Photo By rayhanchy

This question is asked less and less, because many of the home or office have internet. Today, customers can find cheap auto insurance is not conducting negotiations with the insurance agent. In the Internet you can find affordable auto insurance from the leading insurance companies in the country. Each insurance company is fighting for its business and is ready to offer big discounts for new customers, so you should not miss your chance to save money when choosing your auto insurance.

To get the correct rate, you need to check the franchise, which is set for an insurance policy, then make a comparison with what you need. But before you approve a franchise, you should understand its significance, since its size is the amount, which you will be paying for minor injuries and her level of influence on the final cost of the insurance policy.

Also note the term policy for which you make the comparison, because the cost of the policy for 6 months and 1 year will be different, so you will not know the correct value. Remember that rate for a short period is always higher than for longer periods. Also, if you pay monthly, it will increase your costs for auto insurance due to bank charges.

Photo By Myles Noton

I had been driving for almost twenty years when I decided to ditch the car and buy a motorbike. I had recently split up with my wife, and out kids were all at university, so I really had no need for a big car, and it seemed like a great way for me to inject a bit of fun into my life.

I managed to sell my car without any problem, and perhaps foolishly I just dove in and bought a pretty powerful bike. I had taken all of the qualifications I needed to be able to ride the bike, but when I rang my insurance company to change the policy over from my old car to my new bike, I was told that there was actually going to be a very large hike in the amount of money I was going to be paying! To be honest with you I thought that my premium would have dropped, and I couldn’t understand the offer. Instead of just accepting the offer, I decided to have a look around online, and see if IU could find some advice about this,

No sooner was I online when I came across a decent looking site called Carole Nash. This was a specialist site specifically for bike insurance, something that I didn’t really realise existed. I rang them up there and then, and I pretty much immediately received a far lower offer. This made more sense, because it was lower than my old car insurance. I don’t know if it was because my old insurance company only really dealt with car insurance, or if they were just as expensive, but the deal through Carole Nash also provided me with far better cover! Thank god I had a look online!

Photo By Lloyd England

It is a perennial argument between owners of both types of transport, but here, yet again, we look at the pros and cons of both vehicles!

For a start there is a lot more room in a car. There’s no denying that the comfort levels are far greater in a car, and even the Honda Gullwing doesn’t come close to matching the luxuries of even the most basic modern family car. On top of that You will find a greater top speed in a car if you look right to the top of the tree in terms of road going vehicles, with the new 1100 plus BHP model of the Bugatti Veyron reaching a staggering 268mph!

There are plenty of positives for bikes too though, and most of these also count as negatives for the cars! Bikes are more exciting, plain and simple. You cannot beat the feeling of being on just two wheels, and you feel so much closer to the action and much more exposed.

The cost of a bike is also far far cheaper in nearly every way. Original purchase price is far greater, repairs are cheaper, fuel economy is better, and having just checked Carolenash.com I can see that Bike insurance is also much cheaper. In short if you want to get out there in something pretty decent, you will do it far more cheaply if you are on two wheels!

It’s a close run thing, but to us it is the two wheelers who have it by a whisker!

Photo by FunkyFreaks Classifieds

These days there are many different ways to find a second hand car to buy. A lot of people still do it the old fashioned way and buy their local rag and search through the classifieds until they come across some grainy picture of a rust bucket that looks half decent in that lovely shade of grey!

I recently had to find a new car because my old car got run into the ground. It only cost me four hundred pounds but it did me proud for over fifty thousand miles! Unfortunately it has been sent to the scrap yard now, and I need something a bit smarter for my new job.

I decided to avoid the route of the local newspaper – I forget how many cars I have been to look at over the years from an ad in the paper, but they are never what you think they are. This time around I was going to look for Motors online! There are lots of great sites out there which have a lot of user friendly aspects in terms of narrowing down your search and really being able to make specific changes to your search criteria. In my case it allowed me to focus on the model of car I wanted, and because of this I managed to find a great example which was an absolute bargain! It really is a false economy to look for a second hand motor anywhere else.

Photo by Albert S. Bite

A motor company founded by Herbert Austin made the Austin Seven series cars. The Austin seven cars came as a rage in Europe and this rage almost swept away the other cars out of the market. These cars were compact, affordable and economical and they made a mark not only in the European markets but also in other parts of the world.

