February 14, 2008

Tips For Buying Your First Car

Getting your license and your first car is a major life change for you. It opens a whole new world because now you can drive and have the freedom to go back and forth as you please. When I was getting my first car I didn't really care what it looked like I was just happy to have a car. And with that in mind, I would like to point out some things you should consider when buying your first car.

First of all, don't feel bad if your first car is not a brand new 2008 Mustang GT, and instead it's more like a 1990 Chevy Lumina. A car that is reliable but yet still has some small problems. Not the kind of problems that stop it from running but small problems (like the cup holders no longer work). Once the driver gets a job and starts earn money you can easily fix the problems, and learn how to perform a bit of car maintenance to boot. It's all worth it in the end.

Now when you are looking for that first car you need to know a few things. Like I mentioned above it doesn't need to be a 2008 Mustang GT. Look for something you can afford with out hassling over it. Another thing you should do is ask a lot questions. Even if you are buying the car from a friend, by law, he has to tell you everything that is known to be wrong with the vehicle. Ask questions and you will be able to tell if the car is worth buying. Also don't forget to check the mileage on the car. A lot of cars built long ago don't run as well as the newer cars if the maintenance (like tune-ups) are done regularly.

Another thing you should consider is gas. The first thing you may realize is that gas prices are high. So, getting a car that can get a lot of miles per gallon (MPG) will allow you more trips for less money. If the driver is the type that likes to hang out with lots of friends at once, then a four door economy car is ideal. However, if you and your homeboy (or girl) are the most frequent cruisers, then a two-door car (which tend to be great on gas) is a great start.

The last piece of advice I would like to give you is to be aware of who you're buying the car from. Is it a friend? If so is this friend reliable and honest? Are you getting it from a used car dealer? Find out whether the dealer has had problems with past vehicles - ask around among friends and family. Also before you buy a car you should ask for a car history report. A history report is exactly what it sounds like. It is a report of anything that has ever happened to the vehicle. If the vehicle was wrecked or driven into a lake, this report will tell you. Keep in mind that the car history report only contains the case if the incidents are reported, so minor things may not be listed. This report other wise will provide very useful information for anyone looking to buy a car, especially a first car.

Nicholas writes for a car insurance guide which contains advice and information on topics such as carbon neutral car insurance and cheaper cover for women.


By Nicholas Hunt

Car Buying Tips

Buying a car needs preparation and planning. Never apply for a car loan if you have not checked your credit report. Make sure you check your credit before going to the car dealer because if you don't check it, the dealer will do so when you get there. So you need to know if you qualify for a car loan in advance. You don't want to waste your time or the car salesman's time.

You should not leave your destiny in the hands of a car salesman. You don't want him or her to know more about you than you know about yourself from your credit report. Your credit history needs to be current and you should have fair credit history.

Of course, the car dealer will give you a high interest rate loan if you have poor credit, but that would not be in your best interest if you can avoid it. Don't be pressured by the car salesperson. Their aim is primarily to make the sale. You have to do your homework to make sure you are not taken for a ride. No pun intended.

Before you purchase a car, make sure you get an insurance quote. Having a car just not stop there. You will need the appropriate insurance coverage to drive the car on the road.

You must go the dealership with the car already in mind that you want. You can have an open mind, but at least you will have an idea what you are working with. Buying a car is an exciting event, but can be very intimidating if you don't have a view of what is involved.

In the current market conditions, many car dealerships are offering sale prices for new cards with attractive incentives to make you choose the model that you want. An incentive is anything that gives you an additional reason to buy a particular car.

Car salesmen will generally lead you to a car's "sticker price" as the correct amount to pay for the car. However, the dealership would be willing to offer that is well below the sticker price and you have to be aware of your options. If the salesman sells you for the sticker price, more commission is in store for him or her, so it is their best interest to see the car at the sticker price.

If you are a car shopper who insists on finding hard-to-find options and a specific car color, it will be more difficult to get a great deal. You have to be a good negotiator to land that deal. You would have to pay the dealer's price or try to locate another similar vehicle. However, if you do find the exact car that you are looking for, you don't have to volunteer this information to the car dealer.

Make sure you test-drive the car before taking it off the car lot. Test-driving the car will allow you to become familiar with the model as well as to make sure it is in good running condition. Consider all your options when purchasing a car and don't be run over by that hasty car salesman.

