Archive for the 'SUVs' Category

Is the Shiny Car on the Lot Really Worth It?

This situation probably has happened to everyone: You’re driving along the road and you notice that your car doesn’t sound all that good. Before you realize what’s happening, your poor car takes its last gasps on the side of the road. You need a new car.

Television ads tell you that you need a new car. Although a new car does sound appealing, you’ve also heard from friends that buying a new car is a better idea in the long run. You’re faced with a tough decision. This article will look at the positives and negatives of buying new and used vehicles. This will help you pick the vehicle that’s meant to be yours.

The Glory of New

There’s something powerful about the looks of a brand-new car, all the way from the tantalizing smell to that shiny new paint. In this consumer culture, a new car is a symbol that tells everyone you have made it. There also are other benefits to buying a new car rather than a used car.

Positives:

Most new cars do have good reliability. The warranty also will likely cover any problems that do crop up. Buying a new vehicle also means that you shouldn’t have to worry much about how the vehicle was treated before it became yours.

A number of companies also have roadside assistance for new cars. This gives you peace of mind and can save you the expense of getting a roadside assistance program on your own.

New cars also usually have the highest fuel-efficiency standards and the newest safety features, like side-curtain airbags. You may also find a good financing program with either no interest or low interest rates. This can make it less expensive to buy a new car than it is to buy a used car.

Negatives:

Without a doubt, buying a new car is expensive. Most new cars cost more than used cars, and they depreciate very quickly in value. A new car loses the most value during the first few years that someone owns it.

The difference between what you paid for your car and what it is now worth can be substantial. According to the Kelley Blue Book, the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) for a 2007 Ford Focus two-door hatchback is $14,335. The resale value for the same car is $11,995. The value has dropped about $2,300 just for driving the car off the lot.

Buying a new car therefore means that you are getting more debt and losing value more quickly than if you had bought a used car. You’ll also be paying more for car insurance than you would if you had bought a used vehicle.

There are also issues to think about on a deeper level. Buying a new car can contribute to the culture of consumption and not the culture of frugality. If you buy a new car, some would argue that you are buying into the consumerism culture. This can be an expensive proposition.

New cars also don’t stay new for very long. You eventually will find your first nick or scratch. Eventually, the floor will be stained, the doors will have dings, and you won’t have the thrill of having a new car. Your monthly payments will last much longer than your shiny new car.

A Humble Used Car

Although “pre-owned vehicles” - what the car dealers like to call a used car - don’t have the mystique and “shiny” factor of a new car, they are hard to top as a practical financial move. Buying a late model car with few miles can be a bargain seeker’s dream.

Positives:

Buying a used car helps you get the most amount of car at the lowest cost. A late-model used car often costs less than half the cost of a new car. Some dealers’ pre-certified programs come with good warranties. They often include the balance of the factory warranty and the opportunity to buy an extended warranty. Low-mileage, late-model used cars are almost new. You probably don’t notice the difference between a used and a new vehicle if you trade in your car every few years. Most modern cars can go 100,000 or more with few problems. You could probably get 60,000 more miles on a car with 40,000.

You can also buy a used car for only a few thousand dollars if you don’t have much cash and are willing to take a chance on a used car. Buying a care that needs a little tender loving care can cut the amount of money you need to spend on your “new” car.

Negatives:

Some used cars still have the stigma of being unreliable. There may always be a fear of buying someone else’s problem because you don’t know how its last owner treated the car, or why the last owner traded the car into the dealer. Even if the car is fine, you still need to perform maintenance sooner than you would on a new car. That maintenance will include radiator and transmission flushes, new tires, and new brakes.

It also may be difficult to find a used vehicle with the features you want. You also will have fewer options if you buy a lemon. Lemon laws usually only apply to vehicles under a certain age.

New or Used?

You should make your decision to buy a new or used vehicle based on many factors. You should be comfortable with your various financing options, as well as any long-term consequences. You need to feel safe and buy a vehicle that is reliable for your needs and meets your monthly expense budget. Your “new” car also needs to meet your requirements for amenities and features.

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Posted on Sunday, October 26th, 2008
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Label: P.a.m Cost Of Diesel Has Been Destroyed?

Consumers are facing inflation coupled with the rising gasoline and grocery prices. Cost of living is rising day by day. Inflationary pressures are forcing business houses to adjust their working as well. Recently I saw an article in the newspaper titled, aDiesel Costs Destroying P.A.Ma and I realized that consumer alone were not bothered with the rising prices of fuel.

