#Compact off road suv

[twinklepuzzle]

I feel like there was another long thread going around a while back about how the current designs for trucks and SUVs (being taller and larger and having a flatter/more vertical front end rather than a sloped/pointed one) were more dangerous for pedestrians?

Like even aside from the mindset of the drivers. Even someone who was very mindful and was a good driver was more likely to kill a pedestrian, because the front end of the vehicles were at chest-to-head height. So if one hits you it's running directly into your very squishy and vital organs, as opposed to shorter vehicles, which are more likely to hit your legs (still causes injury, but it's more likely that they'll be survivable).

And the sloped fronts of most sedans (a word I'm using here as a catch-all for non-truck and non-SUV vehicles, for convenience) would allow the person to roll up and off of the vehicle, whereas the flat fronts of trucks and SUVs would push the person to the ground and/or under the vehicle, causing further injury.

And that's without taking into account how the design of trucks and SUV reduces the driver's visibility of the area immediately surrounding the vehicle and the actual pavement of the road (being higher up allows them to see over other cars, and therefore see more of the condition of the "road", here meaning traffic/ other cars, not the surface of the road itself).

I can't remember if it was real or just perception, but there's also the idea that the passengers and driver of a truck/SUV are safer in a collision than they would be in a sedan, which makes people want to buy them, especially with there being so many trucks and SUVs on the road. It's easy to look at and SUV and a sedan and think "if these two vehicles crashed, the sedan would be destroyed/the sedan would 'lose' and the SUV would 'win' the crash", so it feels like you're on more even footing with other drivers if you also get a tall car.

So trucks and SUVs become more popular due to the perception of personal safety (the safety of people outside your vehicle be damned), which leads to other people buying the tall cars to level the playing field, but it also leads to car manufacturers making more of the tall vehicles, and offering fewer sedans.

With fewer options for sedans, people are less likely to find one that they like, and more likely to look into SUVs. So even more people buy the bigger cars, and even less people buy the sedans, so car manus lean even harder into making more tall cars and fewer short cars.

It becomes a cycle, and the sedans are straight up disappearing.

And *that* isn't taking into account that, being larger and (often) having more features than sedans, manufacturers can charge more for an SUV/truck, so they make more profit if they sell more big cars. So there's even more of a financial incentive to produce more trucks/SUVs than sedans.

So even if you aren't one of the people with a "run the fuckers over" mindset, it's easier than ever to get a car that you're more likely to kill someone with (even in the case of a genuine accident), and harder to get a more reasonable and safer-for-the-public vehicle.

[savageonwheels]

2024 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road

Army Green is new and so is the TRD Off-Road high-end trim for RAV4. Otherwise, it's still a solid compact SUV choice.

Muscular RAV4 TRD adds a new higher end trim level … Success breeds trim expansion. Say what? Hang with me here. In the car world the more successful a vehicle is, the less likely it’ll be changed much during a long product lifecycle. But what will happen is new trims will appear. In the snowmobiling world I used to work in we called it BNG, Bold New Graphics — in other words, minor…

[spacetypo]

I assume truck = light truck? bc there's commercial trucks (those big 18 wheelers) and light trucks (aka a pick up truck or SUV. i'm sure most people who pick Ford are thinking of Ford F-150s).

light trucks are actively marketed to assholes. and that's not an exaggeration! check out this clip from Not Just Bikes' video on light trucks (starts at 11:33). they also tend to be incompetent drivers who rely on the size of the car to feel safe... at the expense of everyone else on the road.

anyways commercial trucks are like megafauna to me. gentle beasts to be respected and feared. pass with caution and they won't hurt you.

Feel free to specify which model of car it is! For example, Honda CRVs: none of them know how to fucking drive >:( Meanwhile, all Nissans are my enemies by principle

[motogadi]

Big Update: Maruti Suzuki Jimny Production to start in April

More than 18000 booking have been made for Marui Suzuki Jimny. Maruti Suzuki unveiled the much-anticipated 5-door Jimny on January 12 at the Auto Expo 2023, and it will go on sale in May of this year. Bookings for the iconic SUV are now open, and we now have more information on the production and allocation of Maruti’s sub-four-metre off-roader ahead of its launch. More than 1 Lakh Unit to…

[sirfrogsworth]

Froglock Holmes, Internet Sleuth

I don't remember dates very well, but I believe sometime in the mid 2000s I had a friend drive me from St. Louis to Detroit. It was a very difficult journey. I have never done well as a car passenger and driving for an entire day was one of the more miserable experiences in my life.

But I got through it because I was *convinced* I was about to be cured. Back then it was the only thing I wished for and I was willing to try absolutely anything.

So we were off to see the Wizard about my wish.

During that time there were no doctors in St. Louis who knew anything about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But I found a website for a medical company that claimed if I saw one of their approved doctors, they could guarantee a 50% improvement. And when I did my pre-interview on the phone, that lady said some patients experienced a full recovery. To which I replied, "Yes, I will take one full recovery please."

But the closest approved specialist I could find was in Detroit and she would only treat me if I did my first consultation in person. She would then continue treating me over the phone.

My friend took three days off and she borrowed her parent's SUV so I would have leg room during the 8 hour trip. We loaded up on snacks and compact discs and began our road trip to wellness. We merged onto the Yellow Brick Road (a.k.a. I-70 East) and headed toward the land of Marshall Mathers.

The more I got car sick, the more I focused on asking the Wizard to grant my wish.

A new... mitochondria?

Plus several trillion.

A new several trillion little powerhouses.

This doctor was part of a national network of facilities that claimed they could effectively treat Fibromyalgia and CFS with a groundbreaking 6 step "holistic" approach. It was super holistic. Extra super duper holistic. The website made sure you knew it was holistic.

And those 6 steps sounded very fancy.

I mean, that all seems pretty legit. They were going to enhance my cells and address coagulation deficits. That's a thing, right?

Now I know that "holistic" is a buzzword that should be met with skepticism, but back then I was really hopeful they could help me. They enthusiastically made bold promises and filled me with such assured hope that I sold my car to help pay for everything.

We arrived in Detroit the evening before the appointment. I slept maybe an hour. Morning eventually arrived and we headed to the office. They gave me a clipboard full of paperwork that took forever to fill out.

"Can I please just see the Wizard and get my wish?"

I got to the exam room and they put me in a gown with the butt showing—which I don't think my friend was prepared for. I have a condition known as Hank Hill Butt and it can take a bit of getting used to upon first glance.

My poor friend refused to make eye contact while I was wearing it.

The doctor finally arrived and this supernatural healing wizard turned out to be a very short Greek lady. She asked dozens of questions—most of which I answered on the forms already. She poked my belly, checked my reflexes, and at no point did her examination require a gown with the butt showing.

She officially diagnosed me with severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and told me she was going to type up a custom treatment regimen and while she was doing that, I was going to get a special IV they designed to specifically combat CFS.

