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	<title>Auto Talk</title>
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	<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:34:10 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Should I Buy An Extended Vehicle Warranty?</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/10/should-i-buy-an-extended-vehicle-warranty-2/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:34:10 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Should I Buy An Extended Vehicle Warranty?    Whether you are purchasing a new or used car, breakdowns can occur. It?s always a worry that you could have major problems such as engine trouble or a transmission that stops shifting, and you suddenly are digging deep into your pockets for the cash to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Should I Buy An Extended Vehicle Warranty?    </b><br />Whether you are purchasing a new or used car, breakdowns can occur. It?s always a worry that you could have major problems such as engine trouble or a transmission that stops shifting, and you suddenly are digging deep into your pockets for the cash to repair it. So the question that arises often is ?Should I Buy An Extended Vehicle Warranty?? There are always pros and cons. An extended vehicle warranty adds to your total cost, but over the long run it can also be very beneficial especially if a big breakdown occurs. A vehicle extended warranty is a contract between a vehicle warranty company and you. It isn?t an insurance policy even though most people think of it as one. It is actually the most profitable service a car dealer sells, but it can also be very beneficial to the consumer. When you buy a new car you get the manufacturers warranty. Then, for a specific fee, you can extend that warranty. If you tend to keep your vehicles longer than the period of the original warranty purchasing the extended warranty can make good sense. If however you tend to trade your vehicles in every few years, the purchase of the extended warranty would probably not be beneficial. When it comes to used vehicles, some dealers will offer a 30 day warranty and then offer to sell you an extended warranty. There are many companies that are now offering extended warranty coverage on used vehicles. Purchasing an extended warranty is a great way to give you peace of mind. You can protect your investment and your pocket book from unexpected costs. Extended warranties usually offer the same benefits as your new car warranty. This means that no matter where you travel within North America your warranty will cover you. Some extended warranties cover just the powertrain, while others cover bumper to bumper. Be sure to check with your dealer or read your policy. As an added bonus, almost all extended warranties offer 24 hour roadside assistance. Roadside assistance includes gas drops, flat tire changes, locksmith, and towing benefits. You may also get benefits such as vehicle replacement in the event of a breakdown along with accommodation expenses. Filing claims is a simple process. Many dealers simply require you to provide proof of coverage. Normally you are issued a coverage card. If you are dealing with your local dealership, chances are you are in their computer system. On used vehicles you usually are required to pay the costs and then submit the bill for reimbursement. Different plans have different deductibles. Don?t buy your extended warranty coverage by price alone. More doesn?t mean better; but then again cheap can mean that many repairs are exempt so read the fine print and read the entire policy carefully before signing on the dotted line. With so many companies offering extended warranty coverage online and through dealers, it?s important you are sure that the company is reputable. If your extended warranty comes from Ford or GM it?s pretty straightforward; but otherwise you?ll want to make sure you are dealing with a well funded company. Whether you should buy extended vehicle warranty coverage is really a personal choice, but good coverage can be beneficial. If there?s one thing for certain, vehicles will break down. It?s just a matter of when. Gray Rollins is a writer for automotive websites. Visit us for more &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.mcgeeautosales.com/extendedvehicleswarranties/&#34;&gt;extended vehicle warranty tips&lt;/a&gt; and be sure to check out our site about &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.pellauto.com/luxuryvehicleauctions/&#34;&gt;luxury vehicle auctions&lt;/a&gt;.    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>Understanding Your Auto Warranty    </b><br />The auto warranty is something everyone thinks about when they are purchasing a car, but few of these people realize that they need to think about it after that as well. You go into a dealership, which convinces you to purchase an auto that is perfect for you. What seals the deal, in many cases, is the fact that the auto has an auto warranty on it. You think that they could not or would not offer a warranty on a product that wasn&#8217;t up to standards. So, you purchase your car and get your auto warranty. Regardless of the car, the make or model number, you simply shove that auto warranty into the glove box and call it done. But, what you need to do is to know what is covered on that warranty, what you need to do to get those services, and what you need to do to keep that warranty up to date. Getting the information that you need to make a decision about your auto warranty is also important. For many people, they may not even realize that they should read the thing! You would be surprised at what is and isn&#8217;t covered in that warranty. If you have one and you haven&#8217;t read it, dig it out and get going. What you will want to know first of all is what things it cover. Does the auto warranty cover things such as parts and oil changes? Does it cover the tires, brakes and the body work? Now that you know that, do you know what to do to get the services that it covers? Read on. Learn where you will need to go to get these services, if there will be any fee and what happens if you don&#8217;t go to the right location. Lastly, you also want to know about the auto warranty expiration date if there is one. In some cases, you may actually be able to increase that amount of time by purchasing a warranty extension. The auto warranty can offer many things after all. For more information please see &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.auto-warranty-help.co.uk&#34; target=&#34;_blank&#34;&gt;http://www.auto-warranty-help.co.uk&lt;/a&gt;    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>Tire Safety: How Old Is Too Old?    </b><br />When thinking about tire safety, it is important to consider two things: age and use.  Vehicles driven daily are typically driven 15,000 miles a year.  But there are situations where cars put on even fewer miles.  This includes: being driven only on the weekends, never driving in the rain,    show    cars, and cars that are stored for extended periods of time.  So, some tires on these types of cars put on less than 100,000.  But it doesn   t mean that they are safe tires.  Tires deteriorate over time and can    age out    wear out before they wear out.   In a statement from the British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) issued on June 5, 2001 regarding the age of tires they state, &#8220;BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tires should not be put into service if they are over 6 years old and that all tires should be replaced 10 years from the date of their manufacture.&#8221; Tire age can be accelerated by a variety of environmental factors, such as sunlight exposure and coastal climates.  Poor storage and infrequent use of your vehicle are other things that can accelerate tire age.  If you keep your tires in ideal conditions, the tire age can go as high as 10 years from its manufacture date.  But ideal conditions are the exception rather than the rule. And the worst part is that you cannot tell the safety of an old tire just by looking at it since there are no conclusive tests for the safety of tires without destroying the tire itself!   Due to this, some European car manufacturers of high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans have hedged their bets, stating in their owners manuals that the tire age should reach no higher than 6 years.   How Better Rubber Makes Tires That Are Safe  There have been a lot of changes in rubber compounds since Charles Goodyear discovered how to cure rubber when he baked a combination of natural rubber and sulfur on his family   s kitchen stove.  Thus, he would convert an unappreciated raw material into many useful products. Goodyear cross-linked sulfur with polymers that, when exposed to heat, would help make rubber durable and at the same time maintain its elasticity. The main focus of new research has been finding tire age inhibitors.  Sulfur molecules are one such tire age inhibitor that is reactivated every time they are exposed to heat, making the rubber harder.  Nowadays, rubber in tires has oil in it that tends to migrate into the tires    under tread/casing and evaporate into the air. In the process of this, the tire compound releases oil and gets harder.  If you can   t quite visualize this, go into any tire store and take a big whiff.  You   ll smell the oil there.    Before curing, most tires are coated with a mold release agent that is makes it easier to remove from their mold after curing.  