How Preventative Maintenance Can Keep Your Car Running Longer

By Levi Quinn

It is no secret that cars are expensive to maintain. Oil changes, tire rotations, filter changes, and regular tune-ups can take their toll on your bank account. But did you ever stop to consider how much these preventative services were saving you in the long run by keeping your car from having major (and majorly expensive) issues? Not replacing the oil for too long can cause your motor to stop working, which will render your vehicle virtually useless. Failing to get regular tire rotations and alignments will cause your tires to wear out faster, meaning that you will have to replace them more often. Overall, these seemingly pricey preventative measures are actually cost-saving safeguards that keep your car in optimal shape.

Preventative maintenance may be a pain, as it requires that you take time out of your day to take your car into the shop, but the inconvenience is worth the gains, as your car will run longer and at an optimal level. To ensure that you are doing all you can to keep large issues at bay, take a look at this tips:

- Change your oil regularly. The old rule of thumb, which required the oil to be changed every 3,000 miles, may not apply to your car. With the different kinds of oils that are used, and the different configurations of more modern vehicles, your car may be able to go well over 5,000 miles before it needs another oil change. Be sure that you ask your mechanic to specify the needs of your vehicle so that you can stick to a routine that will keep your oil clean and your motor running smoothly.

- Pay attention to your tires. Though they literally allow your car to move, it is a safe bet that most people pay little to no attention to their tires. If one goes flat or loses its tread you could be in for some expensive repairs, depending upon how the imbalance has affected your car's alignment. Improperly inflated tires can also cause accidents and can run up your gas bill, so be sure to check them periodically to keep your car running as well as possible.

- Get regular tune-ups. Again, this service will vary based upon the needs of your vehicle, but it is important that you have tune-ups performed to address any small issues that may grow into larger ones. Cracked belts, leaking pipes, and other problems can be handled before they cause your car to break down only if your mechanic knows about them, so check with him or her to set up a tune-up schedule.

- Trust your mechanic. The bottom line, here, is that you have to be able to trust whoever it is that is telling you what needs to be done on your car. Going to a mechanic that you trust will enable you to be completely confident in your decision to purchase whatever services are needed. Many people have misconceptions about mechanics taking advantage of customers, especially those that are not knowledgeable about their vehicles, so it is important that you build a trusting relationship with your mechanic and his or her team. By following these tips, you should be able to keep your car in tip-top shape. Problems will arise, but by catching them early you can avoid the more stressful (and expensive) large scale disasters.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Levi_Quinn




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Kia Sportage Named Best Crossover Vehicle

By: Taylor Richards

The Kia Sportage has received recognition everywhere, from magazines to consumers to industry awards. Recemtly, Diesel Car magazine named the 2011 Kia Sportage as the "Best Crossover Vehicle" in its annual Car of the Year issue. This designation marks the fifth award for the Kia crossover in less than 12 months.

Other recognitions the crossover received include the prestigious red dot Design award in Germany and several other magazine and industry awards from both the United States and South Korea. CarBuyer also recognized the Kia Sportage by making it CarBuyer's inaugural Car of the Year at the Geneva Motor Show. Fleet News also called Kia's CUV the "Best Crossover of 2011". Also honoring the Sportage is Total Off Road magazine, who recognized the Sportage as the Best Junior SUV. All of these acknowledgments have attracted many new customers to the Kia brand.
In one of the largest honors, the Kia Sportage also earned a 2011 "Vehicle Satisfaction Award" from AutoPacific. It was praised by owners for delivering both great value and high levels of overall satisfaction. Consumers were pleased with the crossover's great fuel economy, sleek design, and quality performance. Buyers also noted that it provided a comfortable ride with a great deal of convenient features.

The 2011 model entered showrooms last summer, and since then, sales of the Sportage have gone through the roof. The Kia Sportage also scored 10-rating points higher than the second place vehicle and earned high marks from owners in the AutoPacific survey. Consumers said that the Sportage delivered strong value and overall satisfaction.

Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing and communications, Kia Motors America, explains, "The 2011 Sportage has received overwhelmingly positive market feedback and attracted new consumers to the brand since it reached showrooms last year, thanks in large part to its unbeatable combination of world-class design, class-leading fuel efficiency, innovative technology features, and long list of modern amenities."

