by: Robert Panosetti


Buying a used car seems like a risky proposition. If you are not prepared, you can drive away with a vehicle that is going to be nothing but headaches for you. A shiny coat of paint is not the best way to judge the condition of a used car. Here are a few tips that can help protect you when buying a used car.

It is always better to go to a car dealership when looking for a used car. Individuals selling cars may offer great prices, but it’s a lot harder to get back to them if something is seriously wrong with the vehicle. They are more likely to try to cover up major problems with the vehicle as well. Usually, those situations end up in court. A dealership depends on its reputation, and will do everything it can to make sure its vehicles are as advertised.

If you are going to an auto dealer, or to look at a privately owned vehicle, be sure to make a checklist before leaving home. The checklist should include all the parts of the vehicle you need to check to make sure they are in working order. Without a list, it is too easy to overlook some of the more important elements on the vehicle. When you are looking at that shiny roadster, it’s easy to forget about checking the windshield wipers, or the door handles. It’s best to ask a mechanic for a thorough list of inspection points.

Don’t even think about purchasing a vehicle without being able to take it for a test drive. Make sure you are the one driving, as well. Be sure to ask the last time the vehicle was serviced, and ask for a maintenance record if they have one. See if the seller/dealer will be checking the fluid levels and filter conditions before purchase, as well.

Before signing any papers, make sure you are familiar with state laws regarding vehicles in poor conditions. The “lemon” laws will protect you in some cases, but you have to be aware of their specific conditions. Ask about refund policies, and be sure to read the sales documents carefully. If you are buying from an individual, make sure you get a receipt, and that you have some form of contract to sign.

These are a few tips to help you when shopping for a used car. Your biggest allies are common sense and preparation. Never be afraid to think about an offer if you are not sure. Better to miss out on a car than to get stuck with a pile of junk.


About The Author
Robert Panosetti is a professional auto trainer and co-owner of http://www.bushkillautosales.com, a Lehigh Valley auto dealer.

by: Mayflor de Guzman



Having your broken auto glass replaced by the average auto shop will require you to spend more than required but purchasing new auto glass wholesale can save you a chunk of money. Motorists dread auto glass repairs in Maryland as these are undeniably costly but one shouldn’t discount a glass windshield repair in MD for it comes in many beneficial options. Remember, an auto glass repair need not be expensive if you only know how to research for the company that offers first-rate service at an affordable price.

Here are important steps that lead to proper windshield protection:

Always examine your car – beware of cracks and chips; some are more serious than others. If the crack or chip on your windshield is in a cone shape, a circle deep in the glass or a small star with points spreading out, make sure to get it fixed immediately. These tiny cracks can lead to serious damage and gradually evolve into larger cracks which could result in replacing your entire windshield.

Ask the professionals – if the crack is bigger than a chip or equal to the size of a quarter; or if it is cone shaped or appears to be a bulls-eye, it is best to take your car to the professionals in the nearest auto glass repair shop in DC. Performing the task yourself could only worsen its condition.

Windshield first aid treatment – if you notice a crack or chip in your window, immediately cover it with a piece of packaging tape to prevent it from getting any bigger. Unwanted chemicals, dirt and moisture that leak through the outer layer of the broken windshield can damage its plastic interior and glass exterior. Taping it will help keep those substances from seeping through the crack until you have time and money to bring your vehicle to a service center.

Avoid car wash this time – Like dust and moisture, you should avoid a car wash because once soap and high pressure water enters the crack on your windshield, it can trigger major damage.

Close the door gently – negligence can worsen cracks in your windshield. When you slam the doors of your car, the cracks and chips may get larger due to the vibration coming from excessive force.

Waiting leads to danger – The longer that you wait for your windshield to be repaired, the harder will it be to deal with its cracks and chips. The longer you wait, the more dirt and humidity will dwell in the chipped area. These elements, if not dealt with early on, can make repairs unreasonably expensive or even unattainable. Visit an auto glass repair specialist in VA if you’re in the area and end your windshield dilemma in a jiffy.


About The Author
Mayflor de Guzman is affiliated with, http://www.proviewglass.com, a company offering auto glass services.

Visit their site, http://www.proviewglass.com, for inquiries and additional information about their auto glass and windshield services.

by: Paul Burke




Security is something that is present in every aspect of our daily life, from locking our front door to being searched at an airport check in, and it is not always a precise science. If you build a large wall around your house you may be able to keep out the opportunist intruder, however to the professional thief you are advertising that there may be something of value behind the wall and this itself may draw unwelcome attention. If you install an intruder alarm in your home are you going to deflect an attack or make a burglar think there are valuables being protected? The situation in every case has to be assessed and the appropriate security deployed. Where asset tracking is required, it is always advisable that the tracking units are concealed to prevent them from being disabled or draw unwanted attention. It is extremely important that a container with a tracking system installed should look no different from the container that has a low value cargo such as waste paper. Security products that are overtly fitted to the container doors (or any external surface) unfortunately make it easy for criminals to identify the containers that have a valuable cargo.

