Business, economic development - the unofficial Chamber of Commerce

Good Buy Auto Auction

To this day few people know about the good buys that can be found at auto auctions. Getting a good buy at an auto auction is very simple and very real.

Car dealerships themselves go to auto auctions all the time in order to buy their vehicles, they then clean them up and sell them to the public at inflated prices, often times profiting triple or even more then what they paid.

Yet in reality anyone can attend a public auto auction and buy a car or truck for cheap. Some people even go into business for themselves and buy at auto auctions and then sell them in the local paper, profiting thousands on every vehicle.

But even if you’re not interested in going into business for yourself, buying a car for a good buy at an auto auction is easy and straightforward, and most people who attend their first auto auction get a good buy on a great vehicle, some even find themselves the exact car they want for a price much cheaper then they could have found anywhere else.

So instead of buying your next vehicle from a private party or through a used car dealership, why not check out your local auto auction and see for yourself the kind of deals that can be found there.

David Foley is the owner of Car Deals Search which is a website that helps people learn about auto auctions.

To learn more about auto auctions visit: http://www.cardealssearch.com/goodbuyautoauction.html

One of the easiest ways to improve the gas mileage for your car is checking the tire pressure in all four tires. Simply doing this routine tire maintenance can save fuel and increase the life of your tires. A government study concluded that by correctly maintaining your tires is like getting 2 “free” tanks of gas a year. With today’s fuel prices that could easily be $140! You will also increase the life of your tires and could save at least one new set of tires during the life of your car. Now that I have you convinced of the value of good tire pressure, let’s discuss the basics.

First you will need to purchase an inexpensive tire pressure gauge. These are easy to find and easy to use. Buy a good one (They don’t cost that much) and put it in your glove box. The next big question is “How much air do my tires need?” You will need to find out what the manufacturer’s recommended pressure is for your vehicle. You can find this information in a couple of places. First you can look in your owner’s manual or check the information placard glued on the inside edge of the doors. Remember, the tire pressure on the side of the tire is the maximum pressure for that particular tire. This is different from the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Now you are ready to check the pressure in your tires. The best time to check your pressure is when your tires are cold. The car should have been sitting for at least three hours or have been driven for less than 2 miles. If your tires are hot, then the air is hot and the pressure will read higher than normal. This is why using the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure is so important. If you use the maximum tire pressure printed on the tire and then drive out on the road, the pressure will increase because of the heat. This can be potentially unsafe. If they are low, take a quick trip to the neighborhood gas station. There you can add a few pounds of air and recheck the pressure. One tip, don’t trust the gauge on the air compressor at the gas station. These are generally in bad shape and have been treated poorly. Use your new one you just purchased instead. Repeat this process every month. You will save gas and extend the life of your expensive tires.

Jason is the webmaster for Red Hill Supply - Online Air Tools

Impact Wrenches,Air Tools, and More - Red Hill Supply

As used cars age, finding them for sale in good condition becomes increasingly difficult. At the same time, they continuously lose marketable value. How can we find good values when purchasing, and get a fair price when it comes time to sell? Continue reading to find out…

Buying

When buying any used car, overall condition must be evaluated and weighed against the asking price. This includes the condition of interior, exterior, and mechanical components. Common issues to watch for on used cars follow:

Check the Interior for:

• Fading or Cracking Dashboard, steering wheel, pillars
• Carpet damage, spills under seats, shoe wear
• Strong musty odor, especially during HVAC operation
• Worn seats including adjustment, buttons, upholstery, cushions, air support
• Unevenly worn pedals indicating possible mistreatment
• Smoke damage including falling headliner, used ashtrays or lighter, burns, thick film on glass or other smooth surfaces
• Malfunctioning gauges, moonroof, windows, vanity lights, controls, electric accessories
• Leakage under dash including clutch and brake fluid near pedals, coolant near floor vents, water

Check the Exterior for:

