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Tips and Advice



Category: Cars

Simple rules to follow in the case of an car accident

29 October, 2008 (23:53) | Health, Cars, general science | By: admin

1. Above all, do not pull people out of the car, unless it is already on fire. This could further seriously injure or kill them.

2. Send someone to flag down traffic far enough away from the scene of the accident for safety, or do this yourself. The first cars to come along should be sent in opposite directions to telephone for help. The drivers of any other cars can then act as flagmen to block traffic from both directions.

3. Switch off the ignition and lights in the crashed car to prevent fire.

4. If there is more than one victim, see who needs help most urgently. Give attention first to anyone who is not breathing or who is unconscious, and deal with any severe bleeding. Treat everyone involved for shock (even those who protest that they are “perfectly okay”).

5. Even if the crash victims do not appear to  be seriously hurt,  leave them until help arrives. Anyone thrown on the road should be covered with a coat and guarded from the traffic.

Should I switch to regular gasoline?

1 August, 2008 (13:01) | tips, Cars | By: admin

Prices for premium gasoline are through the roof. Should I switch to regular? is there another way to save?

answer:
Your car will likely run just as well on regular as it does on premium. Only 6 percent of owner’s manuals call for the higher grade, according to Justin McNaull, a spokesman for the American Automobile Association, and almost all cars are equipped with on board computers that adjust ignition timing to account for whatever grade of gasoline you have in the tank (lower-octane fuels burn faster than higher-octane ones). If your car is designed to run more efficiently on premium, however, you might notice a reduction in performance and fuel economy if you switch to regular, though probably not enough to offset the financial benefits of switching to a lower-octane gasoline.

Beyond that, McNaull recommends paying attention to gas prices as you drive about town. Off-brand, mom-and-pop stations usually offer the best prices because they buy their gas at a discount from shipments that are left over from national brands. If they pay less, you pay less. You can also keep track of gas prices at Web sites like gasbuddy.com and gaspricewatch.com, both of which allow you to compare prices as reported by fellow drivers. But, explains McNaull, “the prices on these sites can go stale fairly quickly because they’re not always updated daily.”

Car insurance; which company is cheaper than the other

9 July, 2008 (10:49) | Finance, tips, Cars, insurance | By: admin

Let us say that the company is cheaper than others, but it would be better if we were told that this is the best company for settle ling claims does not matter if they were a few pounds more expensive don’t you agree

1. Yes, I agree with you and confused.com and, as others do not even do what they claim to do that, you can get cheaper insurance, if you look around you confused.com lists only company willing to pay for them.

2. all they are doing the same, yet the use of search engines. some may ask comparison companies, but will not be many of them.
I tend to use money supermarket and confused, and then compare between them. What I found car insurance, travel insurance and cheaper to MS and safe house in C.
I agree that there should be a classification for each company to choose, but you do not. I think this is enough to ensure the ratings and is now branching to provide comparisons of more things. Try them well.

3. There are many like them, but just compare prices - and only for a limited number of companies. Insurance companies generally do everything possible to avoid paying claims - but little with the phone in the wheel that raised the art form.

Car: Land Rover Discovery

9 July, 2008 (10:03) | tips, Cars | By: admin

It is the start of Land Rover’s efforts to introduce a wider and more modern model range. Five new cars will teem out of Solihull in the next six years, many of them dependent on the versatile chassis which we’re seeing for the first time on the new Discovery. The next Range Rover and a sports 4×4 along the lines of the Range Stormer concept car that has been doing the rounds of motor shows are two forthcoming models that will have their origins in the new platform.

The need for a basis that could serve a number of different cars meant the new Discovery was always going to have a separate chassis on to which the body is mounted, rather than the welded saloon-like structure (monocoque) of the class-leading Volvo XC90 and BMW X5. But Land Rover claims the Integrated Body-frame it has developed for the Discovery gives the off-road toughness expected of a Land Rover with the on-road rigidity of a monocoque 4×4.

The Discovery also had to have a four-wheel-drive system that could take it further off-road than most of its competitors. However, instead of the secondary low-ratio gearbox of the current model, electronics now do all the work, adjusting the Land Rover’s ground clearance, engine response, transmission settings and traction aids as necessary. And it’s all controlled by a rotary switch in the centre console.

The system is called Terrain Response, and has five different settings - one for general driving. another for especially slippery conditions such as snow or wet grass, and three more for mud, sand and rocks. ‘It’s like having an expert alongside you to help you get the best out of the car whatever the conditions, on- or off-road,’ Land Rover says.

As with the current car, you’ll be able to opt for a V8 petrol or a muscular turbodiesel, although both engines are new to Land Rover and come from Jaguar.

The petrol unit is a 4.4-litre development of Jag’s 4.2, modified to improve low-speed pull, shut out dust and water in extreme conditions and operate when the car is running at acute angles off-road. With 295bhp and 3151b ft of muscle, it is much stronger than today’s V8. The diesel is the brilliant new 2.7 V6 recently slotted into the S-type Jaguar, and it shows healthy power gains over the current engine - igobhp and 3251b ft of pulling power against 136 and 220. The V8 model gets a six-speed automatic gearbox and the diesel a six-speed manual, though the self-shifter is an option.

The new Discovery is a bigger car than the model it replaces, though the increase in wheelbase is greater than the overall stretch. With 345mm more between the front and rear wheels, it’s now a true seven-seater. It’s also wider, necessitated by the switch to air suspension on most models, which means the wheels on each axle are further apart. That gives it a more planted stance. But it’s a fraction lower - to allow it to sneak under the barriers of French car-parks.