Theft and Fraud from shipping containers was estimated to be in excess of $185 billion USD in 2007, and with some consignments having a value of over $20 million USD this figure is quite believable. There is also concern that terrorists have used shipping containers in the past and will no doubt use them in the future to move weapons and explosives around the globe.

Pear Track Systems Ltd manufactures a covert container tracking system with a 10 year battery life, specifically designed for shipping containers. This system uses The Global Positioning System GPS to locate the container and then transmits the location information using the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM). Battery life of the PT-1000 has been optimised for the normal service life of a typical shipping container (10 years) and is able to send multiple position reports every day for the entire life cycle. The unit can also be fitted with a movement sensor so if the container is place on trailer or moved to another part of the port the device will wake up and give alert information and more frequent position reports. The system also has a capability to send an alert message when the container doors are opened, providing geocoded proof of delivery information to the consignee, along with the comfort of knowing that the shipment has reached its destination, and that there has been no unauthorised opening of the container doors.

The alerts can be sent by the web-based system via e-mail and Short Messaging Service (SMS) to the user's mobile phone. The user can then view the position of the container and the nature of the alert. The system allows users to find the position of the Pear Track tracking devices to within a few meters anywhere in the world by using a multiple mapping solutions via our web-based tracking portal. The each user has unique user name and password to access the advanced tracking system; this allows you to find both real-time and historic locations of the unit.

In as little as 30 minutes, the container tacking system can be covertly fitted inside the shipping container, with the GPS and GSM antenna's fitted covertly to the outside of the container, protecting it from damage and prying eyes. If a container does not need to be permanently tracked, we have a magnetically mounted self contained container GPS tracking system, ideal for a temporary asset tracking solution. The GPS/GSM device is covertly fitted on the outside of the container in a few seconds and has a 90 day rechargeable battery, there is an anti tamper facility that will alert the user if the unit is removed. The device can be attached to the container upon dispatch and then retrieved when it reaches its destination. The same unit can then be sent back to the originator to be recharged and reattached to another consignment. The PT-030C is ideal where random containers are used by the shipping agent.

Pear Track is working closely with a company that provides high security containers. The system is capable detecting a hole of only a few millimetre's being made in the wall or roof of the container, this advanced intrusion detection system uses the Pear Track device to signal an alarm and position. The secure container system is capable of detecting both physical breaches and the presence of nuclear material within the container. Many leading industry experts believe nuclear material detection will become mandatory for all shipments entering a USA port.

Pear Track is also working with a manufacture of light weight pallets to develop a secure Unit Load Device (ULD) for air cargo. This will utilise the Pear Track range providing tracking for very high value air cargo such as diamond shipments. The airline industry's definition of high value cargo is a shipment in excess of $15 million dollars. The new ULD will not only be extremely light which is critical for air cargo, it will have a facility for authorised personnel to temporarily deactivate the tracking unit before loading the ULD into the hold of an aircraft.

Another version of the 10 year tracking product is the Pear Track trailer tracking system for use on road trailers and rail rolling stock. This unit uses the same long life battery technology and can send an alert if the trailer or rail wagon / van (box car) is hitched or moved. All permanently fitted units report the ambient temperature inside the container or trailer and actively monitor the battery condition. An imaginary perimeter called a geo-fence can be set from 100 meters to 1km around the units via the Pear Track web portal; this will send an alert if the unit travels outside the selected geofence. The reporting intervals can also be remotely configured from the Pear Track web portal and an activity report can either be viewed on maps or downloaded in text form giving time, date, location, and temperature of the asset along with any alerts that were active at that time.

Pear Track offers a complete range of battery powered GPS tracking products, from the 10 year PT-1000 to a small personal match box size product called the MiniTrack. The MiniTrack has a 30 day rechargeable battery and can be carried by lone workers or security personnel; it can even be fitted to search and rescue dogs. The Pear Track range also included compact pallet tracking devices with a 1 to 2 year battery life and both 5 and 7 year products that are typically used for tracking a variety of non-powered and powered assets, including trailers, portable buildings and plant.

Although Pear Track Systems Ltd is a new company it has a long history in GPS tracking and communication systems. Pear Track was formed by Paul Burke and John Macey the originators of Minorplanet Ltd that went on to become one of the principle GPS tracking companies in the World, and to this day is regarded by many as the market leader in Vehicle tracking systems with many thousands of units operating globally. The GPS vehicle tracking industry grew rapidly in the early nineties and the Pear Track team was indeed pioneers, being instrumental in the development of the techniques and systems from which many modern GPS tracking systems are still based.

The Pear Track products are designed and manufactured in the UK to exacting standards using state of the art production and quality control facilities. Pear Track products are rigorously tested before leaving the factory, ensuring the highest quality and trouble free service 'out of the box'. As a world leader in long-life battery powered GPS and GSM tracking products, we are continually developing our product base, our R & D team have been developing and producing 'best of class' GPS, communication and security products for over 20 years.


About The Author
Paul has been involved with the GPS tracking industry for over 15 years and was one of the founders of Minorplanet PLC.

by: Rob Laird - RPL Driving



With time being important to everyone, more and more driving schools are offering intensive driving lessons for learner drivers, some of them spread over just one week.

