Money Saving Car Tricks

These easy to apply, use and follow tips for saving money on your car will keep money in your wallet.

The necessity of transportation for everyday errands, work and vacations, makes the cost and expense in the upkeep of your vehicle very important. Average cost of maintenance and repairs, not including gasoline, per vehicle per year is over $600. Many of these repairs could have been prevented or avoided. If someone said they could save you $200 dollars for very little effort, chances are you'd take the offer. So, these simple, little effort tricks and tips to keep your vehicle running its best should help you maintain the paper in wallet.

Register your vehicle with the manufacture, whether new or used, and become familiar with the warranty policies. Keep your address and phone numbers current with the dealership or manufacturer. Sometimes, defects, recalls or other problems are repaired for free by the manufacturer - as long as they can find you and have proof of purchase.

Make friends with your local dealership's service department. When Technical Service Bulletins arrive and/or updates that pertain to your vehicle, ask if they'll give you a heads up. Knowing what might be a problem and that a repair is available can make life much easier. Frequently, dealerships will have shuttle services for service customers ever be without transportation. Take advantage of this offer.

Take a look at the owner's manual of your vehicle. If you purchased used and don't have a manual, contact the manufacturer and they will be happy to send you one either free of charge or for a nominal fee. Though the manual may be thick and a little overwhelming, look for the manufacturer's oil change schedule or maintenance matrix. Many of the newer models recommend oil changes every 5, 000 miles or longer; the common myth was to change the oil every 3, 000 miles. Odds are, you're changing your oil more than necessary. If the manufacturer doesn't recommend it, don't do it - save your money.

Air filters create a clean environment for your engine to run. The harder an engine has to work the more wear and tear on your car, increasing maintenance and gasoline costs. Changing the air filter, usually costing $15 or less, twice a year, can save you a great deal. It's a relatively easy skill that can be accomplished on your own or paid for through a service department.

Check your tire pressure once a month. Temperature differences, normal wear and tear or little bumps in the road can lead to under-inflated tires. This wears the tire out faster, which means you could end up purchasing new tires twice as frequently as you should. Many full-service stations can assist with the task or offer free "air" testing stations. A quick, one or two minute stop could make a great difference.

Stretch your gasoline dollars by slowing down. This is a difficult tip to keep under control but with the price of gasoline rapidly increasing, think of saving yourself an addition 12 cents per gallon by driving 60 mph. For every five miles per hour over 60 that your drive (65 is the typical highway speed), you are wasting enough fuel that its adding an extra twelve cents to the cost of each gallon of gas. Twelve cents may not sound like a great deal but calculate it out. Ten gallons of gas in your vehicle each week of the year equals 520 galloons. If you pay $2.00 for each gallon of gas, that's $1040.00 per year. Drive 65 mph all the time and you've add 12 cents to those 520 gallons for a cost of $1102.40 per year. That's a savings you'll appreciate.

So don't forget the little things that can keep your vehicle running in top condition. It will only pay you in the long run.

Car Security System with Fingerprint

At first I thought "Cool, what James Bond movie is this from?". Well folks, it's no movie - this is a piece of technology that's available to everyone. Forget about thieves and worries that your car will be stolen: this gadget scans your fingerprint and only you (or the ones you've authorized) get to start your car's engine. You lost your car keys? Not to worry, the keys become useless in the wrong hands (and I mean that literally).
Plus, this device also functions as a car alarm system, sending you text messages whenever someone tries to force themselves into your car - you just have to install a GSM SIM card into it. Sounds so cool I almost can't believe it.
For more information go here: Fingerprint Car Security System with GSM Alerts

Why Car Insurance is so Important

It is extremely important that you have car insurance so that you can protect yourself in case you have an accident. It not only protects you, but it also safeguards others that may be riding in your car. In addition, car insurance covers family members that may also drive the car.

