Question Of The Day: What Would Be Your Best… Stocking Stuffer?

Steven Lang
by Steven Lang

Bah! Humbug!

The new car commercial with the pretty ribbon on a Lexus/Acura/Mercedes/BMW/Canyonero has received countless exposure over the years.

The United States is one of the few countries that celebrates Christmas, in part, by commercializing four to five figure debts. A lot of folks like to look at Saint Nick as the Coca-Cola drinking, car giving, Red Rider rifle distrubting, jolly red cheeked saint with magic flying reindeer. Only when we are older do we find out that the real fellow was a bit more secretive and modest than that.

So what if instead of all that Christmas cheer, you simply received a tool that helps with your equity? Specifically, your automotive equity.

What would it be?

I have a weakness in my life that goes far beyond old beaters and pernicious frugality. Tools!

Now mind you, I am not the type that tries to buy and horde them all. I usually share my booty with folks who I know are good for their word and in turn, I try to borrow a few things while I can as well.

Does someone need a Mityvac? Or a good torque wrench? I’m all there.

Is there someone who can house a 30 year old convertible with an original worn out top? A semi-retired fellow with his own shop has given me the access. Gratis.

There is a beauty in not believing in a suburbia that requires 30 lawnmowners and 30 Lion King videos for 30 houses. Everything gets passed to those who have the greatest need and in turn, you get the means and the expertise when you need it.

Every once in a while though, you long for what the late Frank Zappa calls, “nuclear powered pansexual roto-plooker“. A tool that is so useful and versatile, that your favorite hobby wouldn’t be the same unless you had one to call your very own.

So what is it? What is the one tool you would love to see stuffed in that elongated stocking stuffer of yours?

Steven Lang
Steven Lang

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  • Gardiner Westbound Gardiner Westbound on Dec 26, 2012

    Mrs. W. surprised me with an item that will be very handy, a tripod flashlight. www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=FLASHLIGHTS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=95-111&SDesc=Mini+Tripod+Flashlight PS. She hates holding the flashlight.

  • Lumbergh21 Lumbergh21 on Dec 27, 2012

    While a lift would be awfully nice, I don't have anywhere to put it at my current residence. A scan tool would probably be the most useful thing, given that California no longer allows parts stores to provide you with error codes when the CEL comes on (only authorized automotive mechanics are allowed to provide these diagnostic services).

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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