Car Maintenance Tips

Aug 28, 2010 19:05 - 0 Comments

Top 10 Ways To Save on Gasoline

These days, it doesn’t matter whether you drive a small little hybrid or a gas guzzling SUV, we all want to find ways of saving money of gasoline, and getting as much distance for the gallon as we can. With gas prices consistently on the rise, miles per gallon have become quite a talking point

for car companies and enthusiasts. The following tips should assist in saving money, improving fuel economy, and alleviate the blow high gas prices may have on your bank account. These pointers are simply ways to improve your vehicle’s MPG, and if you execute them properly, you can really save on gasoline over the long term!

1. Drive Slowly

A great way to enhance fuel efficiency is by reducing speed and acceleration. As the speed of your vehicle increases, fuel economy decreases at an exponential rate. So basically, if you’re a perpetual violator of speeding regulations, you may just be doing yourself quite the disservice as well. Try obeying the posted limits, it will not take you too much longer, and you’ll be saving money in the long run.

2. Check for tire pressure

If your tires are simply under-inflated, you’ll find that your miles per gallon with surely suffer. Most tires will naturally lose air over time, and temperature changes cause deflation as well. But the problem is that under-inflated tires carry more rolling resistance, and thus require more gasoline to keep it in motion. Try purchasing a more reliable tire gauge and check tires at least once monthly, monitoring their status in the cold. Make sure to review the owner’s manual for further information about specific tire pressure data unique to your vehicle. Read more…

Car Reports

Aug 26, 2010 19:03 - 0 Comments

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class

Mercedes-Benz announced recently the launch of the 2011 GLK Class, a replacement to the 2008 model of the same build. Due to the complexities surrounding model years and actual dates of release, buyers are warned to avoid purchasing the 2010 GLK without understanding it was sold in 2008. The new 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class, however, is brand new and has a whole plate of new features to offer.

Features, Updates, and Upgrades:

Now, both the GLK350 (the rear wheel drive model) AND the GLK350 4MATIC (which is an all wheel drive machine) host a 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft Torque. Some of the updates to the new vehicle class include a more usable Headlight Control mechanism and Premium Leather Steering Wheel. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK class also offers some fantastic safety improvements, such as the new Knee Airbag, Driver/Passenger Pelvic Airbags, and a brand new

Rear View Camera. These safety amenities were added to the 2011 class to keep it at the same level as the rest of Mercedes’ mainstream models. They even added a new paint to the GLK, an option to coat the vehicle “Pearl Beige Metallic.” The additional color will be limited in production and is likely to carry a little extra in price, but if really speaks to you, we recommend you go for it.

The New GLK Sports Package:

In regards to the aesthetic enhancements of the GLK, improvements to appearance and performance, the GLK even offers a new AMG Sports Package that includes AMG bumpers, LED

Daytime Running Lights, Aluminum Roof Rails and 20-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke wheels. The AMG package that Mercedes provides certainly does make a dramatic difference in how the vehicle looks and feels, and it even provides the user with a much-improved driver handling. However,  this package may not be everybody, as some may find the driving experience to be stiff and uncomfortable, it depends on personal preference for the most part. It is highly recommended that you test drive the vehicle with and without the AMG package to determine if you’ll find it worth spending the extra dollars on. Read more…

Car News, Dream Cars

Aug 23, 2010 21:33 - 0 Comments

Morgan to plunge into electric car market

With many luxury brands getting into the electric car market it seems that Morgan doesn’t want to miss the boat.

And staying always true to form, the British car maker is building a long nosed, sleek and downright amazing looking car.

It’s called the LIFEcar 2, it’s diesel-electric powered and will take you where you want to go in style (as long as you stay within 1000 miles).

It’ll be no slouch either. Although by no means will it keep up with it’s gas powered sports car friends, it will get you to 100 km/h in a nice tidy 7 seconds. Read more…

Buying New Cars, Car Buying Tips

Aug 23, 2010 20:08 - 0 Comments

What to Look for When Going Hybrid

Even though hybrid cars are still not the most popular choice amongst consumers, they are certainly gaining ground. It’s factual to state that they make up quite a small percent of car sales in the United States, but it’s also worth noting that with gasoline prices on the rise and the environment being a trending topic, quite a few people are giving them a chance. While the cars propose higher price tags and increased insurance costs, their fuel economy helps to offset the price. Perhaps it doesn’t do too convincing a job at justifying the inherent costs of the vehicle, but government credits and perks (see carpool lane access) do quite a bit in compensating for the high expenses.

If you’re looking for a hybrid today, you’ll have quite a bit of brand and body style variety so select from, whether your preference lay in compact cars, trucks, or SUV’s. In response to several government mandates, these automakers are doing even more to develop hybrids with better consumer utility and drive.

