A year and a half after Northside man buys car he canโt register, seller promises to help
Buyer beware! A northside man who says he paid thousands of dollars in cash for a vehicle including tax, title, and license, tells KPRC 2 that nearly a year and a half later, he still hasnโt been able to register the vehicle in his name after the DMV told him he needed more paperwork.
Get these items out of your car ahead of freezing temperatures
With bitterly cold temperatures expected across much of Texas, hopefully you are taking steps to make sure your family, your pets, and your home are ready for the frigid weather. Before you settle in to ride out this winter blast though, you should check the inside of your car to make sure you didnโt accidentally leave something outside that could cause an expensive mess.
Dangerous vehicle secrets? Storm-damaged vehicles from other states could end up in Houston
As used car prices continue to rise, and with the shortage of new vehicles, you might have to really shop around to find what you need. You might not be able to tell if the used car you are buying has storm damage. Learn how major damage is concealed and what you can do to find out all the facts about a used car.
Touring the DeLorean factory
Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on Houston Life, Melanie Camp is going โBack to the future!โ Did you know the famous car in the movie, โBack to the Futureโ was a DeLorean and there is a DeLorean factory right here in Houston? Melanie Camp give us a tour of the factory, plus whatโs new coming out of the company, Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on KPRC 2.
Here are the doโs and donโts when it comes to saving money on car insurance
Everyone wants to save as much money as they can when it comes to shopping for car insurance. But do you know enough about it to ask an agent the right questions? Or what top factors insurance companies consider to get you the best coverage? What you donโt know could hurt you and your wallet big time.
Caught on camera: Surveillance video shows driver slamming into several parked cars in Galveston
GALVESTON โ Several parked cars were destroyed in Galveston when a speeding vehicle smashed into them. Kimberly Robinson returned to find out her cars had been towed and she had to pay to get them back. โWhen I came back Thursday morning about 8:30, I realized both of the work vehicles were gone,โ she said. โI donโt think I should have to be responsible for any of it, to be honest. The supplies in Robinsonโs work cars about $,1500 each.
Airbnb for cars: Here is how you can rent your car for extra income
Instead of just letting the car sit in the driveway, some are using their vehicles to earn extra income. Since the pandemic started, George Johnson has met a steady stream of people who want to rent his vehicles. Johnson made enough money that he purchased his Mercedes just to rent it out as an income stream. Turo hosts your listing and lets you deal with delivering the car to renters, but peer-to-peer car rental company Avail does all of the work for you. You can expect to make about $25 a day and if Avail doesnโt rent your car while youโre gone, you get free airport parking and a free car wash.
Get these items out of your car ahead of freezing temperatures
With bitterly cold temperatures expected across much of Texas this week, hopefully you are taking steps to make sure your family, your pets, and your home are ready for the frigid weather. Before you settle in to ride out this winter blast though, you should check the inside of your car to make sure you didnโt accidentally leave something outside that could cause an expensive mess.
VIDEO: Couple carves a life-sized Ferrari out of snow
FILE - This Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 file photo shows a Ferrari logo on a car outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)A husband-and-wife duo took two days to carve a red Ferrari completely out of snow. Viral video captured by Donata Bugiene, of Lithuania, showed her husband packing snow up to his height and started carving to resemble the Italian sports car using a wooden spatula. It took two days and environmentally-friendly spray paint to bring the Ferrari up to โlife-sizedโ standards, according to the couple. Bugiene told Storyful she and her husband measured the dimensions, similar to the Ferrari LaFerrari model.
How much does it really cost to drive your car?
Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes breaks down AAAโs numbers for the average annual driving costs for 2020. Bottom lineThe average annual driving cost is the highest on record since AAA began tracking expenses in 1950 at $9,561. Since 1950, AAA has published itโs annual Your Driving Costs study that breaks down the cost of owning a new car, including depreciation, finance, fuel, insurance, license/registration/taxes and maintenance/repair. Texans love their pickup trucks โ but they have the highest overall driving costs-- 75.39ยข/mile. These are then combined and averaged to determine the overall cost to own a new car in 2020.
