Monthly Archives: December 2009

Author : Bruce Lipski

People who don’t make a lot and have to drive to work are really having trouble making ends meet right now with the high gas prices It is affecting every aspect of our lives and it makes you think about how much our society is dependent on oil There are ways to save on gas though, and in the end it might make our roads a little bit safer

I decided to see if I could save a little if I changed my driving habits The first thing I did was to turn off the air conditioning that was always on in my car Having the air conditioning button on, even when the heat is on, seems to work wonders in preventing the windows from fogging up That is why I always have it on

On a cold or cool day, you are constantly battling the the windows and their constant desire to fog up and having the air conditioning on all the time works really well But, the air conditioning uses extra gasoline so I tried turning it off instead and only using it when it got too hot Now that summer is here though, this may be harder to do

The second thing I tried was to drive more slowly I have heard that if you drive close to 60 MPH you will use less gasoline than if you drive at a higher speed I now drive like a Grandpa and try to keep it at 60 MPH and not go over I just settle in on the right lane and am very content to drive behind the slowest driver as I know I am saving money and it is safer anyway If I always keep it close to 60, the chances of getting in an accident or getting a ticket diminish which is very nice I wonder if other people are doing this too? By driving slower you are both saving money and being safer

To see if this would really save gas, I ran my tank down to as close to empty as I dared and then filled it full I drove normally with the air conditioning on and then recorded the number of miles I got for that tank I then filled my tank up a second time, turned off the air conditioning, and drove at 60 mph for that whole tank The great part is that I got just about 30 more miles for that tank of gas! It’s not a huge savings but to some people even $5 to $8 in savings per tank would really help

If everybody slowed down a little it would make it safer for everyone on the roads and we would all be saving in gas as well Right now I have not really noticed a difference in the speeds of other cars but I wonder if things will change if gas keeps going up to $5 or $6 dollars a gallon

Every little bit helps and now is a great time to start looking into ways to make money on the Internet. It’s not too hard to start making some extra money with one of your own work at home jobs.

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Author : Mike Trudel

There’s always been something magical about the car From the earliest days of automotive transportationwhen that “wind in the hair” experience was due to vehicles not having roofsto today’s sophisticated luxury rides Getting behind the wheel still gets the blood racing for many of us It may be as simple as the appreciation of being able to easily transport oneself from point A to point B It may be the feeling of authority, of being in charge, of so many “horses ” Or it may be the sense of satisfaction as you pilot your vehicle deftly through your neighborhood universe Whatever makes your ride a thrill, one thing is certainyour position of authority in the captain’s seat has taken on a greater sense of importance At least you’d think so, given the immense amount of technology and information now available at your fingertips

Our driving experience is becoming revolutionized Long gone are the days when your simple instrument panel included a mechanical cluster with a speedometer, odometer and gas gauge Sitting in the captain’s throne is a lesson in amazement as high-tech automotive instrument panels are electronic marvels, providing a wealth of digital data, information and directions, all at the touch of a button or through voice-activated commands

Automotive instrument panels are beginning to move away from mechanical instrument clusters to more robust LCD-based displays that offer simulated instrumentation and a variety of other driver-information applications (rearview and blind spot cameras, GPS navigation, and real-time traffic and weather information) Accordingly, automotive system designers are looking to electronics vendors to provide hardware/software solutions with the right combination of image processing horsepower and easy application development to get digital instrument panel solutions to market

Behind the car instrument panel is the true brains of the system, an automotive instrument cluster control system powering all analog gauges, displays, LED warning lights and sound signals Its primary functions are communicating with external data sources and controlling data output devices With the number of data sources on the rise and the increasing use of in-vehicle connectivity, instrument cluster control systems are providing limited gateway functionality

Long gone are the days when all you had to control was the AM radio Today’s vehicles have climate control, GPS navigation, wireless hands-free cell phone capability and seemingly 75 to 100 different knobs on an instrument panel Naturally, the concern is that you’re spending less time with your eyes on the road Some suppliers are consolidating these dozens of controls into a single knob that controls eight functions, including climate, entertainment and navigation Such technology can locate controls of the greatest importance around the steering wheel and set most other functions on the single controller mounted on the center console

