Stretch Your Money: Take Some Tips On Buying Certified Cars

Posted by admin | Posted in cars | Posted on 29-03-2009

Today’s economic downturn makes it hard for us in purchasing the cars that we desire. However, there are various ways available to have your favorite car without sacrificing your budget, and a certified used car is the best option.
If you want to stretch out your money and is considering of buying a certified used car, it is important that you must know the facts on buying certified pre owned cars.
For those who are considering of buying a used car, they will certainly be happy with the good news that the industry brings. Used cars do not have to be as risky as they used to be in the past. Thanks to the presence of the certification programs. Generally, it is hard to recognize new cars from the used ones.  Because of this and with the current economic condition, more and more Americans are now considering into buying certified cars for a better value.
The certification program offers a way to wipe out those unscrupulous used-car dealers who have the tendency to sell damaged cars, like those that are damaged from floodwater or those involved in major accidents. With the current program, such scam acts are the top candidate to end up.
In 2008, there were 1.7 million certified vehicles are purchased and is expected to increase this year. Aside from the lower price the certified owned cars have as compared to the new ones, certified pre-owned cars also come with the same benefits less the guesswork when buying used.
Some people say that, this program is one of the few parts of the auto market wherein both sales and value to the buyer increases. However, despite the benefits, it is also important to become aware, because not all programs are created equal.
To help you out in determining the best program from the worthless ones, mentioned below are some tips from some of the used-car experts:
It is important to make sure that you know the people behind who set the standards for the certification program and the ones in-charge to make sure that they are being enforced. One way to do this is to look for a program backed by the manufacturer. Because the most credible people to certify a car, are the ones building and specializing that certain model. Many of the manufacturers are offering a limited warranty as an addition to honoring the original warranty of the said car make.
Before considering a certain car model, doing your own research is also important. You must know the best model that will suits best on your driving needs. You can check some safety and reliability reports that are published online to support your research. You may also do a research for the price of the car that you desire.
It is also important to know how your desired car was certified. Today, it is mandatory that a car should have a detailed mechanical inspection and vehicle history report.
Extended warranty is very common in a certified pre owned car. It is important that you know what and how long is the coverage.
The best thing that you can do to land with the best pre-owned car is to ask for more. Do not hesitate to ask if that makes you feel satisfied.

Tips On Reducing The Cost Of Your Car

Posted by admin | Posted in Automobile insurance | Posted on 29-03-2009

Today, everything is on the rise and keeps on rising including the automobile insurance rate, maintenance and repair costs, and the vehicle ownership expenses.  Gasoline sets a record high in 2008 and the U.S. Energy Information Administration is expecting it to rise again in the near future. Despite of those rising prices mentioned, good thing you still need not to adjust your driving habit or buy a new car just to keep yourself comfortable or just to fulfill your driving habit. You find it intriguing? Read some easy, cheap and quick ways to save money with your car.
Save your money from maintenance costs and fuel by getting professional. The best scenario on this is the shifting of motor oils from the conventional one to a modern and high performing one. This can make your car’s engine life improve thus less time to spend for maintenance. A good example for it is an independent study made that proves Royal Purple motor oil to have the ability to improve fuel economy by as much as five percent and extend engine life significantly. This means that using a high-end motor oils will cost you a little bit higher but the return is more than what you have spent. Because high-end oils allow more miles between oil changes, thus reducing maintenance costs and time spent during the maintenance.
Car insurance is necessary, but you can still save a lot from it by simply doing your homework. What homework is that? In order for you save on your insurance, shopping around is the best option. You can do some research online for the cheapest insurance company, but with the services that meets your needs. The best way to achieve it is to compare prices from one company to another. Ask for a quote and from there you can compare the price and the services they offer. You may also compare prices online. There are websites that allow you to do the comparison between companies. In this way, you not only have saved money but land for the best services as well.
One more important thing to consider in saving money from your car is the air. According to the report of the U.S. Energy Department, under inflated tires has the ability to increase fuel consumption by up to three percent. A study shows that fifty to eighty percent of car tires in the United States are under inflated. The state could have saved up to two billion gallons of fuel each year if car owners are just responsible enough and properly inflates their car tires.
Another air concern is the clogged air filter. It was proven that clogged air filter could cause fuel consumption to increase by up to ten percent. The air filters keep the impurities from damaging the interior of the engine. That is why it is important to replace dirty filters to save on gas and protect your engine as well.
Keep in mind that a responsible driver can save money on their car expenses without the need to buy a new car or change their lifestyle. All they have to do is to spend time on researching, choose top performing products, and do what is best for their cars.