Writer and author, Cheryline Lawson gives high accolades to Fernando Reyes, who is an Internet Marketing guru and expert in a variety of fields including finance and you are invited to find out more by visiting the website at => http://crowleybiz.com/car


By Cheryline Lawson

February 13, 2008

Tips For A Car Care Makeover

If you've been thinking your car is looking a little down and dirty, it is probably time for you to give your car that special treatment it deserves for taking care of you. It takes you back and forth to work and from one errand to the next. Now reward your car, and ride in higher style, by giving it a car care makeover. Unless you are a mechanic, you probably can't do much of a tune up, but you can certainly take your care to a mechanic to get it purring again. However, the externals of your car care makeover you may be able to do by yourself with a little time and effort.
Soap Your Car Silly
Before you start working on the details, you have got to get the car real nice and clean on the outside. Most of us do this quite often, but neglect the rest of the car care makeover process. Don't be stingy with the soap. Grab a big sponge and give your car a soapy sponge bath. When you're done, rinse the care off well. When all of that soap is gone, you should see something close to what the car's color was when you purchased it.
Make Your Wheels a Shining Example of a Beloved Car
Your wheels need a lot of care. They are what rolls between you and the road. In places where it snows during the winter it is especially important to keep your wheels clean. It not only looks good, but it is a safety measure to preserve the integrity of your car's wheels. You want to wash them well and possibly even apply some tire shine for your car care makeover. But in between makeovers, rinse your tires and rims regularly.
Polish The Car Shell
You've already soaped your car down, make sure you finish the job with a nice coat of polish. Car polish doesn't cost much, but it can sure make that car shine pretty for you. Do two or three coats of polish on your car to show you care, and because your car is a reflection of you.
Wax: That Extra Special Car Care Makeover Touch
To finish off the perfect care care makeover, you cannot do without car wax. This will give your vehicle that shine you haven't seen since you picked it out of the showroom. Again, don't be tempted to go the easy road. Patiently apply three liberal coats of wax. While car polish lasts a long time, the waxing should be done each time you give your car a well-deserved bath.
The Vacuum is at the Center of the Car Care Makeover
As long as you are giving your car that shiny new look, how about making the inside match? Grime in your car is not only bad for the look and hygiene, but it can cause damage to your car's interior. Make sure you get the inside of your car cleared of debris.
Remember that successfully buying used cars hinges on several different factors, so see what you can do to improve your opportunities at cheap used cars
By Terry Bolton

Hybrid Automobiles

Hybrid automobiles are powered by a combination of gasoline and electricity. They are becoming more popular as people try to do their part to "save the Earth," and no hybrid sells better than the Toyota Prius. Hybrid automobiles are one of the most obvious alternatives available to us today.
Car
A hybrid car is an automobile that runs on gasoline and an electric motor. These cars have a dual mode and the electric motor powered by a battery takes over once the car is accelerated. Thereby the hybrid cars are able to provide better fuel efficiency. Moreover, the engine of hybrid cars is immediately shut down when the car is stopped.
Power
Hybrid automobiles can recharge their on-board batteries while running on gasoline, coasting down hill and using the braking system. The electrical Hybrid system acts as a supplement to the gasoline engine, as the gas engine does not power the vehicle completely on its own. The battery is charged by a generator, which is powered by the gas engine. Both the gas engine and electric motor are used to power the vehicle and turn the transmission.
Climate/Pollution
Climate change and the energy challenge are and will be one of the issues of our generation. How concerned are you about the consequences of present and future climate change, and the impact of pollution? Whether accurate or not a sensible approach is that pollution is here and needs to be addressed. And one concrete way is the use of Hybrid cars. However, as the winds of change in our way of using energy impacts society as well as industry and the specter of climate change continues to rise on the horizon, nuclear power used to generate electricity will play a greater role in energy usage for many years to come. Hybrid automobiles have been shown to save large amounts of gasoline as well as reduce pollution.
Electric
Solar, wind, hydro-electric, geothermal, nuclear, and coal are among the sources for creating electricity. Small hydroelectric power systems fare comparably but flowing water source sites are rare. The gas price crisis is a real issue will not be answered by just electric vehicles. The typical electric car has a range of thirty to forty miles under ideal conditions, so important questions about the viability of electric cars still remain. Hybrid cars have good fuel economy because the computer under the hood decides to run the electric motor, the small gasoline engine, or the two together, depending on the driving conditions.
As the production and sales of hybrid automobiles are encouraged in terms of fuel efficiency, air pollution problems and oil prices, there is a rapidly increasing demand for lightweight and high-performance automobiles. In short, hybrids are the future of automobiles and you should consider buying a hybrid car to save money and discharge your responsibility towards providing a greener and cleaner environment. Bottom line...it's still driven like every other car you've ever handled, and I should know as I own one.
By Janice E Bailey

