Auto News and Car Reviews

10 Smart Tactics to Keep Your Car from Getting Nicked and Dinged
By Brian Vaszily

The holiday shopping season is here, and while you’re bumping arms with other shoppers while reaching for the perfect gift, your car may be getting a few bumps of its own out in the parking lot.

Nicks, dings and scratches are common casualties to cars caused primarily in parking lots; beyond just looking unsightly, when it comes time to sell your vehicle or trade it in, those little nicks and dings can significantly reduce the value. The good news is, with just a little foresight on your part, they can largely be avoided.

Parking lots are actually quite risky, and for more than just the little dings. People know to be concerned about safety on highways and neighborhood streets, but they forget to be on alert in parking lots, said Bella Dinh-Zarr, Ph.D., AAA’s Director of Traffic Safety Policy. Crashes happen frequently in parking lots and have the potential to be quite dangerous, particularly for pedestrians.

They can be so risky, in fact, that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 20 percent of all collisions resulting in damage claims occur in parking lots. To prevent the crashes, bumps, thuds, nicks and dings, follow these top ten parking lot driving tactics:

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Why You Should Buy a Jeep Compass?
By Lisa Ziegler

Despite the Jeep Compass signature features such as the seven-slot grille, round lights and four wheel drive, this Jeep is also making quite a noise at the lower end of the SUV market. Designed to attract young car buyers with age ranging from mid 20s to late 30s, the Compass is quite smaller in size compared to the other existing model in the line-up and is made to compete with the likes of Toyotas RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

At close inspection one can tell that the Compass styling is a mixture of slinky curves and chiseled angles that need to be seen in order to be appreciated. Although the Jeep Compass may be considered quite eccentric as compared to other SUVs but there is something endearing about the Compass styling.

Jeep by the way preferred to call their Jeep Compass URV short for urban recreational vehicle. The Compass is more like its cousin the Dodges Caliber in the sense that the two share the same foundation plus some other parts and accessories like Jeep door handle cover taken from the DaimlerChrysler parts bin. But despite the similarities the Caliber and the Compass have ended distinct from each other.

The Compass interior is also a maze of hard plastics which includes the aluminum-look surround used for the centre console. The cabin was also made tolerable with the use of the nifty two-toned leather seats that has made the dark interior more subtle. The seats were very comfortable except for the steering column beating down on your knee caps whenever any footwork is required.

If you not used to lounging behind the steering wheel then youre in for a surprise with the Boston Acoustics sound system at full tilt lolling will somehow makes sense. There is also a set of speakers mounted on the tailgate and can be unclipped once you want to take the party out the car.

The Compass provides a load space of up to 170 cm3 of space with all the seats folded down. The luggage area is covered with a hardy nylon floor cover that can be removed and washed any time.

All of the Compass Limited models are equipped with heated leather seats, power windows, power heated side mirrors, six-disc MP3 compatible CD changer, adjustable steering and a hard sliding armrest located at the top of the center console.

In terms of safety equipment the Compass is equipped with dual front airbags and side curtain airbags, ABS complete with off-road calibration, ESP with yaw sensors, traction control with brake assist and electronic roll mitigation. All of the 18 inch alloys are connected to a standard tire pressure monitor. The Compass will also have the MacPherson strut and multi link arrangement that is a first for any Jeep vehicle.

Jeep Compass will also feature the Freedom Drive all-wheel drive system which cab be manually engaged at any speed by using a bright chrome lever placed just above the hand brake lever. Another first for Jeep is the 2.4 liter World Engine which was developed in partnership with Hyundai and Mitsubishi is also offered in the Compass. The 16-valve four cylinder delivers 125 kW at 6000 r/min and 220 Nm at 4500 r/min.

The prices for the Compass are as follows:

Compass 2.4 5-speed manual R224,900
Compass 2.4 CVT R254,900
Compass 2.0 CRD R279,900

All of Compass models are covered by the three-year/100,000 km warranty and maintenance plan of DaimlerChrysler.

For more about your Jeep parts needs like Jeep door handle cover, visit your trusted online source.

Lisa Ziegler is a 29-year old native of Waldport, Oregon and is currently working as a senior research analyst in a top Automotive Research Consultancy firm.

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How To Install Car Seat Covers
By Thomas Morva

Seat covers should snug fit the seat with no sagging ends. Though it requires a very few instruction to follow, the process of installation is very important. There are a few important instructions to follow when attempting to install car seat covers, though the installation method will vary depending on the type and style of seat covers you have.

