autoevolution
 

Vlad Radu

1,148  ARTICLES

Personal motto:

“From success, you learn absolutely nothing. From failure and setbacks conclusions can be drawn. That goes for your private life as well as your career.” - Nikki Lauda

Contributor
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At age five Vlad built a car cockpit out of wood, carboard and an old Trabant steering wheel under his desk and dreamed about driving the world’s most exotic cars. He grew up watching Michael Schumacher become a legendary driver, falling in love with speed and all things Ferrari in the process.

In high school, he crashed a communist-era Dacia 1310 with no brakes into a military base’s fence and almost got arrested on terrorism charges but bribed the base’s sentinel with three packs of cigarettes and only got in trouble for ruining the car.

He then decided to put his passion for cars on hold and concentrate on playing professional basketball. Due to a lack of talent, size, and a serious injury, he was forced to abandon professional sports and take a job as a video game tester. It was during this period that he discovered a passion for reading and writing after finding Hunter S. Thompson’s Hell’s Angels on a park bench.

The author’s writing style was fascinating to young Vlad and he continued to read all his books while creating a blog where he wrote about controversial social issues, inspired by his favorite author.

Years later, he got back to his first passion, taking a job at a local car parts dealership. He worked his way up from the sales department to a successful regional manager position, but something was still missing.

His biggest dream was to write so, when Autoevolution approached him to become a member of the team, he quit his old job instantly, and has been passionately writing ever since.

When he’s not busy creating articles or playing with his two-year-old son, he can be found working on his old BMW 3 Series Wagon or shredding trails on a mountain bike he assembled himself.
Car Horn Not Working? Here Are the Potential Causes and How to Fix It Yourself
Car Horn Not Working? Here Are the Potential Causes and How to Fix It Yourself

17 Feb 2021, 15:11 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Driving around with a broken horn is not only dangerous for you and those around you but also illegal. Here are the main causes of this problem and what you can do about it. Along with the brakes, the horn is one of the oldest safety features...

 
Looking for a Used Truck Under $10K? These Are the Five Most Reliable Models
Looking for a Used Truck Under $10K? These Are the Five Most Reliable Models

17 Feb 2021, 13:24 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Unlike other SUVs or passenger cars, trucks are usually put to work, so buying a used one is never an easy task, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Based on customer reports, we compiled a list of the five most reliable options available...

 
ECU Remapping: What Are the Benefits and Can It Damage Your Car’s Engine?
ECU Remapping: What Are the Benefits and Can It Damage Your Car’s Engine?

17 Feb 2021, 08:11 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Regardless of the vehicle, there’s never enough power for a true gearhead. Upgrading your car with performance parts is awesome but also expensive. Still, there’s also a cheaper and less intrusive way to gain some ponies. Not long a...

 
Showboat All You Want With Mercury Marine’s Epic 600-HP Outboard V12
Showboat All You Want With Mercury Marine’s Epic 600-HP Outboard V12

16 Feb 2021, 14:49 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In the era of electrification, Mercury Marine, one of the premier marine motor manufacturers, has just launched the first-ever V12 designed for outboard use because why not? For more than eighty years, the Wisconsin-based company has been produ...

 
EGR's RollTrac Bed Cover Is a Must-Have for Jeep Gladiator Owners, Here's Why
EGR's RollTrac Bed Cover Is a Must-Have for Jeep Gladiator Owners, Here's Why

16 Feb 2021, 08:15 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / If you’re a Jeep Gladiator owner looking for the best solution to protect your truck’s bed cargo, look no further than EGR’s upcoming next-gen RollTrac electric tonneau cover. It's strong, secure, and designed to withstand an...

 
How to Restore Your Vehicle’s Headlights Like a Pro in Four Easy Steps
How to Restore Your Vehicle’s Headlights Like a Pro in Four Easy Steps

15 Feb 2021, 16:28 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Keeping your vehicle’s headlights clean is vital. Not only do they help you see the road at night but also make you visible to other motorists. With the right products, a little bit of patience, and following these easy steps, you can restore...

 
What Are Premium Gasoline and Diesel Fuels and Are They Worth the Higher Price?
What Are Premium Gasoline and Diesel Fuels and Are They Worth the Higher Price?

15 Feb 2021, 14:08 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In most gas stations, next to the regular unleaded gasoline and diesel nozzles, one can find these additional pumps with labels promoting their benefits. That begs an obvious question: what are these premium fuels, and are they worth the extra pric...

 
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About VW’s Versatile 4Motion AWD System
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About VW’s Versatile 4Motion AWD System

15 Feb 2021, 10:54 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Initially developed to boost the off-road capabilities of family-oriented models, 4Motion evolved into a multi-faceted system now used on most of the company’s vehicles. Volkswagen’s first all-wheel-drive passenger car was the secon...

