Automotive Academy

The ‘man in a van’ tradition has long stood as a representation of self-employment.  They provide transportation, storage and even advertising in one compact unit.  However, as increasing pressure is exerted on individual business people, and threats of big business loom, where does the white van sit now?

A recent survey by a large automobile service provider shows that 75% of commercial vans are still used by self-employed drivers.  The survey consulted around 65,000 van drivers and was conducted over a number of months.  The survey also found that 97% of drivers were male, and that the average age for van drivers was thirty seven.

The Vans themselves are used for vital stalwart trades, primarily comprising builders (with 17% use), but also including joiners, plumbers, electricians and decorators.  Steve Chelton, one of the survey’s instigators, said that “as builders, painters, plasterers, and other tradesmen, commercial vehicle drivers play a vital role in our economy and we should celebrate the work they do every day”.

Keen to fend off economic hardships, freelance tradesmen prefer the Ford Transit.  As well as carrying a reasonable showroom pricetag, the Transit has excellent fuel economy, keeping its running costs to a minimum.  Its latest models reach fuel efficiency of almost forty miles per gallon (although this might be slightly different once the tools are loaded!)

In fact, Ford covers about a third of the commercial vehicle market – they are truly the backbone of our trade force. This trend is no new occurrence, though.  Ford has dominated the commercial vehicle market for many years.  Drivers are clearly brand loyal when it comes to their business transportation.

One noticeable effect of tougher financial times is that tradesmen are having to travel further for work.  Distances travelled to clients are far greater now than ever before.  Fuel economy has therefore gained importance as a financial consideration, and manufacturers are adapting their marketing efforts to reflect this requirement.  Poor fuel economy also incurs higher taxes, so it makes sense on every level to choose a vehicle which will look good on the bank statement.

Further distances travelled also means that tradesmen are spending more time in their vans.  The average white van now, as a result of its wider travels, carries a satellite navigation system, and many come equipped with mini-desks to provide makeshift offices when drivers are working away.

Many larger businesses own or hire vast fleets of commercial vehicles, all of which come impeccably branded.  Sole-traders, though, also have a wide range of options when it comes to branding their vehicle.  In a fierce marketplace, often there is little to initially differentiate one tradesmen from another.  One large motoring insurer suggests that the best strategy is to become recognisable in the local community.  They suggest that short, punchy names and memorable slogans are by far the best way to adorn a trade van.

Big business may well be pushing the boundaries of fleet efficiency, but the classic use of commercial vehicles for freelance purposes is not beaten yet.  Even more than ever before, vans work as hard as their drivers to ply their trade, therefore you should not forget to get van insurance.

Look for another cool car? Here is the Lexus LFA, known as the supercar for the 21st Century. The Chief Engineering of the development program Haruhiko Tanahashi explains that this supercar is expressing the meaning of ‘dreams, hopes and aspirations’. From time to time the team of manufacturer from The Lexus LFA has been trying to make the production, technology, material and engineering to be advanced. By driving The Lexus LFA this company is offering the utter of driving experience.

This The Lexus LFA known as the supercar is powered with high-revving 4.8-litter V10 engine. This type of new high engine can generate 552 hp (412kW/560DIN hp) and 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) to turn the adrenaline-fuelled 202 mph (325km/h). For the ultimate quality control and for the future sound engineering investment The Lexus LFA team developed its own CFRP or Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic. This CFRP is possessed internally for its chassis and bodywork. The Lexus LFA has a unique six-speed ASG or Automated Sequential Gearbox for the driver control. This ASG is located in a transaxle layout.

The Carbon Ceramic Material or CCM is to complement the suspension components. With the low-slung cabin in The Lexus LFA will help the driver to get more focused and comfort on driving, because it is claimed that this cabin was constructed as painstakingly. Tanahashi explained that he his team would give all of the effort in order to deliver the satisfaction of the driver to get the supreme driving The Lexus LFA experience.

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All the preparations have been done-dresses, food, bridesmaid, and even the photographs have been settled. There’s one more thing that you need to attend to– wedding cars. Every Bride or wedding, at that, would not be complete without the wedding car. The transportation is as important as the bride herself.

