Automotive Info

Archive for February, 2011

How To Choose The Best Limousine

What exactly is a limousine? For many people the word “limousine” conjures up the image of an incredibly long car with lots of darktinted windows. Actually a limousine can be as simple as a nice Lincoln Town Car. There’s no standard limousine make or model instead the word refers to a vehicle that has a larger compartment in the back half of the car than your average automobile. To call a car a limousine you really just need a nice car that has a lot of leg room in the rear compartment. It also helps if you have a driver or chauffeur driving the car for you while you relax in the back.
Limousines are available in many styles sizes and uses.
Luxury Sedan One of the most popular Luxury Sedan is the Lincoln Town car series. They accommodate up to 4 passengers and is a great vehicle for business service and airport transfers.
Stretch limousine Stretch Limousines are the ultimate in style and elegance. These limousine typically accommodate up to 12 passengers and include wet bars and trendy neon lighting. You can expect plush leather seating and elegant interiors.
SuperStretch limousine Super Stretch Limousines are the extreme in chauffeured transportation. They can accommodate up to 14 passengers and include such features as privacy dividers and panels fiber optic lighting moon roof and much more. This is the vehicle to rent to travel in comfort and style.
There are a lot of limousine hire companies out there and it can be hard to know which ones are trustworthy and which ones shouldnt even be in business.
1.When first thinking of booking a limousine for your next special occasion try not to go on price alone. Low prices do not mean better service.
2.Wherever possible view the limo at the premises of the company you will be hiring from. The last thing you want is your day to be ruined because a limo company sends you an old rusty limousine.
3.Do not take the first quote offered. It is worth considering looking at several companies before committing a deposit to hire.
4.Ask friends etc to see if they can recommend a limousine hire company which they have used and know the service is good. The best recommendation is word of mouth.
5.Read carefully all the terms and conditions of each companies contracts and ensure you are totally satisfied.
6.Ask what additional extras are supplied with the limousine hire i.e. drinks snacks interior decorations birthdays etc. Especially for Weddings.
7.Ask the company about how much time you have the limousine for are there any added extras and are there any conditions that may apply but are not in print. Some companies charge extra for photos to be taken.
It can also be very time consuming trying to tell the good from the bad so I hope above mentioned short checklist can help you cull the list of limousine hire companies to find the right one for you.

About the writer:  Nancy Johnson independent researcher in automobile industry specializing in limousine and studying limousine hire companies.

How To Choose Motorcycle Windshields

Motorcycle windshields can be a great accessory to any motorcycle. Motorcycle windshields can give your motorcycle better aerodynamics they can block the wind and the bugs and any other flying objects from hitting you in the face. However they can also diminish your vision and block your line of view. So what should you check for?

Check the height of the motorcycle windshields.

The height of the motorcycle windshields are important. If the motorcycle windshields are to short they don’t deflect the wind bugs flying debris or rocks. If the motorcycle windshields are too tall it can blur your vision with the splatter of bugs and dirt on the motorcycle windshields. In both these cases the motorcycle windshields are doing the exact opposite of what they are supposed to do. Motorcycle windshields are supposed to improve conditions for the driver but in both of these instances the motorcycle windshields have affected the driver negatively. If the top of the motorcycle windshields is in the line of sight of the driver then the driver may have to scrunch down to see clearly or the driver may have to stretch above the motorcycle windshields in order to get a clear view. Both stretching and scrunching can cause physical pain on the driver. When the driver physically feels stressed that stress can take the driver’s mind off the road and the hazards on the road causing accidents.

Check the tint of the motorcycle windshields.

The tint of motorcycle windshields can play an important role in the safety of the driver as well. If the motorcycle windshields are too dark then it may affect the drivers vision in low light and during night driving. A dark tint can also affect the driver during fog and smog. A light tint or no tint at all can make it difficult to see in the brightest daylight when the sun is glaring off the pavement. If the motorcycle windshields are too dark to see in dark conditions then night driving and driving in the fog can be dangerous to the driver and to other drivers. If the tint on the motorcycle windshields are too light and the glare hits the windshield off the street at just the right angle it could blind the driver causing the driver to veer off the road into either oncoming traffic or a ditch. This could injure or even kill the driver and others as well.

Check the material of the motorcycle windshields.

If the material of the motorcycle is one that breaks easily then one small hit from a foreign object can cause the motorcycle windshields to break into pieces. There is nothing worse then a rock hitting your motorcycle windshields and causing at the very least a crack to make the driver swerve at least momentarily. That short swerve could cause a chain reaction in other motorists. Most states have laws requiring that motorcycle windshields be shatter proof so in addition to checking the strength check your state’s requirements.

About the writer:  Click here to learn more about motorcycle windshields at The MotorcyclePedia.

How To Check A Used Car In Minutes

These simple checks when carried out can save you a lot of hassles further down the road.

Stand ten to fifteen feet away from the car in a good light. Watch to see whether the light catches any bumps or dents in the surface. Such irregularities very often mean that the car has been in a major accident. Look too for weld marks in the frame of the car or have a mechanic check for them. These condition show that the car has been in a bad accident and are good grounds for rejecting it without further examination.

Try to find corrosion at the bottom of fenders around the head and taillights and along the bottom of door and body. Small blisters in the paint are sure signs of rust underneath. You should refuse at once any car that is too rusted.

Check to see that the wheels are straight first when the car is standing still then when it is driven directly away from you. If you find the wheels are headed in slightly different directions pass up the car immediately.

Let the car’s engine warm up for at least 15 minutes. Then pull up the oil dipstick. If the oil looks white or is filled with white bubbles this probably means the car’s cooling system is leaking into the engine block; and this means a serious problem.
Check the exhaust by holding a matchbook cover over the tail pipe. It should flap in a steady rhythm. Also look out for wisps of blue smoke both while the engine is idling and when it is raced. Black smoke is a sign that the gas is of too rich a mix. This fault can usually be corrected by a simple adjustment of the carburetor.

When you test drive the car turn a few corners sharply. The steering wheel should work smoothly without squeaks groans or shimmying. Make sure you testdrive the car over a rough potholed road. If there are any defects in the body and suspension this test will show them up.

To test the brakes first press the pedal down while the car is immobile. If the pedal goes almost to the floor this means the car probably needs new brake shoes. When you are test driving accelerate to about 40 mph and brake suddenly. Squealing or pulling brakes may mean a minor problem but sudden swerving or grabbing are always warnings that serious repairs will be needed. The emerging brake on the car should be checked by halting on a steep hill. If the brake fails to hold this may mean only minor adjustment but it could also indicate major trouble.

Check the car’s engine by accelerating suddenly from about 20 to 60 mph. This may be a strain on the engine but even so it should not buck hesitate or miss. Another good engine test is to accelerate from slow to moderate speed while driving up a steep hill. The engine should pull easily.

About the writer:  Used cars can be bought and sold with free auto ads from Used Car Park. Visit http://www.usedcarpark.com