Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Wheel.
Car Insurance
I worked in the insurance business for several years. First in customer service, then in sales, and finally as an insurance agent. The main thing that stood out to me was that the majority of people have no idea what auto insurance entails. They don't understand limits, coverage, or what all their options are. And how would the average person know without it being explained to them, which unfortunately doesn't happen nearly as much as it should. More & more insurance companies are stepping onto the scene without the option to sit down with your neighborhood agent. The main form of communication is a call center or an app, so it's becoming increasingly harder to come across agents who will take the time to make sure you understand the ins-and-outs of your policy. In turn this leaves people under insured and over exposed to all sorts of risks that they aren't even aware of. It is my hope to quickly and effectively teach you the basics of coverages, policy options, and even terminology as well as the pros and cons to 'liability only' coverage. I want to start by clearing up a common misconception. The term "full coverage" is very misleading and should not be used at all. What they mean by full coverage is that you opted to get more coverage above just liability. The correct term is collision and comprehensive. In all reality there is no such thing as full coverage. Every coverage has a limit. Also there are other options that are not always automatically included such as rental reimbursement, towing, and roadside assistance. I've taken countless calls from frustrated customers who just got in a wreck and thought they had full coverage.
By Angel Perez7 years ago in Wheel
JDM Gear for Girls. Top Story - July 2018.
The JDM car community is one that's reserved for those who really, truly love power and durability in their cars. JDM, or Japanese Domestic Market, is a community that is very heavily tied to street racing and car mods rappers regularly mention.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart7 years ago in Wheel
Rideshare Etiquette-Part 2
It seems like everyone has gotten into ridesharing these days. Lyft and Uber have made it easy for individuals to make extra money and even make a full income with their services. I have been an avid user of Lyft and Uber since 2014 and I have experienced the good, bad, and ugly of both platforms.
By Rosilind Wilson7 years ago in Wheel
Are Car Washes Bad in the Winter?
Many people worry that washing their car in the winter, whether it's the greatest pickup truck or coolest minivan, will be of harm to their vehicle's paint or windows. Others believe that washing their car in the winter isn't necessary with all of the snow, rain, and general moisture in the air.
By Glenn Bushinski8 years ago in Wheel
How To Replace The Upholstery In Your Car
Your car is your baby. It's your pride and joy. It takes you from Point A to Point B in style, and if you're like me, you basically live out of it. Unfortunately, living out of your car can bring mishaps—especially if you're a fan of drive-throughs or partying nights out.
By Iggy Paulsen8 years ago in Wheel
Lexus Lover
I want to share my opinion on what it’s like to own a Lexus and the pros and cons of owning one. Pros Stylish: No matter which Lexus you own, it will have style and class. There is no better feeling than driving down the road with everyone looking at your car and getting compliments.
By Vicky Bond8 years ago in Wheel
JDM Car Mods You Will Love. Top Story - July 2018.
If there's one car community that really shows pride in making cars the best version of themselves, it's the JDM community. JDM, which stands for Japanese Domestic Market, is a community that focuses on high quality cars made for Japan's domestic market.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Wheel
What Is Bosozoku?
Bosozoku, more properly bōsōzoku, most properly 暴走族, may not be a word you are particularly familiar with. In fact, you may not have even ever heard this term before now. Literally speaking, the Japanese word "bosozoku" translates as "running-out-of-control tribe" or "violent speed tribe." Beyond the literal meaning of the word, it can be hard to produce a definitive answer to the question "what is bosozoku?" Bosozoku refers to a Japanese youth subculture that is partly a loosely-knit motorcycle gang, partly an unorganized crime syndicate, partly an ideological counterculture movement, and partly a fashion style. Ultimately the best way to understand exactly what the bosozoku is, was, and will be is to trace its development from its post-WWII origins, through its peak in 1982, and finally to its declining status in the 21st century.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Wheel
How to Change Gears in an Automatic Car
If the title of this article made you do a double-take, don't worry. Generally speaking, it's not the driver's responsibility to change gears in an automatic car. The fact that the car can shift gears on its own is the whole reason people choose to drive an automatic transmission instead of a manual transmission or "stick shift" vehicle. So yes, most of the time, you don't have to worry about changing gears in your automatic car. However, there are a select few instances where you'll want to manually shift into lower gears (that's what the mysterious "1" and "2" on your shift lever are for) for safety and efficiency. In addition to these instances, understanding how and why automatic cars change gears when they do allows you to become a more informed and more efficient driver.
By Dr. Ethan Levi8 years ago in Wheel
Smart Ways to Prevent Your Children from Ruining Your New Car
When you become a parent, there are a number of sacrifices you have to make. These sacrifices include having to childproof everything you own, from your house to your car. This can be a great source of headache, especially if you just got a brand new SUV. You're torn between wanting to share it with the family you love and wanting to keep it to yourself so nobody else can ruin it. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent your children from ruining your new car. Taking these steps will help you find the right balance and extend the life of your new family vehicle.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Wheel
Life Hack: Work Smart, Not Hard
As a young professional in their early 30’s, getting ahead in life seems to be my only focus lately. The pressure to succeed can be really daunting, but what I have found is that the simplest solution is the best. In effort to become more economical as well as environmentally aware, I have risen to the challenge of living without a car and maintaining a job for almost 4 years in a city without a strong public transportation system.
By Jared Myers8 years ago in Wheel
Can You Wash Your Car When It's Cold Outside?
Proper car maintenance in cold weather is a tricky beast to handle. On one hand, using water to wash your car when it's cold out can be a huge gamble. If the temperature is below freezing, you risk turning your vehicle into a giant ice cube. On the other hand, your car is much more likely to need a good cleaning during the winter months, as road salts and grimy snow can cause rust and other serious damage to your vehicle's exterior. We all know the serious effects of salt on your car, and how to protect your car from salt. Even still, some experts recommend cleaning your car as often as every other week during snowy weather.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Wheel
