Shopping for a car enthusiast is difficult. Buying car parts requires knowledge of the car’s year, make, and model. Probably more than that, and we haven’t even dug into the owner’s tastes. But, you can buy them something that isn’t just for their car, but something that is for cars in general. Car electronics are an excellent choice. Something like a dash cam or radar detector is pretty universal across all car brands.
In this gift guide, I’ve assembled a number of my own choices for things I would like to get as a gift this holiday season if I didn’t already own some of them. Sorry, Febbo family members, you aren’t getting off that easy. I’ve selected gift ideas in different price ranges. There’s an OBD II scanner that’s below $100. There’s a dash cam and jump starter just over a hundred bucks. Then we have other gifts spaced out and up from there.
So this holiday season, get the car enthusiast on your list something they’ll love. It may even be something they’d never buy for themselves but have always wanted. They’ll think of you every time they go for a drive.
Top Gifts In Car Electronics
Best Dash Cam: Cobra SC 250R 4K Dual, Front/Rear Dash Cam
A 4K driving companion with a perfect photographic memory, and eyes in the back of its head. This is one of Cobra’s newer dash cam models and provides twice the resolution of previous models making it one of the best gifts in car electronics. The SC 250R offers a 3-inch color screen, front and rear cameras with the option to add an interior camera, and can use microSD memory cards up to 32GB. It also has built-in dual-band wifi, GPS, G-sensors and can also connect via Bluetooth. Installation will be a little more involved than just a forward-facing camera. But everything you need to do it is in the box.
A Discrete Alternative: Cobra SC 120 QHD Universal Dash Cam
After testing several dash cams this year, my personal preference is for small and simple units that will disappear behind my rearview mirror. This is about as small as you get. But it still offers 1440P resolution, multiple recording modes, and cloud video storage. It connects with the Drive Smarter App, which will also warn you of speed traps and road conditions. This installs in minutes and is easy to set up, even for people who’ve never had a dash cam before.
Protection From Themselves: Escort – Redline 360c Radar Detector System
This is not only Escort’s top-of-the-line radar detector, it also happens to be its best-selling model. The Redline 360c is invisible to radar detector detectors. Yes those are a thing. It detects: X, K, Ka, Ka Wide, and Laser. It even connects to an App that will communicate with other users to identify speed traps and cameras. This model also has a color display, voice alerts, and directional arrows to tell you where the radar is coming from. It’s only expensive until it saves the person from a ticket.
A Handle on Their Problems: Gearwrench Everyday Diagnostic Tool Bluetooth OBDII Tester
All cars sold in the United States, 1996 and newer, use an OBD-II system. That means you can plug a device like this into the OBD-II port, and it will scan the car for faults. Normally, you’ll do this anytime you have a check engine light(CEL). Not only will this tell you what the fault kid is, but it will also allow you to reset the CEL if you think the problem is an anomaly or you fix it. Maybe not among the typical car electronics you’d normally think of, but worth having nonetheless.
I normally don’t recommend the dongle type scanners that use an App. That’s simply because once the company stops supporting the App, you no longer have a functioning tool. But, since this is from Gearwrench, a reputable tool company, I’m sure it will have support for years to come. This is a simple to use product that will come in handy to any car owner with a 1996 or newer vehicle and even includes free software updates.
A Subtle Subwoofer: Pioneer TS-WX140DA 170-Watt Compact Active Subwoofer with Wired Bass Remote
Most car audio systems are lacking in the low end. And that even drags down the performance of the midrange drivers. If your giftee is like me and doesn’t want to sacrifice trunk space for a subwoofer box, then an under-seat unit like this Pioneer is a perfect solution. This subwoofer is self-powered with a 170-Watt amp and is roughly the size of a ream of paper. It comes with a wired remote to easily adjust it on the fly and will offer a huge improvement to sound quality in terms of the price and space required.
A Break for Their Poor Phone: Garmin DriveSmart 76, 7-inch Car GPS Navigator
If the person you’re shopping for doesn’t like using their tiny phone screen for navigation and doesn’t have CarPlay, then a stand-alone system is the best solution. Garmin is the industry standard when it comes to navigation. This 7-inch system has a sharp, bright, hi-resolution screen, an easy-to-use interface, and, best of all, the maps are stored in memory. It keeps working even when you don’t have cell service. It does still Bluetooth to your smartphone. So it will give you hands-free calling, traffic, fuel prices, and even weather reports. The DriveSmart installs in seconds and is easily removed for security.
The Best Jump-Starter: Schumacher Electric Jump Starter, Portable Power Pack, 1250A
There are tons of jump starters on the market. I recently found out that some of the specs of all of these are allowed to be self-reported, reinforcing my belief in the importance of buying from a known and reputable brand. Schumacher has been around for over 70 years; I think it’s earned some trust. This jump starter not only provides 1250 amps to get your vehicle started, but it also works as a power bank. It will keep your devices charged through USB. Every car should have a jump starter and a tire inflator in the trunk. This is one of the best choices whether it’s for you or a gift.
