This SEMA special drag race is absurdly awesome | Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep

 By Chris Bruce

The SEMA Show came and went in November, and it showed us a ton of heavily modded goodies to dream about during the long, cold winter. The Motor Trend Channel on YouTube is keeping the party rolling a little longer, though, with a drag race inspired by the aftermarket event.

All of the hosts were supposed to borrow a vehicle from the show for the big race, but only two of them actually cajoled companies into lending their wares. Still, the result includes four very cool and extremely different examples of the breadth of the automotive hobby.

First up, there's a 1955 Chevrolet with a 535-cubic-inch (8.8-liter) Hemi V8 stuffed under the hood. Appropriately, it's dubbed the Blasphemi, and with skinny tires up front, fat rubber in the rear and a stripped interior, this this is made to go very fast in a straight line. Next, there's a stock Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat boasting 707 horsepower. Plus, host Jessi Lang has her dog riding shotgun for the race. A Chevy Sonic RS with some body mods, downpipe and intake is also competing. Finally, the most bizarre of the quartet is a custom 1958 Jeep Forward Control with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and treads to replace the wheels.

Obviously, the Blasphemi and Hellcat are the only two that really have a chance of winning, but check out the video to see which one crosses the finish line first.

Should you Buy or Lease your Next New Car? | Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

The holidays are a great time to buy a car. Since the year is coming to a close, automakers are offering some enticing car deals to move cars off their lots and hit their sales goals for the month and year. As you wade through the financing, cash back and lease deals available, you might still be on the fence as to whether you should lease or finance your next new car.

If having a low monthly payment is important to you and your budget, consider leasing. When you lease, you only make payments on a portion of the car’s price, not the full amount. The down payment on a lease can also be low, ranging from $0 to several thousand dollars. However, the more you put down the lower your monthly payments will be. Keep in mind that leases have mileage restrictions and you’ll have to pay a fee if you go over the mileage limit, so if you do a lot of driving, you shouldn’t lease. Leasing also generally requires a good credit score, so if your credit history is less than perfect, you may want to finance or consider a used car.

You also won’t own the car when the lease is over like you would when you finance. When your loan is paid off, you own the car free and clear. If you like to keep your car as long as possible and enjoy not having a car loan payment after it’s paid off, then buying is better for you. Over several years of not having a car loan payment, you could save money compared to someone who has to keep leasing a new car every three years.

When it comes to buying and leasing, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Consider your budget, driving needs and lifestyle before you decide whether to buy or lease. There are auto lenders who can provide you with financing that works best for you, no matter whether you decide to buy or lease your next vehicle.

In the market for a new car? Check out our new vehicles and pre-owned specials!