Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.
Purchasing a new car is an exciting experience but it may be confusing to some. With so many choices available, one can hardly decide which brand or model to choose. Every purchaser and consumer in the market is exercising his discretion in the hope of having the best. Yet, despite how well equipped even the most expensive cars can be, most of the time they leave the showroom with several accessories lacking. Thus, it is crucial for an aficionado to have a handy list of auto must-haves.
Car Cover
A car cover is vital to keep the car from foreign elements when parked at the garage or left outside. Indoor air pollution, grime, dust, sun rays, water, moisture, oil, bird poop, wind, and small impacts destroy the carâs finish so there has to be a car cover to protect it. A four layer, breathable car cover costs less than $200; more sophisticated versions cost even more.
Floor Mats
There are cars sold without floor mats. It may seem odd but floor mats oftentimes miss the accessory list of automakers. They are not usually included with any sale. But, you see, without floor mats, cars would be messy, inconvenient and uncomfortable. The interior would be soiled, soaked and damaged. But the worst damage that a car owner could get when floor mats are not around is on the automotive carpeting. Bad news is an understatement when the need of replacing it arises.
Car Bra
They are chic and cool but car bras are more than those. A car bra offers protection to the grille and to the front portion of the hood. It helps deflect debris from the road. They are pretty essential especially when traversing interstates.
Bug Shields
Bug shields, also known as bug deflectors, are necessary especially in humid countries. Unfortunately, none of the automakers is offering bug shields as standard equipment. Hence, in order to seize the protection that bug shields are offering, there is a need for car owners to purchase them.
Cargo Liners
Like the interior of the vehicle, its trunk area is also subject to debris, dirt, mud and other unwanted elements. Some of the most reliable automakers these days have wised up over the years and incorporated cargo liners as standard equipment. However, some automakers made the equipment a costly add-on, and an after-the-sale accessory.
Bumper Filler
Bumpers play a significant role in the carâs aesthetics. To enhance it further, add-ons like the bumper step, bumper cover, bumper end, bumper moulding, and bumper filler are added.
Brake Dust Shields
Brake dust shields do not give any safety function but they definitely boost the aesthetic facets of a vehicle. Volvo brake dust shields, for instance, emphasize the curves and lines of the automakerâs models. They not only limit the dust, they also smarten cars. Car owners usually spend much for their tires and wheels. And to further improve the looks of the car, brake dust shields could be used to serve that purpose.
The quickest way to ruin the wheels of a vehicle is to let brake dust gather unrestrained. The driver can opt to clean the wheels on a daily basis, but the query is â who has the time? The easiest remedy is through the use of brake dust shields. They are sold in pairs and could be subjected to customization. Kleen Wheels shields are also designed to entertain high end car lines.
Automakers are facing a thorny requirement of meeting the 2020 standards which call for the manufacture of vehicles with an average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon. But automakers fear consumers are not willing to pay more for the technology they are required to meet by 2020.
“Gas prices would have to be $13 a gallon in today’s world for consumers to demand a fleet where half the vehicles achieved better than 35 miles per gallon,” said Paul Traub, an economist at Chrysler LLC.
Traub said that while smaller models have and will become more popular, manufacturers cannot depend on consumers to choose the most fuel-efficient options. “Americans still want to go to Wally World on the weekends, and we don’t want to leave our grandmas and dogs at home,” he addressed the Society of Automotive Analysts.
While it is apparent that customers are shifting to fuel-efficient cars, the trend is not enough to make all vehicles compliant with the 2020 mileage standard which was mandated by the Congress in 2007. Customer choices are limited to models such as Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius and General Motors’ Chevy Aveo.
Based on an Autodata report, sales of subcompact models increased 20 percent last year to 351,161 units, but Americans still purchased more than six times as many huge pickups.
Automakers could be forced to meet standards customers do not demand and will not pay a premium for, reported the Detroit News. That means automakers are required to build vehicles that can still carry seven passengers and haul a boat, but meet more stringent fuel economy standards.
As a direct consequence, aficionados will see modified BMW parts and other auto technology which entail more expense on their part. Chrysler estimates such technology would cost $6,000 to $7,000 per vehicle, Traub said. The said view is attested by Bob Lutz, the vice chairman at General Motors Corp.
“In a highly competitive market, car companies are unlikely to be able to pass that cost on to the consumer,” said Erich Merkle, vice president of forecasting at IRN Inc., who tracks vehicle sales trends. “If the consumer isn’t demanding those massive leaps forward, but automakers are forced to produce it, the automakers will have to absorb those costs.”
Absorbing the cost of fuel-saving technologies cuts into profits, which is particularly difficult for Detroit’s Big Three, which are already facing higher labor and health care expenses than their foreign competition, Merkle added.
But not everyone thinks more fuel efficient vehicles will have an average of $6,000 sticker price. The premium will be closer to a $1,500 average, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Some automakers have opposing view. “Consumers are going to change, we have already seen that in recent years,” said George Pipas, a sales analyst at Ford Motor Co.
Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.
Parents, let’s face it. Sooner or later our kids will want to become drivers. It doesn’t matter why they need a car- to go to work or because all their friends already have cars. The reality is you will have to pay a small fortune to have your young one covered. The reason is that teens are more likely to get in an accident because their lack of experience.
When you start shopping around for car insurance, don’t settle for the first quote you are given. Shop until you drop. Speak with your insurance agent then go online to websites like eSurance.com, InsureMe.com or to the websites of each of the main insurers and fill out their online forms. Within minutes you will have the insurance companies literally fighting for your business.
One thing to consider is the type of the car your teenager will be driving. Are you thinking about buying a new one? It is not always worth it. What insurance companies value is a car with a lot of safety features like anti-lock brakes, anti- theft devices and air bags. Good news is most of the cars that have been manufactured within the last 10 years have them installed. So your teenager son or daughter may be better off with your old car.
