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The Daily Dot

Ramon Ramirez was the managing editor and, formerly, the Dot&#8217;s news director, entertainment editor, and evening editor. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Grantland, Washington City Paper, Austin American-Statesman, and Austin Monitor.

Ramon Ramirez

A person speaking to the camera next to a glove compartment in the car.

mcotw-02-07-2025-glove-compartment.jpg

Main Character of the Week: The mechanic reminding you to change the filter in your glove compartment

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

hand opening up Glove Box(l) mechanic shares tip for glove box(r)

glove box product

‘Just look it up on YouTube’: Expert warns you need to regularly check your glove compartment and replace this. It’s more important than you realize

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

Honda Odyssey(l) Honda Dealer Sign(c) Expert Shares information on the Honda Odyssey

Honda odyssey

‘Today used cars can cost as much as a new one’: Expert works on Honda Odyssey. Then he weighs in—should you buy new or used?

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

Braden Bjella

Two panel image: on the left a person explains, on the right a person gives car keys to another person.

mechanic_car_sharing_keys_horrible_idea.jpg

‘That’s a horrible idea’: Toyota technician says you should never turn in your keys like this at the mechanic

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

Mechanic checking vehicle(l) Man listing out all issues with his vehicle(c) Man Calculating total cost of repairs(r)

car repair price

‘This is how the Toyota dealership prices me for things’: Expert reveals the real reason mechanics inflate car repair costs

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

Mechanic says watch out for lifetime alignment deals

‘Alignments is SO worth it’: Mechanic says watch out for lifetime alignment deals. So, do you really need an alignment?

Woman with text "found out the dealership I took my jeep to suddenly turned into con artists"(l), Car light with text "brought it in for an oil change and asked them to replace the tail light if they had the bulb in stock"(r)

Woman catches dealerships

‘Did they think I was stupid?’: Woman catches dealerships quoting her $241 for $5 fix. Now she’s issuing a warning to Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, and Jeep owners

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

Two panel design with someone sanding a headlight next to an image or sandpapers

SandPaper_Grit_.jpg

‘Thanks bro’: Expert shows faded headlight. Then he shows little-known DIY trick to fix it

3 panel image of a mechanic explaining. Text over says: Responding to your questions and comments on Transmission Flushes!

comments_transmission_responses.jpg

‘Just did my 2012 Tundra at 230,000’: Expert says don’t get this serviced if your car is old. Here’s why it’s so risky

Two panel design with a man looking and talking to the camera, next to an image of someone adding oil to their car

Check_Your_Oil_Levels

‘That’s gonna be a lawsuit…’: Customer gets oil change at Walmart. Then mechanic takes a look at it

Wipers_We_Love

‘20 dollars at Walmart and AutoZone’: Expert exposes how you can keep your windshield clean during lovebug season

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

3 panel image showing a mechanic explaining and a cutaway of a car transmission system.

transmission_fluid_change.jpg

‘Ain’t no such thing’: Toyota Avalon driver takes car to dealership for service. Then they refuse to work on it

Rachel Kiley is a writer who sometimes writes things and sometimes is based in L.A., but is definitely always on Twitter @rachelkiley.

Rachel Kiley Author Photograph

Rachel Kiley

3 panel image: on the sides we see the residue that has built up within a car engine, and in the middle is the logo of the Kia car company.

kia_oil_change_10K.jpg

‘It is absolutely disgusting’: Mechanic exposes the real reason you should never wait 7,500 miles between oil changes for Kias or Hyundais

Tangie Mitchell is a creative writer, journalist, and editor based in New York. Her interests include pop culture and entertainment, poetry, and morning cups of herbal tea.

Tangie Mitchell

Woman wearing red glasses(l) Toyota Dealer Sign(c) Man putting oil with a funnel on an engine(r)

Toyota Oil Change

‘I wouldn’t go over’: Woman told her new Toyota Corolla needs oil change at 3,000 miles. Then she catches dealership worker in a lie

Jeep steering wheel(l) Man with red shirt(r)

Mechanics

Main Character of the Week: The mechanic reminding you to change the filter in your glove compartment