Since I was 10 I have been living in San Diego and seriously, during the whole year it rains maybe 15 times. No one in San Diego ever thinks about rain because for 99 percent of the time, it does not rain in summer. But there is still one per cent left and I experienced this exact percentage a few days ago.
I went with my family to the beach, which is very close to us, but instead of walking we decided to take the truck in order to transport all the beach gear in the truck's bed. So it was not out of laziness, but rather it was just the most comfortable way to transport the beach rackets, surfboards and baseball bats. We arrived at the beach around two o'clock and the sun was shining, bright as ever. Beside that, the waves were pretty good so we could really enjoy this day at the beach! If you live in San Diego, you can start thinking this great weather and these beautiful beaches here in California are the most normal things of the world. I know that there are so many people who did not have the opportunity to relax in the sand looking at your surfing sons in the Pacific. So I really appreciate this wonderful lifestyle and days like this make me realize how lucky I am.
We were hanging around at the beach till around 6 pm and afterwards we decided to eat something in one of the beach restaurants because everyone was starving. These restaurants are not just known for their great food but also for their very high prices. But my stomach was not very interested in walking miles to a cheaper café. Like the commercial says:"Hunger gets what hunger wants" and my case underlines the truth of this statement. While were enjoying our delicious seafood, we noticed that clouds appeared over the ocean but we were not very interested in them. Remember, it never rains during the summer, so why should this be an exception? So we kept on eating. Suddenly the clouds became pitch-black and it started raining. It is hard to describe my feeling at this moment, but I was shocked because the rain became stronger and stronger. And I remembered that I had a lot of papers and documents in my truck bed, which I left there after work two days ago. There are two facts that emphasize why I was not the smartest man this week. First of all, I should have a cover for my truck bed, which protects my stuff in it. Secondly, I should never trust rules, especially any rules referring to nature. The weathermen try so often to forecast natural events, but they always fail.
But instead of being angry with myself I tried to learn from this disaster. And my first step was the purchase of a hard tonneau cover for my truck bed. In doing this I can prevent repeating an experience like the last one. So I look forward to my next day at the beach, hopefully with a better ending.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
What Is A Car's Real Trade-in Value? by: Joshua Rose
We all have the same goal when it comes to buying a car and making sure we get the most possible for our trade-in. At the least, we want to make sure that we're not being taken advantage of. So, with the advent of the internet and the myriad of car information now available to us, we point ourselves over to Kelley Blue Book to find this all-important value. Later, when we're actually negotiating with a Dealer, we find it's not quite this easy. The Dealer's trade-in figure is lower than the one we got from the internet. So, we whip it out and ask for an explanation, and rightfully so. The truth of the matter is that a vehicle's "trade-in value" is not a number that is simply black and white. It's quite "gray" actually. You see, it's not unlike valuing your own home. What is your home worth? Well, you can get a ballpark idea ... maybe a general price range. But a precise and fair figure? Nope. Why? Because there are a number of other factors that determine "value". What have similar homes (or cars) sold for recently? How long did it take them to sell? Is demand currently strong? Weak? Somewhere in between? What's the premium currently being paid for extra features such as a pool or a shed (sunroof or leather)? A Dealer tries to access such issues, and of necessity, "opinion" and "subjectiveness" are going to play a significant role. And much the same way as having your house appraised for a loan, you'll get different answers from different "experts". Another factor is very fluid. The Dealer will certainly check what similar vehicles have sold for at the wholesale, Dealer-Only car auctions. Have there been a lot of them? Did the bidding of other Dealers indicate local Dealer demand? What could he buy this same car for at the auction? If he's unable to sell it, what price would he likely get for it at the auction? Does he have other similar vehicles in stock that have been difficult to sell? And then, whatever figure the Dealer comes up with, he's going to reduce it a bit further to reduce the risk he's taking in investing in your car. He doesn't want to lose the profit he's making on your new car when selling or disposing of your trade-in. So what's a consumer left to do? Well, unfortunately, it's negotiate, negotiate, negotiate ... as unpleasant as it is. The best alternative, however, is to sell the car on your own. Although this takes additional time and effort, it is often well worthwhile. One way to do this is actually very simple: just put a "For Sale" sign in your back window. We've seen this for years, but now that virtually everyone has a cell phone, it often works quite quickly. Another alternative is to list your vehicle online since people shop for cars on the internet now far more now than reading newspaper classified ads. High traffic sites such as AutoTrader or Cars.com charge in the $40 to $70 range and usually the ad runs until the vehicle is sold.