If the car your teen is driving has an alarm you can shave off an additional 10% on your premium. The reason is that the insurance companies think that your car will not be stolen and they take less risk with you.
Another way to reduce the amount you pay to have your teen covered is to enroll him/her into a driving school. Before you do so, call your insurance broker to find out which ones in your area are licensed.
The safety features are a direct way to save money on car insurance for teenagers. There are some indirect ways too. Accident-free driving is one of them. The more your teen drives without an accident, the more the insurance premium will go down. And what is even more – some insurance companies will reduce your deductible with $50 per year for each year you stay accident-free up to $500, which is a significant saving.
The car insurance rate for your teenager can also go down if you add him/her to your policy. The reduction will not be big but it requires nothing in exchange to get it
Just be prepared to spend more when it comes to insuring your teenage son or daughter. It is inevitable because of there lack of experience as a driver. You can’t do a lot about that (getting a vehicle with more safety features and adding the young driver to your policy are proven ways to get a cheaper premium). There are many things that can be done, though, to ensure that in future your young driver will be getting better rates on car insurance like enrolling your teenager son or daughter in driving school. This will not only save you money in the long run but will also give you a peace of mind that your teen is safe on the road
If you are trying to find the
cheapest auto insurance for teenagers you have come to the right place. Allen is an
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Safety is the most important factor when it comes to winter driving. While safety should be on your mind whenever you drive, during winter it is especially important. If your vehicle is not running well, you could end up abandoned in the cold if it breaks down. Furthermore, the rough winter weather could lead you to get into an accident if your cars tires and brakes are not in proper order. The good news is that you can save yourself a lot of bother and danger if you perform some simple auto maintenance.
In order to find what may need replacing, visit your car maintenance log. If you do not have one of these, now is a great time to start keeping one. It is a good idea to keep track of all the maintenance activities performed on your vehicle so that you will always know when the time comes to perform them again.
The first thing you should do is to check your antifreeze. Your antifreeze/coolant performs an important service of keeping your engine from overheating. You should always have a mixture of 50/50 antifreeze and water in your tank. If you have only or mostly water, you could end up with a cracked engine block.
Next thing to do is check your tires. If your tire treads are worn down you could end up in the ditch if there is a heavy snow fall. It is recommended that your tires have a tread depth of 2/32 inch. In the winter, most people recommend that you have no less than a tread depth of 4/32 inch. It is easy to test your tire tread by simply using a penny. Always make sure that your tire pressure is good too, cold weather has a way of deflating tires.
If you have not replaced your windshield wipers in a while, now would be a good time. Winter weather can really do a job on your wipers, and they are all you have to keep snow, dirt, and wintry mix off of your windshield. Winter weather can really make driving difficult, so be sure that your wipers are in good working order. While you are at it, go ahead and check your windshield washer fluid as well. Make sure that you only use real washer fluid, not water. Water will freeze in cold weather.
Finally, there are a few other maintenance procedures that you should take care of as well while you are at it. These are not specific to winter, but it does not hurt to take care of them now. Clean your battery posts, inspect your spark plug wires, inspect your brakes, and check your engine oil. These are all simple to do and you might as well get them over with now.
If you live in a cold climate, you should be particularly careful to perform these simple maintenance procedures before every winter. The winter is one of the worst times to be in an accident, and simple maintenance procedures can prevent this from happening.
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With inflation climbing at a staggering rate in response to the current global financial crisis, we ought to be looking at all possible ways in which to save some money. The good news is that by following some of the basic tips, we can cut back on our car insurance costs and make some real savings. It is not that hard to save money on your car insurance and as a matter of fact, there is actually a lot that you can do that will save you thousands. Here we will discuss some of the basic tips that you can follow if you want to save on your auto insurance.
Drive a suitable car
It’s been statistically proven that consumers who purchase fast cars are in fact fast drivers. The insurance companies are aware of this and they’re also only too well aware of the fact that the faster you drive, the higher the chances are that you’ll be involved in an accident. From an insurance company’s point of view, this makes you a bigger risk which they compensate for by charging you more. If you’re considering buying another car, you should seriously consider buying an economical model with a small engine capacity.
Less risk means lower premiums
The less risk there is of the company having to pay you out for theft, the lower your premiums will be. Installing tracking devices costs money but it will also save you money. Even some inexpensive security devices can affect your premiums so check the policy requirements to see if there are any features you can take advantage of.
Have a wedding
As strange as it may sound, the truth is, insurance premiums are lower for married people. Why? Well, insurance companies are of the opinion that as a married person, you’ll spend more time at home together, thus reducing the likelihood of an accident. Furthermore, when all the party animals leave the nightclubs, you’ll more than likely be at home instead of on the roads at such a hazardous time.
Grow old
Unfortunately if you don’t qualify for this yet then you’ll simply have to wait your turn because it’s a fact, older drivers pay less simply because they are no longer as reckless as young drivers. Also, after having been driving for years, older drivers are inevitably safer and more experienced.
Don’t have any accidents
The most successful way of increasing your premiums is to be involved in an accident. If you are in an accident, your insurance company will consider you to be a financial risk and in turn, they will respond by increasing your premiums. On the other hand, if you don’t have any accidents, they will view you as a person who simply requires insurance, rather than needs insurance. As you more than likely already know, many insurance companies offer attractive “No Claim” bonuses. Staying accident free is the single most effective means of keeping your premiums at a minimum.
By following these tips, you will be well on your way to also save a great deal on your insurance.
The author gives South African citizens advice on buying car insurance. To get your car insurance quote, visit getsinsurance.co.za
