Andy Lilienthal
@andylilienthal.bsky.social
Writer. Editor. Photographer. Gearhead. Traveler. #WeirdCarBS fan. Half of @crankshaftculture.com
- '91 Mitsubishi Pajero XP (4D56, 5MT))
- '94 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear (4M40, 5MT)
- '98 Suzuki Jimny Wide (1.3, 5MT)
- '22 Subaru Crosstrek (2.0, 6MT)
- '91 Mitsubishi Pajero XP (4D56, 5MT))
- '94 Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear (4M40, 5MT)
- '98 Suzuki Jimny Wide (1.3, 5MT)
- '22 Subaru Crosstrek (2.0, 6MT)
My review of the 2026 Nissan Sentra via @gearjunkie.bsky.social gearjunkie.com/motors/2026-...
2026 Nissan Sentra First Drive Review: Keeping the Affordable Sedan Alive
The 2026 Nissan Sentra is largely the same, but improved in some meaningful ways, and remains a great value.
gearjunkie.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My review of the 2026 Nissan Sentra via @gearjunkie.bsky.social gearjunkie.com/motors/2026-...
These were fun to write. Maybe @mercedeslilienthal.com and I should write more of them ...
Back in 2017, we wrote a few articles called Recommended Routes. They showcased fun, achievable adventure travel routes. Should we bring the section back? crankshaftculture.com/2025/11/08/o...
Our Recommended Routes Highlight Great Adventure Travel Trips
In 2017, we wrote four stories called Recommended Routes. These showcased some overland adventures and how you can achieve them too.
crankshaftculture.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
These were fun to write. Maybe @mercedeslilienthal.com and I should write more of them ...
Hauled 280 lbs. of junk to the dump in a 2025 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid AWD -- and getting 36.2 MPG over abkut 100 miles.
November 8, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Hauled 280 lbs. of junk to the dump in a 2025 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid AWD -- and getting 36.2 MPG over abkut 100 miles.
Great color too.
We tested the 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT EV! Check out what we liked (and didn't like) about it. By: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
crankshaftculture.com/2025/11/06/r...
crankshaftculture.com/2025/11/06/r...
Review: 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT - Crankshaft Culture
We review the 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT after a week of driving in the Pacific Northwest.
crankshaftculture.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Great color too.
I think I'm the last automotive writer to drive a Ford Maverick, but I finally have one for a week. This is the 2025 Maverick Hybrid in AWD. So far, I love the interior and appreciate the excellent mileage I'm getting.
November 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I think I'm the last automotive writer to drive a Ford Maverick, but I finally have one for a week. This is the 2025 Maverick Hybrid in AWD. So far, I love the interior and appreciate the excellent mileage I'm getting.
Reposted by Andy Lilienthal
In the driveway this week? The all-electric 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT. No crankshaft, but this 338 hp EV scoots. MSRP is $45,555 before destination. Article on our impressions soon! With @andylilienthal.bsky.social and @mercedeslilienthal.com.
November 4, 2025 at 2:51 AM
In the driveway this week? The all-electric 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT. No crankshaft, but this 338 hp EV scoots. MSRP is $45,555 before destination. Article on our impressions soon! With @andylilienthal.bsky.social and @mercedeslilienthal.com.
This year will be only the second SEMA Show I've missed since 2006. It's a double-edged sword not to go. I'll miss many friends and industry colleagues. I won't miss the massive crowds, the enormous amount of ground to cover, or, well, Vegas. Godspeed, SEMA attendees!
November 4, 2025 at 12:14 AM
This year will be only the second SEMA Show I've missed since 2006. It's a double-edged sword not to go. I'll miss many friends and industry colleagues. I won't miss the massive crowds, the enormous amount of ground to cover, or, well, Vegas. Godspeed, SEMA attendees!
On this holy night of sacred candy consumption, I provide you this pictorial warning. Combine these three confections and it may open a portal to the netherworld. Consider me a soothsayer. #bshalloween
October 31, 2025 at 11:47 PM
On this holy night of sacred candy consumption, I provide you this pictorial warning. Combine these three confections and it may open a portal to the netherworld. Consider me a soothsayer. #bshalloween
Every hat should include an LED light. Just sayin'.
October 31, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Every hat should include an LED light. Just sayin'.
New t-shirts via our eBay store! Line art of our '91 Mitsubishi Pajero and '94 Delica Space Gear! www.ebay.com/usr/cranksha... #weirdcarbs
October 29, 2025 at 7:54 PM
New t-shirts via our eBay store! Line art of our '91 Mitsubishi Pajero and '94 Delica Space Gear! www.ebay.com/usr/cranksha... #weirdcarbs
We have this Subaru, in a lovely shade of red, for review this week. It really is a great color.
In the driveway this week? A crankshaft-less 2026 Subaru Solterra EV. Maybe we should change our name to Commutator Culture? ⚡⚡⚡
October 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
We have this Subaru, in a lovely shade of red, for review this week. It really is a great color.
I like pens, and these have meaning. The silver is a matte finish Rotring 600 Newton Ballpoint my late father gave me. The orange one is an OHTO Horizon Needle Point from his mother, which she gifted me. I hold these writing instruments dear to my heart as they were from great people.
October 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I like pens, and these have meaning. The silver is a matte finish Rotring 600 Newton Ballpoint my late father gave me. The orange one is an OHTO Horizon Needle Point from his mother, which she gifted me. I hold these writing instruments dear to my heart as they were from great people.
