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Cars And Cell Phones

0 September 3rd, 2010

Increased reliance on cell phones has led to a rise in the number of people who use the devices while driving.

There are two dangers associated with driving and cell-phone use, including text messaging.

First, drivers must take their eyes off the road while dialing.

Second, people can become so absorbed in their conversations that their ability to concentrate on the act of driving is severely impaired, jeopardizing the safety of other motorists and pedestrians.

This topic has gotten a lot of attention. Some want it to be banned all together, while others want to impose tougher laws about drivers who use them.

With all of the factors that are required to drive safely, its imperative to keep all safety factors in mind.

Suggestions for cell phones and driving;

1. Keep in mind there are many distractions on the road. If you are driving alone and can do so safely pull over to make or answer a call.

2. If someone is with you, have them talk on your behalf.

3. There are devices now to allow for a hands free call, allowing for you to keep your hands on the wheel.

That doesnt take from the distraction of the conversation itself but, its a way of being able to take or make the call thats less imposing on your driving attention.

Most important thing to remember when driving is that your ability to concentrate and take care on the road is your first responsibility. Any call that important is worth pulling over for.

Some regions and states have made driving while using the cell phone against the law. This decision is still under investigation and consideration in other areas.

Its important to know before driving through one of those regions what their laws are on cell phone use in cars.

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Car Window Shades

0 August 27th, 2010

Whether you are traveling in the heat of the sun or just looking for a little privacy, car window shades are a solution to your dilemma. They come in a variety of materials including vinyl, mesh, sunscreens, and nylons and corrugated cardboard. They are designed for windshields, back and side windows.

If you want a subtle looking shade, you can select a plain color, or you can purchase shades that are wild, with colorful designs. Some shades are free, given to drivers by companies wishing to market their products. Logos and messages are printed on the shade and displayed when placed on the windshield of a vehicle.

Portable and affordable car shades work well in any driving environment, especially when the suns rays are its fiercest. If your parking spot offers no shade, just pop on the car window shade, and youll return to a cool, comfortable car without having to wait for the air conditioning to kick in. They work great as side window covers too. If you have a child, these shades are designed to reduce the glare that shines through a side window, affecting the vision of your child. Although it does not offer protection from ultraviolet rays, it will provide shade and a comfortable ride for your little ones. When side shades are in place, the driver will not encounter any visual distortion, or will vision be impaired while driving.

Car window shades are cheap, very easy to pack and work efficiently. Sometimes, air bubbles appear on the shades, and you might want to get rid of them by squeezing them out. Also, you cant open windows when the car shades are in place. To put the shade in place, all you have to do is unfold and stick it to the surface of the glass. You do not have to wet the shade or the window. To remove the shade, you simply peel it off and roll it back up.

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Car Repairing Made Easy

0 August 20th, 2010

Does your car need some repairs? Well it can be less time consuming and save you money, if you decide to repair your car yourself. And who doesnt like saving money?

The main reason for concern would be in finding the right parts for the car. It is a good idea to get the parts before starting to repair.

If you notice there is repair needed on your car before something actually goes wrong, its good to have the parts ready on hand. Because if you wait its possible that the store is out of stock for that particular part. That way your prepared and have no worries.

You could also consider getting the parts on the internet; you can practically get any part youre looking for on the internet. Just keep looking and youre bound to find it. And hey you might get a good deal and they can even deliver the parts to you. You can get a good deal because many times they will buy the parts in bulk and save money, that way it is more easier for the companies to give you a good deal.

Though make sure when youre ordering your car parts that you’re buying the right parts for the make and model of the car that you’re repairing. It can waste time if you make a mistake and get the wrong part. It is good to plan ahead and be as organized as you can. It will make the process more efficient and wont waste time.

Go ahead and be ready for the next repair, you will see how itll be taken care of in no time. Dont moan around, it wont get the repair done any faster. Just do the repair yourself and see how much money youll save. Take my word for it, it can be done.

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Car Care Tips Help Teens, Parents as School Starts

0 August 13th, 2010

Whether they’re driving 500 miles to their university or five miles down the road to high school, students’ knowledge of proper vehicle maintenance will improve both their car’s safety and their personal safety as they head back to school.

High school and college students nationwide understand that being able to drive is tantamount to personal freedom, making it important for them to develop good car care habits early – habits that will pay off for years to come.

That is why Firestone Tire & Service Centers developed a top five list to help students prepare to hit the road before they have to hit the books. Remembering to maintain a vehicle will help reduce repairs and help students save money.

