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Are you taking good care of your car? With the frequency in which we use our vehicles in our daily lives, it is important that we make sure our cars are in good working condition. After all, you don’t want to have to spend a lot of money in car repairs or in buying a new one altogether.

One of the first things my father taught me about cars was this: they are expenditures, not investments. The moment you buy one, their value immediately goes down. You can never sell a car the same price you bought it, after all.

That’s why it’s important to keep your car in good condition so you can maximize the time you use it. Keep a car for at least 10 years, that’s my dad’s motto. Continue reading ‘Car Care – How to Keep Your Car in Good Working Order’ »

You’ve spent a lot of money on your car, you are proud of it and want to keep it looking nice, right? Despite your best intentions, you are likely damaging your car’s paint in your attempts to take care of it. You make a practice of regularly going to the drive-thru car wash. However, you don’t know what sand, oil, contaminants and assorted muck the other cars left behind that are being kicked up and pelted into your car’s finish. You trust that the operator is using appropriate car washing detergent in the right amount, but are they?

I once went through a “touchless” car wash only to have the attendant come out at the end of the wash and start scrubbing the front of my car with a push broom! I yelled at him to stop. He looked amazed and said that most people want that because it gets all of the dirt off. Arrrgh… a push broom on my paint! He might as well have pulled out his electric sander and sanded my car!

If you are really careful you may hand wash your car at home, taking great care not to damage your paint. You wash with a terry cloth or shop rag, dry with a “shammy” and wax it like your dad taught you, not realizing how rough these materials are on your paint.

Yet when you are giving it a good last wipe, you see fine swirl marks in your reflection. Are they getting worse? How did those get there in the first place? Well, I hate to tell you that if you are washing your car like most people do, you are the one putting that lovely swirl design in your “baby’s” finish. And those marks signify damage. Car paint has changed from when your dad purchased his first car. You have to treat it differently than what you may have thought, in order to protect the clear coat (the clear, protective layer applied on top of the paint at the factory). In years past, paint was laid on thicker than it is today.

Now it is thinner, with a protective clear coat that is about as thick as a single sheet of paper. Once you scratch through it, your paint is exposed and vulnerable to the elements. Those swirl marks are scratches in your clear coat. How can you avoid damaging your paint in the first place? Can you repair damage you’ve already done? You can start by not making the five mistakes listed below and by following the guidelines that are provided. You will be amazed at how inexpensive and simple they are to follow and how great your car will look after you make a practice of doing them. Continue reading ‘Washing a Car – Simple, But Has to Be Done the Right Way’ »

My name is Vinny and I’m a car nut. There, I’ve said it! Now you know. I’m hopelessly hooked and it is definitely incurable. I’ve been told that by some very reliable members of my family (my wife specifically).

So you may be saying, “Ok, what’s this got to do with saving money on classified ads?” Well, here it is. I really love all kinds of cars – classics & streetrods in particular and some of the newer ones too. So in my spare time, I’m always looking at classified magazines and websites just checking things out to see all the beautiful cars I can’t afford.

I just can’t believe how crazy expensive these ads have become. Have you seen them lately? In a popular magazine, you start out with, well, let’s call it a basic price ad. Then the choices start. Do you want a bigger photo? Do you want it in color? Do you want a headline? Do you want it bold? Do you want to go broke even before you sell your vehicle? I’m not kidding – this ad can cost over $270 – for a single month! You can just feel your money flying out of your wallet.

Some of the online sites are just as bad. You’ll be enticed by a free ad and then BAM! Do you want to upgrade? Do you want to automatically re-list? Do you want to – well you get the picture. Here we go again so hold onto your wallet. Stop this insanity! Continue reading ‘How to Save Over 80% on Automotive Classified Ads’ »

If outdoor fun is what drives your weekends, the right equipment makes all the difference for loading and unloading and getting ready for another weekend all over again. Sport utility trailers provide the versatility you need to get you and your equipment to wherever your final destination may be.

One of the keys of a truly great and functional sport utility trailer is that is fits the activities of you like to take part in. For instance, if motor cross is your sport of choice certain types of tie down straps and tracks for loading and unloading the bikes. Some trailers can include lockers for storage of equipment such as helmets and gloves. This may or may not be an option you need, but it may be something to consider. Continue reading ‘Sport Utility Trailers – Let the Games Begin’ »

December is coming to a close and the New Year is just about here.The first decade of the new millennium has already past. It is time once again for a New Years Resolution. Time to lose weight or quit smoking. All very good resolutions but the same old thing. How about making a commitment to protecting your vehicles? Whether it is your car, truck, SUV or recreational vehicle it can be protected from the environment with a quality vehicle cover.

There are many reasons to cover your vehicle. Sun, rain, snow, ice, bird droppings to name a few. How about tree sap and pollen. All of these things can hurt your vehicle or ruin a clean one.I’d like to take a moment to explain how.

