Archive for the ‘Auto’ Category

The VW Transporter celebrates 60 years of production, but is it up for retirement?

Review

Volkswagen’s Transporter and People Mover range celebrates 60 years of production this month, and what better way to enjoy your diamond anniversary than with the release of an all-new model… Or is that mostly-new?Simply speaking the new Volkswagen Transporter is a very thorough half-body revision, with almost all the changes made forward of the ‘B’ pillar. It can be bought via van lease hire as well.

Overview

The rework makes a lot of sense from a cost perspective, and has helped Volkswagen pass on big savings to its customers. It’s also certain to come as good news to the wallets of existing customers wanting to transfer expensive custom-made body modules from their existing Transporter to the new model with the cargo bay remaining mostly unchanged.But why go for this new model at all I hear you ask? Surely a freshly chiseled front-end isn’t enough reason to raid the piggy bank. Perhaps not. You can always use van contract hire or van leasing. But in restyling the Transporter and People Mover range for 2010, Volkswagen have also made a raft of changes beneath the skin that are well worth considering, especially if safety, running costs and cabin ergonomics feature high on your white van wish list.

New Features

Among the improvements, new Transporter and People Mover models now feature: a 3.2 tons admissible total weight; new infotainment programme; new climate control systems; antenna(s) integrated in exterior wing mirrors; gear shift indicator; new headlamps and tail-lights; new front mudguards, grille and bonnet; new fog lamps with integrated cornering light function (optional); new wet clutch seven-speed DSG transmission (optional); new-generation 4MOTION all-wheel drive (optional); regulated power steering pump; new-generation ESP; new front brakes with 17-inch alloy wheels; Hill Start Assist; new exterior mirrors; new steering wheel; new dash panel inserts; new fabrics; and new colors. Joining Caddy and Crafter models, Volkswagen’s entire Commercial Vehicle and People Mover Range now offers Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard.The newly revised ESP system on Transporter which can be bought through van leasing, Multivan and Caravelle now incorporates Hill Start Assist, Active Rollover Protection, Ready Alert Brake (prefill), Fading Brake Support, Hydraulic Brake Assist and a Brake Disc Wiper within the one program.

Options

The system, among the best in the world for commercial vehicle applications, self-adjusts according to load conditions and is joined by other electronic safety features including: Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR); Engine drag torque control (MSR); Electronic Differential lock (EDS); seatbelt buckling warning in the instrument cluster and new front dual-piston caliper brakes (on 132kW TDI models).Inside the revised cabin, high levels of safety continue with dual front, side head/thorax and (optional) full-length curtain airbags available. An integrated cornering/fog lamp, reversing camera (on models fitted with a top-hinged tailgate and RNS 510 satellite navigation only) and radar-based blind spot recognition system (integrated in the vehicle’s wing mirrors) are also available as optional equipment. With all these options preloaded, you can get this van pretty cheap with van lease hire, or van contract hire.

Basic Wheel Concepts: Guide in Buying Replacement Car Wheels

Wheels are among the most vital parts in the car. They are the ones that keep it moving and thus, they are indispensable in a vehicle. The size and the quality of the wheels significantly affect your ride quality and handling so always make sure they are in perfect shape and condition. Taking care of them is a must so as not to sacrifice your vehicle’s performance. They also need special attention since they are closest to the road; hence, they are exposed to a lot corrosion-causing elements.

Aside from contributing to ride quality and handling abilities, the wheels can also make the car look better and a lot sportier. People have always been concerned with how their vehicles should look and thus they replace or customize some of the parts to make it different from the rest on the road. The wheels are among those that are often replaced to achieve their desired appearance. Accessories are also added to the wheels, such as the hub caps and wheels covers. These auto accessories are designed to match the user’s various driving needs and moods.

In buying replacement wheels for your car, there are important things you need to know, especially if you are new to driving. You cannot just choose any kind of wheel in lieu of the original wheel of your car. There are different wheel specifications for every kind of vehicle and car model since suspension design varies from one vehicle to another. Take note that the wheels work hand in hand with the suspension system whose job is to keep the tires in tight contact with the road as the vehicle turns, brakes or is driven down the road without sacrificing comfort of the passengers.

Three aspects of the wheels are relevant to the suspension design: wheel offset, aspect ratio, and tire width. All these should be considered in choosing the best replacement wheels for your vehicle.

