J. Clarke articles

In the late 1980s, Alfa Romeo needed a car that could stand toe-to-toe with Europe’s best executive sedans. The result was the Alfa Romeo 164—a sleek four-door designed to blend Italian flair with serious performance. It debuted in 1987 and quickly became one of the brand’s most ambitious modern projects. For many enthusiasts, it quietly became one of the most underrated luxury sedans of the decade.

Cars rarely fail without warning. Long before a major breakdown happens, most vehicles start giving subtle hints that something isn’t right. The problem is that drivers often ignore those clues—especially if the car still technically runs. But strange noises, warning lights, weird smells, and sudden changes in how your car drives are all signs that something may be going wrong under the hood. If your vehicle starts showing any of these red flags, it’s probably time to let a mechanic take a look.

By the mid-1950s, Ford executives were convinced they needed something new to compete with General Motors. General Motors dominated the middle of the market with brands like Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick, leaving Ford searching for a way to capture those buyers. The solution was a completely new car division positioned right between Ford and Mercury. That ambitious plan eventually became the Edsel—one of the most famous automotive flops ever created.

Trading in your car is supposed to be the easy route. You hand the keys to the dealer, they handle the remaining loan, and you drive away in your new ride feeling pretty good about the whole thing. But then a few weeks later you get a notice from your lender saying your old loan still isn’t paid off. Suddenly that smooth trade-in deal feels a lot less smooth.

Buying a classic car can feel like unlocking a childhood memory. Maybe it’s the car your parents drove, something you saw in an old movie, or just a machine that makes modern vehicles look a little too bland. The excitement is real—but so are the risks. Classic cars come with decades of wear, repairs, and sometimes questionable history. Before you hand over your money, it’s worth slowing down and checking a few key things first.

Some cars fit neatly into categories. Others show up looking like they lost a bet with the design department. The Honda Crosstour fell firmly into the second group. It blended elements of a sedan, wagon, and SUV into one strange-looking package—and while buyers didn’t immediately embrace it, the idea behind it was actually pretty clever.

You bought the warranty for peace of mind. The glossy brochure promised protection, security, and fewer financial jump scares. But buried in the fine print are tiny tripwires—small decisions that can quietly torch your coverage without so much as a warning light. Here are the surprisingly common ways drivers void their warranty without even realizing it.

Before Cadillac became shorthand for American prestige, there was another name whispered in velvet showrooms and spoken with quiet authority at country clubs. Packard didn’t just compete with Cadillac—it often beat it. For decades, it defined what American luxury looked like, felt like, and sounded like. And then, almost unbelievably, it vanished.

At the turn of the millennium, Toyota had a problem. Young buyers weren’t exactly lining up for beige Camrys and sensible Corollas—they wanted personality, customization, and something that didn’t scream PTA meeting. So in 2003, Toyota launched Scion, a brand built specifically to lure millennials into showrooms. It had funky styling, no-haggle pricing, and marketing that felt more music festival than motor show. But somehow, it still didn’t last.