Author : C Judge
Normally, I write about trucks as they relate to work applications. That doesn't mean that I'm not a car guy as well. I've had my share of classics, some good and some bad. I am particularly fond of the era from 1930 to around 1960. The sixties had their share of beautiful designs for sure. But the 30 years from the depression on, are of particular appeal to me. Possibly because that's when auto design advanced at a breathtaking clip. Think about how far apart in design a 1930 model A is from a 1958 Corvette Fuellie. That's a 28 year span. Now go back 28 years from today. Would a 1978 sedan or pickup really stand out on a modern street or parking lot? Maybe to true car people, but to the average person it would most likely blend in to the background. That's because true styling evolution has not only come to a screeching halt, it's gone backward.Look at the first half of this decade. The new Beetle, Mini, T-Bird, Mustang, Ford GT, Challenger, and Camaro. The best designers in the world are being paid handsomely to plagiarize someone else's original design, all in the name of nostalgia. Maybe you think that's a bit strong but I don't think so. When you run out of truly new ideas, all that's left is to revive (or steal) old ones. Is the new Challenger concept new? Hardly! It's clear Chrysler wants to recapture the cars long lost pony car mystique by modernizing past design queues. The same goes for the other cars previously mentioned.Some cars actually have a continuous evolution. An example is the Porsche 9 series cars. You can look at any year 9 series and know instantly it's a Porsche. And every year 9 was an attempt to improve the design and performance of the previous model, not an attempt to relive days gone by. The same could even be said for the Corvette to a lesser degree. With the exception of 1982, the Corvette evolved from version to version leading to the new C6. Now, some would say not each one was better than the previous. That's not the point. The point is that it survived. Evolution can be good or bad, but it's still evolution. When a species can no longer compete, it dies. Whether it's organic or automotive, the laws of natural selection still apply.You see, cars have a personality, a presence, some would even say a soul. Once that cars design evolution has lived out it's life, it should be allowed to rest in peace. It shouldn't be exhumed as each human generation enters their mid-life crisis. Does anyone buy the new Dodge Charger because they think it's kind of like their childhood neighbors 68 Hemi? Are we all going to try jumping the Hazard County Creek to elude Roscoe? Not likely. Look, the new GTO is a flop in sales terms by anyone's definition. But it's not the car that doesn't work, it's the association with arguably the first and most significant American muscle car. The new car is fine, excellent even, but it is not a GTO. That car named and marketed, as a new car with a new design, would have been more of a success. But as a GTO? Park it next to the T-Bird in the forgotten rehash wing of the automotive design museum. At least Nissan has the brains to keep increasing the numerical value of the Z cars each generation.In the decades I described earlier, people bought new cars every couple of years because each model year brought the promise of new designs, new models, new everything. Not old names, old designs, and old ideas. Are we so uncreative in this industry that we can't even come up with new names? Was every other potential name already used up when GM named the new generations of Malibu and Impala? Instead, they should have resurrected the Vega and Citation nameplates. At least nobody would be disappointed or offended.Our automotive heritage should be cherished and remembered in the context of the era in which it existed. The constant revamping of cars gone by is insulting to the original designers, the owners of the coveted originals, and the cars themselves. So, Mr. Marketing Manager, when the urge to name the new crossover, "Nomad" strikes you, just say no.C judge is first and foremost, a car lover. This is to my friend, Cris Carrier. The ultimate Car Guy. Thanks my friend.
Keyword : chevy camaro, challenger, dodge challenger, ford gt, porsche, corvette, restoration
วันศุกร์ที่ 29 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2551
Learner Drivers - Taking Lessons And Preparing For The Test
Author : Justin Brown
Being taught by a professional driving instructor is highly important, and although many friends or family members helping a learner driver may be reading this and thinking "I can do just as good a job as a driving instructor can!", the fact is that many experienced drivers are almost certainly used to driving with bad habits. Take this example; a large number of drivers will not use the interior mirror as often as they should, nor drive with their hands positioned on the steering wheel correctly.A professional driving instructor of course knows (or should know) the correct procedure for safe driving, and will teach you the correct way to drive in order to pass your test. They are also trained and experienced in teaching skills to nervous drivers, which can allow learners to feel more comfortable on their lessons.When choosing a driving instructor, remember that the cheapest option is not always the best. Having someone recommend an instructor is quite likely the best method of finding one that is appropriate for you, as your referrer will be able to highlight how helpful the instructor is, whether they are friendly and can be approached with any questions you may have whilst learning, and can also emphasise how successful the instructor is at teaching the driver the criteria that needs to be learnt. Speak to friends to discuss which instructor they used; their advice will be both helpful and impartial.However, don't rule out tuition from friends and family completely. The more practice a learner receives, the better the driver should become, and many driving manoeuvres may become second-nature. During these sessions, the learner driver needs to remember what they have been taught by their driving instructor and should put the methods into practice. If a learner chooses to practice with a member of the family, or a friend, then ensure that:- the person accompanying the driver is at least 21 years of age, and have held a full driving licence for at least three years
- the car being driven has 'L' plates at the front and rear
- the driver has adequate insurance coverSqueezing in as many lessons as possible in a short period of time may not be beneficial for all learners. If time and money allow, the learner should try to book in at least one lesson per week with a driving instructor and preferably two, for 1-2 hours per session. These lessons will cover all of the driving test criteria over the weeks, which will include:Moving off smoothly and safely on a level surface and at a gradient.Applying appropriate safety whilst driving, and abiding by the Highway Code.Using the controls (accelerator, footbrake, clutch, gears, steering) smoothly and safely.Reversing manoeuvres, including reversing round a corner and reversing into a parking space.Using interior and exterior mirrors effectively, before signalling, changing speed and direction.Performing a controlled stop.Turning in the road, and many other manoeuvres.When the driving instructor feels that the learner is ready for the full practical driving test, it may be beneficial to perform a mock test. This will involve the driving instructor to act as the examiner and for the learner to take instruction and execute a number of procedures that will be given, such as turning the car in the road. This will give the learner a good example of what to expect on the actual test, so that they can be prepared as well as possible.The examiner will test the driver on a selection of exercises that will have been covered in the lessons, and will assess the ability of the learner to drive competently.Justin Brown is the owner of the site http://www.idealauto.co.uk where you can find various driving school information and resources and also sell any used car in the UK.
