Automotive Academy

How to drive company cars

There are several varieties of cars people like to drive. Fast cars top the list. These types of cars are preferred by people for their astonishing speed and striking looks. Sport cars are loved by many for this very reason. But here is a perceptual difference. You would normally associate these fast cars with NASCAR or INDI 500 of the US or the ever popular F1 cars. Naturally; driving in a sport car to office is not very popular. If one wants to drive really fast, then these cars will surely let the adrenalin gush, of those seeking to drive real fast. There are some car manufacturing companies who offer courses for people who want to know everything about their car. Such companies teach customers how to drive the particular make of car really fast. These cars come in different price range-affordable to expensive. It is up to the buyer which car he/she wants to go for.

Now manufacturers have designed certain types of pickup trucks, sedans and SUVs etc. in such a manner that the car driving experience has got a facelift. Such small cars give drivers the pleasure of driving a fast car. Before buying a fast car, one must know everything about the car, like safety features, power, speed limits and many more.

Modern technology has given an upper hand to the car manufactures. Today these fast cars are considered at par with sports cars. The fast cars offer everything that a sports car can give. Great speed, high performance of a sports car coupled with the comfort and size of a family car has given a boost to the fast cars and made them popular for daily commute. Though the sports car will not lose its charm, these small fast cars have become trendy day by day with added features as per the latest technology. (streetdirectory.com)

What are the safety features of a fast car?

A must have for a fast car is ‘antilock braking systems’ (ABS). Driving carefully on highways is very essential. Imagine you are driving at a speed of 155kmph or above and the truck just ahead of you stops abruptly. What would you do in such a nerve losing situation? The ABS will let you stay calm and will help you stop your car at once to avoid any unpleasant, troublesome incident. Your car dealer may give you demonstration of the function of antilock braking system so that you will get a fine idea of the capability of your fast car in such a condition. The traction controls of the car in conjunction with the ABS will make your car ride more stable even in the bad weather, rain or wind. Still it is advised that, even if your car being a fast car has high quality safety measures, in bad weather conditions, one must drive unhurriedly and watchfully.

There is an additional safety feature in the fast cars. Airbags at the side and front of the car, knee airbags play a vital role in an unpleasant situation of accident. So checking for this aspect before buying a fast car is very vital.

What precautions to be taken while driving a fast car?

It is a well known fact that the fast cars are manufactured to function extremely well on the streets. It is just that the people who drive such fast cars overrate their driving skills and lose car control ending up in some accident. So driving cautiously and with awareness is very important. Checking safety elements and never abusing the power of the fast car is very essential in avoiding accidents while driving fast cars. It is always recommended not to drive after drinking alcoholic beverages as influence of alcohol might result into losing car controls.

You can drive faster than you are driving now. But sticking to the roads and highway speed limits will not only keep you safe but also keep you from getting tickets. Alternatively; many agencies offer their premises to enable you to drive these cars real fast. These premises have no traffic and lots of space to drive the car faster than the roads. And what’s more you don’t get a speed ticket or cops chasing you frantically. However; one does need to sign an indemnity bond for this exercise.

Tips to keep your fast car safe from theft:
Always lock the car and do not forget to take car keys along with you. Leaving car keys to the car increases the chances of stealing the car. Park the car in a well-lighted parking area. Do not leave car windows half open. This will not give thieves the easy access to enter car. Do not park your car on the road if you have a parking area of your own. Locking car and the garage after parking will help prevent car theft.

Generally people leave their car engine running during winter mornings to worm up; it gives thieves effortless way in to your car. Avoiding this will help prevent theft. Never keep the valuables noticeable in your car. Once thieves break into the car to take the expensive goods, they can take the car away. (2sportscars.com)

Keeping these small things in mind will save your much adored, loved fast car away from thievery.

Is insurance for fast car helpful?

