Guide to Essential Car Tech

We pick out some of the coolest tech gear for your car to keep you on the cutting edge.

Nothing else makes guys feel more awesome or ladies feel sexier than a hot car. Whether you’re driving a Ferrari or a Kia, your car is all about you and if you are like us, you want your car to reflect your personal tastes. We’re going to cover some great tech-related items for your car that will keep your iPod charged, your hands gloved, and your license record-free. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just a basic driver, these gadgets are guaranteed to improve your driving experience.

Radar Detection

Valentine One (Website)
MSRP: $400

We don’t condone speeding by any means, but we also think that one should be able to live a little when he plunks down $100K on a Porsche. With that said, one of the best-reviewed radar-detectors out there is the Valentine One. Valentine One covers all the operating frequencies that the police use: X, K, Ka, Ku, and Laser. You’ve got all fields covered and then some. Plus, Valentine One has two radar antennas for maximum coverage. This means it scans in front of your vehicle, as well as behind, to check for the fuzz. Though it’s an expensive model that is priced at $400, think about how much you’ll save by not getting tickets anymore.

Pure Entertainment

Alpine IVA-D310 (Website)
MSRP: $1400

Why bother getting a cheap head unit for your ride when you can get one that has every angle covered? The Alpine IVA-D310 head unit has a fully motorized 7″ screen that pops out of the deck. You can then use the IVA-D310 to watch a DVD, play a CD, or listen to MP3s. You can even hook up your iPod to it or listen to XM or Sirius satellite radio if you subscribe to either service. This unit also sports features like DTS sound and gives you ultimate control on how to customize your music experience. It also comes with GPS for directions and finding your mother-in-law’s house. Just have $1400 ready to shell out and you won’t have to worry about upgrading for a long, long time.

One for the Pod

Griffin iTrip Auto (Website)
MSRP: $70

Since the beginning of the iPod, Griffin has been making accessories, and their iTrip device is one of the more popular iPod FM transmitters on the market today. Now, Griffin has improved upon the original iTrip by mixing a car charger, FM transmitter, and small display all into one package. For $70, you’ll nab the new version of the iTrip in either black or white. Did we mention the LCD is backlit and sports volume controls as well? If you own an iPod and drive a car, this is a must-have accessory.

Getting Around

TomTom ONE (Website)
MSRP: $499

If you need directions a lot or travel frequently, a GPS-device is probably something you should invest in. Lucky for you, TomTom makes excellent, easy-to-use devices that work out of the box; they’re also really well made. The TomTom ONE has a touch screen with a beautiful UI for you to navigate and allows Bluetooth phone calls through the device. Plan trips and don’t worry about reading the directions, because this device will read back to you where to turn. Real-time traffic info is also available with TomTom’s PLUS service. This product is one of the best all-around GPS devices on the market for drivers today.

Radio from the Sky

XM Satellite Radio: Delphi Roady XT (Website)
MSRP: $59.99

So, you’re ready to dive into the realm of satellite radio and have decided to go with XM? Pick up a Delphi Roady XT. You can get this thing for as low as $59.99, and it has all the basic features you’ll need to get started. It features a vehicle docking kit, 100-channel FM transmitter, sports ticker, and an easy-to-read backlit display. The controls are pretty easy to navigate, and this is one of the smallest XM devices available. It won’t take up much room, whether you’re driving a Hummer H1 or a Mini Cooper.

Sirius Satellite Radio: Sirius One (Website)
MSRP: $50

It doesn’t matter if you’re a Stern fan or not, Sirius has plenty of good music and talk shows for you, but you need a unit to tune in and rock out. Luckily, for $50 you can pick up the Sirius One. Although not the most elegant player, it gets the job done, and it’s cheap as hell. Easy to mount, Sirius One features a lot of the same things as the Delphi Roady XT and can also do 30 preset channels. It even comes with a remote control so you can give people in the back of your vehicle a chance to listen to what they want.

Keep Your Hands on the Wheel Where I Can See Them

Bionic Driving Gloves (Website)
MSRP: $40

One could argue that you don’t need driving gloves when on the road. This is true if you’re a senior citizen driving a 1931 Model-T Ford. For the rest of us, driving gloves offer a great way to enhance the driving experience. Bionic makes special driving gloves that are designed to bend forward with your fingers, which makes the experience of wearing them much more enjoyable and unnoticeable. They won’t leave your wallet empty at $40 either. Grab a pair and pretend you’re Steve McQueen in Bullitt.

Blinded By the Light

Sylvania HID Headlights (Website)
MSRP: $250 – $1000

HIDs (High Intensity Discharge Lights) are the perfect upgrade to any vehicle. Think of them as your headlights on steroids. How do they work? “Light is created from an electrical discharge between two electrodes in a micro-environment of xenon gas and metal halide salts,” according to the Sylvania website. Basically, you’ll get a blue-white headlight that can project further and is much brighter than your standard headlight. A lot of BMWs tend to have these, and the difference is clear. Getting a set of HIDs could save you from an accident by letting you see ahead. They are available for most cars and can cost anywhere from $250 to $1000 depending on grade, installation, and other attributes.

Holy Shoe!

Puma Future Cat Hi Pro P (Website)
MSRP: $189

Got $189 and need a driving shoe that will do all kinds of crazy stuff? Consider getting a pair of Puma’s Future Cat Hi Pro P (FCHPP) shoes. They come in 3 awesome colors: blue, red, and black. What makes them so good? “Asymmetric lacing increases blood circulation, decreases lactic acid build-up/muscle fatigue, and improves dissipation of heat build-up within the driver’s foot,” says Puma. Wow. We didn’t even know a shoe could do that much! It also comes with specialized padding and plating for enhanced driving performance. If there ever was a true racing shoe, this is the one.

Rear-View Entertainment

Rear-View Mirror with LCD (Website)
MSRP: $150 – $350

You can put a LCD monitor in each seat of the car, but you’re not officially at the top until you’ve got a display in your rear-view mirror. Plenty of companies make these for about $200, and they’re pretty easy to install. But instead of watching cartoons while you drive, why not hook it up to a pinhole camera and use it to check behind your car? This way you can see if anyone is behind you while you back up, check to see if a cop is following you, or just enjoy the view if all else fails. The cameras go for around $150, completing the deal at around $350. This is a great addition to your ride that is actually useful to both you and those around your vehicle.

Have a favorite toy you like to use in your car? We would love to hear about it in our message boards!