CAR TALK

Pricey Car or truck Chat: Our 15-calendar year-old grandson is 6 ft 5 inches and rising. He will be driving following yr and is hoping to uncover a automobile that will “in good shape” him. Any ideas? — Sharon

Dear READER: A thing with a sunroof?

Off the top of my head — no pun meant — the autos we’ve driven not too long ago with the most headroom have been pickup vans, which are developed with home for cowboy hats.

The Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport also experienced excellent headroom, as did — shockingly — the Subaru Forester, and the Nissan Leaf.

You could Google “most effective automobiles for tall folks” to get some additional strategies for your purchasing checklist, Sharon. Appear for at minimum 40 inches of headroom.

If probable, glimpse for a electrical power seat with top adjustment. That way, he can decreased it all the way down and make place for his bouffant.

Dependent on how Junior’s parts suit together, leg place could be equally, if not much more, critical. So, glance for 40-moreover inches of entrance leg area, also.

And when you’ve got concluded resolving this dilemma for him, Sharon, your up coming letter should really be to “Doorway Converse.”

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Expensive Motor vehicle Communicate: I read through your column every week. Possessing been in pest manage for 32 several years, I’d like to comment on your posting about rodents chewing on Toyota engine sections.

Getting originated from Asia, rats have an intuition centered on the bamboo they chewed there, due to the fact they usually observed drinking water or bugs within. For the reason that of this, they have an intuition to chew spherical matters. It is very typical, from wires to hoses. I’ve found the damage they can do.

My information: Attempt not to keep your vehicle outside. Make absolutely sure your garage door and any other entrances to your garage have fewer than a ¼-inch gap to the floor.

And final, but most importantly, check out not to shop points on the ground of the garage from the walls. Retain issues at the very least 9 inches off the ground — on cabinets if attainable. That’s their most important hideout, and if they’re uncovered, they will not likely want to hang all-around. — Dave

Pricey READER: Thanks, Dave. I’m not up on my ancient rat record. But I am going appropriate out to the garage now to move my crisis offer of cheddar cheese off the floor.

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Pricey Auto Discuss: I took my 2017 Nissan Murano Platinum to the dealership for my 30,000-mile support. The front brake pads had been Okay, but they said my rear pads were down to 3 millimeters and desired to be replaced. They instructed changing those rear pads and resurfacing the rear rotors at a expense of $330.

I then took my car to a pair of impartial fix outlets for next and 3rd viewpoints. The 2nd shop mentioned I only need brake pads on the back, and that the rotors have been not that lousy. Moreover, they claimed, rotors are unable to be resurfaced on newer Nissan designs. His estimate was $220.

The third shop advised me he did not want to just change the pads without the need of new rotors. He stated the old rotors would make the new pads squeal simply because they were being glazed. He also reported you won’t be able to resurface the rotors, so they require to be replaced. His value is $380.

So, who is yanking my chain? Is the dealer correct that you can resurface the rotors on newer Nissans, or do the independents know some thing the supplier would not? — Al

Pricey READER: Technically, any rotor can be eradicated and resurfaced. The dilemma is whether or not it can make any feeling to do it.

We have not resurfaced a rotor in 10 yrs.

It really is just not value it any longer. Rotors are rather reasonably priced, and for the $50 variation in price, you can have new rotors relatively than thinner, resurfaced rotors.

If it ended up my vehicle, I’d go to dude No. 3 and just do anything all at once and be done with it. But dependent on the range of thoughts you sought out, Al, together with mine, I am guessing you happen to be of a frugal nature. In which situation, you can surely use guy No. 2, and just do the rear pads.

If he has checked the rear rotors and is guaranteed they have got some daily life still left, and they’re not warped, he can deglaze them for you with a sanding disc when he improvements the pads. In fact, that might be all the vendor supposed to do.

Your mechanic really should make guaranteed he works by using all the proper components and places the anti-squeal paste on the again of the pads when he installs them. And you could be good.

And the worst matter that will come about? Your rear brakes could make some noise. If they do, and it bothers you more than enough, you can constantly go back and have the dude put in new rear rotors then.

You will have to fork out for the labor yet again, which I know is heading to frost you, Al. So if you get to that position, there is normally ear plugs. Great luck.

Ray Magliozzi dispenses guidance about vehicles in Motor vehicle Discuss each and every Saturday. Electronic mail him by visiting cartalk.com