If it   s a little hard to visualize, think about spraying    Pam    on a fry pan before pouring on the batter for pancakes.     This increases the safety of tires because some of the mold release agent gets    cooked    onto the surface of the cured tire, which prevents all the oil from evaporating.   What Is The Right Tire Age?  In most cases, most street tires are good for 6-8 years if maintained properly. Don   t forget though that this includes the time the tires spent from the manufacturer   s plant to the dealer to you.  So, keep this in mind when you are determining tire age.  Most tires get to you anywhere between 3-6 months.  Some stay longer with the tire manufacturer, but generally all tires that go on your car are less than a year old.  So, you should not get an old tire from any tire manufacturer.  Which Tires Last Longest?   If you want to buy a tire based on how long it will last, you have to consider thread compound.  The more aggressive its compound     the shorter tire life. Below is a list of tires from longest-lasting to shortest-lasting:   Max Performance Ultra High Performance tires DOT-legal competition tires   Bottom line: if you want to avoid safe tire issues go with tires that last long and properly maintain them.Bob Martin says    Don   t buy any new tires until you take a serious look at this today  http://www.discount-tires-online.com/TireRatings/tire-rating-guide.htm     This article is a copyrighted work and does not come with reprint or resale rights and may not be altered or changed in any way including the resource box. The site owner acknowledges that by using this article they accept this condition. The only exception being to bold the appropriate copy i.e. headlines and subhead text.     <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>For Better Gas Mileage, Have a Better Car</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/09/for-better-gas-mileage-have-a-better-car-5/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/09/for-better-gas-mileage-have-a-better-car-5/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:55:56 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[For Better Gas Mileage, Have a Better Car    In today&#8217;s world of contemporary society, we have many cartels and monopolies, but the one, which stands out for being the most profitable, most effective, and most powerful is the one involving oil.  This is the main reason why oil prices continues to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>For Better Gas Mileage, Have a Better Car    </b><br />In today&#8217;s world of contemporary society, we have many cartels and monopolies, but the one, which stands out for being the most profitable, most effective, and most powerful is the one involving oil.  This is the main reason why oil prices continues to escalate in the market area. On a global basis, this high-pricing of oil is considered as a worldwide dilemma.  Hence, in order to cut down extra cost in gas or fuel consumption and have a better gas mileage, it is a must for every driver to understand and employ the different ways on how to maximize their fuel consumption with a lower cost so as to achieve a better gas mileage. Here&#8217;s how:  1. Check your filter.  One of the most important factors that affects your chance of getting a better gas mileage is your car&#8217;s air filter. In order to have a better gas mileage, it is important to know and maintain you car&#8217;s performance by checking on its air filters. Clean air filters gives the machine&#8217;s performance a considerable boost enabling it to travel farther with a lesser fuel consumption and a better gas mileage.  2. Inspect your tires regularly.  Tires in good condition can also contribute to a better gas mileage. The tires condition directly affects your car&#8217;s gas mileage when the tire is &#8220;under-inflated&#8221;. It tends to make your car run relatively slower than its usual pace but increases your probability of getting a better gas mileage.  3. Remove excess weight.  Based on the common belief of many, light cars do travel faster. And so, in order to have a better gas mileage, be sure to always check on things in your compartment that are no longer needed.  4. Change oil regularly.  It is very important to have a regular oil change. Usually, a car has to exert more effort if it has to wrestle with a dirty oil, thus, it consumes more gas. So, a regular oil change will enable you car to run smoothly and, therefore, acquire a better gas mileage.  5. Check your carburetor.  Carburetors can also affect your car&#8217;s fuel consumption simply because car&#8217;s exert more effort when grappling with a dirty carburetor. In this instance, your car is consuming more gas than you can imagine. And so, it&#8217;s better to have a cleaner carburetor in order to have a better gas mileage.  6. Cut air conditioner usage.  Air conditioners can also increase fuel consumption and lessen the possibility of getting a better gas mileage because it uses extra strength to power up the compressor that boost the air conditioner&#8217;s performance. If this is the case, then it will be impossible for you to have a better gas mileage. So, in order to cut down additional fuel consumption, do not use air conditioner especially when you are driving in a highway. After all, natural air is still the best for your health.  7. Slow down.  Do you believe in the old saying, &#8220;Slowly but surely?&#8221; It is highly applicable to driving. Normally, when you drive faster, you tend to put more stress on the gas pedals, right? And because you increase your speed by hitting hard on your gas pedals, you are also increasing your car&#8217;s consumption on fuel. In doing so, you will have a difficulty in achieving a better gas mileage.  All of these conservation tips boils down to one common point, the better car you have and the slower you drive your car, the better gas mileage you have.Ken Reno is the owner of http://www.CheapGasIsGone.com     <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>Save Money On Gas: Driving    </b><br />How you drive your car can determine how much money you will save on gas. Here are some tips on how to save money on gas when driving your car.   If you have a standard transmission you should always drive in the highest gear possible.   In many cars gas efficiency will go down by 10% if you have the air conditioner running while you are moving. If you have a lower   temperature setting on your A/C, use it.  Run the A/C until the interior gets cooled down and then turn it off and let the fan   circulate the cool air.  You should never run your AC with your windows open.  Cars that were built after 1990 don   t need to warm up before driving in the morning. For the first five minutes of driving, don&#8217;t   exceed 35 mph.  The engine actually warms up better if it is driving instead of idling in your driveway.  Driving the speed limit will help you out as well&#8230; maybe as much as 10%.  Accelerate slowly when you are leaving a stoplight. The fastest person through the intersection just gets to spend more money on   gas. If you follow the tip of driving in high gear, you won&#8217;t be accelerating all that much anyway.  Try buying 87-octane gasoline (Regular). Read your car manual. Some vehicle advertisements tell you to use premium gasoline,   but the owner&#8217;s manual actually says that 87 is fine.  Turn the engine off when you&#8217;re stuck at a light or waiting for a train to pass or when you don&#8217;t expect to move for a few minutes. When the engine is idling and not moving, you end up with 0 mpg.  Revving the engine is a huge waste of time and gas as well. Unless there is a mechanical problem with your car, there is no need   to do this before you turn your vehicle off.  If there is a mechanical problem, consider fixing it before it turns into a more   expensive problem later on.  Following these tips can give you an advantage over gas prices at the pump.Olivia is a writer with over fifteen years writing video scripts and webcopy.  She authors several websites and blogs. for more information on how to save money on gas &lt;a href=&#34;http://milagecare.myffi.biz&#34;&gt;click here!&lt;/a&gt;      <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>10 Tips for Improving Fuel Efficiency    </b><br />10 Tips for Improving Fuel Efficiency 1] Slow Down On The highway Your car is optimized to drive at 40-60mph(80-100km/hr), when you drive 70-80+mph fuel efficiency drops by up to a whooping 33% . Yes 33% , that is not a typo. I had heard this before and thought it was an exaggeration, then I drove the new Chevrolet Cobalt which has a fuel efficiency gauge in it and I saw it first hand, what a surprise. Is it worth speeding to save 5 minutes off your commute to work so you can just get held up in city traffic? Between the lost fuel efficiency, the extra wear and tear on the car driving beyond optimized speeds and inherent safety concerns I will need a good reason to start speeding on the highway from now on. 2] Cruise In The City The same idea applies in city driving. Speeding up to make the next red light guzzles gas and is hard on your car. This can decrease fuel efficiency by 5%. Why hurry up just to make the next red light? Let&#8217;s face it, speeding in the city doesn&#8217;t get you anywhere&#8217;s faster. If you drive like a bat out of hell you might make an extra light or two and chop a mere 2-4 minutes off your commute assuming you make it there alive. I drive at sane speeds throughout the city while most others fly by me and hard brake at the next red light, I then pull up beside them or even pass them as I may not of needed to stop as the lights are usually synchronized for sane driving speeds not surprisingly (it also takes more gas to get back up to speed than to maintain it). So have some fun watching people fly by you and seeing them at the next red light knowing your car is much better off. 3] Tire Pressure Here&#8217;s one everyone can do easily. It only takes a couple minutes to check your tires pressure. Under inflated tires can result in 3% less fuel efficiency. 