• Imagen 1 Start Restoring Classic Cars For Fun And Profit
    If you are extremely interested in popular models of vintage vehicles, restoring classic cars for fun and profit might be a hobby you want to consider. There are many models of antique cars to consider, but the parts can be difficult to find.

Car History

The history of cars goes way back, more than you would probably imagine. Of course the first car ever was nothing like the cars of today. For the most of early car, sources are so poor we can't even say for sure if they worked. So the first two cars are not confirmed but the general consent about the first car in the car history exists. In 1672 Ferdinand Verbiest builds the first steam powered car.


It took a long time for the next major breakthrough to occur. In 1806 Isaac de Rivaz makes first internal combustion engine. And almost a whole century later, in 1881 Gustave Trouvé builds a working three wheeled automobile that runs on internal combustion engine. From then on, car history and car development stepped up a bit.


In 1885 one of the "legends" from the car history first made appearance. Karl Benz built his first car and in In the next 8 years he sold 25 cars. This is also the time when Daimler and Maybach started their car bussines.


In 1893 Karl Benz makes first four-stroke engine and four years later Rudolf Diesel builds the first diesel engine. In 1902 Daimler and Maybach produce first car under the name Mercedes. This is also the year when the first Oldsmobile is produced.


Oldsmobile was the first car manufacturer in the car history to use some sort of assembly line in car production. This line was later improved to the max by Henry Ford. In 1914 Ford car came off the line every three minutes! By the 1930 most of the car companies that did not have production-line manufacturing disappeared. This was the end of the first era in the car history.

Car Reliability Rankings 2010 - The Best Small Cars

One of the most important criteria, if not the most important criterion, of automobile quality is reliability, that is, infrequency of serious problems, as few people want the annoyance, inconvenience, and expense of dealing with such problems. This article provides lists employing this criterion that will help guide consumers to the best small cars on the U.S. new and used car market.


The lists in this article include automobile models that are 180 inches (457.2 centimeters) or shorter in length. They include sedans, coupes, convertibles, hatchbacks, and wagons, but do not include sport cars. They also exclude those models with only a one-year data history, as a one-year data history may provide a poor guide of what a consumer may anticipate for more than one year.


The first list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 0-to-4 years. These small cars are:


The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a 2010 0-to-4-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xD, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Insight, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion tC, a coupe with a GPA of 3.75,
The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The non-turbo Subaru Impreza Wagon, with a GPA of 3.50,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 3.33,
The Ford Focus Sedan, with a GPA of 3.25,
The Hyundai Elantra, a sedan or wagon with a GPA of 3.25.


Of these 16, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 8 (50%), Honda Motor Company accounts for 4 (25%), and Volkswagen AG, Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division, Ford Motor Company, and Hyundai Motor Company each account for 1.


The second list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 2-to-6 years. These small cars are:


The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a 2010 2-to-6-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.75,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300,IS350, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 3.50,
General Motors Corporation's Pontiac Vibe (a Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), a wagon with a GPA of 3.50,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion tC, a coupe with a GPA of 3.33,
The non-turbo Subaru Impreza Wagon, with a GPA of 3.25.


Of these 15, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 10 (67%) (including the Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (20%), and Volkswagen AG and Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru division each account for 1.


The third list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 4-to-8 years. These small cars are:


The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a 2010 4-to-8-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 4.00,
General Motors Corporation's Pontiac Vibe (a Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), a wagon with a GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
The Honda Civic Hybrid, a sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.50,
The Honda Civic Si, a sedan with a GPA of 3.50,
The Toyota Matrix, a wagon with a GPA of 3.33,
The Mitsubishi Lancer, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.33.


Of these 12, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 8 (50%) (including the Toyota-engineered product marketed by GM), Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (25%), and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation accounts for 1.


The fourth list gives those small car models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 6-to-10 years. These venerable, durable small cars are:


The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a 2010 6-to-10-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with a GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with a GPA of 3.75,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback and sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
The Honda Civic Si, a coupe and sedan with a GPA of 3.67,
The Honda Insight, a 2-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 3.50.


Of these 7, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (57%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (43%).


