Should i buy a second hand car at auction

While it is possible to get a great deal and a bargain car at an auction, buying a used car this way isn’t always the ideal way to buy a car, there are better ways.

If it is your first time of buying a used car or you know very little about cars, then buying from an auction isn’t advisable. Perhaps the biggest problem with purchasing a car from an auction is the fact that that you have very little cover to fall back on if there should be any problem with the car. This is usually due to the auction house issuing a disclaimer, which many do, which states something such as “sold as seen”.

While many goods are covered by the Sale of Goods Act, some of the cleverer auction houses can get around this by altering the conditions of the sale by taking away the buyers rights under the Act.

If you do wish to purchase a car from an auction then it is advisable to visit an auction house several times before actually deciding to bid on a car. This way you can get used to the terminology used and the way auction houses work. It is also advisable to take someone with you who knows something about cars when you do decide to buy.

Most auction houses will hold preview days where you look at the car up for auction prior to bidding. This will give you a good chance to have a look at the vehicle.

You would be wise to consider having a vehicle data check done, which is a service that checks a vehicle’s history. It will show up really valuable things such as whether the car has been stolen, or the mileage tampered with etc.

Finally, it is essential that you know your spending limit. Don’t ever be tempted to go over that limit no matter how good a deal something may seem.

The best suvs under 20 000

Looking for a Midsize SUV but want to stay on a budget? No problem! Who said SUVs have to be a drain on your pocketbook? We don't think so. To prove our theory, we decided to look at available Sport Utility Vehicles that can hold their own against other top-selling SUVs, but can also be as easy on your finances as the payment for a mid-size car.

First, let's consider what you should look for in a Midsize SUV. Most people prefer SUVs for cars for two reasons: more cargo space and better safety features. If you're looking for an SUV at any price, you should make sure it meets your needs. Cargo space first. An SUV should provide you with enough space to haul the type of cargo you typically need to take with you, as well as seat the correct number of passengers. This is the reason, in and of itself, many people decide on a Midsize SUV over a Compact SUV. If it doesn't meet your needs, it's not a good value at any price.

Second, safety is important. An affordable SUV doesn't mean that you should compromise on basic safety features. After all, what's going to be more important in an accident – leather seats or well-designed airbags? Make sure your SUV offers what you need. Need a 2-wheel drive vehicle? Get one. Do you deal with snowy conditions several months out of the year? If so, then you're better suited for a 4-wheel drive SUV. Do yourself a favor and get a 4-wheel drive. If you don't, you're sure to regret scrimping on the features that make handling the vehicle easier and safer.

So what are the options? We found three dependable Midsize SUVs that start at under $20,000. Each has impressive features, but we found the one we thought was the best value.

Dodge Nitro. A four-door wagon style SUV with a base price starting at $19,225. Although it's smaller than the other two, its boxy design gives it a bit more accessible cargo space and seats four adults comfortably. The Nitro's body style is trendy but functional – the scaled down exterior dimensions makes negotiating traffic and getting in and out of tight spaces easier than many compact SUVs.

Kia Sorrento. A four-door wagon style SUV with a base price starting at $19,995. Available with an impressive amount of features even on the base model, the Sorrento is more enjoyable to look at than to drive. On bumpy roads, the ride and handling can be frustrating and the resale value is nothing to write home about. The warranty, however, is generous meaning Kia stands by the quality of the parts they use. Always a plus.

Isuzu Ascender 5-Passenger. Our favorite Midsize SUV choice with a base price starting at $19,459. With room for five adult passengers and impressive amount of cargo space, you'll feel like you're driving a full-size SUV. Several standard features are worth mentioning: the hydraulically assisted rack-and-pinion power steering system, the anti-lock brake and traction control systems, and its efficient inline 6-cylinder engine. And of course, it comes with Isuzu's famous warranty: 7-year/75,000 Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty and Isuzu's 7-year/75,000 Mile Roadside Assistance Program. Nice.

How a swamp cooler works

Swamp coolers are a great and inexpensive way to cool off your automotive shop in the summer.

A swamp cooler is essentially a large fan with water-moistened pads in front of it. The fan draws warm outside air through the pads and blows the now-cooled air throughout the house. The pads can be made of wood shavings - wood from aspen trees is a traditional choice - or other materials that absorb and hold moisture while resisting mildew. Aspen wood pads, also called excelsior, need to be replaced every season or two, and generally cost $20 to $40 for a set.

Small distribution lines supply water to the top of the pads. Water soaks the pads and, thanks to gravity, trickles through them to collect in a sump at the bottom of the cooler. A small water pump circulates the collected water back to the top of the pads. Then the process begins over again.

Since water is continually lost through evaporation, a float valve - much like the one that controls the water in a toilet tank - adds water to the sump when the level gets low. Under normal conditions, a swamp cooler can use between 3 to 15 gallons of water a day.

