Tag Archive for: cars

Keeping Your 4WD In Tip-Top Shape

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If you’re the proud owner (or proud owner to be) of a 4WD, then you’ll likely know that these beauties generally aren’t so cheap to own or to purchase in the first place. With this in mind, it’s practical to make the best efforts you can at maintaining your four-wheeled pride and joy. Of course, you’ll want to get the most use out of it that you can, for all those adventures off-road and otherwise. Here are a few things you may want to consider to get the best out of your purchase.

Remember your pre-start checks

Underestimating the importance of pre-start checks can be quite the error when it comes to the 4WD; it’s about spotting those little issues before they turn into big ones. Ensure you take a good look over your vehicle to find any signs of damage; this could be your lights, mirrors, wheels or tyres- check it all. Also, make sure that you inspect each tyre carefully for inflation, it’s handy to always have a tyre pressure gauge close by. While you down there, take a look at the wheels so you can find out if the wheel nuts are properly secure (and make sure that you haven’t lost any)!

After this, you can open up the bonnet and make sure all is well with the engine bay. If you’re not clued up on where (and what) everything is inside your car then grab your owners manual to help you to see what’s what. You’ll want to see if the windscreen fluid and the coolant is full plus the clutch and brake fluid. Have a look at your engine oil levels and the tension of your belts to ensure all is good here. Don’t forget to inspect underneath your vehicle for any signs of leaks too.

Tyre pressure is key

 It’s important not to overlook the quantity of air that you run in your 4WD tyres. This is because if you are using incorrect tyre pressure, this means that your tyres are going to wear much faster (and we don’t want that)! You’re also going to wind up with poor traction if this is the case. The key is to pick the right pressure dependent on the different types of terrain that you are going to be driving on. If you are simply driving on the road then you can just follow the recommended tyre pressures that can be found on your tyre placard (This should generally be between 32 and 38psi depending on your vehicle.)

If you are driving on sand, you will most likely have heard that you will need to drop the air pressure in your tyres- you can drop it to around to between 18 and 26psi. By lowering the pressure, you will be improving your flotation while also giving yourself momentum to stay on top and not get stuck! Sand can end up building up a lot of heat in your tyres so you might find that you need to give your vehicle a few driving breaks. If you are driving on rocks, you can also reduce your tyre pressure and ensure that you’re not going at too much of a speed.

Perhaps you find yourself driving through mud? In this case, if the foundation of the mud is quite firm then it’s okay to stick with higher air pressures, yet if it’s deep and sinking mud then low air pressures are a better bet! Although driving through mud can be frankly- a lot of fun, it’s actually pretty bad for your 4WD. This is because it gets stuck inside everything and is hard to get rid of! It can block your radiators and is also corrosive. (If you can resist- back away from the mud!)

Don’t skip on the service

You’ll know that getting your vehicle serviced is a must, yet not all services are the same, and you’ll want to find one that’s both quality and suited to your needs. If you have a look at your 4WD manual, you should be able to find the info you need that is going to help you to know which is the right kind of servicing and schedule for your vehicle. You can consider what your service interval is and go with that. However, you might want to think about more frequent services if you know that you have been working your 4WD pretty hard overall, driving on lots of challenging terrains or perhaps towing? You’ll want to know that your precious wheels are in good hands with your 4WD servicing so make sure that you choose a reputable source to give you the standards you need.

 

Upkeep on the differentials

Your differentials are the sets of gears that enable the wheels of your 4WD to operate at different speeds. The differentials aim engine power at the vehicle wheels and also act as the final gear reductions, slowing up the transmission speed once more before it meets the wheels. You need to make sure all of the different components of your differentials are lubricated to keep it in good working order. You can have a mechanic change your differential oil approximately every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.

Ditch the rust

Your 4WD adventures (though fun) may have already exposed your vehicle to some damage. If you find and apply a good rust prevention treatment that’s one less thing for you to worry about! You can use, for instance, underbody rust proofing sprays which can stop rust from forming to begin with. You could also choose to opt for electronic rust prevention. These work by using systems that aim to replace lost electrons in steel, with a negative charge, and thus decreasing the rate of corrosion.

