The pompous title of this auto buff website once had some validity. The Truth About Cars was prescient — and courageous — in its coverage of General Motors’ financial collapse. This website has also offered useful critiques of the incestuous relationship between the auto industry and media (e.g., Baruth, 2010a, 2010b and 2010c).
However, TTAC has long been a vehicle for right-wing spin. As a case in point, did you know that first they’ll come for your guns — and then your Ferrari (Hester, 2013)? Go here for mature reflections about a post that ruthlessly attacked a mundane Jane Brody column on transportation costs. Or here for Chris Tonn’s screed against the specter of EV Trabants.
Also see ‘The Truth About Cars falsely stokes fears of private car ban’
Over the years the most ideological editors have often engaged in the most heavy-handed comment moderation. On occasion TTAC has also suffered from journalistic quality-control issues (go here and here).
In recent years the insightfulness of TTAC’s punditry has declined. Long-time commentator Psarhjinian suggested that this should be expected in this “postmodern, ‘Fall of Rome’ era of blogging.”
TTAC is still the most right wing of auto blogs
More recent leadership has turned down the ideological volume and mellowed out on comment moderation, but TTAC is arguably still the best source for right-wing spin in the auto buff media.
Despite a patina of objectivity, writers slip in their ideological punches, such as Steph Willems’ (2018) dystopian scenario of a “benevolently authoritarian” world government that banned “indulgent” automobiles such as the Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Factually-challenged histrionics by the likes of Ronnie Schreiber (2019) appear to have been intended to whip readers into a sense of outrage . . . and then comments have not always been deleted by moderators even when they have called for violence or civil war (go here and here).
Also see ‘The Truth About Cars peddles increasingly convoluted EV conspiracies’
The least objectionable part of TTAC in recent years has been auto history feature stories by Corey Lewis. Unfortunately, his pieces can suffer from basic fact errors that you won’t find at auto history websites (go here and here).
Perhaps TTAC should focus more narrowly on what they know better — contemporary automobiles. And perhaps they should stop trying to appeal to an ideologically diverse readership. Maybe — just maybe — Fox News might want their help in making inroads into the automotive media.
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RE:SOURCES
- Baruth, Jack; 2010a. “How To Be An Auto Journalist Part I: The Press Drive.” The Truth About Cars.” Posted Aug. 17.
- ——–; 2010b. “How To Be An Auto Journalist Part II: The Press Loaner.” The Truth About Cars. Posted Aug. 20.
- ——–; 2010c. “How To Be An Auto Journalist Part III: Pathetic ‘Platform’ Prose.” The Truth About Cars. Posted Sept. 27.
- Hester, David; 2013. “Ferraris: Joe Biden Would Pry Them Both From Your Cold Dead Hands.” The Truth About Cars. Posted April 12.
- Schreiber, Ronnie; 2019. “UK Parliament Committee Wants to Ban All Private Cars and Trucks by 2050.” The Truth About Cars. Posted Aug. 23.
- Willems, Steph; 2018. “QOTD: One Green Steed to Do It All? The Truth About Cars. Posted July 31.
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