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Posts Tagged ‘automobiles’

Toyota Spinning Out Of Control

March 4th, 2010 Brian Gosur No comments

It is no secret that our economy is in trouble. This is even more true if you are with the automobile industry.

I had thirty five years of service with Ford Motor Company before I retired back in March of 2007. Quality was not the most important issue back in 1972, when I hired in at Ford. We didn’t have a lot of competition back then and we were more concerned about how many vehicles we were getting out the door.

When the oil producing nations hit us with the oil embargo, many of us were laid off for a long time. I had a lot of my friends that never got called back to work. Fortunately I was called back after a short lay-off.

People were starting to think about saving money. The Japanese introduced their very funny looking cars, but they were cars that were very fuel efficient. As more and more of their vehicles were being sold, the, “Made in Japan”, joke that was passed around was not getting to much laughter anymore. This competition was going to change the whole auto industry forever.

Competition will always create a stronger market. It certainly did with Ford. We had to start taking a longer look at, not only our fuel efficiency, but the quality of the vehicles that we were producing.

I was given the opportunity, with about thirty other Ford employees to go to visit the Mazda Plant in Hiroshima, Japan. It is a part of my life that I will never forget. The Japanese people and the employees of Mazda were the most gracious hosts. I love the people and the country of Japan, and would very much love to go back and visit it again someday.

As we toured the plant, there was an area where the vehicles came off the end of the line and went to a repair area before final shipment. We had this at all out Ford facilities also. We asked if we good go in and see the area, and we were told that it was off limits for us. They said that it was an area where they got the vehicles ready for shipment and there were no repairs needed. Their cars went straight off the line and out the door. We knew better than that. They had repairs.They just didn’t want us to see.

When I look back at my thirty five years of service with Ford Motor Company, we went through a lot of changes and I have to say that when I left we were producing some of the finest quality vehicles on the planet. I would put us up against anything that the Japanese had to offer. What used to rile me to no end, was whenever Ford, Chrysler, or GM had an issue with one of their cars, it was front page news all the time. We took our hits and we made them better. Not so with Toyota.

Many of my family and friends own vehicles from Japanese automakers. We would go around and around on how the Japanese build their cars just like we do and have repairs just like we do. A lot of this way of thinking was fueled by our own news media. They were no different then us, except we own up to our mistakes. They would like you to believe that they don’t have any.

I always felt that the Japanese automakers had our news media on their side. Every time an American car company had an issue with a vehicle, it was always front page news. Not so with the Japanese. You would find their story on the back page, if you found it at all.

Toyota’s day finally arrives. They can’t hide anymore. They are not just having a problem with the accelerator sticking, now it is a brake problem with the very popular Prius. It’s not all the problems that I am upset with, it’s how they are handling it. They aren’t just coming out and taking care of their customers. They had to be dragged out into the open before they would even acknowledge that they had an issue. Now their are problems with the steering. Has there been some type of cover up on some of these issues?

I for one, don’t feel sorry for them one bit. Nor for any of those people who bought their cars. After all they are better built cars…. right? It’s OK. Toyota said you can still drive their cars…. right? It may be until fall before they can fix yours, but don’t worry. Nothing is going to happen to you. You won’t crash your car…. right? You won’t die or injure anyone….. right? No……that won’t happen to me?

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Categories: car Tags: , , , ,

Do a Winner’s Lap with NASCAR Checks

February 28th, 2010 Alan Plastin No comments

If you’re a NASCAR fan and you want the world to know it, then there is no better way than showing your loyalty to the sport than by carrying NASCAR checks. After all, your finances might stress you out, but there’s no reason that they have to be boring.

Formally known as the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR is one of the most watched sports in the country. NASCAR has loyal fans that will actually travel hundreds of miles, and sometimes even thousands, just to see their favorite drivers win a race. The only other sport in the United States to get more viewers than NASCAR is professional football. At extremely popular races, just about 100,000 fans can show up in turnout.

