Work smarter, not harder. That’s a phrase you’ve likely heard countless times before. Well, I’m going to use it here because when it comes to car detailing, having the right tools makes the job so much easier. Snow foam is an essential part of the pre-wash process, and a powerful snow foam will remove a lot of the dirt and grime off of your car on its own. As a result, there will be less work involved in physically washing it, which makes your life easier. As a bonus, if your car is cleaner when you start the contact wash, there’s less chance of damaging the paint. The 10 minutes or so that snow foaming takes is absolutely worth it to not only remove dirt, but also to protect your paintwork.

Who is testing the snow foam products?

There’s a huge range of snow foam out there to choose from. As Fast Car’s Detailing Product tester, I’ve done the hard work to make it easier for you to choose which one to buy. I’ve picked eight popular snow foams on the market right now and pitted them against each other in a group test.

The biggest thing I’m looking for here is a snow foam that delivers impressive cleaning performance. I will naturally take value for money into account as well, but I want something that will do some serious cleaning, and if that comes at a slight price increase it can be worth it. That being said, there are plenty of expensive products out there that are outperformed by cheaper options, which is where this test comes in.

There are some very impressive cleaning products here, so read on to see which is the best snow foam. Make sure you get your car ready for the show season! You can check out our Fast Car Entertainment events here. 

Best Snow Foam At A Glance

• Best Overall and Editor’s Choice: Bilt Hamber Touch-Less 5L. RRP: £39.95, buy now! $59.95, buy now! 
• Approved: Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam. RRP: £13.99, buy now! $21.95, buy now! 
• Approved: Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash. RRP: £24.99, buy now! $21.99, buy now! 
• Best Value: Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam. RRP: £18.99, buy now! $30.90, buy now! 

Bilt Hamber Touch-Less – Best Overall and Editor’s Choice

• Size tested: 1.32 gallons/5 litres. RRP: £19.13, buy now! $59.95, buy now!
• Pros: Exceptional cleaning performance
• Cons: Working out panel impact ratio is fiddly

Bilt Hamber Touch-Less is about maximum cleaning, pure and simple. It’s not pH-neutral, there’s no fancy smell and doesn’t make a mountain of foam. It’s been designed to get your car as clean as possible in the pre-wash stage. And it does. There are some drawbacks, however, in that to get the correct dilution ratio, you need to work out the panel impact ratio for your foam lance. Bilt Hamber provides instructions on how to do this, thankfully, so once you get your head around the dilution, it’s a doddle. And you don’t have to worry about it unless you use a different foam lance.

You will find that you need more product than with other snow foams because of this. But that’s why Touch-Less comes in such a large, 5L container. The cleaning power is second-to-none, and it pulls dirt from your car’s panels like you wouldn’t believe. Bilt Hamber Touch-Less is the definition of work smarter, not harder. This is my go-to snow foam and the best on the market for me.

Take a look at our full review of Bilt Hamber’s Touch-Less snow foam here.

Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam – Approved

• Size tested: 1 litre / 33.8 fl oz. RRP: £13.99, buy now! $21.95, buy now!
• Pros: Impressive cleaning power despite being pH-neutral
• Cons: Just not quite as good as Touch-Less

Gtechniq’s W4 Citrus Foam snow foam is a coating-safe pH-neutral formula. That would normally suggest it won’t perform well, however, that’s not the case here. The secret to W4’s impressive performance is that it combines a citrus degreaser with a foaming agent. A citrus pre-wash is something you can use before applying snow foam. By integrating it into the snow foam, Gtechniq has upped its cleaning power significantly. At the same time, it’s still pH-neutral, which means it won’t degrade any wax you’ve got on the paint, unlike with the Bilt Hamber product above. 

W4 Citrus Foam comes out a little watery but clings well. It really impressed me, and the combo of citrus degreaser and foaming agent cuts through the dirt with ease. Using 3.38 fl. oz (100ml) of W4 as per the instructions means you’ll get 10 washes, which is not bad. The combination of impressive cleaning power and pH-neutral formula is a real winner. Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam is another snow foam that I will be adding to my collection. However, Bilt Hamber’s product just outshone it in out and out cleaning power. However, those wanting to preserve waxes should opt for Gtechniq’s impressive Citrus Foam. 

For more advice, rear our full review of the Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam.

Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash – Approved

• Size tested: 1.034 litre / 35 fl oz. RRP: £24.99, buy now! $21.99, buy now!
• Pros: Good cleaning performance while also being pH-neutral
• Cons: Just falls short of matching the top two

I’ve tried a few of Griot’s products in the past and have been mightily impressed, so was hopeful of seeing a similar result while testing its Foaming Surface Wash. And I have to say, this is another Griot’s product that has impressed me. Following the instructions for the Griot’s The Boss Foam Cannon is best as it’s like a normal snow foam lance. That means using 1.6 fl. oz (47ml) per wash, which equates to 20 washes per litre. This makes it good value, despite the higher initial price point. 

The foam had a nice consistency and stayed on the panel for a long time. Despite its pH-neutral formula, Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash delivered impressive cleaning power. It was one of the best foams here, and this is another snow foam I will be using personally. And as a sidenote, the milky product has a very pleasant coconut smell. 

Read the full review of Griot’s Garage Foaming Surface Wash.

Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam – Best Value

• Size tested: 1 litre / 33.8 flz oz. RRP: £15.85, buy now! $30.99, buy now!
• Pros: A little goes a long way
• Cons: Cleaning performance is only average

Yet another multi-purpose product, Koch Chemie GSF doubles up as a snow foam and shampoo. It’s got a nice cherry scent and is pH-neutral so it’s coating-safe. With it being German, I had high hopes for this snow foam. You only need 0.7 fl. oz (20ml) of product in a 1-litre snow foam lance, which means if you’re looking for value for money, this is your champion.

At that dilution ratio, you’ll get 50 washes from your 1-litre bottle. That makes it the cheapest snow foam here per wash by some margin. It delivered plenty of foam and stuck to the panel for a long time. Unfortunately, its cleaning power was only average, and this is, ultimately, a test of cleaning power.

Read full review of Koch Chemie Gentle Snow Foam here.

Masterson’s Mystic Snow Foam Auto Wash

• Size tested: 473ml / 16 fl oz. RRP: £10.95 / $14.99 buy now!
• Pros: Dual-purpose foam can be used in direct sunlight
• Cons: Cleaning power is not that impressive

Masterson’s Mystic Snow Foam is another dual-purpose product. You can use this as a regular shampoo, or put it through your foam lance as a snow foam. I love the marzipan smell, it’s pH-neutral and coating-safe, and it can also be used in direct sunlight. That’s a big deal, as it promises to leave behind no streaks or spots. If you clean your car in direct sunlight, this is the snow foam for you. 

However, its performance wasn’t that impressive. We used it at its lowest dilution of 30ml (1 fl. oz), and it was okay. It took a reasonable amount of dirt off the panel, and it’s a mid-position foam in this test. At 1 fl. oz dilution, it is very good value for money, though, which might sway your decision.

Want to know more about Masterson’s snow foam? Check out the Mystic Snow Foam Auto Wash review here.

Auto Finesse Avalanche

• Size tested: 500ml / 16.9 fl oz. RRP: £9.95, buy now. $16.95, buy now.
• Pros: pH-neutral with decent cleaning performance
• Cons: Vague dilution instructions

Auto Finesse Avalanche is another snow foam with a pleasant whiff of citrus. However, there’s no mention of there being any degreasing action at work here. There’s also no mention of pH level, but Auto Finesse says Avalanche is coating-friendly. It delivered some lovely foam that really clung to the panel. After rinsing it was clear that Avalanche had done some work on the dirt.

I will say I don’t like the vagueness of the instructions. Auto Finesse says you should use 1-2” of product in a 1-litre bottle. I measured this on the six snow foam lances I tested, and it ranges from around 100ml (3.38 fl. oz) to over 500ml (17 fl. oz). I would much rather have a clearer dilution ratio. No one is going to be using 17 fl. oz in one go, so 3.38 fl. oz per wash will give you 10 washes per litre. That makes it a little expensive here, but it’s not a bad snow foam.

Read our full review of Auto Finesse’s Avalanche snow foam here.

Chemical Guys Sticky Snowball

• Size tested: 16 fl oz/473ml. RRP: £15.99 / $12.99, buy now! 
• Pros: Can be used as a shampoo and snow foam
• Cons: Poor cleaning performance

Chemical Guys Sticky Snowball is advertised as being both a shampoo and a snow foam. I like the versatility because it means you don’t necessarily need to buy a separate shampoo. But I care about performance, and sadly, Chemical Guys Sticky Snowball did not deliver as well compared to others here. It made lots of very thick foam, and it stuck around on the panel, as its name suggested it would.

However, it performed poorly here and didn’t seem to do much cleaning at all. It’s well-priced, at least. At 30ml (1 fl. oz) per wash, you’ll get just over 15 washes from 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), which means 30 per litre. Even the higher concentration of 60ml (2 fl. oz) will give you 15 washes per litre of product. However, considering its performance at 1 fl. oz dilution, which is how I tested, you’d have to use 2 fl. oz each time. Maybe it would work better then, but I’d rather stick with something that I know performs really well.

For a closer look at Chemical Guys’ Sticky Snowball snow foam, read our full review of it here.

Angelwax Fastfoam

• Size tested: 1 litre / 33.8 fl. oz. RRP: $16.99, buy now! £12.45, buy now! 
• Pros: A decent all-rounder
• Cons: Just a bit average across the board

Fastfoam is billed as the British detailing company’s professional detailing snow foam. There’s not a lot of specific information about the formula or anything else, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

I didn’t get the thickest foam, but it’s not always about that when it comes to cleaning – it’s the performance that matters. It did cling to the panel nicely, though. Post-rinse, I could see that it had taken some dirt off the panel. At the recommended dilution ratio, you’ll get 10 washes from the 1-litre bottle. It’s decent value and not a bad choice of snow foam.

Want to know more? Read our full review of Angelwax Fastfoam.

How Each Product Was Tested

I first performed a swipe test using a cotton pad on a section of the car’s panel. Then I applied each snow foam at the lowest suggested dilution ratio onto the dry panel. Some foams tell you to pre-rinse the panel, while others don’t. Tests have shown that snow foam generally performs better when applied to a dry panel, so that’s what I did. The snow foam was allowed to dwell for its suggested time, then rinsed off. The panel was allowed to dry, and then I carried out another swipe test from the same area. This allowed me to directly compare the amount of dirt remaining after using the foam.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Snow Foam

The most important thing is cleaning power and performance. This is why you are buying snow foam. There’s no point buying something that smells nice or delivers mountains of foam if it doesn’t clean properly. A large amount of foam does not automatically mean strong cleaning power. A pH-neutral foam is also worth looking at, as it won’t strip your wax or other coatings you might have applied to your car. If you like to apply wax regularly or use a wash and wax shampoo, then that won’t matter so much to you. But if you want your coating to last, it’s nice to know which snow foam won’t cause it to degrade.

Now you’ve got the right snow foam to perfect your car detailing, you’ve got no excuse not to have your car’s gleaming this show season. Be sure to check out our Fast Car Events page here.

The post Best Snow Foam In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

As a recovering wax addict, I know all too well how tempting they are. The lure of a new wax that promises ultimate gloss, incredible beading and lasting durability is impossible to resist. But away from the fancy packaging, delicious scents, and promises telling you exactly what you want to hear, how do you actually pick a good wax?

Without an in-depth wax test, exactly like this one, you’re at the mercy of the manufacturers. Every wax claims to be easy to use and perform well, but some are definitely better than others. So, for this test, I picked four liquid waxes and four paste waxes and pitted them against each other. And my test is not an easy-going one.

What makes a good car wax?

I’m looking for ease of application and removal, water behavior and value for money. I’m also going to be testing gloss and durability. Gloss is a tricky one, because, unlike polish, wax can often reduce the gloss readings on a panel. This, in fact, happened with a few of our waxes on test. If a wax does manage to increase gloss, then you know it’s adding serious shine.

As for durability, that’s something I’ll be testing over the next 3 months. Our brave test panel will be living outside over winter, dealing with the worst of the conditions. Every month, I will carry out an inspection to check water behavior to see if each wax is still present and performing. The results will be recorded here and might influence the final order at the end of the test period.

Enough chat – let’s get waxing. Read on for the results of my car wax group test.

Best car wax at a glance

• Best Paste Wax Overall: Auto Finesse Fusion. RRP: £41.95, buy now. Not available in the US.
• Best Value Paste Wax: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax. RRP: £19.90, buy now. Not available in the US.
• Approved: Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax. RRP: £35.90, buy now. $35.52, buy now.
• Best Liquid Wax Overall: Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax. RRP: £32.99 ($32.99), buy now.
• Best Value Liquid Wax: Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax. RRP: £17.99, buy now. $19.99, buy now.
• Approved: Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax. RRP: £31.43, buy now. $31.07, buy now.

How I tested these products

Each section of our test panel was polished with Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound. The panels were then wiped down with CarPro Eraser to remove any polishing oils and ensure the surface was clean. Three gloss readings were taken from each section using our gloss meter, and the average was calculated.

Each wax was then applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. An average gloss reading was once again taken for each section. Finally, the panel was sprayed with water and water behavior was observed.

Water behavior after 6 weeks of testing.

Paste Wax Results After 6 Weeks

• 1st: Auto Finesse Fusion – Auto Finesse Fusion ranked second for water behavior in the initial test, but it’s now moved up to first place. I barely had time to turn off the hose and grab my phone before it had cleared its section. Very impressive indeed.
• 2nd: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax – Bilt Hamber, my winning paste wax, came first for water behavior and has now dropped to second place. It was incredibly close, though, and there was almost nothing between Double Speed-Wax and Fusion. Another very impressive performance.
• 3rd: Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax – While Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax originally came fourth for water behavior, it’s now moved up to third. It’s performing very well at the moment, and I was impressed. Could Ultra High Definition Wax prove to be an endurance contender?
• 4th: Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax – I really liked Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax in the original test overall, but it’s dropped from third to fourth after six weeks. It’s still clearly present on the panel, and it’s still clearing water, but its performance has dropped significantly. We’ll see if it can hang on for another six weeks.

Liquid Wax Results After 6 Weeks

There is basically no point in ranking the liquid waxes because they’re pretty much all dead. The only one that’s still doing anything noticeable is Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax. Even so, it’s just barely doing anything. Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax was the only other liquid wax that gave a hint that it was still there, but that’s me being very generous.

I’m surprised and disappointed with these results. All eight waxes were applied on the same day, in the same conditions, and according to their respective instructions. As you’ll see below, the paste waxes are all still performing very well. So I am very surprised to see all the liquid waxes pretty much failed after just six weeks. I wonder if they are just very sensitive to ambient temperature when applying, but I really don’t know.

Best Paste Car Wax Results In Detail

1st: Auto Finesse Fusion – Best Paste Car Wax Overall

Size: 150g RRP: £41.95, buy now. Not available in the US.

• Pros: Great water behavior, decent gloss increase
• Cons: Sticky when applying
• Gloss before: 87.7
• Gloss after: 88.4
• Gloss change: +0.7
• Water behavior ranking: 2nd

Auto Finesse offers no fewer than 7 paste waxes, with Fusion sitting comfortably in the midrange. I chose Fusion as it’s a hybrid wax, so should deliver good durability. It’s the second most expensive wax on test, so I wanted to see what you’re getting at this price point. Auto Finesse says that Fusion is a blend of Brazilian T1-Grade carnauba and advanced synthetic polymers. This means that it will give you the warm look of a natural hard car wax but with the prolonged durability of a man-made paint sealant. Auto Finesse says you’ll get up to 8 months of protection, which is impressive stuff.

Fusion has also been designed with a consistency specifically developed to spread thinly and buff easily. And it was actually very nice to work with. It felt a little sticky when applying, but was one of the easiest waxes to buff off. Water behavior was very impressive, with Auto Finesse Fusion placing a very close second. And it delivered a decent increase in gloss, too. I like this car wax, and I look forward to seeing how durable it proves to be.

After our six week test, Auto Finesse’s Fusion car wax continues to deliver strong results.

2nd: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax – Best Best Value

Size: 250ml RRP: £19.90, buy now. Not available in the US.

• Pros: Impressive gloss increase, exceptional water behavior, includes applicator and cloth, incredible value
• Cons: Not the easiest wax to apply and remove
• Gloss before: 87.8
• Gloss after: 88.9
• Gloss change: +1.1
• Water behavior ranking: 1st
• Read the full Bilt Hamber review here.

Reading the Bilt Hamber website, Double Speed-Wax is described as a carnauba polymer paste wax with T1 carnauba. According to Bilt Hamber, the carnauba wax used provides a deep, rich, glossy, highly water repellent and detergent-resistant film. And while Bilt Hamber is not forthcoming about the polymer part, I’m convinced there’s some sort of wizardry going on here.

That’s the only way I can explain how such a cheap wax can perform so well and outperform far more expensive rivals here. It delivered the second-best increase in gloss, the best water behavior, and is less than half the price of the next-cheapest wax on test. It’s honestly astonishing.

It’s not perfect, though. Bilt Hamber says it’s easy to use, but I disagree. It’s very sensitive the applicator being overloaded, and quickly becomes sticky. It also feels a little grabby on removal. Other waxes here are nicer to use. But it’s the tiniest and only complaint I can muster. If it lives up to its promise of durability, Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax will walk this test.

3rd: Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax – Approved

Size: 120g RRP: £47.89, buy now.

• Pros: Very nice to apply and remove, exceptionally slick, includes applicator and cloth
• Cons: Expensive, poor gloss results
• Gloss before: 88
• Gloss after: 87.5
• Gloss change: -0.5
• Water behavior ranking: 4th

Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax certainly impresses when you read its credentials, and Autoglym describes this as its finest wax. An evolution of the first-generation UHD Wax, this new formula has been designed to deliver the ultimate mirror-like shine, providing more detail, depth and durability. It’s meant to be easier to apply and buff while also generating an even deeper shine.

It’s the most expensive wax on test, but it also delivers a very upmarket experience. The packaging, the jar, the applicator – it all looks and feels suitably luxurious. Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax was the nicest wax to use in this test. It was lovely and easy to apply and buffed off like a dream, so it definitely delivers on that front. This wax also felt very slick to the touch.

However, it couldn’t muster decent gloss numbers, delivering a negative result, which was both surprising and disappointing. It also placed last out of the paste waxes in the water behavior test. Though it was extremely close between this and Meguiar’s. There’s still a chance for redemption with the durability testing, but Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax proved to be disappointing, especially at this price point.

4th: Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax – Approved

Size: 8oz (226g) RRP: £35.90, buy now. $35.52, buy now.

• Pros: Nice to apply and remove, can be used in direct sun, very impressive gloss increase, includes applicator and cloth
• Cons: Not much
• Gloss before: 86.7
• Gloss after: 88.2
• Gloss change: +1.5
• Water behavior ranking: 3rd
• Read the full Meguiar’s Paste Wax review here.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax features a synthetic wax blend for maximum performance. Meguiar’s has refined the formula for enhanced durability and a glossier finish. Hydrophobic Polymer Technology increases surface tension for relentless water beading, and Meguiar’s says it’s also easy to apply and remove, even in direct sun. I have to say that this is one of the few waxes on test that really lived up to all the marketing hype.

First of all, it was very nice to use. It was lovely to apply, and very easy to remove. It also delivered the most impressive gloss increase of any wax in the entire test. And third overall out of all waxes tested for water behavior is an impressive result. The fact that you can use it in direct sun is also a welcome bonus. The only thing holding it back is the price, but Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax is an excellent car wax.

Best Liquid Car Wax Results In detail

Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax – Best Liquid Wax Overall

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: $32.99, buy now (£24.99).

• Pros: Very easy to use, extremely slick, good increase in gloss
• Cons: Poor water behavior
• Gloss before: 87.7
• Gloss after: 88.9
• Gloss change: +1.2
• Water behavior ranking: 7th
• Read the full review on Adam’s wax here. 

After ceramic came graphene, and Adam’s is one of the companies to jump on the trend. Its Graphene Liquid Wax incorporates the benefits of graphene in an easy-to-apply liquid form. As a coating, graphene is claimed to have numerous benefits over ceramic. These include greater durability, a higher water contact angle, and being less prone to water-spotting and etching. So what about when a wax is infused with graphene?

According to Adam’s, Graphene Liquid Wax is designed to refresh and rejuvenate paintwork. It also utilizes the same reduced graphene-oxide ceramic resins within its graphene coating products to seal your paint and make your car more maintenance-friendly. It promises an easy on, easy off application, will fill minor imperfections, and swirls, and removes light oxidation.

Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax certainly impressed me in terms of application. It went on very nicely and was very easy to remove. Its filling and mild correction properties no doubt are what helped it deliver an impressive increase in gloss. You can’t argue with a wax that does so much. It was also incredibly slick, with the gloss meter hanging on for dear life on the paintwork. I was surprised at how disappointing the water behavior was, though. Beading was minimal, and sheeting was slow, so I’ll be keeping an eye on it. Adam’s also promises 4-6 months of durability, so we’ll see about that, too. But even with some shortcomings, it’s my favorite liquid wax here. It’s lovely to use and delivers impressive results. A solid win for Adam’s Graphene Liquid Wax.

Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax – Approved

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: £31.43, buy now. $31.07, buy now.

• Pros: Best water behavior of any liquid wax on test
• Cons: A little pricey
• Gloss before: 88.4
• Gloss after: 88.6
• Gloss change: +0.2
• Water behavior ranking: 5th
• Read the full liquid wax review here.

With a graphene wax on the test, I had to throw something ceramic into the mix. Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax was my choice here, and it’s an impressive-sounding offering. It contains Hybrid Si02 technology, which Meguiar’s says seals the paint for long-lasting protection and delivers extreme water beading. Meguiar’s says it’s ceramic made easy, which is stretching the truth a little. But what you get is a ceramic-infused liquid wax that has been designed to last. We’ll see how durable it proves, but I can certainly say it delivers in terms of water behavior.

Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax delivered the most impressive water behavior of any of the liquid waxes on test. There was more sheeting than beading, and it was significantly better than any of the other liquid waxes here. It’s a little pricey and delivered the smallest gloss increase among the liquid waxes, but that water behavior is too impressive to ignore.

Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax – Best Value Liquid Wax

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: £17.99, buy now. $19.99, buy now.

• Pros: Very good value for money
• Cons: Sticky when applying, poor water behavior
• Gloss before: 87.7
• Gloss after: 88
• Gloss change: +0.3
• Water behavior ranking: 6th
• Read the full review on Mother’s wax here. 

From Mothers, we have a simple, old-school wax offering. Mothers Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax delivers exactly what it says on the bottle. It’s made with the finest Brazilian number one yellow carnauba. Mothers says it delivers superior shine and protection, with richness and depth. In my test, it was just a pretty average liquid wax. Application and removal were so-so, with this wax feeling rather sticky.

The gloss meter just about managed to register a tiny increase in gloss. Carnauba wax is meant to deliver a rich, warm finish, so you might see that on red paint, for example. But my blue test panel didn’t look very different. Water behavior was also poor, with very slow sheeting. But it’s cheap at least, which makes it good value for money.

Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax

Size: 16 fl. oz (473ml) RRP: £23.95, buy now. $19.97, buy now.

• Pros: Can be used in direct sun and on wet paintwork, tasty banana scent
• Cons: Non-existent water behavior
• Gloss before: 88.2
• Gloss after: 88.6
• Gloss change: +0.4
• Water behavior ranking: 8th
• Read the full Chemical Guys wax review here. 

Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax always seems to be getting rave reviews, so I was keen to see how it would perform. Even if durability wasn’t going to be great, I was hoping for good gloss and a nice waxing experience. Chemical Guys says that Butter Wet Wax melts into the paint like butter, delivering a deep, wet look in minutes. Butter Wet Wax uses Brazilian carnauba and features a wipe-on, wipe-off formula. The company also says that you can use it to lightly cleanse paintwork, and wax and dry a wet car at the same time.

Butter Wet Wax has a lovely banana scent, and I would have been disappointed if it didn’t, based on the color. It felt a bit sticky in terms of both application and removal, though. It did manage to deliver an increase in gloss, though. But it placed last in the water behavior test. There was no beading or sheeting, and the water just sat in its test square. I wondered if I’d actually forgotten to apply any wax, but it was definitely there. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was disappointing to see. As first impressions go, Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax made a disappointing one all-round.

Car Wax FAQs

What Does Car Wax Actually Do?

On an un-prepped, unpolished surface, car wax will help to enhance gloss. However, car wax has plenty more to offer. Car wax adds a layer of protection to your paint that helps repel water, resists UV rays, heat, and pollutants and helps prevent oxidation. It also makes it harder for dirt to stick to the surface, helping to keep your car cleaner for longer and making it easier to wash.

What is water beading and sheeting?

Different waxes display different water behavior. Some give you beading, which is where you get beautiful little droplets of water on the surface of your paint. Others sheet, which means the water runs off the surface rapidly. Beading looks pretty, but sheeting is ultimately more useful. In fact, water beads can actually cause water spotting if the sun comes out and dries them, as they will leave behind mineral content.

Which car wax is best, liquid or paste?

Traditionally, liquid waxes were seen as being best for ease of application, while paste waxes were longer lasting. These days, it comes down to what the wax is made of. An old-fashioned carnauba paste wax will be massively outperformed by a synthetic liquid sealant all day long, for example. So what matters is the wax itself, not whether it’s a liquid or a paste.

What are the negatives of car wax?

In truth, there isn’t really a downside to car wax. After all, the wax protects your paintwork. The only thing we will say is that some car waxed can be difficult to apply evenly and will require more effort to apply. Alongside that, no car wax will last longer than a few months, so the process will need to repeated throughout the year. Other than that, car wax is a brilliant addition to your car detailing process.

Relevant content:

• How To Wax A Car Properly
• What Is The Difference Between Car Polish & Wax?
• How Often Should You Apply Car Wax?

If you’re reading this, then the chances are you not only love cars, but you love modified cars, too. But did you know we host car events throughout the year? Be sure to check out our Fast Car events page to find out what we’ve got coming up next. Don’t miss out on the action! 

The post Best Car Wax In 2024 For Paint Protection appeared first on Fast Car.

We all know that engines need oil, that’s basic car maintenance knowledge, but not all oil is created equal. Considering how important oil is to your engine, you want to make sure you’re buying the best. While not all oil is suitable for every engine, there are key features that every engine will appreciate.

Generally speaking, oil has three main functions in looking after your engine:

• Lubrication – Oil performs this function by providing a barrier between the metallic surfaces inside your engine that allows each part to operate smoothly without generating heat and wear through metal-to-metal contact.
• Engine cleaning – The second function oil has is that it cleans your engine too. Modern oils contain various detergents that actually clean the internal surfaces of your engine while in use.
• Cooling – Third, oil is also an effective coolant. It does this by transferring the heat away from the component parts into the oil. This then cools as it flows around the engine, reducing engine temperatures.

Pick an oil that does all of this, and your engine will thank you. Below, you’ll find each of the motor oils featured will help keep your engine happy.

One final thing before we dive into our best engine oil in 2024 piece; it’s crucial to remember that every engine requires a specific type of engine oil. Be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s manual if you’re unsure which motor oil you need.

Best Engine Oil In 2024

Castrol Edge

RRP: $24.00 / £15.00.

Castrol Edge is probably one of the first engine oils you think of when high-performance lubricants are mentioned. There are plenty of reasons why Edge is so highly rated, and you can’t go wrong with this oil. Castrol Edge has been designed to deliver maximum engine performance. It offers superior wear protection and superior cleaning. In tests against rival oils, it was three times stronger against viscosity breakdown than its nearest rival. It also offers 10 times better high-temperature performance, and six times better wear protection. With impressive specs, Castrol Edge is one of the best engine oils you can buy.

Liqui Moly Top Tec 4200

RRP: $55.00 / £49.95.

German engineering in oil form, Liqui Moly Top Tec is exactly as good as you’d expect. This high-tech, low-friction motor oil is based on synthetic technology. It delivers outstanding protection against wear, as well as reducing both oil and fuel consumption. It’s also been designed for fast oil penetration, ensuring maximum protection. Liqui Moly says you can go up to 30,000 miles between oil changes thanks to this engine oil’s level of protection. Liqui Moly Top Tec also prevents deposits from forming to help keep your engine in peak condition. Many people swear by Liqui Moly, and it’s easy to see why as this is a superb choice of motor oil.

Valvoline Extended Protection

RRP: $28.32. Valvoline offers different motor oils in the UK, view them here.

As its name suggests, Valvoline Extended Protection has been designed to keep your engine safe. It protects against the main causes of engine breakdown: wear, friction, heat and deposits. In tests, it was 10 times stronger against oil breakdown versus industry standards. It also offers 50% better wear protection than the industry standard. It also delivers superior cleaning and performance, with Dual Defence Additive Technology to keep your engine in peak condition. There’s a lot to like about Valvoline Extended Protection, and it’s an excellent motor oil.

Mobil 1

RRP: $29.97 / £20.90.

Mobil 1 is another incredibly popular and well-known engine oil, and there are plenty of reasons why it’s a best-seller. It features Mobil 1’s Triple Action Formula, which has been designed to offer exceptional engine performance, protection, and cleanliness. It controls oxidation to prevent oil breakdown and maintains excellent viscosity to protect critical engine components. Mobil 1 also helps to protect against low-speed pre-ignition and timing chain wear. It will also help to keep your engine clean and help improve fuel economy. Mobil 1 helps to prevent deposits and sludge build-up and provides excellent high- and low-temperature protection. If you’re looking for an excellent all-round motor oil, you can’t go wrong with Mobil 1.

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum

RRP: $32.52. Buy in the UK in bulk.

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum doesn’t just offer excellent performance, it’s also carbon neutral. First of all, it’s made from natural gas, rather than crude, using Pennzoil’s patented gas-to-liquid PurePlus Technology. And it uses verified Nature Based Carbon Credits that offset the CO2 lifecycle emissions. In terms of performance, it doesn’t disappoint and gives your engine exactly what it needs. In tests, no other motor oil provides better wear protection, as well as offering superior sludge protection. It keeps pistons cleaner than required by industry standards and helps to protect against power loss. According to Pennzoil, it also improves fuel economy. Pennzoil Ultra Platinum is an engine oil that can do it all. It’s also kinder on the environment, which is always a bonus.

How the best engine oil products were recommended

While the engine oils we’ve recommended above haven’t undergone our rigorous testing, they are based off of my expertise and personal experience with both factory-spec vehicles as well as modified cars. I’ve used a number of different oils throughout my driving years and written guides to engine oils and other car maintenance topics as my role as Editor of Total BMW magazine.

How to choose the right engine oil for your car

When buying engine oil for your car, it’s important that you buy the right sort. That little alphanumeric code on the front of the bottle holds the key, so let’s break it down. The first number before the ‘W’ (which stands for Winter) indicates the oil’s viscosity in cold temperatures, whereby the lower the number the less viscous the oil is. Then, the following number indicates how viscous the oil is at running temperature. For example, 5W-30 oil is freer flowing than 5W-40 oil. This is important because different engines have different requirements. Sure, it’s good to have free flowing oil so that the engine remains well-lubricated, but you don’t want it to be so thin that it isn’t effectively protecting the internal engine components.

Usually your car’s owner’s handbook should tell you which oil it takes, though if that’s not the case, you can easily research it online. Keep in mind though that the requirements will often be a bit different if you’ve tuned your car’s engine.

Then there’s the issue of synthetic versus semi-synthetic or mineral. Generally speaking, fully synthetic oil is favored by most cars, and you can read more about that below. Be sure to also check out our guide on how to do an oil change so you can replace your oil yourself saving you money.

Engine Oil FAQs

What are the three types of engine oil? 

Mineral Oil

A mineral oil is oil that came out of the ground and has then been refined to make it suitable for use in vehicles. It’s pretty basic stuff, but has the advantage of being cheap.

Semi-synthetic Oil

A semi-synthetic is a blend of mineral oil and synthetic. It’s generally cheaper than a synthetic and offers better protection than a mineral oil, but will not last as long or give as good protection as a fully synthetic.

Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil isn’t quite as simple as you might think from the name. There are three types of synthetic oils. The first is hydrocracked mineral oil. This is where a mineral oil goes through a process called hydrocracking. This modifies and refines the oil enough that it is classed as synthetic. Hydrocracked oils are the synthetic component of a semi-synthetic oil. Second, there is PAO, or Polyalphaolefins. This is generally what people think of as synthetic oil, where the oil is produced by chemical reactions. Last, there are esters. Esters are the top level oil on the market and have advantages over normal oils. They cling to metal surfaces, so the interior of your engine, gearbox or diff is coated with oil at all times. This means instant cold-start protection. They also have greater friction reduction properties than normal oils, which can help engines run smoother.

Additionally, because esters make the oil more stable, ester-based oils are ideal for hard use applications.

In automotive oils, the esters are blended with PAO and/or hydrocracked oils to produce the final product. It would work out far too expensive to just use esters on their own. Blending the esters with other oils reduces the cost and produces a more stable oil.

How thick should your engine oil be?

The first thing to consider when choosing an appropriate oil for your application is the viscosity.

When cold, you want the oil to flow well, so it gets around the engine quickly, improving cold-start protection. When hot, you don’t want the oil to be too thick as the flow rate is reduced. This lessens the protection and heat transfer capabilities of the oil.

But don’t just think it’s a case of the thinner the better. Too thin an oil will also lead to reduced surface-to-surface protection. As a result, it’s all about getting the right balance.

What does 5w-30 and other viscosity numbers mean on engine oil?

When you see the oil grade listed on the can, such as 5w-30, the first number relates to the cold flow viscosity (the w stands for winter) and is measured at 30C. The second number describes the viscosity at 100C. Although that number will be higher than the first number, the oil will always be thinner at 100C than 30C (the numbers are on a different scale). This is due the heat causing the oil to naturally thin. Those numbers are not exact points. They refer to a band that the viscosity falls into. As a result, you could have an oil categorized as 5w-30 that is almost the same viscosity as a 10w-30, or as a 0w-30 at the other end of the scale.

What oil does my tuned engine need?

Generally, what the manufacturer recommends is a sensible grade for a standard car that is used on the road. However, when you modify an engine or use it on track, the engine will run hotter than normal, leading to the oil thinning. That is when you need to consider using a thicker oil. In theory, it should run at a similar viscosity to the standard oil in a standard car. Depending on how far the car is modified, moving a grade or two thicker can be a sensible option.

Often grades like 10w-30, 10w-40 and 15w-40 are recommended as standard options. However, you can improve on those (in most cases) by using something thinner when cold, such as a 5w-30 in place of 10w-30, for example. This will help with cold-start protection.

But there are times when sticking to slightly thicker grades when cold makes sense. Forged builds, for example, often have larger tolerances than standard engines. Therefore, a thicker oil is likely to be the more sensible choice. Also, certain cars sound terrible when cold if too thin an oil is used. In those cases, a thicker oil could help.

Another thing to consider with viscosity is what the car is being used for. A daily driver that sees plenty of cold mornings needs cold-start protection more than a car used for endurance racing that experiences extreme high temperatures for long periods of time, for example.

Unless your car has one specific purpose (track use, short road trips, long journeys etc.) you’ll likely be looking at a compromise when it comes to the best grade for it.

What are engine oil additives?

Oils tend to be pretty clearly labelled as to what grade they are and if they are mineral, semi-synthetic or synthetic. However, the additive pack is far less obvious on the label. Additives in the oil are very important. They let the oil do its job properly. Here are some of the additives used in a modern oil:

• Detergents – these clean the engine to stop build-ups that could lead to a lack of protection.
• Anti-wear additives – these bond to the metal surfaces, providing a sacrificial layer. The best known is ZDDP.
• Anti-foaming agents – these help to keep the oil as a liquid rather than let it build into a foam. Foaming oil causes problems with the oil pump and can lead to oil starvation.

There are several others, such as; extreme pressure, anti-ageing, viscosity improvers, friction modifiers and so on.

What is the difference between cheap and expensive engine oil?

If anyone tries to tell you that simply ‘oil is oil’, that really isn’t the case. You could have two cans of oil, both that are labelled as 5w-40 synthetics, but one could be a hydrocracked oil with a cheap/reduced additive package and the other could be a PAO/ester blend with a top-quality additive pack. There can be a huge difference in price between those oils. The difference might not be clear unless you have an idea of what all of the information on the label means.

Manufacturer approvals can also affect the price. Often to get an oil approved by a manufacturer, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars (we’ve even heard of some approvals costing over $100k). The cost of getting those has to be recouped by the oil. Some companies list their oils as ‘meeting the requirements of’ or ‘can be used in place of’ where certain manufacturer specifications are required. This saves the cost of getting the approval. However, you are relying on the oil company being honest about the oil doing what is says on the label.

Quality control also plays a large part in the price of an oil. The more it’s tested in production, the more it costs on the shelf. Some experts say they have heard of cheap oil that was tested where it was supposed to be a 5w-40 but turned out to be a 20w-40!

We’re not saying you need to pay a fortune for your oil. However, buying from reputable companies should provide you with added peace of mind that the oil will do the job you need it to.

When do I need to add more motor oil?

Generally, oil consumption is not something to worry about, unless it’s excessive. Certain engines often burn a drop of oil and suffer from no ill effects. Just keep an eye on the oil level and top up when necessary to keep it at the upper level. Forged engine builds also tend to use more oil due to the larger tolerances than standard engines. Oil consumption does vary from car to car, but the best thing to do is ask a specialist if you think you are using too much. A liter per 1000 miles is regarded by most manufacturers the normal limit, in most cases. Oil consumption can often be reduced by using a thicker oil, but too thick and engine protection is lost.

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Alloy wheel cleaners are one of those things you can never have too much of if you enjoy car detailing, especially as you go through it seriously quickly. However, if you’re spending all that money, you want to make sure that you’re using the best product you can. One that’s going to give you the best results. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive wheel cleaner guide to find out what the best alloy wheel cleaners are.

I brought together eight of the best car wheel cleaners and put them against each other to find out which one delivers the best cleaning power. These are all similar products in terms of cleaning potential, so it’s an even playing field.

What is an alloy wheel cleaner?

Firstly, though, I wanted to give some context to this piece. So what is an alloy wheel cleaner? Put simply, it’s a product that is specifically designed to lift brake dust, dirt and grime from the wheels. Using a dedicated wheel cleaner makes the job of ensuring those wheel look shiny that bit easier. It works by reacting with the dirt on the wheel, allowing you, in most cases, to simply jet wash the dirt away. For wheels that haven’t been cleaned in a while, it’s always worth using a detailing brush in order to agitate the surface further. Remember, you’ll still need to give the wheels a wash during the shampoo stage, but using the wheel cleaner as part of your pre-wash stage will save you a heap of time.

Quick detailing tip, don’t let the wheel cleaner dry on the surface of your wheels as it can lead to damage to the paint surface. Read the manufacturer’s instructions as to how much dwell time it requires and the agitation process.

Who is the tester?

Better known as Buffy, I’ve been talking and writing about cars professionally for over a decade or so now as editor to a number of different BMW magazines, currently Total BMW Magazine. While I’m most passionate about BMWs, I’m a petrolhead in general, and I love nothing more than a spotless car. Over the years of car ownership, I’ve developed a deep enthusiasm for detailing, and as a result, I’ve tested just about every detailing product out there. I have my personal favorites, but for this test it’s all about finding out which product truly is best without bias.

Best Alloy Wheel Cleaner in 2024 at a glance:

• 1st: Bilt Hamber Auto-Wheel. RRP: From £19.99, buy now. US from $37.99, buy now.
• 2nd: Autoglym Clean Wheels. RRP: From £17.49, buy now. US from $25.95, buy now.
• 3rd: ValetPRO Bilberry Alloy Wheel Cleaner. RRP: From £13.49, buy now. Not available in US.
• 4th: Gtechniq W6 Iron & Fallout Remover. RRP: From £7.25, buy now. US from $16.95, buy now.

1st Place – Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel

Size tested: One liter
RRP: From £19.99, buy now. US from $37.99, buy now.

There can only be one winner of our best alloy wheel cleaners test, that is Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel. It was an exceptionally narrow victory, and there was almost nothing to choose between this and Autoglym Clean Wheels, but in the end, Auto Wheel just edged it in terms of sheer cleaning power. The most reactive wheel cleaner in this test, it turned its half of the wheel bright purple instantly and clung on tenaciously during its dwell phase, really attacking that tough, stuck-on brake dust and dirt.

The post-rinse visual inspection and swipe test revealed that it had delivered incredible results. It also happened to end up having to deal with the dirtiest portion of the dirtiest wheel on the whole car, making its performance all the more impressive. Honestly, there’s not much more to say – it just got on with doing its job and delivered sensational results, which is what you want from any product.

Price-wise, it’s the third most expensive per litre in its standard size, but its five-litre size matches Gtechniq for price. You can buy it in a 25-litre container, assuming you have the room and are happy to spend a large amount in one go. Although that will work out cheaper per litre of usage.

There’s no fancy packaging and flashy marketing here, just an incredibly impressive product that really delivers. Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel is the best alloy wheel cleaner here, and my group test winner.

2nd Place – Autoglym Clean Wheels

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £17.49, buy now. US from $25.95, buy now.

Upon initial application, I was left wondering if Autoglym Clean Wheels was actually doing anything. Unlike a lot of the other products we tested, it’s not a reactive color-changing wheel cleaner, so you don’t really see anything happening. However, it quickly became apparent that it was definitely doing some serious work, as the dirt began to dissolve in front of our eyes.

Post-rinse, the difference was clearly visible before I’d even reached for the cotton wool pad; the swipe test confirmed what we saw. Autoglym Clean Wheels put in an exceptional performance, effortlessly shifting some seriously baked-on brake dust. We were left very impressed with how little dirt was left on our cotton pad.

In its 500ml size, it’s the most expensive product in our top four, and at £17.49 / $25.95 it’s still more expensive than the others (just) if you buy the one-litre size. However, it’s money well spent, because this is a fantastic wheel cleaner and one I highly recommend. Autoglym takes 2nd place in our best alloy wheel cleaners test.

3rd Place – ValetPRO Bilberry Alloy Wheel Cleaner

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £13.49, buy now. Not available in US.

It was almost too close to call between ValetPRO’s Bilberry Wheel Cleaner and Gtechniq’s W6, but after staring at cotton wool pads for longer than I’d care to admit, ValetPRO just took the win by the narrowest of margins. It delivered very impressive results, and the post-test swipe showed a significant reduction in surface dirt remaining.

This is the only product in our top four that can be diluted, up to 10:1 for lightly soiled wheels. This means you can get up to 11 liters of product from a 500ml bottle, and if you clean your wheels often and thoroughly, you won’t need it at full undiluted strength. And, where the other cleaners either didn’t smell of anything or stunk of chemicals, ValetPRO Bilberry Wheel Cleaner has a lovely fruity scent, making it the most pleasant to use.

4th Place – Gtechniq W6 Iron & Fallout Remover

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £7.25, buy now. US from $16.95, buy now.

Gtechniq doesn’t have a dedicated wheel cleaner, but that’s clearly not an issue. The W6 Iron & Fallout Remover put in a very strong performance and delivered exceptional cleaning, leaving very little behind on the post-test swipe. The price is reasonable, and if you commit to the five-litre container, it works out at just a fraction under £12/litre, which makes it good value if you’re happy buying in bulk.

W6 Iron & Fallout Remover is also the only product in our top four that can be used on your car’s bodywork as well as the wheels, meaning you don’t need to buy a separate fallout remover, so that’s a bonus on top of the excellent cleaning power. Using it on the body helps to lift those hard, stuck-on bits of dirt that won’t budge, so can work as an effective pre-wash to your shampoo stage.

Best of the rest alloy wheel cleaners

Four out of our eight best alloy wheel cleaners delivered very similar results and performed equally as well as each other, and these are all good products which you’d be more than happy with.

Auto Finesse Reactive

Size tested: 500ml
RRP: From £12.95, buy now. US From $22.95, buy now.

Reactive has been designed to, in the words of auto Finesse, bridge the gap between a wheel cleaner and fallout remover, and is safe to use on all painted, powder coated and lacquered wheel finishes. Reactive will break down dirt, as well as chemically dissolving embedded ferrous metal particles. It’s good, but didn’t quite deliver the results of our top four. That being said, it was the best of the rest, and is very reasonably priced.

Dodo Juice Deep Purple

Size tested: 1-litre
RRP: From £20.90, buy now. Not available in the US.

Dodo Juice calls Deep Purple a full-spectrum wheel cleaner, and that means it is able to tackle all manner of dirt on your rims. Based on the company’s Ferrous Dueller fallout remover, its thicker formula means a longer dwell time, which improves cleaning power and it contains surfactants to remove road grime and dirt, while a little bit of added solvent allows it to soften tar spots.

Meguiar’s Hot Rims Wheel & Tire Cleaner

Size tested: 710ml
RRP: From £12.75, buy now. US from $6.97, buy now.

Hot Rims, safe for use on all clear-coated wheels, boasts Meguiar’s Xtreme Cling foam, which means it sticks to the vertical surfaces on your wheels and won’t simply slide away, giving its powerful formula more time to dissolve the contaminants on your wheels. At under $10 for a 24 Oz spray bottle, you simply can’t complain when the results are still very good.

Pro-Kleen Troll’s Breath

Size tested: 1-litre
RRP: from £12.95, buy now. Not available in the US. Buy Pro-Kleen Troll’s Breath here.

Troll’s Breath is a pH-neutral iron contamination remover that is safe to use on just about any surface – paintwork, glass, plastic, stainless steel, wheels as well as rubber. It dissolves any contamination it comes into contact with, and it also features a degreasing agent that helps to loosen dirt and grime. It worked well on dirt, but didn’t produce quite as strong results as our top four.

Products bottled into non-branded spray bottles ready for best alloy wheel cleaners test

How we tested the best alloy wheel cleaners

I carried out a blind test by having a colleague pour all the car alloy wheel cleaners into identical spray bottles without me knowing which product was which. The spray bottles were also all set to the same spray pattern on each test bottle. The test took place over one day, using one car, and each product only applied to half of one wheel. Using a cotton wool pad, I performed a swipe test on a portion of the wheel before using each product and doing another swipe test from the same area after use.

I applied the alloy wheel cleaners from the same distance, using the same number of sprays in the same motion and pattern to ensure even and equal coverage and a divider was used during application and rinsing to ensure that there was no cross-contamination. I didn’t use any brushes, eliminating this variable, and purely measured each product’s cleaning power. We also applied each wheel cleaner to a dry wheel and followed each product’s instructions for dwell time. I elected to use a hose with a jet spray pattern to rinse off the products due to the fact that not all users have a pressure washer.

How to buy the best alloy wheel cleaner

The first piece of advice we’d give here is to not rely on how well it appears to be working. Some wheel cleaners are very good at appearing to be working hard, by changing color radically. How much the product changes color on the wheels isn’t an indicator of how well it’s performing. As a result, don’t get sucked into marketing messages and images of wheels changing to a deep purple color.

Next, get used to the smell. The chemicals used inside of the formula make for some nasty smells. Again, one that smells nice or not so great isn’t an indication of how well it performs. Almost all alloy wheel cleaners work better when you use a brush to agitate the dirt with the product. I skipped this step in my test above as I didn’t want the brush to be the deciding factor when it comes to cleanliness.

You want a pH neutral product that is safe to use on your wheel type. The above product recommendations are safe to use on any wheel type or finish. Although we would always urge that you check the manufacturer’s instructions.

For tips on using wheel cleaners, check out our step-by-step guide on how to clean alloy wheels. For more advice on detailing, check out our guide on car detailing. 

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You might think that all car shampoos are equal, but that’s definitely not the case. Some will clean better than others, and others will foam up more. Some will feel slicker on the paint, and some have special features that make them stand out. Choosing a car wash soap is difficult, which is why I’ve done the hard work for you. It is my job as Fast Car’s Detailing Product Tester, after all.

I’ve tried a lot of car shampoos over the years, so I know what makes a good one. I’ve picked 10 shampoos for this mega group-test and they’re all really good. Honestly, there’s not one bad car wash soap here. But, some are just a little nicer to use than others. Picking the right shampoo is essential as washing your car is a core part of the car detailing process.

These are all pure shampoos with no added wax, which makes them perfect if you want to apply your own protection afterwards. Without further ado, here are the results of our car shampoo group test.

Best Car Wash Soap: The Testing Process

First, I diluted each shampoo according to the individual instructions, opting for a medium dilution ratio where a range was suggested. Then observed the amount of foam each shampoo produced and assessed how slick it felt on the panel. Next, I carried out a visual and physical inspection to see how much dirt, if any, was left after washing. The price and how much shampoo is needed per wash were also taken into consideration.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Car Shampoo

Always look for a pH-neutral car shampoo that won’t strip any wax or other coatings you have applied to your paintwork. Look for car shampoos that need less product per wash as they are better value and will last longer. Car shampoos that can be used in direct sun are fantastic for summertime washing. Any car shampoo with water-softening properties is ideal for hard-water areas. Finally, make sure you like the scent of the shampoo you plan to buy. If it triggers childhood trauma of nasty cough syrup, you’ll hate using it.

Best Car Shampoo At A Glance

• Best Overall: Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash. RRP: £12, buy now. $22.68, buy now. 
• Editor’s Choice: Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo. RRP: £9.99, buy now. $13.19, buy now. 
• Approved: Dodo Juice Born to be Mild. RRP: £11.98, buy now (not available in US). 
• Approved: Gyeon Q2M Bathe. RRP: £13.50, buy now. $31.99, buy now. 
• Best Value: Bilt Hamber Auto Wash. RRP: £19.95, buy now (not available in the US). 

Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash – Best Overall

Size: 18 fl. oz (532ml), 64 fl. oz (1892ml). RRP: £12, buy now / From $22.68, buy now.

Pros:

• Features lubricating oils and water softeners

Cons:

• You need to use more shampoo than some others

Meguiar’s offers a lot of different shampoos but NXT Generation Car Wash deserves to be noticed. In a sea of very similar pure shampoos, this really stands out from the crowd. Crack open this pH-neutral shampoo and you’re hit by a tangy citrus scent, which is delicious. What makes it stand out is a couple of impressive features. First off, synthetic lubricating oils deliver exceptional slickness. Then you’ve got the engineered water softeners that help reduce deposits in hard-water areas. These help you to achieve a spot-free finish, always a bonus.

You need 2 capfuls (0.7 fl. oz) per gallon, which is an odd measurement as that’s not a lot of water. Realistically you’ll be using 3 gallons or so, which means 2 fl. oz per wash. As you’d expect, it felt exceptionally slick on the paintwork and delivered superb cleaning. The water softeners are the icing on the cake, making it ideal for hard-water areas. Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash is another shampoo I will be using personally from now on.

To learn more, read our full review of Meguiar’s NXT Generation Car Wash here.

Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo – Editor’s Choice

Award: Editor’s Choice
Size: 16 fl oz (473ml), 1 gallon (3.8 liters). RRP: £9.99, buy now / $13.19, buy now. 

Pros:

• Can be used in direct sun and won’t leave water spots.

Cons:

• Not the most economical shampoo.

Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo is a personal favorite of mine for several reasons. It’s pH-neutral for starters and has a lush Wildberry scent. It foams up well, and the foam does last. It’s designed to be exceptionally slick, and you really do feel that when you’re using it. It also cleans very well indeed.

The biggest selling point for me is that you can use it in direct sunlight. And it will not leave water spots. This makes it my go-to summer car shampoo. I know I can wash my car even on sunny days, and get great results. The only downside is that you need 1-2 fl. oz per wash. That means it’s not going to last as long as some other more frugal shampoos. But that’s a very minor negative point. For hot, sunny climates and summertime washing, Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo is exceptional.

Check out our in-depth review of Adam’s New Car Wash Shampoo here.

Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild

Award: Approved
Size: 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter), 1.3 gallons (5 liters). RRP: From £11.98, buy now (not available in US).

Pros:

• Loads of foam and very slick.
• Contains limescale inhibitors.

Cons:

• Lots of shampoo required for dirty cars in hard-water areas

Dodo Juice Born to be Mild pH neutral shampoo is a wax-friendly offering. It has been a staple of the company’s cleaning lineup since its launch. I can see why it’s been around for so long. I can’t place the smell, but it’s sweet and delicious – almost good enough to drink. Dodo Juice says to use between 2-6 capfuls in a bucket. This depends on how big your bucket is, how dirty your car is, and if you’re in a hard water area. How big is a capful? I measured it, and it seems to be around 0.42 of a fl. oz. So you’ll realistically need between 1.7-2.5 fl. oz per wash.

It delivered loads of foam and was really slick on the paint. Best of all, it boasts limescale inhibitors that help soften your wash water. This makes washing your car in hard-water areas that bit easier, and that’s a huge selling point. Dodo Juice Born to be Mild is going straight into my personal cleaning arsenal.

Read more about why that is in our full review of Dodo Juice Born to be Mild, next.

Gyeon Q²M Bathe Car Wash Soap

Award: Approved
Size: 13.5 fl. oz (400ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter), 1 gallon (3.8 liters). RRP: £13.50, buy now / $31.99, buy now.

Pros:

• Foamy and slick.
• Very economical.
• Good cleaning performance.

Cons:

• Smells a bit like cough syrup.

Gyeon Q²M Bathe is a thick gel shampoo that is pH neutral. You need between 0.5-0.7 fl. oz in your bucket, and that will give you loads of foam. This was a really nice car wash soap to use, forming a slick texture that made the washing process a pleasure. Gyeon Q²M Bathe also had a nice amount of foam that didn’t instantly disappear. And it cleaned really well too, as you’d expect from Gyeon. A very easy car shampoo to recommend.

For more info, check out our full review of Gyeon Q²M Bathe here.

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash – Best Value

Award: Best Value
Size: 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter). RRP: £19.95, buy now. (Not available in the US.)

• Incredible value for money.
• Cleans very well.

Cons:

• No scent.
• Not much foam.

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash’s specs are impressive. It’s salt, wax and additive-free. Its anti-corrosive properties make it especially good for washing older cars that might have stone chips and exposed bare metal. What’s really impressive is how highly concentrated it is. You only need 0.17 fl. Oz in a 2.6-gallon bucket – that’s one teaspoon. Which is wild.

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash might not deliver loads of foam, but it feels lovely and slick on the paintwork. It’s a pleasure to wash with and delivers excellent cleaning. Another superb product from Bilt Hamber.

For a closer look, read our full review of Bilt Hamber Auto Wash here.

Gtechniq W1 GWash

Size: 8.5 fl. oz (250ml), 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 litre), 1.3 gallons (5 liters). RRP: From £9.95, buy now / $11.95, buy now.

Pros:

• Lovely and slick.
• Solid cleaning performance.

Cons:

• Very little foam on the panel.

Gtechniq makes some excellent cleaning products, and its W1 Gwash car shampoo does not disappoint. It kicks things off with a gentle grapefruit scent – very nice. Gtechniq says to use four capfuls in a 5.3-gallon bucket, but seriously, who has a bucket that big? I’d say 3.2 gallons is more reasonable. With each capful being 0.3 fl. oz, you’ll be using around 0.8 fl. oz per wash.

It made lots of foam in our container, but there was virtually none on the surface. This didn’t impair its slickness or cleaning performance, though. W1 Gwash shampoo really delivered, and I like this one a lot.

To learn more, read our full review of Gtechniq W1 here!

Mothers California Gold High Performance Car Wash Soap

Size: 16 fl. oz (437ml), 32 fl. oz (946ml), 64 fl. oz (1892ml). RRP: From £10.99, buy now / from $12.99, buy now.

Pros:

• Smell gorgeous.
• Feels great to use.

Cons:

• Poor value for money.

Mothers California Gold car shampoo is an excellent car wash soap that’s so nice to use. On paper, it doesn’t seem that special. It’s pH neutral but doesn’t offer anything special to set it apart from other shampoos. However, on the panel, it just felt incredibly slick and was so nice to wash with. Sometimes, that can make all the difference between a good shampoo and a great one. And it smells absolutely gorgeous as well, which is a bonus.

Unfortunately, the dilution ratio lets it down. The instructions call for 1 fl. oz per gallon, which means you’ll be using around 3 oz in your bucket. That’s quite a lot of product, which means you’ll likely get just five washes from the smaller 16 oz bottle. As nice as it is to use, that makes it very poor value for money, unfortunately. So, check out our full review of it to decide once and for all whether you can justify the cost.

Auto Finesse Lather Car Shampoo

Size: 16.9 fl. oz (500ml), 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter), 84.5 fl. oz (2.5 liters), 1.3 gallons (5 liters). RRP: £21.59, buy now / from $10.95, buy now.

Pros:

• Slick and foamy.
• Cleans well.

Cons:

• Doesn’t smell great.

Lather from Auto Finesse is a strong all-round car shampoo offering that doesn’t disappoint. Its combo of advanced surfactants with highly-concentrated lubricants has been designed for easy and safe washing. Naturally, it’s pH-neutral, though I’m not sold on the smell – it’s a weird chemical citrus scent. I’m not a fan.

Auto Finesse says to use 2-4 capfuls, so that means once again measuring how big a capful is. My measuring beaker says it’s about 0.5 fl. oz, so that’s 1-2 fl. oz per wash. It makes lots of foam and serves up plenty of slickness with good cleaning. An excellent car shampoo from Auto Finesse. Find out more in this full review.

Griot’s Car Wash Soap

Size: 16 fl. oz (437ml), 1 gallon (3.8 liters). RRP: £8.99, buy now / from $12.49, buy now.

Pros:

• Cleans very well.
• Smells great.

Cons:

• Not as powerful as others tested.

Griot’s makes a wide range of excellent cleaning products and its Car Wash shampoo is most definitely one of them. This pH-neutral shampoo not only looks orange but has a lovely tangy citrus scent too. The dilution ratio is 1 fl. oz per 2 gallons, so you’ll be using around 1.5 oz per wash, which is not bad at all. While it’s light on foam when you get it on the panel, it does feel very nice and slick under your mitt. It doesn’t offer any unique standout properties, but it is a solid all-round car shampoo. Read the full review here.

Autoglym Foaming Car Wash

Size: 33.8 fl. oz (1 liter), 84.5 fl. oz (2.5 liters). RRP: From £8.39, buy now / $35.21, buy now.

Pros:

• Cleans well.
• Good value.

Cons:

• Nothing to make it really stand out.

UK car-cleaning expert, Autoglym, offers some excellent shampoos, and Foaming Car Wash is no exception. Naturally, it’s pH-neutral, while the marzipan scent is just unreal. Autoglym says to use 2 capfuls per 2.6 gallons, which works out as around 0.7 fl. oz. This makes it good value as you’ll get 50 washes from even the smallest bottle.

It delivered a nice amount of foam, and I had no complaints about its performance. It felt slick under my mitt and cleaned very well, leaving no dirt behind on the paintwork. This is an excellent choice of shampoo and it’s very easy to recommend. For a closer look, have a read of our full review.

Car Shampoo FAQs

Can I use a sponge to wash my car?

No. Put simply, a sponge absorbs everything, including all the little stones and pieces of dirt, and traps them in the fibers. Once you reapply the sponge to the car’s paintwork, you’ll be dragging those small particles across the paintwork, creating small scratch marks often known as swirl marks. Get yourself a proper wash mitt, in fact we’ve got a guide to the best car wash mitt to help you out.

Do I need to use two buckets or one?

If you want to minimize the risk of carrying dirt from wash your wash mitt back onto the paintwork after rinsing your mitt, then you’re best of using two buckets. One bucket should contain your car shampoo product, the other should be clean water with a grit guard. The idea is you start with the car shampoo bucket, clean a panel, and then rinse off the wash mitt in the bucket of clean water with a grit guard. Rub the mitt against the guard to encourage stones away from the mitt, and then place the mitt back into the shampoo bucket and onto the car. By doing this, you reduce the chance of creating imperfections in your paint.

You don’t have to use two buckets, but you generally run the risk of creating paint damage without having a rinse bucket to discard of dirt.

Can I use dish soap to wash my car?

While very good for removing dirt from dishes, dish soap is no good for your car’s paintwork. In fact, the chemicals used inside of dish soap to remove food from your dishes can cause damage to your paintwork. Don’t do this!

What is pH neutral car shampoo?

A pH neutral car shampoo is the type of product you should be buying. Put simply, it sits at 7 on the pH scale, and is neither dominant in acid or alkaline. The benefits to this is that the product won’t damage your paintwork, nor will it strip away ceramic coatings or wax from the body. With products that have more acid in, you’ll risk causing damage to the paintwork and it will almost certainly start stripping away protective coatings on the body.

Relevant content: 

• How To Wash Your Car
• How Often Should You Wash Your Car?
  

If you’re reading this guide to the best car shampoo then chances are you enjoy looking after your pride and joy. And given you’re reading Fast Car, well, perhaps you own a modified car too. Did you know we run a series of car events throughout the year? Why not check out our Fast Car events page here for info on the modified car shows we put on every year! 

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Microfiber cloths are essential when it comes to detailing your car. Everyone should have a big old pile of them ready for all occasions. Whether you’re buffing, polishing, wiping, cleaning, or anything else, the right microfiber cloth will make your job so much easier. There’s a mind-boggling amount to choose from, so we’ve done the hard work for you and picked out our favorite microfiber car cloths.

For this guide, we focused on versatile cloths that can do everything well, meaning you’ll only need one cloth for all your automotive tasks.

What is a microfiber car cloth?

Put simply, it’s a cloth made from microfibers that tends to be soft, and absorbent, which can be used in a multitude of scenarios. Here, we’re focusing on its use on cars. But that’s not to say you couldn’t use them around your house, for example. Although be warned, some cloths aren’t as soft as others and could damage your paintwork.

