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The Daily Dot

Chad Swiatecki is a 30-year journalist who relocated to Austin, TX from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He writes regularly for Austin Monitor, and has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Daily News, Texas Monthly, Austin Business Journal, Austin American-Statesman and many other regional and national outlets.

Chad Swiatecki

Photo of a Tesla dealership; Screenshot of Tiktok user @evautoalex

‘It’s gonna go over $12,000 easily’: Dealership catches issue with Tesla’s 12-volt battery after purchase. They had no idea how bad the problem really was

Steve Ecker is a freelance reporter based in Austin, Texas. He has an extensive background in consumer marketing and is also an artist running Get Lost Collages.

Steve Ecker

Photo of a Honda 0 Series EV; Screenshot of Tiktok user @peterispeter

‘They’re not as bad as the Cybertruck’: Driver demands answers after seeing Honda’s new 0 Series. Here’s the problem with the new design

Mustafa Gatollari has been an internet culture writer for over a decade. He has a passion for connecting what’s trending on social media to solid research—helping to separate clout-chasing claims from facts.

Mustafa Gatollari

Left: Screenshot from Tiktok user @harrisautomotive of the front grills of a Jeep with the caption "Jiffy lube nightmares again"; Photo of a Jiffy Lube exterior.

‘Add Walmart to that list’: Jeep driver gets an oil change at Jiffy Lube. Then the mechanic proves why he shouldn’t have

Rebekah is a freelance reporter for the Daily Dot.

Rebekah Harding

Left: Screenshot of Tiktok user @sandrukess; Photo of parked cars at a dealership

‘I did the same and got my money back’: Woman says her brother and dad were ‘scammed’ at the car dealership. So, she returns with them

3 panel image of a person explaining and a Toyota car dealership sign.

‘Toyota deals are going crazy’: Expert says you should never pay MSRP at the dealership. Then he shows just how much you can get off the sticker price

‘Is this how you add horsepower?’: Driver spots SUV parked at car wash. Then they spot where the owner stuck the vacuum hose

Screenshot of Tiktok user @jgrizzyyy; Photo of a car battery

‘I’m glad that I returned it myself’: Man offers to return woman’s car battery for her. Then she finds out why he wanted to

Beau Paul is a freelance writer from Austin, Texas. Beau also wrote narrative and dialog for the gaming industry for several years before becoming an entertainment journalist.

Beau Paul

‘Got my last car from an auction. Nissan Altima $800’: Woman says the trick to getting a reliable car for cheap is auctions. Then she reveals exactly what you should say

Braden Bjella is a culture writer. His work can be found in Mixmag, Electronic Beats, Schon! magazine, and more.

Braden Bjella

‘Report it stolen, get a lawyer. This your life changing bag’: Man takes BMW to car dealership for service. They give it to someone else

Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Ljeonida Mulabazi

Screenshots from @hannah_farm's Tiktok of their Chevy Suburban

‘They make them to break’: 2021 Chevy Suburban rolls into the shop. Then the mechanic discovers where the filter is located

Parks Kugle is a writer and reporter based in San Antonio. His work has appeared in Lumina Literary Journal, Wicked Local Newspapers, and various publications across the U.S. He enjoys comics and gardening.

Parks Kugle

‘Made a $750 bid’: Woman says the trick to getting a reliable car for cheap is auctions. There’s just 1 problem

Toyota sign(l), Man talking(c), Toyota at auction(r)

‘I smell a roll back’: 2018 Toyota Camry with 341K miles goes for $10.3K at auction. Is that a good deal?

Kia Dealer Sign(l) Man shares what a kia engine looks like after a certain amount of miles(c) Pouring oil unto engine(r)

‘And that’s why you don’t listen to dealership recommendations’: Expert shows what a Kia’s engine looks like after 10,000-mile oil changes

Car with smoke coming out and overlayed that reads: "Bought a dodge charger 5 days ago and it caught on fire without even being on (whine emoji) (crying emoji)" on left. Dodge logo on car on right.

‘Without even being on’: Woman buys Dodge Charger. Then it starts smoking 5 days later

3 panel image: on the left a person explains, in the middle a state map of Montana, and on the right a Toyota logo.

Cars