News & Opinion - ThrottleHolic

This Is Why Newer Cars Aren’t Better Vehicles (Generally)

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Newer cars aren't better vehicles, generally (and I say this boldly, without any fear of contradiction). But, on second thought, isn't newer better? Haven't we been told that the fewer miles a car has, the better its value is, potentially? Isn't it counterintuitive to even suggest otherwise? ...

7 Options That Need To Be Standard On Every New Car

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If you're not intentionally interested in an online detox, a feature phone with a monochrome display and no internet connectivity appears to be a deliberate attempt at self-torture. So, are these 7 options that should be standard on every new car (but are almost always not). With phones? This is...

Best Bi-Directional Scan Tool: One (1) Indisputable Winner…

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I was playing with one of my OBD II scan tools recently when it occurred to me that the tool in my hand wasn't just any professional scan tool with bi-directional capability: it was clearly the best bi-directional scan tool - and it was an undisputed winner. However, the concept of somethi...

Why I Chose the Ancel AD410: 11 Good (& Honest) Reasons

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If you've been reading my work here on ThrottleHolic (and elsewhere), you'd have noticed something by now: I venerate the Ancel AD410 code reader. I also recommend it widely for anyone looking for a reliable code reader that won't disappoint them. The important first question? Why I chose the An...

Best Used Luxury Car: 10 Reasons the 6th Gen Lexus ES Wins

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It's no longer news that I recently sold my trusty 2006 Lexus ES330 — the vehicle that started it for me full-time, as far as auto DIY is concerned. Since then, it's been very hard to get a respectable replacement, and finally, it just hit me hard that the 6th generation Lexus ES might be ...

The Challenge of Buying Bluetooth, App Powered Code Readers

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If you're a frequent reader of this website, you probably already know one thing already: I don't particularly love app powered code readers (or anything wirelessly operated, for that matter). Now, here's the thing: I make exceptions every now and then, and when a properly made scanner/code rea...

Are TopDon Scanners Any Good? A Mechanic Answers, Honestly

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Recently, a friend asked me: "Throttle, are TopDon scanners any good?" Without mincing words, I replied. However, when I thought about it, this question is one that many folks, especially vehicle owners interested in auto DIY and mechanic tools would have. So, I did what I normally do: I d...

TopDon TopScan Subscription Price: Is the Cost Worth It?

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I was having a chat with some fellow auto DIY friends when the issue of TopDon TopScan subscription price came up, after a few bottles of beer and a joke (challenging just about the mechanical proficiency of everyone on the table that evening). Despite the effect of the alcohol, there was an ac...

OBD II Bluetooth Scanners & Readers: How Reliable Are They?

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It's usually said that when/if something is cheap, there's a good reason for it. But, does that logic apply to OBD II Bluetooth scanners and code readers? Should the cheaper-than-usual price tags of the code readers and scanners push you away to more traditional (read: wired) options or should you g...

The 9 Most Useless Features Car Makers Charge You For

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In 2024 alone, a staggering 85.12 million brand-new vehicles were sold worldwide. The owners of these vehicles took delivery of them and were happy to get new, reliable means of transport to go about their daily businesses. What these buyers didn't know, however, was that the prices they paid, o...