Monthly Archives: July 2009

Author : Gregg Hall

Looking to cruise but without the high cost?

It may not be the vacation you imagined, but recent tests have shown that using the cruise control function on your car can help you reduce your fuel expenses Cruise control ensures that a driver maintains a common, steady speed while on the road, helping to eliminate much of the stopping and starting that unnecessarily burns up expensive fuel With gasoline prices rising across the country, using cruise control is a simple, effective, economical way to increase fuel efficiency and reduce out of pocket expenses

But despite its advantages, cruise control isn’t for everyone and isn’t for all roads It’s best for open city driving, preferably flat roads, without hills where there’s little need for a driver to stop and go Using cruise control ensures that a driver maintains a consistent speed, helping to improve gas mileage and overall safety on the road, as the need to put on the brakes is lessened When tested, a Land Rover LR3 got close to 14 percent better mileage when using cruise control on the highway than it did when the driver adjusted the car speed manually This test shows how the use of cruise control can impact a car’s efficiency

Don’t fear if you’re one of those drivers who can’t necessarily utilize cruise control because your commute isn’t as straightforward There are still simple ways you can maximize your fuel efficiency, one of which involves anticipating the flow of traffic Try to predict where the starts and stops during your travels will be and adjust your driving speed accordingly For example, if you get stopped at light, it’s likely you’ll also be stopped at the following one Speeding your car up to try and beat it will, more often than not, only result in you getting stopped at the following light and needing to brake fast Being mindful of such situations and react appropriately to reduce fuel waste It’s also important to follow the posted speed limit, as it’s been known to translate into more green lights and less wear on your brakes

Driving your vehicle in the highest gear possible can also make a difference in the economy of your car When your car runs in a high gear, the engine turns more slowly, reducing how many explosions occur in the cylinders The fewer explosions that happen, the less fuel that is used On average, the savings on gas due to this increase in efficiency are 7 percent This may seem pretty small, but the savings in fuel expenses are big

Cruise control can help steer you to better mileage and improved fuel efficiency Finally, good reasons to sit back and relax

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a car care products at http://www.stopwaxing.com

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Author : Gregg Hall

The addition of custom wheels to your vehicle can make an enormous improvement in appearance in a car, truck or SUV Not only do they often give you better handling and drivability but they drastically alter the look of any automobile which is why automotive enthusiasts have been replacing their factory wheels with custom wheels for years, getting rid of the ugly basic steel wheels and hubcaps on their vehicle to make their vehicle stand out and give a more comfortable ride

There is a wide range of choices available from the after market custom wheel makers including chrome, aluminum, and alloy which have been available for a number of years In recent years custom wheel manufacturers have began to offer colors such as silver along with bronze, gun metal, gold, anthracite, white, black and gray this allows one to color match the wheels to their vehicle A very hot look is a black car with black wheels for a totally blacked out effect

In the automotive industry the custom wheel segment is growing rapidly due to the popularity of installing custom wheels on cars, trucks, and SUVs In addition shows like “Pimp My Ride” have given people the fever to improve the appearance of their own auto With this in mind it is no wonder why custom painted and color matched wheels are rapidly becoming the leaders in the after market custom wheel industry The types of auto enthusiast that seems most into these new wheels are drivers of the smaller import cars and trucks who really get into the act of changing the appearance of their rides With the increased popularity of the new color matched wheels numerous manufacturers have began to offer them and some are even offering them in multiple colors such as having a color matched center with a chrome lip

Matching the wheels to the exact color of the vehicle seems to be the hottest trend today To accomplish this entire wheel is powder coated or painted to match the color of the vehicle I really like this new customizing option; it really allows you to make your ride totally unique to any other like it on the road If you are wondering where to find these custom wheels, it is really quite easy All you have to do is go online and do a search for custom color matched wheels and find an online vendor or manufacturer you want to look at Another option would be to just buy the basic silver and then have them custom painted locally, but I really don’t recommend this option unless you have a local shop with experience in the process For the best results and quality stick with a company that has experience

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about custom wheels as well as color matched custom wheels at http://www.vintagewheelsplus.com

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Author : Victor Martel

What are the reasons that a private seller of a luxury/exotic automobile succeed or fail?

