17th
January
2008
Environmentally conscious drivers will have more hybrid car and hybrid truck options this year and next. Consumer demand for hybrids continues to increase, as consumers begin to understand and accept hybrid vehicles as a viable alternative.Hybrid cars (and trucks) are designed to reduce emissions by having at least two separate power sources. Basically, instead of relying on burning fuel for all its power, a hybrid vehicle typically uses both an energy storage system in addition to gasoline, thereby expending less gasoline and less emissions.Specifically, an energy storage system in a hybrid vehicle will in effect recognize when fuel is being wasted and will recycle energy to power the car or truck. Wasteful car and truck actions such as idling, traffic stops, etc. are recognized by the energy storage system and the gasoline burning engine is stopped. City drivers in particular notice a greater fuel economy with hybrids due to the constant stop and go flow of heavy city traffic.What You Should Expect To See In 2008:New Hybrid Sedans:Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion lead the list of new hybrid car choices later this year. Also, you’ll see Chevrolet introduce the Chevy Malibu as a hybrid model later this summer as a 2009 model. Saturn’s AURA will also arrive as the latest addition to their Green Line.2008 SUV’s and Crossover Hybrids:
Toyota will roll out their Sienna hybrid minivan and also expect to see a Toyota Prius with significantly less weight than the standard Prius. Also, Saturn will introduce their VUE Green Line, touted as having almost 50% fewer emissions vs. their regular model. Also appearing will be the Chevy Equinox SUV.Hybrid Pickups and Hybrid Trucks:The Chevrolet Silverado, a full size pickup, will debut as a 2009 hybrid model. Also from General Motors, the GMC Sierra full size pickup will arrive later in 2008 as a 2009 model.What Else Is New In The 2008 Hybrid Car World:The Chinese auto manufacturer SAIE rolls out their very first 2008 hybrid car offering this year, introducing the Roewe 750, a midsize car. The Roewe 750 is patterned after the
United Kingdom’s famous Rover 75.We’ll be seeing auto manufacturers continue to roll out new hybrid car and truck models as consumer demand increases. Expect to see significant new hybrid developments as we head toward 2009 and 2010.
posted in Future Fuels |
17th
January
2008
ATV trailer is the mode of transport to drag your ATV from one place to another. By using appropriate type of trailer, one can easily transport ATV with proper care, convenience, and expediency. The use of trailer has lessened down the stress and anxiety of moving your ATV whenever you are going on a trip with family or friends.There are few components in an ATV trailer like trailer hitch, hitch ball, ball mount, and safety chain which are specially created for the safety of your ATV. ATV trailers possess the capability of transporting maximum 6 ATVs at a single time.The method of using ATV trailers to move the ATVs from one place to another is not an easy task like riding a bicycle or driving a car, rather it is a challenging driving if your way is full of changing lanes. Therefore, there are few things to be taken into consideration while using ATV trailers.a - You should not hit the brake pedal harshly because your trailer will not cease as expeditiously as your car will cease.b - You should avoid driving your car with high speed if you are having ATV trailer at the back of your car as your high speed will worse the sway of the trailer.What to Consider While Buying ATV trailersa - While purchasing a new ATV trailer, you should always keep the below-mentioned points in mind in order to take the benefit of your trailer for long span of time.b - While planning to buy an ATV trailer, make sure the load and size of the trailer are adequate, as there are some ATV trailers that have the capacity of carrying more than one ATV whereas some can carry heavier loads than others. The maximum capacity of the trailer to carry ATVs is six in number. After getting a clear picture of the trailer required, you should place an order for it.c - There is a wide variety of ATV trailers in the market in terms of pricing, therefore it is always suggested to survey the market before buying it in order to save some dollars and should get the best. There is also an option of buying used trailers, which are generally advertised in the classifieds of newspapers or on the Internet. But it is always recommended to buy the fresh trailers else you should analyze the working condition of the old trailer properly.d - There are many websites that deal in the business of ATV trailers, therefore, it is always recommended to go for the reputable and renowned websites. You should always survey the online companies by going through the testimonials and reviews of their old or existing customers in order to get the idea about their products and services. You can even visit the online companies that are devoted in the production of trailers and can also order a trailer according to your suggested design and requirement.e - It is always recommended to ensure about the durability and strength of the trailer before starting it to use. For this, you can examine the quality of the structural beams with which the axles are attached because the complete load of the trailer will be held up by them. You should also analyze the cross members which have to be strong and well-built otherwise if they will get bent then will end up in the cracking of the couplings or joints.f - Proper care should be taken while loading and uploading the ATVs in order to prevent any type of damage or destruction.Hence, having ATV trailer at the back of your car will really make your trip easy and adventurous while visiting to the new places.
