Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Water Powered Car Instructions And Tips

by Nicusor Valentin Prefac

Yesterday the gas prices reached 4 $ in some areas and the price will continue to grow because crude oil reserves are running low. If you are interested in water powered car instructions then I will tell you some tips that you need to know if you want to convert your car to run on tap water.
The first thing that you need to know is that you will still use gas but you will reduce the quantity that you use.
Do you know that only 20% of gas is burned into the engine, and the rest is pollution? You should realise that you are wasting 80% of the money spent on gas, and here water powered car comes. From a safe chemical process HHO are extracted from tap water and this gas helps your engine to burn your gas more effectively.As a result you will improve you mileage with at least 60%, so you will use your car more and spend the same amount of money or you will run your car the same miles that you make now and spend less money on gas.

Another tip that you must know is that you will spend also less money on repairing your engine. Because you use less gas and more efficiently your engine will be less used and it will not damage so often as when you use gas.
These are just a few water powered car instructions and tips that you should know if you want to convert your car to run on water.

Read More...

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

An Overview of the Peugeot Models

by Paul Robin

The Peugeot 206 was created in the early 1990's with the replacement of the preceding 205 model. Peugeot changed their model under the idea that super mini cars were no longer profitable, therefore a change was in order. The Peugeot 206 did not immediately follow the 205 as the Peugeot 106, 306 and 309 models to capture different levels of sales from prospective customers. The Peugeot 106 was rivaling the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo with the 306 and 309 models taking the mid and top end sales from the discontinuation of the 205. Because of this, many Peugeot enthusiasts believe the 206 should have been named the 207. The 206, although created early was not released until 1998.
The Peugeot moniker indicates that the 206 immediately followed the 205, but this is not true as other models were released before the 206. The eventual successor, the 207, was finally launched n 2006, but Peugeot recently announced that the 206 will stay in production until the year 2010. The 206 is the best selling Peugeot of all time but the end of the model in the upcoming years will end the '06' generation of Peugeot cars in almost 20 years. The 206 was initially produced in France and England but production switched to Slovakia. The closure of the British plant matched with the closure of the Ryton plant, which Peugeot took over when Peugeot bought Chrysler's European division in 1979.

The Peugeot 306 replaced the 309. The 306 is very similar to the Citroen ZX, which was released to the public two years before the 306 model. Both cars used the same structure and floorplan. The 205 was styled after the Pininfarina styling and has been a better seller. In the 1974 oil crisis, Citroen went bankrupt and Peugeot took over Citroen. This led to the similarities and identical cars produced by both manufacturers.
The 306 Phase 1 came to the market in March of 1993 as a 3 and 5 door hatchback with three different models being offered. The five door was more of a station wagon and was dubbed the "sw" for station wagon. Although not nearly as stylish as the 205, the 306 offered many practical uses in the vehicle. The sw estate model was not a hatchback station wagon, but a sedan with luxurious European styling to accompany the Peugeot racing spirit.
The engines used in the Peugeot cars were offered both in a gasoline and a diesel model. The gasoline engines were four cylinder units, which gained their outstanding reputation from being the power plant in the ever popular Peugeot 205 model. The idea for the Peugeot engines was to have a fair trade off between performance and excellent fuel economy. Three larger capacity engines were available but were restricted to automatic and performance models.
The diesel engines in Peugeot came with an excellent reputation and were largely available in turbo charged models. The original engine displacement for the diesel engines came in a 1.8 liter, but was soon upgraded to a 1.9 liter. The turbocharged Peugeot diesel became an excellent fitting engine to match the 306 as the performance matched similarly sized gasoline cars. The considerable extra weight was overcome by the turbocharged performance.

Read More...

Monday, April 28, 2008

A Warning To All BMW Owners

by Chet Waters

Usually I don't get on my "soapbox" to vent after hearing or reading editorials on TV or in the newspapers. But after recently reading an article about luxury cars, it made my blood boil. The "author' of an article I read was so grossly off the mark that I have to set the record straight.
Some people think that the only reason that someone buys a BMW is to impress their neighbors, friends, family and co-workers. To me all of these are great reasons for BMW ownership. The fact is, my feelings are that if you can afford to pay $30,000 to $90,000 or more for a BMW, you deserve the right to "impress" all who know you. You've earned it.
It goes with the territory-right?
You might find this hard to believe, because I did, that some people actually think it's better to buy a less expensive or "ordinary" car. Come on. You know the one's I am talking about. Some think that the only function of a car is to get you from point A to point B. The reasoning is that if you only pay $20,000 for your car you can bank the difference or invest the extra money to make it grow for you long term. This approach might be true. But my question is-------
Why would you want to do that?
There is not one BMW owner that I know who would rather drive an "ordinary" vehicle all of their lives in return for saying that they are not impressed or enjoy the benefits of owning a BMW. When was the last time you heard a BMW owner say, "Gee, I wish I had bought something cheaper"? If you have been on this planet for more than ten minutes you know that you will never hear anything that ridiculous.

And as for the money you would save by not buying a BMW, let's look at the trade-offs. Do you really want to trade a few extra "bucks" and a dull lifestyle for the lifetime thrill and excitement in your BMW. Can any amount of "invested money" make up for the boring years of driving just "the ordinary" car. I don't think so.
Current and future BMW owners beware.
There will always be those that look down on you because you made the decision to be "Special' instead of ordinary. Because you made the decision to work hard and reap the benefits of your labor. Because you made the decision to have a "lifestyle" not just a life. Because you made the decision to make your dreams come true instead of fearing to dream.
To all those who decide to deny themselves the passion of a BMW, let me ask you this. When you're 90 and on your deathbed with your life flashing before your eyes, do you really think that you will want to say " I'm glad I saved a few extra bucks by owning an ordinary car all my life". Or will you die with regret knowing that you could have had the "BMW Experience".
To current and future BMW owners I say, "Be warned that some people will never understand your need for feeling the "BMW Experience". And to those misguided people I say-------
Get over it.

Chet Waters is the BMW Specialist. Learn How To Find Your BMW And At The Price You Can Afford. Go To: http://www.bmwsauctions.com.

Read More...

Friday, April 25, 2008

Water-Powered Cars - Science, or Fiction?

by Chris Witkowski

So you can't walk on water, but what if someone told you your car could run on it?
It isn't as far-fetched an idea as it might sound. For years, scientists have been working towards inventing automobile engines running only on water. So just how far along are we on this quest? Almost there. Hybrid cars, which run on water in conjunction with conventional gas technology, are no longer uncommon. The goal for scientists now is to do away with the gasoline component completely-and it seems large automobile manufacturers are in a race to get there.
All over the world, the use of hybrid (water and gas) cars has been a buzz on both TV and the internet. The enthusiasm about hybrid cars is shared by both car enthusiasts and environmental activists-because as far as the benefits of hybrid technology are concerned, there's something for pretty much everyone.