4] Link Your Trips/Errands Plan your trip to include as many destinations or errands as possible. Fewer trips means less cold starts, better fuel efficiency and less driving than multiple small trips. 5] Avoid Unnecessary Idling. You&#8217;re getting 0 mpg for this one. If you&#8217;re going to wait 5-10 minutes for a friend give your car and wallet a break. For those who live in colder climates this is a bigger issue. We all want our cars toasty warm in the winter time when we get inside. Today&#8217;s cars really only needs 30 second of idling to warm up even in cold weather, then 1-2 minutes of driving to get it fully warmed up. So bundle up and save yourself a bundle. 6] Maintain Your Car Inexpensive oil and air filter changes can boost your cars performance and increase your cars lifespan. A blocked air filter can decrease fuel efficiency by as much as 10% and a misfiring spark plug won&#8217;t help either. So try to follow your cars service manual.. It beats dealing with an unexpected major repair and major inconvenience.. 7] Monitor Your Fuel efficiency I like to measure how many miles / KM I get on half a tank after filling it up. It&#8217;s easier to measure this way as we don&#8217;t let our gas tanks completely run dry and its impossible to estimate how much was left when you fill it up again. You can see how your driving habits affect your fuel economy and if your habits haven&#8217;t changed and you fuel economy drops off, then maybe its time for some car maintenance. Purchasing a fuel consumption gauge (if you car doesn&#8217;t already have one) can give you real time feedback and more accurate reading. This provides great instant feedback on driving habits. 8] Remove Unnecessary Items From Your Car For each extra 100lbs you lose 1-2% fuel efficiency, so get the golf clubs out of the trunk until your next tee off time. Leaving items on your roof rack also creates extra drag which makes your car work harder, so lock your mountain bikes up till the next trip. 9] Jack Rabbit Starts Some people like to suddenly accelerate by putting their foot to the floor. This guzzles gas and gives marginal speed improvement to a gradual acceleration. 10] Back Off Tail gating results in unnecessary breaking and accelerating. Hang back a little more and you can avoid the added stress and save some gas. It&#8217;s also safer to drive this way, give yourself an extra second to avoid an accident ! Paul Fezziwig writes for and administers &#39;Green Cars Now&#39;, http://www.greencarsnow.com , a website devoted to promoting fuel efficient vehicles and better driving habits.     <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>4 Ways to Get Out of Your Auto Lease</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/08/4-ways-to-get-out-of-your-auto-lease-7/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/08/4-ways-to-get-out-of-your-auto-lease-7/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:13:56 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[4 Ways to Get Out of Your Auto Lease  There are times when unforeseen circumstances may result in the need for an auto lease termination  Whether it&#8217;s because of relocation, job loss or financial hardship if you need to get out of your vehicle lease there are options for you  . .Check [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>4 Ways to Get Out of Your Auto Lease </b><br /> There are times when unforeseen circumstances may result in the need for an auto lease termination  Whether it&#8217;s because of relocation, job loss or financial hardship if you need to get out of your vehicle lease there are options for you  . .Check your lease agreement to see if there are any restrictions on terminating your auto lease  Some lease companies will not allow you to terminate the lease in the first or last month of the lease contract  . .Be sure you review all the lease termination options carefully as some are more costly then others  . .1  Turn In The Lease Auto .You can simply return the lease vehicle to dealership before the lease expires  You are responsible for the remainder of the lease payments as well as any excess mileage or excess wear and tear of the vehicle  Since you are still on the hook for the remaining lease payments this may not be the best option for you if you are in a financial bind  . .2  Repossess The Auto .In this situation you simply return the lease vehicle to the finance company and walk away without paying the remaining lease payments  This is not a good option as it maybe a short term solution to a financial situation but the end result is a damaged credit score  In the future you will be unable to obtain credit or will end up paying very high interest rates for credit products  . .3  Auto Lease Buyout .If you have sufficient funds to purchase the vehicle, this maybe a good option for you  You will have the option to keep the vehicle or re-selling it  Depending on where you live sales taxes may need to be paid during the transaction  . .4  Auto Lease Transfer .This is one of the most cost effective and popular ways of terminating an auto lease  Check your ease agreement to see if there are any restrictions on vehicle transfers  The process is quite simple  Find someone who is credit worthy and willing to takeover the lease  They pay a transfer fee and the lease vehicle is theirs . <br /><i>Source: www.rsstnx.com</i></p>
<p><b>How Cost Effective Are Hybrid Cars?    </b><br />There seems to be no stopping the oil companies, as the price at the pumps continues to rise to astronomical heights for a myriad of reasons, valid or not. Civil wars in Nigeria, international conflicts in Iraq, hurricanes and other storms at home and abroad are all reasons gas companies posit to defend their outrageous gouging. In the face of rising gas costs, many consumers are beginning to consider the option of a hybrid vehicle- one which operates on both gas and electricity. All of the models of hybrid car will save money in terms of gas expenditures, but are they really effective when all of the costs of maintenance and other considerations are factored in? Right off the bat, consider the cost of buying a hybrid vehicle. Depending on the model, hybrid vehicles can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 more than the equivalent non-hybrid model. These prices need to be stacked up against the savings that a hybrid car owner would gain in gas, factoring in the mileage needed. One report by Edmunds, for example, shows that huge price increases in the cost of gas would need to take place, or the vehicle owner would need to put on some serious mileage, in order for the hybrid models to gain a sufficient price saving advantage when stacked up against initial purchases. The one exception in the study was the Toyota Prius, which compared very effectively in terms of initial cost with the Camry model. The consumer watchdog points out, however, that as the hybrid cars become increasingly more available as a reflection of demand the prices can be expected to drop, making them more cost effective when it comes to an initial investment. Also important to keep in mind is the fact that the hybrid cars have a much more specialized system than the standard vehicle, and will therefore require a more specialized mechanic when it comes time for any repairs. Most consumer report features consider hybrid cars to require an investment of at least five years in order to break even as far as initial costs go, and do not take into account the possibilities of damage that requires fixing to the power train of the vehicles. It seems as though, at least for the time being, the purchase of a hybrid vehicle for the average consumer may not be the best option when it comes to saving money. It is important to keep several things in mind, however, when considering purchasing a hybrid model. Many consumers are choosing to purchase these cars because they represent a significant development in terms of environmental concerns over standard models. They also mean that as a whole, Western nations will become less dependent on oil as the sole means of power. Finally, it is imperative to keep in mind that the hybrid car is a very new technology. Developed only within the last few years, the technology is still in the infant stages, where costs will continue to be high. Hybrid cars also have only a small percentage of the market right now as well. As time passes, the development of the hybrid technology will begin to push prices down to the point where hybrids are more than competitive with the traditionally fueled models of the past. Frank Little is a hybrid car enthusiast and maintains a website with &lt;a href=&#34;http://yourhybridcars.com&#34;&gt;hybrid car forums&lt;/a&gt;.    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>How Cost Effective Are Hybrid Cars?