Monthly Archives: March 2009

Author : Christina Costa

When making the decision between buying or leasing a car, some consumers find themselves in a state of confusion There are factors to take into consideration and pros and cons that come with each option

If find yourself without a large down payment, then leasing might be the better choice Most lease options do not require a large amount down, so this allows the consumer to get an even better vehicle, than if they had decided to buy Also, the monthly payment on a leased vehicle is generally smaller than the payment for a car that was purchased

If you think there is a chance you might want to sell or trade your vehicle at the end of the term, then purchasing is a good decision You can sell your leased vehicle, but it comes with large payouts (and at a price for more than the car is worth)

If you decide to purchase the car, then you become the owner at the end of your loan term You can sell it at Kelly Blue Book value or use it as a trade towards your next vehicle

Maybe you are looking at what option is the most convenient for you, and buying or leasing falls into that category When your lease is up, you no longer have to worry about maintaining the car or selling it You hand it back over to the dealer and move on to the next car You can lease right there with very little hassle

By purchasing a car, you do not have to worry about going over the set mileage In leasing you are given an annual or month-to-month amount, and fees are calculated in the even you go past your amount

Also, with purchasing do not have to worry about handing the car back to the dealer, it is your option to keep it or trade for something different

If you decide to buy the vehicle, then the sales tax is paid in full at purchasing time With a leased car, you will only pay the tax on the part of the car value that you use That is spread out over the term of your lease, on a monthly basis

If you decide to not purchase the car when your lease is up, then you will not have paid the full sales tax either

One factor that consumers take into consideration is their car payments If you purchase the vehicle, then you are only paying during the term of your loan After you have paid it off, the car is yours

With a lease, you will always have a car payment When the lease is up, then you start from the beginning with a new car, but also a new lease Warranty is another consideration to think about, most car leases take place while the car is under warranty When the lease is up, you can lease a new one

If you purchase the vehicle and the warranty runs out, that is your decision to make if you want to purchase also an extended warranty If you want a newer, more reliable car then you will have to sell or trade it in, plus come up with a down payment for the next one

There are pros and cons to take into consideration before making the final decision between leasing or purchasing a car It comes down to the individual, to decide what factors will be the most important

If you make a choice in your best interest then you will end up with a plan that you will be happy with for as long as you keep the vehicle

Christina Costa, a freelance automotive writer, recommends Equotegrabber where you can get an automotive quote online in seconds! Visit Equotegrabber.com

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Author : Gregg Hall

One of the most important things that you should remember is that not everyone that tries out for their license will get it Drifting is just as hard as any other professional sport it takes hard work and talent If you want to become a drifter then you need to get the right car for it and better get started If you first fail at getting your license there will be another opportunity to come around

An amateur is a racer that races but doesn’t receive money for his accomplishments This basically means you are not pro yet but still drift and may be on the way to becoming one There are many tracks around the United States that host live drifting events Even though you may not be pro you can still go out on the track and put on a show and may qualify to get your license The one problem about this is that there are only a few places around in the U S that host these events

As stated above you can start drifting whenever you want and still be with it Many people like to think of it as street racing but you are not street racing unless you are racing on the street although it is illegal to race on the street If you haven’t been exposed to drifting before and you just starting then you need to take it slow in order for you to go fast you have to start out slow You can take intro to drifting at many places

Drift lessons are offered all around the United States all you have to do is look Even though it isn’t where drifting came from you can find many places in California that will teach intro to drifting The lessons can be taught to either men or women All you need to do to find a lesson is look online and you should find something If they are doing it in your area and you love to drift go for it

You can most likely get involved with a drifting lesson and then start learning towards getting your license in no time at all If they don’t exist in your area then you might have to just teach yourself if you have a good car to use such as a 240sx with a sr20det the sr20det was built by Nissan for drifting basically all you really need to do is add some sway bars, an LSD and some good tires and your good to go Maybe a little tuning but all in all you will be doing good with a 240sx anytime

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about sports cars as well as car care products at http://www.5starshine.com

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Author : Everette Jamison

From some of the conversations I’ve had, it seems as if a lot of people think car manufacturers, repair shops, and dealerships conspire with each other about regular service intervals They seem to think that the automotive industry is in the grips of a huge conspiracy whose goal is to suck as many dollars out of consumers’ wallets as possible I’ve been in the industry for several years and I’ve never seen widespread evidence of that