Design director Geoff Upex describes the new Discovery as a car derived from its capabilities. ‘Some 4X4S are caricatures of toughness, but everything on this one is functional, not decoration,’ he says. ‘For instance, it has only one air intake on the sides because that’s all it needs. Simple, minimalist design invariably lasts well.’

The design team’s brief was to come up with something modern that could be instantly recognised as a Discovery. The most controversial view is from the side, where the huge doors are almost devoid of the decoration found on the front and rear wings. Land Rover says it considered carrying the waist-level crease line right along the flanks, but it made the car look too long and over-emphasised the increase in length.

To address the things owners see as shortcomings in the present model, front head and legroom have been increased and access to the second and third row of seats has been improved.

‘The first thing we did was to increase the wheelbase by 14 inches,’ says chief designer Dave Saddington. ‘That gave us three fantastic rows of seats, which was one of the essentials for the car, but it has also reduced the overhangs, which gives us a great approach angle when tackling difficult terrain off-road.’

Because people liked the split tailgate on the Range Rover, that was incoporated in the new Discovery - but with a difference. The rear window line dips from left to right, which means owners don’t have as far to stretch to drop things in, or as far to reach in order to drag them out again. The spare wheel is now mounted under the luggage platform floor.

How to choose a car

5 July, 2008 (10:33) | tips, Cars, insurance | By: admin

1.SET YOUR BUDGET AND MAKE SURE YOU STICK TO IT
It’s easy to spend more than you really should. Avoid this temptation by thinking carefully about how much you can really afford long before you step through the showroom door.
Take a realistic look at your monthly incomings and outgoings. How much is left for the car? Remember, this will have to cover all your motoring costs - there are fuel bills, insurance and servicing costs to take account of, too.

2.THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CAR WILL SUIT YOU BEST
It’s easy enough to work out that a two-seat drop-top isn’t going to suit a growing family and an MPV isn’t ideal if you’re young, free and single. But not every choice you’ll make about the kind of car to buy is quite so clear cut.

Take choosing between petrol and diesel. For a similar level of performance, a petrol model is likely to be cheaper to buy, but the diesel will cost less in fuel bills. Which will work out cheapest in the long run largely depends on how many miles you cover: the more you drive, the more likely it is that you’ll be better off filling up at the black pumps.

How long do you plan to keep the car? A supermini might have room in the back for small children, but as your kids grow will there still be enough space for them?
Think about the biggest loads you ever carry. Is a hatchback big enough?

Could you see yourself travelling with more than four passengers? If so, your choice will narrow to MPVs and a handful of 4X4S which have extra seats.
You’ll need to balance the space you need on the inside with the driving environment on the outside. If you spend a lot of time in town, a smaller car will be easier. However, if long motorway journeys are more typical of your driving, a larger car with greater cabin space will make more sense.

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Test-driving a car is the best way to determine if it’s the perfect fit

10 May, 2008 (07:57) | tips, Cars, Self help | By: admin

Choosing a car is a difficult decision as you’ll be stuck with it for the next few years if you don’t like it. Many women still shy away from doing a proper test-drive. They either go by the recommendation of friends or listen to their husbands or brothers. Alternatively it might be how the car looks that decides it for them. But only by doing a proper test-drive can you determine if it fulfills all your lifestyle needs. Here’s how to get the most out of your test-drive:
- Instead of the car salesman driving the car, insist on taking the wheel to get the feel of the vehicle. You may also want to bring along a friend who’s car savvy.

- Drive through both light and heavy traffic, smooth and rough roads, and go on the highway. How smoothly does the car drive? How responsive is the steering and acceleration? How well does it handle, even during high speeds? Do you feel comfortable while driving?

- Keep your ears open. A well-built car is a quiet car. You should be able to drive without the sound of the engine, wind or road noise distracting you. Perform safety checks.How well can you see the road? Do the windshield and all the windows give you an adequate view of your surroundings without you straining too much to see?

- Park the car in a few tight and open spots, and perform a U- turn Is it difficult to manoeuvre? Does the steering wheel turn easily when in tight spots, or are you getting an upper-body workout? Does it reverse easily without jerking?

- Drive along a deserted street and try out the brakes several times. Brake hard and perform an emergency stop. How well does the car respond in such situations? It shouldn’t swerve or feel out of control, if you’re not going too fast.

- Does, the interior of the car make sense to you?
Can you easily find the controls for the wipers, indicators, lights, windows, locks, stereo and air-conditioning? Are the controls intuitive in the way that they function, or are they placed in an awkward location and difficult to manage while driving?

Kinds of auto insurance

24 April, 2008 (15:01) | Finance, tips, Cars, insurance | By: admin

I’ve heard about many other kinds of auto insurance. How can I tell which are important and necessary?

answer:
There are two other kinds of highly recommended auto insurance, and their cost is low enough to make you think twice about doing without them. One is medical payments insurance. This pays for medical treatment, hospitalization, and funerals of all occupants injured or killed in your car, up to the amount of coverage. Payment will be made no matter who was driving, or whether the accident was the driver’s fault. You shouldn’t be driving without at least $2000 of medical payments insurance, which will cost only a few dollars a year.

The other low-cost auto insurance you should carry is called uninsured motorist coverage. With this coverage, you will be able to collect damages if you are hurt by a driver who has no insurance to help him pay you. This protection will cost about $2 or $3 per year.


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