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Planning on buying a new car ? With all the changes in the world and international financing your next automobile purchase may well lead you back to the world of leasing. Financing may be increasingly difficult to get but not perhaps a lease on the car where you lease or rent the car , pay regular payments and the ownership of the car remains in the hands of some or some corporate or financial owner.

Still there are pitfalls and common mistakes to avoid. What cards to play and tactics should a new car owner employ even if they know from the get go that leasing a vehicle s their best option by far.

First of all it’s best not to announce when shopping for a car that leasing is your preference. Why not leave all options on the table. First of all, who knows, the standard car payment purchase plans may be offered to you. Next you are in a better negotiating position overall to get the best deal. It’s always best to keep your cards close to your chest . Be careful that family members, along for the ride and purchase, do not let out privileged information inadvertently . Industry consultant Winnipeg based William Simpson pointed out that the automotive industry sharp salespeople will always be on the lookout for “Radio Moscow”.

Do your homework first and foremost. As a buyer or lessee you have a right to know the capitalized or “cap” cost. There is no way to calculate your “APR” or “Annual Purchase Rate” without this magic number. Insist that the vital cap cost be given and divulged to you. If not – then in this day and age there are plenty of other automotive dealers to buy or lease a vehicle from.

It is an interesting fact that many leased vehicle buyers are more than happy with their vehicle even after the covered time period. The car started new. You know its history and maintenance schedule and routine and any accident history since you are the original owner and driver. It’s not as if you had even purchased a one year vehicle from a dealership – which was most likely a drive rental vehicle and most likely will not have such a clear and known record. You may well decide to extend your lease period. Ask upfront about any lease extension terms, rates and additional add on costs or fees. You may not want to lock yourself in at the beginning for a very long term lease – yet if you are happy with the vehicle – then by extending the lease period you may find it a very easy and nice way to reduce your monthly payments , while driving a known and reliable vehicle that you still enjoy.

Lastly examine and take into account any assumptions that you may currently have of your driving habits. Not only with a newer or more reliable vehicle may you drive more or motor vacations that you may not of considered in the past but also there may be additional drivers that come onto the scene who would of not of been included before. Spouses or kids with driver licenses may well add miles to the vehicle on a regular ongoing basis that may not of been included in your or the leasing agent’s quick calculations when the whole deal is set up. Mileage over a given threshold may invoke not unsubstantial costs, fees and penalties.

In the end in shopping for a new vehicle – be it purchased outright, be bought on payments or leased it is always best to do careful and thorough homework and never be afraid to ask questions. Purchasing a vehicle is always a case of buyer beware and purchaser err on the side of caution.

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Classic cars for sale are big business these days. There is no shortage of unscrupulous people who will take your money and vanish!

To be a knowledgeable buyer, the biggest chunk of your time will be spent in what I call the homework or prep stage. Probably 70 percent of your time will be spent studying classic car sale information, researching, and consulting with trusted friends or experts as to the authenticity and details of the car. After you have done your homework, the rest is a simple buying transaction. The more prepared a buyer, the smoother and faster the transaction.

What this means is you will need to invest the necessary time and money to thoroughly research what you are buying. It is all about the preparation. The one thing that rings true is either you are going to spend the time or money to investigate your potential purchase or you hire an expert to handle the transaction for start to finish.

Three Tips to Prevent Classic Car Scams

1. Know What You Want to Purchase

The top details for clarity are knowing what you are looking for, how much you have to spend, and how far you are willing to travel. Buying a vintage classic or muscle car is an exercise in search and process of elimination. Think of yourself as a modern day Sherlock Holmes. There is no use in looking at a show car if you can realistically only afford a project car or a weekend cruiser.

Because the internet has made our world smaller, do not waste a buyer’s time if they live halfway across the country and you are only willing to buy locally.

Check the NADA price guide so you have a ballpark of what the car will cost depending on condition. If the deal is too good to be true, (Are you really going to buy a 1969 Camaro in great condition for $5000?) then it could be scam. If you contact the seller and they insist on wiring a deposit, then you will know for sure it is a scam. Guaranteed you will never see the cash again!

2. Research Your Vehicle

Buying a classic car has become serious business. Classic cars for sale are now selling for what I paid for my first house. Would you buy a house with out having a house inspection? Probably not. The same goes with buying a muscle car for sale. Do your research. Get as much information as you can about the make, model, and year, and options of the car. The more educated you are about the car, the better you can negotiate if needed. And it also indicates to the seller that you know what you are talking about.

