วันเสาร์ที่ 1 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2551

The Tools In Restoring A Classic Truck

Author : Harvey Ong
A classic truck, much like a classic car, is something that is going to need maintenance and attention from its owner. Unlike a classic car, a classic truck does not always means a vehicle that isn't suited for regular driving. In the same way that the average modern truck is more robust and more physically resistant than your average modern car, the same comparison applies to the classic equivalent of the aforementioned vehicles. However, even the toughest vehicle on the block will still need maintenance and, in some cases, even restoration, if it is going to be anything more than a heap of potential scrap metal. Of course, before you go around doing maintenance or restoration, you need to know the basic tools of the trade first.Naturally, the first and foremost tool for anyone even thinking of restoring a classic truck has to be the trusty hammer. The hammer, in all its incarnations and varieties, is one of the oldest, most traditional blunt implements of human civilization. Regardless of whether or not you're using it to flatten out a lump in a piece of sheet metal or detect certain flaws along the surface, this is one tool that no sane mechanic would be caught without.Speaking of tools no sane mechanic would be caught without, another essential for anyone attempting to restore a classic truck would be a mechanic's knife. This versatile tool can be used the way knives were meant to be used, which is cutting and slicing things. This item also possesses an alternate use as a moderately effective screwdriver, if one has the patience to adapt. Take note of the words "moderately effective," since knives are poor substitutes to a real screwdriver and should only be used to substitute if there isn't an actual screwdriver handy.Pliers are also essentials for restoring a classic truck, or for most mechanical jobs, for that matter. If you're restoring any automobile, you'll likely need to have a pair of pliers on hand since you'll be dealing with a lot of wires as you go on. Sometimes, a knife will do just as well when the wires are thin but there are plenty of instances when the metal inside the rubber insulation will prove to be tough for a knife to cut through.The final basic tool for a classic truck restoration project would be a welding torch. The intense heat that a welding torch can generate is typically enough to bond two pieces of metal together, whether it be for the frame or for some sort of piping system. At the right settings, they also make excellent cutting tools, in case you need to separate a piece of metal into two or more pieces, or need to shorten the length of some piping.As with any project, always be prepared to call an expert when you're doing a classic truck restoration. Such a precaution should not only be taken in case of injury to yourself but also if you don't think you have the know-how to properly restore a classic truck to the original factory specifications. It may cost a little more than what you estimated if you did it on your own but that is the price to pay for knowing that you won't be doing damage to your machine that cannot be repaired.For more valuable information on Classic Truck, please visit http://classifieds.itrustmotors.com//cgi-bin/classifieds.cgi?db=classic
Keyword : classic truck

New Styles Coming Up For The Toyota Corolla

Author : Mark Clarkson
Those people and car aficionados who do adore the Toyota Corolla are sure waiting as per what kind of changes and what kind of features would this exemplary and very popular car bring about come the 2007 model year. Well, the wait is soon to come to a close for one of the announcement straight right out of the mouths of the aftermarket auto body parts for Toyota Solara creator is that they would be bringing in not just one new Toyota Corolla version but two new versions for the Toyota Corolla.In the Australian auto market, these two new Toyota Corolla models are going to be sent out. In fact, Australia has already considered this vehicle model to be actually their very favorite small car. And with the changes that the vehicle would be holding for the 2007 model year, most people are quite interested on how it will look and how the change would actually affect the vehicle's performance in sales and in the business.The Toyota Corolla would be coming as a hatch vehicle. This has been done so as to be able to bring about a new kind of rounded and even funky approach to the whole deal. It did take a lot of maneuvering and redesigning the Toyota Corolla parts that would go with the vehicle but the company sure did agree that everything was worth it. According to some who have seen the new Toyota Corolla hatch unit, the vehicle now actually holds more elegance and even smoother angles.Some have said that to actually differentiate the two new vehicles from each other, one would have to compare their noses. Yes, the noses of the vehicles. It is the unique noses of those two new units that set each one apart from each other. And this kind of move seems to have been perfected by Toyota. In fact, if you would remember, this has also been the case with the Toyota Yaris compact vehicle which also had another "sibling" which is the Toyota Echo.The Australian arm of the company does say that they are really confident that such drastic changes to the popular Toyota Corolla would bring about a whole good deal of income for the company. Even Dave Buttner who works as the chief of Toyota Australia's sales and marketing said: "There will be a family resemblance, but they are pretty 'unique'."If you were able to attend the Paris Motor Show which took place last month, you would have been able to see the Toyota Corolla hatch version there. The only difference was that, during that time, the vehicle was still shown off as the Toyota Auris concept vehicle. So you can now dig up the photos of that event and see for yourself how the new Toyota Corolla would actually look like.Mark Clarkson is a 35 year old marketing consultant for a leading auto parts store. This native of Denver is also an offroad enthusiast. You can visit aftermarket auto body parts for Toyota Solara and Toyota Corolla parts for more information.
Keyword : auto parts, Toyota parts, Toyota car parts, Toyota auto parts, Toyota Solara parts, Toyota Solara pe

Buying Cars At Low Prices From Police Auctions

Author : Anthony Lee
A lot of Americans have cars nowadays; in fact in a household almost everybody in the house has their own cars but there are still more Americans who still can't afford to buy one.This is where government auctions can help. They provide lower priced second hand vehicles that can let you achieve your goal in wanting your own automobile.One of the most popular government auctions is the police auctions. These are cars that were previously impounded or decommissioned cars.You can check out the car's history that you are eyeing by looking at the vehicle identification number or the VIN. There are lists of available vehicles normally posted online.Do remember that you are in an auction so there will be a bidding. You are not the only one who will be eyeing for this car. It is important that you know the right price for used vehicles like the one you want.Besides, there are certain things you must remember to look at before buying that second hand vehicle.1. TiresTires are expensive if it needs to be replaced. If you are not going to replace a worn out tire you are at risk of a terrible accident. So its either you look for a car with very good quality tires or you replace the tires if you purchase the vehicle. Sometimes tires can also be used as a gauge on how used up the vehicle is.2. LeaksIf leaks are not visible you can search for spots. Leaks are a major no-no when purchasing a vehicle.3. DentsIf dents are small and can easily be fixed then you can give it a thought. Of course you need to remember that aside from purchasing that car you will have to have it fixed…is it still that reasonable?4. Over used and depleted beltsYou don't want to run into accidents or hear weird screeches because of overused belt.5. Windshield and windowsAny scratches or non working windows is not a good deal.6. PaintAny damage in your car paint will eventually worsen. It's difficult and more expensive if you have the paint repainted. Make sure you get a car that has no scratches or awful paint jobs.If you are not very good with cars and car parts it would be a good idea to bring along with you someone more knowledgeable like a mechanic or you can bring a book a good primer on car parts (remember to read it before you even go to that auction).Getting a good car by good research is your best bet in achieving your goal. Remember to look around first before purchasing.For listings of repossessed cars, please visit http://www.buy-cheap-cars.info/.
Keyword : police car auctions, government car auctions

The Nissan Skyline - A Truly Japanese Sports Car

Author : Andy Maingam
Know affectionately as Godzilla among its enthusiasts, the Nissan Skyline truly is a fine Japanese sports car, and by gum what a fine looking beast she is too. They're not all that common around the USA, so when you do come across one there are plenty of curious admirers and enthusiasts gathering around whenever these cars park up.Believe it or not, the Nissan Skyline has been around for some 45 years and has deservedly picked up many prestigious awards along the way. However, there was a 10 year period where production stopped, but delighted fans were over the moon when Nissan announced in 1989 that it would be releasing an all new GT-R Skyline.The few years after the production of this stylish machine, the GT-R Skyline was awarded with the Japanese Touring Car Championship for Group 'A' touring cars. In 1994, because of its phenomenal success, the Nissan Skyline was given its own series. This series was aptly named the Japan GT Car series.Although the Nissan Skyline was a much sought after motor in the United States of America, the Skyline GT-R was never made to comply with US standards, but all was not lost thanks to Motorex. Motorex imports and modifies the Nissan Skyline GT-R so that it complies with these standards and consequently these cars can then be released on American soil.The Nissan Skyline GT-R is not a cheap car but it is a dream of many a young driver. Sadly for them, most only get to push the pedal to the floor by driving it via a computer screen. It's a real popular choice in computer racing games and for good reason.Options for the Nissan Skyline have come as a sedan or a coupe. If you're not sure what the modern models look like, just do a search on Google images for the Nissan Skyline GT-R and you will be able to see for yourself why this car is so pleasing to the eye. If you're into the mechanics of the motor, there are a plethora of sites out there that will strip it down to the bare bones and rebuild it for you bit by bit.Cars are more than just a means of transport, in fact many men treat their vehicles with the same tender loving care as they do to their women. Now I'm not saying there's anything healthy in that, but it's the way it is, and I would go as far to say that many a boy racer would live in his car rather than get rid of it, and especially if it was a Nissan Skyline GT-R.Andy Maingam is a proficient writer for keepingcars.com where he has articles on the Hi-tech Radio Controlled Cars and buying Cheap Tires and Wheels. He also has many other auto related pieces on the site.
Keyword : Motorex, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Japanese sports car, Japan GT Car series, US standards