Unfortunately, they don't suit everyone. The skills needed to drive safely take time to learn, and although you may learn enough to pass the driving test, I've found that the quicker you learn, the quicker you forget things.

If you have had previous experience on other vehicles, or other driving lessons before, intensive lessons can be useful. As you're not starting from scratch things will be a little easier.

If you have had no experience, the best way to learn quickly would be to have 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. On that time scale, you might expect to be ready for your test after 4-5 weeks. But like most things, it depends on the person.

If you have had experience before, the amount of lessons, and therefore the time it will take will vary a lot. The best course of action would be to book an assessment driving lesson with a driving instructor, who should be able to give you a better idea of what you will need.

If you would like any more information on driving lessons, either have a look at my driving school website, or contact me, and I'll do my best to help you.


About The Author
Rob Laird has been teaching people to drive since he set up his driver training business, RPL Driving, in 2006. As well as learner drivers, he teaches full licence holders, and will soon be helping the IAM with their training for the advanced driving test. For more information, and to book driving lessons in essex have a look at the RPL Driving School - Romford website

by: Ron Walker


Restoration of any kind is an exceptionally difficult and time consuming job. It certainly does have benefits though. The restoration of a vintage car demands plenty of commitment and perseverance. It is a long task that could take years to complete so you certainly must have a lot of staying power.

This is the type of job that is perfect for a small group or a pair of friends to do together. Having more hands could help the job significantly as it will achieve more in far less time. There is a lot involved in the restoration of vintage cars but it is not without rewards.

If you are on the search to replace or repair different parts of your vintage car, then you will want to make sure you are getting the best deal. There are a range of different shops specializing in the collection of cars which have the necessary tools and parts you will need. If you are looking at the different parts, then you will be at an advantage when you are looking for them in these types of stores.

Looking on the Internet and completing a search on Google will allow you to see the different ones in your area. Then, you should visit the different stores to see if they have any parts that match the make and model of your classic car. You will also find that many of the stores will offer free shipping for items that are not in the local area and need to be brought in.

If you are very new to car restoration then perhaps you would be interested in having a professional restoration company do it for you or help you out with certain tasks or repairs. This type of service can become quite costly so shop around for the best price possible. Some of them will only agree if they are taking on the whole job, not just part of it, so keep this in mind.

Do not make the mistake of cutting corners when restoring a vintage car. Doing everything the cheapest way may not be the best idea. Not only do you want the car to look great when it's finished, you also want it to work properly.

Use quality parts that are designed for use in that type of vehicle. It could save you a lot of trouble and repair costs later. It also does not hurt to look up some helpful tips online for dealing with things like rust removal. You can discover plenty of ways to save time while working faster with an online search.

You should aim to keep everything as original as possible. You may find that there are some used parts on the car that are not as old as the original car, but when it comes down to it you will need to match the era the car was bought in as some parts and types of paint won't be produced anymore. Also, if you use a new paint that is only found on models of the current age, then you will be robbing your vintage car of the effect you want it to have on people.

You should also look in restoration magazines and online sites when you are looking at the restoration process. These types of information sources will assist you a lot. Also, when you are restoring your vintage car you will need to make sure that you do everything correctly as you will want to keep the value of the car.


About The Author
Ron is a vintage car enthusiast who runs his own club on vintage car restoration tips, and educates people what they need to do to effectively complete vintage car restorer tips so they can work on their cars.

by: Thomas Ajava



It is amazing how things have changed in these modern times. It wasn't that long ago that when you had problems with your car, you had to hike up and down the road trying to find somebody to help you. Well those days are long gone. Now there is something known as road service. It is truly one of the great inventions of these modern times!

What is road service? It is exactly what the name suggests. If you have a problem, you simply contact the phone number provided. A service professional will be sent out to your location to assist you. The service professional is usually a local provider who will take a look at the car and make any simple repairs on the spot. If the car can't be repaired quickly and easily, they will then arrange for the car to be towed to a facility. You'll then be given a ride home or transportation will be arranged. It is a wonderful service!

If you purchased a new car in the last five years, you're probably already well aware of what road service is. It did not originate as an insurance product. Instead, car manufacturers started offering it as an enticement to buy their cars. Manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes were some of the first to do this. As is often the case in industry, the other manufacturers started offering it once they saw how successful it was for the original manufacturers.

If you have a new car, there's no reason to buy road service as part of your car insurance. The manufacturer will cover it for an initial period that can be anywhere between three and five years depending on the program their offering. But what if that time is past? Should you buy roadside service as part of your car insurance? The answer is that you probably should not. There are a couple of reasons.

The first reason you should not buy road service as part of your car insurance has to do with the quality of the service. Simply put, other groups like AAA are far better at handling it. They've been doing it forever and they have the service down to a fine art. When you have a problem, you just call and AAA takes care of everything. As an additional benefit, you do not have to file a claim or anything of that sort. Everything is simply handled by AAA as part of the flat fee you pay for membership.

