Automotive in North Carolina

A bad window-tinting job can mean bubbles, cracks, and purple hues. So each professional installer at Sun Stoppers Window Tinting is required to have at least five years of experience. To set their customers’ minds even more at ease, technicians back up their services with a lifetime performance warranty. Their window tinting keeps interiors from overheating, shields passengers from UV rays, and adds an attractive aesthetic to exteriors. Reduced glare helps drivers stay safe, and if an accident happens, the tinting holds shattered glass in place.

The technicians can also shield paint jobs from weather, rogue pebbles, and bugs with 3M paint-protection film. Beyond automotive services, the technicians also tint residential windows and install solar screen shades to protect furnishings from the damaging effects of the ball of fire that grants us life.

The motto of New Era Skin and Body is a simple one: "Look better. Feel better. Live better." Tom Donofrio and Iris Cheu believe that each of these leads to the next, so all the massages and skincare services performed in their boutique-style day spa are geared toward the ultimate goal of bettering their clients’ lives. Cheu uses products from ABI Dermaceuticals to help skin breathe, glow, and ditch freeloading blackheads, and Donofrio's massages soothe muscles to relieve tension, instill calm, and preempt daydreams of swimming in a vat of pudding.

Sam Meineke opened his three-bay muffler shop in 1972 with a single product line, and through time, he and his successors have expanded the business into a complete automotive car-care center. Today, nearly 900 franchise owners operate their locations around the globe, still standing on the firm foundation of Sam's ideal of nursing vehicles back to health at fair prices. Meineke Car Care Center's mechanics perform an array of services, keeping rides running in showroom condition with tune-ups, 23-point inspections, tire rotations, and deep-tissue windshield massages.

Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure places novice passengers alongside professional drivers for ride-along experiences on Talladega Superspeedway. At 2.66 miles around, Talladega Superspeedway is the largest oval racetrack in the Sprint Cup Series and is well-known throughout motorsports. Passengers circumnavigate the speedy circle at speeds of up to 175 mph aboard real racecars once owned by such drivers as Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip, and Bobby Labonte. Before embarking, riders receive safety training and suit up in a full fire suit complete with a helmet with facemask and Hans Device, the same head restraint used by professional heavy-metal guitarists. Talladega Superspeedway is located next to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, which is open daily to visitors.

The highly trained technicians at Jiffy Lube tend to about 24 million customers each year with services such as the Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change package, which helps promote the longevity of each vehicle. Staffers acknowledge that oil plays a crucial role in maximizing the lifespan of each car—it cools the motor and helps prevent moving parts from deteriorating. More than 20,000 technicians—all of which have completed an extensive training program certified by the National Institute Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)—service vehicles at Jiffy Lube. In addition to performing oil changes, technicians offer preventative services such as air-filtration and electrical-system maintenance, among others. Jiffy Lube’s quality pledge includes a commitment to transparency, which stipulates that they will inform car owners of any necessary services, complete a service only after it has been approved, and refuse to replace windshields with saran wrap.

For more than 20 years, the technicians at Sound Solutions have been outfitting rides with aftermarket modifications ranging from stereo speakers to remote starters. The team easily installs overhead monitors and DVD players for ample backseat entertainment during long road trips or use window tinting to keep interiors safe from sun damage. Their stock of radar detectors typically come equipped with GPS technology, which alerts drivers to upcoming speed traps and cross-dimensional shortcuts.