The internet makes it easy to do research. Join a forum that is focused on the type of car you are looking to buy. I know serious car collectors who will not buy a car unless they bring in an expert or guru to look at it first. If it is good enough for them, it is probably an idea you may want to consider. There nothing wrong about not knowing everything about a car. You definitely want to avoid paying for what looks like a highly desirable car only to find out that it is a clone.

Many people have saved themselves thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars just by paying an expert to inspect and document a car. If the car is extremely desirable and rare, the old adage of you can pay me now, or you can pay me later applies. Either hire an expert, or talk with someone you trust who can help you look at the car. Online car forums and clubs are great resources for this type of information.

3) Make Sure All Your Questions Get Answered

Do not be afraid to ask questions. Having clarity gives you the confidence to make a buying decision. This serves many purposes. Before you physically look at the car, contact the seller and ask the important questions.

Here are a number of key questions to ask the seller even if the details are not mentioned in the ad (This can double check the seller’s credibility that they really do know the details about their car). I find asking questions in categories is useful in organizing the information.

Engine, Drive Train, Options

* What is original to the car? (Engine, transmission, differential)

* Drive train specs (hp, engine size, rear axle ratio, transmission type)

* Options - A/C PS, PB, Vinyl roof, trim packages

* How does it run?

Body and Interior

* Interior color and condition?

* Body panels original, any accidents, frame damage, paint and body panel condition?

* Currently inspected and roadworthy or project restoration car?

* Mileage and any known mechanical problems?

Title and Price

* Does the car have a “clean” title?

* What is the asking price or at least a ballpark figure

How does it look?

* Can you get detailed digital pictures? If so, get A LOT so you can see every detail.

* Send to experts or post on a forum for opinions. The seller may think the car is all original, but may not know. An expert can spot the obvious.

Logistics

* Will they allow you to bring in an expert, or independent third party to

inspect and verify the car (If not, RUN from the deal. Do not walk)?

* Is there a place locally where you could arrange to put the car up on

a lift and do a visual and physical inspection?

This may sound like a lot of work, but it is fundamental for a solid transaction where you get exactly what you want.

The best piece of advice I can offer is to remember you are in control of the

transaction. If there is something that does not feel right about the car or the seller or anything related to the transaction, let it go. This includes being pressured by a seller to make a quick decision. If a deal is going to work, it needs to be natural and a win-win situation for both parties. There is normally something fishy going on, if a seller starts to hard close a deal. There is no use in trying to force a deal to work from either party.

Your Dream Car Finder makes finding, authenticating and delivering your dream car easy!

Tim Leary is a serial car nut and likes nothing better to help someone find their life-long classic dream car. http://www.yourdreamcarfinder.com

With prices hitting the silly season about 18 months before every bubble was burst, the LAST thing you want to do is leave money on the table.

You would think with all the sources of information, it would be easy. After all, if you want to sell your house now, you can get comps from the MLS from any realtor.

Some sellers have not gotten reality and are trying to recoup losses by keeping prices high while others forced to fire sale their cars to cash buyers who can move fast.

There is not just one method in my opinion. In order to get the right range, you need to triangulate on a price using several data points.

Go to the traditional sources to get a ball park (many are listed below). I use the NADA guidelines for starters, and then check out Manheim-Gold and Hemmings.

Prepare for shock at times because the estimated prices can vary. For example, a recent search for a 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible, original, matching numbers, standard options ranged in Excellent condition from $44K to $99K! And Excellent did not mean #1, show quality where the car is never driven, just stored in a climate controlled environment.

Good condition was $28K to $54K. Again, quite a spread.

When I checked some of the listings (did not drill, just read the specs), many read the same, recent (within 2 to 3 year restoration), matching numbers, many original parts, complete documentation, etc. So, you would have to inspect the cars yourself to see who was blowing smoke. At least you have a data point.

Next, check as many classic auto dealers as possible to poll them for recent prices. Many list the SOLD on their website. If not, then call them and tell them what you are looking to buy. They have the pulse of the market and you will be able to zero in on a better sense of reality. Remember that a dealer will be high, maybe even 20-25 percent. So bank that information.

Another source is looking at recent car auction results. Sometimes hard to find, there is one site that is helpful is www.sportscarmarket.com. It’s a paid subscription site (we have no affiliate association). You can pay by the day, month or year ($99.00), so a small price to pay for great information.

Using these three resources should get you pretty close to what you will pay for your car. The next step is to thoroughly understand the valuation system for classic car cars so you know where “your car” fits, and consequently how much you have to pay. The rating system below is standard.

Excellent: The vehicle in perfect and near-mint condition, either completely restored or an original vehicle with little wear. This is NOT a #1 show quality car that is never driven.

Very Good: Solid vehicle with minor scratches or engine and other wear and tear. This car is near perfect and a great driver.