In choosing a wedding car, brides have the option to use one of their own transportation or contact wedding cars for hire. Both way, they choose the wedding car that best suits their taste, color and not to mention, the wedding car that fits their budget.

wedding cars come in different forms and variety:
•    Carriages
When you choose to create that fairytale-like wedding atmosphere, carriages are the best wedding car hire you could get. Brides will come out as princesses in these fabulous wedding cars.
•    Sports cars
If you are one of those sport enthusiasts, you could definitely go for the sports car fantasy. Sports cars as wedding cars are now being used in all parts of the world, the pricier the sports car the better. Most affluent couples will choose to showcase what they have during these special dates.
•    Limousines
If you are one who wishes to have a contemporary and sophisticated wedding car, limousines is the perfect choice. Most wedding car hire provide this type of vehicle on a great value. Sometimes, they even include chauffeur in most wedding car hire agencies.
•    Vintage cars
Vintage cars emphasize elegance and classic beauty when used as wedding cars. Brides will evoke that sophisticated taste if they choose this kind of wedding car. Most wedding car hire have limited edition vintage car that they offer to couples at a higher price.

Unfortunately is has become common for UK motorists to get caught speeding and feel like there is no alternative to paying the speeding fines and taking the penalty points. However, what the majority of people don’t know is that there are many legal loopholes and methods to get out of paying the speeding fine / speeding ticket and prevent those costly penalty points.

As with the majority of legal issues, the UK court system doesn’t want to encourage people to appeal their speeding ticket and so rather than doing anything, the majority of UK motorists just pay the speeding fine and take the penalty points. Some opt to do a driving course and accept that they will have higher insurance premiums as a result of the penalty points.

The main thing to remember when challenging a speeding ticket is remembering that knowledge is power and ensuring that you are totally up to speed on the current legal processes. This way you can find a loophole in the law that helps you. For those people who are in the know, for example police officers, people in the court etc they are basically relying on UK motorists being ignorant to the law. The majority of people don’t want to be bothered by all this which is why you can ask a professional to help you.

Whatever the motoring law case may be it is the prosecutor’s job is to prove your guilty of the crime, and as with most legal cases, your best chance at winning is to discredit the prosecutors case and make their point seem weaker. Every little thing helps, from being polite all the time and in particular on the day, to being clear about what the weather was like and the situation surrounding the alleged incident, can make a big difference to the outcome of your case.

This is why choosing the right motoring lawyer is essential. Ensuring that they have the in depth knowledge and experience will definitely have a big impact on your case. At least now you know when you see that flash in your rear view mirror you know you don’t have to simply pay the speeding fine and penalty points.

Lexus IS 250c a Luxury Convertible
The IS 250c displays Lexus quality and attention to detail in every aspect of its construction and is designed to exceed customer expectations with its fusion of top-down driving pleasure and uncompromised dynamic performance. It also boasts the fastest opening time for a three-part roof design, with its lightweight aluminum structure folding away in just 20 seconds to make it a luxury convertible.
The Lexus IS 250c is a Luxury Convertible in many ways, it shares its smooth 205bhp (208 DIN hp) 2.5-litre petrol V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission with the IS 250 saloon. It has been styled to offer minimal wind turbulence when driving with the top down and extensive revisions to the body structure and suspension provide the right degree of torsional stiffness to ensure a level of ride comfort appropriate for a Lexus. In coupe trim, the car’s low NVH performance is on a par with that of the IS saloon.
Thanks to the remarkably compact packaging of the three-part roof mechanism, the Lexus IS 250c has a large boot space, together with easy rear seat access and generous accommodation for rear passengers.
The new coupe / convertible is the third model in the Lexus IS range, joining the Lexus IS petrol and diesel-powered sports saloon and the ultra-high performance 5.0-litre V8-powered Lexus IS F, which introduced the F Sports designation to the line-up earlier this year.

Getting your first Cheap Car Insurance

In today’s world everything needs to be insured, regardless of if you can afford it or not. Houses, vehicles, paintings and even lives need to be insured in order to protect your investments from the unseen harms of the future. Insurance can legally protect you when something turns awry and it will also protect the investments (the insured items) that you have made. Hopefully, this article will help car owners get the most out of their money with the least amount of frustration and hair loss!

