Advance Auto Zone

A staggering 18 Million new cars are sold in the United States every year but for many the entire new car buying experience is a nightmare.

It is also true that the new car buying experience can be lots of fun and excitement for many who would not have a clue what we are talking about here, using the word “nightmare.” Still it is also true that there are those who would gladly prefer a visit to their dentist for a root canal. And a root canal without the novocain or any painkiller for that matter. That’s how bad a nightmare it is.

What is it about buying a new car anyway? Most stuff can be purchased without the hassles and stress that goes into car buying. And I mean even stuff that is much more expensive.

The answer to that question probably lies n the fact that this is one industry that has over the years attracted all sorts of characters, representing all sorts of interests that they will never declare and waiting and preying on the slightly more ignorant.

In a way this explains the reason for the meteoric rise of the online auto broker. The professional buyer who spends all their time locating, purchasing and shipping cars to their clients. Unlike dealers a good broker does not represent any manufacturer and will therefore not push a certain model over another for personal reasons. This is also the sort of fellow that is a whole lot more difficult to fool and that’s why it is hardly surprising that new car buying folks are not only saying good bye to the hassles but also saving thousands of dollars on their car buying deals.

For More tips check out Chris Kavila’s buying-new-carz.blogspot.com new car buying blog

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Tire maintenance is an often overlooked aspect of car safety as car owners often focus on various exterior aspects and functionality of the car such as waxing and grooming, car engine & radiator system etc. The importance of properly maintaining your car tires cannot be overemphasized as tires are the only contacts between your car and the ground surface. Any damage done to the tires could result in unstable handling and potentially dangerous especially when the vehicle is going at high speed. There are 4 major functions of tires and they are as follows:

* To support the weight of your vehicle - a average car weighs between 1.4 to 1.8 tons which is equivalent to the weight of about 30 people. The air and the build up pressure in your tire play the important role of supporting the weight of the car plus the driver and passengers on board.

* To absorb road shocks - the tires, together with the car’s suspension system act as shock absorbents to reduce the effect of bumpy roads felt by the driver and the passengers in the car.

* To transmit traction and braking forces - being the only contact between your car and the road, the rough surface of your tires provide traction when your car is moving off and also, provide the necessary braking when your car is coming to a stop.

* To change and maintain the direction of travel - the tires turn according to the turning of the steering wheels, thus changing the direction of travel.

It is important to maintain your tires for a few main reasons:

1. Tire are the only contact between your car and the road. The proper pressure level will ensure that it provide the right level of shock absorbent, required traction and braking, provide proper directional steering and lastly, support the weight of the car and the passengers within the car. 2. Whether you like it or not, your tire loses pressure either on a continual basis due to passage of time or whenever your tires hit a hard object such as a curb or went pass a high hump.

3. Tires can experience uneven wear and tear among the tires due to weight variation, over or under inflated tire will also result in uneven wear and tear on each individual tire.

After knowing why the tires are important to your car’s safe handling and your safety, here’s some tips on help you in knowing how to properly maintain your tires:

* Know your tire pressure rating - this information is usually provided and can be found in the car’s user manual or in the glove box or at the car’s door jamb.

* Keep to the required tire pressure, by checking your tire pressure on a weekly or monthly interval and when the tire is cold - which basically refer to one that has not been driven on for at least three hours. The reason behind is that tires that are ‘hot’ after some traveling will demonstrate higher pressure thus produce inaccurate result.

* Tire rotation - the main reason for tire rotation is to ensure even wear and tear among the four tires. Tires of the car can wear at different rate due to the uneven weight distribution of the car or passengers in the car (over a period of time). It is the responsibility of you, the vehicle owner, to know that the vehicle tires need to be rotated and highlight to your mechanics when you want your tires to be rotated. The direction of rotation is usually provided by your car manufacturer, if otherwise, your car mechanic will usually know how to go about rotating the tires for the given the brand and type of tires that you are using. Make sure that proper wheel alignment is maintained after each rotation.

* Visual inspection of tread wear - from time to time, you should check how well worn are you tires as worn tires can be dangerous as it only provide diminishing friction with the road and thus affect the optimal brake distance. Some tires come with marks to let you know when your tire needs to be changed, so look out for these marks and take action accordingly when it is time to change your tires. Another alternative to know the tread depth is to use a penny with a Lincoln head. Place the Lincoln’s head upside down and insert into the tread. When the top of Lincoln’s head is seen (which means the tread is shallow), it is time to replace the tires.

* Before going for a long trip, make sure that you check and maintain your tire pressure to give you maximum control.

