Benefits of Hybrid Automobiles

By: David Maillie

High fuel prices and concerns over the environment have inspired
more people than ever to go in search of alternative energy
sources. The internal combustion engine is considered to be the
biggest polluter on the planet. Hybrid automobiles have been
gaining attention and popularity as a result of these concerns.
Most manufacturers either currently offer these vehicles or are
in the process of developing them.

There are two types of hybrids: series hybrids and parallel
hybrids. The parallel kind has a fuel tank for the gas engine
and batteries for the electric motor. Both the engine and the
electric motor can turn the transmission and power the vehicle.
The small gas engine runs the car and the electric motor comes
on when needed to boost power. This is typically needed for
increasing speed, merging and passing other vehicles. Honda
currently uses this technology.

Series hybrids have a gas engine that powers the generator. The
generator then charges the batteries and powers the electric
motor. The gasoline engine doesn't power the vehicle on its own.
The electric motor runs all the time and the gas engine comes on
only when needed. This vehicle gets better mileage around town,
where the electric motor is doing most of the work. Ford and
Toyota currently use this technology.

Hybrid cars get significantly better gas mileage than the
traditional internal combustion engine. Most get between 20 and
30 miles per gallon more than standard automobiles. All hybrids
shut off the gas engine automatically when the car is stopped.
This saves fuel and is better for the environment. When you
press the gas pedal, the engine turns back on automatically. The
gas engine will also come on to start charging the batteries
when they become low on power.

Because less gasoline is burned in these vehicles, there is less
pollution causing emissions released into the atmosphere. In
addition, there is a lower level of carbon dioxide released into
the atmosphere. Many scientists and environmentalists link
carbon dioxide to global warming.

Parts of a Hybrid Vehicle:

o Gas engine: the engine is smaller and more energy efficient
than engines in traditional vehicles. o Fuel tank: the fuel tank
is also smaller and holds less gasoline. Since these cars burn
less, a smaller tank is plenty to power the vehicle. o Electric
Motor: the electric motor acts as both a motor and a generator.
The motor takes energy from the batteries to power the car for
acceleration. When you slow down, the energy is returned to the
batteries, which are then automatically recharged. o Batteries:
a series of batteries store energy needed to power the electric
motor. o Transmission: in most hybrids, the transmission works
to propel the car forward in a similar way as in traditional
gasoline powered vehicles.

Hybrids recover energy from the electric motor to the battery.
When you step on the brake, the energy from the motor is
transmitted back to the battery. This process is known as
regenerative braking. This helps to recharge the batteries and
keep them in good working order.

The aerodynamic designs of the hybrids help in their energy
efficiency. Look at pictures of the various hybrids on the
market. The shape of the vehicle is intentional. It reduces the
frontal area of the car, which reduces the drag on the car when
it moves through the air.

Lightweight materials are used on hybrid cars. This is also
intentional. The more a car weighs, the more energy is needed to
propel the vehicle forward. This is one reason SUVs use so much
more gas than other cars. Lighter materials are used to reduce
the overall weight of the car and in turn, decrease the energy
that is needed to run it.

The tires on these vehicles are specially designed to increase
efficiency. Stiffer materials are used in the construction and
the tires are inflated to a higher pressure. This ensures
optimum efficiency and conserves energy. These tires have about
half as much drag as regular tires.

Automobile manufacturers are always looking for ways to increase
the energy efficiency. Technology is being continually developed
to increase the efficiency and performance of these vehicles.
Some of the coming improvements include: increased fuel economy,
more safety features, better performance and comfort.

Your new hybrid automobile is an investment that you will want
to protect. Keep the exterior looking great with regular washing
and waxing to protect the finish of the car. Don't overlook the
headlights when performing exterior maintenance. Headlight
cleaner and restorer is now available.

About the author:
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in
biochemical research and clynical analysis. 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

Auto Parts Advice

By: Michael Russell

If you are in need of difficult to find auto parts, the Internet
is a resource that should not be overlooked. In fact, many auto
part dealers sell various parts online and for those individuals
having a hard time finding the right thing, this particular fact
may seem like a blessing. No longer will consumers be forced to
scour the nearest junk yard in hopes of funding used parts, now,
thanks to the advent of the Internet, consumers can purchase
their products from an online dealer.

