Ah yes, the good old speed limit. Our silent big brother. The 11th commandment of life. The one road rule hardly anyone short of student drivers seem to take seriously.
I should know. I was one of the lead foots. I attained almost 4 pages of traffic tickets, most of them speeding violations. My excuse was that I drove a sweet 1987 IROC Camaro with a 5.7 liter corvette engine/tranny package and a top speed of 150 mph!
Then one year I went too far and was called into the traffic licencing office and given a choice. Either go to traffic school or lose my licence for six months... then go to traffic school. Needless to say I made the obvious choice.
I drove 80 miles to the school on a beautiful Saturday that I could have been spending on the beach! Once I arrived , I joined about 15 others who were to suffer the same fate.
To make a long story short... ( or to save it for another article..lol), I put in my 6 hours of classroom study and 2 hours of driving practice. I must say I came out of the experience a changed driver. I learned I had developed A LOT of bad driving habits and was taught some valuable lessons. Especially when it comes to saving money while driving properly.
1/ By going the speed limit you actually get to your destination in the same amount of time or even faster.
Yep, I did'nt believe it either until I put it into practice. You see, most if not all city planners actually time the traffic lights. If you go the posted speed limit and start timing the intersections when they turn green. you will hit green lights at least 70-80% of the time. This will save you an immense amount of time.
2/ Driving the speed limit saves you money from speeding tickets.
My average was about $750 per year in traffic tickets. In the last 3 years...$0 or a savings of $2250!!
3/ Going the speed limit saves gas and oil money.
My mileage has gone up approximately 15-20%
4/ Driving the speed limit saves wear and tear on your brakes.
If your not constantly stopping for red lights, your saving your brakes in a huge way. I personally have not had to do a brake job in 3 years where I used to redo them every 2 years.
and #5/ The less gas and oil we burn, the less dependent we will be on foriegn oil.
Isn't this reason enough!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tips For Buying An Infiniti Used Car
Buying an infiniti used car is one decision which you have to make after careful considerations. Buying a car whether it is an Infiniti used or any other car is a big decision as this involves a lot of money. Money is not all that matters, but what is also important is to find out a good car dealer in your city that specializes in selling used cars to customers. Finding out and getting hold of a good dealer in your city is half the job done and the other half will be once you find out the Infiniti used car that you wish to buy from the dealer. You can check out the inventory of the dealer and find out the different cars that they have for selling and you can choose from there the one car which suits your budget and choice perfectly.
Following certain tips for buying an Infiniti used car will help you out in the long run. Some of the tips are mentioned below:
• Take a good look at the car which you are buying. You are entitled to find out if all the things in the car are proper or not.
• Open and close the hood and doors of the car. See if this opens smoothly or not and if there is anything wrong with the doors and hood of the car.
• Make sure that you check the color of the radiator fuel. If the color of the radiator fuel is green then it means it is perfect, however if the color is a bit brownish and cloudy then this is not good
• Check to see the fluid levels of the Infiniti used car. Chances are that you may not know how to do this. Relax there is an easy way out of this. Just ask the salesperson and he will assist you in this.
• Verify all the connections that are there in the car. Tough you may not be an expert in this; still you can easily find out if there is corrosion of any kind, if there is any loose connection or if there is any hole in the car.
• See the quality of the air filter of the Infiniti used car. It will be best if you replace the old air filter with a new one. The filter is not very expensive and you can easily replace the old one to ensure that the Infiniti used car runs well for a long time.
• Find out the mileage and pick up ability of the car. The best way to find this out is by taking the car out for a test drive. You must make sure that you take the car out for a test drive before purchasing it.
Following certain tips for buying an Infiniti used car will help you out in the long run. Some of the tips are mentioned below:
• Take a good look at the car which you are buying. You are entitled to find out if all the things in the car are proper or not.
• Open and close the hood and doors of the car. See if this opens smoothly or not and if there is anything wrong with the doors and hood of the car.
• Make sure that you check the color of the radiator fuel. If the color of the radiator fuel is green then it means it is perfect, however if the color is a bit brownish and cloudy then this is not good
• Check to see the fluid levels of the Infiniti used car. Chances are that you may not know how to do this. Relax there is an easy way out of this. Just ask the salesperson and he will assist you in this.
• Verify all the connections that are there in the car. Tough you may not be an expert in this; still you can easily find out if there is corrosion of any kind, if there is any loose connection or if there is any hole in the car.
• See the quality of the air filter of the Infiniti used car. It will be best if you replace the old air filter with a new one. The filter is not very expensive and you can easily replace the old one to ensure that the Infiniti used car runs well for a long time.
