Top 10 Holiday Gifts for the Car Enthusiast on Your List
Christmas is almost here, but don’t panic about what to get the car fan on your list, we’re here to help. These gifts range from the reasonable and accessible to the insane and extreme. Hey don’t blame us, we don’t know your budget! Even still, these are the coolest things that the gearhead on your list will really appreciate.
Not much more expensive than bus fair, these smart phone apps are a decent way to give the gear head on your list something without breaking the bank. We’ve got two main suggestions: Car Minder Plus, and Torque. Car Minder Plus is an iOS app that will run on any iPod, iPad or iPhone and is designed to help a car owner be more mindful of their vehicles maintenance schedule and fuel consumption. At just $2.99 on the iTunes App Store, it’s a handy tool to help car owners take care of their car easily and without much stress.
On the other hand, Torque is an Android app that works with your cars OBDII port to give drivers real-time statistics and information about their car. You can see how much horsepower you’re putting down at one particular moment, or intake temperature. The app can even measure 1/4 miles times and 0-60 times. It’s a whole suite of information that will be a great addition for the gear head on your Christmas list. The app will even act like a scan tool, providing fault codes so you can diagnose what’s wrong with your vehicle. At just $4.95 on the Google Play Store there’s plenty of value to be found here.
Have a motorsport fan in the house? They’ll love these racetrack inspired coasters which are available in sets of four or six. Reasonably priced, they each feature the layout of a world famous track. Laguna Seca, Monaco, Nürburgring, Road America, Spa, and Watkins Glen are all represented. The classy coasters are black and silver, with a pack of four costing just $29.99 while the set of six costs $10 more.
Have a car fan that’s always ranting about carbon footprints and unethical use of natural resources? Don’t worry, BMW has just the thing for them. Ever since the company started developing its i3 and i8 electric and hybrid vehicles, BMW has had a more eco-friendly approach to car making. The i3 features a ton of recycled materials, but is a little expensive to buy someone for christmas.
Instead consider this solar charger, which will help charge up your devices. If you don’t need to charge a device right away, you can let it charge in the sun, and take it around with you… it holds the charge for later.
The BMW i collection has a few other eco-friendly toys, so check it out. The solar charger in particular is available at BMW’s European web-store for 39 Euros, or about $53 USD.
A new crop of awesome racing video games have hit the stores just before the holiday season. For the gamer with a Playstation 3, Gran Turismo 6 will be an excellent addition to their library of games. With ultra realistic physics and impressive visuals the new Gran Turismo is so popular that automakers are actually using the game as a platform to showcase new vehicles.
Gamers with the new Xbox One will love a copy of Forza Motorsport 5, which takes advantage of the new gaming console to provide ultra-realistic visuals. While it doesn’t have as many cars or tracks Gran Turismo, the game does feature a ton of Top Gear content, including your favorite presenters from the popular TV Show.
If your gamer hates all the simulation and realistic driving dynamics, you could always get them a copy of the latest Need For Speed game. Need For Speed: Rivals is available for just about any video game console out there, and shuns ultra-realistic simulations for all-out action. Ford even released its new 2015 Mustang in the game, letting those gamers experience the new pony before anyone else.
One of the coolest gifts on our list, this speaker is modeled after the mirror on a MINI Cooper. As you’d expect, it can be all done up with the union-jack, just how real MINI fans would want it. MINI owners are all about feeling unique and exclusive, so this speaker will really hit home. Costing just $149.99, the Miror BoomBox is a great stocking stuffer for the car lover in the house.
Classic Ferraris still holds a special benchmark in the automotive world for their gorgeous leather interiors. If the car nut on your list knows their classic Ferraris, then this wallet, inspired by the leather upholstery in the iconic 250 GTO, will be perfect for them. These wallets feature the hand-stitched diamond pattern and are available in a number of form factors, from a credit-card holder to a coin-purse and travel wallet. The wallets from GTO London start at about $163.50 USD.
Have a car fan that’s getting into grass roots motorsports, or track days? Then they’ll really love a GoPro. While a GoPro can be used for a number of things, they’re ideal for track-days or autocross events, as you can take a look at your laps afterwards to teach yourself what you’re doing well, or not so well. You can even mount them inside the car and watch your hand or feet movement to ensure you’re sticking to the basics.
Plus it’s neat to share and upload your lap times to YouTube. The most affordable GoPro Hero3 can shoot 30 frames per second at 1080p, and also has built in WiFi for use with a remote control, or even a smart-phone or tablet app. These are neat gadgets that the enthusiast in your house will really enjoy. Starts at $199.99.
While real self driving cars are still some time away, a clever company has developed self-driving toy cars, which actually race and battle each other. Described as a real-world video game, the Anki DRIVE starter kit comes with two toy cars. You can control one, while clever, computer controlled artificial intelligence controls the other. You race the car on a flat track, and the AI opponent will learn and get better. Your car gains experience, and gets better after every race too, so there’s extra incentive to keep racing.
While it’s only for iOS devices, the $199.99 Anki DRIVE kit is one of the coolest things to buy this holiday season.
Are you an pushy parent, looking to turn your toddler into a gear head just like you? Then the friendly folks at Chevy have just what you need to get your kid to love Corvettes.
The cheapest Corvette C7 available comes from the fine folks at Fisher Price, and the toy-vehicle features pretend seat belts and chrome wheels that look plucked right off the real thing. Also, at 6 mph, its the fastest Power Wheels product you can buy.
Be warned though, any adults that are young at heart shouldn’t jump into the $275 Fisher Price Corvette C7, it can only carry a max weight of 65 lbs.
If your Christmas budget is unlimited, you may want to opt for an ultra exclusive sled for that special car lover in your life. This Escalade from Lexani might look pedestian on the outside, but step inside and you’d swear you were teleported to the Burj Al-Arab hotel in Dubai.
Called the Lexani Adage, it features a ton of high-tech toys, including a 40-inch Samsung TV with satellite TV services, a Mac Mini computer, a Logitech touch-pad control panel, an iPad with a dock, a 1000-Watt Alpine custom audio system and video conferencing abilities.
Oh, still looking for that luxurious atmopshere? Don’t worry, the adage features four extremely comfortable looking seats with heat and massage features. There are also 24K gold-plated accents, custom-tailored floormats, a premium bar station and alcantara headliner for that extra special touch.
So if indeed your budget is in the realm of Bill Gates net worth, you can gift wrap a Lexani Adage for $269,000.
Sami has an unquenchable thirst for car knowledge and has been at AutoGuide for the past six years. He has a degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto and has won multiple journalism awards from the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada. Sami is also on the jury for the World Car Awards.
More by Sami Haj-Assaad
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where to buy?
Here's an inexpensive yet cool gift for car lovers http://calendars.com.au/all-categories/transport/cars.html