When getting your car insurance quotes, you should always take the time to search for the best provider. The best car insurance, comfortable and cheapest way to do this is by utilizing the internet. But before you can begin this process, you need to sit down and check your finances. Find out how much you can afford to pay monthly so that you will be able to make these payments. You will also need to know what is on your driving record as a clean driving record is always better than a colorful one. You can get this info from your local DMV office or it might be available online. Make sure you have a clear picture about the deductibles you can afford and coverage that you want including any additional coverage that you might need. Once you have all these info, you can begin your search.

Check all the cheap car insurance quotes that you have and make sure that the companies offering these services are reliable and trustworthy. This can be done simply be checking the car insurance companies profile online. Before settling on your preferred choice, make sure that the coverage is what you need and afford. If you need further clarification, call them up and ask questions. By doing this, you can also gage their service level and if you will feel comfortable dealing with them. Sometimes, it is worth paying a little extra just to get the best service when the worst has happened to you.

Once you have determined that you found the coverage that you will need, you sign on the dotted line and leave everything to your agent. They will create the policy for you and will send it over as soon as possible. You will need to have your agent’s contact details just in case you have more questions once you receive the policy. However, you will also need some proof of the insurance with you before you get the original policy. Make sure your agent can provide you with a temporary note for this time and bring it along in your car as you would a proper insurance.

These are the basic steps that you can take when deciding on your first car insurance. For more info and detail explanations on how to get your cheap car insurance quotes, please visit the experts at www.How2BuyInsurance.com where they can also assist you with obtaining cheap car insurance quotes.

Try to Compare Each and Every Hybrid Car with One Another Before Choosing

For the past five to four years, there have been much ado about Hybrid Cars and the many benefits they could offer. Their popularity has been compounded by the ever surging gas prices and the concern for the environment. It seems that Hybrid Cars are the solution to both. When you use a Hybrid car, you contribute less to the thickening air pollution, plus you save a lot of money since they require less fuel, plus there are numerous tax credits being given by many states.

For these reasons, hybrid cars have experienced a sharp increase in sales and more car manufacturers are joining the hybrid vehicle arena with their own versions. For those who are planning to buy a hybrid car, the choices are numerous, that’s why you have to compare hybrid cars with one another to see which one would go perfectly well with your needs.

Two of the top hybrid car manufacturers are the Japanese giant’s Toyota and Honda. They are credited with producing many innovations in the hybrid technology and their hybrid cars are the most acclaimed, most sought after and most awarded hybrid vehicles today.

Here we will compare the hybrid cars they are offering for 2007, these will include the Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus GS 450H, Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.

Their fuel efficiency can be compared through their average consumption per mile in different situations, like; City Driving – where the traffic is constantly stopping, Highway Driving – where the engine can freely operate at maximum level and their combined average usage.

Miles Per Gallon – Average Miles Used Per gasoline of Fuel

·    Honda Accord Hybrid – 28 MPG (city), 35 MPG (Highway) and 31 MPG (Combined Average)

·    Honda Civic – 49 MPG (city), 51 MPG (Highway) and 50 MPG (Combined Average)

·    Lexus GS 450H – 25 MPG (city), 28 MPG (Highway) and 26 MPG (Combined Average)

·    Toyota Camry Hybrid – 40 MPG (city), 38 MPG (Highway) and 39 MPG (Combined Average)

·    Toyota Prius – 60 MPG (city), 51 MPG (Highway) and 55 MPG (Combined Average)

But before you just pick out the one with the highest MPG average, you still have to consider and compare a couple of aspects as well. This includes the fuel type. All of these vehicles use regular gasoline except for the Lexus which uses Premium Gasoline that is pricier.