• Find out the mileage and pick up ability of the car. The best way to find this out is by taking the car out for a test drive. You must make sure that you take the car out for a test drive before purchasing it.
Used Car Warranty - A Few Things You Should Know Before Wasting Your Money
In this short article you will learn:
# Is a used car warranty really worth the investment?
# What should I consider when looking for a used car warranty?
# Is the used car warranty from the dealer the best deal I can get?
In my opinion, used cars are the single best value in transportation options. But for some people there is always that nagging in the back of their minds, wondering if the car will break down. There is one way you can alleviate that fear. A used car warranty.
The problem is most of you aren’t used car warranty specialists. Most of you haven’t purchased a used car warranty before. If you have purchased a used car warranty, it was probably from the dealer who told you it covered “everything” and flashed a quick salesman smile before he changed the subject.
So, on to the first question. Is a used car warranty really worth the investment? As with most things in life the answer could be yes or no depending on what you buy.
If the used car warranty you end up purchasing has extremely limited coverage, then chances are that if something breaks it will not be covered. In this case, the warranty was a complete waste of money.
This brings me to my first point.
Just as with a home or a computer or anything else, you should always purchase the best used car warranty you can possibly afford.
Yes, a used car warranty is worth the investment…..IF you buy the right amount of coverage from the right company. What is the right amount of coverage? Re-read the paragraph above…..you should purchase the best used car warranty you can afford!
Now let’s look at the second question: What should I consider when looking for a used car warranty?
This is a very important question. Most of you will first think “price”. If you are one of the few who did not think price was the most important part of the used car warranty then you are ahead of the game already.
Remember, if you get the cheapo used car warranty and it doesn’t cover most of the expensive parts that break down then you have wasted your money.
First, you want to take a look at the used car warranty coverage. At a minimum you want your complete engine, transmission and axles covered.
If these aren’t covered completely, forget it. In addition, you should also have coverage on your suspension and cooling systems as these break frequently also.
Another thing to consider is the financial stability of the company. If they sell you a five year used car warranty and then go belly up after two years, I’d say you just threw away that money.
Warranty Gold stopped paying its claims in 2004 when its insurer based in the Cayman Islands closed up shop and there are still people floating around trying to sell their used car warranties!
Don’t buy from just anybody and make sure the company you are working with is stable and financially secure.
Third question: Is the used car warranty from the dealer the best deal I can get?
In short….no. Not even close. Most dealers will sell you a used car warranty that they have purchased from a third party that you can deal with yourself.
They then mark up that used car warranty as much as 100%.
Do yourself a huge favor and just buy the warranty on your used car directly from the company. The warranty company can usually finance the purchase and you will save a whole lot of money.
So, my three pieces of advice from this article are these:
# Always buy the best used car warranty you can afford
# Learn a little bit about the company before you buy
# Buy direct from the source. Never buy your used car warranty from the dealer.
# Is a used car warranty really worth the investment?
# What should I consider when looking for a used car warranty?
# Is the used car warranty from the dealer the best deal I can get?
In my opinion, used cars are the single best value in transportation options. But for some people there is always that nagging in the back of their minds, wondering if the car will break down. There is one way you can alleviate that fear. A used car warranty.
The problem is most of you aren’t used car warranty specialists. Most of you haven’t purchased a used car warranty before. If you have purchased a used car warranty, it was probably from the dealer who told you it covered “everything” and flashed a quick salesman smile before he changed the subject.
So, on to the first question. Is a used car warranty really worth the investment? As with most things in life the answer could be yes or no depending on what you buy.
If the used car warranty you end up purchasing has extremely limited coverage, then chances are that if something breaks it will not be covered. In this case, the warranty was a complete waste of money.
This brings me to my first point.
Just as with a home or a computer or anything else, you should always purchase the best used car warranty you can possibly afford.
Yes, a used car warranty is worth the investment…..IF you buy the right amount of coverage from the right company. What is the right amount of coverage? Re-read the paragraph above…..you should purchase the best used car warranty you can afford!
Now let’s look at the second question: What should I consider when looking for a used car warranty?
This is a very important question. Most of you will first think “price”. If you are one of the few who did not think price was the most important part of the used car warranty then you are ahead of the game already.
Remember, if you get the cheapo used car warranty and it doesn’t cover most of the expensive parts that break down then you have wasted your money.
First, you want to take a look at the used car warranty coverage. At a minimum you want your complete engine, transmission and axles covered.
