Keeper 07203 Waterproof Roof Top Cargo Bag - 15 Cubic Feet Review.

 "Better than expected" 2009-10-11
By PJ (Union, KY)

WOW - this holds alot - we even had extra room. We will pack more in the carrier next time. We are using this on camping trips. It rained and everything stated 100% dry. The straps work wonderful. I can't stay enough about this product!

 "worked well!" 2009-04-22
By Sleepless in Seattle

This arrived in time for a big trip, and we were able to fit so much into the cargo bag. I don't know what we would have done without it. It worked great thru a long trip and lots of tough weather.

 "Cargo bag" 2009-10-15
By Paul Andreasen (N.Y.)

This product held two large suitcases similar to ones purchased at Wal-Mart and two small bags. Drove from Jupiter, Florida to Utica New York. I used two ratchet tie downs in an "X" shape across the bag to be sure of nothing coming loose. At speeds as high as 87 m.p.h., none of the straps were loose upon arrival. Hit lots of bugs and minimal rain, suitcases were clean and dry!

 "Excellent Overhead Cargo Bag" 2009-09-03
By Jaideep Ganguly (VA)

I was skeptical buying a cheap soft rooftop bag like this one, but after reading the reviews, I decided to take a chance. I am not much of a rooftop-cargo carrier myself, but had to carry a lot of things from VA to IL and back. That's almost 650 miles one way, with official highway speeds of 70 miles/hr. (Needless to say, I did a little over that).

This bag was pretty easy to place and secure on the roof, could carry an unbelievable amount of cargo, and held up extremely well throughout the trip. I did encounter a couple of hours of pouring rain, and upon arriving home, was surprised to find the contents dry!

If you are the occassional cargo carrier, look no further. This is a great bag, and will do as good as any other $200 bag.

 "Great Product - Put to the Test" 2009-11-02
By Zag

Arrived quickly, no problems.

Worked great. Super value for the money.

We drove about 500 miles through sideways blowing snow and rain and everything was completely dry when we got home.

Very pleased, would reccommend to everyone.

Tim

Battery Tender 021-0128 Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger Review.

 "A Must for Garage Queens" 2007-06-22
By F. Dumanoir (Katy, Texas United States)

Every time I want to fire up my old 71 Datsun (that's Nissan for those of you younger than 30) 240 Z there's a good chance that the battery has drained down and that I can't start it! Looking around at car forums I read about this nifty little gadget....It's like a battery trickle charger....sort of. Whereas it's not recommended to keep a trickle charger hooked up all the time, this one has circuitry to limit the current and sense when the battery needs charging. It only charges at 1.25 amps which is easier on the battery.

I've had it on for a month now and it's great. The first couple of days, the red light was on indicating charging. Since then it's been on green and the car starts right up. I live in Houston where the heat and humidity can be just as brutal on batteries as the cold.

I highly recommend this "tender" for those that have cars that stay unused for long periods.

As other reviews have mentioned it comes with a set of adapters that allow you to permanently attach pigtails to the battery posts and then you can quickly connect the tender without having to use the alligator clips (also included).

For the price and free shipping you can't go wrong!

 "A Doozie" 2008-03-06
By Hal (Bethesda, Md USA)

This little gizmo is dynamite.

I have a 4 year old Accord that, due to circumstance, only has about 4400 miles. Rarely driven...and what driving is done is mostly at night.

Sat for a week once in very cold weather...dead battery.

Ordered this. Hooked it up. 100% charge and the battery is very powerful once again.( had thought I would probably need a new one).

It's very small size makes it extremely easy to use and store. And it will not overcharge, so you do not have to babysit the process.

It's LEDs glow red when charging. Green and red blink once 80% has been achieved. Solid green at 100%.

It did, in very cold weather, take a long time to establish a full charge on my almost completely discharged battery. The battery would have been usable in a few hours, but 100% took close to 18.

Highly recommended.