* Lastly, even if you prefer to do most of the checks by yourself, it is always good to have a reliable professional mechanic to check your car and your car tires as part of your regular maintenance schedule.

In conclusion, tires that are properly maintained will have the following advantages: * A proper tire pressure will guard against avoidable crashes or breakdowns. * Reduce frictional losses and therefore increase tire life. * Enhance fuel efficiency * Optimal vehicle handling, and lastly,* Help to keep your car in better condition and therefore increase the value of your car.

Take care of your car, and it will serve you well. Enjoy safe journeys.

Wil Yeo is a mechanical engineer by training and own the business and the site avanigroup.com Avani Revolv Anti Theft Tire Pressure Valve Stem Caps which features a unique patented anti theft tire pressure valve stem cap product. There site also gives away a handy guide entitled:
avanigroup.com/Thanks.html Tire Maintenance Guide. He can be contacted at wil[at]avanigroup.com.

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Several years ago, a friend loaned us a front-porch bench. It’s iron and
wood, heavy and awkward to carry. On a recent weekend, it was time to
return the bench. Its owner, once a neighbor, now lives nearly 100 miles
away.

With remarkable ease, my wife reconfigured the back seat arrangement
of the new-look and more spacious 2005 Honda CR-V, and the cargo
area opened into a flat and cavernous compartment. The bench is five-
feet long, but with a little twist here and a turn there it fit lengthwise.

It
was tight, but at 60 inches long it was secure in the back compartment,
and the tailgate and rear window closed securely. Sport Utility Vehicles
are designed for versatility, but transporting the cumbersome outdoor
piece provided a nice example of the new CR-V’s ever-expanding uses.

The 200-mile round-trip, primarily freeway miles, also provided plenty of
time to experience the vehicle’s all-wheel drive system. It’s called Real
Time AWD, and it offers fine handling and traction. The roads were dry
on our outbound trip and periodically wet on the return voyage. It didn’t
make any difference. The drive was smooth and comfortable, further
assisted by the new Vehicle Stability (Anti-Skid) System. In short, the
CR-V maneuvers well and has a confident feel on the open road.

The CR-V has been top-rated for years, but in 2005 several new
features only add to its designation as a best value in the compact sport
utility vehicle class.

In addition to the aforementioned Vehicle Stability System, side curtain
airbags, a 5-speed (not 4-speed) automatic transmission, antilock
brakes, an increase from 15 to 16-inch wheels, a six-disc in-dash CD
changer and steering wheel radio controls are all standard.

The 2005 CR-V also has a new body and trim style that includes a
shorter, more blunt front end and a redesigned, more aerodynamic front
bumper and grille. Headlights have also been redesigned. The SE
model I drove for my weekly test also included leather upholstery,
heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated power
mirrors – all new standard features.

One potential issue: Despite its size, the CR-V has a standard 4-
cylinder, 2.4-liter, 16-valve, 160-horsepower engine. Yet, the vehicle
accelerates well, all things considered. Honda uses i-VTEC, a system
that generates power to the engine while still utilizing fuel economy. The
CR-V’s 22 mpg (city) and 27 mpg (freeway) mileage are good averages
for the SUV class.

The CR-V has two unique features: the positions of the parking brake
and the transmission shifting arm. The shifting mechanism is located on
the instrument panel and is reminiscent of vehicles from yesteryear
featuring “three on the tree” shifting. The parking brake is positioned
vertically on the forward console panel. I forget to set the brake on a few
occasions considering its unique location. But the location became
more practical the more I drove the car.

Like all Hondas, instrumentation, gauges, storage compartments,
cupholders, seat pockets, grab rails and clothing hooks are all smartly
designed, well-positioned and plentiful on the new CR-V. The spare tire
bin cover is also a folding picnic table.

There’s not much not to like about the new CR-V. It has an improved
design and more standard features. The previous CR-V edition was
already exceedingly popular. But Honda has done even better with the
vehicle – even if it’s just used to lug around old outdoor furniture.

HONDA CR-V 2005

Safety features – Dual-stage driver and front passenger dual-stage front,
side and side curtain airbags. Antilock brakes.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) – 22 mpg (city), 27 mpg (highway).

Warranty – Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Power train, 3
years/36,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited mileage

Base price – $25,050

James Raia, a journalist in Sacramento, Calif, is author of The Weekly
Driver Review. To read more vehicle reviews or subscribe to his free
newsletters visit his web site: ByJamesRaia.com ByJamesRaia.com

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