Archive for June, 2011
Bmw And Audi: Top German Luxury Car Makers
BMW or Bavarian Motor Works was founded in 1916. It started as an aircraft engine production but shifted to motorcycle production after World War I. The circular blue and white logo of BMW became popular throughout the world because of their excellent car and motorcycle manufacturing. Over the years this German company became known as the one of the worldwide manufacturer of high performance and luxury automobiles and motorcycles.
Audi another German automobile manufacturer is also known for its luxury automobiles. Its fourring logo is to represent the four original companies which merged eventually: the Audi DKW Horch and Wanderer. Audi is also a manufacturer of both cars and motorcycles and one of its most famous oldest models is the Coupe.
BMW has its SUV range with the BMW X Series. The BMW SUV range includes the BMW X3 X5 and X6. The Audi SUV range has the Q7 and Q5. Both SUV ranges offer vehicles on both petrol and diesel. Audi is proud of their SUV line because it is one of the most compact SUVs in the market yet offers a very spacious interior. Also Audi Q5 and Q7 are coupeshaped has a long wheel base and can accommodate 5 passengers. BMW on the other hand offers xDrive fourwheeldrive system with fullyvariable torque split sixcylinder inline engine with fourvalve technology.
BMW also offers a convertible range with its 1 and 3 convertible and the topoftheline BMW M3 Convertible. Audis convertible is the sports car Audi TT available in Coupe and Roadster. With its sleek design the Audi TT is a winner with its 6speed S tronic gearbox a Quattro fourwheel drive and its TDI engines. Comparing BMWs M3 with Audi TT the BMW has a more elegant and impressive overall design.
The sedan series of BMW offers the Coupe range. These are the BMW 1 3 5 6 and 7. These sedan ranges are distinct to each other when it comes to interior and exterior design road compatibility and engines. The Audi sedan range has the A3 A4 A5 A6 and the A8. Practical yet luxurious safe and demanding on the road Audi continues its high quality in style and performance.
Choosing from the two companies of BMW and Audi would definitely be depending on the buyers preferences and general taste for BMW leasing and possibly Audi leasing. Both car ranges offer different yet powerful specifications ideal for contract hire options.
About the writer: Darrell F on the Audi and BMW ranges which are ideal for Audi contract hire and also BMW contract hire with deals at the moment during the credit crunch.
Best Used Cars
Purchasing a used car can be a difficult process. There are so many options each with a multitude of features. Its hard to know which one is the best.
In this article I will cover the top autos to purchase when not buying new. I buy and sell used vehicles so selecting the right auto is key for me and my business. I have my preferred list which I will share with you.
When purchasing I ignore certain things that may make a few of you upset. I do not look at the country where the car was manufactured. I live in the United States and love living here but unfortunately I cannot just pick American made vehicles. Sure we have some great autos in the USA but at this moment in time my top choice is made in Japan.
Toyota Camry:
This is my best used car my top choice. It is very dependable fuel efficient and has a comfortable interior. It is readily available because it has been the best selling new auto in the United States for nine of the last 10 years. it handles great and gives you ample storage in the trunk. The Camry looks like a higher end vehicle with the heart of a work horse. You can rest assured on the dependability of the vehicle and also on its resale value. The Toyota Camry gives you a midsized vehicle with the fuel efficiency of a more compact one.
Honda Civic:
In todays world fuel efficiency is something that has to be considered. The Honda Civic provides plenty of efficiency as a compact vehicle. The Civic was redesigned in 2001 reintroduced in it;s hybrid mode in 2003 and then redesigned again in 2006. Great improvements were made with each redesign of the vehicle. The exterior looks sharper and the handling has improved dramatically from the 1990s models.
Honda Accord:
Another Honda! The Accord is another great midsized vehicle to consider. It is not as fuel efficient as the Camry but it has a more sporty feel when driving for those who prefer a faster more agile vehicle. Improvements were made to this model in 2003 making it a smoother ride less noisy and as stated above more agile. This car is know for its reliability and dependability.