 "A+ Product" 2007-03-04
By Glenn M. Soffen (Long Island, NY)

I have an older version of this charger that I bought in the mid 90's. I used it to maintain my garaged Mustang's battery over the winter months for many years. I made a cigarette lighter adapter so all I needed to do was to plug it in instead of using the alligator clips. I have to say this thing is dead reliable! It always kept my battery in prime condition. I love it and recommend it highly.

 "5 stars for ease of use woman or man!" 2007-03-08
By Chili Pepper

I haven't used any other tender for a battery and this was my first purchase of this type of product. It was very simple to hook up and it included the wires to "pig-tail" the tender to my battery. That was great becasue I don't want to have to remove the seat and remove the battery cover every time that I use it. With the "pig-tails," you just hook them to your battery terminals and place the wire where you can run it down underneath the battery box and out the side of the bike. You then put the battery box cover back on and the seat back on and you never have to deal with them again. The wire comes out the side of the bike and I used a plastic cable tie around the frame to keep the wire in place. The wire has a rubber cap, so when you want to ride, you just unplug the wire and put the cap on. You're done. It worked great from the moment I plugged it in. I would have no reason to try any other brand of battery tender.

 "nice small charger" 2007-05-12
By M. Karkkainen

I use this to maintain a strong battery charge on a vehicle that rarely gets driven over the winter. I opted to use the quick connector leads so I didn't have to worry about propping the hood up to clear the red and black clamps on the battery terminals.

Battery Tender 021-0123 Battery Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger Review.

 "The Tender Jr. Is The Same As The Tender Plus , Just Less Amps!" 2009-09-21
By Shawn Murphy (Portland, OR USA)

In the analysis of buying a Tender Jr. vs. a Tender Plus, the main issues are time to full charge, battery size, & parasitic draw. The Tender Plus (1.25) will get the job done twice as fast as the Tender Jr. (0.75). Both now are exactly the same architecturally, save it be the charging power. They both are temperature compensated, both are 4 stage, both have the same sophisticated computer chip technology running the charging process, etc... I spoke to The Deltran(The Manufacturer) customer service department on 2 different occasions, making sure I had the facts right. The .pdf file descriptions are updated, but their website as of today's date is not updated yet. The Jr. & The Plus are EXACTLY the same architecturally!!! Because The Plus will bring a battery to full charge twice as quickly as The Jr. will, The Plus has a much better chance at overcoming a parasitic draw on your batteries power. Modern cars have sophisticated electronics that require constant power 24/7. Check all your battery connections & your alternator belt!!! If the connections are not clean & tight, clean it with original coca-cola and a rag / brush, make sure they fit snugly. If your alternator belt is too loose it will not charge your battery properly. If you only want to buy one Tender, don't cheap out, buy The Plus if you have the $ to do so. If you want to buy 2 or 3 Tenders to make sure all your batteries are fully charged, The Jr. will probably do just fine. I personally alternate The Jr. between 3 different cars, if I had it to do over again, I would buy The Plus instead as I am not a patient person. Both models will turn off in 72 hours automatically if a full charge is not reached, & neither will start charging without at least 3 volts stored in the battery before initiating a charge. If you left your lights on for 4 days like I did, get a jump, & drive your car around for 20 minutes before hooking up any Tender to charge your dead battery. Either of these 2 Battery Tenders are the best in the world, don't bother doing anymore research, I have done it all for you. Buy one or buy both!!! I suspect I will be buying The Plus model as soon as an awesome hot deal hits The Plus! These babies save you $$$, time & frustration!!! Get the 25 foot extension if you want to charge a car that sits in the driveway, it's only $12.

 "excellent gadget & easy to use" 2006-03-09
By A. Flores (NC)

The battery Tender Jr. comes with 1 set of permanent mount ring terminals & 1 set of mini jumper cable clamps so you can hardwire 1 car & use the clamps whereever they are needed.The 1-way quick disconnect on the cord makes things very easy to hook up & unhook. And it is maintaining my battery fine, no more dead car.

