I have somehow managed to live in SF for several years without a parking permit, but I am going to need one shortly. Can I get an annual parking permit without changing my car's registration information? [more inside]
posted by ziggly on May 9, 2013 - 8 answers

There is a good chance that I will be the owner of a new car sometime soon (like the next few months or so). Looking for a good balance between fuel efficiency and inexpensive to repair (something I have not really thought about until recently, regrettably). You are not a car expert, likely, but what would you advise from what you know? Details, including what this car replaces, inside. [more inside]
posted by JoeXIII007 on Apr 11, 2013 - 24 answers

A few weeks ago I asked this question. Consider this a follow-up question. I have a 1993 Honda del Sol 5-speed Si that has a "mystery" problem of sometimes starting and sometimes not starting. It's always a cold-start problem. I put the key in the ignition, switch it to ON until the check engine light goes on, the fuel pump pressurizes, and the main relay clicks, and then crank it. Sometimes it will fire up right away. Other times the engine will turn over but not ignite. Once it is started, it will start up fine for the rest of the day. It only gives me trouble when the engine has gone completely cold and has been left untouched for upwards of four hours. A new issue has developed since I first posted my question. Even after getting the car started, sometimes just a few minutes later during a sharp acceleration (approaching 4000rpms or more) the engine stalls out. I have to pull the car over and start it up again. It always starts up fine after that and will usually not stall out again. I had this issue looked at by several mechanics, most of whom hadn't the slightest clue what it was or willingness to investigate. The last mechanic I took it to said it was a faulty ignition switch and replaced it . . . but that has done no good whatsoever. Also, just FYI, the spark plugs are relatively new. Any thoughts are appreciated!
posted by fignewton on Feb 28, 2013 - 10 answers

My partner and I want to get a car window tint job. We're more concerned about quality (materials, won't bubble, etc.) than price, so what do we need to look for? One well reputed company in town is offering "basic color stable film," "high performance stable film" and "CTX ceramic," in ascending order of cost, but we don't know one from the other. One company offers LLumar and another offers 3M--how do we choose? Is quality more or less proportional to cost? Look for a lifetime warranty? Is ceramic the preferred material? Any advice would be appreciated.
posted by jroybal on Jan 27, 2013 - 6 answers

Fuel efficient car for dog and future baby? [more inside]
posted by wannabecounselor on Nov 25, 2012 - 15 answers

My 1998 Nissan Sentra GXE (1.6L) has been acting up for the past few weeks, in decreasing degrees of severity. After a varied set of problems and repairs, the engine now hesitates at random, more often when idling than when driving. It sounds like it's about to die completely and then returns to normal in a second. What the heck is going on? [more inside]
posted by summerteeth on Sep 14, 2012 - 12 answers

We need to buy a used car in Phoenix, Arizona. We know roughly what we want, but we don't have time to shop for it, and we're currently in another state anyway. Can we hire some kind of agent in the Phoenix area to car-shop for us? [more inside]
posted by Maximian on Jul 15, 2012 - 4 answers

Should I file a claim with my auto insurance? [more inside]
posted by MsMartian on Jan 26, 2012 - 9 answers

I recently moved from California to Colorado, then acquired a new car. Meanwhile, my California registration on the old car expired. I want to sell the old car in Colorado, but it has no current registration and was never registered in this state. How can I take people on test drives? Just risk it? Is signing over the California title sufficient, then it's their job to get the car registered? Headache city, any advice is much appreciated.
posted by rzperllian on Jan 15, 2012 - 7 answers

Car De-froster/De-icer? [more inside]
posted by snow_mac on Dec 13, 2011 - 14 answers

Toyota Yaris 2012 or an alternative compact bubble car? [more inside]
posted by rokusan on Nov 26, 2011 - 22 answers

What are the mysterious, apparently non-sensical, religious-sounding words that are appearing as small white text on white background on Craigslist car+truck ads across several cities? [more inside]
posted by Extopalopaketle on Oct 10, 2011 - 3 answers

Yesterday I sold a car and today I think the buyer is trying to scam me! [more inside]
posted by ascetic on Sep 11, 2011 - 28 answers

