Car Pinions

Shopping Around for the Best Deal on Vehicles

2009-09-11T11:12:00.001-07:00

One of the things that my parents taught me was that I needed to shop around to find the best deal on anything that I ever wanted to buy. I know that some people would say that it would be too much work, but in most cases, with the amount of money that I save, it is worth it.

Take for example buying a new vehicle. I have plenty of friends that just go to the first car dealer and buy the first thing that they see. But in most cases, they don’t know the value of the vehicle that they are looking at and quite often they pay too much for it.

But when I went shopping for a new vehicle, I checked out the listings for new trucks in Weatherford as well as the many car dealers in Fort Worth. This way, I had a good idea as to what price I should pay, and I gave myself many options to choose from. In the end, I was able to get a good deal on the truck I wanted.

So, the next time that you are shopping around for a new vehicle (or anything else for that matter), do yourself a favor and shop around – you will be amazed at how much money you can save.

Caladium bulbs, endurance races and used cars in Florida

2009-08-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of the Caladium Capital of the world? If not, you might be surprised to learn that it was named after the same town that once hosted the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Lake Placid, Florida is a lovely tropical region found in the middle of the state, and amongst the lush growth is also well known for the high quality used cars that can be found in the area.

photo credit: la fattina

The general reason for better used cars in Florida usually stems from the thought that many of Florida's residents relocate from other states. As these folks migrate to the warmer climates, they bring with them their vehicles. A surprisingly large number of new residents have come to the Sunshine state to retire, and end up selling their low mileage vehicles into the used car market there in Florida.

While the above stated facts certainly are true, in this central part of the state, there is another factor that might not be as well known. The internationally known endurance races held at the track in Sebring, Fl bring auto afficiandos from all over the country and around the world. With this focused market, comes a lot of the highest quality used cars that Florida has ever seen. If you're in the area, this is definitely a place to look for a good car.

What a Way to Start Our Day!

2009-07-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

This morning, I woke up to my husband telling me his car wouldn't start. I work at home, so I tend to sleep later than he does. Also, we share a car, so with his out of commission we were pretty much dead in the water.

Luckily, his brother was able to stop by on his way to work and take Hubby to the parts store to pick up some Toyota parts. It's pretty easy to find the Toyota Corolla parts we need, since he has a newer car, so luckily he only had to go to the one place and wasn't gone long.

Actually, we lucked out in many ways, because the only thing wrong was the battery. This is the second time in two years that the battery has quit abruptly, with pretty much no warning. It's somewhat disconcerting to have it happen when we only have one car, and to realize how vulnerable we are without a second car.

Good thing we live close to a parts store I guess — technically we are close enough to walk, though it would have been difficult to walk it while carrying a heavy battery!

This just goes to show though that we need to get my car up and running. I have an older car that hasn't been running for the past couple of years — I really don't need it since I work at home, and it's difficult to work on a car without a garage, so I just haven't bothered. Plus, it's expensive to buy parts for these older foreign cars, and oftentimes we just don't have the money!

This is a reminder, though, of why it would be a really good thing to get my car running, despite the expense and the hassle!

Getting Some New Wheels

2009-06-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

I am almost embarrassed to say it, but I am still driving my first car. That’s right, if I was to pick you up to give you a ride, you would be driving around in an old 1993 Dodge Spirit – not a pretty sight. It is falling apart and on its last legs, but I can’t complain as it has served me well. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have my eyes on a new car – in fact, I have been shopping around for the last couple of weeks.

I think that I have been to every Fort Worth Ford dealer and there have only been a few cars that have got me excited. Even though the Ford Explorer is really tempting to me, I just can’t see myself needing the 4x4, so I have been trying (really hard) to just look at cars. I have been looking at the Ford Focus, and I think that I am pretty much sold on it.
But before I take the plunge and buy a Ford, I thought that I should go check out the new Suzuki dealer in town. They have some really good prices, and from the reviews that I have read online, they have some good cars as well.