posted in General Information, Motocycles |
17th
January
2008
It’s no secret that everyday more and more people turn to eBay to buy and sell products online and eBay Motors, the branch of the company created to sell vehicles is no different. I have bought and sold vehicles at eBay Motors and have had some great and some no so great experiences on both sides of the fence but either way it was always learning experience that helped me later on.Obviously if you’re trying to sell a car online at eBay Motors you’re probably looking for the best possible price. Here are a few tips that you can use to get the best price when selling your car online. First and foremost, you must clean and fully detail your car so that it appears as close to perfect as possible depending on its overall condition and you should never try to conceal any minor flaws. When people are depending on pictures to buy a car they don’t want to guess what’s under the dirt or try to figure out how bad a flaw really is. Being brutally honest might net you a little less but it will prevent any headaches later on in the dealing process.Never try and skimp on your auction description and pictures. As mentioned earlier, people are buying a car and potentially spending a bunch of cash so if they see anything they don’t like they will pass your auction or listing in a heartbeat. It is much better to take as many pictures as possible, a good rule of thumb is to provide as many pictures as you would like to see if you were the buyer. Also post them up as a slideshow or a collage and cover all the angles, don’t put up one picture and say email me for more, many people will not go through the trouble of requesting more photos for any mainstream model car.I recommend that you take pictures of the following angles to help the potential car buyer understand what kind of shape your car is in. Keep your pictures flowing around the car to ensure you don’t miss anything and it will help the buyer realize that you’ve covered everything they’re looking for?Start at the driver’s side and take a shot at an angle shooting toward the headlight but showing the entire driver’s side in the photo then move around the vehicle taking the side, rear, passenger, and then straight on front. Taking the long angles is very helpful to show that your car body is true and doesn’t have waves from a bad body job. Be sure to take close ups of any damage or flaws and point them out in your auction or listing description as well. Once you’ve covered the exterior of the vehicle take clear pictures of the interior including each of the seats, floor mats and under the floor mats, the headliner, and the dashboard. When you take a picture of the dashboard make sure you take a solo shot of the odometer to verify the mileage.Moving on you want to take pictures of the engine compartment which is why it is crucial that it has been detailed nicely. One trick my friend uses that not many people think of is to take the dipstick out and take a close up of the oil to show that is fresh and clean. This might or might not help but the more you show the less hassle you’ll get in the selling process.Now that you have the exterior, interior and engine covered you will want to add some pictures of the under carriage of your car. This is becoming the more and more the norm when people are looking at used vehicles online, they want to ensure they aren’t missing anything. To take away all their fears of damage and rust issues you should capture images of the front portion, mid portion and the back portion and make sure you include the muffler, catalytic converter and the wheel wells and any other areas that you feel should be covered. A lot of car enthusiasts will take shots with their wheels off to show the brake rotors or take shots of the shocks and so on but that’s up to you. You’ll usually see this if the seller is showing that they just changed or upgraded to new parts.The last tip I will recommend is something I think is extremely important for any sale but especially if you’re selling a classic or vintage car and that is the cars documents. That is the original owner’s documents and manual with any repairs and regular maintenance. Also include any preventative maintenance documents like rust proofing or any improvements that you’ve made since buying the car.Provide your phone number and email so people can call or contact you with questions. If you make sure you answer any email or phone requests promptly and courteously and include what’s been outlined above, I’m positive you’ll get the best deal possible for your car without any major problems during the whole car selling process.
