car care, maintenance, accessories and options

Petrol prices have been soaring since last year and as a result many motorists look towards new ways of reducing the cost of owning a car. One way of doing this is to swap your existing car with something which is more economical. And according to some figures, swapping to a smaller more fuel efficient car is what 1 in 20 car owners have done. In addition to make savings on fuel, buying a smaller car can also save you money on road tax and the London Congestion Charge as both are calculated on the basis on your car’s engine size.

Currently the top five most economic vehicles to get are the Fiat 500 TwinAir, The Smart Fourtwo Coupe, the Toyota IQ, the Nissan Pixo and the Ford Ka.

The Fiat 500 TwinAir only emits 95 g/km of CO2 and has a combined fuel economy of 68.9 mpg. The 0.9-litre petrol engine has been popular amongst London celebs because of its quirky yet stylish looks. It’s also fairly cheap with prices starting at £9,465.

The Smart car has a three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine and saves fuel with stop/start technology which cuts the engine at traffic lights. It emits 97 g/km and is thus, like the Fiat 500, exempt from the London Congestion Charge. Fuel economy is around 67.3 mpg. It is however, only a two seat car and thus considerably smaller than some of its rivals.

Number three on the list, the Toyota IQ, comes in several sizes, including a two-seat version. It emits less than 100g/km of CO2 and does around 65.7 mpg.

The Nissan Pixo is a fourth vehicle worth taking a look at. It’s the cheapest car in the top five with a price tag of around £7,150 but with CO2 emissions at 103g/km it’s not exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

The Ford Ka comes in at number five of the top five most economical cars to get but if you’re young it’s apparently the best car to get as it’s the cheapest car to insure for young drivers, irrespective of whether you buy a new or a used Ford. London dwellers won’t benefit from no congestion charge as the car emits around115 g/km of CO2 so over the 100g/km threshold but with a fuel economy of 57.7 mpg and low insurance costs, it’s still a great option. And some say it’s also the most fun car to drive out of all five.

We take it for granted that we can jump into our family sedan and automatically become a good driver. Fact is, most of us cannot drive to save ourselves. We don’t realize the important relationship between good health and driver safety. For example, like a drug, fatigue behind the wheel can kill you. The knowledgeable motorist will check his physical condition before taking the wheel.

Driving a car can make demands on a driver. He/She must be in just as good health as the automobile. Now, don’t worry, you don’t have to have a body like Vin Diesel in “Fast Five”. But, a minimum standard of well-being in body and mind is essential. If you are thinking of driving 200 miles and the car is a bit dodgy, you might say, “well, not sure if the car will make it, steering’s been a bit shaky lately”. On the other hand, if YOU were in the same condition as the car, you would not think twice about getting behind the wheel.

If you are tired, upset, got a headache or the flu and dosed up with antihistamines or tranquilizers, then you are a mobile timebomb! You are an accident waiting to happen! You have put your driving skills to the ultimate test and you’re gonna lose!

But, if you enjoy a state of good health with clear vision and you are able to buckle your seatbelt by yourself, then the threat on the road to yourself, your passengers and other motorists is greatly diminished. Not many of us collapse at the wheel because of a killer disease, but the threat to road safety from minor complaints is something very real and we must be judgmental enough to be able to calculate our condition.

Basically, the requirements by law as far as fitness is concerned is only that you are able to read the 6 inch letters at the end of the office and are able to fill out the application form. It is entirely our own responsibility to assess our own health as we would the road-worthiness of our car.

Now, here is a general rule of how to combat a sudden illness while driving:

1. Heart Attack – if you should ever be unlucky or unhealthy enough or just plain too old to drive, and have a heart attack while driving, generally you are not going to die straight away! Pull over to the side of the road and don’t drive for 3 months.

2. Migraine – if you feel a migraine coming on while driving, symptoms can be nausea and double vision, then stop immediately. Take off your leather driving gloves, sit down on the grass verge in the lotus position and practice deep meditation with forefingers and thumbs touching.

3. Anxiety Attack – if you feel an anxiety attack coming on while driving, you may suffer from memory loss, so pull over immediately and make sure you have recorded your trip on your SatNav, because you will have forgotten where you came from.

4. Schizophrenic Attack or other Psychosis – if you about to have a psychotic episode while driving, pull over immediately and tell your mother-in-law to hide all the picnic cutlery.

5. Alcohol & Drug Dependency – if you think that going for a nice long drive in the countryside is the best treatment for your self-imposed, cold turkey, substance abuse, withdrawal program, then you’re wrong! Tell your wife to take over the driving, get in the back seat, crack a few beers and read some magazines.

The object of this article is to give you food for thought. Eat good healthy food, drive safely and enjoy the machine that has brought us so much joy in the pleasurable pursuit of going somewhere!

Did you know that car thieves usually steal average family cars like the Accord, Camry and trucks like the F-150? Most people assume that criminals would rather steal exotic autos or at least luxury cars but they are after the normal, every day cars that most of us drive. When it comes to theft, no other state comes close to California. Fresno, Modesto, Bakersfield, Spokane, Vallejo, Sacramento, Stockton, Visalia, San Francisco/Oakland and Yakima are the cities with the most number of thefts in the nation.

Cities which have seen an increase in theft include Fresno, Modesto, Spokane and Vallejo.The states that follow California with the most thefts are: Texas, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Arizona, Maryland, Georgia and Nevada. It’s not all bad news though; thefts are down overall in seven years.

Curious as to why thieves are stealing average cars like Camry and Accord’s? It’s because these autos can be stripped for their valuable parts which then can be resold. The parts can be resold for even more than the car is actually worth. Parts are very much in demand because many drivers are keeping their cars longer due to the economic situation.

Of the newer cars less than 5 years old that were stolen last year, the 2007 and 2009 Toyota Camry are settled at number one and two respectively. Following the 2009 Camry is the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, 2007 Cadillac Escalade and 2006 Ford F-250 Series.

Auto thefts are down to a 25 year low of nearly 57 percent partly because of systems like the GPS products and the Lojack systems. Moreover, auto manufacturers are now including anti-theft devices with their cars.When the car is stolen the GPS system in the car allows an operator at a computer screen to follow the movement of the vehicle. Police are given directions to the vehicle.

There are a few things you can do in order to prevent theft. One of them is having a kill switch installed in your car. This way the engine will only start if the key sends a signal to the computer. Other things you can do include parking in a garage which is always safer than parking outdoors. Make sure you don’t park in a neighborhood that is known for theft. Don’t forget to lock your doors. Many people won’t lock their doors if they are running into the gas station or store but it’s important to always lock them no matter what. All it takes is just a few seconds to jump in and steal your ride.It’s a good idea to install an alarm which might deter some thieves. Lo Jack is an alarm system that helps guide law enforcement to your car when it’s stolen. A device like The Club can also help to deter thieves.If you do have to park outside try to park in a public lot that has ample of lighting. Take all valuables with you and don’t forget your cell phone, ipads or other fancy electronics inside as this can attract the attention of thieves.