Car & Caboodle

Link Love: Crushing News, Cube Love and Big Family Travel Tips

2008-11-26T00:22:46Z

From Miss Mota Mouth this week comes a shocking revelation that we find especially crushing...

Which cars are getting crushed?
Some cars are squeaky clean, have leather seats, full navigation systems, V6's or V8 engines with far less than 30,000 miles on them. They still have that new car smell and in some cases, will still have bits of protective film covering the interior parts. For the most part they could never be considered damaged except for the odd scratch or ding that comes from brushing against the car or pulling a suitcase out of the trunk.

Continue reading this sad tale on Miss Mota Mouth's blog

From Travels With Children comes some great advice about finding a hotel room for larger families:

Finding a room that will accommodate a family of six is no small task. Here are some places where we’ve had good stays

Continue reading on Travels with Children

Popular automotive writer Michael Banovsky shared his idealized version of the recently unveiled Nissan Cube with his Twitter followers this week.

Maybe the Smart Car isn't worthless to enthusiasts!

2008-11-25T15:49:16Z

Yes, that is a Smart Car outperforming a Ferrari on a drag strip. It's actually a Smartuki, a Smart car with a Suzuki GSX-R 1100 CC 4-cylinder "Hyabusa" engine installed.

Smart cars are the laughing stock of the car world right now, overpriced, undersized and underpowered, with embarrassing 0-60 times, Premium fuel requirements, and a clownish demeanor. New in the US for 2008, they've been running strong in Europe for a few years now. So some enterprising Brits figured out that the Smart's entire drivetrain bolts right out and one can with little pain drop in a 10,000 RPM screamer from a sportbike.

Now I know this is a family car magazine, and the 2-seat FourTwo doesn't really have much relevance to us even in its' 50-hp stock capacity, so what interest do we have in the 180-hp overstuffed screamer? Every! It's a marvel of modern technology! It's a go-kart with a phonebooth on top! It does wheelies and can burn rubber all day! It simply looks like it's a lot of fun, and my mid-life crisis is inching closer and closer...

A Quick Look Inside The LA Auto Show

2008-11-21T15:42:53Z

The atmosphere was a little somber but the LA Auto show still held much to see. Tons of concept cars, and an honest move towards green. Trends noted included suicide doors (interesting in this market), rear/side view mirrors being replaced by integrated cameras, and more ways to piggyback smaller, more eco friendly vehicles onto your car. There was a definite downtrend in oversized SUV's and a veritable crossover vehicle explosion.

A PC in Your Car: Why Didn't I Think Of That?

2008-11-19T15:56:50Z

Many of today's new cars come with all the in-car entertainment options we demand: Navigation, Backup Cameras, MP3 player interfaces, Bluetooth, Rear seat DVD/TV, Satellite and HD Radio, etc.

For those of us with older cars, those integrated features are a pipe dream and we're left with a cluttered dash of power cords, stick-on gadgets, and compromising features.

Unless you go the route of a custom PC install in your vehicle. when we think of PCs in cars the image that comes to mind is the state trooper with a laptop bolted to the console, but there's actually a growing subculture of people using common PC and Mac computers to achieve the same goals.

I had an opportunity to look at one such installation and I was blown away. In addition to a sizable MP3 collection, decent Nav system, XM and HD radio tuners, bluetooth integration and video capability, Eric Mindte's Honda Prelude also has access to full on-board diagnostics, wi-fi internet and anything else you want to run in Windows XP™!

So what do you need to get a PC setup going in your dash? A 7" touch screen is a good place to start, as is a Micro-ATX PC case that looks like an amplifier with big heat sinks. Then you'll need a motherboard, processor and memory. A hard drive, a radio tuner card, and then pretty much everything else is plug and play USB componentry. The Logitech diNovo Bluetooth Mini-keyboard is a necessity, as is the Griffin PowerMate remote volume knob. Centrafuse software is the best of the available offerings that I've tested, and all told Eric's project ran him around $1000. That's not bad considering the price of a navigation system in most vehicles, especially at the lower end.

