Automotive Community Portal

By Matthew Keegan

DaimlerChrysler Nets $3.3 Billion Profit

DaimlerChrysler has reported a profit of $3.3 billion for 2005 based on the strength of its Chrysler Group and commercial truck divisions. The company’s Mercedes division actually lost money in 2005 as it undergoes an extensive overhaul of its operations.

Competing automakers GM lost $8.6 billion while the Ford Motor Company turned a $2 billion profit on the strength of strong profits outside of the North American market.

Ford vs. Chevy: The Winner

Ford and Chevrolet are locked in an annual battle for sales leadership in the U.S. Despite the insurgency of foreign brands, Ford and Chevrolet continue to rule the roost. Continue Reading

By Matthew Keegan

The biggest news at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show wasn’t the new products introduced or the raging blizzard gripping the Windy City. What created the largest buzz was the pronouncement by Hyundai Motors America chief John Krafcik that a price war has broken out between car manufacturers. Krafcik shared his thoughts informally with members of the press while at the auto show, sparking widespread interest as news filtered down to the masses.

GM Discounting

Krafcik’s comments solidified what others have been recently been examining: unusually high incentives are being offered by some manufacturers in a bid to increase sales and grab additional market share. Notably, GM is leading the way, averaging $3,762 off of the price every vehicle sold in the United States in January 2011 according to Automotive News. What’s more, that amount is significantly higher with some brands including Cadillac, which is averaging just over $5,600 off of the price of its models.

Although Krafcik noted that GM started the most recent round of price cutting and those cuts were matched by Toyota, Ford and Chrysler have discounted their cars significantly too. Honda and Nissan are playing the discount game too, which means that each of the Big Six manufacturers are working the incentives angle hard.

Camry Savings Continue Reading

By Otto Wortman

I admit that I love cars, so it’s easier for me to apply myself to the discipline of washing and waxing. Still, I often get busy and have a hard time keeping up. What keeps me motivated is the knowledge that the time and effort pays off in the long run.

Many people don’t know that washing a car fails to remove all the possible contaminants that can adhere to your car’s paint. It’s certainly important to wash with regularity. And it’s a good idea to use a car shampoo, a deep bucket of water a proper washing mitt and micro fiber towels for drying. It won’t hurt to use a soft cotton terry towel but use a light touch. Drying is faster and easier with an auto squeegee.

It’s important to wash and wax your car away from direct sunlight and it helps if the surface is cool. An overcast day can be ideal. A hot surface can make water dry faster – with unappealing water spots. And it also makes wax harder to work with.

There are lots of different kinds of wax on the market and many different ways to apply it. Your paint needs to be “cleaned” after it’s been washed. That means removing those extra contaminants I mentioned earlier. Tree sap, bug juice, industrial fallout and other airborne evils can stick to your paint, preventing it from having the kind of shine that you want. It’s also important to know that “clean” paint is easier to wash and keep clean.

After your car has been washed you then go to the paint cleaning stage. There are a few ways to do this. A common way is to use a cleaner wax, which incorporates a cleaning agent and wax in one product and applied in one step. Another way to do it is to is to use a paint cleaner as a special product. You can then apply a pure carnauba wax, or use a polish before the wax. A third way to do this is to use detailing clay. Continue Reading

 Totally managing project for your bathroom from beginning to end, can completely eliminate all the stress of co-ordinating the planned arrival of the plumbing company, to correspond with the tiling company you arranged, which needs to then fit with the electrician to install the lighting.  Choosing one company to completely manage the project eliminates the need to have independent contractors which can be unreliable and complicated to plan. 
Defining the initial plan and your requirements, to coincide with the plumbing which may be repositioned, ensure that you obtain expert recommendations and an individual service to assure your new bathroom is much more than merely a room to have a bath and shower, but a relaxing environment to relax at the end of the day. With your selection of lighting to inset into false ceilings, or positioned over mirrors for convenience, you can create the perfect place to unwind. With a wide range of choices for your sanitary ware, you may choose a whirlpool or jacuzzi bath or more traditional designs. The choice of style and colour can be suited to your individual taste and complimented with your preference of tiling or wall boards and bathroom accessories. Showers can be installed over the bath in rooms with limited space, or you may choose a wet room shower or cubicle shower. 
Ordering your bathroom from a company who also specialises in bespoke furniture and storage alternatives can offer you the added benefit of integrating bespoke furniture into the room. This can be practical when space is limited to maximise the use of all space and fill any otherwise useless space and awkward corners. It is also excellent in the larger bathroom, to offer you drawers and cupboards to store toiletries, bathroom towels and dressing gowns for your convenience. As with all bespoke designed furniture you can decide on the placement of rails, shelves and drawers to best suit your storage needs inside the room. The style of the units, again is completely of your personal choice. High gloss or mirrored designs can be perfect in bathrooms, you can also find corresponding wall shelves or mirrors to give an individually designed look. 
Showrooms and choice of brochures is the best way to fully appreciate the variety of products and the capabilities of an individually designed bathroom. Your designer should be pleased to offer all the important advice and their expert bathroom advisors will measure the room and explore your plans and thoughts, in order to make certain a specific and bespoke service through to the completion of your new bathroom.
By Heavensent Bathrooms Manchester