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Even if you had enough money to buy almost any car you wanted, sometimes the faithful old car—say, a Nissan Altima—you’ve been driving for a decade is and remains the right answer.That’s the story of Brandon Nimmo, who has made millions but still shows up to games in his 2010 Altima, even when the players’ parking lot is full of much more expensive machines.Nimmo, who plays for the New York Mets, told MLB.com that the old Altima makes sense in a city where you always have to watch for aggressive drivers.There was a time when Hollywood was amazed and amused by A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio cruising around town in a Toyota Prius. Then the movie stars were entertained by Jennifer Lawrence and her Volkswagen Eos. There are plenty of other examples of people with more than enough money decidedly not spending it on expensive vehicles.Over in the world of baseball, we have Brandon Nimmo, an outfielder for the New York Mets who just signed a new one-year, $7 million contract to stay on the team. The only reason we care here today is because Nimmo isn’t likely to spend his fortune on a new car. He’s been playing with minor league teams affiliated with the Mets since 2011 and has been in the majors since 2016, so he’s had money for some time. MLB.com estimates Nimmo has made over $10 million throughout his career (not counting the new contract). And even so, the car he is driving around spring training this year is decidedly affordable: a 2010 Nissan Altima sedan with around 65,000 miles on it, which is worth around $7000 to $8000 on the used-car market these days.
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Nimmo’s reasons for driving an Altima in a sea of pricier cars driven by his teammates are logical and sentimental. Speaking to MLB.com, Nimmo said the car “keeps me humble” and is actually a much smarter car to drive around town than more expensive options. “It still does what I need it to do,” Nimmo told MLB.com. “When I throw luggage in the back, do I want to be doing that on a $100,000 Mercedes?”

Nimmo’s Altima is still kicking around for sentimental reasons, too. He told MLB.com that he got the car after graduating from high school in Cheyenne, Wyoming, because some of the money his family had saved up for college became available when he got a scholarship to the University of Arkansas. He later discovered an Altima was just the thing on the streets of his new home. “When I got to New York City, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to be a defensive driver all the time,’ ” Nimmo told MLB.com. “People are always trying to cut in front of you. I was like, ‘You know what? I don’t need a nice car, because you’ve got to play chicken with these people anyway. If the Altima gets a little beat up, I don’t care.”Nimmo told the baseball publication that he also owns a 2011 GMC Sierra that he uses when he is back in Wyoming, but for now he seems to be keen on keeping the Altima on the east coast. Sure, Bluetooth and a backup camera would be nice, he told MLB.com, but that’ll come in time. For now, the Altima isn’t going anywhere. “It kind of reminds me of where I came from,” Nimmo said. “When I have a bad game, I can hop in and be like, ‘I’m glad I didn’t buy that $100,000 Mercedes.’ . . . I’ll probably run her till she’s ragged, and then we’ll see what happens.”
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We often don’t know why we fall in love with objects we adore, like the C3 Chevy Corvette or Hot Pockets. But age, maturity, and worldly experience usually supply hyper-specific reasons for falling out of love. The 1970s Stingray, for instance, was barely a sports car, and Hot Pockets are barely food. This week’s Window Shop challenge was to find cars we once thought were great and then disavowed years later, the same way a brief, bad fling turns into decades of disavowals among the friend group: “I don’t remember that.”This one was another stumper for at least two of our five experts. Road & Track senior editor John Pearley Huffman, who has loved and hated with the force of an anvil since he was a zygote, was disenchanted by a Chrysler. From Car and Driver, senior editor Elana Scherr was disillusioned by a Dodge after it dragged her into oncoming lanes. Contributor Jonathon Ramsey’s relationship with an Alfa Romeo began with “Che bella!” and ended with “Cazzo!” Senior testing editor K.C. Colwell rode into the sunset in a Ford, then returned on foot, disgusted (or did he?). And C/D mandarin Tony Quiroga spent most of his time explaining why he liked his Lotus in the first place. The crew reached a unanimous decision after five stories with the same character arc as When Harry Met Sally, but in reverse. And now that everyone knows about these flings, we’re going to go dust off some of our excuses while you watch the show.

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Earlier this week, Riley Leon of Elgin, Texas, became world-famous. Or, at least, his truck did. He was reportedly the driver of the red Chevrolet Silverado that was being thrown sideways and tossed around by a tornado on Monday, only to drive away once the winds righted it as if nothing had happened.Houston-area local news station KHOU 11 caught up with Leon on Thursday. In that interview, the 16-year-old shared that he had been driving home from an interview at Texas staple Whataburger when the truck he had recently purchased from his father got caught up in the storm. He was upset to see the truck damaged, but he says he “wasn’t scared that much” by the actual tossing of the tornado that had his truck briefly rotating in place on its door.Now, Chevrolet has helped with his concerns about a damaged truck, too. The brand announced Friday morning that it is working with Fort Worth’s Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet to deliver a 2022 Silverado 1500 LT, also in red. He will not have to wait much longer to get back on the road, either; Leon and his family will be presented with the truck at the dealership in Fort Worth on Saturday, March 26. In addition to the truck, Chevrolet is also donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help aid further recovery in the parts of Texas devastated by this week’s storms.

