Useful Online Automotive Search Tips

As I keep trying to compare similar cars, like, say hatchbacks, there's a few search tips that can make it easier and faster to find the information you need.

For example, if you're looking to compare wheelbase for several models, you can go to Google and type: [modelname] wheelbase The results can be scanned through quickly to identify useful and factual resources such as Wiki, Edmunds, Motor Trend, and Inside Line, Car and Driver, Top Gear. I would exclude any bulletin boards or discussion forums.

Other useful searches can be:
[modelname] mpg
[modelname] torque
[modelname] 0-60


Depending on what you are looking for to compare. It's good practice to save these results on a spreadsheet so you can always refer back to it later, rather than having to re-search everything each time.

Winter Car Care

Although we're just now officially in proper autumn, the seasonal changes in our area have left summer and comfortable weather in the dust.

With high winds, heavy rains, slick roads, construction, and a number of other potentially-lethal obstacles, it's incredibly important to have one's car in good mechanical shape.

Many mechanics and shops offer multi-point checkups or winter prep checkups to make sure your car is ready to handle whatever the weather and seasonal change will bring. These check ups can range from $25-$95 depending on the year and make of your car, and the type of shop you're going to.

Make sure you keep an energy bar or two in the glove compartment, a blanket, jumper cables, key de-icer, snow remover, and any other useful tools and equipment you'll need in your car.

Safe travels!

Can a Used Car Still be a Contender?

With used car prices staying pretty high through this recession and recovery, and the potential issues that come along with a car's history...are used cars really still contenders for those of us who need to get a car?

Excellent blog post today on Get Rich Slowly (Ask the Readers: Is a Used Car Still a Good Deal?). There's quite a few factors to consider when going for a used/certified/second hand vehicle. I highly recommend you read that blog post as it goes through all the motions for items you need to think about and plan for when making the purchasing decision.

It's important to study what cars retain their value the longest, because these also tend to be the best offerings mechanically and structurally. But beware, these are also some of the higher upfront cost vehicles around.

In my eyes, paying a little more for a quality, long-term investment provides me a higher likelihood of safe commutes through many miles of roads...some of them deserted or in semi-rural or light industrial areas. I'd hate to buy cheap up front, and then have to pay way too much later. I'm not good at budgeting emergency funds, and that can be dangerous.

It's very important to study reports about particular vehicles' true cost to own. This involves gas, insurance, repairs, and standard maintenance schedule. What about accessories and add-ons? These are also expenses you may not have originally factored on. They could range from just an mp3 player cord to plug in your smartphone and play mp3s via your stereo, all the way up to a new onboard computer, rims, wheels, and other interior overhauls.

What about identifying the right repair and maintenance professional/shop for your particular vehicle? Sometimes staying with the original dealership's service department is not a good investment in time and money. Sometimes finding a big-box service store or a local mom and pop shop can make a very big difference on your vehicle's (and wallet's!) longevity.

I always get a laugh at "car finder" apps on various automotive websites, because it basically outputs whatever you input...use those filters sparingly in a first glance or as you first begin your research, and then more aggressively once you've drilled down enough to a particular set of potential contenders. I put more stake in driving impression articles, editor vs. consumer reviews of particular models, and model history articles/reports available on a variety of serious, automotive industry websites (Edmunds, Car and Driver, MSN Autos, etc.).

As with anything, due diligence pays off.

Your MPG is Fibbing

According to Edmunds, your fuel economy gauge is overestimating what your actual MPG is.

I've always know this since back in my Jeep days, I realized the Liberty gave way less MPG than they claimed. I kept refilling the gas tank twice a week in some instances. It was insane.

But back to Edmunds, "Across two tests in seven different vehicles, the gauges were 5.5 percent inaccurate on average, according to data gathered."

"Fuel economy gauges, which show both average and current fuel economy, are standard equipment in 92 percent of 2011 vehicles. By resetting the gauge when refueling, a driver sees what kind of fuel economy the vehicle delivers. Drivers can change their driving style and see if this improves fuel economy."

