that 2018 just might be the coolest year yet. Elon Musk and his company TeslaX launched the Tesla Roadster on SpaceX’s first Falcon Heavy rocket last week. Though the astronaut is just a mannequin named “Starman,” the car is really up there, flying in a long orbit around the sun. Here’s a no-longer live, yet still fascinating look at the Starman’s trip through space:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr2kKAHN6M

The ride is likely to rack up billions of miles before it is destroyed by radiation, rays, or particles. To put that into perspective, Dr. Seth Shosak, senior astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, said that the spacefaring Roadster "has less chance of a collision each year than all the Roadsters plying the highways of Earth put together." The Roadster can’t even rust because there’s no oxygen or water available. The Roaster will get “close” to Earth in March of 2021, when it passes within 28 miles of its home planet. Musk expects the car to be out there for quite a while, and even joked that any aliens that come in contact with the car will be quite confused. We think they’ll probably toss the Spaceman out on his fake butt and take the sweet ride for themselves. Learn more about The Falcon Heavy and how it will change space travel as we know it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LJIuB2CHE

4 Lesser Known Driving Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

1. Trust your eyes more than road signs. This doesn’t mean you should disregard road signs, but rather that you should be paying extra attention to the traffic around you and expect the unexpected. Remember that the riskiest part of driving is trusting that the strangers around you will obey traffic laws; drive defensively and keep an eye out for distracted drivers every time you proceed through a green light or have the right of way at a stop sign.

2. Know the correct positioning of your mirrors. Because few people actually get it right; your mirrors shouldn’t show any part of your own car—they should be angled so that there is no overlap with their line of sight and that of your rearview mirror. Blind spots cause a lot of accidents, so positioning your mirror correctly and merging cautiously can help prevent your involvement in a costly scrape.

3. Don’t neglect your headlights. Most people think that headlights are only necessary when it’s pitch black out or the weather is extreme. However, leaving your headlights on during the day could be a good idea as accidents can be significantly reduced when drivers have their headlights on at all times. Light is easily detected by the human eye and can keep motorists and pedestrians around you out of harm’s way.

4. Focus on driving, and nothing but driving. There are three types of distracted driving: manual, which includes taking your hands off the wheel; visual, which entails taking your eyes off the road; and cognitive, which basically means your mind is wandering and you’re not fully present. It’s easy to become desensitized to how dangerous driving can be, but it’s important to always be mindful when you’re behind the wheel. This also means you should be well rested before you drive anywhere; a Virginia Tech study reported that 20 percent of all accidents are caused by drowsiness.

Just 5 Hilarious Videos of People Trying (and Failing) to Parallel Park

No one ever said parallel parking was easy. In fact, I can name a few friends who will actually opt out of plans if they have to parallel park somewhere in order to attend. Even for those of us who have the process down, it can be time-consuming and risky. Not to mention, the ordeal is basically a spectator sport if there’s a car behind you waiting for you to get situated so they can pass. Still, it’s something you have to learn how to do in order to get your license and become a normally functioning human adult. But for some people out there, the knowledge of how to align themselves has effectively fallen out of their minds. Luckily, the internet is chock full of hilarious videos that showcase the struggle in its entirety.

Bonus—a guide to make it simple if you’ve only visited this page because you secretly have no clue how to parallel park and all of the above videos relate to you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHSzR2-0R3k

Canadian Police Delighted to be Fooled by Illegally Parked DeLorean Made of Snow

If there are two things I love in this world, it’s snow days, and every movie from the “Back to the Future” trilogy. A 33-year-old Montreal artist clearly appreciates the finer things in life as well, after a heavy snowfall prompted him to play a hilarious prank on local police. Simon Laprise spent a recent Sunday molding a near perfect model of a DeLorean DMC-12 from snow. After four hours, his work was nearly complete. However, real art takes time and an intense attention to detail. Herein lies the true genius of Simon’s prank; after perfectly sculpting the car, he placed a rogue wiper blade on the “windshield.” Early the next morning, a lone police officer happened upon the literal snowmobile, conveniently “parked” in a snow removal zone. The policeman initially meant to ticket the car, but upon discovery that it was just a giant mound of snow, had a nice laugh instead. He then left a note that read "You made our night!! Hahahahaha :)” in French. The creation was eventually destroyed by snowplows, but not before images of the ordeal went viral, and for good reason. This is the kind of art we need to see more of.

