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.

CITROËN’S GRAND C4 PICASSO IS ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A WINNER AT WHAT CAR? AWARDS

CITROËN’s Grand C4 Picasso has scored a hat-trick at the prestigious 2009 What Car? Car of the Year Awards, winning the ‘MPV of the Year’ accolade for the third year in a row.

The CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso is the perfect vehicle for the modern family on the move. With its contemporary good looks, light and spacious cabin and clever storage solutions it’s no wonder the seven-seat MPV won over the hearts and minds of the What Car? judging panel for a third successive year.

As well as being both stylish and safe, with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, the CITROËN Grand C4 Picasso has also been recognised for its environmental credentials picking up the ‘Green MPV of the Year’ title at What Car?’s inaugural Green Awards. The winning 1.6HDi SX emits just 140g/km CO2 making it a leaner, greener option for environmentally conscious drivers.

What Car? say “CITROËN’s Grand C4 Picasso is definitely that — grand. It’s not just big, either; it’s also versatile, stylish, easy to drive and affordable”. They then go on to say “No MPV does a better job of transporting you, your brood and your gubbins” before concluding succinctly by saying “Family orientated cars don’t get any better than this”.

Receiving the award, Xavier Duchemin, Managing Director of CITROËN UK, commented; “As Europe’s most popular MPV manufacturer, we’re honoured and delighted to be receiving this award for the third year running. On top of this, we’re especially excited about the forthcoming CITROËN C3 Picasso, which is set to complement its award winning sibling in the next few months.”

A Rookies Guide to Car Rentals

Renting a car can be a lot of fun, just plain fun. Car rentals offer the renter the opportunity to drive a car, truck or SUV that they normally would not or could not buy. Renting a car is for a weekend get away, to impress someone or just to have something different to drive for a couple of days are some of the most popular reasons to visit a rental company. However, as fun as it is to rent cars, there are some not so fun things that must happen before you drive it off the lot.

1- Keep in mind that most rental companies will not rent to any driver under the age of 25. If you fall under that magic number, you more than likely will need to get an older relative or friend to sign the actual contract for you.

2- You will of course, need a valid drivers license to rent the car. If you do not have a license, they will not rent to you under any circumstances. Most companies will also require you to reserve your car with the use of a major credit card, however, you can pay in cash if you would prefer.

3- You do not need to have personal auto insurance to rent a car; they will ask you if you would like to purchase their insurance for the duration of the rental contract. If, however, you have your own insurance policy, be sure to call your agent to see if you are covered during your use of a rental car. If your personal auto policy covers you, there is no need to purchase a policy from the rental company.

4- It is wise to call several car rental companies to inquire about prices, car availability and specials. Ask about options such as upgrades, pick up and drop off services, unlimited mileage and weekend versus weekly rental prices. Many companies will also offer special deals to customers who are members of other organizations (i.e. credit unions, warehouse clubs, etc).

5- After you have called around, found the best deal and reserved your choice car; it is time to pick it up. Be sure to have all of your personal paperwork with you, including your auto policy if you will not be buying theirs. Before you sign the contract, read through it and ask any questions you may have.

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Know the most Important Part about your Car Insurance

What types of cover do you will get in Car Insurance?

Comprehensive Third Party Fire & Theft
Liability for death of or injury to third parties
(including passengers).
Liability for damage to property
(limit £20,000,000 any one accident).
Liability of passengers
to other parties.
Legal costs
incurred with our consent. (limit £5,000,000 any one accident for loss or damage to property)
Loss of or damage to the car
as a result of fire or theft.
Accidental damage to the car
(including its accessories).
Replacement of locks following theft of keys
(limit £750 any one claim)
Personal accident benefit
of £5000 for you and / or your spouse for death or certain medical conditions.
Foreign use - up to 30 days cover in any EU and certain other associated countries during the policy year.
Medical expenses
up to £250 for each person in the car.
Replacement of child car seats following their loss or damage or impact damage to the car
Personal effects
up to £250 for any one occurrence.
Accident Recovery Service
Motor Legal Expenses & Legal Helpline. optional optional
Enhanced Courtesy Car Cover optional optional
UK & European Breakdown Cover. (Subject to certain limitations) optional optional
Extended Foreign Use optional optional

Am I insured to drive someone else's car?

No, Third Party Liability whilst you are driving another vehicle is not generally available except when

the vehicle does not belong to you and is not hired to you under a hire purchase agreement
there is no other insurance policy which insures you
the vehicle is not being driven to secure its release following seizure by, or on behalf of, any government or public authority.

