It’s the season for giving. And that means it’s almost time for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever other holiday you may celebrate. So right about now, you’re all running around trying to figure out what to get for each and every person you know… All of the deals, special sales, etc. make you max out your credit cards, take an extra mortgage out, and maybe even try and sell your children.
But with all of the stuff you’re buying, what do you get for the automotive nut job like myself? Where do you go to get it? Well, I’ve got five gift ideas for the person you can’t of getting anything for, and they’re all automotive related.
Each item is of a different price point. Some are cheap, some are expensive. They are in no particular order. Each title is the link to the gift item.
5-in-1 Multi Function Auto Emergency Hammer Escape Tool with LED Light
I hope to God that you never need one of these tools, but if you do, you’ll be glad that you took my advice and bought one. They’re great gifts for yourself, and excellent gifts for people you care about. Any true car guy would love to have one of these in their car with their tire gauge, work gloves and wrench set. And at only $13.49, you’re spending less than the mandated $25 for the Secret Santa at work.
Nothin’ says lovin’ like a wall full of model cars. Whether you’ve built them yourself, or bought them off Ebay, they’re so much fun to look at and play with. I have a room full of them, and I’m sure the car guy or gal you know does too. I once gave an Interlagos Blue BMW M6 to a friend of mine for Christmas, and she absolutely loved the realism of it. For around 80 bucks it was a really well made diecast car and provided hours of conversation between her, her friends and the rest of her family. Show ’em off, keep them on a shelf, whatever you do, you’ll enjoy them.
Driving shoes: the automotive equivalence to weapons in war. If you’re not feeling the pedals properly, you aren’t driving right. Just the slightest difference in clutch actuation can make your shifts faster and/or smoother. The right touch to the brakes can make more impact by shaving off just the right amount of speed going into a corner. Okay, so they’ll be used on the street for the most part. But it’s nice to know that you are wearing some high quality sneakers to enjoy and get a real feel for what you’re doing in your car. Any driving sneakers can do the trick, but I just prefer Puma because they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. The ones above, the Future Cats, look rather odd, but they really are the best things I have ever put on my feet. And for a steal at $74, they won’t break the bank (down from $90).
Okay, so now you’re thinking, “Why would I spend all that money on just a watch?” Well, if you really love someone, you’ll buy them a nice timepiece. You can get any watch you want, like a Seiko or a Tissot; both of which have racing watches that appeal to anyone, and aren’t very expensive. But Tag Heuer, with its rich heritage in racing, is my personal watch of choice. I’m a watch guy. I’m also a collector of Formula 1 watches. But I have three Tag Heuers, and none of them have let me down yet. I have the Carrera shown above, as well as the original F1 chronograph with red face they came out with a couple of years ago. Watches are an expensive habit… and they’re a man’s jewelry vice. At least, they should be the only jewelry a man wears, outside of a wedding ring, and maybe a crucifix.
With over 1,000 cars, realistic-style driving simulations, and absolutely stunning graphics, why wouldn’t you want GT5? Without reminding you that Gran Turismo is one of the most sold video game franchises in the history of the world, the fifth instillation takes all else to a new extreme. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to drive high-end super cars and exotics around race tracks at jailable speeds? So go out and get that car lover you know one of the best driving games he or she could ever lay their mitts on. Don’t have a Playstation 3? Well then that’s a problem I can’t help you with…
There are plenty of other things you can get for the auto-lover you know. Don’t forget, you can always check out Amazon, Ebay and Barnes & Noble for tons of car books and magazines that anyone who loves cars would enjoy having on their bookshelves.