 

Your servicing needs will depend on the type of 4WD vehicle you have and the type of driving you’re doing, so it’s just all about assessing what your needs are. While you’ll want to leisurely take those off-road jaunts and have a blast; it’s definitely worth your time to give your vehicle a little TLC!

 

 

 

Old Honda How To Kill An Hour

Turning An Old Banger Into A Tech-Lovers’ Dream Whip

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Old Honda How To Kill An Hour

 

It’s easy to feel embarrassed about the car you drive, nowadays. Even vehicles which fall into the budget category have far more features at their disposal than those which were found just a few years before. When you have something which has been around for a couple of decades, though, this only gets worse, and can leave people feeling bad about their only mode of transport. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the work which can be done to give your banger an edge against even techiest of cars.

 

Finding The Car

 

The first stage in this journey will involve finding the car you want to transform, unless you already have one. Companies like Foxhayes Car Sales have been in this business for a very long time, making them a good direction to go in for anyone working to get their hands on a secondhand car. It’s always worth reading reviews for both the dealership and the car model you’re considering before you buy.

 

Giving It A Brain

 

Modern cars will have more than one computer at the heart. These systems control anything from entertainment to braking and steering, but you won’t need all of that. Instead, a single computer should do the trick, and there are loads on the market which are designed to occupy your stereo slots. You may need to buy a fascia to replace this in your car, but this will be worth it to give yourself a touchscreen, sat nav, and a range of other features.

 

Letting It Speak

 

This next option is a bit of a double whammy. While most cars have decent speakers, it will be a good idea to swap these out, with most models having convenient kits and guides available online. Along with speakers, though, having a tool like Google Assistant can also be very helpful. This can either be handled through your phone or the computer itself, but this will require an internet connection.

 

Connectivity

 

Next up, it’s time to think about connectivity, and how you’re going to keep your digital life moving forwards in a stone-age vehicle. WiFi hotspots are a good place to start, with loads of cell phone companies offering data packages which will be perfect for your time on the road. Along with this, it will also be worth converting the car’s 12v lighter port into a couple of USB connections, as this will make it easier to charge your devices.

 

The Gift Of Sight

 

One of the key features found on a lot of modern cars are sensors. Being able to avoid collisions, making it easier to park, and offering security in the case of an accident are all great benefits, and all of them can come from installing a simple camera system into your car. It will take some work to do this, but this will be well worth it.

 

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of turning an old car into something worthy of a tech-lover’s dream.

6 Effective Ways To Combat Car Depreciation

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A car is a significant investment. In fact, it’s one of the largest you’ll likely make throughout your entire life, usually second only to real estate. However, unlike many other investments, a vehicle won’t hold it’s value. Instead, it begins to depreciate the moment you drive it away. This means that, if you were ever to sell your car, you’d lose a lot of money in the process. There’s no way to avoid this, but you can reduce it. With that in mind, here are six ways to combat car depreciation.

Choose A Neutral Color

Bright colors and bold patterns may reflect your personality, but they’re not to everyone’s tastes. This means that they could affect the resale value of your car, or, worse still, make it incredibly difficult to sell. Because of this, you should stick to neutral tones when purchasing vehicles or, if you can’t, give your car a standard color paint job before putting it up for sale.

 

Pick The Right Modifications

Most would assume that modifications and customizations are an effective way to increase the value of your car, but that isn’t always true. Although some do this, like upgrading the engine or replacing the number plate, many more that fail to carry their value. These include larger wheels, costly sound systems, and other typical boy racer type add-ons.

 

Follow The Maintenance Schedule

The very best way to increase your car’s resale value is to look after it. This means sticking to the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual. Ideally, your vehicle should be serviced by a specialist. If you have a Land Rover, for example, that would mean a company like LRC 4×4 Limited. Their diagnostic equipment and knowledge mean your car would be in safe hands.

