How To Get An Auto Loan If You Have Bad Credit

By: Chris Chandler

Are you in need of a new car, but are afraid it's impossible
because of your bad credit? Well, the fact is that, today,
consumers with bad credit have a wide variety of options
available to them in regards to bad credit auto loans. In fact,
it can be very easy to get the money you need, but it is
important for you to do your research before getting a loan.

If you have bad credit, the first thing that I would recommend
is to find out more about your own financial situation. What is
your exact credit score (FICO) with the three credit agencies
(Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax)? One place that you can find
this information is the free credit report service at
www.AnnualCreditReport.com. At this site, you can place an order
for a free yearly credit report. The credit report has
everything but the credit score. You have to pay extra to get
the scores, but it is worth it. It is valuable information to
have on hand in your search for the best auto loan deal. With
this information, you can do quite a few things to help
yourself. The first thing you need to do when you examine your
credit report is to look for errors. Correcting errors can help
bring up your credit score some. Another way to increase credit
score is to have a friend, or relative, with good credit add you
as an authorized user to their credit cards. This connects their
good credit history to yours. If you simply don't know what to
do, there are credit repair companies that can help clean up
your credit report. I have used a credit repair company in the
past and was very pleased with the results.

I definitely don't recommend getting a bad credit car loan from
the local car dealership where you buy your car. You will
definitely get charged a very high interest rate (APR), and will
most likely be fed a load of bull about the bank "requiring you"
to buy extras like the extended warranty, glass VIN etching,
credit life insurance, etc. etc. The list goes on. One trick
that they also do is to say that your credit score is lower than
it is just to justify higher interest rates. You just need to
know that information anyway. If you don't, it can really cost
you in the long run. Let's use an example. Lets say that you're
getting 12% APR (could be higher) bad interest loan from a
dealership instead of a normal 6.25% APR car loan you might find
elsewhere. True, the monthly payment is only about $40 higher
for the bad credit loan per month, but over the life of the loan
(generally 60 months), high interest really adds up. In the end
you pay an extra $2,500!

Keep in mind that bad credit auto loan lenders usually require
that you have steady employment and a favorable debt-to-income
ratio. Of course, if you cannot demonstrate employment, you are
dead in the water anyway. But what the bad credit borrower needs
to understand is the fact that this kind of loan can come at a
high price, and it pays to research several options before
buying.

One of the best places to find a bad credit lender is online.
There are hundreds of them there out there. Shop around. Simply
google "bad credit auto loan" and several will come up. I would
try to go with a well known, established auto loan company.
Check out its background with the Better Business Bureau. Be
sure to read the fine print and know what the exact terms of the
loan are.

Another place to look for automobile financing is your local
bank. Sometimes when it is hard to get a loan anywhere else, you
can get the money you need from this traditional source. If
nothing else, you can get someone else with good credit to
co-sign the loan with you. The co-signer assumes equal
responsibility for the loan, so it is best to have an open line
of communication with the co-signer about your credit situation.
On any loan, also be sure that there is no prepayment penalty in
the fine print so that you can pay it off early or refinance
easily.

When it is all said and done, a person with poor credit does
have many options available. It is just a matter of doing the
research and keeping an eye out for the best deal available.
Your dream car is within reach, and having bad credit shouldn't
hold you back.

About the author:
Chris Chandler is a successful entrepreneur, webmaster, speaker,
and internet marketing consultant. His website, Christian eBuy,
http://www.christianebuy.com"

Car Buying Critical Negotiating Tips

By: Jeff Neilan

O.K. you're patting yourself on the back for all of the homework
you've done on your perspective car that you are going to buy...
so you're fired up and ready to go... right?

It's great that you've done much homework on the car that you've
got your eye on... good job. But, consider this - have you given
any thought at all as to what your negotiating game plan is
going to be? If you really want to maximize your car deal, it
only makes sense to give this area some additional consideration.

Negotiating is skill that can be learned and gets better with
practice. Throughout everyone's life - first as children then as
parents - negotiation occurs rather regularly. Now that you're
looking at stepping onto a car dealership, you shouldn't
suddenly feel as though you've never been involved in
negotiations... I'll bet that you have.

First and foremost, plan to succeed. Simple thought I know, but
it is part of the preparation. If you go into the process
thinking that you would really like to get the selling price
down to a certain figure, but at the same time you're telling
yourself that this probably won't happen... then guess what...
it won't. You won't have the confidence, and the sales person or
sales manager will get work on your shaky expectations and get
you off your target price.

Be mindful of the other hand though. If you go into the car
selling price negotiating process like the proverbial 'bull in a
china shop' you'll probably trip the sales person's and the
sales manager's hot button and they will push back just as
vigorously creating a negotiating chasm.

The key as a polished negotiator is to stay calm and pleasant
and present win-win scenarios.

Secondly - Be prepared. Don't go into any type of transaction
such as buying a car unprepared. Don't just know about the car
and what you want your car to come with - know what each of
these options cost... don't guess or assume... There is profit
to be negotiated upon across the board at any given dealership.
Knowledge is confidence, and sales people will pick up on the
fact that you know of which you talk and this will significantly
cut down on the sales b.s.

Next - Leave yourself wiggle room inside your cocoon of
happiness target. In other words never start with the price you
want to pay. Remember, by definition here we are negotiating
with another person... if you start with the price you want to
pay; you'll have no choice but to negotiate your way up and out
of it. So, if you're will to spend say $15,000 then start at
$14,000 and work to create a win-win somewhere in between. And,
oh by the way... no one in the dealership other than you has or
will have NO IDEA of what you're willing to pay.

Here's a bonus tip - if the sales person kicks off the
negotiations with the first offer, don't counter with a
number... that's right no counter number... instead counter back
with a pleasant ... "I'm afraid that's somewhat beyond my
budget" ... make them come back with another offer to get you in
the game. Now you just gotten a newer offer and you haven't even
jumped in yet. The first offer from the dealer is usually their
'home run' swing... they don't really expect you to serve
yourself up at this point (although some do... and hence the
home run in profit).

Keep in that this is not a one way street. You'll have to
participate and make some concessions in order for your deal to
be a winner. For instance, if you can't get to the selling price
you want then get more for your trade, get an extended warranty
at dealer cost, get some no cost service or oil changes, floor
mats, ... anything that keeps the deal moving forward and the
negotiations open... don't get hung up on 'beating you opponent'
over just one aspect of the deal.

This is where many people get frustrated and either walk away
after getting so close or just give in as a result of the
frustration. Negotiating a car deal is a package not just a
selling price. Sure the selling price is the focal point, but
you have to give the appearance that you are offering some
concession as well. In fact, as your target price get within
range, don't just agree on the price and then begin the delivery
process. If you do... you will be in a much weaker position to
negotiate any extras you may want such as that extended
warranty... you see... make sure all potential aspects of the
deal are in place before you shake hands on the price.

About the author:
Jeff Neilan's car dealer experience offers insightful car buying tips that
save you time and money. Be sure to visit
www.acarbuyersguide.com for car buying advice, pricing and more.

Ford, Still King of the Hill

By: Jay Stevens

Ford Motor Co. is determined to keep its reign as the "King of
the Hill." So far, this is the third decade that said automaker
is holding the prestigious title in the pickup truck market.

Ford F-150 is the leading pickup truck for 30 years now. This
year along, it has 133,000-truck lead over the nearest
competitor. There are several attempts to dethrone the F-Series
nonetheless; the attempts did not appear strong enough to topple
the lingering success of the vehicles.

"Let's remember that F-Series is the benchmark when it comes to
trucks," said Cisco Codina, Ford's group vice president, North
America Marketing, Sales and Service. "The competition has done
some work to try to play catch up. We've been through
competitive product reviews, of course, and we see that they
have updated some things and have made strides. But we're not
sitting back. And we're certainly not playing catch up. They
are."

According to auto analysts, to put a dent to the sales and
reputation of F-150's, the automaker's competitors must
concentrate on an expanded truck-buying target market. Analysts
say that the success of Ford's trucks can be attributed to many
alliances with organizations like NASCAR, Cabela's, Professional
Bull Riders, the Professional Bull Riders, Home Depot, Monster
Jam and Harley Davidson.

"Our alliance partners allow us to observe truckers and better
understand how they live and work with their trucks," said Ben
Poore, Ford truck group marketing manager. "Many members of a
group like the American Quarter Horse Association of the
Professional Bull Riders drive our trucks. We know how our
trucks work in a real environment because we are constantly out
there getting feedback from our customers."

Car
parts discount Ford F-150 pickup 99-03 boast quality and
performance. Truck lovers want more torque hence; the automaker
gives it to them. Ford F-150 truck parts, is now equipped with a
V8 engine that can handle greater towing and payload
capabilities. Further, F-150's maximum tow rating is now up 600
pounds to a class-leading 10,500 lbs.

Ford admitted that the company is concentrating on marketing
needs to heighten leadership in the truck market. "We are
playing offense with Ford Trucks," said John Felice, Ford
general marketing manager, Marketing, Sales and Service. "We
created more Ford Truck ads targeted at more diverse audiences
than ever to continue increasing leadership by solidifying our
base and going after new customers."

