Archive for August, 2008
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
Is there a perfect first car? Deciding on the best car for teenage drivers depends on who is doing the deciding — the teen or their parents. These are certainly not all the cars that might meet the needs of teenage drivers and their parents, but are some of the most popular.
Honda Civic - This is the most popular car among teens — and parents. This car has almost all of the qualities desired by both teens and parents: economy, style, safety, reliability, performance, low insurance rates, good size for passengers, and driving comfort. There are tons of accessories, custom appearance products, and performance options for the Honda. Base price for a new Civic is about $14,500.
Honda Fit - This small 4-door hatchback car is a winning combination of Honda reliability, comfort, interior space, features, and safety equipment — and a whopping 34 miles per gallon of gas on the highway. It’s a fun car that also will haul a teenager’s stuff — and lots of it. It is also relatively cheap to insure and maintain.
Toyota Corolla - This Toyota car shares many of the characteristics of the Honda Civic and is a favorite among teenagers as both a new and used vehicle. It’s reliable, with good performance, has plenty of room inside, and there are many options from after-market companies for styling and performance improvements. Buyers of this vehicle, and others in our list, should consider getting the stability control option when available. It’s one of the most effective safety features being offered on cars today. The Corolla is priced at about $13,700 for base models. If the Corolla is not quite large enough, look at the Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in America for the last few years.
Nissan Sentra -This is a sensible car for teens, having many of the attributes of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, but a little less style. It’s comfortable, but with a harsh ride and little room in the rear seat. However, it gets good gas mileage, is reliable, enjoys relatively low insurance rates, and is priced at about $12,700. Used models can be found at good prices.
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Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
Daimler Trucks is currently examining various possibilities for entering the Russian volume market, including building a new factory for local assembly and the possibility of acquiring a stake in Russian truck manufacturer Kamaz.
The company said that Kamaz has production facilities, sales structures and a good network in Russia, while Daimler would contribute its technological know-how as a global industry leader. A final decision on Daimler Trucks’ strategy for Russia is expected to be made by the end of this year.
With its potential for dynamic growth, the Russian truck market is widely considered to be one of the top future sales markets for commercial vehicles. It is already Europe’s largest truck market, with total sales of more than 154,000 trucks over six tons GVW in 2007, and sales are expected to increase by about 20 per cent over the next two years, driven primarily by demand for heavy-duty trucks.
Kamaz is the leading seller of heavy-duty trucks in Russia today, selling more than 53,000 trucks and gaining a market share of 30 per cent in 2007. About 25 per cent of its production is currently exported, mainly to Kazakhstan, the Ukraine and Asia. Daimler Trucks sold 1,300 new vehicles in Russia last year, an increase of 58 per cent from 2006. The division is currently undertaking a massive expansion of its Russian sales and service network, including an increase in the number of Mercedes-Benz service stations alone from 30 to 48 between now and 2010. The company sells Mercedes-Benz, Fuso and Freightliner trucks in Russia.
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Monday, August 11th, 2008
Compact trucks are smaller in scale than full size trucks. They can usually tow up to about 3,000 pounds, a weight that accommodates many trailer and boat towing tasks. If you have heavier towing needs, move up to a mid-size or full size truck.
Mid-size pickups can be closer in size to a compact or to a full-size truck. Comparing trucks on dealer lots is the best way to understand how they compare to each other in exterior and interior size.
Compact trucks usually get better gas mileage than their full size counterparts, but check EPA Fuel Economy Ratings to confirm average mileage stats (but be prepared for actual mileage to differ).
Make sure the interior space in a compact truck is spacious enough to suit your needs.
Most of the trucks on the market are available with either a manual or automatic transmission and your choice of 2WD or 4WD. You’ll find many trucks offer limited-slip or locking differentials and electronic traction control. Safety options are becoming increasingly popular on new pickup trucks
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Friday, August 8th, 2008
When I was growing up you hardly ever saw custom wheels on trucks, they were seen mainly on sports cars but now you seem them on just about any kind of vehicle and on trucks in particular. Gone are the days when trucks were used as just utility vehicles for hauling or work related jobs. Now trucks are bought by people who have no intention of ever using them to haul or tow anything. In my area you are just as likely to look over and see a girl or woman driving a truck as you are a guy. The light truck market consisting of pickups, SUVs, and vans accounts for over a quarter of all new vehicles sold so there is also a high demand for custom wheels for these vehicles.
