Reposted by Matt HardigreeThe Autopian @theautopian.bsky.social · 14hYes, the Tesla Roadster is properly bananas 😳 tinyurl.com/mavde3av 1282
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14hA version of the car did, yes. Is that a version anyone will ever be able to buy? IDK. 110
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14hHuh. I think the Tesla Roadster actually looks quite good. That vapor is constantly being emitted from it has put this into a level of surreality I can barely comprehend. 510
Reposted by Matt HardigreeSamoht @sam0ht.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Great vid in that article on Vector M12 v Spyker C8, real #WeirdCarBS royalty. I never knew the M12 was so shonky, and yet... still super-cool. www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0MF...youtube.comStrange Supercar Battle: 1990's vs 2000'sYouTube video by Galpin Motors 011
Reposted by Matt HardigreeAletheia Silverblade @theia.xipha.social · 14/10/2026Fantastic article. It's not just about the Carscoops acquisition but the entire enshittification ecosystem that's killing independent media.theautopian.comOne Of The Last Independent Car Sites Loses Its Independence As Google Strangles Publishers - The AutopianBeing an independent publisher in 2026 is just watching Google repeatedly make your life miserable, no matter how much you attempt to play by the rules they tell you to follow. Carscoops, one of the l... 162
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Torch...theautopian.comI Need To Drive The Vector Fast In Front Of A Lot Of People And I Think I Should Be More Scared - The AutopianWe’re pretty excited to be part of RADwood this year, which is going to be at the Gold Bar Hangar in Alameda, California, and a big part of that excitement is all the toys RADwood is letting us bring ... 351
Reposted by Matt HardigreeBen Subeck @bensubeck.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Nori Green SportCross? This might be the most me-coded car ever. www.reddit.com/r/IS300/s/as... 7718
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026This article on what happened to Carscoops really touched a nerve with some, but it's also led to a huge positive swing in membership. Thank you to everyone who became a member (or is already a member)! www.theautopian.com/one-of-the-l...theautopian.comOne Of The Last Independent Car Sites Loses Its Independence As Google Strangles Publishers - The AutopianBeing an independent publisher in 2026 is just watching Google repeatedly make your life miserable, no matter how much you attempt to play by the rules they tell you to follow. Carscoops, one of the l... 140
Reposted by Matt HardigreeJames Gilboy @jamiegilboy.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Shovelware. All “best X product” guides that are just Amazon affiliate link collections. Pandering, shallow cultural writing. All of Kid Rock’s discography. Humans can absolutely create slop, we’re just capable of more. 021
Reposted by Matt HardigreeJustin Hughes @justinhughes54.com · 14/10/2026Surprisingly, that strategy did not work for the company, and I was laid off six months later. Who saw that coming? 🤔 011
Reposted by Matt HardigreeJustin Hughes @justinhughes54.com · 14/10/2026Absolutely. I got my start in editing work when the place I wrote for decided to bring in a human content mill to shotgun slop at the internet to see what stuck. Fixing errors became my literal full-time job (like “the 2015 Honda Civic is not rear-wheel drive”). 141
Reposted by Matt HardigreeStef Schrader @hoonofthe.day · 14/10/2026The kind of slop that now appears next to some of my best work after Static bought Jalopnik is frickin' embarrassing. Jalopnik and Carscoops both deserve better. 0231
Reposted by Matt HardigreeJustin O’Brien @reject69187.bsky.social · 14/10/2026That article was eye opening, thanks for writing it 021
Reposted by Matt HardigreeDeveloper Soup @developersoup.net · 14/10/2026Content mills have absolutely been churning out "slop" for as long as they've existed, even if we didn't call it that. 061
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026You can answer a question in a way that's not low quality. Some of these posts are not great. As someone who puts time and effort into your work, you certainly must see this as well. As a publisher, I see what clogging the net with this shit does, and it impacts everyone. It's my job to call it out. 100
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026An interesting question has come up after my article on what Google is doing. When you hear the term "slop" do you only think of "AI Slop." Can humans create "slop" as well? I think of it as low quality, low effort, disposable content created for primarily SEO, which humans can create.static.klipy.comPrincipal Skinner: Am I Out Of Touch? No, It's The ChildrenAlt: Principal Skinner: Am I Out Of Touch? No, It's The Children 580
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026I think of stuff like this: www.jalopnik.com/1945140/cost... as slop, but perhaps some people view that as explicitly AI-created. So as not to confuse the issue, I've tweaked the post.jalopnik.comHere's What Costco Customers Really Think About Its Wheels - JalopnikJust because it's cheaper at Costco, it doesn't mean you should buy it there. But is there ever a good reason to go with the retailer's cheap wheels? 100
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Honestly, I was a little confused about what was troubling you, but I think it's the "the other has a mix of original reporting and slop-heavy freelance" line, right? I've changed it to "...original reporting and some SEO-chasing, lower quality contributions." 100
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Static Media is a large, rich, powerful media company. We are an independent publisher. Also, this post is about Google as much as anyone else. 100
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026People have to be asking questions about broken Jeeps, and I’m pretty sure we have the market cornered on that and tractor trailer efficiency. 040