• Rust around rocker panels (especially under ground effects of SC), wheel wells, under floor pan, doors, suspension components, spoilers, trunk
• Signs of accident damage such as repainting, bondo, ill fitting body panels, frame/unibody denting
• Damaged paint and clearcoat especially bumpers, ground effects, and roof
• Damaged or missing trim, molding, lamp assemblies (esp LED taillights and yellowing lenses) badging, ground effects, air dam, antenna, windows
• Wheels damaged or bent from curb rubbing and other abuse
• Sagging doors due to hinges worn from excessive load bearing

Modern vehicles have many complex mechanical components, and condition should be verified by qualified personal. If you encounter the following symptoms or others you are unfamiliar with, it is wise to seek an expert:

• Unusual sounds such as whining, whistling, howling, grinding, rubbing, rattling, knocking, tapping, or anything else which stands out. Listen in all places while car is idling and driving including, underhood, suspension, transmission, exhaust, rear of vehicle, ect
• Unusual odors such as strong sweet smell, burning, gasoline
• Uneven engine idle, backfire, or misfire
• Transmission grinding, slipping, or hesitation while driving or changing gears
• Clutch engagement near end of pedal travel, excessive pedal play, slipping or revving when shifting/accelerating
• Excessive engine or shifter movement, indicating possible torn mounts
  Spongy pedal, whistling, grinding, or shaking when braking, fading or low stopping power
• Low, dirty, or contaminated fluids especially coolant, oil, and automatic transmission
• Suspension leaning, excessive bouncing, harsh ride, pulling, poor handling, or dog tracking.
• Smoke from exhaust or underhood, excluding thin light-colored condensation buildup

Some minor issues are to be expected with a used purchase, and the price you pay should be adjusted accordingly. A common method of pricing used vehicles is to determine the fair market value then deduct the average cost of repairs. Tools to determine fair market value include the Kelley blue book and points of sale such as newspaper classifieds, ebay, and autotrader magazines. Price of a used vehicle may be influenced by rare models or packages. Car clubs specializing in the rare model can offer help in these cases.

Selling

When selling your car, several factors should be considered to receive the best price.

• Level of cosmetic and mechanical maintenance
• Logs of maintenance, repair, and modification history
• The type of person buying your car, and where to find them

A car which is clean, well maintained, and in good overall condition leaves a positive impression on potential buyers. This concept is clearly demonstrated by car dealers when you visit their used car lots. Also, presenting logs or receipts to help buyers verify your cars history will increase their level of confidence when it comes time to make a purchase from you.

This article and more great topics for the automotive enthusiast can be found at http://thunderbirdinfo.blogspot.com

Rental cars can be a necessity; their use can save lots of time
and aggravation. However, the actual act of renting them can
seem to be a test in patience. There are forms to be filled out,
questions to be answered and signatures to be signed. Before you
sign on the dotted line, be sure you know exactly what you are
getting and giving for your rental car.

If you have personal auto insurance, call your agent to see if
you are insured with a rental car as well. This will allow you
to save money by turning down the insurance offered by the
rental company at the time of vehicle pick up.

Be sure to read the contract and ask questions about anything
that you do not understand. It’s better to take sometime at the
counter or on the phone to pin down the details, than to think
you got it and have to deal with the company in the event of an
accident. Ask questions!

You will want to ask about procedures that may be required by
the rental company. Many companies require that the car be
fueled up before its return, if this is not done, they will
charge you extra for it. It may also be in your best interest to
ask what the fee would be if the car is needed for longer than
expected as well as what the rate is for late drop off.

The first step involved in obtaining a rental car is to do
research on the companies in your local area. There are a number
of nation wide companies and more than likely local companies to
choose from when conducting your research. Try to narrow them
down to three or four companies that are closest to either your
pick up location or your destination.

So you want more power? Faster Times? Well, Turbos and Superchargers are indeed the way to go.

