Still looking for that unique something for your auto enthusiast?
Auto-themed gifts for the tree or stocking There was a time when giving something to the car-nut around the house usually involved, mats, seat covers, tools or books and subscriptions, but today’s choices are wide-ranging. And depending on the merchant, you might still be able to order online and have it delivered before Christmas Day. ▲
Clipa 2 Purse Hanger Not so much an auto-themed item as an item that will come in handy in the car, the Clipa Purse Hanger is a hinged hoop that will hang around a purse strap or even a wrist, as a bangle. When needed, it flips open with one end hanging on a restaurant table, a closet hanger bar or the headrest post in the car to keep a purse upright. The counter balancing properties lowers the centre of gravity below the surface’s point of contact to keep it secure. Buy the Clipa Purse Hanger now on Amazon.ca. ▲
Car seat covers for dogs Even though today’s seat fabrics are meant to last longer, there are some things you can do to ensure they’re in it for the long run, such as protecting sear surfaces from abnormal wear and tear. Although many of us are extra careful with things such as fabrics, the same can’t be said for pets, and specifically dogs, whose exuberance at going for car rides sometimes get the better of them. If you know somebody who has torn car seat fabrics or is hesitant about travelling with their dogs due to their impact on car seats, the EVELTEK Car Seat Cover for Dogs may be a welcome gift to ensure the dog’s comfort isn’t compromised due to the desire to protect the entire seat, including the sides when dogs are jumping in. Different set-ups mean that dogs can ride with rear-seat passengers without either being uncomfortable. Buy the Eveltek Car Seat Cover for Dogs on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Seat warmer pad Nothing exudes warmth as well as the thoughtful gift of heat, especially on those frigid days when the back may be a little sore following an hour of shovelling. There are several options in heated seat-covers, with the AUDEW 12V Front Seat Heated Thermal Pad Cushion available in two colours and able to fit under a seat cover. It features a cigar-lighter plug-in, 2-temp settings and fast and even warmth, with protection from overheating. Buy the AUDEW 12V Fornt Seat Heated Thermal Pad Cushion on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Therapeutic grade seat cushion Good posture is important not just for long-term health, but also for comfort that might improve everyday well-being and reduce restlessness. If you’re going to choose a seat cushion for your long-distance truck hauler or just somebody with a bad back that can’t take long-distance car trips, make it a quality piece, such as the Desk Jockey Premium Therapeutic Grade Wedge Cushion, which was designed to fit into most modern car seats. Its proprietary memory foam construction means it won’t lose its shape over time, and a removable cover allows it to stay fresh through years of service. Buy the Desk Jockey Premium Therapeutic Grade Wedge Cushion on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Anti-glare sun visor If you know somebody who doesn’t like to, or cannot, wear sunglasses while driving, then an anti-glare sunvisor may be the answer. As with many things these days, they’ve come a long way from the flip down coloured plexiglass panels we associate with highway bus drivers, except that they still involve flip down plexiglass panels. The OFKP Anti-Glare Goggle Multifunction sun visor, for example, slips over your vehicle’s existing sun visor allowing it to function as planned, and adds night and day vision anti-glare flip-down panels to enhance definition in each of the ambient lighting conditions. Buy the OFKP Anti-Glare Goggle Multifunction Sun Visor now on Amazon.ca. ▲
Windshield cover If you’ve ever felt sorry for your significant other when he/she is scraping the ice of the windshield before safely setting off, maybe it’s time to consider a windshield cover that will take minutes off that prep time. The Brite N Way Snowsafe windshield cover sits over the entire windshield, from header to bulkhead, including the wipers and washer nozzles. It fastens securely at the wheel-wells and by the closed doors at the A-pillar. When not needed, you simply roll it off and store it easily in the trunk. ▲
Full Car Cover If you really want to help them save time dusting off the car on wintery mornings, why not consider a full car cover. Ideal for cars who won’t go in the garage, full car covers come in a variety of sizes and materials and are priced accordingly. The Budge Lite Car Cover is made of Polypropylene and is elasticized along the bottom for a snug fit, but also comes with grommets to keep it tied down on those blustery days. A handy carrying pouch allows you to take it with you, in case it’s needed at the office. Buy The Budge Lite Car Cover on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Rearview camera But perhaps we’re getting too practical here. Let’s face it — receiving a car cover for Christmas is the equivalent of getting socks, flannel pajamas or a tie. Most people would wish for some electronics, perhaps to give their older vehicles some of the rapidly-deploying technological conveniences of today’s new cars. A rearview camera such as the AUTO-VOX M1W makes it easier to back into a parking spot or help you line up a trailer hitch, and also making sure the kids or their toys aren’t behind the car as you’re backing out of the driveway. Buy the AUTO-VOX M1W on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Radar parking sensor kit For those who find camera displays too distracting, they might prefer to just have the audible feedback from radar parking sensors. Mimicking the OEM systems in many turn-of-the-century luxury cars, the four sensors in the Auto Safety Reverse Radar System parking sensor kit install easily with basic tools and provide warning beeps as the vehicle gets closer to obstacles, as well as providing an instrument-panel-top gauge that lets the driver know how close obstacles are. Buy the Auto Safety Reverse Radar System parking sensor kit on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Rear View Mirror Backup Camera For added convenience, you can also have the