Intrigued? There is a wealth of information on the subject at http://www.mp3car.com

Car Zen Calms Car Shopping Fears

2008-11-19T00:03:28Z

If only there was an easier way to navigate the treacherous waters of car shopping. Finding your automotive mate can be stressful, particularly if you are not a big car enthusiast and up on all the latest car info. It's intimidating out there. Going to a dealership can be as stressful as a blind date.

Enter Car Zen.

Car Zen is an online matchmaker. But not for couples. For you, and your car. Rather than spend the next six months scouring the web for news, you can now click on over and in mere moments, fill out a compatibility quiz that will match you with the most ideal vehicles, based on your wants and needs.

Skeptical? Go and check it out. This is not just another clinical survey system that matches you based on how many people you need to move. It takes the subtler points into account too - such as your sense of style, how many carseats you have and whether you have issues with buying American cars. This is a search engine for the quirkiest of car shoppers. It sorts cars in ways that you would not have even considered. And in the end... you have an extremely time saving potential list of first dates that are worth the test drive.

Car Zen was designed with women and families in mind and I think they have done a stellar job. We recently bought a car after weeks and months of research and many test drives. I took a car search quiz before writing this article only to find that the car I bought, was indeed #1 on the list. I could have saved so much time with this site on my side a little sooner!

Bumble Bags Keep You Perfectly Organized

2008-11-13T22:03:09Z

Somethings up with me. This fall I have found myself reaching more and more for my "stroller" bags. I've redisovered Bumble Bags and am really loving their mom-friendly Jessica Messenger Style Bag.

Sure I adore my schmancy leather diaper bags, if you've read my reviews before you know how very much! But with all the park, preschool, and playdate "down and dirty" time, I'm not grabbing for the heavier, more delicate leathers as much. I find I need something that I can throw down on the ground at the foot of the slide, and feel reasonably sure it won't be destroyed.

My check list of questions for the perfect "stroller bag" are:

Does it hang well on multiple styles of strollers?
Is it well organized with plenty of pockets and places to keep my diapers, wipes, keys, meds, toys, etc all available for quick retrieval?
Is it lightweight and comfortable to throw on my person quickly, if we hit the trails?
Is is durable (machine washable?!)
Is it cute?

The answer, to all of these questions is a resounding yes for the Jessica Bag by Bumble. It's super cute in the pink paisley. I appreciate the soilproof lining and how well the bag wears. The bag comes with stroller clips and is comfortable in both messenger and backpack modes. It truly holds a ton and bonus points for the zip out changing station that keeps all the diapering stuff stashed away seperately and accessible in a flash in the event of a blow out.

Bumbleride's got some great new style bags out this fall. Check out the Buzz collection and the Honey Collection as well (yes, I am drooling all over the Queen Bee for our non park days!).

How To Get the Best Parking Places at The Mall - 5 Tips

2008-11-12T20:24:22Z

Heading into holiday season and foul weather, the mad grab for the best parking is on! Even in a tough economy, it can be hard to find a good place to park it at the mall. Here are a few tips sure to destress your parking process and get you inside faster.

Hover. Sit at the end of the aisle and wait. Assuming the aisles empty and fill at a similar rate, there is no more likelihood of a place opening up in front of you if you jet up and down the aisles than if you stay in one area. Staying put also reduces you chance of a fender bender.
Stake your claim but don't block traffic. When you hover at the middle of an aisle, you have the "I got here first! I win!" advantage, enhanced by your lightning fast blinker reflexes. This is a good thing. But in your enthusiasm, don't forget to leave room for the losers to move on. And don't gloat. Parking lot rage is almost as bad as road rage.
Follow someone. But not too far. You don't want to lose your claim on the rest of aisle 9. And you don't want to be mistaken for a stalker. Follow people who have their keys out and a sense of purpose. Don't follow anyone who looks like they are looking for their car somewhere out at sea, or who is walking slowly, sipping a latte, applying makeup or chatting with a friend.
Don't look desperate. Be positive. Listen to some upbeat music. Visualize your space opening up. Believe there is a spot for you. Does this nonsense work? Maybe. Can't hurt!
Shop with a friend or relative who is disabled or pregnant. Is it crass of you to leap on the chance to ride shotgun with Aunt Betty who has a walker? Maybe. But hey, you can offer to help carry her packages and get to enjoy the very best parking. It's almost as good as having valet...