There's an additional reason why you should not buy road service as part of your car insurance that is little more subtle. Some car insurance companies consider calls for road service to constitute a claim. The premiums you pay for your insurance are determined by a number of different factors. One of the factors is the number of claims you make on your policy. You can probably see where I'm going with this. Let's assume you have three problems with cars on the road in the next five years and call for road service each time. If your insurance company considers each of those problems to be a claim, your premiums are going to skyrocket! That will be a disaster.

Road service is a great thing and you should definitely arrange to have it. That being said, including as part of your car insurance is probably not the best idea. There are other options that are better from both an economic and strategic perspective.


About The Author
Thomas Ajava is with http://www.autoownersinsurancecompanies.com - find auto insurance companies near you for personalized service.

by: Roger Guzman, M.D.




College financial planning should start early. In fact, do it as soon as the child is born. There are benefits to doing this. For one thing the longer time frame will allow some flexibility. You can be more aggressive in pursuing the best return for your money.

The question that begs to be answered is this. How much should one save for college? The College Board says the cost is more than $32000 annually to attend a private university and college. The annual cost in public universities and colleges is much less, around $13,000.00 per year. And it is rising every year at more than the inflation rate.

Everybody in the family should get involved in college financial planning. The kids who are college-bound should think of their educational goals. Answer questions like what do they want to study? Where do they plan to go to university, public or private? In which state do they want to go for this?

After getting the answers, then the kids should investigate the prices at every school they are planning to go. Have more than two colleges in mind for one never knows where he can be accepted. For example I'll laugh if President Obama's safety school is Harvard. Once you have the college cost at each school, it will be easier to see how much money to set aside.

The college-bound kid can also help check out the opportunities in terms of financial aid that is available to them. Have a meeting with the librarian or the guidance counselor in their high school to find out how to access funds for college.

What you will find out is that saving more will be quite necessary So how do we do that? Well, save more and spend less, that's what. The whole family can help. Eating out once a month instead of every week will obviously help save hundreds of dollars very month.

Buying a second-hand car instead of a shiny new one will save thousands of dollars that you can set aside for college. Stop maxing out your credit cards for the interest rate will be horrendous. In fact, transfer the balance to a low-interest card, and stick to the payment plan.

Where do you park all the money you are saving for college? By this time, you are richer than what you think but you will be richer still if you put it in the right place. The government is on your side here. Believe it or not, the government wants to help you save.

Skeptical? Don't be because the government has set up two ways to help you save in a tax-advantaged manner. One is the Coverdell Education Savings Accounts where you can park the money that will earn interest that will not be taxed. It will allow one to withdraw funds for any educational expenses tax free.

The second one set up is the Section 529 College Savings Plans. You can lock in the college cost at today's rate. Let's say college cost is $13,000 annually. Well if the baby is new born you can save $10,000.00 every year at the $13,000 tuition rate even if the college cost when the baby is ready to go to college has gone up to $50,000.00 a year. Cool, huh?

The only trouble with the 529 plan is that only some schools allow this. So, are there other ways to pay for college? Of course, there are other ways; we just have to dig deeper. So bring your spade and let's do some digging, shall we?

There is a law called College Cost Reduction and Access signed where a new repayment plan will be based on one's income, thus making it easier to afford the federal loans. And listen to this, those who consolidate there loan can do it at an interest rate of 2%.

So remember, sign up for IBR (income-based repayment) plan, consolidate loans at 2%, and sign up for a tuition payment plan where you can split the annual cost into 12 equal monthly payments. All are worth investigating for they are part of college financial planning.

Abstract: College financial planning will help ease the burden of the educational cost facing families today but there are solutions to the challenges. Credit woes may hold back the college-bound but careful research and work around all angles will offset the cost of higher education to make college a reality. Start as soon as you can so that if there are unexpected gaps, they can be easily filled in with time and effort on your side. It goes to show that while we cannot lower the cost we surely can reduce its impact.

Keywords:
college financial planning, financial aid, 529 College Savings Plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, income-based repayment, low interest rates

Please visit these sites for more help where you can sign up for free to receive alerts and tips delivered right to your email inbox:

http://www.debtchallenges.com/collegefinancialplanning.html

http://www.debtchallenges.com/index.html


About The Author
Dr. Guzman worked for the Atlantic Health Corporation and was consultant to St. Joseph's Hospital, Sussex Mental Health Clinic, and St. Stephen Mental Health Clinic for many years. He was Director of Forensic Psychiatry at Centracare for ten years and published numerous articles, including financial ones in the Journal of the American College of Forensic Psychiatry and other medical magazines.

by: Rachel Kadin



Jeep is a versatile vehicle. These are used in varieties of activities. Because of this jeeps are vulnerable to wide range of abuses and hazards. The open body that the jeeps come with is the principal reason behind dirt/dust accumulation and UV color fading. If you are keen to prevent such abuses and hazards that cause severe damage to your original upholstery, you have to get effective jeep seat covers such as Neoprene, Ballistic or Tweed seat covers.

While Ballistic seat covers are very tough seat covers, Neoprene seat covers are also very effective. Made of high density 1680 denier fabric, the custom fit Ballistic seat covers have high tenacity as well.

