Getting Down and Dirty With a Classic Hood Deflector on Your Family Truckster

Ah yes - those WERE the days! Your grampa drove in to see you from Iowa in that boat of a car, complete with splash guards and hood deflector. Looking cool was not an issue for him, keeping his beast of a car safe from the bugs, sticks, and stones was what mattered. I was never quite sure how that all fit together. If keeping your car looking good, shiny, and new was so important, WHY would you dirty it all up with deflectors and mud flaps?

Well, I'm an old guy myself now, and I have learned that these bug deflector gizmos really have some aerodynamic merit, and thankfully, the folks that make these things have improved on their looks as well!!! But they still belong in another era. And perhaps another dimension!

If you ever make it to any of the great classic car shows, like the Dream Cruise on Woodward north of Detroit in August, or the MSRA Back To The 50's in June at the State Fairgrounds in St Paul - you rarely see any classic older cars there with bug deflectors. You don't see any new hot rods with them either. I can't help but wonder why that is.

I really believe, as Mr Old Guy, that these things DO serve a very useful purpose, and that they do a good job of redirecting those insane insects up and over the car windshield. Or at least higher up onto the windshield! I have ridden in some cars with the bug guards attached, and you wind up with a clear space up to about the midpoint of the windshield. From there up is an even larger congregation of dead insects, so you wind up looking through the bottom half of the windshield. The good news is that it is clean and clear. The bad news is you're looking so low that the bug deflector is now in your line of sight, and, of course, in the way!!

My hope remains with the automobile designers and manufacturers, who, I'm confident, will eventually figure out a way to mold this aerodynamic marvel right into the front end of the vehicle! With all of the videos and commercials you see of them testing their cars in the wind tunnels, seems like a no-brainer to me! But for now, you can find a lot of decent looking hood deflectors on line at the numerous aftermarket auto accessories web stores. The looking COOL part remains "iffy" at best. Perhaps if you put some flames on it......

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What You Should Look for in A Family Car

Shopping for a family car should involve looking for a car that fits your family's size, includes important safety features, and will allow your family to travel in comfort. You will want a family car that is large enough. When deciding on the size of car to purchase, consider how many people are currently in your family and whether or not you anticipate any additions to your family size in the near future. If you are a family of five and growing, the addition of one more member will cause you to outgrow many models. Additionally, if your family often travels with guests, extended family members, or your children regularly bring home friends; you will want a family car that can accommodate an extra person or two. It can be frustrating when there is no room in your car for anyone else to come along. With the current gas prices, it can also be much more economical to drive one vehicle rather than two, often justifying the expense of going bigger.

You also want your car to accommodate your children's car seats. The size of car seats can often extend beyond a compact seating space. Often a seat meant to accommodate three passengers can only realistically fit two full size car seats, another reason you might need to buy a bigger family car. Also, if your family has a pet that frequently travels with you, you also want to make sure your pet has enough room. It is important to assess your luggage needs as well, so that passenger space does not have to double as cargo room. Although there are luggage solutions for trips such as rooftop cargo carriers, a family car should be able to accommodate a large stroller or other recreational equipment commonly used by your family. You also want to make sure there is enough room for groceries and other shopping, which can often result in a large volume of temporary cargo that requires its own adequate and dedicated space.

Once you know the size of car your family needs, you can begin narrowing down the search based on other features. Since your family car will be carrying very precious cargo, safety concerns should be high on your list of selection criteria. Since you have selected cars that are big enough to accommodate your family you can expect enough seat belts for everyone. This is a great start but not enough. But not all cars are equally safe, warranting a quick comparison of safety ratings. There are also a number of added-safety features that you should look for. A family car that deactivates the airbags when a child sits in the seat can be a great feature. While side airbags are also important features to have.

Having a sensor or camera on the back of your car can increase your safety when reversing. And while child safety locks are usually a standard feature, you don't want to get caught without them. It is also important to make sure that you can access everything you need from the driver's seat with ease. Children can be quite distracting when driving and driver's do not want to have to reach or search for functions they need when driving, while possibly being distracted from behind. Lastly, you will want to consider a vehicle that is designed for your driving conditions and terrain.

Now that you have found cars that meet your family size and safety wishes, you can begin the fun part of car shopping and look for all the luxuries and features that will keep your family traveling entertained and comforted.

This article gives advice on what to look for in a new family car and the things that you should be considering when making a decision on a vehicle.

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