Best buys · 3 picks

The car

Three things that turn a bad morning into a minor one, and one that tells you what the warning light actually means before a shop does. The jump starter is on the garage shelf.

A front-and-rear dash cam
The dash cam

A front-and-rear dash cam

When someone else's account of a crash differs from yours, footage ends the argument, and a rear camera catches the rear-ender too. This pick is a specification: whichever reputable one is cheapest today.

Buy it for
Daily drivers, and every new driver in the house.
Skip it if
You will not leave it plugged in. A dash cam that is off records nothing.
What to look for, the cheaper option and the step up →
A cordless tire inflator
The tire inflator

A cordless tire inflator

Tops up a soft tire in the driveway instead of at a gas station machine. Set the pressure, press go, and it stops by itself. This pick is a specification: whichever reputable one is cheapest today.

Buy it for
Every car, plus bikes and balls.
Skip it if
You own a battery tool platform. Most make an inflator that runs on your batteries.
What to look for, the cheaper option and the step up →
The code reader

BlueDriver OBD2 scanner

Plugs in under the dashboard and tells your phone why the check-engine light is on, in plain words, before a shop charges you to find out. Sometimes the answer is a loose gas cap.

Buy it for
Anyone with a car old enough to have a warning light on.
Skip it if
Your car is under warranty. The dealer reads it for free.
What to look for, the cheaper option and the step up →