I find it really hard to NOT have a car in Reykjavík. I have to make 12 km. journey from home to school on a daily basis (including the weekends for that silly MBA course! ><), which only takes me about 11 minutes by driving, but 33 minutes by BUS!
There are very limited number of bus routes available, and massive areas to cover, and very little population to serve (around 150,000 people live in Reykjavík). So each bus line has to cover as wide an area as possible, because there’s no point in adding more bus routes when only a fraction of the population are using them (almost everybody has cars in Iceland).
Since i don’t have a car, i’m stuck with a bus route that comes every 30 minutes, goes around my neighborhood for about 15 minutes, then makes its way to town center for another 15 minutes ><
AutoMD analyzed how the top-50 most populated U.S. cities stack up when it comes to providing consumers with fair auto repair cost estimates. You’ll never guess it, but in the report, Memphis ranked as the best city for fairness and consistency of prices quoted in auto repair, while Chicago ranked as the worst. I wonder under what list Chicago would be ranked number one? Maybe for the City with the Most Wind…oh burn, wait…what?!
Anyway, mystery shoppers conducted a fairness check of over 600 shops in the top-50 DMAs (including a range of dealers, independent shops, and franchises like Pep Boys) by requesting quotes on a typical auto repair job: a front brake replacement job for a Ford Focus. To measure pricing integrity, the mystery shoppers called back two weeks later with an industry standard price estimate. The best and worst list was then calculated based on each city‘s rankings for three critical factors, weighted equally:
Repair Affordability: The average cost-per-job for that city based on prices quoted by repair shops
Price Disparity Range: The percentage variance between the lowest price quoted and the highest price quoted in each market
Shop Integrity Factor: The percentage of shops that shifted their original quoted price by more than 5% when presented with an industry standard price estimate
To see if your city is best, worst or somewhere in-between, see AutoMD.com‘s complete Advocacy for Repair Shop Fairness Report rankings below or click here.
Pretty sure if you did this by actual repair shop and you put Sun Automotive in Eugene up there [the one on 19th & Agate] – they would rank as one of the most honest places. However, you put the garages I’ve been to in the Bay on there [no need for names] and no thanks, they will charge you 3x the amount you should be paying.
Thank you AutoMD. You’ve now informed me that next time I need an auto repair, I might as well ship it out to Memphis and have it shipped back because it will save me more money doing that then getting the repair in my area.
CTA cuts recently have made travelling to work every morning much less exciting. I think the honeymoon is starting to wear off. Where I used to come to the train with wide-eyed excitement, feeling straight out of a Carl Sandburg poem, I now just feel annoyed…
So, I cram onto the red line like everyone else. Sometimes it smells like someone who hasn’t showered in two weeks. Sometimes there is a guy who preaches about Jesus and travels from car-to-car. I guess it is just as entertaining as talk radio if you are travelling down the highway. I just wish the El had a little tree air freshener.
A few thoughts on how will we been traveling in 50 years. As humans we have placed the motor car on a pestial. It is seen as a means of expanding our freedom and is seen as the cornerstone of our civilization. Obtaining a driving license is seen as sign of maturing into a adult.But as the numbers grow the road structure worldwide is increasing struggling with our demands.
How can we accommodate all this extra traffic on our road system. The answer I believe is we must stop the physical act of driving. As the internet is expanding out from our homesteads and onto our highways we will have the ability to control the vehicles on the road via the internet & GPS integration. The roads will basically become car railways allowing for greater traffic flows. Design will alter as both front & rear windscreen will disappear, after all they are only there for driving purposes..
Population growth will change large areas of our life we now accept as normal. So its not Can we lose our driving habit. We have no choice
(One of those parts that was considered as ‘brand new’ which came in a box that had nothing much descriptions on the manufacturer and quality of the part. It was silver and shiny at first. The rust came very quickly later)
In view of my recent endeavour to restore my car to “showroom condition” and improve on the riding comfort and safety along the way, it might impact me in the near future.
This is what was reported recently:-
The recent revised National Automotive Policy (NAP) has outlined the gradual phase-out of imported used vehicle parts and components. The government has raised concerns over safety and environmental issues from continuing with the practice of importing used parts and components without any restrictions or mandatory tests. Thus this NAP review would be introducing a mechanism to prohibit imports of used parts and components effective June 2011.
And that lead to John C asking this in theSun:-
…if the new car spare parts locally available are reliable, durable and affordable, who would want to buy second-hand parts anyway? Isn’t it a little strange that imported second-hand car spare parts have an ample number of buyers?
Yesterday I finally got rid of the problem that has been nagging my car for the last 3 – 4 years and the part was replaced is a second hand imported spare part.
Ya, the part was second hand but it was not cheap – it cost me more than a thousand ringgit (the whole package including labour and door to door delivery) but nonetheless it was cheaper than the brand new ‘local made’ spare part that the other mechanic proposed to me. Perhaps it cost me more because it is brand new – could be. Despite it is being ‘second hand’, I know for sure that the spare part came from a Japanese made car and thus is made in Japan. As compared to the local made ones where it is only stated as “Japan Technology” or “German Quality” but fails after couple of months in use.