Ford is also decreasing the suggested retail prices on the
series up to $1,400 lower than this year's prices. The new F-150
FX2 Sport comes in with a dazzling aura. It is equipped with power wheels
Ford-150 and dark billet grille. To boost its style, it uses
monochromatic paint scheme. Enhanced Ford
F-150 headlights with platinum bezels and the sporty front
valance add to the enigmatic charm of the truck.

About the author:
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.

When To Buy A Car?

By: Nikola Govorko

Does it make any difference? Sure it does, it doesnt matter
whether you plan on buying a new or used car certain times of
week, month or year can get you a large discount, more equipment
and overall better deal.

For example, it is much better to buy a convertible in the fall
or winter, after the season for them is over (unless you live in
California or Florida). At those times people are looking to buy
family cars, SUVs and cars that are more practical. Also
convertible owners are planning on selling their pets after one
last season of cruising together. Also dealers are looking to
get rid of this season cars and make room for those coming up.

One small downside to this is that you will not have that much
choice at your disposal, most of the most wanted models and
colors will be sold out. But it can all be remedied with a
little persistence and willingness to compromise.

Most people wait for sales to begin and then go and shop for
deals, but you do not need to wait, with negotiation you can get
a better deal almost anytime. Most manufacturers offer
incentives at certain parts of a year, and even if you can get a
good deal at almost any time of a year you should prepare for
this and cease it.

Dealers car prices are available for negotiation at any time
during year. It often happens that people end up paying more
when waiting for a sale time. At that time lots of people are
shopping for cars and looking for deals so dealers can get away
with calculating to whom they should sell car.

In other words they'll look you up and down and judge just how
much youll pay for a car. Their judgment can be wrong but you
could also end up paying more.

However incentive periods should be used to get the best deal
possible.

So when is the best time to buy a car?

1) During weekdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Middle of the week,
no rush, both you and a dealer will be more relaxed. Because
there was no rush and probably only a 1-2 sales have been made
the dealer might offer you a better price.

2) At the end of the month. Most dealerships keep track of their
monthly car sales, also at that time bonuses are paid to top
sellers so each of them will try to sell as much as possible.
Also if month or several months have not been very good, they
will fear being laid off and will try their best to sell
something.

Keep in mind that dealerships set sale targets based on how many
cars they sell not on the profits made per each car, but ;) the
car profits do influence commissions to the sellers.

3) When you have ample time for this. Do not rush, set aside a
day or two just for this. If you can take a day off from your
work for this.

And at the end the best time for car buying is naturally when
you need one. Youll be surprised how many people wait for the
last minute to buy a car and get ripped off. Also from the day
you buy one try and set some money aside each month so the next
time you go and buy a car youll have more opportunities before
you.

About the author:
www.Driver-To-Driver.com is website for car enthusiasts as well
for people that just need some car advice. Visit us and find out
when is the best time to buy a car.

Does Your Car Have A Security System?

In today’s world, when car thefts and car jackings are becoming increasingly commonplace, automotive security systems are more than a necessary evil. They are a mandatory fitting in most cars. In fact, most insurance companies will insist on an effective automotive security system before they agree to insure your car. There is a clause in most insurance applications that specifies that a recognized automotive security system is required in order for the insurance to be applicable. Recognizing this need, most automobile manufacturers build in effective automotive security systems into their cars and trucks. All of the latest model cars in the market come with some or the other form of automotive security system in them.

Even if your car is an older model or came without an in-built automotive security system, you can do your bit to prevent theft by installing an effective one. While the initial cost may seem intimidating, it is well worth the money if it can help prevent theft. Not to mention the stress and the waste of time running around for insurance, police complaints etc. Studies reveal that a car is stolen every twenty five seconds in the United States. You surely don’t want to be a part of that statistic! A basic automotive security system consists of a sensor fitted with an alarm that goes off if someone tries to forcibly enter your car. This sort of an automotive security system also comes with an auto locking facility that allows you to lock and unlock your car doors from a distance. Ever seen those shoppers in front of supermarket parking lots frantically pressing on their hand held beeper to identify their car? Well, the automotive security system also has this sort of unadvertised use!

A slightly more advanced automotive security system comes with additional features like lockable wheels to ensure that even if the auto thief manages to enter the car, he will not be able to drive it away. An extension of this sort of a system also uses password protection and even digital fingerprinting to ensure that the rightful owner of the car is entering and driving the car. The digital fingerprinting automotive security system is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, the latest series of Mercedes Benz comes with a digital fingerprinting automotive security system that eliminates the need to carry keys around. Keys can be duplicated, but nobody can hope to duplicate your fingerprint!
But these sorts of automotive security systems are of no use if the auto thief manages to beat them and still drive away with your car. Which is why, high end automotive security systems come with even more enhanced features like a silent beeper which gets activated during or after a car jacking, enabling the police to track down your car even much later after the theft. Such automotive security systems cost a pretty packet though. But for the discerning user, who does not mind the expense, it is a sure shot way to ensure that your car remains in the hands of its rightful owner at all times. And woe betide the thief who tries to snatch it away!

Auto Repair: How Can They Screw Up An Oil Change?

By: Theodore Olson

"It's all about beating the clock." This quote comes from a wise
old service manager, advising me on how to maximize my income as
a flat-rate technician. If you have ever wondered why your car
doesn't get fixed correctly, or all your concerns weren't
addressed, you can blame, in part, the flat-rate pay structure.

Flat-rate simply means that your mechanic is paid a flat fee for
a particular repair, regardless of how long the repair actually
takes. In other words, if your car needs a water pump, which
pays two hours of labor, and the mechanic completes the job in
one hour, he gets paid for two.

In theory, this can work to your advantage. If the job takes
longer, you still only pay the "predetermined" labor amount. In
THEORY, not reality!

The flat-rate pay structure is designed to drive productivity.
It's very effective. The flat-rate pay system encourages
technicians to work hard and fast, but it does not promote
quality.

In terms of getting your car fixed correctly, the flat-rate pay
structure has disastrous effects. Flat-rate technicians are
constantly looking for shortcuts to beat the clock in order to
maximize the number of hours they bill. Experienced flat-rate
technicians can bill anywhere from 16 to 50 hours in an 8 hour
day.

It's these shortcuts and the breakneck speed at which flat rate
technicians work that result in some of the most idiotic
mistakes. In the rapid-fire pace of a shop I've witnessed
technicians start engines with no oil. I've seen transmissions
dropped, smashing into little pieces onto the shop floor. And
I've seen cars driven right through bay doors--all in the name
of "beating the clock."

Flat-rate technicians can get quite elaborate with shortcuts. My
favorite was the implementation of an 6-foot-long 2-by-4, which
was placed under the engine for support while a motor mount was
removed. It made a job predetermined to take 1.5 hours
achievable in twenty minutes. A win-win, right? The technician
makes extra money; you get your car back faster.

Actually, in many cases the placement of this 2-by-4 damaged the
oil pan. Moreover, it caused the car, your car, to balance
precariously 6 feet in the air, while the technician manipulated
the car lift to access your engine mount.

This tactic was abruptly discontinued when a technician's 2-by-4
snapped causing the car to crash nose down onto the concrete
floor.

Sometimes the shortcuts create very subtle disturbances, which
create problems overtime. A quick example: a vehicle had its
transmission serviced with a new filter, gasket, and fluid.
During the procedure, the technician was able to save time by
bending the transmission dipstick tube slightly, in order to get
the transmission pan out faster. The vehicle was reassembled,
and the technician re-bent the tube back into place and off it
went--no worries....

Six months later, the vehicle returned with an intermittent
misfire. The engine wasn't running on all cylinders. After
extensive diagnostics, it was discovered that the transmission
dipstick tube had chaffed through the engine harness,
intermittently grounding out an injector. Hmm, that's strange.
Don't usually see that.

The high-speed environment and the subsequent shortcuts
illustrate the devastating effects of the flat-rate,
sales-driven pay structure on the quality of car repairs.

No wonder even an oil change gets screwed up!

The poor quality of work encouraged by the flat rate pay
structure is disconcerting enough. Unfortunately, it doesn't
stop here. The negative effects of flat-rate get exponentially
worse, as it opens "wide" the door to rip you off!

About the author:
-Ted Olson RepairTrust Making Sense of Car Repair Prices Ted
Olson holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota,
GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous
articles on the automotive service industry.

Buying a Used Car: Assessing Your Needs

By: Andrew Dillan

If you are buying a used car, you probably want to save some
money. This means that you need to prioritize what is most
important to you in a car. This article will help you assess
your needs and your wants, so that you can find a car that suits
you perfectly.

Cost

Look at the cost of a car. There is no point in window shopping
at fully-loaded $40,000 trucks if you will only be able to
afford a $4,000 truck in the first place. When you are
establishing your budget for your car, be sure to account for
how much the insurance will likely be, how much gas you will be
spending (although this figure does change, it is best to go in
having at least an idea), and regular maintenance. To budget for
maintenance, you will need estimate the costs of 4 oil changes a
year, plus some extra money just in case. Used cars are, well,
used: they aren't new are generally not under warranty. If you
want a warranty, consider buying a used car from the dealership,
who can often offer warranties even on used vehicles.

