Home Garage Design for Car Enthusiast

Nearly every car enthusiast (mostly the guys) dreams of having a home garage to rival that of the average NASCAR team.  Most spouses of car enthusiasts simply dream of a home garage that doesn’t look like a cross between a salvage yard and the clearance rack at the local parts store.    Here are five things that will help make your automotive “man cave” functional, organized and even “acceptable” to your wife.

1.  WORKBENCH W/ A VISE. This can be as simple as a mounting an old solid-core door or some medium-density fiberboard on top of two sawhorses.  If you want something more sophisticated, there are hundreds of easy-to-build designs floating around the Web, or buy something ready-made from Sears or even IKEA!  Be sure to install a good vise to make those projects easier and safer.

2.  GOOD LIGHTING! You can’t work on a car (or any other project, for that matter) if you can’t see properly!  Most garages have minimal lighting, such as the lights on the garage door openers or exposed bulbs hanging from the rafters.  Luckily, it’s not too difficult or costly to upgrade your lighting with ceiling-mounted fluorescent light fixtures.  Hanging shop lights are single-, double- or four-bulb fixtures that drop down from above your workbench to provide illumination where you need it most. Sometimes just adding one of these lamps to an otherwise dimly lit garage can lead to noticeably better visibility.  A portable worklight is also a must-have, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time under the hood of your car.

3.  PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY FLOORING. The slab of cement that came free with your house is perfectly usable as a garage floor.   But an upgraded finish will be more forgiving to dropped objects, as well as make your floor more appealing and keep it that way by protecting it from spills.   Some people prefer epoxy finishes, which are available in “kits” with tons of color and “fleck” options and very easy to do yourself.  Modular tiles are also a great way to go. A little more expensive, but installation is easier, and tiles offer numerous color and style options, including checkered flag patterns.  RaceDeck is one of the best garage-floor tile manufacturers on the market – nothing but positive feedback about their products and customer service.

4.  A GOOD TOOL CHEST.  The more tools you own, the more important organization becomes.  Few things are as frustrating as spending an hour looking for a tool you need for a 10-minute job.  You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars for a SNAP ON tool chest.  For a few hundred bucks, you can get a 6-drawer Craftsman from Sears that holds plenty of tools with room to grow.

5.  POWER STRIPS & EXTENTION CORDS. A 6 to 10-outlet power strip (or two) is perfect for placement on a workbench and can easly accomodate cordless-tool battery chargers. Use smaller power strips to make difficult-to-reach outlets more accessible, and be sure to use metal-encased power strips with built-in surge protection.  Extension cords are also essential.  A ceiling-mounted retractable reel is indispensable for working on cars.  It offers greater range and eliminates the need to drag power cords across the floor.  You can get these cheap at Harbor Freight, Northern Tool or even Lowes.  If you will be using multiple power devices at the same time, consider upgrading the wiring in your garage to its own circuit and fuse box.

You don’t need a big budget to have a great home garage.   A little organization combined with some design flair will go a long way to giving you a functional automotive project space that your spouse won’t be afraid to show to the neighbors.

To learn more about the program and to see if you are eligible to take advantage of it, contact Women’s Automotive Solutions or visit the official government website, www.CARS.gov. 

Taking a complete 180 from its traditional boring style, Kia makes the funky new Soul in wacky colors such as Java, Molten and Alien. Interiors are available in two-tone, houndstooth and even glow-in-the-dark upholstery. The interior space is quite impressive, given the Soul’s overall small size. High-mounted seats and a tall roofline offer even tall passengers sufficient head and legroom. Cargo room is significantly less than its Japanese competitors, but the Soul’s boxy shape can still haul reasonably large items.

The 2010 Kia Soul is available in four ridiculously named trim levels – Base, +, ! and Sport. The base model comes decently equipped with 15-inch steel wheels, rear drum brakes, air-conditioning, full power accessories, tilt steering, a 60/40-split rear seat and a four-speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, USB and auxiliary audio jacks. The Soul + has a larger engine, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, cruise control, keyless entry, tinted rear windows, a height-adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The Soul ! adds 18-inch wheels and two-tone upholstery. The top level Soul Sport has an upgraded audio system, a sport-tuned suspension, red-black two-tone interior and special exterior trim. A sunroof is optional on the ! and the Sport. Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes, stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.

The quirky Soul is equally fun to drive, staying reasonably tight and planted in the corners. The ride is comfortable at “tooling around town” speeds, but can get a bit choppy on the highway. The based Soul offers a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 122 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque. The +, ! and Sport trim levels get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 142 hp and 137 lb-ft of torque. The base model is available only in a five-speed manual, but the upgraded trims offer a four-speed automatic. The 5-speed manual Soul Sport reportedly goes from zero to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. Not too shabby for a lunch box on wheels.

(Photo courtesy of Kia Motors.)

Most of the vehicles on this list come as no surprise.  Some, like the Mazda 6, are quality cars that are willing and able to zoom-zoom.  The Oldsmobile Silhouette, on the other hand, may not even be capable of reaching the speed limit.  Some of these vehicles made the list because they tend to be driven by safety-conscious parents or responsible workers.  Others are simply so forgettable that even radar detectors don’t notice them.

1.  Jaguar XJ
2.  Chevrolet Suburban
3.  Chevy Tahoe
4.  Chevy Silverado 2500
5.  Buick Park Avenue
6.  Mazda 6
7.  Buick Ranier
8.  Oldsmobile Silhouette
9.  Buick Lucerne
10. GMC Sierra 1500

According to data compiled by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, red cars do not get more speeding tickets than their less vivid counterparts.  Nor are they more likely to be stolen.  One would also assume that sports cars are more likely to be cited for speeding.  That’s what sports cars are for, after all.  Yet, the data tells a different story.  According to a study by ISO Quality Planning, a risk assessment company, the following ten vehicles are the biggest cop magnets on the road. (I wonder where my pink Mini would fall on this list?)

