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At this time of year, the weather may not seem to be able to make up its mind about whether it wants to rain or shine. If it does decide to rain and you are out on the roads you need to take into account the weather conditions and tailor your driving accordingly. Heavy rainfall can lead to excess water remaining on the road surface which could make driving more hazardous. Modern roads have been designed to minimize the effects of weather conditions on driving a vehicle, but they are not able to remove the danger completely. If excess water is not able to drain away sufficiently it will remain on the road surface and could cause cars to skid or lead to aqua planning. So if you get caught out in heavy rain you need to think about the way you drive in order to minimize any potential dangers.

Firstly you should reduce your speed. Heavy rain will reduce visibility, which means it will be harder to see what is on the road in front of you. It can also reduce your stopping distance giving you less time to stop your vehicle safely if necessary. If you feel like the steering has become less responsive then you need to ease off the accelerator slowly and reduce your speed until you feel in control again. Whilst driving in these weather conditions you may find that you come across floodwater. If you do, make sure you only cross it if you are sure of how deep it is. Be aware that it would only take a small amount of water in the internal combustion chamber to cause serious harm to your engine. Crossing floodwater should be done slowly to avoid water seeping into the car and so that you do not cause bow waves. In these conditions not all roads and bridges will remain open. It is therefore advisable not to use your satellite navigation systems to guide you, as they may not be completely up to date on the latest closure. To find out what is happening on the roads in your area, you could tune into the local radio station and listen to the traffic report. Continue reading ‘Keeping Safe on Wet Roads’ »

Before choosing a second had car know your budget and preferences. If you know what you are looking for you narrow your search and make the process faster. You can find second hand cars on sale in the classifieds, internet, local newsletters and pre-owned car dealerships. Car inspection and scrutiny is a very important part of the process.

While buying a second hand car you have to inspect the engine and the body of the car. While inspecting the engine you have be make sure its numbers matches with the one registered on the certificate. You also have to check for its sound and appearance. The car should not jump or start knocking. The engine should not look old and dusty. This is only about the engine. What about the rest of the vehicle? Let’s take you through the rest of the steps for pre-owned cars. Continue reading ‘Inspection of a Second Hand Car’ »

If you are self-employed and use your automobile for business, keeping a mileage log might be the most profitable use of your time all year. I know that sounds outrageous, but it is often true. Many, if not most self-employed people find keeping track of the business use of their vehicle to be an annoyance and they just don’t do it. After all, the need for a mileage log only arises at tax time, so it isn’t on our mind all year.

How much is your time worth? Most of us think our time is too valuable to spend recording our business mileage in a log book every time we get in the car for business purposes. But I’m going to convince you otherwise.

First I’m going to make some assumptions. I’ll assume that as a self-employed person you file your taxes on a Schedule C as a sole proprietor, thereby subjecting your business income to the self-employment tax at 15.3%. Next I’ll assume you are in the 25% marginal tax bracket. That is, for each additional dollar you earn you pay 25 cents in federal income tax.

For purposes of this example, I’m going to assume that you drive about 8,000 miles per year for business purposes. That means driving to clients, to vendors,to the office supply store, to the post office, etc. The standard deduction allowed by the IRS for business use of your automobile has been hovering around 50 cents per mile in recent years. As I write this, the allowable deduction is 55 cents per mile. For 8,000 miles, that gives you a deduction of $4,400 against your business income. Since you are paying tax at a rate of 40.3% (15.3% self-employment tax + 25% federal income tax), that $4,400 deduction will reduce your tax bill by $1,773! Continue reading ‘Earn Over $200 an Hour by Tracking Your Business Automobile Mileage’ »

Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, has won one of the most significant awards of the country -Indian Car of the Year aka ICOTY. ICOTY and IMOTY (Indian Motorcycle of the Year) awards are the awards that are unbiased and exhaustive evaluation of all the new cars and motorcycles launched in the calendar year of 2009 in India.

Although Tata Nano was a contender for this award amongst other world cars like the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Jazz, Fiat Linea, Fiat Grande Punto, Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Mahindra Xylo, Skoda Superb, Tata Indigo Manza, and Toyota Fortuner, this small wonder emerged victorious in the end garnering 63 points. The Managing Director of Tata Motors, Mr. P.M. Telang, received the award from the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of JK Tyre Industries Ltd., Dr. R. P. Singhania, at a ceremony in New Delhi. Moreover, Kawasaki Ninja 250R won the IMOTY award with 53 points. Continue reading ‘Nano is the 2010 Indian Car of the Year’ »

Some families still need cars that can take everyone for a ride at the same time. Comfort and fuel efficient vehicles that are impressive in style and can seat mom, dad, plus up to five more are making a fabulous comeback. From the 7 passenger SUV, the minivan, or the 7 passenger crossover, you have a selection of models and make to choose from. Depending on the add-on you are looking at a price range starting at $17,500 up to $65,000 and a fuel consumption of 13 to 27 mpg.

