2007/06/10

Infiniti New York is a Big Hit Among Lovers of Luxury Cars


Infiniti range of cars is the luxury driving on the wheels. It is because of its features that Infiniti cars are liked by everyone. In fact, every part in Infiniti is original and long lasting. The name in itself reminds of stylish vehicle that can be a part of the dream of anyone. And living that dream is not the cup of tea for everyone. If you have planned for buying Infiniti series of car, then all you need is an Infiniti car dealer in New York. People residing in New York can visit their nearest Infiniti dealer to realize their dream into reality.

While looking for an Infiniti dealer near your place, you have to be slightly careful. It is because you may get stuck up in the trap of a fake dealer that may hand over you a used Infiniti car for the price of new. After catching up with the genuine Infiniti car dealer at your nearest place in New York, you have to see the various models of cars available with him. Some of the models of Infiniti that you can select from are G35Coupe, G35 Sedan, FX 35, Q45, M35 and M45. Now, you can choose your favorite car according to your requirements.

If you are not able to find an Infiniti dealer near your place, then internet is the best place to search out for a genuine dealer. Looking out for Infiniti car dealer on internet saves a lot of time. In fact, it is the best source for those people who do not have enough time to look out for an Infiniti car dealer. One thing to be noticed on searching for dealer is that you should not get swayed by the name of the car dealer. You should personally visit the dealer and check out the style and make of Infiniti range of cars. Another thing to be confirmed is that the parts of the car are original.

Going out for a test drive and checking the performance of the car is the chief thing that should be done. After all, it is through test drive that you get to know the pick up and performance level of the car. As far as performance, it matters a lot, so does its make and color. Would you like to drive a car that does not have your favorite color? Nissan has kept this thing in mind and this is the reason that you get to choose from a wide variety of colors. Red, maroon, blue, silver, black, bronze and many other colors are available for you. The joy of driving a luxury car and that too in your favorite colors doubles the enjoyment of driving.

Whenever we a talk about the opulence, ease and style, it is only Infiniti range of cars that strikes our mind. Infiniti range of cars has established a special place for themselves in the market. In fact, Infiniti cars have given a new meaning to the dreams of a person to own one of the most attractive looking cars. Infiniti car dealer in any part of New York is the right place to look out for your dream machine. Nissan has tried its best in giving something unusual to their customers by developing Infiniti series of cars and they have become successful in doing so.





Things to Know when Renting a Car


In today's society, there are a number of reasons why people rent a car. Some of the top reasons are vacations, a car they own is in the shop and renting a nicer car for a special occasion. Whatever the reason that you are considering renting a car; there are some things that you should know first.

1- It is wise to shop around when looking for to rent a car. Always find at least three rental car companies to compare, although more will be better. Be sure to ask all the companies the same questions to get the most accurate answers. Most rental car companies will have websites online to find basic information, but it is best to call as local branches may have deals that are not advertised online.

2- When you call, be sure to ask about price, vehicle availability, as well as any specials that the branch has to offer. It is worth noting here, that many of these companies will have special arrangements with hotels, airlines or even warehouse stores.

3- You will want to ask about any special instructions that are required of you while renting the car, for example, filling up the gas tank or pick up and drop off times. Not adhering to these policies can result in fees.

4- Many companies that will rent a car to you will also be willing to either deliver the car to you or pick you up and take you to your rental. This service may require a fee, but can be worth asking about if you are flying to your destination.

5- The rental company may offer you insurance to purchase, however, your personal auto insurance may be all you need in the event of an accident with a rental car. Call your auto insurance agent and ask before paying extra at the rental counter.

6- There are a number of choices that are open to you when renting a car. Each class of car will vary in price and gas mileage; consider this when making your decision. While many companies may be willing to upgrade you, this is not always the case. It is wise to choose the car you want and hope for an upgrade than to reserve less of a car and be disappointed when an upgrade is not offered.

7- Have a credit or debit card handy to reserve the rental car with, most companies will only guarantee a car with this assurance.





Local Stock Car Short Track Nostalgia


What was your earliest memory of auto racing? I remember watching a weekly TV show called "Jalopy Races From Hollywood". This was my earliest memory of having interest in following the sport of auto racing.

One of my most favorite memories when growing up in the 50's and 60's was being able to hear the auto racing action [stock cars and open cockpit midget] at Freeport Speedway in Freeport New York, from two [2] towns away. They ran races during the summer on Tuesday night, Friday night, and Saturday night. Going to the races as a spectator was also a rush for me.

I loved everything about it, the smell of racing fuel, burning rubber, sawdust and hot dogs from the food concessions. During the late 50's and early 60's the racing drew large crowds of spectators. I can see in my minds eye to this day, all the activity, the vendors selling race collectibles, the sound and smell of the concession stands [pop corn, hot dogs and the like. I can still hear the beer vendor as his went up and down the stands yelling out the familiar phrase of "Get Ya Cold Beer Here" Of course I was too young to become one of his customers. Other vendors sold copies of Speedway News, programs, hot dogs, replica racing flags and many more items.

Some of the great racers that ran a Freeport Stadium are Les Ley, Jim Lacy [One of my favorites], Bruno Brackey aka the Flying Mailman due to his day job, George and Ed Brunnhoelzl, George Brunnhoelzl Jr. [George Jr. built the famed Brunnhoelzl jack used by many NASCAR Winston Cup teams today.], Axel Anderson, Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Charlie Jarzombek, Gary Winters, Fred Harbach, George Wagner, Bill Spade, Tom Baldwin, Red Raynor, Reinhardt and many more.

