Famous Ford Flops
October 31, 2008
Famous Ford Flops
by: Matthew C. Keegan
American automakers sometimes get the brunt of the criticism for producing models that are ugly, useless, or even downright dangerous. Ford has had its share of beasts through the years in addition to several winners including the current Mustang for which demand cannot be met. For the fun of it let’s take a look at some of the Ford models that have been derided down through the years.
Model T - What?! How can the car that introduced mass production make the list? Well, the car was fine, but Mr. Henry Ford’s statement, “you can have any color you want as long as it is black” has been attributed with the rise of General Motors [who gave its customers a choice in colors] which eventually dethroned Ford as the top automaker in the world. No, the Model T was fine, but Mr. Ford’s marketing strategy was not.
EXPOSED: Foreign Oil, Auto Industry, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles
October 31, 2008
EXPOSED: Foreign Oil, Auto Industry, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles
by: Cheryl Dixon
Can our soaring gas prices and dependence on foreign oil turn out to be a blessing in disguise?
It seems as though the most effective way to reach consumers is through our pocketbook. Once more we are outraged at high fuel prices and demanding something be done about it.
The auto industry has the technology to build fuel efficient cars, it has had much of this technology for decades, but it has not developed this technology into cost effective mass marketed vehicles. Why? Because the consumer has not demanded it. No matter what, the auto industry is and always will be consumer driven.
As long as the consumer continues to purchase what the industry is putting out, they will keep building what they are building. Granted, because of emission controls and higher mileage standards over the years we now have less harmful emissions and better mileage than we did twenty years ago. While this has been a great start we cannot let that become a stopping point.
Ten Tips On How To Get The Best Deal On Car Insurance
October 30, 2008
Ten Tips On How To Get The Best Deal On Car Insurance
by: Joseph Ducat
With the high cost of gasoline nowadays, most new drivers think twice of getting car insurance.
Driving without any car insurance is a very big risk. Most drivers might think that car insurance is way too expensive, but in the long run it may save you a lot of money.
Take for instance this example, if you are in a car accident it may cost you thrice the amount you might have paid for a car insurance to cover for hospitalization and for buying yet another car. Plus without car insurance you will be paying police fines as well as paying for suspended licenses.
A total of 47 states require some kind of insurance for your car. It would be wise to know the basic law covering car insurance. Here are ten tips you can refer to on how you can get the best deal on car insurance.
1. Know the different types of car insurance policy
The first thing to know in buying car insurance is to understand the different policies they offer. Choose a policy or policies that would best suit your needs.
Correct Diesel Tuning, All You Need To Know To Get Improved Power And Economy From Your Diesel
October 29, 2008
Correct Diesel Tuning, All You Need To Know To Get Improved Power And Economy From Your Diesel
by: Byron Moore
Diesel tuning is more important than we think. Lets get down to the basics.
Diesel is distilled crude oil (Distillate). Unlike what most ‘Hollywood’ movies promote of a diesel truck hitting a wall and exploding like a small nuclear bomb, oil does not readily ignite, particularly a liquid form. If we atomise it though, it will burn readily. The diesel principle relies on air being compressed to approx. 500PSI. This in turn heats the air, turning it into the igniter (diesels don’t have igniters such as spark plugs). Heard of a glow plug? Glow plug only glow on cold start-up to help warm up the air in the combustion chamber. A bit like when you are pumping up a push bike tyre, the pump gets warm.
3 Ultimate Japanese Automakers
October 28, 2008
3 Ultimate Japanese Automakers
by: Matthew C. Keegan
Japan has been producing automobiles for almost as long as America, to the surprise of some. As the American automobile industry has changed, so has Japan’s. To this day, however, Japan still has the highest concentration of automakers of any country on earth: nine to be exact. Three, however, are real standouts producing not only high quality vehicles but reaching well beyond Japan to all corners of the planet. Let’s take a look at the top three and how they are impacting the North American market.
Toyota - As the largest of all Japanese automakers, Toyota ranks only second to General Motors in global production. Toyota vehicles were first introduced to the North American market in the 1960s and were, at the time, widely panned by critics as being too small and inferior in quality. By the late 1970s, Toyota quality levels began to exceed the industry standard. Today, some consider Toyota the benchmark by which all car lines are judged; the company’s Lexus line of luxury vehicles and Scion brand of youth oriented vehicles are also leaders in their respective classes.
