The Auto Writer » Gifts

5 Christmas Gifts for the Car Enthusiast

Mark Martin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:02:39 +0000

By Mark Martin

Whether you like it or not, Christmas is just around the corner and now is the time of year when you should thinking about what gifts you are going to be buying for your loved ones.

This is never an easy task, and it is always difficult to judge whether the gifts you are buying will be warmly received or given away by the recipient to someone else the following year.

However, if your loved one is a car enthusiast; there is no way that you could go wrong with the following five Christmas crackers:

5. Tire Pressure Guide – Having incorrect tire pressures will add 12.5 percent to the average motorist’s annual fuel bill according to MoneySupermarket.com; this translates into an additional $288 each year. This $30 gadget available through QVC could therefore aid car owners in their fight against rising fuel prices; enabling them to spend more time on the road doing what they love.

Designed by Michelin, this easy to store gadget recommends possible actions that should be taken in order to bring your tyre pressures up to the required level. Simple remove your tire cap and place this smart little gadget on the end of the valve for a reading.

It isn’t just fuel that is being saved, with under inflated tires making vehicles more difficult to control; increasing the likelihood of accidents. The device can also help spot developing punctures more quickly.

4. LED Roadside Flares – Regardless of how carefully you drive or how much effort you put into maintaining the correct tyre pressures, it is more than likely that every motorist will experience a car failure at some point in their lives and be forced to pull off onto the side of the road. This can be very dangerous, especially if the breakdown down occurs in a poorly lit area at night.However, you could help to reduce the danger involved during this inevitability by buying your loved one LED roadside flares which are designed to help highlight the position of the vehicle to other motorists. These battery powered devices are weather resistant and magnetic, so that can be fitted to different areas of vehicles. Another neat feature of the flares is a variable light sequence, which can be activated when motorists are attempting to attract attention.

Available through sharperimage.com, these come in a neat little carrying case for easy storage in vehicles. However, at $59.99 this is not a cheap option.

3. F1 2011 – Formula One is set to make a comeback in America in the coming years, with races in Texas and New Jersey set to be added to the World Championship schedule. It might therefore be the right time for car enthusiasts to don their helmets and become familiar with this famously complex sport.Developed by Codemasters; F1 2011 replicates as closely as possible everything that makes this sport a fortnightly viewing experience for almost 600 million people each year. Car handling is replicated as close to reality as possible, and the inclusion of the safety car for the first time makes forward thinking and strategy a key ingredient if you are to experience success against the likes of Hamilton, Alonso and Schumacher.

The visuals are very impressive, and the much improved online multiplayer options mean that car enthusiasts will be unlikely to grow tired of the game any time before the summer months. F1 2011 is available for between $50 and $60 on PS3, Xbox and PC.

2. Inflatable Remote Controlled NASCAR – Seriously, what car enthusiast wouldn’t have hours of fun playing with an inflatable remote controlled NASCAR that is 1/5th the size of Jimmie Johnson’s machine? This is what is on offer through smarterlife.com.au for $129.95.The car comes equipped with realist engine sounds; an even has an engine start button. A pump to inflate the car comes as standard, as does a puncture repair kit so that the present isn’t unnecessary short lived.

This might not be the cheapest option on the list, but it is certainly one of the coolest. However, storage and pump up time might detract slightly from what is otherwise a great gift for any motoring fan.

1. Driving Experience – Motor enthusiasts would love you for ever if you were to buy them a driving experience for Christmas. These can be purchased from a variety of different companies, with the experiences on offer varying.You could buy them a day driving a sports car such as the Ferrari 599 GTB or even the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640; cars that most of us can only dream about owning. An alternative to this could the experience of driving a fully blown racing machine, such as a NASCAR or even a single seater racing car.

Of course prices differ depending on the level of experience you are purchasing; ranging from $60-$4,000. What ever you are willing to spend; this is a gift which would undoubtedly be cherished by any car fan.

Ready…set…shop!

On Black Friday, Car Discounts Rule!

MattK — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:08:54 +0000

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally the day when retailer’s balance sheets go from red to black to reflect their first profits of the year. Though Black Friday certainly doesn’t mean what it once did for retailers – who rely on other business throughout the year to make money – it is still an important time for them to slash prices to help bring in a fresh surge of Christmas gift buying traffic.

Dead Traffic

Pity the poor car salesman who sees traffic backing up in front of his store as throngs of shoppers descend on nearby malls. Personally, I wouldn’t set foot in a mall on that day no matter how good the sale was, but I might want to consider buying a car as analysts have indicated that the best day of the year to buy one is on Black Friday.

Who knew?!

Thanks to Jes Cote the relationship manager for AutoRevenue, who shared a link to a CNN article on Twitter, I now know that if I’m going to make a purchase over the next few months I might want to move that decision up to November 27th. CNN amplified what TrueCar researchers have discovered: once your turkey has finally been digested, heading over to your local new car dealership could prove beneficial to you financially.

TrueCar Analyzes

According to TrueCar analyst Jesse Toprak, “The discounts from dealerships, as well as manufacturers’ incentives, generate the highest discounts of the year on Black Friday.” This makes sense because at this point in the season, many car manufacturers have already begun their year end specials. Pair those specials with whatever deals you can get locally and the savings could be spectacular.

Typically, car buyers can shave 4.7% off of the sticker price when negotiating a deal. That rises to just over 6% right around Thanksgiving but peaks on Black Friday right around 7.5%. This means that your $30,000 sedan can be had for $1417 off of the sticker price on most days, but savings jump to $2250 on Black Friday. Moreover, you may be able to strike a special deal on a slow selling model with a sizable inventory – therefore it certainly pays to do your research before heading out to any new car dealer.

Final Weekend

One more thought: Black Friday is always part of the last full weekend for the month of November. You can bet that automakers are jockeying for market share and would like to seal a deal with whoever straggles in on that day.

So guys, if your wife if heading off with the kids to her favorite mega mall on the dreadful Day After, why not tell her that you’re going out to buy a special gift too? Besides, a stylish new car always beats a frumpy cashmere waffle sweater even though it costs about 200 times more than that!

Photo Credit: Jay Lopez

Merry Christmas From The Auto Writer!

MattK — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:01:48 +0000

Did you get your dream car this Christmas?

Autographed Helmet To Aid Child Abuse Prevention Charity

MattK — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:13:59 +0000

Maureen MacDonald of Raleigh, NC isn’t just Mrs. America 2009, but a bright lady who came up with a wonderful idea to help a charity that prevents child abuse.

Mrs. MacDonald picked up a plain, white Shoei helmet and a Sharpie marker and took them with her this past October to Charlotte where she met up with NASCAR drivers at the Bank of America 500, held at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. While there, America’s reigning (married) beauty queen got the signatures of 42 drivers and personalities and now her autographed helmet will be sold to the highest bidder via an online auction at http://www.gomotorbids.com/. The net proceeds from the sale will benefit the Prevent Child Abuse America cause.

“Mrs. MacDonald was able to get an impressive list of autographs,” said Russ Dickey, marketing director for GoMotorBids. “All the big drivers are on there: Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2008 Champion Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, plus other legendary names like Roger Penske and Bruton Smith. It’ll be the centerpiece of any racing collection for sure.” The auction closes on Sunday, December 14th.

Bidding has picked up again with a bid of $1110 received today at 8:51 a.m. Why not do your part to help prevent child abuse by bidding on a unique piece of automotive memorabilia today?

FYI: If you want to take a look at what this beauty looks like, you’ll have to click on the link for your personal preview.