Cheap Car Rental & Deals

BMW Z4 Car Review

2009-06-11T02:42:00.000-07:00

BMW's Z4 roadster (convertible) sports car employs technology that belongs in lots of cars, not just $50,000 two-seaters. The double-clutch transmission smoothly combines the power and performance of the manual gearbox it really is with the ease of an automatic (no clutch pedal). And the transflective LCD display is unaffected by sunlight. In fact, the more sun shines down, the brighter it gets. The iDrive controller finally works, and well. HD Radio is now free (some models) but the iPod adapter remains an overpriced option. It's a great car if your stock portfolio is fully recovered.
Another Practical Impractical BMWBMW's mainstream cars, particularly the 3 Series and 5 Series, do everything right: handling, safety, comfort, technology, status, residual value. They're practical cars for those with the means to afford them. The Z4 represents the other side of BMW, along with the BMW 6 Series and the BMW X6. They're what I consider impractical cars with a practical bent: Nobody needs them but when you buy one, you're delighted at how well they're suited to daily driving, unlike the the Pontiac Solstice with zero cockpit or trunk room, or the old Ferrari that only comes out on sunny weekends and needs $2,500 tune-ups.
Here's what delighted me with the BMW Z4 in the way of intelligent technology and smart design. The fact that BMW puts it into cars out of the reach of most buyers doesn't keep some or all of it trickling from down over time to more affordable brands and models. Much of this represents intelligent use of suppliers. Others could use them also.
Double-clutch transmission. It's a seven-speed manual gearbox with a clutch (two, actually) but electronics and hydraulics shift gears for you (no clutch pedal). It's quicker and more fuel-efficient than an automatic transmission and, at least for now, cooler to tell people about. Porsche invented the technology, Audi made the most use of it, and now BMW has a first-class version, unlike its clunky. Good news: At $1,525, it's only $200 more than a BMW automatic transmission and far less than the $2,900 BMW charges you for DCT when you buy a BMW M3 (more software in the M3 DCT, BMW says). Bad news: It's only available on the costlier twin-turbo Z4 sDrive35i; with the base model sDrive30i, you have to stick with the traditional automatic.

The Complete Review

The Most Dangerous Driving Mistakes

2009-05-09T04:38:00.000-07:00

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 37,313 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2008. If that isn't a reason to become a better driver, then we don't know what is.

In an ideal world, drivers would execute every road maneuver with precision and ease. Sadly, we do not live in a never-never land, and not everyone walks away from metal-to-metal mayhem. Truth is that drivers are not created equal. Some are too brash, others too conservative. Some are even downright clueless. The common thread is that they can all turn a pleasant day on the motorway into a surreal nightmare in the blink of an eye.

To help you stay safe behind the wheel, here's a list of 10 driving behaviors to avoid.

Swerving
The No. 1 fatal mistake made by drivers is perhaps the most simple: not staying in their own lane — i.e., running off the road or drifting into the adjacent lane. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2007, 15,574 people died in crashes where the driver simply couldn't stay in the lane.

Driving While Drowsy
"Driving a vehicle when you are fatigued is as dangerous as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs," National Transportation Safety Board Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said after a fatal highway accident in 2003 in which a college student who had been awake for the previous 18 hours was driving a carload of fellow students at 5 a.m. According to the NHTSA, in 2007 fatigued driving caused the deaths of 1,404 people, and more traffic fatalities occurred during the hours when most people are accustomed to being asleep (3 a.m. to 6 a.m.) than at any other time of day.

Drinking and Driving
Every 40 minutes someone dies in a drunk-driving accident. (In all 50 states, a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more is considered illegal, but a little-known fact is that you can be charged with driving while impaired even if you're under the legal limit.) Young drivers are particularly prone to drinking and driving: The 21- to 34-year-old set is responsible for well over half of alcohol-infused fatal crashes. Not surprisingly, the decision to get behind the wheel while intoxicated is made most often at night and on the weekends. According to the NHTSA, 60 percent of drivers who died after dark in 2007 were legally drunk. Alcohol is also a factor in half of pedestrian traffic deaths — both drivers and pedestrians are the culprits.

Overcorrecting
You get panicky when the wheels of your SUV hit the rumble patch on the shoulder of the highway, so you throw the steering wheel in the opposite direction to get the vehicle back on the road. This is a classic example of overcorrecting or oversteering, and it's a particularly perilous maneuver when you're behind the wheel of an SUV driving on the highway at high speeds. Consider it a rollover waiting to happen. More than 4 percent of automobile fatalities a year occur because of drivers overcorrecting.

Speeding
Racing, driving faster than the posted speed limit or simply going too fast for road conditions — i.e., speeding — comprises the second highest cause of death in fatal crashes, according to the NHTSA. Once you hit 55 mph, you're in the danger zone: 30 percent of fatalities occur at 55 or above. The worst-case scenarios invariably involve speeding without wearing a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet. Fatality rates for speeding motorcyclists are shockingly high: In 2007, speeding was a factor in 36 percent of motorcycle fatalities. Of those, 41 percent of drivers and more than half of passengers were not wearing helmets (only 20 states and the District of Columbia require helmets).
If you are comfortable driving faster than the speed limit then you should be comfortable with the fact that speeding was responsible for over 30 percent of the auto-related fatalities in the U.S. last year.

Failure to Yield Right of Way
For drivers age 70 and above, failing to yield while merging into traffic is the top cause of crashes. In a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers 80 and older simply fail to see the other vehicle they should be yielding to. Drivers 70 to 79 see the vehicle but misjudge whether they have time to proceed ahead of it. Failure to yield right of way was the fifth leading cause of fatal crashes in 2007.

Erratic or Reckless Driving
At its mildest, we're talking about weaving and tailgating; at its most severe, this kind of driving involves steering down the wrong side of the road, exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph or doing more than 80 mph, and worse. Reckless driving can bring fines, jail time — and death. More than 1,850 fatalities in 2007 were the result of erratic or reckless drivers.

Running Red Lights
A whopping 75 percent of automobile crashes occur in cities, according to the nonprofit Insurance Research Council. The most common cause of these accidents? Hitting the gas when the light turns red. Of the myriad types of collisions that can result, head-on and side-impact collisions are the most dangerous. NHTSA statistics show that of the 41,059 automobile fatalities in 2007, 54 percent occurred in cars that sustained frontal damage. When you cut it too close while running a light, your front end or another car's front end is impacted. Either way, it's a recipe for a deadly accident.

Not Wearing a Seat Belt
Despite the fact that seat belt use is far more prevalent than even a decade ago — not to mention being legally required — 33 percent of people who die in vehicle fatalities failed to buckle up. Without a seat belt, car drivers and passengers put themselves at risk of being ejected from a vehicle, and 76 percent of the time the ejection ends in death.

Top Sports Cars For Less Than $35,000.

2009-04-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Tradition says pure sports cars are equipped with “nothing that doesn’t make them go faster.” Long ago, that meant roll-up side windows and a heater were extravagances. Today, however, they are both sports car norms, along with power-folding convertible tops, power door locks and automated climate controls. Such amenities are now lightweight enough not to slow a car down and are considered indispensible in this fast-paced, luxury-minded world of ours.

Furthermore, some time ago, sporty coupes reached par with traditional two-seat sports cars in terms of performance while offering sedanlike practicality. Thus, a “sports car” today can be everything from a swoopy two-seat convertible to a boxy sedan look-alike that hides a powerful engine and road-gripping suspension under its family-friendly fenders.

With such diversity to choose from, fun-loving drivers can find themselves in a pleasant quandary when deciding what to buy. Should they opt for a dashing convertible when they could have just as much driving fun in a sports sedan that also offers a usable rear seat?

That decision is often compounded by the expensive, impractical nature of traditional two-seat sports cars. Their minimal seating and lack of storage space means the thoroughbred sports cars are tough to justify in single-car households. Such limited use excludes them as everyday cars for regular working folk. As a result, the sports car market often drifts very upscale — think Aston Martin or Porsche.

But the rich needn’t have all the fun. For $35,000 there are a handful of capable traditional sports cars and a wider selection of performance-oriented coupes and even sedans. We’ve gathered 10 of the best of these sub-$35,000 sportsters for your review.

Our criteria value convertible tops, sharp handling, strong performance and rear-wheel drive, but are not blind to other possibilities as long as the intent is grin-inducing driving. Enjoy!

Toyota Motor to Cut Prius Prices

2009-04-04T03:49:00.000-07:00

Toyota Motor Corporation has set 2.05 million yen starting price ($20,750) in Japan for its third-generation, 2010 Toyota Prius, putting it on par with the newly released Honda Insight, according to Automotive News. That's considerably less than originally planned and could signal an upcoming price war when the car goes on sale in the U.S. on May 18th.

Originally, Toyota's revised Prius was expected to fall in around the $24,000 range, which is roughly what the current model with a similar amount of equipment costs. The report said that a newer, cheaper Prius would prove a tough rival to the Insight, as the Prius gets better mileage, is faster, and is also larger and has more room inside.