If these aren’t covered completely, forget it. In addition, you should also have coverage on your suspension and cooling systems as these break frequently also.
Another thing to consider is the financial stability of the company. If they sell you a five year used car warranty and then go belly up after two years, I’d say you just threw away that money.
Warranty Gold stopped paying its claims in 2004 when its insurer based in the Cayman Islands closed up shop and there are still people floating around trying to sell their used car warranties!
Don’t buy from just anybody and make sure the company you are working with is stable and financially secure.
Third question: Is the used car warranty from the dealer the best deal I can get?
In short….no. Not even close. Most dealers will sell you a used car warranty that they have purchased from a third party that you can deal with yourself.
They then mark up that used car warranty as much as 100%.
Do yourself a huge favor and just buy the warranty on your used car directly from the company. The warranty company can usually finance the purchase and you will save a whole lot of money.
So, my three pieces of advice from this article are these:
# Always buy the best used car warranty you can afford
# Learn a little bit about the company before you buy
# Buy direct from the source. Never buy your used car warranty from the dealer.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Considering Getting into the Oil Change Business?
Many new entrants into the mobile oil change sector think that since everyone needs an oil change that it is a great business to get into. As a former entrepreneur, franchisor, in the mobile oil and lube business often folks come to me for answers and before I start I always ask them a few questions first namely; So you are considering getting into the Mobile Oil Change Business?
1. Are you a mechanic?
2. Auto Industry?
3. Do you have specific business accounts or fleets pre-lined up for customers?
4. Do you have competition in your area?
5. What does the phone book say for competition?
6. Have you ever run a business before?
7. What makes you think that the mobile oil change business is viable in your area?
Next, if they can answer these questions then and only then will I answer their questions. The reason being is that if they do not know the answers to those questions then they are not serious and I would rather teach a man to fish than give them an endless stream of free fishes.
Well, what questions about the industry do you have?
You do realize that it is hard work and quality labor is hard to come by right? And there are significant costs such as filters and oil, both of which have increased in the last few years. Also the price of fuel to drive around means that you will be spending $20-40 per day per unit you have on the road.
Are you sure you know what you are getting into with this type of business? I would be happy to answer your questions, but I kind of think you ought to re-consider getting into this line of work. I mean Wal-Mart is changing oil for $12.95 you know?
Anyway I think you are making a mistake, but if you have any questions about the industry, I will answer them for you. I believe there are plenty of suppliers in your area, Toledo, OH, right?
You see there are too many people attempting to get into this mobile oil change business, who simply do not understand what they are getting themselves into.
1. Are you a mechanic?
2. Auto Industry?
3. Do you have specific business accounts or fleets pre-lined up for customers?
4. Do you have competition in your area?
5. What does the phone book say for competition?
6. Have you ever run a business before?
7. What makes you think that the mobile oil change business is viable in your area?
Next, if they can answer these questions then and only then will I answer their questions. The reason being is that if they do not know the answers to those questions then they are not serious and I would rather teach a man to fish than give them an endless stream of free fishes.
Well, what questions about the industry do you have?
You do realize that it is hard work and quality labor is hard to come by right? And there are significant costs such as filters and oil, both of which have increased in the last few years. Also the price of fuel to drive around means that you will be spending $20-40 per day per unit you have on the road.
Are you sure you know what you are getting into with this type of business? I would be happy to answer your questions, but I kind of think you ought to re-consider getting into this line of work. I mean Wal-Mart is changing oil for $12.95 you know?
Anyway I think you are making a mistake, but if you have any questions about the industry, I will answer them for you. I believe there are plenty of suppliers in your area, Toledo, OH, right?
You see there are too many people attempting to get into this mobile oil change business, who simply do not understand what they are getting themselves into.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Car Body Kits
There are many different cars that you can buy. These cars all however share the same trait. This trait is the factory original look. In other words if you are looking to have a unique looking car you will need to customize the body of the car itself. This can be done via the use of car body kits. These body kits that you look at have a price range that is dependent of the various items you choose.
For instance you will find different types of Lambo wing doors which can be installed on your regular car. Now you are probably wondering what on earth Lambo wing doors are. To understand the meaning of these doors all that you need to do is to remember the doors that are used on Lamborghini cars.
These doors don’t open outwards. Instead they open skywards giving the car an exotic look. This exotic look can also be achieved with the use of Lambo wing doors for a fraction of the cost. This is just one of the car body kits that will change the way your ordinary vehicle looks.
