Steering Wheel

Problem: The wheel is in very good shape with only a few very thin cracks, but most of the original paint is worn off.

Solution: Cracks in hard-rubber steering wheels can be repaired, and the wheel can be repainted to match the original color. A show-quality restoration costs about $250. Another option is to replace it with an aftermarket wheel or one from a later model. POR-15 makes a wheel repair kit for at-home use. (See "Steering Wheel Resto," Aug. 1999)

What We Did: We prefer the original wheel to an aftermarket replacement, but as much as we wanted to get it restored, we couldn’t come up with the cash, so it’ll have to wait.