For one thing, hybrid cars take significantly less gasoline. True, hybrid cars haven't really cut a large chunk off the world's tremendous dependence on fossil fuels-at least, not yet. It's quite early in the game. And as for immediate benefits for the car owner, using that much less gasoline definitely means great savings. Also, using water makes the car more efficient and less prone to wear and tear.
Now, you might look at a glass of water and say, "Well, this doesn't look like fuel to me." Here's how it works. In the process called electrolysis, electrical currents are passed through the water. This separates the hydrogen atoms from the oxygen. This forms a flammable gas called HHO, or Brown Gas, which gets injected into your engine.
A great thing about it is that the only waste product of this process is oxygen. That's why hybrid cars have significantly cleaner emissions than those running purely on conventional fuel. This is much safer for the environment; an increasing use of hybrid technology will certainly be a big help in the fight against global warming, not to mention make the air cleaner and safer for the people in the area. And since water is a renewable source, it's a great option to help conserve non-renewable (not to mention expensive) conventional fuels.
Another bit of good news is that the technology is a lot more accessible than one might think. You might not even have to buy a new hybrid car. The internet has guides and other valuable information for those who wish to go the DIY route and convert their cars themselves, which should be easy for any car enthusiast.

http://water4gas.learningguru.info

Read More...

Thursday, April 24, 2008

How to Use Water for Fuel in Your Car

by John P Cooper

There has been a growing movement for years that promotes using water for fuel in your vehicles to generate hydrogen gas. Without any major rebuilding anyone's vehicle can be modified to run on regular tap water!
Now I had read and heard about expensive hydrogen fuel cell cars but it always seemed these were a thing of the future and the price of the vehicle would make them unaffordable to those of us who really need to save money everyday. The trick it seems is not to reinvent the car but to use the natural occurring water droplets in gasoline to boost your gas mileage from 59% to 70%! Here is how it works.

There are easy and inexpensive devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery, to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also called Hydroxy or Hydrogen*Oxygen™, burns beautifully and provides tons of energy - while the end product is just water! Mobile Magazine says HHO provides the atomic power of Hydrogen, while maintaining the chemical stability of water. An HHO fuel is about three times as potent and efficient as normal gasoline.
So the end result is turning my vehicle into a water hybrid with gas mileages upwards of 66-80 mpg. With the savings alone the quality of life for our family will increase greatly let alone the reduced emissions to help the environment. And believe it or not there are actually Government programs that will pay you or give you tax credit for doing this!

I hope this explained a little about using water for fuel in your vehicle. If you really are serious about saving on gas costs and saving the planet please read my blog at
http://thebullstopshere.wordpress.com

Read More...

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Seat Belts - Safety, Regulations, and Controversy

by Joseph Devine

Saving Lives
Seatbelts are one of the most common mechanisms used to protect drivers and passengers in the case of an automobile collision. Fortunately for drivers, statistics show that, despite being relatively 'low-tech,' seatbelts are a very effective layer of protection, saving an estimated 9,500 lives every year. On the flip side, other numbers show that over 60% of people who die in car accidents were not wearing seatbelts.
Some people are more likely to "buckle up" than others. Male drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 are statistically the least likely to wear a seatbelt. Unfortunately, this demographic group is also known for containing the highest-risk drivers in the United States; if anyone needs to learn good seatbelt habits, it is these young men.
Seat Belt Designs
Seatbelts have come in many different designs through history, ranging from the simple lap belt to the modern three-point belt which goes from shoulder to hip and across the waist.
Many considerations factor into a successful seat belt design. Because the goal of a seatbelt is to reduce the force on a vehicle's occupants in the case of a collision, it must distribute its stopping power in a way that will minimize bodily injury. The three-point belt, for example, is designed to spread the impact of a sudden stop over the chest and into the strong shoulder and hip bones of the body.

Government Regulation
Given the strong evidence for the benefits of wearing a seatbelt, most governments in the United States have laws which make wearing a seatbelt mandatory. New York was the first state to require seatbelts, passing legislation in late 1984. Today, all US states, with the exception of New Hampshire, have laws requiring seatbelts in some form.
The penalty for not wearing a seatbelt varies from state to state, ranging from primary to secondary offenses. A few states make an age distinction in their seatbelt laws, though most do not. Fourteen states add indirect consequences for those who do not wear seatbelts; in these states, people who sue for damages following an accident may have their awards reduced if they were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident.
Ongoing Controversy
Not everyone is a fan of mandatory seatbelt legislation. Many people feel that such laws are an infringement on their rights. They argue that failing to wear a seatbelt harms no one except oneself, making it a "victimless crime."
Furthermore, seatbelts are not without their dangers, argue opponents of these usage laws. Life threatening injuries to the chest, abdomen, and neck areas, as well as cardiac arrest have been linked to seatbelts, particularly in high-speed collisions. While injuries may arguably have been worse without a seatbelt, opponents of regulations say that forcing them to wear a potentially dangerous device is nothing short of illegal.
Defective Belts
On the other hand, it is clear that defective seatbelts are a threat to any driver or passenger. A seatbelt which fails to lock correctly or distribute the impact properly can result in very serious injuries, disabilities, and even death. Seat-belt related recalls are not uncommon, as retailers seek to limit their liability.
For more information on seatbelts and other related safety issues, check out the resources provided by the Milwaukee personal injury lawyers of Habush, Habush & Rottier, S.C. at their website http://www.habush.com

Read More...

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Salvage Cars

by Dennis J James

Salvage cars are very popular nowadays due to many reasons such as; they are cheaper, the whole process does not involve as much time as buying a used car, or cost as much as buying new cars.
Of course, as with any other thing on the market, there are several difficulties, and in this case, there can be found many more downs than ups. Yet, for example, if you have enough money put aside and need to buy a car fast, and you do not worry that much about possible quality problems, then salvage car auctions are the thing for you.
For example, let us assume that you want to buy a car for your son, since he has not got that much experience as a driver it may be safer if in the beginning he would own a cheaper car and learn how to deal with small possible problems that may appear.
Of course, a salvage car can be great if you want to buy a second car for your or your family, because you can get it cheap and fast, because everybody needs at some point a new car for their family.
As mentioned before, the biggest advantage with salvage cars (and obviously, salvage cars auctions is that they are very cheap). Most of the times these cars are very cheap because they need to be sold right away and the buyer is more willing to offer a smaller price than bargain for a huge price.

This way, at auctions, in some cases, the final price might meet the ideal price for the seller, but most of the times, it will be under his price. Therefore, if you are low on money and need a car fast, if you can find a salvage car auction somewhere near you, it would be a great idea to take advantage of the situation.
The second great thing about these salvage car auctions is that because of the buyer's rush to sell the car; it will not take anybody's time. Practically, it is only a matter of days after you were announced the winner of the auction until you will actually have the car in your hands to drive it with all the papers written.
Of course, with salvage cars it is more difficult to tell if they are real quality, meaning that while at an used car dealer you can spot many faults in the car's system by discussing with the dealer, driving the car, carefully examining it on your time. It is harder to do that at an auction because there will be many people there trying to do that, and everybody seems to want to find something out, and get in your way.
Yet, there is a solution to people who are too afraid to a buy from these kind of auctions - they can buy the car for body parts. Repo vehicles can be used as spare parts for your own car, and this way save a lot of money with possible purchases.
You have all the parts you need now. Of course, it is a matter of luck and opportunity, and sometimes you may not find a model just like yours, or something similar. However, if you do, you can consider your car saved!

