Tips To Select Car Upholstery Stain Remover

By Gagan Avi Modi

Every car owner will agree to the fact that keeping the interiors of the car clean is one of the most tedious tasks. Dusting and vacuuming are not sufficient to keep the interiors clean. No matter, how careful one is the car upholstery tends to get soiled. Every car owner is in search of the perfect car upholstery stain remover. One must understand that all stains are not the same. One cannot treat or clean all the stains in the same fashion. It is essential to find an apt car upholstery stain remover. Here, are few tips that can help in selecting an efficient and multipurpose upholstery stain remover.

Capable of cleaning the toughest stains: Car upholstery can be stained due to food and beverage spills, pets or children. Some of these stains may be easy to handle while some of the stains might prove difficult. One must always select a remover that is capable of cleaning the toughest stains with minimal effort. Mild stain removers would require a lot of scrubbing and brushing. This can damage the upholstery and also fade the color at times. One must, however, be careful to use products that are designed for removing stains from car upholstery.

Choose Aerosol: Aerosol sprays or stain removers are preferred by the consumers. These removers have greater penetration capabilities. They are easy to use. One need not worry about storing these sprays under special conditions, unlike the liquid stain removers. Aerosol sprays are strong and have wider coverage area.

Multipurpose: Car owners have to tackle different types of upholstery stains. It is best that one buys a multipurpose product. This product should be capable of cleaning different kinds of stains including that of food and beverage spills, cosmetic stains and stains caused by pets. One can also choose a product that may prove to be useful indoors, as well as, outdoors.

Non-residual: Many strong stain removers often leave a residue behind. This residue looks like an ugly patch. It takes away the charm from the car interiors and mars its appearance. One must always choose a stain eliminator that does not leave a residue behind.

It is essential to use branded and high quality stain eliminators for one's car. One must not buy the product without seeing a demo. If, one is buying the product from an online store, then it is crucial to check for money back guarantee in case the product fails to meet the quality standards.

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How to Become an Auto Repair Specialist

By Ace Abbey

Becoming an auto repair specialist is a great option for anyone who has a gift for working on cars. It is also a good choice for those who have the desire but don't necessarily have the gift. However, just having the desire isn't exactly good enough. You must know how to go about reaching your goal. If you aren't necessarily ready monetarily to attend school there are other things you can do to prepare yourself.
For instance, you could try to shadow a local repair specialist. Let them know what you are doing and why it is important for you. You could even offer your services for free as a way to repay them. For instance, you could work as a receptionist over the weekends for a month. You could even work as an assistant for free. By offering your services, you give yourself a better chance of being accepted as an apprentice. If you just go in trying to get help without offering anything in return, there's a good chance you will be turned away.
Once you are accepted you will be able to get hands on experience that wouldn't necessarily be provided in a classroom setting. You would be able to see how a day really goes for an auto repair specialist. You would be able to experience the fun and easy going times as well as the times when they must deal with difficult and unsatisfied customers.

Another way to prepare for a job as an auto repair specialist is to start practicing. Although you would have an opportunity to get experience as an apprentice, it is still good to get extra practice. So, after you have gotten a considerable amount of knowledge, offer your services to family members and friends. Don't try to do something you aren't equipped to do, however. So, in other words only work on things or projects you feel confident about. If not, you could really do damage to someone's vehicle. This could hurt your reputation as a future mechanic.

You could also prepare to become an auto repair specialist by doing your own personal study time. For instance, you could visit the local library and checkout books that relate to your desired field of work. You could also purchase books at a bookstore or online. This will help you to get foundational knowledge before you take your actual classes for certification.

So, before you take the step to become an auto repair specialist, remember that there are several things you can do to make the process easier. The worst thing you can do is try to pursue a career without the proper preparation.

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Steps to Be Fuel Efficient

By Abhisek Kumar

In the coming days, the fossil fuels will get depleted due the more extraction of fossil fuel from the earth's crust. More over the gasoline price goes on increasing in the upcoming days so we need to have car with higher mileage in these upcoming days.

