The Ten Car Myths That We Wish Were True

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The automotive world is full of hoaxes and tricks and vaporware dream cars that never actually happen. Here are the best ones we wish would come true.


10.) Flying Cars Are Two Years Away

Perpetually, flying cars are claimed to be two years away. I mean, it'd be cool if they were, but they are absolutely not.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Suggested By: AustinBenji, Photo Credit: Terrafugia

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9.) Oil Changes Are Just For Taking Your Money

Oil changes aren't a conspiracy to take your money, your car needs them to run properly. Please for the love of god, change your oil.

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Suggested By: PanchoVilleneuve ST, Photo Credit: Sensei Alan


8.) Cold Air Intakes Add Hella Horsepower

They look cool and sound cool, but don't expect a gain of 20 hp from the cheap intake you bought from eBay.

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Suggested By: Bullitt Ride, Photo Credit: Nick Ares


7.) Nail Polish Remover Can Increase Fuel Economy

Apparently some people think that the acetone in nail polish remover can increase fuel economy up to 30%. It can't, but what it can do is ruin the paint on your car.

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But, imagine how great life would be if getting better fuel efficiency was this simple.

Suggested By: Josh Bailey, Photo Credit: Benjah-bmm27


6.) Spoilers On Your Commuter Car Actually Do Something

The wing on the back of an F1 car add tons of useful downforce, which makes them very fast. The wing on the back of your Camry sadly doesn't.

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Suggested By: JocksNiche, Photo Credit: Toyota


5.) Overdrive Makes Cars Faster

"Yeah! Kick it into overdrive!" **Revs drop, and suddenly our heroes find themselves cruising along at highway speeds quietly.** "Well this sucks."

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With a name as awesome as overdrive why couldn't it do something cooler?

Suggested By: DJZJ, Photo Credit: Macflip


4.) Fuel-Saving Hoaxes Can Help Save Gas

It'd be great if this bullshit worked, but yeah, it's bullshit.

Suggested By: DennyCraneDennyCraneDennyCrane, Photo Credit: Jason Torchinsky/Jalopnik

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3.) EPA Fuel Economy Figures Are Accurate

There is a very large gap between what kind of fuel mileage the EPA says your car can get, and reality. More often than not, the EPA's ratings are optimistic at best.

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Suggested By: Frankenbike666, Photo Credit: Getty Images


2.) Pontiac Is Coming Back

Look, I'd like to live in a world where I could buy new GTOs, Firebirds, and G8s as much as the next guy, and I know that rumors are apparently spreading about Pontiac's return, but it isn't happening.

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I'd love to be proven wrong about this, but sadly, I don't think I will.

Suggested By: Green Pig, Photo Credit: Pontiac


1.) The Next Corvette Is Mid Engined

Would it be amazing if Chevy made mid engined Vette? Yes. Have we spent the last half century hearing about how the car is a few years away from production? Yes. Does that mean Chevy is actually going to make the car? Unknown.

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This rumor just refuses to die.

Suggested By: dr-just-dr, Photo Credit: Chevrolet

Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!

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Top Photo Credit: Chevrolet (Corvette Indy Concept pictured)


Contact the author at chris@jalopnik.com.