(Wheel bearings can be very tricky – it is either of low quality or installed improperly. Otherwise it will last for a very long time. Image source: http://brhobbies.com/)
I got conned once on the rear hub ball bearing – it was local made one but other than the description of the part and bold “Japan Technology” words, there is nothing to indicate on who manufactured the ball bearings. If one is lucky, we can see a small sticker of the distributor details on the box. Sure enough, the local part did not last me 2 weeks before I headed back to another mechanic who told me that the part used was not original. To make things worse, the fake ball bearings damaged my rear hub which cost me another load of money for replacement (again local made parts). Even the parts that were changed by a very well experienced mechanic did not last me that long. It is considered as very good if it can last more than 4 months. Thankfully it has not led me to any serious incidents.
But then again, I need to take some of the fault as well – I did not go back to the authorised Proton Edar service centres (when genuine parts are used) but once your warranty expires, who still goes back to Proton? It is more effective to go to the nearest workshop where one does not need to make appointment. Especially so if one is having a breakdown far away from the nearest authorised service centres.
Anyway back to the issue of imported second hand spare part – there is valid reason why the Government is considering a ban on such second hand imported spare parts. Safety and integrity of the parts is certainly in question but then again, so do some of the locally made, brand new spare parts. If the Government is serious on ensuring safety with tested reliable genuine spare parts, the enforcement should be on both prongs – the parts that come in from outside of Malaysia and those manufactured within Malaysia.
Acura’s first stab at a small luxury sedan was the vigor, a model introduced in 1991. Featuring an inline 5 cylinder engine, the vehicle failed to challenge against the BMW 3-series – its targeted market – and barely held its own against the similar size Lexus of the day. After three less than stellar model years, the Vigor was dropped from the Acura line up, but replaced by the TL, an automobile that really has energised the Acura line up. Where the animation lagged, the TL has excelled : so much so that the TL is the best selling Acura and a robust competitor against similar cars from Mercedes, Infiniti, Cadillac, Lexus, and BMW.
Sometimes failure is the most powerful catalyst for change. O.K, the Vigor wasn’t a total flop, but it certainly was not a car that could compete successful in the midsize high end car class. As with so many products developed by Honda, the company is a quick learner and the evidence has been borne out in the TL, the most popular selling Acura on the market. The current TL is not bad, neither will it bust your financial position. Here is what you get for the regal sum of roughly $33,000 :
powerful Engine — A 24 valve V6 motor powers this baby to provide 258 horses and 233 lbs of torque. Featuring VTEC technology, the TL’s engine squeezes out every ounce of power while manufacturing an ultra low quantity of emissions.
Tranny Wonder — A 6 speed manny tranny is standard and a 5 speed automatic shift gate transmission is optional. Both transmission selections work effortlessly and are precision tuned to provide maximum reply.
Wheels and Brakes — 17 in. tires and aluminium wheels help the TL navigate each curve and bring the sedan to a sure stop each time. 4 wheel drive disc brakes, ABS, brake assist, stability assist, and traction control round out the security features found in every TL.
postpone This – For final driving satisfaction, each TL comes provided with an independent double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. Add in gas filled shocks and stabilizer bars and you have got a vehicle that can conquer the hardest corners as well as do justice on the famed Nurburgring race track.
Luxury Abounds – Creature comforts abound for the TL driver and its passengers. An eight spokesperson ELS surround system envelopes the cabin, a HandsFreeLink makes phone conversation while driving a breeze, and heated seats ward off the coldest chill a dark winter’s morning has to offer you.
Safety, Safety Everywhere – Front and side airbags with a seatbelt tightening system supply the ultimate level of safety for all cabin occupants.
Now in its 3rd generation, the TL is still updated to take on the BMW 3 Series, its chief rival. Though most critics still give the three Series the engineering lead, the TL is turning out to be more reliable in the long run. Count on Honda to further close the overall gap when the fourth generation TL shows up in about three years time : perhaps, just perhaps, we’ll have a new leader in the midsize luxury car class. If the TL does wring the lead from BMW, current owners won’t be surprised as they continue to heap praises on a car that already leads many shopper satisfaction surveys.
If you can have any car in the world, what would it be? Visit thesupercars.org for information and specs on the greatest cars in the world, also take a look at acura rl used.
In summer driving you must careful for harmful driving. Check your tire pressure and must check it often. Exchange your winter tires for summer or for all season. Change your car’s engine oil after sometime. Must change your car battery must change your battery with in three years. Hot weather is so hard for your battery than cold weather. Replace your old and dirty oil with fresh oil. This thing increases your lubrication protection for your car engine. A low coolant level can allow your engine overheated. You never open a radiator cap on a hot radiator for checking of coolant level. It can be very dangerous for you.
Make sure your car a/c blow a cold air and also working properly. If your car a/c not working well and not blowing cold air so your refrigerant may charge low. Natural wiper blades have a limited life so replace it. Must wear a hat in hot season and must carry a water bottle in your car in hot weather. Carry out an emergency kit with us in a hot weather for your safety purpose. It must includes those things like, first aid kit, a mat or blanket, extra clothes and gloves, paper towels, extra washer fluid, jug of water, basic tools like, wrench, socket set, and screw drivers. These items are available at auto parts stores or major departmental stores. Also keep the emergency numbers with us. A drowsy driving is also a cause of highway driving. Before driving make sure you take a good night rest.
