Not everyone is lucky enough to have a garage to keep their car in and even if you do you may be like me and have too much junk to be able to park your car there. Things like tree sap, especially from pine trees, hail, and exposure to the sun can ruin your car’s paint quickly. If you want to protect your car’s finish from the elements you may want to consider investing in a car cover, however there are some things you need to know before you do this.
A good quality car cover can go a long way in protecting your vehicle’s finish but the wrong cover can ruin it! You can find a good quality cover for your car for under a hundred dollars in most cases so price isn’t a big issue. If you can afford a car that you care about protecting you can afford to cover it.
Posted in Vehicles | Also tagged car reviews, car wax |
If you haven’t taken the leap into the hybrid automobile market you aren’t alone but the owners of hybrid cars are jumping into the green market and leading the way for those of us still driving the regular gas-only engine cars.
Besides getting the tax breaks and other perks for buying hybrids these drivers still are seeking to improve fuel economy. A lot of hybrid owners have stated that even though their hybrids give them better mileage than their previous gas vehicles they are not really satisfied with the fuel economy because they thought the difference would be even more.
Well, not exactly. Porsche isn’t one of the oldest automakers in the world but they have certainly become on of the most prestigious and they have been for quite some time. So when did the company begin?
Some would say that the story begins when Max Hoffman started importing the Porsche to the United States, of course that would be an American point of view. I say the story of Porsche begins with the birth of its founder, Ferdinand Porsche who was born to a tinsmith in the village of Haffersdorf, Germany in 1875.
Posted in Vehicles | Also tagged car reviews, car wax |
What do you think of when you hare the term exotic sports car? Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, or maybe a McLaren. In the truest sense of the term it refers to limited production sports cars made outside of the United States, but built by some of the biggest names in the industry.
The McLaren F1 is one such car. Once the fastest car made at 0-60 in 3.1 seconds, it is also one of the most expensive selling for well over a million dollars. There were only 107 produced from 1994 -1998 and it is very rare that one ever finds its way to market.
If you are like most SUV owners you take a lot of pride in your vehicle and go to great lengths to keep it looking good, but sometimes no matter how safe and careful you are accidents occur. It is especially crucial to choose a quality body shop as an SUV owner just because of the value of the vehicle. If the repairs are not done right it can cost you thousands when you are ready to trade. It is necessary to find a body shop that can bring your vehicle back as close as possible to the condition it was in before the accident.
There are a few factors that can help you to avoid the rip-offs who aren’t much better than a drunk with a spray can, hey come to think of it some of them are drunks with a spray can. Anyway, here are some hints to help you find a good body shop.
Proper car care can save you thousands of dollars a year. If you stick to the right maintenance routine and quick do-it-yourself check ups, you can prevent breakdowns and make your car last longer – or even resell it at a good amount when the time comes.
The key to prolonging the useful life of your car is prevention – plug the leaks and replace parts that need to be replaced even before they break down. Identifying and quickly fixing a problem while it is small keeps it from being overwhelming and saves you a lot of money in the long run.
Most of us think of John DeLorean as the guy behind the gull-wing stainless car from the Back to the Future movies nut the fact of the matter is that his contributions to the automotive world go much farther back than that. DeLorean was actually the creator of the muscle car revolution in the United States. Think of how different the sports car industry would be today if we hadn’t had that era of performance cars.
In 1964 DeLorean was with Pontiac and he made the decision to totally recreate the Tempest using a huge V8 high performance engine. The car became known as the GTO, also nicknamed the Goat by adoring fans and remains to this day one of the all-time favorite muscle cars. The GTO was a big hit for Pontiac sparking off huge sales volume and led other manufacturers to follow suit.
It’s true what they say – if you treat your car well, it will never give you problems. Car breakdowns happen only to people who are neglectful. If you know how to keep you car in top shape, you can expect it to never let you down.
Aside from a regular oil change, battery maintenance, and regular fluid check up, there are also other important car-care routines to keep in mind:
I am going to make a statement that is probably going to shock the car care world. You should never wax your car. Pay attention, wax is for candles and candles only! Wax is designed to melt and melted wax just traps dirt and other contaminates and holds them next to your car’s finish. If someone or something brushes against it you now have tiny scratches all over. This is by far not my only reason for not using wax on cars, read on.
