Car Talk Archives - Page 2 of 149

Automakers: Steering Wheel Mute Buttons Please

Jan 17 2016

I’d like more vehicles to offer this tiny feature, because it makes a big difference… so much that I’d consider it a key differentiator when cross-shopping this segment.

A steering-wheel Mute button, to instantly kill the radio.

Because if you must snap into hyper-focus,
first instinct is to shut the music off.

This button is the most efficient way, your left thumb is always beside it.

Which is why it’s puzzling to me that this button is very rare.

Every day I drove this SUV, I used it several times.

I can count on one hand the number of vehicles I’ve tested that have one.

I think they should all have one.

Found on a 2016 Hyundai Tucson.

Upgrade to the New 407 Transponder

Jan 17 2016

When work issued me a transponder for the toll highway, it was the below one.

Way better looking, eh.

Here’s the link to login and request an upgrade – 407ETR.com

Got a Job – I’m the OSM of Dent Wizard

Jan 6 2016

I’m the new Ontario Sales Manager for Dent Wizard Canada, North America’s largest PDR company. All because of my blog.

OSM – Ontario Sales Manager

PDR – Paintless Dent Removal

My new area of expertise will be dents guys, DENTS!

2015 could NOT have ended on a better note. Remember I gave myself 4 months from quitting the paper, to finding new revenue? Skin of my teeth – made it by 1 week.

It all happened very fast. Remember I blogged “I need a job” on December 8? Shortly after it took off, and from initial contact to hiring was fast, 1 business week.

December 18 was the official hire date. January 4 was my start date.

What is the job description?

Maintaining existing accounts, prospecting for new ones, and keeping the team of 20 technicians busy and happy.

Specifically, I’m about to become an expert is these services.

Basically – keeping a car beautiful.

I work here – at Manheim.

I just walked deeper into the belly of the auto industry.

Because ready…

15,000! It’s one of North America’s largest auction houses.

What does the job pay?

Turns out dents is a $2 billion a year business I KNOW?! So it pays amazing (you don’t think I’d get this pumped about $50k eh.)

It’s a big salary plus commission, on a zero-baseline product, plus benefits, cell phone, and plus A CAR.

kk I’ll state a goal… in 18 months, bet I can crack 6 figures.

Why are Dents so Great?

There’s many reasons!

– it’s straight-forward business – there’s a dent, now it’s fixed, take payment, the end

– there’s no Tweeting about the dent! No – how many Facebook shares did my dent get?

– it’s a low-impact-karma job like, what’s the opposite of arms and drug trafficking? Dents.

– I am not involved with an auto-manufacturer – meaning, I can continue to test and review cars totally unbiased, that’s proper journalist ethics

Speaking of ethics, below are Dent Wizard’s 4 Pillars of Operation.

When I found this during my research, the bottom right quadrant is what made me really want the job.

“Integrity” – when was the last time you saw that? Exactly.

Ironically, my 1st task was… writing 300 words.

And done from the front seat of my car, ha. Learning to file from anywhere pays off in the weirdest ways.

What Will happen to KeriBlog?

It will get even better!

– the pressure is gone to make it make money, blogging will be fun again

– you think I’m lippy now? Mwahaha

– it’s a 9-5 and no-weekends job, so the blog can continue during those hours. Plus, I have about 20 cars backlogged here to blog… that I’m drowning in car content is perfect

– in a backwards way, I bet this job is exactly what the blog needed, and its traffic will take off in 2016

– I can now apply my invention – the Cashless Blogging System

– I’ll have money now, I can invest in KeriBlog. A few months after I get my finances stabilized I’ll hire someone to renovate my blog. Doesn’t a new theme sound nice, a new hosting company, something properly optimized for mobile…. that is now possible