How To Find Affordable Auto Parts For Older Cars

Author : Gregg Hall
Have you been trying to find cheaper ways to acquire spare parts lately? The cost of spare parts can be rather astronomical at times and more and more people are now trying to find sources other than the traditional auto part stores. For older cars, it would be a good idea to try to find recycled parts instead of buying new ones. One can easily find these recycled parts from auto wreckers and recyclers. Online sites like eBay also carry these types of items, which you can buy at cheaper prices.How does one find spare parts that are suitable for their cars? A lot of people would hesitate to buy parts from recyclers because they are not really sure if these parts are suitable for their cars. If you are one of those people who are afraid that you might get spare parts that are not really suitable for your car, you should bear in mind that your car is a mass produced model and there is bound to be thousands just like it lying around some junk yards waiting to be discovered. If you take some time to really find what you need, you can usually find it in a junkyard.If your car is just around 10 to 12 years old, there is a big chance that you can find everything you need from the recycler's place. The good news about recycled spare parts is that recyclers would be happy to sell you the parts you need for a fraction of their original price. Most recyclers even give warrantees on the spare parts they are selling so that it would be easy for you to return or replace the parts that are defective or are not really suitable for your car.Now, if your car is older than 10 to 12 years, you may find it just a little bit difficult to find what you need in one place. In this case, you might want to try approaching those companies that specialize in auto parts. You may also want to try searching for the parts you need on eBay or JC Whitney. These sites are well known for having some of the best finds when it comes to spare parts. What is more important is that these sites can also offer you good bargains.As for finding vintage spare parts, this could be a little bit tricky. It is not easy to find cheaper spare parts for vintage cars. Your option in this case would be to find some junkyards that have been there for years and hope that there is this vintage car sitting somewhere among the piles. You can also try your luck with the older members of the community. One or two could have a car from the 60s or the 70s in their backyards.Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a classic car parts at http://www.shop4autoparts.com.
Keyword : auto parts, car parts, classic car parts, used car parts, used auto parts

What Are The Cheapest Options To Ship A Car

Author : Ricky Lim
There are many reasons why you need a car shipping service. For example, you are migrating to another part of the country or overseas, you brought a car from ebay motors and need it shipped to you or maybe you are going on a vacation and decide to bring your car along with you.Nowadays, there are plenty of car shipping companies that provide different options for shipping a car. The prices also varies due to distance, mode of transportation and accessibility as well.The two most common car shipping options are getting someone to drive it for you or transporting your vehicle via a large car carrier truck.There are pros and cons to both methods of car transportation.Method 1 : Getting someone to drive it for youThere are some shipping companies who can provide people to help drive your car to your destination. The cost will depend on the distance. Usually, the cost of petrol will be included in the shipping fee but calculated on a per mile basis. Reputable car shipping companies will also have car insurance policy in the event the car is damaged or met with an accident during the journey.This type of car shipping is the cheapest but however you have to bear in mind the wear and tear of your vehicle particularly for long distance travelling. Also some people may not feel comfortable letting an unknown person drive their car since you do not know how they are going to drive your car. If that is the case for you, you can choose the second option.Method 2 : Car Transport Via Car CarrierThe second method of car shipping uses a large car carrier truck to transport your car. Usually, they will be 8 or 9 other cars on the same carrier truck. By using this method, your car will arrive at your destination intact with no wear and tear.However, the cost is more expensive than method 1. Usually it will cost $400 to $500 more. The car shipping company will also provide car insurance and a checklist before and after the car is transported.I would recommend the second method if you have a new car to be transported or your car is expensive since I am sure you want it to be as intact as possible when you collect the car.Ricky Lim runs a car shipping site. Visit his site for more Car Shipping Companies reviews and a car shipping quote
Keyword : car shipping, cars, vehicle shipping, auto shipping, car shipping companies, international car shipp

How to Install Car Audio Wires and Cables

Author : Alan Bayer
How to install your wiring, and make it a.) Invisible, or b.) Nice to look at:Alrightee! So, you're off to installing all of the big-time components to your stereo system. I know you really really really want to skip the boring parts (like running wires), and go straight to installing the components, and turning on your system. Nnnnnno!Like I have said countless times before, we're here to do a QUALITY stereo install. Not some janky, lame-o quickie job. We're installing a stereo for the life of your vehicle, and as such, we spend a little extra time to do things properly. Sooooo, when it comes to wiring, we need to think about how we want to do things first.To re-cap. Do you know what components you'll be installing? Even if you don't have all of the components now, hopefully you know what your plans are. This allows you to run all of the wires, so when you finally get your components, you can just mount them, and hook up the wires, and you're ready to rock.Don't be stupid like most people, and think of components first, THEN think about how to install them. Think of how to install components, get the install parts, THEN install the components. DUH!!! By the way, you'll save time and money with this approach.Was that a long enough introduction? OK, let's get into what you should know about wiring!First, buy all of the wiring that you think you'll need, and some extra just for safety. Don't worry, your money won't be wasted!Next, disassemble your vehicle in the places where the wiring will be run. When I say disassemble, I mean it! Pull out seats, carpet, panels, everything! Trust me, this will make running wires easier and safer.If you plan to use any sort of sound insulation or damping material, now is the time to lay it. If you don't plan on using it, why not? This will make your system sound better by lowering noise, and by eliminating vibrations. Just do it!Now, you get to run wires. Run them everywhere they'll be needed. Run power wires, RCA wires, speaker wires, interface wires, remote turn on wires. EVERYTHING.Now that they're laid out how you want and need them, it's time to secure them. Vehicle manufacturers use ties everywhere to keep wires organized and out of the way. Now it's your turn! Many many many people skip this step, and I don't think it's too smart.Why?Because when wires are subjected to vibrations, stress, weather, and other things that are constantly present in vehicles, they tend to wear away. When wires wear away, you get...Short circuits!
Vehicle fires!
Ruined components!Don't risk it, just secure your wires!If you have amp racks or other items that your wiring will go through, it's time to mount those items, and secure the wiring to them.OK, OK. Those are the basic steps you'll go through to run wires. But, how do you actually do it? Let's break it down:1.) Measure distances between where components will be mounted, and what they connect to. For example, measure from the battery to where you'll mount your amp. Also, don't be stupid. Buy a few extra feet at each end, so you'll have room for error. Also, you'll want to make sure none of the wires are stretched. You want to have some slack at each end. This will make your life much easier.Other distances to measure:Head unit to ampAmp to speakersHead unit to cd/dvd changer, mp3 player, navigation system, etc.Also, before you buy your wires, be sure you know what will work best with your planned components. If you're planning to install a 500 watt amp, and you know that amp will be 17' from the battery, use a chart to figure out what wire guage to use. People like to get all loco in the cabeza with power wire, and spend $5 a foot on 0 guage wire. WHY??? If you don't need it, don't buy it!2.) OK, so you have all of your wiring in hand, and ready to go. Now is the time to take apart parts of your vehicle. First, figure out where your wires will be run. I usually run my power wire on the same side of the vehicle as the battery. I also usually run my RCA cables down the center of the vehicle. Knowing this information will tell you where you need to remove parts from your vehicle. If you're not going to be running wires in a certain part of your vehicle, then it won't be necessary to take anything apart. UNLESS!! UNLESS!!! UNLESS!!!! You plan to put some sound damping material down. I always recommend this!So, here we go. Time for the fun part. First things first. Disconnect the ground (aka negative) wire from the battery.Pull up panels! I highly recommend some sort of panel removal tool to remove panels. This will help protect your panels from breaking.3.) Time to run wires!First, we'll run the power cable: Find a hole in the firewall of your vehicle. If you can't find a hole, you might be able to squeeze a power cable through the far corner of your hood, by the windshield and into your vehicle that way. If you can't do that, then you'll have to drill. Every car is different, but one piece of advice is always true: Plan ahead, and be careful! Inspect where you plan to drill the hole, and be sure you won't damage anything in the process. Take it slow, or if you're feeling really nervous, drive your vehicle to a stereo shop, and have them run your power wire through the firewall. Next, run the cable wherever it will fit nicely, and not be visible once you put the carpet back in place. Run it all the way to your trunk (or wherever you plan to have your amp or distribution blocks mounted). Next, secure the cable. Use zip ties, or glue, or even velcro to make sure your power cable stays where it should. Be sure it is not near any moving parts, or rubbing on anything that will strip the insulation. Also, be sure it will not get in the way of anything once you re-install all of the panels, carpet, etc.Next, let's run your RCA cable(s), interface cables and Remote turn on wire. Again, be sure the negative cable is disconnected from the battery. Disassemble any and all of the panels surrounding your head unit. Pull your head unit out. Next, pull up all of the panels, consoles and carpet around where you'll be running your RCA cable and interface cable. Connect the remote turn-on wire to your head unit's wiring harness. If you are planning to connect more than one or two devices to your head unit's remote turn-on, you will want to look into installing a relay. Next, run the RCA cables, interface cable and remote turn-on. All of the stuff I said earlier about power cables is also true of RCA and interface cables. Be sure your cable is not near any moving parts, it is not rubbing against anything that will strip the insulation, and it is mounted in such a way that it will not show once the panels and carpet are put back in place. Connect the RCA cables to the pre-outs on your head unit, and be sure you know which RCA cable goes to which channel on your amp. Many RCA cables use color-coding, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Plug in your interface cable. Now, re-install your head unit. Make sure everything is all hooked up before you put everything back together!!OK, last step. Let's run speaker wire! This is exactly like running all of the other wires above. Pull up the panels. Run the wires. Be mindful of where you plan to run them. Secure them. Make sure you have a few extra feet at each end of the speaker cable. I know this sounds stupid, but trust me. It's more stupid to spend all of this time running wire only to discover that it's too short. Then, you have to pull the wire up, throw it away, then run it all over again. DUMB!4.) Secure wires!Now that your wires are run, it's time to secure them. There are many ways to secure wires, and not all of them will work at all times. In fact, you'll probably need to use a variety of methods to secure your wires throughout your vehicle. Soooooo....1.) Secure wires with zip ties to other bundles of wires.2.) Secure wires with zip ties to small holes (or create small holes)3.) Use glue to secure zip ties to your vehicle, then secure the wires with them.4.) Run wires behind objects that they can be secured to.5.) Use velcro to secure wires5.) Secure wires to mounting locations (amp racks, speaker pods, etc)If you have any sort of custom enclosure or rack for your stereo components, you'll want to find a way to secure your wires to the rack or enclosure. If these racks or enclosures are designed to be seen, you might want to take some time making the wires visible, and looking good.In the example of amp racks, you can drill holes where all of the electrical connections go into the amp. Run the wires through these holes, and to your amp. This trick will make your wires look nice and clean, and keep your wires organized.For speaker enclosures, there are a variety of things you can do to make the wires look good. For plexiglass subwoofer enclosures, people often choose wire that looks good. In addition, top installers will choose wire hardware (terminals) that are of high quality, and look good. If you want your enclosure to be removable, you can install speaker terminals on the outside of the enclosure, or even install a custom quick-release wiring harness.Enjoy!
-Honest AEBAlan Bayer is an entrepreneur and car audio enthusiast. He runs an eBay store selling car stereo install supplies:http://stores.ebay.com/honest-aebs-autosound/He also has a GREAT website with car audio articles (such as the one from above). Also on the website, learn about car audio equipment, how to find the best equipment, how to install it, and save big bucks in the process!http://www.honestaebs-caraudio.com/Subscribe to Honest AEB's FREE Car Audio Magazine!http://www.honestaebs-caraudio.com/magazine.html
Keyword : install, car audio, wire, cable, rca

