5 Extravagant Car Amenities

Sure, we may need a car to get from point A to point B, but would we ever need our car to have an air purifier? How about leather interior ceilings? Or a bejeweled fuel cap? To those of us who are still chugging around in a bottom-of-the-line economy car, these amenities might seem utterly ridiculous. Some may gag at the idea of such excess and opulence. But don't be too quick to judge. After all, it wasn't too long ago that features like power locks and windows seemed reserved for the ultra-rich (and ultra-lazy). Now, not only do these come standard on most cars, but many feel they couldn't live without them.

We've assembled a few of the coolest and seemingly ridiculous amenities that can be incorporated into a car. Some make the ride more comfortable. And others -- let's face it -- are just for showing off. Either way, we can always drool and hope that some of these amenities will become popular and inexpensive enough that they'll trickle down to the rest of us.

5: Televisions

Granted, mini built-in TVs are becoming more and more common as backseat babysitters in minivans for families with impatient kids. But the TVs we're talking about are meant for adults with chauffeurs. The quality of these TVs might surmount those you have at home. Take Bentley's Arnage RL, which includes not one, but two 15-inch, flat-screen LCD televisions -- one built into the back of each front seat.

And what's a TV without something to watch? As if built-in DVD players weren't enough, Rolls Royce even offers broadcast TV via an antenna that picks up the local signal [source: Grant]. Satellite radio company Sirius also started offering Sirius Backseat TV, a TV feed of various networks meant for viewing in the car.

4: Over-the-top Sound Systems

There's nothing like turning up the music in the car and rocking out to your favorite songs. But for some, this experience needs to be so powerful and high-quality that the minimum, factory-installed speakers are simply not enough. We've all been stopped at red lights next to a car equipped with a trunk full of speakers, exuding deafening bass and blasting music loudly enough to be heard hundreds of feet away in all directions.

But for those who want to keep the space in their backseats and trunks for groceries and suitcases instead of filling it with monolithic speakers, there are more luxurious options. Audi, for instance, offers a Bose surround sound system with 14 speakers, including a subwoofer. There's even a microphone that picks up on the noise level in the car so that it can automatically adjust the volume louder to compensate for background noise [source: Audi]. And, not to be outdone, Lincoln even started incorporating THX-certified (basically, movie-theater quality) audio systems in their luxury cars [source: CNet].

3: Expensive and Unique Paint Jobs

Every fashion-savvy woman knows that color-coordinating accessories are the key to a great ensemble. And, of course, well-chosen colors can express your personality. The same goes for your car. Those buying a 2009 Maybach 57 can request the color of the car to match a particular color of a purse, pair of shoes or just about anything else for nearly $20,450 on top of the price of the car [source: Edmunds].

Those with the money to get a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano might also be interested in coughing up a cool $22,000 for a red paint job. But this isn't just any red: it's an exclusive Rossa Monza paint of deep red known as Rossa Corsa [source: Chapnick].

Those looking for less sport but more splash might be interested in Volvo's C30, which comes in the special print of your choice. While the option is available only in Sweden right now, stylish drivers can select a protective appliqué film with their choice of several designs. Whether you choose zebra print, rainbow strips or some other pattern, it'll cost you around $3,150 [source: Edmunds]. ­

Read more: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/automotive/5-extravagant-car-amenities.htm

Do gas-saving devices really work?

Garage mechanics and auto enthusiasts are likely to be familiar with a certain type of advertisement. Appearing in car magazines and throughout car-focused Internet pages, these ads offer a range of products with a similar claim: that by bolting on, plugging in or pouring Product X into your vehicle, you'll experience an amazing boost in mileage efficiency.

Mileage-boosting gadgets have been around for years, and they seem to make a comeback every time gas prices spike. While the packaging may change to fit the times, one large question hangs over these products: Do any of them actually work?

The answer, all too often, is no. Many so-called fuel-saving devices are simply well-packaged hoaxes that base their claims on questionable science and offer little or no change in a vehicle's performance. In some cases, these devices can actually hurt mileage and cause engine damage.

