Decorate Your Car For Fun

Spring is upon us and isn't it a wonderful time of year? We throw open our windows, clean our homes from top to bottom and start to look forward to longer days and the approaching summer.

But spring cleaning shouldn't be confined to just your home. Why not get the kids involved and give your car a complete makeover from top to bottom? The added bonus is that you will find all sorts of long lost treasures hiding in the nooks and crannies. Here are some great ideas from Diamond to get you started with the different ways to decorate your car…

Cleaning out the car

The car decoration is of no use if the cars are not tidy and especially after winter are often muddy and in need of a clean, so start by taking some soapy water to its exterior to get your motor shining again. Remove the car mats and replace them if they are looking a little worn. Replace the car seat covers with something bright and cheery to reflect the spring theme. Vacuum everything thoroughly and use a stiff brush to loosen any stubborn dirt.

If your car has a musty smell, sprinkle baking soda on the upholstery and rub it in gently. Leave it overnight and vacuum up the residue the next day. This grandma tip is guaranteed to shift the most doggy of smells!

Accessorizing the car

Most local print stores can make custom decals based on images that you choose. Decals are like stickers but are hardier and can endure the elements that a car is subjected to. Why not choose a spring theme such as gardening or honey bees and print out some decals to place on your car’s body.

Or to make your car stand-out from the crowd even more, how about Car-Jazzling?

Car-jazzling is the art of personalizing your car to brighten it up and reflect the light-heartedness of spring.

Take a look at your car headlights and imagine them with long, pretty eyelashes. Car eyelashes are widely available online but haven't really caught on in the UK yet. Watch all of the copycats in your street when they see how adorable this simple modification looks.

If you want to keep the car decoration a little more low-key we can turn our attention to the interior.

Buy a piece of AstroTurf and cut it into the shape of your rear parcel shelf. This cute garden bed can then house some imitation flowers, a white picket fence made from cardboard and a handful of small toys. Your kids will love it!

A more conservative option would be to keep a plastic vase in your car and fill it with fresh flowers. This would fit in with the spring theme and give your car the scent of freshly cut flowers. It really will feel like spring has finally arrived!

Your car is an extension of your personality so why not accessories it as such? It is just a bit of fun and if you can always take it down when you have had enough of it. Go on, get some car decoration for fun!

Anti Driver Under Influence (DUI) Technologies That Will Help Prevent Drunk Driving

Driving Under Influence or DUI is a havoc which keeps resulting in many tragic mishaps in the form of financial loss or in many cases, the loss of precious human lives. Therefore, exciting work is under way with a change in approach for control of drunk drivers. In addition to strict laws and stiff penalties, law enforcement is working towards prevention. Imagine that, finding a way to stop drunk drivers from getting into their cars, or getting the cars started.

That is exactly what is happening at this time. Car manufacturers, the U.S. government and individual states are all working on separate plans for prevention of drunk driving. There are three main projects underway. Each one has a different approach to the problem.

Driving Under Influence (DUI) Prevention APPS

A number of states now have anti DUI smart phone apps that query the driver. If a certain number of questions are answered incorrectly, a red light comes on. These apps can be kept in places that sell alcohol as well as on private smart phones. If the host or bar owner feels a person is inebriated the smart phone app can be put to work. At the discretion of the establishment they may refuse to supply any more alcohol to the driver under influence. Some of these apps have adapters that the supposed drunk driver must use to have their breath analyzed. This may be the first type of smart phone anti DUI application available for use by the public. The reason is because the technology is already present and approved in cases of DUI, by the courts.

Concept Car - Active Warnings

Some new cars are under development outside the United States are working on plans that definitely take a different approach against the problem of Driving Under Influence. If the car senses erratic driving, caused by alcohol or any other reason, several warnings are given to the driver. If there is no response eventually, the car will lose power and have to pull off the road.

Other projects have the transmission knob for shifting detect alcohol in sweat on the hand of the driver. Evidently a certain level of intoxication must be reached before this can even be detected.