Keyword : learner driver,learning to drive,driving school,driving test
Being taught by a professional driving instructor is highly important, and although many friends or family members helping a learner driver may be reading this and thinking "I can do just as good a job as a driving instructor can!", the fact is that many experienced drivers are almost certainly used to driving with bad habits. Take this example; a large number of drivers will not use the interior mirror as often as they should, nor drive with their hands positioned on the steering wheel correctly.A professional driving instructor of course knows (or should know) the correct procedure for safe driving, and will teach you the correct way to drive in order to pass your test. They are also trained and experienced in teaching skills to nervous drivers, which can allow learners to feel more comfortable on their lessons.When choosing a driving instructor, remember that the cheapest option is not always the best. Having someone recommend an instructor is quite likely the best method of finding one that is appropriate for you, as your referrer will be able to highlight how helpful the instructor is, whether they are friendly and can be approached with any questions you may have whilst learning, and can also emphasise how successful the instructor is at teaching the driver the criteria that needs to be learnt. Speak to friends to discuss which instructor they used; their advice will be both helpful and impartial.However, don't rule out tuition from friends and family completely. The more practice a learner receives, the better the driver should become, and many driving manoeuvres may become second-nature. During these sessions, the learner driver needs to remember what they have been taught by their driving instructor and should put the methods into practice. If a learner chooses to practice with a member of the family, or a friend, then ensure that:- the person accompanying the driver is at least 21 years of age, and have held a full driving licence for at least three years
- the car being driven has 'L' plates at the front and rear
- the driver has adequate insurance coverSqueezing in as many lessons as possible in a short period of time may not be beneficial for all learners. If time and money allow, the learner should try to book in at least one lesson per week with a driving instructor and preferably two, for 1-2 hours per session. These lessons will cover all of the driving test criteria over the weeks, which will include:Moving off smoothly and safely on a level surface and at a gradient.Applying appropriate safety whilst driving, and abiding by the Highway Code.Using the controls (accelerator, footbrake, clutch, gears, steering) smoothly and safely.Reversing manoeuvres, including reversing round a corner and reversing into a parking space.Using interior and exterior mirrors effectively, before signalling, changing speed and direction.Performing a controlled stop.Turning in the road, and many other manoeuvres.When the driving instructor feels that the learner is ready for the full practical driving test, it may be beneficial to perform a mock test. This will involve the driving instructor to act as the examiner and for the learner to take instruction and execute a number of procedures that will be given, such as turning the car in the road. This will give the learner a good example of what to expect on the actual test, so that they can be prepared as well as possible.The examiner will test the driver on a selection of exercises that will have been covered in the lessons, and will assess the ability of the learner to drive competently.Justin Brown is the owner of the site http://www.idealauto.co.uk where you can find various driving school information and resources and also sell any used car in the UK.
Keyword : learner driver,learning to drive,driving school,driving test
Are You Over Polishing Your Car's Paint?
Author : David Bynon
I have been reading a lot of threads on the Autopia.org forum lately that basically start with people asking "what polish should I use?" I couldn't help but think, how do I best avoid using an abrasive polish all together?I posted the basic content of this article on Autopia to see what members had to say. The conversation was interesting and insightful.I think it's time for a completely different discussion about paint polishing. What I strive to achieve is the highest level of paint perfection without altering the structure of the paint. Once I get there, I want to use the proper tools and techniques to keep my paint looking perfect.When I have a paint problem, I want to be able to fix it without removing excessive clearcoat that I need to maintain a deep-looking finish. I'm a huge advocate of spot treatment. I rarely take an abrasive polishing compound to an entire body panel, or worse, the whole car. It simply isn't necessary.I have the distinct feeling from reading many Autopia threads that people are buying step 1-2-3 products and using all of them because that's what they feel is necessary to achieve "the best results". In no way is this use of paint polish an appropriate way to care for paint.RULE 1: Do less damage than the damage that already exists.My experience shows me that 95% of all paint issues can be resolved with a very fine polish, the right tools and the right technique. So, why is it that so many people are willing to reach for a harsh compound as the first step... when it should be the last resort?Autopia Member fotodad writes:"You make many excellent points! I tend to get all caught up in having the "best" most glossy finish I can have, but I never thought about actually doing more harm than good. I truly believe (after reading your post) that detailing can reach a point of diminishing returns once we get involved in all these assorted polishes and paint preparation products. Certainly no one would dispute the need to keep an automobile's finish clean of dirt and general debris via weekly or even daily cleaning. But is it really necessary or even smart to polish and wax or just wax more than once every two months?Often times neighbors will walk past my house while I'm detailing and they'll jokingly say, "You're going to rub the paint right off the car!" I laugh, call them a few choice names under my breath and continue polishing. But maybe they've got a point!"Your neighbors are correct, fotodad, you are going to polish the paint off your car. I know, as I have done it!There is a class of paint polish that can be used to maintain gloss without abrasives that thin your paint. These polishes are most commonly called pre-wax cleaners. The polishing (gloss enhancing) action is a combination of chemical cleaners that remove embedded dirt and very fine polishes that maintain gloss. The polishing "abrasive" is about the consistency of talcum powder. My two favorite products are Sonus Paintwork Cleanser and P21S Paintwork Cleansing Lotion. There are many others.RULE 2: Don't remove clearcoat you may need some day!We all