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Welcome back to the Off the Road Again podcast! We’ve missed you. The focus is on the off-road adventure, but we also dabble in all things SUVs, truck, and van, and maybe even some rally cars. In this episode of Off The Road Again, Ross and Chris journey through time and terrain with the ever-passionate Ron Lefevre, a die-hard Land Rover enthusiast. From the rugged hills to the silky sands, Ron has put his trust in the sturdy wheels of Land Rover SUVs for decades. Get an insider’s look into his enduring relationship with his 1999 Land Rover Discovery Series I – a vehicle that’s been with him since it rolled fresh off the line. Fast forward a few years, and Ron found himself behind the wheel of a 2004 Land Rover Discovery Series II, continuing his adventures with the iconic brand. Tune in as we dive deep into Ron’s exhilarating escapades, the challenges faced, the memories made, and his undying love for Land Rovers. Whether you’re an off-road enthusiast, a Land Rover lover, or just looking for a great story, this episode promises a ride you won’t want to miss! The post Land Rover Ron Lefevre – Off The Road Again Podcast: Episode 180 appeared first on Hooniverse.

Let me get two things out of the way right up front; no one is paying me to write this post, and yes I should maybe slow down behind the wheel. That first bit? I’m referring to the fact that this will sound like an ad but it’s in fact just me being supremely impressed with a product. The second bit? That’s tougher since my job essentially has me driving a wide range of vehicles on a wide range of roads. With that comes pushing vehicles just a bit to see what they’re all about. And occasionally that means a speed limit is going to get broken, in the process. Thankfully, I’ve now gone two-for-two fighting tickets through the app Off the Record. I first heard of it where it was in an ad over on the The Smoking Tire Podcast. A few months after hearing Matt speak about it, I got a ticket. I decided to give the the app a shot since the ticket in question (essentially rolling through a red while making a right turn at a very empty T-junction) is an expensive one. The app matched me with a traffic lawyer in my area after I uploaded a photo of my ticket. He barely said a word to me via the in-app messaging system, and just said he’d handle it. I could see updates that the court date was pushed and pushed again. And then one night, while sitting on the couch, I got a text an app notification, and an email all saying that my ticket was fully dismissed with no fines incurred. I was rather impressed as I’d had to do nothing other than pay less than $200 for a lawyer, supply no other info other than the ticket, and my infraction was gone. The fine I would’ve received plus any potential points far exceeded the cost of hiring the lawyer through the app. More recently, I received a speeding ticket. The officer was not impressed with the capabilities of the new Ford Mustang GT. As soon as I got home, I uploaded the ticket to the app. A lawyer was found quite quickly, and he messaged me saying he’d take care of it. Three months later, after a few court date updates via the app, I got a text, email, and app notification that the ticket was dismissed with no fines owed. Now, I am not saying that this will work for your ticket. It really depends on what you’ve done (allegedly, of course) and maybe also where you live. But I do believe that the app could at least help you get stuff knocked down, reduced, or hopefully, as I’ve experienced, it will get dismissed. I’m impressed with the app. I’ve now gone two-for-two, though I consider myself lucky to get both dismissed regardless. I’m going to reiterate that Off The Record isn’t paying for this. This is just me leaving what amounts to a bit more than a very good review for a service that’s worked well for me. And if you need to use it, I hope it works well for you too. The post I’m 2-for-2 Fighting Tickets with Off The Record appeared first on Hooniverse.