There are different ways to increase the fuel average of a car. Among those some of the ways are as follows:

- Firstly the car should be fuel efficient and this the best way to save money. There are many cars in the market which have higher mileage and replacing it with the non-fuel efficient cars will be the best choice.

- The car should be in a good condition and its engine should be problem free. The air filter should be cleaned if any dirt particles are left in the air filter which reduces the efficiency by 20%. More over the spark plug should be cleaned well as a poor conditioned spark plug will reduce the efficiency by 12%. Aftermarket kits like cold air intake will be best in this scenario.

- Next the most important thing is maintain the tires pressure and this saves the fuel up to 3.3%.

- More over the engine oil should be changed regularly in order to save the fuel.

- Use proper fuel as right gasoline will give efficient combustion and knocking can be avoided.

- Light weight should be carried and over load should be avoided so that fuel efficiency will increase.

- Drive at constant speed on the highways so as to save the fuel. Going too fast leads to more fuel consumption. Generally driving 60 miles per hour instead of 70 mph will save you 2-4 miles per gallon.

- Don't accelerate quickly as this leads to more fuel consumption this decreases the fuel efficiency.

- While waiting for someone or at traffic signals stop the engine in order to save fuel. This increases the efficiency up to 10%.

- Next thing is windows up which saves the fuel and on highway this can decrease the fuel economy by 10%.

- Making a proper plan of your trip will lead to save the fuel.

- Prefer walk for small distances and use of public transport so as to save the fuel.

- Buy the gasoline at a whole sale dealer so that we can get discount on the fuel.

- Over filling of gasoline should be avoided in order to save the fuel.

- Make sure the gas caps are closed tightly in order to avoid the leakage of gasoline.

- Using of premium gasoline fuel i.e., right octane level will increase the fuel efficiency and also increases the life of the engine.

- The car shape should be aerodynamically perfect so as to give good fuel efficiency.

- More over using of performance chip will increase the engine power and torque which in turn will increase the fuel efficiency of the car.

- Upgrading the car parts with latest one will also increase the fuel efficiency of the car.

- The car body should be of light weight so that more fuel will not be required while running and this increases the fuel efficiency.

- Braking will waste the energy produce by combustion and give acceleration will consume more power. So to avoid this constant speed should be maintained.

- Idling will lead to wastage of fuel so idling should be avoided by driving slow until the operating temperature is reached.

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The Ways to Pick Up the Best Automotive Expert Witness

By Johnny Kilroy

An expert witness is a professional who is appointed by lawyers or other legal representatives to testify in court about scholarly or mechanical knowledge. Similarly, an automotive expert witness is a person who performs the role of witness in a trial in order to testify about an issue related to automobiles and transportation.

The work range of automotive experts can cover a wide range of issues. They can be part of trials that are related to auto accident, litigation of an auto accident, reconstruction accident, etc.
The main duty of an automotive experts is to supply specific knowledge based on either field perspective or scientific theory. They give testimony on the basis of having witnessed a lot of accidents and come across detailed evidence.

Well, now the question comes how to ensure rendering the service of a good automotive experts out of so many. Here is given some tips that can help people to pick up the service of a good automotive expert witness:

• The best way to pick a good one is to go for a local expert because you can contact him easily and ask to appear in a trial to become an expert witness.
• Online is good source to find professional automotive witness. You can choose from a huge list of bona fide and legit experts. However, online is a fertile place of scammers too. So, if you cannot handle the matter, you are likely to pick up an incompetent or scam witness expert.
• A good automotive witness will always have a license and an authorized pricing schedule. You should avoid those experts who do not have these basics.
• Another way to select good experts is to check their Better Business Bureau rating. You should also check whether they have many complaints or not. Just checking their score is not a good means to select an expert as it only indicates to just one aspect of their professionalism.
• If possible, you must verify the testimonials that they have on their websites or published brochures. It is also important to check if they have any real world experience.
• Probably, one of the most effective ways to pick up a good automotive expert is to check whether an insurance company has ever hired him. It is because an insurance company will hire only the best expert to scrutinize the case well.

