Things You Should Never Do (When Working on a Car)
A good mechanic often has the scars to prove it. My friend Tim - a professional mechanic with years of experience - just acquired a new one the other day. While...
The Cheap Drive
I wrote the other day about stepping off the debt escalator. About the freedom that comes with not having to make payments. Car payments in particular. For every dollar you pay,...
The Color of Trouble
Red means stop and green means go - but what are the colors under the hood of your car trying to tell you?
* Engine oil -
Fresh oil is usually light to...
On the Merits of Ugly Cars
Remember that song about making an ugly woman your wife so as to be happy for the rest of your life? It applies to cars just as much.
Like the pretty girls, everyone...
An App Instead of a Key?
Some things makes sense. Other things are just expensive.
Others are merely creepy.
Let's start with the first.
Does it make sense to do away with car keys entirely? Physical keys, I mean?
Metal keys...
Don’t Get Taken on Your Trade-in
Buying a new car is not the way most people end up paying more than they should have. It’s trading in their old car that often ends up costing them the...
Car Costs You Can (And Should) Avoid
The best expenses are those you can skip. Here are several ways to save money you don't have to spend on your car:
*"Premium" gasoline -
I italicize the word for a reason. It's...
Practical Winter Driving Tips
It's that time of year - almost.
You will likely be reading - and hearing - about how to make the best of it when the flakes begin to fall.
I won't recycle...
Trading Down
A reader asked about "trading down" - lowering their car-related expenses (especially repair and maintenance expenses) by trading in their current vehicle (a luxury-brand vehicle) and rather than digging themselves a new...
New Car “Standard Features” That Ought to be Optional
No one likes a nag.
Especially one that comes along for the ride.
Here are some I wish were optional.
I'm betting you do, too:
*The lawyered-up infotainment screen -
Most (and soon, all) new cars...