For decades new car buyers have complained that their fuel economy has not measured up to the EPA estimates on the window sticker. Since the EPA began providing mileage estimates in the 1970's, it has been known that the testing methods were not reflective of real world driving conditions and are more effective in comparing mileage between different models than determining actual fuel economy.

Although changes have been made to this fuel economy estimating system several times since the 70's, new tests and formula for determining mileage and, as well as new window stickers, will be phased in with the 2008 model year, and new testing procedures will be mandatory by 2011.

It is speculated that the estimated mileage appearing on window stickers will be reduced in most models, but that these figures will more closely match the real world mileage of the vehicle. For drivers practicing good driving habits and maintenance, they may be able to get fuel economy that is higher than estimated.

Current fuel mileage tests are done with vehicles on a treadmill-like device designed to simulate real driving. However, these tests are done in moderate temperatures without any accessories running, such as air conditioning. The highway test is far outdated, with the top speed only being 60 mph, and an average speed of 48 mph. The city driving test simulates 7.5 miles of driving at an average of 20 mph with 18 stops.

The new fuel economy testing procedures will take into account and replicate three common scenarios that can significantly lower fuel economy, such as hard acceleration, cold temperature operation, and the use of air conditioning. Although some of these tests are done currently, they are used to determine emissions figures, but the data is factored into mileage estimates. For the 2008 model year, the EPA is simply using a different formula in an attempt to make mileage estimates more accurate.

It is expected that the new estimation formula and new testing procedures will lower fuel economy ratings by 10-30% across the board. The vehicles whose mileage ratings will see the biggest reduction are likely to be ones that are adversely affected by heavy demand on the engine from hard acceleration, air conditioning, and cold temperatures, such as high mileage cars.

Many environmentalists are disappointed that hybrids are expected to be among the vehicles with the biggest drop in estimated mileage. Some say this may have a negative impact on the hybrid market, but every vehicle will have the same actual fuel economy. The only difference is a more realistic mileage estimate.

While some fear this will cause consumers to neglect hybrid cars, many analysts and industry insiders see the new formula and tests in a positive light. Dave Alexander, a senior analyst at ABI Research, said, "There is potential in the long run for better customer satisfaction." This is because a car whose window sticker says 30 mpg will be able to produce that mileage at 70 mph with the air conditioning on, in real driving conditions, instead of at a top speed of 60 mph with no accessories in a climate controlled setting.

Instead of turning consumers away from hybrids, more accurate mileage estimates may allow consumers to purchase vehicles that are actually more fuel efficient instead of continuing to be dissatisfied with lower than expected mileage.

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About the Author

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There is no denying that GPS systems in vehicles have become increasingly popular recently, largely due to their efficiency and the increased marketing. You and your vehicle will benefit from this system in a number of different ways. But simply having the system is not enough you also need to be familiar with how you can benefit from it and how to use it.

For many people, the usefulness of GPS for vehicles comes with the panic button. The panic button can be used in the case of an emergency ranging from a fender bender to an accident to a theft. As you push the button, an operator at the GPS carrier is contacted. From there, you can either speak with the operator or the operator will notify authorities immediately.

Many cars also have a button that says communication so that you can talk with an operator without there being an emergency. You may use this button in the event that your car breaks down or you are having mechanical problems. It can be settling knowing that all you have to do is push a button and you can have someone come pick you up.

Another advantage of having a GPS is being able to see where your kids are at when they first get their licenses. You can keep an eye on where the car is without actually interrupting their plans. No longer do you have to pest them with a curfew or where they can and cannot go.

The most obvious reason, though, to have a GPS for your vehicle is to know where your car is when it is stolen. If you are ever a victim of vehicle theft, it is extremely easy to retrieve your vehicle or find out where it is heading. All you have to do is inform your GPS carrier that the vehicle has been stolen and they will be able to track the exact location and speed of the car.

Along with that, the GPS carrier will also be able to track where the car is heading so that you can keep an eye on where to meet them. The GPS carrier will then notify the authorities so they can jump the gun and catch up with the thief. And in no time you will have your vehicle back in your hands.