Suitability

What kind of driving do you do? You probably don't need a
four-wheel drive behemoth of an SUV if you do mostly city
driving. Conversely, if you live on a gravel road, you might
feel more comfortable driving in winter if you have something
larger than a neon. For most drivers, the way that you drive a
car will mean that you are open to many options. However, if
this is a limiting factor, it is important to take into
consideration.

If you are a commuter, then you will have to take other factors
into consideration. You might not want to buy a car with a very
high mileage, because you will be adding the miles to that
odometer. You might want to find a car that has very comfortable
seats to make your ride go better. Things that could be less
important, like the stereo, become much more important when you
spend a lot of time in your car each day.

Look

Some people would rather have a car that looks good or
prestigious. It's okay to admit that you are one of those
people. For instance, for $3,500 you might be able to buy a 6
year old Honda civic; this same money could also buy you a much
older BMW. If you value appearances, don't lie to yourself when
you are shopping. You want to get a car that you will love, and
there's no point looking at Ford Focuses if the only thing that
will spark your delight is a Ford Mustang.

Load

How many people do you normally travel with? What is the most
number of people that you have taken in your current car at
once? If you don't already have a car, estimate the number of
people you will have with you on a regular basis. If you only
drive around 7 people during the hockey tournament once a year,
you can probably skip buying a minivan. However, if you normally
drive three people around, it might be a pain to get a two door
vehicle. For truck drivers, you will want to consider the amount
of load that you generally put in the back of your truck to help
you judge your purchase.

Your Loan

Not only do you want to get the right car, you want to get the
right car loan. It is wiser to have your financing lined up
before you go to a dealership. You can set up used car loans at
any bank: but one often overlooked type of used car loan is to
go to a credit union, where you can generally get lower interest
than at a major bank. For more information on loans, (and we
won't even try to sell you a loan!) visit
www.theguideto-carloans.com.

In the End

You will be the one driving. Make the decisions based on your
needs and what you feel is right. Though it is great to get lots
of advice (and sometimes it helps to take someone savvy about
mechanics along with you to check out the car), considering
these facts will help make you capable of choosing the right car.

Andrew Dillan is the editor of The Guide
to Car Loans. He is an automotive enthusiast, who currently
drives a used car of his own. Find out about how to finance your
car, boat, motorcycle, or RV from his information-only site;
we're not going to sell you loans, just help you ask the right
questions when you go to get a loan.

About the author:
Andrew Dillan is the editor of The Guide
to Car Loans. He is an automotive enthusiast, who currently
drives a used car of his own. Find out about how to finance your
car, boat, motorcycle, or RV from his information-only site;
we're not going to sell you loans, just help you ask the right
questions when you go to get a loan.

Top five trucks for gas mileage

By: Rich Marsiglia

A few years ago, people would scoff at you if you told them that
you were looking for trucks with the best gas mileage. But, as
truck sales began to slip downwards, manufacturers started
giving due importance to this factor. Today, there has been a
dramatic change in the scenario.

The rising costs of gas, has propelled potential truck buyers to
go for trucks that can meet their gas mileage demands. Truck
makers have now taken firm steps to improve the fuel economy of
their makes at all levels.

Usually the ranking of the top five trucks based on gas mileage
is founded on a combination factors. The prime parameters are
the fuel economy rating given by EPA, the transmission of the
vehicle, and its inherent popularity amongst car buyers. The
formula for calculation for most gas mileage rankings is a
combination of the city mpg rating, which forms 55 percent of
criterion, and the highway mpg rating that completes the
remaining criteria.

It is really very difficult to bring forth a list that
enumerates the top 5 trucks on the basis of fuel efficiency. Not
one, not two, but three trucks hold the first rank. This spot is
shared by the 2006 Ford Ranger one of the premier trucks that
are out in the market today. Ford has made it a point to come
out with trucks that offer the best gas mileage. This is why
most of their newer models find a place on the best gas mileage
list year after year.

However, all the trucks, which feature in the list, have the
same engine; the 2006 Ford Ranger is a supremely refined version
of its older model that came out in 2005. It has the better
off-road capability then other trucks in the rankings and is one
of the best alternatives in your search for a truck giving you
the best gas mileage.

The completely redesigned 2006 Toyota Tacoma comes next in the
list. The Toyota Tacoma is one of the roomier trucks available
in the market and its looks are an epitome of sophistication.
The only disadvantage of the 2006 Toyota Tacoma is its price
tag. It is more expensive then the others.

If you are looking for something on the cheaper side then the
2006 Mazda B-series is the truck that you must go for. A
fuel-efficient truck delivers on its promise. It is called in
some circles as the bargain pickup truck. Don't expect styling
and comfort but you do get an unashamed practicality with this
vehicle.

The Toyota Tundra is the next in line of your picks. It comes
with 4.0 liter V6 engine that is geared to give you competitive
gas mileage. The truck gives you a mileage of 20 /mpg on the
highway and a 16/mpg when you drive in the city.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 comes a close fifth in the
rankings. It comes with a mild hybrid engine that enables the
electric motor to keep the vehicles running when idle so the gas
engine can be shut off.

Description: When looking for trucks with great gas mileage, the
list can be pretty large. You will have a wide variety to choose
from. Select the one that best suits your requirement. This
article lists out the top five!

About the author:
Author Rich Marsiglia, ATM
Restyle Truck Accessories Tonneau Covers Nerf Bars.

Fuel Efficiency: Top Priority For Honda Civic

By: Jennifer Dylan

The demand for more fuel efficient vehicles has surely gone up.
Compared to previous years, the demand is much higher these days
perhaps because of the high fuel prices. And it looks like the
Honda Motor Corporation is set out on providing the market with
the right vehicle that would fill in the void.

What Honda will be doing would be actually to make sure that
their factories, plants, and other facilities would be able to
fill up the demand. The company would be making sure that their
facilities would have an increase in production so much so that
the production of those plants in North America could now start
producing up to 60,000 units of Honda Civic models per year.
These Honda Civic units would be those that are fuel efficient
and would hold engines with four cylinders to better facilitate
fuel efficiency. However, it is also important to note that
these plants would still be producing other Honda vehicles and
other parts
Honda with that.

The key parts of this plan of Honda would include that by the
February 2007, the company's production facility in Canada that
produces the Honda Pilot would then be transferring its share of
load to the Alabama plant. Such a mode would actually make the
Alabama plant create more vehicles. Then come April next year,
the Honda Civic sedan models would then be produced in the plant
in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. Since 1998, the plant has only
been creating light truck vehicles. However, this time, the
company has decided that this plant would be the best facility
wherein they would be able to produce more units of the popular
vehicle.

As per these plans, the company's executive vice president for
their American arm, does say, "We have been challenged to keep
up with record customer demand for our lineup of fuel efficient
cars and trucks. Our flexible production system is a wonderful
tool that enables Honda to better meet the demand of our
customers and dealers in an efficient and timely way."

At present, the Honda Civic units are built in two plants in
North America. One is the East Liberty plant while the other one
is the Alliston Plant.

About the author:
Jennifer Dylan is a 35-year-old gal who hails from San
Francisco. She has a habit of updating herself on new car trends
and models. She spends most of her time reading up on cars and
hopes to test drive them. She works for one of the topnotch car
parts dealer in the U.S.

Will Toyota Dethrone GM?

By: Mark Clarkson

Toyota Motor Corp. has dethroned Ford Motor Co. as the second
largest automaker around the globe. Now that it is already in
the top two positions, critics are saying that Toyota is eyeing
the top position and is planning ways to overthrow General
Motors Corp. In addition to this, the company has announced its
ambitious plan to produce 9.2 million vehicles worldwide in the
year 2008.

The soaring oil prices have been a blessing in disguise for the
corporation since more drivers turn to fuel-efficient cars. This
has made Toyota Camry, Corolla and Prius hybrid a success.
Further, due to high demands of said vehicles, Toy
ota Prius parts as well as that of Camry and Corolla, also
make good in the market. GM and Ford, on the other hand, have
relied on their sales for larger vehicles. Furthermore, the
shift of consumers to small cars made a devastating drop in
sales figures.

In the year 2005, Toyota has sold 8.13 million vehicles
worldwide. This year it is expected to sell a total of 8.85
million vehicles. According to Shotaro Noguchi, auto analyst
with Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co. in Tokyo, "American
automakers are in trouble because their products aren't
selling." He added that the main challenge is to keep
profitability up. "It's a positive and aggressive plan," he said.

Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota's president, declined to give any
statement on the vehicle production for 2008. However, the
president noted, ""We are aiming for steady growth through
strengthening all our operations."

With these growing sales figures in favor of Toyota, GM through
its spokesperson John McDonald said, "We respect our competition
around the world, and were realistic about our challenges and
opportunities. We know we have to earn the right to maintain our
global sales leadership, and were doing that day after day."

Toyota's profit has increased by 39 percent amounting to $3.1
billion in its first fiscal year. On the contrary, GM has lost
$3.4 billion in the April-June period.

About the author:
Toyota Parts Online

Toy
ota Prius parts

Mark Clarkson is a 35 year old marketing consultant for a
leading auto parts store. This native of Denver is also an
offroad enthusiast.