Custom Wheels and Rims - What You Need to Know Before Purchasing

Author : Stefan Rockhaus
After the 1900's, the market for car wheels and rims has suddenly expanded. Today, most people want to modify their vehicle with the latest set of wheels. Wheels which are modified from the standard vehicle manufacturer wheels are called custom wheels. The overall look of the vehicle is changed as soon as you install a set of the trendiest custom wheels or rims. However, it is important that you choose the most appropriate wheels or rims for your vehicle.Types of Custom Wheels and RimsThere are several kinds of wheels and rims available in the market. But you will have to make a choice keeping your vehicle in mind. You can get everything from spoke alloy wheels to the more superior chrome spinning wheels, which are the latest trend.Appearance: In the case where you are just concerned about the appearance, then choose wheels and rims that suit your vehicle and add style to it. However if speed is your passion, then go for alloy wheels which are much lighter than chrome wheels. Alloy wheels will provide your vehicle with the desired performance. Alloys are best suited for city traffic, as they help to avoid overheating of the brake system.To give sporty looks to your vehicle, install larger wheels and rims. You must choose the wheels that are matched with the bolt pattern of your vehicle. You should ask the salesperson to help you choose the right ones. This is essential because incorrectly installed custom wheels will create problems with the handling of your vehicle.Pricing: With lower priced wheels, you will have to compromise on quality. If you want to purchase the most stylish and trendy custom wheels in a good quality for your vehicle, then it will cost you slightly more. Wheels and rims at online stores are slightly cheaper than at brick and mortar stores. However, the advantage of buying from a physical store is that you can see and check your wheels and rims before purchasing.The most common way car enthusiasts modify their vehicles is to install a set of custom wheels. Automobile speed lovers, who are well aware of the performance benefits, opt for lighter, stronger or larger wheels. On the other hand, those who give preference to the looks of their vehicle opt for larger wheels, usually with a distinctive appearance.There is no denying the fact that custom wheels and rims provide a unique and trendy look to your vehicle. However, it is also very important that the performance of your vehicle is not affected due to selecting the wrong set of wheels.To read more about custom wheels and their various advantages go to http://www.top-custom-wheels.info.
Keyword : custom wheels,custom rims,rims,chrome wheels,chrome rims,alloy wheels,wheels,car wheels,performance

Nissan Maxima

Author : Kum Martin
The Nissan Maxima offers a combination of performance, luxury and interior room at a very competitive price. This family sedan sits in the same class as the Volkswagen Passat and Mazdaspeed 6.The Maxima badge has been around since 1982 and has always boasted the one of the best V6 power plants in the industry. The latest version continues this trend.Sitting in the market, above the Nissan Altima, the Maxima has a distinct presence on the road and positions itself firmly in the center of its competitors.The base model SE is the sporty model with a firm suspension and 18-inch wheels, while the more luxury-oriented SL has 17-inch wheels and a slightly softer suspension. Interior for the SL is in leather upholstery, while an exclusive 'elite' package turns the three-seat rear into a two-person environment with the addition of a control panel for seat heaters, suns shades and the DVD entertainment system.The Maxima is only a mid-size salon. The interior space is something that needs to be seen to be believed. The front seats are supportive and wide; the console is sleek and modern; while driving ergonomics is hindered by design where some buttons have been created form before function, and the orange illumination offers very poor contrast.
Standard features for both models include an eight-speaker audio system, one-touch up-down front windows and keyless entry; While the SL boasts 17-inch wheels, wood interior trim, heated leather seats, a 320-watt Bose audio system and HID headlights.
The interior is spacious, while the V6 offers a balanced ride with superb handling and array of luxury extras and options. Amongst the competition, the Volkswagen Passat has a big V6 engine, more a luxurious interior with better material finish, and more road-feel.Check Out More Articles:techno song mitsubishi commercial ,
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Keyword : Car, quotes, price, automobile,kelly,new, used,tips, Nissan

Motorcycle Laws in Different States

Author : Low Jeremy
Different states in the US follow different motorcycle helmet laws that cater to their own residents and constituents. Motorcycle helmet law has been instituted to provide safety and protection to motorcycle riders from different states.But the helmet law being followed in one state may not be the same as those followed in another. There are even other states that do not have their own laws governing the proper use of motorcycle helmets. There are currently 4 states that do not have their own motorcycle helmet law.These are Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire. Of the other 46 states, 20 of them follow full helmet law for all riders in their territory to follow. They are Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. But each of these states' motorcycle helmet laws may have differing definitions on what constitutes a safety helmet.In the other remaining states, 19 have helmet laws that exempt adult riders. These are usually those riders who are 18 years old and over. These are the states of Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.There are seven states that require adult bikers at the ages of 18 and 20 to still wear helmets while riding their motorcycles. These states are Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas.It is on these states that some bikers think that they are being discriminated upon because of the requirement for riders between 18 and 20 years old. But some motorcycle riders just would want to rid themselves of having to don their helmets while riding their motorcycles. But these riders should realize that helmets are there for their safety and protection.Many motorcycle accidents have lessened rider mortalities, thanks to the protection offered by motorcycle helmets. DOT approved motorcycle helmets can help protect your head, most especially your brain from life threatening injuries in case of accidents. Your head is one of the most important parts of your body to protect while on a motorcycle because it houses the fragile brain.Although your skull protects it, sudden jolts and stops can easily injure it. Such injuries can make your brain to swell due to internal bleeding and inflammation. And when it swells, it would not have enough space inside the skull for the extra volume and will bring more damage to some other very vital regions like the eyes.This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Motorcycle Helmets, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com.
Keyword : Motorcycle Laws States, Motorcycles

Finding a Cheap Motorcycle Helmet

Author : Low Jeremy
A cheap motorcycle helmet doesn't have to be inferior to the more expensive ones. It is just a matter of looking for what kind of motorcycle helmets would work best for you. There are cheap motorcycle helmets that can perform just as well as the most popular brands out there. In order to look for them, you should be able to know how to find those helmets and what features and qualities to look for.One of the most important features that you should look for in looking for a cheap motorcycle helmet is the comfort that it provides. The motorcycle helmet can either make or break your riding experience. An uncomfortable helmet can make any ride an agonizing experience. Helmet comfort is difficult to determine right away. In order to make your search easier, try checking out cheap but recognizable brands which are generally the most comfortable.Check out also the soft rubber padding touching your head as well as the solid seal around the ears. Check out also the neck roll which cradles the back of your head and neck. When trying out a cheap motorcycle helmet, make sure that it snugly fits into your head without being too constricting. But also make sure that it isn't loose enough to shift about your head.Another feature that you should look for in a cheap motorcycle helmet is the level of safety that it can provide. The best motorcycle helmets are those that provide the most protection. In finding the best helmet for you, check for the fit as well as the interior padding that can provide you with the protection that you need. See to it that these interior pads can help provide the amount of safety and protection that you are looking for as well as comfort.Try also checking out the helmets chin strap which must reach around your and under your chin comfortably and securely so that the helmet would not shift about unnecessarily. Make sure that your helmet is also the best fitted for you by wearing it yourself. A good fit should mean a helmet that is settled low on the forehead and just above your eyebrows.Check yourself in the mirror while wearing the helmet to make sure that it is straight and properly fitted. For safety purposes, be sure to choose a DOT (Department of Transportation) approved helmet to be sure that your safety and protection is guaranteed. Try checking the safety ratings of the helmets that you are checking to ensure that you will be using a helmet with reliable head coverage.This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Motorcycle Helmets, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com
Keyword : Motorcycle Helmet