The answers are really quite simple yet baffling

Too often a private seller gets caught up in an array of emotional thoughts that cloud the reality of what it takes to sell their car They believe they have a luxury/exotic car that the world will come beating at their door or phone or email to buy The fact is, they just don’t know the industry and how to capitalize on it

Selling your luxury/exotic car privately is no different than what a Dealer does on a daily basis with the exception that you are doing it once and now So why do so many people waste their time and money on useless dead-end car selling techniques? The answer is very simple, THEY DO NOT KNOW ANY BETTER!

Here are some of the most obvious mistakes a private seller of a luxury/exotic car makes (and ones you must avoid)

1 Placing the car for sale on an Internet site that does not specialize or focus their attention in luxury/exotic cars Simply choosing a well known named Internet company who do not cater to luxury/exotic cars but instead will list any and every car make and model available lessen your chances of success by at least 75%

2 Not establishing a realistic budget in advance of selling the car If a new private seller does not plan ahead with a budget to sell their car they will be caught in a tangled web of financial uncertainty of what to do without deciding how much to do it with This is sure fire killer to ultimately selling your car at a loss and doing so in a time period much longer than you expected or wanted

3 Not Understanding that selling your car has two primary factors The first is that you have a new temporary business The second is that it is a numbers game Both of these factors will contribute your success or failure to sell your car Here is what I mean

Selling your car is no different than your local dealer selling their cars, albeit on a much smaller scale Both of your goals are to sell a car They have to do it daily and you are doing it once now So, the business side is obvious and the same – sell the car Now, combine that with factor two that it is a numbers game In order for the dealer to sell cars they need the number of buyers to walk into their showroom and have as many people as possible hopefully drive out with a car That is why they have a big advertising budget You are no different You also need the buyers as they do However, you do not have a showroom and you do not have deep pockets for an ongoing massive advertising campaign Therefore you have to budget your advertising dollars (as stated above) more strategically to reach out to the right buyers to gain the advantage of the numbers of qualified buyers to sell your car Since this is a temporary business for you, unlike a dealer, it is imperative that you make two very important business decisions

1 How much will my advertising budget be?

2 What is the best way to reach out to the number of qualified buyers?

So, have you decided on an advertising budget? Have you discovered the best resources to find the number of qualified buyers, and by qualified I mean people who are serious buyers, not just tire kickers?

Obviously I am asking you these questions in order for you to understand the realities of having your own short term business of selling your car so you can make intelligent decisions and ultimately sell your car in a shorter period of time and at the best price

Additional Mistakes:

1 Not being available (All the time)to communicate with potential buyers Or in other words -Hiding in plain sight It is absolutely astounding that so many first time sellers do not make themselves easily available to prospective buyers They list their cell phone yet they rarely answer on the first call They list their email address yet they rarely check it or respond promptly They think that by not responding promptly they are showing that they are not eager to sell the car On the contrary, an interested buyer is eager to want information and will quickly lose interest if there is a slow response and ultimately buy another car In essence if you snooze you lose

2 Not pricing the cat properly We have seen all too often a car for sale by a private seller that is either way too high or well under priced If you do not do your homework on pricing you are pricing your car out of the market Quality research will result in a faster sale at the right price The longer it takes to sell your car the more it depreciates on a daily basis

3 Poorly written descriptions and selling points

All too often a private seller believes that simply writing the basic details of the vehicle will be enough to get a person interested in the car The details and specifics are important, however they are not enough A prospective buyer literally needs to be overwhelmed by what they read It is the exciting car ad that truly catches their attention that will in turn make the prospect want to respond

4 Getting emotionally involved with the car If selling your car is your goal, then separate the emotion from the reality The more you are emotionally attached to your car, the less likely you will make the right decisions on how to sell it Remember, selling your car is a temporary business

5 Being a poor negotiator or too greedy If you are not comfortable negotiating with someone you will probably end up selling your car at a price lower than what you really could have gotten Conversely, if you are too greedy, you will not sell your car at all Either learn the skills necessary to negotiate or rely on a professional to do it for you

All of the points discussed above are the sure fire reasons that first time luxury/exotic car sellers succeed in failing to sell their car Overcoming these issues is not as difficult as they may seem You can do it on your own or hire an expert to help you

We wish you the best in selling your luxury/exotic car

Victor Martel is an expert in buying and selling luxury and exotic cars quickly and at the best price.
You can learn more by visiting his website http://www.finestmotorsports.com. Also visit his blog at http://www.finestmotorsporsports.com/blog to understand the car buying and selling experience.

