A Look at Recent Automotive Sales Figures by Robert Kokoska

The great depression is making life miserable in the U.S. It is even catching up with the automotive industry. With the crude oil price hitting all-time highs and when doubts prevail about the availability of the fuel, and the scientific fraternity burn their midnight oil to come up with an alternative for oil, who can we blame if people show the cold shoulder to autos. More than that it is more economical to hire a taxi, rather than maintaining a luxurious sedan. The automotive sales figures of 2007 show some good signs for some cars while others show dismal performance.

Total sales show a down swing in the US with a decrease of 2.5% over 2006. Domestic vehicles are down 4% while automobile imports have gone up 2%. When it comes to autos, it is again General Motors leading the fray with Ford and Chrysler LLC following upon their heels. While sales of General Motors is down 6% Autel Autolink AL539B, Ford and Chrysler LLC are down 11% and 3.1% respectively.

Toyota has surpassed Ford in sales in the US by about 3.5% selling about 60,000 more vehicles than Ford. It is something unbelievable and happened for the first time. The top European car model is still the BMW. It shows a 7% increase over last year. Volkswagen comes second. The sale of the Ford truck series is up and the pickup truck has been at the top of the best-seller list in America for more than 25 years.

But sales of the F-Series were down by 13 percent, and the Chevrolet Silverado ended the year about 72,000 units behind. Even the October sales of general Motors plunged headlong by 45 percent, with Ford and Chrysler LLC following closely to a pathetically weak level in the past 25 years. The reason is blamed on low consumer confidence coupled with economic depression Autel Autolink AL439. People are reluctant to invest in motor vehicles due to the fear that they may suffer more if they invest in them.

This October, the vehicles sold were fewer than the vehicles sold last year this month. This month the sales were only 838,156 vehicles which is 32% less. According to Auto data Corp and Wards Auto Info, this is the worst the industry has been since January 1991. This is clearly a severe, severe recession for the U.S. automotive industry and something we really can't sustain. Clearly we are in a dire situation Says Mike DiGiovanni, GM's executive director of global market and industry analysis. He further adds that if GM sales were adjusted for population growth, this was the worst hit that has ever happened.

It's truck sales also tumbled by 51 percent. Passenger car sales also dipped by 34 percent. Even Ford's Focus small car, cannot hold it's ground and saw its sales drop by 18 percent. The condition is so bad that cars that were once selling high volumes show a dismal state. For the Honda Acura model, it was the other way round and had their sales rise by 6 percent. Nissan Corp also had nothing to boast about. The bleak car sales is an issue of concern for the coming president for they have promised great investment in this sector.

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A Buyers Guide To Motor Scooters! by Larry A. Johnson

With so many different types of motor scooters available today buyers must do their homework before making a purchase. Vespa, Honda, Piaggio, big engine, small engine, gas, electric, mobility, foldable, seats, handgrips, where do I start?

Before the 1920s it was an easy decision, a foot-powered push scooter or none at all. But once Gino Tsai from Shanghai, Taiwan developed the Razor scooter it changed everything. His motor scooters became popular so quickly there were people waiting in line for six months before they could get one.

In the 1950s companies like Vespa in the UK started selling the first of their gas motor scooters. It was a big hit at the 1950 Motorcycle Show and quickly became a big hit in the UK as well. Vespa sold over 125,000 in the UK between the years of 1950 to 1958. Piaggio from Vespa and Lambretta from Innocenti started selling their models in Italy and France too, quickly becoming the vehicles that everyone had to own. By the early 1950s the sale of motor scooters topped 1 million a year in France alone. Because of its popularity other countries such as France and Germany decided to get in on the boom by manufacturing their own models.

Today, after more than 50 years since the first gas scooters appeared, there are many different makes and models. We have electric, gas powered, foldable, mobility and utility motor scooters dotting the globe. There are specialized scooters for just about every task. They have become a worldwide phenomenon because they are cheap to own, economical to operate, are very handy and functional, and most of all they are a lot of fun. But with all of the makes and models which one is right for you?

Let's start with the different types. Gas motor scooters are the fastest around. They will take you longer distances and reach higher speeds than any of the other varieties. There are smaller and lighter models that will be perfect for running errands around town while the larger and heavier touring models will take you on longer trips. Plus, the larger the gas tank the farther you can travel before needing to stop at a service station.

Electric varieties are a little more economical to run, but will usually travel only about 10 or 15 miles before needing a recharge. Their battery capacity has improved dramatically over the years, but they cannot be taken for long trips due to the fact that their batteries will need recharging periodically. However, for short trips around the city they are wonderful little vehicles. Plus, most scooters have a large storage capacity under the seat so they are ideal for trips to the grocery store or for other light shopping sprees.

