Saturday, December 31, 2011

5 Tips On How To Buy A Fuel Efficient Car


With the global economy on the downswing, there has been a sporadic rise in fuel prices over the last couple of years. According to industry experts, this trend seems to show no signs of abating and will continue, given the increasing demand for fuel. Hence, if you are planning on investing in a new car, it would make perfect sense to settle for a vehicle that consumes less fuel and delivers more mileage. Buying a fuel efficient car would prove to be a cost effective investment in the long run as it would help you conserve a lot of money in fuel costs. In this article, we have mentioned 5 tips that will help you make an informed choice in buying a fuel efficient car.

1. The size and engine - Take a moment to consider your daily travel requirements. Is the car meant for personal use or does your family also avail of it? If they do, then you should take into account the number of co-passengers that would be traveling along with you daily. In this regard, you should figure out the ideal boot space you need from your prospective car. You should also consider whether it would be a viable vehicle for making a short or long commute. All these factors would collectively determine the size of your car and its engine.

2. The model and make - Most of us have our own favorite car brands. However, it is best not to be biased by our individual predilections and stress on the utility and cost factor instead. Also consider how often you would require the use of special features such as two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. In this case always opt for the former as two-wheel drive vehicles are more fuel-efficient.

3. Mileage and fuel consumption - This is the most important aspect in your purchasing decision - the fuel efficiency of the car. Check the fuel consumption label on the car. Compare the cars of your choice on the basis of their fuel consumption and hone in on the one with the lowest consumption levels.

4. Take a test drive - After selecting the most suitable car for your requirements, be sure to check it out first hand. Most car dealers allow you to take a test drive before actually making the purchase. Take the car out for a spin to get a better understanding of its reliability. If it is a used car, ensure to have it inspected by a mechanic to determine its level of maintenance and fuel efficiency.

5. Drive carefully and efficiently - Even though you might have a fuel efficient car, at the end of the day it all depends on the way you drive it. Keep abreast of driving tips and tricks that would help you conserve fuel and save on the maintenance of your car.

In addition to conserving fuel and cutting down on your gas expenditure, buying a fuel efficient car is also a very environmentally friendly proposition. When you buy a fuel efficient car, you would do your bit for the environment while saving on your budget.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Leather vs Cloth Seats - It's a Personal Preference


Leather vs cloth seats is a choice each driver must make when purchasing their next vehicle. The choice of the interior comes down to cow versus manufactured cloth and can sometimes be a difficult choice.

This is because each offers benefits and pit falls.

Some of the benefits of leather...

Leather offers a soft, supple feeling while driving down the road. It is a comfy fit for your bottom.

Additionally since leather is a more expensive choice, it is often a sign of prestige and luxury. For those whose car is a reflection on their being or their status, leather offers a sense of class to the driver.

The additional cost of leather upholstery you pay up front can be a benefit when it is time to sell your vehicle.

Typically, leather brings a greater resale value.

Oh! And there is nothing better than the distinct rich aroma of new leather interior in a car, truck or SUV.

Yippee! Rawhide!

The downside of leather...

It requires more maintenance to keep the leather conditioned and supple. If leather seats are your choice, you should regularly clean them and put a leather conditioner on the interior so that the leather does not crack.

Another drawback is the comfort. In extreme heat, the seats can be almost too hot to handle. The opposite is also true, in extreme cold weather the seats take quite a bit of time to warm up. So with leather, prepare to have your buns toasted or frozen depending on the weather.

Also because leather seats may be slippery, take caution when entering so that you don't find yourself under the dashboard!

Now, let's take a look at the benefits of cloth...

First, there is the affordability factor. Cloth seats will cost you less than leather and will yield a slightly lower resale value than its counterpart - leather.

With cloth, you can avoid some of the haphazard while trying to enter the car. Because cloth is a more breathable choice, it typically stays the same temperature year around. No burnt or frozen buns with cloth. As well, you have a better chance of entering the car and remaining on the seat as you round corners.

Now, the pitfalls of cloth...

Your cloth seats may not earn you the same respect you would get with leather seats. If you are looking to impress, leather would be a much better choice.

Cloth tends to get dirty easier and absorb stains more easily. Likewise odors can be easily locked into the fibers of the cloth. Smells such as pets or smoking tend to make themselves comfortable in cloth interiors. This can negatively affect your resale value as well.

Now that we have discussed some of the aspects regarding leather vs cloth seats, it is best to look at your own personal situation. Consider the use of the car, the mileage you travel each month and the ability to maintain the car's interior. The final decision is yours.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Writing About New Cars


It seems like whenever you search any major auto show from any site, there are generally always wonderful pictorials along with articles regarding the new auto models that happen to be coming out and about on the internet. People wish to read these kinds of content online. In fact, these good articles can be quite commonly found, and generally rank way up there on the top sites and current news. Okay, let's take a second to discuss this topic and improve how we can get an article to the top.

If you need to create stellar content concerning a brand-new car style, then there are a number of things that need to be in your current articles. These are exactly the stuff people are trying to find, and I'm not simply talking in regards to commenting on the nice drink holder inside the center console in the new hybrid fancy car. Yes, that is certainly important. But the fact that the car can go from 0 to 60 in a couple seconds in a very high-performance car is certainly more desirable than the ability to place their Frappuccino anywhere in the car.

