This question is a bit different, but I thought it might be interesting to learn a bit more about our readers’ reading habits. First, I’ll share with you my top sites (after CC, of course!) that I check in on towards the tail end of my breakfast or lunch-time reading:
You might be surprised to know that they’re not old-car sites. In fact, I very rarely visit old car sites, unless it’s specifically part of some research I’m doing. Frankly, the last thing I need is additional eyeball time with old cars.
Truth be told, I’m actually as much or more interested in what’s happening currently in the automotive world. When I started writing for TTAC, I wrote about current auto news, as well as my Auto-Biography. I didn’t start doing Curbside Classics until 2009, two years later, as a new sideline.
But my interest in new cars has very much narrowed down over the years/decades. Frankly, my interest in most new cars per se is fairly limited, meaning I’m not all that up on every current model and their stats and features, excpet in a general way. My interest going way back, and cultivated from my experience as a business executive (in the tv industry) is primarily in the business of cars, hence Automotive News (subscription) is at or near the top of my daily reading. Although I have to admit, I wish they were better at what they do. A lot of the writing and journalism (as is so commonly the case these days) is often marginal; none more so than the consistently mediocre/sleepy editorials of its Editor in Chief (and owner, I assume) Keith Crain. I assume his dad built up Crain Media, not him.
And of course too much of its focus is on dealers, and that’s not at all interesting to me. But it does cover the key automotive industry stories, and I’d rather get them from the source than re-blogged by one of the many blogs, which all get a lot of their stories from AN.
The other site that has become a daily check-in for me is Electrek. Apparently unlike so many of you, I’ve always been very interested in new technology, especially in regard to energy efficiency, electric cars, alternative energy sources, and more recently, autonomous vehicle technology. And Electrek covers most of these quite thoroughly, especially developments with Tesla and other EVs, the dramatic improvements in photo-voltaic efficiency and cost, and other related developments.
Did you know that PV costs have dropped much more dramatically in the last couple of years than anyone predicted? And its implementation is now switching from primarily individual roof-top to utility-scale micro-plants that can now replace fossil fueled plants cost-effectively, due to price drops in panels and large battery systems (like Tesla’s) so that they can be effectively buffered.
Without going into details, the growth of solar and/or battery-buffer systems is exploding globally, due to unexpected drops in cost and and improvements in efficiency. US solar installations in Q3 of 2016 was up 191% of the same period in 2015.
Ok, enough of that; I’m probably boring some of you to tears. But I find it quite exciting to see how new technology is making huge transformations in energy production, automobiles, and other forms of transportation.
And one more mention: I have come to follow Alex Roy (at thedrive.com or the autonocast he does with my son Ed and Damon Lavric). Alex has more hands-on experience and thoughtful insight into autonomy and its unfolding impact than anyone out there.
Back to you and the question at hand: Where else do you go to get your daily fix of automobile-related media?
CC is still my favorite, as you can see from my bookmarks. Would move the link to the far left, but can’t figure out how to do it on my iPad.
CC and TTAC are my most visited ones, although TTAC less and less as time goes on.
After that, GMInsideNews.com and Allpar.com.
If I have little time to surf, it’s usually CC and Allpar…
Hooniverse and autoextremist.
Jalopnik is off my list. Kinja crossposts so much political drivel that I find it deeply distasteful.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_electric_vehicle
Electric-powered vehicles have been around, since 1828. There is nothing “NEW”, about the types of vehicles that automakers are making today.
It is merely rehashed and redesigned, so you have to pay about $5k to replace the power cells every five years.
That would be pretty boring to visit that site every day.
Jalopnik and deadspin over at the old Gawkerverse.
War Is Boring is a great military current events and history blog that a lot of gearheads would like. Got turned onto it by Tyler Rogoway formerly of Jalopnik.
And the Garage Journal and ToolGuyd are great sites for those interested in garage implements of destruction.