“We hope this top five list bestows high school and college kids with a sense of responsibility for their safety, related to car maintenance,” said Trisha Hessinger, automotive TV program host, car education specialist and pace car driver.

The chance that a 16- to 19-year-old will be in a crash, based on miles driven, is four times that of an older driver, according

to AAA.

A car can break down at the worst possible moment and in the worst situation. The dangers associated with a poorly maintained car are significantly increased by the driver’s inexperience.

Vehicle maintenance is critical in maintaining optimum performance of any vehicle, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.

So, if you are a parent of a young driver or a young driver yourself, remember that taking care of a car consists of more than keeping it clean.

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Cadillac Means Quality

0 August 6th, 2010

Part of the General Motors Corporation, and produced and mostly sold in the United States, the Cadillac is a brand of luxury automobiles. And in the United States, this brand name of luxury automobiles has become a synonym for high quality. Certainly, because of this, it has been used in certain lingo and phrases like the Cadillac of clocks. Cadillac was formed from the Henry Ford Company, and the automobile was named after the 17th century French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, who was the founder of Detroit, Michigan in 1701.

One of the vehicles running under the Cadillac name is the Cadillac Escalade. This vehicle is a luxury spin-off of the large ChevroletGMC SUVs, and is made available in three trim levels the base SUV wagon, the longer Escalade ESV wagon, and the Escalade EXT pickup truck. The first two versions are sport utility vehicle wagons that has three rows of seats and can take in a capacity of seven passengers. The Cadillac Escalade EXT, on the other hand is a crew-cab pickup truck that has four doors. It is similar to the Chevrolet Avalanche, has a midgate wall between the cab and the cargo bed.

All the versions of the Cadillac Escalade feature an all-wheel drive and a 6.0 liter V8. The base wagon also comes as a 2WD model. All have automatic transmission, front side airbags, ABS, antiskidtraction control, tire-pressure monitor, and Cadillacs automatic-adjusting Road Sensing Suspension. Also standard features for all trim levels of the Cadillac Escalade include a trailering package, power-adjustable gas and brake pedals, a rear obstacle detection, and OnStar assistance. The Escalade ESV Platinum Edition includes features like a navigation system, rear DVD entertainment, specific appearance touches, and 20-inch chrome alloy wheels instead of the usual standard 17-inch alloy wheels of the Escalade.

Acceleration for this vehicle is found to be ample despite occasional transmission delays in full-throttle downshifts. It has towing capacities of 7,400 lbs. for 2WD Escalades, 8,100 lbs. for AWD models, and 7,300 for EXT versions. It has an averaged 13.7-15.6 mpg in city or highway driving. The vehicle could get quite staggering at times. It is also very truck-like. The Cadillac Escalade ESV models have a longer wheelbase that provides a smoother feel on rough roads. As per the vehicles steering and handling, it is generally ponderous and has a slow response to steering inputs. It has light and vague steering that demands continuous attention on the highway. Also, it has a rear-leveling suspension that is standard and improves control with a heavy load. The brakes, however, feel soft but have adequate power. It provides a fine isolation from the wind, road, and engine noise. It also offers plenty of head and leg room and a vast shoulder width. Plush seats with fold-down armrests complete the interior. Commanding road view is given to drivers, and added in is a helpful audiovisual rear-obstacle-detection system that warns of the unseen when backing up.

Auto Parts Discount offers a variety of Cadillac Escalade parts and Cadillac performance products and replacement parts to suit the most demanding needs of Cadillac owners. They can always get the latest information on optimum quality and low-priced www.carpartswholesale.comcpwcadillac-car-parts.html”target=_blank”class=”navigationCadillac parts.

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Buying versus Leasing A Car

0 July 30th, 2010

If you are considering whether to buy or perhaps lease your next car and which would afford you the best deal, most consumer experts agree that from a purely financial aspect you will be better off in buying your next car.

Of course paying cash in full is the best possible scenario since with this option you would avoid any type of finance charge. But for the vast majority of us and for the scope of this article well take a look those purchases or leases that involve financing.

In the short term leasing may look attractive to you because monthly lease payments will more than likely be less than the monthly payments of a purchase agreement. Why? Because with a lease you are essentially only paying for the part of the car you are going to use. Its kind of like splitting the cost of a pizza with someone. You are only paying for the pieces that you are going to eat. In car terminology the part that is left over in a lease is called the residual value of the car. The higher the residual value of the car the less of the car you will use during the lease so you payments for the part that you do use (the lease) will be lower.