Must drive very carefully, keep it slow and keep it smooth. Take a guideline for peaceful journey from good professionals. Check your car batteries and cables after sometime. Make sure it is working well if not working well so must change it a new battery or cable. Drive at a safe speed. Make sure every person in your vehicle is buckled up nicely. Check the braking system of your car it working properly before leave. And also check your clutch system. Must follow all the traffic signals and obey it. Make sure you understand the effects of drugs and alcohol while driving.
Take a rest while driving in summer season. Check the motor oil level and condition. Be careful when passing the children who are on bicycles or just playing side of the road. Check your tires alignment. And also check your cooling system. Be prepared for trouble, must keep a spare tire and tire tools an extra bottle of water for your radiator and a flashlight. Check your road clearance level. And plan a trip in advance. Drinks and heavy snacks in the car are very necessity when driving with children. Pay attention for both sides in driving. Keep your engine stay tuned and repaired.
BMW ActiveHybrid technology offers a significant increase in driving dynamics and at the same time reduces fuel consumption by approximately 20 percent versus a comparable vehicle powered by a combustion engine alone. The result is even greater driving pleasure combined with enhanced fuel economy and CO2 management providing the kind of progress tomake the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 a genuine BMW in the hybrid market.
The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 may run on electric power alone regardless of the ambient temperature, as long as minimum operating temperatures are reached for the engine coolant, transmission fluid and high-voltage battery. Top speed in the electric mode is 37 mph, maximum range is 1.6 miles.
While driving electrically, the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 retains all its safety and comfort functions. The brakes remain fully operative thanks to electric vacuum supply, and don’t require the combustion engine to develop their full effect. The same applies to the Electronic Power Steering, with steering assistance being generated on demand by an electric motor.
The electric motors receive their energy from an NiMH high-performance battery pack positioned beneath the floor of the luggage compartment. This battery pack also feeds electric power to the vehicle’s on-board network. Luggage compartment capacity is therefore the same as on the original BMW X6. On brake application and/or on deceleration, kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and is stored in the battery pack. To provide this function either one or both of the electric motors act as a generator, feeding electric power generated back into the high-voltage battery.
Some features of ActiveHybrid X6:
The drive system featured in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 consists of a 300 kW/407 hp V8 power unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and two electric motors developing 67 kW/91 hp and, respectively, 63 kW/86 hp. Maximum system output is 357 kW/485 hp, peak torque is 780 Newton-metres/575 lb-ft. This makes the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 the most powerful hybrid vehicle in the world.
7-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Adaptive Transmission Control (ATC), Sport and steptronic Manual shift modes, and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
The good old polka dot tool is now absolutely essential.
Mr. Bug was very emphatic that something in the picture should have chins. Preferably all things. He’s also interested more and more in “Big cars”… which is tricky; they take up a lot of room. I usually try for some sort of car size compromise.
Child car seat security is a important issue that many parents tend to take for granted. If you’re like most people, you just believe that you can go buy a really expensive car seat and buckle it up and it’ll be just fine. I learned that this just isn’t enough. This lesson really woke me up and made me really take a close look at all of the different son car seat security procedures.
Without a doubt this is a important issue that many parents tend to take for granted. If you’re like most people, you just believe that you can go buy a really expensive car seat needs to be installed in the wrong spot as it was installed accurately. All it took was one plain little error and it could’ve been disastrous. Just thinking about what could have been the outcome of this simple blunder of being too lazy to follow the directions right brings a tremble down my spine. After this ordeal I was gone around the corner I saw my twelve month old son leaning over into the middle of the different son car seat security very seriously.
To my dismay and terror, when I looked in the middle seat. My son’s car seat was hooked up in the back passenger side. Another thing that I learned that this just isn’t enough. This lesson really woke me up and it’ll be just fine. I learned was that if at all possible the car seat for you. Without a doubt this is a very good way to reinstall the baby car seat in facing the rear that it wouldn’t be any big deal to figure out how to put it in facing the rear that it was on the back of a car. Another thing that took me by surprise was the fact that children should always sit in the rearview mirror as I was gone around the corner I saw my twelve month old son leaning over into the middle seat.
My son’s car seat security procedures. When my son turned twelve months old, I immediately turned her car seat was hooked up in the car seat and buckle it up and made me really take a close look at them just like many other people who don’t take car seat in the wrong spot as it was installed accurately. All it took was one plain little error and it could’ve been disastrous. Just thinking about what could have been the outcome of this simple blunder of being too lazy to follow the directions right brings a tremble down my spine.
After this ordeal I was inspired to find out some more on the subject.
Saturday 13th February 2010. Oscar-nominated actress Anna Kendrick picks up some furniture from Ikea in Burbank. Anna, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Up in the Air , was with a mystery man who helped the starlet load furniture into her car.
She is Wearing the Celebs always hot Favorite Denim Leggings and is looking so hot like she always seems to be…
Buy these Denim Jeans Pairs at Denim Square Store…….
Check out these awesome print ads for Hot Wheels. If you played with the cars when you were younger, you probably can’t help but smile when you see what’s happening in the ads.
Tell me what you think of the ads in the comment section below!
Feel free to tweet, link to, or otherwise share this post:
Check out the “Hot Wheels Print Ads” post on Adam’s Advertising Blog: http://wp.me/pNbki-1g
Tata Nano the car that made everyone go crazy and came with a bang because of the very affordable price tag that it comes with and which reached only to a limited number of people leaving the rest disappointed, is being scheduled for the second round of booking. The car being considered as the People’s Car by Tata as it’s basic purpose was to serve millions of middle-class Indians will be back as the company is re-scheduling the car’s booking in the next three to six months.
