Cars & Auto

Cars & Auto (7)

Here you can find a variety of articles related to cars and automobiles. Read more about vintage cars, about those classics we still enjoy to see on the streets, discover amazing driving tips that can help you improve your skills, learn the basics of do-it-yourself car repair or let yourself convinced by the necessity of getting a hybrid car.

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Classics

Classics (0)

Classic cars still have their fans, despite the fact that they don't offer all facilities and improvements modern technology brought to modern cars. Classics such as Porche 911 Carrera, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette or Oldsmobile Cutlass are still functional, but this comes with a high price: their owners invest a lot of time, money and work in making these auto jewels get to life again. Browse the articles in this category and let yourself transported in the past or find out how to get a fair appraisal of your vintage beauty on four wheels.

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Car Audio and Video

Car Audio and Video (0)

Car audio systems are important, if you want to enjoy a great audition while driving. We invite you to discover which are the best car audio and video systems, how to install a car audio system by yourself or where to buy them at the best prices.

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Cars

Cars (0)

This section includes articles about common cars, various makes and models, issues, features and comparisons. It refers to simple cars only, not to other type of vehicles.

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Hybrid Cars

Hybrid Cars (0)

Hybrid cars use two or more alternative solutions for providing the energy needed for functioning. Read our hybrid cars reviews and comparisons, find out how they address the problem of the greenhouse effect and discover how to keep your fuel costs low by choosing a hybrid car.

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Maintenance and Repair

Maintenance and Repair (2)

The various articles hosted in this section will teach you basic car maintenance tips, so you can enjoy a car that looks and goes like new for a very long time. Car repair articles are also included in here.

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Motorcycles

Motorcycles (2)

Everything about motorcycles and scooters goes here. If you want to buy yourself a motorcycle, take a tour of this category and read the awesome reviews written by our members. Ask them anything you may need to know, then discuss possible options in our forum. Then you'll probably make the best choice of motorcycle for your specific situation.

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RVs

RVs (1)

RVs stand for Recreational Vehicles, aka motorhomes, travel trailers or campers. Generally speaking, any vehicle featuring living space and home amenities can be called an RV. This is the place where you can read reviews of various RVs and other related articles.

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Trucks

Trucks (0)

Trucks are fascinating. Truck drivers are a cool community of people who share the same passion. They usually care more about their truck than normal people care about their cars. It's a belogning feeling that makes them very active in their local communities. Here they write about the trucks the love.

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Used Vehicles

Used Vehicles (0)

This section contains tips on buying and selling used cars, various car makes and models reviews, basic things one needs to know when deciding to buy a second-hand car.

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Gasoline

Gasoline (0)

Gasoline has become a hot topic since the petrol price exploded, a couple of years ago. Find out more about gasoline, about car fuels in general or about alternative energy solutions for vehicles.

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Driving Tips

Driving Tips (0)

Do you think you're a great driver? Even if you do, maybe you'd still find a thing or two to learn from our articles about various styles of driving and about adjusting your driving style to the particular road and traffic conditions.

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General

General (2)

This is the section where all articles on general auto topics should go. Auto markets evolution, news or various tips and tricks that don't belong in the special sections of the Cars & Auto category can be found in here.

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Vans

Vans (0)

General information articles and specific van models reviews can be found here. Articles about minivans are also included, as well as guides for first time van buyers.

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Warranty

Warranty (0)

This section hosts various information about car warranty such as warranty suppliers reviews, warrantry quotes, tips for getting the best conditions and for avoiding scams.

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SUVs

SUVs (0)

SUVs, or Sport Utility Vehicles, are vehicles similar to station wagos, but smaller. They are usually built on a lighter chassis and they feature 4our-wheel drive. Although some of them can be used for off-road driving, not all models are suitable for this kind of treatment.