Freeport Stadium had gone through a series of different promoters over the years. This list included the names Kedenburg, Larry Mendelsohn, Duke Donaldson, and Don Campi. Duke Donaldson was well know as the voice of Freeport Speedway. As the track announcer, Donaldson for many years opened a race event with announcing, "Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to Freeport Stadium, the oldest continuously-run racetrack in the United States" and thanking everyone for visiting "Freeport Speedway in tropical Freeport." His style did much to create a feeling of great action and professionalism for any given race event.

The second half of the 60's began a decline in the popularity of stock car racing in Freeport. There were still many promotions being done but paid attendance declined.

Racing at Freeport took a final curtain in 1983 after 50 years of continuous operation.





Why the 1965 Buick Riviera is one of the Coolest Classic Cars Ever Made


The Buick Riviera that was released and sold in the year I was born, 1965, was quite a vehicle. It was the last year for the "first generation" Riviera model - and by far the best. A unique, recognizable body style that encompassed a spacious cabin and housed a powerful V8 engine has now become a sought-after gem of classic car collectors. I was fortunate enough to have one for a few months in my youth. Here are some of its power stats:


*0-60 in 8 seconds *Quarter mile in 16 seconds *Top speed observed 115 MPH *Mileage 13.2 MPG


With a 401 Wildcat under the hood, I had no trouble getting where I wanted to go. And while the body was large, it was quite maneuverable thanks to the standard equipment power steering and stiff heavy-duty suspension. And who says getting there fast can't be in style? Check out some of the features it came with:


*Front bucket seats *Bucket-style rear seats *Cruise control *Tilt steering wheel *Center console floor-shifter & storage comp. *Power windows, including wing-window! *Driver side 4-way power seat *Air conditioning *AM/FM radio with power antenna


This 1965 car had more stuff than my 1985 Toyota did! I can remember cranking up the radio with the cruise control on doing 75 while adjusting my power seat, the tilt wheel, and the power wing windows. Ah to be young again - those were the days.


But the real feature that made the 1965 Buick Riviera stand out from all the other years were the hidden headlights. Tucked out of sight by the clam-shell covers that opened and closed automatically on the outer edges of the vehicle, they were moved back into the grille for all future body styles (where they had been the previous 2 years.


Back in the mid-80's these cars were a lot easier to find, but there are some original vehicles still sitting in driveways out there is suburban and rural America. You might be able to pick one up for $1,000 if you do your homework. Less populated areas away from big metro cities are your best bet for discovering one of these hidden gems.


Find one, invest some time and/or money into restoring it, and you will have something special. It's a good investment too; you just can't lose restoring classic American cars.


There is another unique Riviera worth mentioning here, and that is the 1972 model, otherwise known as the "torpedo back." A neighbor-mechanic of mine told me they love those things in Las Vegas (this was in 1985). I have never owned one of those - not yet anyway!





Pimp My Ride: Hottest Show On TV


Pimp My Ride is a popular television program produced by MTV and involves taking a car that may be in bad condition and restoring as well as customizing it and, in its original form, was hosted by rapper Xzibit. The focus of Pimp My Ride is to choose young car owners between the ages of 18 to 24 who are living in the Los Angeles/Southern California region and, normally, the show begins with a participant showing his or her car to MTV to try to convince them of the need for it to be "pimped".


Once this has been done in Pimp My Ride, then rapper Xzibit pays a visit to the owner's house and after a careful look and some wisecracks about the defects in the car makes the owner a promise of completing its restoration. Then the car is transported to a custom body shop of either West Coast Customs or Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) where their shop teams put in new components and parts and generally give the car a complete makeover, right from the interior to its exterior.


Every car selected on Pimp My Ride has been customized for the owner, keeping in view his or her interests and personalities. This may include getting a complete new paint job for the car, changing of accessories, getting chrome work done, changing the tires and rims as well as internal electronic add-ons such as DVD players, video games and TFT screens. However, the makeover in Pimp My Ride is mostly cosmetic in order to just get the car to function once again though there have been instances when the entire engine has been replaced with higher performance engines.


While the majority of cars get customized work done on them, there have been a couple of occasions when the car was simply in too bad a shape. One such instance was when the car was actually two parts of a Ford Escort that had been welded together to form a single unit and this car was thought to be too unsafe for the makeover. On another episode, an auto mechanics student had put together a vehicle that was clearly impossible to pimp, without jeopardizing the safety of the owner. In both cases to give both owners a brand new car with extensive customization for its new owners.


Pimp My Ride is hugely popular because of the colorful personalities of the participants, especially the West Coast Customs' staff and owner. In addition, there are also fancy electronics involved as well as tough interiors and the presence of experts such as Alex, the tire expert, and the paint and body expert, Buck which adds more flavor to the show.


The main attraction of the show is that it answers the dream of all of us who dream of having a car that everyone wants to get a closer look at, instead of hoping no one notices us driving it.


For drivers of old beat up cars, there is hope.





Breathing New Life Into My 5.0 With Afe Filters and Afe Intakes

No oneâ s a bigger Vanilla Ice Fan than me. Iâ ve got every album that this musical, lyrical god has ever released, starting with Hooked in 1989 and ending with his 2006 Best of compilation. When To the Extreme hit the scene, I almost lost my mind from excitement. Everywhere I turned, there was The Ice. On the radio. On TV. On the silver screen. Iâ m not ashamed to admit it, but Iâ ve watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II every Saturday night since it was released on video. Much to the amazement of my friends and family, I even quit my job for a year to follow his North American tour. Those were some of the happiest days of my life. When the tour ended, I was stone broke and had to hitchhike my way back home to Pensacola. But I have no regrets.