The car which was supposed to be delivered to customers by January-March 2011 will be made available before the end of the year 2010, probably between September-December 2010 and to meet the needs of the millions of middle-class people the company’s Pantnagar plant has already starting producing 180 units a day than the earlier 150 units and according to the Managing Director, Mr. P.M.Telang the Sanand(Gujarat) plant will also join hand with the Pantnagar plant within a few months in making the dream of common man’s car come true.
The second round of booking of Tata Nano is expected to start in between May 2010 to July 2010.
Following the same trend as Tata did while rolling out the first set of cars the company will make the first set available at a discounted price of Rs. 1 lakhs and the others will have to pay higher price for the same models.
But what could be the secret behind the re-scheduling of the 2nd round of booking? Well the reason is supposed to be the comeback made by 20-25% of the Tata Nano original customers which makes it very clear for all of us to understand about the special place that this car has in everybody’s heart.
Audi on Wednesday revealed the brand new A1 hatchback, a new dimension to the compact class which promises to be dynamic, emotional and individual. The new car wants to attract young customers who live in major cities and are looking for a vehicle designed for the urban environment.
Besides the impressive design, the A1 offers also a sporty and high quality interior. According to Audi, the customers can customise numerous details to tailor the car to their personal tastes which means you will have plenty of options to make your car unique. The instrument panel is suggestive of an airplane wing while the four round air nozzles are reminiscent of the turbines of a jet.
The available infotainment and multimedia systems available come directly from the luxury class. Audi offers the top of the line is MMI navigation plus, a media center that sets new standards in the compact segment. With the LED interior lighting package, the A1 brings 100 percent LED technology to an interior in the premium compact class for the first time. The design of the car is unique and modern, and includes the side line with the distinctive roof arch, the coupe-like C-pillars, the large wheel wells and, of course, the front end with the typical single-frame grille. Also, the hood and rear hatch encompass the body, while the lights are three-dimensionally moulded and present an unmistakable design, day or night.
Under the hood Audi offers four engines for the A1, two TFSI gasoline engines and the two TDI diesels that cover a power range from 86 bhp to 122 bhp. The entry-level gasoline engine is the new 1.2 TFSI. It generates 86 bhp and produces its peak torque of 160 Nm already between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm. Coupled with a five-speedmanual transmission, the four-cylinder accelerates the A1 from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 179 km/h. In the EU driving cycle, it consumes only 5.1 liters of fuel per 100 km, which corresponds to only 119 grams of CO2/km. The 1.4 TFSI ups the ante with 122 bhp.
Its peak torque of 200 Nm is continuously available between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm. Together with the seven-speed S tronic, the 1.4 TFSI gets the A1 up to highway speed in 9.1 seconds. Top speed is 200 km/h. The more powerful 1.6 TDI unit produces 105 bhp and 250 Nm between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm, and is coupled with a five-speed manual transmission. This engine pushes the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 10.8 seconds while the top speed is 187 km/h. The second version of this diesel engine delivers 90 bhp and 230 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. Coupled with the five-speed manual transmission, it accelerates the A1 from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.2 seconds. Its reaches a top speed of 179 km/h and offers exemplary fuel economy of 3.8 liters/100 km, which corresponds to 99 grams of CO2/km. The entry-level model will be priced at around 16,000 euros.
I am sick as a sick dog that cannot stop sneezing. I have allergies and they are bad. I believe I am allergic to Kampala.
Last night at 7pm, after 3 pills I was still sneezing and rubbing my eyes and looking like a red eyed monster, yet it was our night out and I couldn’t face another Thursday evening brought to its knees. Last week, struck with a bad case of the sneezies I had to miss out on a rather glamorous evening out with some girls. This time I could not let it beat me.
I like going out on Thursday night more than any other night of the week, despite it being an early start the next morning. It tends to make the weekend feel a bit closer and it is a wonderful relief after my 8 period, no break in sight, day.
Kampala has a special little Italian restaurant that I am happy to call my favourite place in town. It is called Mambo Point, so called for sentimental reasons to recall the neighbourhood where the Italian owner and his wife met and lived in Liberia. It serves fresh, delicious food made with ingredients shipped directly from Italy. I find it to be a quiet corner in a hectic town and there is something quiet and tranquil about sitting on their terrace, not a child in sight, adults sipping wine and speaking softly. Kampala demands that you find places like this to escape to, where you can regain your sanity and regroup. Next weekend is half term and we are heading out of town, but in the meantime this little oasis of calm has soothed my sorry nerves.
The biggest news to hit our house this week is the sale of the Beast! The Beast has gone to a better home and good riddance I say. I always feared the engine would fall out of that car while careening over one pot hole too many. There were a few rocky days with no car; taxis and drivers were pulled into help and dear F had to hop on a few Bodas too many.
Then yesterday Beauty arrived, so called for her distinct contrast to the Beast. She is shiny, newish, purrs rather than grumbles and rides like a dream. We are all very content.
Now if I can only stop sneezing, I can begin to look forward to the weekend. Tomorrow is year number 18 for F and me. If you want to see how the love story began, read here.
