Automotive Business

Archive for October, 2010

When you have a car, you know the importance of having a mat to protect the floors of your vehicle. Water, mud, salt or sand can possibly damage the floors of the vehicle. So the use of automotive floor mats is recommended to protect your car from casual damage.

These mats can keep your car interior in good-looking condition. They are available for all models (years) of cars. They also come in different colors to match the color of your car’s interior or exterior.

When you use the automotive floor mats under your feet when you drive, you protect against dirt that can attack the floor of your vehicle. The mats are removable and washable so if you spilled your coffee or dropped some snacks then you can get them off the mat easily. The mats provide protection against all the weather conditions. For example if you are traveling on a rainy day, they can protect your car interior from getting splashed with mud and sand.

Automotive floor mats can also prevent scratches and rips that may occur on the car floor, when you are wearing your shoes. The mats hold the friction generated by the shoes, thus avoiding contact with the actual car floor.

When you have visitors, guests, and kids who are using your car, their shoes and footwear can have mud and dirt on them. By using automotive mats, you protect your car interiors from the mud and dirt.

There are also all-weather car mats available as cover for automotive floors. These all-weather mats are made from high-tech materials. They do not harden, crack, or curl and are comfortable with your footwear. They have protective non-stick finish on them. You can just remove them from your car and wash any visible dirt or grime using a garden hose.

These mats protect your car interiors from snow, mud and other footwear-borne grime. Automotive floor mats are available for all kinds of vehicles. They have both function and aesthetic value and are a good accessory for any type of vehicle. They are functional in the sense they protect the vehicle floor, and they are aesthetic because they enhance the appearance of the vehicle.

Automotive floor mats are the same as car flooring mats. They protect against dust, water, soil, and unwanted dirt entering your car interiors. Snow or water can soak through a carpet and rust the car body. But these mats are made from durable materials and they prevent this phenomenon of water soaking through to the car floor. The mats are made to withstand rough wear and tear that comes with heavy usage. They can withstand the test of time and are good for many years after purchase.

There are also carpet floor mats available but all-weather type car mats are decidedly better. They are available in many colors to match your car color. The standard colors available are black, tan and grey.

Prior to the invention of automotive GPS units, traveling to unknown areas had to be done through reading a map and/or asking for directions. Both methods had problems. For instance, how can one effectively read a map while driving? Map-reading is only best if there is another passenger in the car, which isn’t always possible. Asking for directions can also be annoying, at least if the person giving the directions does so in a manner that is not as clear.

Fortunately, with the emergence of automotive GPS units the process of map-reading and getting directions has never been easier as each can be done either through voice activation, touching the screen, pushing buttons or a combination. Maps pinpointing the exact location pop right up on the screen, while directions can be given through a computer-generated voice. Nothing could be easier or better. The only issue is deciding which automotive GPS unit should be purchased. This article will serve as a guide telling consumers what they should be on the lookout for when choosing automotive GPS units.

The first area of consideration when buying automotive GPS units is seeing how accurate the device is. One way to determine this is by how many channels the GPS unit has. This is because more channels means the unit will be able to communicate with a larger number of satellites, resulting in more coverage. Another way to determine the accuracy of most automotive GPS units is through how its antenna is designed. Make sure the antenna is placed in an area of the unit where it will be able to stand freely.

The next thing to think about when looking at automotive GPS units is size. There are some automotive GPS units that will not be portable. Onstar, which has to be installed in one’s car, is an example of an automotive GPS unit that can not be moved from car-to-car. Many other automotive GPS units vary in portability.

Thirdly, perspective buyers of automotive GPS units should take notice of a unit’s interface. More expensive automotive GPS units will contain voice-activation and/or touch-screens, while cheaper ones can only be used through a series of buttons. If another person is in the car, using buttons is not as bad, but if only the driver can use the unit, it is important that it be as hands-free as possible. It is also important to try to get an automotive GPS unit that has the capability to give directions through a computer-generated voice. Doing so is another way to ensure that the driver of the car keeps their eyes on the road and nowhere else.