The elderly or handicapped typically use what is referred to as mobility scooters. These are usually electric models and have 3 or 4 wheels for extra stability. These models give the elderly or disabled the ability to get about in their homes or around the neighborhood more easily. Without mobility scooters many of the disability-impaired would be confined to their beds.

Another very popular type is the foldable scooter. These are very small and are made for short trips around town. They are particularly popular among the younger crowds. The beauty of these models is that they are extremely compact and can be folded for storage in small places. If you work just a few miles from your home you can travel to work on your folding scooter and then fold it up and put it underneath your desk at work. Very handy.

There are also utility scooters which can be used for many different purposes. They can be used as golf carts or for hauling things. Many big businesses use these types for getting around their factories. Schools use them for driving through the parking lot, checking for cars that shouldn't be there. Major league sports stadiums use them to drive people from one place to another. These are wonderful vehicles that can be used for a variety of reasons.

Once you've decided which type is right for your needs the next step is to figure out what options, if any, you would like included on your vehicle. Of course you can choose from many different colors and designs, but there are other options available to you. You can choose from the many varieties of covers, locks (for security), cases or side bags for storage, helmets, seats, handgrips MaxiTPMS TS401 Scanner, windshields or windscreens, backrests for touring, chrome kits, rear luggage racks and many more options. The list of accessories can go on for quite some time.

As a rule of thumb first choose the type of scooter you want, whether it be electric, gas, foldable or utility maxidiag elite md802. This is the easy part because the type you purchase will depend upon your needs. Once that decision has been made look at several popular models in your area and decide which one looks and feels right to you. Most have accessories that are manufactured for a specific model so accessories cannot be decided upon until you know which motor scooter you are going to buy. Once you've decided which accessories you want for the model you chose it's a simple matter of driving your scooter out of the dealership. And it's nothing but fun from there on out.

Cheap motor scooters are lots of fun, which is why Larry Johnson is a motor scooter fanatic. He not only loves to ride motor scooters, but loves writing about them as well. For more information visit My Motor Scooters.
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5 Tips on How to Find a Good Mobile Washing Service by Mighty Wash

It's another long day. Time to get ready for work, get the kids ready and off to school, fight traffic, and start work. The day is consumed with deadlines, and worries about what needs to be done after work. The last thing to be concerned about is the car. But now at the last minute you have been asked to take a big client to the airport in your car. The car is a mess. Coffee spills, clutter, french fries in the seats… yikes! When are you going to have time to clean up your car? You can't leave work, you can't say no to the boss, and you can't let the client ride in your car in the condition it is in. Good news. Now you don't have to worry. All you need is a good mobile washing service to come to your rescue. They come to you and they will clean your car. How can you be sure that you get the best in mobile washing service? Employ these 10 tips:

1. Make sure the company uses the proper equipment for the job required. Ask if they use the right type of pressure washing machine for the task at hand. (You don't want an all purpose washer- it could actually damage or even remove paint from your car!)

2. Inquire about the cleaning supplies used Autel MaxiDiag MD701. Are they meant for the job you are asking for? Do they leave any odors, residue, etc?

3. Ensure that someone can be reached easily. There is nothing worse than being pinched for time and not being able to talk with someone if an issue arises. Maybe the appointment needs to be changed. Perhaps the location of the service has been changed (maybe it makes more sense to do the service at your home rather than at the airport parking lot). Whatever the reason, it is vital to be able to stay in touch.

4. Check on Flexible scheduling. Convenience is key. If you need service done on Saturday, Sunday, or first thing in the morning, make sure your mobile washing service can accommodate you. If time was not an issue, you would not need their help in the first place.

5. Look at pricing and payment options. Ask about pricing and compare it to other mobile washing companies. Just because you may in a hurry, does not mean you deserve to pay more than you should! Inquire about payment options as well. In a pinch it is never good to be dependent on using a company credit card or a debit card only to find that the mobile washing service only accepts cash or a check.

About Mighty Wash

Mighty Wash was founded in 2010 by Ash Gilpin, an entrepreneur based in Hampton Roads, VA. Ash is President of Eyepinch, Inc, a web solutions firm and HRDating, an online dating service catering to singles in Tidewater.

Mighty Wash is the premier mobile detailing and pressure washing service in Hampton Roads. Serving Virginia Beach, VA and surrounding cities, Mighty Wash makes trips to the car wash a thing of the past. Convenience is what we do. Why go to the car wash when the car wash can come to you? We come to your home or business, 7 days a week. All you have to do is schedule your appointment via via our online form or call us at 757-354-3176.

Mighty Wash is different than most mobile detailing services. We use the right equipment for the job, the best cleaning products, professional staff, and our services are value priced. Don't settle on just anyone cleaning your car, boat, home, or aircraft. Get it clean, conveniently, and correctly with Mighty Wash!

