Latest Cars Articles

A Crash Course in Limousine Service

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:57:23 -0500

You picked up your phone, dialed the Seattle limo service number, and readied yourself for the airport transportation Seatac trip, business meeting or prom night. How ready are you really?

Stop whatever you are doing and read the things limousine services want you to know. After observing these, somehow, unwritten rules, gratitude will come from the chauffeur of the limo service in Seattle you hired.

Do you think limousine services are money-exhausting agencies because of passenger limitations? Not really. They are a business of course but their passenger limitation and charges for additional passengers came from noteworthy considerations.

There is actually a law that prohibits the number of passengers in a simple limousine service Seattle based agency. Limousine services always put safety first. If your company numbers to 17, kindly stop budgeting on a stretched limo and start browsing for limo buses. It’s for your own safety and it’s according to the law. Besides, isn’t it better to enjoy a spacious car rather than move like sardines in a can?

You need to behave like a limousine abiding citizen. That means don’t mess with the limo. When you hire a Seattle town car service , the limo comes in your doorsteps in full-style. It is luxurious after all. Although you are getting the best VIP treatment in town, you are just paying a relatively small amount compared to the maintenance of the actual car.

Limousines have laws too. Most limos prohibit smoking unless you can arrange it with them. Cigarette and cigar burns are once in a lifetime achievement to disgrace ourselves and pay so much. Too much drinking is also a no-no. We all should abstain from opening our mouths as the excess alcohol triggers to come out in the form of puke. And don’t start with drugs.

Here’s what amateurs should know. After the luxurious ride and rights to bragging, present an envelope with the tip to your chauffeurs. This is not an option. It isn’t like a tip for the bellboy in hotels. They are required for the humility and outstanding job your chauffeurs had done for the day or two. It is also a sign of saying you are worthy to hire and ride a limousine.
That basically sums up all the ideas we need to know before stepping inside these moving castles. Never forget to be humble and commonsensical. Our chauffeurs will give us the best customer service and freedom inside limousines as long as we are partying inside the perimeter of regulations.

Yes, fun is inside these luxurious limousines as long as we say no to anarchy.

A Special Ride to the Prom from a Limo Company in Whitby

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:46:27 -0600

I used to think that the prom was no big deal---I wasn't too keen on the idea of getting all dressed up just to hang out with the same kids I see every day at school, nor was I interested in dancing with anyone. I don't dance. So unlike the other girls, I wasn't anxiously waiting for someone to ask me to be his date. If I do go, I was cool with flying solo. I wasn't even thinking of going until my mom found out from another parent at the PTA meeting when the prom was being held. She practically ordered me to go to my senior prom, arguing that it was a big part of the high school experience that I shouldn't miss out on, but I wasn't too impressed with that argument. I guess I can't fault her for feeling that way, after all, she was prom queen back in her day. My mom looked to my dad for support, but he just laughed and winked at me (he's cool like that). I let her bribe me into going though, if she and my dad let me go to the next international Comic Con in July. My mom agreed, and we shook on it with my dad acting as a witness.

I immediately told my best friend Nick, who at the time was busy combing the internet for limousine companies in Oshawa where he could get a good price on a swanky ride to the prom to impress his date, who is one of the girls from the cheerleading squad. He asked me to help him look for a limo company, and I promptly narrowed his search down to a 5 promising leads: a couple of Cambridge airport limos , a couple of airport limos in Ajax , and a Pickering airport limo service . All of these limo companies offered special prom packages, and we cheerfully argued over the pros and cons of each one. But before he could make a reservation, my mom called me on my mobile phone. To sweeten the pot, she and my dad were giving me the money to buy an outfit for the prom, and she also organized a ride for me and my date from a limo company in Whitby .

I offered to share the limo with Nick, which he promptly accepted. In return, he offered to hook me up on a date with one of his buddies from the football team, but I told him that I wasn't that desperate. Little does he know that if he said he'll be my date, I'd take him up on it in a heartbeat, but that's another story altogether. I guess we're in for a uncomfortable ride to and from the prom.