 

Keep A Low Mileage

The number of miles that your car has seen plays a big part in its value. Because of this, it’s vital that you keep the mileage of the vehicle as low as you can. The simplest way to do this is to avoid long distance journeys. Use your car for driving to work and around your city alone and rent a different one if you need to go any further. At the very least, you should steer clear of road trips.

 

Watch How You Drive

Unfortunately, it’s not just how far you drive, but how you drive that affects depreciation. Cars that have been driven badly are usually discovered during test drives. They don’t brake, accelerate, or turn corners effectively, which would naturally put off any buyers. To avoid this, you must learn how to drive better. This means stopping any harsh braking and sticking to the speed limits.

 

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Store In The Garage

Cars that are left on driveways or roads are put at a lot of risks. They could be stolen, vandalized, or damaged by other drivers and the elements. For this reason, you should keep your vehicle in the garage instead. This is particularly important if you live in an area with high crime or harsh weather. If you don’t have a garage, then consider renting one or investing in better security.

 

No car owner can avoid depreciation completely, but with the advice above, you can significantly reduce it.

Tesla How To Kill An Hour Car

It’s “Game, Set, Match” For Tesla, Says Musk

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Elon Musk likes to extol the virtues of his car company. But this month, the billionaire mogul has gone a step further, claiming that it’s “game, set, match” for the firm in the race to develop autonomous tech. Musk is convinced that no other players in the industry can catch Tesla in the race to develop cars that drive themselves, thanks to the company’s unique position.

 

Game, Set, Match Tesla

 

Musk points out that Tesla is the only company in the world to make cars, develop autonomous tech in-house and collect vehicle data. It is, in his opinion, a slam dunk, which means that Tesla will continue to outcompete the rest of the market for at least the next five years.

 

Credit: www.diggita.it/v.php?id=1623397

 

What does this mean for the “traditional” automakers like BMW and Ford? Are we looking at the end of the traditional auto industry as everyone switches to Tesla’s superior tech?

 

It’s worth pointing out that other players could cobble together some form of response. Ford, for instance, could team up with Google’s Waymo and start producing cars with the search giant’s powerful software onboard. Likewise, BMW could pair up with another third-party provider and install all of the autonomous apparatus it needs as the cars come off the production line. It wouldn’t take a genius to work out that part.

 

The Competition

 

But all companies, including Waymo, have a problem that Musk’s Tesla has solved: the data collection issue. Waymo, the second most driven AI system in the world, has collected about 10 million miles of real-world data through its various testing initiatives. Tesla, on the other hand, says that it has more than 2 billion, meaning that it just has way more data to train its algorithms.

 

The cars you can find on sites like  Emerald House Of Cars today still offer some pretty decent autonomous technology. Many, for instance, offer lane assist, parking assist, lane warning, blind spot assist and smart cruise control. But these are low-hanging fruit: it’s relatively easy to make a car do what you want in controlled conditions and set pieces. It’s when the vehicle has to make decisions itself when things start getting complicated. Just reacting isn’t too hard, but being proactive is something that machines struggle to do.

 

How Long Before We Get Autonomy?

 

Will we get autonomous tech anytime soon? Musk seems to think so. In the interview in which he declared that it was “game, set, match” to Tesla, he said that his cars would be “feature complete” with regards to autonomous driving by the end of 2020, so about 18 months from now. That’s the point, he says, where he’d feel comfortable travelling in a Tesla autonomous vehicle.

 

That’s not to say, however, that regulators will agree. Tesla might be ready to go as early as next year, but regulators could spend upwards of a decade working out whether they think autonomy is a good idea. Many conservative regulators may always want a human in the loop. The delay could allow other manufacturers to catch up and overtake Tesla, which isn’t what the company wants.

 

how to kill an hour car lot

4 Essential Considerations You Have Got to Make When Buying a Car

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When it comes to buying a car, you need to think about making the perfect choice for you. This is something that you need to ensure you get right because a car is one of the most important tools in your life. It provides you with freedom, independence, and opportunity, and this is why you have to make sure you think hard about the best ways of making the right choice when buying a car.