Fast cars are available at different price range. Even if one goes for an affordable fast car, one pays for it from hard earned money. So if the car is stolen or is involved in some accident, one feels terrible. An all inclusive insurance policy will give you cover from any legal responsibility besides dealing with car theft or any accidental damage to your automobile and to you too. Car insurance provides cover for damage due to natural calamites also. So going for car insurance is a wise decision. (geico.com)

If you do not make any claim during the insurance period and if you have paid the premium accordingly, you might get ‘no claim bonus’ depending upon your insurers’ guiding principles. So choose your car insurance policy very carefully keeping in mind future requirements.
Finally; keep this mind that driving a fast car is a luxury and not a necessity. However; with little planning and foresight; you can turn that luxury into an affordable proposal. It is a thrill ot drive fast cars, so go ahead and enjoy them !!!

Green Flag offers one of the most competitively priced vehicle breakdown and recovery services in the UK today. Since its formation in 1971 as ‘National Breakdown’, the company has grown to serve some 5 million motorists in the UK with 24-hour breakdown assistance, 365 days of the year.
 
Green Flag’s cheap breakdown cover is a result of the organisation’s reliance on a network of independent vehicle breakdown and recovery agents across the UK and Europe. When a call for roadside assistance or other breakdown service comes into Green Flag’s incident management centre, the closest Green Flag agent in the network is contacted and dispatched to the breakdown scene.

In the UK Green Flag has more than 6,000 independent technicians on call; across Europe Green Flag has some 15,000 bilingual agents ready to assist. Customers can expect a rescue patrol vehicle to arrive at their location within 40 minutes, or within an hour at most of making the call.

Breakdown teams and patrol vehicles are trained to deal with a comprehensive range of breakdown problems at the roadside, but the majority of the calls that they receive are for preventable causes, issues that with planned maintenance can be avoided. Here are the five most common preventable problems:

Flat Battery / Faulty Battery – If you’ve not got a set of jump leads and a willing ‘donor’ car, or a car battery recharger to hand, the next best thing you can do is call for breakdown assistance. Loss of voltage caused by short journeys is a frequent cause of flat batteries. To prevent your car battery running flat take the car on a longer journey every week. If this is not possible, a fortnightly overnight charge of the battery will do the trick. Loose and corroded terminal or clamp connections cause problems too.

Flat tyres – A vast number of vehicle breakdown call outs are for assistance in changing tyres and replacing damaged wheels.?Under inflated tyres for the car’s load are a prime cause of tyre failure. To prevent this from becoming an issue tyre pressure should be checked regularly. Use a tyre inflation pump and monitor to achieve the correct pressure. If a tyre is constantly losing pressure over time it may be that you have a slow puncture and need the tyre replacing.

Alternator – If the alternator is not working properly your car battery does not charge, this drops the voltage of your battery to a level that is insufficient to run the engine, and so the engine cuts out.?While there is little you can do to maintain the alternator yourself, you can watch out for signs that tell you when your alternator is faulty. Look out for a flickering of your battery warning light on the dashboard for instance, and keep an eye out for dimmed headlamps and dimmed dashboard lights when the engine is idling.

Starter motor – If the starter motor fails your engine won’t start. Regular garage maintenance can help highlight faults with the starter motor so it doesn’t become a breakdown issue.

Fuel – Every year hundreds of thousands of people put the wrong type of fuel into their cars or simply run out of fuel at the side of the road. Keep an eye of your petrol gauge and if the petrol light comes on make sure you put fuel in the car as soon as you can.

Cars are becoming more like computers so it is no surprise that fewer people than ever are willing to dive under the bonnet of the car when a vehicle breakdown occurs. High-tech devices now control most of a modern cars engines performance, and now a laptop is the only device needed being used as a diagnostic tool instead of a bag of tools and a torch.

It seems a lot safer and quicker to call for breakdown assistance instead of trying to tackle the complicated modern engines ourselves. Another reason to take out breakdown cover is as the use of satellite navigation and multi-changing CD players increases – so does the second most common reason for calling out breakdown assistance – flat batteries.