Since January of 2005 when the United States and other governments announced a mandatory reduction in the use of volatile organic compounds or VOCs in manufacturing processes and consumable products there has been a move to look for other products and methods for protecting a car’s finish. Car care products may not be comprised of more than 15% VOC. This is seriously bad news for manufacturers that have built there businesses around Carnauba wax which by its very nature must use large amounts of solvents to make the naturally hard Carnauba soft and pliable so that it can be applied on a vehicle.
When you purchase a new or used car, you will receive a booklet with detailed maintenance schedules for you to follow. Today’s engine has advanced, but there are still details that should be checked regularly. Keeping your car well maintained is the key to preventing breakdowns in dangerous or remote areas. Brake inspections, fluid level checks, oil changes, tire inflation checks, belt checks, and inspection of lights are important.
Proper maintenance should be performed every 3,000 miles. Some times these checks will involve only an oil change. Other times, a more complex check of items including gauges, sensors, and belts is required. You should have your vehicle checked before heading off on vacation.
Next to your house, your car is probably your most expensive property, and it only makes sense to give it the best possible care you can. This means that you need to do more than just the usual check ups and maintenance routines – you also need to regularly take your car to a professional car-care center. How do you choose the best center for your car? Here are some aspects to consider.
Scope and variety of services are important. Choose a car-care center that covers everything your car needs, from transmission maintenance to wheel balancing, to electrical repairs and air-conditioning. You want a one-stop shop for all your car concerns – such a set up can help you save time and money in the long run.
Gas prices today are ridiculous. Many wish for a return to the days when gas was only $.75 a gallon. Unfortunately, those days are over and now gas prices are higher than ever. The prices of gas are hitting people where it hurts; in the pocket and in their social lives. Many families, in an effort to save money, have cut out after school activities and make their kids ride to school with someone else’s mom. Despite the fact that cutting out all the fun in your lives is to help you save money, there are other ways to save at the pump that won’t have you indoors all the time.
A huge reason why some people lose money at the pumps is that they are using the wrong kind of gas. Gas comes in three different levels of octane, regular, high grade, and super. Normally, cars can operate fine on the lower octane level. The regular grade is the cheapest, but when your engine starts to “ping” you should consider upgrading to the next level of octane. The difference in price between the two levels is a few pennies, but when your tank holds 40 gallons of gas, that can be a lot of pennies.
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It’s always a treat when the German automaker, Porsche releases a new 911 model just from an engineering standpoint; I am constantly amazed how after over four decades of production of this iconic speedster Porsche always seems able to deliver something that we haven’t seen before. It is almost like they are the NASA of the automotive world, constantly introducing true innovations to the automotive industry.
The new bodyshell for the 911 is dubbed the 997 and gives us the sexy smooth styling of the 996 body series but is blended with the retro chic look of the earlier 911. The front of the body features rounded lights and independent parking and fog lights. This modification coupled with the wider hip adjustment brings to mind the earlier and now extinct air cooled 911 body which was called the 993. The new look also introduces a new door handle style, wing mirrors, and the rear wings are integrated into the bumper.
Posted in General | Also tagged car wax |
The sheen on a showroom car is the item that many people desire. The mirror finish fascinates people of all ages. There is no doubt that a car waxed by a professional, but you can achieve the same look at home without having to pay for an expensive car detailing.
The most important step is to go online and research the different car wax brands. Some brands are mediocre at best, while more expensive brands may not be worth the money. Consumer Reports magazine actually gave Black Magic and Turtle Wax the highest ratings of all the waxes out there. Stick to nonabrasive waxes for best results.
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If you are thinking about buying a pre-owned sports car there are many things to be concerned about that you don’t have with a new one. A new sports car will come with warranties and guarantees, plus it has no history to have to worry about. Conversely with a used sports car you will typically get an “As Is” statement of no warranty and unless you use a service like car fax you will have no idea about its history and even then you don’t know everything.
Now don’t get me wrong new cars are great and I love some of the latest technological innovations. As a matter of fact, the new electric car from Tesla Motors may have to go on my “must have” list, but older sports cars have a unique character that you can seldom find in a new car. Here are some ways for you to find the car you are looking for without getting burned in the process.