Even with a slight drop in recent weeks, fuel prices are still astronomical, with the national average hovering around $4 per gallon for regular and $5 per gallon for diesel. Whether you drive a full-size truck or a compact hybrid, miles per gallon is a big deal. Using the national average of 13,476 miles driven […]
There are few trends more frustrating than so-called “shrinkflation.” While pure inflation, the gradual decrease in purchasing power, is a necessary evil in a healthy economy, shrinkflation is more of a money-making scheme that serves little purpose aside from padding a manufacturer’s profit margins. For those who have been lucky enough to avoid the experience, […]
Thankfully, we live in a world where the internet exists. A quick tutorial on YouTube can tell you everything you need to know about anything from assembling a new grill to fixing the carburetor on a generator in a matter of minutes. This is also helpful if you’re looking to complete some work on your […]
When it comes to healthy driving and maintenance habits, many drivers are working with outdated advice. While inherited knowledge can be useful, it often fails to keep pace with advances in automotive technology, leading to wasted time, effort, and even compromised safety behind the wheel. Take the old adage about changing your oil every 3,000 […]
If you frequently travel and need an effective way to carry gear, a roof rack is a much-needed tool. Roof-mounted rack and rail systems give you more interior space, let you carry irregularly shaped items like bikes and kayaks, add aesthetic appeal, and can even be safer than a trailer or piling everything in the […]
Summer is synonymous with road trips, beach vacations, and family outings, but warm weather also puts a lot of stress on your car, truck, or SUV. Today’s vehicles are designed for the long haul, but even the most well-engineered model is still prone to accelerated wear, spotty performance, and reduced efficiency when things start to […]
Fuel prices have always fluctuated due to numerous economic, social, and political factors. No matter how you look at it, filling the tank has become a significantly pricier proposition over the last 30 years. The average U.S. gas price hovered around $2 a gallon for much of the early 2000s, but peaked at more than […]
Road and weather conditions are seldom ideal, and most drivers need tires that can adapt to various conditions. Specifically, you need tires that will best handle winter conditions in your area, whether they involve cool temperatures and rain or regular snowstorms. Preferably, you won’t need to constantly change tires throughout the year. All-season and all-weather […]
If you even casually follow the automotive technology scene, you can barely go for a day without hearing about 3D printing. Additive manufacturing, as it’s technically known, has been touted as a faster and cheaper way to produce car parts with less material waste. Major automakers worldwide, from Ford to BMW, are jumping on board. […]
Studded tires have been a winter-weather option for decades, and it appeared the technology had hit its limit. However, as serious car people learned in early March, there’s always room for innovation even in a seemingly mature field. That’s when Nokian Tyres, the Scandinavian company that released not only the first true winter tire in […]
Car manufacturers and dealerships take great pains to announce the sticker prices of their vehicles. Although this is important, another big factor is maintenance costs. If one car brand or model costs $3,000 less to purchase than another option, but you end up paying $5,000 more for maintenance and repairs while owning it, then you’re […]
Walk into a local parts house, or scroll any online marketplace, and it won’t take you long to stumble across droves of interior accessories that promise to improve your driving experience. Some come bearing the gift of comfort. Others offer convenience and organization. On occasion, you may see them claiming to improve safety. I like […]
Every gasoline engine relies on one small, but critical component: the spark plug. It’s often overlooked because it’s generally inexpensive, hidden under a coil pack or wire, and usually lasts tens of thousands of miles. However, when a spark plug starts to give up the ghost, the effects can ripple through the entire engine. Engines […]
If you’ve ever seen Forrest Gump, you may remember a line about a special school that taught kids how to retread tires. I had no idea what that meant through my early years, but that was my introduction to the word. As I got older, I’d see a semi on the side of the highway […]
Speaking as a fourth-generation Vermonter and current New Hampshire resident, one of the biggest vehicle issues people face in cold climates is a windshield covered in ice and snow. Icy windshields are more than just a nuisance. A 2025 study by UK companies DirectLine Group and Green Flag found that 9% of drivers have been […]
Few things feel more devastating than being stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, especially in the middle of the night with no cell phone service. (Yes, it’s happened to me.) Trying to change a tire or arrange a tow truck can be time-consuming, expensive, and potentially life-threatening. Even if you […]
Car theft remains a big problem in the U.S. According to the NHTSA, there were over 850,000 vehicle thefts in 2024 alone. That’s one vehicle every 37 seconds. It’s not just the vehicles themselves people are after, as many bandits are looking for wheels, catalytic converters, phones, and other components and accessories. Having one or […]
I’ve done my fair share of brake jobs, and I’ve seen just about every scenario you can think of. I’ve seen rotors worn down to the fins, brake pads installed backward or missing altogether, you name it. Something that always sets off alarm bells is when I inspect a set of pads and find that […]
The winter months often bring snow, ice, low temperatures, and a significantly altered morning routine. From unearthing the kids’ hats, gloves, and boots to clearing your driveway, cold weather can make for a stressful start to your day, but advances in automotive technology mean that there’s one common winter task you can cross off your […]
Aside from speed traps, check engine lights, and traffic jams, there are few things that drivers dread quite as much as rust. A rusty spot might start as a minor eyesore, but if left untreated, it can easily chew its way through your vehicle and lead to a substantial repair bill, or worse. Rust occurs […]
It was a late night in October, just a few days after my 19th birthday. I was enjoying a late-night drive in my prized Nissan. Life was good. Then it hit me, literally. A deer had panicked and made a mad sprint for the side of my car. Come Monday morning, an insurance agent was […]
