I've been a mechanic for 50 years... here are the new cars you should desperately avoid: 'Blowing up'
Scotty Kilmer, 71, has been fixing cars for 50 years. His grease-stained experience and candid rants have grown his YouTube channel (@scottykilmer) to more than 6.5 million followers, with viewers seeking his no-nonsense repair advice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
Driving examiners facing verbal and physical abuse from learners
Driving test examiners have suffered 70 physical assaults in five years, according to new figures obtained by the BBC.A Freedom of Information request showed there were also 1,668 cases of verbal abuse recorded on staff across Great Britain between April 2020 and March cameras are now routinely worn to protect staff against abusive candidates, while the Driving Instructors Association (DIA), which carries out advanced tests for taxi and fleet drivers, no longer gives out its test results in Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said it took a zero tolerance approach to physical and verbal assaults. Gary, who is not employed by the DVSA, has been an examiner for 20 years and conducts advanced tests for drivers of taxis, buses and said he heard of examiners being punched and chased across car parks."I've heard of a car chasing after an examiner, verbal abuse and people spat at, which is something I've experienced," he said."I was carrying out a test for someone who wanted to be a taxi driver, when I delivered the result and it was a failure, he became very abusive, got out of the car, faced up against me and followed me down the street."If I'd have reacted it could have escalated, it was a worrying experience." Examiners have previously told the BBC how some of them had even suffered death Brookfield, from the DIA, said she was aware of a number of alarming situations."Cases I've heard about include staff having a brick thrown through the window of a test centre by a disgruntled person who hadn't passed their test," she said."Some of our examiners faced verbal abuse and on one occasion an examiner was actually followed back to the hotel where they were staying and the candidate and their friends hung around that location, trying to intimidate the examiner." 'Protect our examiners' The DIA, which is based in Crawley, West Sussex, conducts advanced tests for many taxi and private hire drivers. However, due to verbal abuse it no longer gives out test results in person."We changed our policy on giving out test results, from giving the result on the day directly to the candidate, to giving the result by email 24 hours later," said Ms Brookfield."It's to protect our examiners and to deliver a uniformity of results and feedback in writing for the candidates." Ms Brookfield believed delays in getting a driving test could be affecting the Verify found in April that three quarters of the 319 driving test centres across Great Britain had hit the maximum average waiting time - of 24 weeks - to book a practical Brookfield said incidents were exacerbated because people were "angry they've had to wait so long to get a driving test and to get their licence"."When they fail they will have to wait even longer to get a re-test, so some of that frustration is bubbling over into physical and verbal assaults on examiners and that's just completely unacceptable," she said. 'Punched to the floor' Teresa Allen, a driving instructor of 17 years from Tonbridge, said she had heard of cases of both physical and verbal abuse against examiners."I have heard of examiners being punched to the floor which is just beyond the pale," she said."Verbal abuse is actually pretty common I believe." Ms Allen told BBC South East about a case where a learner driver had been abusive on a previous test."He then had to have two examiners on this one and when he didn't pass, he stopped the one in the back of the car from getting out, and as he was eventually removed and driven away by his accompanying driver, he was screaming and yelling," she said."Examiners are only doing their job and if they feel that a person has done something that's proven they're not quite ready to make good decisions themselves on the road, then they must fail them."However, she doesn't believe delays in securing driving test slots are fuelling these cases."I don't think abuse is directly linked to delays in accessing tests, although I do think that trying to get examiners and retain examiners must be getting more and more difficult," she added. The DVSA said learners who were abusive faced the possibility of having their record marked and restrictions placed on them for their next test. This could mean it will take longer for them to get a future test, as test centre managers may deem them enough of a risk that they need two examiners in the car as a safety precaution. In December, the DVSA said it was consulting on new proposals to increase the standard waiting time to book another test if candidates physically or verbally assault their driving examiner. A DVSA spokesperson said: "Although the majority of people are courteous, we employ a number of measures which seek to keep our examiners safe and shielded from abuse."Our message is clear – whatever has happened, don't take it out on our staff. If you do, we'll press for the strongest possible penalties."
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
New tax break for auto loans could save some buyers thousands of dollars. But will it boost sales?
