The 4 Coolest Vehicles Tom Cruise Abused in ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’

Tom Cruise is in his mid-fifties. He is an absolute nutter, as evidenced by some questionable life choices, but made more blatantly obvious by his insane stunt work in, most notably, the Mission: Impossible franchise. There is zero reason a man that old should be able to run like an Olympian cyborg. It goes without saying that one reason he’s such an adept actions star is that he’s actually capable of doing the things his characters do: physical feats and lunatic-level car and motorcycle driving.

I am in the three-ish percent of people who did not care for the new MI movie, “Fallout,” but that didn’t stop me from lusting after some of the vehicles featured. BMW has an unapologetic near-monopoly on vehicles in the franchise, but there are a couple others that shine. Best of all is the Defender 110 Ethan Hunt (Cruise) drives toward the climax of the film. It’s a right-hand drive truck, but you can live the correct-hand-drive dream if you’re into it. Check out Cruise’s cruisers below.

Watch the Trailer:
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Land Rover Defender 110 RHD Wagon

The term ‘gold standard’ may have beeen invented to describe the Defender’s place in the automotive pantheon. It’s not a drag racer – as evidenced by Cruise’s character screaming at the truck to go faster so that he can CATCH THE BAD GUY – but it’s probably the only way to travel overland if you have any semblence of taste.

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1986 BMW 5 Series (E28)

I really can’t recommend enough that you DON’T try to do. literally anything Cruise does in these films. Chief among them is jumping twenty feet from rooftop to rooftop or scaling mountains without safety equipment. But please also don’t buy a nice classic Bimmer, crank the handbrake at about 45 mph and vault ass-backwards off stone steps. If you do that, you will no longer have a nice classic Bimmer at all.

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Watch (some of) the Stunts
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BMW R nineT Scrambler

A lot of the vehicles Cruise zooms among in the masive motorcycle chase sequence in the film were CGI, but that doesn’t mean his dragging his foot to stay stablee on city streets while letting wind blow his un-helmet-ed hair was fake. At least BMW’s scrambler is good looking enough to match his meaty old guy face.
Read our review of the 2017 R nineT Urban G/S, which is essentially the same bike.

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BMW M5

2018 BMW M5 Review: Retaining the Title of Ultimate, Berserk Sport Sedan

BMW’s renowned engineering backs it all up, offering sharp, precise handling and plenty of power when you want and need it, but it also offers quite a bit of white-knuckle fun for those who like…

6 Essential Overlanding Mods for My 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser

Four years ago, a middle-aged Bostonian of average build drove off in my 2007 Jeep Wrangler Sport. I didn’t report him to the police, though I desperately wanted to sound the alarm. Had I called the Boston PD, the conversation would have gone something like this:

“Bahston police depahtment, what is your emergency?”
“My car’s been stolen… well, not really stolen – someone bought it. I think I made a terrible mistake, though, and I want it back.”
“So this person paid you?”
“Yes”
“And you both signed all the necessary papahwork to transfah the title?”
“Yes”
“And you willfully handed ovah the keys?”
“Yes”
“…Take a hike, bud.”

Instead of wasting a good officer’s time, I just watched my big red rig disappear. Two weeks later, I moved back to California, home of some of the best off-road terrain on the planet. I’d spent two years and $18,000 customizing my Wrangler. No doubt, the modified truck would have tamed SoCal’s deserts and mountains just as easily as it had the Northeast’s muddy, overgrown trails — but I never gave it the chance. It was the right call.

My Wrangler was a beast off-road, but a complete pain at all other times. Skid plates, rock sliders, and steel bumpers made it supremely heavy and difficult to maneuver in a city. A three-inch suspension lift and 35-inch tires cut fuel economy to just nine combined mpg. The two-door body style was great for scampering over rocks, but afforded little cargo and passenger space. It was time for something more practical, and, as my aging bones demanded, more comfortable.

This past winter, when the itch for an overlanding vehicle became unbearable, I took up the search for a versatile, reliable and timelessly cool companion. Though I’d considered a Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Tacoma, and Toyota 4Runner, the FZJ80 Series Toyota Land Cruiser (produced from 1993-1997) seemed the most well-rounded 4×4 for my budget of $10K. With plenty of room for four adults (up to seven can fit with the middle and rear jumper seats filled), a large cargo area, a bulletproof inline six-cylinder engine, permanent four-wheel drive and about a million aftermarket accessories, I was ready to live the Cruiser life.

In March of this year, my Craigslist trolling churned up a 1994 example with 129,000 miles (a baby by Land Cruiser standards) and two simple modifications – a Pioneer audio head unit and LED fog lights. Careful inspection of the bodywork, service history, interior condition, wiring, tread wear and engine revealed only minor issues. This was the one.

After addressing some of the Cruiser’s maintenance needs, I took the old girl out for some exercise on both paved and unpaved terrain. Bone stock, the truck is supremely capable and effortless to drive — a winning combination for its intended use as an adventure enabler. Still, the desire to build on the Cruiser’s OEM platform is strong. After a thorough investigation, these are the initial modifications I have planned for my 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser.

Note: prices noted were accurate at time of publish.

