Monthly Archives: March 2009

Author : Andy West

Today’s cars are becoming increasingly more complex, meaning that domestic car repair requires advanced expertise now more often than not Unfortunately, this also means that as the general public is less likely to have the knowledge necessary to fix their own cars, some domestic car repair shops are more likely to take advantage of their customers’ ignorance

As it turns out, not knowing much about domestic car repair can end up costing you quite a bit if your mechanic recommends unnecessary repairs The Internet abounds with complaints and lawsuits alleging that auto repair shops charged their customers for unnecessary repairs Here are 5 ways to protect oneself from being a victim in a similar case

1: Research every domestic car repair shop you are considering Thorough research is your number one best weapon against devious mechanics This means checking out a repair shop through ever means available to you: word-of-mouth, the Internet, and resources such as the Better Business Bureau

Ask around to see if anyone you know has used the repair shops you are considering, and whether their experiences were good or bad You can also search for each repair shop’s name on the Internet, as there are many forums online where people can post complaints, or praise, about their mechanics Resources such as the Better Business Bureau can be found online and offline, and offer a way to check a business’s standing and whether there are any unresolved complaints against them

2: Ask for recommendations This isn’t quite the same as independently researching domestic car repair shops If you don’t even know where to start, or you would rather go to a shop with which someone you know has had personal experience, you can ask around for recommendations Rank recommendation according to how long your friend has been taking their car there for example, if they have been using the same mechanic for fifteen years, their recommendation means more than someone’s who has just used that mechanic once

3: Ask lots of questions It’s perfectly fine to ask lots of questions before making a final decision to take your car there For instance, you might want to ask about their prices, their guarantees or warrantees, how much experience their mechanics have, whether they have won any awards, and how they handle customer complaints

Another thing to ask about is the repair work you need done Asking many thorough, intelligent questions about the repairs that will need to be done, and any related systems, indicates that you are interested in knowing more about your car It also indicates that you are not an easy person to take advantage of Finally, a repair shop that is unwilling to answer your questions should indicate that you are better off taking your car elsewhere

4: Show an interest in your car When you take your car in for repairs, it is best not to leave it alone while you go to work or shop Waiting for your car makes it harder for the repair shop to get away with unnecessary repairs The shop needs to ask for approval before performing any work other than what you originally requested, and if you are right there waiting it will be easier to request a detailed explanation of the repair and why your car needs it

On the other hand, in cases where the repair shop calls to request permission, the customer usually requests less information before approving the repair and repair shops know this Leaving is a sign that you are too busy to care about keeping tabs on your car’s repairs

5: Request to see the problem You often have a legal right to see the damaged part This ensures two things: One, that the repair shop actually did replace the part, and didn’t just clean the original part up and charge you for a replacement they never installed, and two, that the part did in fact need to be replaced

When asking to see a damaged part, always request that they show you the problem, that is, why the part needed to be replaced in the first place Also ask to see the new part if they have it on hand, on the grounds that you would like to see the difference or see what an undamaged part looks like If you are waiting for your car when they ask your permission, ask to see the problem before approving the repair work

The reason why domestic car repair shops get away with making unnecessary repairs is usually because the customer is too lazy to verify the need for the repair You may have heard that a thief or rapist is more likely to choose a victim whose body language indicates that she is an easy target The same goes with domestic car repair The more interest and intelligence you show when dealing with an auto repair shop, the less likely a dishonest mechanic is to try to push unnecessary repairs on you Your best method of protecting yourself is therefore to be as informed, and as involved, as possible

Andy West is a freelance writer for DAE, which offers valuable domestic car repair and domestic automotive maintenance in the Houston area.

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Author : Jessica Whittaker

History in Racing:

Mercedes Benz originated in 1880 by two men Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz Since its origin, they were famous for their fast and sporty cars Early in the 1890s, an Austrian car dealer Emil Jellinek entered the Mercedes in car races and often won

Mercedes introduced its first racing car ‘Simplex’ in early in 1900s, with its innovative design the simplex dominated the racing industry for years

They won their first major race in 1914, the French Grand Prix In 1920, the company manufactured the ‘Tropfenwagen’, which made them unbeatable in all races for a decade

They set a record speed of 270 miles per hour in 1930 with its elite race driver Renneilter Alfred Neubauer

Mercedes entered Formula One racing in 1954 and finished 1 and 2 in the race

The Setback:

