Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The Different Car Accessories


Since the time the cars have been invented these vehicles have been used as a tool for transportation. These transportation tools have proved to be one of the greatest inventions that are constantly upgraded in terms of the looks, technology, functionality and performance etc. The accessories for these vehicles are also being developed keeping in mind the various needs of the drivers, owners and the passengers. This is the reason that in the present times there are more than five hundred auto parts the people can select from when it comes to getting the perfect accessories for their cars.

While some like to opt for the new and genuine car accessories through the registered dealers, there are others who opt for the used genuine auto accessories. Those who do not have problem installing their cars with the used car parts or the accessories can usually find what they are looking for by sifting through the collection of the car dismantler and the auto junkyards. One of the most essential auto accessories used by owners and the drivers all over the world is the auto
cover.

 
The car covers protect the body of the auto against the unfavorable weather conditions and other factors that can mar the appeals of the car. Even those who have a garage often cover their cars making use of this accessory. Some people however have the car models older than the 1980s; since the dimension of those car models is very different from the cars of today, one will be able to find the car covers of the required dimension with ease from the auto junkyards in less than the market value prices.

Other car accessories like the seat covers can also be bought in the varying materials and the colors. These materials can be chosen according to the needs of the people. In most of the cases the people who have children opt for the car seat covers which can be washed with ease in case of spills. However, others who would like to enrich the look of their cars opt for the matching dashboard covers and the steering wheel covers as well.

Some of the drivers also install the car headers in their cars which add to the power of the cars and allow them to carry load with ease. Others opt for the car springs which helps in adjusting the height of the car so that, it improvises the fuel consumption and the mileage covered by the cars. Special car accessories for the accommodation of the passengers who are sick or disabled can also be installed in the cars to allow them ease and comfort during their rides.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Car Accessories

The car accessories will add the great look of your automotive investment, thus it becomes the inevitable needs especially for those who love to modify or add the unique and beneficial things for their car. The accessories will provide the classy and amazing look to the car. The great look will be accompanied by the good function too. Some of the examples are such as floor mats, seat covers, carpets, car covers, the exterior mirrors, lights, the air freshener and also cell phone holder.

The items above will not only useful, but also unique and make your car to be the center of attention when you are among friends on the road. The good look adds the extra appearance and the price range will vary widely too. You can actually divide accessories into two categories: the interior and exterior car accessories.
The interior examples are such as carpet, floor mats, television, stereo systems and some of the instances on previous paragraph, while the exterior examples are such as license plate, body panels, side bars, light covers, wheel covers and also exterior lights. Besides, you can find the wheel covers as well as the windshield wiper blades.

Car Accessories: The Functions

The key in buying the accessories is the capability to choose the items carefully and wisely. So, the car owners will add the real great charm for a car. Further, the safety features will be the good accessories when they are designed uniquely and beneficially.

The pet barrier is the great one to buy for those who never want to leave their pets at home. It lets them to bring the animals without letting their pets to disturb them while driving on the road. The function of pet barrier is almost the same as the cargo liners which provide the best protection for the car trunk from some possible damages which are caused by the cargo or even some other goods.

In short, the great accessories should perform a lot of functions. They should bring the good additional value to the car look and let everyone to drive conveniently. If you often go somewhere and bring a lot of goods, it is recommended to consider buying the luggage containers too and put it at your car roof. This one will let you to carry the cargo particularly during your long trip. This kind of accessory is hardly found in luxurious car. The luxurious automotive investment will be mostly used to represent the high-end lifestyle.

The fun, classy and stylish stereo system will be the magnet for youngsters as well as the music lovers. Listening to the most favorite music in a car is something thrilling and interesting. You can add the floor mats and carpets if you wish to provide the good cover and protection for car base from dust and dirt.
What about the seat covers? The garbage and some other liquids which are accidentally left in the car will not be the great problems with the presence of seat covers. If you do not want to spend too much money, make a list of the car accessories which you wish to get, thus you will only focus your mind on the products you really need and bring the great additions to your car.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Classic Cars And Scam Artists

I've been racking my brain once again on a subject to write about this time, and you guys know that my favorite two cars to talk about are the first generation camaro, and the second generation corvette, specifically the 1967 corvette, and it seems that my brain has taken a leave of absence, will it return, nobody knows.

You know that I spend a lot of time trying to help you guys, and girls not get ripped off on a classic car purchase, I hear about it all the time, and it disturbs me to the point that I would like to go and meet the person who ripped you off so I can do an article about them on all of our web sites, unfortunately enough people get scammed all the time on classic car purchases, and on the restoration of them.

