What Options to Consider When Storing Your Vehicle

The idea and practicality of car storage is becoming ever more popular in modern times, with people following their career's abroad and circumstances constantly moving and changing. If someone has expended a lot of time, effort and maintenance into their classic car they'll obviously want to safeguard their investment when circumstances around them might vary, so classic car storage is a practical and realistic option. Classic car and sports vehicle enthusiasts will be especially familiar with the thrill and pleasure of possessing and driving an attractive vehicle. But when they aren't racing at somewhere like Brands Hatch in Kent or attending various car show's that can be found across the country circumstances may alter and the time comes to consider storage options for the vehicle.

There are many options available for car storage across the UK, from short-term storage to storing a vehicle over a longer period of time. There are some storage spaces that are deliberately designed for storing classic cars. Generally these storage units are designed to a particular specification and intended for the vehicle to be held in a long-term capacity. These units in particular even house de-humidifiers that control the moisture content and humidity within the space and in doing so hinder the effects of mould, rust formulating on the vehicle and any dust which may accumulate and cause damage. Without moisture present the chemical reactions which usually ensue and consequently lean towards rust and corrosion developing cannot occur. These storage units often offer a high level of security and are usually professionally insulated and sealed to provide the best possible temperatures for the car or vehicle itself.

It is essential to consider the various steps to take when placing a car into storage. Depending on the chosen professional classic car storage company you may choose it is important to enquire about the various elements which need to be addressed if you are looking at a long-term storage option. Some companies may well offer the option of also preparing your vehicle for storage to save you the hassle of doing so. Across the board storage units are available in a variety of sizes varying from very large spaces to small enclosed spaces.

These storage facilities are run by expert professionals who make every effort to offer first-rate amenities. Upkeep services to maintain the vehicle while it is kept in long-term storage are often in place to preserve the vehicle and to prevent any faults from occurring. In choosing car storage an owner can possibly prevent and save themselves from any unwanted expense that might ensue. If a serious car owner did not consider a professional storage unit when thinking about putting their car out of use for a few months or so, they could affect the value of the vehicle or incur extra costs when faults might appear further down the line.

By Mick Lancaster

Protecting Your Classic Car From Wicked Winter Weather or the Hot Summer Sun

Prior to retirement, I ran a mobile car washing and detailing company. I can recall many of our classic car customers wanted their cars washed and detailed, and a special detail prior to putting them into storage to protect them from the elements. Our franchisees dealing in colder climates gave each of their customer's cars a complete full detail and wax prior to the owners putting a cover over them and storing them for the winter.

In areas such as Florida, Scottsdale, and the Palm Springs area, our franchisees would detail the cars in late spring, as the snowbirds went back home and then they would park the cars in a climate controlled facility. There was an interesting article the other day in the Palm Desert Sun which featured a small business owner that owns a climate controlled facility called; The Vault. The article appeared in the "It's My Business" section and was titled; "Safe, Climate-Controlled Place to Store a Vehicle" by Cathy Strong.

The owner recommended that vehicles these stored at temperatures between 78 and 81 degrees at all times in a humidity-free environment, as this protects the leather, paint, and wood. Yes, that would be my experience as well, and by keeping it indoors, the tires would also be in good shape. And speaking of tires I can recommend that a car be put up on blocks, so it does even better, as does not to ruin the tires if they become deflated over the long storage period.

Just putting a vehicle in any type of storage can be a serious mistake especially in Arizona or the California desert where the interior temperatures of some storage units can heat up like ovens. Realize, that in some places in Arizona the temperature never gets below 100-degrees for weeks on end even in the middle of the night. An antique car just can't handle that, and you're liable to ruin the paint, the plastic, wood, and all the rubber inside the car, outside the car, and in the engine compartment.

If the vehicle is kept in the proper type of storage area at the right temperature, then it is just a matter of giving it a light rinse, and a terrycloth towel dry, and perhaps another coat of wax when it's time to pull it out again. There is a right way and a wrong way to store a vehicle, and you could seriously be hurting the value of your automobile, and over time watch it deteriorate to the point where it isn't worth anything if you don't pay attention to the details. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

By Lance Winslow

The Classic Cars of the Future is the Automobile You Are Driving Today

A true classic car is one that is completely original, and no modifications have been made decades later, including holes drilled, or add-on aftermarket parts replacing the genuine original parts. But have you ever considered that the classic cars of the future are nothing more than the automobiles we are driving today. In other words you are only 30-years too early. Now then, with that said maybe you should consider what you are doing before you drill holes in your center console, or start making major modifications.

Okay so, you probably don't plan on keeping your car for 30 years, but what if you did? Some of the cars driving around today will be totaled, rebuilt, refurbished, and be in car show someday in the future. Some of the cars driving around today may look like just regular cars, but they may win best of show at a car show in 30 years. Thus, it makes sense to take care of your automobile, keep it in good condition, and keep it as original as possible without too many major modifications if you wish to hold its value over the long term.

Why is it that so many people have a problem thinking here? Is it because everyone is busy living in the present period, rather than thinking about the future? Is it because humans live for the day, without regard to strategically planning their future? Perhaps, it is some of all of those things, but 30 years from now will be here, perhaps before you know it. After all, time does have a way of flying by when you stop thinking about it.

Over the years before retirement, I had been involved in sponsoring a number of classic car shows, as it was part of our marketing and branding strategy for my automobile service company. I can't tell you how many times that the judges who were quite well-versed in the factory specs of various cars would find sometimes ridiculous parts added to cars, often they would be Chinese trinkets, little plastic fittings and things stuck where they didn't belong.

Because of this they couldn't win best of show, because their car was not fully original, but it also showed a lack of regard for continuity of the era in which the car was entered in the contest. Well, rather than continue to lecture you, I would just like you to please consider all this and think on it. Because you might be driving a classic car, but your mindset is merely out of time.

By Lance Winslow

Everyone's Favourite - Covercraft

The majority of car covers are made by a company called Covercraft. This company is known worldwide for their expertise in manufacturing car covers. They have been researching and making car covers for over ten years now, and boast thousands of satisfied customers. Covercraft promise to provide the customer with a top quality cover that will protect the car from nature's harsh elements, and will last a long while. No customer has yet been disappointed.

Covercraft pride themselves in their covers since they truly know the ins and outs of cars, and their covers. They have spent the years analysing and researching. They have worked out what exactly a car needs in the various climates across the globe, and what are their weaknesses.

They have also researched the various different fabrics and their protective qualities. Thus, Covercraft know exactly which fabric is the best to cover which cars, in that particular climate and environment.

As a result, Covercraft have produced a wide selection of car covers to fit every person, style and need. No matter where a person lives there is the ultimate cover for him and his vehicle.

All of Covercraft's car covers take style very seriously. Cars that are covered by Covercraft covers bespoke style and fashion; they demand respect. Covercraft create their covers with as few seams as possible. This is to eliminate the patchwork image, as well as produce a better quality cover. Fewer seams ensure less chance of seam leakages, and rips and tears.

Car covers produced by Covercraft are also custom made. This means that each cover is made to measure the particular car, or vehicle, in question. This is an additional feature to their stylish look, and superior quality. Custom covers are known to be the best type of covers as there is no chance that some of the car is peaking out, or that something can work its way in, due to excess material.

Covercraft customers are able to choose the colour of their cover. They also have the choice of placing a logo on the bonnet of the cover, giving their cover that added personal touch. This is also very practical as car owners can easy and quickly identify their covered car in a car park.

All in all, Covercraft top all car covers, due to their excellence and durability, not to mention amazing customer service! People are delighted with the devoted care of the Covercraft personnel, should ever an issue occur. Covercraft commit themselves to sorting it out immediately, and do not rest until the issue is resolved.

View The Entire Selection Of Covercraft Car Covers Online. Shop At http://www.thecarcover.com For The Best Prices.

