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Those Fake-Wood Station Wagons Were Copying Cars Built by Cabinetmakers

The woodgrain paneling on an old station wagon rarely fools anyone. Even when new, the printed vinyl was not likely to be mistaken for hand-finished mahogany. It was wood in the same way a kitchen

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Those Giant 1970s Bumpers Were Built for Parking-Lot Crashes, Not High-Speed Safety

Look at an American car from 1971, then find the same model from 1974. The earlier car may have a slim chrome blade tucked neatly against its body. Three years later, the bumper appears to have lef

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Everyone Says Pop-Up Headlights Were Banned, but That Is Not What Actually Happened

Few automotive features can make a parked car look as alive as pop-up headlights. Turn the switch and two neat sections of bodywork rise from the hood, pause with theatrical precision and reveal the l

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Tips & Tricks
The Fuel Nozzle Clicked Off. That Extra Squeeze Could Cost More Than You Think

The pump stops at $47.83. It is not a particularly satisfying number. Another quick squeeze would make it $48. A couple more might bring it to a nice, tidy $50. The nozzle clicks again, a few drops di

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The Spare Tire Quietly Disappeared From New Cars, and Many Drivers Haven’t Noticed

Here is a mildly alarming experiment: open the trunk of your car and lift the floor. There may be a spare tire under there. There may also be a little black compressor, a bottle of sealant, and a

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Premium Gas Sounds Better, but Your Car May Be Getting Nothing From It

The word “premium” makes the expensive pump handle sound like the healthier choice. Better fuel, cleaner engine, more power. It is an easy assumption to make, especially when regular,

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BMW Warranty Cover Sounds Reassuring, Until You Look At What It Actually Doesn’t Cover

BMW and reliability have had a weird relationship for a long time. There was a stretch where people talked about older BMWs like they were carved out of granite. The straight-sixes had a reputa

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These Are the Car Repairs That Go Badly Wrong When You Try to Do Them Yourself

There's real money to be saved by doing your own car maintenance. Oil changes, air filters, wiper blades, bulbs — these are legitimately easy, and the savings are real. A cabin air filter th

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The Dealership Office Where Car Buyers Quietly Spend An Extra $2,000

There is a moment in every car deal when the buyer thinks the hard part is over. The price is agreed. The handshake happened. Maybe there is even that tiny rush of victory, the one that comes

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Your Check Engine Light Just Got Way More Expensive. Here Is the One Tool That Saves You Hundreds.

The average check engine light repair cost in the US just hit a record $554. That is up 33 percent in a single year, and it is the kind of number that should make every car owner pay attention. The

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