I'm going to tell you a little story about a shop that here in Salt Lake, all though I won't tell you their name, I don't want to hear from any attorneys over this article, so I can't say who it is, but it's a disturbing story, and the only reason that I'm going to repeat ii is to possibly save one of our readers a bit of agony, I hope that it can help at least one person.

The story begins with a doctor here in our city taking his Plymouth valiant to be restored, and that things that happened to him during the ordeal, I would hope that this is not a common thing, but I don't like to hear these things, so I will relay it it hops of saving one of our loyal readers from the same type of thing, it's not pretty, so get ready.

This old boy decides to take his baby to the shop for a restoration, and he gets all of the details worked out, and delivers it to the shop, if he's like most of us, the excitement of getting his car restored is surging through his body, he's feeling all giddy after finding just the right shop to restore his car, he has checked them out, and has heard good things about them, he has worked out the time that it will take to get the job done, and knows what he wants.

The work begins on the car, and at the first things are going a long smooth, just as he expected them too, but somewhere during the process that owner of the car sees something that he doesn't like happening with the restoration of the car, and he contacts the owner of the shop to see what can be done to fix the issue, after chatting with the owner of the shop they come to the conclusion that the car needs to issue needs to be fixed, this is where things go south on the owner of the car.

The owner of the shop, for whatever reason makes his restoration techs redo the entire car, and at this point charges the owner of the car again for the work on his car, and some how hides it in the paperwork to make it seem right, this happened not once, or even twice, but four times, and every time charging the owner of the car again, to the tune of $400,000 dollars, and the owner had no idea what was going on, one of my friends ran in to the owner of this car at a show, and was asking him about the restoration.

The owner told him this while they were chatting about the car, my buddy is the owner of another restoration shop here in Salt Lake, and has had a lot of his cars in shows, and has never done this to a customer, it is a disturbing thing to hear, and I don't enjoy hearing it, it makes our entire industry look like scam artists and rip offs, I'm here to assure you this is not the case. most shops are fair and honest with their customers, but like any industry we have our bad apples, and if you find one, just pull you car from their shop, and get your money back.

It's your right to make 100% sure that your getting the best quality restoration work that is possible on your car, it's the shop's job to disclose everything that is happening on the restoration of your car, it's their job to make sure that you get what you came there for, and nothing less, their job is to produce a quality restoration that is at least to factory specs, and it's the same for hot rod work, or customs, it just doesn't matter what they tell you, you should always get what you want, if you ask them for a show car, then it should be show quality work, if you ask them to build a driver, then that is what they should do.

Classic Cars - Elegant, Stylish,

Classic cars are one of the most collected and coveted items in the market today. And they should be: vintage automobiles are not only great pieces of art; they could also be fully functional. Road-driven classic vehicles may even be more scene-stealing than brand-spanking-new sports cars. If you have already seen a fully restored and shiny Shelby GT-350H or a 60's Thunderbird on the road, you probably know what I'm talking about.

What is a Classic, Anyway?

The definition of what is a classic car is often contested. The Classic Car Club of America indicates that the last year for the 'authentic' classics is 1948. Still, other experts maintain that the term classic is applicable to all cars that are 12-years old or older.

Some would even create a classification. A popular one is as follows: 'antique' for automobiles manufactured from the very beginning of car production up to 1916; 'vintage' for vehicles manufactured from 1916 to 1924; and 'classic' for those made in 1924 up to the not-so-far past.

I would not take a stand as to what the proper definition of a classic car is. Let's leave that to car philosophers and historians (or for a more proper term, car geeks). There are many more exciting aspects about collecting classic cars that you should know.

Classic Cars Define Generations and Genres

If you are a fan of James Bond films, you might have been awed by the luxurious and sexy cars that Mr. Double-Oh-Seven has driven. From sleek Alfa Romeos to classy Aston Martins, the spy we all loved wouldn't be what he was without these cars.

And if you have eagerly followed Mr. Bond's pursuits, you can see that the cars he used are those that defined a certain era. You can see him use big cars with round edges during the 60's, long, pointed-edged cars during the 70's, and of course, macho black sports cars during our present day.

What made those cars cool wasn't because they are simply made 'cool.' It is because they carry with them great stories and pieces of history. That is also the reason why it is thrilling and fulfilling to own a classic car. And the feeling of fulfillment multiplies tenfold if you collect these cars. Wouldn't it be sweet to ride in wheels that a popular spy once drove?

Owning a Classic is No Picnic

But before you head off and click your fingers away to the first site that offers classic cars for sale, be sure to know that with a great car comes great responsibility. Almost all of these classic cars are already used (and sometimes abused). It would be almost impossible to find one in a perfectly mint condition. What you will probably see are second-hand (and possibly even third- or fourth-hand) vehicles that may need a lot of work.