 "Great motorcycle battery tender" 2006-11-03
By Scooter freak

This is an easy to install and use battery tender. If you store your motorcycle during the winter you should use one of these to extend the life of your battery.

 "HIGHLY RECOMMENED" 2007-07-06
By S. Anderson (New York)

Great Product. I needed a way to keep my minivan battery topped off during extended idle time because my electronic rust protection device was draining the battery. This product does the job beautifully! The only trouble that I ran into initially was that the charger would not start charging because my battery voltage had dropped below 3 volts (this is a safety feature built into the unit). Once I got the voltage up above 3 volts (by briefly attaching jumper cables to another vehicle), it charged just fine. It took a few hours initially, but now I keep the battery connected while the vehicle sits in the garage.

 "What I need for my ATV" 2008-02-28
By Phil of Halfway

This charger is perfect for keeping the charge on my ATV that I use for plowing. I need to be assured I can get my plow accounts taken care of and can't afford a "no start". I had bought a new battery, so I thought I'd not have to worry. Not so. Very cold mornings it just wouldn't have enogh charge to start. Now there is plenty of power for a quick start. Easy to install taking only a few minutes to attach to the battery. The plug-in cord is long enough for my needs (~8') without needing an extension cord. The only way to go to be assured of a start every time.

Meguiar's X2020 Supreme Shine Microfiber - Pack of 3 Review.

 "Best microfiber cloths I ever used." 2006-10-18
By Katy Lake (The People's Republic of New Jersey)

I bought these not for my car, but to clean stainless steel in my kitchen, wash mirrors, that sort of thing.

I can honestly say I've bought just about every microfiber cloth out there, and none work as well as these. I can clean the stainless in my kitchen in minutes, with no streaks, no lint, just shine, and without using chemicals (just some white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in warm water.)

I probably added a few years to my life with all the time I've saved with these cloths. I highly recommend them!

 "Hide them from your wife!" 2008-01-23
By C. J. Leach (Midwest, United States)

High quality super-soft microfiber. Excellent for cleaning and drying without leaving behind water-spotting or scratches. Use on prized exterior paint and in the interior also, with or without a detailing spray.

Really, you might want to buy an extra pack for your wife. They are just as useful inside the house for dusting fine-finish furniture, or computer/audio equipment that you don't want to scratch (like dark glossy plastic surfaces).

My towel/chamois collection have now been demoted to wiping up motor oil spills. Try a pack.

 "They are a good value" 2008-09-06
By D. Wortham (TX)

At about 3 bucks a piece they are an excellent buy. As all the other 5 star reviews have noted, they are soft and versatile. They do an amazing job on windows and mirrors. They are 16x24.

I rated them 5 stars because they are excellent and an excellent value too.

If you are looking for the next level, or you really want something dedicated to just babying your paint job, then these Cobra towels ( Cobra Miracle Towel 6 Pack ***NEW*** ) are pretty awesome. These towels run about $7.80 each with shipping, they're plusher, 70/30 towels and although they are the same size, 16x24, they seem a lot bigger and they feel much nicer.

Darin

 "Throw away your chamois and get this....." 2007-09-16
By Odoardo Ramos (Venezuela)

Absolutely the best car care product I have ever bought. Its like a miracle. Much, much better, easer to use, and functional than an chamois to dry your car. Extremelly recommended.

 "Meguiar's, the good stuff!" 2006-07-10
By Jennifer M. Ryan (West Orange, NJ)

That's right! A quote from Detective Eames on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She and Goren were in a garage and she pointed out a chamois cloth and smelled it and that's when she said, "Meguiar's, the good stuff. My father used to use it on his ..."

The first time I saw that episode I didn't know what she was talking about. But I saw it the other day (on Bravo) and I got it! That's because I have become an avid fan of Meguiar's products since I bought a Mercedes 7 months ago!

This product I mostly use on the interior. It is like a magnet for wiping the dash and wood trim. You hardly need the sprays but they are good too. Keep one handy in your glove comparment.

