How To Find Good Family Cars

The buying of cars today has been made so easy. There is need however to understand the current market trends because every so often there are news of manufacturers recalling a model because of a problem that affects its performance. This doesn’t help in painting a reliable picture of themanufacturer in the eyes of the general population. Finding good family cars will therefore involve knowing exactly what you are looking for before going to the website or to the car dealers to ask for a car quote.

Many people will agree that being indecisive when buying something as important as a car might eventually lead them to buying something that they never wanted or needed in the first place. Doing some research, comparing the ratings, the prices, the features and many other features is important. Research can be easy when one has an idea of the class of family cars they want to own and this will definitely help them in getting the right car.

Reviews have become one of the best ways through which many people get vital information to base their decision on. It is highly unlikely that a car which is being advertised as extremely good to own can be bought by many people if the reviews it is receiving from the people who have already owned it are all negative. It is for this reason that many people are going for the established known brands of family cars and at the same time basing their decisions more on what other people say of them.

Visiting the yard for a test drive is a good thing that every person who has settled on a particular car must do. Test drives are generally for short distances but there would be no harm in hiring the car for a day and testing its capabilities at no one’s impositions.  Taking the car for a day helps one to test its practicability, long distance driving comfort, behavior on steep roads etc. All of these would definitely be hard to test if the car was tested with the car salesperson sitting in the passenger seat. This type of drive testing helps one come up with the best type of car out of a large pool of family cars (it’s interesting that the Danish word is familiebiler).

The cost is one of the main determinants of what type of car one can buy or not.In fact, it is the only determinant that dictates what category of cars one should dare look at. This however, does not mean that one can’t get an ideal car based on their needs and family preferences. Having considered all the factors that people consider important, it is not hard to see that there are good family cars in every cost category and all one has to do is compare and contrast the cars’ benefits with their needs. Using these tips will most likely make one end up behind the wheel of a car that makes them smile more.

Car Mods That Will Lower Your Insurance Costs

Even before The Fast And The Furious made it’s debut, car modifications were popular. Not only were car mods a great way to increase your car’s performance, they also increased your car insurance premiums as well. Adding more horses under the hood or tricking out your body kit are almost guaranteed ways to jack your premiums higher than your chassis. That doesn’t always have to be the case, though. There are plenty of things that you can modify on your car that will actually lower your car insurance premiums.

Green Mods

Converting your engine to a bio-diesel, or a gas/electric hybrid are great ways to improve your gas mileage and save money at the pump. In many states, car insurance providers will also give you a “Green Car Discount” of up to 15% on your premium. Saving money two ways for one modification is never a bad idea. Even if you paid a lot up front for your green conversion, you can save a lot of money on gas the first year alone. If you take the average car’s gas mileage of 20MPG and convert it to the average hybrid’s gas mileage of 53MPG, that will net you an average yearly savings of $1,438. Now, factor in a 15% savings on your insurance per year and you’ll be racking up some serious cash.

Tracking

Installing a hidden GPS tracker in your car is a great way lower your insurance and give you the confidence of knowing where your car is at all times. Even if your car does get stolen, you can pull up an app on your smartphone and see exactly where your ride went within seconds. Just give that information to the police, and you’ll have your car back soon and there will be one less car thief on the streets to worry about. Getting a GPS tracker installed is almost a public service to your community.

Anti-Theft

Any anti-theft devices that make it more difficult for thieves to successfully steal your vehicle are a good idea. Many cars today come standard with a few basic anti-theft devices, but adding to those will go a long way to giving you peace of mind and a fatter wallet. Some anti-theft devices include:

•     Car alarms
•     Electronic locks or keyless lock device
•     Tubular locks. These locks that can only be unlocked by a tube-shaped key with over 50,000       tumbler combinations.
•     Non-passive fuel cut off devices
•     Many more. Consult your provider to see what anti-theft mods qualify.

 Author Bio:

Mark McCrell is an auto aficionado who loves to drive his 1974 Buick LaSabre around town and write about all things auto.  He currently blogs for the website AutoInsuranceQuotes, which specializes in cheap auto insurance.

The Upcoming 2012 Toyota Camry - Refurbished to Rule

Toyota Camry 2012

The brilliantly tweaked and tuned version of the captivating Executive sedan by Toyota India, 2012 Toyota Camry is all set and geared up to dazzle the Indian markets with its grand launch scheduled to take place on the 24th of this very month. This brand new face-lift of the famous Toyota Camry which happens to be the 2nd best-seller of Toyota after the magnificent Corolla, is much more than a facelift. With a number of fascinating twists to enhance its overall charm, comfort, safety and performance, 2012 Toyota Camry carries the charisma of leaving the beholder spell-bound for eternity.

Marking the majestic beginning of the 7th generation of Camry in India, the revamped Asian model of 2012 Toyota Camry will now be assembled in India itself at Toyota's Bangalore plant. Right from the front to the rear end, Camry is packed and loaded with features to kill. An aggressive and stylish 6-slat radiator grille with a central V bend and a full chrome coating set between a magnificent pair of HID projector headlamps in swept-back style housing powerful round fog lamps also with a chrome setting has been employed to accentuate the manly stance of the royal sedan. Whereas, a massive bonnet, an all-black air dam stretched across the front side together with an elegantly curved front bumper add a dash of classiness to it. As for the rear end, an impressive pair of LED tail lamps in a smart semi-rectangular shape extending right upto the boot lid along with an angular bumper framing a pair of reflectors, perfectly suit the classy looks of the 2012 Toyota Camry.

