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July 14th, 2008

10 Things To Know Before Buying Your First Used Car

Posted in Vehicles

Here are 10 things to keep in mind before you sign the dotted line on a used car.

1. Before selecting a used car you want to buy, read some reviews and check if the
car has a good track record in terms of reliability. You may get an unreliable car
cheap, but it’ll likely break down. Spend a little more money on something more
reliable as repairs are still expensive on cheap cars.

2. Find out the fuel economy rating of the vehicle(s) you’re interested in, and how
much it’ll cost to insure. If this is your first car, insurance will be high especially if
you’re getting a sporty, 2-door vehicle. Staying with a 4-door sedan will help you
get better insurance rates. Also, with gas prices on the rise, fuel economy is
becoming even more important.

3. Once you’ve selected a vehicle, make sure you know the history of it. There are a
variety of companies that will run a history report on the car by checking that the
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of that vehicle was not reported in an accident,
stolen, flooded, or repossessed. Most people are not up front as they want to sell
the car. Do your research and stay away from anything or anyone you’re suspicious
of.

4. Find out the used vehicle value. Check online, local newspapers, and the Kelly
Blue Book for what the vehicle is worth. Keep in mind that the ‘book value’ is not
always the best measure for what the vehicle is worth as it just gives you the
average value. Knowing what other people are asking in the area will help you
negotiate and determine if you’re getting a good deal.

5. Have the car checked by a mechanic. Sure you’ll know if the car was in an
accident through the history report but a mechanic can tell if the car was properly
maintained. It would be a shame to buy a car and then realize that it needs a
$1000.00 repair. A mechanic may find something that you did not notice and it
could save you thousands.

6. Always stay level headed when looking at a used car for sale and try not to go
alone. Having a second opinion is very important.

7. If you decide to take the car on a test drive, make sure to try everything out,
including the a/c, radio, and power features (windows, mirrors, locks, etc) if so
equipped. Drive the vehicle on a variety of roads and go to an empty parking lot to
test the brakes and handing. But remember, this is someone’s car so be respectful.

8. Stay away from older cars that have a lot of electronic gizmos. These are often
costly to repair and are not as reliable as vehicles that are more basic.

9. Although a lower mileage vehicle is great, a vehicle with a lot of highway miles is
not bad at all. Highway driving is very easy on the car. Stop and go driving is much
harder. The condition of the car is more important than the mileage so long as the
car was properly maintained.

10. Stay away from ex police cars, cabs, or rentals. These vehicles are traditionally
driven very hard and sometimes not as well maintained. They’re cheap, but risky to
buy.

Peter Johnson is the chief writer for http://www.all-about-car-selection.com

May 20th, 2008

Choosing the Right Tractor Tire Chains

Posted in Vehicles

Tractor tire chains come in many of the same models, styles, and
designs as other tire chains. Depending on the size and brand of
the tractor and tractor wheel, a variety of tire chains can be
found.

Like most other types of tire chains, there are many different
options available in tractor tire chains. The most popular
choice, and the most widely recommended, is two-link spacing
with an optional V-Bar. Two link spacing means that there is a
cross chain every second side chain link. Basically, it has
twice as many cross chains as the four-link spacing, which only
has a cross chain every fourth side chain link. The extra chains
provide for a more steady, smooth ride and more steering
control. The optional V-Bar chains are extremely helpful on ice,
hills, and other hard-packed conditions. While V-Bar chains are
available in both two- and four-link spacing, they should not be
used on pavement since they can damage the surface of the road.

Kubota Tractor tire chains are available in the basic two- and
four-link chains. Kubota recommends using tire chains and wheel
weights in icy conditions. Even when using tire chains, drivers
should still drive at a speed slow enough to maintain complete
control of the tractor at all times.

For farm tractors, dealers recommend duo-group cross tire
chains. These chains are not connected in the middle, so the
pattern does not fall between the tread bars. Duo-group cross
chains are recommended for field work, deep tread, off road use,
and hilly conditions, making them the perfect choice for farm
tractor tire chains.

May 14th, 2008

Volvo 140 Owning Up to Its Personal Space in Automobile History

Posted in Vehicles

In its own history, Volvo is a Swedish world leading
manufacturer of commercial vehicles, buses, and construction
equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications,
aerospace components and service, and this group also provides
complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo Cars,
however, which is the manufacturer of automobiles that we know
at present, has since been owned by the Ford Motor Company
starting the year 1999.