Is young drivers under 25 years of age are Insured?

Yes. However, for comprehensive cover, in addition to the standard excess of £100, a further young drivers excess applies. For further details see the Frequently Asked Questions on excess.


What is the maximum age to get insurance?

Normally offer a quote for a new customer up to the age of 75, depending on the insurance history.

What are my cancellation rights?

When you receive your policy documents you will have 14 days in which to cancel the policy if you no longer require the insurance. If you wish to cancel the policy please contact us on 08457 464646 or write to The Co-operative Insurance, General Insurance Customer Support Centre, 2nd Floor, Miller Street, Manchester M60 0AL and return your Certificate of Motor Insurance.

If you cancel the policy within 14 days of receipt of the cancellation notice the premium you have paid will be returned to you less a pro-rata charge for any time on cover.

To be entitled to a pro-rata refund of the premium paid, you must telephone or write to us on or before the 14th day of receipt of the policy booklet and the cancellation effective date requested must be within this period.

If you cancel your policy after this time any refund of premium will be the premium paid less a pro rata charge for the period the policy has been in force and may be subject to a cancellation fee.

Does my policy cover me to drive abroad?

Yes. In addition to providing the minimum compulsory liability insurance required in any country which is a member of the EU, the policy provides the same cover throughout the EU and certain other associated countries as in the UK, for up to 30 days per insurance term.

Extended Foreign Use is available as an optional extra and extends the cover provided in the UK to all member states of the EU and the associated countries for the entire policy year, subject to a limit of 90 days per trip.

Cover for Electronic Equipment

There is no limit on loss of or damage to electronic equipment (e.g. audio or satellite navigation equipment) permanently fitted to the vehicle as standard by the vehicle manufacturer.

There is a limit of £500 on loss of or damage to electronic equipment permanently fitted to the vehicle post-manufacture.

There is a limit of £250 on loss of or damage to personal effects, which includes electronic equipment not permanently fitted to the vehicle, provided the cover is Comprehensive.

What is Personal Effects Cover?

Personal effects cover is available where cover is Comprehensive.

There is a limit of £250 on loss of or damage to personal effects (e.g. coats, bags and CDs) whilst in or on the vehicle. This includes electronic equipment not permanently fitted to the vehicle.

There is no limit on loss of or damage to child car seats, which we will replace following an accident resulting in impact damage to the vehicle even where there is no apparent damage to the child car seat.

What is Enhanced Courtesy Car Cover?

Enhanced Courtesy Car cover is an optional extra which supplements our standard courtesy car cover by providing access to a similar replacement car to your own (subject to certain limitations) for up to 14 days if your car is stolen and not recovered, immobilised as the result of an accident or written off.

Know Courtesy rules more

UK and European Breakdown Cover

UK and European Breakdown Cover is a comprehensive and reliable breakdown service available as an optional extra, which provides peace of mind that you are fully covered for any repair or recovery costs associated with a breakdown.

UK and European Breakdown Cover will offer the following benefits:

Europe-wide rescue and recovery service
Up to 1 hours labour to repair your car at the scene
Recovery of your car to a suitable repairer or to your home
Transport of the driver and up to six passengers home or an intended destination;
Or one night’s bed and breakfast accommodation; or
Replacement hire vehicle for up to 24 hours
Repatriation of the driver, vehicle and up to six passengers to the UK

What is Extended Foreign Use?

Extended Foreign Use is available as an optional extra and extends the cover provided in the UK to all member states of the EU and the associated countries for the entire policy year, subject to a limit of 90 days per trip.

for Full details on this get here

What is a Carbon Offset?

A carbon offset is a way of reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by funding renewable energy or reforestation projects. The projects offset an equivalent amount of emissions to that produced by driving. This is a way of compensating for the contribution from driving to climate change.

What if I want to make a change on my policy?

What if I want to make a change on my policy?

It’s important that all the details in your policy are accurate and that you are happy with the cover provided, so it makes good sense to check that everything is in order now.


Please contact us on 08457 46 46 46 if:
• Any of the information contained in the Policy Details or Certificate of Motor Insurance is incorrect
• You change your name, your address or your vehicle
• You wish to amend the cover provided by your policy (for example, you may want to increase your level of cover from ‘third party fire and theft’ to ‘comprehensive’, or make changes to the driving restrictions, or increase the amount of voluntary excess you pay)
• You wish to change driver details on your vehicle.


Remember that if you change your vehicle you must obtain a new Certificate of Motor Insurance before you use the replacement vehicle.