Typically lease durations are 24, 36, or 48 months. Do not sign up for a lease beyond 48 months. Actually anything beyond 36 months is pushing the value of the lease. Dont let the car salesman get you into a longer lease just because they make your monthly payments look more attractive. Remember time costs you money and the cars residual value will plummet and you loose all the advantages of leasing and still be left with nothing in the end.

For some drivers the car buying decision isnt based purely on bottom line numbers. And this is fine. Its strictly personal. Leasing does afford you the ability to always be driving a new car. A car that is within a few years of the latest body style and technology. A car that is always under the factory warranty. For the person that has accepted the fact that they enjoy being in a newer car and that car payments is just another monthly expense, then why not get the most car for the money? Then leasing could be a good alternative.

If this is your personal preference the other two questions you must answer are how many miles a year do I drive and how hard on cars am I? The mileage question can really come back to haunt you if you are not careful. People who are in new cars and thus enjoy driving them and showing them off more will have a tendency to drive them more. Be very careful with you mileage. Going over your allotted mileage on your lease could end up costing anywhere from 15 to 30 cents per mile beyond the lease mileage allowance and this can get painful in a hurry. In most leases you can purchase additional mileage up front at the time of the lease but keep in mind if at the end of your lease you havent used all of your miles, you dont get that money refunded back to you.

I mentioned a bit earlier you need to consider how well you treat your cars. Only you will know this and you need to be honest with this one. Dont think that you can turn your lease car in at the end of the lease with the car in sub par condition. If you do, you may be assessed reconditioning fees that could become rather hefty.

In summary, from a purely financial perspective buying your next new car is the best over the long haul. But, car with car ownership, so much personal preference, and personal priorities come into play. If you think leases look attractive, be absolutely certain about your mileage you will drive. Take good care of the car. And finally check with your insurance agent first to make sure that you dont give back the money you save in monthly payments to your insurance company.

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Buying A Used Car In Australia – Two Factors You

0 July 23rd, 2010

Buying A Used Car In Australia – Two Factors You Must Consider Carefully Before Buying A Used Car

If you are going to buy a used or second hand car, what will be your main concerns? What are the most important factors to consider if you wish to buy a used car?

I find myself asking these same type of questions when I was faced with a limited budget and a need to change to a newer, but used or second hand car to cut down on initial investment costs.

I have read from one car club for motoring enthusiasists that it should be the age of the car. Briefly, this car club recommended that I spend the most time to look out for a car that was about 3 years old to get the best value out of a used car which still looks good and has depreciation factored into it.

But essentially was that the main factor I should be concerned about when hunting for a good used second hand car?

Are there more important factors I should rightly spend more time to look at if I am looking for a used or second hand car?

Indeed, I was not too surprised when I read a report from the Monash University Traffic Research Centre and supported by the RACV, Traffic Accident Centre and several other motoring clubs that for anyone looking for a used car, the most important criteria in determining the selection of a used car is not its age, but is the safety the used car provides the driver and the people on the road!

In the world’s largest crash study conducted in 2006 (and updated recently in mid July 2007), results assessed the performance of 305 vehicle models in more than 1.7 million crashes in Australia and New Zealand from 1987 to 2004.

From the study, it is now possible to have a good understanding of how each car model correlated to its age would perform with regards to its crashworthiness (how much protection the vehicle provides the driver in a crash) and aggressivity (how badly the vehicle is likely to harm other road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, in a crash).

By means of this study, if you are looking for a used car in Australia and New Zealand, it will be possible for you to have a general assessment of the protection the used car model will provide you as well as the potential harm it can cause to other road users in a crash.

Dr Newman who led the study reported that of the 305 vehicle models assessed, 87 provided an above average level of driver protection and 72 provided a below average level of driver protection in a crash.

With this report, it is now possible for you to check the make of your car and the model against the report to have a quick understanding of its car crashworthiness and aggressivity.

Further if you are in Australia and if you agree that the aspect of car safety is or paramount importance to you, then before you make a decision to buy any used car, check the make of your car and the model against this Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) report.

From this report there are clear indications of some superior makes and models that are standout cars, and where safety is your consideration, it will be wise to give a lot more consideration to these cars when you purchase your next used car.

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Buying a car online in San Diego

0 July 16th, 2010

Todays car shopper is faced with many choices on how to buy a vehicle, but none offers more information and up-to-date information like the Internet. In years past, when you in were in the market for a car, you would go to the dealership empty-handed, test-drive the car and put together the deal based on what you thought the car was worth. Unfortunately, many times buyers ended up getting a raw deal, with the dealerships using their salesmanship and behind the scenes knowledge to turn the deal in their favor.