SUV Rollover Deaths by nick johnson
Shortly after the turn of the millennium, sport utility vehicles began experiencing awful difficulties with pre-mounted tires that accompanied the vehicle when it left the lot. Specifically, the Firestone tire company began experiencing terrible difficulties in manufacturing new tires, and this difficulty became a direct influence in causing SUV rollover deaths. In a study conducted by the United States government, it was found that around 300 people died in SUV accidents involving a rollover in 2003. Despite gas prices, sport utility vehicles continue to be a popular choice at the car lot. It's important, before purchasing your next vehicle, to understand the facts and statistics records on its safety.Court cases have been heard throughout the country, involving people involved in accidents that included SUV rollover deaths. In some, the jury has walked away undecided if driving was a factor in a particular case; in others, the jury has awarded millions of dollars. In any given year after the year 2001, nearly four thousand people have been killed either as a result of mixed signals on the highway, or reckless driving. Many thousands more have been killed in similar accidents. The statistics are grim. It is far safer to drive a four-door sedan than a sport utility vehicle. Despite that, many people buy SUVs for the thrill of sitting higher and the perceived safety of having a tougher or better-constructed vehicle.Driving an SUV is completely unlike driving a sedan. Turning radii are different, time required to speed up and slow down are different, and, most importantly, the aerodynamics of an SUV versus a car is vastly different. By taking these differences into account and living by a few simple suggestions, you can greatly improve your chances of not suffering a fatal accident.First, with a different turning radius, SUVs also have a different center of balance than typical four-door vehicles. Because of these interrelated differences, special care must be taken when driving your SUV around curvy roads, especially if those curves are enhanced by height and speed. Always slow down when approaching curves; many accidents occur when drivers turn too quickly and lose control of their vehicle. If your SUV comes equipped with a traction system, ensure it is always engaged. When driving your vehicle in four-wheel drive instead of a normal driving mode, ensure that you are in the right gear and that your turns are made that much more carefully.Next, avoid becoming a statistic as an SUV rollover death by understanding that it takes longer both to speed up and slow down in an SUV rather than in a car. Because SUVs are larger and heavier than typically automobiles, and because their different size and bulk add weight to their frame, speed can be a definite factor. When driving your SUV, always allow adequate room behind the car in front of you, so that if they need to stop in a hurry, you will not cause an accident. When traveling at slower speeds, you should be able to see a bit of ground behind the tire of the car in front of you; this will indicate that you are following at a safe distance. When you are in faster traffic, use the rule of three: locate a sign and start counting just when the car in front of you passes it. Stop counting when you pass that vehicle. That means time's up!Finally, keep in mind that due to vastly different aerodynamics, your SUV will drive quite a bit differently than a four-door sedan. Wind blowing in your area may have a role in the stability of your vehicle. Minimize this role by planning your drives, especially in windy weather, quite carefully. Many drivers tend to lose their cool when a gust of wind blows a car a few feet sideways. When this happens, drivers tend to jerk the steering wheel in the opposite direction, and end up overcompensating for the difference in geographic placement.If the worst happens and one of your family members is involved in an accident including SUV rollover deaths, you'll need to give serious consideration to mountain a lawsuit against various parties for having a share of the blame in your accident. Typical lawsuits are against automobile manufacturers, while some also include tire corporations. Do not assume that just because a loved one has died, a lawsuit is winnable. Many factors can lead to a fatal occurrence in your SUV. In court, if it can be proven that the driver was in some way responsible, the outcome will not necessarily be favorable. Driver responsibility includes knowing the condition of tires, pointing out obvious defects. The key fact to keep in mind is that additional safety and well-thought-out planning can go a long way towards preventing you and your family from turning into one of the statistics of SUV rollover deaths.
