car Archives

15 handy helpers for under $10

I looked through my Amazon purchase history the other day, and it’s full of cool things under $10 that truly make my life better. Here are 15 li’l helpers I think you’ll like, too:

Bye, drips: Car coasters ($3.99, 32% off two) keep your cupholders free of condensation and gross, sticky stuff.
Scrapin’ by: Burnt rice at the bottom of the pan is no match for this scraper ($8.99, 25% off a set of four).
Defuzz your stuff: If your couch cushions, sweaters and jammies are pilling, this little fabric shaver ($8.50, 35% off) will clean ‘em right up.
When ya gotta go: A much nicer bathroom scent ($5.99) than the default.
Pink paste: It’s no wonder this pink tub of cleaning goop ($5.29) is a bestseller — it works on practically any mess and lasts forever.
Open sesame oil: A 5-in-1 opener ($9.99, 17% off) for jars that won’t budge.
Face it: Keep this facial roller ($5.99, 53% off) in the freezer, and come morning, it’ll depuff your face and wake you up.
Buzz drill: Add these brushes ($6.26, 10% off) to your drill to create a next-level cleaning machine for your grout or tub.
MTWTF: A weekly pillcase ($6.98) big enough to fit your fish oil capsules.
Hair to bare: Nothing beats these little razors ($7.19, 20% off) for getting the fuzzies off your face.
Lay, spoon-y, lay: Keep your counters spick and span with this multispoon rest ($8.99).
Steam heat: Easy-peasy way to clean the microwave. ($7.58, 14% off). I like the blonde one!
Rolling right along: This small silicone tube is the best way to peel a garlic clove. No more smelly fingers!
We can do it: This little tool ($7.19, 28% off) is the easiest way to put on your own bracelet.
And none since: I wish I’d bought oven rack guards ($7.98, 20% off) sooner — I’ve got the burns on my wrist to prove it, ugh.

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$16K for a car battery? Only if you drive an EV …

Here’s a shocker you need to know: Replacing the battery in an electric vehicle can set you back up to $50,000. For those of you keeping track at home, that’s more than a brand-new Tesla Model 3. I’m not beating up Tesla. All EV carmakers hope you don’t figure this out.

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On-the-go essentials

Are you always in the car? These smart finds are real winners.

Mornings go so fast sometimes that it’s easy to overlook breakfast. blend a breakfast smoothie and take it with you.
With this cute 10-pack of folding reusable shopping bags (31% off, $21.99), you’ll always be prepared.
A USB-powered essential oil diffuser ($16.99) keeps your car smelling fresh. Pair it with a “happy day” oil blend to keep your mood fresh, too.
Upgrade your phone mount setup — this universal model has a telescoping arm, and it’s 20% off ($19.99).
I have this $6.79 (32% off!) magnetic sunglass holder on my car’s visor. No more lost sunglasses!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Too hot to handle: Temps are in the 90s in Phoenix, which reminds me: Shade is your smartphone’s BFF. Put your phone in the shade if you’re outside, or leave it in a shaded part of your car, not on the sunny passenger’s seat.

You can’t delete Meta AI

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Meta wants to make your FB or IG search bar work more like ChatGPT. You can’t turn it off. Plus, high school coach uses AI to frame principal, the most dreaded word at work, and a new TV projection breakthrough. Got a car? Here’s how to make it into your next side hustle.

Car manufacturers say AM could interfere with EV powertrains. But when crap hits the fan, AM radios are crucial for emergency broadcasts. To tell Congress to keep AM radio in cars, text “AM” to 52886! It’s important.

Researchers found playing 20 minutes of a certain computer game after a car accident or other trauma can reduce intrusive memories in the coming weeks. Is it … A.) Solitaire, B.) Pac-Man, C.) Tetris or D.) Minesweeper?

Find the answer here →

$1,600/year per car

In subscription fees, if automakers have their way. Yup, soon you’ll be forking over cash for subscriptions and on-demand features like autonomous driving (paywall link). Vroom, cha-ching!

Cool little bags

One of my favorite little pleasures is returning to the car after a long hike, popping open my cooler and grabbing an ice-cold drink — ah-h-h. Recreate that bliss at the beach, on a boat or even at your desk with these little coolers — all chosen for their awesomeness by the folks at Consumer Reports.

