By: Rick Tames
1. - Gas Savings - Hybrid cars can get up to 60 mpg (miles per
gallon), due to their advanced aerodynamics, engine efficiency,
tire technology (which is so different to the standard cars)
just to mention some of its characteristics.
2. - Environmental Issues - Reduced gas emissions equals less
air pollution because a hybrid car has an electric motor and
batteries to rely on when the gasoline engine is not in use.
They can reduce smog up to 90%.
3. - Better engine efficiency - Reducing the overall weight of
the hybrid car is a way to increase its efficiency, smaller
engines equals better efficiency. Another way is how the hybrid
cars recharge they batteries, the hybrid's battery pack never
needs to be charged from an external source, every time you hit
the brake, the brake system stores some of the energy to the
batteries (this is known as regenerative braking). Also the
batteries get recharged by the gasoline engine when necessary.
4. - Low Maintenance costs - The electrical motor and the
batteries don't require any maintenance; they have the same life
span as the car itself. The gas engine doesn't require any more
maintenance than any other normal car.
5. - Government Incentives - There's a federal tax deduction for
hybrid cars; the new hybrid car tax credit is divided into two
parts with tax credits ranging from $400 to $3400. The great
news is that a credit is much better than a deduction since the
credit does reduce the taxes that are owed. The deduction simply
reduces the amount of taxable income.
About the author:
Rick Tames is a researcher and a webmaster; you can find much
more information on hybrid cars at www.hybridcars.theknowledgesite.com
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Monday, December 12, 2005
Perform Your Own Automobile Maintenance
By: David Maillie
Today's cars can typically be expected to pass the 200,000 mile
mark with consistent automobile maintenance. With the price of
automobiles, you will want to protect that investment by
performing regular maintenance. If you can do much of the work
yourself, you will save a lot of money in labor. Invest in a
good set of tools and choose quality parts when performing your
own automobile maintenance.
If you have some skill, but want to learn more look for courses
in general repairs and maintenance. These can often be found at
your local community center, Community College or an automotive
technical school in your area. Consider investing in a good
repair manual for your car, such as a Chilton's manual. The
internet is a good place to look for articles and information.
There are many sites devoted to auto repair and maintenance.
You will want to keep track of all maintenance performed on your
car. You can do this in a log, a notebook or on your home
computer. There is software available to help you keep track of
maintenance. These programs track repairs, maintenance,
replacement parts used on the vehicle and fuel consumption. You
can use the same software for multiple vehicles.
Most software allows you to create a service schedule and will
remind you when it's time to perform maintenance tasks on each
vehicle in your household. The software contains a wide variety
of tips for car care. In addition, many have reference and
diagnostic tools to help you diagnose various problems with your
cars. Many companies offer a free trial that can be downloaded
on the internet. This allows you to try out the program before
investing your money.
Your owner's manual will give you some basic information about
when certain maintenance tasks should be done. Most tasks will
be listed according to the mileage on the car.
3000 Mile Maintenance
Change the oil in your engine every 3000 miles. The filter
should be changed at the same time. Newer synthetic oils are
said to last longer without breaking down. When you change the
oil, check the fluids, the air filter, tires, hoses and belts.
At this time check the battery cables and terminals for
corrosion. This can be removed with a wire brush or sandpaper.
5000-10,000 Miles:
Have your tires rotated and balanced every five to ten thousand
miles. This helps the tires wear evenly and extends the life.
The best tires should be put in the front of the car. Check the
tire pressure regularly and check the tread for signs of uneven
wear or damage.
15,000 Miles:
Change the air filter every 15,000 miles. A clean air filter
improves the fuel economy of your car. A dirty air filter can
cause the engine to run rough and stall. At this time you should
also check the pads and shoes on your brake system. Check the
brake fluid and top it of, as needed. The fluid should be clear.
If you notice noise when the brakes are applied or the steering
wheel shakes or vibrates, this can be an indication that the
brakes need replacing. In this case, don't wait check the brakes
and replace as needed.
30,000 Miles:
Check the fluid level on your transmission. The owner's manual
will have information about the kind of fluid that should be
used in your car. The manual should have directions on how to
drain and replace the fluid. The pan gasket should be changed
when the fluid is drained. Also at this time, give the car a
tune up. Replace all spark plugs and wires.