They took me to a room full of comfy reclining chairs and hooked me to an IV full of orange nonsense. Once that was done I met back up with the Wizard and she had created the afore-mentioned "customized" treatment regimen full of expensive supplements and vitamins that were not covered by insurance. Many of which I had to buy directly from the facility. As I looked over the treatment worksheet, I realized they gave the same document to all of the patients.

It was at this point, 560 miles away from my home, stuck in some office in the suburbs of Detroit (which will eventually be taken over by a tooth pulp dentist), with my Hank Hill butt hanging out...

I realized this could have been an email.

I decided to put everything on three different credit cards. Combined with the money from my car, I had about $20,000 to invest in fixing my broken body. My plan was to get all better so I could get a job and pay everything back. I even told the doctor this brilliant financial stratagem and she agreed it was a good plan. No notes.

Young Froggie was being hit in the face with red flag after red flag and Old Froggie is a little embarrassed about that.

I don't remember any of the supplements, but they had names like "EnergyMax Plus" and "Ultra MitoBooster 3000." They definitely sounded like legitimate, evidenced-backed medical supplements and not knockoff energy drinks endorsed by D-list Instagram influencers.

It wasn't all overpriced vitamins though. The doctor had some silly ideas that were actually covered by insurance. She said I should thin my blood so it took less energy to circulate. And I should boost my testosterone levels above the typical range to improve energy. So I had to inject myself with blood thinners and rub testosterone cream on my legs every day for months.

The blood thinners gave me tons of painful bruises at the injection sites and made me dizzy from time to time. The shots became so painful I would have to close my eyes and have my dad inject me. Otherwise I would chicken out. We kept running out of places that didn't have bruises so he would just pick the smallest bruise and stick the needle there.

And the testosterone cream had an interesting side effect that I am debating whether to talk about as I write this sentence.

Okay, I'm just going to tell you.

We are all adults here and we can handle adult conversations while remaining dignified and mature.

The testosterone cream gave me constant, spontaneous, hours-long boners.

I hadn't experienced anything like it since I was a teenager. No erotic inspiration required other than a gentle breeze. Only this time I didn't have a math book to hide behind.

None of it helped my fatigue.

In fact, the constant bonerpalooza was exhausting to deal with.

"Oh look, that actress I enjoy has a fully exposed ankle." "I bet that attractive lady has boobs under that heavy winter coat." "Hey, is it Wednesday?"

At some point it becomes a chore, ya know?

Thank god it was well before 2014, because if I had seen Chris Evans bicep curling a helicopter I probably would have needed hospitalization.

/end dignified adult conversation

After six months I had 0% of the promised 30-50% improvement 90% of the time and she kept saying I just needed to give it more time. She said it works quicker with the IVs full of orange nonsense. But they custom made those IVs and can only administer them in Detroit. She claimed the oral supplements were filled with the same nonsense, but took much longer to kick in. She told me I could be patient or drive to Detroit once a week for an IV treatment if I wanted faster results. If that were true, I feel like that should have been disclosed at the beginning. But I was assured I could get the same results without the IV treatments.

It didn't matter at that point. My credit cards were maxed out and I was out of money. I called the doctor and asked if there was any treatment she could recommend that was covered by my insurance. She got very quiet and awkwardly said she would try to figure something out. Roughly 30 minutes later I was emailed a coupon for $20 off our next phone consultation. I responded and told her I literally had no money left.

I never heard from her again.

The Wizard had no ability to grant my wish for several trillion properly functioning mitochondrias. She had no magic treatment. I finally saw her for what she truly was.

With perfect hindsight I could now see all of the red flags.

Though if I hadn't at least tried, I probably would have wondered and regretted it.

Hard to say.

I was kind of amazed how they built a country wide collection of clinics and they were able to operate for years solely on the placebo effect.

Years later I was curious what happened to this network of quackery. I found a news article saying it was all shut down due to fraud. I don't think they had a holistic approach to paying their taxes.

The reason I am telling this tale is because I have been playing detective and gathering evidence for my disability case. I started to wonder if maybe I could find my fraudulent Wizard to see if she had any kind of records or something that might help me. I knew it was a long shot, but I didn't want to leave a stone unturned.

At first all I could remember was her last name and that she was a D.O. and not an M.D. Standard Google searches were not turning up anything. I couldn't find her current practice nor any contact information. Apparently her Greek last name is a popular Arabic first name for men... so all my searches kept resulting in doctor dudes. This was not the time for a sausage fest and I was getting frustrated.

And then I finally remembered the name of the medical company.

Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Inc.

I even remembered their URL... fibroandfatigue.com

So I went to the Wayback Machine and I was able to find their now-defunct website. I suddenly remembered its cloudy banner image and "concerned_woman.png" like it was yesterday.

Why, yes... I am tired of being tired.

I also remembered their promise that over 90% of patients had at least a 30-50% improvement. Which was the claim that sent me down this rabbit hole to begin with all those years ago.

I started searching different versions of the site to see how their claims of effectiveness changed over time. At first they basically implied they made everyone completely better.

If I saw that I would definitely think I was getting a cure. But I imagine this caused some problems so they had to dial it back a bit.

I couldn't find the 90% version, but I did find the 30-50%.

This actually sounds like you have a 100% chance of a 30 to 50% improvement.

As I skipped around to the archived captures of different years, the promised percentage kept changing. I don't think they did an actual statistical analysis of their patients. I think they just picked a percentage that sounded enticing without promising too much. Just enough to be life-changing with a built-in excuse for when it all goes tits up.

Years after my experience, the site finally settled on a 65% improvement in energy levels. It was on their new page detailing how "affordable" their treatment was.

$20,000, you say? Balderdash, no one would spend that much.

If you were curious, they claim their treatment is now affordable due to a new monthly payment plan system. It did not become any cheaper.

However, under the 65% promise, they added this disclaimer with a large bold heading...

Success depends largely on your dedication and commitment. Our most successful patients are the ones who make the commitment to follow the treatment program rigorously. Patients who are aggressive and comply with the treatment process experience significantly better long-term results than those whose dedication is half-hearted and whose compliance is minimal.

In other words, "If our bullshit supplements don't work, it is YOUR fault."

Or in my case... "If you run out of money, it is YOUR fault."

Oh and there was also this...

Looking at all of the versions of the Fibro & Fatigue, Inc website was certainly fascinating, but I had to quit dicking clicking around and find my focus.

I still had detective-ing to do.

I was on the hunt for a Detroit-area Greek doctor of osteopathy.

There were ~250 captures of the site between 2004 and 2016. She wasn't listed in the newest captures, nor the oldest captures. So I kept trying to drill down to find the exact time period she worked at the company.

And then... EUREKA!

She was hiding in 2005 on their "Meet the Doctors" page.