Capability & Safety

Uniden Pro520xl CB Radio

I could spend money lifting the Cruiser, beefing up its tires, adding locking differentials and increasing its approach angle (and I probably will one day), but the smarter first step is to invest in recovery gear and safety equipment. A must-have for any seeker of the roads less traveled is a CB radio. Uniden’s Pro520xl is a favorite among overlanders for its 40-channel reach, instant channel nine access for emergency calls, PA capabilities and affordability. If and when the time comes when you need help, you don’t want to be at the mercy of cell phone coverage.

Traction Jack Recovery Kit

After a CB radio, the next most important safety-related purchase is some recovery gear. Tow/winch points, recovery straps, a shovel, a hi-lift jack and a winch are all good ideas, but the simplest and arguably the most effective tool for solo explorers is a set of Traction Jacks. When you’re stuck on a trail, just whip out these folding poly-composite planks and wedge them in front or behind the trapped wheel(s). Integrated grips give you the traction required to roll out of a sticky situation and get to your goal.

Exterior

Front Runner Outfitters Slimline II Roof Rack

There’s no shortage of racking systems to fit the 80 Series Land Cruiser, but none are as modular or user-friendly as Front Runner’s Slimline II system. Built from corrosion-free aluminum with a weather-resistant black powder coating, this full-length rack is rated to carry up to 660 pounds. Standard or tall gutter mount legs give owners the choice of optimal aerodynamics or easier access under the rack for securing gear. Individual slats can be added or removed to make space for a sunroof, accommodate any of Front Runner’s 25 accessories, or to create a completely solid base. This really is the do-it-all racking platform and a perfect mate for my next accessory…

Roofnest Eagle Roof Top Tent

I’ve been sleeping in a tent on the ground for almost three decades, and that’s enough time to know there are better ways to camp. Rooftop tents are one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to get a good night’s sleep while on the trail, and hard shell variants have further advantages. Most big-name hard shell tent manufacturers charge about $4,000 for their products, but start-up Roofnest offers the same features and styling for half that. Of particular interest is the new Eagle model, which can comfortably accommodate two adults and a child. A 2.3-inch foam mattress, aerodynamic fiberglass shell, gas-strut raisers, telescoping ladder, and weatherproof tent material combine for an ideal home away from home.

Interior

Trekboxx System Alpha Drawers

After saving a bit of money on the rooftop tent, I can binge on a high-quality storage system. Trekboxx builds a custom-fit, modular arrangement for 80 Series Land Cruisers that they claim will outlast your truck. Specifics of the Alpha system include Accuride drawer slides, a full cargo barrier, shelf, and fridge barrier system, one shallow drawer, one full-size drawer and coating for all in UV stable color-matched LINE-X. Additional accessories like a worktable, outlets, and switches can be added based on your needs, but the standard system is impressively tidy and well built.

Dometic CFX 65W Electric Cooler

Filling that spot in your sophisticated new drawer system should be Dometic’s latest 65-liter cooler. The CFW 65W is an efficient refrigeration unit with deep freeze capability (down to negative degrees Fahrenheit), solar power operation, auxiliary USB charging, stainless steel construction, LED interior lighting and a Wi-Fi app to program cooling temperature. This is one advanced cooler and a great buy for those who explore for days or weeks at a time. Heck, just using this thing for grocery runs sounds appealing.

This Forbidden Land Cruiser Pickup Is Legal In the United States – Here’s How

Editor’s Note: This post was updated on May 23rd, 2018 with new information regarding the road legal status of this Land Cruiser build.

We love kitted-out Defenders. We love jacked-up Broncos. We love 4×4 restomods of (almost) any kind, but this is something more original than most other off-road builds we’ve seen. What we have here is a beautiful Frankensteining of two different Toyota Land Cruisers, powered by an unexpected choice of engine, and sprinkled with subtle enhancements made throughout.

Built by Colorado-based Proffitt’s Ressurection Land Cruisers — a shop specializing in the restoration and modification of Toyota’s stalwart off-roader — the “R2.8 Land Cruiser Pickup” is a marriage between the body of a 79-series Land Cruiser Pickup, and the chassis from an FZJ80 Land Cruiser from 1993 (which had to be lengthened by 20 inches). The “R2.8” moniker comes from the powerplant: a 2.8-liter turbodiesel from Cummins, producing 161 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. It’s a modest choice, but with a torque delivery very low in the rev range, it’s one that makes sense for a truck like this. Proffitt’s chose it because “[it] is so compact, yet performs so well…in our opinion, it is the best diesel engine option available today,” according to the website.

That engine is hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission, and a part-time 4WD transfer case with electronic-locking differentials. The truck also features three-link suspension at the front and five-link in the rear, Bilstein shocks and rolls on Maxxis mud-terrain tires. Essential overlanding gear like an ARB bumper and Warn winch are also present. The rad side graphics are not so essential but are nonetheless an appreciated touch to an otherwise subtly-crafted machine.