50,000 Miles:
Change the coolant at 50,000 miles. See the owner's manual for
directions on how to perform this task.
Remember to take care of your car's finish. You want the paint
to remain in good condition for as long as possible. Wash the
car regularly, even in the winter when salt from the roads can
ruin the finish. Apply wax to protect the paint from the sun,
salt and weather conditions. Don't neglect the headlights, which
can become cloudy and won't operate as well. New Lite Headlight
Cleaner and Restorer will return cloudy headlights to like new
condition. Learn more about this product at http://www.mdwholesale.com
About the author:
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in
biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of
Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for
public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous
patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight
cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale:
http://www.mdwholesale.com
Today's cars can typically be expected to pass the 200,000 mile
mark with consistent automobile maintenance. With the price of
automobiles, you will want to protect that investment by
performing regular maintenance. If you can do much of the work
yourself, you will save a lot of money in labor. Invest in a
good set of tools and choose quality parts when performing your
own automobile maintenance.
If you have some skill, but want to learn more look for courses
in general repairs and maintenance. These can often be found at
your local community center, Community College or an automotive
technical school in your area. Consider investing in a good
repair manual for your car, such as a Chilton's manual. The
internet is a good place to look for articles and information.
There are many sites devoted to auto repair and maintenance.
You will want to keep track of all maintenance performed on your
car. You can do this in a log, a notebook or on your home
computer. There is software available to help you keep track of
maintenance. These programs track repairs, maintenance,
replacement parts used on the vehicle and fuel consumption. You
can use the same software for multiple vehicles.
Most software allows you to create a service schedule and will
remind you when it's time to perform maintenance tasks on each
vehicle in your household. The software contains a wide variety
of tips for car care. In addition, many have reference and
diagnostic tools to help you diagnose various problems with your
cars. Many companies offer a free trial that can be downloaded
on the internet. This allows you to try out the program before
investing your money.
Your owner's manual will give you some basic information about
when certain maintenance tasks should be done. Most tasks will
be listed according to the mileage on the car.
3000 Mile Maintenance
Change the oil in your engine every 3000 miles. The filter
should be changed at the same time. Newer synthetic oils are
said to last longer without breaking down. When you change the
oil, check the fluids, the air filter, tires, hoses and belts.
At this time check the battery cables and terminals for
corrosion. This can be removed with a wire brush or sandpaper.
5000-10,000 Miles:
Have your tires rotated and balanced every five to ten thousand
miles. This helps the tires wear evenly and extends the life.
The best tires should be put in the front of the car. Check the
tire pressure regularly and check the tread for signs of uneven
wear or damage.
15,000 Miles:
Change the air filter every 15,000 miles. A clean air filter
improves the fuel economy of your car. A dirty air filter can
cause the engine to run rough and stall. At this time you should
also check the pads and shoes on your brake system. Check the
brake fluid and top it of, as needed. The fluid should be clear.
If you notice noise when the brakes are applied or the steering
wheel shakes or vibrates, this can be an indication that the
brakes need replacing. In this case, don't wait check the brakes
and replace as needed.
30,000 Miles:
Check the fluid level on your transmission. The owner's manual
will have information about the kind of fluid that should be
used in your car. The manual should have directions on how to
drain and replace the fluid. The pan gasket should be changed
when the fluid is drained. Also at this time, give the car a
tune up. Replace all spark plugs and wires.
50,000 Miles:
Change the coolant at 50,000 miles. See the owner's manual for
directions on how to perform this task.
Remember to take care of your car's finish. You want the paint
to remain in good condition for as long as possible. Wash the
car regularly, even in the winter when salt from the roads can
ruin the finish. Apply wax to protect the paint from the sun,
salt and weather conditions. Don't neglect the headlights, which
can become cloudy and won't operate as well. New Lite Headlight
Cleaner and Restorer will return cloudy headlights to like new
condition. Learn more about this product at http://www.mdwholesale.com
About the author:
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in
biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of
Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for
public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous
patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight
cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale:
http://www.mdwholesale.com
Friday, December 09, 2005
The Makings of a Safe Car
By: David Maillie
Over the years, the minimization of vehicular related accidents
has been gaining ground. In fact, different sectors of society
have contributed to ensure that motorists should be protected
from unnecessary road mishaps. The government, car
manufacturers, and even motorists and passengers themselves have
been conscientious about this, making plans and creating devices
in order to decrease the possibility of road hazards.