Why You Should Learn How To Do Some Of The Minor Repairs On Your Car Yourself

Author : Gregg Hall
Remember the good old days when if you needed something done you could hire someone to do it? You didn't have to worry about anything like where to find a part or how to repair anything. You used to be able to pull up to a gas station, where someone would actually come out and pump the gas for you, check your oil and clean your windshield. All you had to do was pay for the gas and be on your way. Now we have entered the "do it yourself era". You pump your own gas and check out your own groceries. There's a book on how "dummies" can learn to do anything by just reading a few pages and applying the lessons learned.One of the few things left that you can still opt to have a professional do is maintenance on your car. You can go through one of the many drive thrus that offer oil changes and engine maintenance. With the way things are going, it might be better to start to learn how to do these tasks yourself, not just to save money, but who knows how long you will be able to rely on someone else to change things like your oil filter.Women in particular are now starting to learn how to do things that were usually left to men, such as changing the tires or oil, and checking the different fluid levels in the engine. I remember when my wife had to call me at work because the car didn't start. She felt really bad when I showed up and all that had to be done was to jiggle the gear shift into park. Her face was so red!I remember that she made me a nice dinner to try and make up for it and we talked about how she could learn more about cars so this type of thing would not happen any more. We started a little weekend training program. I really don't know that much about cars, but I was able to teach her all the basics.We sort of worked through it all together. I was learning a lot at the same time as she was. We changed the oil in the car and played around with the spark plugs. We also practiced changing a tire so she would know how to do that in case she was ever stuck. After we had practiced some of the basic maintenance things with the car I actually caught my wife reading a book on how to keep your Chevy maintained.It was really cool to see her working so hard to be independent. Now my wife doesn't mind taking the car to the shop because she feels comfortable that she will know what they are talking about when they discuss the cars problems.Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as everything for automobiles at www.everythingforautomobiles.com
Keyword : car repair

Financing Your Next Car

Author : Tom Carey
Not many people have sufficient on-hand resources to pay cash for a new/used car purchase. Most people HAVE to finance at least a major portion (about 80%) of any such acquisition. Most people just assume that financing through the car dealership is the simplest, easiest and most convenient way to go—and most people pay more than they need to because of that assumption!Car dealerships rarely provide direct financing; i.e., they "partner" with a lending institution which provides funding to "qualified" buyers who apply for loans at car dealership offices. The lending institution accepts all the involved risk, while in most cases the dealerships accept a flat fee commission, a percentage of the total loan, and/or a bonus for each loan placement from their lending "partner." This cost is paid for by the buyer through a higher loan rate. It might be simpler and easier to file for a loan at the car dealership, but please don't assume that it doesn't cost you for that convenience. In a small number of case, financing is provided, however the dealer does not receive any fee, percentage or bonus for placing the loan. The service is provided to make the car buying experience better and more convenient for the customer.Banks and credit unions offer direct financing to car buyers, usually at rates better than those they can offer through any "partner" car dealerships—this is because they have no fees to pay for a middleman. Deal directly with a lending institution and you can save money on your new/used car purchase. If you have a savings/checking account with a bank or credit union, they are much more likely to provide you with a car loan than any lending institution for which you are not already a customer, and you're more likely to get a better rate or more convenient terms (or both) from them too. Most even offer lower rates if you agree to have payments automatically deducted from your account—no checks to write, no envelopes to address, and no stamps to send them in. Now that is a convenience which not only doesn't cost you anything, it usually saves both time and money!Try to have your financing issues addressed before you even go to a car dealership. Banks and credit unions will help you determine how much you can afford to pay, which should provide more confidence and less anxiety for when you actually go to a dealership. With loan approval issues already addressed before you set foot on a lot, you'll be in a position to close the deal right then and there, and to drive it home without further delay. Now that could be a convenience derived from adequate preparation and forethought!Tom Carey is a co-owner of That's My New Car. The company that specializes in finding the perfect car for it's customers, way under the retail price. That's My New Car gives proxy access to exclusive dealer-only auctions. Tom can be reached at 610-272-1998 or http://www.ThatsMyNewCar.com
Keyword : financing,used cars,car,new,banks,loan,interest,rate,dealer,auto dealer,cost,qualified,convenient

Ford At The 2006 Paris Motor Show

Author : Jay Stevens
Both the mass media and car enthusiasts anticipate seeing the recent vehicle lineup which composes the cream of the crop of the automotive industry. Different automakers will be putting their best foot forward as they compete with the best vehicles in the industry. Best makes, features and innovations will be unraveled at the motor show. One of the participating auto giant is Ford Motor Co.

Paris Motor Show will start on September 30 and is expected to end on October 15. According to Ford, "The Paris Motor Show is always an important event in the automotive calendar. It is the world's most popular auto show, attracting over one-and-a-half million visitors and 10,000 of the world's media. We are making the most of that opportunity by showcasing our strongest ever range. So far this year, we have introduced no fewer than four new models: the all-new Transit, Galaxy, S-MAX and Focus Coupé-Cabriolet. Significantly, two of those models are completely new to our range. It is an unprecedented flow of new models, but Paris will show that the momentum is growing within Ford of Europe."

In preparation to this year's Paris Motor Show, Ford has primed its new flagship model – Ford Mondeo. Said model is a vehicle that is designed to define road presence not just in functionality, quality but to style as well. It is an embodiment of innovative styling, inside and out. The design language used is based on the iosis concept to achieve outstanding driving dynamics. Mondeo uses some of Ford Galaxie parts to boost performance and feel. Ford S-MAX and Galaxy will also be displayed in said motor show.

Ford spokesperson further noted "Our message to consumers is simple but powerful. It is: feel the difference. I know that they will. Alongside the new vehicles we are displaying in Paris there is another "product" that I want to spotlight - Ford of Europe itself."Jay Stevens works as a consultant for an established auto parts store in the country. He has expertise in automotive technology and has extensive knowledge on the auto parts industry.
Keyword : auto parts,Ford,Ford Galaxie parts,Ford parts,Ford accessories

Groups Reach Out To Inform Teens About DUI

Author : Tracy Dawson
We all do know that driving while under the influence of alcohol has never been a really good thing to do. First off, you do not have total control of your vehicle. You may be familiar with all the Eagle performance parts you have added to your vehicle but you would not be able to actually control your vehicle once your senses have been already affected by the alcohol and liquor that you have ingested.Many have lost their lives and their loved ones because of driving under the influence of alcohol or have suffered because they have encountered people who driving under the influence. And it is quite alarming that the statistics seem to be going up instead of lessening and going down. Because of this, groups have come up with various ways so as to bring about awareness of such behavior and in the process alleviate the numbers of those who get involved in wrecks and crashes because of these being under the influence.The Michigan State Police have come up with a program that they are calling the Education and Prevention of Impaired Crashes so as to bring about awareness. And they are using GEM electric vehicles from Daimler Chrysler to inform people about their campaign. They are also utilizing these special goggles which they call "Drink Busters" so as to let people have that feeling what it is to be behind the wheel of a vehicle while being influenced by alcohol. The demonstration would be held at the Oakland County Traffic Safety Meeting. And with this program, they are aiming at informing and educating teenagers about the mentioned situation. The event would be happening on the 2nd of October at eight to nine thirty in the morning.So how would the demonstration go about? With the use of a GEM electric vehicle crafted by GM's Global Electric Motorcars division, there would be a course that would have safety cones. Teenagers and those interested drivers would be outfitted and suited with the previously mentioned "Drunk Busters". These special goggles would actually simulate any effects that one would experience when being influenced by drugs or alcohol.Tracy is a 29 year old researcher and writer from Dallas, Texas with extensive experience in writing auto-related articles and covering automotive related events. She is currently a contributing writer for a leading automotive e-zine. You can visit Eagle performance parts .
Keyword : auto parts,performace parts,eagle performance parts

A Hybrid Car: The Best Of Two Worlds

Author : Charles Hawkins
If you have followed along with the news lately, you have no doubt noticed the growing interest towards hybrid cars. What is this all about?After nearly 100 years on the road the combustion engine is slowly becoming an old-timer. The environmental pollution and its unlimited thirst for fuel cause problems from smog to global warming. Furthermore, conventional engines actually become increasingly inefficient as they grow in size. Most cars use at the most one third of the energy present in the fuel, the remainder is lost in the form of heat and sound.But only if gasoline starts costing way over 3 dollars per gallon, traditional cars will be considered as too thirsty - apart from the fact that they get the environment dirty. But the cleaner electrical technology, as in electrical vehicles, is not the ideal solution either. And hydrogen or gas cells are not fully developed yet. Here the hybrid car has its window of opportunity - a new automobile technology, which unites the best of two worlds: a gasoline and an electric motor.The results?The most pollution free motorised vehicle on offer thus far.The hybrid technology manage to do this by connecting a small petrol engine with a torque-strong electric motor and a battery. And can in this way lower the fuel consumption and have a lower pollution factor.In fact, some hybrid vehicles produce 50% less emissions than your conventional car. Although this is very good indeed, one has to admit that two power sources under the hood is more complicated, more susceptible to errors and may sound a bit wasteful even.But if this will allow almost any driver to have 50% of gasoline savings and reduces the emissions by a third, it certainly can't be all wrong. And the best of everything is that these hybrid cars - in the short time the have been on the market - have proven to be very road worthy vehicles as well.Especially in the USA, where the environment is quickly becoming more and more polluted, hybrid vehicles play an increasingly important role - not least in California, where "Governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger have opted for strict environmental protection guidelines.For this reason no doubt, we can also see somewhat of a Hybrid car craze in Hollywood right now. During the Academy awards of 2005, the most prestigious way to travel was not the long black limousine, but a hybrid car, which supposedly showed the environmental awareness of the celebrities.On the other hand, one can also assume that the above phenomenon was a way to show ones status, as hybrid cars where rather rare and expensive at the time. Among the celebrities that where seen arriving in various hybrid cars were Cameron Diaz, Robin Williams Harrison Ford and (surprise, surprise) Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.Charles Hawkins is the editor of Knowmoreabout.net, where you can now get a gold of a thoroughly researched guide to hybrid cars that will teach you everything about the technology as well as make up your mind about buying one.
Keyword : hybrid cars, automotive, environment, transportation, greenhouse gases

