Posted in General | August 29, 2014 

The new C-Class from Mercedes-Benz sets new benchmarks for style, luxury and technology in the premium mid-size segment, something that is no easy feat when considering this class also includes the 3 Series from BMW, Audi’s A4 and the VW Passat.

The latest C-Class boasts a seductive restyling inside and out that is first noticed from a distance in the shape (quite literally) of the car’s striking exterior. Going for strong visual impact, the exterior design reflects a dynamic charisma blended with stylish sportiness and an overall more upscale look.

One might even be forgiven for mistaking the C-Class from afar for the larger and more expensive S-Class. This is by design, with Mercedes-Benz describing the high-class appeal of the C-Class as feeling like an “upgrade to a higher class of vehicle”.

In its latest model, BMW hasn’t much changed the styling of its successful 3 Series which is better than ever. The traditional saloon shape is given a sporty twist courtesy of a purposeful stance, low bonnet line and smart double-kidney grille.

With its simple lines and smart detailing helping it stand out, the Audi A4 has plenty of kerb appeal too. The handsome and well proportioned saloon – which shares its platform with the sportier A5 coupe and convertible models – has remained largely unchanged since its debut in 2008.

Visually, the latest C-Class represents a departure from the previous model. The side view shows off the car’s long bonnet, a passenger compartment set well back and short overhangs, while the distinctive shoulders flow into a simple, clean-cut rear section. There is a choice of two different fronts, these being the EXCLUSIVE line featuring the classic radiator grille with Mercedes star on the bonnet and the AVANTGARDE line for a more sporty look and a central star.

The C-Class interior is truly impressive and continues the car’s upscale positioning. Exuding style and sophistication, the cabin features top-notch material quality, fit and finish and there are three design and equipment lines for the interior; the AVANTGARDE line to showcase the C-Class as a sporty saloon, the EXCLUSIVE line with an emphasis on elevated status and modern luxury, and the AMG line which lends the car a decidedly sporty appearance. These lines also apply to the overall exterior of the C-Class.

A standout feature of the interior is a redesigned centre console with a centrally positioned free-standing central display screen measuring 7 inches. A touchpad allows for operation of all the head-unit functions using finger gestures, and it accepts letters, numbers and Chinese characters entered in handwriting.

Optional is a head-up display, new to the C-Class. This displays information on speed, posted speed limits and navigation directly in the driver’s field of vision on the front windscreen.

Spaciousness is also a key element in the new C-Class’s interior. An 80 mm increase in the wheelbase compared to the previous model means the new model is 95 mm longer and 40 mm wider. That means more rear-seat leg room and plenty of leg, head and shoulder room in the front.

While the older BMW 3 Series interior was a bit small, the new one is a big improvement thanks to a 50 mm longer wheelbase that results in more room inside. There’s enough leg and headroom for all passengers and this means the 3 Series now rivals Audi’s A4 much more closely in this area. The Passat, also, offers ample leg, shoulder and headroom.

Inside, the A4 is beginning to show its age but still there is no doubting the quality. High grade materials are used throughout and the fit and finish is flawless.

As with any Mercedes vehicle, there’s a range of equipment options (depending on chosen engine and configuration). These include an interior lighting package, THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control, parking package, seat comfort package and mirror package.

With Mercedes’ declared aim of making the highest standard of safety available to everyone, the C-Class incorporates almost all the new assistance systems with enhanced functions that premiered in the S-Class and E-Class earlier this year. The carmaker calls this Intelligent Drive.

Standard is ATTENTION ASSIST which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and fatigue. Options include Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, Active Parking Assist, Traffic Sign Assist and a 360 degree camera which can show the vehicle and its surroundings from various perspectives including a virtual bird-s eye view.

The Mercedes C-Class comes to the luxury cars Hong Kong market in C 200, C 220 BlueTec, C 250 and C 250 AMG Edition models, all powered by four-cylinder engines with best-in-class emissions.

A newly designed 4-link front axle plays a major part in the C-Class’s agile handling, and all C-Class models will now feature an electromechanical Direct-Steer system as standard. The new C-Class is also the first vehicle in its segment which can be fitted with an optional air suspension (AIRMATIC) on the front and rear axle. At the flick of a switch, the driver can choose between Comfort, ECO, Sport and Sport+ settings.

Posted in General | August 27, 2014 

We aren’t born safe drivers. It takes considerable practice, concentration, and a deliberate effort by the driver to identify hazards along the road. When we purchase a used car, we inherit extra risks such as faulty equipment or an adverse safety record which requires additional caution. Before you hit the road, take a look at these driving safety tips to protect yourself from danger and keep yourself safe.

