Tips To Prevent Carjacking
June 22, 2007
Tips To Prevent Carjacking
by: Robert Young
Carjacking of parked vehicles depends on the car owner being inattentive to their surroundings. Carjackers, like street robbers, prefer the element of surprise. Most victims say they never saw the carjacker until they appeared at their car door.
To reduce your risk of being carjacked, we have listed some common sense steps below:
- Always park in well-lighted areas, if you plan to arrive/leave after dark.
- Don’t park in isolated or visually obstructed areas near walls or heavy foliage.
- Use valet parking or an attended garage, if you’re a woman driving alone.
- As you walk to your car, be alert to suspicious persons sitting in cars.
- Ask for a security escort if you are alone at a shopping center.
- Watch out for young males loitering in the area (handing out flyers, etc.)
- If someone tries to approach, change direction or run to a busy store.
- Follow your instincts if they tell you to walk/run away to a busy place.
- As you approach your vehicle, look under, around, and inside your car.
A Look at the Mazda Pickup
June 21, 2007
A Look at the Mazda Pickup
by: Margaret Adams
The pickup truck, or more commonly known as the pickup, is a light truck. At its rear, one will find an open top. This gives pickups the capacity to transport more cargo.
There are various types of pickups in the automobile world. These are the compact pickup, the North American full size pickups, the midsize pickups, and the coupe utility. The compact pickup is the most popular type of pickup. Samples of this type are the Ford Ranger and the Nissan Frontier. The North American full size pickups is a large truck that has been essentially made to be functional for hauling loads of cargo. Samples of this are the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Sierra, the Dodge Ram, the Ford F-Series, the Nissan Titan, and the Toyota Tundra.
Mazda has not only been crafting and manufacturing wonderful vehicles like the 3, the 323, the 5, the 6, the 626, the 929, the GLC, the Miata, the Millenia, the MPV, the MX 3, the MX 6, the Navajo, the Protégé, the Protégé 5, the RX 7, the RX 8, and the Tribute. In fact, Mazda has also been manufacturing other types of vehicles. One of these is the Mazda Pickup.
Car Financing - The F&I Department
June 20, 2007
Car Financing - The F&I Department
by: Jeff Neilan
OK, you’ve finally gotten through the front end part of buying your car. You have worked hard done some tough negotiating and feel like you have negotiated a good and fair deal on your car purchase and trade-in. Now it’s time to head into the dealer’s F&I (finance and insurance) department and go through the formality of signing the financing paper work on the back end of the deal.
You may have noticed a couple of terms: front end and back end. I used these terms to illustrate a point to you. From a car dealer perspective there are two distinct parts (profit centers) to each deal. The front end of the deal is the new car price, your trade in, any dealer add on’s that they got you to buy with your new car, etc. All of this, most everyone is indeed familiar with. The second part of the deal, the back end, is not a place to let your guard down. The back end is the F&I department. The F&I manager is every bit as responsible for making sales numbers and profit margins as everyone else at the dealership and they are sales people NOT financial advisers and their purpose is to help maximize the profit on the deal.
The Rise And Fall Of The Muscle Car Era
June 19, 2007
The Rise And Fall Of The Muscle Car Era
by: Jason Tarasi
Power, speed and performance - those are the three major traits of a muscle car. When first produced, muscle cars were just pretty darn amazing because they combined the efficiency of a lightweight, mid-sized body with the performance of a high-power V8 engine and special design features that further increased the cars’ acceleration capabilities. Because muscle cars topped all other vehicles in terms of power, speed and performance, they were ideal for racing.
Muscle cars were produced from the mid-1960s into the early 1970s, but the production of such beasts fell drastically due to a number of factors. First was the controversy over whether it was wise and responsible to make such powerful vehicles available to the general public, primarily due to road racing. Because muscle cars were often used irresponsibly, liability relating to them was pretty high which forced insurance companies to increase rates for insuring muscle cars. Emission control requirements intended to curb pollution also played into the picture making it near impossible for automakers to produce muscle cars that met the standards they had to adhere to.
Marking the Lincoln Mark III
June 19, 2007
Marking the Lincoln Mark III
by: Pamela Hewitt
Meaning “cut” in the French language, coupe is one of the body styles of cars and vehicles. It has a close-coupled interior that offers two seats or 2 + 2 seating. The latter means that there is space for two people in the front and two more in the rear as well. Starting the 1960s, the term coupe has been used exclusively to fixed-roof models. If one would go back in history, you would see that the term itself had been used during the 1950s to refer to convertible models and this term, coupe, was used as “convertible coupes” when referring to that type of vehicle. Of course, there have been many variations with regards to this car body style. There are automobile makers who offer these sporting two doors, four doors, or even five doors for hatchback coupes.
One coupe that is running under the Lincoln brand and name is the Lincoln Mark III. It is Lincoln’s personal luxury coupe that was sold in the United States and the rest of North American starting from 1969 up until 1971. The name of this vehicle has brought about confusion for there have been two cars that also held the same name, well, almost. There is the Continental Mark III, and another one from Lincoln.
Motorcycle Parts - OEM or Aftermarket ?
June 18, 2007
This is always a difficult one to answer when shopping for motorcycle parts and I firmly believe that each one of us must decide what’s best for our bikes AFTER carefully evaluating each of the possibilities.
For me?
Well… it really depends on what I am looking for - just replacement or improvement - , the availability of the part, my budget and other things. Sometimes I buy OEM, others aftermarket motorcycle parts.
