With a fairly large hurricane barrelling towards the Northeast, it’s pretty clear that many will be evacuating the coasts, and others might also try to get to a shelter as well. While this is all a good idea, getting there is going to be tough, and if you’re one of the unfortunate number of people to get caught in either the storm itself, or in any storm in general, you might end up dealing with one of the most dangerous wet weather instances. I’m talking about hydroplaning–many have heard of it, but few know what to do or how to spot it.
These specifications found on all cars, but many people don’t really know what they mean, even if they know what sorts of numbers constitute a lot or a little. There is a very detailed answer for defining each of these terms but this is Cars 101 so we will keep it simple and applicable to what most people can recognize. Continue reading Cars 101: Horsepower vs. Torque→
How often should you really be using this? Well, read on, folks.
Cruise control has been around since the Sixties, but it has evolved as the car around it has evolved. It’s useful for long, punishing drives, such as one I took just yesterday from northern New Jersey to Long Beach Island. That said, there are some times when it’s useful, and others when it should be avoided. Continue reading Cars 101: Cruise Control→
Anyone knows that saving gas saves money. Of course, those of us who have hybrids are occasionally so obsessed with it that they will do whatever is necessary to keep their MPG up and their costs down. Here’s a couple of ways to bring up your gas mileage without a lot of extra work. Continue reading Cars 101: Hypermiling→
Too often, I see someone who’s purchased a flashy new whip with a navigation system installed in the dashboard, and they don’t know how to use it. So, here’s some instruction on how to properly operate a typical in-dash navigation unit. Continue reading Cars 101: GPS Navigation.→
Back in 2001 there was a little film called The Fast And The Furious that came out, and for all intents and purposes, it created the ricer fad as we know it today. Ricers are all about excessive automotive expression by any means unnecessary. Letting everyone know how cool your car is because of the, mostly useless (or obnoxious), upgrades you have made is the goal. Its like being a “diet car enthusiast”; you get to act like you know your stuff and have a cool car, but without putting forth the money and effort to actually have the real thing. So at this point you may be thinking, “Wow that’s so neat, but how can I become a full fledged ricer myself?” The answer may be simpler than you’d think. Continue reading Cars 101: How To Be A Ricer→
The warranty is basically your safety net when you buy a new or used car, and it varies depending on what kind of car you might buy, when you buy it, or whether it’s new or used. New cars tend to be sold with two warranties, sometimes three (if it’s a hybrid), which might complicate things even more. Here’s a quick set of pointers on what to know. Continue reading Cars 101: Understanding Your Warranty.→
This is one of those things that should be simple and not worth talking about, but during my daily commute I have realized that it is, in fact, beyond the comprehension of a rather alarming number of people. Continue reading Cars 101: Proper Lane Merging→
Most people aren’t big fans of the police. In a previous article, I declared that I’m not a member of this group. I respect the police, I leave them alone, and they tend to leave me alone (save for the times I’ve been pulled over). A lot of people are aware that police cars usually have factory modifications to handle the rigors of police work. Some of the mods include more powerful engines, firmer suspension, better brakes, a more durable interior, and disconnected rear switchgear (windows, locks, etc). However, those looking to buy a de-commissioned patrol vehicle should definitely watch out. Continue reading Buying an Ex-Cop Car→
Differentials are something you mention, and people just stare at you like “HUH?, but they are immensely important to cars as we know them today. This video (that I saw on Jalopnik today, indeed) shows how it works in such glorious simplicity. Have a look, its really much easier to grasp than you may think.
Mind Over Motor 