Her first name was *drumroll* Sultana!

I can't imagine why I didn't remember that common first name.

Finally, after weeks of trying to figure this out, I now had enough information to do a proper Google search and discover what the heck she is currently up to. Probably putting people in open-butt gowns to check their tonsils or something.

*googling noises intensify*

I'm not sure I've ever come across such a literal dead end.

Should I be making puns about this?

I mean, she did help exploit me out of my entire life savings and put me in significant credit card debt with the Sex Panther-approved promise of a guaranteed 30-50% recovery 90% of the time.

And the institution she was a part of was shut down for fraud.

Still... I never wished an early death upon her.

I would have been happy with a trip to small claims court.

[hi-sierra]

Introducing: Sue, the Subaru Outback 2017 3.6R! (name subject to change)

Basically, what happened is that a family member needed a sedan, and bought my old hybrid off me. To replace it, I wanted something better for camping, road trips, and outdoors stuff in general.

So I gave myself a set of simple criteria: I wanted a car I could lie down and sleep comfortably in the back of, while still being as small as possible to use as a regular car as well. If I can have as many SUV features in it as possible, then that's an added bonus.

As much as I wanted to avoid the stereotype, the Subaru outback met these criteria quite nicely. There's some maintenance concerns that are a bit more than other similar compact SUVs, but I thought they were well worth it for the wagon form factor, which was ideal for me to slowly convert into a mini sleep-in camper in as compact a way as possible.

As is painfully obvious from my multiple flannels, I can't really avoid the stereotype though LOL

And wow, after an inspection, and testing this thing on roads of various type and quality, I'm absolutely loving it. No regrets about the purchase.

The name comes from possibly the most famous individual dinosaur of all time: Sue the Tyrannosaur. There's some history of calling wagon style cars "dinosaurs" from my childhood, and Sue being an abbreviation of Subaru leans into that, so I personally like that car nickname a lot. I'm open to suggestions, though!

My toolkit for a summer, and a lifetime, full of adventures is coming together nicely!!! I'll be documenting how I build this thing out, but the first step is slapping down a foam mat in the back and taking it somewhere nice. Stay tuned.....

[brewed-pangolin]

I've seen a lot of people headcanon Soap as driving something small and compact while on leave. And as much as I can respect that, I just can't see him in anything smaller than an SUV. Especially being the outdoorsy man that he is. And he needs the trunkspace for his gear when he goes to the range.

So, I'm putting my Soap in a 4Runner. Great off-road capabilities, compact enough for city living, and plenty of space for all the gear he needs for a day of gunpowder and sniping practice.

Soap image credit to @yumethefrostypanda

I'm also writing a fic where he takes you to Poundtown in the backseat. And there ain't no way in hell I'm doing that in the back of a fuckin' Jetta.

4Runner Wingman Masterlist

[wolfstrong]

I said goodbye to my beautiful 2005 Honda element today my first car which i got back in high school. It left me with 211k miles on it and a busted catalytic converter. I’m not a car head in the slightest but I loved that car with my whole heart. They will never make a car as cool as the Honda element and it’ll probably be the best car I’ll ever drive, my first love. The seats in the back go all the way down and are good enough to sleep on, but they can also be fully removed then you got more then enough space to help move furniture. The perfect compact SUV really embodying the sport and utility. I had so many amazing times in that car. It got me to high school senior year and it got me to class every day of college and then it got me to work. I had countless fast food meals in there with my friends. I can’t imagine how many times that things been through the drive through and how many paper straws were discarded onto the floor. At some points there would be so many empty cups and soda cans they would roll around the back when I took a turn. But I never let her get too dirty, I always took her to the wash and took extra care on vacuuming the inside. Id let people trash the inside because I wanted it to be a fun environment. The times when I’d park her in some random lot and me and my friends would listen to the radio and drink. I had my first date in that car. All the CDs and hours of radio I listened to in there. I took that car on a road trip and slept in the back of it. I’ll never forget the time me and my friend drove her an hour and a half up a mountain, got to the top and realized we were completely out of gas and in a national park with no gas stations, so we had to coast all the way back down the mountain in neutral. I never got into a car accident, not so much as a fender bender. My car always kept me safe. No blind spot detection, no back up mirror, no lane drift awareness. Just me my car and my guardian angels. I remember when I first got her I actually bought her from a teacher I’d had from first through eighth grade. When I was test driving it with my family my brother tried to get in the car and slipped out for some reason and fell ass first onto the cement. My brothers best friend used to date the daughter of the cars owner and he said they had sex in that thing all the time. I felt the sexual energy from my car the whole time I had it. Never got to have sex in the back of my car, my one regret. I traded it in when buying my new car which got me 550 dollars off. I was going to try and sell it myself but it needed a lot of maintenance. I was able to get rid of it 3 days before the registration was due. I test drove tons of cars. I couldn’t decide if I wanted something similar to my Honda or something new and nice. I went for something new and nice. I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money to essentially have the same thing. My new car is a 2023 VW Taos. It cost me half the savings I’ve been building up since high school. But it’s all mine and I’m proud to own it. I want to keep it really nice. No more throwing the straw wrappers on the floor and spilt drinks. I think I’m going to get seat covers and weather proof floor mats and tinted windows. I want to take it to the car wash all the time and I wish I had a garage to keep it in. I thought it would hurt more to give away my Honda. I thought I couldn’t stand to drive a car that doesn’t have a cd player or a turn key start or no touch screen. But I feel good. I feel good about all the time I spent with my Honda and I’m really really excited about my new car. If there’s a heaven and I’m able to get there me and my Honda will be reunited like old friends. Sometimes driving her with the windows down and my CDs playing was the best feeling in the whole world.

[blurban-form]

Pushback on American-style large pickup trucks in Australia

The topic of how the vehicles have progressively grown on “Bluey” is something I’ve noticed and commented on a few times. Vehicles in early Bluey episodes were uniformly compact…

But we started seeing more examples of larger vehicles in later episodes. Rad’s oversized pickup truck is an example of this.

In real-life Australia, there’s now pushback on the profusion of these large vehicles for safety and environmental reasons; measures are being proposed to restrict their import into Australia, and increase taxes on those on the roads there.

It will be interesting to see if this gains traction, or is dismissed as unrealistic eco-extremist thinking in the short term.

Some cities on North America are also talking about similar ideas, like increasing taxes on vehicles that take up more space or banning the advertising of large trucks and SUVs. I think we’re still some time away from banning large vehicles (pushback from manufacturers would be strong, and it would be politically divisive) but who knows what will happen in the next decade… change is accelerating WRT transportation and it would just take a couple of cities to take this on…

[snaillamp]

Sicktember - day 3

3. "What happened to your phenomenal immune system, huh?”

