Peter Kinney articles

Man in repair shop by blue truck

My mechanic charged me for OEM parts, but I just found out aftermarket parts were installed. What can I do about this?

You dropped your car off at the shop, trusted your mechanic to do the work right, and agreed to pay for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Then after the service, you discover the parts are aftermarket. That feels like a betrayal, plain and simple. The good news is this isn’t something you just have to live with. There are steps you can take to address it and protect yourself going forward.
February 17, 2026 Peter Kinney
1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Quad 442

Oldsmobile Deserves More Respect, And These Forgotten Cars Are The Reasons Why

Oldsmobile doesn't always get the performance credit it deserves. Yet between muscle car legends, strange engineering experiments, and sneaky front wheel drive hot rods, the brand quietly built some seriously cool machines.
February 16, 2026 Peter Kinney
Concerned woman and tow truck driver

My car was about to get towed and when I told the driver I’d leave, he demanded cash on the spot. Are “drop fees” real or just a shakedown?

Few things spike your blood pressure like walking up to your car and seeing it mid-tow. You rush over, explain you’ll move it immediately, and think that should be the end of it. Then the tow driver tells you about the drop fee and suddenly you’re stuck wondering if this is real or a roadside hustle. The truth is: drop fees can be real, but they’re also one of the most abused parts of towing.
February 10, 2026 Peter Kinney
Man with SUV in suburban driveway, ready for a road trip.

Road trips are supposed to be fun, but skipping these quick checks can turn a scenic drive into a roadside disaster.

Nothing ruins a road trip faster than a preventable breakdown, a weird warning light, or realizing your tires are basically slicks halfway through the drive. The good news is that most road trip disasters are avoidable with a quick pre-trip check.
February 9, 2026 Peter Kinney
Car troubles

Car Battery Mistakes That Leave Drivers Stranded

Most battery failures aren’t random. They’re caused by tiny mistakes drivers make over time. If you want your battery to last, these are the bad habits you should avoid.
February 2, 2026 Peter Kinney

The Nissan Frontier has carved out a place for itself in the midsize pickup market against the Toyota Tacoma.

The Nissan Frontier has quietly built a customer base in the midsize pickup segment thanks to its simplicity, reliability, and value.
January 29, 2026 Peter Kinney
Pontiac_GTO

12 Savage Muscle Cars Only Seasoned Drivers Should Drive

These machines pack enough raw power to make seasoned drivers sweat and enough torque to turn tires into smoke. After all, even the most skilled drivers think twice before getting these cars on the open road.
January 28, 2026 Peter Kinney

These car modifications instantly drag down resale value—no matter how good you think they look.

Modifications can look great, but they usually drag down the car's resale value.
January 22, 2026 Peter Kinney