How the Candidates Rolled Home

2008-11-11T20:04:06Z

You The election may be over but we still cannot quit talking about the candidates. We love to nit pick and second guess, so we were thrilled to come across this fun game that helps you match the candidates with their perfect car. Check out Carzen.com for help matching yourself up to the perfect car as well!

Maxi Cosi Rodi Booster Car Seat Giveaway

2008-11-07T08:58:53Z

Visit our 1 Year | 52 Car Seat Giveaway Page to learn about this week's giveaway for a Maxi Cosi Rodi Booster Car Seat.

Dad Plays in a Pontiac: Part Two - The G6

2008-11-06T20:21:53Z

In my first post about a recent Pontiac-sponsored trip to the Bondurant Racing School I didn't get to tell you about my stylish new Piloti racing shoes. You didn't know there is such a thing as racing shoes, and neither did I. The rounded heel and thinner sole really do make longer driving hauls move comfortable. Pontiac picked up the tab, and I am thankful for my favorite new footwear.

I tested three version of the Pontiac G6 on the same autocross track on which I had earlier tried out the G5: the sedan, the coupe, and the convertible. The G6 sedan interior seemed to be the same as the G5. A very roomy back seat, conservative styling with out being stuffy. Some numbers: G6's start with a 4-cylinder 156 HP engine in the base model, which gets 30/22 MPH. Only the sedan has this V4. The next two sedan trims are the GT and the GXP, names shared with the two trims available in the coupe and convertible. A powertrain with a 214 HP V6, netting 26/17 MPH, is the centerpiece of the GT trim. The very sporty GXPs is built around a better tuned 252 HP V6 which also gets 26/17 MPH.

The basic G6 sedans is that it feel like an incremental step up from the G5 -- read the G5 story for more. The GT and the GXP trims own all the G6 excitement. I folded the convertible's hard-top down before I even started the engine in. I loved slalom-ing through the autocross cones under full steam. The same Stabilitrak system I described in the G5 review performed even better with the coupe's and convertible's front-wheel drive and racing suspension. Topping out around $30K (unmodified), the non-sedan G6's are in the affordable "dad's fun car" category.

Portable Playtime: Don't Fly Without One of These

2008-11-06T16:37:02Z

When I received one of these Portable Playtime backpacks, I had one of those moments. One of those "why didn't I think of that?" moments. I also thought how incredibly handy this would have been on all the flights I have endured with my kids.

This fabulous backpack has all the necessary compartments to bring those must have toys on a flight. Books, action figures, crayons and paper, even snacks - all of it will fit in there and have a place to stay organized and keep your kids entertained. But that is not even the best part.

Everyone can find a bag for these things, but what makes Portable Playtime genius is that not only is it a great bag, it is also a perfect playmat to fit on the tray table. Yes, it open up and covers the germ infested tray table, stays securely in place, and gives your kids the perfect place to play with all the things they brought along for the trip.

Easy to keep clean, kid-tough, and in great colors and patterns, the award winning Portable Playtime backpack makes flying with kids so much easier, you will wonder how you managed without it.

To make this product even more appealing, Portable Playtime is offering Car & Caboodle readers 20% off through the end of the year, simply use the code "caboodle" when you check out.

Cold Seat is the Answer in a Warm Car

2008-10-31T23:33:00Z

For those of us who live in climates where a hot parked car is the norm, the Cold Seat is the answer to that issue. It's October and still in the high 80's here in SoCal. I get into my car and still blast the A/C. I do wish sometimes it wasn't like that. It's even worse when you have to put your precious baby in their seat, and you know it's not comfortable.

How many times have you put the car on with the A/C running BEFORE you put your kids in the car? If you do that then the Cold Seat is for you. This ingenious product rolls up and gets placed in the freezer. When you are going to the car you take it out of the freezer and unroll it. Then you place it in the carseat for 5 minutes. The car seat has cooled down tremendously and your child will not be whining about how hot their carseat is.

Just the other day I had to take my sick 4 year old to the doctor and it was 90 degrees outside. I felt bad he wasn't feeling well so I went to cool down the seat before he climbed in. It was a nice bonus for a little guy who just didn't feel well. It's made with a washable cover. The whole thing is reusable as well.