10 Vital Questions To Have Answered When Purchasing A Used Vehicle

Posted by admin | Posted in Auto Dealer | Posted on 28-03-2009

Everyone in the market for a used vehicle has the same basic need to fill, transportation, but each person has their own individual emotional needs and tastes, too. It’s hard to give specific advice to car buyers, as they all seem to “know what they want,” but there are plenty of general rules and guidelines that are smart to follow, and they can be tailored to all kinds of different budgets and mindsets.

However you decide to shop, whether going online or using local classified ads, you should decide ahead of time how you are really going to use that new-to-you vehicle and how long you expect to keep it. Will it be for commuting to school or work? Will you be taking long trips to the mountains or seaside? Do you need to get a couple of kids into it and keep them safe on the Wild West roads of busy areas? Ask yourself these questions right away, and then you will be prepared to ask the top 10 vital questions to have answered when purchasing a used vehicle.

Do NOT be embarrassed to be direct and ask these questions. You will be plunking down some good money as a result of your search (the average price paid for a used car in 2008, according to Cars.com, was over $8000). Even if you’re buying a truck or a motorcycle, money doesn’t grow on trees, right?

Make sure you get honest answers by checking under the hood, in the repair reports, and in every other way you can. If you need a mechanic’s help, pay for it. You’re about to make a four-figure investment (or even five), so do it right!

The top 10 questions

Ownership: Ask sellers who owned the car before they did, if anyone. You want to know how many people contributed different driving and maintenance styles to the aging of this auto. If you can figure out how to get in touch with a previous owner, all the better for your task of getting “full disclosure.”

Mileage: Check the odometer yourself, of course, but ask sellers how many miles they personally put on the car (or truck or motorcycle). Between 10-15,000 miles per year is average, so calculate annual miles by dividing the odometer mileage by the age of the vehicle.

Reason for selling: Make sure to have your “intuition” turned on when you ask this question. If sellers claim they are moving but there are no packing boxes around their houses, don’t believe them. The seller is concerned with selling, and may leave out some information, like the fact the car fell into a river or that the engine mounts are about to drop off. You should never buy a car that you feel is being misrepresented, in any way at all.

Price: Forget the asking price, ask what the “bottom line best price” is. If it does not fit into your budget, ask if the price is negotiable. It should be. It’s a used vehicle after all, and unless you buy “pre-owned” from a dealer it doesn’t come with a warranty, or even a new car smell (unless the seller is smart enough to spray banana oil in the interior).

Extras or special features: By the way, if it does smell new, ask if the seller used banana oil. Also ask about anything else you notice. Does the air conditioning work? Are the power windows dependable? Does that aftermarket CD player come with it? Even more importantly, do all the optional accessories or add-ons work?

Damages: Has the vehicle been in any accidents or suffered any kind of major damage? The sellers should be aware that their answer can be checked even with the free version of the online “car facts” services. Take a good look at the paint in the door frames and the trunk edges (inside). If it doesn’t match the body exactly, there’s a dead giveaway that some major repairs have been performed.

Gas economy: Gas prices go up and gas prices go down. This is a good reason to inquire about the fuel economy of the vehicle. Again, you can check the seller’s answer online, but remember that the fuel efficiency figures assume a well-tuned engine and some other pretty sedate driving methods. Find out what the real-world numbers are on some car user forums.

Service records: Are there complete records of the repairs and maintenance? Are there any at all? One car forum participant told of purchasing a 1984 Volvo from someone who kept every records of every oil change, and even calculated gas mileage on business trips. The notes and receipts filled two spiral notebooks. The forum poster bought the car, drove it for five years, and when he sold it, that old Volvo still ran like a new car.