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If you have ever had to park your car underneath trees you will know how annoying it is to have your car's paintwork covered in a sticky tree sap.  Well, strictly speaking it's not really tree sap at all.  Instead it's the honeydew excreted by aphids.  When this honeydew lands on your car is causes other dirt and grime to stick to it.  So the longer you allow it to be on your car, the more difficult it is to get rid of it.

If you try to clean the sap off with just regular cash washing detergent and a sponge you will find that this is a fruitless task.  No matter how much scrubbing you do it just won't make any real difference.  You may feel like nothing will work or give in and take it to a professional car detailing wash.  Taking it to a professional company will certainly work because they have lots of different types of cash washing products and will know straightaway which products to use without damaging your car's paint.

If you want to do the work yourself then there are a number of tips that you can use.  One technique is to use some cheap nail varnish remover and put it on a cotton wool ball or a soft towel.  Wipe the affected area and then use a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water to give your car a wash.  Three cups of hot water and 1 cup of bicarb of soda should be enough to make up the mixture.  Then give your car a rinse to get rid of all the nail polish remover.

Another option is to take a cloth and wet it with mineral spirit.  This should do the trick pretty easily by wiping in a circular motion.  Give the car a clean with a clean towel.  You can then repeat the process to make sure that all the sap has gone.  Giving your car a good rinse is also recommended because you don't want any residue left over.

You need to be very careful about what methods you use to get rid of the tree sap.  Sap that's been left for some time is hard and can cause damage to your paintwork if you aren't mindful.  For really problematic sap you can use what's called a light duty rubbing compound.  This can be purchased from a number of different outlets, particularly stores selling automotive accessories.  3M and Interlux are both companies you can look out for.

Basically you use the light duty rubbing compound to soften the sap prior to using a mineral spirit.  By softening the sap, you won't need to apply as much pressure on your car and therefore reduce the chances for the paintwork getting scratched or dented.

After you finally get rid of all the sap, you can polish and wax the car to help protect it and keep it looking in tip top condition.

An interesting idea for preventing the tree sap from getting on your car is to use ladybirds.  According to the BBC, a tree surgery company in Oxfordshire has started using ladybirds to eat the aphids that produce the sap in the first place.  Who knows if this really works or not but it's an interesting idea.  If it does work it's surely a better alternative to getting rid of the offending tree.

If you don't want to use ladybirds, you could find other ways of protecting your car whilst it's parked underneath the trees.  Building a car port doesn't cost a huge amount of money yet will do a good job of protecting your paintwork.  There are also covers that you can buy that go over your car when you aren't using it.  In addition to protecting your car from sap, a car port or cover can protect your car from bird droppings and bad weather.

How easy of difficult it is to get rid of the tree sap really depends on how much sap there is and how long it has been there for.  By all means, continue to research the topic of cleaning tree sap from your car because there are a number of different other methods you might prefer.  If you are thinking of having trees planted in your garden you should know that limes, maples and pine trees will cause problems.  So if you don't want a tree to produce sap then you should avoid having these planted.  Instead, talk to your local tree supplier about what trees are more suitable.

Are you thinking of buying a new car? Are you strongly considering getting a car loan to acquire that new sedan you have been eyeing? If you’re thinking of getting financing for this new purchase, there are a lot of options out there you can choose from. You may decide to call your bank to help you with this, or you maybe decide to choose a credit union for financial backup. Whether you get your financing from the auto exchange or some other way, make sure you have done your research in finding the best financing system suitable for your needs. Before you get a hold of that automobile loan, first explore the possibilities of the best possible rates.