Classic Cars - The Dreams of true American

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:37:43 -0600

Buying classic cars usually involves working through classified ads, either local ones, or nationwide ones same the Thrifty Nickel papers, or online classified advertising listings same Google Sales, Yahoo Sales, and Craigslist to find classiccars for sale.

A classic car is generally defined as an older car. However, people have come up with terms to define these older and beautifully restoredcars . Some of the characteristics often used to describe them include highest quality, class or rank, one that is historical or literary renown, one that serves as a standard, guide or model and one that is of enduring quality, style or interest. Apart from that, a classic is also defined as a car that has demonstrably enduring quality.

A narrowed down definition refers to a classic car as one that has been designed with elegant styling, fine workmanship built between 1925 and 1948 and exceptional engineering. According to the Classic Car Club of America, an antique car is a fine and extraordinary motor that was designed between 1925 and 1948. Further still, somecars that were designed after 1948 are considered modern classics.

Local classifieds may work for you if the automobile you want to buy is available from a local seller. It haw not be though, specially if it's a automobile that was never made in large numbers, or a automobile that's simply old enough to qualify as "vintage". At that point, you need to broaden your see horizons, and look farther afield. And that usually means going online.

We classify classic cars into three categories... Restored, Resto-Mod and Survivors. All three have their pros and cons, but every three are true classiccars. Customer budget and skills module dictate what category you physique your classic car.

classic cars are different from sports cars we have today though some models are inspired by cars same the Ford Mustang. Though sports cars are fast cars same classic autos, they surely won't last a time with the supreme torque that classic autos have - which perhaps makes Eleanor the perfect Gone in 60 Seconds car.

The interiors of classic cars are real statement of high performance, road warrior identify of vehicle. The almost nil sign of elegance and the every heart-pumping design of classic autos' interiors match their rock and revving integrity that many a cars today essay to copy but every in futility. The moment you turn it on, you can't help but notice the fiery breathing of classic car's engine. The hissing and guzzling is same that of a dragon unerect always ready to get the tracks burning.

No matter what kind of classic automobile you buy or build, savor it! It's a great investment if done right, and module provide tons of smiles from you and everyone who sees you cruising down the street.

Limousine Service in San Jose, Ca Surpasses What Others Deem Best

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:33:30 -0600

Booking an airport limo service in San Jose, Ca is a breeze because that there are innumerable companies nowadays that offer it not only in California but elsewhere in America. Despite the commonness in business nature, however, many people would still set apart a certain limousine service in San Jose, Ca from the rest for obvious reasons.

Though not meaning to diss other companies, regular travelers like me can’t help but notice the discrepancies among limousine rental firms. For instance, this SUV limousine in San Jose, Ca that I booked prior to Christmas for a product launch in West San Carlos is equipped with complimentary champagne, fiber optic lights and an upgraded sound and theater system. None of its amenities is age-old thus depicting how the company values its customers who, on the other hand, are willing to pay more than what is required of them because they are satisfied with the service.

If you’re booking a classic sedan en route Dolce Hayes Mansion for your daughter who’s celebrating Quinceaneras in San Jose, Ca , you can expect the chauffeured service to come with a red carpet roll out. That’s right! You get royal treatment from this particular limo company in San Jose which, by the way, offers wedding transportation in Watsonville, Ca also due to constant demand from its many regular clients who either do business there or have probably moved there for good and can’t find first-rate road service.

During the holidays, I went clubbing with friends I haven’t seen for more than a decade. We spent New Year’s Eve at Wet Nightclub that featured Ray J churning out cuts from his album titled For The Love Of Ray J. My friends, most of whom tied to their executive jobs with hardly a nightlife, thought Ray J’s performance was one for the books.

It was my first time to welcome the New Year away from home but the chauffeur of our San Jose limousine made it truly memorable, as he was responsible for taking us to those high end clubs.

