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Monthly Archives: May 2009
Car Auctions For The Rest Of Us
Author : Brian Knapp
You’ve maybe either seen people advertising them or you may have even looked into purchasing cars through car auctions But my wager is that is about as far as you have gotten That’s as far as most people get I only say that because if you are like me and 95% of the U S you were pretty quickly turned off by either hearing or reading the words “Dealer license required” That turns most people off, but it doesn’t have to be that way
I mean who wants to pay the government for the right to do yet another thing? And who has the money to pay for things like dealer licenses when all you want is a good deal on a good car? After all you aren’t going to actually profit from it, are you?
There’s another thing too! Who wants to go through all of the junk of the licensing process required for the auto auctions with credit checks and background checks and the new numbers you have to memorize and the new tax documents you have to fill out? What a pain!
Well thankfully, for the both of us, there are people who aren’t as willing to be disheartened in the face of a little bit of adversity – especially when the likelihood for huge money savings is on the line!
One day my wife and I were both sitting in front of the TV late one night flipping through a lot of crap when an ad came on for purchasing “police taken over cars at pennies on the dollar!” This advertisement for government auto auctions caught our attention because money was tough, but our car was in bad shape
We were in unsound shape financially and my wife needed a car without delay in order to keep her job Well like I said, I went and got online to check this auction out and as soon as I saw that a dealer license was required I gave up My wife on the other hand decided that it wouldn’t hurt to make a few calls and see what was required
I’ll say it again, boy am I glad I married her because by making that call she got us out of a tough spot You see what she learned was that the dealer license was no big thing It was simply a trip down to the secretary of state, write a check, and take home your license that day You could even get a temporary license if it was just going to be a one time purchase
Well to make a long story short, we ended up getting a temporary license, went to an auction and came away with a beautiful vehicle for pennies on the dollar and sold it six months afterward for a nice profit When I saw how easy it was, I decided to keep doing it whenever I need a vehicle
Brian is a writer and a classic Mustang enthusiast. He loves finding used Mustangs for sale. You can read more at http://www.mustangforsale.org/
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Gas Saving Products Which Ones Work And Which Ones Can Damage Your Vehicle
Author : Gregg Hall
In this article we will examine some of the most popular types of gas saving devices that are available in the market There are number of additives that can be added to the gas tank or to the engine oil that may enhance fuel economy Such additives are called gas and oil additives How do these work? Let’s look how and where to add these additives in your vehicle
Add gas additives to the tank
Then fill up the tank as per your requirement
Remember since the gas additive takes up some part of the tank, it will reduce the volume of gas that you eventually have
These additives could be platinum, magnesium and tin Such additives are supposed to be removing material that settles down in the bottom of the tank over time
The additives for oil are generally already mixed with oil
The oil additives increase the velocity of oil and reduce the friction thereby improving the performance of the engine
These are not very expensive and are available in most stores
There are certain precautions that you must take while using such additives These are as follows:
Never use acetone as it will corrode the plastic parts in your engine
Most additives are such that they are not designed to do much The mileage that you get without additives in a well-maintained vehicle is more or less the same after adding additives So do not add something hoping that it would improve the fuel economy but instead you end up paying to fix your engine
Always use the grade of oil with or without additives that is specific for your engine
One more gas saving device is a magnetic device The ability of the magnets to attract and rebel things are used effectively to create devices that can save gas Let’s again note some important points regarding magnetic gas saving devices:
When you are using magnetic devices, you have the freedom to add or remove it at any time
You are not actually adding anything to the gas or the oil which gives consumers a peace of mind
Once you put on a magnetic device you are good for life You do not need to refill it and buy it again and again
Magnets that promise reducing the gas consumption of your vehicle generally cost between $15 and $40
Generally magnetic devices save gas in terms of 1/10th of a gallon
Attached to the fuel line of the vehicle these devices are meant to alter the molecular structure of the fuel
It is easy to put on the vehicle and remove it
Although there are plenty of different devices claiming 10%-20% gas savings, but almost all gas saving devices that use magnetic properties yield the same result Even after testing these devices keeping the variables like temperature, engine conditions, etc constant the result has always been more or less the same
Gregg Hall is an author living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Now that you know a little more about gas saving products be sure that you get gas saving devices by going to http://www.nsearch.com
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Auto Body Repairs That Will Save You Money
Author : Samantha McCartney
Your vehicle can last you a long time if you take care of it In our changing economy right now, you will want to make your current vehicle last a long time That means you should care for it, keep up with routine maintenance, and take care of any repairs that arise You may think that only engine or mechanic repairs must be taken care However, it is important that you take care of auto body repairs as well There are many auto body repairs that will really save you money down the road!