You can find car body kits where cars with rear engines will have parts for them. There are engine grills which can be placed over the rear engine. Another item that is used in these car kits is that of an EV (engine vent). This engine vent is the replacement hood cover for cars with rear engines.
Other car body kits will have items like a rear air wing. This wing is attached your car at the top of the rear window. You can also buy a Ferrari style rear hatch. This Targa hatch along with the Testarossa door caps will help you to produce an exotic and very interesting car to look at.
There are also other items that you can use for the hood of your car. These items include a hood wing and a hood scoop. The hood scoop is bolted on or molded on the hood. The hood wing on the other hand is place at the front of the front windshield. These are just a few of the many different items that are available in various car body kits.
With the placement of these, the many interesting accessories like that of LED lights and fog lights you have the ability of creating a brand new car that reflects your own unique personality. All that is left to complete this fantastic hot new image is an interesting paint job. Finally test drive your new car and see the many reactions you will get.
For instance you will find different types of Lambo wing doors which can be installed on your regular car. Now you are probably wondering what on earth Lambo wing doors are. To understand the meaning of these doors all that you need to do is to remember the doors that are used on Lamborghini cars.
These doors don’t open outwards. Instead they open skywards giving the car an exotic look. This exotic look can also be achieved with the use of Lambo wing doors for a fraction of the cost. This is just one of the car body kits that will change the way your ordinary vehicle looks.
You can find car body kits where cars with rear engines will have parts for them. There are engine grills which can be placed over the rear engine. Another item that is used in these car kits is that of an EV (engine vent). This engine vent is the replacement hood cover for cars with rear engines.
Other car body kits will have items like a rear air wing. This wing is attached your car at the top of the rear window. You can also buy a Ferrari style rear hatch. This Targa hatch along with the Testarossa door caps will help you to produce an exotic and very interesting car to look at.
There are also other items that you can use for the hood of your car. These items include a hood wing and a hood scoop. The hood scoop is bolted on or molded on the hood. The hood wing on the other hand is place at the front of the front windshield. These are just a few of the many different items that are available in various car body kits.
With the placement of these, the many interesting accessories like that of LED lights and fog lights you have the ability of creating a brand new car that reflects your own unique personality. All that is left to complete this fantastic hot new image is an interesting paint job. Finally test drive your new car and see the many reactions you will get.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Does Your Breakdown Service Provider Go That Extra Mile?
Now don’t get me wrong here – I’m sure that all the Breakdown Service companies will have some customers that are satisfied with their services. However, there is usually one company in any industry which gives that little bit extra or goes that ‘extra mile’.
This may be reflected in a ‘mission statement’ produced by the company management for the employees to follow, which will set that company apart from others in the same industry, if followed correctly.
So, what sort of service do you expect?
Does your chosen Breakdown Service Provider meet your expectations or fall short, or do you get better service than you expected? Do the employees at the delivery end of the service go that ‘extra mile’?
Here are two examples of that ‘extra mile’ in relation to the Car Breakdown and Recovery Service available in the UK today.
This information comes directly from the ‘horse’s mouth’ (a local recovery vehicle operator). Certainly helpful to know when you are about to decide which Breakdown Cover service provider to choose.
Example One: ‘fuel contamination’. i.e. when the wrong type of fuel is put into the tank.
When this happens, the best thing to do is not start the vehicle. Obviously if the vehicle is started, it will have problems quite soon and become unusable and, in addition, will become costly to correct.
Would you expect a Breakdown Service to attend in these conditions?
Well, some may refuse. Others may attend, however, and get you to a garage but will charge around £2.50 - £3.00 per mile for doing so on the grounds of ‘human error’.
With the company I represent, RAC Motoring Services, this is done ‘free of charge’.
Example Two: ‘involved in an accident’.
Again, the company I represent will attend road traffic accidents and recover your vehicle ’free of charge’.
Some companies will not attend however, and others, if they do attend, will charge around £250 minimum to recover the vehicle.
Unfortunately, these are two fairly regular occurrences, both of which would require an understanding and flexible Breakdown Service Provider to come to your aid and you probably won’t find them by simply looking for the least expensive.
However, it is possible to get the level of service you would like and expect, by talking to the right people and asking a few questions. By doing this, you can get the information you require in order to make a more informed decision.
This may be reflected in a ‘mission statement’ produced by the company management for the employees to follow, which will set that company apart from others in the same industry, if followed correctly.
So, what sort of service do you expect?
Does your chosen Breakdown Service Provider meet your expectations or fall short, or do you get better service than you expected? Do the employees at the delivery end of the service go that ‘extra mile’?