Technology has made things so much safer and easier on life and GPS is a prime example of this. The usefulness of GPS for vehicles comes into play for your safety and the safety of your cars. If you are stranded you can quickly have help on the way, and if your car is stolen authorities can be on the way as well. It truly is a device that you do not want to miss out on.


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About the Author

Danny Wright is the webmaster for MerchantLand.com .We can help you choose the right GPS and navigational equipment for your next trip. Come and checkout what we have available!

Edsels Demonstrate the Irony of Bad is Sometimes Good

The word Edsel has become synonymous with failure in the American culture. However, sometimes bad is good. This is the case regarding the newly popular practice of collecting Edsel cars. Many people consider Edsel cars the most ridiculous model ever made, having plenty of style but absolutely no quality other than that. However, these days Edsels have become quite the attraction by prized show cars, at least in some circles.

The History of the Edsel

Edsels were debuted by Ford Motor Company in 1956 in an attempt to fix the dearth of medium-sized cars the company was experiencing. Named after Henry Ford's son, the line became famous as one of Ford's infamous flops. In fact, the line almost sunk the company. Edsel as a line failed when it first came out because of bad marketing, and the incident has in fact become known as exemplary of a marketing disaster and specifically as an example of America's difficulty with marketing in the 1950s. The Edsel has actually become the butt of many jokes, undeservedly, some think. Featured in Pee Wee's Big Adventure and Airplane II, in which the car's engine was used to get a spaceship up and running, some may recognize the Edsel from these movies.

The Edsel as a Collector Car

There were never that many Edsels made, so they are pretty rare to begin with. This may be one reason that they have become popular collector cars, which their owners collect with loyalty. 5,000 Edsels are believed to be in existence these days.

One outstanding and characterizing feature of the Edself is its front grille, termed a horsecollar grille. At the time of manufacture, this vertical grille was considered a bold change and even a possible forerunner of upcoming popular style features.

Some specific models within the Edsel category are worth even more and are hot items in the collector car market. For instance, Mahwah Edsels are especially prized because of their rarity; they were sold on the eastern side of the country, and not many survived the climate's harsh winters.

One thing that might be difficult in owning an Edsel is finding parts to restore it. Since the cars were not produced to the extent of many others, they are rare in the first place. Obtaining high-end OEM speedparts is reported as being particularly challenging.

Why Now Could be the Best Time to Buy an Edsel

Now seems like quite the opportune time to buy an Edsel for those who are interested. They are considered to be well-priced at the moment for those who are interested in collectible cars. Some people consider the Edsel to be a poor man's collectible car because even with their relatively few numbers, there still seem to be more out there than people who have to have them.

The car's fiftieth birthday is near, with many attendant anniversary gatherings of proud Edsel owners. Some owners today were original owners back in the 1950s. Today, many consider Edsels to be nice and well-assembled cars. Young people who have never seen one are consistently enthralled by this remnant of the past.

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About the Author

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Water contamination is the great enemy to your prized air impact wrench and other expensive air tools. The common misconception is that if you just drain the air supply tank in your air compressor of excess water, you are protecting your air tool from water damage. While draining your air supply tank is good, you are only preventing rust damage in the tank. The air outlet is generally at the top of the tank and the water in the bottom doesn't make it up there to damage your impact wrench. How then does water get into your air lines and then to your air tool? The answer is condensation. Water condenses and builds up in the air hoses and then travels to your air tool. Also, on a cold winter morning the water that has accumulated in your air lines will freeze and cause even more damage. Frozen water can break loose and damage your tools or even block the air flow in the line. The solution to this problem is install a water filter in your air hose. A good place to put it is midway down your air hose. There it will be out of the way when use your impact wrench under your car and you are trying to get into a tight space. A small investment in a water filter will go a long to prolong the life of your expensive air tools.

Some air tool users try to compensate for water that condenses in air lines by using an air tool oil designed to drive out moisture. Beware of air tool oils that claims to clean, degrease and eradicate water. These types of oils contain isopropyl alcohol or some other solvents. These will destroy or rot out all of the seals and o rings in the air tools. Marvel Mystery Oil and similar products will give a quick fix to gummed up air impact wrench, but the improvement will be short lived. Eventually it will eat the air tool apart and cost you a lot more money in the long run.