If you follow the aforementioned guidelines, you can definitely have the service of a professional and skilled automotive expert witness for your litigation.

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By Darren Hirst

Everyone has small bad driving habits such as not putting the hand brake on when at traffic lights or changing gears when the engine is roaring, but none of these annoy other drivers on the road. Here are the top 10 appalling driving habits that get on other drivers nerves:

1. Tailgating- Nobody likes a driver who tailgates as they place you under pressure when driving and put you and your car at risk of being in an accident. This is definitely in the top 10 appalling driving habits as we know how bad some drivers follow others that cause pile ups of 5 and 6 cars on the roads.
2. Running lights- Some drivers don't slow down at amber lights but speed up! There philosophy is if the person before them gets through so are they. This isn't the attitude to have at all and you should approach traffic lights with causation as they may turn at any time.
3. Poor use of indicators- Poor use of indicators doesn't help anyone on the road especially other drivers. It's an appalling driving habit that can be easily fixed. Use indicators when emerging, exiting and turning to show other drivers what you're intending to do.
4. Undertaking- Undertaking is an appalling and dangerous driving habit. You're told not to undertake on your driving lessons for a number reasons as it annoys other drivers, is dangerous and you will fail your driving test for doing it.
5. Not making normal progress- Whether this is in the right hand lane or not you should always go the speed limit if it's safe and clear to do so as you're taught on your driving lessons. Only use the right hand lane when making progress on another driver and never block this lane up by going to slow and force other drivers to undertake.
6. Drivers who make too much progress- We're talking about speeding here and it's just as bad as travelling below the speed limit. It's proven to make accidents more severe with more fatalities and that's why it's in our list of 10 appalling driving habits.
7. Drivers who cut others up- been cut up by a selfish, dangerous driver is something that everyone will experience whether its someone pulling out from the side of a road, existing when they shouldn't on a roundabout or even on a dual carriage way. This is appalling habit number seven and should be eradicated from your driving.
8. No courtesy- drivers with no courtesy don't help anyone and you're taught how you should act when on the road. You should remember what you learnt on your driving lessons when it comes to courtesy on the road and have some of it as it's a very annoying driving habit if you don't.
9. Drinking and driving- This is by far one of the most appalling driving habits and is now looked down upon by society as somebody intoxicated shouldn't have control of a car. You don't see this behaviour as much anymore but some are still convicted of it, if you see a driver swaying on the road make sure you keep your distance from them as you can't anticipate their actions.
10. Multi-tasking- Some drivers think they can talk on the phone, eat and mess around with the radio all whilst driving and they're usually all over the road. When driving you should only be focused on the road and it's a very annoying and not to mention a dangerous habit.

There you have the 10 most appalling driving habits. Make sure you don't do any of the above whilst driving as they're all very dangerous and inconsiderate to other drivers. Keep the good habits you're taught when you learn to drive and you should have no problem avoiding the above

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Know The Advantages of Alloy Wheels

By Emma Heuton

Alloy wheels are basically automobile wheels, which are manufactured from the alloys of magnesium and aluminum. These automobile wheels are similar to the regular automobile wheels made from steel. They have some added features, which make them better than the regular wheels. Alloy wheels have become popular since second half of the 20th century due to their lighter weight, aesthetic appeal and better performance. These wheels gained a huge success across the world, as soon as they were launched. Today, majority of the car manufacturers prefer installing wheels manufactured from alloys in the new car models.

Alloy wheels are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials. Different types of alloy automobile wheels available in the market today are:

Three Spoke Wheels: The three spoke automobile wheels are suitable for smaller vehicles. These slim spoked equipment became very popular when they were first introduced in the market. Today, this type of wheel has become outdated and very few people prefer using this type of wheel.

