Auto Fanboy

Detroit might be the Motor City, but for a time, it did not have much on Auburn, Indiana. Throughout the early 1900s, this little town was a big focus of the American automobile industry. In fact, automobile enthusiasts who want to see a different side of history than Detroit can provide will find a gem when they visit the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum.

Dubbed one of the “Top Ten Gearhead Destinations in the United States” by MSNBC in 2007, this museum pays homage to the cars in the Cord, Auburn and Duesenberg lines. The museum has on display more than 120 cars ranging in production date from 1894 to 1999. Housed in the old Auburn Automobile Company national headquarters, the museum has had its doors open since 1974.

While many people are aware of the history of American auto giants out of Detroit, the story of these three lines is lesser known. Auburn was known for its affordable cars. Cord was famed for its innovations. Duesenberg provided the wheels many Hollywood stars tooled around in. Continue reading ‘The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is a Mecca For Classic Car Lovers’ »

When you find something wrong with your lovely car so that it can run well or totally stop; a professional car repair is certainly needed to handle it. Don’t ever choose an unqualified mechanic to repair your car because they can’t guarantee the quality of the repairing result and services. Moreover; some issues rise that irresponsible mechanics often take some spare parts.

That is why you should find the best Seattle Car Repairs, remember them as references and then contact them whenever you get some troubles with your car. Jeff’s Auto is the best place to go to solve any problem you get in your car. It is a very professional auto with many certified mechanics. You can know more about the service station in its official site; Jeffsauto.com. Just read more about Jeff’s Autos and you see how it is a very manageable service station with solid team of professional mechanics and management.

Continue reading ‘Professional and Manageable Service Station of Jeff’s Auto’ »

Driving is stressful enough as it is without having to add more pressure to your situation. There are so many things to remember such as when to use your turn signal, when to look over your shoulder, the proper reaction at a four-way stop, etc. These are all things that most of us do without even thinking twice about it, but which can be extremely stressful for someone who is just starting out as a new driver.

Think back to when you had your first driving lesson with either your mother or father. What were some of the key points that they told you back then that you still remember? What about your first driving lesson that you took at your high school when you were jammed into the back seat of the driving instructor’s car with three of your friends? What were the key points that you absolutely had to follow, otherwise you would risk having the instructor embarrass you by slamming on the breaks?

Driving should not have to be something that stresses you out. There are many people who hate driving and avoid it at all costs simply for the fact that driving makes them feel stressed out. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case. In fact, there are several things (good habits if you will) that we can begin to practice form a young age so that when the time comes for us to be behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, it will already be ingrained into our subconscious. The first thing is to remember to always use your turn signals. Not using your turn signals is the number one thing that you will hear me gripe about all of the time because that’s just it: it happens ALL OF THE TIME where I live in North Carolina. However, it isn’t only North Carolinian’s who don’t seem to get it when it comes to using your indicators in your car. Rather, the situation has become so bad that various other states within the United States have begun to seek out other measures of “gently” reminding drivers to always signal before changing lanes. Continue reading ‘Stress and Driving’ »

Shopping around for a new vehicle can be exciting and frustrating in equal measure – there is plenty of choice and there is always the chance to grab a bargain. But should you go for a used car or a new car?

Buying brand new has its advantages – because it is hot off the production line the vehicle is potentially much less likely to break down in the short-term and be a smooth and comforting ride. You’re also likely to get the latest spec and version of the vehicle.

It may also be possible to get a brand new bargain as towards the end of the year some vehicle makers may bring in newer models which may cut the price of other new cars already on the market.

If you don’t fancy stumping up a considerable price for a car which is brand new, you may want to opt for nearly new. The depreciation rate of brand new vehicles is legendary, and you may be able to get a vehicle which is only around 12 months old with around 10,000 miles on clock which is significantly cheaper than if you bought the car brand new. Continue reading ‘Getting a Used Car Deal’ »

Do you remember the first time you were allowed to take your parent’s car to school? I do. I was seventeen years old and had just acquired my driver’s license. I was thrilled at the opportunity to be able to show off my driving skills by driving myself to school. The best part about it was the part where I woke up in the morning just a few minutes later than my younger brother and could actually enjoy the few extra minutes of free time I had to nibble on my breakfast as I watched my mother characteristically and methodically rush my brother out of bed, into the shower and out the door so that he, yes he, could catch the bus. I experienced even more glee as I smugly stood by the front door and waved to my brother as he pouted at us through the windows of the crowded school bus.

Ah, these little pleasure in life that we are afforded. And even though I was technically driving my father’s car to school, it didn’t really matter. I still reveled in the fact that as I pulled into the crowded parking lot of my high school with my favorite rock music blasting so loud that I was sure the windows would shatter to pieces in a matter of moments, I knew that I was among the other few seniors who had the resources to show up in their own borrowed vehicles as well. Continue reading ‘Driving Privileges and School’ »

When it comes to classic American cars, the Ford name ranks right at the top. From the earliest days of the Model T to the on again, off again love affair with the Crown Victoria, this company has often set the bar others seek to attain.

The Crown Vic as it is often called was originally produced in 1955 and 1956. Original Crown Vics are quite a boon to come across since production ceased so quickly on the models. Collectors, in fact, will find it is not uncommon for good condition 1955 Crown Victoria models to fetch $30,000 to $100,000 or more.