In 1955, Mercedes took retirement from racing, after a tragedy of a car crash killed close to 80 spectators in a Le Mans race, ‘A 300 SLR smashed into another car and went flying into the stands ‘ This devastating incident forced them into retirement from racing industry

Best Comeback Ever:

It was late 1980s, Mercedes returned to sports car racing in style They introduced their new compact car, the W201 190 class, which broke 3 world records The 16 valve engine ran a race of 50,000 kilometers at Narudo high speed track in Italy for 201 hours at a top speed of 247 kilometers per hour

Mercedes used a loophole in the specification of the race and built an engine that could be used only for this one race This was in 1994 at Indianapolis 500 They introduced the concept of push rod engines to the racing world

In 1993, Mercedes entered Formula One racing as an engine supplier of the F1 team of Sauber

A New Alliance:

Mercedes joined hands with McLaren in 1997, formed a F1 team of its own, and was labelled as Team McLaren Mercedes They signed up David Coulthard as their driver, who went on to win the first races of 1997 This was the first success for them after that of Juan Manuel Fangio’s in 1955 McLaren Mercedes went on to win for three consecutive years In 2005, Mercedes won 10 out of 19 races

Status:

McLaren Mercedes has proven to be one of the best teams in history of Formula One racing They have the best and most efficient team, from the drivers to the technicians The drivers such as, Lewis Hamilton and Gary Paffet are one of the best drivers in the racing world The management includes big names such as, Ron Dennis and Martin Whitemarsh The technical team includes geniuses such as, Jonathan Neale, Paddy Lowe and Neil Oatley Lewis Hamilton is the star on the team He finished third in his first race for Mercedes He broke a 40 year record of podium position at the start of his first season Lewis got nine podium position in his first nine races In 2007, he won four races and finished second for the champion, losing by just one point to Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari

Overview:

Mercedes has always been the winners from their first race and continue to be winners until today

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Author : Paul Fitzgerald

Who wants to have a day trip? Who doesn’t want to? How about a day trip in Las Vegas? Contrary to popular belief, Sin City is just not for gambling you know Things have changed out here and great places and attractions have developed to make a day trip here very exciting Now that day trip sounds pretty good, right? But first we have to get ourselves a car, and here in Las Vegas we can have a day trip in style Because out here in Las Vegas, there are a lot of Chevrolet Camaro car rentals

And renting one would truly spice things up for our day trip It is one of the most sought after collector cars ever Its combination of dramatic design and exciting performance has made it one of the most popular sport coupes of all time Millions of people were in love when the Chevrolet Camaro came out and spending time with it on your Las Vegas day trip you’ll sure be fall in love with it too So hurry and go rent a Chevrolet Camaro

Now that we have got our Camaro car rental covered, we now need a destination And what a destination it’s going to be, because we are going to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA) Red Rock Canyon is located just few miles west of Las Vegas and occupies 197,000 acres within the Mojave desert Red Rock is an area of world wide geologic interest and immense beauty

And as we arrive at Red Rock, first the place to visit is the The Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center The center is an important stop for guests Its 7,600 square-foot facility offers valuable information and interpretation about recreation opportunities, wildlife, wild horses and burros, geology, vegetation, cultural resources and more

The there is also the book and gift store, which is operated by the Red Rock Canyon Interpretative Association (RRCIA) The RRCIA is a non-profit organization that does research and share interpretive information about Red Rock Canyon & also assisting the Bureau of Land Management’s educational endeavors All proceeds from the book store support environmental interpretation of the Red Rock area

These efforts include programs, exhibits, publications, hikes and signs Other attractions and activities in Red Rock Canyon also include an exhibit area which depicts the cultural & natural resources of the Conservation Area and a rest stop/destination called the Bicycle Pavilion

There are also locations for biking, climbing, hiking, plus some meant for a scenic drive, an ideal route to take for your Chevrolet Camaro rental Sin City need not always be neon lights and roulette tables Sometimes, it’s the simple things that take our breath away

Educational Cell Phone Digital Book by Paul Fitzgerald, EMF Las Vegas Exotic Car Rentals: From 1928 to 2008 we have the LARGEST selection of Exotic, Classic and Luxury Rental Cars on the Strip! From Auburns to Packards, Voyager Classics Car Rentals has the largest selection of classics available for rent anywhere in Las Vegas.