If you make any further changes to your policy cover other than at renewal, or if you request duplicate documents, we may charge you an administration fee of £12.50. The administration fee will be in addition to any increase in premium that may occur.

Cancelling the policy may incur a separate cancellation fee.

What is No Claim Discount?

For every year of claim-free driving you will earn a discount towards the cost of renewing your motor insurance, up to a maximum of 9 years. This is subject to you providing documentary evidence from your previous insurer.

The No Claim Discount can only be used on one policy at a time so the other policy has to be lapsed or cancelled before you can use it on this one. You cannot share it across two policies.

Scale of No Claim Discount (available to new customers)

Varies from 25 % to 75 % depends on the Claim FREE years

Opel Ampera the Car with Green and Sculpture

Re-Think Mobility
Opel Ampera : A new category of Mobility .With its revolutionary “ Voltec” Propulsion technology the Opel Ampera delivers 60 Km emission-free battery range and more than 500 Km extended range .

Five doors,four seats.370Nm instant Torgue ,160Km/h: a real car for everyday driving .


Find out more about the Opel Ampera and its production launch in 2011

Benefits

Saving & Winning
Extended Range Electric Vehicles ( E-REV) deliver reduced oil consumption ,support energy diversification, and reduce emissions. That said ,the Opel Ampera is well-suited to the needs of most European drivers,the majority of which commute less than 50 Km from home to work and back.

With its Voltec propulsion system the Opel Ampera can Drive 60 Km on electricity alone ,with zero emissions.And recharging is easy : the Ampera can be plugged into any house 230 v outlet

How far Can you Go ?

Clear Answer : 60 Km an battery and more than 500Km extended range with the 1.4 Liter (82Hp) gasoline –fueled engine –generator provides electricity to power the electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery .

Watch the animations to see how far you could drive starting from Geneva ,site of Opel
Ampera’s 2009 world Premiere

What’s the Cost

We estimate that an extended range electric car will save about 1,700 liters of gasoline per year based on 60 Km of daily driving ( 22,000 km per year ) .As a baseline comparison : 0.09 Euro per Km using gasoline priced at 1.16 Euro per liter.

In other words ,the cost of an electrically driven kilometer in the Opel Ampera is about a fifth of the cost of a kilometer driven in a conventional gasoline vehicle,at current fuel price .

What is the Output

The electric drive unit delivers 370 Nm,Zero to 100Km/h acceleration in around 9 seconds ,and a Top speed of 160km/h .Driving electrically is great fun: the instantaneous ,nearly silent torque under your right foot feels like flying .

Fo journeys up to 60 Km the Opel Ampera runs on the electricity stored in the 16-k Wh, lithium-ion battery and emits zero CO2. When internal combustion engine is used to supply the drive unit with electricity ,it runs at a fixed speed ,which makes it more efficient than a normal car engine . In range –extended mode the Ampera consumes only 1.61/100 Km and emits less than 40g/km of CO2.

Automakers, Obama announce mileage, pollution plan

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama wants drivers to go farther on a gallon of gas and cause less damage to the environment - and be willing to pick up the tab.

Obama on Tuesday planned to announce the first-ever national emissions limits for cars and trucks, as well as require a 35.5 miles per gallon standard. Consumers should expect to pay an extra $1,300 per vehicle by the time the plan is complete in 2016, officials said.

The administration officials spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement by Obama.

The plan also would effectively end a feud between automakers and statehouses over emission standards - with the states coming out on top but the automakers getting the single national standard they've been seeking and more time to make the changes.

Obama's plan couples for the first time pollution reduction from vehicle tailpipes with increased efficiency on the road. It would save 1.8 billion barrels of oil through 2016 and would be the environmental equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road, senior administration officials said Monday night.

New vehicles would be 30 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by the end of the program, according to officials familiar with the administration's discussions. The officials also spoke on condition of anonymity because the formal announcement had not been made.

The plan still must clear regulatory hurdles at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department. Automakers appear to be in support.

Administration officials said consumers were going to pay an extra $700 for mileage standards that had already been approved. The comprehensive Obama plan would add another $600 to the price of a vehicle, a senior administration official said.

The extra miles would come at roughly a 5 percent increase each year. By the time the plan takes full effect, at the end of 2016, new vehicles would cost an extra $1,300.

That official said the cost would be recovered through savings at the pump for consumers who choose a standard 60-month car loan and if gas prices follow government projections.