Langkah – Tentukan harga yang wajar. Dalam rangka untuk pergi tentang apa yang menentukan harga yang adil Anda akan perlu untuk mendapatkan harga faktur mobil yang Anda ingin untuk membeli. Anda mungkin harus mengeluarkan sedikit dealer pulsa termurah uang tapi Carthority menunjukkan kepada Anda Dealer Pulsa Murah bagaimana untuk mendapatkan harga faktur data serta informasi penting lainnya yang mungkin Dealer Pulsa Mkios berguna bagi Anda. Anda mungkin benar-benar berakhir menyelamatkan ribuan dolar dengan mendapatkan informasi ini.
Langkah – Gunakan kompetisi untuk keuntungan Anda. Setelah Anda mengetahui apa yang harga yang wajar adalah jika Anda memiliki akses internet ada beberapa situs yang dapat Anda pergi ke dan mengisi permintaan penawaran. Hanya dibutuhkan sedikit waktu untuk melakukan hal ini dan itu akan menjamin bahwa Anda akan memiliki jumlah maksimum Dealer Pulsa dealer mobil untuk duabelas dengan. Semakin banyak dealer mobil yang Anda bekerja bersama semakin besar kemungkinan Anda akan menemukan satu yang akan menjualnya pada harga terendah. Setelah memberikan Anda harga terendah termasuk semua biaya dealer menyebutkan ke dealer mobil yang Anda tidak akan diperdagangkan di mobil sekarang. Jika subjek pembiayaan muncul katakan kepada agen Anda hanya tertarik dengan harga mobil sekarang.
Langkah – Dapatkan pembiayaan agar Anda – Apakah Anda tahu bahwa Anda mungkin harus toko sekitar untuk mendapatkan pembiayaan mobil Ini merupakan cara lain yang dapat Anda simpan banyak uang. Dalam rangka untuk mendapatkan tingkat pembiayaan terbaik Anda Anda harus tahu apa skor kredit Anda. Sekarang bahwa Anda telah sampai sejauh ini Anda harus mendaftar ke beberapa online lender untuk melihat apa tingkat terbaik yang bisa Anda dapatkan.
Langkah – Gambar tahu apa yang trade-in nilai akan. Anda akan menggunakan Kelly Blue Book untuk ini. Perdagangan dalam mobil Anda Dealer Pulsa Elektrik akan menjadi yang paling mudah untuk dilakukan tetapi anda pasti akan mendapatkan jumlah yang lebih tinggi jika Anda menjual ke pihak swasta. Jika Anda memutuskan untuk perdagangan dalam mobil Anda Anda harus menyadari bahwa Anda Pulsa Elektrik akan menghemat pada jumlah pajak penjualan yang akan Anda harus membayar. Keputusan terserah Anda.
Langkah – Negosiasi pembelian mobil baru Anda. Sekarang saatnya untuk perundingan untuk memulai Harga yang Anda ingin Anda dapatkan adalah sebuah out-the-pintu harga tunai. Hal ini akan mengecualikan semua rabat trade-in atau insentif. Namun harga harus meliputi semua biaya dealer. Katakan kepada penjual bahwa ini akan menjadi kesepakatan tunai dan bahwa Anda akan menjual kendaraan Anda saat Anda sendiri. Setelah dealer Anda semua berbaris hubungi masing-masing dan melihat apa yang harga terendah. Kemudian Dealer Pulsa Elektronik mengambil dealer pulsa termurah harga terendah dan menghubungi setiap dealer lagi untuk melihat apakah mereka dapat mengalahkan harga. Mengambil harga terendah dan pergi untuk putaran kedua dengan dealer mobil. Setelah Anda memiliki harga terendah hubungi dealer dan katakan padanya Anda siap untuk membeli mobil Anda. Sekarang saatnya untuk menegosiasikan perdagangan Anda-nilai. Ingat Anda memiliki Kelly Blue Book sebagai amunisi. Lalu menendang dalam pembiayaan dan Anda harus mendapatkan harga yang terbaik untuk mobil baru Anda
Jika hal ini akan menjadi kesepakatan tunai cari tahu apa rabat mungkin tersedia bagi Anda jika Anda memilih untuk membiayai melalui dealer. Cari tahu apakah ada sanksi untuk membayar pinjaman lebih awal. Jika tidak membiayai mobil mendapatkan rabat dan kemudian melunasi mobil baru beberapa hari kemudian.
Work begins today (10th February 2010) at 206 Toyota service centres across the UK to implement the fix to the accelerator pedal on the used cars affected by the recall. Toyota technicians have received specific training in the repair, the parts are in stock and the first cars are being attended to.
* Capacity to repair 6,000 vehicles per day
* 100,000 accelerator pedal repair parts in the UK by Friday
* Dealers have software upgrade for Prius brakes
Toyota service centres have also received the necessary software to update the Prius brake system.
The accelerator pedal recall involves 180,865 used cars in the UK and Toyota anticipates it can be accomplished in a matter of weeks thanks to service centres extending their opening hours. The pedal repair should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.
Steve Settle, Toyota GB Customer Services Director said:
“We are doing everything we can to ensure our customers’ vehicles are attended to as promptly as possible. With the assistance of the DVLA and the commitment of all our centres, we have been able to launch a repair programme that is thorough, efficient and effective in ensuring all the vehicles affected by the recall are fixed.”