The sun can fade your finish and interior and cause dryness causing unsightly cracks. Rain, pollen and dust can make for a dirty finish. Bird droppings are acidic and can also damage the finish and be difficult to remove.Tree sap can also do a number on the finish and is difficult to remove. You spend time and money cleaning and waxing your vehicles only to have them ruined by the elements. Continue reading ‘Car Covers For the New Year’ »

Everyone is trying to save money these days and trying to curb any major purchases like cars. Not creating extra expenses is the name of the game especially when it comes to vehicles. Payments can jump for not much of a car in many cases. That is why it is important to learn to find discount auto accessories.

It also helps even if you are auto repair challenged, to keep a small tool kit in the car. A pliers, screwdriver, a set of jumper cables and some fuses plus a small wrench set can get you out of a lot of jams. Even if you don’t know what to do with the tools, there may be someone around that knows what to do with the tools. Many cars are now operated as much by computer as anything else, but if your battery goes dead, having a set of jumper cables can get you on the road sooner. Make sure your tool set is what you need either inches or metric. Check to make sure you have the correct type for your particular vehicle.

The discount auto accessories industry is very competitive and there is a healthy secondary market. You can check out the local salvage yard or auto parts shop but if you need something major like a radiator, there are entire networks of salvage yards and garages that you can post what you need and they will find it for you. Then you can decide on the best deal and then the part is delivered to your door. In most cases, it is at least as cheap as having to find and remove the part yourself at some obscure salvage yard and not have the right tools. It’s a lot less messy and the part is torn up before you get it. Continue reading ‘Discount Auto Accessories Make the Grade’ »

When one thinks of 7 passenger vehicles; they typically will think of a large car. While this is still generally the case, you might be surprised at some of the cars that actually will hold seven people at once. These cars today are made to be both family friendly AND have the visual appeal.

Below we will provide a list of some of these vehicles that hold seven passengers. Overall, remember that you are looking for a family vehicle and the typical car made for large amounts of people are: minivans, suburbans, vans, and other large vehicles. So, if you do not see the car below that you are interested in; maybe it can at least get you on the right track…there are literally hundreds of makes and models of vehicles that will hold 7 or more people.

Honda Odyssey: Best car for big families

The Honda Odyssey is a great reliable car with a big company name behind it. When Honda builds a car, they build it to last. So, while you may pay more for a Honda than a Ford or Chevy; you will get more mileage out of it. Continue reading ‘Vehicles That Seat Seven Or More People’ »

Seat covers for vans are the popular choice of those who desire to change the appearance of their vehicles. The interior can look shabby after a time and this is the reason owners go to accessory shops to look for the appropriate covers for their van seats. However, with the large number of choices, selection can be troublesome. There are a few considerations though if you are contemplating on replacing your old upholstery with new seat covers. If you are reading this article, you are a step closer to finding the right covers for your van seats.

Budget – Different van drivers do not have the same amount of spendable cash on a given moment. Budget is an important consideration when you are choosing the right item. While price can equate with quality, there are low-cost items whose quality may just be fine. If you are not after premium, luxury products, opt for average items that may be bought at affordable prices.

Preference – Many owners of vehicles and cars are particular with the material, design and color. For instance, many would opt for a seat cover color that goes well with the exterior paint, otherwise the outcome may be plain outrageous. Others do not look at the price when choosing but simply consider the quality, which can come with any material depending on the manner of manufacturing. This is why it is important to trust reputable stores or companies when buying these products. Continue reading ‘Things to Consider When Purchasing Seat Covers For Vans’ »

While you search through classifieds and the Net or the paper and you see any damaged repairable cars available, would that be of some concern to you in the least. We’re a society that’s forever seeking the greater, best thing and this is frequently apparent in the autos we buy. There’s technically not anything bad about it, only it does cause one to wonder what we’re passing by in terms of producing something unique. After all, we want things to be unique and it does imply a sound investment; a diamond isn’t of value because it’s common.

Hence, we would like to buy a new auto only everything automotive today appears to be so costly, recession or no recession. What we could do is think out side of the box and discover what rewards there are in purchasing damaged repairable cars. In the first place, you’re going to get it inexpensive then you will be able to plan from there. You’ll be able to locate a repair shop to check with and find out what repairs are required then what sort of customizing you will be able to do to create a really extraordinary car. These “gear heads” are bound to know where parts could be found and where accessories could be added on. Continue reading ‘Damaged Repairable Cars’ »

For small scale companies which require vans for spreading their business, leasing a van allows them to have the vehicle as they grow and establish themselves. After deciding that you should go for van lease, you must be very careful to choose the best company which can offer you the best deal. Comparison is one of the obvious and time tested methods to crack a deal which is most profitable for you. Mentioned below are some points which you should keep in mind before you decide for van lease:

1. The rates, options, models, and maintenance charges must be compared. A lot of companies offer varied rates so be careful especially if you are leasing a van for business purpose.

2. While comparing prices, make sure you gather information about same make and model of a van to avoid any disparity of partiality. This will allow you to get the best quote while van leasing. Continue reading ‘Things You Ought to Know Before Going For a Van Lease’ »