talk about gloss, depth and clarity, but are you stopping to think about what you might be doing to each of these final finish characteristics each time you take an abrasive polish to your paint? You might be seeing more gloss, but it's coming at the expense of depth and maybe even paint finish clarity.Most professional polishes are designed to be used with a rotary buffer, by an experienced technician. When you use these polishes by hand or dual-action (DA) polisher, you put scratches in your paint finish that will not come out by using the next polish up in the line.Autopia Member Accumulator writes:"Glad you mentioned the lack of depth that can result from excessive polishing. You really can see the way a thin clearcoat lacks depth. My '95 Caprice is a good example of that; you can tell that the previous owner tried a little too hard to 'polish it up'. Now I can either live with how it looks or repaint, but I can't do much more polishing. I don't need a paint thickness gauge to tell me there isn't a normal amount of clearcoat on it."There's no doubt that the clearcoat on the modern car finish creates the beauty of the finish. To retain the good looks, the clearcoat must remain clean and finely polished. Heavy polishing will reduce finish clarity and depth.Autopia Member Tasty writes: "I posted a question about this exact topic when I came to the forums on one of my early visits. I raised the issue of how much polishing and abrasive use can be done before you are actually just wearing the paint thin. I also read the study that one guy did about abrasives on paint over on the Meguiar's forum. He tried several products on a hood panel, and after each use measured with a paint thickness gauge. It became clear that you REALLY have to get aggressive to remove any significant amount of clear or paint, but nonetheless the points in this thread are good. After time all the less aggressive products effects become cumulative, and may start to do more harm than good."It should be noted that a proper paint finish (primer, color and clearcoat) is only 6-8 thousandths (6/1000) of an inch thick. If your car has a quality clearcoat, it will be about half of that total paint thickness. Removing 1-2 thousandths of and inch of clearcoat happens in a matter of seconds with an abrasive polish.My business partner got a 3-inch long scratch in the clearcoat of his new Lexus SC. I used a spot pad and a corrective polish to pull most of the scratch out so it would pass the 5 foot test. He said "...but I can still see a trace of the scratch close-up..." I explained that if I removed more material we risked thinning the clearcoat and creating a patch of paint that no longer matches the rest of the finish.Sometimes, enough is enough. The skill is learning how to read the paint and knowing what the final result will be when you use a product.RULE 3: Know for a fact what tasks the products you're using were designed to perform.Are you using a polish designed to be used on an automotive assembly line by a technician with a 4-inch spot pad on a pneumatic polisher to remove 2400 grit sanding marks? If so, what are the equivalent pad specs, rotation speed and polish time to remove your 5000 grit equivalent swirl marks?Are you using a refinisher's panel blending compound originally designed to cut and blend fresh paint using a wool pad as a general purpose cutting compound? If so, can your foam cutting pad effectively generate enough heat on your DA to break down the abrasives to prevent paint scouring?The fact is, very few abrasive polish systems were designed from the ground up to be a DA polishing system. Very few others have bothered to correctly match "general purpose" polishes with polishing pads and proper instructions to create a system.Autopia Member Accumulator writes: "As for the abrasive products, I generally find myself using (and recommending) those that can be used by hand/PC/rotary. Nothing that requires any real specialize technique or equipment. You might not get the best results without a rotary, but you won't do any real damage either. I sort of cringe reading recommendations to use rotary-only products by hand or PC."Again, I reiterate buyer beware. All abrasive polishes have abrasive particles with different characteristics. Abrasives have different size, shape and hardness. Some abrasive particles are designed to break down into smaller, finer abrasives as the polish is applied. Others are designed to cut continuously at the same rate.PAINT CARE WITHOUT ABRASIVESMost new car finishes can be properly maintained without using abrasive (corrective) polishes. Doing so requires smart paint care, including regular washing and waxing, use of proper wash and wax tools (wash mitts, applicators, towels, etc.) and cautious parking. Finish damage avoidance is the best way to maintain a perfect finish. Nothing will swirl a paint finish faster than a bad wash mitt or drying towels.If you park away from soccer moms and shopping carts, and wash your car using proper tools, you can keep the finish free of light surface damage for a long time. When your paint does get marred, the problem can be locally treated by hand or with a spot pad with a corrective polish.Member Jinba ittai writes: "I've always thought that it's preferable to get rid of or lessen a scratch by filling it rather than taking actual paint off. That's always the way I've always operated. IMO [in my opinion] the more paint on the car, the better. I was taught to start with the least abrasive product and work your way up.Maybe it's because I'm a wuss when it comes to using a buffer on the paint. I still do it all by hand. I have to admit that I am impressed by the pictures I've seen here of cars that are too far gone for a simple hand polish that have cleaned up nicely with a polisher."This is a great approach. Many wax products can be layered to help cover minor surface marring. My favorite combination is Klasse All-In-One followed by P21S Carnauba Wax. Others swear by the Zaino polish system.Member laefd writes: "I'm often reminded of that old saying, "moderation in all things…" The trick is to learn to live with the minor imperfections and reach a happy medium where you take care of the issues that lead to the problem - proper wash, protection, etc. If you have a problem that needs immediate attention then take care of it, if you have issues (swirling, etc.) take care of the swirls when it crosses your individual threshold for tolerance. Just make sure you set your standard at a point that you're not obsessed."I could not agree more with laefd's comments. Moderation is the key.I offer the following advice for proper long-term paint finish on new and like-new cars:
Wash weekly (as possible) using a quality car wash, wash mitt and drying towels.Deep clean paint twice a year with detailing clay. Polish paint 3-4 times a year with a pre-wax, non-abrasive polish. Seal paint 3-4 times a year with a quality paint sealant. Protect your paint finish from damage by other motorists and pedestrians.