Contamination of dirt, grit, sawdust - is the second greatest threat to your air tools. Many contractors diligently clean or change air filters on their air compressors, but still suffer contamination damage to their air tools. Hose couplers are the weak link in the chain. You can have a air compressor delivering clean air and then have a dirty air hose ruin it before it gets to the air tool. Air hoses get dragged through dirt, mud, oily water etc. These contaminants then make into the air hose and then to the tool. By using an air hose reel instead of loose air hoses, you will keep them out of the muck and clean for the next job.

In line oiler Lubrication is critical to extending the life of your valuable air impact wrench and increase productivity. An air tool that has not been properly lubricated will result in low power output. The usual culprit is a dry motor starving for some oil. Your impact wrench is an expensive investment and you must take the time to properly lubricate it. The easiest and quickest way to make surein line oiler it is constantly lubricated is to install an in line oil lubricator. One of these will insure your air tools are receiving oil every time they are used. In line lubricators attach right into the air hose and you fill them with the correct lubricating oil. (see your manufacturer's specs.). You should also do routine external lubrication through the hammer case grease fitting. A well lubricated air impact wrench will deliver more torque, last longer, run quieter and increase productivity. Don't forget to add an in line oiler to your next impact wrench or air tool. It will pay for itself several times over.

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About the Author

Jason has been in the construction equipment and industrial sales business for over 10 years. He owns and operates Red Hill Supply to better serve the automotive and industrial industries. - Automotive Tools.

We have been inundated with press releases from NFO (TNS) and JD Power, their PR agencies and some automakers during the last couple of days. Yes its survey time in the automotive industry. Every year both TNS and JD Power release their surveys with much fanfare - I am sure a press do is just arond the corner. The surveys rate the carmakers on various parameters of customer satisfaction amongst other things. The stuff used to be interesting till a couple of years back when Maruti came around and monopolised it. MUL in the Indian market is perhaps the only case in the world of a market leader, that too with an unabashed 55-percent of the marketshare, sweeping the customer satisfaction surveys.

But, I am always perplexed by the contribution of these surveys in bosting the sales of any manufacturer. For instance, will MUL sales spurt next month since it has topped (for the umpteenth agonising time) the surveys once again. Actually no. I remember, for sure, that in the year 1999 when JD Power put Ford India (then only peddling the Escort) at the bottom of the heap and Ford India had explained to journalists specifically that it was problems with the Escort diesel that had resulted in a fall in ratings, yet, the next month, Escort sales actually improved.

While I have nothing against these surveys - they might have made us quality conscious, the fact that MUL pays JD Power an exhorbitant amount of money - for using the JD Power logo in their advertisements - whenever it advertises the fact that the research company has rated the carmaker highest in their survey bothers me. What bothers me even more is that JD Power gets to do a lot of internal supplier studies at Maruti.

For more details on Survey visit at www.theautodiary.com


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About the Author

Deepesh Rathore
Research Editor
deepesh.rathore@supplierbusiness.com

Harley-Davidson and the Hells Angels. Few pairings are as synonymous as those two names. The pairing of Harley Davidson and the Hells Angels is something akin to peanut butter and jelly, but sometimes it turns into oil and water. In other words, sometimes the two don't mix. Since the formation of Hells Angels, Harley Davidson has been their motorcycle of choice, which hasn't always thrilled the company. They faced a negative reaction from the buying public, who connected the company to the biker gang.

Since the early days of the biker gang, the Hells Angels have seemed to revel in their poor reputation. To this day many members still wear a patch on their jacket, signifying their "one-percenter" status. The label was given to them in the 1950s after the American Motorcyclist Association claimed that 1% of all bikers clubs were outlaws, the Hells Angels included.

Harley seemed willing, albeit reluctantly, to accept the relationship until the 1966 release of a Hunter S. Thompson book. Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang delivered an unflinching description of the gang in action. Thompson lived around the gang for nearly a year, only leaving after receiving a severe beating from some members. He wrote about everything the gang did, including violent beatings and gang rape.