I am going to check them out today, but if I do find something that I like, I am going to sleep on it before I make an offer – I want to get a car that will last for a long time.

Rental cars Las Vegas Style!

2009-06-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

I've had my fun in Las Vegas. I'm sure you have as well. If not, only you can do something about that. One thing I'm a bit tired of is that marketing slogan, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". It is brilliant, no doubt. I'm just tire of it. During my last trip I spent way too much time in line for a car rental, Las Vegas. What's up with that?

photo credit: mandj98

If I had wanted to spend half of my time waiting for a Las Vegas rental car, I would have just taken a taxi. Or better yet, I would have not even considered rental cars in Las Vegas and would have driven myself. I'm only about 5 hours at just above the legal speed limit.

But that takes away from the fun and excitement of being there. Car rental Las Vegas style can be exciting and fun. If you splurge a little and go for one of the exotic rental cars, you may end up with one of those "stays in Vegas" memories.

Or you can be boring and just go for the cheap rental cars in Las Vegas. If you do that, however, make sure you spend all the money you save gambling. Only then will you get to create memories that you'll tell everyone about. And when I hear it, I'll cringe because you will tell me that it didn't really stay in Vegas!

Picking out the best truck boxes for your situation

2009-05-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you have about a million and one things you use your truck for. Owning my business means that I definitely have a lockable jobox. You just have to have these to transport and secure your tools. Try carting them to the job site, and into your garage at home at the end of a long day, and then back to the truck before you head to work in the morning. You'll soon understand that not having truck boxes means you've got tons of extra work on your hands. And don't forget about the added worry of theft and vandalism you'll be filled with.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, means that in addition to my daily grind, I spend a lot of time in the wilderness. My pals and I hunt, fish, and almost always take our dogs out with us.

Having seen way too many unfortunate accidents where a dog has jumped from the bed of a pick up truck, I vowed long ago to ensure that my dogs were transported in quality and comfortable dog boxes.

They may not be proudly hanging over the side lapping up the wind as the truck is streaming along, but this way I know my dogs will be safe when we get there.

Cheaper Style

2009-04-22T10:34:00.001-07:00

I guess I’ve always been something of a gear head. In high school I envied the people who had their own cars, and I worked during the summer and after school until I could afford my own. A friend of mine got a car right around the same time as I did. He got a BMW and I got a used Toyota. I know what you’re thinking. But it was only three years old, and with all the money I saved, compared to him; I bought a lot of Toyota accessories. Sure it was still a Toyota and not a BMW, but it actually looked pretty gnarly. It was a blank canvas in my hands. And by the time we were seniors his BMW was a couple years old anyway, too. Today you can get any Toyota parts you can imagine online. I guess the point of the story I’m trying to make is that people get too caught up in labels and image. All it takes is a few television advertisements to make us drink Coke and disdain the generic equivalent that taste the same. That said, I’d like to make one final, ironic comment: be sure to find genuine Toyota parts and not low-quality imitations.

Vegas Business Trip

2009-03-31T13:00:00.001-07:00

I actually have to go to a business conference in Las Vegas. I honestly never thought business trips to Vegas were real. I just thought that was something that happened in movies so that there was an excuse to take the main character to Vegas. I’ve never been to Las Vegas before so it will be pretty cool. The only bummer is that I’ll only be out there for three days and I’ll actually be in the conference most of the time.
In order to make the most of my free time, I think that I’m going to get a car rental in Las Vegas. I kind of want to do my own thing and I don’t want to have to stick with my coworkers the entire time. I know what I want to check out and I’m not sure what they have planned so I figured that getting a Las Vegas rental car would make the most sense. I feel kind of anti-social but I don’t know if I’ll ever get to go back to Vegas again so I need to make the most of the little time I have. I even got a ticked for a musical at the MGM Grand. I’ve never even been to a musical before so I’m pretty excited just about that!

