Car Accessories

We all know talking on a cell phone while driving a car is dangerous. Even the shortest call increases your chances of being injured, or injuring someone else in an accident -- by four times according to a study done in 2005 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Studies show that the use of hands-free devices greatly improves a driver’s concentration, subsequently decreasing the risk of injuries and deaths.

FreeHeadset.org is an organization dedicated to promoting cell phone safety by distributing high quality cell phone headsets for only $3.94 (includes shipping and handling). Read more

Ford just became the first automaker to make HD Digital Radio available across multiple product lines. The dealer-installed high-definition radio option is available on nearly all 2008 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Also, HD Digital Radio can be installed on many earlier models from 2005, 2006 and 2007.

What is HD Radio? HD Digital Radio increases the sound quality of radio broadcasts and enables more than one radio broadcast on a single channel. As a result, you hear a wide range of new HD2 multicast stations as well your favorite radio stations with no monthly subscription fee. More than 1500 radio stations in the U.S. currently broadcast in HD digital sound, with more than 600 stations also airing HD2 multicasts. Read more

Give your car battery a boost from inside the comfort of your car with Simple Start, new from Black & Decker. Being stranded with a drained car battery can cause anyone to panic! The new Simple Start Vehicle Battery Booster charges your car battery from inside the comfort of your car and puts you back on the road quickly - plug, charge & go! No need for jumper cables or waiting for help to arrive. Simply insert the Simple Start’s DC adapter into the car’s 12 volt DC outlet and wait several minutes. A boost indicator LED and audible beep lets you know when your battery is charged and ready to start. Read more

Starting September 5th, drivers can send directions directly to their Mercedes-Benz from their computers. The new technology, called Search & Send, has been developed in partnership with Google and Yahoo! and is now being phased into Mercedes-Benz models, including new-generation C-Class model line.

The Search & Send feature is simple.

• Plot your destination, address and point of interest through Google or Yahoo! Maps websites
  
• Click on the newly introduced “Send to Car” icon
  
• Locate the information on your Mercedes' GPS navigation system
  
• Prompt the system to start route guidance immediately or save information for later

Read more

When it comes to car care, one of the most expensive things you can do is get your car professionally detailed. It is a big job to carefully wash, wax, vacuum and condition a car, so professional shops charge hundreds of dollars to get the job done. With the right tools and a little elbow grease, detailing a car is something you can do at home for a fraction of the cost, and a lot less time than you think.

Here's a step-by-step guide to follow: Read more

When it comes to long car trips with the kids, silence can be golden. One unique way to keep the kids at bay is with a portable DVD movie player. Audiovox has a unique solution with its modular headrests with built in LCD screens that actually replace the original equipment headrests in your vehicle. No damage to the headrests. The custom headrests have been designed to match the style of your original headrests as well as your vehicle interior. Installation is quick and easy. Simply pull out the existing headrests and replace them. Wiring is minimal. Read more

Take XM Satellite Radio to go with the new Jensen Rock-n-Road (model NVXM1000), the first GPS system with full XM capabilities provided by the XM Mini-Tuner. The four-inch touchscreen has Real-Time "XM Traffic" that provides up-to-the-minute updates on weather, sports and stock data to keep anyone on beat with more than just music.

A built-in wireless FM modulator, MP3 and Portable Media Player with 11 million points of interest will ensure that drivers are fully entertained no matter where the road goes. Now you can toss out your paper maps and your traditional radio! What’s best is the Rock-n-Road combines two state-of-the-art technologies for what used to be the price of one! $799.99 www.audiovox.com

Get there on time every time. Delphi’s mobile navigation system combines excellent gps hardware and software with an entertainment suite (mp3, pictures, videos, and more). Easy to use and a great value at $299. An optional Lifetime Traffic Service can be purchased for a one-time fee of $199 which will relay real time information on traffic congestion and will automatically redirect your route to avoid delays. www.delphi.com

Insurance rates, car maintenance expenses and fuel prices continue to rise. Thankfully, you don't have to alter your driving habits or buy a new car to get some relief. Here are some quick, inexpensive, easy ways to save money with the car or truck you already have. Read more

Get slick to reduce maintenance costs and to save fuel
There are high performance motor oils that can make meaningful improvements to your car's fuel economy and engine life. For instance, numerous independent studies have documented that Royal Purple motor oil improves fuel economy by as much as 5 percent or more.

This hands-free speaker is optimized for use in the car and lets you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The powerful speaker and noise reduction technology provide the volume and clarity needed to converse in the car. The Motorola Portable Bluetooth Hands-Free Speaker T305 allows you to just clip it to your visor and go. No installation required!

Motorola was the first to use Bluetooth wireless technology to create hands-free systems for the car – allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Read more