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Last night, while I was washing my son Hayden’s baby bottles, my wife started watching the new Hulu series “All’s Fair.” The legal drama starring Kim Kardashian, Glenn Close, Naomi Watts, and Niecy Nash shows the professional and personal problems their characters go through while starting their own law firm. The first episode was filled with designer fashion and high-end cars, many of which had mid-engine layouts. One noticeable exclusion was the C8 Chevrolet Corvette.

It’s no surprise that a show about highly paid LA attorneys features vehicles from Bentley, Maserati, and Lamborghini. Mid-engine cars in particular are automotive shorthand for “I’m a big shot.” Since 2020, the Corvette has had the same configuration, but it was absent from the lineup.

The more I thought about “All’s Fair,” it became clearer that the C8 is missing from other programs filled with mid-engine cars. My wife enjoys watching reality TV shows such as “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” “The Kardashians,” “Selling Sunset,” and “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” I can’t stand all the constant fighting and embarrassing behavior on those shows, so they’re far from my first choice of what to watch, yet I endure them for her. I’ve seen those programs enough to know the vehicles they typically showcase—many of them are high-end SUVs, including the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Land Rover Range Rover, and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. If the ultra-rich housewives go anywhere as a large group, it’s typically in a luxed-up Mercedes Sprinter conversion van or something similar. Of course, there are also plenty of performance cars but, in all my hours of watching (way too many!), I can’t recall ever seeing a C8 Corvette. Not one. Why is that? I have a few theories.

Product Placement

This might explain most of the vehicle choices because television is a business, but let’s get into some of the potential historical and cultural causes.

Made in the USA

Don’t get me wrong—the C8 is an aspirational car to many. If I win Powerball, I’d quickly spend some of my winnings on an Arctic White Stingray Convertible with an Adrenaline Red interior. But I think the fact that the Corvette is so familiar to people in this country makes it less mysterious and exotic than machines from Europe, even though many of them also have dramatic styling and a V8 behind the passenger compartment.

Strength = Weakness

As far back as I can remember, one of the main advantages of the Corvette has been its value proposition. It offers close to—if not the same—performance as many European rivals at a fraction of the price. But no matter how eye-catching, powerful, or fast it is, it’s still not a European exotic, which has long been the go-to vehicle for people who want the world to know that they’ve made it and they’re living the dream. Although getting a deal is nice, it’s not the stuff of fantasies.

Power of History

Back when the Corvette was a front-engine car, it was compared to more expensive mid-engine European offerings. Like many of those, it had a long history, racing pedigree, head-turning lines, stunning power, and impressive lap times. One fundamental thing that kept the Vette from being on the same plane as certain Ferraris, McLarens, and Lamborghinis was its engine placement. That changed with the C8, which is now in its seventh model year, but that was after nearly 65 years of the Corvette being an American car with a pushrod small-block behind its nose. Just like its value, perhaps the Corvette’s history works against it (at least in terms of screen time on dreadful shows).

I also consider the ages of some of the people in these shows and how those might affect the way they view the Corvette in general. From what I’ve seen, Kim Kardashian doesn’t appear to be a big fan of supercars but, for the sake of easy math, let’s use her as an example. She was born in 1980, which means she lived the first 40 years of her life in the era of the front-engine Corvette, which at times was criticized for having a low-rent interior. First impressions, especially those made in your formative years, are hard to forget.

Have any of you who watch “All’s Fair” or reality TV noticed the same thing about the C8 Corvette? What are your theories behind its lack of on-screen presence? Tell us in the Comments section below.

At the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, Luke hunts down some of the most unique and unexpected builds across the entire docket. We all know Barrett-Jackson is where the world’s greatest collector cars roll across the block, but that’s only half the fun—among the legends, you always stumble upon the oddities, the one-off builds, and the truly unique that make you stop, point, and say, “What the heck is that?” This Top 5 list covers everything from a John Deere-themed Smart Car to a wooden-bodied Willys Jeep that looks like it came out of Bedrock. Stroll with Luke as we take a closer look at what makes these vehicles stand out!

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Currently listed on AutoHunter is this 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle custom pickup. If you remember the Volkswagen Rabbit pickup from 1979-82, then allow us to introduce its heir apparent! This New Beetle was converted with a kit from Smyth Performance, Inc,. which was founded by the same guy who started Factory Five Racing. Quite a handsome ute, innit? This VW is powered by a 2.5-liter inline-five paired with a six-speed automatic. Other features include a metal bed, power sunroof, air conditioning, power windows and locks, and more. Finished in cream and orange metallic over a custom cream and tan leather interior, this professional pickup conversion is offered by the selling dealer with a clear title.

The exterior is painted in a two-tone combination of cream and orange metallic. Unique, aftermarket taillights have replaced the original New Beetle taillights and, boy, do they look good on this vehicle. Other exterior features include color-matched adjustable side mirrors, a power sunroof, and a custom metal bed. A set of 16-inch alloy wheels (with anti-theft wheel locks) is wrapped in 205/55 Kelly Edge A/S radials.

