Top Ten Automotive Gift Ideas for Your Car Lover

Know someone who's crazy for cars or hears the call of the open road? Here are some great automotive gifts in a range of prices ($100 or less).

1.You don't have to be as rich or crazy as the parents on MTV's Super Sweet Sixteen, who buy their spoiled teenagers BMWs and Land Rovers, to treat your car lover to a luxury car. Hertz rents Jaguars, Infinitis and Audis for around $100 a day. This doesn't include a few small fees but does include unlimited mileage. It's a fun treat for someone who would never be able to afford a luxury vehicle.

2.Car enthusiasts love a nice shiny vehicle. There are many car cleaning kits available or you can put together your own. Armor All carries gift packs which are carried at Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Family Dollar, and Sears. The packs include tire protectant, glass wipes, car wash gel, and original protectant. Target has the gift pack on sale for $19 on Black Friday.
You can also put together your own with products from dollar and discount stores.
Buy a $1 plastic bucket and fill with some inexpensive car wash liquid, a chamois, wax, glass cleaner, and all-purpose protectant spray or wipes.

3.Every car owner needs to get their oil change. So why not buy the driver on your list a certificate for an oil, lube and filter service? For a full service change that includes a multi-point inspection, vacuum, and filling of fluids, you're probably looking at around $40. However, for a basic oil and lube, you can easily find service outlets that charge $20 or less.

4.Nothing makes a car look better than a car wash and in the northern states snow and rust-causing salt is on its way. While many auto enthusiasts enjoy washing their own vehicle, sometimes that's not an option especially mid-winter. There's a wide range of prices and services available. A basic car wash and interior vacuum runs around 10 or 12 dollars. A central Ohio business known as Spot Free Car Wash sells Christmas packages including 12 ULTIMATE washes (including front and rear high-pressure wash, underbody & rocker spray, clear coat hot wax, Triple Foam Conditioner, SpotFree Rinse) for $79.

5.An emergency road kit is a vital item for drivers, especially those who don't have roadside assistance. Ace Hardware sells a Deluxe kit for $21.99 which includes gloves, rain poncho, booster cables, road flare, hose bandage, tie down cord, and fuses. To make it a kit especially for the winter season, add gloves, blanket, ice scraper, kitty litter/sand for traction, and an energy bar.

6.A AAA Membership has several benefits. It's not only useful for towing but also all roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can get discounts on auto and homeowner insurance, event tickets, travel services, shopping and dining PLUS free triptik maps and tour guidebooks. You can purchase an annual Gift Membership online or at your local AAA for only $51.

7.Sirius Satellite car radio is great for those who spend a lot of time in their vehicle. For $60, you can get the versatile and easy to use Plug and Play satellite radio. It's portable, has 10-button presets, direct entry tuning, and 3-line display.
8.There are several car magazines that would make great gifts for the recipient to enjoy throughout the year. You can find all the top-rated magazines such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and Popular Mechanics subscriptions online for only $7-12 a year.

9.Driving gloves aren't just for Italian racecar drivers. They can be fashionable and functional. Take, for example, the Bionic Driving/Dress gloves which aren't cut straight but with curves to conform to the way fingers naturally rotate. They are padded where it's needed most and scientifically proven to help prevent loss of grip strength 50% better than standard leather gloves. Yes, for $38, you can have Six Million Dollar Man hands.

10.Most of us have a lot of junk in our car; CDs, maps, sunglasses, drinks. A car organizer comes in handy for keeping things nice, neat and within quick reach, no more rooting through the glove compartment or under your seat while driving. The Case Logic Back Seat Organizer ($13) is like a backpack for the passenger seat with a variety of pockets and see-through compartments, even a special umbrella holder.