As each morning’s news reveals more about how the BP oil spill continues to devastate the Gulf of Mexico, it gets harder and harder to get into my car to drive to work. I’m a part of the problem, we all are. 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and SUVs.

Stopping at the gas station feels terrible. Yes, this particular spill is BP’s fault, but boycotting BP and putting money in another Big Oil-stained pocket just makes me feel stupid and helpless, like a pawn in a game I don’t want to play.

I’m an American living in the suburbs. My lifestyle is dependent on being able to drive. I’m not a city planner or a politician, and unless a multitude of factors change, I’m probably not going to give up my job and go homestead off the grid.

But I’m ready to do something, and I know I’m not the only one feeling like this. There are things we can do now, even if we’re not quite ready to convert to bio-diesel or buy a new hybrid car.

Let’s do this, team.

1. Auto transporting. In my frustration with car culture, I thought those giants you see hauling cars on the road must be the worst culprits, but it’s the other way around. If you are moving across the country, let your car carpool. The Department of Energy website did this math:

One gallon of gasoline produces 19.564 lbs of carbon dioxide. Average mpg for a car or SUV is 19 mpg.
One gallon of diesel produces 22.384 pounds of carbon dioxide. Average mpg for an auto transport truck is 4.7.

Just one auto transporting company shipping over 90,000 vehicles within a 12-month period of time saves 2,926,000 gallons of fuel, which means a 38,216,000-pound reduction of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere.

2. Carpool. Because most days, we’re not moving across the country, we’re just going to work. We know about this one, we’ve got the HOV lanes. So what’s stopping us from carpooling? Shyness? Laziness? It’s high time to get over these things and make ride sharing networks happen. Call a meeting at the watercooler, send a group email to your coworkers, slip fliers in your neighbors’ mailboxes. Put a picture of those poor gulf pelicans on the flier. It’s not shameless, it’s real.

3. Consolidate your own trips just by planning ahead a little. Keep grocery lists on the fridge and add to them daily. Be strategic and just a little less frivolous.

4. Drive slower. I know it’s not sexy, but it saves gas.

5. Clean out your trunk. The lighter the car, the less gas it uses. (So maybe go on a diet, too?)

6. Don’t wash your car. Washing your car uses tons of water, energy and electricity. Be dirtier.

7. Put some air in those tires. But do it when you’re already at the gas station, don’t make an extra trip! Under-inflated tires use more gas. When you’re ready for new tires, look for a model with low rolling resistance.

And don’t forget, if you ever do abandon the suburbs for a farmstead or a city where everyone walks, don’t drive there. Let your car hitch a ride with an auto transporting company, and take the train.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Etinger

Insurance rates are generally affected by a number of various factors, some of which are the applicant’s personal driving record, average mileage traveled, credit rating and the make and model of the vehicle.

Each of these factors will play a part in how much, or how little, you will be paying in insurance cost and also where you park your car when you come home at night, can affect the total amount you will pay for insurance coverage.

Parking for your vehicle keynotes the larger issue of residential information, whether in a garage or along the street, this important information is used by the insurer to calculate your auto insurance premiums.

In most cases, auto owners who reside in the city or an urban location, which usually has a higher volume of traffic and a higher local crime rate, will be charged a higher rate for insurance coverage because there is an increased risk for their vehicle being stolen or involved in an accident. One of the advantages of living in the city or an urban area, is that you will likely have fewer obstacles to getting the insurance coverage you need at competitive prices.

If you are living in a suburban or residential area, your rates will be affected by a differing set of factors that will be used to determine prices of quotes.

If animals are living in the area you live in, either pets or wildlife, there may be a greater opportunity for accidents involving drivers and these animals. The insurance adjuster may look at your driving record to help them determine if it is very likely that you will hit an animal.

If you happen to have a home in a residential area located in a school district or a locale that is favored by families, the amount of insurance rates may be determined by adjusters based on this information. What is taken into account here is the possibility for car accidents involving small children. As with the presence of animals, your driving record will be considered along with this factor in the calculation of your insurance rates.

The majority of insurance companies have to know exactly where various high risk accident areas are located in a given region. It may not necessarily be a matter of whether or not you happen to be living in a residential or urban area, factors like heavy traffic and speeding can play a part in determining higher insurance rates. Most times, urban car owners will be obligated to pay higher prices for auto insurance than drivers living in rural areas.

In most cases, the best way to get a handle on what sort of insurance rates you may expect to pay, based on your living quarters, you should do a bit of research on it before taking out a policy. If you want to take advantage of the online tools, made available by major insurance companies, which are specifically designed to calculate your auto insurance rates based on the locality of your residence, now is the time to do it.