Successful launch

Amongst the Austin Seven models, Austin Seven ‘Chummy’ was a car that evoked immense demand in the automobile markets. This car came in the year 1924 and instantly became a popular family car. It was seen moving on the streets of big cities and small towns alike. The comfortable seating and efficient tyre shape made it a much preferred car as it could be easily manoeuvred even on dirt tracks and ploughed fields.

Smooth sail

The Austin Seven “Chummy” gave good competition to the other cars even in races as it had a high speed capacity and could move well on rocky and unpaved roads.  This vehicle was a family friendly car and had the capacity to seat four people quite comfortably. The chummy was also considered to be a perfect replacement for other more expensive models.

Comfortable seating arrangement

The Austin Seven “Chummy” proved to be a car that was widely and popularly demanded by the masses and the classes. This car was more in demand as it could accommodate larger number of people than the other cars of its time could possibly do.

Powerful engine

The Austin Seven range “chummy” had a four cylinder engine and the coolant medium was water. This made a good option for home mechanics and these cars did not require expert help in repairing minor glitches. The gear system was manual with three gears and a speed sliding gear option. The chummy provided with shaft drive option and featured four wheel brakes.

High horsepower rating

The Austin seven series had a high horsepower rating in general and that was one of the reasons for its roaring success in Europe and the rest of the world.  The car had four wire wheels, which were perfect for manoeuvring on country as well as city roads. The chummy had cowl mounted head lamps. It has an L head four cylinder engine that gave a power of 747cc and gave the speed of 12 BHP. The wheel base was as thin as 81 inches, which helped in improving manoeuvring capacity.

High on vintage value and low on mass value

All the models of the Austin Seven range have a high vintage value and hence they could possibly fetch a high amount as classic cars. Austin Seven “Chummy” stands a class apart as it was launched as a true family car and was economical when compared to other models of its own time. The Chummy gave tough competition to the other cars because of its cheap price and its features to cater to the necessities of the common mass. This was a car that everyone could relate to. The Austin Seven “Chummy” ruined the belief that car was made only for the fortune-struck people. This car distinctly illustrated that a car was now more of necessity than luxury.

Availability of parts was wiped off

Apart from an easily available car, the parts of the Austin Seven “Chummy” were also easily available in the marker and not difficult to replace. The common people found this feature attractive and economical, which increased the demand of the car with time.

Photo by cessna152towser

To sum up

The people of the war stricken twenties needed a respite from rising prices and the Austin Seven “chummy” came as a welcome change.

Photo by Phil Riley

The AC Cobra or the Shelby Cobra car series was originated in the 1960s. These were built by the British based car manufacturers, AC Cars. The AC Cobra series were sports cars with sleek bodies. These cars created a hallmark in the arena of speed and performance.  In 1961, the first car of the AC Cobra series was manufactured and over a period of few years, various models of the same series were launched. One of those models is the AC Cobra 289.

This model of the AC Cobra series was made somewhere between 1967 and 1969. The AC Cobra 289 was made with a light aluminium body and it was considered to have the most original cutback door in the entire AC Cobra Series.  The make and specifications of the car has helped achieve numerous first position wins in motor racing events around the world. The design of the car was such that the fenders flared, more at the rear in order to accommodate tyres that were bigger in size.

Measurements

The wheelbase of the Cobra 289 was 2286 mm while the front and rear track were 1308 and 1334mm respectively. The length of the car was 3848mm and the width was 1549mm. AC Cobra 289 had a height of 1245mm with a ground clearance of 114mm. The curb weight of the car was 1050kg. With a fuel capacity of 68.2 litres, this AC Cobra car ruled a lot of race tracks.

Specifications

AC Cobra 289 was a 2 seat capacity, drop head coupe with a V8 engine type and maximum power of 271 BHP. This two door car had a bore stroke ratio of 1.39. The unitary capacity of the car was 590.88cc/cylinder with a total of 8 cylinders and 16 valves, i.e. 2 valves per cylinder. The car has a maximum torque capacity of 423.0nm and a specific torque of 89.49nm/litre.

