Automotive Blog

The other day, I was driving back from my boyfriend’s parents’ house at night. Because I’ve been trying to save on gasoline, I was actually doing only two or three miles over the speed limit (as opposed to fifteen or twenty!). As I was driving, I couldn’t help but notice all of the people who were practically killing each other on the road just to get around each other. It was ridiculous and wholly unnecessary.

Whenever I see people speeding, I wonder what the major emergency is. Sometimes I think it would be fun to follow one of these speeders back to wherever it is they’re in a rush to get to just to see what the situation is. Perhaps they have a loved one who just called them from the hospital. Perhaps there is an emergency with their pet or child. After giving it some thought, I’ve reasoned that I bet it is none of those things. I bet people speed because a) they really have to go to the bathroom b) they’re just in a bad mood c)they hate driving so much that they can’t wait to get out of their car and hit the couch for a little rest and relaxation in front of the television. My guess is that nine times out of ten it’s probably the last choice….or it could be road rage.

Continue reading ‘Road Rage Will Get You Nowhere’ »

Back in 2004, my father surprised me at my college graduation with a brand new Jeep Liberty that he drove himself and my immediate family down in. I was elated. A couple of years ago, I decided to get another new Jeep, a 2007 Liberty….then the economy collapsed. Whoops.

There was a time when purchasing an SUV might have mad more sense. Remember when the Hummers first hit the scene as being a vehicle for the all American, cookie cutter family? Then we saw the explosion of the once soccer moms hitting the terrain in these vehicles that looked more cut out for a desert excursion than for a girl scouts meeting at the church. People became annoyed with those who owned Hummers, accusing them of being selfish drivers who cut people off and hogged multiple parking spaces in mall parking lots. Looking back now, I’m pretty sure that these people weren’t hogging the parking spots on purpose- it was just that they couldn’t figure out how to park the vehicles!

Today, with people losing their jobs left and right and an economy that is almost set to fail under the rise of inflation, and the bankruptcy of major car producers such as General Motors and Chrysler, people are opting out of buying sports utility vehicles, and are instead focusing more on driving energy efficient, compact cars. If all else fails and they’ve still got legs to walk on, they’re breaking out their best pair of walking or running shoes and hitting the pavement.

Continue reading ‘When SUVs Made Sense’ »

Getting your first car is extremely exciting. However, it can also be devastating if you come out and realize that your car has been stolen. No one likes to have things taken from them without their knowledge. This is especially the case if you have paid a significant amount of money for an item such as a vehicle. Suddenly you find yourself in a tizzy as you try to dig through what paperwork you have in order to report your car theft to the proper authorities.

If you come out to your driveway or wherever you last had your vehicle parked and you realize that it’s gone, the first thing you’ll want to do is contact your local police department. If you are out of town, obviously it will make sense to contact the police who have jurisdiction in that particular area. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, think back to the last time your car was parked there. Information that the police will want to know will be include such questions as: What time did you last see your car? Were the car doors locked? Do you have a working, audible alarm system? What sorts of valuables did you have in the vehicle? What does the vehicle look like? What’s the make, model and year? Did you notice any strange people in the area prior to your car being stolen or suspect any strange activity?

Continue reading ‘Car Theft’ »

When we buy a car, its color is one of the most important factor influencing your decision. It not only geive your car a tempor but also reflects your personality. But after spending sometime on the road, the only thing it starts reflecting about you is your neglect! Worn out, oxidised paint, doesn’t only looks shabby but also reduces the value of your car. There are some easy ways that wont consume much of your valuable time and would keep your car looking great. Protection from envoironmental factors One cannot fight nature when it comes todamage your vehicle’s paint with rain, dirt, sun, snow or salt. But certainly one needs to learn how to return back the lost luster of your loved auto. Continue reading ‘Tips to Protect Car Paint’ »

I bought my first car when I was 19.(A Toyota Corolla) Of course it was a used car! I was a poor student at that time! Since then I have bought another 3 cars. Two of which were used cars.The most recent one was a brand new Toyota Rush. ( I am stepping up in the world!) In that time, I have come to learn some practical things which might help you answer the the question of “How do I buy my first car?”

How do I buy my first car? – Here are 7 tips for you
# 1. Have a budget. If you don’t have enough money, find out if you can get financing from your bank and NOT through the car dealership. (they have a sneaky way of packing in the bucks!)
# 2. Shop around and take your time. The minute you are in a rush, you will overlook some small detail which might result in your spend more than you expected. Salesmen have a way of stacking the numbers to hide the true deal.
Continue reading ‘How Do I Buy My First Car? Seven Specific Tips That Will Save You a Lot of Money and Time’ »

If you have never gone through the process of purchasing a used vehicle from an auto dealership there are some things you must know before you step onto the lot. Learning how to negotiate when buying a used car is mostly about self education. It is also important to not get emotionally attached to the car that you want. Several years ago I made the mistake of walking into my local Chevy dealership without doing any research beforehand. Sadly, I had not only my eyes but my heart set on a particular truck on the lot and the salesman could spot my desperation a mile away.

I was trusting enough to think that I would be treated fairly and that I would get the best deal possible. In short, I was just the sucker the dealerships love to see coming. That was back in 2002. In 2007 my wife and I decided that it was time to purchase her a nice used car. I had made up my mind that I was going to learn what I needed to get a fair deal. Here are some of the basic guidelines that I learned that made a big difference in my ability to deal with the auto dealerships.

Continue reading ‘Used Car Negotiations Ways to Keep a Dealership Honest When Buying a Used Car’ »