Everyone wants to know what is the difference between turbos and superchargers so we have done research on the two units and we have found differences and even similarities.

Turbochargers can fit on any engine type, given the use of the appropriate exhaust manifold and a decompressed engine block. However, the turbo must be sized properly according to the application. Small turbos mean faster boost responses, but limited amounts of boost. Larger sized turbos take up more time to build up boost, but they give a lot of boost. Turbochargers are propelled by the exhaust gas velocity of the vehicle and are directly proportional to the temperature of the engine. Turbos feed on fresh oil constantly, so oils with high ratings must be used in the vehicle.

Superchargers use the same concept as turbochargers in the effect that it also compresses air. Superchargers can also be made to fit on any type of engine, and only comes in two types of kits. Both are fanbelt pulley driven units. When it comes to horsepower and torque, superchargers can gain as much as 40 percent in horsepower and 50 percent in torque with the use of just a base kit.

The advantages of turbocharging is the ability to increase horse power using boost controllers and changing turbo units. Turbos give you more power using a pulling effect type of forced induction. However, on the down side, turbos tend to produce more heat as the boost increases, therefore intake temperatures increase causing dense air that cannot be compressed. This usually happens after 5 psi.

To solve this problem, an intercooler may be added to help prevent detonation. The other problem with turbo charging is that it requires more maintenance because the amount of heat associated with the boost, this means the turbo must cool down after aggressive driving for about 2 to 3 minutes at idle. Installing a turbo timer is the best bet. Turbos must also be allowed to heat up before aggressive driving.

Unlike the turbochargers that require cool down time, or warm up time, the supercharger is ready to go when you are. At 2000rpm, boost is already available with a supercharger. When it comes to fuel efficiency, superchargers actually kind of help to improve your MPG. The reason for better mileage is the fact that you do not have to drive the engine at full throttle due to available boost. However, anytime that you drive aggressively, fuel efficiency will suffer.

Due to the fact that the supercharger is pulley driven, there is some strain put on the engine. Also, where as with the use of an intercooler with the turbo setup and you have the use of practically unlimited boost, you are limited to what the supercharger has to offer.

Installation of a supercharger usually takes about 6 to 8 hours… if you are mechanically inclined and there is no cutting or welding required. Superchargers also tend to last longer than turbo chargers because they do not require much maintenance and have a self contained oil supply.

Turbochargers and Superchargers are two of the best ways to accomplish your goals by producing more power and faster times. Both have great sounds, the superchargers with their aggressive whistling sound, and the turbos with their jet engine type sound.

In a nutshell, Turbochargers are efficient and flexible, allowing a wide range of swaps and upgrades to achieve the desired power output. They are not noisy and do not rob any power from the engine, however they do require a little more attention than superchargers. This setup is ideal for front wheel drive and lightweight cars, due to the lack of traction when you launch from a dead stop; the lag in boost is actually an advantage. You don’t want your boost to kick in before you get traction.

Superchargers give you instant boost on demand and require very low maintenance. With boost available at 2000rpm, you don’t have to watch the other guy start jump pass you for long. This setup is ideal if you have a rear wheel drive car with lots of horse power to spare, then the petty power it steals from the engine is well compensated for.

Duane Boodasingh
http://www.trinituner.com

General Motors’ Chevrolet division is the brand under which the Chevrolet Aveo is marketed. It has been crafted as a subcompact automobile that is marketed not only in the United States and in the rest of North America but it is also marketed and offered globally. It has been said that this vehicle came from two vehicles which are the Daewoo Kalos and the Daewoo Gentra. The Daewoo Kalos was first produced back in 2002 and it was marketed using the Chevrolet Aveo name from 2004 up until 2006. As per the Daewoo Gentra, this vehicle came into production just last year, 2005, and plans for this vehicle are that come 2007, it will be then known as the Chevrolet Aveo.