So of course, by most means you'll want to mention that, but besides that, everyone is also considering other issues. Things such as acceleration, rate, horsepower, functionality, and handling... but most importantly they're considering fuel overall economy. You have to have all those key elements in the article you select, especially just about any new auto model part. Further, you will definitely have to shell out a little extra time with your current wording and phrasing, plus the description. You may use lots of time involving adjectives for you to adequately illustrate what it seems like to sit inside car, hear the electric motor, and travel it all-around. People would definitely like to know beforehand.

You will need to remember everyone is buying cars as they are an extension of their unique personality. You'll want to describe the automobile as if you would your very own significant other along with their uniqueness. People would like to know about your "feel" in the car. When you discuss the many features, and the many key things, and you invest time and thought into your work... That's how you write the informational content on brand-new car types.

If anyone posts articles that happen to be done using this method online, you will definitely just know that they get a great deal of traffic, a great deal of interest, a great deal of high evaluations, and you may notice inward links... besides, isn't that the true objective of an online content composer? Indeed, I'm hoping you will picture this, with no over-hyping straight into each motor vehicle article that you may decide to type up in the future.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Nightmare on the Highway - What to Do When You Have a Flat and There's No Spare in the Trunk


Here's a scary thought- your car has a flat tire and you find there's no spare in the trunk. Well, this isn't all that unusual because guess what a lot of automakers did while we were sleeping - they eliminated the spare tire to reduce car weight and improve fuel usage! In addition, some automakers have been quietly substituting "run flat" tires for regular tires. The run flat tires are supposed to be good for driving when flat for about 50 miles at 50 miles per hour. Only thing wrong with that is driving those 50 miles normally destroys your tire, necessitating buying a new tire. And what if it's very late at night and there are no open service stations within those 50 miles.

Situations like this underline the need to carry your own emergency auto repair kit, in case auto road service is too far away or you are nowhere near an open service station. Ideally, you should carry a car battery jump starter with an air compressor, as well as a tube of tire sealant, at least 3 hazard signs and a tire gauge.

If you have no spare tire, you need to re-inflate or fix your existing tire wherever you are.

Safety First

Put on your flashing lights and if you have emergency hazard signs, put one about 25 feet back from your car, and as far out towards the middle of the road to mark the outer edge of your car. The second should be back around 100 feet and closer to the edge of the road. The third should be back around 200 feet back at the edge of the highway.

Conventional wisdom is that you only need to put out your hazard warning signs if one of your left side tires is flat and you are kneeling down in the actual roadway to begin to repair the flat tire. Absolutely wrong!Even though you are on the other side of the car from the road, you can be seriously injured and even killed by a rear end collision by a driver who didn't notice your car. As a further precaution get your passengers out of the car and safely away from the roadway.

Start the Actual Tire Repair

Take off the tire's valve cap and start to re-inflate your flat tire with your car battery jump starter system with a built-in air compressor. Inflate the tire a bit. Stop, look and listen. Does it go flat again fairly quickly? Do you hear it hissing? If so, the odds are pretty good that you have a puncture. If you have a puncture, and not a huge one, there is another handy item in your kit - your tire sealant. This temporarily repairs flats in tubeless tires caused by punctures up to a quarter-inch. Inflate your tire up to its normal pressure - use your tire gauge to make certain. It may take running the car for a short distance to "spread" the goo properly inside the tire. If so, pull over at the first safe spot and check the air pressure. If you need to, top up the tire. Once you get back on the road, or home again, it would be a good idea to have a competent service station take a look at the tire that went flat.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Finding Cheap Bike Racks Isn't Easy


Bike racks are a necessity if you want to go anywhere with your bike. Unfortunately these items do not come cheaply. In fact many people find them to be a bit out of their price range. Of course there are some ways that you can find cheaper rakes but you need to be careful because quality is just as important as cost.

Where to look for bike racks

The most logical place to start your search for cheap bike racks would be your local bike store. The problem with this is that their items are often expensive. You can try waiting until they have a sale or you could browse other options. One of these options is going to your car part store. A bike rack is an accessory that these stores will sell. If you do not want to go down this route then you can always look for these items online.

A car bike rack can be very expensive

If you are looking at a quality car bike rake then you will find that they do cost a fair bit. However, the price will vary depending on such things like brand and type. Certain bike racks and carriers will be cheaper than others. One of the cheaper types is a roof mounted carrier. Other factors that will make the carrier more expensive will be the number of bikes it can carry and what it is made of. These items are made to carry anywhere from one to three bikes.

Places to look for a cheap bike rack

It is possible to find a cheap bike rack if you know where to look. One of the best places to find a deal on these items is auction sites and classified ads. There is one major problem that can be faced when using these methods. This is that the item will most likely be second hand. This does not mean that you will not be able to get new items using these methods but it is not guaranteed. Online stores are probably your best option for new, cheap racks. Many online stores have sales or lower prices in an attempt to get more customers. If you do go with the online stores then it is best that you read all the terms particularly the amount you may have to pay for shipping. There is no point in going with the online store if the price you pay for shipping makes the item the same price as another store.

The quality of your bicycle carrier

When looking at cheap goods you have to think about quality. Many cheaper items sacrifice quality to reduce their costs. This can be very bad as it can negatively affect your bike. One of the problems that come from poor quality items is rust which affects the structural integrity of the whole item. Additionally poor quality could affect your car as the means of connection may be faulty or incorrect.

It can be harder than you think to find a cheap bike rack. The reason for this is that most good quality racks will cost a fair bit. When looking at your bike rack you will want to make sure that the quality is good as well as the price.