Then you also have to compare the size class of each hybrid car and their engine size and liters. The Accord Hybrid is a midsize car with a 3 liter – 6 cylinder engine. The Civic Hybrid is a compact car with a 1.3 liter – 4 cylinder engine. The Lexus is another compact car with a 3.5 liter – 6 cylinder engine. The Camry Hybrid is a midsize sedan equipped with a 2.4 liter – 4 cylinder engine and the Toyota Prius is a compact car with a 1.5 liter – 4 cylinder engine. The more powerful the engine is, the more fuel will be consumed.

Considering this aspects and others is needed when comparing hybrid cars. You have to put considerations to see why there are differences. So before purchasing a hybrid car, compare first and do your research. Find one that would suit your needs and your personality best to get the perfect hybrid car for you.

After passing the theory test, the candidate needs to pass the other two within 2 years.   

Pass Plus 

Pass Plus is a driving lesson preston.  It’s been designed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in joint consultation with the Insurance industry and the Driving instruction industry. 

The following modules are covered in the Pass Plus

• Town driving
• All weather driving
• Driving out of town
• Night driving
• Driving on dual carriageways and
• Driving on Motorways

The course aims to help people gain valuable driving experience, safely build on existing skills and knowledge, reduce risk of being in a road crash, save money on car insurance premiums and boost the candidate’s confidence all completed with driving instructors preston.

The Pass Plus is a minimum 6 hours course at the end of which no test is required and can be completed at most driving schools preston.  The candidate’s driving is continually assessed.  The candidate must successfully complete all the modules in the course to an achieved or exceeded standard.  While achieved means successfully reached the standard required for each of the competencies, exceeded means exceeded the required standard for each of the competencies  

If a module can’t be conducted on the road, as an exception it will be done theoretically.  Due to lack of skill demonstration, only an achieved rating will be provides in this case.  

Skid training cannot be done without a special track.  Many drivers who get driver training will be able to experience skid conditions on track with the skidpan.   The skidpan is basically a portion of a special track designed to simulate skid conditions as they could occur in real life during heavy rainfall and other conditions such as oil spills and other road hazards.  Without this training many individuals will end up in a car wreck because they have no experience with these conditions.

Young driver training is also important on the skid track and allows them to realize just how much danger it could be to drive during debilitating conditions on the road.  Slippery when wet cannot describe in full how the track helps to teach young drivers about the dangers of skidding and what to do to regain control of a skidding vehicle.

Many employees or future employees that will be driving company vehicles during work hours will need to be checked online with NDAC license checking.  This allows you to avoid hiring people that have bad driving records or indications of intoxication during driving and other warning flags.  Preventing corporate manslaughter is one of your company’s biggest priorities and filtering your hiring process of bad drivers is the first step.

One of the ways that the NDAC makes it possible to prevent accidental deaths is through safety and fleet driver training.  This fleet training provides employees with important training that allows them to avoid accidents, thus preventing accidental death while working.  This means drivers must undergo assessment and various other skills training to be certified to drive for your company during business hours.  Many people will be able to pass these tests without trouble and get driving right away.

There is a new champion is the world of mega-horsepower saloons, and it comes in the shape of a 750BHP BMW M5. The BMW was recently timed recently at 367.4km/h 228.3mph, the G-Power Hurricane RS has stolen the record from established speed junky and former record holder Brabus. The Merc tuner has a long history of building silly horsepower record breakers, its 227.2mph CLS-based being most recent in a line of super quick Mercede’s.  

After months of speculation GM has pulled the plug on Saab, which has left the loss-making Swedish car company no option but to file for ‘Chapter 11’-style bankruptcy. The move means a Swedish court-appointed administrator will oversee efforts by Saab to reorganise itself once more into a fully independent entity, while offering short-term legal protection from its creditors, which will give the car firm the opportunity to try and get itself back on its feet and get protected against bankruptcy. 

However the company has reiterated it can only survive as in independent in the future with significant external funding, it has been reported that last year the company lost nearly £250 million.

‘We explored and will continue to explore all available options for funding and/or selling Saab and it was determined a formal reorganisation would be the best way to create a truly independent entity that is ready for investment,’ said Jan Ake Jonsson, Managing Director for Saab Automobile.