Auto sites I check regularly (though time doesn’t always allow daily):
CC
Hemmings
Allpar
Roadandtrack
Jalopnik (mostly for “Nice Price or Crack Pipe”)
TTAC (getting much less frequent… as another said, thanks for not letting CC go that way)
After CC, it’s TTAC (both daily).
I used to be quite active in the Edmunds forums, but hardly ever go there anymore.
One no one else has mentioned is The View Through the Windshield (http://www.joesherlock.com/blog.html). I followed this blog since about 2007 but swore off it after the Trump election. The author, Joe Sherlock, is very political and I could no longer stand him and the certain gloating that would ensue post Nov. 8, 2016.
I swore off Autoextremist many years ago. DeLorenzo is just too full of himself (although a good case could be made for the Baruth brothers in this regard).
I glance at Automotive News at work (we have a subscription). i agree totally Paul about those lame Keith Crain editorials.
On a daily basis:
Leftlanenews.com
Netcarshow.com
Motorauthority.com
Jalopnik
TTAC
And a few dozen other sites, saved as “favorites”, used for wallpaper pics/research/more reading that I use when necessary.
TTAC, VWVortex’s “The Car Lounge”, and Jalopnik.
Via Feedly, daily:
http://www.carscoops.com/ UK bias
http://jalopnik.com/ Doh!
http://mecanicien.tumblr.com/ Mostly photos, some nsfw
http://www.carsuk.net/ I’m a Brit!
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/ I don’t have to tell you why . . .
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/ Prolific and always interesting
http://silodrome.com/ Quality articles & photography
http://www.pistonheads.com Very UK biased
http://www.sportscardigest.com/ Great coverage of sports car events, sales, great photo galleries, etc.
http://www.thewholecar.com/ Just take a look
CC on a daily basis, and TTAC several times a week but the comments there have gotten too political and frankly, just too vicious hate-filled and so I’ve never left a comment there. Hemmings once in a while along with Ate Up With Motor.
CC is still by far my favourite car site!
I too use Feedly
Hooniverse
LotusElan.Net
Bring a Trailer
The Truth About Cars
AcuraZine
Alex on Autos
Ate Up with Motor
Chapman report
Curbside Classic
Daily Kanban
Elva Courier
Forgotten Fiberglass
Hemmings Blog
Just British
Motor life
Peter Windsor
Sports Car Digest
The Chicane
The Lotus Forums
The Old Motor
Black Flag
Formula 1 Blog
IMSA
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/
https://www.modestmachines.com/
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/page-1
http://ateupwithmotor.com/
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/
http://www.boldride.com/
http://petrolicious.com/
http://www.oldparkedcars.com/
http://jalopnik.com/
I also get daily email newsletters from Car and Driver, Road & Track, AutoWeek and Automotive News.
CC is my favorite, and I spend most of my auto site time here.
I also enjoy Dynamic Drive, Bring a Trailer, and Japanese Nostalgic Car.
I also visit TTAC, but comment about 1X a year. I mostly seek the Junkyard Finds, but I think sometimes even “Murilee” can be a bit snarky. Overall, at TTAC there is a significant amount of click bait and some snark that I can do without.
Many people have mentioned Hemmings’ blog, so I want to check it out. I really enjoy their Classic Car magazine.
I need to check Ate Up With Motor more often.
I didn’t know Automotive News had a non-paywall website. We used to get the broadsheet version mailed to the house (my dad sold all those annoying teenagers near you their Cherry Bomb mufflers) when I was a kid and I loved reading them cover to cover as a kid.
only the best….THIS ONE!!!!
None. But this one several times a day.
On a daily basis, I will read about 90% of what’s here on CC. Check the headlines on Jalopnik, and read 10-20% of the articles.
About once a week, I’ll check to see if there is anything new on Dynamic Drive.
Occasional reading on a couple forums for full sized Mopars.
V8Buick ( my handy guide to nearly-everything-about- Buicks)
Fastlane Holden forums.
American Muscle.( Aussie forum catering to American car owners)
Jalopnik.
Barnfinds.com
Ate up with motor
The H.A.M.B
ebayautomotive.
