Headache-Worthy Cars, Car Buying Horror Stories And Blameless Automakers In This Week's QOTD Roundup

Some cars are just total pains in the ass to own. They could break down all the time, be impractical for daily life or any number of other headaches, but sometimes it’s worth it. Sometimes a car is so good to drive or nice to look at or historically significant that owners will look past the fact they are a mess in every other way. That’s what led me to our question from last week. - Andy Kalmowitz Read More

Sometimes I wonder if the car-buying process is ever good, easy, or enjoyable. Sometimes I wonder if there are specific caveats that dictate used car buying must be especially terrible. This week, I asked the fine readers of Jalopnik dot com about their horrible used-car buying experiences, and you all delivered. From secret rust buckets to paperwork hell, we’ve got a great, terrible selection for your viewing pleasure. - Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

There are a lot of different car companies building a lot of different cars. So it stands to reason that all of them have, probably, at some point had at least one off day and built a bad car, right? - Owen Bellwood Read More

Everyone knows that, generally speaking, concept cars are meant to be just that — a concept. Odds are, they’ll never make it into production, and that’s OK. Maybe they’ll end up influencing a future production vehicle, but maybe not. Of course, some end up being a barely disguised version of a car that’s already coming, but that’s usually not the case. - Collin Woodard Read More

Sometimes concept cars become legendary in their own right, even though they were intended from the beginning to never go into production. Just think about how you felt the first time you saw the Chrysler ME 412 concept. Or that twinge of hope you felt when Mazda showed off the RX-Vision. Or just how much the Maybach Exelero looked like it could be the next Batmobile. - Collin Woodard Read More

Planes are good. Flying on them is often deeply, deeply bad. This sort of contrast, the Hegelian dialectic, speaks to the duality at the heart of all humans. There is, however, a synthesis to be found from these two opposing views: Bad airplane experiences that make for good stories. Earlier this week, we asked you for those stories, and today we’re reading through the best. Let’s dive in. - Amber DaSilva Read More

For whatever reason, people are enamored with celebrities, but as a car person I care more about celebrities’ cars than their latest tropical vacation or newest starring role. Celebrities are known to have some of the most ostentatious cars, but also some more mundane rides, too. If you’re a big Kardashian fan, then you know they love their monotone muted color Range Rovers and Rolls-Royces, or if you’re a Ludacris fan then you know he loves his 1993 Acura Legend more than life itself. - Logan Carter Read More

If you are a human being on planet Earth who hails from modest means, there’s a good chance you’ve either purchased or considered purchasing a used vehicle. Not all used vehicle purchases are created equally, though. In fact, some are downright miserable, and I want to know all of your horror stories. Lay ‘em on me. - Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

Remember when air travel was all comfort and luxury, jet-setting around on the Concorde in full black tie regalia? Yeah, me neither. My years of air travel began in the era of discount fares, with airlines cutting costs and packing riders together to eke out every dollar, and things have never gotten better. - Amber DaSilva Read More

My family has had the same mechanic for what must be 20 years now. He’s less a mechanic and more family at this point. He’s always completely honest and accommodating, and has saved us thousands of dollars over the years by getting our cars back on the road in a timely and affordable manner, no matter what the repair is. - Lawrence Hodge Read More