Read More...

Monday, April 21, 2008

What is a Fleet?

by Beth Murphy

When you hear the word fleet, your mind automatically thinks of a large group of ships or transport trucks. But, the truth is, if a company has a vehicle or a group of vehicles they use to conduct their business, then they have a fleet. Furniture stores, moving companies, flower shops, product manufacturers, and places alike have fleets. So, you need to fask yourself: "Do I have a fleet?" Another misconception about fleets, is that they have to be large, but they do not have to be. The dictionary defines a fleet as a group of motor vehicles operating together under the same ownership. These fleet vehicles are all registered in the same name, which is usually that of the business and each vehicle is assigned its own identifier code by the Department of Licensing.
The main function of a fleet is to transport goods from one location to the next. They are essential to the business operations of many companies. If we didn't have fleets, many of the products that we buy today would not be available to us. A lot of our most important necessities would not be available for mass consumption, and we would be entirely dependant on finding things locally which would pose a problem since most goods are not manufactured locally. Because of the many different climates in our country, it is impossible to manufacture everything needed locally. Therefore, we depend on the shipment of these items from other areas so that we can have access to a wide variety of goods.

Management of fleets
Fleets are either managed by an outside company or by a fleet manager employed within the business. Managing a fleet is a lot of work because it involves responsibilities such as mapping out the best routes, keeping track of the vehicles via GPS, monitoring repairs and maintenance, reimbursing drivers, keeping track of receipt stacks and reimbursement checks, and more importantly tracking fuel consumption. This is to make sure that the cost of operating the fleet does not have a negative impact on the profits of the business. If it does, then that means that something needs to be done because the cost to ship the product should not be more than the profits to be made from the sale of the good.
There are companies that specialize in providing fleet management software and fleet cards that can make the job of the fleet manager much easier. This software manages the GPS tracking, helps map out the best routes, keeps track of fuel consumption, and looks for any unauthorized charges on fleet fuel cards. The fleet manager is presented with reports on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis that highlights any suspicious activity, and also makes sure that the costs are coming in on budget.
Proper management of a fleet increases the opportunity for higher productivity. That is something very important to a business because high productivity means profitability, and when a large portion of your business is dependent on successful fleet management it's crucial to be operating at maximum productivity.
In the end, it doesn't matter if you're in charge of a large or a small fleet. Every business operates with the goal of making a profit. Therefore, a small fleet needs to be run just as smoothly and as effectively as a large fleet; and a large fleet needs to get the attention to detail that a small fleet does. Fleet cards help fleet businesses run smoothly and efficiently no matter what the size.

Read More...

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Basics of Subaru WRX Maintenance

by Colin Hogue

Basic WRX Performance Tricks
Here are a few WRX performance tricks that I have come across that may give you that extra punch next time you pull up next to a Corvette at a stoplight. Please keep in mind that oftentimes increasing horsepower comes down to some common sense.
Oil Changes
Let's start off with an easy one. How about changing your oil? I can still hear my dad saying, "Make sure to change that oil every 3000 miles!" Nowadays, most cars don't require that oil be changed quite that often, but if you drive hard, it never hurts to put some fresh synthetic oil in there to help things run a little smoother. The Subaru WRX manual says to change the oil every 7,500 miles under normal driving conditions or every 3,750 if you drive hard. I suggest the latter.
Fresh, Properly Gapped Spark Plugs
Keeping your spark plugs inspected, cleaned, and gapped properly are also easy ways to keep your WRX running at its best. The proper spacing for a 2002 or 2003 WRX is 0.028"-0.031" (0.7-0.8 mm).

Fresh Air Filter
Some of these things are so basic that I hesitate to mention them, but a lot of the time, the things that we forget to do are the simple things. So, when was the last time you checked your air filter? Imagine trying to breath through a dirty pillow. Sounds difficult, right? That is what your car is doing every day unless you make sure to clean your air filter. Better yet, upgrade your intake system to some type of Ram Air kit to allow your WRX to inhale as much air as possible.
Premium Gasoline
With gas prices at an all-time high, this is one tip that is hard to swallow. Saving those extra pennies at the pump seems a good way to pinch pennies, but don't do it. Save money elsewhere. Pump the premium. Why? The higher the octane, the more power for the engine of your Subaru WRX. There is a reason that race cars run on high octane fuel. MORE POWER!

Read More...

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Run Your Car On Water And Save Thousands!

by Adam Hefner

The price of gas has risen astronomically, more than doubling in the past five years. Although scientists claim to be working to develop more efficient motors and better fuel alternatives, they are concealing a critical truth from the public. One of the best kept secrets in modern research is that it is possible to run your car on water.
Ethanol, a well-known alternative, saves users $.50 to $.60 per gallon of gasoline, saving users about $7.50 for a 15-gallon tank. In comparison, hybrid cars allow consumers to increase their fuel efficiency by 10 to 15 miles per gallon, which results in a net savings of approximately $15 in cars with the same size tank.
In contrast, when you run your car on water, you can save up to $25 dollars a tank. Does this sound unbelievable? In fact, some users have reported that their car's fuel efficiencies more than doubled when adding this simple water converting device.
You probably are wondering how much you would have to pay to install one of these devices in your car. Actually, these converters are so inexpensive that it seems incredible that science has hidden this gift from the public for so long. They cost less than $200 to build. Additionally, they are so easy to make that an amateur mechanic with only a little experience can do it!

One other amazing benefit of this technology is that you are eligible for a tax rebate for using this device. The cost of both the converter and its installation can be written off on your federal taxes. Let the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) pay for this money-saving innovation!
If these converters are so easy to make, save so much money, and are so efficient, why isn't the scientific community telling us about them? The reason is simple. You can run your car on water and they make almost nothing from this invention.
Is this information shocking? It's hard to believe that such a beneficial device could be kept secret for so long. Unfortunately, scientists want to make money from their research, and this truth simply isn't that profitable to them.
Researchers would rather spend millions of dollars for research, and develop less useful alternatives, than share these secrets with you. Now that you know about the amazing new technology that lets you run your car on water, the choice is yours. Will you take advantage of this secret, or continue to waste thousands of dollars each year?

Some say gas prices are going to $4 a gallon. To find more on how you can run your car on water and how you can save money, check out http://WaterFuel.Superior-Products101.com/

Read More...