Life Saving Driving Techniques

Excellent article today on MSN Autos, titled 5 Life-Saving Driving Techniques by rally racing legend Tim O'Neill.

How to Save While You Maintain Your Car

MSN Autos has a great checklist of tips (9 Ways to Save on Car Maintenance) that help you save your pennies while making sure your car's maintenance is taking place as recommended by the manufacturer.

Although I don't agree with some of their recommendations, especially since many are mostly for older model vehicles rather than newer or luxury vehicles, there's still a kernel of truth behind some of the claims/tips:

• most latest models can handle regular unleaded.
• if your manufacturer/manual recommend super, or your car is turbo, go safe and get premium gasoline.
• don't change the oil more than you need to, check your manual -- except if you put unusual wear/drive a lot.
• tire rotation is useful but not a "must" and make sure you take advantage of free lifetime rotation when you purchase your tires -- and/or make that a pre-qualifier for the place you're getting your next set!
• oil light blinking at ya? Safely pull over and turn off your car. This can burn out your engine so get it taken care of immediately!
• you should only go to the dealer if you are going to be lazy about checking up news of recalls, else, there's cheaper places to get serviced. Check the warranty clauses though.

Domestic vs. Imports

According to a recent article up on MSN Autos (Do You Really Drive An American Car?), one can never really be sure where one's car has been made. The key is in reading the VIN:

"VINs that start with one indicate the car was assembled in the U.S., two indicates Canada, three Mexico, and four anywhere else in the world. A vehicle's VIN is at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, as well as other places on the vehicle."

Photographing Cars

I was struck by the idea I needed to start documenting my cars photographically, for posterity. Also, the excitement of looking at sexy car pr0n makes the driving all that much more pleasurable, methinks.

So where do you start? I searched Google and found some interesting pages full of great tips. Bright Hub has an article on antique car photography, but it applies perfectly well to any type of car. The aggressive mix of shots is what you need to aim for.

Motorcar Photography Tips by Curt Scott - light sources, and the important difference between a snapshot and a photograph. Great advice.

Car photography tutorials - a little bit of everything. Includes in-depth technical articles on lenses and such.
When it comes to interiors, that's where it gets really tricky and when real photography cues and how-tos come into play.

Canon Digital Photography Forums has great tips here and here. The trick is to use interior light sources and additional light sources, as well as reflective elements like white and silver boards to reflect as much of the scarce light as possible.

Closeups are also a great avenue to pursue, but a mix will probably offer you the best choice later when picking the top shots.

Also, look for car photographer interviews, such as this one on Carphotographer.net, nothing beats hearing it straight from the horse's mouth.

Shopping for Tires

Earlier this summer I found myself in need of some new tires for my second-hand Infinity EX. The tires they gave me with the vehicle were very worn, even considering the lower-than-average mileage on the car. As a matter of fact, because of some disturbing behavior during the very long sale process, the significant-other unit and I came away thinking there was the possibility they switched the tires to older, more worn tires. Further, the rally-like driving I do in severe traffic-laden Chicagoland roads and highways, grated down mid-construction roadways, and other assorted obstacles in the area...caused my tires to bald down considerably.

Enter the replacement tire search process. Things I kept in mind when price shopping were:

• exact dimensions needed
• manufacturer and model of desired tires
• product cost, disposal costs, labor costs, pressure gauge rebuild cost, environmental fee, any additional fees
• distance from my house and hours (particularly weekday afternoon/evening)
• ability of person to communicate all the information I sought without putting up barriers

I knew I wanted to stick with the same manufacturer and model of tire currently on my vehicle. This made the search much easier on me.

When I looked up suggestions for tire shopping on my trusty Consumer Reports 2010 Buying Guide, I was a little set aback by the lack of useful information. However, I did recently discover this video that could be a useful primer for others.



My dealership was eager to bullsh...I mean, talk some more about replacing my tires, starting after the last oil change visit I made. When I was ready, I called the service rep, and asked for a quote with all the bells, whistles, and fees that would be involved in replacing the four very worn-down tires.

Then I did the smart thing. I called up several different tire stores in my neighborhood (Sears, Discount Tire, NTB, etc.). Each rep was knowledgeable about all the fees involved and was open in sharing each one in detail. There was considerable range of prices at each place.