</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/08/how-cost-effective-are-hybrid-cars-5/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/08/how-cost-effective-are-hybrid-cars-5/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:11:59 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/08/how-cost-effective-are-hybrid-cars-5/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How Cost Effective Are Hybrid Cars?    There seems to be no stopping the oil companies, as the price at the pumps continues to rise to astronomical heights for a myriad of reasons, valid or not. Civil wars in Nigeria, international conflicts in Iraq, hurricanes and other storms at home and abroad are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>How Cost Effective Are Hybrid Cars?    </b><br />There seems to be no stopping the oil companies, as the price at the pumps continues to rise to astronomical heights for a myriad of reasons, valid or not. Civil wars in Nigeria, international conflicts in Iraq, hurricanes and other storms at home and abroad are all reasons gas companies posit to defend their outrageous gouging. In the face of rising gas costs, many consumers are beginning to consider the option of a hybrid vehicle- one which operates on both gas and electricity. All of the models of hybrid car will save money in terms of gas expenditures, but are they really effective when all of the costs of maintenance and other considerations are factored in? Right off the bat, consider the cost of buying a hybrid vehicle. Depending on the model, hybrid vehicles can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 more than the equivalent non-hybrid model. These prices need to be stacked up against the savings that a hybrid car owner would gain in gas, factoring in the mileage needed. One report by Edmunds, for example, shows that huge price increases in the cost of gas would need to take place, or the vehicle owner would need to put on some serious mileage, in order for the hybrid models to gain a sufficient price saving advantage when stacked up against initial purchases. The one exception in the study was the Toyota Prius, which compared very effectively in terms of initial cost with the Camry model. The consumer watchdog points out, however, that as the hybrid cars become increasingly more available as a reflection of demand the prices can be expected to drop, making them more cost effective when it comes to an initial investment. Also important to keep in mind is the fact that the hybrid cars have a much more specialized system than the standard vehicle, and will therefore require a more specialized mechanic when it comes time for any repairs. Most consumer report features consider hybrid cars to require an investment of at least five years in order to break even as far as initial costs go, and do not take into account the possibilities of damage that requires fixing to the power train of the vehicles. It seems as though, at least for the time being, the purchase of a hybrid vehicle for the average consumer may not be the best option when it comes to saving money. It is important to keep several things in mind, however, when considering purchasing a hybrid model. Many consumers are choosing to purchase these cars because they represent a significant development in terms of environmental concerns over standard models. They also mean that as a whole, Western nations will become less dependent on oil as the sole means of power. Finally, it is imperative to keep in mind that the hybrid car is a very new technology. Developed only within the last few years, the technology is still in the infant stages, where costs will continue to be high. Hybrid cars also have only a small percentage of the market right now as well. As time passes, the development of the hybrid technology will begin to push prices down to the point where hybrids are more than competitive with the traditionally fueled models of the past. Frank Little is a hybrid car enthusiast and maintains a website with &lt;a href=&#34;http://yourhybridcars.com&#34;&gt;hybrid car forums&lt;/a&gt;.    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>Beware! Don   t get cheated in Gas stations</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/07/beware-don-t-get-cheated-in-gas-stations-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/07/beware-don-t-get-cheated-in-gas-stations-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:42:05 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Auto Talk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/07/beware-don-t-get-cheated-in-gas-stations-2/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Beware! Don   t get cheated in Gas stations    Nowadays everyone has their one vehicle either it may be car or bike, but this makes your need to visit gas stations everyday to fuel up. Since the fast growing automobile population and demand for fuel enriches the petrol pump revenues, there [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Beware! Don   t get cheated in Gas stations    </b><br />Nowadays everyone has their one vehicle either it may be car or bike, but this makes your need to visit gas stations everyday to fuel up. Since the fast growing automobile population and demand for fuel enriches the petrol pump revenues, there is another stream of underground cheats going around in both major and minor cities around Asia. The technique or cheat seemed to be a black trick way of stealing your valuable penny without your consent. According to my research more than 100 customers in each city have been cheated by this trick including me. These cheats have been playing around with or without the petrol pump owner   s concern. No man is so foolish but he may sometimes give another good counsel, and no man so wise that he may not easily err if he takes no other counsel than his own. He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master. Behind the scene: How actually these workers in gas stations cheat you? Its basically the mode of tactics that when you want to fuel up your vehicle for more than 100 rupees you tend to say in your usual low voice to fill up the tank for same but the worker intentionally seem like unheard and fills up the tank just for 40 or below. So you began to argue him that you wanted it up for 100 or something you asked. This time the worker just presses up a non functional button in the machine showing you up like he was tarring up the count but it remains the same and he fills up the other 60 rupees saying that he has already filled up for forty. You pay him 100 rupees for petrol worth 60 rupees. Also some of them turn your attention down by talking some interesting subjects turning your attention away from the counter. This is all happening because of poor technical knowledge and unawareness of the people. How to be protective from their cheats? Be narrow and cautious while in the petrol bunk and do aware about the counts in the machine. Be frank and bold to ask about your queries. Don   t get diverted or give attention to their talks. Follow the quote Cut and Rate. This is your rights and no one   s gonna kick you out. Feel free to complaint to the nearest police station or the petrol bunk owner about the cheat. If none of them works then blog about it like I do so that people will be aware about it. Member of Money Making Forex Forum http://talkgold.com/forum and http://thehyipforum.com    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>Advantages Of Diesel Engines    </b><br />If you wanted to own a new car powered by a diesel engine or if you own one now, you no doubt appreciate   the qualities this engine provides you with. More torque, better fuel economy, and easier maintenance are but   a few of the attributes of owning diesel powered vehicles  .   However, there are some motorists that still complain about the engine&#8217;s weak power, especially when   accelerating from a full stop. What you may not be aware of is the fact that a diesel     engine can be tweaked to   give more power without harming the fuel economy  .   New diesel engines cars use air compression to create combustion versus the fuel/air mixture that is required   by gas engines. This attribute means that diesel engines don&#8217;t require spark plugs     and therefore don&#8217;t need to   be tuned up  .  Diesel fuel has a much high fuel density than gas, which results in fuel economy increases of 20 - 30% over   gasoline powered vehicles  .  Diesel engines are also cheaper to maintain as they have less parts than that of a gasoline powered engine.   The life span of a diesel engine is also much longer  .  If you&#8217;re looking for torque, for pulling a     boat or other equipment, then the diesel     engine has the supreme   advantage. Diesel engines are surely slower, especially when starting from a dead stop, although when you   climb hills or go over bridges, the diesel engine is surely up to the task  .  With new trucks, diesel is normally the leader over gas engines in terms of performance and miles per gallon.   Diesel trucks will get     more miles than gas trucks, and the price for diesel is a bit cheaper than gas these days  .       And with gas prices on the rise, diesel will continue to dominate for a long time to come  .  http://www.new-carpurchase.blogspot.comDiesel engines are also cheaper to maintain as they have less parts than that of a gasoline powered engine.   The life span of a diesel engine is also much longer  .  