What kinds of car parts are offered online? You may be
pleasantly surprised by the diversity. Car part dealers allow
web customers to search for parts by make and model of the
vehicle. They also provide full online catalogues for browsing.
Moreover, consumers can even search for special tools and
equipment that they may need to install the parts they are
searching for.

Conveniently, car part dealers online will list store locaters
so that you can visit their nearest store and pick up the part
you require. Parts are sold for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and
all sorts of recreational vehicles. Moreover, you can easily
purchase repair manuals from auto parts dealers online and get
all the instructions you require to properly install they parts
you purchase.

When you order your car parts online you can choose next day
delivery and have your parts in 24 hours. Of course, you will be
required to pay additional shipping and handling fees, but for
those hard to find parts the additional cost is really
inconsequential. Alternatively, if you can afford to wait a bit
you can have to parts delivered standard delivery and save
yourself some money when it comes time to pay shipping and
handling fees.

Replacement parts, accessories, tools, equipment, performance
parts, chemicals, and fluids can all be purchased from car part
dealers on the World Wide Web. All you need to do is visit one
or more websites and conduct a site search or begin browsing the
site's offerings. Thus, online parts dealers allow you to shop
from the comfort of home and you don't have to waste your
precious time shopping around the local parts stores in your
neighborhood.

Looking for some automotive advice? Auto parts websites supply
articles and question answer sessions for every individual
looking for repair or maintenance advice. Do you need advice
from a professional repair man? Find and locate a variety of
automotive professionals from any number of parts websites.
Thus, the various parts websites that are accessible via the
Internet serve as a resource for the automotive owner and the
home mechanic.

Now that you know you can easily get parts online, why shop
anywhere else? Clearance deals and fantastic sales are
frequently offered by automotive part dealers and distributors
online. Moreover, you have a better chance of finding the part
you desire with a resource as big as the Internet at your
fingertips! Good luck and be sure to have fun - check out all of
the car accessories - you may find something you really like.

About the author:
Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Auto Parts

Factors to Consider When Comparing Car Dealerships

By: Chris Contessa

Buying an automobile is a big step for many individuals and
those who are looking to purchase or lease a car may wonder what
things to look for in a car dealership. As each car dealership
has their own traits and attributes, there are a few factors one
should consider in order to help them choose the best dealership
to do business with for the automobile transaction.

Type of Automobile One Is Looking For

The first thing one must do prior to selecting a car dealership
is to narrow down the options by deciding what type of car they
wish to purchase. When the individual decides on a particular
make of car, they can prepare a list of car dealerships in the
area which sell or lease those types of automobiles. Doing this
will save time and make the purchase of a new car much easier.

Purchase and Lease Options

Another factor one should consider when comparing dealerships is
whether the dealership offers both purchase and lease options.
If an individual knows for certain that they wish to lease an
automobile, they should look for those dealerships that lease
their automobiles to individuals as not all dealerships may
offer lease options.

Car Dealership Staff

Individuals looking to use a car dealership for the purchase or
lease of an automobile should consider what type of staff the
car dealership has. Are the employees friendly and helpful or do
they make customers wait a long time on hold or in the showroom
before someone helps them? Since the car buying or leasing
process can sometimes be a long and tedious one, it is important
that the individuals whom the prospective customer will be
dealing with are easy to get along with and helpful. It is also
vital that the car dealership staff is efficient and
knowledgeable as well.

Prices

Another extremely important factor to consider when looking to
do business with a car dealership are the prices the dealership
offers with regard to leasing or purchasing an automobile.
Although price should not be the sole determining factor when it
comes to choosing a car dealership, it is an extremely important
one to consider. It is also important to find out what types of
rebates and incentives the car dealership may offer in order to
bring the overall price of the car down.

Choosing the right dealership will make the whole car buying or
leasing process that much easier. By considering the previously
mentioned factors, an individual interested in doing business
with a particular car dealership will know the things they
should look for in the ideal car dealership.

About the author:
Chris Contessa is an automotive enthusiast that runs several
automotive forums and websites. You can find Dealer reviews and
ratings at his website: http://www.DealershipRatings.com

Buy or Lease: Which Automobile Transaction is Better?

