Automobile (2024)

Written By Matt Manhattan

My main vehicle and beloved battlewagon is a 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R which I have tweaked and upgraded over many years and tribulations. She wasn't born perfect, but I've done what I could to make her mine and I've got to say I've grown to love her.

The digital rear view mirror is a required upgrade so I can actually see out the back of the car when I have luggage in the trunk, plus it doubles as a dash cam which I appreciate having. While it isn't officially supported, I have been happily running a forked version of OpenPilot on a Comma 2 for years. It has completely changed the way I approach long distance drives and allows me to arrive at my destination with substantially more energy than usual. And unlike a Tesla, since the Comma is an aftermarket solution, there are no sensors in my wheel that nag me periodically to be touched. I'll use my radar detector if I'm traveling a substantial distance as well. But with the Comma engaged I set cruise control for five over and stay in the middle lane. This accommodates traffic fluctuations without being reckless and if the radar gives me an alert, I just check to make sure I'm going the limit. I will typically make a time lapse of my drive using a GoPro mounted to the windshield. And I keep an old point and shoot camera in the sunglasses holder so I'm always ready to photograph something that would have otherwise passed me by. My phone holder isn't anything special, but it keeps it eye level and easily accessible without blocking a vent or my field of view.

To access my registration and insurance documents without needing to reach towards the glovebox I installed a visor organizer and put all my paperwork into a clear zip envelope. If I ever get pulled over my documents are inches above me and all my movements are within sight of the officer. The clear envelope allows me to hand everything over at once, and if it is raining or windy makes sure that nothing gets misplaced or damaged. I also keep one and two dollar bills on me so I can donate to the homeless or tip valet without wondering if I have small bills in my shoulder bag.

My door has a souvenir cup that I use as a trash can and the passenger door has some tissues that are shaped like a cup. I always have two 3-in-1 USB cables in my front console and I needed a 12V splitter so I could connect my rear view monitor and radar detector at the same time.

My glovebox obviously has the owner's manual; but I also keep a waterproof notepad, permanent marker, pen, mechanical pencil, compact whistle, adhesive bandages, pain reliever, antacid tablets, electrolytes, antidiarrheal tablets, motion sickness patches and some Theraflu. It's a handful of things that cover a lot of bases and saves time and unnecessary trips by having them ready.

When I'm not driving I keep all my windshield tech in the center console, and to keep it safe I got a car safe. Alongside it all I keep a breathalyzer and a car scan tool so I can check to make sure that both the car and I are ready for the road. This is also where I keep a camera battery charger for my point-and-shoot camera and a roll of quarters for old school parking meters.

Hanging between the two front seats you will find a handbag holder that I use for my collapsible sun shade, microfiber cloths and 'grocery bag' bag. I also have a portable phone holder and some toilet paper, just in case.

My 'grocery bag' bag has two zipper pockets to keep the six reusable shopping bags and reusable produce bags separate. It's a small level of organization but I think it helps make using reusable bags even easier.

I'm especially proud of the passenger seat back organization (molle panel) because it neatly contains the tools for several problems I've already solved, along with a few I hope to never encounter. There are too many preventable car fires to not own a fire extinguisher (molle pouch). I also have an air pump (molle pouch) to avoid unnecessary trips to the gas station and a 12V power adapter (molle pouch) to run the pump from a wall outlet - which is great if you don't want to turn on the car to air up your tires in a garage (because that would kill you). To verify the tire pressure I use a digital tire pressure gauge (molle pouch) and I keep extra tire stem covers (velcro pouch) because if one falls off I want to be able to replace it before something gets lodged in the tire stem and deflates my tire (although I am clearly ready for that). I find myself needing to take measurements often, so I keep a full size tape measure at the ready alongside a headlamp (molle pouch) for when I need hands free light. And when I don't I have a mini flashlight (velcro pouch) too. The multi-tool indeed has a multitude of uses so I have that mounted next to a car safety hammer which is another item that should really just be built into and come with the car. To prevent license plate theft I purchased anti-theft screws and caps and use this mini-ratchet to speed up their installation and removal process. The only reason I keep it on the passenger seat back and not the drivers side is because all of these fabulous items limit how far the seat will recline.