posted in Useful Tips |
17th
January
2008
Implementing An Effective Red Flags Program. A Red Flag is a pattern or specific activity that indicates possible existence of identity theft in your Automotive Dealership. Compliance is required on November 1, 2008. The program is to be implemented on October 1st to give a margin to evaluate effectiveness.Dealers are Lending Institutions. If a dealership enters into retail installment sale agreements with a customer, they are lenders under the FCRA and the FTC and subject to laws and regulations affecting lending institutions.If you have successfully implemented a Safeguards program, you can implement a successful Red Flag program. The two programs are very similar. As the first step to comply with the Safeguards rule is to develop a written Information Security Program, the first step in implementing the Red Flag Rules would be to develop a Written Identity Theft Program.Each dealership needs its own written “Identity Theft Program.” The implemented Program must:• Identify the Red Flags• Detect the Red Flags• What the responses will be if a Red Flag is found• Periodically audit the dealerships operations to insure compliance with the policies and procedures.If you have successfully implemented a Safeguards Program, you can implement a successful Red Flag Program. They are very similar.”PENALTIES for violating the Red Flag Rule could be a combination of multiple avenues of enforcement:• $2500.00 per violation for violating the FCRA Act.• $11,000.00 per violation of the FTC Act.• Possible violations of state unfair and deceptive practices laws.WHAT IS COVERED BY THE RULE?• Retail Installment Sale Contract transactions only.a. All consumer and business retail installment sale transactions whether or not you intend to hold the paper.GOOD ADVICE:• For Red Flag, just treat all info for starters as if it is subject to the Safeguards Rule.• Appoint a Joint ISP/ITD Program Coordinator. Include Patriot Act customer ID requirements.MUST CONTAIN REASONABLE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO:• Identify relevant Red Flags for your business and incorporate into a written program.• Detect relevant Red Flags that have been incorporated into your written program.• Respond.• Periodically update ITP program.KEY POINTS:The Initial Identity Theft Program must be approved by the dealership’s Board of Directors or appropriate committee of the Board of Directors. If no Board, an authorized Principal must approve.TRAINING - must train as necessary to effectively implement the ITP program.SERVICE PROVIDERS - must exercise appropriate & effective oversight of service provider arrangements.WHICH FLAGS TO INCLUDE? -1. The ones that the corporation has experienced.2. The ones that the FTC has included in its guidelines. All 26 of them.*** Include in your ITP program those things that you already do to control reasonably feasible risks.(You should already be doing this by complying with the Safeguards Rule).RISK FACTORS:• Types of accounts you offer or maintain.• Methods used to open accounts.• Methods through which you allow access to accounts.• Previous experiences with Identity Theft.SOURCES OF RED FLAGS:• Dealership experience.• New experiences of identity theft.• Applicable Supervisory Guidance. www.FTC.gov
posted in General Information |
17th
January
2008
Well, yes it’s still a matter of choice but, if you think about it, to decide against having cover is not a very sensible option. The increase in traffic congestion makes it a very unpleasant experience to break down with no cover.Imagine being in a town or city center, on a busy roundabout with traffic passing by you on each side, when you find yourself in a vehicle breakdown situation. It probably wouldn’t be safe to get out and push the car off the roundabout and, unlike a few years ago, not many people would be willing to stop and offer help.So, what would you do?How about breaking down on a fast motorway? If you don’t have breakdown cover and you’re miles away from home, you’ll probably need to call a local recovery company to come and rescue you. When you eventually contact one, they’ll be more than happy to get your car onto the recovery vehicle and get you off the motorway.However, be prepared for a shock when you have to pay! A recent conversation with one such recovery agent revealed that the typical cost was around £140 (inc.vat). This is just to get you off the motorway, however, and then the real fun begins!It’ll cost extra to take you to a garage or to take you home. Here’s the cruncher though; if you can’t pay there and then, you’ll be asked to step off the recovery vehicle while your car stays on! Your car will be taken to a storage compound and you’ll be left to make your own way home. This by itself would cause inconvenience for most people, but this is what happens when people get caught out by not having breakdown cover.And as if that’s not enough, to get your car back you’ll have to pay the recovery fee plus the transport costs to the compound. Plus, there’s the compound fees; around £100 release fee plus daily costs of around £12 to £15.Of course, you then need to pay recovery charges to get your car home or to a garage and then get the car repaired. Phew!So, if in the unfortunate situation you do break down, be sure to prevent a disaster like this! If you don’t have breakdown cover and you haven’t got the means to pay on the day, you would normally be looking at a bill of around £300 just to get your vehicle off the motorway.Is it really worth all that hassle when, for much less than a tow off the motorway, you could get 5-star treatment and in most cases your car would be repaired. If it couldn’t be repaired, you would be recovered back to your home (from anywhere in the
UK). This would apply to your vehicle and up to seven passengers.This is not just the once, by the way, but for up to five times each year that you are a member.