Many companies are suffering the impact of inflation and are adapting and finding ways to profit. Some companies have got stuck in losses and are trying to come out of the mess. An article in a newspaper few days back bought to my notice the fact about diesel costs destroying P.A.M. This transportation company has reported a second quarter net income loss of $1.33 million this year. They had posted $2.19 million profit in the same period lasts year.

The cost of diesel fuel stocks higher expenses in the quarter with an increase of 6 per cent per mile, net of fuel prices. The company’s operating expenses jumped 9.6 percent in the first quarter mainly due to the added fuel costs. The increase in expenditure had a negative impact on the company’s profit.

The additional cost of fuel, quarter dollars collect 26,240,000, 43,120,000 and fuel cost adjustment dollars. Additional costs of fuel a year was back in 14,150,000 and 29,010,000 U.S. dollars of dollars of fuel costs. The disadvantage of these figures, the company affecting earnings are serious.

The company also lost in the first quarter of the year from 2.8 million dollars, down from a profit of $ 1.3 million dollars during the same quarter last year. Operating income of the company has had a serious impact for up to $ 4.4 million dollars. Truckload decreased demand for shipping and competitive prices have resulted in the rates of sliding. They are not able to negotiate on rates currently available unacceptable levels in the high cost scenario.

To reduce costs, executive pay cuts and have to pay the family as a small, compared to last year. 8 cents per share, the company has recently lost a quarter of a loss. The cost of two large-dollar revenue 600,000 negative impact on the total amount received was fair.

The company shut down P.A.M.as Parsippany, New Jersey terminal which led to $300,000 severance pay to their employees. They had a $300,000 legal settlement resulting from a 1986 environmental remediation lawsuit. The company provided local Sacramento truck driving jobs and other truck driving jobs to the truckers.

Company focused on developing strategies to save fuel. The question is the cost of diesel destruction of PAM? Is authentic, but the company has plans to return and Contrib. The company plans to expand its customer base. Non-commercial vehicles increased by 13.4 percent for the quarter by expanding both the retail and consumer goods businesses.

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Posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
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Take Financial Advantage Of The Shortage Of Truck Drivers

by Jim Arnold,

The economies of the world are currently experiencing a slowdown, which has caused the demand for consumables to drop. At the same time, however, there are many industries that are experiencing a shortage in skilled labor. One in particular is the truck driving industry. There is currently a major shortage of skilled drivers in many parts of the world.

This is very common in Middle Eastern countries where war has scared away many drivers. The fear of being caught in a fire fight has prevented many class a truck driving jobs to remain unfilled. This is a benefit for those who are looking for high paying work.

Iraq is one country in particular where high paying jobs are available. There has always been a shortage of drivers in Iraq, and the prolonged war and insurgent fighting has exacerbated the problem. For skilled workers, opportunities abound in this country.

Many Americanas have traveled to Iraq due to its high salary pay. Drivers can make well over the average pay in the United States. In fact, drivers find the pay to be so good that they can retire earlier than expected.

There are, however, certain things that need to be taken into consideration. Rookies are not what is needed. With the danger and risk, experienced drivers are the ones who should be applying for these jobs. There is the possibility of losing your life, so Class A drivers with years of experience are really necessary.

The intimidation doesnat outweigh the benefits of taking advantage of a truck driver shortage. Companies that need drivers in countries such as Iran or Iraq will pay top dollar for contract drivers. This means that a driver is not forced to live in this country for the rest of their life. It is only temporary.

This can be a great opportunity, but make sure youare qualified for the position. There are many positions open because people previously holding the jobs have left due to inexperience. There are also, however, positions yet to be filled because many do not know of these great opportunities. You have to decide for yourself if the benefits outweigh the risks.

If you find you have the qualities then this is the opportunity for you. Why make your average salary when you can take advantage of a shortage, and be paid far greater from companies that need more drivers? Do your research. See if the job is contract based or permanent. After you assess your experience, go make the real money that is waiting for you.

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Posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
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Facts About The Trucking Industry.

by Jim Arnold,

The trucking industry is responsible for transportation of raw materials and finished products. It is an important and essential branch of any economy. Their job is transportation and distribution of industrial goods as well as commercial goods. The goods are transported with the help of commercial motor vehicles and trucks like box trucks and dump trucks are used.

Operators of these vehicles are called truckers. In order to be eligible for this career, one must be at least 21 years of age in order to be permitted to drive commercially from state to state. Also, the Department of Transportation mandates that drivers pass a physical test, as well as a drug and alcohol test.

