Category: Car

Choosing A Car Seat That Is Compatible With Your Vehicle

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If you are having a baby, you know you need a car safety seat for the child. If you have begun your research, you may know a bit about weight limits and rear-facing versus front-facing. You have probably decided on a basic type for your infant and may even have a preferred brand. Chances are, you also already have a car with a specific type of seat belt and have recently discovered that not every brand of car seat works well with every model of car. You need to find a car seat that fits into your vehicle properly.

There are many models of seats out there, and you cannot try them all before settling on one. Fortunately, you can use a shortcut by visiting the Car Seat Data web site. There is a compatibility search mechanism on the site that will allow you to check your favorite brands of car seats with your make of automobile to find out which are the best models to use.

For example, choosing the Baby Trend brand car seat and a Chevy will tell you that the 2001 Impala has a great fit with belts with the rear-facing LatchLoc type, and that the 2003 Tracker also has a great fit with the LatchLoc. There are two entries for the Baby Trend LatchLoc rear-facing seat and the 2001 Ford Escape. One comment was, Center. Great fit. Used shelf liner and rolled towel for angle. The other comment said, Outboard. Great fit. Used shelf liner on leather seats. There are also two, Outboard. Great fit, comments for the Ford Focus (2002 and 2003) and the rear-facing LatchLoc. For the 1996 Ford F-150, the comment is, Rear center. Great fit.

Judging by the homogeneous nature of the comments, there is probably a questionnaire that people fill out to tell others their experience.

The best way to conduct a search is to enter your car’s make, model and year and then see what experiences other drivers of your type car have had. For instance, there were no results for the Baby Trend seat brand and the Volkswagen Jetta. If you are a Jetta driver, rather than go out and buy an entirely different model of auto just to use a Baby Trend, which isn’t an option for many people, it is better to choose based on the experiences of other Jetta drivers. There are many entries for the 2003 Jetta, some with copious notes and tips for using particular safety seats.

Jetta drivers seem to like Graco car seats, for example. Interestingly enough, one Jetta driver did actually trade in their car for a larger one so that the SafeSeat, apparently a large car seat, would fit better.

Finding the right baby seat for your car is not as overwhelming as it seems, once you start narrowing down the information that you need for a proper choice. Since you are purchasing a car safety seat to keep your little one safe, you should purchase one that will actually work optimally with your car for the best security possible.

John Leigh Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

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Recognised for 40 years as key industry figure.

John Leigh, Managing Director of Europcar UK and National Car Rental, has received the highly coveted lifetime achievement accolade in the Holiday Autos Partner of the Year Awards, confirming his status as an industry legend. In acknowledging his enormous and positive influence which has helped to shape and evolve the sector, the Holiday Autos Partner of the Year Awards ceremony honoured John for his dedication and commitment to the vehicle rental industry.

The Award was presented by Brian Murphy, Group Managing Director of Lastminute.com at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

“The evening was very emotional for me and I feel proud to be honoured by the industry in this way,” said John Leigh. “The Award was a complete surprise and it means a great deal to me to be recognised by my colleagues and partners who have put this industry where it is today.

John Leigh began his working life promoting concerts of legendary acts like Roy Orbison and Pink Floyd. In 1967 he decided to get a proper job and joined Godfrey Davis eventually to become Europcar, where he held a number of management roles. In 1972 he joined Swan National where he enjoyed a successful career culminating in his appointment as Managing Director in 1990 shortly after it had rebranded itself as EuroDollar.

Following an MBO from TSB and the acquisition of EuroDollar by National Car Rental USA, John was given responsibility for launching National into the EMEA marketplace.

In February 2007, the European operation was acquired by Europcar and John was appointed Managing Director of Europcar UK Group the largest daily rental company in the country.

As Chairman of the BVRLA in 2006/7, John played a leading role in defining and implementing industry standards for quality and customer service. He is also a Vice President of Chelsea football club, as well as being a very active patron of the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, a charity that grants wishes to often terminally ill young people. Two years ago he was also honoured with an “Unsung Hero Award” by the Celebrity Guild of Great Britain in recognition of his charitable work.

“I cant think of anyone more deserving of this award than John” confirmed Brian Murphy of Holiday Autos. “He has been the driving force behind the success of the industry, not just the growth of his own business. His vision and dedication has led to many of the innovations car rental customers now take for granted and he continues to challenge and lead the sector forward to new levels of service.”

The Keys to a Clean and Organized Car

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When you look at your brand new car, you say to yourself, -I’m going to keep this one clean.- You mean it when you say it, but it hardly ever pans out that way. It doesn’t take long for a clean and organized car to go down the wrong road and end up a wreck.

Here are the keys to a clean and organized car:

– Vacuum the interior of your car regularly, at least once a month. Dirt and grit work the same way in your car’s carpet fibers as they do in your living room, they build up and breakdown the fibers. An extension cord and a shop vac will do the trick at home. Most gas stations and car washes have vacuums as well. A hand-held vacuum (or -dust buster-) works well on seats.

– Use a spray foam carpet cleaner and a rag on freshly vacuumed car floors to spot clean.

– Wash the exterior of your car once a month also. It’s easier to wash your car in the shade. Double check and make sure all windows are all the way up. Hose off the roof of your car first and then work your way down the sides. Be sure to get every inch nice and wet. Don’t forget the wheels and under the bumper and fender.

