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Archive for the 'General Topics' Category
As we spend less and less time at home and in the office, and more time trying to do, well…anything more enjoyable than work - we’ve developed a wonderful love affair with outfitting our vehicles with the best car gadgets possible.
Shiny things, loud stuff and stuff that beeps and talks. Whatever it is, we are determined to transform our cars and trucks into mini-roving Circuit City stores…
Plenty of products exist, between the manufacturers and the after-market suppliers, to make your new or used car the object of your affection - and the object of another’s jealousy.
Here’s my list of the top gadgets for your vehicle. Be careful though. You’ll want the items that you don’t already own. Christmas isn’t too far off…
- Sirius/XM Radio - ~$30/mo.
- Sirius Satellite TV - $300 + monthly subscriptions
- Garmi Nuvi Navigation System - $1000
- Maestro Elite Navigation System-$1300
- Microsoft’s Synch Connectivity System - $400 + monthly subscriptions
- Azentek In-Dash Intel Duo Core PC System - $2800 [personal fav]
- BlueLife Bluetooth Receiver - $30
- FLIR PathfindIR - $6000 [Just your average Night Vision System. Cool]
- Cradlepoint EVDO WiFi [Using Verizon EVDO express cards] - $600
- MTX Audio Jackhammer Sub-woofer - $7500 & 370lbs.
- 6inch rear-view mirror, LCD monitor - $600+
- Solar Powered Tire Pressure Gauge - $15
- Wireless GSM Car Alarm w/Car Position Location Ability - $345
- Wide Angle, Rear View Color Camera, - $40
- 5 Light LED Battery Tester - $15
- Parametric Equalizer - W/USB + MP3 + iPod Compatibility - $60
- Power Inverter - Instant 300W AC Power
- Professional Grade OBD-II + EOBD Code Reader + Scanner - $80
- XBOX 360 Gaming System - $300
That should be enough to wet your appetite and get you out on the road enjoying your ride. Be sure to get yourself a complete insurance plan as well. Enjoy the ride…
Our focus doesn’t just revolve 100% around automobiles. Auction Direct USA also enjoys taking an active role in the communities which we serve.
We’re proud to be Stage Sponsors at this year’s Fairport Music & Food Festival on Saturday, August 23rd, at the Downtown Fairport Canal Area. Advance tickets are only $10 and $15 the day of the show. Kids 12 and under are free. All proceeds will benefit the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong.
This is one of the biggest and most exciting event of the summer. Please visit FairportMusicFest.com to see the full line-up of entertainment, sponsors and to order tickets.
Help support the Children’s Hospital and have great time doing it as well!
The Motorist Choice Awards for ‘08 have been announced. This is always an excellent source of great vehicles to keep an eye on as they’ll be among the best used cars to choose from in a short while. Highly rated used vehicles with a clean history, low miles and high customer satisfaction rating are exactly what automotive consumer are seeking right now. Another key purchasing criteria important to consumers - low ownership costs.
This years leaders: Toyota with 10 awards. GM with nine. The top leader for lowest ownership costs and highest retained value: The Toyota Sequoia.
This years no-shows on the list: Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge & Mini. Ouch. Intellichoice rates four vehicle categories and over 25 vehicle models.
Category Winners
—Cars: Lexus LS
—Trucks: Chevrolet Avalanche
—SUV/Crossover: Toyota Sequoia
—Minivans: Toyota Sienna
Segment Winners
—Aspirational Luxury Car: Lexus IS
—Compact Car: Toyota Corolla
—Compact Pickup: Honda Ridgeline
—Compact SUV/Crossover SUV: Nissan Rogue
—Economy Car: Honda Fit
—Image Compact Car: Volkswagen GTI
—Large Heavy Duty Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
—Large Light Duty Pickup: Chevrolet Avalanche
—Large SUV: Toyota Sequoia
—Large Crossover SUV: GMC Acadia
—Large/Luxury Car: Cadillac DTS
—Luxury Midsize Car: Lexus ES
—Luxury Crossover: Lexus RX
—Midsize Car: Subaru Outback
—Midsize SUV: Hummer H3
—Midsize Crossover SUV: Toyota RAV4
—Minivan: Toyota Sienna
—Premium Luxury Crossover SUV: BMW X5
—Premium Midsize Crossover SUV: Toyota Highlander
—Premium Luxury Car: Lexus LS
—Premium Luxury SUV: Cadillac Escalade
—Premium Midsize Car: Chevrolet Impala
—Premium Midsize SUV: Toyota 4Runner
—Premium Sports Car: Audi TT and Chevrolet Corvette (tie)
—Sports Car: Saturn Sky
—Sporty Car: Ford Mustang
Here’s another interesting fact for you to consider while you toil over pages and pages of new and used car research.