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Author : Harry Baguio

Americans are misled by car dealers sometimes They are lead to believe that a car purchase in the offered amount is the best and smartest deal that they have In reality, car purchasing is not that easy It is indeed complicated

Second to buying a home, acquiring a car is one of the most expensive purchases that we have in our life When you acquire a house, you get all help you can acquire You consult with a broker to help you find the best home for you You consult with a mortgage broker to help you find the best financing You hire an inspector to ensure safety of your house You invite an attorney to see if the contract is fair A title company will assure you a land title before you pay for your home However when you buy a car, there is no one there to help you Ironically, dealers thought that they can just smooth talk you in one afternoon and convince you to buy it in the same day If you did, then you lose much, much money

To get the best deal, follow the steps suggested below

Make your first visit

Visit the dealership at least once and survey all the car models Ride them if you want but promise yourself never to buy the car on your first visit In this case, you tend to buy a car logically You have time to think about the car deals You have time to research on the internet the dealer costs, safety ratings, option prices, and incentives that the dealer did not tell you on your visit

Consider your finances

Buy what you can afford While some deals are too attractive for you to avail, you must be very practical Consult your personal banker or credit union officer first before making a deal You don t want to default on your loan because you can t pay it resulting to the dealer s repossession of the car

Know the Finance Calculation

It is a must that you insist to your finance manager to show you the exact computation of your loan You want to achieve the best car loan possible

For example, the dealer might charge an extra 20 dollars per month without you knowing Now, if your loan is for 5 years, the dealer will earn 500 dollars just for the extra dollars Now, if you know how to compute for the loan or you let your banker compute for it, you are less prone to this overcharging incident

Write Down Everything

Another important tip for you on your car purchase is to jot down every information you learn from the car Scour every source available: internet, magazines and the salesmen Keeping notes will make everything as honest as possible because you will be able to compare all data This way, the car dealer will not be tempted to lie; because if they sense that you may have no or little knowledge of the prices, they are most likely to rip you off

To learn how to save 60% or more on your next car, check out http://www.insidecarsecrets.com/

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Author : Shaun Parker

Contract hire is a method of hiring a vehicle for a pre-determined amount of time It allows the person hiring the vehicle to manage their finances effectively and as a result often enables them to afford to run a vehicle that they typically would not be able to buy The added benefit of contract hire is that the person leasing the vehicle does not risk the depreciation or maintenance costs that are usually associated with purchasing a vehicle So what types of vehicles are available and how much do they cost?

Mazda 3

The 1 6 TS 5Dr Hatch Mazda 3 is available for a deposit of 730 pounds with 240 pounds monthly charge As with all rentals administrations fees are likely to apply so be sure to double check with your provider before you agree to their terms The agreement with typically include the road fund licence as standard

Seat Leon Stylance

The 1 9 TDI 5 door Seat Leon Stylance is a fantastic example of a stylish small car that will provide you with a classy compact vehicle whatever your needs A 12 month contract hire will work out at around 220 pounds per month for up to 10,000 miles per year without maintenance cover Other mileages are available for a bit more money

Mercedes GL320

The 3 0CDi 5 door Mercedes GL320 Auto is a classic example of the benefits of car leasing over purchasing A big chunky robust, yet stylish car the Mercedes GL320 brings you all the class you expect from a Mercedes along with the practicality of a large family car Perfect for the businessman that wants quality, a good image and will utilise the vehicles spacious load capacity Based on a 12 month deal you will need a deposit of 1500 pounds with 11 months regular instalments of 500 pounds

The BMW 320D Coupe

Another fine example of what a car lease should entail A deposit of 1020 pounds and 340 pounds per month will give you the car for 12 months Complete with metallic paint and top of the range interior it provides the prestige and class associated with a saloon car at an affordable rate that you can account for All of this and you don’t have to worry about depreciation in the value of the vehicle as you would with a car you’d purchase