By Basya Katz

Revival Of A Classic

When asked what his dream car would be, my father has always answered in exactly the same way, without fail; the Jaguar E-Type. Not just any old Jaguar E-Type though, it would have to be in the classic British Racing Green, with a beige leather interior and wire spoke wheels. Developed in the 1960's the E-Type is undoubtedly a thing of beauty, ranking first place in the March 2008 list of the one hundred most beautiful cars, produced by the Daily Telegraph. It is also, however, an extremely powerful car ranging from a 3.8 litre engine in the Series 1 up to a 5.3 litre V12 in the Series three. The Jaguar E-type was a real life beauty and the beast and the model was a huge success for Jaguar, selling over seventy thousand of them during its lifespan.

As it happens, we live just down the road from a prestige car garage and my dad is often poking around up there, looking for 'his car', but he has never been able to find an E-type up there that fits his set parameters, though they have had some lovely models from time to time. However, there is a new kid on the block that will make any car fan, not just the E-type fans, get a bit hot under the collar.

The Eagle Speedster is a brand new development, designed to bring new life into the old classic and at 1008kg with 340ft/lb of torque, it certainly has a whole lot of life. The Eagle Speedster 'Black Cognac' is based on the old "Lightweight" model that Jaguar produced out of Aluminium with the sole purpose of being a racing car whereas 'Number 1' is more like an updated version of the 1960's original, with details and finishing that have stayed faithful to the design. The power delivery on this machine is absolutely amazing and the handling, which is often the let down of cars of this class, is immaculately precise.

The Number 1 has been fitted with the standard Eagle 4.7 litre engine, which has been paired up with a five speed gear box and specially engineered sports suspension. Of course, all the tried, tested and reliable Eagle upgrades are available as well.

Although I don't think this amazing piece of automotive engineering will ever sway my father from his devotion to the original E-Type, it certainly gets my vote as a wonderful piece of engineering and I'd love a chance to drive one!

By Luke Darma

Summer Starts With Car Covers

Unfortunately the summer that we love so much, can prove to be quite detrimental to cars parked outside. The unfiltered sun's rays are extremely harmful, and can literally damage the car.

Ultra violet rays from the sun are stronger and more powerful than ever due to global warming. These rays beta down fiercely on cars and are totally merciless. The rays bleach the exterior of the cars, and melt the finish. Thus vehicles are left looking like faded rags before long.

In addition, when the sun beats down on cars, their exterior gets overheated. This could ruin their internal specs as well as making it unbearable stuffy and claustrophobic to drive in.

Summer is known to be probably the most dusty time of year. For some reason, cars seem to get the brunt of it all, and get covered in layers upon layers of the stuff. This, of course is unsightly, and requires many hours of cleaning.

Summer is also bird season. Birds migrate to the warm climates, and tend to leave their visiting card on every car they pass. These patches of bird's muck, and tree sap too, are awful! They look disgusting, and they are virtually impossible to remove. One can spend literally hours!

Sunbrella is the key to all problems. It covers the car and protects it from any of these summer nuisances, ensuring that the car remains pristine clean at all times.

The Sunbrella car cover is manufactured by Covercraft. They are known worldwide for their wide selection of quality covers for all types of vehicles, not just cars. Covercraft make the Sunbrella cover from acrylic fibres woven together to form a natural resistance to ultra violet rays. Natural resistance means that the cover is much more durable than if it was treated. This is because the resistance will not fade with time and use, it will last forever!

Sunbrella car covers also provide protection to water, rain and the like, albeit at a much lower degree. This is done so that no one is ever caught out with the occasional spring showers.

Covercraft made the Sunbrella cover with resistance to the growth of rot and mildew in most environments. This is good as it prevents the car from becoming mouldy whilst covered.

Naturally, when a car is covered, it does not fall prey the many stains such as dust, dirt, birds droppings, and the rest. The cover acts as a shield, and the car can remain spotlessly clean at all times.

Since Covercraft care about their customers, they have made Sunbrella in five fabulous colours, ensuring that the car looks flashy even whilst covered. Customers can choose from Pacific Blue, Sky Blue, Cadet Grey, Jet Black or Toast. All five are extremely classy and handsome, and are sure to make the car look awesome.

Start Your Summer Shop Online at http://www.thecarcover.com. Find The Ultimate Car Cover For Your Car For Next To Nothing. Shop Now And Catch Mid Season Sales!

By Basya Katz

Safe and Stylish HID Bulbs for Your Car

In the United States of America and Canada, conventional halogen headlights are gradually being replaced by HID bulbs as more car owners are looking to enhance the look of their vehicle as well as giving it a performance boost.

Composition of HID headlights

HID stands for High Intensity Discharge and refers to the manner in which light is produced by the bulb. HID bulbs have no metal filament but instead, around 20,000 volts is used to ignite the xenon gas and metal halide held within a sealed glass tube between two electrodes above the base of the bulb. A car's normal voltage is twelve volts so a ballast is used to generate the extra initial power to illuminate the bulb. The light produced is three times brighter than a halogen bulb.

Advantages of using HID headlights - safety and efficiency

Not only do HID kits improve the look of your car, they are also a safety feature. HID lights are three times brighter than ordinary halogen headlights. This gives a significantly clearer view of the road which is especially useful for travelling at night and in the rain. According to statistics, sixty percent of accidents which occur at night are caused by poor lighting. Studies conducted on drivers' reaction speed to roadway obstacles using halogen lamps and HID bulbs found that drivers were faster and more accurate in responding to obstacles when their vehicles were fitted with HID headlight bulbs.

The bulbs are also very durable, being designed to last up to ten times longer than conventional halogen headlights. HID lights have an average life span of three thousand hours compared to a halogen bulb which lasts around three hundred hours. They are also shock-resistant as there is no filament in the bulb since the light emits from plasma material. The ballasts also prevent dust and water from entering the HID bulb. HID kits are also energy efficient since less power is needed compared to normal halogen bulbs. Reduced power consumption means less fuel is being used and so vehicles with HID light bulbs are more environmentally friendly as they emit less carbon dioxide.

Size, brightness, color and cost considerations when buying HID headlights

Before buying a HID kit, you need to find out the H number of the halogen bulb used in your vehicle. Bulb fitment plugs come in sizes from H1 to H12. They refer to the sizes of the bulb holders in cars and differ to ensure the HID bulb you buy fits.

The letter W represents watt which is the unit of power. The higher the wattage, the more power the bulb will use. Since HID bulbs are already very bright, a 35W bulb is sufficient and gives greater illumination than a conventional halogen bulb of 55W.

There are several color options which are determined by the temperature at which the xenon gas inside the HID bulb burns. The temperature is denoted by a K on the bulb which stands for Kelvin as the unit of measurement. Therefore, a 6,000K HID bulb means that the gas inside the bulb burns at 6,000 degrees Kelvin. Hid kits range in color/temperature from 3,000K - 10,000K. The higher the Kelvin (K), the dimmer or bluer the light will be. 3,000K produces golden yellow, white with 4,300K - 5,000K, diamond white with 6,000 K; higher than this gives ice burg blue at 8,000K, brilliant blue at 10,000K and an exotic violet at 12,000K. The most popular range for HID bulbs is from 6,000K - 8,000K as they most closely resemble sunlight.

HID bulbs cost significantly more than halogen bulbs but then this has to be balanced against their increased durability and the advantages they offer drivers as well as their stylish appearance.

By Jill Kaestner

Learn How HID Kits Work

HID kits are headlight conversion sets which contain all the components that enable you to change your car or motorcycle headlights from traditional halogen bulbs to xenon or HID bulbs. HID stands for High Intensity Discharge and xenon is the gas contained in the bulbs.

What are HID kits?