Whether you are a rural or city car owner, you can benefit from doing appropriate research, in order to learn how your place of residence can determine your insurance rates. Making use of the right information, can get the best insurance for your car while providing great protection for your family.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alisdair_Cosgrove

Toyota has earlier announced the details of its new compact car, which is set to be released early next year. Toyota Auris, the new addition to Toyota’s 2008 lineup will replace Toyota Corolla hatchback in Japan and Europe. According to the automaker, Auris will play a key role in improving further its goals in Europe.

Auris is designed to be more upbeat and upscale than other compact cars. It is inspired by Toyota Yaris design. The brand new model, which is designed and manufactured in Europe, uses Toyota performance parts to boost its functionality. With fresh design and powerful dynamics, Auris is expected to lure more customers and steal a slice of market share from Volkswagen Golf and Alfa Romeo 147.

Corolla, powered by quality Toyota Corolla auto parts, is the world’s best-selling car. Nonetheless, it has never been a top seller in Europe. This blank is expected to be filled by Auris. Toyota expressed its high hopes on Auris. Moreover, by 2008, the automaker is expecting 1.2 million annual sales because of this sought-after vehicle.

Toyota is known for its superb quality, driving pleasure and innovations. These things are also present in Auris. From the inside out Auris epitomizes a great compact car that ensures high level of safety and comfort.

The design of Auris utilizes the principles of Vibrant Clarity design philosophy formulated by the automaker. The car design philosophy is capable of producing an energetic-looking vehicle while maintaining rationality and quality.

The drive feel of Auris is further modified to convey its strong and dynamic character. Auri’s body is sharply defined to express a more stable architecture. Consequently, its overall appearance conveys crisp, fresh, powerful and comfortable driving experience. Nonetheless, it does not stop there; Auris is also designed to cater to both current and future customers in the European C-segment.

In designing and manufacturing the car, the automaker also considered the modern needs of the potential owners. It is created to meet the range of needs of the present and the future. Andrea Formica, Toyota Motor Europe Senior Vice-President Sales, Marketing and After Sales said, “The C-segment is the most important segment in the European car market and many European brands are defined by the image and success of their C-segment models. With the launch of Auris we want to achieve a step-change, not only in sales volume, but also in terms of brand image for Toyota.”

Toyota Auris will be introduced for the first time on December 5, at the Bologna Motor Show. United Kindom sales will start in February 2007. in other European markets, Auris will be offered next spring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Clarkson

Ford’s luxury marque, Lincoln, has finally been seeing some life lately, thanks to the company putting more effort into reviving this once storied brand. Selling off Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover have helped Lincoln’s cause, as that move has freed Ford designers to work on cars for its Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln brands.

All New Models In The Pipeline

Ford executives have been forthcoming about some products in the pipeline, most noticeably the Ford Fiesta, while hinting that both Mercury and Lincoln would get a few new models. The latter two brands are sold at Lincoln-Mercury dealerships and those dealers are anxious for some fresh product to sell.

Recently, Automotive News shared that the Lincoln may, indeed, get an all-new model, this one being a compact car to compete against the BMW 1 Series and to offset a compact Cadillac model that is also in the works. This is the first time that sort of news has come out, leaving analysts speculating what Ford has in mind. Based on current market conditions we can say that a compact Lincoln would be slotted below the MKS and retail for about $30,000, the price point for cars in this segment.

What A Compact Lincoln Could Look Like

Let’s examine a potential Lincoln compact and what that car could mean for the American luxury brand:

Designing A Sedan - I can’t imagine Ford giving Lincoln anything other than a sedan, but a luxury roadster would be nice. However, with the Lexus SC not selling all that well and with GM planning to cut the Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice, the automaker would be better off on concentrating on something safe – there isn’t a car safer than a four door sedan!

Relying On EcoBoost – No buyer will be satisfied with a four cylinder Lincoln unless it has the power to deliver. With Ford’s EcoBoost engines on the way, this new technology allows smaller engines to work as harder as a bigger one while delivering fuel savings. A 1.8L four cylinder would be small, but with EcoBoost it could have the power of a small V6.

Borrowing From Volvo – As the owner of Volvo, Ford hasn’t tapped its Swedish brand for Lincoln yet. Though I sense that we’ll see nothing but a reworked Ford being sold as a Lincoln, building a new car from the ground up that could underpin both a Volvo model and a Lincoln model makes the most sense to me. Then again, we are talking about Ford here – the king of brand redundancy.