1.  Hummer H2 (and H3) – Perhaps the owners of these flashy behemoths drive like they own the road.  Maybe they are just easier for cops to spot.  Either way, Hummer drivers get more traffic tickets than drivers of any other vehicle.

2.  Scion tC – This entry level vehicle from Toyota’s Scion division is popular with young drivers, which easily explains why it’s on the top 10 ticketed list.  This little coupe delivers good performance at a very low price, which should at least make the speeding tickets more affordable.

3.  Scion xB – Popular with both young drivers and small businesses, the boxy xB certainly attracts a lot of attention.  The xB isn’t exactly fast, so it must be all of the catchy graphics that get these roving billboards pulled over.

4.  Mercedes CLK63 AMG – Luxury has its price, and if you can afford one of these babies, you can afford the speeding tickets that go with it.

5.  Toyota Solara – Although sportier than the 4-door Camry, the 2-door Solara is far from a high performance machine, but it is fun to drive.  Maybe the convertible models just look like they are going faster with the top down.

6.  Mercedes CLS AMG – Between its smokin’ hot looks and 507 hp V8 engine, this car has more than earned a spot on this list.  Of course, with that much horsepower, I’m surprised the cops can even catch it.

7.  Scion xA – With this model making the list, Scion completes the traffic ticket trifecta.  The xA was discontinued in 2006, but I’m sure it’s replacement, the xD, will uphold the tradition.

8.  Subaru Outback – Subarus are known for being reliable, “green” vehicles driven by environmentally conscious, outdoor-types.  I guess those otherwise responsible people are in a hurry to pick up their organic groceries. 

9.  Toyota Matrix – More expensive than its Scion cousins, but still affordable and attractive to younger drivers, this sporty hatchback is a blast to drive.  And Mr. Highway Patrol knows it.

10.  Audi A4 – Offered as a sedan, a wagon or a convertible, all three versions of the upscale Audi A4 are likely to get you noticed – by the neighbors and the police. 

Of course, it’s not the car that gets the speeding ticket – it’s the driver.  Statistics show that younger drivers are more likely to speed than older drivers, which explains the prevalence of Scions on the list.   Rich people, it seems, are also more likely to ignore the speed limit if the number of luxury cars listed is any indication.   Maybe that’s what they mean by “time is money”.  

Keeping a clean driving record is your responsibility, not your car’s.  If you watch your speed and obey the traffic laws, you can avoid costly citations no matter what vehicle you drive.   So, please drive safely!

(Women’s Automotive Solutions can help buy a car – cop magnet or not!  Check out our unique car buying service at www.WomensAutomotiveSolutions.com and see how you can get the best deal without all the hassle!)

 1.  Deals, deals and more deals!  For perhaps the first time in history, the supply of new automobiles far exceeds the demand.   Even after production cutbacks, there are still more cars than can fit onto already the overstocked dealer lots.  So, what do businesses do when they have too much inventory?  They have a REALLY BIG SALE!  The level of incentives, including rebates, financing specials and manufacturer-to-dealer bonuses, is astounding -  which is good news for you!  Even small, fuel efficient cars, which rarely need incentives to move, are being discounted.  Be sure to negotiate hard on the price of the car even before the incentives are applied.  The car dealers are hungry for your business, and they know they must compete to earn it.

2.  Beware of creative advertising!  When car dealers are desperate to make sales, they often get very creative with their advertising campaigns in order to entice you into their showrooms.  Offers such as “buy one, get one free” and “$12,000 minimum for your trade” may technically be valid, but they usually come with a stack of fine print that would make an attorney faint.  Be sure to weed through that fine print before signing on the dotted line.  And, remember the old adage, “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is”.

3.  Credit is tighter, but still available.  Just six months ago, you could get a no-money-down auto loan with a credit score of just 650.  You will likely need at least a 720 credit score to get that same deal today.  The credit crunch has hit the automotive industry, with banks and manufacturer finance companies alike tightening the strings on subprime lending.  Rates on subprime car loans are higher and may require a 10-20% down payment.  You may have a hard time finding those longer 72 and 83 month loan terms, or you may pay a one to two point premium to get one.  However, if you have excellent credit, then you can take advantage of incredibly low rates for 36 to 60 month loans – under 5% at some credit unions!

4.  Fewer lease deals.  Over the past decade, insanely cheap lease deals have allowed Americans to drive far more expensive cars than they could otherwise afford.  Those days are over – at least for the foreseeable future.  The leasing companies are being killed by the number of vehicles coming off lease that have depreciated much more than expected.  Most manufacturers are raising lease rates or even suspending lease programs entirely.  Luxury car makers, like BMW, whose business depends heavily on leasing, will still have good lease programs – but probably not as good as they used to be.

5.  Watch what you buy.  Many cash-starved automakers are looking to cut costs by downsizing their lineups.  Manufacturers are canning poor selling vehicles, consolidating twinned models and even axing entire brands in order to stop the bleeding.  (See side bar for vehicles “on the chopping block”.)  So, is it still safe to buy American, even if it’s a steal?  Yes, it is.  Even in the event of a bankruptcy, the manufacturers will still do everything possible to honor your warranty, and mechanics will still be able to service and repair your vehicle.  (Heck, they still make parts for the Model-T!)  While there are no guarantees, vehicle makes and models always come and go.  It’s just part of the business.  However, the biggest risk is depreciation – orphaned vehicles typically lose their value faster than normal.

Truly, there has never been a better time to buy a car.  With great deals everywhere you turn, purchasing a new car can save you a ton of cash.  And, more importantly, it will also help revive our economy.