Ten Automotive Wonders You'll Probably Never Get To Drive in the U.S. — No Matter What

2009-02-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

The U.S. car market is the biggest and most competitive on the planet. Still, there are several wild, exciting and unique vehicles that cannot be bought here, no matter how much money you are willing to lay down. Many of these rolling wonders are designed and built by tiny boutique automakers that cannot or simply will not shell out the millions of dollars needed to certify their creations for sale in the New World. Others are so radical in design and purpose that they just wouldn't conform to the various U.S. safety and regulatory standards. And a few more are so exclusive and built in such small numbers that they are all spoken for before even rumors of their possible existence reach American ears. Have we piqued your interest yet? Well, here are 10 of the coolest cars you can't get here in the States. As you'll see, they are sexy, powerful and very desirable. Welcome to the world of the unobtainable.

Continue...

The Best Cheap Car Rental Deals

2009-02-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Cheap car rental seems to be the way forward as more and more of us start feeling what the clever people in Wall Street are calling, ‘the credit crunch’. Times are tough and although most of us feel the need to scale down on needless expenditures, when holiday times roll around we still get that itchy feeling that seems to scream, “It’s time to hit the road buddy!”

The good news is that whether you are looking for car rental in Cape Town to explore the sights or heading on a road trip with some friends, there are cars hire options that won’t end up costing you bits of vital anatomy. All you have to do is set aside those niggling illusions of grandeur and settle for a car that will get you where you want to be without costing the earth. Okay, chances are you won’t have the girls on Camps Bay beach waving their Jimmy Choos in your face, but that’s overrated anyway.

Let’s discuss some of the car rental options that will best suit a strained budget over this festive season.

1. Opel Corsa 1.2 LThis sturdy little guy has a decidedly youthful appearance and simple handling capability, which explains why it is the cheap car rental of choice for so many twenty-something’s. It also boasts very conservative fuel consumption and various little extra’s that should make your trip a more comfortable one (including folding rear seats, air-conditioning, cup holders and remotely adjustable side mirrors). To rent the Opel Corsa for a week will set you back around R1400, which is not too bad all things considered.

2. VW City GolfYou can hardly throw a rock in any direction in the Mother City without hitting a loved-up Golf, and for good reason. As the entry-level Volkswagen vehicle, this little car has a lot going for it. The legendary Volkswagen design has culminated in a cheap, practical ride that can be easily repaired at nominal cost should anything ever go wrong (which it hardly ever does).

Since the dashboard has been redesigned, the VW Golf has gained a lot of points in the looks department and there is a lot to be said for a vehicle that gives you approximately 14 kilometres to the litre even if you have a trigger-happy driving foot. Renting a VW Golf for a week costs around R1600.

3. Nissan Tiida 1.6LEasy to drive and practical to the core, the Nissan Tiida is known worldwide as a ‘best performance for value’ vehicle. As a car rental, you couldn’t ask for a more sensible ride. Power steering, drivetrain enhancements and sleek exterior design combine to create a vehicle that is as much a pleasure to look at as it is to drive. Sit back in air-conditioned luxury as you view all that Cape Town has to offer from the comfort of your Nissan Tiida. If you plan to rent the Nissan Tiida 1.6L for a week, you should budget for around R2500.

These are just a few of the affordable car hire options available on the market today. If you are interested in inexpensive car rental in South Africa there are many ways to go about it. Flick through the Yellow Pages and see what pops up or go the more technologically savvy route and see what Google recommends. Just make sure to do your homework properly. Reputable car rental agencies have a certain look and feel to their websites and ad campaigns. If something looks and feels dodgy, it probably is. Rather play it safe and ensure that your cheap car rental experience is a pleasant one.

How to Budget Your Car Rental

2009-01-30T05:22:00.000-08:00

Many people rent cars for vacations, business trips, temporary replacement for a car in the shop, or even for use a few days a week when public transportation is otherwise used. A lot of companies rent out autos. One with a big marketing budget is Budget. So many people consider a budget car rental. Lowest price is associated with the name. It's not true, but it's a good marketing technique.

Renting cars is only one of Budget's lines. When people need to carry a big load, they also turn to Budget for a truck. Comfort and style are key to Budget trucks. In fact luxuries like automatic transmission, air conditioning, power brakes and power steering helped set them apart from other truck rentals. That's quite a deal compared to stiff transmissions, hot interiors and loud rides. Also there's another benefit to choosing a Budget rental truck. The interior has no bulge for a wheel well. That means more cargo and ability to shift it around. Budget even sells the trucks when their time in the rental fleet is complete. So Budget trucks have yet another benefit. They're in great condition and often newer models. Nobody wants a break down on moving day.

In some parts of the country, such as New York City, people find it inconvenient to own a car. Good public transportation can be a major factor. A car is sometimes necessary, however. When the load is too much to carry on a bus, that's one time. It could also be they just want a drive.

This calls for a rental car. Budget has cars that rent for about $160 a week, a real bargain. Even a weekly rental for a weekend can be a much better value than owning a vehicle. With the price of parking, maintenance, insurance and registration, it ends up cheaper to rent on occasion.

Cheap Car Rental Company

2009-01-28T05:11:00.000-08:00

Some people don't own an automobile. Even in America it's a fact. There are also people who have a car but travel to different cities where they'll need a car. That's when rental cars become important. When people think of renting a car they think of Enterprise. That's because Enterprise car rentals are not overly pricey, they're generally in good shape, and Enterprise will even pick up the renter from home, from the office, or from the airport.

Enterprise has many locations all over the nation. Compact cars, full size cars, sedans and coups are all there for the taking. In some locations there are even convertible sports cars available. Why not take advantage of the sun and weather especially when it can be expensed? They even have cheap rates. $300 for the week is a real bargain for a car. Throw this into the spreadsheet.

Take the bus or train to work each day. Use the low weekend rates to rent an auto for running around town. For about $60 a week all the car needs are fulfilled. That's under $3500 a year which is far less than most car owners spend on the car purchase, insurance, maintenance, storage, cleaning, registration and other expenses associated with a car.

Enterprise also offers fleet management services to small businesses. Many businesses use cars for employee travel. A fleet of autos can be a nightmare to track. A manager must find the cars, buy them, maintain them and insure them. When a car becomes too worn for use it must be replaced. Businesses want to spend time on their core functions rather than on cars. Enterprise to the rescue.

Enterprise even sells cars that have ended their life in rental fleets. One top feature of Enterprise used cars is they are well maintained. That's not in sync with the stereotype of a hard used rental car. Enterprise imposes penalties to motivate customers to treat the cars well. Also, they are maintained according to manufacturer specifications. Dealers generally have used cars that were privately owned and not well maintained.

Luxury Car Rental, You Deserve It

2009-01-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

What are you driving right now? Are your hands wrapped around the steering wheel of a luxury car rental? If not, why not? Classic and exotic car hire is where the proverbial ‘at’ is right now and the diminishing economy [yes, I realise we are all tired of hearing about this] is very much to thank for the resurgence of this once unpopular business model.

Picture yourself roaring around the corners and slipstreaming through the tail-ends of other vehicles in your bright-orange Murcielago. You pull up on the handbrake and time slows down as your drift, effortlessly into the next curve of the road. As you sink into the plush leather seating, you feel as if you are as much a part of the car as the engine itself. All this power can be yours for only 2000 Euros or 3000 Dollars per day.

Welcome to the crazy world of exotic, luxury car rentals or rarefied rental exotica. Whatever you choose to call it, it’s worth your while. This is a highly competitive market and is well worth in excess of twenty billion dollars per year. Not everyone is allowed a piece of this delicious pie, but if you have the money, there is a great chance that you could be riding the highways in your lightning-fast chariot.

Luxury car rental outlets tend to price their rentals as such: One percent of the total car price equates to a day’s rental for said vehicle. Therefore the latest Ferrari which retails for roughly a million to a million and a half dollars can will set you back 1000 to 1,500 dollars per day. Quite the bargain when you consider what the alternatives are.

For most, a rental car gets you from one point to the next. Yet for big, upper-echelon car rental firms in Germany, these sort of rentals occur on a daily basis. The car market in Germany is unlike what other areas of the world are used to. Every citizen has that essential need for speed and it is this thirst for automotive passion that compels luxury car hire firms, to rent only the best the world has to offer. Every gadget you could ever wish for are in these beauties. GPS, MP3 Audio, true surround sound and voice-guided navigation all come standard in these formidable automobiles. For example, luxury car rental in South Africa consider these options an extravagance just by having them in a standard four-door GTI.

The top car reservation firms act not unlike a fully-fledged bespoke service. Your every need will be catered for, as soon as your credit card checks out that is. You will not have to wade through queues to rent these, nor will you have to drop the car off once your journey is complete. Many also offer a 24-hour reservation line, letting your rent at anytime of the day. Those at the top of the food chain do not keep normal hours.