 
For Some, Nothing Says ‘I Love You’ Better Than a Bespoke Bugatti Chiron Sport
For Some, Nothing Says ‘I Love You’ Better Than a Bespoke Bugatti Chiron Sport

13 Feb 2021, 20:18 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / While most of us are struggling to decide what kind of flowers to buy for our better halves for Valentine’s Day, a wealthy Bugatti enthusiast from the UK ordered a bespoke Chiron Sport for his spouse. The French carmaker revealed the Chir...

 
What Is Ceramic Coating, How Much Does It Cost and Is it Worth it?
What Is Ceramic Coating, How Much Does It Cost and Is it Worth it?

13 Feb 2021, 19:52 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / It’s been marketed as a miracle invention, gaining a lot of popularity among those who like to keep their vehicles looking sharp, but the price, quality and durability of ceramic coating is influenced by several important factors. If you ...

 
It’s Alive! Renault 5 EV Concept Has Blinking Headlights Inspired by a Cartoon
It’s Alive! Renault 5 EV Concept Has Blinking Headlights Inspired by a Cartoon

13 Feb 2021, 19:18 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Unveiled last month as part of the French carmaker’s Renaulution strategy, the Renault 5 prototype is a modern reinterpretation of the popular hatchback released in the ‘70s. One of its most interesting design features is the headlight ...

 
Here’s Why You Should Never Idle a Modern Car for Extended Periods in The Winter
Here’s Why You Should Never Idle a Modern Car for Extended Periods in The Winter

12 Feb 2021, 15:14 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / There’s a common misconception among car owners about how to warm up the car’s engine in the winter correctly. Most think that letting the car idle for an extended period is the way to go, but the reality is that doing so will do more h...

 
Step Inside the All-New Ford F-150 Raptor’s Amazing Performance-Themed Cabin
Step Inside the All-New Ford F-150 Raptor’s Amazing Performance-Themed Cabin

12 Feb 2021, 12:35 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The latest version of the eagerly anticipated F-150 Raptor is here, and it looks meaner and tougher than ever before. Inside, it carries over most of the goodies from the standard F-150, adding some exclusive features that make it one of the nices...

 
Watch the Mach-E Go Against a Stock Car and a Rocket in Ford’s Latest Campaign
Watch the Mach-E Go Against a Stock Car and a Rocket in Ford’s Latest Campaign

12 Feb 2021, 08:08 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / The Blue Oval has just launched its latest campaign to promote the all-electric Mustang Mach-E. Called “Mustang Mach-E v. Everything,” it’s a series of crazy videos in which the EV is put to the test against things like a chandeli...

 
What Is Hill Descent Control and How It Works
What Is Hill Descent Control and How It Works

11 Feb 2021, 15:59 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / For more than twenty years, Hill Descent Control has helped drivers tackle steep descents safely and has become available on most modern off-roaders, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks sold today. In this article, we’ll explore how it originated, h...

 
Is Audi’s e-tron GT Just a Porsche Taycan With a Different (and Sexier) Body?
Is Audi’s e-tron GT Just a Porsche Taycan With a Different (and Sexier) Body?

11 Feb 2021, 13:47 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / After a long development process, the production version of the e-tron GT is finally here, ready to go from strength to strength and prove itself against Tesla’s Model S and the Porsche Taycan. A quick overview of the spec sheet reveals many ...

 
Your Car’s 12V Socket Doesn’t Work? Here Are the Main Causes and How to Fix Them
Your Car’s 12V Socket Doesn’t Work? Here Are the Main Causes and How to Fix Them

11 Feb 2021, 09:58 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / In the past, it was rarely used for anything other than powering the onboard cigarette lighter; today, it’s an indispensable source of power for countless electronics, including our smartphones. You’re rushing to get to a meeting an...

 
This Is How Two Porsche Taycan EVs Set 13 UK Endurance Records in Just 13 Hours
This Is How Two Porsche Taycan EVs Set 13 UK Endurance Records in Just 13 Hours

10 Feb 2021, 17:14 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / After breaking the Guinness world record for the longest drift with an electric vehicle, Porsche recently sent two factory-spec Taycans to Brands Hatch, where they established 13 new British endurance records in just 13 hours. The German carmak...

 
Is the 2021 Acura RDX’s True Touchpad Interface Innovative or Annoying?
Is the 2021 Acura RDX’s True Touchpad Interface Innovative or Annoying?

10 Feb 2021, 14:52 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / Comfort and convenience are vital characteristics for today’s vehicles, but some clever designers occasionally come up with good ideas that end up being poorly implemented. One such example is Acura RDX’s infotainment system controls, w...

 
Hyundai Unveils the TIGER, a Transforming, Unmanned, Four-Legged Walking Vehicle
Hyundai Unveils the TIGER, a Transforming, Unmanned, Four-Legged Walking Vehicle

10 Feb 2021, 11:34 UTC · By: Vlad Radu / It looks more like a lunar rover than a Tucson and can navigate through inaccessible terrain with the agility of a feline. Codenamed TIGER, this amazing experimental unmanned vehicle concept showcases Hyundai’s vision for the future of vehicu...

 

Stories by Vlad Radu