NASCAR drivers have become legends in their own right as well. Dale Earnhardt is now a revered sports hero, especially since he met his untimely death on the racetrack. Likewise, Richard Petty and Kyle Petty, Carl Edwards, and Jeff Gordon are virtual household names.

NASCAR is traced to stock car racing which got its start during Prohibition when drivers would bootleg alcohol. The drivers would reform their cars to make them drive more quickly so that they could better escape the police when they were being trailed.

Today, the racing is done on tracks instead of on country roads. Some of the most famed NASCAR tracks are positioned in Bristol, Atlanta, Daytona Beach, Indianapolis, and Talledega.

NASCAR has become so prevalent that it has taken on other styles of pop-culture too. The extremely popular Disney movie “Cars” is rooted in NASCAR. An additional movie based on NASCAR is the comical film “Talladega Nights” featuring Will Ferrell. Additionally, country music comedian Cledus T. Judd recorded a parody of Toby’s Keith “I Love This Bar” and changed the words to “I Love NASCAR.”

Several different check series available for you to consider. The trendy “NASCAR Collections” series contains four check images. You can experience a day at the races in Darlington, Daytona, Talladega, and Watkins Glen when you look at these checks. You can also purchase a coordinating checkbook cover and address labels with these checks, too.

Earnhardt fans can also buy limited Dale Earnhardt Sr. checks. These checks show an image of the renowned driver. In addition, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also has his own checks.

Images of some of the sport’s most prominent racetracks including Daytona, Talladega, California Speedway and Michigan International can be found on the NASCAR Racetracks check series.

You can purchase matching coordinates for most the check series.

If you get your checks online from a secure website you can save up to 50% off of what you might have spent at your local bank branch. Besides that, you will have more variety to pick from. It can be annoying to go to your bank, only to find out that their stock is limited and that it will take weeks for your checks to come. By purchasing the online, though, you’ll simply have to wait around 5 days.

Before you order NASCAR checks, go to Nascar-Checks.com to find coupons and to save 50% off your next order of NASCAR personal checks.

Car Insurance Policies That Fit Your Needs

January 3rd, 2010 Adriana Noton No comments

Because it is the law to have car insurance, it is important to purchase a policy that fits your need. Some policies can be expensive as it may include coverage that you do not need. There are various types of insurance policies that you should be aware of before you make your selection. It may seem a time consuming task to figure out what the various policies include. To make your insurance policy selection easier, below are a few tips on how to find car insurance policies that meets your needs.

1. It is important to understand the different types of insurance coverage available. Liability insurance will cover you in the event that you cause a vehicle accident and cause an accident. It provides coverage if another person sustains property damage and physical injury. Most states and provinces mandate set minimum liability insurance. Collision coverage is insurance that will cover you if your own vehicle is damaged and needs repair as the result of a vehicle accident. It is recommended for those who have valuable cars. Comprehensive coverage is insurance coverage that covers non-collision damage such as vandalism, theft, or damage from a storm. There is also Uninsured Motorist Coverage. This is coverage that covers you for damage an uninsured driver has when driving your car.

2. To find an insurance policy that fits your needs, you should first determine how much you can afford to pay for a plan. You have to have minimum liability coverage so it is important that the coverage you buy is enough to protect you. If you only have minimum liability coverage and you injure someone, your personal assets may be at risk. You have to determine how much you can pay out-of-pocket in the event of an accident. Comparing auto insurance online is a great way to find a deal. Most people will buy high liability coverage to ensure full protection. As well, if you have a car that is not worth very much and plan to replace it soon, you may want to forgo buying collision and comprehensive insurance. Remember, you are compensated for the Kelly Blue Book value of the car.

3. If you are looking to lower your insurance premium, make sure you take advantage of cost cutting incentives. For instance, increasing your deductible will lower your monthly insurance payments. It is important to make sure you can afford the deductible in the event of an accident. For example, if you have a car accident that results in $3000.00 damage, and you have a $500.00 deductible, you will be required to pay the $500.00 before the insurance kicks in. Increasing your deductible means you are taking on more risk, therefore your payments will be lower. Most insurers will provide you with car insurance quotes directly on the Internet after inputting certain factors. Other discounts that may be offered to include low mileage discounts, anti-theft device discounts, multiple vehicle discounts, ‘green’ car discounts, safety feature discounts, and driving program discounts.

