September 29, 2007

Tips to Maximizing Fuel Economy in today’s climate of high gas prices

Filed under: Auto Care Articles — Transman @ 2:00 am

High costs at the pump have you troubled? Find yourself at the pump yet again dishing out another $50 - $100? Well, you’re not alone. The rising price of gas is on most of our minds and pocketbooks these days leaving us wondering if and when there will be a reprieve.

Until gas prices do normalize, there are some things that you can do to stretch that next tank of gas. Here are 10 tips that should save you a few extra bucks at the pump:

1. Instead of running multiple errands, consolidate your trips into one thus eliminating significant and unneccessary travel.

2. In congested, urban areas, avoid rush hour traffic. Grid lock and its start and stop travel is one of the quickest ways to drain that gas tank.

3. Resist the temptation to drive alone. Car pool with your co-workers. Carpooling with three of your colleagues means you only drive every fourth week saving you a bundle in fuel costs over the course of a year.

4. In cold weather climates, have an engine block heater installed. This will reduce the amount of fuel needed to warm the car on those cold winter mornings.

5. Resist turning on the AC at the first sign of warm weather. Air conditioning burns up alot of fuel. If you’re driving in the city, a better alternative is to roll down the windows and open all vents. Highway driving is a different story though. The drag from open windows can also result in your burning more fuel. If you have to, roll up the windows and place the AC on the lowest setting.

6. Remove roof racks and overhead carriers when not in use. The drag created by these will result in less fuel economy.

7. Remove any unnecessary weight from your vehicle that will cause the engine to work harder and use more fuel.

8. Ensure your vehicle is tuned up on a regular basis. A properly tuned vehicle operates more efficiently resulting in the consumption of less fuel.

9. Alter your driving style. Do you accelerate quickly from a starting position? Gradually accelerating until you’ve reached your optimum speed will result in a significant gas savings over the long haul.

10. Routinely have your brakes and tire pressure checked. Poorly working brakes can result in your vehicle working harder and using more fuel. The same for your tires, under or over inflated tires will result in the consumption of more fuel.

Following even just a few of these tips should save you some money.

About the Author

William Bolton is founder, owner, and operator of Leasedwheels.com, a website specializing in auto lease transfers and assumptions. If you’re stuck in a lease you need out of or wish to take over an existing lease on a short-term basis with no money down, visit:
http://www.leasedwheels.com

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

September 26, 2007

How do I beat a speeding ticket?

Filed under: Auto Care Articles — Transman @ 2:00 am

You may have already paid your speeding ticket and may wonder but how do i beat speeding ticket? The court system is set up to discourage you from contesting the ticket because they don’t want you to fight back. Sure, you may have driven too fast or maybe you are really innocent. That is why I will share my secrets on“>www.ihatespeedingtickets.com”> how do i beat a speeding ticket with you.

Your first chance to beat the ticket is when you get pulled over. Switch off the engine, roll down the window, place your hands on the steering wheel, and wait for the officer. He will ask whether you know why he stopped you. Here is the first tip in the how do i beat a speeding ticket lesson: don’t admit anything. You should answer no. He will ask for your driver’s license. Ask him if you can reach for it. Ask for a written or oral warning before you hand it over. He will be more inclined to give you one if your record is clean. Don’t argue if he declines.

The next step in the process is to take note of the surroundings and every detail such as the registration number of the patrol vehicle, speed equipment used, weather conditions, clothing, characteristics of your car, the location and traffic conditions. Leave the scene in a controlled manner but return as soon as you can to refresh your memory.

The next step is to decide”>www.ihatespeedingtickets.com”>decide on the plea You wont need the rest of the lesson on how do i beat a speeding ticket if you want to plea guilty. Keep reading if you don’t want points on your license and higher insurance premiums. You can contest the case based on the following if a radar or laser unit was used:

v Improper operation procedures followed v The police agency’s FCC license expired v The officer was not properly trained to handle the equipment v Faulty equipment

The next step in our lesson on how do i beat a speeding ticket is to enter a plea. You can request a hearing by mail if you live far from the court. Both you and the officer have the same period to submit your statements. Use this time to prepare your case. State all the evidence in a clear and professional manner. The bail amount is refunded if you win the case. You can request a new trial if you lose.

Your best chance to beat the ticket is when the officer fails to appear in court. You can cross-examine him if he does show. But, how do i beat a speeding ticket in court? Don’t testify if there is no jury and don’t make an opening statement. Provide as little as possible information until it is your turn to cross-examine the witness. Question the officer about the correct procedure to handle the radar or laser unit, when it was calibrated, about the weather conditions, and traffic flow. Your object is to create reasonable doubt.

Prepare your case and examine all evidence. Visit the court before the trial date and get a feel for the court”>www.ihatespeedingtickets.com”>court procedure. Practice your cross-examination and closing statement. Don’t argue that you were late or had a personal emergency. Object to speculation and hear say. These are just a few pointers on how do i beat a speeding ticket.

About the author:

I have studied the law pertaining to speeding tickets very extensively. So much so, that even though we are not lawyers, law firms regularly contact IHATESPEEDINGTICKETS.COM asking us to train their law staff on how to beat speeding tickets! Now you can have this expertise on your side, providing YOU the information you will need to go to court and insure that you beat your ticket.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

September 23, 2007

Summertime Car Care

Filed under: Auto Care Articles — Transman @ 2:00 am

Because we feel the effects of winter more harshly than summer, we go to extra lengths to protect ourselves with coats and hats and gloves. Most of us make sure that our cars are ready for the onslaught of frigid winter weather too. We make sure we have snow tires, an ice scraper and deicer.

However, in summer months we can shed our heavy and restrictive coats and hats and take life easy. We also tend to be more lax with our car care too. Remember, you car needs protection and routine maintenance year round, no matter what the temperature.

Your engine is effected by extremes of temperature. Don’t think that it isn’t hard on the engine when you sit idling in a traffic jam in 90 degree plus temperature with the air conditioner blasting away inside.

The first reason to keep up a maintenance schedule is to save yourself money in the long run. If you have a newer car in order to keep the warranty in effect you need to have it serviced according to your manufacturers recommended schedule.

If your car is older and out of warranty you need to be more vigilant. It’s up to you to make a service schedule for your car. Make a checklist and keep track of the following items;

Oil. This should be changed every 3,000 miles. If you car is “using” oil as the saying goes, check it every other time you fill up. Carry an extra quart of oil in the trunk. Along with an oil change most “speedy” oil change business check belts, hoses, fluid levels, tires, etc.

Antifreeze. Have your cars heating and cooling system checked on at least yearly. You want to make sure you have adequate temperature protection, summer and winter.

Air cleaner. This should be checked at the same time you have your oil changed. A clogged air cleaner can really slow down your engines performance.

Brakes. If you notice any squealing of your breaks have them checked as soon as possible. It’s much cheaper to replace worn pads than it is to have to replace expensive rotors if they become worn.

Tires. The air pressure is usually checked at the same time you have your oil changed. You should also have the tires rotated on a regular basis, this can really prolong their life.

Battery. Batteries are sealed units now. Have the battery checked at least once a year.

Following these tips all year round will help you keep you car in top running order.
About the Author

This article courtesy of http://www.bmw-fanclub.net

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

Next Page »