Happy holidays, fellow Autopians! I hope this post finds you basking in the spirit of the season, and not sliding around your street on insufficient tires or wondering why the special someone in your life got you socks instead of what you really wanted. (Don’t get me wrong, you can’t knock a good pair of socks, especially with the sort of extreme cold snaps we saw this past weekend.)
The insatiable machine that is American capitalism depends on the end-of-year festivities for retail success, so in a lot of cases, it’s a great time to ask for the car stuff you really wanted—or to gift it to yourself at a steep discount. All of this is to ask: What did you get for the holidays?
Did you get the car parts you wanted? Did you get some tools to finally finish that project that’s been sitting in your driveway for years, the one you said you’d devote all that pandemic-related free time to? Were you surprised with one of those new luxury cars with a red bow on top? Did you gift one to your partner without asking about it first? Is that person still talking to you today, or do you have some things to figure out this week? Let us know what’s going on in your automotive journey.
As for me, I didn’t get a specific car gift, per se—I got the gift of electricity. Our tiny house in rural upstate New York has a small garage out back, and soon it should be finally wired up. I’ve been trying to get this done since I moved in almost two years ago. Soon, I’ll be able to use the miracle of electric power to set up some lights, my tools, a workbench, a space heater, and ultimately, a fast charger for EVs or plug-in hybrids. Eventually, I hope my next new-ish car purchase will be electric (or at least electrified) and now, finally, home charging is about to be an option. I’m quite excited about it.
And yes, I also bought myself some socks. Warm, wool socks. I’ll need those for the winter wrenching. You have to take care of your feet!
Your turn. Tell us what car stuff made your Christmas, Hannukkah or end-of-year Harbor Freight clearance event a magical one this year.
My daughter (via my wife) got me a autopian shirt with DT on it. Bold move making a white shirt for a bunch of idiots wrenching on rusty shitboxes, it’ll probably come with stains from the factory.
Wish I could have gotten a membership too but it was a bit too much, going to reevaluate in a few months.
I’m a little surprised how much i liked reading everyone’s responses ! It might not be me getting the gifts but it’s super cool to hear about them 😀
4 new Bridgestone Potenza tires for the TR250.
Bought myself a new coilover suspension, rear end and four-wheel disc brakes for my first gen camaro.
Haven’t actually gotten it yet, but the new Italeri 1/12 scale Bugatti 35b kit is on its way to me. My mission is to replicate the bare-metal one in our local museum, the Revs Institute. That car was found in pieces and largely stripped of its lovely French racing blue paint in a barn in France back in 2006 after disappearing in 1930 and was rebuilt by the staff at the museum. Ever since this kit was announced in February I’ve been trying out techniques using some of the new generation of water-based hobby paints to replicate old, scarred aluminum. It’s going to be a lot of fun… the amount of extra detail you can cram into one of these 1/12 scale kits is unreal!
That will be interesting.Please post the results here when you’re done!
Until this year i’d never had interest in such things.Then one of my favorite you tubers went into some depth showing how he artificially distressed modern paints to match genuine old panels.
That was on a bulldozer so not much would apply to cars but still it was interesting.I was surprised how many techniques there are!
Two Airfix Quick Build kits: a VW Beetle and an Audi TT. I built dozens of model cars as a kid and these were a great flashback to share with my own grown sons. They’re based on Lego engineering and each required about 15 minutes to build. Like Lego, you can disassemble and reassemble them, or share the fun.
I got a couple of Lego sets ( the Bond DB5 and a 911 kit). I have never done an “adult” Lego set but I am excited to give them a try.
The best gift though was the one I gave myself by buying a membership here.
As a young adult in the long process of university, I received some much needed gear for my 2004 F-150. Ratchet straps and a first aid kit, plus a sweet bonus of a car detailing kit. Hoping I get to use most of it 🙂
I was given a nice extendable ice scraper and snow brush, which will be much better in my pickup than the one I have been keeping there.
And I haven’t been able to see my parents and sister, so Dad still might give me a tool or two.
Car stuff is difficult, so I usually buy my own. When people try, it’s nice, but not always a great choice. I similarly do not get people car stuff unless I am sure they will use it.
I got a pair of nice suede driving slippers in Hyundai N Blue, a race helmet (need to go up a size!) and a dash cam.
My brother got me a t-shirt with a silhouette (outline whatever) of a current gen Volvo XC90 on it. Best gift ever.
The biggest culture shock upon moving to the Bay was facing the unintended consequence of the government-mandated free air at gas stations: most air pumps are out of order, and basically only Costco has a couple of nice ones with pressure gauges. With that in mind, my better half got me a 20V battery-powered compressor with a nice digital gauge. God I love her.
The closest thing automotive related I got was this book on Micro Machines. It has so many good photos of the cars I spent so much time with.
https://www.bitmapbooks.com/products/micro-but-many-an-unofficial-micro-machines-collection
Oh! How is the book? I LOVE Mico Machines!
The book is great. It’s a high quality print job and binding. Plus the cars in it are great.