Vegas Business Trip

2009-03-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

Hella Lights

2009-01-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

If you are a proud owner of a truck or sports utility vehicle (SUV), then you are probably familiar with Hella lights. The Hella company is known throughout the world as one of the best motor-component suppliers around. Their products are safe, comfortable and always adhere to the strictest quality standards. Not only effective and useful, Hella products are also distinctive in their visual designs. That is why adding Hella lights to your vehicle will make your truck look extra-hot!

Some examples of various Hella lights include:

Fog Light Kits: If you are debating about buying fog lights, debate no more. Fog lights are imperative for late night, dusk and early morning driving. Fog lights provide a much brighter drive and evenly distribute light to the road. This increases long range visibility and helps the driver notice road hazards earlier, so there is more time to react safely.

Xenon Bulbs: These types of bulbs offer brighter light and are made specifically for sprucing up smaller trucks. Cool looking and effective, these Xenon bulbs appear tremendously white when lit.

Along with mud flaps, grill guards and bug defectors, Hella lights are must have accessories to not only help the overall image of your truck, but to protect yourself from driving obstacles.

Choosing a bed liner

2009-01-19T12:04:00.000-08:00

When the time comes to choose a truck bed liner, you are going to have plenty of options to choose from. These days, picking out a truck accessory can be just as difficult as choosing the truck itself. Of all of the truck accessories, this is one that can make your truck look a ton better than it did before. So what do you need to think about before you make your choice?

Your first consideration should be in finding something to suit the look of your truck. What color would go best with your paint scheme? What sort of texture would give you the best look? In the end, these are huge considerations and ignoring them can have some serious consequences. Additionally, you will want to consider who makes the thing. If you are like most truck owners, you want your truck to look as good as possible and you want your purchase to last for the long haul. Some companies are much better than others at making things to last for a good number of years.

Price will obviously need to be a consideration, as well. With so many companies throwing their hat into the ring, you should be able to find a competitive deal on something really nice.

Wow a Good Experience Buying a Car

2009-01-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

Anyone ever actually have a good experience buying a car? I went over to a few car lots and got to customary swarming of the vultures. It’s kind of like a “car buying ritual” you’re always expecting from car dealers. Well, yesterday I was looking at some used cars in the Fort Worth area, and I wasn’t disappointed. They started circling, but they never swooped in for the kill!
When I got out of the car I wasn’t approached once by any of the sales people! I kept uneasily anticipating the whole, “No thanks I’m just looking” standard brush-off, but I was never forced to. To talk with a sales person, I actually had to approach them! Can you imagine that? A no pressure lot where I could look around at my own pace, what a novel idea! It was a refreshing change to say the least.

I walked around the lot for about twenty minutes. I gathered a bit of information on a few of the models I wanted to test drive. I did quite a bit of research online before every heading out of the house so I already had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for. I had the standard price ranges in line, but when I looked at the sticks, they were a bit lower than average on most of the cars I looked at. That’s hard to come by in a Texas dealer, but apparently not for a car dealership in Fort Worth. Everyone there was pretty friendly and they weren’t pushing for the sale. They wanted to make sure that I was buying a car that would fit my budget and lifestyle, not bury me in a payment. It’s about time someone actually took care of their customers, not the other way around.

Do Orlando Car Rentals Come with GPS?

2008-12-16T14:15:00.001-08:00

Next week, I’m taking my family to Orlando for 2 weeks. Not only are we going to visit Disney World, but we’re also going to drive around to see some other sites in the area. Of course, we’re going to have to get an Orlando car rental. My question is this: do the rental cars in Orlando come with a GPS system?

We’re going to be doing a lot of driving around in unfamiliar areas, so I don’t want to get lost. If I have a GPS in my Orlando rental cars, I’ll be a lot more comfortable driving around the city. The last thing I want to do is get lost and have to pull over in a strange area to ask for directions.
Plus, I’ve always wanted to give a GPS system a test run. I’ve been thinking about buying one for a few years, but I never wanted to drop a couple hundred dollars without testing it out first. So, this could be the perfect opportunity to see if it’s worth the money.