A large fan draws air through the pads, where evaporation drops the temperature approximately 20 degrees. The fan then blows this cooled air into the house. Small units can be installed in a window, blowing cooled air directly into a room. Larger units can blow air into a central location, or the air can travel through ductwork to individual rooms.

Normal air conditioning is a closed system, taking air from inside a house and recycling it. For air conditioning to function properly, doors and windows should be closed. Swamp coolers, however, take air from outside the house. For a swamp cooler to work properly, the cooled outside air must be allowed to escape. By choosing which doors or windows in your home you leave open, you can to help direct the flow of cooled air to areas where it is needed.

Hybrid cars and trucks

If you’ve been shopping for a new vehicle, chances are you’ve heard some discussion of hybrid cars and trucks. Unlike traditional vehicles, which rely solely on gasoline for fuel, hybrid cars and trucks combine gasoline with electric power. This allows them to maintain the benefits of gasoline cars, such as being able to travel long distances without having to stop to recharge a battery, with a lowered environmental impact typically associated with less practical electric cars.

How Do Hybrid Cars and Trucks Work?

Hybrid cars and trucks use both gasoline and a high powered battery to run the car while decreasing mileage. The car is run by a combination of gasoline and the electric power in the battery, which is recharged by the more traditional gasoline powered internal combustion energy when you hit the break. As your car slows down, the energy you would take to move is instead changed into electric energy which recharges the battery, preventing it from needing to be charged like more traditional electric cars.

The primary benefit of hybrid cars and trucks is in improved fuel efficiency over traditional gas powered cars. In general, hybrid cars and trucks can be expected to get between 28 mpg (for an SUV) and 60 mpg (for a two seat Honda Insight), thus far outperforming their traditional counterparts. This can save on operating costs of the vehicle, especially as fuel costs rise, and can make a positive environmental impact by reducing the depletion of fossil fuels. In addition, hybrid cars and trucks will often also have lower emissions than non hybrid cars, helping to prevent pollution, improve the smell of your garage and make the air you breathe healthier. Unlike traditional electric cars which needed to be plugged in to recharge, hybrid cars and trucks can drive long distances at high speeds just like regular cars can, making them suitable for the needs of most families and individuals.

The most famous hybrid cars are probably the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius, which remain the most efficient of the group, but a large number of more practical hybrid cars and trucks have come on the market in the past few years. Honda now makes hybrid versions of its popular Civic and Accord styles, and Toyota makes a hybrid Camry. For those in need of a larger vehicle, Ford makes a hybrid Ford Escape SUV, which gets quite respectable mileage and helps to reduce the gas guzzling costs of that class of vehicle.

For information on buying and selling new and second hand cars and bikes visit bharathautomobiles. com/index. php

14 get nhtsa recognition for improving traffic safety

Fourteen individuals and organizations from around the United States were recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for their accomplishments in improving traffic safety. They were given and presented with Public Service Awards by Jacqueline Glassman who is the NHTSA’s acting administration.

Organizations that were recognized held various types of work and made differences in traffic safety in their own ways. The American Academy of Pediatrics was recognized for its continued commitment to protecting children from crash-related injuries and death. The East Valley DUI Task Force of Arizona was recognized for its commitment in removing impaired drivers from the roadways making the roads safer for motorists. Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association’s efforts in promoting traffic and safety initiatives in Ohio were recognized. Mississippi Primary Safety Belt Law Team and the South Carolina Primary Safety Belt Law Team were distinguished for their leadership and commitment to the passage of the primary safety seat belt legislation in their areas. And Westchester County Probation Department of DWI Enforcement Unit made their mark for their unique and innovative programs that assisted in deterring impaired drivers.

Eight individuals were given recognition by the NHTSA. Rosalie Berquist was awarded for her efforts in preventing life-threatening injuries from traffic crashes as well as in education the public on the proper use of occupant restraints. State Sen. Con Bunde was recognized for his leadership, commitment, and assistance of the passage of the primary safety belt law. Chief Michael Capriglione of Delaware made his mark by being an outstanding leader and serving as a primary law enforcement advocate in his area. Phyllis Larimore received recognition for her dedication to promoting child passenger safety and occupant protection programs. For Robyn Litke, it was her exemplary traffic safety service to promote safety belt use as well as reducing impaired driving and underage drinking that made her achievements stand out. Tammy Ryden was awarded for her commitment to reducing traffic deaths and injuries through volunteering in educating law enforcement, students, and the public on safety belt use. Earl M. Sweeney was given due recognition for his contributions to traffic law enforcement and traffic safety. As for Greg Wilkinson, he was dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by impaired drivers through promotion of use of safety belts.

Glassman mentioned during the awarding, “For every mile we travel in our motor vehicles, Americans today are nearly 20 percent less likely to die in a crash than they were just a decade ago. The people we honor today prove that every element of every community in America has an important voice in making traffic on our roadways safe.”