You’re Definitely Having a Better Day Than This Guy Whose Car Was Crushed by a Falling Chunk of Ice

Winter definitely takes a toll on your car. Colder temperatures can render your rubber wipers completely ineffective, your battery can die out of the blue, and rock salt can damage your paint job. But no matter how frustrated you get trying to defrost your windshield or ensure your interior comes to an acceptable driving temperature, be sure to count your blessings today. Because at least your car wasn’t crushed by a massive piece of ice that fell from a high-rise building, like this guy.

18-year-old Coltrane Nadler was in surprisingly good spirits after finding his car totaled, probably because he wasn’t inside the vehicle when it was crushed. He also added that he has insurance, which is probably a very real silver lining in a situation like this. The ice apparently fell 20 stories, which is not an uncommon occurrence in a dense city like New York.

The building’s owner was given a fine for failing to maintain a safe structure, as the Department of Buildings requires sites to be safely secured and the ice in question was caused by a large leak. Either way, one thing is for sure: it’s a good day to own a car that hasn’t been mercilessly flattened by mother nature.

Why Is It Important to Keep Your Fuel Tank Full in the Winter?

We all remember mom and dad’s advice to keep gas levels in our tank especially high in the winter. But why, exactly, is it so imperative to keep your fuel tank from running low when it’s cold out? There are a few reasons, the most well-known being that shifting temperatures can cause condensation on the walls of your tank. This can lead to the water dripping into the gas, where it can sink to the bottom, freeze, and block the flow of gas to the engine. This isn’t a huge worry with today’s systems, but it’s still possible with older models. Problems caused by condensation aren’t just a major headache for you to have to deal with, but also a costly repair that can be easily prevented by keeping your tank full. Another reason is that your fuel pump uses gas as a coolant of sorts in order to operate properly. If your tank is too low, the pump can suck air and generate too much heat that over time wears down or causes your pump to fail. Fuel pump repairs are expensive, but you probably don’t have to keep your tank more than half full to prevent one—just keep it above the low fuel warning. Aside from all the mechanical reasons, people often recommend you keep your fuel tank high because of how dangerous it is to get stranded in the middle of nowhere, amidst low temperatures, with no gas. Running out of fuel in a deserted area is especially problematic in the winter. Even if your car won’t drive, it is imperative to have enough gas to keep you and everyone in your car adequately warm until help arrives. Next time you’re running low on gas and are able to provide yourself with an excuse to skip the gas station— you’re running late; you’ll just stop by on your way home—remind yourself that saving this small amount of time could be costly or dangerous down the road. Keep your tank levels high to prevent damage and get yourself safely home at the end of the day.

Here Are 20 Very Real American Traffic Laws That Probably Shouldn’t Exist

1. In Alabama, you’re not allowed to drive while blindfolded. We’d love to know the backstory behind instating such a law. 2. If you’re older than 88, you’re not allowed to ride a motorcycle in Idaho Falls. 3. It’s illegal for a car dealer to sell you a car on Sunday in 14 states. This law is ancient, but still in effect. 4. In Kansas, you’re not supposed to transport dead poultry. Which makes us wonder how people get their turkeys home come Thanksgiving. 5. Don’t frown at a police officer in New Jersey—it’s against state law. 6. Fire trucks in New Britain, Connecticut are technically not allowed to exceed 25 miles per hour. 7. You can walk away with a mere $78 fine after hitting a pedestrian in Sarasota, Florida. 8. In Marietta, Georgia you can’t spit from a car or a bus. You can, however, spit from a truck. 9. Birds have the right of way on all highways in Utah. 10. It’s against the law to ride a bicycle without using your hands in Wisconsin. Which begs the question, how does the state feel towards unicycles? 11. In West Virginia, it’s legal to eat roadkill. To each his own, I suppose? 12. Both Tennessee and Mississippi have laws that require male flaggers to walk in front of a vehicle with a female driver. 13. State traffic law deems it illegal to drive a black car in Denver, Colorado on Sundays. 14. You can go to jail for jumping out of a car going over 65 miles per hour in Glendale, California. 15. It’s unlawful to have trash in your car if you’re in Hilton Head, South Carolina. 16. In Texas, you need to have windshield wipers to register a car. Which is interesting, because you don’t technically need to have a windshield. 17. 14-year-olds are legally allowed to obtain a driver’s license in South Dakota if they’ve had their learner’s permit for 180 days. 18. Running out of gas in Youngstown, Ohio can get you a ticket. 19. You can receive up to 3 months of jail time for squealing your tires in Kansas. 20. A Scituate, Rhode Island law prohibits the carrying of beer in your car—even if it is unopened.