Good: The vehicle has repairable damages and still needs a little effort to restore. The car is a decent driver.

Fair: A vehicle that needs a lot of restoration work. If a car is not drivable because of engine, brake, or other mechanical failures, but has a solid exterior look, it will fall in this category.

Parts car: Not restorable and bought only for its reusable parts.

You may also see ratings such as Low Retail Value, Average Retail Value and High Retail Value. These basically line up to Good, Very Good and Excellent.

Lastly, don’t forget the many online clubs and forums. There is one thing great about classic car lovers, we all love to talk about our cars. There is a huge collective wisdom out there to tap into.

If you want someone to take the hassle out of finding the right car for the right value, then contact Your Dream Car Finders and discover how easy it is,

Handy Resources:

http://www.manheimgold.com/

http://www.nadaguides.com/

http://www.hemmings.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/priceguides.pgmake

Tim Leary is a serial car nut and likes nothing better to help someone find their life-long classic dream car. http://www.yourdreamcarfinder.com

There are no shortages of websites that show classic cars for sale. Between private seller classified ads, classic car dealer ads, auto auction ads, it can be almost overwhelming.

Where do you start? Here are some tips that will help sort through the process.

First, zero in on what car you are looking for, or at least in a range of years. For example, before I bought my “62 Corvette, I was looking between 1958 and 1962. That narrowed the field. Then after some time I decided I wanted the “62, and it got a lot easier!

Next, you need to know what condition of car you want. Show car, project car, solid driver, etc. Formal ratings range from Excellent to Parts Car, and each is priced accordingly.

So, if you want a “good” condition 1967 GTO convertible you would be getting a car that probably needed some work, mostly minor, had been either well maintained or had a decent restoration at some time (not recent). The car as it exists would be a solid driver and probably not too hard to get into “Very Good Condition” (near perfect, great driver).

With this information, next go to some of the many dedicated vehicle sites – just type in 1967 Pontiac GTO in Google and start reading. Once such site is http://www.gtoalley.com/. Tons of information on the standard options, VIN number decoding and things you should now.

Many of these sites have books for sale that have great detailed information that a lot of professionals don’t even know. Pick up one or two. It will be money well spent.

Based on the above, you are now armed and marvelous, as they say. You should have an idea form the various price guides what the relative values are for your car. If you have not posted on any forums looking for your car, now is a good time to start. You’ll get some good information.

The next decision is how far geographically you will search for your car. Some will only look in their back yard; others have no problems with distance. Decide your preferences and plan accordingly.

If you find a listing from a private seller, rejection is your friend. Sounds odd, but you need to quality him / her as a legitimate seller quickly or move on.

• How much do they know about the car? You should be armed with VIN, Trim Tag and rear axel numbers so you can quickly determine how original the car is – or that the seller really doesn’t know.

• Do you have a lot of pictures that show detail? If not, then ask for more. If the seller hedges, then they may not actually have the car. Digital cameras are cheap and there is no reason why several more can be taken. Their version of “good” may not be the same as Hemmings Motor News.

• Does the seller have the proper documentation and authentication? For example, GM cars had Protecto-o-Plates, a metal credit card like plate glued into the Owners manual with VIN, Trim Tag & Drive train Decoding. When the car was taken in for service, the dealership would take an impression. How can they prove the car is authentic?

• If the seller wants a deposit or he will sell the car to someone else, then that’s a red flag for me anyway. I understand having skin in the game, but sending someone a few hundred or thousand dollars site unseen is not realistic. If they car seems okay, then agree to have it inspected. Once you get the inspection, you can make a decision. First, you’ll know that the seller really has the car! Second, you’ll know what it is worth. It may cost $200 for you to walk, but better than buying the wrong car.

• When contacting dealers, go through the same questions. They should have all the information at their finger tips. Once thing to realize is that many dealers purposefully do not update their inventory. They may show your car for sale and when you call – oops – it’ sold. They will offer to find one for you though. Your call. If you get a good feel it may be worth it. DO NOT enter into any exclusive agreement where you are obligated. Bad idea.

• If using ebay – all the above applies. There are scams everywhere and you need to be careful.

Don’t want to spend the time dealing with the flakes and scammers? Let Your Dream Car Finder do the heavy lifting. We know cars, where they are, and can find and deliver your car to you with no hassles.

Tim Leary is a serial car nut and likes nothing better to find you your long-time dream classic car! http://www.yourdreamcarfinder.com

At one of the vintage cars websites sites I belong to there was a member who shared an interesting experience to the forum. Below is the Readers Digest version.