Auto Manufacturers Plan to Stop Drunk Driving

Over ten million dollars is being spent on a unique way to stop any drunk driver from starting their car. To start the vehicle a button is pushed. At that time a laser light shines on the spaces between the fingers and detects the amount of alcohol in the blood of the person trying to start the car. Should the driver be inebriated beyond a certain level, the car will not start.

This is good news for everyone, including those who drink and drive. It will certainly be preferable to be prevented from driving than to be involved in an accident or a problem with the law. If you have been arrested for driving under the influence be sure to employ a reputable DUI attorney San Diego County.

Passat 1.9 TDI - Top Reasons To Buy This Car

There are so many different cars on the market nowadays that it is hard to pick just one. However, Passat 1.9 TDI cannot be compared to any other vehicle. There are so many reasons why you should pick it that it is hard to list them all. Its fuel consumption is amazing because it is so much lower than that of most modern cars. Moreover, if you change the filter on a regular basis you can extend the life of your car. Another important thing to keep in mind is that you should change the oil every time you travel 10,000 kilometers. This way you will make sure that your Passat 1.9 TDI engine does not burn up. This is a car that should be well maintained and so you should only use quality fuel to drive it.

One of the top reasons to pick Passat 1.9 TDI to be your next car is its amazing braking system.  Other reasons include the more up market image and quality feel. Even though there are more luxurious versions on the market, the Passat 1.9 TDI is surely one of the greatest family cars you can buy. The residual value of Volkswagen cars is extremely high compared to other brands. Moreover, the car is clearly superior to its rivals because of its features and design.

A major reason to pick Passat 1.9 TDI is its turbo diesel engine which delivers great and smooth performance for such a big car. You can easily accelerate from 0 to 90 kilometers per hour in a matter of just 10 seconds and the maximum speed for the car is about 200 kilometers per hour. This means that this car can almost fly and there is no turbo lag to hold it back. That makes it more than a perfect choice for a family car.

Another reason why Passat 1.9 TDI should be the family car you buy is that it is highly refined, well insulated against ambient and mechanical noise and impeccably built. Once you accelerate to full speed and start gliding along the road you will not even be able to hear the noise of the engine. This will make every trip with your family as enjoyable as possible.

Additional reasons to buy the new Passat 1.9 TDI (or as the Danes say køb den nye Passat 1 9 tdi) and not any other family car include the fact that this is a saloon car which makes it quite practical. The back cabin is quite big and the boot is so easy to access since it is uncluttered. The folding rear seats provide extra flexibility and you can easily carry your ski equipment or transport fence posts in this amazing car. The Passat 1.9 TDI is designed to do everything you could wish for - it is constructed in a great way, it is spacious, it is stylish and its layout is quite logical. In conclusion, Passat 1.9 TDI offers superb quality, a great amount of cabin space, good handling, safety and quality equipment and all of these make it the greatest choice on the market.

Jaguar XJ Ultimate – highly innovative and extremely luxurious

The all new Jaguar XJ Ultimate is perhaps the most luxurious vehicle ever and it is a vehicle with highly innovative features. The British Automaker JLR has recently launched the Ultimate edition in the XJ range of cars and created a new benchmark for luxury in the luxury cars segment. The company has not just improved the comforts and conveniences inside but also added some of the highly innovative features to the Jaguar XJ Ultimate. This vehicle now goes on sale in Indian markets and the owners of this vehicle will get to experience the unprecedented levels of luxury. JLR mainly focussed on interior section of the car, especially at the rear cabin section in order to ensure that the rear passengers will get to experience the extreme levels of luxury inside the car. If you just take a look at the official Jaguar XJ Ultimate pictures of its interiors, you will get to see the rich interior with brilliant finishing that you may not find in other vehicles. This new car truly represents the heights of luxury inside, innovative features and technology which are available in Jaguar cars. It comes with a long wheelbase and the changes inside mainly focus on the rear seat accommodation. 