Toyota Corolla Stays Strong At 40

By: Jennifer Dylan

Would you believe that it has already been forty years already?
Many trends and many fads have come and gone but it seems like
only the best and only the most reliable have come to stay.

So what vehicle has been in the industry for forty years
already? Well, the Toyota Corolla. And it could be pretty
surprising if there are some people who do not even know what
the Toyota Corolla is all about. This vehicle has certainly
stood through the various tests that the industry has presented
but it seems like a real and a true survivor. It has passed
various challenges like new vehicles coming that held features
very much just like the ones that it held. There were also times
when the Toyota Corolla was sent to low ranks for there were
really cool vehicles that were worth buying. Despite all these,
the Toyota Corolla still remains while all others have found
themselves headed out to junkyard heaven.

It is the Toyota Corolla's fortieth birthday in the industry but
it seems like there is no end yet to this vehicle's successes.
In fact, as the years go on, age seems to be a really good ally
for this Japanese designed and manufactured vehicle. It has come
with various designs and went through different upgrades. And
through its changes, the industry and the market has also made
sure that the products made for this vehicle like its
accessories and other Toyota car
parts would fit the changes and upgrades done.

The very first Toyota Corolla made was introduced to the
motoring public in October of the year 1966. And forty years
later, it is still one of the most recognized vehicles because
it offers its owners low fuel consumption. It has also proven
that it is a reliable vehicle.

At present, there are already sixteen different countries which
produce the Toyota Corolla. In fact, these countries span from
Asian countries like Taiwan and Japan to Western regions like
the United States and Canada.

About the author:
Auto Parts Go

http://www.autopart
sgo.com/Toyota.html

Jennifer Dylan is a 35-year-old gal who hails from San
Francisco. She has a habit of updating herself on new car trends
and models. She spends most of her time reading up on cars and
hopes to test drive them. She works for one of the topnotch car
parts dealer in the U.S.

Toyota Dominates The Automotive Market

By: Tom Bailey

The fluctuating of figures continues to shake the automotive
industry. One moment the figures are up the next instant it is
on the contrary. Based on the recent statistics, car sales and
registrations were down on last year.

When asked to explain the fluctuation occurring in the
automotive world, Perry Kerr, Motor Industry Association chief
Perry explained, "The new-vehicle market is continuing to adjust
to the pressures experienced in other sectors of the economy,
but this downturn must also be taken in the context that
new-vehicle sales increased year-over from 2000 to 2005."

Regardless of the fluctuating sales, Toyota continues its
triumph in car production and sales. In fact, this year Toyota
celebrates its 18th year of continued excellence in sales. So
far, no other automaker has toppled it.

Toyota has sold 12,029 new vehicles to the end of July. In July,
the automaker sold 1746 cars. It was followed by Ford with 1212,
Holden with 798, Mitsubishi with 600, Nissan with 585, Honda
with 541 and Mazda with 469.

Toyota is expecting more sales since Camry was released to amaze
and satisfy the needs of car fanatics. Camry uses innovative
auto parts Toyota to boost performance, style and comfort. The
front-drive Camry, which has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine,
is offered at $36,500.

According to the automaker, Camry's five-speed manual offers 8.9
litres/100km. On the other hand, the five-speed automatic offers
9.9 litres/100km. The dynamics of Camry are also improved. It
width was increased, height decreased and wheelbase extended.
Toyota is aiming the 117kW/218Nm 2.4-litre Camry to rule the
fleet market the same way that it dominates New Zealand's
private sales.

Toyota is preserving its earned victory so the industry can
expect more changes and innovations from this rising Japanese
brand. Toyota is also continuing its studies and tests to
further improve the quality and performance of its parts and
accessories.

About the author:
Tom Bailey is a consultant for one of the country's leading
auto parts stores. He is also an editor of a reputable
publishing company in his area. He is currently based in
Atlantic City, New Jersey with his wife and 3 children.

SUV Pros And Cons

By: Jonathon Hardcastle

Your car is bursting at the seams with children, sports
equipment, groceries and pets. You think it may be time to trade
up to a larger car. But is an SUV the right choice to make for
your family?

First and foremost, as anyone who watches the evening news
knows, the price of gas has skyrocketed and SUVs are notorious
for poor gas mileage. Or are they? Depending on what make and
model of SUV you choose, some get as good or better gas mileage
than some large cars. For example, the 2004 Honda Element gets
22 miles to the gallon in the city, just 2 miles per gallon less
than the 2004 Honda Accord. At highway speeds, the Element gets
8 miles per gallon less than the Accord, a larger, but not huge,
difference Also, more and more auto manufacturers are designing
hybrid gas-electric SUVs that provide better gas mileage along
with the traditional extra space and power of SUVs.

Another major consideration when choosing between a car and an
SUV is safety. Most people assume that, because of their larger
size, that SUVs are safer than cars. However, crash tests
conducted in 2003 proved that large SUVs were only slightly
safer than mid-sized cars and were actually slightly more
dangerous than large cars. SUVs also can roll over when taking
turns at high speed, something that cars are far less likely to
do. Drivers who are switching to SUVs after many years of
driving cars may need some practice to learn to drive their SUV
safely.

Many people think that SUVs, due to their larger size are more
comfortable and have more cargo capacity than cars. To a certain
extent this is true, but it depends heavily on what make and
model of SUV you choose. Some SUVs actually have limited cargo
space, though almost all have the power to haul a trailer. As
far as comfort, many drivers prefer being higher up from the
road, but older drivers and those with disabilities may have a
hard time getting into the raised seats. Additionally, buckling
a child into a car seat installed in the recommended back seat
center position may be difficult for shorter moms and dads.

Finally, if you do a lot of city driving and, more importantly,
parking, SUVs are less maneuverable and harder to parallel park
than traditional cars. Even in the suburbs where most people
park in lots, the spaces may not be wide enough for certain
SUVs.

About the author:
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Automotive, Real Estate, and Business

Shakeup At Ford

DETROIT - Bill Ford, who struggled for five years to steer Ford Motor Co. toward financial stability, has stepped down as chief executive of the company founded by his great grandfather and is being replaced by top Boeing executive Alan Mulally.

Ford will remain as chairman, the company said Tuesday in a surprise announcement.

The change comes more than seven months into a restructuring, which is the second under Ford’s watch and has so far failed to revive the nation’s No. 2 automaker.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14686147/

Nitrogen For Your Tires!

By: Steve Farber

A popular joke in the 1960s at full service gas stations was
"filler up with Ethel and change the air in my tires." Today
with the price of gasoline approaching $3.00 per gallon, why not
replace the air in your tires. Not with air but with nitrogen.
Filling your tires with nitrogen rather than air will improve
gas mileage, help maintain correct tire pressure, keep tires 25%
cooler, improve handling and performance and prolongs the life
of your tires. NASCAR drivers use nitrogen in their tires for
safety reasons, you can too.

Why should you stop putting air in your tires! Compressed air
you find at tire shops, gas stations and the compressor you use
at home have a high concentrations of water vapor. Compressing
air concentrates the water in it and unless really efficient air
dryers are used chances are there is water vapors in your tires.
Water vapor absorbs and holds heat. This wet air plus heat can
increase the pressure in your tires, causing highway blow outs,
and is one of the reason you should check your tire pressure
when they are cold.

This article is not about the nitrogen. It's really about
reducing oxygen and water vapor in your tires. The air in our
tires is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and about 1% water
vapor and other gases. When pure dry nitrogen is used to replace
the air in your tires it improves fuel efficiency, handling and
it will extend the life of steel rims or custom wheels and
tires. By reducing oxygen and water vapor in your tires from 22%
to less than 7%, your tires will maintain pressure three to four
times longer. Plus it will keep you safer on the highway.

How does oxygen and water damage my rims and tires? Oxygen,
especially at high temperatures and pressures, corrodes
aluminum, steel wheels and rubber. This process is called
oxidation. When oxidation occurs small particles of rust and
aluminum oxidization in your steel or aluminum wheels can clog
valve stems, causing them to leak. The oxidation can cause the
surfaces of your wheel flange and tire beads not to seal
properly causing another leak point.

Oxygen can also age the thin layer of rubber called the inner
liner or radial ply. As the inner liner ages, more and more air
migrates through the rubber, causing additional pressure losses.
As oxygen migrates through rubber it can come in contact with
steel belts and the steel bead causing them to rust.

While both nitrogen and oxygen can migrate through rubber,
nitrogen does it much slower. It might take six months to lose a
couple of pounds of nitrogen, compared to less than a month with
wet compressed air. Dry nitrogen does not cause rust and
corrosion on steel rims or aluminum custom wheels, and it does
not degrade rubber like wet compressed air.

Where can I get nitrogen for my tires? Nitrogen is becoming very
popular with long haul trucking. Some truck stops have nitrogen
available for these big rigs either free or by paying a small
fee. They use the same type pay stations that you see at gas
stations except they are marked "Nitrogen". These nitrogen
stations are then connected to large nitrogen cylinders near by.

You can also buy your own small inexpensive Nitrogen Tanks and
have them filled at welding supply stores in your area. Another
source for small nitrogen tanks is Paint Ball supply stores
either local or on the internet. eBay is a good source. These
small nitrogen tanks can be filled at welding supply stores and
then easily plumbed to fill your tires. Use caution when
handling these small nitrogen tanks as they can be filled to as
much as 3000 psi. Also make sure the nitrogen tank you purchase
has a regulator attached and it is set for about 50 psi.

