Archive for April, 2009
Why I Bought A Ford Escape Hybrid
Unlike many millions of people I need a small SUV for my business. We need the space to carry tools a ladder a laptop antennas boxes of cable and the electronic equipment to be installed at a customers location.
We had been using a Chevy Blazer for the last 4 years that had accumulated about 130000 miles and was getting around 16 miles per gallon. We had never had any trouble with the Blazer but with the accumulated miles I was getting concerned it would start to have problems about the time the weather broke this year and we really got busy doing installations. Also presently gas is about 2.75 a gallon here in Illinois and I believe it will just continue to trend upward in price.
So with Hybrid in the back of my mind I started to look around for a new vehicle. We had to have something to carry all that gear in so that eliminated anything like a Prius or Honda Civic. So I got online and found the Ford Escape. It looked like just what we needed as long as I could get it in four wheel drive. The dealer finally found one at a dealer about 350 miles away and they drove it over so we could try it out. We did and subsequently purchased a new Ford Escape Hybrid in January 2007.
I think most people with four wheel drive vehicles really do not need four wheel drive for any real reason but I do. We live in the country and have a quarter mile private lane to the public road. In February we woke up to about 8 inches of snow on the ground and about 35 mile per hour winds. Our lane was drifted shut and the road was drifted shut. At about 9 in the morning our electricity went off.
Now no electricity is a major pain but we still had heat because we have a wood stove. Not so for my 83 year old motherinlaw who lives alone in another house about 1/2 mile across a field from our house. After about 2 hours of no electricity her house started to get cold. She has a propane fireplace but was afraid to try to light it.
At first I thought I would walk over and light the fireplace and I actually did bundle up and start off across the field to her house. The wind was brutal out in the open and about a third of the way I noticed that most of the snow had blown off of the field and was probably up covering the road. So I went back and got in the Escape to drive over.
The Escape has an automatic four wheel drive system that engages the four wheel drive as needed. This was the first time I would actually put it to the test. Although most of the snow had blown off one side of the hill in the field the other side was waves of drifts but at least I had a run at it and made it over to my motherinlaws house with no problem.
Later in the day I drove through the field up to the road but decided not to try the road because all that snow that had come off the field was definitely on the road. Believe me it is quite possible to get a four wheel drive vehicle stuck because I have done it. The road grader cleared the roads and our lane later that day only to have the wind start blowing hard the next day from another direction and deposit another bunch of drifts across the lane. But the Escape four wheel drive handled it pretty well.
At first the mileage on the Escape was about 24.5 miles per gallon. The dealer had told me that the mileage would begin to climb after about 5000 miles. I am not sure why that is but now at about 4000 miles the mileage is up to about 28.5 miles per gallon. The mileage estimate on the car is about 31 miles per gallon. I think when I start to average 30 miles per gallon I will be delighted and feel like we have accomplished one reason for the purchase of the Ford Escape Hybrid.
About the writer: Michael Dappert is a cofounder of Winco Inc. a provider of wireless internet access to small communities in West Central Illinois. Everyone is invited to discuss a wide range of issues at Flyoverfolks.com.
Where And How To Find Classic Car Parts
You’ve finally gotten your hands on the classic car of your dreams but wait a minute now you have to figure out how to get your hands on the car parts you need in order to keep it running. If you’ve worked hard at acquiring the car then it is probably a safe assumption that finding the parts you need is high on your list of priorities.
However you can’t just walk into a dealership and place your order for the parts you need because there is a 99 chance they are no longer manufactured by the automaker. Regardless no matter what your taste in classic cars whether it is for muscle cars antiques or vintage models if you know where to begin looking then with a little digging you can find what you need.
Here are some places where you should begin your search:
Online Auctions
Ebay is a great place to start your search for the classic car parts you need. Just about everything you could ever want can be found on Ebay or more precisely in the case of cars Ebay Motors. If you find the parts you need this way you’ll have to pay shipping charges but this is just a necessary evil you will have to contend with if you want the parts; however if you are trying to keep your costs down you can try searching the local swap meets.
Swap Meets
Swap Meets can be hit and miss and are probably not your best bet for finding the parts you need but it never hurts to look. You may get lucky and find just what you are in need of and even better probably get it for a very low price.
Classic Car Part Dealer Publications
You will often find it very easy to find the parts you need in these types of magazines; however the downside is that it will probably cost you an arm and a leg to get the parts. This is an option you should use only as a last resort especially if you are trying to avoid breaking the bank. Explore all of your other possibilities first and if nothing pans out and you really need the part or parts than do it but don’t just make the purchase because it is easier than being patient and looking thoroughly. You may regret your decision a week later when you stumble across the parts for a lot less money somewhere else.