Many of these rentals actually come in the form of a high-end gift certificate. Consider that, instead of a vacation to Europe or a top end Plasma TV, you could rather give your loved one a virtual Lotus Spyder voucher or a weekend pass in the latest Porsche. Another fact to consider, most car rental establishments do not loan their beauties out for a test drive, the only way to experience the true pleasure of a supercar, would be to rent it out first.

Over the festive season and new years, treat yourself to a well deserved break behind the wheel of an exotic car hire. There are a million reasons why you should not, but only one reason why you should. You deserve it.

10 Tips To Keep Your Car Rental Cheap

2009-01-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

In today’s world of competitive marketing and cutthroat competition, a customer can’t really predict whether the deal he/she is closing will benefit her or not, most of the time most, consumers, just go on with the deal just to avoid all the hassle of inquiring for more economic alternatives, or discounts. This also applies to car rentals, nowadays, it’s hard to call anything a cheap car rental, with the inflation rate of products, continuing gas price increase it’s hard to keep product prices down.

Here are a few tips to keep your car rentals cheap, even if every other factor is making it expensive.

1. Reserve your cheap car rental internet sites instead of over the counter ones. Internet sites, offer internet only discounts which could very beneficial for you, cheap car rentals can be achieved by being witty, put discounts like these to your advantage and you’re sure to save a lot.

2. One way to get cheap car rentals is to try to get the most out of your rental. Most car rentals require you to fill the tank when you return it, so on your way to returning the rented car, fill it up with the cheapest type of gas you could find, you’ll save more than when they make you pay for the gas at an inflated rate.

3. If you can, always rent at only one Car Company, companies give you cheap car rentals for frequently renting their cars, discounts, coupons and sometimes even miles.

4. Ask the car rentals if you can exchange your flyers miles for car rental miles. This is especially useful when your flyer’s miles is about to expire, instead of just letting it go to waste, get a cheap car rental for it.

5. For a cheap car rental, try to make reservations as early as possible, car rental; companies give discounts for customers who reserve early.

6. To get your rental cheaper, pick up your car early in the morning, just as the shop is opening, so that there will be a shortage on the cheap car rentals, at this point, the renters may give you a free or a marked down upgrade.

7. Look for packages like hotels and rental packages or if you want a cheaper car rental find a package that includes air fare, car rental and hotel stay, these packages give you great discounts on all three, so if you’re planning to do all, I suggest you get a package deal to get the most out of your money.

8. To get a cheap car rental at your own, price, find rent-at-your-own-price internet sites that look for the best possible deal with the budget that you’ve given them, but be careful with this, review the company’s history first before you get into it, or make sure that there are no other cheaper means before you close the deal, remember, once you make a reservation, you can’t cancel it.

9. If you’re going to use the car for more than five days try to find weekly rates from car rentals, with weekly rates, the sixth and seventh day are almost always discounted, so look for this when you’re out for a cheap car rental.

10. Instead of picking up your rental at the airport, save money by picking it up at the shop, this will reduce airport surcharges.

Finding The Best Used Car Rates

2009-01-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

Car loans are turning out to be as the main lender of capital to people who want to buy cars but are short of funds. Usually now days with advent of loan marketing, loans are provided on spot to the customers who want to purchase a car, and it depends upon the customer to take or choose the different offers that are being offered to them by the loan companies.

As the cars are being offered from the showroom or the shop, the rates and the rules of the loan meted out usually remains the same and very low, so as to attract and lure more and more customers towards their loan scheme, because there are companies waiting to have a go at the customers and if the loan rates of the scheme meted out is higher then obviously the customers would go for the other loan giving companies who give out loan at a much lower rate.

But this is not the case with the car loans that are given out for used cars. The rates that are charged by the loan giving companies usually differ from each other as it is on the discretion of the loan giving companies.

Therefore, it is advised that before taking or choosing a loan, the customer should make proper research of the rates that are prevailing in the market. He or she should not jump at once to grab a loan if the rate offered is low. There are bound to be companies which offer better rates. The customer should go through all the schemes and then apply for a used car loan that suits him the best. And if no loan suits his interest then he can always go back to the first loan that was offered to him at a low rate of interest.

A customer can register online or can go and directly collect the forms. The person should however compare the loan rate that is being offered to him. The customer can search online for the prevailing market loan rates; or rather collect the rates directly from a local lender. This way he will have an idea of the lowest rate offered. Before taking up a loan however, the customer should also take into consideration, the number of months for repayment.

There are online lenders who usually offer used car loans at a very low rate of interest, which comparatively is even lower than the rates that are usually offered by the banks. And moreover usually banks reject the applications of car loans, if it is for a used car.

Thus we see that a customer should make a complete research regarding the rates offered, to pick up the best offer.

How To Purchase A Car And Find The Best Car Deals

2008-12-09T05:57:00.000-08:00

Although most people have been turning to the internet for purchasing everything from CDs and clothes to books and furniture for a long time now, not many people seemed to prefer purchasing a car online. But the situation is fast changing. More and more people are now turning to online sources not just to compare car prices, but also to actually make a purchase. Whether you are planning on purchasing a brand new car or a used car, there are plenty of online automotive sites that offer reasonable new car prices and amazingly low used car prices. As a result, you can save thousands of dollars if you opt for car shopping online.

Online Car Purchase
Most people go in for online purchases due to the attractive car quotes. Most automotive sites offer access to huge databases of cars across the United States. That means you have the convenience of browsing through various sites and car categories from the comfort of your home. However, the downside of purchasing new or used cars online is that you do not get a chance to thoroughly inspect the car before confirming the purchase.

Things to Watch Out For

Before going in for an online car purchase, use this checklist to ensure a safe and good buy.

* Reputation of the site: Ensure safety by checking if the site is reputable and if it has been around for some time. Do not believe the new car price quote you receive out of the blue from a new site it is likely to be a scam.

* Location: Take note of the areas where the cars are delivered throughout the United States. If you are from Maine, avoid a site that requires you to collect the car from Texas. Remember that most online dealers add the shipping charges to the car quote if you live far from their car delivery locations.

* Compare car prices: Always compare the car quote you receive with ones on other sites, newspaper ads or car showrooms.

* Request for the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the used car: If you are looking to buy a used car, the VIN allows you to get a detailed report of the car history. You thus get to know everything related to the car if it has ever been involved in an accident, if its odometer is showing the exact mileage of the car, number of cylinders, its engine type, etc.

* Get everything in writing: Ask the dealer to provide you a detailed report of the car specifications and new car price quote in writing. This way, even if you find faults in the car after purchase, you will have sufficient evidence to make a complaint.

* Take along an expert: Before taking delivery of the car, let an expert or a mechanic do a simple inspection.

Reliable car dealer sites offer you plenty of new cars with exciting car quotes. These sites also offer used cars in good condition and cheap used car prices. Even if you are dealing with an established, online dealer, observe how good their customer service section is. With a bit of browsing around, you can easily find good dealers known for competitive car prices, impeccable service and satisfactory customer support. Get started right away, your dream car is probably just a few clicks away!

Top 10 Fuel-efficient Vehicles for 2009

2008-10-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here are the top 10 fuel-efficient vehicles for 2009, based on EPA fuel economy data for combined city and highway driving:

Vehicle	City/Hwy/Combined
1. Toyota Prius	48/45/46
2. Honda Civic Hybrid	40/45/42
3. smart fortwo	33/41/36
4. Volkswagen Jetta Sedan/Jetta SportWagen	30/41/34
5. Toyota Camry Hybrid	33/34/34
6. Nissan Altima Hybrid	35/33/34
7. MINI Cooper/Cooper Clubman	28/37/32
8. Toyota Yaris	29/36/32
9. Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid/Mazda Tribute Hybrid (tie)	34/31/32
10. Honda Fit	28/35/31

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

How To Deal With High Gas Prices?

2008-08-25T06:56:00.001-07:00

Record high gas prices make many people change their habits. Maybe for years you were used to drive your SUV and never felt the pain at the gas pump. You drove over 40 miles one way to work and it felt normal, but now with hundreds of dollars spent per month on gas alone you don’t see it that normal anymore. So if so far you never thought of ways to save money on gas perhaps now is the best time to do it.

Here are some practical tips on how you can save money at the pump:

1) Carpool- If you are driving a lot of miles every day to and from work, there is probably somebody in your area or within short distance that does the same thing. There are quite a few websites out there where you can post free ads looking for people that are willing to carpool in your route. One generic side would be the well known craigslist.com and a more specific site for this is erideshare.com. It might take you a few weeks or months to find the right person to ride with, but it’s definitely worth it. You will pretty much cut you gas expenses in half. So what would you say if you would see $2.00 / gallon gas. I am sure you will be pretty excited. So go ahead make the decision and start looking for a carpool partner.