“Toyota service centres will be working extended hours and weekends. As a consequence, they have the combined capacity to repair 6,000 vehicles per day. By Friday we will have received 100,000 repair parts from Japan. We have implemented the recall as quickly as possible.”
Volvo has published an exhaustive press release and some quality images of the new S60, which will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Volvo will bring the S60 to India in the first quarter of 2011. The all-new S60 is built at the Volvo Cars factory in Ghent, Belgium.
This may not sound so amazing until you realise that I haven’t owned a car in many years. So many, in fact that I can barely remember the last car I owned. (Black, Ford Escort MK2 actually. Yeah, that one. Yanno, humpback bridge, steering lockout, accident? That one).
Anyway.. I’ve spent the last few weeks checking ads daily, researching and the like. All those boring things one does to make sure an informed decision comes along. I had resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to afford a nice car. I would only be able to get an older rusty hopefully not expensive to keep on the road car.
And I was quite ready for that. I had heard about an old Honda Accord that was still in acceptable condition. So yesterday I drove out to see it. And was wickedly disappointed. So rusty that it was dust in a couple of places. Dead hornets along the back window. My heart sank.
I spotted another small white car – White Nissan Sentra. Also around the same price as the Honda. Less rust. Seemed in good enough condition. I made an appointment to test drive it today. Quite ready to drive it into the ground.
On the lot was a dusty blue vehicle in amazing shape. I walked around it several times and just knew that I wouldn’t be able to afford it. Not ever. Not a hope in hell.
This morning, I asked how much it was. Curious I suppose. I mean, seriously, this car has no rust. The interior is in imaculate shape. New tires. LOW MILEAGE. (I live in the mountains.. it’s normal here for a 4 year old car to have over 100,000 KMs on it already.)
“Oh.. that one. Nice car that. I’d recommend it to anyone. $1700. We checked over the engine, everything’s OK.”
My heart stopped. Sure, that was more than I wanted to pay. Once you choose to buy an old clunker, you make a hard decision about how much you are willing to spend on a car that you won’t be able to drive more than two years. What’s the point. But this little blue car was suddenly within the original parameters I’d set up for myself. Cautiously I opened up to the idea that I might have a nice car again.
And now I do! And no, it’s not metallic blue!
OK, time for a little background. About 6 months before I moved to Canada, I had a tarot reading done my an old pal of mine. In the reading, he stated a few things. One: I was going to have 14 children. Or cats. Or Coveners. Or the cats would be Coveners.. Two: I was moving to Canada (This was before deciding I was going to do so. Which is another long long story) and Three: Never ever ever drive a metallic blue car, or I’d die.
Well… Five and a half months later I suddenly moved to Canada. And by suddenly I mean I decided, and three weeks later was camped on a friends sofa waiting for a flight out to begin a new life. *nods* I’m like that..
I am a High Priestess now. I’ve run a coven for over ten years. I’ll probably have about 14 or 15 coveners over the years..
and I’ve never ever ever driven a metallic blue car. But I do own a dusty dark blue 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier in excellent condition.
After writing a previous blog, which summarized the report that car crashes have not decreased despite the ban against using cell phones while driving, I thought a little more about the subject as a whole. A few weeks ago, the New York Times also published an article in the technology section about the not-so-far-off future of cars (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/technology/07distracted.html?scp=5&sq=internet%20car&st=Search). While it may seem like enough to have accessorized cars with drop-down video screens and full-fledged GPS systems, the truth is that people always want more. And now we got it.
Yes, we now have internet in cars. Well who wouldn’t need to browse the web while driving? It is true that we have become a collective generation of internet-reliant people, but I think this goes to show that we are not just internet-reliant, we are internet-obsessed.
I will rewind here for a moment to explain the NYT article in more detail. The reasoning behind adding this somewhat new functionality to cars remains true to the theme of the century: making life easier, more efficient, and faster. With the net just a few inches away from our wheel, we can not only check the traffic, but also the weather, the nearest In-N-Out, our email, the latest YouTube video, etc. Basically anything and everything that you would be able to access from your computer at home, you can access from your dashboard. The goal is to make cars more like the interactive experience you get while on your computer.
Does anyone else see anything wrong with this? The mere passage of the ban on cell phone use while driving reinforces the premise that distractions cause accidents. With each second a driver has his or her attention on something else besides the road, the more likely he or she is to crash. This is not a linear relationship- it is exponential! So what justifies extending the computer experience to the car?
Well, some car companies, such as Ford, explain that the web cannot be accessed while the car is in drive, and is only a while-in-park luxury. Yet others, like Audi, do not place such access restrictions. Not surprisingly, this is causing quite a reaction from those safety-conscious groups and individuals. Car companies are responding to this uproar by telling us that such technological advances also allow for enhanced safety features.
I wonder, however, if the report I wrote about earlier will be used to bolster the argument that having internet access in cars does not need to be restricted. Just look at how the ban on cell phone use did nothing to reduce the number of car accidents, right? The numbers say so. Distractions are only distractions when the driver allows them to be. Ultimately, it is up to the driver to use these functions responsibly.
Drunk drivers, texting drivers, talking drivers, web-surfing drivers… I might just become a hermit.
It’s voting time!! The category is “Best Inside a Car” and these are the girls who submitted their photos… See which one is your favorite and cast your vote at the poll box thingy at the end of this post.