Keep reading. You will find some views that will hopefully help you decide the next time you shop for motorcycle parts.
What a heck are OEM parts??
OEM parts stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer parts which not necessarily mean the OM (Original Manufacturer) actually produced them. You know, many motorcycle and automobile manufacturers don’t manufacture each of the parts used in their vehicles. They frequently have the parts designed and manufactured by outside independent companies and then, install them in their machines or put them in their own boxes to be sold as OEM parts!
Good to know when buying OEM Motorcycle Parts:
When you buy OEM Motorcycle Parts you are buying the exact same original part the manufacturer used to build your motorcycle, that means:
The Daihatsu Charade Life Line
June 17, 2007
The Daihatsu Charade Life Line
by: Jenny McLane
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. is actually a manufacturer of cars and vehicles that has its main headquarters located in Japan. This auto manufacturer is known for its designing and crafting of compact cars and small cars. In Japan, these small and compact cars are known as “kei jidosha”. At present, Daihatsu also researches and finds interesting and useful information on hybrids as well as on two stroke diesel engines.
Passenger car models from this manufacturer include the toy model of the Daihatsu Midget Applause, the Atrai, the Be-Go, the Boon, the Ceria, the Charade, the Compagno, the Consorte, the Copen, the Cuore, the Hijet, the Max, the Midget, the Move, the Rocky, the Sirion, the Taruna, the Terios, the Valera, the Xenia, and the YRV.
Customers, Daihatsu owners, and aficionados can come across really durable replacement parts, auto parts, and accessories on websites like http://www.partstrain.com. Moreover, these online stores hold a wide and varied collection of quality and budget friendly Daihatsu parts and accessories. The Auto Parts Online’s collection of Daihatsu parts includes condensers, catalytic converters, coolant tanks, electrical parts, engine parts, exhausts, fenders, fender flares, fender trims, grilles, hoods, oxygen sensors, radiators, and starters just to name a few. Available 24 hours a day, Auto Parts Online has available customer service representatives ready to serve the most demanding needs and inquiries regarding auto parts.
2008 Mercedes B Class: American Introduction Delayed?
June 16, 2007
2008 Mercedes B Class: American Introduction Delayed?
by: Matthew C. Keegan
Mercedes has long looked at the entire U.S. auto market as fair game, meaning it is not just a place where it can sell luxury vehicles, but a place to market “low budget” vehicles too. Unknown to some American motorists, the Mercedes name is much broader than simply being a luxury make. Like its German rival, Volkswagen, Mercedes sells cars in Europe that compete directly against the Golf as well as against the luxurious VW Phaeton. Still, introducing a “budget Benz” to America is a psychological hurdle that parent DaimlerChrysler is delaying making a commitment to. Let’s take a look at the proposed B Class and the reasons why the model not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
For starters, the proposed B Class is based upon Mercedes A Class line of cars. Okay, that tells you a lot! In short, the A Class is a true line of compact cars that are popular in Europe. If you were to give serious consideration to purchasing a Volkswagen Golf you would consider the A Class to be its logical competitor. A slightly larger model, the B Class, makes better use of engine placement and design to produce a car that isn’t much larger than the A Class on the outside, but is almost as roomy as the S Class is on the inside [when configured as a wagon].
Ford Bronco II: Shining Through Despite Criticisms
June 15, 2007
Ford Bronco II: Shining Through Despite Criticisms
by: Jason Moore
Sold between the years 1984 to 1990, the Ford Bronco II was built and manufactured to be a compact sport utility vehicle. It was actually built to be a compact complement of the full sized Ford Bronco. It was also targeted so as to be the direct competitor to the Chevrolet S 10 Blazer and the Jeep Cherokee.
This vehicle held a 94 inch wheelbase that was very similar to the Volkswagen Beetle. The mechanical parts were very much similar to the Ford Ranger pickup’s mechanical components. The first models came out equipped with a 2.8 liter V6 engine which was very much similar to the 2.8 liter engine that was used in the Ford vehicles marketed and sold in Europe. Come the year 1986, the Ford Bronco II came introduced with a 2.9 liter EFI V6. It has been said that this engine was doomed from the beginning with design flaws. This engine often suffered from premature cylinder head failure and loss of valve train lubrication as well. This happened when the valve train lubrication was not rigorously maintained. However, Ford was able to see this flaw immediately and it acted upon changing or correcting this flaw in the soonest time possible. Come 1989, this mistake was already corrected. However, the Ford Bronco II had already accumulated unattractive comments and a not so good reputation to potential buyers. These buyers were concerned about the safety of this vehicle.
Using the Sun to Power Your RV
June 14, 2007
Using the Sun to Power Your RV
by: Rick Chapo
Jumping in your RV and leaving the rat race for the weekend is an American tradition. Did you know you can provide power to your RV with the sun while getting away from it all?
The Sun is Everywhere!
One of the biggest misconceptions regarding solar power is that it is limited to large panel systems on roofs. Au contraire! With new nanotechnology, solar power systems will soon be applied with the paint you use to improve your home. That’s still two or three years away, so what about now?
If you enjoy taking the RV out for an excursion, you can use solar power to provide your electrical needs. Whether you are going camping or to a NASCAR race, it is an exceedingly simple process.
Unlike homes, RVs run on direct current electricity. This makes them perfect for solar electricity since solar systems produce direct current electricity instead of alternating current. Put another way, there is no need for bulky converters to flip the electricity from direct to alternating. Instead, you can use the sun to power up your batteries directly.
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