After I returned from my Vanilla pilgrimage, I got a job at a local record shop. I tried applying for more lucrative positions, but Spinnerâ s Vinyl was the only place in town that would hire me with all those lines shaved into the side of my head. I didnâ t mind, though. It gave me the perfect opportunity to introduce everyone to Vanillaâ s B-sides and the bootlegs that I recorded at a few of his shows. You should have seen the looks on peopleâ s faces when they walked in and heard my acoustic version of Roll â Em Up blasting through the overhead. After a while, my boss forbade me from playing my idol, so I had to enjoy it by myself through my headphones.

It took a long time, but I finally saved up enough dough to buy my dream car: a white 1992 Ford Mustang GT with the 5.0L motor. I was rolling with the ragtop down so my hair could blow. I even added in a bumping sound system to catch the attention of the girlies on stand by. They never really waved or even said â hi,â but I did catch more than a few looks. Those were glorious times. I had cash, a deluxe car, and an endless well of premium tunes to satisfy my ears.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. My GT started choking a little about the time that olâ Van Winkle stared in the first Surreal Life. Not exactly a high point for his career or my car, but revitalization was just around the corner. I hunted around on the internet to find some parts to boost my performance. I ran into some sites with great reviews for AFE air filters and AFE intakes. Because this is an Ice ride, I went with the full-blown cold air intake. As soon as I bolted that bad boy into place, my Mustang drove like a brand new invention. The oxygen was flowing like a harpoon right into my cylinders, delivering huge horsepower gains to wax all the chumps at the red lights like a candle. Word to your mother.



How To Review Limousine Rental Services

Getting the best limousine rental service is one of the things that people would want to do, especially if they are spending a lot of money on one. Everyone who wants to avail of limousine rental services is not just doing it so they can ride in a limousine, but they want to make a particular event more special, which is what a limousine service can help do.

People hire limousine rental services for a lot of reasons, be it weddings or proms, all of which are events that people would want to remember and make special. Unfortunately, not all limousine rental services are able to do that, especially since there are a lot of limousine services out there that are not of good quality.

This is why people need to be able to review the type of limousine service that they are planning on getting in order to make sure that they are getting a quality limousine rental service. There are certain factors and elements that people can look into to ensure that the type of limousine rental service that they are getting is worth their money.

One way of being able to review the quality of limousine rental service that you are getting is by looking at resources about the different limousine rental services that you are interested in. You can use yellow pages, local newspapers and even special event publications and online sites as your resources since they offer a decent amount of information about the limousine service. Just keep in mind, however that not all large and impressive publications and web sites contain the best quality limousine services and rental deals.

Once you have found some prospective companies, you should start asking about certain features of the limousine service that they provide, just so you can get an idea of what you are getting for your money. Make sure that you ask about the types of limousines that they have available and how many their units are in their fleet of limousines. This is important so you can check if they have the type of limousine that you need, and if they have extra cars for you just in case the one that you are renting breaks down at some point during your trip.

This will also help you determine the price since different types of limousine actually vary in price, depending on their make, year and model. The newer the models are, the more expensive they will be, especially if they are from well-known car manufacturers.

You should also ask about the services that they offer, since this will also be a factor on the price of the entire limousine service that you are paying for. There are certain limousine services that offer bar or champagne service, while others does not. Some even allow their customers to post "just married" signs on the limousine without any added cost.

Although more expensive limousine rental services appear to be of very high quality, not all of them actually offer you the best reliable service that you can get from your money, which is why it is important for you to actually take the time to check the different limousine companies and review the quality of the services that they offer.



History Of The Limousine Rental Service In The U.S.

There is a variety of limousine rental services all around the U.S., each one offering different services for its customers. Majority of the people who avail of their services usually use the limousine service for weddings or proms, which are mostly done during the spring season. Most limousine rental service companies offer a variety of limousine models, ranging from newer models to vintage-looking older models.

Each limousine rental company also offer a variety of amenities to go along their limousine cars, ranging from the standard limousine, driver and beverages, to specific additions, such as body modification for the limousine, television sets, and other specifications made by the customer. Of course, the more additions and amenities that the limousine has, then the more pricy the service would be, so prepare to shell out a considerable amount of cash if you want to get a very luxurious limousine ride.

Although limousine rental services are beginning to become very common nowadays, not a lot of people know exactly how they came about. Limousines nowadays have incorporated newer models of cars and have transformed them into limousine-type vehicles, just so their customers can have a wide array of choices of limousines to fit the customer"s preferences and needs. Limousines, which is basically defined as a stretched luxury car that is driven by a chauffeur, bears a profile that is similar to the hoods that people in the French Limousine region wore, which is where the term limousine was derived from.

The limousines that we have today are actually based on a stretched-out version of big sedans. These limousines are characterized by a sliding glass window that goes between the passenger and driver in order to give the passenger the privacy that he or she may want. These stretched-out sedans have actually two rows of seats and room to accommodate rear passengers. Early versions of limousines placed the rear seats facing forward towards the driver, offering more leg room for the passenger, while another row of seats facing the rear seat is placed behind the driver"s seat. This allows people to have face-to-face conversations with the other passengers in the limousine while maintaining enough room for everyone to not feel constricted. When the seats behind the driver are not needed, those can be folded up in order to remove the unnecessary bulk that can eat up the space in the car.

Limousines have also taken aspects of horse-drawn stagecoaches in their design, which was used for carrying a large number of passengers as well, incorporating certain features into their service and design in order to progress into much better limousine transportation service providers, such as the ones that we have today.

