I am basically torn between two ways to handle this. I could buy the Akebono ceramic pads because everyone says they are the best for low dust but then I have to figure out how to retract that stupid electronic parking brake in the rear. My buddy says I can just use a 9v battery and some jumper wires to retract the motor manually but that sounds like a recipe for a broken caliper honestly. The other choice is just getting a cheaper PowerStop kit from RockAuto and using the extra money to buy an OBDeleven scan tool so I can actually do the job the right way without breaking anything. I am leaning toward the cheaper pads and the tool because I am terrified of bricking my daily driver right before a trip but I hate brake dust so much. Should I go with the high end pads and the risky battery hack or just get the cheaper kit and the proper scan tool?

So I was thinking about starting with a winch because the front bumper is ready for it but then I look at the prices for a Warn Zeon and it eats like half my budget instantly. My logic was that a winch is the ultimate insurance policy but then I started looking at the 589 Fabrication hidden winch mount vs just getting some high-end rock sliders first. The stock ones are okay I guess? But they dont seem as beefy as the aftermarket ones from Victory 4x4. Im terrified of hitting a ledge and crumpling a door because the factory steps didnt hold up.

Then there is the whole bed storage situation. Im torn between the Leitner Designs rack and a simple Decked system. If I go Leitner I can carry more recovery boards and fuel but it adds so much height and wind drag on the highway drive out there. If I go Decked I lose the bed depth but keep things dry. I keep going back and forth because I want to be prepared but I also dont want to make the truck too heavy and ruin the Multimatic shocks performance since that is why I bought this trim in the first place. My wife thinks I'm overthinking it but I just dont want to break a 55k truck.

Is it better to spend the 3k on pure recovery like a winch and some MaxTrax or should I put that money into better underside protection even though the AT4X has the factory skids already? Im worried the factory ones are just thin stamped steel and wont hold up to the rocks out west. My head is spinning trying to prioritize this stuff before the deadline... what would you guys actually prioritize for a first desert trip?

my budget is maybe 400 or 500 dollars tops for now so i cant go too crazy. sorry if this is a super basic question but what are the best things to buy to actually make the most of that little space without spending a fortune?

I have a budget of about 21,000 to 23,000 and I'm trying to find something with under 60k miles near the Seattle area since my current daily is basically on its last legs and I need a reliable commuter before the rainy season really kicks in. I’ve checked the usual suspects but they’re just not cutting it:

• Autotrader is basically just a billboard for big dealerships now


• Facebook Marketplace is full of scams and title jumping


• Craigslist is a ghost town compared to five years ago

I'm specifically looking for the Touring or Grand Touring trim because I really want the heated seats and the better safety tech but it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack of bad listings. Even the certified pre-owned stuff at local dealers is marked up so high it’s basically the price of a new one. I know about the potential for carbon buildup on the older direct injection engines so I'm trying to be picky about service records too which makes it even harder to find a private seller who actually kept their receipts.

Does anyone know of any enthusiast forums or maybe more niche sites where people actually care about their cars? I'm even open to those car-buying services if they aren't totally ripping people off. Just need to know where the actual humans are selling their cars these days because the big sites feel like they're just bots and bait-and-switch ads now. Where are you guys actually finding clean CX-5 listings that won't give me a stroke trying to negotiate?

Sorry if this is a stupid question but do I just go to a dealership or is there a better way to find used ones quickly? Is there like a specific website people use? I really need to find something by the weekend...

• Must be waterproof (obviously)


• Need to cover as much of the carpet as possible because of the kids crumbs and spills


• Cant look super cheap or truck-like since the interior is so nice and I dont want to ruin the vibe

I'm looking at the TuxMats vs the WeatherTech HP series and maybe even the Genesis OEM all-weather ones but the OEM ones look a bit thin to me? TuxMats look like they cover more of the sides which sounds great for muddy boots but I heard they can be a pain to install and might look too bulky in a luxury suv. WeatherTech is the classic choice but they always feel a bit plasticky and industrial which kinda clashes with the leather. Is the extra coverage of the TuxMats worth the extra work or should I just stick to the dealer options so it matches perfectly? Also does anyone have a recommendation for a good screen protector for that massive display? I'm worried about scratches from rings or the kids touching everything with sticky fingers... help me decide before I go broke buying everything...

I live in Seattle so its basically always raining and I already tracked mud onto the white carpet floor mats which I am totally kicking myself for. I need to get those rubber mats everyone talks about but I dont even know what they are called or which brand fits this specific car since it has that sliding thingy in the middle. I also have a dog who sheds like crazy so I probably need something for the back seats so he doesnt ruin the leather or whatever the seats are made of. I think its some kind of recycled material?

My budget is maybe like 300 bucks for now because the car payment was a lot more than I thought it would be after all the fees and stuff. I am really worried about scratching the screens or that shiny plastic stuff on the doors too. I saw some people online have like these little trays that go in the armrest? That seems useful because right now my keys and coins are just flying around. I've heard people mention a few things but I am not sure if they are actually worth it:

• screen protectors for the dashboard


• rubber floor liners


• console organizers


• seat covers for pets


• trunk organizers

Sorry if this is all super basic stuff I am just really overwhelmed with the whole EV thing. It is a 2024 model in the light gray color and I really want to keep it looking nice but I have no idea where to start or what brands are actually good and not just cheap junk from some random website. What are the absolute must-have things I should buy for the inside of this car to keep it clean and organized?...

Im stuck between getting the ChargePoint Home Flex or that Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48A. The ChargePoint seems like the gold standard but honestly my garage in San Jose is super cramped and that Wallbox looks way more compact for my tight space. I gotta get this ordered tonight so it arrives by Monday since my commute is like 60 miles a day. Which one handles the Genesis software better or does it even matter...