It gives a great shine on the outside whey you use it with Meguiar's Quik Detailer Spray. Enjoy!

Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle (Aluminum) Review.

 "Great control and flow" 2007-07-07
By Vano Chu (NJ)

Got this for washing the car and it really lives up to all the good reviews on the site. The metal parts are sturdy and thoroughly armored by black rubber all around. The problem with most hardware store nozzles is that they always deliver a lower flow of water than just the uncapped hose itself. The Bon-Aire on it's lowest pressure setting mimics the high-flow/low-pressure delivery of an open hose and is great for getting 'sheeting' of the water to occur when rinsing the car after a wash which means less spotting. The spray is continuously adjustable up to a high-pressure stream (very strong) by rotating the collar and you don't have to hold the nozzle in place to maintain the setting -- unlike conventional spring-loaded nozzles. The only thing that takes getting used to is that you have to rotate the collar all the way left or right to shut off the flow, so you won't have the "instant off" action of a normal nozzle if you're working with a setting somewhere in the middle of the range. A perfectly fine trade-off for me given the other great features.

 "5+ Stars-It is What it Says it is!" 2007-06-24
By A Thoughtful Consumer (Southern Calif)

The Bon-Aire Ultimate Hose Nozzle really is the ultimate in garden hose nozzles. It will boost your water pressure to a degree that makes cleaning the deck or house a breeze. The spray is adjustable to allow the same nozzle to apply a gentle spray to water the garden plants. It turns off by twisting the head right or left. Life time warranty, price is right, nothing else needs to be added.

 "Ultimate is an understatment" 2006-09-07
By S. Amgwert (Northridge, CA, USA)

I had bought the steel version of the Bon-Aire Ultimate Hose Nozzle years ago and it was fanatastic. But this newer aluminum version with its 2-direction shut-off is even better. (2-direction shut-off means fully clockwise or fully counter-clockwise shuts off the flow of water.) Additionally, on the fan spray end of the adjustment, it turns into a low pressure bobbler before it shuts off. At the other end of the adjustment, just before the fine pinpoint power spray, it's perfect for rinsing of decks, cars, sidewalks, and driveways. I have 4 of them now... one for each hose around the house.

 "Best hose nozzle I've ever bought" 2004-04-29
By ColoXlator (Loveland, CO United States)

I'm really tired of garden hose nozzles that break or don't work properly. I ordered this on a whim and it is great. It is easy to use and control the flow of water. It's solid and it won't break.

In fact, my adult supervision (wife of 35 years) asked me to order a second one - she really likes it, too (that's more than a miracle in and of itself...). But you have discontinued the item. Get these back in stock - they are well worth it....

 "From a Fireman's perspective" 2007-01-10
By T. Frank (Seattle, USA)

As a professional city firefighter, I have high expectations from a nozzle. It must be substantial, long lasting, well made, and work everytime. This nozzle is just that. I am very pleased. In fact, I bought three: two for my home, and one for the garden hose at the firehouse.

3M Headlight Lens Restoration System Review.

 "Pleasantly Surprised" 2008-10-08
By Daugenet Breaux (Charleston, SC)

I own an 11 year old car and the headlights had become significantly glazed over. The only thing the drill doesnt come with is a drill. (which would really drive up the cost of the kit) The steps are pretty easy to restore your headlight

1. Clean the headlight and tape around the headlight edgeds to protect the paint job.

2. Use the "yellow" sanding disk with the drill attachment. The headlight will take on a more cloudy, but uniform, appearance

3. Use the "white" disk and smooth out the surface

4. Use the "gray" disk (with water) and begin the polishing of the surface

5. Finally use the "orange" foam disk with the polishing compound and complete the job.

Instructions are included with the kit and are pretty straightforward. I would say that anyone can do this job in approximately 2 hours or less. The drill attachment is WELL worth the money.

I was actually able to do two cars with one kit. Obviously this will depend on the condition of your headlights. I would recommend buying one kit per car though.