Keeping the roads safe also entails keeping a vehicle that is in perfect working condition. Through regular maintenance and replacing any worn out parts, vehicles could be kept in tiptop shape. Auto parts dealers like Volvo Parts and Used Volvo Parts make sure that they are providing their customers with excellently crafted parts like Volvo 240 series parts, 260 series parts, Volvo V40 parts and many other parts for other Volvo vehicles as well.

On the horizon future fuels

Between elevated gasoline prices (which show every indication of staying that way) and the current concern about the environmental impacts of vehicle emissions, you've probably been hearing a lot of discussion about the use of "alternative fuels." It sounds like a good idea, you think...but do you know what alternative fuels are actually in the running? Here's the shortlist of the alternative fuels to keep an eye on, and a major advantage and disadvantage for each:

Electric

Electricity is a source of power that we already produce, store, and use. To power an electric vehicle (EV), electricity is produced by a power plant or other standard means and is then stored in the battery that will operate the vehicle.

Pro: A vehicle powered solely by electricity produces no emissions.

Con: In current models, batteries need to be recharged frequently.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a fuel that is made from vegetable oils and animal fats through a chemical process called esterification. When the oils and fats are mixed with alcohol, their molecules break down into methylesters, which are then used as fuel, and a waste product of glycerin. It can be used in some diesel vehicles with very little, if any, modification to the existing engine.

Pro: Potential fuel sources vary from grain crops to used cooking grease.

Con: Biodiesel thickens and freezes at low temperatures.

Ethanol

Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is created through the fermentation of substances with high starch or sugar contents, such as corn or sugar cane. In this process, yeast bacteria consume the sugars and starches and produce carbon dioxide and ethanol as by-products. The use of chemical catalysts can be used to make the process faster and more productive.

Pro: Ethanol can be produced from renewable agricultural resources.

Con: Contains less energy than the same amount of gasoline.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen fuels cells harness the electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The bonding of hydrogen and oxygen atoms results in two products: energy, which is then stored as power in the cell, and—you guessed it: water.

Pro: Hydrogen engines are typically more efficient than gasoline engines.

Con: Current vehicle designs can only store enough hydrogen for short-range travel.

At first, you’ll most likely see these fuels used in combination with current gasoline-engine technology. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) utilize both a standard gasoline engine and a rechargeable battery, and are already offered by several car manufacturers. Hybrid vehicles with a gasoline engine and a hydrogen fuel cell are currently in development, and are estimated to hit the market in 2008 to 2009. Vehicles that are designed or modified to run on mixtures of gasoline and biodiesel or ethanol show promise, and are already in use.

While some types of alternative-fuel vehicles aren’t yet readily available to the public, keep your eyes open—a combination of research, public encouragement, and lively market competition brings that day ever closer. Honda and Toyota, the first automotive manufacturers to market HEVs in the United States, have already been joined by a handful of others…and the rest are likely to follow suit.

Mercedes benz luxury on wheels

Mercedes Benz is known to be the world’s oldest German producing brand of cars, buses, trucks and coaches. Its line of automobiles may it be in its past or present models have introduced technological and safety features which are common to most of the automobiles today.

The Mercedes Benz is often called the Merc or the Mercedes is has the reputation of producing luxury cars for the past years. Its line ranges from automobiles, utility vehicles and even race cars which have made it up to be one of the most well received cars of all time.

Mercedes Benz cars carry out a very high reputation that it earned high respect among the other car companies. From its humble beginnings as early as the 1880s to the present its reputation is well known around the industry that even its merchandise is a best seller just like the car itself.

Its famous logo is considered as a priced possession that tendencies of it being stolen are quite rampant. Its fame led most of its models to appear on major films around the world. Its sports cars also appear in world class video games and other lines of its production are known to be the choice of most enthusiast of the brand.

Owning a Mercedes is an experience that makes it above all other experiences that one might have. The fact alone that driving a German luxury car which is actually only are perceived as dreams for those who do not or are unable to own the famous car puts you above the rest. To make the Mercedes Benz experience reach its highest level, there are a number of ways to max out the Mercedes high.

One of the best ways to achieve this is by buying the well crafted Mercedes Benz key chain. These add-ons can be purchased in specialty shops near you or it can also be acquired from on line stores. Theses accessories can be personalized further by requesting engravings at the back portion of the key chain to add to the experience of a lifetime.

Mercedes Benz owners know that luxury is in their hands. The said key chain adds the feel towards the entire experience. There are designs available for the said accessory to better the personal experience of each type of Mercedes Benz owner.

This accessory however is not limited only to those who own the famous Mercedes car but also for those who are considered as avid collectors of car memorabilia.

It’s a fact that the Mercedes Benz is synonymous to luxury, well, for those who know their collections very well, it is basically a must to have the Mercedes Benz brand included to complete the collection. You may already have car models of famous Mercedes Benz releases or a well crafted Mercedes Benz insignia, tee shirt, caps, pins or other collectibles that the brand may have released, the Mercedes key chain will not disappoint you in any way as an additional item for your Mercedes Benz experience.