There have been countless pieces of legislation enacted by the
government in order to ensure the reduction of vehicular
accidents. The government has enacted a law about the use of
seatbelts. There is also a prescribed speed limit for vehicles.
Even the use of alcoholic beverages has been banned if a person
has been designated to drive a vehicle. Car manufacturers, on
the other hand, have devised various ingenious mechanisms to
reduce the impact of collision and accidents. Brakes, tires, air
bags, safety belts, seat belts are among the many things added
into a car to ensure the safety of its users and passengers.
These and many others are cautious steps and devices designed in
order to curb road and vehicular accidents.
However, safety is not only limited to external factors and
other people's acts. It also requires a personal undertaking on
the part of the car owner to ensure car safety. A car owner can
maintain a good and safe vehicle by regularly making safety
inspections on its various parts. Checking the brakes, ensuring
that the seatbelts are still intact, recharging or changing the
batteries are ways that could prevent car collisions or other
similar accidents.
One of the more important parts of the car to consider are the
headlights. Good headlights are considered a vital safety
feature for driving at night and even in places where there are
poor lighting conditions. Headlights provide a better view of
the road and its adjacent sites. A good headlight, therefore,
gives the motorist an advantage to foresee any possible road
distractions that lies ahead.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety mentions that an average
of 9 out of 10 cars has seedy or cloudy headlights. With seedy
or cloudy headlights, night vision is reduced to a drastic
percentage up to 90 percent, according to Road and Travel
Magazine. Having cars with cloudy headlight affects the car's
ability to clearly see the road. This, in turn, is responsible
for poor vision, which could result in a vehicular accident. An
effective way to tackle this problem is through using a quality
headlight cleaner / restorer. It has been reported that many
road accidents result from inadvertence. People fail to strap
their seatbelts while driving cars. This results to almost 50
deaths due to road crashes every year. Even the simple acts of
checking the tires and brakes have been constantly ignored that
have caused pointless accidents. These things and many others
could have been averted had the car owners been more responsible
in checking and ensuring car maintenance.
Car safety does not end in finding the perfect or safest car.
Purchasing a safer vehicle is merely the start of being a
responsible car owner. The key to having a safe vehicle is the
act of treating and ensuring that the entire vehicle is a safe
machine. The act requires a mentality of viewing the different
features as an entire team working together to prevent collision
and to protect its occupants. By knowing each part's
characteristic and mechanism, there is a more proactive approach
to the prevention of vehicular mishaps. It only takes a positive
disposition, an informed choice, and regular maintenance.
Over the years, the minimization of vehicular related accidents
has been gaining ground. In fact, different sectors of society
have contributed to ensure that motorists should be protected
from unnecessary road mishaps. The government, car
manufacturers, and even motorists and passengers themselves have
been conscientious about this, making plans and creating devices
in order to decrease the possibility of road hazards.
There have been countless pieces of legislation enacted by the
government in order to ensure the reduction of vehicular
accidents. The government has enacted a law about the use of
seatbelts. There is also a prescribed speed limit for vehicles.
Even the use of alcoholic beverages has been banned if a person
has been designated to drive a vehicle. Car manufacturers, on
the other hand, have devised various ingenious mechanisms to
reduce the impact of collision and accidents. Brakes, tires, air
bags, safety belts, seat belts are among the many things added
into a car to ensure the safety of its users and passengers.
These and many others are cautious steps and devices designed in
order to curb road and vehicular accidents.
However, safety is not only limited to external factors and
other people's acts. It also requires a personal undertaking on
the part of the car owner to ensure car safety. A car owner can
maintain a good and safe vehicle by regularly making safety
inspections on its various parts. Checking the brakes, ensuring
that the seatbelts are still intact, recharging or changing the
batteries are ways that could prevent car collisions or other
similar accidents.