Leader sniffed slightly, wiping their nose. Right-hand shot them a look as they peered through their binoculars at the chemical plant. “How silent of you…” They teased, only for Leader to shoot them an equally dirty look back. They put their hand to their lips, gesturing with their eyes at the plant, before returning to watch it.

Both of them were lying on their stomachs, peeking through a rather thorny bush at a chemical plant rumoured to be manufacturing illegal substances, substances that could cause havoc if released into the general population. It was imperative that they were not caught. However, the night was cold, and the compacted dirt had been warm when they arrived, just after sundown, but had now become freezing.

‘Guess that’s the desert…’ Thought Right-hand as they glanced at Leader. They looked a bit pale, that was probably the moonlight washing them out, but something was off in their eyes, they weren’t looking as sharp as usual.

After a couple more minutes of watching the plant, the two of them decided to leave, making their way to the pickup point. Soon they were far enough away from the plant to be able to walk, Right-hand picked up their pace as Leader tagged along behind.

“You sure you’re okay?” Right-hand asked, wiping some dust from their front. All it did was smear the mark further into the fibers of the fabric. “Hmm?” Leader looked up, sniffing again. “What? Yeah, no, I-I’m fine, just tired and cold.” Right-hand frowned, walking up to Leader and wrapping their arms around their shoulders, pulling them closer to their own body heat. Leader felt pretty warm already, maybe slightly too warm as they leaned into their friend.

“Are you sick?” Right-hand asked, looking at Leader. Leader blinked, looking up at them in surprise. “What? No, like i said, just tired. It’s been a long, boring, cold night so…” They smiled at Right-hand. “Besides, you know I never get sick, I have a phenomenal immune system.”

They flashed their signature grin, as the two of them wandered over to the rock by the side of the road they were supposed to wait by. Leader sat down on it, wrapping their arm around their stomach and hunching over, trying to keep warm.

“You sure you’re not coming down with something?” Right-hand asked, sitting beside them. Leader nodded, “Yeah. I’m fine. The cold ground just... made me cold.” They sat up straight, trying to look relaxed as they waited for the pickup. In the distance, they could see a pair of lights flick on.

The large, black car pulled up, the door opening quickly. Leader and Right-hand piled in, smiling at the team inside, who clapped them on their backs and cheered. The driver took off down the dusty road, back towards their base, the mission had been a roaring success. Leader and Right-hand sank down into the leather seats at the back of the SUV, speaking in hushed tones to a guy with a laptop, sharing everything they had seen.

“It looked like a shipment of chemicals came in at 22:4-” Leader was suddenly cut off by a small hiccup. They blinked in surprise, looking at Right-hand who melted. “Aww, did you hiccup?” They teased, “I had no idea your hiccups were so adorablllllllle.” Leader shot them a dirty look going slightly pink. Right-hand was like an annoying older sibling to them, they teased each other relentlessly, and it seemed like Right-hand had just discovered new ammunition.

“It’s not -hic- cute…” Leader grumbled, crossing their arms over their chest and pouting. Leader felt a little self conscious, they had an image to uphold. They couldn’t be Leader, the fearless fighter, skilled tactician and the adorable hiccups… The computer guy smirked, his face illuminated by the screen. “They are pretty cute.” Leader was glad the car was dim, as their cheeks burned with embarrassment.

They sighed, trying to swallow their hiccups as they recounted the rest of the information.

“As I was saying…” They began, glaring at both Right-hand and the computer guy.

“At 22:46, an unmarked, white -hic- van came into the fac -hic- facility.” They scowled at the interruption of their hiccups. “It had -hic- not plates and no identify -hic- identifying marks.” Leader rested their right hand on their stomach a little, noticing that it felt strange. ‘Probably just from lying on the ground in the same position for hours.’ They told themself, but they couldn’t help the feeling creeping in the back of their mind.

Leader got the hiccups every time they got sick, but that never happened. They were healthy, they kept themself to a strict schedule of rest and training, they couldn’t have caught something… Their stomach seemed to say otherwise, as it growled quietly. Right-hand looked at Leader, who looked down at their abdomen. “You hungry?” Computer guy asked, picking up a half eaten burger from a fast food place.

It seemed that the SUV had made a quick pitstop.

The thought of eating something right now made Leader feel slightly woozy. They shook their head, “I’ll have something later. -hic- Anyway, the van was -hic- full of barrels, and they ha -hic- had what appeared to be some kind of war -hic- ning labe -hic- label on them -hic-.” Leader sighed and hiccuped as the computer guy and Right-hand quietly snorted. This was hilarious, at least to them.

All it did was fill Leader with a sinking feeling of dread. ~~ When the SUV pulled up at their destination, everyone clambered out, tired from the long trip. Leader’s hiccups had ceased about an hour before, but now they were beginning to feel jittery. They followed everyone into the debrief room, their head feeling thick. Coughing a little, they felt their throat begin to ache, but they pushed it down and plastered on a serious face as everyone sat down for their debrief in the conference room.

It only lasted 10 minutes, but they were 10 long, agonising minutes. Leader wrapped their arms around their middle and hunched over as everyone began speaking, discussing further plans and strategies., whilst Leader focused on trying to swallow a rising coughing fit.

“What do you think Leader?” One of the people who had been talking asked them, Leader looking up, not realising they had zoned out. “Huh?” Their voice was quiet and hollow sounding as they sat up straighter, looking at the plan doodled on the white board behind the speaker.

They flashed over the plan with their eyes, nodding, the motion making their headache worse. Clearing their throat and trying to sound as normal as possible they spoke. “It’s good. Though I think you need to infiltrate from the west. That way their defence will be looking directly into the setting sun. It’ll give us the advantage-“ They were choked off by a rising cough, harsh and deep. They covered their mouth with their elbow, before clearing their throat again.

“That… that’s actually a really good idea. Thanks, Leader.” Leader nodded again, grimacing as they felt headache knock around in their skull. They gripped the edge of the table they were sitting at, trying to ignore the annoying buzzing coming from the light above their head as they listened. It was all becoming a bit of a blur.

The next thing they knew, everyone was standing and leaving the room. Right-hand inched over tentatively as Leader pushed themself up onto their feet, trying to stop their arms and legs shaking like jelly. The world felt strange, tilting slightly as a cold flush washed down their body.

“Leader? Are you sure you’re okay? You look a bit… pale.” Right-hand chose their words carefully, trying not to suggest the ’s’ word.

They knew Leader would refuse to admit they were sick to Right-hand, even if they were puking their guts up in front of them. They had known Leader long enough to know that they hated being sick. It rarely happened, but when it did, it hit Leader harder than most people. They would jokingly brag about how they never got sick, but Right-hand always got the feeling it was partly to hide their anxiety about it.

Right now, Leader was swaying slightly, staring blankly at the table below them, pressing their fingertips into it. They were still slightly coated in a layer of dust, specks of it dusting their messy hair. Right-hand watched as Leader turned their head slowly, inhaling deeply and looking at them square on. “I’m fine.” They lied. “Just tired.” Right-hand looked skeptical.