Limousines nowadays do not necessarily follow the same structure, but have features that are very reminiscent of the older versions of limousines. The newer models still have the same seating arrangement in the back, but add another row of seats lining the side of the limousine, facing the side window. This allows for more seating capacity, but sacrifices much of the leg room in the car. These new additions are usually used on those limousines that are capable of handling a high capacity of people.

Modern day limousine rental services have evolved, adding newer models and a whole lot more amenities in their list of services, all for the benefit and advantage of their customers.


Vanessa Arellano Doctor

Car Covers Protect your Investment and Save you Money


Ask anyone why they purchased a car cover and they all give you a different answer. Yet, the underlying reason will be the same; they want to protect the investment in their vehicle.

Car covers and car cover fabrics are generally misunderstood. Many believe that the inexpensive off-the-shelf cover they can pickup in their local discount store or auto parts dealer is the same as the high quality custom tailored vehicle covers available from Covercraft. But, this is a mistake and the quality cover from Covercraft can cost less long term over the life of the cover.

The inexpensive local alternative car covers are not much more than large bags of various materials with elastic bands to help hold the cover in place. Whereas, a custom tailored Covercraft car cover is cut to exact measurements provided to Covercraft from the vehicle manufacturer (think Ford, Chevy or BMW) directly. So the fit on the vehicle is perfect and adds to the protection since there are no baggy areas to blow around in the wind. Many of the patterns for custom car covers have mirror pockets and some even have pockets for the new smaller stubby antenna and/or satellite radio antennas.

Another difference between the covers is the wide selection of fabrics available for the custom fit covers. The fabric is key to the effectiveness of the cover and many of the low cost options donâ t stand up to even the most mild of weather situations. Fabrics available from Covercraft are designed first and foremost to protect the vehicle from dust, dirt and pollen. Basically, they keep the vehicle clean which saves you time and money on washing and detailing the vehicle.

Outdoor car cover fabrics go beyond the basics of keeping a car clean have water resistance and UV reflectance properties. On the topic of water resistance, no Covercraft car cover is waterproof. Why is this? Simply because if you place a waterproof cover over a vehicle, any moisture that is normally in the air or any water puddles under the car will evaporate and become trapped between the car and cover. This will create a â greenhouse effectâ and cause the water to condense on the vehicle which can lead to damage. With a Covercraft cover the fabrics are designed to â breatheâ , that is they allow the microscopic water molecules to escape out of the fabric keeping your vehicle clean and dry. The outer layer of the cover will repel most of the rain and moisture that hits it so you have protection inside and out.

UV damage can occur in any area but more so in climates with brilliant sunshine all year round. Youâ ve seen the faded or cracked dashboards or discolored seats in many vehicle. But, with a custom car cover most damaging sun rays are reflected so you not only protect your paint and finish but your interior as well. An additional benefit in sun protection is that your interior stays cooler in the hot summer months.

Other benefits of Covercraft car cover fabrics included protection from dings and dents, acid rain, bird droppings, tree sap, snow and ice. Every area has unique weather and external factors that threaten your carâ s appearance, so it makes sense that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for your car cover needs. This is where Covercraft and their specialized line of custom car covers can help keep your car, truck or other vehicle clean and looking brand new.





2007/06/04

How Under-25 Drivers Can Lower Their Car Insurance Premiums


It's no news that young drivers are very expensive to insure. Are there ways a young person can lower his/her quote? This article is just about those things a young person can do to reduce his or her risk level and, consequently, car insurance premium.
First it must be said that the high premium associated with the age bracket is nothing personal. Statistics over years have pointed them as the highest risk age group. The statistics vary from place to place. However, one thing always remains true: Of all age groups, under-25 persons are consistently the most accident prone.
This is due to several factors. At the top of the list is the general recklessness associated with youthfulness. Apart from this, they are also less experienced in the very act of driving and thus may not respond as well as more experienced drivers in difficult situations.
So here's something that will help...
Take lessons in defensive driving. In case you don't know what this means it is an advanced form of driving that goes beyond just obeying traffic rules to actually taking proactive steps to ensure your safety and that of other road users. As an example, a driver who has learned to drive defensively assumes that the other drivers on the road are reckless and so make room for them. If a car indicates that it is going to the right, a defensive driver will assume that such a car might as well go in the opposite direction.
This is certainly a simplistic explanation of a rather broad subject. However, you can certainly agree with me that undergoing such training increases your driving skills and thus lowers your risk on the road. This will affect your insurance premium positively.
Even after you have done this, make sure you take time to understand the process of making savings on car insurance. It's a simple process that could result in savings of up to $1000.





Guide To Automobile Insurance


In the United States there is a traffic accident every 3 seconds. So it is very important to have an automobile insurance, if you own or ride an automobile. Automobile insurance is an insurance which provides insurance cover against costs incurred by the insured due to traffic accidents. Further it is mandatory for all vehicles in the United States to have an automobile insurance. Let me explain some of the basic facts of automobile insurance.


Coverage: Usually insurance covers the insured party, the insured auto mobile and third parties.


Premium: Premium is the money you pay to the auto insurance company usually every six months for insurance cover. It depends on your age, gender, driving record, type of policy, type and cost of vehicle, usage like commuting or commercial use etc.


Liability insurance: It covers claims against the policy owner and the owner's vehicle. If you drive your car and end up in an accident damaging another person's car and that person, then your car insurance cover will pay for damage to that person's car, medical costs of that person, repair/replacement cost of your car and medical costs to you if you are injured. If you are driving someone else's car then you will not be covered by your insurance. If you want that type of coverage you should buy a non owner's insurance policy.