Performance

The AC Cobra model of cars was made mainly for the race tracks and hence their speed pick up capacities were considerably high. The pick up capacity of the AC cobra 289 from 0 to 50 mph was within 4.40 seconds and from 0 to 100 mph was within 13.70 seconds. The top speed for this car was 138 mph. The standing quarter mile capacity was 14.40 seconds.  Its power to weight ratio was 258.1bhp/ton.

Features and look

The engine of the car was placed longitudinally in the front portion and the car was a rear wheel drive. The steering type of the Cobra 289 was rack and pinion. The front and rear suspension of the car was independent, coil spring and wishbone type. The front and rear wheels were of 6 ½ L * 15 specification with front and rear disc brakes. The gear system of the car was manual with 4 gears. The tyres used for the car were of Dunlop make.

Though the AC Cobra series of cars were extremely popular on the race tracks, they however, did not prove to be financially powerful. The AC cobra series of cars were rarely seen on the roads and were most often used as racing cars. The features and capacity of the AC Cobra series made it a popular choice as a racing car. AC Cobra 289 was the 16th of the AC Cobra series and it accommodated the original 289 competition engine. The car also had four Weber carburettors that generated 400 horsepower energy.

The AC Cobra 289 model can very well be recognized by its flat face and flared arches. It’s simply because of all these features and much more, that made the AC Cobra 289 a favourite among the racing enthusiasts.

There are many Hollywood movies which made the muscle cars extremely popular amongst the car enthusiasts. To name a few there was The Vanishing Point, Gone in Sixty Seconds, The Last Ride and many others. Here we will discuss the top 10 muscle cars which were launched in the 1960s and the 1970s. The most common feature of these cars is the power with bhp i.e. the Brake Horse Power.

1. The 1970 Buick GSX

The car had a beast of an engine that was fitted into a midsized body. The car had the body of the Buick Skylark. The model was well known in the year 1967 as one of those cars, which was available both as a convertible and a sedan. Another model of the car was launched in the year 1970 when it was given a 7.5 litre engine. This engine had the capability of producing a power of 400 bhp. The car was available in white and yellow colours which made the car very classis.

Photo by kawwsu29

2. The 1969 Pontiac GTO

The car was launched keeping in mind the younger generation. The car was cheap and fast. It had the body of a midsized Tempest coupled with a 6.3 litre V8 engine. The car was very popular after it was launched and this for sure took the marketing team by surprise and they in 1969 launched another version which had an engine of 6.5 capable of producing a power of 366 bhp.

Photo by osubuckialum

3. The Dodge Challenger

The car was launched in the year 1970 and in the first year only made a bumper sale of 80,000 cars. The car was extremely popular from the time it was launched and this reflected by the number of cars it sold after its launch. This car introduced several models but the 7 litre Hemi engine was the one which struck the chord of success with the masses. This engine had the capability to produce a power of 425 bhp. The engine power in the later model was reduced and this is where the car lost the popularity that it enjoyed during its initial days.

Photo by Mustang_V8

4. Plymouth Barracuda

The Barracuda was launched in 1964 but it took more than six years to gain recognition and become popular. In the year 1970, the muscle car became very popular when it came with a 7.2 litre engine which had a power producing capacity of 390 bhp. The car was also introduced in another version where it came with a 7.0 litre Hemi Block and had the capacity to produce 425 bhp. This car was very popular for difficult handling in spite of a revamped suspension

Photo by IMKRUZN

5. Dodge Charger

The year 1966 saw the launch of the Charger and in the preceding its launch it sold around 37,000 cars. The car had a power producing capacity of 500 bhp and it came with a 7.0 litre hemi engine. The official rating said that the car could produce 425 bhp but in actual it was designed to produce more and this is one of the main reasons why the car became so popular. It only took the car five and a half seconds to reach a speed on 100 km/hr. the engine of the car was discontinued after 1972.

Photo by splattergraphics

6. The Plymouth Road Runner

The Plymouth Road runner was a no frill car and was made to be a fast car. The concentration in this car was on the engine and the speed and there was no priority given to the looks of the car in any respect. The car had a suspension system, a powerful steering system, and a 6.3 litre engine which could produce a power of 225 bhp. There was another version of the car which had a 7.0 litre engine.

7. The 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

The most popular and exciting version of the Camaro was the Z28 though the customers had many other options also. The car had a 4.9 litre engine and a four speed manual gearbox apart from the brakes in the front which made the car great for racing.