The final list gives those small cars with at least a 5-year data history which have achieved a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for all of their age ranges offering data. These both meritorious and venerable small cars, together with their overall 2010 GPA, are:


The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with an overall GPA of 4.00,
The Toyota Corolla, a sedan with an overall GPA of 3.81,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xB, a wagon with an overall GPA of 3.78,
The Honda Civic Sedan, with an overall GPA of 3.75.


Of these 5, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (80%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 1 (20%).


James Bleeker has a B.A. from Carleton College in mathematics, a J.D. from Northwestern University, and an M.S. from the University of Minnesota in mathematics. He has practiced law, and taught Introductory Statistics, Calculus III, Business Calculus, Finite Math, College Algebra, Introductory and Intermediate Algebra and Foundations at various universities and colleges. He currently has two websites - Auto on Info at http://www.autooninfo.net/ and Cars on Info at http://carsoninfo.net/ - which provide detailed auto quality information for cars and trucks sold in North America. For much of the 2000s, AutoOnInfo.net has been the dominant provider of auto reliability and durability information, some of it gathered from its own online surveys and questionnaires.

Car Interior Repair

A new car does not need any car interior repair but as it grows older, you will need to pay special attention. The dashboard, leather items, carpets, seat covers, door panels, etc. need to be either replaced or repaired.


Start the car interior repair from painting the dashboard. First of all, remove all the parts that you can and wash them in warm water with dish soap added to it. Use a soft cloth to clean the other interior parts such as steering wheel, door panels, dashboard, etc. Cover the other areas then rub the plastic parts and affected area with a fine-grade sand paper. Again clean up and apply good quality of primer on the areas you want to paint. Allow to dry and finally apply the proper re-paint color that is specially designed for your car type. A vinyl repair kit is the best option or dash cover is good choice in case of ample damage. Many dash covers are available that can match the carpet color in your car.


The loose headliner at times may be irritating and awkward. The fabric headliners in old cars were not a big problem, but the flabby headliner in modern cars may be disturbing at times specially while driving the car. If not repairable you need to change the whole set and it might cost you a big amount if done from a specialist. The headliner material and replacement kits are easily available in the market and you can easily fix the problem without hiring the professional.


The carpets in your car play an important role in car interior repair. The faded and damaged carpets in your car give a dull feeling inside the car. Replacing the whole carpet on your own can be a good option. Its easy job and many replacement carpets are available in the market that will perfectly fit your car model. You just need to remove the seats, door still plates, center console, and seat belts. The old carpet can be easily removed if not pasted originally. If bonded with some material it may take some time. Finally clean up the floor surface and install the new carpet. You can even follow the detail instructions in the manual provided while buying the carpet.


The car interior repair is incomplete without repairing the damaged leather seat covers. If the tear is small, the vinyl sealant can simply do the job. A vinyl repair kit is available for larger tear. These kits are provided with filler paste in a variety of colors that can match your interior. Also, you have the option of fabric repair kits for small holes in your seat cover. Protecting your seats is vital because it plays a major role while selling the car. The impressive and well-maintained seat covers can always add a great value to your car.


It is not always the case that you need a professional to do the car interior repair. The minor problems can be solved on your own. All types of company kits and manuals are available in the market. Well, one thing is sure the minor problem is the cause of major difficulty in future. Hence, it is important to detect them and repair in the first stage itself.

Get Paid to Advertise on Your Car

Car advertising becomes more and more popular by day and, nowadays, more than 2 million people advertise on their car.


The concept this kind of programs are based on is not hard to understand. Companies looking for profit use a lot of marketing methods to promote their services or products. One of these methods is car wrap advertising or, in other words, paying regular people to drive their cars with an advertisement on.


For people that do not own a car to advertise with, there are companies giving away free cars, already wrapped in advertisements. Most of these will allow you to drive the car anywhere between 2 and 5 years, after which the contract expires and you can decide whether you want to get another car or not. Using this method, though, you will not be able to get paid to advertise on car anymore.


Of course, what sounds too good to be true usually is. Well, kind of...


The "catch" is that, in order to get paid to advertise on a car, you have to drive your car almost every day or a certain number of kilometers per month and park it somewhere it can be easily seen by other people. Therefor, you cannot abandon your car in the garage and just wait for the money to roll in.