Should You Do Your Own Car Upholstery? by Aazdak Alisimo
When you are considering an upgrade in your auto upholstery or need to make a repair to the existing upholstery, you might be thinking about doing it yourself. It is not easy, but a lot less expensive.
Although much attention is given to the engine and the exterior of your automobile, the interior is where you and your passengers actually come into contact with the automobile. The comfort of your ride can make or break the whole driving experience, and quality upholstery is the key to comfort. When you are thinking of upgrading your upholstery or are forced to replace or repair it due to interior damage, you can be in for an expensive situation.
The reason that auto upholstery repair is expensive is the skill and experience that is required to do the work. It is also true that many upholstery shops take advantage of their rather exclusive ability to perform the repairs and charge a bit more than really is consistent with the costs of materials and labor involved. Although you can shop around for a better deal and you can be lucky and find an extremely honest shop, there are some advantages to a do it yourself approach.
One of the advantages of any type of do it yourself experience involved with auto repair is that it makes you much more knowledgeable about the costs and labor involved. This is the general rule of auto repair. The customer who brings a car to a mechanic and shrugs and says, "I have no idea what is wrong", has put themselves in a very disadvantageous position. When you have done upholstery work yourself, you are able to evaluate the expected cost of having a job done for you by a shop.
Of course, once you have gained some experience in auto upholstery repair and replacement, you might find you no longer need a shop at all. In order to gain this experience, you should make your first attempts to replace, repair, or upgrade auto upholstery on a less expensive vehicle. This can either be a used car or a restoration project. This allows a bit of trial and error.
The repair and replacement of auto upholstery is not on the level of brain surgery, but neither is it a simple repair project. It is very much like furniture upholstery repair. After all the car seats are really just the furniture of the car's interior. Many people with skills in furniture upholstery repair can use these skills with an automobile job as well. There are a number of books and manuals that can walk you through the steps of an auto upholstery repair job. You should not be afraid to give it a try and the savings will be ample reward, but do not go into it thinking it is simple. It is a definite skill.
Although much attention is given to the engine and the exterior of your automobile, the interior is where you and your passengers actually come into contact with the automobile. The comfort of your ride can make or break the whole driving experience, and quality upholstery is the key to comfort. When you are thinking of upgrading your upholstery or are forced to replace or repair it due to interior damage, you can be in for an expensive situation.
The reason that auto upholstery repair is expensive is the skill and experience that is required to do the work. It is also true that many upholstery shops take advantage of their rather exclusive ability to perform the repairs and charge a bit more than really is consistent with the costs of materials and labor involved. Although you can shop around for a better deal and you can be lucky and find an extremely honest shop, there are some advantages to a do it yourself approach.
One of the advantages of any type of do it yourself experience involved with auto repair is that it makes you much more knowledgeable about the costs and labor involved. This is the general rule of auto repair. The customer who brings a car to a mechanic and shrugs and says, "I have no idea what is wrong", has put themselves in a very disadvantageous position. When you have done upholstery work yourself, you are able to evaluate the expected cost of having a job done for you by a shop.
Of course, once you have gained some experience in auto upholstery repair and replacement, you might find you no longer need a shop at all. In order to gain this experience, you should make your first attempts to replace, repair, or upgrade auto upholstery on a less expensive vehicle. This can either be a used car or a restoration project. This allows a bit of trial and error.
The repair and replacement of auto upholstery is not on the level of brain surgery, but neither is it a simple repair project. It is very much like furniture upholstery repair. After all the car seats are really just the furniture of the car's interior. Many people with skills in furniture upholstery repair can use these skills with an automobile job as well. There are a number of books and manuals that can walk you through the steps of an auto upholstery repair job. You should not be afraid to give it a try and the savings will be ample reward, but do not go into it thinking it is simple. It is a definite skill.