The Special edition executive Mercedes E220 CDi

This car oozes class and will surely provide a positive image for you and your business Perfect as a company car it offers luxury, performance and an image that represents quality A 12 month business hire contract costs 1200 pounds deposit in the first month with the remaining 11 months each costing 400 pounds As with most hire contracts there is likely to be a 10,000 pound mile per year limit within the price with additional maintenance cover available at extra charge

The Nissan Navara

The double cab 2 5 Dci Outlaw Pickup Nissan Navara is as cool as twin cab pickups come It recently featured in Bruce Willis’ Die Hard 4 0 and has a robust, tough and adventurous image It would certainly make an impact as a company car and would turn heads Cheaper than the saloon alternatives it will set you back 900pounds for the deposit followed by 300 pounds per month over an 18 month contract

Shaun Parker has been at the forefront of the car hire and contract hire industry for several years. He has arranged finance for hundreds of satisfied customers.

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Author : Everette Jamison

The economy is still mired in its slump and everyone is feeling the pinch It won’t surprise you to learn that the number vehicle repossessions has skyrocketed over the past year Experts suggest that the number of daily repos increased nearly 20% during 2008 What’s more, the increase in activity is not limited to certain types of cars Luxury models are being repossessed as quickly as low-priced models

Because this is an area of the automotive industry that few people know about, I’m going to explain what happens behind the scenes We’ll follow the trail of a repo’d vehicle as it changes hands throughout the process

The Person Who Owns The Vehicle

Let’s suppose that you purchase a new Mercedes You found a dealer who was willing to let you drive it off the lot without your having to put any money down Of course, the monthly payments are staggeringly large Eight months later, you’ve lost your job and have begun to have a problem with making your payments on time Eventually, you simply stop paying the lender each month

The lender will send several notices to you requesting that you bring your account current If they don’t hear from you, they’ll begin legal preparations for the repossession For example, the lender will file a lien, request the court to grant a levy, and notify you regarding where the Mercedes will be sold Then, the repo agent is dispatched to pick it up

The Person Who Repossesses It

Repossession companies are hired by the lender The laws surrounding what a repo agent can and cannot do in order to acquire a vehicle vary by state Also, state law varies regarding what the owner (in this case, you) can do For example, some states will allow the agent to cross into private property without the owner’s permission in order to acquire the car On the other hand, several states will let you relocate your car in order to evade the repo agent In that case it’s up to the agent to find you (and your Mercedes)

The Auction And Dealership Lot

Let’s assume the agent found you and took possession of your Mercedes In most cases, the vehicle will end up at a private auction attended by the lender, a representative of the dealership, and any number of other dealers who are interested in buying it for resale If your Mercedes is purchased – and it’s likely that it will be – it ends up on the new dealer’s lot

Hopefully, you’ll never need to experience firsthand the process of having a car repossessed That said, it is an important part of the automotive industry and explains how many used cars end up on a dealer’s lot As for whether repossessed vehicles are reliable, they typically are But, use the same level of caution you normally would when shopping for a used car

When looking for used Honda parts or used Honda transmission consider deals from http://www.everdrive.com

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Author : Alexander West

In 2005, a second generation of the Porsche Boxster was released, which produces more power while still retaining the Porsche traditional style This generation of the Porsche Boxster is a two-seater having a 6-cylinder mid-engine like its predecessor More than 50% of the electronic components and structure of the Boxster is similar to the Porsche 911 Carrera This is good news for obtaining spare parts There are some improvements in the 2005 Boxster that make it more functional than the 2004 model, such as an additional 15 BHP, as well as more torque from 2,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm range

The Porsche Boxster matches the more costly Porsche 911 Carrera for speed and acceleration Its exhaust produces a very unique tromboning wail, which is unexpected considering the relatively smaller engine It uses a five-speed manual transmission gearbox, although there are some models that use a six-speed version Both the interior and exterior of the Porsche Boxster are fairly simple and yet of high quality Improvements were made in consideration of complaints that the earlier models looked rather too cheap, although there is still nothing that has been added for purely decorative purposes Another revision was made in the centre console, with re-modelled switch-gear, with a titanium look panelling The seats have been given a more body-like shape, making them more comfortable, not to mention appearing more pleasing to the eye