The new owner (who we will call John) had seen his dream vintage car advertised on the same website referenced above. John liked what he saw, and it helped that many forum members validated how nice the car was. John set an appointment to test drive the car. When John arrived the car was even better looking than the pictures indicated. The owner decided that John was a serious buyer and wasn’t a “tire kicker”. They decided to take the car out for a test drive. The car started on the first turn of the key, idled smoothly, and ran perfectly. The owner let John drive back on the return trip. And even though John was taking it easy, he was able to get the tires to chirp easily in 2nd and 3rd gear.

John purchased the car, loaded it up on his trailer, and was now the proud owner of a beautiful 1970 Nova Super Sport. Since the car was almost perfect and didn’t need any work, John started driving to a couple of local car cruises and classic car shows to get a feel of the car.

The next car show was about an hour and a half away. After waxing the car, and checking the fluids, John filled the gas tank. A couple of miles down the road John stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, he pulled away, and heard a light knocking/pinging noise on acceleration. The noise grew louder the longer he drove the car. The only time John heard the noise was on acceleration. If he drove the car “easy” like there was an egg under the gas pedal, the pinging was almost non existent and tolerable. If he had to pass another car and was required to accelerate, the noise got worse, and the engine didn’t have the same power as his first test drive. Other than the noise, the car performed flawlessly. John drove the car to and from the show, but he was really anxious and nervous because he thought he had bought a lemon. And he wasn’t a happy camper.

Long story short, some of the people reading John’s story started to ask him questions. A group of them even made a special trip to John’s house to take a test drive with John to see if they could determine what was happening. During the discussion one of the bystanders asked John what changes he made to the car since buying it. John replied “I didn’t touch a thing, except to wash it, wax it, and I filled the gas tank”. The bystander said, “I am going to take a leap here” then he asked “what kind of gas did you put in it”?

Let me jump ahead here in the story, and explain why this is so important.

High performance cars from the 60’s and early 70’s require high performance gasoline. Unless the engine has already been modified, pre-1971 cars require leaded high octane gasoline to run correctly. Because leaded gasoline is no longer sold in the United States, owners of these types of vehicles need to buy lead substitute additives (around $2-$5 per bottle). A bottle is generally good for one tank of gas. Lead is critical because it acts as a lubricant for the internal engine parts and stops them from wearing out prematurely. Engines built in 1971 and later are built to run on unleaded gas so adding lead substitute is not needed. In fact, lead damages Catalytic Converters, which are required on cars built after 1977, and is more harmful to the environment. Adding a lead additive to a pre-1971 engine will literally prevent the engine from beating itself to death.

John’s experience was something that happens to many vintage car owners. The reason the Nova ran great with the previous owner was because he used a 92 octane gasoline and added a bottle of lead substitute with every fill-up. When John filled the gas tank he used the same 87 octane gasoline he uses for his everyday driver. He never gave any thought to what type of gas he was running. Most people don’t buy vintage cars for gas mileage and economy reasons. Therefore it only took a couple of weekends of local driving before John needed to fill up his gas tank again. Now the engine was off of its “design point”, meaning it was never intended to run on low octane, unleaded fuel. The engine started to ping and knock under a load, as soon as the new gas was being burned.

When John shared his story on the forum, there was about a quarter of a tank of economy gas left. He added a bottle of octane booster, a bottle of lead substitute, and filled the rest of the tank with 92 octane premium gas. Since then, John’s car has been running perfectly.

An original pre 70’s engine which has not been modified for unleaded fuel will need a little help in the gas department. Always use the highest octane possible. A bottle of good octane booster and a lead substitute will help maximize performance and the engine’s longevity. You should be purchasing the highest octane gas possible because a high octane rating prevents knocking and pinging. Supreme unleaded (92 octane) is fine and should be used for most engines and everyday driving.

Owners of truly high performance engines, meaning a compression ratio greater than 10.0:1, must use an octane booster to keep their engines running smoothly. Octane boosters will also help if you plan to race your car occasionally or whenever you want a little more power. Remember, racing fuel in the 104 octane category and higher is expensive and sometimes hard to find.

Racing fuel should only be used if you truly have an engine built for racing and is overkill for a street car.

Tim Leary is a serial car nut and likes nothing better to find you your long-time dream classic car! http://www.yourdreamcarfinder.com

Luxury SUV hybrids are becoming the popular pick among car consumers nowadays. Look at the number of people opting for these cars in contrast to those who are still buying the conventional ones. The growth is staggering.

The Favorite Pick

However, just like conventional cars, there are also different variants of hybrids. Hence, among these different models there would also be the crowd favorite and as statistics reflect, that would be luxury SUV hybrids. So, as a guide, here are the best hybrid SUVs that consumers of all levels love and adore.