The test drive: Always ask to take a vehicle for a reasonable test drive. You can arrange to take the car to your own trusted mechanic at this time, to get a quick once-over.

The “emotional attachment” factor: Find out if the owner was happy with the vehicle. This is the one question you should never fail to ask, and the one usually met with the greatest surprise. It’s also the one that can cut through the sales talk and get right down to how the seller really thinks. There is just no hiding “pride of ownership,” and if the seller is proud of the car, that’s a great sign.
At Robert Brogden Auto Plaza we have a large inventory of new and used cars kansas city. We are one of the finest Kansas City car dealers as well as offering GM Service and Parts. Visit us today for a free test drive.

Top 10 Ways to Save Fuel

Posted by admin | Posted in Auto Parts | Posted on 08-03-2009

While the season of high gas prices might be over, you never know when those prices will skyrocket again, which is why you should start practicing fuel-saving ways, so that when gas does reach the $4-dollar mark again, your wallet won’t suffer.

Whether you drive a hybrid or gas-guzzling SUV, chances are you can still squeeze a bit more distance out of each gallon of gas. Even two to three more MPGs can make a big difference. Here is a list of 10 fuel saving tips that have helped others over the years and it can also help you improve your car’s fuel economy. While most of these tips will give you a slight increase in MPG, when using them all together, you can see a dramatic increase in fuel improvement, which is always a good thing.

1 Slow Down

Let’s face it: we all have a heavy foot at times. The speed racer inside of all of us likes to take over every now and then, but one of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. We all want to get to where we are going faster, but in the end, don’t we end up there? As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. Try driving the actual speed limit for a couple of days and you will definitely see a difference in how long your gas lasts. Instead of filling up every week, your gas might last you for a week and a half. You’ll save a lot of fuel and your journey won’t take much longer if you take a slower pace. Try it, it might also get you out of a ticket!

2 Check your tire pressure

You might not think it really makes a difference, but your tires play a big and important part in good gas mileage. Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of crummy MPG. Tires lose air due to time (about 1 psi per month) and temperature (1 psi for every 10 degree drop); under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving. One way to make sure your tires’ pressure is always good is to buy a reliable tire gauge and check your tires at least once a month. A good tip is to make sure to check them when they are cold, since driving warms up the tires along with the air inside them, which increase pressure and gives a false reading. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner’s manual or on the data plate in the driver’s door to make sure your tires’ pressure is correct for your type of car.

3 Check your air filter

Making sure your air filter is clean is important since a dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine. This harms performance and economy for your ride. Air filters are easy to check and change actually: emove the filter and hold it up to the sun. If you can’t see light coming through it, you need a new one. Consider a K&N or similar “permanent” filter which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive than throw-away paper filters, plus they’re better for the environment. If you do not want to do it yourself, you can easily go to your mechanic or an automotive specialty garage.

4 Accelerate with car

A heavy foot on the pedal can make your gas decrease with every punch you take after a red light. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so that the transmission can shift into the higher gears. Stick-shifters should shift early to keep the revs down, but don’t lug the engine — downshift if you need to accelerate. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that’s wasted fuel.

5 Chill with the trucks

In traffic jams, cars speed up when it clears and then suddenly stop when traffic stops. This stop and go movement can actually decrease your fuel since you’re accelerating and then stopping fast. Trucks, on the other hand, just roll along with traffic at a leisurely pace. A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum — important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions — but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. Rolling with the big rigs saves fuel and helps you keep your cool while stuck in traffic.

6 Turning off the air conditioner

Go back to nature and turn off your air conditioner. Open all the windows in your car and just enjoy the nice, natural breeze. Even though it may be a tad warmer than you’d like, but not using your air conditioner will help save you MPGs. At higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.

7 Buy efficient wheels

Sure new wheels look cool and they can enhance performance, but heavy ones can actually add to the car’s overall weight, causing you to lose fuel faster. If the wheels are wider than the stock tires, chances are they will create more rolling resistance and decrease your fuel. Nowadays, there are plenty of lightweight wheels that won’t cause that extra drag, so that you can still roll in style and save gas at the same time. A good tip is to keep your stock wheels and tires handy so that you can change them when you are going on long trips to have better fuel economy so that gas lasts longer as you go cross-country.