There are several components contained in a HID kit consisting of two bulbs, dual or two single ballasts, starter, holders, wires and connectors. Each kit contains an instruction manual as most people are able to do the conversion from halogen to HID bulbs themselves. Most of the new HID kits contain slim digital ballasts, which replace the older magnetic ones. You cannot use your ordinary light system with xenon bulbs as a HID kit uses a very different mechanism.

Installing the kits

When installing HID kits you need to use latex gloves so that you do not touch the glass of the bulbs with your fingers. This is because oil from your skin can shorten the life of the HID bulb. You need to ensure you fasten the ballasts and starter securely to the vehicle in a suitable mounting spot so that all the wiring can reach without fitting too closely. Once you have unplugged the halogen bulb and removed it from the headlight holder, take the plug and plug it into the starter. Then plug the starter into the ballast and plug the new HID bulbs into the headlight housing, which should fit in the same way as the halogen ones you removed. Lastly, the ballast needs to be plugged into the bulb to complete the circuit. You may need to adjust the headlights before the kit is fully functioning.

How they work

Taking the signal from the starter, ballasts supply the necessary voltage to ignite the HID bulbs and control the current to the bulb. When the bulb receives the power from the ballast, it energizes the xenon gas in the bulb creating a white/blue light, the color being regulated by the Kelvin color/temperature of the kit.

The cost involved

The price of HID lighting varies according to the type and quality. The cost is mainly affected by how high and low beam is achieved. Single HID headlight kits cost less than $100 but they only supply low beam from one HID bulb in each headlight holder. When they are installed it is not possible to obtain high beam.If you want high beam, HID/halogen kits use HID light for low beam and halogen for high beam. They cost around $150. Flexible HID kits have one hid bulb which can switch between high and low beam and cost between $150 and $180. The most expensive are the bi-xenon kits which contain two HID bulbs and two ballasts per head lamp. One bulb is used for high beam and one for low beam. These more sophisticated HID headlight kits cost over $200.

There is a great variety of HID headlight kits on the market and each one is not suited to every type of vehicle so it is important to know your car model and the HID bulb size you need. It is also crucial to ensure the quality of HID headlight kits as cheaper options will not last or give the same performance. Always choose HID kits which come with at least one year warranty on all the parts.

By Jill Kaestner

Pressure Washer Options for Car Detailing Businesses

Car detailing machines should be high capacity, high quality, and durable. They should increase productivity while reducing risks of harm to the vehicles or the operators. Additionally, car detailing pressure washers should be able to reduce costs and waste to help businesses save more.

When buying car detailing pressure cleaners, the buyer is faced with many options. Here is a list of what these options are and how to select equipment that suits your requirements.

Pressure Level

The pressure level is one of the most important factors when choosing pressure cleaners for car detailing. While intuitive thinking suggests higher pressure levels result in better cleaning, this is not true in all instances. Car detailing, for example, requires cleaning dirt from car exteriors without damaging the surface. Scratched paint is one of the results of using car detailing machines with very high pressure levels. Ideally, power washers for auto detailing should have pressure levels between 700 and 1500 psi to provide the best cleaning without harming the vehicle.

Heat

Investing in a hot water or steam pressure washer is a smart idea, particularly as these machines offer more powerful cleaning than simple cold water pressure washers. Hot water temperatures can be as high as 330°F.

Hot water pressure washers remove grease and accumulated dirt that unheated machines cannot. Heat breaks down the chemical bonds between dirt molecules, and the dissolved dirt is washed away with the powerful water spray. Plant sap, bugs, chewing gum, grease, carbon black, and a variety of road grime are washed away once hot water is used in the cleaning process.

You can invest in machines that generate 100% wet steam, which have moderate pressure levels, and combined with the high temperature of steam, remove grime fast and effectively. Such car detailing pressure washers are more effective than steam cleaners for cleaning car exteriors as they do not require scrubbing, which often scratches paint.

Flow Rate

Usually, car pressure washers have flow rates of 1 to 5 GPM. However, these flow rates are unsustainable if you are working in an area with water scarcity. Mobile car wash equipment is helpful when transported to work on locations facing water use restrictions. Purchase low flow car pressure washer for saving water and reducing the cost of water disposal. These car wash machines have flow rates as low as 0.5 GPM. They reduce the risk of fines resulting from improper water capture and disposal because there is less water input in the process.

Mobility

Mobile car wash equipment should be easy to transport. This is possible only if the machines can be secularly fitted on trailers. These car pressure washers should be compact in order to save space on the mobile car wash station. Non-mobile car wash businesses can choose either mobile car wash equipment or stationary car wash machines.

Car detailing pressure washers commonly run on electricity. However, many car detailers, particularly mobile detailing businesses, may use gas, diesel, or propane-powered machines to deal with electricity supply problems. These machines, unlike electric machines, are best used outdoors due to the fumes associated with burning fuels, but that is not a problem because a long hose can be extended to indoor areas for cleaning cars.

By Lauren Zwiebel

A Custom Wiring Harness for Enhanced Manufacturer Output

Cable manufacturing and assembly has become a very large industry in the past few decades. Its widespread growth is due to the ever-increasing demand for high performance machinery that is advanced in technology and generally more compact in size. Though standard harnesses are available for many different industries, a custom wiring harness may be helpful for manufacturers that have more unique and specific needs and want to be able to produce the maximum possible output for their machinery.

For the past few decades, industries like the automotive, aviation, and more recently renewable energy have become reliant on wiring harnesses to make their vehicles and machines operate more efficiently. The advantages of using a wiring harness over just placing loose wiring inside their machine are many.

With automobiles, airplanes, medical equipment and other kinds of large machinery, often several miles worth of cable and wiring is required to make them operate at maximum output. Without a cable harness, these loose wires would take up far too much space and force builders to make their machines much bigger. Furthermore, the installer can put in the harnesses in far less time than a pile of loosely connected cables and wires. The process has been revolutionary for many industries and helped bring about several breakthroughs that benefit consumers worldwide.

When it comes to which type of wiring harness to choose, manufacturers generally select either a standard or customized harness. Some builders choose the standard harness if they are constructing machinery that is more general in nature. Others decide to order a custom wiring harness when they feel they have more specific requirements that cannot be met from the standard variety.

Harnesses are popular in the automotive, aviation and electrical engineering industries, among others. These industries are continually coming up with more unique designs that are not as conducive to a "one size fits all" group of wiring. For example, because the military is known to be on the cutting edge of aviation technology, they have a constant need for customized harnesses to fit their newly designed airplanes and tanks and give them the output they need.

The automotive industry is another place where new designs are being conceived every year. There are always new passenger cars and trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and many more. There are also a growing number of hybrid and electric cars coming on the market today. With the global trend toward meeting sustainability standards, this trend is expected to continue.

Along with all this newly designed machinery is the need for customized wiring that can fit their exact requirements. There are several cable assembly engineering companies that can meet the needs of these customers. However, they are not all created equal. There are a few things a designer should look for in a custom wiring harness manufacturer to be sure they are working with one that they will be satisfied with.

First, the company they work with should be able to provide anything from a simple wiring harness all the way up to a complete customized solution with multiple leads and connectors. It is also helpful to work with a company that has been in the business for a while. Cable assembly and wiring harness manufacturing is a growing industry and there are many new companies that have popped up in recent years. Because a company is new does not necessarily mean there is something negative about them, but on balance a company with at least a couple decades in the business and an established track record of performance is usually a preferable choice for customers who are looking for some transparency in their electronic cable and wire assembly partner.

Finally, a company with a strong focus on the quality of the custom wiring harness they deliver will normally ensure that the manufacturer will receive a harness that will be built to fit their needs and maximize the electrical output of their vehicle or machinery.

By Andy West

List of Ten the Most Expensive Cars Ever Insured

The ten most expensive cars ever insured are certainly some of the most expensive cars in history. Auto insurance doesn't cost much for regular cars, but could the same be said for high-end luxury cars? Naturally, there are always limited edition cars that would have to be insured for a lot of money, because there are limited cars that might be when equated with them. These facts make this list somewhat inexact, as one couldn't possibly define just how much some cars in this list would be insured.