All in all, it’s an incredible off-road build, and the use of the 79-series body is inspired, though there’s probably a good reason for that. Debuting in 1999 and never being sold in the United States, the 79-series Land Cruiser is not a legal machine here (at least not for a few more years), which is why you don’t see builds like this stateside. It’s possible that Proffitt’s can skirt this by dropping the body on a US-legal frame and registering it as a kit car or a modified 1993 FZJ80. It’s also possible that since this is a build for SEMA it is not intended for on-road use in the first place. We’ve reached out to Proffitt’s for more information regarding this and will update this post with any new information.

Update: Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruiser’s proprietor, Jeremiah Proffitt, reached out via phone to clarify the legality of his Land Cruiser project. According to him, the truck is in fact road legal in the US, as the project is essentially a kit car. “I would compare the build to building a fiberglass dune buggy or something like that. It’s a metal body on top of an existing chassis,” he said.

Proffitt explained that he came to acquire the not just one but 55 79-series Land Cruisers bodies back in 2009 when he was helping a Dubai-based company building armored vehicles on the truck’s underpinnings. While the engines and chassis were used, the Land Cruiser bodies themselves were done away with. Proffitt made a deal to acquire the remaining body shells which, most importantly, did not come with a vehicle identification number (VIN).

“They were just sheet metal bodies… the VIN was used on the other cars, so without the VIN, it’s basically a body swap.” As such, Proffitt says he’s able to get state-assigned VINs for his 79-series builds, a relatively straightforward process that’s used to make other kit cars and custom builds eligible to drive on the road. And since it uses a pre-existing engine from Cummins, it’s legal in 49 states (California is the exception). “It’s pretty much the only legitimate way to have a newer 79-series in the country, in my opinion,” he said.

In fact, the build featured here is far from the first, as he’s made a handful of similar Land Cruisers for of customers, who he states have had no issues registering their cars on the road. As of writing, Proffitt says he’s down to about five shells left, though unfortunately for would-be clients, they’re all spoken for. Still, Proffitt doesn’t rule out the possibility of making more: “It’s possible to get more [body shells] if you look hard enough. There are still other companies building vehicles on those chassis.”

Today in Gear

The best way to catch up on the day’s most important product releases and stories. Read the Story

The 20 Cars We Want to Drive in 2018 (Updated with New Reviews)

2018 Mazda6 Signature Review: A New Approach to Affordable Mid-Sized Sedans

Earlier this year, Mazda made the declaration it was moving up-market, and no one really knew what to make of it. Was the Japanese manufacturer planning on ditching its core values of affordable, balanced performance in favor of a wider profit margin just to make an extra buck? Did it want to move into unknown waters a segment above where it lived for decades? What did this mean for the People’s Champ, the Miata?

One thing was for sure: The announcement of the move upstream coincided with the unveiling of the refreshed and revitalized 2018 Mazda6 line along with the brand’s new and refined design language. Pricing was announced: the Mazda6 would start at $23,000, with the top trim starting at $34,750. Which doesn’t exactly scream ‘upmarket.’ So where is Mazda hiding this move into the luxury space? The answer is inside the Mazda6 Signature.

The Good: Mazda’s current design language translates beautifully to the interior of the 6, and not just in terms of lines and space. Smooth Nappa leather complimented by swaths of suede accented with Sen wood and brushed aluminum make the 6 an incredibly pleasant place to spend a few hundred miles upstate or even just a few minutes in town.

Who It’s For: Any driver who’s sick of the overabundance of plastic in their current affordable daily driver, who appreciates a good handling car but doesn’t care about the spec-to-spec comparisons against the competition. It’s the experience that makes the car, not the numbers.

Watch Out For: The Signature 6 borrow its 2.5-liter turbo from the CX-9 flagship SUV. With that, you get a great powerband for around town with torque coming in as low as 2,000 RPM and a great top end, perfect for getting on the highway and passing slower traffic. If you find yourself hanging out somewhere in between, the engine is a little lifeless, but a quick cure for that is to just drop it down a gear on the steering wheel mounted shifters to get back into one of the sweet spots.

Alternatives: The nearest competitors in the segment are the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. And while they all cover the same price tag spread with a handful of different trims, of the top-of-the-line offerings, the Mazda rules the interior game. The Honda still holds on to loads of plastics and while the Toyota has the more interesting design of the three, it still doesn’t come close to the Mazda’s execution of material and texture. But, the Mazda is heaviest, the slowest to 60 MPH and returns the worst MPG, by a small margin.

Review: On paper, the Mazda6 Signature doesn’t look any better or worse than the equivalent Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. In some instances, where numbers are concerned, the 6 lands in a clear third-place. But, if you’re shopping for a mid-sized sedan meant to be your daily driver — a place you’ll spend countless hours on commutes and hundreds of miles on the odd road trip — based on 0-60mph times and lateral Gs, you’re doing it all wrong. Your daily driver is your home away from home, that you can conveniently park right in front of your home. And, as abstract as it may be, that’s the luxury Mazda was talking about when it announced its move ‘upmarket’ — ditching the upgraded-rental car esthetic and bringing the same level of style and comfort you’re used to at home, on the road.

