Automotive Archive

Springsteen and a Turning Technology

By Richard Leo | Filed in Automotive

It isn’t that the basic construction of an engine has changed very much in the past twenty years, but something else entirely unexpected that has made the world of cars a very different place to be.  Anyone who grew up on Springsteen would relate instantly to the appeal of the idea of an afternoon spent getting your hands covered in grease.  If your buddy happens to miscalculate something essential, or even worse, forget the order of parts when taking something apart, so much the better, because that’s the stuff that childhood dreams get made on.  This is the heart of the romantic dreams of the early Bruce Springsteen, where specs in the lyrics are as common as any references to real love.  The shifts in the world since his first album have made this a significantly more distant place.  Today’s dreamer, longing for a Mary who can’t decide, can move his own dreams along faster with a chevrolet service manual download, and that was something never available in the time when the classic songs were written.

 

It’s probably important to make the distinction between the old and the new even more clear, in the case of Springsteen.  The fans who were born in the 90s may have a direct access to the music that’s as basic as it can be to anyone who’s heart is particularly attuned to his talents.  But there is a daily experience of culture that is very different when technologies shift the way people think about vehicles.  It’s certainly an easier world, as well as a much safer world, but it is different now that roadside assistance is more easily available, and cell phones make it almost impossible to get lost.  The previous generation knew the service manual as an object to be kept at all times in the back of the glove compartment, and now it’s a virtual tool that’s easy to access from anywhere.  This suggests that it’s really not as necessary to have the knowledge of gears from the inside out as it once was, and people don’t have to be as self-reliant as they used to be.  This is very likely very good news, in a larger sense, and does seem to fit into the more visionary nature of Springsteen’s writing.  Although songs like Racing in the Street appeal to a sensibility of the lone wolf, there are other songs, more engaging for younger audiences perhaps, that do refer to an idea of the world where we can depend on each other, and some of the technologies of his newest generation of fans makes it possible to depend in more radical ways than anyone could have guessed.

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The Best Truck Financing Options

By Richard Leo | Filed in Automotive

Right now is with jobs being cut left and right in this struggling economy, it’s great to feel secure in your career field. Fortunately, for those with a CDL (commercial driver’s license), shipping continues to be a priority and so opportunities for commercial truck drivers continue to be relatively plentiful when compared to other jobs. If you have been a company driver for years and now you feel like making the big move into being an owner operator, the hardest thing you have to overcome is the financing but once you overcome this obstacle, you will have the reward of driving your very own truck and the freedom to follow your own schedule. There are many options for commercial truck financing if you are looking to make the move to owner operator.

1. Bank Loans
Bank loans are a traditional means of acquiring capital for a new truck. Some banks may offer low interest or even discounted interest rates if you already have a good-standing account with them. The only problem with option is that most banks have been a lot more cautious since the economic collapse and they see truck financing as a bit of a risk. If your credit isn’t perfect and you don’t have any proof to offer the bank to show you will have the means of paying them back, this may be a more difficult option.

2. Dealer Financing
Dealer financing is much easier to acquire than a bank loan for those with less-than-perfect credit. Essentially with this option, your financing is given to you through the dealership versus a bank. Dealer financing provides some benefits often including things like an extended warrantee and other types of added insurance that wrapped into the loan amount. These are helpful in case something does happen to you on the road. The problem here however is that the dealer financing usually can bring a higher interest rate than bank loans do or they can persuade you to sign for a loan that extends the lifetime of your truck.

3. Drive to Own
Now if you have bad credit but are still determined to be an owner operator, there is another option. Most major trucking companies have a “drive to own” option that allows you to buy the truck you are currently driving over time. They simply deduct a predetermined amount from your paycheck and they even frequently offer to help with the maintenance bill. This means that drivers won’t be struggling with an overwhelming financial burden or sky high interest rates. This is a great option for anyone who loves working for the company they are currently with.

These are all great and easy ways to make your dream of being an owner operator come true. Just beware of any dealer who will lease you a truck no matter how bad your credit is. Plenty of drivers have lost everything because of companies that make false claims or promises. If you do your research and follow these tips those you will be on your way to becoming an owner operator in no time.

Kim is a contributing writer for TruckerToTrucker.com, a site which provides information for trucking professionals and those who are interested  in  commercial truck insurance and financing options.