However, I can attest to one certainty: automakers know the best way to treat the vehicles they produce What’s more, it’s in their best interest to motivate owners to have regular maintenance performed on their cars After all, if their vehicles’ last for several years, drivers will have more confidence in their quality; they’ll spread the word to friends and family That’s how the automotive industry works Word of mouth

Today, I’m going to cover a few of the maintenance items that you need to keep on top of Each of them will be detailed in your owner’s manual Keep in mind that the automaker recommends that you have them performed because doing so prolongs the life of your vehicle

Every 5,000 Miles

You need to have the oil changed This is simultaneously one of the simplest and more important things you can do to keep your car running properly The oil lubricates the engine and related parts But, over time, it becomes thick and loses its ability to do its job That leads to more friction between the parts As a result, heat builds up and your engine sustains damage

Also, have your mechanic check the brakes, rotate your tires, and inspect the belts and hoses If there are any leaks, have them replaced

Every 15,000 Miles

This stage is basically an inspection stage Besides the service items listed above, check the tire alignment, coolant level, and spark plugs If your tires are showing unusual tread wear, ask your mechanic to realign the wheels This is also a good time to replace the air filter

Every 30,000 Miles

At this point, you’re going to add a few more inspection items to your list The technician should check the cooling system, adjust the brakes (if necessary), and replace the spark plugs I realize that some spark plugs are advertised as being able to last 100,000 miles Take your chances, if you prefer Frankly, they’re inexpensive, so replacing them is a cheap way to have peace of mind Finally, consider having the fuel filter replaced

Protecting Your Investment

Your vehicle represents a sizable investment The problem is that the parts and systems wear down and can fail over time If you’re diligent about following the service intervals that I’ve described above, you’ll find that your car will last much longer And that means you’ll spend less money on expensive repairs and replacement parts

Find your car parts and used engines from the leader in parts, http://www.everdrive.com

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Author : Gregg Hall

Hybrids are one of the fastest-growing segments of the car market today The benefits of buying a hybrid car are so extraordinary that every car manufacturer wants to get in on this particular segment of the car market There are two particular manufacturers who stand out as leading the way: Honda and Toyota This article is going to explain why you should look into buying a Toyota Prius

Toyota has done an amazing job of developing this car Listen to some of the different awards which have been given for this hybrid: Motor Trends Car of the Year for 2004, 2004 International Engine of the Year, and 2004 North American Car of the Year That is quite the prestigious list of awards given to Toyota With recognition such as this, it is no surprise that the Toyota Prius stands as one of the top hybrids within this growing and competitive segment of the market With such attention and publicity given to it, a very long waiting list has developed

Some of the developments include stripping away the need for the car to plug in so that the electric battery can recharge Originally with most hybrid cars, this was the case Within the Prius, there are two electric motor generators and engineers built the engine so that they receive their power from the gas engine This allows the electric motors to be recharging while the engine is in use Also, when someone brakes the vehicle, there’s a certain amount of kinetic energy which is created due to friction This kinetic energy is transformed into electric energy and this helps recharge the electric batteries as well Toyota continues to remain on the leading edge of hybrid technology with the developments it has made on the Prius This history of development has continued towards their other cars as the next paragraph will talk about

Toyota did a good job of rebuilding the engine but also much care was taken to build in more creature comforts for the car The Prius has been made wider and taller so that more people would be able to buy the car and have better view of the road Toyota has enjoyed a great deal of success with this vehicle so did expand its lineup to include both its Camry along with Lexus If you do not want to buy a Prius, look into the other options which Toyota has to offer Given its track record with the Prius, you can have a good idea that the other cars in the hybrid car segment will be built with the same precision and care shown in building the Prius

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about cars as well as car care at http://www.5starshine.com

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Author : Shaun Parker

Brand new cars are most certainly not in fashion – not by choice but due to the state of the global economy More and more people are looking at the used car market when wanting to upgrade their car, as bargains are there to be had, especially when you take into account the money that you will lose when buying a brand new car in terms of depreciation

Sales figures of brand new cars in the UK are down by almost a third compared to last year which has had an adverse effect on car manufacturers resulting in production stoppages and many plant workers losing their jobs Honda, who performs well in the best car lists, closed their UK plant in February for four months and BMW recently laid off 850 workers at their MINI plant in Cowley, near Oxford

