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Essential Car-Care Tips for First-Time Owners

Congratulations on becoming a first-time car owner! Taking care of your new vehicle may seem overwhelming at first, but you’ll be surprised at how simple and manageable basic maintenance can be.. It’s important to note that some tasks, such as checking tire pressure, polishing the car, and installing new windshield wipers, can be easily done in your driveway. But more complex jobs like oil changes or brake replacements are best han...
Posted:Thu May 16 12:49:49 EDT 2024

Chinese-Made Cars Are Already Here. We’ve Even Tested a Few.

President Joe Biden’s announcement of a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-built EVs may change some automakers’ plans to sell their electric vehicles in the U.S. But you might be surprised to learn that some American and European brands already sell Chinese-built vehicles here and have been doing so for nearly a decade. The Buick Envision SUV (shown below) was the first mainstream Chinese-built car to be sold in the U.S., followed by t...
Posted:Tue May 14 13:25:58 EDT 2024

Honda Ridgeline Pickups Recalled to Fix Faulty Backup Cameras

Honda is recalling over 187,000 Ridgeline pickup trucks from the 2020 through 2024 model years because their backup cameras might not display an image. MORE ON CAR RECALLS Car Recall Guide: Your Questions Answered. .Many Honda and Acura Models Recalled Over Airbag Concerns. .Honda and Acura Vehicles Recalled for Fuel Pump Issue. The problem is due to a faulty wiring harness in the vehicle’s tailgate. Road salt and water can get into...
Posted:Tue May 14 13:07:29 EDT 2024

How to Clean Your Car's Interior

With new and used-car prices as high as they are, it’s more important than ever to protect the vehicle you already have. You don’t have to spend $100 or more to bring your car to a detailer or car wash, either. As we’ll share below, it’s easy to deep-clean your car on your own, from your own garage or driveway. Cleaning Your Car's. Carpet and Seats. Leather and Vinyl. Windshield. Touchscreens. Car Cleaning Tips to Protect Your ...
Posted:Thu May 09 17:05:13 EDT 2024

Best Midsized and Large Sedans You Can Buy Today

Midsized and large sedans remain a smart choice for many consumers because they effectively blend fuel economy, passenger room, cargo space, and flexibility into a package that’s often more enjoyable to drive than the average SUV. Still, SUVs continue to grow in popularity at the expense of the sedan market.. Domestic automakers such as Ford and Chrysler/Dodge have exited the sedan market already. Chevrolet has also announced th...
Posted:Thu May 09 15:47:39 EDT 2024

How to Buy a Car Online

Here’s the truth of the matter: It’s not very common—and in many states it’s impossible—to buy a car entirely online, because most states require in-person signatures for automotive sales contracts. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t complete most of the process from the comfort of your home. How to Buy a Car Online. How to Finalize Your Car Purchase More On Buying A Car Should You Buy a New, Certified Pre-Owned, or Use...
Posted:Thu May 09 15:00:56 EDT 2024

Talking Cars 444: Driving the Refreshed Tesla Model 3

Main theme: This podcast focuses on our first impressions of the refreshed 2024 Tesla Model 3. Tesla doesn’t make big revisions to its vehicles very often, tending to implement incremental updates instead. But the Model 3—Tesla’s second-most-popular offering, behind the Model Y—has remained nearly unchanged since it came out in 2017. That means this 2024 freshening is long overdue, especially in light of recent EV competitors s...
Posted:Wed May 08 06:00:01 EDT 2024

Best Deals on Pet Products

Your pets are members of your family, so it’s no surprise that you want only the best for them. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your pet feeder or you need a better vacuum to keep the fur in check during shedding periods, the last thing you want is to spend your money on something that doesn’t work. Finding a high-quality product is key. And that’s where we come in, with items like lab-tested GPS trackers and pet hair rem...
Posted:Mon May 06 11:19:13 EDT 2024

First Drive: 2025 Subaru Forester Ratchets Up the Refinement

The redesigned sixth-generation Subaru Forester continues with its core virtues of great outward visibility, easy functionality, a roomy cabin, and standard all-wheel drive. Looking past the new styling with its chunky fender flares, beefier grille, and slick headlights, the most significant change to this small SUV may be the increased use of sound deadening in the interest of a quieter cabin—long a weak point for the Forester.  ....
Posted:Mon May 06 09:01:10 EDT 2024

How to Wash Your Car

For many vehicle owners, washing a car by hand is a therapeutic act as beneficial for the person’s state of mind as for the vehicle’s appearance. That’s good, because frequent washing is also the best way to maintain a new-car finish and detect blemishes and other potential issues, such as rust or loosening trim. But as simple as washing your car may seem, there are some things to watch for so that you don’t accidentally scratc...
Posted:Sat May 04 06:01:16 EDT 2024

You Could Be Cutting Your Toenails the Wrong Way

Have you ever had an ingrown toenail? Seventy percent of participants in our Instagram poll said yes, so my sympathies. If you said no, lucky you—congratulations on never having to experience that peculiar brand of pain.. Here’s how to make sure you don’t cut your toenails in a way that might lead to an ingrown nail, as well as how to treat one. ‘You Nailed This’ It wasn’t that long ago that I learned that I had been cutt...
Posted:Sat May 04 06:01:09 EDT 2024

Street Parking Survival Guide

Street parking leaves your vehicle vulnerable to the elements and to other people, but it’s unavoidable for the 35 percent of American households without a garage or carport, or the hundreds of dollars a month it can cost to park in a public garage. My friend Todd Rogers did the math and found that it’s more economical for him to pay $45 parking tickets once a week than $300 a month to garage his car in his Brooklyn neighborhood. ...
Posted:Sat May 04 06:00:51 EDT 2024

How to Shop for a Car Loan

Whether you’re buying a new car or a used one, there are always methods of getting a better interest rate on a car loan.. Consumer Reports consulted experts to get you the best advice on how to find the best loan. Read on to see what they advise. Review Credit Report & Score. Improve Your Score. Stick to a Budget. Don't Focus on Just the Monthly Cost. Make the Biggest Down Payment You Can. Get Preapproved. Look for Special Deals. Con...
Posted:Fri May 03 15:23:00 EDT 2024

How Well Do Tesla Superchargers Work for Non-Tesla EVs?

Tesla owners have exclusive access to a vast network of more than 1,600 Supercharger charging stations nationwide, which make topping off a Tesla convenient, seamless, and relatively quick. Owners of other electric vehicles rely on a patchwork of chargers that aren’t always convenient to access and might not always charge rapidly, and require the user to fumble through an app or swipe a credit card to activate the charger.. Now, Tesl...
Posted:Thu May 02 13:30:34 EDT 2024

How Our Family Fits 5 Kids and 4 Car Seats Into a Single Vehicle

We always knew we wanted a big family. But when we found out baby No. 5 was on the way, my husband and I didn’t fully understand just how crowded things were about to get. It wasn’t our house we were (as) worried about—our kids have always been fine with room sharing. It was our vehicle, which was getting more cramped with each child car seat we added. And, as we all know, kids sitting squished together during a road trip, or eve...
Posted:Wed May 01 18:52:12 EDT 2024