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This classic Sixties Beetle might help anyone take a stroll down memory lane to their younger years, or even feel a twinge of nostalgia about classic ads that said things like, “If you run out of gas, it’s easy to push.” This Beetle features a 1.2-liter flat-four engine and a four-speed manual transmission. The current bid is $12,000, but with a whole weekend before the auction ends on Monday, March 28, we are curious to see how much this Bahama Blue classic goes for. Who doesn’t feel a little nostalgic looking at a Volkswagen Beetle? This 1964 Bug, currently for sale on the auction site Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is giving me all kinds of rosy memories. I can’t help thinking of my mom and her sisters tooling around in one during their teenage years. One of my aunts missed those days so much, she bought a classic Beetle as an adult just to relive a little of her youth on weekends. That personal connection, that nostalgia, is one of the main reasons I love classic cars, and I know I’m not alone.

This Beetle is located about an hour north of San Francisco. The current seller purchased it in 2020 and commissioned a repaint of the original Bahama Blue factory paint. Additional work included reupholstering both front and rear seats and installing new doorsills and door panels and adding rubber floor mats. If you’re a stickler about originality, the original panels are also included.

Bring a Trailer

The engine is a 1.2-liter flat-four with a four-speed manual transmission. Carburetor, valves, and timing have all been adjusted by the current owner, who also replaced the generator, voltage regulator, fuel lines, and the driver’s-side window regulator. Exterior upgrades included installing window moldings, exterior trim, chrome bumpers, and tubular bars. The Beetle is finished off with white-painted 15-inch steel wheels with VW-branded caps.

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The steering wheel features a Wolfsburg crest (the city has been VW’s headquarters for nearly a century) and a chrome horn bar. The five-digit odometer shows 89,000 miles, but total mileage is stated as unknown.

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Even though the Beetle continued to be made until 2019 in Mexico, these classics from the ’60s and ’70s are harder to come by in such good condition. Anyone who has had a classic VW knows that it isn’t just about the car; it’s the whole culture that surrounds it. Just looking through old VW ads and commercials while writing this was a blast. In the ’60s, the car was unique, and today, it endures as one of the most noteworthy and bestselling cars of the era. This Bug is going to make a great addition to somebody’s collection; I sure wish I had space for it in mine. The auction ends on Monday, March 28.

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The 2022 Maserati MC20 reached 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and passed through the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds at 131 mph in Car and Driver testing. It’s powered by a 621-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with a patented pre-chamber ignition technology. A Chevrolet C8 Corvette, which costs a third of the price, beats the MC20 to 60 mph by 0.4 second. Welcome to Car and Driver’s Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We’ve been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here). A more comprehensive review of the 2022 Maserati MC20 can be found here.Maserati says that its new MC20 mid-engine supercar will reach 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds, but getting off the line isn’t as easy as it should be. We couldn’t dip below the 3.0-second mark in our testing because we kept fighting wheelspin. We’ve even tested a few less expensive cars with inferior power-to-weight ratios that proved to be quicker to 60 than the latest from Maserati. [image id=’44469f77-434e-45d3-88bf-69fe3d58398e’ mediaId=’ada4a27e-eb3b-46f6-bac1-7e0f2c70a186′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]The quickest time we could squeeze out of the MC20 was a 3.2-second launch to 60 mph and a quarter-mile of 11.0 seconds at 131 mph. Maserati’s new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 uses a patented pre-chamber ignition, and output is rated at 621 horsepower—a staggering 207.6 horses per liter—and 538 pound-feet of torque. There are other large numbers. Maserati claims the MC20 weighs 3307 pounds, presumably without any fluids, but it tipped our scales at 3757 pounds.[editoriallinks id=’372cc6a7-fa81-4b5a-97eb-9d982fdd4833′ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]With the drive mode set to Corsa and launch control activated, the engine churns to 3700 rpm. As the brake is released, power is abruptly sent through the dual-clutch automatic and to the rear Maserati-spec Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires, size 305/30ZR-20. The revs aren’t adjustable and the launch-control’s 3700 rpm launch overwhelms the available traction. A quick launch requires momentarily breathing off the throttle after the initial launch control hit. “It lights up the rear tires unlike things such as a 911 Carrera GTS or a McLaren that hit equally hard but are more dialed in with their launch-control programming and power application,” our test driver, technical editor David Beard, says.The 473-hp 2022 Porsche 911 GTS hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds in our testing, and you can spend nearly $80,000 less to get behind the wheel. The Chevy C8 Corvette Z51 also reached 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and you could have three of them and some change for the cost of a new MC20, which starts at $215,995. The all-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Turbo S Lightweight reaches 60 mph in 2.1 seconds, just over a second quicker than the MC20. Dismiss launch control, though, and the MC20 beats the 911 GTS in our rolling-start 5-to-60-mph test. It needed 3.7 seconds to the Porsche’s 3.9-second run. But the Corvette, down 126 horsepower and without turbos to spool, did it in 3.5 seconds. However, give the Maserati some space and its superior power-to-weight ratio will reel in and pass the Corvette. In the quarter-mile test, the MC20 is 0.2 second quicker and is going 9 mph faster than the Corvette. [poll id=’326c43e2-840e-42b0-85ee-595a26d0bdbb_56e93d7245075′ type=’text’ question=’Which supercar would you rather have?’ answer1=’Maserati MC20.’ answer2=’Porsche 911 GTS.’][/poll]