If you&#8217;re looking for torque, for pulling a     boat or other equipment, then the diesel     engine has the supreme   advantage. Diesel engines are surely slower, especially when starting from a dead stop, although when you   climb hills or go over bridges, the diesel engine is surely up to the task  .  With new trucks, diesel is normally the leader over gas engines in terms of performance and miles per gallon.   Diesel trucks will get     more miles than gas trucks, and the price for diesel is a bit cheaper than gas these days  .       And with gas prices on the rise, diesel will continue to dominate for a long time to come  .   http://www.new-carpurchase.blogspot.com    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>Houston Craigslist Cars</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/06/houston-craigslist-cars-8/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/06/houston-craigslist-cars-8/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:48:13 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Houston Craigslist Cars    Houston Craigslist cars is a rapidly growing trend for on-line used cars shopping. I will start by briefly introducing Craigslist to those unfamiliar with it, then will focus on Houston Craigslist cars. Craigslist, a local community for classifieds and forums that targeted started in early 1995, and 8 years [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Houston Craigslist Cars    </b><br />Houston Craigslist cars is a rapidly growing trend for on-line used cars shopping. I will start by briefly introducing Craigslist to those unfamiliar with it, then will focus on Houston Craigslist cars. Craigslist, a local community for classifieds and forums that targeted started in early 1995, and 8 years later became the 7th most visited website on the world wide web. It basically follows the concept of the classifieds section in your local newspapers. The listings are posted by product sellers, and service providers, then browsed by those interested in the products or services. Some think of it a virtual swap meet or flee market. An advantage that puts the website over traditional methods, and other virtual shopping centers is that as of July 2007 the listings are free, therefore the seller doesn&#8217;t have to raise the price to compensate for the listing cost, and that you can also use it to try and sell, or trade your own car for free. I have personally listed cars for sale on craiglist, and have also bought cars, car parts, and even show tickets. However, I was very caution, because there were no guarantees what so ever, and the seller had nothing to worry about such as a rating or a craiglist reputation. The seller can write anything about the car, and if the buyers is not willing to do their homework and research about this specific car, once a bill of sale is made, and and AS IS form is signed the seller is not liable for anything, especially that they can claim the description was to the best of their knowledge. I have personally contacted sellers and inquired about their cars, pretending not to know much about the car, and as you would expect, some immoral dealers, or private sellers to advantage of it, and tried as much as possible to hide information until their faced with it. I have decided to dedicate a series of articles to educate the car shoppers about Houston Craigslist cars. I will include the scams to watch out for, how to research the history of the car listed, and the different tricks the car dealers are using to take advantage of the search mechanism. Visit the section I dedicated my website you are interested in obtaining more information about Houston craigslist cars.    Copyright - 2007 Khalid R. Mustaffa The owner of &lt;a target=&#34;_new&#34; href=&#34;http://www.cars-in-houston.com&#34;&gt;cars in Houston&lt;/a&gt; The website is dedicated to linking used cars buyers and sellers in Houston, and educating the public on cars, and how to avoid mistakes, and achieve success when purchasing cars. Visit the website if you interested in &lt;a target=&#34;_new&#34; href=&#34;http://www.cars-in-houston.com/houston-craigslist-cars.html&#34;&gt;houston craigslist cars&lt;/a&gt;     <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>truck mounted crane and liftgates review    </b><br />Lift Gate Review June 19, 2007 Word count 1800Finally a new technology other then a wobbly old eye sore liftgate. Lets face it, a lot of us have used a lift gate at one point in time and they can make you feel quite uncomfortable with there jerking motion. For a long time you had only one choice , Tommy gates or Tommy lifts. finally there patent ran out and then their was maxon,leyman and many others to follow.Finally Ezy Lifts was invented. It is a unique Lift gate that requires no wheels under your load. It can also pull your load to you with its winch. The great thing is, you can actually put your load in your truck with one person. You can also load a pipe at 22ft long.This really gives you a hand over any lift gate. No ordinary lift can do this!Imagine , one man to a truck not two. That really is a money saver. Here is a real interview with a ex Halliburton Employee:Ezy Lift Ranks as a truck bed hoist and has been called many other names ( yes good ones). More and More people are understanding the importance and the versatility. I did a interview with a customer who was buying multiple pickup truck cranes, truck bed lifts, lift gates and &#8221; truck mounted cranes&#8221;: Jeff Harden now President of Tomahawk Engineering in Athens, Texas said his decision was simple: When he worked for Halliburton He ran a big crew. He gave his workers the choice of a pickup truck crane , truck bed hoist, lift gate or an Ezy Lift. He said, &#8220;In just a few weeks it was obvious who the winner was! All the guys that had the lift gates , or hoist had to borrow the guys truck with a Ezy Lift at one point in time&#8221;.&#8221; All the guys that had the Ezy lift never once had to borrow the other guys trucks.The fact is , the Ezy Lift will do just to many other things the Regular lift gate will not&#8221;. No more waiting hours for a back hoe or cherry picker to remove my 800 lb drill bit. I can drop it anywhere I get my truck now, this has saved me hundreds of hours. It is a truck mounted crane that works like a lift gate only better. MUCH bette&#8221;r.Compared to Tommy gates or Tommy lifts The Ezy Lift out does them with weight in two categories. one it weighs less and two it lifts more weight. It also out does them in the field. Ezy Lift works with one person. Tommy gates and Tommy lifts require 2 people quite a bit. Another advantage is safety and the fact Ezy Lift can lift Long loads. Lifting a 12 ft pipe makes it 6 ft from middle to end. A lift gate there is now way to put anything that has to much weight sticking over the edge.The decision was simple. http://www.123lift.com Author Michael Harper About the author:  Michael Harper has been an entrepreneur since his first landscaping business at age 11.He had his first Million dollar corporation at age 25.    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>Toyota Corolla The Car For You</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/05/toyota-corolla-the-car-for-you-6/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/05/toyota-corolla-the-car-for-you-6/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:54:08 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Toyota Corolla   The Car For You   If you are in the market for a car at all you should be steering yourself in the direction of the nearest Japanese used car dealership to check out the Toyota Corolla  The best-selling nameplate in automotive history, this small sedan has been recognized [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Toyota Corolla   The Car For You  </b><br /> If you are in the market for a car at all you should be steering yourself in the direction of the nearest Japanese used car dealership to check out the Toyota Corolla  The best-selling nameplate in automotive history, this small sedan has been recognized as the &#8216;quintessential economy car&#8217;  Now available only in a sedan, when this vehicle was first introduced to American in the late 1960s, it was available in body styles such as the wagon, coupe, hatchback and sedan  Reviewers and consumers alike have rated this vehicle dependable  Keeping up with the oil changes will maintain the vehicle and the vehicle will far surpass the 100,000 mile mark  . .Available in five trim levels, this Japanese used car has something for every consumer  The five trim levels range from base, LE, S, XLE and XRS  The base models are basic; they are well-equipped but lack power accessories  The next trim level up, the LE, offers the power accessories  The S model is sportier than the other models  The XLE model is the most luxurious variation of the Toyota Corolla  While the XLE maintains the small sedan feel, this variation of trim level offers a larger engine and sport-tuned suspension  . . .This vehicle is known around the world for its fuel economy  A 1 8 liter four-cylinder engine, recognized for its efficiency, is used in the vehicle  At the same time, the manufacturer uses a 132-horsepower power plant which makes the car a little faster while maintaining the economic fuel aspect of the car  .The average consumer will be pleased by this Japanese used car  While there is nothing flashy about the Toyota Corolla, the ride is quiet and smooth, and the layout is simple and organized  This is a truly good choice for a small sedan . <br /><i>Source: www.rsstnx.com</i></p>