Take a Test Drive Before You Buy

When you are buying a used car, it is extremely important that you take it on a test drive to verify that the car is running as it should. Companies like Hertz Rent2Buy offer test drive for upto ten days without any pressure on the customers to buy. If you can afford it, do consider a private inspection to thoroughly check the safety of the car. Here are a few things to look out for during the test drive.

• Can the seat and steering be adjusted easily to a comfortable position?
• Listen for unusual sounds while you are driving.
• Does the clutch function quickly? If not, it may be worn and need to be replaced.
• Is there vibration in the steering?
• Watch for smoke when you start the car and while you drive. It could signify an engine problem.
• If you are purchasing a family car, take them with you on the test drive. Check that car seats fit easily into the rear and that all passengers are comfortable.

Safety Tips on the Road

When you are driving there are three basic safety tips that you should always follow.

• Always keep a least one car’s length between you and the cars in front of you.
• Follow the speed limits, but adjust according to situation. Bad weather and congestion are good reasons to slow down.
• Pay attention. Don’t text or talk on the phone. Don’t play with the SatNav when driving. A distracted driver is a dead driver.

Empower with F.L.O.W.E.R.

You should regularly check your car to make sure it is safe to drive. Using the F.L.O.W.E.R. acronym makes it easy to remember the components of your car that are most important in driving safety.

• Fuel- Keep the tank full.
• Lights- Always check that all of your lights (brakes, fog, indicators) are in working order.
• Oil- Don’t add too much or too little.
• Water- Be sure the water tank is full.
• Electrics – Check important electrical parts such as windshield wipers, windows and horn.
• Rubber- Tyres should be sufficiently aired and replaced when worn.

Safety is paramount on the road. Do thorough checks before and after purchasing your vehicle and always pay attention when you are driving. Simple things such as monitoring your tyre pressure can end up saving your life.

Posted in General | August 15, 2014 

Men’s love for their cars is not less known. They considerably spend on their cars to make them look and feel perfect and precious. They also tend to opt for many upgrades and accessories just to enhance the beauty & efficiency. The major upgrades are that of the engines that makes their cars almost equivalent in power to those used for racing. Additional accessories like bumpers, tinted windows, turbo engines, wheels, and a lot more is also sometimes a part of such upgrades. With great power comes great responsibility – the responsibility to take care and maintain the car and its engine. With tons of money spent on such upgrades, maintenance of the car becomes crucial to the owner to sustain it.

Car Servicing

One of the most effective ways of maintaining the quality of your car is car servicing. Car maintenance is extremely essential if you want to own it for a reasonably long period of time. Maintenance includes regular check-ups that help you identify issues before they grow, thus helping to avoid major repairs.

Servicing Schedules

All of the brand new cars bought lately have car servicing offers included as a part of the car warranty. These offer 3-5 services in a year based on the needs of your car or the engine. However, most of them are based on the miles driven during the period. Car servicing, maintenance must be adhered to as per the certain number of miles fixed during the duration. Car servicing is an element that can never be taken for granted. Hence regular check-ups and cleaning and maintenance are of paramount importance for the life of your car.

If you have had an experience with cars, then you can take care of minor car maintenance. However, it is advisable to not opt for car maintenance on your own, and avoid the risk and just go to the nearest car service in your area.

The following maintenance tips might be of help to you while you are considering proper care taking of your cars:

Regular Servicing:

Car servicing schedules based on prescribed distance, miles or time period must be regularly adhered to. It is easy these days as most of the car companies themselves schedule it for you, in the first 1-3 years of owning your car.

Changing Oil in Engines:

Oil change in your cars must be practiced once in a year, depending upon the total number of miles driven. Advice from mechanics or experts must be followed as proper changing oil schedules can add life years to your engine

Fluid Level Checks:

A mechanic might be of help at this if you do not know how to do it. Every car has essential fluids like coolant fluids, brake fluids, battery fluid, transmission fluid, etc. that are required for its smooth functioning. These should regularly be checked and maintained.

Tire and Brake Check:

These are element of common use in a car and must thus be checked on a very regular basis. The level of brake pressure and prescribed tire pressure must be checked properly.

Car Body Maintenance:

The look of the car is of considerable importance to the user. Add-on elements that are minor yet important, such as side mirrors, headlights, bumper, doors, seats, and other body parts of the car must be kept under check. The repaint of the body, if required must also be not prolonged for longer

We hope these tips help you maintain your car well!

Author Bio:

Orsome Welles is a professional blogger and a regular contributor to many blogs. On behalf of Mercedes Repairs Perth, a leading Car repairing specialist. He loves sharing and exchanging thoughts on automobiles and pen down amazing features pointing out new and upcoming luxury cars in his blogs.

Posted in General | August 14, 2014 

Car wraps & Wrap Advertising!