2) Move closer to work-I know it is easier said than done. In today’s economy we are hit not only buy the high gas prices but also by a very, very slow real estate market. It is not that easy to sell you home anymore. I admit that this solution is a better fit for people who are renting. If you are not caught up in a long term contract do whatever possible to find a place to live close to your workplace. There are rumors that the gas prices are only going to go up, so the less you drive the better off you are.

3) Buy a car that gives more miles per gallon. Be ready to give up a little comfort. You might not have that spacious car but for sure a small little car will keep you away from the gas pump for a longer period of time. If you want to check the miles per gallon average numbers you can check it out at www.mpgbuddy.com.

4) Use the public transportation – Depending on what city you live in and where you go to work, there is probably a public transportation system that you could use. If you plan on doing this, as a method to save money on gas you have to be very organized. You got to know the bus schedule, wake up earlier than you use to and allow a lot more time to get to and from work.

I think that almost every single American is affected by the high gas prices, but not everyone is ready to take some of the drastic measure that I mentioned above. You don’t have to , but unless you are a millionaire I am pretty sure that you have to make some changes to your daily habits so that you can keep your budget under control.

Water Fuel Systems - Buying or Building?

2008-08-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

As you may heave heard on TV and the Internet, water fuel technology is taking off due to the increased price of gasoline. Thousands of people have successfully built and installed water fuel systems in their cars, trucks, and SUVs over the past year, some with truly amazing resultsThere are even water fuel expos and conventions around the country where enthusiasts show off their water-powered cars and trucks, and give tips to folks just getting started.

Recently, there have been a number of guides published that show you how to build a system and convert you own vehicle to run on water. While the science is sound, many of these "plans" are poorly-written and difficult to understand. Based on our review of twelve products, only two appeared to be written by people who have actually used the technology on their own vehicle.
These two guides give you full details, installation photographs, step-by-step instructions, and are written by experienced people who actually install water fuel systems for a living. You'll get a parts list and sources for the materials, which cost between $75 and $150.

In general, water fuel systems, or HHO conversion kits as they are sometimes called, are easy to install and the materials are available at the hardware store or online. Follow the simple step by step instructions and you can have your system up and running in a few hours.

A big question many people have is whether they should buy a pre-made kit or build one themselves, and the answer has a lot to do with your mechanical ability.

-*- Buying a pre-made kit from a vendor means you get a self contained unit that's ready to install out of the box. You know it's put together properly and has been tested before shipping. However, these kits cost up to $500.

-*- Making your own kit saves you money, and gets you familiar with the technology, but a few of the parts need to be positioned very carefully to be effective. You may find building your own system takes more time since it'll need to be tested and tweaked.

This wave of alternative fuel sources will only grow as gas becomes more expensive, and people discover more efficient ways of getting from one place to another.

Tips To Get Better Gas Mileage

2008-08-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

How can I achieve better gas mileage? With the price of gas well over $4 these days, this is a question that is on most peoples mind today. Everyone is feeling the price pain at the gas pump, and it can be difficult for many people to fill up their tank with gas prices so high. More than ever before people are beginning to ask how to get better gas mileage, and thankfully, there are some things that can be done to enhance the mileage that you get out of your gas.

Try Using Your Cruise Control More. One thing that you can do to help get better gas mileage is to try using your cruise control a bit more. Since using the cruise control can help you keep at a steady speed, it can help with getting better gas mileage. However, this only works when you are driving on roads that are primarily flat. If you're going to be driving on roads that are fairly flat, then using the cruise is a great idea that will help you to save at the pump.

Clean Your Car. Believe it or not, keeping your car clean on the outside can improve your fuel economy as well. You should make sure that you keep your car washed and waxed. Doing this on a regular basis actually helps to improve the aerodynamics of your car, which will affect the fuel mileage you get on your vehicle. This in fact, is so important that it can actually improve your fuel economy by about 7%, which is a substantial savings.

Avoid Idling as Much as Possible. Idling can really start killing your gas mileage, so you'll want to avoid it as much as possible. You're using fuel when you are idling but you aren't even moving. This means you're actually getting 0 mpg at this time. When you let your car continually run when you're waiting on someone in the store or even sitting at a drive through, you are actually wasting your gas. You'll be better off to turn off your car and then restart it instead of letting it idle so much.

Don't Run the Air if You Don't Have To. If you don't absolutely have to, avoid running the air conditioning as well. However, at some times it can be better to keep the air running. Usually if you are out on the highway traveling fast, it's better to keep the windows shut and run the air conditioning; however, if you're driving at slower speeds around town, you'll save by keeping the windows down.

Responsible Tips To Help You Avoid Traffic Accidents

2008-08-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

The first things to always remember in order to avoid being involved in an accident are also the most obvious. Following traffic rules and the Highway Code may seem like common sense but they are often disregarded by, not only drivers, but pedestrians also; thus causing more accidents. Wearing a seatbelt is another law that many drivers choose to ignore, even though many injuries that have occurred due to not buckling up could have been avoided, including some fatalities.

Every driver should also have defensive driving on their mind when they get behind the wheel. However, just because you’re a careful driver, you never know when you’re, quite literally, going to run into a reckless one. While driving, being on the defensive at all times can help you avoid accidents and stay one step ahead of other road users due to you having more time to react. Additionally, being a courteous driver is a sure-fire way to lessen the chances of a traffic accident. While this may seem like a lesson in good conduct and manners, being courteous is not a virtue possessed by many drivers but is essential in keeping yourself and others safe on the roads.

Many drivers also ignore the repeated warnings of the dangers of drinking and driving - an ignorance that has caused thousands of deaths on roads across the country. Some people argue over the amount of alcohol you can drink before being classed as drunk. However, the safest way to avoid being caught drink-driving or causing harm to someone else is to simply not drink alcohol at all when you know you will be driving.

On a similar note, driving requires a great deal of concentration and, because of this, having a discussion on your mobile phone is incredibly irresponsible while you’re out on the road. Many countries have enacted laws prohibiting the use of phones while driving and penalising drivers who continue to do so, due to a large amount of drivers seemingly unwilling to pull over for a couple of minutes to take their call - not realising that those couple of minutes could potentially save lives.

One final point is to always keep an adequate distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. You may be in a rush and planning to overtake the driver in front, but always stay at a safe distance as you never know when a driver in front of you may lose control or suffer a breakdown. Changing radio stations or CDs while driving should also be avoided for this very reason; taking your eyes off the road even for a second can easily lead to a traffic accident.

Taking these tips on board and generally keeping your wits about you while driving is sure to help you decrease the chances of being involved in an accident and keep your fellow road users safe while driving.

Negotiation Tips When Buying Used Car

2008-08-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

These days purchasing a used car is certainly a good option, both practically and economically. You can find many varieties of used car available in market to check out. Another advantage is that you can get a new model and get rid of your old one. One more reason could be is that in case someone has bought a new car may have end up in financial mess, so could go with selling a car and buying a used one. Whatever could be the reason purchasing a used car eventually benefits the users.

In fact a new car is generally considered as a fresh car if it is a year old. Such cars you can find it at amazing discounts of 20 to 40 % from the present market price. So here you are not only getting a new car, but you are as well saving much financially. This does not mean that 2 year old car is worst; it is just that you need to check it and if the used car expert advise taken then buying any old car could be really beneficial. On the other hand, you must be ready to face certain limitations when buying used car. Your financial charges could be little high when compare to the new car. Yet it is a good decision to go with used car and you would save high considerably.

Negotiation Tips for Used Car
Know while talking to a used car salesman or a seller you need to control your emotions. Do not go hyper, so no wows and no oh’s. At the same time do not express any disappointment or any fury in any kind. Just learn to play it with deadpan and accurate. Below given are few examples of the conversation you might have to come across.

1- If the salesman asks you to see the car and then have a talk on the price then you must carry on talking and attempt to make the salesman quote a cost. This way you could work out if the salesman is strong-minded about the value of the car or not.

2- In case the salesman states that the price is not to be discussed or is somewhat flexible. You should make him realize that you are a serious buyer and does not desire to squander the salesman’s time in addition to his time. Further you must stress that you are interested in little lesser price and this would offer a thought on how negotiable the salesman is.

3- If you feel that the used car is apt for you, but the value is little high, then you could leave your contact number with the salesman, requesting him to contact you back in case the seller lessens the price.

Why Buying A Hybrid Car Can Save You Money

2008-08-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

Fed up with paying too much for gas for your car? I can't say I blame you considering the massive rise in fuel prices. Well it's obvious that the price of gas isn't ever going to be cheap again. So what can you do to save money on filling up your tank? Is getting a second job the only option to make sure you can afford gas for your car?

One option is to form a carpool. Trouble is that would need a lot of scheduling and coordination with other people. Hopefully, you are good at math because you'll have to work out how much each person will have to pay for gas. You'll also have to make sure that every car in the carpool is in good working condition. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself or the other passengers at risk.