Initially a coupe with two doors and six seats, the classic was distinguished from the regular Victoria in the Ford line by a decorative stainless steel band that ran along the roofline. This feature essentially gave the roof a crowned appearance. The full-sized car also featured a sweeping design with rounded lights and the perfect body embellishments to make a two-toned paint job look fantastic. This V8 beauty was a follow up to the Ford LTD in production. Just like the LTD, the Crown Victoria was and continues to be favored as a police car and fleet vehicle.

Although the original rear-wheel drive Crown Victoria models were appreciated by some, especially those building fleets, the model did not initially sell well. Sluggish sales, in fact, led Ford to shelve the model for a time. It did not reappear on the market until 1979. At this point, Ford introduced the LTD Crown Victoria. This four-door design was shorter and less bulky than the original version. The changes resulted in improved handling, ride and fuel economy. The LTD version came with two engine types, a 255 CID V8 and a 302 V8. Most models made between 1979 and 1980 were three speeds with an automatic transition. An AOD four-speed was an option that was made available. Continue reading ‘Classic Car Profile – Ford Crown Victoria’ »

Night vision glasses are giving more and more people relief from the many hazards of driving at night. Most people are bothered by glaring headlights from oncoming traffic and the bright headlights from the cars behind them, but night vision glasses can really help and eye professionals are recommending them to many of their patients. As long as the night vision glasses have an anti-reflective coating, they will help to reduce this glare and help you to see better when on dark roads with little or no light. Be certain not to pick up a pair of night vision glasses that do not have this special coating as they will not help you and can hinder your driving. This type of glasses usually have a yellow or amber lens so if you see a pair that you like with these colors of tinted lenses be certain to make sure they also have the coating. These glasses are priced at approximately forty dollars but can go as high as four hundred dollars, especially if you are looking for a top of the line pair that professionals like race car drivers wear when they race at night.

Night glasses can actually refer to any number of glasses like goggles and binoculars that use a special means to increase your vision at night. Some of these glasses use thermal vision, some use an image intensifier and some use active infrared. Active and passive systems are the two main categories of night vision glasses. An active system uses a device to bathe an area in non-visible light and they are normally used for security purposes. A passive system collects the light given off by the stars and then intensifies it so that the viewer can make out details. This type of night vision is usually denoted by a generation. Gen 1 is the oldest and Gen 4 is the newest. Gen 1 were the night vision glasses used during the Vietnam War and Gen 2 was developed to get substantially more light amplification. Gen 3 glasses get better resolution and Gen 4 glasses were developed so that they could quickly change as light conditions changed. In this way, visibility can still be retained even in the midst of bright explosions. These types of night vision glasses are priced anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Continue reading ‘Safe Night Driving’ »

Are you looking for automotive parts for your car and truck? and confused from where to buy them. Here online shopping is the best option for you where you can choose your desired parts from the online stores. With the advanced web technology, now it is possible to buy stuff online and auto parts are not an exception to this. Buying online auto parts and components has several advantages over buying it from traditional stores.

Now you don’t need to visit from one store to another for affordable and quality assured automotive parts. Just with the help of personal computer and internet connection you can browse online automotive stores at your home and can get more choices for best automotive deals. You can not only select the best auto parts of your choice but also compare the price, after sale service, and shipping charges of different online stores at the same time. For any doubt or explanation you can also ask online query or suggestions from online stores. Continue reading ‘How Buying Automotive Parts Form Online Suppliers is a Profitable Affair?’ »

According to a recent study, thirty two percent of drivers say they have trouble seeing all or most of the time at night; twenty six percent claim they have trouble seeing signs when driving at night; twenty percent have difficulty seeing pedestrians, animals and turns in the road and twenty two percent report they cannot judge distance when driving at night. Statistics like these are cause for concern. Many people are turning to night vision glasses in the hope of overcoming these difficulties.

Experts agree that driving in the dark is one of the most dangerous situations a driver faces. There are many roads out there with low or no lighting and then you also have to contend with the blinding lights coming at you from other drivers. The fatality rate at night, which is considered from 6 pm to 6 am, is three percent higher than the day time rate. Many people complain of eye strain, dry and tired eyes, inability to focus and blurred vision – all that can be helped with night vision glasses. Many people feel that the most distracting issue when driving at night are the lights of oncoming traffic and the headlights from cars behind them. And if you have any vision problems to begin with like cataracts or near-sightedness, these problems can be intensified. Many eye professionals are recommending night vision glasses be used to help keep you safer.

Some other things these professionals are recommending for nighttime driving are:

Cleaning your windshield inside and outside – this will prevent smears that block your vision and make it more difficult to see.

Make sure your headlights are clean – by keeping them clean you are ensuring that you will have better visibility when driving on roads with little or no lighting. Continue reading ‘Night Driving’ »

Tires are a big purchase, and one of the least researched items that people buy. Perhaps it’s due to a plethora of confusing industry speak or perhaps the industry has done little to convince consumers of the advancements that have been made over the years, but typical consumers choose based on the recommendations of the local tire shop or price alone.

If you’re reading this, you are among the few who have an interest in selecting the right winter tires for your vehicle. Surprisingly, there is little cost difference between the cheapest tire a shop can offer you and a high-quality tire ordered online. The only difference is a little know-how.

When purchasing tires online, it’s important to note that unless you buy a set of tires and rims, you’ll still need a shop to install the tires once they arrive. This reason alone is enough for many to select a rim & tire package, however there is also the added benefit of being able to select a cheaper rim set for the abuse that winter driving brings (salted roads, gravel, sliding into curbs etc) and protect your nice summer rims so they can look their best when the snow melts. Continue reading ‘Choosing Proper Winter Tires’ »