8 Clean out your car

A clean car is a happy car. It also helps you save on gas. It doesn’t really take much to acquire an extra 40 or 50 lbs. of stuff, and the more weight your car has to lug around, the more fuel it burns. Make it a habit to clean out your car at least once a month or every time you get your car wash and see how long your fuel lasts now.

9 Downsize

If you are in the market for a new car, make sure to really do your homework before committing to anything. You should really re-evaluate how much car you really need. Sure, your heart might want that big Hummer H2, but do you really need a big car if you are single and don’t have a family to fit in it? Smaller cars are inherently more fuel-efficient, and today’s small cars are roomier than ever. he automakers are designing their small cars to survive crashes with bigger vehicles, and safety features like side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control are becoming commonplace in smaller cars. These smaller cars are also getting styling upgrades and many tuners are now adding smaller cars to their list of products….just look at the SmartCar!

10 Don’t drive at all

At first this might sound a bit strange, since driving is an everyday chore, but do you really need to drive to get to where you are going? If you do your homework, you can probably find alternative ways to get where you are going. You can take the Metro train to work and not have to drive at all, which many do. Instead of the headaches of driving to and from work, Metro train riders get to rest and chill as the train does everything for them. You might also be able to carpool with friends. Walking or biking is good for your wallet and your health. And before you get in your car, always ask yourself: “Is this trip really necessary?” This will definitely make your gas last a whole lot longer!

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5 inexpensive ways to make your car look great - by Mat Depot

Posted by admin | Posted in Uncategorized, cars | Posted on 18-11-2008

America is home to some of the world’s biggest car fanatics. But you don’t have to be a fanatic to like the feeling of driving a clean, classy car. Old or new, big or small, coupe or convertible, keeping your car looking good will definitely improve the look, feel and even the value.
Basic, regular car care tasks such as washing, waxing and polishing simply make sense. Beyond that, there are a number of simple, low-cost and effective ways to keep your auto looking its best. Here are 5 inexpensive ways to make your car look great:
1. Remove paint blemishes, scratches, oxidation marks and other imperfections from your car’s finish. If you do this regularly, and before your “wash and polish” regime, you can go a long way in restoring a classic “showroom” shine. Various light- to medium-duty rubbing compounds are both easy to use and safe for most common car finishes.
2. Leave the dish soap in the kitchen. Dish soap contains detergents and other harsh chemicals that dull the paint, “cloud” the finish and even cause long-term damage. Special “car wash” soaps are made to safely remove dirt and grime without stripping the protective waxes and other compounds that give your finish its “shine.” In fact, if you don’t have any mild car soap and don’t want to drive to the auto store to get some, it’s better simply to wash your car with plain water.
3. Get your car some cost-effective protection. Assuming your overall paint job is still in decent shape, you need to protect it from the elements before you can work on making it shine. There are various “one-step” cleaning products that include wax, and a single application can remove water spots and even fine scratches. The included wax will then provide the protection your finish needs.
4. Metal and trim attract attention, so they need to be in good shape, too. Any broken trim pieces should be replaced, and special metal cleaners and polish should be used to maximize the appearance of these decorative elements. This includes the antenna, wire or alloy wheels, chrome on bumpers or trim, and the license plate frames, too.
5. Don’t forget the plastic and rubber parts of the auto. Even a dried out and bent-up window molding can make your car look old and decrepit. All of the window seals, the plastic (if any) on bumpers, the black rubber/plastic design elements and, of course, your tires should also be treated with conditioner. There are specialty products that will not only lubricate and restore the plastic and rubber parts of you car, but will also restore the deep, rich black color. You can use these products on the outside components, as well as on your interior.
It doesn’t much money at all to keep a car looking decent, and just a few bucks invested in some conditioners and cleaners will help you make your car even more attractive. It is wise to treat car care as an ongoing responsibility, rather than some special and occasional event. Wash your car regularly, treat the different materials (metal, rubber, plastic) in the appropriate ways and invest enough time to do it all well.
A sharp, attractive auto, like any other art or design, is in the eye of the beholder. There are, however, some universal benchmarks for cleanliness and automotive beauty, and there are no shortcuts. You will have to get wet and expend some elbow grease, or pay someone else to do it. Of course, if you are interested in the “inexpensive” part of this approach, your savings would be lost as soon as you hired someone. If you do the deeds yourself, you will not only save your money but have the satisfaction of a job well done – and a cool ride, too!