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Author : John Grant

Throughout the years, Harley Motorbikes continue to dominate the big muscle motorcycle market with its excellent product offerings Some of its best looking and high performing product lines are the Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster, VRSCD Night Rod, and VRSCR Street Rod Aside from the total customer satisfaction that the company provides, all of its products are definitely meant to last for a lifetime

After years of producing various kinds of wonderful and first class motorcycles, Harley Davidson Co continues its great tradition of manufacturing the best looking, super efficient, and heavy duty Harley Motorbikes Many things have already changed, but its dedication to produce and deliver some of the best performing motorcycles goes on up to this very moment Right now, it features a wide array of special motorcycles ranging from the classic Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster down to the tough looking Harley Davidson VRSCR Street Rod

The classic Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster has always been a regular product offering since the early years of the company Some people love this model mainly because of its smaller and lighter figure compared to the regular motorcycles that the group manufactures Aside from its rich history, this high performing product line is without a doubt one of the best set of Harley Motorbikes available today It comes in four special models namely the XL1200R Sportster Roadster, XL1200L Sportster Low, XL1200C Sportster Custom, and XL1200N Sportster Nightster Made from the finest materials, Harley Davidson offers these good looking motorcycles from $8,695 to $9,695

Meanwhile, the stylish Harley Davidson FLHR Road King is another excellent line of Harley Motorbikes whose special designs are patterned after some of its best looking models in the 1940s Its basic features include hard shell saddlebags, detachable windscreen, and big Hiawatha chrome headlamp, with the prices starting from $18,295 and can go up as high as $18,725 On the other hand, the comfortable Harley Davidson FLSTN Softail Deluxe is a sleek yet very efficient model with highly innovative features such as the 6 Speed Cruise Drive transmission shift, ESPFI or Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection, and 1584cc Twin Cam 96B balanced engine Prices range from as low as $17,345 to as high as $18,150

In the meantime, the traditional Harley Davidson FXDL Dyna Low Rider is an excellent Harley Motorbike that combines the strength and style reminiscent of all its models Its key features include a low rise pullback handle bar, 4 8 gallon fuel tank, and 1584cc Twin Cam 96 engine Prices for this product line starts from $15,795 to $16,600 At the opposite side, the powerhouse Harley Davidson VRSCAW V Rod is patterned after a racing motorbike with the torque and acceleration as its forte It features a 5 0 gallon tank, low rise handlebars, and a beautiful customized rear shocks The average price for this wonderful Harley Motorbike begins at $16,495

The final two models from the latest roster of Harley Motorbikes are the muscular Harley Davidson VRSCD Night Rod and the high technology Harley Davidson VRSCR Street Rod The Night Rod features textured vinyl seat, minimalist rear shocks, and 1130cc Revolution engine The average selling price for these super cool and highly efficient Harley Motorbike is $14,995 On the flip side, the Street Rod features a high performing Revolution V Twin engine, wider handlebars, and dual exhaust pipes With all its great looking features, the prices for this aggressive looking motorcycle line are set at $15,495

John Grant is a the author for Harley Motors site ( http://www.harley-motors.com/ ), where he is writing articles about the Harley Davidson Road King ( http://www.harley-motors.com/flhr-road-king.php ).

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Author : Everette Jamison

A lot of drivers don’t realize how far their car’s braking systems have evolved over the past few decades Car manufacturers have been relentless about designing better, safer, more efficient systems Beginning in the early 1970′s, most automakers integrated their platforms to accommodate disc brakes Up to that point, most vehicles used drums Today, we’re going to explore both types in more detail, so you’ll understand the differences between the two First, let’s talk about how your car actually stops

How They Work

In order to stop your car, the wheels obviously have to stop turning This is accomplished through friction Brakes apply resistance to the wheels, which creates the necessary friction to slow them, eventually bringing your car to a stop How effective this process works depends upon how much your vehicle weighs, the force used to stop it, and the amount of surface area available on which to place resistance Another factor is how well the system can take the heat generated by the friction and remove it

Discs Versus Drums

Heat is a major reason why automakers have switched to discs First, let me explain how the old drum-based units worked Each wheel had a braking component that was contained within a drum Shoes were used to press against them in order to slow the turning wheels However, under extreme pressure (for example, constant braking while driving down a hill), heat would build up The drums couldn’t take it, causing the components inside to lose their ability to slow the wheels That’s a big limitation