 

There are a lot of factors you need to assess before you can be sure you have chosen the perfect vehicle for you, and this is something that plays a massive part in the process. There are a lot of things you have got to think about when you want to buy a car, and these are 4 of the biggest considerations you need to make to help you choose correctly here.

 

  1. Find the Right Dealership

 

Finding a car dealership that can provide you with what you need is so important. You want somewhere with an excellent range and selection of vehicles, competitive prices, and additional services you can make the most of. An online dealership like CC Cars Limited is one of the best places to start when it comes to trying to find the perfect dealership for you.

 

  1. Customise Your Car

 

Working on modifying and customising your car is one of the best things you can do. There are so many elements to keep in mind here, and you mustn’t be afraid to get creative as much as you can. There are a lot of basic ways you can customise and modify your car to make it look really great. And you should look at things like changing the paint job, replacing the seats, and improving the engine.

 

how to kill an hour car lot

 

  1. Look After It

 

Of course, once you have bought your car, you need to look after it as much as possible to ensure it is as dependable and roadworthy as possible. There are lot of ways of achieving this, and one of the best ones is to come up with ideas that will protect and preserve your car. Getting the right insurance and making sure you are safe on the roads is a good place to star, but you also need to think about keeping it in good condition as much as you can.

 

  1. Sell Your Old Car

 

When you bring in a new car, you are probably going to want to get rid of your old vehicle, and this is something important to keep in mind moving forward. There are a lot of factors that play a role in this, but you need to be able to sell it in the best way you can and make the most money you can. This is something that you need to think about for the future right now and come up with ideas to help you sell your old car.

 

If you can look at these 4 different elements of buying a new car, this is going to help you a lot. There are so many things that play a part in finding the ideal car for you, and you must make the right choice here. Assess these 4 points, and use them to enhance and improve your decisions, and come up with the best possible car for you.

Flipping A Ford Ranger Raptor!

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Classic Car How To Kill An Hour

8 Awesome Customizations And Modifications For Your Ride

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Classic Car How To Kill An Hour

For pretty much everyone nowadays, owning and driving a car seems to be more of a necessity than just a nice luxury to have. With the number of people that own them, you could miss out on a bunch of different things in life if you are without one. If you don’t have a car, it seems that you’re in the minority.

 

As for car owners, we all want to be sitting in the most comfortable and most convenient place possible for when we’re behind the wheel. Thankfully, we don’t have to settle for the bare minimum all of the time when it comes to this – we can add, remove, customize and modify an awful lot of things with our motors – with help from professionals or even with our own work. As we said, there are absolutely loads of things that can be done, but let’s take a look at a few.    

 

Paint Job

 

If you’re not exactly digging the current color scheme of your ride, then you can head on down to a paint shop and have a little talk with the guys and gals there about what might be the best course of action for you. When you get your car sprayed a new colour, you get to choose a bunch of different styles. If you want the entire car done, then, of course, that’s possible. You can also have different areas of the car painted – for example, if you only want the hood or trunk to be changed, then that’s possible, too. If you want to add anything like flames or stripes, then that’s something the pros could do for you, also.  

Seats

 

When changing up your interior, there are a whole host of different things you can do. One of the most significant changes you can make is to switch up the seats – you’re going to have your backside on them for a long time, after all. You can buy custom seat covers that will make things a little more comfortable or you can go all out and get them replaced entirely.

 

Engine

 

If you want to upgrade your car’s performance, then you can do so in a multitude of ways. A good way to get it performing better would be to improve the engine. There are a few modifications that a mechanic can sort out for you, like adding an air filter or a supercharger. They can also replace the entire engine for a few bucks.     

 

Suspension

 

The suspension keeps the car running as smooth as can be. It’s the middle-man between the wheels and the driver. A good suspension will absorb any shocks or any bumps that you’re likely to encounter, so if you’re feeling as though you’re driving in quite a rough motor, then you can head down to the shop and have a talk about upgrading the suspension.  