Also on the rise are call outs for cars that won’t start because the immobilizer has been activated, either by accident or through driver error, and call outs to drivers who’ve locked themselves out of their cars. The two fastest growing reasons for breakdown assistance calls are immobilizer issues and being locked out of cars. Whether you’re locked out, stranded by the roadside or stuck at home with a car that just won’t start, if you’ve bought breakdown cover, you’ve no need to worry. Just pick up the phone.

Broken down vehicles can sometimes lead to horror stories that have been the result of a broken down vehicle being in a dangerous place, broken down vehicles at the side of the road run the risk of being hit by passing traffic, is the simple act of changing a flat tyre on a motorway hard shoulder worth risking loosing your life?

We’ve all heard the motoring horror stories that have resulted from broken down vehicles being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are many cases of stricken vehicles on the side of the road being hit by passing traffic. For some the simple act of changing a flat tyre on a motorway hard shoulder has ended tragically.

When you choose to take out breakdown cover you have access to a vehicle rescue and recovery service experienced in safe roadside assistance. Your safety and the safety of your passengers and other road users is their priority. If your vehicle has broken down in a dangerous location, such as at a blind corner or on the side of a busy stretch of fast road, the breakdown patrol unit will know what to do to make the situation as safe as possible for all concerned.

When you buy breakdown cover you get an experienced organization that not only knows how to fix your vehicle and get you to your destination with the minimum of fuss, but an organization that makes your safety their priority. 

Statistics from the UK’s leading breakdown cover providers have shown that Britain’s vehicle breakdown services are called into action on an average 20,000 times each day. The most common reasons for the calls outs are flat batteries, punctured tyres and general engine troubles.

A high percentage of these breakdown issues are resolved at the roadside by the patrol cars and emergency repair success rates have risen by 85% for many of the UK’s breakdown service providers. This means that a high majority of drivers who break down and then call for roadside assistance are back on the road in their own vehicles without suffering a delay and can back on their journey trouble-free.

If your vehicle cannot be repaired by the roadside a tow to the nearest repair centre will be included as standard. More flexibility can be provided by buying breakdown cover which includes full vehicle recovery to your home address or your local garage, also you can add options which cover the cost of a replacement vehicle and emergency accommodation if it is needed as a result of a breakdown. This is a full service option that provides complete peace of mind every time you go out onto the roads. 

Scottish driver Allan McNish has been voted ‘Driver of the Decade’ in the American Le Mans Series. Allan McNish is a Audi racer, who won the 2000, 2006 and 2007 ALMS championship titles and received the most votes cast by fans of the North American-based endurance sportscar series.

‘It is an accolade that has come completely out of the blue,’ said McNish. ‘Over 70 drivers, including all of the legendary names from the past 10 years of sportscar racing,  were eligible and I’m honoured to have been chosen by the fans – especially as I’ve only completed three full seasons in the ALMS and just two races this year.’

Recently McNish managed to make up two laps in the first two hours and 45 minutes of the Petit Le Mans race after crashing his Audi R10 TDI on the pre-race reconnaissance lap. He went on to win the 1,000-mile race with Dindo Capello and Emanuele Pirro by 4.512 seconds.

The famous Nurburgring is having building work on a massive scale and it’s all part of a €215 million investment that’ll see Europe’s most famous race track build on its popular track day reputation to become what marketing boss Stephan Cimbal describes as a motor sport theme park that’s open 365 days a year. Work started just one year ago, but it’s on track, so to speak, to meet the self-imposed 11 June 2009 deadline.

The plans are to include the world’s fastest rollercoaster. There’ll also be a new arena with up to 6000 seats for ‘everything from boxing matches and beach volleyball to new car presentations’; 100 budget condominiums; and another hotel – currently only the Hotel Dorint is track-side – with 148 rooms, a casino and a heli pad for motor sport moguls; plus a proper welcome centre to lend a sense of occasion to the slightly anti-climatic greeting today’s visitor’s receive. 