The Porsche boxster has a very spacious trunk for carrying luggage under its front hood, and another small trunk at the rear The convertible top is electrically powered, making it quick and easy to operate With the newer models, it is possible to operate the top at a speed of up to 30 mph The top is made of padded cloths that are triple layered, making it both quiet and water tight just as much as metal ones

The Porsche Boxster is known as a mid-engine automobile due to the fact that its 6-cylinder engine has been fitted behind the seats, in front of its rear axle This means that accessing the engine every now and then is not easy You can have a look at it either from under the car, or by removing the panels of the car’s body This position, however, has its own benefits given that the weight will be distributed fairly equally, enabling better handling In other words front engine or rear engine mean that the weight in the car is either at the front of the car or at the rear, which makes the car more unstable, particularly when cornering

Alex West is a luxury car enthusiast. You can find out more about Porsche motor cars at Click Here

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Author : Beverly Saltonstall

Gasoline powered cars are just what their name implies They use an internal combustion engine run by gasoline as its power source Each vehicle has a fuel tank which provides the engine with a supply of gasoline to power the transmission which turns the wheels

Pros of Gasoline Powered Vehicles

Gasoline powered vehicles can operate for greater distances that an electric car A full tank of gasoline will take the vehicle three to five times further than an electric vehicle

In terms of energy, gasoline puts out much more energy for its weight than a battery One gallon of gasoline weighs only seven pounds, while it takes a thousand pound battery to provide the same amount of energy

Gasoline powered vehicles are much more powerful and can achieve greater speeds to keep up with traffic

Gasoline powered vehicles are available in a wide variety of models and sizes They range from small compact cars to pickup trucks, SUV’s and luxury cars There is no end to the variety and price range available There is also a wide variety of engine choices available from a small four cylinder economy car to a high powered V 8 engine and beyond

Cons of Gasoline Powered Vehicles

Recently there has been a surge in the price of gasoline, and filling the gasoline tank in an automobile was downright painful

A combustion engine is not energy efficient and consumes a great deal of fuel

The combustion engine emits toxic emissions that accounts for most of the pollution expelled into our atmosphere This is having a negative effect on our environment

Electric Powered Vehicles

An electric powered vehicle is different from a gasoline powered vehicle in that it has a battery which provides the power to an electric motor This electric motor then powers the transmission which turns the wheels

Pros of an Electric Car

Owing to the fact that this system uses no gasoline or fossil fuels, it is not producing toxic emissions that pollute the atmosphere This is is a great benefit to our environment

Even thought there is a high cost to the battery pack, using electric power is lower in cost than the prices at the fuel pumps

Cons of an Electric Car

The battery powers the car for shorter distances than a tank of gasoline

It takes several hours for the battery to recharge

Electric cars are not as fast as gasoline powered cars, and are limited to slow speed driving

Hybrid Cars – The Best of Both Worlds

Hybrid cars combine both types of engines to achieve the best performance They use both electric motors and a combustion engine to provide power for the vehicle

Hybrid cars can operate on either the electric engine or the combustion engine If the need arises, they can also run on both engines, taking best advantage of either of the systems

Combining the advantages of both engines can provide a hybrid car with optimum fuel efficiency and performance that equals or can exceed its non hybrid counterpart

At higher speeds when the vehicle is using the combustion engine, the vehicle does emit toxic emissions, so a hybrid car is best utilized for slower speed conditions It is ideal for city driving were most of the driving is at slower speeds

As more and more manufacturers are coming out with hybrid cars the price is coming down to nearly the price of a conventional model In addition, the choices are improving Very small vehicles that are capable of fuel economy in the range of 100 miles per gallon are available, as are luxury models and even large SUV’s capable of pulling and carrying heavy loads

Beverly Saltonstall is an environmental writer. Visit http://pollutionwebsite.com for news, podcasts, articles and guides covering many aspects of recycling. To understand pollution, read Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Pollution, But Never Dared to Ask. (available on website)

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