Clearly, the Mazda isn’t a numbers car. It’s more about the overall experience and the enjoyment you get from it, because honestly, how often do you count ‘Mississippis’ as you mash the throttle from a standstill? Between the materials laid throughout the cabin — the open-grain wood trim, the smooth Nappa leather, and even softer suede — almost every surface is as easy on the eyes as it is to the touch. On the five hour trip up to Watkins Glen, New York, from the city, I never once felt eager to get out of the car. I’m not saying the Mazda6 cradled me like a Rolls-Royce by any means, it was just an incredibly pleasant place to spend a five hour stretch on Upstate highways.

Then at any rest stop or refueling, I was reminded of Mazda’s new and improved styling and how much it hits the mark from every angle. Mazda’s Kodo design is on display beautifully with the 6. It could be a little closer to the concept car, but then what production car is? Of all the Japanese manufacturers, when it comes to achieving the look of a car designed by hand Mazda has it in the bag.

Verdict: From the outside in, and on the road, the Mazda6 Signature isn’t a superlative car by any metric. It is, however, better at being a car and doing regular car things than anything at the same price point. Overall, it won’t blow your mind, but it is an undeniably handsome car, with smart, simple design throughout and that’s where Mazda makes the move upmarket. It was always going to be a well-handling car — it’s a Mazda — but the whole experience, from walking up to the car, to spending time in it, driving it, getting out, walking away and looking back, genuinely feels upmarket. Sure, there are better cars out there that do exactly what the Mazda does, you just have to pay thousands of dollars more to get them.

What Others Are Saying:

• “Yes, even Mazda, the gold standard for driving enthusiasts couldn’t muster a way to give us the turbo motor and a clutch pedal. Oddly enough, the automatic is also six-speeds. In the days of 8-,9-, and 10-speed gearboxes, that surprises. But Mazda says the bigger displacement turbo motor gives a fat enough torque curve to negate any need to add more cogs. And they’re right: the engine/transmission combination drives brilliantly, with strong pull in most any condition.” — Autoweek

• “Mazda, perhaps defiantly, isn’t a company that builds cars to achieve numbers. So the 6 doesn’t do that. As a mid-size sedan, it will be a people hauler and a daily commuter. And in those arenas, it flourishes. Particularly if its owners care about ride/handling balance.” — Car and Driver

• “Our tester wears a heavy coat of Snowflake White Pearl paint (a $200 option) with warm Chestnut Nappa Leather sports interior, UltraSuede flourishes, and nifty Japanese Sen Wood trim. Inside the soft touch materials look and feel luxurious. Aside from a few carryover switches, the interior is all new, looks smart, and works extremely well on this top trim level. It easily rivals some of Benz’ C-Class offerings.” — Automobile Magazine

2018 Mazd6 Signature Series Key Specs

Engine: 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Horsepower: 250 hp @ 5,000 RPM
Torque: 310 lb-ft @ 2,000 RPM
MPG (City/Highway): 23/31

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

Owners Rank These 11 Vehicles Best in Performance, Execution and Layout – Read Our Reviews Now

Yesterday, I reported that the Lincoln Navigator achieved a pretty magnificent status award as the highest rated of any model in J.D. Power’s latest APEAL Study. The APEAL Study is based on “new vehicle owners’ assessments of the design, content, layout, and performance of their new vehicle after 90 days of ownership.” It’s certainly one of the more democratic ways to determine what great, fun, beautiful cars are on currently on the market.

That very big, very excellent SUV from Lincoln is not alone, however — many other vehicles are among the elite. Among them are the 11 below as well as many others.

Skip to the reviews now.

J.D. Power’s APEAL Study takes customer feedback into account in order to rank current vehicles in terms of “automotive performance, execution and layout.” The 10 categories considered are exterior, seats, interior, driving dynamics, storage and space, engine and transmission, fuel economy, visibility and safety, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and overall audio, communications, entertainment and navigation systems. You can read more about the study here if you like charts and some extra detail, but suffice it to say the cars, trucks and SUVs that took home awards are among the most satisfying to own and drive. As you can see below, we certainly agree on many fronts.

To me, the best part of this APEAL Study survey is that it speaks to what our readers tend to think is important in car ownership (if your reading habits are any indication, at least). No vehicles below are boring, none are really all that pretentious either. What they are is uncompromising in their pursuit of enjoyment and driving pleasure, design and comfort, appropriate technology and reasonable cost. In short, they are appealing for very solid, measurable reasons, as you’ll no doubt agree.

APEAL Study Cars

Spending $75,000? Here’s Why You Should Buy a Continental

Lincoln is finally doing things on a par with the global giants.

Can Chrysler Finally Make the Minivan Cool?

Cruising the Hollywood Hills in the new dad-centric Pacifica.

The New Turbocharged Accord Is a Sound Argument for Not Buying a Luxury Car

A new torquey, turbocharged engine and a suite of tech make it a hypercompetent sedan for the money.

2019 Volkswagen Jetta Review: Essentially an Audi A3 for Thousands Less

For VW to go and completely rework a car that’s part of the collective consciousness is a damn big deal. Fortunately, they seem to have gotten it quite right on nearly all fronts.

2018 Mustang GT Performance Pack 2 Review: Is It Worth the $6,500 Upgrade?

In a pure performance context, however, it’s all the things anyone would dream to do make their Mustang track-ready — Ford just went ahead and took care of the extra legwork and bundled in a…

APEAL Study SUVs

After 20 Years, the All-New Lincoln Navigator Is Finally a Worthy Competitor to the Escalade

Simply put, the Navigator does the “big luxury SUV” thing far, far better.