These five simple steps will keep your paint looking great without the need to use heavy polishes for corrective action.Proper paint polish, detailing clay and car wash are available from http://autopia-carcare.comFormer information systems executive, technology columnist, and author of five computer science text books, David Bynon is certifiably "Car Crazy." His http://autopia.org community web site is home to more than 25,000 car detailing enthusiasts.
Keyword : car care, detailing, paint, polish, wax, clearcoat
I have been reading a lot of threads on the Autopia.org forum lately that basically start with people asking "what polish should I use?" I couldn't help but think, how do I best avoid using an abrasive polish all together?I posted the basic content of this article on Autopia to see what members had to say. The conversation was interesting and insightful.I think it's time for a completely different discussion about paint polishing. What I strive to achieve is the highest level of paint perfection without altering the structure of the paint. Once I get there, I want to use the proper tools and techniques to keep my paint looking perfect.When I have a paint problem, I want to be able to fix it without removing excessive clearcoat that I need to maintain a deep-looking finish. I'm a huge advocate of spot treatment. I rarely take an abrasive polishing compound to an entire body panel, or worse, the whole car. It simply isn't necessary.I have the distinct feeling from reading many Autopia threads that people are buying step 1-2-3 products and using all of them because that's what they feel is necessary to achieve "the best results". In no way is this use of paint polish an appropriate way to care for paint.RULE 1: Do less damage than the damage that already exists.My experience shows me that 95% of all paint issues can be resolved with a very fine polish, the right tools and the right technique. So, why is it that so many people are willing to reach for a harsh compound as the first step... when it should be the last resort?Autopia Member fotodad writes:"You make many excellent points! I tend to get all caught up in having the "best" most glossy finish I can have, but I never thought about actually doing more harm than good. I truly believe (after reading your post) that detailing can reach a point of diminishing returns once we get involved in all these assorted polishes and paint preparation products. Certainly no one would dispute the need to keep an automobile's finish clean of dirt and general debris via weekly or even daily cleaning. But is it really necessary or even smart to polish and wax or just wax more than once every two months?Often times neighbors will walk past my house while I'm detailing and they'll jokingly say, "You're going to rub the paint right off the car!" I laugh, call them a few choice names under my breath and continue polishing. But maybe they've got a point!"Your neighbors are correct, fotodad, you are going to polish the paint off your car. I know, as I have done it!There is a class of paint polish that can be used to maintain gloss without abrasives that thin your paint. These polishes are most commonly called pre-wax cleaners. The polishing (gloss enhancing) action is a combination of chemical cleaners that remove embedded dirt and very fine polishes that maintain gloss. The polishing "abrasive" is about the consistency of talcum powder. My two favorite products are Sonus Paintwork Cleanser and P21S Paintwork Cleansing Lotion. There are many others.RULE 2: Don't remove clearcoat you may need some day!We all talk about gloss, depth and clarity, but are you stopping to think about what you might be doing to each of these final finish characteristics each time you take an abrasive polish to your paint? You might be seeing more gloss, but it's coming at the expense of depth and maybe even paint finish clarity.Most professional polishes are designed to be used with a rotary buffer, by an experienced technician. When you use these polishes by hand or dual-action (DA) polisher, you put scratches in your paint finish that will not come out by using the next polish up in the line.Autopia Member Accumulator writes:"Glad you mentioned the lack of depth that can result from excessive polishing. You really can see the way a thin clearcoat lacks depth. My '95 Caprice is a good example of that; you can tell that the previous owner tried a little too hard to 'polish it up'. Now I can either live with how it looks or repaint, but I can't do much more polishing. I don't need a paint thickness gauge to tell me there isn't a normal amount of clearcoat on it."There's no doubt that the clearcoat on the modern car finish creates the beauty of the finish. To retain the good looks, the clearcoat must remain clean and finely polished. Heavy polishing will reduce finish clarity and depth.Autopia Member Tasty writes: "I posted a question about this exact topic when I came to the forums on one of my early visits. I raised the issue of how much polishing and abrasive use can be done before you are actually just wearing the paint thin. I also read the study that one guy did about abrasives on paint over on the Meguiar's forum. He tried several products on a hood panel, and after each use measured with a paint thickness gauge. It became clear that you REALLY have to get aggressive to remove any significant amount of clear or paint, but nonetheless the points in this thread are good. After time all the less aggressive products effects become cumulative, and may start to do more harm than good."It should be noted that a proper paint finish (primer, color and clearcoat) is only 6-8 thousandths (6/1000) of an inch thick. If your car has a quality clearcoat, it will be about half of that total paint thickness. Removing 1-2 thousandths of and inch of clearcoat happens in a matter of seconds with an abrasive polish.My business partner got a 3-inch long scratch in the clearcoat of his new Lexus SC. I used a spot pad and a corrective polish to pull most of the scratch out so it would pass the 5 foot test. He said "...but I can still see a trace of the scratch close-up..." I explained that if I removed more material we risked thinning the clearcoat and creating a patch of paint that no longer matches the rest of the finish.Sometimes, enough is enough. The skill is learning how to read the paint and knowing what the final result will be when you use a product.RULE 3: Know for a fact what tasks the products you're using were designed to perform.Are you using a polish designed to be used on an automotive assembly line by a technician with a 4-inch spot pad on a pneumatic polisher to remove 2400 grit sanding marks? If so, what are the equivalent pad specs, rotation speed and polish time to remove your 5000 grit equivalent swirl marks?Are you using a refinisher's panel blending compound originally designed to cut and blend fresh paint using a wool pad as a general purpose cutting compound? If so, can your foam cutting pad effectively generate enough