Directly underneath the molle panel in a toolbox I keep all the additional car accessories that I use less frequently but still want to keep in the car. I recommend that everyone keep an emergency jump pack and set a reminder to recharge it every two months. On more than one occasion I have accidentally turned on an overhead light while taking things out of the trunk only to find a dead car the next morning. The first time I felt stupid, but the next time I had the jump pack and was only mildly inconvenienced (although the situation is still stupid). Should I find myself needing to deal with the car on the side of the road I keep two sets of high-viz vests and work gloves along with some disposable gloves and safety glasses. I keep a tube of emergency flat fix so I can hopefully take the car somewhere without damaging the wheel if it is still leaking air after being pumped up. I don't maintain the car myself but I've installed all the electronics and the strut bar using only a car panel remover kit and socket set. In case of more serious situations I have a small survival shovel, a backup tire pressure gauge, road flares, two emergency sleeping bags and a set of walkie-talkies.

I like to keep the trunk area free from clutter while ensuring that anything I put back there won't move around. So to help with this task I employ two collapsible trunk organizers which fold down to almost nothing when not in use. And for those times when I need to load up at night I added a rechargable light bar on the hatch that completely illuminates the trunk space and entire rear area of the vehicle.

To keep my car fresh I use cleaning wipes for the dash and leather wipes for the seats. There is something about the 'New Car Scent' from Little Trees that I particularly enjoy, so I keep one in the trunk. But I need to qualify that I'm not particularly fond of actual 'new car scent' and these blue trees lean more floral than leather and plastic. To make cleaning the front windshield interior a little easier I learned to use a mini squeegee and while it helps it doesn't make it any more fun.

My latest addition, which I am still figuring out how to best use, is a full ceiling attic net that I purchased with the hope of making loading and unloading easier by keeping certain things out of the way while still accessible. Right now I'm keeping my snow brush/scraper, blackout panels and adjustable bungie cords up there, but I haven't had a good chance to optimize yet.

On the exterior of the car I have simple black license plate frames that do not obstruct any plate information and are all mounted with security screws that I previously mentioned. Subaru Outbacks have known battery issues, so if I ever need to park the car for a few weeks I use a battery disconnect switch to completely sever the electrical connection. The car didn't come with rain guards, which I found to be necessary, so I bought two different aftermarket sets and neither fit or had the chrome trim to match the car. I had Subaru install the factory option and couldn't be happier. I installed a strut tower brace to improve cornering stiffness and I am pleased with the upgrade. I also recently got Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires which further help with a more planted feel when driving and cornering.

I keep the original sales brochure and all the documents for the car in a document organizer with each set of invoices and paperwork going into its own plastic sheet protector. And to the left of the passenger seat, tucked away where phones and french fries fall, you will find a road atlas that I have never used but feel the need to keep.

And perhaps most importantly; I have curated a selection of individually wrapped, non-perishable food items that are insanely delicious, healthy and totally fill each of the four 'craving situations' I have identified and defeated (at least personally). When I need something sweet I grab a Soley Fruit Jerky Strip. I only recommend the whole mango, 1/2 pineapple and the spicy versions. When I want something savory I will grab an Epic Bison Bacon Cranberry bar which simply tastes incredible and is actually pretty juicy. I have tried all the other Epic meat bars but I only recommend this one. If I need something crunchy I open a bag of Original Corn Nuts, which are made with only corn, oil and salt. The flavored versions are loaded with crap though, so don't be fooled! And finally, when I need to eat something substantial, but don't want to stop for fast food, I rip open a Fillo's Walking Tamale. There are three spice levels and I'm happy to report they are all delicious. But since I don't know what mood I will be in when I get hungry I keep the Bean Salsa Verde on hand which is the most mild. With these four snacks in the car I can comfortably drive past all the fast food options without feeling the temptation. Amen.

I enjoy having all of these things in my car because I feel like they keep me one step ahead of preventable and inevitable problems. But being that they are preventable and inevitable I am baffled as to why these tools aren't simply built into the car in the first place. Logic be damned.

 

Car

Road Snacks

Windshield/Dashboard

Driver Visor

Driver Door

  • Cup for Trash

Passenger Door

Front Console

Glovebox

Center Console

In-Between Seats

Passenger Seat Back

Tool Box

Ceiling Panel

Cleaning Supplies

Trunk

Modifications

 
Matt Manhattan
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Kitchen (2024)