If it comes to the discussion about the rear accommodation, you can find two individual seats which are separated by a central console. This central console has got a tray that pops out of the console and places in front of the rear occupants for placing their drinks or champagne. At its rear, there is one champagne chiller where you can place your champagne bottle to keep it chilled all the time. As far as the seating is concerned, they are integrated with lumbar support along with a massage function that offers massage on the go. There is also a provision of two third generation iPads at the back side of the front seats with wireless keyboards that are placed in leather trim docks. On the other side, there is a 20 speak meridian music player integrated to the car, which is one of the most advanced music player till date. This new XJ Ultimate from Jaguar cars comes with the seating arrangement that resembles the accommodation of a private jet, which is truly exciting. There is also a wireless headphones given along with 20 speakers that makes enhances the quality of entertainment. Most of these Jaguar XJ Ultimate features are far more than advanced and returns complete value for money. 

When it comes to the specifications, the vehicle is available with two engine options such as 5.0 liter petrol and 3.0 liter diesel. The 5.0 liter V8 petrol engine can release 385Bhp of peak torque at 6500Rpm and makes 515Nm of peak torque at 3500Rpm. The 3.0 liter diesel engine can make 271Bhp of peak power and 600Nm of peak torque. Both the cars are mated with an advanced automatic transmission gearbox. As far as pricing is concerned, the new Jaguar XJ Ultimate price starts from Rs. 1.78 crore and it goes up to Rs. 1.87 crore (ex showroom price New Delhi). This is a perfect luxury car that has everything on offer for the passengers, especially to the rear occupants where they can get to experience the business class luxury levels. 

 It has been posted by Shweta Aggarwal on Jaguar's new model XJ Ultimate.

Keeping Your Car a Classic: 5 Tips To Maintain Your Baby

If you own a classic car, that fine piece of equipment is often classified as your baby. Just like you would take care of your little one, you need to make sure that you take time to take care of your classic car. Older cars, while they are classics with a great reputation, are more susceptible to having mechanical issues if they are not regularly maintained. To keep your car in tip top shape, here are 5 of the most common issues you may need to solve.

5 Common Car Maintenance Issues 

Car leak are perhaps the most common problem reported by classic car owners. While these leaks can occur a number of different places, in classics made by all of the most respected manufacturers leaks generally occur around the valve covers, the main seals, and the crankshaft seals.

1. Valve Cover Leaks

If you know your way under the hood of your classic Mercedes you must also know that what is a valve cover, you do not necessarily need to schedule Mercedes repair to fix a valve cover leak. This repair can easily be made if you remove your valve cover and replace the old gaskets with new ones that will sit flat and prevent further leaks.

2. Main Seal Leak

If you are a classic car enthusiast but not necessarily a mechanic, you may need to schedule Mercedes service and maintenance to fix a main seal leak. Because this seal is located in a place that cannot easily be accessed, it takes a lot more knowledge and work to fix. In some cases, the transmission and the clutch will need to be removed to access the main seal.

3. Crankshaft Seal Leak

Also known as the harmonic balancer seal, the crankshaft seal is located at the front of the engine and may not require in-depth mechanical skills to repair. By purchasing a seal kit, you can remove the harmonic balancer and install the sleeve to stop the leaks in the crankshaft. While you will need to follow directions, there are plenty of instructions that can be found on the Internet for do-it-yourself repair.

4. Door and Window Seal Leaks 

Oil leaks are not the only leaks you must worry about. Your door and window seals keep the outside elements out of your vehicle. If they are leaking, they have probably worn or cracked. The seals can easily be replaced with seals from the manufacturer or seals from an aftermarket parts company. Once you order the seals, you need to remove the old seals from the pins they are clipped in to install the new seals.

5. Fading Finish 

Over time, the dirt builds up and causes your paint finish to fade. By using a mild soap designed for cars on a routine basis, and waxing and buffing your baby by hand, you can protect the finish and make your baby shine.

Maintaining your baby is all about identifying problems before they get serious. While some work must be performed by a professional, many problems can easily be fixed on your own.

Maruti Suzuki SX4 spotted again, launching soon!

