Wednesday, April 16, 2008

10 Commandments of Defensive Driving


10 Commandments of Defensive Driving:

1. Be attentive

Always pay attention. Always check your side mirrors and look far enough to see other cars not just the one in front of you. Be alert when you are near intersections and pay attention to road signals and signs. If the sign tells you it's slippery when wet, don't speed up or else... Pay attention to fast cars because you'll never know if the person driving is drunk or not.

2. Yield and give way.

Yep, you are on the right way and what you are doing is just fine. But if you see one car which is running way too fast it's wiser to give way. Because if you get hit, you may end up dead or injured, too. It pays to be forgiving and calm when you are on the road just to increase your chances of not getting hurt or killed.

3. Don't trust the other driver.

The third rule is another cardinal rule - don't trust the other driver. Because you'll never really know whether the other driver is cautious or not, it's better to pay attention and be alert at all times.

4. No alcohol, please!

Plain and simple don't drive when you're drunk! You need not ask the reason because that's plain common sense and it will not take an Einstein to realize how dangerous it is to drive while one is drunk. Defensive driving is being clean from intoxicating substances.

5. Buckle up for safety.

Yeah, that's right buckle up for safety. Use your seatbelt. Don't worry about your pants or shirt being slightly folded when you wear seatbelt because at least you can do something to fix it because you are still alive. But if you are dead, you'll never really know the difference between a well-pressed and a not so well-pressed shirt.

6. Wear helmet.

For motorists, always make sure that you wear your helmets on because experiences of many people will tell you how many lives were already saved by the mere act of wearing helmets. Defensive driving also means wearing your gears.

7. Never beat the red light.

Simply put, if you try beating the red light for sure you are going to give yourself a headache if are caught doing it. So, as a piece of advice don't.

8. Be cool.

If someone overtakes or somebody honks... be cool. It's not the end of the world anyway. Being defensive is always better.

9. Use signals.

Use your flashers and lights properly to relay your intentions. When you will be turning left it is not hard to turn on the left signal light to alert the other driver.

10. Never Play Chicken with a Train!

If you are in the Hamlet like "to be or not to be" situation, just don't if the train is coming. A few minutes of waiting is better than not being able to experience the next minute anymore. Defensive driving is all about being patient.
Source:by Alex Baumm.

Cars That Run on Water - Fact or Fiction


Does the idea of cars that run on water sound preposterous to you? Is it hard to imagine that you can increase your car's fuel efficiency by more than 100 percent just by using a water fuel cell?

The fact is an amazing new technology has been developed to allow cars to use water to maximize fuel efficiency. This new invention is so cost-effective; scientists aren't even willing to share it with the public. They would make no profit from the product, and their expensive fuel research would be stopped almost immediately!

You may be wondering exactly what kind of cars could run on water. The answer will surprise you. With the use of a converter, any engine can use water to improve fuel efficiency. These inventions can be added both to diesel and to gasoline engines.

To say that the car actually runs on water is slightly misleading. In fact, the car runs on a combination of water and gasoline. The water is available in a quart-sized container filled with water and a small amount of baking soda that is installed beneath the hood. A vacuum diverts the fuel exhaust back into the water.

A tiny charge of electricity is supplied to this water through a connection to the battery. The electrical current splits the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then directed to the motor's carburetor, and the vehicle is then supplied with hydrogenated exhaust fuel, which makes the fuel burn more completely.

Although you may have read about the possibilities of hydrogen power, this power is actually very dirty to produce. In addition, the process is risky; hydrogen in this form is potentially very explosive. Between the risk and the pollution, this type of hydrogen power is actually a worse alternative to fuel.

In contrast, cars that run on water can manufacture their own hydrogen power, as it is required by the car. Virtually no risk is involved. In addition, the engine exhaust is much cleaner than that of a standard engine because the fuel is burned more thoroughly. In fact, the primary end product of this fuel source is water!

Cars that run on water will save you thousands of dollars each year. Take a few moments to read about the technology, before you make the decision that will put the money you have been giving to major fuel companies back in your pocket!

4 Simple Steps Before Buying Your Honda


There are 4 simple but very effective steps that you need to do before you want to buy your new Honda car. These things are very important so that you will buy your new Honda cars with peace in mind and save a lot of money.

Step 1:

Firstly, You should check publications at a library or bookstore or on the Internet that discuss new car features and prices. These may provide information on the dealer's costs for specific models and options. Once you have a general idea of the type of vehicle that will suit you, spend the time to do the background work that will disclose advantages and disadvantages. Several Internet sites can help you compare features and prices on new motor vehicles.

Step 2:

Second, You should find out the dealer's real cost on the car (it's typically less than invoice) and the prices that smart shoppers are paying for that car, then research any other items you might want (loans, extended warranties, car alarms, etc.).

Here's the real key to your deal: you must find out what the dealer paid for the car so you can negotiate the price you'll pay for it. You have to find out this information for yourself and you have to be sure it's up-to-date and correct!