There has been a lot written about Acura’s new Integra. Angry people on the internet claim that the Civic based Integra isn’t what it should have been. However, that’s what the Integra always was, and we here at Hooniverse like it. We’ve driven the regular Integra and Jeff noted that the “2023 Acura Integra is exactly what it’s supposed to be“. Like, that was literally the title of his article! I drove it this past summer as well and really enjoyed my week with Acura’s new sedan. However, I ended the article opining that I wish that it felt a bit more special. Well, the Type S is here, and I’ve been driving it. So, let’s get into the weeds to find out if this $52,000 Integra is special enough to be worth of it’s elevated MSRP. 2024 Acura Integra Type S – Overview Building your Integra on Acura’s website is an interesting experience. They basically start by asking “hey, you there, how much power do you want”. If you’d like 200 horsepower, you can opt for one with a CVT, or if you’re an intelligent person, one with a manual. I sort of wanted a bit more pizzaz when it comes to the Type S. It’s like “if you want more power, a lot more power, there’s this one I guess”. “This one” does cost a lot more than the others, the better part of $20,000 more than the cheapest Integra. I’m curious how the average buyer will react to all this, especially since they all say “Front-Wheel Drive” and other than the obvious power difference, there isn’t much differentiation between the models. Anyway, select the bigger engine and you are taken to “Select an Integra Package” which is basically just the Type S. Then select your color, everything but silver add $600 to the bottom line. Our tested was shorn in the gorgeous Apex Blue but I also really dig the Tiger Eye Pear yellow. Our tester also has the “Orchid” interior, which is sort of an off-white. I think for long-term ownership you go with the Ebony option though, it’ll show less wear. As you can see by our window sticker, this built-in-Ohio Integra Type S doesn’t have anything else added (since there isn’t really much to add) and rings in at a final MSRP of $52,595. That’s more than twice as much as the two cheapest 2023 Honda Civic trim levels and $15,200 more than the Integra A-Spec w/Tech that I drove earlier this year. Just look at it though. 2024 Acura Integra Type S – Inside & Out While the Integra is a solid looking car, particularly in A-Spec guise, the Type S looks like something else altogether. Park them next to each other and that sticker shock starts to wear off. The Type S is a wide boi, so very wide, and that width allows for the front track to be 3.5 inches wider than the normal Integra. And unlike those tacked on widebody kits you see on a GT 86, this one looks great. Almost like it was done in a factory. The design is aggressive without being ridiculous, the front end has deep lower air intakes on either side and the overall look is just fabulous. The “Diamond Pentagon” grille (which sounds like a strip club in DC) is also larger than it is on the non Type S for better cooling and the aluminum hood has a functional vent. The profile is still “hatchback Integra” but it looks lower and longer. Which it is. Out back Acura has a nice looking gloss back diffuser and triple-outlet exhaust. It’s a fantastic looking thing. On the inside, the changes aren’t quite as dramatic, which is OK. The regular Integra builds off of an already very solid Civic interior and Acura manage to make you feel reasonably good about sitting in a $50,000+ car. You get a bunch of “Type S” badging and embossing and a fantastic set of seats. They have “ultrasuede” inserts and a bit more side bolster than in the regular Integra. The ELS Studio 3-D system is fantastic as always and adds to the premium feel. It’s incredibly dynamic and honestly is an underappreciated stand out in the market right now. Like the base Integra, they left some of the Civic metallic honeycomb trim splashed across the dash. Still it looks good, particularly with pixelated gray trim next to it. I really liked the white lights behind the central HVAC dials, as well as the detail on the dial itself. Criticisms were minor, the blank black section next to the door handle belies the fact that there are no seat presets. Which is something you can have on the cheaper Integra. Overall though, it’s comfortable, ergonomic, and feels just premium enough. The Type S is also a practical hatchback, with loads of space and pretty impressive legroom. So, from a power and practicality perspective, it’s about perfect. But this is the Hooniverse, so we’re going to spend some time talking about performance. 2024 Acura Integra Type S – On the Street What you really want to know is what the Type S is like to drive. Well, with 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque and a just over 3,200 pound curb weight it’s freakin quick. That’s five more horsepower than you get in the new Type R of which it’s based, more on that in a bit. Max power hits at 6,500 RPMs (VTEC yo!) so you’ve got to wind it out to get the most of the engine, although max torque hits much lower (2,600 to 4,000 RPMs) so it’s no slouch off the line. As you would expect, the manual transmission is typical Honda, which is to say it’s just about perfect. Plus, the brake hold feature is always welcomed on a manual, makes it a lot easier to live with in traffic. It also sounds fantastic, the Type S actually doesn’t have a front exhaust chamber (where the Type R does) and