In the case of universal bucket seats, firstly take off headrest and place seat cover over the top of seat and pull it down over the seat. Then place bottom of seat cover nicely over seat bottom. After that, fit base of cover snugly over seat. Later, fasten elastic under seat with supplied S hooks. At last, tie the supplied cord in position to ensure that the seat cover is held in correct shape. Check the seat cover is perfectly fitting the seat. After all the processes are over, re-install the headrest.

Installation of custom fit seat covers requires more steps than any other car seat covers. Firstly, remove any guards or shields covering original material that may obstruct seat cover installation. Install bottom of seat cover first. Tie three strings provided to bottom seat cover flap and attach to loops on the flap and fasten them under the seat to springs or to another opposing loop on the seat cover. Next place the seat cover backrest on the seat backrest Tie strings or straps to loops on the seat cover backrest. Then feed the strings or straps between the bottom and backrest of the seat and fasten them to corresponding loops on the top or sides of the seat cover. Make sure that seat covers are fitting correctly. Then, make small holes in the seat cover fabric to accommodate headrests and hardware. After all the processes are over, re-insert headrests and hardware.

Car Seat Covers provides detailed information on Car Seat Covers, Infant Car Seat Covers, Custom Car Seat Covers, Dog Car Seat Covers and more. Car Seat Covers is affiliated with Dog Car Seats.

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Why You Should Buy a Jeep Compass?
By Lisa Ziegler

Despite the Jeep Compass signature features such as the seven-slot grille, round lights and four wheel drive, this Jeep is also making quite a noise at the lower end of the SUV market. Designed to attract young car buyers with age ranging from mid 20s to late 30s, the Compass is quite smaller in size compared to the other existing model in the line-up and is made to compete with the likes of Toyotas RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

At close inspection one can tell that the Compass styling is a mixture of slinky curves and chiseled angles that need to be seen in order to be appreciated. Although the Jeep Compass may be considered quite eccentric as compared to other SUVs but there is something endearing about the Compass styling.

Jeep by the way preferred to call their Jeep Compass URV short for urban recreational vehicle. The Compass is more like its cousin the Dodges Caliber in the sense that the two share the same foundation plus some other parts and accessories like Jeep door handle cover taken from the DaimlerChrysler parts bin. But despite the similarities the Caliber and the Compass have ended distinct from each other.

The Compass interior is also a maze of hard plastics which includes the aluminum-look surround used for the centre console. The cabin was also made tolerable with the use of the nifty two-toned leather seats that has made the dark interior more subtle. The seats were very comfortable except for the steering column beating down on your knee caps whenever any footwork is required.

If you not used to lounging behind the steering wheel then youre in for a surprise with the Boston Acoustics sound system at full tilt lolling will somehow makes sense. There is also a set of speakers mounted on the tailgate and can be unclipped once you want to take the party out the car.

The Compass provides a load space of up to 170 cm3 of space with all the seats folded down. The luggage area is covered with a hardy nylon floor cover that can be removed and washed any time.

All of the Compass Limited models are equipped with heated leather seats, power windows, power heated side mirrors, six-disc MP3 compatible CD changer, adjustable steering and a hard sliding armrest located at the top of the center console.

In terms of safety equipment the Compass is equipped with dual front airbags and side curtain airbags, ABS complete with off-road calibration, ESP with yaw sensors, traction control with brake assist and electronic roll mitigation. All of the 18 inch alloys are connected to a standard tire pressure monitor. The Compass will also have the MacPherson strut and multi link arrangement that is a first for any Jeep vehicle.

Jeep Compass will also feature the Freedom Drive all-wheel drive system which cab be manually engaged at any speed by using a bright chrome lever placed just above the hand brake lever. Another first for Jeep is the 2.4 liter World Engine which was developed in partnership with Hyundai and Mitsubishi is also offered in the Compass. The 16-valve four cylinder delivers 125 kW at 6000 r/min and 220 Nm at 4500 r/min.

The prices for the Compass are as follows:

Compass 2.4 5-speed manual R224,900
Compass 2.4 CVT R254,900
Compass 2.0 CRD R279,900

All of Compass models are covered by the three-year/100,000 km warranty and maintenance plan of DaimlerChrysler.

For more about your Jeep parts needs like Jeep door handle cover, visit your trusted online source.

Lisa Ziegler is a 29-year old native of Waldport, Oregon and is currently working as a senior research analyst in a top Automotive Research Consultancy firm.

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10 Rules That Make Renting a Car Online Simple
By Aaron Brooks

Computers and the World Wide Web are turning people into mouse clickers. One can do just about anything on the net: file for divorce, hire a car, and search for a husband or date, and shop. If you ever need to rent a car you need no longer go to a hire agency, the whole process can be done online.