Filling your own new tires with nitrogen is a simple process.
Jack up one tire until it just clears the ground, remove the
tire valve stem and allow the air in your tires to escape. Once
all the air escapes install a new valve stem. Then simply fill
your tires with nitrogen from your small nitrogen tank. Repeat
the process with the other 3 tires. Do not forget your spare!
Your tires should now have about 95% dry nitrogen and you have
significantly reduced all the hazards and oxidation problems
mentioned above.

If you own a tire store and would like to provide nitrogen for
your customers buy a Ingersoll Rand Nitrogen Tire Inflation
System.

About the author:
Steve Farber is an author and web site publisher on custom
wheels including What You Should Know Before You Buy Tires. Read
articles and reviews on the top 60 custom wheel manufacturers in
the market today at http://www.custom-whee
ls-n-rims.com and http://www.just-spinner-r
ims.com.

Auto Dealer Survey Says Toyota Reigns Over All

By: Sarah McBride

A survey was recently conducted and studied by the National
Automotive Dealers Association, which is more known as NADA. And
the results stated that the top three spots were reigned over by
Toyota Motor Corporation brands. Topping the list was the Lexus
luxury brand. It was followed then by the other Toyota handled
brand, Scion, and is followed then by the Toyota brand. This
study was done so as to see which brands in the United States
gave its customers the best in dealer satisfaction. And Lexus
took home a 96 point average score which is quite high.

The mentioned survey done by NADA was conducted earlier this
year, during the months of January and February. The survey
contained questions that asked the respondents and auto dealers
to give their ratings when it came to satisfaction from the auto
makers which they represented. It included questions about the
satisfaction about the products that they marketed from cars and
vehicles to auto parts
Toyota and everything else in between. The ratings ranged
from zero up to a complete 100 points.

Asian auto makers also came out to be good in the satisfaction
rating study. In fact, after Toyota, other brands from Asia
followed the list. Honda Motor Corporation's Acura brand took
the third spot. Hyundai Motor Corporation took the fourth place
while the Nissan Motor Corporation made its way to own up to the
fifth spot.

While this was so, American auto manufacturers found their
brands way low on the list. General Motors Corporation's Hummer
and Cadillac brands only received an average of 71.2 on
satisfaction. In fact, even Daimler Chrysler AG's brands even
got much lower scores. Jeep took 71.2 points. Chrysler got a
measly 70.8. Even Mercedes Benz was only able to find some 70.5
points to own. It is not even surprising to find Ford trailing
behind the brands with a rating of 63.7 points.

About the author:
As a manager of one of the largest auto store in
Springfield,Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto
parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a
certified car enthusiast.

A Look At Hybrid Cars

By: Mike Eggert

Are hybrid cars, the cars of the future? Only time will tell. I
am sure most of you have by now heard about the new hybrid cars
in the marketplace today. I'm also sure many of you are saying,
"What the heck is a hybrid car anyway?" Well let us see if we as
laymen people from the old school of gasoline automobiles can
understand these new high tech automobiles.

Firstly we need to know what powers a hybrid. Well a hybrid has
a gasoline engine and also a battery powered generator. The
gasoline engine in the equation is much the same as the cars
most of us are driving today. In most cases it is a bit smaller
than the engines in our somewhat larger automobiles we currently
drive. The reason for this is because the generator helps power
the hybrid car. Both still operate the same as far as having a
transmission to drive the wheels. Albeit a much more
sophisticated version than what is in the typical gasoline
powered vehicle. The difference is when the car begins to slow
down, the gasoline engine stops and the generator motor takes
over, thus saving fuel you would be burning for instance at a
stoplight. Now, not only is this a saving for you as a consumer.
It is also making the air we breathe cleaner. Both are I'm sure
you will agree, a good thing. Now, both engines require a tank
for the fuel, a gas tank the same as most of us have now, but
also a tank for the generator, which is a set of batteries that
must be kept charged. You see, this is the purpose for the
generator.

It takes about 1000 pounds of batteries to equal the energy in a
gallon of gasoline. Sounds like a lot of extra weight, but with
the new designs this is not a problem. The newer designs are
even converting kinetic energy produced by the engine into
electric energy for the batteries. Confused yet? If not, you are
probably reading the wrong article. However, it really doesn't
matter if you understand the inner workings completely. By now
you should at least have a basic understanding of what makes
these little cars more efficient.

I'm sure you have seen some of the new hybrid cars on the street
and were maybe a bit taken back by their appearance at first.
Yes, the new hybrids do take some getting used to, especially
the early models. They are a little smaller in size and very
aerodynamic in design. And, with a driving force of about 60-90
horsepower, don't feel quite as powerful as your current
automobile, but on the horizon are several new models, including
SUV's that are much more traditional in their styling.

I think for now at least, the hybrid cars will take over a big
part of the auto industry and carry us along until the arrival
of the eco- friendly efficient cars of the future.

Take a ride in one of the new hybrid cars and decide for
yourself if they are worth all the hype.

About the author:
For in depth hybrid
car news and reviews visit http://www.hybrid-rides.com

Gas Cards - Great Way To Stick It To The Oil Companies

Gas Cards - Great Way To Stick It To The Oil Companies - And Get
Cash Back Too!

By: Frederick Musser

If you're like most people you have a credit card or two and you
probably use it on a regular basis. Paying it off every month to
avoid the interest charges, right? ;-)

Do you purchase gas with a credit card? Most gas stations now
have the pay at the pump option making it quick and easy to
stop, pump and pay.

The Key To Gas Card Savings At The Pump . . . . .

Use a gas rewards card.

Use it on a gas saving days - Many gas stations offer a discount
on certain days with a fill up, this adds to even more savings
for you. One gas station where I live offers $.06 off per gallon
on tuesday's. Combine that with a 5% - 10% gas card savings -
Nice savings!

Find other items on sale at the gas station - Many gas stations
run good sales on various grocery type items, why not pick them
up while your there to save even more (if you use the item
anyway).

After you fill up, shut the pump down, pull the trigger and tip
the hose up -There is gas left in the hose. You are paying for
it -get it all.

Fill-up the gas tank in the morning. Some experts say a driver
will get a little more gasoline per gallon if the gas tank is
filled when temperatures are cooler. Over time, the extra fuel
adds up.

Choosing The Gas Card That Is Right For You . . . . .

There are many types of cards to choose from. A type of card
issued by Visa or Mastercard through major banks offers gas
rebates at any gas station along with other benefits. For
example, not only do they offer 5% cash back on purchase at gas
stations, supermarkets, and drug stores, but they also gives you
1% cash back on all other purchases.

Another type of gas reward card is specific to a particular
chain of gas stations. For example, some gas chain specific
cards let you earn a discount of 5% on all of their
participating location purchases and also can be used anywhere
Visa cards are accepted. Cards like this from the SpeedWay and
Marathon gas station chains are great ways for saving on your
gas purchases.

Closing Notes . . . . .

Many of you have read my other articles and are probably
wandering just why I am writing about gas savings when I am a
heavy supporter of e85 Flex Fuel Vehicles.

I understand that not everyone has access to e85 or can go out
and get a new Flex Fuel Vehicle, so the next best thing is to
inform people as to how to save gas and "Stick It To The Oil
Companies - While Getting Cash Back Too!"

For more information on gas cards and their benefits please
visit e85Tips.com/gas_cards.html



About the author:
Frederick Musser is the owner of e85 Tips. A site dedicated to
informing the world about e85 and it's benefits.

Ford On The Move Towards Bringing Up Pickup Truck Sales

By: Jason Moore

Going back to the Ford Motor Company history, the line up of
pickup trucks from this company actually has been the flagship
among all vehicle line ups. And for Ford, losing a great deal in
sales for this line also means a huge amount of loss for their
entire sales. Due to the recent and continuous increase of gas
and fuel prices, auto consumers have been leaning towards more
fuel efficient cars and vehicles and heading away from pick up
trucks which have been known to be efficient transporters of
people and cargo but low on miles per gallon of gas.

And now, the company is out to make sure that the automotive
world does not forget about the Ford pickup trucks. As part of
this move, they have made sure that auto consumers would be
getting more perks if they do opt to buy a pickup truck. This
tactic has been used by many dealers who also offer used Ford F350 parts - more incentives to equate
to more sales. And the Ford F-Series pickup trucks can now be
purchased with more incentives.

According to Lydia Cisaruk, the spokesperson for the company,
this kind of incentive for the Ford F-series pickup trucks has
been selected to run as part of the company's 'Drive On Us'
campaign on boosting up sales. Since last Friday, anyone
interested in purchasing a new Ford F-series pickup truck could
avail of discounts which could range from $500 up to a $1000
which is, of course, a huge savings for anyone. However, the
whole promo would only be available up until the last day of
this month.

The Ford F-series pickup trucks have been in production since
1948. It has been built as a full size pickup truck. The
Chevrolet Silverado, Nissan Titan, Dodge Ram, and Toyota Tundra
have been those vehicles which the Ford F-series have considered
as competition in the market.