So how can you avoid scams while getting the most out of your vehicle? A good first step is to learn the facts behind various mileage-boosting claims, to help you determine if a product you encounter is real or a fuel-saving hoax.

Mileage-boosting devices typically fall into one of three general categories: airflow manipulators, fuel-burn enhancers, and fuel or oil additives. First, we'll look at airflow manipulators.

The flow of air into your car's engine can play a big role in its efficiency. Modern cars are designed so that a precise amount of air enters the engine, is mixed with fuel vapor, and then flows into the cylinders for combustion. A number of devices on the market claim to enhance this process, often through the use of a vortex generator added to the intake. The claim behind these devices is that they'll improve the mixing of fuel and air, helping increase efficiency and horsepower.

The truth of the matter is that these devices often disrupt airflow, changing the intake conditions from what engineers intended. Modern cars' engine management computers compensate for this by adjusting fuel flow -- in some cases, by injecting more fuel than necessary to account for the altered airflow. Tests have suggested that these devices might also serve as restrictors, reducing the engine's horsepower

Article courtesy of: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-saving-devices/gas-saving-devices-work.htm

Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving?

Texting, or short message service (SMS), is a quick form of communication that allows users to send 160 characters or less to and from their cell phones and smartphones. A study by the Pew Research group in 2009 and 2010 reported that out of the number of Americans who have cell phones, 58 percent of adults and 66 percent of teens use them to text .With these high percentages of Americans using text messaging every year, many are bringing the habit along with them when they drive. The same Pew study showed that 34 percent of teens who use their phone for texting said they've done it while driving, and 47 percent of adults who texted said they had done it while driving, too.

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that almost 6,000 fatalities and over half of a million injuries were due to accidents caused by drivers who were distracted The study wasn't focused on texting, but it does show the seriousness of driving while distracted. Like many other driving distractions, texting involves a certain amount of mental attention as well as physical application which may be why 28 states have banned drivers from texting while operating a vehicle.

But is there really proof that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving? Even though research is just now being done to measure the effects of texting while driving, some in the automotive industry and others in research circles say that texting is definitely more dangerous than drunk driving. Mainly because taking a driver's eyes off the road significantly cuts down on his or her ability to react to changes.

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/texting-while-driving-worse-than-drunk-driving.htm

How to Use Jumper Cables

Owning a working set of jumper cables -- and knowing how to use them -- is a must for drivers. Since using jumper cables incorrectly can be dangerous, follow every step precisely. Most jumper cables have an instruction card or label so you can make sure you're connecting them the right way.

● Find a car to serve as the boosting car.

● Park the two cars -- the dead car and the boosting car -- close to one another, making sure that they're not touching each other.

● Make sure both cars' engines are turned off, and both cars are in park.

● Clamp the red jumper cable (i.e. the positive cable) to the dead car's positive battery terminal, which is marked with a "+." Make sure that the clamp is firmly connected to the battery.

● Clamp the other end of the red jumper cable to the booster car's positive battery terminal, also marked with a "+." Make sure that the clamp is firmly connected to the battery.

● Clamp the black jumper cable (i.e. the negative cable) to the booster car's negative battery terminal, which is marked with a " - ". Make sure that the clamp is firmly connected to the battery.

● Clamp the other end of the black jumper cable to a bare, metal surface on the engine of the dead car. This can be a bolt or a screw. This provides grounding for the jump start [source: Brauer].

● Ensure that the jumper cables are not touching any engine parts.

● Start the booster car's engine and let it idle for a few minutes.

● Start the dead car's engine and let it idle for a few minutes.

● Disconnect the black jumper cable from the once-stalled engine. Then disconnect the black jumper cable from the booster car.

● Remove the red jumper cable from the booster car. Then remove the red jumper cable from the once-stalled car.

If this process doesn't work, the dead car's problem may not be with the battery. That's when it's time to call a tow truck or roadside service provider.

Article courtesy of: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/how-to-use-jumper-cables.htm