There’s a time and place for doing things, and stretches spent wasting away in traffic are no exception.  Did you know that some people in large cities can spend over 60 hours a year going nowhere?  That’s prime time you could use to get things done.  There’s limited potential here, but I’ve come up with a few things you can accomplish while wading in your vehicle- as well as some things not to do, for the safety of you and those around you.  Take a look and then tell me you aren’t going to sweat excitedly for the next opportunity to try some of these out. Continue reading →

People say that the biggest events in life are the ones that you aren’t prepared for.  It’s always something that blindsides you out of nowhere, catching you completely off guard and changing the direction of your once humble existence forever.  On that note, I’m here to reveal the symbolism (not symbology) of some of the better known logos so that you can be better prepared on life’s journey.  The next time you pull one of these nuggets of knowledge out of your back pocket to win a trivia game, settle an argument, or just act like a pompous jerk, you’ll know who to thank.  Now let’s get going. Continue reading →

When is a honk more than a honk?

It’s always good to be on the same page.  And anyone who has been driving for a respectable amount of time knows that there is a certain language of the road; it’s just something you pick up after years spent treading pavement.  Of course, there is the obvious one digit salute that designates a strong feeling of emotion when directed at another driver, and this needs no explanation.  Obviously I’m talking about giving the thumbs up gesture here, but everyone knows this.  Below are a few more beeps and body mimes that I’ve encountered and studied for scientific reasons. Continue reading →

*Warning, do not do any of the things listed below.   Or do.  What am I, your mom?

Spring.  It’s the time of year when the days grow longer, birds and bees apparently mate with each other, and for one glorious day we all get to act like jerks.  Unfortunately, the era of cutting gas lines and pouring sugar into gas tanks is long behind us (I blame Tebowing).  But that’s alright, because I’ve scoured the entire internet for the best car related April Fools pranks.  So, in no particular order… Continue reading →

A teenager’s life is full of mistakes (remember your Sophomore yearbook photo?), and unfortunately, once they get behind the wheel of a car, that includes driving mistakes. There’s something about the combination of inexperience and the burning desire to put pedal to metal that makes for accident-prone youth on the road. You may have some preconceived notions about what makes our mobile newbies so hazardous, but you’ll be surprised to find out that the driving mistakes they make are not the ones you might have expected. Continue reading →

Lots of people consider themselves to be the gurus of car maintenance at home; these are the people that you see, tucked under their car on the weekends. At-home car whisperers, if you will – those that eschew the repair shop for almost every issue under the sun. “Tinkering” is how they colloquially refer to it, if I’m not mistaken, and it’s practically an epidemic with a particular set of those that perform their car maintenance at home. A DIY approach to taking care of your car isn’t a bad thing – it can really save you some money if you do it properly. That last part is crucial, so pay attention to this list of repairs to attempt, and ones to save for the pros. Continue reading →

Ever since the 1950’s, when cars became the symbol of teenage freedom, date ideas revolving around cars have been popular, generally evolving to suit the generation. Back in the 50’s, it was the “gee whiz” wholesome date of driving to a burger stand and having milkshakes delivered to the car by a waitress in roller skates. While a trip to Sonic might not have the same appeal to couples these days, there are still plenty of clever date ideas centered around the greatest of American possessions: the car. Continue reading →

Driving tired is one of those collective bad habits – we’ve all done it at least one or two times in our driving lives, despite the fact that our Driver’s Ed class explicitly warned us not to. Each year around 100,000 auto accidents are caused by sleepy drivers, so it’s best to arm yourself with techniques to avoid driving tired. Of course, the number one obvious rule is to not drive at all if you’ve, say, pulled an all-nighter up with the baby or studying for your comps. But, barring that, here are a few tips for taking the road with safety in mind. Continue reading →

Sometimes a little rain can be nice.  Just not on the road.  Driving in any type of rain is equivalent to being punched in the face repeatedly while attempting to navigate through the buffet line at a sloth party.  I should know; I’ve lived in Seattle for a majority of my life.  And though it gets very old hearing about the year round rainy season encircling ‘Pike’s Place’ Market, the fact is: it does rain a %#$& of a lot here.  I’ve collected a few tips on rain-cruising along the way, so as long as you shut up about coffee, I’ll share ‘em with you. Continue reading →

If you’re in the market for a new car, and have an older one you would like to swap out, then it’s time to start giving some thought to preparing your trade-in to get the best value possible. Once you’ve negotiated the price of your new vehicle, a trade-in deal can pretty significantly sweeten up the bottom line, so you want to try for the best deal possible. And all of that begins by looking at your car like an appraiser would – realistically and slightly critically. Think of yourself as a stage parent – you want it to do well, but getting there will require a critical eye, tears, and blowing their entire college savings.

Nah, just kidding! But here are some realistic ways that you can start preparing your trade-in for its main event.  Continue reading →

Certainly almost 100% of our lives revolve around our cars at least 90% of the time, if not more- think about it.  I’m going to assume that most of you reading this either already have a car, or are actively pursuing one, yes?  On that bombshell, why shouldn’t we be prepared to deliver an array of blistering material towards the opposite sex at car-themed establishments like, say, the gas station, a parking lot, or even a car dealership?  It’s easy to find someone that’s hotter than your Chrysler Lebaron’s tail pipe, but it takes the right conversation starter to get some backseat action.  And I’m here to help.  What are my qualifications, you may ask?  Good question, let’s get started.

Note: If the boyfriend/girlfriend word comes up, you can handle it like this (Warning: salty language and fake dog kicking). Continue reading →