Perhaps more than any other vehicles, trucks have a wide array of accessories that can be added to change their appearance. Think about it, you have lift kits for raising, lowering kits, ground effects, tonneau covers, racks, tool boxes, light kits, and of course custom wheels. In many cases the people don’t even make these changes for a utilitarian reason, they just like the look. I have a friend who has his truck lifted over 8 inches, has large oversized tires, tow bar, Fog Lights, etc, and he has never been off the road with it! He just likes the look of the used truck and many people are just like him.
Custom wheels bring more than just added appearance; they can also give you a better ride and increased performance. Choosing the wrong wheels can conversely affect your results in a negative way and can even cause damage to your vehicle. The great thing about custom truck wheels is that due to their popularity you can find a wide assortment of wheels to fit any truck no matter if it is a Ford or a Nissan truck, Four Wheel Drive, or Two Wheel Drive. The aftermarket custom truck wheel market has a product for any vehicle whether foreign or domestic.
I like to shop for custom wheels online, just like with almost everything else you can really get some super deals buy shopping the many vendors available on the internet. In addition to the huge variety of choices you can also view the wheels and in some cases they even have a virtual 360 degree view available.
You can find truck wheels in any size you want and save really big if you buy tires and wheels together plus some dealers even offer free shipping. Remember, not only are you enhancing the appearance of your truck you are also increasing the performance and handling with the right tires and wheels so make sure you get the best fit for your truck.
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Friday, August 8th, 2008
In early times, the intended use and purpose of a truck was for industrial reasons. They were used to haul things, and as new needs developed, so did new types of trucks. In early times of war, trucks were used to move ammunition and troops from one place to another, as well as to transport the injured and causalities among the soldiers.
Trucks were also invented that could be used for commercial purposes such as logging, farming, and later to mix and pour materials such as concrete. Later on, huge trucks were invented for the sole purpose of hauling other trucks and vehicles from their place of manufacture to sales centers all over the world.
Today, trucks are used for a myriad of reasons, and many different types of people own and drive them. Farmers everywhere use trucks to haul hay and small farm equipment, to move cattle as well as supplies. Those in the landscape and lawn maintenance industries also use trucks; wherein trailers are attached to the trucks in order to get lawn equipment from job to job.
Trucks are not only used for job related tasks, boating enthusiasts also utilize them. There are not many reliable cars that are going to be able to pull a large, recreational type boat, and where would you put the skis, ice chests and other necessities if the trucks’ spacious bed were not available?
Trucks are made by a number of vehicle manufacturers. There are the regular size passenger trucks that seat only two people, and the large extended cab trucks that can seat five people comfortably. There are the plain trucks that come with just the basics, and trucks that come fully loaded with every available option.
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Friday, August 8th, 2008
Medium and heavy duty truck parts are expensive and sometimes difficult to find. With all of the money that is required to invest in a big rig, and the reliance that we place on these vehicles to make us money and transport products from one location to another, it is essential to find these medium and heavy duty truck parts and quickly and affordably. The following paragraphs will outline the benefits of purchasing used medium duty and semi truck parts and accessories.
Heavy duty used equipment dealers are able to offer discount prices on a variety of salvage heavy duty and big rig truck parts. While every dealer is different, the goal is to provide their customers with quality used medium and heavy duty truck parts and accessories at competitive prices. This is particularly beneficial for those making a corporate purchase of several salvage big rig parts in bulk as it allows you to build a relationship with a salvage big rig dealer and have significant financial savings.
Not only do heavy duty used equipment dealers offer a substantial savings to purchasing new products, but they are also able to locate hard-to-find parts. Businesses such as this specialize in locating or ordering surplus, obsolete, take-off, and salvage parts and accessories for heavy and medium duty trucks to meet its clients’ needs. In addition, some of the dealers even have a specialized sales staff that is available to discuss and determine your parts and accessories needs. By contacting a medium or heavy duty truck dealer, you save time as they are often able to help locate hard-to-find parts and accessories.