The software that the automotive automotive GPS unit uses is also critical. Most top of the line units have very good mapping software included with the unit. However, as time passes the mapping software becomes out of date. You should make sure that you automotive GPS units software is updated at least once every 6 months. Frequently there is cost for this service but if you live in fast growing urban environment then it is a good investment. Your automotive GPS unit is only as good as its operating and mapping software.

When looking at automotive GPS units one should consider: ease of use, accuracy, size and interface. Keeping these elements in mind ensures that a buyer obtains an automotive GPS unit that is reliable and will best assist them when they are on the road.

Let’s start out with the owner’s manual and automotive maintenance. My owner’s manual threatens to void my warranty if I do not perform the recommended service on time.

Well let’s look at what is recommend automotive maintenance. In my manual (yours may be different) it states that for normal driving an oil change is due every 3,000 miles or 3 months.

Then you keep reading and it says for fleet vehicles oil changes are needed every 4,500 miles or 6 months. What are they talking about with fleet vehicles?

I called the 800 number and asked for the official explanation, which is high mileage use or long trips equaling more than 9,000 miles a year would be considered fleet type use.

Well to me this is what normal driving is.

So according to the manufacturer my automotive maintenance should be done under the fleet automotive maintenance schedule.

Everybody I know puts more then 9,000 miles a year on his or her vehicle.

The national average for miles put on a single vehicle has risen from 10,000 miles in the 80′s to 15,000 miles a year in the 90′s to present day.

So most of the nation should be on the fleet automotive maintenance schedule along with me.

I added up the price difference between the 2 schedules in my own personal service manual.

Over a 75,000-mile 5-year period the price difference or savings by going with the fleet schedule was around $500.00 dollars by increasing the automotive maintenance service intervals.

But even more important then the money savings, is that this means less visits for auto service.

As we have learned every time you avoid auto service appointment your avoiding scams and rip-offs overcharges and poorly done work.

These items together are priceless over a five-year period.

What did the manufacture mean about voiding my warranty. Well I have seen this first hand.

The manufacturer will not honor the warranty if the vehicle was abused. Using the fleet schedule is not abuse it’s what is recommended on my vehicle.

The dealer and manufacturer will have the burden of proof to claim neglect.

This is very difficult and usually only happens under extreme neglect, like when the engine oil looks like tar from lack of oil changes.

Now this is important I am not saying to not service your vehicle regularly.

I am saying do services only when it is needed. Automotive maintenance Owner’s manuals are different for every vehicle.

Study your manual and how it relates to your driving conditions and stick to what is really recommended.

I was changing my own personal oil way too much.

The point was driven home at my newest job. The government fleet I work for has 1,800 pieces of equipment.

The cars and light trucks get their oil changed every 6 months or 4,500 miles. Automotive maintenance services are almost never late due to a high tech notification system.

When the vehicle is due, it comes in for auto service!

After a 5 year 100,000 mile study there were no engine failures in the entire fleet. To me this means 4,500 miles or 6 months is good for me also.

Now on your vehicle I stress to study the owners manual and see what is best for you and your vehicle.

Vehicle owner’s manuals are not usually user friendly. The manufacturer probably does this on purpose.

A confused owner will most likely put their trust in the dealer to guide them in needed automotive maintenance and repairs.

This is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

The dealer will put you on the schedule with the most frequent service intervals and push you towards over servicing your vehicle.

The automotive maintenance section is usually toward the back of the manual.

I recommend reading this section four to five times or until it is completely understood.

Do not be afraid to call the customer assistance line and ask questions.

The price for this little used information service was added to the price of the vehicle that you purchased.

The customer assistance hot line is important to the manufacturer. Do to the fact they are trying to build brand loyalty and future sales by providing courteous friendly customer service

Become an authority or expert on the required automotive maintenance of your specific vehicle and know what is needed before you go in for service.

When the service advisor starts throwing up-sell auto service at you and you shut him down with facts and knowledge you will change the shops attitude about selling you auto service you don’t need.