Microfiber car cloths are an essential detailing tool. You’ll need one during all of your final detailing stages, for example cleaning the windows, or while using quick detailer or interior spray, waxing/polishing etc. When you’re cleaning the exterior of your car with finishing products, its always best to use a cloth that is soft and plush, but also one that is absorbent. We’ll go onto how to buy the best microfiber cloths at the bottom of this guide.

It’s also important to know the different between microfiber car cloths and microfiber drying towels. While both are designed to be soft and absorbent, drying towels do the absorbent aspect far better. They’re usually much larger, and far thicker, meaning they can cover more surface area while also retaining more moisture. If you’re looking for drying towels after your washing stage, then visit our guide to the best car drying towels in 2024.

Best Microfiber Car Cloths In 2023

Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Microfiber Towel

RRP: £13.99 (pack of 3), buy now. $8.99 (pack of 3), buy now.

Meguiar’s Supreme Shine car microfiber cloths are another detailing favorite. First of all, they’re a seriously good size, measuring a hefty 40x60cm, so they cover large areas easily. They’re also plush, delivering swirl-free and high-gloss results. The thick, dual-sided pile allows them to absorb three times more than traditional terry cloths. This means you can wipe off more product with one cloth, allowing you to cover more panels in one go. The safety edging, meanwhile, eliminates the risk of scratching. You get three in a pack, making them good value, too. These are excellent microfiber cloths that are well worth a look.

Kirkland Ultra Plush Microfiber Car Cloths

RRP: £26.99, buy now. $19.99, buy now.

Incredible value, high quality and versatile, these microfibers are hard to beat. Kirkland’s Ultra Plush Microfiber Cloths are the go-to for most car enthusiasts, ourselves included. You can buy various quantities, but the best value pack gives you 36 cloths for under £25 if you shop around. That’s more cloths than anyone will ever need, and, at that price, you won’t care what happens to them. They’re big, at 40.6×40.6cm, and come with a fluffy side and a shorter pile side, making them perfect for a wide range of uses. For the money, these are outrageously good car microfiber cloths, and everyone should have some.

Auto Finesse Work Cloth

RRP: £6.95, buy now. $12.95, buy now.

Auto Finesse offers a selection of sexy car microfiber cloths, but the Work Cloth is its most versatile. This is one cloth that does it all and tackles any task you throw at it with ease. You can use the Work Cloth for everything from cleaning to finishing and everything in between. This short-pile towel can be used with polishes and other abrasives for cleaning and polishing different materials and areas. You can use it for buffing and removing sealants and waxes. And you can use it on paintwork, glass, engine bays and interiors. The Auto Finesse Work cloth is super-soft and features machine-stitched edging, so you can be sure it will last. And you get three cloths in a pack, so it’s good value too. An excellent all-round car microfiber cloth offering from Auto Finesse.

Autoglym Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth

RRP: £11.50. Not available in the US. Buy Autoglym Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth here!

Autoglym’s distinctive red car microfiber cloths are a welcome addition to any detailing kit. The Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth features a specially selected microfiber weave, which means it performs really well. It’s perfect for buffing off polish and wax from bodywork and delivers a dazzling shine. Use it anywhere and everywhere across your whole car. Measuring 40x40cm, it’s a good size, too. It might be a little pricey compared with some other offerings, but this is a seriously nice cloth to use. Your detailing kit deserves a Hi-Tech Finishing Cloth in there.

Dodo Juice Rag Queen

RRP: £4.00 (or £10.00 for a pack of 3). Not available in the US. Buy Dodo Juice Rag Queen here!

Inexpensive but plush and incredibly versatile, Dodo Juice’s Rag Queen is a fantastic car microfiber cloth. As its name implies, this cloth is something a bit special, and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s been designed to tackle every task you can throw at it, making it the perfect go-to cloth for everything. Made from 380gsm microfiber and measuring 40x40cm, this edgeless wonder truly does it all. With a short-pile side and a longer-pile side, it’s perfect for buffing, polishing and cleaning. Use it inside and out, on any and all surfaces, from interiors to paintwork, wheels and trim. As an all-round, do-it-all car microfiber cloth, the Rag Queen is hard to beat. Every keen detailing enthusiast should have this cloth.

How to buy the best microfiber car cloth

Believe it or not, there are a number of different areas you need to consider while buying a towel:

• How big do you need? This is tricky to answer, as needs tend to change between each user. On the whole, I like to use a few different sizes. For hard to reach areas, I tend to use a smaller cloth as it’s easier to hold. For areas like whole body panels, I’d opt for a larger cloth to ensure I can use the same cloth without needing to use a fresh one.
• Types of microfiber/thickness –  You should aim for a cloth with a GSM of anything above 350. Always do your research into the cloth to ensure it’s safe to use on glass. You’ll also notice that cloths are made with a microfiber blend. Aim for anything 70/30 and up (another popular, safe blend is 75/25, while for glass, look for 80/20 mix). The larger number refers to the microfibers.
• Towel edges – there’s some debate to be had as to whether you should be using edgeless microfiber car cloths when focusing on body panels. This is because while the cloth is made from microfiber, the edge that its sewn to often isn’t, and can damage paintwork. I’ve personally never had an issue with microfiber cloths or drying towels with edges, so I tend to just focus on the actual cloth performance.

How were the best microfiber car cloths chosen?

The above products were chosen based on my experience with a whole host of different cloth brands. I’ve been passionately detailing cars for a number of years now, and in that time I’ve sampled pretty much every product from most brands. The above car cloths are some that I’ve kept in my collection, based on their ability to softly absorb moisture without damaging glass/paintwork or leaving marks.

Microfiber car cloths FAQs

Below, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions when it comes to buying and using microfiber car cloths.

Can microfiber cloths scratch car paint?

Yes and no. Don’t be mistaken into thinking all microfiber car cloths are the same. Some are much thinner, and aren’t soft enough to use on your car. However, if you’re buying a high-quality cloth, you’ll have no issue with paintwork damage. A cloth needs to have a solid 350GSM rating or higher, with a 70/30 microfiber blend to be safe for your car.

Are microfiber cloths safe to use on glass?

Yes! But, use the same method as above when buying your cloths. To be extra safe when using cloths on glass, I would look to use a high GSM, and high microfiber blend (80/20 to be safe).

How often should I wash microfiber car cloths?

You should wash your microfiber car cloths after every use if you want to avoid paint damage. Anything you’ve wiped away from the car will sit on the towel. Therefore, the next time you use it, any dirt from the previous car detail is now being reapplied to the vehicle. Overtime, stains and the like will settle in, and it’ll be time to relegate the cloth to either wheel duties or in the bin entirely. Do not use old, dirty cloths on your car!

I dropped my microfiber cloth on the ground, can I still use it?

No! Same logic from above applies here. Dirt clings onto microfiber car cloths, and the worst offenders are the tiny stones you barely notice with your eye. But run your hand over the cloth and you’ll start to see and feel them. Those stones go straight onto your paintwork when you the cloth to buff. This is how swirl marks and small scratches appear. Chuck the cloth to one side and get yourself a fresh one. Using an extra cloth is far cheaper then fixing the paint damage. And less time consuming, too.

The post Best Microfiber Car Cloths In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Many of us dread the sight of the engine management light, or to give it the official title, malfunction indicator light (MIL). Perhaps it’s the fear of the unknown, or the acceptance that your bank account might be about to take a beating. Whatever the reason may be, it’s always much better to tackle that little light with a more optimistic outlook. Not only could the Zen mindset save you a bit of stress, but on top of that, MILs often have an easy fix. It may be something, or it may be nothing, but whatever’s going on under your car’s hood, an OBD2 scanner will give you the anxiety-quashing answers you need.

Gone are the days of expensive equipment that only professional mechanics would have, nowadays you can get hold of some great OBD2 scanners without breaking the bank. In the world of modern motoring, a portable OBD2/EOBD scanner is a seriously useful bit of kit to have in your arsenal. So, without further ado, here’s some of the best fault code readers that you can buy today.

Best OBD2 Scanners At a Glance

Under £100/$100

• Best Buy: Foxwell NT301. RRP: £77.20, buy here / $89.99, buy here.
• Best Budget Buy: Foxwell NT200. RRP: £38.95, buy here. Not available in the US.
• Best Bluetooth OBD2 scanner: vGate vLinker MC+. RRP: £54.89, buy here / $62.99, buy here.
• Recommended: Autel AutoLink AL419. RRP: £69.00 (new AL519 model), buy here. $75.00, buy here.

Under $200/£200

• Recommended: Foxwell NT680 Lite. RRP: £199.52, buy here. $199.95, buy here.
• Recommended: Launch CRP123 Premium. RRP: £139.00, buy here. Not available in the US.

Best OBD2 Scanners Under £100/$100

Foxwell NT301

Award: Best Buy
RRP: £77.20, buy here / $89.99, buy here.

This is a good example of the more you pay, the more you get. When compared to other entry level options, by spending an additional 30-50%, you get a larger full-colour screen with a graphical menu, and more clearly-labelled buttons. Foxwell supplies the NT301 with a rubber-coated surround, a 92cm lead and a separate USB lead to connect to a PC for updates and generating printouts. Aside from these more upmarket features, the reader performs similar functions to its cheaper rivals, so for the extra money, you’re getting a reader that is easier to use and is larger and more colourful.

For example, it caters for the same range of vehicles, provides live and freeze-frame data, reads I/M readiness data, can clear fault codes and switch off the MIL. However, there are some additional features up its sleeve too, such as its ability to record and play back live data, or convert that data into figures or a graph. Some engine components can be tested and there’s an emissions monitor status (three different warning symbols, whereby one of them is illuminated), which can be used with the engine running to identify emissions-related problems.

When I connected the NT301 to our Peugeot 107 test car, with its pre-generated faults and illuminated MIL, the device beeped and its red exclamation warning illuminated on the front panel. The correct fault codes were displayed alongside a definition of each, with the EVAP fault being classed as pending.

Based on price and features in the low budget category, we found the Foxwell NT301 ticked more boxes than its competitors, thus earning it our Best Buy award for this segment of the market, earning it a spot on the list of the best OBD2 scanners.

Foxwell NT200

Award: Best Budget Buy
RRP: £38.95, buy here. Not available in the US.

You can use the Foxwell NT200 with all 2001+ petrol and 2004+ diesel cars with an OBDII port, although it can also communicate with many Euro Fords dating back to the mid-nineties and various American models from 1996 onwards.

Foxwell stipulates that this tool is suitable for diagnosing engine-related fault codes, but it cannot switch off a service indicator light, an airbag light, or ABS light. However, it can clear engine fault codes, enabling you to fix a problem, clear the codes and see whether it returns.

You can monitor intermittent faults live, which is useful for figuring out what activates them when the engine is running. Plus, you can monitor engine data, such as intake temperature or ambient temperature, to help identify a problem. There’s also a freeze-frame option to view recorded engine data at the point a fault has occurred, along with an I/M readiness view where you can view emissions-related checks.

Thousands of fault code definitions are stored inside this handheld reader, so there’s no need to translate them, and many manufacturer-specific fault codes are available as well. Plus the tool uses software which you can update via a PC (updates are free for the life of the tool). Any logged faults that are retrieved are displayed one at a time on screen along with a definition – our Peugeot 107 test car was correctly diagnosed by the NT200 after I had disconnected the plugs for the CPS and EVAP purge solenoid.

vGate vLinker MC+

Award: Best Bluetooth Scanner
RRP: £54.89, buy here. $59.89, buy here.

I tested the vLinker MC+ very recently and was surprised with just how versatile it is. Built by Chinese electronic manufacturer vGate is easy to use and is compatible with several apps on Android, iOS and Windows.

I put the vLinker MC+ to the test by using a test Audi A3 with a parking sensor failure. The Bluetooth scanner quickly discovered the fault (I used the Car Scanner app) as well as provided an in-depth check of the car’s systems. In fact, the scanner is far more detailed that I expected. You can display live data to monitor engine values, as well as fuel consumption and even acceleration times. Read my full vLinker MC+ review here.

Autel AutoLink AL419

Award: Recommended
RRP: £69.00 (new AL519 model), buy here / $75.00, buy here.

Supplied in a neat soft carrycase with a detachable lead (data link connector) and a 65-page user’s manual printed in a sufficiently large font, this OBD2 scanner provides all of the features offered by the Foxwell products above. This includes coverage of petrol vehicles from 2001 onwards and diesels from 2004, the ability to identify generic and manufacturer-specific fault codes, switch off the MIL and clear fault codes, display live and freeze-frame data and show I/M readiness data. You can look up fault codes (DTC) via a library with a definition displayed on-screen, and there’s also a code breaker function that provides further information on a fault. On top of that, these fault codes and information can be updated online by plugging the device into an internet-connected PC (USB cable supplied).

The control buttons are clearly labelled and comprehensive, with a dedicated I/M and a help button. The I/M button is a little frustrating because the device runs through a full language/protocol check each time, even if it has already done this.

It’s clear that for your money when compared to the other cheaper devices, you generally get a more rugged-looking reader with a carrycase and detachable lead, but is it worth the extra cash if the rest of the features seem similar to what Foxwell offers? The overall device is much easier to use, but some people may think that doesn’t justify the extra expense.

When I connected the device to our test Peugeot 107 with its two pre-determined faults, one of its warning symbols illuminated and both fault codes were correctly listed and defined under the Read Codes menu option.

Best OBD2 Scanners Under $200/£200

Foxwell NT680 Lite

Award: Recommended
RRP: £199.52, buy here / $199.52, buy here.

Supplied in a plastic-moulded carrycase with a detachable lead (data link connector), the Lite version of the Foxwell NT680 is significantly cheaper than the Pro version, so is it worth buying? Well, the Lite certainly seems to offer a lot, especially for the engine-related criteria this test is focusing on. It can cater for the usual wide range of vehicles (2001-on for petrol engines and 2004-on for diesels), and can also reset the service light. Plus, while it’s not relevant to our test, it covers ABS, airbags and gearbox faults and can also communicate with the electronic park brake on 42 marques of vehicle.

When I connected the NT680 Lite to our Peugeot 107 after disconnecting its wiring plugs for the CPS and EVAP purge solenoid, it correctly displayed a stored code for the CPS (fault code and description) and a pending code for the EVAP. I also tried connecting and diagnosing faults using the Lite’s manufacturer-specific diagnostics. This requires you to select the continent of manufacture (Europe), then the manufacturer, model and engine, which opens up various aspects for assessment: ABS, ECU, gearbox and airbag, for example. This route provided access to a much deeper range of systems and live data that goes beyond what the universal EOBD/OBDII route can do.

In this price category, I felt that NT680 Lite offered the best value for money based on the fact that it’s the cheapest device to offer an oil reset function and performs well when analysing faults and live data via the EOBD and manufacturer-specific routes. However, I also found it offered the best overall features for its price. So I chose this as Fast Car’s Best Buy for mid-to-high budgets.

Launch CRP123 Premium

Award: Recommended
RRP: £139.00, buy here. Not available in the US.

This is Launch’s entry-level fault code reader and is the only device in our test that has a two-year warranty. It’s certainly a professional-looking OBD2 scanner at a moderate price, but are looks all you get for your money, or does it offer any additional features? Launch supplies the landscape-shaped device a rubberized protective surround and a separate data link connector cable, but no carrycase.

The typical features for an OBD2 scanner are available, including diagnosing and clearing fault codes, looking them up via a DTC library, switching off the MIL, viewing live and freeze-frame data and assessing I/M monitors. This device will also cater for transmission, ABS and airbag (SRS) systems, although we’re not looking at these for this test.

I liked the simplistic layout of the screen, which begins with three menu options for Diagnose, Settings and Help. Diagnose leads to three more options for EOBD, Scan and Review. The Help options are impressive, with a DTC library and a useful explanation of abbreviations.
Our fault code testing using the Peugeot 107 was successfully diagnosed by the Launch CRP123 using the EOBD route, which correctly displayed each fault code alongside a definition.

We tried to communicate with the 107’s ECU via a manual scan approach, which requires the make and model to be selected along with the system in use. I could then retrieve and clear fault codes and view live data (data stream), although the latter option failed on our old Peugeot 107, but I could appreciate the greater potential for manufacturer-specific diagnostics that the Launch CRP123 offers.

How were the best OBD2 scanners tested?

For an OBD2 scanner to be tested effectively, the car you connect to should already be throwing fault codes. This allows the device to search the car and note down faults. As a result, we used two vehicles, a Peugeot 107 and an Audi A3, both of which had different faults. The Peugeot 107 was showing an Engine Management Light, while the Audi A3 was suffering from a faulty parking sensor. Each OBD2 scanner on test was able to identify the correct faults, while some offered a description as to what the fault was.

What is an OBD2 scanner?

An OBD2 scanner is simply a device that can connect to your vehicle’s diagnostics via an OBD2 port located in your car. The device is able to connect with the vehicle and display a variety of different vehicle diagnostics, with its primary use being the ability to read fault codes being shown by the vehicle. Fault codes can arise from all manner of different issues, covering both minor and major faults. By connecting to the vehicle, you, or a professional, is able to correctly diagnose a fault based on the code being shown. It’s a vital piece of equipment that mechanics use to resolve issues.

Be sure to check out our guide on OBD2 scanners vs readers for more information on diagnostic tools.

Looking for more tools and tech for your garage? Check these out:

• Best screwdriver sets
• Best car battery jump starters
• Best cordless ratchets & drivers
• Best tool set for beginners

Love car shows? Be sure to check out our Fast Car Entertainment events here. 

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Historically, a proper car check via typical ‘VIN checkers’ could see you forking out up to £30 per search. And when you’re as picky about your next potential ride as we are, we seldom buy the first car we see. Typically, a modified car fan will view multiple examples before finally committing to a purchase. And if you do a history check for each one, those car bills can quickly mount up.

Not any more. Thanks to Carly and its new Free Car History Checker service. Now, you can simply download the Carly App to your smartphone and check as many cars as you like, all totally free of charge.

What Info Does Carly’s Free Car History Checker Provide?

With Carly’s tool, all it takes is a vehicle registration number to unlock a treasure trove of data. Here’s what you can expect:

• Vehicle Images: See the life journey of the car through collected visuals from various sources.
• Theft Status: Insights from both UK and international stolen vehicle databases.
• Finance Status: Know if there’s any unresolved financial burden on the car.
• Written-off Information: Find out if an insurance claim branded the car beyond repair.
• Mileage History: Cross-verify logged mileages and spot any mileage tampering.
• MOT History: Detailed records of each MOT check, including pass/fail statuses.
• Damage Reports: Comprehensive details about prior damages.
• Salvage Auctions: Uncover hidden damage not flagged by insurance companies.
• Ownership History: Track how many hands the vehicle has passed through.
• Tax Status: Current taxation information.
• Definitive Vehicle Information: From fuel consumption to engine specs and performance metrics.

Knowlegde is Power

Carly’s Free Car History Checker isn’t just a tool; it’s a game-changer for both buyers and sellers in the used car market. For buyers, it is like having an detective in your pocket. One that can sift through all the records to give you a detailed picture of the car’s past. This information is allows buyers to make well-informed decisions, and arms you with negotiating power. Sellers, on the other hand, can build trust with buyers. Being transparent about a car’s history paves the way for smooth, honest transactions.

How to Access the Free Car History Checker

The Free Car History Check is accessible to all new and existing Carly users via their app (available in both free and premium versions). Grab your phone and download the Carly app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Trust in Carly

In an era where transparency can be hard to come by, Carly is setting new standards with its Free Car History Checker. By providing unmatched insights, Carly empowers every car enthusiast and prospective buyer to avoid headaches or potential pitfalls and make informed choices effortlessly. So next time you’re eying that potential new car, remember – Carly’s got your back.

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The post Unlock Hidden Car Secrets with Carly’s Free Car History Checker! appeared first on Fast Car.

Snow foam makes not only makes car detailing so much easier, but it’s also an essential part of the pre-wash stage. To do it right, you need the right tool for the job. A snow foam lance or cannon is essential for applying snow foam to your car’s bodywork. There are a few different designs out there, so it can be tricky to choose one. They range from cheap and cheerful to quite expensive. But that’s why we’ve put together this test to help you pick the best snow foam lance.

It’s important to note that the majority of snow foam cannons and lances require a jet wash/pressure washer attachment. The water and snow foam mixture is pressurized through the jet to produce the foam. There are, however, other styles out there that require manually pumping. These can be effective, and while I haven’t tested any here, they do tend to be less effective than a traditional pressure washer attachment. 

Best Snow Foam Lances at a glance

• Best Overall and Editor’s Choice: MJJC Foam Cannon Pro V2.0. RRP: £46.95/$89. Buy Now.
• Best Value: Amazon/unbranded Snow Foam Lance. RRP: £18.99, buy now. $26.20, buy now. 
• Approved: Hydro 360 Snow Foam Lance. RRP: £20.99. Not available in the US. Buy Now.

About the tester

I am Fast Car’s Detailing Product Tester, and I have been into cleaning cars for many, many years. In that time I’ve tried more detailing products than most, and have a huge array of personal favorites in my collection. I’ve tested and used everything from great detailing products to the ones that no one should be using. Pitting products against each other means I know what works and what doesn’t. The best products in these tests are the ones that I will personally be using, so you know they’ve really impressed me.

I’ve chosen six of the most popular snow foam lances on the market. Every snow foam cannon on our list promises good performance, but some are better than others. I’ve picked a selection that includes the cheapest lance you can buy, well-known lances, and expensive lances. There is something here to suit every need and every budget. Remember that snow foam lances have specific connectors for different pressure washers. Make sure you choose the correct fitting for you. 

MJJC Foam Cannon Pro V2.0 – Best overall and Editor’s Choice

RRP: from £46.95 / $89. Buy MJJC Foam Cannon Pro here

Pros:

• Fantastic horizontal and vertical nozzle adjustment
• Soft pick-up hose with weighted filter
• Excellent foam

Cons:

• Measurements only go up in 100ml increments and are only numbered at 500ml and 1000ml
• Expensive

While every snow foam lance here performs well, there had to be a winner, and it’s the MJJC Pro V2, by a clear margin. This snow foam lance starts off strong thanks to its wide base for stability and a decent-size filler neck. It feels solid, and I like that the foam adjuster makes it clear which way to turn it for more or less foam. It also has the best pick-up hose in the whole test, as it’s soft and flexible and comes with a weighted filter at the end. This means that whichever way you tilt the MJCC snow foam lance, it will always be able to suck in snow foam solution.

It offers horizontal and vertical adjustment, and the foam spray pattern has a wide range of adjustment. It also produces plenty of foam and is just excellent to use. The only negative point is the measuring gauge, which only goes up in 100ml increments, and only has numbering at 500 and 1000ml. But honestly, that was me looking for something I didn’t like. The MJJC Foam Cannon Pro V2 is the best snow foam lance here, a clear winner, and the one I will be using from now on.

Read our full review of the MJJC foam cannon here.

Amazon/unbranded Snow Foam Lance – Best Value

RRP: £18.99, buy now. $26.20, buy now.

Pros:

• Great value
• Detailed measurements

Cons:

• No horizontal or vertical adjustment
• Falls over
• No pick-up hose filter
• Narrow filler neck

Ever since I started using snow foam, this has been my personal snow foam lance of choice. It’s definitely a no-frills experience, but for the money, it’s hard to complain, even though it’s not got much in the way of features. It feels cheap, there’s no pick-up filter, there’s no horizontal or vertical adjustment, and it falls over constantly. It also has a narrow filler neck. But the measuring scale starts at 100ml and gives you numbered increments all the way to 1000ml, which is nice. It’s incredibly easy to use and delivers decent foam. Crucially, you can pick these up for a little over $/£10 if you shop around. Mine has never let me down, and if you’re on a budget, I can absolutely recommend this snow foam lance.

Be sure to read the full review on the Amazon Basics lance here.

Hydro 360 Snow Foam Lance – Approved

Price: £20.95. Not available in the US. Buy the Hydro 360 lance here

Pros:

• Textured neck indent for extra grip
• Chunky nozzle grip with horizontal and vertical adjustment
• Pick-up hose filter

Cons:

• Very stiff nozzle adjustment
• Measurements start at 200ml and only go up to 800ml

The Hydro 360 was the snow foam lance I had the highest hopes for. I expected it to win, but ultimately it just fell short. There’s a lot to like here – there’s a nice-sized filler neck, and I really liked the hand grip indent in the bottle. The nozzle feels nice and chunky and is easy to grip with wet hands. You also get an intake hose filter, though the hose is a little stiff. There’s also horizontal and vertical adjustment. Foam levels are impressive, and it has the biggest spray angle adjustment range of any snow foam lance here.

Unfortunately, the nozzle adjustment is incredibly stiff. This makes it hard to adjust just the spray pattern without also moving the horizontal/vertical adjustment portion. This makes it a little frustrating to use, and you really need a firm grip on the nozzle when adjusting. Also, the measuring markings don’t start until 200ml and stop at 800ml, which is annoying when one liter is the norm. But it’s still an excellent lance overall.

For more advice, check out our full review on the Hyrdro 360 foam lance.

Auto Finesse Snow Foam Lance

RRP: £39.95 / $62.95, buy the Auto Finesse Snow Foam Lance here.

Pros:

• Looks and feels great to use
• 1500ml capacity, great for bigger cars/SUVs/Pickups
• Pick-up hose filter

Cons:

• No horizontal or vertical adjustment
• Measurements start at 250ml and only have markers every 250ml

The Auto Finesse Snow Foam Lance is arguably the nicest-looking lance I tested. This snow foam lance feels expensive and is very nice to use. It has the wider filler neck I want to see and a nice stable base. It also has a filter on the pick-up hose, which, again, is nice to have. It’s the biggest snow foam lance in this test and will hold 1500ml of liquid, which is another selling point. This makes it great if you need to wash something big and you want as much snow foam as possible. There’s no horizontal and vertical adjustment, though, which it gets marked down for. Also, the measuring scale is vague, only starting at 250ml and only having markers at 250ml increments, which is annoying. But otherwise, it’s a solid choice, it performs well and is ideal if you have larger vehicles to wash.

Check out the Auto Finesse Snow Foam Lance full review here.

Autoglym Polar Blaster Snow Foamer 

RRP: £39.92, buy now. $60.25, buy now.

Pros:

• Feels great to use
• Widest filler neck on test
• Neck indent makes it easy to hold

Cons:

• No measurement scale
• No horizontal or vertical adjustment
• No pick-up hose filter

The Autoglym Polar Blaster is a snow foam lance I have been using personally for a while now. It’s a very well-built snow foam lance, and Autoglym has made the effort to make sure it stands out. I like the adjuster knob design, and the nozzle is easy to adjust, with good grips ideal for wet hands. The bottle, meanwhile, has the largest filler neck of any snow foam lance in this test. It’s nice and stable, and I like the hand grip around the neck, as well. There’s no filter on the pick-up hose, but it is soft and flexible, which is nice.

However, there’s no horizontal or vertical adjustment, which is unacceptable at this price point, really. Also, as Autoglym intends it to be used with its own Polar Series products, there is no measuring scale. That’s really annoying, and I actually drew my own with a marker pen. So, while it’s nice to use and delivers impressive foam, it can’t compete with the best snow foam lances here.

For more info, read the full Autoglym snow foam lance review.

MTM Hydro PF22.2

RRP: £85.91, buy now. $82.50, buy now.

Pros:

• Lovely action on adjuster knob and nozzle
• Horizontal and vertical adjustment
• Measurements in 50ml increments

Cons:

• Narrow filler neck
• Bottle feels cheap
• No pick-up hose filter
• Narrow spray pattern
• Very expensive compared to others

The MTM Hydro PF22.2 is a snow foam lance that promises a lot. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the most disappointing foam cannon to use. That being said, it does have some very nice features. I love the action on the adjuster knob with its soft clicks. It also has the nicest nozzle of any snow foam lance in this test. The spray pattern adjuster is easy to turn and shows you which way to twist for a narrow or wide spray pattern. The horizontal and vertical adjuster is equally well-designed. It clicks into place beautifully and has markers for horizontal and vertical spray orientation.

The scale is also very comprehensive, with markers every 50ml. The bottle has a wide base and a textured section for extra grip. However, there’s no filter, and the pick-up hose is stiff. The bottle looks and feels cheap and has a narrow filler neck. But worst of all is the spray pattern. It has a tiny range of adjustment, and even its widest setting delivers a disappointingly narrow spray pattern. Add in the high price, and it’s hard to recommend this snow foam lance.

For a closer look at its pitfalls and potentially redeeming features, read our full review of the MTM Hydro PF22.2.

How Each Product Was Tested

I assessed each snow foam lance on several criteria. Size, functionality, ease of use, features, and price were all considered. I checked how well each snow foam lance performed in a variety of key areas. The amount of foam, the spray pattern, and what it was like to use were also taken into consideration. I have been using various snow foam lances for years, so I know what makes a good one, and I’ve found some new favorites among this selection.

What is a snow foam cannon?

Put simply, a snow foam cannon, or lance, is traditionally an attachment that connects to your pressure washer that allows a cleaning mixture to be applied to the car. The snow foam product mixes with water in the bottle and is then pressurized onto the car, which creates the foam. The bottle itself is usually made from a plastic mix, with a brass attachment connecting it to your preferred pressure washer. It’s important to remember that not all pressure washers are the same, so when you’re purchasing one, remember to select the product that attaches to your jet wash. Product listings usually mention which pressure washer brands the snow foam cannon is suitable for.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Snow Foam Lance

The perfect snow foam lance will have several useful features. You want a nice, wide filler neck, which makes life easier. A wide base means it won’t topple over when you’re not using it. You want a wide range of spray pattern adjustment as well. This allows you to quickly coat the whole car or just spray a small section.

Horizontal and vertical spray pattern adjustment is also very nice to have. A measuring scale on the side of the bottle is essential for ease of use. Finally, soft pick-up hoses and filters are a nice bonus that’s well worth looking out for. This can make all the difference between a good snow foam lance and a great one.

Looking for the right products to use in your new lance? We’ve got you covered with our guide to the best snow foam in 2024.

Love car shows? Whether you’ve got a show-ready VW, a track-focused JDM machine or a fast Ford, whatever it is, we’ve got you covered with a mighty event. Be sure to visit our Fast Car events page for more information on our events and to pick up your tickets. 

The post Best Snow Foam Lance In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Let’s face it, it doesn’t matter which of these five generations of Honda Civic Type R you prefer, the Type R models all have one thing in common – they were built to be driven… hard! And while the purists may prefer to run their Type Rs on the same diameter wheels the car left the factory with, don’t rule out an upgrade in diameter, especially if you fancy running a lower profile tire.

Similarly, even if you’re intending to stick with the OEM diameter wheel, opting for a wider or lighter hoop is almost a must if you’re planning on the odd track day or even just driving enthusiastically on your favorite local B-road.

Below, we’ve listed our 5 of the best wheels for the Honda Civic Type R and each of the 5 generations. We know, there are now 6 generations of Type R, but the FL5 Type R is too new for us to include, yet. So, that’s basically 25 awesome wheels for you to ogle over. From fully-forged mono blocs right through to three-piece splits, whether you’ve got mega bucks to spend or you’re on a tight budget, there’s something here for everybody. Which is your favorite, though?

Best wheels for Honda Civic Type R EK9 

First launched way back in 1997 the EK9 left the factory on 6x15in wheels, but it didn’t take long for people to start upping the anti in the diameter department. While the hardcore B-road blasting folk or track day fans will still stick with a 15in wheel – and a decent-sized sidewall – the show guys prefer a 16in wheel or even a 17in upgrade on a lower-profile tire.

As we explained in our EK9 Tuning Guide, when it comes to wheel brands, the purists will likely stick with JDM brands like Rays, Weds and Enkei, while those not so brand conscious – or with shallower pockets – can opt for something from the Rota or Japan Racing stables. Either way, just be sure to look for a low wheel weight so as not to affect the fine handling balance. As for your favorite design; well, you won’t go far wrong with any of the below…

Spoon Sports SW388

The SW388 by Spoon is available in 15in to 18in diameter and is probably our preferred choice for the EK9 thanks to its simple, timeless five-spoke design. That being said, the fully forged wheel is by no means cheap, but it is also one of the lightest and strongest wheels here.

Advan RG-D2

Advan’s RG-D2 is another motorsport-inspired wheel that’s available in diameters ranging from 15in all the way to 18in. The flow-formed wheel is a middle of the road option in terms of budget and features an open six-spoke design with a nice little dish, too.

SSR Type X

If it’s rare and iconic wheel designs you’re after then you won’t find more rare – or more iconic – than SSR’s Type X. These split four-spoke wheels seem to look great in 15in fitment and, if you can find a set, will no doubt cost you a fair few quid to purchase. Definitely a good long-term investment, though.

WORK Equip 03

If it’s multi-piece wheels you prefer and you’re looking for a bit of bling, then the WORK Equip 03 ticks all the boxes. Available in both two- and three-piece construction, plus a number of various widths, this retro-look wheel will always turn heads, no matter what color center you choose to opt for.

Japan Racing JR10

If you want to turn heads but are working to a budget, then the JR10 should be right up your street, especially as it’s available in 15in-19in diameters, plus a whole host of widths and finishes. Personally, we like the simple silver centers with a polished lip.

Best Honda Civic Type R EP3 wheels

It wasn’t until 2001 that Honda launched the EP3 Type R, which actually came as standard on 17in wheels. While most tuners choose to stick was the OEM diameter, a tire upgrade from the stock 205/45/17s to a wider 215 (or even 225) is often recommended, perhaps with a slightly lower profile tire wall.

As we stated in our EP3 Tuning Guide, the standard 17in wheels are actually quite light, so there is no enormous need to change them, but if you wish to, especially when going for a 225 wide tire, 8x17s can fit quite easily, as long as you stick to no lower than a ET35 offset. When it comes to your preferred wheel of choice, then we’d suggest one of the below which work well with the car’s wedge like appearance. 

Enkei RPF1

Enkei’s sexy RPF1 reminds us of a 90’s Formula One wheel which, when you consider Enkei made F1 wheels back then and F1 is part of the wheel’s name, that sort of makes sense. Available in dimensions ranging from 14in to 17in the split six-spoke single-piece design is simply stunning.

Work Emotion CR 2P

If ever there was a wheel that screamed ‘JDM’ then it’s WORK’s Emotion CR 2P. This deep, two-piece split-rim is available in a multitude of sizes and finishes, plus it works for either a show car or track day application. So, that’s a win, win in our book!

Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2

If it’s a hardcore race-look you’re after then you can’t go far wrong with Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2. This 12-spoke, single piece wheel was inspired by the BTCC and is said to be heat treated and also super light. Available in 15in, 17in and 18”, plus a number of widths and finishes, this wheel is a no brainer for us.

Spoon Sports CR93

Spoon’s CR93 has a real OEM look to it and works especially well on the EP3 Type R. In 8.5x17in fitment the wheel tips the scales at just 21.45 lbs and the spoke design is intended to clear larger aftermarket brake calipers.

Mitsubishi Evo 8 Enkei

If it’s an OEM+ option you’re after, then a lot of people fit factory Enkei wheels that came as standard on the Mitsubishi Evo 8. This simple six-spoke designed wheel is both strong, light and affordable, plus it will clear a large caliper.

Best Honda Civic Type R FN2 wheels

Over here in Europe the third-generation of Civic Type R, Honda’s FN2, was released in 2007,  thankfully still in hatchback form (in Japan they got the saloon-bodied FD2). The FN2 was a much larger car than its predecessors, which was available as stock with an 18in wheel or even an optional 19in. Obviously, the benefit of this is that there are plenty of aftermarket options available for the car. As we mentioned in our FN2 Tuning Guide, the stock offset of ET55 does mean the wheels tuck in the arches a tad too much; ET40 fills the arches much better and still avoids clearance issues, even on an 8.0in rim. As for the type of wheel that suits this car, well it was quite a radical design which you either loved or hated. Those that bought and modified one soon realized that the simple, less fussy designed wheels worked better.

Rays VOLK CE28

The CE28 is a ten-spoke single-piece wheel available in 17in and 18in diameter, plus a number of widths and fitments. The JDM-style design features a pronounced lip and we’d say a 18in fitment finished in bronze is about as good as it gets, especially if you’re after a wheel that both looks good and performs well.

Rota Force

If you’re on a tight budget then Rota’s ten-spoke Force is a great looking wheel for a fraction of the cost of many other higher-profile brands. Available in 17in and 18in diameter, this single-piece wheel also comes in a huge number of fitments, widths and finishes. A great first aftermarket wheel choice.

OZ Racing Alleggerita HLT

Available in 17in and 18in diameters, the Alleggerita features OZ’s HLT (High Light Technology) which offers lightness and resistance, apparently. This nine-spoke motorsport inspired wheel is middle of the road in terms of pricing and is available in a number of widths and finishes.

SSR Professor SP5

If you’re after the ultimate show wheel then SSR’s Professor SP5 could well be it. While not cheap, these stunning ten-spoke split rims are available in pretty much any size and fitment you could dream up, not to mention a load of different finishes, too. Stunning!

Bola B1

If you’re after a definitive JDM-look wheel on an absolute budget then Bola’s B1 is the perfect choice for your FN2. Available in 17in to 19in diameter and in a number of widths, the B1 is a six-spoke stunner than comes in a large array of finishes.

Best Honda Civic Type R FK2 wheels

The 2015 FK2 was based on the ninth generation Civic and featured flared, touring car-inspired wheel arches, which meant plenty of room for wider wheels. While it actually came on 19in wheels as stock, the low-profile tires meant an extra firm ride so we’d suggest dropping down to 18in and fitting a tire with a deeper tire wall. As we mentioned in our FK2 Tuning Guide, a high offset of ET60 pushes the wheels well into the arches and you get a hell of a lot of arch gap which really doesn’t help the aesthetics, however, a set of 20mm spaces can sort this. Thankfully, the choice of aftermarket wheels on offer, due to its 5×120 fitment, is massive.

OZ Ultralegerra

Motorsport-inspired wheels don’t come much more iconic than OZ’s Ultralegerra which, let’s be honest, looks good on pretty much anything but particularly suits the FK2 Type R. Made in Italy the wheel features six double spokes and comes in a huge number of diameters, fitments and finishes.

Rota P1

The Rota P1, in an 18in diameter, is about as good as it gets if you’re after a budget wheel for your FK2. This nine-spoke motorsport-inspired wheel looks particular good in the Gunmetal finish, too. Well, we think so, anyway…

Japan Racing JR29

Considering how reasonably priced the JR29 is, it has a really great look thanks to its split five-spoke design. This wheel is available in probably more configuration choices than any other here, but we’d take the 8.5x18in in Matt Bronze.

SSR GTX01

Wheel designs don’t come much more aggressive than SSR’s GTX01. Another flow formed wheel from SSR, the GTX01 has a chunky looking design that features 10-spokes and is available with a choice of three different face types (Standard, Medium and Deep Concave).

WORK Emotion D9R

The D9R by WORK is a wheel that’s extremely popular with the drift crowd, but which also looks amazing on front-wheel drive cars, like the FK2 Type R. The wheel’s lower offset gives plenty of lip and the D9R us available in a number of fits and finishes.

Best Honda Civic Type R FK8 wheels

The final model we’re looking at here is the 2017 FK8 Honda Civic Type R which was the first to come on whopping 20in wheels as standard (until the Sport Line was launched on 19in rims). In our FK8 Tuning Guide, we concluded that whatever diameter wheel you choose to run on your FK8, you’ll want a lightweight wheel, something flow-formed from the likes of APEX, or something forged (if you’re feeling flush), like the legendary TE37. Funny we should mention that…

Rays VOLK RACING TE37

When it comes to probably the most popular and highly regarded choices for FK8 wheel upgrades then the Rays Volk Racing TE37 has got to be up there. Let’s face it, these wheels look good on pretty much everything. The race-inspired wheel comes in a simple six-spoke design and works in pretty much any color. A no brainier if you’re after a timeless wheel that will always look good.  

Apex EC-7

The EC-7 is another iconic JDM wheel that comes in a choice of three increasingly concaved faces. No matter what the concave you choose, the spokes are designed to clear most aftermarket upgraded calipers. Quality really is order of the day here, but then that is reflected in the price.

WedsSport TC105X

Light, strong and stunning, that’s probably the best way to describe the WedsSport TC105X. Developed on track, the ten-spoke TC105X comes in a number of dimensions ranging from 15in up to 18in. Amazingly, even the largest sized 11×18” wheel tips the scales at just 8.6kg!

Vossen HF-5

There’s just something about the futuristic look of Vossen’s HF-5 which doesn’t just scream JDM… it also shouts FK8 Type R at the same time. The Hybrid Forged (yes, that’s the HF part of the name) wheel is available in diameters ranging from 19in to 24in and widths of 8.5in to 12in.

Desmond Regamaster Evo II

Finally, Desmond’s timeless five-spoke Regamaster Evo II is a fully-forged monobloc made in Japan that features a nice sized (45mm) dish and in 9.5x18in fitment that tips the scales at just 8.12kg. While sizes are quite limited, these are available in a number of colors.

Relevant content:

• Alloy wheels guide – learn everything you need to know about wheel dimensions.
• Alloy wheel restoration guide

The post Best Honda Civic Type R Wheels appeared first on Fast Car.

Why Choose the Dodo Juice Essential Collection?

In the world of automotive detailing, the name Dodo Juice stands out for excellence and effectiveness. Dodo Juice says the new Essential Collection is not just another car care kit; it’s a meticulously curated selection of detailing products designed to breathe life into your car’s appearance, ensuring it’s ready not only for the show season but for capturing admiration on every journey.

Start with the Ultimate Wash

Embark on your detailing journey with ‘Born to be Mild‘, a 500ml bottle of award-winning shampoo that offers the perfect balance between thorough cleaning and paint care.

Polish and Prep Like a Pro

Advance to the ‘Critical Finish‘ ultra-fine cut polish (500ml), suitable for all paint types. This step ensures your vehicle’s exterior is free of imperfections and primed for protection.

Unmatched Wax/Protection

The collection boasts ‘Shinecraft‘ 30ml hybrid wax and ‘Future Armour‘ 100ml spray sealant for durable protection and unmatched gloss, challenging the efficacy of traditional ceramics.

Effortless Maintenance

Concluding with ‘Mint Condition‘ 500ml detailing spray, this stage ensures your car’s breath-taking shine is easily maintained, preserving its head-turning allure.

Affordable Car Care

Priced at a mere £45 for products valued at over £53, the Dodo Juice Essential Collection also provides exceptional value, saving you £8 on top-tier car care solutions.

How to Make Your Car Stand Out with the Dodo Juice Essential Collection

Intrigued by what Dodo Juice can do for you? Enhancing your car’s looks and paintwork protection has never been easier. Whether it’s showcasing at events, cruising down the highway, or simply enjoying a pristine ride every day, these products are key to achieving and maintaining that new-car radiance and protection against the elements.

For a detailed look into each product and to make this magic kit yours, head over to Dodo Juice. Don’t miss this opportunity to redefine what it means to drive a beautifully maintained vehicle.

The post The Dodo Juice Essential Collection appeared first on Fast Car.

People casually use the terms waxing and polishing interchangeably, but the two are very different. Waxing is applying a protective, hydrophobic and gloss-enhancing layer to your car’s paintwork. Polishing is using an abrasive compound, either by hand or machine, to remove swirls and scratches on the surface.

There are a lot of different polishes out there, and picking one is hard. So, as Fast Car’s Detailing Product Tester, I gathered eight of the best and tested them head-to-head to find the best car polish.

Every product here will get you results, but some are better than others. And some are more forgiving and more user-friendly, too. My group test includes a mix of polishes, compounds, and all-in-ones. You can read about the differences between these at the end of the test. Make sure you also check out my testing methods, because I used a gloss meter and a professional inspection light to deliver accurate, scientific results. The final results are based on a combination of the gloss increase, as well as how effectively the product removed surface imperfections.

Without further ado, here are the results of my car polish group test.

Best car polish at a glance

• Best Overall And Editor’s Choice: 3D Speed All-In-One Correction Glaze. RRP: $21.99, buy now. £22.89, buy now. 
• Approved: Chemical Guys VSS. RRP: $19.97, buy now / £24.99, buy now.
• Best Value: Auto Finesse Tripple. RRP: $23.95, buy now / £13.95, buy now.

How I tested each car polish

I used a sunroof panel for all my testing. First, it was washed with a pure shampoo that won’t leave behind any wax or gloss enhancers. Then I used a clay mitt to remove any remaining dirt. This would also ensure any wax or sealant that may have been left behind was removed.

After checking the water behavior to make sure there was no wax or sealant left, I dried the panel and divided it up into sections. Next, I used a gloss meter to measure the gloss of each section. A gloss meter works by projecting a beam of light at a fixed intensity and angle onto a surface and measuring the amount of reflected light at an equal but opposite angle. It gives a reading in Gloss Units (GU) and gives you a scientific means of measuring how shiny a surface is.

The gloss meter was calibrated before each measuring session using a calibration board with a known gloss level. Three readings were taken in each test section before polishing, and the average gloss reading was calculated.

Each polish was applied to a coarse foam pad spritzed with water. The same amount of polish was applied for each product, as close as possible when measuring by eye. The polish was then applied across the test section using a dual-action polisher and spread quickly with three passes. I then carried out four sets of four passes, two horizontal, and two vertical. The remaining product was then wiped away.

Finally, I used a Meguiar’s MT103 Sunlight 3+ Detailer Inspection Light to observe correction effectiveness and clarity in each section. Then, the gloss level in each section was once again measured. Three readings were taken, the average was calculated, and I worked out the gloss increase from that.

Best car polish results

3D Speed All-In-One Correction Glaze – Best Overall And Editor’s Choice

Size: 8 fl. oz, 16 fl. oz, 32 fl. oz. RRP: $21.99, buy now. £22.89, buy now.

• Pros: Very good cut, impressive gloss increase, very easy to use, lovely finish
• Cons: Nothing
• Gloss reading before: 80.1
• Gloss reading after: 86.4
• Gloss increase: 6.3
• Full 3D Speed Polish Review

Hailing from America, 3D Speed is claimed to be the most popular all-in-one (AIO) car polish in the world, and I can see why. From start to finish, this top-rated polish was great to work with and delivered great results. 3D speed initially acts like a compound, to get rid of the worst of the swirls and scratches. As you work it, polishing agents kick in to refine the finish. Finally, it leaves behind a layer of synthetic paint sealant blended with Montan Wax, for gloss and protection.

According to the gloss meter, 3D Speed delivered the third-biggest increase in gloss. And the inspection light revealed that it delivered a very impressive cut, with a lovely finish. If you want maximum results with minimum effort, 3D Speed is the clear winner here. Its combination of gloss and cut makes it the perfect choice, and it’s the best car polish for removing scratches.

Chemical Guys VSS – Approved

Size: 16 fl. oz. RRP: $19.97, buy now / £24.99, buy now.

• Pros: Good level of correction, good gloss increase
• Cons: A little expensive
• Gloss reading before: 79.7
• Gloss reading after: 85.5
• Gloss increase: 5.8
• Full Chemical Guys VSS Polish Review

Chemical Guys VSS (very shiny surface, maybe…?!) has been designed to deliver both a good cut, and a fine finish. It does this with an advanced polish that’s formulated with diminishing abrasive technology. What this means is that it starts off cutting like a compound. Then as you work it, the abrasives become finer, and now act like a polish. This means it should remove surface marks and leave a high-gloss finish.

And that’s exactly what it did. It did a great job of removing all those swirl marks and and light scratches and delivered a lovely finish. The increase in gloss was very good, and the clarity of the test section was also very impressive.

Chemical Guys VSS is a great choice of polish if you don’t want an AIO and are looking to add your own protection afterwards. A very strong second-place finish and an excellent, top-rated car polish.

Auto Finesse Tripple – Best Value

Size: 8.45 fl. oz, 16.9 fl. oz, 33.8 fl. oz. RRP: $23.95, buy now / £13.95, buy now.

• Pros: Cuts well, very nice gloss increase, good results with minimal effort, good value
• Cons: Not quite as good as the very best products here
• Gloss reading before: 81.7
• Gloss reading after: 88.3
• Gloss increase: 6.6
• Full Auto Finesse Tripple Polish Review

Where 3D Speed calls itself an all-in-one because it compounds, polishes and waxes, Auto Finesse is different. It polishes, glazes, and waxes, which is why it delivered the second-highest gloss increase in this test. A glaze temporarily fills surface swirls, so even when applying by hand, you’ll get great-looking results. But they’ll only be as good as the polish is because once the glaze is gone, you’re left with the pure paintwork.

Auto Finesse Tripple doesn’t scrimp on spec, that’s for sure. Like Chemical Guys VSS, it uses diminishing abrasive technology. Then you’ve got the glaze agents, while T1-grade Brazilian carnauba adds up to a month of protection.

The gloss meter was very happy sitting on Tripple’s panel, and the cut was surprisingly good. It couldn’t match VSS, though, but the results were still very good. I’m personally not a huge fan of glazes, but Auto Finesse Tripple is a great overall product. It’s great value, too.

Autoglym Super Resin Polish

Size: 16.9 fl. oz, 33.8 fl. oz. RRP: $27.00, buy now / £16.99, buy now.

• Pros: Massive gloss increase, delivers impressive instant results
• Cons: Only average correction, does a lot of filling
• Gloss reading before: 78.7
• Gloss reading after: 87.8
• Gloss increase: 9.1
• Full Autoglym Super Resin Polish Review

Super Resin Polish is one of Autoglym’s oldest and most popular products. However, Autoglym doesn’t give much away about it. The website says that it will restore gloss to dull surfaces, as well as remove small scuffs and scratches. It also contains wax, meaning you don’t need to apply any protection afterwards.

So Super Resin Polish is an AIO, and it also fills swirls. In terms of instant results with not much effort, it’s good. You can see just how much of a difference it made to the test section’s gloss readings. Even eliminating what might have been an anomalous reading, it still delivered the best gloss in the test.

However, it didn’t do much correcting at all, and the test section still had a fair amount of blemishes showing. Also, most of what it does well is mainly filling imperfections. It’s not going to fully improve your paintwork. But for instant results on good paint without trying too hard, it’s a good choice.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound

Size: 15.2 fl. oz RRP: $12.99, buy now. £19, buy now.

• Pros: The best pure correction compound here, fantastic cut and correction
• Cons: A little wet and dusty, poor gloss increase, needs refining for the perfect finish
• Gloss reading before: 83.5
• Gloss reading after: 87.7
• Gloss increase: 4.2

As its name suggests, Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound is all about dedicated paint correction. It features advanced abrasive technology that quickly deals with oxidation, stains, bird-dropping blemishes, and other sub-surface defects. Its micro-abrasives produce a clear finish, free from hazing and swirls. Meguiar’s also says it will polish the surface of your paint to a mirror finish.

In terms of pure cutting performance, this is far and away the best polish I tested here. It delivered a stunningly clear finish. So much so that my camera wanted to focus on the reflection of the sky, not anything my inspection light was trying to show. The test section looked nearly flawless afterwards, and I was so impressed.

However, it delivered the smallest increase in measurable gloss. That was to be expected, as it’s not a fine polish. That, ultimately, knocks it down the rankings. However, if your paintwork is really bad and you need something serious to bring it back to its best, this is it. Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound would be my choice if you’re looking for pure paint correction.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish

Size: 16 fl. oz. RRP: $11.04, buy now / £16.95, buy now.

• Pros: Decent cut, nice finish
• Cons: Not designed for heavy paint correction, gloss could have been better
• Gloss reading before: 83.9
• Gloss reading after: 88.5
• Gloss increase: 4.6

Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish is a polish in the truest sense of the word. Meguiar’s describes it as the final step before waxing for maximum gloss and reflectivity. It uses rich polishing oils to add a deep, rich, wet look to paint, especially on dark-colored cars. Ultimate Polish is what you use to perfect your car’s paint before applying a wax.

It might seem a little unfair including it here, but it is still a polish. And the bottle says it will quickly eliminate fine swirls. I wanted to see how well it would perform in terms of paint correction. I also wanted to see how much gloss it would add. In the end, it tried its best and did okay.

It cut well enough and delivered a good finish, as well as slightly more gloss than Ultimate Compound. Ultimate Polish would be a good choice if your paintwork is decent and just needs refining. Or if you’ve used Ultimate Compound or something else, and want to refine the finish.

Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish & Wax

Size: 14 fl. oz (16.9 fl. oz). RRP: $15.29, buy now / £12.45, buy now.

• Pros: Decent cut, wax and ceramic coating should give long-lasting protection
• Cons: Poor finish, not user-friendly
• Gloss reading before: 80.5
• Gloss reading after: 85.7
• Gloss increase: 5.2

As its name implies, Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish & Wax is an AIO. However, other AIOs include a glaze and a wax, or a compound and polish. This one includes wax and ceramic coating. One of those seems a little redundant here. You don’t need to wax your car before applying a ceramic coating. The coating replaces the wax. So I’m not entirely sure what that’s about. But you can never have too much protection for your paint.

Turtle Wax says that Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish & Wax features precision platelet technology. This removes light swirls, scratches and paint transfer, for easy surface restoration. Its hydrophobic SiO2 ceramic coating delivers water beading, is chemical-resistant, and leaves you with a wet-look shine.

It cut reasonably well, and the gloss increase was not bad. However, I didn’t like the finish. It was hazy, with some marring after polishing. That could be down to me, but I was consistent with my technique. I only had this problem with one other polish, the last-place finisher. Maybe it needs to be worked longer. However, I set parameters for this test, and within those, Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish & Wax is disappointing.

Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish

Size: 8.45 fl. oz, 33.8 fl. oz RRP: $24.99, buy now. £23.08, buy now.

• Pros: Good cut, good gloss increase
• Cons: Very wet, poor finish, unforgiving to use, expensive
• Gloss reading before: 81.9
• Gloss reading after: 87.9
• Gloss increase: 6

Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish Perfect Finish has been designed to offer a one-step polishing solution. It uses special nano-sized abrasives that Sonax says allow good removal of scratches and produce an optimal gloss without holograms.

The bottle says it delivers a 4/6 cut and 6/6 for gloss, which is funnily enough the gloss increase that it delivered. I had high hopes for it, however, in this test, it proved disappointing.

The cut was good, better than expected based on the bottle. And that 6 puts it in 4th place for gloss increase. But it wasn’t nice to use and felt very wet to work with. And it didn’t deliver a good finish. There was quite a lot of visible marring, so this feels like a polish that’s not that forgiving. It’s also very expensive, and others just perform better. Unfortunately, Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish finishes in last place.

Car polish FAQs

Car polish, compound, all-in-one – what’s the difference?

All three products will correct paintwork, but to varying degrees, in different ways, and will deliver different results.
The term polish is used interchangeably among a lot of the products here. A polish is usually something that polishes the paintwork, that is it gives you a very fine, high-gloss finish. This implies it’s more for refining paintwork, than removing swirls and marks. If a product calls itself a polish, you probably shouldn’t expect too much cut from it.

A compound will be more aggressive. It will be perfect for removing heavier swirls and imperfections. It probably won’t leave behind the glossiest finish, though. A compound is great if you have a car with bad paintwork and you want to get some serious results. Ideally, you would follow up with a polish for the perfect finish.

How to know which car polish to buy

It’s important to remember that car polish contains abrasives. The abrasives are measured in grits, so the higher the number of grits, the more abrasive it is. As a result, the higher grit level products are reserved for more severe paint damage, such as deep scratches and other defects. Lower grit level products, like the products I’ve recommended above, are perfect for small, light scratches, like swirl marks.

Do I need a machine buffer to polish?

Yes and no. A machine buffer will certainly make the job easier, and because it can rotate much faster than your hand, you should get better results. That’s only if you’re using the correct method. But, that is another expense and we can appreciate those who want to detail their cars correctly without spending a fortune. With the products recommended above, you can get away with a bit of elbow grease. However, if you’re able to get your hands on a machine buffer, and know how to use it, opt for this method. It requires less effort and you’ll get better results.

For advice on car polish application, be sure to head over to our guide on car paint correction to find out maximize the performance of your car polish.

Relevant content: 

• What Is The Difference Between Car Polish & Wax?
• How To Use a Clay Bar On Your Car
  

The post Best Car Polish In 2024 For Maximum Shine appeared first on Fast Car.

We know that coolant is there to prevent your engine from overheating, and keeping it topped up is essential car maintenance. However, it does so much more than that. It contains antifreeze to prevent your engine from freezing solid when temperatures plummet. It also lubricates the parts it comes into contact with. This means it helps to protect your water pump, head gasket, cylinders and pistons. As it’s so important for a healthy engine, you don’t want to scrimp when it comes to coolant. There is an awful lot to choose from, but I’ve picked a handful of the best engine coolants to help you buy the right one.

How we chose these products

Although I haven’t had the chance to test each of these products directly, I’ve owned and maintained cars for many, many years. As such, I know which brands have a good reputation in the automotive scene, and crucially what sort of specifications are important for coolant to have. Understanding what engine coolants do is part of knowing which products to choose. If you require more information on how it works, be sure to visit our guide to engine coolants.

Best Engine Coolant

Prestone Coolant/Antifreeze

RRP: $10.38 (1ga). Buy Now. £17.19 (4 litres), Buy Now.

Prestone Coolant/Antifreeze is an excellent choice of engine coolant. Available in 1-litre and 4-litre bottles, either ready-to-use or concentrated, it delivers superb performance. Prestone can safely be added to existing coolant/antifreeze without causing damage. This means it’s perfect whether you’re flushing your coolant, or just topping it up. Rigorous testing means Prestone Coolant/Antifreeze delivers corrosion protection for 150,000 miles/10 years. And it protects from -37°C all to way to 129°C. It’s easy to see why this is such a popular engine coolant, and you can’t go wrong.

Evans Waterless Engine Coolant

RRP: $51.95 (1ga). Buy now. £64.95 (5 litres) Buy Now.

While it might be more expensive than traditional coolant, Evans’ waterless range has a lot of benefits. These engine coolants contain no water, which eliminates the problems caused by water-based coolants, increasing reliability and extending engine life. The Evans Waterless range protects from -40°C up to 180°C, eliminating the risk of overheating and boil-over you get with water-based coolants. Waterless coolant also generates 75% less vapor pressure, significantly reducing strain on hoses, seals and gaskets. It also reduces cavitation erosion by 75% compared with water-based coolants and eliminates oxidation corrosion.

Finally, Evans Waterless Coolants eliminate pre-ignition and detonation caused by overheating, increasing combustion efficiency and delivering more power. If you’ve got a high-performance car and are looking for a coolant upgrade, you need to check out the Evans Waterless range.

Comma Xstream Engine Coolant

RRP: £15.04 (not available in the US). Buy now.

The Comma Xstream range of coolants has something for every engine. Suitable for petrol and diesel engines, it’s a superb choice of coolant for your car. This advanced Organic Additive Technology antifreeze and coolant uses an advanced silicate additive package. It works from exterior temperatures of -36°C up to 45°C, and protects your engine against corrosion, erosion, overheating and freezing. Delivering year-round protection and peace of mind for up to five years, Comma Xstream is a superb coolant.

Valvoline Zerex G05

RRP: $17.99 (1ga). Buy now.

This extremely popular engine coolant is an excellent choice to keep your engine happy. Suitable for both petrol and diesel engines, its original long-life chemistry is specially formulated with the highest-quality virgin ethylene glycol and Hybrid Organic Acid Technology. Zerex has been designed to deliver exceptional protection against corrosion, leaking, and deposits as well as freezing and boiling. The low-silicate, reduced pH, phosphate-free formula protects all cooling system metals from corrosion.

Zerex contains nitrites that protect diesel-engine cylinder liners from cavitation, while deposit control additives guard against hard-water deposits and scale. This means that radiators, water pumps and other metal cooling system parts stay clean and your antifreeze flows properly. Whether you’re just topping up your system, or performing a full flush, Zerex won’t disappoint.

CarPlan Premium Red Antifreeze & Engine Coolant

RRP: £11.99 (not available in the US). Buy now.

Premium Red Antifreeze is a concentrated antifreeze and summer coolant. It is Ethylene Glycol-based and incorporates the latest in Silicate Organic Acid Technology. CarPlan Premium Red Antifreeze & Coolant uses a synthetic process and additive package. This means it offers superior corrosion resistance over extended service periods. According to CarPlan, it can be left in as a coolant and rust inhibitor for up to five years. It can be diluted 1:3 for summer use or 1:1 to deliver protection down to -36°­C. A good-value choice of coolant that does a good job.

The post Best Engine Coolant In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

As the owner of a car, there are a core set of tools and tech that everyone should keep stored away in their trunk. One such bit of kit is a portable car battery jump starter. These useful devices have gotten us out of trouble plenty of times here at FC Towers, and we’re sure many of you can relate. After all, it’s all well and good having a set of jump leads to hand, but that requires a second car to get you out of bother…

Instead, standalone car battery jump starters are the perfect solution for when you’re on your own and stuck with a vehicle that refuses to budge. So, if you’re looking to purchase one, here’s our take on the best options currently out there to choose from:

Best Car Battery Jump Starters

NOCO Boost Sport GB20

Award: Best Buy
RRP: $99.95 / £81.77
Performance: 8/14
Is it worth the money? 6/6
Overall score: 14/20

After years of almost having the UK’s smart charger market to themselves, Ctek now has strong competition from the American NOCO brand. And whilst Ctek seems reluctant to launch a jump starter, NOCO has no such qualms. With up to 500 cranking Amps available, rated to start up to 4 liter petrol engines, the GB20 caters for the vast majority of cars and small SUVs. It’s a well-made, solidly performing, unit that’s a doddle to use. Best points are the generously long leads, the bright LED torch, ample safety features, and an intuitive one function per button panel layout.