I suppose you could trade down to a smaller car and sacrifice style, size, and reputation. But who wants to drive around in a nondescript little car when they could be driving a smart SUV? Although there are plenty of options for saving gas, there's one that makes a lot more sense than all of the others. Buy a hybrid car. The question is, does a hybrid car really save you money?
There are reasons why the hybrid car will save you money and reasons why it doesn't. The hybrid car could save you a few dollars a day and thousands per year on gas. However, if you're the sort of person who is not into keeping tabs on how much you spend per week driving to and fro from work, you might not be able to truly appreciate how much money a hybrid car will save you at the gas pump.

We've all heard about the people who buy a hybrid car, just to save money on gas and luckily it turns out that they do save a whole lot.

But then there are the stories of people who buy a hybrid car, but they actually end up saving very little. Maybe it's because some of these people may be highway drivers as opposed to local commuters. A hybrid car repowers its battery by stopping. So if you are a highway driver, you might not appreciate how much money you save with a hybrid car.

Many people say that whether you experience big savings by purchasing a hybrid car has to do with a lot more than most people think. And it really does. Some people who are stay-at-home moms for instance, don't even consider that it might not make a difference whether they own a hybrid car or not. Really, they just don't go too many places.

But does a hybrid car really save you money? In most cases, but you need to compare your current spending before you buy a hybrid car and after you buy the hybrid car. Only then you will see if you have saved anything. If you don't keep a record of your car useage and cost, you won't know if buying a hybrid car was a worthwhile investment or not.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

2008-08-13T03:37:00.000-07:00

Hydrogen fuel-cell cars eventually will eliminate U.S. dependence on foreign oil. With a fuel cell, hydrogen produces electricity to propel vehicles. No gasoline, no emissions.

But automakers say it could be 10 years or more before they can produce hydrogen-powered vehicles for the masses. A company called United Nuclear says it can speed the process. It sent an e-mail stating that it will produce hydrogen conversion kits for "individual owners to adapt their gasoline internal combustion engine vehicles to burn hydrogen."

So are they living a pipe dream by promoting a kit that can help you make homemade hydrogen fuel cells? Absolutely not. However, what we can say is that it has taken years and years for experts to perfect the process of producing hydrogen fuel cells, so making a homemade product probably isn’t going to be as good as a professionally produced version.

However, as disturbing as it might be, it certainly is possible.

The purpose of this article isn’t meant to teach you how to make a homemade hydrogen fuel cell. That would take much more space than what we have available.

If you want to convert your vehicle to run on hydrogen fuel cells, you really should try to make a homemade unit. It is definitely a great move to switch to a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle. After all, it has zero chemical emissions giving out only water vapor which is environmentally friendly.

However, if you want to try, our only advice is to do so only after doing extensive research. Know what you are doing when making a homemade hydrogen fuel cell and then proceed with caution. If you get hung up, leave it to the experts.

What is and Exhaust System?

2008-08-12T03:35:00.000-07:00

Basically, an exhaust system is a tubing used to guide waste exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine or stove. An example of such system is a Gibson Exhaust System.
The whole system projects burnt gases from the engine that includes one or more exhaust pipes.
Taking into consideration the overall design, the exhaust gas may flow through anyone as follows:

Cylinder head and exhaust manifold.A turbocharger to increase engine powerA catalytic converter to reduce air pollution.A muffler or silencer to lower the noise.

DESIGN CRITERIA
In order to carry toxic and/or harmful gases from machine users, an exhaust pipe must be carefully crafted.
If they are not given enough ventilation to the outdoors, within no time indoor generators and furnaces can quickly fill an enclosed place with carbon monoxide or other poisonous exhaust gases.
Since gases from most machines are extremely hot, the pipe must be heat resistant.In a stationary structure, a chimney serves as an exhaust pipe.

MOTORCYCLES
Most motorcycles have a visible exhaust system and are chrome-plated.Siamese exhaust pipes are used on a two-cylinder motorcycle, where both cylinders blow into the same exhaust pipe and connect with a crossover.

TRUCKS
In most trucks, exhaust system is highly visible. The silencer is surrounded by a perforated chrome plated sheath, so that it prevents you from getting burned incase you touch the silencer.

TWO STROKE ENGINES
With regards to two stroke engines, a bulge in the exhaust pipe called an expansion chamber uses the exhaust pressure to create a pump that squeezes more air and fuel into the cylinder during the intake stroke, thus providing increased power and fuel efficiency.

OUTBOARD MOTORS
The exhaust system is a vertical passage through the structure of the engine in outboard motors.Also, it minimizes out-of-water noise that blows underwater through the middle of the propeller.

How To Get Better Gas Mileage

2008-08-11T03:32:00.000-07:00

The science or prediction of using water as gas started well over a century ago. In 1874 a French science-fiction author Jules Verne through his series of Les Voyages Extraordinaires predicted the use of hydrogen as an energy source. He also predicted many future modern conveniences and technological inventions such as submarines, airplanes, high rise buildings and helicopters. Almost every one of his predictions has come true, the last but not the least is the use of water-gas or hydrogen as a source of great energy of an intensity which coal will not be capable of. This prediction is coming true in time of great need and desire. At a time that it is most needed when gasoline prices is forcing people in hundreds to give up their treasure automobile and means of transportation because of inability to keep up with rising gas price.

Jules Verne’s water for gas prediction became our reality few years back, now it is exposed to everyone. This means everyone can benefit from this technology to get better gas mileage and save tons of money on gas. No technical knowledge or background is required to install the equipment on your car to start saving money. If you are not comfortable at all installing it, get help or let your mechanic do it for you, it is really simple and easy.

The technology is here and has been proven to work and be the best way to save on high gas prices, there is no other better way to get better gas mileage then running your car on water. A very simple system to put together uses the electricity from your car battery, a few spoons of baking soda, distilled or pure water and a container. This process will convert a gallon of distilled water to approximately 2,000 gallons of hydrogen gas for your car.

The end result of this will be a more powerful automobile that boosts performance while preventing smog. A motor that will last longer and age better overtime, because HHO will remove the carbon deposits and prevent future carbon build up. A quieter and smoother ride, in the combustion chamber HHO burns better than gas and adds more power. Emission of no harmful chemical, the burned HHO turns right back into water making it better for the environment. An incredible gas mileage, more HHO will be burned than gasoline.

Honda is in the fore front of auto manufacturer to introduce hydrogen gas automobile with their FCX Clarity, zero emission from combining hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Water is the only byproduct the FCX Clarity leaves behind. That is exactly what your home made hydrogen car would do. The only difference would be you are using gas on demand while Honda is using compressed hydrogen. You do not run the risk of carrying a compressed gas.

Green Car Hire Firm Gives Back to the Environment

2008-08-09T03:30:00.000-07:00

The environment is in trouble is what we constantly hear from the government and former Vice Presidents of the United States, so we’re meant to all be driving low emission cars or not at all in some cases.

The trouble is that when you’re on holiday and you want to see and do everything that you’ve planned it is quite hard to do so without hiring a car as the holiday rep will not always be able to organize a coach trip to the sites you want to see, couple that with the fact that you’ll be working to a strict timetable and have to be back at the coach by a certain time.

You certainly didn’t come on holiday to march to the beat of someone else’s drum, so hiring a car is the only option. But you needn’t feel guilty that you’re polluting the environment as much if you were to choose the new car hire firm that has green issues firmly in their agenda. Some car hire firms lease cars out like any other car hire company but what makes them stand out is that they promise to plant a tree every time a car is rented. The scheme is carried out by carbon off-setting companies that have cropped up over the past few years and the car hire firms claim that customers will not have to pay for this feature as they will be paying the cost themselves, helping to preserve the cheap car hire we all look for.

The tree that is planted in your name when you hire a car will likely go towards replacing rainforests in Borneo and Brazil, two places that have been hurt by de-forestation in the past. The cheap car hire firm believes that by partnering with carbon off-setting company it gives the message to customers that even a car hire business can do its bit towards looking after the environment.

The Importance Of Car Service to Today's Business

2008-08-08T03:25:00.000-07:00

Traveling is an important aspect in everyone’s life. And these days, traveling has become much more complicated. Now a day, it’s not only about traveling from one place to other, but it is about how you travel.

The mode of travel has become more important than the travel itself. People prefer to travel in cars as traveling in a car is the best way to travel. You do not have to listen to anybody else, you have your own car and you can just move your own way. But not all are lucky to get a car. Thus, renting a car for traveling is a good option for them. Renting cars is very popular all over.

People, who have their own cars, love to watch people starring at them, while they relax in their cars’ luxury. But, even a person without owning a car can experience it. He can easily rent a car, and experience the same feeling. Business people who often get visits from clients have to take care of them totally. In such cases, renting a car is the best option for traveling of the clients.

These car companies are reliable and provide chauffer. So there is no problem of traveling or driving. The cars provided by these companies are state-of-the-art and maintained extremely well. So once you have rented a car, you do not have to worry any more. The company provides all the service and sees to it that the customers are satisfied and travel comfortably.

