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The Best Car Gadgets

Modern vehicles have more and more gadgets. As automobiles become even more technologically advanced, gadgets have also followed suit, most of which has since helped the automobile become a more comfortable and connected place to be.

The following are highlights of a few of the best gadgets to have found their way inside a car. Some of the gadgets in this list are already found on most brand-new vehicles, while others are aftermarket additions available at a cheap price.

OnStar – Available on all GM vehicles

Photo by Tyler via Wikimedia Commons

General Motors’ unique suite of built-in services has revolutionized the in-car infotainment experience. Offered standard on nearly every GM vehicle, OnStar provides a variety of services from the comfort of the driver’s seat, from turn-by-turn navigation to on-board, real-time vehicle diagnostics and hands-free calling. OnStar can even help you locate your vehicle in the event it is stolen. Sophisticated GPS technology allows OnStar advisors to locate your car, disable its ignition system and work with local law enforcement to slow down and eventually stop the vehicle.

Cadillac CUE – Available on select Cadillacs

Photo by stevegarfield via Flickr

The Cadillac User Experience, or CUE, merges the intuitive controls of smart phones and tablets with the in-car touchscreen, creating a user interface that is relatively simple to use and good-looking, to boot. CUE detects up to ten Bluetooth-enabled phones, allowing access to your phone’s contact list as well as other useful features such as Pandora Internet radio. According to Cadillac, CUE also uses proximity sensing technology that detects your fingertips as they come close to the screen. The screen also pulsates to acknowledge selected commands, making it much easier to use while keeping your eyes on the road ahead (2).

CarMD – $119.85

Photo of CarMD’s logo by mhaithaca via Flickr

While OnStar and CUE offer built-in vehicle diagnostic capabilities, some used car owners might not be so lucky. CarMD’s vehicle diagnostic system takes a peek at your car’s current state of health while offering accurate diagnosis that could help you save money on auto repairs. Designed to work with the vast majority of vehicles from 1996 and up, the CarMD device connects to your vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostic (OBD-II) port and scans your vehicle’s trouble codes. The device also connects to a Mac or PC via special software to deliver a more accurate picture of your vehicle’s health.

If you have an extended vehicle warranty, you can use products like CarMD to accurately pinpoint and repair possible vehicle trouble spots at little to no cost before they transform into potentially costly and time-consuming repairs.

SuperTooth HD – $129.99

Bluetooth connectivity is a standard feature on most new cars, but what about the used car owner who doesn’t have Bluetooth but wants to enjoy hands-free mobile calls? SuperTooth HD provides add-on capability for practically any Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. The system is incredibly user-friendly thanks to the prominent control knob. With two microphones, two speakers and included voice recognition software, SuperTooth HD offers excellent voice clarity and ease of use. SuperTooth HD also comes with an automatic light dimming feature that adapts to ambient light, thereby reducing nighttime distractions that could result in dangerous driving, according to the official website.

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