The 2019 Porsche Cayenne Proves High-Performance Isn’t Limited to the 911

Ferocious energy and barely any of the hesitation or roly-poly-ness you expect.

The All-New 2018 BMW X3, Now in M-Sport Flavor

14 years and 1.5 million X3s later, BMW just introduced the next generation of its compact SUV.

APEAL Study Trucks

The 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor Is Set To Get Even Better Off-Road

Ford’s street-legal, daily-driveable Baja racer is set to get more upgrades to increase its off-road capabilities further still.

Review: The Honda Ridgeline Is the Minivan of Trucks (and That’s a Good Thing)

Using the same platform as the Odyssey, the Ridgeline is a clever take on the classic pickup.

GMC Goes Boss-Level with the Luxe, High-Tech Sierra Denali

The Sierra Denali, the “most premium Sierra ever,” according to GMC, is for the badass who can appreciate some open pore wood paneling while traveling to pressing business in Wine Country.

The Ford Expedition Makes a Triumphant Return and Is Joined by an All-New SUV for the US

The reasons for doubling down on SUVs are obvious, but who exactly Ford is selling these to may surprise you.

The Lincoln Navigator Just Totally Crushed the Latest J.D. Power Customer Awards

J.D. Power is known industry-wide as the go-to for analytics, especially in the car world, that put products in perspective. Their APEAL study, which quantifies “Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout” based on owner assessments, was released today. The all-new Lincoln Navigator, which I found to be near perfect last year, has posted “the highest score of any model.” According to J.D. Power, “the Lincoln Navigator has the highest overall APEAL score (915) of any model this year. This is also the highest level recorded in this generation of the study (2013-2018). The U.S. APEAL Study, which was first published in 1996, is currently in its third generation.”

Read the Study Here

The APEAL study takes into account “90 vehicle attributes” in the following 10 categories: exterior, seats, interior, driving dynamics, storage and space, engine and transmission, fuel economy, visibility and safety, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and overall audio, communications, entertainment and navigation systems.

It’s easy to see why: the brand’s big SUV is hands-down the best in its segment, and if you’re considering a luxury SUV, be it Bentayga, Escalade or otherwise, it should be the very first on your list. Read my original review below.

After 20 Years, the All-New Lincoln Navigator Is Finally a Worthy Competitor to the Escalade

Simply put, the Navigator does the “big luxury SUV” thing far, far better.

The Best Used Cars Under $10,000 We’d Buy Right Now

Nostalgia is one hell of a drug. It’s a great motivator too, especially when you’re looking to fork over $10,000 for a used car. That amount of money will (probably) land you a desirable vehicle that’s around 20 years old — prime glory day fodder. We took on the arduous task of window shopping for our favorites at the moment, and if we had to choose, we’d say these are the best used cars for the $10,000.

1995 Alfa Romeo 164 Q 4DR

Those rear seats! That dashboard! Sure it looks like a brick on wheels, but it’s an Italian brick on wheels. And a relatively quick one at that. When new, this puppy had 230hp. It’s probably beat to hell, and it would probably fall apart after about 10 miles, but that’s all part of being an Alfa owner. — AJ Powell, Assistant Editor

Mileage: 152415 miles
Original MSRP: $38,940

1981 Mercedes-Benz 240D

I’ve been a BMW guy as long as I can remember and growing up, I always thought of Mercedes as the “bad guy” cars. If you think about it, a lot of movies and TV shows actually position them that way. But I’ve been way into older Mercs lately. I love this color, that it’s a manual and the matching hubcaps. The mileage is an issue, but these older ones are built like tanks! — Kyle Snarr, Head of Marketing

Mileage: 347,305 miles
Original MSRP: $20,558

2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder

Every once in a while, I drive past the same Chicago diner (the Golden Nugget off Ravenswood) and every time I see the same, clean, MR2 Spyder. And every time I think “damn, I’d really like one of those.” The second generation MR2 Turbo is the one most enthusiasts pine for right now, but as the nostalgia cycle spins closer to the early aughts, it won’t be long before more people begin to appreciate the MR2 Spyder for what it is.

In many ways, the third-generation MR2 represents an end of the golden era for Toyota performance cars, and there will likely never be a small, affordable mid-engined enthusiast car ever sold in the United States ever again. And, by all accounts, the Sypder is easier to live with from a reliability standpoint (it was basically a mid-engine Corrola in the best possible way). They’re also still cheap. Very cheap. As in, can be found in good shape for about half-our-theoretical-budget cheap. This one? Well, it’s just shy of $10,000, but only because it has absurdly low miles and looks, literally, showroom fresh. They’re also still cheap. Very cheap. This one has just under 100,000 miles (hey it’s a Toyota, it’s just getting started) and comes in well under budget. — Andrew Connor, Staff Writer