European Mazda MPS Welcomes New Member

Author : Margaret Adams
In the sophisticated country of Europe, there is a vehicle model there that happens to be one of the best vehicles that can be found on the roads and streets of the continent. This is the Mazda MPS line and the members of this vehicle family have been quite known for sophistication and high performance which, of course, is not so surprising when it comes to Mazda vehicles that are marketed in culture-rich Europe.Belonging to the Mazda MPS family is the Mazda6 MPS. This one can be considered quite new on the roads of Europe but still, it has already gained fame and popularity during the short span that it has been showing off its stuff to the Europeans. And despite the Mazda6 MPS still being new, there is yet another new MPS member to join the range.The newest and youngest member of the Mazda MPS clan is the Mazda3 MPS. It bears the same kind of quality of the Mazda 626 car parts as well as all other Mazda products. And you sure would not have to expect much less when it comes to this new one after all, in Europe, the Mazda MPS range of vehicles are considered to be the brand's flagship models.When the Mazda3 MPS starts zooming down the streets, those who would be able to witness its prowess would only be able to gape at the vehicle. However, if you are interested in taking a much closer look at the vehicle, you can head out to Mazda and vehicle showrooms and you would surely be awed by the speed, cultivation, grace, and athletic stance that the vehicle boasts of. Power would also sure not be something that Mazda has left out when it came to creating this new Mazda3 MPS.Equipped on the vehicle is the same MZR 2.3 liter DISI Turbo petrol engine with intercooler. This is also the same type of engine that the elder Mazda6 MPS using. Plus, this new vehicle holds it own kind of style that makes heads turn. It also delivers well and has a good fuel mileage so much so that it allows users to save much on expenses. The vehicle also has got upgraded suspensions and brakes.Mazda 626 car partsMargaret Adams is the present manager of the largest auto manufacturing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This 35 year old maiden is a certified car enthusiast.
Keyword : auto parts,Mazda,Mazda 626 car parts,Mazda parts,Mazda accessories

New Car Registrations and Car Insurance

Author : Andrew Bowen
In September 2001 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) introduced a new number plate registration system that was designed to last for 49 years.  The new change was welcomed not only by the car dealers but also by the car insurance industry as the DVLA also decided to issue new car registrations twice a year instead of once a year.

In the past, new registrations were issued on 1st August every year.  Inevitably this caused a major headache for insurance companies as so many people required insurance at this time.  This once a year rush for insurance was compounded by the summer timing when most people, including insurance company employees, go on holiday.  Today, the new registrations are issued in March and September.  This eases the workload for insurance companies and allows them to more easily staff up for the increase in calls.

Of course, the old system ran for about 38 years and so there is still a large population of people who require insurance renewal on 1st August.  So around July, August and September, Insurance companies are still especially busy and you can generally expect long call centre waits with a lot of direct companies.

Using the internet instead is a much easier and quicker way of getting your new car insurance quote.  Accept Direct have a very fast online quote system which cuts out the need of waiting for a call centre person to answer.  The Accept Direct website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will deliver you a competitive quote in minutes.

So whether you're looking for a cheap insurance quote for your brand new car or would like to get a low cost renewal, just go to the Accept Direct website at and save yourself some time and money. 

Copyright (c) 2004 AcceptDirect.co.uk http://www.acceptdirect.co.ukAndrew Bowen is the CEO of Accept Direct Limited. Accept Direct offer car insurance to UK customers through their website http://www.acceptdirect.co.uk
Keyword : car insurance, car, cars, insurance

Honda S2000 2004: The Weekly Driver Review

Author : James Raia
Winding country roads provide great driving delight. They give sports
car owners ample proof why they often sacrifice luxury and comfort for
speed and excitement.In Northern California, the wine country roads through the Napa Valley
and Mendocino Coast are prime examples -- at least for drivers. There
are plenty of stretches where passengers susceptible to car sickness
may be in trouble. But for a driver, the deep turns and switchbacks
require plenty of shifting, maneuvering and accelerating skills.So with a 2004 Honda S2000 as my weekly test drive, could there have
been a better location for a getaway weekend?The two-door, rear-wheel driver sports car is a sleek, quick-moving 2.2.
liter, 16-valve, 240 horsepower convertible with a six-speed manual
transmission. The renowned Japanese manufacturer offers the vehicle
as competition against the BMW Z4, Mazda Miata and Nissan 350Z.The S2000 has a nicely contoured body design, its front and rear
bumpers and lights have been restyled from 2003l and it offers an
increase to 17-inch tires from the 16-inch tires from last year. With its
new features, my red (body) and black (top) vehicle drew plenty of looks.But while the exterior is attractive, it's the interior of the vehicle that
figuratively shines. It is a combination of efficiency of space and homage
to racing vehicles.For example, I wouldn't have known, but a friend keen on motor sports
mentioned that the S2000 RRM and gas tank volume graphic bars are
the type used in Formula 1 racing cars.In fact, combined with the large digital MPH readout, the instrumentation
is void of traditional needle-style readings. Similar to other racing cars,
the S2000 also has a push-button ignition when the key is in the start
position.To further accentuate the sports car feeling, both driver and passenger
sit in tight but conforming seats. As the driver, the small, compact
steering wheel complements the 17-inch wheels. The result is superior
responsiveness, and "Go-Kart-flat" corning and "Pin-sharp steering," as
one consumer guide describes the vehicle's feel on the road.Further, with the six-speed transmission and quick acceleration (rated at
0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds in 2003), anyone who enjoys the mechanics
of driving, gets his or her share.Leather upholstery, high-intensity headlamps, a glass rear window with
electric defroster and a wind deflector are standard. A removable
aluminum hardtop is optional, but side airbags are not available.As a two-seat sports car (there is no rear cargo or passenger area),
space is at premium. That's good and bad. The shifting box, audio
system, small vertical, locked console storage compartment and all
other instrumentation is in close proximity.But as a 6-foot, 185-pound driver, the comfort level waned after a few
hours on the road. Likewise, entering and exiting the vehicle is best
accomplished with the "crouch-and-crawl" method.Surprisingly, while the trunk compartment could hardly be described as
spacious, it provides enough room for two soft-sided weekend luggage
bags. And there was also enough space left for several plastic bags of
beach-combing discoveries.One oddity: Since the convertible top is not insulated, the car drives with
less bothersome noise with the top down than it does with the top up.
The convertible top, by the way, is easy to lower or raise.It attaches and detaches with pushed button locks on the outside ceiling
of the driver and passenger seats. The electric function is engaged by a
large red button on the middle console. It can't be missed unless it's
covered by a map and newspaper, as was the case when we wanted to
lower the top. We looked for several minutes before discovering the
button was right in front of our eyes.Not-so-easy to find is the gas tank cover opener. After another extended
search and without the benefit of an owner's manual, the button was
finally located inside the driver's back door panel.Its discovery provided more humor and another small confirmation of the
S2000's unique position in the sports car marketplace.2004 Honda S2000Safety features -- Driver's and front passenger's airbags, side impact
door beams, emergency trunk opener.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 20 (city), 25 mpg (highway).Warranty -- 3 years/36,000 miles (bumper to bumper), 5 years/unlimited
mileage (corrosion).Base price -- $32,600.James Raia is a syndicated journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who writes
about sports, fitness and business topics as well as the free electronic
newsletters Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times and The
Weekly Driver, a car review column.Samples of Raia's writing can be viewed on his web site: ByJamesRaia.com.
His car reviews and newsletters can be viewed at The
Weekly Driver,
Endurance Sports News and Tour
de France Times
Keyword : Honda S2000, 2004 Honda S2000, S2000

How Radars & Radar Detectors Work

Author : Tim Robinson
What is a Radar?Radar is an acronym for radio detection and ranging.
The Average Radar contains a K-Band microwave RF (radio frequency) transmitter whose signal gets reflected by the target object. The reflected signal will have a Doppler shift proportional to the target speed.This Doppler frequency shift is detected in the receiver, amplified, filtered, and then digitized in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and passed onto the digital signal processing (DSP) chip. Using complex algorithms, the DSP chip filters out false and low-level return signals to identify the speed of the desired target. The speed, along with various statistics and averages, is then displayed on the LCD.How is speed calculated?
Speed is calculated using the difference between the transmit frequency and receive frequency (also known as the Doppler shift).How accurate are Radars?The Average accurate to within +/-1 mph.How does the user need to be positioned in relation to the moving object? The Average Radar works best when positioned in front of or behind the moving object.Can radar guns determine the speed of an object moving in any direction ? No, Doppler radar can only determine the relative speed of targets moving either toward or away from the radar.Does angle affect accuracy?A 12-degree angle should not affect performance. The average Radar is accurate to within +/-1 mph for a baseball 75 feet away at an angle of 12 degrees or less. A 20-degree angle at 60 feet away would result in an accuracy of +/-3 mph.The Radar detector only identifes a radar signal, while a Radar Detector a specially modulated field of light in front of the vehicle to muddle radar and laser gun readings.These types of Radar Jammers are legal because they transmit light instead of radio frequencies to make your vehicle electronically invisible to police radar and laser guns.Tim Robinson is the author of various Radar Detector Ariticles, his Radar Detector website : http://www.radar-detector-tips.com/ offers unique, no BS information, for free.
Keyword : radar, radar detector, laser jammer, laser detector