Hybrid Sedans

When it comes to hybrid sedans, the Toyota Prius appears to be the best bet. It’s the most fuel efficient hybrid compact out there with 51 mpg city (48 mpg highway), equipped with new age technology and unprecedented interior capacity for a fuel-efficient sedan. Read more…

Car Rental Tips

Aug 21, 2010 20:06 - 0 Comments

Rent a Truck and Go Off-Roading

For anyone familiar with off-road driving, an explanation is hardly necessary. For everyone else…here goes.

It is essentially the practice of driving a specialized vehicle along unpaved areas, as opposed to traditional roadways. This includes sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and any other kind of natural terrain.

The practice has garnered almost a cult following, once an off-roader always an off-roader. But whether you’ve never tried it or you’re a seasoned professional—it simply can’t happen without the necessary apparatus. And that is where trucks and SUVS come in. Not just any truck or SUV, but a specialized vehicle geared toward life on the off-road. If you’re looking to rent or lease one, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Off road terrains are often only traveled upon by specialized trucks or vehicles designed for such an experience, these include heavy-duty trucks with necessary equipment, SUVs, ATVs, motorcycles, mountain bikes, or even snowmobiles. It’s also ideal if the vehicles have extra ground clearance, sturdy tires, and front/rear locking differential. All of these things combine to make the best possible off-road driving  experience. Due to the practice’s cultural significance, there are several vehicle manufacturers to produce off-road vehicles, or ORVs, including AM General, Land Rover, and Jeep. But if those aren’t for you, it’s not unlikely that you’ll find a vehicle not necessarily marketed as an ORV that could also do the trick. In fact, many trucks are packed with features by default that will assist your off-road endeavors. Many military vehicles are also constructed with off-road travel in mind, so cars like the Jeep or HMMWV would be ideal. Read more…

Buying New Cars, Car Buying Tips

Aug 18, 2010 20:04 - 0 Comments

Hybrid Myth-Busters: The Top 5 Fictional Claims

As hybrid vehicles collect global popularity, they still find themselves plagued with myths and off-putting stories. It is important you can separate myth and fact in any category, but when purchasing an automobile it is also very important. Whether you’re haunted by stories of necessary wall sockets, inconvenient fuel cells, or any other negative press tales—understand there’s a motive behind these accounts. It is understandable that people may have a hard time accepting such a drastic change to something as concrete and time proved as the automobile. America itself has essentially grown up and evolved around the automobile for its entire second century of existence, and so misconceptions about the hybrid are inevitable. But don’t worry; we’re going to set the record straight. Below we have listed what we perceive to be the Top 5 Hybrid Myths, and we’re pretty sure you’ve heard them before. But we will further elaborate how true each one is, and give you the real scoop on hybrid automobiles.

The Top Five Myths (And the real story behind them)

1: Hybrid Cars Require Plugs and Sockets to Recharge-

This is a big one, I’m sure you’ve heard it a time or two when discussion moves on to hybrid automobiles.  They say in order to utilize a hybrid car, you’ll have to plug it in and charge it like one giant Fisher-Price toy jeep or something. When you hear this, you think it’s just another thing you have to remember to charge: Read more…

Car Exterior Tips, Car Maintenance Tips

Aug 16, 2010 17:56 - 0 Comments

How to Care for Your Convertible Top

If you’re a convertible enthusiast than you understand the importance of keeping an orderly and clean top.

If you’ve got an automated hard top, the hassle is hardly as relevant. However, if you’ve chosen a soft top as your preferred solution—you’ve got a little maintenance to do. Don’t fear, however, as the duty certainly does not need to be seriously strenuous. We’ve outlined and detailed some of the most important things to keep in mind about convertible top care below.

Vinyl Tops

If you’ve got a vinyl top, you’ll need to clean it regularly, but don’t worry: it’s as easy as washing a car. You’ll want to make use of a gentle car shampoo such as Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo. Also recommended would be the Green Long-Handle Tire & Wheel Brush with featured bristles to eliminate dirt from areas of textures vinyl on your convertible top. Make sure to wash the top of the car just like you’d clean any other part of it, but avoid shampoos that improve gloss on the top. While they can be a fine treat for the painted areas of the body, they do nothing for vinyl convertible tops. Read more…

Auto Leasing, Buying New Cars, Car Buying Tips

Aug 13, 2010 17:47 - 0 Comments

Hybrid Cars: The Pros and Cons

When looking at any invention, method plan, or anything for that matter—it’s imperative to weigh the pros and the cons. When it comes to hybrid cars, it is of course no different. If you ask the companies who manufacture these products, they certainly emphasize the pros, making their product seem like a divine invention you cannot be without. In this article I will separate fact from fiction, benefit from drawback—and show you the whole scale picture of what it means to own a hybrid.