Keep in mind that owning or collecting classic cars does not stop at buying them. It is a must to invest some time and money in restoring a car back to its vintage beauty. Otherwise, it will just be another piece of junk lying in your garage.

Thus, you need to be prepared to submit that vehicle to a paint job, a car parts installation (seats, carpets, steering wheel, suspension...), and if you want to drive around, a good engine. And it won't stop there: classic cars need a lot of loving and care. You need to maintain its elegance by cleaning, waxing, and polishing it regularly.

It might be a little bit troublesome, but the rewards are great. Aside from having one great scene-stealer, a well-maintained classic car increases its value as time goes by. So once you are tired of riding that vintage Benz, you can sell it and gain profit. You won't have a hard time looking for buyers too, since there are tons of car collectors looking for a great deal.

There's a Classic Car Lover in All of Us

If you are a car lover, a sentimental generation and genre fan, or simply one who would like a cool ride, buying classic cars is your best choice. Not only do you get a moving, breathing, and funky piece of art, you also get a really valuable property. Buying, restoring, and maintaining a vintage car may be a daunting task, but it sure is worth it.

Collect this Car, it's a Classic


Collecting Cars for Fun and Profit

Antique and classic cars are being collected now more than ever. Classic car collectors learn their hobby over years and years of research and browsing, even attending a half dozen or more car shows each year. However, some basic information is available to help anyone begin the lifelong passion of collecting antique automobiles.

Definition of a Classic Car
A classic car is one that is more than 15-years old, while an antique car is more than 25-years old. A vintage car dates from the 1930's or older. As well, there are different car eras, such as the Vintage Car Era, Classic Car Era, Muscle Car Era, and so on, and this is also important to understand.
Display and Drivable Cars

Some antique car collectors drive their cars everywhere, while others have theirs for display purposes only. Display cars often have the benefit of needing less maintenance to keep their classic feel and pristine condition. If you want to drive your classic car, remember that it will require more money for such services as paint and wax jobs, engine work, and inspections. Not only do antique cars lack modern safety features such as airbags and anti-lock brakes, but vintage cars may also lack modern conveniences like power steering, stereo systems, or even heat.
Expenses
Antique car collectors know that antique cars in general are very expensive investments, but there are several ways to cut these costs and make collecting cars an even more enjoyable experience. Many cars are simply left to rust away in lawns or in junkyards. These cars can often be bought at a real bargain for even a few dollars. However, the cheaper these cars are usually indicates what shape they come in. Therefore, several decisions must be made concerning the usability of the cars. Will they be driven? Do they need a new engine? What use will they have on a daily basis?
With some body work to remove rust and replace irreparable damage, these cars can even receive new interiors and engines. The most common work is a brand new paint job (the most noticeable and appreciable work), so a good deal can cost as little as $1000. With an interest in automobiles and a modest income, restoring antique cars can be the lifelong hobby of antique car collectors.

Ratings for Antique Car Appraisal

An antique car appraisal must be based on uniform standards to get a correct appraisal.

Parts Car, this means that the car is only to be used for individual car parts. The car itself has no value except for the individual parts that can be taken from it and used in other cars. The car might not be a candidate for restoration, and therefore appraisers will not waste other people's time and money by declaring it usable except for parts.

Restorable, means the car in question has potential to be restored. The car model and make must still be recognizable to warrant this antique car appraisal rating. It may also need a complete body, chassis and interior restoration if it is appraised in this condition. Most likely the engine will also need some attention as well as the exterior, but not to the point that you restore more than a third of the body, chassis or interior.

Good, this antique car appraisal means that the automobile may need just a little tweaking to make it functional. The quality of restoration of the automobile may also affect the antique car appraisal. If it is functional yet the quality of restoration is poor, then the price will still not go up despite its good condition. The antique car appraisal should always include the quality of the restoration.

A Very Good antique car appraisal could mean that the automobile is functional and the amateur restoration is passable. The restoration might be rated as older or worn out to some extent but not as bad as expected. A Very Good antique car appraisal might be considered presentable and serviceable in the interior and exterior.

Fine is the antique car appraisal that means the automobile is restored very well and its original parts are well maintained to the point that they are in good working order.
The Excellent antique car appraisal means that the car in question has been restored to excellent professional standards and could possibly be a show car that is not driven or worn out but maintained for aesthetic purposes.
Antique Car Pricing
Antique car pricing depends on many different factors, and antique car pricing can vary from year to year. The prices can also vary depending on the point of sale. Antique car pricing depends on the age of the car, the condition of the car and special features on a car.

