Even on a clean car, your paint can feel rough. That’s bonded contamination—rail dust, tar, sap—stuck to the clear coat. Decontamination is a two-step idea. First, use a chemical iron remover and a tar remover to dissolve what you can without touching the paint. Then, if needed, go mechanical: a clay bar or synthetic clay pad with plenty of lubricant. Glide in straight lines with light pressure, and you’ll feel the surface turn glassy smooth. This step dramatically improves the look and extends the life of any protection you apply later.
Protection is where beauty turns durable. You’ve got three broad lanes. Traditional wax gives a warm glow and is easy to use, but usually lasts weeks to a couple of months. Paint sealants lean synthetic; they’re slicker, more chemical-resistant, and can stretch to several months. Ceramic coatings are the long-haul option: serious chemical resistance, strong water beading, and a “candy shell” feel that can last a year or more, sometimes several, with proper care. The trade-off? Coatings ask for meticulous prep and more careful application and curing.
Fenders used to be mostly stamped steel. Today you will see a mix of steel, aluminum, and plastic composites. Steel is tough and easy to repair with traditional techniques but can rust if chips are ignored. Aluminum saves weight and resists rust, though it needs different tools and care when repairing. Plastic or composite fenders shrug off small dings and do not rust, but they can crack with a hard hit and are typically replaced, not hammered straight.
Fender damage ranges from gentle door-ding waves to sharp creases from a low-speed scrape. The wheel lip is a rust hot spot, especially in places with salty winters. Look for bubbling paint at the arch, chips on the leading edge, and misaligned gaps where the fender meets the hood, bumper, or door. Uneven gaps can mean a bent mounting tab or a fender that was nudged out of position and just needs realignment.
You can find CR2032s at auto parts stores, hardware shops, pharmacies, and big-box retailers. Online is fine too—just stick with known brands and sellers, look for a recent “best by” date, and avoid packs with damaged or unbranded packaging. If your fob truly uses a different cell (like CR2016), don’t “make it fit.” The thickness and voltage matter; using the wrong one can cause poor contact or short life.
If your Trailblazer is your daily driver, consider keeping a spare fob battery in the glove box or center console, sealed in a small bag. A tiny flathead screwdriver or the fob’s mechanical key is enough to do the swap anywhere. Plan the replacement for a calm moment at home so you don’t drop parts in a parking lot, and take a quick photo of the original battery orientation before you lift it out—future you will be grateful.
Rivian has carved out a unique space: adventure-ready EVs with warmth and personality. The R1T and R1S continue to win over owners with clever storage, smooth air suspensions, and road-trip-friendly software. Rivian’s upcoming R2, announced with deliveries targeted around 2026, could be the sweet spot many have been waiting for: smaller footprint, lower price targets, and the same outdoorsy charm. Lucid, meanwhile, remains a range and efficiency champion with the Air, and its Gravity SUV expands that playbook for families who want quiet, long-distance comfort with top-tier interiors. Polestar adds Scandinavian restraint to the mix, with the 3 and 4 appealing to design-forward buyers who want something sleek without shouting about it. Depending on your region, you may also see compelling models from BYD or NIO; availability and charging ecosystems vary, but they are pushing innovation on packaging and battery tech. This corner of the market is for buyers who want their EV to feel like a statement piece as much as a tool, without sacrificing road-trip credibility.
Big EVs can be controversial, but for many households, one vehicle has to do everything. That is where the maturing crop of electric pickups and large SUVs shines in 2026. Chevrolet’s Silverado EV and Ford’s F-150 Lightning have evolved into serious work-and-family machines, with smooth towing manners, enormous frunks, and the ability to power a jobsite or a home during an outage. Kia’s EV9 is the right answer if you want three rows without committing to a truck; it balances space and charging speed better than most. Rivian’s R1S offers genuine trail capability with a luxury-adjacent cabin, ideal for families who split weekends between soccer fields and state parks. The key with large EVs is planning: understand how towing or cold weather affects range, and make sure your charging plan fits your use. If you can charge at home and your trips are predictable, these vehicles can replace gas trucks with less drama than you might expect.