Five and Six Spoke Wheels: These are the most popular type of alloy wheels. These versatile equipment suit almost any type of automobile. These wider equipment are more suitable for large automobiles.

Twin and Multi Spoke Wheels: These types of automobile parts are suitable for sports cars and luxury cars. Installing five or six spoke wheels in your luxury car can make your car look a little simple and understated. Installing twin or multi-spoke wheels will enhance the overall look of your car. They will make it look more stylish and classy.

Alloy automobile wheels are manufactured primarily by four different processes, including low pressure casting (LPDC), gravity casting (permanent mold and sand casting), high pressure die casting (HPDC) and forging. These automobile parts have several benefits over regular steel wheels, including:

Light Weight: These automobile parts are lighter in weight as compared to the steel wheels. Installing these wheels in your vehicle reduces the unsprung mass of the vehicle. Lower unsprung mass is important for maintaining an optimum contact with the surface of the road. Reduced unsprung mass results in improved performance, better balancing, better suspension and better handling. Reduced unsprung mass also enhances the vehicle's grip on the road and uneven terrains. Further, weight of a wheel has more importance as compared to the weight of a stationary automobile part. More energy is required to slow down or speed up a heavier wheel. Installing lighter alloy wheels will reduce the amount of energy (fuel) consumption. A lighter vehicle offers a better mileage. The alloy wheels manufactured from magnesium alloys are known as Mag-Wheels. These are one of the lightest moving automobile parts available in the market. These automobile parts are widely installed in racing cars.

Aesthetic Appeal: These automobile parts have become popular due to their intricate and shiny designs and unmatched visual appeal. These equipment can give an extraordinary makeover to your cars. Chrome alloy automobile wheels look great on dark-colored cars

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Have Your Radiator Hoses Inspected

By Otto Wortman

Checking the condition of these items should only take you a few minutes but it will save you a great deal in subsequent maintenance and repair costs. Radiator hoses are the avenues that engine coolant use to cool the engine and then go back to be cooled in the radiator. For the effective running of your vehicle, the whole system must run efficiently.

These items are one of the most important devices in your engine, they help maintain the temperature of the engine at an optimum temperature of about 90 to 100 degrees Celsius. After some time, the hoses begin to weaken, if they are not repaired or replaced completely, then they may collapse causing the whole engine to overheat.

The damage caused by the above mentioned failure can be severe and expensive, it is therefore worth your while to check and inspect for any leakages or signs of damage. There are some of the inspection units that have to be left to a professional mechanic, however, some of the things mentioned here can be done at home.

First and foremost, before you begin working, you need to let the engine cool. Do not attempt to remove the radiator cap when the engine is still hot because there is usually a build up of pressure and hot coolant can gush out and cause severe injuries. You may also need to wear gloves as coolant liquids can be corrosive.
Prop the engine hood open and locate the radiator pipes. These can at times be hard to find hence the reason they are often overlooked. The one on top runs from the front to the motor, this is usually the most visible one. The other one is a bit smaller and runs to the heat wall of the engine. You are more likely to find it from underneath the car.

Look at each one of them carefully. Check for any signs of swelling, cracking, leakage or any other kind of damage. Afterwards, do a squeeze test and pay extra attention to the areas where the pipe is bent. The pipes should be able to spring back or feel spongy.

This test should be done after a drive when the engine is slightly warm. If during your inspection one of the pipes feel extra soft or very hard, then they should be replaced. You are more likely to find a single spot that is soft or very hard as opposed to the whole pipe. Whichever the case is, it still needs to be replaced.
You will also need to look at the pipes near the clamps that connect them to the engine and the radiator. There are usually three different types of clamps. There is the banded clamps, the gear clamps and the wire clamps. Check for any wetness or rotation of the hoses near the clamps.

if there is any wetness in that area or if the hoses rotate, tighten the clamps or replace them all together. You could have a professional do this for you. The gear clamps and the banded clamps are usually tightened using a screw driver. The wire clamps are usually tightened using hose clamp pliers. The wire clamps are the ones that have no screws keeping them in place.