To make renting a car online safe and easy, just follow these 10 rules:

1.Do a thorough search on the net and short list a few rent-a-car companies. Determine their rates, when they were established, and their business module. Find out whether they have a good reputation. A few examples of excellent companies are http://www.avis.com and http://www.hertz.com.

2.Locate a company that offers you a good deal and is located close to where you live. If you collect and return the car quite close to the companys location you will save money.

3.Before you approach a company online and fill in your needs, make up your mind on what kind of car you want, for how many days, what features are essential for you and so on. Consider where you are going and find out whether you will need anti-freeze or snow chains.

4.Before you fill in your needs and pay for a car you must read through the contract and the terms and conditions in fine print. List any questions you may have and ring up the companys toll free number for clarifications.

5.Use as ready reference the list of essential documents required for renting a car and get all your papers in order. While some companies accept scans of documents others may ask you to courier the documents or drop them off.

6.Make sure the package you choose is beneficial and determine if you are entitled to any discount. Before making an online payment check to see whether the company has a safe gateway.

7.And be sure to ensure that the car is insured , its papers are in order, and that the company has a few travel insurance schemes.

8.Many companies top the tank before you get the car while others require you to fill the gas. Find out as much as you can about the company policy regarding gas, free drop off and pick up, and who is responsible if the car needs any repair.

9.Check whether you have the car rental companys 24/7 contact numbers and e-mail addresses in case of emergency.

10.Check whether your drivers license is valid for where you are planning to drive and whether the car rental company has any rules about only the person renting the car being allowed to drive.

Many rent-a-car companies have great marketing schemes in place they offer discounts, coupons, reward points, and more. Visit car rental directories to find out what is new and what is beneficial.

Aaron Brooks is a freelance writer for http://www.1888seoservices.com/, the premier website to find Seo consulting, link buildings and professionals seo training, online marketing tips, seo tools and more. He also freelances for the premier Airport Parking site http://www.1888airportparking.com

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Tips For Maintaining A High Mileage Car
By Sandeep Kumar

For most people in India, buying a car is an investment , and there are certain steps to be taken to maintain your car for good performance, mileage and also a good resale value.

As a car’s engine ages, its performance level decreases and the oil starts to break down at an increasing rate. Over time, the seals begin to break down, gaskets become very brittle, and the engine’s oil consumption increases. All of these factors lead to a steady reduction in engine performance.

Here are a few tips for maintaining your high mileage car:

1. Make it a point to change your car’s engine oil every 3 months or 3,000 Kilometers, whichever comes first. This is an important procedure, as the engine is the heart of your car and motor oil is the lifeblood. One cannot function without the other, so be very diligent with your oil-change schedule.

2. Check the air pressure in your car’s tires at least once a month in order to prevent unexpected flats and excess tire wear. Cars which do not have the correct air pressure will lose a lot of mileage too.

3. Look for warning signs. Of course, not every little noise you hear means something is wrong. Cars, like people, have their peculiarities, and you’ll quickly learn what is normal for your car.

But with a high mileage car, it’s best to check out any symptom, be it a sound, smell, or just a feeling that seems the slightest bit out of the ordinary. Remember, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!

4. Pay attention to outward signs. If your car is leaking oil or coolant, it could indicate a serious problem. Look carefully at your driveway or parking space for oil stains or spots that can warn you of possible fluid leaks.

High Mileage motor oils contain special conditioners that help keep your seals in good condition. Protecting the seals helps to reduce leakage which is a common problem in older, higher-mileage car engines.

5. Have your car tuned-up regularly. Even if your high mileage car seems ok, that is no guarantee that it is. Use regular tune-ups to make sure your car’s major parts are running well and that they continue to do so.

6. Check your car’s fluids on a regular basis. Keep your air filters clean and replace the fuel filters at regular intervals.

7. Store your car properly. Keeping your car in a dry, temperate location when it’s not in use will help prevent wear and tear, both inside and out. Keeping your car in a garage whenever possible will help keep it looking good.

8. Do not neglect your car’s safety features! Nothing is more important than your car’s ability to keep you and your passengers safe. Your car’s brakes, air bags, and any other safety features should be carefully checked on a regular basis (when your car has a tune-up is a great time) to ensure the safety of you and those you love.

Sandeep Kumar

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‘Brand Watch’ Finds Best Exteriors For New Truck And Suv Shoppers
By Benjamin Hudson

When buying something, most people intently look at the outer surface of a thing because it oftentimes says the quality and performance.

