Automotive - Eric's Autos: 12 Can't Lose Suggestions in the Gearhead Gift Guide 2009! Plus Stocking Stuffers!

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Eric's Autos: 12 Can't Lose Suggestions in the Gearhead Gift Guide 2009! Plus Stocking Stuffers!

Eric Peters

Got a Gearhead (you know, someone who is into cars or bikes) on your holiday gift list - but have no clue what they might like because you're not a Gearhead? Maybe this will help:

* Ford GT Computer Mouse ($58.95) - Burn rubber down the Information Superhighway with this high-performance computer mouse shaped like a Ford GT supercar with working headlights and an individualized Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), just like the real thing. Silver or red (with racing stripes). The 800 dpi optical wireless mouse part is high-performance, too. Works with PC or Mac and is desktop/notebook compatible. Mustang versions also available ($43.95). See http://shop.neatorama.com/product-in...se-pid180.html or call Neot-o-rama at 1-877-632-8370.

* Jacking wheel dollies ($149) - Storage space is a big issue for many Gearheads. These dollies (you'll need four) make it simple to raise and move a car around - including sideways - an ideal solution for a tight-fitting garage. Position a dolly at each wheel and use the foot-actuated hydraulic pump to raise the vehicle. It can now be rolled easily, foward, backward or sideways on the dollies' heavy-duty casters - by hand and without having to start the engine. Supports up to 6,000 lbs. See http://www.carguygarage.com/jawhdo.html to order online or call 1-800-736-9308.

* ScanGuage II car computer ($159.95) - Gearheads want to know what their engine is up to at all times - and this tool is just the ticket for that. It plugs into any 1996-up vehicle's On Board Dignostics (OBD) port (located under the dash on the driver's side of the car). The LCD readout displays real-time data about such things as coolant temperature, intake air temperature, instant/average fuel economy, fuel usage rate, maximum and average speed, distance to empty, engine RPM at any given speed, top speed reached - and so on. Use for tuning purposes or to adjust driving style for maximum fuel efficiency. No wiring needed; ScanGauge II is "plug and play." See http://www.terrapass.com/Merchant2/m...e=CR-0006001-A or call 1-877-210-9581 (ask about item CR-0006001-A)

* Rent-A-Hog ($200) - Maybe your Gearhead has always wanted to ride a Harley. Here's a way to do that without actually buying him (or her) a bike. It works just like renting a car, only instead of a boring Taurus, you get a big V-twin cruiser bike for 24 hours (or more, if you want) along with a hemet (so you don't have to buy that, either) and area maps (so you'll know where to go). This gift is ideal for a Gearhead who will be traveling to one of the major cities where the rental Hogs are offered. Fly in, ride out! Available in DC, LA, San Francisco, Dallas, Tampa, Miami, Vegas and several other big cities. You will need a valid motorcycle permit. You should bring appropriate riding gear - including jacket, gloves and boots. See http://www.excitations.com/take_the_..._Washington_DC for details.

* Alarm clock on wheels ($64.95) - Get your Gearhead out of bed with this chrome-plated, billet-wheeled self-driving alarm clock. It works just like a regular alarm clock except for one thing. If the Gearhead doesn't rise and shine after the first time hitting the snooze button, the clock will shift into overdrive and take off - wheels spinning and buzzer beeping - until your Gearhead gets out of the sack and grabs the thing to turn it off. Safely leaps off night stands as high as three feet tall. See http://www.cruisingoods.com/webpages/giftcar.htm or call 1-888-215-3150).

* Heated Ice Scraper ($19.99) - This puppy makes clearing an ice-covered windshield almost enjoyable. An internal heating element melts ice and snow, making scraping easier and faster. Plugs into any 12 Volt powerpoint/cigarette lighter. Comes with 15 foot cord and handle extender for use on trucks/SUVs. See http://www.calcarcover.com/product.a...ource=whatshot or call 1-800-423-5525.

