Retro Mania: “Old” Cars Rock!
November 30, 2007
Retro Mania: “Old” Cars Rock!
by: Matthew C. Keegan
America’s thirst for cars of significance continues unabated. Long tired of copycat, cookie cutter, uninspiring models, consumers are demanding - and receiving - cars that are, quite frankly, retro. Yes, America’s automakers are reaching back in time to build a bunch of models based on popular models from yesteryear. Let’s take a look at the “Big 3” automakers and their current crop of retro cars as well as “future” models soon to be released.
Defined, retro cars are vehicles that take their styling cues from cars built a generation or two ago. No, these vehicles aren’t carbon copies of earlier models, rather each retro car borrows much of their look from earlier models.
Although American automakers dominate the retro market, the Volkswagen New Beetle was one of the first cars to reach back as it went forward. Based on the VW Golf platform, the circular shaped New Beetle hearkens back to the flower child era with its current rendition of the people’s car. Fortunately, VW had the presence of mind to include its famed “flower holder” in with the dash, to evoke memory of the earlier model.
Buick’s Fabulous Five
November 29, 2007
Buick’s Fabulous Five
by: Matthew C. Keegan
The Buick Motor Division of the General Motors Corporation is in transition, much like the rest of the venerable auto company. Old models have been canceled, new models added, and the current line up is radically different from just three years earlier. Now down to five models, the remaining vehicles in the Buick line up are all winners. Let’s take a look at each model and what they have to offer to you, the consumer.
Lucerne - Buick’s Roadmaster and LeSabre are both gone, but the full size Lucerne have taken their place. Featuring V8 power and luxurious appointments such as heated and cooled seats, liquid heated windshield fluid, and leather appointments, the big Lucerne is based on the Cadillac DTS, but the car sells for more than $10,000 less than its up market Caddy cousin.
Lacrosse - This five seat sedan is sleek, aerodynamic, and quiet. With starting prices in the low 20 thousand dollar range, the car competes against the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Rainier - The larger of two Buick SUVs, the Rainier comes standard with a 275hp I6, Stabitrak suspension/steering system, eight way driver powered seats, leather seating, and more.
Power Steering Pump Failureor is it the Steering Rack?
November 28, 2007
Power Steering Pump Failureor is it the Steering Rack?
by: Matthew C. Keegan
Has your car’s power steering suddenly quit working? If so, it could be that your power steering pump has failed. The unit itself may be shot or it could be a loss of steering fluid through a bad hose that is causing the problem. Regardless, you better tend to the problem now or you will soon be struggling with steering a car that seems to be working against you, not with you.
Before pump failure becomes obvious, you will usually hear buzzing or whining noises coming from underneath the hood. On the other hand, if you notice a gradual loss of power as evidenced by an increasingly difficult time moving the steering wheel [as when attempting to parallel park] or if you notice the problem when you first start up your car in the morning, then your steering rack may be going.
Steering racks fail gradually, but when they do you must take action before total failure occurs. Otherwise, control of your car becomes impossible and failure could then happen at any time, as in those times you are on the interstate. A real threat to your safety and to the safety of other drivers!
2007 Hyundai Entourage: The Minivan Wars Heat Up
November 27, 2007
2007 Hyundai Entourage: The Minivan Wars Heat Up
by: Matthew C. Keegan
It was only a matter of time before they entered the minivan fray and after several false starts the on again and off again Hyundai minivan appears to be on once again. Hyundai is targeting a market it has long sidestepped and it appears that a long wheelbase version of the Kia Sedona will soon be sold in the US as a Hyundai Entourage. The minivan wars are heating up again even as one competitor exits the market and another also gives serious consideration to abandoning the minivan segment. Is there an Entourage in your future? Read on for all the details and then decide.
Two decades ago, Hyundai entered the North American market with its $3600 Excel Pony. This cheaply priced, cheaply built model set the tone for the new importer and it wasn’t a good one at that. Low quality went arm and arm with the low price, but consumers still bought Hyundais anyway as a new Excel compared favorably with prices for late model used cars of that era. Many owners shrugged off the cheap plastics and quality problems, citing that the Pony gave them something they never had before: a brand new car.
How to Find a Trucking Job
November 26, 2007
How to Find a Trucking Job
by: Laura Adams
The demand for truckers is very high, and it is relatively easy for most qualified truckers to find steady work. Nonetheless, some researchers estimate that as many of 15% of drivers, even those with extensive experience, get disqualified when applying for a trucking position. Why are so many truckers getting turned away if the need for trucker is so high? It all has to do with being organized.
The key to landing a trucking job is being prepared and knowing what to expect when seeking a trucking job. Most often, truckers start the hiring process by speaking to a trucking recruiter. Recruiters frequently hire only for one company (the company they work for themselves), so it may be to your advantage to shop around and talk to a number of different recruiters to find the position that is the best fit for you. If you do speak with a number of recruiters, be sure to take notes so you can keep track of who said what.