posted in General Information |
17th
January
2008
In the last five years sectors like bank, tourism, petroleum, road and transport have made a stupendous progress in every aspect. Today government is more determined to connect major cities with better connectivity. In the recent news there have been proposals for the construction of express highways covering 1000km. The latest proposed in the list are Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Meerut, Mumbai-Vadodra. Well, a good move in all respects, but what about the local traffic in big cities. Traffic jams and chaos seem to be quite an inevitable thing these days and it seems it would never end.News papers are always filled with incidents of extreme recklessness on the part of the driver and heavy encroachment of roads making life terrible for the passers by.
Chandigarh which has the highest per capita vehicle ownership in the country and the traffic police has to grapple with the parking problems emanating from the same. In order to give more teeth to its enforcement efforts the traffic police of
Chandigarh has induced three state-of-the-art interceptor jeeps.Campaigns are being organized to combat wrong parking , on segregation of two-wheelers from four-wheelers to optimize the utilization of parking space, on proper utilization of underground parking lots, on towing vehicles parked in an obstructive fashion and on using innovative enforcement tools like ‘wrong parking sticker challans’.After seeing a rapid growth of vehicles in
Delhi it is pretty obvious that traffic management in
Delhi is an onerous task and can only be achieved through public cooperation and goodwill. Several steps have been taken by the government, among them the drastic increase in number of flyovers that are top come up have greatly helped in eliminating traffic congestion in sensitive areas.
posted in Driving Tips |
17th
January
2008
These professions could include anything from traveling to another office in the company to being a traveling representative for a company. Many companies recognize this element of employees work and provide company cars or compensate their workers for the extra money spent in petrol.The problem is that if your employer does not offer a company car suitably insured and you have to use your own car instead then you are putting your car insurance at serious risk. Under normal car insurance cover you are permitted to drive to your place of work or to the train station car park, if you use your car for anything more than that with regards to your occupation then you need to apply for extended cover in the form of declaring the car will be used for business too.If your car is not covered for Business Mileage then the insurance company may not cough up when you make a claim whilst using your car for work. This means that if you go on a training course or transport the day’s takings to the bank then you could be putting yourself at extra risk.So why are people not being offered company cars for work? Well in a growing number of cases where companies offer company cars the workers are declining them due to issues over tax to be paid on them. For a long time now over two thirds of workers have claimed back mileage allowance from their employers, but employers have not informed employees that they need to include business use in their car insurance.All insurers will ask when applying for car insurance quotes what kind of usage the vehicle will be involved in whether it’s personal or business and this is a factor that is fairly inexpensive to add to your current policy, in some cases it doesn’t add anything extra. In future make sure that no matter how frequently you use your car for work you remember to add business use to your car insurance as well as letting your employer know that they should inform all employees using their own cars needs extra insurance cover.
