What Hybrid should I buy? Now that hybrids are no longer engineered specifically for maximum fuel efficiency, there’s one for every requirement—from daily driving to weekend fun. Keep reading to get the full story on hybrid cars and if they might be right for you.
By Stefan Ogbac – MotorTrend
By Frank Markus – MotorTrend
Is cruise control better or worse for gas mileage? Does running the A/C or opening the windows use more gas? And what about those fuel line magnets and tornado gizmos for the intake and exhaust pipes—do they work? No matter the price of gasoline, we owe it to Mother Earth to do what we can to go as far as possible on as little gas as is practical, so let’s dig into these questions and more.
Oh, and let’s just lay out this spoiler out at the top: To date, scientific testing has yet to measure a meaningful benefit to fuel line magnets, aftermarket intake/exhaust swirl inducers, or “gas pills” as I explained in this Technologue column. (If any of these “technologies” worked, automakers would be incorporating them on new vehicles.)
Once in a while, car owners may decide to wash their car at home instead going to the local car wash. As with all cleaning activities, it can be time-consuming but one does get a certain sense of achievement or accomplishment in bringing back the sparkle of their ride.
Washing your car manually will re-acquaint you to your car and will give you an opportunity to see how well the car is “aging”. It will also familiarize yourself with the latest dings and dents so that you can act on them before they become major issues.
As simple as washing your car may seem, there are a few things to watch out for so that you don’t accidentally scratch or mar the finish.
Before you start on your quest, make sure you have all your equipment and supplies with you. You do not want to stop mid-wash when you realize that you are missing a tool or certain product.
Most typical washes will require the following equipment and supplies:
Try washing your car in the shade or rather avoid washing your car when it is in direct sunlight.The heat will dry off the car faster than you can work and you may end up with water spots or residue deposits all over the car body.
It is best to wash the car section by section. Start off with the roof and work your way down. This prevents having to re-washing the same sections of the car in case of soap or water drips.
Before you attack the car with soap, use the hose to rinse the car thoroughly to wash off any dust or dislodge any large dirt particles. This will remove any debris that can cause scratches. Having a car pressure washer can really help at this stage by power washing all the particles away.
When sponging, move the sponge lengthwise across the hood and other body panels. Do NOT sponge in circles as this will create light swirl marks. Also if the sponge fall to the ground, wash it properly to remove any particles which may cause scratches.
The wheels of the car are exposed to the most dirt and grime and should get extra attention. Make sure to use a different cleaning sponge for the wheels from the rest of the car otherwise you may end up transferring oily grime onto the body of the car the next time you wash you car.
This is where you get all the soap and lather off the car. If you are using a hose, use one without a nozzle so that the water flows down gently in a continuous sheet of water.
You can use a soft squeegee to remove most of the excess water once the car has been rinsed. This will speed up the drying process. Use the microfibre or chamois towels to dry the car. It is best to “blot” up the water instead of scrubbing. Avoid letting the car “air dry” as it will leave mineral residue or watermarks. Driving around will also not do a good job of drying the car properly.
Once you are done, make sure to wash all the sponges and microfibre towels. Clean out and rinse out all the buckets to ensure that they are ready for use again.
Stow all your equipment and supplies in a safe place, away from young children and pets. Make a note of all the supplies you will need to replenish or re-stock for the next wash.
Educating yourself about the car’s expenses including insurance at the very beginning of the car-purchasing decision is very important. Ask around for the insurance costs of the car you wish to purchase and consider your budget. A luxury or sporty car can be several times more expensive than a regular car. Also if the car model is in demand by car thieves or has been involved in more accidents statistically, expect to pay more. Comes down to buying the car that makes sense for your wallet.
When looking for car insurance for your car, you have to shop around. Contact several insurance providers and do some kind of comparison study before committing. There are also lots of insurance brokers online who can actually do this you. Not doing this is probably the biggest mistake car owners make. You can be very surprised at the differences in the car insurance market. A lot of folks are just too lazy to do the research.
The insurance deductible what you will pay in an insurance claim before the insurance coverage kicks in. When you have a deductible, you have to come up with that amount before a claim gets paid by the company. The higher the deductible, the less insurance you have to pay
Consider the age of your car and decide on what sort of repairs you will be willing to cover yourself before filing a claim. Studies have shown that you save around 8% by raising your deductible from $500 to $1000. Play around with the insurance calculators to see how it will affect the bottom line.
Most insurance companies noways offer insurance covers for different categories. If you have or normally get home insurance, health/travel insurance, or even life insurance, check if bundling the policies will get you a discount.
Dealing with a single insurance company for all your insurance needs may also simplify your finances. Make sure it makes sense though as some insurance covers are for multiple years and you may not want to be tied down to the same car insurance company until your other insurance cover expires or is due for renewal.
There are many discounts offered by insurance companies for things such as having a long safe driving record, having proper security and safety devices in your vehicle, and even belonging to a certain group/affiliation. Make sure you take advantage of all the ones available. See which ones are offered by the insurance company you are considering. These may include:
Some insurance companies may allow you to pay insurance by the distance you drive. This could be very beneficial if you do not drive long distances to work, school or other place that you need to get to. You should inquire with the car insurance company to see this can work for you.
In the case of regular/standard vehicles (not luxury/rare/exotic cars), as your car ages, the need to insure against damage to the car reduces. Just like raising your deductibles, you may consider reducing the coverage. In some cases, especially if the car is quite old, the payments of the premiums and deductibles may be much higher than the value of the car. Re-evaluate your insurance needs every year to ensure that you get the best deal for your premiums.
This is a fairly obvious but an understated fact. The safer you drive, the lesser the chances of something happening to you and your car on the road. The longer you maintain this record, the lower your premiums will get with the coming years.
Many insurance companies nowadays have progressive insurance offers where you plug a device into your car or install an app into your phone. The device/app monitors certain driving habits such as duration, hard stops, daytime vs nighttime driving etc.
Consider opting into such a program and you may see a significant decrease in the cost in your car insurance.
Some insurance companies can factor in your credit history while calculating your premiums. While credit history does not have much to do with driving, correlations can be drawn by how you handle your finances. Someone with a higher credit history is more likely to ensure that all their insurance needs are covered and is more careful when dealing with claims.