Kelley Blue Book and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research announced the results of the Exterior Styling segment of its newest automotive research study, Brand Watch.

Kelley Blue Book Vice President for Marketing and Market Research Rick Wainschel said exterior styling is one of the top decision factors among vehicle shoppers, and consumers’ perceptions can add or eliminate a brand from someone’s consideration list. He added that the real-time reporting of the Brand Watch data and the ability to see these brand perceptions can be extremely helpful in tracking shifts in new vehicle shopper attitudes and developing responses to those shifts.

The Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch Study on Exterior Styling was further categorized into seven segments. These are the convertibles/Sports cars, Trucks, Minivans, Luxury SUVs, Non Luxury SUVs, Luxury Sedan, and Non Luxury Sedan.

The results gave some surprises. Porsche bested other convertibles or sports cars by ranking number one in the category. It was followed by Mercedes-Benz at rank 2, then by Jaguar at rank 3.

For new trucks, according to auto shoppers, Ford has the best exterior, and then followed by GMC and then Chevrolet. Dodge, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda almost got a spot in the category where it placed fourth, fifth, eight, and eleventh, respectively. In the Minivans category, however, Dodge ranked 1; Toyota ranked 2; and Honda ranked 3.

Consumers find BMW as the luxury SUV with the best exterior, Lexus as the second best and Mercedes-Benz as the third. Meanwhile, on the Non Luxury SUVs, the top three in rank in descending order- is composed of Ford, Toyota and GMC.

BMW indeed proved its luxury when it ranked 1 again in the luxury category, this time, for the Sedan. Mercedes-Benz immediately followed at rank two and Infiniti at rank 3. Meanwhile, on the Non Luxury Sedan, Nissan, Honda and Toyota bagged the first, second, and third place, respectively.

Volkswagen, with its newly enhanced VW valve covers for its new vehicles was not found in the top list of the results. Some said this is because the study was only based on the exterior of the car and not on the engine, which is one of the priority parts of a car.

Jack R. Nerad, the Executive Editorial Director and at the same time the Executive Market Analyst of Kelley Blue Book said that as vehicle reliability reaches near-parity in the market, they predict that exterior styling will play an even bigger role in building new-vehicle sales and brand equity. He further said the results of the Brand Watch study demonstrate that the industry is, and should be, placing great emphasis on what their vehicles look like.

Brand Watch taps into active shoppers to determine their perceptions of automotive brands within specific automotive segments and is available to vehicle manufacturers and auto industry professionals. Brand Watch further deals into how each manufacturer’s brand equity differs across vehicle segments, compares the relative standing of each make versus competitive makes, and reveals the decision factors of car-buyers within each make and segment. Also, detailed demographic and psychographic information is collected, reported and detailed throughout Brand Watch’s comprehensive study which is available quarterly from Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research.

For more about your VW parts needs like VW valve covers, visit your trusted online source.

Benjamin Hudson works as a supervisor at one of the top engineering firms in the business district of Louisiana. He is also a freelance journalist and has passion for anything automotive.

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Your New Car – How to Choose Among Priorities and Preferences
By Nick Ribisi

Choosing a new car is a huge decision, and this decisionoften becomes extremely difficult as you try to balance allthe options and prices. Cars vary widely between makes andmodels, and often the shopper who isn’t quite car savvyfeels overwhelmed by the possibilities.

I had the same problem. I was in this horrible caraccident, and suddenly and totally unexpectedly, I wassearching for a new car. I quickly learned my priorities ina car: safety, mileage, and durability.

Safety is the number one concern when purchasing a newcar. After being in a horrendous accident, I was extremelyconcerned about the safety options in my new car.

In the end, I chose a car that had side and ceilingairbags to protect my body from harm were I to be inanother accident where a car hit my door. Front airbags arevery important, but oftentimes, accidents happen on thesides of your car and your front airbag is no help at all.

Other safety features include being able to turn off thepassenger side front airbag if a smaller person or olderchild needs to sit in the front seat.

In addition, you can look for cars with skid control; withthis option, your car’s computer takes over the brakes whenyou begin to hydroplane so that you keep going forwardrather than heading into a tailspin.

I must admit I was skeptical about this option on my car,but it really does work! You can even feel the computertake over your car when you start sliding; it’s a realcomfort!

With rising gas prices, the mileage of the car you’reconsidering should be a concern. A car with high gasmileage can save you thousands of dollars each year,especially if you’re living in a big city where you areoften sitting in traffic.

Save yourself time and money at the pump by purchasing acar that gets at least 25 to 30 miles to the gallon.