Having the best seat in the house, or in this case the car, should afford you with premium options – from music and entertainment to in-vehicle connectivity The electronic ingenuity now available helps achieve the standard desired by today’s automotive industry One thing that’s indisputable in our modern, mobile lifestyle is that we’re constantly seeking new ways to enjoy and take our digital content with us wherever we go Unfortunately, this has not always been possible because severe road conditions, temperature extremes and constant vibrations have limited the amount and type of media you could use in your car Breakthrough advances in storage technology, however, are now producing hard drives rugged enough to stand up to the rigors of the road This is revolutionizing the entertainment and navigation capabilities that you enjoy on the road

Today’s storage solutions let you bring your living room entertainment experiences on the road Imagine you are leaving on a road trip with your family to enjoy a few days up north Before leaving the driveway, you wirelessly sync your car’s hard drive with your home network By the time everyone is buckled up, you’ve loaded the family’s newest music, photos, a few TV shows and some favorite movies right into your car’s instrument panel

Taking your digital content with you in the car means you have instant access to all of your digital music, not just a portion of it, while you’re driving The days of rifling through a cache of CDs tucked into your sun visor are a distant memory You’ve got the music you’d like to hear right here, right now At the same time, the crew sitting in the cheap seats can play movies and video games in the back And, as real-time wireless content becomes more widely available, you’ll be able to download music and movies straight into your car

As maps grow more complex, map databases, especially 3-D maps, take up too much space to store on a CD or DVD High-capacity hard drive storage solutions create a richer navigation experience, with features like 3-D maps, photos of your destination and animated directions

Innovations in storage technology are changing the way we experience digital content both at home and in our cars With the advances in navigation and on-the-road entertainment empowered by digital storage, your driving experience will never be the sameexcept you still have the best seat in the house It’s good to be the captain of this ship!

Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.

Delphi Corporation is poised to apply its expertise and know-how to provide vehicle manufacturers and consumers with in-vehicle entertainment and connectivity. To learn more about Delphi Corporation, please visit www.Delphi.com/4Connected.

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Author : Lila Ivanova

Mitsubishi Lancer has a turbo-charged engine that is backed by 280 hp in a 2 0 liter 16-valve engine with a six-speed manual transmission The vehicle can go from zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds and is rumored to go way beyond the 280 hp it was said to own a ‘Titanium/Aluminium Turbocharger The front suspension is the MacPherson struts and the rear suspension employs a multi-link suspension with stabilizer bars This vehicle also has an Active Center Differential or ACD and has Yokohama tires for better traction

Engine – 4B11 Mivec Twin Scroll Turbo Engine

The instant when stepped on the accelerator, the preponderant acceleration impression with the low even from the rotary limits of standing up sharp response It continues to exceed 40 0kg/m quietly from 2000 rotary middle to 4000 rotary middle, conspicuously wide high torque quality As for 4B11 of new development, the continual variable valve timing system [ MIVEC ] for inhalation side and exhaust side In addition achieving the rise of largest torque and power conversion at entire area with light weight conversion and improvement of efficiency etc of inhalation and exhalation of air system with cam direct drive Furthermore, although being the turbo engine, it actualizes the running which you consider even in environment e g , it conforms to 2005 standard exhaust 50% decrease level

2 0I Mivec DOHC 16-Valve Intercooler Turbo

MAX POWER (NET) 206kw (28-PS)/6500rpm

MAX TORQUE (NET) 422N – m (43 0kg M)/3500rpm

Suspension

Lancer GSR ‘X’ is equipped with S-AWC, adjusting to wide-tread conversion and installing of 18 inch tire whose grip power is high with high rigid conversion Furthermore actualizing the road-hugging whose 4 wheels are high and higher-level operation stability is brought Front MacPherson struts system is there for actualizing the improvement of camber rigidity and tread side rigidity; by such as cross member the rigidity of the section substantially improving From the past, the high performance which has been adopted the front inverted type single tube shock absorber – it includes, raises straight advancing stability and revolving efficiency Rear multi-link system It makes the suspension cross member mount type whose rigidity is high, renovating all parts With the enlargement of the installation span of each arm and the rigid rise of the installation section, camber & toe rigidity were raised markedly Furthermore it has improved road-hugging with the non-linear spring and the knuckle mount conversion of the damper and the increase of the pyro ball

Furthermore, GSR is equipped with Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach coil spring The Brembo ventilated disc brakes provides ample security while stepping on brakes