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• Imagine yourself in a bright teal V-8 convertible for less than the cost of a Hyundai Accent. This 1992 C4 Corvette has about 25,000 miles.• The car is up for auction on Bring a Trailer, and bidding is at only $9600 with five days to go. • The auction ends Monday, March 28.In a time when used cars list for unacceptably high prices, sellers keep a straight face and ask 20 grand for a ’91 Buick Century. Today we’re pouring Bright Aqua Metallic on this runaway fire with the best car General Motors made in 1992—and to be honest, in most any year since 1953: the Corvette. Just in time for warmer rays, this C4 Florida special could be your tan-roofed, cassette-playing ticket to summer fun.

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We’ve picked other C4 Corvettes on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) that went for big money. A 1990 ZR-1 sold for $45,500 in February, while last May, the record-speed 1988 Callaway Sledgehammer topped a half-million. This base convertible with 25,000 miles might not even touch the Century’s list price, and yet it’s proof that GM knew how to build a world-class car while it peddled throwaway sedans.

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The fourth-generation Corvette, like the Mako Shark C3 before it, spanned a long life. First introduced for 1984 and tidied up for 1991, the C4 departed after the 1996 model year. The 1992 model year was memorable for two reasons. It marked the one-millionth Corvette built and introduced the LT1 V8, which had the same 5.7-liter displacement but could finally breathe since the smog-choking ’80s were over. With 300 hp, 330 pound-feet of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission, this car’s $40,145 base price in 1992 equates to a loaded-up C8 in today’s money.

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It was first purchased in Florida, and the first owner must have really used the luggage rack; it’s missing a trim piece. Since then, this Vette had sojourns in Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, and now New Jersey, where it’s sitting with what appears to be a mildly worn beige leather interior and the C4’s signature 17-inch dish wheels. The Bright Aqua paint isn’t retro now that loud colors have made a triumphant return on high-end sports cars. Just look at the Belize Blue on a McLaren 720S Spider and tell us it’s not inspired by this droptop C4. Fiberglass, carbon fiber—does it matter when the sun’s out and the top comes off?

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According to Corvsport, just 5875 convertibles left the Bowling Green plant for the 1992 model year. Hagerty values this car at $9500 in good condition and more than $20,000 in excellent condition. This Corvette may not be the last word among the C4 generation, but at this point, we dare you to find another desirable used sports car that’s selling for such little money.

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The 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63 gets a special Edition 55 treatment to celebrate AMG’s 55th anniversary.The G63 Edition 55 includes unique exterior graphics as well as a red-and-black interior with “55” references throughout.Mercedes-AMG says it’ll be limited to 55 copies in the U.S. when it goes on sale later this year.In 1967, Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher first laid the foundation for what would become the brand’s high-performance AMG division. Now, 55 years later, Mercedes is commemorating that milestone with a specially designed 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63 dubbed Edition 55, of which only 55 copies will come to America.

The Edition 55 isn’t an ostentatious interpretation of the G63. In fact, only subtle exterior graphics on the lower part of its doors distinguish it from other G-wagens. However, its appearance has been specially curated for this configuration. That means every version features 22-inch forged wheels with a multispoke design and AMG’s Night appearance packages, which include numerous black exterior accents. The G63 Edition 55 pictured here wears G Manufaktur Opalite White paint. However, Mercedes says that color is reserved for other markets; U.S. models only come in Obsidian Black metallic.

