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David S. Brooks's Articles in Automobiles

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What is the point in having a car bra? Some things people do or buy absolutely mystify me. That’s why I created this series of “What’s the Point?” articles, tackling (eventually) all of that which I do not understand. Up next: car bras, an utterly confusing item stretched across the front of many a car on the road today. Read along to understand the stretched vinyl madness. Where will they put LED automotive lights next? We’ve seen LED lights added to automobiles in a number of ways that weren’t so strange. But, LEDs are about to enter the world of oddity, replacing nearly every illuminating part of your car. Where will they go next? And what function will they serve? Let’s explore the growing world of automotive LEDs. Hype vs. Production: is the Hypertech Max Energy Programmer worth it? The TV commercials, radio ads, and even magazine pages about Hypertech’s new Max Energy programmer are coming at auto enthusiasts in waves. Among the claims of huge horsepower gains and other handy adjustments, there are also big promises of gas savings. Does the hype measure up to the real-world results? Read on to find out. Flying High With Performance Air Intake Systems Sometimes ingenuity comes from the most unlikely of sources. What was designed for the soul purpose of this could greatly alter the performance of that. In the experience below, our resident daredevil Johnny Neptune straps an AEM Brute Force Intake to his jet pack. Tonneau Tragedy; To Fold or Roll, That is the Question To fold or to roll, that is the question Whether/'tis nobler in the mind to suffer/The slings and arrows of a shoddy tonneau cover/Or to take arms against a sea of tonneau troubles/And by opposing, end them. To snap, to tear/No more. The Ultimate Brake-Pad Showdown When it comes time to change out your brake pads, one question that always comes up is whether to go with factory-replacement or aftermarket pads. We brought together two huge fans of automotive carnage to put this question to rest—once and for all. Ways to Make Regular Tail Lights into Euro Tail Lights All of the automotive rage 3-4 years ago was a set of Euro tail lights, which means that tons of cars are just catching on to the trend today. But, a set of Euro tail lights can cost you a few bills. Read on as we cover the ways to make an ordinary set of tail lights into Euro tail lights without spending much coin. Generic Auto Accessories—Get Souped-Up without Getting Ripped-Off Hot-rodding your ride can get pretty expensive. It’s no secret that the brand name performance shops charge a pretty penny for their stuff. And, justifiably so, given the amount research & development, tooling and testing they have to do. Lucky for us, like every product in the marketplace, there exists a lineup of lesser known, but high-quality brands. Keepin’ It On the Level with a Performance Leveling Kit Make no mistake; a truck that isn’t level just doesn’t look good. When you install extra leaf springs in the rear or add a big bumper and winch to the front, your truck starts to resemble a stink bug more than it does a rig. Below, we point out a few tips that can get your rig on the level. Stay Cool with Cold Air Intakes Wanna know the easy way to get to the top? You gotta stay cool. This goes for your demeanor, your attitude, your look and most importantly, your automobile’s engine. The best way to squeeze extra power from your engine and propel yourself to the head of the cool class is to install a performance cold air intake system. Trailer Towing and Parking Lot Punch-Outs When long-hauling a massive trailer cross country, it’s important to equip yourself with the proper gear. Besides an actual trailer—and a truck built to haul it—you’ll want a set of heavy-duty brakes to stop the rig, a sturdy hitch rated for the trailer’s weight and some extra-large mirrors to see who’s coming up from behind. Tow on, my friends! Which Air Filter Really Makes the Best Coffee Filter? An ill-produced TV commercial recently hit the airwaves, feature a mechanic who uses a paper air filter as a coffee filter. The ad is—you guessed it—for a performance air filter company stating that “paper is for coffee filters.” It got out crack team to think, “which air filter really is the best for using as a coffee filter?” Play along and see. When I close my eyes, I see only rollbacks and razor blades There was a time in my life when the sound of birds singing and of children playing on freshly mowed lawns brought a smile to my face. Now, after Wal Mart came and ruined my life, I feel nothing but hatred for the world, except, that is, for my Pace Edwards Jack Rabbit Retractable Tonneau Cover. Husky Liners or Weathertech Floor Liners: which would the mob choose? Ever since I saw the Godfather, I’ve been obsessed with mobster culture. Their likes. Their dislikes. Their mannerisms and dress. Now, as I’m accessorizing my ’06 Escalade, I can’t help but wonder: what would Sonny buy? The Husky Liners or the Weathertech Floor Liners? It took some serious consideration, but I think I made the right