As a medium or heavy duty truck company, it is imperative that your employees have the parts and accessories that keep your driver safe on the road. By relying on a medium duty or big rig used equipment dealer, you can gain access to parts that are no longer manufactured. Since medium and heavy trucks are such a large expense, it makes sense to maintain and preserve the quality of the equipment. However, after a period of time new makes and models become available, and the older parts and accessories become obsolete. If one fails to rely on a medium or heavy duty truck company to supply these parts and accessories, the driver is left without adequate parts, which may jeopardize their comfort or safety, or the truck company is forced to purchase an expensive new big rig in its place.
Medium and heavy duty used equipment dealers offer a number of benefits including: making salvage parts available at discount prices, locating hard to find parts that would otherwise be difficult to purchase, and keeping your big rig in top condition by purchasing parts and accessories that are no longer manufactured. By following the recommendations above, your trucking company can reap the many benefits of relying on a medium or heavy duty used equipment dealer for your parts and accessory needs.
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Friday, August 8th, 2008
Motorhomes grant the freedom of the open road without having to tow a caravan behind you. Meaning your holidays are that more enjoyable and efficient as you have a means of travel and a place to rest your head. Whether you are choosing to purchase motorhomes or are planning to hire one for a holiday, it is advisable to read on.
Generally motorhomes for sale can be divided into three distinctive categories. Those in the industry refer to these as Classes A, B and C. Class A motorhomes as their name may suggest are the largest and most opulent of the motorhomes on the market today. Correspondingly Classes B and C relate to size and the amenities contained within the home. While C class are the smallest, generally they are the cheapest.
When you are looking at motorhomes for purchase it is advisable to make the decision only after careful deliberation. In many cases it may even be worth finding a company that rents motorhomes and hiring a similar model to gain an understanding of what it is like to live in the space and drive around for a period of time. By doing this you can receive a better idea of how to use your home from home and also how it will serve the holiday needs of you and your family.
With a fully kitted out kitchen, making sure you have provisions is essential. While many may not want to cook for themselves while on holiday it is enjoyable to have a space that at least gives you the option of cooking for yourself; once again, this will save you money as you will not have to eat out all of the time, making your holidays more cost effective. If you are a fan of al fresco cooking, all you need to do is take a barbeque with you and you have the option of pulling up at the side of the road, firing up the coals and cooking in a wondrous setting whilst enjoying a bottle of wine.
The freedom granted by motorhomes is clearly the most powerful lure for many. Travelling under your own steam and in your own vehicle allows you to get off the usual tourist routes and to construct a holiday that is as unique as it is enjoyable. While the initial outlay may be great, the value of motorhomes is hard to quantify. Naturally you will save money on eating out and accommodation but you will also have better, more fun and free holidays.
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Thursday, August 7th, 2008
Heavy Duty Truck Group Co Ltd plans to transfer its core assets to its listed unit to help improve profitability, the company said yesterday.
CNHTC Jinan Truck Co Ltd, the listed unit of CNHTC, intends to sell an additional 68.66 million shares at 8.01 yuan (US$1) each to the parent, according to a statement filed with the Shenzhen stock market yesterday.
The Shandong Province-based company plans to use the 550 million yuan from the sale to buy core assets from CNHTC, also known as Sinotruk, to streamline its manufacturing process and reduce its 89 percent asset-to-liability ratio, the statement said.
Those assets include a 51 percent stake in Sinotruk’s axle and transmission facility and some land.
“The axle and transmission sector earns more profit with advanced technology, and the assets transfer will help it improve profitability,” said Qian Xiaoyu, an auto analyst at United Securities Co Ltd.
Sinotruk reportedly has received government approval to seek a listing on the Hong Kong stock market by the year’s end to raise an estimated US$400 million to US$500 million.
“The assets transfer would not affect the IPO process,” Qian said.
China National, the country’s third-largest used heavy duty truck maker after Dongfeng Automobile Group and First Automotive Works Corp, holds a 21 percent share of the Chinese market.
The company sold 43,877 trucks last year, as the entire market suffered a 33 percent drop due to a tightened regulation on overloaded vehicles.
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Thursday, August 7th, 2008
Forestry and agricultural equipment financing is essential to buy land clearing equipments, mill equipments and other equipments. Agriculture and forestry largely depends upon heavy equipments in order to accomplish the related tasks easily. These equipments are generally expensive and hence require forestry and agricultural equipment financing.