rearview image projected through the rearview mirror, where it’s more natural to look while reversing. The Oxygentle Rear View Reverse Mirror Backup Camera replaces your original rearview mirror with one that will project the image captured through the rearview camera. However, it also has an integrated dash cam that allows you to capture images in front of you. Buy The Oxygentle Rear View Reverse Mirror Backup Camera on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Dash cams More and more people are installing dash cams for their own protection in the event of a collision or other road-going incidents. Prices for dash cams are dependent on the resolution and the number of features, such as auto on/off, where the camera is automatically turned on when the engine is started and turns off when the drive is over. Some also come with sound, wider angles to better see what is going on toward the sides of the vehicle, or even enhanced night vision. Buy a Dash Cam on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Mobile phone holder With the ubiquity of Smartphones, more people are searching out mounts to keep the mobile devices secure in the vehicle and still have them close at hand for functions such as navigation and hands-free calling. If you’re looking to purchase one for the person looking for a secure but non-intrusive installation, there are a variety of holders that clip onto the vehicle’s vent slats. The Wofalodata Air Vent Mount, for example, will hold many of today’s Smartphones with the added functionality of being capable of charging Android phones wirelessly. See a selection of mobile phone cradles on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Sun visor Bluetooth speakerphone Many of today’s new vehicles come with Bluetooth preinstalled, allowing the making and reception of calls through the vehicle’s sound system. But if the person you’re buying for has an older vehicle, it may not have the connectivity, which is where sun-visor speakerphones such as the Aigital Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Hands-Free Car Sun Visor Speakerphone come in. It pairs up with the mobile phone through Bluetooth and the driver simply pushes the button on the speaker to connect. This one even has auto on/off and can be paired up to a couple devices. Buy the Aigital Bluetooth 4.1 Wireless Hands-Free Car Sun Visor Speakerphone on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Bluetooth receiver The MPOW Bluetooth Car Receiver takes the Bluetooth connection to another level, allowing music to stream from a Smartphone through the vehicle’s sound system. The receiver plugs into the car radio’s AUX jack (the hardwire connection many cars include to allow personal music devices to plug in and play through the vehicle’s sound system). It then connects through Bluetooth to stream music from the device through the sound system, as well as allowing phone calls to be heard over the sound system. A microphone on the device works as the phone’s mouthpiece, as well as allowing voice control of the Smartphone using Siri or Alexa. Buy the MPOW Bluetooth Car Receiver now on Amazon.ca. ▲
Multimedia system The underdash cassette deck was favourite gift of Christmas pasts for the teenager who had just bought his first automobile that usually came just with an AM/FM radio. Today’s teenagers can get the touchscreen functionality of today’s new vehicle multimedia systems with aftermarket units such as the BOSS Audio BVNV9384RC, which easily replaces the OEM standard radio/CD unit. Navigation, Bluetooth and music are all controlled on screen and the unit integrates fairly seamlessly into the existing instrument panel. Buy the BOSS Audio BVN9384RC now on Amazon.ca. ▲
Underdash LED lighting An easy way to add ambience to any vehicle interior is to switch up the lighting and many modern vehicles are adding LED lighting of various colours to their interiors in various locations (not just overhead). Brite N Way has the perfect gift for people who want to add more character to their cars’ interiors with underdash LED lighting that can be controlled remotely for colour and intesity. The lights can also react to the music from the sound system. Buy the Brite n Way Under Dash Mood Lighting System on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Pickup bed tonneau cover Some people prefer finishing up the outsides of their vehicles, rather than the insides. We call them pickup people. For the trucker on your list, consider something to finish off the bed — a tonneau cover. They come in a variety of styles and designs, from soft roll ups to multi-fold hard covers that can withstand the harshest of conditions. And they’re usually lockable, so there’s the added privacy from whatever gets stowed in the bed. Just be sure to match make, model and year, and sizes, as they are definitely not one size fits all. Buy the Tiger Auto Tri-Fold Tonneau Bed Cover on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Fashion accessories Then there are those aficionados who don’t really want something practical for their cars but you know they have an interest in things automotive, so you can always consider some sort of fashion accessory that speaks to that, such as cufflinks in the shape of a 5-speed shifter knob, or a cutaway of a turbocharger. See more men’s cufflinks on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Branded items And then there are those who are so loyal to one marque that they will collect literally everything that has their favourite logo. Clothing items, coffee mugs, wallets, playing cards, even tie clips. You’re bound to recognize somebody like that on your Christmas list and you can’t go wrong by putting their favourite brand on a gift or stocking stuffer. Buy this Infiniti Silver Tie Clip on Amazon.ca now. ▲
Children’s toys And if all other ideas turn up dead ends, you can’t go wrong by surprising the auto enthusiast on your Christmas list with something for their children. There’s nothing enthusiasts like more than having their kids following in their footsteps, so what better way to nurture their growing passion, while showing the enthusiast how thoughtful you are by remembering their kids with something like PlaSmart’s Original PlasmaCar. Buy it now on Amazon.ca. ▲
Keyword: 20 auto-themed gifts for last-minute shoppers