My fellow North Americans, the station wagon as we know it continues to be replaced by high riding versions of itself. As a serial car buyer I’m always car shopping for the next thing. Lately I’ve considered replacing my Wrangler Unlimited with something a little more comfortable, a little quicker (300 horsepower or more), has similar or better interior space, and has enough personality to make me look over my shoulder at it as I walk away. It continues to clear that I’d love a new wagon. Only you can’t buy a new wagon that’s fast unless you’re looking to spend quite a bit of cash. So I’ve made a quick graphic to illustrate that. Here are all the 2024 model wagons for sale in North America. Behold! Some additional context if I may, since I’m sure people will have comments. This is not necessarily to scale, I’m sure people will parse out that wagon X is technically a little quicker than wagon Y. I did a quick 0-60 search and didn’t dig into each car for the sake of time. Similarly, I’m sure some wagon is technically more expensive than another, I did a cursory base-model comparison via Google as I was working on this in Photoshop. So save your “well acktshually” comments, this was purely done to point out that the top left quadrant is blank! It doesn’t have to be, but it would take a non-premium automaker to do it. For example, you can currently get the Subaru Outback with an optional turbo 2.4L 260 horsepower engine. The base engine is slow, 8.7 seconds to 60, and the optional engine is decent, around six seconds. Depending on interior accoutrements and trim a 300 horsepower version could be on sale for around $40,000. The other option is to wagonize a car that is already good looking, and quick. Imagine a Kia Stinger wagon! I asked the DALL-E3 integrated into Bing to create one, and it’s absolutely stunning. I know, I know, you’re thinking “Well acktshually, people don’t buy wagons, why would automakers bother?”. And that’s the reality I have to live with, but I don’t have to be happy about it. I’ve only ever owned one wagon out of 30-some (40-some?) cars so I’m part of the problem. Now that I’m in the market the ones I want don’t exist new or CPO anymore. The post State of the Wagon Address – 2024 appeared first on Hooniverse.

The Honda Motocompacto is a modern take on a cult classic. It’s the reimagined version of the Motocompo scooter from the early 80s. That was called a trunk bike and it was designed to fit in the rear of the subcompact Honda City. Today, the Motocompacto is here and it weighs half as much, as a slimmer profile, and is just as appealing. First, let’s take a quick look back at the Motocompo though… and let’s do so via one of the original ads for the City, which featured Ska band Madness: Honda needs to do an updated version for the Motocompacto and toss one of these in the back of that new Prelude Concept. On to the specs of the newer rig, though, as it’s a pretty slick little e-scooter of a thing. The seats, foot pegs, kickstand, handlebars, and rear wheel all fold up neatly into a Wall-E-esque machine. It’s very easy to get it all set up. All of the parts lock into position with a very satisfying and nicely machined click. And you know it’s all set up correctly because the Motocompacto otherwise won’t turn on until it senses that everything is where it needs to be. Honda says the Motocompacto can handle riders up to 265 lbs in weight. I weigh 220. The mighty mite had no issue getting up to speed quickly but I was a tick off the top speed, which is listed at 15 mph. I cruised effortlessly at 14 mph. Going uphill, the Motocompacto maintained a speed between 8 and 9 mph. And then coming downhill, I managed to see 17 mph on the digital display. The Motocompacto has two ride modes. In mode 1, you’re required to kick off with your foot before the throttle will engage. You’re also limited to 10 mph. Mode 2 gives you throttle from a stop and unlocks the 15 mph top speed. There’s a headlight, taillight, and brake light. The charging cable can be stored in the center section of the scooter. Sitting on it, you’re very upright but it actually feels good for your posture. The Motocompact leans over just fine in corners and runs more stable than I would’ve assumed. Honda is selling the Motocompacto via Honda and Acura dealers. The price is $995. That’s a lot for a toy, but not a ton for a solid commuter machine that you could carry on the subway with you, or store in the trunk of your vehicle for first-mile/last-mile solutions. The post Honda Motocompacto is a modern mobility solution that’s also fun appeared first on Hooniverse.