This rape of two teenage girls, 14 and 15, by a group of outlaws, sent shockwaves across the country. Over 300 Hells Angels members were gathered for a rally in California when the event occurred, landing four members in jail, and the rest escorted from the area. The men were eventually aquited of rape, but Harley-Davidson was still left with yet another black mark on their record. Suddenly the company saw themselves as a willing participants to the actions committed by the gang.

Another incident, documented and verified in Thompson's book, occurred in 1961. A man accidentally hit one of the members' bikes with his car, a shouting match ensued, and the man was severely beaten as well as having his car destroyed. At the same time, articles detailing the worst offenses of the Hells Angels appeared in Time, Life, and The New York Times. In each instance, the bikers connection to the bikes they loved appeared front and center.

The most famous incident involving the Hells Angels took place in Altamont, California in 1969. Members of the Oakland chapter were hired as security guards for a concert featuring some of the biggest bands at the time. A concert goer who charged the stage was stabbed to death by one of the Hells Angels. Despite charges being dropped, the incident had already done damage to Harley-Davidson's reputation.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the tangled relationship between Harley-Davidson and the Hells Angels became even more strained. A 1983 incident led to four members being charged with conspiracy, after a conflict with another biker gang. In more recent years, the Hells Angels tangled with a rival gang in Nevada. The skirmish ended with two members dead, and two in prison.

Harley-Davidson's affiliation with the Hells Angels, willing or not, suffered as a result of poor public opinion. The motorcycle gangs were the long time loyal customers, who depended on the company for equipment, but not their only customers. The majority of people who purchased a motorcycle, had no involvement in a biker gang, but were fearful of others thinking they were. When the Harley-Angels connection formed, some customers took their loyalty elsewhere. Throughout certain points in the history of the company, they've blamed their financial woes on the biker gang. They claim that when the Hells Angels make the front page, sales plummet.

The history of Harley-Davidson and the Hells Angels, is a long and tangled one. Thanks to the publicity surrounding the bikers, the company reached a widespread audience of new consumers. The same publicity has caused damage to the company's reputation, but they have always managed to bounce back. Harley Davidson and the Hells Angels are two groups that will forever be connected.

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About the Author

Joe Ikahn is a senior writer for MotorcyclePartsandApparel.com -- Visit them online for a wide selection of motorcycle parts and accessories and more: http://motorcyclepartsandapparel.com/

If you desire to think regarding a car alarm in its simplest shape, it is not anything but one or additional sensors associated to some type of alarm bell. The extremely simplest alarm would have a button on the driver's door, and it would be wired so that if someone opened the door the siren would begin howling. You could put into practice this car alarm with a knob, a pair of pieces of wire and a siren. Some car alarm tracker systems are used by the Police to pull through stolen vehicles without you having to notify them of the cars locality, the Police can login on a PC and outlook a map. On a more vital system you would have to look on your PC and phone the Police, prefer a system that permits the car to be immobilizer by the use of text message first so that the car is motionless when you call them.

Just Go For Car Security Alarm:

A car alarm is an immense thing. It is great because an impending thief cannot probably know that you have a car alarm until they do something amazing to set it off. This is why the car alarm can be so helpful. Some people do leave their highly priced belongings within their locked and that too for long periods. These goods abandoned can act like bait for the thieves. If you own an older model of car, probability is that you do not have a car alarm. There are lots of first-class grounds to fit a car alarm. Thus, if you do not have one fixed in your car, you must think about getting one for your protection.

Car Security Systems Required Even For Most Safe Cars:

Car windows are moreover one central access spot for thieves. Nearly all instances they immediately bust the windows and hot rod the car; pretty efficient, too. New glass skill made it promising for glasses to resist a quantity of bashing. Glass durable with plastic is generally used. One universal window sensor is a flouting sound detector. The sound of breaking glass has its inimitable sound frequency that the system notice, and if triggered liberates a bursting alarm siren. A car pager alarm accessory will have an input connection which joins to an alarm yield so when the alarm is triggered a indication is sent to the pager to convey a radio gesture or dial up and send an text message. All SMS text message car pager alarms involve a SIM card; this can be pay as you to keep expenses down.

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About the Author

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