Comprehensive coverage: Provides coverage for damage to your automobile if it gets damaged due to things like theft, vandalism, animals, weather etc.


Underinsured coverage: If at fault party's insurance is unable to pay damage to your car and your injuries then your own underinsured coverage will pay up the balance.


Rental Coverage: If your vehicle is damaged and you have to pay for rental expenses, then rental coverage insurance will pay the expenses.


Towing insurance: If your vehicle becomes non drivable due to breakdowns, flats etc and costs incurred due to road side assistance such as towing, the expenses are paid by towing insurance coverage.





Where to Get Cheap Car Insurance for Students


Students typically have little extra money to spend, but unfortunately have to pay top dollar for car insurance, with drivers under age 25 paying the highest car insurance rates of anyone. So where can you get cheap car insurance for students?


Shop Around


Insurance rates can vary widely from company to company, so you need to comparison shop to make sure you're getting the cheapest car insurance you can.


The best place to comparison shop for car insurance is on an insurance comparison website. On such a website, you complete a form with information about your vehicles, personal information, coverage limits, and deductibles. Then you'll receive fast quotes from multiple A-rated insurance companies and you can choose the cheapest quote from the best company.


On the best comparison websites, you can also talk with insurance professionals through an online chat service or toll-free telephone service and get all your insurance questions answered (see link below).


Plan to Save


To keep your car insurance as cheap as possible, follow these tips:


* Keep your grades up so you can qualify for a good student discount.


* Enroll in a driver"s education or defensive driving class.


* Drive carefully and safely so you can qualify for a good driver discount after three years with no tickets or accidents.


* Keep your credit rating in good shape. If you have poor credit, your insurance costs may be higher.


* Before you buy a car, check into the cost to insure it. Your premium will be affected by the car"s sticker price, potential repair costs, overall safety record, safety features, and the likelihood of theft.


* Set your comprehensive and collision deductibles as high as you can afford. If your car is more than five years old, consider dropping comprehensive and collision coverage altogether.


* Ask your insurance company if there are any additional discounts you might qualify for so you can get the cheapest car insurance possible.




Cheap Car Insurance in Atlanta, Georgia


Although many states in the union have laws that state that insurance companies have to offer a discount for having an anti-theft device in the car, such as an alarm system, Georgia doesn"t. The people of Atlanta need not fret though as many car insurance companies in this area of state, actually encourage their clients to purchase and install a safety device by offering them cheaper car insurance. This is a great way for motorists to enjoy lower premiums and decrease the chances of their car turning up missing.


In addition to having a car alarm, many car insurance companies offer additional discounts that can help in the quest for cheap car insurance in Atlanta, Georgia. One discount that many newly-married couples don"t take advantage of. Although marriage is a blending of two lives it also should be a time when two car insurance policies become one. Many insurers offer a discount for families that insure two or more cars. Even if you"re not married you can take advantage of this particular discount by taking out one policy with your roommate, sibling, child or anyone else living in the same home with you who drives.


If you"ve been negligent when it comes to obeying traffic laws, such as speeding restrictions, you may have noticed your car insurance costs going up. Many insurance companies now offer a discount to clients who have a history of citations, if they take a defensive driving course. Taking a course like this illustrates to the insurance company that the individual wants to improve their reckless driving habits. It"s best to ask about the discount before investing in the cost of the course.


Remember that driving better in the future will ultimately lower the premiums. Insurance companies offer the cheapest rates to the best drivers, so if your record isn"t spotless, adopt better driving habits.




Cheap Car Insurance in Albuquerque, New Mexico


One of the facts about a person that can contribute to how high or low their car insurance premiums are is their credit history. For a person living in Albuquerque, New Mexico they are fortunate in that no insurance company can legally deny them coverage if they have a bad credit score. However, they can charge based on that score and for someone with a problem credit past, that can make finding cheap car insurance in Albuquerque, New Mexico a challenge.


There are some little known ways to save money on car insurance, and it"s highly unlikely your insurance agent will mention any before you do. Therefore you should ask about any or all when it comes time to renew or purchase car insurance:


Ask your current agent about a renewal discount. Many vehicle owners don"t realize that they may qualify for a discount just for remaining loyal to their auto insurance company. When your policy is up for renewal, inquire about this.
Talk to your employer about the possibility of group insurance. Some companies actually have group insurance coverage that is available to employees. In many cases the premiums for plans like this are much lower than for individual car insurance because of the group discount. You may even be able to arrange to have your monthly or yearly premiums deducted from your pay check.
Drive less. Low mileage discounts are often offered by car insurance companies. If you are part of a car pool or you take public transit to work or ride a bike, mention this to your insurance agent.


Obviously there are some innovative ways to find cheap car insurance in Albuquerque, New Mexico. All you need to do is take advantage of every possible discount and keep your driving record clean and accident free.