Maruti Suzuki is India's largest car manufacturing company. The C segment saloon car Maruti Suzuki SX4from this company has been spotted again with a complete new avatar. This vehicle has never tasted a success like other Maruti cars in India. Despite of being one of the good cars, it has failed to lure the customers in the markets. In order to make things right, the company is planning to introduce the facelift version of the Suzuki SX4 in the markets, which is expected soon this year. In fact the vehicle has been spotted on Indian roads which it was doing some test runs. Moreover, the facelift version has been spotted at an authorized dealer based in Bangalore, which makes us believe that the vehicle might be launched in the country sooner. 

The new version of SX4 was already launched in Chinese markets few months earlier and now it is slated for a launch in the Indian markets this year. The new SX4 comes with some exciting changes inside and out helping it to become more luxurious and feature rich model. The car which was launched in China earlier this year is expected to come with same exteriors and interior features this year. However, the company has not made any announcement regarding the official launch of this vehicle. 

If we discuss about the improvements in this car, the all new SX4 has got a new front fascia with an all new design chrome grille replacing the previous honeycomb grille. The new chrome grille has now got horizontal slats that makes it look more like a premium class sedan. This time the car has got a smoked out headlamps design along with a new design front bumper that gives an aggressive look to the vehicle as you can see in the Maruti Suzuki SX4 pictures. As far as Maruti Suzuki SX4 features and interiors are concerned, the car has got a new beige and black colored shade inside along with a new dashboard with black finishing. 

It has also got the beige upholstery with set of new features inside the car making it more premium from the inside. There is no doubt that the facelift version of SX4 looks much better than its previous version both in terms of appearance and features. If it comes to the specification part, the car is likely to retain the same engine in the existing variant. However, there is a possibility that the car might get a 1.4 liter petrol engine, which would bring down the price of the vehicle. The existing version of the SX4 are available with two engine options such as 1.6 liter petrol and 1.3 liter diesel. 

The petrol car variant is available with manual as well as automatic transmission options but the diesel version of the car comes only with manual transmission gearbox option. At present there is no information about the pricing of this vehicle but experts believe that the Maruti Suzuki SX4 price might remain to be the same as its existing version so that it can give tough times to its competitors. On the whole, it is a good vehicle to choose as it comes with affordable pricing, advanced features and superior specification. The wait for the car is just about few more weeks before it arrives on the Indian shores.

How To Avoid A Lemon When Shopping For A Car

You cannot afford to make a mistake when purchasing a car. If you find out that your car is a lemon, it can be hard to get your money back even if you can prove that you were duped. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you don't get stuck with a lemon in the first place.

Get A Used Car Report

The first step that you should take is to get a vehicle history report on any vehicle that you plan on purchasing. When you go to Jeep dealerships Westchester NY, you should be able to get this report fairly easily. These reports can tell you if the car has been in a previous accident or if the car has been repaired in any other way.

Take A Test Drive

Before purchasing your next car from a pre owned Jeep dealer Westchester NY, make sure that you take a test drive. This will ensure that you get to see the car in action before your purchase it. If you get the impression that there may be something wrong with the car, do not purchase it. As you drive, listen closely for any squeaks, groans or any other odd noises that could indicate that the car is a lemon.

Have It Inspected By An Independent Mechanic

If the dealer agrees to do so, you should get the car inspected by a mechanic of your choosing. Your mechanic should be able to tell you if there is anything wrong with the car that could cause you to spend more time than you want to in a repair shop. At the very least, make sure that the dealer has conducted a thorough inspection before you buy the car.

Ask For A Warranty

The best way to protect yourself against a bad car is to have a good warranty. Generally, you will have three days or a certain number of miles to return the car with no questions asked. Additionally, you can purchase an extended warranty to cover the cost of any future repairs that need to be made.


Choosing the right car is a decision that you only get to make once. Therefore, you need to make sure that the car you purchase is going to be reliable and last for a long time. The good news is that avoiding a lemon is as easy as doing your homework and not buying a car without taking a test drive.