Offset refers to the distance from the very center of the wheel to the mounting surface of the wheel disc at the hub. Wheel offset can be positive, negative or zero. A “0″ offset means that the mounting surface of the wheel is in the center of the wheel. This measurement is very important in positioning the tire. This also provides for adequate dual spacing.

Aspect ratio is the ratio between the width of the tire and the height of its side wall. A tire specified as “205/60/15″ for example, has a width of 205mm and 60% aspect ratio. The “15″ refers to the size of the wheel to which it is fitted. You shouldn’t buy wheels or tires with lower aspect ratio than what is required because this will wear them out easily as ride quality will deteriorate. However, this could also result to more precision in turning.

You might be thinking of getting wider wheels to give your car a racing car look. Better think about this again. While is it true that wider wheels and tires can give your car a chunk of gutsy looks, they can also ruin your driving satisfaction. This is because the weight of the vehicle would not be evenly spread over the wheel and tire width. Resistance is also increased, thus you wheels and tires could wear out fast.

If you want to know more about car wheels, you can search for car enthusiasts’ sites that feature different kinds of wheels or go to the car manufacturer’s site and check out your car model’s wheel specifications.

Does the Ab Wheel Really Work?

You may have seen this item in the TV infomercials or advertised over the web. The Ab Wheel, an exercise machine that promises to tighten and tone your abs in just minutes a day and it also promises that you will feel great and full of energy all over.

The advertisement of the Ab Wheel, much like other infomercials that you will see asking you to buy X product to have a mean six pack abs, starts with a man with an obvious beer belly struggling hard to lose his love handles through various exercises like sit ups and side crunches. Then he starts to use the Ab Wheel and voila, he gets a toned and tightened midsection.

But upon further inspection, you will see this new model not only has a tightened abdominal area, he also has ripped shoulders, a toned chest and muscular legs. Do you think the Ab Wheel did all these?

You are right in answering “no” to this question. Because a machine like the Ab Wheel, which targets a specific group of muscles only cannot make that once chubby man into a lean person good enough to become an exercise model. An abs specific machine does not give you any shoulder toning, chest toning and leg toning effects simply because it is beyond the machine’s capability.

This mode most likely went through a total body workout program coupled by the correct and healthy way of eating. He did not have that perfect and awesome body JUST by using the Ab Wheel.

A program that will give you a total body exercise and at the same time give you a crash course in the very confusing world of nutrition is The Truth About Six Pack Abs. This e-book, created by the world renowned nutritionist and training guru Mike Geary, contains all the needed information for you to get that six pack abs you’ve always watched in the movies and at the same time, it will correct all your misconceptions about belly fat.

The e-book is the marriage of proper exercising of the entire body and a balanced nutrition. Initially it will give you an instructional manual to follow to help you learn the proper ways to exercise. None of those inefficient ones that will just tire you out but exercises specifically geared towards losing that beer gut. Then, the program will teach you the ropes about nutrition. It will strip you off of the wrong information you believed all this years that the media and food corporations have fed you. It will teach you how to eat properly and at the same time it will allow you to enjoy what you eat.

These are the actual things one needs in the pursuit of a perfect six pack abs. No abdominal machine like the Ab Wheel can make you have the tightened and toned tummy of an exercise model. Only Mike Geary’s program, The Truth About Six Pack Abs can lead you to the proper direction to having that sexy tummy and lose weight overall, the safest and the healthiest way possible.

How to Choose the Best Leather Conditioner

When it comes to choose leather conditioner, you may get confuse because there are plenty products of it on the market, and all of them proclaiming that they are the best product. As the experienced buyer, you should know which product that is worth your money and which is not. There are several considerations that can be used to be the parameter of product which is categorized as the best one or not.

First thing first, when you consider one product to be bought is the leather conditioner you choose should be odorless. The second one, the oil containment, you should make sure the oil containment is the same with the original oil for animal skin. The third is the product which is non-toxic. Fourth, choose the product that will not irritate your skin.

You should keep in mind that the good leather conditioner is the thing that does not contain any toxics that will be dangerous for the users. The odor conditioner, especially the chemical smelly, usually has the high rate of dangerous chemical substances. The thing that will irritate your skin is just the same. Make sure to test the product before you make any deal of purchasing.