I had the rather unfortunate timing of losing my wallet last weekend, but because I had been difficult and hadn’t told my wife what I wanted (besides explicit approval for a project car when the budget allows it), I’m now getting a Couch MBTex wallet to replace the one I lost. I also got a little gift bag ostensibly from my son (with my parents’ help) that included the new Hot Wheels XJ Cherokee in red (now suitably festive, to match the green one I already had).
I asked for this and was excited that Santa actually dropped it off. It even has a square drive socket adapter, so it’s a very versatile set:
https://www.gearwrench.com/products/pass-thrutm-tools/893823-23-pc-38-drive-pass-thrutm-6-point-standard-saemetric-mechanics-tool-set
I got a Pure Highway 600 DAB adapter with handsfree Bluetooth. This will allow me to modernise my next car’s infotainment system without having to replace the head unit. I then bought the “next car” (or at least put down a deposit).
Whoops, not sure why this was a reply instead of a comment on its own. Probably user error.
I got a pair of Alpinestars racing boots. No doubt they make me look like a complete and utter toolbag but I don’t care as I’ll be able to drive the. Mondial without hitting the wrong pedal (I have size 11 feet). Also got a Lego Speed Champions Aston Martin DB5.
Someday, old son, I’ll tell you of the real Aston Martin DB 5 I had to pass up in the mid ‘70s, because I did not have the $5,000. to buy it.
I got a really nice Triumph sweatshirt and the car got a new coolant gauge/sensor!
After fiddly farting around with the very dim stock taillights for the past couple of years, my wife and I gifted ourselves a set of LED light cards to replace all the internals of the stock ones. Looking forward to warming up the garage enough to work on Virgil, my 1932 Chevrolet Confederate for the taillights and some other deferred maintenance.
I got my own Switch, so naturally I have been playing OG Mario Kart and F-Zero. But I have been knee deep in Breath of the Wild and Metroid Dread.
I got a nice big shop fan (it’s actually looking like a hot summer here), a Subaru-specific coolant funnel (sending gift hints with links is wicked) and a roll of DIY Service Reminder stickers ’cause I ‘wrench any day I feel like it’.
One tradition I usually follow during the holiday period here is to put each vehicle of ours and mum’s (we have six and she has three!) on the hoist for a full going-over and I change the oil annually in the Charger and WRX as they aren’t seeing many kms anymore due to having a work vehicle.
I didn’t get any tools or anything actually for a car, but I did get the new ’69 Camaro Z/28 Lego set, and a cool old Tonka Ambulance complete with sliding side door and stretcher.
Winch for the XJ to make getting unstuck, when it inevitably happens, easier on my constitution.
My dad got me a Hyundai N pullover. It’s actually pretty cool…and now I get to be one of those insufferable dudes who rolls up to track days and cars and coffee in his N apparel. Clearly the next logical step for me in my annoying performance car branding journey will be going full M car next time around. I’m already trying to M2pill the wife anyway….those back seats ain’t gonna work for babies but they’ll definitely work for kids, although the compromise would inevitably be getting the ZF8 rather than the stick.
I got a pair of N blue suede driving shoes… Ridiculous bu i love em
I was given an original Buick dealership service manual from 1974 to match my Apollo. Easilly one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.
Wait, what, you have a ’74 Apollo too!?! Only here would that be possible!
I owned one from ’07-15 and then sold it to a nice couple. They decided to fix the small bit of rust it had, when project scope-creep and then paint jail got the best of them, and it sat for years. I bought it back from them this spring in pieces. I haven’t done anything to it yet, as I’ve been disposing of other projects, but I’m planning to dig in this spring on it.
I traded in my beloved 2010 Ford Flex SEL EcoBoost for a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Night Edition. The Ford was starting to have minor issues and it was definitely time. The Hyundai is fun, but not quite as quick as the Flex. Definitely a nice little hauler, though.
And unlike even a mid-size truck (CHevy Colorado, Ford Ranger), it fits in my garage. Weird how everything is bigger in Texas except the garages. Almost impractically small.
Isn’t the Night Edition basically just the turbo powertrain in an otherwise base Santa Cruz? I feel like it should be pretty damn quick. Either way…cool and unique car, keep us posted on what the ownership experience is like. I too rolled the dice on a high end Hyundai. So far I’m thrilled with it but the horror stories abound.
As you were coming from an EcoBoost Ford – did anything in particular tip you in favor of the Hyundai over a Maverick?
I know this is a bit late to the party (just figured out how to see my old posts) … but yeah. It’s smaller (my garage is not big) and has more power. Plus it’s funky looking and I like that. The Ford was great, but I’m not married to any particular brand, and I liked the available tech in the Hyundai as well.
Nsane In The MembraNe, that’s partially right. It’s a mid-level SEL with the turbo, AWD, and the monochromatic look. Available in black and gray only (for ’23). I’d love ot have some of the options available from higher trims, but I like the look. And it’s been pretty good so far. no issues at all in the first 5 months. I’ve heard similar horror stories about the 8 spd DCT, and other things. But smooth here.