The Daily Valet. - 5/13/22, Friday
✔️ This Has Never Been Cooler
Friday, May 13th Edition
Who wants to take a drive this weekend?
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s edition is presented by
Today’s Big Story
Used Cars Have Never Been Cooler
The average age of a car on the road today is 12 years old and pre-owned vehicles can now cost more than new cars
The seller’s market for used cars just celebrated its one-year anniversary, but it may be coming to an end. Which is good news if you’re in the market for a used car—and a lot of people are.
Used vehicles were hit hardest by rising inflation as the economy reopened and spending boomed in early 2021. Pent-up demand for cars slammed into the global semiconductor shortage, crimping supply for new vehicles. That powered a massive price spike which, according to Insider, counted for roughly one-third of overall inflation throughout last spring.
But after months of extraordinarily large price hikes, it might finally be a good time for car buyers. Even if that means bad news for car sellers. Prices for used vehicles fell 0.4% in April, marking a third consecutive month of declines.
Did you know the average age of vehicles on U.S. roadways rose to a record 12.1 years last year? People are hanging onto their cars longer and driving them further because automobiles today are aging like Jennifer Lopez—which is to say, impressively.
Whereas 20 years ago a car might have changed hands once or twice and lasted 100,000 miles, it’s more common now for a car to have multiple owners and last for over 200,000 miles or more. Experts say that not only extends the life cycle of the vehicle, but leads to steeper prices on the used-car lot.
And even those prices have been slowly declining, according to the latest study by car search engine iSeeCars.com. Many lightly-used cars are now more expensive than their new versions. They analyzed asking prices from over 1.5 million new and used cars sold in April 2022 and identified the top 15 pre-owned cars that have the greatest price difference compared to their new versions.
↦ FYI: The total number of vehicles in operation in the U.S. has risen about 10% since 2013, to around 279 million, according to IHS.
Making Dinner Reservations Is Harder Than Ever
What’s behind the frenzy? And how can we get around it?
The weather is warmer, COVID restrictions have lifted (in most places), and everyone seems ready to hit the town. Like, everyone. And they all want to eat at the same time. Have you been encountering trouble making dinner reservations? So has everyone else.
The Wall Street Journal reports that online-reservation app Resy had its busiest month on record last month. And Tock, another reservation platform, has seen the highest number of guests on their waitlists ever. This bodes well for restaurants—many of which are still struggling to recover from COVID-era losses—but what does it mean for the many diners who aren't able to get on a list?
The sad reality is that there are simply less places to choose from at the moment. Citing data from the National Restaurant Association, The Takeout says that more than 90,000 eateries have temporarily or permanently closed during the pandemic.
In fact, it's been so tough, that tech-savvy line skippers have been hacking their way in. Eater reports that an online group called #FreeRezy was busted by the real Resy for gaming the system to redistribute popular reservations in Brooklyn and Manhattan via a large group chat.
↦ GO Old School: Not seeing open tables on a restaurant’s online reservation portal? Pick up the phone. You might be able to get on a waiting list not offered online if a table opens up.
Partner
You might be deficient in this essential element. If you're feeling rundown, you don't need more coffee, your body probably needs more electrolytes.
Watch the Sky
It’s a supermoon, it’s a blood moon, it’s an eclipse … just look at it!
With all the crazy shit going on in the world right now, let's just take a minute and look up into the night sky on Sunday night. Why? Because there will be a rather rare full lunar eclipse—a complete “blood moon,” if you will.
All across the Americas along with parts of Europe and Africa, you'll be able to watch the moon pass directly into the Earth's shadow cast by the sun. When this happens, the moon is illuminated a brilliant red. Hence the “blood moon” nickname.
According to NASA, totality—or the period when the moon is fully immersed in Earth's shadow—will begin at about 11:30 p.m. ET and last for roughly an hour and a half.
This eclipse will also appear a little grander than usual, reports National Geographic. The moon will be near its perigee (or closest point to Earth), making it seem a bit larger in the sky, a phenomenon known as a supermoon. Just how close is it? About 225,015 miles from Earth.
↦ FYI: A meteor shower is also expected to light up the sky at the end of the month. And it’s supposed to be the best and brightest of 2022.
A Weekend Pairing
‘Senior Year’ + a Rum & Coke
Ready for a NSFW comedy that will help you forget the stress of the week? Rebel Wilson's Senior Year, now streaming on Netflix, blends fish-out-of-water hijinks with millennial nostalgia. Wilson plays Stephanie, who as a teenager was a popular girl in school until an unfortunate cheerleading fall lands her in a coma. Waking up 20 years later, the now-37-year-old is determined to return to high school and reclaim the youth she lost.
The R rating suggests it is geared more toward an older audience than kids, but it obviously calls to mind past high school classics like Clueless, Mean Girls and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. In fact, the film pays homage with an appearance by Alicia Silverstone. Reviews don't seem to be in yet, but Decider says that Wilson's signature comedic timing is reason enough to watch. And I'd have to agree. Just imagine, waking up tomorrow only to discover you have never used a smart phone and have no idea what social media is. Frightening ... or maybe liberating.
↦ Your Pairing:I wanted something to pair with this that felt a little like high school and something that was also popular in 2002. Enter, the Rum & Coke (or Cuba Libre as it was called during the classic cocktail renaissance of the early aughts). The Spruce Eats says to watch how much Coke you're pouring and use a decent white rum for that tropical sugar cane flavor. And don't skimp on the lime wedge!
In Other News
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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Time to Ditch the Sports Drinks
If you’re looking to replace your electrolytes, you want this instead
If you're an active and clean-eating person, you're probably used to cutting back on sugar. But what about upping your salt? Electrolytes are essential. We know that. But what do they do for us, really? Sodium, along with calcium, magnesium and potassium, are vital to a myriad of important bodily functions. How important? Well, they're responsible for regulating muscle contractions and keeping you hydrated, while also balancing your pH levels and controlling your nervous-system function.
Which is why we feel so cruddy when we're running low on them. Electrolyte deficiency or imbalances can cause headaches, cramps, fatigue and weakness. When you sweat, the primary electrolyte lost is sodium (and you can lose up to seven grams per day). When sodium isn't replaced, it's common to experience muscle cramps and fatigue. I know this from firsthand experience after my weekend bike rides (nearly 50 miles last Saturday, thank you very much). At first I worried it was age catching up on me when I experienced a woozy fatigue and couldn't get off the couch.
But now I realize I wasn't properly rehydrating to restore lost electrolytes. And the same can happen if you're following a low-carb, ketogenic diet as well (anyone hear of the “keto flu”?) LMNT is an easy and tasty way to get back vital electrolytes. The single-severing drink mix has everything you need and nothing you don't. That means a generous dose of salt, along with potassium and magnesium but absolutely no sugar.
Those sports drinks you find at the convenience store? Yeah the average bottle has a whopping 34 grams of sugar in them. And only 270 mg of sodium. LMNT, on the other hand, skips the sugar, artificial ingredients and colors. And they've got a science-backed electrolyte ratio of 1,000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium and 60 mg magnesium. Plus, the fruit flavors are refreshing and sweetened only with natural, no-calorie stevia. Now I can see why it's used by everyone from pro athletes and Olympians to Navy Seals.
↦ Try It: Get 8 single serving packets free, just cover the cost of shipping ($5 for U.S. customers).
20Under$20
These cost-conscious picks will have you smelling good, feeling good and keeping money in your pocket.
↦ Get It: 20 picks under $20
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That’s all for today...
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