Look For One Stop Shop For All Your Subscriptions

A popular saying "a book is man’s best friend" should include the saying ‘magazines’ too. You will find magazines on almost any topic under the sun just as you would find books on a range of subjects. Not only are magazines and books a source of information, they also keep you constructively occupied. Magazines tend to satisfy the ever growing thrust for knowledge.

Books vs. Magazines

While books can be stored and read as and if you want, they contain stories, whereas magazines contain latest informative content. Each magazine is generally restricted to a subject that affects one or other areas of our daily lives. Thus, you can buy magazines that deal with topics like gardening, cooking, matters related to finance, cars, education, career, etc. Magazines are published periodically-weekly, fortnightly or monthly or bi-monthly.

Latest Information

Magazines offer opportunities to remain abreast of the latest tendencies and advances. Publication in the magazines is designed in such a way that your reader will not find it monotonous or boring – you can find good photographs, tables, even a page or two devoted to pleasures like crosswords, puzzles, etc. One can get magazines at the newsstands or book-stalls.

Online Magazine Subscription

One easy way to subscribe is to do it on-line. There are many sites on the internet that collect magazine subscriptions of publishers and facilitate delivery at your door step. The advantage of subscribing through such site is that they keep track of all your subscriptions, address and contact details; you need not go to individual publisher for a change in your delivery details. Customer is the king, so if you do not find a magazine that you would like to subscribe to in their list, they will go out of their way to see that it must be included and available to you. If you need to get magazines restricted to geographical locations, you could look for magazine subscriptions Australia, magazine Subscriptions New Zealand, etc.

So next time you wish to go for a subscription or possibly a renewal, look for an ideal site that allows you to sign up for all your favorite magazine under one roof. Also, look for sites that allow you to donate a section of your subscription for a good cause. That way you will subscribe for two things with an individual payment – magazine and someone else’s happiness!

Wheel Chair Lifts For Easy Transport

Wheel chair lifts are important device in wheelchair user’s life. If you have organized your life in a way that you travel every day and you are a wheel chair user, than you definitely, need a lift. What it does for you is to place your wheelchair into the van without any physical help from you or other person. That provides the important level of independence for people with disabilities because all they want, just like everyone else, is to live their life the best possible way.

Wheel chair lifts are available in few forms, from small portable ones to the big ones installed on houses and buildings. No matter how small or big, all of them must have one thing in common, to provide safety for the wheelchair users.

Let us start with wheel chair lifts that are made for vehicles. They can be external and internal. External lifts are the ones that are attached to the vehicle from the outside. Their frame is made of steel to be strong and secure and it is rust-free. That makes them durable and worth of investing in them. Internal lifts are for loading your wheel chair inside of the van. What you need to pay attention to in this case is that, the van opening is the proper size and not too small and the platform too. If you are buying a wheelchair lift that is pre-installed in the van or separately, you need to know if your wheelchair fits to the size of the platform.

Wheel chair lifts that are made for residential use and for businesses are, of course, more expensive but still cost for residential use meets local code requirements. These forms of lifts are weather resistant. They are consisted of a solid style platform, safety plate and a solid handrail. These lifts for businesses are pre-equipped with everything that a client in a wheelchair could need to get in and out of the building including an emergency alarm and light package.

The last available type is a portable type. These lifts are perfect for the situation where, when you don’t need them anymore you can easily replace them and plug them in somewhere else.

What ever type of lift you choose, make sure that it is made from quality materials and that your wheelchair fits on them. Only in that case, it will really make your life easier.

How Do I Install a Wheel-Skins Leather Steering Wheel Cover?

How Do I Install a Wheel-Skins Leather Steering Wheel Cover?

First, let’s review what a wheelskin is. A wheelskin is a cover for a steering wheel that either protects a new wheel, covers blemishes on an older or damaged wheel, or completely changes the look of a wheel. Wheelskins leather steering wheel covers are made from the supple top layers of domestic hides. By processing only the outermost hide layer, Wheelskins produces the most pliable and durable steering wheel covers available. Wheelskins products have been handmade in the USA since 1977. Remember that after your Wheelskins wheel cover has been installed, you only need to gently wash your cover with mild hand soap and clear water. Leather dressing products are not recommended and should never be used.