Ring RPPL300

Award: Recommended
RRP: $122.23 / £99.99
Performance: 8/14
Is it worth the money? 6/6
Overall score: 14/20

Marginally less gutsy than the winning NOCO, Ring’s RPPL300 still packs sufficient punch to wake up petrol and diesel engines up to 3 litres. And, really, there’s little to choose between the two models – especially being so close in price. Whilst this looks more pocket sized, for portable USB charger duties, forget it – at 17 x 9.5cm it’s too bulky. So, really, we’re down to details. The two 2.4 Amp USB outlets are a plus, but all functions being controlled by one button – and tiny LEDs to convey safety warnings – means we prefer the NOCO’s foolproof simplicity.

Interested? Buy it here. Or, check out price comparisons for similar Ring jump-starters below:

Sealey E/Start800

Award: Recommended
RRP: $234.63 / £191.94
Performance: 9/14
Is it worth the money? 5/6
Overall score: 14/20

Heard the one about the jump starter that uses your car’s dead battery to help it get the engine going? Sound bonkers? Maybe so, but that’s exactly what this unit does. Car batteries that drop below 11 volts may not have enough oomph to start an engine, but they still contain a vast amount of energy. E/Start800 feeds off this – or another battery, 12-volt socket, or USB source – for a couple of minutes, and rearranges the energy into a shorter higher voltage starting punch. The beauty of this approach? No – easily forgotten – maintenance charging ever needed.

Halfords Essentials 4 in 1 Jump Starter

Award: Best Budget Buy
RRP: £64.99
Performance: 5/14
Is it worth the money? 6/6
Overall score: 11/20

Easily the best of the DIY priced traditional boosters, marrying many of the Ring RPP148’s innovations with the gutsy performance of Clarke’s venerable but basic Jump Start 900. Better still, Halfords’ keen pricing undercuts both rivals. Going back to those innovations, an isolator allows spark free battery connection, there are two 12-volt outlets and a USB socket – albeit with a low 0.5 amp output, and the LED light is brighter and more durable than Clarke’s museum piece bulb set up. Rated at 2 litres for petrol and diesel engines, shorter than ideal booster leads are our only whinge.

Clarke JSM350

RRP: $129.56 / £105.99
Performance: 8/14
Is it worth the money? 5/6
Overall score: 13/20

Clarke rates the JSM350’s 500 Amps output suitable for starting up to 6 liter petrol engines and 4 liter diesels. And, make no mistake; this little box really packs a punch. But it’s even more impressive as a portable power pack. As well as two 2.1 Amp USB sockets, there are 12- and 19-volt outlets and a vast array of adapters – allowing connection to countless laptops and other accessories. Lightening and 28-pin plugs cater well for Apple users too. But maintenance charging is needed every 3 months, and that’s by mains or 12 volts rather than USB.

Sealey Schumacher SL65S

Price: $131.95 / £107.94
Performance: 7/14
Is it worth the money? 6/6
Overall score: 13/20

Suggested for up to 2 liter petrol engines, and 1.6 liter diesels, this booster is clearly at the lower end of the output scale. But that’s fine for owners of smaller-engined cars. And the reduced output allows a much-reduced size. At 13.5 x 8.5 x 2.5cm, weighing just 320 grams, this slips easily into a pocket – making it a dual use buy: a car starter and a USB power pack. Granted, we’d prefer both USB outlets to be 2.1 Amps, rather than one outputting 1 Amp max. But our biggest gripe is the monthly maintenance charge needed.

Ring RPP148

RRP: £74.95
Performance: 6/14
Is it worth the money? 6/6
Overall score: 12/20

At 24 x 27cm by 14cm deep, Ring’s RPP148 is incredibly compact for a lead/acid unit. But it still illustrates the contrast between traditional and lithium boosters. Both this and Sealey’s SL65s have very similar performance levels – Ring suggests up to 1.8 Litre petrol engines – but you won’t get this in your pocket or even glovebox! Size aside, many of the goodies found on lithium units are also included here. As well as the de rigueur 12-volt cigarette lighter socket, you get two 2.1 Amp USB outlets. Our main moan is that charging is by mains only.

Interested? Buy it here.

Clarke Jump Start 900

RRP: £95.98
Performance: 6/14
Is it worth the money? 5/6
Overall score: 11/20

Clarke’s Jump Start 900 has outlasted countless rivals – including from Clarke themselves – and even a pandemic (hopefully). Will it ever disappear from Clarke’s range, we wonder? Probably not because, ancient and basic as it is, so many of the essentials are spot on. Such as 400 Amps of cranking power, 17Ah of reserve, usably long 1m booster cables, plus mains and 12 volts charging. But niceties are few and far between. The leads, for instance, are permanently on – making connection a little lively. And the built-in light? With its little bulb, it’s quaint rather than illuminating.

Silverline 684786

RRP: $81.58 / £66.74
Performance: 5/14
Is it worth the money? 6/6
Overall score: 11/20

The cheapest lithium pack here by far which means it would be crazy, given how hazardous lithium battery technology can be, to risk buying a barely cheaper unbranded model off the web. Especially as this has a three-year warranty. Despite the price, Silverline suggests the unit is suitable for up to 2.5-litre petrol engines and 2.0-litre diesels. Enthusiastic performance in our tests makes those claims believable. With a modest 6Ah capacity, forget numerous repeat start attempts between charges. But the unit’s two USB outlets, and a slew of different leads, makes it great for tech charging duties.

Draper 70554

RRP: $279.84 / £228.93
Performance: 9/14
Is it worth the money? 1/6
Overall score: 10/20

With lithium models averaging at around 300 grams, this 13.5Kg monster feels huge. But, with up to 3000 starting Amps available, the output’s also huge, meaning there are few engines this won’t wake. Including commercials, thanks to its 24 Volt mode. To make full use of the massive 40Ah internal capacity there’s a USB, two twelve volt, and even two mains sockets – powered by an on-board inverter (300 Watts max). But the safety heavy electronic control system is clunky, and such a big unit should be on the ground during start attempts – something the short booster leads don’t allow.

Clarke Jump Start 4000

RRP: £197.99
Performance: 8/14
Is it worth the money? 1/6
Overall score: 9/20

Another absolute powerhouse. Granted, peak cranking current is 2200 Amps rather than the Draper’s 3000. But, again, there are few cars, SUVs, or 4x4s this won’t rouse. Clarke suggests up to 6 liters petrol, and 4 liters diesel. Used on more mundane machinery, the huge output and 40Ah capacity allows several starting attempts between charges. Although more recently introduced than the evergreen Jump Start 900, the two models are obviously closely related. On the plus side, that means quality 1m long leads. But, other than an isolator – allowing arc free clamp connection – there are few other safety features.

Laser 7405

RRP: $263.68 / £215.71
Performance: 6/14
Is it worth the money? 3/6
Overall score: 9/20

The punchiest lithium jump starter here, which Laser rates – perhaps a little conservatively, we think – suitable for up to 4.5 liter petrol engines and 3.5 liter diesels. But although the unit’s output is impressive, it’s only slightly ahead of the pack. Unlike price, which is considerably north of the winning NOCO and Recommended Ring. That quibble aside, there’s plenty to like. Two 2.1 Amp USB sockets are joined by a third that outputs up to 3 Amps and doubles as the charger input. Laser has excelled with a clever charge/output lead that caters for almost all USB configurations.

Words by James Stanbury, originally featured in Car Mechanics.

• How To Charge a Car Battery
• Best car battery chargers

The post Best Car Battery Jump Starters for 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

The subwoofer effect is well known, yet has some secrets. This is when you add deep bass reinforcement to your sound system. Any sound system, from that running on your TV, to that in your car, will benefit from a subwoofer. Quite how seems obvious, you just add loads of thump. But the reality is much more subtle.

Yes, you can make it so you can feel the bass. But before the sensation of tactile audio, there’s something else going on. That’s the seemingly huge improvement in sound quality of your normal speakers. With some reinforcement for the low frequencies, your speakers simply have to work less hard. At any given volume level, they are being asked to do less – a subwoofer makes them sing. Thus, any subwoofer, even if mild, will make your sound tighter, cleaner, richer and more satisfying.

While these underseat, compact subwoofers may not shake your bones, the sound improvements to be had are tangible and they won’t take up valuable space in your car.

How we chose the products

While we haven’t been able to test each of the products listed below first-hand, they’ve been selected based upon the industry insight of our in-house audio expert. Adam has many decades of experience working in the car audio sector, and is considered one of the world’s leading experts in this industry. In short, his opinions are ones that you can trust.

Best Underseat Subwoofer Guide

Pioneer TS-WX130DA

RRP: $161, buy now. £149.99, buy now.

This woofer seems mild but is oddly potent. It will not only fit anywhere, but that low nominal wattage reading belies an impressive output. One installer, who fits a lot of exotic cars, uses them in Lamborghinis. Even in that tiny cabin, with that level of engine noise, the subwoofer can perform. The immediate difference versus the meagre speaker emplacements in the Aventador’s doors, is amazing. They fine tune their systems with a laptop.

You will not need a laptop, though, as this is the model that comes with a remote control. You can dial the bass in or out, or adjust it between playing different kinds of music. There’s an eight inch speaker inside and you can choose between louder or lower. Called DEEP BASS mode, they claim it will wobble well at 32Hz, and rate it to 20HZ. In DYNAMIC BASS or louder mode, they limit the frequency depth a bit to 40Hz. This allows it to hit 5dB harder. That’s a good bit louder. You can do all this from the most complex bass remote around. If you’d rather the installer should set it up, then don’t mess with it, there’s another model without the remote.

Tech Spec:

• Single 8in (20cm) woofer
• Power: 50W RMS/160W peak
• Frequency Response: Deep Mode: 20Hz – 200Hz / Dynamic Mode: 40Hz – 160Hz
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 70mm x 280mm x 200mm

JBL BassPro SL2

RRP: $349.95, buy now. £365.99, buy now.

As well as the regular features, this unit has some very JBL things going on. For starters, there’s the bass boost function. Fixed at 70Hz, it is technically upper bass but this little box can really play that with some grunt. Boost the bass at 70Hz and it will definitely tickle your butt clean through your seat cushion. The 15A fuse it requires, suggests a power maximum of 180Watts, so the 125W RMS figure figure is typically JBL-conservative. Their roots are in pro-audio and JBL ratings are truthful.

The bass boost is adjustable from zero to plus nine dB, which is sane. Many such controls go to 12dB which will suck power. This makes sense. In another very pro-audio roots indicator, there is also a limiter circuit. This means that if you send overcooked signals to the unit, it will not break up nor distort. Modern digital music can have some crazy sudden increases in bass weight and if the unit detects it is going into distortion, it will limit output to cope. This is all about JBL knowing about how excited musicians (and car audio fans) get. Remote bass level control included

Tech Specs:

• Single 8in woofer
• Power: 125W RMS/250W peak
• Frequency Response 35Hz to 120Hz
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 71mm x 250mm x 344mm

JVC CW-DRA8

RRP: $299.95, buy now. £219, buy now.

JVC are proud of their little warrior. They show off the insides with exploded diagrams, displaying the amplifier and the guts of the speaker driver itself. You can see the little amplifier board, with its FET (that’s the transistor – amplifier bit) and the power supply coil. Tiny but still of chunky gauge, these coppery wire doughnuts are always a good indicator of an amplifier’s muscle. The meatier the coil, the more power it can feed the transistors with. This unit’s power supply coil is a meaty little spud!

The speaker inside has a wide voice coil for an eight incher. It looks like a flat diaphragm but has a cone driving it behind. JVC even show off diagrams as to why their graduated pleated spider suspension is best. That’s the undercarriage of the speaker. Made of fabric, theirs is all about durability. They also quote that heat resistant materials are used throughout the CW-DRA8 for the same reasons.

The remote control has cool blue backlit segments. This allows you full control of phase, volume and the crossover point, which can be set between 50Hz and 125Hz.

Tech Spec:

• Single 8in woofer
• Power: 125W RMS/250W peak
• Frequency Response: 35z to 150Hz
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 75mm x 240mm x 350mm

SONY XS-AW8

RRP: $298, buy now. £199.99, buy now.

The first Dual Voice Coil driver we have seen. These two internal coils on the 8in speaker are run as 2ohms plus 2ohms. That way, it can draw the best low-impedance power from the regular class AB amplifier within. This makes some heat versus the others that tend to have Class D amplifiers. SONY tell you about the heatsink inside, used for their internal amplifier. The enclosure, like the Vibe and Alpine ones, is a sealed box of cast aluminum making it rigid and inert. That’s all about the bass energy being forced out the driver rather than getting used up vibrating the enclosure.

There is a phase flipper switch but you cannot use it from the driver’s seat. It is a simple toggle-switch on the unit’s controls. The wired remote control is a handsome looking knob and can only adjust the volume level. Crossover choice is from 50Hz to 150Hz and is a twiddler on the amp panel, rather than on the remote. This does make more sense in some ways, rather than allowing you to change crossover point on the move.

Tech Spec:

• Single 8in woofer
• Power: 75W RMS/160W peak
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 200Hz
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 78mm x 250mm x 344mm

PowerBass STA-10

RRP: $289.99, buy now. £349.99, buy now.

An American product, this has more specifications quoted and more technical stuff described than any other woofer here. It is a bit of a chunk compared to most of these but is a truly hench item, from a good stable. The on board controls are superb. You get the dual high level and RCA inputs but there is an input sensitivity button on the unit. Out for 0.2v to 0.6v and in for 2.0v to 10.0v. You set it ‘in’ for high level from speakers, or else ‘out’ for low from RCA feeds. The lowpass crossover filter can be set between 40Hz and 200Hz. The most impressive thing is rare even on serious standalone bass amps, a subsonic filter. It’s settable between 20Hz and 50Hz. This means you can really squeeze the most output possible from the unit.

The STA-10 has a proper 100 watts. You want to use those watts well. Play it from just under where your your music lives, crossed over at 120Hz and down and set the subsonic carefully. Get that passband right and the sheer weight that this thing will generate might startle you. Interested?

Tech Spec:

• Single 10in woofer
• Power: 200W RMS/400W peak
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 200Hz
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 82mm x 277mm x 365mm

Focal IBus 20

RRP: $699.09, buy now. £329, buy now.

Focal make speakers to an amazing level. They made the $1000 / £700 Beryllium domed car tweeters. Their Grande Utopia HiFi speakers are eight feet high and weigh half a ton each. Focal know their stuff. This subwoofer follows what we know are solid design briefs for under seat models. Like others, it has an aluminum chassis and also uses a flat diaphragm 8in speaker. It does have more sophisticated control than others.

The power and high level (speaker) and low level RCA connections share the same end as the twin 15A fuses. Thirty amperes of fuses suggests over 300 watts of muscle, so IBus 20 may be well under-specified in its claimed power. The other end has the finer controls. This end is also where the included volume-only remote control knob plugs in. There is a subsonic filter settable between 20Hz and 50Hz which is a good sign. The bass boost goes to a whopping +18dB and is centered around 60Hz. The low pass crossover control can be set between 50Hz and 150Hz. Two push switches control a phase flipper and you can choose to use the switching wire rather than auto-sensing ‘on’. I’ve not seen that before but it may help with the prevention of any turn-on thumps.

Tech Spec:

• Single 8in woofer
• Power: 75W RMS/150W peak
• Frequency Response: 45Hz to 150Hz
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 71.5mm x 250mm x 344mm

Vibe Slick C10A-V0

RRP: £149.99. Buy it here. Not available in the US.

From the well-known UK company, this unit is built with great solidity. Amazing value for the money, the shallow (75mm mounting depth) chassis is an aluminum casting that is dense and does not flex. The driver inside is a SLICK 10S or shallow-mount model fully ten inches across. The amplifier is rated at a meaty 180W and has a ‘peak’ power rating of 540W. The 25A panel-mounted fuse, tends to suggest a real world power of 300 watts, so that 180W RMS looks pukka (it’s just Amps x Volts = Watts).

Vibe don’t offer up any passband (frequency) information but as a known-good bass brand, you can read the controls and see quality. For one, there’s a phase-flip switch. This allows you to correct any cock-ups in the speaker level input wiring. You connect RCA subwoofer signal outputs from a ‘proper’ system, or just hook a speaker wire feed to the input. Either way, it will switch itself on. A cute under dash remote control knob is part of the package too. Interested?

Tech Spec:

• Single 10in woofer
• Power: 180W RMS/540W peak
• Frequency Response not reported
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 73mm x 260mm x 345mm

Alpine PWE-V80

RRP: £229. Buy now. Not available in the US.

A real slice of joy-of-possession for the Alpine fan. It’s a good looking unit, so much so, it seems a shame to hide it away under a seat. Maybe the original under seat sub with aluminum cast-chassis sealed enclosure, this 8in woofer-based design is inert and solid. The thing weighs a meaty 5kg as a result. The remote does the lot, starting with looking cooler than the rest. The crossover point can be adjusted between 50Hz and 100Hz and there’s a phase flip switch on the remote. This allows for fixing wrongly-connected speaker wires, as previously said, but also allows for the oddities of car acoustics. Sometimes it sounds better with that switch flipped, due to the way the car’s acoustics can mess with phase response.

Sounds complex? It isn’t, as you can tell when you flip it and you can just experiment and see. As well as speaker level connection, it also accepts the RCA subwoofer feed from a head unit or crossover output. Alpine do not quote frequency response figures for this product.

Tech Spec:

• Single 8in woofer
• Power: 80W RMS/160W peak
• Frequency Response not reported
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 80mm x 342mm x 238mm

The post Best Underseat Subwoofer for 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

With its sleek lines and tuneable rotary motor, the FC and FD Mazda RX-7 have always been a favorite with the JDM enthusiast, but the factory rolling stock never really did cut the mustard. The aftermarket is flooded with alloy wheel upgrades, but you really need to choose wisely to protect your investment as second-hand RX-7 prices continue to soar. The last thing you want to do is devalue your RX-7 with cheap, nasty looking wheels/

What to look out for when buying aftermarket wheels for a Mazda RX-7

Split rims look fantastic and offer the widest selection of fitments. In most cases, you can tailor splitties to suit your Mazda RX-7. However, if you’re after the lightest, toughest wheels, then forged monoblocks are hard to beat. Neither of these options come cheap, though, but then the best very rarely does.

Of course, there are plenty of cast monoblocks available if you’re buying on a budget, but the quality of these can vary hugely, so do be careful in making a selection.

What to avoid

If your budget is limited, then you need to be far more careful with your selection. As tempting as they may well be, we’d always suggest you avoid fake split-rims as the dummy bolts will often rust or corrode over time, which is very tricky to rectify. Also, if a wheel seems too cheap, then there’s usually a good reason – they can often be heavy and are not always very strong, either.

We’ve compiled this article to help you choose the correct wheel for your RX-7 and have tried to list wheels of all types and budget to give you the widest selection. Without further ado, here are the 20 best Mazda RX-7 wheels.

Best aftermarket wheels for the Mazda RX-7 FC

Launched in the mid 1980s, the FC was the second generation of Mazda’s iconic rotary-power sports couple, the RX-7. Produced until the launch of the FD in 1992, the FC’s factory 15in BBS wheels may be strong and relatively light, but they do date the car and look a little lost in the factory arches.

As we mentioned in our RX-7 FC Tuning Guide, on factory arches you’re quite limited to what you can fit, especially at the front, where a 225 wide tire and an 8inch wide wheel is pretty much the maximum that will fit without modifications. The rear isn’t so bad, where people have fitted 255 wide tires on 9in wide wheels while still on standard arches.

If you’re happy to explore custom or aftermarket arch extensions and body kits, then the sky is the limit in terms of figment. Here we’ve see 295 front tires and even 315 rears! That being said, even with heavily rolled and flared standard arches we’ve seen as much as 265 wide front and 295 wide rear tires on FC Time Attack cars in Japan.

Once you’ve worked out what size wheels you’re after, then comes the fun part – choosing the brand and model to suit your taste. That’s where our guide comes in, to help you on your way…

Cosmis Racing XT006R

The Cosmis Racing XT006R is a flow-formed six-spoke wheel that is both light and strong, plus reasonably priced as well. While 18″ is quite a large diameter rim for the FC RX-7, it can work extremely well if executed correctly, as seen here on Sim Harratt’s car.

Tech spec

Available in: 18-20in diameter. 9.5 – 11in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. Various offsets. Center bore: 74.1. Wheel type: Flow-formed monoblock. Colors available: Various

Where to buy: Torqen

AutoStrada Modena

With their large, center-lock look center cap bolt, three-piece construction and five-spoke design, these JDM favorites actually scream Ferrari F40, but actually looks good on any JDM car. In our mind, it’s best suited to classics like the FC RX-7, though. A staggered 9.5Jx17in front; 10.5Jx17in rear fitment, as seen here on Kohei Miyata’s 350bhp example, will work a treat.

Tech spec

Available in: 16-17in diameter. 8.5-9.5in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. various offsets. Wheel type: Three-piece, five-spoke. Colors available: Silver centers (custom colors to order).

Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay

Enkei RPF1

Enkei’s sexy RPF1 reminds us of a 90’s Formula One wheel which, when you consider Enkei made F1 wheels back then and F1 is part of the wheel’s name, that sort of makes sense. Available in dimensions ranging from 14in to 17in the split six-spoke single-piece design is simply stunning.

Tech spec

Available in: 14-18in diameter. 7-10.5in widths. 5×100 – 5×114.3 PCD. ET18 to 45 offset. 66.5 – 73mm center bore. Weight: 18.52 lbs – 41 lbs (8.4 kg – 19.05 kg). Wheel type: Cast monoblock. Colors available: Silver, Black, Chrome, Gold.

Where to buy: Torque GT

Mazdaspeed MS-01 LM

The OG Mazdaspeed MS-01 (not to be confused with the reproduced single-piece forged option)  is another classic five-spoke split-rim that just suits the retro styling of the FC RX-7 perfectly. A staggered set of 17s will do nicely and if you wanna be baller, then you need to opt for gold centres with a polished lip.

Tech spec

Available in: 17in diameter. 7 – 9in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. ET30 – 44 offsets. 73mm center bore. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Two-piece split rim. Colors available: Silver or Gold centers, polished lip

Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay

BBS RS

If you’re after an OEM+ look for your FC, then BBS’s legendary three-piece wheel will offer you a factory style, but in a more tailored fitment. With so may various fitments available, you need to work out exactly the correct look you want for you car before searching eBay for those wheels. Thankfully, spares are readily available, too.

Tech spec

Available in: 14 – 18in (19 – 20in Super RS) diameter. 6 – 13in widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. -79 – 62 offsets. Centre bore: 57 – 73.9. Wheel type: Three-piece, multi-spoke design. Weight: 10.9kg (19″ Super RS). Colors available: Silver, gold, grey with polished lip

Where to buy: Super RS and spares: BBS.com or Classic RS: eBay

Super Advan Racing Version 2

When you think of three-spoke wheels, then the Super Advan Racing Version 2 has got to be the most recognized. With its distinctive split three-spoke design this iconic wheel lends itself perfectly to Mazda’s classic FC RX-7. Sadly, these have been discontinued, but eBay could well be your friend…

Tech spec

Available in: 17-18in diameter. 7.5-10in widths. 4×100 & 5×114.3 PCD. ET 24 to +48 offset (custom to order). Wheel type: Two-piece, split three-spoke design. Cast with forged rim. Colors available: Silver, gold, chrome, blue, red, gun metal

Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay

Rays VOLK RACING TE37

When it comes to aftermarket JDM wheels then the Rays’ Volk Racing TE37 has got to be one of the most highly-regarded. Let’s face it, these wheels look good on pretty much everything. The race-inspired wheel comes in a simple six-spoke design and works in pretty much any colour.

Tech spec

Available in: 14-18in diameter. 7-12in widths. 4×114.3 – 5×120 PCD. ET -33 to +40 offset. 65mm-73.1mm center bore. Weight: 9.92 lbs-18.74 lbs (4.5 kg-8.5 kg). Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Colors available: Grey centers with polished lip or bronze.

Where to buy: RAYS Wheels UK

Panasport Racing G7 C5C2

Panasport’s G7 C5C2 is a chunky five-spoke two-piece split rim that looks good on any classic JDM car, but especially the FC RX-7. We have seen exotic fitments such as a 9 x 17in front & 10 x 18in rear, but it all comes down to personal taste

Tech spec

Available in: 15-18in diameter. 6-15in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. Various offsets. Wheel type: Two-piece, five-spoke design. Colors available: Silver, gold, grey with polished lip

Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay

Rota Grid

A great entry-level wheel, you really can’t go far wrong with Rota’s five-spoke Grid. It’s a simple, clean design that borrows from a lot of classic JDM wheels. In a 8 x 17in (front) and 9 x 17in (rear) fitment, this would give an aggressive stance and yet still make the perfect daily driver rim.

Tech spec

Available in: 15 – 19in diameter. 7 – 10in widths. 4×100 – 5×120 PCD. ET10 to 45 offset. Various center bores. Wheel type: Cast monoblock. Weight: 11.57 lbs – 18.74 lbs  (5.25 kg – 8.5 kg). Colors available: Various

Where to buy: Rota Wheels

WORK Equip 05

Another classic five-spoke (that has sadly been discontinued) which works so well on the FC RX-7. While not available to buy new, these do crop up on eBay regularly and work well in a staggered 9- and 10 x 17in fitment with 205/40 tires all around.

Tech spec

Available in: Any diameter. Any widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. Any offset. Any center bore. Weight: Depends on spec. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Colors available: Gold & silver (standard), plus custom options.

Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay or buy spares at WORK Wheels

Best aftermarket wheels for the Mazda RX-7 FD

Launched in 1992, the FD RX-7 is by far the most popular of Mazda’s rotary-powered cars and, as a result, the aftermarket is flooded with parts for the iconic machine. While the car has aged extremely well since its release over 30 years ago, the same can’t be said for the factory wheels.

In fact, this was a point we picked up on in our RX-7 FD Tuning Guide: “One of the few components that hasn’t aged too well is the wheels, which generally are small and dated, and even the ‘best’ wheels – the 17-inch BBS wheels from the late Spirit R model – are pretty tame.” On the plus side (pardon the pun), the standard FD arches are quite spacious, so 9.5 × 18in wheels with an ET20 offset, combined with fairly substantial 245 wide front and 265 wide rear tires, fit with no issue at all, fill the arches nicely, and can give massive amounts of grip.

Choosing the dimensions is the easy part, though. Thankfully, our guide to the 10 best wheels will hopefully help you choose and style and design that works best on your car.

RAYS Volk Racing VR21C

As seen on 700bhp FD RX-7 example in 10.5x18in fitment, with its unique five spokes design, the VR21C is set to be a future classic and finished in bronze with Thunderbolt Titanium wheel nuts, well, it doesn’t get any better.

Tech spec

Available in: 18in diameter. 8-12in widths. 5×11 – 5×114.3 PCD. Offsets: -30 – 35. Center bore: 65 – 73.1. Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Weight: Dependent on spec. Colors: Dark gunmetal or bronze, both with polished lip.

Where to buy: RAYS Wheels

WORK Meister S1 3P

Split-rims don’t come any more cool or timeless than WORK’s legendary Meister S1 3P. While it looks good on most JDM cars, if we had to choose one RX-7 to fit it to then that would have to be the FD. For fitment on a wide-body car we’d suggest a 9.5x18in (front) and 11.5x18in (rear) with 255/35×18 and 295/40×18 tires.

Tech spec

Available in: 18-19in diameter. 8-16in widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. Various offsets. Various center bores. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Weight: Dependent on spec. Colors available: Various

Where to buy: WORK Wheels

Rotiform LHR-M

The Rotiform brand is becoming ever more popular on JDM cars and its LHR-M forged three-piece works perfectly on the FD RX-7 as seen here on The Kyza’s car.

Tech spec

Available in: Rotifom’s Custom Spec range, so all sizes, widths and dimensions available to suit you vehicle. Wheel type: Forged one-, two- or three-piece. Weight: Dependent on spec. Colors available: Custom (15 colors to choose from)

Where to buy: Find your local Rotiform dealer.

SSR Professor TF1

SSR’s Professor TF1 is a timeless multi-spoke split rims that works well on wide-body cars, as seen here. Aim for a 9.5×18 ET minus 26 (front); 11.5×18 ET; minus 52 (rear) fitment with 245/35×18 (front); 285/38×18 (rear) tires.

Tech spec

Available in: 18- 20in diameter. 7-13in widths. 5×98 – 5×130 PCD. ET-52 to 62 offset. Centre bore: 71.6 – 74.1. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Weight: Dependent on weight. Colors available: Various

Where to buy: SSR

ADVAN Racing GT

If you’re looking for light and strong wheels with open spokes (to aid brake cooling) then ADVAN’s fully forged Racing GT five-spoke is the one. For fitment, 9.5x18in (front) and 10.5x18in (rear) Advan GT wheels with 255/35 (f) and 295/30 (r) should do the trick, as seen here.

Tech spec

Available in: 19-21in diameter. 8.5-12in widths. 5×100 – 5×120 PCD. ET0 to 50 offset. Unknown center bore. Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Weight: 21 lbs (9.55 kg) for a 10 x 20in. Colors available: Various

Where to buy: ADVAN Wheels

WORK Emotion GT5

If you’re after a single-piece wheel that comes in a staggered fitment, then WORK’s Emotion GT5 is a great choice, as seen here. A three-piece version is also available. As for fitment, a 10.5×18-inch ET-1 (front) and 12.5×18-inch ET-20 (rear) with 225/35 (f) and 285/30 (r) tires is the sweet spot.

Tech spec

Available in: 18in diameter. 9 – 10in widths. 5×100 – 5×114.3 PCD. Various offsets. Various center bores. Wheel type: Single-piece cast wheel. Weight: Unknown. Colors available: Bronze, Matte Black or Silver

Where to buy: WORK Wheels UK

Fifteen52 Bergmeister

With its split five-spoke star design, Fifteen52’s Bergmeister was the result of a collaboration it had with Australian Mercedes tuner, Dkubus, but some how it works really well on the curvy FD, especially running a wide-body set-up, As seen here on Sim’s Rocket Bunny car the forged three-piece works a treat in 10.5x18in (front) and 14x18in (rear) fitment.

Tech spec

Available in: Fully custom, made to order wheels. Type: Forged three-piece using forged 6061 aluminum centers. Colors available: Various

Where to order: Fifteen52

RAYS Volk Racing CE28N

The Volk Racing CE28N is the lightest wheel RAYS produce. This forged ten-spoke is super light (the 18in is 7.26kg to be precise), mega strong and in 9×17 (front) 10×17 (rear) as seen here on Drag Performance’s car, the forged monoblock wheels absolutely smash it.

Tech spec

Available in: 15-18in diameter. 6.5-8.5in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. ET30 to 42 offset. Center bore: Various. Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Weight: 8 lbs-16 lbs (3.63 kg-7.26kg). Colors available: Various.

Where to buy: RAYS Wheels UK

Weds Kranze ERM

If you’re after a multi-piece mesh design wheel, then the Weds Kranze ERM is a classic choice and if you’re after an extreme fitment then you won’t beat a 10x18in (front) and 14.5x18in (rear) as seen here.

Tech spec

Available in: 17 – 18in diameter. 7 – 14.5in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. Offset: Various. Centre bore: Various. Wheel type: Three-piece split-rim. Weight: Dependent on size. Colors available: Various.

Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay

Mazdaspeed MS-02

Mazdaspeed’s MS-02 (produced for the Mazda tuner by Rays) is our favorite wheel for the FD RX-7. Its chunky, aero design gives the car an almost caricature appearance, which is always a good thing in our mind. If you can locate a set, then a staggered 17in fitment will guarantee you baller status.

Tech spec

Available in: 17in diameter. 7 – 9in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. ET30 – 44 off-sets. 73mm center bore. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Single-piece monoblock. Colors available: Silver or Gold centers, polished lip.

Where to buy: Discontinued but try eBay

The post Best Mazda RX-7 Wheels appeared first on Fast Car.

Fitting aftermarket wheels to any car can be something of a minefield, but if you’re thinking about changing the wheels on a Nissan Skyline GT-R then boy do you need to choose wisely in order to get it right.

What to look out for…

Obviously, split-rims look fantastic and are great if you want a custom fit and finish, but if you’re more focused on all-out performance – where weight-saving and strength is order of the day – then you can’t really beat a set of forged monoblocks. Unfortunately, quality does come at a price, and sadly neither of these first two choices are exactly what you’d call cheap. But then, do you really want to fit cheap wheels to your Skyline GT-R?

If you are working with a slightly tighter budget, though, then there are still some nice single-piece cast wheels available that won’t break the bank. So long as you stick with the simple, timeless designs and a reputable brand, then you won’t go far wrong.

Try to avoid…

We’d suggest you avoid the super cheap replicas or poor quality fake split-rims at all costs. The last thing you want is a wheel that is going to bend at the first pot hole you drive over or dummy bolts that will corrode at the first sight of salt on the roads.

We’ve compiled this article to help you choose the correct wheel for your GT-R and not wind up with serious egg on your face down to poor choice.

Note: If you’re intending to drive your car hard then we’d always recommend you stick to the same wheel and tire sizes all round to avoid issues with the four-wheel drive system. A staggered set-up should only really be chosen for static display purposes.

Relevant content – Here’s our guide to offsets, sizes, and everything else you need to know about alloy wheels. 

5 best wheels for the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

Launched in 1989, Nissan’s R32 GT-R is the OG when it comes to Skylines and the car that needs most consideration if you’re thinking about going down the modified route. With second-hand prices soaring and unmolested examples becoming a rare thing, you really need to think wisely about the wheels you fit to this cult classic in order not to ruin the car. It may sound like a cliché, but wheels do make the car – especially one as iconic as the R32 GT-R.

As we stated in our R32 Skyline GT-R Tuning Guide the iconic Japanese supercar slayer came with just 7 x 16in rims as standard, but this can easily be beefed up with either some wider tires to increase the car’s footprint, or a swap to some larger 17in or 18in wheels.

Most will tell you a 9.5 x 18in wheel with a 265-section tire is the recommended sweet spot, as not only does it fill the arches nicely, but opens up a wide range of both wheel and tore options at various price points. However, if you’re fitting a wide bodykit or going drag racing, then you may favor something a little more aggressive or even a staggered set up. We just wouldn’t recommend the latter on a daily driver…

Here are our top five aftermarket wheels for the R32 GT-R trying to accommodate the various budgets and applications you may be working with.

Rays VOLK Racing TE37V

Probably the ultimate wheel for a standard-bodied R32 GT-R is the fully-forged, single-piece Volk TE37V from Rays. When it comes to fitment, 9.5 x 18in all round with a 255/35 tire will do nicely and a grey center with a polished lip will finish things off perfectly.…

Tech spec

Available in: 14-18in diameter. 7-12in widths. 4×114.3 – 5×120 PCD. ET -33 to +40 offset. 65mm-73.1mm center bore. Weight: 9.92 lbs-18.74 lbs (4.5 kg-8.5 kg). Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Colors available: Grey centers with polished lip or bronze.

Where to buy: RAYS Wheels

WORK VS-XX

If you’re running a wide body-kit then WORK’s VS-XX multi-spoke is perfect because it’s available in pretty much any size and finish you can dream up. A staggered set of 11- and 12 x 18in would work perfectly on a wide body-kitted car.

Tech spec

Available in: Any diameter. Any widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. Any offset. Any center bore. Weight: Depends on spec. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Colors available: Gold & silver (standard), plus custom options.

Where to buy: WORK Wheels

Nismo GT1 440-R

Tough, timeless and purposeful. If you can find a set, then Nismo’s multi-piece GT1 440-R is arguably our favorite R32 GT-R wheel ever. Its simple five-spoke design is great for showing off big brakes and the rarity value with give you kudos for days.

Tech spec

Available in: 18in diameter. 9.5in widths. 114.3 PCD. ET +14 offset. 66.1mm center bore. Weight: Unknown. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Colors available: White centers with polished lip.

Where to buy: Ebay

Enkei RPF1

If you’ve built a pure driver’s car and you’re after a motorsport-inspired wheel that’s very strong and pretty light, then we suggest running Enkei’s RPF1 in 9.5 x 17in diameter, allowing for a semi slick tire with a decent sized tire wall. These will tip the scales at a little over 16kg a pop.

Tech spec

Available in: 14-18in diameter. 7-10.5in widths. 5×100 – 5×114.3 PCD. ET18 to 45 offset. 66.5 – 73mm center bore. Weight: 18.52 lbs – 41 lbs (8.4 kg – 19.05 kg). Wheel type: Cast monoblock. Colors available: Silver, Black, Chrome, Gold.

Where to buy: Torque GT

Rota GTR-D

If you’re looking for a deep, aggressive wheel on a budget then you can’t go far wrong with Rota’s single-piece, cast GTR-D in a 10 x 18in fitment. The wheel looks far more expensive than it costs and was named after the car in question, so go figure…

Tech spec

Available in: 18in diameter. 9.5-12in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. ET 0 to 35 offset. 73mm center bore. Weight: 18.74 lbs – 24.25 lbs (8.5 kg-11 kg). Wheel type: Cast monoblock. Colors available: Gunmetal, White, Bronze, Hyper Black, Black, Black 2, Silver with polished lip

Where to buy: Rota

5 best wheels for the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33

The R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R, which went on sale in 1995, was slightly larger, faster and heavier than the R32, plus it also boasted more room in the wheel arches. As a result, it came on larger wheels as stock. As we mentioned in our Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 Tuning guide, the car rolled out of the factory on 9 x 17in ET30 rims, but due to those larger arches, it can accommodate 18s or 19s without problem. You should be able to run a 10 or even 11in wide rim with some 305-section tires in a stock arch.

As for the style and wheel type, similar to the R32, it’s still the classic, timeless designs that work best on the R33. The idea here is to complement the car, not take away from the impact of its iconic appearance. While rare wheels work well, there are still some off-the-shelf applications that also have plenty of street cred.

Rota Grid

If you’re building on a budget, then you really can’t go far wrong with Rota’s five-spoke Grid. It’s a simple, clean design that borrows from a lot of classic JDM wheels and in a 10 x 18in fitment, with a 265/35 tyre, would give an aggressive stance and yet still make the perfect daily driver rim.

Tech spec

Available in: 15- 9in diameter. 7-10in widths. 4×100 – 5×120 PCD. ET10 to 45 offset. Various center bores. Wheel type: Cast monoblock. Weight: 11.57 lbs – 18.74 lbs  (5.25 kg – 8.5 kg). Colors available: Various

Where to buy: Rota Wheels

BBS LM

It might seem unusual to run a German wheel on a JDM car, but when you’re talking about BBS’s legendary multi-piece LM, then no excuse is needed. Gold centers with a brushed lip and black hardware looks good on any colored car and a 10 x 18in wheel will nail the fitment. These tip the scales at 11kg a piece.

Tech spec

Available in: 17-20in diameter. 7-11in widths. 4×100 – 5×130 PCD. ET20 to 56 offset. 71.6mm center bore. Wheel type: Forged split-rim. Weight: 22.93 lbs- 27 lbs (10.4 kg-12.7 kg ). Colors available: Brilliant Silver, Gold, Diamond Black.

Where to buy: BBS

WORK Meister S1 3P

Split-rims don’t come any more cool or timeless than WORK’s legendary Meister S1 3P. While it would look good on any generation GT-R, if we had to choose one to fit it to then that would have to be the R33 – those curvy spokes just match the car’s swooping body lines perfectly and again, fit and finish options are seemingly endless. It isn’t called a ‘custom’ wheel for nothing…

Tech spec

Available in: 18-19in diameter. 8-16in widths. 4×98 – 5×130 PCD. Various offsets. Various center bores. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Weight: Dependent on spec. Colors available: Various

Where to buy: WORK Wheels

RAYS Volk Racing CE28N

The Volk Racing CE28N is the lightest wheel RAYS produce. The forged ten-spoke is super light (the 18in is 7.26kg to be precise), mega strong and in 8.5 x 18in fitment, about as good as it gets for all-out performance. Opt for a bronze finish if you wanted be proper baller, plus it’s the only color available.

Tech spec

Available in: 15-18in diameter. 6.5-8.5in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. ET30 to 42 offset. Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Weight: 8 lbs-16 lbs (3.63 kg-7.26kg). Colors available: Bronze.

Where to buy: RAYS Wheels

Blitz Techno Speed Z1

When it comes to ultimate R33 GT-R wheels, then the Blitz Techno Speed Z1 has got to be up there with the best of them, especially in a 10 x 19in fitment. For full scene points, opt for a gold center with a polished lip. The only issue here may be finding a set second-hand as these have been out of production a while.

Tech spec

Available in: 17-20in diameter. 8-11in widths. 4×100 – 5×114.3 PCD. ET 15 to 45 offset. Unknown center bore. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Weight: Unknown. Colors available: Various.

Where to buy: eBay

5 best wheels for the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34

You can’t really mention the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R without referring to Fast and the Furious or Paul Walker. It was Brian O’Conner’s (the character Paul played in the film) silver R34 that really put this car on the tuning map. Launched in 1999, the R34 had a much more grown up appearance to it. The car still looked like a Skyline, but had a less sleek and more aggressive appearance. It had also once again grown in size over its predecessor (with more power, too, despite the Gentleman’s Agreement) and, as a result, came with even larger wheels as stock.

If you read our Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 Tuning Guide then you’ll know we mentioned the car came from the factory on 18in forged alloy wheels. ‘Light, tough and wide enough for seriously sticky rubber they have plenty of room for the biggest of brake kits’, we wrote. The only reason to alter them is if you want to change the style or add a greater rubber footprint. And, inevitably, that’s exactly what tuners and enthusiasts the world over wasted no time in doing. While wider 18in wheels are still popular, if you’re going to the trouble of swapping the hoops then we’d suggest stepping up to a 19in or, if you’re more into the cosmetic enhancements, even a 20in.

Here are our top five Skyline GT-R R34 wheels, which include styles and designs to suit all budgets and applications, whether you’re showing, drifting or dragging your car.

ADVAN Racing GT

If you’re accommodating huge brakes (think 400mm+ discs) then only whopping 12 x 20in wheels (with 285/35 rubber) will do. And if you’re looking for light and strong wheels with open spokes (to aid brake cooling) then ADVAN’s fully forged Racing GT five-spoke is the one.  A gloss black finish is surely the only way to go…

Tech spec

Available in: 19-21in diameter. 8.5-12in widths. 5×100 – 5×120 PCD. ET0 to 50 offset. Unknown center bore. Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Weight: 21 lbs (9.55 kg) for a 10 x 20in. Colors available: Various

Where to buy: ADVAN Wheels

Rotiform LSR-M

The Rotiform brand is becoming ever more popular on JDM cars and seeing Jean Pierre Kraemer’s (of JP Performance) R34 here on LSR-M forged monoblock kind of proves that. A purposeful 10 x 19in fitment on an R34 allows for a chunky tire with a decent sidewall and cut slick tread pattern.

Tech spec

Available in: Rotifom’s CustomSpec range, so all sizes, widths and dimensions available to suit you vehicle. Wheel type: Forged one-, two- or three-piece. Weight: Dependent on spec. Colors available: Custom (15 colours to choose from)

Where to buy: Find your local Rotiform dealer.

HRE 446R

Although now discontinued, how could we leave out the very wheel fitted to Paul Walker’s silver R34 in Fast and Furious? HRE’s iconic six-spoke split-rim screams JDM, which is probably why the produces chose it in the first place. We believe the car in the film ran a 10 x 19in wheel with a 285×30 tire, so if you do find a set for sale then that’s the ones to look out for.

Tech spec

Available in: 19in diameter. 10in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. Unknown offset. Unknown center bore. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Weight: Unknown. Colors available: Silver center with polished lip.

Where to buy: Wheel discontinued but try eBay.

SSR Professor SP5

SSR‘s Professor SP5 is a high-end ten-spoke multi-piece wheel which looks good in High Metal Bronze finish with a polished step lip. These are available in a number of diameters from 18 – 20in, although we’d stick with a 10 x 19in.

Tech spec

Available in: 18-20in diameter. 7-13in widths. 5×100 to 5×114.3 PCD. ET -39 to 62 offset. 73-74.1mm center bore. Wheel type: Three-piece split rim. Weight: Unknown. Colors available: Standard colors are High Bright Silver, High Bright Bronze. Custom finish available.

Where to buy: Driftworks

Enkei RS05RR

If you’re running a wider-bodied car then you need to go for an aggressive fitment and Enkei’s RS05RR, in a 11 x 18in (ET +16) with a 295/35 tire will give you just that. Expect this sized wheel to weigh just over 20kg each.

Tech spec

Available in: 18in diameter. 8.5-11in widths. 5×100 – 5×120 PCD. ET22 to 45 offset. 66.5-75mm center bore. Wheel type: Flow formed monoblock. Weight: 39.88 lbs-45.28 lbs (18.07 kg – 20.54 kg). Colors available: Matt Gunmetal or Sparkle Silver.

Where to buy: Enkei

5 best wheels for the Nissan GT-R R35

When the R35 (or GT-R, as it was simply called) rolled out of the factory in 2008, it was an instant hit with the world’s media and enthusiasts alike. As we mentioned in our Nissan GT-R R35 Tuning Guide, the R35 came standard on 9.5x20in wheels (10x20in for Nismo variants) with run flat tires. While these tires may help you out if you get a flat they don’t offer the same kind of ride or grip as you will get from a set of non-run flat options from the likes of Yokohama or Michelin, so many people opt for a 10x20in wheel with a more performance-orientated type.

If you’re thinking about swapping your factory wheels then the sky really is the limit when you looking to fill those cavernous factory arches, with plenty of sizes available from 20-22in. Here’s out top five choices to get you inspiration going…

Enkei SR01MG

They advise you not to run a staggered set-up on all-wheel-drive cars, but if it’s good enough for Top Secret’s 230mph 1100bhp demo, that runs a 10x20in and 11x20in set-up, then it’s good enough for us. Enkei’s SR01MG is a split six-spoke forged magnesium monoblock which comes in Piano Black only. These weigh in at 8.8kg and 9.9kg respectively and only 40 units were ever made, so they’re about as rare as they come.

Tech spec

Available in: 20in diameter. 10-11in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. ET15 to 35 offset. 66mm center bore. Wheel type: Forged magnesium monoblock. Weight: 19.4 lbs-21.83 lbs (8.8 kg-9.9 kg). Colors available: Piano Black.

Where to buy: Enkei

BBS RI-D

The BBS RI-D monoblock has a real classy, almost OEM look to it, especially in the Diamond Black finish. BBS claimed the forged wheel was the first to be made from extra-super duralumin alloy, which is as strong and durable as it sounds. Available in 19in, 20in and 21in plus a number of widths this wheel ticks pretty much every box for us.

Tech spec

Available in: 19-21in diameter. 8-12in widths. 5×108 – 5×130 PCD. ET10 to 71.6 offset. 63.4-72.5mm center bore. Wheel type: Forged Duralumin monoblock. Weight: (7.3 kg-10 kg). Colors available: Diamond Golf, Diamond Silver, Diamond Black, Matte Black.

Where to buy: BBS

WORK Emotion CR-2P

In the Emotion CR-2P WORK have taken the popular CR Kiwi design and created a two-piece wheel with hidden hardware, that allows a whole number of fits and finishes. We’d suggest a 10.5 x 20” wheel on your R35, but the finish? Well, that’s down to you…

Tech spec

Available in: 17-20in diameter. 7.5-12.5in widths. 4×98 – 5×120 PCD. Various offsets. Various center bore. Wheel type: Two-piece split rim. Weight: Dependent on spec. Colors available: Fully custom choice. 

Where to buy: WORK Wheels

RAYS Nismo LMGT4

The limited edition LMGT4 is the result of a collaboration between renown wheel manufacturer RAYS and famed Nissan tuner Nismo. It was designed specifically with the GT-R in mind and for the R35 we’d suggest actually stepping down in diameter to 10.5 x 19in with a chunky cut slick tire. Gloss black all the way with this one, as it’s the only option…

Tech spec

Available in: 18-19in diameter. 9.5-10.5in widths. 5×114.3 PCD. ET12 to 15 offset. 66mm center bore. Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Weight: 19.4 lbs (8.8 kg) for 9.5 x 18in. Colors available: Gloss Black.

Where to buy: RAYS Wheels UK

CCW Corsair C10

If you’re after a serious drag set-up then CCW’s fully-forged single-piece Corsair C10 is perfect. Okay, it’s not the cheapest, but it’s up there with the lightest and toughest around. A good set up for the strip is 10 x 18in and 12 x 18in with staggered 275/45 and 345/35 drag slicks.

Tech spec

Available in: 18-20in diameter. 6-13in widths. Multiple PCDs. Various offsets. Multiple center bores. Wheel type: Forged monoblock. Weight: Dependent on spec. Colors available: 22 colors to choose from.

Where to buy: CCW

The post Best Nissan Skyline GT-R Wheels appeared first on Fast Car.

You might be the best driver in the world, but even so, what about the road users around you? This is why you won’t catch us driving without a dash cam. Whether it’s protecting you from crash scams or assisting with insurance disputes, they’re essential motoring equipment. You can pick dash cams up for peanuts these days, but there’s almost too much choice. Don’t worry though, we’ve done the hard work for you and picked five of the best budget dash cams that’ll do the job without breaking the bank.

How we chose these products

We’ve been able to test some of these products first-hand, in which case they’ll have been scrutinized during the installation phase as well as the performance phase. So, as a result, we’ll be able to give you a well-rounded insight into what it’s like to own them. However, those listed here which we haven’t tested ourselves are here based on how their spec sheets compare to their price tags – a good benchmark for deciding whether they’re value for money, at least on the surface.

Editor’s Note:

Our contributors who put this piece together, Elizabeth and James, are well-placed to offer you advice on dash cams. James has conducted numerous dash cam reviews for Fast Car, ensuring he’s clued up about what you should look out for, and how the different brands compare to each other. Elizabeth, meanwhile, is a real-life dash cam user, so understands exactly what you need from these devices. She’s also currently Editor of Total BMW magazine, so it’s fair to say she knows her way around the automotive scene.

Best Budget Dash Cam In 2024

At a glance:

• Nextbase 222 – RRP: $99.99, buy now / £79.99, buy now.
• Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 – RRP: $129.99, buy now. / £119.99, buy now.
• Viofo VS1 – RRP: $149.99, buy now / £118.81, buy now.
• Z-Edge Z3Pro – RRP: $109.99, buy now / £145.00, buy now.
• SPADE Dual Dash Cam – RRP: $49.99, buy now / £39.99, buy now.
• Kingslim D5 4K – RRP: $42.77, buy now. £89.99, buy now.

Nextbase 222

RRP: $99.99, buy now / £79.99, buy now.

If you’re looking for a great entry-level dash cam from a big brand, the Nextbase 222 is an excellent choice. The camera records in 1080P at 30fps and has a 140° viewing angle. The 6G lens, meanwhile, provides you with high-quality images. The wide, 2.5” high-resolution IPS screen allows you to clearly view your recordings. For convenience, the Nextbase 222 uses a Click&Go powered windscreen mount, which I can confirm makes it so much easier to install and remove from the car. There’s also an intelligent parking mode, a high-precision G-sensor, and night vision. It’s a strong performer with a good selection of features, which is exactly what you’d expect from a brand of Nextbase’s stature. To find out more, read our full review here.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2

RRP: $129.99, buy now. / £119.99, buy now.

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 is one of the more expensive items on this list, but in the grand scheme of dash cams, its retail price is still pretty reasonable. This tiny little device is great if you’re after something that’s discreet, compact, and just focuses on doing the basics really well.

In regards to image resolution, the Garmin matches the Nextbase above it, recording in 1080p at 30fps, with a 140-degree view. Voice control allows you to pose various functionality requests without having to take your hands or eyes of the wheel, and it’s also compatible with the Garmin Drive app. That means you can access the dash cam’s footage remotely. To learn more about this camera’s ups and downs, take a look at my full review of it.

Viofo VS1

RRP: $149.99, buy now / £118.81, buy now.

Featuring a 1440p resolution camera, the little Viofo VS1 packs a big punch for its size. Plus, it comes with GPS as standard too – something which neither the Nextbase nor the Garmin above can claim.

Voice control is another included feature, as are other core dash cam stables; emergency recording, parking mode compatibility, and a G-sensor. Viofo also provides an app from which you can manage the camera’s video files and even view a livestream if it’s hardwired into the car. Overall, the Viofo VS1 is a powerful – but no frills – option. The only major downsides are a lack of OBD2 power supply option, and a lack of available CPL filter.

Z-Edge Z3Pro

RRP: $109.99, buy now / £145.00, buy now.

Z-Edge’s Z3Pro dash cam offers plenty of features at a very good price. First of all, it’s a double camera, which is always a nice bonus. The front-facing camera records in 1440P, which is 2K, at 30FPS. The rear-facing camera is a 1080P one, but it’s only designed to capture what’s happening in the cabin. Both cameras do have a good 155° wide-angle lens, though, which is a decent amount. The interior camera also features four infrared lights and Super Night Vision for enhanced night vision and recording in darkness. The Z3Pro also features a parking monitor to keep your car safe while you’re away. There’s also built-in Wi-Fi, allowing you to preview, download and share recordings easily on your Apple or Android phone. This is a good-value dash cam packed with great features.

SPADE Dual Dash Cam

RRP: $49.99, buy now / £39.99, buy now.

Amazon is filled with ridiculously cheap dash cams, but the SPADE gets our vote. For an incredibly low price, you get a 1296P dash cam, a 1080P rear camera, and a 32GB memory card. 1296P is a slightly random resolution, but every pixel counts when it comes to detail. The main camera has a 170° recording angle, along with WDR and six infrared LEDs for enhanced night vision. It also has a 3” screen for clear viewing of recorded footage. The SPADE dash cam also comes with a parking monitor and G-sensor. The rear camera is a small, exterior-mounted waterproof unit with a 130° recording angle that doubles as a reversing camera. In terms of features and value, the SPADE dash cam is hard to beat, and it’s an absolute bargain.

Kingslim D5 4K Dash Cam

RRP: $42.77, buy now. £89.99, buy now.

In terms of features, the Kingslim D5 4K is a beast, and it offers exceptional value for money. As its name implies, you get 4K recording at 30fps, which means crystal-clear video footage. The camera also features a 170° recording angle, which means it captures a very wide area in front of your car. The Kingslim D5-4K boasts a Sony image sensor, six-layer glass lenses and HDR high-dynamic range, which gives it superb night vision. On top of all that, it features built-in GPS, allowing it to record your driving route and speed, as well as pinpoint the exact location of any incidents. Finally, it also has built-in Wi-Fi, allowing you to adjust settings, playback video and download recordings to your phone. If you’re looking for a budget dash cam with serious spec, the Kingslim D5-4K is a fantastic choice.

How to buy the best budget dash cam

When all things are considered, you have to ask yourself what you want in a dash cam. If it’s simply to protect you in situations such as accidents, then what you need is a dash cam that can record in good quality, with sound, and a good amount of memory to save the footage. You also want a dash cam that can record footage at the press of a button or by voice command. Other features such as parking mode, or dual camera setups will cost more. If those are features you’d like, then you’ll likely have to spend more than $100. That being said, Amazon’s Spade Dash Cam features a 1080p rear camera, although this does need to be mounted externally.

Night vision is a great touch in a budget dash cam, as it doesn’t restrict when your dash cam can be used. In 2024, this is often a standard feature. Another thing to consider is a wide angle lens to record things at over 130°. For most, the budget dash cams above feature everything you would want in a dash cam, and sometimes more. We’ve selected examples that pack a surprising amount of tech into a small, affordable product. So, whichever one of this selection you opt for, we’re confident you won’t be left disappointed.

Words by Elizabeth de Latour & James Bowers.

The post Best Budget Dash Cam In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Dash cams – I wouldn’t blame you for thinking that they’re all pretty much alike, but honestly, you’d be surprised how different they can be. Naturally, image quality is a big deal – are you happy enough with 1080p resolution, or will you not settle for anything less than 4K these days? And what about frame rate? Then you need to consider the actual functionality of the dash cam; do you want GPS data, driver assistance, or SOS software? Maybe you want a package that records out the rear window, as well as the front. Heck, if you’re reading Fast Car, you might even want your dash cam to help you achieve faster lap times at your local track.

By now, hopefully you’re getting the idea. Unless you’re clued up about what’s available and what you truly want, it’s easy to end up buying the wrong dash cam. This article will hopefully help you avoid that disappointing fate, as I’ve managed to test out a whole bunch of items first-hand. You can find all the best ones in the compilation below, along with all the key tech info and links to more in-depth reviews. So, happy dash cam hunting!

How we reviewed these products

With each of the products I tested, I wanted to make sure that I was able to portray a comprehensive ownership experience. That meant reporting on everything from the installation process, to the effectiveness of included extra features. I’ve even embedded footage from each dash cam into their own individual reviews, so do make sure to click through if you want to see that with your own eyes.

Naturally, having come into contact with a variety of dash cams while doing this job, I’m well-positioned to assess them against each other and figure out what type of ownership they’d suit best.

Which type of dash cam is right for me?

I’ve decided to collate an array of dash cams, each best suited to different specialized purposes. So, have a look at the list below, and see which category applies best to you. Hopefully, you’ll find something that’s just right!

• Best overall dash cam – Nextbase 622GW. RRP: $399.00 / £269.00, buy now.
• Best wireless dash cam – Garmin Dash Cam Live. RRP: $399.99 / £349.99, buy now. Vault subscription from $9.99/£9.99. 
• Best budget dash cam – Nextbase 222. RRP: $99.99 / £79.99, buy now.
• Best compact dash cam – Viofo VS1. RRP: $129.99 / £119.99, buy now.
• Best front & rear camera package – Thinkware X1000. RRP: $299.00 / £269.00, buy now.
• Best high-end dash cam – Thinkware U3000. RRP: $699.99 / £529.00, buy now.
• Best dash cam for track days – Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer. RRP: $999.00 / £899.00, buy now.

Best Overall Dash Cam

Nextbase 622GW

RRP: $399.99, buy now. £269.00, buy now.

Pros: excellent image quality, more features than I thought possible with a dash cam, easy installation.

Cons: quite expensive.

The Nextbase 622GW stands out to me as one of the best overall dash cams on the market. For a start, it offers up to 4K resolution videos, or if you’re more of a frame rate nerd, you can bring the resolution down in the settings to claim up to 120fps. Its Click&Go PRO mount is the best mounting system I’ve come across so far – super easy to adhere to glass, and thanks to its strong magnets you can connect the camera one-handed. The 622GW is also packed full of cool features. The basics like GPS and parking mode are there, but you also get Alexa compatibility, and can even set up What3Words-enhanced SOS messaging if you have a serious crash.

If you want to learn more, make sure to check out my full review of the Nextbase 622GW here.

Tech Specs:

• Resolution: 4K at 30fps, 1440p at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps
• Field of View: 140 degrees
• GPS Speed & Location: Yes
• Parking Mode: Yes

Best Wireless Dash Cam

Wireless dash cams aren’t necessarily what you may think they are. While it would be nice to be fully rid of power cables, in reality, ‘wireless’ dash cams simply refer to dash cams which can upload footage via the cloud, rather than needing a physical connection to your PC. So, they’re still better and more efficient than a ‘wired’ dash cam, but they’re not quite as good as you might have hoped. Sorry. Better to set things straight first though, right?

Garmin Dash Cam Live with LTE Connectivity

RRP: $399.99 / £349.99, buy now.

Pros: great image quality, easy installation, good app support.

Cons: subscription service is costly in the long-run.

Garmin make some top quality automotive tech products, and you can feel that when using the Garmin Dash Cam Live. It’s equipped with a 1440p HD resolution camera that records in 30FPS, with a 140-degree lens. Those specs amount to a pretty good picture quality, but at this price point you would probably hope for slightly better (see the options below for more). It’s wonderfully easy to install though, and the accompanying Garmin Drive app offers a great deal of functionality. Unfortunately, to gain access to all of those functions, you’ll need to pay a subscription fee which starts from $9.99/£9.99 per month. Overall, it’s a good product but there are certain flaws you need to assess before buying to decide if it’s the right dash cam for you. To find out more, read our full in-depth review!

Tech Specs:

• Resolution: 1440p
• Frame rate: 30fps
• Field of view: 140 degrees horizontal
• GPS Speed & Location: Yes
• Parking Mode: Yes

Best Budget Dash Cam

Nextbase 222

RRP: $99.99, buy now / £79.99, buy now.

Pros: affordable, good daytime image quality.

Cons: No GPS, underwhelming night performance.

As with the Thinkware mentioned above, this Nextbase 222 proves that you don’t need to buy from an obscure brand to get a competent dash cam on a tight budget. The 222 records in 1080P at 30fps and has a 140° viewing angle. The 6G lens, meanwhile, provides you with high-quality images. You can then view your recordings back directly through the camera thanks to its 2.5” high-resolution IPS screen. One neat feature which isn’t often seen is the 222’s Click&Go powered windscreen mount. This means the power cable goes directly into the mount rather than the camera itself, making it easier to install and remove inside the car.

Read my full review of the Nextbase 222 here.

Tech Specs:

• Resolution: 1080p
• Frame rate: 30fps
• Field of view: 140 degrees horizontal
• GPS Speed & Location: No
• Parking Mode: Yes

Visit our guide to the best budget dash cam in 2023 for more cheap dash cam advice. 

Best Compact Dash Cam

Viofo VS1

RRP: $149.99, buy now. / £118.81, buy now.

Pros: compact & discreet, good value for money, GPS and 1440p included.

Cons: lacks OBD2 power supply option, no CPL filter.