While visiting other places, one has to travel a lot. Thus, such car renting companies play a major role. These provide with all different kinds of cars, like sedan, SUVs and even limos. Limo service is provided by many car companies and people prefer it the most. Limos have a standard and they fascinate you not only by exterior looks but also by interiors. Thus, for business purposes, limos are the best.

How To Hire A Limo For Any Occasion

2008-08-07T03:21:00.000-07:00

These days we all look for things to do to make a day memorable and the majority of the time we put on an extravagant party. Everyone gets in their best clothes and drives their normal broken down car.The problem is that if you want to escape to another world, a world that is more glamorous than your normal one, then why in the world would you drive your own car?

Stretch Limousines are impressive vehicles, that can help you make a dramatic entrance to a party or make for an interesting night on the town.They are the ultimate "bling" transport choice for rappers and footballers' wives alike.These monster-sized cars which have become a must-have for everything from hen nights and 21st birthday parties to American-style teenage prom events. With such features as sound systems, televisions and mini bars have helped boost demand.

A limousine can pick you up form your home and go around town and pick up all of your important guests There are a lot of ways to make a day enjoyable and memorable but very few things display the importance of a person or even to quite like a limousine. After all, if you spend a ton of money on the rest of the day or event, why not put a bit more into the transportation.For sometimes the same amount you can get a luxurious stretched limousine of your choice.

But remember, the limo you arrive and drive off in at your event are often decisions that require a lot if time and research, so if it's truly a special occasion, don't be cheap, as one of the most important things you can do with hiring a stretch limo, is to avoid an embarassing jockey ride, which can make or break a party. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for: Most higher-end limo companies have superior drivers, vehicles and accoutrements.

There are several types of limousines available (SUV, stretch limo, party bus, etc.). For the best experience,choose the type that works best for your occasion, taking into consideration how many are in your party and what your plans are. Decide what type of limo you want (standard limousine -four to six passengers, stretch limo -six to eight passengers, superstretch or specialty) and for how long, based on the event and the number of people in your party. What are you looking for, whether it's a bar, stereo, TV and DVD player, video-gaming system, intercom, sunroof, Jacuzzi, or all of that and a bag of chips, prices will and do vary.If there are several people in your party, it's always a good idea to have everyone in your party meet at one location to avoid extra pickup and drop off time. I realize that sometimes this is part of the fun, so use that as a guideline, but realize the cost may go up if the driver has to make extra stops.Limo hire ompanies book their vehicles based on the time frame clients reserve. So if you reserve a limousine from 1-4 p.m. and at 4 o'clock your photographer is still taking pictures you could come out of the church expecting to get into your limousine to be taken to the reception only to find that it has left because it had another engagement at 5 o'clock. Most of the time going over your time period of time is not an issue. But this is something you should discuss when making your reservation.

In selecting the limousine company, you want to make sure the one you choose is properly licensed and insured. Find out if the company has a contingency plan in case the limousine is in an accident or breaks down. If not, then you have two choices. You either have a backup plan in mind or hire another limousine service that you know does have a contingency plan. Conversely, it may be you that has unforeseen problems, so make sure you know in advance what the companies cancellation policy is. Costs can vary based on current demand (such as during prom and wedding seasons).

Changes in the law in the UK which came into force in January requiring all limousines, except those used exclusively for weddings and funerals, to be licensed as Private Hire Vehicles. Make sure that the operator has safety equipment such as fire extinguisher, first aid kits and the correct type of seat belts. You don't want to swap style for safety when you book a stylish limo for your son or daughter's prom? You can ask around to representatives from other companies that regularly use limousine services to find out about various limousine companies reputations.

Alternatively, contact the National Limousine and Chauffeur Association, who as a trade body, make sure that their drivers are Criminal Record Bureau-checked, vehicles are properly licensed and that limos have checks every 10 weeks. The limousine industry is not overseen by a government agency that insures companies have the licenses, insurance, and chauffeurs who have been screened and licensed to ensure your safety.

Why Leasing A Car Can Be Preferable To Buying One

2008-07-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

The leasing of cars can get a bad rap in the press; this is mainly due to overcomplicated leasing procedures and a handful of unscrupulous operators who have ripped off customers in the past. At the moment it is estimated that around twenty percent of car transactions are now leases. This figure should continue to grow as buyers see the benefits of leasing over ownership.

Some believe that buying a car will in fact work out cheaper than leasing one. While this may be true if you can pay of the repayments quickly, if it will take a long time to pay the car off or if you sell the car before the finance is completed it is almost certain that you will lose money.

Leasing however works along a different method, for paying the same sort of monthly fees you can lease a car over an extended period of time and then trade it in for a nominal fee, while you will never actually own the car, the eventual cost of having the car will be less than if you actually bought it.

While it is hard to extract a great deal when buying a new car, leasing works along different lines. You can haggle over the capitalised cost; that is, the vehicle price. You can also negotiate the monthly payments so they are more affordable; unlike buying a car, a lower monthly fee does not mean you will be paying for the car for longer; although trade in penalties may be incurred. You should also negotiate the residual value; this is the value of the vehicle at the end of the lease period and should definitely be negotiated with the dealer.

Most people believe that only businesses will be able to gain tax breaks for leasing cars. While it is true that businesses can receive breaks for monthly expenses it is worth investigating whether as an individual you can receive similar breaks. As always it is worth asking your accountant to take a closer look at the financial situation when you begin the leasing process.

A widely held belief about car leasing is that you will have to pay a rather large sum when you eventually turn the car back in. The figure is usually dependent upon the annual mileage of the vehicle. Most leasers will give an annual mileage allowance of 10,000 miles but it is possible to negotiate this if you expect to do more. It is definitely advisable to increase your allowance as penalties can be encountered if you go over your allowed mileage. These can be as much as twenty percent per mile so negotiation is your best course of action. However, if you buy a car a high mileage will also lead to a loss in value so the financial penalties can be seen as comparable.
Once you reach the end of your leasing period you do not even have to return the car.

Many companies will give the option of buying the car after the lease is up. There are a variety of benefits to following this course of action. The buy out price can make the car a great deal and you will already be comfortable with the car and have the knowledge of its mechanical history. In addition, if you have exceeded the mileage or the car is excessively worn, you can avoid the fees by buying the vehicle.

Car leasing definitely has benefits over buying cars. The car is the one thing we buy in life that is certain to fall in value as soon as it is driven away from the showroom. After all, you will most likely be paying monthly for a new car anyway; by leasing you have the option to change your car regularly whilst avoiding the financial downsides of depreciation.

Tips for Hiring a Limousine Service

2008-07-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

When planning to hire a limousine service for your special event, remember that there are several things you should keep in mind. This article will list the most common and important questions or topics to inquire about.

First you should find out the basics. How many hours will you plan to rent a limousine? How many passengers will you expect? What color & type of limousine will you want? There are many different types of limousines for specific types of events. To name just a few there are stretch limousines, SUV limousines (Ford Excursion, Hummers, etc.), party bus limousines, vintage cars for weddings (Rolls Royce) and more.

Compare rates of several companies to get an approximate average of what others are charging. A few things that can make the price vary are year, model, accessories and size of the limousine. (number of passengers required).

If you are organizing a large event where several limousines will be required, most companies will offer you some kind of discount. Don’t be shy to ask!
If the limousine company has a website, check out some of the services they offer and view their online testimonials to get a general idea of what others thought of their service.
Ideal occasions for limousine rentals

Birthdays: Imagine the smile you could put on someone’s face when you have a limousine pull up in their driveway to escort them to whatever special event you might have planned. Limousines are a great way to celebrate a memorable birthday.

Weddings: Wedding limousines are practically a tradition nowadays. Often times a stretch Lincoln Town Car limousine or vintage cars such as a Rolls Royce is used to escort the newly weds to their honeymoon after they make their vows. It is a special once in a lifetime occasion which should be celebrated in luxury and style.

VIP Guest Transportation: Many companies require luxury transportation for their VIP customers or guests. Usually a limousine is used to escort special guests from the airport to their hotel and to their business reunion meetings. It’s one good way to impress those special guests and show them you value their presence and wish them the best comfort available to make their stay and negotiations as pleasant as possible.

Hotel & Airport Transfers: After a long flight the last thing you want to do is take a taxi and endure another long trip to your hotel. Many executive travelers use limousine services to escort them from the airport, take care of their hotel reservations and baggage for them.

Bachelor / Bachelorette Parties: Limousines or party buses are a great way to put the party on wheels. Have a fun filled night to remember with your friends in style and luxury.

VIP Nightclub outings: Several limousine companies have special agreements with many different nightclubs in which they offer VIP access and transport you from nightclub to nightclub to have a fun night out with your closest friends. Pull up to the clubs in style as a VIP guest all night long and avoid the risks of DUI. Party responsibly and party a lot!

Wine Tours: Looking for a little stress relief? A perfect little getaway is taking a limousine wine tasting tour. Wine tours consist of traveling from winery to winery while tasting their finest wines and viewing the scenery while riding in a luxurious limousine.