Suzuki Forenza Wagon 2005: The Weekly Driver Review

Author : James Raia
As an entry level wagon, the 2005 Suzuki Forenza offers budget-minded
buyers a spacious wagon with a good supply of standard features. But
as a debut vehicle, it's also unproven in the resale market and has
shortcomings that ideally define its position in the marketplace.My weekly test drive was the LX wagon, one of 10 available Forenza
models in 2005. The 2.0-liter, 16-value, 126-horsepower engine has a
four-speed automatic transmission, the only option.The vehicle has good mileage estimates for its class, and the
wagon accelerates adequately in city driving scenarios. But it's sluggish
and needs a full-throttle jolt on the steady highway inclines or in a
quickly needed lane-change situation.The Forenza wagon isn't particularly quiet on the open road and the ride
quality is marginal, with bumps easily felt and the overall feel a little stiff.
But as an economically priced wagon, the Forenza also has several
features that warrant its consideration.The vehicle's exterior is designed nicely, with a contoured body,
alloy wheels, fog lamps, and a power tilt slide sunroof. My test vehicle's
test color was listed as "Fantasy Black," and the exterior was
complemented by cloth light gray seats.Several passengers mentioned that while Forenza looks small from the
outside, they were surprised by the interior spaciousness. One 6-foot-2
friend sat in the back seat and had more than a one-inch clearance. He
said the headroom was more than he's had in the back seats of some
SUVs.The same is true from the driver's seat perspective. As a 6-foot driver, I
had good head clearance and leg room. The spacious interior extends
to the cargo area, which is wide, easily accessible from the back seat
and has a convenient hatchback style entry.The interior of Forenza seemingly has one general theme - simplicity.
Radio controls and other instrumentation are easy to use and have a
straightforward design. The instrument panel numbers have retro-style
lettering, and the back panel has an attractive light green tone when
illuminated. Another nice feature is the dashboard design. Its textured
pattern looks like (and feels like) the surface of golf balls - if they
were black.The Forenza, like many vehicles, has remote keyless entry, and its
functionality is fine. But the high-pitched noise heard upon closing is
reminiscent of a rodent in pain.Considering its designation as a compact wagon, the Forenza has a
good supply of standard features: air conditioning, cruise control, AM/
FM/CD (eight speakers), tilt steering wheel with remote stereo controls,
60/40 split folding rear seats, power windows and locks and heated and
power mirrors.The car's one optional feature is its antilock brake system, which adds
$500 to the suggested retail base price of $16,649. Destination and
handling boost the price another $545 to $17,694 – a strong argument
for consideration among economical buyers.And finally, while Suzuki may not yet be ready to battle its more well-
known competitors on several levels, the manufacturer's 7-year,
100,000-mile power train warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance
can't be easily dismissed.Suzuki Forenza Wagon 2005Safety features -- Driver and front seat passenger side airbags,
front seat passenger front airbags; 24-hour roadside assistance.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 20 mpg (city), 28 mpg (highway).Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles;
Powertrain 7 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 3 years/unlimited miles.Base price -- $17,694.00James Raia, a journalist in Sacramento, Calif., is the author of the
syndicated automotive column, The Weekly Driver Review, and co-
author of the e-book "How To Buy A Car Without Getting Ripped Off."To read more car reviews, visit: The Weekly Driver ReviewTo subscribe to James Raia's free electronic endurance sports
newsletters, visit his web site: http://www.ByJamesRaia.com
Keyword : Suzuki, Suzuki Forenza, 2005 Suzuki, Weekly Driver Review, By James Raa.com

Rules of the Road

Author : Kevin Schappell
With road rage being so common these days, we should all take a step back and review a few rules of the road. While not taught in most driver education classes or state driver's manuals, these rules will help you be a better driver.The left lane is for passing. If you are going to pass, do it quickly and safely. Some states have laws that prohibit "driving" in the left lane, leaving it open for passing only.If someone is trying to merge onto the highway and you have room, get into the left lane. This can help avoid an accident or at the least make someone's day a little brighter.Be aware of large trucks and their driving styles. Tractor trailers, dump trucks, and other large vehicles can not stop as fast as you can. Keep that in mind the next time you squeeze in front of a truck at the stop light.Also, heavy trucks while on the highway will slow down while going up large hills but pick up speed on the downhill side. This can lead to a game of leap frog which will frustrate you and the truck driver. If possible get far enough ahead of the truck to avoid excessive passing!Use your turn signals. I swear they were an option in some cars, considering most people do not use them. They are there as a signal to inform your fellow drivers where you plan to go.I guess this has been a list of my pet peeves, but I hope it will help you have a safer trip down the road. Remember, we all share the road and together we can make it safer.Take care and safe driving,About The AuthorKevin Schappell maintains http://www.autoeducation.com where he gives advice on car maintenance, buying, selling, insurance, and financing. A mechanical engineer and car guy, Kevin has decided to spend his online time helping others learn about automobiles.
Keyword : article submission, articles, writers, writing, publishing, ezine, email marketing, email newsletter, email

Teen Driving Statistics

Author : Melih Oztalay
As a parent, if you search for any information about Teen Driving Statistics you will find statistics similar to those below. I have reviewed various websites to summarize the information from these sources, however, please feel free to search the web for "teen driving statistics" for more websites and information on this subject.The information allows us to ponder if teen driving needs to be revisited on a national level. How are teen drivers being educated by driving schools? Do we need to increase the amount of time for driver training? How about requiring higher levels of car driving education (not just traffic education, but how do drive a car education)? Should driver's licenses only be issued at age 18? What are the economic implications to increasing the driving age? We will visit these questions in the next article. For now we need to understand what is happening on our roads today.We know that the current requirements for driver education are not sufficient. Both commercially and by parents. We can add that a younger age teen is not mature enough to control a vehicle and might as well be considered to be driving a deadly weapon. Teens with permit licenses are driving with their parents in an unmarked family vehicle only increase the likelihood of accidents. Using car magnets that are thick, reflective for the night and are durable can help reduce this likelihood. These types of auto safety magnets can be found at Auto Safety Magnets. Identifying these almost 2 million vehicles on the road should be a requirement on a national level.As parents we must take the responsibility of protecting our children. Should you reconsider your decision the next time your teen asks to take the car?The Facts from reliable Sources
National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationIn 2003, 3,657 (3,827 in 2002) drivers 15 to 20 years old were killed, and an additional 308,000 (324,000 in 2002) were injured, in motor vehicle crashes. Nearly 31 percent of teen drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2003 had been drinking and 74 percent of this group was not wearing their safety belts.National Safety Council
In 2000, 6,495 people between the ages of 15 and 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes—the leading cause of death for this age group. And although young drivers represent only 6.6% of the nation's licensed drivers, they are involved in 14.8% of fatal crashes. The National Safety Council urges all parents to familiarize themselves with the risks associated with young, inexperienced drivers.
Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death among children and young adults.
More than 3,800 young drivers age 15-20 are killed every year in traffic crashes.
More than 326,000 young drivers are injured.
Young drivers are involved in fatal traffic crashes at over twice the rate as the rest of the population.
Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving at an unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal accidents.
About 30% of crashes killing young drivers involve alcohol.
More than 1,000 young drivers lose their lives every year in crashes because of an impaired driver... be it themselves, or someone else.
Sean Mullsteff Teen Driving Foundation
The number one cause of death for 15-20 year olds is car collisions.
This age group makes up 7% of licensed drivers, but suffers 14% of fatalities and 20% of all reported collisions.
53% of teen driver deaths occur on weekends.
Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle collisions had a youth passenger in the automobile 45% of the time.
In 2002, The National Center for Statistics and Analysis reported that 8,278 adolescents (ages 15-20) were involved in fatal crashes.
324,000 teens were injured in collisions in 2002.
65% of teen passenger deaths occur with a teen driving.
Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile collision due to drowsiness.
More than any age group, teens are likely to be involved in a single vehicle crash.Melih Oztalay, CEO
Auto Safety Magnets
http://www.autosafetymagnets.comAuto Safety Magnets helps teen drivers while operating their unmarked family vehicle by increasing road awareness, traffic safety and reducing driver frustration.
Keyword : Teen Drivers, Drivers Ed, Car Safety, Drivers License