OK, hoons, yesterday I celebrated Wagon Wednesday (on a Tuesday) with my “State of the Wagon Address“. While Jeff thought maybe I was making fun of him for his unfinished Mercedes wagon project, I was really lamenting the state of new wagons in North America currently. I know, I know, no on buys them, yadda, yadda, but I want one. Not just any one, but one that’s actually kinda quick and interesting, but isn’t made by a premium automaker who will undoubtably charge $70,000 or more for it. So it got me thinking, what cool new wagons could we have using the 2023 and 2024 model year parts bin that would land in that top left quadrant of my wagon chart? Now, I’m somewhat of a Photoshop expert, but damnit the latest AI is pretty amazing at creating things that don’t exist. So, like the Stinger wagon I created for the last article, I’ll be using the DALL·E 3 Image Creator in Bing (RIP Matthew Perry). For Volume 1 I’ll go through each U.S. market manufacturer that I could could pull something like this off (from Chevy to Mitsubishi on this round). Chevrolet Well, much like rival Ford, Chevy’s cadre of cars is getting smaller and smaller by the model year. However, the Malibu still exists, so how about a Chevrolet Malibu SS Wagon? Obviously powerplants are thick on the ground at General Motors and the standard 1.5 turbo and CTV aren’t going to cut it. Honestly, the Camaro’s standard 3.6-liter V6 making 335 horsepower would likely be enough to get a Malibu into the top left quadrant. Obviously we’d love to see a V8, but we’re getting into some powertrain questions here. A Malibu wagon would need something other than FWD to peacefully coexist with all that power. Still, it would be quite, a thing and based on the Malibu’s reasonable starting price it shouldn’t be massively expensive. Chrysler Now here’s a scenario that would most certainly work, keep the Chrysler 300 in the lineup as is, just add a longer roofline. Chrysler Magnum baby! The powertrains exist, beyond the standard 292 hp V6 and optional 300 hp V6 you can get a 5.7-liter V8 (363 hp, 394 lb-ft) and the 300C, which ups the ante to a 6.4-liter V8 (485 hp, 475 lb-ft). Yes please, just look at it. Dodge If anyone is ridiculous enough to do this, it’s Dodge. I won’t even bore you with the multitude of engine combinations that this could generate, I’ll just generate some imagery of what could be in a Dodge Charger Wagon. Take my money. Ford This one kinda sucks, the only car that Ford sells is the Mustang. So, as good as a Fusion and/or Taurus Wagon might be, it’s not looking good. Since, you know, they don’t exist. Which is too bad since Ford has a stable of amazing engine options to put to use in this scenario. Plus, they already make cool wagons for Europe and other countries. Here, something like this, they’re glorious. Jerks. Honda Here we go, a manufacturer that sells cars and some of them are already quick. The notion of an Accord Wagon or Civic Wagon with Type R guts makes me feel all spicy downstairs. I’m not sure why the AI thinks they all have to have roof racks, maybe Honda owners are seen as active people? Again, take my money. Hyundai So yeah, same as above, Hyundai makes cars already and some are part of the marvelous N line (not N-Line, that’s different, kinda like M Sport vs. ///M). Just make me an Elantra N Wagon. Done, kthxbye. Kia Just like I posited in the last article. Build a Stinger GT Wagon and I will buy a Kia Stinger GT Wagon. Mazda So, yeah Mazda doesn’t make many cars anymore either, but you could imagine what could happen if they did. The Mazda3 is a solid entry into the hatchback market. So that, but longer, with more power. Perhaps a Mazdaspeed Mazda3 Wagon? Mitsubishi I…I don’t even know where to go with this one, so here’s a slightly longer Mirage Evo Wagon. Kinda just looks like a hatchback, but I like it. Oh how the mighty have fallen. OK, now I’m just depressed, I know that none of this stuff will actually happen. But stay tuned for Volume 2 next week where I’ll finish things out with Nissan to Volkswagen! The post Wagon Wednesday: What new wagons could we have? (Volume 1) appeared first on Hooniverse.