Overwhelmed with the special service given us, one of my friends plans to acquire service from the same limo company sometime May for the anniversary party of her parents in Winchester.

Whether you’re in San Jose, Ca for vacation or business, hold on to your seat as there is so much to see and enjoy while on board a luxury vehicle from my favorite limo company.

A Guide to Shuttle Services in Georgia

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:11:00 -0600

When you arrive in Atlanta and need to get to your hotel or any other destination from the airport, there's no need to worry: shuttle services in Georgia are extremely reliable, fast and safe. They guarantee that you'll arrive at your final destination in one piece.

There are three main kinds of Atlanta airport shuttles: the hotel/motel shared-ride shuttle service; the local shared-ride shuttles; and the regional shared-ride shuttles. All of these have designated drop-off and pick-up points within the airport transportation area. The Atlanta airport ground transportation shuttle designated area is easy to find, and a ride on this Atlanta airport shuttle is reasonably priced, if not freely provided by your hotel of choice. These shuttles follow a strict timetable for arrivals and departures, so it might be a good idea if you check the schedule with your hotel before your arrival. In case you do miss your shuttle, courtesy phones are available for your use, and a friendly operator is standing by to connect you to the greater Atlanta airport shuttle service, whose offices are open at the same time as flight operating hours.

However, if you prefer to ride in the comfort of your own car, or would rather not wait for the shuttle to fill up with passengers, you can choose to ride the Atlanta airport taxi service. Typically, these taxis charge a flat rate for common destinations, and a set per person fee for two or more passengers. You can also choose to ride in style and ride in a limousine. Renting a car from one of the national chains is also an option. All of these can be found in their designated areas, and all you need to do is ask one of the friendly airport staff to direct you to the right counter.

For both taxis and shuttles, you may book your ride 24 hours in advance by calling their hotlines, for easy and convenient movement from plane to shuttle to hotel and back. If you need to have an idea of how much the taxi ride or limo will cost, you can check out the websites of the respective transportation companies for a quote. Other modes of transportation include buses and trains.

Whichever way you choose, make sure you take note of the time you will arrive in Atlanta and check it against the shuttle schedules. Plus, always keep enough cash on your person to pay for the ride plus a tip. Enjoy your trip!

10 Tips on How to Shop for a Car the Smart Way

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:30:05 -0600

Purchasing a car is a highly emotional experience for most people. You think about a couple car brands that you like, you go to a car lot, test drive a few and then the trouble begins. You fall in love with a car. You want it. All you car about is getting that car. All your logic goes out the window and love takes over. Don't be a sucker. Here are some tips when buying a new car:

1. Don't bring your checkbook. Go to look and test drive only. Do not go with your checkbook. You run the risk of doing an impulse purchase. Be logical and emotionless. Test drive and evaluate the handling and responsiveness of the car you are interested in. And then walk away.

2. Read reviews of the model(s) you like. Search the internet for reviews on the car or cars you like the best. YouTube will have comparison tests. You can search Google and read lots of articles on your choice. You'll learn what experts think about your car.
You'll also learn what the comparable models are. You might learn of something that is similar that is better. Plus, it is really fun to read about cars when you know you're going to get one soon!

3. Go to the manufacturer's website. Search for local dealership websites. Go to those websites and contact internet sales to see if there are any special deals.

4. Ask your local dealership what their best deal over invoice is. You want to determine what dealer invoice is and then not pay much more than that. $1000 over dealer invoice? Pretty good. Some dealerships want thousands over dealer invoice.

5. Order the car you want from the dealership. You will save thousands of dollars if you custom build a car. Usually the dealer lot is packed with fully loaded cars. All the options add up. If you're in Southern California do you really need that $1500 cold weather package with heated seats? The dealer will add all sorts of things to get that price up up up! If you look at the manufacturer's website, you can usually build a car that you want and go from there. Take your "custom" list of specifications to the dealership and ask them what that will cost. How much over dealer invoice is their mark up? When you order a car, you might have to wait one or two months tops for your car to come in. Don't sweat it. The thousands of dollars you save by waiting will make it all worth the wait.