By: Chris Contessa

When individuals are considering buying an automobile they are
often faced with the dilemma as to whether they should buy or
lease the car. There are pros and cons associated with each and
the following paragraphs will highlight some of the points
regarding both leasing and buying so that individuals can use
the information to better help them make an informed decision.

Length of Time with the Automobile

One consideration is how long you might want to keep the same
vehicle. Leases usually run 2 to 3 years, depending on the lease
type and company, however when one purchases a car, they most
likely tend to stick with that automobile for a longer period of
time. Therefore, if one is interested in changing automobiles
every 2 to 3 years, then a lease transaction may be the better
option. That is if you don't mind making monthly payments and
never actually buying the vehicle. If that is a problem then
buying is a better option because your payments actual result in
the purchase of a car.

Monthly Payments

When considering whether to lease or buy an automobile, one
should consider how much they want to spend each month on
automobile payments. For those who wish to spend less money each
month a lease is probably better; however, if an individual can
spend a little bit more on the car each month, then purchasing
might be the best bet.

Building up Sale or Trade Value in the Automobile

For those individuals who wish to build up sale or trade value
with an automobile, purchasing the car will help that person do
so. On the contrary with a lease the individual does not build
equity in the car as they do not own the car but rather lease it
for a period of time. Therefore, if one is looking to build up
sale or trade value with an automobile, a purchase of the car is
the better route.

Drive More Than Average

When deciding between a purchase and a lease, an individual
needs to determine how much they expect to drive the car on an
annual basis. If the individual is going to be driving more than
the average person would, a car purchase may be better as many
companies that lease vehicles will charge extra money for extra
mileage put on the car. On the other hand, if the individual
will be driving the car an average amount of time, then a lease
may work for that particular person.

The previously mentioned topics are just a few factors which an
individual should consider prior to determining whether a lease
or purchase is the best bet for them. When all is said and done,
deciding whether to purchase or lease a car is a personal
decision which needs to be left up to the individual who will be
driving the automobile.

About the author:
Chris Contessa is an automotive enthusiast that runs several
automotive forums and websites. You can find Dealer reviews and
ratings at his website: http://www.DealershipRatings.com

Lemon Law Myths and Misconceptions

By: Charles Essmeier

Buying an automobile, truck, or sport utility vehicle is often a
daunting, stressful and expensive process. People pay more money
for their cars than for just about anything other than their
homes. And once the vehicle has been purchased, one hopes that
it will run just fine for the foreseeable future.

But
sometimes things go wrong. For those situations, every state has
passed a lemon law, a statute that exists to backup the
manufacturer's written warranty that comes with the vehicle. But
most people don't know anything about lemon laws and rarely give
them a thought until something goes wrong. And once people start
to given lemon laws some thought, they often realize that what
they thought they knew about them is wrong.

Here are a
few things about lemon laws that are often misunderstood:

Used cars are covered under state lemon laws.
Generally, this is not true. Most states' lemon laws cover the
original owner of a new car only. If you are the second owner of
a car, even if it is still under warranty, you may find that
your state's lemon law doesn't protect you. There are a few
states that cover the car during the duration of the warranty
regardless of the number of owners and a few that even have
special lemon law for used cars. If in doubt, check with your
state's Attorney General's office.

If you buy a
new car, you may return it for a refund within three days of
purchase. Again, generally not true. It may be true if you buy a
toaster, but for large purchases such as a car, once you buy it,
you own it. For that reason, make sure that you test drive any
new vehicle that you are thinking about buying. And not just one
like it - drive the exact car you intend to buy. If you are
buying a used car, have an independent mechanic check it out
before you buy to make sure that it is in good
order.

The dealer must inform you if the vehicle
has been in an accident. Most states do not require this.
Furthermore, it's not always possible for a dealer to even know
if a vehicle has previously been in an accident. Dealers are,
however, generally required to disclose information about any
known damage to the vehicle. Don't expect the dealer to be
forthcoming with information that he or she may not necessarily
want you to know. Be proactive and ask a lot of questions. And
again, if it's a used car, be sure to have an independent
mechanic look it over before you buy.

Lemon laws are
there to protect consumers from defects in workmanship and to
make sure that the dealer and/or manufacturer will repair any
problems that arise during the warranty period. But a lemon law
is no substitute for diligence or research on the part of the
buyer. Know what you are getting into before you buy a car,
truck or SUV.

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 auto lemon laws.