How To Dramatically Reduce What You Pay For Car Insurance


There are many factors that will determine what you finally pay for your car insurance. A number of them will have to do with issues beyond your control. However, a lot of the factors will be determined by you.
The minimum car insurance requirements of your state or country is something beyond your immediate control. Different countries and states have different minimum requirements for car insurance. You really can't do anything about this for as long as you want to be law abiding.
You cannot control the above. However, there are many things that you can do that will dramatically alter what you pay. Here are a few...
1) Ask before you even buy your car. I know this will surprise a lot of folks. But believe it or not, there are cars that cost you a lot as far as insurance is concerned. The funny thing about it is that just by asking before making that purchase decision, you'll be directed to a similar car that will cost far less to insure.
2) If you now work at home or have a new job that reduces how often you use your car considerably, take advantage of it. Make sure your insurance company knows about the change. That should get your some savings.
3) Take advantage of special offers and discounts. Ask your car insurance agent what his/her company has. Some insurance companies will give you considerable discount if you also take other products from them. You might have heard of multi policy discount. That's what it means.
4) Shop around. Yes, there are standard factors that every insurance company uses to determine what you have to pay. However, they do not weight each of these factors equally. So look around. Your personal car insurance needs may be better addressed by another insurance company and at a lower price. The competition in car insurance is fierce. Take advantage of it.
It's a very smart decision to get as many quotes as make sense. After all, they are usually free. And, since you can save up to $2000 sometimes, I think it is well worth it.





Car Insurance In Los Angeles - How To Save Money


Finding cheap car insurance in Los Angeles may seem daunting, especially since the city is one of the most expensive when it comes to auto insurance. You still may be able to lower your insurance costs and save money. Here are some tips.


With the amount of auto thefts, and the sheer number of cars on the road, Los Angeles drivers unfortunately pay higher auto insurance rates than a lot of cities. Some of the ways you can lower your costs include:


Raising your deductible -- Having a higher deductible can lower your premium.


Getting only collision coverage -- Adding comprehensive coverage can raise your premium quite a bit.


Getting the minimum limits of coverage -- California requires, at the minimum, that you have $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident coverages for Bodily Injury and $5,000 coverage for Property Damage. However, be careful about lowering your limits -- these protect you from medical costs and lawsuits which could be very expensive in the event of an accident that you are at-fault.


Installing anti-theft devices -- Many car insurance companies will give you a discount for anti-theft devices.


Driving less -- That's a hard thing for Southern Californians to do, but the fact is many auto insurance companies will give you a better rate if you only drive a few miles every week.


Taking advantage of discounts -- Make sure you get all the discounts you can such as multi-policy, good student, etc.


Shopping around -- This is the single most important thing you can do to see if you can save money on your car insurance. Rates vary quite a bit from one car insurance company to the next. Get at least three different quotes for comparison.


One of the easiest and fastest ways to do this is to go online. Insurance companies doing business in Los Angeles will probably have Web sites that allow you to request a quote. Or, take advantage of the convenience of a comparison site that allows you to enter your information once and then provides several different quotes back.





Online RV Insurance Quote-Reasons to Get One


You should get an online RV insurance quote no matter where you have your homeowner"s and automobile insurance, and whether you are an RV owner already or you are just looking at becoming an RV owner. It is not a matter of disloyalty. It could be a matter of saving you money and headaches over future claims. It will not hurt you to get an online RV insurance quote and it may very well help you. You may be pleasantly surprised at the value and coverage available for every type of RV owner.


If you get an online RV insurance quote it will save you time. Not only will you be able to look at several different types of insurance and also insurance products, with some companies you can have a quote in minutes rather than the hours or days it may take if you were to talk to an insurance broker. When you are in the process of buying an RV, an online RV insurance quote can get you started in the process of insuring it much more quickly.


If you were to call up a number of different insurance companies it would take a lot of time and energy to compare all of their coverage costs and options. When you get an online RV insurance quote from one insurer you can get them from several other different companies at the same time so that you can compare them. Make sure that all of the information that you enter is the same so that you can get an accurate online RV insurance quote.


Once you get an appealing online RV insurance quote, you are more than welcome to take it to your current insurance provider to see if they can match the coverage and value of the policy. Most likely they cannot do it. They do not always have RV specific products, they have homeowner"s policies or they have automobile policies, but what you need is a combination of both. An RV insurance policy will cover things like awnings, slideouts, the hookups, and even will cover you if anyone is injured while in your RV.


You can get an RV insurance quote for free online. There is no cost or obligation. But, if you don"t get one, it can cost you if you have to make a claim in the future. It doesn"t hurt to take a closer look at online RV insurance.





Making Sense Of Those Car Insurance Policies And Terms


When it comes time to get auto insurance for your car, you will be faced with a number of decisions about the various types of available insurance. Basically, there are six different parts of an insurance policy. Some of them are mandatory when you purchase car insurance, and some may be optional. Here is a brief explanation of the different types.


Collision Insurance


This is the part that allows your car to be paid for when you get in an accident. If you were to hit another vehicle, have another vehicle hit your car, or you hit another object (such as a tree), then the damage to your vehicle is covered. It also will cover your vehicle in the event of a rollover, too. There are some exceptions, such as stunts and racing, which will void your being covered during those events.


Comprehensive Insurance


This coverage will protect your car in those events that are not listed under Collision Insurance. This means that if your car were caught in a fire, flood, is vandalized, stolen, or damaged by falling objects, then it would be covered. For older cars, you probably should just drop this part of your policy.


Medical Payments


This part of your policy provides medical coverage for any bodily injuries to you or your passengers while you are driving. It also covers people who drive your car with your permission, or you and passengers when you are driving someone else's car. Funerals are covered, too, in the event of any deaths that may occur. It may also be called Personal Injury Protection in some states.


Bodily Injury Liability


Whenever you get sued because of a bodily injury or a death, then this part of the policy covers you. There are a number of exceptions under this part of the policy as to who may not be covered and under what circumstances. It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with them - or the liability for a lawsuit may fall on your responsibility unnecessarily.