heat on your DA to break down the abrasives to prevent paint scouring?The fact is, very few abrasive polish systems were designed from the ground up to be a DA polishing system. Very few others have bothered to correctly match "general purpose" polishes with polishing pads and proper instructions to create a system.Autopia Member Accumulator writes: "As for the abrasive products, I generally find myself using (and recommending) those that can be used by hand/PC/rotary. Nothing that requires any real specialize technique or equipment. You might not get the best results without a rotary, but you won't do any real damage either. I sort of cringe reading recommendations to use rotary-only products by hand or PC."Again, I reiterate buyer beware. All abrasive polishes have abrasive particles with different characteristics. Abrasives have different size, shape and hardness. Some abrasive particles are designed to break down into smaller, finer abrasives as the polish is applied. Others are designed to cut continuously at the same rate.PAINT CARE WITHOUT ABRASIVESMost new car finishes can be properly maintained without using abrasive (corrective) polishes. Doing so requires smart paint care, including regular washing and waxing, use of proper wash and wax tools (wash mitts, applicators, towels, etc.) and cautious parking. Finish damage avoidance is the best way to maintain a perfect finish. Nothing will swirl a paint finish faster than a bad wash mitt or drying towels.If you park away from soccer moms and shopping carts, and wash your car using proper tools, you can keep the finish free of light surface damage for a long time. When your paint does get marred, the problem can be locally treated by hand or with a spot pad with a corrective polish.Member Jinba ittai writes: "I've always thought that it's preferable to get rid of or lessen a scratch by filling it rather than taking actual paint off. That's always the way I've always operated. IMO [in my opinion] the more paint on the car, the better. I was taught to start with the least abrasive product and work your way up.Maybe it's because I'm a wuss when it comes to using a buffer on the paint. I still do it all by hand. I have to admit that I am impressed by the pictures I've seen here of cars that are too far gone for a simple hand polish that have cleaned up nicely with a polisher."This is a great approach. Many wax products can be layered to help cover minor surface marring. My favorite combination is Klasse All-In-One followed by P21S Carnauba Wax. Others swear by the Zaino polish system.Member laefd writes: "I'm often reminded of that old saying, "moderation in all things…" The trick is to learn to live with the minor imperfections and reach a happy medium where you take care of the issues that lead to the problem - proper wash, protection, etc. If you have a problem that needs immediate attention then take care of it, if you have issues (swirling, etc.) take care of the swirls when it crosses your individual threshold for tolerance. Just make sure you set your standard at a point that you're not obsessed."I could not agree more with laefd's comments. Moderation is the key.I offer the following advice for proper long-term paint finish on new and like-new cars:
Wash weekly (as possible) using a quality car wash, wash mitt and drying towels.Deep clean paint twice a year with detailing clay. Polish paint 3-4 times a year with a pre-wax, non-abrasive polish. Seal paint 3-4 times a year with a quality paint sealant. Protect your paint finish from damage by other motorists and pedestrians.
These five simple steps will keep your paint looking great without the need to use heavy polishes for corrective action.Proper paint polish, detailing clay and car wash are available from http://autopia-carcare.comFormer information systems executive, technology columnist, and author of five computer science text books, David Bynon is certifiably "Car Crazy." His http://autopia.org community web site is home to more than 25,000 car detailing enthusiasts.
Keyword : car care, detailing, paint, polish, wax, clearcoat
Many Choices for the Volvo 850
Author : Kenneth McKinley
The United States met the Volvo 850 as a 1993 model. However, the rest of the world was introduced to this vehicle as a model for the year 1992. The Volvo 850 was crafted and sold as a sedan. Later on in 1994, it welcomed in a wagon model in its family. This vehicle, the Volvo 850, is the first model in the United States that featured a front wheel drive along with an all-aluminum five cylinder engine with twenty valves.The Volvo 850 has a remarkable interior space of some 99 cubic feet of room. This space was all due to the right mounting of its engine under the vehicle's hood. It also sported an improved handling and steering over its Volvo predecessors. The company held a US patent for the use of rear axle bushings that compress under load so as to create passive rear steering. This kind of technology brought and functioned well for the Volvo 850 for it had a dynamic driving performance coupled up with flexibility and space. The construction and engineering of this vehicle guarantees drivers and owners outstanding road handling, comfort, security, and the Volvo reputation for total safety. The vehicle command respect. It also receives adulation. It has a dynamic sporting style and unequalled poise from the very first time you meet it. Tagging along with the Volvo 850 is safety technology, utility and total functionality. Making the vehicle comfortable to ride in is the specially thought over ergonomic design and generous equipment.Customers have a choice for this vehicle has been constructed with seven different model specifications. There is also a choice for its seven engines that could either be petrol or diesel fueled. This wide range of choices would give the customers a choice as per what kind of performance and quality they would want their Volvo 850 to have. A manual and an automatic transmission was also made available. There are sixteen body hues to choose from along with three interior color schemes. The upholstery finishes is not left behind for it holds four selections.All of the Volvo 850s that has been sold in the United States bears standard equipment that includes dual front airbags, antilock brakes, head restraints, three-point seat belts, power windows, door locks, power mirrors, a cruise control, and a dual zone climate control. Added in are side torso airbags. The options given for the Volvo 850 comprised of traction control, a leather interior, a power glass moonroof and sunroof, power seats, heated seats, a remote keyless entry, an automatic climate controls, and an automatic transmission.Volvo Parts and Used Volvo PartsVolvo 850 partsVolvo climate control---------------------Kenneth McKinley is a 35-year old marketing specialist of a leading auto parts dealer in the country today. Working in the car parts industry for a long time now and being a car enthusiast himself gives him a wealth of knowledge on anything automotive.