Car insurance does not just protect you. If an accident occurs, the insurance covers you, your vehicle, and any other people that may have been involved. There are different policies that you can purchase depending on what amount of coverage you want. For example, you can choose to guard yourself against accidental harm, burglary, and fire. Your insurance agent can help you choose the policy that meets your needs and your budget.

Your monthly payment is known as a premium. The premium is determined based on factors such as they type of car driven, age, sex, and your past driving history. If you drive a luxury sports car, then you can expect to pay a higher premium than someone driving a lower cost vehicle.

A deductible is the amount of money that you are required to pay if you have an accident. The insurance company will pay for the cost of the repairs, but you must pay for the initial deductible. If the accident was caused by the other driver, then their insurance company may be responsible for paying your deductible.

It is important to make sure that you are covered by car insurance because if you are not, then the expenses to repair your vehicle can be really high. You will also be responsible for paying the other party's damages as well.

There are many insurance companies to choose from. Do your research to find a company that will offer fair rates and full coverage. Researching the insurance companies online is a great way to find out the information that you need. By reading reviews and learning about the guarantees and services that are offered, you will be able to choose a car insurance company that will work for you.

This innovative and modern concept car was the creation of Andre Dubonnet, successful race car driver, WWI fighter pilot and heir to the Dubonnet aperitif business. Early in life, Dubonnet developed a passion and took great delight in speed and adventure and desired to perfect the future of road transportation and in particular, the suspension system. As his favorite car was the Hispano-Suiza, he picked the 1932 H-6C chassis, which he had seen previously at the Paris Auto Salon and began sketching designs for a prototype, drawing upon his aviation background and racing experience.

He took his designs to French coachbuilder, Jacques Saoutchik who helped him with the framework of the automobile and then partnered with engineer Antoine-Marie Chedru to develop his patented independent front-suspension system.

What followed was a dramatically streamlined build with an emphasis on aerodynamic styling, affectionately named Xenia, after Dubonnet’s first wife.

Far ahead of its time, the Xenia resembles the fuselage of an airplane with a slender, tapered shape and pointed tail. A new parallel opening door system was used as part of the aerodynamic design and special attention was given to the undercarriage for clean air movement. The curved glass of the windshield and doors are reminiscent of airplane-styling and the panoramic windscreen and removal top were exceptionally futuristic. It featured an 8 liter overhead-valve inline 6 engine capable of 144bhp in standard form. Further, this 1938 car was designed to reach 125mph which rivaled any car of the time and had a cutting-edge four-wheel independent suspension.

In fact, the innovative suspension technology mounted each front wheel on a single arm that extended forward from the kingpin, while a pair of oil-filled, coil spring cylinders offered resistance and swiveled as each wheel turned, improving rise and handling. This original suspension system was later licensed by General Motors and used on its Chevrolet and Pontiac brands. Dubonnet designed his steel masterpiece at 19ft long and claimed that his Hispano-Suiza hyperflex suspension system would give it the “suppleness of a cat”.

To protect this revolutionary automobile, the Xenia was hidden away in 1939 during World War II and did not resurface until 1946 in Paris. The Xenia was then purchased by Alain Balleret, President of the French Hispano-Suiza Club who began the vehicles restoration. Upon Balleret’s death, the car was purchased and completed by Seattle based collector, Charles Morse. Morse debuted the vehicle at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance in 2000.

Today, this dramatic and stunning vehicle resides at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California under the care of Peter and Merle Mullin. The Xenia has been honored for its innovative design and technology with the following organizations:

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Goodwood has unveiled a special 2011 Festival of Speed poster – illustrating a 1968 Lotus Type 56 with Joe Leonard at the helm, reflecting this year's theme of "the Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indianapolis 500, celebrating its century this year. The glorious illustration is by Peter Hearsey and shows the Lotus at full chat on the first right-hander of the epic FOS hill climb route, making the most of the innovative four-wheel-drive system, and 500bhp Pratt and Whitney gas turbine engine. Fabulous stuff!