March 2nd, 2010 by Hal Moses
Way back when the Jetsons captured the imaginations of millions on TV, people have had dreams of using flying cars for their daily transportation. However, there hasn’t ever been anything in real life that could even come close to flying cars-until now. In Massachusetts, Terrafugia built the Transition, which took off during the official launch of the company’s $194,000 “roadable aircraft.â€
Basically, that means that this vehicle is a small aircraft that has the capability to travel on public roadways at “highway speedsâ€, and it gets approximately 30 mpg on regular unleaded gas. The range on this vehicle in the air is 460 miles. However, it has a useful load of only 430 pounds, which means that passengers can’t be too overweight, and they can’t pack too heavy.
If you’re interested in this vehicle, you will need a pilot’s license and $194,000. And at that price you might want a good auto warranty. While this is an exciting idea, dropping off Judy, Elroy and Jane before going to work in your flying car is still a ways off.
March 2nd, 2010 by Hal Moses
It can be quite a challenge to find a handicap-accessible vehicle to suit your needs. Also, it can be nearly impossible to sort through newspapers and services online. This is why Rick Shutes started HandicapAutoTrader.com. He wanted to help people who are disabled find suitable vehicles.
HandicapAutoTrader.com is great for buyers and sellers. People who want to buy can search available vehicles at no cost, and contact the website’s staff conveniently through email or phone. Sellers are able to list their cars, with an addition of three images for free.
This website allows consumers to search cars according to the features that they desire. In addition, you can search by categories, such as model, make, year, etc. Also convenient is the feature, “Easy Compare Vehiclesâ€. This lets people compare vehicles side-by-side to get the features and price that they want.
As with any vehicle purchase, it is necessary to do your homework. Make sure to research vehicles, used car warranties, and auto loans before making any decisions. This will allow you to get the best deals.
March 2nd, 2010 by Hal Moses
Thanks to the poor economy, people are skipping the big purchases and becoming disciplined shoppers. Instead of splurging on cars equipped with all of the gizmos, people are holding onto their current rides and purchasing used car warranties. However, with some savvy buying tips, you can get a new car with great features. Here’s how.
First of all, in order to splurge in the cabin, downgrade under the hood. You can purchase a car with a smaller engine and still enjoy the interior upgrades. For example, a Honda Accord that is top-of-the-line comes with heated seats, leather upholstery, dual climate control, and plenty of other comforts, all for $29,000. However, instead of getting the V-6, you can get a four-cylinder for $3,000 less that will also allow you to save on gas.
Also, you can save by ordering options a la carte. Many times, popular options, such as a sunroof or heated seats get bundled together into megapackages that has a lot of features you may not need or want to pay for. So, shop around for cars with smaller packages, or just order the features you really want.
Finally, skip the options that are the most expensive. Features such as entertainment and navigation systems can cost you an extra $2,000. By purchasing a portable DVD player and navigation system you can spend less than $500 combined.
When purchasing a new car it is important to put your money towards necessary things, such as new car warranties, safety features, and maintenance costs. Pick your upgrades wisely to avoid going over your budget.
February 27th, 2010 by Hal Moses
If you’re purchasing a pre-owned car you need to find out as much history as possible about it. The car may have problems that are not apparent from a visual inspection or a test drive.
A car history report is a good way to find out what you’re getting. This is a report prepared by a third party that is a compilation of information from DMVs, RMVs, and other sources. A car history report will give you an overview of what the car has been through.
When getting a car history report look out for the following things. This is not to say that you shouldn’t buy the car based on these issues, but certainly ask questions.
If a car has had a lot of owners, chances are it hasn’t been cared for lovingly. These cars have probably endured more abuse.
Some areas of our country are easier on cars than others. For example, extreme winter conditions are tough on vehicles, as are flood areas and extreme heat.
Make sure the name and description of the car match up with the actual car. Read the description carefully to avoid vehicle fraud.
Car history reports, such as those from CARFAX are comprehensive and can save you from purchasing a lemon. Also, to protect yourself, purchase an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary expenses down the road.
February 27th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Cars need fuel pumps because the gas tank is on the opposite side of the car than the engine. The purpose of the fuel pump is to bring the fuel to the engine.
Fuel pumps come in two varieties. Vehicles that have electronic fuel injection systems use electrical fuel pumps. Carbureted vehicles have mechanical fuel pumps.
The carburetor delivers fuel through a vacuum. Here, the vacuum that brings the mixture of air and fuel to the engine also draws the gas along lines to the engine. But, extra help is needed, so engines that are carbureted have a fuel pump that is mechanical. This pump is located next to the engine of the vehicle.
Electronic fuel injection is a system of delivery in which gas is squirted into the chambers of the engine. The fuel pump is next to, or inside of the gas tank.
