Auto Aficionado 

Improve Your Car's Gas Mileage

If you can’t resist hitting the pedal to the metal, you might as well forget about improving your car’s gas mileage.

Aggressive driving and fuel economy don't mix. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking waste gas, and if you’re guilty of these, don't go scowling at the gas station attendant for having to pay so much for your car's gas. If you drove your car more sensibly (i.e. not speeding), you can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Not to mention that sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so that means you may save more than your gas money.

Observing the speed limit can likewise improve your gas mileage. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

Also, if you're looking to have better peace of mind when it comes to your gas expenses, try reducing your vehicle's load. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. (The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.)

Other ways to improve your gas mileage:

Avoid excessive idling as it achieves 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use cruise control on the highway. This helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save on gas.

Use overdrive gearing. Doing so will lower your car's engine speed and this in turn, saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Don't forget too, that the simplest and easiest way to achieve better gas mileage is through taking proper care of your vehicle. A well-maintained car will undoubtedly perform much better than a car whose auto parts are malfunctioning – worn catalytic converter, loose belts or valves, misaligned wheels, or engine trouble – all will affect your car's performance, and your wallet. With reliable auto parts stores like Auto Parts Discount just a click away, there’s no need to wallow in sadness over a poor-performing car. At Auto Parts Discount, you have access to premium quality Ford radiators, Mazda catalytic converters, Nissan spoilers, Dodge A/C condensers, GMC headlights – any car make of your choice – at the most affordable prices.

Treat your car well and you can count on it returning the favor to you.

Light as a feather; Stiff as a Board; Safe as an SUV?

I chanced upon this question while on my usual couch-potato’s-excuse-to-learn-something-new-otherwise-known-as-netsurfing activities.

It reminded me of Malcolm Gladwell’s not so kind take on the horrors that the SUVs have brought upon all of us. Big and Bad: How the SUV Ran Over Automotive Safety had, all but told us not to even think about dishing cash for an SUV. Among Malcolm’s memorable statements:

The truth, underneath all the rationalizations, seemed to be that S.U.V. buyers thought of big, heavy vehicles as safe: they found comfort in being surrounded by so much rubber and steel. To the engineers, of course, that didn't make any sense, either: if consumers really wanted something that was big and heavy and comforting, they ought to buy minivans, since minivans, with their unit-body construction, do much better in accidents than S.U.V.s... But this desire for safety wasn't a rational calculation. It was a feeling.

And just what is this feeling, you ask. Gladwell continues:

"The No. 1 feeling is that everything surrounding you should be round and soft, and should give," Rapaille (as in French-born cultural anthropologist G. Clotaire Rapaille, whose services a number of US automakers have relied on for the past decade) told me. "There should be air bags everywhere. Then there's this notion that you need to be up high. That's a contradiction, because the people who buy these S.U.V.s know at the cortex level that if you are high there is more chance of a rollover. But at the reptilian level they think that if I am bigger and taller I'm safer. You feel secure because you are higher and dominate and look down. That you can look down is psychologically a very powerful notion. And what was the key element of safety when you were a child? It was that your mother fed you, and there was warm liquid. That's why cupholders are absolutely crucial for safety. If there is a car that has no cupholder, it is not safe. If I can put my coffee there, if I can have my food, if everything is round, if it's soft, and if I'm high, then I feel safe. It's amazing that intelligent, educated women will look at a car and the first thing they will look at is how many cupholders it has."

“…But that's the puzzle of what has happened to the automobile world: feeling safe has become more important than actually being safe.”

Let me just add that a lot of times, because of how vehicles are made these days – giving the impression that these machines are invincible, perhaps because of their sheer size, advanced technology, “bling”, etc. etc – people often go around smug, with a false sense of security. They forget that these vehicles still need to be checked regularly and still need to be driven responsibly. Even the most advanced vehicles still need to be taken to the mechanic when necessary (since a vehicle that could take itself to the mechanic or can repair itself hasn’t been invented yet). We folks with regular cars – Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas – rely heavily on properly maintaining our vehicles and from time to time, click over reliable online auto parts stores like Auto Parts Discount for auto parts like mirrors, A/C condensers, headlights or maybe catalytic converters – we know exactly what these cars are for. And that’s to take us from point A to point B, complete limbs and all.

