Author Archive: blogger

Electric cars have become very popular recently due to new information on how to convert to a electric vehicle. Most people seem to believe that electric vehicles are not practical because they can not travel far enough, but this is simply not true.

Granted you are not going to take a cross country trip in one, unless you also happen to own the worlds largest extension cord. Until battery technology improves, that is even beyond the range of a brand new $100,000+ tesla roadster. So that proves your point right? Lets take a
closer look.

How much do you really travel every day? Government studies show that 80% of Americans drive less than 50 miles a day, 50% drive less than 25 miles a day, with a range of 100 miles or more an electric vehicle will easily get you through the day.

Add up the miles you drive, 10-30 mile round trip to work, businesses you frequent are usually within 5 miles of your home, so you can see when you build your own electric vehicle it is really practical for everyday use.

Here are some more advantages of electric cars:

Quiet

Reliable

Environmentally friendly

Cheap to operate and maintain

Reasonably fast

This last fact may come as a surprise to many people, but there are electric cars available right now that will do 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, while a conversion car is not targeted to that kind of speed, the acceleration you get is more than adequate, and it will do highway speeds which makes it good enough for most peoples needs.

Another thing to consider is that you can build your own electric vehicle for under $500, which makes it within the reach of just about everyone. A car is very important for most of us, but the growing concerns over its impact on the environment, shrinking fuel resources, and the rising cost of gasoline forces us to look at other options.

If you are ready for better and cheaper solutions for your transportation needs while saving gasoline, and without adding to global warming, an electric vehicle is the way to go.

Which car seat is right for your baby or child at each stage of development can be confusing. There are four stages ( 1-4) that correspond to four groups (0-3). Your child will move through these stages (or groups) as they grow. Each is designed to suit a specific weight for child and position in the car. Many of these convert to work within several groups, so you don’t necessarily have to buy a new seat every time your child out grows a stage. When possible car seats should be always used in the rear where they are safest. NEVER place a child in a car seat in a front seat where there is an airbag.

Stage One:

group 0 and 0+

Group 0 seats are suitable for infants up to 10 Kg (22 lbs) which is typically around age 6 – 9 months.

Group 0+ is the same as group 0 but is suitable for a bit more weight so may last few month longer. The age and weight recommendations for this group are 13Kg (29 lbs) which is typically to the age of 12 – 15 months.

Both groups are suitable from birth.

These are rear facing seats. It is advised that they be used in a rear seat whenever possible. While it maybe hard to hear your baby cry and not be able to reach over to them in the front, the safest placement really is in the back.

An infant should only be moved to a group 1 seat when they have either exceeded the weight limit or the top of their head is above the back of the seat.

Stage 2:

group 0

Group 1 seats are suitable for children 9 – 18 Kg (20-40lbs) which is typically between the ages of 9 months up to 4 years old. So, choose wisely, this seat could be with you for a while.

These are forward facing seats. It is, however, still recommended that they be used in the rear seat whenever possible and NEVER in the front seat if there is an airbag.

Harnesses should always be checked and adjusted with growth to insure that the child can not slip out of the seat either through the legs or arms.

As with the group 0 and 0+ seats, a child should only be moved to the next stage when they have either exceeded the weight limit or the top of their head is above the back of the seat.

Stage 3 and 4:

group 2 and 3

These are grouped together because adjustments can be made to a group 2 seat to make it suitable for stage 4.

Group 2 seats are designed for children between 15 – 25 Kg (33 – 55 lbs) or approximately 4 to 6 years.

Group 3 seat are designed for children from 22 – 36 Kg (48 – 79 lbs) or approximately 6 to 11 years.

These seats are boosters seats. They are grouped together because group 2 seats can be converted to use when a group 3 seat is necessary. In many cases the back can be removed from the booster seat moving it from a group 2 to a group 3.

Boosters seats do not have a harness system. Instead they are designed for use with adult seat belts. When properly fitting the diagonal part of the seat belt should be across the chest and NOT across the neck.

Once again, as with all stages of car seats, a child should only be moved to the next stage when they have either exceeded the weight limit or the top of their head is above the back of the seat and it is always recommended that any car seat be used in the rear seat whenever possible and NEVER in the front seat if there is an airbag.

Do you want a car lease or a car purchase? This is the most important question, which needs answering, once you have decided to have a car. The biggest catch in the car industry is to be at the right place at the right time and get the best bargain. Some of the hottest automobiles are available at fabulously low prices for the right buyer. Try to be selective and trendy. Carry out some research on your own. The most important thing is to understand whether you need to purchase a car or not. If you want a car for keeps, then go for a purchase. If you have decided to keep a car only for a short period then it is better to opt for a car lease.

