Tips For Test Driving A Car The Right Way

Test driving a vehicle, you are considering to purchase, can be very beneficial in helping you make the right choice of vehicle for you. Not only can driving the vehicle tell you if you like the way the model of car drives and feels, but it can also help you notice signs of anything that might be wrong or that needs maintenance with that particular car. Here are a few tips and things you should watch for while you are test driving a car.

First, while test driving a vehicle you should try and imitate the type of driving conditions the car will be used for on a daily basis. If, for example, you plan to do a lot of freeway driving with the car, you would benefit from taking the vehicle on to the freeway for the majority of the test drive to see how the vehicle feels and if it is comfortable to you. However, if you plan to do both freeway and non-freeway driving, you should let your salesman know you wish to do both, this way you can get a feel for both types of driving conditions. Driving on the freeway will allow you to test and get an idea of how fast the car can accelerate, and how smooth the car drives at high speeds. Also, during your test drive, you may benefit from finding a safe place to test the performance of the car when doing things like braking, accelerating, and taking tight corners. Another thing to look at while driving the car is visibility and blind spots, make sure they are adequate for your safety needs when doing things like parking and changing lanes. Also, you can try listening to the sounds the car makes when doing things like braking, accelerating and turning; make sure there are no funny noises coming from the car.

After you have finished driving, another great tip is to sit in both the front passenger seat and the back passenger seats of the car, if there is one. While you are sitting in the passenger's seat, test how comfortable the seats are and how much leg room your passengers will have. After finishing the test drive itself, while the car is parked, it is a good time to ask any questions you might have for your salesman. In addition, this may be the best time to become familiar with things like, the stereo and climate control. It is a good idea to test these types of features in the car while the car is parked. This way you are able to focus and pay more attention to each detail, helping to ensure that you are making the right choice, if you ultimately decide to purchase that vehicle.

If you are planning to test drive multiple cars, you should try to drive them all in one day. This may be a benefit to help you be able to easily compare the different cars you are considering to purchase, while the thoughts and details are still fresh in your mind.

These are just a few of the tips on things you should look for while test driving a car. If you focus on things like, the feel and performance of the car it may help you decide if the car is right for you.

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Fisker Karma Moves in the Right Direction

ByMichael Chestney

Many bloggers who write about environmental issues have written a Fisker review about Karma. Personal opinion does not quite hold the weight of the EPA. It is widely known that car companies can, and often do, exaggerate their fuel estimates somewhat. Their marketers do the research and put out what people are likely to want to hear. However, the official EPA numbers often temper the marketers' exuberance. When the EPA tested the Karma, the results showed the marketers' hype. However, the Karma still offers encouragement in greening the luxury car manufacturing business.

The Karma had received a great deal of media attention when people heard that the car could go 50 miles on a single electric charge. The claim that the hybrid engine could get almost the same 50 miles per gallon was impressive. The EPA test results showed an average of 32 miles on an electric charge and 20 miles per gallon for the hybrid engine. When combined into an mpg-equivalent, the total was a 52 MPGe rating. While other electric and hybrid cars exceed this rating, it is important to note that this is a significant step up for fuel efficiency in the luxury car domain.

Some people may take comfort in knowing that the EPA has historically deflated expectations. For example, in 2009 when news of the long awaited Chevy Volt started showing up in online car forums, GM suggested their bright electric star might possibly get 230 MPGe. However, after the EPA got through with their tests, they found the Volt achieved an average of 35 miles on a single charge and around 90 MPGe. This is not so different from the Fisker Karma, except that the Fisker is designed to punch out a lot more power and to offer a very comfortable ride.

Fox News took the EPA's findings to denigrate the Fisker's fuel economy. However, when its 52 MPGe is compared to most other cars on the road, the savvy listener will realize that's pretty darn good fuel economy for a luxury vehicle. Fisker CEO, Henrik Fisker, pointed out that the EPA's test is not conclusive. It is simply an average of the driving habits of many. Improved fuel efficiency can be achieved through good driving habits on the average road. In any case, the EPA estimates bring the Karma very close to the 54.5 mpg average that auto makers will aim to reach by 2025. The Karma is one step closer to a new luxury car paradigm.

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Find the Right Motorcycle Helmet

ByShahzad Nabeel

Outfitting your motorcycle isn't all about the hardware. Finding the right motorcycle apparel to wear is very important, too. The right motorcycle apparel combines stylish looks with superb comfort and safety, but you can easily get bad motorcycle accessories if you aren't careful where you shop. So if you are trying to find the best motorcycle apparel to buy, this guide should help.