<p><b>Trade&#39;r in? Yup! Nope! Whaaat?    </b><br />When trading a vehicle there are four categories that will clearly affect the value of your vehicle; (1) Current market value. This is an adjustment amount to the book value that is made by the vehicle appraiser and occurs when there are real time changes in the market that are not readily reflected in current book values. One powerful example is the energy crisis that&nbsp;came along in the fall of 1973. Many consumers panicked (mildly) and began trading their gas hogs for fuel efficient smaller vehicles. As the extent of the crisis and&nbsp;its duration were unknown, and there were no real predictions as to the short and long term effects, most dealers looked on the gas hogs with an eye of concern, specifically in relation&nbsp;to their dollar value. I counseled many buyers during that time, encouraging them to be patient and wait it out. Most of them, nearly all, traded anyway. They received as little as 50% of the book value for their gas hogs and paid over retail in many cases to purchase&nbsp;a fuel efficient vehicle. Many of those people returned to the market within a short period of time and traded their fuel sippers for gas hogs. Again, values were adjusted to allow for the glut of small vehicles on the dealers lot. There are always current market value adjustments whether just at a dealership, in a city, an area, a state, a region, or across the country. These adjustments&nbsp;may be as simple as a dealership being overstocked with used vehicles due to some internal problem; therefore the dealer has to pay less for vehicles currently being traded in. An area may be affected by an economical crisis that overall affects the consumers ability or willingness to spend money. Wars and rumors of war have a strong negative effect on vehicle values, as does the price of fuel. One major factor that affects the value of trade-ins&nbsp;are the deals being offered on new vehicles. The greater the deal on new, the less is paid for the trade. Why? Used vehicle buyers will step up to new vehicles and pass on the late model used vehicles. In many cases payments on a new vehicle may be roughly&nbsp;the same as a one year old&nbsp;used.&nbsp; Additionally, consumers may determine that they are better off trading&nbsp;their current vehicle sooner than intended, taking advantage&nbsp;of the factory incentives, and driving off in a new vehicle with payments close to where they were, and offsetting maintenance expenditures in the process. (2) Dealership attitude. Vehicle values may be affected simply by some issue within a dealership. An inexperienced Used Vehicle Department manager, a poor cash flow in the dealership, a weak sales force not selling vehicles, and other situations. One thing learned when purchasing at an auction, talking with a wholesaler, or shopping a trade-in to another dealership is that prices vary widely across the board. Realistically I have witnessed value swings by as much as $2000.00. (3) Dealership wants. In some circumstances a dealer may not want your trade. You might have a very expensive trade, the dealer does not want to tie up money in a slow seller&nbsp;and the dealer cannot find a home for it with another dealer. Therefore to make a deal he will hit the trade low expecting to find a home for it at the auction, with another dealer, or attempt to cheap sell it on his own lot. Regardless, the vehicle may bring several thousand dollars below book, your loss. (4) Dealership need. The dealership may not need &#8220;another one of those&#8221;. Some vehicles are a glut on the market. An example would be the dumping of a rental car fleet at the auction, everyone buys them, everyone has one, and no one needs another one. Dealership want and dealership need may also swing in your favor. There were many times that I paid&nbsp;over book (more than $1200.00) to own a vehicle, knowing that if I did not, someone else would, and I would miss the sale on three vehicles; (1) my vehicle, (2) the trade-in, and (3) the trade-in on that one. Instead of missing business, I would make three profits. It should be clear that; (1) you must know the value of your vehicle to do business with it; (2) the book value is affected by other circumstances, some of which are beyond your control. However, because you know the value of your vehicle you have an idea of where you should be, and by shopping more than one dealership (if you don&#8217;t get the value up front) there is a very good chance you will get your money. It is absolute that you use a professional source to determine the value of your vehicle prior to&nbsp;shopping for your next vehicle. If you had a wad of $10.00 bills in your pocket, a big wad, and you wanted to trade them for $50.00 bills, and if you had never counted them, how would you possibly know how many $50.00 bills to get in return for your 10&#8217;s? Would you just throw them out there and&nbsp;take back whatever 50&#8217;s were offered? Or would you count them ahead of time, separate them in $50.00 packets, band all the packets together,&nbsp;and put in writing the total amount of all the packets,&nbsp;put that slip of paper with your packet, and put one in your pocket? Would you then watch as the other party counted your 10&#8217;s, and as the 50&#8217;s were counted out for you? Wise folks count their money first, record the amount, and observe while others handle their money! Chuck Norlin is a 41 year veteran of negotiating, a Cal U and General Motors University graduate, and 30 year career expert in the retail vehicle business.    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>Used Cars In Japan </b><br /> Japanese Used cars are some of the best selling on the market today because of their reliability and performance  Having said that, we find there is a large market for used car parts  Some of the dealers have found it profitable to take cars apart, sell the pieces to other dealers, and repair shops around the world  Did you know they will even cut a vehicle in half? Yet they keep all the important parts in tact  . .They then ship those parts to a dealer that is repairing a car that had been involved in an accident  They dismantle badly damaged cars and have separate bins for headlamps, taillights, shocks, fuse boxes, radios  Anything that you can think of, that goes into a car, can be salvaged and sold to repair shops around the world  Have a steering wheel that won&#8217;t unlock? No problem! Go to your nearest repair shop and they can order you the part you need  They have a sophisticated database that allows them to search for any part  .Its amazing the network they have for finding parts to replace on cars before they sell them  They take pride in their work and like to make sure everything is in good working order before they sell  The certified inspectors make sure everything will pass the rigid guidelines in each country  They have it down to a science the way they can take a car apart and get it ready for shipping anywhere in the world  . . .They ship the parts in bins on large cargo ships  The containers are anywhere from 20 to 40 ft long and they fill them with bumpers, fenders, half cars, and bins of various parts all headed to the salvage yards just waiting to be pick out to repair your vehicle  Just like new once the body shop is done with the paint job you would never know there were two different pieces to this car when it started . <br /><i>Source: www.rsstnx.com</i></p>
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		<title>Defensive Driving Tips On Vehicle Lane Changes</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/04/defensive-driving-tips-on-vehicle-lane-changes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/04/defensive-driving-tips-on-vehicle-lane-changes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:26:01 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Defensive Driving Tips On Vehicle Lane Changes    Lane changes can be one of the easiest maneuvers with a vehicle, and can be one of the hardest maneuvers at the same time. Changing lanes requires processing information and making a safe decision well in advance to make the maneuver a simple and safe [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Defensive Driving Tips On Vehicle Lane Changes    </b><br />Lane changes can be one of the easiest maneuvers with a vehicle, and can be one of the hardest maneuvers at the same time. Changing lanes requires processing information and making a safe decision well in advance to make the maneuver a simple and safe task. The faster your speed is, the faster you have to process information, which in turn makes it a little more difficult. There are important defensive driving procedures you must do, before making a lane change. Look ahead and plan ahead. If you plan well in advance, the maneuver becomes a lot easier and safer. Checking your path ahead before you consider changing lanes is the number one priority. What traffic and pedestrians are doing ahead of you is the first step in processing information and making a decision. You must always check your path ahead for vehicle traffic changes, and controlled intersections that affect these changes. There are many potential hazards that you should be looking for. You have to be looking ahead for vehicles slowing down and possibly stopping in front of you, and making sure you?re on the look out for pedestrians that may step off the curb up ahead. Also checking for vehicles that may possibly come out in front of you, or from another merging lane. A good indication of what traffic