When you know all of the car insurance options available, the greater chance you have of purchasing a policy that fits your needs and ensures that you have the appropriate amount of coverage. When searching for car insurance, it is essential to compare at least three different policies from different insurance providers to ensure you are getting the best policy at the best price.

Comparing auto insurance online is a great way to find a deal. Most insurers will provide you with car insurance quotes directly on the Internet after inputting certain factors.

Motorcycle Jackets – The New Motorcycle Jackets Thats Changing The Industry

December 21st, 2009 Bill Nichols No comments

If you are a die hard motorcycle rider then you know the importance of a motorcycle jacket that will keep you comfortable in all kinds of weather. The folks at hogcooler.com have developed a system that will do just that. They have developed a motorcycle that will stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Bikers who wear a motorcycle jacket are always complaining that they can never stay cool in the summer and most times than not are constantly cold in the winter.

Many of you reading this are asking how can a motorcycle jacket keep you cold and hot, right? It’s quite simple. The makers of the hogcooler vest have created a motorcycle vest that can keep you really cool in the summer and warm in the winter. How the vest works is, in the summer you put a bag of ice in your saddle bag. Then the cool air is fed through a tube that is attached to the vest. It is easy to detach from the vest to allow you to get on and off the bike without having to take off the vest. The jacket can keep your temperature at 60 degrees regardless how hot it is.

In the winter months the Hog Cooler will harness the heat of your engine and give you a nice heated motorcycle jacket. This is done without pulling any excess power away from your engine. One of the advantages is that unlike other motorcycle jacket systems designed to keep your jacket warm there are no batteries that you have to worry about replacing and therefore this saves you money in the long run.

The Hog Cooler is like many other motorcycle jacket systems out today in the sense it utilizes the items bikers all ready have with them to keep them cool or warm. However the hog cooler is the first motorcycle jacket to allow you to detach the tube and not the jacket. This is just one of the many new benefits of the Hog Cooler.

The Hog Cooler vest requires no bulky hardware and is easy to use. These features will be noticed right a way from anyone who rides and can be very appreciated for their value in staying comfortable on the open roads.

Anyone who has worn a motorcycle jacket in the summer can agree with me in the fact that they are hot and uncomfortable. However you need them to stay safe and to have pockets to store things. With that being said most riders will sacrifice there saftey and there pockets to stay comfortable all day long on their bikes.

With the Hog Cooler system this will allow a biker to wear his motorcycle jacket in the summer and stay cool at the same time. In addition this will also allow you to ride in warmth in the cold winter months as your motorcycle jacket will be nice and warm all through your trip. After all nothing will ruin a trip faster than a jacket that is either too hot or one that is too cold, with the Hog Cooler system you will be able to ride at just the right temperature no matter what season it is!

If you want to find out more information about thetypes of Motorcycle Jackets that are changing the way bikers ride now, visit the one and only Hog Cooler site now.

Categories: car Tags: , , ,

Easy Tips For Choosing An Extended Auto Warranty That Saves Your Wallet

December 11th, 2009 Jayson Cabral No comments

If you’re constantly worried that the car you’re driving could break down at any moment and that you won’t have the money to cover its repair, that’s when you should go with an extended auto warranty. Insurance only covers so much. You still have to have a plan in place for keeping repair costs down on your car. But the process of choosing an extended auto warranty can be complicated. Besides going with a reputable company, there are many factors that go into choosing the right one. Here are 5 things you should consider.

Direct Pay Option – The last thing you want to do when your car needs repairs is pay a huge sum of money out of pocket just to keep it running. That’s why purchasing an extended auto warranty where the warranty company pays the repair shop directly is a smart move. You don’t want to face a situation where you pay a bunch of money out of pocket only to find out that you’re not going to get a reimbursement.