Simple Interiors with a Powerful Package

As powerful as the vehicle is, the interiors are understated and simply put together The interior of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution features a leather wrapped three spoked steering wheel, Recaro bucket sport seats for the front passenger and driver and a gear shift that is also wrapped in leather Power windows are part of the package along with a complete instrumentation panel and power locks Safety is in the dual airbag system and the three-point safety belts Air conditioning keeps the vehicle cool or warm, depending on how the car’s occupant wishes it to be The vehicle also has front cup holders and a center storage console for added convenience

Why Buy a Mitsubishi Lancer 2008 from Japan

The 2008 Lancer EVO ‘X’ is not available with full specs and options anywhere else in the world except in Japan If you want one for your own, buying a Lancer 2008 as a slightly used Japanese car will surely make you stand out saving 1000′s You will certainly get Japanese used cars are relatively cheaper than used cars anywhere else The used car dealers in Japan sell their stocks at low prices due to the fast depreciation of these used vehicles in their country and the ‘Online Auctions’ can also be your best choice Japanese auctions for have these vehicles to sell them faster and cheaper than the showrooms To get your hands on a Mitsubishi Lancer GSR ‘X’, a Japanese car import is your best bet primarily because it is the only way for you to get one and it is also cheaper

Lila Ivanova is a freelance writer and a researcher working for .
Contributed by NEXUSS INTERNATIONAL – A japanese car exporter. Please visit the website at www.nexusscars.com. Thank you

Submitted By ArticleUnited.com Submission Services

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Author : Andy Lim

Hybrid cars would be the automobile of the future Whether the price of the car is rising or not, hybrid cars not only save fuel costs but is also friendly to the environment by emitting less poisonous gas Owning hybrid cars benefit everybody whether you are a car owner or not

You can also take advantage of tax exemptions that are offered by the US government if you are the owner of hybrid cars These are incentives from the government who want to reduce the fuel expenditure and improve the environment Some places offer free parking if you drive these fuel efficient vehicles

As a consumer, you would not want to use up all the gas reserves which are limited now So, you should think of ways that you can save on fuel Thus, hybrid cars seem to be the solution for conserving gas and extend the supply of the world gas Every gas that can be saved would be an added benefit to the world energy Until scientists have found a better alternative for fuel, this is probably the best way you can do to conserve the gas

Today, you can see many marketing campaigns that organized by auto makers They emphasize on fuel economy in these campaigns So, if you plan to buy hybrid cars which should you opt for?

Obviously, one of the name that crops up very often is Honda This Japanese car manufacturer has produced different models of hybrid cars that are catered for family They ranked among top in fuel economy vehicles manufacturing Honda is recognized as the world class manufacturer for fuel saving engines Now they are incorporating this technology into their range of hybrid cars

One of the models that has this improved fuel efficient engine is Honda Civic Hybrid The Civic is already a famous model developed by Honda but this newer version comes with the hybrid engineering Civic is already acknowledged for its fuel efficiency The addition of the hybrid engine will give you more mileage

The Honda Civic Hybrid is rated as an advanced technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle This means that this model is a green vehicle or environmentally friendly car This is what you should consider in preserving the environment

Civic Hybrid offers a warranty of eight year/80,000 miles when you own this car Furthermore, it has specially designed integrated battery pack that can add more distance in your travel

Another similar hybrid car by Honda is Accord Hybrid This 4-door luxury sedan is categorized under high end luxury market The advantage is that you enjoy more fuel saving If you want performance, this model is equipped with a 253 brake horse power V6 engine For more fuel economy, they have installed a progressive electric motor and a battery

Honda has indeed proved its capability in producing superior hybrid automobiles So if you want fuel economy vehicles, then make sure you check Honda hybrid cars Besides helping you to reduce your gas expenditure, it is friendly to the environment

As you can see hybrid cars can increase your mileage. You can save more gas by using a GPS such as Garmin Nuvi 760 as it can plot the shortest route to your destination. Read about Garmin Nuvi 760 Portable GPS review and discover how this navigational device can help you to save more money on gas. Visit http://www.merchantbuster.com/gps/garmin-nuvi-760

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Author : David Maillie

We all love that brilliant shine of a new car in the dealer’s showroom or at an auto show There are hundreds of car care products and treatments available The question is what works best and how do you do it?