Automotive demographics deal with the population characteristic of automobiles. Generally, the automotive demographics involve the analysis of demographic variables such as how many people are using automobiles, the age of the drivers, the gender of the driver and the demand of different automobiles. The main means of transportation in the United States is road travel. There are about 4 million miles of public roads in the US. Highways and byways are getting heavily crowded with the arrival of more and more automobiles. According to the automotive demographics, about 17 million new domestic and imported cars and trucks are purchased by the Americans. To compensate this high level of consumer demand, automakers in the US have to produce about 12 million to 13 million new cars and trucks each year.

There are many factors that affect the demand for automobiles in the industrialized countries. The research on travel demand and transportation shows that the demand for automobiles rises with income. Many non-economical factors also affect the demand of automobiles. Automotive demographics show that the demand of automobiles also varies with age and gender of the user. Interestingly, women with low income generally travel less than men, middle aged people and people with higher incomes. The household characteristics such as family size, family type, age of the house holder and marital status are also important automotive demographic variables that explain the variation in travel demand.

Demographic variables are also important in making transportation projections. The graphical analysis of demographic composition of automobile use is widely used as the first step in many automotive analytical systems. The collection of right data is the first step in automotive demographics.

Are you discouraged in your search for quality automotive mailing lists? Too many providers offer re-hashed and resold lists that are not up to date or accurate. For most dealers and parts retailers, accurate information is key for any direct mail or telemarketing effort. Sometimes a warranty company may purchase bulk lists that were mostly inaccurate only to find it costs them more to have a bad list than the extra cost of an accurate and solid list. Finding this balance is critical for any direct marketing effort and is imperative for a successful campaign.

Some of the better automotive mailing lists include ‘up to date’ (weekly updated) year make and model data. To find out how accurate a vendor is, you should be asking questions like “when was the file last updated?” and “how many new records come into the system on a typical update?” You should see a consistency in the answers and the ability to test small and grow is critical instead of throwing all of your eggs into one basket so to speak. In addition to the year, make and model data, credit data offers two great products.

For subprime buyers, credit scored data along with current loan information such as how many months are remaining and the size of the loan and monthly payments are useful for direct marketing. Some dealers that will target those that have marginal credit that have less than 3 months remaining on their current car. This audience is great because though they look forward to not having a car payment, many are already ready to get a new car. Your ability to target repeatedly this audience will pay-off as they start to consider buying their next vehicle. Another variation of the credit score automotive mailing list is the credit triggered list which should come out daily.

These daily triggers are the most potent form of automotive mailing lists that currently exists. One of the biggest issues that dealers have is that these trigger leads exist. Their controversy can be your edge if you embrace the idea that people like to shop. Some of the best deals are closed after a customer has looked around first and that is why triggers have been a staple of the credit bureau database for so long. There is no better way to find interested and qualified buyers period. The biggest drawback is that they have already gone to a funding source for a quote but that does not mean you can’t come in with a better offer (better car and better financing package).

The challenge in general with automotive mailing lists is to find the one that is reasonably priced but that is highly targeted. Generating a massive qualified response and selling cars is what the name of the game is so make sure you have a vendor that gets it and a mailing list that is both targeted and accurate otherwise you are just throwing money down the tube.

Automotive floor mats play an important role on the maintenance of the car. It provides the protection against the unwanted stains and dust which can damage the flooring system. The over all impression of the car can be affected by the selection of your mats. Not only they are used for the protection of the floor but also they can be used for the convenience and appeal to your car. If you like to see your car different, you can simply change the automotive floor mats into something customized and decorative.

Many car owners like to create their car interiors trendy yet do not give attention one of the most essential parts. Some of them like to focus on the sound system and some other may on the seat covers. However, they should also understand that these automotive floor mats can also add pleasure and attraction to the interior of the ride.

Floorboards are available with a lot of design and colors. Each are designed and manufactured according to the model and kind of the car. You can select from various styles that may go with your taste and also approves your requirements. You can easily find the durable and good quality automotive floor mats online at the affordable price.