Buy It At Your Convenience – One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying an extended auto warranty is believing that they have to purchase it at the same they purchase the car. If you believe that, you’ve fallen for one of the tricks of the salesperson. There is no need to buy it at the same time you bought your car. However, it is advisable to buy it as soon as possible before prices go up.

Beware Hidden Expenses – Many expenses can arise when dealing with unscrupulous car companies and extended auto warranty providers. Make sure that costs associated with repairs such as car rentals for when your car is in the shop are included. You’re paying for your warranty each month, you deserve these type of benefits.

Make Sure Wear and Tear is Covered – Chances are if you’re looking for an extended auto warranty, it’s because your lifestyle requires you to use your car often. That’s why you should look for a coverage that handles general wear and tear rather than just mechanical breakdown. The costs associated with upkeep from general wear and tear can be just as much as mechanical breakdown.

Buy Direct by Buying Online – In order to get the best deal on your auto warranty, you’ll want to cut out the middleman from the beginning. If you decide to purchase your auto warranty while at the dealership, you’re going to be subject to a higher rate in order to pay for the salesperson’s commission. Plus, you’ll also find that the coverage you get online is more comprehensive than what you would get at the dealership.

One myth that you’ll come across often when looking for the best auto warranty is that it’s expensive. Well that isn’t the case at all! Find out by getting your FREE, instant, and absolutely no obligation quote by visiting http://www.BestAutoWarrantyQuote.info right now.

categories: auto warranty,auto insurance,car insurance,car warranty,insurance quote,auto repairs,auto damage,buying a car,Driving,Mechanic,Cars,Automobiles,Finance

Why Should You Use Online Videos to Promote Your Car Dealership?

November 25th, 2009 John Harvey No comments

Your car dealership’s products, services and sales team all can be promoted by using online videos. But many car dealers have never heard of video search engine optimization, or if they have, they don’t know how to do it.

There are a few great companies that have implemented video search engine optimization (VSEO) for many car dealerships in the US to enhance the visibility of their inventory and services. Video search optimization (VSEO) can actually called the number one and most powerful internet marketing tool available at the moment.

Think about this for a moment. Would you prefer to read about a new or used car dealer or car dealership, or would you rather see the video testimonial of a car dealership’s customer? A powerful video presentation can help your car business in several ways. Imagine using videos to introduce potential customers to your car dealership and let them watch customer testimonials. And videos have other possibilities too. Show your potential customers videos about your current car inventory, your sales force in action, and events you hold at your car dealership.

By watching your videos, a potential customer could learn about your sales people, look at some of your inventory and gain a first impression of your dealership, all within a few minutes.

And while this thought might be scary at first, because you put yourself out, most car dealers understand the incredible opportunity. We have seen very creative, informative and sometimes even humorous car videos.

An effective video presentation offers a great service to your potential customers, but it also gives you the ability to get traffic from sources that up to now have remain untapped. Video search engines have huge numbers of visitors, and if your video is successful, you will drive some of that traffic directly to your website.

So if you think about the advantage of free traffic from search engines, video engines, social media websites, makes VSEO such an incredible marketing tool and with the right support you will for sure get results that you would never be able to get with one or more of your own domains and car dealer websites.

Make sure you read more about VSEO and it’s opportunities, because the field is still wide open, but many car dealers are finding out about this marketing strategy, so it’s just a matter of time, until the search engines and video engines will be flushed with so many car videos that it will be hard to rank again.

John Harvey shows how to use online videos for car dealer marketing: Honda Sacramento and Sacramento Chevy

Categories: car Tags: , , , , , ,

Battery Chargers for Cars

November 16th, 2009 Taylor Lawrence No comments

A while back, the battery charger cables would be clamped onto the terminals of your battery, you pushed a button, and you waited for a bit. You would glance at the dial occasionally to assure yourself that you weren’t overcharging the battery, and you shut it off at the exact time it was done.