Clamps are usually quite inexpensive and can be replaced without much cost to you. Therefore if there is any sign of deterioration or damage in any of them, it is advisable that you replace them instead of replacing them. This can be done at the same time you decide to replace the hoses.

While working, you are going to need a well lit working area. You could also use a flashlight if need be. You are also going to need a screw driver, hose clamp pliers and a pair of leather or latex gloves. Since you are also likely to be working underneath the car, you may also need a ramp for easy movement under your vehicle.

The importance of learning how to do this inspection by yourself cannot be overemphasized. There is a real chance that this procedure will save you from being stranded on the side of the road with an overheated engine. You could get a mechanic to do this for you but it will be an unnecessary expenditure.

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Top Tips For New Drivers From An Experienced Driver

By Alana Burton

The first edition of the Highway Code in the UK was released in 1931, 81 years later, this booklet which is revised on a relatively frequent basis sells in the region of one million copies per year.

The Highway Code is the first port of call for all new drivers in order to acquaint themselves with the laws of the road; it contains 306 rules and 9 annexes covering all aspects such as pedestrians, animals, motorcyclists as well as drivers.

There are a number of ways to further a driver's career and to gain experience in a safer environment other than by "trial and error". There are additional driving courses run by most driving instructors, then there is the option of taking lessons in becoming an Advanced Driver. One such Institution is the IAM (Institute of Advanced Drivers). This course enables drivers with a certain amount of experience to enhance their skills in car control as well as to be able to make safe progress within the parameters of the law and taking road conditions as well as the local environment into account.

Tips from an Advanced Driver

1) A good way of judging your speed in relation to a bend is to pin-point the apex and as you approach the bend, if the road opens then your speed is correct, however, if the bend continues to come towards you, then you are approaching it too fast and you will need to slow down.

2) In order to be in control of your vehicle at all times, keep both hands on the steering wheel, not too tightly, not too loosely either, in a natural and comfortable way. Somewhere in the region of ten to two is the best.

3) Always pay attention to all road signs and think to yourself what other hidden danger may be linked to this sign, for example a hospital sign - Not only will you find that ambulances will need priority access but also you need to take into account pedestrians, other drivers pulling in and out of car parks just to mention a few.

4) If your car has been parked, before setting off again, do a quick visual check to make sure you don't have a flat tyre or there could be some other hazard you would be unaware of.

5) Always be courteous towards other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and road users in general
There are numerous other ways of improving your skills behind the wheel, the IAM test is one of them, you can also train using a skid pan which teaches drivers how to handle a vehicle during a skid as well as various other car handling techniques

Simply Driving Lessons specialise in a range of driving courses and lessons including intensive driving courses, Check Test training, Pass Plus driving lessons as well as standard driving lessons for all learner drivers, no matter their age. For high quality Surrey driving lessons make sure you choose a reputable driving school like Simply Driving Lessons

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How To Be A Better Driver - Get Back To Basics

By Sean MacDonald

The most basic principle to be applied to ensure good driving is knowledge of and obedience to traffic laws. It is not difficult to understand the danger of traveling at an excessive rate of speed in residential areas and school zones. Being a good driver includes care for the safety of pedestrians as well as other drivers.

Reviewing the current traffic laws and vehicle safety requirements can serve as a good refresher on many areas of driving likely forgotten. It is not pleasant to be traveling at a high rate of speed and have the vehicle ahead dropping pieces and parts which are now dangerous projectiles that can cause serious damage or even death. Traffic laws perform two basic functions in that they provide a level of management to aid in keeping traffic flowing smoothly, and more importantly driver safety. Traffic is chaotic enough with the traffic laws. Imagine the drive if there were no such management.