Tourism: If you’re sightseeing then a limousine tour is the perfect way to have fun and make it a memorable event. Have an experienced chauffeur take you to the best tourist locations in your areas of interest.

Prom / Homecomings: If you’re looking to make a good impression with your classmates then you should consider hiring a limousine to take you to your prom or homecoming party in luxury and style.

How to Save Money on a Cheap Car Rental

2008-07-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

You can save money on a Cheap Car rental by following a few tips below. In addition to the flexibility and liberty of using a car when you are traveling away from home, it is oftentimes more cost effective to rent a car when you are traveling outside your home. Apart from taking the burden of having to bother your head with bus and train schedules in the new city, you can save money by cutting on expensive taxi fares.

Always make your car rental booking in advance, at least a week or two to pick –up. To be able to make a cheap car rental, you will need to make your booking early enough to enable you to choose the type of car that you want, and negotiate a better price for it. You can do this as soon as your travel plans are completed and firmed up by you.

Look out for cheap car rental deals and discounts, and preferably, make your booking online, so that you can take advantage of internet-only rates, where it is available. Such offers and more are available from most car rental companies, in addition to groups and membership discounts. Take advantage of them to save more money. Don’t fail to use name-your-own –price sites such as from Priceline, to further be in control of how much savings you can make.
If you intend to rent a car for up to or above six days, find out and use whatever weekly rate available. Most weekends are offered free or heavily discounted, for a weekly booking by some rental companies. You may also need to find out and use any package deal, combining your flight or Hotel booking.

Arm yourself with a generous insurance coverage that can cover all the make of cars and SUV’s that you may want to rent. That way you can comfortably decline the company’s policy. Otherwise, the rental agency will certainly slap one on you, at additional cost. It is common to pump up fuel at the company on return, so why not fill up the car with cheaper fuel before returning it to save extra money. Alternatively, pay for fuel before you take out the car, and return it empty.

If you apply these simple tips, and any other one that may be applicable, you are certainly going to save money on cheap car rental and enjoy the freedom of using a car on transit.

Can Cars Engine Run on Water ?

2008-07-16T02:37:00.000-07:00

Water powered engine is still a mysterious term for the people. They have a vague idea of it to be a car engine with regular water flowing through its pipes and tubes. They don't recognize that the water-powered engine is actually a hydrogen engine. Water-powered engine uses water for the sole purpose of getting hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas once generated is then combusted. The car is powered by the use of hydrogen gas.

Many technicians have worked on the making water-powered engine following the laws of thermodynamics. Many of them have even claimed to invent the water-powered engine. But all the claims of the invention of the water-powered engine have been declared as fraudulent. Various swindlers have attempted to make a lot of money from the pocket of innocent investors by selling them fake kits. The debate surrounding the hydrogen engine (or the water powered engine) is still raging. Passionate people stand on both sides of the fence regarding the issue.

Some people are against the making of hydrogen car or the water-powered engine as they are afraid of the possibility of an explosion. Hydrogen and gasoline are both extremely explosive and inflammable gases. The memory of the Hindenburg explosion during World War Two is still fresh enough to make people tremble and it is this memory that creates the most disagreement against the initiation of the water-powered engine.

The people are also doubtful about the storing of hydrogen, as it is a huge problem. The hydrogen has to be tightly compressed, so as to store enough to use on a drive. This isn't the right idea when the element is hydrogen. Of course there are also arguments for the water-powered engine. Proponents of these developments are quick to point out that gasoline is just as likely to explode as hydrogen is and a gasoline explosion is far more destructive than a hydrogen explosion. When a gasoline-powered car explodes the entire car will explode as a result of it. There is very less chances of passengers surviving in a gasoline explosion. Hydrogen, however, is a gas that floats to the top of the car, taking the explosion with it. This leaves the passengers safely underneath the danger.

The water-powered engine is also suitable for the environment. It will not cause any carbon emissions and will not be a drain on the earth's reserve of fossil fuels. Hydrogen will never be extinct because it can always be harvested from water.

What is HHO?

2008-07-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

HHO is a combination of Hydrogen, Hydrogen & Oxygen. How does the HHO system work? When the HHO systems splits water (H2O) into its components the h2o to HHO conversion takes place. HHO is also known as Green Gas, Hydroxy, Di-Hydroxy, and Water gas. The electrolysis of water produces a burnable Green Gas. HHO is a green gas that is the wave of the future. HHO auto conversion creates a hybrid car, which are now water powered cars using the technology of HHO.

The HHO gas generator for cars is not only an environmental friendly car modified with HHO technology, but also one which permits users to increase their mileage, save money on gasoline, costs and drastically reduces car emissions. In HHO water hybrid car, the HHO gas is used to assist combustion. So for the question, does HHO work in cars, the answer is yes, HHO technology for a waterpower car drastically increases your miles per gallon. HHO as a fuel also reduces air pollution, decreases oil imports and fuel consumption, reduces the trade deficit and produce American jobs. If a mere 10% of automobiles nationwide were powered by an HHO gas fuel system, regulated air pollutants would be cut by one million tons per year and 60 million tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide would be eliminated. HHO is derived from a renewable source, water, thus the emissions will be nothing but water vapor. So HHO gas is extremely eco-friendly.

HHO is water gas. HHO Systems are known to help an engine run cleaner with less carbon deposits. A water-powered car improves emissions with an increase in horsepower, which equates to fewer trips to the gas station. Because of increase in gas prices, everyone is looking for alternative car fuel. We can build our own HHO converter and make our car a hybrid car.

When you build our own HHO systems converter it will connect to the 12 Volts of our battery via the ignition switch. To build HHO generator it could take 10 minutes or less to connect. HHO makes the engine run quieter and it stops knocking or "pinging". The water changes the combustion cycle into a more even or "round" cycle. This happens immediately upon installation of the HHO converter kit, and from that moment on, our engine works in a new way. When you use hydrogen in cars, it creates less noise, less vibration, resulting in reduced strain on the transmission (thus smoother gear shifts), cleaner pistons and valves, and generally better engine operation.

HHO fuel cell is not only beneficial with respect to our cost for fuel, but also for the environment. It is indeed a new shocking technology that needs to be exploited.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Hummer Limo ?

2008-07-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Limousines are slowly becoming one of life's necessities. Not that you need to own one. It's just that there are several events in one's life that require the use of a limousines and not just any other type of car for that matter. Weddings, proms, special events, and even funerals call for these vehicles.

Limousines come in varied shapes and form these days. Stretch limousines are currently the most popular one. But there are also Hummer limousines that a lot of people are looking to hire nowadays.

Since the first Hummer limos appeared in the early 1990’s, the popularity of these stretched limousines has skyrocketed in popularity. A favorite choice of many celebrities, the Hummer limo is now available for rental in numerous locations around the country. One of the best features of this type of limousine is its ability to carry a large number of passengers in luxury and style. In fact, these limousines can carry around 20 passengers comfortably, which is significantly more than many other limousine styles. Many groups that are traveling to a specific location such as a sports arena, casino, or wedding chapel will rent a Hummer limo for their transportation.The price of hiring a Hummer limo for transport depends on a number of factors.

• The factor with the biggest amount of influence on the rental price of a Hummer limo is the company that you are renting the limousine from.Different limousine companies cater to different types of clients and offer different services to complement their limousine rentals. It is important to establish which services are offered and what services you will be utilizing when booking the reservation for the limousine. The area that the limousine is being hired in is another factor that may affect the price of the limousine rental. Small cities and towns will have rental companies that charge less than rental companies located in areas like New York City or Las Vegas.

• Another item that may affect the price of hiring a Hummer limo is the features available on the limousine. Added features and amenities mean higher rental prices for the average consumer.Features that may be included in the Hummer limo include fiber optic lighting, fully stocked bar and refrigeration unit, lounge style seating, and even a casino or dance floor in some models. Some companies allow the consumer to choose a limousine based on the features included in the vehicle, as long as the vehicle is available on the date that the individual is looking for.
The price can be affected by whether the rental is an hourly contract or an all day contract. Many limousine rental companies offer a discounted rate to individuals that are willing to hire the Hummer limousine for the entire day and the consumer does not have to worry about hefty overage charges if anything goes wrong or plans change.

When looking to hire a Hummer limo, the consumer may want to obtain price quotes from several different companies to choose the price and amenities that are right for their needs.Hummer limos are normally costlier than stretch limos. But that shouldn't be a concern, because you are getting exactly what you are paying for. The interior of a Hummer limo is so luxurious and comfortable you would never regret renting one for a second!

Considerations For Cheap Car Rental That You Must Know

2008-07-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn’t want to have the big, luxury car with an affordable rate? You’ll find that most major rentals will provide you with several deal options and you’ll want to take them all very serious, because they are more competitive rates. But, you’ll find that there is no certain business to turn to get at the good rates. You may be able to save yourself a lot of money, but you’ll need to take the time to study the rates.

