Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Sales Are Way Up. Why?
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is no spring chicken. The platform debuted in 2010 and is still in production in 2026. That’s 17 model years. While it’s undergone exterior tweaks, interior…
Surviving (and Loving) Our JDM Suzuki Jimny’s First Long Road Trip
I’ve written about how a vehicle has to earn my trust. When we first got our Suzuki Jimny, it had an oil leak caused by an old crankshaft seal (fitting,…
Review: 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback GT-Line Turbo – Is It An Underrated Hot Hatch?
Hey, remember cars? You know, sedans, coupes, wagons, and hatchbacks. Not crossovers, not SUVs or pickups, but cars. Kia still believes there’s a market for honest-to-goodness cars, as evidenced by…
Students Build Two Custom Vehicles for Our 10,000+ Mile Summer Rally/Overland Adventures
This summer, we’ll travel over 10,000 miles while participating in two major road rallies and overland adventures in the U.S. and Canada. We’ll do so in two custom Subaru rally…
Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV Debuts; Uses Nissan Leaf Underpinnings
Mitsubishi released images of its next new vehicle, the 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV. Based on the Nissan Leaf, but with revised styling, the ’27 Eclipse Sportback will include Mitsubishi-specific items…
Tested: The North Face Women’s Altamesa 500 V2 Shoes, Are They Up for All-Terrain Traversing?
All-terrain tires are important when a vehicle is traversing uneven, challenging ground off the beaten path. But what about your footwear? A durable, traction-grabbing set of tires is instrumental in…
Crankshaft Culture To Attend & Instruct at Northwest Overland Rally and Overland Expo PNW
It’s been a busy spring and summer for us at Crankshaft Culture. We already attended Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ. While we’d been long-time attendees as vendors and media,…
Bus Stop: The Kindred Motorworks Custom EV Volkswagen Bus
No matter where you go in the world, the classic Volkswagen Bus—the Type 2—is an icon. Now, Kindred Motorworks of Vallejo, CA, near San Francisco, is taking this legend and…
Our 2026 Overland Expo West Experience
One of the biggest overland shows out there is Overland Expo West. It’s been going on since 2009, and I’ve been to the majority of them. But 2026 was a…
Suzuki Jimny Tire Size Change: BFGoodrich KO2 to KO3 and Why
Our 1998 Suzuki Jimny Wide came with a nearly new set of BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires in 235/75/15. This was a definite plus when buying the little JDM SUV. However,…
Guest Posts
Salt, Rust, and Prevention: Preparing Your Vehicle for Extreme Coastal Environments
When you’re finally packing for your beach vacation or stepping onto a cruise ship, rust isn’t exactly what you’re thinking about. Unfortunately, coastal environments aren’t too forgiving for cars, especially if you’re planning on leaving your vehicle parked for an extended period of time. The high humidity, salty air, and…
Exedy OEM vs Performance Clutches: What’s the Difference?
Choosing the right clutch can be confusing, especially when you start comparing OEM replacement options with performance upgrades. If your current clutch is slipping, shuddering, struggling under load or simply worn out, you may be wondering whether to replace it with something similar to factory spec or step up to…
VIN Secrets: What a Transmission Lookup Can Tell You About Your Vehicle
A used car can smile with fresh paint while hiding an expensive transmission story. One quiet VIN check can change the whole deal. The VIN is more than a label. It is a 17-character code that links a car to factory build data, records, recalls, specification notes, and ownership clues.…