The Viofo VS1 is delightfully compact and super simple to install. Video footage is excellent for this segment of the market – 2K 1440p resolution at 30fps with a 140-degree field of view, to be precise. And, it even has in-built GPS, which some of its big-brand compact rivals lack. It’s light on features, so would only be worth getting if you want something which competently executes the basics of what a dash cam can offer.

For a much more in depth look at the Viofo VS1’s strengths and weaknesses, be sure to read our hands-on review of it.

Tech Specs:

• Resolution: 1440p
• Frame rate: 30fps
• Field of view: 140 degrees horizontal
• GPS Speed & Location: Yes
• Parking Mode: No (unless you buy additional Viofo HK5 hardwiring kit)

Best Dual Cam Package

Thinkware X1000

RRP: $299.00, buy now. £269.00, buy now.

Pros: equal picture quality at front and rear, excellent night performance.

Cons: no GPS as standard.

The Thinkware X1000 is a really solid dual cam setup. What I really like about it is the fact that both the front and rear camera have the same picture resolution and field of view. Plus, Super Night Vision really does help the camera to reduce glare at night. I did find that its G sensor was a little oversensitive, but it’s better for that to be the case (and then turn it down in the settings) than to have a sensor which isn’t sensitive enough. The one thing that lets it down the most for me is the lack of GPS as standard, but in my opinion the core ingredients are good enough for that extra cost to be forgiven.

Read my full review of the Thinkware X1000 to find out more.

Tech Specs:

• Resolution: 1440p
• Frame rate: 30fps
• Field of view: 156 degrees
• GPS Speed & Location: Not as standard
• Parking Mode: Yes

Best High-End Dash Cam

Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer

RRP: $999.00 / £899.00. 

Pros: the ultimate robot tutor for weekend track day warriors.

Cons: expensive.

The Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer has to be one of the best dash cams for track days around. When you’re on a circuit, you’ll be recording footage for one of two reasons – either as a keepsake to watch back, or as a way of assessing how you can improve as a high-performance driver. Happily, this Garmin is packed full of tech which is ideal for either of those reasons.

Endorsed by Motorsport UK, this little camera is a bit like having a silent race engineer. It’ll record your lap times and offer all kinds of analytical data, even going as far as to suggest ways that you can go faster. For instance, it might advise you on whether to take an early or late apex at any given corner. Frankly, this camera and its supporting software has far more up its sleeve than we thought possible from a dash cam. And that’s why it costs as much as it does.

Tech Specs:

• Resolution: 1080p
• Frame rate: 30fps
• Field of view: 140 degrees horizontal
• GPS Speed & Location: Yes
• Parking Mode: No

What makes a good dash cam?

• Picture quality – It goes without saying that if you buy a dash cam, you’ll want it to capture clear recordings. As a general baseline, you should only entertain the idea of buying a camera that records in 1080p HD resolution or better, with a refresh rate of no less than 30fps. Though, if you can find one that’s rated at 60fps, that’ll give you a much smoother looking video. If you stick to those core requirements, you should avoid disappointment, whether it be in the video creator studio, or the courtroom. As an added bonus, see if you can find a camera with a polarity filter or similar, to help minimize the sort of the dashboard reflections seen above.
• Features and functionality – consider what you want/need from your dash cam. For example, do you also want it to act as surveillance while your car is parked? Do you want it to stream to the cloud? What about driver warning systems? We’ll touch on these, and more, next.

Types of dash cam

As with any industry, there are nuances and differences within the dash cam market. We’ll cover them all here:

• Standard dash cams – The common or garden dash cam is a (typically wired) camera that adheres to the inside of your windscreen and looks out over the hood of your car.
• Dual Cams – A dual cam setup adds a second rear-facing camera into the mix, giving you full coverage of both the front and rear of your car. Usually, the secondary rear camera piggy-backs off of the main front-facing one, so expect to have to connect these with a physical cable.
• App-based dash cams – These days, high-end dash cams make use of their own app. So, you can do things like access files or change settings from your smartphone. Often, these apps are linked to their manufacturer’s own cloud-based storage system, which makes accessing video files even easier.
• Screen-based dash cams – Old-school dash cams often have a screen attached to them. You’ll control the settings and so on from here, rather than on an accompanying app, and you’ll need to insert the camera’s MicroSD card into your PC or laptop to access its files. Not exactly a massive hardship, but slightly less convenient than the alternative. Plus. Screen-based dash cams can often be a little bulkier than their app-based counterparts.

Other types of automotive camera

• Track Day Cameras – If, like us at Fast Car, you enjoy a spirited drive, a track day camera will take your performance driving activities to the next level. These vary in levels of sophistication, from simple action cam-style devices, to full on-kits with telemetry and track-specific driving aids.
• Reversing Camera – while not technically a dash cam as such, it’s still a camera that serves a purpose in your car. If your car doesn’t come with one as standard, you can buy aftermarket reversing cameras which use rear exterior-mounted lenses and sensors to guide you via an onboard screen.

How to install a dash cam

Types of installation:

• 12V Power Socket – the easiest way to get your dash cam up and running is to make use of your car’s onboard 12V socket. Most dash cams will come with a 12V power lead supplied, so simply make the connection and then the camera will turn on and off in conjunction with whenever you switch the ignition on or off.
• OBD2 Socket – Alternatively, you can buy separate OBD2 power leads for many common brands of dash cam. These draw power from the car’s battery and send it up through to the dash cam, meaning that your dash cam will remain powered up even when the car is parked up with the engine off. This is useful for features such as parking mode, if your dash cam has it.
• Hardwiring – Hardwiring is the most complex type of installation as it involves specialized tools and the ability to make a direct connection between the dash cam and your car’s onboard fuse box. Again, this is helpful if you need a constant stream of power going to the dash cam even when the engine’s off, for parking mode or similar features.

For more information, be sure to read our dedicated guide on how to install dash cams.

Will a dash cam drain my car battery?

Theoretically, a dash cam could drain your car’s battery if it drew a constant power supply and didn’t have any cut-off technology. However, all reputable brands of dash cam incorporate sensors that can detect when the car battery is running low on charge. Once the dash cam recognizes that the battery has reached that threshold, it’ll stop drawing energy, ensuring enough charge is retained to turn the engine over when you return to your car.

Alternatively, if you use a simple 12V power connection, you shouldn’t need to worry about forgetting to unplug your dash cam. This form of power supply is only intended to draw a charge when the car’s engine is running, so no charge from the battery will go to the dash cam when the car is turned off.

Is it worth having a dash cam?

You might be reluctant to introduce another form of surveillance into your life, but there are several benefits to owning a dash cam. You could use it for track days, social media content production, or (as is usually the case) simply to help protect both you and your vehicle. Allow me to explain…

Legal uses for dash cams

As well as having all sorts of recreational uses, dash cams have a more serious side to them as well. In fact, more often than not, this is why people buy them. If you end up in accident that’s not your fault, or if someone lodges fraudulent claims against you, a dash cam can provide your insurance provider – and the courts – definitive proof of liability. Obviously, if you’re the one in the wrong, that might suck. But if you’re the victim, you’ll be glad the dash cam was there as it can greatly streamline that whole claims process.

Not only that, but if somebody knows they’re being recorded, they’re less likely to commit offences. So, if you encounter someone who’s being aggressive towards you – perhaps a fellow road-user, pedestrian, or police officer – simply pointing out that they’re on camera could help to diffuse the situation and keep you safe.

There’s some confusion around what impact dash cams have on the *cost* of insurance, but you can read more about that in the following guide: ‘Can a dash cam make my car insurance cheaper?’

Overall though, a dash cam can act as your witness, helping you get out of all sorts of sticky situations.

The post Best Dash Cam: Car Cameras Tested For Every Budget appeared first on Fast Car.

If you’re still using a sponge to wash your car, you need to stop. Drop it, bin it, and buy yourself a proper car wash mitt. Why? Because sponges absorb everything, including tiny pieces of dirt. The result is you’re reapplying dirt to your car each time you go back with a sponge. To go with your wash mitt, you need the proper washing technique and the best car shampoo.

A wash mitt will make washing your car easier, allowing you to get into those tight spots easily. The microfibers or noodles will capture dirt and lift it away from the paintwork, minimizing the risk of scratches. And a mitt will be super soft, absorbent and will glide effortlessly across your car’s bodywork. If you’ve only ever used sponges before, a wash mitt will be a revelation. It’s important to note here than using two buckets to wash your car, alongside a grit guard in each, will help minimize the transfer of dirt onto your car further. Be sure to check out our guide to the correct process for washing your car for tips and tricks.

I’ve chosen a selection of wash mitts plus one wash pad to help you pick the best one. I want something that holds plenty of shampoo, that’s good to use and makes washing easy. As Fast Car’s Detailing Product Tester, I’ve tried a lot of wash mitts over the years. Plenty have been relegated to wheel and exhaust duty only, and only the best wash mitts get used on the paintwork. My selection here covers all bases and budgets. Some are good, some are great, while others miss the mark. Read on to find out which car wash mitts make the grade.

Best Car Wash Mitt At A Glance

• Best Overall and Editor’s Choice: Microfiber Madness Incredipad XL. RRP: $27.99 / £19.95. Buy now.
• Best Value: Meguiar’s Super Thick Microfibre Wash Mitt. RRP: $5.99 / £13.50. Buy now.
• Approved: Autoglym Microfibre Wash Mitt. RRP: £10.00. Not available in the US. Buy now.
• Approved: Gtechniq WM2 Microfiber Mitt. RRP: $18.95 / £12.25. Buy now.

Microfiber Madness Incredipad XL – Best Overall and Editor’s Choice

RRP: $27.99 / £19.95. Buy now.

Pros:

• Massive
• Very tightly-packed microfiber surface

Cons:

• Very heavy when fully loaded
• A little expensive

As its name implies, Microfiber Madness is a company dedicated to the art of microfiber. The company does make a car wash mitt, but I’ve picked the Incredipad XL because it’s my wash product of choice. First of all, as its name implies, it’s seriously hefty, measuring 9.5×9.5”, and 2” deep. Because it’s so big, it just makes washing your car so much faster. Just a few swipes and a whole panel is clean. The absorbent foam core means it soaks up loads of shampoo, allowing you to wash large areas quickly.

The surface is made up of microfiber strands of varying lengths. They’re incredibly tightly packed, allowing them to pick up loads of dirt and lock it away for safer washing. The only downside is that it’s almost too big. When it’s fully loaded, it’s very heavy, which makes moving it around hard work. It’s also quite hard to keep a hold of, so you need a claw grip on vertical surfaces. But aside from that, it’s very hard to fault, and this remains my personal favorite.

Want to see the full review? Check out more details on the Microfibre Madness wash mitt here. 

Meguiar’s Super Thick Microfibre Wash Mitt – Best Value

RRP: $5.99 / £13.50. Buy Meguiar’s Super Thick Microfibre Wash Mitt here.

Pros: 

• Soft
• Nice-sized cuff

Cons:

• Short fibers

This is a great all-round car wash mitt from Meguiar’s. It’s a good size, so will fit a variety of hands. It also holds plenty of shampoo and will fit into all manner of tight spaces. The elasticated cuff isn’t too tight or too loose, so it’s easy to put on and take off. It’s soft, too, and feels nice on your hand.

It washes well and allows you to apply good pressure to the panel. But I prefer longer fibers, as they feel like they’re better at trapping dirt away from the paint. It’s a good mitt overall, but it feels a little outclassed here.

Be sure to check out Buffy’s full review of the Meguiar’s wash mitt. 

Autoglym Microfibre Wash Mitt – Approved

RRP: £10.00. Not available in the US. Buy Autoglym Microfibre Wash Mitt here.

Pros:

• Super-soft noodles
• Densely packed washing surface
• Mesh edges for scrubbing

Cons:

• Absolutely horrible cuff

The Autoglym Microfibre car Wash Mitt really impressed me. It features a more traditional ‘noodle’ design. These ultra-plush noodles are super-effective at lifting away dirt and grime with ease. They’re incredibly densely packed, soaking up plenty of shampoo, and can trap a lot of dirt in one go. They also feel incredibly silky-soft to the touch, so your paintwork will love that. I also love the mech inserts on the edges for removing stubborn dirt, bugs and bird droppings.

The Autoglym Microfibre Wash Mitt is almost the perfect wash mitt. Almost. Unfortunately, it’s let down by its awful cuff. It’s really tight, which makes putting on and removing the mitt a pain. It’s also incredibly stiff and rough and will rub your wrist raw while using it. I can’t believe Autoglym designed such a fantastic mitt and dropped the ball with such a terrible cuff. It really lets the whole mitt down, and that’s a shame as this could have been the winner.

Head over to our full review of the Autoglym wash mitt. 

Gtechniq WM2 Microfiber Mitt – Approved

RRP: $18.95 / £12.25. Buy Gtechniq WM2 Microfiber Mitt here.

Pros:

• Feels expensive
• Good mix of fiber lengths

Cons:

• Honestly not a lot

There’s a lot to love about Gtechniq’s mighty-fine car wash mitt. First off, it’s got ultra-low-friction glide characteristics, which help minimize swirl marks. The inner foam core has been designed to absorb a very large amount of shampoo while you’re washing. This makes it easier to wash large areas in one go. The different lengths of polyester strands make this mitt more effective at capturing dirt. That lets it hold onto the dirt until you rinse the mitt, so there’s less chance of scratching your paint.

The elasticated cuff is a little loose, but that makes it easy to spin the mitt around when you want a clean side. It’s also got a little grab strap inside, handy for when you need more grip on your mitt. It feels thick and soft and is really nice to use. It’s well-priced, too, and it’s a superb wash mitt.

Gtechniq wash mitt full review.

Auto Finesse Plush Mitt

RRP: $19.95 / £12.95. Buy Auto Finesse Plush Mitt here.

Pros:

• Good size
• Long fibers

Cons:

• A little thin

The Auto Finesse car wash mitt promises plushness and doesn’t disappoint. It features an ultra-deep, smooth-glide microfiber weave. These fluffy strands help the mitt to glide smoothly across the paintwork. They lift and lock away dirt, keeping your paintwork safe while washing. It’s very similar to the Gtechniq wash mitt but with a few differences. The fibers are longer, which I prefer, but they are less dense, It’s a tiny bit larger, and the cuff is softer.

But it feels thinner, with less foam inside. This means it won’t be able to hold as much shampoo. It also has a split sewn into the middle, which gives you more control when manoeuvring the mitt. It sounds weird, but it works well. Overall a very good wash mitt that performs really well.

For more buying advice, check out the Auto Finesse wash mitt full review. 

Chemical Guys Chenille Microfiber Premium Scratch-Free Wash Mitt

RRP: $10.79, buy now. / £12.49, buy now.

Pros:

• Soft noodles

Cons:

• Not very dense washing surface

The Chemical Guys Chenille Microfiber is a striking wash mitt with some nice features. It’s made with premium 70/30 blended microfiber noodles. They will hold plenty of shampoo while trapping dirt for a safer wash. At 8×10” it’s a decent size, too. The cuff is the right tightness, and there’s plenty of space for your hand inside without feeling cramped.

The problem is that there’s nothing special about it, it’s just fine. In isolation, it’s a good wash mitt, but it doesn’t shine in this company. Also, the noodles aren’t very densely packed, which feels like a cost-cutting exercise. It’s not a bad wash mitt, but you can do better.

Here’s Buffy’s full review of the Chemical Guys wash mitt. 

Mothers Microfiber Chenille Wash Mitt

RRP: $7.99, buy now. £11.99, buy now.

Pros: 

• Big

Cons:

• Almost too big

The Mothers Microfiber Chenille Wash Mitt is very similar to the Chemical Guys offering. So much so, you might think they were identical, but there are some differences. You have the same microfiber noodles, and as with the Chemical Guys mitt they could do with being a bit more tightly packed. The cuff is also different – a little looser and rougher.

On paper, these two wash mitts are meant to be the same, 8×10”. But the Mothers wash mitt is clearly larger – it’s both longer and wider. On the one hand, that’s good, because it means a greater washing surface area. However, unless you’ve got massive bear-like paws for hands, it’s going to be too big. Your hand will flap around inside, and it’s going to be hard to control the mitt properly. Again, it’s a decent mitt and better value than the Chemical Guys offering, but it can’t match the best mitts on this list.

Mothers Wash Mitt full review.

Armor All Microfibre Wash Mitt

RRP: $9.99 / £7. Buy Armor All 2 in 1 Microfibre Noodle Wash Mitt here.

Pros:

• Cheap
• Dual washing surfaces

Cons:

• Small
• Nasty cuff

Cheap and relatively cheerful, this Armor All wash mitt is great value but doesn’t scrimp on features. On one side, its densely-packed soft noodles soak up loads of shampoo and gently clean your car’s bodywork. On the other, there’s a non-scratch mesh for tackling tough stains and lets you scrub stubborn dirt safely. Like the Auto Finesse mitt, it’s also got a split for greater control when washing. It’s certainly versatile and is impressive considering its price.

There are some caveats, though. First of all, it’s very small. It feels tight on your hand, in fact, you can barely get your whole hand in. That also means a lot more effort to clean each panel. Also, it has another nasty, cheap cuff that makes it uncomfortable to use. It’s not bad, especially given the price, but I’d spend a little more to get something better.

Check out our in-depth review for more info on the Armor All wash mitt. 

How Each Product Was Tested

I compared the size of each mitt, the softness, and the length and density of the cleaning fibers. Fit, comfort, and features, like different washing surfaces, as well as price were also taken into account. Each mitt was then tested on a section of the car, where I observed how it felt in use. I compared how heavy each one felt and how much shampoo it could hold. And I also considered how each mitt felt and how easy it was to wash with.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Wash Mitt

You want a wash mitt with a very densely-packed washing surface. More fibers or noodles means it can trap more dirt more effectively. That also makes for safer washing as the dirt is held away from your paintwork. You also want the washing surface to be nice and soft. A larger mitt will be able to hold more shampoo. It will also make cleaning quicker, but if it’s too large it will be cumbersome to use. A mesh surface for scrubbing is always a nice bonus. Finally, make sure you pick a wash mitt that’s actually comfortable to use, otherwise, you won’t be happy with it.

The post Best Car Wash Mitt In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Have you ever stepped inside a luxury car and noticed how quiet it was when you shut the door? We are way more sensitive to sound than we realize. And as a result, that decibel attenuation is an expensive commodity. In true luxury barges, we even see double glazed windows with an air gap between them for that very reason. Bentley and Rolls Royce cars are said to offer ‘Splendid Isolation’, meaning in reality about 20dB of sound reduction.

The truth is, decibels of sound are slippery customers, moving about through air and metal and bouncing around inside spaces. Which is why we talk about two kinds of things to do with sound in any space, not just vehicles:

One is sound ‘proofing’ – or stopping the transference of sound, the other is sound ‘treatment’ – or improving the space’s acoustics. The upside-down mushrooms hanging from the Albert Hall’s ceiling were devised in the 70s, generations after it was built. It was an awful venue for sound and the shapes cured it. Likewise, your car has weird and horrible acoustics. Your cabin boosts bass, every surface else sucks up the high frequencies, while the windows make ugly reflections. That’s why there is so much interest in tuning car audio equipment to work well.

However, the best investment in the realm of automotive audio has to be the mods which make the cabin a better place for audio. And that is where sound deadening comes in. So, before you think about upgrading your car speakers or subs, give a thought to the products and brands listed below…

Best Sound Deadening Materials

Silent Coat

Made in the EU, this is a solid value for money product. Silent Coat has a wide range of matting at often remarkably keen prices versus some other brands. They have twelve products if you count the different thicknesses. The first are the foil and polymeric damping bitumen based sound deadening mats: Silent Coat in 2mm, Silent Coat Black in 3mm with black foil, and Silent Coat Extra in a fat 4mm thickness. There’s also Silent Coat Multilayer mat (which is used for heavy vibration areas) with foil atop butyl mastic with a mass loaded vinyl layer, then another of butyl.

Meanwhile, Silent Coat Isolator mat is a foam that can be had in either 6mm or a fat 10mm spec and is used as a layer on top of the deadening mat. That’s the sort of stuff you want when dampening high end audio or bass cars. You want your cabin to be inert, and still be able to afford the audio to install in it? This is a good option.

Specialized products

On top of all that, Silent Coat sells a 20mm or 30mm bonnet liner with foil topping, called Noise Buffler. It is fire retardant and heat resistant but no thermal rating is quoted. Then, there’s a polyurethane foam with an egg-box looking surface called Silent Coat Absorber, offered in 7mm, 15mm and a massive 35mm. This is all about high frequency sound absorption – it is said to absorb 30-40% more sound through its architecture. A major application for this would be inside bass boxes to stop resonances.

Lastly, Silent Coat Noise Isolator in 10mm or 6mm is a lighter weight closed structure cell foam used for doors and in the roof lining. It’s good for absorbing airborne noise.

As well as the mats, Silent Coat offer three kits. One is a basic hatchback deadener, and the others are for Land Rover Defender 90SWB and 110LWB.

Overall, Silent Coat provides cost effective stuff, and offers a good choice of products for different applications.

• Summer 2023 price of single sheet of Bitumen matting with foil backing: $3.10 / £2.40
• Try out price/product: 20x 2mm sheet Silent Coat, $62.68 / £47.99
• Number of kinds of products (as in varieties, not SKUs): 12, plus accessories and three kits
• Main Market: DIY audio customers, Land Rover fans

Noico

Available solely through Amazon, this is a factory selling directly to the public, hence the low prices. They only sell a limited range of just the key products; basically two things in a couple of thicknesses. The sound deadening mat is 2mm thick, and has a foil topping that Noico says is used as install indicator. If you have pressed the embossing flat during installation, you have squidged it firmly enough onto the surface of choice. They offer a roller to do this with and there is a black foil version available. You would use this where you might otherwise spot a silvery glimpse of bodywork on stripped-down but deadened cars. A black foil product is a common option in the competition, hence their copying it.

The other product is Noico Red. A polyethylene foam mat in either 4mm or 8mm. Used as a thermal insulator, it’s claimed to perform as well as rubber based foams. Another benefit is that is doesn’t give off any smell like polyurethane foam tends to.

Rated to 190F or 88C, Noico Red works well as thermal insulation for warm climate vehicles, although it is not rated to be used in really hot spots like say, Dynamat Hoodliner. A real commodity purchase, you buy this if you have a clue what you are doing and just want the basic sound deadening. Not really a wide choice of products for van converters, but it’s keenly priced and appears to be good stuff.

• Summer 2023 price of single sheet of Bitumen matting with foil backing: $3.50 / £2.70
• Try out price/product: ten sheets of black 2mm, $35.25 / £26.99
• Number of kinds of products (as in varieties, not SKUs): five
• Main Market: Audio customers mostly, direct from factory to customer, hence so low in price

Dodo Mat

With more products, more kits, and more bits to help fit the stuff, Dodo Mat are the DIY van converters’ favorite. With some crazy thick insulation for thermal purposes – even including a vehicle-safe lagging wool made from recycled bottles, you could build a sub-zero arctic weatherproof off-grid monster starting with this stuff.

Dodo technically offers 21 products, since many come in multiple thicknesses. Dodo DEADN Hex is their synthetic butyl foil faced deadening mat. It’s soft and flexible for easy installation and 1.8mm thick. DEADN PRO Black has black foil and has 2mm of that low odor synthetic butyl. Dodo SQ DEADENING PLUS is a foam layer atop the butyl. Next in line, DEADN DUO combines a deadening mat with a thermal insulator and the PRO version is 7mm thick as against 5mm.

Specialized products

SQ LINER is a closed-cell wavy-surface foam used for interior sound absorption, while SUPER LINER is a smooth faced foam. Used over a layer of deadening mat, you pick the thickness. It comes in 5mm, 6mm, 10mm and 12mm. The Dodo BARRIER mat, meanwhile, is a Mass Loaded Vinyl or MLV and is weighty at 5Kg/M². You would use that for sound proofing, as in blocking unwanted noise, say in your van walls. The PRO version has a layer of closed cell foam already laminated to it. SOUND STOPPER measures 14mm thick and is the ultimate carpet underlay, with a layer of MLV between two foam layers. It needs adhesive to fit, unlike all the other products, which are sticky-backed.

Finally Dodo THERMOLINER and the PRO versions (featuring a glass fiber reinforced aluminum layer) are sound and heat insulation mats. In version 3, the self-adhesive glue has been upgraded and the release paper is harder to tear. You can purchase it in 6mm, 10mm, 12mm and a thick 30mm form. The one like loft lagging, called Dodo THERMO FLEECE, is 50mm thick.

In short, Dodo Mat has absolutely everything you could possibly want from a sound deadening supplier.

• Summer 2023 price of single sheet of synthetic Bitumen matting with foil backing: $3.91 / £2.99
• Try out price/product: Single Sheet Dodomat, $3.91 / £2.99
• Number of kinds of products (as in varieties, not SKUs): 21, plus accessories and eight kits
• Main Market: DIY camper van conversions and audio customers

Skinz

There aren’t many kinds of products in the Skinz line up as this is all about hifi, and not camping. They are designed and made for the folks who also sell the Audison Thesis stuff. True audiophiles, they sell very high end electronics. As a result, two items in the range exist just to improve loudspeaker locations, as well as sound deadening products.

Skinz Expert sound deadening mat is available in 2mm or as Pro in the 3mm thickness. The Pro version has black foil, while the Skinz Panel Liner product comes in 6mm and 10mm. The latter is a foam layer and like others, is recommended for use on top of sound deadening mat. The Skinz Wave Diffuser is a wavy foam product intended to be fitted behind loudspeakers in doors. The idea is that it absorbs the back wave of the driver and avoids reflections or distortions from them. The other speaker based product is the unique Skinz WaterGuard, a soft silicone rubber boot in 165mm and 200mm sizes, which prevents water getting at speakers.

Another product others don’t seem to have is a dust and grease cleaner. A preparation spray, it’s used to make sure the self-adhesive layer on the deadening mat does its thing.

Sold through the FOUR Masters network of dealers, you will find Skinz products sold with Hertz and Audison kit.

• Summer 2023 price of single sheet of Bitumen matting with foil backing: $5.60 / £4.29
• Try out price/product: 3mm Door Kit of seven sheets of Skinz sound deadening is $39.17 / £29.99
• Number of kinds of products (as in varieties, not SKUs): six
• Main Market: High end audio customers

Stinger Roadkill

This brand is available at Halfords, as well as being widely distributed by AAMP Global’s UK/EU arm. Or, if you want to make life really simple, you can find Stinger Roadkill products on Amazon too.

It’s got pretty packaging and while a big brand, has a less than comprehensive set of products on offer. The coolest product it offers has to be the foam speaker installation rings. Made to hide inside factory speaker locations with aftermarket speakers fitted, they come in six sizes. They fit fives and sixes and three kinds of ovals, including 6x9s.They help reduce the factory locations’ stock ‘boxy’ sound. If you have a better install, they also offer an egg box foam pad to place behind speakers so as to dampen that back wave.

The product range

Stinger Roadkill Expert Lightweight is a foil-topped sound deadening mat sold in various size pre-packs, including 80ft² rolls. Overkill is a ¼ inch foam damping mat used for interior damping and is aimed at high frequency noises. The sole purpose of this one is to give you a quieter cabin. ULTIMATE combines a layer of Expert aluminum/butyl, with a layer of Overkill acoustic foam, in the one mat. They also do a Hood Liner with the aluminum layer and the heat and sound insulating foam. It’s rated to 255F or 124C – not as high as the Dynamat hoodliner (more on that, next) but that will be a more expensive buy.

Last is the Stinger Carpet Pad pack. Designed for the footwell, it has two layers, One of a high density semi-closed-cell foam and one weighty butyl/vinyl layer.

Stinger has a good selection of stuff and if you do run out, you can just pop out and buy some more at an actual shop.

• Summer 2023 price of single sheet of Bitumen matting with foil backing: $9.80 / £7.50
• Try out price/product: Speaker kit of two sheets of Black aluminium foiled, 2mm, $19.58 / £14.99
• Number of kinds of products (as in varieties, not SKUs): eight, plus branded glue
• Main Market: Audio customers online or available from Halfords

Dynamat

The daddy brand, created in the USA over thirty years ago, this is the stuff that folks brag about using. Car audio was their plot, although they also provide home audio application products. I saw Dynamat being used on the production line of the McLaren F1 – they’re THAT good. It is the best in terms of weight versus absorption at soaking up vibration, changing it to low level heat. Yes, when shouted at, sound deadening mat gets microscopically warmer! You cannot destroy energy, only dissipate it. And Dynamat is awfully good at it.

The product range

Sold as seven lines of products and some supporting bits like branded gloves, roller applicators and tape, the main stuff is Dynamat Xtreme; a bitumen based deadening mat with an aluminum foil topping. That stuff is sold by the sheet. Then, with blue rather than silvery foil, there’s Dynamat Superlite, which is 30% lighter and thinner, yet works just as well. Next, you can add a layer of Dynaliner. In ⅛, ¼ or ½ inch thicknesses, it is a lightweight heat and sound blocker layer. Dynacore, in half and one inch thicknesses, is a seriously meatier sound and heat absorber with a black fiber core. It is rated to 350F or 177C, so is useful for hot spots.

Dynamat Hoodliner has a 1mm foil layer and is made to reflect engine heat. Dynapad is a different three-core absorber mat, used for under-carpet heat and sound insulation. Lastly, Dynadeck, a vinyl thermo-acoustic foam mat made as a replacement carpet material.

• Summer 2023 price of single sheet of Bitumen matting with foil backing: £8.38
• Try out price/product: Door Kit of two sheets of Dynamat Xtreme sound deadening is £16.75
• Number of kinds of products (as in varieties, not SKUs) seven plus accessories like rollers
• Main Market: High end audio customers, supercars like McLaren.

The post Best Sound Deadening For Your Car appeared first on Fast Car.

An additional subwoofer of any size makes your system sound better, the mids and highs somehow clearer. Alongside the right car speakers, you don’t have to go to heavy metal concert power, though. With these choices, you can start small, with extra bass too beefy for hiding under a seat. Or, choose something on the more extreme end of the spectrum we have here, and you can still end up at ‘too loud for your mom’.

Here’s our guide to the best subwoofers for your car in 2024.

Alpine SWE-815 Car Subwoofer

RRP: $165 / £130. Buy Alpine SWE-815 here

This has been a huge success in Japan and deserves a mention in this guide to the best subwoofers for your car in 2024. One of the reasons is the low current draw. You get a nice box, with an eight inch speaker in it. This speaker has two voice coils, each of just two ohms. As a result, this means it can suck the power from an amplifier. The amplifier is one for a ‘high power’ head unit. Rather than a ‘proper’ one, it uses the biggest of the so called chip-amps. At a true 4x24W, calling this a 100W amp with 300W peak output may be a but of a stretch but the thing really does make bass.

You get a cute wired remote control for vol./freq./phase of the output. It can accept speaker level or RCA signal input. The speaker box is beautifully made and Alpine-embroidered, and best of all, you also get a port blocker panel. Run it ported for the most possible bass level or run it sealed to play deeper. Affordable, cool and fun, as well as being a great entry-level bass maker.

• Active: Single 8in (20cm) ported or sealed woofer
• Power Handling/Amp power: 100w rms from head unit chip amp
• Frequency Response: 34Hz to 1.5kHz
• Dimensions: (HxWxD) 291mm x 288mm x 363mm down to 253mm

JBL Stage 800BA

RRP: $195 / £190. Buy JBL Stage 800BA here.

You can get the optional JBL RBC wired remote control to boss this unit. A serious ten-amperes draw on your system, from a full-architecture Class D power amp with speaker or RCA level inputs. Not a head unit chip amp, the Stage 800BA needs proper wiring and fusing. I think it takes its name from looking a bit like a stage monitor. There’s bars across the front to stop the driver from being pushed in.

A small box that will not eat too much space in your boot, it measures less than a cubic foot. It may be worth trying different corners, or even pointing it into one. The amplifier has a bass EQ control that can give 9dB of boost at 60Hz. That’s quite a lift and could cripple the amplifier, so use with care. The crossover can be set between 60Hz and 200Hz and has a nice steep 12dB per octave slope.

The driver is polypropylene and that’s a part of making a more affordable JBL. A clever thing is that slot ported box. Unashamedly about the biggest possible output, this well-made enclosure has been sized to work perfectly with the driver. This is a big strength of JBL. They know their stuff and its why it placed in our guide to the best subwoofers for your car in 2024.

• Active: Single 8in (20cm) slot-ported woofer
• Power Handling/Amp power: 100 W Class D amp onboard (10A fuse)
• Frequency Response: 30Hz to 200Hz
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 285mm x 250mm x 263mm down to 203mm

Hertz DBA-200.3

RRP: $399 / £220. Buy HERTZ DBA-200.3 here

A deliciously high end and compact concept. A small eight inch active box but instead of ports, it has a ‘passive radiator’ system. And a very unusual one at that. A passive radiator looks like a speaker driver but has no ‘stuff’ on the back. It is just a suspended cone. This wobbles according to the pressure within, caused by the driven speaker unit. The sound can go as deep as the suspension allows, rather than any tuned-frequency limitations inherent in any ported design.

The port gives you an energy peak at the tuned frequency, but it drops away fast below it. A passive radiator is the best of both worlds. It adds sound pressure level like a port, but without that lower frequency limit. Normally, a passive radiator-equipped subwoofer box will have just one. This unit takes advantage of the cubist shape and has TWO extra eight inch diaphragms in the box. So it has thrice the surface area.

With amp power quoted at ‘just’ 140W peak, this suggest a true RMS of 70W. The amplifier has good controls including the crucial phase flip option and has speaker or RCA level inputs. Cute and posh with it, more than deserving of a place in our best subwoofers for your car in 2024.

• Active: Single 8in (20cm) woofer with two additional 8in passive radiators
• Power Handling/Amp power: 140W Peak quoted (so 70W RMS?)
• Frequency Response: 32Hz to 400Hz
• Dimensions: (HxWxD) 263mm x 293mm x 330mm

JL Audio CP108LG-W3v3 Car Subwoofer

RRP: $399 / £350. Buy JL Audio CP108LG-W3v3 here

This is a giant-killer, and worthy of its place on our list of the best subwoofers for your car in 2024. The speaker inside it is a JL Audio 8W3v3. This driver has all the JL proprietary technology. This includes Floating Cone suspension, vented reinforcement collar and Elevated Frame Cooling, as well as the unit having been Dynamic Motor Analysed. Even the lead-wires on the speaker are made not to clatter and flap when the speaker is driven like hell.

The box is strong, with internal bracing that you just won’t find in many other products. The slot port has a flared end and it’s all made from better quality MDF than most Chinese-made products. A passive design, it will need an amplifier, although there is a more expensive version with its own amp, called the ACP108LG-W3v3. Just adding an A for active. This doubles the price. And here’s why.

Reviews have said, “Bass with edges that stops and starts. Bass that’s melodic and tight with the ability to track wobbles within bass lines and real sudden increases in dynamics and power of the lows. Bass that’s just bloody wonderful.”

If you get one and demo it to your friends, get them to guess. They will say you have a ten or a twelve in the boot.

• Passive: Single 8in (20cm) 8W3v3-4 woofer, no amplifier, 4ohm
• Power Handling: 250W RMS for the enclosed driver
• Frequency Response: 28Hz to 250Hz
• Dimensions: (HxWxD) 283mm x 473mm x 130mm

Focal BombA 8in

RRP: $560 / £300. Buy Focal Bomba 8in here

Focal make speakers from affordable to lottery winner grade. They are enormously sophisticated and this unit is the second most impressive one after the JL Audio one here. Perhaps higher fidelity than massive might and main, this is the most technologically advanced. The 8in driver is made of glass fiber. Inherently incompressible, it is a poor man’s Kevlar or carbon fiber and it makes brilliant speaker cones. Hidden away inside a bandpass enclosure, it all goes on inside, and done right, a bandpass can boggle your mind. A dark art that can be loud, or low, or take huge power. The trick is the balance. This one will drop all the way to the deepest bass at 20Hz.

The controls it has to do so, include a sweepable phase control. Way more than a mere phase ‘flip’, this can be magical as it fits your bass to your car’s cabin. There’s a low pass filter settable between 45Hz and 120Hz and a genius subsonic settable between 20Hz and 35Hz. Stuff below that can be prevented from sapping your power. You can peak output at the bass boost frequency (although no figure in Hz quoted) by up to 12dB. Set well, this could be a seamless true hifi bottom end to a good system. Posh kit and deserved of a place on our guide to the best subwoofers for your car.

• Active: Single 8in (20cm) woofer
• Power Handling/Amp power: 150W RMS Class D amp onboard (15A fuse)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 125Hz
• Dimensions: (HxWxD) 249mm x 480mm x 324mm

Rockford Fosgate P1-1×12 Car Subwoofer

RRP: $239.99 / £200. Buy Rockford Fosgate P1-1×12 here

A “Punch P1” product as against a P2 or P3, makes this the affordable end of these serious ready-made enclosures. Lighter weight than the bigger spec boxes, making it easier to unplug and remove if you really need the space. Rockford Fosgate are a very old and revered brand of American car audio, even legendary. People get tattoos of their logo. You can get P1-1×12 with a dual voice coil (two coils on one speaker) or as a dual driver version. The top end 1-ohm load (!) P3 dual driver 12 is £700, weighs 40Kg (90lbs) and handles 1,200W RMS! So you can keep on upgrading.

The P1-1×12 though, will cope with a quarter-kilowatt of power and handle 500W peaks, so it needs a good amp. You may well be able to run 250W without the electrical upgrades that running a big bass amp would demand. The design is handsome, the output from the Kevlar-reinforced paper cones is tight. The port is designed for high airflow with low noise and the whole look is smart, with the front grille for said port. The driver is naked, is all, so requires care or adding the optional P1G-12 grille that will fit. It’s a worthy entry into our guide to the best subwoofers for your car.

• Passive: Single 12in (30cm) woofer slot ported, 4ohm
• Power Handling: 250W RMS, 500W peak
• Frequency Response not quoted. It’s install and application dependent.
• Dimensions: (HxWxD) 384mm x 486mm x 400mm

JL Audio CP212G

RRP: $499.99 / £490. Buy JL Audio CP212G here

An absolute bass monster. An amp is needed for this passive design and one that likes a 2ohm load and dumping watts. It can eat up to 600W RMS. The slot port along the bottom is flared, just like its baby brothers. Look at those extended front edges. They mean that you can lay CP212G on its face and the edges hold the speaker off the floor. This not only protects your drivers (and loses the pretty logo to see) but it also makes the bass immense. Like an explosion, adding the right compression, or loading, can make the forces more brutal.

A true high end instant beast of a bass install. Useful for those who want a resell-able item that in many cases will surpass most custom jobs you’d get built. The JL Audio cunning speaker technology meets their enclosure design genius. The box makers that made an 8in sound like a 12in, make these two 12 inchers sound like bass Armageddon. In a good way. There are others in the BassWedge series of enclosures, going down to a simple single ten inch. They are all good but this is a brutal subwoofer for your car.

• Power Handling: 600W RMS
• Frequency Response not quoted. It’s install and application dependent
• Dimensions: (HxWxD) 386mm x 260mm x 516mm down to 400mm

Edge EDB-12A-EO Car Subwoofer

RRP: £180. Not available in the US. Buy Edge EDB-12A-EO here

Surface area is directly proportional to sound pressure level. In other words, if you got more cone area , you get more bass. Yes, you can drive a smaller speaker like hell to move more air (there are six-inch speakers made as subwoofers that have to do that) but bigger bass, takes bigger woofers. The EDB-12A is one heck of a way to jump in. It will reduce the shopping bag count you can fit in your boot, and won’t mix well with golf bats, is all.

A full-fat twelve in driver, it comes ready to play with the built-in amplifier with speaker or RCA level inputs. This is a second-generation product and we gather the amplifier has been beefed up a bit. Known for their cool styling and well made parts, EDB-12A has a curved port mouth that breathes deep. They say it goes lower in this second iteration but do not quote the figures. Design and looks are superb, right down to the sloped heatsink on the amp. Its keen value for money and performance is why it appears on our list of the best subwoofers for your car.

• Active: Single 12in (30cm) woofer
• Power Handling/Amp power: 300W RMS Class A/B mono amplifier 20A fuse
• Frequency Response: not reported
• Dimensions: (HxWxD) 338mm x 408mm x 413mm

Relevant content:

The post Best Subwoofers For Your Car In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

These days, cars come with better audio systems than ever. The absolute newest head units can actually be tricky to modify as they are so deeply embedded into their vehicle’s electronics, though of course you can still upgrade the hardware like speakers and so on. Fortunately, modern-day OEM stereo systems are pretty hard to improve upon with an aftermarket head unit – in fact, the aftermarket head unit scene is mostly about bringing older cars up to the standards of new ones. If you opt for an aftermarket stereo, all of a sudden your mid-2000s project car could gain features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Typically, when we talk about ‘older cars’, we’re referencing ones which use DIN-sized apertures. DIN is a measurement used to govern sizes of car radios and the standardization of the wiring plugs, but all you need to know is what size yours is. If it looks like a letterbox opening, it’s single-DIN. If it looks like a chunky squarish shape, it’s double-DIN.

This guide will focus on options for these slightly older vehicles, featuring aftermarket options that fit old-school dash layouts while offering all the latest tech. So, without further ado, here are the best car stereos and head units of 2024.

Best Car Stereo & Head Unit

At a glance:

• Best Single-DIN car stereos
• Best Double-DIN car stereos

For a deeper dive into specific DIN options, check out our big Single-DIN and Double-DIN group tests. For now though, here are a selection of our favorites:

Best Single-DIN car stereos

Sony DSX-A212Ui – Best Value

RRP: £64.99. Buy it here. (Not available in the US, try the DSX-A415BT instead, RRP: $99.99.)

This is the cheapest single-DIN option we’ve included in this shortlist, but cheap doesn’t mean bad. In fact, far from it in this Sony’s case.

It’s not the most sophisticated machine, but at this price point you wouldn’t expect it to be. What it does provide, however, is packaged to a high standard. The sound quality of MP3/WMA/FLAC files is great, and although the tuner isn’t super sensitive, it can play strong radio too. Ergonomically speaking, it’s a joy to use and is easy on the eye.

Adjustability comes in the form of an ‘Extra Bass’ button, while you also get an EQ with ten presets to pick from, and even a karaoke mode! For more details, be sure to read our full review.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN mech-free face-off FM/AM/LW radio with USB & Aux
• One pair of RCA output sockets, steering wheel remote output socket
• Reads MP3, WMA, FLAC via the 1.0A front mounted USB
• Extra Bass, EQ10 equaliser with presets and custom and Karaoke setting

Kenwood KDC-BT960DAB – Best for Powerful Audio

RRP: £189.99. Buy it here. (Not available in the US, try the KDC-BT782HD instead, RRP: $179.99)

The Kenwood KDC-BT960DAB is a small but mighty device that excels as part of a beefed up all-round audio setup. The sheer power of its 5V RCA outputs means that it packs a punch, which helps it stand out from other rival systems when listened to back-to-back.

Besides that, it’s a familiar, reliable single-DIN experience. You get a 13-band EQ to tune the sound of tracks inputted by either CD, aux, Bluetooth, or USB. That’s a healthy selection of available inputs available. Not to mention good ol’ radio! Check out the full review here.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN CD Tuner with DAB+, FM, AM, USB (2.0 high speed), Aux, Bluetooth (V4.2) streaming and calls
• 0V Front, Rear, Subwoofer high power RCA outputs
• Plays CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV and FLAC files from USB and CD
• DSP has sound/bass enhancement, Time Alignment & 13-Band EQ, works with Kenwood Remote App

Caliber RCD120DAB-BT – Best Classic Design

RRP: £199.99. Buy it here. Not available in the US.

Modern single-DIN designs look a bit out of place in classic cars, but fortunately it’s not a case of choosing sound *or* style in those scenarios. Nope, with options like the Caliber RCD120DAB-BT, you can have both. I mean just look at its chrome finish and stylized fonts. Glorious.

As far as its technical capabilities go, the Caliber is more new-age rather than old-school. Although we found it to be a bit fiddly to setup, once it’s going it delivers crisp and clear audio from CD or USB inputs. In fact, when putting it to the test, we found that its SD input capabilities were actually greater than specified. Aux audio was a little quiet though, and sadly it cannot play M4A files. Overall though, the majority of prospective buyers are unlikely to have any complaints with its quality.

Want to know more? Read our full review next.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN CD-Tuner with DAB+/FM & USB/SD/Aux/Bluetooth streaming and calls
• Onboard Power: 4x75W MAX, this is what others call ‘4X50W’ and likely to be 4x22W RMS
• 2V Front and Rear RCA out, front USB and Aux, SD & CD slots under faceplate, DAB+ antenna and wired microphone included
• Plays CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA and plays FLAC32, despite not being rated for it.

Blaupunkt Frankfurt RCM82 – Best Retro Design

RRP: £479.99. Buy it here. $514.90. Buy it here.

Ok, so what if you need something that’s in-between old and new – you don’t want something with a classic vibe, nor do you fancy the contemporary look. Perhaps you drive a car from the ’80s or ’90s, and instead want an upgraded single-DIN head unit that matches your ride’s retro aesthetic. Well, that’s where the Blaupunkt Frankfurt RCM82 comes in.

This German car stereo will make you feel like you’re cruising through Berlin (or, ahem, Frankfurt) in an Audi Coupe or Porsche 968, except its sound gear is from right here, right now. For some people though, the biggest draw may be the way it feels. Those buttons give wonderful biofeedback, and the dials feel so much better than any touchscreen. To take a closer look at it, read our full in-depth review.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN short body mech-free DAB+/FM/AM radio with 2xUSB/Aux/MicroSD/twin-connect Bluetooth (v4.1)
• Onboard Power: 4x50W @4ohms; Front, Rear, Subwoofer RCA outputs, wired steering wheel control port
• Fr & Rr 14-Band EQ, plus ‘Rock’, Pop’ & ‘Classic”; Subwoofer output adjustable for Gain, Hz and slope
• Internal electronic crossovers: 50, 63, 80, 100, 125, 160 or 200Hz, front and rear HPF/LPF @ 6/12dB

Alpine iLX- F905D – Best Overall

RRP: £899.99. Buy it here. (Not available in the US, try the iLX-F509 instead, RRP: $1186.98.)

If you wan t the best, it’s going to cost ya. Clearly. However, if you’re really into music or are just very keen on getting the best car audio quality you can, it’s worth paying the extra cash to get something like this Alpine model (not to be confused with the unrelated French sportscar manufacturer, Alpine – got it?)

The first thing you’ll notice is that unlike the other single-DIN stereos listed here, this one has a massive screen attached to the front. Don’t worry the back is still definitely 1-DIN in size, the screen just protrudes outwards a bit. Bear this in mind before buying as you may need to take into account clearance issues. Anyway, the purpose of this screen is to give you a whole host of extra features, which you can read about in detail in our full review of this system. Oh yeah, and the sound clarity is utterly superb, not to mention the fact that it’s pretty darn powerful too!

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN body GPS-equipped car radio with ‘floating’ 9in HD capacitative Halo9 screen, twin cam connection
• 4x50W MOSFET CLASS D internal power amplifier, 24-BIT DAC, Fr, Rr, Sub pre-outs at 6V
• Wireless remote control ready, HDMI in/out 2xUSB, AUX, DAB+, plays FLAC, AAC, WAV, APE, MP3, MP4, MOV, FLV, MKV
• Works wirelessly with Apple Car play, Android Auto (USB wired), Bluetooth (V4.2), Made for iPhone

Best Double-DIN Car Stereos

Pioneer AVH-A240DAB Car Head Unit

RRP: $260.58 / £228.71. Buy now.

A double-DIN deck comprising a touchscreen with a disc mechanism slot that can play DVDs. These used to cost more than £1,000 and are now about a fifth of that. It has the player slot at the top and the rest of the front is the resistive touch screen. The big naughty thing is to disobey the installation rules to allow you to play video for your passenger while driving. There is a company that supplies a device to to allow moving video in OEM systems. It is about car makers being sued if they sell a car that can distract the driver, by design. If you choose to add a new head unit that can play video while rolling, then it is your responsibility.

Cool digital stuff includes the Weblink feature. This has special apps for car use, via your phone, including WAZE navigation. Also, smartphone screen mirroring, when your connected phone appears on the AVH-A240DAB’s screen, for you to boss totally. Optional extras exist. You can add a reversing camera that just plugs in the back, or get a dedicated remote control. To plug in a Lightning Connector iPhone, you will need a CA-IU.52C USB to Lightning cable. MOSFET power chip rated at 4x50W, 13-band graphic EQ, two-way crossover and subwoofer control.

• Double-DIN CD/DVD DAB radio with touch screen.
• USB connection to smartphone for screen mirroring.
• Siri and Android compatible.
• Waze and Spotify via Weblink.

Kenwood DPX-7300DAB Car Stereo

RRP: £183.99. Buy now. (not available in the US, check out the DPX-795BH, RRP: $229)

A classic double-DIN car stereo that can still spin a CD as well as taking a USB filled with digital goodies. For a seemingly mid market unit with no snazzy touch screen, it has some really high end audio features. The DSP and time alignment thing is all about tailoring the sound to your car to start with. Then, it is about tiny delays to the speakers in certain places. This is to convince your ears that the arrival time is the same, creating true stereo sound where you sit. This tech was once really costly and is now filtered-down to a keen price point.

The DPX-7300DAB also features two and even three-way digital crossovers. If CD is dead to you, look at the mech-free version, the DPX-305BT.

The display is RGB, meaning you can choose from a rainbow, or leave it scrolling through the lot. This is also dimmable in thirty-one steps. Adults might use this feature to blend their display in perfectly with whatever color dash lighting their car has. MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV and FLAC. Will run iPod and iPhone music. MOSFET power chip rated at 4x50W. Comes with DAB antenna and wired microphone.

• Double-DIN CD Radio, with front Aux/USB sockets.
• App to use your smartphone as a remote control.
• Amazon Alexa-ready.
• Digital Signal Processor and Time-Alignment.

Want to know how to get the best out of your equipment? Have a read of our guide on how to setup your audio gear next.

The post Best Car Stereo & Head Unit In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

We’ve all seen those YouTube videos of crazy Russian dash cam footage, but insurance scams, crashes, and road rage aren’t things that are just reserved for abroad. More and more drivers in the Western world are taking up interior-mounted cameras too, so if you’re thinking of joining them, perhaps consider some of these.

Dual car camera systems offer both front and rear-facing cameras within one setup, and therefore offer the ultimate service when it comes to multi-angle protection. Some will simply look out the front and rear windows, but others offer a view inside the car too. In this list, I’ve included a mixture of both.

How we chose the products

I’ve tested some of the products mentioned below and deemed them worthy of making this shortlist. However, those that we haven’t tried out first-hand are here based on their spec sheet, price, and my understanding of what makes a good dash cam.

How we tested the products

When conducting tests on some of the products below, it was important that I was able to give a well-rounded overview of what it’s like to own each one. That meant covering the installation process as well as how they perform. You can read all about the finer details in each specific review, which I’ve linked below each camera if they’re available on the site.

Having conducted all of Fast Car’s dash cam tests and reviews so far, I’m well-placed to make recommendations like this based on how I feel each brand and model stacks up against each other.

Best Dual Car Cameras

At a glance:

• Thinkware X1000 – RRP: $299.00, buy now. £269.00, buy now.
• Nextbase 622GW – RRP: $399.99, buy now. £269.00, buy now.
• Orskey CameraCore Front & Rear – RRP: $69.99, buy now. £79.99, buy now.
• Garmin Tandem Compact – RRP: $299.99, buy now. £299.99, buy now.
• Road Angel Halo View – RRP: £199.99, buy now. Not available in the US.
• How to buy the best camera for you

Thinkware X1000

RRP: $299.00, buy now. £269.00, buy now.

Admittedly, I forgot to include the accompanying small rear camera in the shot above – but trust me, the X1000 is indeed a dual package. And a pretty good one at that! What I really like about it is that both the front-facing and rear-facing cameras record in the same resolution, which is a bit of an odd rarity in the dash cam world. And that doesn’t mean they’ve sacrificed the quality either. Both cameras record in 1440p at 30fps. Both also have a wide-angle 156-degree lens, helping you to record as much of the environment as possible without the image becoming distorted. To read more about the X1000, have a read of my in-depth review of it.

Nextbase 622GW

RRP: $399.99, buy now. £269.00, buy now. (plus $/£69.00 add-on for rearview camera).

The Nextbase 622GW is available as either a sole front-facing camera, or as part of a dual cam package with a selection of optional extra rear cameras. These include the Rear Window Cam, which is the size and shape of a ping-pong ball and is my personal favorite, plus two types of rear cam which attach to the 622GW itself. The aptly-named Rear View Camera shoots footage out the back windscreen from the front of the car, whereas the Cabin View Camera captures footage of the occupants inside the vehicle too.

Quality-wise, the 622GW can record in up to 4K at 30fps, while the rear cameras record in 1080p at the same frame rate. A whole host of extra features and functions make up the package too, including Alexa compatibility and even SOS software enhanced by What3Words. Read the full review to find out more.

Orskey Front & Rear 1080p Dual Cam

RRP: $69.99, buy now. £79.99, buy now.

Not everybody can afford to spend big money on a dual cam setup though, and even if you can, you might be reluctant to. If that’s the case, fear not, as there are several commendable budget-friendly options on the market as well.

One example is this Orskey package. For less than a third of the price of the Nextbase 622GW, you can gain access to features like a 170-degree wide-angle front lens, night vision technology, and even collision sensors. The front camera sits in-board the car and produces recordings in 1080p/30fps. The rear camera, meanwhile, is waterproof and is intended to be placed on the exterior of the car. This obviously won’t be possible with some vehicles, but if yours has a concave registration plate housing (for example) then it will slot nicely in there. Hypothetically, there’s nothing stopping you from mounting inside the rear window though.

Garmin Dash Cam Tandem Compact

RRP: $299.99, buy now. £299.99, buy now.

As you’d expect from a big brand name like Garmin, this is more of a premium option in the world of dual car cameras. The two lenses (one pointed forwards, and one pointed back into the cabin) record in high quality 1440p at the front and 720p at the back, while WiFi connectivity allows for seamless file transfer to the Garmin smartphone app.

Night vision is included, as is incident detection and GPS, and there’s also a parking surveillance mode. You can even control the device through voice control if you like. Plus, if you’re concerned about cameras being too bulky, this impressive little machine is merely the size of an average car key.

Road Angel Halo View

RRP: £199.99, buy now. Not available in the US.

The Road Angel Halo view dual camera is very different to the rest of the products on this list. The Halo replaces your car’s standard rearview mirror, and as well as being able to function as a simple standard mirror, it’s also a 10-inch touchscreen which can relay video footage from the front or rear camera. You just have to swipe between them with your finger to change views!

The video quality is good – 2K/1440p from the front camera, and 1080p from the rear camera. Speaking of the rear camera, it is waterproof and intended to be mounted to the exterior of your car, also serving as a parking camera. Night vision tech is included, and there’s a Road Angel app too to easily access your recordings from.

How to buy the best dual cam set-up

Naturally, when it comes to cameras, picture quality is the one trait to rule them all. When buying a dash cam for your car, don’t settle for anything less than 1080p at the front and 720p at the rear (though if you can get 1080p all-round that’s a very worthwhile bonus). This is the sort of threshold where you’ll be able to pick out important details when needed. But for ultimate performance, aim for even higher resolutions if your budget allows. Refresh rate is also key, 60fps will give you a nice smooth video, but 30fps at a higher resolution is a compromise that some people are willing to make.

On top of that, consider how much functionality you want from your cameras. Do you want features like Parking Mode, audible driver aids, or connected apps? If you do, seek them out, if not, avoid them and save a bag of cash doing so.

The post Best Dual Car Camera appeared first on Fast Car.

Car speakers and microphones do the same thing, just in different directions. Essentially, the microphone takes a pressure wave of sound and uses a diaphragm to catch the air. The movement of that diaphragm makes a coil of wire fixed to its back, move within a magnet gap, which then makes a signal go up the wire. Meanwhile, speakers take a wire with watts in it – way bigger than the microphone’s one, and turn it back into sound.

What you need to know is that if you’re tired of your car’s mediocre standard audio, speakers are the immediate and best way to upgrade your setup. However, you need to take a few things into account. The budget is the first one of course, followed by if the speakers will fit in your car. There are standard sizes of all speakers for cars, measured in centimeters. Thing is, the high power handling ones have beefy magnets on their behinds, so some will only fit in bigger cars. Ultimately, it’s always safest to get an expert to check mounting depths for you.

Coaxial Speakers: What Are We Looking For?

These speakers that we’re looking at in this article are the coaxial type. That means there is a tweeter assembled with a mid-bass driver in the same chassis, which creates a single source – or ‘point source’ for your sound. This is inherently cool and is used by fancy HiFi brand Cabasse for their home stereo stuff, for instance. So as you can see, coaxial does not mean low quality, it just means compact. Your car will have it’s own relevant mounting locations and size requirements, but for comparison purposes, we’ve used the 6.5inch size of each speaker to fairly assess technical and musical ability. The bullet points that you’ll find below list the sizes that each line of speakers are available to purchase in.

Our shortlist ranges from entry-level, to upper-midway, to sheer awesome. After each one, we’ll name our favorite model from each line, if we were to pick one. You, however, will have to make your choice based upon size & compatibility with your own project car.

MTX Terminator TR65C

RRP: from $39.95 / £34.95. Buy it here. 

The most major issue with new coaxial speakers for your car is any eventual upgrade. Loudspeakers have various specifications and how many watts they take without dying is one. That’s the famous one. The ‘secret one’ is sensitivity or efficiency. Put just one watt (called 2.83V as signal level in the specifications) into a speaker, then at one meter away, measure how loud it is in watts – you need an anechoic chamber or an outdoors lab to do this right. Anyway, some speakers can be MUCH louder on less watts than others. Sadly, super efficiency comes with lower power handling. It is a very rare and posh speaker that can do big power and yet be sensitive. It is all about the soft parts that move.

Speaker makers brag about their cone material being light and stiff and the suspensions being extra wibbly-wobbly. They brag about the material their tweeters are made of and their voice coils’ technology. In this case, these are an affordable speaker that MTX expect you not to use the grille with. Ideal as a drop-in replacement, the 92.5dB sensitivity means they will rock on stock power. The suspension is real rubber and the cone is a pretty electroplated polypropylene injection molding. They’re fabulous value and those 22kHz tweeters will make the details sing.

• Power Handling/Impedance: 65W RMS/4ohms
• Sensitivity: 92.5dB @ 2.83V (1W)/1m
• Frequency Range: 48Hz to 22kHz
• Made as: 4in, 5.25in, 6.5in, 6x9in
• Best coaxial car speakers in the range? The 5.25in XTR50C is fabulous value. View price comparisons for it below.

Alpine SPG-17C2

RRP: $80.00 / £75.00. Buy it here. 

Features like square voice coil wire on heat-proof Kapton bobbins is the sort of tech you expect from posh subwoofers. The square wire means more metal in the magnet gap and therefore more shove from Fleming’s left hand rule! Here, despite a lowish 60W RMS power rating, Alpine are saying that this is a high power design and can handle peaks of 240W, which is believable in the face of its way lower 88.5dB efficiency. That is 4dB less than the MTX. Essentially, it means that while the MTX is great on stock power, these may not be as loud. But if you’re using even a small amplifier, rather than OEM power, or a head unit, these will be awesome.

The tweeters are a soft silk dome type, the absolute best thing you want to see. Only a 20mm one though at the price. Their magnets are Neodymium and so despite looking quite small, have the thrust of a much bigger normal Ferrite. Neodymium is surprising to see at this price point – it makes the tweeters’ sound very high end and detailed. The main drivers have normal ferrite magnets as it is still just a 60W RMS speaker. Overall, these are lovely coaxials, from a well-renowned brand.

• Power Handling/Impedance: 60W RMS/4ohms
• Sensitivity: 88.5.5dB @ 2.83V (1W)/1m
• Frequency Range: 68Hz to 20kHz
• Made as: 4in, 5.25in, 6.5in, 6x9in two-way and three-way versions
• Best coaxial car speakers in the range? The 6×9 SPG-69C2 is worthy

Focal Auditor ACX165S

RRP: $100.00 / £99.99. Buy it here.

This brand’s product range goes all the way up to a home speaker called GRAND UTOPIA, which tower over most at seven feet tall each. However, Focal know a lot about loudspeakers and are known for making really good affordable stuff as well, like these, their entry level offerings. The 6.5in size of Auditor ACX comes in two kinds, one regular, one shallow-mount, while the other models are the regular basket and magnet. On top of that, Focal offer the rare 5×7 oval in this line, too.

The truly bonkers thing is that the ACX165S is not merely shallower of basket, it has higher power handling, too. The 70W RMS is also married to a 93dB sensitivity, somehow 1.5dB better than the chunkier one. The fatter ACX165 is a bit less in price, handles 10W less and has that 1.5dB lesser sensitivity. How the ACX165S has these specs is bonkers, and took checking via data sheets as it seemed hard to believe.

The tweeter is an exotic Mylar inverted dome, a classic bit of Focal smarts, under a really cool ‘F’ grille. The polypropylene main woofer cone has a rubber surround suspension, for durability and a good clean sound. The whole mounting depth issue is a big thing and Focal have really addressed this with the ACX165S: get the regular ones if money is tighter and space allows, but generally we’d steer you in the way of the shallower ones if you can afford the extra cost, even if space is not snug. These coaxial speakers are great for using on OEM power, but are even better on a Focal amplifier.