Insurance businesses have no universal standards in insuring a car, and various cars would have different insurance costs and cover depending on the value of the motor car being talked about. It may be hard to define what amount of a car maybe insured for. But in the interest of discussion, here are the that have even been insured:

Top 1 - Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

Whoever stated that modern cars are the only costly cars ever insured? The Rolls Royce Silver Ghost is a car produced between 1906 and 1926. This is an antique car that has been insured for $50,000,000.

Top 2 - Ferrari GTO

The Ferrari GTO has been purchased at an auction for $28,500,000. You could only guess for how much this car would be insured.

Top 3 - Bugatti Type 41 Royale

You could buy a Bugatti 41 Royale for $40,000 today. But the first ever insured car of this kind has been bought for around $12,000,000.

Top 4 - Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR

This has been in the record in the Guinness as the most costly car at the time. For what price, you say? Records say that limited editions have been bought for around $2,000,000.

Top 5 - Bugatti Veyron

This is easily about the most costly cars in the world, and it is only logical that it is also one of the most expensive cars insured too. Insurance companies would need to consider the rarity and the repair costs of these vehicles, since there are just 240 of these globally.

Top 6 - McLaren F1

If there were only some things that would be considered to get insurance rates, the appearance, the ability and the amount of the motor car would be on the top three. Selling for more than $1,000,000 this car is certain to have high insurance premiums.

Top 7 - Ferrari Enzo

The Ferrari GTO maybe in comparison to about 14 Ferrari Enzos, but this is no reason for its insurance to go lower. Limited edition of this vehicle was sold for a million dollars.

Top 8 - Koenigsseg CCX

This less expensive brother of the most expensive car globally - the CCXR version - is still expensive at around $700,000.

Top 9 - Porsche Carrera GT

A Porsche Carrera costs $440,000. It is still one of the most pleasurable cars in the world, though the plan could now be thought to be traditionally modern, if it isn't too ironic.

Top 10 - Pagani Zonda C12

There was once a man who crashed a Pagani Zonda C12 on a test drive has resulted to an insurance payout of around $428,000.

There are many unusual reasons why the ten most costly cars ever insured could cost differently. Their value could very well depend on the editions that they belong to, since there are invariably limited editions of vehicles that would cost more than those that are not.

By Pamela Wiltaker

Commercial Vehicle Paint

In these times of austerity following the recent recession and economic crunch, (the effects of which are still gripping the economies of the world today) businesses are being required to 'tighten their belts' in order to save costs. In some cases this has meant making large numbers of workers redundant and in others it has meant a severe cut in spending and a drive to become more efficient (i.e. make the maximum possible use out of the resources that are already at their disposal). One important result of such cost cutting activities is that businesses are spending considerably less money on advertising than they were doing in previous years before the recession.

Although cutting down on advertising expenditure may result in a decline in short term spending, such an action will naturally do little if anything to increase the revenue of a business in the long term as there may not be any other opportunity left for the firms to attract attention to themselves or the products or services that they supply. However, there are other ways in which a firm is able to draw attention to itself and its products or services. Smaller businesses such as restaurants or hairdressers, for example, could introduce a series of vouchers and special offers as an effective means of advertisement and drawing attention to themselves and attracting customers. However, for other firms such as haulage and removal businesses involved in transporting goods with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV), offering 'buy one get one free' vouchers or other such offers are not suitable methods of attracting attention and custom.

For such companies, Commercial Vehicle Paint is an ideal method to draw attention to a firm that uses commercial vehicles and the services that are provided by the business. A good example of such an advertising technique being effective is the example of Eddie Stobart because everyone is able to recognise the lorries operating on behalf of the business due to their unique painted design: a combination of dark green, red and white.

If a company that uses commercial vehicles was to invest in painting their trucks in bright colours or painted in a unique design, it would undoubtedly draw attention to them and (considering that such haulage firms operate several trucks travelling across the country every day) more people are likely to see and recognise the designs of these trucks and realise what they advertise and who operates them, than the number of people who are likely to hear, see and let alone take notice of advertisements for such firms in the newspapers or on the radio or television.

If you are interested in finding out more about commercial vehicle paints, or want to know more about Black Country Paints, visit http://blackcountrypaints.co.uk

By Natalie Eastaugh

Lamborghini Reventon: $1.6 Million Car

There are expensive cars and there are non expensive ones. Some buy them out of need, some buy out of fondness. And maybe there are other types as well. But not all cars are similar. Many car lovers like collecting expensive sports cars. This is certainly a very expensive habit. Not everyone can follow it though. Such a habit becomes all the more difficult to follow when you want to have a Lamborghini Reventon. This is not because it is an ultra expensive sports car, but also because it is a limited edition car. Of course this is one of the major factors that add to its price though. Lamborghini manufactured only 20 Reventon cars and only one additional car which got manufactured for Lamborghini museum. It was produced in 2007 and now, you can buy just from some previous buyer.

Lamborghini Reventon is one of the most powerful cars in the world. The engine is a 6.5 liter twelve cylinder V12 engine that cranks up a whopping 661 horsepower at 8000 rpm and can generate maximum torque around 660 NM at 6000 rpm. It comes with a 6 speed manual transmission. Reventon can zoom from zero to 62 miles per hour in a just 3.4 seconds which is unbelievably awesome. It attains a top speed of 340 kilometers per hour. The displacement it provides is powerful 6496 cc.

The interiors of the car look like a cockpit of F 22 fighter jet. The looks and feel of the interiors are strikingly similar. Of course being a car it does not have all those sci-fi gadgets and meters inside though. The front and rear ends are extended because of which the car gets a unique feel. The seats and other elements have two tone high-quality Alcantara materials which gives it a classy and posh look. It is also loaded with an interesting and unique gadget, the G Force Meter which makes it stand out in longitudinal acceleration. If you thought the resemblance of the interiors is just a coincidence, think again because the exteriors are simply inspired by F 22 Raptor. The body shape was available in 2 body forms; one is simply Reventon and other is the Reventon Roadster.

2012 Lamborghini Reventon has arguably the greatest looks for a sports car. The various acute and obtuse angles that it has give it a unique appearance. This appearance exudes power, strength and performance which are at the core of a Lamborghini vehicle. It is interesting to know that Lamborghini Reventon was named after a fighting bull (a tradition with Lamborghini though) called Reventon who killed the famous bull fighter Felix Guzman of Mexico. Its looks do exude the strength symbolized by the bull. The exterior has majorly carbon fiber which is the reason behind the comparatively less weight. The design is simply stunning and a sure head turner.

Talking about the pros and cons, we figure the biggest con may be the price. It is one of the priciest cars around. It has a number of pros, be it the power, speed, looks, technology and even the brand itself which is known for best-in-class sports cars.

Lamborghini has a record history of introducing only the powerful machines throughout their journey where Reventon was one of them which got a lot of attention at the time of introduction.

By Amit Vicky Ahuja

Car Tuning - Proves Very Effective

If you want to tune a car, it is always advisable to consult a competent mechanic. Large capacity engines give a much better return on the outlay. There are proven gains of about 20% in NASP engines on the basis of selected modifications.

The typical tuning modifications will include an induction kit, fast road cam, sports catalyst, sports exhaust, fuelling upgrades and custom headers. To get the best tuning results, you must choose forced induction cars because they are over engineered already and with a remap you could raise the torque and bhp from about a third to half more with diesel engines getting slightly less power gains as compared to petrol.

People who are concerned about getting better performance from their car can choose car tuning. Following these methods can make significant power gains on quite normal cars very easily. There are several performance tuning components available, but some of these give only aesthetic benefits. A louder engine might not necessarily suggest that a car has more power. However, many racers ignore this fact.