Keyword : auto parts,Volvo 850 parts,brakes,climate control
The United States met the Volvo 850 as a 1993 model. However, the rest of the world was introduced to this vehicle as a model for the year 1992. The Volvo 850 was crafted and sold as a sedan. Later on in 1994, it welcomed in a wagon model in its family. This vehicle, the Volvo 850, is the first model in the United States that featured a front wheel drive along with an all-aluminum five cylinder engine with twenty valves.The Volvo 850 has a remarkable interior space of some 99 cubic feet of room. This space was all due to the right mounting of its engine under the vehicle's hood. It also sported an improved handling and steering over its Volvo predecessors. The company held a US patent for the use of rear axle bushings that compress under load so as to create passive rear steering. This kind of technology brought and functioned well for the Volvo 850 for it had a dynamic driving performance coupled up with flexibility and space. The construction and engineering of this vehicle guarantees drivers and owners outstanding road handling, comfort, security, and the Volvo reputation for total safety. The vehicle command respect. It also receives adulation. It has a dynamic sporting style and unequalled poise from the very first time you meet it. Tagging along with the Volvo 850 is safety technology, utility and total functionality. Making the vehicle comfortable to ride in is the specially thought over ergonomic design and generous equipment.Customers have a choice for this vehicle has been constructed with seven different model specifications. There is also a choice for its seven engines that could either be petrol or diesel fueled. This wide range of choices would give the customers a choice as per what kind of performance and quality they would want their Volvo 850 to have. A manual and an automatic transmission was also made available. There are sixteen body hues to choose from along with three interior color schemes. The upholstery finishes is not left behind for it holds four selections.All of the Volvo 850s that has been sold in the United States bears standard equipment that includes dual front airbags, antilock brakes, head restraints, three-point seat belts, power windows, door locks, power mirrors, a cruise control, and a dual zone climate control. Added in are side torso airbags. The options given for the Volvo 850 comprised of traction control, a leather interior, a power glass moonroof and sunroof, power seats, heated seats, a remote keyless entry, an automatic climate controls, and an automatic transmission.Volvo Parts and Used Volvo PartsVolvo 850 partsVolvo climate control---------------------Kenneth McKinley is a 35-year old marketing specialist of a leading auto parts dealer in the country today. Working in the car parts industry for a long time now and being a car enthusiast himself gives him a wealth of knowledge on anything automotive.
Keyword : auto parts,Volvo 850 parts,brakes,climate control
Road Maintenance
Author : Elizabeth Morgan
A wise man has once said, "To judge a country's economic state, first review its road conditions." Undoubtedly, this well-known saying has logic behind it, which we all are aware of. Thus, it is imperative that we must emphasize Road Maintenance in our socio-development prospects.Road Maintenance offers several direct and indirect benefits, like smoother journeys, lesser consumption of gas and availability of roads for a longer duration of time. It usually involves two major maintenance aspects – Corrective Maintenance that includes repair work like Pot Hole Patching, Crack Filling and Sweeping, or Preventive Maintenance like Crack Sealing and Surface Correction to ensure slow deterioration of roads.Pot Hole Patching is the most cost-effective Corrective Maintenance activity. It is also called Reseal Treatment, in which a layer of bitumen is sprayed onto the existing road. Then stone chips are spread over this layer and subsequently rolled with a road roller. The other method is called Asphalt Resurfacing, in which hot mixed asphalt is used to correct surface deficiencies and restore surface evenness. Besides Pot Hole Patching, one must also concentrate on minor reshaping and minor stabilizing before these issues turn into a much bigger headache.Crack Sealing is another Road Maintenance activity. Sealants and asphalt are used to fill pavement joints and cracks to prevent water from penetrating into the surface, thus adding more life to the road. Another form of Preventive Maintenance is Surface Correction. In this maintenance activity, a thin film of surfacing is made to improve surface integrity and waterproofing.Everybody wants to see his neighborhood neat and clean. Taking care of this issue, one must emphasis on Sweeping / Street Cleaning to remove debris from streets, reduce pollutants and reduce maintenance costs that governments spend, usually to keep drainage systems clean.Maintenance provides detailed information about maintenance, aircraft maintenance, car maintenance, equipment maintenance and more. Maintenance is the sister site of Pontoon Boat Lifts.