5 Gift Ideas for the Car Lover in Your Life

1. Driving Gloves

Driving gloves are an especially good idea in the winter because they keep your hands warm without the bad grip. They serve to protect steering wheels from the dirt and oils on your hands. Plus, they just look cool, and they’ll make your friend feel like he’s at the race track while he’s sitting in rush hour traffic.

2. A Dash Camera

Accidents happen. It’s nice to have footage to prove your innocence and help with insurance costs. Dash cams are a must-have for car enthusiasts, even those that have never had an accident.

3. A Jump Starter or Cables

It’s hard to imagine a car enthusiast without a set of cables in their car. But even if they have a set, you might consider getting them a starter that doesn’t require another car to jump start a dead battery.

4. Car Seat Protectors

If you have a pal who loves to travel with his dog, car seat protectors are key. They protect your car’s interior and upholstery from getting dirty or scratched by paws.

5. A Dash Mount

Dash mounts are sleek, stylish, and can display directions without getting the driver in trouble for using their mobile device. Even if your friend already has one, you might consider getting a newer model.

5 of the Most Well-Known Cars Being Discontinued in 2018

1. Jeep Patriot

There was competition between two compact SUVs: the Compass and the Patriot. They were already similar and there wasn’t much demand for two separate models, so the Compass was chosen for the new single model as it was always positioned as a better replacement for the Patriot.

2. Dodge Viper

Though the Viper was once one of the hottest cars you could own and a mechanical heartthrob for many in the early 1990s, sales for the already expensive, handmade car have fallen significantly. The Viper disappeared in 2010 and came back in 2013—but that doesn’t mean it’s likely to pop back up again, especially since it has a much higher price tag than its rival, the Chevrolet Corvette.

3. Chevrolet SS

People generally liked the Chevrolet SS after it launched in 2013 because it had good horsepower, but the high price tag only wielded about 12,000 sales. The ultimate reason this car is being discontinued is because the Australian factory that produces this car closed in early 2017. You can blame General Motors for this one.

4. Honda Accord Coupe

America loves Honda Accord sedans, but doesn’t seem to care for the two-doors; the Accord Coupe was the only coupe model based on a full or midsize sedan left in 2017. Though the Accord is set for 2018, the coupe version of this sedan is officially no more.

5. Volkswagen CC

The CC was a stylish luxury sedan that rivaled Audi in aesthetics but was fairly affordable. However, sales dropped nearly 46% and fell to under 2,000 sales for 2017, as people seemed to go for the Passat. Volkswagen is replacing it with the Arteon sedan in 2018.

The Ten Commandments of Driving in Texas

I. Thou shalt endure construction.

Because everywhere you go and everything you see will be littered with reflective vests and orange cones as an homage to the state bird, the not-so elusive construction crane.

II. Thou shalt take note of thy surroundings before proceeding through a green light.

A true Texan knows that not everyone honors the sanctity of red lights, and there will be those who choose to fly through them.

III. Thou shalt reach thy destination with haste.

Which isn’t to say that speed limits are arbitrary—they’re just ridiculously high, and if you’re not comfortable driving 80 MPH, you should probably stick to the suburbs.