Property Damage Liability


Any property that becomes damaged as a result of your driving, or if your vehicle is driven by someone that you gave authorization to, it is covered under this part of the car insurance policy. This part is usually written together with the Bodily Injury Liability.


Uninsured Motorist Coverage


This is for that other guy who did not bother to buy car insurance. With more than 25% of motorists being uninsured in some states, you definitely need this. It will also cover you in the event of a hit and run driver. It is not available in all states.


Each of these sections of your policy can be adjusted by you in order to lower your car insurance rates if necessary. Ask your insurance agent what the recommended limits (legal) amounts are, and go from there upwards. You should seek to have these minimums - and more, if possible. You can also reduce your insurance costs by raising your deductible amount to $500 or $1,000.





Save Money On Your Car Insurance Today


Balancing a budget can be difficult. Every penny you save on routine bills like electricity and car expenses can be put to better use somewhere else. You work hard for your money and you'd like to save as much as possible. Everyone likes to save money, so we've compiled a few tips to help you squeeze your auto insurance policy for all it's worth.


Comparison Shop


Comparing rates from several companies can get you the best possible deal on your car insurance. Online quote services are quick and easy, and they do the hard work for you. Comparing prices at regular intervals, like every six months, ensures that you are getting the best price for the coverage you need. It also forces you to review your policy so you can determine if your coverage is still adequate for your needs. There's no sense in paying for too much auto insurance.


Raise Your Deductible


By raising your deductible from $200 to $500, you can save up to 30% off your monthly premiums. If you have an accident, you'll have to pay a few hundred dollars more out of pocket, but if you bank the savings every month, you should have a nice nest egg to use should you need a quick $500 for your deductible.


Check For Discounts From Your Provider


Discounts are pretty much standard for all insurance companies. While details vary from company to company, some types of discounts are commonly offered by most insurers. Insurance companies offer discounts to policy holders that insure multiple vehicles, buy life, homeowner's or renter's insurance along with their auto insurance, and those who have fewer accidents and moving violations. Drivers over 50, those who take safety courses and owners of cars with safety equipment like daytime running lights, airbags and anti-lock brakes all can receive discounts on monthly premiums. It's important to talk with your insurer to make sure you're taking advantage of all discounts that you qualify for.


Take Advantage Of Low Mileage Discounts


Drivers who stick close to home can get a low mileage discount from the insurance company. Ask your agent if your daily commute meets the restrictions for your policy.


Shop Wisely For A New Car


Purchasing a new car that has a theft deterrent system, or one that is inexpensive to repair and is not often targeted by car thieves will lower your monthly car insurance. Do your homework before shopping and check in with your insurance agent before making your final decision. Finding out that the candy apple red convertible will cost you more in insurance per month than the loan payment, may make you change your mind about taking it home.


Be Realistic About Older Vehicles


If you own an older vehicle that is worth $2,000 or less, carrying full coverage insurance is probably not a smart financial decision. You would be further ahead to drop the extra insurance and save the difference in premiums in a bank account in case your vehicle becomes damaged or stolen. Let your money collect interest in your bank account, not your insurance company's.


An informed consumer can shave a few dollars, maybe even a few hundred dollars off of their car insurance premiums. Armed with these tips, you can make sure your hard earned money is working for you.





2007/06/03

Your Used RV Checklist - 9 Points That Will Save You Money!


"It"s a home on wheels."


Keep that statement in mind as you begin your motor home or travel trailer buying project. Take a moment right now to inventory in your mind everything that needs fixing in your home right now. You might be imagining items as simple as a loose doorknob all the way to the intermittent problems you"re having with your heating and air conditioning system.


Now, add an engine and or wheels to the mix, and you have the idea - it"s going to be a difficult to find the perfect used RV. You might have to settle for a few little problems, or decide to pay a few extra bucks for something that"s in pristine condition. There are a myriad of things that can go wrong with a travel trailer or motor home, so a careful pre-buy inspection is a must.


Here then, I offer a starter list of what to look for when purchasing a used motorhome or used travel trailer.


Your used RV checklist:


1. Check everything that relates to your propane system. RV fires do happen and many times they"re the result of a neglected propane system. Check the tank, the hoses, and the regulator. I can"t stress how important this is. You could be risking your investment, and your life if you overlook even the simplest of problems in this area.


2. Check the condition of the house batteries. The house batteries hold the charge that powers your lights and other items when you"re not connected to shore power. They can be expensive to replace, and there might be as many as six of them. Are they properly topped off with water, and do they hold a charge? These batteries are heavy so you really don"t want to be doing this job yourself, and you"ll have to take the cores back for your deposit.


3. Check to make sure the fridge works on both propane and electricity. It should automatically switch from electric to gas when you unplug your shore power. Repairs can be costly so run this little test before you finalize the purchase.


4. Absolutely check the furnace and air conditioning equipment. These can be expensive units to repair, and you"ll want to ask for a little discount if these aren"t working correctly.


5. Does the toilet hold water? If the RV has been sitting for a period of time the seal in the toilet will have dried out. Add a little water to the toilet and see if it holds water for more than 15 minutes. Keep in mind that the water in the toilet is what holds back the fumes trying to escape from the black water holding tank.


6. Check for soft spots in the flooring especially in the bathroom and kitchen areas. These could be symptoms of a much larger problem. The unit may have leaky supply pipes or drains that are causing the wood to rot.


7. Check the skin on the outside of the unit. Look for bubbles. Although cosmetic, you"re probably dealing with a corrosion issue. These can be resolved, but will involve removal of paint, treatment of the affected area, and repainting. Sounds expensive to me.