When people are so reluctant to upgrade their cars they look for the alternative, which in this case is to buy a used Honda, a used BMW, a used Lexus etc And many people are looking at used cars that are most reliable – the last thing you want to do when purchasing a used car is to haven to fork out on garage bills as soon as you’ve bought it

Used Honda cars are some of the most reliable out there – in 2007 Honda topped the manufacturers’ league of reliability and had six of the ten most reliable cars in the top ten list Used Honda vehicles also came out on top in the Which? 2008 reliability survey and is an indicator as to why used Honda sales are steady in a declining market If you’re in the market for a used car then reliability really is the key: in a recent consumer survey reliability was the most important factor for used car buyers, coming in ahead of added extras, fuel consumption, speed (0-60mph, comfort and other factors

Buying a new car is always a luxury purchase – you don’t invest when buying an on the road vehicle As soon as a brand spanking car is driven out of the showroom it loses money – give or take a few per cent, and of course depending on which car, a vehicle will depreciate by around 15 per cent after its first year of ownership on average mileage This is a major factor as to why people are looking at the used car market for their next vehicle

Private sales can get you a bargain but is always a risk Never touch a car that doesn’t have full service history and has not been serviced exactly when it should have been Buying from a registered dealer is much safer as you will receive at least a 12 month warranty Even though you will pay a slightly higher price, the risk element of the purchase will be eliminated

Registered dealers run thorough checks and tests on the car, both inside and out Better to get the experts to check over a car that you will potentially buy than risk buying from a complete stranger, who may well be trustworthy but will offer you no fallback should the gearbox seize up or the clutch fall out a few days after purchase!

It’s always better to be safe than sorry when delving into the used car market and brand specific dealers will offer the expertise which means your car will be in good nick when you drive it off the forecourt

Shaun Parker is an engineer with many years of experience in the car industry. Find out more about /used Honda at http://www.hondainchcape.co.uk

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Author : Christine OKelly

Some see the proposed Trans Texas Corridor as a dream, but for others it is a nightmare The TTC, or Texas Superhighway, is a privately financed system of highways, railways and utility rights of way It is now in several stages from planning to actual construction Expected to be completed in about 25 years, it will run parallel to some existing highways while creating a water, gas and electricity pipeline, high-speed rail for freight and passengers and toll roads for 18 wheelers, trucks and passenger vehicles

Location

The exact location of this super highway has not been determined as of yet There are two corridors under consideration for the TTC One plan parallels Interstate 35 (I-35), from Gainesville to Laredo, passing the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Austin and San Antonio The second is a corridor generally following US 59, from Texarkana past Houston to either Laredo or the Rio Grande Valley Both of these corridors have seen a notable increase in freight traffic over the past 20 years as a direct result with increased trade with Mexico

18-Wheeler Lanes

The 18-wheeler trucks from Mexico bringing goods into the United States will be a major source of traffic along the corridor At first all vehicles, including 18-wheelers, will use the same lanes as regular traffic during the early phases of the TTC construction Ultimately, the plan calls for 18-wheelers to have separate lanes from passenger cars Private investors will initially fund the development of the TTC, at a cost estimated today to be $184 Billion They will then charge tolls to use the system

Highway Safety Concerns Arise

A major concern regarding the TTC is that its roads will have limited access and critics worry that 18-wheeler crashes will cause major interference in the traffic flow With as much as 10 miles separating points of entry to the system, it will be difficult for emergency vehicles to respond quickly to 18-wheeler crashes, spills, fires, train derailments, pipeline ruptures or other emergencies

The citizens group Corridor Watch cites the “certainty of significant transportation disruptions that will result from simple accidents within a corridor that has no alternate route capacity as a function of its limited access points and geographic alignment that’s distant from the existing highway infrastructure ”

Due to the system’s limitations, it is feared a slow emergency response time will be the rule, not the exception This of course would be a concern to major 18-wheeler crashes on the TTC Also, traffic on the TTC is expected to move faster, which can result in increased accidents Innocent drivers who initially share these roads with large 18-wheeler trucks are at the greatest risk

Christine O’Kelly is an author for 18-Wheeler Accident.org, an organization of legal representatives specializing in helping clients that have been involved in 18-wheeler crashes.