The turbo and supercharger are a smart way to force in more air. It is also called forced air induction. You may feel it is an easy task to achieve this, but it is surely not as simple as it appears.

This is because a typical engine will blow up if it is turbo charged suddenly. The engine's compression ratios would be lowered through stroking the engine. Besides this, the ignition timing and fuel supply ratio would also require alteration when considering the new characteristics of air flow in turbo charged engines.

Enhancing the stopping power and handling of a car is also equally important. It really helps in unpredictable situations. Tuned cars have the tendency to build more speed prior to hitting the corners. Due to this, braking is very important for finishing a fast lap. Heavy braking generates more heat and spec brakes from standard manufacturers start to fail when heat increases.

For stopping a car in emergency situations, big brake conversions are necessary. A remap would advance the engine timings and provide greater power and sharper acceleration. Many people make mistakes while tuning cars and a specialist should be consulted for getting the best results.

There are different stages of tuning. Stage one is meant for one off parts, stage 2 suggests you require 2 or more parts for fully releasing the power and stage 3 is strictly meant for track use due to greater operating speeds and reliability issues.

For the best tuning, you ideally require a car having a bigger engine size. It is always advisable to start with 2 liter engines. You can also choose turbo engines which respond well to tuning. You could tune up lower power engines, but the returns in terms of expenses are not impressive.

This article focuses on the different tuning cars methods available to get better results with your car. The various aspects relating to performance, supercharger, handling, stopping power, etc. are covered in detail.

By Robart Paul

The SpeedArt Titan EVO Porsche Cayenne Turbo

SpeedArt is a Porsche tuning company based in Germany specializing in Porsche automobiles. One of their most popular programs is the Titan EVO for the Porsche Cayenne (958). The tuning program consists of increased engine power for the Turbo model, new aerodynamics, interior refinements, and new concave truck wheels. The goal of the Titan EVO was to make the Cayenne even more dynamic, stylish, and powerful.

The Titan EVO aerodynamic body kit is imposing and ostentatious. At the front, SpeedArt installed a new chin spoiler to help generate downforace at the front axle and improve airflow to the air inlets. The headlights are more aggressive with new covers made from ABS plastic, and are painted to match the exterior color. At the rear, a new diffuser sits below the bumper and creates downforce at high speeds. The diffuser also accommodates the quad exhaust from SpeedArt. Along each side are extended fenders that redirect air around the Porsche Cayenne wheels and new skirts that can be painted body color. By adding the extra bodywork the Cayenne has greater stability at high speeds due to increased downforce, thus resulting in improved handling.

As part of the exterior styling and performance package, SpeedArt has replaced the stock Porsche Cayenne wheels with a number of forged and concave truck wheels along with suspension upgrades. The Cayenne Turbo comes standard with an air ride suspension system. So, for the Titan EVO, SpeedArt upgraded the system with a new lowering module that can reduce ride height by 40 mm up front and 30 mm at the rear for improved handling. In conjunction with the lower center of gravity, new concave truck wheels ranging from 20 to 23 inches can be installed. Customers also have the option to install forged and multi-piece wheels in the same sizes. Behind the wheels sit red painted brake calipers and stainless steel brake lines.

The 4.8-liter engine of the Cayenne Turbo also receives upgrades in the Titan EVO package. SpeedArt can install new air filters, titanium sport exhausts with volume controls, and an ECU plug and play module to improve performance. The result is a dyno-tested 580 horsepower and 820 Nm of torque send to all four Porsche Cayenne wheels.

For the interior, SpeedArt allows customers to create a custom cockpit with a wide range of accessories. Instrument dials, aluminum pedals, foot rests, seat belts, and turbo boost gauges can be installed in a custom color. The Titan EVO can be fitted with a variety of leather packages and stitching designs contrasted by alcantara. The rear seats can be replaced with single seating and feature multimedia interfaces for Apple products.

The entire range of SpeedArt Titan EVO accessories is currently available as an entire package or individual products.

By Braxton Herring

How To Get Your Car Ready For A Trade In

1. Research The Price

Do some research on how much your car is worth? Here are three valuation sites that can help you start. These sites will give you realistic information on how much your car is worth for a trade or a sale.
• Edmunds.com
• Kbb.com
• NADA.com

2. Car - Physical

Now, that you know the value of the vehicle make sure everything else is working. Examine and take the car to a mechanic for a car physical, make sure everything works properly. Find out what needs to be taken care of before the buyer does. Use a checklist to help you out.

• Check the Engine
• Check all the fluids, tires and pressure.
• Tightened the belts or replace if necessary.
• Check all lights (Single and break light)
• Check the battery or replace it if is more than 4 years old
• Get an oil change if is more than 5,000 miles
• Replace the windshield wipers if need to
• Replace the air filter a couple weeks before the sale
• Replace all burnt out taillights and headlights

3. Clean Interior

Remove all personal items out of the car including doors pockets, glove compartment and under the seats. Also replace all lights and dome light if they are burned out.

• Wash and treat seat of cloth or leather
• Vacuum the carpets
• Get a deep carpet clean
• Clean the dashboard with warm water and soap
• Spray and clean the inside glasses with glass cleaner.
• Check and fix loose door handles
• Check all switches and make sure they work
• Make sure to in between the seats and clean cup holders & radio area it can be easily missed.
• Clean inside the glove compartment and make sure you add the manual book.
• Check if the hood release, sunroof (if you have one) and parking brake release all work.
• Turn on the A/C and the Heat to see if they work properly.
• Remove all electronics (CDs, iPod, MP3, Shuffle, Cell phone and cassettes) from the audio system

4. Clean Exterior

• Hand wash or take it to the nearest car wash.
• Clean all the minor scratches.
• Rinse and Towel dry
• Wax it and make it sparkle
• If doors hinges squeak make sure you lubricate them if needed
• Clean the outside glass
• Clean headlights and tail lights.
• Replace all cracked and damaged light housings
• Clean the area around the gas cap or replace it if it's old.
(Buyer might have concerns of potential fuel line problems. )
• Wash all tires and use wheels shine.
• Make sure tires have been rotated and full of air.
• Replace your tires if they're in the maximum use.
• Replace the lug nuts if they are old.

5. Clean Trunk

• Clean and take all personal items from the trunk
• Vacuum the trunk
• Make sure the spare tire and jack are where they belong.
• Make sure the jack is usable and cleaned.

Take these five steps and apply them as they help you to promote your vehicle and get the most out of your car. If these steps does not work for you get some professional assistant to sell your car.

Relate article http://usedcars.about.com/od/thetestdrive/ss/UsedCarPrep.htm

By Madeline Yau

Washing Your Car In Cold Weather

During the winter months, or if you live in a particularly cold climate, washing your car can prove to be a difficult task as well being an unpleasant one. Water and shampoo solution can quickly freeze onto the surface of the vehicle, literally making it impossible to wash properly. Not only shampoo, but polish, wax and any other cleaning products can easily be affected by cold weather and not perform properly meaning that every part of the car cleaning process can be adversely affected.

During washing, water can also freeze around the car and cause a dangerous area of slippery ice that can be hazardous to yourself and passers by, and generally it can be very unpleasant trying to wash in freezing temperatures as your hands can quickly become numb and prevent you from performing cleaning and detailing tasks properly.

It is important however, to try and regularly wash your car especially in cold weather because there tends to an excess of dirt, grime and salt on the roads that if left sitting on the surface of your car can lead to damage and corrosion. Thankfully, there are a number of different things that can be done to help the car washing process in cold conditions.

To start with you should obviously ensure that you are correctly clothed and properly wrapped up to help conserve body heat and prevent your extremities from getting too cold and wet. Waterproof shoes or boots are a sensible idea to prevent feet from getting wet then subsequently very cold. Thick, lined trousers, a warm waterproof coat and a good hat are all essentials and even though you will need your hands free for the washing, some form of thin latex gloves worn during the washing process will noticeably help to take the edge off the cold and keep your fingers functioning.