6. Manual versus automatic transmission. Those that know how to drive a stick shift seem to be a dying breed. The majority of new cars on the lot are automatic. If you know how to drive a stick, you will save yourself anywhere from $1000 to $3000 by selecting a car with a manual transmission. Automatics cost way more than manual.

7. Lot buyer versus internet shopper. The dealerships know that the person that buys off the lot is buying with pure emotion. They want it and they want it now. Don't fall into this sucker category. You'll pay the most.

8. Lease versus buy. It's usually cheaper to get into a lease than to buy a car. But, at the end of the lease you have nothing to trade in. You have to start all over. Leases are for those that want to drive a new car every 3 years. If you want the most from your money in the long run, you buy. Take advantage of dealer offers during the recession where they will have 0% financing or an extremely low interest rate.

9. Negotiate the sales price, not the payment per month. First negotiate on the price of the car. Then, start looking into your payments. Don't walk into the dealership and say "I can afford $400 per month." They can get you into a lease or finance for $400 a month…. For 7 years! There are all kinds of free online loan calculators. You can do this math yourself and find out what you can reasonably afford. Don't even look at $50,000 cars if you can only afford one that costs $30,000.

10. Take time to think. Don't buy that car you love the same day you test drive it. Give yourself a few days to think it over. Check out similar models. Read reviews. Even if you have no car right now, it is best not to rush into a car. Rent one for a few weeks while you are making your decision.

Good luck on your car purchase. Patience certainly is a good virtue to have when looking for a car. Do your homework and you can save thousands of dollars. Once you get that car home, remove the dealer license plate frame and put your own custom frame on your car. Don't give the dealership free advertising.

Don't Risk Your Ability To Get Insurance By Falling Into The Fronting Trap

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:11:01 -0600

As any young driver will testify, the cost of car insurance can be expensive. This is because providers view younger drivers as high risk, and often inflate premiums to reflect this. But while the prospect of having to pay sky-high prices may prompt you to consider going without insurance, this is simply not an option, as if you own a vehicle, car cover is a legal requirement. Plus, if you get caught driving uninsured, you could face some pretty hefty penalties.

Beware of fronting

As a young motorist, it's only natural that your parents will want to help get you on the road, but you need to beware of committing a type of insurance fraud known as "fronting."
This is where the parent insures the car in their name - implying that they are the main driver - and adds their son or daughter as the second named driver, when in fact the young "second" driver is actually the main driver, and not the occasional driver.

Fronting is fraud

Some people may see fronting as a "harmless" way of reducing their premium, but it's not - and is taken very seriously by insurers. Equally, while well-meaning parents may have done it unintentionally, there is no escaping the fact that this seemingly innocent practice is illegal.

Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at Esure Car Insurance, said: "Despite many people thinking this is a legitimate way of massaging premiums down with a few white lies, fronting is fraud."
"The simple rule is that if you're deliberately trying to give your insurer the impression of a very safe set of circumstances when you know that the truth is different, you are probably fronting."

Facing the consequences

If you do get caught, the insurer has the right to cancel the policy or charge the correct premium as a lump sum.
Drivers who have had a policy cancelled will then have to declare this on any future applications, and will find it harder and more costly to buy new cover, as the majority of insurance providers may refuse to cover them.
They can also refuse to pay out for any claim you make which means you could be treated as uninsured. You could also find yourself being slapped with a fine, conviction, a minimum of six penalty points and you may even lose your licence.

Further, the insurance industry use various databases to share information so a black mark may be made on any files held on you, and this too could make it harder to obtain insurance in the future.