Best status-cooler alternative: YETI, Stanley and Hydro Flask coolers make all the best-of lists — and their coolers can cost over $200. The nine-can Titan ($32.99) has features that rival the status coolers (deep-freeze insulation, padded and adjustable shoulder strap, a no-zip flip top) without the name-brand markup.
Best backpack cooler: If you can’t (or don’t want to) wait to get back to your car before popping open a cold one, swap out your regular daypack with this backpack cooler ($29.99). Its waterproof interior can hold up to 28 cans and keep ‘em cold for 16 hours. The outside pockets hold your keys, phone and granola bars.
Best for the golf course: A cooler so genius that it was on “Shark Tank,” the Caddyswag ($25.99) fits six cans of seltzer or soda or whatever and slides perfectly into your golf bag’s external pocket. This will be a slam dunk Father’s Day present for a lot of you, I’m sure.
Best for style: A hip cooler? Yup. They call it retro, but I just call it cool. Igloo’s neon ‘90s cooler (17% off, $24.99) is hot pink, teal and highlighter yellow with a carrying handle and a shoulder strap. Keep nine LaCroix ice cold for enjoying anywhere you want to be refreshed and stylin’.
Best for lunch: PackIt’s freezable lunch bag ($23.99) is both a bag and an ice pack all in one. The bag flattens down to practically nothing so you can store it in even the most packed freezer, then just grab it, pack it and you’re on your way. Cool color options, too.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

PSA: When you use Bluetooth to take a phone call in the car, the sound leaks like crazy. Before you say something really embarrassing while sitting in a parking lot (“Doctor, this rash is all over my …”), turn the volume way down.

The EV Time Bomb

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One thing car manufacturers often leave out: the cost of replacing electric vehicle batteries can be shockingly high.

Rising car thefts: With just a smartphone app or a $25 Bluetooth signal finder, clever criminals can scan your car for valuable tech. The signals from turned-on devices tell them which vehicles will deliver the biggest paydays. Keep your electronics with you, folks — or at least turn them off.

Want to drive? First, you must subscribe

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Automakers say car subscriptions could earn them $1,600 a year. Plus, news on the Kaiser Permanente health breach, phony Verizon invoice emails, and a Waymo going haywire in San Fran.

🏎️ May the best algo win: The first-ever autonomous car race kicks off in Abu Dhabi this weekend. No F1 pros, just eight engineering teams duking it out for $2.25 million in prize money. They’re even racing the exact same car — the Dallara Super Formula SF23. Car racing is about the driver’s abilities, not just a car. Dumb.

Fake ads are taking over Facebook: A Broward County, Florida, family found strangers at their front door, claiming they paid a $250 deposit to rent a car parked in the driveway. It turns out crooks had secretly snapped pics and posted them on Facebook Marketplace. After they turned the renters away, someone came back and vandalized the car. Ridiculous.

Get a better Uber price: Put in your destination and pick a car. Close the app, then wait five minutes and reopen the app. I usually get at least a 10% lower price doing this trick.

An $80,000 paperweight: That’s what one Cybertruck owner thought he had after taking his new toy through a car wash. The truck’s console screen went black as he rolled into the garage. After a hard reset (and five hours!), it powered on again. The damage caused by failing to put the Cybertruck in Car Wash mode voids its warranty. Yikes.

Phone stands for FaceTime-ing or streaming

Most versatile: Prop up your phone (or tablet) just about anywhere — table, car headrest, airplane seatback — with the Flight Flap. It’s a small sheet of metal encased in foam that folds flat for storage and bends to get the right angle. Right now, it’s 31% off ($10.99).
Best two-in-one: Anker’s combination phone stand and charger is a game changer for long FaceTime sessions, and it’s 20% off ($15.98). Wirelessly charge your Qi-enabled phone (including iPhone, LG and Google Pixel) while you’re chatting in landscape or portrait modes. Bonus: Samsung phones with Fast Charge mode charge twice as quickly!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Beep-beep: With a cheap setup, someone can copy the signal from your keyfob to open and steal your car. What can you do? Buy a signal-blocking pouch that can hold your keys, like this $9.99 shielded RFID-blocking one. It works!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

24% of drivers use Instagram behind the wheel

It’s the most distracting app on the road. No like, post or comment is worth a car wreck. Please — it could save your life or someone else’s.