For starters, what exactly is a hybrid car?

Essentially, it is nothing but a fuel efficient automobile with dual motors, an electric motor and a gasoline powered alternative. It also sports a specially engineered system that captures brake energy and transfers it towards the battery to keep it charged at all times.

So why go hybrid?

It’s a combination of two vehicular concepts, so why not go to one of the two? Why not drive a purely gasoline or electric powered car? If you think about it through principle, having two motors makes your system more vulnerable to a breakdown. The same concept exists in any other sort of transportation vehicle—the more motors or engines, the less reliable they can collectively be. Read more…

Buying New Cars, Buying Used Cars, Car Buying Tips

Aug 10, 2010 17:39 - 0 Comments

Finding the Right Extended Car Warranty

It is without question that many professional relationships we engage with begin well but end poorly. The  same is true with automobiles, namely with auto warranty. However, this doesn’t need to be the case if care is taken in identifying the absolute perfect situation for you and your personal specifications. You need to locate the perfect extended warranty—and by doing so you can make certain your car doesn’t become a waste of cash.

Essentially, all an extended warranty is is an insurance policy you take on your automobile. It is just a way to avoid those unpredictably but outrageous repair expenses. The term warranty is less accurate than insurance, in this way. However, similar to auto warranties, these do cover repairs or any sort of maintenance you encounter during the time period the policy is instated. But with the traditional warranty, you’ll purchase them as part of the product price. Extended auto warranties, on the other hand, are more like contracts. Service contracts if you will—they’ll run a separate cost and you’ll need to buy them separately as well.

Now, that doesn’t mean it needs to be done on a different day or place. In fact, you can purchase the extended warranty at the same place and day you purchase your vehicle, or even many days or months later. If you are the kind of person who needs full preparation at all times, just in case—the extended auto warranty is undeniably right for you. Especially when you consider the always rising cost of vehicular repair, the benefits of being protected are not difficult to see. Read more…

Car Buying Tips

Jul 11, 2010 19:49 - 0 Comments

Tips on Buying a Classic Car

Research is the key to successfully buying a classic car. There’ just something regal about the classics, something that you don’t see on modern cars anymore. Maybe it’s the authenticity, the grandeur, or just the sheer elegance that can only truly be found in a classic car. You know that crisp warm feeling inside whenever you see her. You know the care and attention, miles and experience that she must have had a fair share of during her time. And when you’re driving her, it’s as if time never existed and you are again transported back in your heyday.

If you’re a young man or woman and your planning to buy a classic car then you’ve chosen a road with more character and style… but with this decision also comes less reliability, more cost and worse fuel economy.

Whether you’re buying a classic for your sheer automotive pleasure, or are planning on reselling it, proper care and attention to detail is needed. Whether you’re planning on actually using the fine thing, or just displaying it for the envy of many, you can’t overrate the importance of a classic car’s quality. Read more…

Car Maintenance Tips

Jul 9, 2010 19:49 - 0 Comments

Tips for Finding the “Right” Mechanic

Some say that a car is a man’s prized possession. He treats it like he treats a woman, with utmost care and attention.

If that’s the case, you want to ensure that you put “her” in the able hands of a professional, and that means finding the right mechanic. Unfortunately, there really are no set rules in finding a good auto mechanic. Here are a few tips to help you find the right mechanic for your car needs.

Research is the key on how to finding the right mechanic. You can’t entrust your car to someone else’s care just because he is available at the moment, or that he or she said this certain mechanic was good. There are a lot of automotive shops that are tested to provide good quality services, so look around to find one in your area. Go with their reputation, credentials and experience. Though they may be a little expensive to employ, nothing beats the peace of mind it gives you knowing that you’re princess is in good hands. Read more…

Car Interior Tips, Car Maintenance Tips

Jun 22, 2010 19:48 - 0 Comments

Tips on Repairing Your Cloth Car Upholstery

It is good to keep you car at optimum performance by taking good care of its engine, exterior and of course, interior. Your car deserves proper care and treatment as it is a considerable investment on your part. It can sometimes be tiresome to keep your car spic and span but it is well worth the time and effort. You can always go with the more expensive option on having your cloth car upholstery repaired, or you can go and do it yourself.

Repairing your cloth car upholstery can really be easy if you know what to do, and depending on the specific situation. The most common problem your cloth car upholstery gets is stains. Yup, just like your clothes, your cloth car upholstery can get those too so you better be careful.

If you have kids, then you’ve got to be extra careful as kids can sometimes be rough on your upholstery. There are a lot of affordable and efficient cleaners out in the market, why not try out a few and see what works best for you? Just be sure to carefully read and follow the instructions to avoid further complications. Read more…

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