Fortunately, the charging operations have become significantly faster than they once were. Nearly every car has a 12 volt battery, and so do marine batteries and power sporting equipment. You must use a battery charger that is suitable for your battery to extend its life and save money in the long run. If you neglect to use the kind of charger that is recommended by your battery manufacturer, the warranty you have on your lead acid battery, AGM, or gel cell may be null and void. Using an incompatible charger can damage your battery.

To ascertain which battery charger is the best one for the kind of battery you have, there are some things you must know. First of all, find out what kind of battery is in your car, and find out how much storage capacity it has. Because your car battery is typically just utilized when starting your automobile, for lighting, and for your music system when your car isn’t operating, and the battery recharges when the car is running, you may not feel that storage capacity is that important.

The regular automobile battery can hold about 50 amp hours, while a marine battery may store 100 amp hours. Both kinds of batteries provide 12 volts of electricity; however, if entirely dead, they will recharge for different quantities of time with a charger that carries 10 amps, say six to eleven hours, respectively. Be sure that the automobile battery charger you are getting has sufficient charging power to satisfy your requirements. If a charger has more power, the time that it will take to get your battery operational will be shorter.

Don’t let the trade jargon and statistics get you down here folks. We just threw that out there for those who either know what they are doing on a more technical level, or are geeky in the first place. Really and truly once you bring home a car battery charger all you need to do is plug it in and set up your battery to it. No muss no fuss.

Taylor comes to us to with information about online resources for car batteries and also some their charger types.

categories: cars,automobiles,car,automobile,car electrical system,car battery,car charger,car battery charger

Ways To Sell Your Car Fast

November 15th, 2009 Stacy Poyer No comments

Selling a car in this bad economy can be a lot of work. If you want to have the best chance of making the sale, you need to use different kinds of advertising methods. These ways might include word of mouth, putting ads online, using print media advertising, putting up ads on grocery store boards, and even putting a sign on your car.

Once you have done your work and gotten the word out that your car is for sale, you need to decide on a price that will be attractive for buyers and acceptable to you. No matter how much advertising you do, if your price is too high it will be hard to make the sale. So, the two most important steps to selling a car are to get the word out and to choose a price that will interest potential buyers.

Selling a car now is a little bit tougher than it used to be because of the bad economy. If you are wondering how to sell a car quickly, however, you do have a couple of options. The first is the obvious way of lowering the price of your car so that it inexpensive enough to get interest. Just keep lowering the price until you find a buyer. If you really are offering a good deal, you will probably be able to find someone to buy it.

If you are trying to sell a car right now, your job is more difficult because of the bad economy. The surest way to sell your car is to sell it for a low price. This may not be what you want to do but if you need to sell it, the only way might be to keep lowering it until you find a buyer. If you offer a real good deal, you will undoubtedly find someone who is willing to buy it.

Not everyone wants the hassle of dealing with all the difficulties associated with selling a car. If you dont want to go through all the hassle of finding a buyer on your own, you can always sell it back to a dealer. Dealers will always buy your car and that is even if you are not buying a car from them and using your car as a trade in. Unfortunately, a dealer will not give you as much money as you might be able to get yourself if you found your own buyer. That is the reason why most people deal with the hassle of selling their car themselves rather than to a dealer.

Are you looking for the steps to sell a car fast? If so, please go to my website How To Sell A Car.

Categories: car Tags: , , , ,

The Value of Car Auctions

November 12th, 2009 Thomas Crown No comments

OK so you want to purchase a vehicle, but have come to the realization that the purchase price of anew car is just outside of your means, you will probably decide on the purchase of a high quality used car. Now more than ever before the possibility of finding you dream car used is great. One of the best things you have going for you is the fact that the used car market has dramatically changed in recent years. The prevalence of used car auctions is one of the things which has made a dramatic impact on how people buy used cars.

In the case of used and repossessed car auctions, discriminating buyers can find a variety of automobiles at bargain-basement prices. Many of these cars are in “like-new” condition, and are being sold as a result of the previous owner failing to make timely payments. Despite their great condition, these cars can be purchased for a substantial discount at car auctions.