“Come on, I’m taking you home.” They wrapped their arm around Leader, guiding them on their shaking legs towards the door. They could tell by the way Leader was tensing their muscles that they were trying to stop their body shaking. Leader leaned into Right-hand a little, sighing, their hot breath tickling Right-hand’s skin... It was very hot breath... It shouldn’t be that hot.

“You are sick!” Right-hand couldn’t stop themself, their accusing tone rising, as they looked at Leader’s glassy eyed stare.

“‘Nnnnuuhh ‘mmm not…” Leader mumbled, taking another step. Their legs fell from under them as they shuddered, sniffing hard. Their nose was clogging up rapidly, and all the sniffing was making it worse. Right-hand steadied them before pulling them close. “Hold on.” They said, trying to keep Leader from pulling away.

Right-hand managed to get Leader to the car, strapping them into the passenger seat and shutting the door. When they got around to the drivers side, Leader was leaning their head against the cold glass of the door window, their breath condensing on it in slowly forming clouds. Their eyes were shut as they sat there, Right-hand unsure if they were even conscious.

Leader jumped when the car rumbled to life, ‘Wait… when did I get in here?’ They thought to themself looking to Right-hand with bleary eyes. Nausea hit them like a wave as they slumped back into the seat, half lidded eyes staring at the road in front of them.

The sun was rising and the sky was slowly turning from back to a dusky blue.

~~

When they got back to the barracks, Leader pushed themself out of the seat and stumbled inside. All they wanted was to shower and sleep.

“Hey!” Right-hand called out.

“What?!” Leader whirled around, stumbling as they became unbalanced. They steadied themself, before glaring at Right-hand. “What…?” They breathed, chest rising and falling rapidly as they tried to catch their breath.

Right-hand shook their head. “Leader… Please, just admit you’re sick and let me help you. For god’s sake, you can’t do this on your own, you can hardly stand!” Leader grimaced, scowling. “I just wanna have a shower and sleep…” Their hollow whispering voice wavered, making Right-hand concerned.

Leader turned and staggered slowly through the door, leaning on the walls to get into the living area. They collapsed on the sofa curling up and hugging their stomach, shaking badly. They couldn’t move, they were so achy and cold. They felt so lightheaded, they could hardly see. A blurry shape appeared in their vision, getting closer and closer. “Leader?” Right-hand’s voice broke through the ringing in their ears that they hadn’t noticed had started.

All Leader could do was softly moan, the nausea overcoming them as the world tilted around them. “I thought you were going to have a shower?” Right-hand prodded their shoulder. Sweat was pouring from Leader’s forehead as they looked up at Right-hand, slowly rolling onto their back. It was more comfortable like that. “Yeah… ‘m jusss… restin’ my eyes for a seconmnnmmmgghhh…”

Leader’s lightheadedness seemed to get worse and they squeezed their eyes shut, their arms squeezing their stomach harder. They gritted their teeth and groaned softly, shuddering as a cold chill overcame them.

“Hhhgnn…” The sound slipped from Leader's lips as they shook, making Right-hand touch their chest, feeling their racing heartbeat.

Leader thought it was nice, feeling something so warm on their body.

Right-hand hummed, picking up Leader and carrying them to their room. Leader was half aware that they had been picked up, weakly mumbling as they tried to twist out of Right-hand’s arms. “Mmm…no… put me down… I can… walk my…myself…” Right-hand held them tighter to their chest, hushing them.

“Shh, sh, sh, shhhh. You need to be in bed.” Leader whined, their chest rising and falling with great effort as they tried to breathe through the waves of nausea, threatening to make them hurl.

~~

Right-hand got Leader to their room, gently laying them out on their bed and removing their shoes. Leader jerked suddenly, feeling their left boot slide off. They turned their head, looking around in confusion. “When did I get in here…?” They glanced at Right-hand, who pulled their right boot off. “Right-hand…? Whaddareyoudoing…? When… when diiii I ge… ngh…” A coughing fit surged up Leader’s throat, making them hack up their lungs violently.

Their head felt funny as they finished coughing, sniffing a drop of snot back up into their nose. Right-hand helped Leader shift under the sheets, Leader not even having the energy to fight anymore as Right-hand lay a blanket over them. They felt cold, making Leader shake even more, but their weight was comforting to Leader, who’s eyes slid shut. They were vaguely aware of Right-hand brushing a hand over their forehead, the sensation sending prickles over Leader’s skin.

“Get some sleep Leader…” Right-hand whispered, before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind them. They walked over to Medic’s door, timidly knocking on it. They knew Medic liked their sleep, and felt bad for waking them, but they needed them to check on Leader.

The door swung open suddenly, revealing a pissed Medic. They were wearing an oversized t-shirt that hung off their frame and sagging sweatpants, loose around their hips. They narrowed their eyes, “What? It’s 5 am. I swear to everything that is sacred if you drank another smoothie, I will shove the lactase up your ass…” They trailed off as they saw the look on Right-hand’s face, their own face suddenly looking scared.

“Right-hand…” They whispered. “Where’s Leader… A-a-are they okay?” Medic’s hand’s shook as they took a step forward. Right-hand nodded, lifting a finger to their lips and leading them to Leader’s room. Medic let out a sigh of relief when they saw Leader sleeping in their bed, safe and warm. Something seemed off though, and they looked to Right-hand frowning. “Why are they breathing like that?” They murmured, venturing into Leader’s room, being careful not to wake them up.

Right-hand hovered in the doorway, anxiously waiting as Medic brushed their hand over Leader’s forehead. “Shit.” Medic whispered. “They’re burning up. Help me cool them down.” They beckoned Right-hand over pulling back the sheets and wrestling Leader’s drenched shirt off them.

Leader turned their head, mumbling in annoyance, sleepily trying to push Medic’s hand away, but they only managed to lift their arm before it flopped onto their soaked, heaving chest. Right-hand watched as Leader’s chest rose and fell, Leader’s gasping breaths filling their ears. A moan broke them out of their stupor as Leader opened their eyes.

Almost immediately, they rolled back again, Leader’s head lolling to the side as their body went limp. Medic was checking their pulse and breathing, Right-hand standing around awkwardly. “Go get me my notebook, it’s in my first aid kit under my bed.” Medic ordered, not looking up from Leader.

Right-hand returned, Medic reaching out for the notebook. They jotted down some numbers before sighing, opening the curtains so they could see. The gentle morning sun lit up the room and Leader groaned, lifting their arm and resting it over their eyes. Their cheeks were flushed pink, their exposed chest shining with sweat. Right-hand had never seen someone this sick before.