First, you must properly clean and wash your car Polishing and waxing a unclean car is sure to leave hairline scratches from dirt and debris on the car Proper car washing and cleaning should be a main staple of any car care regimen or treatment It is a proven fact that cars that receive routine car washes will last longer (as evidenced in a recent Popular Mechanics magazine) To properly wash your car, first rinse it off Get the whole car wet and try to spray off any loose dirt and debris Then use specific car wash soap (regular household items and chemicals are usually too harsh and can strip the wax or sealant right off) and a soft sponge or towel Wash one panel or area at a time and rinse when done so the suds and soap won’t dry on the paint When done dry off the car with clean terry towels or microfiber towels (a chamois works great also)

Next, examine your car Look at the bumpers, behind the tires, the roof, etc, Are there any contaminants like bug splatter, bird droppings, tree sap, etc, that are still there after washing? You can try and rewash these areas with a little more pressure to try and loosen them up If they still don’t come off, you will need a contaminant remover This is a spray and each has their own unique formula and set of directions Some are similar to foaming glass cleaners and others are a thick emulsion that will sit right on the problem area and not drip off These contaminant sprays will remove most stuck on road debris and there are formulas specifically for road tar and tree sap as they can be more difficult Follow the directions and then rinse and dry

To smooth out any imperfections in the paint we recommend a cleaner wax According to a study by Consumer Reports of every wax currently produced it was found that Turtle Wax was the best for value, durability and shine So, there is no need to waste your money on expensive treatments that will not deliver a finish as well as a $2 bottle of Turtle Wax Apply the cleaner wax in small circular motions and do one panel at a time, same as you did with car washing Let the cleaner wax dry to a white haze and then buff with a clean terry cloth Repeat as necessary

Next, what we recommend is that you use a polymer car polish (again, there is no need for expensive treatments – you are just wasting your money) A good polymer car polish can be obtained at Walmart for between $2 and $5 They always come as a liquid and are very easy to apply and really do last longer than any car wax (up to 1 year and 50 car washes as some labels state) Apply to the whole car and buff dry Apply 2-3 coats for maximum protection

After the car polish we recommend a high class carnauba wax (again there is no need for expensive treatments) Turtle wax platinum car wax is around $5-$7 and so are some Meguiars and Mothers top waxes This will give you a better than new deep and wet looking shine Apply 2 coats in similar fashion to the cleaner wax Wait until you see the resultant shine from wax on top of polish It is unbelievable and gives your car the best shine possible and also the maximum protection available This is how they get that extra deep shine on cars at the auto shows – it works and you will be amazed

David Maillie specializes in automotive safety products, tips and information. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information, tips, and money saving products please visit mdwholesale.com

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Author : Tony Hill

Does the Skoda Superb live up to its name? What is so ‘superb’ about Skoda’s latest offering? Well the first thing that stands out with the Superb is the unique ‘twin door’ concept which allows you to open the boot as either a hatchback or a saloon – excellent if you can’t decide between the two!

Aside from that clever little feature nothing else really stands out apart from the copious amount of space inside the Superb The interior of the car features a vast amount of space and passengers sitting in the back of the car will be treated to a luxurious amount of legroom It is also really comfortable and therefore in terms of comfort it seems like a good choice for those travelling long distances and is a clear example of why this car is so often used as a taxi

Autocar magazine state that “anyone shopping for a great value large car who put comfort and value at the top of their priority list should wait until they have seen the new Superb at their local Skoda dealer” which is high praise for the large family car

This isn’t the first Superb to hit the roads either; the original Superb was launched in 1934 – this is infact the third to be launched There are a variety of models available on the market – the Classic, Comfort, Elegance and finally the Laurin and Klement – they are therefore offering you a range of different specifications to choose from

Looks wise the Superb is nothing to shout about It isn’t ugly but it is good looking It is a basic family saloon that is more concerned with comfort than looks Critics are also applauding the smooth driving experience that the Superb offers which adds more weight to the idea that the Superb is ideal for long journeys Some even suggest that it is far smoother than any Mercedes

As well as the vast amount of legroom on the inside of the Skoda Superb, the Elegance comes with a long list of creature comforts All of which make for a pleasurable driving experience and add a touch of elegance and luxury to the inside of the Superb – because it certainly doesn’t look elegant on the outside!