choice. I double-dog dare you to stain my GMC truck’s seats! Who doesn’t dream of converting their backyard into a replica of the Double Dare obstacle course? I made that dream come true recently, but I didn’t take into consideration how all that barbeque sauce and slime would affect my truck’s upholstery? Thankfully, there are GMC truck accessories out there to keep my rig spic and span, even if I’ve been wading through a pool of boysenberry jelly. What’s the difference between cold air intakes and regular air intakes? They say that acquiring knowledge is a journey, and I’ve never disagreed with them. Not that I know exactly who the “they” is, but I’m sure they’re wise in some way. Why else would we always refer to “them” if they didn’t know what they were talking about? Regardless, I followed their advice and set out on my own quest to figure out what the difference is between cold air intakes and regular air intakes. Here’s what I found. Superchips vs. Edge—Heavy-Weight Bout of the Century This exciting heavy-weight title bout is a guaranteed blood bath. In one corner we have the reigning champion and current title holder Superchips. In the corner we have tough street brawler and noted up and comer, Edge Performance. Let’s get ready to rumble! Auto Accessories Answer Desert Dweller’s Prayers Whether you live in the desert or the tundra, having the right auto accessories can make or break your comfort. The following tips from an experienced desert dweller point out the proper auto accessories one needs to dominate the dunes. Stop, in the name of lust I’m no lothario, but I have had my fair share of rendezvous in my time. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the ladies like a good car. Wild rides are a great way to tear down inhibitions. However, losing control over your street machine will not put anyone in the mood for spooning. I learned that the hard way. That was before I slapped on a set of EBC brakes and brake pads, which have done wonders for my stopping performance and love life. How much punishment can deflectors take? Sure, auto deflectors may not be a strong as a Star Wars-grade shield founded on potent imperial technology. But, they can push aside most of the things that come flying at your ride. Where’s the breaking point? Follow us as we test it out with some common household items. Adventures in Cold Air Intake Rigging Disasters In a recently made-up statistic, it has been found that 98.8% of all buyers of a cold air intake install it properly on the correct vehicle, and reap the benefits. But, oh, those in the remaining 1.2%. If you ever see a CAI sticking out of an appliance or a mower, you’ll know who to blame. Stopping on a Dime to Stop the March of Dimes Unless you like the idea of laboratories around the country brimming with caged, maimed, tortured animals, you’ll stop supporting the March of Dimes. I did, and I even took my protest to the next level. I upgraded the brakes and brake rotors on my Mustang for stop-dime braking power, so I can be a safer motorist and so I can make a political statement through my choice of automotive accessories. Dance Your Way to a Cleaner Car Interior When you’re in the business of exotic dancing, it pays to equip your car with some key accessories. To say the least, it’s a nasty business that sometimes gets a little sticky. The following story is presented to help folks avoid the automotive damage caused when exotic dancing goes bad. Protect your paint with Car Bras & Car Covers Years ago when I was just a boy, my father used to make me wash and wax his cars. He said I would learn to appreciate the beauty of rich finish. Plus, he said it would teach me how to work hard with my hands. Subaru’s WRX STI—The Little Sleeper That Woke the Dead In these days of tuner performance, it’s nice to see manufacturers joining in the fun. No longer do we have to buy some little Honda and slap on a bunch of shoddy parts to make a proper street racer. Now, you can roll right off the show-room floor ready to rock and roll. Right now, the car with the most out-of-the-box performance potential is hands down, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Pacesetter vs. Flowmaster—The Exhaustive Debate I have a ‘97 Acura Integra that I’m slowing building up as a street drifter. My bros and I all watch Tokyo Drift every chance we get and then head out to do some drifting ourselves. We get all geeked-up on Mountain Dew and the movie psyches us for some hardcore drifting; so we head down to the Sears parking lot after dark. My Integra seems to be lagging behind some of the other cars so I’ve decided to install a performance exhaust system; but which one? I’ve narrowed it down to two, Flowmaster a Cut the Night with Modern Style The easy add-on that really customizes your vehicle is a set of aftermarket headlights. These Euro-inspired beams come in a wide variety of shapes and styles that are guaranteed to light up your vehicle’s style. And, if you bust a headlight like the following contributor did, aftermarket lights are a real bargain compared to expensive factory replacements. Inject your Rig with Venom and Get Ready to Ride the Snake Of all the performance