Keyword : maintenance, aircraft maintenance, car maintenance, equipment maintenance
A wise man has once said, "To judge a country's economic state, first review its road conditions." Undoubtedly, this well-known saying has logic behind it, which we all are aware of. Thus, it is imperative that we must emphasize Road Maintenance in our socio-development prospects.Road Maintenance offers several direct and indirect benefits, like smoother journeys, lesser consumption of gas and availability of roads for a longer duration of time. It usually involves two major maintenance aspects – Corrective Maintenance that includes repair work like Pot Hole Patching, Crack Filling and Sweeping, or Preventive Maintenance like Crack Sealing and Surface Correction to ensure slow deterioration of roads.Pot Hole Patching is the most cost-effective Corrective Maintenance activity. It is also called Reseal Treatment, in which a layer of bitumen is sprayed onto the existing road. Then stone chips are spread over this layer and subsequently rolled with a road roller. The other method is called Asphalt Resurfacing, in which hot mixed asphalt is used to correct surface deficiencies and restore surface evenness. Besides Pot Hole Patching, one must also concentrate on minor reshaping and minor stabilizing before these issues turn into a much bigger headache.Crack Sealing is another Road Maintenance activity. Sealants and asphalt are used to fill pavement joints and cracks to prevent water from penetrating into the surface, thus adding more life to the road. Another form of Preventive Maintenance is Surface Correction. In this maintenance activity, a thin film of surfacing is made to improve surface integrity and waterproofing.Everybody wants to see his neighborhood neat and clean. Taking care of this issue, one must emphasis on Sweeping / Street Cleaning to remove debris from streets, reduce pollutants and reduce maintenance costs that governments spend, usually to keep drainage systems clean.Maintenance provides detailed information about maintenance, aircraft maintenance, car maintenance, equipment maintenance and more. Maintenance is the sister site of Pontoon Boat Lifts.
Keyword : maintenance, aircraft maintenance, car maintenance, equipment maintenance
When There's A Doubt There Is No Doubt!
Author : Dr. Gary S. Goodman
Yesterday, I had an interesting experience at the car dealership, where I brought my car for service.I had an appointment, having been forced to make one a full week, in advance. I even knew the name of the service consultant with whom I was scheduled to speak.The formality of it all, even before I showed up, alarmed me. It was way, too ceremonial, just for a 25,000 mile service and a possible brake job.That morning, I could feel my stomach tensing; it's the same sensation that I get before I'm going to have a showdown in business. But wait a minute.These aren't my clients; I'm theirs! "Why am I so uptight?" I wondered.I just got the feeling that I was being set up for a rip off.Well sure, you might say; it's a car dealer, c'mon!No, I haven't felt this way about this dealership, before.Something was up.Anyway, I brought the car in at the appointed time, mentioned what was lighting up on my dash, and I left, awaiting a call. I got it and the news was that I needed rear tires, brake pads, rotors, and sensors, a lot of warranty work, and an oil change.It would set me back over $2,000.Excuse me?I was being up-sold, galore. Forget it, just do the oil and the free warranty repairs, I said.Today, I took the car to an AAA certified independent shop. They couldn't find my wheel key; it had mysteriously disappeared, we infer, at the dealership.I suppose they just wanted to make it a little more difficult for me to get the brake work done, elsewhere.This reminds me of the line from the movie, "Ronin," with Robert De Niro and Jean Reno. De Niro was a CIA operative having a conversation with another agent, one from French intelligence, and he said, "When there's a doubt, there is no doubt!"This means, trust your gut. If you think you're being ripped off, or something is crooked, go no farther.That doubt, alone, is sufficient to tell you there IS a doubt; you're not dealing with somebody you can trust.Don't walk away; drive, that is, if your car still works, at all!Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, "The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable," published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com
Keyword : call center training,sales training,customer servic training,telemarket training,karate,martial arts
Yesterday, I had an interesting experience at the car dealership, where I brought my car for service.I had an appointment, having been forced to make one a full week, in advance. I even knew the name of the service consultant with whom I was scheduled to speak.The formality of it all, even before I showed up, alarmed me. It was way, too ceremonial, just for a 25,000 mile service and a possible brake job.That morning, I could feel my stomach tensing; it's the same sensation that I get before I'm going to have a showdown in business. But wait a minute.These aren't my clients; I'm theirs! "Why am I so uptight?" I wondered.I just got the feeling that I was being set up for a rip off.Well sure, you might say; it's a car dealer, c'mon!No, I haven't felt this way about this dealership, before.Something was up.Anyway, I brought the car in at the appointed time, mentioned what was lighting up on my dash, and I left, awaiting a call. I got it and the news was that I needed rear tires, brake pads, rotors, and sensors, a lot of warranty work, and an oil change.It would set me back over $2,000.Excuse me?I was being up-sold, galore. Forget it, just do the oil and the free warranty repairs, I said.Today, I took the car to an AAA certified independent shop. They couldn't find my wheel key; it had mysteriously disappeared, we infer, at the dealership.I suppose they just wanted to make it a little more difficult for me to get the brake work done, elsewhere.This reminds me of the line from the movie, "Ronin," with Robert De Niro and Jean Reno. De Niro was a CIA operative having a conversation with another agent, one from French intelligence, and he said, "When there's a doubt, there is no doubt!"This means, trust your gut. If you think you're being ripped off, or something is crooked, go no farther.That doubt, alone, is sufficient to tell you there IS a doubt; you're not dealing with somebody you can trust.Don't walk away; drive, that is, if your car still works, at all!Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, "The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable," published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com
Keyword : call center training,sales training,customer servic training,telemarket training,karate,martial arts
Muscle Cars: Old Generation or New?