So many people underestimate the importance of getting paint touch up for their vehicles Our vehicles paint usually gets small chips or cracks from road debris and other small things that may hit it Paint touch up will cover those chips and cracks It is best to take your vehicle to an auto reconditioning shop to get paint touch up since they have the technology to match your vehicles paint for the new paint Usually it does not make the vehicle look totally better but there is a bigger reason why you get paint touch up Your vehicles paint is a sealant for the auto body’s metal frame It keeps it from contacting water and other harmful elements which cause rust You really don’t want any rust to form on your vehicle, that will cost you more money and more time versus simply getting paint touch up with is quick and affordable
Bumper repair is another repair that is often overlooked It is important that your bumper be in the best shape possible, not all for looks, but because your bumper is what protects your vehicle from further damage and your passengers So, if your bumper is currently damaged you run the risk of incurring more damage if involved in any form of accident which will cost you much more than bumper repair Bumper repair is another repair that is quick and affordable
One more repair that can set you behind financially if you don’t get done right away is windshield repair A lot of times our windshields get cracks or chips from road debris that kicks up on the road If the damaged windshield is taken in for repair promptly, it can be repaired However if you wait too long you will have to end up buying and replacement windshield and paying to have it installed which is much more costly than a simply repair Also some shops will offer a mobile service where they will come to you to repair your windshield
All of these repairs can be completed at most auto reconditioning shops They are all affordable and can be completed quickly! But if you don’t take care of these repairs quickly you will face the chances of paying much more later and being without your vehicle longer So, save yourself money and get auto body repairs! Find an auto reconditioning shop near you who can help keep more money in your wallet and get your vehicles looking great!
If your car is in need of auto reconditioning start looking for a qualified professional to handle your concerns. Look for an auto body professional to take care of your ride from bumper repair to fixing the major auto body repairs at http://www.autoreconditioning.com/
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How To Properly Care For Your New Alloy Wheels And Some Products To Help You Do The Job
Author : Gregg Hall
There are different types of alloy wheel cleaners available in the market Alloy wheels look great but if they are covered with grime and dust they will give a bad look of your car A good car can be let down by ratty, scuffed and tarnished wheels Replacing the whole set of alloy wheels can cost hundreds of dollars and with good care of your allow wheels you can contribute to the beauty of your car A good alloy wheel cleaner is essential for your car
Regular cleanliness is required to get the optimal performance from your alloy wheels The aluminum body wheels can vehicles can now be restored to their original beauty if you use a right cleaning product Some of the best alloy wheel cleaners include the following
Alloy Body cleaner
The alloy body cleaner is very powerful cleaner that uses a phosphoric blend of acids to remove the deposits of corrosion, grime and dust
Laser tech
The laser tech cleaner is a phosphoric based acidic cleaner that is used for the alloy wheels to give them a brightest look
Alloy-shine excell
The alloy-shine excel product is an acid wheel cleaner perfect for removing the dust, grime and corrosions from all types of wheels including steel, painted and alloy
Silicone Free dressing
The silicon dressing can be used on all types of rubber surfaces including tires This product provides weather resistance long lasting effects
Alloy Wheel Cleaner
This is a mild alloy wheel cleaner used for removing the brake dusts and road salts from the wheels
Rubber Gloss
The rubber gloss product is specifically designed to increase the appearance of the rubber surfaces It provides the excellent results on mats and mud flaps The rubber gloss is silicon free and a non flammable solvent
Tire Shine Pro
The Tire Shine Pro cleaner is blended with the fine oils to provide the long lasting weather-resistance shine
Quick Wheel Detailer
It keeps the wheels sparkling every day and produces natural shine
Clean Wheels
The clean wheels product brings the sparkle back to the dirty and deteriorated wheels
Wheel Care
The wheel care is a professional wheel resin based wax It makes the wheels easier to clean, resists brake dust buildup and provides and long lasting protection
MetalMate
This product has been tested and claimed as one of the best alloy wheel protection product It makes the wheels really bright and it’s very easy to keep off the dust with MetalMate
This only represents a sampling of the car care products available on the market today There are many more available that you can find from the resource below
Gregg Hall is an author living on the Treasure Coast of Florida. Now that you know more about alloy wheels be sure that you have quality Goodyear tires for your car by going to http://www.nsearch.com
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Offer Perks For Your Customers at Your Franchise
Author : Samantha McCartney
Becoming a franchise owner is a great opportunity to own and operate your own business Franchises are usually more successful than independently started businesses since they have already worked out the bumps along the way and have a working system in place However that does not mean that you will not have to do work to make your franchise successful You may even have to put some new systems and promotions in place for your franchise To get new business and keep the current business takes work, one way to do that is to offer perks to customers new and current at your franchise!