Choose Best Auto Transport Company

International car shipping services are provided throughout to facilitate the customers to make use of effective auto transport. Moving vehicles from one place to another in a speculative manner protects the vehicles against damages and ensures that the goods have been guaranty delivered. More numbers of shipping companies are available in the market and most of the people show their interest in offering the service in an enhancement way. Most of the people wonders difficult in choosing the best vehicle shipping company with wide benefits and guaranteed performance. Companies which engage in international vehicle transport and overseas moving is to be analyzed properly, so that the customer can choose the best shipper.
Quality Shipper
Selecting best quality shipper always dominant role and it is the obligation of the customer to prefer the best from other. Nowadays, huge number of people is engaged in offering the service and it is ultimately in the hands of clients to select. Professional shippers are available in the market and they are the one who helps to transport goods from one place to another without causing any damage to the property. Well experienced, professional and trained movers can be used to move the motors from one destination to another.
Flexible Payments
The payment charged for moving the motors should be affordable and flexible. As a customer, the people belonging to all ranges should be able to pay off the prices charged. Today, huge companies are offering the car shipping services to the customers in effective and required manner. Lots of benefits are offered, but still the flexible payment details enable the people to make use of service in competent mode.
Price Schedules
The prices charged for an auto transport should be always reasonable. The prices should be based upon fulfilling the requirements from top to bottom level of people. Large numbers of users started to make use of services offered throughout the world and obtaining the service for reasonable price consideration always matters.
Door-To-Door Delivery
Most of the auto transport company provides door-to-door delivery services to customers. Door-to-door services protects the cars against damages and ensures that the vehicle have been carried carefully from one place to another. In case of delay in delivery should be intimated to the customer.
Insurance/License
Insurance plays an important role in international car shipping services. Insurance covers claims against losses and ensures the client to remain hassle free. The most important factor to be considered in vehicle shipping, the subsequent company should be a licensed one.
When the above factors satisfied the requirements of customers, then people can choose the best auto moving company.
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By Shiji Shijina

What To Do If You Breakdown

Lately there has been a huge increase in the number of fatal accidents stemming from a simple breakdown on the side of the road. It is important to remember that there are other cars around you when you are pulled over and not all of them will be paying attention to you alone on the side of the road. That is why it is necessary to take precautions against accidents happening on the side of the road.
First of all, don't try to squeeze out the door if there are cars passing. It sounds like common sense, but some people don't realize how close they are to passing cars and opening the door enough to get out could be enough to put yourself in the way of danger. Whether you get stuck in the middle of the day or the middle of the night, some drivers just don't pay enough attention to what is going on and risk being hit.
If you do happen to get stranded at night, make sure you leave some sort of light on so that other people can identify where you are. It is dangerous enough to be on the side of the road when people can see you, but it is even worse when no one has any idea that you are there. Not to mention the fact that you have a higher risk of seeing intoxicated and exhausted drivers late at night that may not be in full control of their vehicles at all times.
Learn how to change tires. Many breakdowns are due to flat tires. Being able to change your own tires can be a useful skill and will lessen your reliance on others to get you out of a breakdown. Be careful who you get help from. These days most everyone has access to a cellular phone or other means of contacting assistance, but if you have no way of reaching someone you know and trust, be careful asking strangers for help. In most cases the public could be understanding and you can find help, but from time to time there will be people with bad intent that will pretend to help you while really tricking you into something worse. If you need to borrow a phone to call someone, do so, but never get in a stranger's car if they offer you a ride home. Better safe than sorry in this instance.
Overall, roadside safety is common sense, but you have to remember that you will probably not be the cause of an accident. Instead it will be somebody else not paying attention that makes the situation worse. That is why it is important to protect yourself in as many ways as possible to make sure that other drivers are aware of your situation and you will not be in the way of anyone that is not paying attention. Secondly, it is important to remember to keep yourself safe when it comes to asking for help with your car from people you do not know. No matter what the situation, you are always better off asking someone you know than going to a complete stranger. Sometimes, it is better hire a car road assistance. Don't place yourself in a situation where you can be harmed by a simple roadside breakdown.
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By Amy Nutt

February 11, 2008

Emergency Lights - Preparing a Vehicle Emergency Kit

The news reported this past year on several families and adventurers setting out for a camping or hiking trip in the northwest only to find themselves lost in the strange wilderness, confined to their cars waiting and hoping that someone will find them. The loss of CNET's James Kim brought awareness to the ease at which people can get lost while driving through the forest as well as the need to be prepared for any situation when driving in unfamiliar areas.

