How To Keep Your Car Warm This Winter

While we don't get quite the deep freeze most upper-mid westerners know here in the Hub City, we do see our share of cold, icy days in the winter.

While some of these might seem like no-brainers, here are a few ideas to help keep warm in your car in the colder months.

Install an auto-start. These units have come down in price over the years and many car audio dealers have them here and can install in a few hours.
Invest in a portable heater that runs off a cigarette lighter jack from your car. A 12V convection heater works best. This will heat much more quickly than your cars built in heating system.
Invest in hand warmers. These are cheap and plentiful in sporting goods sections of Wal-Mart to Cabellas, and they even come in "foot warmer" and "body warmer" size. You never know when you might be in a bind and these could offer an hour or more of heat rescue!
Carry an extra blanket, jacket and/or warm pants in the trunk. Again, you never know when you might blow out a tire on a dirt road late at night in the country, have a dead battery, engine problem or worse. These, along with a few bottles of water and some granola bars, can be life savers!
Park in a garage whenever possible. This is, uh...like, a no-brainer!
If your car doesn't have seat warmers, pick one up on the cheap that runs off the cigarette lighter outlet.