Aftermarket action
Poster car stars
Many movies and TV shows are memorable for more than their interesting plots or great acting. Often the vehicles depicted in these films can be equally memorable. The poster car collection from Cars And Films contains many you might expect to find, such as James Bond's Aston Martin, the Cadillac "crash wagon" from "Ghostbusters" and the "Back To The Future" Delorean. But there are some lesser-known vehicles in the collection including Mr. Bean's Mini, the VW Microbus from "Little Miss Sunshine", the Checker cab from "Taxi Driver" and the recreational vehicle featured in the TV series "Breaking Bad." There's even a poster of the Vespa Scooter ridden by Audrey Hepburn in Roman holiday. Each digitally produced 40-centimetre by 30-centimetre poster sells from about US $25-$30 and can be ordered through www.etsy.com/shop/CarsAndFilms.
Head's up!
If you have ever driven a vehicle equipped with a head-up display (HUD) unit, you already know how handy it can be. GPS navigation specialist Garmin offers a portable version called the HUD+ that includes your current speed plus key info to guide you to your destination, such as turn-by-turn directions and other useful data. The system works in conjunction with a free navigation app that you download to your Blue Tooth-enabled smart phone. The information is projected onto a transparent film on your windshield or an attached reflector lens. And since it's not built-in, you can move the Garmin to any vehicle. The Garmin HUD+ sells for US $180 plus $20 for the charger and $10 for the windshield film. You can get all the details from www.garmin.com (search HUD+).
Keep your cap on
Keeping your car's interior cool is important during the hot summer months, or year-round for sunbelt regions or for keeping ice and snow off your windows elsewhere. You can block 100 per cent of the sun's rays with the Cool Cap from Reflectionite. Its products are designed to fit a wide variety of vehicles, including sedans, sports cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans and pickup trucks. Because the products securely attach on the outside, the company claims that the Cool Cap's reflective material will significantly reduce much of heat entering the interior through the windows as well as the roof. Prices range from US $115-$155, plus an additional US $7 for a set of two optional soft hooks. Order at www.itscoolinhere.com.
Manual override
Losing your owner's manual can be a real pain. Fortunately there's a Good Samaritan out there willing to help out. This person has made available downloadable copies of manuals (including repair manuals) for many makes and models, in some cases going back as far as the early 1990s (more than 2,000, in total). Included on the list are most major manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Acura/Honda, Toyota and Volvo. Obviously there are a few gaps in the collection, but with assistance from the public the variety of owner's manuals is growing daily. But the best part of all is that you pay absolutely nothing for this service. An entire manual can be downloaded in pdf form in about a minute. Go to www.justgivemethedamnmanual.com, or email inquiries to: JustGiveMeTheDamnManual@GMX.com.