Here are two examples of that ‘extra mile’ in relation to the Car Breakdown and Recovery Service available in the UK today.
This information comes directly from the ‘horse’s mouth’ (a local recovery vehicle operator). Certainly helpful to know when you are about to decide which Breakdown Cover service provider to choose.
Example One: ‘fuel contamination’. i.e. when the wrong type of fuel is put into the tank.
When this happens, the best thing to do is not start the vehicle. Obviously if the vehicle is started, it will have problems quite soon and become unusable and, in addition, will become costly to correct.
Would you expect a Breakdown Service to attend in these conditions?
Well, some may refuse. Others may attend, however, and get you to a garage but will charge around £2.50 - £3.00 per mile for doing so on the grounds of ‘human error’.
With the company I represent, RAC Motoring Services, this is done ‘free of charge’.
Example Two: ‘involved in an accident’.
Again, the company I represent will attend road traffic accidents and recover your vehicle ’free of charge’.
Some companies will not attend however, and others, if they do attend, will charge around £250 minimum to recover the vehicle.
Unfortunately, these are two fairly regular occurrences, both of which would require an understanding and flexible Breakdown Service Provider to come to your aid and you probably won’t find them by simply looking for the least expensive.
However, it is possible to get the level of service you would like and expect, by talking to the right people and asking a few questions. By doing this, you can get the information you require in order to make a more informed decision.
Car, Truck or SUV No Start Problems
Recently many of our customers have been asking what auto parts they need to fix their car, truck or SUV when it doesn’t start. The answer may not always be that you need to replace any auto parts at all. Although there may be many reasons for a vehicle that cause it to not start, some can be easily fix and others may require simple patience. Below are a few reasons that may cause your vehicle to not start.
The 3.8L Oldsmobile engine may have a no-start or stalling problem due to dirt, ice or snow. This engine is equipped with a Hall Effect crank sensor located on the lower part of the engine next to the harmonic balancer. When road dirt, ice or snow gets stuck they can either break the sensor or cause an interruption of the generated signal. When the sensor doesn't send the correct signal to the computer it causes a stalling or no start problem.
The Volvo 240 might not start because of a clogged flame trap. The flame trap is the positive crankcase ventilation system that allows blow-by gases from the engine to be introduced into the intake system. This system vents the gas to prevent engine seal leaks and lowers emissions. Difficult starting can be accompanied by a MIL (check engine light) with an oxygen sensor code. The code is set to the clogged flame arrester problem. Check the flame trap screen for clogging and replace as necessary.
The 3.9-liter Dodge Dakota could experience hard starts due to a fuel injector problem. The problem is that the fuel injectors leak, causing extra fuel to be dumped into the cylinder. This contaminates the oil and empties the fuel rail. When the ignition key is turned on, the lack of fuel in the rail causes a hard start or extended cranking time. The fix for this problem is to replace the fuel injectors and seals and to change the oil. Observe caution when working with the fuel system, and follow all safety procedures.
Although in some cases new auto parts may be required to fix some vehicles that do not start, it is not one common part that causes this problem. Much of the analysis depends on the make of the vehicle.
The 3.8L Oldsmobile engine may have a no-start or stalling problem due to dirt, ice or snow. This engine is equipped with a Hall Effect crank sensor located on the lower part of the engine next to the harmonic balancer. When road dirt, ice or snow gets stuck they can either break the sensor or cause an interruption of the generated signal. When the sensor doesn't send the correct signal to the computer it causes a stalling or no start problem.
The Volvo 240 might not start because of a clogged flame trap. The flame trap is the positive crankcase ventilation system that allows blow-by gases from the engine to be introduced into the intake system. This system vents the gas to prevent engine seal leaks and lowers emissions. Difficult starting can be accompanied by a MIL (check engine light) with an oxygen sensor code. The code is set to the clogged flame arrester problem. Check the flame trap screen for clogging and replace as necessary.
The 3.9-liter Dodge Dakota could experience hard starts due to a fuel injector problem. The problem is that the fuel injectors leak, causing extra fuel to be dumped into the cylinder. This contaminates the oil and empties the fuel rail. When the ignition key is turned on, the lack of fuel in the rail causes a hard start or extended cranking time. The fix for this problem is to replace the fuel injectors and seals and to change the oil. Observe caution when working with the fuel system, and follow all safety procedures.
Although in some cases new auto parts may be required to fix some vehicles that do not start, it is not one common part that causes this problem. Much of the analysis depends on the make of the vehicle.
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