YOUR AUTOMOTIVE SOURCE FOR WEST CENTRAL NEBRASKA | THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 | C1
The verdict’s in: Keep the garage open while warming up BY RAY MAGLIOZZI Dear Car Talk:
A GPS system might make the ideal gift for auto enthusiasts this holiday season.
Gifts to rev auto lovers' engines Auto lovers tend to consider their cars their most prized possessions. While it may not be possible to buy the auto lover on your holiday shopping list a new car, there are many gifts that are sure to please those people who can't get enough time behind the wheel or in the garage.
cars an extension of themselves, and a customized accessory, like a new set of floor mats, can add a personal touch to drivers' rides. If your loved one has a special nickname for his or her vehicle, consider inscribing that nickname on a set of customized floor mats. Auto enthusiasts who have an equal passion for a certain sport may appreciate floor mats with the logo of their favorite team.
Global positioning system
Hands-free headset
Often referred to as a GPS, a global positioning system is a satellite-based navigation system providing location information no matter where drivers find themselves on their next road trips. If a GPS is within range of a GPS satellite, drivers will never again find themselves pulling over on the sides of roadways in an effort to find out just where they are. Though many new vehicles come with GPS, vehicle manufacturers tend to offer them as accessories and not standard features. So if your favorite driver is driving an older vehicle or did not splurge on a GPS when purchasing his latest ride, this gift is sure to please.
Car lovers spend lots of time in their cars. Though such time might once have afforded auto enthusiasts an escape from the daily grind, nowadays the prevalence of smartphones has made it easier than ever for the outside world to find its way into vehicles. As a result, auto enthusiasts may appreciate a hands-free headset that allows them to take calls while driving without compromising their concentration on the road. Some hands-free devices even allow drivers to stream music from their smartphones directly to their car stereos, allowing drivers to hit the open road while enjoying their favorite tunes.
Car wash kit
Auto show tickets
Auto lovers not only love to get behind the wheel, but they also love to get behind the wheel of a good-looking automobile. A car wash kit, complete with a wash and wax that repels water and protects a good polish, is an ideal gift for auto enthusiasts who like their vehicles to look as good as they drive.
Many auto-lovers keep an open eye for their next vehicle purchase. Auto shows are often the best places to learn about new vehicles and what motorists can expect in the future, so why not give your favorite car guy or gal tickets to an upcoming auto show? He or she may find his or her next vehicle or simply enjoy walking around and seeing all the latest automotive industry upgrades and gadgets.
Customized floor mats Many auto enthusiasts consider their
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1005 Cars
I live out in the sticks, where my neighbor John and I are good friends. I have a spare garage, where, out of the kindness of my heart, I allow John to park his Mini Cooper. Well, it's been cold lately, and John commutes an hour to his job. So before his trip each day, John made a habit of warming up his car in my garage, with the garage door closed. Now, my garage is no luxury accommodation, but it does have carpet on the walls (it was that way when I bought it), and it is in fairly good shape, generally speaking. I'm concerned that the emissions from John's car are gradually making the inside of my garage a grimy mess. I assume that John is concerned with getting his car warmed up as quickly as possible. I've asked John to open the garage door while he warms up his car, but he's being stubborn. Being the consummately reasonable man I am, I informed John this morning that I would submit this question to Car Talk and live by the verdict: Am I being neurotic, or is John being a jerk? -- David Well, if he's sitting inside the car while warming it up in a closed garage, you won't have to worry about this problem for much longer, David. Just make sure John leaves you the Mini in his will so you won't have to move it. Honestly, I think John's being the jerk here. It is going to make your "wall-towall" carpet grimy over time. And if
that bothers you, he shouldn't do it. It's your garage, and if you want the door open when he's creating fumes, he's a guest and he should respect that. When my brother used to come to my house for dinner, I always insisted that he open a door when he was creating fumes, too. Besides, John's not warming up his car faster anyway. From your description, I'm assuming this is an unheated garage. If that's the case, the car won't really warm up measurably faster with the door closed. By the time morning rolls around, it's the same temperature inside the garage as it is outside --carpet notwithstanding. And he shouldn't even be warming up his car, anyway. I mean, if it's below 20 degrees out, then you can warm up the car for a minute before you start driving. But otherwise, all you're doing is wasting gas and creating pollution. Above 20 degrees, the right thing to do is to just start the car and drive it. Driving gently is the best, and fastest, way to warm up a car. Of course, he could be warming up the car for the benefit of his feet rather than the engine. He may start the car, go home for coffee, then come back once the passenger compartment is 90 degrees -- in which case he's just wasting even more fuel and creating extra pollution. And in which case, he'll have to do it with the garage door open. Car Talk has spoken, David. And if you want to make the point more strongly about the downside of fumes in closed spaces, invite yourself over to John's house for dinner and explain it to him.
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