What’s in a Car’s Name?

At one point in your life, as you were cruising in your car in the highway, it might have occurred to you suddenly – just where and how did the guys at Nissan/ Ford/ Toyota or whichever car you’re driving come up with the name of your car?

Perhaps you were driving your [link=http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focus/]Ford Focus[/link] (which would really be hard to guess what the Ford folks were getting at), but how about if you were driving a [link=http://www.fordpinto.com/]Ford Pinto[/link]? (Well if this is the case, you could always get quality replacement auto parts like auto radiators, A/C condensers, lights and more at Auto Parts Discount - for any car make, that is.)

Or did any of your friends ever chide you, as Dianne Spotts was when she bought her Taurus, that Ford stands for “Found On Road Dead” or “Fixed or Repaired Daily”? Or that your BMW is supposed to stand for “Break My Window”?

One comment I came across with was from a Keen James, citing columnist’s Russell Baker’s suggestion that in order to have fewer collisions, manufacturers should “assign less aggressive names to cars, such as Kittens, Bunny Rabbit, and Feather Duster”.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a Ford Puppy? Or Toyota Panda?

Stylish Parts to Enhance Your Honda's Safety Features and Looks

Auto lights may just be small parts in your car but they are no ordinary parts. They are essential to your safety at the same time, they make your car more stylish and more fun to drive. Thus, if you want to give your vehicle a fresh new look, replacing your old lights can help you achieve this without spending too much of your savings. Altezza taillights like those you find at [link=https://www.carpartswholesale.com/]Car Parts Wholesale[/link] are excellent replacement for your old Honda tail lights. They have unique design that affords your Honda elegant European car look.

Car Parts Wholesale has exciting Auto Parts Discount deals on Honda headlights as well as on other replacement auto parts. This doubles your satisfaction in getting replacement parts for your car. Also available in this store are premium class headlamps, corner lights, parking lights, fog lights and projector headlights. These are all sourced from top auto lights manufacturers and are sure to fit your particular car model's specifications. Get these parts now and make your Honda stand out among the rest of the cars in its class.

Finding the Right Store for Your Vehicle Part Needs

I needed a new catalytic converter for my 1995 Hyundai Elantra. I wanted of course, to get the best deal so I did my homework and found what I was looking for at Car Parts Wholesale. The whole online store is such a breeze to browse thru; I didn’t have much difficulty finding the catalytic converter that would be perfect for my car. Just a few clicks and there was.

I was also amazed to find the widest selection of so many other auto parts at Auto Parts Discount– they offered discount prices for quality, top of the line Ford, Chevrolet, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, BMW – virtually all of the top car makes. Auto Parts Discount also provided a comprehensive line of replacement discount Saturn auto parts for most car and truck makes. As a result I also ended up recommending the store to another friend who needed a replacement part for his truck. With just one visit to the site I wasn’t just able to get my car fixed at the quickest possible time – I was also able to help another.

Buying a Used Car and Maintaining It

Cars or any other form of transportation are undoubtedly important nowadays. But unfortunately, not everyone is able to afford a new vehicle. A lot of people prefer buying used cars because they are more affordable than the latest models. Although new generation cars are far more advanced in terms of performance, styling, safety, comfort and convenience features, restyling and upgrading used cars is no longer a problem these days. New and more advanced auto parts and accessories can be retrofitted easily nowadays and your choices range from the smallest to the biggest component in the car.

There are thousands of auto parts stores online that offer great variety of replacement auto parts that are just as tough and durable as original auto parts. In just a click of the mouse, you can find what you want and need in order to bring your old and used car back into perfect shape once again. These stores offer great discount in auto parts so you don’t have to worry about overspending. After all, buying replacement auto parts and auto accessories for your used car is still cheaper compared to buying a new car. So if you are a bit short of your budget, don’t feel bad about having to buy a used vehicle, you can turn it into a sporty car or a sophisticated one through replacement auto parts and accessories. Get them online; you’ll be surprised to see exciting Auto Parts Discount deals that are surely budget-friendly.