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The Differences Between The Sexes and The Cars They Want

by Victor Martel

There is an interesting ongoing debate regarding the differences between the sexes and their cars.
According to the results of J.D. Power & Associates' Power Information Network's (PIN) most recent survey of the cars with the highest percentage of female ownership is the Volvo S40. The luxury car with the highest male ownership is the high-performance Audi RS4. It does not take a psychologist to conclude that men are more likely to buy cars with their heart and women with their head.
The RS4 has a starting price of over $66,000 and can zoom from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds. The S40 has a sticker price of around $25,000. Apparently it doesn't matter how fast the S40 can go from 0 to 60. What does matter is that it aced the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's frontal crash test.
Interestingly enough, there wasn't a sports car to be found in the top 10. Instead, there were sensible, entry-level cars and small SUV's that emphasized safety, quality, reliability, and value.
Of course, that is not to say there aren't thousands of women who don't enjoy driving fast or wouldn't choose a Ferrari over a minivan given the choice, but these women would seem to be the exception. To arrive at its conclusions, PIN surveyed hundreds of dealerships around the U.S. through the end of August, 2007. The nationwide sample includes about 24% of U.S. retail automotive sales, including both loans and leases, luxury and non-luxury brands, but excluding fleet sales.
So, What Do Women Want? A Volvo.
Not only did the S40 nail the top spot; the Volvo brand dominated the top 10 with three winners, which, along with the S40, included the V50 wagon at No. 7 and the S60 sedan at No. 9. Volvo was also the No. 1 luxury brand for female ownership overall, at 42.5%, vs. a luxury-brand average of 35.8%.

So how does this popularity translate to sales? Year-to-date through August, women bought or leased more than half (53%) of the Volvo S40 sedans retailed in the PIN sample, which is fairly representative of the total market. However, that doesn't necessarily mean good news for the struggling Swedish automaker, which is a division of Ford Motor because sales as a whole for the model are weak. As of August 2007, North American sales of the S40 were 13,513, which was down about 17% year-to-date. Overall, Volvo's North American sales were off 9.4% to 72,476, according to Automotive News.
Men clearly still buy the majority of cars. For example, the racier and more expensive BMW 3 Series is the perennial sales leader in the entry-luxury sedan segment, and is increasing its domination. Through August 2007, 3 Series sales were up about 25%, to 97,039, according to Automotive News. But it didn't even make it on to PIN's top 10 list of women's favorite luxury cars.
Across the industry, including non-luxury brands, women bought 37.3% of new vehicles in 2007 through August, based on the PIN sample data. Looking beyond luxury cars to include all price categories, the S40 was the fifth-most-popular model for female buyers. The most popular, according to J.D. Power, with 58.3% of all female buyers, was the Volkswagen new Beetle. Including non-luxury brands, Suzuki was the No. 1 brand purchased by women through August 2007, the data said. Reinforcing the PIN data, a separate customer survey by another market research and consulting company, San Diego's Strategic Vision, showed many of the same Volvos at the top of a similar list for the previous model year (the most recent one available), including the S40 at No. 1.
Known Quantities
"We're known for one thing. We 'own' safety," said John Maloney, vice-president for marketing communications at Volvo Cars of North America in Irvine, Calif. "Safety is sort of a foundational value for everyone. But on a relative basis, it is more important to women," says Maloney.
Nevertheless, Volvo is trying to expand beyond its "safe" image. The company's new brand message continues to emphasize safety while still aiming to convince consumers that its cars are also rugged and fun to drive (Business Week, 9/14/07).
Some Like a Lexus
If Volvo is synonymous with safety, Toyota's Lexus Div. is synonymous with quality and reliability. (It has won the J.D. Power dependability survey 13 years in a row. Lexus had fewer Top 10 female-owned models than Volvo, but the Lexus was the No. 2 luxury brand overall, in terms of female ownership, at 41.2%, according to PIN data.
In liking Lexus, women are little different from men, since Lexus has been the No. 1-selling luxury brand in the U.S. since 2000. The biggest reason for the brand's high overall female ownership is the Lexus RX model, a car-based SUV typically purchased for family use. The RX is the single biggest-selling Lexus at 67,686 unit's year to date and ranks sixth on the list of the 10 most popular female-owned luxury vehicles.
Primary Decision Maker
Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for PIN, noted that most of the models in the most popular luxury list purchased by women are at the entry level for their respective brands, all of which have MSRPs of under $40,000.
"You're not going to get that many single women buying an $80,000 vehicle. To some extent, the lower the price, the higher percent female," he said. According to Libby, to determine the percentage of ownership, PIN looked at the finance contract to see if a woman was the sole owner or the top signer. The data do not include marital status.
Colleen O'Dea, sales manager for Kundert Volvo of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., said it is not at all uncommon for women shopping alone to come in and buy or lease a Volvo. She believes most of them are married. "It's probably a household decision, but it happens all the time that women are picking the car, picking colors and the equipment. Maybe 10 or more years ago, women would do that, and then the men would come in and negotiate, but today it's just the opposite. The woman is definitely the primary decision-maker," she said. O'Dea said that according to Volvo statistics for the Northern New Jersey sales region, 63% of the S40 buyers for the last 60 days were female.
No Condescending Salesmen Allowed Another sign of the changing times is that women are increasingly knowledgeable about cars. As a result, men and women indicate that they are equally satisfied with the automotive sales experience, at least according to the most recent J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index. Both sexes gave the dealership where they bought or leased their new car an identical satisfaction rating of 847 on a 1,000-point scale a record high for the 20-year study.
Of course, there are some dealerships where salesmen treat less well-informed women condescendingly, or suggest that they "come back with their husbands," assuming that the man is the real decision-maker.
"Women want a vehicle and an experience with the dealership that says she is respected for the smart choice she made, that she is an expert at knowing what she wants," said Shedroff of Strategic Vision.

Victor Martel is an expert in buying and selling luxury and exotic cars.
Do you want to learn more about luxury and exotic cars? Visit his website http://www.finestmotorsports.com Also visit his blog at http://www.finestmotorsports.com/blog to understand the car buying and selling experience.

Read More...

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Customize the Interior of Your Vehicle with LED Lighting

by Matthew Barr

Automotive lighting technology has reached new innovations and frontiers. Now you can just light up any place imaginable as long as you are confident with your design. From the car exterior which aesthetically improves your car's visibility, LED lighting tubes are now used in the car's interior for that cool cozy effect that sets up your mood.
Interior LED lights come in all shapes and sizes, each with the objective to make your car stand out. You can choose from a wide array of rods, tubes, and strips that can fit seamlessly in your car to give your interior an immediate radiant glow; all with the help of the patented lighting technology.
LED lights are known for their economic value due to its durability, low power requirement, and efficient brightness. Because of its versatility, they allow illumination of any interior as its fits anywhere inside your car. LED lights are adapted for their fashionable design that delights the car enthusiasts. With the extended durability, LED light producers can offer more generous warranties which make LED lights a safe buy.
One viable example of interior LED lights is LED rods. These rods can glow in one direction, or radiates in wide angles. The wide angle feature makes your lights glow smoother and brighter. With LED rods, much of the car's interior and padding is illuminated to a radiant glow. This LED tubes can be mounted anywhere, from the side of your trucks, to undercar lighting, and to interior lights. If you can find the right mix, LED lights create an unbelievable effect.