About the author:
Jason Moore, a 35 year old freelance writer from Austin, Texas.
He also works as a marketing analyst for an established auto
parts store in the country.

How to Spot a Good Car Lease

Leasing has been lauded as your cheapest ticket to keep up with the
industry’s hottest vehicles and trends. The jury, however, is still out
on leasing: with the industry long on hype and short on detail, it is
difficult to distinguish between a genuinely good deal and a downright
up-selling exercise.

So how do you spot a good deal?

First, you need to find out if there are any down payments on the lease. A
down payment refers to the lump sum amount that you pay upfront, either in
cash, non-cash credit or trading allowance, to reduce your monthly payment.
You should think twice before putting money down on a lease: not only are
you getting a rough deal, as you’re essentially forfeiting the general rule
of leasing: not putting any cash upfront, but the money is not recoupable
at the end of your lease. There is another big disadvantage: in the event
of your car getting damaged or stolen, you insurance and the gap cost will
not cover the loss.

Mileage Limit

Most leasing companies allow you a limit of 45,000 free miles over the
length of a 3-year lease. This may seem like a good deal at first sight,
but when you consider it only comes to 15,000 miles over a 12 month period
it’s not difficult to foresee why it might be difficult to stay within this
limit. Even people working from home have little trouble putting 15,000
miles on their cars.
If you exceed the mileage limit, the penalty for each excess mile can be as
high as 20 cents. This can add up quickly over the length of your lease: an
additional 4,000 miles a year over the length of a 3-years lease contract,
will end up costing you an extra $2,400 in excess mileage charges!
Be realistic about your mileage needs, especially if you have to regularly
commute over long-distances, before you sign the contract. Consider padding
the miles that you expect to use since it is less expensive to contract for
the extra before you sign than it is to pay the extra charges at end of
your lease.

Sales Tax

Sales tax is usually capitalized and added to the monthly payments.
However, some dealers choose not to include it in their calculations to
drive the advertised lease payments even lower. What they do instead is
state in the small print that the monthly payment excludes “sales tax”.
Make sure you carefully read the fine print for any extra, hidden costs not
included in the advertised monthly payment. Unscrupulous fees that
typically slip through the cracks include sales tax, registration and title
fees.

Purchasing a Used Vehicle

By: Ian Koch

If you are in the market for a new car or truck you may find
that the best financial move you can make is buying a used
vehicle. Not only do previously owned vehicles offer
significantly lower prices than new ones but with the advent of
certified pre-owned programs by auto manufacturers and services
like CARFAX the concerns many people have with buying a
previously owned vehicle have been alleviated. In short, you can
get a much better car at a greatly reduced price versus buying
new. There are several different sources of second hand
vehicles.

The classified section in most local newspapers is a good place
to start. So is the word of mouth. Then we have the used car
dealers not to mention all the vehicle auctions around where you
can do a real bargain. Last but not lease I must mention the
internet; this is probably the largest source of used vehicles.
From one window you have a view to every part of the nation:
Here you can search for any make and model, in any price class,
in any location all over the country.

While auto financing rates for used vehicles tend to be slightly
higher as compared to new vehicles when you look at overall
costs over the term of the loan you will quickly find that you
will still end up saving a significant amount. In addition, many
people find that by buying a used car or truck they can lower
the term of the loan which means less interest paid and more
money that can stay in your pocket.

When deciding to buy a previously owned vehicle there is a few
things that you can do to protect you from buying a problem car.
First, you should always obtain a vehicle history report for the
car through services like CARFAX. These reports will list all
the owners of the vehicle, major accidents, service records and
the title history. Once you have verified the car is clean you
should have it checked out by a mechanic. Most automotive repair
shops offer pre-purchase inspections that cost around $75 and
will include a comprehensive report of the areas checked and any
problems that have been found.

After you have performed the above you are ready to get down to
business. Use resources like Kelley Blue Book and NADA to find
out the average price of the vehicle in your area. With
previously owned vehicles there is a lot more wiggle room in
terms of price than with a new vehicle. Don't be afraid to
lowball on the price - you may be pleasantly surprised!

About the author:
Ian Koch likes to publish Auto Info and Articles. Check out his
comprehensive and informative automotive website cheap-used-cars.w-ela
nd.com

Save Gas With A Hybrid: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

By: Lyn Davis

Starting at $22,150, the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid is a great
choice for any car buyer who seeks a safe, attractive,
environmentally-friendly vehicle at an affordable price. Honda
retooled the Civic hybrid to make it even better than before.
Standard features include an 8-valve 4-cylinder gasoline engine,
anti-lock brakes, front and side cushion airbags, a sleek,
multi-tier panel and a top-notch audio system.

Like all hybrids, the 2006 Civic combines a gas engine, powerful
battery and electric motor to achieve maximum mileage and
reduced emissions. The 2006 Honda Civic hybrid can cruise using
only its electric motor in particular driving conditions. This
makes it a "full hybrid" vehicle. As far as gas mileage goes,
the Civic hybrid gets 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the
highway. This is a slight improvement from the gas mileage of
the 2005 model.

The 2006 Civic hybrid's electric motor produces 20 horsepower.
The battery pack used for storing energy is 158 volts, increased
from the previous year.

The 2006 Civic hybrid offers seating for five and is considered
a compact sedan. Sleeker and more attractive than the 2005 Civic
hybrid, the 2006 model is great for anyone seeking a sportier
hybrid car.

As far as power goes, the combined gas engine and electric motor
of the 2006 Civic hybrid produce 115 horsepower, an increase of
23 percent from the 2005 model.

If you think the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid might be the right car
for you, the next step is finding a reputable dealership. You
can search for dealerships in your area using the Yellow Pages
or the Internet. It's a good idea to visit more than one
dealership before deciding which one should have your business.
Make sure your salesperson is knowledgeable and friendly without
being overly aggressive. And always take a test drive to make
sure the vehicle you think you want to purchase feels right to
you.

About the author:
Lyn Davis is a freelance writer who specializes in consumer
information. For more information visit Hybrid Cars

Leasing a Car the Smart Way

By: Charles Essmeier

Buying a car can be rather complicated, as the whole process
tends to be somewhat mysterious. It's often hard to know if
you're getting a good deal or not, even as the salesman claims
that he's selling you the car "at invoice." Leasing a car is
much the same way, except that the terminology is different and
you don't get to keep the car. You're still going to spend a lot
of money, though, so it makes sense to be as well informed about
leasing as possible.

For most consumers, leasing makes less sense than buying. When
you buy, you have a tangible product that you can resell later
or trade in for a new one. With a lease, the only thing you are
buying is the right to use the vehicle for a while. If you don't
drive a lot or if you just like having a new vehicle every
couple of years, leasing may be a good choice for you. Before
you get involved, here are some things you may wish to consider:

The money factor - This is the equivalent of an interest rate on
a car sale. The money factor, in order to remain mysterious,
will be presented as an odd number with a lot of decimal places.
To convert it to an approximate interest rate, multiply it by
24. The money factor, like just about everything else in a
lease, should be negotiable.

The amount due at signing - The size of the check that you have
to submit when you sign the lease can be sizable. You'll hear a
lot about low payments in the commercials, but little (except in
the fine print) about the amount you have to pay upfront. That
will include title fees, license fees, deposits and a reduction
in the capital cost that will reduce the size of your monthly
payments. Ask about this ahead of time; you don't want "sticker
shock" when you see the total.

Duration of the lease - Make sure you understand how long the
lease will last. If you want a car for three years, make sure
the lease isn't for 24 months.

What happens at lease end? You may have to pay, or you may get
to walk away, or you may have the opportunity to buy the
vehicle. The end of lease situation is spelled out in the
document; make sure you understand it before you sign.

Total mileage allowance - The lease will stipulate how many
miles you may drive over the course of the lease; you will have
to pay a per mile charge if you exceed that. The per mile fee
can be excessive, so make sure that the number of miles that you
are given matches your driving expectations. Keep in mind that
the mileage amount and the per mile fee is negotiable.

Each of these things can be an expensive nightmare if you
aren't prepared for them. Leasing a car is different from buying
one and you need to understand that long before you sign your
name on the contract. Otherwise, you could be in for an
expensive ride.





About the author:
©Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the
owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational
Websites, including LemonLawHelp.net, a site devoted to
information regarding lemon laws for
automobiles and Car-Insurance-Help.net, a site about car insurance.

3 Advantages Of Hybrid Cars Over Conventional Cars

By: KB Lim

Due to the rising cost of fuel and the environmental damage it
causes to our planet, many car owners or buyers are looking for
an alternative way to save money. Let's face it, fuel supply is
finite and the price of gas is only going to rise higher and
higher. That is where a hybrid car has its advantages

Hybrid cars have been gaining in popularity in recent years.
With lower cost of production and new hybrid car technology
being developed, owning a hybrid car is becoming affordable to
everyone.

Hybrid Cars Saves Gas

The obvious advantage of using hybrid cars is that it saves gas.
Combining the cleaner energy of an electric motor with the long
range capacity of a gasoline engine allows a hybrid car to save
as much as 30 miles a gallon. One feature of hybrid cars is that
the gasoline engine is shut off automatically when the car
stops. This also helps in saving fuel. That is also the reason
why hybrid cars are so quiet why it is stationary. The gasoline
engine is automatically turned on when you step on the
accelerator pedal.