Finally, durability is an important option to considerwhen purchasing a car. There are some cars that have lastedtheir owners over 200,000 miles! One way to find out aboutlongevity is to talk to people you know and searchautomobile web sites to see which cars are lasting thelongest.

You can also purchase a car with leather seats, whichalthough it’s higher priced in the beginning, it’s easy tocare for and lasts forever. Durability comes in many formsso be sure to check out all aspects of your potential carto decide if it can stand up to your needs and standards.

When you go out to look for cars, I suggest looking onlinefirst. Many websites allow you to create your own car withyour desired features. All the needed information isavailable online, so narrow it down to a few cars and go tothe lots and look at those.

This will save you a lot of hassle from salesman until youget an idea of what you’re really interested in. After youhave some options, go out to your nearest dealer and takeyour potential car out for a spin.

Nick Ribisi is a consumer advocate, offering advice and expertise on a range of products. Visit FT Cars and SG Motorcycle for valuable free information and additional articles by Nick Ribisi.

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‘Results Give Us A Lot Of Confidence’ – Mulally
By Glady Reign

So far, so good. That was the message that the Ford Motor Co. is trying to convey in connection with its first quarter earnings. Ford CEO Alan Mulally said, ‘We exceeded our expectations across the board.

Those expecting more bad news were astonished by Fords better-than-expected sales results with a net loss of $282 million that surpassed Wall Street’s expectations and triggered a diffident rally in the automakers stock. This is the Fords way of saying that it is back to profitability. But the battle has just begun.

The automaker said that it lost $282 million in the first quarter of the year – a noteworthy improvement from its $1.4 billion loss a year ago. Ford’s first quarter revenue totaled $43 billion and that amount is up from the $40.8 billion in the previous year.

In an interview Mulally intimated, We exceeded our expectations across the board, meaning across all of our brands and across all of Ford operations. Across-the-board improvement. Improvement on the revenue side and also improvement on the productivity and the cost side. And that’s why we’re very encouraged about this. Because our plan addresses the restructuring on the cost side and the quality side, but also with the acceleration of new product it addresses the revenue side. So to see these results gives us a lot of confidence that we have the right plan.

When asked about the areas the automakers did worse than expected, Mulally said they do not have an area that they did worse. He added, One kind of neat thing that came out – maybe we didn’t share it as clearly as we could – creating a viable Ford Motor Co. and this transition is not just about the Blue Oval in North America. This is about all of our operations worldwide and all of our brands. And our plan is to improve our quality and our productivity and make cars and trucks that people want across the entire Ford operations. And part of what you saw today was that plan working. Not only did North America exceed their plan, everybody did. Which is a great story.

With the guidance that we have given – the reason that we went through that very carefully – it’s a very good story that through 2007 year-end we believe that we are going to improve our automotive operations over last year. We have three quarters to go and the quarters are lumpy. There are lots of moving pieces through the quarters. Then year-over-year it can be a tough comparison because the plan is to go down in production – you know, to the lower demand and the changing model mix. But clearly even with all of the headwinds we are facing, our best estimate is that we will actually improve the automotive operations this year, the first year of our turnaround, Mulally noted.

Mullaly, formerly Boeings CEO, has been with Ford in the past six months. When asked about his biggest frustration, he answered: I don’t have a frustration. It’s hard work and you’ve got a lot of people involved. This is just such a positive indicator that the plan is working. Ford has been busy checking on the quality of the Volvo distributor rotor and other auto parts. This is to ensure outstanding customer feedback.

He added, This is a wonderful transformation of a great company and it didn’t do anything wrong, it was focused on big SUVs and trucks. The world changed. People want a full product line, delightful cars, fuel-efficient, reliable, great quality across the entire family. And that’s what we put in place, to aggressively restructure and (adapt) to the changing world and get back to profitability and to accelerate new product development. And to see – for everybody to see – that this plan is working gives a lot of encouragement to keep going.

When asked about his meeting with the Ford family, Mulally simply said, I had the pleasure to meet with them and I just gave them an update on the business. And their message I think was that they were very supportive.

In regard Mulallys meeting with the employees, the CEO said, It was a very gratifying meeting. I had a chance to share our story and the progress in each of the areas of the world and each of the brands. We had about 400 people here in Detroit and then we were netted with everybody else around the world. Of course it’s a great story to be able to share because it represents all of their hard work. He concluded, And to see their smiles and hear their great questions about the business and going forward and the transformation. I thought it was a terrific meeting.

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field. Please visit Volvo distributor rotor for more information.

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