Let’s move on to the actual installation. When your Wheelskins cover order is shipped, it will include well illustrated installation directions. You will also receive a quality lacing thong and an appropriate needle. You will notice that your cover will have Wheelskins’ exclusive patented lacing hole reinforcement design. This ensures a tight fit on your steering wheel and allows you to tightly lace the cover on your wheel without tearing the leather. For most of you this will be your first experience installing a leather steering wheel cover. Begin slowly and don’t be concerned if you need to take it apart and begin over. First, slide the Wheelskins cover over your steering wheel, keeping the reinforcement holes on the inner side of your wheel ring. Once you have the cover aligned, begin lacing the cover on at the 6 o’clock position on the wheel. The first stitch is made from the inside, going out. The most common error at this point is not lacing the cover consistently tight. You should keep checking for consistency every few inches. If you are not happy with how you are doing the lacing, and it looks uneven, you can unlace it and start over. Don’t be afraid to unlace it and do it over as the reinforced holes will keep the cover from tearing. You can do this as often as you like until you get your technique perfected. It is a good idea to sit back and take a look at your overall work when you are at the 12 o’clock position. By this time you should have mastered your lacing technique. If it looks inconsistent, take it apart and start over.

Pay close attention to the amount you tighten the leather. The edges of the leather should either almost touch, or actually touch, if possible. When you come to the spoke, continue your normal lacing pattern as close to the spoke as you can. Then, over the spoke do a dummy stitch, which is just a stitch through the top layer of the Wheelskins leather. Begin the full stitch on the other side of the spoke as soon as you are able. Make sure that all the holes around the spokes match before and after each spoke. Always keep checking that your holes are lined up correctly and match up. Continue this procedure all the way around the wheel and you should finish your lacing back at the point where you began. You should have no left over holes. Remember, you will need to make sure that you are consistently matching holes around the wheel, especially at the spoke positions. You should come out perfectly at the end with the correct matchup of holes. Then the lacing can be tied off and tucked away

Congratulations, you have installed your first Wheelskins leather steering wheel cover!

Aluminum Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks are essential in the trucking business. You simply can’t do without high-quality wheel chocks if you want to ensure safety. One of the choices you have when it comes to wheel chocks is aluminum wheel chocks. Aluminum wheel chocks are a great option for many reasons. Read on to find out if this is the kind of wheel chock you should purchase.

One of the reasons to purchase aluminum wheel chocks is the road conditions. Many aluminum wheel chocks are specially made to grip the road in less than perfect conditions. If you need to hold a truck in place in mud, sand, or ice, aluminum and steel chocks are the best choice. These chocks often come with steel teeth built right in to grip the ground tightly. The ground you drive on determines a lot when it comes to wheel chocks.

Another reason to choose aluminum wheel chocks is for the extra features. Aluminum chocks often have handles and grips, making them a lot easier to use. Another feature of some aluminum wheel chocks is the slope chock. These chocks are made for super heavy requirements because the tire rests on the slope rather than against it. And heavy bottom cleats on these slope chocks ensure you’ll have a tight gripping on any surface.

If you are looking for a lightweight chock, aluminum wheel chocks are for you. Aluminum is a very strong metal, but it isn’t heavy like some other materials. Lightweight aluminum chocks are ideal for anyone without maximum body strength. A set of lightweight aluminum chocks with handles and specially designed grips means you won’t ever have trouble placing your wheel chocks again.

Wheel Center Caps – Enhance the Look of Your Wheel

Wheel Center Caps – Enhance the Look of Your Wheel

There are many car owners in this world who always try to make their car look unique and top notch. Giving a look like this to a car is not a difficult task and it can done easily just by fitting some supplementary components like auto accessories. These auto accessories don’t look like as they can enhance the look to such an extent but it is true. These things look very small but they play an important role in enhancing the look of a vehicle. These auto accessories are made from high quality materials and have to be imported from different parts of the world. There are many options while selecting auto accessories such as exterior and interior accessories, mechanical parts and various other body accessories. Wheel center cap is also similar thing which enhances the look of a wheel.