‘With an all new 9-5, 9-3X and 9-4X all ready for launch over the next year and a half, Saab has an excellent foundation for strong growth, assuming we can get the funding to complete engineering, tooling and manage launch costs. Reorganisation will give us the time and means that help get these products to market while minimising the liquidity impact of Saab on GM.’

The company produced a press release today putting on a brave face in regards to the situation, stating Saab’s intention to re-concentrate the marque’s design, engineering and manufacturing operations in Sweden over a three month period, assuming the administrator agrees to the plans. But in the meanwhile the GM decision which was made to cut Saab loose has put the Swedish government under increasing pressure to stump up a taxpayer bailout.

When you first purchase a car you are eventually going to want to sell it on at some point, so it is important that from day one of the purchase you start to maintain it so when you come to sell the car on, or complete a part-ex deal, you can get the highest resale value in the future.

While your engine is new and still shiny and beautiful, you should have it sealed to keep it that way. An engine sealer can help to keep under the bonnet looking clean and shiny and this should not cost very much but it looks incredible! And the effects of it lasts. 

The manufacturer of your vehicle probably recommends you to change the oil in your car every 6,000 miles, but to be on the safe side, I recommend every 3,000 miles. Also, keep the records using an envelope and put it in your glove box for all of your oil change receipts. On the outside of the envelope list the date of each oil change, records of any manual work on the vehicle will always be an attractive feature to possible buyers. 

Regular ‘tune ups’ and maintenance at the dealership always reflects well when you show a possible buyer the history of your vehicle, go at the recommended increments and always replace tires and repair breaks regularly. Once again, get a separate envelope for tune ups and maintenance and keep your receipts in 

Keep the inside and outside of your car clean, cleanliness is far easier to maintain than it is to clean something that has years of build up. Use the appropriate leather, vinyl and wheel cleaners for best results.

And always ensure you repair any damage promptly and correctly straight away, as if left they will just get worse and become harder and more expensive to fix. Keep your receipts for your repairs at home with your insurance paperwork.

One of the most annoying things about owning a car is coming out of the shops to your parked car, to find it has a scratch… small but noticeable, on the vehicle side panel. It wasn’t there yesterday or a week ago, but today it is prominent. How frustrating! If this is a small scratch, it is simple to fix and here’s how!

First you need to look closely at the scratch. If it is minor and only scratches the paint surface of the car, but not destroyed the paint or gone further than the top coating, it can be fixed it. You will need a thin lined sharpie marker that is the same color as your car. Black marker for a black car, blue marker for a blue car etc.

Wash the panel the scratch is on to make sure it is completely rid of any dirt or grim. Wipe it dry with a paper towel. Make sure there is no dirt on the area around the scratch or in the scratch itself or this process won’t work. Take the sharpie marker and fill in the scratch very carefully. This needs to be an exact line, spread evenly where the paint is lacking. 

You then need to carefully apply wax the area of the scratch, place the wax on the surface, but before moving or polishing, allow the wax to set for 15 minutes. After the time allotted is finished, polish the panel as directed on the package directions.

Once you are done polishing, you will notice the scratch has disappeared or considerably lightened. The wax builds up in the scratch and allows the surface to smooth out. This is can be repeated if necessary and will last for up to a year before fading.

Once you have finished washing your car the next step is to complete a wax. And even if the vehicle has been corrected with a swirl remover it is still recommended to apply a pre wax as part of the entire system.

Pre-wax is just as the name implies, to get the surface ready for wax to be applied. Tar spots, some tree saps and various other surface contaminates are usually not taken off by a product that is termed wax only.

The wax/cleaners with high solvent content in them need to be avoided, as they will eventually deteriorate the surface to which they are applied. Pre Wax Cleanser is especially formulated to be used prior to applying Car Wax. If you’re trying to get a really incredible deep, vibrant shine from your wax, you need to use a pre wax cleanser to properly prepare the surface prior to use Car Wax.

The benefit of Pre Wax Cleanser is that is prepares the surface after you wash it, so that the paint surface doesn’t get contaminated by dirt or anything else that may keep you from getting the ultimate protection.

The application of the car wax is the final stage, again we like to apply the wax by hand and remove by hand using a super flush Micro fiber towel. With a good car wax you don’t need multiple products to accomplish astonishing results, it doesn’t get any easier.