In a battle over emission standards, California, 13 other states and the District of Columbia have urged the federal government to let them enact more stringent standards than the federal government's requirements. The states' regulations would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and trucks by 2016 - the benchmark Obama planned to unveil for vehicles built in model years 2012 and beyond.

The Obama plan gives the states essentially what they sought and more, although the buildup is slower than the states sought. In exchange, though, cash-strapped states such as California would not have to develop their own standards and enforcement plan. Instead, they can rely on federal tax dollars to monitor the environment.

The auto industry will be required to ramp up production of more fuel-efficient vehicles on a much tighter timeline than originally envisioned. It will be costly; the Transportation Department last year estimated that requiring the industry to meet 31.6 mpg by 2015 would cost nearly $47 billion.

But industry officials - many of whom are running companies on emergency taxpayer dollars - said Obama's plan would help them because they would not face multiple emissions requirements and would have more certainty as they develop their vehicles for the next decade.

Auto executives, including General Motors Corp. CEO Fritz Henderson, and executives from Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Daimler AG and others planned to attend the White House event. United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger also planned to attend, as did Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

CITROËN C3 Pluriel attracts attention

INTRODUCTION

CITROËN’s C3 Pluriel really does embody the words fun, fresh and functional. It’s five cars in one - a 3-door saloon, a Panoramic Saloon, a Cabriolet, a Spider and a Spider Pick up. And as well as looking great, the CITROËN C3 Pluriel drives brilliantly and is packed with an unrivalled level of equipment, safety features, technology and storage.

The CITROËN C3 Pluriel combines the practicality of a supermini with the excitement of a convertible. It’s a deceptively spacious 4 seater (in fact, it’s one of the roomiest in its class), and the secret of its versatile appearance is in the roof design, which features an electric full-length retractable roof and removable roof arches. It looks stylish too, and draws attention wherever it goes.

Safety is paramount in the CITROËN C3 Pluriel. All models feature anti-lock braking (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Emergency Braking Assistance. You can find out more about these in the Technology section. Four airbags, 3-point inertia reel seatbelts, a specially stiffened body shell, reinforced windscreen pillars and roof arches, plus strengthened seat backs and head rests all add to the sense of safety and stability. It’s no surprise it has a four-star EuroNCAP rating.

A car as unique and inspiring as the CITROËN C3 Pluriel also has some unique and inspiring accessories - each designed specifically to enhance or personalise your CITROËN C3 Pluriel, or add to its convenience, storage and safety features. For example, there’s a rain cover to protect the CITROËN C3 Pluriel from sudden downpours when it’s parked. Or the roof arch storage stand. Or the contoured mudflaps that reduce the effects of road spray and prevent paintwork damage, and the Tom Tom sat-nav to get you to your destination.

There’s a choice of three engines - and each blends performance and economy in the city, or the open road. There’s the 1.4i petrol and 1.4HDi diesel engines, plus the 1.6i 16V engine with SensoDrive paddleshift five-speed sequential gearbox - for those who prefer instant fingertip gear changing.

The CITROËN C3 Pluriel - open to anything as long as it’s fun.

EXTERIOR



The CITROËN C3 Pluriel attracts attention wherever it goes. And it’s no surprise with its distinctive styling featuring body colour bumpers and skirts, and when it’s guaranteed to look good, roof arches that contrast with the exterior body colour. But the CITROËN C3 Pluriel really turns heads when it’s in one of its five different body configurations - you just need to check the weather and decide which one you prefer today.

Techno style headlamps and rear lights add to the fun, contemporary look and to make your CITROËN C3 Pluriel even more eye-catching, the ‘Elegance Pack’ on selected models takes the style dial even higher, featuring aluminium bumper inserts, rubbing strips and door handles.

There’s a great choice of attractive paint colours and finishes for your CITROËN C3 Pluriel, including pearlescent or metallic paint options. Plus, your exterior choice of colour is reflected in the interior to create a contemporary look and feel.

INTERIOR

Inside, the CITROËN C3 Pluriel is about comfort, style and modern chic. It has variable power-assisted steering, height and tilt adjustable leather steering wheel for the optimum driving position, aluminium effect front vents, electric windows front and rear, electric door mirrors, and a 6-speaker CD player.

Creating space is no problem either. Simply fold the rear seats down and you have an extensive, completely flat floor from the back of the front seats to a downward opening tailgate that makes loading easy.

Whichever colour exterior you choose, there’s a perfectly co-ordinated and upholstered interior, and all models feature body-colour inserts on the front doors and rear panels to further enhance the CITROËN C3 Pluriel’s individuality.