~~

The rest of the team soon woke up, passing by Right-hand as they went to bed. Right-hand had left Medic to keep an eye on Leader in case they got worse, but what they needed right now was to shower and sleep, just like Leader had wanted. Leader had taken to passing in and out every few minutes, mumbling deliriously about something unintelligible. They kept kicking their sheets off and crying out quietly, squeezing their eyes tighter together as they rode out the nausea.

Right-hand awoke hours later, shuffling into Leader’s room to check on them. Medic was no where to be found, but Leader was lying there, half conscious and moaning softly. They turned their head and opened their eyes a little as they heard Right-hand enter, staring vacantly at them. "What happened to your phenomenal immune system, huh?” Right-hand teased, chuckling nervously.

Somewhere, deep down, Leader knew they were trying to ease the tension. “Hhhhhh…” Was all Leader could manage to answer, sounding half amused at the joke. Leader’s breath was hot against there lips as they parted them, fighting to stay conscious. Right-hand came over, looking down at them as they smiled weakly. “Fuck off…” They whispered, their voice hoarse.

Right-hand smirked, “Glad to see you’re feeling better.” Leader closed their eyes slowly. “Nnnnh…Medic… gave me… something… Makes me feel weird…” They whispered, opening their eyes again. “Did you… sleep?” Right-hand nodded. “Lucky… bastard…” Leader choked on a cough, wheezing as they pushed themself up with Right-hand’s help. They gasped for air between coughs, trying desperately to calm their breathing, their head spinning.

Medic came hurtling into the room at the sound, rushing to Leader’s side. They looked into Leader’s desperate eyes before the coughing seemed to calm, and Leader collapsed forwards, wheezing as they caught their breath. “Leader, I don’t like this… You should be in hospital.�� Leader shook their head. “No…” They rasped, “No… hospital…” Their pleading eyes looked at Medic, who clicked their tongue and lay Leader back down. “I’m gonna run you a bath, you’re still caked in dust, it’s making your coughing worse. Right-hand, get them some new clothes ready while they wait.” Right-hand nodded, going to Leader’s closet.

Leader groaned, pushing themself up. “Nah… Let me… do it… You don’t… you don’t have to…” They were overcome with another coughing fit, the coughs reverberating in their chest. “Ugh…” They moaned, wiping off the mucus on their elbow with their shirt.

Medic materialised out of nowhere, piping up from the doorway and causing both Right-hand and Leader to jump. “Bath’s ready.” Leader sighed as Right-hand and Medic helped them walk to the awaiting bath. Leader had their arms slung over both their shoulders, their legs shaking as they walked. The rest of the team was hovering nearby, looking worried.

Leader hung their head, ashamed. They didn't want the team to see them like this. They were supposed to be the leader of the team, unstoppable, infallible and strong, not weak and hardly able to walk. How were the team supposed to take them seriously when they were so weak? They shuddered, cold rushing over them again. This was hell.

~~

Medic and Right-hand helped them slip from their sweat stained clothes, causing Leader to blush.

They didn't want help, they could undress themself. They weren’t a baby. But when they lowered Leader into the warm water, Leader sighed. They lay back, closing their eyes in bliss as their friends gently worked the dust out of their pores and hair, and breathing in the steam that cleared their sinuses a little.

The next thing minute, they were being wrapped in warm, fluffy towels and being slowly dried. It was so nice to not have to do anything and just… relax… The world stopped spinning as they were helped into their new, fresh clothes and practically carried back to bed. Their head nodded as they were carried, eyes fluttering in an effort to keep them open.

When they awoke again, it was dark and their chest was feeling slimy. They let out a wet cough, trying to sit, but they were so comfy and warm… they could afford to stay under the sheets for a few more minutes.

Medic peeked around the door, checking in. “I though I heard you wake up. How are you feeling?” Leader groaned, their throat hurt too much to try and speak and their arms were so heavy…

~~

“They keep passing out. Should we be worried?” Right-hand’s voice echoed somewhere over them. “Hmm, if they deteriorate any further, yes. I don’t want to upset them further, you know what they are like with hospitals.”

Right-hand hummed in agreement, their voice getting more and more distant. Leader tried calling out for Medic and Right-hand to help, managing to open their eyes briefly. All they could see was bright blur pass by their vision before their eyes slid shut.

“Nnhhghh…”

The blood suddenly drained from Leader’s face as the world faded from their vision. Right-hand’s eyes widened as Leader’s eyes rolled back and their head lolling to the side as they went limp. “Shit.” Medic shook Leader, trying to wake them, but it did nothing.

“Help me get them up.” Medic spoke suddenly, pressing a finger into Leader’s neck. Their eyes went wide. “Now Right-hand!” Medic barked at Right-hand making them jump, before they scooped Leader into their arms, rushing for the door. They carried their team leader out into the hallway, looking at Medic, who ushered them on. “Car, hospital, now!” They snapped, rushing to the barracks door and ripping it open.

The barracks were really small apartments that the teams lived in communally. Everyone got their own small room and shared a bathroom and kitchen. That meant that everyone hand seen what had just happened, glancing nervously at each other from across the apartment.

Throwing Leader into the back of their car, Right-hand raced over to the wheel, Medic climbing in the back with Leader. “Their pulse is shit, resps too. God dammit Right-hand drive!”

Leader managed to open their eyes, suddenly aware of sounds around them. They couldn’t hold them open for more than a few seconds, even though they could hear someone telling them to stay awake… They could have a little nap. Just a few minutes… they were so tired… they just…just a couple of minutes…

Leader hummed as they fell back into oblivion, feeling like the world had disappeared, replaced with a rollercoaster that was suddenly flying down a steep dip.

“No, no Leader, stay awake for me.” Medic begged, jostling Leader as they passed out again. Their body was radiating heat, they were flushed and sweating… Their heart was threatening to jump out of their chest and their breaths were faint and gasping. Medic began feeling sick as they looked at their friend in front of them, unable to do anything.

~~

Looking up at the sensation of the car stopping, they glanced out the window. They were here. The tension their backflipping stomach eased a little, at least Leader would now get some much needed medicine. Right-hand yanked Leader out of the back of the car and carried their body towards the door. Their head and limps dangled heavily, swaying with each movement of Right-hand. Medic was by their side in an instant, rushing forwards into the ER.

When they got in the door Medic was arguing with the receptionist, who’s jaw dropped when she saw the state Leader was in. Picking up a phone, she called someone, speaking quickly as she eyed Leader’s condition. Right-hand looked at Leader’s exposed neck, their muscles contracting with every breath. Usually, when they were sick, they out for the count for a week and then right as rain by the beginning of the next, maybe with a remaining sniffle. But this… judging by Medic’s reaction was worse than bad…

Leader was deathly ill, and there wasn’t anything they could do.

They looked up at the sound of a stretcher being wheeled over, and a masked clad doctor muttered to Right-hand to put Leader on it. They carefully lay them down, watching as they were whisked away, an oxygen mask already slipped over their face. Medic came to their side, panting. “Come here…” They mumbled, pulling Right-hand into a hug.