Finding the Right Helmet

Let's start with the helmet, quite possibly the most important piece of motorcycle apparel you can buy. There are three different types:

1. Full face
2. Three Quarters
3. Half Helmet

A full face helmet cover the entire face, as you would expect. They have a chin to cover your chin and wrap most of your head in a special protective womb. These helmets offer the most protection of the three different types of helmets, but also are the least liberating. Despite featuring vents to let air through, these can be muggy and uncomfortable. And cheaper helmets frequently fog up in the right conditions, which can be extremely dangerous while riding down the road. Still, though, these are great choices if you need a good, sturdy helmet, like you are new to riding.

Three quarters helmets are more liberating than fill face helmets. You might find that they are the best balanced of motorcycle accessories and apparel. Like full face helmets, these helmets feature a strong cocoon for your head. Unlike full face helmets, though, they lack the chin. With no chin blocking air flow, these helmets let air right into your helmet, giving you far more airflow than full face helmets. This also means you have more noise, though. The air is invigorating, and you don't have to worry about fog, as the constant airflow on both sides keeps moisture from building up. There is a bit more of a concern about safety, however. The lack of the chin means that if you fall off your bike and smash your head hard onto the ground, there's nothing to keep your face from contacting the pavement. With a full face helmet, the chin guarantees that the ground will stay far away. And the plexiglass is significantly smaller on a full face than on a three quarters helmet. But if you want a good mix of safety and wonderful airflow from your motorcycle apparel, go with a three quarters helmet.

I will admit, I don't truly see the appeal of half helmets. Unlike both full face and three quarter helmets, half helmets lack anything but the most rudimentary of protection. They are like wearing a bicycle helmet, but at high speeds. Half helmets barely protect your head. While they will absorb a sharp impact if the angle Is right, they cover so little of the face that your head will likely contact the pavement. And because there's no plexiglass to shield you from rocks, pebbles, bugs and dust, all of that is going right into your face. Now, I can imagine that you get a great feeling of freedom from riding with a half helmet. The air is in your face in a way that three quarter helmets can't match. But between bugs and a lack of safety, they just aren't a safe choice.

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Choosing the Right Aftermarket Headlights for Your Car - Halo Projector, Euro, OEM or LED Headlights

ByDee Saini

There are many different types of custom headlight styles on the market such as projector headlights, LED headlights and euro headlights. No matter what reason you have for replacing your headlights you can't go wrong with projector head lights as far as functionality and style goes. Projector headlights are designed to illuminate the road better allowing the driver to see more of the road and to drive more safely at night. As a bonus, just about all the aftermarket headlights out there have cool new designs to update the appearance of your vehicle and if paired with the right HID headlight kit your car will definitely turn heads.

A lot of the aftermarket projector headlights come equipped with LED halos but not all of them are made with CCFL halos. The halo can be wired into the parking lights, into a separate switch, or just about anywhere else. The halo or angel eyes originally found on high-end cars such as BMWs became very popular due to their distinctive look and now they are available for just about any make and model out there. The difference between the LED and CCFL halos is fairly simple, the Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp is a newer technology and is said to be around three times brighter.

Euro style headlights are one of the other options that is designed to look more like the factory headlights but with an updated, modern look to them. Although the euro head lights do not come equipped with the projector housing they still do a very good job at lighting up the road, combined with the right bulb or HID kit of course. They are also the cheaper option if you're on a tight budget but still want to improve your car's lighting.

Another trend starting up in headlight industry driven by the Audi R8 model is what is now being called the R8 style LED strip on the bottom of the headlight. Like the halo or the LED options already available this LED strip comes installed inside the headlight assembly usually with the power and the ground wires coming out from the headlight in order for you to wire the LED strip into the parking lights or any other switch of your choice. This is a great new feature that will definitely turn heads.

Some aftermarket headlights are also compatible with factory HID systems. This is something you should definitely check before purchasing a set of headlights for your car. Typically this is the case with higher end cars such as Audi or Mercedes but there are several others out there.

No matter what style headlight you're looking for, most sets are available in a black or chrome housing and some even in a titanium or smoke housing. Installation is usually simple enough to the point where just about anyone can do it but some applications may require professional installation.

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