Manufacturers have embraced the German circuit in recent years, so the ’Ring Boulevard makes perfect sense – a 300m-long ‘motor sport mall’ with Ferrari, Aston, Nissan, Yokohama and Bilstein showrooms. Other attractions will include the Eiffel Village Green Hell that’ll house a steak house, bar and disco. There will also be a Ring Werk theme park that’ll really get tongues wagging, it will be a 15,000 square meter theme park with a science and history exhibition and a crazy rollercoaster that will start inside and then run alongside the track doing 0-135mph in 2.5 seconds – twice as fast as an F1 car and 3.4g, which is the highest permissible by the German authorities.

Cimbal hopes the outlay will add an extra 500,000 visitors to today’s two million and extend the season from the current April to October – I certainly wouldn’t bet against it!

As the stresses of the 21st century get to us, owning a car is lo longer a luxury, but for many a necessity in order to work, get the kids to school, keep in touch with family and maybe the occasional holiday or to enjoy your leisure time. It is very easy to assume that the vehicle you drive will give you years of untroubled motoring and after you hand over the cheque and drive away, that car will never need any further love and attention.

It is true that cars are built to a better standard and are more reliable than ever before, but that does not mean they will have an untroubled life and will occasionally let the side down and suffer a mechanical breakdown.  It is for those times that many chose to buy a breakdown cover policy to have an engineer attend the stricken vehicle and if he can, repair it there and then, so you can be on your way in no time. These breakdown cover patrolmen are well equipped to handle most types of car failure including some other types of mishaps too, such as locking yourself out of your car.

They arrive in fully equipped vans with a small selection of popular car parts, to give you the best chance of driving away from the scene. In real terms breakdown cover policies are cheaper than ever and in most cases an emergency roadside service company will charge you less for a basic  annual policy than it costs for one  fill up at the petrol pumps, such is today’s value. Of course there are more advanced policies that allow you and your car to be transported anywhere within the UK, if the car cannot be fixed there and then. Some policies also, pay for train transport and other extras.

You will need to research each breakdown cover policy separately as they do differ from company to company, to ensure you get one to suit your needs.

1.) Ensure that Tyre pressures are maintained as per manufacturer specifications. Over or under inflated tyres would mean better mileage or better handling respectively but will drastically reduce the Tyre life.

2.) Adjust Tyre pressure when the Tyre is hot, i.e when the vehicle has run for 15 to 20 km. Hot air expands if Tyre pressure is regulated, when cold you will mostly have excess air in the tyres.

3.) Try to fill fuel in the mornings, as specific gravity of fuel is high in the morning.

4.) Try to keep the fuel tank above the half mark in city driving conditions so that a proper pressure is maintained. Also this will ensure that the fuel lines are always clean and are not clogged by the gum like residue of slow flowing fuel. The Fuel tank too will not catch rust.

5.) Get the vehicle serviced at regular intervals from authorized service centers to ensure that the vehicle is in proper tune at all times.

6.) Use recommended fuel additives to keep the fuel system clean. (Please note these additives have recommended instructions and applications.) 

7.) Higher octane fuels as X-tra Premium (91 octane), Speed 93 and Power 93 (both 93 octane) are recommended for cars with engines having higher compression ratios, viz., C segment and above. This results in improved mileage as well as enhanced performance. No additives need be used with these fuels. 

8.) Drive your vehicle smoothly and avoid sudden acceleration or braking. Anticipate stops to avoid harsh braking.

9.) Try shifting to higher gears at lower speeds, especially in citydriving to get the maximum mileage out of your car. Ideally, one should be in 5th gear or the highest possible gear at speeds above 50-60 km/h.

10.) Avoid clutch riding. i.e make sure that your foot is not resting on the clutch pedal while driving. This will reduce both your clutch life and your mileage.

Homemade Recipes for Cleaning and Conditioning Leather:

Read ingredients in leather cleaners carefully. You will find that the ingredients are pretty common: olive oil, lanolin and Neat’s-foot oil (animal rendered oils) are generally used in commercial products. If your vehicle has leather seats, avoid hot, sunny parking spots and use a sun screen in front of your windows, or cover the seats with a blanket to protect the leather.  Spot cleaning, dusting and using a protective spray will increase the life of the leather.

