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For the past several months news reports have been focusing on the declining fortunes of the worlds largest automaker, General Motors, as well as on the rise of Toyota to pre-eminence. Many are predicting that this will be the year that Toyota overtakes General Motors in sales while others are expressing caution regarding this assessment. Does it really matter who is number one? In many ways it does. Lets examine the fortunes of the Top Two to determine whether Toyotas quest to overtake General Motors will happen this year.

So, why does it matter who is the top selling automaker in the world? In one word: prestige. Being number one in any category tells consumers that you are at the top of your game. No, there isnt anything wrong with being number two just ask Avis but saying that we try harder doesnt equate into being number one no matter how cute your commercials may be.

General Motors decline combined with Toyotas ascension is remarkable. At one time, General Motors produced well over half of all vehicles sold in the U.S. Today, that number is down to about 25% and falling. Toyota, on the other hand, has gone from being the maker of poor quality cars to being a manufacturer that everyone points to when building their vehicles. A true benchmark in an industry overloaded with manufacturers.

Originally, many thought that the Toyota ascension would not occur before 2010, if ever. Although General Motors is losing market share, it does have a strong presence elsewhere especially in China where it is the number one automaker and double digit sales growth from year to year is common. Thus, the overseas market has been what has kept GM strong.

GMs home market though may be what causes the capitulation. With planned layoffs and plant closings in progress, GM is dumping excess capacity in favor of anticipated need. Toyota, on the other hand, cannot keep up with capacity as demand for its three lines of vehicles – Toyota, Lexus, and Scion – continue to drive growth. Indeed, if there is factory space available, Toyota will use it to produce more vehicles. So, the prediction for Toyota overtaking GM is based largely on available capacity and demand.

Toyota, however isnt about to claim the #1 position so easily. In 2005, General Motors sold the most cars that it has since 1978, so things are not as gloomy as thought when looking at the company from a global perspective. Growth in China, capacity through its Korean subsidiary Daewoo, and renewed interest in several new or modified home grown models may stem the bleeding. Some are thinking that GM has cut back as far as it needs to go and with new models online including pick up trucks, SUVs, the Saturn SKY and Aura, and others GM may be poised for a surge in sales.

None of us can predict the future, but it does show us one thing: the battle for automotive pre-eminence will only grow stronger and neither automaker can afford to take anything for granted. For consumers just like you, you stand to benefit as quality improvements and pricing strategies give you the best bang for the buck.

With gas prices on the rise, there is no better time than now to think about vehicle maintenance.

“Proper car care is critical during the travel season,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “With gas prices exceeding an average 2 per gallon for the first time in history, performing a few basic, inexpensive maintenance checks will make road trips both safe and fuel efficient.”

In light of the higher gasoline prices, the Car Care Council suggests you pay attention to these items:

* Vehicle gas caps. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.

* Underinflated tires. When tires aren’t inflated properly, it’s just as though you are driving with the parking brake on, which can cost you a mile or two per gallon.

* Worn spark plugs. A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.

* Dirty air filters. An air

filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a “rich” mixture – too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 15 cents per gallon.

Here are some fuel-saving driving tips from the Car Care Council:

* Don’t be an aggressive driver. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which wastes 7 cents to 49 cents per gallon.

* Avoid excessive idling. Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.

* Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mile driven over 60 mph will result in an additional cost of 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, use cruise control.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” campaign, educating consumers about the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance and repair.

As new vehicle models make their way out of the factories and into dealerships, many customers will look to trade in or resell their current cars.

There are numerous factors that determine a vehicle’s resale value, such as the make and model of the vehicle as well as its age, mileage and overall condition. Although a large portion of the resale value is predetermined, car owners can increase the value by taking proper care of the vehicle to keep it in its optimum condition.

The service specialists at Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge provide the following tips to help car owners prepare their vehicles for resale or trade-in:

* Have all ownership materials. The documentation that accompanied the vehicle when first purchased is a key component in resale value. Ownership materials include the warranty manual and owner’s manual. It also is important to have the spare key and, when applicable, the convertible top boot cover.

* Look under the hood and fill all fluids. These include brake fluid, power steering fluid and wiper fluid, along with oil, coolant and antifreeze.

* Do basic operational checks. First, check the dashboard to see if any warning lights are lit and address any indicated problems. Second, make sure all lights, locks, windows, wipers, turn signals, the trunk release, mirrors, seat belts, defrosters, the horn, air conditioning and heat systems and seat adjusters work. Accessories that were purchased with the vehicle, such as heated seats or a sunroof, should also be in working order.

* Conduct your own road test. Make sure the vehicle easily starts and the gear selector functions properly. Also, check steering performance and make sure that the cruise control, overdrive, gauges and sound system are in tip-top shape. Finally, check to see if the acceleration and brakes are operating effectively.

* Check for leaks. Inspect under the hood for any dramatic decreases in fluid levels.

* Evaluate overall appearance. Externally, check for dents and scratches, ensure all the wheels match and are filled, and remove any decals and stickers. Internally, clean the floors, mats and seats, along with the panels and dashboard. Remove all personal items from the glove compartment and trunk. Finally, have your vehicle professionally washed and detailed prior to having the resale value evaluation.

And lastly, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge specialists recommend regular service and maintenance checkups by certified automotive experts throughout your vehicle’s life. Although your dealership should keep a detailed history of your vehicle on file, keep your own record of all checkups and maintenance performed on your vehicle in a logbook to demonstrate that proper care was provided. – NU

If you’re like many people with their own car, you no doubt like to personalize certain aspects of it’s interior or exterior from time to time. From after-market alloy wheels to designer seat covers, personalization is something that most car owners do at some point to stamp their personality on their car and make it their own.

One of the most popular ways to tailor your cars specification to your driving and personal style is to add or customize the in-car audio system. Whether it is a new car or one bought second hand, many people make the decision to personalize the audio components in their car to reflect their personal tastes and enhance the quality of the music experience where possible. From simply adding a CD player to completely upgrading the sound system to a DVD audio visual entertainment package, there are a variety of options for most tastes and budgets.

Whilst there are numerous retail stores both on and off line that sell vast ranges of car audio equipment, to get the best value for your money, you may want to consider purchasing wholesale car audio equipment. Many people may believe that buying car audio products wholesale requires buying in quantity, but this is not always true. Through car audio wholesale companies you are able to purchase different car audio components to allow your car audio system perform at its maximum potential.

Unless you have purchased defective parts or just simply ordered the wrong parts for your audio system model, you shouldn’t have any problems. To prevent this, ensure you have the precise specifications of your existing audio system together with exact details of any add-on components you wish to fit. Following this one very simple step will ensure that you receive the components that are right and compatible for your car audio system first time.

When looking to purchase car audio equipment from wholesale suppliers, a few things you may want to check on is the warranties or guarantees that are available as well as the exchange policy. This information can save you wasted time and money if you purchase defective parts or ones that are not compatible with your car or model of audio system.

Once you have received your car audio components all you need to do is have them installed correctly into your audio system. If you have the technical expertise to fit audio components you will save money and be sure of a good job but, first ensure that you are not invalidating any warranties by customizing the system yourself. Some manufacturers require that systems are fitted professionally to maintain the standard warranties. So to get the maximum potential from your customized system it is essential that they are installed correctly.

After the components are installed check out the performance of your newly personalized audio system, if results are satisfactory, you can add the car audio wholesale dealer to your list of reliable car audio dealers for any future improvements you might make.