The Cold Seat is not just for summer, it's for all year round. Just one thing don't forget to take the Cold Seat off before placing your child in their car seat.

Pimp My Minivan - The Big Chill

2008-10-30T05:09:56Z

It's fall and it is soccer season. Between the games and the practices, the dinners and snacks consumed on the road are mounting up. You may find yourself wishing you had a fridge in the back of the van. But before you spend some mega bucks on an aftermarket subzero for your tailgate, have antother look at the humble rubbermaid cooler. They're back and better than ever with their Durachill model. Consider the following:

Extra thick insulation keeps ice for 5 days at 90° F
Side swing handles with comfort grip for easy carrying
Durable metal and plastic extended tow handle, drain for easy draining of liquids
Hinged, split lid creates easy access to cooler contents without letting all the cold air out
Rugged wheels to easily maneuver over multiple surfaces * Stain and odor resistant, easy-to-clean liner
Built-in cup holders fit 12-oz cans and 20-oz bottles
Holds 130 cans plus ice

With a capacity like this, you really can live at the soccer field. Though you may want to stop by the house occasionally to hit the showers!

Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow Saves The Day

2008-10-28T20:39:05Z

I recently got the Utterly Yours Pregnancy Pillow. I can't believe what a difference I feel already. No pregnancy pillow really has done the trick, until now. The best part about the Utterly Your Pregnancy pillow is that it's super portable and can go with you anywhere. Other pregnancy pillows are cumbersome and take up the whole bed. My dearest husband is so happy to see something that doesn't swallow me whole, and leaves room to snuggle.

I have lots of back problems when I'm not pregnant. During pregnancy finding a comfortable position to sleep in is a nightmare. I love that one side of the Utterly Yours pillow is made to support your lower back.

Wiithin five minutes of using this pillow I knew I had found the support I would need to get through the the rest of this pregnancy. I started to think of all of the places it will be useful. I'll take it with me to the living room to lay down on the couch. I'll take it with me when I go to my parent's house to vist. All of the sudden, the sleep I thought was lost - has been found!

Car & Caboodle Readers: Utterly Yours has offered us 10% off of your next order by simply using code: UYCC1008, expires 11/30/08. Happy Shopping.

Dad Plays in a Pontiac: Part One - The G5

2008-10-27T15:58:47Z

Pontiac recently treated me and a few other writers to test five of their current models at the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Phoenix, AZ. I learned today’s Pontiac brand is both performance-driven, and rather practical. Over the next few days I will be sharing my experiences as a work-a-day father of four pushing Pontiac’s G5, G6, Vibe, Solstice and G8 models on the racetrack and in high-intensity safety drills.

Full disclosure:

Pontiac/GM paid for my 2-day excursion – and a very nice dinner to boot!
In nostaligic memory of my very first car, there is a ’64 Pontiac Catalina-shaped soft spot on my heart – it wasn’t hard to get me excited seeing what the modern Pontiac has to offer.

I’ll tell you about the Pontiac G5 first. This is Pontiac’s entry-level model, in a class with the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Scion tC. Pontiac states the standard 148 hp engine achieves 35 MPH (highway), while the G5 GT has 171 hp and gets about 32 MPH. I would call the dash and interior trim design “stylish” and “conservative” – nothing jarring, everything in the expected place, consistent and re-assuring. It had an unexpectedly roomy back seat, with plenty space in the rear bench for this leggy 6 footer. It probably could seat 3 adults across without awkward elbow-tucking or thigh rubbing.

I took the G5 and the G5 GT on a short autocross track set up for us. Autocross is a short, flat course with tight twists and turns marked by cones, keeping the whole thing inside a small parking lot-sized plot. Most impressive in the G5 was experiencing GM’s StabiliTrak in action – I never once felt even slightly out of control despite auto-racing-newbie choppy turns effected while my foot flew between full-tilt gas and brake. Before coming to the event I had joked with the wife about how sorry Pontiac would be when I rolled one of their cars, but after a lot of hard driving I never so much as fishtailed.

With the large back bench, great gas mileage, responsive and powerful engine, I can imagine a family's G5 the the role of a dad’s commuter car. Zippy in traffic, only sipping gas on the home/office route, and Dad would know the kids are safe and comfortable in the roomy back seat when he's got them.