posted in Insurance |
17th
January
2008
You pull up to the gas pump and you realize that your budget is slowly dwindling for the month. Like a lot of families, you try to find every alternative possible when saving money. From cutting out coupons to getting cash back on your credit cards each month. The true question now is, “Should I apply for a credit designed for gas?”The answer to this question is fairly simple. Let me ask you this, “Do you want to save money?” I’m almost certain that one hundred percent of you will say yes. If you say no to save money, then I suggest you move on to another saving method on gasoline, which you may not find.Gas credit cards are designed for a reason. They are designed to save the consumer gas. The concept is actually simple. Most of these credit cards work the same. Every time you fill up at the pump, you will get a percentage back for every dollar you spend. This percentage can range anywhere from one percent to ten percent depending on the card issuer. The general rule of thumb is to grab a credit card that focuses on a particular gas station in your area that generates the highest percentage.How are credit card companies able to make money when they give you rebates? It’s simple. They are hoping that you, the consumer don’t pay off your bill in full or at all. As you may know by now, every time you don’t pay your bill, you will be charged a hefty late fee. If you don’t pay your bill off in full, you will be charged with your interest rate. Generally, interest rates are usually pretty high. It can be anywhere from one percent and beyond.When you’re applying for your first credit card, it’s important that you sign up for a credit card that focuses on a gas station in your area. If you fill up a particular gas station every time, make sure that you look for a credit designed for that station. If you don’t fill up at the same gas station company every time, this is ok. A lot of companies will offer credit cards where you can use the credit card at any company. The only downfall to these cards is that the percentage is generally lower.The best way to find the best gas credit card is to ask around or read some reviews online. Most credit cards that focus on gas rewards work the same. If you ask friends and family, you’re almost certain to find someone that carries one. It’s always best to get advice from friends instead of an outsider.When you finally have you eyes set on the right card, make sure that you read the terms over to be aware of all the fees because some credit cards may have a “cap” on them. This cap will only allow you to get back so much per year. You have to remember that this is only on a few cards. Once you do your research and you know this is the card you want, apply, and wait for your gas savings card to come in the mail.
posted in General Information |
17th
January
2008
They aren’t all tiny small cars which are given for Christmas, but large 1/5th Scale RC Cars such as Petrol Buggies which uses actual Petrol from a petrol station with a mixture of Stoke Oil which means they can be very cheap to run.Alternatively you can get Nitro Cars, which use a fuel you need to buy from Model Shops and a bit more expensive than Petrol. You also get the Electric remote control cars which we all grow up with and get given to us as a present from our parents at birthdays or Christmas.There is a great amount of fun to be had with any remote control cars but the people who grow to love them even more are able to fix and service their Model Petrol Cars with any part they need available to buy from the Model Shops as well as many forums on the internet which specialize in this Niche Hobby.Cars can range from small entry levels cars from £80 or so, to the large Petrol RC Cars which costs around £300. With the popularity of this hobby, prices have fallen over the last few years but still remains a subject where there is so much to learn it can be baffling.Inside of these RC Cars, you will find many car parts you find in a normal sized road car such as a carburetor, gearbox and shocks.As well as Petrol RC Cars, you can also get a range of other types of vehicles. These include Remote Control helicopters, Remote Control Planes, Remote Control Boats, RC Tanks and general Remote Control toys such as robots.Many of the other vehicles also include modifications which given them more of a realistic approach. For example, there are many fiberglass RC Boats which suck in water which passes over the engine and is pushed out the back which is used to cool the heat. This water coming out of the rear of the boat gives a very realistic effect.Please do remember the safety aspects of all remote control vehicles. Cars are not as bad as people can hear them, but with planes and the speed they go people may not see or hear them until they are close by and a out of control plane could be very dangerous if it hits someone. The same goes for remote control boats and especially children near water. Make sure you keep a close eye on children as a RC Boat is a very fascinating thing to them. These petrol and nitro cars are for enjoyment so do enjoy them but be careful to.
posted in General Information |