Pay attention and be observant while driving. Along with having knowledge of the traffic laws it is just as important to understand the various signs and signals that communicate those laws on streets, roads, and expressways. It is very important to look for indicators or signs that may or may not be permanent. Being attentive to signs and signals is straight forward and simple yet widely unpracticed. Being alert means anticipating the unseen hazards that exist, such as children that might run from between closely parked cars, or the distracted motorist who runs the 4-way stop sign or even a red light. A very commonly overlooked area of attention is the vehicle blind-spot. Practice taking a good, yet quick, physical look over the shoulder before making a lane change.

Avoid distractions both inside and outside the vehicle. Distractions from outside the vehicle happen all the time from every direction, but need to be ignored. Drivers who suddenly slow down, not because of traffic necessarily, but to view an accident or other type of occurrence, can cause or even become an accident. Tempting to the morbid curiosity as it may be, a good driver will ignore such scenes and remain focused on driving. The same principle applies to any type of event that will cause a diversion of attention away from driving. Now distractions from inside the vehicle are not only to be controlled by the driver, they are the driver's responsibility. Things such as loud excessive noise or items that can distract driver focus or impede safe operation of the vehicle. Passengers must be in safety restraints and loose items safely secured. Items unsecured will continue to travel when the vehicle has to come to an abrupt stop.

Practicing the basic driver safety rules and courtesy, such as using turn signals and maintaining safe following distances all contribute to being a good driver. However, a pleasant demeanor goes a long way to ensure good driving. Remember to be polite and remain calm. The important thing is for everyone to get home safely.

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Mechanic Car Servicing Basics

By Ken A Bill

Everyone who owns a car needs the services of a mechanic from time to time since things can go wrong any time. Even when your car does not have any issues, it is still good to have a mechanic who will service your car to ensure that you drive safely on the road. There are many things that can go wrong and while some of these you can repair them on your own, there are others that need someone qualified to do the repairs.

The car brakes are important for safe driving and there are different things that could go wrong with them. One of the most common issues is when the brake pads wear out because there is constant friction against them. There will be a squeaking noise every time you slow down and a mechanic will have to replace the brake shoes. Sometimes, it might be something that you can rectify on your own like if there is a stone wedged between the shoe and the brake disk. When your car vibrates more when you are driving over rough surfaces, it means that the suspension has packed in. This is job that should be left for the mechanic to repair so that you do not end up making the problem worse.

The battery is normally charged when the car is ignited and when it is in motion since this is when the alternator rotates to give charge. This means that the battery is constantly refilled so that there is sufficient energy to operate the windshield wipers, lights and to keep driving. However, when it stops working, there might be one of the several reasons causing the problem. For instance, if you accidentally left the car on for long, this will drain the battery. You can connect jump leads to your battery and also to that of another car, start the engine on the other car to give yours a jump start to bring it back to life.

The engine is a vital part and the oil and air filters should be regularly cleaned and changed when required. To ensure that your car is well serviced, it is imperative to have a qualified and well experienced mechanic. You can research different automotive certifications since a qualified mechanic will be certified and the certification will indicate areas he is proficient in.

Online reviews can also be used to get information on the level of customer satisfaction the mechanic has provided. You can also find a good mechanic by asking for recommendations from relatives, friends and business associates, on one that they may have worked with before or know of. A local mechanic is a good bet since he is competing with other larger corporations and his objective is to build a long term relationship with clients.

Additionally, if your car breaks down, you are assured that he can easily get to where you are and offer you the assistance you need. Ensure that you have the contact number of your mechanic and you should also have a first aid kit as well as a tool box in case of an emergency while waiting for the mechanic to arrive.

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Negotiating With a Car Dealership

By Darwin Liu

Walking into a car dealership is like walking into shark infested waters and you're the fish. Most people are afraid to negotiate with a car dealership and with good reason. It's scary to walk in and it's even scarier talking to the car salesmen.
To help you combat this fear, I compiled 6 tips and tricks to help you out!