Wrap advertising or a vehicle wrap is the term used in the marketing practice of completely or partially covering a vehicle in an advertisement or livery, turning it into a mobile billboard. Wrap advertising can be achieved by use of large vinyl sheets known as “decals.” The benefit with vinyl sheets is that they can be removed with relative ease, thereby reducing the costs associated with changing advertisements, drastically. While vehicles with large, flat surfaces are often utilized due to ease, cars can also serve as hosts for wrap advertising, despite consisting of more curved surfaces.

Mobile Advertising: Throwback!

Historically, most of the advertising or branding on cars was done with permanent paint or magnets that would be vulnerable to theft and damage. The automobile would have to be repainted in the event of damage, wearing off or change of campaign, which would obviously be too heavy on the pockets!

Car Wraps: Benefits!

• This form of advertising can turn car maintenance & other expenses to tax deductible business expenses.
• A car wrap would convert you into a privately owned moving billboard.
• It is easy to see, hear and remember the promotion message due to the novelty of car wraps as an advertising concept.
• It is cost effective as the price is reasonable and the wraps removable. This ensures no damage to the underlying car.
• It is a means of semi-permanent advertising application to the car. If and when there is a need for a change in the advertisement, one can simply have a new one designed and applied. However, once removed it is not possible to re-apply the same wrap.
• Good wraps are generally very durable and last up to three years.

Considering advertising your business with a car wrap?

1. Locate a designer and manufacturer around your area, yellow pages and internet should help.
2. It generally takes 2-3 weeks to design and manufacture a customized wrap for your business or automobile.
3. The application of the customized wrap takes anything between 2-3 days.

Have an automobile but no business of your own to market for?

Even if you do not have a business of your own to promote, you can still avail the benefit of earning out of an automobile that stays idle. Contracts between local businesses and local drivers that have private cars of their own is the way to make it happen. The private car owners get paid with a monthly fee. However, the private car owners must promise to drive a minimum number of city kilometres per month in order to qualify.

So go ahead and avail the benefits of car wrap as the most efficient promoting tool if you already own a cool ate model car or a business that needs some real exposure!!!

Author Bio:

Orsome Welles is a professional blogger and a regular contributor to many blogs. On behalf of Car Wrapping Perth, a leading Car repairing specialist. He loves sharing and exchanging thoughts on automobiles and pen down amazing features pointing out new and upcoming luxury cars in his blogs.

Posted in General | August 14, 2014 

Germans are known for at least a few things: their love of beer, their unique accent, and of course their quality cars. It is no wonder then that from time to time a car magazine nominates a few german cars as the best cars in the world.

There are at least a few reasons so many people around the world decide to buy German cars instead of their American or their Japanese counterparts. There is a reason those cars are so attractive to people such as the fact that they are well designed, sporty and powerful. They might be slightly expensive than American or Japanese cars, but they are worth the price every time especially if you are after something that is durable and is guaranteed to serve you for a long time. This is what it means when you say that you get what you pay for.

Going German is a good option if you are looking for a car that won’t depreciate as fast as many American or Japanese cars do. This happens because German cars give you long-lasting benefits in the form of a powerful engine that is superior to many other engines you can find in cars around the world. But this is not where it ends. It is true that German cars give you long-lasting benefits and are also superior when it comes to their comfortable interior and their overall quality, something that only the Germans have been able to master.

What makes German cars so special? I am not sure if you know it, but there are no speed limits on highways in Germany. You can basically drive as fast as you want. German cars were designed to drive those highways. Because of this simple thing, German cars are probably faster than any other cars out there and they deserve to be treated that way.

Posted in General | August 2, 2014 

If you are married, you know how important a wedding ceremony can be and how everything you want to be perfect on that very special day. You care about every single detail and you want to make sure that nothing goes wrong and that everything goes according to the plan just the way you wanted it.

One of the ways to make each wedding ceremony a memorable experience is to hire a limo or another elegant car from Toronto Car Service. Many people choose to hire an elegant car for the duration of the entire ceremony or event. One of the ways to make it cheaper is to hire a limo only for a certain amount of time so that it is only available to you when you really need it. This is a small trick that a friend of mine used when she used a Car service in Toronto on the day of her wedding. They were totally broke before their wedding day, but thanks to this they were still able to hire a limo without spending too much money on it because the truth is that a limo might not be needed anymore after the couple arrives at the wedding reception.