A lady hit my car when it was parked at a mall. I have her insurance details and she is willing to take responsibility. My dilemma is this: - Even though this is a minor accident (scrath on the side) its going to show up on carfax as a accident - Correct??? [more inside]
posted by r2d2 on Aug 19, 2011 - 20 answers

How can I get the best deal on a car? Based on my previous question, I haven't decided if I am going to buy or lease. For either path, what techniques and tactics should I employ to get the best deal. Where can I find reliable information on prices? Do I play dealers off of one another? This question is not about buying vs. leasing. Let's just assume I am going to buy one car and lease another. How do I get the best deal on both?
posted by jasondigitized on Aug 19, 2011 - 12 answers

Help me decide how to finance my vehicle purchases. I need to get two cars for my family. Could be new, could be used. I want both of these cars to have very high safety ratings. Everything else doesn't really matter. I could pay cash for two new cars, but that just seems stupid to do on a depreciating asset. Is the best course of action to find two used, yet reasonably new cars and pay cash? What if we like having new cars? Should we just lease two new vehicles? I have read that the best course of action is to buy a used car and drive it into the ground. That's great, but what if I leave the country again in 5 years. And do I really want to be driving around in a Hooptie in ten years. How do I approach the whole buy new / used, lease issue.
posted by jasondigitized on Aug 10, 2011 - 16 answers

Selling my car (in California); am I getting screwed? [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole on Aug 2, 2011 - 4 answers

Repair or replace 1992 Camry? (with some interesting caveats) [more inside]
posted by armyman83 on Mar 14, 2011 - 12 answers

How much will it cost to get my car painted? [more inside]
posted by arveale on Dec 16, 2010 - 7 answers

Why do these skeezy guys solicit me in public to do body work on my car? [more inside]
posted by Kylio on Oct 29, 2010 - 31 answers

I'm looking to change my car tyre size, and I've got some questions (more maths related than automotive related, I'd guess). [more inside]
posted by sodium lights the horizon on Sep 27, 2010 - 16 answers

How should I clean my EGR port? The check engine code says "inadequate flow through the EGR valve." [more inside]
posted by noonknight on Sep 9, 2010 - 3 answers

Lots of sites have listings of locally available used cars. Aside from Craigslist (which is spotty where I live), what site do you feel is most widely used and provides the best variety of listings, especially of cars being sold by a dealer (of any size)?
posted by anastasiav on Aug 23, 2010 - 5 answers

If my 2001 Honda Accord's blower motor resistor goes out, should I expect the air conditioner not to come on at all, or is there something more seriously wrong with the car than just the resistor? [more inside]
posted by tybstar on Aug 2, 2010 - 3 answers

I have a 1999 Toyota Avalon. I noticed the small plastic grille below my left headlight missing and there's a dangling plug inside. I can't figure out what used to be in there. The car still runs fine. Inside the passenger-side grille is a grey plastic box, probably connected to a similar plug.
posted by boognish on Jun 27, 2010 - 4 answers

Yesterday my car started fine, but today the engine wouldn't crank even once. What caused my car battery to fail so suddenly and without warning? [more inside]
posted by cosmic.osmo on May 26, 2010 - 18 answers

What's the best 1975 car a guy can get? [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Apr 14, 2010 - 38 answers

My car's getting older, and I have recently moved to a new place with no garage. I'm worried about it starting in cold weather. More details inside! [more inside]
posted by Richat on Dec 11, 2009 - 13 answers

I own a 1997 VW Golf that threw a rod in 2004 and has been sitting (inside a garage) ever since. Donating it to charity has no tax benefit for me. It needs to go. Does it have any cash value at all? If so, how much? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav on Nov 10, 2009 - 14 answers

It's that time in my life where my family is outgrowing our vehicles, and we are looking for something larger. I'll be the main driver and I am pretty big (6'3" 230 lbs). So we want something both economical and comfortable. I looked at the Mazda5, but it is too tiny for carseats and me... So... Which 2009/2010 minivan/crossover should I choose? [more inside]
posted by fozzie33 on Sep 21, 2009 - 15 answers

I am looking to buy a used car for cash from a local (CA) private party, not a dealer. What do I need to know? [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects on Aug 3, 2009 - 8 answers

I'm looking for a new car mechanic in Melbourne, Australia and/or tips for finding a reliable one in general... [more inside]
posted by Silentgoldfish on Mar 26, 2009 - 4 answers