Last year, the Chevrolet Aveo’s model for 2006 was introduced to the public in Shanghai. However, as per this vehicle’s debut in Europe, this was made possible during the Frankfurt auto show. General Motors claim that this vehicle is quite considered to be all new although one could notice that it still shares some parts with the outgoing 2005 model. It still held the same windshield, two windows, and some large sections of its body structure. It also holds a crisp and clean styling which is one of the changes that Chevrolet vehicles are sporting around.

As per the power that the Chevrolet Aveo holds, interested parties could actually choose between two engines. There is a 1.2 liter engine and a 1.4 liter engine. However, the choices does not end there for the Chevrolet Aveo. After all, the company has made sure that customers and Chevrolet Aveo owners could spruce up their cars with features and packages. As per standard equipment for the vehicle, the list includes air conditioning, power windows, power locks, and power side mirrors.

The price of the Chevrolet Aveo is not found on the high end. In fact, it is one of the cheapest cars around. Despite the fact that it is cheap, the Chevrolet Aveo is very much capable of delivering and performing well. Each passenger is given an enjoyable experience inside the cabin. Also, drivers find the Chevrolet Aveo a vehicle that is very fun to drive.

Rallying behind Chevrolet’s philosophy of producing only the best vehicles and products in the industry, Car Parts Rush with its wide array and collection of impressive and functional Chevrolet parts, engines, performance parts, truck accessories, and Chevy truck parts.

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Joe Ratzkin is an avid fan of anything automotive. This 34-year old bachelor wanted to be a mechanic when he was a kid but changed his mind and became a freelance writer and researcher instead. He is currently based in Chicago, Illinois.

• Do your homework. Read up about the model of car you’re thinking about. Will it perform as you will want? Be aware of any known mechanical problems with that particular model and remember to check them out when you take it for a test drive (see tip 15).

• Look up the current second hand values for the car. Try starting at www.what car .com. Also get some of the second hand car magazines and your local paper. Check out the prices being asked for similar cars.

• Car Insurance is always a major expense. How much will that car cost you to insure? It’s easy to find out on the Internet - get a few quotes. It’ll just take you ten minutes.

• Also check out the car’s other running costs. We’re talking about fuel consumption, servicing and repair bills. Again www.what car .com can help. Ensure you can afford to run the car!

• When you see the car insist on seeing its registration documents and, if the car is more than 3 years old, its MOT certificate. The registration documents will also show the cars’ VIN number. Carefully check that the documents tally.

• Always ensure that the person selling the car does actually own it.

• And always see the car at the seller’s own home or business premises. Then ensure that the address on the Registration Document is at the same as the address - if not ask why. You should be suspicious.

• Examine the Road Tax disc. Is it still valid? Does the vehicle registration number on the disc match the Registration Document and the number on its number plate?

• Ask to view the cars’ Servicing Record. Usually, this will also show the cars’ VIN number and details of the first owner. If the Service record is not available, has the owner kept any of the service or repair bills? Ask to see them.

• Now look under the bonnet and look for the VIN Number (it could also be on a plate on the inside edge of one of the front doors). Compare the VIN number with the number on the Registration Document and check that the number stamped on the car has not been interfered with. This will help to ensure that the car hasn’t had its identity changed.

• It’s best to take a friend with you who knows’ about cars - not only to look at the car but also to be a witness for what is said and anything that is agreed.

• Don’t pay for a car on your first visit and try not to be pushed into putting down a deposit. You need to carry out some checks before you part with any money (see 17 below).

• Ask the owner whether the car is subject to any outstanding finance. Take notes of what he/she says. Then, when you get home, get on the Internet and check out the information provided with RAC Vehicle Status Check. Go to the RAC’ web site. Click on “Car Buying” and then “Vehicle Status Checks”. The Status Check will cost you £24.99 but it will confirm whether the car has outstanding finance. Best to be safe - without this Check you could find out that a finance company actually has a prior title to the car.