You’ll find that when it comes to the best prices you’ll want to look for a rental car that is cheap, but you’ll also want to check all the prices that you are given online by making a follow up call. You’ll find that the small the company the more they are able to offer you the better rates. You may even want to consider some seasonal discounts.

Something that you’ll want to look for is unlimited mileage. This is one that will save you tons of money. You’ll be able to find a higher initial rate, but you may end up saving yourself a lot of money in the end. You’ll also need to consider the extent of your insurance. You’ll need to keep in mind that the accident losses that you have may be reduced greatly with insurance options.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to look at the initial rates, but then you’ll need to think about how all the small fees will add up. You’ll need to keep in mind that with the rental car you’ll find that there are some options that you can opt out, but then there are some that you don’t want to live without.

Importance Of Insurance With Car Rentals
You will find that most states do require you to get the insurance if you are renting a car. You will find that the rental company really cannot refuse to rent you the car if you don’t purchase the insurance, but some do have the right to. You’ll need to make sure that you do your research before you try to rent a car. You’ll need to look over the insurance policies and also you may want to get more or less insurance, depending on how comfortable you are with the area.
You’ll find that when it comes to insurance coverage you will be able to get four types of coverage in order to keep yourself comfortable. You’ll need to keep in mind that this four types are known as collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance, personal effect coverage, and then there is supplemental liability protection. You’ll need to look at what each of these policies mean before you may any final decision.

You may be one of these people are who trying to save themselves some money or travel on a budget, but you have to consider what it will mean for you to not have any insurance. You’ll need to keep in mind that there are some reasons why you will want to have the insurance, especially, if you are not familiar with the area. You may just want to take a little bit of insurance out, because you will most likely have an accident just for the fact that you don’t have any coverage. You don’t want to be cited for an accident and not have any coverage.

Arab Woman Getting Foolish About Her Husband (Video)

2008-07-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

That's happened in Morocco, ehhh... what can make this woman do this, guess !!!

Cheap Auto Insurance - Simple Tips to Save Big Bucks

2008-07-12T02:16:00.000-07:00

Cheap auto insurance which offers good protection often seems like a dream too good to be true. People don't believe in getting cheap products nowadays as the inflation rate rises significantly in every part of the world. Insurance rates undoubtedly rises as well, however by doing some homework, there are still chances for you to get your auto insurance without paying high price for it.

Generally, women pay lower rates than men do due to the fact that people believe women are safer drivers. This shows that women have an advantage in securing cheap car insurance rates without having to negotiate much. Therefore, consider putting the wife's name as the primary driver for every vehicle owned by you and the husband's name as the secondary driver if you are married.

Next, use the Internet to search for the cheapest rates between multiple companies. Different companies have different quotes and the easiest way to compare them in a short period of time is to use comparison sites specialized for insurance. Internet also serves as a good channel to purchase your policy online. Many online insurance companies are able to offer cheap auto insurance due to the fact that they have less overhead and advertising costs compared to companies operating offline. They also face strong competition as more companies are venturing online insurance business. Furthermore, they are usually less established compared to offline big companies. Offering cheaper rates are what they can do to attract more customers to compete with other more recognized companies.

Usually, insurance companies have special plans for low-mileage drivers which are often cheaper. This means that you will need to pay less as you drive lesser. Low-mileage drivers will face lower risks of accidents as they don't drive too often or too far. Try to drive within short distance to reduce your vehicle mileage. As an alternative, you can consider taking public transports such as buses or carpooling with people traveling to the same destination as yours to maintain a low mileage.

Deductibles are the part of any claim that is not covered by the insurance provider, which means it is the portion that policy holders are responsible to pay in the event of any claims made. The higher the deductibles that you choose to pay, the lower the premiums that you need to pay. You can opt to get higher deductibles if you can afford to pay the portion.

In conclusion, following the tips can save you tones of money annually. This is what we want to achieve as a wise customer. However, be careful and do not get duped into getting cheap auto insurance before reading the terms and conditions with cautious as some might contain hidden charges.

5 Ways to get a Better auto insurance quote

2008-07-12T02:11:00.000-07:00

You have to be a slightly responsible shopper if you wish to get the most affordable quotes for auto insurance. There are a few steps which if followed will let you strike an excellent deal while purchasing your car insurance policy.

1- GO Online
Online car insurance quotes can be even equated to cheap auto insurance as you have a larger pool to select from. There is a variety to select from and you can easily get a whole lot of auto insurance quotes.

2- Provide authentic details
You have to be true when you fill up the form to get any kind of cheap auto insurance. Auto insurance quotes would be accurate only if you provide the right amount of details like your marital status, pay drawn, pin code authentically.

3- Anti-theft device
Anti-theft device is important and you may seek a greater compensation and insurance benefit if your car or vehicle is fitted with this one.

4- Decrease the miles
If you don’t drive too much, you are only going to be counted for the low mileage discounts and hence, it is better that you go in for public transport or opt for alternatives like car pooling. You will benefit more if the miles are reduced.

5- Compare car insurance quotes
It is very important that you compare all the car insurance quotes carefully as this is going to help you judge the market and go in for an intelligent deal.

Seven Ways To Cut Your Fuel Bill By Twenty Five Per Cent

2008-07-11T02:06:00.000-07:00

If there's a single issue that has got people around the world apprehensive - it's the astronomical rise in fuel prices. Crude oil that used to cost $27 a barrel hardly 4 years back now costs $140 a barrel. And it could go still higher.

Never has there been a greater necessity for reducing fuel consumption. By doing so, not only would you be doing yourself good by decreasing your expenditure on fuel, you would also be doing the environment a favor by incinerating less fossil fuel.
How do you cut down on your fuel intake without requiring to stop using your vehicle? By keeping to my following six tips, you will cut your fuel expenses by at least 25%.

1. Maintain Your Car
A car that is regularly serviced will require less fuel. Manufacturers of cars suggest a maintenance program. Check yours, and make sure that you follow it meticulously. Get your car checked regularly and get the oil changed at fixed intervals, together with the filter.

2. Avoid Idling The Engine:
A lot of people believe the fallacy that their car engines must idle for some time in winter months so as to get them warm prior to driving. This is incorrect. Simply idling for more than half a minute only wastes fuel. Ten minutes of idling every day means 100 litres of fuel wasted per year. Instead have a block-heater that will heat your car without the negative side effects.

3. Maintain Correct Tire Pressure:
Are the tire pressures proper? See to it that a monthly inspection is carried out. Make sure this is performed when your car is in an idle state, and no one has used it for around 3 hours, at least.
In case your tires are not inflated enough, there is increased rolling resistance. This causes an increase in the load on your car engine, and makes your fuel use to rise. It the pressure comes down by 20%, your fuel usage increases one tenth. You also need to factor the effect of climate on your tire pressure, which has a tendency to differ depending on the temperature.

4. Take of Unwanted Weight:
Don't lug more load in your vehicle than absolutely necessary. Extra load means greater wind resistance, and means more fuel consumed. Whether it's a rack on your car roof or additional luggage, it all means greater gas guzzling.

5. Plan Your Trips:
Scheduling trips beforehand will help combine tips and errands to insure more efficient use of your automobile, and consequently, reduced fuel use.

6. Drive Cleverly:
Your way of driving also dictates how much fuel you consume. Are you a fast driver? Do you gather speed quickly? When you disregard the speed limit, you are, in effect, increasing you fuel bill. Plan beforehand when you need to halt by decreasing you speed in place of braking hard. On top of increasing the fuel used by your vehicle , this may possibly spoil your engine.

7. Assure Yourself Of the perfect Fuel:
Before getting a new car, get to know what its fuel consumption is - this is different from vehicle to vehicle. Which car you buy will impact your gas bill before any other factor.

How Many More Cars Can Our Roads Handle?

2008-07-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

A recent study stated that by 2011 there will be nearly a billion cars on the roads throughout the world. Of course, the United States sure has its fair share. It is rather obvious if you live in a big city, just the enormity of the problem, freeways and highways are more like free-parking than free moving infrastructure for transportation flow. Indeed, the United States is not the only place where there are way too many cars.

In China and many other Asian countries the traffic is literally insane and getting much worse than Boston, LA, Dallas or DC during rush hour. In the US we produce and sell about 17 million cars per year and on average people keep those cars just under 10-years each. In Asia it was estimated that by 2011 there will be over 230 million cars there and that would be over 20% of all the cars in the World. In fact, there are barely enough paved roads to park that many cars right now.

The worst part about all these predications is that first, they are fairly accurate based on current rates of production, and second, that is a lot of fuel being burned and a lot of oil being consumed, thus a lot of pollution being made and a lot of competition for fuel.
Thus, supply and demand will cause a huge price increase in fuel as well. It has been said that the United States is a nation of cars, well so to is Europe and it is estimated that Europe will surpass the number of cars in the US by 2010. Let's hope that most of these cars are hybrids!