Nissan Altima:
The Japanese theme continues. Fourth place was a toss up between the Altima and Corolla. I prefer midsized vehicles but if you prefer compact sedans then you may want to go with a Corolla. I absolutely love the Nissan Altima. When it was first introduced it was a compact car which now has evolved into a midsized sedan. You can get this car in a 4 or 5 cylinder model with a 2.5 or 3.5 engine. You can count on this cars reliability; my previous Altima had 140000 miles and drove like new. The inside is comfortable and spacious especially when purchasing models 2003 or higher.
Toyota Corolla:
Same as other compact cars the Corolla provides fuel efficiency and a smooth ride. This is another dependable vehicle with high demand in the used car market. A safe choice if you want a good car good value and good resale.
It is important for me to select reliable cars with great resale value. I purchase and sell vehicles and these 5 choices will give you the best bang for your dollar in my opinion.
About the writer: Carlos Caicedo Copyright 2009 Thanks for reading my article on Best Used Cars. Visit SellUsedAutos.com and learn how you can start a profitable Recession Proof Business buying and selling used cars. No Dealers License required!
Basic Vehicle Maintenance
Life comes at you fast and it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the tasks of your daily life: pickup the groceries the dry cleaning the kids from soccer practice etc. And what do you use to do all those things? Your vehicle. You may now realize the importance of having a properly maintained vehicle so follow these simple steps to ensure you dont have any unexpected delays in your life.
1. Keep track of your mileage and change your oil air filter on a regular basis. It is recommended that you change your oil every 3000 if you are using regular oil and every 5000 miles if youre using synthetic oil. Do be careful if youre following a 5000 mile interval: synthetic oil is usually fine at that mileage but the oil filter can deteriorate before then starving your car of the precious lubricant. So make sure to buy a quality oil filter that is rated to last 5000 miles. Air filters should be changed every 1000015000 miles but that is just an average. If you live in a particularly dusty or sandy area the interval could be much shorter so make sure to check it regularly and change it when necessary. If the air filter looks brown or black a change is necessary. You can easily do this yourself in your garage and if you have a garage floor mat cleanup will be easy.
2. Pay attention to your brakes they could save your life one day. Brakes are something that last so long many people can forget to check them. Its relatively easy to check yourself but if you arent good with a wrench take your car to a proper mechanic. Things you want to pay attention to are: how far down does the pedal go before the car begins to stop. If it almost hits the floor its time to have some brake work done. If the pedal goes almost down to the floor it is usually one of three things: the brake fluid is dirty the brake fluid has absorbed too much water and is no longer good for hydraulic purposes or the pads are near the end of their life. It could be any combination of the three but usually the brake fluid is the culprit of this problem. Brake fluid isnt hard to change and is much easier if you have a friend help you cleanup can be a pain though. Brake fluid will strip paint right off your car or garage floor so make sure you have a container to put it in like a jar or an empty jug of cranberry juice. A garage floor mat can also help protect your garage floor from getting stained or otherwise damaged from a brake fluid spill so keep that in mind as well. If your brakes squeak when slowing the car its definitely time for a brake job because nobody likes squeaky brakes. The squeak can be one of two things: the antisqueak grease has worn off or the pads are worn so far that the wearbars are hitting the rotors. If your brakes squeak only at certain times or at light brake pedal pressure then its probably the grease. If your brakes squeak all the time its probably the wearbars hitting the rotors. The best thing to do is jackup the car take off a wheel and check the pads at the caliper. The hard part here is you dont know which problem to prepare for pads or grease. So you can buy both and return the pads if you dont use them. If the pads are worn and need replacement youll need the grease anyway. Just remember if you arent comfortable working on your brakes have a mechanic do it because its worth the extra money for peace of mind that your brakes will work when you need them.
3. Lastly make sure to have all other regularly scheduled maintenance performed at the dealership or an independent shop. You can also do it yourself if youre an aspiring or aspired mechanic just make sure you take your time to do everything right. Dealerships are usually best for this type of work but can be quite expensive. Independent shops are good but dont always check everything the dealership does and sometimes they dont use manufacturer approved fluids something to consider if you still have a warranty. Examples of longterm maintenance work include: changing power steering fluid transmission fluid heater core fluid coolant and checking the CV joints. Consult your vehicles manual for a complete list of what maintenance work needs to be done at the various mileage intervals.
Resources:
You can click on the following links for more information concerning the longterm health of your vehicle: Brakes Auto Air Filter and Garage Floor Mats.
About the writer: Matt
