Here's a holiday shopping list for the car buffs in your life -- whether they're hard-core backyard mechanics, cerebral car aficionados or teens in search of cool gadgets:
For iPod fans, consider the RoadTrip, a transmitter and charger that allows users to play their iPod through a car's stereo. It sells for $79.95 at the Sharper Image.
If you want to give an even more extravagant audio item, consider satellite radio receivers with a one-year subscription to a satellite radio service. XM and Sirius have comparable plans that offer up to 150 channels of commercial-free music, news, sports, talk and entertainment. There are various packages, with prices running up to $300. For information, check www.xm.com and www.sirius.com.
For extreme fun Christmas morning, there's the Zero Gravity Wall Climber, a remote-controlled Humvee that goes straight up the walls of your house. Whether you're a kid or just fascinated by Army tanks, the Wall Climber may be the ticket this holiday season. It utilizes the same technology that Formula One race cars use to hug the track. The Humvee has a desert-camouflage finish, measures 12 inches long and weighs under 2 pounds: $99.95 at the Sharper Image.
Looking to add mobile entertainment to your family's driving experience? There's a range of DVD players on the market. One is the Coby swivel screen portable DVD player at Pep Boys, which comes with remote control, car headrest mounting bag, stereo headphones and a rechargeable battery, all for $109.98, plus a $30 mail-in rebate.
Hand-held engine-code readers are a sensible gift for motorists who want to monitor the health of their engines. The devices, which work on most models made since 1996, plug into a car's central control module and allow you to read stored codes that can warn motorists of problems small or large. Equus Products of Fountain Valley and Actron of Cleveland feature code readers. They are sold over the Internet and can be found in various automotive stores. Prices range from $120 to around $150.
For the tool lover and wannabe mechanic, Pep Boys sells a $149.99 tool cart on wheels, featuring 125 automotive-related tools for tinkering and repairing. Another idea for hard-core home mechanics is the Torin Big Red Garage to Go, which comes with a 36-inch creeper, 2-ton trolley jack and two 2-ton jack stands for $29.98.
If you're ready to spend a bundle on flash and dazzle, check out Tire Rack's Evo Commando AP specialty tire rims, starting at $950 per rim (www.tirerack.com).