Speaking of money, the average "salary" received by someone who signed up with a good car advertising agency is somewhere between $400 and $600 a month. I am saying a "good car advertising agency" because there are a lot of scam companies out there that will never pay you.


I myself was lucky enough to register with a good company and now I get paid to advertise on car about $700 a month. For this money, I drive about 200 kilometers a month and chose to have 3/4 of my car wrapped in advertisements.

Car Donation Companies

Car donation involves collecting old cars from donors and donating them to charity institutions that need donations. Car donation companies are basically intermediaries or links between the donors and the people who are ultimately benefited due to these donations. They help in funding public charities. Certain companies help even those organizations, which do not have their own charity programs. The car donation companies can auction the donated car in the market and the money so collected is handed over to charities or the car can be used by the charity organization. Either way the main objective of these companies is to facilitate development programs to meet all material and spiritual needs of the underprivileged.


There are a number of companies worldwide which help a donor donate his car with the least amount of trouble. The donor can either call these organizations on their toll free number or he can donate by filling an online application form. American Red Cross of Central New Jersey is one such car donation company. Charity Auto Donations and The New Community Corporation are other such car donation companies. The donor is relieved of all the difficulties that come along with donation. The car donation company arranges for the pick up of the donated car. It is towed away free of charge by a reliable and licensed towing company. This is done at a time and place convenient to the donor. Some companies arrange for towing even if the donor is in another state. The title to the car is required when donating but if it is not available, the company again makes some arrangement for this. Companies also help in estimating the value of the car after all the necessary information is furnished to them regarding the condition, make, and mileage of the car.


Car donation companies assist the donors with all the paper work involved in the donation. Donation of an old undrivable car is a hassle free solution to get rid of the car and at the same time do some good by helping someone.

Car Logos

A car logo is a symbol or text that represents the identity of a particular type of car. Today, the car market is flooded with different brands and models. Car logos will help you to distinguish one brand from another. Logos serve as unique visual marks of identity of a company. They help companies gain product recognition in the world market. In general, logos reflect the individuality of the company. Logos should be simple and thoughtfully designed to appeal the target customer. As cars are speed lovers? vehicles, their logo should have a strong virile look.


Commonly, three types of car logos are used - symbol logo, text logo, and combination logo. In symbol logos, special designs or symbols are used to represent the brand. Popular car companies like Citroen, Ferrari, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Renault, Porsche, Subaru, and Koenigsegg have symbols for their logos. These symbols have ingrained deep into people?s mind all over the world. In text logos, the initials or the names of the companies are written in a particular style. Text logos are used by many famous car companies such as Fiat, Mazda, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Combination logo is a blend of symbols and texts. They place symbols and text in juxtaposition to make memorable logos. Popular car brands like Alfa Romeo, Audi, Maserati, Skoda, Lamborghini, Panoz, Cizeta, Lotus, Rover, and BMW make effective use of symbol-text combinations.


Car logos come in different shapes, sizes and colors. Car logo stickers are used as fundraisers for clubs, schools, or teams. Today, car logos appear even on t-shirts, caps, bags and other accessories. A gift item printed with car logos can make a great gift to any speed lover.

Buy a Car With Bad Credit With No Money Down

You've got bad credit and dealer after dealer is wanting money down. To buy a car with bad credit, with no money down, you need to know a few things.

First, there are only two reasons that a dealer would want a down payment...

The most common reason is because it adds profit to the sale. The other less common reason is because it's needed to lower the total amount financed for approval by the lender.  Trying to figure out which is the real motivation to pressuring you for cash is a little difficult so long as, you are depending on the dealer to get you approved.

Most people think that if they have bad credit, they have to use the financing offered through the car dealership. After all, the local bank won't give you a loan right? This is a common mistake that can cost you thousands of dollars in outrageous finance charges.

Let me fill you in on a little BIG secret...

Car dealerships mark up the price of the car. Everyone knows that. Did you know that they ALSO mark up the interest rate? Yes, they do. They submit your credit application to lenders. The lender responds with an offer. Let's say that they approve you for a rate of 9%. Guess what? The dealer, knowing that you know you have bad credit will try to convince you that you are approved at 12%. The 3% difference becomes nothing more than profit that the finance manager gets paid a commission on. Guess you pays for it... you. Your payments go up 10, 20, 30, 50 or even $100.00 per month simply because the dealership marked up the interest rate.