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Taking Your Motorcycle on the Road

By Richard Leo | Filed in Automotive

There has been a spike in motorcycle sales over the past few years. Better mileage and lower upkeep as well as lower price tags make motorcycles an appealing alternative to the traditional car for many financially-strapped individuals. However, the real appeal of a motorcycle has long been the ability to fly down a highway, feeling the wind and sun. This is why bikes are considered one of the ultimate symbols of freedom to so many motorcycle enthusiasts.

For most, there’s no better way to enjoy a motorcycle than to take a road trip. Lots of them. As often as possible. These range from short group “runs” to a nearby attraction such as a lake or state park to cross-country treks to large conventions or simply for the sake of traveling. Anyone planning one of those longer trips should take extra care to review their insurance before hitting the road. The last thing they want is to find themselves in a strange place and in need of a motorcycle accident lawyer. florida and other states have very strict liability laws, so cyclists should make sure their insurance covers any and all states they plan to visit on their trip.

One last thing to take into special account when planning a long road trip is roadside maintenance. Buying a simple maintenance guide will help riders conduct most minor repairs on their own with just a few simple tools — packed ahead of time, of course. It’s also a good idea to have the numbers of repair shops in major cities, just in case.

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Benefits and Importance of Car Repair Manuals

By Richard Leo | Filed in Automotive

Everyone who owns an automobile is guaranteed to encounter a repair issue with it as some point. Of course the only exception to this is the rare individual who sells their vehicle and buys a new one every year, though that, if it actually even exits, doesn’t even guarantee that your car will not experience some kind of trouble while you own it. Even people who lease their vehicles encounter repair issues. The fact that all vehicles will need to be repaired at some point is just one of the obvious aspects of ownership. This does not mean that everyone will have to be responsible for or even deal with those repairs. However, and especially for those who do, the more you know about how your car functions the better off you will be and also all the more confident to handle most situations.

Service manuals are extremely helpful to the do it yourself auto maintenance and repair mechanic. And many, in fact millions of people decide they either want or are forced by economic limitations to attempt a repair on their own vehicle and having the guiding force of a quality manual by your side can literally make the difference between success or failure. And most, if not all, car makes and models have a manual that is specific that particular vehicle and the year, or time frame, it was made. Everything from a Toyota Camry to a Chevrolet Cavalier, repair manual and owner guides are available for your individual car.

The interesting thing is that once you have performed a few simple repairs or part replacements yourself, you begin to feel confident that you can take on other repair projects and many people who out of necessity changed their first air filter are replacing water hoses, thermometers and maybe even the entire cooling system on their own. One of the other benefits of repair manuals is there ability to help trouble shoot and diagnose potential problems. This alone can make your service charge for a needed repair that much less expensive and can also help you to decide if it’s a project you can do on your own. And while these service manuals may never make for your preferred bedside reading choice , they are an absolutely essential aspect of vehicle maintenance and you are only doing yourself a necessary favor by keeping one in your glove compartment at all times.

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Reconsidering the Tire Tread Penny Test

By Richard Leo | Filed in Automotive

For many years the penny test has been used as device to help gauge the wear of tires. This has come in handy for those considering that it may be time to purchase new BF Goodrich tires for their cars and pickup trucks. The way it works is that a penny is inserted into the tread of the tire with Abraham Lincoln’s head facing the tire. If the tread reached the top of his head, the tires were considered to be safe. However, the tires were in need of replacement if the tread was worn too much to reach Lincoln’s head. Checking the tires is important aspect of car routine car maintenance . This is extremely important to do when setting out on a long drive or a trip. Now however, the tire industry has concluded that the penny is just not enough, that it is time to hand that responsibility over to the quarter. By continuing to use the penny safety may be compromised. The penny test was not random, but based on the fact that most tire warranties cover the tire as long as the tread was 2/32 of an inch.  But the problem that was discovered through testing tires with this amount of tread depth is that they did not provide enough traction when driven on wet or icy roads. The water and the snow was not being sufficiently displaced. And on streets that had no environmental effects, the braking distance was significantly increased, meaning that it took longer to stop. Now, the distributors of all brands of tires, including Toyo and Vredestein tires , are recommending that the consumer use a quarter, as the space between the edge of the quarter and the top George Washington’s head is greater. This will ensure that the tire has enough tread to provide a safe ride. This means that tires will have to be replace sooner rather than later, but the benefits are well worth it.

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