Car Video Monitors: There Not Just For Your Kids Anymore
October 27, 2008
Car Video Monitors: There Not Just For Your Kids Anymore
by: Dwayne Wright
When car video monitors were first introduced to the market, they primarily consisted of either an overhead or flip down monitor. These types of monitors were geared mainly towards parents who took long trips in the family minivan with their kids. These days, there are quite a few more car video monitor options available to consumers with varying reasons as to what they are used for. Of course the market is still filled with parents looking to keep their keeps occupied during long rides, but now people are installing monitors to entertain business clients, review DVD presentations on the way to a meeting or play the latest Madden football game with their buddies on the way to a pro football game. Aside from the overhead and flip down monitors other types of car video monitors available to consumers include: in-dash monitors, headrest monitors, sun visor monitors, and mirror monitors.
Buying a Used Car
October 26, 2008
Buying a Used Car
by: Joseph Kenny
Before getting your own car, it pays to do some homework. Think about what you need, what the car will be used for, and your budget. Look in books and online and think about repair costs, safety tests, mileage etc.
Once you’ve chosen the car you want, you have to decide how you are going to pay for it. You can pay the whole amount upfront or you can finance the purchase over time. If you do use financing, you should be aware that this increases the total cost of the car as you must pay for the car plus the credit.
Once you have decided on how much you can put down, you can look at the annual percentage rate (APR) of the loan and the length of the loan and see how much your monthly payments will be.
Generally speaking, the shorter the term of the loan, the higher the APR. If you are in your teens, cosigning with your parents will help you to get a better rate. You may also want to think about paying in cash for a less expensive car.
Dealer or Private Sale?
Muscle Cars, Like Dinosaurs, Once Ruled The Earth
October 26, 2008
Muscle Cars, Like Dinosaurs, Once Ruled The Earth
by: Brian Edwards
Detroit, or the world, has never produced an automobile that rivals the muscle cars of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. They were big, powerful and wonderfully unrefined. No one would call them sports car in the traditional sense. They were not nimble and curves were dangerous at most any speed. However, what they lacked in sophistication they made up for in brut force. In many ways the GTO’s, Mustangs, Road Runners and their brethren represented the American character better than any vehicle past or present. Simplicity, dependability, strength and singularity of purpose were their calling cards. No one could confuse the purpose of these beasts. It was plain for all, and it was straight-line performance for one quarter of a mile. Nothing else mattered.
Auto Parts Deal Offers Solution to Your Common Car Problems
October 25, 2008
Auto Parts Deal Offers Solution to Your Common Car Problems
by: Sarah McBride
Like all of us, cars occasionally get sick as well; thus, they need to be regularly checked and maintained to keep them in proper working condition as much as possible. Keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape and condition—whether it’s a regular passenger car, a truck, a sport utility or a van—may require you to change some of its auto parts, especially if your vehicle is an older model. Car parts wear out over time so you would need to upgrade them or replace them with higher quality parts.
This is where http://www.autopartsdeal.com can be of great help to you. This leading auto parts dealer provides the best options for your replacement part needs. The store offers top of the line BMW parts, Mercedes Benz parts, Ford truck parts, Chevrolet parts and so much more. Whether you are in need of auto parts to upgrade your auto, enhance its looks or simply to replace worn out or faulty parts, you can count on Auto Parts Deal.
Auto Parts Fast Features the Best Headlights, Taillights, Foglights, Turn Signals and Altezza Taillights for Toyota, Honda, Jeep, BMW and Ford
October 24, 2008
Auto Parts Fast Features the Best Headlights, Taillights, Foglights, Turn Signals and Altezza Taillights for Toyota, Honda, Jeep, BMW and Ford
by: Stacey Wilson
Auto lights are indispensable in a vehicle; they serve as our extra eyes, especially at night and during low visibility driving conditions. Most of car accidents resulted from the driver’s inability to see upcoming vehicles and pedestrians and fixtures on the road, especially at night. Because of this, the use of lights like the headlights and taillights has been required by the law.
Each kind of light in a vehicle serves a unique purpose. Generally, all lights help in improving the vehicle’s visibility on the road. They allow other drivers and pedestrians alike to see or easily spot your auto as it moves down the road. Although the sun provides natural light during the day, it is still advisable to use lights for added safety. There are the so-called day-time running lights (DRLs) that remain lit whenever the vehicle is running, day or night.
Off-road vehicles such as a Jeep or a Ford truck need to be equipped with more and higher quality lights since these vehicles are often used in harsh driving conditions. They are at higher risk when driven off-road so keeping them safe all the time is a must.