Many people make mistakes when choosing the best financing option to buy that car. With vigilant research there are a lot of websites on the Internet that you can look at that can easily compare interest rates and payment schemes right before your eyes. A credit union may have been best option for you back when you bought your first car, but that may not be the case today. Different financing institutions are constantly changing their rates and policies so it’s best that you try to keep updated on where to get the best car deals.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started on acquiring a great deal on a car loan. Try not to be drawn into an offer on the basis of the interest rate alone. Look at down payment and monthly plans, if everything can easily be paid for in the long run. Some companies entice their clients with low interest rates with loans that can go on for more than fifteen years. By doing a simple computation in your head, you’ll be able to know whether or not that specific plan for you could easily rip you off after a couple of years.  As a rule of thumb, it’s always advisable to take the shortest loan term available and foot the biggest amount for down payment you can afford. Before you walk into that car lot, know what your credit rating is so that no one can talk you into thinking it’s lower than what it actually is. Many salesmen use this trick to make you want to grab the first offer they give you because they claim that it’s the best offer you would be able to get with a low credit rating.  By all means, avoid taking the dealer’s first offer. Unlike in house shopping, you’ll be surprised that car financing is more flexible to work with and that there is always an allowance for you to haggle. Never settle for sticker price.

At the end of the day, look for a financing plan that can enable you to payoff your car loan comfortable and without causing any financial strain on your finances. Don’t be afraid to shop around and look at all possible options. There’s a great deal waiting for you somewhere out there.
Most people own a car these days and if yours is starting to get a bit old you will more than likely see some rust appear.  This is perfectly normal however it's important that you set about getting rid of it ASAP in order to prevent the problem from getting any worse.  Removing a small area of rust is considerably easier than removing a large area.  Also, if you leave it so long the rust can get so bad there is little point in repairing it.  When it gets really bad you might just need to replace that particular part of the car.

In order to get rid of the rust you need to sand the affected area using sand paper.  Then you can use a wire brush or wire wool to get rid of any flaked areas of paint and debris.  You might feel that the affected area is too large to sand down by hand.  In which case a wire brush attachment for your electric drill will be better.  Bear in mind that the rust you see with your naked eye can simply be the tip of the iceberg meaning than when you chip away the surrounding paint you will notice the rust covers a larger area than you might have first thought.  So make sure you sand down the entire rusty area to guarantee a job well done.

Then you need to apply a primer such as Permtext Extend Rust Treatment or Mar-Hyde's One-Step Rust Converter Primer Sealer.  Apply a couple of coats of primer before you go onto the painting stage.  When you apply paint for your car make sure it matches the rest of your car.  You can buy paints specifically for different car colors so you don't have to worry about it not matching up. Benjamin Moore and Rust-Oleum both offer auto paints that prevent rust.

Remember, treating the rust early on will save you a lot of time, effort and money in the long-run.  There's no point in ignoring it because it will just get worse and worse.  If the rust is so thick that if you removed it all a hole would appear, then you need to replace that automotive body part.  There are also car rust repair kits on the market that contain all the equipment and instructions that you need to carry out the job professionally.

Snow tires fall in that category of items which you use for a couple of months, then you have to store for the rest of the year. Storage is a pain for so many of us, who are living in small apartments. However, no mater how small your place may be, if you live in a country where snow does fall and where temperatures go beyond the freezing point, you need winter tires and you’ll see why in this article.

What Makes Snow Tires Different From Regular Ones

Snow tires have a special tread pattern which is designed in such a manner that it helps biting into the snow, therefore offering a better grip in case of acceleration or brake. Such tires are made of a different type of rubber than all-season or summer tires. The rubber used in snow tires has the property to maintain its flexibility even at low temperatures, when common tires get brittle even if roads are clean with no ice or snow on them. A loose grip brings you nothing but trouble: whenever you stop the car you’ll find it difficult to get it moving again without getting it pushed by some other people. Moreover, the lack of grip will cause your car to slide on icy or snowy roads, will increase your fuel consumption and will lead to advanced wear of the clutch. Even if you didn’t care that your life was in danger, at least be aware that your wallet is in danger, so don’t be cheap and buy snow tires for the winter season if you want to use your car.

Why Not Use All-Season Tires In Winter?