The truth is this. You can buy a car with bad credit with no down payment and also with lower interest rates by simply avoiding the dealer finance department altogether. If you know where to look and prearrange your financing (yes it's done everyday), then you can have the confidence to walk into a dealership, pick out the car of your choice based on the amount the finance company preapproves you for and had the dealer a check. This puts the power of negotiating price in your favor.

Car dealers will be jumping over backwards for your business.


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Car Polish to Keep That Sparkle - A Primer

Every car owners enjoys the look of his brand new car. However, such a joy is short-lived as within no time the paintwork becomes scratched, stained with oil marks and dust. Ageing of the exterior paint is a natural process that gives a dull look for the car. Application of polish helps restore shine to your car as also give it a bright look. To do that, the car polish has to have some essential ingredients which work hard to remove dust; grime and oil as also remove the minor scratches that develop.


It is critical that one understands the difference between a car polish and a car wax. Normal wax gives a water protective layer and a shiny finish. It does not remove scratches as car waxes usually do not have abrasive agents. Abrasive ingredients present in the composition of polish helps remove scratches. Car polish has hydrocarbon solvents that help remove dust, grime and oil marks, and scratch marks are taken care of by the abrasive elements in the polish. Abrasive ingredients works by removing a thin layer of paint, only a few microns thick. Since only a very thin layer is removed, the paint now starts looking brand new.


However, this new look does not yet have the 'shine' due to the abrasion carried out. Including wax ingredient in the polish gives the burnished effect. Car polish comes in different varieties. Water solvent polishing agents based car polish is one of the types. Automatic car wash systems use aqueous dispersion car polish. Silicone based solutions are most popular variety with car owners. Silicone base ensures that the car gets a shiny look. Silicone carries out three functions in a car polish, namely of acting as a water repellant, lubricant and giving the car a good shine.


Car polish comes in various forms - in tins as a liquid, or even as a spray. Aerospace technology used by NASA has also been incorporated to produce patented car polish. Their sprays are based on "Electrophoresis Dynamics" wherein the ingredients on following a strict application procedure meld very close to the paint surface after the abrading and cleaning process is over. The paint ingredients and the metal of the car are bonded tightly on account of magnetic attraction for a long time. Any car polish application process is hard work, whether by using your own hands or by using car polishing automated tools. Polishing a car is a three-step process of polishing with hard, medium and soft pressure. Car polish is essential for the upkeep of a car and not another optional item.

The History of Classic Toy Cars and Trucks

Nearly every child in America grows up surrounded by Hot Wheels, Big Wheels, and a variety of toy cars and trucks. There's something about cars that makes things that are transportation-related a natural choice for children. Kids can spend hours zooming little metal cars across the floor - which is probably the reason that there is such a wide range of miniature vehicles available for children of all ages.


You may remember the Big Wheel from your own childhood. This plastic tricycle, with one large wheel and two smaller ones, was introduced by the Marx toy company in 1969, and was wildly popular throughout the 1970s. Known for its low cost and because its design positioned riders closer to the ground, which was said to be a safer alternative to traditional trikes or bicycles, its iconic shape has made an appearance in a number of movies, including The Shining. The Big Wheel lasted until the 1980s. It has recently made a comeback; since 2003 the Big Wheel has again been available on store shelves.


At the same time as the Big Wheel tricycle was becoming popular, both Matchbox and Hot Wheel cars were coming into vogue. These small diecast metal cars, often based on real car designs, have wheels that turn and colorful paint jobs, making them perfect for kids. Matchbox cars were introduced by Lesney in 1953, while Hot Wheels, their Mattel-owned main competitor, began production in 1968.


Pedal cars predate these versions of transportation toys by about 100 years. The very first pedal cars were handmade wooden toys created at the end of the 1800s, as real cars were first introduced. In both the 1930s and the 1950s, metal-bodied versions became quite popular. Modeled after the real cars then seen on the roads, these toys allow children to "drive" the sidewalks, just like an adult in a real car. Like Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, this iconic toy remains popular today, both with a new generation of children and with adult collectors.