A trucker should be able to read traffic signs and also make entries in Department of Transportation reports. He needs to clear a written exam and driving test for getting a commercial driveras license. A trucker must have a commercial driveras license to drive trucks across states. Truckers have to adhere to the rules regarding the safety of interstate commercial driving which are issued by the transport department.

There are a set of rules that regulate the amount of time a trucker may spend behind the wheel. aHours of Servicea requires drivers to have rest periods to prevent accidents due to exhaustion. A truck operator is permitted to drive for 11 hours, and then is required to rest for a period not less than ten hours. It is mandated that all commercial drivers keep records in a log book where the day is broken into 15 minute segment, and make entries for how they spent their time that day.

Salaries for commercial vehicle operators vary. Different companies offer different starting salaries, sometimes considering driving record, other experience, and endorsements. A beginner can expect to make around $30,000 a year. After only two years experience, the average salary is in the $50,000 to $60,000 range. Some companies offer bonuses for long haul trips or good records. Others offer full benefits like health insurance and paid vacations.

Trucking industry is facing an acute shortage of long haul drivers. Trucking companies have started recruiting retired military veterans, minorities, women and people who want a second career. There are many openings for class a truck driving job as well as otr driving job listed on the net. Due to the shortage of truck drivers companies are coming out with new ideas to lure more people to driving jobs.

One new incentive many companies are offering is company! Many drivers are now allowed to bring a spouse or pet with them on the job. Pairings often found now are middle aged husbands and wives. Driving together breaks the monotony of the long job, and neither has to be apart from home for long. This has benefited both the employers and employees.

Trucking is essential to the operation of our economy. We benefit from their deliveries daily when we buy our food, fuel, medicines, and other goods, and would be stranded if they were unable to remove our waste or garbage. Any cutbacks in truck travel and we will quickly feel repercussions.

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Posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
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Toyota 50th Anniversary: A Brief History of Toyota Trucks

by Jason Lancaster

On October 31st, 1957, Toyota Motor Sales was founded in the U.S. In the 50 years since, Toyota has grown from a small Japanese import auto manufacturer that no one took seriously to one of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. The history of Toyota is a story about success. Part of the story is the growth of Toyota trucks, and 50 years seems like a good time to review the history of Toyota trucks in the United States.

The first Toyota truck sold in the states was the 1963 Toyota LandCruiser truck. The Landcruiser truck was only available in small numbers for just four years (from 1963-67). Today, these vehicles are highly sought-after collector’s items. In addition to being imported to the US, the LandCruiser truck was produced by Toyota internationally for many years after 1967, and can still be found overseas.

Following the LandCruiser truck, Toyota imported the “Stout”. Available in 1964, this was the obvious predecessor of the Toyota HiLux. The Stout, like the HiLux that followed, was only available in one configuration - a reg. cab and a 4-cylinder engine. The Stout’s last year was 1968, after which the Toyota Hilux Pickup truck officially replaced the Stout.

Toyota’s HiLux was their first truck to achieve sales success. The “HiLux” name, as groovy as it sounds, was officially dropped from Toyota Trucks in 1975. From that point forward, all small Toyota trucks were known as “Toyota Pickups”. The HiLux/Toyota Pickup developed pretty fast. In 1975, Toyota offered the SR5 package for the first time. In 1979, Toyota offered a four-wheel-drive option on their truck. In 1983 Toyota offered the “Xtra Cab” Toyota Pickup and received a lot of praise for doing so. The Toyota Pickup’s value, quality, and performance helped Toyota achieve some cultural status. After all, who could forget the Toyota truck in the movie Back To The Future?

In 1993, Toyota introduced their first full-size truck, the T100. While many critics found the T100 supremely lacking in terms of power (a V8 engine was not available), there are a lot of loyal Toyota fans who will argue this was one of the best Toyota trucks ever built. The T100 was a commercial flop, selling in very small numbers.

In 1995, the “Toyota Pickup” finally got a name of its own, the Tacoma. Known as the “Taco” by off-road enthusiasts everywhere, the Tacoma is easily Toyota’s largest commercial success in the US truck market. The Tacoma offered an excellent combination of performance, power, and off-road ability, while still being a very inexpensive vehicle in it’s work truck configuration.

In 1999, Toyota released their next attempt at a full-size, the 2000 Tundra. This new full-size truck featured a powerful 4.7L V8, as well as a larger frame, interior, and greater hauling and towing capabilities than the T100 it replaced. When this model debuted, it was declared Motor Trend’s “Truck of The Year”. Toyota experienced moderate success with this model, selling about 126k units in 2004.

