Aftermarket action
Always carry a Spare
Being prepared for roadside emergencies is just smart, and the Spare Me 5-in-1 Rescue Tool is worth considering. Basically, it acts as a heavyduty ice scraper, a lever for removing or installing a tire, and a compact shovel or traction assist that can help extract your vehicle from mud and snow. At the opposite end, the removable handle contains a flashlight and a seatbelt cutter and it can also be used to break glass in an emergency. For your $20 investment, you would be hard pressed to find anything more practical. Order from www. sparemerescuetool.com.
Add a portable head-up display
Navigation-system specialist Garmin also sells a portable head-up display called the HUD+. It projects onto your windshield the current speed as well as navigation info to help guide you to your destination. The unit works in conjunction with a navigation app that you download for free with your Apple or Android phone. The information is projected onto a transparent film that’s applied to the windshield, or into an attached reflector lens. And since the unit is not built-in, you can move it to any vehicle. The Garmin HUD+ sells for $180 plus $20 for the charger and $10 for the windshield film. Full details at www. garmin.com. Protection without a garage
Keeping your car’s interior cool is important during the hot summer months, or for keeping ice and snow off your windows in the winter. You can block 100 percent of the sun’s rays with the Cool Cap from Reflectionite. The product is designed to fit a wide variety of vehicles, including sedans, sports cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans and pickup trucks. Because it attaches on the outside of the vehicle, the company claims that the Cool Cap’s reflective material will significantly reduce the heat entering the interior through the windows and roof. Prices range from $40-$50, depending on the size required to fit your vehicle. Make your selection at www.itscoolinhere.com.
The cars that were stars
The poster car collection from Cars And Films includes renderings of many iconic vehicles, including James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, the Cadillac “crash wagon” from Ghostbusters and the Delorean time machine from Back To The Future. But there are some lesser-known vehicles in the collection such as Mr. Bean’s Mini, the VW Microbus from Little Miss Sunshine, the Checker cab from Taxi Driver and the striped Ford Torino from the Starsky and Hutch TV show. There’s even a poster of the Vespa Scooter ridden by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Each digitally produced 16-by-12-inch poster sells for about $25-$30 and can be ordered through www.carsandfilms. com.