Hybrid Cars Are Environment Friendly

Hybrid cars emit lower toxic emissions compared to conventional
gasoline-powered cars due to less gasoline being burned. It is
environmentally friendly, causes less pollution and releases
less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you do not know,
carbon dioxide is one of the primary reasons for rising global
warming. For example, the Toyota Prius can reduce tailpipe
emissions by up to ninety percent and the greenhouse gas
emissions by as much as fifty percent.

Tax Incentives For Hybrid Cars

Due to world political pressures around the world to reduce
greenhouse emissions, President Bush signed an agreement in 2005
to provide huge tax relief to hybrid car buyers. The tax
incentive varies by model and are based on two factors

1. How fuel efficient the hybrid car is compared to a
conventional car in 2002 with the same weight class.

2. How much gasoline the hybrid car can save in its lifetime
compared with an equivalent conventional car

For example, a Honda Accord hybrid car have reduced tax credits
of $600 while a Toyota Prius has a tax credit of $3150. Do note
that the tax credits do expire after 2010 for most hybrid cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers are continually researching for more
ways to reduce fuel consumption and better fuel efficiency. Also
as more hybrid cars are being adopted, the cost of hybrid cars
will reduce making it more affordable for everyone.

About the author:
Dan Lim is a hybrid
car owner who contributes hybrid car technology articles regularly to http://all-hybrid-cars.info.

The Honda Civic Hybrid - A New Breed Of Car

By: Joe Bella

The Honda Civic Hybrid is one of those marvels of automotive
technology that combines the new world of electrical power with
the old world of fossil fuels. It may be a marvel of automotive
technology, but is it worth the higher price tag? After all, the
regular 2006 Honda Civic sedan has a pretty incredible MPG
rating, is the hybrid version that much better?

Well, the answer to that really depends. I'd say yes, no, and
maybe all at once. The Honda Civic Hybrid gets an amazing
50-MPG, which is about the same on both cities and highways.
This isn't the highest MPG rating out there amongst hybrid
vehicles, but it is very good and quite consistent. Owning one
will certainly save you money on gas right away. Also, as a
certified partial-zero emissions vehicle (AT-PZEV), you really
aren't hurting the environment at all by driving one of these
things.

If everyone in the United States had this type of vehicle, the
US would not only be completely self-sufficient with its own oil
reserves, but would be able to export large amounts of oil to
other countries.

So, if those are issues that are important to you, the new
models may be worth looking into just for their environmentally
friendly attitude. All hybrid vehicles are still in a somewhat
early stage of the technology, however, so they are slightly
more prone to technical difficulties. Maintenance costs on your
Honda Civic Hybrid may out weigh any money you save in gas. Yet
the reduced impact on the environment is of course the same
nevertheless.

The new 2006 model has also undergone some upgrades, making it
even more attractive. Like the other Honda Civics, it has gotten
of makeover, and looks a whole lot sharper than before. One of
the biggest draw backs on the first version for me was its odd
appearance. The new ones actually look like regular new cars,
and are much better looking than the competing cars of this
nature.

Personally, I'm opting to wait before diving into the hybrid
market. Since the sedan gets between 30 and 40 MPG, which in
itself is extremely good, I feel safer using the older yet more
proven and more reliable gas technology. However, the Honda
Civic Hybrid is certainly getting better each year, and I'm sure
I'll be reevaluating my thoughts on the idea of getting one
soon.

About the author:
Joe has enjoyed unique and muscle cars for over 2 decades and
knows which ones bring the best trade-in values as well as
horsepower. For his latest car articles, see: Car and Auto Articles

Auto Quote

Right now the auto makers are offering tons of year end specials. Get your auto quote right now. It's easy and it's free with no obligation. Autos.com lets you search dealers inventories and find whatever you're looking for. You can even get auto loans online through them.

GM is offering 0% financing on most vehicles for a full 72 months. Chrysler's incentives are low percentage financing based on models and cash rebates of up to $3,500 on some truck models. Ford has 5-year 0% deals on just about every vehicle they make, including hybrids. If you're in the market for a new car now's the time.

Best Time to Buy a New Car

If you're in the market to buy a new car now is the best time. The dealers want to clear out their lots for the new models. A lot of manufacturers are also offering rebates or special finance deals, too. You can get a quote right now online. check it out.

How to Find Cheap Auto Insurance

Factoring in the cost of auto insurance is one thing most people overlook
when shopping for a new car. Check out this article for some good pointers.

By: Terry Bolton

Auto insurance is one of those items where the price can vary a
lot based on which insurer you go through. Sometimes your rates
can vary as much as 20-30% just because of different rating
factors the company may use. By utilizing the power of the
Internet you can be a savvy insurance shopper and find cheap
auto insurance that fits your needs while providing the customer
service and support you need.

When people are shopping for a new or used car they often don't
think about insurance until the last moment. Several consumers
fall into the trap of obtaining an instant car loan through the
dealership and inadvertently signing up for the auto insurance
through the finance company. This can be one of the worst
mistakes you can make. Often finance companies that roll
insurance into the finance agreement will charge premium prices
that have interest charges added in on top of the already high
rates. When obtaining financing make sure you state up front
that you will be getting insurance through a company of your
choosing and not the finance company.

The best bet to finding the best deal on vehicle coverage is to
do your research before you buy the car. By knowing up-front
what type of car you are looking for most insurance companies
can provide you with a basic quote that is in the ballpark of
the rates you can expect to pay. Remember, never drive off the
lot with any car until you have the insurance purchased and
finalized. Accidents can happen anywhere at any time. The last
thing you want to happen is to be in an accident without
insurance.

About the author:
Terry Bolton is a writer and internet publisher who
likes to publish Articles with Auto Information. Check out his
comprehensive and informative automotive website cheap-used-cars.w-e
land.com

Is Acura Missing the Alternate Fuels Boat?

By: Matthew C. Keegan

The Honda division is getting "all the goods" when it comes to
alternate fuel technology, while Acura is missing out. All that
will radically change within the next few years.

While parent company Honda continues to bestow all of its hybrid
technology on its Honda division vehicles, Acura is doing
without any alternate engine sources to power their cars and
SUVs. Instead, the division is relying on newer gasoline engines
to promote fuel efficiency as well as to lower greenhouse gas
emissions. Is Acura doing enough or is Honda's luxury division
missing the boat? Big changes are headed Acura's way, changes
that could enormously overhaul the brand and bring to the market
vehicles powered by a variety of alternate fuel sources. Let's
examine exactly what might be Acura's alternate powerplant
offerings at the beginning of the next decade.

Diesel, Biodiesel - Honda got into the diesel market
late, but the company's first offerings are considered to be
exceptionally good. Four cylinder powered diesel engines are
being developed that will initially appear in select Honda model
cars within the next two years. These new engines meet current
EPA guidelines and raise the typical fuel mileage of each car by
about 30%. Importantly, each engine will be able to run on
biodiesel a renewable resource made of ingredients such as
soybeans. Acura may get its own diesel aspirated engine soon
after the launch of the first diesel powered Honda hits the
market.

Ethanol - Unlike American based automakers, Honda has no
plans to offer vehicles that can run on E85 technology. E85,
consisting of 85% ethanol [usually corn] and 15% straight
gasoline has been getting a lot of press attention lately.
However, the extreme lack of service stations offering the fuel
has kept demand low. Honda has decided to concentrate on next
generation hybrid technology instead of branching out to E85.

Hydrogen - Claiming that the first hydrogen powered car
will be ready for production within the next 3 or 4 years, some
are doubting that Honda will be prepared to make such a move
until well after then. Look for Acura to only get a hydrogen
powered car several years after the first Honda hydrogen vehicle
has been successfully tested in Japan.

Pluggable Hybrid - To extend hybrid fuel economy even
further, pluggable hybrid powered vehicles are currently being
developed. Acura's first hybrid may include this technology once
Honda readies it for the market. Toyota is readying a similar
model and Ford is doing likewise. 100 mpg may be a realistic
figure once these vehicles are rolled out.

Natural Gas - A natural gas powered Acura isn't likely to
be produced, simply because Honda is investing in hybrid,
diesel, and hydrogen technology above all else. Still, natural
gas could be used in future fuel cell vehicles to make hydrogen.
Thus, in an indirect way natural gas could power an Acura
vehicle of the not-too-distant future.

So, although it would appear that Acura isn't getting the same
alternate fuel technology as the Honda division is at the
moment, it would appear that all of that will change in the very
near future. This is good news for people who enjoy the Acura
brand, but want to see it expand to include options that are
environmentally friendly and promote fuel efficiency.

About the author:
Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is an article writer
covering a wide variety of automotive topics including all of
the luxury brands. Your Acura
TL is among the very best vehicles produced today; get high
quality Acura
Parts and Acura
Accessory .