Mileage: 99,530 miles
Original MSRP: $24,645

2009 Volvo C30 R-Design

I lived in Los Angeles for a brief time after college, and though my time there could best be described as “abject misery and destitution,” I always saw the Volvo C30 as a ray of hope. The little hatchback had just launched that year, and I thought it was stunning (because it was and still is). There’s that signature Volvo ‘premium funk’ aesthetic, of course, but it’s mated to a zippy little 227-horsepower turbo five-cylinder and room for just four close friends. The small hatch was based on the S40, and while its performance wasn’t incredible — 6.3 seconds to 60 and somewhat uninspired handling — it seemed to me the perfect aspirational car, one that I would absolutely buy the moment I “made it.” That… never happened, but my car crush lives on; specifically, the very two-tone color combo seen here: a champagne-y silver over metallic brown. — Nick Caruso, Associate Editor

Mileage: 74,504 miles
Original MSRP: $23,800

1993 Chevrolet Corvette

This car is my low-key grail. I’m not sure if it’s because I was born in 1993 or that it was my favorite hot wheels growing up. Enough power to let loose on the highway with an aesthetic that still turns heads 25 years later. An interesting snafu about this particular model – all leather seats have the 40th anniversary emblem embroidered due to an error on the drawings sent to the seat supplier. — Brenden Clarke, Social Media Coordinator

Mileage: 76,238 miles
Original MSRP: $41,195

The Most Hated BMW M3 Is Your Best Bet at Affordable German Performance

Editor’s Note: We love scouring the internet for reasons to spend money we don’t have on cars we daydream about owning, and these are our picks this week. All prices listed are bid amounts at the time of publishing.

It’s widely known that of all the BMW M3 generations the first — the E30 — is the most beloved. The E46 (third generation) isn’t far behind; it’s followed by the fourth, then probably the fifth. What is incredibly clear, if you couldn’t tell from the glaring omission, is the second generation M3 (E36) is the black sheep of the family. Despite being faster and more powerful than the E30, the follow-up generation seemed tame by comparison. There were no flared wheel arches, the interior and its materials looked and felt downmarket. The E36 was seen as a way to make the M3 more affordable and more viable for BMW.

Whether that was BMW’s real motive and intention is arguable. What is accepted as fact is that the E36 carried one of the best handling chassis of the decade. The interior might draw out some critics, but if you’re driving this car like it was meant to be driven, you won’t be focusing on the interior. This 1997 BMW M3 certainly has some faults all its own; regardless, this might be your best bet at affordable German performance.

What We Like: Right out of the gate, conceding this particular M3 was in an accident is important. The airbags were deployed, but the damaged front bumper, fenders, headlamps, grille, radiator and air conditioning condenser were all replaced. And it should also be noted even though there are only 63,000 miles on this example, the previous owner tracked the car regularly. “The seller recommends replacement of both rear tires due to wear,” in the description should say it all. Now, with those caveats out of the way, as considerable as they may be, if you don’t treat this car like it’s destined for a blue ribbon at a car show (because it isn’t), you’ll thoroughly enjoy your time in it.

Being the M3 known for looking and feeling a little less upscale than all the other M3s, the E36 should be driven and driven often. In the same way an old off-roader with dents, scratches and other beauty marks is always going to be the more fun car because you don’t care as much, this E36 is the sports car equivalent. Yes, it has faults, but don’t we all?

From the Seller: “This 1997 BMW M3 is finished in Estoril Blue with a Modena leather interior and powered by an S52 inline-six displacing 3.2 liters and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Modifications include adjustable Koni shocks and struts, Hawk brake pads, polyurethane bushings and more. Service in the last three years included accident repair and replacement of suspension, cooling and steering components as well as a new battery, fluids, and alignment.”

Watch Out For: The main annoyance with an M3 of this vintage isn’t really any single repair cost getting too expensive (although replacement catalytic converters can list for over $5,000), but a lot of little things adding up. Power steering hoses are a popular candidate for failure and tend to leak on E36 M3s, but those are relatively simple and cheap to replace.

Original Review: “From as low as 2500 rpm, our vivid Dakar-yellow M3 pulled like a turbo car all the way to its engine limiter at 6800 rpm or 6500 rpm, depending on which gear it was in. The engine-management system gives you 6800 in the first two gears, then 6500 in the next two, with a 137 mph cutoff in top. Exactly why our car curtails its rush toward what is surely a 145-to-150-mph top speed is beyond our understanding, although the safety watchdogs are probably scandalized by the 137-mph figure anyway.” — Car and Driver

Alternatives: There should be no surprise here. The rivalry BMW has with Mercedes and Audi is almost as old as time (in car-years, at least). In 1997 Mercedes touted its 302-horsepower, V8-powered C43 AMG against the BMW, but also the Audi RS4 with its 240-horsepower V6 mated to Quattro AWD.

Engine: 3.2-Liter S52 inline-Six
Transmission: five-speed manual
Location: Long Island City, New York
Mileage: 63,000
Price When New: $36,642

The 32 Best Car Features Ever: Exposed Gear Levers and $160K Clocks and More

When automotive designers and engineers get together and put forward the best they have to offer, cult followings and icon statuses just come naturally. For era-defining cars, influences from highway safety rules and crash protection regulations play just as big of a part in the final product as culture and societal trends.