Trains and model train sets have also been popular toys for both children and adult collectors. Like the creation of pedal cars, the idea of model trains took off nearly as soon as the first real trains began to operate. Throughout the years, incarnations of this idea have varied in degree of intricacy from Thomas the Train for preschoolers through highly detailed model trains created to the exact specifications of a real train. Names like Lionel, American Flyer, and Marx are synonymous with the toy trains that collectors covet. Besides the adult collector market, such toy trains have also become staples in the toyboxes of countless children, with tracks allowing kids to use their imagination to create their own train set-ups.


Whether you're a collector, you remember playing with toy cars as a child, or your own child's toybox is filled with these toys, you undoubtedly realize that transportation toys are a huge part of the American childhood, and one that's likely to persist for many more generations.

Classic Cars - Elegant, Stylish, And Oh So Sweeeet

Classic cars are one of the most collected and coveted items in the market today. And they should be: vintage automobiles are not only great pieces of art; they could also be fully functional. Road-driven classic vehicles may even be more scene-stealing than brand-spanking-new sports cars. If you have already seen a fully restored and shiny Shelby GT-350H or a 60's Thunderbird on the road, you probably know what I'm talking about.


What is a Classic, Anyway?


The definition of what is a classic car is often contested. The Classic Car Club of America indicates that the last year for the 'authentic' classics is 1948. Still, other experts maintain that the term classic is applicable to all cars that are 12-years old or older.


Some would even create a classification. A popular one is as follows: 'antique' for automobiles manufactured from the very beginning of car production up to 1916; 'vintage' for vehicles manufactured from 1916 to 1924; and 'classic' for those made in 1924 up to the not-so-far past.


I would not take a stand as to what the proper definition of a classic car is. Let's leave that to car philosophers and historians (or for a more proper term, car geeks). There are many more exciting aspects about collecting classic cars that you should know.


Classic Cars Define Generations and Genres


If you are a fan of James Bond films, you might have been awed by the luxurious and sexy cars that Mr. Double-Oh-Seven has driven. From sleek Alfa Romeos to classy Aston Martins, the spy we all loved wouldn't be what he was without these cars.


And if you have eagerly followed Mr. Bond's pursuits, you can see that the cars he used are those that defined a certain era. You can see him use big cars with round edges during the 60's, long, pointed-edged cars during the 70's, and of course, macho black sports cars during our present day.


What made those cars cool wasn't because they are simply made 'cool.' It is because they carry with them great stories and pieces of history. That is also the reason why it is thrilling and fulfilling to own a classic car. And the feeling of fulfillment multiplies tenfold if you collect these cars. Wouldn't it be sweet to ride in wheels that a popular spy once drove?


Owning a Classic is No Picnic


But before you head off and click your fingers away to the first site that offers classic cars for sale, be sure to know that with a great car comes great responsibility. Almost all of these classic cars are already used (and sometimes abused). It would be almost impossible to find one in a perfectly mint condition. What you will probably see are second-hand (and possibly even third- or fourth-hand) vehicles that may need a lot of work.


Keep in mind that owning or collecting classic cars does not stop at buying them. It is a must to invest some time and money in restoring a car back to its vintage beauty. Otherwise, it will just be another piece of junk lying in your garage.


Thus, you need to be prepared to submit that vehicle to a paint job, a car parts installation (seats, carpets, steering wheel, suspension...), and if you want to drive around, a good engine. And it won't stop there: classic cars need a lot of loving and care. You need to maintain its elegance by cleaning, waxing, and polishing it regularly.


It might be a little bit troublesome, but the rewards are great. Aside from having one great scene-stealer, a well-maintained classic car increases its value as time goes by. So once you are tired of riding that vintage Benz, you can sell it and gain profit. You won't have a hard time looking for buyers too, since there are tons of car collectors looking for a great deal.


There's a Classic Car Lover in All of Us


If you are a car lover, a sentimental generation and genre fan, or simply one who would like a cool ride, buying classic cars is your best choice. Not only do you get a moving, breathing, and funky piece of art, you also get a really valuable property. Buying, restoring, and maintaining a vintage car may be a daunting task, but it sure is worth it.

Affordable Government Used Cars - Buy Your Dream Car At Auctions

You allow yourself to commute daily in your hometown. You pay for fees for travel just to get to your office at a very slow rate. You bike yourself to your school only to find out you are late once again. You are missing something, don't you? You need a car! That's it; you are in need for speed and convenience from a car.

