The price of gas continues to climb, and with continued uncertainty in the Middle East, they will probably continue to do so. In California and elsewhere, prices for some grades of gas have long passed the previously unthinkable threshold of three pounds a gallon. Granted, that is lower than the inflation-adjusted prices of early 1981, but that doesn’t make anyone feel better when they’ve just paid nearly 100 to fill the tank of their sport utility vehicle.

In a previous article, we offered some solutions as to how the average consumer can either save on gas prices or use less gas. These tips included using credit cards with cashback rebates, keeping your car tuned and tires inflated, and keeping the car washed and waxed, which reduces drag. Here are a few additional tips which will help ease the strain of filling your tank.

Empty your trunk. Some people drive around with their trunks nearly full with things that just don’t need to be there. Sure, you need a jack and a spare, but do you really need a toolbox, golf clubs, and that pile of old clothes you’ve been meaning to drop off at the Salvation Army? Any extra weight you carry requires additional energy to make your car or SUV move. Lighten the load and your engine won’t work as hard or use as much fuel.

Drive efficiently. That means accelerating gradually, rather than speeding out of an intersection. Your car uses fuel more effectively when you gradually accelerate. Once you achieve your desired speed, keep it steady, using cruise control if you have it. Speeding up and slowing down only uses more gas.

Take mass transit. No, it isn’t sexy to take the bus to work, but it can save a lot of money if your commute is more than five miles or so. If you can’t take mass transit, you might consider a carpool.

Shift appropriately if you’re driving a car with a manual transmission. Shift at the factory recommended shift points, rather than running your tachometer all the way up before shifting. Your car runs best within a fairly narrow RPM range.

Each of these tips offers a small saving in fuel consumption. When combined with others, they add up and can produce significant savings. If you can increase your fuel consumption by just two miles per gallon, you can save 30-40 on a 1000-mile trip in your SUV. When you’re paying 3.09 per gallon, every penny counts.

Categories: Car Deals
26 Apr 2010

Buying a used car is quite an experience. The person who is planning to purchase a used car should have some knowledge about the cars, their value and negotiating skills to strike a deal as otherwise he or she will be taken for a ride by the used car dealers and other private car sellers. Buying a used car makes the buyer save lot of money as any car that grows older has a higher depreciation value even in a good condition. Also, the person can go for his dream car with a better performance and, safety features for a rock bottom price. Doing a little bit of research and checking with lot of car dealers will enable the purchaser buy a used car with the best deal possible.

Used cars can be bought from either car dealers or direct from the owners or from auctions made by government firms, or from police car auctions or repossessed cars can be bought from financial institutions.

It is good to buy used car from a car dealer or person who has good reputation and brand image in the automobile industry. There are many kinds of sources from which a used car can be purchased. All the avenues should be checked in order to strike the best deal. If the purchaser is very particular in getting a car of his choice, the car dealer can be informed about the required features of the car, make, model, color and willingness to pay to get a car of his choice. This will make the search easier for both the car dealer and the purchaser.

The working condition of the used car which is being purchased cannot be known just by seeing the car. It needs to be test driven to get the feel of the performance of the car on various road conditions and traffic.

The maintenance record of the used car needs to be checked thoroughly. If it is not available it can be got from the place where it is usually repaired or maintained to find any discrepancies. If the purchaser does not have enough knowledge about cars, help from a mechanic or person with sound knowledge on cars can be taken to inspect the car while purchasing a used car.

Internet is a good source of information regarding used cars and help from people who have purchased used cars can be asked for guidance on making the best deal. The best tips are that the car is not purchased on the same day of enquiry. Enough time should be taken to look around for best used cars and also negotiations will only happen if the purchaser shows interest in buying and keeping the decision open for some time.

It is not advised to ask for a monthly payment plan for buying the used car, as many dealers make up the cost and will give a very attractive plan but the buyer may end up with huge costs on purchasing the car. The interest rates they charge, the term for repaying the amount, all kinds of fees and the overall cost can all be manipulated. Hence all the details possible should be gathered and checked to find out how much it would cost at the end of the purchase.