But now, things are different. The Web offers shoppers a tool which they can research, price and even take a virtual test drive of the car they want. They can e-mail or call, and have all the information at their fingertips at sites like Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and Edmunds (www.edmunds.com).

Possibly one of the best examples of a site dedicated to the car buyer is www.sandiegocardeals.com, run exclusively by the internetfleet department of Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego. The site offers a complete virtual inventory of all new Toyota and Scion models as well as complete pre-owned inventory listings. But what really sets this site apart from the others is that they actually post retail and invoice prices so that the buyer can simply name my price, based on the research theyve done online prior to coming to the site.

This approach, of providing the buyer with as much information as possible, is a product of Kearny Mesa Toyotas realization that it is not status quo in the car business anymore.

We found that the buyer responds to being treated like an intelligent human being, said Melissa Amick, InternetFleet Director at the San Diego Toyota dealer. They have done the research, and they just love it when they talk to one of our Internet specialists and get a straightforward, honest answer.

Kearny Mesa Toyota has even taken it a step further buy training and authorizing their entire Internet department staff so that they can quote prices over the phone without having to check with management.

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Buying a Car Can Turn You Upside Down

0 July 9th, 2010

It’s expensive buying a car and it only gets more so as time goes on. Over time, the price of new cars has increased faster than the rate of inflation. This isn’t entirely due to greed on the part of automakers; cars are also more complicated and useful than they used to be. Sure, they were cheaper in the 1960’s, but they didn’t include air conditioning, air bags and video systems. Convenience and safety comes at a price.

With the increase in price comes an increase in the length of time people are taking to pay off their cars. Few people pay cash; most people take out loans and pay over time. The average car loan, which used to be repaid over a period of three years, now averages about six years in duration. That’s a long time to pay for a car, especially if you have no plans to own it for that long.

Taking six years to pay for a car has its advantages, as the payments are lower than they would be over a shorter loan term. Such a long loan does have a significant disadvantage, though – you can find yourself in a negative equity, or “upside down”, situation. This can be a serious problem – if you should total the car in an accident, your insurance company will only pay you the value of the car, and not the amount you still owe.

A buyer is described as being upside down when he or she owes more on a car loan than the car is worth. It’s easy to find yourself in an upside situation, and it can occur under any of the following circumstances:

Insufficient down payment – Cars depreciate as much as 25% the minute you drive them off of the lot. If you haven’t provided enough of a down payment to cover that depreciation, you may find yourself upside down immediately.

Trading in too often – Buyers like to trade cars in and roll their outstanding balance into a new loan. These unpaid debts can contribute to negative equity.

Too long a loan – Five and six year loans often lead to negative equity. You can often avoid it by keeping the length of loans to three years or less.

In order to avoid a potential problem in the event of an accident, you should contact your insurance provider to make sure that you have “gap insurance.” Gap insurance will make sure that you are protected should you have an accident while in an upside down situation. Without gap insurance, you may find yourself still making car payments even though you no longer have a car. That is the last thing any car owner wants.

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Are You Really Safe From Carjackers?

0 July 2nd, 2010

Carjacking. What is it? Well, it is a crime of motor vehicle theft. Most of the time, a carjacker is armed so much so that the owner of the driver of the car is forced out of the vehicle.

Aside from the fact that you may never see your vehicle again, carjacking could also be very hazardous to both your physical safety as well as the carjackers. You see, if you are the victim, you may try to maneuver your way out and in the process run the carjacker over. On the other hand, the carjacker could use their weapon and try shooting you. They also try pushing the occupant out of the car.

If you are simply going to park your car, make sure that you park it somewhere that has lots of lights. Also, be sure that it is a busy area with plenty of motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic. If possible, try parking somewhere that is very close to your destination. The more people around, the lesser the chances of a carjacker striking and working up the nerve to attack your car.

Also, make sure that everything valuable is hidden. Keep your windows rolled up and check all doors and windows before leaving the car. Make sure everything is locked up. And when you are going back to your car, have your keys handy. These carjackers could attack when you are posed trying to search for your keys. Be on the alert always.

On the other hand, if you are on the road, make sure that your car is always well-maintained. This assures you that the chances of your car breaking down are slimmer. Cars that have broken down are the usual targets for carjackers. Driving should also be something to plan ahead of time. It would be best if you try going through routes that are busy and well-lit.

The center lane is more safe. Remember that once you get stuck in traffic, the carjackers would have to go though a tough time first before they actually reach your car.

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