Bimmer Botox

Kathy Renwald

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Gifts for me, under $50

National Geographic maps

I love the specificity of a GPS, but a map still has the monopoly on magic. Several years ago we drove through California with a National Geographic map; its beautiful detail on topography and sobering rendering of the San Andreas Fault gave added depth to the trip. Now, I'd like the National Geographic Guide to National Parks: West, 352 pages including 20 colour maps. $22 (US); shop.nationalgeographic.com

Glass and Surface Cleaner

It's hateful looking through a hazy windshield. Lee Valley's Glass and Surface Cleaner is a pivoting tool that promises to excel at cleaning the inside of a windshield. The triangular tool adjusts to surface angles, and is shaped to fit into corner recesses. It comes with three bonnets for cleaning and drying. $14.50; leevalley.com

Zymol Carbon Wax

I once asked a plastic surgeon how much a facelift costs and he said, "about the price of a new engine for your BMW."

My engine's fine thank you, but the paint job could use some work. Zymöl products are the Botox of the car-care world, a secret potion supposedly bonds the wax to paint. I'll choose Carbon Wax for dark cars. $49 (US); zymol.com

Gifts to give, under $100

Auto Art

Rob Ijbema's "on the road" paintings are little gems that capture everything from F1 cars to rainy days on country roads. I think Ijbema's atmospheric touch has wide appeal to all car lovers. View his work at car-a-day.blogspot.com. He says $100 will buy a 5-by-8-inch painting; shipping (from the U.K.) is extra.

Driving Sunglasses

Sunglasses cost either $29 or $300, and you're bound to lose the $300 ones. That's why the Serengeti Raven Driving Sunglasses sound like a good deal. UV-resistant lenses lighten and darken based on the shenanigans of the sun.

They're last year's model, slightly nerdy, but promise refuge from glare, a good gift for the co-pilot. $59.97 (US); amazon.com

GPS Tilt/Swivel Mount

ProClip makes vehicle mounts for all the devices we can't live without. We have a Tom Tom Go portable GPS, but it needs a better mount. A Tilt/Swivel mount, along with the Console Mount, will keep the Tom Tom tucked in. $29.99-$34.99; proclipusa.com

Gifts for me, no limit

Volkswagen GTI

Let's be mature. I'd like a Porsche 911 4S, but I'll accept a Volkswagen GTI, a six-speed hatchback would be perfect, but I am also partial to the screaming orange Fahrenheit special edition. Gigantic fun in a perky package and easy on gas. Starting at $29,575.

European Road Trip

With the sensible, but fun GTI saddled up in Canada, I'm free to book a trip of a lifetime with European Roads. I'd like the trip Yousry Bissada of Toronto booked. He picked up his own 911 4S in Stuttgart and slalomed though five countries in 18 days.

"I told them I wanted to drive four to six hours a day on fantastic roads, avoid cities and stay in great hotels."

They delivered the goods in style for about $6,000.

"They even told me where the premium parking spots were at the hotels!"

Based in Florida, but run by a Frenchman, the company is customer-focused.

Check out their custom and group driving tours at europeanroads.com

Do-it-Yourself Garage

I'd like a garage. For our cars, for the "testers," believe me it was painful to see the Audi R8 parked on the street. A "real" garage could cost a bundle; that's not in the stars. Patio Concepts Inc., based in Pefferlaw, has Canadian-made, do-it-yourself garage shelters built for tough snow conditions. A two-car unit, 18-feet-by-20-feet, costs $1,649. patioconcepts.ca

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