Make It Snappy! — The next Lincoln needs to do something no other Lincoln currently does and that is jack up the brand’s wow appeal. The MKS is starting to shake things up for the brand, but it isn’t enough – can Ford build a compact luxury car that is truly luxurious, good looking, and fun to drive? That remains to be seen!

I’m not confident that Ford will follow through and give Lincoln a compact model nor do I think that this car is a must for the brand. Mercury is in worse shape and it might be the best brand for selling this kind of car. Regardless, we aren’t likely to see this new model before 2011, therefore our speculation will have to do it for now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan

Name of the Oldsmobile -

The craze of the compact cars in America is again rising. Therefore one of the leading compact car manufacturers of America, Oldsmobile had launched some of the new models of the cars which are manufactured by the General Motors and were sold under Oldsmobile. It had been known that the compact cars from this company were on the roads since the time of 1992 which was also known as the year of introduction of the company and since then company had reached to the heights of success.

Old is Gold: -

After removing the hands from the manufacturing of these compact cars, GM decided to withdraw the option. After this, Oldsmobile decided to replace some of its models by some sporty and compact cars which could run well on the American roads. After the discontinuation of the old models of the Oldsmobile, company had decided to manufacture the new and latest models.

Oldsmobile had been always known for the production of the compact cars. The body styles of these cars are available in 2 designs. This design includes the style of the coupe with 2 doors and other design includes the style of the sedan with 4 doors. Another point is that the body is made up if FF N platform which is related to the big car model like the Chevrolet Malibu, Buick Skylark, the Pontiac Grand Am and the Oldsmobile Cutlass. The main reason for the production of the compact vehicles is that the GM had revealed that these car models can provide the best competition in the markets of Japan also. Therefore these compact cars were introduced on the roads of America and in other international markets.

Regarding the features and the engine of the car models of Oldsmobile: -

The year of introduction of the company and the model was in 1992. As it was said that the compact cars were mounted and built on the platform of the FF N body, but he basis which were required for the car was the GM N platform. The best thing is that these kind of compact vehicles were also available in the levels of four trims which include the S, the SL, the SC and the SCX. The best part of the vehicles of the Oldsmobile was the engine of the car models. The engine was manufactured keeping in mind the high output and the version which was launched was the 2.3 Quad 4 LD9 which proves to be extremely handy. Another model of the engine which was later launched by the company was the 3.1 L V6 engine which was the modified version of the earlier one and still persists in some of the vehicles of the Oldsmobile.

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This September, GM plans to roll out it’s next generation of compact cars. Really? Another attempt at the industry segment they just can’t seem to get right. However, this time, “General Motors thinks it can finally sell a good small car,” says Tom Krisher of the Associated Press.

This better be the case. The compact car market has long been a bain in GM’s side. Think of the Corvair, or the Geo. Or even more currently the Cobalt. Ah, and even the old-school Vega. Just the thought of these unsafe heaps makes me cringe

GM is hoping the Cruze line will be the answer they need. Last year, GM only sold 105,000 Cobalts. This pales when compared to the numbers posted by the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. Trust me, GM knows this. They know they are strong in the Truck and SUV segments, but they lose big time when it comes to compact cars.

Is GM out of touch with today’s youth? I mean, really, their average buyer is 51 years old. This could explain the out-dated, sleepy Cobalt they mistakenly threw into the game. Maybe they learned something from Scion and Mitsubishi, who tout average buyers around 40. Those guys definitely win with the younger crowd.

So what about the Cruze? Is it ready for this segment? Can it hold its own against the others in this tough department? Can it catch the eye of that younger, hip buyer? Let’s see. After all, “They can’t afford to get it wrong,” says Micael Robinet, an automotive analyst with CSM Worldwide in Michigan.

The Cruze was designed in Korea by Daewoo, a division of GM. It was engineered in Russelsheim, Germany and will be assembled in plants around the world. It is 180 inches long and powered by a new family of direct-injection, turbocharged four-cylinder engines that range from 1.4 liters to 2.0 liters. Recent test drives do show it to be quieter, nimbler, and more robust than anything GM has ever brought to this category.

It may be nicer looking, have a better interior, and pack a better punch that its predecessors, but is is quality? If GM expects younger buyers to look at the Cruze, it will have to compete with the Corolla and the Civic for quality. GM thinks they have this worked out. They plan to invest in quality, saying they have learned people will pay a bit more for superior dependability. They even held up production several months because managers were unhappy with performance.

GM plans to ask around $17,000 for a base model Cruze. Even though this is more than most of the competition, they claim it has a lot more standard features. There will also be a package with leather seats and other gadgets that starts around $22,700.