If global warming wasn’t a thing and if fossil fuels weren’t going the way of, well, the dinosaurs, the Tesla Model S might not have even been a scribble on a napkin, let alone the seismic shock to the auto industry it’s become. Had it not been for the flash and excess of the ’80s, we might never have seen the V12 Ferrari Testarossa or Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV. But what these cars make us feel and think of when we hear them wailing their way towards their redline or simply sitting quietly in a parking lot is a product of all the little things that make up the big picture.

Some of the best automotive details come from form following function or vice versa, from exercises in excess and/or minimalism. Some serve no purpose whatsoever, but the car wouldn’t be the same without. Regardless of their initial intention, these are our 32 favorite car quirks of all.

Ferrari Testarossa Side Intakes

As big as they were, the Testarossa’s gills were completely functional. The massive intakes and long strakes served to organize turbulent air and use it to cool radiators and channel hot air through vents in the engine lid, creating downforce, and thus negating the use of a massive spoiler. Form and function, hand in hand.

Spyker C8 Exposed Gear Lever

Seeing the mechanical linkage of the shifter exposed is like looking into a grandfather clock. It’s absolutely mesmerizing to see that sort of precise engineering at work.

Porsche 930 ‘Slantnose’ Whale Tale

It might have been more of a necessity on Porsche’s part to keep drivers from consistently coming out of turns the wrong way forward, but damn it if it doesn’t suit the 930’s powerful personality to a T.

F50 Transparent Rear End

It’s almost a forbidden feeling catching a glimpse of the F50’s mesh rear end — like you weren’t supposed to see that glorious V12, but you can’t look away.

Pagani Zonda R Exhaust + Exhaust Note

A Mercedes-AMG hand-built V12 mated to Pagani’s even-length exhaust headers and stacked quad pipes would put the current F1 grid to shame in a sound comparison.

Koenigsegg CCX Dihedral Doors

The CCX dihedral doors only serve to highlight Christian von Koenigsegg’s delightfully mad way of going about simple functions.

LFA Tachometer

The only way Lexus could get the tachometer to keep pace with the speed with which its V10 could rev was to go digital.

Volkswagen Phaeton Trunk Hinges

There’s something to be said for beautifully milled and wonderfully complex trunk hinges on a Volkswagen.

Bentley Bentayga Breitling Mulliner Tourbillon

The world’s most expensive in-car clock ($160,000) in the world’s most expensive SUV ($250,000) creates a wonderful exercise in excess.

Original Mini Exterior Weld Seams

Putting the weld seams on the outside meant Mini didn’t have to fit the welding machine in the car during assembly, meaning they could build the Mini even smaller. Brilliant.

Jaguar XJ220 Hidden Headlights

When pop-up headlights were regrettably being phased out, the drop-down shields of the XJ220 made for a worthy continuation of the concept.

Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Suicide Doors

Picking one aspect to highlight from the Bugatti Type 57 is a herculean task, but the way the suicide doors open up — as if they are welcoming you into its warm embrace — may be the most beautiful detail of all.

Jaguar D-Type Speed Hump

The spiritual connection to Jag’s storied Le Mans racer just oozes legendary performance and panache.

Alfa Romeo Grille

Most cars on the road today have some sort of rectangular cop-out for a grille, but that’s because few cars have the style and elegance required to sport one like Alfa Romeo’s signature fascia.

Porsche 918 Top Exit Twin Exhaust

It had to be done to make sure the engine and hybrid system could fit in the 918 and still be low enough not to compromise the handling or design. But when fire starts spitting out of the the twin exhausts, you can’t help but applaud Porsche for “going green.”

Bugatti Chiron Side Intake

Very rarely do a concept car’s lines make it to the production model; when the side intake mimics the company founder’s signature, it deserves recognition.

BMW i8 Laser Headlights (EU only)

The design alone makes every other headlight on the road look like a gaslight lantern.

Porsche Targa Top

Simply put, it’s the better way to do a convertible.

Aston Martin Vulcan Tail Lights

Like nothing else on the road. In fact, you’d have to be aboard the Millennium Falcon at light speed with stars streaming by to see anything similar.

Mercedes 6×6 Third Axle

The only way to describe it: necessarily unnecessary.

2016 Ford GT Rear Quarter

Between the separated intakes, massive flying buttress and the tail light doubling as a hot air extractor, the GT’s butt comes together as one fantastic piece of design.

Alfa Romeo TZ3 Zagato Cam Tail

One of Zagato’s signature design elements incorporated into one of the most beautiful cars of the modern era.

BMW M4 GTS Roll Cage

Roll cages in road cars usually seem out of place, no matter the performance or intentions of the vehicle. But the M4 GTS’s copper webbing of high-strength protection looks like a work of art.

Audi A4 Clamshell Hood

Hood shut lines can make or break a car’s design, so for a mass-production car like the new A4 to receive the extra attention and engineering to hide the necessary surface break is commendable by all accounts.

Porsche GT3 RS Fender Vents

Usually when vents are put on cars for performance gains, they stick out like the dorsal fin on a sailfish. But the new GT3 RS fender vents sit just below the body panel surface as a subtle call to performance rather than an obnoxious aerodynamic catcall.

Lamborghini Aventador Ignition

Unleashing 700+ horsepower with the flip of a switch that looks at home on an F-22 Raptor just makes sense.