The custom-tailored seat covers are made keeping all the specifications of your vehicle, the quality products fit nicely on your original upholstery. In order to protect original upholstery against dirt/dust, water and beverages, moisture, UV rays and many other factors; it’s necessary that the seat covers you get must cover every part of your original upholstery.

There are custom seat covers for your jeep. While Ballistic seat covers are tough and long lasting, Velour seat covers are elegant and attractive. The effective auto accessories provide desired protection against friction etc as well.

Available in wide range of vibrant and youthful colors, the custom fit jeep seat covers are very effective and user friendly. You can select the best color scheme that matches with the color scheme inside your vehicle.

Apart from strength and color options, custom tailored jeep seat covers are available with varieties of exciting options as well. These features include UV resistance, breathability, waterproof, soft, easy to install and wash.

Nowadays, custom jeep seat covers are available online as well. There are some reputed online stores available that offer best quality jeep seat covers from the leading brands. So, find the reliable online store and get the best quality jeep seat covers from the comforts of your home.


About The Author
Rachel Kadin is passionate about jeeps. Whether it is Neoprene seat covers, Ballistic seat covers, Tweed seat covers or Poly Cotton seat covers, he writes extensively on Jeep seat covers and other auto accessories.

by: Rob Laird

i


If you are a learner driver and either have a car, or know someone who's willing to let you use theirs, it could be useful to practice with between your driving lessons.

First of all the rules:

1. You must display L-Plates clearly front and back.

2. You must have a valid signed provisional licence.

3. The car must be roadworthy, legal and current car insurance for you to drive.

4. You must be supervised. This person must be over 21 and have held a licence for at least 3 years, and sit in a position where they could control the car if needed (front passenger seat is the sensible choice)

So, now you're out on the road, you need to remember a few things. The person sat next to you has very little control over the car, which means you've got to be confident that you can stop the car in an emergency. Also, you supervising driver is not a driving instructor, so be careful if they are telling you to do things that go against what you have been taught.

This can be the tricky part, but a bit of diplomacy can help here. Best to choose the person carefully. They need to be fairly relaxed. What you don't want is them grabbing for the wheel every time you go round a parked car. If you don't feel comfortable with the person who's supervising you, either ask someone else, or best not to go out at all.

Private practice can help many people with learning to drive, but it can also get you into bad habits, and make you less confident if something happens that you can't deal with.

If your not sure, get some advice from your driving instructor, or contact me through http://www.rpldriving.co.uk


About The Author
Rob Laird has been running RPL Driving for over 3 years, and trains all types of people, including learners, and those taking advanced driving tests. For more information, have a look at http://www.rpldriving.co.uk

by: Susan Roberts



Since Alistair Darling's announcement on the 22nd of April 2009 about the proposed scrappage scheme, there has been lots of information about Car scrappage with adverts both in the media and on television adverts. However there has been a lot less coverage of the Van scrappage scheme.

Like the car scrappage incentive the Van scrappage scheme Darling proposed would "provide motorists with a £2,000 discount on new vehicles". The Scrappage scheme is set to incentivise all owners to trade in their older, more polluting vans for a newer, cleaner, more economical, safer model. Not only would motorists benefit but also the scheme would provide a short-term boost to the automotive manufacturing industry, retailers and the auto supply chain which had been badly impacted by falling vehicle sales.

From an environmental view point the idea is that the Van Scrappage Scheme would remove older vehicles from the road and encourage consumers to buy newer, more environmentally-friendly models. The van is then scrapped, the vehicle needs to be destroyed as so not to further pollute. The dealership from where you buy the new replacement van will arrange for collection and scrapping.

For your old van to qualify for the Van Scrappage scheme the van must meet all of the following requirements.

To claim the Scrappage Scheme benefits the van for scrappage must be a small van less than 3,500kg.

To be eligible, the vehicle you scrap must have been first registered on or prior to 31 July 1999

To claim the Scrappage Scheme, the owner must be the registered keeper of old vehicle for at least 1 year and the vehicle must have an up to date MOT

The scheme will be available to the first 300,000 eligible claimants or until 31 March 2010, whichever is sooner

The van Dealer must check that the old van qualifies, do all the paperwork and arrange for the old van to be scrapped.

The van Scrappage Scheme is a voluntary scheme for manufacturers, this means that not all van dealerships will be offering the van scrappage allowance. Only if a manufacturer joins the Scrappage Scheme will they give you £2,000 off a new van if you let them scrap your old one. The van scrapping scheme will run from May 18th 2009 until March 2010, or until the Government's fixed budget of £300 million runs out, so there is limited availability.

So if you have a ten year old van that has seen better days you could trade it in and trade it up for a brand-new van with a two thousand pound discount.


About The Author
Current Motoring affairs brought to you from http://www.motorparks.co.uk/
Visit http://www.motorparks.co.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=e11 for more Motoring News and Information

by: Susan Roberts

i


Less than six months after its launch, the new Ibiza range has expanded with the arrival of two new versions that combine distinct sports character with the commitment to environmental sustainability. In the first, innovative design and technology join character and exclusivity in the Ibiza Cupra.