IV. Honor thy pickups.

Because just when you think you’ve seen the largest lifted truck in existence, it’ll get cut off by an even larger monstrosity. Best to leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle that could eat a Fiat for breakfast.

V. Thou shalt not neglect thy turn signal.

Lest you be ostracized by those who had no clue you were planning to merge in front of them. A native Texan won’t shy away from shaming you for forgetting to use your blinker.

VI. Thou shalt not ask for directions.

What is this, Florida? You don’t need any navigation but the one inside your head (and the pricey GPS you splurged for after getting lost on one too many country roads).

VII. Thou shalt leave but two inches between yourself and the car in front of you.

We aren’t exactly a shy bunch. This is obviously not recommended, as a three-second gap between you and the car ahead is the safest, but be prepared for this on high-speed highways.

VIII. Thou shalt forget how to drive at the first instance of precipitation.

Texas sees a significantly higher number of sunny days than elsewhere in the country, which is why everyone freaks out when there’s a tiny bit of rain. It’s as if the knowledge of how to drive in the rain just escapes us all as soon as the sun disappears from sight.

IX. Observe thy bumper stickers.

What else is there to do in bumper-to-bumper traffic than discover that the guy in front of you loves his rescue dog and honors thy troops?

X. Thou shalt rubberneck.

What’s that, a fender bender on the side of the highway? Better reduce my speed to 45 MPH to get a better look, I haven’t seen one of those in almost thirty minutes.

Don’t Be This Guy Who Hauled an Absurdly Large Christmas Tree Atop His Minivan

No matter how you choose to celebrate, it’s no secret that the holidays are a big deal. The hot chocolate is flowing, festive music is playing ‘round the clock, and the decorations begin to appear as soon as (and sometimes before) the calendar hits December. Not to mention, the decorations—wreaths, inflatable reindeer, lights, and of course, the Christmas tree. A small Massachusetts town’s police department has put out a reminder to stay safe as you transport your tree. As with most warnings, the backstory requiring such an advisory does not disappoint. The message came after officers spotted a family hauling a tree so massive, it makes Clark Griswold’s pine look like the sad seedling that Charlie Brown and his friends nurtured to its full potential. A tree so large, you can barely see the make, model, or even color of the car underneath.

Sudbury, MA Police Department

After reviewing the picture, I have a few questions: 1. Exactly how tall are the ceilings in this family’s house?

2. Is the family actually just a gaggle of squirrels who have found a new home?

3. Did they have to splurge on a self-driving car to get themselves and the tree safely home?

4. Did they spend more money on bungee cords to secure the tree than the actual tree itself?

5. Did they steal this tree from the Rockefeller Center?

The police chief told news reporters that the family was merely given a warning. Something about “the spirit of the holidays,” which they clearly embody. He also noted that officers helped more safely secure the tree to the car and marked it with yellow tape. One thing is for sure—I can only hope that one day my family and I are so overflowing with the Christmas spirit that we require a police escort and a roll of caution tape just to contain our cheer.

Extremely Relatable Man Forgets Where He Parked, Finds Car 20 Years Later

With today’s technology, it doesn’t take too long to locate your car. I have a foolproof system for finding my car every time I park in crowded areas: I aimlessly wander around the parking lot for five minutes, eventually give up on locating it on my own, and resort to locking it twenty times while following the beep. It hasn’t failed me yet, and I have modern manufacturing to thank for that.

But in 1997, it was a whole different story. People couldn’t honk their horns from a distance or use a fancy iPhone to find the location of their ride. Which is why one German man forgot where he parked one day and ultimately lost his car, filing a report with the police and probably assuming it had been stolen. But it hadn’t been stolen—he had parked his car in the garage of an old industrial building. Police only searched for the owner of the car when the decrepit building was set to be demolished, a whopping 20 years later.

The now 76-year-old man was driven to the car and confirmed that it was in fact his. As you can imagine, it was beyond repair and couldn’t be driven home, but I’m sure it was nice for him to get some answers. Moral of the story, if you can’t find your car and all hope seems to be lost, don’t worry. Closure will come to you in 20 years.