Now, let’s look at discs They work in the same basic way, but do so with rotors and calipers Each caliper has 2 pads, flanking the rotor When you need to stop, you hit the pedal which pushes the pads onto the rotors of each tire The wheels slow and your car stops The big difference is in the construction The drums were enclosed and therefore, heat was basically trapped inside them Rotors aren’t enclosed within anything The heat generated by the friction of the clamping pads dissipates continuously, preventing overheating

Today’s Vehicles

If you’ve ever shopped for a lower-priced car, you may be confused about why drum brakes are used in the rear wheels, given their tendency to overheat The reason has to do with price In essence, they’re cheaper The good news is that vehicles stop by using most of the power of the front brakes Today, nearly every car manufacturer builds their vehicles with disc brakes on the front wheels

So, you now understand how your car stops Remember, these components wear over time and need to be replaced If you hear squealing or feel a lag when you’re pressing down the pedal, visit an auto shop to have a technician take a look

When looking for Used Ford Parts or Used Honda Parts consider deals from http://www.everdrive.com

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Author : Gregory Smyth

For years, the debate when buying a new car was whether to get a quieter gasoline engine, which used more fuel, or a noisier, more polluting diesel engine, which may save you a small amount on your fuel bill

However, times have changed – we now know that gasoline premium vehicles are just as polluting in their own way as old diesels, and clean diesel technology has come along in leaps and bounds

Now gasoline has dropped off the debating list, and buyers are wondering whether to get a luxury sedan or luxury sports car with hybrid technology, or a clean diesel engine

Hong Kong hybrid cars have been regarded as more advanced, but as we find out, they may not necessarily be cleaner

Clean diesel technology has been a surprise to many, including staff at the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States While the diesel engines that premium cars are using are certainly becoming more efficient, the ‘clean’ part of the equation actually comes from the fuel itself

Clean diesel for passenger cars to run on is actually ultra-low sulphur diesel, which can have, by definition, no more than 15 parts per million of sulphur There are also other environmental clean-up systems on premium diesel vehicles, which prevent pollutants ever escaping through the tailpipe

For example, on Mercedes vehicles that have Bluetec engines, the exhaust is filtered through a device that takes out much of the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide A mechanical filter that removes dust, soot and other particles is next, then in these luxury sports cars and passenger cars

The remaining exhaust is sprayed with a urea-based substance that converts nitrates and nitrites into harmless nitrogen oxide and water The system reduces harmful emissions by up to 90%, according to manufacturers of Mercedes vehicles

The base reason that diesels are more efficient than similar gasoline powered premium vehicles remains unchanged – the compression ratio of diesel is much better than gasoline, with up to 25:1 for diesel compared to as little as 8:1 for gasoline

A higher compression ratio means that a luxury sports car or passenger car can squeeze more mechanical energy from the air and fuel in the piston chamber – a bigger push So, less energy is needed to move the same amount of mass, and a side benefit is that diesels in passenger cars are famous for some strong, beefy torque at the bottom end of the rev range

Diesel-powered passenger cars are also getting more stylish and luxurious, as well as sportier, as Mercedes vehicles like the Kleeman ML 50k S8 prove With a V8 supercharged engine, this clean diesel goes from 0-60 mph in a respectable 5 3 seconds

It has a top speed of 168km/h (who said diesel Hong Kong premium cars were slow?), and side skirts and wheel arch flares give the car a little sexiness, to go along with its speed

On the other hand, electric cars and hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius have traditionally been the choice for those looking for high miles per gallon

They are the most efficient car available in the US, however at up to 60mpg are still beaten by diesels, which can get up to 75 mpg

As one of the world’s most exciting and prestigious brand, Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong offers luxury passenger cars and commercial vehicles extensive choice of Vito, Sprinter, Viano, Actros, Axor and Atego to the customers in Hong Kong and Macau.