Auto Dealerships Are Entering the Oil Change Business in a Big Way

Author : Lance Winslow
Auto Dealerships Are Entering the Oil Change Business in a Big Way. Recently I was in Boise, ID on the West End of town there is a Lithia Dealership, which has put in a huge Quick Lube, Fast Lube in front of the dealership. There is obvious reasons to do this. One of course is that the car dealership can do the warranty work, another is increased profits and a third is customer loyalty. So does it work? Well we are seeing the Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco, Kmart using this concept. So it should not surprise you that dealerships go out of their way to get people in. After all if you oil change takes 20 minutes you are apt to walk around the dealership and check out the new cars, tell friends and even wonder into the show room.Not bad and when your car is in need of repair a recent article in Auto Dealership News in June said that you are 45% more likely to bring in those major repairs if you do routine maintenance on site. And another article in OCT. 2003 in National Oil and Lube News showed that the increasing competition for quick oil change customers had increased three fold in the last three years. Anyone in the business should not be too shocked as the dealerships might even offer free oil changes to get you to buy a car in the first place or to offer as an incentive to keep you buying more cars from them in the future for other family members and the dealerships also realize as did Dallas Cadillac Auto Dealer Entrepreneur, Carl Sewel "Customer's For Life"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...511160?v=glance .This was then followed by the Dealerships in San Antonio, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, J-Ville, Chicago and now is going on nearly nation wide. In Garrett McKinnon's article in NOLN National Oil and Lubrication News, he mentioned all the other add-ons such as required services at 10,000; 30,000; 50,000 miles. Think about it; alignments, brakes, tires, shocks, exhaust air-conditioning, tune-ups, etc. It makes sense. It also makes sense for us to research this for our teams to co-market and allow the dealerships to outsource using our team as their partner for those who live beyond the distance of such convenience without losing the customer's next potential purchase. J.D. Powers study said the increase of car dealerships in their new car buyers has become 57% and much of the auto industry studies we have seen show that the drive towards regularly scheduled services has increased shop sales to the point that the profit margin in the shop is nearly equal or above that of the original sale. It is looking as if the finance dept., sales departments are being surpassed by the shop in back or in this case of Lithia Motors in Boise, ID in front. Which is where it should be if it is attaining that much volume.What does this mean for the Fast Lube Industry? Increased competition and manufacturers requiring as part of maintenance special oils which are private labeled as genuine parts for each manufacturer, thus also getting a share of those services. And do not kid yourself as G-3 specifications can clearly indicate such a migration in the next few years. Look at the special oils required by BMW and soon Chrysler? Look at the Manufacturers entering other after market add-ons. Chrysler with their own brand of Wheels and now GM getting into the business with an Announcement at the Nov. 2003 SEMA show which offended a few of the wheel companies which had always worked in close partnership.Ford on the other hand deciding to dump much of it's non-core businesses, such as auto recycling, rent-a-car, accessory businesses and showed up at SEMA with 14 versions of it's new F-150 to let everyone know who was the leader in light trucks for 04'. Both Ford and GM have both figured out Fast Lube Programs for their dealerships and by doing so have created a minature franchise co-brand within a franchise which car dealerships are.GM has it's Mr. Goodwrench service and GSP plan. This quick lube program is easily integrated into current dealerships interested in increasing revenue or new dealerships and comes in two, three or four bay versions.If you look at any Fast Lube Program or even simply a company which can put all the pieces together such as RTI Technologies and add-on a brand name to it;http://www.rtitech.comyou can see that you can easily attract the right customer to your location with good signage. But imagine a dealership with it's own built in customers or Car Wash Franchise with it's built in customers? .Mr. Goodwrench is also going mobile and copying the Oil Change Guys plan with it's Mobile Service Van Program:http://www.gmfleet.com/us/about/news/uptime/2001_spring.pdfInteresting article on this mobile service and excellent idea too. Obviously this is for the fleet customer who buys several or more vehicles. Which is our major market. Yet we find that fleet leasing departments are more than willing to trade databases with us in order to get more sales and people to talk to. The 120 Vans so far also assist in major recall issues by going on-site as to not upset the fleet customers for instance the issues with the 10 passenger vans. If you had 100 vans or so or 50 trucks with such problems and you had to schedule them all in, then either you couldn't and would be out of safety compliance or GM did not have the room at the dealership thus everyone loses including the next fleet purchase so this is an excellent strategic move for the company and really a good service to the fleet consumer. Mopar Xpress Lube Program is only doing partly good due to bad marketing in my opinion.This is a joint program with Valvoline. Chrysler has 75% of it's routine maintenance done by outside shops and thus is losing it's customer base for the additional required warranty services. So they want this back, yet it is also part of the Aftermarket Industry's 15.5 Billion in annual sales of services for automobiles? You can see the need to squeeze harder and therefore independent shops must be better than this.One problem with these add-on services for dealers is scheduling and convenience, after all if you require certain oil brands that only you can sell, then you need a shop big enough to handle the demand of the persnickety consumer who buys your brand and thus problems have occurred at Ferrari, Porsche, BMW and Jaguar in the past. This could cause lost future auto sales. One dealership gave out 14 coupons, which is one for every six months for 7 years, yet the life expectancy for a single owner in today's American Consumer market is only 3.3 years.So the free bee car oil changes from some dealerships are more a come on than any reality. The convenience of a Fast Lube is more enticing. And for mobile oil changes even more so, since you need not drive anywhere to get the oil changed. So the battle and the chess board continues as the players re-position to make the most profits by giving the consumer what they want, when they want it and with maximum efficiency. God Bless Capitalism and the Free Market System.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Keyword : car dealerships, oil change business

Streetlights That Turn Into Barricades, Benches; a Worthy Concept

Author : Lance Winslow
Following the tragic accident in Santa Monica, CA during a blocked off street fair in the downtown area this issue resurfaced. A concept had been discussed where street poles would shape shift and change like many of those miniature plastic robot toys. Much has thought has gone into these toys and the video games and cartoons they were modeled after. Such brainpower should not be wasted and today we see many research institutes are working on shape shifting technologies as new materials emerge. They are applying these studies in the fields of Manufactured Memory of Materials, Shape Memory Alloy (SMA), Shape Shifting Technologies, Non-Holonomic manipulation, Self Reconfiguration Robotics, Tactile Sensors and Haptics to solve many of problems which plague mankind and providing safety and security solutions to our populations. We can prevent future problems like the runaway car and street deaths in Santa Monica. Nine people were killed and 50 were injured.http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/2337505/detail.htmlSensors activate and barricade streets of travel of International Terrorists or high-speed chases. These features can protect patrons of large civic events and parades. These barriers can be used in sobriety check-points and a multitude of other important endeavors from Utility repair crew safety to Earthquake debris avoidance.Streetlights would drop down like a railroad crossing across a portion of the road. The outward branch containing the light would fold in half and the light lens would switch from bright white to yellow and flash as a warning. The folded branch holding the light would rest on the road at the fold point and the light would then be on the end near the corner of the upright and now-cross member. In the event the light pole is near a manhole cover or near an area in which a utility company might park a man-lift truck the light pole would come down and form a barrier box around that area. Many utility workers are killed each year when their boom trucks are hit and tipped or while working in manholes on ground infrastructure. All this can be eliminated completely.It is our contention that during road construction, repairs, accident first response, emergencies, civic events; we can provide additional safety and security with little additional expense. Cities have streetlights and since the cost to put in street lights is already a given, these cities can upgrade to shape shifting designs to solve other issues. In addition our studies show that the additional costs associated with boom trucks to change out light bulbs and minor street light repairs can also be reduced and thus the initial capital outlay for the slightly higher costs will make up for themselves over the first four to five years of their useful life.We have drawings, concepts and designs and are willing to share these with those entrusted to city governments, national security, highway safety, foreign construction re-building, economic development, modernizing architecture, utility infrastructure, corporate asset and facility security or US Embassy Upgrades and Fortification.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Keyword : street lights, design, barricades, safety

Do Not Waste Used Oil; Use It For Heat

Author : Lance Winslow
Ever heard of UOMA? What is it? No, it is not slang in "Da Hood" for "Joe Mama." UOMA is; the Used Oil Management Association.http://www.uoma.comThere is quite a lot of progress being made by groups here in the United States and in Canada to make sure that used motor oil is recycled. Millions of gallons are illegally dumped each year and mind you 1 gallon of used oil could pollute drinking water over the allowable US Limits from the EPA standards.One hundred and forty million used oil gallons are used in furnaces on-site for heating each year. The 1980 Used Motor Oil Act was made to eliminate dumping and it has worked so far thanks to industry support of UOMA? UOMA, like your mother, but certainly not your mother by any means; understands what's best. Establishing used motor oil to have a cradle to grave policy, which will probably be also set up for our Beef Industry. From Birth to shelf with imbedded RFID tags and that number sent with all the meat where ever it goes and onto the shelves. IT industry already has it figured out. With your energy costs up in your shop up you may wish to get a space heater.There was a great article on the different brands recently in National Oil and Lube News. The rules for using waste oil in space heaters are really simple:Heater must burn oil generated on-site.The heater must be vented from the out side.Capacity of heater cannot be over 500,000 BTU per hour.http://www.uoma.com/Environment2.html

.Generally these type of units pay for themselves in under two years. If you need more heat get two heaters. In the EU they too have a program for Oil which parallels that of UOMA, after reading thru the site of UOMA, you will learn about: The ROI of an oil fired space heater, the savings of moving used oil to comply with cradle to grave requirements, which are the best types of heaters to buy and all kinds of important tid-bits to assist you in saving money and heating your facility.In the future being smart about waste of any kind and using your ingenuity and that of the industry leaders can assist you in running a businesses safe and free from environmental activist groups. The increased efficiency will also help you stay profitable. Think about it.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Keyword : UOMA, used motoroil, heating, motor, oil

Calculating Car Lease Payments - Online Lease Calculator Makes It Easy

Author : Al Hearn
One of the first questions that comes to mind when thinking of leasing a car is: "What will my monthly lease payment amount be?" or "How much can I save by leasing when compared to buying?"Getting the answers can be as simple as using an online lease calculator such as the Lease Calculator from LeaseGuide.com, which calculates payments, finance charges, taxes, and total lease costs — by walking you through a number of easy steps in which you answer questions and input information about your lease.Lease payment calculators use a standard leasing industry payment formula to determine monthly payment amount. Additional calculations are performed to determine other costs.Even though you may not know some of the factors you need to plug into the calculator, you can guess or make some assumptions. Then you can go back and change some of the factors to see how it affects the results. In this way, you can play with the calculator to get the answers you want.If you have all the figures about a specific lease deal from your dealer — lease price (cap cost), down payment (cap cost reduction), lease-end value (residual), length of lease (term), and finance rate (money factor) — you can check the honesty of your dealer's payment calculations by using an online lease calculator. A dealer's figures should exactly match yours. If not, then the dealer is using numbers that he has not accurately disclosed to you. If you both are using the same numbers as input to your calculations, the results will be precisely the same — to the penny.If you want to compare the cost of leasing to the cost of buying, use a Lease vs. Buy Calculator. Based on the input figures that you provide, you can easily see the difference between buying and leasing.Lease payments are always smaller than loan payments for the same vehicle. However, this does not necessarily mean leasing is right for you, nor does it mean that a specific lease is a good deal. To understand this better, see the Lease Guide for more details.Al Hearn is owner and operator of LeaseGuide.com, a popular web site for automotive consumers interested in leasing. It has served thousands of visitors since 1995.
Keyword : car lease, lease calculator, lease payment, payment calculator, car leasing