• Carefully examine the car in good daylight. Look carefully for signs of repairs and accident damage. If you have followed our advice and obtained a Vehicle Status Check, that Check will also notify you if the car has previously been “written off”.

• Try to ensure that the car hasn’t been “clocked”. (Clocked means that the mileometer has been wound back to show a lower mileage.) The average annual mileage is around 12,000. Be wary if the wear and tear on the car looks greater than you would expect from the mileage. The wear on the driver’s pedals is usually a give away. Then ask when the tyres were last replaced. Does the wear on the tyres look about right?

• Insist on test-driving the car for at least 10/15 miles. You need to get the car fully warmed up and drive it in varying conditions. Incidentally, don’t forget to ensure you are insured to drive it! Don’t assume that your own insurance policy will cover you for driving someone else’s car. Check your policy before you leave home. If the seller claims that his insurance covers you, ask to see his policy - a bit of a pain but better safe than sorry!

• Has the car ticked all the boxes so far? Then spend some more money get it professionally inspected.

• Never pay any money until you have seen the results of the RAC Vehicle Status Check. And even then, avoid paying any money until the car is handed over to you complete with its Documents and tax disc. Always get a written receipt for any money you pay and ensure that it includes the sellers name and address.

• Last of all, make sure you’re insured from the moment you drive the car away. The Police can now impound, and ultimately scrap, your car if you’re driving it without insurance or road tax! If the car has not got Road Tax disc, call in at the Post Office on the way home and get one. You’ll need to show them a valid insurance cover note for the car and the cars up to date MOT Certificate.

If you’ve followed all these steps you’ll have done just about everything possible to ensure the car is legally yours at the right price, and you haven’t bought a scrapper!

Michael writes for Brokers Online who offer mortgage life insurance and most UK financial services including car insurance quotes.

The Toyota 4 Runner embodies your ideals of a sporty vehicle
packed with power, rugged character and wide ranging utility.
Since its debut in 1985, this vehicle has been Toyota’s strong
contender in the Sport Utility Vehicle segment. It was loved for
its reliability, sporty styling, functionality and utility.

What sets 4Runners apart from the rest of the SUVs you can see
on the road today is their design. Toyota 4Runners have stayed
close to the definition of a real SUV or rather the original
sport utilities–pickups with enclosed bodies. In the same
manner, these remarkable vehicles have maintained 4WD’s real
go-anywhere capabilities. In form and substance, every Toyota
4Runner is your ideal off-road runner.

Owning a vehicle such as this indeed brings pride and great
driving satisfaction. But aside from that, it gives the owner a
sense of responsibility to take care of it the best way he can.
Certainly, this tough and dependable four wheel drive deserves
the best as it affords its user the best performance even in the
direst driving circumstances.

Toyota Parts Online, one of the country’s top
auto parts suppliers is proud to help you with all your Toyota 4Runner parts
needs. This auto parts dealer specializes in providing you
OEM-quality Toyota parts for various Toyota passenger cars,
trucks, minivans and SUVs. With the desire to give you the
maximum satisfaction while driving and riding one of the finest
vehicles in the world, Toyota, this store gets its replacement
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parts manufacturers.

Great Toyota Parts Discount deals are also offered in
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the same time. From auto lights to body parts, exhaust system
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best to offer.

For the Toyota 4Runner SUVs, Toyota Parts Online offers great
variety of parts including premium quality Toyota air cleaner
box, complete Toyota mirror
assembly, perfect-fit Toyota a/c condenser
and Toyota radiator, heavy duty
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beam Toyota headlights,
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than the best satisfaction you surely deserve.