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Author : Gregg Hall

10 Best Road Trip Vehicles

You are a road trip enthusiast You’ve practically crisscrossed the country 10 times, cruising Route 66 along the way, and seen the expanse that is the American country side What better way to do it than in one of the following cars, all of which have a style all their own and which will greatly enhance the experience? The following cars were selected by our panel with an eye to long distance tripping

Chrysler Sebring Convertible

The Sebring Convertible sets itself apart from the competition by offering a spacious cabin and being a convertible Most of the convertibles currently available are either way too cramped for four people and luggage But the Sebring is different Four can sit in it for long distances without developing cramps, and without balancing overnight bags on their laps Added to this is the fact that Sebrings depreciate in value, so you should be able to find a used one rather cheaply

Dodge Grand Caravan

For long distance road tripping, a minivan really can be useful It offers a ton of space so that the passengers in the back can practically sprawl out and relax And the Grand Caravan has a ton of features to add to that space that will be useful for roadtrippers, like underseat storage and dual exit rear doors

Dodge Magnum

Another Dodge, the Magnum is the station wagon for the new century Since it is well equipped with a huge engine, the Magnum does not lack in power A commodious cabin and excellent handling make this a dream for performance driven road trip pilots

Dodge Sprinter

The Dodge Sprinter is another van from Dodge, but it is a full size van and offers all of the space that you would expect from a vehicle its size It is an exact copy of the European market Mercedes Sprinter, and offers up to 10 seats So, if you have as many passengers as you have fingers, this may be the vehicle for you

Honda Insight

Here’s an import entry into our top list of road trip transports And it is very sensible for those who are taking their road trips on a budget since it will provide them with more mileage for their traveling buck The Insight gets as much as 60 mpg, which will be a boon to long-distance travelers

Mazda Miata

Always a signature vehicle, the Mazda Miata has been the cherished car of many road trippers What makes it such a perfect road trip car is its minimalism It mediates the experience of the road trip as little as possible There is only you, a tiny, but responsive, car, and the air screaming by as your roar on your way to exploring wide open space

These six cars will provide you with a perfect road trip, and each is catered to a certain need Need seating? Take a van Need the thrill of the wind in your hair? Why not try a convertible?

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a car buying tips at http://www.newcarbuyingsecrets.com

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Author : Everette Jamison

When hybrids first hit the showroom floors, they were heralded as being the future of the automotive industry Manufacturers boisterously claimed that the new vehicles’ fuel efficiency couldn’t be matched by the old-fashioned gasoline-chugging engine It turns out they were right By generating electrical power under the hood, automakers were able to slash their cars’ dependency upon gas, leading to savings at the pump But, the cost savings of buying a hybrid aren’t always clear In this article, I’ll describe the numbers behind the privilege of ownership

Paying More At The Dealership

If you’ve visited a dealership during the past few years, you’ll have noticed that hybrids cost much more than conventional vehicles While you’ll have the good feeling of knowing that you’re not contributing as much to environmental waste, you’ll pay up to $10,000 more

What about tax credits? A lot of motorists argue that the bump in sticker price is offset by the credits offered by the federal government Not so fast It’s important to realize that those credits don’t fully compensate drivers for the increased price Plus, they expire when automakers sell a certain number of cars So, they help, just not as much as some people think

Getting It Repaired

A lot of people were initially afraid to purchase a hybrid because they assumed that parts and repairs would be extremely expensive (similar to some foreign vehicles) Again, the truth is mired beneath the numbers The parts may be slightly more expensive But, most of these cars come with comprehensive warranties that last 100,000 (and even 150,000) miles For the first several years of owning one, you won’t pay for the parts or the labor Plus, automakers seem to have discovered a way to make the components last a long time, even under stress

Maintaining It Properly

Maintenance is a mixed card because you’re actually dealing with parts from 2 different types of engines: the gas-guzzler and the electric The electric engine doesn’t need as much maintenance as the gas-powered engine But, given that they’re under the same hood, you’ll still be forced to take your vehicle to the repair garage when the gasoline-fueled engine needs work

Saving At The Pump

It won’t come as a surprise to learn that you’ll save money at the pump After all, an electric-powered engine doesn’t require much fuel That said, every make and model operates a little differently, so it’s often hard to tell what kind of savings you’re actually enjoying Don’t rely on the paper taped to the car’s window at the dealership The most reliable way to identify your hybrid’s fuel efficiency is to check the latest EPA ratings They’re not infallible, but those ratings are the most accurate available

So, is buying a hybrid a good financial decision? It’s impossible to say for every motorist It depends upon the model you purchase, your driving habits, and where you live (some states offer tax credits) Hopefully, the information I’ve provided above gives you a place to start

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