Carpooling

If you don’t want to give up the independence that comes with having your own car, carpooling could be the best option. Instead of four cars being on the road at once, one person takes their car and gives everyone else a lift.

Pros: You save money on fuel, and also get a break from driving when it’s someone else’s turn to get in the driver’s seat. What’s more, because you won’t be driving your car every day, you’ll cut down on mileage – potentially prolonging the car’s life and cutting servicing costs; perhaps reducing the need for car insurance claims.

Cons: It requires a certain amount of organisation, and is only really suitable for routine journeys like the daily commute – as drivers will obviously have their own personal plans at other times. All parties are also tied to travelling to and from destinations at the same time, which means that if one member of the party is running late, it could impact on the whole group.

Joining a car club

Car sharing through a car club is similar to hiring a car. You pay an annual fee which covers insurance, fuel, and tax, and you book a slot online when you need access to a vehicle.

Pros: You don’t need to worry about the car when you’re not driving it, and some services offer specially reserved parking space schemes. There’s also no need to worry about many of the costs inherent in running a car all year round, as they are covered in the rental fee – this may be ideal for occasional use.

Cons: The biggest drawback is the ultimate lack of ownership and therefore flexibility. If there’s an emergency, you can’t simply jump in the car – and if your nearest car is already booked when you want it, you might have to travel across the city. Car clubs typically charge per hour or per mile, so it could be costly if you use the service regularly.

Ram, specifically Chrysler Group has signed on with Detroit to continue with their co-branding efforts until the end of this year. Where will they go next is the question to ask. Will they sign on with Detroit for a few more years, maybe consider another sport franchise nearby like the Lions or Tigers in MLB. Maybe they will just move onto a sports city like Boston or Cleveland. What the Chrysler Group says is they want to find another rabid city base.  A group of fans who don’t just enjoy their sports teams, but it is literally a huge part of their lives.

The co-branding efforts were admiringly a trial period that Chrysler wanted to try out and see what sort of leverage they could gain with a fan base like the Detroit Red Wings, and it proved to work incredibly well. So well that they are emphatically looking for the opportunity of working with other sports teams.

So let us take the time to look at a few different options:

Pittsburg, either the Penguins, Steelers, or Pirates. A black truck with yellow accents . In a city like Pittsburg, which is called the Steel City, what better way to connect with a target market like Pitt, than using their beloved sports franchises?
Boston, either the Patriots, or Red Sox.  Imagine now a Ram truck which can be a navy blue, with red and gray highlights. A bit of a Patriotic appearance. Making the edition America’s truck!

Detroit, but this time the Lions which could have an appearance of a light blue with gray. Or maybe Detroit Tigers, a gray with navy highlights.

Really there is no limit to what Ram wants to do with their co-branding efforts. The only real limit is themselves, and how each possible market will respond to a special Sports Franchise Edition. The above ideas we feel are feasible, but we have a hard time seeing a Miami Heat Special Edition or even a NY Yankees one. Places like Detroit, Pittsburg and even Boston or New England represent what Ram is trying to be for the hard-working man.  If you have ideas on what sports team you would like to see a special edition truck for, feel free to share.
To learn more about the Ram Truck models you can read about them by visiting arrigoauto.com and its research center.

There really isn’t much in terms of demand for a 75 year old gear box. In all actuality the BMW 328 only built a total of 464 during the years of 1936-1940. Because of how limited the number of these actual models were even manufactured BMW Classic and ZF are working together to create roughly 55 of these gearboxes. The intention of these old gearboxes is to benefit a tight niche of the vintage racing crowd. The new (once old) gearbox is being reproduced to its near origin by the efforts of BMW Classic and ZF. ZF who purchased a division of that gearboxes manufacturer, Hurth in the early 1990’s.

Short history of the BMW 328 Roadster: The 328 designs were credited to German Peter Szymanowski, who later became the Chief of Design for BMW after the WWII era. But in all actuality the designs were done by Fritz Fiedler. The BMW 328 was a renowned racer in Europe winning a number of events, and averaging speeds of about 104 mph. Just before the turn of the century, in 1999, the 328 was named a finalist, 1 of 25 cars to be named Car of the Century by a panel of automotive journalists.  If you look at the BMW 328, there is no mistaking that is a beautiful looking roadster, and because of its rarity is surely an important piece in automotive history.

This news comes as a bright moment for those racecar enthusiasts, and car enthusiasts who either have a model of the 328 personally, or are just excited by the thought they could see a running and working model of the 328 in the near future. Realistically they will not reproduce the 328 models to be sold to the mass population, but if you are curious of how the BMW 3 Series has grown in the years, you can read it on BMW of Towson website.

Image Credit: wikimedia

The timing of this announcement came just in time for the New York Auto Show, it also may have seemed a bit odd that Ford was looking to add such a feature, especially with their recent success of their Hybrid and EcoBoost engine models. But we are indeed submerged in a digital world, where people are always searching for newer and easier ways of doing things, and also to have a way to engage with others. Offering such a software or application will allow drivers to go online, track their driving and fuel-economy trends, then compare to others, so they can make the proper adjustments. Even though you might be adding 1-2 mpg overall, this might seem just a small bit at first, but over the long-term it is a huge savings.

