The dealer will have the factory original parts for your vehicle, as well as technicians trained by the manufacturer to be familiar with repairs specific to the brand. Dealerships are also equipped with expensive factory diagnostic computers. According to CR’s repair shop survey, satisfaction ratings for dealer service departments range from very good (Acura, Lexus,…
To help you make better sense of your options, we break our inverter generator ratings into four groups: 1. Large Inverter GeneratorsMost large inverter generators in our ratings weigh from about 150 to about 300 pounds (wheels included). That’s too big and heavy to haul along on a camping trip or to a tailgate party,…
For illnesses and injuries that don’t have the potential to be life-threatening, urgent care clinics—which are often open in the evenings and on weekends—might be an option. “If you tripped and think you sprained your ankle, and it’s after normal business hours, it makes sense to head to the urgent care clinic for an X-ray…
Not every molcajete you see online is made the same. Traditional molcajetes are made from volcanic stone, not cement. According to de la Vega, because they are made from volcanic stone, they should not look perfect, and though the material is porous, it should not leak either. “If it’s too perfect, it’s cement,” she says….
I’m not saying I would do this, but if I visit your home, I might look around to see if you have an air purifier. If you have one, I might estimate the cubic footage of your room and then, if I’m left alone, I might open the purifier to look at the filter. I…
The good news about 18-inch dishwashers is that they’ll save you a half-foot of space compared with a 24-inch dishwasher, but they’re still quite flush with features. You’ll find similar options to larger machines in terms of hardware flexibility, like adjustable upper racks and fold-down tines. You can also find 18-inch dishwashers with stainless steel…
You might think a thermometer being easy to clean is mostly a nice bonus, but we found that ease of cleaning actually had a big impact on accuracy in some cases. Infrared thermometers measure temperature based on the detection of infrared light via the sensor in the thermometer’s probe, says Bernie Deitrick, who led our…
The French press is a humble piece of coffee-making equipment. It doesn’t require electricity, yet experts agree that it can brew a richer and more full-bodied cup of joe in comparison to its more technologically advanced peers. For example, natural oils that would otherwise be filtered out in a drip coffee maker remain fully intact,…
The U8N also lets you control the volume output of its optical port with the TV remote, making it much simpler to control older audio systems that don’t support HDMI ARC/eARC, like my original KEF LSX speakers. If you decide to settle for the onboard sound, the U8N’s 2.1.2 speaker system offers some decent detail,…
Away from the race track, paddle shifters are far less common. In CR’s survey, 60 percent of drivers who said the vehicle they drive most often had an automatic transmission said that it did not have paddle shifters. Sixteen percent said they did not know whether their vehicle had them or not. “Paddle shifters come…