It is also a good idea to start researching limo and car services early. If many couples get married in your area in August, you can expect many limos to be booked many weeks in advance. You can avoid disappointment if you book your limo early. Some companies might offer special promotions for those who choose to book their services early. I suggest that you choose a company offering limo services carefully and wisely so that you know that your special day is not going to be ruined by anything that you overlooked. Hiring a car in advance is absolutely a must to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Posted in General | July 31, 2014 

I remember living close to a neighbor of mine who had a boat in front of his property all year round. Every time summer was about to begin, he would take it to the sea with him. It was very funny for me to observe the whole process how each day he would lift the boat with a few of his friends and then attach it to his car. I am not sure how much it bothered him that the whole process was taking him so long each summer day, but maybe it didn’t bother him that much after all since he was willing to keep doing it.

I am sure that when you have a boat lift from LunmarBoatLifts.com, the whole job of lifting the boat for you can be done by a machine that was designed for such purposes. This can be such a relief to all those boat owners who no longer wish to deal with lifting their boats on their own. If you are one of such people, then you probably know what I am talking about here.

One good place for a boat lift is in a marina that is full of boats. The owner of a marina can make sure that he has a boat lift to help those boat owners who have their boats there make sure that they can quickly transport any boat to and from their vehicles. This solutions sounds so convenient or even mandatory that if you are one of those lucky marina owners, you should consider getting one for yourself. Another situation that warrants getting a boat lift is when you are simply a boat owner and want to facilitate the whole process of transporting your precious boat from one place to another without putting it at risk of being scratched or having your back injured.

Posted in General | July 30, 2014 

It is natural for me to want to replace my old car with a newer one from time to time. I like to buy something new knowing that I am guaranteed to enjoy my new ride. I am sure that many people out there would do the same if they had a chance, especially if they knew that they can expect money for junk cars. Speaking of which, I would never attempt to sell my car on my own. I would prefer to leave everything in the hands of those professionals who specialize in it rather than do everything myself. All I need to do right now is to contact the right person to get some help selling my used car.

I am not a lazy person, but I strongly believe that some tasks are better if you outsource them. Why being bothered by trying to find a buyer for your old car if you can just call somebody who will buy any type of car from you and pay you instantly on the spot? I am a busy person, and I would go to great lengths just to make sure that I have more time for my family and my hobbies. I don’t want to be bothered with mundane tasks such as selling my car if I know that somebody else can do it for me and I can do absolutely nothing in the meantime.

I want to let you in on a little secret of mine: I am planning to buy a new car within the next few months. I am not exactly sure when it is going to take place, but all I know for now is that I won’t want to decide too much of my free time to the process of selling my old vehicle, which can be boring and daunting.

Posted in General | July 29, 2014 

September 4, 2012 was the first and last day of Deianerah Logan’s senior year of high school.

The blonde, pretty, and popular 17-year-old was driving to school in a suburb of Minneapolis when she started texting a friend. Distracted, she crashed into the back of a school bus as two children were exiting it. Logan died and the two children were injured.

Logan’s story is all too common in the United States. Every day, an average of nine people die in car accidents related to distracted driving. In 2012, more than 3,300 people lost their lives and more than 421,000 were injured.

Many drivers use their cell phones while operating their vehicle to answer phone calls, listen to music, and text. If the statistics above aren’t enough to scare you, the infographic below that highlights the following five more reasons not to text and drive should convince you.

Consider Other Motorists and Your Passengers

Reading a text or email is one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving because it forces you to take both eyes off of the road, your hands off of the steering wheel, and your brain off of the task of driving. In fact, a recent study by Car and Driver magazine shows that using a cell phone to text or read emails can delay your reaction time as much or even more than driving under the influence of alcohol.

If you are transporting other people in your car, you have a tremendous responsibility to keep them safe. If you are texting and driving, you are putting your passengers and other motorists at risk of serious injury and death. That text to say “ok” can definitely wait.

It’s (Probably) Against the Law

Not only is texting and driving extremely dangerous, it’s also likely illegal. As deaths from distracted driving rise, most states are developing laws making it illegal to text and drive. If you are caught by a police officer you could be fined up to a couple hundred dollars.

Your Insurance Rates Could Go Up

Your insurance company will not be excited if you get a ticket for texting and driving. If you think your rates are high, wait and see what happens after your citation! If you are involved in an accident where you were distracted and you’re held responsible, your rates will go up even more. In some serious cases, your insurance company may even drop you completely.

Hands-free Technology is Easy to Use

If you really feel like it’s important to use your phone while driving, there are options. Hands-free technology allows you to connect your cell phone to your car’s stereo system. If you have an older call, you can also get a phone with Bluetooth technology.

Posted in General | July 28, 2014 

Do you have any personal experiences with drums? If yes, feel free to share them with me. I have this feeling that drums can be a very fun instrument to play especially if you buy them from musiciansfriend where you always have a wide choice of instruments at your disposal. If you are into such things, i recommend that you make yourself familiar with everything they have to offer.