October 29, 2007

Pickup Truck Shopping Tips - Accessories, Engines and Cab Choices Are Many

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

Buying a new pickup truck can be very confusing. Of course you could go for a well known brand or manufacturer but still here are many options to consider.

Below are some guidelines that could point you in the right direction in buying a new truck.

The first thing that you should consider is size. Ask yourself just how big a pickup truck do you need? This shouldn’t be a very difficult decision for you to make. All you have to consult are your needs and your budget.

Keep in mind the price of a new pickup truck varies. It can range from the affordable (like buying an ordinary car) to the very expensive (like buying a luxury car). A good basic pickup truck can be owned for around $20,000 while a full sized fully loaded pickup truck an go for as much $30,000 or more.

Keep in mind one of the most important features of a pickup truck is its engine. So the engine should be a primary consideration when buying a pickup truck. Most pickup trucks will have a V6 engine. This type of engine consumes a fair amount of fuel depending on what you will be hauling or pulling. However, full sized pickup trucks usually have V8 engines that use up gas pretty fast. A diesel engine is recommended if you need lots of power for towing things around.

Another consideration is the number of people a pickup truck can carry. Would you be using the pickup truck to transport people? Then you would be better off buying an extended cab pickup truck which can carry 5 or more people. You could also get a crew cab which can be a very good replacement for a car and can also seat up to 5 individuals. But if you are basically using the pickup truck to tow and transport things, then you could just buy a regular cab pickup truck which can hold two to three individuals.

Determine the size of bed you will need. The bed is the part of the pickup truck used for transporting things. Pickup trucks usually are equipped with 6 to 8 foot beds.

Look at the drive-train options. Pickup trucks come with either a manual or automatic transmission and you could choose between a two wheel driven or a four wheel driven pickup truck. Many pickup trucks offer limited-slip or locking differentials and electronic traction control.

Check the truck box configurations. Trucks come with different cargo box. Most have fairly straight exterior sides, with arched areas just inside the bed to accommodate the rear wheels. Many also have spaces in front and behind each arch so there’s more room to tuck shorter cargo. On the other hand, some pickup tucks have flared fenders to provide more storage space. This type of cargo box is called a step-side box.

The Internet is a very good source for new and used pickup trucks. There are many websites specially dedicated to automobiles and trucks. From there, you can get in touch with local dealers. And even read a review of the vehicles for sale. Using such website is very easy for both sellers and buyers. Using such websites can definitely save you time when buying a pickup truck. Most automotive websites serve as an online market place for cars and pickup trucks. Sellers post the vehicle they want to sell. Then a buyer can browse through it. When a buyer wants to buy a vehicle, the website puts him touch with the seller. And that’s it. They will even handle the transporting to your driveway.

About the author:

David Arnold Livingston is an entrepreneur with many years

of successful business experience, which carries over to benefit his personal life choices. For truck purchases, he suggests: FLA Truck

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October 26, 2007

Winter Tire Myths Revealed

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

(NC) True or false your vehicle is only as good as the tires it sits on? While you may have your own opinion on this, Michelin believes that tires are an essential part of your vehicle’s safety, handling and performance.

Tire manufacturers like Michelin, as well as associations like Transport Canada and the Rubber Association of Canada, are working to increase awareness of the importance of tires as well as dispelling some common tire myths.

“The biggest tire myth is that they are a low-tech commodity,” explains Tony Mougios, Michelin Brand Manager in Canada. “The reality is that advancements in tire technology have improved the quality and performance of today’s tires. Few people seem to realize the additional safety obtained from installing four winter tires on their vehicles.”

The following is a basic example of a common winter tire myth.

Myth: All-season tires are so good that winter tires are never needed.

Reality: In some parts of the world, where temperatures and snowfalls are moderate, this may be true. But this is Canada our winter weather is unpredictable and can be harsh. Just ask anyone from Halifax who endured the city’s record snowfalls last winter.

The reality is that harsh winter conditions can appear anywhere in Canada, and when they do, the traction and added safety provided by winter tires cannot be beat. Winter tires reign supreme in rural areas where snow can remain on the road for extended periods of time. They provide 25 per cent improved traction over all-season tires.

To learn more about the advantages of winter tires and other advancements in tire technology, visit a local authorized Michelin dealer or visit www.michelin.ca.

- News Canada

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

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October 23, 2007

Common myths about car insurance debunked!

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

There are many myths about car insurance that have been floating around for years, and some of them may affect your buying decision. Educate yourself–or un-educate yourself, in this case–and you can make the smartest decision about your car insurance.

Myth: The day you turn 25 (or 18, or 35,) your car insurance rates go down.

It is true that most insurance companies lower rates as drivers get more experience, often at age 25. But it won’t do any good to call your car insurance company on your twenty-fifth birthday, because you won’t be re-rated that day. An insurance company generally is commiting itself to a rate when it sends you your renewal bill, and unless you make a change in the middle of your policy period, you won’t be rated again until your next insurance renewal.

The good news about this is that accidents and tickets work the same way. If you get a ticket after you have already received your renewal, you normally won’t be charged any points on your car insurance until it renews again or until you make a change to your policy.

Myth: Red cars cost more to insure.

This is a common misconception, probably started somewhere as a car insurance urban legend. Your full coverage insurance cost is decided by the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of your car, and there is no indicator in the VIN as to what color your car is. Incidentally, though, red auto paint does cost more to repair facilities, so a car insurance company could have to pay out more in the case of an accident.

Myth: One claim can get you canceled.

It is certainly possible to have your car insurance canceled after only what claim. But car insurance companies have an underwriting process that takes a lot of factors into consideration. They will look at the number–and the dollar amount–of claims you have had over a period of time. The amount of time you have been with that insurance company is also a factor. Frivolous claims entered repeatedly by customers could be a reason for cancellation or nonrenewal, but there is no reason to avoid turning in claims on your car insurance policy if you stand to suffer significant financial loss.

Myth: As my car gets older, my insurance should go down every year.

It is true that the newest of cars cost the most to insure, but often the fact that your car is a year older doesn’t mean your car insurance rate will go down. If the vehicle is old enough so that you don’t feel like you need to carry full coverage on it anymore, that will lower your rate significantly. But as long as you carry full coverage on a car–even an older one–you probably won’t see your rate decrease.

This is because the majority of accidents are not “total losses”–when the vehicle is damaged beyond repair and the insurance company pays out the value of the car to replace it. Most claims involve the repair of a vehicle, and the cost of car parts does not decrease significantly just because the car is older. In addition, labor costs for repair do not change at all, no matter how old the car is. The insurance company risks losing as much money on repairing an older car as they do a newer one.

When you are shopping online to buy your new insurance policy, it is important that you educate yourself as much as possible. Don’t fall victim to myths that could affect your buying decision!
About the Author

Ready to Discover the Shocking Truth About Auto Insurance Online? Check out the latest Quick Tips, Fresh Articles & Top Resources to help you apply for Auto Insurance Online, Find a New Insurance Company, Get Insurance Cheap, Discover Auto Insurance Quotes: http://www.My-Top-Sites.com/auto_insurance_online.html

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