The dealership, the least-likely place I would get replacement tires from,  proved to be the most expensive at over $1,400. The other  vendors were in the $960-$1,200 range. That's quite a difference, isn't it?

The lowest bidder ended up being Discount Tire (Fort Hill Drive, Naperville IL), at under $950. They special-ordered the tires from Michelin in Michigan, called me when they ordered them, then when they got them in so I could make an appointment to stop by. Not only was the rep there friendly, knowledgeable, and hands-on in managing my sale, but he even entertained me as I waited about 45 to 55 minutes for the installation.

Painless. That's how your tire tire shopping should be too! :)

Packing for a Road Trip

MSN Autos wants everyone to pack safely on their next car trip.

"While it's tempting (and sometimes satisfying) to stuff your car to the gills in order to fit it all, it's neither wise nor safe. Loose items in a car could become dangerous projectiles in an accident or emergency maneuver, plus all that stuff could hamper visibility. The seriousness of this need is highlighted in the accompanying video..."

Shopping for a Radar Detector

Although in some states (and Canada) it's an illegal practice, radar detectors mounted on your car's dashboard are quite common in the state of Illinois.

Radar detectors are docked/installed either on your windshield (with suction cups, much as you would a GPS unit) or on top of your dashboard (w two pieces of velcro or more permanently secured) and serve to notify you of police speed traps (radar or otherwise electronic) and other road hazards that limit the speed you can drive on your local roads or on the highway. Many consider radar detectors helpful in preventing speeding tickets, though if you drive faster than your ability to react to your detector's alert...it's not much good then is it? Also, you will not be able to detect plane-assisted speed traps.

There are a variety of options, installations, etc., for today's innumerable choices of radar detectors out in the market.
For example, you can choose between 14-band and 15-band, plus installation as complex as those involving sensors under your front and rear bumpers (my parents' first radar detector was installed this way on our '91 Chevy Caprice). These more complex installations benefit form professional assistance such as Best Buy Geek Squad automotive installation services.

You can also select detectors which can operate stealthily so radar detector detectors (RDDs) won't catch you red-handed. Other detectors can also alert you to red-light cameras. Essentially, the point here is that the options are innumerable, and it's up to you to read up on a few of these options and begin your "must have" and "would like" list of options for your particular case.

Remember, the more options, the more reading and learning you will have to do with the little detector's very long manual. It's amazing how much multitasking they can squeeze into a very few buttons.


The brand that I've heard consistently about, and positive reviews on, is Cobra. My family first became acquainted with Cobra while shopping around for our second detector back in the mid 1990s on QVC. These online shopping networks are actually quite helpful to get you familiarized with particular detector's abilities, industry standards, and proper installation/operation. Not to just promo one brand and particular product to death, but learning about what one company offers or what one particular product's options are can enlighten you to what's out there and get you closer to figuring out what you want.

I have been researching a radar detector since January-February when I got my second speeding ticket within weeks of the first one. The first thing that came out of my mom and dad's mouths when I asked them separately about radar detectors these days was Cobra. They drive well over the 12,000 miles a year that each American typically drives, and have been avoiding getting speeding tickets rather consistently--though the occasional airplane trap busts my dad on the highway.

These days, the ubiquitous red-light cameras, combined with increased police traps create a fantastic revenue source for local police departments and communities. However, no matter how patriotic and supportive of our police and armed forces we may be, we really deserve to keep our money in our pockets where it belongs.

These days I noticed stepped up efforts, with increased speed traps along highways (particularly, after those very rare times when construction projects are completed in Illinois--haha) and I assume that this is around the time when their department funds are running low or around promotion time. Anyway, this is just personal speculation and doesn't get you neither here nor there. Back to radar detectors.