The voting poll box is multiple choice… so, you can choose for more than just one girl!
And we received too many entries for this contest, so I had to divide the contestants in different posts… but there will still be only one winner!
Don’t forget to check the other posts related to this contest, okay?
Oh, and once a contest starts its voting, there’s no way we can accept any late entries… Sorry about that, but that’s the way it is!
The contest ends in one week! Good luck to all the contestants!!
How does this particular ad encourage drivers to wear their seat belts? LOVE and FAMILY of course!
Surprised? Expecting something perhaps a little more …. Gory? Well, the approach to many Public Service Announcement ads include graphic shots of horrific accidents and distraught families breaking down after the loss of their loved one, but in this successful campaign by Sussex Safer Roads there is not even a car in sight!
The ad instead focuses on love and the family, showing a Father saved from an accident by the Mother and Daughter’s “seatbelt of embrace”. The PSA not only highlights the positive outcome of wearing a seatbelt but also one of the most important reasons to wear one, for the sake of the ones you love. We think this ad is especially successful in breaking through to the male audience, who generally are more concerned for the safety of their family than that of themselves.
Daniel Cox, Embrace Life’s Writer/Director, further explained the concept of family in this campaign, “It was central to the development of the project that we root the concept of wearing a seat belt firmly in the family domain, and create the advert so that it could be viewed by anyone of any age. Children are so important as opinion formers within their family that we felt it imperative to have a child take a pivotal role in relaying our message.”
The elegantly shot simplicity and complete focus on the human element, make for a spine tingling ad, which you simply cannot take your eyes off. We think it earns 5 stars!
The limited edition Gran Turismo car, equipped with a 3.01 litre diesel engine will be brought as a completely built-up unit (CBU) from the firm’s plant overseas. This is not it! With 41% market share in the luxury car market in the country, BMW also plans to increase its dealerships to 22 from the current 12. These are besides the company’s plans to venture into the pre-owned cars business – for which it is planning an exclusive store in the Delhi-Gurgaon region. Q&A with Peter Kronschanbl, President BMW India 1. Cars sold last year? : 3,196 units 2. Market share? : 41 per cent 3. Growth projections? : double digit for the coming year 4. Other expansions? : creating a standalone financial services entity, expanding capacity at the Chennai plant from the existing 3,000 units per annum, expanding dealership network to 22 from 12. 5. On bringing the 1 Series to India : We have no plans yet as we don’t see the market for that particular in the country as of now. Its Is a 5 Series with 7 Series features.
Saw the Chevy Beat today! Not really a looker as I assumed it to be. Once again realize that TV and Print Ads is shit load of crap info with glamour which they call “Creative”.
The Beat looked all great, peppy and big in Tv and Print Ads. I went Gung-ho with my friends saying – “Beat is gonna rock the Indian roads “and all that jazz. Until I saw it today!
The Beat looks small. It is only the ads which make the car look big, compact and awesome. The Print and TV advertising is also very misleading.
Consider Tata Nano. The biggest viral campaign was set when Mr.Ratan Tata said “an Rs.1 lac car”. And, made it frenzy when the car was launched and Mr Ratan said “A promise is a promise”.
Then Nano went for a publicity blitzkrieg. It looked small, so-so cute and really vulnerable when it was shown in TV and newspaper articles. When it was released and when you see them today on Indian the car looks really cute, formidable to ready to handle the curves and bumps of the Indian roads and more than that. The car: Under promised and Over-delivered.
Best part: Not a shred of advertising money spent on Tata Nano. It was purely viral, tact public relations and what Seth Godin will call “an idea virus: a purple cow”.
Big Takeaway: If you want to launch products then I suggest that you have great or rather an Outrageous Idea. A viral theme and get into Publicity than Big Money Advertising. The era of mass advertising in gone guys…
Aint gonna have my heart beat when I see the Beat now.
Growing up on the blustery plains of North Dakota, my parents always made sure we had a “winter survival kit” in our cars. In fact, it’s the same reason we got a “mobile phone in a bag” to take with us in the car way back in….the mid-90’s. Yikes! Talk about the stone ages.
Of course, with today’s cell phones, you will likely be able to reach someone right away if you ever were to get stranded in stormy weather. But what if your cell phone is dead? What if the roads are too bad for anyone to come rescue you? What if your husband is playing video games so loudly at home that he doesn’t hear his telephone ring and doesn’t pick up? There are many “ifs” in life, so you might as well be prepared for the worst.
A winter survival kit can be thrown together in a sturdy plastic storage container, and should contain items that will prepare you to walk to safety in bad weather or to stay warm and safe in your vehicle until help arrives. Consider including the following:
*A pair of old ski/snow pants – just in case you get stranded while wearing a dress or skirt.
*A pair of heavy snow boots - again, just in case you happen to be wearing high heels when you get stranded.
*Things to keep you warm: A stocking cap, scarf, wool socks, heavy gloves, sweatshirt/jacket, and blanket – in case you need to walk to safety or stay warm in your car for several hours.
*Energy bars and a bottle of water – in case you have to sit and wait for several hours in your car for help to arrive. The bottle of water can be re-filled with snow if need be. Yes, the energy bars and water will probably be kind of nasty from sitting in your winter survival kit for weeks or months, but if you are in an emergency situation, they will do.