Next, it is advisable to try and wash your car during the middle of the day when temperatures are most mild and when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. If the sun is out, even if you cannot noticeably feel any heat from it, it helps to try and position your car in the sunlight as this will help to prevent water from freezing on the surface, as, even if it is just reflected sunlight from a window etc you will be surprised at the effect it can have on the surface temperature of the vehicle.

If possible, you should take your car for a quick run prior to washing, or at least leave it running for a while with the window/mirror heaters and hot blowers turned on as this will, after a little while, help to raise the temperature of the exterior as well as heat from the engine and exhaust adding warmth into the body panels. It is logical to do this as you are preparing your equipment and filling the wash buckets so that by the time you come to put water on the car, surface temperatures will have increased a little. Your wash buckets should be filled with hot water which will further help to raise the surface temperature of the panels as they are being washed as well as keep your hands warm and supple.

It is the pre rinse and rinsing stages of the car washing process that can be the most difficult in cold conditions. Most people will use an outside cold water tap for this which greatly increases the likely hood of surface freezing occurring. The ideal solution to this really is either the use of a hot water pressure washer which can be adjusted to heat the temperature of the water being output accordingly, or by connecting your hosepipe to an interior or exterior converted hot water pipe/tap. These options though, can be expensive or time consuming to implement, so even though they are the best way to deal with cold weather washing, we will assume for the sake of argument that you will simply be using cold water from an outside tap for the rinsing parts of the process and so will focus on the other things that can be done to aid the process.

When washing, the wheels should be cleaned first (using a separate wash bucket) before moving onto the body as this will help to minimize the amount of time water is left sitting on the cold body panels. If the ground temperature is freezing then it would be a sensible ideal to lay down some rock salt prior to wetting the car to prevent your work area from quickly turning into an ice rink. When washing, it may be wise to work a little quicker that you would in more mild conditions to both try and keep your body temperature up and keep standing water sitting on the surface for a minimum amount of time, although, you should ensure that you still wash in a thorough and methodical manner.

If it is excessively cold and temperatures are sub zero then sometimes even all of these methods combined may still not be sufficient enough to prevent water from freezing on the car and the ground and so in these cases it is advisable to not attempt to wash and to wait for slightly milder conditions.

If you know that you are going to be attempting to wash your car in cold weather or during the winter months it is a good idea to properly prepare the exterior of your car before the cold weather sets in. If your car has been properly polished and thoroughly protected with a good quality, durable wax or sealant product then it will make it much easier to wash, meaning it will take less time and also that the surface is protected from road salts and winter grime, and so if you cannot wash for extended periods of time due to extreme cold you at least know your vehicle is protected and that the dirt and road salt cannot bond to and corrode the surface of your car.

If your vehicle is kept garaged you you will have the option of using a waterless wash product or detailing spray on the car while it is in the relative warmth of the garage to maintain it and keep it clean after an initial thorough wash, to prevent it from getting too dirty which means that you will have to rely less on washing outside with water.

If you have no choice other than to wash outside in cold weather then all the techniques mentioned here will help to prevent water from freezing on and around the car and to make the process a little easier and more bearable for you. However, they are not a complete guarantee against the onslaught of excessively cold weather and so if conditions are extremely cold and temperatures are sub zero it is sensible idea to simply hold off washing with water until temperatures pick up and conditions become a little more preferable.

By Joe Mcdonald

Unique Potentials Of Investing In Vehicle Protecting Accessories

The car buying process can often be broken down into three main steps that almost every individual follows. The first step is found with identifying the specific car that you desire and trying to locate the best deal available to you. The second step is to make this investment by pursuing various financial resources that may be available to you. The third step relates to identifying various accessories that you can utilize in order to protect your vehicle investment. If you find yourself pursuing the opportunities that exist with the third step, identify some of the most popular vehicle accessories utilized through car seat covers, auto mats, SUV cargo carriers, and bike racks.

Seat Covers

The utilization of auto seat covers often represents one of the most popular resources of protection individuals invest in when it comes to protecting their vehicle. Seats are constantly under abuse, with the constant in and out process, that can cause rips in fabric, scratches to leather, and many other negative side effects that are irreversible. The use of these covers creates a defensive barrier for any vehicle to take advantage of in order to avoid damage as well as staining.

Auto Mats

The second most popular accessory that consumers often invest in when it comes to the opportunities of protecting their vehicle is found with floor mats. The carpet of your interior represents the second most abused area of the vehicle only following the seats. Whether you are looking to avoid staining, damage, or any other factor that can impact your flooring, the utilization of auto mats help to create a defensive barrier that would prove highly beneficial to maintaining the quality of your floor and its protection.

Cargo Carriers

One resource that many individuals often take advantage of when they find themselves traveling for business or on vacation is seen with the possibilities of SUV cargo carriers. Luggage can often be bulky and have many sharp corners, increasing the possibility of damaging flooring, upholstery, or your vehicle's interior. Through the use of cargo carriers not only will you be able to avoid placing luggage in your vehicle, you will also be able to benefit from the advantages of increased space.

Bike Racks

The fourth most popular resource individuals can take advantage of when it comes to investing in vehicle accessories is found with bike racks. Bikes can destroy the interior of a vehicle, especially when you have more than one that you are forcing into your vehicle. Utilization of a secure bike rack helps to keep bikes on the exterior of your car so that the interior can remain pristine.

Each of these accessories help to provide many unique opportunities when it comes to protecting your vehicle for long-term use. The delay many individuals have when it comes to investing in these products often results in regretful damage that could have been avoided through swift investment opportunities.

To discover one of the best resources that you can rely on when it comes to purchasing any automotive accessories such as seat covers, auto mats, cargo carriers, or bike racks, go to www.sportomotoring.com.

By Ken Geers

Enjoy the Benefits of an Electric Car by Building One for Yourself

Your parents have always been driving a gas-engine car, you have also been and you think that your children will also do the same. Well gasoline-fueled cars have been the norm and almost everyone is of the opinion that they would continue to be so. But, consider the fact when a few decades from now gasoline and as matter of fact petroleum will become a very rare commodity to find. It is a fact that gasoline-powered cars are not going to be there forever.

Electricity is a renewable energy and scientists and car manufacturers have proven the fact that electric engines are going to be the vehicles of the future. There are numerous advantages that electric motors have to offer over your traditional gasoline-powered cars. Compared to the internal combustion engine, a car offers as much as 500% efficiency. This means that your car is going to give huge power output even for a small amount of fuel. Because your electric engine is powered by electricity, originating in batteries, the sun, the wind or the water, it does not emit any pollution into the environment. It is going to be silent, easy to use and quite safe.

Considering all these factors you may think if you can build a lot many electrical equipment's yourself, why not build an electric car yourself. And, if you can do it successfully you can save tens of thousands of dollars on buying a new electric automobiles from a manufacturer.

Before you begin your do-it-yourself mission for building a car, consider the option of converting your old car into an electric engine. In most cases this may be possible. Make sure that you have the skills to perform the conversion at your hands. It is very important that you have all the knowledge about the working of an engine. If you know how to fix your car engine at times of trouble, then you may be a good candidate to build your own car. However, if you prefer to get your car maintenance done by a professional, it would also be better to get your car built by a professional.

However, if you are confident about your skills you can refer a helpful do-it-yourself guide and start working on your electric car. This would mean that you would have to do some research and learn the basic science behind electric cars. Since, they have a basic design, you would find them easy to make than a gasoline-powered car. The fact is that you would be surprised from the amount of work that you can do by referring to a professional do-it-yourself kit. The guide would also let you know the tools and equipment that would be required to build your own electric car. Make sure that you have someone handy to help you lift some heavy components and also to help you with the tools. Your garage or a sheltered place with sufficient amount of space would be an ideal place to start your project.

