Flipboard 2025 Car Tips

Remember when someone in the family brought home a new car and everyone wanted a ride? Well, with some of these 80s models, the excitement didn’t last nearly as long as the payments. They attracted plenty of buyers. Keeping those buyers happy? Not so much.

Should you start your classic car every week during winter storage? Discover why experts recommend leaving it alone, plus essential tips for protecting your engine, battery, fuel, and tires until spring.

When I bought my car, I expected the interior to hold up for considerably longer than five years. Instead, the seats are showing wear, some plastic surfaces look tired, and the trim doesn't feel as solid as it once did. I'm careful with my belongings, so watching the cabin deteriorate this quickly is frustrating. Is this just normal aging, or did I buy a car with disappointing interior quality?

Taking your car to the dealership for routine maintenance can get expensive surprisingly quickly. AAA's 2026 research estimates that owning and operating a new vehicle costs American drivers an average of $12,863 annually, including maintenance and other ownership expenses. While professional mechanics are essential for complicated repairs, many everyday maintenance tasks require only basic tools and a little patience. Learning which jobs you can safely handle yourself could save money throughout the year.

Modern cars are packed with features that make driving easier, safer, and more comfortable. Heated seats, panoramic roofs, automatic parking systems, and electronic controls can make an ordinary vehicle feel luxurious. But when these features stop working, owners sometimes discover that a seemingly simple convenience requires specialized parts, expensive labor, or complicated repairs.

I brought my car in for a routine oil change, expecting a straightforward appointment. Instead, my mechanic found several additional problems and handed me an estimate that was much higher than expected. This wasn't the first time it happened, and now I'm wondering whether my car really needs all this work or whether someone is taking advantage of my trust.

You probably remember the family car, the road trips, and Dad refusing to stop for directions. But what about the name above the gas pumps? These brands served American drivers during the 1960s. But do any of them ring a bell? Do you remember at least 5 of them?

Your neighbor's giant inflatable pumpkin blocks your driveway view. Here's when the city may be able to make him move or remove it.

Your daughter is not alone. Giant infotainment screens have become one of the hottest selling points in new cars, with dashboard displays now stretching 15 inches, 17 inches, and even wider in some models. The real question for parents and shoppers is not whether they look cool, but whether they pull a driver’s eyes and mind away from the road.

If your city painted a parking space right next to moving traffic, it is fair to wonder whether “legal” also means “safe.” In practice, the answer is no. A marked curbside space can comply with local parking rules and still expose drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians to real risk if the street design leaves too little room.