Clubs and Organizations
Where there is a hobby there is usually a club or organization to go along with it and this couldn’t be truer of classic car restoration. By locating and joining one of these clubs you can improve your chances of finding the parts you need. This also allows you the chance to network and get to know others who share your same interests and may even own the same car you do. If this happens to be the case they may be able to point you in the right direction on where to get the parts you are looking for. Finding these clubs is as easy as logging onto the Internet and doing a search so there is no excuse for you not to try.
Junkyards
Okay so having to dig through the junkyard is a not so glamorous idea and one that you probably didn’t consider when you bought your dream car; unfortunately you may have no choice. But look on the bright side it may payoff big time and if you’re lucky your local junkyard will be entirely computerized so that all you will need to do is make a phone call to inquire about what you are looking for. You may get lucky enough not to have to go to the junkyard after all.
Whatever the case may be you probably put a lot of time and effort into getting your car so what’s a little more effort in order to get it running. The moment you hear that engine ignite and begin purring will make all the hard work worth it.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Read more from Joe Goertz at: myautosmagazine.com
What You Need To Know Before Ordering A Vw Engine Online
What You Need to Know Before Ordering a VW Engine Online
By Larry N. Dawson Manager GEX International
Congratulations! Youve just snagged the car of your dreams: a beautifully restored 1966 Volkwagen Bug with a hot custom paint job! Looks great but theres just one minor problem: it needs a new engine! Youve got your heart set on a killer 2275 cc Dual Port street screamer. Where do you start? Your best bet? Hit the Net!
BUT BEFORE YOU DO READ THIS ARTICLE! Weve all heard Buyer Beware for years even before the birth of the first Volkswagen. Since the advent of the World Wide Web while greatly expanding our buying options were now subjected to scary things like fraud identity theft spyware you name it its out there. So weve all got to be careful.
After many years of being a vendor of rebuilt and custom VW engines Ive heard my share of horror stories from people whove had bad experiences when purchasing engines online prior to becoming GEX customers of course!. To help you make an informed decision Ive compiled a Top 10 List of things you should consider when looking for an online Volkswagen engine vendor:
Larrys Top 10 List
1.Check out the website. Is it well organized? Does it look legit? A poorly designed disorganized website with a bunch of glaring errors is a clue their products and services are likely to be equally disorganized.
2.Watch out for websites that dont provide a phone number and physical address. Even if theres a phone number listed call it and see what happens. Did it go directly to voice mail? If so leave a message and see how quickly they respond.
3.How long has the company been in business? Is it proudly stated on their website? There are many startups on the internet. Being around for a long time indicates the company isnt a flybynight and can be counted on to be there.
4.Is there a wide selection of engines? Are custom engines available? Although there are reputable small vendors out there who offer just a few a comprehensive selection indicates a companys expertise and dedication to their product line.
5.Are the extras included with the engine at no additional charge clearly listed? If theyre not listed thats a red flag. Be sure you know exactly what youre getting before you order!
6.Look closely at the warranty. Is it limited to only Stock engines or does it include Hiperformance engines as well? Is it in writing? Does it cover parts AND labor? Is it nationwide? Is it for a mere 30 days on performance engines or 12 months/12000 miles? Checking out the fine print can be pretty boring but its one of the most important things you can do to ensure youre getting the best warranty available.
7.Is there a true production engine rebuilding facility on site? Or is it a 2 man repair shop? Investment in a complete automotive machine shop shows a companys commitment to producing a high quality product.
8.Are all engines hot run tested under load and completely dialed in before being protective wrapped and crated for delivery to your door?
9.Assure the websites order form is secure before entering sensitive data. You should see https:// in the address bar at the top of your browser before you input your credit card information. There might also be a closed padlock displayed at the bottom of your screen. If the lock is open its not secure. Never provide anything other than required info fields marked with a red asterisk.
10.Print out your order confirmation and a full description of what you ordered. The confirmation should include all of the items you ordered and confirmation number. If the confirmation is emailed to you print that too as well as any correspondence with the company.
You deserve the very best rebuilt VW engine available! Using the tips above will assure thats exactly what you get!
GEX the Industry Leader is the largest Volkswagen production engine remanufacturer in North America. At GEX we believe a successful business must have 3 basic ingredients: The right product at the right price with the best possible warranty to back it up. Since 1973 we have gone to great lengths to assure that our customers are getting the very best in PREMIUM REBUILT VW ENGINES COMPONENTS available. http://www.GEX.com
About the writer: By Larry N. Dawson Manager GEX International