* AutoSport Oil Extractor ($64.95) - Gearheads change their own oil, but it's a messy and unpleasant job that requires jacking up the car and crawling underneath with a catch pan and wrench set - unless you have this handy tool. It sucks the old oil out of the engine from topside via a vacuum-actuated pump and a nozzle that slips into the oil dipstick. This is the same method used by Mercedes-Benz dealers and it works great on lawn mowers and motorcycles, too. No more oil slicks on the garage floor; no more dirty oil sloshing around in a pan. Holds 7 quarts of old oil. See http://www.skymall.com/shopping/deta...716746&c=10132 or call 1-800-759-6255 (as about item number 48876ATO)

* Stromberg Carburetor coffee Cup ($19.95) - The perfect Hot Rod coffee cup! It's a ceramic replica of an old school Stromberg 97 carburetor like you'd find feeding an old Model A Ford flathead V-8. Only this one feeds you coffee (or the beverage of your choice). Holds 14 ounces; dishwasher safe. See http://www.summitracing.com/parts/VTP-CARBCUP/ for more or call 1-800-230-303.

* The Bluesmobile ($44.95) - Gearheads usually like car models as much as real cars, but you want to get a model made for grown ups, not kids - and Ertl makes some of the finest, most detailed models available. The 1:18 scale 1974 Dodge Monaco (complete with enormous megaphone bolted to the roof and a 440 cop motor V-8 and no catalytic converters, so it runs good on regular gas under the hood) is just one example. Ertle makes models of virtually any classic muscle car, hot rod, movie car or modern car your gearhead loves. Motorcycle, truck and farm tractor models are available, too. See http://www.idcow.com/dc2020.html or call iDcow at 1-818-248-7165.

* POR-15 Starter Kit ($19.80) - A gearhead's nemesis is rust and POR-15 is the absolute best stuff available to stop rust in its tracks. Permanently seals rust with a virtually indestructible coating. The Starter Kit includes a 4 oz. can of POR-15 (enough to cover six square feet with two coats) plus a half-pint of Metal Ready pre-prep treatment and an 8 oz botle of the company's superb Marine Clean degreaser - plus two brushes. See http://www.por15.com/SUPER-STARTER-K...ductinfo/SSKB/ or call 1-800-726-0459

* Non-Contact Laser Thermometer ($29.95) - Gearheads often need to take the temperature of their cars (and bikes) in order to trace an overheating problem, for example. This neat handheld tool saves time and hassle by reading the temperature of things like radiators and cylinder heads just by pointing it at them. Very helpful for diagnosing problems with AC systems, too. Can read temperatures from -4 F to 968 degrees F. The perfect addition to any Gearhead's toolbox. See www.harborfreight.com or call 1-800-423-2657 and ask about item number 96451-1AEH.

* Meat Snacks Gift Pack ($18.99) - No Gearhead's garage (or glovebox) should be without sustenance - and Jack Link's makes some of the tastiest beef jerk (and ham jerky, too!) this side of your favorite truck stop. Try the Maple Ham Nuggets (new for 2009), or maybe some Lil' Chub Sausages? See http://www.jacklinks.com for the full monte, including special gift pack offers. The stuff is also available at most snack shops, too. Trust me, finding jerky under the tree is a sure-fire way to put a smile on your Gearhead's face!

Great Stocking Stuffers :

* iSqueeze ($9.95) - Converts any car's existing cupholder into a secure mount for an iPod. Holds unit upright so display is more viewable and keeps iPod from falling between the seats or getting smashed under other stuff in the console. See http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/isqueez

* Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish ($6.25) - Bikers have known about this stuff for years, but it works just as great on a car as it does on a bike. Literally, "detailer in a can." Cleans, polishes and protects not just painted surfaces but also plastic, vinyl and rubber. Repels water and blocks harmful UV rays that fade paint (and plastics). Anti-static reduces dust build-up. Safely removes road grime, grease and bug splatter without water. As essential to any Gearhead as a roll of duct tape - and maybe even more useful! See http://www.bernardiparts.com/Honda-S...1M-NXTGEN.aspx or call 1-800-924-1884.

* Vanishing Point DVD ($6.99) - This cult 1970s-era classic about a car chase through the desert in a white Dodge Challenger is finally available on DVD. All Gearheads revere this moview; few have it on a modern digital format. Replace your Gearhead's ancient VHS version with a new DVD copy; Blu-Ray also available ($22.99). See Amazon.com (type in "Vanishing Point").

* Sears Gift card ($5 and up) - If you're still unsure about what to get, you can't go wrong with a gift card from Sears - the Tool Mecca and general Gearhead paradise. This way, your Gearhead can get exactly what he (or she) wants. You can order a card online and have it sent to your Gearhead - or buy one at the store and sneak it into your Gearhead's stocking. See http://www.sears.com/shc/s/gc_Physic...2605?adCell=A2 or call 1-800-366-PART.

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www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for comments.

This news arrived on: 10/12/2009

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