How to Deal with an SUV Rollover by tim dillard
SUV rollovers are notoriously dangerous. Thousands of motor vehicles are involved in rollovers every single year, and the unfortunately thing about that is not only are many of these accidents preventable, but also that once people get into accidents, they have absolutely no idea what to do. If you own an SUV it is important to learn about rollovers so that you can avoid them and, God forbid your SUV does rollover, you know what to do. SUV rollovers occur because Sport Utility Vehicles have a high center of gravity. Think of a car like a typical Christmas tree and an SUV as an upside down Christmas tree. You'll have to push a lot harder to get the first tree to topple over! To find the safest SUV available, you want to look for an SUV with a larger distance between the back tires and a heavier bottom when compared to the top. However, the best step to preventing an SUV rollover is to use common sense. Car manufacturers now make electronic systems that can monitor your vehicle's stability and correct problems, but nothing can serve in the place of your good sense. Most SUV roller accidents happen when you accidentally run off the road and your SUV hits a ditch or some kind of obstacle. Therefore, if you pay attention to your driving and slow your speeds, you should be able to prevent most rollovers from ever happening in the first place. That said, there are certain steps you should take if you are involved in an SUV rollover. Taking these steps can truly help you medically, financially, and legally so that you can make sure you are treated in the best way possible. Because accidents are so frightening, it may be difficult to stay calm and do what you need to do, but if you know the steps beforehand, you have a better chance of not forgetting crucial actions that you need to take. First and more most, take care of yourself medically. If you are hurt and in no immediate danger, stay put and wait for paramedics to arrive. In some cases, the best thing you can do is to quickly and safely exit the vehicle. If your SUV is still running, turn it off, and if you are upside down, carefully release your seatbelt and crawl out of the door or window. This is especially crucial if you smell gas, because explosions and fire are a main concern. Call the police. Even if the accident was your fault, and even if you have no insurance coverage, don't try to hide SUV rollovers or any other accidents. If your vehicle rolled over, chance are that someone has already called the police, but it is very important to do so if this hasn't happened. Think about what happened and always tell the truth. Cooperation is key, and make sure that you are very detailed about the accident so that everything goes into the police report. Before you leave the scene of the accident, talk to the eyewitnesses, and make sure that they talk to the police officer as well. If possible, take down names and numbers. This kind of information may be paramount to an investigation later. After you've left, call your doctor to set up an appointment, just in case you have any internal injuries, and notify your insurance company about the SUV rollover. Again, your full cooperation will help you in the long run. Report the accident it's the law. If you have been injured or if there was another car involved, your final step is to seek legal advice. When SUV rollovers happen, you may be entitled to a settlement. If you were injured in the rollover, it may have been due to a fault in the manufacturing of the vehicle. If another car was involved, the entire accident may not be your fault.Every single SUV rollover case is different. Seeking legal advice in this situation is important because you may not realize that you are not completely at fault. Even if you are, you have nothing to lose by talking to a lawyer, since most are happy to briefly review your case for free. Protecting yourself legally when involved with SUV rollovers can help you get the money you need to care for medical injuries and fix your SUV. Of course, when the case is closed, remember to take extra precautions in the future so that you are not involved with another SUV rollover accident. It can happen to anyone, but if you drive safely, it has less of a chance of happening to you.
Car Accessories for Fashion and Security by: Alexus Devon
Do you know the most cost-effective way of making a car flashy and comfy? It is the way of making some additions to it. Car accessories offer a gainful and easy option of doing up a set of wheels. So, don’t worry if your car looks like a box on wheels! You can revamp it with lots of small and cute kits and give it a give a complete new look. You can even make it comfortable from inside and more secured to drive even. The automobile market has endless options on car accessories. Both for interior and exterior add-ons, there are endless options to choose from. From trifle things like tattoos to important accessories like security kits, leading manufacturers have everything on offer. While some accessories can be used as mere fashion, some others can be added to the car to get valuable service from them. Most of these accessories are easily affordable; though a few of them can be expensive. Alarms, central locking, immobilisers are some of the kits that certainly beefs up the security of the car. On the other hand, dash kits, gear knob, car mats, roof boxes etc. serve the purpose of both glamorizing the car and increasing its beauty too. Tattoos and stickers are the accessories mostly used by young people and liked by kids. Seat covers, seat belts are for comfy feeling and security precautions. Car mats are one of the commonest of car accessories. They are available in all variety. Regarding size, colour and style, floor mats offer endless options. Whether for the front or the rear side; or even for the trunk─ there is an exhaustive variety of mats available in the market. They save the floor from damage by preventing liquid penetrate inside. If kept in the trunk, car mats can save goods from damage by keeping tight hold on them.