Cars with electronic fuel injection typically don’t have the fuel pump fail. However, when it does, the car will start to sputter and eventually die. In addition, it won’t start back up. Just in case this happens, make sure you have a road service program to assist you. You never want to be stranded on the side of the road. Also, an auto warranty will ensure that you don’t have unnecessary repair expenses down the road.
February 27th, 2010 by Hal Moses
The majority of Ford’s models are not only equipped with new car warranties, and numerous safety features, they come with a gas-cap-less fuel tank. Ford is referring to this as “EasyFuel,†which shouldn’t be confused with “FlexFuelâ€, which is when a car can use E85. However, if you get the two mixed up, cars with the EasyFuel system have a warning that E85 won’t flow easily into the gas tank.
When hearing this you may wonder, “Are people too lazy to even screw a gas cap off and on?†but chances are you have actually forgotten a gas cap at a gas station once or twice. And sometimes it can be annoying to remember if your gas cap clicked properly when you turned it.
If you purchase one of the new Fords, you may feel a bit strange just taking the pump in and out without doing anything else. But chances are that you will get used to the convenience after a short time. Oh, and did I mention that the new Fords come with a hefty auto warranty?
February 26th, 2010 by Hal Moses
What do you get if the “hybrid†is taken out of a hybrid pickup truck? In the case of GM, you get the XFE, or Xtra Fuel Economy pickup trucks that are full size. These trucks share a lot of running gear and hardware with their hybrid counterparts; however, the exception is the two mode gas-electric powertrain.
The Chevrolet Silverado XFE and GMC Sierra XFE provide fuel-efficiency ratings of 15/21 mpg for city/highway, in comparison to 21/22 mpg for city/highway for GMs two-mode hybrids and 14/20 mpg for non-XFE pickups that are comparable. That is an approximate 5%-7% improvement over the trucks that are non-XFE.
Models that are XFE only come in two-wheel drive with the E85-capable LC9 5.3-liter V-8 and a six-speed transmission that is automatic. An Aluminum engine block, as well as aluminum cylinder heads is used by the LC9 to save weight. In addition, it has active fuel management in order to change the V-8 between eight-cylinder and four-cylinder modes in order to save fuel.
Consumers are looking to save money on fuel, and GM has delivered. Also, consumers are concerned with purchasing cars with good new car warranties in order to avoid unnecessary repair expenses down the road.
February 26th, 2010 by Hal Moses
You know that the trend for green cars has come of age when Hummer and Lamborghini get in on the picture.
The manufacturers of supercars for $400,000 and high-end SUV’s have realized that they need to keep us with small, efficient car models. People desire lightweight, economical vehicles as opposed to heavy gas-guzzlers.
Lamborghini has an updated version of its Gallardo at $222,000. Its new design is more “green†because it emits less CO2. This is the greenhouse gas that is responsible for the change in the climate.
However, cutting 20 kg off of a 202 mph vehicle is not exactly radical. This is why leading manufacturers, such as Toyota are making a big impact in the car industry. It is hard to truly make a supercar or SUV green, although it is impressive that Hummer and Lamborghini are making a large attempt.
Green or not, whatever car you buy; make sure that you have an auto warranty to protect your investment. You don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary expenses for auto repairs.
February 26th, 2010 by Hal Moses
One of the family activities that are the most fun is going on road trips. Over the spring and summer, American families will go on over 320 trips. Although enjoyable, frustration can accompany families on the road. Take note of the following do’s and don’ts in order to ensure that your family has a great trip.
The most important thing that you can do is to get your family vehicle a tune-up. Your vehicle needs to be in top-notch condition. Nothing is worse than having your car breakdown, leaving you stranded. This is why an auto warranty is a necessity.
You should plan ahead so that your family knows what is happening during the trip. This will alleviate stressful situations and help things to go smoothly. In addition, you might want to purchase software to plan your trip and invest in a GPS. This advanced technology will act as your guide to your desired destination.
Of course, you never know when you will run into speed bumps throughout your trip. For example, road construction and traffic are inevitable. However, your trip doesn’t have to be ruined by these inconveniences. In addition, you can rest assured if you have used car warranties.
February 25th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Due to the poor economy, electric and hybrid cars are in great need these days. However, these cars also will come at a cost. They will strain scarce resources for water, according to a new study.
Every mile that is driven using electricity consumes approximately three times the water than a car using petrol. Sciencedaily reported this.
Michael Webber and Carey King calculated the usage of water, consumption, as well as withdrawal during refining of petroleum and generation of power in the United States.
This does not mean that the impacts on sources of water make the shift undesirable. Instead, the increase in the usage of water resources should be a consideration when people are planning for an automotive economy that is plugged-in.
Every technological advance has potential downfalls. Vehicles that lack petroleum are good in many ways for out environment, and our wallets. Also good for your wallet, is an auto warranty that protects you in case new technology fails. Also, it brings drivers peace of mind.