This Is The Jalopnik Employees Fleet As We Head Into 2026

You probably did it! You survived 2025, because it’s now the very first day of 2026. Do you are feeling any totally different? Are you excited for the yr forward? We certain are. Right here at Jalopnik we made it by 2025 with not less than a few of our workers intact, and we have already instructed you our favourite automobiles we drove final yrso now it is time to inform you all precisely what we personally drive or experience when not whipping round work autos. This can be the shortest listing we have but put collectively, on condition that we might have the smallest full-time workers Jalopnik’s ever had, however not less than we nonetheless handle to maintain issues attention-grabbing. High quality of autos over amount of autos.

Sometime, all of us might attain the highs of David Tracy and Bradley Brownell’s ranges of Jeep and bike hoarding. Immediately, although, most of us dwell in main cities the place house is at a premium, and automobiles and bikes take up a whole lot of house. We do not precisely make automobile warehouse cash round right here, however we’re all making the very best of the house and money we have out there. Properly, perhaps besides Andy. He may have some work.

The only member of my fleet is my 2017 Mini Cooper S 4-Door Hardtop, and that is a-okay with me. Working on this enterprise, individuals usually ask what my dream automobile is or what automobile I’ll get subsequent, and so they’re shocked to seek out out that I’m proud of what I’ve. My Mini does all the things I want, whether or not that be a roomy, environment friendly commuter with a kickass sound system, or whether or not I resolve to take a detour and thrash on it a bit within the canyons.

I put in a thicker 24-mm Whiteline rear sway bar just a few years again, and the one different factor I upgraded this yr had been the all-season runflat tires, which I changed with some sticky Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 summer season tires. These two adjustments actually carry the automobile to life within the twisties with out punishing me on extra mundane drives. I like my automobile immensely, however I did simply tick over the 100,000-mile mark and my CarMax MaxCare guarantee expired in the summertime, so I am a bit cautious of potential bills. Nevertheless it’s really been fairly rattling reliable over the course of the 60,000 miles I’ve added to its odometer. When you’re on the lookout for a zesty little automobile, I implore you to depart your poisonous masculinity at residence and hop behind the wheel of a Mini. It has introduced me countless smiles, and I hope that continues for one more 100,000 miles.

I kicked off 2025 by changing my complete fleet unexpectedly — that’s, somebody stole my BMW F800GS and the wonderful of us at Progressive purchased me a Suzuki GSX-8R to interchange it. I could also be losing interest of 270-degree parallel twins, the two.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder of bikes, however this Suzuki will serve me completely for some observe time I need to put in subsequent yr. It is acquired a broad powerband, clean torque, and a driving place that is snug sufficient to experience to the observe whereas nonetheless purposeful sufficient to experience on it.

I additionally expanded the fleet a bit this yr, including an Orbea Terra H40 to my bed room. Positive, it overlaps my mattress slightly bit with its pedals, however my Brooklyn house does not precisely have 1,000,000 sq. ft to mess around with. I’ve preferred taking it across the metropolis in the summertime, as a result of it is actually sooner than my bike — largely as a result of the bicycle will get its personal lane with none pesky visitors. Plus, train is meant to be “good for you” or one thing.

I am nonetheless whipping round my 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS500 that I purchased in April 2024, and I nonetheless completely adore it. Really, I find it irresistible much more now than I did after I first purchased it. It is only a actually glorious automobile. I’ve owned some cool automobiles in my day, however by no means have I owned one thing that acquired this a lot optimistic consideration, and that I always am trying again at at any time when I park. It is also the primary automobile I’ve owned that I really care about conserving (comparatively) clear.

I put round 5,000 miles on the CLS this yr, and it has been mainly flawless. I lastly placed on a much-needed set of latest tires — Michelin Pilot Sport 4 all-seasons to interchange the decade-old Pilot Sport 3 all-seasons it had — and wow, are you able to imagine that made an enormous distinction? I additionally needed to placed on a brand new belt tensioner and spend an annoying amount of cash to get an SRS warning mild cleared, which fortunately was only a wiring drawback as a substitute of really needing a driver’s seat aspect airbag, however in any other case it has been flawless. It seems the automobile continues to be utilizing its unique battery from 2006, too, and it is working simply wonderful.