LED tubes can be easily installed right out of the box with convenient connection to the car lighter or permanent wiring. LED tubes can hold as much as 2.1 million colors with room to hold more. With the mass variety of colors available, advanced LED interior tubes can be programmed to strobe, flash, and dish out patterns that pulses through music with built in digital sound activator. Interior LED tubes are used to highlight the bottom of the car interior that produces an inert aura in your car's interior. Coupled with an already tight configuration, these interior LED tubes could be the deal breaker in customizing your car.
Other LED tubes can be placed strategically to highlight your dashboard, seats, amplifiers, speaker boxes, air vents, doors, and a lot more. It is important to have a variety in LED tube lengths. Placing them on the underside panels will create a glow effect in places where you don't think it is possible to decorate.
With a proven LED technology, paired with state of the art product lines, you can never go wrong if you decide to shell out money for these lighting tubes. Not only do these products put you to the echelon of car customization but it will also help reflect your personal taste. It is a definite must have for hardcore drivers who always look to add a little more glitz to their vehicle.

About the Author: Matthew Barr is a successful webmaster of http://www.urban-neon-car-lights.com He provides more information on car interior led lights, neon accessory lighting, led car lights, and car strobe lights on his website.

Read More...

Monday, April 14, 2008

Counting the Cost of Travel in London

by Andrew Regan

In 1900, motoring was a luxury hobby in Britain, and there were only 8,000 cars in the whole of Britain at the start of the 20th century; but by the end of the century the car population had soared to 21 million. The number of cars on the roads began to rise during the 1920s as manufacturers started to make small, lightweight and cheaper vehicles for a wider market. Cars at this time were still relatively expensive. The Austin Nippy, was at the top of the Austin 7 sports car range and cost £152 - about £8,500 in today's money.

The boom in car ownership occurred in the 1950s and 60s. Car ownership in London quadrupled between 1950 and 1970 as standards of living rose and car prices fell. By the mid-1960s, there were 1.5 million cars registered in London and the numbers continued to rise until the end of the century when 2.2 million cars were registered at London addresses.

Increasing car ownership meant increasing traffic congestion. By the 1960s, London's traffic problem was considered to affect only the evening and morning rush hours in central London. It was not until the 1980s that congestion came to be a problem across London at more or less all hours of the day. This culminated in 2003 with the introduction of the controversial London congestion charge, a fee for motorists travelling within those parts of London designated as the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ). The main objectives of this charge were to reduce congestion, and to raise funds for investment in London's transport system.

Nowadays, with the rising cost of oil resulting in higher petrol and diesel prices, the cost of owning a car in London is higher than ever. According to the AA, the average cost of a litre of unleaded petrol was 104.2p at the end of 2007; a litre of diesel would have set you back 109.2p.

But the rising price of fuel is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cost of motoring. According to Sainsbury's Bank, the average cost of running a car, excluding petrol, is now just over £1,000 a year. And if you have borrowed money to buy your vehicle, as most car owners have, the costs are even higher.

The astronomical expense of motoring has encouraged many people to reconsider whether they need to own a car at all. If you live in a city and only have the occasional need for a set of wheels, it could work out considerably cheaper to ditch your vehicle and instead consider car hire Rental vehicle companies and city car clubs provide a service that allows you to hire cars near your home for anywhere between half an hour and a month at a time, with the end result is that for a fraction of the cost of running your own car, you could enjoy similar access to a set of wheel whenever you need them.

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.

Read More...

Saturday, April 12, 2008

HHO Water Fuel

by Timothy Payn

HHO water fuel is a clean and sustainable way to run our cars and power our domestic appliances. Of course there are many other industrial applications for HHO water fuel. Here we focus on hydrogen fuel for the average consumer. We also look at how we can incorporate it into our everyday lives. The bare fact is that any vehicle can be quickly, cheaply and easily converted to run on HHO water fuel.
You don't need to hold any kind of special 'green' agenda to understand that putting water in your tank costs less than filling it with gas. Once you understand just how efficient HHO car conversions are, you can also appreciate the way you can take less from the earth's natural resources. Renewable energy may be a sort of fetish for a few people, but that doesn't preclude the rest of us from taking an interest and even joining in. When it makes sense. In the case of HHO water fuel for cars, it does.
Well, there is an area in which HHO water fuel makes sense for all of us. That is for running our cars, our refrigerators, our stoves and electrical appliances. This is a win-win situation. We can put more money back in our pockets. And, if global warming and diminishing resources prove to be true, we will be doing our bit for the environment at the same time. Now that really does make sense.
A decent HHO water fuel guide is absolutely essential. Making a conversion kit yourself is the best way to go, but the quality of that manual is critical. Only by getting HHO water fuel systems right can you expect to reap the benefits. While the underlying technology isn't particularly complicated, most people will need proper guidance on how to make conversion kits for their cars and white goods.
Explore the available guides thoroughly, select the best, and get going. Don't be a cheap skate. Expertise doesn't come cheap, although I wouldn't expect to fork out over $100 for a genuinely good manual.
So what are the facts and statistics about hydrogen fuel technology which are of interest to us ordinary mortals?

Well, to run a car, you could be looking at cutting your gas costs to zero with one of the proven HHO conversion kits.
Hybrid hydrogen fuel systems can reduce your car's gas bill by half.
There are more than 100,000 vehicles in the U.S. running on home-applied HHO water fuel.
More than 20% of Norwegian homes run their domestic appliances via hydrogen fuel cells and own a vehicle powered, at least in part, by hydrogen water fuel.
Transportation, in toto, within the European Economic Zone, now has 0.6% of vehicles running on HHO gas.
Every single day across the globe more than 1,500 people are converting their cars to run on HHO water fuel themselves.
The majority of individuals doing these conversions now reside in first world economies.
HHO water fuel can be employed to generate power for most things you can think of in your home.
It is absolutely true that the only emission from a hydrogen fueled car is water.
Fuel cells were first used almost 160 years ago and are used extensively today in space exploration programs.
Take your time. Sit down and evaluate the various DIY manuals on HHO water fuel. Just ensure it also covers batteries and generators too if you want hydrogen fuel to supply all your household energy needs.

Timothy Payn's blog: http://mikey890.wordpress.com

Read More...