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Another Stunning Limited Edition of Honda Unveiled

Posted by admin | Posted in Motorcycles | Posted on 09-11-2008

The yellow CBR1000RR Fireblade has already been unveiled, and surely, it will be a stunning limited edition of Honda. The yellow CBR1000RR Fireblade has been unveiled during the celebration of Steve Brogan’s Superstock Championship title win with the HM Plant Honda team, wherein Steve got it on October 01, 2008 at the Silverstone Circuit during the second to last round of the championship.
After the podium ceremony, the yellow Fireblade is already started to be unveiled by the 27-year-old Honda rider from Liverpool by taking it to the track for a celebratory parade lap. It highlights its new color machine, and Steve races it during the final round of the championship at Brands Hatch last October 10-12, 2008.
Honda will manufacture 100 units of the Steve Borgan championship winning yellow Fireblades and all of them will be signed and numbered by the rider himself. This winning limited edition of Honda has already been available to Honda Motorcycle Dealers from the end of October following the final round of the championship. Each unit of this limited edition will have a price of £9,321 inclusive of road taxes. The price this edition has is just the same as the standard 2008 Fireblade, an is also available on the current super affordable 0% Fireblade finance offer payable in 42 month with just minimum deposit of 10 percent.
It has been known that to date, Steve had already secured the British Superstock title on a near-to-standard Fireblade, after his runaway lead with seven wins and three further podiums during the 11 races for this season.
With Steve using this bike and won the British Superstock Championship title, for sure many fans and followers of Steve and Honda will surely avail one of the 100 limited units for them. For sure, they will also feel the intensity Steve has during the race.
According to the 27 year old racer, the moment he first saw the new 2008 Fireblade, he already knew that a new improvements has been made into it and that it will result into a much improve bike, and he is very thankful that Honda had made limited edition version of it to mark his championship title win.
The general manager of Honda (UK) motorcycles Steve Martindale said that this is the first year for the new fireblade being raced. Moreover, with Steve’s and the HM Plant Honda team’s consistent win all year long, he truly deserves for the limited edition as a way of celebrating his win whilst providing their costumers with a great new colored fireblade that they for sure desired for long.
This astounding and impressive CBR1000RR FIreblade of Honda has already been a winner in every showroom and even on the rack since its first appearance to the public way back in 1992 in CBR900RR form. After sixteen years, the machine is constantly evolving, developed and has further refined to give the discerning sportsbike rider the ultimate kind of machine for the track or even just on the road when they travel or simply just having fun.

Motor Helmet Approval Regulations

Posted by admin | Posted in Accessories, Motorcycles, helmet | Posted on 28-10-2008

It seems like driving a motorcycle is already common and economical, for it consumes less gas than the normal cars. However, some motor users tends to forget about keeping themselves safety while riding on it particularly the wearing of helmets is not being practiced, that is why various motor helmets regulations are being imposed in different place.
In the United States, the federal Department of Transport (DOT) required all the motor helmets to be tested for safety before it will be approved for use. In order to obtain this requirement, the DOT is having their own in-house testing for motor helmets and labeled those that meet their standards. That is why if someone would want to buy a motorcycle helmet, they should those that have a DOT sticker, for that surely meets the standards and will surely save their lives from possible dangers. They must always be aware of the safety a motorcycle helmet can bring before risking their lives to those helmets without the DOT sticker.
Even though the DOT’s requirement of wearing helmets while riding a motorcycle, the percentage of riders wearing helmets had reduced of about 13 percent over the last four years down to 58 percent of riders. Despite of the reports that motorcycles took 10 percent of all the road accidents and deaths from it is doubles in the last decade.
To those who do not know about how the sticker labels from the DOT look like, it must be attached on the back part of the helmet, located centrally and towards the bottom. A DOT label that is permanently sewn in to the inside and not on the location wherein it can easily be removed must also be present along with the foam cushioning. To know if the DOT label in you helmet is genuine, the name or logo of the manufacturer must be present, size, date of manufacture, model name or model number and the components from which the helmet is made from, must also be visible in the label. If the said information is not present in the helmet, you had better not buy it, for this surely does not pass the DOT safety test and eventually will not save you from danger or possible head injuries when unwanted things happen.
People should be aware that novelty helmets does not pass the DOT test and are not intended for use, for it does not have the ability to give its user adequate protection from crash and the like. The iconic Prussian style helmets can be fashionable and popular, however one must be aware that it just a novelty item and is not DOT approved. If ever one would see a DOT sticker on it, they must see the labels if the information is, complete or present. Fraudulent products are always there fooling every less informed users. Lets us all be vigilant enough for our own safety. However, if you want to have these novelty helmets for other purposes like costume parties other than riding purposes, then maybe you can have as many novelty helmets as you can. Used Audi , swinton car insurance ,