But, the problem is: how much will you pay? Will you rather lose thousands of dollars just to get the car of your dreams? Or just look for some auction houses where you will find cheaper models? The latter is better. In fact, there are now car auctions that hold some government-used cars for sale.

What is a government used car, anyway? This is a type of car once used by the government. It is now being replaced by a newer one that functions much better. This type of car is no longer needed so that there is no more space for it in the government's parking spaces. You can buy it for a much affordable price at government-sponsored auctions!

Where to find these auctions? You can locate them at various classified ads in the newspaper. You can also try to contact for some information from the local government organizations. Try to find their numbers at the yellow pages of your phone directory. Ask for the schedules and other important details. Try to find out what items you should bring. Ask for a brochure for the listings of the cars. You need them in studying the cars. Try to research on these cars on the internet to get a better view of them ahead.

Before auctioning, bring in a car specialist and/or a mechanic for the examination of the cars so that you would get to know whether the car is of good quality or not. Try to look for some hidden scratches and other abnormalities or imperfections the car should possess. This is very essential as there are neither warranties nor guarantees available. You may switch on the engine but never ever test-drive as it is not permitted.

You can jot down some options so you can bid more effectively. By having options, it will be easier for you to choose and to auction as you have narrowed down the choices. Furthermore, you cannot bid on something that is already sold. One thing to do is to rely on the substitutes you have recorded once your "favored" car has been selected.

Remember that these cars are owned previously by the government. Their prices may be lower than usual. Their bidding prices might start up at a hundred bucks or lower. But if with the presence of a massive crowd, prices may jack up higher than the car's fair market value. But if the price has gone too high, forget about it. There must be something else that is much better and more affordable.

If you have not auctioned yet, visit an auction first and observe the process. So you can gather basic knowledge for the actual auction. It is important for you to have a little artificial experience before so you can avoid mistakes and embarrassment in the real auction.

Once you have read this, you are now ready for the actual auction. Remember to stay ahead of time. Research, choose, and examine: these are the three things you need to remember!


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Cars of The Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift

The smash movie "The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift" hit the big screen around the world with a serious bang. It was definitely the head turning combination of action packed drifting, attractive girls and the hot collection of cars of The Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift that made it an instant hit.

Lets take a closer look at the cars of Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift.

Modified performance cars are seen throughout, from start to finish. There are anything from full Japanese drift cars ready for competition to the highest rank of show quality modified cars.

If memory serves me well, there were a couple of American muscle cars such as a Viper and and old ____ right at the start. Then shortly, the scenery moved to Japan where we were sprayed with all types of Japanese performance drift cars.

The cool thing about the movie was that the cars of The Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift actually held as much of an important role in the movie as the real human actors. The main character car and most memorable was the orange and black Rx7 FD with Veilside body kit. This was their cruise car they used to chase and be chased. It eventually ended up in a burning pile of rubble.

There there was the villain car, a black Nissan 350Z driven by the girls by the Japanese Mafia's nephew was out to show who was boss only to be beaten by a RB26 powered Mustang fastback.

And how could we forget the girl's car? The sky blue and black Mazda Rx8 driven by a high school girl played by actress Nathalie Kelley. Even though this was supposed to be the girls car, we can't say the Rx8 is 'girly'. Mazda Rx8's make great drift cars.

With an all-star cast of cars in The Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift movie, it's a must see for any drift racing and Japanese modified car fans.


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Classic And Muscle Cars

Classic cars are those which were produced or built between 1946 and 1985. Some qualities make a car a classic, such as having a power clutch, power brakes, automatic lubrication system, engine displacement or luxury accessories. Usually, these additions determine whether or not a car is classic. These cars were very highly priced because of their limited quantities. These cars are antique vehicles, which are made a minimum of twenty years prior to the current year. The billion dollar businessmen like to purchase such classical cars as luxury items. Some models include: Alfa Romeo, Du Pont, Triumph, Packard, Lincoln, B.M.W.