The name Volvo is a Latin word that means “I roll”. This name
surely fits well as a description of their products - vehicles -
that the company crafts. However, originally, it is a name for a
ball bearing that was being developed by the company which, at
that time, provided funding to a small number of employees for
them to be able to set up the car manufacturing business. Today,
the Volvo Group has been manufacturing vehicles in twenty five
countries with its sales in more than 185 markets around the
globe.

Some of the reasons why Volvo had took the initiative to sell
the automobile manufacturing was because of the increasing
development costs for new car models, added up with the fact
that at that time it was a relatively small producer of such.
Its strategy was then to grow as a truck manufacturer where it
had a stronger market position. Now, Volvo the line of vehicles
is included and part of the Ford Motor Company’s line up.

The list of Volvo models could look seemingly endless with new
models coming up out in the market regularly. A part of the list
includes the Volvo 140 which consists of the models Volvo 142,
which is a two door vehicle, the Volvo 144, which has four
doors, and the Volvo 145, which is an estate wagon. This model
was first introduced in 1967. The Volvo 140 series was the start of
using a three number system for their crafts. It is some sort of
acronym for the first number indicates the series, the second
number displays the number of series, and the third number shows
the number of doors.

The very first Volvo to feature the classic boxy look is the
Volvo 140. This provided a lot of interior space, as compared to
the Volvo Amazon. It also bore a radical new design with the
only similar features to the Amazon being the split grill and
some parts of the interior. The basic shape of the Volvo 140
lived into the 1990s with the 200 series. It used the same 85 hp
engine, and then later was changed to the B20 engine. A 115 hp
engine was also made available. Going back to 1966, the Volvo
140 had been awarded and had been named as the Car of the Year
for that year by the Swedish magazine Teknikens Varld.

Volvo Parts and Used Volvo Parts
provides you the best value for Volvo car parts online. It is
considered as one of Internet’s most powerful and advanced auto
parts shopping systems.

April 28th, 2008

How To Install Truck Running Boards

Posted in Vehicles

If you are a pick up truck or SUV owner, one of the most popular accessories for these types of vehicles are running boards. Running boards are particularly useful as they allow easier access to your truck’s cabin in addition to simply “lookin’ good”. You can outfit your vehicle yourself with running boards by following three simple steps. Depending on the brand of running board you purchase, the procedures involved may vary somewhat.

Lund running boards are industry hot sellers and the company helps make installation a breeze by outlining how to get the job done:

1. Insert the square head bolts into the extruded channels on the underside of the board, then attach the Multi-Fit brackets loosely with supplied washers and nuts.

2. After determining mounting position on the truck, the end caps and step pads are attached with matching black rivets.

3. Mounting methods vary slightly with application. Multi-Fit Running boards are bolted in place with clip nuts and bolts at factory holes. Tighten after determining alignment is correct.

That’s it! Before you know it your running boards are securely in place and ready for use.

When shopping for running boards, please note that the quality of the products marketed can vary. A top of the line running board such as those sold by Lund or Westin running boards is typically made out of tough polymer materials or diamond plated aluminum and will, therefore, adequately hold your weight and resist deterioration. You can order running boards that light up, choose boards that have a wide step area, and even select running boards that allow you to paint the shell yourself.

Running boards are made for SUVs from the Kia Sorento to the Ford Expedition, and for trucks from the Toyota Tacoma to the GMC Sierra Denali. Mounting kits are usually sold separately, so before completing your order make sure that all the parts as well as instructions are included with your shipment.

By shopping with a reputable online retailer and installing the running boards yourself you can save plenty of money and have the satisfaction of knowing that you did the installation.

EzineArticles Expert Author Matthew Keegan

Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for Car Parts Stuff, an online supplier of high quality and well priced automobile parts.

April 6th, 2008

An informational guide to the benefits of Truck Tonneau Covers

Posted in Vehicles

Putting a tonneau cover on your vehicle is one of the best
upgrades you can add to your pickup. This informational guide
explains the benefits that tonneau covers provide.