Prince Harry’s £8,000 Triumph Motorbike

Posted by admin | Posted in Motorcycles | Posted on 22-10-2008

As part of the Princes plan to take part in Enduro Africa motorcycle Rally, Prince Harry buys a British £8,000 Triumph Motorbike four months after he passed the qualification test for the said  event. Both Princes William and Harry are qualified for the event and are both are currently competing the weeklong 1,500km motorcycle ride to raise money for UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.
The activity started in Port Edward, South Africa on Saturday October 18, 2008. The princes who are both accomplished riders, will be among those people who joined the event, wherein there are around 80 of them will be riding across the grueling terrain. If Prince Harry has a £8,000 Triumph Motorbike, Prince Williams on the other hands owns a £20,000 Ducati.
Motorist will travel with a small group of riders in the morning and will meet up with the other riders at night.To join the event, each rider has donated a minimum of £1,500 and all the volunteers have generated more than £300,000 for the charities. Aside from the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the group will also raise a certain amount for the charity Sentebale – a charity house that supports orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho and it was founded by Prince Harry.
Global Enduro’s spokesperson the company who runs the Enduro Africa event said that they are honored to have the princes joining the event with them. The company is also looking forward of riding with them, as both men are in the Armed Forces. In addition, the spokesperson is also sure that the two princes will have a grit of getting through the event because it is not easy.
One of the spokesperson from Clarence House said that the Princes are looking forward of a motorcycle ride that will raise the money and the profile of Sentebale and two other major charities in Southern Africa.
For the information of everybody, Enduro Africa is a unique and challenging motorcycle adventure in aid of four causes that includes UNICEF, Sentebale – the Princes’ Fund for Lesotho, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Touch Africa.
Every year, the Enduro Africa route constantly evolving and this year’s motorcycle adventurers worldwide will tackle eight days of dusty and demanding riding through some of the most rugged and isolated terrain of South Africa and the most famous of which is the Wild Coast. The adventure alone will take 12 days UK to UK.
With the warm support from the global biking company and the cream of the world’s biking press, the Enduro Africa is aiming to raise at least £150,000 for South Africa and Lesotho. By joining the event, motorists took parts in saving lives of some of the Africa’s poorest people. On the motorists part, by joining the Enduro Africa challenge, they will already become part of a life-changing adventure, and the memories will remain with them forever.
The Enduro Africa coordinators are inviting those who have what it takes to take part of the challenge to watch for their movie, which is voiced by Long Way Round and Race to Dakar’s Charley Boorman to find out how important every one’s involvement could be.

Motorcycle Helmet

Posted by admin | Posted in Accessories, Motor cycle accessories, helmet | Posted on 21-10-2008

The helmet is the most important gear that a driver should have when motoring. Helmets are intentionally made for a biker’s safety and additional convenience when driving, for it has the ability to provide motor riders head face protection, eyes shield from dust, ear protection and more.

Originally, motor helmets are created because of a fatal crash of Lawrence of Arabia, and during the accident, Lawrence is not wearing a helmet and suffered serious head injuries that left him in comma and eventually died after six days. One of the doctors that attending Lawrence was Sir Hugh Caims, who had consequently began a long study about the unnecessary death of motorcycle riders through head injuries. And that study of Sir Hugh led to the use of crash helmets.