• Power Handling/Impedance: 70W RMS/4ohms
•  Sensitivity: 93B @ 2.83V (1W)/1m
• Frequency Range: 60Hz to 21kHz
• Made as: 4in, 5.25in, 6.5in, 5x7in, 6x9in
• Best coaxial car speakers in the range? This ACX165S is amazing

JBL Stadium GTO620

RRP: $210.00 / £209.99. Buy it here. 

JBL will never stop letting you know that they are the fathers of live sound. Their ranges of car speakers are called after venues: Stage, then Club, and then this Stadium range. Not cheap, Stadium are only available in the big ol’ 6.5in coax and mighty 6×9 oval – no messing about with smaller ones. These have a totally huge set of features. They are not a standard 4ohm speaker but rather show just 2ohms to an amp, which is important as most amps are able to drop more watts into a 2ohm load than a 4ohm. Normally you get special 2ohm subwoofers, or more than one, and wire them up right to show low impedance.

Unheard-of levels of rare amongst coaxials, this 2ohm impedance thing makes them bonkers loud on normal amps. The glass fiber woofer is light and stiff and is a Plus One design. With 25% more surface area crammed into any given chassis size. It works and makes bigger bass.

Part of what you are paying for is the absurd high efficiency along with high power. These offer 95dB for one watt, so if you shove 75W RMS up them, it makes mayhem. The bass is stupefying, just look at their frequency passband in the spec sheet below. This speaker runs happily down to 45Hz, the very frequency cited on most amps as the ‘Bass Boost’ central, and lower than any referenced in this article. That translates to richer, fatter tones. A set of these, the 6x9s and a 4ch amp, and you’ll be an audio hooligan with that classic rich, rocking JBL sound.

• Power Handling/Impedance: 75W RMS/2ohms
• Sensitivity: 95dB @ 2.83V (1W)/1m
• Frequency Range: 45Hz to 25kHz
• Made as: 6.5in, 6x9in
• Best coaxial car speakers in the range? The mad GTO693 6×9 is crazy

Morel Maximo Ultra 602

RRP: $200.00 / £189.00. Buy it here. 

Morel make some mind-bendingly expensive car speakers and are more hardcore in automotive than HiFi than many think. Morel’s idea of entry-level is over four times the price of the MTX Terminator we mentioned at the beginning – evidence of a high-end approach, I guess you could say. The Maximo Ultra 602 is absolutely meant as a very high quality (but in Morel terms) affordable speaker set to replace your stock ones. It’s got proper high power handling at 90W RMS yet a serious 91dB sensitivity, which means really sophisticated engineering. Now in its MKII guise, the Maximo Ultra’s tweeter features Morel’s EVC External Voice Coil tech for absurd high frequency control.

They say it sets new standards for high power handling and low distortion for the price. Morel used computer modelling to make the suspension of the mid woofer more linear under low midrange frequencies. That makes for better bass dynamics with less distortion.
It adds up to a ridiculous slice of performance with a rich bass that is faster than most. A particularly Morel thing, the leading edges of bass notes are carried in a tighter way that makes the whole sound just a level up from normal. Also, this speaker system was designed to sound good off-axis, deliberately – Morel knows that stock speaker locations will be used for these and they are often in bad locations, sound-wise. This is not a cheap option, but it really is very good.

• Power Handling/Impedance: 90W RMS/4ohms
• Sensitivity: 91dB @ 2.83V (1W)/1m
• Frequency Range: 55Hz to 20kHz
• Made as: 4in, 5.25in, 6.5in, 6x9in
• Best coaxial car speakers in the range? This very Ultra 602

JL Audio C2-650x

RRP: $250.00. Buy it here.

JL Audio started as the brand of pressed steel chassis woofer that simply won every sound off about sound quality. Suddenly, across all the car audio SQ contests, unless you had JL subs, you didn’t have the best sounding lows. That was along time ago. To this day my overall ‘best woofer ever’ remains the JL W7. Just a hairsbreadth less snug than the Morel one I was so impressed with, theirs can do incredible rich bass. It has both control and awesome goose-bumpiness! In the years since, their full range speakers have also evolved massively. JL make some lovely entry level stuff and they make some that are up there with the finest that exist.

These ones are from their C2 range, with technology filtered-down from the fancier C5 range. High quality 19mm silk dome tweeters are married to mineral filled polypropylene bass cones. You can get C2 speakers as coaxials as well as components with fancier off-board passive crossovers.

Like so many of these, the coaxials’ frames have multiple sets of mounting holes. Although it looks like Swiss cheese along the edge as so many different ‘standard’ sets of mounting screw position exist, it works well and means easy installation in stock locations.

• Power Handling/Impedance: 60W RMS/4ohms
• Sensitivity: 91dB @ 2.83V (1W)/1m
• Frequency Range: 59Hz to 22kHz
• Made as: 3.5in, 4in, 5.25in, 6in, 6.5in, 6x9in
• Best coaxial car speakers in the range? C2-350X cute THREE inch!

The post Best Coaxial Car Speakers appeared first on Fast Car.

Many of us remember our first toolkit with fond memories and recall the times we struggled and made-do with what we had, but still managed to replace a spark plug or fit a new pair of brake rotors. Years later, you often wonder how you managed, especially if you now have a huge range of tools and wrench sets at your fingertips. It was these issues that spurred us to think about the budding mechanics and modifiers of today, and what tools they would buy to get started.

So, if you’re looking to take your first steps into a more hands-on form of car ownership and maintenance, we’ve picked several toolkits for you to choose from to get started. The following toolkits were put through their paces by our tools expert Rob Hawkins, who has decades of experience working on cars both classic and modern.

At a glance:

• Best Buy: Sealey Premier 136-Piece Toolkit, RRP: $439.99 / £359.94 – buy it now!
• Best Budget Buy: Blackline 99-Piece Tool Set, RRP: $82.00 / £67.08 – buy it now!
• Apprentice’s Choice: Siegen 90-piece tool chest, RRP: $439.99 / £359.94 – buy it now!
• Mechanic’s Choice: Teng Tools 48-piece Tool Kit, RRP: $649.68 / £531.48 – buy it now!
• Teenager’s Choice: Draper workshop toolkit, RRP: $508.92 / £416.33 – buy it now!
• Recommended: Clarke PRO394 Professional 90-Piece Toolkit, RRP: £131.98 – buy it now! 

Best Mechanic Tool Set For Beginners

Sealey Premier 136-Piece Toolkit

Award: Best Buy
RRP: $439.99 / £359.94 – buy it now!
Score: 9/10

Full-time mechanic Mike Smith at MJ Motors chose this toolkit as his favorite. It’s easy to see why. The sturdy storage case securely holds all 136 tools inside with labelled locations. The sockets range from 4mm-32mm, with ¼- and ½-inch drive ratchets, and there’s a comprehensive range of E-Torx sockets – but only one 16mm spark plug socket, whereas most other kits also include a 21mm socket.

Disappointingly, the metric sockets up to 14mm are ¼-inch drive, which is a little inadequate for fittings requiring a 12-14mm socket that maybe need a stronger ½-inch drive ratchet. In fact, our ¼-inch drive ratchet broke. Luckily, Sealey offers a lifetime replacement warranty on this and the other toolkit we tested from them. Otherwise, there’s a good range of screwdrivers and bits, pliers, Allen keys, spanners and extension bars. There’s also a folding knife, something that our apprentice pointed out is essential in every toolkit.

We liked the storage box, which is better than them being stored loosely or in an open holder. However, the best aspect of this toolkit has got to be the 3/8 -inch bits, which fit inside a ½-inch adaptor. There are Torx bits up to T55, and multi-splined and Allen keys up to 12mm. All this makes for a sound investment with a good range of tools

Clarke PRO394 Professional 90-Piece Toolkit

Award: Recommended
Price: £131.98 from MachineMart – buy it now!
Score: 8/10

A stunning-looking cantilever toolbox that opens to reveal a neatly stored and usefully labelled assortment of tools. With metric sizes only, there are ½- and ¼-inch drive ratchets and an assortment of sockets from 4mm-24mm, including 16mm and 21mm spark plug sockets. The Allen keys range from 1.5mm-10mm and include a 7mm, which can be useful for undoing brake caliper slider bolts. The spanners are in sizes from 6mm-17mm. There’s a selection of reasonable quality screwdrivers, plus an assortment of bits and a separate universal screwdriver handle. Plus a wide range of pliers, including vice grips and water pump pliers. Compared with the other Clarke toolkit on test, the extra cash for this kit is well worth it. Also, this one comes with a lifetime warranty, whereas the other one (scroll down to find it) is just a year.

This toolkit looks impressive and the tools are easy to find and put away. While the carry-case types are arguably even easier to transport, they don’t keep all the tools as secure. It was a close call between this toolkit and Sealey’s Premier, so it will come down to personal choice.

Blackline 99-Piece Tool Set

Award: Best Budget Buy
RRP: $82.00 / £67.08 – buy it now!
Score: 8/10

Siegen 90-piece tool chest

Award: Apprentice’s Choice
RRP: $439.99 / £359.94 – buy it now!
Score: 7/10

This is one of the more expensive multi-drawer tool chests on test, but the higher price is reflected in the quality of the tools – and there are no gimmicks to make up the number of pieces, such as drawing pins, picture hooks or screws. Instead, you get the basics of what an entry level mechanic needs: metric sockets from 4mm-32mm, 16mm and 21mm spark plug sockets, ¼- and ½-inch ratchet drives, spanners from 6mm-22mm, a selection of Allen keys (but no 7mm), screwdrivers, pliers and lots of bits (Allen keys, Torx up to T30 and screwdriver bits). Plus, all of the tools come with a lifetime warranty.

Stored in a two-drawer tool chest with a lockable lid, there’s a place for everything with clear labelling to help locate the right tool. We also liked how many of the tools could be used together – the screwdriver-style handle for using the bits can be equipped with a ¼-inch socket on one end and a ¼-inch drive ratchet at the other, helping to create more leverage when undoing stubborn fastenings.

This toolkit is certainly a good investment and starting point for a would-be mechanic. There are less tools than some of the cheaper kits we tested but, in this case, less appears to be more when it comes to the quality. Our apprentice chose this starter kit as his favorite

Teng Tools 48-piece Tool Kit

Award: Mechanic’s Choice
RRP: $649.68 / £531.48 – buy it now!
Score: 6/10

Favored by full-time mechanic Dan Smith, this compact but comprehensive toolkit contains a mixture of 3/8-inch metric and AF sockets from 8mm-18mm, so it offers one of the most limited ranges when compared with many of the kits on test. Also included is a couple of spark plug sockets, a range of spanners (8-19mm with some AF sizes), with several pliers and screwdrivers. There are no Allen keys or Torx bits. The sturdy carry-case isn’t lockable, but it has two substantial clips to keep it closed. And inside, there’s a separate hinged panel to prevent the screwdrivers and spanners from falling out, although they also click into the plastic-molded and labelled lining.

At this price point, this is the most expensive toolkit on test and many of the other kits offer more for your money, but Teng Tools has a reputation for top-quality products. If all you need is a socket set with spanners, pliers and screwdrivers, then this is a good investment that seems built to last, and includes a warranty that offers to repair or replace the tools should they break during normal usage due to manufacturing or material faults.

Draper workshop toolkit

Award: Teenager’s Choice
RRP: $508.92 / £416.33 – buy it now!
Score: 6/10

One of the most comprehensive toolkits, but unlike all the competitors where the tools are neatly stored and labelled inside a toolbox, Draper seem to have collected an assortment of their tools together and put them inside a suitable six-drawer tool chest. Ranging from pliers, screwdrivers, spanners and Allen keys (including a useful 7mm for brake caliper slider bolts) to pry bars, a rubber mallet and cutting tools (knife, hacksaws, side cutters and tin snips). And there’s room inside to add more tools, making this the only toolkit that can be expanded.

A separate ½-inch socket set is included. It includes the widest range of spark plug sockets: 14mm, 16mm and 21mm. Some of our testers wondered why the socket set was separate to the toolbox but, on reflection, a socket set is often all you need for a job, which is a lot easier to carry around than an entire toolbox. Dan Smith’s son, Jacob, and his cousin, William, both chose this toolbox as their favorite. We can see why, because there’s a good range of useful tools. Plus, they all come with a lifetime warranty, except for the hacksaw and knife blades.

At the current asking price, it’s a lot cheaper than buying the included tools individually, and there’s room to grow your collection without having to buy more toolboxes.

Clarke 235-piece mechanic’s toolkit

RRP: $176.00 / £143.98 – buy it now!
Score: 5/10

A fully-loaded two-drawer lockable tool chest. There’s an extensive range of metric and AF-sized ¼- and 3/8-inch drive sockets, along with spanners, Allen keys and a 21mm spark plug socket, but no 16mm. It’s good to see that both AF and metric have been catered for, which is useful for anyone working on older vehicles, but it does feel like overkill in such a compact tool chest. Extending the range of Allen key bits beyond 6mm may have been more beneficial, and putting labels on the plastic storage trays would help with selecting individual tools.

The range of screwdrivers feels cheap and cheerful, so we tested the screwdriver bits with the screwdriver attachment to undo a stubborn screw holding the corner of a front bumper. The end of the bit couldn’t withstand the pressure and broke off. At this price, you could argue that you can’t expect everything in a starter toolkit. In reality, you do get just about everything, but the quality isn’t the best and our testers felt it performed poorly. Less is maybe more but, for an entry-level kit, this one looks good and will cover most jobs.

The post Best Mechanic Tool Set for Beginners appeared first on Fast Car.

Tire sidewalls are often forgotten about when it comes to car detailing. But it’s worth getting them looking nice as it really adds the finishing touch. A tire dressing will leave your sidewalls looking lovely and black, and it enhances the look of your car. And if you’re not a fan of glossy tires, most products allow you to get a matt finish if you prefer. We’ve picked eight of the best tire dressings out there, and there’s something for everyone.

What is tire dressing or tire shine?

Tire dressing, or tire shine, is a product detailers use in order to ensure the tires are looking as new and fresh as possible. It’s all well and good having your car’s body sparkling, and your wheels brake dust-free, but having old looking, scuffed tire sidewalls lets the side down. It’s job doesn’t stop there, though, as tire dressings contain elements of wax in them, and as a result, work to protect the rubber from bad weather as well as hiding tiny scratches.

If you’re someone who’s keen to show off their pride and joy at car events, then tire shine is a product that’s often forgot about. And yes, we do notice. Scuffed, worn looking tires detract from the rest of the car. So spend 5 minutes at the end of your detail and apply some tire dressing. It’ll not only make a difference, but might help you win an award!

Best Tire Dressing In 2024

Meguiar’s Endurance Tire Gel

Size: 473ml
RRP: $12.99 / £10.40. Buy Meguiar’s Endurance Tire Gel here.

A tire dressing that pretty much everyone who’s into detailing is familiar with. It delivers the perfect level of gloss, and it lasts a long time, too, resisting washing and rain. Application is a little messy, as is often the case with gel products. Make sure you use gloves, as it’s almost impossible to wash off your hands. And use a dedicated applicator to make the job easier and neater. It needs a little time to dry, but the results are worth it. It’s an excellent go-to dressing for many of us, and with good reason.

Auto Finesse Gloss

Size: 250ml, 500ml
RRP: $23.95 / £15.95. Buy Auto Finesse Gloss Tire Dressing here.

While Auto Finesse also offers Matt tire dressing, Gloss is our choice. The shine you get is stunning, and your tires will look the best they ever have done. We also like that you can use two application methods. You can either simply spray it on and leave it to do its thing if you’re in a rush. Or, you can spray it onto an applicator and wipe it onto the sidewall for a neater finish. This is an excellent dressing that’s perfect if you love glossy tires.

Gtechniq T1 Durable Tire Gel

Size: 250ml, 500ml 1 liter
RRP: $19.95 / £18.50. Buy Gtechniq T1 here.

It’s not cheap, but Gtechniq products always perform well, and this is no exception. As its name implies, T1 has been designed to be durable, and it really performs well. It goes on easily with an applicator, initially delivering a satin finish. For more gloss, you can add a second coating after 10 minutes. We like products that allow you to choose your finish, so that’s a bonus. The non-sling formula means that once it’s been applied, it’s sticking to your tires, not flying off onto your bodywork. It’s not cheap, but it’s a very strong performer.

Dodo Juice Dark Matter

Size: 500ml
RRP: $7.50 / £6.00. Buy Dodo Juice Dark Matter here.

Dodo Juice’s offering is an excellent multi-purpose dressing. Value for money counts for a lot, and having one product with multiple uses is always a bonus. Dark Matter can happily be applied to any black surface, whether it’s rubber, plastic or even metal. You can buff it to a dry finish, which means no sling and no streaking/ And unlike silicone dressings, it won’t attract dust. It’s not the longest-lasting dressing, but its ease of application and versatility make up for that. Dark Matter is an excellent all-round product.

Autoglym Instant Tire Dressing

Size: 500ml
RRP: £11.50. Not available in the US. Buy Autoglym Tyre Dressing here.

Not Autoglym’s longest-lasting dressing (that’s High Performance Tire Gel), but its easiest to use, which is why we love it. Spray dressings are always super-convenient, but Instant Tire Dressing goes one better. Where most products require your tires to be dry before application, this one doesn’t. That means you don’t have to wait around for your rubber to dry after washing your car or spend time drying it off. Just spray on, wipe off any overspray, and that’s it. If you’re not a fan of shiny tires, you can wipe off the excess for a matte finish. A great dressing that’s super easy to use and gives great results.

CarPlan Tire Slik

Tire Slik is a great product that is quick and easy to use. Simply spray it on, and that’s it, you’re done. The spray can makes application relatively accurate, though there is always some overspray. The super-flow valve allows you to spray upside down, which makes application easier still. The resulting gloss is nice and not overwhelming, while durability is good. Unfortunately, a recent price increase means it’s no longer the bargain it once was. Still a good choice of dressing, especially considering how quick and easy it is to apply.

Size: 500ml
Price: £8.99. Not available in the US. Buy CarPlan Tire Slik here.

Simoniz Back to Black Tire & Trim

Size: 500ml
Price: £5.39 at EuroCarParts. Buy Simoniz Back to Black Tire & Trim here. This exact product is not available in the US, however you can browse Simoniz’s American range here.

Another two-in-one product, this offering from Simoniz is really rather good. The spray can means super quick and easy application, so that’s a good start. It instantly adds a lovely gloss finish, but you can layer it for an even deeper gloss. It last really well, too, and considering how reasonably priced it is, that’s another bonus. And on top of all that, you can use it to restore the black trim on your car too. A versatile tire and trim dressing that’s great value for money.

King Of Sheen Eco Tire Shine

Size: 500ml
RRP: £24.99. Not available in the US. Buy King of Sheen Eco Tire Shine here.

You might not have heard of King of Sheen, but its tire dressing is well worth a look. This water-based spray smells nice and performs even better. It leaves you with a high-gloss, non-greasy finish that looks fantastic. Durability isn’t up there with the best, but it’s still decent. It’s well-priced, though, and comes with an applicator, which is a nice touch and makes it easier to use. A good value offering that delivers instant impressive results.

How were the best tire dressing products chosen?

I’m a self-proclaimed detailing nut. There’s not much more that I love than the look of a spotless car. And as a result, over the last 10-15 years, I’ve spent a great many number of days making sure my stable of cars look as spotless as they can. Over that time, I’ve been lucky enough to test and use products from just about every detailing manufacturer out there. While the above products haven’t been individually put through my rigorous detailing tests, they are all good in their own right. None of them will leave you feeling short changed.

Relevant Content: 

• How To Apply Tire Shine

The post Best Tire Dressing In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Battery chargers have been around almost as long as cars have had batteries, yet in the last couple of decades they’ve become significantly smaller, smarter, and dearer. As such, it can be tricky to decipher which package is the right one for you.

Luckily, we managed to get our hands on a whole bunch of them and decided to put the market’s best car battery chargers through their paces. During the test, there were four criteria for success that we were particularly interested in. Namely; usability, versatility, reconditioning ability (to keep things running smoothly), and any extra useful features that we liked.

So, without further ado, here are the results!

Best Car Battery Chargers

NOCO Genius10UK

Award: Best Buy

RRP: £120

Performance: 12/14

Is it worth the money? 6/6

OVERALL SCORE: 18/20

NOCO may have shot themselves in the foot here because it’s hard to imagine why you’d ever need another charger after buying this one. Not only does it cater for all lead/acid technologies – including 6 volts – it also handles lithium batteries. And, better still, you can select optimum charge cycles for lithium and AGM technologies, including 6-volt AGMs – do such things even exist? All other smart charger staples are present, such as repair and power supply modes. And a manual Force setting allows charging of batteries that are so utterly dead that they aren’t even electronically detectable.

Draper 53491

Award: Recommended

RRP: £69

Performance: 10/14

Is it worth the money? 6/6

OVERALL SCORE: 16/20

Draper’s 53491 is a wallet friendlier alternative to NOCO’s Best Buy. It takes all lead/acid technologies – including 6 volts – in its stride, and also works with lithium batteries. Usual smart charger goodies, like AGM mode and power supply mode, are joined by a couple of leftfield extras: 6-volt power supply and Gel battery mode. Max output is a meaty 10 Amps. But the Draper does have a couple of drawbacks, both concerning neglected batteries. There’s no selectable repair mode, and a battery needs to have at least 3.5 volts of charge for the unit to recognize it.

NOCO Genius5UK

Award: Recommended

RRP: £74

Performance: 9/14

Is it worth the money? 6/6

OVERALL SCORE: 15/20

NOCO’s budget alternative to its BEST BUY retains most of its bigger brother’s clever bits – you’ll be gutted, I’m sure, to hear that it loses the Genius 10’s 6 Volts AGM mode – but max current drops to 5 Amps. In stark contrast, Draper’s 53491 matches that 10 Amp max output but has fewer features. In reality reduced current isn’t a big deal as most batteries – even high-capacity ones – drop to less than 5 Amps draw within a few minutes of the charge cycle starting. Halving the charge current certainly doesn’t mean doubling the charge period.

CTEK CS One

Award:Recommended

RRP: £220

Performance: 11/14

Is it worth the money? 3/6

OVERALL SCORE: 14/20

CTEK’s new, lithium capable, flagship puts ease of use at its core. Its swish panel has just one button and a ring of lights indicating charge time left. Usefully, the first light becoming fully lit means that a battery is game for a starting attempt. CTEK favourites like Reconditioning and Power Supply modes are now accessible via Bluetooth. As is wake-up mode, which safely boosts fully dead lead/acid batteries, and lithiums below their ideal minimum voltage. The clamps, rather cleverly, remain electrically dead until connected, and they’re both black – leaving the unit to figure out mundane stuff like polarity.

CTEK CT5 Time To Go

RRP: £100

Performance: 7/14

Is it worth the money? 5/6

OVERALL SCORE: 12/20

It’s almost as if, when developing their technological tour-de-force CS One, CTEK snook a few features onto this model – basically an uprated version of the evergreen MXS5. The CS One style circle of white indicators – estimating the charge time left in hours – is the most obvious crib. But, be warned, like a sat-nav’s estimated time of arrival, initial estimates aren’t all that accurate. However, a fully illuminated first indicator, again, means there’s enough oomph for a starting attempt. Usual CTEK favourites, Recond and AGM modes, are backed up by an advanced, temperature compensated, 5 Amps charge cycle.

Laser 7652

RRP: £41

Performance: 5/14

Is it worth the money? 6/6

OVERALL SCORE: 11/20

Like CTEK, Laser has honed in on ease of use with this model. Tech heads may appreciate the battery voltage being displayed during charging, but others will prefer the mobile style battery graphic also shown. And, overall, this is a bargain – albeit basic – smart charger. Like most smart units it caters for all lead/acid battery technologies (including 6 Volts), and its automated cycle handles both charging and long-term conditioning. But, other than a winter cycle, there are no other options available. And a battery must have at least 7.5 volts of charge for the unit to recognise it.

Ring RSC612 SmartCharge Premium Plus

RRP: £79

Performance: 6/14

Is it worth the money? 5/6

OVERALL SCORE: 11/20

COMMENTS: Although rather a long in the tooth model, it stands out from the crowd here thanks to a smattering of diagnostic functions. Such as the rating of a battery’s starting power, and various useful alternator tests. Those aside, though, there’s still plenty to like. Whilst the RSC612 doesn’t cater for Lithium batteries, all other lead/acids are within scope. And smart charger essentials present include dedicated Winter, AGM, desulphation/repair, and condition only modes. But age has slightly caught up with the unit: it’s not weatherproofed so should ideally only be used inside, and it doesn’t cope well with really dead batteries.

Sealey Schumacher SCI90S

Performance: 8/14

Is it worth the money? 3/6

OVERALL SCORE: 11/20

A physically bulky, and heavy, unit that has all the abilities of a good smart charger, but uses more traditional technology to achieve them. And it’s a starter charger too: capable of giving a three second blast of up to 150 cranking Amps. But, much like Ring’s RSC612, this unit’s impressive spec – when it was launched – is becoming a little dated now. We like the dedicated modes for small, AGM, Gel, and Calcium batteries. But sadly, the case isn’t weather sealed, so this isn’t a unit you can leave on a car parked outdoors for long-term battery maintenance.

Clarke CB09-12

PRICE: £69

PRICE FROM: www.machinemart.co.uk

Performance: 5/14

Is it worth the money? 5/6

OVERALL SCORE: 10/20

Some parts of this package are really well thought out. Such as a knatty adapter that lets you charge your car’s battery through a cigarette lighter socket. Alternatively, select the charger’s power supply mode, keep it hooked up the through the lighter socket, and swapping a battery without losing memory codes becomes effortless. Another adapter, leading to a lighter socket, allows 12-volt accessories to run directly from the unit. Dedicated modes for small, AGM, Winter, and Calcium batteries, are bonuses. But rather short leads, the lack of a repair function, and patchy performance on really flat batteries lost points.

Wolf WBC180

Award: BEST BUDGET BUY

Performance: 4/14

Is it worth the money? 6/6

OVERALL SCORE: 10/20

It’ll surprise nobody that this wallet friendly entry from Wolf is less sophisticated than most. But if you simply want a gutsy, 10 Amp max current, charger that will safely boost all lead/acid batteries – including 6 volts – then you really can’t go wrong. Especially as the comprehensive LCD display shows charge progress by either current battery voltage or a more intuitive mobile/tablet style graphic. Biggest drawbacks are no dedicated charging cycles, other than a winter mode. And whilst the unit will happily maintenance charge batteries, its unsealed case rules out long-term use on an outdoor car.

CTEK CS Free

RRP: £280

Performance: 8/14

Is it worth the money? 1/6

OVERALL SCORE: 9/20

We still can’t decide if this, the world’s first cordless, lithium capable, battery charger, is genius or bonkers. The unit’s paltry 6Ah of internal charge means it cannot fully charge a big dead battery in one go or away from the mains. But it’s enough to rapid charge (allow around 10 mins) most batteries well enough to start an engine – much like a booster but slower, yet far safer. Add in the CS Free’s ability to charge one battery from another, or a solar panel, and it becomes interesting. But, on its own, it’s just too pricey and limited.

Halfords Advanced Smart Battery Charger

RRP: £35.00

Performance: 3/14

Is it worth the money? 5/6

OVERALL SCORE: 8/20

We love the swish minimalist styling, but a single LED – changing between red (clamps wrong way around), flashing green (charging), and solid green (charged) doesn’t give much of a clue of what’s happening or how long the charge is likely to take. But leave the charger to do its thing, and this 4 Amp max current unit isn’t so bad. Like most models here it caters for all types of 12-volt lead/acid batteries, albeit with no dedicated cycles. Weatherproof construction makes long term conditioning more practical. And the charger reinvigorates batteries discharged right down to 3 volts.

• Best car dash cams
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Words by James Stanbury, first featured in Car Mechanics.

The post Best Car Battery Chargers for 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Looking for more than just brake pads and rotors? If you’ve got a big budget and are looking for the biggest braking gains possible, then the answer is simple: get a big brake kit! However, that term is wonderfully vague, so you might be wondering what these kits actually contain…

What is a big brake kit?

Essentially, a big brake kit is a comprehensive package, usually comprised of every part that a car’s braking system needs. Let’s start with the rotors, or discs. Compared to regular ones, the rotors found in a big brake kit are – yep, you guessed it – larger, with a wider surface area. These bigger rotors provide a greater surface area for friction, and are much better at heat dissipation too if they’re drilled or grooved, meaning they’ll be able to cope with much more extreme braking scenarios.

Then, there’s the pads and calipers. The pads in a big brake kit will likely feature more compound material, a more aggressive compound material, or both in order to increase potential friction. If you’ve got bigger pads, you’ll need bigger calipers to put them in. Often, the calipers will be a monobloc design for better structural rigidity, therefore providing a more reliable contact patch between the pad and rotor. You’ll also notice that the amount of pistons a caliper has typically correlates with how big your rotors are. If you’ve got average-sized rotors you might have 4-piston calipers, ranging up to around 10 if you’re dealing with real heavy-duty stuff. Most companies will throw in the accompanying brake lines and fluid too.

Having spent years immersed in the modified car scene, I’m well placed to advise you on which brands are worthy of consideration. Here are some of the best big brake kits that money can buy.

Best Big Brake Kits

How we chose the products

While we haven’t been able to test every single brand mentioned here first-hand, these recommendations are based on Fast Car‘s experience and expertise. Every member of the Fast Car staff, myself included, is very familiar with automotive performance aftermarket. It’s what our brand is all about, after all! As a result, we understand which brands you should consider dealing with… and which you shouldn’t. Each of the brands and products mentioned in this article have earned their place on our shortlist through positive word of mouth amongst like-minded driving enthusiasts.

At a glance:

• Brembo
• Wilwood
• AP Racing
• EBC Brakes
• Tarox
• How to buy the best big brake kit

Brembo

Brembo is probably the most well-known braking system manufacturer on the planet, and for good reason. There isn’t a single competitor that can claim the sort of technical innovation and motorsport prestige that Brembo has achieved over the years.

To give you an idea, Brembo brakes have played a part in 26 Formula One driver’s championship titles. They’ve also had 30 constructor’s championship wins. And on top of that, numerous performance marques across the globe trust Brembo to provide the braking systems for their OEM models. So, if you’re after a quality performance upgrade, you’ll be in safe hands.

There’s a handful of big brake kits to choose from amongst the Brembo product range, but we’ve picked out two to mention here. The Gran Turismo BM package is the next step up from a simple pad and rotor upgrade. This adds the choice of either drilled or slotted rotors (that are higher quality than Brembo’s entry-level TY3s), 4, 6, or 8-piston calipers, high-performance pads, and metal-braided hoses. You’ll mostly feel the benefits of these on the track, but even at lower street speeds, braking performance will be more decisive.

Hardcore lap-time chasers might prefer the Gran Turismo R kit though. In Brembo’s words, this is “the most sophisticated high performance braking system ever manufactured for a car”. The highly-developed calipers are arguably the GT R kit’s highlight, though you also get two-piece rotors, accompanying pads, and stainless-steel Goodridge hoses.

Wilwood

Based in California, Wilwood is an American braking system manufacturer that’s been around since 1977. During that time, the company has amassed quite the reputation, not just in the US, but globally too. From competitive motorsport, to the world of industry and agriculture, Wilwood has developed high performance brakes for everything from go-karts to military Humvees.

In fact, their current product range is absolutely titanic. Right now, they offer more than 300 different brake calipers, 200 rotor designs and a whole host of upgraded supporting parts. Naturally, we can’t go through all of them here, but in general, here’s what you can expect from Wilwood upgrade kits:

The first thing to mention is that there tends to be two core branches of design when it comes to Wilwood big brakes kits. The first is the two-piece traditional ‘hat’ style upgrade which is designed to fit on top of the stock wheel hub. However, there is also the option to go for a design where the hub is further integrated into the upgrade. These are primarily designed for use in older vehicles like some classic American muscle cars which don’t feature ABS.

As far as calipers go, there’s a number of different options based on size and how much stopping strength you need. Entry-level options or options for more compact cars tend to come with four pistons, whereas the more high-end Wilwood kits have six. Speaking of high-end kits, you can even source carbon-ceramic rotors from Wilwood, but unless you’re running an extreme heavyweight or a serious track/race/time attack car, then those are likely to be a bit overkill.

Click here to discover the Wilwood big brake kit range in full. 

AP Racing

AP Racing has become one of the best braking system companies in the world, thanks to its ‘Race to Road’ approach to development. In short, all of AP’s core technology has been engineered to succeed on the race circuit, before trickling down into OEMs and the street performance aftermarket.

If you’re interested in a full big brake kit, AP supply upgrade packages for models from: Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

These packages will include a set of slotted rotors, high performance pads and calipers, brake lines, and all the hardware you need to fit the parts to your car. Occasional track day use is well within these braking systems’ capabilities, though they’ve been geared towards improving less demanding street performance instead. So, if you want something that blends braking ability with everyday refinement, these AP kits would be a good shout.

To browse the range of AP Racing big brake kits, click here.

EBC Brakes

Despite the Brits’ recent self-inflicted trade difficulties, EBC Brakes are still a major supplier to the European aftermarket, and wouldn’t be considered out of place further abroad either. EBC’s most well-known products are its color-coordinated range of brake pads, however they do supply full big brake kits as well.

These are made from stainless steel (to ensure parts are long lasting and do not corrode), and aerospace-grade aluminum (for great strength and durability). One big difference that sets EBC’s Balanced Big Brake Kit range apart from others is that fact that it takes into consideration both axles. Whereas many brands simply focus on the front axle, EBC kits also feature rear brake pads and hoses for a more unified braking response at either end of the car.

Those pads are EBC’s famous YellowStuff variant which is considered one of the best brake pad compounds around for street builds that also want to feel capable on a track. On the (minor) downside, the kits come with two-piece calipers rather than monoblocs, and only four pistons (though six-piston variants are promised soon). That said, EBC claims that the bolting structure they use to connect the two pieces is actually *more* sturdy than a monobloc. The calipers rub the pads against a set of grooved two-piece floating rotors, which should be ample strong enough for 99% of braking scenarios.

Check out the EBC big brake kit range here.

Tarox

The lightweight big brake kits from Tarox are designed and created via the use of high-tech ECU plug-ins and pedal pressure sensors. The data gathered from a car’s stock capabilities is then used to formulate the perfect brake upgrade for it, designed not only to maximize performance, but also strike a balance with pedal feel and durability, too. The size of a caliper, for instance, and the number of pistons it contains is tailored to each individual car that Tarox caters for.

Like the EBC offerings, Tarox big brake kits come with bolted two-piece calipers rather than monoblocs, but unlike EBC kits you get a lot more choice when it comes to rotor design. The F2000 features long curved grooves, whereas the Sport Japan is drilled and grooved. The C83 has short straight grooves, while the D95 is drilled only. Finally, the ZERO has a plain surface, like you see on most OEM set-ups.

In fact, to prove to you how much we rate Tarox, we used one of their BBK kits on our very own FN2 Civic project car. Watch the video above to see Midge install it. Or, if you want to check out the Tarox range in greater depth, click here.

How to buy the best big brake kit

A lot of this decision comes down to the rotors and pads. When it comes to choosing the best brake rotors for your car, there are two main factors to look out for; maximum stopping force, and ability to dissipate heat.

Rotors

A larger rotor diameter means two things – more surface area for the pad compound to bite (thus causing more stopping friction), and more surface area for heat to dissipate. So, put simply, bigger rotors perform better than smaller ones. Holes and slots, meanwhile, are a valuable upgrade if you’re keen on spirited driving as they allow room for gas and dust to pass along. As such, it keeps your brakes cool, and tidies up the rotor surface of debris to ensure that the pads always have the desired level of bite. We’d suggest learning more about the nuances of slotted rotors vs. drilled rotors before deciding on a set for your car.

Oh, and if you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket, ceramic brake rotors are well worth the investment. This high-end compound is significantly lighter than the regular iron designs that many brands use, and they tend to last longer too.

Pads, Calipers & Lines

As for pads, again it depends on what your intentions are. If you want an upgrade for your daily driver, you should aim for a pad which gives you a nice balance; improved friction, but without causing too much noise or brake dust. On the other hand, if you’re buying pads for a car which you’re only going to use on track, then you only need to worry about friction performance and resistance to fade. Good pads need good calipers too. Larger calipers with a greater number of pistons are able to deploy a greater amount of force onto the pad, which in turn aids pad performance against the rotor.

Fluid and brake lines shouldn’t make or break a purchase decision as they’re simple enough to replace or upgrade, but in an ideal world you want steel-braided lines and DOT 4 (or DOT 5+ in extreme track applications) brake fluid.

The post Best Big Brake Kits for 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

What if you could have all the things you love about you smartphone neatly packed into your car’s center console/stereo? Well, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can! However, unless you’ve got a pretty new car, it’s unlikely that your ride will have those features built-in as standard. But don’t worry – as ever, the aftermarket is here to help.

Here are several Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-enabled stereos designed to replace the old, standard one sitting in you dash. A word of warning though – before buying, make sure to check that each device will actually fit into your specific car.

What is Apple CarPlay and why would I want it?

Apple CarPlay allows iPhone users to connect their smartphones to their car stereo to allow use of a number of apps. The connection is made via the USB lightning port or wirelessly over WiFi. Available apps range from navigation services like Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze, as well as Spotify or Apple Music and others. To keep your focused on driving, Apple CarPlay allows you to activate Siri to command a range of different functions with your voice, keeping your hands on the steering wheel. It also has the ability to read texts aloud and make calls, while Siri can construct text replies via voice command.

Having Apple CarPlay functionality also comes in handy with car tuning, as some companies have developed apps for data logging, engine data such as oil temperature and boost levels, as well as an array of other diagnostic tools.

Unlike on your phone, apps within Apple CarPlay are a toned down version of what you would usually see. This is to keep distractions down to a minimum and allow you to browse the interface quickly and efficiently.

What is Android Auto and why would I want it?

Like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto gives users the ability to connect their smartphones to their car stereo in order to use a multitude of features like navigation apps, music, podcasts and others. The only difference between the two is that Android Auto is specifically designed to work with your Android smartphone, while rather obviously, Apple CarPlay is designed for Apple users.

That’s largely where the only differences lie. In terms of which apps are available, most app developers tend to create options for both Android and Apple, and therefore the choices are largely the same. If you want to know which apps are useful for you, be sure to check out our guide to the best smartphone car apps.

How I picked these products

While I haven’t been able to test each of these stereos directly, I have been in the automotive aftermarket scene for a long time, and therefore am familiar with which brands you should trust, and which are best avoiding. The following products are for the North American market, and have been selected based on a combination of functionality versus cost. As such, there should be a solid option here for every budget.

If you want to learn more about the best Apple CarPlay & Android Auto stereos for the UK market, be sure to have a read of Adam Rayner’s Double-DIN stereo round-up.

Best Apple CarPlay Stereo

Kenwood DMX4707S

RRP: $299.00. Buy the Kenwood DMX4707S here. 

If you look for them, there are plenty of options out there that will completely tear your wallet apart. But unless you’re a serious sound nerd, or building a crazy audio car, there’s no point spending close to four figures or above on a car stereo. Instead, if you’re sticking to a tight budget, you can enter the world of Apple CarPlay for less than $300.

The Kenwood DMX4707S is a great example of the sort of entry-level tech I’m talking about. For the money, you get a 6.75-inch touchscreen display, mounted to a Double-DIN chassis. There are USB, A/V, and camera inputs, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and 5-channel preamp outputs. As for functionality features, you can expect all the regular Apple CarPlay goodies, as well as a number of tools to customize the sound of the Kenwood’s audio. These include a 13-band graphic equalizer and the ability to ‘raise’ the sound of your music if your car speakers are located towards the floor.

Overall, this is a no-nonsense option with the core qualities you’d look for in a commendable Apple CarPlay stereo. However, if you want some extra features (and potentially an even better sound), keep scrolling further…

Alpine iLX-W650

RRP: $449.95. Buy the Alpine iLX-W650 here. 

If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, you could end up with something like this. The Alpine iLX-W650’s party-piece is its size, or rather lack thereof. Don’t get me wrong, its 7-inch screen is far from small, but it its chassis is incredibly shallow. As such, it can fit into many of the more problematic double-DIN setups that exist out there. What’s more, it’s designed to fit with Alpine’s small but mighty 50-watt, 4-channel KTA-450 power pack amplifier too. In short, if you’re looking for great sound from a really compact set-up, then this is the sort of thing you’ll want.

As for the features included, you can expect all the usual Apple CarPlay goodness as well as an AM/FM radio. Bluetooth connectivity is also packed in, as are hands-free voice controls. And of course, you get that certified Alpine sound quality and customizability too.

Sony XAV-AX5600

RRP: $448.00. Buy the Sony XAV-AX5600 here.

The Sony XAV-AX5600 is a great middle-range all-rounder. For most drivers, it’s got all the functions and features that you’ll ever need, including Apple CarPlay and screen-mirroring WebLink capabilities, powerful sound, and all the core inputs and outputs. Namely, you get two rear USB ports, a HDMI input, a rearview camera input, and 5-channel preamp outputs. What’s more there’s also a 10-band EQ to shape your tunes just how you like them.

As for the design of the Sony XAV-AX5600, it features a 6.95-inch touchscreen without any bezels – though in their place there is a row of traditional tactile buttons. You’ll have your own aesthetic and ergonomic preferences in this regard, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether that’s a positive or a negative.

JVC KW-M788BH

RRP: $449.95. Buy the JVC KW-M788BH here. 

The JVC KW-M788BH is another really solid shout that will suffice for the majority of road-users. It comes packing tons of tech such as screen mirroring as well as standard Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, HD radio, and high resolution sound. Its quality can be enhanced further too, if you add amplifiers via its 6-channel preamp outputs, while you can also hook-up up to three cameras, and a SiriusXM tuner.

There’s a 13-band EQ to help you tweak the way your music sounds, and there’s also a neat little feature that boosts sound frequencies which would otherwise be impacted by road/wind noise. The 6.8-inch touchscreen display comes attached to a Double-DIN chassis.

Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX

RRP: $730.00. Buy the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX here.

US car audio specialists Crutchfield rate this as one of their favorite car stereos for 2023, and it’s easy to see why. Let’s start with the design. You get the sleek, flush Pioneer look, but more importantly, the touchscreen and its chassis can be mounted either as one, or separately. In short, that’s a whole lot of flexibility when it comes to installations in vehicles with problematic dashboards. The touchscreen itself is 6.78-inches wide and 3.95-inches tall, so bear that in mind when considering how it may fit within the landscape of your car’s cabin.

As for its features, the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX can play MP3, WMA, AAC, and high-res FLAC, WAV, and DSD music files. So whatever you’re playing, you should be covered. It’s got a 13-band EQ, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, as well as a built-in HD Radio tuner too.

Possible inputs are plentiful. This stereo has a USB-C port (USB-A adapter supplied), rearview camera input, two rear A/V inputs (3.5mm and RCA, the latter of which can be converted to a second camera input) and even HDMI capabilities. As for the outputs, it has 6-channel preamp ports in addition to its in-built 14-watt amp (roughly the sort of standard you can expect from the in-built amps of other stereos on this list too), and a video output too.

Alpine Halo11 iLX-F411

RRP: $899.95. Buy the Alpine Halo11 iLX-F411 here. 

If seven inches just isn’t big enough for you, then check this mammoth out! The Alpine Halo11 iLX-F411 comes with a whopping 11-inch touchscreen, so if you’re after that Tesla-esque cabin style, then this will be right up your street.

Impressively, despite its considerable width, the Halo11 is compatible with a large array of vehicles. Partially, that’s down to its single-DIN chassis, meaning you can mount it in even the most tight dashboard openings, but also because it’s highly adjustable. There are five different floating mounting positions for you to choose from, so between that lot, at least one should ensure that the big screen doesn’t impede any important buttons or dials, like climate control for instance. That said, the specific dimensions of this option are 11.545-inches x 7.415-inches, so it’s probably worth measuring up your car’s cabin before making a purchase, just to check that it won’t get in the way of anything important – like your gearstick.

Assuming that there are no ergonomic issues to overcome, this Apple CarPlay stereo has a lot to offer, even beyond its flashy design. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity and voice operation, it also boasts built-in iPod, iPhone, and iPad controls. The array of different audio files it can play is vast, and you get a 5-band graphic equalizer with time correction and high-and low-pass filters for optimal performance. 6-channel preamp outputs are available out the back too. So, if you’ve got the budget and you want to go big (literally!) then this is definitely worth a closer look.

Best Android Auto Car Stereo

Sony XAV-AX3200

RRP: $289.95. Buy the Sony XAV-AX3200 here. 

The Sony XAV-AX3200 is another budget-friendly device that’s still packing plenty of quality. The screen is marginally larger than that of the JVC above, measuring 6.95 inches rather than 6.75. Plus, although it might not be the cleanest look, there are some tactile buttons at the bottom of the device which some of you may prefer to use rather than unresponsive bezzles.

As far as capabilities go, this Sony is very comparable to the JVC. As well as Bluetooth and USB inputs for calling and streaming, the Sony XAV-AX3200 comes with a number of outputs for external devices and a graphic equalizer too – though the equalizer is 10-band compared to the JVC’s 13. Also, whereas the JVC is firmly for double-DIN stereo housings only, the Sony’s compact rear packaging should allow you to fit it into cars with tighter compartments available.

Alpine iLX-W650

RRP: $449.95. Buy the Alpine iLX-W650 here. 

If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, you could end up with something like this. The Alpine iLX-W650’s party-piece is its size, or rather lack thereof. Don’t get me wrong, its 7-inch screen is far from small, but it its chassis is incredibly shallow. As such, it can fit into many of the more problematic double-DIN setups that exist out there. What’s more, it’s designed to fit with Alpine’s small but mighty 50-watt, 4-channel KTA-450 power pack amplifier too. In short, if you’re looking for great sound from a really compact set-up, then this is the sort of thing you’ll want.

As for the features included, you can expect all the usual Android Auto goodness as well as an AM/FM radio (which the cheaper options mentioned above also have too, as you’d hope). Bluetooth connectivity is also packed in, as are hands-free voice controls. And of course, you get that certified Alpine sound quality too.

JVC KW-M560BT

RRP: $279.95. Buy the JVC KW-M560BT here. 

If you look for them, there are plenty of options out there that will completely tear your wallet apart. But unless you’re a serious sound nerd, or building a crazy audio car, there’s no point spending close to four figures or above on a car stereo. Instead, if you’re sticking to a tight budget, you can enter the world of Android Auto for less than $300.

The JVC KW-M560BT is a great example of the sort of entry-level tech I’m talking about. For the money, you get a 6.75-inch touchscreen with hands-free calling and a 13-band graphic equalizer to help you adjust the sound of your tunes. This stereo also has enough outputs to get some external amps and subs involved too if you fancy upgrading the rest of your car’s audio system further down the line.

You can connect your Android phone to the stereo via USB or Bluetooth, so it really couldn’t be simpler. Overall, this is a no-nonsense option with the core qualities you’d look for in a commendable Android Auto car stereo. However, if you want some extra features (and potentially an even better sound), keep scrolling further…

Pioneer DMH-2660NEX

RRP: $449.99. Buy the Pioneer DMH-2660NEX here. 

You can always trust Pioneer to come up with some brilliant audio tech, and theDMH-2660NEX is no exception to that rule. Fitted with a 6.8-inch touchscreen, this Android Auto-compatible stereo also features Bluetooth, a HD radio tuner, and SiriusXM compatibility (for our Stateside viewers). There is also the ability to input two cameras for a display of the front and rear of your ride.

On top of that, you get a 13-band graphic EQ, as well as 6-channel preamp outputs out the back. The overall design of Pioneer’s hardware and software interface is also arguably the sleekest of any brand.

Sony XAV-AX8100

RRP: $748.00. Buy the Sony XAV-AX8100 here.

If you fancy going big – in size, performance and (unfortunately) price – then let me steer you towards something like the Sony XAV-AX8100. This mammoth 8.95-inch touchscreen is connected to a diddy single-DIN chassis, meaning even retro rides can receive a major infotainment upgrade.

That big ol’ screen ‘hovers’ over the face of your car’s center console, and has the ability to tilt to your preferred angle. The audio quality itself is also notably more powerful than that of cheaper options, and as a nice added bonus, this stereo is very quick to wake up when you switch on the ignition. Though, a word of caution – there can sometimes be too much of a good thing. The screen measures 9.005 x 5.335 inches, so if you want to buy this stereo, make sure it doesn’t interfere with important dash controls, or your gearstick even.

As for compatibility, it has input sockets for USB, HDMI and camera devices, while there are 5-channel preamp outputs too.

Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX

RRP: $730.00. Buy the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX here.

US car audio specialists Crutchfield rate this as one of their favorite car stereos for 2023, and it’s easy to see why. Let’s start with the design. Once again, you get the sleek, flush Pioneer look, but more importantly, the touchscreen and its chassis can be mounted either as one, or separately. In short, that’s a whole lot of flexibility when it comes to installations in vehicles with problematic dashboards. The touchscreen itself is 6.78-inches wide and 3.95-inches tall, so bear that in mind when considering how it may fit within the landscape of your car’s cabin.

As for its features, the Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX can play MP3, WMA, AAC, and high-res FLAC, WAV, and DSD music files. So whatever you’re playing, you should be covered. It’s got a 13-band EQ, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, as well as a built-in HD Radio tuner too.

Possible inputs are plentiful. This stereo has a USB-C port (USB-A adapter supplied), rearview camera input, two rear A/V inputs (3.5mm and RCA, the latter of which can be converted to a second camera input) and even HDMI capabilities. As for the outputs, it has 6-channel preamp ports in addition to its in-built 14-watt amp (roughly the sort of standard you can expect from the in-built amps of other stereos on this list too), and a video output too.

The post Best Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Stereo appeared first on Fast Car.

Do not underestimate the power of a good quick detailer. If you need to know anything about car detailing, it’s that this do-it-all wonder product is handy to have in just about any situation.

What is a quick detailing spray?

Put simply, it’s a mild solution that has the ability to clean any surface. It’s especially good for maintenance washing, as well as wiping away fingerprints and light dirt. It’s ideal for adding gloss and protection and giving your car that freshly-washed look. Use it as a drying aid, to enhance the look of rubber and plastics, or use it on your wheels. It’s incredibly versatile, and no keen detailer should be without it. Here’s our guide to the best quick detailing spray you can buy.

Best Quick Detailing Spray In 2024

Chemical Guys Hydrospeed Ceramic Quick Detailer

RRP: $29.99 / £27.99. Buy Chemical Guys Hydrospeed Ceramic Quick Detailer here!

Versatile and easy to use, Hydrospeed is exactly what you want from a quick detailing spray. Special hydrophobic polymers and SiO2 nanoparticles deliver shine, protection and beading in an instant. You can use Hydrospeed on your car’s bodywork, glass, wheels, headlights and more. Hydrospeed’s ceramic makeup gives it self-cleaning properties to keep your car cleaner for longer. Use it between washes, at shows, and get your paintwork looking dazzling in an instant. It’s a little pricey, but this quick detailing spray really performs.

Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Detailer

RRP: $18.99 / £24.00. Buy Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Detailer here!

This SiO2 quick detailing spray offering from Meguiar’s doesn’t disappoint. It’s the perfect way to keep your car clean between washes while adding ceramic protection. It effortlessly removes light contaminants and dust, giving your paint that just-washed look. At the same time, it puts down a protective ceramic layer that delivers incredible beading. It’s easy to use and gives instant results, leaving your paintwork glossy and gleaming. A superb quick detailing spray.

Bilt Hamber Auto-QD

RRP: $20.72 / £16.95. Buy Bilt Hamber Auto-QD here!

We love Bilt Hamber products, so it’s no surprise to see the company’s quick detailing spray on our list. Auto-QD is designed to safely clean your paintwork between washes. It features unique charged polymers that suspend contaminants to protect the paint from marring. It’s water-based, safe for all paint finishes and won’t stain rubber or plastic trim. It also delivers impressive gloss that makes your car look stunning. Best of all, it’s highly concentrated, so one bottle goes a long way. Use it at 1:1 for maximum gloss, as a waterless wash and plastic trim shine. Or dilute it all the way down to 1:20 for use as a drying aid and no-rinse wash. It’s versatile and offers excellent value for money, making it a fantastic quick detailing spray.

Gtechniq Quick Detailer

RRP: from $7.95 / £5.99. Buy Gtechniq Quick Detailer here!

As you’d expect from Gtechniq, its quick detailing spray delivers on performance. It effortlessly removes fingerprints and light dusting. It’s also great at removing water marks and smears left after washing, leaving your paintwork looking perfect. Use it on bodywork, plastic trim and wheels. It’s simple to use, effective, and a quick detailing spray you will love using.

Griot’s Garage Best Of Show Detailer

RRP: $13.99. Buy Griot’s Garage Best Of Show Detailer here!

Griot’s Garage is very popular in its American homeland, and the company makes some superb detailing products. We’re big fans of its Best Of Show Detailer, and it’s one we always have a bottle of to hand. First of all, it smells lush, while advanced polymers improve paint gloss and slickness. It boosts color, depth and clarity between washes, leaving your paint looking sensational. Meanwhile, its high-lubricity formula safely wipes away dust, light dirt and fingerprints.

That’s all very impressive, but it’s not even our favorite thing about Best Of Show Detailer. What we love most is that it’s been formulated to flash fast enough to be used in direct sunlight. This makes it our go-to summer show detailer of choice. Being able to safely use it on hot, sunny days and get perfect results is the icing on the cake. This is a quick detailing spray well worth getting your hands on.

Autoglym Rapid Detailer

RRP: £14.50. Not available in the US. Buy Autoglym Rapid Detailer here!

Autoglym’s Rapid Detailer is a great quick detailing spray that does it all. It will remove light dirt from paintwork, restoring shine and leaving behind a layer of polymeric protection. It’s perfect for maintaining everything from rubber and plastic to chrome and carbon fibre. You can also use it as a clay bar lubricant. It’s ideal for use at shows to get your car looking spotless. Rapid Detailer is a superb all-rounder, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.

How the best quick detailing sprays were chosen

While each of these products haven’t gone through my rigorous testing process, I have used all of them over the years. I’ve found each of the products to be brilliant additions to your detailing kit. Some, like the Chemical Guys offering deliver on extra features such as a hydrophobic layer, but in truth it doesn’t help it stand out from the crowd. For me, each of these represents a balance of quality and price point.

The post Best Quick Detailing Spray In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

We’ve already had a look at some of the best overall stereos and head units available on the car audio aftermarket, but this guide is specifically for owners of vehicles with a classic single-DIN aperture in their dashboard.

As modern car design has moved towards a more integrated style of radio/head unit, the humble but mighty single DIN setup often gets overlooked by the audiophiles of today. However, that’s not entirely a bad thing. With attention and demand now largely focused elsewhere these days, those of you in need of single DIN solutions to your audio upgrades are staring at fantastic value for money. Features once rare are now nearly everywhere, like FLAC file decoding – the fab high resolution ‘open source’ music coding format.

Another cool thing is the way that digital media have got faster and fatter. It used to be an issue as to what size of SD card or USB stick a unit could read. It separated the digital donkeys from the racehorses. But these days a single DIN unit can handle huge storage – my expert installers said they like to keep it ‘small’ at 64GB or 128GB! Even bigger will work, but the unit will slow down is all.

Anyway, enough chat. Here are several of the best single DIN car radios that the modern aftermarket has to throw at you:

At a glance:

• Best Value For Money: Sony DSX-A212Ui (£64.99)
• Editor’s Choice: Grundig GX-4308 (£150.00)
• Best for Big Systems: Kenwood KDC-BT960DAB (£189.99)
• Best for Updated Old School: Caliber RCD120DAB-BT-B (£199.99)
• Best For D.N. Vloggers: JVC KD-X561DBT (£244.99)
• Best For Alexa: JVC KD-DB922BT (£150)
• Best For Classic VW: Retro Sound San Diego Ghia (£355.00)
• FAST CAR APPROVED: Pioneer MVH-S520DAB (£149.99)
• Best Retro: Blaupunkt Frankfurt RCM82 (£479.99)
• Best High End & BEST OVERALL: Alpine iLX-F905D (£899.99)

Best Single DIN Car Radio

Sony DSX-A212Ui;  Best Value For Money

RRP: £64.99. Buy it here.

Before we get into the best value for money single DIN system I could find, did you see the ‘Ten Quid Car Radio’ review? It got to 80ºC upon testing! I sent it to a chum who has a dune buggy. Nothing but GRP panels and a dash! I suggested boxed 6x9s strapped to the rollover bar behind him. Good luck mate!

Anyway, this Sony unit is the sort of thing you should consider instead when searching for a quality – yet affordable – aftermarket stereo. It is priced significantly below all the others here and yet is from a top brand. But it has only a fragment of that £10 unit’s features. That is probably due to having to print six-language manuals and pay for licenses rather than just not care. Tenner-boy had an SD card slot, also read FLAC, and had Bluetooth telephony and streaming!

In operation, the DSX-A212Ui got no hotter than the normal 45ºC most units get to and it looks really cute. The demo sequence was worthy of videoing. It only has an analogue radio and USB reader, with an Aux plug hole in the front. I really liked the USB slot cover. Caliber use a plate that dangles on a little filament, Blaupunkt use a door that opens. This one slides open. For all it is an analogue tuner, there is some fun to be had on LW. Ever see the movie “Gravity?” Tune to Long Wave and you might pick up weird foreign broadcasts. The tuner in this has two bandwidth settings. You have to pick Europe or Russia. Inadvertently topical…

The face comes off yet no case is provided. This is the new norm. The ‘EQ10’ system is lovely. Each curve is well designed and the Karaoke setting is for singing like a fool. I love that.

DSX-A212Ui played my USB tunes a treat. The tuner is not too sensitive but the radio sounds good. Utterly perfect if you already have a Parrot-type handsfree/DAB. You can pop its output into the aux socket. For more info, check out the full review here.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN mech-free face-off FM/AM/LW radio with USB & Aux
• One pair of RCA output sockets, steering wheel remote output socket
• Reads MP3, WMA, FLAC via the 1.0A front mounted USB
• Extra Bass, EQ10 equaliser with presets and custom and Karaoke setting

Grundig GX-4308;  Editor’s Choice

RRP: £150.00. Buy it here.

Grundig is a brand that hardly ever showed up in the UK as car audio. And that’s despite being one of the huge domestic affordable names in stuff like TVs. German in ‘origin’, this bears an uncanny resemblance to the JVC KD-X561DBT. That too has the wee 3in TFT 1080p TV screen. It also has a camera input on the back. This makes it a fabulously cheap way to add a reversing camera to your car. The OEM front and rear video in my car was the thick end of two grand retail! (I paid less…)

In an old fashioned way, this is a face-off unit. The front can be taken with you in an included hard case. There is a wire out the back to connect to the ‘parking brake’. You cannot play video files while you drive, unless you put that wire to earth instead. Then, it is up to the driver to decide to pay attention. Another wire is an output to feed an OEM adapter to drive steering wheel remote controls. A final one selects camera input from sensing the reversing light loom wire. There are Fr/Rr paired RCA outputs and one subwoofer RCA. Digital and analogue radio aerial sockets and a microphone jack complete the plug holes. One cool feature is ‘Virtual Subwoofer’. You can cross the treble out of your rear speakers from the speaker wire feeds. Cool!

The sound is not quite as lovely as the Blaupunkt Frankfurt I tested last, and yet it is clean and powerful. The looks are a little old hat but that screen is gorgeous. The DSP is stupidly capable for the price. Bass boosters, several preset EQs and a 13-band user one. There’s even time alignment!

A low cost total powerhouse that is ‘German Design, German Technology’. I love it! Read the full review here.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN mech-free DAB+/FM/AM radio with USB/Aux/Bluetooth (V4.1) streaming and calls
• Onboard Power: 4x50W MOSFET, FM settable to Europe, Asia, M. East, Oceania, Latin, N. America frequency bands/steps
• 2V Front, Rear and Sub RCA out, front USB and Aux, rear camera input, panel case, DAB antenna and wired microphone included
• 0in 1080p TFT TV screen, 24 bit ‘HiRes’ DSP audio processor with time alignment! DAB Antenna inc.

Kenwood KDC-BT960DAB;  Best for Big Systems

RRP: £189.99. Buy it here.

There’s lots that the KDC-BT960DAB has in common with other units. But I adored it. The classic 1-DIN CD deck. Add a USB slot with Aux to the right and you have lot of input possibility. And even though locked into 44.1kHz sampling rate, CD still sounds awesome. KCD-BT960DAB has all the digital smarts it needs. The internal DSP stuff is similar to a lot of the units here, like the 13-Band EQ. What is different (apart from the EQ presets and their names) is the sheer power of the RCA outputs. What once started as a standard 500mV ‘signal’ or half a Volt, got bigger. In the old days, we were impressed at 4V pre-outs and these are 5V.

And that’s one more, like Nigel Tufnel said in Spinal Tap. It means huge, clear musical thrust right up your amp inputs.

The CD drive is top end quality and more cunning than others. As well as commercial and computer-burned CDs, it will also read other file types as stored data. This means up to 150 MP3 files can fit one CD.

But you really want to be using this as the basis of a big sexy system with amplifiers. The amount of signal is so prodigious that any extraneous ‘noise’ is utterly irrelevant. You need turn it up less to drive the amp inputs and it sounds fabulous. Incredible clarity and purity, fit for sound competitions. You just need the right CD. I totally went into one, enjoying it.

Stanton Warriors. Starts track one with a bloke getting into a car with him tuning on the radio. We hear the disc jockey suggest we turn it up. Track two starts 12dB louder. It blows your balls off.