– Only use car wash to wash your car. I love my car too much to try any homemade solutions. Some car wash soaps are really pricey, but I always buy whatever’s cheapest. Apply soapy car wash with a sponge or rag, scrubbing as you go. Start at the top and work your way down. Stick to one area at a time. Rinse suds before they dry, then towel dry with a soft cloth or chamois to prevent spotting.

– After you’ve washed your car, polish the chrome. First, remove rust gently with a steel wool pad. Dab a wet sponge in baking soda and rub onto chrome. Let it stand 20 minutes, then rinse and buff dry with a rag. You’ll be amazed at how fabulous it looks!

– Baking soda also works wonders on removing splatters and grime from windshield, headlights, chrome and enamel using the same method as above.

– Keep plastic grocery bags in your car for trash, empty weekly or as needed.

– No car is complete without a container of baby wipes. Every Mom knows what miracle workers these things are. Great for quick and easy clean up of spills in the car and 1,000 other uses. Believe me; they’ll be put to good use in the car.

The real key and the most important factor in keeping a clean and organized car is to stay on top of it and not let it get out of control. Make an effort each day to remove anything from your car that does not belong in it. A car is a huge investment and should be treated with care. Don’t let your car become a wasteland. Get outside and get to work!

Nicole Dean welcomes you to visit http://www.HomeOrganizationHelp.com to help battle clutter and disorganization. For free ebooks on housecleaning and more, visit http://www.free-ebooksonline.com/ !

Winter Car Tune Up Check List

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Wintertime is beautiful scenery for the eyes. It can be devastating to a car though, especially if the car is not inspected and prepared for the winter driving season. Have the car tuned up with a checklist before the snow hits and the car will drive with a peace of mind.

Brakes are essential for stopping on the icy roads to avoid pedestrians and even accidents with other cars. If the brakes are not equal, they could cause the car to lean to one side and skid on the roads.

The cooling system in the car also must be checked. This includes belts, containers, pressure caps, hoses and the thermostats so that everything is in working order. Flush the system with a chemical cleaner and add in anti freeze before the snow hits the ground.

The engine is the heart of any car and must run well in all weather conditions. A diagnostic test can ensure the drive of any abnormalities before hitting the road. Starting the car becomes essential when the cold weather is coming down so have the spark plugs replaced if needed and check the emission control devices to make sure that the car will get up and go when it needs to.

Another important part for inspection is the exhaust system. The windows are closed during the snowy winter months so have the muffler and tailpipe checked. Carbon monoxide leaks can be fatal.

When driving, it is important to have the defrosters, heaters, and windshield wipers working. Being able to see and keep warm are very important during the winter months. Winter wiper blades can be added to the car as well as washer fluid that was made for use in the cold weather.

Fuel, air, and transmission filters must be changed to ensure that the car runs properly. In addition, oil can become quite troubling during the winter months. Dirty oil can be a big problem so change it and the filter before the temperature drops and the snowflakes start to fall.

Last, but not least are the cars tires. If the engine is the heart of the car, then the tires are the bloodline. A car can run on faulty tires, but they may not take you far. Snow tires are essential during the wintertime and all four wheels need to be fully equipped as well as a regular check of the tire pressure. Snow tires provide the ultimate control when traveling down a winter wonderland type of snow setting. Residents in Quebec must have all four snow tires, as it is required there.

The Advantages Of Car Servicing

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Running a motor can be very expensive, particularly these days. We spend money on tax, insurance, petrol, MOTs and car servicing and sometimes the costs seem infinite.

Whether you have a BMW, VW, Audi, Mini Cooper, Mercedes or a commercial vehicle, you can minimise costs by ensuring you don’t pay through the nose: making sure that you have a regular car service.

Car manufacturers recommend very clearly at what time in a car’s life you will need to have a service, and provide a comprehensive service book that needs to be kept up-to-date, especially if you are planning to sell on your car. When it come to trading in or selling your vehicle, it will have had a decent programme of maintenance and will possibly sell for a higher price, so investment in car servicing is a good investment.

Also, if you have a warranty on your car, then you will need regular servicing in order to maintain that warranty as part of its terms and conditions.

Car servicing also ensures that your car is maintained to the highest standard, and performs at its optimum level, and that your car will run as smoothly, safely, efficiently and reliably as possible for a very long time. And when you car is performing to its best ability you will enjoy the driving experience more and get a lot of satisfaction.

With cars’ CO2 emissions becoming increasingly a factor in motoring life, especially for new higher car tax bands, having a regular car service can help fuel consumption be at its cleanest and CO2 emissions at its lowest.

There is nothing worse than an unreliable car, we have all had the odd occasion when the car has broken down at the roadside, not started in the morning, or perhaps has been in and out of a garage more times than it has been running on the road. This can apply to Audis, as well as BMWs and Volkswagens. Having regular car servicing ensures that potential or underlying problems with a car are dealt with before they happen, especially if there is a small mechanical problem that, if left unfixed, can develop into a larger problem, and expense, later on. Sometimes a service can seem like an awful lot of money, especially with all of the other running costs associated with owning a car. But, in the longer term, having your car serviced regularly at a trusted garage could save much trouble and expense and keep the vehicle on the road, performing at its best.