The SUV Ford Explorer makes a great family vehicle that seats 7 passengers comfortably. It has a towing capacity of 7285 pounds and gets 13 to 20 mpg. It has a price range of $28,880 – $41,675 depending on the add-on. SUV’s like the Ford Explorer or the Toyota 4Runner gives a large family plenty of room for a comfortable drive but lower fuel efficiency than the 7 passenger crossover cars. The crossover has a lighter frame that boosts fuel efficiency plus the room for a large family. Continue reading ‘The 7 Passenger Family Car’ »

Upgrading the rims on your Hummer provides the single most impactful thing you can do as a Hummer owner to significantly change the look of your SUV. Consider these points are you decide whether to make the leap unto customized Hummer rims.

The first thing you need to know about is the make and model of the Hummer. Since I don’t have that information, let’s assumes that we are talking about the Hummer H3 2006 model. There is a lot you need to know before buying rims. I’m sure it can be confusing too. For instance, do you need a set of alloy or steel rims for your Hummer H3? And what about covers and chrome finishes? H3 2006 rims come in a lot of different finishes and colors. And all the time you’re wondering about the alloy or steel rims, you also need to know exactly what size your rims should be. Most owners are only worried about the way they look. But you should also consider how the performance will be once you get them and the safety issues as well. Another thing to consider when buying new or used rims is to find out if there has been any recalls from the manufacturer for the Hummer rims you want to purchase. Continue reading ‘Significant Change With New Customized Hummer Rims’ »

I am not sure who invented car covers but I am sure glad they did. Think about all they can do for your vehicle. All things bad for your paint job can be kept at bay with the use of a quality vehicle cover. Whether you are covering your car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, boat, ATV, snowmobile, tractor or recreational vehicle, there is a cover for you. Snowy mornings are no longer an inconvenience. All you have to do is pull it off, shake it off and you are on your way. I remember many a day back in New England when I needed to set my alarm a good twenty minutes or so early to allow enough time to start the car and clean off the snow or scrape the ice off my windshield. I sure wish I had a car cover back then.

Car covers, truck covers, SUV covers, and motorcycle covers will keep your transportation clean and free from the damaging effects of UV rays, not to mention hail or debris such as dust, pollen, bird droppings or tree sap. If you park in a garage, a cover will still help keep the dust off and protect against dings and scratches which can be caused by trash cans or tools. Riveted jeans can damage your vehicle too if someone leans against it. Why not protect your ride with a quality vehicle cover? In the long run it will save time, effort and money. Continue reading ‘Car Covers – An Invention of Convenience’ »

Remote car starters have revolutionized many people’s driving experience. Save yourself from the weather, from the “Where did I park?” game, and from unwanted wear on your vehicle today.

There’s only one thing worse than getting into a car that has been freezing out in the winter cold- getting into a car that’s been baking in the August heat. No matter what time of year it is, cars never seem to be the right temperature when you get in. What if there was a way to save your frozen fingers from an icy steering wheel or your thighs from molten upholstery?

Now there is. With a remote car starter, there’s no need to dread getting behind the wheel. A remote starter allows you to start the car from the convenience of your own home. Just set the temperature in your vehicle ahead of time, and the car starter does the rest. Continue reading ‘Don't Be Remote From Remote Car Starters’ »

Many large families don’t want to make the transition to driving minivans, so several are curious about the ins and outs of 7 passenger sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Most are curious as to which car companies make them, if they always seat 7 or adjustments have to made, such as third row seats installed, the price ranges they come at, and about the gas mileage they provide.

Most of the car companies produce 7 passenger SUVs in different size ranges. SUVs’ such as Fords Flex and Explorer, Jeeps Grand Cherokee, and Toyota’s Highlander are some of the smaller options of 7 passengers. When wishing to utilize that option in those vehicles, a third row seat option will have to be purchased. Since these are the smaller of this type of SUVs, they give about 13-14 mpg in the city and 19-20 on the highway. Continue reading ‘7 Passenger SUVs For Your Family’ »

Car Decals have been a well-known part of our ethnicity ever since the untimely part of the twentieth century. They have been fixed on almost all the things, as of car window panes to baggage. Despite the fact that loads of citizens have preferred to apply them, others have kept them for the sake of memoirs. Decals are used to smarten up your car in a novel & exciting way.

Car decals are labels that are employed in cars to give your car a very appealing look. Those have lots of dimensions, shapes & messages. These are presented in diverse categories & sizes. They are used so as to add to the beauty of the car. These decals are very simple to make use of & extremely admired. More often than not these are offered in three sizes – large, medium & small. Apart from this, they bear exclusive motifs & shapes. Despite the fact that loads of these are attributing animated characters & other pictures, there are several which simply have appealing lines & expressions. Continue reading ‘Car Decals – The Most Excellent Choice to Give a Funky Look to Your Cars’ »