Crankshaft Culture Gear Garage: AO Coolers Carbon Series 36 Pack Cooler Review

November 13, 2023 / Andy Lilienthal / 1 Comment

Words by Andy Lilienthal; photos by Mercedes Lilienthal When we got our first ARB fridge/freezer, I said if I ever needed to use a cooler again it’d be too soon. Well, that was a stupid thing to say. There are simply times when you need a soft-sided cooler. We found ourselves in such a situation…

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First Crosstrek Mod: Nameless Performance Executive Axle Back Exhaust

August 14, 2022 / Andy Lilienthal / 2 Comments

Well, that didn’t take long. We’ve already installed our first modification onto our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. We don’t even have 900 miles on it. So first things first? Let’s make this thing a bit louder. We installed a Nameless Performance Executive Axle Back Exhaust. So far? We’re impressed.

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Review: The 2023 Nissan Z Turns Heads, Quickens Pulses

August 6, 2022 / Andy Lilienthal / 2 Comments

I pull into the parking lot of my local hardware store driving the new 2023 Nissan Z. As I shut the car off, a man in a white Volvo 850 wagon drives in front of the svelte sports coupe. As I’m turning the car off and gathering my phone, I can see him still looking…

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Crankshaft Culture Gear Garage: Meguiar’s Car Care Products

July 3, 2021 / Andy Lilienthal / 1 Comment

Detailing cars has always been a hobby of mine, even as a kid—a trait I likely learned from my father. Meguiar’s car care products are well known in the auto industry; I actually have used some of their goods for years. Meguiar’s recently reached out and sent a sampling of some of their products, like…

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Quick Drive: Polaris Slingshot

October 14, 2019 / Andy Lilienthal / 2 Comments

It’s not a two-wheeled motorcycle, it’s not a four-wheeled car. So what is this three-wheeled contraption? The short answer is a ridiculously fun motor vehicle. I got to spend some time with one at the 2019 NW Automotive Press Association’s Run to the Sun drive event, and this thing was a downright hoot. You may…

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Review: 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GT

October 7, 2019 / Andy Lilienthal / Leave a comment

I love it when someone says, “Look, I’m going to be honest.” I always think—does that mean they’re not usually honest? Well listen, I’m going to be honest: When Mitsubishi sent over the 2019 Outlander PHEV GT, I thought—well, it’ll be nice to drive this around for a week, but I’ll have to think of…

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Crankshaft Culture Gear Garage: Big Agnes Double-Wide Sleeping Set-up

August 28, 2019 / Mercedes Lilienthal / 1 Comment

Getting a solid night sleep when adventuring in the backcountry is key. Having the chance to snuggle up to your partner while doing so is even better.

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Review: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

August 14, 2019 / Mercedes Lilienthal / Leave a comment

As of 2020, Toyota’s decided to give the Corolla some hybrid love.

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Mudfest: The 2019 NW Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year

May 28, 2019 / Mercedes Lilienthal / 1 Comment

ABOVE: Still one of my favorites, the runner up in the Subcompact and Compact Family class, the 2019 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk. Photo: Ryan Douthit, MediaSpigot LLC The Northwest Automotive Press Association’s Mudfest event brings in the newest 4WD/AWD vehicles for judging by a host of automotive writers. Now in its 25th iteration, this year’s event…

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Headlight Heaven: Adding J.W. Speaker 8700 Evo 2 LED Lights

January 29, 2019 / Andy Lilienthal / 7 Comments

Back when we had the PDXJ, our 2001 Jeep Cherokee, one of the upgrades we made was replacing the OE headlights with J.W. Speaker LED headlamps. The headlights were a huge improvement over the Jeep’s stock headlights which worked about as well as whale oil lanterns.

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