Mercedes-AMG

Inside, the G63 Edition 55’s color scheme is also predetermined. The seats feature black-and-red nappa leather, with red accents also appearing on the interior door panels. The trim on the doors, center console, and surrounding the instrument panel and infotainment system is matte carbon fiber. Of course, it wouldn’t be a special edition without the obligatory badging, as seen by the “55” engraved on the bottom of the steering and “Edition 55” woven into the floor mats. The AMG logo illuminated in red is also integrated into the stainless-steel doorsills.

Mercedes-AMG

The 2022 AMG G63 is powered by a hand-built 577-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system with three locking differentials. Despite weighing nearly three tons, we tested a 2019 model that hit 60 mph in an incredible 3.9 seconds. While more recently Mercedes has struggled with supply-chain issues that impacted V-8 production for the 2022 model year, causing certain models to be suspended, the company has since reinstated several of them, including the 2022 G63. Unfortunately, the availability of V-8–powered Benzes is still limited, but fans of the Mercedes-AMG G63 now know there will be at least 55 available in the U.S. market. However, a company spokesman told Car and Driver that the Edition 55 isn’t available to order and that customers should contact their local dealer for further details. Mercedes says the Edition 55 will be available later this year, but the company hasn’t yet announced pricing for any member of the 2023 G63 lineup.
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Lucid currently only builds the top-of-the-line Dream Edition but plans to introduce three lower-priced versions of the Air: the Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring.The Pure starts at $78,900 and the Touring costs $96,500, with both providing a projected 406 miles of range, while the $140,500 Grand Touring earned a 516-mile range estimate from the EPA.Lucid recently admitted that it may have to increase prices as a result of parts shortages and supply chain difficulties, but said it will honor the original prices for current reservation holders.The Lucid Air Dream Edition produces big numbers. The Performance model’s two electric motors churn out 1111 horsepower, while the Range model can travel 520 miles on a charge—the longest range of any EV rated by the EPA. But these impressive metrics also come with a sky-high price of $170,500, and while Lucid is planning cheaper versions of the Air down the line, there’s a chance that they could receive a price hike before production even begins.

Lucid Air Grand Touring
Lucid Motors

Currently, Lucid has begun deliveries of the Dream Edition Performance and the 933-hp Dream Edition Range. But in 2022 Lucid aims to introduce three lower-priced trims: the Pure, Touring, and Grand Touring. The Grand Touring, which Lucid recently started building, is the most powerful, with two motors providing 800 hp and all-wheel drive. Instead of the Dream Edition’s 118.0-kWh battery, the Grand Touring employs a 112.0-kWh battery good for 516 miles of range according to the EPA. As with the Dream Editions, opting for the 21-inch wheels knocks that figure down a bit, to a still impressive 469 miles. The Grand Touring starts at $140,500.

Lucid Air Pure.
Lucid Motors

The base model, called the Pure, will be the last to arrive, with 480 horsepower sent to the rear wheels by a single electric motor. Lucid claims 406 miles of range, and we estimate the Pure’s battery will have 88.0 kWh of capacity. Slotting above the Pure and using the same smaller battery pack will be the Touring, which gets all-wheel drive, 620 hp, and a projected 406 miles of range. The Pure and Touring will be significantly cheaper than their more powerful brethren, starting at $78,900 and $96,500 respectively. Both of the Dream Edition models are fully booked at the moment, with interested buyers offered a spot on a waiting list, and Lucid is currently accepting reservations for the other three trim levels.

Lucid Air Touring
Lucid Motors

As of the end of February, Lucid said it had more than 25,000 reservations for the Air but didn’t break down the reservations by trim. So far, Lucid has built more than 400 vehicles and predicts that 2022 production will be between 12,000 and 14,000 units. While sales numbers should increase as Lucid introduces cheaper versions of the Air, those trims might not stay as cheap for very long. Late last week, according to Reuters, Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson said the company is considering price hikes for future models. Rawlinson pointed to rising nickel prices as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as “huge inflationary pressures” and supply-chain issues, mostly around windshield glass, carpeting, and some exterior trim pieces. “I’m super frustrated because we’re not gated by silicon chips, we’re not gated by our ability to make electric motors,” Rawlinson explained.

But Rawlinson did stress that Lucid will not raise prices for current reservation holders, taking a different approach than electric startup Rivian, which announced a price increase for its R1T and R1S in early March. Rivian jacked up the prices regardless of whether customers had already placed a reservation based on the lower price, but after strong backlash, the company quickly reversed course. Lucid skipped the controversy, with Rawlinson making it clear that Lucid intends to “keep our commitments to existing reservation holders.” When these price increases might occur is yet to be seen, but given the volatile situation in Ukraine and the supply-chain constraints that have been rocking the auto industry for the past year, we wouldn’t be surprised to see changes in price before the cheaper versions of the Air even begin production.
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