For full cleaning and conditioning, try this mixture:

• 1 part white vinegar
• 2 parts neatsfoot oil OR raw or food grade linseed oil
• Use a white lint free cloth to swirl on, leave overnight then buff for maximum shine.

Remove any mildew or mold on leather before starting with a regular cleaning. To remove mildew, try this inexpensive, easy recipe:

• 1 part rubbing alcohol
• 1 part water
• Spray on or use on a dampened cloth. Use a clean white lint free cloth and replace as it gets dirty. Avoid direct sunlight and allow to air dry. You may also turn on a fan and allow it to gently waft over the surface.

Removing Stains From Leather

It may be impossible to remove all stains from leather, depending on their origin. However, here are some simple cleaning tips that might help.

• Toothpaste straight on the stain, lightly scrubbed in and then wiped off.
• Try non-acetone nail polish remover wipes on ink stains.
• Aerosol hairspray works well on tough stains. Spray the hairspray directly on the stain and wipe away. This may take several swipes so keep at it.

A basic guide can be defined as the loss of traction between a vehicle’s tyres and the road surface due to the forces acting on the vehicle. Most skids are caused by driver error, although only about 15% of accidents are the direct result of a vehicle skidding. Skids occurring in other accidents are usually the result of last minute action, by the driver, when faced with a crisis ahead rather than actually causing an accident. Skids can occur both in the dry and wet as well as icy conditions, however, the chances of losing control and having an accident increase by 50% in the wet. The main causes of skidding are as follows:

a) harsh or sudden acceleration

b) excessive of sudden braking

c) coarse or jerky steering movements

The effects of the above will be enhanced by speed. Combining these effects with non-recognition of adverse road and weather conditions will create problems for the driver. The main types of skid that a driver could encounter on the public highway fall into three categories:

1) The front wheel skid.

2) The rear wheel skid.

3) The four wheel skid.

The best ways to avoid skidding in any type of conditions are:

• Accelerate gently as opposed to harshly and in a straight line wherever possible.
• Treat all braking operations in the same manner as acceleration.
• If conditions are adverse, delicate use of foot controls and gentle shallow movements of the steering wheel are called for.
• Ensure that the vehicle’s position, speed and gear are correct before entering and negotiating the hazard.
• Reduce speed in good time if conditions show any sign of deterioration.
• Make sure the vehicle is correctly maintained, especially that tyre pressures are correct and the tyres are in good condition. Also have the vehicle’s shock absorbers professionally checked; they are all that is holding you on the road.

Many people will just leave the car to dry itself, this can cause problems if you have direct sunlight on it. You will find the water drying in certain areas faster which will leave spots all over. Drying your car is easy and only takes a few minutes to do it manually and the result will be much better.

1) A towel or leather is what you should be using, there are better materials to use than leather – it depends if you have one or mind spending the money in getting one. The main problem with using leather is that after a few uses it will become slimy and won’t be as good as drying the car making it much harder to dry manually.

2) All you have to do it go around the car drying it section by section, if the car is in direct sunlight then you should start with that area first. After you have cleaned a section, rinse out the material to free water allowing you to dry the next section easier.

3) Ensure that the car is 100% dry before putting your equipment away, make sure that you dry the wheels because if you were to drive off with wet wheels it could splash the side panels of your car.

A good way to remove insects from the front of your car when cleaning is to use Active Insect Remover which is a concentrated foam designed to rapidly dissolve squashed insect remains from vehicle bodywork, windscreens and headlights, insects are always the hardest part when it comes to cleaning a car and this is especially the case in summertime. 

The product can be used at the roadside as a quick fix or as part of the full car cleaning process; all you have to do is spray onto the surface to be cleaned and allow approximately 30 seconds whilst the product works and the insect remains to soften.

Wipe off surface with a soft cloth and clean the surface with dry paper towel or hose off if used prior to normal washing of the car. Stubborn insect remains may require a second application. If the product ‘dries on’, then wipe off is improved if the cloth is dampened or sprayed with Active Insect Remover. This product can be used on cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, caravans and boats.