Step 3:

Thirdly, There are other good times to buy. September and October are the usual times that new car models arrive, however new models are starting to be released year-round. Saturday mornings are good because a dealership is trying to create some momentum going into the weekend.

Also, when the end of the month is coming up, car dealers will want to boost sales figures for monthly reports, so good deals may be found then as well.

Step 4:

Lastly, everything is negotiable. The price, the trade value, the interest rate, the extended warranty - most dealerships will work with you on everything that you want to work on.

Remember, you have the power. You're the buyer. You can walk out on a deal at any time prior to signing the papers and driving away.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Looking for a new car can be quite an adventure


After an auto accident, it may be perhaps, sadly or happily you are in the market for a new car. Looking for a new car can be quite an adventure. Most people are not aware that autos are available online through sources such as Ebay and Government auctions who specialize who in seized cars, SUVs, and trucks from all over the world. Auctions are held to sell the cars and may be purchased offline as well as online.

The savings you experience can actually run up to the thousands. These auctions offer a wide variety of cars, makes, models and years. All of these type of sites offer valuable information about each one and becomes a virtual online mall for car shopping for men, women and teens. Some teens have been able to convince their parents to purchase their new car in just such a manner since the cars are greatly reduced.

One must do their due diligence, however, especially to check out the car's VIN or Vehicle Identification Number to ensure the car has not been previously involved in a auto accident such as you yourself just experienced since it may have sustained heavy body damage which could lead to future problems.

If you are a young person, it is best to take an older, more experienced individual with you to purchase your new auto. Friends are great and wonderful support, but older adults have purchased vehicles for years and know the pitfalls of buying a new or used car. So, take a trusted source of autos with you, ask a lot of questions, and pick out a new vehicle that will last you for a few years. After an auto accident, if your car is completely totalled, is a good time to take stock of what you really need in a car.

How To Buy A Used Car For Less


There are two basic ways to buy a used car cheap, and one good reason: To save money. It isn't just that they cost less to buy initially. The research shows a four-year-old car can cost 40% less over its lifetime. That's including the costs of gas, oil, repairs, insurance - everything. This is why almost half of the millionaires in the United States buy used cars, according to Thomas Stanley and William Danko, authors of "The Millionaire Next Door."

Buy The Right Used Car

The first approach to buying a used car for less is to look for the cheapest "type" of car for your purposes. Some cars just cost more than others, both to buy and to operate, so look for the lowest-cost one that will do what you need. In other words, whatever your negotiating skill, a four-year-old Jeep Wrangler is still going to cost more to buy and run than a four-year-old Ford Escort. So if you don't need the four-wheel drive or space of the former, consider the latter.

Here are some of the factors to consider when looking at the overall cost of a vehicle:

- Price. You can look in one of the popular auto "blue-books" or price guides to see what used cars are selling for. The accuracy of these may be suspect, but they do give you a good idea of the relative values, so you can compare various models.

- Repair costs. At a public library you can find a copy of the Consumer Reports auto edition. They have ratings for all the major systems and parts of different models, and usually an average annual repair cost for them as well.

- Mileage. You can ask an owner about the mileage he or she gets, and try to gauge their honesty. Alternately, there are websites like fueleconomy.gov where you can find fuel economy figures for used cars. If you drive 20,000 miles per year, the difference between 20 miles-per-gallon versus 34 MPG is an extra 412 gallons per year, or $1,240 at $3 per gallon.

- Insurance. Some cars cost more to insure. Ask your insurance agent about the cars you are considering, to see if there is a big difference in costs.

- Resale value. If you intend to drive the car for just a few years, you have to consider what you will lose in value. Two cars may cost $8,000 each used, but one may be worth $6,000 a couple years later while the other is only worth $4,000. You can research resale value online, or study a used-car price guide to see which models have retained the most value over the years.

Get The Right Price

The second part of buying a used car for less is to negotiate a lower price. You don't have to be a master negotiator to do well, but there are a few tricks you should know. The first is to have a good idea of what the car is worth. Get out that car price guide, and look for the wholesale cost. Make your first offer lower than that. What else can you do?

- Spend some time looking at the car. If you are interested, spend some time with a car and owner or sales person. Negotiator refer to this as "time investment." The more time the seller has invested with you, the more they want to sell to you, so as not to "waste" that time. It has been shown that you can get a lower offer accepted if you first take more of the sellers time.

- Hint at the problems. Look at the engine and under the car, even if you aren't sure what you are looking at. Point out any problems you see politely, but never contradict or insult the seller in any way. You want the seller to like you but start to doubt the value of his car.

- Be ready to walk away. Unless you really need a car today, always be ready to say, "I'll think about it," and leave. This is one of the oldest and surest ways to get price concessions. Sales people in particular know that when people "think about it" they rarely return. They will usually make their best offer at this point.

- Have a mechanic look at the car. If you can't bring the car to your mechanic, have a friend with some mechanical knowledge come with you to look at the car. It isn't necessarily cheap if it breaks down a week after you buy it. Also, everything that your friend or mechanic finds wrong is a negotiating point that may result in a lower price.

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