Pick Number One: 2008 Lexus RX 400h

According to various polls, sales records and statistics conducted by authorities, the top SUV to hit the chart would be the Lexus RX 400h. This car actually gives its owners a rare mix of sport efficacy performance along with Lexus luxury with an environmental twist. It actually ranks extremely highly among SUVs in the hybrid category and luxury midsize SUVs.

Without considering its sticker price, reviewers actually praise this luxury SUV hybrid model for its driving performance that is notable comparable to the RX 350, which is its sibling. Additionally, this is a lone pick for the fuel-efficient types, especially within the luxury SUV category.

Experts believe that this model is actually the first to offer its users an ecology-minded no-compromise alternative for users that do not want to sacrifice comfort and for the planet’s sake. However, if you would consider the price, you would be better off thinking that you’ll be saving the environment and not necessarily money.

This car’s performance is considered to be very good along with its sleek and stylish exterior. As for interiors, you’ll surely find it comfortable and pretty well equipped.

SUV Hybrid Pick Number Two: Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2008

This car is the second most favorite and best SUV in the hybrid category. This car ranks close to the top of its class since it offers a smooth ride, roomy interior and most of all a refined hybrid powertrain. Nevertheless, some experts feel that its price is too high in contrast to its non-hybrid counterpart. Additionally, it can’t match the offered cargo space and sportier handling of other competitors.

Compared to its predecessor, this model is quite larger. It also sports an innovative electric-only mode so that you can improve fuel economy even more. A lot of reviewers are actually pleased with its changes. However, this luxury SUV hybrid has a price that might make you pause.

If you’ll consider performance alone, this model also ranks best among the rest. This is because it offers you a very smooth ride that has a lot of power; this is considered to be a pretty rare combination considering that it’s a hybrid vehicle.

However, one set-back of this luxury SUV hybrid is that its exteriors are somewhat mediocre. It lacks a bit of uniqueness and seems to simply blend in and not stand out when compared to other SUVs. Nevertheless, its interiors are much pleasing as it offers a spacious cabin compared to what others have.

Pick Number Three: Ford Escape Hybrid 2008

This SUV is very environmentally conscious yet still sports comfortable interiors and a tough exterior. Sadly it still doesn’t match the overall quality or level of driving dynamics that other top-class SUVs could offer.

As for power, even though hybrids are known to have lower power, most reviewers are actually pleased with this SUV’s capabilities. In fact, this vehicle’s performance even ranks over the upper half of its class.

Nevertheless, handling is still not quite balanced. This drawback is said to be due to its powertrain’s added weight, which is more over 250 pounds. This significantly affects the car’s handling, which is also worsened by its electric power steering, which is a must for any hybrids.

As for the exterior characteristics, most people have mixed emotions on how they perceive this car. Some describe it as muscular, while other people don’t really think so. On the other hand, its interiors have has significant improvements. First off, would be the car’s cabin comfort along with quality. As soon as you get in, you’ll observe the clean, quiet and modern cabin, which has a lot of interior room to offer. Due to these, this car became really worth it to be one of the best hybrid SUVs in the market.

John S. Rhodes talks more about luxury SUV hybrids at Hybrid Cars, Hybrid Trucks and Hybrid Vans found at http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com He also discusses hybrid motorcycles and hybrid minivans at that site, offering videos and advice on hybrid batteries and hybrid rental vehicles.

What vehicle to use to scout or hunt is a decision largely based upon availability. Some hunter’s use elaborately set up rigs with big recreational vehicles sporting a canoe on top trailing an all-terrain two, three, four, or more wheeler to the rear. In some instances a bicycle may be just the thing to take you to the outskirts of town and stow away noiselessly where there are no places to park anything else. Of course packing your deer out may be another consideration! Most any automobile in good running condition will carry you to good deer hunting. The most popular mode for getting into the woods and getting the deer out is the four-wheel drive truck.

Maintenance and repairs should be performed on all vehicles well in advance of the hunt. An old fan belt or hose could be just the thing to foil your plans. A low battery can absolutely ruin your day. Make sure there is a good jack and spare tire. Gas and oil should be put in a day or so in advance to avoid the smell on your clothing and hunting boots. There are the rare instances of hunters having automobile trouble and having good luck hunting where their car broke down, but we choose to avoid these circumstances when possible. Remember Murphy’s Law. Murphy said: “If anything can go wrong, it will.”

Only take your vehicle to the limits of its design. Although it is a display of determination and fortitude to gun your family car as far as you can down a muddy logging or farming road until you become stuck, so you can hunt and worry about getting out later, this is simply asking for trouble for yourself as well as for those who will have to help you. This is a situation all too often encountered by hunters who find their roads blocked by someone unequipped to be in there. Farmers who live near old, muddy, rutted roads to deer woods have many encounters with bogged hunters seeking their help.