I love this deck’s looks too, especially that clear USB/Aux door. To find out more, read my full length review of it.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN CD Tuner with DAB+, FM, AM, USB (2.0 high speed), Aux, Bluetooth (V4.2) streaming and calls
• 0V Front, Rear, Subwoofer high power RCA outputs
• Plays CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV and FLAC files from USB and CD
• DSP has sound/bass enhancement, Time Alignment & 13-Band EQ, works with Kenwood Remote App

Caliber RCD120DAB-BT/B;  Best for Updated Old School

RRP: £199.99. Buy it here.

After all the brand new lightweight short-bodied digital file-handling car radios, this was a treat. A throwback to the old school days of CD. When you drove your Lamborghini Countach around London with a CD stuck ostentatiously in the dash trim! (I wish…) Yes, a full size, full-weight car radio with a removable, flip-down face and weighty CD mechanism inside.

Starting there, we find the eject button below the CD slot and next to the SD card slot. I popped a classic 1990’s Bass CD in and wondered why it wouldn’t load? Then, I removed the transit screws all CD mechs always ship with (murr!) and tried again. It loaded rapidly. Then, I inserted the SanDisk 32GB MicroSD in an adapter case, into the SD slot. Snapped it shut, inserted a USB into the front and the Aux got the the Panasonic voice recorder plugged in. Added an FM aerial, and the included DAB+ antenna was Blutacked to my window. That’s five sources. CD, SD, FM, DAB, AUX.

I fired it up and had a play with all sources and tune files. Yes, it only plays MP3 and WMA, and not M4A. The Aux analogue input was quieter than other units, needing high gain to hear well. CD was crisp and lovely. The DAB didn’t work! So I finally did the RTFM. I like to see if a moron can work it out without a manual, at first, with myself as moron. The included antenna needed to ‘see’ metalwork. I moved it and it worked!

This looks really cool, plays so many sources including your beloved CDs, even your own recorded ones. It sounds clean and clear and is beautiful in black chrome. Oh and that 16GB limit? I used a 32GB card. And, undeclared, it plays FLAC32 files. For even more info, read the full review.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN CD-Tuner with DAB+/FM & USB/SD/Aux/Bluetooth streaming and calls
• Onboard Power: 4x75W MAX, this is what others call ‘4X50W’ and likely to be 4x22W RMS
• 2V Front and Rear RCA out, front USB and Aux, SD & CD slots under faceplate, DAB+ antenna and wired microphone included
• Plays CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA and plays FLAC32, despite not being rated for it.

JVC KD-X561DBT;  Best For Digital Nomad Vloggers

RRP: £244.99. Buy it here.

A major selling point of KD-X561DBT is the reversing camera input that can feed that dinky 3in LCD screen. When you connect the little rear-dangling wire to the reversing light loom, the camera screen fires up upon selecting reverse gear. There is also a button on the front, marked ‘camera’. Now here’s the thing to deal with immediately. This is all but identical to the Grundig GX-4308. Every last engineering detail matches. From the release keys, to the blue panel back-lighting. From the total matching of the digital functions, to the layout of all the major parts. The panel buttons are a bit different and it looks posher and more up to date than the Grundig. But if the guts are not the same, I am thin.

The JVC bears a ‘Made For iPod/iPhone logo while the Grundig does not. The Grundig does not have a direct ‘camera’ button whereas KD-X561DBT does. The strange thing is how the graphics look just boring and flat and even a bit low resolution, versus the Grundig. The screen is the same. I’d warrant that the guts are the same. The subcontracting manufacturer both used, has only changed the front panel and the graphics files between the two.

Differences? The Grundig is intuitive and has a basic pictorial manual that an idiot can follow, KD-X561DBT doesn’t. The USB socket is mounted the other way around. The JVC can use the RM-RK258 remote and the Grundig cannot. I bought one and tried!

The Grundig is rare and all but sold out and their brand is not remotely ‘cool’. JVC still has that awesome branding and yes, you can watch video. So digital nomads can plug their camera’s output into the USB and passengers can control playback, the driver can listen, as their journey continues. For a closer look, check out the full hands-on review.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN mech-free DAB+/FM/AM radio with USB/Aux/Bluetooth (V4.1) streaming and calls
• Onboard Power: 4x45W MOSFET, FM settable to Europe or Middle East frequency bands/steps
• 2V Front, Rear and Sub RCA out, front USB and Aux, rear camera input, wired microphone included
• 0in 1080p TFT TV screen, DSP audio processor with time alignment,

JVC KD-DB922BT; Best For Alexa

RRP: £149.99. Buy it here.

The selling point of this JVC is Amazon Alexa. I know a bloke who has an Amazon Echo and four DOTS. He has four lighting circuits and a Hive-heating system and uses a Ring doorbell and an Amazon Firestick! You won’t be using the Internet Of Things in your car. You might in a high-tech camper van, but the car use is limited to certain things. The Alexa functions include, Weather, News, Wikipedia, Spotify, Deezer, TuneIn, Apple Music, Amazon Music and Kindle audiobooks. Timers and alarms and ‘play music’, as well as asking daft stuff are there too. I stuffed everything with tunes and then decided to Wiki my mama! I have a basic Amazon account, so I added Amazon Music and the Alexa app to my Android Samsung Galaxy S20.

Everything sounded good. The Aux was loud, the volume knob really is fast and the output woke up the speakers. Programming both analogue and digital radio is intuitive and the display has two lines. It looks great and sounds lovely.

Hardware pairing problems

I had a white box sample unit and Alexa kept asking different questions. I said “Alexa: Claire Rayner, Wikipedia” and was immediately served the first few lines of my mum’s listing! It kinda threw me! But despite getting it to work one more time, that was it for the test rig. I ended up angry and frustrated if I am honest. It may have been a firmware update but I failed to make it work again. The unit kept telling me to download the app and pair bluetooth until I shouted at it. But that is almost certainly an app/sample unit issue, or simply Alexa being an idiot on my phone. It kept failing to find the unit, although it did initially. Then the radio refused to ‘see’ it. To read about that in more detail, have a look at my full review.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN CD Tuner DAB+/FM/AM radio with USB/Aux/Bluetooth (V4.2) streaming and calls
• Onboard Power: 4x50W or 2x50W + 1x50W to 4ohm subwoofer
• Works with Amazon Alexa, also uses JVC Smartphone wifi remote app
• Variocolour illumination with optional Music Sync. that pulses to the music rhythm

RetroSound San Diego Ghia; Best For Classic VW

RRP: £355.00. Buy it here.

Try saying “Fluffy’s Vee-Dub collection” into Google. You will find yourself watching a video of Gabriel Inglesias’ Volkswagen bus collection. It is worth $3m, or was back in 2019! The point is that the VW bus is more adored than just about anything. But just because the van is old and classic, doesn’t mean you have to stick with ancient audio. You can hide high quality speakers in the places they normally live and feed them good things!

This is the most complex to assemble car radio I ever worked with. Because of the dual active ‘spindles’ with their bracketry that can fit into any spindle-mount dashboard ever made. No matter how weird and odd, it can fit. And you can choose the knobs and front panel to fit your car best. What we have here is a delicious match for any Karmann Ghia or lovely old VW bus.

I admit that I had preconceptions that crumbled. The sheer solidity, quality, fit and finish and totally precise tooling, is top end. Made to last and last for the whole life of your classic. The main guts box is the thing and we got the best one, “Motor 6”. It was intuitive to use and has some really lovely features like the little non-volatile memory for settings once disconnected.

Audio quality and tuning potential

The FM tuner can be set to range for different territories worldwide and the illumination can be set to match whatever colour you want. They say on the box, “Modern Sound For Your Classic” and it’s a simple truth.

The sound quality is very high. Crisp, detailed and that 4x25W on board MOSFET amp is a ‘TrueRATING” so is what most others call 4x45W. Massively features-rich, delicious in operation and looks absolutely stunning. If you want to know more, check out my full review of it here!

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN mech-free DAB+/FM/AM 30-preset radio with USB/Aux/Bluetooth (V5) streaming and calls
• Onboard Power: 4x45W @4ohms FM settable to USA/EUR/AUS/JAP/RUS frequency bands/steps
• Front, Rear and Sub RCA out, 2xUSB on cables with socket caps, wired microphone included
• Fully modular design system that can be configured to fit any car of any era

Pioneer MVH-S520DAB; FAST CAR APPROVED

RRP: £149.99. Buy it here.

Like many here, the MVH-S5200DAB, can connect two phones simultaneously. The unit’s bluetooth version isn’t quoted but can have ten devices programmed into it. A full-size unit, despite having the stuff in its guts that fits into other brands’ short-body units. Perhaps it is about the real estate space being expected and used to keep the thermal control efficient? It didn’t get above 45ºC in use, unlike the short bonkers ten quid thing that got hot enough for well-done steak at 80ºC

The display can show 200,000 colours. The idea is to match it to your dash, but I like to leave it scrolling prettily. I plugged in the Fusion USB, Aux and both antennae. I found that I was able to confuse it and so powered down and started again. It tuned itself on DAB and has FM and MW too. I loved all the menus that were so easy to get into and reveal a wealth of features. You can set the RCAs to serve as three-way crossover outputs! There is time alignment and speaker type selection to go with the 13-band EQ. Two user memories for your own curves. A bit less easy to operate and set than the prettier graphics on some others. This uses frequency in numbers rather than a bar display with Hz labels.

It paired up fast and I could play bluetooth music and scroll the titles of YouTube videos from the phone. That included Spotify.  The supporting Pioneer SmartSync app offers detailed graphics and control and MVH-S520DAB can then launch navigation software on that phone.

A beautiful looking unit, potent sounding and very adjustable. Easily Fast Car Approved. Read the full review to find out more.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN mechless DAB+/FM/MW radio with USB/Aux/Bluetooth streaming and calls
• Onboard Power: 4x50W MOSFET, or 2x50w + 1x70W @2 Ohms sub drive. Fr/Rr, Sub, RCA outputs
• Works with Spotify, also uses Pioneer SmartSync app, works with iPhone 5 to iPhone X
• 200,000-colour customisable illumination, plays MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC

Blaupunkt Frankfurt RCM82;  Best Retro

RRP: £479.99, Buy it here. $514.90, Buy it here.

Blaupunkt have played a blinder here. I know of a top car audio executive that has been nagging for ‘RETRO’ product from his HQ, for years. He has not really been believed by head office, possibly because they are so far away and this is Euro-cultural. But you can rely on Blaupunkt to get a grip of Euro culture, and the Frankfurt RCM82DAB is the result. I love the BUTTONS! Real, clicky buttons that tell you they have been pressed, with some biofeedback.

They have tried doing this with touch screens in the past but it has never taken off. One was called ‘Pulse Touch’ and was an Alpine thing. The screen tickled when you pressed it. The other is Haptics, relying upon tiny tweeters to tickle you with ultrasound waves! Used in Jaguars, and nowhere else, I think. A simple button with what it does, printed upon it, is always a boon. And it looks like a cassette deck.

Then, you realise that the little cassette slot is not a slot, but a door. You flip it open to reveal a tiny MicroSD slot, just like in a mobile phone (or used to be!). Then, a USB socket as well a classic 3.5mm Aux socket. Hanging out of the back are a few cords, one of which is another USB socket. I spent an age making new media and stuffed something up every plughole. I had tribulations, which you can read about in the in-depth review.

The Blaupunkt Frankfurt RCM 82 is a monster. The tuner is world-wide settable. Frankfurt reads everything including FLAC and even stuff it shouldn’t. Like deleted video and image files! The sound quality is top notch and it didn’t get terribly hot, (45C) even with the on-board amp absolutely spanking. For a closer look at what it can offer, make sure to read my in-depth full review of it.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN short body mech-free DAB+/FM/AM radio with 2xUSB/Aux/MicroSD/twin-connect Bluetooth (v4.1)
• Onboard Power: 4x50W @4ohms; Front, Rear, Subwoofer RCA outputs, wired steering wheel control port
• Fr & Rr 14-Band EQ, plus ‘Rock’, Pop’ & ‘Classic”; Subwoofer output adjustable for Gain, Hz and slope
• Internal electronic crossovers: 50, 63, 80, 100, 125, 160 or 200Hz, front and rear HPF/LPF @ 6/12dB

Alpine iLX- F905D; Best High End & BEST OVERALL

RRP: £899.99. Buy it here.

At £900, this is still not Alpine’s top single-DIN unit. That would be the ILX-F115D with its whopping eleven-inch screen, for £1,099.00. A 1-DIN space houses the guts and smarts for both models and the screen on the front can be huge. Bigger than would ever fit inside, as it needn’t motorise away out of sight these days. The changes in car theft culture now mean they will steal the whole car via keyless signal theft. But they won’t nick your car radio.

Alpine call this Halo9 and it’s their second generation of these era-defining decks. My doomed TV pilot, The Tackle Room, looks fabulous on the full size screen. The Halo9 mount allows you to adjust the tilt and mounting height of the screen to suit your vehicle. I fitted the sample unit to the desk and fired up the telly. I grounded the parking brake wire. You mustn’t, (obviously) watch video while rolling.

Then I was on another planet.

Audio quality and tuning potential

The screen is sumptuous. All you need ‘learn’ (apart from being an audio expert) is the down arrow at the screen’s headline. Bop that and the Voltmeter with icons appears. Everything is intuitive and can be done by idiots, like me. If, however, you know your stuff, you have a scintillating suite of EQ, crossovers and time alignment. The latter can be used in inches, centimetres or milliseconds for your delay. Awesome.

The 4x50W class D amp within is 70% efficient, rather than a MOSFET’s lower efficiency. So it goes LOUD On internal power.

Alpine’s iLX-F905D is a literal tour-de-force. From the 6V pre-outs, to the stunning screen, it proves the aftermarket has got units that make normal OEM stuff look like a squid versus The Kraken!

Best High End and BEST OVERALL. A breathtakingly desirable piece of equipment. But if you’re still not convinced, maybe my full review of it will sway you.

Tech Specs:

• 1-DIN body GPS-equipped car radio with ‘floating’ 9in HD capacitative Halo9 screen, twin cam connection
• 4x50W MOSFET CLASS D internal power amplifier, 24-BIT DAC, Fr, Rr, Sub pre-outs at 6V
• Wireless remote control ready, HDMI in/out 2xUSB, AUX, DAB+, plays FLAC, AAC, WAV, APE, MP3, MP4, MOV, FLV, MKV
• Works wirelessly with Apple Car play, Android Auto (USB wired), Bluetooth (V4.2), Made for iPhone

How The Units Were Tested

First, the fun of getting in touch and nagging for physical samples of each unit. It’s how I can brag of knowing folks at most top electronics companies like JVC, Kenwood and Sony. They arrive and each gets plugged in and played with. My desk was originally purchased especially for this use, with eight cubby holes and two desk surfaces. I think it was influenced by a book I had a kid, called ‘365 Things To Do’.

The idea is to test every single function and connection of all ten car radio head units. All the features, without going for an installed drive, which is a much more major enterprise. I have tunes in multiple formats and protocols.

It starts with my DIAWA PS-304II Laboratory 12V power supply at the bottom of the rig. Nothing major, yet has enough muscle for a head unit and my reference power amplifier, a classic Genesis SM60. That’s on the shelf above. A paragon of clean watts, it is easy to tell sound quality of the source through it. The Bowers & Wilkins LM1 Leisure Monitor speakers on the top shelf are likewise of high quality. They were gifted to me on a factory trip, and are supplied via 12Ga StreetWires cable by Esoteric Audio. They can be connected to the SM60, or else re-plugged on quick-release bullets, to use the head unit’s chip-amplifier output. The FM aerial and the DAB antenna on my office window gets plugged in and I can even run dual-zone. I have a roof screen/DVD unit installed in the next cubby to use to test that.

I also have an ugly-big battery for speakers/amps up to a kilowatt in a separate rig in another room. Last of all, the crucial bit.

These ears are able to tell.

How To Buy The Best Single-DIN Radio

When buying any car audio, you start with the same three considerations of vehicle, taste and budget.

When I was a car audio accessories sales rep, we sold a dirt-cheap ‘commodity’ radio. Its purpose was to have a radio in the car when it was sold instead of an empty DIN slot. My boss used to say it was dual-function. It filled the hole and it stopped the draught. You will know what you feel is worth spending. You will have an idea of the system wanted. Is it just the speakers on the watts in the head unit, like normal people? Or are you a fellow amplifier-lunatic fresh from looking at our car wiring kit guide?

Also, you don’t put a brand new-look unit in the dash of a car that is becoming a classic. You want one that looks cool in your BMW, fits like it was a new age hippy in your lovely old VW bus. Maybe you have real needs to play footage you filmed that day, as you vlog off to your next adventure? One drives, the other checks the whole lot as you ride… (by remote control)

The thing is, only get the technology you need. If you don’t have a high end super-resolution streaming service subscription, you don’t need a HiRes certified unit. The plot is to have a firm idea of what you will really play. It might even be that a wallet of CDs is part of your fun. All burned to playlists that will work far from any cellular coverage. If so, get a retro-style CD-disc mechanism. They are out there. The quality is still high, despite retro looks. Some of the priciest here are designed with deep cunning just to pull that con of looking old yet sounding new.

The post Best Single DIN Car Radio appeared first on Fast Car.

You’ve bought all the top products to wash your car, but what happens when it comes to drying? What car detailing covers is the whole process, not just cleaning.

When it comes to car drying towels, there are a few things to look for. What you want is something super-soft, so it won’t scratch the paint. Something super-absorbent, so it sucks up all the water from your car’s bodywork. And something large, so it can easily dry even the biggest of panels with ease. You also need the proper technique – take a look at our guide to drying your car.

As Fast Car’s Detailing Product Tester, I’ve used a lot of drying towels in my time. Plenty of them have been consigned to the detailing fault. And only a few have made it into regular use. I know what makes a good drying towel, and what makes a bad one. I’ve selected eight of the most popular drying towels to see how they compare.

Best Car Drying Towel At A Glance

• Best Overall and Editor’s Choice: The Rag Company Liquid8r. RRP: $24 / £25.95. Buy The Rag Company Liquid8r here.
• Approved: – Auto Finesse Aqua Deluxe XL. RRP: $32.95 / £21.95. Buy Auto Finesse Aqua Deluxe XL here.
• Approved: – Meguiar’s Microfibre Duo Twist. RRP: $19.99 / £30.00. Buy Meguiar’s Microfibre Duo Twist here.
• Best Value: – Gtechniq MF2 Zero Scratch Drying Towel. RRP: $11.95 / £7.46. Buy Gtechniq MF2 Zero Scratch Drying Towel here.

The Rag Company Liquid8r – Best Overall and Editor’s Choice

RRP: $24, buy now. £25.95, buy now.

Pros:

• Huge
• High GSM
• 70/30 microfiber blend
• Dries incredibly well

Cons:

• Nothing

The Rag Company Liquid8r serves up some impressive stats before you’ve even started drying. This twist loop drying towel measures a massive 36×25”, with an 1100gsm 70/30 blend construction. It also has a hemmed ‘hidden’ edge, making it the only towel in this test with this design. It made a very good first impression, and I was impressed by its size, feel and design the moment I unpacked it. And when it came to the drying experience, I was honestly blown away.

The Rag Company Liquid8r is a beast: it’s so nice to use, absorbs water effortlessly, and leaves panels bone dry. The twist loop construction means it sucks up water incredibly well. Meanwhile, the size means it can hold a lot of moisture without becoming overwhelmed. It’s such an impressive drying towel, the clear winner, and my favorite. The Rag Company Liquid8r is my new go-to drying towel of choice.

Check out our full review of The Rag Company Liquid8r drying towel.

Auto Finesse Aqua Deluxe XL – Approved

RRP: $32.95, buy now. £21.95, buy now.

Pros:

• Nice and big
• Very soft
• High GSM
• Dries well

Cons:

• You might not like the color…

Auto Finesse brings out the big guns with this drying towel. XL by name and XL by nature, it measures a massive 37×22”. Thanks to all that surface area, it makes light work of drying any panel you point it at. The 1200gsm microfiber pile makes it ultra-plush, so it’s safe for all surfaces.

This is a good-sized towel, very soft, and very absorbent. It dries well There’s very little to dislike here, and it’s a very nice drying towel.

For more info on the Auto Finesse drying towel, check out our full review of the Aqua Deluxe XL. 

Meguiar’s Microfibre Duo Twist – Approved

RRP: $19.99, buy now. £30.00, buy now.

Pros:

• Large
• High GSM
• Impressive drying performance

Cons:

• Quite expensive

Meguiar’s Microfibre Duo Twist drying towel is a bit different. It’s certainly got the size, measuring a hefty 35×20”. It also boasts a 1200gsm microfiber construction, which means it’s nice and soft. However, as its name suggests, it uses duo-twist microfibers. This means that each drying fiber is two strands twisted together. Rather than the soft, fluffy, plush structure, it feels a bit more like a bath towel. I was a little skeptical of how well it would perform, but I needn’t have been.

The Meguiar’s Microfibre Duo Twist dries really well. It absorbed way more water than I expected it to and I was very impressed with how little moisture was left behind. It’s a little pricey compared to its rivals, but that’s honestly the only real downside. A very strong choice of drying towel.

Here’s Buffy’s full review of the Meguiar’s drying towel. 

Gtechniq MF2 Zero Scratch Drying Towel – Best Value

RRP: $11.95 / £7.46. Buy Gtechniq MF2 Zero Scratch Drying Towel here.

Pros:

• Good size
• Excellent drying performance
• Very nice to use

Cons:

• Feels a bit thin

On the face of it, the Gtechniq MF2 drying towel is a little disappointing. It’s a good size, and measures a generous 35×23”. This makes it comparable to the largest towels on test. However, its low 450gsm makes it almost one-third as plush as the fluffiest towels on this list. It feels very thin and very light and doesn’t look like it’s going to do a very good job. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The Gtechniq MF2 performed incredibly well. It dried with minimal smearing and absorbed way more water than I ever expected. Because it’s thinner, it’s also a little more maneuverable and less heavy. Throw in the bargain price, and you’ve got yourself a stunningly good drying towel.

Check out the Gtechniq MF2 drying towel full review. 

Liquid Elements Silverback XL

RRP: £14.49. Not available in the US. Buy Liquid Elements Silverback XL here.

Pros:

• Very soft and plush
• High GSM

Cons:

• Not as big as its rivals
• Doesn’t dry that well

I bought the Liquid Elements Silverback XL based on reviews I’d read myself. It certainly has some impressive stats. You’ve got 1200gsm of plush chenille fibres, so it’s off to a great start. At 31.5×20”, it’s big, but not quite as big as the largest towels I’ve lined up here. It’s very soft and has a safe edge like its rivals.

But something is missing here and it’s never dried quite as well as I wanted it to. The Silverback XL good, but it’s my backup towel, rather than my main choice. This drying towel is still worth a look, but you can do better.

Autoglym Hi-Tech Microfibre Drying Towel

RRP: $27.06, buy now.  £20.99, buy now.

Pros:

• Feels nice

Cons:

• Thin
• Small
• Doesn’t dry well

Autoglym offers three different car drying towels, and its Hi-Tech Drying Towel is its top-end towel. This microfiber drying towel measures 24×24”, which makes it one of the smallest towels here. There’s also no mention of gsm, and its construction feels basic, with very short fibres. It’s very thin, too. While I like a lot of Autoglym’s products, sadly the Hi-Tech Microfiber Drying Towel fell short of the mark.

First of all, it really is small, so it struggles with drying. It quickly became waterlogged and was overwhelmed. I’d certainly consider it for drying glass, where the short fibers would be beneficial. But it’s a disappointing drying towel, even more so at this price.

In2Detailing Drinker XL V1 Drying Towel

RRP: £14.95 (V2), buy now. Not available in the US.

Pros:

• Huge
• Plush and soft
• Holds loads of water

Cons:

• Drying performance could be better

The Drinker XL has been my drying towel of choice for years, now. At 35×24”, it’s big and boasts an 1100gsm construction. It’s thick, plush and very soft, everything you’d want in a towel. I’ve always been very pleased with its drying performance in the past but, honestly, it felt a little outclassed here. Initial pickup is good, but it has a habit of leaving behind damp streaks that take multiple passes to clear. Also, despite its size, by the end of a drying session, it feels like it’s struggling a bit.

I tested my old V1 Drink XL here, and it’s since been replaced by the V2. It features a revised design and a much higher gsm, so I want to get my hands on one to see how it performs. I still love my Drinker XL V1, but it’s just not as good as the best towels here.

Chemical Guys Big Mouth (Miracle Dryer)

RRP: $16.29, buy now. £14.99, buy now.

Pros:

• Large
• Good material blend

Cons:

• Poor drying performance

Chemical Guys offers such a huge range of drying towels that it’s hard to know where to even start. I opted for a mid-range towel for this test in the shape of the Big Mouth (aka the Miracle Dryer). At 36×25”, it’s certainly not short on size and is one of the biggest towels on test. It’s blended with 70/30 microfiber, which is definitely what you want. It also has two naps for added versatility. Both are good for drying, while the high pile is perfect for catching dust and debris without scratching the paintwork.

On paper, it sounds good, but in practice it underperformed. It just didn’t dry very well, leaving lots of moisture behind, and quickly became waterlogged. It just wasn’t very nice to use, really, and was outclassed by the best towels in this test.

How Each Product Was Tested

The car I was using for testing was washed and rinsed, and then each towel was used to dry a panel. I checked to see how much water each drying towel absorbed on the first pass. After this, I inspected how much moisture was left on the panel. Finally, I then finished drying the panel to see how effective each towel was. While using each one, I also noted how heavy it felt, and how easy it was to use.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Drying Towel

When it comes to shopping for a drying towel, size matters. The bigger the towel, the more easily you can dry your car. A bigger surface area means it can also absorb more water before it gets overwhelmed. The GSM (grams per square meter) is also important. The higher the GSM, the thicker, softer and more absorbent the towel will be. This means quicker, safer and better drying performance. A good drying towel will also have soft edges to protect your paint.

The material ratio of a microfiber towel is also very important. Most microfiber cloths and towels are a blend of polyester and polyamide. Generally speaking, polyester is the scrubbing element of the towel, while polyamide is the absorbent component. Polyamide is more expensive than polyester, which is why cheaper towels might be up to 100% polyester. The more polyamide there is in the blend, the softer the towel will be.

Ideally, you want a 70/30 towel – this means it has a 70% polyester to 30% polyamide blend. Even 80/20 towels can leave behind micro scratches on soft paint due to the higher amount of polyester. A 70/30 towel, however, will not, as well as being softer and more absorbent.

The post Best Car Drying Towel In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

ECUs are a vital part of car tuning if you’re running a modern car with electronic ignition. To put it simply, ECUs are in charge of maintaining the rhythm and balance of all the intricate mechanical dances that turn air and fuel into speed. So, when you start swapping out factory parts for high-performance aftermarket ones, the car’s stock ECU may suddenly be out of its depth – and that ain’t great for your motor’s health.

To give you more of an idea how this might happen, let’s take a look at a common example…

Case Study: Ford Focus ST & RS Mk2

The Mk2 Ford Focus ST and RS models are very tunable and reliable too, but the standard management system simply isn’t up to the job once you tune beyond the 500-550hp mark. The reason for this is mainly due to the factory MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor, which is located inside the crossover pipe just after the air filter. This sensor measures the amount of air passing across it and therefore going into the engine – from this reading, the ECU makes the crucial calculations required to determine how much fuel to add. However, on big power builds that run at higher boost levels, the sensor becomes overwhelmed and simply can’t compute the amount of airflow passing by.

Furthermore, in this scenario the sensor’s response time to rapid increments is slightly delayed, and whilst this is fine for a majority of high-performance cars, it’s not ideal for heavily modified vehicles where more precise and accurate changes would be preferable.

Also, there’s a lack of control over the entire system. Even after a custom remap that changes the stock ECU’s parameters, the MAF sensor ultimately still dictates how much fuel to add. Fully tailored map adjustments to both the fueling and ignition properties are not possible. Instead, only mild adjustments to the map file can be performed. That’s fine for the majority of mildly modified cars, but when looking to extract maximum power potential, working within these tightly controlled parameters does limit what is possible. The original MAF sensor cannot simply be uprated either.

Plug & Play

This is where the Syvecs plug-and-play conversion comes in. It entirely replaces the standard Ford ECU and its limiting MAF sensor set-up, in favor of an aftermarket motorsport control unit that works with a MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor reading instead, among others. Therefore, the previous MAF set-up restrictions are no longer an issue. What’s more, the Syvecs ECU integrates seamlessly with the car, so nothing changes in terms of creature comforts, dials, gauges, or controls.

Syvecs ECU Features & Benefits

One key benefit to the Syvecs system is the ability to fully control the engine’s ignition and fueling settings, allowing more accurate adjustment to improve power and response, but there are plenty of additional extras, too. For a start, different pre-set maps can be selected on the move, giving the driver options of low, medium or high boost settings, for example, or ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ settings on a track car.

There’s also a full suite of extra features, such as full-throttle gearshifts, meaning you don’t need to lift the accelerator pedal during a gear change to reduce shifting times. Launch control is another option; a feature which limits revs whilst at standstill to improve traction off the line. In addition, the introduction of anti-lag will help to keep the turbo spooling. But perhaps most importantly, it’s the dramatically improved throttle response and much improved torque-biasing traction control that gives the most noticeable gains on a road car.

There’s also an improved soundtrack to consider as the Syvecs ECU considerably alters the car’s engine and exhaust tone. There are also the options to add a fuel-flex feature. This is a sensor that can read the quality of fuel flowing through it (such as running regular 99RON pump fuel, race fuels, or even methanol-mixes) so the ECU can automatically calibrate itself to suit the fuel being used. All of the ECU’s readings can be displayed on a Toucan touch-screen display unit.

How to fit a Syvecs ECU

In terms of fitting, the ECU itself is a true plug-and-play conversion; literally you can just unplug the old ECU and plug the new Syvecs one in with the wiring harness provided. A base map to suit the car’s specification is then uploaded via a laptop (or this can be preloaded onto the ECU) and immediately the car will start and drive as normal, with all standard features of both the car and ECU immediately enabled. Final mapping is then done via a tuner, ideally on a dyno where everything can be closely monitored.

Head over to syvecs.com to see what packages they can provide for your own car.

Words by Simon Holmes.

The post Syvecs ECU: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Fast Car.

Even if you think you’ve got the best dash cam already, getting to your recorded footage can be a hassle if it’s a traditional wired model. Not everyone has a computer or even access to one. Even if you do, getting the memory card out of your dash cam is more effort than anyone needs. A wireless dash cam makes life so much simpler.

With built-in Wi-Fi, you can quickly and easily connect your phone to one of these dash cams. From there, you can access your video recordings, download them and share them. This means you can get a dash cam without a screen, which takes up a lot less windscreen real estate. Basically, having a wireless dash cam will just make things that much easier and better. We’ve picked five of the best wireless dash cams that are well-specced but still affordable.

How we chose these products

While not all of the products below have gone through our usual rigorous testing, they have been selected based on a number of features you should expect to find in the best products.

The cameras which have been tested first-hand have been recommended by James, who’s overseen all of the dash cam reviews on our site so far. As such, he’s got a good understanding of which ones are worth your time and money.

How we tested the products

For those which we’ve been able to test first-hand so far, we felt it was important to get a well-rounded view of what ownership with each of these cameras should be like. That meant covering everything from installation, to user ergonomics, and of course product performance. We’ll give you an overview of our findings here, but we’ll also include a link to each individual review so that you can learn about each camera in more detail.

At a glance:

• Garmin Live LTE – RRP: $399.99, buy now. £349.99, buy now.
• Z-Edge Z3D-2K – RRP: $99.99, buy now. £143.99, buy now.
• Thinkware U3000 – RRP: $549.00, buy now. £399.00, buy now.
• Rove R2-4K – RRP: $173.99, buy now. £289.99, buy now.
• Nextbase 622GW – RRP: $399.99, buy now. £269.00, buy now.
• Wireless vs. Wired dashcams
• Benefits of wireless dash cams

Best Wireless Dash Cam In 2023

Garmin Dash Cam Live

RRP: $399.99, buy now. £349.99, buy now.

At the moment, the Garmin Dash Cam Live with LTE connectivity (catchy name, eh) is probably the most capable wireless dash cam on the market. Its app not only allows you to remotely access video footage stored on the cloud, but also to view all sorts of data which could be vital in a legal or criminal situation. Speed, location, and time data validates your account when you make a claim or defend yourself in court. Plus, if you hook it up to a constant power source, the Garmin app will let you view a direct feed of the dash cam’s view when you’re away from the car. That remote live video feature could prove to be especially useful in conjunction with live location tracking, should your car ever be stolen.

As for the image quality, the camera records in a resolution of 1440p at 30fps, through a 140-degree angle lens. So overall, the footage you get holds up very well in day and night. There is a catch though. And that’s the subscription fee. Yep, if you want to retain full access to remote live video and vehicle tracking, you’ll need to pay $9.99 per month, or more, depending on which tier of subscription you fancy. To learn more, read the full review here.

Z-Edge Z3D-2K

RRP: $99.99, buy now. £143.99, buy now.

The Z-Edge Z3D-2K gives you two cameras in one great-value package. The front camera offers 2K 30fps recording with a 155° viewing angle. The rear camera records in 1080p at 30fps and has the same 155° viewing angle. That means you’ve got four lanes of camera coverage front and rear. The Wide Dynamic Range means clear recording in all lighting conditions. Meanwhile, the Superior NTK96670 CPU boosts low-light settings for improved image quality at night. The Z3D-2K also comes with built-in GPS, plus a G-sensor and parking monitor. Packed full of features, the Z3D-2K is an excellent wireless dash cam.

Thinkware U3000

RRP: $549.00, buy now. £399.00, buy now.

The Thinkware U3000 is firmly on the other end of the price spectrum compared to the Z-Edge above. So, what has it got to show for it? Well, the app that comes with the U3000 is pretty cool. As well as being able to remotely access your files, you can also tune into a livestream taken directly from the dash cam when you’re away from your car (assuming you’ve hardwired it, or are feeding it power through the OBD2 port). That means that, like a baby monitor, you can check in on your car at anytime to make sure it’s still where you left it, and isn’t in any sort of peril.

The camera quality is good – it records in 4K Ultra HD ensuring you get a crystal clear image, and if you opt for the rear camera add-on, that’ll record in 2K. If you didn’t like the sound of Garmin’s subscription service, you’ll be glad to know that there are no additional costs with this high-end item. So although you pay a lot up front, that’s *all* you pay. Read the full review to find out more.

Rove R2-4K

RRP: $173.99, buy now. £289.99, buy now.

With Ultra HD recording, the Rove R2-4K is an impressive piece of kit. You only get one camera, but it records 2880x2160P at 24fps and has a 150° viewing angle. The six-glass lens ensures superb clarity aided by the Wide Dynamic Range. Meanwhile, the combo of NT96660 and Sony IMX335 sensors delivers excellent nighttime recording. There’s also built-in GPS, plus a G-sensor and parking monitor. The Rove R2-4K is a compact wireless dash cam that delivers impressive performance at an excellent price.

Nextbase 622GW

RRP: $399.99, buy now. £269.00, buy now.

Nextbase dash cams are consistently excellent. The 622GW in particular packs an impressive punch. The camera records 4K at 30fps, but you can turn the resolution down in favor of up to 120fps if you wish. It also has a 140° viewing angle and the 6G glass lens ensures you get crystal-clear video quality. What we really like is the built-in polarizing filter, which reduces glare and reflections. This really improves video clarity in bright conditions, and helps out in urban environments at night too. There’s a 3” touchscreen IPS display, and the powered Click&Go windscreen mount makes attaching and removing the 622GW so easy. There’s GPS, an intelligent parking mode, and an adjustable G-sensor.

What sets the 622GW apart from its rivals, however, are the extra features it offers. There’s Amazon Alexa built-in, which allows you to get directions, play music, check the weather and lots more. There’s also an Emergency SOS function, that will contact the emergency services in case of an accident. It might be more expensive than some of the lesser-known brands, but the 622GW makes up for it in lots of ways. This is a very impressive wireless dash cam that doesn’t disappoint. Check out our in-depth review of it to learn more.

Wired vs Wireless dash cams

If you’re unsure what the difference between a traditional wired and wireless dash cam, we’re here to help. Technically speaking, no matter what dash cam you opt for, it will most likely need powering by a wired connection.  Without a wired power connection, a internal battery would only be able to record a limited amount of footage without running out of power. The “wireless” part is referring to how the footage is stored. There are two methods here:

• Store the footage locally on a memory card
• Upload footage automatically to a cloud storage service

If the dash cam only supports storage locally on a memory card, then this would be considered a wired dash cam. You need to plug the dash cam into a PC in order to obtain your footage. If the latter option, whereby footage is upload to the cloud, this becomes a wireless dash cam, as you don’t need to connect your dash to a PC via a data transfer cable. It’s important to note that a dash cam can feature both, the ability to store locally on a memory card as well as provide a backup on a cloud service for the best of both worlds.

What are the benefits of a wireless or internet-connected dash cam?

The first, and arguably most important, is that you can access footage in real-time. This means that if you’re involved in a collision, you can quickly access your footage for evidence should you need it. Often, dash cams can detect rapid deceleration in the event of a collision instantly and upload a period of footage to the cloud without you needing to do a thing.

The second benefit is that the footage uploaded to the cloud is saved securely in one area, meaning you don’t have to search around for the memory card, or a device to connect to the dash cam. It also means that older footage of an incident can be accessed quickly and securely should you need the footage as evidence. Often, the cloud databases are encrypted, meaning you and only you can access the footage.

And finally, a wireless dash cam has much greater storage capability. While a wired dash cam is limited to the physical space on a memory card (or set up to overwrite older footage automatically), a wireless dashcam is only limited to the cloud storage available, which is usually multiple GBs of footage. It also means you don’t have to compromise on camera quality. While you might be encouraged to only record at 720p on your wired dash cam to save space on your memory card, a cloud service allows you to record in full HD or even 2K/4K resolution to ensure the truest picture is painted.

Words by Elizabeth de Latour and James Bowers.

Love cars? We’re putting on a whole host of modified car fun this summer with our premier events. Be sure not to miss out. Visit our events page for more information.

The post Best Wireless Dash Cam In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

“There’s an app for everything, don’t you know”, and car ownership is certainly no exception to the rule. Whether they’re designed to make your life easier, or to make driving even more rewarding, there’s a wide range of apps about which car enthusiasts should take note of. In fact, you can even download some of them straight to your car’s head unit infotainment system (if you’ve got the right set-up)!

So, let’s get straight into it. Here are some of the best smartphone car apps that you can download today…

Best Smartphone Car Apps

ROADS by Porsche

When out on the road, there’s nothing better than stumbling across a fun route; somewhere where you can safely stretch your car’s legs a bit, or somewhere enveloped by beautiful scenery. Well, the ROADS app by Porsche aims to make it a whole lot easier to find moments like those.

Using AI, ROADS generates route plans for you based on criteria such as speed, elevation change, or “curvy fun”, as the app puts it. On top of that, there’s a social element to the app too – you can share your own favorite journeys, or download those of others. You can even message and see who’s about in your area, if you prefer to drive in a group.

Essentially, ROADS is a global catalogue of perfect road trips, and best of all, you don’t even have to own a Porsche to use it. ROADS by Porsche is compatible with any car that’s equipped with Apple CarPlay, but sadly not Android Auto for the time being.

Interested? Download it for free here.

Waze

You’ll almost certainly have heard of Waze before. Waze is one of the leading smartphone apps for navigation, allowing you to plan your routes around real-time changes in traffic. Plus, if something happens ahead of you while you’re on the road, Waze will clock it, and re-route you through a different path.

There are also neat little features such as the ability to add service station pit-stops into your journey plan, or to hook Waze up to your music streaming account. You might wonder, ‘why don’t I just use Google Maps?’, and to be honest, that’s a fair question. Especially, if Google Maps is already in-built into your car’s infotainment system. Ironically, Waze is actually a subsidiary of Google, so there’s certainly a lot of crossovers in the tech used too. However, when it comes to getting you to your destination quickest, Waze’s no-nonsense approach to re-routing often results in quicker arrival times than Google Maps. That said, as Waze is community-driven, the app will undoubtedly be hamstrung if you’re the only Waze user in the area.

Most of the time though, it’s a great little tool to get you out of traffic or around obstacles, so long as you don’t mind taking some pretty unconventional routes sometimes. OEMs are cottoning on to this too: some marques, like Renault, now offer Waze in-built into their cars’ infotainment.

If your car doesn’t, fear not. Download the smartphone app for free here.

CARFAX

If you’re anything like us, you’re constantly scrolling through the classifieds, pondering what your next daily driver or project car might be. However, some cars have more checkered pasts than vendors would have you believe. That’s where CARFAX comes in.

The CARFAX database spans across the USA, Canada, and 20 European countries, and offers you valuable information for when buying a used car. You can use the app to check for odometer fraud, crash reports, or whether the car’s stolen, as well as a whole database of other useful info. So, better to be safe than sorry.

RRP: from 34.99€ (~ $38 / £30). You can download CARFAX as an app in some regions, or you can access the service directly via their website, here.

GasBuddy

Like pretty much every commodity at the moment, fuel will cost you an arm and a leg if you don’t pick your pump station wisely. Helpfully, GasBuddy takes all the research and guesswork out of it, showing you the prices you can expect at every station you encounter, in real time.

You can search for gas by brand, city, or state, and can even ask the app for a cost estimate for your journey, before you set off.

As an added bonus, GasBuddy will not only help you choose the cheapest stations, but will also give you further cash off if you pay with the GasBuddy gas card, which is free to sign up for. Simply link it to your bank account, and cents will automatically be shaved off the cost of filling your tank.

For now, GasBuddy is restricted to the USA and Canada, but if you live in either of those two countries, it’s a great way to save some cash every time you get behind the wheel.

Interested? Download the app here.

FIXD

If you love driving, chances are you’ll make your car work hard from time to time. So, treat it with the compassion it deserves by keeping on top of its mechanical health with the FIXD OBD2 scanner app.

The premise is fairly straightforward. Grab the FIXD OBD2 sensor and download the accompanying FIXD app. Once you’ve connected the sensor to your car’s OBD2 port, connect it to the app via Bluetooth, and voila, a whole new world of automotive diagnostics opens up to you.

Basic free-to-use features include an RPM gauge, as well as the ability to read fault codes and clear the ‘check engine’ light. However, if you opt for FIXD Premium, the app can go into way more depth than a lot of other entry-level OBD2 scanners. It’ll give you information like the severity of a fault code, as well as a prognosis if left unattended. On top of that, it’ll also suggest repairs and give you a guideline of prices to expect.

There are a bunch of other functions too, ranging from maintenance trackers and car history files, to specific model issue forecasts and even an emissions checker. So, if car health is important to you, you can’t go wrong with the FIXD app.

RRP: $69.99 for FIXD Premium. Click here to sign up now.

You’ll also need to purchase the scanner hardware separately, which you can pick up on Amazon US ($59.99).

RoadStr

Billed as the social network for car enthusiasts, RoadStr aims to be the web that connects the car community together. Route planning and sharing is one of the ways in which it does this, offering keen drivers the ability to explore and recommend new and exciting routes with each other. In that regard, it’s a bit like the ROADS by Porsche app mentioned earlier – though RoadStr is compatible with both iOS *and* Android.

RoadStr goes further down the social route than ROADS does, too. For instance, you can join groups with like-minded enthusiasts based upon region or marque, and there’s even an event calendar for outings hosted by those groups.

So, if you’re looking to get more involved with your local community of enthusiasts, RoadStr is one of the best smartphone car apps to get you started. Download it here.

The post Best Smartphone Car Apps appeared first on Fast Car.

Car jump leads are a great get-out-of-jail tool to have in your arsenal, provided that you’ve got access to another running car, whether it be yours, a friend’s, or that of a helpful passer-by. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about them before you go out and buy a set, so without further ado, let’s get straight into it!

How jump leads work

The idea behind jump leads is actually pretty easy to get your head around. Essentially, they’re a pair of insulated wires with alligator clips at either end – typically one colored red, one colored black. The red wire indicates positive polarity, whereas the black wire is for negative.

These leads serve as connection points between two power sources – in this case, two car batteries. Current from the full car battery travels across to the dead one via the red lead, which if given enough time, should then charge back up. Nice and simple, right?

Like anything though, there are some nuances to be aware of. For example, the batteries found in diesel vehicles tend to be more powerful than the ones found in petrol vehicles, and as such, this can sometimes require different jump leads. Typically, experts suggest you use a lead with a 10–25mm² cross-section for petrol engines, and 35–50mm² for diesel engines. If you’re unsure, it’s always better to have slightly too powerful jump leads than ones that aren’t powerful enough. Also, you may find that entry level leads are only good up to a certain engine capacity. Keep this in mind when buying leads for your own car.

How to use jump leads: safety checks

Before starting, there’s a few checks that you need to make. Firstly, is the dead battery visually damaged, or leaking at all? If so, take a step back and call in the professionals to handle that mess. If not, you’re safe to proceed.

However, make sure that no metal items, such as clothing accessories, are in danger of coming into contact with the battery during this process (other than the jump lead clips, obviously).In short, if you’re rocking any hand jewelry, maybe set it aside for a moment somewhere where you won’t lose it. Finally, make sure that the dead car’s key is not in its ignition barrel.

How to use jump leads: the procedure

If you’ve got this far, you’re ready to start the procedure. The first thing you’ll want to do is line up the running car with the dead one, ensuring that the two car’s batteries are as close together as possible. Once this is done, shut off the running car, and remove its key from the ignition.

Next, you’ll want to connect the two cars’ positive battery terminals with the red jump lead. As for the black lead, you’ll need to connect this to the negative terminal on the running car, but don’t simply join it to the dead car’s negative terminal as well. That would be an easy, but potentially catastrophic mistake to make. Instead, what you want to do is secure the other end of the black lead to an earth point in the dead car. An unpainted part of the metal chassis is usually a good option, but wherever you choose, make sure it isn’t in close proximity to either the battery or any part of the fuel system. The strut tower is a popular choice.

After taking a moment to double check everything, start up the healthy car and leave it running for at least a minute. With the two cars still connected, you’ll then want to try the previously dead car to see if it’s charged enough to turn over. Once you’ve got the dead car running, it’ll turn into a bit of a waiting game. Ideally, leave both vehicles idling for about 10 minutes or so to ensure both leave with a healthy charge.

Once that time has elapsed, turn both cars off. Only then should you start to disconnect the jump leads between them. Remove the black lead first, then the red one. Afterwards, you should find that both cars can start up independently.

Recommended brands

There are all sorts of brands out there which supply car jump leads, and if you’re buying from a reputable retailer, all of the ones that you’ll find on the market should be up to the job that they claim they’re capable of. However, some products are naturally higher quality than others. Take the Energizer jump cables, for example. These come in various specifications of length and power for all sorts of vehicles, the range starting from $47.74 / £37.92. Einhell is another reputable brand worth considering too.

Alternatively, Sakura’s base-spec booster cables are a cheap and cheerful (but still competent) option for cars with an engine capacity up to 2000cc. That makes them perfectly usable for most entry level tuner cars. On the other end of the scale, Voilamart heavy duty jump leads can handle anything up to 9500cc!

Finally, if you happen to be based in the UK, you might like to opt for jump leads supplied by the AA, giving you the peace of mind that these leads are successfully used in roadside recoveries all the time.

Portable jump starters

One obvious downside to relying on jump leads to recharge your car battery is the need for an auxiliary power source to connect to (e.g., another car). So, if you’d rather pay a bit more cash for a tool that will do the same job independently, you might want to have a look into portable jump starters. We’ve compiled a few of our favorites, here.

These little boxes of energy effectively take over the role of the second (running) car when performing a jump start. So long as you remember to keep it charged up, the jump starter should be capable of recharging your ride’s battery by itself (via a set of supplied jump leads that lock into the starter). It may take a couple of goes if your battery is *really* flat, but overall, a portable jump starter is a brilliant investment. Ours have certainly saved our bacon more than a few times!

The post Guide To Car Jump Leads appeared first on Fast Car.

If you’re as ancient as some of the guys and girls that work here, you’ll remember a time when the only illumination on offer in a garage was a 60-watt wanderlight in a metal cage, plugged into the mains. Nowadays, there is a vast assortment of lighting options to help with your car maintenance, so we decided to look at the most portable of them all: headtorches and handheld inspection lamps.

There are so many of these on the market, offering fantastic features such as motion sensor operation, zoom controls and magnetic swivel bases, so we prepared some thorough garage tasks to put our selection to hard work.

How we tested these products

We visited our local garage and handed over all the inspection lamps to an MOT tester, and all the headtorches to a couple of mechanics. We then left them to complete a variety of jobs inside engine bays, underneath vehicles, and inside wheel arches, in the hope that this would give us the best comprehensive overview of each product in the shortest amount of time.

Happily, it worked out pretty well, because they brought up issues which we had never considered, such as the ease of switching a light on and off when wearing oil-covered gloves (especially important with a headtorch). Plus, they found that some lights dimmed after an hour, despite the specification quoting several hours of battery life – which is a great testament as to why you can’t always take specified figures at face value when reviewing products like this.

Rob Hawkins is the perfect guy to decipher and compile their feedback, as he’s been contributing to Car Mechanics magazine for many years now. So, without further ado, here are the results.

Best Inspection Lamps & Headtorches

Sealey LED3601R

AWARD: Fast Car BEST BUY

RRP: £62.34. Not available in the US. Buy Sealey LED3601R here.

Score: 9/10

This was the inspection lamp our MOT tester preferred. It has a 2W COB LED that produces up to 220 lumens from a 3.7-volt 1.5Ah lithium polymer battery, which lasts for 3-6 hours and takes around three hours to recharge via a micro-USB lead. The illumination is bright and wide, and there’s an additional pencil torchlight on the top, which is useful for directing a beam of light into an engine bay to look for a lost spanner. The raised rubber on/off button at the front of the lamp is easy to find and the body is straightforward to wipe clean.

However, the one feature that really sells this lamp is its magnetic swivel base. It has a ball and socket design, so you can maneuver the top half of the lamp to any angle. We found this to be the most versatile feature of all the lamps tested.

Laser Rechargeable Headlight Torch

AWARD: Fast Car BEST BUDGET BUY

RRP: £22.20. Not available in the US. Buy Laser Headtorch here.

Score: 8/10

Looking more like a miniature camera strapped to the front of your head than a torch, Laser’s model uses a 3W Cree LED bulb, which provides 2-5 hours of illumination from a lithium-ion battery that takes roughly three hours to recharge. There are two settings for illumination and a strobe light that may be useful for cyclists… or garage raves.

You can twist the lens on the front both clockwise and anticlockwise to alter the angle (zoom) of the light, while the entire headtorch itself can be tilted down to 90°, making it easier to illuminate objects below your body and work on something up close. The rubber on/off switch on the top of the headtorch is quite fiddly to operate when wearing gloves, and we found the light started to dim after 1.5 hours, however the price is remarkably low for a compact rechargeable headtorch.

Draper Inspection Lamp

AWARD: Fast Car RECOMMENDED

RRP: Buy the updated version here for £104.00 / $129.28. 

Score: 8/10

Powered by a 3.7-volt 2.6Ah rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Draper’s inspection lamp includes a UV light (useful for leak detection) and an 80-lumens pencil light at the end. The main light provides 350 lumens of illumination from a 4W COB LED, which lasts for around three hours (the pencil light lasts for eight hours and the UV for 28 hours), taking roughly five hours to recharge. A magnetic swivel base makes this lamp very versatile and we found it could provide an adequate 120° of illumination when positioned inside an engine bay, underneath a bonnet, inside a wheel arch and underneath a vehicle (secured to a chassis leg). It’s one of the most popular designs of inspection lamp and finishes second place in our group test, second only to Sealey’s LED3601R that’s smaller, has a more versatile magnetic swivel base and is cheaper.

Sealey HT108LED

AWARD: Fast Car RECOMMENDED

Price: $36.84 / £29.61 from OnBuy.com. Buy Sealey HT108LED here.

Score: 8/10

Illuminated by a 5W Cree LED and powered by a 3.7-volt 2Ah lithium-ion battery, Sealey’s headtorch provides 100 or 360 lumens, lasts for 2-6 hours and takes up to six hours to recharge via a micro-USB lead. The illumination and angle of light is strong and ideal for working in the dark areas of a vehicle, such as a wheel arch, plus you can rotate the body of the torch to help point the light further up or down. The rubber on/off button is quite easy to find on the side.

A rubber grommet/cover for the USB port kept falling off our test model and could easily be lost. A useful feature is the motion sensor, which when set, allows you to switch the torch on and off by waving a hand in front of the lens. This works in an open space, but not so well when working in a wheel arch or underneath a vehicle where objects can switch it on and off accidentally.

Laser Tools Racing Beanie Hat

RRP: $25.98 / £20.90. Buy the Laser Tools Racing beanie here.

Score: 8/10

This is a novel light if you wear a hat when working on a vehicle. Beanie hats have long been available with a small light attached, but Laser’s product goes a step further. The four LEDs offer three settings of brightness up to 120 lumens and can last for between 1.5-4 hours. The light unit can be removed from inside the hat and plugged into the USB port to recharge, which takes roughly 90 minutes. The lamp can be replaced if required (part number 60475) and costs £6.46. At such a low price, this beanie hat with built-in headtorch is good value for money and provides a sufficient amount of lighting for its size.

Philips RCH21S

Price: $99.44 / £79.99. Buy the Philips RCH21S here.

Score: 6/10

This compact handheld inspection light from Philips produces 120-350 lumens, which can last for 3.5-6 hours. The lithium-ion battery takes a couple of hours to recharge via a docking station, which is less convenient than many of the other inspection lamps on test, where a USB lead plugged into the back is all you need. The head of the light has a hinge, so you can position it downwards to illuminate objects below. There’s no magnetic base, only a magnet on the back, so it’s not possible to stand the light upright in an engine bay, unless, say, it can be fitted against an inner wing.

The on/off button is hard to find when wearing gloves and there’s no pencil light to help illuminate a small area. By contrast, the main light provides wide and bright illumination. This is the most expensive inspection lamp on test and, sadly, cheaper units such as the Sealey Best Buy are more versatile.

Not found what you’re looking for? Try our guide to LED Slimline lamps instead.

The post Best Inspection Lamps and Headtorches In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Using the right products will make detailing your car so much easier. But with so many products to choose from, it can get a bit overwhelming, and our guide is here to help. We’ve picked the best detailing products, and there’s something here for everyone. Whether you want the best shampoo, the best vacuum cleaner, or the best snow foam, you’ll find it all here. And once you’ve got the gear, our guide on what is car detailing will turn you into a pro detailer in no time. And now, read on for our guide to the best detailing products.

Best Detailing Products In 2024

How we chose these products

We’ve tested many of these products first-hand as part of wider group tests, and as such can confidently claim that they represent better value than their rivals. However, for the products included here which we haven’t yet sampled ourselves, their presence is based upon our own knowledge and direct experience of the automotive detailing industry and the hierarchy of brands within it, as well as an understanding of what factors are important in the construction of each product.

Best Snow Foam Lance

Hydro 360

Buy Hyrdro 360 Snow Foam Lance. 

Very keenly priced, the Hydro 360 is a superb lance. The wide neck makes filling easy, while the wide base keeps it steady. Its bottle has multiple scales, and the feed tube features a filter. Finally, it delivers loads of lovely thick foam.

MJJC Foam Cannon Pro V.20

RRP: $95.00 / £65.00. Buy it here.

It’s not cheap, but this is a top-tier foam lance. It’s got the wide filler neck and base we love. There are also fill markers on the bottle, and the flexible feed tube features a weighted ball. It also boasts a 360° adjustable spray pattern, and it serves up seriously thick foam.

Best Snow Foam

Bilt Hamber Touch-Less

RRP: $54.95 / £22.95. Buy it here.

No fancy scents or pretty colors, just full-on cleaning power. Touch-Less doesn’t do dramatic foam, but it does obliterate dirt. Road grime simply melts away, and your car will look cleaner before you’ve even started washing it.

Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam

RRP: from $21.95 / £13.99. Buy it here.

If you want a pH-neutral snow foam, this is an excellent choice. C4 Citrus Foam ups its cleaning game by combining a citrus degreaser with a foaming agent. This gives it an extra kick that helps it clean well while still allowing it to be gentle.

Best Car Pressure Washer

Titan TTB1800PRW

Buy Titan TTB1800PRW pressure washer. 

Plenty of power at a low price makes this a winner. This Titan boasts 140 bar water pressure and a 440lph flow rate. You also get a 6-meter supersoft PVC hose and a quick lock and release anti-tangle system. It might not look fancy, and it’s a little basic in some areas, but it’s incredible value for money.

Turtle Wax TW110

RRP: $/£89.99. Buy it here.

If you want a pressure washer but don’t have much storage space, this is the perfect pick. The TW110 might be small, but it doesn’t scrimp on features or performance. 110 bar of pressure and a flow rate of 330lph make it more than powerful enough for car cleaning. It only weighs 3.6kg and has a footprint just a little bigger than an A4 piece of paper. Small, portable, powerful, and pretty much perfect.

Best Car Shampoo

Mothers California Gold Car Wash

RRP: $12.99 – $23.99 / £8.49-£21.99. Buy Mothers California Gold Car Wash here.

Size: 437ml, 946ml, 1892ml.

Now this is a good shampoo. Mothers has created a shampoo that suds up with ease, and cuts through tough dirt. Safe to use on cars with ceramic coatings, the pH balanced formula leaves your paintwork shining and smooth to touch.

Best Car Polish

Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish

RRP: $10.99 / £17.56. Buy now.

Size: 473ml

If you want a pure polish, this one is hard to beat. Ultimate Polish will refine your paint to an incredible degree. It delivers stunning depth, mirror-like reflections and leaves you with gorgeous wet-look paint. A fantastic polish for use after correction and before applying wax.

Autoglym Super Resin Polish

RRP: $23.00 / £15.95. Buy now.

Size: 325ml, 500ml, 1 liter

A superb all-in-one that delivers instant results. Super Resin Polish will gently remove light swirls and abrasions, even by hand. It contains fillers that temporarily mask paintwork imperfections for instantly enhanced bodywork. Finally, it leaves behind a wax coating for added gloss and protection. A versatile product that’s hard to beat.

Best Car Wax

Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wash & Wax

RRP: $7.99. £8.95. Buy now.

Size: 16 oz

The Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wash & Wax offers a two-in-one solution for car cleaning and waxing. This wax is infused with carnauba wax and polymers that provide a high-gloss shine and long-lasting protection against the elements. It is safe for use on all types of car paint and can be used on a regular basis to maintain the car’s shine. The 64 oz. bottle costs around $10.99, making it an affordable option for those who want a convenient and effective car wax.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax

RRP: $22.98 / £37.50. Buy now.

Size: 226g

A lovely wax that delivers excellent results. It might not boast the best longevity, but Ultimate Paste Wax makes up for that in other ways. It’s lovely to use and goes on and comes off easily, even in direct sun. Gloss is glorious, and it delivers awesome beading too. This is a very nice wax that’s equally easy to recommend.

Best Ceramic Coating

Gtechniq C1 Crystal Lacquer

C1 Crystal Lacquer combines exceptional durability with ease of use. It’s been designed to be easy to apply and will offer protection from minor scratches. It’s also suitable for both gloss and matt finishes. Best of all, it will last for up to five years, making this a very impressive ceramic coating.

GYEON Q2 Pure EVO

Q2 Pure EVO strikes the ideal balance between ease of application and durability. You can get up to 36 months from this coating, which is impressive. The thick formulation means you only need a single layer, which makes it easier to use. And it can be applied outdoors, which is great news for anyone without a garage. An excellent coating all-round.

Check out our full guide to the best car ceramic coatings.

Best Headlight Restoration Kit

Meguiar’s Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit

The Meguiar’s kit is really effective and provides long-lasting UV protection. There’s no need for any tools; you simply clean the oxidation off by hand, so it’s very straightforward. Then you just apply the headlight coating, and your headlights will be protected for up to a year. A highly effective headlight restoration kit.

Turtle Wax Headlight Cleaner And Sealant

For sheer simplicity and value for money, this is hard to beat. All you get is a bottle of Headlight Cleaner And Sealant, and it does everything you need. It removes surface oxidation while applying a protective coating at the same time. You need a bit of effort, but this is a great product at a bargain price.

Check out our full guide to the best car headlight cleaning kits.

Best Tire Dressing

CarPlan Tire Slik

Incredibly quick and easy to use, this is a great dressing. The spray can makes application simple, and it’s easy to be accurate. It leaves a nice glossy sheen that’s not overwhelming, and durability is also impressive.

Autoglym Instant Tire Dressing

Super-convenient and easy to apply, you can’t go wrong with Instant Tire Dressing. Our favourite thing about this dressing is that you can apply it to wet or dry tyres. And while it leaves a glossy finish, if you give it a wipe, you get a matt finish instead. An excellent dressing.

Check out our full guide to the best car tire dressing.

Best Car Glass Cleaner

Auto Finesse Caramics Glass Cleaner

Impressive cleaning power and hydrophobic protection make this an excellent glass cleaner. Caramics Glass Cleaner’s fast-flash formula makes like work of dirt and leaves behind a layer of ceramic protection. This helps water to bead away and keeps your glass cleaner for longer. A superb choice of glass cleaner.

Autoglym Fast Glass

Simple, versatile and effective. Fast Glass delivers powerful cleaning while also being gentle enough for use on perspex, acrylic and plastic windows. You can also use it to remove wax and polish from trim. And on top of all that it’s very well-priced, too. A great-value glass cleaner that really delivers.