Author : Scott Bianchi
Ford was the first of the Big Three American car makers to introduce a car that would bring them back to a time when they were one of the leaders in the automotive world. Chrysler has announced that they plan to be the next and GM has unveiled plans for a retro vehicle as well. Ford had initially done this retro thing via the Ford Thunderbird but that was not considered a "muscle car" back in the muscle car era. Chrysler has brought back the Charger name but it looks nothing like the Dodge Charger of the late 60's and early 70's. GM brought back the GTO name but once again, it looked nothing like the previous GTO's.Ford was the first to bring a car back that actually looks like a past model in the Mustang. The new Mustangs resemble a pervious Mustang from the muscle car era. Chrysler followed suit with their announcement of bringing back the Challenger, which in my opinion looks more like the Challenger than the Mustang does. Not wanting to be left out, GM has announced they plan to bring back the Camaro. Their Camaro very much resembles the 69 Camaro which was and still is a very popular body style amongst Camaro enthusiasts. I still think the Challenger most resembles its intended target.Ford has done a decent job pricing their Mustang. You can get a nicely equipped Mustang GT hardtop for right around $30,000. This is reasonably priced in today's market. The other two have not gotten theirs to the showroom yet so there is no way to know about pricing but they face a challenge that Ford does not have. Chrysler has the Viper and the Ram SRT-10 that also qualify in the performance market. They cannot price the Challenger too closely to those models because people would probably spend the extra money for the higher performance of the ten cylinder vehicles. GM is faced with a similar dilemma because of the Corvette. The Corvette was just restyled and is even higher performing compared to the previous model. Their Z06 model now boasts an impressive 505 HP. All the reviews I have read on the new model rave about this car. Clearly GM needs to price the new Camaro properly when and if they actually do produce it. The name will not be enough to sell it for a long period of time. Once the initial excitement dies down it will be a flop if not priced directly.What is interesting to me is now that the Big Three are losing market share and business is clearly not what it once was they are not only changing many of their vehicles but they are attempting to get back into their glory days. For example, Ford did away with their very popular Taurus model and replaced it with the Ford 500. Chrysler introduced a whole new styling within the last couple of years. GM is now coming out with cars that more resemble the Toyota models. I have some friends that are big into muscle cars and the new Mustang, Challenger, and Camaros have come up in some conversations. None of them have said they would even consider the $30,000 or more price tag that these cars will have once they hit the showroom floors. For $30,000 someone could buy a Camry, or the Maxima. The Maxima is a very high performing vehicle that also comes with the added reliability.I do not know what it will take for the Big Three to really turn things around but I really like the looks of the newer generation muscle cars. I think they were sharp cars back when they first came out and they are still very sharp. Hopefully they perform as well as they look and they make their ancestors proud.Scott Bianchi operates http://www.best-internet-bargains.com . He writes on a variety of topics. If you would like to be added to his distribution list for his new articles when they are published just send an email to articles@bestinternetbargains.com .
Keyword : muscle cars, mustang, challenger, camaro, charger, chrysler, GM, Ford
Ford was the first of the Big Three American car makers to introduce a car that would bring them back to a time when they were one of the leaders in the automotive world. Chrysler has announced that they plan to be the next and GM has unveiled plans for a retro vehicle as well. Ford had initially done this retro thing via the Ford Thunderbird but that was not considered a "muscle car" back in the muscle car era. Chrysler has brought back the Charger name but it looks nothing like the Dodge Charger of the late 60's and early 70's. GM brought back the GTO name but once again, it looked nothing like the previous GTO's.Ford was the first to bring a car back that actually looks like a past model in the Mustang. The new Mustangs resemble a pervious Mustang from the muscle car era. Chrysler followed suit with their announcement of bringing back the Challenger, which in my opinion looks more like the Challenger than the Mustang does. Not wanting to be left out, GM has announced they plan to bring back the Camaro. Their Camaro very much resembles the 69 Camaro which was and still is a very popular body style amongst Camaro enthusiasts. I still think the Challenger most resembles its intended target.Ford has done a decent job pricing their Mustang. You can get a nicely equipped Mustang GT hardtop for right around $30,000. This is reasonably priced in today's market. The other two have not gotten theirs to the showroom yet so there is no way to know about pricing but they face a challenge that Ford does not have. Chrysler has the Viper and the Ram SRT-10 that also qualify in the performance market. They cannot price the Challenger too closely to those models because people would probably spend the extra money for the higher performance of the ten cylinder vehicles. GM is faced with a similar dilemma because of the Corvette. The Corvette was just restyled and is even higher performing compared to the previous model. Their Z06 model now boasts an impressive 505 HP. All the reviews I have read on the new model rave about this car. Clearly GM needs to price the new Camaro properly when and if they actually do produce it. The name will not be enough to sell it for a long period of time. Once the initial excitement dies down it will be a flop if not priced directly.What is interesting to me is now that the Big Three are losing market share and business is clearly not what it once was they are not only changing many of their vehicles but they are attempting to get back into their glory days. For example, Ford did away with their very popular Taurus model and replaced it with the Ford 500. Chrysler introduced a whole new styling within the last couple of years. GM is now coming out with cars that more resemble the Toyota models. I have some friends that are big into muscle cars and the new Mustang, Challenger, and Camaros have come up in some conversations. None of them have said they would even consider the $30,000 or more price tag that these cars will have once they hit the showroom floors. For $30,000 someone could buy a Camry, or the Maxima. The Maxima is a very high performing vehicle that also comes with the added reliability.I do not know what it will take for the Big Three to really turn things around but I really like the looks of the newer generation muscle cars. I think they were sharp cars back when they first came out and they are still very sharp. Hopefully they perform as well as they look and they make their ancestors proud.Scott Bianchi operates http://www.best-internet-bargains.com . He writes on a variety of topics. If you would like to be added to his distribution list for his new articles when they are published just send an email to articles@bestinternetbargains.com .
Keyword : muscle cars, mustang, challenger, camaro, charger, chrysler, GM, Ford
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