AutoPacific's award shows Kia's commitment to customer satisfaction, and how important it is to consumers that companies offer stylish, quality products, at a reasonable price, and with a valuable warranty. AutoPacific's study shows the results from more than 68,000 vehicle owners to decide the winner for each category.

The 2011 Kia Sportage was chosen based on 48 different categories to accurately measure the owner's experience with the vehicle. Overall, consumers were pleased with the Kia Sportage because of its new technologies incorporated into the vehicle, functionality, versatility, and abundance of safety features.

Salazar Kia, located in Avondale, AZ near Phoenix, provides a large selection of new and used Kia cars and SUVs. The Arizona Kia dealer strives to provide complete customer satisfaction throughout the entire car dealership experience. In addition to a large selection of vehicles, Salazar Kia also offers Kia service, parts and financing.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Taylor_Richards



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Supercars of the 21st Century

By Martin Ebams

All cars will take you from point A to B. Others will take you faster. Some cars will make you feel like you are flying. Others will literally fly. In the 21st Century, nothing is left to spare, and engineers are stopping at nothing. Most cars are just cars, but some have extraordinary features. These are called 'supercars.'

The term 'supercar' is often used to describe specifically a very expensive, fast or powerful car, although most of them combine all these attributes. The term itself did not become popular until in the late 1960's that denoted cars with powerful V8 engines and rear wheel drive. During this time automakers strived to produce cars with highly superlative performance to their contemporary sporty cars. Such cars are typically out of the world and are often perceived unusual, which is more or less true.

The Times issue of November 11 1920 stated that "if you are interested in a supercar, you cannot afford to ignore the claims of the Ensign 6." Long gone are those days and in its place now sits the ultimate Bugatti Veyron. Being the most expensive and second fastest car, some believe it to be the best car ever. But certainly there is more in this fascinating world of these machines. Take the Lamborghini Reventon for instance; there was only 20 units produced in 2008 and were sold exorbitantly at €1 million. This car is exceptional in that having no much competition on the ground took to race with the Italian Tornado Jet! If that sounds surprising, then this one will make you scream--the Veyron engaged in a 2 mile drag race against a Jet fighter and though the plane won, the difference in their finishing time was less than 10 seconds!

Another amazing creation is the Pagani Zonda F which is made entirely of carbon fiber. This makes it really strong and though it is being replaced by Pagani's new flag bearer-The 'Huayra,' its legacy will live on. McLaren has a new player in town, and few automakers are willing to mess with it. The all-new, all-powerful McLaren MP412 is able to hit 0-60 mph in less than three seconds and comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. This will take over from the legendary McLaren F1, which had to undergo significant changes for it to be allowed on normal roads.

Even as things seem to run smoothly for the Germans, things are getting hot in Maranello. The 2011 supercar; Novitec Ferrari Rosso 458 is the in-thing. A less fuel guzzler owing to its 4.5L V8 compared to McLaren's V12 yet with an output of 609 horsepower at 9100 rpm and a high performance exhaust system, the same as the one used by formula 1, it is definitely able to produce more power, and even McLaren's loyal consumers may just change their minds. The problem now is whether the Ferrari Enzo will still carry Ferrari's flagship or the Rosso is more deserving. Only 399 units of the Enzo were ever produced, and many are left to wonder why they could not have made it even by producing just one more.

Now, much talk and less action won't get the building roofed. Let's get into action and translate it to power. Most normal cars range from 80-250 horsepower. That means the Bugatti Veyron is four times more powerful than the best in this category and about 12 times the worst! But there is an even greater giant; the SSC Ultimate Aero! This is the fastest car in the world with 1183 horsepower, and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds! There is a great debate that Bugatti is faster, and it is believed Sweden's Koegnissegg CCX, which is currently coming in third will in future sweep the number one position. Little has been heard from Saleen S7 twin turbo and though it is currently ranking fourth, the old adage goes that, "even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Well, as I said earlier, some cars will get you to a point but others will get you faster. There is no thrilling experience like sitting behind the wheel of a supercar (though some are tricky at first). These are the type of cars that you don't just start; you call it and it answers back with a powerful roar, and everyone around will know you have not just started a car; you have started a supercar...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Ebams



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