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Just because you put something on the internet doesn’t mean it’s above reproach or critique. For instance, see at least 10% of the stuff I’ve written in my career. 210
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026We look at analytics as well and it definitely informs some of what we do, so I think it’s partially a volume thing. 110
Reposted by Matt HardigreeSteven Ewing @stevenewing.bsky.social · 13/10/2026The Honda Super One is genuinely one of the most entertaining cars I’ve driven all year. I will miss it so much! 5717
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Every month in a slightly different form? It's weird! Also, humans can write slop. 110
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Slop comes in many forms. Like, how do you explain all these strange, low quality posts about Costco Tires? www.jalopnik.com/1945140/cost... 110
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/10/2026Hey Alex! There are writers I respect at many Static Media sites, including Jalopnik. I don't see where in this post I say that Static Media uses AI. However, a question: Has an editor or superior at Static or Slashgear asked you to write a post with a specific word in the headline? 210
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 13/10/2026I wrote about what happened to Carscoops www.theautopian.com/one-of-the-l...theautopian.comOne Of The Last Independent Car Sites Loses Its Independence As Google Strangles Publishers - The AutopianBeing an independent publisher in 2026 is just watching Google repeatedly make your life miserable, no matter how much you attempt to play by the rules they tell you to follow. Carscoops, one of the l... 281
Reposted by Matt HardigreeFred Smith @fredsmith.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Indy car media is so rare these days that even literally IndyCar Media is owned by Roger Penske 041
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Basically official, Carscoops is the latest independent media company to fall: www.carscoops.com Indy car media is like... what? Us, The Intercooler, and Curbside?carscoops.comCarscoops | Breaking Car News, Scoops & ReviewsBreaking news coverage for car buyers and auto enthusiasts with spy shots, reviews, auto shows, offbeat stories and more at Carscoops. 140
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 13/10/2026I have gotten no official word or announcement (I've asked), but this is pretty much all the proof you need that Static Media has purchased Carscoops. It's a tough industry and I don't blame anyone for selling right now. 040
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 02/10/2026"Excluding the planned phase-out of Escape and Corsair, Ford estimates its third-quarter retail share increased approximately 0.4 percentage points year over year to 12.1%." Lol. 250
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Can’t beat the cool Chicago Pope. Looking forward to next year. 250
Reposted by Matt HardigreeObie @obienator.bsky.social · 25/09/2026WHERE THE FUCK IS THE EXPANSE? 2213
Reposted by Matt HardigreeMLB @mlbbot.bsky.social · 27/09/2026For the 9th time in 10 years, the @Astros will be playing in the #Postseason! Thanks to the Twins win over the Rangers, Houston has #CLINCHED the AL West title! (MLB x @BudweiserUSA) 2318
Reposted by Matt HardigreeChi Chi Thalken @scratched-vinyl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Live shot of the Astros clinching the AL West:static.klipy.comPrincess Mostly Dead: Slightly AliveALT: Princess Mostly Dead: Slightly Alive 021
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 22/09/2026McLaren might be the only automaker that's better in practice than in theory www.theautopian.com/mclaren-chan...theautopian.comMcLaren Changes Its Logo In Effort To Make Anyone Care About Its Road Cars - The AutopianI try not to be snarky about supercars because, in my heart of hearts, I enjoy most of them. When I’m at a place like Monterey Car Week I’m still excited by the sight of an F430 Spider, a Porsche 959,... 120
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 22/09/2026This is a great joke. I wish id have thought of this bit. 080
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Well, the IS REO LEGIT conversation just got a lot more interesting with the announcement that Frank Stephenson is designing it: www.theautopian.com/reo-announce...theautopian.comREO Announced The Designer For Their Upcoming $21,500 Pickup Truck And It's The Mind Behind The New Mini And The Ferrari F430 - The AutopianWe’ve talked a good bit here about REO, the company that wants to build a combustion-engine’d pickup truck that will sell for an excitingly cheap $21,500. It’s a bold plan, trying to start an all-new ... 120
Reposted by Matt HardigreeJohn Voelcker @johnvoelcker.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Yes, VW's new ultra-aero #EV is very cool, and very efficient. NO! It did NOT get 900 miles from its 54.9 kWh battery !! Kudos to @theautopian.bsky.social for this one. "Math class is TOUGH!" — Barbara Millicent Rogers, 1992 Now, seemingly, simple reading comprehension too? (1 of 2)theautopian.comHow Did Everyone Get This Wrong? VW's New 'Mission Efficiency' Doesn't Get 900 Miles Of Range Out Of A Small Battery - The AutopianYou may have seen a lot of stories floating around about how VW’s new Mission Efficiency concept has a range of about 900 miles; that isn’t true. It’s about half that, which is still quite good, but l... 1182
Matt Hardigree @matthardigree.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Look, y'all, I'm doing the hard-hitting journalism everyone else is afraid to do. www.theautopian.com/there-is-no-...theautopian.comThere Is No Good Way To Photograph Someone Taking A Breathalyzer Test - The AutopianHave you looked at photos of people taking a breathalyzer test online? No, of course you haven’t. Given how precious every minute of existence is, that would be a waste of an hour. Unless it’s your jo... 161
