RideLust

Wouldn't a chrome boat anchor be cool, too?

I’ve always been about function over form, and can’t think of very many upgrades I’ve done on cars or bikes that haven’t added either straight line speed, improved braking or enhanced grip in corners. Before I change a part, I try to find out exactly what it’s going to do for me; if the benefit is just enhanced appearance, chances are good I won’t spend my money. If it enhances appearance but slows the car down, I definitely won’t be spending my hard earned dollars on it.

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Does that price include fresh blinker fluid, too?

If you’re being charged $49.95 plus tax, as is the case in this ad from Porsche Center of San Antonio, the answer is a resounding “no”. Despite this ad’s claims, nitrogen does nothing to improve ride quality or fuel economy, and won’t prevent false tire warning lights any better than plain old air will. The key to getting a smooth ride, maximum fuel economy and no tire pressure warning lights is simple: regularly check your tire pressure when your tires are cold.

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Looks like a 'Future Collectible' to me...

One of the lessons to be learned in a down economy is this: when it comes to selling a used car, it’s buyer’s market. Prices have fallen lower than Lindsay Lohan’s moral standards, and it doesn’t look like we’ll be hitting rock bottom any time soon. If you try to trade a car in to a dealer, the results are likely to be even worse. Trying to negotiate with a car dealer on a trade in is like trying to negotiate over a pork chop with a pit bull: at the very least, it’s bound to be unpleasant.

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One of the most common questions I get is, “How can I choose a shop to work on my car?” In some cases, you’re options are extremely limited: drive a Ferrari F40, for example, and chances are you’re not going to find a local mechanic willing to turn a wrench on it. The risk is too high, and even at steep hourly rates, the reward is too low.

I’ve been around cars and bikes my entire life, and spent my impressionable years working in the family garage. It’s gone now, a victim of changing times, but it served the local community for over 60 years. We had generations of customers, some who would even drive in from out of state to get their cars serviced. Why? Because it was a small shop that put an emphasis on quality work and customer satisfaction. That type of business is getting harder and harder to find with each passing year.

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First, if you live outside of Alaska, chances are good you don’t own a .458 caliber rifle, which is overkill for hunting anything except Kodiak brown bears in North America. You probably don’t have easy access to the Mojave Desert, either, so shooting up a brand new battery is going to be inconvenient. At the very least, it’s going to take some planning.

Anyway, it’s good to know that your truck will still start, at least in the desert, if you’re being stalked by an Alaskan hunting guide. I’m not reassured enough to run out and buy a DieHard Platinum replacement battery for my own truck, but I’ll keep it in mind when the stock one bites the dust.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is looking into complaints of power steering failures on the 2007-9 Mazda3 and the 2003-5 BMW Z4. Consumer complaints about the two models have triggered an investigation into the problem and because of criticism from federal regulators towards the NHTSA they are taking this matter quite seriously. The investigation stems from the crash of one BMW and three Mazda’s. So far the reports are indicating that the vehicles have lost their power steering assist. When this happens the effort to turn the automobile is amplified dramatically which can in turn cause major control loss.

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Funny Car Wash FAIL

What’s worse: getting knocked by a high pressure hose at a car wash, or having it filmed for the world to see? Besides, aren’t you supposed to wash Jeeps by driving them through a stream?

I have no idea how the high pressure hose stuck open, or why the guys washing the Jeep didn’t just turn the hose to low pressure. There’s probably a lawsuit in here somewhere, but in the mean time feel free to laugh at their misery.

Source: Streetfire

We live in a world of few absolutes, where politicians jump parties just to keep a job and celebrities get divorced more often than some people change underwear. It’s getting so that nothing is certain, save the old cliche death and taxes. If this gets you down, let me give you something to believe in, some automotive absolutes.

I carry a lot of shit in my vehicles, all of it for some purpose and all of it tucked safely away in covered storage areas. I have enough first aid supplies in my truck to handle a plane crash, I have enough tools to get me out of anything I get myself into and I have plenty of tie downs for hauling just about any cargo you can think of. I even carry tools and first aid supplies in the Miata: sure, it adds weight, but it beats waiting by the side of the road for a tow truck. Or an ambulance.

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Let me ask you straight out: what do you use to fill up your windshield washer reservoir? If you use the blue stuff, the pink stuff or the green stuff (or any commercially available windshield washer fluid), you’re golden. Stop reading now, move along, there’s nothing to see here.

On the other hand, if you fill your windshield washer reservoir with tap water, you may want to use a respirator getting into and out of your car. It would also be a good idea to make sure you’re paid up on both your health insurance and your life insurance. You do have a will, right?

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Odometer from a first generation Miata; that's a lot of sunscreen.

Next to buying a house, buying a car is generally the second biggest purchase most people will make in their lives. With the economy limping along to slow recovery, most people are keeping cars longer and putting off service as much as possible. Ultimately, that’s a bad idea; like the saying goes, “you can pay me now or you can pay me later”. If you’re one of the millions currently unemployed or underemployed, you want to know how you can make your car last. Sadly, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but following the tips below will help you keep your car running without having to shell out for major repairs.

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