Sharing some Driving Tricks, Part 2

From how keyless entry fobs contain a key, to hiding the pink slip and never programming the navigation with your actual address under “home” (a thief then knows where it is, and where you’re not.)

Thanks this week to contributors Paul and Brian!

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

Use the passenger seat heater to keep your takeout warm. Prop the pizza box up on a can, now the box will sit flat on a seat that is not.

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Sharing some Driving Tricks, Part 1 – here

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Top 5 Favourite Things – 2014 LA Auto Show

Wrote it for the paper, click here to read.

Top 5 List from the 2014 LA Auto Show

1 – Language used during the reveal presentations
2 – Jaguar F-TYPE now available in manual
3 – Chatting with the head designer of Ford & Lincoln
4 – Choking on that new-car-smell
5 – Chrysler’s all-new 300 Sedan

It’s 850+ words, which is rare, my stuff’s usually 400 words and rarely longer than 600. It was a great show.

Here’s more photos from the show. Click more to see.

>>> MORE <<< [Read more…]

Best Time of Year to Buy a New Car

The fall is the best time of year to buy a new car, that’s why we’re inundated in car ads- radio, newspaper, cut to star wipe.

Because the fall is when the new model-year vehicles arrive, rendering the existing cars on the lot “old stock.”

How to use this season to your advantage when car shopping.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

The fall is the only time of year cars are so deeply discounted, so provided your’e ok with the hidden price of having to compromise on colour and features, it’s the best time of year to buy a car. 

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell is the New Thing

Hydrogen Fuel Cells are the newest source of power for all-electric cars.

Already used in factories and space, the fuel source’s attributes read like a dream list.

I speak with Hyundai about it, because their hydrogen-powered Tucson SUV was the first-to-market.

Read it online at Autonet.ca

Favourite line:

Think I did a good job explaining something complicated:

In science-speak, electricity is released during the chemical reaction caused by combining two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule. That electricity is fed into a battery, which then powers the electric motor. When two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen are mixed, H20 (water) is created, which is what is emitted from the tailpipe, and why it’s considered a zero-emissions engine.

The problem is a lack of fuel-delivery infrastructure.  Because when did you last see a hydrogen refuelling station?  Exactly.

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See also: I don’t like Hybrids

 

 

Dispelling Fears about Car Hacking

Real brief: the problem is cars operate on the CAN bus network, which was designed in the 1980s, when the internet didn’t exist. Learn about CAN here.

Speaking with Chris Valasek, physical access is still required to hack the car. For now. (I’d try coming in via Bluetooth.)

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

That’s how car hacking works: the system doesn’t ask where the message came from or who sent it, it just accepts and executes it.

Plus the ending, because it’s true.

To attack, it’d be more efficient to roll that newspaper into a baton, than go after the target’s car.

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Blog tag = auto security