Gifts to make a 'dumb' car as smart as a Tesla
We can't all drive teched-out cars like a Tesla Model 3, with its touchscreen and phone app that can bring the car to you in a parking lot.
Sure, some car owners can use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to text and listen to podcasts, but then the rest of us are driving practically blind with no proximity sensor warnings and only the radio for our entertainment.
But those of us with "dumb" cars don't have to stay that way. With some simple after-market tricks, you can give your ride a high-tech makeover with advanced driver assistance features.
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Hey, your car might not be Tesla smart, but it's learning.
1. Owlcam security camera
If your car doesn't update with Sentry Mode like on Tesla vehicles, buy some security. Owl Cam records everything happening around your car, and if something goes wrong it can send footage to your phone and alert emergency services while it all goes down.
Price: $349 on Amazon
2. Cobra Road Scout dash cam and radar detection
It's like Waze on steroids. The Cobra Road Scout Elite came out this summer to keep you aware of everything happening on the road. The radar and laser detector alerts drivers to red light and speeding cameras. The dash cam records video, tracks your speed and location, and automatically starts recording if you happen to get into in a crash.
Price: $449.95
3. Cub blind-spot detection
This is geared for recreation vehicles, but the radar system can help for any towable vehicles or trailers. Attach all the parts and get a warning in the driver's seat when someone's in your blind spot. Super helpful when the side mirrors don't catch them.
Price: $999
4. On-demand technicians from YourMechanic
Even if Tesla service centers won't accept your 2016 Honda Fit, you can still feel special with car repair services brought to you. YourMechanic is available in 3,000 cities and mechanics come to you instead of you taking your car to an auto repair shop. Mechanics cover 600 services, like oil changes, brake inspections, and tire repairs. They'll even come by on nights and weekends.
Price: Online quotes available for different services
5. Mojipic
Do you need to display emoji and messages to fellow drivers? Yes, yes you do. The Mojipic Indiegogo wants to make it easy to change your window stickers at the touch of an app button or even through voice control. Bet your neighbor's Tesla doesn't wink — yet.
Price: $79 on Indiegogo
6. EyeLights Heads-Up Display
Tesla CEO Elon Musk might be adamantly anti-HUD (heads-up display) but that doesn't mean you have to be. If your car doesn't project directions, the weather, and other messages onto your windshield, an EyeLights device can. Mashable recently put together a shopping roundup of HUDs, so you can pick what works for you.
Price: Starts at $199 Euro
7. All-in-one car system Raven
It's not a simple touchscreen like in a Tesla and you're done, but the Raven connected car system simplifies a lot of features by putting it in one device (and connected smartphone). The device mounts to the windshield and provides 24/7 live video, works as a WiFi hotspot, gives turn-by-turn navigation, security alerts, and updates you on onboard diagnostics for any maintenance needs.
Price: $299
Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.