Reposted by Andy Lilienthal
If you missed our live radio show with @opb.org, we @andylilienthal.bsky.social and @mercedeslilienthal.com got you! We were on Think Out Loud with Dave Miller. This show is OPB’s daily conversation covering news, politics, culture, and arts. Our topic? Our 2025 Alcan 5000 trip and TSD road rallies.
October 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
If you missed our live radio show with @opb.org, we @andylilienthal.bsky.social and @mercedeslilienthal.com got you! We were on Think Out Loud with Dave Miller. This show is OPB’s daily conversation covering news, politics, culture, and arts. Our topic? Our 2025 Alcan 5000 trip and TSD road rallies.
Got my tickets to see The Darkness in Portland Nov. 17! Stoked!!!
October 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Got my tickets to see The Darkness in Portland Nov. 17! Stoked!!!
That time @mercedeslilienthal.com and I were in Iceland and ran across a huge Icelandic Jeep on balloon tires. (We were in a Jimny.) The Jeepers barely spoke English. But once we started in about 4WDs, they realized we were all part of the same cult ... er ... club.
Car Culture Can Cross Boundaries (Even In Iceland)
Car culture is something that transcends borders, languages, nationalities, and even vehicle types—even in Iceland.
crankshaftculture.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:02 AM
That time @mercedeslilienthal.com and I were in Iceland and ran across a huge Icelandic Jeep on balloon tires. (We were in a Jimny.) The Jeepers barely spoke English. But once we started in about 4WDs, they realized we were all part of the same cult ... er ... club.
About to go on Oregon Public Broadcasting's "Think Out Loud" to talk about the Alcan 5000 with @mercedeslilienthal.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
About to go on Oregon Public Broadcasting's "Think Out Loud" to talk about the Alcan 5000 with @mercedeslilienthal.com
The 2026 Nissan Sentra SR in the flesh. What do you think?
October 22, 2025 at 12:41 AM
The 2026 Nissan Sentra SR in the flesh. What do you think?
Reposted by Andy Lilienthal
POST-TAT RECAP REEL: last half of Day 29 of the TransAmerica Trail, we finish our 29-day, 15-state run! We had challenges. Would we, driver @andylilienthal.bsky.social and me navigator @mercedeslilienthal.com finish? Would the Subaru complete our 7,163-mile-long trek (3,184 dirt, gravel, and rocks)?
October 22, 2025 at 12:39 AM
POST-TAT RECAP REEL: last half of Day 29 of the TransAmerica Trail, we finish our 29-day, 15-state run! We had challenges. Would we, driver @andylilienthal.bsky.social and me navigator @mercedeslilienthal.com finish? Would the Subaru complete our 7,163-mile-long trek (3,184 dirt, gravel, and rocks)?
I can't stop thinking that the Land Cruiser FJ looks like an 8-bit Jeep Renegade.
October 21, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I can't stop thinking that the Land Cruiser FJ looks like an 8-bit Jeep Renegade.
Reposted by Andy Lilienthal
POST-TAT RECAP REEL: Day 28 of the TransAmerica Trail, continuing in Oregon where wildfire smoke clears but road closures and newly burnt areas prevail.
Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
Vehicle: modified 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
Vehicle: modified 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
October 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
POST-TAT RECAP REEL: Day 28 of the TransAmerica Trail, continuing in Oregon where wildfire smoke clears but road closures and newly burnt areas prevail.
Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
Vehicle: modified 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
Driver: @andylilienthal.bsky.social
Navigator: @mercedeslilienthal.com
Vehicle: modified 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
Took the Jimny to a foggy Oregon Cars and Coffee this weekend.
October 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Took the Jimny to a foggy Oregon Cars and Coffee this weekend.
Is it me, or is this a missed opportunity for Sir Mix-A-Lot and Aleve?
October 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Is it me, or is this a missed opportunity for Sir Mix-A-Lot and Aleve?
Just a somewhat dramatically lit Suzuki G13BB engine in our Jimny Wide. Fun Fact: this is the same engine that was also in the 1.3-liter Chevy/Geo Metro and Suzuki Swift in the USA.
October 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Just a somewhat dramatically lit Suzuki G13BB engine in our Jimny Wide. Fun Fact: this is the same engine that was also in the 1.3-liter Chevy/Geo Metro and Suzuki Swift in the USA.
Any new model by Mitsubishi is good. But this is just an Outlander variant (e.g. Honda Passport > Honda Passport TrailSport). I'm looking forward to what they replace the aged Outlander Sport with in North America or if they replace it. Outlander has been good for MMNA, and they need a follow up!
Mitsubishi is adding an off-road-oriented variant of its Outlander SUV. Will it be able to go toe-to-toe with Honda's TrailSport, Nissan's Rock Creek, and Subaru's Wilderness versions of their ruggedized rigs?
Mitsubishi Adding Off-Road-Focused Outlander
Mitsubishi announced today that it'll be adding an off-road variant of its current Mitsubishi Outlander SUV. Where' what we know.
crankshaftculture.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Any new model by Mitsubishi is good. But this is just an Outlander variant (e.g. Honda Passport > Honda Passport TrailSport). I'm looking forward to what they replace the aged Outlander Sport with in North America or if they replace it. Outlander has been good for MMNA, and they need a follow up!