Thursday, April 10, 2008

In-Depth Automotive Review - 2008 Honda Accord - It's Fantastic & Revolutionary

by Shaun Patrick Davidson

Just when you think the midsize sedan market could not get any more competitive, Honda has released a fantastic new Honda Accord. Honda's hottest selling car makes large strides to keep it on top of the volume leader boards with head turning style, comfort, and the reliability like nothing else out there. I'm eagerly anticipating the drive, so I take the 4-cyl Accord for a ride and give consumers the 411.
I've driven my fair share of the previous models in rental car form, so that would be an outstanding comparison to base off of. The one most striking difference is how well designed the Accord is, in its segment, it was easily a couple years ahead of its time. I personally thought the cutting edge shapes and panels to be true-blue Honda and was a welcome look in comparison to it's rounder rivals. Fit and finish is what I expected in this car, and there were no surprises. Additionally, the Accord is a little bit bigger car, not exactly a negative, consumers can all use the extra room. Wheels were designed nicely, paint quality outstanding, and feature all of the top of the line safety and security hot spots. A definite winner!
Secondly, the treasure trove of options going into the inside never stops. Great quality in all of the dash panels and seating fabrics, they will most certainly sustain many years of abuse. Buttons and controls were easy to reach, albeit more buttons to get used to than other cars, it was no problem. This just meant there is more to be desired from the new Accord. Safety further enhances with a full assortment of airbags, remote keyless entry for base models, and a factory alarm system. The radio sounded good with no distortion and comes with iPod hookups. The overall interior ambiance was a little monotone, but the quality far exceeded any opinions on color. I felt comfortable in the front buckets and the rear is huge. Passengers can literally do jumping jacks back there, lots and lots of room. Moreover, the ride was quiet and there was very little wind noise. I was impressed further.

Driving dynamics was exactly what I expected with quick witted transmission and fantastic power from the four banger I drove. California freeways were no match for the Honda ingenuity! Again ride was compliant, however, there was a little bit more body roll with the larger size and weight. That's a fair tradeoff for extra comfort and room. Gas mileage is still among the best, I averaged about 27-28 mpg's, very efficient. Price of my test model was just over $22k, worth every penny, and market competitive with the rest. Expect about $800-1,800 between invoice and MSRP when you decide to go one on one with the salesman. A true value, best bang for the buck!
And so we close with some endearing news, if consumers thought the sedan is a marvelous car, the 2-door coupe is absolutely stunning. I'll soon take that bad boy for a spin as well, believe me, I leave no stone unturned. The new 2008 Honda Accord will be a perennial fave with families for generations to come, there's no stopping the success gauntlet! A truly inspiring stepping stone to further sales success.

If you enjoyed this article and are currently in the market for an outstanding midsize, please feel free to visit my other car reviews at: http://kookoox10thereviewspot.blogspot.com/
Shaun Davidson-Automotive and Finance Consultant-2008

Read More...

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

He's no Darling to Motorists

by Matthew Pressman

Alistair Darling has hit motorists hard in his first budget as chancellor and he is justifying his swingeing tax and fuel duty hikes as 'cracking down on pollution'.

Even though the chancellor delayed the 2 pence per litre increase in fuel duty due to be imposed in April until October, it is only temporary respite for motorists who have seen fuel prices soar in recent months. In addition to increasing running costs, many motorists face higher-than-inflation duty charges on their vehicles as Darling aims to penalise the highest polluting drivers.

The existing emission bands have been re-classified and the new highest - band M - will contain vehicles that emit over 255g of carbon dioxide per kilometre driven. From April next year, owners of vehicles in that band - so-called gas guzzlers - will pay £440 per year to tax their cars. To make matters worse for those drivers, from April 2010 purchasers of brand new band M vehicles will pay an increased first year duty of £950, which will then be reduced to £445 in subsequent years.

Of course, the flip side of such draconian tax increases means that if you are happy to pay the new duty, you will be able to pick up a bargain 4 x 4, as used car prices have literally tumbled overnight. Even those who don't have cash to burn may be tempted to say yes to car credit in order to secure a superb deal on a used 4 x 4, whose used car values dropped eight per cent in just 24 hours.

However, many motoring organisations have suggested the chancellor's claims that the increases are being imposed for 'green reasons' don't ring true. Their protests appear to be backed up by simply looking at the Treasury's revenue projections for duty; the chancellor is expecting to rake in £465m in 2009-10, rising to a staggering £735m the following year.

Those figures have prompted many to claim that the chancellor is all stick and no carrot, leading CBI director-general Richard Lambert to fiercely denounce the move. He points out that the so-called 'green measure' is a cynical exercise to raise revenues and that the majority of the UK public would see it as such.

Although the green lobby are applauding the chancellor's move, whether the majority of the public will see it as a necessary tax on the most polluting vehicles remains to be seen; but in the meantime chancellor Darling is certainly looking forward to counting his increased tax revenues.

Read More...

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

What You Need To Know About Dents

by Paul Fountain

If you get dents in your car your initial reaction is to be shocked, the next reaction is to get angry and the third reaction is to calm down and take the necessary steps to fix the issue. But, when it comes to fixing the issue, are you fixing it in the proper manner? In other words, are you still keeping to long established methods of fixing a dent as opposed to taking advantage of the far more cost effective process of paintless dent repair?
When something novel comes along there will be those people who will move at the opportunity to use the innovations that new methods have to offer. Then again, there will be those people who may not like trying something new simply because they are more familiar with an original process they are familiar. (This is why some people still buy videos and will not to upgrade to DVD.) While this gripping on to the old may seem rather gracious, it can also prove to be a waster of time and extremely expensive. One such example of this can be found in the car world in the form of sticking with traditional bodywork as opposed to paintless dent repair.
For those not familiar with paintless dent repair it references a method when a dent is molded into the car's original form without the requirement of repainting the car. Now, this may seem like a radical diversion from the usual process of fixing and repainting a dent. Obviously, that's because it is! It is also a much more cost effective process of repair as it eliminates the extra costs involved with repainting the finish of an automobile. Yes there is the possibility for a number of unplanned expenses associated with the repainting of a car's finish. In some instances, the new finish may not match the old finish and this can lead to a notable devaluing of the car. (Envision paying a ton of cash in repairs and finishing up making the car's trade in value go down!) As many understand, the possible expenses involved with refinishing the paint on a car can be huge so why not consider paintless dent repair and skip this step?

Once again, the issue is commonly an observance to tradition. That is, car repairs become a member of the "this is the way we always did it and this is the way we will continue to do it" methodology. However, if most people prescribed to this thought pattern we would not be driving automobiles...we would be riding around on horses! Sure, paintless dent repair may look like a radical deviation from what was done before but it is a valuable process that is a much more cost effective improvement over the bigger task methods of the past. As a result of this paintless dent repair is a much wiser solution for your minor repair needs. After all, it is a sensible method that is free of a number of the common nuances involved with old fashioned repair work. Clearly, that is a better module to choose.

Paul Fountain is a certified Paintless Dent Technician and a web advisor for http://www.PDQTools.com To learn more about Paintless Dent Repair please visit PDQ Tools.com.

Read More...