The resources I tapped into to learn more about radar detector technology, industry standards, and what would work best for me:

1. Friends and family - nothing like first hand accounts of what works for folks in your local area. Their hard-earned lessons can be your lessons.
2. Lots of reading online reviews - check out pages like cnet, znet, amazon.com, or a Google search (best radar detectors) check out the ratings, reviews, and just read different descriptions and note down options that seem interesting
3. Go to a brick and mortar - check out things first-hand, determine what size and installation options would work for your particular vehicle 

Some things to keep in mind in regards to options and installation:

• will you install or do you prefer a professional installation?
• do you have enough power outlets for all your stuff (phone, mp3 player, GPS, etc.)
• volume control, voice prompts?
• stealth mode?
• red-light detector?
• highway vs. city modes?

I bought the Cobra XRS 930 at Best Buy and I'm happy with it thus far, but still have to practice with some of the advanced modes.It was around $80.

Happy shopping!

How to Adjust Car Mirrors

Though this may seem obvious and useless in the face of newfangled detection systems, I think it falls under the category "if it doesn't work, did you check whether it was plugged in?"

Last week as I was commuting home after a VERY long day, I saw a Lexus SUV hit/swipe a Honda Fit as the Lexus was attempting a lane change from the express lane to the middle lane--apparently not noticing the Fit. So much for expensive SUV detection systems, you might say. They smashed each other good and had to stop over to exchange info. I was actually surprised the Fit didn't flip over.

This is why it's important to have your mirrors and your blind spots in check at all times folks.

So without further ado, here's the great article by Car and Driver titled Adjust your Mirrors to Avoid Blind Spots. Some of the highlights include:

• The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) published a paper in 1995 suggesting how outside mirrors could be adjusted to eliminate blind spots. (!)
• Adjust the mirrors so far outward that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps that of the cabin’s rearview mirror.

Check the article's graphic out for clarification -- it makes SENSE and it's EASY. Gonna do it next time I'm in the car!

Racing Your Car On the Weekends?

I've heard it before. People purchase a hot little number (Porsche, souped up Lancer Evo X, whatever else) and go hit a track during the weekend to burn off some steam/stress/ego/brake pads...

So how do you get to race at a track on the weekends? Well a cursory Google search produced an interesting and rather comprehensive-looking introductory wiki-how article titled How to Race Your Car.

I imagined that the maintenance costs would go up exponentially with this sort of hobby. The article goes into some general items you're more likely to look at replacing when racing as a hobby.

It's a little tricky getting onto the track to begin with, but apparently, a good way to start is by calling local race tracks and asking whether they have a driver's education event -- which is a run through of how to drive competitively and on a track.

I hope to learn more about local opportunities at neary tracks, though I doubt I'll ever take my car on there due to the repair and replacement costs involved with this sort of racing. I'd have to purchase something just for this purpose, and figure out where to store it!

What about you? Do you race at your local track? What tips can you share to those who want to get into this lifestyle?

Researching CarValues

When either thinking of trading in your vehicle, getting a new one, or getting a pre-owned one, make sure you use a reliable resource such as the NADA (National Automobile Dealer Association) Car Value Guide online (http://www.nadaguides.com/) instead of using sites like Edmunds or KBB (Kelly Blue Book). Those other sites can be testy. NADA gives you the most realistic value--particularly higher value for your trade-in.

A Note on Used Car Mileage

History report sites only state the initial mileage when a dealership first acquired the vehicle -- the vehicle's mileage at time of purchase transaction.

Dealerships do not post, nor are they required to, additional mileage acquired as staff and others drive the vehicle until customer purchase day. Therefore, don't be surprised when reviewing a particular vehicle's history report and seeing a BIG difference in the miles that are currently on the vehicle now versus the mileage stated on the report/car listing/etc. PAY ATTENTION TO THIS. Compare VIN and mileage.

Make sure you take that into consideration when negotiating -- don't take the paperwork/listing price, use the actual mileage on the odometer.

Just another way the man can stick it to ya, buyer beware.

The 10 Best Days to Buy A Car

Ever wonder if there are times which are better than others to go buy a car? According to Wired's Autopia there are definitely better days to make this purchase! There are such days. Check out their recent post and get ready to include this in your car purchasing arsenal.

Make Your Car Last Longer

Article on MSN Autos about tips and tricks to getting your car to last longer.