There have been a number of criticisms, comments, and questions about Tesla’s use of stainless steel for the Cybertruck. How heavy will it be? How will it crash? How will you deal with dings and scratches? We at least know what a crashed Cybertruck looks like, but now there’s something else that has people talking. Apparently, these trucks could be fingerprint magnets, just like your refrigerator at home!
Some of you had some great responses to today’s piece, earning you today’s [Ed note: Yesterday’s – MH] COTD!
Ash78
“Get the stainless steel” they said, “It’s not that hard to keep clean,” they kept insisting.
“All the professional kitchens use it.”
My fridge looks like a crime scene.
Rob Rex
Finally. A car you can clean with bar keeper’s friend.
For a runner up COTD today, we have a comment from Taargus Taargus on David’s review of the Crosstrek Wilderness, who explains why people love to buy Subarus:
I live in upstate NY, not far from the Vermont border. This is Subaru country.
People here seem down on the idea that the Subaru lineup is loaded with poser vehicles and that they’re subpar products in general. Yet this entire area is loaded with people who are happy with them, because Subaru knows their core demographic; people who want cheap AWD vehicles. Yeah you have their outdoorsy demo, and dog-lover demo, but overall, something like the Crosstrek is about 27k to start, has AWD and some ground clearance, and basically functions like the original Legacy Outback. The Crosstrek just makes a lot of sense for a lot of people, even if it’s not exactly what I’m into.
Yeah I hate CVTs like most people do, but Subaru has stood by theirs with extended warranties and such (so far). And yes, head gaskets, lol. But outside of Toyota (and maybe Mazda) can anyone else name a brand that hasn’t had tons and tons of similar or worse defects? Honda has put out some pretty bad transmissions and the 1.5T scares me with the oil dilution issue. Ford scared away every entry level buyer after the Powershit fiasco. GM isn’t exactly faultless, and VW and Chrysler? Lol. People may get annoyed that Subaru buyers are loyal to the semi-false image of reliability, but it’s not like all the other options are somehow any better.
As for this Wilderness trim, it’s fine. And as much as everyone here wants powertrain upgrades for this, I don’t. It’s basically 32k. Let it be the appearance package and minor upgrades that it should be, instead of being yet another unattainable 40k+ piece of crap. I like that it’s basically a lifted, trimmed out adventure-y Impreza for an extra 5k or whatever. What happened to all the people that liked the regular-ass car turned off-roader concept? That’s what this is.
Honestly? I dig the Wilderness cars. I can’t speak for the Outback Wilderness or the Crosstrek Wilderness, but the Forester Wilderness was genuinely a blast to rip down fire roads. They’re the Subaru many people know and love, just more of it! Have a great evening, everyone.
Yeah, Subie hate is confusing to me. I also live in upstate NY, close to VT. Subarus are boring but practical. I often joke that people from Vermont receive a voucher for a Subaru on the back of their birth certificate, and so far that stereotype has held true.
Subaru sucks, Honda rules
(Also, screw the cyberf(tr)uck)
We have an Audi Allroad, and since my bride used to work the night shift, there were a few times when without it she would not have made it home……so I was happy to oblige. Now I like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if the weather takes a dump on us, we can still get someplace if we need to……when you get older and have older pets, being able to get to health care at any time in any weather can be a necessity.
Plus too and also, it’s a really nice car to drive and gets surprisingly good fuel mileage!
I have a concrete driveway that is 600 feet long and is up to a 22% grade. Believe there are times I really do need AWD, and it ain’t always winter.
A comment that makes Subarus…make sense?
I need a scalding hot shower and a Brillo pad after reading that. *shudders*
“I can’t drive in the snow without AWD because it’s physically impossible and my Labrador will die and my kid won’t make it to Hockey practice.” -said Karen.
NOTE: I’m married to an 80% Karen, her name is “Aren”, and the other 20% forced me to buy a BMW wagon with all the rest of the requirements and reasons instead of a Subaru.
Do what I’ve seen so many others do. Just plaster a $1 AWD sticker on any old shit box (use the mounting holes so thoughtfully provided by the dealer) and call it good.
To be fair there are parts of the country where on certain roads for ~half the winter you’re legally required to have 4WD/AWD and snow tires if you don’t want to use chains.
Also people think that driving in the snow and ice is super easy and said people live in a 2D flatland with no hills, let alone mountain passes. Then said dumdums decide to take their 2WD POS with crap tires on a ski trip and they have a ‘come to Jesus’ moment.
If I didn’t have to deal with all the other idiots on the road I could get by with a properly built 2WD vehicle on quality snow tires. The issue I run into is people doing 10-15 MPH uphill in a 45 which limits how much momentum I can build up and with 2WD in the snow momentum is a wonderful tool if you know how to use it and are allow to use it.
Judging by your comment you live in a 2D area.
I live in one of those areas of the country where 4WD/AWD and snow (or three peak-rated) tires are required, or that you carry chains at pretty much all times between October and March. Additionally, I live on a hill in a neighborhood in the middle of town that becomes an ice rink with every snow. Like many roads around town, it has curves right before a hill that limit the ability to carry any momentum up the hill, pretty much requiring 4WD/AWD even if you have snow tires.
I drove a 2wd compact pickup for years in the upper Midwest winters with a set of snow tires and 400lbs of sand over the rear axle, but that often doesn’t work in the mountains, especially when surrounded by others who are clueless on how to drive when the snow begins to fall.
I’m being a sassy jackasss, mostly. But, I live in a VERY hilly part of CT. I need AWD once or twice a year if I don’t plan, zero times a year if I do plan. There are certainly people who require it, for sure. If I could not WFH, I’d probably need it too. And yes to all your points about people killing for us who have 2WD.
My apologies, I’m not good at interpreting sarcasm and sass in text form most of the time.
Connecticut is surprisingly hilly, and depending where you are can have more snow than almost any other (non ski mountain) part of the country (there is a weird snow band that for some reason dumps lots of snow in certain areas).
But what if you need it just to get home? I need to drive a section of 30% grade just below my GF’s place to get back to her house. And her driveway is also steep uphill. I’ve lost traction going uphill in a FWD car with 3PMS-rated tires and started sliding backwards multiple times on both the road and the driveway. My own driveway is steep enough the other direction that I’ve slid into the garage door (and knocked it off) accidently from the road before. I sometimes need AWD just to get out of my driveway (I have full winter tires on one of my Legacys year-round).
My preference is different from the mainstream in winter mountain cities/towns. I like non-lifted, clean looking (no body cladding, no two-tone paint), but AWD wagons. That’s why I have old Legacys instead of Outbacks or Wilderness version (not that Wilderness versions existed in the before-2005 models that I prefer). Though I’m an outdoorsman (skier, mountain/trail runner, mountain biker, climber, etc.) I’ve never had a desire or need to drive off road. And if there is a big snow dump, I’m shoveling out my driveway and not driving until the roads are plowed anyway.
“I can drive in the snow without AWD and make comments on the internet that disparage women in general and mothers in particular.”
I see that you’re mostly being a sassy jackass, but I wish people noticed how deeply baked in their biases are. Also maybe Karen’s husband should pick up some fucking slack and shuttle the kids around for once.
I wish my wife would pick up the slack also. We do have a good balance of family obligations in my house, so I can’t complain too much, really.