Equipment purchasing is a normal practice in the field of agriculture and forestry since these equipments ensure completing the tasks without any interruptions. For instance, cutting the tree efficiently is impossible without the truck. Similarly it is obvious to use a tractor in the farm work. Therefore agricultural and forestry equipment financing is required to buy the essential equipments
Farm equipments vary from farm to farm according to the size and type of the farm. For instance equipments used in dairy farm may not be useful in a grain farm. There are various types of farm equipments which are useful in harvesting, threshing and cleaning the grains. Similarly there are equipments like Hay bailer which is used to compress grains in round or rectangular bales. These equipments are quit expensive and so forestry and agricultural equipment financing is required to get such equipments. Some legitimate financing companies offer low interest rate financial assistance for these purposes.
Landscape companies require large mowers and other equipments like edging equipment, mulching equipment, turf maintenance equipment, irrigation system like sprinkler system, drip system and so on. These equipments are vitally important for smooth operation of landscape companies. However these equipments represent a costly investment. There would be difficulty in getting financial assistance from some financing companies. Yet there are some good financing companies which can provide you financial help at lower interest rate to buy the essential landscape equipments. There would be embarrassing procedures and delayed responses. You can get the forestry and agricultural equipment financing immediately after applying for the loan provided you have the minimum qualifications to obtain the loan.
There are yet some special types of equipment like food processing equipment, dairy machinery equipment, concrete equipments and so on. You can get financial help from reliable companies by simply filling the online application form provided by such companies.
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Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
To protect public health and the environment, the Clinton-Gore Administration today announced a major action that will provide the cleanest running heavy-duty trucks and buses in history. These vehicles will be 95 percent cleaner than today’s trucks and buses. To ensure cleaner-running trucks and buses, today’s action also requires that sulfur in diesel fuel be reduced by 97 percent. By addressing diesel fuel and engines together as a single system, this action will produce the clean-air equivalent of eliminating air pollution from 13 million of today’s trucks.
“Anyone who has ever driven behind a large truck or bus is familiar with the smell of diesel fuel and the clouds of thick exhaust emissions. Today’s action will dramatically cut harmful air pollution by up to 95 percent. Used trucks and buses run as cleanly as those running on natural gas.” said EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner. “The Clinton-Gore Administration already has produced the toughest tailpipe standards ever for passenger vehicles. This action takes the next, giant step to achieve cleaner air and protect the health of all Americans. One huge benefit of today’s action will be the greatest reduction in harmful emissions of particulate matter, or soot, ever achieved from cars and trucks.”
An older, dirtier diesel vehicle can emit almost eight tons of air pollution each year. EPA has determined that diesel exhaust is likely to cause lung cancer in humans. This action will reduce 2.6 million tons of smog-causing nitrogen oxide emissions each year once the program is fully implemented. Emissions of soot, or particulate matter, will be reduced by nearly 110,000 tons each year. As a result, today’s action will prevent 8,300 premature deaths, 5,500 cases of chronic bronchitis, and 17,600 cases of acute bronchitis in children. It will also avoid over 360,000 asthma attacks and more than 386,000 cases of respiratory symptoms in asthmatic children annually. The action will prevent 1.5 million lost work days, 7,100 hospital admissions and 2,400 emergency room visits for asthma every year.
To date, most diesel trucks and buses have not used pollution control devices similar to those used on cars for the last 25 years. To enable modern pollution-control technology to be effective on trucks and buses, however, diesel fuel must be significantly cleaner than it is today. EPA will reduce the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel from its current level of 500 parts per million to 15 parts per million – a 97 percent reduction.
Significant lead time has been provided in the rule for the introduction of new cleaner fuel into the marketplace to ensure no disruptions in fuel supplies and reduce costs. Engine manufacturers will have flexibility to meet the new standards through a phase-in approach between 2007 and 2010. The fuel provisions will go into effect in June 2006. The program includes various flexible approaches, including additional time for some refiners if required and special provisions for small oil refiners.
EPA estimates the costs of this program will raise costs of new vehicles by $1,200 to $1,900 per vehicle (new trucks cost up to $150,000 and buses cost up to $250,000). EPA estimates diesel fuel costs could increase by four to five cents per gallon. The benefits of the action outweigh costs by 16 to one.
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