Use common sense and avoid unnecessary hardship. If you are going to travel one of these roads, get out of your vehicle and check out the pot holes and ruts before endeavoring to cross them. Don’t go in over your head. Remember that going in means you must come out. If it looks as if you may become stuck, keep moving, as this greatly decreases your chances of getting bogged down.

Keep up good speed over sand or gravel especially. You may let some air out of your tires to give yourself more traction in snow, sand, or mud. If you have extra air stored in a tank or a cigarette lighter operated air pump, you are well prepared, but if not you will just have to take it slowly to a gas station. If you get stuck and your tires are spinning, let your passenger get out and push right from the beginning instead of after the rut is deepened. Here a stitch in time saves nine. If you bury your vehicle you will have to use that shovel you thoughtfully placed in the car or jack it up to put something under the tires for traction. In these conditions you will need a good piece of wood for the jack to keep it from burying itself. When attempting to drive out, shift from drive to reverse in automatic transmissions or from second gear to reverse in manual and rock out. If you have a handy power winch attached to your vehicle that you can hook up to a tree you are in luck. A less expensive come-along tool can be very useful. Improvisations made with ingenious use of available materials have gotten many a wayfaring hunter out of a rut.

It is a good idea to carry alone some or all of these materials for getting stuck: winch or comealong, good bumper jack, block of wood, short-handled shovel, pair of grate tracks, pull chain or tug rope, tire inflation device.

If you should get stuck or have a breakdown, be patient and wait for another vehicle to assist. Don’t panic. Carefully build a fire to keep warm if necessary. Even in the most remote area someone should come around eventually. If you consider it a better move to seek help, then leave a note stating your intended direction. To avoid misunderstanding you may wish to leave a note on the windshield explaining who you are and what you are doing.

Even if you are so far out in the wilderness that you would never expect anyone else to come there, and you are not stuck, you should leave space for others to park. Be sure to park your vehicle in a way that is considerate of others. It is courteous not to block roads or take up space other drivers may need to turn around. Avoid parking in fields and crops and leaving ruts in the fields to create poor farmer relations.

Park your vehicle in a location where it could be watched. Few thieves will be foolhardy enough to risk being shot at by an armed hunter who may be watching or may be appearing at any moment. Anti-hunter fanatics have been known to slit tires and otherwise vandalize hunters’ cars. Likewise, greedy, land-dominating hunters who are unwilling to share their hunting site may seek to run you off by damaging your vehicle. It is a good idea to cover any valuable temptations visible to thieves.

An effective auto heater may be a necessity in colder areas. To be without one may be life-threatening.

Deer are not usually afraid of moving vehicles and rush off only when the vehicle stops. A deer within hearing distance is well aware of a stopped car and knows what a car door sounds like. The squeak of a car door may put the local trophy on the defensive for the rest of the day. When launching your hunt, make as few noises with your vehicle as possible, and you will enjoy increased success.

With deer poaching being such a problem in many regions, deer are wary of automobiles. Cut your headlights as you enter an area to hunt and use your parking lights to creep along the remainder of the way if this can safely be done.

Carry a basic repair kit that includes at least a crescent wrench, pliers, and a screwdriver along with standard tire changing tools. Having a screwdriver handy more than once has made the difference between a good hunt and a bad one.

We can only hope that three- and four-wheelers won’t be recreational slobs during the deer season when hunters are trying to be the least disturbing as possible.

A working horn is useful for calling other hunters and signaling for help.

Be careful when operating winches. Always be mindful of the possibility of cable break or release under stress. Stay protected from cable whiplash. The floor mat from your vehicle or your hunting jacket are handy to be placed on the tightened cable to foil the backlash.

Albie Berk enjoys hunting and sharing what he has learned and any successful tips he can with others. He enjoys South Carolina hunting?and usually stays at Carolina Buck and Boar.

There are many types of vehicle that have a huge fan following. The Jeep is just one of them. Jeep lovers are found far and wide and they all have one special thing in common. In fact, Jeeps and Jeep related items are so popular that there are numerous fantastic gift ideas for the Jeep lover in your life. Of course, you will have to be sure that they do not already have some of these hot items. There are enough to choose from that there should easily be something to satisfy every unique Jeep owner.

Many Jeeps have a mounting bar of some kind for carrying things like bicycles. If the Jeep driver that you know of does not yet have one, looking into getting them a sound bar. It will allow them to mount and carry bikes but it is also quiet and very easy to use.