Check out our full guide to the best car glass cleaner.

Best Interior Detailer

Chipex Factory Finish Interior and Dashboard Cleaner

Easy to use, this interior detailer also delivers impressive performance. Factory Finish Interior and Dashboard Cleaner is solvent-free and safe to use on all surfaces. There’s no need to buff – simply spray and wipe to enjoy the satin finish and new car fragrance. Best of all, the anti-static formulation helps to repel dust, keeping your cabin cleaner for longer. An excellent interior detailer.

Buy Chipex Interior Cleaner.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Interior Detailer

A versatile and extremely effective interior detailer. Ultimate Interior Detailer is gentle enough to be used on all surfaces, including screens. It also boasts superior UV protection and Scotchgard protection. It cleans well and dries quickly and it’s a superb interior detailer.

Check out our full guide to the best interior detailer.

Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

Kärcher WD 2 Plus

Powerful, versatile and incredibly useful. The Kärcher WD 2 Plus is perfect for use at home and in your car. It can suck up liquids and has a 1.8-long flexible hose for getting into tight spots. The 1000W motor delivers powerful suction, and there’s a blower function too. It’s very well-priced, too, and it’s an excellent vacuum cleaner.

Bosch UniversalVac 18

This chunky handheld vacuum boasts loads of features. The UniversalVac 18 weighs just 1.3kg and offers a runtime of up to 18 minutes. It also has a generous 500ml dust container and no fewer than three nozzles and two extension hoses. It performs well and offers great value for money, making it a superb little vacuum.

Check out our full guide to the best car vacuum cleaners.

The post Best Detailing Products In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Getting a car audio amplifier is often considered the ‘Big Step’ in upgrading your car audio, powering subwoofers and the like. That’s when you graduate from high-power head units to something that requires a little more skill.

The biggest element of that ‘step up’ is undoubtedly the fitting. Even a small amplifier will require up to 20A of current draw from your electrical system and the wire to draw that needs to go through the car’s bulkhead. Installation requires skill, knowledge, the right tools and a rubber grommet.

Assuming you’ve got that under control though, how should you choose which amp to fit? Well, there’s looks, brand image, features, and power to think about, as well as possible upgrade paths. For most, the best upgrade is to simply get a second amplifier. They all look good in matched pairs! For the technical, as ever, we care most about the WATTS (power), then the current draw that high-wattage systems require. The features count will be about personal usefulness, so avoid paying for functions you won’t use.

Oh, and one final thought before we dive into the details: OEM is all about forty speakers and low power. Aftermarket kit is all about making you feel the music. The car speakers will have to handle your power, obviously, but the difference made by an aftermarket amp is simply massive.

So, enough with the intro. To get you started, here’s our guide to some of the best two channel car amplifiers, and why you might pick each one.

Best Two Channel Car Amplifiers

Alpine BBX-T600

RRP: $119.95. Buy it here.

A small but classic Class A/B amp, made as Alpine do best. The power supply to the output chips is a posh one for this price and is the MOSFET type. This makes for better, faster power delivery. As this may get used by the enthusiastic, there are also protection circuits making it harder to blow up. These include over-temperature protection methods, as well as over-voltage and over-current protection.

You also get RCA outputs – a higher-end feature. This means that you only need to run one RCA signal cord from the front. The signal goes into the amp, where a simple internal ‘Y’ lead circuit splits it. The signal can then transfer to another set of RCA sockets next to the inputs, allowing you to connect a shorter RCA cord to the second amp’s input (if you’re running the classic one amplifier for the speakers, and one for the bass, configuration).

Overall, the BBX-T600 is highly evolved, benefitting from Alpine’s decades of experience in making car amplifiers sing, under real world conditions. One final neat little feature is that there are two little LEDs on the end with the controls. The green one shows power and the other one in red is to indicate a protection circuit has kicked in. If the red one lights up, you need to check what’s gone wrong.

• Power Output: 4ohms 2 x 50W, 2ohms 2 x 70W, Bridged 4ohms 1 x 130W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 20A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 95dB
• Features Rich? Switchable 80Hz to 1.2kHz highpass filter or 50Hz to 250Hz lowpass filter: 0 to 12dB 45Hz Bass EQ, input 0.2V to 8V, RCA line output

Pioneer GM-A3702

RRP: $69.99. Buy it here.

Stripped down of features, this Pioneer amplifier offers a few more watts for your money – as evidenced by the extra five amperes of fusing. If you don’t need filters for building a system, this is perfect the perfect option, especially when bridged to drive a small subwoofer. The power rating used is the brilliant CEA2006 standard from the Consumer Electronics Association of America. There used to be such awful fibs in the USA on amplifier products’ boxes, and in fact, it’s still seen in the stupid thousands-and-thousands of watts amps found in the dodgier corners of the Internet. So, the US created a standard measurement. The UK has always used a serious RMS or ‘Root mean Square’ way of rating amplifiers honestly, but the fact that this one complies with CEA means that it’s a good system with believable claims.

Pioneer have always been great at making a lot of music for your money. They apply a slice of of real world thinking. This just means a good balance between power and sound quality for the money. Clean enough to rock, not so posh as to cost too much. Great bang for your buck from a legendary brand.

• Power Output: 4ohms 2 x 60W, 2ohms 2 x 95W, Bridged 4ohms 1 x 190W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 25A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 95dB
• Features Rich? Fixed switchable 80Hz lowpass filter and speaker or RCA input

JBL Stage A6002 (£117)

RRP: $104.95. Buy it here.

With the same RCA line input or speaker wire adapter loom as most, this doesn’t need an input power switch. You just plug in the music – speaker or RCA level – and adjust the gain. The A6002 has a slightly narrower breadth of voltages it is sensitive to, stopping at 5V, which is still big. Also, the signal to noise ratio is a slice lower than say, Alpine’s is. This is because JBL are being honest. They know you want to rock if you buy JBL entry-level stuff, rather than being a HiFi nutter. They have higher level products for that. This amplifier can squeeze more watts through the 20A fuse and feels like a lot of audio for the money. That it does so at the slight cost of some fidelity is less important than the weight of the bass.

What looks like two crossovers is just one. You choose with the switch, between highpass, or off, or lowpass and then set between 32Hz and 320Hz. A truly entry priced product, the versatility is still up there with the expensive amps. Like other models with this sort of crossover, arrangement, you could use two to run a sub-plus speakers system. Great value for money.

• Power Output: 4ohms 2 x 60W, 2ohms 2 x 70W, Bridged 4ohms 1 x 140W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 20A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 75dB
• Features Rich? Switchable 32Hz to 320Hz highpass/lowpass filter: 0 to 12dB 45Hz Bass EQ, input 0.5V to 5V

Hertz HCP2

RRP: $199.99. Buy it here.

A collision between the high end sound quality of a top end Class D amplifier and a degree of affordability. At a lower price than the JL offering and yet still with an impressive signal to noise ratio. Definitely a proper HiFi amplifier, although not as expensive as Morel’s (see below), you get a compact power house with the HCP2. To run it bridged in mono, you need to press the special button. Normally, you merely connect the speaker cable to just one terminal on each side. There is another button to leave pressed if you wish to use the auto turn-on feature.

The crossovers are cleverer than normal. Fact is, 80Hz is truly the best frequency to highpass. It is operated by the push-switch and is fixed, so if you pick highpass by the switch it will be at 80Hz. That means that all frequencies below 80Hz are cut off at that point. This is great for feeding your regular speakers. The lowpass function, meanwhile, works via a knob. It may be that you have a peak in bass as the cabin’s acoustics can boost the low tones, but careful adjustment of the lowpass frequency can control the subwoofer better. It’s a symptom of higher-end thinking. The bass boost is a bit blunt, though: fixed at 45Hz, you can choose to double it at 6dB, or quadruple it at 12dB.

• Power Output: 4ohms 2 x 65W, 2ohms 2 x 100W, Bridged 4ohms 1 x 200W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 40A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 103dB
• Features Rich? Switchable lowpass filter for 50Hz to 500Hz and switchable +6dB or +12dB Bass boost fixed at 50 Hz: Speaker or RCA input: RCA line output: Auto turn-on feature button

Playing cards for size reference.

JL Audio JL XD200/2v2

RRP: $449.99. Buy it here.

A true product of the new Class D high end amplifier scene. The small current draw and form-factor utterly belie the clean, muscular output of this little thing. Class D can be amazingly good if done right and that 104dB specified signal to noise ratio is astounding.

JL Audio call their Class D offering, ‘NexD’, as in next generation Class D – and it is fabulously clean and crisp. It does want a full fat 14V to work its best though. JL say this ultra-high-speed switching design allows for full bandwidth Class D and huge efficiency. This ‘v2’ version added the remote control knob socket for using one to drive say, a MicroSub with level control (See our subwoofer guide). Alternatively, the single crossover filter can be set to run the amp above the bass. Then it will play a set of full-range speakers louder, without the power-sapping lows. Again, you could run two; one bridged, on a two-channel amp wiring kit, to play a sub and separate speakers.

• Power Output: 4ohms 2 x 75W, 2ohms 2 x 100W, Bridged 4ohms 1 x 200W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 20A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 104dB
• Features Rich? Switchable 50Hz to 500Hz highpass and lowpass filter: Remote/Voltage offset/Signal input switch: RCA line outs and Remote level control wire socket

Morel MPS2.150 LTD

RRP: $899.00. Buy it here.

Called a Limited Edition, this is a typical Morel product. Sumptuous looking and beautifully badged. It is made to celebrate their 45th Anniversary. Expensive due to the fabulous levels of sophistication, this is true HiFi for the car. Look at the 111dB Signal to Noise Ratio. That means it is astonishingly fast and detailed. You can input via speaker level if you must but you’ll need an optional MPS-HL adapter. Morel reckon you’ll be using an RCA feed from a classy front end unit, though, so it’s not included.

Deceptively simple-looking, it comes set to run ‘High Current’ – optimized for 4ohms speakers, the purist route. You can reposition the two 15A fuses underneath to convert from High Current to High Power use, though. The 4ohm only method will give you fidelity and grip of the speakers that true audiophiles will appreciate. The High Power setting allows use of 2ohm loads.

This is the sort of car amp that has reviewers use words like ‘Airy’ and ‘Spacious’ when talking about music and how it feels. Morel brag about their Burr-Brown OPA2134 op-amps, the WIMA metalized film capacitors and the Sanken bi-polar output transistors. It’s next level stuff, as high quality as exists.

• Power Output: 4ohms 2 x 100W, 2ohms 2 x 150W, Bridged 4ohms 1 x 300W in High Current Mode
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 2x15A (verified in the warehouse after we called!)
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 111dB
• Features Rich? 40Hz to 220Hz lowpass filter: Selectable Voltage rail design: Remote/Voltage offset/Signal input switch: High/Low level input switch: independent level input for each channel: Stackable with included plates

The post Best Two Channel Car Amplifiers appeared first on Fast Car.

Let’s be real, even if you’re a detailing guru, cleaning out the interior of your car isn’t a fun job by any stretch of the imagination. It’s kinda like cleaning your room as a kid, except now, there isn’t a parent badgering you to make sure it gets done. And hey, I’m not one to point fingers, but some of you out there could still use the prod. You know who you are…

Anyway, with lingering clutter comes lingering smells, and that’s no fun for either you or your passengers. Heck, even if your car is spotless on the inside, it might still have a certain whiff to it. Maybe you own a dog, or maybe your car’s done one too many sweaty commutes home from the gym. Plus, if you’ve got an old, leaky ‘modern classic’, you might find it smells a bit damp too. If so, I feel your pain…

Whatever the case may be, there’s plenty of reasons why you might feel it’s time to invest in a car air freshener. But there are so many types and scents out there – where do you begin?!

Well, luckily, I’ve done the leg work for you. Of course, scent is subjective, but I’d like to think I’m able to discern good smells from bad – or at least know which brands (some well-known, and some a little more niche) are worth a go. Here’s a selection of some of the best car air fresheners on the market that you can buy today…

Best Car Air Fresheners

Little Trees

If someone says the phrase ‘car air freshener’, chances are you’ll picture a colored pine tree hanging from the rearview mirror. These Little Trees, or Magic Trees as they’re sometimes known over here in the UK, are without doubt the most well-known collection of car air fresheners. Quite the accolade, I know.

As you can imagine, there’s a huge number of variations to choose from. So to get an idea about which ones might be worth your money, and which you should stay away from, check out the video above.

Price: from $2.88 at Walmart. Buy Little Trees here.

Jelly Belly

A competitor in the mirror dangler market is Jelly Belly. Better known for its confectionary (remember those Beanboozled challenges on YouTube?), this American company produces air fresheners designed to replicate the smell of each type of jelly bean in its roster. Well, not the forfeit flavors, I should point out.

As such, you don’t have quite as much choice as you would with Little Trees, but there’s still a decent array of scents to pick from. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this might be the one for you.

Price: from $3.00 at Autozone. Buy Jelly Belly car air fresheners here.

Carfume

If you prefer a slightly more minimalist aesthetic, these Carfume air fresheners look pretty neat. A 2019 start-up, Carfume still only offers a handful of different scents.

These include ‘One Million’, which features “a leathery whitewood and cinnamon blend with rose, mandarin and peppermint”, while ‘Black Opal’ is “an intoxicating opium floral mix, with notes of Coffee, Vanilla, Musk and Patchouli.”

Pretty hipster, if you ask me. Which is probably why they’re a fair chunk more expensive than the two brands mentioned previously.

Price: from £9.40 on Amazon. Buy Carfume air fresheners here.

Yankee Candle

Ok, it might give off “Live, Laugh, Love” vibes, but there’s probably a good reason why Yankee Candle is so well-known in the scents industry.

These little jars of aroma should last you around 4 weeks, and there’s a selection of seven to choose from. Not a fan of that design? Then perhaps you could give their air vent attachments a go.

Price: from $5.44 at Walmart. Buy Yankee Candle car air fresheners here.

Febreze

If you’re the sort of person that gets distracted by a droopy dangler, fear not, as you don’t necessarily have to hang something from your interior mirror to keep your car smelling fresh.

Domestic cleaning company Febreze produces this, a car air freshener that attaches to your air vent with five stages of adjustable scent strength. You’ll need to keep topping it up, but refills should last you about 70 days.

Price: from $5.72 at Walmart. Buy Febreze car air fresheners here.

Saitoworks

What about if you want an air freshener that leans into your passion for cars? Well, Saitoworks is a lifestyle brand that caters for everyone with a love of modified Japanese cars, or even broader Japanese culture.

There’s a plethora of mirror-hanging air fresheners for you to cast your eyes over, with all sorts of cool cartoon-y designs and fruity scents. In fact, they even do sprays too.

RRP: $7.50 / £6.00. Buy Saitoworks air fresheners here.

Meguiars

Another spray-based car air freshener is that of Meguiars. Renowned for their detailing and cleaning products, you’d expect Meguiars to take stuff like this seriously, and they haven’t disappointed.

The Meguiars Air Re-Fresher is an aerosol which, when used in conjunction with your car’s AC recirculation, claims to *permanently* eradicate odors after just one use! Crikey.

RRP: $8.99. Buy Meguiar’s car air fresheners here.

Autoglym

Autoglym Autofresh is a spray-based air freshener too, designed to seep into and deodorize all the fabrics in your car’s carpets and upholstery.

The company suggests its effects are ‘long-lasting’ when used ‘sparingly’, which is helpfully vague. Still, a detailing brand as well-recognized as Autoglym should be reliable in this instance, so I reckon it’s worth a pop.

RRP: £10.49. Not available in the US. Buy Autoglym Autofresh here.

Stjärnagloss

You might not have heard of Stjärngloss before. However, this automotive detailing company produces some lovely scents that we’ve been lucky enough to try first-hand (these are Matt’s favorite air fresheners in the whole world).

The Stekare spray features real 24-karat gold flakes, and should last six months, even with daily use. Alternatively, the Skönhet spray is sprinkled with real flakes of silver. A bit OTT? Absolutely, but the results are great.

RRP: $25.00 / £20.00. Buy Stjarnagloss Gold Air here.

How to buy the best air freshener

Well, honestly, since this is largely down to personal taste, it’ll take some trial and error before you find your favorite scent. However, there are some less subjective criteria to think about too. Firstly, do you want something that clips into place on an air vent, or would you rather dangle it from your mirror? Do you want a spray that you can manually administer and top-up, or do you want a diffuser that over time needs replenishing?

Decisions, decisions…

How I picked the products

While I haven’t extensively tested every single one of the brands above, these are recommendations based on Fast Car’s experience and expertise in automotive circles.

The post Best Car Air Fresheners In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

When it comes to aftermarket suspension, it’s not simply a case of ‘one size fits all’. Instead, you’ll want to opt for a different set-up depending upon two things: A, which generation of Mazda RX-7 you own, and B, what your tuning goals are. So, without further ado, here’s the best Mazda RX-7 suspension that the aftermarket has to offer.

If you don’t own an RX-7 but are looking to upgrade the running gear of your own car, be sure to check out our guide to the best car suspension in 2023.

Best Suspension for Mazda RX-7 (FC)

What’s it like as Standard?

Although still a fun car to drive, the second gen ‘FC’ is arguably the least athletic RX-7 in its factory guise.

Aimed primarily at the American market, Mazda designed the FC to be more of a GT cruiser than a true B-Road specialist. As a result, it came with a number of suspension revisions compared to the original SA22 RX-7, though they weren’t to everyone’s liking.

The headline piece of tech was Mazda’s Dynamic Tracking Suspension System (DTSS), which adjusts the toe angle at each wheel depending on cornering force. The intention was to improve stability, though as a knock-on effect, it does reduce the amount of feel and feedback sent back to the driver.

Similarly, Auto Adjusting Suspension (AAS) was another new feature on the FC. This tech alters the damper settings in line with the road surface for an improved ride, but like DTSS, it also numbs the driving experience.

It wasn’t all bad news though. The original SA22 RX-7 had quite a twitchy rear end, but that was largely corrected in time for the FC by swapping its live axle for an independent rear suspension set-up instead.

The Best Street Suspension for a Mazda RX-7 FC

If you want the best results from a suspension upgrade, we’d suggest opting for a set of coilovers rather than lowering springs – if you’ve got the budget for it. This is because as well as getting that lower ride height, coilovers also present you with much more adjustability to get the balance right between comfort and performance. Whereas, with lowering springs, you’re locked into a firmer spring rate. It’s also worth noting that coilovers come with a spring rate that’s matched to the dampers as, after all, you’re buying the full package in one kit. With lowering springs, that’s not the case, and as result your ride quality may suffer.

The Best Coilover Options

One of the top coilover kits out there for the Mazda RX-7 FC is the ISR Performance Pro Series. These come with 32-way adjustable damping, a monotube design, and front pillowball mounts. ISR deemed its previous ‘basic’ coilover kit good enough for Formula Drift, but these Pro Series examples are a technological step up from those, suitable for both street and track use. You can order them direct from ISR for $925 (£756), though some online retailers sell them at a higher premium.

If you aren’t keen on ISRs, BC Racing is another hugely reputable brand that provide aftermarket coilovers for the FC. The entry-level BR kit is more capable than its pegging within BC Racing’s product hierarchy suggests, and as such costs a little bit more than the ISRs. You’re probably also paying a bit more for the brand name. You’ll have to spend $1284 (£1049) on the BR series kit, but as far as coilovers go, that’s still within the reasonably affordable bracket.

Our final top pick for street use is the HSD Monopro. They retail for $1024 (£845), however you can often pick them up for a bit less than that in a sale. At the time of writing, HSD will sell them to you directly for a reduced rate of $930 (£760). However, it’s worth noting that these HSDs only offer 16-stage damping adjustment, which is about half the amount of adjustment you get with either the ISR or BC Racing kits mentioned above.

The Best Circuit Suspension for a Mazda RX-7 FC

What if your FC RX-7 is a more specialized build though? A car destined for circuit use only, perhaps. Well, happily there’s plenty of hardcore performance-oriented coilover kits on the market that place less emphasis on road comfort for the sake of all-out handling gains on the track.

An example of the top end of this genre is Yellow Speed Racings’s Advanced Pro Plus kit. You can get them with either a 3-way ($3551/£2902) or 2-way ($2873/£2348) design, where the 3-way option adds the ability to adjust high-speed rebound (how quickly the vehicle rises after hitting a bump).

If you can’t quite make your budget stretch that far, D2 Racing will hook you up with some circuit-tailored coilovers for $1510 (£1234) instead. Don’t think the reduction in price is a sign that they’re no good either. D2 claims that this kit has been used to achieve more than 250 race victories at grassroots level, and they offer an impressive 36 stages of damping adjustment.

Suspension for Drifting and Drag Racing

But what if you don’t what to do track days or time attacks? Well, KSport’s got you covered. They’ll sell you coilover kits for the FC RX-7 designed for either road rallies or drag racing, each kit costing $1900 (£1553) to buy. Or, if you prefer going sideways, you can grab some drift-focused coilovers from them for $2050 (£1675).

TEIN also provide a drift coilover kit for the RX-7 at a slightly more affordable price ($1790/£1463). They come with 16-way adjustability, a twin-tube structure, pillowball upper mounts, and a pedigree of competing in D1 GP. Speaking of D1 GP, Yellow Speed Racing’s Dynamic Pro Drift coilovers were partially designed by triple Japanese drifting champion, Yoichi Imamura. A set of those will cost you $1900 (£1553) normally, but at the time of writing they’re on sale for just $1480 (£1209).

The Best Stance Suspension for a Mazda RX-7 FC

To get the lowest possible stance without committing yourself to a life of scraping every driveway and speed bump, air suspension is the way to go. These kits rely on air compressors to lower and raise the car, meaning that you can slam it right to the ground at a car meet, before lifting it back up again for the drive home.

The downside is that these things aren’t cheap. The most expensive air suspension we could find for the Mazda RX-7 FC was the KS Racing Premium Wireless kit. It comes packed with functionality including custom user pre-set ride heights, independent corner adjustment, ‘rise on start’, Bluetooth app control, and much more besides. The cost for all this tech? $6600 (£5393).

AirREX, meanwhile, will sell you a full kit for around $6000 (£5000) or you can pick up the struts alone without the management system for $2937 (£2400). Airdynamiks offer one of the most attainable air kits for the FC though, priced at $2340 (£1912) for the full suspension and management system, or $1500-$2000 for the struts alone, depending on spec.

For a cheaper alternative to air suspension, Yellow Speed sell a ‘Super Low’ coilover kit for $1325 (£1078). This will achieve an 80mm-130mm drop in ride height, but remember you can’t just flick a switch and raise your FC back up again for the journey home.

The Best Budget Options for a Mazda RX-7 FC

If times are a little tough and you don’t have masses of cash to splash on some new suspension, don’t worry too much. There are a number of options out there designed to cater to tighter budgets.

On the coilover end of the spectrum, you could opt for a set of FIVE8s for $705 (£574). However, be aware that these don’t come with any damping adjustability, and instead will be pre-set by the manufacturer. But hey, at least you know that the spring rate will definitely be correctly set-up for the damper (unlike with simple lowering springs).

If you don’t see the point in non-adjustable coilovers, fair enough. Lowering springs with set ride heights can also be sourced for the Mazda RX-7 FC that simply fit around the standard shocks. They’re much cheaper than coilovers. For example, well-respected Japanese brand TEIN offer FC lowering springs for just $192. Expect a ride height reduction of between 1-2 inches with those.

Peripheral Suspension Parts

Beyond the actual springs and dampers, there’s plenty other elements of the FC’s suspension that you can alter and upgrade.

If you’re after upgraded anti-roll bars to improve body stability through corners, Ultra Racing will provide them as well as a range of strut braces.

It may also be worth replacing any old worn rubber bushings with new polyurethane ones. In fact, speaking of bushings, JJLR Performance sell a DTSS delete kit for $175 (£142).

For a closer look at the best ways to modify your Mazda RX-7 FC, check out our dedicated tuning guide. Or, if you’re in the market for one, check out our buyer’s guide instead.

Best Suspension for Mazda RX-7 (FD)

What’s it like as Standard?

For many, the third gen ‘FD’ RX-7 was the peak of Mazda’s RX family tree. In fact, some might argue that it’s one of the best sports cars to ever come out of Japan, and a big part of that comes down to the way it handles.

Whereas the FC it replaced was quite soft by design, the FD restored the RX-7’s image as a true driver’s car. It was lighter, more powerful, and dialed in to attack apexes rather than glide over them. Its ride is by no means rough, but certainly gives more feedback than the FC.

From the factory, the FD RX-7 came equipped with independent double wishbone suspension at both the front and rear of its chassis.

The Best Street Suspension for a Mazda RX-7 FD

For street use, the golden standard is Ohlins’ Road & Track coilover kit. Priced at around $2000 (£1800), Ohlins R&T ensures that ride quality isn’t sacrificed in the name of performance gains on the road. In its standard guise it’ll be a marked improvement over the stock set-up, however if you really want something a bit more hardcore, this Ohlins kit can do that too. Making adjustments to the damper stiffness is quick and easy. For a more extreme performance-focused tune, all you have to do is turn the golden knob clockwise to put the coilovers into ‘race mode’. Then when you’ve had your fun and your back’s starting to ache, simply twist it back again for a comfortable drive home.

Alternatively, BC Racing provide an ER Series set of coilovers for the FD RX-7, which they market as their most advanced suspension technology yet. That kit will cost you around $2000 including VAT, but if you can’t afford those then BC Racing’s BR Series coilovers (as mentioned above in the FC segment) are also available for the FD.

The Best JDM Coilovers

HKS is a tuning brand that most Japanese car enthusiasts will be very familiar with, and naturally they supply a range of coilovers for the FD RX-7. The Hipermax S kit retails for $1750 (£1427), though if you’ve got a bit more cash to play with, the more advanced Hipermax R coilovers are worth a look. Those are priced at a more aspirational price point of $2680 (£2185) though.

Sticking with reputable Japanese brands, TEIN Mono Sport coilovers offer 16-way damper adjustability from a single-tube design. A full set of those costs around $1500 (£1300). Or, for a more comfort-focused ride (while still offering noticeable handling and ride height changes), you could grab some TEIN Flex Z twin-tube coilovers for just $986 (£804).

Finally, APEXi is a brand that’s well associated with the FD RX-7. In fact, when Yoichi Imamura won the 2003 D1 GP championship in an RX-7, he did so as part of the APEXi drift team. A set of APEXi N1 EXV coilovers represent a fairly attainable option, priced at $1044 (£851).

The Best Circuit Suspension for a Mazda RX-7 FD

Full-on track day and time attack builds require something a little more special though. Suspension which doesn’t give a damn about roadgoing ride quality, but instead focuses on extracting the best handling out of a car on a smooth closed circuit.

Nitron have pedigree in the grassroots motorsport scene, and with that pedigree comes both impressive tech and slightly daunting price tags. Their NTR R1 kit is a proven beast for the track, but it will cost you $3432 (£2798).

For about a grand less, BC Racing offer their ZR Series coilovers with 3-way adjustability, while KSport produce even cheaper options. Providing specialized kits for road rallies, drag racing, and drifting, you can pick up a set of KSports for $1615 (£1317) over at Redline360.com at the moment.

The Best Stance Suspension for a Mazda RX-7 FD

For a seriously low stance that won’t cripple your FD RX-7s usability, you’ll want a set of bags. AirREX sell a full air suspension kit (complete with digital management system) for north of $5000.

Or, for slightly less money, you could bag yourself a Stealth suspension package with Air Lift 3P management system. That combination is available for $4631 (£3748).

Of course, there are much cheaper ways to get a slammed look, and we’ll be covering those next…

The Best Budget Options for a Mazda RX-7 FD

As far as coilovers go, you don’t really want to be cheaping out on those. As a general rule, anything less than about $600 probably isn’t worth putting on your car, if you can even find kits at that price point for the FD RX-7.

However, that’s not to say that you have to spend four figures to get yourself a decent coilover kit. TEIN’s Street Advance Z set-up, for example, provides improved handling and a lower stance for $765 (£624).

Then we get to lowering springs. Whereas coilovers come with the springs and shocks combined in one package, lowering springs are just the springs, and thus have to sit around your car’s stock shocks. This raises a few downsides as we mentioned above when covering them for the FC RX-7, however if you’re really on a tight budget, you won’t get more bang for your buck with any other option.

H&R promises a 1-1.25 inch drop in ride height from its FD RX-7 lowering springs, which are priced at a comparative bargain ($258/£210). TEIN S-Tech springs should offer a similar lowering effect for even less ($204/£166). Or, if you’re concerned about the impact that non-adjustable lowering springs will have on your FD’s ride quality, you can opt for some TEIN High Techs. These only lower that car by 0.7-0.8 inches, and sell for the same price.

Peripheral Suspension Parts

In addition to simple springs and shocks, you’ll get the best handling results by upgrading other elements of your FD RX-7’s suspension too. Hardrace suspension arms, for example, allow for a wide range of camber, castor and toe adjustment. Plus, they come with rose jointed ends, removing any slop found in the standard ends which are rubber bushes.

That solution may be a bit overkill if you’re just doing fast road stuff though. If you’re not doing serious time attacks, you’d get favorable enough results simply by swapping the worn bushes out for polyurethane ones. Powerflex does full front and rear kits.

For a closer look at the best ways to modify your Mazda RX-7 FD, check out our dedicated tuning guide. Or, if you’re in the market for one, check out our buyer’s guide instead.

Geometry

Finally, it goes without saying that whichever generation of RX-7 you have, and whatever type of build you’re striving for, you should always get a geometry alignment carried out after installing new suspension parts or wheels & tires. Your average garage should be able to ensure that everything’s straight, but if you want to dial in some custom camber or toe set-ups, then head to your nearest specialist instead.

How to buy the best suspension for your RX-7

If you’re looking to upgrade your suspension, you first want to ask why. Do you just want the car to sit lower to the ground? Do you want height adjustability? Are you modifying a car for shows or for use on track? Which then leads on to questions about how often the car is driven on track, or how often it’s used on the road. Each scenario opens up a different avenue of suspension tuning. If you’re someone that’s after lower looks and aren’t bothered about improved handling, opting for a simple set of lowering springs will be all you need. For those looking for more performance but still predominantly drive on the road, you can look at both spring and damper upgrades, which could be a complete coilover kit.

Coilovers give you the ability to adjust the height, and in some cases, adjust high and low-speed compression rates as well as high and low-speed rebound and more. The more expensive the coilover kit, usually the more features it has. For most, the need for 3-way or even 4-way adjustable coilovers isn’t necessary, not unless you’re chasing lap times or even 1/4 mile runs.

Coilovers will offer more performance than a simple lowering spring, but with it can compromise comfort. The higher end products will be tailored towards track-day/motorsport applications. Air suspension on the other hand is a great option for those wanting more extreme lows without compromising usability on the road. With the ability to change the ride height at the flick of a switch, or tap of an app, it means you get the best of both worlds. What’s more, the latest air suspension kits from the likes of Air Lift Performance are more than capable of dealing with the odd track day here and there.

Why upgrade car suspension?

There are a number of reasons why someone may want to upgrade their car suspension. We mentioned a few above, such as if you intend to go on track in your car, or you simply just want to lower the ride height. But, someone may also be looking to upgrade simply to bring the car’s ride to modern standards. If you’re driving an older car (20 years+) it’s likely sitting on very tired suspension if its previous owners haven’t replace it over the years. Opting for an aftermarket option can not only be sometimes cheaper than OEM options (if they’re still available…) but they offer a far superior ride quality and handling.

While we haven’t focused on any lift kits above, those who like to take their vehicles off-road may want to lift the ride height completely, for more ground clearance. You won’t be able to do this with OEM suspension, you’ll have to visit the aftermarket.

Just make sure that the suspension you’re looking at buying directly fits onto your car.

For some extra background info on suspension, feel free to check out the following resources first:

• Guide to static suspension
• Guide to suspension mods
• Guide to hydraulic suspension
• Guide to air suspension

The post Best Suspension for Mazda RX-7 appeared first on Fast Car.

We understand the passion that drives car enthusiasts and know just what will get their engines revving. From high-performance gadgets to stylish accessories, our last-minute gift guide is designed to help you find that special something that will make their Christmas merry and bright.

Read on to discover some of the best last-minute stocking fillers for car fans!

Meguiar’s Ultimate Paint Glosser

Are you looking to give a gift that will truly make a car enthusiast’s heart race? Look no further than Meguiar’s Ultimate Paint Glosser! This incredible product is designed to enhance your car’s paint in ways you’ve never seen before. From boosting colour and saturation to reducing the appearance of swirls, this gloss enhancer is a game-changer.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Paint Glosser takes your car’s gloss and shine to a whole new level. By nourishing your paint, it turns up the colour saturation and enhances gloss, leaving your car looking as if it just rolled off the showroom floor. The clever ingredients in this spray polish work their magic, providing the results of a traditional liquid polish without excessive time and effort. It’s the perfect solution for car enthusiasts who crave a show-stopping shine without spending hours polishing.

One of the fantastic features of Meguiar’s Ultimate Paint Glosser is its ability to conceal light swirls and towel marks. We all know how frustrating it can be to notice those imperfections in your car’s paint, but this gloss enhancer has got you covered. With each application, it effectively hides those swirls, enhancing reflections and creating a flawless, mirror-like finish. Your car’s paint will appear seamless, and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Simply spray the product onto a microfiber towel and work it into the surface of your car. Use overlapping passes for even coverage without streaking or smearing. Flip the towel over to wipe off any excess, and voila! A dazzling, glossy finish awaits. It’s the perfect solution for quick and easy paint care, making it a fantastic gift for car fans who want outstanding results in no time.

Price: £19

Where to buy: Amazon

Auto Finesse Essentials Kit

This carefully curated kit is the ultimate solution for maintaining and enhancing the appearance of any beloved vehicle. The Auto Finesse 6-piece Essentials Kit is a comprehensive collection of car care essentials exclusive to Euro Car Parts, thoughtfully designed to cater to every aspect of your car’s upkeep. From cleaning the exterior to sprucing up the interior, this kit has it all. Say goodbye to rummaging through multiple products, as everything you need is conveniently gathered in one place. It’s a car enthusiast’s dream come true.

What’s in the kit?

The Lather Car Shampoo is the perfect starting point for any car cleaning session. Developed to be pH neutral, this shampoo effectively breaks away bonded contamination, leaving your vehicle spotless. It suds up quickly to create a lusciously thick foam that’s safe and effective on all exterior surfaces, including paintwork, vinyl wraps, plastics, rubber, and glass.

Imperial Wheel Cleaner is a powerful alloy wheel cleaner that takes the hassle out of cleaning those dirty, brake-dust-covered wheels. This powerful aqueous cleaning agent, degreaser, and brake dust remover effortlessly tackles the heaviest salt, road films, and harmful contamination.

Say goodbye to streaks, smears, and unsightly residue with the Crystal Glass Cleaner. Formulated specifically to cut through greasy films, water spots, drying marks, and fingerprints, this glass cleaner will leave your windows crystal clear.

For a quick and easy way to protect and enhance your car’s finish, look no further than the Glisten Spray Wax. This high-tech spray car wax offers four weeks of protection while providing a glossy, showroom-like shine.

Total Interior Cleaner is your go-to solution for deep, all-purpose interior cleaning. Designed to be safe for all surfaces, including sensitive plastics and Alcantara, this versatile cleaner leaves your car’s interior looking and feeling fresh.

No car care routine is complete without dressing the tires. The Gloss Tyre Dressing takes your tyres from dull to dazzling in an instant. This advanced silicone-based dressing offers a deep, wet look, elevating the appearance of your tires with minimal effort.

Get ready to turn heads wherever you go.

Price: £39.99

Where to buy: Euro Car Parts

MMR Performance BMW F2x and F3x bush inserts

Know a modern BMW owner? Then this one is for them! MMR Performance is offering two crucial handling upgrades that will improve the stability and performance of any F2x and F3x model – Billet Differential Inserts and Billet Subframe Inserts.

Designed and engineered in-house in the UK, these MMR Performance upgrade kits are specifically designed to limit movement in the factory differential and subframe mounts of the BMW F2x and F3x chassis. By filling small voids in the factory mounts and restricting vertical movement, these billet aluminium inserts eliminate unwanted slop and maintain proper suspension geometry, resulting in a more refined and connected driving experience.

Installation of these MMR Performance upgrades is a breeze and can be completed in under an hour, making it an ideal last-minute Christmas gift for any car enthusiast. Not only that, but the installation is completely reversible, allowing the recipient to remove the inserts if desired without any lasting effects.

One of the key benefits of the Billet Differential Inserts and Billet Subframe Inserts is their ability to improve the responsiveness of the rear suspension and differential. The rubber mounts used in the BMW F2x and F3x series can often deflect under load, leading to a vague and loose rear-end feel, compromised suspension geometry, and increased understeer. But with the MMR Performance inserts, these issues are addressed, ensuring optimal performance in various driving conditions.

So why wait? Gift the gift of enhanced handling and performance this Christmas with MMR Performance Billet Differential Inserts and Billet Subframe Inserts. Help your loved ones maintain correct suspension geometry, improve responsiveness, and elevate their driving experience to new heights.

Price: from £119.99

Where to buy: MMR Performance

Motul performance lubricants and fluids

When it comes to the world of high-performance cars, every detail matters. From engine performance to braking efficiency and smooth gear shifting, every component plays a crucial role in delivering an exhilarating driving experience. That’s why Club Motul‘s range of performance lubricants makes the perfect Christmas gift for any petrolhead.

The Motul ‘performance’ collection includes three outstanding products that cater to different aspects of your car’s performance. Motul 300V Power 5w-30 engine oil meets the demands of high-performance engines thanks to its special formulation. No matter the spec, Motul 300V provides the lubrication and protection your engine needs to unleash its full potential.

The kit also includes Motul RBF 660 brake fluid. As any racing enthusiast knows, braking performance is of utmost importance on the track. RBF600 delivers optimal braking power even under extreme racing conditions.

The third product in the performance trilogy is Motul Gear 300 75w-90. Designed for high-performance cars equipped with mechanical transmissions, hypoid differentials, and transfer gearboxes, Gear 300 75W-90 provides unrivalled protection and efficiency.

Fast Car 10% Discount

Ready to gift the car enthusiast in your life the ultimate performance upgrade? Don’t miss the chance to take advantage of our exclusive 10% discount until 31st January with the code “FASTCAR10“.

All products are available to purchase separately, allowing you to tailor your gift to your loved one’s specific needs. Give the gift of top-tier lubrication with Club Motul Performance Lubricants.

Price: from £15.99

Where to buy: Club Motul

Power Delivery Module by RacingLine

One of the most exciting gift ideas for car enthusiasts this Christmas is the Power Delivery Module (PDM) from RacingLine. This powerful tool allows car enthusiasts to flash RacingLine Performance Software themselves, putting the power of customisation into their hands. The only snag is they won’t be able to open it on Christmas Day, as the product is due for official launch in the New Year. But it’s worth waiting a few weeks to be one of the first to enjoy this fantastic new technology when it is released!

With the RacingLine PDM Tuning Portal, accessing a performance software suite has never been easier. From stock tuning to Stage 1, 1-plus, 2, and 3 (where available), TCU transmission tuning, and different fuel options, the flashing process is simple and user-friendly. The module also allows owners to easily return to stock settings if desired.

Multiple uses

What makes the RacingLine PDM even more impressive is its versatility. Once purchased, the module can be used for any applicable vehicle. By working against the vehicle’s VIN number, users can utilise the PDM multiple times. This means that if you want to flash RacingLine Software onto your friend or family member’s car, all you need to do is purchase the relevant file and Racing Line will enable that VIN on their server.

To start using the RacingLine PDM, users will receive their own credentials via email, providing access to the software portal. This level of personalised access ensures a smooth and secure experience while flashing software onto your vehicle or others.

So, if you’re looking for a last-minute Christmas gift that will truly excite any car fan, the RacingLine Power Delivery Module is an excellent choice. With its ability to enhance performance and offer easy customization options, it will surely be a gift they remember for years to come. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to give the gift of power and performance this holiday season!

Price: £150

Where to buy: RacingLine

AlcoSense Elite 3 Breathalyzer

If you are looking for a last-minute Christmas gift that combines practicality and safety, then the AlcoSense Elite 3 Breathalyzer is the perfect choice. This advanced breathalyzer is designed to deliver accurate and reliable results every time, making it an essential tool for responsible driving.

The Elite 3 is the latest model from AlcoSense, a trusted and award-winning brand known for its high-quality breathalyzers. It features a state-of-the-art semi-conductor sensor that can measure alcohol levels in your breath with precision and consistency. Whether you want to check your alcohol level before getting behind the wheel or monitor your drinking habits for health reasons, this device has got you covered.

Not only is the AlcoSense Elite 3 highly accurate, but it is also incredibly user-friendly. Its one-button operation guides you through the testing process with audible and visual cues, making it easy to use even for those who are not tech-savvy. Additionally, the device features a smart self-calibration system that automatically adjusts the sensor for optimal performance every time you turn it on.

Give the gift of responsible and safe driving this Christmas with the AlcoSense Elite 3 Breathalyzer. Whether it’s for your loved ones or yourself, this advanced breathalyzer is a practical and thoughtful gift that will help keep car enthusiasts safe on the road. Order yours today and provide the gift of peace of mind this holiday season.

Price: £69.99

Where to Buy: AlcoSense

Fast Car Entertainment Shows

Picture this: the roar of engines, the smell of burnt rubber, and the exhilarating atmosphere of a bustling car event. Now imagine giving that experience to the car fanatic in your life. Fast Car Entertainment events are the epitome of automotive excitement, and they make the perfect gift for any car enthusiast.

By gifting tickets to one of the Fast Car Entertainment events, you’re not just giving them a day out – you’re giving them an opportunity to immerse themselves in a world of high-performance vehicles, jaw-dropping displays, and like-minded individuals who share the same passion for cars.

Shows for all petrolheads

Whether they’re a die-hard JDM lover, a Ford aficionado, or simply appreciate all things German, our range of events has got it all. We have a huge selection of shows at prestigious venues such as the picturesque Mallory Park in Leicestershire, the nostalgic Goodwood circuit in Chichester, or the home of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. Our events include JapFest, VWt Festival, Ford Fair, TRAX, Ford Fest, German Car Festival, and Classic JapFest, so no matter what make and model of cars your loved one is interested in, there’s a show they’ll love!

Fast Car Entertainment events are not just about looking at cars; they’re about being a part of a vibrant car community. Your car enthusiast friend or family member will have the opportunity to meet fellow car lovers, talk shop, make new connections, and even get inspiration for their own projects. It’s an experience that they will treasure for years to come.

So, why not treat the car fan in your life to a ticket to one of the highly-anticipated Fast Car Entertainment events?

Book before December 31^st and you’ll enjoy the biggest discounts from our Early Bird offer. It’s an excellent last-minute Christmas gift idea!

Price: from £15

Where to buy: Fast Car Entertainment Events

Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour

If you’re searching for the perfect gift for the car enthusiast in your life, we’ve got just the thing. Introducing Gtechniq’s C5 Wheel Armour. Wheels are an integral part of any car, and keeping them in pristine condition is crucial. With C5 Wheel Armour, you can provide unbeatable protection for those hard-earned rims, ensuring they stay looking their best for years to come.

What sets C5 Wheel Armour apart from the rest is its ease of application. While other protective coatings can be cumbersome and time-consuming, C5 Wheel Armour makes the process a breeze.

But why is it so important to protect your wheels?

Well, not only do they add to the overall aesthetic appeal of your car, but they also endure a great deal of wear and tear on the road. Brake dust, road grime, and harmful contaminants can accumulate on your wheels, making them difficult to clean and potentially damaging the finish over time. This is where C5 Wheel Armour comes in.

Gtechniq’s C5 Wheel Armour forms a durable and long-lasting protective layer on the wheel surface. It works on all common wheel types, including powder-coated, diamond-cut, chrome, and polished alloy. By forming a chemical bond with the wheel surface, C5 Wheel Armour creates a barrier between the wheels and contaminants, repelling brake dust and preventing it from sticking. This not only keeps your wheels cleaner for longer but also makes maintenance a breeze.

But C5 Wheel Armour doesn’t stop at just protecting your wheels. With the ability to withstand high temperatures over 600°C, it’s also suitable for use on brake callipers, ensuring they stay looking sharp. Some car owners have even used it on their exhaust tailpipes to make cleaning off stubborn carbon deposits a walk in the park.

When it comes to protecting your investment, Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour is the go-to solution for car enthusiasts who take pride in their wheels. With its easy application, unbeatable protection, and versatility, it’s a gift that any car fan will appreciate. So why wait? Give the gift of long-lasting wheel protection this Christmas and make those rims shine like never before!

Price: from £18.75

Where to buy: Gtechniq

TopScan OBD Scanner

Looking for the ultimate gift for the car enthusiast who loves to get their hands dirty under the bonnet? Look no further than the TopScan OBD scanner from Topdon. This pocket-sized tool packs a punch, transforming your phone into a powerful scan tool that goes beyond basic diagnostics. It’s the perfect gift for car fans who want to take their car knowledge to the next level.

The TopScan OBD scanner connects to the OBD2 port of any vehicle and seamlessly communicates with the TopScan app on your phone. From reading and clearing fault codes for all systems to providing a wealth of diagnostic information, this gadget is a game-changer. Whether they’re dealing with engine issues, transmission troubles, or ABS complications, the TopScan OBD scanner has got them covered.

Bidirectional control

But that’s not all. The TopScan OBD scanner also offers bidirectional control, giving users the ability to access vehicle-specific subsystems and component parts. Need to test your fuel injectors or diagnose a faulty window motor? Simply connect the TopScan OBD scanner and take control. It’s like having a personal automotive technician at your fingertips.

This incredible device also features 8 reset functions for commonly used maintenance services. Need to perform an oil reset or reset your steering angle? The TopScan OBD scanner has got you covered.

Designed for both DIY enthusiasts and professional technicians, the TopScan OBD scanner is a revolutionary product that is a must-have tool for any car fan who wants to take control of their car’s diagnostics. So, why not gift them the power to unlock their car’s potential this Christmas with the TopScan OBD scanner?

Price: £59.39

Where to Buy: Amazon

The post Last Minute Christmas Gifts for Car Fans appeared first on Fast Car.

Over time, plastic headlight lenses turn yellow and cloudy. This is caused by the original factory UV protection wearing off, allowing UV light to cause oxidation. Not only do cloudy headlight lenses ruin the appearance of your car, but they also reduce light output. Choosing the right kit is tricky, though, as there are so many available. Some are designed to be used by hand, and some make life easier with drill attachments. It’s also essential that you seal your headlights afterwards to prevent them from turning cloudy again. Here’s our pick of the best headlight restoration kits. For more detailing tips, be sure to check out our guide on what is car detailing.

Best Headlight Restoration Kit In 2024

Meguiar’s Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit

RRP: $21.24/£32.49, buy now.

This offering from Meguiar’s foregoes the need for a drill, relying on elbow grease to get results, and it does. The first stage involves using the cleaning solution with one of the supplied cleaning pads to remove the layer of oxidation. Once that’s done, you spray on the supplied headlight coating, and that’s it. Your headlights will now be protected and remain clear for up to one year. The only negative is that if you want to use your drill to make life easier, there’s no backing plate supplied. That’s a minor point though, as it’s extremely effective applied by hand. This is an excellent kit that works very well and is very easy to recommend.

Turtle Wax Headlight Cleaner And Sealant

Size: 300ml
RRP: $19.44/£6.50, buy now.

If you want something cheap, cheerful and easy to use, then look no further. The only all-in-one on our list, Turtle Wax’s offering is perfect if want something that works with minimum fuss. There’s no kit here, just a bright green bottle, so you have to use your own cloths. You simply pour some of the solution onto a cloth or applicator pad, then rub it over the headlight. It removes yellow surface oxidation, leaving behind a protective layer to prevent future yellowing. Simply buff the headlight lens, and it’s job done. Of course, it does require a bit of effort to get results. And it’s not as effective as the more aggressive kits. However, it’s superb value for money and so simple to use that you can’t go wrong.

Armor All Headlight Restoration Wipes

RRP: $11.98/£11.99, buy now.

Where most restoration kits involve sanding off the layer of oxidation, the Armor All wipes take a different approach. The wipes are impregnated with a strong chemical that strips the yellow layer off. You just need to rub them across the surface of your headlights, and the oxidation will come off. Then you use the sealant wipe to apply a layer of long-lasting UV protection to keep your headlights clear. The Armor All wipes work well, though they aren’t as effective as full-on polishing kits. However, for the money, minimum effort and sheer simplicity, they are really good.

Autoglym Headlight Restoration Complete Kit

Size: 100ml
RRP: £34.49 (not available in the US), buy now.

There’s a good reason this is called a complete kit, and Autoglym wasn’t messing around with this one. With eight components in total, this is a very comprehensive kit that’s been designed to get results. Designed to work with any electric drill, the Autoglym kit quickly gets your headlights looking like new. It comes with a headlight restoration compound, a drill backing plate and four different grades of sanding discs and pads. These allow you to progressively refine the finish to get the best possible results. The only downside is there’s no sealant included, meaning you have to apply your own UV protection. But apart from that, it’s a very impressive headlight restoration kit.

Quixx Headlight Restoration Kit

RRP: £15.02 (not available in the US), buy now.

This German kit is another one designed for hand application, and it comes with all the gear. You get plastic polish, three different sandpaper grades, a sanding block and polishing cloths. Elbow grease is required, but you get an excellent finish thanks to the progressively finer grades of sandpaper. The sanding block makes life easier, and the polishing compound prepares the headlights for sealing. Usefully, you also get a tube of that, ensuring all your hard work does not go to waste. This kit is definitely a little more involved, but the results are well worth the effort.

Holts Headlight Restoration Kit

RRP: £22.99 (not available in the US), buy now.

The Holts kit is the most comprehensive drill-based one on our list. You get an electric drill backing plate, four grades of sandpaper, headlight polish and a polishing pad. The drill attachment means you don’t need a lot of effort, and the various polishing components really get results. You just have to keep the headlight surface wet while using the sanding discs to avoid burning it. Once you’re happy with the finish, the included sealant will ensure your perfectly polished headlights are protected. This kit performs really well and is well worth a look.

Now you know the best products on the market, be sure to check out our step by step guide on how to clean car headlights.

The post Best Headlight Restoration Kit In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Air is just as important for the health and performance of your car, as it is for you. So, do your RX-7 a favor and keep on top of its air filter. There’s a lot of uncertainty about the true merit of air filters as a performance upgrade, but given the age of these cars, a fresh one will inevitably be positive.

So, if you want to get your RX-7 breathing better than ever, here are some of the top aftermarket options on the market…

Best Air Filter for the Mazda RX-7 FC

Replacement Panel Filters

The FC RX-7 comes with a panel filter as standard, and as such, replacing that dusty old one with a new high-performance panel is super simple. All you have to do is remove the old one from the car’s air box, and place the new filter in its place. Job done!

The idea behind performance panel air filters is that they’ll do better at collecting contaminants, while also improving air flow. And as air is crucial to power, this is meant to improve your car’s performance. However, the reality is that any gains are likely to be minimal at best. Still, it’s a good idea to keep on top of the quality of your car’s air filter, as you don’t want hot or dirty air getting into the mix. K&N are often the go-to air filter brand, and as an added bonus, their products are washable, meaning that if the filter gets dirty you can clean it and re-use it. HKS’s Super Air Filter ($36) is a much cheaper alternative.

Cone Filters

Open-air cone filters replace the standard air box and panel filter. Visually, they look a bit more sporty in the engine bay, and theoretically the filter’s larger surface area should back that identity up. However, it’s worth noting that an open-air cone filter will be exposed to higher engine bay temperatures, compared to a panel filter tucked away in its airbox. And unfortunately, hot air is detrimental to performance. Ensuring good cold air flow into the engine bay is therefore vital if you want to run a cone filter.

A popular example of this for the RX-7 FC is the APEXi Power Intake ($69).

Closed Cold Air Induction Kits

To take things to the next level, you might want to invest in a full-on induction kit replacement, rather than a simple air filter replacement. Before you do that though, make sure to read our induction kit guide.

AutoExe produces a Ram Air kit for the FC-gen RX-7 (and the FD too, actually). If you want the FC-spec one, it’ll cost you $477.

Best Air Filter for the Mazda RX-7 FD

Replacement Panel Filters

Like the FC (and most cars, for that matter), the FD RX-7 runs a panel filter as standard. So, replacing the old one with a high-flow panel is super easy.

The HKS Super Air Filter ($25.80) is a good value option, while another popular alternative is the K&N washable & reusable panel.

Cone Filters

Want the more eye-catching look of a cone filter? The APEXi Power Intake ($56.00) is one to consider.

Serious trackday drivers might be interested in a couple of HKS products too. The Super Power Flow ($290.18) intake and Racing Suction Kit ($550.59) are slightly odd looking parts, but claim to increase air intake surface area by 27%.

When weighing up which sort of replacement filter to go for, there are certain form vs function factors to consider. So, be sure to read our panel vs cone guide!

Closed Cold Air Induction Kits

To take things to the next level, you might want to invest in a full-on induction kit replacement, rather than a simple air filter replacement. Before you do that though, make sure to read our induction kit guide.

AutoExe produces a Ram Air kit for the FD-gen RX-7, but at $744 it’s quite an investment. For the money, you get significantly improved airflow, filtration, and engine response, while the carbon airbox will be a nice visual addition the car’s engine bay. Oh, and expect some added induction noise too.

Pop-Up Headlight Duct

Although admittedly not an air filter per se, the KSP ATTAIN pop-up headlight duct is another sort of performance upgrade you could opt for to aid your car’s intake flow. And, as an added draw, it’s got a certain visual quality too.

The idea is that air will flow through the small duct in the headlight casing, towards the intake. KSP suggests that cone filters mounted near the lights will benefit the most from such a design, as it’ll ensure they receive cold air despite being without an airbox.

A headlight duct for the FC RX-7 is priced at $106, whereas the FD part is a little more expensive ($124). Alternatively, Fujita Engineering produces a similar product for the FD for $141.

Looking for Mazda RX-7 content? Try these:

• Mazda RX-7 Tuning Guide
• Best Wheels for a Mazda RX-7
• Best Exhaust for a Mazda RX-7
• Best Suspension for a Mazda RX-7

The post Best Air Filter for a Mazda RX-7 appeared first on Fast Car.

There’s more to it than just vacuuming your carpets when it comes to cleaning your car’s interior. The various surfaces, like the dash and doors, get dirty and dusty. And, while you can use generic products, a dedicated interior detailer will make your life much easier. Our guide will help you pick the best interior detailer. Give our introductory guide a read if your looking to find out more about what car detailing is in general.

How I chose these products

Although I haven’t tested each and every one of these products first-hand, I’m a keen car detailer myself. As such, I know which brands are worth your time, and which traits are important to have in a good interior detailer solution.

Best Interior Detailer In 2024

Chemical Guys Total Interior Cleaner

Size: 16oz / 473ml
RRP: $17.99 / £15.99. Buy Chemical Guys cleaner here.

Chemical Guys Total Interior Cleaner is capable of effectively removing dirt and grime from various elements of your interior as well as protecting it. You can use the stuff on virtually everything in the cabin, from the dashboard to door panels, carpets, seats (both leather and fabric), steering wheel and more.

It protects by using a UV blocker in the formula, this stops plastics from fading and cracking over time. Additionally, the product is environmentally friendly and biodegradable, making it a safe choice for those who care about the environment. Overall, Chemical Guys Interior Cleaner is a reliable and effective solution for maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of a vehicle’s interior.

Meguiar’s Ultimate Interior Detailer

Size: 450ml
RRP:  $10 / £14. Buy Meguiar’s cleaner here.

Meguiar’s has a lot of interior products to choose from, but I can’t ignore one called Ultimate. Ultimate Interior Detailer has been designed to be used on all interior surfaces. You can spray it on your doors and dash, your center console, and even screens. The non-greasy formula cleans quickly and effectively. Ultimate Interior Detailer has superior UV protection to keep your interior looking cleaner for longer and now features Scotchgard protection. It dries quickly and leaves you with a smart, satin finish. You can’t go wrong with Meguiar’s Ultimate Interior Detailer.

Chipex Factory Finish Interior and Dashboard Cleaner

Size: 500ml
RRP: $32.95 / £12.95. Buy Chipex cleaner here.

Chipex might be better known for its touch-up paint, but it also produces car care products. We’re big fans of its Factory Finish Interior and Dashboard Cleaner, and it’s a great detailer. Naturally, it excels at removing dust, dirt and contaminants. It’s also solvent-free and safe to use on all surfaces. Application is super-easy, too – simply spray and wipe, and there’s no need to buff. It leaves a satin finish and has a fresh new car fragrance. But our favorite thing is the anti-static formulation that repels dust and keeps your interior cleaner for longer. It’s an excellent interior detailer and one that’s definitely worth checking out.

Autoglym Interior Shampoo

Size: 500ml
RRP: $14 / £10. Buy Autoglym cleaner here

Autoglym Interior Shampoo is an extremely versatile interior detailer. It’s safe to use on all interior fabrics and hard surfaces. You can use it on your doors, dashboard, switches, and pedals, as well as mats and headlining. It quickly and easily cuts through dirt and grime, leaving you with a fresh, clean smell. The low-foam formula is easy to apply and wipe off, and it makes cleaning your interior a breeze. Autoglym Interior Shampoo is a great detailer that performs very well, and it’s a great choice.

Auto Finesse Spritz

Size: 500ml, 1 liter, 5 liters
RRP: $17.95 / £9.95. Buy Auto Finesse cleaner here

Auto Finesse Spritz delivers in a big way and ticks all the boxes. It lightly cleans and protects plastics and vinyl in one step. It features a water-based formula that’s easy to use, quickly getting your interior surfaces clean. UV inhibitors protect against fading, while the anti-static formula keeps your interior cleaner for longer. It gives surfaces a matt finish and leaves you with a gorgeous scent as the finishing touch. Auto Finesse Spritz is an excellent interior detailer, and it’s a great buy.

303 Interior Cleaner

Size: 473ml
RRP: $25 / £10. Buy 303 cleaner here.

303 Interior Cleaner is another interior detailer that does everything you need in one bottle. It’s tough enough to tackle stubborn stains, lifting dirt away from the surface. Its formula will also help repel dirt and dust to keep your cabin cleaner for longer. But it’s also gentle enough to be used on any surface. 303 Interior Cleaner will happily clean vinyl and plastic, rubber, fabrics and upholstery, and even leather. You can use it on your carpets, LCD screens, and interior glass, too. It leaves no residue and has a lovely fresh scent as well. It’s a superb detailer that does everything well and is definitely worth a look.

Now you know the best interior detailers, check out our step by step guide on how to clean your car’s interior.

The post Best Interior Detailer In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

Often, the car’s exhaust is one of the earliest parts that enthusiasts choose to modify, and for good reason. Quite simply, you get a lot of bang (and sometimes pops) for your buck. Plus, not only will it drastically change how your car sounds, but there’s also some extra horsepower to be found if you choose your exhaust system wisely.

From the factory, older generations of the Honda Civic Type R had a pretty unique exhaust note thanks to their VTEC-equipped, naturally aspirated engines. Some people love the resulting sound, whereas others… don’t. Either way, the introduction of a turbocharger in the mid-2010s lowered the car’s signature high rev limit somewhat, giving it a less controversial (but also slightly less entertaining) exhaust note.

Whichever generation of Civic you have though, you can certainly enhance the way it sounds. The parts aftermarket for these cars is huge, so there’s no end of performance exhausts available. Here’s a selection of our favorites.

Best Exhaust for a Honda Civic Type R EK9

What’s it like as standard?

The Mk1 Honda Civic Type R (or ‘EK9’ to us nerds) was a major turning point for the perception of Honda as a performance brand. Although it looked like a humble grocery-getter hatchback, this pumped-up Civic was lighter, stronger, and much more powerful than your regular family runabout.

Amongst the car’s many desirable features, its party trick was undoubtedly its engine – the B16B. Used solely in this model, the B16B offered us our first glimpse at Honda’s now-renowned VTEC variable valve timing & lift control. Effectively, once the car reached a certain point in the rev range (in this case, 6,100rpm), its ECU would increase the level of valve lift, which in short equals more power.

This, coupled with the fact that the B16B was a naturally aspirated engine, meant that the EK9 Type R was blessed with an easily recognizable high-pitched exhaust note, accentuated by a noticeable change in character when VTEC kicks in.

Given that the EK9 was only sold in Japan in limited numbers, they’re quite tricky to get your hands on. However, if you’re in the market for one, be sure to check out our buying and tuning guides for the car.

Spoon

If you want to extract more performance from your Honda, Spoon is probably the first aftermarket company you should consider. This renowned performance tuner has been a Honda specialist for decades, ensuring to test each of their parts in actual races in Japan’s Super Taikyu motorsport series.

As far as street exhaust upgrades go for the EK9, you’ve got two main options – and actually, they’re fairly conservative by design. Whereas most of the exhausts we’ll feature in this article are cat-back systems, the Spoon N1 muffler ($710) is exactly that – just a muffler. You might also hear these referred to as ‘axle-back’ systems, as instead of including much of the pipework that runs down the length of the car, this package solely contains the rear muffler, which fits into place after the rear axle.

Admittedly, that does reduce the maximum potential for performance and sounds gains, but let’s not forget, the EK9 was a very specialized car to begin with. I mean, Honda even built it at Suzuka race circuit. As such, these Spoon mufflers enhance the sound of what was an already commendable bit of performance kit from the factory. Plus, by not having to fork out for a full exhaust system, you’re able to get your hands on premium Spoon parts without breaking the bank.