Since then, motor helmets became an important gear every rider has, it saves their lives, and helmets eventually evolve into various types.

The five different types of motor helmets include the following:

Full Face – this type of helmet covers the entire head. It has a rear that covers the base of the skull as well as a protective section over the front of the chin. This type of helmet has an open cutout in a band across the eyes and nose and a plastic face shield that can be clear and tinted that can be swivels up and down to allow access to the face. Vents are normally included in this type of helmets to allow airflow to the rider.

Off-Road / Motocross – this type of helmet has a clearly elongated chin and visor portions. It also has a chin bars and partially open face to give the motorist extra protection while wearing their favorite goggles. This type is perfect for motocross riders, for it has a visor that keeps the sun out of sight by the riders when he or she goes off jumps.

Modular or “Flip-up” – this type is intended for street use. It is a hybrid of open face and full-face type of helmets. In addition, this type of helmet is also sometimes called as convertible or flip-face. When the modular helmet is fully assembled it resembles a full face helmet by bearing a chin bar for absorbing face impacts. The chin bar can be pivoted upwards with the help of a special lever to allow access to most of the face just like an open face helmet.

Open face or ¾ - this sometimes called as a three-quarters helmet has a rear that also covers the back portion of the human skull. However, it does not have the lower chin bar and a face shield.

Half helmet – this type of helmet resembles the open face helmet when it comes to its front design. However, it has a raised rear that made it different from the open face helmet. This is also sometimes called as a Shorty helmet.

It is important to take note that when riding a motorcycle always take your helmet on to avoid severe head injuries when accident occurs.

KIA RIO the car for budget minded

Posted by admin | Posted in KIA, cars | Posted on 18-10-2008

One of the things that people might consider in buying a car is the price. This what the new KIA Rio range is offering to its clientele, and they are hoping that this super-mini car of them can capture the imagination of those budget-minded motorists.
Although KIA RIO did not make it big in the UK previously, maybe because the UK market might be underwhelmed by it, KIA still kept at it, and right now their latest RIO has more to offer. It got more refinement, better quality and got sharper styling that will perhaps give the KIA RIO a better result this time around. As you would see, the new RIO looks like having a total makeover to the extent that you may call it good looking.
The new style of the KIA Rio is very different and really goes down well. It does feature a bolder nose, more dynamic profile and neater interior. The comfort offers by the new KIA Rio is now beyond compare since it now has more headroom, more legroom, and shoulder room especially in the rear, and these features made the ne KIA Rio more comfort wise. In addition, safety perspective also has added features like the twin front, side and curtain airbags, active head restraints and ESP or the electronic stability program is now available with this car. When it comes to the performance, KIA takes pride of its all-new engines with both diesel and petrol units.
Despite of all the transformation the RIO has, there is still some things that don’t change. This model takes pride of its affordability with prices starting from £7,000 for the entry-level model. The RIO only got one body style 5-door hatch with three equipments levels that include one petrol engine, the 1.4 liters unit with manual or automatic transmission, and a 1.5 liters diesel engine with a manual gearbox, which is a first time offer from the RIO range.
The RIO range also has an optional Dynamic pack, which includes a rear spoiler, sunroof and an electronic stability program. The now 3,990 mm long Rio hatchback is taller at its +50mm, wider with +15mm, but is shorter at -250mm than the previous model. In addition, the new Rio also has a longer wheelbase that measures +90mm.
Compared to its rivals like the Volkswagen Polo, and Ford Fiesta, the KIA Rio wheelbase is longer of around 9 mm and 40 mm, and is a bit wider of around 12 mm to 49 mm, and the overall length of the Rio is between 30 mm and 168 mm longer that those potential rivals the Rio has.
Diesel power should be a popular choice for Rio customers, for the 1.5 CRDi unit offers a common rail fuel injection system and an advanced variable geometry turbocharger, and the performance of the 110PS 1.5 liter diesel Rio is very competitive.
Rio’s 16-valve engine delivers 235 Nm of torque at just 2,000 rpm, and is available with automatic transmission in the form of the 1.4-liter 16-valve petrol engine.