Save Time With Auto Loans Online

By: Connie Barker

Remember the last time you bought a car? Remember how you sat in
the dealership reading the same magazine over and over again
waiting for your auto loan to be approved? Those days are gone,
as are the pathetic wait times associated with conventional auto
loans. Today, the World Wide Web has opened up an entirely new
avenue by which to obtain an auto loan. Wouldn't it be great to
travel to the dealership, paperwork in hand, knowing that you
are already approved for an auto loan? Just think of all the
time you will save by not having to get an auto loan after you
pick out your new auto.

Thousands of people all over the world are taking advantage of
auto loans online, why shouldn't you? Instead of filling out all
of those boring application papers by hand, you can quickly type
the information in via your computer, and have your approval in
a matter of minutes instead of having to wait hours for your
auto loan to be approved.

As long as you have access to a computer with an Internet
connection, finding an online auto loan will not pose any
problems. By using any of the major search engines available,
you can search for auto loans online and compare what each
different one offers. Some auto loans will offer you a lower
rate, while other may offer you longer terms in which to pay the
auto loan off. Examine your particular needs before deciding
which auto loan will offer you the most benefit.

Auto loans found online are very much comparable in regards to
rates and terms as those auto loans made available by dealers,
credit unions and banks. In some instances, auto loans online
will offer you special incentives that you just won't find at a
brick and mortar bank.

Above all else, realize that when you are seeking an auto loan
online, there are many online vendors waiting to answer your
call. Save yourself a ton of time and log onto the World Wide
Web to see what is offered to you when you take advantage of an
auto loan online. You may just be surprised by what you find.

Auto loans online are becoming a popular way for people in
today's hectic society to secure funding in order to make a new
auto purchase, and save precious time while doing it.

About the author:
Connie Barker is the owner of several informational financial
websites including Auto
Loans Online

Leasing a Car Has Advantages and Disadvantages

By: Charles Essmeier

Buying a car is expensive; there is no getting around that. It's
easy to pay as much for a new car today as one might have paid
for a house a generation ago. But they are more complicated than
they used to be and they are safer, too. Still, there is the
matter of the money, and if you don't have a lot to spend you
may be considering leasing instead of buying. The low monthly
payments offered with leases can be appealing, particularly if
you are on a budget.

But there is more to leasing a car than just the low payment
advertised in the commercial on TV. Anyone who is in the market
for a new automobile should consider the pros and cons of
leasing a car as opposed to buying one.

Here are some of the good points about leasing a car:

The payments are lower - Sure, the payments are lower; you are
only paying for the portion of the car's value that you are
actually using, and not the car itself. The lower payments could
help budget-minded shoppers, or they could allow the consumer to
make a deal on a more expensive car than he or she might have
otherwise purchased.

Less cash outlay - It's possible in many cases to lease a car
with less out of pocket cash than a purchase requires. This
could help some shoppers who don't have a lot of cash for a
large down payment.

The drawbacks to leasing include:

Excess mileage fees - The lease spells out how many miles you
may drive per year; if you exceed the total over the life of the
lease you will have to pay extra. That extra fee could be as
much as 25 cents per mile and some leases permit as few as
10,000 miles per year. If you drive a lot and you fail to
consider this, you could be paying a lot of extra cash at the
end of the contract.

Early termination fee - If you have to end the lease early, the
fee charged could be huge. How large? You might have to pay
everything owed on the remainder of the contract. Even if you
don't plan to end the contract early, it sometimes happens in
the form of auto theft or an accident.

You don't have a car - This one seems obvious, but with a lease,
you don't actually own a car. When the contract is up, you give
it back and you have nothing tangible to show for the money you
have paid. You may, of course, purchase the vehicle for an
agreed-upon price, but otherwise you will find yourself, once
again, without a car to drive.

For some people, the advantages of having a fairly new car all
the time makes leasing a good choice. For people who drive a lot
or who want to get the most car for their money, buying is
probably a better options. Consider the pros and cons carefully
in order to decide which method of acquiring transportation
works best for you.

©Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the
owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational
Websites, including LemonLawHelp.net, a site devoted to
information regarding lemon laws for
automobiles.

Saving Big With Hybrid Cars

By: Aurel Radulescu

In America, a standard automobile gets an average of 20.4 miles
per gallon. With the innovative hybrid technology, consumers can
expect to get a lot more mileage for their dollar. According to
researchers, the Honda Insight was designed specifically for the
purpose of getting the best gas mileage and is said to be the
current industry leader in this type of hybrid savings.

Just how much of a difference will consumers see with the Honda
Insight hybrid cars? Studies have shown that hybrid cars
featuring a manual transmission will get approximately 60 miles
per gallon in the city and 66 miles per gallon on the highway.
Hybrid cars with an automatic transmission generally provide
slightly less than 57 miles per gallon in the city and 56 miles
per gallon on the highway.

The brand new 2006 Honda Civic hybrid cars are only manufactured
with an automatic transmission and provide an approximate 50
miles per gallon on the highway and/or the city.

As expected, hybrid cars will get better mileage per gallon than
that of a hybrid SUVs. The Ford Escape, for example, provides 36
miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the
highway. Even with these numbers, the hybrid Escape is rated to
provide better gas mileage than the non-hybrid Escape, which is
only said to provide 22 miles per gallon in the city and 25
miles per gallon on the highway.

The most popular reason for consumers to purchase hybrid cars is
because they are economical. With the recent rise in gasoline
prices, consumers were left searching for an automobile that
could provide better gas mileage and found just that in hybrid
cars. In addition to their fuel friendly design, hybrid cars are
no longer confined to one or two cookie cutter designs. In fact,
today's hybrid cars are available in a variety of sizes, colors
and are manufactured by a several automobile makers.

With all of the aforementioned benefits, many wonder just how
much the convenience of saving money will cost. Surprisingly,
hybrid cars are not drastically priced above other non-hybrid
automobiles. In fact, hybrid cars & SUVs can be found in prices
ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 for standard models, but may
cost more depending on chosen upgrades. The new hybrid cars are
available in the look of typical highway automobiles or those
designed with a unique flair. Either way, the manufacturers of
hybrid cars believe that while appearance is important, the most
important thing about these new technologically advanced autos
is the fact that they are both environmentally and wallet
friendly.

About the author:
Find more about auto buying
guides and how to find the

Hybrid Honda Civic

Just a quick comparison of the hybrid Honda Civic to the non hybrid Civic.

hybrid: mileage 49/51
base price 22,150

Sedan: mileage 30/40
base price 14700

Now at gas prices around 3 dollars a gallon and tax breaks for purchasing it looks like it wouldn't take long to recoup your investment if you went with the hybrid Honda Civic. It's well worth looking into.

Know What You Need to Save Big On Auto Insurance

By: Ray La Foy

Keeping up with an automobile can be an expensive venture. There
are monthly payments, maintenance, gas and repair bills to worry
about. And then, of course, there's insurance, which can really
put a drain on a wallet. But, there are lots of cheap insurance
policies available to help drivers even with not so perfect
records save some money.

There's no reason to pay an arm and a leg for insurance; even
when there's an accident or a ticket or two in a driver's
history. There are plenty of companies that offer reasonable and
even "cheap" rates without cutting corners on the coverage.These
companies can even be big-name insurers who are looking to boost
their client base and compete with others or they may be
relatively new carriers wanting to make a name for themselves.
Insurance is a number game and sometimes those numbers can pay
off in a driver's favor.

The Internet can be one of the best tools for finding a good
insurance carrier that doesn't charge an exorbitant amount for
auto coverage. By allowing a quick comparison from multiple
companies, this tool helps cut out the middle man and can really
garner a shopper some serious savings.

When shopping for insurance, there are some things to consider
to make certain the policy bought is quality even if the price
is cheap. They include:

* Be certain what ever is purchased matches at least a state's
minimum legal requirements. If it doesn't, it won't matter how
cheap the policy is, it won't be worth the money. The fines for
not having the right type of policy can be steep, so do be sure
to understand what they are in your location.

* Only get the kind of coverage you need. Even top name
insurance companies can provide decent rates for those with
tarnished records, but getting the decent rate might require
seriously considering every portion of coverage. Don't buy
things that aren't necessary. If, for example, you have an extra
car at your disposal, don't pay for rental coverage. Should you
have a great medical insurance policy, don't invest in huge
amounts of personal injury protection. Do, however, make certain
the parts of the policy you need cover your bases.

* Check into an insurance company's background. A cheap policy
isn't a great buy if the company that writes the policy isn't
solvent enough to pay claims. Make sure the company you go with
has a good record in the field. If it's a start up company, see
if they've handled other types of insurance in the past and
recently added auto coverage. Sometimes this will be the case.

* Ask about payout track records. Insurance companies that make
each and every claim a chore on their clients aren't worth
dealing with. While it's certainly true insurance companies
should investigate and protect themselves from fraud, giving
clients a difficult time unnecessarily is a sign to stay away.

* Review what your loan requirements may be. When buying a
policy, be certain that cheap rate actually meets the
requirements of your loan. If it doesn't, you might find
yourself with a second bill in the mail. Auto loan companies
don't take kindly to their investments not being covered
correctly.

No matter your insurance requirements, shop around. If possible,
compare multiple policies for your car and your personal
situation and pick the best fit.

About the author:
More resources

Cheap car
insurance.

http://www.cheapcarinsurance1.com

Defensive
driving courses.

http://www.defensivedrivingcoursesonline.com