The N1 is the option to go for if you want the best sound possible from a muffler upgrade alone, while there’s also a ‘street’ variant ($928) for slightly more sociable sound gains. That said, if you do want to go all-out, Spoon does provide other elements of the EK9’s exhaust system separately. Check out their catalogue, here.

5zigen

You’ll do well to find an exhaust system with a more hyperbolic name than the 5zigen Miracle Fireball. However, don’t let that distract you from the fact that this 5zigen exhaust is actually pretty impressive.

The Miracle Fireball ($921) is a cat-back exhaust system, meaning you won’t fail any emissions tests. Plus, as it’s built from 1mm-thick stainless steel, 5zigen claims that it typically weighs about half that of the OEM equivalent on most of the cars they supply it for.

Finally, you also get a straightened pipe design, designed to aid the flow of exhaust gases, reduce back-pressure, and enhance performance. That straighter design is also good for sound quality, as you can hear for yourself in the video above.

J’s Racing

J’s Racing isn’t a brand that the average car enthusiast will have heard of, but for the JDM afficionados out there, it’s likely to spark a bit of excitement. This tuning house is a Honda specialist that made a name for itself on the Japanese automotive show, ‘Best MOTORing Hot-Version’. The show ran a long-standing touge battle competition between different tuners, J’s Racing being one of them.

Some of – if not the – most iconic cars to come from those televised touge battles were the J’s Racing Honda S2000s. In particular, one build became so well known that it earned its own intimidating nickname: ‘Demon King’. Featuring an extreme widebody and equally eye-catching livery, the car stood out not only for its looks, but also its serious pace.

Anyway, as you can gather from their presence on that show, J’s Racing is a formidable aftermarket performance brand. One of the exhausts that they provide for the EK9 Type R is the R304 SUS Exhaust 60RS ($641). Again, it’s a cat-back design, so is perfectly road-legal, and can even be spec’d with an additional inner silencer to keep things fairly toned down.

The exhaust system is stainless steel and only weighs 7.4kg, though it comes finished in a titanium-effect coating for a more exotic look.

Best Exhaust for a Honda Civic Type R EP3

What’s it like as standard?

The second generation of Honda Civic Type R, the ‘EP3’ was the first to officially be sold in Europe. However, any European Honda fans hoping to get a taste of the old EK9’s B16B engine would be left disappointed.

The new century heralded a new family of engines for Honda’s Civic model line-up, meaning that the B16B was out in favor of the new K20A. The new engine was still a high-revving four-cylinder though, so much of the Civic Type R’s core personality remained. In fact, over time, tuners came to love the K20 architecture just as much as the outgoing B16B.

Sound-wise, the EP3 offers plenty of the high-pitched magic that people associated with the EK9, though the crossover into the ‘VTEC Zone’ isn’t quite as pronounced. You’ll certainly still notice it though!

At the moment, EP3 Civics are still reasonably attainable, so if you’re in the market for one, be sure to read our buying and tuning guides.

Tegiwa x Milltek

The first exhaust system on our EP3 shortlist is the Tegiwa x Milltek cat-back ($867/£713), which Milltek constructs from T304L (a highly durable type of stainless steel). It features a 3-inch diameter pipe, which helps to provide commendable sound and performance enhancements.

Click the video above to hear the set-up for yourself. The folks at Milltek also provide a full run-down of the exhaust system’s dyno performance compared to stock – well worth a watch if you’re interested in how the product can make your EP3 quicker, as well as sound better.

Cobra Sport

Given that the UK & Europe was the primary market for the EP3-gen Civic Type R, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are multiple British tuners (like Milltek) that offer upgraded exhausts for it. Cobra Sport is another one.

The road-legal Cobra cat-back system ($700/£575) is a little more restrictive compared to the Tegiwa x Milltek, given that its pipe diameter is half an inch smaller. That said, it still offers sound and performance increases over the stock OEM part, and costs less than the Milltek system.

There’s an element of customizability about the Cobra exhaust too. As standard it comes with a circular tailpipe, but for around $50/£40 extra, you can specify it with an oval exit as seen in the video above.

HKS

If this Japanese hot hatch’s Swindon production line was already a little too UK-centric for you, then how about an exhaust system from HKS to inject some JDM magic back into it?

The HKS Hi-Power exhaust ($949/£840) is a tried and tested product that’s proven popular across multiple performance cars over the past couple of decades. Its straighter pipework allows for improved gas flow, equating to horsepower gains at higher rpm. The system also comes with an inner silencer, but you can remove it if you want to experiment with the sound.

To keep costs down, HKS only uses SUS304 stainless steel to construct the backbox, whereas the rest of the pipework underneath the car is formed from a milder type of steel. Due to the different densities of the material, this has a slight effect on the way that the car sounds too. Check out the video above to judge it for yourself.

Best Exhaust for a Honda Civic Type R FN2

What’s it like as standard?

Very little changed under the Civic’s hood between the EP3 and FN2 generations of the car. At the time, Honda fans were borderline outraged by the fact that the new FN2 had just a single extra horsepower over the EP3, while weighing in between 60-100kg heavier. Its bubbly exterior design did little to improve the car’s image, either.

That said, this controversial hot hatch eventually outgrew the hate, and developed its own smaller section of admirers. After all, you still get a naturally-aspirated, high-revving four-cylinder engine and playful front-wheel drive handling. And to be honest, compared to today’s cars, the weight is hardly much of an issue.

Expect a very similar exhaust note to the EP3, given that the two models run on largely the same engine.

To this day, the FN2 remains one of the least popular Civic Type R models around, despite its late renaissance in popularity. As such, you don’t have to pay too much to get your hands on one. Tempted? Make sure to read our buying and tuning guides for the car first!

Scorpion

Like the EP3, the FN2-gen Civic was definitely a Europe focused car. In fact, Honda didn’t even sell it in Japan – the domestic market got the more desirable FD2 sedan instead. As such, the majority of aftermarket exhaust systems for this car come from European tuning companies instead – like Scorpion.

Based in the UK, Scorpion offers a resonated dual-exit cat-back system for the FN2, priced at $774/£636. The system features a 2.25-inch pipe diameter, is hand-crafted, and fits correctly in line with the stock rear diffuser.

Check out the video above to hear how the Scorpion exhaust compares to the standard OEM part!

Martelius

Finland isn’t often a country that’s associated with aftermarket performance parts, but Finnish brand Martelius offers a cracking pair of exhaust systems for the FN2 Type R.

The pipework used in this kit has a slightly wider diameter than the Scorpion package, measuring in at 2.5 inches, and also comes in two different variations. The single-pipe exhaust system ($558/£457), as shown in the video above, leaves the right exit empty in favor of a straighter pipe flow, and as you can hear, it sounds markedly different to the standard car.

Martelius themselves do admit that you can sometimes get a bit of unwanted drone come through into the cabin though at motorway speeds, but that’s not a problem with the slightly pricier dual-pipe variant of this exhaust ($752/£616).

Despite the mean sound, both systems are cat-backs, meaning you won’t fail any emissions tests.

Milltek

The Milltek cat-back kit ($1089/£892) for the FN2 Civic Type R is non-resonated, making it louder. It’s also a dual-pipe design, intended to make use of the stock OEM tailpipes – so don’t throw them away!

Crafted from T304 stainless steel, the Milltek cat-back has a 2.5-inch pipe diameter to aid gas flow for better sound and performance, while its straighter-than-stock layout works towards the same goals.

If you’d like to know what that translates into in practice, make sure to watch the video above!

Best Exhaust for a Honda Civic Type R FK2

What’s it like as standard?

After a short hiatus following the FN2, the Honda Civic Type R returned for a two-year production spell between 2015-2017. The ‘FK2’ Type R came with much wilder aero from the factory, and that’s not all that was new.

Under the hood, the FK2 ditched its naturally-aspirated roots in favor of a turbocharger. As such, its four-cylinder engine could now provide *a lot* more power, and do so while still complying with increasingly tighter emissions regulations. The downside was that a lot of the charisma was lost from the way the car sounded, which – arguably – was one of the main draws of early Type Rs.

As such, it’s fair to say that while the FK2 is a fine performance car, it never really developed much of an identity. So, if you want to give your one a bit more character, perhaps its time for an aftermarket exhaust…

Looking to buy an FK2, or learn about how to tune one? Give our dedicated guides a read.

Armytrix

Armytrix tends to cater towards high-end supercars and luxury vehicles, yet it decided to make an exception for the FK2-gen Civic Type R.

This exhaust system ($4087/£3348) is quite a comprehensive one, removing the stock catalytic converter and replacing it with a high-flow sports cat, as well as redesigning the rest of the pipework and muffler. As a result, Armytrix quotes an approximate 14PS power increase, as well as an extra 12lb ft of torque. Crafted from aluminium, this exhaust system system weighs 3.5kg lighter than the standard kit too.

What’s more, the exhaust even features valve technology, allowing you to raise or lower the car’s volume at the push of a button. This is achievable via the Armytrix key fob, or phone app. Pretty cool, huh?

Watch the video listed above to hear the difference for yourself.

Remus

Next up is Remus. Like the Armytrix exhaust mentioned previously, this Remus system ($3268/£2677) uses valve technology to alter the volume of the exhaust note remotely, via a key fob. However, as it’s only a cat-back design, it won’t cost you as much money as the Armytrix. Admittedly, the gains therefore aren’t as large as that of the Armytrix kit, but an extra 10PS and 9lb ft of torque isn’t to be sniffed at.

Plus, as you can hear for yourself in the video above, the sound of the car is noticeably more aggressive, especially with the valves turned open. By design, these turbocharged Civics are a little deeper and more muted in tone, yet the Remus exhaust still manages to make the core ingredients sound fairly sporty.

Scorpion

What if you need an exhaust upgrade for the FK2 that’s a bit more attainable, price-wise? Well, you may want to consider the Scorpion resonated cat-back, which makes do without switchable valves, and therefore is significantly cheaper.

Priced at $1633 (£1338), the Scorpion system is still a sizeable investment, but stands as one of the best value for money exhaust upgrades around for the FK2. Expect performance gains of around 10PS, and around 5kg of weight saving compared to standard.

As you can hear in the video above, the system definitely has some audible presence, yet it’s not too unsociable either due to its resonated design. However, if you want to go a bit more hardcore, Scorpion also supplies an additional turbo downpipe with sports-cat for $753 (£617). The de-catted version is cheaper, but beware that it won’t pass emissions regulations, rendering it unroadworthy.

Best Exhaust for a Honda Civic Type R FK8

What’s it like as standard?

Given how acclaimed the Civic Type R badge is worldwide, it might surprise you to know that the nameplate didn’t reach the United States until the fifth-gen ‘FK8’ iteration came out in 2018.

An undeniable global success, the FK8 Type R picked up where the FK2 left off from a performance point of view, and turned the recipe into arguably the best FWD hot hatch package on the market, if it wasn’t already. Now well into the ‘turbocharged era’ of compact performance cars, the snail remained under the hood of the Civic in its FK8 guise. So again, these aren’t quite as high-revving as the first three models.

Happily though, as the FK8 has a truly global presence, there is an abundance of aftermarket exhaust options out there which aim to eke out a bit more performance, and a better sound. Like, seriously, there’s loads of them out there. For now though, we’ve rounded it down to just three brands that we think are most worth considering.

Looking to buy an FK8, or learn about how to tune one? Give our dedicated guides a read.

GReddy

Like most tuning companies, GReddy manufactures multiple different exhaust systems for the FK8-gen Civic. The two that we’re focusing on here are the DD-R cat-back exhaust ($1050), and the Supreme SP High-Grade cat-back ($1795).

Let’s start off with the DD-R. This is a modern reinterpretation of some of GReddy’s dual-pipe exhausts of the past, created from T304 stainless-steel. The pipework has been designed to flow as straight as possible, while its 3-inch diameter also aids the travel of gas. Customizability is a desirable aspect of this system, given that you can chop and change the tips and silencers for more control over how the exhaust looks, flows, and sounds.

Alternatively, the GReddy Supreme SP HG is a more premium product. Instead of two central exits, the Supreme SP makes use of three. That isn’t just a styling choice either. GReddy’s tri-pipe design has been created with optimal sound and gas flow in mind. The system also features a resonator and peripheral ‘sound chambers’ to keep unwanted drone to a minimum. Like the DD-R, the Supreme SP HG’s pipework is 3 inches wide in diameter, and constructed from T304 stainless steel.

Check out the video above to hear how they compare.

HKS

Two more exhaust options for the FK8 Civic come from HKS. In the video above, the white FK8 is running the HKS Legamax Premium exhaust ($2124/£1740), while the blue FK8 has the HKS Hi-Power Spec L ($1889/£1548). However, when watching the comparison, keep in mind that both cars have been de-catted, meaning they’ll be louder than what you can expect from your car if it’s still got the cat. That said, this will give you a good impression of the differences in tone between the two exhaust systems, at the very least.

Beyond what your ears tell you, here’s the nerdy specs for both systems. Starting off with the Legamax, this exhaust system is actually the same weight as the standard OEM part, however it’s got a much wider pipe diameter (3 inches) and straighter flow, reducing back pressure by 50%!

Meanwhile, the Hi-Power Spec L is nearly 6kg lighter than both the Legamax and standard Honda exhaust system. It also provides a happy middle-ground in terms of volume between the two as well. So, while you won’t get quite such an entertaining exhaust note as you will with the Legamax, you’ll benefit from a more refined ride when just commuting.

Tomei

To finish things off, here’s three different options in one video. Don’t say we never treat you…

Tomei is a renowned JDM tuning brand with decades of experience of manufacturing upgraded performance parts, not only for the street, but for racing too.

In regards to their products for the FK8 Civic, we’ll be focusing on the aptly-named Tomei Expreme Ti Type R exhaust ($1390), as well as its Type S ($1390) and Type D ($1890) counterparts.

Each of the three variants are significantly lighter than stock, but it’s the ‘R’ which is the lightest, tipping the scales at just 7kg. The Type S weighs 10kg, while it’s 13kg for the Type D – though that’s still around 4kg less than OEM. Each of them are titanium, which is surprising given their reasonable price tags.

In simple terms, imagine these systems as a sliding scale. The Expreme Ti Type R exhaust is the loudest, most performance-oriented, whereas the Type D is the most civil. Type S sits between the two. It’s also worth pointing out that both Type R and Type S utilize a single exit, whereas the Type D is a dual-pipe design. For the full spec run-down, click here.

How to buy the best exhaust for a Honda Civic Type R

An aftermarket exhaust is a must for any enthusiast who loves spirited driving – you’ll never want to leave the throttle pedal when your car is on full song. Love it or hate it, that’s especially true for the older N/A non-turbo VTEC Civics. But, before you splash the cash, there are a few factors you need to consider when upgrading. Firstly, why are you upgrading your exhaust? Is it for extra performance? Perhaps it’s just an increase in volume you’re after. Or maybe you want more performance *and* more sound. The first thing to consider, and is the same principle you should use when upgrading the exhaust on any car, is the diameter of the exhaust pipes. If you’re planning on modifying other performance parts, an increase in size can be a good option.

As for sound, how do you plan on using the car? If you’re looking to utilize the Civic’s on-track prowess, you’ll be needing a free-flowing exhaust but one with silencers to adhere to noise limits. If you’re just driving on the road, the world is your oyster. Although too loud and you’ll have the Police to deal with…

Exhaust material

Finally, the material of the exhaust. On the GT-R models, it’s not uncommon to find titanium exhausts as readily-available as stainless-steel, such is the diversity of the Skyline tuning scene. Titanium exhausts will change the pitch of the engine note ever-so-slightly, so if you’re wanting something with more rasp at the top end, aim for titanium. It’s more expensive, guaranteed, but they’re lighter and produce an epic sound. In terms of performance, a titanium exhaust in itself won’t improve your topline figures, that’s down to the exhaust flow.

Still in need of some inspiration? Check out our top Honda Civic Type R feature cars!

The post Best Exhaust for Honda Civic Type R appeared first on Fast Car.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your car looking its best for as long as possible, a ceramic coating is the way forward. Most ceramic coatings are applied by professional detailers, but there are plenty of consumer-friendly products out there. While they might seem a little daunting, there’s no reason you can’t apply a coating yourself and get great results. With a little preparation and the right product, you can ceramic-coat your car with minimal effort. We’ll help you pick the perfect one with our guide to the best ceramic coating. And if you’re looking for more general car-cleaning advice, check out our overarching guide on car detailing.

How I chose these products

Testing each of these isn’t something I’ve been able to do yet, but rest assured, these aren’t just blind recommendations. I’ve intently kept on top of developments in the car detailing scene for many years, so I’m well-placed to suggest brands and point out the important elements of each product, and explain why they’re important.

Best Ceramic Coating In 2024

Gtechniq C1 Crystal Lacquer

Size: 30ml, 50ml, 250ml
RRP: $88/£54.99, buy now.

For many people, Gtechniq is synonymous with ceramic coatings. The British company has a huge range to choose from, but our pick is its C1 Crystal Lacquer. The reason we’ve gone for this coating is that it’s been designed to be easy to use. Applying ceramic coating can be a little daunting, and there’s a lot of prep work involved.

Any product designed for newcomers to ceramic is always going to be a great choice. C1 Crystal Lacquer is the perfect choice for first-timers while also delivering impressive performance. The crystalline film it forms helps protect your paintwork from minor scratches that can happen due to improper washing. While it doesn’t add much gloss, this makes it great for matt finishes. And it offers good gloss retention, so your car will look great. Finally, it will last for up to five years, making it a fantastic choice of ceramic coating.

Gyeon Q2 Pure EVO

Size: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml
RRP: $54.99/ £75, buy now.

Another company well-known for its ceramic coating, Gyeon has a huge range to choose from, and we reckon Q2 Pure EVO is the pick of the bunch. It strikes the perfect balance between ease of application and durability. Q2 Pure EVO delivers incredible gloss, while the thick formulation means you only need a single layer. This makes application easier and quicker. The ergonomic applicator makes the process even faster, while the extended wipe time makes it easier to work with. Q2 Pure EVO can be applied outdoors, making it perfect for anyone without access to a garage. You can expect up to 36 months of durability, and this is another superb ceramic coating.

CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0

Size: 30ml, 50ml
RRP: $74.99/ £56.99, buy now.

CarPro’s CQuartz UK 3.0 coating has a lot of impressive features that make it easy to recommend. First of all, application is simple, and no matter how cold, hot or humid it is, CQuartz is easy to work with. Anything that makes life easier when applying a ceramic coating is always very welcome. It has minor swirl-filling abilities, which means that minor paint imperfections will be masked after application. A lot of coatings require you to carry out paint correction before application, so this is another bonus. Naturally, gloss levels are very impressive, and CQuartz has self-cleaning properties to make washing your car quicker and easier. It can last up to two years and will protect your paint from minor scratches, bird droppings and acid rain. This is a ceramic coating that’s definitely deserving of your attention.

Shelby Ceramic Coating

Size: 50ml, 100ml
RRP: £29.99 (not available in the US), buy now.

You might know Shelby for its cars, but the company also makes detailing products, and its Ceramic Coating is excellent. Once again, this coating has been designed to be easy to use. While Shelby does offer a list of ideal application conditions, they are pretty lenient. This means the application is easy and forgiving, which we like to see. One layer is all you need, though you can add additional layers to enhance the gloss further still. The Shelby coating will conceal minor scratches and swirls, and it’s rain repellent in just 20 minutes after application. That’s a big bonus for outdoor application. It’s very reasonably priced, too, and should last for a couple of years. It’s easy to see why this excellent coating made it onto our list.

Sonax Profiline CC36

Sizes: 60ml, 75ml, 100ml. 
RRP: £89.95 (not available in the US), buy now.

While it might look intimidating, this German offering is actually not hard to work with, just a little complicated. The Sonax Profiline CC36 ceramic coating kit comes with no fewer than three bottles, two applicators, a microfiber cloth and a pair of gloves. Trust the Germans to make a complete kit that has everything you need. It comes with a surface degreaser, BaseCoat and GlossCoat, and while the application process is more involved, the results are fantastic. It ticks all the ceramic boxes, with stunning gloss, resistance to minor scratches, and easier cleaning. Beading is also fantastic, and it fends off road salt and tar, as well as offering UV and chemical resistance. Properly maintained and given an annual service clean, CC36 will last up to 36 months. A superb ceramic offering from Sonax.

The post Best Ceramic Coating In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

What’s the point of a beefy engine if your car doesn’t want to go around corners? For that reason, suspension is one of the most important upgrades you can make to your car. Not only can it improve drivability, but it’ll also inspire more confidence when you’re behind the wheel. Not to mention more grip and better handling. Add those things together, and your lap times should begin to tumble.

When it comes to upgrading suspension, it’s not simply a case of ‘one size fits all’. Instead, you’ll want to opt for a different set-up depending upon two things: A, which Nissan Skyline GT-R generation you own, and B, what sort of build you want to turn it into.

So, without further ado, here’s the best Nissan Skyline GT-R suspension that the aftermarket has to offer.

Best Suspension for a Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

What’s it like as standard?

Fresh from the factory floor, the R32 GT-R came with independent double wishbone multilink suspension at both the front and rear. You’ll find a pair of coil springs and an anti-roll bar at either end of the car, as well as unequal upper and lower control arms at the front.

Best street suspension for a Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

We’ll start with suspension set-ups designed for the street, because let’s be honest, that’s where most of us will spend 99% of our time behind the wheel.

Coilovers are naturally the way to go to improve the vehicle’s handling and achieve an attractively low ride height, however you don’t want to go too extreme with a street build. Instead, this sort of project requires a bit of compromise. After all, no matter how much of a hardcore racer you are, you don’t want to give yourself a back ache every morning on your commute. For that reason, it’s best to go with a suspension kit that offers tangible handling improvements without sacrificing comfort entirely.

BC Racing are a good benchmark brand for this sort of thing. Their BR Series of coilovers can fit an R32 and sell from $1214 (£999). At that price point, you’ll be getting a product that you can trust to be reliable (and effective!) without totally blowing your budget. However, if you do have a bit more cash that you’re willing to splash, then we’d recommend going for an Ohlins Road & Track kit. These are arguably the best multipurpose coilovers on the aftermarket, and will set you back $3290 (£2663).

Best circuit suspension for a Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

Let’s say that your R32 GT-R isn’t your daily driver though. What if instead, you’re turning it into a purpose-built track car, designed to be trailered across the country and eat up every closed circuit it encounters? Well, in that scenario, you’ll want something a bit different.

When comfort isn’t really a consideration, you can unlock a whole new world of coilover set-ups. These extra-firm kits are designed to maximize your car’s ability to deal with pesky apexes, while providing excellent feedback to the driver. However, you wouldn’t want to drive with them on bumpy public roads.

One of the best hardcore track suspension kits you can get for the R32 GT-R is APEXi’s N1 Evolution Damper package. A well-known brand from the heyday of JDM tuning houses, APEXi is still active in motorsport today, and that means they’re pretty well set-up to provide you with a top tier track kit. The N1 Evolution system will cost you $2799 (£2440) but for that you get a custom package developed specifically to your driving style and goals – whether that be track days, time attacks, or even drifting. There’s 25-way manual damping force adjustability built into the kit too, incase you want to fettle with things further.

Admittedly, $2799 is a bit steep, but for about a grand less you could bag yourself some TEIN Mono Racing coilovers instead. You get slightly less adjustability with these, but TEIN are still well-regarded enough for you to be confident in this kit’s performance.

Best stance suspension for a Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

For the best results when going for a slammed look that you can actually drive, you’ll want an air suspension kit. If you’re already clued up about these, you’ll know that air kits tend to be on the pricey side. AirRide will hook you up from $2404 (£1979), though you’ll need to pay extra if you want the management system as well.

Airdynamiks are another stance specialist that caters for the R32. Its kit costs a comparable $2340 (£1894), though again, you’ll need to pay about 50% of that retail price on top to get your hands on a management system.

The Best Budget Options for a Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

Up until this point though, pretty much all the options we’ve spoken about cost north of $1000 – but that’s out of financial reach for many of us. So, what if you’ve got less than a grand to spend, but still want to pick up some aftermarket suspension that’ll give you both performance and aesthetic gains? Well, the key is not to scrape the barrel. If you’re paying anything less than 500 quid for a full set of coilovers, then chances are it’s a mod that isn’t worth doing.

However, some trusted brands do cater for more cost-conscious car enthusiasts. TEIN are a great example of this. Their Street Advance Z package provides damping adjustability and a twin-tube structure for $771 (£624). Or, for more control over your R32’s ride height, TEIN’s Flex Z package can be had for $993 (£804) instead. Of course, these won’t offer the same end results as higher-tier products, but at least with a company like TEIN you can be relatively confident that the low price point won’t come back to bite you.

Peripheral Suspension Parts

Suspension isn’t just about springs and dampers. If you want to maximize your R32’s handling capabilities, you’d be wise to sort out its bushes and anti-roll bars as well. The R32 comes with rubber bushes from the factory, but by now they’re bound to be rather tired. You could simply replace them like for like, or, if you don’t mind trading a bit of comfort for performance, you could even look to swap them with firmer polyurethane ones from the likes of SuperPro. Upgraded anti-roll bars are also crucial to counteracting body roll. Cusco supply these for $315 (£255) apiece.

For a closer look at the best ways to modify your Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, check out our dedicated R32 tuning guide. Or, if you’re in the market for one, check out our R32 buyer’s guide instead.

Best Suspension for a Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R

What’s it like as standard?

In standard guise, the R33 GT-R’s suspension looks almost identical to the R32’s, albeit now part of a longer wheelbase and with stiffer camber at the front. However, upon release, the R33’s size – and consequently, the way it handled – was a slight point of contention for enthusiasts. Realistically, a stock R33 GT-R isn’t quite as bad as people make it out to be, but suspension is nonetheless one of the first mods you’ll want to do to improve its dynamic traits. So, here’s our advice on how to make that happen…

Best street suspension for a Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R

Ohlins offer their Road & Track set-up for the R33 GT-R as well as the R32, so naturally it takes the top spot here as well.

However, if you’re looking for something different, HKS’ Hipermax S package is well worth a look. Priced at around the $1800-mark (£1500) depending upon supplier, HKS Hipermax S coilovers aim to maximize comfort while still offering solid performance gains.

Alternatively, you could go for a MeisterR ZetaCRD set-up. These can be used for occasional track days, but like the HKS package, are best suited to public road use instead. You still get 32-point damping adjustability though in order to tailor the ride to your specific preference. Available for $1245 (£1008), these are on the more affordable end of the premium-quality spectrum.

Best circuit suspension for a Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R

The similarities between the R32 and the R33 suspension set-ups mean that some aftermarket options will cater to both cars. For example, the APEXi N1 Evolution track kit mentioned above is also available for the R33, though it’ll cost you an extra $100 (£82) compared to the R32 version.

Alternatively, if you’re after a *slightly* more affordable set of circuit coilovers, the MeisterR GT1 package is worth a look. Manufactured and designed in the UK, they’ll set you back $2283 (£1879). The GT1 package’s party trick is its bespoke Staggered Digressive Valve technology, which promises to retain the car’s quality of steering response and control while providing excellent damping over uneven track surfaces.

Best stance suspension for a Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R

Sadly, air suspension is no cheaper for the R33, so if you want to stance your car while keeping it usable, you’re looking at a cost of at least three grand.

KS Racing will sort you out for $6600 (£5432) if you want their full kit complete with digital management system. On the cheaper end of things, AirRide provides an R33 suspension kit without the management system for $2404 (£1979). If you want to add the management system into the package though then the price will start to creep up towards that of KS Racing.

The best budget options for a Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R

We sang the praises of TEIN’s Street Advance Z and Flex Z coilover packages when referring to cheaper options for the R32, and since they also supply similar kits for the R33, we’ll shout them out again here.

Peripheral suspension parts

The same advice about bushes and anti-roll bars applies with the R33 GT-R too. However, if you want to take things a step further, Nengun will sell you a range of peripheral Nismo suspension parts; including arms, links, and tension rods – all of which are stronger and more durable than their stock equivalents. Each Nismo set costs between $250-$500.

For a closer look at the best ways to modify your Nissan Skyline GT-R R33, check out our dedicated R33 tuning guide. Or, if you’re in the market for one, check out our R33 buyer’s guide instead.

Best Suspension for a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

What’s it like as standard?

After a slight wrong turn with the R33, for many people the R34 generation of Skyline GT-R signaled a return to form for Nissan. The comparatively shorter platform of the R34 made for a slightly better handling package fresh out the box. However, even the mightiest of JDM hero cars can begin to feel a bit soft when you really push it hard. Don’t get us wrong, the R34 makes for a great drive even in stock guise, but if you want to maximize its potential, the aftermarket suspension industry has you covered.

Best street suspension for a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

Ohlins’ $2490 (£2015) Road & Track kit is also applicable to the R34 GT-R, so it gets another mention as our top choice.

Alternatively, JDM icon brand HKS provides a range of options for this car. The Hipermax R set-up is the pinnacle of HKS suspension technology, offering features such as lighter springs, improved shock fluid and 30 steps of rebound adjustment. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to $2580 (£2124) though, you could spend around half a grand less on a HKS Hipermax S kit. This is a slightly older design that isn’t quite as cutting edge (for example, it lacks pillowball mounts), but is still highly capable for street use.

A third option is BC Racing’s premier ER series. BC Racing ER coilovers are comparable to HKS Hipermax offerings, and will cost you $2223 (£1799).

Best circuit suspension for a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

If you’re serious about circuit driving, or even official time attack events, you’ll be glad to hear that there’s a wide range of high-end track suspension kits for the R34 GT-R.

For example, the Nitron NTR R3 kit has been designed for serious grassroots/semi-pro motorsport, so should be more than capable of handling some track days. Given that these are designed for circuit-only builds, expect the ride to be fairly unforgiving on the street. They aren’t cheap either. This coilover kit sells for as much as $4822 (£3903).

Don’t worry if you can’t stretch that far but still want to get serious with your racing lines. Nitron themselves sell a slightly more restrained ‘R1’ kit for $3657 (£2960), while Ksport offer tailored R34 GT-R suspension kits for circuit, asphalt rally, drag, and drift builds! The road rally, drag, and drift coilovers tend to sell for around $1600 (£1295).

Realistically though, if you’re only doing a few track days every so often, upgraded street suspension like the options mentioned in the previous segment should do the trick nicely.

Best stance suspension for a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

If you want to achieve the perfect stanced look with your R34 GT-R, AirREX is the company to go to. Their premium kit is hardly cheap at $4647 (£3825), but crucially it provides impressive performance capabilities for when you aren’t parked up.

If nigh-on four grand is too much though, Airdynamiks will hook you up for $2340 (£1926), though don’t expect as much adjustability or indeed as much poise through the bends. They sell a kit for the R33 GT-R too, in fact.

Best budget options for a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

BC Racing are a highly reputable suspension brand, and if you can’t afford their premium ER coilovers, maybe you’ll fancy the BR kit instead. Although admittedly not as capable as the ERs, you still get important features like 30-way damper adjustability for a price of $1214 (£999).

We haven’t forgotten about TEIN either. These budget heroes are able to help with your R34 GT-R build too. The Flex Z coilover kit mentioned in the R32 and R33 segments is available for the R34 as well for $770 (£623).

Peripheral suspension parts

There’s plenty of supporting suspensions mods to go along with your fancy new coilovers. Cusco will sell you aftermarket anti-roll bars for around $315 (£255) apiece, or Whiteline will do you a front and rear combo pack for $600 (£461). Camber arms, track rods and bushes are all part of Hardrace’s catalogue, meanwhile.

For a closer look at the best ways to modify your Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, check out our dedicated R34 tuning guide. Or, if you’re in the market for one, check out our R34 buyer’s guide instead.

HICAS Lock-Out

The R32, R33, and R34 generations of Nissan Skyline GT-R all feature the HICAS four-wheel steering system (not to be confused with ATESSA E-TS four-wheel drive system, which all three cars have too).

The purpose of HICAS is effectively to reduce the amount of AWD understeer that the Skyline has to deal with through corners, however it does have its downsides. By now, your Skyline’s HICAS system may be faulty, given its age. Or, even if it’s still working as it should, you might not like the way it feels to drive. Some owners feel that the system makes the car a bit too twitchy and unpredictable when you’re really pushing it.

Happily, if you want rid of HICAS, Driftworks offers a full Eliminator Kit. This removes every part of the Nissan rear steer system, replacing it with fully adjustable, heavy-duty rod ends and toe control arms giving precise adjustment and more confidence inspiring handling.

Geometry

Finally, it goes without saying that whichever generation of Skyline you have, and whatever type of build you’re striving for, you should always get a geometry alignment carried out after installing new suspension parts or aftermarket wheels & tires. Your average garage should be able to ensure that everything’s straight, but if you want to dial in some custom camber or toe set-ups, then head to your nearest specialist instead.

For some extra background info on suspension matters, feel free to check out the following resources:

• Regular static suspension guide
• Guide to suspension mods 
• Hydraulic suspension guide
• Air suspension guide

The post Best Suspension for Nissan Skyline GT-R appeared first on Fast Car.

With car detailing, it’s all about making life easier for yourself, and a car pressure washer will do that. Not only will a pressure washer blast dirt off with ease, but they also use less water than a normal hose.

A pressure washer makes the pre-wash process much more effective, and you can read our pre-wash guide here. Car pressure washers rinse better and help you wash better, and that means your car will be cleaner. You can spend a fortune on a car pressure washer, but there’s really no need. We’ve picked four that are very reasonably priced, deliver impressive performance, and suit a variety of needs. You’ll be very happy with any of these, and they’ll really improve your washing experience. 

Best Car Pressure Washer In 2024

Kärcher K3 Power Control

RRP: $179.99, buy now. £149.99, buy now.

For many people, Kärcher is pressure washers, and the company has an overwhelming array of products. Prices and performance vary greatly, but we didn’t want to go for something over the top. The K3 Power Control hits the sweet spot in terms of performance, features and value for money.

First of all, it’s small. It’s just 68cm tall, has wheels, and a telescopic handle and weighs just 4.4kg, making it very easy to move around. The generous 7-metre-long hose means you’ll have plenty of reach when washing your car. You get two spray lances, and the power is adjustable, with an LED readout on the handle. It delivers up to 120 bar and a flow rate of 380lph. There’s no hose reel, but that’s about the only negative. Small, light, and powerful, the K3 Power Control is an excellent choice of car pressure washer.

In fact, I currently own a K3 Karcher and can personally recommend it. With multiple pressures available, it’s easy to use and has lasted me around 5 years so far without fault. The only issue I had was the small hose length, this was fixed by purchasing a longer hose. Simple.

Nilfisk Core 130 Power Control

RRP: £164.99, buy now.

Nilfisk makes some exceptional pressure washers, and its Core 130 is very impressive. We like the integrated hose reel, while the 6-metre Ultraflex hose is durable and reduces the risk of kinks and knots. You also get a rotating lance and gentle and rough nozzles. The Power Control dial allows you to quickly and easily adjust the pressure.

At full power, you’ve got 130 bar of pressure and a 462lph flow rate. The Core 130 also features a durable aluminum pump, a big selling point. This is an impressive and very well-designed car pressure washer that performs very well.

Turtle Wax TW110

RRP: £63.24, buy now (not available in the US).

If you’re short on space and are looking for a compact car pressure washer, this is a great choice. The diminutive Turtle Wax TW110 has a footprint barely bigger than an A4 piece of paper. It weighs just 3.6kg too, making it super easy to carry. But just because it’s small in stature doesn’t mean it’s small in performance.

With 110 bar of pressure and a flow rate of 330lph, it can handle all your pressure-washing needs. It comes with a 5-metre hose, a power lance and a spray nozzle, with onboard storage for everything. Throw in a very affordable price, and you can’t go wrong with the Turtle Wax TW110.

Titan TTB1800PRW

RRP: £99.99, buy now.

Big on power and low on price, this Titan car pressure washer is great value. The stats are impressive, with 140 bar water pressure and a 440lph flow rate. This means it’s got some serious power and will tackle whatever you throw at it with ease. It comes well equipped, too, with an extension lance, adjustable and rotary nozzles, plus a mini patio cleaner. There’s also a 6-metre super soft PVC hose and a quick lock and release anti-tangle system. If you want a pressure washer that gets the job done and done well, the Titan is what you need.

How to buy the best car pressure washer

There are a couple of things you need to look out for when buying a pressure washer. The first of which is its ability to control and adjust pressure. What is suitable for your garden patio won’t be suitable for your car’s paintwork. You don’t want to damage paint here, however you do want enough pressure to be able to remove dirt. Next, you want a pressure washer that can deliver this pressure consistently.

How were the best car pressure washers chosen?

While not all of the pressure washers above have been tested by a member of the Fast Car team, they have been recommended based on features that we know are essential for car detailing. In fact, I currently own a Karcher K3 pressure washer and have found it to be one of the better pressure washers on the market. That being said, I have used products from each of the brands above and have found them all to be great, which is why I haven’t picked any winners here. They all come with good customer reviews, have features that allow them to be suited more to car detailing and above all, offer comprehensive warranties for peace of mind, too.

The post Best Car Pressure Washer In 2024 appeared first on Fast Car.

The addition of an amplifier is the Big Step of the audio upgrade world, capable of powering upgraded speakers and subwoofers in your car. That’s because you need to make a hole between the engine bay and the cabin for a thick power wire, around which you must install a grommet too – a circular rubbery armor-ring. That wiring is a significant install cost-effort, so before you dive straight in, you need to learn about the power you have available on your car’s electrical system. For that, we’d recommend checking online forums or even YouTube – there’s bound to be someone out there who’s done this on your car before.

Once you understand what will and won’t drain your battery, you can start to think about which four-channel amp to invest in. There are three main forces at work with any car audio system design: your car, your budget and your taste in music. These four channel amplifiers are about the upgrade with sanity, you want more and better and you want it in all four corners of your car. There may not be more than the one spend planned – this may be about that simple sound power increase. Nonetheless, choosing a four channel amplifier, one with more than just basic features, will be an investment in future upgrades. One or two of the options listed here are able to get a bit flash later down the line, if you do end up as a bit of an audiophile.

They vary from value for money with grunt, to a slice of quality power, to the absolutely latest, newest thing. An amplifier that will fit into a modern stock system like never before. Even if your car has a stop-start system that would switch off normal aftermarket equipment. So, without further ado, here are the best four channel car amplifiers that you can buy today.

How we chose these products

Normally, we’d like to test every product that we recommend first-hand, but in this case, that’s not possible. Instead, I’ve compiled this list based upon my knowledge of the brand landscape, but more importantly, my understanding of the technical specifications which make certain amplifiers stand out above the rest. You can be sure that each of the products listed below are something that I’d be happy to install in my own project car.

Editor’s Note:

Adam is one of the world’s most prominent voices in the car audio industry, a voice which carries with it an impressive reputation. If there’s one person you want to take audio advice from, it’s Adam Rayner.

Be sure to also check out our guide to the best two channel car amps.

Best Four Channel Car Amplifiers

Sony XM-N1004

RRP: $159.99 / £110.00. Buy it here.

Put simply, the Sony’s MOSFET power supply transistor means better musical muscle. A more expensive device than standard ones, this used to be a feature of costly products. Now available on entry level stuff, it gives a good solid set of watts for the money. You only get a simple up, down or off choice of crossover, fixed at 80Hz per set of channels, but you don’t actually need to use them. You could just run all four corner speakers louder, or feed a woofer from 80Hz downwards, (lowpass) bridged on one channel pair, with your main speakers on the other. These mains can have the deep bass below 80Hz kept from them (highpass) so they go louder before breaking up. A switch costs less than a potentiometer or knob, so this is a simple but effective way of keeping the price down.

The signal to noise ratio is the CEA compliant one, as Sony claim a 100dB one. The main thing is, it will be a good clean sound quality. A high value for money solution, even if Sony still use the peak rating in publicity saying you have 1,000W. The two panel mounted 25A fuses say 700W RMS, even if you have 14V of Direct Current in your system.

• Power Output: 4ohms 4 x 70W, 2ohms 4 x 85W, Bridged 4ohms 2 x 175W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 2 x 25A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 93dB
• Features Rich? Two switchable 80Hz highpass or 80Hz lowpass filters, one for each channel pair: Subsonic filter (no freq. stated); input 0.3V to 6V

JBL Club 704

RRP: $145.99 / £159.40. Buy it here.

The design brief for the ‘Club’ car amps was for them to fit into smaller spaces, and as such, they have a smaller footprint and lesser depth of chassis for the given wattage. The mighty Harman Industries folks have owned JBL for a long time and offer some clever OEM features.

The main one is the RJ45 telephone style ADAS input socket, which overrides your audio when connected to an Advanced Driver Assistance System. To achieve this, you connect a T568B wire to the ADAS output. It will then interrupt your tunes with any warning messages, and you even get to pick which of the four corners you want the announcements to emanate from, with a knob. The Harman HALOsonic® systems of some vehicles can work with CLUB amps as well. That feature is a form of complex sound cancelling, like with headphones. There is an adjustable level control on the Club 704 just for that.

The amp comes with four bare-wire to RCA adapters included to connect speaker wires to the RCA sockets directly. There is a pair of dedicated RCA pre outs, but no subsonic filter. The adaptors mean the amp doesn’t need a separate high level socket-and-loom, albeit at the cost of greater expense. The reason for doing this is to achieve a robust input stage that can take signals from 0.2V to a whopping 20V speaker level. They use a three-level power switch to pick ‘Lo’ or Hi1 or Hi2’ to do it.

• Power Output: 4ohms 4 x 70W, 2ohms 4 x 100W, Bridged 4ohms 2 x 200W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 2 x 30A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 85dB
• Features Rich? Two switchable 32Hz to 320Hz highpass/lowpass filters, one for each channel pair: Speaker level or RCA input: RCA line output: ADAS connectivity and HALOsonic® noise cancelling where compatible

KICKER CXA360.4

RRP: $/£219.99. Buy it here.

Uniquely, this Class A/B amp comes with vertical mounting hardware as an option. It has a red circuit-protection LED to tell you if there’s anything wrong as well as the green power LED. There’s a 3.5mm socket for an optional CXARC remote bass knob and a pair of push buttons on the panel. One is about low level (0.125V to 5V) or high level (0.25V to 10V) signals, the other is marked ‘fader’. The first is about RCA wires or else speaker-to-RCA convertor wires being used to feed at speaker level. The fader one means leave it in the ‘Off’ position and you can use all four channels on one feed.

Kicker’s very name is about visceral bass, so it is no surprise to learn they have a special 40Hz bass boost. Not just a stated Q factor of say 0.5, which is about the breadth of frequencies lifted. Rather, it is their own little humpy curve, actually registered, like the PunchEQ is by Rockford Fosgate. Called KickEQ, you get a dedicated adjuster per channel pair to take it up to as much as +6db. This is power hungry as its based 5Hz below most boost circuits’ choice-point. Deeper and humpier! So you use it with care and ideally, add that plug-in remote bass control on a wire.

A well thought out piece of kit. Kicker’s CXA360.4 makes efforts to be as widely compatible with different power levels of input as possible.

• Power Output: 4ohms 4 x 65W, 2ohms 4 x 90W, Bridged 4ohms 2 x 180W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 40A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 95dB
• Features Rich? Two switchable highpass/lowpass filters for 50Hz to 200Hz and KickEQ 40Hz Bass boost adjustable 0 to +6dB: Hi/Low level switch for RCA input: Remote bass control jack socket

Alpine S-A32F

RRP: $319.99 / £249.00. Buy it here.

Alpine have always had an escalating series of products, from affordable but still good to state of the art. The top end products get the new technology while the lesser ones get the clever stuff later. This is called filtering-down of technology and is the highest value for money way to buy in. What starts in F1, ends up in posh cars, then cheaper ones. ABS braking is a good example. The S-Series amps feature technology that was once only in the higher R and X-series. S-Series amps offer three models. A four channel, a five channel and a mono model, so no two channel. A Class D amp, with many years of Alpine development behind it.

This means the S-A32F is a keen price for the always-lovely Alpine looks and has some cool features. There’s an optional RUX-KNOB2 bass control you can plug in for channels 3 and 4 when bridged into a woofer. There’s a high/low input level switch for the four RCA sockets. High is from 0.5V to 10V for speaker level. You’ll need to get some RCA connectors with open cable leads to add the speaker wires for that application. The low level input for normal RCA feeds is from 0.2V to 4V. Signal to Noise Ratio is excellent at 98dB and means that this is another top value sound quality tip. You are best to pair this with Alpine S-Series speakers. They are available as 6×9 ovals, coaxials in 6.5in, 5.25in and 4in as well as 6.5in components.

Looks good, sounds good. Because #Alpine!

• Power Output: 4ohms 4 x 55W, 2ohms 4 x 80W, Bridged 4ohms 2 x 160W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 40A
• Signal To Noise Ratio:98dB
• Features Rich? Two switchable highpass/lowpass filters for 50Hz to 400Hz, one per pair of channels: Speaker level input with auto power-on (adapters) or RCA input: CH3/4 level control socket

Audison SR 4.300

RRP: $289.99 / £349.00. Buy it here.

Another small footprint Class D amplifier with proprietary tech (company’s own smarts) in its guts. Each company’s take on the smaller Class D-with-quality amp seems to do this. Audison love an Acronym and call theirs ADT for Audison D-class Technology. It’s a dense little amp and has the fine controls hidden under a top panel, rather than on one end.

The crossover point for each channel pair can be chosen between 50Hz and a very high 3.2kHz. That’s because the SR4.300 is also designed to work for running active component speakers. It’s when you have a pair of channels for the tweeters and feed them only highs. Another pair of channels runs the mid-bass drivers, on their own crossed-over set of watts – no highs, though. An accepted much higher end way to run a set of high quality components and is louder and clearer. You need a very serious class of component driver though and it’s closer to professional audio than home hifi.

Audison have their BIT- control system that can be used with this amp. When connected, it bypasses the whole control panel, allowing an unsurpassed choice of upgrade path possibilities for this amplifier. A lot like the Wāvtech, this too has some cunning when it comes to OEM integration. If you plug in via the speaker wires, the amp has what Audison call USS or Universal Speakers Simulator. This pretends to be the low impedance load often engineered into stock systems’ amplifier self-protection circuits. That’s so that if a stock speaker blows, you don’t want the OEM amplifier cooking in its hidden spot.

A serenely clever item that can do ‘high end’.

• Power Output: 4ohms 4 x 85W, 2ohms 4 x 130W, Bridged 4ohms 2 x 250W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 40A
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 100dBA
• Features Rich? Two switchable highpass/lowpass filters for 50Hz to 3.2kHz, one per pair of channels: Speaker level input sockets and RCA inputs: RCA line output: ART auto remote turn-on feature button

WĀVTECH link300.4mini

RRP: $/£299.95. Buy it here.

An installer’s dream, brand new in concept and for those who want results, without having anything on display. Best of all, it will make fab music from one tiny box, in brand new cars that stop and start. Made for OEM integration, the new Wāvtech range is designed by audio nutters who are true hardcore tech types. The low signal to noise ratio quote is because they use the tougher qualified version of the spec. A-weighted, it is about human hearing rather than a flat measurement. The link300.4mini is Wāvtech’s baby super compact Class D 4×50 watter, but there is a bigger one and also two monoblocks available too. Despite being such a small unit though, the link300.4mini needs a four gauge power wire.

The amp accepts RCA signals from 0.2V to 5V on ‘low’ setting, or 0.4V to a whopping 10V on ‘high’: a deeply cool feature if you do have a mad-end front music unit. On speaker level, for taking OEM speaker wire feeds, it is quietly insane. For one, no matter the power of your car’s OEM set up, it will cope. It will also look like the stock system to the car’s amp’s impedance-sensing, which causes the factory speakers to run at funny low impedances, thus sucking a few more factory-amp watts. Essentially, it cons the car’s own amp into thinking this extra wattage is all normal, and best of all, you can take wires from your car’s tweeter and mid-bass driver’s wires and ‘sum’ them. We’ll admit, it’s a bit complex in concept but it means you get the best of everything.

A truly leading edge future-now product for modern cars.

• Power Output: 4ohms 4 x 50W, 2ohms 4 x 75W, Bridged 4ohms 2 x 150W
• Current Draw/Fuse Rating: 40A external fuse required
• Signal To Noise Ratio: 80dBA (if measured ‘flat’, would be well over 100dB)
• Features Rich? Two switchable lowpass/highpass filters 50Hz to 500Hz: Summing speaker or RCA input: Auto turn-on by remote wire, DC offset or audio signal: OEM stop/start compatible, Input from 0.2V to 40V, five sets of protection circuitry and LED peak light

The post Best Four Channel Car Amplifiers appeared first on Fast Car.

The double-DIN head unit is the pinnacle of dashboard electronics for aftermarket car radios. In cars with the DIN standard aperture, a single-DIN space always used to be the most common design. However, bigger vehicles and especially Japanese imports and vans started to sport the Double DIN, double width platform, and over time the Single DIN went out of fashion across the board. The physical volume of the unit that can fit in a Double DIN hole is impressive. It means that radios can have a lot more features and electronics packed inside. They can also get luxurious with the size of their front displays; there can even be a screen, without it needing to be an expensively motorized hideaway like in premium a single-DIN effort.

That whole DIN thing is a set of standards to help car makers and their suppliers. The Euro-standard, it covers stuff like the wiring loom plugs for power/speaker wires, so the trade uses the term ‘DIN’ to refer to these plugs and these head unit sizes.

A long time ago, car radios all had to be removable, in the days before face-off decks. There were car radio racks at restaurants, where you’d park your radio while you ate. The double DIN started in Japan, where they simply didn’t have the same crime levels. Folks didn’t steal radios from cars in Japan. A white-hot fueled-by-theft insurance replacement business supported a huge chain of UK shops. They had a central office with forty telephone operators. Nowadays, many cars have their radios embedded deeply into the fabric of the car, so that you cannot replace them. They are not DIN-sized, not even a separate module. Thus, you can now buy into a fresh double-DIN head unit for your ride with less worry about theft.

We have some top quality units here, from entry level to fabulous, all with that double-DIN luxury.

How we chose these products

Although I haven’t experienced each of these products first-hand, I’ve got a good knack for extracting the meaning out of long spec sheets. As such, I’ve compiled this shortlist based on the tech and capabilities that will really make a difference once installed into your car.

Editor’s Note:

Adam is one of the world’s leading voices in car audio tech. With decades of experience in the field, you can be sure to trust his recommendations in the following article.

Best Double DIN Car Radio

Blaupunkt Palma 200 DAB BT

RRP: £110.00. Not available in the US. Buy it here.

Blaupunkt are famed for their Euro-minimalist car radio fascias. They once made a lot of awfully cheap OEM radios that were made down to a price, but their tuners were always really good. So when Blau had a little flex in the direction of posh, it still looked plain and unfussy. The Palma has a big liquid crystal nine-digit display and just a few buttons.

There are two radio tuners: Blaupunkt’s tremendous old FM tuner with features like dual sensitivity and interference cancellation and a DAB+ one as well. It will Bluetooth-stream and hook up for your phone for hands free calling. The microphone to do that is built in – I reckon it is behind the tiny hole top left. There’s an oblong door bottom right that opens up which reveals the SD card slot, the USB socket and the 3.5mm aux audio input jack. Around the back, there’s a second antenna socket for the DAB+ aerial and single pair of RCA outputs. You could expand a system from this unit using these by feeding a single-input amplifier.

Although the files it can read are limited compared to some – just MP3 and WMA, it has some real smarts. The ability to read your files fast and pull out the one you want, quickly. You can stream anything you own and can play to Bluetooth, but this is about your own jukebox, served rapidly. One USB stick or just one decent SDHC card can hold a serious heap of music, after all. You get a bit of EQ via X-Bass plus “Pop, Rock and Classic” (or flat) settings, and bass/treble controls. A shallow-body unit, it will fit lesser dash spaces, like certain BMWs.

• Double DIN mech-free FM/DAB+ radio with USB/Aux and SDHC card playback
• Onboard Power: 4x40W @4ohms
• Single pair RCA outputs at 1.5V
• Bluetooth streaming; fast-reads MP3 and WMA files

JVC KW-M565DBT

RRP: $/£344.90. Buy it here. 

A lot more sophistication for the money, this JVC jumps upwards in features and tech. Another shallow-chassis radio that manages to cram all the good stuff into a shorter case. It’s got a 6.8in WVGA capacitive touch screen on the front, but it’s what’s behind those cool user interfaces for our phones that is so clever. The Bluetooth allows dialing by voice recognition – if your phone supports it – and the microphone is supplied on a long wire. So, instead of shouting louder, your installer places the mic in the headlining near your face.

A thirteen band graphic EQ with seven presets and three user memories and time alignment, means real audio smarts. There are also crossovers in there to play with.

You get a nest of rear connections. FM and DAB+ antenna sockets. Two sets of Fr/Rr RCA audio outputs plus a yellow RCA video output for headrest screens. There’s another yellow composite RCA, which is a reversing camera video input, and a final single subwoofer RCA output socket on a cord, for a bass amplifier. The box also contains over a meter of cable and a USB A socket, for Apple Car Play/Android Auto via wired phone connection.

Lastly, as well as the microphone socket, a 3.5mm socket that’s not just audio, like an ‘aux’ socket. It’s a full A/V input. The sort that would come from a camcorder, 3.5mm tip-ring-ring-ring-sleeve, with video too. Said cord would have three RCA plugs on the end, in red, white and yellow. All that and trigger wires to allow it to operate your steering wheel control system. The USB charges at a goodly 1.5A rate.

• Double DIN mech-free with 6.8in touch screen, Android Auto and Apple Car Play
• Onboard Power: 4x50W @4ohms
• Two pairs RCA outputs plus Subwoofer RCA socket on a cord at 2.0V, two RCA camera inputs
• Reads MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC and FLAC audio files. Plays WMV and MPEG 1/2 /4 and AVI

Pioneer AVH-Z3200DAB

RRP: $/£399.00. Buy it here. 

The AVH-Z3200DAB starts with a CD/DVD mechanism slot at the top, so you can play normal discs. Then it can display JPEG images, or DivX video files as well as play all audio formats. It can read MP3, WMA and AAC files from your own discs. Then, after eating all disc-kind to retro-compatibility, it has a rear USB socket-ended extension wire. You connect the included male-to-female cord and then offer up the USB-A socket where you wish, to connect your phone. It can deal with both Android and iOS telephones, but only has Apple Car play – no Android Auto. Android Auto requires a 6.8 screen or bigger. The resistive touch screen is a 6.2 inch having given some real estate over to the disc slot.

The audio quality is quietly understated but this bristles with hub-power. To start, there are three sets of RCAs at a fat 4.0V of signal to drive amplifiers with vigour. Then, you get more RCA connections for optional front and rear cameras, and a 3.5mm jack socket audio input. It can be part of one heck of a system.

The control within offers a thirteen-band graphic EQ with an auto EQ feature. You can adjust the audio curve to fit your car. Auto Time Alignment is possible when you use the supplied wired microphone to set up. You can also do Time-Alignment manually. It’s all about perceived position of the music; tiny delays to speakers depending upon where you are sat, versus being in the middle. There is a highpass and lowpass crossover and even a three-way active crossover network you can apply to the outputs. This is for running high end active speaker systems with multiple amplifier channels.

• Double DIN fronted CD/DVD deck with 6.2in touch screen, FM/DAB+ radio, USB/Aux, Apple Car Play
• Onboard Power: 4x50W @4ohms
• Fr/Rr/Subwoofer RCA outputs at 4.0V; 3.5mm rear Aux audio input, Fr/Rr RCA cam inputs, RCA AV out
• Bluetooth streaming; reads MP3, WMA, AAC and FLAC audio files; plays DVD, DivX and MPEG1/2/4

Sony XAV-AX5650

RRP: $/£540.00. Buy it here. 

Strictly, this is a slightly cheeky ‘Double-DIN’. For while it requires that size slot in the dash to live, the behind portion is only a single-DIN chassis. When seen naked, XAV-AX5650 has single DIN sized guts with a big screen on the front. It thus fills a whole double-DIN fascia and it means you can have a whopping 6.95in screen. A beautiful unit, the screen is bezel-free so it looks like it was born in your dash, once installed. The big new thing on this is the HDMI connector on the rear, on the lower screen housing. You can connect a FireTV stick or other telly box. Another cool feature is Weblink – a system to mirror your phone’s display on the screen. This works for both Android and iPhone.

The RCAs run at 5.0V which is huge. This is about producing a far better signal to noise ratio than a regular level output signal, which means you can have an expert adjust the gain structure of your amplifiers for very high quality sound. You get a ten band graphic EQ and the Sony Extra Bass control. DSO means ‘Dynamic Stage Optimizer’ and is a digital signal processor which lifts the perceived stereo image to seem like it is in front of you.

The dual corded USB ports hanging from the rear mean flexibility: you can plug in your phone and still have a spare place for a USB stick. If you don’t add amplification, the onboard Sony 4x55W MOSFET chip amp is one of the bigger ones around, so it will still sound good.

• Double DIN mech-free with 6.95in capacitive touch screen, Android Auto and Apple Car Play
• Onboard Power: 4x55W @4ohms
• Fr/Rr paired and single Sub RCA 5.0V outputs, rear cam input, 2x corded rear USB ports, HDMI socket
• Bluetooth streaming; reads MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC audio, MPEG4, AVC, WMV, MKV, XviD video

Alpine INE-W987HD

RRP: $1339.95 / £999.99. Buy it here.

A bit of a jump to luxury. Alpine are legends in high end car audio and this is pure Alpine DNA. For one, you can actually take the faceplate with you when you leave the car, being removable. For another, this has its own navigation inside as well as a bonkers set of audio controls, a long way above most other brands. And all in another not-really-double-DIN chassis. Like the Pioneer, the guts all go in a single DIN chassis backstage as it were.

The EQ is a sophisticated nine band parametric. You choose the parameter, as in the frequency the adjustment is set at and also any boost or cut. The subwoofer output can be controlled not just for frequency but also phase. You get a choice of crossovers. Eleven frequencies to choose from, either lowpass or highpass and you can adjust how hard they work. The steeper the ‘slope’ the harder the filter. Choose from 6dB, 12dB, 18dB or a whopping 24dB slope. That’s a brick wall and gives you real power over peaks and troughs on your car’s cabin effect; the way our cabins amplify the bass end by acoustics.

The time alignment is posh. It has 0.0 to 9.9 ms adjustment in 0.1ms steps. Translated, at a millisecond per foot, sound arrives at different times at your ears from speakers at different distances. If you hold up a speaker by the tiny bit because it is closer to your ears, then you hear true stereo. Your ears perceive sounds as directly in front of you if they arrive at the same time – it’s called psychoacoustics and Alpine are past masters of it.

• Double DIN fronted CD/DVD with 7in capacitive touch screen, FM/DAB+ radio, USB playback
• Onboard Power: 4x50W @4ohms
• Three pairs of RCA outputs at 4.0V; HDMI input and output
• Bluetooth streaming; reads MP3, WMA, AAC, DivX files; onboard GPS

Kenwood DNR-992RVS

RRP: $/£1499.99. Buy it here.

Kenwood know car audio and they know sound quality. This unit is their new daddy-piece. It has a huge 10.1in touch screen on a floating mount. The main unit is a double-DIN and the screen is on a three-position moveable mount. It’s a chunk of kit. They are justifiably proud of the new range in general but this is the top one. It’s one heck of a price for a Kenwood. It can decode and play more digital audio formats than you are likely to have heard of. The RCAs are at a serious 5.0V and the control features for iPhone and USB playback are comprehensive.

The unit has specialized navigation software from Garmin. It means that this luxury unit will be the cherry on the top of expensive motorhomes. That’s because the navigation can be set for bigger vehicles. It won’t direct your camper up certain roads in the Lake District. Whereas Apple Car Play and Android Auto are normally only accessed by connecting your phone to a USB cord, this unit will do both wirelessly by WiFi. To do this with other units is an Android or Apple add-on box. Very posh indeed.

You get a thirteen band EQ, a time alignment system and a digital sound processor inside. There’s an optional steering wheel remote control available and you can input information from your vehicle by another multi-pin. This means you can have information from your vehicle’s parking sensors and so forth included. An absolute tour de force.

• Double DIN fronted CD/DVD with 10.1in floating panel touch screen, FM/DAB+ radio, USB/SD playback
• Onboard Power: 4x50W @4ohms
• Fr/Rr/Sub RCA outputs at 5.0V; rear USB socket, HDMI input, 3x camera inputs, AV input and output, dashcam input
• Bluetooth streaming; reads MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis and DSD audio. MPEG1/2/4, WMV, H264, MKV, JPEG, BMP and PNG stills!

The post Best Double DIN Car Radio appeared first on Fast Car.

If you love the sound of an RB26 engine, then you’ll be wanting to unlock some of that sound with an aftermarket exhaust. Not only does it increase the sound, but you can release a few extra horsepower by switching to an uprated, freer-flowing system. Below, we’ve selected some of our favorite exhaust brands available for the blistering Nissan Skyline GT-R. We’ve broken down options for each generation, including the R35 GT-R. So without further ado, here’s our guide to the best exhaust for the Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Best Exhaust for a Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

What’s it like as standard?

When the R32 generation Nissan Skyline GT-R arrived back in 1989, it was a massive step forward for Nissan – both visually, and dynamically too. Its all-wheel drive ATESSA-ETS system and Super HICAS rear steering stole many headlines, as did the Skyline’s new engine, the ‘RB26’.

This in-line six-cylinder engine would go on to become one of the most revered power units within the tuning scene, but even in stock form, it was pretty handy. That translated into a fruity exhaust note, but hey, there’s always room for improvement…

Thinking of bagging yourself an R32? Have a read of our dedicated buying and tuning guides.