By Faruq Hossain

Break Pedal Extensions Are Not Just for Small People

The invention of car pedal extenders, like break pedal extensions, has greatly benefited people who are not gifted with enough physical body length to drive comfortably. Without such tools they can either be driving too close to the steering wheel, which is very unsafe and uncomfortable, or they maybe left with no choice but to forget being able to drive at all. But everybody needs to learn how to drive and be able to drive. It is a modern time necessity. So thanks to the geniuses who came up with these extender tools, height is no longer a problem in driving.

But contrary to what most of us believe in, small people are not the only ones who can benefit from car pedal extensions. Obese people are also turning to such tools for them to achieve road driving comfort and safety assurance. The most common scenario of heavy people is their need to position the driver's seat at a distance from the steering wheel so they can fit their big tummy in the space. The result, they are placed in a state wherein either their feet can no longer reach the pedals comfortably or aren't able to reach and touch them at all. Once again, thanks to this invention because this time, body weight and size is no longer a hindrance for people to be able to drive.

In the same situation as with heavy or obese people, pregnant women can also get a lot of comfort in driving through the aid of these pedal extenders. Some of them may have concerns when their husband or probably other family members with regard to not being able to use that car with extenders or might be worried about the hassles of installing and removing the tools when other people are to use the vehicle. This problem has now been addressed by manufacturers. Many pedal extensions are now designed so that installation and de-installation can both be done in a breeze.

The road is innately unsafe and prone to a lot of harmful vehicular mishaps. That is why reminders on road safety are sporadic. This would have not been given that serious attention if roads are not highly vulnerable to accidents that can be fatal to people. So if you are struggling to have a comfortable reach on your car pedals, do not think twice in getting your pedals extended. It is now easy to find people who can help in getting this done for you since many of such special services can already be found online. These experts can give good advices on what will be the best break pedal extensions suited for every car model. They will also be more than willing to show you installation and adjustment tips as needed. Find them now.

Do you want convenience in your driving? Philip Juan Ahlstrom is a struggling driver until he found the perfect solution to drive safely and comfortably. He then started writing about products that answers anything related to cars or driving. There are brake pedal extensions found online today such as clutch pedal extenders, gas and break extenders, and a lot more. Brake pedal extensions offers quality, durable, efficient, easy to install, and adjustable pedal extenders. Visit http://pedal-extensions.com for more product information - the shop that answers to all your driving difficulties.

By Philip Juan G Ahlstrom

Car Cleaning - Top 10 Tips

There is a lot of information out there on car care, auto detailing and the right (or wrong) products for each step in the process. This list of helpful car cleaning tips will help you get the job done right the first time and keep you from wasting time, money and water.

Do you know what the most versatile automotive cleaning product you already own is? Is it true that hot temperatures and bright sunlight are your worst enemy when washing your car? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.

Be responsible - Try a waterless car wash. A TON of water is wasted each time you take your car to the carwash or wash your car in the driveway at home. Beyond the obvious issue of wasting gallons and gallons (up to 140 per wash) of water, that water - and all of the chemicals, brake dust, tar, and other debris in it produce a toxic run-off that seeps back into the streams and other water sources in your neighborhood. Instead of wasting water and polluting your environment, try a naturally derived, spray-on-and-wipe-off car wash. The results are great, and your impact on the natural world is lessened significantly.

Microfiber towels are key - trash those old t-shirts and towels. Microfiber towels are the only way to go when cleaning your car. They are lint-free, will not cause scratches and will not cause streaks. Imagine your car's windows and mirrors sparkling clean without even the slightest swirl or streak from your glass cleaner! High quality microfiber towels contain ultra-fine fibers that are machine knit to create tiny loops. These loops absorb a great deal more liquid than a regular cotton towel - they can hold 8 times their weight in water! Additionally, electrostatic properties in microfiber towels cause them to literally attract dust and dirt, which allows you to lift grime up and away from the surface, rather than just wiping it across it. The only downside to microfiber towels is that they do require special care. Microfiber towels should be washed with detergent only - NEVER use bleach or softener as it will destroy the electrostatic charge that is so helpful for cleaning. Also, the towels should be either hung to dry or dried on low or no heat to avoid melting the synthetic fibers. When cleaning with microfiber towels, spray your car care product onto the towel first, NOT directly onto the surface. This will keep over-spray onto other surfaces to a minimum and keep you from cleaning the same surface twice.

Don't clean your car in the sun. If you can avoid it, never clean your car in direct sunlight or high temperatures. Whether you are washing the exterior of the vehicle, wiping down the dashboard, or polishing the windows, any liquid you spray on or in your car will evaporate very quickly in the sun or heat. Evaporation is an issue for two reasons. First, you're putting the time and energy into cleaning the car - why make the job longer and more difficult by having to constantly re-spray and re-wipe areas over and over again? Even pure water will leave behind spots and streaks if it evaporates on the surface of your car. Second, consider the effect evaporation of chemicals can have when cleaning the interior of your car. The liquid turns to gas and is inhaled by you and your family members, posing a potentially serious health risk. If at all possible, clean your car in the shade to make the process more efficient and to avoid endangering your health. This is yet another reason to opt for non-toxic car care products.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. This might seem pretty obvious, but vacuuming as much of your vehicle as possible will make cleaning a lot easier. Don't vacuum just the carpets and upholstery - get out those attachments and suck the dust off the dashboard and out of those little nooks and crannies. The more you vacuum up first, the less you'll have to wipe down later. Always remember to vacuum first, before any other interior cleaning, so that you avoid re-contaminating freshly cleaned areas when the dust starts to fly.

You already own many great car cleaning tools. Think of all the items you have around the house that could make car cleaning easier. Q-tips are perfect for cleaning out those little spaces where dust accumulates, such as the air vents. Have some canned air on the computer desk? "Dust Off" is great for blasting dust off of your computer keyboard AND out of crevices in your car's console, cup holders or other small spots. A soft paintbrush is a great tool for detailing your dashboard. Keep household items like these on hand for car cleaning and you'll have a vehicle that's been cleaned thoroughly and efficiently.

Don't do the job twice - clean glass last. Cleaning your windows and mirrors last will prevent any re-contamination likely to occur from other car care products over-spraying onto the glass. Don't forget to roll the window down halfway to clean the top edge of the glass, and try up-and-down, side-to-side strokes rather than a circular motion to ensure the entire window has been cleaned and polished.

Avoid any products containing ammonia or silicone. Ammonia and ammonia fumes cause plastic, rubber, vinyl and leather to crack and dry out, and it will also damage aftermarket window tinting. The last thing you want to do when trying to improve the appearance of your car is prematurely age it with ammonia! Some interior protectant products contain silicone, which will turn your dashboard and other surfaces yellow with time. Silicone also leaves behind a residue that will attract dust, causing you to have to clean more frequently.

Dishwashing detergent = NOT car wash. It is popularly believed that dishwashing liquid is a convenient substitute for car soap. Unfortunately, just like it can dry out your skin, it also dries out the paint on your car by stripping away the polymers. Regular use of dishwashing detergent as car wash will accelerate the oxidization of the paint, causing it to look old, flat, and dull. Avoid ruining your car's paint - opt for a waterless car wash.

You don't need a clay bar to remove dried-on tree sap. Don't have a clay bar? Don't even know what a clay bar is? Not a problem. There are incredibly powerful all-purpose automotive cleaners on the market that can tackle hard to clean spots like bird droppings, bugs and fresh tree sap, but for dried-on sap, use mineral spirits. Apply mineral spirits to the spot and then very gently wipe the sap away with a quality microfiber towel. Be sure to be as gentle as possible while wiping up and away from the car's surface.