Much like Nike Plus which is ever popular with the active running community, this personal fuel-economy application will allow drivers to “Go Further” much like the new Ford slogan states. The major feature though will be if they can somehow provide recognition to certain problems individuals have to address these and improve their fuel range. Or even offer a system to where drivers can compare or contrast certain factors with others who have better fuel-economy for the same model. Maybe even allow them to contact each other to discuss efforts. Ultimately this is a cool idea and it will be interesting to see what people are able to come up with. It is uncertain if the app or software will be solely for the Ford infotainment system or offered on smart phone operating systems.

If you are a developer and are looking to compete in this software developer challenge,  you can register at the Ford Challenge Post site. The winner or winners will receive $50,000 for their software.

To compare and contrast the fuel-economy of the newest Ford models, you can do by checking out the Tindol Ford Research Center.

The Cub design is something that is incredibly unique within itself. The structural size much like the others in the segment (MINI and FIAT) is subcompact hatchback, but unlike the others in its segment it has a special exterior design. If you look at the Cub from the front you will notice it appears the vehicle is cheerfully smiling at you. In the yellow body paint, it will remind you of a smiley face. This is a styling cue that KIA hopes will attract a younger, more adventurous audience.

How does the structural design match up against others in its class? Well the Cub is just under 160 inches in length, other compact KIA models currently on the market like the Soul, is only 5 inches longer, and the Forte is roughly 180 inches total in length. It is noticeable that KIA is looking to go shorter than before, as their intentions are to attract a more urban consumer base. The new Cub allows KIA to finally attempt to compete with a unique niche that has been dominated by MINI and FIAT for years.

Even though the MINI and FIAT models have proven to pack that turbocharged punch, the KIA Cub might be the new kid, but it offers a lot of the similar power and handling capabilities of its major competitors. With a turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder engine, that pushes out a strong 204 horsepower, this small hatchback can hit a top speed of 143 mph.  That sort of power in such a small container, makes the Cub a great compliment for those who are looking to travel around in a urban setting with a bit of thrill. Because let’s face it what is more fun than driving a fuel-efficient, hatchback with some zip that looks like it is smiling the entire way. A happy car is a happy driver, and vise versa.

Regardless of what you are looking for in a KIA model, or if you have a KIA model currently you can check out the inventory of your local dealer, or schedule service at JBA KIA.

Cherokee arrives in China market by 2013 year end. One out of every 5 vehicles in China is a mid-size SUV. Therefore, it is no surprise to see Jeep Cherokee making its international debut in Shanghai. China, after all is the world’s biggest automotive market. Known as the Zi You Guang in China, the sales start by the end of this year.

With a freshly designed exterior, the new Jeep Cherokee offers all the capability and efficiency. The designers seem to have propelled the vehicle in the new era with a shape that carries on the design heritage and still maintains a global appeal. This is a capable and efficient Jeep you are looking at, driving at its best in all road and weather conditions. Enjoy 30% improvement on fuel consumption.  What make for the all-weather capability are the 2 innovative 4×4 systems – Jeep Active Drive II, and Active Drive I. The interiors have become more stylish and modern. You will love that precision craftsmanship and use of high-quality materials. As for the tech features, there is 7-inch full-color reconfigurable instrument as well as 8.4-inch touc hscreen.

The Jeep Cherokee arrives for international markets with a diesel powertrain. The powerful engines and all-new eight-speed automatic transmission as well as the new Eco Mode feature make Cherokee the most fuel-efficient. Shanghai will get to see 2 new Jeep vehicles – the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. You will definitely find the styling much different. Cherokee has already created a big buzz here in china as well as the overseas media. It also has some strong following in regions in Europe, doing exceptionally well in some parts.

The interior of the new 2014 Buick Regal receives just a few changes and will get a customizable look. The 8.0 inch touch screen will be replaced by a 4.2 inch touch screen that will keep connected with Nav system, vehicle, audio and phone. The two tone cockpit of the car is really attractive that in some model comes with wood trim making it more enhanced and attractive then ever. Similarly, the cabin has also received some technologically advanced safety features based on camera and radar including rear cross traffic alert, Lane Departure Alert, Lane Change Alert, Forward Collision Alert, Collision Mitigation Braking and Side Blind Zone Alert. An advanced and adaptive Cruise control system is also added to the new 2014 Buick Regal that sense the intensity of traffic and control the speed according to the situation. The interior of the car will also contain two toned leather upholstery and a next generation IntelliLink infotainment.