They waited together as the rest of the team arrived, all looking pale and scared. The doctor came out to speak to them, Medic pulling them aside and talking in hushed voices. They nodded, coming over and taking a shake breath. “They’re okay.” The team let out a collective sigh, “But… they have a pretty brutal infection in their lungs, they’ll have to be kept under until the infection clears, and given the state of them right now, it’s gonna be a while.”

~~

Leader awoke, feeling strange but nice, so they kept their eyes shut, enjoying the fuzzy warm feeling washing over them. They could hear a beeping in the back of their mind. Medic but be hate watching another hospital drama. They sighed, thinking about how they would have to get out of their warm, comfy bed to drag them to their room and force them to sleep, trying to prevent them from ranting about how the surgeon had his stethoscope on backwards again.

They sighed, opening their eyes and looking around.

This didn’t look like their room… “Huh…?” They mumbled quietly. They coughed, reaching up to rub their throat. It felt like they had swallowed a cheese grater. A tug on their hand made them glance at it, and they froze.

“Medic… why is there an IV in my hand?” They whispered, voice hoarse and hollow. Medic sometimes liked to practice doing IV’s on Leader cause they apparently had ‘difficult veins’, but they didn’t remember giving Medic permission to…

It dawned on Leader where they were when a nurse walked over. “Hi.” She whispered. “I’m Jane, I’m your nurse. We thought you’d be awake soon.” Leader stared at Jane’s face, blurring in and out of focus as they sank back into the bed, hoping it would consume them.

“Your friend said you might not be having such a great time when you wake up, but that’s okay. If you want anything, just call me by pressing this.” Jane placed a button in Leader’s hand. “You’ve been very sick. Do you understand?” Leader blinked, thinking over her words. “Sick?” They tried asking, but their voice could only croak.

Jane smiled, exhaling softly through her nose. “Yes. You’ve been very sick. They put you on a ventilator until your infection cleared up. You’ll have to hang out for a few more days, but then we can let you go home.” Leader felt their stomach sink. “How… long…?” Jane patted Leader’s shoulder. “Apparently you were pretty sick for two days before you were brought in. You were on the ventilator for a week.” Leader nodded, half understanding those words, right now they wanted nothing more than to sleep and pretend they weren’t in hospital. That way they could go home…

They blinked a few times, tiredly, before jumping slightly. Jane had been replaced with their team, all sitting silently, waiting for them to wake up. But they hadn’t even slept? Jane the nurse was with them two seconds ago?

“Wait… where’s the nurse?” They rasped looking around for her. “What are you talking about Leader?” Medic chuckled, “You’ve been asleep all day.” Leader blinked in surprise, looking at their team. They felt fine, so they sat up, only for a headache to immediately set in.

Groaning, they lay back down. “Take it easy.” Medic murmured, placing a comforting hand on Leader’s shoulder. They could feel Medic’s fingers squeeze them gently, sighing as they closed their eyes. “I feel… like shit…” They croaked.

The team all smirked, “Yeah, that figures.” Right-hand muttered.

“Well, glad to see you on the mend Leader, oh and… I thought you’d like to know, you’ve been selected to lead the raid on the plant. The higher ups like the idea so much that they want you in charge. When you're better, of course.” Leader felt a zing, they had been hoping that would happen.

They grinned, the nasal cannula on their nose slipping a little. They hadn’t realised it was even there. Pushing it back up they looked up at Right-hand with renewed vigour. “Well, that’s all the motivation I need.” They glanced at an alarmed looking Medic. “You better help me rest up. I wanna be ready for this.”

Medic’s shoulders dropped with relief, “Anything you need, Leader, you just let me know.” Leader chucked, “Good… Now fuck off so I can sleep…” They groaned, getting comfy.

They pulled their blankets up higher, shutting their eyes and sighing. Maybe hospital wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

~masterlist~

[automotivealchemy]

Volkswagen Off-Road Thing Compact SUV Concept

What if...Volkswagen made an off-road oriented version of the Thing with a few configurations? This version would have a solid top, removable hardtop, and a targa top version of it. The ride height would be a lot taller than the standard gasoline and electric Thing, with larger wheels and tires and all wheel drive for that offroad conscious enthusiasts.

[phoebified]

So it's clear. My unyielding stances on cars:

Toyota: older ones are frequently christlike, newer ones should have a brick placed gently on the gas and sent into a canyon. you should mourn it but move on. the older ones are easy to maintain, rugged, reliable, and iconic. the newer toyotas have a nice styling but after a certain year their desperation to make their cars luxurious has had a backwards effect and has made them complete dogshit and has made their more affordable cars actually more desirable than their fancy cars. the 2024 camry is complete dogshit and i've never disliked a car more in my life, except for this one piece of shit jeep suv i don't even recall the name of, which i flat out refused to drive. they didn't have to do all that bullshit to the 4runner

BMW: for asshole shitheads. this is neither an accolade nor a condemnation. i admire the resolution of the BMW fanatic to adhere to a brand that HATES when you work on your own car and wants you to never be able to touch your oil or transmission fluid or any fluid at all. like i don't even think they want you putting new windshield wiper blades on your own shit tbh

chevy: i hate you. mostly out of spite, but for select few out of seething jealousy. it is MOSTLY out of spite, though. silverado owners should be crucified.

ford: you should hate yourself for being stupid. mustangs are cute and fun but honestly i only ever see fucking idiots drive them. admiration for their aftermarket support though. the f150 is such a piece of shit it's unfuckingbelievable

dodge: 9.8/10 i hope your head explodes but for that .2/10 i feel a deepseated and unending longing. if you drive a stock charger or challenger you're committing a grave and reprehensible sin.

subaru: it's fine it's literally fine i just don't really give a shit either way

honda: you probably drive like an idiot but it's a fine car. you know what you're getting, they're easy to work on. you might not be getting like, the car of your dreams, but it's a fine beast

nissan: oh my god stop speeding and weaving in traffic you're going to fucking die!!! when you do can i have your car please [THIS EXCLUDES ROUGE DRIVERS. YOU NEED TO HAND IN YOUR LICENSE]

gmc: either a reliable and beautiful truck for grandpa or a house on wheels for someone who seriously needs to get their license and children and maybe house taken away

scion: there's something irreparably wrong with you.

jeep: fun. hateable. understandable as to why people drive them. you Are a freak though i'm sorry. they have so many fucking problems with them like they serious are like fucking rescue dogs with 12 cancers even fresh off the lot. their compact suvs are perhaps of the devil

saturn: [Looks around scared in an empty room] Did you guys hear that

mercury: i really cannot believe people still drive these but it's always a surprise and a treat to see one. beyond that i have no opinion

oldsmobile: yeah that's -- do -- okay. sure. it's a gm car and it's cute in its styling but i think this car is really for a specific kind of person...