But it is the side view of the all-new Camry that flaunts the most enthralling features of all that not only make it look bigger but also better on the trendy front. Flanked by a totally refurbished pair of wing mirrors with a round touch and glowing with LED turn lights, the 2012 Camry arrives in style with a glittering dash of chrome on almost every element including the door handles, window frames and even the running boards. To add to the sophisticated attire donned by this latest Toyota release, a graceful svelte frame has been chosen for it that starts from the lean fenders and spans over all three of the A, B and C pillars.

No doubt the exteriors of Toyota Camry are enchanting, but its interiors are nothing less than opulent. Assuming a three-toned guise, the interiors have been ornamented with streaks of faux-wood and chrome at various places like the middle portion of the front dash, the central console, the top end of the steering wheel and the meter dials to impart a glossy finish. Built mainly for people who prefer to be chauffeur-driven, the rear seats have been designed in sofa style with extreme focus on the comfort of the passenger that includes immense legroom and headroom together with a reclining front passenger seat.

To power this marvelous machine, an equally skilled 2.5-litre 2AR-FE 4 cylinder petrol engine has been incorporated under the hood that churns a peak 181PS at 6000RPM with 233Nm of maximum torque at 4100RPM partnered with a 6-speed Automatic transmission system. Housing a fully-equipped security system complete with front dual airbags, ABS, EBD and Brake Assist, 2012 Toyota Camry has been tagged with an estimated price of Rs. 23 lakh turning the heat on Honda Accord, Skoda Superb, Hyundai Sonata and the Volkswagen Passat.

About The Author:

Shweta Agarwal is a Guest author and writes on automobiles and gadgets. Now she is sharing the news about upcoming car 2012 Toyota Camry. Toyota Camry price has been tagged with Rs. 23 lakh. Follow her at Google+.

Hemi 426 Rebuilds - Are They Right For You

Car Modification - Hemi 426 Engine Rebuild

 
When Chrysler first introduced the hemispherical combustion chambered engine in the early 1960s, it was groundbreaking.   Originally designed for performance on the racetracks, the Hemi 426 proved so successful at its original intent – in its first appearance at the Daytona 500 in 1964, Richard Petty used a Hemi engine to take the checkered flag – that soon there was a sizable demand for street machines with Hemi engines.

While the racing success came early and often, and dealers were able to sell a respectable amount directly to street consumers, the early 70s marked the end of the Hemi 426, as most racing circuits outlawed the engine and Chrysler discontinued production in 1971.

Fast forward almost 20 years, and the Hemi made a comeback, albeit in a slightly different form.  Seeking an engine with ample power and torque, Chrysler reinvented the timeless engine and began installing the Hemi engines in their Dodge pickup line, sparking new interest in the classic model.

Since that time, classic Hemi vehicles have become highly sought-after; there were roughly 10,000 Hemi cars produced between 1964 and 1971 at a cost of $3000 to $4000 each, and now they are among the most valuable collector vehicles in existence.

Meanwhile, restoration enthusiasts and engine builders have increasingly turned their focus on the original Hemi 426, not just for its racing prowess, but also as a durable and reliable engine for cars, trucks, boats and hot rods alike.

For many gearheads, nothing can match the flair and performance of having a classic Hemi under the hood. However, there are some considerations that a builder must make before embarking on a Hemi 426 rebuild.  Perhaps the most crucial consideration is cost; Hemi rebuilds are generally more expensive than other 1960s engines, owing mostly to the difficulty in obtaining the specific parts needed.

The cost can vary wildly, however, and some Hemi rebuilds can be done for a few hundred dollars.  Others, however, can cost as much as $1,500.

The disparity has to do with the adaptability of the original 426s.  While stock Hemi 426 parts are widely available and generally reasonably priced, modified versions can be more of a chore to deal with.  And many of the original Hemi 426s were modified, whether for racing or a customized street version.

Original Hemi 426 parts can still be found with minimal effort, both for stock engines and modified versions – with one notable exception being the DeSoto models, for which parts are extremely scarce.  However, knowing which specific parts are needed when dealing with an engine that has been modded (and often machined) is the tricky part, and while many parts are interchangeable between the various versions, care must be taken to ensure that all parts are compatible.  The good news is that interest in restoring the 426 has led to an upsurge in manufacturing parts specifically designed for rebuilds – the downside to this is that there are so many parts available, it can be difficult to determine which one is correct for your rebuild.

Because of the extra knowledge needed to effectively study the engine components and ensure part compatibility, and the potential for bigger costs to find a rare part, Hemi 426 rebuilds are recommended primarily for those that have experience restoring other classic engines.   The difficulty of actually rebuilding the engine is not so great, but failure to properly match parts can ruin the experience, so proceed with caution.

The Hemi 426 is one of the greatest production engines every produced, and its staying power in the collector/rebuild world is staggering.  Many builders are specifically seeking out the Hemi because of its rediscovered reputation as a classy and powerful engine.  If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding restoration project – one that will ensure that your friends and family can give you no guff – then it is hard to go wrong with an engine that has had such a huge influence (despite limited early production) as the Chrysler Hemi 426.

Author Bio:

Roger Morrison is a classic car enthusiast and an off-road aficionado that has recently taken to blogging to share his passions with others.  His current project is as an online publisher for Chrysler Australia.