There are also many car manufacturers the offer the automotive floor mats with the features of customization which may lead to the high quality floor coverings. In this case, prices become little expensive and vary according to the type of the design you choose. The price can be affected due to the type of the materials.

There are different kinds of the mat available in the market which can be varied according to the color, design, material and shapes. You can find one according to your own personal choice and even you can buy them according to the color of your interior.

It is always fascinating to take a look at the creation of products that we rely on so unconsciously in our daily lives. None is more exciting than the history of the automotive industry. History credits a French engineer by the name of Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot for building the first automobile in 1769. This vehicle was more like a military tractor with three wheels than what we know of as a car. The engine ran on steam and could only run for fifteen minutes at a time. The steam engine evolved as various inventors were able to obtain patents and in 1806 the trend started with cars operating with internal combustion engines which ran on gasoline.

The history of the automotive industry truly came of age in 1903 when Henry Ford started an automobile empire in a converted factory. His company became one of the few to survive the Great Depression. In 1914 Ford started producing cars in bulk by creating what we know as assembly lines. This was the point where the automobile began its popularity. The U.S. dominated the industry around the world until the end of World War II in 1945. At that time nations that were technologically advanced such as Germany and Japan were able to gain momentum and become serious competition within the automobile industry.

The success seen in the history of the automotive industry is due to three basic factors; price, quality and depreciation. Cars have always continued to get more expensive. A car such as a Cadillac Seville, as an example, retailed for around $20,000 in 1989. That same car in a model produced just five years later retailed at $36,000. The quality of cars continues to evolve as well. They are truly built to last. The depreciation of new cars continues to remain consistent. You can expect a car to lose about 28% of its value the moment it is driven off the dealership lot.

The history of the automotive industry would not be complete without a look into the future. With the trend of manufacturers to produce “green” vehicles we are seeing a surge of hybrid and hydrogen cars with many new and innovative ideas waiting for production. The goal is to produce a vehicle that is environmentally safe while still cost effective and affordable. Cars that we only dream about today are destined to become a reality tomorrow.

Have a job and need a car for transportation is a mantra of many today. Owning a vehicle is not luxury anymore. You may live out in suburbia or anther area where bus service is not practical – either by availability or scheduling. It may be your schedule to get to work, or the bus companies schedule may not be frequent enough or provide logistics to get you to work easily or on time. Worse yet many cities and municipalities in an effort to save you tax money are cutting back on vital transit services for its residents. Oh well you say – what of global warming and President Obama’s moves to the green economy. You can bet that bet few of Obama’s top staff and bureaucrats take the bus to the White House each and every morning and in the early afternoon after the work day ends.

Yet when it comes to choosing vehicle it’s not only a question of style and looks but one of everyday practicalities and fuel economy. Sure as a young male you may have always dreamed of that high powered sleek sports car but what of bring groceries and beer home for the weekend without even considering the high cost of fuel and gasoline economy, thriftiness and your monthly cash flow and budget. Small vehicles like the Mercedes “Smart Car” may be the most economical on gas, yet what happens in a major road accident or collision in terms of personal safety and that of your family and passengers. Small may be inexpensive to buy, run and insure but too small and if you have a chance meeting with a much larger vehicle – a truck or SUV and your personal liability costs as well as hospital and medical bills may prove that choosing a small car may be poor value – and yield you poor quality of life in the end game. At the end of the day most auto purchasers seem to like run of the mill popularly sized vehicles – be they American made cars or truck, or imports.

Every driver and auto owner has their own personal prefererences often involving their own particular reasons and biases. However just like real estate when you purchase a vehicle think of resale. Its not only resale price involved but also demand for the automotive or transportation product at hand. A high end Porsche or BMW may fetch a good resale price and keep its value – yet in you neck of the woods there just many not be that many auto purchasers and those actively looking in the market who feel that they justify the expense of your particular vehicle. Sure you can expand you catchments area of sales with an online service such as eBay. Yet eBay involves extra costs and expertise. Many people, especially older more conservative types who while established in life having the cash to buy such a dream exotic vehicle shy away from eBay due to concerns from buyers of problems of theft, non payment, logistical issues, comebacks and a whole host of real and imagined issues. Sure they could go to an eBay broker or a person who has the expertise and positive feedback on eBay who certifies as an eBay ‘Trading Assistant”, yet in the end many wonder first if they feel comfortable in such a situation, there are extra fees involved and by the end of the sales process one wonders if it was worth all the bother.