So, do you know if the rental cars these days come stocked with a GPS? If you know, please tell me in the replies.

Essential Toyota Car Accessories for the Winter

2008-12-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

As the temperature continues to drop outside, it’s important to make sure your car has all the Toyota accessories it needs to keep you comfortable. That’s why I wanted to share my list of must have winter car accessories.

· Heated Seats- If you live in a cold part of the country, heated seats are a must. This is easily one of the best extra Corolla parts I’ve bought to date. It’s so nice to come in from the freezing cold to heated seats that warm you up instantly.
· Snow Chains- Trying to drive in the snow without proper equipment can put you in serious danger. Your car could very easily lose control, and you won’t be able to stop it. That’s why snow chains are essential Toyota parts for your vehicle. They help keep your car on the road during the most hazardous conditions.
· Remote Start- When the weather is cold, the last thing you want to do is sit in a freezing cold car waiting for it to warm up. I got tired of doing this long ago. So, I bought a remote start system. This allows me to start my car from the comfort of my house. Then, I get in my car after it’s been warmed up.

Which winter car accessories are your favorites?

How to Improve Vehicle Performance

2008-11-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

If you know anything about cars, then you understand that there are lots of ways to make it run well. Because of this, there are plenty of products on the market that will take your truck and turn it into a well-oiled machine, so to speak. These auto and truck accessories will really turn your truck into something that you can be proud of.

If you want to really improve performance and your gas mileage, then you should look into improving your air intake system. This is a sure way to get more out of your truck and it doesn’t really take a whole lot of effort to make this happen. One of these kits will quickly turn your truck into a great machine, so it is worth the time to make this improvement.

If you want to know how well your truck is running, then you must have the correct analysis tools. With this in mind, auto meter gauges should be on your list of improvements. If you can’t tell what is going on with your truck, then you are doomed from the very beginning.
There are lots of ways to make your truck run like it should. If you want to learn more, then read about truck accessories on gas mileage.

Why I Love Ford

2008-10-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

I do love Ford cars not just because I am a proud American but because I love Ford’s commitment to environmental cleanliness.

Ford is one of the big car companies that have pledged to improving mileage in its vehicles. In 2007 alone, Ford developed more than 10 models that could achieve 30 miles per gallon.

Ford cars are developed in centers that are environmentally friendly. Its manufacturing operation, as I learned online, makes sure that it uses water wisely.

I make sure that I only buy OEM Ford parts for my favorite car. I do not go for replicas even though they are cheaper because I value quality and safety. For one, I am not sure if the environmental practices of replica manufacturers are sound. Another reason is that I could not be sure about the quality of replicas and that their weak quality may cause my danger while driver with parts disintegrating quickly. I remember my friend’s regrets with buying replica Suzuki parts for his car and I have learned from it.

Ford has also contributed to other social endeavors such as granting scholarships to deserving students who want to study in the field of human social development. I think this is very admirable and appreciate their support in the community.

I am planning of buying a Ford sports car for my son when he graduates from university next year. I will make sure he also gets genuine Ford racing parts for them. His being responsible deserves him a good car. And I'm just the person to get it for him!

Time for a New Truck

2008-09-22T14:00:00.001-07:00

I went to the dealership today to get the task started of finding a new pickup truck. It’s not that I don’t like my old truck, because I really do like it a lot. I have done all of the things I wanted to do to it so that it would better fit my use and personality. Unfortunately, that all happened several years ago though, and now the truck is at the point that if I don’t sell it soon, the value is going to drop. I’m talking about that magical 100,000 mile mark which since it is a gas engine instead of diesel engine will devalue the truck drastically.