and pedestrians are going to do ahead of you would be motorist signaling ahead of you with a signal and or brake lights. If their signaling to turn, they have to slow down and possibly stop for other traffic or pedestrians, depending on circumstances where they are turning. All this information is important, because it affects everybody in motion. While your checking your path ahead, you have to know what is happening behind you. If you use your rearview mirror all the time, you will always know what is happening around you. Using the rearview mirror, gives you a bigger picture than your side mirrors. Checking your rearview mirror should be done at a glance only. Your main concern is in front of you. When glancing at your rearview mirror, you should be glancing for traffic coming up faster than you, also vehicles signaling to change lanes behind you. They may be picking up speed to pass your vehicle. In order to make a safe lane change, you have to either slow down to let traffic get by you, or speed up to stay ahead of traffic, without going over the speed limit. If you?re doing the same speed as traffic behind you, they won?t catch up to you, unless you start braking. If traffic is doing the same speed, you should accelerate slightly to maneuver over to the other lane, unless there is a good reason not to. Once you know what is happening both ahead of you and behind your vehicle. The number three procedure is signaling to let traffic know your intentions on the direction you plan on maneuvering. The signaling procedure is for communicating to other drivers. If you signal and let other drivers know what you?re doing, they may slow down to let you make the safe lane change. Warning other vehicles of your intention to change lanes, include vehicles ahead of you and behind you. Drivers negotiating to maneuver out in front of you may stay where they are, if they see your signal to move over, possibly into the lane that they want to maneuver into. People do not always do what there suppose to do, so anticipate the worst. Take nothing for granted! It may be a safer lane change beyond traffic waiting to come out, if you have time. You also have to consider not surprising the vehicles close to your vehicle by signaling as they approach the corner side of your vehicle. They may panic and brake, thinking you?re moving over sooner. Wait until they are beside your vehicle and your signal is out of their sight before you signal to warn other traffic behind your vehicle. This seems like a lot of info for just a signal, but communicating with other drivers are important in defensive driving. After you have signaled and you know everything is clear ahead of you and behind. Take a quick glance over to your blind spot, and make sure there is nobody sitting along side your vehicle. Stay in your lane, if it is not safe. When you check your shoulder, it?s only supposed to be a glance. You still have one more important procedure before maneuvering into the other lane. Recheck the lane ahead of you, just before you turn the steering wheel to make sure nobody is stopping or coming out into your path. Once you have glanced over your shoulder and looked forward, gradually maneuver over right away with a slight adjustment of the steering wheel. Only if it?s safe! You do not want to be maneuvering over, if there is a vehicle stopping in front of you, or coming out in front of your intended path. If you cannot make the maneuver right after the shoulder check, cancel everything and start over. The worst scenario would be traveling an extra block in town. Do not make lane changes at intersections. Make sure lane changes are done before and after intersections. Intersections include any crossroad, side road, lane or street. Constantly planning well in advance and constantly using your mirrors, will help you become a better defensive driver. I hope these defensive driving tips help your goal in becoming a safe driver. For more information on this topic, please consult with a family member and a recognized Driving School on defensive driving techniques. Owned and operated a Driving School for several years. Taught over 2000 kids and adults how to drive. Now operating a Discount Tee Time site at &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.golfanchor.net&#34; title=&#34;http://www.golfanchor.net&#34; target=&#34;_blank&#34;&gt;http://www.golfanchor.net&lt;/a&gt; and a golf site at &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.golfanchor.com&#34; title=&#34;http://www.golfanchor.com&#34; target=&#34;_blank&#34;&gt;http://www.golfanchor.com&lt;/a&gt;    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>Are Radar Detectors Legal in the US and in which States are they Prohibited?    </b><br />A good number of the people with cars in the United States have their own radar detectors. Their reason is that they feel that the speed limit at present is very low. Most of the American people are not satisfied with moderate speed while driving. They want to be the fastest driver on the road as well as get to the places they   re going in record time; they want to be always in the race.   The radar detector serves as their alarm whenever there are police near them. Once the radar detector alarm sounds, they can ease on the gas and slow down their speed.  Because of the radar detectors being known to every motorist, cops are hiding, in alleyways or behind bridges in order to avoid being detected by the radar detectors.  Motorists on the other hand are being clever themselves, they are aware of these techniques from the police, so more enhanced, top-dollar detectors have entered the market.  Though the policemen are always improving their chances of catching the radar detector users, they are unable to make the streets of the United States radar detector-free.   Radar detectors are legal in many cities and states in the United States. But this does not mean that radar detector units are legal in all of the states in the US.   Here are some of the states that deem radar detectors illegal:  1. The usage of radar detectors are prohibited in the Commonwealth of Virginia. They have laws banning the use of radar detectors. Not only are radar detectors illegal to use in Virginia, they are also illegal to have in the vehicle.  2. Radar detectors and radar jammers are illegal in the District of Columbia. The passing of their laws to ban the use of radar detectors was set in 1995.  3. In Illinois, radar detectors are only regulated in commercial vehicles of over 26,001 pounds.   4. On US military bases, they are legal to have but illegal to use.   5. Radar jammers are illegal in the states of Utah, California, Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska.  6. Radar detectors are not specifically regulated, but things hanging from windshields are not permitted in the state of Minnesota.  7. For motor vehicles over 18,000 pounds and any other commercial motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds in New York, radar detectors are illegal.  And other states that prohibit the use of radar detectors are the following:       Alabama        Arizona        Arkansas        Colorado        Delaware        Florida        Georgia       Idaho       Indiana        Iowa        Kansas        Kentucky        Louisiana       Maine        Maryland        Massachusetts       Michigan        Mississippi        Missouri        Montana        Nevada        New Hampshire        New Jersey        Mew Mexico        North Carolina        North Dakota       Ohio       Oklahoma       Oregon        Pennsylvania        Rhode Island        South Carolina        South Dakota        Tennessee        Texas        Vermont       Washington       Wisconsin       Wyoming   The state of Connecticut on the contrary has cancelled its anti-radar detector law in 1998 which make this radar detector now legal in this state.Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about &lt;a href=&#34;http://www.radar-detecting.info&#34;&gt;radar detectors&lt;/a&gt; at Radar Detecting Information.   This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Radar-Detecting.info    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>How To Negotiate Car Repairs</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/03/how-to-negotiate-car-repairs-9/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/03/how-to-negotiate-car-repairs-9/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:32:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[How To Negotiate Car Repairs    Everything is negotiable, it just comes down to if you want to put forth the effort to negotiate. In my life I have owned no less than 15 cars , that means car repairs.  When your car is in the shop for repairs it&#8217;s a unique [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>How To Negotiate Car Repairs    </b><br />Everything is negotiable, it just comes down to if you want to put forth the effort to negotiate. In my life I have owned no less than 15 cars , that means car repairs.  When your car is in the shop for repairs it&#8217;s a unique situation, you have no control or true knowledge of what REALLY is needed and what isn&#8217;t.  There have been several    special reports    on  news programs with undercover cameras showing mechanics damaging or lying to customers about repairs that are needed.  The fact that it is even possible creates a situation that should also be taken advantage of by the consumer. Chances are pretty good that your mechanic is over charging you for something, if you take a good look at your invoice after you have had a major repair it has to be somewhat of a surprise that the gizmo that controls your anti lock brakes is $1700.00.  