Ash Gilpin is founder of Mighty Wash, Inc., the premier mobile detailing and pressure washing service in Hampton Roads MaxiTPMS TS601 Scanner, VA. Mr. Gilpin can be reached at 757-354-3176 or via email at hello@mightywash.mobi. Additional information about Mighty Wash can be found at: .
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350z Carbon Fiber Hood For Better Style And Performance by Louie Liu

If we wear heavy shoes and walk around all day we feel tired and exhausted. And the next time we go to buy our shoes we are careful to choose shoes that weigh as little as possible so that even if we have to walk in them all day we don't feel very tired just by repeatedly lifting the weight of the shoe. Where it makes sense it is better to have a light weight because the extra weight that needs to be carried around can make the going tough. Now your car takes not just you and the passengers wherever it goes it all also needs to take its own entire weight as well. And though the car needs to be strong and heavy to give a stable ride if the weight is reduced strategically then it will give you a better performance because it now has less weight to carry around Autel MaxiTPMS TS601.


The hood of the stock car is usually made of metal and tends to be quite heavy. Therefore if you own a performance car such as the 350z and shift to a 350z carbon fiber hood you will reduce the weight of your car. And as you can imagine reducing the weight of the car without compromising its stability has a lot of benefits. The power to weight ratio of your car will go up. It will therefore feel more lively and will have better acceleration. And since the weight is reduced about where the front wheel of the car are, the amount of load they carry will go down. This will make it easier to steer the car and the steering will feel lighter.


Of course 350z carbon fiber hoods also make your car look great. You will have a choice of designs to choose from and you can use that choice to make a style statement that reflects your style and attitude. You can choose the carbon fiber hoods conveniently by going online Autel Autolink AL619. You will enjoy browsing through the options available while imagining how they will look on your car. You can also look for special deals. You can see the latest 350z body kits at

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1970 Datsun 240zx Steering Systems and Catalytic Converters by Pete Daughtry

I was given my first car at age 16. As if that wasn't enough to claim spoiled status, the car was a 1972 Datsun 240zx, 6cylinder, 5speed transmission, with rack and pinion steering. It was so light, my girlfriend and I could lift the front end of it up and over parking blocks and curbs (don't ask how or why we needed to do this). The engine had been rebuilt, the carburetor was new, the interior was re-upholstered leather, and the real cherry wood steering wheel looked and felt amazing!

The more I bragged about this little gem the more I realized that I had no idea what rack and pinion steering was - other than it involved a rack Autel Maxivideo MV101, and probably a pinion too. But like parking in between the lines and staying off the curb didn't quench my need for more, knowing the name but not the entire function of my beauty's steering did not make me too happy.

Nowadays you can hop online, type a sentence or a question into Google and there's your list of topics and answers. Choose the one you like, verify the information with another and you're usually good to go. But not back then. Back then, we did things the hard way. We actually did them. Popping open my hood was always a joy. The engine was clean the hoses were new and everything was shiny and beautiful - except for the steering components. The rack was there, the pinion was there (okay, I looked at the Haynes auto repair manual while identifying!) and it was old, but still fully intact and spot on functional.

I later came to find out that it is one of the most accurate types of steering available, due to its simplicity and design, there are only two gears engaged taking your steering wheel turn and translating it to the push/pull of your tie rods ds708 update price. The wheel didn't autocorrect for steering malfunction (hence the parking block incident), but it put you exactly where you told it to go. And it never slipped, which was great - except I couldn't blame my steering when I slid off the ice into the snow on the side of the road.

Everyone has probably heard of a catalytic converter. For the longest time growing up, I assumed people were saying "Cadillac" converter, and so I just thought it was a special part found on Cadillacs. Don't laugh. It's nice to know too that it's not "chester drawers" you put your clothes in. It's "chest of drawers" - which actually makes a lot more sense.

But when I did discover that this catalytic converter appeared on more than just Cadillacs, I started to wonder what it was exactly. By a quick word analysis (okay, maybe I'm the only one who does this), it would seem it has something to do with catalysts - you know, the stuff that makes reactions start and/or go faster. And like chest of drawers, the name does correlate with the function in this case as well.

The catalytic converter is responsible for converting (how about that - a converter converts!) harmful emissions from your car's exhaust process into environmentally harmless ones. Specifically it works with hydrocarbons - which are basically just unburned gasoline molecules, carbon monoxide - what we think of as exhaust, the extra after the burning of gas, and nitrous oxides - which are formed during the combustion phase of gasoline ignition.

