A June 3 White House meeting on vehicle repair policy put President Trump squarely on the side of independent mechanics and DIY car owners. Ford Blue and Model e president Andrew Frick, General Motors representatives, and Roger Penske sat down with the president to discuss repair legislation, but Trump pushed back, expressing disbelief that automakers "want a bill that prohibits people from fixing" their own vehicles and reminiscing about growing up with people who "could fix an engine blindfolded" (freep.com). Ford confirmed the meeting but declined to share further details (fordauthority.com).

The meeting lands amid a broader legislative push: the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce recently advanced the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026 (H.R. 7389), which includes provisions codifying a 2014 right-to-repair memorandum of understanding between automakers and independent repair shops. Industry analysis warns that by 2035, 155 million vehicle owners could face limited repair choices and average annual repair cost increases of roughly $200 if automakers retain exclusive control over diagnostic data (sema.org).

Celebrity car culture gets genuinely interesting when it veers away from the predictable supercar purchases and into eccentric, personal territory. Jay Leno's 200-plus vehicle collection includes a jet-powered motorcycle and steam-powered cars alongside his longest-owned ride, a 1955 Buick Roadmaster (slashgear.com). Meanwhile, George Clooney opted for a tiny electric Tango T600, Elvis Presley tooled around in a diminutive Messerschmitt KR200, and Janis Joplin's hand-painted Porsche 356 became a cultural icon in its own right (jalopnik.com).

Some choices are all about defying expectations. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — who could afford anything on four wheels — picked a retro Plymouth Prowler as one of his most distinctive rides, while Mick Fleetwood famously used a vintage London taxi as his touring vehicle early in his career (jalopnik.com). What ties these stories together is the idea that for certain celebrities, the connection to a car is less about wealth signaling and more about personal obsession, nostalgia, or a vision that transcends the standard luxury purchase (caranddriver.com).

Rick Treadway, a former IndyCar driver and son of 1997 Indianapolis 500-winning team owner Fred Treadway, was killed in a motorcycle crash on May 30, 2026 at the age of 56 (foxnews.com). Treadway made 11 IndyCar starts across the 2001 and 2002 seasons, including the 2002 Indianapolis 500, where he qualified 17th before being eliminated in a Turn 3 crash on Lap 90 alongside Tony Kanaan (wthr.com). Former teammate and two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk was among those offering public condolences (foxnews.com).

The loss arrives while the motorsports community is still processing the death of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who passed away on May 21 at age 41 following a severe illness (nascar.com). Two high-profile racing figures lost in just over a week has left the sport grappling with grief in a way few recent stretches have matched.

While most vehicles start piling up expensive repairs around 150,000 miles, a handful of models have earned a reputation for routinely sailing past 300,000 miles with consistent maintenance (autos.yahoo.com). Toyota and Honda dominate the longevity conversation, with Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Surveys confirming that both brands log fewer problems and last longer than the competition (consumerreports.org). Frequently cited high-mileage champions include the Toyota Land Cruiser, Camry, 4Runner, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, and the Ford Crown Victoria — models that share traits like body-on-frame construction and proven powertrains (motorbiscuit.com).

The Ford F-150, America's perennial best-seller, also appears consistently on these lists, with plenty of examples for sale showing well over 300,000 miles on the clock (motorbiscuit.com). Experts stress that reaching extreme mileage isn't just about the badge on the hood — it requires sticking to scheduled maintenance, driving conservatively, and addressing problems early instead of putting them off (autos.yahoo.com).