Citroen DS Steering Wheel

Absurd. Ridiculous. Unbelievably stylish. All the reasons we love Citroen.

Shelby Cobra 427 Side Pipes

When there’s a 7.0-liter engine shoehorned into a car barely big enough for two people, anything other than side-mounted exhausts would be doing it a disservice.

Porsche Carrera Beechwood Shifter

It’s an homage to the Porsche 917 race car, which is fitting for the Carrera GT considering its V10 may have started life as F1 engine development project.

Audi Virtual Cockpit

In an age where infotainment systems stick out of otherwise well-designed dashboards like technological afterthoughts, Audi’s virtual cockpit gets the job done and with a stunning, customizable display.

Tesla Model 3’s Front End

With Tesla’s “skateboard” battery pack, Elon Musk could have made the Tesla Model 3 look any way he wanted. By completely removing the grille from a car that will undoubtedly sell well, Tesla is deliberately challenging the status quo of car design.

Ferrari 599 Gated Shifter

As it’s the last analog manual V12 Ferrari ever built, we’re glad Maranello decided not to cover up its beautiful simplicity with a leather boot.

BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 Tire Review: Makes Any Truck the King of the Mountain

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I was already awake when the first light of day crept through the strategically opened blackout curtains. Without ambient natural light, there is no waking me until my body is good and ready. However, on this particular trip, there was no need for my tactical curtain placement. Given what the next 12 hours were going to be like, it’s a wonder I slept at all. I was about to be helicoptered out to drive one of the toughest sections of the legendary off-road playground that is The Rubicon Trail.

We had been assembled to get an idea of what the new BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 off-road tire was like, not to test our mettle on the Rubicon. But in hindsight, I’m pretty sure the folks at BF Goodrich enjoyed the idea of putting a bunch of journalists through the wringer just as much as they enjoyed the idea of launching a new tire — especially when mounted to contemporary, modified Jeep Wranglers and classic Land Rover Defenders we were provided.

Slapping one of 54 different sizes of KM3s on your vehicle won’t make it unstoppable and they won’t magically imbue you with talent on the trail. What they will do is give you a sizable cushion for error which is about as much as any driver, amateur or professional can ask for — something I found out firsthand in a variety of off-roaders supplemented by the new, badass-looking rubber.

I started the drive behind the wheel of 1994 Land Rover Defender 90 that had been properly modified by The 4×4 Center in South Burlington, VT (who also brought their Bond-esque remote satellite communications Defender so we could have WiFi in the middle of nowhere). Since my experience with rock crawling was basically non-existent prior to this experience, I was fully relying on the equipment and the team of guides to keep me from banging vehicles around the trail like a teenager hopped up on Code Red. The steady burble of the V8 from the custom exhaust comforted me as we rolled out onto the trail — my guide in the right seat explained that “patience is key with this vehicle.”

Fortunately, as technical as rock crawling is, I could also rely on driving senses that I’ve developed plenty of over the years driving on trails in the woods of New England and on sand dunes. The same principles — being smooth with all your inputs and making deliberate decisions — apply to rock crawling, so with those basic instincts in place and the KM3 to assist me, I managed to not make an ass of myself.

By the time I moved into a highly modified JK Wrangler, I was listening to the radio, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the window frame just cruising along. Make no mistake, it was challenging, but in an exciting way, never stressful. You arrive at an obstacle, make a plan with the guides and execute it as best you can. The ebb and flow of rock crawling isn’t for someone who enjoys the sensation of immense speed. I found myself enamored with watching a tire sidewall flex as it slowly rolled over razor-sharp rock at a ridiculous angle. Still, the sense of accomplishment that I got upon receiving a thumbs up or “well done” from a guide after navigating a climb or descent was equal to any solid lap time result I’ve turned in at the track.

Slapping one of 54 different sizes of KM3s on your vehicle won’t make it unstoppable — what they will do is give you a sizable cushion for error.

Just before lunch, thankfully, I rode along in the passenger seat of an Ultra 4 vehicle to go for a ride with one of their pro drivers. You know the way a child picks up a Hot Wheels and holds it semi-airborne while moving it over any obstacles? That’s essentially what an Ultra 4 does. I have heard my fair share of incredible exhaust notes over the years, but nothing like the unrestricted hellacious growl that came from these things. The only reason I wasn’t laughing like a madman the entire ride was because I didn’t want to bite my damn tongue off. We scrambled up and down rock faces with such ease that I began to wonder what these things can’t do. A quick scroll through YouTube will show the answer is, not much.

Following the adventure on the Rubicon I drove a Tacoma TRD-Pro from Tahoe back home to Los Angeles and found, surprisingly, that the KM3 is a good road tire too. Not only is it far quieter than you would ever expect, even at highway cruising speeds, it also hangs onto a paved corner respectably and doesn’t have any frightening amount of “squish” when braking under duress. In short, for those that need to drive a fair distance to enjoy off-road playtime, getting there won’t be a miserable affair. This is a product that gives the consumer the best of both worlds.

BFGoodroch KM3 Specs (Manufacturer Claims)
5% Better Mud Traction
8% Better Rock Traction
27% Tougher Sidewalls