At SEAT, they believe that a car should move the driver in more ways than one. The sportier new Ibiza is an adventure in power, comfort and technology.

The 0 to 62 mph time is an entirely respectable 7.5 seconds and the top speed cracks three figures - 135 mph to be precise. On paper the petrol engine has the edge on top speed and acceleration but such comparisons can be misleading because the diesel engine gets a six-speed manual 'box while the petrol makes do with five cogs.

This combines suspension settings tuned for the keen driver with an intelligent power steering system that not only adjusts the amount of assistance according to driving speed nothing particularly novel there but also considers the position of the wheels and how quickly the steering wheel is being turned.

Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the three cylinder 1.2 petrol delivers a decidedly 'green' 42 mpg on the combined cycle, producing just 149 g/km of CO2. SEAT's new ECOmotive variant is one of only two cars eligible for the Group A tax band - the other being VW's Polo Bluemotion.

With more torque than a Boxster S, SEAT's new Ibiza Cupra is a convincing hot hatch. SEAT offers a 1.8-litre 20v turbocharged petrol engine in the Cupra which has more power (176bhp to the 1.9-litre TDI's 158bhp) but less wallop (181lb ft at 2000rpm).

The attractive looks of the Seat Ibiza Cupra come to life in its unmistakeable compact silhouette, which provides a perfect synergy between a fiery sporty nature and the functionality, roominess and highest safety standards required to adapt to any need. Also the interior conveys the sporty looks that are typical of all the Seat models. At the wheel of the new Seat Ibiza Cupra, the driver immediately knows it is not just another car, but a distinctly race-minded vehicle.

The instrument panel has two newly-designed dials and includes a screen between the two containing Bluetooth telephone functions. Calls are handled by controls on the steering column, optimising driver-vehicle connectivity.

The interior features a red, white and black colour scheme, with the trim all black, the instruments picked out in white with red highlighting on the air vents, indicators, and stitching on the wheel, seats, headrests, gear lever and hand brake. The seats themselves feature the Cupra logo writ large into the sculpted backrest and the Cupra logo also features on the sports steering wheel. SEAT couldn't resist the inclusion of the ubiquitous metal capped pedals.

Overall, the Seat Ibiza Cupra is a stylish and desirable hot hatch - no matter what fuel it runs on.

The new sporty Ibiza Cupra with its 180HP 1.4-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-pot isn't due to arrive in U.K. showrooms for a while yet, but those interested can take a virtual spin of the car with a racing game that is available for iPhone and iPod touch owners. SEAT claims that in the three weeks that the game has been made available online, more than a quarter of a million people downloaded it to their iPhones and iPods. The company also said that in the summer, it will release an updated version of the Ibiza Cupra game with more cars, circuits and competition models.


About The Author
Current Motoring affairs brought to you from http://www.motorparks.co.uk/

Visit http://www.motorparks.co.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=e11 for more Motoring News and Information

by: Thomas Ajava

i


Car insurance is a funny thing. Most people can't stand paying for it. Only when they need it are they really happy that they did. While everyone complains about the amount they pay in premiums, the truth is you can do a lot to lower those amounts. In this article, we take a look at the issue of how filing claims against the insurance policies will affect your car insurance rates.

There are two very distinct views when it comes to car insurance. Some people view their policy as a pool of money that they can access whenever they need to. Others view it as a financial tool that should be used only as last resort. Your attitude toward your car insurance goes along way to establishing how much you're going to pay in premiums. For some reason, this is a big surprise to most people. It should not be. Let's take a closer look at how this works.

Let's say you're fresh out of college and you have a job. You living in an apartment in a decent part of town. Unfortunately, you don't have a garage. You come out of your house one morning to drive to work and noticed a dent in the side of your door. The dent isn't too bad, but it's clear that the paint is scraped and the door is dinged in. What do you do? You really have two options. The first is to take it to a repair shop and get it repaired with your own money. The second is to take it to your insurance company and have them deal with it. The first option is going to cost you more in the short term, but the second option may cost you in the long-term.

The more often you file claims under insurance policies, the higher your premium rates are going to go. Why is this? Well, think it through. The more often there are claims on the policy, the more money the insurance company has to spend. You can bet the insurance company is going to be paying close attention to how much money they're spending on your policies. Once they realize that they're spending more and more money, they're going to do one of two things. The first is to raise your premium rates the next time you renew your insurance. If you really go nuts with your claims, they will simply cancel your policy.

So, how do you know if you're making too many claims under policy? The average for all insured motorists in the United States is one claim approximately every 11 years. Yes, 11 years! Once your insurance premium rates start going up because of excessive claims, it can be very difficult to get them to come back down. As a result, you want to be really careful of making claims.

You buy car insurance for a reason. It is important that you figure out what that reason is. If you hate paying high premiums, take care of small repairs on your own. If you don't really care how large your premiums are, then you can make as many claims as you like. It is up to you.



About The Author
Thomas Ajava writes about auto insurance for http://www.autoownersinsurancecompanies.com - where you can find auto insurance companies across the country.

by: Shane Watson

i


Getting seat covers is not a tough task. However, getting the effective seat covers that are durable, efficient as well as affordable takes due consideration and mature decision on your part. Though there are varieties of seat covers - cheap, expensive, universal, custom etc, when it comes to prevent hazardous elements and protect your original upholstery, it’s necessary that you do due research - compare products, their qualities and features and cost.