Welcome back to the Off the Road Again podcast! We’ve missed you. The focus is on the off-road adventure, but we also dabble in all things SUVs, truck, and van, and maybe even some rally cars. In this episode of Off The Road Again, Ross and Chris welcome Peter Clark, the mastermind behind Baseline Overland, the company that’s turning heads in the off-road community by expertly outfitting Chevrolet Suburbans and GMC Yukons. Peter shares the inspiration behind diving deep into these particular vehicles and explains why they’re not just for soccer moms and dads anymore. From heavy-duty roof racks that can bear the weight of the wildest adventures to front and rear bumpers designed to withstand the rugged outdoors, Peter gives us an inside look at the innovation and engineering that goes into each modification. Listen in as we dive into the nitty-gritty of vehicle prep for overlanding, the challenges faced when altering these iconic cars, and the rewarding experiences of seeing these vehicles tackle terrains they were never originally designed for. We also explore Peter’s own adventures and misadventures in the great outdoors and hear about the craziest requests he’s received for vehicle modifications. Whether you’re an overland enthusiast, a Chevy or GMC aficionado, or just someone who loves a good adventure story, this episode promises to gear you up for your next big trip. So grab your trail mix, fire up that engine, and let’s head Off The Road Again with Peter Clark! Remember to subscribe to Off The Road Again for more exciting tales and interviews from the adventurous world of off-roading and overlanding. Safe travels! The post Baseline Overland, Peter Clark – Off The Road Again Podcast: Episode 181 appeared first on Hooniverse.

The average new car price in the U.S. is just over $48,000, which is a lot. When I walked into a Honda dealer in 1999 and purchased a manual Civic EX, their small CR-V SUV had a starting sticker price of $19,365, with the top-spec trim CR-V EX starting at $20,865. Now I’m doing some some quick maths to account for inflation and I would expect the range topping CR-V for 2023 to cost around $38,548. Well prepare to be surprised, because…holy shit…that’s almost exactly what it costs! Wow, I did this as I drafted the article, how about that. I guess it’s time to see if this top spec 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring is worth the $38,600 Honda is asking. 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Overview The CR-V is all new for 2023 and marks the sixth-generation of Honda’s compact(ish) crossover. The CR-V range for 2023 is a bit more complicated than it was in 1999. There are five models, starting at $28,410 up to our tester that…apparently has had a price increase since they built it and is now going for $39,100. So much for my exacting inflation calculation, but hey the car market is still a bit goofy. Engine options include the base 190 horsepower turbo 1.5L four and the 204 horsepower 2.0L hybrid like in our test car. The Sport Touring Hybrid is loaded with just about everything you can get on a CR-V. Leather upholstery Power-adjustable front passenger seat Driver’s seat memory settings Nine-inch touchscreen Hands-free liftgate Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless smartphone charging pad Integrated navigation system Low-speed automatic braking Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning Front and rear parking sensors 19-inch gloss black wheels Ambient cabin lighting Heated steering wheel 12-speaker Bose premium audio system Our pretty Canyon River Blue Metallic paint wasn’t even an optional extra, though there are four colors out of the eight total that add $455 to the bottom line. There is one interior option, black, and one wheel option, also black. There are a few accessory packages you can add, including the HPD Package, which consists of a tailgate spoiler, some black cladding over the wheels, and some badges. The cool bronze HPD wheels aren’t available on the top-spec Sport Touring sadly. All-in (at least when our CR-V was built) and you’re looking at $39,845. 