Like other features of the 2014 Buick Regal, the powertrain of the this car is also very amazing. Under the skin of the car there are two different choices available, a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine produces 182 horsepower and 172 pound feet of torque and the second one is the most powerful 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine Turbocharged 4 cylinder engine makes 259 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. Both types of the models are available in all drive version and both the engines are mated with a six speed automatic transmission. No doubt, it seems like one of the best innovations of Buick and so people would love to know the price of this car. Buick didn’t announced its price yet however it is expected that the car will start selling around $30,000.

New Car Benefits

• Choice of Features – you can build a new car to order, from color of the paint to seat covers and engine size. New cars usually have new features not available on older models.
• Better Finance Rates and Choices – it is easier to find financing for a new car, and most dealerships have experts on staff to handle the details for you.
• Warranty Coverage and Peace of Mind – a new car will have less chance of mechanical problems and expensive repairs.
• Ego Satisfaction – there is a distinct thrill in knowing that you are the first to own the car.

Used Car Benefits

• Price – after depreciation, the sticker price of a used car usually offers “more bang for the buck.” New cars typically lose 20-30% of their value after the first year. Each following year the depreciation is much less.
• Other Cost Savings – Comprehensive insurance rates for used cars are typically much lower than a new car’s.  Personal property taxes in states that tax vehicles are also lower, as most jurisdictions base the taxes on a percentage of the value of the vehicle.
• Proven Product – a car that has been driven gently and well maintained has proven itself. As time goes by, mechanical defects for a new model are uncovered and handled via recalls. Mechanics become familiar with the different model years and learn what to look for and how to fix it. The overall cost of ownership is easier to calculate.

Tips for negotiating with a new car dealer include:

Do your homework on the make and model of the car before starting negotiations. Know the Blue Book value and what other dealers are offering for the car. For example, if you are considering a new Chevrolet, find deals on new Chevy’s at Reedman Toll Chevy and read up on the features and accessories available on the different models of cars and the list prices on their web site.

• Ask to see the dealer invoice and the invoice price – not the sticker price. Use the invoice price as the starting point and work your way up rather than down from the invoice price.
• Ask for extras, such as a free extended warranty, free tank of gas, free upgrade to leather seats or better tires. If you don’t ask – you don’t get!
• Raise your bid in small increments, such as one hundred dollars, for each round. After four or five offers and counter offers, you should be close to a deal.

Stay calm and pleasant, but firm. Be prepared to have the sale manager come into the negotiations to close the deal – that can be a good thing, as he typically has the authority to approve your offer. If necessary, walk away from the deal and go to another dealership, or come back at the end of the month when they need to “make their numbers” and are more eager to make a deal.

Although drivers often complain about the high cost of insuring a motor vehicle, the figures accurately reflect an insurance company’s estimate about the likelihood that an accident will occur. The industry looks carefully at the individual’s driving record, type of vehicle being insured, and the location where the car is most often driven. The importance of carrying proper insurance coverage on a passenger vehicle cannot be understated.

The Importance Of Liability Insurance

This type of insurance, in one form or another, is required by law in all 50 states. Liability insurance covers the monetary expenses an individual must pay if he or she is the cause of an accident.

by caribb

If a driver causes damage to another vehicle or personal property, or if he or she causes bodily injury to an innocent party during the act of operating a motor vehicle, the amount of money needed to make restitution can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. All drivers are responsible for the monetary costs associated with property damage and injuries they cause.

Each state has a minimum liability amount requirement. When insurance is purchased by a vehicle owner, the carrier or its independent agent will automatically figure in this amount. It is wise to consider a higher amount than what is required by state law. Serious injuries or substantial damage to property may result in costs significantly higher than the minimum amount required to legally operate a motor vehicle.

It is always worth it to carry uninsured motorist protection in the event that a driver not properly insured causes an accident. Otherwise, the injured party has no other recourse than to file a suit. There is a good chance that bringing the at-fault party to court will not result in a monetary settlement.

Why Comprehensive/Collision Insurance Is Important

This type of insurance will cover the cost to repair property owned by the at-fault party. If the vehicle is being financed, the lender will always require collision and comprehensive coverage as a stipulation of the loan agreement. The idea here is to preserve the car’s value while the title is still being held by the lending institution.

Remember that comprehensive insurance covers the monetary loss in the event the car is stolen or if it is damaged by certain natural causes such as a falling tree limb, flood, or a hit-and-run driver who is never identified. This type of insurance may in some cases be deemed unnecessary by the owner if the vehicle has greatly depreciated in value.

The Legal Consequences

Failure to show proof of required insurance coverage if asked to do so by law enforcement officials can result in a heavy fine, loss of driving privileges, and – in some cases – jail time. If a vehicle owner has a driving record that includes the infraction of operating a car without insurance coverage, subsequent policies will much more expensive. This is because the insurance industry will now place the individual in a higher risk category.

It is far better from an economical standpoint to follow the law and make sure that proper insurance coverage is maintained at all times. An accident may or may not result in higher insurance premiums in the future, but driving without mandatory coverage can result in drastically higher rates for years to come.

This article was written by Lewis McKendry, who is the primary writer for shop-carinsurance.net which specializes in car insurance quotes and comparisons.