There are many different types of perks you can offer at your franchise business, but here are few to start with:
First you can offer a referral perk This is great because it gets new business in your franchise and gives back the current customer too! Usually how a referral perk works is where if a current customer refers so many people or maybe even just one (whatever you feel appropriate for your franchise) to your franchise for work they will get something in return It may be something free or even discounted, make it worth it! Also for this to work you must be provided great customer service and also great quality work or a quality product
You may also want to offer a perk to certain groups of people For example you could offer a senior discount for those over a certain age, military discounts are always good, or even to police, firefighters or other community workers as you choose Usually this is like a 5 or 10 discount or maybe something free with the purchase of something else Again it really depends on the type of franchise what you would offer This is not only great for those individuals who meet those requirements but is shows that you are giving back to the community in some way which looks good and should make you feel good as well
You may even offer a perk for companies who work with you in your area and support your efforts You may offer their employees something or a discount Or you may work with the other company to provide benefits to their member as well if they are interested in using your services
You may even choose to have a perk as simple as having a stamp card perk This usually works where they get a stamp per something they purchase or a stamp per purchase amount For example you get a stamp for each ten dollars you spend or a stamp for each pre designated item purchased This is great because the customers are spending money to get the stamps but they still get something in return
All of these perk suggestions are great to incorporate into your franchise business You just need to find what will work for your franchise and your customers These suggestions can lead to more business for your franchise which will lead to a more successful franchise!
For more information on an automotive franchise with BumperDoc visit http://www.automotivereconditioningfranchise.com/ to start your path to business ownership!
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Buy That Big Quality Car Now
Author : Bill Williams
Today nearly all the motoring news about cars is connected with carbon gas emissions and its effect on the environment through global warming, the high cost of fuel, gas guzzling vehicles and Road Tax (or V E D as in the UK)
Nobody is sure as to how long this so called fuel crisis will last No oil company or government has yet to say that oil reserves are low, yet we all know they will not last forever
With both China and India now emerging as huge developing countries their powerhouse economies are putting unprecedented demands on the power supplies of the world
No matter what form of power is required by China and India their demand on oil reserves continues to climb, prior to 10-15 years ago their oil requirements were to say the least negligible in world consumption terms
It must also be remembered that the present fuel/oil crisis is not simply a matter of oil shortage but the lack of the refining capacity for the crude product One could also ask why is there a shortage of refineries, with all the so called brainy people who work for the oil companies, why did they not foresee there would be a refining capacity shortage with the extra demands of China and India? Perhaps like me you are an outright sceptic on this matter and thought that the oil companies estimated, correctly as it proves, that they could make even more money out of this situation
Well that has got all the doom and gloom done with, let us now all look forwards to a much brighter scenario
As stated earlier the big so called gas guzzling vehicles are now out of vogue (we are told) These big 4X4s (nicknamed Chelsea Tractors in the UK) were originally designed as suitable for rough terrain travel, e g farmland, and their gearing for this work did not allow for high mpg
It is a similar situation for the big large engine capacity cars, these were bought to provide comfort and style for those who could afford them and their mpg was never a big selling point
Optimists are forever looking for the positive angle on any situation and within this oil crisis there is at least one
In the UK motor traders are mostly refusing to take in as part exchange any of the big 4X4s and other gas guzzlers because these traders fear they will not be able to sell them on and when they do the trade-in price is well below the recommended book price, their thinking is, who would want to buy a gas guzzler with fuel prices so high Also in the UK, this year saw the introduction of a Banded/Green Road Tax system, the more exhaust gas emissions from your vehicle the higher the cost of your Road Tax By 2010 those high emitting vehicles will be paying up to 410 pounds sterling (approx $760) for their annual Road Tax
Throughout this article all the negatives of owning a 4X4 or gas guzzler have been highlighted Now for the surprise, because of what you might call a unique situation you will never again get a better opportunity to buy a big quality vehicle again Why buy one you ask? Simple, take advantage of a Water to gas fuel conversion system which helps the environment by reducing global warming through reduced carbon gas emissions and also greatly increase your fuel economy thereby putting the cost of ownership of a big quality vehicle on a par with a small vehicle
Bill is now retired but as a keen motorist has driven on most continents of the world and has a keen interest in environmental issues, these account for only a couple of his many varied interests. For further info on the Water4gas fuel conversion system please visit..http://www.the-car-hub.co.uk/
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The Use of LPG