There are many exterior accessories also for enhancing the overall look of a car such as spoilers, styling body kits, sporty mirrors, window visors, car hood shields, sunroof, extra wide wiper blades, window graphics, hood scoops, wheel center caps and alloy wheels. Apart from these, there are many more parts available in the market. These parts play an important role in improving the overall appeal of the car. But it will be more beneficial if all these things will be bought from some online dealer. We can see that day by day the demand for these high quality car accessories is increasing. The various manufacturers and producers of these high quality car accessories are working hard for keeping up this rising demand and every day a new type of accessory is launched. If anyone surfs internet regularly then he or she will always notice the latest parts which comes everyday in the market.

Anyone will have wide options while choosing the various car parts and accessories in the market and they can choose according to their choice and taste. These parts and accessories are very inexpensive, so no one is going to have any type of problem also while buying them. These imported accessories are made up of high quality materials and in spite of that also it is affordable. These accessories and parts are worth to buy because their life’s are long lasting which gives the real value of your money. The main topic of discussion is wheel center caps and also how to find the best deal when someone imports car rims.

There are wide varieties of wheel center caps available in the market which includes chrome caps, American caps, truck caps and custom caps. Apart from these, there are many more types also. But one should choose these caps according to their budget and the look of the vehicle also. The wheel caps should not be fitted too tight because by doing this the wheel cap can break also. Wheel caps are used for enhancing the look of wheels because it adds beauty to the wheels. But the important thing is that it should match with the wheels.

Other than wheel center caps one can also find great varieties of wheels also. Among all, the most popular wheels available are 5 spoke alloy wheels, wire wheels and the chrome spinning wheels. One can choose these different types of wheels according to their taste and look of the car. It is very much important for the wheels to match with the design of the cars because then only it can enhance its look and style. Some people also think that the wheels which are factory fitted from the beginning are best. But this is not true because those wheels put unnecessary weight to the car which reduces the overall performance of the car.

The Ford Transit Connect won last year’s “Van of the year”, & here’s why.

Review

There seems to be a Transit derivative to suit any job. Customers can choose between a range of roof heights and wheelbases for the panel van versions, while there are also chassis cabs, box vans, drop sides and tippers. Vans are available in front-wheel drive up to 3.5 tones gross vehicle weight (GVW), and in rear-wheel drive from 3.3 tons upwards. The front-wheel drive versions offer a lower load sill at the rear, while rear-wheel drive versions can provide better traction if carrying particularly heavy loads. By the time the majority of the range was launched in mid-2001 the Transit could boast a larger choice of roof heights, body lengths, weights and transmissions than any other panel van. Load volume ranges from 6.6 cubic meters on short-wheelbase low-roof models to 11.3 cubic meters on a long-wheelbase high-roof model. The Jumbo long-wheelbase model has a load volume of 14.3 cubic meters.

Safety and Security

Ford was a very early adopter of certain safety features fitted as standard with the Transit. At one time the Transit was the only van in its class to offer a driver’s airbag as standard across the range – important safety features when you consider how many Transits are in use pounding our motorways and also one of the only offering a van leasing option. Van lease hire, makes it easier for you and minimizes your primary costs. A passenger airbag and ABS were options so check if these are fitted when buying used.

Interior Design and Special Features

Inside the cabin, the Transit Connect offers a carlike driving position. The overall look is utilitarian, though patterned upholstery fabric adds a nice touch. Climate and stereo controls are simple and straightforward. The in-dash computer (which includes a wireless keyboard) is bound to come in handy for folks who spend all day in the field, but it does compromise the usability of some normal car functions such as the stereo.When it comes to cargo capacity, the Transit Connect Van bought through van leasing, offers a healthy 135 cubic feet, which is about 100 cubic feet less than Ford’s larger Econoline vans. However, the space is made more usable by a much lower step-in height, a flat load floor that measures 6 feet long and 4 feet wide, and a ceiling height of just less than 5 feet. Maximum payload is a modest 1,600 pounds.For ferrying people, the Wagon’s rear seats offer a firm seat bottom and reasonable elbow room. You’re essentially sitting on a bench screwed into the cargo hold, however, and when you consider the lack of amenities, the Transit Connect is certainly better suited to work crews than families. And you can get all of these for cheap, via van contract hire.

Costs

The Transit Connect is a little costlier to buy than rival vans from Vauxhall, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat, largely because of the sheer numbers around. But there always are other options like van lease hire you can use. The diesels are cheap to run, and servicing is every 15,000 miles. Insurance groups range from 10 to 13.Van contract hire includes insurance as well.