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Author : Gregg Hall

If you have ever had to look for body parts for a vehicle you know what a pain it can be There is such a wide array of different choices for the parts that it can really be confusing There are aftermarket body parts that are more on the low end and then there are others that are more expensive so the prices can vary wildly If you go with original manufacturer equipment you can expect to pay a great deal more than if you go with an aftermarket company that has similar if not equal quality You also have the choice of going with used body parts which may come off of a junk car which will be cheaper still Virtually any body part you need can be found from lights and grills to quarter panels and entire truck beds So the key is to do your research and educate yourself so that you know what is available to you

If you are a professional auto body person then I don’t have to go into the details for you of how valuable a good salvage yard can be You can find a vehicle that may have damage to one side and the rest of the car is fine, or you may need the front clip are able to get it from a car that the rear end has been totaled on If you own a late model car you can be sure to find just about any part you need and there will more than likely be several models of your car at a bigger salvage yard The real defining factor of whether you are able to find quality parts at a salvage yard is probably geographical For instance if you live up north where they use salt on the roads you may find it difficult to find parts that haven’t already began to corrode If you live in a desert area such as New Mexico or Arizona there will be no problem finding parts at all

Another idea for you is to buy cars with salvage titles You can get them extremely cheap and then you have all the parts you need, once you have all you need you can part out the rest If you have time on your hands this can be a good option and it allows you to bypass the middleman Vehicles like these sell for only a fraction of what their real value is and as I said when you are done you can part them out or just scrap them

Lastly you also have the aftermarket industry that specializes in automotive body parts They have parts available for just about any car you can imagine Many of these companies have taken the original parts and made molds that they use to create their own so there is no difference in appearance you just need to check them out and be sure that they are known for quality parts

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about auto parts as well as automotive parts direct at http://www.automotivepartsdirect.com

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Author : Al Draker

The internet is a powerful tool that can be used for a variety of research terms Today it is more useful than ever when one is researching options to improve their gas mileage There are a variety of videos and manuals that aim to help the non mechanic to convert their car using an HHO hydrogen generator kit that will enable them to get more bang for their buck when it comes to the purchase of gasoline Not only will you save money, but you will be driving one of the green machines that address the concerns of climate change and the environment NB HHO is also known as browns gas

The Issue of Price

Many of the HHO hydrogen generator kits have an expensive price tag attached It would take driving many miles in order to justify the purchase price Another option is to purchase an HHO hydrogen generator kit manual such as water4gas that will take you through the steps needed to convert your car into a super gas saver An hydrogen kit for your automobile will run smoother with less noise and save you a bundle at the gas station

The manuals that are available for HHO gas hydrogen generator kits cost much less than some of their counterparts You don t need to be Joe Mechanic in order to convert your automobile into a super gas saver The only skill you need is the ability to follow directions Most of the parts needed to convert your car will cost less than $100 and before you know it, your new hybrid, created by you will be saving you much needed dollars when it is time to fill your car with gas

If Safety is a Concern

Two of the best manuals for an HHO hydrogen generator kit on the market at present are water4gas and runyourcarwithwater These manuals are written in simple language with instructions that will take the novice mechanic step by step through the conversion process They are inexpensive to purchase and will address all safety concerns you may have about the conversion A list of parts is given and can be easily purchased without breaking the bank An added bonus of the manual at Water4Gas com is the inclusion of all documentation that will be required to apply for IRS tax savings These tax breaks are offered to those that drive a vehicle that addresses environmental concerns

Another manual that you can purchase for an HHO hydrogen generator kit is DriveWithWaterFuel This manual is not for the novice; rather it is for someone that has some experience in vehicle mechanics Investing in an HHO hydrogen generator kit will quickly make your car a super gas saver You will save hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year not just on gas, but on repairs as well Your car will run cleaner and more efficiently once it is converted using an HHO hydrogen generator kit that can be purchased online

So do your research on gas savers and make your way to a good water for fuel review and find out the pros and cons of each hydrogen and water for fuel kits These gas saving reviews should help you get the best value for the money and will end up saving you much more than you spent on the HHO hydrogen generator kits in no time at all

Can I use these kits on my car?

Based on the water for gas manuals any car could take advantage of this gas saving technology Whether your vehicle is diesel or gasoline based; car truck or an earth mover as long as they have a combustion engine they should be easily converted to a much more economical and environment friendly vehicle If your car or pickup is a Toyota, Nissan, Ford, GM, Chevy, Chrysler, Jeep, Hummer, Volkswagen, Buick, Hyundai, Mazda or any other brand you should easily be able to turn it into a water hybrid

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