Getting Rust Out of Your Upholstery by Aazdak Alisimo
Among the most difficult stains in upholstery fabric on any kind is a rust stain. You can get rust out of your upholstery, but it isn't easy.
Rust can stain upholstery fabric when it comes in contact with a rusting metal object. Vinyl automobile or furniture upholstery is especially susceptible to this kind of stain because of its highly porous nature. Rust removal from vinyl or fabric upholstery can be a tricky process, but help is available from several chemical based cleaners. Most chemical rust removal products contain a substance called oxalic acid.
Oxalic acid is a rather strong chemical compound. It is about 10,000 times stronger than acetic acid. This is the reason that certain precautions must be used when it is used for rust removal from upholstery fabric. As is the general rule in any cleaning of upholstery, the procedure is always to clean a small part of the fabric first. This small part should be in an out of the way spot that is not easy to see. Perform the cleaning procedure on the test spot exactly as you will on the rust stain. Make sure you wait for a long enough period to be absolutely certain that there will be no fading or damage to the fabric.
If you are using a powdered rust removal product, you will need to make a paste first. You then apply the paste to the stain and work it into the fabric. It will take a little while for the rust to be totally dissolved. After it has, you can rinse the spot carefully. You should be prepared to do several reapplications. It will be important to neutralize the acidic substance completely after use to avoid further damage to the fabric. The instructions on the product will give you the proper neutralization procedure.
There are some products available from carpet cleaning companies that are designed to remove rust stains from fabric without the use of harsh acidic chemicals that have to be neutralized after use. You can rinse these products with plain water. Most of them are in gel form rather than power and liquid. This makes it easier to apply directly to the stain.
Rust is usually associated with metal, of course, but rust stains are actually quite common on carpets from furniture legs, file cabinets, or contact with other metal objects. These stains can also get onto upholstery, especially vinyl upholstery in a vehicle. Rust removal can be a hassle, but there are some very good products available to help make it easier. As with all chemical cleaning of upholstery, do not forget to test for damage or fading first.
Rust can stain upholstery fabric when it comes in contact with a rusting metal object. Vinyl automobile or furniture upholstery is especially susceptible to this kind of stain because of its highly porous nature. Rust removal from vinyl or fabric upholstery can be a tricky process, but help is available from several chemical based cleaners. Most chemical rust removal products contain a substance called oxalic acid.
Oxalic acid is a rather strong chemical compound. It is about 10,000 times stronger than acetic acid. This is the reason that certain precautions must be used when it is used for rust removal from upholstery fabric. As is the general rule in any cleaning of upholstery, the procedure is always to clean a small part of the fabric first. This small part should be in an out of the way spot that is not easy to see. Perform the cleaning procedure on the test spot exactly as you will on the rust stain. Make sure you wait for a long enough period to be absolutely certain that there will be no fading or damage to the fabric.
If you are using a powdered rust removal product, you will need to make a paste first. You then apply the paste to the stain and work it into the fabric. It will take a little while for the rust to be totally dissolved. After it has, you can rinse the spot carefully. You should be prepared to do several reapplications. It will be important to neutralize the acidic substance completely after use to avoid further damage to the fabric. The instructions on the product will give you the proper neutralization procedure.
There are some products available from carpet cleaning companies that are designed to remove rust stains from fabric without the use of harsh acidic chemicals that have to be neutralized after use. You can rinse these products with plain water. Most of them are in gel form rather than power and liquid. This makes it easier to apply directly to the stain.
Rust is usually associated with metal, of course, but rust stains are actually quite common on carpets from furniture legs, file cabinets, or contact with other metal objects. These stains can also get onto upholstery, especially vinyl upholstery in a vehicle. Rust removal can be a hassle, but there are some very good products available to help make it easier. As with all chemical cleaning of upholstery, do not forget to test for damage or fading first.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)