After the second World War, manufacturers of classic cars decided to change the styles and models and tried to make more improvements in the engines and other parts. In 1946, Kaiser-Frazer and Crosely made some changes, so all kinds of automobiles were developed, and new plans were made. Such cars were also use in old Hollywood movies. Some of these new additions included the removable trunk, headlights and other accessories. Classic muscle cars were low speed. There are some classic model cars that were never mass produced and are only shown at the classic cars shows. Some makers of classics introduced their new models in nineteenth century, such as Ford. This company is now making high-speed cars, which are famous all over the world.


In these types of cars, safety was usually not a priority. A driver of this type of car must be very careful while driving. Mostly, cars had no seat belts, crumple zones or rollover protection. Brake performance was also very poor as compare to the current standards. The driver had to control its speed. Sometimes, spare parts for classic cars were not available in every city. The driver had to find such spare parts in different cities. So, in many parts of United States, using classic cars for daily vehicles is strongly discouraged and is even prohibited in some places.


A Volvo Amazon is considered to be one of the best classic cars. In 1956, it was quite a piece of work. This company offered a good safety level on all of its cars. This model was the first car which had three seat-belts. The Volvo Amazon is still in use, which has proven that it is a very reliable car. Other accessories, like headlights, brakes, etc. were also available to replace any damaged parts. These qualities made the Volvo a great and successful car out of all of the classic cars. You can see its classic models in old cars museums.


Now, classic cars have antique value on the market. We can see them in large classic and old car museum. Such cars are also purchased for use in hobbies. The main important qualities for classic cars are their strong bodies and their strong engines, which last for a lifetime and never need repair. Also, other accessories like headlights and brakes etc are of the best quality manufactured.

Hybrid Cars Vs Gas Cars - Pros and Cons

Hybrid cars vs gas cars? The answer depends on your priorities.


Maybe you're tired of paying high prices at the gas pump or sending U.S. dollars to the Middle East. Perhaps you're concerned about the environment and the fact that oil is a depleting resource that shouldn't be wasted sitting in traffic jams.


Whatever your priorities, fuel economy is not the only factor to consider when looking at hybrid cars vs gas cars. To make a sound financial decision, you might also want to compare the purchase price, tax benefits, insurance, repairs and maintenance costs.


Starting with fuel economy, realize no one gets the numbers posted on new car window stickers. The average driver only gets about 75% of what's been promised.


And that includes hybrid cars. But hybrids still get much better mileage than conventional gasoline vehicles. Smaller four cylinder models are the only gas cars that come close to hybrids in fuel economy.


The hybrid, however, comes with a higher sticker price than similar gas models. Some are as much as several thousand dollars higher in cost. This extra cost is expected to come down in the near future as consumer demand increases and manufacturers achieve greater economy of scale.


Consumer advocate testing has shown that hybrid savings in fuel economy usually fails to offset the extra purchase price. But, for many buyers, federal and state tax benefits can help make up the difference.


Hybrid cars may also get relief on insurance costs too. Some automobile insurance carriers are now offering as much as 5% to 10% discounts on hybrid cars. Apparently, preliminary research has shown that hybrid car drivers make fewer insurance adjustment claims and that's being reflected in their premiums.


Another thing to consider is repair and maintenance. Some believe the new hybrid technology may be too sophisticated for local auto mechanics, requiring hybrid car owners to always return to the dealer for repair. But that's not just true for hybrids. As cars become more electronic, auto mechanics will need a degree in computer science to keep gas cars in tune too.


Hybrid car manufacturers, like Toyota, Honda and Ford, must feel confident about their cars because they offer at least 8 to 10 year warranties on hybrid-specific components. Toyota, for example, reports their battery pack will last for more than 180,000 miles. For the average driver that's over twelve years.


And, as far as maintenance is concerned, most hybrid components need no regular maintenance. Of course, you'll have to change the oil in the gas engine every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, just as you would in a conventional car.


One distinct advantage hybrids have is that you won't need to change your brake pads as often. Because of their regenerative braking technology, hybrid brake pads last much longer. Prius customers have reported driving as far as 85,000 miles without a replacement. The brake pads of most gas cars last only about 15,000 miles.


The bottom line for hybrid cars vs. gas cars gets down to your own personal priorities. But, there's one thing for sure, as consumer demand increases you're going to see more alternative car future choices at better prices.

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