1)Car Dealer Guilt Trips
One of the many tactics that car dealerships use is to put you through a guilt trip. They will say anything they can to make you feel as guilty as possible. They might tell you that they have kids to feed or you're bankrupting them.
Don't be a sheep and fall for their stories!
Don't let emotions cloud your judgement and just remind them that the choice to sell is entirely up to them. If they don't think the price is ideal, tell them you can take your business elsewhere.

2)No Deals
Some dealers will state that they can't take anything else off the price of the car because of the 0% financing and rebate. The rebate and financing shouldn't play a role in your ability to haggle because they come straight from the manufacturer.

3)They Make You Wait
Car salesman love to play this game where they make you sit in a room and tell yo to wait. They're trying to assert their "power" and to trick your subconscious into thinking that they're the boss. Don't fall for this trick and you can combat this by talking on the phone or reading a magazine. Don't hang up when they come back in and make them wait instead.

4)Not Qualified For Financing
0% financing isn't for everybody (if you read the fine print that is). Most dealerships advertise special financing rates but these are only for people with exceptional credit. This tactic is used to bring people in the door and once you finish your paper work, you're hooked.

5)Car Dealership Managers
Many times, you'll have to face a "car dealership manager". They are usually in a higher office looking down and have more authority than the salesman you're talking to. They might be loud, obnoxious or even nice. Usually, they are just better salesman.
When faced with a car dealership manager, remember that they are still just salesman but just a bit better. Reiterate your proposal and don't succumb to their sales tactics. Walk away if you have to.

6)They Ask For A Check
If the dealership asks for a check to show "good faith", walk (I mean run) for the door. Most dealerships are trustworthy nowadays but there are still the few who will try to scam you.

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7 Costly Mistakes To Avoid When Transporting Your Vehicle

By Alana Burton

It is essential to take great care when entrusting your prized possession to a car shipping agent, there are numerous issues which must be tackled before proceeding with the contract. The most common mistakes people make are easily avoidable:

1) Going with the first quote - never go with the first quote, there is no way to ascertain if the company chosen are overcharging you. Likewise, there is no way of knowing if they are significantly cheaper than other companies which in itself should also send alarm bells ringing.

2) Cheap is not necessarily best - sometimes, cheap companies are cheap for a reason and the real possibility that their service is sub-standard or that they have "cut corners" to be cheaper. This can be very costly in the end.

3) Not researching the company - this is yet another common mistake done which can prove very costly. Once you have chosen a company to transport your vehicle, take some time to research the company before entrusting your vehicle to them, this could be from past clients, website testimonials (beware of those too as anyone can make them up) - a good way of researching a company is by typing their company name on the internet and see what comes up. There are numerous forums in which people comment about these companies, you may come across independent comments from satisfied or dissatisfied past clients.

4) Not having any proof or evidence of the condition of the vehicle prior to transportation - If your vehicle arrives at your destination with damage that wasn't there before, it will be your word against theirs, this is easily avoided by taking detailed photographic evidence internally and externally, date and time-stamped, ideally signed as form of evidence by the transport company before to departure.

5) Not preparing your car for transportation - Whilst the transport company will take certain precautions and carry out a number of checks before departure, it is also your responsibility to assist them too, for example by making sure there isn't anything left inside the vehicle that shouldn't be there such as food or drinks. Your vehicle will be on the road for a number of days, the windows will be shut and it may be sunny and hot so any food left inside a vehicle will not leave a pleasant aroma.

6) Not telling the transport company of any mechanical problems - It may be that your vehicle drives but has some intermittent mechanical problems such as battery or starter-motor for example. If you fail to inform the transport company that your vehicle has some intermittent faults, when it comes to load it to the transporter, if it won't start, they may consider it as a non-running vehicle and it may not be transported therefore missing out your allotted slot.