Tire Dressing is best to be applied as a tire gel using an applicator with a very thin layer of tire gel to the tire sidewall if more shine is desired a second coat can be applied, most of the time one coat is enough, it’s a nice finishing touch after all your hard work!

We are often facing the question of what is the best way to achieve maximum results to detail a car. To start your detail job, you want to make sure your car is not in direct sunlight and that the surfaces on the outside aren’t hot, de-tailing a car in hot weather will just create bad results.

Vehicle surface evaluation is one of the most important aspects of a successful detail job. This evaluation will allow us to prepare ourselves with the correct products and steps, things like light scratches, swirl marks and other paint imperfections can be evaluated at this time, from here we will have a plan of what products are needed and in what order.

Begin with a pre-wash by rinsing all the loose debris from the top of the car working downwards. You want to make sure to get all of the loose grime off of the surface so you don’t have to use your wash mitt. Using this process we can avoid causing swirl marks, at least to a certain point.

Do not use the same wash water or tools on the paint as you did your wheels. Prepare your wash materials and get started doing the wheels, tires and wheel wells one by one. Don’t do all of them at once, you don’t want any of these cleaners to dry. Use the detail brush first to get to the backside of my wheels and get all that brake dust out of there. When you are done with each wheel, rinse the wheel and make sure the entire cleaner is off the wheel.

After the tires and wheels have been done and before wetting the paint, you will want to prepare your wash bucket and tools for the paint in this step you will use a Car Shampoo that is highly lubricated formula with unique foaming quality and quick rinse characteristics.

The use of the wrong shampoo that doesn’t remove the grime and dirt combine with a low quality sponge/applicator will eventually leave swirl marks in your paint surface something that all of us try to avoid.

When you are done rinsing the car of all the soap, you need to dry your car. Make sure if you see a spot of dirt you missed, or loose debris on the car, don’t touch it with your drying towel, re-wash the area and then dry. A great tool is the chamois and we can go as far as using leaf blowers to completely remove all the water from all the tight spaces and trim.

The next step will be a tutorial guiding you how to complete your de-tailing process by waxing your car, come back tomorrow for the next tutorial! 

Do not impair the quality of your driving with dirty windows. Here are a few tips on how to clean those car windows.

Always choose a cleaner that does not contain ammonia, most ammonia based products, like household cleaners are not safe for any type of tinted glass, are not healthy to breathe in and some can leave streaks on your windows. The best cloth to use is a microfiber cloth or towel. Clean windows after doing the rest of your car so you don’t mess it up again while working on other areas.

Wipe up and down and side to side with long strokes giving special attention to the windshield since that is the glass you will be using the most.

Roll down windows to get at the top edges of the glass – if you leave dirt in these areas when you put your windows down it will just smear over your clean windows.  

Clean the mirrors and headlights too whilst you are doing this.

Maintain clean windows by keeping your windscreen wipers clean and in good condition. You might also want to use a windshield washing additive to the wiper fluid to help clear any dirt from the windows. 

Oil and grease stains are unfortunately a common problem for car interiors, due to oil being leaked onto driveways, parking spaces etc and then being stood in and wiped onto the carpet of the car. I was recently asked the best way to remove oil stains from carpets without making it worse, so here is a tutorial to get rid of any nasty stains! 

1.) Remove excess oil or grease by blotting or scraping, using a blunt knife, this will make it easier to get the stain out as the move you remove beforehand the better the result. 

2.) Place a sheet of butcher paper or a portion of a brown paper bag on the stain, glossy side up and then gently press the tip of a warm iron over the affected area whilst holding the paper flat.

3.) Lift the paper from the carpet after the paper has absorbed the grease.

4.) Apply carpet shampoo with a moist sponge if any residual stains remain and then wipe away the carpet shampoo foam with a clean, dry towel.

5.) Finish by hovering the area, if a stain still remains repeat the process again until clean. 

Other products which i have heard apparently work well – but i have not tried – are Head and Shoulders Shampoo and men’s shaving cream straight from the can.