Skidsplace. ( a car modelling forum)
CC has become my most frequent visit.
Then I follow PeachParts Mercedes Shopforum and Toyota Nation Forum about equally.
More occasionally, Wikipedia, craigslist, and random YouTube automotive sites, including Jay Leno’s Garage.
Happy Motoring, Mark
CC is the only one I visit daily, Allpar maybe once a week,Wikipedia when I want to get basic information.
Wish I had more time to read Ate Up With Motor and watch Jay Leno’s Garage videos.
I’m sure I would enjoy some of the sites mentioned by others as well.
Hooniverse and the A++h/o/le of the internet. And every few months I remember to check up on Old Parked Cars.
http://www.allpar.com
http://www.aronline.co.uk
http://www.autocar.co.uk
http://www.caradvice.com.au
http://www.motortrend.com
occasionally
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk
Hemmings Daily, TTAC, and similarly to you, evalbum.com. Does ihcubcadet.com count? Admittedly it’s about garden tractors (of which I currently have 4, the newest a ’78) but it is heavy on wrenching, as well as on other old iron.
Daily: CC
Occasionally: AUWM, Hemmings, aronline and two or three French-language sites, especially if I’m doing a spot of research for a CC piece. Wikipedia is always on the radar too, but I never trust anything there 100%.
CC is my only regular, which I check multiple times daily. I will occasionally check out AUWM. Several here mention Hemmings, so I will have to try it.
I also follow a Studebaker fan page on Facebook, but that’s about it. Old car stuff would take over my life if I would let it and I have to limit my intake to leave room for other parts of life.
Hemmings Blog and Hemmings in general. I have read Hemmings Motor News since 1979 (for years I called it the Bible due to the thin paper stock.) Blessed be thy name Hemmings. ??
Other than CC, which I check and read daily even if I don’t comment…
The Oldsmobile forum on ClassicOldsmobile.com. Though I only post or comment with actual questions I have, and it isn’t nearly as prolific as the Cadillac forum was when I used that regularly, 10 years ago.
The Cadillac and Buick v8 forums. I don’t post at all there now but still read. No longer own a Cadillac or Buick–for now–but appreciate the cars. Also, sometimes a question about a Cadillac or Electra answers a question about a big Oldsmobile—I feel as a 98 owner I have more in common with the SDV or Deuce owner than the 442 enthusiast.
Various Facebook pages devoted to daily pictures of cars, including The Ghosts of Cadillacs Past, 60s-70s American Cars, 1955-75 Imperial, etc.
I am amember of The Brougham Society, but unfollowed the page since it took over my entire newsfeed and I saw almost nothing else. Although given the political hysterics these days, I may rethink that since I am tired of seeing clickbait links urging me to read how political someone’s response to political someone else “DESTROYS” that second political someone.
Very occasionally, TTAC, for the old cars sometimes featured there. But the errors, like the time they called a ’77 Caddy a ’76 and then didn’t correct it despite the comments, are annoying, and I also don’t like the tone there.
Test Drive Junkie
Regular Car Reviews, infrequently
YouTube videos to learn—or try to learn—DIY things.
Other than CC, I only look at the Facebook photos daily or even weekly.
Dutch websites Autoweek.nl, Autoblog.nl, Mopar.nl, AmerikaanseAutoPagina.com, Truckstar.nl, BuzzyBeeForum.nl
Hanks Truck Pictures.
And if I want to increase my blood pressure quickly I check out TTAC.
Autoweek
CC
Bring A Trailer
Consumer Reports
on facebook:
American Brougham Society
Palm Springs Automobilist
50’s 60’s Indy Car
I’ve been known to pop on to Jalopnik or Hemmings, and I keep up with Hagerty’s site, as I work in the industry, but CC is my only daily habit. Most of my hanging out here is as a benign distraction during my work day, and the site is uncontroversial enough as to be perfectly acceptable workplace material in my world.