There has to be a huge mark-up on the price of an item that is a must have, and you can only get it from the dealer.  Car repairs can be negotiated just like anything else, more so even.  Your mechanic or service manager at the dealer, knows for a fact that you are being over charged, that means that all you have to do is ask for a discount.  If your mechanic is worth his salt he calls you before he does any work on your car, that is when the negotiation should start.  When your mechanic tells you that you need a new    flex capacitor     and it cost around $800, your first reaction should be    Can you give me a better price?    Or better yet    Can you do it for $700    .  You need to make it clear from the very beginning that you want a discount. A ten  percent discount  is always a good starting point, you are only trying to get a small discount, which is better than nothing.   The biggest mistake you can make is to wait until your car repair is finished.  At that point he basically is holding your car hostage until you pay him, so that means he is in full control of the negotiation.  The very little control we do have is before any work is done, because we still have the ability to say no thanks I&#8217;ll take it somewhere else.    Most people want a discount, but most people don&#8217;t like negotiating.  Let&#8217;s face it, it&#8217;s not for everybody.  The reason car repair  is set up for negotiation is because your mechanic or service manager knows that he can give you a discount but he certainly is not going to offer it.  You&#8217;ll be surprised to see how easy they will give you 10% just for asking. The next time your you need a car repair follow these steps to get a 10% discount::   1.  Make sure you tell the service manager or mechanic to call you BEFORE he does any work to your car.    2.  Always ask for an estimate when he tells you what repairs  you need.    3    What ever amount he says, ask for at least for a 10% discount. It&#8217;s much better saying a specific price instead of 10%, so make sure you have your math ready.     That&#8217;s it.  No one said it was complicated, you just have to be willing to ask. Your&#8217;e going to be surprised how easy it is, and wonder why you didn&#8217;t do it sooner.   Now take your 10% and do something for yourself,&#8230;. you earned it.    http://www.ClickForInfo.netTodd C. Robinson is webmaster for www.ClickForInfo.net    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
<p><b>How Cost Effective Are Hybrid Cars?    </b><br />There seems to be no stopping the oil companies, as the price at the pumps continues to rise to astronomical heights for a myriad of reasons, valid or not. Civil wars in Nigeria, international conflicts in Iraq, hurricanes and other storms at home and abroad are all reasons gas companies posit to defend their outrageous gouging. In the face of rising gas costs, many consumers are beginning to consider the option of a hybrid vehicle- one which operates on both gas and electricity. All of the models of hybrid car will save money in terms of gas expenditures, but are they really effective when all of the costs of maintenance and other considerations are factored in? Right off the bat, consider the cost of buying a hybrid vehicle. Depending on the model, hybrid vehicles can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 more than the equivalent non-hybrid model. These prices need to be stacked up against the savings that a hybrid car owner would gain in gas, factoring in the mileage needed. One report by Edmunds, for example, shows that huge price increases in the cost of gas would need to take place, or the vehicle owner would need to put on some serious mileage, in order for the hybrid models to gain a sufficient price saving advantage when stacked up against initial purchases. The one exception in the study was the Toyota Prius, which compared very effectively in terms of initial cost with the Camry model. The consumer watchdog points out, however, that as the hybrid cars become increasingly more available as a reflection of demand the prices can be expected to drop, making them more cost effective when it comes to an initial investment. Also important to keep in mind is the fact that the hybrid cars have a much more specialized system than the standard vehicle, and will therefore require a more specialized mechanic when it comes time for any repairs. Most consumer report features consider hybrid cars to require an investment of at least five years in order to break even as far as initial costs go, and do not take into account the possibilities of damage that requires fixing to the power train of the vehicles. It seems as though, at least for the time being, the purchase of a hybrid vehicle for the average consumer may not be the best option when it comes to saving money. It is important to keep several things in mind, however, when considering purchasing a hybrid model. Many consumers are choosing to purchase these cars because they represent a significant development in terms of environmental concerns over standard models. They also mean that as a whole, Western nations will become less dependent on oil as the sole means of power. Finally, it is imperative to keep in mind that the hybrid car is a very new technology. Developed only within the last few years, the technology is still in the infant stages, where costs will continue to be high. Hybrid cars also have only a small percentage of the market right now as well. As time passes, the development of the hybrid technology will begin to push prices down to the point where hybrids are more than competitive with the traditionally fueled models of the past. Frank Little is a hybrid car enthusiast and maintains a website with &lt;a href=&#34;http://yourhybridcars.com&#34;&gt;hybrid car forums&lt;/a&gt;.    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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		<title>Advantages Of Diesel Engines</title>
		<link>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/02/advantages-of-diesel-engines-16/</link>
		<comments>http://www.auto-talk.org/2010/03/02/advantages-of-diesel-engines-16/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:40:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Advantages Of Diesel Engines    If you wanted to own a new car powered by a diesel engine or if you own one now, you no doubt appreciate   the qualities this engine provides you with. More torque, better fuel economy, and easier maintenance are but   a few of the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Advantages Of Diesel Engines    </b><br />If you wanted to own a new car powered by a diesel engine or if you own one now, you no doubt appreciate   the qualities this engine provides you with. More torque, better fuel economy, and easier maintenance are but   a few of the attributes of owning diesel powered vehicles  .   However, there are some motorists that still complain about the engine&#8217;s weak power, especially when   accelerating from a full stop. What you may not be aware of is the fact that a diesel     engine can be tweaked to   give more power without harming the fuel economy  .   New diesel engines cars use air compression to create combustion versus the fuel/air mixture that is required   by gas engines. This attribute means that diesel engines don&#8217;t require spark plugs     and therefore don&#8217;t need to   be tuned up  .  Diesel fuel has a much high fuel density than gas, which results in fuel economy increases of 20 - 30% over   gasoline powered vehicles  .  Diesel engines are also cheaper to maintain as they have less parts than that of a gasoline powered engine.   The life span of a diesel engine is also much longer  .  If you&#8217;re looking for torque, for pulling a     boat or other equipment, then the diesel     engine has the supreme   advantage. Diesel engines are surely slower, especially when starting from a dead stop, although when you   climb hills or go over bridges, the diesel engine is surely up to the task  .  With new trucks, diesel is normally the leader over gas engines in terms of performance and miles per gallon.   Diesel trucks will get     more miles than gas trucks, and the price for diesel is a bit cheaper than gas these days  .       And with gas prices on the rise, diesel will continue to dominate for a long time to come  .  http://www.new-carpurchase.blogspot.comDiesel engines are also cheaper to maintain as they have less parts than that of a gasoline powered engine.   The life span of a diesel engine is also much longer  .  If you&#8217;re looking for torque, for pulling a     boat or other equipment, then the diesel     engine has the supreme   advantage. Diesel engines are surely slower, especially when starting from a dead stop, although when you   climb hills or go over bridges, the diesel engine is surely up to the task  .  With new trucks, diesel is normally the leader over gas engines in terms of performance and miles per gallon.   Diesel trucks will get     more miles than gas trucks, and the price for diesel is a bit cheaper than gas these days  .       And with gas prices on the rise, diesel will continue to dominate for a long time to come  .   http://www.new-carpurchase.blogspot.com    <br /><i>Source: www.ArticlePros.com</i></p>
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