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring Inside & Out Honda (and Acura) are in a good spot design-wise of late. The long raked headlights integrate nicely into the grille which features a large Honda badge. The brightwork on either side at the bottom of the bumper looks a little out of place, but gives the front a bit more color compared to the blacked out trim. Out back the taillight design reminds me a bit of a Volvo SUV, and that’s not a bad thing. The zig-zag light design looks pretty premium. Honda also has a similar geometric shape where the exhaust tips would be that are trimmed in the same bright color as up front. Overall it’s a good looking thing, I would have no problem recommending someone spend close to $40,000 on one based on exterior design. But let’s see how things look on the inside. Well, the first thing you notice is the Honda Civic lineage, which isn’t a bad thing. The dashboard-wide honeycomb pattern is there in all its glory and still looks fantastic. Interesting note, I had just came from testing the Integra Type-S which also has the same pattern in it’s Civic-derived interior, though it’s a replaced in places to make it feel a bit more “upscale”. Still, overall the CR-V has a very pleasing interior, with everything arranged in a nicely Japanese efficiency from an ergonomic perspective. The seats were a nice surprise, and again that’s coming out of the spectacular set in the Type-S. They manage to be wide and comfortable enough while having some surprisingly solid side-bolsters. What’s likely the best news for small families is the cargo space. It’s a generous 39.3 cu. ft. with the rear seats up and a huge’ish 76.5 cu. ft. with the back seats dropped. I also write for CarMax and have to get into a lot of facts and figures, so I can say with some authority that the cargo space, as well as the 41.0 inches of rear leg room is pretty fantastic. For comparison, the 1999 CR-V had 29.6 cu. ft. of space in the back and 36.7 inches of legroom. Since the average consumer isn’t going to be autocrossing their CR-V, the extra size (7.2 inches longer and 4.6 inches wider) will be put to good use. Summary In the end, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring is solid in just about every category. Sure, the hybrid engine takes eight-seconds to get to 60, but I’m sure at some point I defended some 1990s sport compact on a Vbulletin forum for being “pretty quick” with that type of performance. Real world consumers in real world driving situations are usually more concerned about MPG and the hybrid is rated up to 40 mpg, while the all-wheel drive version like our tester drops to 37 mpg. Still not bad for the size, and the CR-V adds in an impressive ride quality in addition to the large interior. In some ways it does fall into my defintion of “an car”, something I’d recommend to friends and family, but not something I’d necessarily consider for myself. However, was also sort of unfair to the CR-V that Honda to send me an Integra Type S, then this hybrid crossover, and then a Type R! Regardless, being an car is OK, considering the price for the top-spec trim hasn’t really gone up all that much beyond basic inflation, but the CR-V has gotten larger and added more stuff, it’s a pretty impressive thing. Interesting note, it’s called the Honda Breeze in China, which is a much better name! The post 2023

Welcome back to the Off the Road Again podcast! We’ve missed you. The focus is on the off-road adventure, but we also dabble in all things SUVs, truck, and van, and maybe even some rally cars. Join Ross as he sits down with his brother Spencer, and their dad Rich, who recently embarked on an offroad trip to the picturesque terrains of New Hampshire. With the powerful Polaris Scrambler XP 1000 S and the rugged 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, the Ballots conquered trails, climbed peaks, and navigated the backcountry, all while strengthening their familial bonds. Ross, Spencer, and Rich recount their thrilling journey, sharing the highs, the lows, and the unexpected surprises along the way. From encountering breathtaking New Hampshire scenery to tackling unforeseen obstacles on the trail, their tales of adventure will have you on the edge of your seat. Hear firsthand how the Polaris Scrambler and the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro stood up to the challenge, providing reliability, power, and comfort throughout the expedition. They delve into their favorite features of these robust vehicles and how they contributed to making the trip a smooth and enjoyable experience. But it’s not just about the machines and the trails; it’s about family, camaraderie, and the unforgettable memories made amidst the backdrop of the great outdoors. The Ballot family also reflects on the deepened connections and the laughter shared, highlighting the heartwarming and enduring aspects of offroading adventures. So buckle up and hit play for a ride-along with the Ballots on their New Hampshire escapade. Immerse yourself in a story of family, adventure, and unyielding vehicles on this captivating episode of Off The Road Again! Don’t miss this journey into the wild with a heartwarming family twist. Tune in now! Don’t forget to subscribe to Off The Road Again on your favorite podcast platform for more inspiring stories and insights from the world of offroading and overlanding. Until the next adventure, stay safe and keep exploring! The post Ross Goes to New Hampshire – Off The Road Again Podcast: Episode 182 appeared first on Hooniverse.