My car died far from home. What's the best way to get rid of it? [more inside]
posted by NortonDC on Nov 6, 2008 - 12 answers

Somebody loaned me their car for a week. I managed to ding the bumper. Help me figure out if this is something I can fix myself or if I need to take it to a body shop. Pictures inside. [more inside]
posted by floam on Nov 1, 2008 - 19 answers

Where can I find a database of American cars? [more inside]
posted by pb on Jun 20, 2008 - 2 answers

Asking for Mr. Oflinkey: Where can he find reliable statistics about how many Americans are employed by various auto manufacturers (Honda, Toyota, Ford, etc.). This should not be limited to manufacturing jobs. He is seeking this information to answer a larger question: Does buying American-made cars really make much of a difference anymore?
posted by oflinkey on May 1, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm looking to replace the fuel filter on my 2003 Chevrolet Tracker. It's a relatively easy process, but I'm having some difficulty locating the exact position of the filter. Does anyone happen to have a diagram or link to where can I get this information?
posted by Aanidaani on Mar 31, 2008 - 4 answers

Changing sparkplugs: I have a 2003 Chevrolet Tracker, with an unusual ignition coil setup, and I want to learn how to remove the coils and access my plugs. (Pictures inside) [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Jan 25, 2008 - 5 answers

Is there any difference in performance between pre-gapped sparkplugs (such as these) and ones that you have to gap yourself? [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Jan 14, 2008 - 7 answers

Cars! I don't want to go to the mechanic as a female and say, "I have no idea what's wrong with my car! Please replace half my engine and overcharge me ridiculous amounts!!" I'm hoping to get some ideas on what might be wrong before I go... [more inside]
posted by veronitron on Jan 3, 2008 - 19 answers

Is it true that it is good for a car to fill it up with higher grade gas once in a while? I usually fill up at Shell, and there is 87, 89 and 91 kinds of gas, with 87 being the cheapeast and 91 being the most expensive. I usually get 87. However, I heard that if you own a car and want it to last longer, it is beneficial to fill it up with the most expensive gas, to "clean the engine". Is that true? If so, what is the explanation behind it? I drive a 2002 Kia Rio, if that makes any difference.
posted by esolo on Dec 22, 2007 - 22 answers

CarFilter: What cars on the market today (preferably more common models, not high end exotic vehicles) have potential to be considered classic in 20-30 years? [more inside]
posted by azpenguin on Nov 10, 2007 - 48 answers

Help me figure out what's wrong with my old crappy van. [more inside]
posted by ludwig_van on Nov 1, 2007 - 9 answers

What would an auto parts website call the flexible sheet of plastic bolted underneath the front corners of a car, just in front of the wheel well? It looks easy to replace, but I don't know how to go about getting a replacement.
posted by boognish on Sep 29, 2007 - 7 answers

UsedCarFilter: Is buying used from a rental car company, specifically Enterprise, a good idea? First hand experiences appreciated. [more inside]
posted by Cogito on Sep 14, 2007 - 26 answers

The key in my wife's Camry wouldn't turn until I jiggled the steering wheel. [more inside]
posted by codswallop on Aug 16, 2007 - 20 answers

My hatchback car (Honda Fit) doesn't have a separately-locking trunk or glovebox. Can I add a lock-box or secret compartment somewhere inside the car for stashing a few items, for those times I must turn over my keys (parking garage, valet)? Ideally I'd only be securing/concealing 3 deck-of-cards-sized items: iPod, GPS, EZPass. There are no official Honda accessories that do this, nor can I find any Fit-fanatic mods that have addressed it.
posted by xo on Aug 1, 2007 - 4 answers

Convertible Top Repair: Possible? [more inside]
posted by trinarian on Jul 29, 2007 - 6 answers

Autofilter: Should the windows on my '05 Volkswagen GTI roll all the way down? [more inside]
posted by wmeredith on Jun 12, 2007 - 2 answers

When buying exhaust flex pipes like these, to fit over an H-pipe with a diameter of 2.5", would you buy the flex pipes with the 2.5" outlet diameter or do you need something bigger? [more inside]
posted by Venadium on Jun 2, 2007 - 1 answer