#https://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/man-finds-car-20-years-after-forgetting-where-he-parked-it-1.3295670

You Have to See This Weatherman’s Foolproof Hack for Defrosting Car Windows

We’ve all been there. You’re running late for work, and just when you’ve finally got your foot out the front door, you see it: a thick layer of frost coating your windshield, making it virtually impossible for you to drive off until it’s gone. You stand in the freezing morning air and try to chip away at the ice with a plastic scraper like a caveman, praying you’re not destroying your car.

Enter Ken Weathers, an aptly named weatherman from Tennessee who has concocted an easier way for you to instantly clear the ice and frost from your windshield. Instead of idling your car for ten minutes waiting for the defroster to kick in, try this trick:

All you need is a spray bottle, rubbing alcohol, some water, and you’re good to go. Keeping a bottle of this easy, DIY solution in your car will help you rid your windshield of frost faster. You’ll be able to skip the scraper and still kick ice to the curb. Just remember that the bottle is largely alcohol—as with any flammable liquid, it should be stored safely. Happy defrosting!

5 Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Bill

1. Shop around.

Don’t be afraid to shop around to find the best price. You should try to find at least three different quotes before deciding which company to go with. You can access this information online or by calling the companies directly. Listen to the recommendations of friends and family who have had positive experiences with their insurance companies.

2. Combine your policies.

Many providers will give you a discount if you hold multiple policies through that company. Combining your auto insurance with your homeowner’s insurance can save you serious bucks—most insurance companies will reduce your rate by 10%. That might not seem like much, but the savings can really add up.

3. Drive less.

One of the first questions an insurance agent will ask is how many miles you drive, because the less a person drives, the less likely they are to be involved in an accident. Some companies also offer discounts to drivers with lower than average mileage per year.

4. Increase your deductible.

If you can afford to, raise your deductible to $500-$1000. Raising your deductible can lower your payments substantially; just be sure to have that amount of money set aside if you have to file a claim.

5. Keep a squeaky clean driving record.

Tickets and accidents can increase your payments. Observe traffic laws, be on high alert, and always drive as safely as possible. Taking a little bit longer to get where you need to go can end up saving you thousands of dollars on your policy.

4 Ways to Protect Yourself From Car Theft

If it hasn’t happened to you, you probably know someone who has been victim to a car break-in. Thieves are familiar with cars that look like prime opportunities for a smash-and-grab maneuver. While you can’t always prevent these kinds of thefts, there are some simple steps you can take to try and prevent yourself from becoming a target. • Always double check that your doors are locked. It seems like a no-brainer, but oftentimes thieves will try several cars to see if someone left their doors unlocked. This gives them an easy breezy break-in. Be sure that all doors are locked and all windows are closed—a window cracked just an inch makes a car significantly easier to break into. This goes without saying, but don’t be one of those people that leave their keys in the inside of their car. Even if you’ve come up with a great hiding place for your keys inside your car, a thief has also thought of it. • Keep valuables out of sight. This includes any items that have monetary value, like phones, purses, wallets, backpacks, shopping bags, tools, laptops, and other pricey electronics. Thieves are always looking for an easy grab, so be sure to keep your seats, dashboard, and floor free of your belongings. If you have an SUV with a large cargo area, get a cover to hide whatever you’re carrying. • Leave your car parked in highly visible areas. Thieves generally work alone and can’t do their thing with onlookers. Keep your car near other people, cars, or busy traffic. Always opt for a lot with attendants or security guards when possible. Avoid concealing your car behind large fences, dumpsters, or trees. If you’re leaving your car somewhere overnight, try to park it under a lamppost or somewhere well-lit. • Splurge on an alarm system. If your car doesn’t have an alarm system, it’s worth it to get one. A loud noise is enough to scare away a thief and prevent valuables from being stolen. You can’t go wrong with any alarm you find; aftermarket systems can provide just as much safety as a factory-option system. Further options include steering wheel locks, brake pedal locks, and steering column collars.

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