Photo by lancef2

8. The 1966 Ford Fairlane GT

The car was launched by Ford in the year 1962 and it had an engine of 3.6 litres. In the year 1966, there were changes made to the car and then it was re-launched in 1966 with a 6.4 litre engine which could generate a power of 335 bhp. The car was a great performer and could reach the speed of 100 km/hr in six seconds.

9. The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

The new version of the Chevrolet Chevelle was launched in 1970. It had a 7.4 litre engine with 450 bhp power producing capacity, which could take the car to a speed of 100 km/hr in flat six seconds.

Photo by MR38

10. Oldmobile 422

The car had a power producing capacity of 310 bhp. The car had twin exhausts and a four speed manual gear box. The car had improved springs, which made the handling better.

Photo by wholesale_inc

The tires of your car adds life to your vehicle as they make contributions to the sustainable mobility of your car . To signify the importance of tires, the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and its members are conducting their eighth annual event to celebrate the National Tire Week with an aim to create awareness among their customers nationwide about the various techniques to keep the tires in good condition.

The leading tire manufacturers of North America-Michelin makes and sells tires of all categories. The tire categories include tires for the airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipments, heavy duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. Their job extension includes publishing  travel guides that cover countries like Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.

Celebrating the National Tire Safety Week , Michelin is taking the initiative to educate their customers about  the benefits of choosing the right tires and of simple cost-effective ways to contribute to tire safety. Choosing the right tires and maintaining them properly have proved to be a cost-effective way to  enhance road safety and improve the overall performance of you vehicle. Tires demand extra care as they are the only part of your vehicle that are in contact with the road. Tires are responsible for consuming nearly 20% of the energy to move a car forward . It is, therefore, important to find a tire that is fuel efficient , safe and enjoys high longevity. Such kind of tires are produced by Michelin.

Checking the tire inflation to maintain the proper balance is essential for the performance and longevity of a tire. Under-inflated tires are responsible for your car’s  rough and negative performance.The Department of Transportation estimates that 5 million gallons of fuel per day are wasted due to low tire pressure. Therefore , choosing a tire with a complete balance of performance is a way to safe and smooth driving experience.

Photo by Myles Noton

This may seem like a pretty crazy scenario to you but I recently swapped my perfectly decent, albeit old car, for a five year old 650 bike. Before you say that I am mad, bear in mind that both are valued at approximately the same price, give or take a few hundred pounds. Ok, I might be losing out on as few hundred quid, but that is only initially.

The first thing I discovered, was that I was going to save on insurance. I contacted a bike insurance company called http://www.carolenash.com/ and they insured me very cheaply indeed. Following this I started to do some maths regarding my purchase. The bike was roughly twice as cheap to run per mile, and I travelled far enough every week to save myself twenty pounds a week. That’s eighty pounds a month and a whopping £960 per year! That’s nearly a grand! And what do I get for this great saving? A vehicle that can outpace nearly everything from the traffic lights, a machine that turns heads every where it goes, a motorbike which allows me to feel the wind on my body when I am travelling across the country, and a contraption that exhilarates me every time I get on it. When I compare all of these sensations to the ones I used to feel about my car – despair, embarrassment, anger, and frustration – it amazes me that I put up with it for so long!

Photo by usedcarsbuyorsell

It’s never an easy task to buy a new car – the whole process is fraught with stress and anxiety! I really don’t think there is any way round that – you can never guarantee the condition of any car, no matter how you try. Ok, I guess you can buy new, but with today’s prices this is prohibitive to most people. Personally, I always try to find something with low mileage for its age, and I always make sure that there is lots of history. I also always carry out an HPi check – just to make sure there is nothing untoward, because you never know.

Beyond that, there is not much else you can do but trust your instinct. It’s obviously a good idea to test drive the car in question if you get the opportunity. The other difficult thing about finding a used car is where to buy it from. You can use your local paper but this is somewhat limiting. I would suggest going online and using one of the many quality car search sites, such as Motors, which is a very effective way of searching. It allows you to input your search criteria such as make, model, specification, location and price. Being able to search like this means that you can control the parameters and it can really help you to focus in on exactly what you like in a car.

Good luck with the hunt, and remember to take as many precautions as possible to ensure that you are buying a great car!