Drive down the cost of cover

You may find it difficult to get a competitively-priced policy as a younger driver, but there are some simple steps you can take to reduce costs:

• Get discounts on your premium by taking extra safety precautions such as parking your car in a garage at night, and fitting an alarm and immobiliser.
• Choose a car with a smaller engine, as bigger and faster vehicles cost more to insure.
• Avoid vehicles with any modifications from the standard manufacture.
• Make savings by reducing your mileage or by only driving at certain hours of the day.
• Take the Pass Plus qualification (www.passplus.org.uk) to benefit from a reduction of up to a third on your premium.
• Consider lowering the price you pay by opting for a higher excess - but be sure you can still afford this amount in the event of a claim.
• Shop around to ensure you are getting the best possible deal.

Honesty is the best policy

When applying for any type of insurance, it's important to understand that a policy is a contract based on trust between the customer and insurer.You need to ensure you tell the whole truth, and inform the insurance provider of anything that could influence their decision in offering cover. And remember, non-disclosure of information - whether intentional or not - may have an impact on any future claim.

Fords view on the electric car

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:20:16 -0600

Ford has been busily working on plug in type hybrids since 2005. Initially Ford was working directly and only with Southern California Edison but they expanded their program to include Electric Power Research Institute as well as ten other utility and research organizations across North America. This quarter, Ford will complete the building and deployment of their fleet of twenty plug-in hybrid Escapes and will deploy them to their partnering organizations for demoing in the real vehicle-to-grid world of interconnectivity. The vehicles are equipped with a prototype communication control system that allows the driver to communicate with the vehicle via the Smart Meter through use of wireless Zigbee technology. This route of communication allows the owner of the vehicle to control how the vehicle accesses the charge. Part of the goal of this limited vehicle dispersal is to allow a close examination of the bigger infrastructure issues. They strive to answer how the introduction of mass quantities of EVs onto the grid might affect it and what standards should be adopted. It will also examine what upgrades will be necessary in the area of technology and infrastructure in order to connect these vehicles at home or in a public location. Ford envisions a system that has been integrated into the ‘smart home of the future' that allows the owner to make decisions and consider trade-offs involving the energy budget of the household and how the vehicle's energy needs fits into it.

Ford is proving itself to be very forward thinking with the consideration of the implications of the rollout of smart grids, the realtime pricing tarrifs and integrating the electric vehicles onto the existing grid. It is a reality that electricity demands are highest during hot days, with the demands dropping considerably at night and on cold days. The addition of night charging vehicles could be a real boon to the electric industry as with the influx of night charging electric cars, their expensive generation and transmission equipment will no longer have long periods of idle time. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently released an estimate that if half of the nation's ‘light vehicles' were light plug in hybrids, they would represent a night charging market worth 230 gigawatts. This is very good news for the wind industry because wind tends to blow harder at night than during the day. With a full vehicle to grid integration, those same vehicles could sell back some of their energy into the grid on those hot summer afternoons when electricity is expensive, while also helping to prevent the starting up of more expensive and less environmentally friendly generation methods. In effect the multitude of cars could act almost as remote storage devices for power created at night, turning it back into the power companies during the day.

Ford is planning on rolling out their first fully electric cars into the 2010 and 2011 markets while their first true plug in hybrids are scheduled to make it to the consumer market in 2012. Ford is also looking beyond the electric vehicles into the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles which they have had versions on the road since 2005. These vehicles have combined to have rolled over a million miles. Ford estimates that electric power will be the stepping stone to the more sustainable hydrogen solution to transportation, especially if IBM is able to crack the lithium air battery they are currently working on. This breakthrough will give electric vehicles a travel range more equal to that of a normal gas powered engines of today.

Why Airport Parking Melbourne Is Smart

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:47:30 -0600

When planning a big overseas holiday there are always a million things to organise. Accommodation,
airfares, spending budgets, places to see, and a long list of other things. An often overlooked
issue until the last minute is whether to catch a taxi to the airport or drive your car and leave it
at the airport for the time that you're away.