These are the 10 best, worst times to buy a used car in Houston
Shopping for a pre-owned vehicle? According to a new study by iSeeCars, December is one of the best times to buy a used car in Houston as there 13% more deals than average, and 18.1% more deals on Christmas Eve, specifically. Experts at iSeeCars analyzed over 32 million used car sales, comparing specific times of the year to determine when car shoppers would find savings of at least 5% which amount to over $1,100 off the price of the average pre-owned vehicle. The study found the holiday season to be one of the best times of year to find deals; however, the study discovered better deals tend to be available at the beginning of the year. Here are the best and worst times to buy a used car in Houston:Top 10 Best Times to Buy a Used Car, according to iSeeCarsMartin Luther King Jr. Day January February New Yearโs Eve/New Yearโs Day Christmas Eve December March Veterans Day November Thanksgiving/Black FridayTop 10 Worst Times to Buy a Used Car, according to iSeeCars
Hertz selling 182K trucks and SUVS under market value after filing for bankruptcy due to coronavirus pandemic
HOUSTON โ The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on car rental companies, including one that plans to sell a fleet of cars to try and stay afloat amid the economic slowdown. Car rental company Hertz has begun selling its fleet of cars more than 10% below market value after filing for bankruptcy. According to CNN Business, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the sharp decline in air travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Several cars, such as the 2018 Nissan Sentra, are being sold for $10,395, almost 12% below market value. Those interested in purchasing from Hertz can shop online and have the vehicle delivered within a 75-mile radius.
Ask 2: What happens when 2 cars come to a four-way stop at the same time?
As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: What happens when two cars come to a four-way stop at the same time? Answer: If two vehicles come to a stop at a four-way stop, at the same time and are side-by-side, the right-of-way goes to the person who is on the right. This is not an optional yield sign. The law states "the operator of a vehicle approaching an intersection with a stop sign shall stop."
โU Do It Auto Repairโ is a self-service auto garage perfect for DIYโers
HOUSTON โ โU Do It Auto Repairโ is a self-service auto garage, that is an alternative method to your standard car maintenance solution. โU Do It Auto Repairโ will supply you with all of the tools you will need, safety equipment, and shop equipment. They also have womenโs-only auto classes! So for anyone who feels uncomfortable or intimidated, the female auto techs will easily break down exactly how to perform certain tasks. Get more info about โU Do It Auto Repair,โ HERE.
Donโt miss Wrinkles the Art Car on Jay Lenoโs Garage Wednesday night
HOUSTON โ You can catch a Houston artist and car enthusiast on Jay Leno's Garage Wednesday night on CNBC. Jay Leno's Garage is a weekly show on CNBC where the comedian reviews cars, motorcycles and interviews celebrities behind the wheel. โItโs a hairless cat and I just love them, but my family does not like them as much as me. Kimi usually strips the art car every year and recreates it but she says Wrinklesโ newfound fame has earned her an extra life. You can see Kimi and Wrinkles on Jay Lenoโs Garage at 9 p.m. CT on CNBC.
Local dad celebrates daughterโs graduation with some true Houston swag
HOUSTON โ Seniors across Houston are being celebrated in unique ways, but one local graduate got a truly Houston-style celebration. Bianca Huerta shared a post on Twitter that said โ(I) didnโt get to walk the stage, but my dad made sure my graduation was special.โIn the video on the post, Huerta showed a parade of one-of-a-kind slab cars complete with swangas, made famous by Houston rappers like Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, Paul Wall and Bun B.Congrats, Bianca and class of 2020! Take a look at Huertaโs video below:
Your car knows secrets about you. Hereโs how to protect yourself
When we sell a car, or return a rental car, a similar thought may not cross our minds, but cybersecurity experts say it should. This month a security researcher described buying old Tesla infotainment systems online and finding personal information such as the home addresses and WiFi passwords of the previous owners. Searches of eBay reveal that infotainment systems from brands such as BMW, Ford, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz are currently available for sale. "If you pair your phone with a rental car, and that car gets in a crash two years later, personal information about you could be pulled off it." In the long run, consumer awareness of the issue may be needed most to be impactful and better protect personal data.
My car has been sitting and the battery is dead. Now what?
And what if your car wonโt start because of a dead battery? To revive a dead battery, first make sure each car is in park or neutral -- and turned off. Then, connect one end of the cable to the positive terminal of the donor battery, and then connect the other end to the positive terminal of the dead battery. Let the dead battery charge for a few minutes, and then turn the ignition on the vehicle of the dead battery to see if it starts. This only applies if you:a) Have someone to take you to a repair shop or the store right away to buy a new battery.