One of the more important parts of the car to consider are the
headlights. Good headlights are considered a vital safety
feature for driving at night and even in places where there are
poor lighting conditions. Headlights provide a better view of
the road and its adjacent sites. A good headlight, therefore,
gives the motorist an advantage to foresee any possible road
distractions that lies ahead.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety mentions that an average
of 9 out of 10 cars has seedy or cloudy headlights. With seedy
or cloudy headlights, night vision is reduced to a drastic
percentage up to 90 percent, according to Road and Travel
Magazine. Having cars with cloudy headlight affects the car's
ability to clearly see the road. This, in turn, is responsible
for poor vision, which could result in a vehicular accident. An
effective way to tackle this problem is through using a quality
headlight cleaner / restorer. It has been reported that many
road accidents result from inadvertence. People fail to strap
their seatbelts while driving cars. This results to almost 50
deaths due to road crashes every year. Even the simple acts of
checking the tires and brakes have been constantly ignored that
have caused pointless accidents. These things and many others
could have been averted had the car owners been more responsible
in checking and ensuring car maintenance.
Car safety does not end in finding the perfect or safest car.
Purchasing a safer vehicle is merely the start of being a
responsible car owner. The key to having a safe vehicle is the
act of treating and ensuring that the entire vehicle is a safe
machine. The act requires a mentality of viewing the different
features as an entire team working together to prevent collision
and to protect its occupants. By knowing each part's
characteristic and mechanism, there is a more proactive approach
to the prevention of vehicular mishaps. It only takes a positive
disposition, an informed choice, and regular maintenance.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
What To Do With Your Old Car?
By: Ali Moazami
You can keep it, sell it or trade it in. You will receive the
best price for your car if you sell it yourself, but it requires
a lot of work on your part. You can visit the following web
sites for some help.
kbb.com, edmunds.com, nada.com
The above web sites help you research the prices and give you an
idea for how much your car is worth. Once you know the value of
your car, you can place an ad in your local newspaper, or on the
Internet. Some popular web sites that you can sell your car on
are:
ebaymotors.com, yahoo.com
Make sure that you have the car cleaned and detailed by a detail
shop. The $75 or $100 detailing can only help in bringing a
higher value for your car.
If you don't have the time and need to get rid of your car
immediately you can trade it in and have the dealership offer
you the wholesale price. Keep in mind that the dealer needs to
perform any necessary cleaning or repairs on your used car
before selling it at a profit.
About the author:
Copyright © 2005 AutoDiscover. All rights reserved. Ali Moazami
owns and operates an auto consulting firm. The company was
established to change the way the consumers buy and lease their
cars by providing unbiased advice. For more information visit:
http://www.autodiscover.com
You can keep it, sell it or trade it in. You will receive the
best price for your car if you sell it yourself, but it requires
a lot of work on your part. You can visit the following web
sites for some help.
kbb.com, edmunds.com, nada.com
The above web sites help you research the prices and give you an
idea for how much your car is worth. Once you know the value of
your car, you can place an ad in your local newspaper, or on the
Internet. Some popular web sites that you can sell your car on
are:
ebaymotors.com, yahoo.com
Make sure that you have the car cleaned and detailed by a detail
shop. The $75 or $100 detailing can only help in bringing a
higher value for your car.
If you don't have the time and need to get rid of your car
immediately you can trade it in and have the dealership offer
you the wholesale price. Keep in mind that the dealer needs to
perform any necessary cleaning or repairs on your used car
before selling it at a profit.
About the author:
Copyright © 2005 AutoDiscover. All rights reserved. Ali Moazami
owns and operates an auto consulting firm. The company was
established to change the way the consumers buy and lease their
cars by providing unbiased advice. For more information visit:
http://www.autodiscover.com
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Researching Your New Car Before You Buy it
By: Tim Moore
What should you really consider when buying a new car? Judging
by the conversations of many would-be car buyers, the make,
model, and color of a prospective new vehicle are among the
first thoughts in a buyer's mind, followed closely by issues of
performance (transmission type and horsepower) and available
vehicle amenities (for example, leather seats versus cloth,
standard locks versus power).
However, as worthy (and sometimes fun) as these car purchase
issues are to ponder, there are other issues that are more
substantial and weigh in more heavily. What are those issues?
Let's start with a vehicle's warranty.
