| Car manufacturers are incorporating an | | | | Diagnostics. This system is built in to |
| inordinate amount of technology into their | | | | nearly all vehicles sold after 1996. If you |
| vehicles nowadays. Despite their best | | | | have a laptop in your car, you can usually |
| efforts, however, there are a number of | | | | purchase a special cable that will allow you |
| things you can do to geek your ride. From one | | | | to view a real-time stream of data from |
| little gadget to a full-fledged car mod, | | | | nearly every sensor in the car. Want to know |
| there's always something else that makes your | | | | the left front wheel speed in real-time? You |
| car one step closer to the batmobile.GPS, | | | | got it. OBD II provides many different data |
| OnStar and navigation SystemsHate being lost? | | | | streams. You can view the horsepower and |
| GPS is the answer. The latest in-car | | | | torque at any RPM, see how fast you can do |
| navigation systems feature voice recognition | | | | 0-60mph, or find the actual gas mileage at |
| and touchscreen technology. GM's OnStar | | | | any given speed and save some money at the |
| provides peace-of-mind in the case of an | | | | pump.OBD technology also helps to diagnose |
| accident, but some say that the system | | | | problems with your vehicle. When the "check |
| enables Big Brother to track your every move. | | | | engine" light comes on, you'll be able to |
| More advanced navigation systems can direct | | | | tell whether it's a real problem or just a |
| you to the nearest gas station or pizza joint | | | | faulty circuit, and you can even reset it |
| instead of requiring a specific address. Some | | | | yourself without having to take the car in |
| can even provide you with other data like | | | | (make sure you know what you're doing).Get |
| stock quotes, news and sports scores.War | | | | things goingA feature typically sought after |
| drivingIf you haven't heard of war driving, | | | | in colder climates.Wouldn't it be nice if |
| it is the practice of driving around, | | | | your vehicle sat idling, heated and |
| locating wireless networks, and "sharing" | | | | defrosted, in the morning? You can install a |
| other people's bandwidth. Black-hat hackers | | | | remote starter that enables you to start the |
| sometimes use war driving simply to find | | | | car from indoors and let it warm up. This is |
| vulnerable networks or as a method of | | | | a feature typically sought after in colder |
| anonymity. This practice obviously requires a | | | | climates, but it can also be used to start |
| portable computer which leads to our next | | | | the A/C and cool things down.Creature |
| tip...Put a computer (or two) insideHow cool | | | | comfortsAssuming you've got the basics |
| would it be to have a computer at your | | | | covered like power locks and A/C, there are |
| disposal in the car? Many police departments | | | | many features that you should consider when |
| now outfit their cars with a laptop computer | | | | buying a new car. Heated seats, cruise |
| mounted at an angle over the passenger seat. | | | | control, dual-zone climate control, |
| Hardcore geeks will do the same. Once you put | | | | sunroof... A geek's ride may not have all the |
| one computer in your car, why not add a file | | | | creature comforts, but if you're buying a new |
| server for music and storage? You can fit it | | | | car, it only adds to the tech factor. Other |
| under the seat or in the trunk and connect it | | | | cool features to look for in a new car |
| to other devices in the car via a wireless | | | | include:> Automatic tire pressure monitoring |
| network.What do you do with a computer in | | | | |
| your car? Bring your collection of music and | | | | > Adaptive cruise control |
| movies along. Connect it to OBD (see below). | | | | |
| Get online from anywhere. I can hear you now: | | | | > Headlights that point in the direction of |
| "Anywhere?" well, anywhere with a cell phone | | | | a turn |
| signal. Verizon has a service that enables | | | | |
| you to get online as much as you want for $60 | | | | > Backup camera |
| a month (on top of your regular cell phone | | | | |
| bill).Hold stillHere's a simple one. Get a | | | | > Adjustable suspension |
| grip pad to set on the dash or the center | | | | |
| console. This gives you a place to set your | | | | > Push-button start (No actual key required) |
| cell phone within easy reach. You can also | | | | |
| set your iPod or sunglasses down. The great | | | | > Bluetooth to integrate with your phone |
| thing is, you can usually take a corner | | | | |
| fairly fast and your stuff won't move an | | | | > Side/curtain airbags |
| inch.Radar and laser detectors; jammersIf you | | | | |
| have a lead foot, it's worth investing in a | | | | > Traction control |
| radar detector. There are many models | | | | |
| available from $40 to $400. Make sure to get | | | | > Halogen/Xenon lightsIf your car has all |
| a model that can detect K, Ka, and laser. If | | | | these features, well, you're probably a |
| your chosen detector picks up on X band, so | | | | little too much of a geek. But I'd sure like |
| much the better, but make sure you can | | | | to check out your car sometime.Alex Smith is |
| disable it. X band is a common source of | | | | a technical consultant and web designer based |
| false alarms (especially near traffic | | | | in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can visit |
| lights).OBD IIOBD stands for On-Board | | | | for a complete overview of his services. |