If you’ve got a truck, adding a tonneau cover to your bed is an
absolute must. Not only are tonneaus useful in any situation,
they provide loads of essential benefits, including:

* Organized storage for whatever you’re hauling in your truck
bed, plus the bonus of keeping a lid on loose items

* Coverage from potentially damaging weather conditions, like
rain, snow and extreme sun

* Complete coverage of your payload that keeps your cargo out of
sight from potential theft

* An immediate improvement in gas mileage with tight,
aerodynamic materials covering your otherwise drag-prone open
bed

* Sleek looks that range from smooth leather grain patterns to
ultra-custom color matched style

Tonneau Cover Storage Basics

You haul everything from hardware to the occasional load of
groceries in the back of your truck. A tonneau cover helps keep
a lid on all of it, shielding your cargo from the blowing winds
of freeway driving and all kinds of pounding wet weather. It’s
an easy way to make sure nothing disappears from your bed while
you’re driving or parked.

A guide to protecting your gear from the weather with a
tonneau cover

Even simple cover over your gear can help prevent weather
damage. href="http://www.autoanything.com/department.aspx?c_id=50174&se=t
onneau_covers_truck_bed_cover/" rel="nofollow">Tonneau covers take
protection a few steps further though, with some ingenious
design features. For instance, most tonneau covers employ
strategically-placed weather seals that channel water away from
your cargo. And, many models use raised and arched support bows
to encourage moisture runoff. While no bed cover is completely
water-tight, most will do an outstanding job of keeping your
gear high and dry in nasty weather.

Tonneau Security: A Quick Reference

When your cargo is out of sight, it’s out of a would-be thief’s
mind. Tonneau covers make the contents of your truck bed a
mystery, giving you confidence that your belongings will be
right where you left them.

Beyond simple coverage, tonneau covers offer higher levels of
security, depending on the model. Most hinged (lift-up) tonneau
covers can be fully-secured using a locking tailgate. Hard top
and retractable tonneaus generally have secure key locking
systems that latch closed at the tailgate.

With a variety of security measures, a good href="http://www.autoanything.com/department.aspx?c_id=50174&se=t
onneau_covers_truck_bed_cover/" rel="nofollow">tonneau cover makes your
truck bed far more versatile than ever before — ideal for use
as a hauler or hiding spot.

Gas Mileage and Tonneau Covers: The Basics

Trucks are getting taller, engines are bigger, payloads are
getting deeper and the traffic is thicker than ever. You can
probably hear big oil companies laughing with their fistfuls of
cash every time the pump takes a big bite from your spending
money. A tonneau cover helps you even the score in one of the
only ways you can - by prolonging your next trip to the service
station.

Open truck beds can be a huge drag on your gas mileage. As air
flows over the aerodynamic front end of your vehicle, it can
swirl into your bed and catch on your tailgate — stealing
several miles off your latest tank.

Covering your truck bed with a tight tonneau cover — even a
soft model — stops the tailgate drag. Air hits the taut surface
of a hard or soft tonneau
cover and continues past your vehicle with nothing to catch.
And, it saves you mileage without crazy tailgate removal or
potentially damaging open-gate driving.

How much savings? A 5% improvement in fuel economy is the
industry-wide accepted number, though up to 10% is possible.
Your vehicle could see bigger or smaller effects. Still, the
idea is simple: a tonneau cover will save gas and eventually pay
for itself.

Great tonneau cover looks: a quick guide

A smooth tonneau cover adds custom truck style to bland
uncovered truck beds. Each tonneau cover we offer sports a
custom fit to the dimensions of your specific year, make and
model. The result is a special fit and exact appearance that was
made for your truck.

Tonneau covers can add any level of extra smart appearance to
your truck. Soft tonneau covers stretch tight, not just for
improved mileage but also for style. With a variety of lid
materials, retractable tonneau covers are the kings of the
low-profile smooth factor. Hard top tonneau covers are the
ultimate in custom looks: molded-over edges, seamless fitting
and optional paint matching.

A Guide to the History of Tonneau Covers

Tonneau covers (also known as truck bed covers, bed lids or
truck lids) have evolved from a number of versions designed for
a variety of uses. Because many crude bed cover designs existed
over the years, no one person or company can lay claim as the
originator of the tonneau cover.

Soft covers gained prominence while playing an important roll on
major speedways. Top-class sport truck racers used these
flexible bed covers as a lightweight way to improve their
aerodynamics and reduce drag. These racetrack tonneau covers sat
flush with the top of the bed and employed the same heavy-duty
materials used in today’s soft covers.

Hard top tonneau covers grew in popularity as an alternative to
full-size camper shells. These highly-customized truck bed lids,
most commonly made from fiberglass, have evolved into tonneaus
using a variety of materials and opening mechanisms.