The purpose and function of a warranty, of course, is quite
plain. It serves as a good faith statement from a seller to a
buyer that a quality product has been sold. But what is a
"better" car warranty? And what makes one warranty better than
another? In all cases, the most basic criteria will be the
warranty length (i.e. the longer the better). Most vehicles come
with at least a three year 36,000 mile warranty, with an option
to purchase an extended warranty. But since the cost of
extending a warranty can be considerable, it may make more sense
to buy a car...with a longer warranty. And some automakers
actually offer a ten year 100,000 mile warranty bumper to
bumper. Now we're talking value.
Another car buying issue that is of equal importance is the
residual value of a car after its purchase. As everyone knows,
as soon as a car leaves a buyer's lot, it loses a portion of its
value. For this reason, it is definitely a good idea to research
the make and model of a vehicle you are thinking of buying. This
will provide information on its current value retention, as well
as information on how its been holding up in recent years. After
all, you aren't going to feel too good about that nice new set
of wheels if it takes more than the average 15% "hit" after it
has been driven off the lot.
Finally, here's a consideration for leasers. Make sure when you
lease a vehicle that you check for mileage limitations. On
average, these are 12-15 thousand miles per year--with a price
per mile penalty for anything in excess of that. The kicker is
some of these penalties are big and can add up to thousands of
dollars when turning in your vehicle. Also make sure you
purchase the available extended warranty to cover your lease
term; that way you aren't paying repair bills for a car that you
don't even technically own.
Selecting a car that has the look and feel you want will go a
long way toward guaranteeing that you stay satisfied with your
purchase. But doing a little research into your prospective new
car's resale value and warranty coverage may go even further
toward retaining satisfaction in the vehicle you end up buying.
About the author:
The author of this article is Tim Moore, who publishes a website
on Vitamins, herbs, and
nutrition which features a section on Antioxidants
What should you really consider when buying a new car? Judging
by the conversations of many would-be car buyers, the make,
model, and color of a prospective new vehicle are among the
first thoughts in a buyer's mind, followed closely by issues of
performance (transmission type and horsepower) and available
vehicle amenities (for example, leather seats versus cloth,
standard locks versus power).
However, as worthy (and sometimes fun) as these car purchase
issues are to ponder, there are other issues that are more
substantial and weigh in more heavily. What are those issues?
Let's start with a vehicle's warranty.
The purpose and function of a warranty, of course, is quite
plain. It serves as a good faith statement from a seller to a
buyer that a quality product has been sold. But what is a
"better" car warranty? And what makes one warranty better than
another? In all cases, the most basic criteria will be the
warranty length (i.e. the longer the better). Most vehicles come
with at least a three year 36,000 mile warranty, with an option
to purchase an extended warranty. But since the cost of
extending a warranty can be considerable, it may make more sense
to buy a car...with a longer warranty. And some automakers
actually offer a ten year 100,000 mile warranty bumper to
bumper. Now we're talking value.
Another car buying issue that is of equal importance is the
residual value of a car after its purchase. As everyone knows,
as soon as a car leaves a buyer's lot, it loses a portion of its
value. For this reason, it is definitely a good idea to research
the make and model of a vehicle you are thinking of buying. This
will provide information on its current value retention, as well
as information on how its been holding up in recent years. After
all, you aren't going to feel too good about that nice new set
of wheels if it takes more than the average 15% "hit" after it
has been driven off the lot.
Finally, here's a consideration for leasers. Make sure when you
lease a vehicle that you check for mileage limitations. On
average, these are 12-15 thousand miles per year--with a price
per mile penalty for anything in excess of that. The kicker is
some of these penalties are big and can add up to thousands of
dollars when turning in your vehicle. Also make sure you
purchase the available extended warranty to cover your lease
term; that way you aren't paying repair bills for a car that you
don't even technically own.
Selecting a car that has the look and feel you want will go a
long way toward guaranteeing that you stay satisfied with your
purchase. But doing a little research into your prospective new
car's resale value and warranty coverage may go even further
toward retaining satisfaction in the vehicle you end up buying.
About the author:
The author of this article is Tim Moore, who publishes a website
on Vitamins, herbs, and
nutrition which features a section on Antioxidants
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