The current global recession, known as the Global Financial Crisis or GFC, negatively impacted virtually every industry, with very few able to show gains during a time of depressed economic condition. The automotive industry is no exception. Car manufacturing suffered tremendous losses at the start of the recession in 2008 and continues to experience difficulty in some countries. The past year has been a time of recovery for many car manufacturers, but the road will be a long one. Read the rest of this entry »

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Buying a new car is always an exciting experience. You start being more attentive to other cars you see on the road, as well as looking internally to determine what set of wheels will be perfect for you. Everything becomes an option and nothing is off the table. You are looking for comfort. You are looking for power. You are looking for efficiency. In this day and age many different car companies offer several different makes and models but no matter where you look you keep coming back to BMW’s. Read the rest of this entry »

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• The first thing you should do to properly install automotive window tint is to purchase a quality kit that will tint all the windows in your car.  Read the manufactured instruction and make sure you understand them before you begin. Make sure your kit is not too dark for your local regulations and be sure to follow those regulations.  So many window tint jobs have had to be peeled off because they were not in line with motor vehicle regulations.

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On any occasion that you are in the market for a new car you will tend to draw up a checklist of the things you need from it. The money that you have available to you is always vital to any final decision that you make in this respect and it impacts on almost all aspects of your planning when you come to making a purchase of a vehicle. Deciding upon whether to buy a car that has a diesel or petrol engine is also likely to be in your thoughts and if you are leaning towards choosing diesel then here are some reasons why that could prove to be a wise move.
Road tax. Read the rest of this entry »

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Most vehicle thefts are opportunistic ones.  A thief sees a vehicle that they think would be an easy target, they have a quick look at the car, and if they can take it easily, they do.  If the car is well secured or distinctive in some way, they’ll move on to a more convenient target.  Armed with this knowledge, there are a lot of things that you can do to make your car less tempting to thieves.

Basic Security

Don’t underestimate the importance of simple precautions when it comes to protecting your vehicle:

• Keep your car doors locked at all times, even while you are driving.
• When you park the car, take the keys with you, and close all doors and windows (even the sun roof)
• Don’t leave your car running and unattended, even in the winter.  If you’re warming the engine up, sit in the car while you’re running it.
• Don’t leave valuables inside your car, especially not in places where a passer-by may be able to see them.
• Install an anti-theft system; this will act as a deterrent.
• If you’re leaving your car somewhere overnight, try to park in a well-lit area.  Thieves prefer to work in the dark in places where they won’t be disturbed.
• Get your car’s VIN etched on to the windows.  This will make it harder for the thief to sell the vehicle on.
• If you are confronted by a thief, do not resist.  Your personal safety is more important than your possessions.

Make Your Car a Less Appealing Target

If your car is incredibly distinctive, a thief may be reluctant to take it.  Cars that are unusually coloured or decorated, or that have personalized number plates, are more likely to be noticed on the road, so an opportunistic thief may choose to ignore such a vehicle and go for an easier target.

You can find private number plates cheap in most motoring magazines, as well as online.  Having a private number plate is no guarantee that your car will be ignored by thieves – especially if your car is an in-demand make or model.  Some thieves do “steal to order” and export the cars they acquire to foreign countries. However, with cherished number plates for sale at affordable prices these days, it makes sense to make your car a little more noticeable on the road.

Even minor customisations such as a dash full of fluffy toys, or a cute paint-job on the rims will make your car stand out, and could be the difference between you losing your vehicle, or them moving on to the next parking spot.

Digital Tracking

Investing in a security system with a built-in tracker that will allow the police to locate your vehicle is a good way to reduce the likelihood of theft, and improve your chances of getting your car back if it is stolen.  Some insurance companies offer lower premiums for owners of cars that have such security systems, as well as ignition cut-off systems and passive alarms installed.

Featured images:

• License: Creative Commons image source

This article was written by Crispin Joneson the behalf of The Plate Market, retailers of cheap private number plates.

Photo: tompagenet

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Since 1995, there have been set regulations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as to what needed to be included on the widow stickers of used cars. Now, the FTC is thinking of revising the Buyer’s Guide to ensure in order to benefit those searching for and buying used cars Los Angeles without adding undo restrictions on the auto dealers, according to the New York Times. If the changes are made, it could be a major win for consumers that, ideally, will not negatively impact sales. Read the rest of this entry »

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Now, three and a half decades later, the face of the 3 Series — and its iconic snatched-from-the-five-series kidney grille — has evolved into the new F30-platform 2012 BMW 3 Series. Let’s take a look back. In recognition of the launch of the new 3 Series, BMW has put together some historical PR gobbledygook on each model preceding it.
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It has been several years now since Rover ceased production of its cars and some of its designs bought by the Chinese although its brand is still owned by BMW.

With pretty much all Rover cars being old designs even at the point of closure, the various genuine car parts used are becoming  harder to find, although aftermarket parts are in abundance. For most people this is no longer a problem their Rover may not be worth the financial value to treat it it to genuine Rover parts bought new, but id the used market is capitalised on thoroughly, there should be no reason why genuine parts cannot be found from the network of breaker yards here on Carsparefinder.
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Toyota is pushing its hybrid technology forward with plug-in hybrids. Honda and Mazda Motor Corp. are pressing forward with new innovations to increase fuel efficiency and cut emissions. And in a major acknowledgment of how the world has changed, Toyota has abandoned its resistance to diesel-powered vehicles and signed a deal with rival BMW AG of Germany to jointly develop diesels for Toyota.

But even with all that, a new threat is emerging for Japan Auto Inc. – China.
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