It’s true that all-season means “to be used on any kind of weather or road conditions”. Of course you can use them, but they won’t perform as well as the tires that are built specifically for harsh road conditions like ice, snow or extremely low temperatures. Why do you think professional sport equipment is so expensive, yet best performers don’t spare their money and buy each and every new and improved item? That’s because it helps them perform. Only think of skating, for instance: there are skates made for artistic skating and skates made for speed skating. You can get a high skating speed with artistic skates, but you’ll be faster with speed skates.

Some drivers claim that it’s enough to put snow tires only on the drive wheels of the car. This is a mistake that may lead to many accidents, because there will be a very big difference between the grip on the drive wheels and the grip on the other wheels, thus making your car spin out much easier than in case of equal grip on all four wheels.

Another issue that’s very common amongst drivers: they tend to leave their winter tires on during summer time, thinking that they’d save money and still be safe. This is also wrong, because snow tires are exposed to a much faster wear when used at high temperature, on dry roads. So, if you keep them over summer, you may be in the situation to need to buy new ones in the beginning of next winter.

Good car tires are expensive. Storage is a pain, as four tires need a lot of space. Yet, if you can’t afford to drive a car in winter times, maybe you’d better not drive it rather than use all sort of improvisations that put your life at risk. While it’s true that it’s your life and you’re free to do what you want with it, but you put at risk also the life of other participants in traffic, who may have the bad luck to be in your way when you’ll have an accident because of not having snow tires.

Just because you are choosing to go camping does not mean that you have to rough it. If you are a guy and heading out with some friends, using a tent or even sleeping in your car or truck is no big deal. However, if you have any children or girls heading out with you, then a tent may not always be the best choice. More and more families are choosing to make use of camping trailers as they provide you with a little more privacy then a tent ever could. They also keep you off from the cold, damp and hard ground.

While a camping trailer may not be right for everyone, they sure are nice to have. You can travel the entire country with the trailer. From brands like Jayco, Teardrop, Starcraft, and Dutchman camping trailers, you truly have a plethora to choose from. Folding camping trailers are quite popular since they go from a compact trailer and pop up into a tent trailer in no time at all. Many people are big fans of ultralight camper trailers that are small and can be towed behind a normal sized car or sedan. From cold weather mountainous environments to a warm desert experience, the camping trailer will allow you to be comfortable and safe no matter where you go. However if you are just using a tent, then you would have to bring along many different pieces of gear; some for cold weather camping and others for warmer weather.

It just makes more sense to use a camping trailer. It gives you more storage space while at the same time reduces the amount of gear you need to take with you. When you were younger, camping with a tent was not an issue, but as you get older and your family expands, choosing to have a trailer is nothing less then a perfect choice for anyone who loves heading out into the great outdoors every once in a while. So if you like the idea of taking a truly memorable vacations around the country and camp along the way, make sure that you have the one piece of camping gear that will make this experience a more enjoyable one.

50cc pocket bikeIf you are in the market to buy a new 50cc pocket bike, you first should understand just what you are looking for and the appropriate questions to ask before you either visit a retail store or do your shopping online. There are specific features that you need to be very aware of and there are questions that must be asked prior to your purchase or you run the risk of buying a 50cc pocket bike that you do not truly want or what's worse, that you cannot use.

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The first thing to know is for what reason you are buying the 50cc pocket bike. For example, will it be used for fun and recreation or do you plan on racing? You must have a firm grip on this decision before heading off to buy the bike. If your purpose is to ride the pocket bike recreationally, without any thoughts of racing, you are looking at a price of about $400, which is very reasonable. But it is totally different if you are thinking about racing, for you will find that a 50cc pocket bike for racing can take you to a price of $7000. This price differential rapidly indicates that you must understand what it is that you are purchasing.

In general, all the 50cc pocket bikes that you are looking at are manufactured either in Italy or in China. The Italian bikes are most generally of the highest quality. Of course, higher quality means higher price, but, again, the price that you should be expecting depends upon the use that you are anticipating. If the use of your bike is going to be recreational, you should shop those made in China but if you are planning on racing, buy Italian.

