by Hib Halverson Why does anyone need a “diamond tipped screwdriver”? Is it because the diamond tips are stronger and more durable? Not exactly. The tip on a GearWrench diamond tip screwdriver is actually a plasma-sprayed, diamond-powder, tip and there is good reason for the coating. Industrial diamond powder is extremely hard and quite abrasive. […]
Apex Tool Group GearWrench Flex-Head Flare Nut Wrench Sets
Ah, the Internet… We tool freaks love it because there’s no end to the nifty stuff you can find. I had a brake hose project to do and was looking around in the web for some offset flare nut wrenches. I already have some non-offset flare nut wrenches and I have some crow foot flare […]
Product Review: GearWrench Multi-Function Ratchet Set
by Hib Halverson At the SEMA Show in November of 2015, the GearWrench people released several new tools. An interesting item in that release was the “Multi-Function Ratchet Set” (PN 81020) consisting of a pair of unique “two-headed” ratchets, a four-inch extension, metric sockets and a plastic case full of hex bits. The Cadillac V-net […]
[PRODUCT REVIEW] Gear Wrench Electronic Torque Wrenches
Gear Wrench Electronic Torque Wrenches by Hib Halverson This is our first experience with “electronic torque wrenches”. Admittedly, that’s a bit odd considering the amount of coverage the V-Net’s product evaluation staff has given technology in tools such as scan testers, wideband oxygen sensors, tuning software and the like. Up to now, when we needed […]
Is the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V Worth Over $100,000? You Bet It Is!
One of the Cadillac V-Net’s Site Sponsors, MacMulkin Cadillac of Nashua, NH recently took delivery of a brand new 2018 Cadillac CTS-V with a total price of $106,130. Wow, how the times have changed! The first generation CTS-V debuted in 2004 with a starting MSRP of $49,300 and hit approximately $58,575 when the second generation […]
[Product Review] Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S GPS Receiver
Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S GPS Receiver by Hib Halverson It might surprise some of the V-Net’s members, but there are ATS-Vs without navigation systems. Admittedly, few cars were built that way, but the fact remains that a nav system was an option not part of the base equipment package. One of the V-Net’s product evaluation […]
[Product Review] Better Bulbs for the Cadillac ATS
Better Bulbs for ATSes. Our Review of Headlamp Bulb Upgrades for Compact Cadillacs by Hib Halverson, Editor, V-Net Product Evaluation Pages All Cadillac ATS headlamps have only one bulb. If the car was ordered with the “Luxury Package” they have D3S HID bulbs. Cars without Luxury Packages have conventional, 9012 quartz-halogen bulbs. In either case, […]
[Product Review] Odyssey Battery Charger
Odyssey Battery Charger by Hib Halverson I have Odyssey Batteries in most of my cars including one which the V-Net uses to evaluate products, the 2016 ATS-V Coupe we call the “Blue BMW Buster.” Click here to read an evaluation of the Odyssey Performance Series Battery we use in that car. Odysseys are premium, absorbent […]