Latest Car Accessories Review
Mr. Brightside
What’s that thing on the windshield?
Well, it’s not a tumor. It’s the Visualeyes Rayzer auxiliary light from Sweden.
Aren’t the stock headlights adequate?
The Rayzer gives you an extra set of high-beams, and the wide-angle
projection, the high mounting point, and the ultrabright xenon bulbs
provide far more illumination than the standard lights. The unit hooks
onto a fixed bracket so you can remove it or switch it from car to car
(if you buy an extra bracket and power source). It plugs into a 12-volt
socket in the car, or a professional installer can wire it directly.
Either way, the Rayzer connects to the vehicle’s wiring to operate in
conjunction with its stock high-beams.
Does it work?
You bet. The high mounting point and intense bulbs light up the road like
a nuclear flash. We drove by an old guy on the sidewalk who was shielding
his eyes. You should be more courteous and also check your local laws
on auxiliary lights.
a nuclear flash. We drove by an old guy on the sidewalk who was shielding
his eyes. You should be more courteous and also check your local laws
on auxiliary lights.
How much, and how do I get it?
$995; www.rayzerwidebeams.com
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If the Glove Fits
What do we have here?
The Mechanix Glove Light. It’s a standard Mechanix glove, which we’ve
always liked for the way it protects hands without sacrificing dexterity
and feel, with an LED light next to the index finger.
Good idea or just a gimmick?
Good idea. The light is bright enough to illuminate the dark recesses
underneath your car. The gloves are a big help when you’re changing oil,
for instance. The trade-off is the added bulk of the battery pack,
which gets in the way of squeezing through tight spots.
How much, and how do I get them?
$34.95 for a pair; www.mechanix.com
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Route Scout
What’s good?
The Navigon 7200T is a portable nav system that’s preloaded with U.S.
and Canada maps and has a sharp display, a sturdy suction-cup mount, and
easy-to-use menus. We especially like that you can program a
destination using your voice. It even packs speed-limit info for most
roads (and can warn you when you exceed the limit).
What’s not so good?
When the voice recognition screws up, it takes a while to correct. The
point-of-interest database was sparse in southeastern Michigan.
Anything else?
Traffic info is gathered from FM broadcasts, so there’s no subscription
needed. We found the traffic data reliable, but it sometimes lags behind
the reports you find on AM radio.
How much, and how do I get it?
$449.99; www.navigon.com
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Take it to the Mat
Floor mats? Thrilling.
Curb your cynicism for a moment. The WeatherTech FloorLiner DigitalFit mats may not seem exciting, but they’re custom made for specific models. The mats for our Subaru Impreza WRX even have anchoring holes on the driver’s side for the pegs that held the factory floor mats in place. It took two weeks for our made-to-order mats to arrive.
Curb your cynicism for a moment. The WeatherTech FloorLiner DigitalFit mats may not seem exciting, but they’re custom made for specific models. The mats for our Subaru Impreza WRX even have anchoring holes on the driver’s side for the pegs that held the factory floor mats in place. It took two weeks for our made-to-order mats to arrive.
Do they work?
Being made of rubber, these mats will take ages to wear out. One staffer
has a set that is 10 years old. To check the abuse rate, we used the
rear mats as an ashtray for a week (outside the car, natch). Burns from
stubbed-out cigarettes were barely noticeable, and the ashes washed
right off. Try that with a carpeted floor mat.
How much, and how do I get them?
$159.90; just the front mats are $99.95. Other sets range from $149.90 to $189.90; www.weathertech.com