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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

Left: Screenshot from Tiktok user @justanotherbmwtech of the underside of a Lexus; Right: Photo of a Lexus; Caption: Titkok comment from Tyler Tvirus that reads "Can't you see, that's a damn homemade skid plate? [crying laughing emoji]".

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‘Walmart skid plate option’: Driver’s Lexus is leaking. The mechanic can’t believe the customer’s DIY fix

Screenshots from Tiktok user @victorshack of the engine, side and under the hood of a Texas Edition Chevy Silverado.

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‘My Honda Accord has a bigger engine’: Expert services Texas Edition, 4WD Chevrolet Silverado. Then he looks under the hood

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

Braden Bjella

2 image split. Man eating pizza on left. Lexus dealership sign on right.

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‘Every Saturday for a free lunch’: Driver goes to Lexus dealership for Pizza Hut, Snickers Ice Cream, Coke. Is the free food unlimited?

Nina Hernandez is a writer, journalist, music critic, and culture commentator based in Austin, Texas.

Nina Hernandez

2 image split. Woman talking on left. Mazda car on right.

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‘MAZDA CX-5!!!!!!’: Woman realizes she needs to buy a new car. Then she asks viewers what the best car for girls is

Alexandra Samuels is a national political reporter and contributor to the Daily Dot, where she started as an intern covering politics in the summer of 2016. She enjoys all things Marvel, keeping up with the latest TikTok trends, long walks with her pup, and reading murder-mystery novels.

Alexandra Samuels

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‘Make sure you have GAP insurance and total your car‘: Walmart worker buys Toyota Camry for $724 a month. Now she has buyer’s remorse

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

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‘Tell them u want your money back and go buy Ford’: Man buys brand-new 2025 GMC Sierra with 100 miles. Then it breaks down in the Target parking lot

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‘It feels like a Chrysler’: Driver inspects 5-year-old Mercedes GLE. Why does the wood interior already look like this?

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‘I need to know’: Man notices 15 car washes within a 10-mile radius. Then he asks what’s really going on

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

Jeep Wrangler(l) Woman shares what happen to her car when she took it to a car wash(c) Jeep Dealer Sign(r)

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‘I fear this is common sense when you own a soft top’: Jeep owner takes Wrangler to an auto car wash. Then she proves why it was a bad idea

Tires displayed at store(l) Man shares the quote he got at discount tires(c) Discount tire store sign(r)

discount tire

‘Don’t even worry about it’: Discount Tires customer gets quoted $400 for new tires. Then he realizes that’s just one tire

Screenshots of Tiktok user @evelynnandhazell; A Photo of a 2025 Honda Civic

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‘My car has around 4,000 miles’: Woman says her steering wheel is ‘loose’ on her 2025 Honda Civic. Then viewers roast her for not understanding this little-known feature

Photo of a 2012 Ford F150; Screenshot from @nextgencarcare's Tiktok of the underside of a Ford F150 with the caption "Look at this CRAZY corrosion at only 20k miles! [grimacing face emoji]".

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‘Built in Michigan but not made to stay’: Customer brings in 2021 Ford F-150 with 20K miles. Then the mechanic shows the real consequences of not washing your car regularly

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‘Idk why but i judge people who do this’: Driver roasts Costco shoppers who don’t use extender when they get gas. Should you?

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

Screenshot of Tiktok user @wholelotofcoco; Photo of a GMC Sierra Denali truck.

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‘I thought it was the big truck lol’: Customer inquires about GMC Denali. Then the dealership worker explains what it actually is

Phil West is a veteran professional writer and editor, and his works include two nonfiction books and articles in myriad print and online publications.

Phil West

Screenshot of Tiktok user @evautoalex; Photo of a Tesla and a Tesla dealership sign.

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‘I didn’t fully understand what I was getting into’: Man buys new Tesla. Then he gets buyer’s remorse after driving it home

Cars