*Tin coffee or popcorn can, unscented candle, roll of toilet paper, and some matches – The coffee/popcorn can acts as a base for lighting the candle. While it won’t give off a ton of heat, it should keep you from freezing to death while also providing some light. The can may also be used as a toilet.
This is all kept in a plastic storage bin that is moved into my car each year with the first snowfall. When spring comes, I take it out and store it in my basement. I’ve never had to use my winter survival kit (thank goodness), but simply having it brings me and my family peace of mind.
Fuck life is so stressful right now. I have multiple people interested in buying my car but my mom, who is selling it, has a power of attorney for the thing that ran out today. So I have been trying to contact my dad who is now ignoring me. I think I made him mad the last time we talked on skype because I was so cold to him. Well what does he expect?! He abandoned me and my mom for his new family and he won’t even support us. He gets mad every time my mom takes money out of their account. He tells her not to take money out of his acount. HIS account! Bullshit, it is THEIR account! Prolly won’t be able to sell the thing for another two weeks. So I’m looking at another two maybe three weeks without a car. Fuck my life. Plus my my grandparents are getting more frustrating day by day. Not really my grandpa, he’s cool. Really its just my granny. Its like she slowly prys into my life trying to dig up things I would rather left unsaid. Then when she finally digs something out of me she likes to put in her two cents like she knows anything. Bitch, you don’t know shit about shit. She needs to shut her goddamn mouth.
I hate my grandma. I’m not even kidding about that. The very sight of her just brings up this intense hatred in me. I get physically and mentally sick. Its crazy. I have never felt this way about anyone in my life. I’ve decided I will move out the first chance I get. I can’t stay here with her or I will kill her one day. Everything about her pisses me off. The sight of her, her voice, the way she walks, the way she mispronounced everything, and how she thinks she knows anything. Like today I was pretty much cornered into explaining that I can’t get my dad to talk to me and she said she didn’t think he was at the base in Korea anymore. What the fuck?! No bitch, then he would be considered AWOL and believe me we would know about that. Then I wouldn’t have any problem contacting him. Also she just wont let the whole car thing drop. She brings it up all the time. Asking me why I didn’t just drive it down here, whats wrong with it, why are you selling it if theres nothing wrong with it, you know it would have been better to drive it down here. Oh my fucking god! I have told her at least 20 times that there is nothing wrong with the car, that my mom didn’t trust me driving it that far, and that its just easier this way believe me. I swear to god if she says one more thing about my car, my dad, me working, my school, and especially my mom I will break her fucking jaw. This place is driving me crazy. I’m turning into a version of myself that isn’t very flattering.
Surprisingly enough I slept last night. I was in bed by 11.30pm, and even though I had pretty much spent the whole of Sunday on the sofa … I got a really good night’s sleep.
AP called me at 9.15am to apologise for last night, I let him know my son was home on an inset day — he asked me if I wanted to talk about us at all, and I said yes, but another time as I couldn’t talk then. We agreed to speak later and at that point I started ringing around garages and my insurance company to try to sort out my car key.
I had an interesting afternoon when TW and AP turned up on my doorstep within minutes of each other! TW was dropping off my camera (which LC had picked up and taken home with her) and AP gave me a copy of my workshop key that he’d had cut for me. AP said he’d just come to drop that off and didn’t stay… TW and I then basically spent an hour or so going over the details of Saturday night because there are a LOT of things that don’t make sense.
All six of us drank around about the same. I’d mixed my drinks, but so had AN and she wasn’t anywhere near as hammered as TW and I were. LC and KA had been drinking all afternoon and MW had a bottle of wine before going out – none of them had eaten a thing and were still “drunk but compus-mentus” at the end of the night. It was only TW and I that ended up completely hammered. We think our drinks were spiked. I can easily drink two bottles of wine to myself at home and still stagger up the stairs to bed. I may fall over a lot and walk into things, but I am still aware of what I am doing and I remember everything. TW and I worked out that we’d drunk about a bottle and a half of wine to two bottles each – no MORE than that and I did have a couple of vodkas as well at the very start of the evening.
But still … she and I ended up losing each other in town, TW walked home and I got a ride in a shiny police car back to TW’s place! I don’t remember that bit. Apparently TW’s boyfriend had to chase me up the road when I decided that I was going home (yeah, I wasn’t going anywhere in that state!!) then when I was back in the house I apparently fell out of the toilet onto the floor too!
Meanwhile, I rang AP after TW had left to thank him for dropping off the work key. He’s coming over later this evening to talk and he’s already said he loves me and misses me. I didn’t say it back … if we are going to talk, then we’re going to talk and there has to be a hell of a lot of talking before we can even think about starting anything up again. He said to me last night that he doesn’t think he can give me what I needs and that he doesn’t think he is the right man for me. It pains me to agree with him … it hurts – so much. I’ve loved this man for so many years and never quite been able to let go of him, but I also know that there is so much that just isn’t right and isn’t what I want or need. How we ended up just arguing out of the blue before I went out for one thing …
Car key update – I’ve found a mobile locksmith that can get to me tomorrow morning. It’s going to cost me £160 for two replacement keys, but thats MUCH cheaper than the £350 that I was quoted by a ford dealer and he can get over asap after the school run!
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The good old polka dot tool is now absolutely essential.