Also, remember that pocket bikes are, because they are so small, not comfortable unless you are of small stature or a child. Therefore, you should not be looking for comfort; but, it does have to feel good enough to permit your complete control of the bike whenever you are riding. Take a test ride and be certain that you are not coming into contact with anything that you should not, such as the exhaust pipe, and that you feel good controlling the bike.

Be sue to find out information about spare parts from the pocket bike dealer: what parts are available, how difficult they are to come by, and which parts have to be replaced regularly. The dealers are your best sources for expert information as it is their business to sell 50cc pocket bikes and they can advise you on what the bikes require and what they do not. Further, ask if the dealership employs a mechanic, or if there is one locally, who can make necessary repairs and ask about a warranty, just as you would for a new car. If you will make your decision on buying your 50cc pocket bike both on the facts and on your needs, you will discover that your bike is a satisfying expenditure.

yamaha_v_max.jpgDo you want a motorcycle that will work for both leisure driving and bike racing, while still running fast? Get the Yahama V-Max, which is one of the fastest motorcycles you can possibly buy and has been a household name since 1985. If you're just starting out with motorcycles, you might want to get something a little more casual; however, if you know what you're doing, this is the bike for you, as it adds speed and fun to your motorcycle experience. The V-Max has often been the model to go to when someone wanted something that provided great speed and fantastic control.

The V-Max sports the V-Boost feature, which can give you 800 RPMs worth of power. The bike is powered by four downshaft carburetors, with butterfly valves separating them. No other motorcycle can match the amount of power the V-Boost gives to the V-Max, and you'll experience smooth acceleration, making for a superior ride that can't be overlooked.

When the V-Max rolled out in 1985, it just had 145 horsepower coming from its V4 1200 CC engine; you could only get it in the US. The following year, Europe received a slower running model from Yamaha, sans V-Boost, and it only carried 104 horsepower in its engine. In 1990, the model was improved, receiving a digital ignition feature. Japan got the V-Max in 1990 as well, but the noise level had to be reduced in order to fit in with regulations the European and US models didn't need to deal with. When 1996 hit, Yamaha took a chance on a black exhaust system for their new model; this didn't work out very well, so when 1998 rolled along they returned to the tried and true chrome look.

A lot of people who are into motorcycles are wary of the power the V-Max holds, but it's also found a lot of proud owners. There's a V-Max Owners Association, which is a collection of fans of the bike, who have races and conventions where they show their bikes. You can even find a few drag racing fans of the Yamaha V-Max, since the sheer power of the bike makes it a tough competitor on the strip; it has a place in the heart of every enthusiast. You'll often see V-Max bikes in the big drag racing competitions out there, as they roar down the track at more than 200 mph.

Ever since it was introduced in 1985, the Yamaha V-Max has sold a lot of units, and its easy to see when you look at its powerful design. It can look muscular with its black and chrome aesthetic, but this monochromatic color scheme is another potential downside that V-Max owners often cite when they lament their lack of options in terms of color scheme. There are many people with V-Maxes who just make their own color schemes.

Some people modify their bikes with new exhaust systems, decals, or graphics to make their Yamaha V-Max their own, to set it apart from the rest. There are those who change the look and functionality of the bike, opting for shorter mirrors and more comfortable seats, so they can enjoy the rides they take on their Yamaha V-Max.

The Yamaha V-Max is the motorcycle for the person who wants speed and durability, all with a fashionable frame and plenty of power. The latest models are just as attractive as their predecessors, and you'll still be able to run at competitive speeds. People who get the 2007 model of the V-Max will notice that the bike is no longer black and chrome; they'll sport a red and white aesthetic to them.

For the past two decades, the Yamaha V-Max motorcyclehas been the most powerful motorcycle anyone has ever seen, providing strength and speed to many an enthusiast. It looks good, it runs fast, and it rides smooth. It is Motorcycle Magazine's best cruiser of the year for 2009.

Image by Salvador Moreira