7 Great Tips To Save Money on Car Parts and Maintenance

Taking care of your car maintenance can be very rewarding if done properly so here's a list of seven tips that can help you save money on your car parts and service.

1. A well tuned car can has a fuel consumption from 25% to 33% lower than a poorly tuned car making a tune-up cheaper than driving without it, tuning your car for better performance can save you between $150 and $250 per year.

2. Regardless of the number of miles the manual recommends a oil change and filter change you should change them every 3,000 miles. This is one of the most important factors in your engine's life since it's going to prolong your engine's life and you're going to save on engine car parts. The potential savings are $500 to $3000.

3. Dirty air filter means more gasoline used and reduces the engine's life so you should check it regularly, maybe monthly. The air filter can be cleaned by blowing it with a hose or can be replaced. You can save about $130 per year..

4. Using steel-belted radial tires can increase the number of miles you make per year by up to 10%, saving this way about $130 per year.

5. Most cars, don't work better on premium gas, so, unless your car is pinging or knocking you shouldn't use higher octane gas. If your car doesn't have a high performance engine, using the gas that best suits your car's engine can save you $200 to $400 per year.

6. Having under inflated tires makes your engine burn about 6% more gas so make sure you check your tire pressure regularly.

7. If your tires are improperly balanced the tread on them will be destroyed. In addition, your suspension and shock absorbers can be damaged leading to more expense on car parts and service. Balancing your tires once a year can add thousands of miles to their life.

World's first mass-produced electric car

While unveiling the sexy shape of its new Model S saloon, innovative US company, Tesla, announced that it would put the 'world's first mass-produced electric car' into production in 2011.

The Jaguar-esque shape and optimistic timeline are not the only reasons Tesla will be grabbing headlines around the world today (March 27), as claims to the Model S's abilities are quite staggering.

Utilising the company's advanced lithium-ion battery pack, the Model S sprints from 0-60mph in 'under six seconds' on the way to a top speed of 130mph. A Sport version will apparently cut the 0-60mph time by a further second.

Despite such performance, the Model S has been designed to carry up to seven occupants and masses of their luggage. That's thanks to a large space up front where the engine would normally reside, and a flat-floored interior with stowable seats.

The battery pack is located underneath the floor, which lowers the centre of gravity, as well as enhancing packaging. Tesla claims that it will be possible to swap the battery pack for a fully charged one in less time than it takes to fill a conventional car's fuel tank.

Even if battery-swapping facilities are not available, the Model S can be recharged from any 120-, 240- or 480V power supply, with an impressive 45-minute charge possible if the highest rating is available.

In ideal conditions, the Model S will have a range of 300-miles, though buyers will have to pay more for that capability, as the entry-level version does only 160-miles on a charge.

The 2011 launch is, however, dependant on Tesla receiving $350 million (about £242 million) in federal loans from the US government, which the company is confident it will receive.

Tesla will expand its dealer network outside the US with Munich and London earmarked for showrooms, possibly as early late 2009. Pricing is predicted to start at $49,900 in the US - about £34,500.

President-elect Obama’s new Cadillac Limousine

When Barack Obama is officially inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America next week, he will ride to the ceremony in a brand new Cadillac Limousine.

This all-new model of Cadillac Presidential Limousine sees Obama continue a long tradition of Presidential Cadillacs.


The inauguration takes place at the Capitol building in Washington on Tuesday 20 January, and Barack Obama will be riding there in style. His Cadillac Presidential Limousine is a completely new design, featuring all the latest Cadillac styling cues, and an interior fully equipped for presidential use.

Unsurprisingly, details of the new limo's extensive security features remain shrouded in the utmost secrecy - as they have done throughout what's been described as "an extreme testing regime". The car clearly has to withstand virtually any kind of attempt on the new President's life - we won't be finding out how it works anytime soon.

Luxury and security…
But, we can tell you that the cabin area Obama will occupy includes an "extensive executive compartment". This features seating for important meetings on the go, a good view of the outside world (through several inches of bulletproof glass, no doubt), and "useful mobile office features".

The presidential seal is embroidered on the rear seatback and door panels, and also displayed on the outside of the rear doors. Two flags are flown on the front fenders whenever the President is in residence - so to speak - the US national flag on the right, the presidential standard on the left.

Secret Service call it 'the beast'
LED spotlights illuminate these flags at night - demonstrating the Cadillac is more high-tech than its appearance might suggest. Flashing strobe and emergency lighting will almost certainly built in, along with run flat tyres, and immense armoured plating. Don't expect the windows to open. It is also likely to be four-wheel drive.

Changes compared to the previous presidential car, the 2004 Cadillac DTS Presidential Limousine used by President George W. Bush, include a more upright stance for better visibility. But otherwise Obama's new ride is of similar size and proportion. The US Secret Service reputedly refers to these heavyweight machines as 'the beast'.

While earlier presidential Cadillacs were modified and adapted by specialist independent limousine companies, since 1993 Cadillac and parent company General Motors have carried out all of the work in-house. "Cadillac is again honoured to provide a new Presidential Limousine," said Mark McNabb, North American vice president of Cadillac.

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