Tom Stephens, GM head of product development, says the company has tried to make sure the Cruze will be better than the Corolla and Civic, according to Tom Krisher of the Associated Press. We will see when it hits the showroom.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Ruebush

A lot of compact cars in the past years have been upgrading their cars and what better comfort they can give to the buyers is what brings them their boost in sale. Let me give you a few reviews on a few compact cars. Let me start with the Honda Civic. We can say that the Honda Civic has consistently great reviews with the comfortable interior, overall long- term reliability and the ride quality, which a lot of people say that it is quite fun to drive. It also has excellent fuel economy. The Honda Civic Si Model is known to accelerate quite well. It also has a strong resale value and have good safety ratings as well.

The only thing that doesn’t fare well with the Honda Civic is that the well-equipped version is quite expensive. There is also a limited availability of some options. It’s also a firm ride; due to the fact that some find it jarring in rough roads and the road noise can be heard from the inside.

The Honda Fit on the other hand, is the most highly regarded compact car in reviews. It is quite fun to ride on just as well as the Honda Civic. The handling is quite sporty and you get excellent fuel economy as well. The interior is well designed and flexible. It also has also good crash test results. This car though is not as affordable than most competitors. It’s also has a leisurely acceleration with automatic. Like the Honda Civic it also has a firm ride and the road and engine noise can be heard.

Another car I’d like to point in your direction is the sporty compact car, which is the Mini Cooper. If you want an attractive and retro style car then this one is for you. It is very fun to drive this car and the handling is sporty just like the Honda Fit. It has a powerful, optional turbo engine and it also has excellent resale value.

It isn’t that comfortable though. You get stiff, choppy ride when you are driving the Cooper. The interior is very tight and the rear seat is quite small, which would prove to be very uncomfortable. The cargo space is quite small as well. The dashboard control ergonomics and the options boost up the cost real fast. The Mini Cooper Clubman’s rear doors actually obstruct rear visibility as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_R_Hampton

Having owned and driven a compact car, I have never been a big fan of roof mounted carriers, like roof boxes and racks, why?

1. Aerodynamics:  There is significant drag when using a roof top carrier (average loss is 6 M.P.G.).  Data: Consumer Reports and Edmunds.  When you mount gear on the roof it robs horsepower, mileage and creates extra drag.

2. Roof Clearance: If you are not paying attention you can crush the gear and your roof box or rack.

3. Loading:  After a good camping trip, long hike or other, do you really want to lift a bunch of heavy gear over head and above onto a rack or box?

4. Storage: Where do you store all the rails and large roof box when done? Those big boxes take up a lot of garage or closet space.

5. They will set you back: the complete box and rail system can cost   $650-$850 or more.

A new alternative to carry gear on compact cars and  SUVs are rear mounted cargo carriers. They mount behind the vehicle, are easy to put on and take off, save fuel, load on the ground and fold up to the size of a briefcase.

• They install out of the wind stream and virtually eliminate aerodynamic drag, saving fuel.
• Rear mounting eliminates the roof clearance issues.
• No lifting or climbing up to the roof to load or unload the gear.
• They fold to the size of a brief case and can store inside your trunk.
• They are a fraction of the cost of a complete roof box system.

If you have a compact vehicle and need more space, a rear mount cargo carrier is an excellent solution.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Landgraf

Compact cars running on the road have grown in numbers recently. This is because of the growing price of gas that people prefer to go for cars that are more fuel efficient. Yes there are already hybrid cars which run on electricity like Toyota Prius and Honda Insight but they are simply too expensive. Compact cars are better in many ways compared to hybrid cars. They are more affordable and more powerful at the same time. Not to mention that more automobile companies are manufacturing compact cars compared to hybrid cars. The production of the latter as of the moment is being monopolized by top car brands such as Toyota, VW, Honda, and BMW because they are the only few who have the technology to manufacture it. In the case of compact cars, there are a lot of models and brands as well as wider price ranges to choose from.

Under compact cars, two of the most popular are the VW New Beetle and Suzuki Jimny. These two look stylish and cool. The two of them are highly appropriate to make comparisons of because their sizes and prices do not differ much from each other. We might even assume that they are on a head to head battle as far as features are concerned considering their prices, but are they? How do really these two cars differ from each other? Which one is better? We will find out by examining their specifications.