5 Mils of Protection; Automobile Clear Coat

Author : Lance Winslow
Acid Rain, Alkaline Rain and the opportunities in on-site detailing and car care are vast. Acid Rain can severely damage cars and SUVs. There are many environmental attacks on your car, some man made others not. Water spots from sprinklers are horrible in many areas the minerals hurt car clear coats. Acid rain is caused by Sulfur Dioxides or Nitrogen Oxides, which combine with smog and water or precipitation to cause sulfuric and nitric acids. These on the surface of the car can be visible in white rings around dulled areas of the paint. Sometimes very small and I've seen as big as a quarter. Alkaline spots happen when minerals and chemicals react while on the surface of your car. Ouch !!! When the water dries you will see gloss of the clear coat dulls in spots and appear like deposits of salt or white film. What can you do about this. We recommend Clay Magic Fall-out Remover from AutoMagic.www.autowaxcompany.com/may2000.pdfWe were able to meet with AutoMagic Team and they gave us samples of the latest clay magic, 15 sets at a retail cost of $75.00 each to test. Great company and in Las Vegas they did well at the APEX and SEMA shows this year. To buy it online go to:http://www.clay-magic.com/claymagic_products.aspWhen these types of contaminants settle on the surface of a car it can be catastrophic to your paint job if not taken car of thus giving opportunities to our team. The pigment of the paint, which is attacked change the color in the paint by way of chemical reaction, first eating through the clear coat and then into the other coats, of which there are many different types. As you may remember from school colors are made by mixing other colors. So you can get some weird dynamics turning white paint to pure white or gray or even black. Other eventualities include displaced clear coats causing bumps, etched cracks, yellowing, peeling, and even white blotching or milky look on the top surface. Many of the newest clear coats are much more resistant to these contaminants, but if you look at a GM vehicle of 1980's to 1990's you are pretty much SOL almost immediately. Newest Clear Coat Technology makes our job really easy as auto detailers and Clay Magic literally is magic in that case.Other horrible things for cars include; Iron Oxides spots, which can also be fixed if they have not gone to far and gotten under the paint. White wall cleaner for 8 seconds and rinse and then clay magic and then polymer solvent wax and then Carnauba filler fixes that. Cement Spots are bad and hard to fix without scratching and etching the surface worse. Try to dissolve the cement in liquid solvents while keeping water on it and use a kerosene solution or Dry Wash-N-Guard and then simultaneously a netted wax pad with clay magic and it's lubricant from Auto Magic. Oxidation the most common problem is the easiest see other topics on this subject here. Jet Fuel from Airport parking on approach ends of runways and diesel fuel or contaminants from Diesel generators or ships are also typical problems and Clay Magic works well on them. As you may have seen new cars with white Styrofoam type covering on fenders being delivered to dealerships, this is to prevent salt spray which can cause damage and increase rust and from the ships, rail cars and trucks that deliver them from dripping rusty water on them causing marks. If this gets on the car it can even melt through the cosmalyene, which cars use to be sprayed with before when in the delivery sequence of their journey to the dealership. Bee Pollen, Mayfly, Bird droppings, bat droppings, ash spots and tree sap are all very damaging but if you take them off quick they are easily taken care of with the Auto Magic Clay Magic Product.It is important when dealing with automotive clear coast to your facts, permanent damage can easily occur if you are not savvy about the thin protective coatings on nearly all modern day automobiles.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Keyword : 5, five mils, automobile, clear coat, protection, clay magic, fallout, auto detailing

Driving Up And Down Hills in a mobile detailing rig

Author : Lance Winslow
When you are going down hills don't coast unless you are really low on gas. Save your brake pads/shoes. Use the lower gears to keep your speed down. This will help you stop more quickly. Remember if your get into an accident in a work truck you are already considered at fault since you should know better. Stay alert, pay attention and please think about that. In addition to using low gears to keep speed under control and save on brake pads, you should remember:Your vehicle weight shifts forwardYour gas gauge reads lowerYou'll tip over if you make abrupt turnsIt takes 30-40% more distance to stopYour maneuvering ability is reducedIf you are towing a trailer be careful if the roadway is wet it would be very easy to jack knife. Remember when driving a mobile auto detailing van, pick up or truck, car or SUV with a trailer that your vehicle is much harder to stop when full of water. Water weighs 8.2 pounds per gallon. Since most auto detailers carry one hundred to two-hundred gallons of water this adds significant weight. Lets look at this; Two hundred gallons of water will weigh eight point two pounds per gallon. This means you have an additional sixteen hundred and forty pounds of total extra weight. That is a lot of mass to stop, not to mention the motion/movement problem when stopping and turning. Sixteen hundred and forty pounds (1,640 lbs) is between 20 to 40 percent of the gross vehicle weight of your entire rig. Think about this and take it easy on those hills.When going up hills, try not to stop. If you can, maintain a steady speed in a low gear. If you have to stop on a hill, don't feather the clutch more than you have to. It takes a day to fix if you burn it up. Your truck or mobile rig uses a lot of gas going up hills and at these prices you are better off to save the money. It's better to use a lower gear and slow down than blast up the hills.Be safe, save the vehicle from unnecessary wear and tear and think about it.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Keyword : Driving hills, mobile detailing rig, safety, automobile

Auto Detailing Testimonials

Author : Lance Winslow
Offer A Free Detail For Best TestimonialIf you run an auto detail business then you need to have a professional website. On this website Testimonials are important as they elevate you to the expert you are and also add credibility for the new customers. Most of your business is word of mouth, but often the new potential customer will look up your website to see if you are legitimate. How do you get the best testimonials?Carry a tape recorder and ask your favorite customers to tape a testimonial to your business. Encourage them to be creative, enthusiastic, and energetic. Then take the tape to another good customer and say 'can you beat this?' Give them the same 100% encouragement. Print the best testimonial on the back of your flyers and put them all on your website. Ask permission of the best testimonials and then tell who the person is, and that they received a free detail for their effort. Print a copy of their business card along with the testimonial. They will get calls from appearing on your flyer and this will help their business. You can even print a testimonial of the month in the newspaper. If you run an ad, just be sure to get permission from the customer. This same technique can be used in the on the website.After you've selected fifteen or twenty really good testimonials, you'll have built up a great portfolio of recommendations for yourself and they will be dynamite for your website as well. You can show these testimonials to potential car wash, auto detailing and fleet customers. The customer who gave the testimonial will feel that much more a special part of your business and this while embolden them to give you further referrals. Think about it.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Keyword : auto detailing, testimonials, website

Nissan Frontier: A Remarkable Vehicle Made Even More Outstanding With Nissan Parts From Parts Train

Author : Jenny McLane
The 2005 Nissan Frontier has new 4.0-litre DOHC V-6, based on Nissan's VQ series engines, produce 265 horsepower and 284 lb.-ft. of torque and give the Frontier more power than the Dakota V-8 and enough strength to pull 2,950 kilograms (6,500 pounds). It is the most powerful V-6 offered in a mid-size pickup. The third generation Frontier, which is offered in both King Cab and Crew Cab body configurations, has innovative spray-in bedliner and Utili-track(TM) bed channel tie-down system, rugged truck styling and fully boxed, all-steel frame based on the Titan "F-Alpha" platformThe new Frontier is designed to deliver exceptional levels of acceleration, handling and braking, towing capacity and off-road capability. The Frontier features a newly designed 4.0-liter DOHC V6 rated at 250-plus horsepower and 270-plus lb-ft of torque and a choice of 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive with advanced off-road technology. The new engine is part of the acclaimed Nissan VQ engine series utilized in the Nissan 350Z, Maxima, Altima, Murano and Quest.Some of the features of the Frontier's new 4.0-liter include an aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, forged steel crankshaft, micro finished crankshaft and camshaft, molybdenum-coated pistons, Nissan variable Induction Control System (NICS), Continuous Valve Timing Control (C-VTC), and a silent two-stage timing chain.The back end remains a solid axle setup for the suspension, while the front steps up a double-wishbone layout with high-pressure performance coil over gas shocks and a stabilizer bar. The top tire will be a 17-incher, with 265/65R17 rubber. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) are standard across the lineup.Listening to the market and responding to consumer demand is what Nissan has done for years. Similarly, Partstrain goes into every detail to ensure its Nissan Replacement Parts, Performance Parts, aftermarket Parts are at its best when it reaches the customers.Browse at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/NISSAN and Parts Train will provide you with the most complete line of original quality Nissan parts at very affordable prices. Serving thousands of loyal customers, from all over the world, nothing beats its superb service. Buy discount-priced Honda Odyssey a/c condenser only from Parts Train, the trusted online seller of auto parts. Customer satisfaction is always that's why discount Nissan Auto Parts are guaranteed first-class quality.Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa
and has a knack for research on cars and anything
and everything about it. She works full time as a
Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers
in the country today.
Keyword : nissan