Toyota Discount deals are also provided for Toyota body parts
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Getting ready for an off-road challenge? Equip your Toyota
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The new Avalon is the third generation of Toyota’s large sedan,
derived from the same the midsize Toyota Camry and the Lexus
ES330 entry-level luxury sedan. Toyota put considerable effort
into giving the new Avalon a more distinct identity. It’s now
larger and more luxurious than the Camry. It’s also more
powerful and roomier inside than the Lexus ES330. “The all-new
Avalon is distinctive, stylish and the most American vehicle of
any Toyota product to date,” said Don Esmond, senior vice
president and general manager of the Toyota Division in the
United States.

The Avalon comes equipped with a new 3.5L V6 280-hp engine
paired to a five-speed sequential shift automatic transmission.
With this new engine, the Avalon can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 6.6
seconds. An estimated fuel economy of 22 city and 31 highway
miles per gallon is another amenity of the new redesign. New
exterior enhancements include a dual rear exhaust, front chrome
grille, and a four-inch longer wheelbase. The extended wheelbase
adds to the interior space and comfort of the passengers. Also
new are the rear reclining seats, which recline up to 10 degrees.

Comfort is the key word when it comes to the Avalon. The new
Avalon is 5 inches longer than its predecessor is, and by
rerouting the exhaust pipes, Toyota engineers created a flat
floor in the back and 40.9 inches of legroom, versus 35.6 inches
in the Lexus ES330. For added comfort, the Avalon’s rear seats
recline by 10 degrees. Five long-legged adults can sit in the
car comfortably. For the driver and front-seat occupant, there
are no legs knocking against the center console. Rear
passengers, including the one in the middle, can rest their feet
on a flat floor. Headroom is good. All models in the range
feature front seat-mounted side airbags, front and rear
side-curtain airbags, in addition to a driver’s knee airbag. A
brake-assist system determines whether a driver has used the
full potential of the brakes in an emergency; if the system
senses that more braking is required, ABS will activate until
the pedal is released.

The new Avalon’s total package of power, safety features, style
and roominess puts it at the head of this class and maintaining
its performance can be well taken cared of by superior Toyota
auto parts from Partstrain. Its extensive array of maximum
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you at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/TOYOTA A wide
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need.

Both front and rear lights play significant roles in keeping you
safe as you drive so keeping them in tiptop shape and condition
is necessary. You can do this by keeping them clean and by
regularly checking its connections to other parts of the
vehicle.

Although they usually last longer than other auto parts, the
headlamps, fog lights, tail lights, corner lights, side marker
lights, sealed beam, projector headlights, parking lights, turn
signals and other lights in your car need to be replaced as well
since they dim as they get older.

The leading Auto Parts Discount store, Car Parts
Wholesale, proudly features its top of the line automotive
products including the best replacement Dodge Headlights, Chevrolet Tail
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and Honda.

All these premium class automotive products are available in
great discount deals as Auto Parts Wholesale stays consistent
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Auto Parts Discount makes auto light replacement a lot easier
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auto lights for passenger and luxury cars to high output lights
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beams and Toyota turn signal
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See more of Auto Parts Wholesale, the number one Auto Parts
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makes and models.

Meanwhile, here are some tips for you on how to prolong the use
of your auto lights and how to make them look like new as much
as possible.

Tips on How to Take Care of Your Lights

1. Dirt increases the heat in the lamps so clean them more
often. Remember that heat is the number one cause of lighting
failure.

2. Protect your lamps against corrosion with lubricants and
sealants.

3. DO NOT pierce or cut the wire insulation when troubleshooting
the lighting system; if it is inevitable, make sure you properly
and carefully seal it afterwards.

4. Check connections to the electrical system to prevent low
voltage and lighting problems.

5. Make sure the lights are properly grounded.

6. To avoid too many expenses, properly check your lamps before
discarding them; be sure not to dispose of lamps that are still
in good operating condition. Examine the bulbs carefully to see
the cause of the lighting problem. If you see dark and metallic
finish, you may consider now replacing them since this means
that the lights are already old and may soon wear down.

7. Especially if you are driving an old truck, make sure not to
start or park the truck with the lights on. Too much use of
power can extremely damage the lights.