I’ve got a friend who’s been pushing me to dive into a few threads at Disqus (which is not automotive, but runs the gamut of interests) where she moderates, but one of the strong points of CC to me is that the site layout and the process of participating is straightforward and uncomplicated, which makes it easy for me to be involved but not immersed to the point of inability to go about my daily functions. As has also been noted before, there’s little if any vitriol or trolling here on any regular basis, so I never seem to find my self incensed to the point of distraction by anything posted here. This is a good thing for me, as I’m looking to learn about something I’m interested in, share opinions with other interested folk, but not engage in full-on debates. It’s friendly, it’s entertaining and I don’t lose sleep over anything here, which works for me.
Having said all that, I do occasionally suffer a pang of guilt over not contributing or “giving back”, as I feel I get a lot out of CC and only put the minimum into it, but that’s another ball of wax that I still hope to tackle as life allows me more freedom to do it in a not-so-half-assed way.
GMI
CC
Allpar
Hemmings
TTAC occasionally, but no longer read the comments.
To a lesser extent: Saturn Fans, AROnline,The Car Connection [used to be better years ago], Auto Extremist for the rants only.
Never the websites of print magazines I read years ago. They all lost me once Auto Week exposed MT for selling it’s COTY awards.
Bike Portland since I consider Bikes to be vehicles.
https://bikeportland.org/
The Truth About Cars
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/
Curbside Classic is the main transportation website I visit along with occasional jaunts to http://rrpicturearchives.net/ and http://railpictures.net/
Curbside Classics, TTAC and Jalopnik. Occasionally, Bob is the Oil Guy, just to observe people getting into long arguments over which oil has the best additive pack.
This site is of course where I go to get most of my interest in cars satisfied. Also, it is the only site on which I post comments. The commentaureate (sp?) here is most respectful as trolling is not allowed (THANKS BE TO PAUL!). Most everyone here is polite and helpful in answering questions… It’s just a great group of folks here. You go to the other sites and read the comments and some of them will make your head explode.
That said, I do have a few. Several of the Mustang forums come to mind, but mostly due to me researching for how to fix something on my own not quite Curbside Classic (yet… it’s only a 2007)….
…YouTube videos are great for learning how to fix stuff as well.
Most of the times I end up at the other sites due to the links you guys post here.
For in depth history: Our very own Aaron65’s “Ate Up with Motor” site is great!
For the latest trends… well, “Motor Trend”, but that’s just because I get a free subscription by attending the International Auto Show with my Dad every year. This is the site where the comment section sucks. There are so many trolls manning the bridges there that you’d think the site’s comment section is sponsored by the State Highway Administration!
As many have said here “Hemmings” is great, but I only really go there from a) links you guys put in the comments and b) specific searches (mostly for pictures to post here) about a particular car being discussed here in our polite forum.
Once in a while Advance Auto Parts will send an interesting article about a barn find or something that’ll peak my curiosity so I’ll click the link and read.
TTAC, but only if it’s a link that Paul would embed here on a more current article he is writing (sometimes he does this as related material).
As some others have mentioned, Jay Leno’s Garage is entertaining, but most of the time I just wait for his show to come on CNBC and watch it on the big screen.
Edmunds.com, but mostly I go there to get current car values and such; not so much for reading any material.
And finally, the Manufacturer’s websites, like ford.com, honda.com, or mitsubishi.com (these just ’cause they’re in the current fleet), but I’ll go a manufacturer’s website to read about their cars and options and such. For example, I have no interest in buying a Hyundai, however I was on their site over the weekend as my best friend just bought a new Sonata, making me curious about the car.
I didn’t know Aaron65 is the same Aaron who authors AUWM. I really like both Aarons, who are now revealed to me as one!
In retrospect, I may have that wrong. I thought about it after the 15 minute timer was up on the ability to edit the post.
Aaron65 is the guy with that awesome ’74 Pontiac Firebird Esprit that he bought and fixed up… (pictured here with his COAL list: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/aaron65s-continuing-coal-series/ as the beauty shot). Ate Up With Motor posts here too, but has an avatar which is the symbol from his website, but his name is also Aaron.