Leaving your car at home can seem the easiest option on the surface. But there are a number of negatives from doing this. Firstly, you need to book a taxi, make sure you're all ready in time, hope that the taxi itself arrives on time, and then pay the cab fare which will probably be quite expensive (unless you live close to the airport).

Furthermore, if you don't have a locked garage at your house, your car will be relatively unsecured.
Most people have to park their car in the driveway or even on the street, which puts it at risk of being broken into, especially if you are going away for a number of weeks or months. Many houses don't even have driveways and if you live in a street with parking restrictions, then it makes leaving your car at home while you're on holidays impossible.

For these reasons and more, a number of people in Melbourne and around Australia are turning to
airport parking while they are away. They can drive to the airport at their own convenience, avoid high cab charges, and know that their car will be safe and secure while they are away. Peace of mind can be very important when you are trying to enjoy a vacation. You don't want to be constantly worrying
that something might have happened to your precious BMW!!

There are other benefits of airport parking melbourne and other Aussie airports. Most airport parking services let you choose if you want to leave your car indoor our outdoors. So as well as getting added security for your prized possession you can also avoid the elements and ensure your car looks as good as you left it when you return!

If your car is a little dirty then you can go a step further, as a number of airport parking services
offer onsite detailing. Imagine leaving your messy dirt ridden car while you go on holidays and arrive
back to a shiny clean vehicle! Some companies also offer mechanical work so if you are overdue for
a car service, while you're away could be the perfect time for a tune up.

So if you are heading on holidays in the near future, it's definitely worth considering contacting an airport parking company at Tullamarine or similar, to secure your cars safety and make sure it's in top shape when you arrive back home.

Good news for motor industry

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:01:01 -0500

The good news is that September sales are up in comparison to September of last year. This comes from a recent report that shows from the beginning of September when the new 09 plates became available and during the full month, approximately 368,000 vehicles were registered with the new '59 number plate. According to the SMMT, which is the government's vehicle scrapping scheme, the offerings have been extended and they have played a large part in the increased September sales. This doesn't however mean that the conditions are not still a challenge in the retail auto marketplace. The beleaguered automobile retail industry welcomed the scheme, which has been pushed within the cabinet by Lord Mandelson, the business secretary. The introduction of a vehicle scrappage scheme boosted the new car market, and encouraged consumers step foot back into the new car showrooms, and as a result, reduced the likelihood of employee downsizing.," Paul Everitt, chief executive of trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: "This is very good news for car and light-vehicle buyers. It will kick-start demand in the market place." The car industry needed to contribute £1,000 to the grant and the scheme was not restricted to greener vehicles.

The government had originally set aside three hundred million pounds to fund the scrappage scheme, when it was introduced earlier in the year. This release came on the heels of the successful plans put into use in other countries. The scheme basically provided owners of vehicles that were ten years old or older and who had retained ownership for twelve months or longer, up to two thousand pounds for turning over their vehicle for scrap. The money was provided specifically in order to fund a portion of the cost of a new vehicle. It was believed that this funding would hold out till approximately February of 2010, consumer interest and use of the scheme was much higher than was expected and concerns began to surface as to whether or not the funding would run out quite a bit earlier than originally anticipated. T

he government recently agreed to extend the scrappage scheme adding another one hundred million pounds to fund the project. This added amount is considered enough to be able to continue funding the project until at least February as it was originally planned. It is believed that because of this extension in funding, use of the scrappage scheme would remain high throughout the year and into the first part of next year. Part of the result of this is projected to be a boost to the economic recovery and the general strengthening of the economy. On the other hand, the AA warned that a ‘shock increase in fuel duty, which was also announced, would more than cover the scrappage scheme's costs and was for all intents and purposes, giving with one hand while taking away with the other. It remains to be seen, what the full impact of the scrappage scheme will be on the auto industry, so far the numbers appear to be staying positive, however the economy is still stalled and only time will tell if this project will help to kick start it and get it moving in a forward direction again.