When purchasing or considering purchasing a vehicle new or used consider as well the level of service and parts for the vehicle and your specific model both costs and availability. With some vehicles you can just go to a local box store where costs while not cheap or not through the roof. With some specialty vehicles, or oddballs you can only go to the local dealer – if there is one. As well consider the cost of parts, and the difficulties involved in installation. Good old fashioned Chevrolets were easy to work for a mechanic or even a backyard mechanic. Not necessarily so today. Secondly while an import car or SUV may have good reliability and resale value. The considerably higher priced import car parts may be much higher in price and as well only available from the manufacturer themselves as opposed to less expensive third party parts. This may not be an issue with brand new car – which should only have routine repair and maintenance costs in the first couple of years. Yet buy a more than 3 years old used vehicle and the costs of repairs and replacement parts of many import cars can far outweigh what you thought that you were ahead in terms of reliability, repairs and maintenance costs.

Lastly one vehicle which is seldom if ever a bargain in the long run are orphan or odd ball cars. These are ones that either is just being introduced by a new offshore auto maker, or the manufacture has just basically abandoned on the marketplace. Your budget may only allow you purchase of one of these vehicles – especially if you are in the new car market. Head for the hills. No one is going to want to purchase your used vehicle down the road. Parts and service are going to be hard to come by and most likely expensive in relation to most everything else. It is better to buy good used vehicle, with reliable resale value than one of these has beens or orphans that few other in the automobile purchasing market are going to want and will give you little precious cash for.

In the end when considering purchasing a vehicle – first of all think of you actual needs, consider running costs and safety. Lastly always consider eventual resale value as part of the calculations and eventual decision or decisions.

The combined impact of increasing energy needs and the rising prices of parts have forced automakers, suppliers and marketers to find new ways of using technology to come up with better vehicles. New business trends are behind the transformation of the automotive manufacturing industry. By adopting these trends, manufacturers can better respond to global challenges like market uncertainty.

Rising oil and gas prices, air pollution, traffic jams and extensive media coverage of the global warming debate have increased the awareness of automotive customers with regards to environmental issues..

Drastic emission regulation for vehicles will affect most markets in four years but automakers product portfolios are insufficient to meet the demand for engines with low CO2 emissions rates. Zero emission vehicles are ripe for volume markets but RD partnerships are vital to the successful development of power and fuel cell technologies.

A system already in production will enable a car to stay some distance away from another vehicle on the road. Short-range radar braking systems will hit the market soon. In the future, self-guided cars will allow drivers to sleep, read or do other tasks while traveling. Future systems will employ digital imaging, special roadways and sensors to create driving commands.

Experts predict that cars in 2025 will be made from advanced polymer composites. They will be lighter but more reliable, recyclable and spacious with electric propulsion powered by direct hydrogen fuel cells. This will result in zero emissions and 100 to 120 mpg-gas equivalence for large SUVs, or up to about 200 for four to five-seater family sedans.

Fuel costs will be offset by using the vehicles as power stations while parked. Cells from millions of parked cars would plug into homes or the city power grids. The 20 to 40 kilowatt engines will make clean power that may be sold to utility companies or used privately.

What should I buy?

Auto carpet can be purchased custom molded to fit the form of your vehicle’s floor pan. So, there is no need to buy flat automotive carpet and try to fit it to the bumps and ridges of your vehicle’s floor, but rather you can simply pull out the old auto carpet and drop in the new, pre-formed auto carpet. Buying this form of automotive carpet will make the job much easier and will eliminate most of the work. Sometimes, if you have a newer model of vehicle, you can still buy carpet from the manufacturer, but in most cases the original OEM auto carpet will be 4 or 5 times more expensive than aftermarket auto carpet, and the quality of the carpet fibers can be inferior to the aftermarket auto carpet.