The interior features cream and orange leather upholstery. A set of bucket seats surrounds a console housing an automatic shifter with Tiptronic manual control and a sport mode. Other features include air conditioning, an aftermarket three-spoke wooden steering wheel with power steering, power windows and locks, and aftermarket Jensen AM/FM stereo with USB and Bluetooth compatibility.

Instruments include a 160-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, and fuel gauge. The odometer currently reads 63,853 miles, which is the true mileage, according to the seller.

Powering this Volkswagen is a fuel-injected 2.5-liter DOHC inline-five that was rated at 150 horsepower when new. It is paired with a six-speed automatic.

The undercarriage features four-wheel disc brakes, Anti-Slip Regulation, 4.24 gears, and a single-exit exhaust system.

Light-duty pickups come and go, with the Honda Ridgeline bringing it back to the market (now joined by the Hyundai Santa Cruz). Neither of those have the style of our AutoHunter Spotlight, this 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle custom pickup. And neither of those have the quasi-Audi feel that Volkswagens of this era have baked in. Is your curiosity piqued? If so, you have some time to sneak in a bid or two, but not forever—once the clock strikes 12:15 p.m. (MST) on Friday, November 14, 2025, your chance for utilitarian fun will expire. Happy bidding!

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery

Much like my Pick of the Day from last week, the Porsche 986 Boxster represents a ton of sports car for the money. In the Boxster, you get a traditional boxer six-cylinder, an amazing chassis helped by the mid-engine design, and a car that is as good at track days as it is for long road trips or just day-to-day driving. Dynamically, it is a better-handling and better-driving car than the 996-era 911, and I say that after having owned both. No, it is not a 911 but rather a more advanced design. Our Pick of the Day is one of the more special 986s out there, a 2004 Porsche Boxster S 550 Edition listed on ClassicCars.com by a seller in Wittmann, Arizona.

And what a design it is! Penned by Grant Larson as somewhat a modern take on the 550 Spyder, the Boxter was an immediate hit with journalists as well as buyers thanks to the 550 design cues yet still a modern-driving car. It also was an incredibly important car for Porsche as it was the first true, entry-level model Porsche had built in years, bringing new owners to the brand. It was also the first all-Porsche-DNA entry-level model since the 912.

Behind the wheel, the Boxster feels like a complete driver’s car, with everything you want as a driver and nothing you don’t. It has comforts such as good air conditioning, comfortable seats, and a decent stereo, but foregoes a lot of the things you see in many modern-day cars. It is also very analog in its driving experience, with incredibly communicative steering, a great gearbox, and an engine that is not only very capable, but one that also sounds amazing.

In 2004, Porsche created its first special-edition Boxster with the 550 edition. This version was only available as a Boxster S and included options that you could not get on any other Boxster: upgraded 266-horsepower engine (the highest output of any 986 Boxster), Carrera GT Silver paint (the same color that had been used only on the Carrera GT), special double, overlapping exhaust pipes, cocoa brown full-leather interior (with grey natural leather as a no-cost option), unique interior paintwork, special aluminum shift knob, factory short-shifter kit, high-end Bose sound system, two-tone gray and silver 18-inch Carrera wheels (available unpainted as another zero-cost option), 5mm wheel spacers, Boxster S sport exhaust, M030 option sports suspension, and a limited-edition plaque on the center console that shows the car’s number out of the 1953 built.

The sellers description is a bit low on content, but it does include some important information. First, this is #1709 of the 1953 cars built. According to the seller, this Boxster has had a complete mechanical overhaul including the IMS bearing. It is stated that the engine has received a full tear-down with all new seals, rings, gaskets, water pump cooler and air separator, new flywheel, and new clutch. It also has a brand-new set of four Michelin Pilot sport tires. The seller adds that this amounted to $10,000 worth of labor and parts, and that all receipts will be included.

This Boxster has covered a total of 75,000 from new, but this sounds like an example of a car that has literally had everything done that might need to be done. Of all the first-generation Boxsters, the 550 edition is my favorite due to the exclusive paint and interior options plus the added horsepower. It is also likely the least-expensive special-edition Porsche you can find, with this one available for the asking price of $20,000. That to me represents a great deal, especially with the service history of this example.

This 2004 Boxster S 550 Edition might not be quite as fast as a modern 718 Boxster, but what I love about these first-generation Boxsters is that they are still powered by a six-cylinder engine, sound unmistakably like a Porsche, and represented the start of something new for Porsche as a company. The fact that this vehicle is at the end of the run for the 986 makes it even more interesting and special. Don’t forget what Joel Goodson said in Risky Business: “Porsche: there is no substitute.”

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com

You may have heard the joke that a car with a manual transmission is the best theft deterrent available. However, parents of teens are changing tack on the traditional standard transmission.

Everyone knows that distracted driving is a problem, but it’s out there front-and-center every day for me. As a motorcycle rider, I often have a good vantage point to notice the distracted people who threaten my safety. I even see people in modern cars that have Bluetooth, yet they have their cell phone stuck to their ear. That’s unacceptable.