In 2004, Toyota released a completely redesigned Tacoma. This new larger Tacoma rivaled the full-size Tundra in terms of size and power, while still honoring Toyota’s compact pickup roots in terms of economy and off-road performance. The new Tacoma, while more expensive, has been nothing short of a complete success, becoming the best-selling compact truck on the market.

Finally, in 2007, Toyota released the 2nd generation Tundra. This truck silenced all the critics that said Toyota’s full-size trucks were really only 7/8th size, as well as offering the most powerful engine in the marketplace. The new Tundra has been extremely popular, setting sales records for Toyota in the full-size market. A lot of the new Tundra’s success is because of it’s class-leading 10,800 lb tow rating, made possible by the powerful 5.7L V8 and 6 speed automatic transmission.

What will Toyota do over the next 50 years? The short-term future is fairly clear — Toyota will probably bring out a hybrid truck, as well as the first diesel engine offered by Toyota in the US. Looking back at Toyota’s roots, there is even talk of Toyota selling a small, simple, and very inexpensive truck under the Scion brand. Toyota’s next 50 years should be just as interesting as the last 50 - that’s for sure.

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Posted on Monday, August 25th, 2008
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Motorcycle Necessities

by Kevin Lewis

While you are cruising on the vast road to freedom and slamming the wind behind you, there are a vast number of motorcycle essentials such as apparel and even motorcycle accessories to complete your image.

Motorcycle Helmets

In view of the fact that you are ordered by the law to wear helmets on your head, it is a great way to set forth an image using a little bit of creativity with your new motorcycle helmet. Solid color selections are offered in many different shades for men or women. You can even select a solid color that will look nice with the color of your bike. Roaring flames, wicked cool dragons, candy paints, hot spray designs are but a few choices for designing your motorcycle helmet.

Motorcycle Body Covering

Motorcycle jackets play an important role in the arrangement of motorcycle apparel. It doesn’t matter how hot the sun beams upon your skin during the summertime, there is always someone squeezing into his or her leather vest or motorcycle jacket. The materials used to create these motorcycle jackets go beyond the customary leather selections. Today, mesh, polyester mesh, waterproof Temperfoam and nylon are just some of the details that make up the construction of motorcycle jackets on the market. Some aspects of the jackets to be on the look out for include the color, fit and insulation.

Motorcycle Additional Apparel

While cruising down the slick streets, there are more than simply motorcycle jackets for motorcycle clothing. There are gloves to protect your hands, rain gear for bad weather and even two-piece motorcycle riding suits for those adventurous times that you go dirt or even street riding on your wheels. Suited to take on all types of terrain, the two-piece motorcycle riding suits provide attractive, reinforced body coverage. Dependent upon the original product line, features such as the leather-flex zones for the torso and knee area or even the plastic body-armor might be an option. Many riders go with a pair of comfortable riding gloves for hand protection. There is even the option to select a pair of riding gloves that will provide additional wrist protection for riders. Do you want a stylish pair of shades? When finding the best bargains for motorcycle clothing and apparel, you can land yourself a cool pair of sun glasses, however over-all these dynamic shades are not truly considered part of motorcycle apparel.

Motorcycle Foot Gear

Protecting your feet during your ride is important. There is vast selection of motorcycle boots to select from. The goal of wearing motorcycle foot gear will vary depending on the types of trips you will be using your ride for. You should be certain that the motorcycle boots give the type of protection that you will need for absorbing shock and resistance while you are bike riding. The best riding boots will provide handy ankle support, while providing toe, heel and shin protection for your body. Sturdy soles are helpful. Be certain to select a pair of motorcycle boots with a breathable lining. This will prevent excessive perspiration in your feet while you are on the road.

Motorcycle Frills

When you are hunting around for motorcycle frills and accessories, you are sure to find cool items not only for yourself, but also for your ride. Possibly you are hunting for brand that perfect face shield or even a handy motorcycle pouch to store your sweetheart’s new helmet. Tail bags and even saddlebags are useful motorcycle products to consider purchasing since they are so handy with many various uses. Did you know that you can take your work lunch with you or even that nice digital camera for vacation trips in one of those handy zipper compartments? Spacious compartments are ideal for an additional motorcycle helmet.

There is a large selection of various motorcycle eye wear that will have you kicking back and relaxing in no time. You can buy items such as various shield goggles or even different sunglass choices. Qualities to take into consideration should be form fitting nosepieces, replaceable lens pieces, optional straps, handy wrap-around functionality, and even a terrific case for the shades.

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Posted on Monday, August 25th, 2008
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