An antique car that is very old might be much more expensive than a newer classic car. These car prices fluctuate like more modern cars depending upon the condition. An antique car that is in mint condition could cost ten thousand dollars more than the same model in poor condition. Antique car pricing can also vary depending on the mechanics of the car. One that is road-ready will cost much more than one that looks good but does not move on the streets.

Antique car pricing depends on the year and the condition of the car, but the pricing can also depend on many of the various features in each car. Some of the classic cars have radios that actually still work while the older cars never do. Some of these cars have original mirrors while others have modern replicas. The fabric used in the interior could have a significant impact on the prices of antique cars; if the fabric in the interior is the original and in great condition, this is important in the price of the vehicle.

Many collectors of classic cars base their prices of the cars they have on a price guide. The antique car price guide gives approximations of how much a certain model of automobile may cost these days. The prices found in the antique car price guide are somewhat loosely approximated because not all cars of the same make and model are restored professionally or even restored properly. Popular price guides include MacRAE's Blue Book online, and Kelley Blue Book.

The hobby of collecting antique and classic cars can be fun and enjoyable, and it can also incredibly rewarding, especially financially. As long as you are informed and take the situation seriously, you should not have any problems, and not only will you have a great time but as well can make quite a bit of profit for yourself if you go about things in the right way.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Popular Car Accessories


The cars are used all over the world not only as a mode of transportation but as a complete solution of travelling. The cars are adorned and improvised with the help of the car accessories. The car accessories can be divided into two parts, the external car accessories which are installed on the external body of the car and the internal car accessories. The car owners and the drivers can select from the versatile ranges of the car accessories according to their needs and comfort. The car accessories are the tools which the people use to give their cars a personalized appeal. Even the basic car accessories like the deodorizer and air fresheners of the cars can be bought in the shapes and the forms that offer versatility.

While some prefer the beautiful glass bottles of the same, other make use of the flower shaped stick-on to keep the interiors of the cars free from the stale air and smells. Another popular car accessory, mostly among the people belonging to the media and the youngsters is the wheel spinners. The wheel spinners can easily be attached to the wheel cups of the cars to emit graphical illusion as the tires of the cars move. The wheel spinners offer no functionality benefit but are used for their attractive decorative appeals. There are various other car parts that help in adorning the cars and do not require any special procedure of installation.

Every family or the individual seeks the car parts according to their own needs and the preferences. While the parents of the kids look for the water proof or the easy to wash floor mats and the seat covers to wipe off the spills and the splashes with ease, there are others who reflect their status by buying the rich fabric for the use of the seat covers and the floor mats.The drivers who have to travel long distances make use of the GPRS system to reach their destinations safely even without having to stop for asking directions. Some of the cars are even installed with the lowering springs to improve the mileage of the car and decrease its fuel consumption at the same time.

While the car parts can be bought easily from the World Wide Web, by looking at the condition of the accessories through the online galleries uploaded at the various webpages, yet, only those who have an experience of buying these accessories from the internet should opt for this approach. The buying of the car accessories from the web, will not only help in saving the time of the people but also allow them to benefit from the various online promotional deals as well.

Viable Car Accessories


Most of the individuals have been able to enjoy the benefits of the car accessories that have been developed to add comfort to the travelling regimes of the people. One of the basic car accessories for the people who travel with their pets is the pet barrier which restricts the pets in the luggage area and keeps them from distracting the drivers or making the passengers uncomfortable. The dashboard trims are other useful car accessories that provide protection against the dust, mold, moisture and other factors that can cause harm to the body of the car.

The dashboard trims can be bought in the varying colors that match the shades of the seat covers and the floor mats as well. The seat covers too are available in the materials that are easy to wash and maintain. For the women who wear heels and drive, can make use of the specially developed floor mats that provide support to the posture of these women and help them in controlling their driving as well. Most of the drivers opt for the car springs to add more mileage to their cars while reducing the fuel consumption of the cars at the same time to make them fuel efficient. The car accessories like the wheel spinner are also used to add glamour to the cars.

These spinners emit graphical illusions when the car is moving and is mostly used by the people belonging to the media or the young drivers to reflect their individuality to the rest of the world. Even the basic essential like the air fresheners for the cars are available in the various varieties that a person can select from according to their preferences. Some of the drivers of the cars who need to carry heavy luggage also make use of the headers to ease the load and add power to their vehicles. The businessmen who need to meet their clients or be in the meetings after a long drive make use of the car hangers to keep their clothes from becoming wrinkled.

The car accessories can be bought not only from the real world and the retails but also from the various procurement portals from the World Wide Web.The procurement of the car accessories through the World Wide Web helps the customers in saving time and their energies as well. Even the accessories like the car seat covers and the other related items can be bought from the internet. These accessories not only revamp the looks of the cars but also help in personalizing them according to the likes of their owners and the drivers.