8. If it has a gas engine, then I highly recommend you carefully inspect the engine records. A good owner will have kept receipts of all engine maintenance. It would even behoove you to have the engine looked over by a trusted mechanic. What do you suppose it would cost to replace an engine?


9. Finally, do a THOROUGH walk-through. Open and close everything. Turn everything on and off. Be suspicious and take notes as you walk through the rig, and at least you"ll go into the purchase with your head up.


I"ll leave you with one final thought. You"ll never find the perfect used travel trailer or RV, but you can minimize the hidden expenses by following the above guidelines.






Pioneer Car CD Players Reviewed - DEH-P3800MP


Pioneer is one of the most recognized brands in the car audio industry. They make car cd players, subwoofers, and amplifiers. The Pioneer car CD player DEH-P3800MP is an entry level car cd player manufactered with the casual car audio enthusiast in mind. Being moderately priced this Pioneer car CD player is a great buy.


The DEH-P3800MP comes with several features that make it a great deal as they can be had anywhere from $90 to $130. These features are MP3/WMA support, XM or Sirius satellite radio capability, and a large 16 character display. Lets go into to futher detail about each of these awesome features.



  • 1) MP3/WMA support - This Pioneer car CD player has the capability to support CD-R discs burned with MP3's or WMA's. A 700 megabyte CD-R can hold up to 10 full MP3 albums or nearly 20 WMA albums. This feature is great for those of us who have a large collection of music on our computers.

  • 2) XM or Sirius satellite radio - The Pioneer car CD player DEH-P3800MP is manufactured with support for these two formats of satellite radio. This means if you already subscribe to either one of these services than you do not have to purchase another radio receiver. Satellite radio is the "next big thing" in the media industry, with thousands of stations, high definition sound playback, and limited commercial interruption. This feature in and of itself makes this Pioneer car CD player a great buy.

  • 3) 16 Character Display - This Pioneer car CD player supports ID-3 tags, which allow you to burn the artist name, album name, and track names, onto the disc itself. The large 16 character display allows you to see this information right on your car CD player. You will also be able to see the FM radio stations frequency and station name with this technology.


All and all the DEH-3800MP Pioneer car CD player is an awesome buy. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to upgrade their stock car CD player.






Cheap Transportation for That RV Pit Stop


More and more people are taking to the open road. These days, the trips are getting shorter, but the length of stay is getting longer. There seems to be another phenomena taking place. You don"t see all the extra vehicles tagging along behind these RVs". Did they give up their pit stop transportation? I think not.


Just about any person you talk to that has an RV will tell you that they have heard of the next wave in alternative transportation. It"s cheap, portable and gets them where they need to go in a jiff.


What is all of the ruckus? Two words - Electric Scooters. Electric scooters have become all the rage with the RV generation. Electric scooters today are compact, fast and convenient.


Electric scooters today are compact: In the old days, electric scooters were not compact. Today, most electric scooters are capable of folding down for easy storage. With this advent, RV owners love the fact that they can fit right inside the RV without being in the way. The electric scooter can be stored in a closet or in a cubby inside most RV"s.


Electric Scooters are fast: As compared to the scooters of yesterday, today"s electric scooters are much more powerful. The average speeds of electric scooters today range anywhere from fifteen miles per hour, all the way up to twenty-five or thirty miles per hour. There are a few higher end models that can reach up to forty-five to a whopping fifty miles per hour, but those would require a cargo rack for the back of your RV. The higher end models will not fit comfortably inside your RV.


Electric Scooters are convenient: When there are some short trips to take or to take I the sights, all you need to do is pull out your electric scooter, hop on and away you go. You don"t have to worry about any added expense; like gas or oil.


Electric scooters pay for themselves. Think about all the money that you can and will save on gas. Just by taking out your electric scooter a few times, you will have paid for it with the money you saved by not filling up. What does that mean to you? You will have more money to spend on your trip and when you"re done, fold it up and put it away conveniently. No worries.


So, if you have an RV and you"re used to towing your gas guzzler behind, you can park the car, get an electric scooter and hit the trails. You owe it to yourself to not let the cost of gas get in your way. Besides, electricity is much cheaper and better for the environment.






Cheap Car Insurance in Long Beach, California


Long Beach, California is a beachfront community that tourists flock to each year. It"s also the fifth most densely populated city in the state which means traffic can be a nightmare. For the people who reside in this Southern California city finding cheap car insurance is always a goal. Although being a responsible driver and getting quotes are two of the basics when it comes to finding cheap rates on car insurance, there are other approaches the penny-pinching motorist can take.


One is to take any extra coverage off older vehicles. The price of cars seems to always be on the upswing and many people, who have reliable older cars, are driving them as opposed to trading them in for a newer model. If you have an older vehicle that you know isn"t worth a lot, there really is no reason to keep comprehensive or collision coverage on it. Removing those levels of coverage, and keeping just minimal liability coverage is one of the best ways to find cheap car insurance in Long Beach, California.


Another way to get a good rate on car insurance is to ask about any discounts you may be entitled to as a member of an organization. Some automobile clubs, professional organizations and even alumni groups can get cheaper rates. Although you"ll have to show proof that you are indeed a member in good-standing, this can be a great way to lower the rates you would otherwise be paying.


Most people who have a car have a home that has homeowner"s insurance. Asking your home insurance agent about car insurance can actually result in a nice savings. Many insurance companies are multi-faceted and offer coverage for many different types of insurance. If you hold more than one policy with them, they may offer you a discount on one or all. This is a simple question that takes a minute of your time and it can result in big savings.