7) Finally, failing to use the appropriate method for transporting your car - There are open and enclosed trailers in which your vehicle can be shipped, if for example you have a soft top vehicle with a faulty hood, then transporting it in an open trailer may not be the best option!

These are the top seven mistakes committed most frequently which as you can see, with a little bit of thought and research can be avoided

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6 Secrets to Finding the Best Driving Lessons

By Luke Hirst

Making sure you find the best driving lessons is important as you need to be taught to become a safe and confident driver. We have 6 trade secrets to finding the best lessons and these can be applied no matter where you live.

1. Get driving lessons from a trusted source. When booking it's good to have a look around at a number of different companies and make an informed decision with who you want to book with through their reputation and corporate image.


2. When looking for driving lessons don't take into account the price of the lessons. Think if all the companies charged the same which would you pick and that will give you a good idea of who you want to book with.


3. Making sure you receive good value for money is important, and this doesn't necessarily mean choose the cheapest lessons. You want to make sure you're getting good driving tuition and it would be worth paying a little bit extra for someone you know who will do a good job with you. The going rate for lessons differs all around the UK so get a number of different prices and take an average to find out what the going rate is in your area. You will find the further you travel to the south of the UK the more the lesson prices increase.


4. Another secret to finding the best driving lessons is to find out what cars the school use. Most schools use one or two generic cars throughout the business and it's important to find out what you will be learning in to make sure you will be comfortable with it.


5. A car says a lot about an instructor, a clean car is a professional look and is how most practice and how you should expect it to be when you step into car. It's the initial first impression that you will take and it's the best way to judge good driving lessons.


6. Finally, look for good qualities in your lessons. You want your lessons to be comprehensive and taught professionally and effectively. Your driving instructor is trained to be able to adapt their learning styles to meet the way you learn and adapt to the problem you're having, make sure this is done and you won't have any problems when learning how to drive.

Now you have 6 secrets to making sure you get the best driving lessons so use them and take advantage of your new found knowledge

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Reduce or Eliminate Vehicle Blindspots

By Robbie W Cutcliffe

When driving on any street with more than one lane in either direction, blindspots can cause lots of worry. This is why we never change lanes without checking both center and side mirrors, and also turning our heads to look over our shoulder in the direction we want to go (I hope all of you reading this always use a head check!).

Sometimes however we check both mirrors and see nothing - only to do a head check and be really surprised that another motorist is RIGHT THERE! This is usually because that other motorist was in our blindspot.

Without digressing into how dangerous it can be to drive in other peoples blindspots (though I feel like many people do this without knowing it), I'll just say please don't drive slightly behind or next to anyone for more than a moment.

You can however reduce your own blindspots so that you are more likely to see those semi trucks, SUVs, cars, motorcycles (or bikes!) in your mirrors before you do your head check. The process is very simple:
Point your side view mirrors further out.

Here's why it works. Imagine your car from a bird's eye view, and the 'lines of sight' from your mirrors. Your blindspots are outside the line of sight of your side view mirror but behind the back of your front doors (outside of your peripheral vision). Many people were taught to see the sides of their car in their side mirrors, and that's how they set them up. This causes overlap between the side view and rearview mirror (try it sometime - is there anything you can see in both your side view and your rearview mirror at the same time?). Overlap between two mirrors is not necessary, as you only need to see obstacles in one place or the other (you are checking both mirrors, right?).

Once you move your side view mirrors out further, you will reduce the overlap between the rearview and side view mirrors but also reduce your blindspots (you will be able to see more of what is directly next to you in your side view mirror - where blindspot errors matter most)!

I encourage all drivers to try moving their side view mirrors out a little bit to reduce their blindspots. It may feel weird at first, but give it a try, I think you'll like it!

I have heard other people describe this same technique to be useful for other reasons. That may be and is excellent if you can get more than one benefit from one specific idea. I do want to emphasize however that the BIGGEST improvement that this technique offers is that you will see cars that are right next to you but just a little behind your shoulder - and this is the most dangerous part of your vehicle blindspot

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