It is important to note that there are 2 types of automotive carpet backing. Most new cars, trucks, vans and SUVs, from the 90s and newer, have a type of backing or padding called Massback. It is a heavy foamlike rubber that is usually black. This type if backing is added to improve heat and sound insulation as well as some padding under the auto carpet. Most aftermarket auto carpet is made with a thin, plastic backing that doesn’t add much in the way of padding or heat/sound insulation so most aftermarket auto carpet manufacturers will add a 1/2 inch thick jute padding to this type of carpet backing to add some padding. Some aftermarket carpet retail stores will sell you the same carpet with either type of backing.

The first thing you will need to do when replacing your auto carpet, is to purchase a automotive carpet kit for your particular vehicle. It is important to point out that now would also be a good time to also buy a matching set of floor mats from the same retail store where you buy your auto carpet. Most manufacturers cut your molded carpet and floor mats from the same roll of carpet to ensure that you get the same exact die lot; you should order both at the same time.

Where Should I Start?

Be sure to pull the new auto carpet out of the box as soon as it arrives, since it will be rolled up and crammed into the box. The auto carpet will need about 24-48 hours to “relax” and regain it’s shape. Sometimes, letting it sit in a warm room, or direct sunlight will help speed up this process.

Once the auto carpet has relaxed, you can begin the job of installing the new carpet. The first step will be to remove the existing carpet from the vehicle. You may need to remove the sill plates by the doors, the seats and seat tracks if they are holding down the auto carpet and the center console. Basically, anything that is holding down the auto carpet will need to be removed in order to get the carpet out. Be careful not to destroy the existing carpet, and certainly do not throw the carpet away or discard it, as you will need to use it in a few minutes. Just set the carpet aside for the time being.

Now you should do a little prep work on the floor of your vehicle to get ready to install the new auto carpet. At this time you can remove the old carpet padding, if any was left behind, but be sure not to remove any body insulation from the floor. You can install heat or sound insulation such as Dynamat at this time and patch or repair any holes in the floor of the vehicle. And it should go without saying, but sweep and clean up and dirt or loose matter from the floor of the vehicle.

How Do I Install the Auto Carpet

Most aftermarket auto carpet kits will come slightly oversized and without the pre-cut holes. So, there will be a little work to get the new auto carpet into the vehicle. There are 2 methods of cutting and trimming your auto carpet to get it into the vehicle; you can choose which will work best for you. Your first option is to place the new auto carpet over your old carpet, trim the edges and cut the holes. If you chose this option, you will need to be very careful not to over cut the holes or cut too much from the edges, since you are using the old auto carpet instead of the vehicle itself. The 2nd option is to work the new auto carpet into the contours of the vehicle floor and trim the carpet as you go. This method will give you more accurate results, but may be a little more difficult. Either way, it is important not to cut and trim too much with any one cut. It is best to work slowly, making small cuts and double check that the auto carpet has not shifted after each cut.

A little secret for making the small holes for things such as the seat bolts is to make a small “X” cut with a knife blade where the hole was in the original auto carpet. You can then simply push the bolt through the carpet. There is usually no need to try to cut a complete hole in your new auto carpet.

Occasionally you will find that a small section of the auto carpet wants to lift up off the floor, or tries to create a small wrinkle. This can easily be fixed with a small shot of spray adhesive. It is not recommended to spray the entire floor of the car, tryck, van or SUV, since the molded carpet should be held in place with the seats and trim pieces that were holding the original carpet in place.

Once the auto carpet is in place, and trimmed to fit, now you can begin to replace the pieces that were holding the original carpet in place. If you removed the seats, sill plates and trim pieces, then all of these pieces will need to go back into the vehicle.

Once all of pieces are back in place, your job is complete. You will be amazed at how much difference a little work can make to the appearance of your vehicle, not to mention removing that horrible smell that some things like milk can leave behind!

You can find a large selection of Aftermarket Auto Carpet here at Stock Interiors. You can shop with confidence, because we are “The Auto Carpet Experts!”