mods available these days, the most overlooked is fuel injection. Most tuners assume that installing intake, exhaust and a chip—the tuning trifecta—is enough. Well, if you find yourself getting snaked off the line, you may want to look into a mainline fuel injection set up to give your rig the juice it needs. Defying gravity with some serious suspension improvements Some people might be content living inside a world defined by the inflexible rules of physics, but not this guy! Me and my Mustang are thumbing our indignant noses at Galileo, Einstein and Hawking and their “laws.” How do we defy the cosmic order, you ask? With some intense suspension improvements from two industry-leading companies: Edelbrock and Eibach. Two buddies, two different intakes, one winner Isaac and I have been rivals for as long as we have been friends. Since we were little boys in grammar school, both of us have tried to outdo the other in everything. Even though we’re now adults, our competitive nature still exists. That’s why after I installed an AEM cold air intake into my RSX, Isaac popped an Injen cold air intake into his RSX to try and beat me off the line. Who do you think won? Read on to find out. Zen and the Art of Cold Air Intake Bringing out your vehicle’s inner yogi requires outfitting it with the right equipment. Proper form is easily achieved through the mastery and use of performance accessories, namely the venerable cold air intake system. Private Dicks Need Strong Coffee and Clean Windshields You don’t need the detective skills of Andy Sipowicz or Remington Steele to be a successful private investigator. Basically, you’ve got to have a tenacious attitude, a fast camera, potent coffee, and a crystal clear windshield. After years of fighting with the lousy wiper blades from my local auto parts warehouse, I finally made the switch over to PIAA wiper blades. Now I’m hooked. Surviving a Sales Trip with a Roof Top Cargo Carrier and a Cargo Liner As a sales representative for a large medical supply company, it seems like my entire life is spent behind the wheel. I’ve crisscrossed the United States more times than Jack Kerouac. Every May, my boss sends me out on what he’s dubbed my “Summer Safari,” which basically means making the rounds between Baltimore and Milwaukee. This year, I’m arming my auto with a roof top cargo carrier and a cargo liner to keep my ride comfortable and protected. Headers and Exhaust: Give Your Ride a Swift Kick in the Tailpipe One of the easiest ways to really get your motor cranking is to let it exhale. A free-flowing exhaust kit coupled with set of tuned headers is a sure fire recipe for intense performance. It’ll take some hard work, but the resulting growl and in-your-seat power will leave the competition eating your dust. Is there a law against packing your rotten children into a roof rack? The only thing worse than a road trip with a family you can’t stand is a cramped road trip with a family you can’t stand. Fed up with feeling choked inside my van on every vacation, I’ve decided to take action. Of course, the ideal solution would be to just abandon the wife and kids at the first gas station. But I’ll give roof racks a try first and see if that helps alleviate my utter disgust with the people I’m bound to. Trailer Hitches—a Guide to Getting Hitched Without the Heartache Boy, I learned the hard way that it takes a quality hitch to tow like the big dogs. It happened when I moved my sister’s old singlewide from Shady Acres over to the Starlight. Once we put the wheels on and lowered that old Classic Coach onto the bumper hitch, all hell broke loose—literally. The true test of a set of floor mats A lot of people want a set of floor mats that can keep their carpets clean from those run of the mill stain makers. I’m talking about yours muds, your sodas, and your gums. I, on the other hand, hold my mats to a higher standard. They have to be able to handle everything from 5-alarm chili to a ladle or 2 of human excrement. So I put a couple to a test royale. Here’s how it went. Laugh in the face of Nature with a car cover It seems like no matter how much you pamper and coddle Mother Nature, it’s never enough to pacify her mood swings. That’s why you have to take the proper measures to protect your investment from her wrath. You’ve got to water-seal your deck, tie a hefty anchor to the bow of your double-wide, and sheath your auto in a car cover. Here’s why. The lazy man’s guide to creative traffic evasion These days, you have to blaze your own trails in order to avoid slogging through traffic. But you can’t just start motoring your pickup through a stranger’s backyard naked. You need to have a plan of attack and a few accessories along for the ride because things can get mighty hairy. Here are my thoughts for all you intrepid traffic-phobes out there. K&N Cold Air Intakes And Air Filters - A Brand With Trust And History Over 35 years ago, a small, family run business called K&N Engineering humbly began manufacturing reusable, cotton-gauze air filters in Riverside, California. Little did anyone know, K&N was planting the seeds of an air filter revolution.

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