It is important to have a few basic emergency supplies in your car as part of an emergency kit. Cell phones are by far the most helpful piece of equipment to have with you when you travel, even if going to remote areas. But cell phone batteries are unreliable and many still don't take one with them when heading into the great outdoors. Having other supplies with you in the car can make all the difference in staying alive and staying safe.

There are many commercial and basic emergency kits available. Most of these preset packs include jumper cables, reflectors and some miscellaneous tools. Higher end models may also include some type of emergency air pump that you can plug into your car's power outlet and pump air into a flat tire. Some also come with first aid kits.

Weather and climate in your area or the area you are traveling may help guide you with putting together other items you may need in your emergency kit. A shovel can come in very handy to get your car out of snow or mud. Some traction substance is also important for such situations. Kitty litter is one of the most popular types of traction. You may also be able to carry some remnant carpet strips or sand.

One very important component of a car or truck's emergency kit is a light source. While a decent flashlight might be included in the kit you bought, you might want to look at investing in a longer-lasting, more reliable light. LED flashlights are known for being the best light source for emergency situations. They come in various sizes and features, including emergency beacons and flashing lights. If you have room a LED headlamp may be a good addition for hands-free light should you need to change a tire or signal for help.

Preserving battery power in your car is pretty important. Some people may want to add a spare radio to their kit. There are radios on the market that do not take batteries. Instead you crank a handle on the side to charge it. A good quality blanket is going to be very important in extremely cold weather because it is unwise to keep the car running while you wait for help. Also include a small supply of food and water.

No one expects to be caught in an emergency situation while traveling. Being prepared none the less is important to you and your family's safety. Before going on your next family camping trip, hiking adventure or trip to see the relatives, put together an emergency kit with the items described above. Consider your specific travel situation and potential needs and add accordingly. This important item could make all the difference.

~ Ben Anton, 2008

Air Suspension - Problems and Solution

The air suspension is a technological marvel.

It produces a unique traction feeling on all terrains. When working correctly, it offers the most luxurious and comfortable 4x4.

But many owners know from experience that once that sophisticated suspension fails... they have a problem that makes them call a tow truck and abandon their beloved vehicle at the nearest garage.

Some even decide to reject the air suspension and use the traditional spring suspension.

At that moment they are abandoning a magnificent suspension and leave their beloved car without an argument for future sale and will have to communicate it to the buyer. With FASKIT it is not necessary to reject air suspension and you will have a diagnostic system for malfunctions and your confidence will be improved since you won´t have to call the tow truck for that reason.

Faskit is put in the air line between the air suspension springs and its valve box.

Thus it allows operation freeing each pneumatic spring individually and inflate the springs by means of the compressed air of the vehicle coming from the compressor or in a gas station.

FASKIT does not reduce the reliability of the air suspension of the vehicle. On the contrary. You have a trustworthy system which gives you security and helps you in the diagnostic of failures

And most importantly: it prevents you from becoming stranded on the highway or the mountain ¡

The installation of Faskit uses quick adjust connectors which form a tight seal around the diameter of the air tubes. To ensure this seal, it is important to insert the tubes correctly by pressing sufficiently.

The cutting tool (provided) enables the tubes to be cut to the required length.

The connectors that we provide with Faskit are designed so that no tools are required for its installation. The connections are made by pushing the air lines into the quick adjust connectors until the air line is joined automatically.

The air lines must be properly immobilized as far as possible to avoid any tension or inadequate movement.

Be careful that they are located far from hot or moving parts. It is important to avoid extreme angles in the connection of the air lines. Tension in the connection could deform the air line and prevent a correct seal.

In brief:

The Faskit connection is made only once and it is not necessary to remove it ever again. If a failure takes place you only have to operate on the closure keys and inflate the suspensions manually and function in this way indefinitely or until you decide to repair it.

No special tool is required and it integrates perfectly in the engine compartment. The factory suspension hardware is left intact and operational.

Faskit enables independent inflation of each spring based on the load and its distribution. It is a solution to recover the height of the car once a failure takes places in the original system. When the failure is repaired the original system is restored easily, just turning the closure keys to the "open" position.

It supplies compressed air, as well as a pressure gauge to control the operating pressure of the system.

The site has a video to see the easy installation
More information : http://www.faskit.net

Alejandro Linati is All Terrain Rally Driver, participant in 5

Championships and finalist in Paris Dakar Rally, ex-Trial pilot, Autor of "Initiation to Moto Cross, Trial And All-Terrain" web: http://www.faskit.net

By Alejandro Linati