The first thing you need to understand is exactly what a car lease is. When you lease a car, it does not mean that you own the car. Rather, it is more like renting the car, although there are still many very important differences. For example, you still need to pay for the insurance on the car. This is critical because you need to carry full coverage on the car, including collision insurance, which serves to protect the risk of the owner of the car while you have it out on lease. This insurance is typically more than what you might normally have if you had purchased the car outright, so be sure to figure the cost of insurance into your overall cost of driving the car.

Like in every department of sale and purchase, there are some important details to look out for when you decide to take a car on lease. A car lease allows you to use a car for a given period; you do not become the owner of the automobile. You have to pay regularly for its use and maintain the automobile in top condition. The first thing to do is take a survey of the market and study the position of car loans, new car loan rates, the used car market and its prices. You can make use of the car loan calculator to find out the best choice for you.

Before entering a car lease, check for the upfront payment or down payment, if any. You pay this amount from your pocket as upfront payment when you sign for a car lease and pick up your car. You should think twice before signing a car lease with a down payment, because you forfeit this payment at the end of the lease. Therefore, look for a car lease without any down payment.

If you’ve ever wondered how to finance car, there are really only a few simple steps you have to follow. Car financing is very common since the average person doesn’t have several thousand dollars lying around to spend on buying a car outright. The car buying process is very simple once you know the basic format. When you follow these steps, you’ll be able the get the financing you need for the car that you want to buy.

1.Become familiar with your credit score
This is one of the most important steps in how to finance a car. Before you even think about borrowing money you need to know your credit score. Your credit score will let your lenders know your history with borrowing money. Frequently, there are mistakes on a credit report that will negatively influence your ability to get financing. Check your credit score and your credit report and correct any errors before you try to borrow.

2.Save a down payment
Your ability to borrow the money to pay your car is increased greatly if you place a down payment on your car. If you can manage a 20% down payment, your chances of borrowing will be very high. Even a 15% or 10% down payment can help lenders see that you are willing to put forth money to invest in yourself. Pick out your ideal car and start saving for a down payment. You’ll be rewarded with a better rate and lower payments on your auto loan.

3.Get pre-approved
Many people try to go to the dealership first and then get financing, but this is doing it all backwards. It’s much easier to shop for a car when you know exactly what kind of car you can afford. It’s very disappointing to have your heart set on a certain car, only to be told by your bank that you can’t afford it. In order to avoid this problem, why not secure the financing first? Most banks and lending institutions will arrange for you to get pre-approved for a certain amount. With this pre-approval, you’ll be free to shop for the type of car that you can afford or compare rates from other institutions.

4.Shop around for your car loan
Once you get pre-approved, you can use this rate to accurately evaluate other rates from sources online or other financial services in your area. You can compare rates by using a service like www.bankrate.com or visit other banks in your area. Shopping around can give you a better idea of the best deal for you. You may be able to find a source that has a lower APR or lower monthly payments than you were initially offered.

5.Purchase your car
After all this preparation, you can finally start shopping for your car. When you purchase your car, you’ll know that you’ve done all that you can to find the best rate. The next time you need a car you’ll know exactly

The reason anyone gets a car is to be able to get from point A to point B with as little hassle as possible. Sure, people could carpool or take the bus, but it’s so much more convenient to drive their own car. Well, it’s convenient when the car works, anyway. Cars have a way of breaking down at the most unexpected and inconvenient times. That’s why it’s important for drivers to recognize when there is something wrong with any part of their car. People need to realize when something is not right and take care of it right away. Read further to learn what the symptoms are when a drive shaft goes bad.

First, it’s important to know what a drive shaft is. It’s the rotating object or shaft that carries the power from the engine to the point of impact. Basically, it’s what helps your car to go from a stopped position to a go position. Without a proper functioning drive shaft, a car with its driver would not be able to go. Although, it usually doesn’t break all at once. Usually there are signs leading up to its complete and utter malfunction. These signs or symptoms, if caught early enough, can reduce the chances of a vehicle breaking down at the most inopportune time.

One of the first symptoms one might notice if their drive shaft is going bad might be the fact that there will be new vibrations when the car is in drive. These vibrations will be more noticeable than the regular hum of an engine. Every car vibrates, after all. It’s impossible not to with a running motor. The difference, though, is that it will feel significantly different than when it was working properly. These vibrations will be completely noticeable which means when anyone notices higher vibrations, they should check their universal joints and driveshafts to make certain they are in proper order.

The time when the symptoms will be the most noticeable is when one is accelerating in the first two gears. Typically, the vibrations will come from the rear end of the car as opposed to the front end. Many people reading this may be wondering how someone can possibly tell if the vibrations are coming from the front end or the back end. Basically, the vibrations will be so noticeable that it will not be hard to guess which direction they are coming from. Another symptom is often the passenger side especially will feel like it is continuously spinning out on gravel. Typically, these symptoms are most prevalent in the first and second gears. Be sure to get it checked out and taken care of as soon as possible to prevent any further damage.