There is a huge assortment of clothing for Jeep owners. From t-shirts and sweaters for women to jackets and shirts for men, the Jeep logo can be found on many items. Many men like to wear a ball cap. Get one with the Jeep logo and the male Jeep lover you know will be overjoyed. Most Jeep clothing can be found online or at a Jeep dealer near you.

While many gifts are just for fun, some of them have a serious use too. Consider a Jeep radio lantern as a gift. It is equipped with a siren as well as an emergency blinker. It plugs into the lighter for power and can be used to flag down help in an emergency situation. This is the type of accessory that would be perfect for any vehicle driver.

Some people may not expect to find things like jewellery and watches bearing Jeep logos but there are certainly many of them. From earrings to wristwatches, there is almost nothing you can not get with a Jeep logo. They make great items for fun, once in a while use or they can be worn everyday.

Covers for the entire Jeep itself may be a great idea for someone that lives in an area that has a heavy winter. It helps protect the paint job while keeping harmful elements off the exterior. Seat covers are also an absolute must have accessory, especially for a Jeep owner that frequently has children in their vehicle.

Replicas and mini versions of the Jeep can be purchased at very low prices from your local department store. They can also be found at higher prices through a Jeep dealer. Those models are often of higher quality and collector sentiment. Some of them may even gain in value over time.

Jeep lovers are so crazy about their vehicles that the types of merchandise available to them continue to expand. Jeep blankets are a cozy way of staying warm while reminiscing about that fun filled day of mud bogging. From the bedroom to the jewellery box, the gifts for Jeep owners are immeasurable.

Have a fun and safe time on the road, and visit us to find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Get money-saving tips, free auto insurance quotes and helpful car insurance advice at www.AutoInsuranceRatesDirect.com today.

I discuss the following about the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid. First, I discuss all the upgrades from the 2008 hybrid. Second, I talk about style and space. Third, I talk about technology such as maps and GPS. I also talk about some other fun aspects of the Mariner hybrid.

Introduction

If you’re a Ford fan and you’re looking for a good hybrid SUV, then you’re probably in luck since the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid is now in town. This SUV vehicle may look as if it doesn’t offer much that other SUV’s of its types do. However, looks can be pretty deceiving. This car shouldn’t be underestimated, since it has a lot to offer than what you may have in mind. So, here are essentials that you need to know about this practical SUV.

Upgrade Galore

Although Ford have made a significant upgrade from the 2007 model to the 2008 model, the company makes another yet notable improvements with its 2009 model. In fact, a lot of experts believe that this model has a lot to offer from the 2008 model.

As a sneak peek, one of these improvements would have something to do with its advent of Sirius and Sync Travel Link. These two technologies are used by Ford to distinguish itself. Additionally, the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid doesn’t only get a new cabin tech; its engine also becomes a little bigger. Hence, you get more horsepower, without losing the advantage of fuel economy.

General Specs

This car, along with its stable mate, the Ford Escape Hybrid, are actually the only available small full hybrid SUVs. This car can accommodate to seat five people. It also has a pretty large cargo space, which is built via unibody construction. Being a hybrid, this car could be driven by the use of mere electric power if you’re travelling short distances and on low speeds.

Another great perk of the car is that its engine automatically turns off whenever you’re stuck in traffic or on a stop light. This mere feature alone can help you save a lot with your car’s gas and power consumption! Because of this car’s characteristic, full hybrids usually get better mileage rates inside the city compared to the highway. In fact, the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid was rated by EPA at 31 mpg highway and 34 mpg city.

Traffic Avoidance

Although hybrid systems can help you save gas when caught in traffic, you would rather not crawl at 5 mph. On such situations, you can use the car’s navigation system, so that you could see how efficiently you could avoid traffic.

This car actually has a hard-drive-based system for navigation. It utilizes high-resolution touch screen maps. The best thing here is that the Sirius Travel Link actually gives you traffic reports, which would be overlaid on your car’s navigation maps. Here, you could see how traffic is flowing on highways and freeways. Additionally, you get reports on specific incidents, whether it be vehicle accidents or road construction.

Getting To Know The Cabin

Although this car is thought to be as a mid-luxury brand, between Lincoln and Ford, this car’s cabin isn’t that dramatically nicer compared to what you could find with the Ford Escape. The cabin is generally made up of standard grade leather. However, it also has some small chrome accents. The car also comes with a steering wheel that is leather-wrapped.

Nevertheless, the cabin also has its major positive and impressive parts. For instance, its tech is actually the same for both brands. You also get full control using your touch-screen LCD over various amenities that your car provides, such as: hard-drive-based navigation, stereo and Bluetooth phone. However, what’s much better is that its Sync lets you get full control of such systems using your voice. It also gives full integration with the MP3 player.

