The Cars Desk
Cars
The car as machine, object, and obsession.
The car beat at AlphaMode is for people who care about cars on more than one axis. The numbers matter: weights, ratios, dyno sheets, the lap time at Laguna Seca on a stock setup. So does the design history, the small-shop tuners, the salt-flat builders, the guy on a forum who knows more about the W124 chassis than the company that built it.
We cover new releases when there is something to say about them — when a manufacturer has actually built something interesting, or has very deliberately built something boring. We cover used cars more, because that is where most of our readers actually buy. We cover motorsport, road trips, the politics of the EV transition, and the economics of why a 2003 Toyota now costs what it costs.
If a car coverage piece on this site is not telling you something specific you did not already know — about the car, the category, or the experience of driving it — we have not done our job.
Featured
Cars
10 Driving Roads in America That Are Worth Planning Your Entire Trip Around
Forget the highway. These are the roads where driving becomes the destination — switchbacks, scenery, and the kind of curves that make you glad you own a car with a manual transmission.
By AlphaMode Editorial · 9 min read
Recent in Cars
14 stories total
Cars
Best Weekend Getaways That Won't Destroy Your Wallet
You don't need to blow two grand on a flight to Tulum to have a great weekend. Here are budget-friendly trips that'll actually recharge you -- road trips, camping, city breaks, and a few that might get your heart rate up.
Cars
Best Midsize Trucks for Guys Who Don't Need a Monster
Not everyone needs a 6,000-pound full-size truck to haul mulch twice a year. Here are 7 midsize trucks that deliver real truck utility without the absurd price tag, parking nightmares, and single-digit fuel economy.
Cars
15 Legendary Cars That Make Gearheads Lose Their Minds
From the 1967 Shelby GT500 to the McLaren F1, these are the cars that turned grown men into drooling children at car shows. A totally biased but thoroughly researched guide to automotive perfection.
Cars
Basic Car Maintenance Every Guy Should Know How to Do
I once paid a shop $80 to replace a cabin air filter that takes literally two minutes and costs $12. Never again. Here's everything I've learned about keeping a car alive without getting ripped off.
Cars
Best Used Cars Under $15K That Won't Leave You Stranded
You don't need $40K and a 72-month loan to get a genuinely good car. Here are 9 used cars under $15,000 that'll start every morning, survive your commute, and maybe even put a smile on your face doing it.
Cars
The Art of the Road Trip: Planning an Epic Drive Across America
I've driven coast to coast three times and taken more wrong turns than I'd like to admit. Here's everything I've learned about planning a road trip that's actually fun and doesn't end in a breakup.
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Best Road Trip Snacks, Ranked by Someone Who Drives Too Much
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Dumbest Car Mods That People Actually Think Look Cool
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