When using the kit I actually wiped off the "dust" that was created between steps. This wasnt mentioned in the instructions but I dont feel that it effected the results either. If you do the same thing then you will not see much of the "white slurry" described in the instructions when using the gray disk.

I hope this review helps and I will try to check back later to see if anyone has some comments that need answering.

 "SAVED ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS" 2008-09-07
By Michael H (Indiana, USA)

WOW! I drive a 12 year old car that is in very good shape, with the exception of the headlight lenses. I looked into replacements, they were priced at over $100 each, ouch! So while in the local AutoZone I found this kit for 17 bucks, and thought why not give it a try. It took less than an hour to have my headlights looking like new. It was also very easy to use, with all the supplies in the kit all I had to furnish was a drill. Easy, Inexpensive, and it works! I will tell everyone I know how great this product is!!

 "Shining Results" 2008-11-30
By Mike M. (Long Valley, NJ)

I was a bit sceptical about how effective this product could be for its relatively very low price. The competitive "3 and 4 stage" type products cost at least three times the price and are a lot more involved to apply. However, the 3M results were truly impressive. You do have to follow the instructions and be sure to use the foam cushion backing pad included in the kit as well as a drill with the recommended RPMs. With that said, you will get truly impressive results at a cost less than any other do-it-yourself product and certainly well below the hundred dollar plus you would have to pay a professional shop. Definitely a "best buy" and highly recommended!

 "Fantastic Product - I thought my lens was beyond repair. Not so!" 2009-07-19
By Art Diefenbach (Newport Beach, CA)

This product is just incredible. I have a 6 year old Jetta which had deep pits in the headlight lenses. They looked like they had been sand blasted. [...]. The results were fantastic. The lenses now look as good as new.

Some tips from my experience:

1. If you're going to wash your car the same day as you restore the lenses, wash after you do the lenses. Some plastic dust blows around and there is some spatter on the wet sand.

2. Be sure to really protect the surrounding paint. 3M recommends two layers of automotive masking tape, which I did. But I did cut through in two places with the edge of the sandpaper. So if there is any chance of touching the body of you car with the edge of the sandpaper, put on 3 or 4 layers of tape.

3. The kit comes with plenty of supplies: sandpaper and plastic polish. The directions warn that there may not be enough supplies, but I had plenty left over, although admittedly the Jetta headlights aren't that large. I don't see any need to buy the kit with the large bottles of plastic cleaner and polish unless you need that stuff for other projects.

4. I followed the directions exactly. I went the extra mile of doing extra passes on each level of sanding to insure I got out all the original damage and then each level of sanding scratches. I got as uniform level of appearance as I could. As the instructions say doing more at each level makes the next level easier. I also ended each level with a few passes with lower pressure.

5. I'd say the only tricky part is holding the drill steady while you sand away. It can jump around if you're not careful. I set up a stool with the appropriate height so I could rest my forearm that was holding the drill on my thigh. I held the drill with both hands and then moved it steadily across the lens. I sanded the whole lens with horizontal passes overlapping on each pass and then repeated vertical passes. I used about 10 total passes at each level.

Each lens took me about 30-45 minutes. I was skeptical that my damage could be repaired. But there is absolutely no evidence of the original damage and the lenses look as good as new. It is so satisfying to see the results, what a difference.

Oh, and the price is a terrific bargain too.

 "Great product" 2008-11-09
By J. B.

This item is simply amazing, I used it on my 2003 VW Jetta's headlights and they now look like new. I tried a different kit from auto zone and didn't work at all (complete waste of money). Just be sure to follow the instructions and take your time. 3m has also put a great video on youtube with detailed instructions. Also there is a nice write up on Popular Mechanics web site that also recommends this product (the reason I ended up buying this).

Also a friend of mine paid $100 to have his car done by a "pro" who sprayed varnish on lights. This is a bad idea, it lasted about 3 weeks and they then looked worse then before. So if your on the fence about how to polish your headlights buy this, and use a nice wax like Meguiars nxt or some other wax with UV protectant to keep them looking new. You wont be disappointed.