Map Navigation

The 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid also has a very excellent navigation system. This is probably because of its maps that are viewable in 3D or top-down. Since it’s hard-drive-based, the maps actually refresh in a quick rate. Thus, it becomes easier for you to move your map around to select various destinations by simply touching the location that you want to go to.

The system also provides you with full database of points-of-interest, along with different means of going to your destination like freeway entrance and address. If you’ll be using the car’s address entry, you’ll have to use 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid’s onscreen keyboard, which could be switched between QWERTY format and alphabetical order.

John S. Rhodes talks more about the 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid at Hybrid Cars, Hybrid Trucks and Hybrid Vans found at http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com He also discusses hybrid motorcycles and hybrid minivans at that site, offering videos and advice on hybrid batteries and hybrid rental vehicles.

This article about hydrogen hybrid cars discusses how cars can run on hydrogen and fuel cells, but also hybrid batteries, safety, brands and models, and availability.

Introduction

Nowadays, people are aggressively searching for more ways on how they could save on gas. In effect, companies are being pressured to offer something new to consumers other than their conventional cars. This is evident with their notable development of new technologies that are obviously aimed for fuel economy; one of which would be the hydrogen hybrid car.

Combining Two Innovative Technologies

Hydrogen technology and hybrid technology are two different innovations that are used to save gas, increase your vehicle’s power and most of all, make your car more environmental friendly in contrast to conventionally fuelled vehicles. Considering each of them are already powerful solely by themselves, just imagine if these two technologies are combined!

Well, here’s the good news, manufacturers have been working on hydrogen hybrid cars and they have finally come up with vehicles that support both of the said technologies! So, here are the essentials on what you should know about hydrogen powered hybrid cars.

How Does It Work?

Hydrogen hybrid cars actually make use of fuel cells. Major carmakers, focus on fuel cells, since they say it’s more clean and efficient than mere hydrogen internal combustion engines alone. Rather than burning fuel inside the engine, fuel cells would act more like batteries, where they would use electrochemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity.

One company that is known to develop fuel cells would be Anuvu, which is actually almost prepared to produce large cargo vans and Nissan Frontier pickups that run on hydrogen and fuel cells.

A Deeper Look

What the company is selling are actually hybrid fuel cell vehicles. This kind of vehicle is the kind that utilizes a quite small fuel cell system in order to provide power to an electric motor, which supplies all the heavy work for the vehicle to move. The car is quite similar to gas-electric hybrids, which are currently on the market. However, this time, the vehicle makes use of fuel cells rather than internal combustion engines.

The stack of fuel cells has the ability to recharge the hybrid battery. Nevertheless, the latter could also be recharged simply by plugging it to a wall. Experts consider it to be an electric car that has all advantages that a car of its kind could have minus the disadvantages.

Trouble Shooting

You wouldn’t have to worry about hydrogen leaks either. If ever one occurs, hydrogen hybrid car censors would shut down your fuel cell stack. Nevertheless, there’s no need to worry since you could still drive your vehicle for another 30 miles simply by using your vehicle’s hybrid battery.

Looking At Mazda

On the other hand, Mazda also has their mixed hybrid and hydrogen car to offer. This would be the Mazda 5, which is known as the Premacy Hydrogen Hybrid in Japan. Nevertheless, whatever name you want to call it, this car is actually a concept vehicle. It is a hydrogen minivan in style. They say that it was based on RX-8 Hydrogen RE car. Mazda 5 is a rotary mild-hybrid bi-fuel which is considered to be the first mass-marketed car of its kind.

The Specs

This car actually runs using both compressed hydrogen gas and gasoline. All you have to do is just press a button on its dashboard and you would transform this minivan to a green vehicle. Press again to change back again whenever you need more distance to be covered.

It introduces a gasoline / bi-fuel hydrogen internal combustion engine. This solves one of the major infrastructure issues circling around where users could buy hydrogen when fuel stations still dominate the main scene. By doing this, hydrogen manufacturers and distributors would be given the incentive and chance to take their distribution network to a massive scale.

This hydrogen hybrid car’s rotary engine and hybrid unit are transversely mounted in front of the car having a layout for a front-wheel drive. Additionally, it has a high-voltage battery underneath its 2nd row of seats. The gasoline tank is also near the high-voltage battery, while you can find the hydrogen tank next to the back seats. This kind of arrangement provides you a roomy and comfortable interior. It also gives you excellent driving performance along with environmental benefits.

John S. Rhodes talks more about hydrogen hybrid cars at Hybrid Cars, Hybrid Trucks and Hybrid Vans found at http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com He also discusses hybrid motorcycles and hybrid minivans at that site, offering videos and advice on hybrid batteries and hybrid rental vehicles.