Spending another holiday or birthday looking for that perfect gift for the car lover in your family? We share our favorite car gift ideas for this holiday season.
Performing your own maintenance is a great way to save money versus going to a mechanic, not to mention many gear-heads think of it is a necessary bonding experience with their vehicle. A great gift for your family “mechanic” this holiday season is a quality scissor lift. This easy to use lift can help them perform oil changes, tires rotations, and brake jobs without the back breaking and bending over that usually accompanies these tasks. A popular maker is
BendPak, offering lifts of all sizes and for different uses, depending on your car’s weight and the maximum height clearance needed.
Does your gear-head have an older model, but appreciates some of the technology available within the new cars and SUV models? One of the more popular and useful gadgets found in today’s models is the backup cameras. Luckily, many automotive aftermarket manufactures now make attachable backup cameras that work with virtually any model. Most of these cameras are easy to attach and transmit a live video feed to a receiver the driver can view while behind the wheel. Some even have night vision features. The
Garmin BC 20 Wireless Backup Camera, is a great value at under $150 and can even be installed at home.
Want to know what that weird orange light means, but lost the manual?
Car MD to the rescue! Car MD is a device that diagnoses what the error code your car is showing and then can explain it to you in terms that anyone can understand. It is like a portable doctor for your automobile. At $70, the Car MD can save you thousands by detecting serious problems early and avoid having unnecessary repairs performed by an unscrupulous mechanic when all you needed was a new nut, bolt, or radiator hose.
Grip the steering wheel in style while your car grips the icy pavement with a pair of sharp looking driving gloves. We like
this pair from Bloomingdale’s, as they both look stylish and protect against the elements if you are driving in a cold weather state this winter.
For the exotic car enthusiast on a budget, you can give them the sports car experience for a fraction of the sports car price. A number of companies now offer tours or packages that let people drive exotic sports cars for a limited time. Some of these packages include a extended car rental of a model that would cost a fortune to buy outright, and can be a great way to get a taste of your fantasy without the large debt. Check out
Exotic Driving Experience or their competitors to get more information on terms and pricing.
Many car fanatics are religious about cleaning and making sure their prized possession stays in tiptop shape, but the battle can be rigorous in the winter months including within the interior. Give them the gift of ultimate protection with a
Weather Tech Floor Mat. If you know their make and model, you can have the company specifically design one that will fit their ride exactly. These floor mats are much sturdier than the standard shag carpet most cars come with and the recipient will think warm thoughts of you every time they step out of the rain and into their car. Truly, a gift that never stops giving.