When detailing your car you should start with the lower half so that you are not transferring any of the dirt to the cleaner areas. This is because the wheels, wheel arches and the front of the car are often the dirtiest. If possible you should also use separate cleaning apparatus for the best result, failing that you should clean it thoroughly before using them again.

1) Start by wetting the top half thoroughly, you will get the best results if you wash your car in the shade or when the sun isn’t out. This will prevent the water drying unevenly giving a spotty effect.

2) I always tend to start at the front and work my way to the back, when cleaning the bonnet keep an eye out for foreign objects such as grit that will scratch the paint or glass if moved around. You can use a separate cloth or bug sponge to wash the windscreen to remove any bugs that may be stuck on.

3) Be careful when you choose a pad to wash your car, many of them will state that they will not scratch the paint or glass but sometimes they do. You are best doing a small area to see what the outcome is like, if it’s satisfactory then you can do the rest of the vehicle.

4) To get onto the roof of your car simply use a box or step ladder giving you easy access, just make sure that it’s stable and not touching the cat to avoid any damage.

5) After you have cleaned the car with your cleaning products go over it with the hose removing any soap and let it dry. You can dry it manually depending if you have time, if not try to let it dry in the shade to get an even finish.

When you are detailing the exterior of your vehicle you will find certain areas needing more attention if you want the best results. You will agree that the exterior of your vehicle is the most important part of the detail.

1) You are best doing the front and the wheels separate to the rest of the car, this is because it’s often the dirtiest so you would hate to mix up the dirt when cleaning the other panels. Use separate buckets, sponges and paintbrushes when cleaning the front, you should just clean them thoroughly after you have finished.

2) Before you start cleaning the front end of your vehicle you should wet the area first.

3) Using a degreaser you should spray the areas that you intend on cleaning. You can pick up degreasers that are used for vehicles if you want the best results.

4) Using a sponge of cloth you should then wipe down the area removing the dirt and any bugs that may be stuck onto the front. Sometimes it will take a couple of wipes to get the front end clean depending on how bad it is.

5) You can use a paintbrush for any areas where you cannot get into to make things much easier for you. Areas such as the grills are hard to get the cloth into in order to clean it properly.

6) Simply spray the front end down again removing all of the chemicals and excess dirt and dry the front end with a new cloth.

Many people think it’s harder than it is to clean a door jamb that it really is, when you are detailing your car you want the best results so don’t want to miss any section out.

1) Start by just opening the doors so you can see the door jamb, you should use the same product you used when cleaning the wheels for this task.

2) Most of the products out there will not do any damage to the material so you can be confident that you won’t discolour, weaken or ruin the door jamb, paint or upholstery. Before you begin you are recommended to double check that it will not affect any materials to be on the safe side.

3) You can dilute the cleaner if you wish, start by simply spraying the product evenly into the door jamb.

4) Take a paintbrush and ensure that you have got into the corners, just lightly brush over it a couple of times.

5) All you have to do now is rinse it off, you can either use a wet cloth or a hosepipe to do this. You have to be careful that you don’t get too much water inside the car as you are prolonging the drying process.

That’s all there is to it. Repeat this process on the other side and carry on detailing the rest of your car.

1) When you are cleaning your car you will need to address the trim separately with a different approach, the trim are the areas made from rubber or plastic.

2) You should be using a special UV protector so that it’s doesn’t fade in sunlight, you can pick it up from some of the high end motor supply shops.

3) Spray the solution onto the sponge opposed to directly onto the car, use the sponge to apply the solution to the trim on your car. Be sure to wipe off any residue because if it gets onto your paintwork it can stain and damage the finish.

4) You should clean the trim before you wax your car, basically it just means that if you get any wax onto the trim it will be a lot easier to remove.

5) If you decide to use this on your wheels you should always put a towel on the floor, if you get the solution onto concrete it will actually leave a mark that is visible when the concrete is wet.

6) Go around the car cleaning the trim and wheels ensuring you’re wiping the UV protector with a towel to remove in residue as you go along.

7) It dries pretty quickly so once you have finished you should be ready to wax your car if you have decided you are doing it on the same day.