 

Number Plate

 

It’s a fairly low-key change relative to the paint and the interior, but if you wanted to add a little bit of extra personalization to your car, you could change up with number plate. As long as it’s not offensive or anything like that, then you can have whatever you like. If you don’t know exactly how to remove and replace a number plate, then you can click here and follow the instructions to figure it all out. Some people might see it as a silly little option to have, but many enjoy them, so it’s worth a think.   For great place to get a custom number plate, visit here.

 

Exhaust

 

Upgrading your exhaust might be something that you’d like to think about. The exhaust helps with the engine flow, so the better the exhaust, the higher your car is going to perform. Again, this will be something that you will let professionals mull over. While it’ll improve your car’s performance, people also like to have a big fat exhaust to enhance aesthetics.

 

Gearstick

 

Another low-key modification to the look of the car. If you’re not overly bothered with something as small as this, then perhaps you won’t even think about it. But there are a lot of people out there that want this customized as they’re going to have their hands on it a lot.  

 

Steering Wheel

 

You can change up your steering wheel if you want to. It’s another part of the car that you’re going to have your hands on a lot of the time, so why not think about making it perfect for you. You can have it completely switched to something better for you, or you could add covers to it.  

Bring Your Banger Up to Date in Five Steps

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While many covet brand new cars, there are plenty of reasons you’d go for an older model. Sure, there might be more miles on the clock, and more wear technically means they’re less reliable, but if you have a particular type of car you love then it might be the older version you’re after. Even old bangers can be brought up to date with a little care and some new features added, here are some of the ways you can go about it.

 

Sound system

Newer cars almost always have great tech and sound systems built in, meaning a vehicle lacking these features will be a huge giveaway of its age. But you don’t need to settle with an out of date stereo as there are so many third party models on the market that can be installed into your existing console without too much hassle. Apple Carplay and Android Auto stereos are some of the best on the market. You can also find models with built in dash cams, reversing cameras and navigation too.

 

Plates

You can spend time and effort modernising your car inside and out, but one thing that’s always going to to give away its age is the number on the plates. Not only are private plates a great way to personalise your vehicle but disguise the age of it too. Companies like www.theprivateplateco.co.uk offer this.

 

Paint

Unless the car you’ve purchased has been looked after extremely well, chances are there will be some level of damage or wear to the paintwork in the form of minor rust, scuffs or scratches. A full respray can be really expensive, and often isn’t worth the investment unless the car is rare or something you plan on keeping forever. If only one or two panels are damaged you could look into having them repaired separately. In other cases, you might be able to correct damage such as fine scratches and swirl marks which are a result of improper washing using polishes and compounds. This can take years off the look of the paint. Ceramic paint coating is gaining in popularity, this hard coating is more durable than wax and protects it from scratches, dirt and chemical contamination. A proper ceramic coating will need to be done by a professional, but there are some products out there you can apply yourself if you have the time and patience.

 

Wheels

Updating the wheels can really change the look of a car. If yours don’t suit the modern style you’re aiming for, consider replacing them. If they’re fine as they are but are just in need of some TLC, have them refurbished. Lots of companies offer this, if you want to change the colour of them this can be achieved with powder coating.

 

Security

Keyless entry might seem like a new feature, but it’s been used on some cars right back from the late nineties. But as convenient as it is, it opens up your car to thieves who can amplify the signal and access your car. Security features like a Faraday cage block the signal and increase security.

sunset straight road - how to kill an hour

What Gadgets Make Your Car Journey Comfortable?

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When you’ve got a long journey to go on, and you’ve got only your car to rely on as you go, then you’re going to need to outfit it with plenty of gadgets to keep you happy and comfortable. Sure, you can stop off at service stations whenever you get the chance to, but there’s still going to be hours in between!