Author : Florence Gasket
LPG, otherwise also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is used as fuel, especially for vehicles such as cars and motorcycles It is actually a mixture of hydrocarbon gases LPG is also used as an aerosol propellant and refrigerant to avoid damage to the ozone layer (previously caused by other chemicals) There are varieties of LPG such as propane gas and butane gas and each of them has its own properties and usage The main source of LPG is usually from fossil fuel, found underground In order to obtain LPG, there are factories for refining crude oil and streams of gas and fuel from the ground The production of LPG involves refining petroleum or crude oil, and was introduced in 1912
There are many uses for LPG, especially propane gas and butane gas First, LPG is used to fuel vehicles The reason people are using LPG as fuel for their vehicles is because it burns cleaner than petrol and diesel However, the only down side is it may damage the valve and shorten its life (although this is hotly disputed) Still, it is an excellent choice of fuel for vehicles There are many gas stations providing LPG as one of the fuels on offer If you need a ‘clean’ fuel, LPG would be the best choice compared to other types of fuel
Another use is as a refrigerant Propane gas and butane gas are used to make hydrocarbon refrigerants Hydrocarbons are known to be more energy efficient and cheaper than other chemicals, which is why it is suitable to be used as refrigerants CFCs have a very bad impact on the ozone, as it damages the ozone layer thus increasing the green house effect and global warming (again, this too is hotly disputed)
Another popular use is as a cooking fuel LPG is very popular, especially among countries like India and other Asian countries LPG is used as a cooking fuel for households and even businesses such as restaurants As for propane, it is more popularly being used as fuel for barbeques and portable stoves This is because propane has a low boiling point, so it will vaporize once it is released from the container Butane, on the other hand, is famously bottled as fuel for lighters and deodorants When propane and butane combine together, they become LPG
Believe it or not, LPG and renewable energy can work side by side especially in colder seasons such as winter, when there is lack of sunlight for a solar panel to generate enough power for heating At these times, LPG can be used as a back up or secondary fuel in generating the energy for the household For example, in order to heat water in winter, LPG is used alongside a solar panel to provide enough energy for this purpose
Overall, LPG is a good choice of fuel, especially for vehicles such as cars if you want to save on fuel and have a cleaner burning fuel when compared to petrol and diesel) However, if your vehicles are not suitable for LPG fuel, you will need to modify your vehicles at an authorised dealer
Flogas is the business since 1984 and also the largest suppliers for http://www.flogas.co.uk/ LPG. There are multiple purposes like http://www.flogas.co.uk/ LPG fuel and different chemical products, cooking fuel etc; It has become the best choice in markets of UK.
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New Saturn Sky Is Heavenly
Author : Ben Franklin
Time was when the automaker Saturn was just owned by General Motors This wholly-owned set-up seems to have changed its course and today, it’s a regular division and there is a lot of hype going around about its latest offering which will hit the road next year, that is in the spring of 2007 Towards the end of the last century, a series of cars began to roll out of this plant at Tennessee The name was unusual and the cars that rolled out were quite unlike the usual GM offerings This was a wholly-owned company but somehow managed to have an identity of its own, very different from its parent company’s Detroit culture Their “S” series of cars began to roll out of their showrooms pretty fast thanks to their pricing which made people want to go and buy The cars were available in sedan, coupe and wagon models and they were compact, well-engineered and low-priced They were primarily meant to stand up to the Japanese cars and the way they were taking over markets all over the world
With time, the “S” series was phased out and in came the ION series as well as the “L” series The ION series was compact while the “L” series was a larger car which was based on an Opel model and was later replaced by the RELAY, a crossover vehicle which was a 7-seater Saturn also brought in the VUE which was an SUV which they still roll out today However, it did not add up to enough to pose any competition worth its while to the other cars in the market
Up till now Today they have a car on the anvil that is already generating excitement though it is poised for roll-out only next spring Why this hype? The car will be a two-seater roadster Very much like the Honda S2000 Roadster, both in looks and size, Saturn Sky will come with a soft top that can be manually operated, 18″ alloy wheels, leather bucket seats, a clamshell hood with a reverse opening and 4-wheel anti-locking brakes The engine will be a 2 4 170hp I4 and it will come in both the 5-speed automatic transmission or manual options
The price? It is expected to be high as it is a high-end product, with an up market target audience in mind It is expected that around 12,000 will roll out a year and the price would be in the region of $25,000 Is this the beginning of a new road for Saturn? Till now, the image was that of a company that was low-priced, safe and possibly staid New models seem to be on the anvil if reports are to be believed All we can say is that the company seems to have jumped tracks somewhere along the way and seems to be heading into a new world with a new brand image to guide it along In today’s world, it could only be a harbinger of great things to come!
More information about the Saturn Sky
Saturn Sky
http://www.saturnnewcars.com
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