If you visit marketplace or search online, you will be amazed finding that there are numerous suppliers offering wide range of seat covers. However, only a handful of them are worth considering. If you are confused and don’t know how to select the best seat covers for your vehicle, getting custom-fit seat covers may help you out. Now, you may ask- why should I get custom-fit seat covers only? Well, let us see what makes custom-made seat covers the best choice?

There are varieties of natural, environmental and manmade factors that cause color fading, scratches, mold etc and your original upholstery wear off easily. These hazards include UV rays, dirt, water and food remains, chemicals, kids and pets among others. The heat and UV rays cause color damage. The water and moisture cause mold and rot. Kids and pets also leave ugly claws on your original upholstery.

Friction caused by frequent in and out is another culprit that cause severe damage to your seats. To avoid these elements and maintain the elegant look and comfort inside your vehicle, you have to cover your original upholstery completely. Though there are universal seat covers also available and are relatively cheap, but such seat covers cannot provide desired covering.

In order to cover your seats perfectly, it’s necessary that you get the seat covers that are prepared according to the specifications of your vehicle. Since custom-fit seat covers such as Neoprene seat covers, Tweed seat covers and Genuine Leather seat covers etc. are precisely produced for your vehicle seats, they embrace your original upholstery just like second skin and hence, provide desired protection.


About The Author
Article written by Shane Watson. Here you will get all the details you need on Car Seat Covers and you can also find the best info on Seat Covers.

by: Rachel Kadin

i


Whether it’s for seer fun or doing daily chores, jeeps are suitable for every purpose. Jeeps are open body vehicles. You can use them for picnic and safari or these can be sued simply for daily transport purpose-jeeps go all the places and terrains. Because of the open body as well as versatility of use, jeeps are more prone to abuses and hazards. If you are a jeep owner and concerned about the protection of your seats and want an appealing look inside your jeep, getting custom jeep seat covers can do wonders.

Custom made jeep seat covers are the best way to protect your original upholstery against hazards and abuses. Prepared using latest CAD/CAM technologies and quality material, the jeep accessories prevent hazards very effectively. Because of such effectiveness and qualities, the custom seat covers for your jeep are very popular nowadays. What are those features?

Prepared keeping the shape, size and design of your jeep seats, the custom tailored seat covers provide excellent fitting. Complete covering is necessary to prevent hazards from damaging your original upholstery.

The affordable seat covers display several other features. The strong and durable materials make them effective and long lasting. Seat covers cannot be replaced every now and then. Therefore, you need to get the durable seat covers that provide effective protection for longer time.

The seat covers for jeep are user friendly. These can be easily cleaned, installed or removed. There is a wide range of jeep seat covers available to choose from. Some of the most popular are: Neoprene seat covers, Ballistic seat covers, Tweed seat covers, Space Mesh seat covers, Velour seat covers and Leatherette seat covers among others.

These are available in several colors and patterns as well. So, choose the custom made jeep seat covers of your choice and keep your jeep seat covers appealing for years.


About The Author
Rachel Kadin is passionate about jeeps. Whether it is Neoprene seat covers, Ballistic seat covers, Tweed seat covers or Poly Cotton seat covers, he writes extensively on Jeep seat covers and other auto accessories.

by: King Toyota

i


King Toyota presents the third generation Toyota Prius i.e. the much awaited 2010 model with upgraded amenities and features. King Toyota was established in 1968 and over forty years later, King Toyota is still known as one of the leaders in the automotive industry.

King Toyota's mission is to focus their entire organization in delivering outstanding customer service that exceeds the customer's expectations. Hence King Toyota believes in getting the latest models of their customers’ favorite cars to them at the earliest.

Celebrated as the benchmark for cars of the future, the midsize third-generation 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid car will offer

• Better mileage ratings,
• Enhanced performance, and
• Innovative design features.

It will be quieter, roomier, and equipped with advanced standard and available features such as a moon roof with solar panels, four driving modes, Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA) and steering wheel touch controls that display on the instrument panel.

The Prius extends its record of continuous improvement in fuel economy. Using a combination of technologies, fuel efficiency was increased to an estimated 50 miles per gallon for the new Prius. A larger and more powerful 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine will power the new Prius. Being a hybrid, the Prius can run on engine alone, battery alone, or a combination of both.

The redesigned exterior of the new Prius has front and rear corners that are sharp, sporty and aerodynamic. Strong side character lines, rising from front to rear, define the glazed geometric shape. The solar powered ventilation system uses an electrically powered air circulation fan that does not require engine assist. This prevents the interior air temperature from rising while the vehicle is parked, making the cool-down time shorter when the driver returns to the vehicle, thus reducing the use of air conditioning.