 

Let’s make sure you’ve got just the right tech on your hands to make sure any future road trips or simple long haul work journeys are going to be a lot more fun and cozy. Here’s a few recommendations for you to consider.

 

sunset straight road - how to kill an hour

 

Grab a Dash Cam

 

Dash cams have a variety of purposes, and anyone who is anyone will have one in their car. So whether you’ve got useful something more affordable from the Hilton Car Supermarket, or you’ve just made a deal to drive the new electric mini, it’d be useful for you to have a dash cam on board.

 

They can be used to record first hand footage of a car accident, which can both help you in court and with your insurance company. You’ll also have an upper hand over anyone who’s acting dangerously on the road – it’ll be much easier to report someone speeding in the rain on the motorway if you’ve got footage of them doing so. All in all, it’ll make your long journey safer, and that is the number one thing to put a driver’s mind at rest.

 

A Versatile GPS

If you’ve got a SatNav in the car, good on you. It’ll make the drive you’re on a lot smoother, and quite a bit faster, and you’re never going to have to pull over to break the map out. If you’re someone who travels a lot for work, this can be a Godsend in making a meeting on time!

 

But your GPS needs to be versatile, in the modern day and age. It needs to be updated with all the new roads, and traffic information as it happens, and that means it’s going to need an internet signal as well. Which is why it’d be better to turn your phone into your onboard GPS, and then add on another gadget to give you a bigger display to work off of, and to keep you totally hands free. Something like a HUDWAY Glass allows you to watch the virtual road, as well as control the music you’re listening to and recieve your texts as normal, all at the same time.

 

Something to Monitor Your Tires

 

A quick little recommendation to finish off – have a piece of kit in your cockpit that’ll keep track of everything your tires are going through. Take a look through a few tests of the top kits on the market currently – it’ll stop punctured tires from being a surprise, and tell you when you next need to stop to top up the pressure.

 

So, how many of these gadgets do you have onboard? You’ll need them!

What To Buy For The Car Lover In Your Life

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Shopping for the car lover in your life is usually pretty easy; there are so many things car related you can buy them. But what about those who already have everything? Here are a few ideas you might not have thought of.

 

LEGO Technic Bugatti Chiron Car Building Kit

The Bugatti Chiron car building kit by Lego Technic is probably one of the coolest gifts to give an automotive enthusiast in your life. Created thanks to a close collaboration between LEGO and Bugatti, the 1:8 scale car is made from 3,599 parts, a unique serial number, and elaborate detailing throughout. LEGO’s instructions for the kit mirror the assembly process of a Bugatti Chiron and, just like the real Chiron, the LEGO version comes with its own high-speed key!

 

Ultimate Exotic Car Racing Experience in Las Vegas

This one’s a little bigger and a little more expensive, but if you have plans to go to Vegas anyway, then this Cloud 9 Living experience could be a thrill of a lifetime for the car enthusiast in your life. With the base package, drivers get the choice of five supercars that they’ll be able to drive for five full laps around the Las Vegas Speedway’s road course.

 

A Used Car

Car lovers can never have enough cars right? So, you could always get them a used one to add to their collection, a car to do-up, a nice project to keep them busy. Check out The California Group for some inspiration to see what’s out there.

 

Garmin Speak Plus with Amazon Alexa and Dash Cam

The Garmin Speak Plus is super compact and has been designed to provide turn-by-turn directions with a clear, unobstructed view while driving. It also features Alexa integration, which means the driver never has to get their phone out to get the navigation, to change the music or to use the phone. As well as that, the windshield-mounted device has a built-in camera for added safety like forward collision and lane departure warnings.

 

Custom Leather Keychain

Most car enthusiasts love a bit of customization and that even includes minor details like keychains. These custom leather keychains can be personalized just for them either on the one side or both.

 

Hot Wheels Augmoto Augmented Reality Racing Track Set

This Hot Wheels track is like something from the future. You get to control the track through your smart device using augmented reality. The Hot Wheels Augmoto Track brings the action to life with explosions, fireworks, cheering crowds, and more.