Most cars that are at car auctions are the result of a person who feel behind in their car payments and could not afford to keep the car. This is your chance for you to be able to own a car that many people would never be able to afford in normal circumstances. This gives them a chance to walk away with a car that is next to nothing as far as price is concerned.

Government-sanctioned car auctions for seized vehicles can often be an even better opportunity for finding the lowest prices. A government-run auction usually involves cars that have been seized as a result of the vehicle being involved in a criminal offense – most notably, drugs.

These vehicles could also have been seized due to taxes, penalties and fines being owed, this is very common when dealing with IRS auctions. The governments selling the vehicles is usually doing so to recover money spent in damages or the prosecution of the crime that the vehicle was related to. The best thing is that the nature of the auction and the fact that the community doesn’t generally know a lot about them means you have a great selection to choose from at bargain basement prices.

For those who don’t know where to look, finding information about a car auction can be a daunting task. Announcements about these events can usually be found in your local news paper in some areas the information is harder to find. To locate an auction in a location where they are not readily advertise simply call your local officials or do an online search. I great way to find out about seizure auctions is simply to call the police and ask an administrator in the drug or vice division when the next seizure and impound auction will be held.

As you are searching online for car auctions in your area, you will no doubt encounter another aspect of the growing auction industry – the online car auction. If you’ve ever visited eBay, you probably already have an idea of what you can expect from an online car auction site: thousands of listed vehicles (often with vehicle background checks available upon request), at prices that can sometimes save you as much as 80-90% off of the listed sales price.

Before you delve into any of these car auctions, however, take the time to decide what you want and need from your purchase. The easiest way to ensure that you find the vehicle you are looking for is to decide what you want before you begin. Decide upon the features you need, and the price you are willing to pay.

In the end it is important that you check into all of your options and know how the world of auto auctions work. These are very great way to find a car that you have always wanted but thought you never thought you could afford

A car auction is the greatest place to find a great deal on a car. Finding a car auction in your area does not have to be hard to find if you visit this site today.

categories: cars,automobiles,trucks,motorcycles,autos

Categories: car Tags: , , , , ,

Do Your Research Before Attending Federal Auto Auctions

November 8th, 2009 Garry Knight No comments

People who want affordable ways to buy cars should think about buying at federal auto auctions. If you do not know much about them, they are definitely worth learning about since these auctions offer some fantastic cars at amazingly low prices. It is not hard to learn how to locate these auctions, look at the vehicles they are selling and see if you meet the buyer qualification requirements.

A federal auto auction gathers its vehicles from a number of different sources. Many times, these have been seized as part of a criminal investigation or the vehicles are taken for tax violations. As well, if a bank has to repossess a car because of the default on a loan, they will often place those cars in auctions so that they can get at least part of their money back.

The result of these situations is that there are cars which you might not be able to afford that are suddenly within your price range. Although it is called a federal auto auction, vehicles such as trucks, vans, boats, RV’s and other luxury vehicles can also be put up on the block. You may notice that many of the buyers are actually used car dealers who are trying to stock their lots.

If you want to find federal auto auctions, the Internet will be your best bet to do so. You may need to register and there may be a fee to participate in some auctions. If you register, you will get the chance to preview the vehicles that are for sale, which can be a bonus if you want to make purchasing decisions in advance.

Although there are basic restrictions on buyers (you must have a license and be over’) these are minor. High bids will win the vehicle in any auction. As with any auction you need to pay at the end of the auction so you should bring your funds with you. They can take several different forms from cash to certified check or money order, or even credit cards- all will be accepted. Some auctions will actually accept a non-certified check but this is rare.

It is always wonderful to be able to afford a quality vehicle and you may find that federal auto auctions are just what you need to be able to do that.

Read Garry Knights report here here about Federal auto auctions. You will find important information pertaining to picking up bargain vehicles at a Federal auto auction.

categories: cars,autos,automobiles,business,economy,lifestyle,auctions,shopping