DRIVE

The CITROËN C3 Pluriel is fun to look at and fun to drive. Its long wheel-base, wide tyres and reinforced body shell ensures it handles responsively whatever the road conditions. The digital display provides all the driver information you need clearly, while unnecessary glare can be minimised when driving at night by selecting the ‘black panel’ instrument lighting. The elevated front seats and windscreen provide excellent visibility of the road ahead. And a programmable, audible ‘over speed’ warning helps you keep your speed in check.

And with its range of active and passive safety features, such as hazard lights that automatically activate when you brake sharply, front and lateral airbags, ABS, Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA) you can feel safe and secure however demanding the roads are.


PERFORMANCE

On the open road or in the inner city, the CITROËN C3 Pluriel’s range of engines balance performance with fuel economy. Choose one of two petrol engines or the popular diesel option. The CITROËN C3 Pluriel 1.4i offers an attractive combination of performance and economy.

Raise the bar with the dynamic 1.6i 16v SensoDrive engine and experience the power of 110hp and the fingertip paddle-shift gear changes from a five-speed sequential gearbox. And if you want to keep running costs as low as possible, the CITROËN C3 Pluriel 1.4HDi diesel offers great driving pleasure and an impressive 60.1 mpg on the combined cycle.

Free Auto Insurance Quotes Online

More and more people are discovering the benefits of shopping online. Here's how to get free auto insurance quotes online and get cheap rates quickly and easily.

Where can I get free auto insurance quotes online?

There are a ton of websites that will give you free auto insurance quotes online. The bigger sites are operated by the larger companies and only give you their quotes. But because rates can vary by $1,000 or more from one company to the next, you need to go to a site that will give you quotes from a number of auto insurance companies.

Not only can you get multiple rate quotes from these sites, the better sites also have an articles section where you can get auto insurance tips, and a chat section where you can talk with an insurance expert online and get answers to your questions (see link below).

What auto insurance discounts can I get?

When you fill out the online questionnaire for an insurance comparison site you'll be asked what discounts you want. Here's a list of the discounts that will save you the most money:

1. Increase your deductible - Depending on how high you raise it this can save you 30% to 50% on your auto insurance premium.

2. Combine your insurance - Placing your auto and homeowners insurance with the same company will save you up to 15% on your premium.

3. Install security devices - Outfitting your car with a burglar alarm or other theft-prevention device can get you a good-sized discount.

4. Eliminate unneeded coverage - You may want to eliminate your comprehensive and collision coverage if your car is more than five years old, or if the cost of your annual premium is the same as the value of your car.

Bottom Line

It only takes a few minutes to get a free auto insurance quote online and you could save $500 to $1,000 every year you own your car. So why not head over to an insurance comparison site right now and find out how much you can save.

Priced at just £11,995, Twingo Renaultsport 133 offers on-the-road

With a heritage of iconic cars such as the R8 Gordini, 5 GT Turbo and Clio Williams, the Renault range has always featured affordable performance cars based on mainstream production models. Twingo Renaultsport 133 is latest car to enjoy that distinction.


Priced at just £11,995, Twingo Renaultsport 133 offers on-the-road thrills at an affordable price. Unlike some of its competitors, 133 is easily distinguishable from the standard car with extended wheel arches and sills as standard.

Sporty looks, style and performance as standard

There is no doubting the Twingo Renaultsport 133’s vigorous performance, tenacious road holding and refinement, whilst its exterior and interior styling makes it obvious that this is a car in which to have fun.

The Twingo comes with specific Renaultsport chassis and steering tuning as standard, ensuring it offers optimum performance and handling. There is no wait necessary for the ‘Cup’ chassis either as Renault Sport Technologies has developed this for Twingo from launch, along with a new naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre VVT engine delivering 133hp at 6,750rpm with 160Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm.

Twingo Renaultsport 133 has a long list of other standard equipment that can be found from the left hand menu. From ESP with manual deactivation to the gearshift indicator light, 133 has been designed to deliver sports performance while at the same time ensuring that the car is easy to use on a day-to-day basis. A choice of five colours are available on 133: Capsicum Red or £375 optional metallic Pearl Black, Extreme Blue, Mercury Silver or Mirage Grey. The latter is a new colour exclusive to the Renaultsport version.

'Cup' chassis available from launch

An option available on Twingo Renaultsport 133 is the ‘Cup’ chassis. Priced at £650, it features a 4mm lower ride height, stiffer springs and dampers, 17” dark grey Anthracite alloy wheels and 195/40 tyres.