While I was at the dealership lamenting how much I was going to have to pay for this new ride, which is a lot, I realized there would be other serious expenses also. Not only am I going to have to buy the new pickup truck, but I also will need to buy new pickup truck accessories! Besides the small stuff like mud flaps and fog lights, I like to go big with giant spot lights, push guards and step up bars. Not to mention a small lift kit and bigger wheels and tires. I can tell you now that this is going to get very expensive.

It Pays to be Organized

2008-08-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

The next time we go on a family vacation, I will definitely pay the extra money and use a travel agent instead of organizing the trip myself. I did alright booking the hotel a few months before we went, but I never even thought about the fact that I was going to need to book an Orlando airport car rental.

When our plane landed, we went to pick up a car, only to be told that there was absolutely nothing available. We sat in the airport racking our brains and calling every Orlando car rental company in the yellow pages. We were having horrible luck and I was almost in tears, ready to re-board the plane and go home.

My husband was finally able to find a rental car Orlando. He left me and the kids at the airport with all of our things while he took a cab to pick up the car. It took him two hours, but we finally had a set of wheels. We checked into the hotel and I sat on the bed and had a good cry.
When I was finished with that, we cleaned up, went to dinner and ended up having a great vacation!

The Purpose of Truck Accessories

2008-07-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of women who own trucks but the majority of truck owners are still men. And there are plenty of men out there who know what it means to accessorize but the majority of people who buy truck accessories are probably still women. Which makes it interesting when you're talking about accessories for trucks because trucks are mostly a man thing and accessorizing belongs to the realm of women.

When we're talking about accessories, we're typically talking about things that you add to a main item to improve it. For example, you accessorize an outfit (the main item) with jewelry and handbags (the accessories). When we're talking about truck accessories, we are talking about adding items to a truck to make it look better. These items usually also have a secondary purpose.

For example, a bull bar is considered a truck accessory. It makes the front of a truck look better and serves the function of protecting the bumper from damage. Likewise, mud flaps are an accessory which protect the truck from grime while also adding some style to the design of the truck. If you're still not quite sure how to accessorize your truck, you may want to ask one of the ladies in your life. Truth is they like trucks too!

Toolboxes Aren’t Just for Trucks!

2008-07-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

You probably know that toolboxes go on the back of trucks, but you might not have heard that toolboxes for trucks aren’t the only thing out there. In fact, there are quite a few different vehicles that can use a toolbox and use it well. Obviously trucks are ready made for toolboxes and in reality, toolboxes look the best on trucks. You should know that if you have an SUV, you are not going to get left out of the mix.

How do you get tool boxes if you do not have a truck? You simply have to get a little bit more creative with the way you handle your business. You might have to look past the standard saddle toolbox that has become so very popular among truck owners. You might have to, instead, look to trailer tongue boxes that can be carried behind your car. Your can simply hitch these up to your tongue and have all the storage that you need.

If you have a car and you don’t have a trailer hitch, then maybe you will use tool totes. With these, you just stick the box in the back of your car and away you go. If you have to move them to another spot, then it’s extremely easy because they aren’t attached to anything in particular.

Most Popular Brands of Trucks

2008-07-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

There are a few brands of trucks that have historically been the most popular brands in the United States. The Chevy Truck and the Ford Truck have competed with each other for a long time in terms of the big trucks that people are interested in. The Nissan Truck and Toyota Truck are the most popular truck choices for people interested in smaller trucks.

However, times are changing in the automotive world and that could mean that these truck brands are not going to remain the most popular truck brands over time despite the long history of their popularity. An increasing demand for high fuel efficiency, low initial costs and eco-friendly design are going to require that these brands either adapt or fade out of the market.

Of course, there will always be some people who are going to purchase these famous old truck brands. There are some guys that are going to be Ford Guys until the day that they die no matter how much it costs them in gas or how bad the vehicle is for the environment. But most truck companies are starting to realize that the average consumer will need some changes made to the truck design to remain a loyal customer in the years to come.