pontiac: owners are weirdly stoic. have had fun with pontiac drivers. they're whatever cars it's sad they don't make em no more but i don't blame them neither

volvo: I miss you baby but you are truly a grade of shitbox unlike any other. when people do love them enough to keep them up it's a beautiful thing it's like when a hound loves a farmer

volkswagon: man. whatever. the jetta and the golf attract very mysterious and enjoyable people in the US but i feel neutral if not slightly apprehensive towards the car

mitsubishi: my stupid delight. i keep trying to hate mitsubishi but i really can't

mazda: ...i'm... i'm not sure.

buick: please get off the road

cadillac: I really think something BAD should happen to you. I'm not sure if I even say that playfully

mercedes: weirdly cute cars for fucking idiots and the new ones just seem like such pieces of shit

audi: i have yet to see an audi driver that hasn't thought they were jesus christ or charli xcx despite audis being midtier fauxluxury vehicles

lincoln: cute. weirdly lasting, but i'm not sure that i mean in how their engines are built up. uncertain how i feel about the lincoln demographic. not a fan of their new shit. it's fine but you need to be rich to own one because them parts ain't cheap

suzuki: Falls to my knees. I miss you baby. Fuck...

lexus: the car is neither comfortable nor sleek enough, which makes me not think it's very luxurious. basically lived in one of these for a long time. Hated it. it lasted i guess but when it died jesus christ

hyundai: MAN THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING SOME FUCK ASS SHIT WITH THEIR FUCKING CARS it's always like Here's my car that looks like a Bubble. Or a Dragonfly. And you can't see out of it

bentley: the amount of times i've considered rear ending one of these

kia: cute, useless cars

fiat: cars for smug people

mini: cars for slightly less smug people

lucid: YOU BOUGHT A FUCKING LUCID??? I can't lie that's funny. cute styling i think it seems like a halfway decent ev but i've never studied one hard i just went to a mall exhibition on them so i'm talking out of my ass here

ferrari: not dignifying this with a response

acura: does anyone remember the acura

aston martin: similarly to the bently, ironically enough, the amount of times i've considered rear ending one...

alfa romeo: oh fuck off you rich asshole

bugatti, hummer, land rover, tesla, lamborghini, porsche, ram, RIVIAN, and ESPECIALLY MCLAREN: i hate you. with a burning passion, actually.

chrysler and infiniti: this is like the kind of car they animate in 3d disney movies

jag: you think you're so cool don't you

maserati: unfortunately you are actually cool

maybach: You hurt me so

isuzu: I LOVE YOU BABYYYYY YOU'RE SO CUUUUUTE mostly for their commercial trucks and this is mostly honorable mention but their cars have cute styling. i don't know if the personal vehicles are any good sadly

daihatsu: i really know nothing of the engines but the styling of these cars is really something special

takeoka: i have a hard time giving an opinion on these because any time i look at one i start freaking the fuck out

hino: i have 0 opinion on this.

SEAT: como crecí con estos automóviles, mi opinión es muy subjetiva pero i think they're cute classics. modern versions are hit or miss but isn't that the nature of nostalgia

mitsuoka: biased based on kanji i won't lie but also biased based on that stupid fucking styling i wish i could pop the hood on one of these fucking freaks

[aonecarsrental]

Perfect choice

Aone car Rentals has provided millions of customers with the best possible guaranteed price for their Car Rental. We welcome you to become our next satisfied customer.

The first step in choosing the right rental car is understanding your specific needs. Consider factors such as: ● Group Size: Are you traveling solo, with family, or with a large group of friends? ● Luggage Space: Will you have a lot of luggage or equipment to transport? ● Travel Destination: Are you heading to a city, the countryside, or off-road locations? ● Budget: What is your rental budget, including fuel and insurance costs? ● Duration: How long do you need the rental car? Is it for a day, a week, or an extended period?

2. Vehicle Type

Many agencies offer various vehicle types, including compact cars, sedans, SUVs, vans, and luxury cars. Select a car that suits your needs and preferences. If you're traveling in a group or with family, opt for a spacious SUV or van. If you prioritize fuel efficiency, a compact car might be your best choice.

3. Consider Fuel Efficiency

Fuel costs can add up during your journey. Choosing a fuel-efficient car can help you save money. We offer a range of eco-friendly options, ensuring you can go the distance without breaking the bank.

4. Transmission Type

Different countries have varying transmission preferences. Ensure that the rental car you choose has the transmission type you're comfortable with. 5. Additional Features Some trips may require specific features like GPS navigation, child safety seats, or roof racks for sports equipment. We offer additional features and accessories to enhance your driving experience.

5. Rental Insurance

Consider rental insurance options to protect yourself in case of accidents or damage to the car. We provide comprehensive insurance options to ensure your peace of mind during your journey.

6. Rental Duration

The rental duration can affect your choice. Daily rentals are suitable for short trips, while weekly or monthly rentals are more cost-effective for longer journeys. We offer flexible rental durations to cater to your schedule.

7. Self-Driving Option

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[arsistq4545]

"SUVs: Exploring the New Dimension of Journey"

Introduction

SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) are garnering increasing popularity in the automotive world in recent years. These high-performance vehicles offer drivers a spacious interior, powerful engines, and an impressive driving experience. So, why have SUVs become so attractive? In this blog post, we will explore the popularity of SUVs and the unique features of this vehicle class.

What is an SUV?

SUV stands for "Sport Utility Vehicle." These vehicles are typically four-wheel drive, high-bodied cars with spacious interiors. Designed for both urban use and off-road adventures, SUVs have gained favor among a diverse user base.

The Popularity of SUVs

High Seating Position: SUVs provide drivers and passengers with a high seating position. This offers a broader perspective and better road observation for drivers.

Spacious Interior: SUVs are known for their generous interior space. This makes them an ideal choice for long journeys or families.

Powerful Performance: SUVs often come equipped with powerful engines, providing drivers with a fast and robust driving experience.

Versatile Usage: Designed for use both in the city and on rough terrain, SUVs stand out for their versatility.

SUV Models and Notable Features

Toyota RAV4: Notable for its compact size, the RAV4 excels in fuel efficiency and safety features.

Range Rover Velar: Positioned in the luxury SUV category, the Velar stands out for its elegance, performance, and off-road capabilities.

Jeep Wrangler: Ideal for off-road enthusiasts, the Wrangler is known for its unique design and durability.

Conclusion

SUVs have secured a significant place in the automotive world with their spacious interiors, powerful performances, and diverse usage scenarios. By choosing these vehicles, drivers can experience a comfortable drive in city traffic and embark on adventurous off-road journeys. SUVs continue to add a new dimension to the world of automobile enthusiasts.

[sayhowdycountrycritters]

Compact, sedan, suv; all four wheel drive & off-road.