A brand new Superb will set you back around 15,500GBP which compared to one of its nearest competitors, the Ford Mondeo, which will set you back around 17,795GBP is pretty reasonable!

For the car make that was once the butt of all car jokes, Skoda are gradually shedding their bad image so many people may think that for a Skoda perhaps it is Superb

Tony is an online writer and marketer. He is currently researching New Skoda and Used Skoda cars

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Author : Amy Nutt

It’s that time of year again, spring Your vehicle is ready to be treated well after a long, hard winter and you will need to make sure that a full spring maintenance is done to keep your car or truck in perfect operating order Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors in the spring maintenance

Exterior Spring Maintenance

Wiper blades These are an important part of vehicle maintenance You’ll want to replace old blades or clean newer ones that have gone through the rigors of winter Wiper blades should be replaced every six months anyway, so doing it during your spring clean up is perfect timing Washing The salt that is used to melt ice on roads can be very damaging to your car, so now that spring is here, give it a thorough washing from top to bottom Make sure you rinse the undercarriage as well, since this is where a lot of rust happens without you noticing

Waxing This is the perfect time to wax your vehicle so it will last for a while and be easier to clean next time You should also repair any chips in the paint at this time

Tires Check your tire pressure and top up if needed Keeping your tires at optimum pressure will save you hundreds of dollars in gas and tire wear, so this should be a regular thing, not just for spring maintenance

Engine Maintenance

Oil You should change your oil every 3 to 4 months, so an easy way to remember that is to simply change with the change of seasons Your spring vehicle maintenance is the ideal time to do this Tune up Get a tune up now, to make sure that your vehicle is in great condition for summer driving, when most longer trips are taken This will allow you to travel safely to weddings or on vacation

Fluid levels A quick check of all fluid levels is a good idea at this point, too Make sure everything is topped up so your engine will be running at top efficiency and you won’t have to deal with problems in this area later on

Other Vehicle Maintenance

Interior Now that the weather is warmer, you’ll be able to get out the vacuum and get rid of the clutter and garbage that built up over the winter! Clean out your car’s interior and vacuum for a nicer driving atmosphere

Brakes A break check should be done every spring to ensure that they are in perfect working order You may not even realize that your brakes aren’t working properly, since we tend to get used to them as time goes on This can end up being very dangerous, so get them checked before you head into spring

Other systems Your spring maintenance checkup is a good time to review all other areas of your vehicle, replace broken lights and repair any other problems that you have been leaving until warmer weather

A spring vehicle maintenance is the ideal way to ensure that your vehicle is ready to drive and is safe to do so for the spring and summer months This includes checking out the main systems, fixing up your car and removing the winter salt and grime that can be damaging, as well as replacing parts like the windshield wipers for better visibility

It’s an important part of car upkeep You should also do a winter maintenance session to ensure that your vehicle is ready for winter, six months or so from now

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Author : Aydan Corkern

If you are in your vehicle a lot it would be a good idea to have a small fire extinguisher in it As we all know, fires can happen without warning and from things that are not under our control Not only can a fire get started on the inside of your vehicle but anything under the hood could start this fire as well If a fire does start under the hood of your car, it can become out of control very quickly In cases like this you would want to have an extinguisher handy and easy to grab

Most fires that happens to our cars are not as bad as some in our homes But never the less, these can become life threatening as well Most of these fires might start from poor maintenance Doing periodic checks on your whole car can help cut down on the chances If you buy a used car, you might want to bring someone that can help you to do a through inspection before you buy You might want him to check the wires, gas tank, and anything else that could cause you to end up with a fire Once you buy your car, try to know it inside and out

The more you know about your car, the better and easier it will be for you to be able to tell if something is wrong Always know where your temperature gage sits so that if it changes you will know that something is wrong If this should happen shut off your vehicle and get out If it happens to be in traffic, try to pull off as soon as possible If you know that your vehicle is not just running hot because it is low of water and there might be fire going on instead, get a safe distance away and call someone, namely, the fire department

If you know there is a fire under your hood because you see the smoke, never open the hood because the sudden gush of air can cause the fire to become bigger quickly When this happens, it can cause an explosion that could burn you severely when you are that close Sometimes when a fire uses up the air that is under the hood, it might smother itself out before it gets any bigger Fires under the hood can be very unpredictable and it is better to just leave them alone to avoid being injured Until a firefighter arrives

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