Amazing! Say goodbye to greenhouse gases, right? Well, almost - not really. The catalytic converter does change carbon monoxide (poisonous to oxygen breathing things) into carbon dioxide, but it does nothing to fix the carbon - so there is still carbon emissions, which are responsible for the greenhouse effect. So it may make them safer for humans and animals trapped in a garage with a running vehicle, it doesn't totally save us from being trapped on a planet with fuel burning processes still pumping carbon into the atmosphere. Another thing is, they aren't on every vehicle, and the car certainly doesn't need one to run. Though, if you do any garage maintenance with the door shut - you should probably make sure yours in present and in good working order!

Pete Daughtry writes for , a resource helping people obtain subprime car loans for bad credit without the headaches of buy here pay here car lots or other in house financing car dealers.
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Reduce tire wear way do not let it advance lay-off

Tires on a car belonging to consumables, and depth "kiss" with rough roads every day, natural wear and tear is inevitable thing, after a period of time it must be replaced. But some abnormal wear will shorten the life of the tire, let it lay off in advance, and sometimes you can find the car hidden fault from tire wear. But how to drive in order to reduce tire wear? The following summarize the eight points, wish can help you.

1, don't start the car too fast, so as to avoid dragging the ground and accelerated tire tread wear;

2, vehicle downhill should be based on the slope size, length and road conditions, vehicle speed control appropriate, avoid or less use the emergency brake to reduce tire wear;

3, vehicle curve should be based on road turning, turning radius, deceleration generally appropriate to avoid due to the inertial force and the centrifugal force autel maxisys mini, unilaterally accelerate tire wear;

4, on the uneven road traffic, first should choose the road, hitting the tire and the road surface to reduce, avoid damage to parts and tires, two to slow amble to avoid tire bumps and strong vibrations;

5, In the corner the car will overtake, through the intersection, narrow roads, railway crossings and other locations, should have an appropriate speed and pay attention to the road, pedestrians, vehicle dynamics, ready to brake, reducing braking frequently and avoid emergency braking Autel Autolink AL439, thus reducing tire wear;

6, When the road construction sites and road maintenance, the application of low- road approach to amble through choice, to avoid unduly hitting the tire, or even being stabbed or scratched;

7, through muddy lots, should choose a more solid and does not slip through the place, so as not to tire subsidence, standing idle, causing severe vibration and tire sidewall serious cuts, scratches;

8, vehicle parking and transit station parking should develop safe taxiing habits.

Some car diagnostic tools can help you test your car by yourself, such as:

 

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Long-time don’t use vehicle need note 5 maintenance tips

Long-suspended cars subject to the technical condition of the various assemblies and institutions gradually deteriorate, because of atmospheric corrosion, even resulting in loss of their technical performance. To mitigate this adverse effect, the car owner should be often do necessary maintenance work to make the long-suspended cars in a good performance status.

1, prevent rusting metal

Corrosion is mainly due to air moisture, oxygen and corrosive substances. Therefore, the long suspended cars; metal surfaces should be kept clean. Vehicles parked inside the garage should be kept ventilated; the air relative humidity is maintained at 70% or less. Also need for timely removal the dust, dirt and water in the car. In easily corroded parts and surfaces should be coated with oil, grease or bandaged with greaseproof paper autel maxiscan ms609. The pores on each assembly mechanism should be sealed to prevent air, water and dust from entering the interior.

2, prevent aging of rubber products

The rubber products in the cars, such as tires, belts, and a dust cover, etc., often aging or the shape expansion occurs, resulting in deterioration of the performance, use life span becomes short.

Plastic and rubber products aging mainly due to the rubber polymer are unsaturated hydrocarbons, easy absorb the oxygen in the air then oxidation, and vulcanized rubber have gas permeability, oxygen easy access to the internal then oxidation. Especially in direct sunlight can induce rapid aging of rubber. Rubber products after gasoline and oil contamination will lead to volume expansion ds708 update price, gum lose elasticity decreases.

Rubber products to prevent aging, should avoid direct sunlight and contact with mineral oil.

3, prevent gasoline antiknock performance degradation

Gasoline antiknock performance is determined by the octane gasoline level. Car long suspended, gasoline octane number will be decrease with the increase of component loss and colloid content decreases, making it antiknock performance decreases. Thus, gasoline tank need to tightly closed, and avoid overheating. Gasoline storage time is best not to be too long.

4, prevent cotton products and carpets mildew, etc.

It is easy to absorb moisture. Especially in humid areas and rainy season, more damp mildew. So the car owners to deal with regular checks of cotton products, timely dry, keep dry.

5, always check the working condition of the engine

At least once a month to start the engine, idling functioning 4-5min, check the engine. If it have abnormal phenomenon need timely adjustment and maintenance.

Some car diagnostic tools can help you test your car by yourself, such as:

 

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