When the driver touches the audio or info switch located on the steering wheel, a duplicate image is displayed on the instrument panel, directly in front of the driver. This system, called Touch Tracer, is the first system in the world to allow steering wheel controls to read out on the instrument panel. The ECO indicator on the Multi-Informational Display (MID) provides driver feedback and guides the driver to optimize their skills for lower fuel consumption.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control system, using advanced millimeter wave radar, is an available option. The system also enables Lane Keep Assist, which helps the driver stay safely within the lane. Next-generation Intelligent Parking Assist features simplified settings to help guide the car into parking spaces. Bluetooth Technology and Navigation System are some of the many other options that add to the comfort and convenience features in the Prius.


About The Author
For more information on this efficient vehicle, or to put your name on the Wait or Preorder List visit the website http://www.kingtoyota.com/campaign/third-generation-2010-prius.jsp

by: Joseph Letzelter

i


Auto Transport takes care of transporting your vehicle from one place to another in a safe and secure manner. It is important that the company you choose should render quality service and be economical. It’s good to go in for an experienced company and it is also necessary to check if the company is registered with the U.S. Department of transportation and a USDOT and a MC number is given to them. The insurance coverage and service charges will differ from company to company and it is better to obtain quotes with some shipping companies before you decide to go with one.

Discussing with your friends, browsing and checking with some shipping companies will give a clear picture and help you to find the best shipping company. It is our responsibility to choose safety equipment in auto transport as the safety aspect is very important. Only experts can handle such a responsibility. There are two types of auto transport available: Covered auto transport and Open auto transport.

Covered auto transport: The container carrying the vehicle is covered and gives added protection to the vehicle. Though it is expensive when compared to an open auto transport, it protects your vehicle from the climatic conditions and also from road hazards. You can avail ramp gates for long wheelbase vehicles and winches for the vehicles that are inoperable. You can see a variety of trailers likes six-car enclosed trailers, four-car enclosed trailers and two-car non-stacking enclosed trailers. Multi car trailers are available for over sized cars.

Open auto transport: As the name indicates, the container carrying the vehicle is open to the sky and can be affected by the weather conditions. It is cheaper when compared to covered auto transport. It is good to provide the details of the vehicle’s length and weight so that it can be transported properly. This is to ensure that the weight is within the legal specifications for loads to be carried. Have an eye on the insurance coverage that is offered. Always go for a better insurance plan that takes care of any damage caused by the shipping company while relocating your vehicle.

Always go for a company with high grade of reputation and flawless certificate from the public because they know the art of adding your name in their list of happy clients. A good transport company always accepts the burden of shifting your vehicle with care and attention. They must have a skilled batch of professional drivers who can handle your valuable vehicle in various climates and environments. You are investing your money and time, have a passion to get a good service because you know that you and your vehicle deserve that.


About The Author
Joseph Letzelter is the seo copywriter for auto shipping. He has written many articles like car transport, vehicle shipping, auto transport, car shipping and more. For more information visit our site http://www.movetransport.com Contact him at josephletzelter12@gmail.com

by: Antonio Lambert

i


These days’ people are looking for service providers who are offering rent luxury cars. This might seemto surprise to some of the readers. Why are people doing this, when they can opt for a brand new luxury car from the nearest dealership? The answers can be found through the entire course of the article. The readers are expected to have an understating on the paradigm, and an insight into finding the most appropriate rent luxury cars agencies is also listed.

One of the main reason people opt to rent luxury cars is because a new luxury car is simply expensive. Car manufacturers and dealers are having a tough time selling their products. This is mainly due to the global economic meltdown. People are being fired from their daily jobs. In such a scenario, will anyone look forward to purchasing an expensive luxury car? No. People are intelligent in these matters and will save money for their future activities instead of resorting to spending on expensive and newer luxury cars. It is termed as saving up for the rainy season in simpler terms.

The second reason why people are opting to rent luxury cars are the high maintenance costs involved. Since you are not possessing one, you will be unaware of the details. Many jump to the conclusion that expensive cars are merely faster than the normal cars. Yes, they are faster; they are also faster in depleting cash from your pockets. Therefore, unless you are into some sort of shady business practices, it is better not to opt for newer cars. Instead, look out for rent luxury cars. Your desires will be fulfilled along with the utility of a conventional car. A car is a car, whether they are expensive or non-expensive.

If you are looking for rent luxury cars, then it is better to start thinking wisely. The scene is abundant with plenty of service providers in this field. Which one to choose among these – this is a query that might have passed through your mind occasionally? Let us get the facts straight. Renting a luxury car will cost you, but it is not as expensive as being touted and proclaimed by car manufacturers and dealerships (remember they are having a tough time selling their products, it is only natural that they bad-mouth this business).

You can opt for rent luxury cars without any form of doubts and queries in your mind. Make sure to read and understand the legalities that are being presented before you. This will help you wriggle out of unlikely situations, should something improper occur. The rates are also on the cheaper side and any average person will be able to meet the requirements advertised by car rentals. In fact, the distance between you and the nearest rental agency is fast decreasing with the progress of time. It is high time you took your family out for dinner in that rented luxury car of yours. They are going to like it.


About The Author
Antonio Lambert is author of this article on Exotic car rental.

Find more information about Luxury car rental here http://www.exoticluxuryautosrental.com/.