The Truth About Cars
{{Short description|Automotive Blog}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox website
| name = The Truth About Cars
| logo =
| logo_size =
| url = {{URL|www.thetruthaboutcars.com}}
| commercial = Yes
| type = Automotive
| registration = Optional
| owner = VerticalScope
| launch_date = {{start date and age|2001|11|14}}
| current_status = Online
}}
The Truth About Cars (TTAC) is a blog covering automobiles, automotive products and the auto industry, begun in 2002{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/|title=The Truth About Cars - The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|access-date=5 January 2022}} featuring a mix of automotive reviews, editorials and news. It was home to the annual Ten Worst Automobiles awards,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/11/08/028053.html|title=The Truth About Cars Website Names Its Ten Worst Automobiles for 2006|website=Theautochannel.com|access-date=5 January 2022}} which are nominated and selected by the readers. It also featured multiple series predicting the demise of domestic automakers, namely GM and Ford “Death Watch” and Chrysler "Suicide Watch" series.
Time magazine{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2075431_2075447_2075476,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609175805/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2075431_2075447_2075476,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |title=The Best Blogs of 2011 |date= June 6, 2011 | magazine=Time}} called TTAC one of the 25 "Best Blogs of 2011". Forbes magazine listed TTAC as a “Best of the Web” automotive blog as far back as 2005.{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/category.jhtml?id=322 |title=Forbes.com Best of the Web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051204114145/http://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/category.jhtml?id=322|archive-date=2005-12-04|access-date=2015-08-19|url-status=dead}} PC Magazine listed TTAC as one of its "100 Favorite Blogs" in 2007.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=216520&s=27153&a=216536&po=88,00.asp |title=Our 100 Favorite Blogs - The Truth About Cars |work=PC Magazine |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030044653/http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0%2C1205%2Cl%3D216520%26s%3D27153%26a%3D216536%26po%3D88%2C00.asp |archivedate=2007-10-30 }}
It is unlikely as of 2025 that anyone lists it as a significant website any more, especially since some of its articles are marketing driven product placementhttps://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/product-reviews/stuff-we-use-winter-weather-washing-44512411 or AI slop.
History
Founded by Robert Farago in 2002, The Truth About Cars publicised itself as an independent voice in the automotive media, at a time when many outlets were coming under fire for their close ties with advertisers, particularly auto manufacturers. TTAC adopted an adversarial tone, particularly with regard to the Big Three domestic auto makers. This was exacerbated by Farago's "GM Death Watch" series, which correctly predicted the bankruptcy of General Motors over a 200+ part series.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20061108005331/en/Truth-Cars-Website-Names-Ten-Worst-Automobiles|title=News|website=Businesswire.com|access-date=5 January 2022}} In 2012, TTAC revived the "Death Watch" series, when contributing author Mark Stevenson correctly predicted the demise of Suzuki's North American auto sales arm.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/11/suzuki-death-watch-8-a-eulogy-due-to-incompetence/|title= Suzuki Death Watch 8: A Eulogy Due To Incompetence|author=Mark Stevenson|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date= 6 November 2012|access-date=Aug 19, 2015}}
TTAC's review comparing the grille of the Subaru B9 Tribeca to a vagina{{cite web|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subaru-b9-tribeca/|title=2005 Subaru B9 Tribeca Review|author=Robert Farago|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date=8 August 2005 |access-date=May 13, 2015}} caused BMW to officially stop providing review cars.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2006/05/bmw-bans-ttac-the-vagina-dialogues/|title=BMW Bans TTAC: The Vagina Dialogues|author=Robert Farago|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date=29 May 2006 |access-date=Aug 19, 2015}}
After being acquired by VerticalScope, a Canadian online media firm, Farago departed, and Ed Niedermeyer became Editor-In-Chief in 2010.
A 2013 article titled "Small SUV Crashopalooza: Detroit Loses, Dykes Win"{{cite web|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/05/small-suv-crashopalooza-detroit-loses-dykes-win/|title=Small SUV Crashopalooza: Detroit Loses, Dykes Win|author=Bertel Schmitt|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date=16 May 2013 |access-date=May 13, 2015}} resulted in a falling-out among senior contributors{{cite web|url=http://jalopnik.com/steven-lang-has-resigned-his-editorship-at-ttac-after-c-508448866|title=Steven Lang has resigned his editorship at TTAC after comments from that site's editor.|author=Matt Hardigree|work=Jalopnik.com|date=18 May 2013 |access-date=Aug 19, 2015}} and eventually changes in the managing staff.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/07/in-which-we-bid-a-fond-farewell-to-our-former-editor-reinstate-banned-commenters-and-welcome-all-of-you-back-home-to-ttac|title=In Which We Bid A Fond Farewell To Our Former Editor, Reinstate Banned Commenters, And Welcome All Of You Back Home To TTAC|author=Jack Baruth|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date=12 July 2013 |access-date=Aug 19, 2015}}
In 2013, Jack Baruth posted an article announcing that Bertel Schmitt had left the blog and that he (Baruth) and Derek Kreindler would be taking over. Baruth promised a "reboot" with previously banned commenters being welcomed back.{{cite web|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/07/in-which-we-bid-a-fond-farewell-to-our-former-editor-reinstate-banned-commenters-and-welcome-all-of-you-back-home-to-ttac/#postcomments|title=In Which We Bid A Fond Farewell To Our Former Editor, Reinstate Banned Commenters, And Welcome All Of You Back Home To TTAC|author=Jack Baruth|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date=12 July 2013 |access-date=May 13, 2015}}
After Kreindler left the blog in April 2015, the Editor In Chief role was transitioned to a team at AutoGuide while Mark Stevenson became the Managing Editor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/04/seas-ships-old-men-butter-knives/|title=Seas, Ships, Old Men and Butter Knives|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date=20 April 2015|access-date=5 January 2022}} Stevenson remained the Managing Editor until that role was taken over by Tim Healey in August 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/08/hello-new-managing-editor/|title=Hello from the New Managing Editor|website=Thetruthaboutcars.com|date=9 August 2017|access-date=5 January 2022}} Jack Baruth left the blog in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://jackbaruth.com/?p=11786|title=Weekly Roundup: Hit The Road, Jack! Edition|website=Jackbaruth.com|date=7 September 2018|access-date=5 January 2022}}
References
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External links
- [https://wifi.midnighttracks.org/hottest-wheels-years-one/ Hottest New Wheels in Years - Three Parts Revue] in the [https://wifi.midnighttracks.org West Coast Midnight Run™ New Online Automotive Gateway]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Truth About Cars, The}}
Category:Automobile magazines published in the United States