The Top 8 Ways to Save a Ton of Money on Your Auto Insurance
November 26, 2007
The Top 8 Ways to Save a Ton of Money on Your Auto Insurance
by: Matthew Keith
We all hate doing it, but it’s something that we all must do at one time or another… the wonderful task of shopping for car insurance quotes!
Since there’s no avoiding it, you might as well learn a few ways you can save money in the process. Here is a compilation of the top tips you can use to make sure you never overpay for your car insurance premiums…
1. Search for quotes regularly - Many people inadvertantly pay the same premium for years without ever shopping around. As your vehicle ages, it depreciates in value. You shouldn’t pay the same premium on an older vehicle as you would on a newer one… think about it! It’s generally good practice to do a quote search on a yearly basis, but the more often you do it, the better chances you have of getting lower rates.
Upholding Volvo Standards
November 25, 2007
Upholding Volvo Standards
by: Kenneth McKinley
A full-size station wagon, the Volvo V70 of the Volvo Car Group is originally a development of the 850 station wagon and sedan series. A trivia for this car company is that it has a naming strategy that completely depends on the vehicles’ size and body style. The car manufacturer, Volvo, in the station wagon segment adopted V (which means Versatility), S (which stands for Sedan), and C (which refers to the new Coupe and Convertible).
The Volvo V70 upholds the Volvo body style which means artless riffs on the right angle, bearing utility and beauty all in one vehicle. This vehicle has a styling that is restrained and elegant yet at the same time crisp and uplifting. It has been made available with different packages. One of these is the sport leather package that offers fine-grained hides on the steering wheel and gear-selector boot. The security package, meanwhile, features all-important mass movement and level sensors, security laminated windows, and an air-quality system. Also, the cold weather package did not fail to offer traction and stability control, heated seats, and head lamp washers and wipers. As an addition, options also included a Dolby Pro Logic in-dash four-CD audio system along with nine speakers. This audio system also comes with an astounding clarity and stereo imaging.
The Contour Years
November 24, 2007
The Contour Years
by: Jason Moore
Replacing the Ford Tempo is the Ford Contour. It strictly competes with the Honda Accord, the Chrysler Cirrus, the Dodge Stratus, and other compact and mid-size sedans. This vehicle is crafted and manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States and has been made available in a couple of trim levels including GL, LX, and the sporty SE. This vehicle exudes performance, refinement and an overall execution.
This vehicle has a standard dual airbags and optional features comprise of antilock brakes, and traction control. Also, this vehicle’s other features are bumpers that could withstand a five mph impact, and a base engine that was a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine that could produce 125 horsepower that works well with a 5-speed manual shift or the optional electronic 4-speed automatic transmission.
Buying A Car Online In San Diego
November 23, 2007
Buying A Car Online In San Diego
by: Jason Stesney
Today’s car shopper is faced with many choices on how to buy a vehicle, but none offers more information and up-to-date information like the Internet. In years past, when you in were in the market for a car, you would go to the dealership empty-handed, test-drive the car and put together the deal based on what you thought the car was worth. Unfortunately, many times buyers ended up getting a raw deal, with the dealerships using their salesmanship and behind the scenes knowledge to turn the deal in their favor.
But now, things are different. The Web offers shoppers a tool which they can research, price and even take a virtual test drive of the car they want. They can e-mail or call, and have all the information at their fingertips at sites like Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and Edmunds (www.edmunds.com).
Possibly one of the best examples of a site dedicated to the car buyer is www.sandiegocardeals.com, run exclusively by the internet/fleet department of Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego. The site offers a complete virtual inventory of all new Toyota and Scion models as well as complete pre-owned inventory listings. But what really sets this site apart from the others is that they actually post retail and invoice prices so that the buyer can simply “name my price”, based on the research they’ve done online prior to coming to the site.
Before the Mazda 6
November 22, 2007
Before the Mazda 6
by: Kimberly Meyer
For the market outside of its domain in Japan, Mazda produced the Mazda 626 family car. It was based on the Mazda Capella which was mainly sold in Japan. This new vehicle replaced the 616/618 and the RX-2 in 1979 and this was sold up until 2002. What took up the place of the Mazda 626 was the Mazda 6. In Asia, Australasia, and in Southern Africa, the Mazda 626 was sold under the name Ford Telstar.
This vehicle made its first public appearance in 1979 as a rear wheel drive compact. It had a 75 hp 2.0 liter SOHC straight-4 G/MA engine that had automobile magazines comparing it to a BMW engine. The vehicle sported a split-folding rear seat that increased cargo capacity and flexibility to the maximum level. This vehicle has been a top seller since its production.
In the year 1998, the Mazda 626 had gone through a dramatic change in its entirety. All models had either a five-speed manual transmission or the optional four-speed automatic. It had a wheelbase that was enlarged to two inches and the sedan type had 2.4 inches longer, and around a half inch wider. Along with that came the V6 engine that took traction control and engine mobilization to another level. From that time on, changes had been constantly done to the Mazda 626 to further improve its performance and user appeal.
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