To the Aaron(s) – My Apologies if this was a bad assumption.
BTW, my Dad’s first car was a Chevrolet 210, but his was a ’56. But I don’t recall him ever calling it a “Delray” as your avatar would indicate Chevy did in 1955.
They’re very much not the same Aaron.
Ate up with motor Aaron goes by the handle ate up with motor here too.
Yup, I’ve never had a Firebird!
I occasionally glance at autosport.com and motorcyclenews.com (mostly the racing section) and I’m mildly addicted to (not strictly car sites) minneapolis Craigslist, Glasgow gumtree, and eBay.co.uk/.com
CC
TTAC
Barn Finds
Bring a Trailer
Top Speed
Auto Blog
Auto Week
QUIT Jalopnik because shut up about politics
DAILY:
CC, obviously.
TTAC
WEEKLY:
Autoextremist, usually updates by Wednesday.
LESS OFTEN, when time allows:
Daily Kanban
Hemmings
AUWM
Tri-Five Chevys
Tri-Fives
I’m a 33-year member of Classic Chevy International/Eckler’s Classic Chevy, although it’s primarily for the magazine. I’ve also read Hot Rod since the age of ten, and have had an uninterrupted subscription since 1984. I also subscribe to Automobile.
http://www.CurbsideClassic.com
http://www.OldParkedCars.com
http://www.GermanCarsforSaleBlog.com
Web: Jalopnik, Barn Finds, Bring A Trailer. YouTube, Roadkill, Regular Car Reviews, and Jay Leno’s Garage
CC is only one I read daily.
Ate up with motor: I love but there’s not too many articles left for me to read Weakly: TTAC
PS: I’m looking for more websites like Ate up with motor with in depth articles, but I can’t find. Any suggestions?
After Curbside Classics, I check TTAC daily as I have done since the Farago Death watch days. Hemmings is a favourite, I spend a lot of time there. Used to read Jalopnik every day but I got tired of the “if you don’t agree with us you’re an idiot” attitude. Ate up with Motor never has any new content which is too bad, I’ve read every scrap posted there. Automotive News maybe one article every day. I check Daily Kanban daily and I even check out the Auto Extremist, although sometimes I don’t complete the weekly rant.
I refuse to answer this question on grounds that my answer could serve to incriminate me.
TTAC always!
http://www.escuderia.com (Spanish)
Daily kanban
https://www.motorpasion.com/ (spanish)
http://www.automotivemanufacturingsolutions.com
I’ll have to check these out.
This site.
Pistonheads
Ebay Motors UK
ReturnoftheCafeRacers.com
CarandClassic.co.uk
The Hemmings blog
PackardInfo.com
Jaap Horst’s Bugatti Page
But CurbsideClassic.com more than anything else!
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/index.php
Auto Moments on youtube is another I view regularly, although he only posts once a month or less. He’s Joe Ligo, and he drives people’s old cars and does poignant reviews.
I want to put in a plug here for Mark Wan’s AutoZine (http://www.autozine.org). Mark is based in Hong Kong and has been providing acerbic commentary on new cars and new car news since the late ’90s. (I think he recently passed the 20 year mark!) AutoZine is probably as close as currently exists to a really global auto site, and although there are inevitably gaps in that coverage, it’s a good antidote to a purely U.S.- or European-centric outlet.
CC of course – remain thankful for Paul et al’s love and devotion to the site.
Long time TTAC reader – I could reread the DW series again and again. TTAC goes through a cleansing every few years, but I can’t quit them….
AUWM – Aaron’s work is beyond comparison.
Daily Kanban
GCBC
TrueDelta
AutoExtremist – nearly 18 years and still going. Peter and I have differing opinions about current Detroit iron but I greatly respect his insider perspective.
Autoblog not frequently. The presentation style doesn’t appeal to me.
Jalopnik and Hooniverse leave me cold with their style and snark. I think I’m too old for their intended demographic.
Got some great ideas from these responses Paul – thanks!