Millions of people receive a federal tax deduction for the interest they pay on home loans. Under President Donald Trump's new tax-cut law, many people for the first time also could claim a tax deduction for interest on their vehicle loans. The new tax break will be available even to people who don't itemize deductions. But there are some caveats that could limit its reach. The vehicles must be new, not used. They must be assembled in the U.S. And the loans must be issued no sooner than this year, to list just a few qualifications. Here are some things to know about the new auto loan interest tax deduction: Candidate Trump promised an auto loan interest tax break Trump pledged while campaigning last year to make interest on car loans tax-deductible. He said it would make car ownership more affordable and 'stimulate massive domestic auto production.' The idea made it into the big tax-cut bill passed by Congress, which Trump signed into law July 4. The law allows taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 of interest payments annually on loans for new American-made vehicles from 2025 through 2028. It applies to cars, motorcycles, sport utility vehicles, minivans, vans and pickup trucks weighing less than 14,000 pounds, a threshold referred to as light vehicles. But it only applies to vehicles purchased for personal use, not for fleets or commercial purposes. The tax break can be claimed starting on 2025 income tax returns. But the deduction phases out for individuals with incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 or joint taxpayers with incomes between $200,000 and $250,000. Those earning more cannot claim the tax break. Millions of buyers could benefit, but millions of others will not U.S. automobile dealers sold 15.9 million new light vehicles last year, a little over half of which were assembled in the U.S, according to Cox Automotive. It says around 60% of retail sales are financed with loans. After excluding fleet and commercial vehicles and customers above the income cutoff, an estimated 3.5 million new vehicle loans could be eligible for the tax break this year, if purchasing patterns stay the same, said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive. It's the assembly plant, not the automaker's headquarters that matters The tax break applies to vehicles assembled in the U.S., no matter where the company making them is headquartered. All Tesla vehicles sold in the U.S. are assembled in this country. But so are all Acura brands, the luxury model of Japanese automaker Honda. Last year, 78% of Ford vehicles sold in the U.S. were assembled in this country, according to Cox Automotive. But customers wanting the tax break will need to pay attention to specific models. While the Ford Mustang is assembled in Michigan, the Mustang Mach-E is built in Mexico. General Motors assembles all of its Cadillacs in the U.S. But just 44% of its Chevrolets sold last year were assembled in the U.S., and just 14% of Buicks, according to Cox Automotive. That's a lower U.S-assembled rate than Honda (60%), Toyota (52%) and Nissan (48%), which all are headquartered in Japan. Taxpayers could save hundreds of dollars a year The average new vehicle loan is about $44,000 financed over six years. Interest rates vary by customer, so the savings will, too. In general, the tax deduction will decline after the initial year, because interest payments on loans are frontloaded while principal payments grow on the back end. At a 9.3% interest rate, an average new vehicle buyer could save about $2,200 on taxes over four years, Smoke said. The tax savings would be less on a loan at 6.5%, which is the rate figured into calculations by the American Financial Services Association, a consumer credit industry trade group. Some people also could see a reduction in state income taxes Whereas the tax deduction for home loan interest can be claimed only by people itemizing on their tax returns, Congress wrote the deduction for auto loan interest so that it can apply to all taxpayers, including those claiming the standard deduction. On a tax form, the auto loan deduction will come before the calculation of a taxpayer's adjusted gross income. That's an important distinction, because many states use a taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income as the starting point for figuring their state income taxes. If that income figure is lower, it could reduce the state taxes owed. The verdict is out on whether the tax break will boost sales At Bowen Scarff Ford in Kent, Washington, customers started asking about the auto loan tax deduction before Congress had even taken a final vote on the tax-cut bill, said General Manager Paul Ray. So he decided to promote it on the dealer's website. A website ribbon exclaims: 'CAR LOAN TAX DEDUCTION NOW AVAILABLE" while also promoting an electric vehicle tax credit that is ending soon as a result of Trump's tax-cut law. 'I think it's going to help incentivize vehicle purchases through this year," Ray said. Celia Winslow, president and CEO of the American Financial Services Association, concurred: 'For some people deciding — should I buy it, should I not — this could be something that tips the scale.' Others remain skeptical. According to Smoke's math, the average annual tax savings is smaller than a single month's loan payment for a new vehicle. 'I don't think it moves the needle on somebody on the fence of buying a new vehicle or not," Smoke said. "But I think it could influence their decision to finance that vehicle instead of paying cash or instead of leasing a vehicle.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I bought cheapest EV in UK for £2.5k to prove you needn't spend a fortune'
Car enthusiast Alex has snapped up the cheapest electric vehicle (EV) he could lay his hands on and tried it out so you don't have to — here's everything he learned, including one big downfall A motor enthusiast has proven you don't need to break the bank to switch over to an electric vehicle (EV) - but is it worth the risk? While many Brits are tempted by zero-emission vehicles, their price point remains a huge barrier. Research from Nimble Fins found the average price of an EV in the UK is around £46,000 - with costs widely ranging from £14,995 to a whopping £333,000. Buying second-hand can of course help slash the cost, but comes with its own set of potential issues. So, following his travels around Asia, influencer Alex — who goes by the handle alexcarsmedia —bought a 2015 Nissan Leaf Acenta+ with only 61,000 miles on the clock to find out whether you actually need to spend a small fortune. This is well below the average mileage for a 10-year-old vehicle, suggesting less wear and tear, as well as, potentially, a longer remaining lifespan. The car has no record of accidents or major issues either, a crucial factor in any used vehicle purchase. Regular maintenance has been documented — it has had five or six services in its lifetime. This is particularly important for used EVs, as a well-maintained battery and electrical system can significantly extend the car's usability. The car retains 11 out of 12 battery bars, indicating minimal battery degradation. For older EVs, battery health is a major concern, with Alex describing it as 'the most important thing when you look for a used electric car'. But most of all for Alex, he really likes its 'cool blue wheels'. However, the car is not without its drawbacks. There are numerous small dents on the roof and a pretty significant one on the bonnet. While these do not affect drivability, they could impact resale value and aesthetics. There's also rust on the suspension, which can be a concern for the longevity of its components. The brakes and tyres are worn and will need replacing soon, an added expense for the new owner. Also, the car wasn't clean when purchased — while superficial, this can be off-putting and could possibly be an indicator of neglect in other, more important areas. Alex goes on to reveal that the price of the car was only £2,400. The other associated expenditures are detailed in the captions — the insurance costs £450 and the road tax just £20. So his total outlay came to just £2,870. This total is remarkably low for an EV, especially considering the car's good battery condition. In a further video titled 'What it's Like Driving a Budget Electric Car After 30 Days' on YouTube, Alex describes his thoughts after a month with his new EV. He says: "The overall experience has been good with my electric car. It did take a bit of getting used to, but there are plenty of apps out there to find public charging spaces… I'm also prepared to plan a bit more ahead now with my journey to know exactly which charger I'll be using." Alex's experience underscores the viability of buying a cheap used EV for those willing to accept some cosmetic imperfections and minor maintenance needs. However, prospective buyers should budget for immediate repairs and be realistic about range limitations, ensuring the car fits their daily driving needs.