Everyone loves that fresh, crisp smell from a new car smell. Well, that new car smell you love to inhale, and show off to your jealous friends, actually comes from phthalates, (stuff that makes plastic more flexible) chlorine and lead. It also includes brominated flame retardants from the seat and the padding used within the cushions.
So, are used cars healthier than new cars? One can make that argument since the concentration levels of total volatile organic compounds [VOC’s] is going to be at its highest once a new car rolls off the assembly line.
A study done by HealthyCar.org, showed that initial VOC levels in new cars have been 13 times higher than recommended levels. Although, to be fair, their studies do show these levels fall 10-fold within a few months after being manufactured.
A recommendation, from HealthyCar, calls for more dashboard solar reflectors to help reduce the levels of photochemical breakdown into a toxic compound. Intense heat and the sun’s rays speeds up this breakdown process.
Concerned with the chemical compound levels in a new vehicle that you’re considering? See even more interesting results at Ecocenter.org.
Henry Ford II had at shot at acquiring VW back in the ’40’s. Once they inspected the old VW factory, they came to the conclusion that it was a terrible risk. Considering the financial woes Ford currently experiences, its probably a good thing for VW they didn’t purchase the factory.
VW has done an incredible job of rebuilding their brand, improving their quality and expanding their product line with more models. And it doesn’t seem to matter that most consumers have a difficult time pronouncing their model names. (Touareg, Phaeton, Touran, Tiguan)
The 2007 VW GTI 2.0T is an incredible used car that is well deserving of being the Kool Whip of the Week.
I can’t stand the “Run Your Car On Water” ads and videos.
I’m sure you’ve seen them as you surf the Internets. Enough already with the pipe dreams of ditching the gas pump and going about your travels on a couple gallons of tap water from your kitchen. I’d prefer to leave the hydrogen technology to the engineers at MIT and BMW; not from Dr. Emmett Brown.
These ads tout the impossible: Easily running your car on water. Of equal importance, the fact that people are ordering a “kit” that will improve their engine’s fuel consumption by AT LEAST 40%. And no, its not just as simple as mixing water and gas and pouring it in your tank.
What you’ll get is a poorly written PDF filled with hyperbole and the rest of the instructions detailing the list of equipment needed to complete your very own ”Back To The Future” vehicle. Oh yea, this can cost you anywhere from 2k to 18k - depending on how big a sucker you are while watching the instructional videos. Of course, you can always get the DIY kit for about $200 dollars. Unless you’re Mr. Goodwrench, this isn’t recommended.
This is one of my favorite lines from one of the Run your car on water websites:
“Some technical knowledge will be required. If you have experience with cars then you’ll be able to do this easily. Otherwise, it will take you longer.”
Here’s all you really need to know: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to approve and/or endorse any product or device as they simply don’t provide any mileage relief. A bunch of new hoses, some fancy gas caps and a new mixture of additives is not going to do the trick. It has been acknowledged you may in fact get a very short term boost of mileage, that is before you burn your motor up. You won’t be too happy as you’re stranded with your converted 1992 Ford Escort stationwagon. (Which happens to be valued about as much as the conversion kit you installed.)
And, if it did truly solve our problems, don’t you think the websites selling these manuals and kits would look like they were made, at least, in this century?
This scam was was also popular in the ’70’s during the gas crisis. The only difference now is the power of the Internet to spread the word faster and play on your fear of $10 gas…don’t fall for it.
For even more energy consumption lingo and engine technology shop talk, check out Mike Stockley’s informative Squidoo Page about the run your car on water scam. [Take it with a grain of salt; probably an affiliate]
Get your research from a credible source such as the EPA, change your driving habits and consider buying a quality used car with better gas mileage. That’s the most reliable and safest solution to try and beat the pump.