A small segment of parents understands this and wishes to contribute to safer roads for their loved ones and the rest of us. They believe teaching their teens how to navigate a shifter and clutch will result in fewer opportunities to be distracted while driving. According to one parent, “Driving a stick shift requires constant focus and anticipation. You need to think ahead about when to upshift and downshift, coordinate the clutch and gas pedal and stay mentally engaged with every aspect of driving. There’s something about that engagement that makes you a better, more attentive driver. The room for distraction shrinks.”

Parenting certainly is different these days. Sure, that could be said about any generation, but there is plenty of uncharted territory when it comes to cell phones, the Internet, and our children. As cell phones may appear to be a natural extension of a teen’s persona, it is realistic to assume they will be a distraction behind the wheel (because, after all, it doesn’t happen with adults, right?). According to the Centers for Disease Control, the risk of motor vehicle crashes for those 16-19 are higher than for any other age group. If it’s nighttime or the weekend, the risk goes up. Males are three times as likely to be killed as females in the same age group. Passengers also increase the risk of crashing—no, not you, but your kid’s friends, even those considered “young adults” by you old fogeys. Each young passenger increases the crash risk.

This is not to say teens driving a car with a manual transmission cannot be distracted, as even we adults develop clever ways to multitask. “The manual transmission might keep your teens’ hands occupied and off their cellphone for some time, but it’s unlikely that this alone will prevent them from driving distracted long-term,” says Dr. Shimoji-Krishnan, a Kaiser Permanente child/adolescent psychologist.

One parent raises the point that cars are more automatic than ever, giving teens the opportunity to use their phones for even more distractions. “There are so many functions the car does for you that it’s easy for [my son’s] mind to wander more.” Another parent adds, “Given today’s landscape, where teens often go through drive-throughs and eat in their cars while using their phones and talking to friends, it definitely forces [my son] to pay more attention to what he is doing behind the wheel than if he were driving an automatic.”

As enthusiasts, we know the take rate of stick-shift vehicles has been in decline for a long time. Several years ago, that number was 1.7 percent of cars sold in the U.S. That’s not to say many teens will buy new cars, but the pickings are quite slim. Nonetheless, one point of solace is that the ritual of obtaining a driver’s license has declined over the past 20 years—while I couldn’t wait to turn 16, many teens are “meh” about driving. And today we have Uber and Lyft as well, which provide a service that has proliferated on local roads.

This story was sourced from “Distracted driving is a real problem for teens. These parents think they’ve found the solution” on Yahoo.

Car spotting is a pastime that almost every automotive enthusiast enjoys. We go about our daily lives while keeping our eyes open for noteworthy vehicles out in the wild. I was out for my morning walk recently when I was seduced by a sculpted coupe lit up by the Arizona sunrise. I knew it was a Cadillac ATS, but couldn’t resist the urge to cross the street and get a closer look. With styling so crisp and modern, I was surprised to check the VIN and learn that it was about 10 years old. Without trying to be too much of a creep, I took a few photos of the car to share.

Finished in Red Passion Tintcoat, it was incredibly well kept, and it made me realize something: This was Cadillac’s last coupe. The ATS paved the way for the Cadillac CT4, which launched in 2020, but there is no CT4 coupe. Cadillac simply does not have a coupe in its production lineup. The Coupe de Ville, launched in 1949, put Cadillac on the map when it came to personal luxury. Who would have thought that 70 years later, Cadillac would phase out coupes entirely?

ATS Attributes

The ATS launched in 2013 as a compact executive sedan on the GM “Alpha” platform; a coupe version followed two years later in 2015. True to its mission of personal luxury, it boasted a long list of creature comforts like premium interior materials, cutting-edge tech for the time, and a CUE infotainment system. Fun fact: The ATS coupe was actually six inches longer than the ATS sedan. No wonder it had such a commanding presence that I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

There were several engine options available for 2016, the model year the car I saw rolled off the line: a 272-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 335-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. At the top of the ATS coupe hierarchy was the ATS-V. It featured twin turbochargers added to the V6, as well as a unique crank and titanium rods. Most impressive of all: The rating for that car was 464 horsepower, making it a formidable competitor to the Audi A5/S5, BMW 4 Series, and Lexus RC. Depending on optioning, the ATS could come with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Transmission offerings included an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.

The ATS coupe that I spotted had the naturally aspirated V6, which had more than enough performance for most people. Motor Trend said about the car, “The ATS continues to be a quick, responsive car, with a sonorous snarl that makes us eager to wind out the engine as often as possible. The 2016 coupe will tear to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.” An added bonus: The ATS could also stop with confidence, since Brembo brakes were standard.

Discontinuation and Legacy

The sad truth was that the Cadillac ATS coupe offered features that enthusiasts asked for, yet the car failed to meet sales expectations. As we’ve seen in the marketplace in recent years, buyers are overwhelmingly choosing crossovers for their new vehicles. So, if you’re one of the lucky ones who owns an ATS coupe, enjoy that future collectible. And if you don’t have one yet, maybe this is your sign to start hunting for a clean example of Caddy’s last coupe.