The Volkswagen New Beetle is the successor of the legendary VW Beetle that became very famous for a long period of time in history. It is a very cute car that initiated the craving for a retro-futurist design. It still carries with it the old school body shape of its predecessor but with new features and technology already. Many cool changes have been done based on the

Chilton auto repair manual for the New Beetle. It is now a front-wheel-drive vehicle because its engine is now located in front. There is also a convertible version available for the sporty types. In addition, it now has alloy wheels, air-conditioning, heated front seats, telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, and a CD/MP3 system accompanied by a satellite radio. If you want a higher ground clearance, there are also versions with bigger wheels and a spoiler on the rear. The engine of the New Beetle is also more powerful. It is a 2.5-liter five cylinder engine that can produce a maximum of 170 horsepower. The new beetle costs $18,690. The price could go higher up to $25,000 depending on the additional accessories or more expensive parts that you would add.

Meanwhile, Suzuki’s latest generation of its Jimny compact car boasts of several interesting features. The key feature of the Jimny is being highly user friendly. It’s built both for mild and rough road. Its power steering is very convenient for tight manoeuvres. It also has strong brakes on all 4 wheels and the disc brakes have a large diameter. Suzuki Company also installed an LSPV (Load Sensing Proportioning Valve) on the Jimny to prevent the rear wheels to lock prematurely during sudden braking. This serves as a good safety precaution if the vehicle is fully loaded. However, there are not much interesting features in the interior of the Jimny. It is very ordinary in the inside just like other compact cars. The shape of the Jimny’s face also creates a lot of air-drag during high speeds. It is not an aerodynamics type of vehicle unlike the New Beetle from VW. The Jimny costs around $17,000.

Comparing the two cars based on their features and prices, the VW New Beetle would be a better choice. It has already been tested and proven for a longer period of time compared to Jimny. Its far way more reliable compared to Jimny as far as durability and company’s credibility are concerned. The New Beetle is more expensive than the Jimny by more than $1,000 dollar only but it surpasses the performance of the Jimny by far. Looks, aerodynamics, elegance, and legacy; name it and the New Beetle has it. The Audi Repair manuals for the New Beetle also provides complete assistance and instructions to the user which are so easy to comprehend to even if you are a newbie in cars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_Manson

The popularity of compact cars is on the rise. Skyrocketing oil prices and constantly-improving features of these cars are just a couple of the main reasons why buyers are grabbing compacts off the shelves. And nowadays compact cars are not only the choice because of their fuel efficiency and practicality, but also because of their affordable price and excellent value for money.

The compact car is defined as a car that is a tad smaller than medium-sized cars or sedans. The term compact car is mainly North American in origin, and in Europe, compacts are known as “small family cars”.

Let’s go back a few years and see how today’s modern compacts came to be.

A brief history of compacts: European and US Market
After World War II, European manufacturers mainly featured two vehicle types: small cars or superminis and large sedans or super saloons. Some of these manufacturers discovered that a lot of middle class buyers wanted a larger version of the superminis, and this led to the creation of small family cars – the forerunner of today’s compact cars. The first successful line of makes and models that came out during this time are: Volkswagen Golf, Renault 5, Fiat Ritmo, Citroen GSA, and the Opel Kadett.

Although compact cars have been manufactured in the United States even before World War II, some consider the first modern compacts to have come out from the years 1958 to 1960, namely: the Studebaker Lark, Chevrolet Corvair, Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant.

Today, modern compact cars have generally smaller dimensions and they are more fuel efficient than their predecessors and even compared to today’s mid-sized cars-averaging anywhere from 20 to 50+miles per gallon.

Here are just a few things that you can expect from a modern compact car:

Back to basics
For the consumer who wants an affordable, no-frills compact, manufacturers (ranging from European to US to Japanese and Korean) offer basic models that cost around $10,000. Read: no power windows, no CD player, and no cruise control. For something that cheap, what can you expect? But these cars are efficient, reliable, and cheaper to operate.

Roomier options and Additional Performance
Customers who are looking for something with more options and features in addition to a roomier interior must be willing to shell out as much as $15,000 to $21,000. For those who might think that this is too steep a price for a compact, features like intelligent keyless entry, keyless ignition, Bluetooth, in-dash 6-CD changer with MP3 capability and satellite radio might change their minds.

And if it’s flat-out performance you are looking for, there are compacts that bring as much as 263 horsepower in a package that boasts a snowboard-friendly cabin featuring fold down seats, which boosts interior room.

The Bottom Line
Compact cars should definitely be on the top of your list when shopping for that brand new or pre-owned car. Simply put, for those who are looking for a practical, fuel-efficient, and stylish vehicle, modern compact cars will certainly fit the bill.

We all know that good things come in small packages. But who would have known that in these hard times, compact cars could give you more bang for your dwindling buck?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Lorenzana