Monday, April 07, 2008

A Step into the Future - Hydrogen Boosted Engines

by Darren Williger

The Increasing costs of gas in the past years have brought us to think of newer and cheaper ways to fuel our automobiles.
Auto Makers have been digging down deep to find new ways to create a fuel economy that we can afford and is effective. They have come across and ideal way to improve the fuel economy by adding the hydrogen to the fuel/air mix inside the engines of the cars. One of the problems of using hydrogen is that it's not readily available at the local gas station as the idea wasn't much explored until now.
One of the pluses of using the hydrogen Boosted engines is the cost and environmental advantages these types of engines will give you. The Hydrogen boosted engines will put out low amounts of NOx emissions unlike the gas engines. This feature will allow the entire external NOx emissions control to be excluded saving once again on costs. The NOx emissions control is a major problem now for diesel engines. The filter in the diesel that collects the particles from the emissions needs to be changed regularly raising the costs of diesels once again.
The amount of small exhaust emissions in the Hydrogen boosted engines is very low cost and needs little controlling. They require no Nox or Particulate control. The Oxidation catalyst is very low cost and can save a small fortune on the construction of the engine. Further cost lowering elements related to the emission consist of the engine using clean hydrogen during the cold start phase where 90% of the emissions where in the emissions test.

The current costs of the Hydrogen boosting systems can be added right away to existing engine compartments giving the advantages right away. The cost of this system is less than half of the diesel added compartments. The hydrogen boost system creators are sure that this new system will improve the vehicle and save on costs.
Currently the prototypes of the hydrogen boosted engines are being installed in the SUVs that can handle the size of the compartments and its added systems. They are starting tests on its lasting durability and performance. They will be reporting on its performance within the year before further testing is done.
More studies on the Four Cylinder gas engines will be done as gas prices continue to climb and generate more competition for the fuel economy.
The Hydrogen Boosted engines will be a great hope for stretching your gas out per mile and having fewer problems with the engines burning out the gas faster. Hydrogen boosted engines will conserve the gas you have and make it stretch further.
Though the hydrogen boosted engines are not available now you will be able to purchase them faster than you expect. The Manufacturers are looking to offer you the solution you have been waiting for and help you save on your overall gas spending. So if you currently own gas...sit tight a bit longer and don't go diesel it will pay off soon enough.

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for PlantWebsite.com, EcoSection.com, and WindPurifier.Com

Read More...

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Water Powered Engine - Is A Water Powered Engine Possible?

by Cody Wheeler

How Can Water Power A Car?
The atomic breakdown of water, as most of us know, is h20. Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. When an electrical current is introduced to water, the bond is broken down into a gas known as HHO. Since we cannot create or destroy energy, but just alter it, it is still two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, however it exists in a different state, HHO Gas, which is a very stable and efficiently burning gas.
This is the precedent for the water powered engine. Many people think it is possible to build an engine that will use this gas only to completely power a vehicle on water. And is most likely is. However, there are probably only a handful of people in the world that can build this engine, and if they did, they would most likely be either paid off not to reveal it or killed. A sad, but true story.
That being said, fear not. There is an alternative to the completely water powered engine. Using the atomic breakdown of water mentioned above, HHO gas, it is completely possible to successfully alter a current gasoline or diesel engine to use water to boost its engine efficiency.

Building a Water Powered Engine
The way this works is by introducing the aforementioned HHO gas into the combustion process of your vehicle. The resulting mixture is an extremely efficiently burning one, and also extremely "green" as well. You are essentially creating a partially water powered engine. This mixture will yield up to a 75% increase in most cases, sometimes even more. We have seen numbers in the 200% range with tweaking.
The process to create a water powered engine is very simple. It can be done in a few hours with parts from a hardware store. It costs around $75 for the entire conversion, but will end up paying for itself in less than two months in pretty much every case. On top of that, it will also increase your vehicle's life by cutting down on harmful carbon deposits from dirty gasoline.
This technology is 100% proven and legit. If you want to build a water powered engine this is your answer!

A completely Water Powered Engine may never be a reality, but the water fuel conversion is the next best thing and will save anyone who does it a lot of money in the long run, as well as reducing the burden his or her vehicle puts on our precious environment. Come visit us and we'll even give you a free fuel savings guide that will show you some easy ways to save gas without touching your engine.
For more information, please visit WaterFuelConversion.

Read More...

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Auto Restoration - Successful Steps To A Great Looking Car

by Craig Thornburrow

Auto restoration is a big undertaking, but if done right can save you money and give you more customization. Below is a general overview of the points needed to do the work and your particular job may differ in some ways. Most importantly you should focus on doing these procedures safely while using the proper protective gear for yourself as well as others.
There are seven steps to a basic auto restoration.
Inspection and Evaluation
1) First wash the vehicle to allow for a clear look of all surfaces.
2) Make a list of parts needed that can be seen at this time.
3) Make a list of labor that that can be seen at this time.
4) Make list of tools and materials needed, such as a compressor, air regulator, air hose and hardware, hand tools, and other metal working tools as needed. Sandpaper and fillers will be necessary as well.
Disassembly
1) Expand on part list as you disassemble vehicle.
2) Organize lose parts.
3) Take detailed photos/video of complicated areas before disassembly.
4) Find safe storage for delicate parts
5) Do not dispose of any parts unnecessarily until the vehicle is finished. This is very important.
Clean, Strip and Protect Metal Parts
1) Before stripping be sure to have tools and materials in place for coating, such as: A good rust converter for rust that will not be removed, and a good primer to help protect the metal while body work is being done.
2) Power sand, sand blast, plastic media blast or chemically strip: Rotary sander should be variable speed used below 1000 RPM.

Do the Metal Repairs and Filler Work
1) Get decent tools like a die grinder, stud welder, MIG welder and hand tools.
2) If the job is large, concentrate on one or two areas at a time.
3) This is the time for filler tools and materials. Use decent filler and sandpaper; it isn't worth purchasing cheap products. A dry guide coat is recommended for leveling the fillers.
Finish the Body Work and Start Priming
1) Polyester Putty is usually the final filler.
2) Direct to metal primer then 2K (filler) primer is applied.
3) Undercoating is usually done prior to doing the finish painting. Good "direct-to-metal" paints can protect the underside from deterioration.
The Painting Process
This is one of the most important processes of auto restoration and takes a lot of preparation and time. If you are planning on restoring your car, definitely look into this process further, as well as the other processes.
Compounding
After waiting for the paint to harden somewhat you can sand with ultra fine sandpaper (usually between 600 and 2500 grit) to remove orange peel, dust nibs, runs and other surface imperfections. If paint is fully cured, compounding and polishing takes longer, but is less likely to be damaged.
As mentioned earlier, if you are truly planning to restore your automobile, hopefully this gives you a rough outline of what you need to do, but you should certainly look into it further to give you a full idea of a complete auto restoration.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on auto restoration and an auto restoration part at http://www.autorestorationtip.com.

Read More...