White vinegar is a car care cure-all! White vinegar is undoubtedly the most versatile cleaning agent you probably already own. It can be used to clean those winter salt stains from your car's carpets, eliminate odors, polish chrome, prevent frost from forming on your car's windows, and clean the grime off your wipers that causes them to drag across the windshield and blur your view. It can also remove even the nastiest messes from your car, including chewing gum from carpeting and old stickers from your bumper. Here are some handy recipes:

- Remove salt stains from carpets - mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Apply to the stain and wipe away with a microfiber towel.

- Polish chrome wheels with full strength white vinegar and a microfiber towel. Use a second towel to buff your chrome to a bright shine.

- Prevent frost from forming on your windows - mix 3 parts white vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle. Spray your windshield and windows at night and wake up to frost-free windows!

- Remove chewing gum on carpeting and old bumper stickers - apply full strength white vinegar to the area. Allow it to fully saturate the problem spot and then gently loosen and remove. Use an old card to scrape off stickers.

- Eliminate odors - mix 1 part white vinegar to 20 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution into your car's air intake and then run the AC at full blast for 10 minutes.

- Stop windshield wiper blurring - apply full strength white vinegar to a microfiber towel and wipe down the length of your wiper blades several times to remove dirt and debris.

By Amy E Adams

Why Cars Need Steering Wheel Covers?

Steering wheel covers are the car accessories considered luxury items that can add a touch of elegance to your vehicle but in reality these covers prevents the steering wheel from degenerating and also increase the driver's grip on the wheel. Though new vehicles come fitted with matching covers on their steering wheels but the covers wear out fast by the friction with the palms. Steering wheel sans cover can develop cracks in winter season and become slippery in rainy season. Simply put, one shouldn't drive one's vehicle if its this sort of wheel is uncovered. There are chances that you may lose control of your vehicle if it is uncovered.

Steering wheel covers are made of a wide range of fabrics including plastic and leather. Also they come in a massive array of colors, designs and textures. A car owner can get matching covers for his wheel in any car accessories shop including online car parts showrooms. Car owners can choose from an array of colorful covers or select plain covers for their steering wheels. Which cover you choose, is a matter of choice and liking. Some people like to keep thing simple hence they buy cool covers. Teenagers buy multicolored covers because they want the interior of their cars to be eye-catchy.

Leather steering wheel covers are much in demand because they provide excellent grip and are also resilient towards moisture and dust. While their Polished variety shine brightly and they require less cleaning. You only need to wipe these accessories with a dry cotton clothe to clean the dust and moisture accumulated on the cover. This you can do each time you take your vehicle out. Regular cleaning will increase the life of your accessory and also keep it new. A comfortable cover will set the mood for driving and also make it easy for you to steer the vehicle.

Changing steering wheel covers is something that you can do on your own. First, put off the worn-out cover from the wheel. Second, clean the wheel with wet cloth. Third, leave the wheel for some time to dry. Fourth, put on the new cover on the wheel. Fashion conscious car owners keep a couple of covers and change them frequently to suit their style. Since these accessories are easily available on car accessories showrooms, they find no difficulty in buying matching covers for their vehicles. The affordable cost is also a reason behind the popularity of these items.

By Austinson Byron

Use Car Accessories for Luxury and Comfort

Car accessories are generally divided into two types known as external accessories and internal accessories. Internal car accessories include things like custom dash covers, coverings for the seat, mats used for covering the floors, perfumes etc whereas things like lights, ice and snow accessories, spoilers, gas caps, covers meant for covering the wheels etc come under external car accessories. One can spend as much money as they can to make their car look glamorous and comfortable.

When you purchase a car from a showroom, the first place you should visit is a car accessory store. There are some people who prefer buying the items from the same showroom from where they have purchased their car whereas there are also some people who prefer buying the accessories from a different place. People who purchase them from a different store other than the showroom do this as they think that they can get them at a cheap price and they can have more choices for making a selection. It is not important from where you have purchased the car accessories as the most important thing is to decorate the car properly.

Apart from internal and external car accessories, they can also be categorized into important add-ons. The items known as add-ons increase the performance of a vehicle whereas the external and internal car accessories increase the beauty and level of comfort. If you select exterior car accessories in a proper manner, you will find passers by getting attracted towards your vehicle. The accessories used for the cars can be considered as the items used for giving a new and improved look to the car and to make the ride more comfortable and enjoyable. The car accessories should neither be neglected nor compromised as they are really important for the maintenance of the car.

You should always purchase car add-ons from a reputable store. A low standard accessory can affect the performance of the vehicle in a negative way and you will need to change it frequently which will in turn empty your purse. For purchasing the branded car add-ons you might have to spend a large amount at the first stage but it will be cheaper when compared to the use of low standard accessories.

For buying the best car items, you should spend some time on the internet for doing the research. You can also take advice from those people who are already using them. Among the different ways, researching on the internet is considered to be the fastest and the easiest way for buying car add-ons. One should at first make a list of the things that they want to purchase as this will help them while shopping.

If you want to beautify your new car and make it more comfortable, you should try Gold Coast vehicle accessories of different types. The great products from Motor Accessories Direct are a wonderful choice.

By Byron Jonas

Fleet Auto Detailing Becomes Easy With Mobile Car Wash Equipment

When it comes to professional auto detailing, handling vehicles one at a time can be challenging enough. Whether it's cleaning RVs, family cars, or heavy vehicles, each one has its own unique cleaning needs and challenges. Fleet maintenance and cleaning is something that can be extremely challenging as well. When dealing with a fleet of vehicles, it's important the job be completed quickly but effectively. Today, eco-friendliness has become another trend in fleet cleaning. Companies need to pay special attention to the amount of water they use as well as the chemicals they release into the environment during the cleaning process. Thankfully, there are detailing machines and cleaning products available that offer fast fleet cleaning and maintenance that is efficient and ecological as well.

A Fine-Looking Fleet

When looking for the right auto detailing machines for fleet maintenance, it helps to consider how important a well-maintained fleet is to a business. A fleet of trucks or cars does not simply transport supplies from one area to another. They also serve as advertisements for the company itself. Fleets that are shiny and clean always make strong and positive impressions. If a company's trucks are habitually dirty or shabby looking, you can be sure that this will leave a negative impression on potential customers. Power washing units are ideal investments for fleet maintenance as these machines can remove different kinds of dirt and debris from a vehicle's surface using just the power of pressurized water.

When choosing pressure washing units for auto detailing, it's important acquire units that feature pressure levels at or below 1500 psi. Pressure levels above this can cause damage the vehicle's exterior. Pressure levels of 1500 psi or less are ideal in tackling bug spatter, bird stains, road salt, and other kinds of dirt and debris. It is also important to look for pressure washers that have low water flow rates. Ideally, the unit should have a water flow rate of 0.5 GPM, as this helps conserve water during cleaning without compromising on power.

This is an important point to consider as it can help avoid drainage fines when cleaning large fleets of vehicles.

Green Cleaning

It's also important to invest in auto detailing solutions that are eco-friendly and effective as well. There are cleaning products available that are readily biodegradable and do not pollute the water or soil in any way. When used with car wash equipment like a car pressure washer, these eco-friendly products penetrate and remove dirt right at the molecular level. These green cleaning agents are ideal for a mobile car wash as well as fleet maintenance as they clean effectively without leaving behind harmful effluents or pollutants after cleaning.

For interior auto detailing fleet maintenance, it is best to use carpet cleaning machines that come equipped with low moisture technology. This kind of car wash equipment relies more on extraction powers to remove dirt and debris. In this way, the interiors can dry out quickly and thoroughly after cleaning. Coupled with the appropriate car pressure washer and eco-friendly cleaning solution, these carpet cleaners complete the necessary arsenal for an effective mobile car wash as well as high-level fleet cleaning tasks.

Daimer Industries is a leading supplier of auto detailing equipment. Daimer provides a complete range of car wash equipment including portable steam cleaner, car pressure washer and many more.

By Lauren Zwiebel