Truthfully, I believe I am gonna hold my CLS for a very long time. It is simply fabulous. it makes me smile, driving it relaxes me, residing with it’s a dream. OK, filling it up sucks, particularly as I get round 11 mpg from its V8 round city, however then I ground stated V8 and I am not as mad. It is acquired a six-disc CD changer, and I have been having fun with shopping for discs of my favourite new music and blasting it from the Harman Kardon surround-sound system. Better of all, it fulfills a childhood dream. I’ve cherished the CLS from the second the idea was revealed after I was 9 years outdated, and that child can be so glad to know the way glad proudly owning one makes me.

My massive fleet replace this yr is that, properly, there is no such thing as a extra fleet. I’ve bought off each my 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si and 2006 Ford Explorer. Sure, I do know it is blasphemous to be an automotive journalist with out a automobile, however let me put it to you this fashion: I’ve now acquired extra time to check out the automobiles I am reviewing and sharing with you. If you consider it, going all in on press automobiles means my fleet as solely grown. In 2025 I drove over $10,000,000 price of automobiles, and also you examine a lot of them. Positive, some have not confirmed up on the location but, however I am going to get to these finally, too.

Giving up my automobiles wasn’t a simple resolution by any means. Properly, the Explorer was. I did not actually care about that factor, however the Z4 took loads out of me. First, it value a hell of loads to get it into promoting situation, after which there was the entire technique of itemizing it on Automobiles & Bids and figuring out a take care of the vendor, however it was all price it. Truthfully, I simply wasn’t driving it sufficient. Previously two years, I drove the Z4 perhaps 200 miles. That wasn’t truthful to the automobile, and it actually wasn’t truthful to me, since I used to be paying for insurance coverage on a automobile that did nothing. Now, it is off at a brand new residence down the shore in New Jersey. The brand new proprietor tells me he is dailying it, which is de facto nice to listen to. Sooner or later, I am certain I am going to get one other automobile, however so long as the press automobiles are flowing and Zohran Mamdani’s subway system retains exhibiting up, it will not be for some time.

AD: Andy bought his Explorer and his Z4 months in the past, and he nonetheless hasn’t changed them with the Moto Guzzi he stated he wished method again when he took the MSF. I go away it to you, commenters, to inform him he wants to repair this. With sufficient of us, certainly we are able to peer strain him into shopping for one thing he desires anyway.

The MTA’s R142 subway automobiles are the workhorses of my fleet. Residing in New York Metropolis, I do not personally personal a automobile. I used to personal a 2015 Toyota Corolla for my every day driver, however stopped driving it after I began commuting to Manhattan. If I have to drive anyplace within the metropolis or on a visit, I simply borrow another person’s automobile. Whereas I may purchase a automobile, it actually would not be financially accountable or definitely worth the effort. I actually should not be paying for insurance coverage and combating for road parking on a automobile that I am going to drive perhaps as soon as every week at finest. I’ve the luxurious of getting North America’s finest public transportation system to make use of whereas I save up for a automobile I genuinely need.

I bought my trusty 2015 Volkswagen Sportwagen TDI two months in the past, and I will be sincere, I miss that automobile on a regular basis. Nevertheless it was wanted by my sister and her giant household whereas it was simply taking over house in my storage. Plus, for some time now, I’ve felt like I want the storage house for one thing new and much more enjoyable. My husband has a boring workhorse automobile (a 2019 Ford Escape I had nothing to do with) for hauling groceries and canine so I’m presently on the hunt for our just-for-fun automobile.

I’ve thought of a variety of autos, from a 1960 Ford Thunderbird convertible to a Saturn Sky to slightly Nissan Pao. As you may see, my standards is fairly extensive ranging. I simply need one thing that is enjoyable and quirky and slightly bizarre. One thing that speaks to me and can be enjoyable within the solar. I do not care if it drives like a shoebox. This automobile is for cruising round city at 35 mph, not canyon carving. It has been enjoyable buying and shortly I am going to get severe about making a name, however till then I’m carless.

It definitely does not have the longest vary or the quickest cost time, however I am nonetheless completely proud of my little purple 2024 Fiat 500e and largely charging it with a great, old style wall outlet. It additionally stays an impressive every day driver, even in a decidedly rural space. Would extra vary have been good on my summer season highway journey? After all. Nevertheless it nonetheless dealt with that drive higher than I anticipated, and now that it is winter, it handles chilly temperatures much better than its predecessor.

Talking of the previous-gen 500e, I nonetheless have my child blue 2015 500e, however I am presently planning to promote it this spring. Now that my girlfriend and I dwell collectively, we simply do not have the house. Or not less than we cannot if we need to make room for her ‘64.5 Mustang convertible. As a lot as I like my 500es, I might say that is a fairly straightforward resolution to make, even when the Mustang is an computerized.