Friday, April 04, 2008

Reduce Harmful Emissions With the AdBlue Concept

by Robin Futcher

From January 1st 2005, vehicles produced in Europe will have needed to meet even tighter emissions standards, namely Euro 4.
In order to meet the new standards, all heavy good vehicles need to reduce the amount of NOx (Nitrous Oxides) they emit.
Euro 5 is nearly upon us and is scheduled for introduction in October 2009. The new limits outlined in Euro 5 are even more stringent than before, in fact almost half of the previous standard.
Vehicle manufacturers are opting for SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) as the preferred technology to meet the demands set out by Euro 5. This involves incorporating the urea into an aqueous solution called AdBlue. The alternative is EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) but this technology has its limits and at present will not be able to meet the demands of Euro 6 due in 2012
There are a number of advantages with SCR technology as around 85% of the nitrous oxide is converted into water vapour and nitrogen. (the air we all breath is approximately 74% nitrogen). In addition to this fuel savings of up to 6% have been boasted by some of the leading vehicle manufacturers. This has encouraged many of the leading manufacturers to concentrate their efforts on developing SCR vehicles in their range. With fuel pump prices now at a record high, support for SCR is growing fast.

Concern has been identified at the outset though as AdBlue is highly susceptible to contamination unless handled correctly, which has led to some dispute surrounding the creation of new ISO standards, who should be involved and how should they be implemented.
At present the AdBlue solution is produced in Europe and shipped to the UK, although there are plans to create production plants in the UK none are available to date.
With this import requirement and considering the sensitive handling aspects of the solution, sceptics fear that this technology may never really settle into the UK market.
However unless an alternative cleaner fuel solution is made available before October next year all modern fleet operators will have to adopt this new technology sooner or later.
The transport industry are encouraging the authorities to develop new standards to help guide consumers through this new technology.

Additional information on the Euro standards can be found at http://www.adblueonline.co.uk Additional resources include information on handling equipment, market prices and AdBlue storage guidelines.

Read More...

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Drive Safely!

by Steve Shefford

Learning to drive is not just about reaching a stage where you can pass a driving test. It is about becoming a safe, confident driver with good skills and experience.
The test is actually the easy part of learning to drive! It is what comes next: driving alone and coming up against new experiences like motorways that is harder.
Statistics show new drivers are more likely to have an accident within the first two years of passing their test due to a lack of skills and experience.
That is why the overall aim should never be to just pass the test. Your driving instructor should introduce you to as many different situations and conditions as possible. They should be dedicated to building confidence and making you aware of all types of hazards. After passing the test, experience and skills develop over time. However, you can help yourself by taking a Pass Plus course which allows you to safely gain more experience; improve existing skills; acquire new skills, reduce accident risk and even obtain a discount on your car insurance.
Driving on motorways soon after passing a driving test is another risk. Motorway driving is a skill in itself and sadly, many people who drive on these dangerous, high speed roads have not taken any specific training on them. Many drivers who pass their test never drive on motorways because they lack the confidence of driving in a completely different environment, one that they were not able to practice with their driving instructor before they passed their driving test.

Motorway tuition is therefore a good idea, and many driving schools offer specialist instructors who can help you become a much safer and more confident driver after passing the driving test.

Steve Shefford is the director of Learner Land School of Motoring, the Essex driving school with a difference. Learner Land School of Motoring is dedicated to producing safe, confident drivers. For this reason, Learner Land only provides FULLY qualified and experienced driving instructors who show a professional attitude and an honest commitment to their work. For more information visit http://www.lldrivingschool.co.uk

Read More...

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Acceleration as a Major Reason of Failure in the Driving Test

by Nadav Snir

Acceleration is a big necessity for driving. Without it cars would not move and lose their meaning. There are several ways to accelerate a car, but only a few of them are correct and safe. Others can lead to an accident. During the driving test, improper acceleration can cause any driving student to fail. Some acceleration mistakes happen more often than others, and they all make the students very disappointed.
Too fast acceleration is one of the biggest driving mistakes in general. When the driver hits the gas pedal too fast, the car "jumps" and causes everyone in it to swing back and forth. This is a very bad demonstration of driving skills during the driving test. If the student hits another car because of swift acceleration, test failure is assured.
Slow acceleration can be as dangerous as fast one. Every driver is expected to drive as close to the speed limit as possible without posing a threat to others, and slow acceleration lengthens the time until that speed is reached. Slow acceleration shows driving nervousness and lack of confidence on the road. Showing these traits on the road test will not benefit any test applicant and can possible fail him.
Intersection acceleration is vital for driving and the driving test. After entering an intersection, drivers should leave it as quickly as possible. However, some driving students take their time when they go through intersections and don't mind their surroundings. Even if a fast car is approaching them, they will proceed at their low speed. This is very dangerous and a reason to fail a driving student on the test.

A huge mistake drivers make during their license test is not accelerating on lane changes. Sometimes a tiny speed increase is required to move to another lane. Many student drivers, especially on their driving test, fail to do so and wait forever until they change lanes. This is a serious, repeating issue in many driving tests, and it can mean a new test for the examinee.
Acceleration is a matter of practice. Without enough practice, no driver will be able to pass his driving test, especially not the acceleration part. Every driving student who plans to take the road test should get some good practice with a good guide.
You can find a good guide with an acceleration chapter on the Pass Your Driving Test area of Great-Info-Products.com. The website also includes a free course with more driving test mistakes and tips.

About the author:
Nadav Snir is an experienced driver and the author of the driving test practice guide "Pass Your Driving Test". You can see more information about the driving test at his site: http://Great-Info-Products.com/DriveTest/index.html.

Read More...

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Gas Powered Car Vs Water Powered Car

by Elizabeth Banks

In today's world, our car is like our second home. We use our car to go to watch a baseball game, to buy groceries, to drive kids to their school, in hot summer there is always air conditioning in it or it's heated in winter, we do not have to wait at a bus stop and so on... Basically without our car we lose the ability to travel comfortably and somewhat fast. A question arises: what will happen when in the very near future, the gas prices rise to a level where one would not be able to afford to own a car?
We have already seen innovations about cars, cars that will run on bioethanol and electricity but they are expensive and are yet to prove themselves on the market, what we need is a solution today and not in 2 years!
A water powered car or a car that runs on water is a simple answer to our headache with gas. There are many differences between a car that runs on water and a fossil powered car.
We begin with the fact that a car that runs on water does not consume as much gas as a regular car, this means that we are saving money on gas. More over, it's engine has a lower temperature, this results in a higher life expectancy of the motor, also the motor's noise level is noticeably lower than the regular car. A car runned on water has lower pollution emissions, this maybe is perhaps the answer for global warming as well.

The best part of all this is that the car's warranty isn't voided because the simple addition which makes the car run on water is reversible.
Finally, anyone can convert their car to run on water. The only thing you need is a guide and affordable material. This is perhaps somewhat of a challenge that one can place for himself or for people around him. At this point in time how many are willing to change there ways is perhaps the main goal for the future generations.

http://www.squidoo.com/runacaronwaterfuel

Read More...