Free oil change, you say? Mazda shows appreciation to healthcare and frontline workers
Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) announced it will provide free standard oil changes and enhanced cleaning services for U.S. healthcare and frontline workers at participating dealers nationwide. The program, which began April 16, is not limited to Mazda owners and is available for most makes and models from other manufacturers. Mazda said the Essential Car Care program will invest a minimum of $5 million as part of the initiative. The program is supposed to run through May 4. Many Houston-area Mazda dealers have jumped on board to offer their services as a way to thank healthcare workers within the community.
Donโt ignore your vehicle! 5 ways to prevent auto troubles as your car sits idle
Here are five tips to avoid problems that can come up with sitting vehicles:Make sure to run your car every once in a while. But just in case a car isnโt being used or a two-car household has turned into a one-car household where the other vehicle is just sitting idle, running the car is still vital. Gas does degrade over time, and in some cases, it will go bad in less than two months if a car remains idle. In addition to running the car, treating it with fuel stabilizer can extend the life of your carโs gas. If the gas already is bad, there are ways to remove the bad gas from the tank, according to itstillruns.com.
Everything you need to know about the 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour coming to Houston
HOUSTON โ Houston has been chosen as one of the 18 nation-wide stops for the 2020 Hot Wheels Legends Tour. According to a news release, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour is the worldโs largest traveling car show where people can see all kinds of custom cars. According to the Houston event page, there will be a fleet of Hot Wheels-esque custom cars, photo ops, a die-cast vending truck, a Hot Wheels kid zone and more. You can read the contest rules and judging criteria on the Hot Wheels website. When is the Houston stop?
You wonโt believe the $250K car we found at the Houston Auto Show
HOUSTON โ The 37th Houston Auto Show rolls back into town this weekend, and itโs bigger and better than ever before. In fact, itโs the largest auto show of the South, and it promises todayโs newest vehicles from the worldโs top automakers. Aston Martin DB11 retailing at $250,323.50, featured in the Houston Auto Show (KPRC)1929 Stutz Blackhawk Sport Roadster featured in the Houston Auto Show (KPRC)Nissan Frontier featured at the Houston Auto Show (KPRC)Custom Louis Vuitton print on Lamborghini featured in the Houston Auto Show (KPRC)Land Rover Defender featured in the Houston Auto Show (KPRC)Also make sure to check out the all-new Land Rover Defender, which is back after a 5-year production hiatus. Check out some of the must-see modelsThe Houston Auto Show is the first place in 2020 where you can see, hear, touch, and even drive, the most heart-racing cars, trucks, modified vehicles, and ultra-luxuries. Us walking into the Houston Auto Show, pretending we can afford all these luxury cars
10 cars that could make great investments in 2020
The collector car experts at Hagerty have, helpfully, put together a list of affordable cars that they think are great to buy now as investments โ and for fun. value today: $47,800 - $55,9001990-1995 Volkswagen CorradoThe VW Corrado was very different from the similar-looking but better-known Scirocco. value today: $82,200-$89,6001971-1980 International Harvester ScoutThe Harvester Scout offers a similar look and experience to the much-loved classic Ford Bronco, but at a lower price. value today: $40,700-$51,2001984-2001 Jeep CherokeeThe original Cherokee was a huge hit in its day and it remains popular even now. value today: $20,500-$30,300
A $210,000 supercar for everyday driving?
GT cars are, essentially, sports cars engineered for genuine enjoyment in the world we actually live and drive in. Given the inherent conflicts between performance, practicality and comfort, a good touring car can be really hard to create. The new McLaren GT shows just how hard it is to get this recipe right. Driving a car like the McLaren 570S or McLaren 720S is everything you'd imagined driving a supercar would be. Most of it felt familar from driving other McLaren cars.
Cars We Remember: The best and worst of 1950 decade car design
For whatever reason, and following wonderful years of car design from 1955 through 1957, most every manufacturer, in my opinion, added too much chrome, added unnecessary curb weight in an unattractive boxy design. Some of the best designs that decade, in my opinion, were the 1957 Chevy, 1957 Ford, 1956 Plymouth, 1953 Buick Skylark, 1956 Continental, 1956 Studebaker Hawk, 1956 Mercury, 1956 Chrysler 300 and 1956 Packard Caribbean. And after so many nice cars in 1957, car enthusiasts really looked forward to the 1958 model year with much gusto. The 1958 Ford was at least acceptable in looks, but still nowhere near the 1957 models in aesthetic approval. Even the Ford Thunderbird, which made great impressions as a two-seater sports car from โ55 through โ57, fell to the 1958 car design curse.