Categories: Car Deals
19 Apr 2010

When you are ready to invest in a turbo kit, you want to be confident that you are getting all the parts and components you need to give your ride the power youve been craving. It is natural that you have a lot of questions and could use some direction when its time to make your purchase. Thats where EPS Turbos comes inread on for the top five tips on buying a turbo kit that will provide you with all that youre looking for.

No. 1Is It All There?

Check to make sure that all the parts, fittings, clamps, silicone hoses, and fuel and timing management components are included, in addition to the major components. In short, verify that this is a complete kit that contains everything you will need to correctly install it.

No. 2Its All Ball Bearings

Find a kit with a ball bearing turbo, which is much more durable and exhibits more longevity than a standard thrust bearing turbo. BB turbos reduce the spool time of the turbo as well, resulting in less turbo lag. Ceramic ball bearings are rated indestructible and dont retain heat, making them the most common types. Ball bearing turbos are generally accepted as the industry standard for strong, long-lasting turbos.

No. 3Nothings Cooler than an Intercooler

Ensure that your kit includes an intercooler. Since most turbo kits run in a range of forced induction between 6 and 9 psi and are powered by spent exhaust gasses, most generate an enormous amount of heated air. The intercooler uses the ambient air being forced at the car while driving to cool this heated air produced by the turbo. Cooled air becomes compressed, and the more air kept at the same relative PSI, the more can be forced into the motor. Keeping the motor cooler makes it not only more efficient and safebut also provides more power.

No. 4Do Your System a Favor with a Blow-Off Valve

A blow-off valve should also be included in your turbo kit. This valve expels the unused air that is caught in the charge pipe in between shifts or when idling down. This will allow the air that is being forced into the motor from the turbo to be caught in the charge pipe when the throttle body closes. Rather than the air traveling back to the turbo and potentially causing damage, the air is expelled through a valve into the atmosphere. The blow-off valve thus clears the system and prepares it for the next charge of air.

No. 5Im Not Paying for That!

Turbos are high-stress components, so it is crucial that you are covered in the event of malfunctions. From oiling problems to installation errors, components can be placed in jeopardy. You dont want to spend more of your hard-earned money to replace components, so a strong warranty can offer you the peace of mind of knowing that your investment is covered. Unfortunately, very few turbo companies offer warrantiesespecially on turbosbut if you look hard enough, you can find some, such as Turbonetics.

Categories: Car Deals
12 Apr 2010

The Spokane used car market has grown and evolved and now it is very competitive and filled with tempting offers and deals. The car prices have softened but the market remained strong. People are very attracted to the fact that by paying the same amount of money as or a new car with no accessories they can purchase a Spokane used car with everything tons of options. Buying a used car has now become a safe investment.

Now with the development of the Internet, the used car market of Northwest has grown to a larger extent, and people can browse between many cars without even leaving the house.

You can find sites that specialize in Spokane used cars with lots of offers and deals. You can find the lowest prices on these sites together with pictures and information about the cars available. After deciding upon the car that best fits your needs you can contact the site’s owners via email or telephone and discuss the deal further.

If you intend to purchase a used car you must do some verifications in order to make sure that you found a good deal indeed. Among these you should:

-Take the car on a drive test. The best thing would be, if the owner agrees, to take the car to an authorized mechanic to check if everything works fine under the hood.

-Do not go for the first offer that you find attractive. If you found a car that you like, check the prices of the car at other dealers and see how they compare to the price that you found.

-Try to find out some information about the car’s past. See if the car was ‘treated’ properly by its former owner, if it has been involved in an accident or if it was ever flooded. Its condition tells much about its past in most cases.

You can find a large number of spokane used cars because the used cars market in the northwest is continuously expanding, so if you want to find the best deals and cars try browsing the Internet. You will discover that it is the easiest way of finding the spokane used car that you need!

Categories: Car Deals
5 Apr 2010