We haven’t got very long now until we’re once again celebrating Christmas. In fact, you may have already started shopping for gifts. Do you have to buy for a motoring enthusiast though and at a loose end about what to get them? If you don’t have the spare cash to order them a brand-new car, Audi dealer Vindis is on hand to offer their suggestions on some other excellent gift ideas…
A dash cam
Dash cams, which are also often referred to as dashboard cameras, should be sitting on the dashboards of every car today. This is because they can produce high-quality video footage while a motorist is getting from A to B, which could then be used to prove exactly what happened in the event of a road incident and protect someone from false insurance claims.
Drivers can also save money in the long-run by being given one of these gadgets as a Christmas present. This is due to some insurance companies now offering substantial savings on car insurance premiums for drivers who state they have dash cams fitted in their vehicle.
Just make sure the dash cam you buy has a high enough image quality. Some devices on the market record such poor footage that the shots are unable to be used when making a case that a driver isn’t to blame after a road incident. You’ll also want the dash cam to provide GPS location tracking, as this element will enable motorists to pinpoint exactly where they were at the time a road incident took place. G-force sensors which save moments of high G-force automatically are also recommended, as well as a parking mode that sees the gadget begin to record footage without a human prompt if it senses a collision or impact while a vehicle is parked up.
Forza Horizon 4
Buying for someone who wishes there were a race driver? If they own an Xbox One games console, satisfy their desires by buying them Forza Horizon 4.
It’s the latest open-world racing game that’s been developed by Playground Games. Load it up and players will be able to compete in a huge number of single-player and multiplayer races whilst collecting 450 cars from 100 licensed manufacturers. For Brits though, arguably the most appealing aspect of the game is that it’s all set in the United Kingdom — drivers could very well have many moments of thinking “I know this spot” as they race past Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, through various villages and towns which make up the Cotswolds, across the Scottish capital Edinburgh, and so many more recognisable locations.
IGN has stated that “open-world racing has never looked as good as it does in Forza Horizon 4”, while USGamer believed that the game “is one of a handful of showcase games that truly ought to sell you on an Xbox One X and a 4K TV”. Therefore, you know you’re buying someone a high-quality game that they’ll enjoy for hours too.
A Track day experience
Rather get the adrenaline pumping of a motoring enthusiast that’s not only via a TV screen? Then buy them a thrilling driving experience.
Across the UK, there’s a long list of brilliant options. Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey has both track and off-road experiences available, for instance, which take place on the iconic Brooklands motor racing circuit and a 10-acre terrain respectively. Meanwhile, the Platinum Supercar Thrill gives motorists the chance to get behind the wheel of some of the world’s most exotic supercars and put pedal to the metal for two laps of the famous Goodwood Racing Circuit.
If you’re gift shopping for a true daredevil, perhaps consider the Paul Swift Ultimate Stunt Driving Experience. Held at the home of British F1, Silverstone, this experience sees seven-time British Motorsport champion and Top Gear’s stunt driver, Paul Swift, teaching drivers all about stunt driving. Your friend or loved one will be completing 360-degree handbrake turns, J-turns and so many more pulse-pounding manoeuvres before they know it.
A National Trust membership
Does the person you’re Christmas shopping for a fan of exploring the country but not at high speeds? Then they may better appreciate a National Trust membership.
Once a member of the National Trust, your recipient will be presented with free entry to over 500 special sites across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The options also include heritage sites in Scotland which are looked after by the National Trust for Scotland, while the membership can even be used further afield than the British Isles. This is because the card grants access to awe-inspiring locations in destinations like Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe.
Tying the entire gift back to motoring enthusiasts, there’s free parking available to many National Trust car parks as part of a National Trust membership too.
Parking sensors
Drivers of many brand-new cars can now enjoy stress-free parking thanks to the technology that comes packed into the vehicles as standard. However, drivers who don’t have these features on their vehicles needn’t worry about missing out any longer.
This is because all car owners can now make use of the EchoMaster Rear Parking Display System. Made up of four matt black sensors, which blend in perfectly with the majority of black bumpers but can be fully painted too, the system also includes a colour display and buzzers so that those behind the wheel have a better understanding about how close they are to objects when carrying out a parking manoeuvre.
Recipients of this gift will soon be waving goodbye to ugly scuffs on a car’s paintwork and embarrassing moments in car parks once they get to grips with this technology.
Sources:
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/dash-cams/article/how-to-buy-the-best-dash-cam
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/forza-horizon-4-xbox-onepc-reviews-roundup/1100-6462018/
Image: Playground Games
