(NC) You can never take winter driving conditions for granted. Take for example the Minnesota man who, in January 2001, drove a few kilometres to the grocery store and ended up getting stranded in a winter storm for 36 hours!

While you should always try to avoid driving in winter storm conditions, it is sometimes unavoidable. Since the weather is often unpredictable, Michelin advises drivers to be prepared for the unexpected.

“Installing four winter tires on your vehicle will help keep you on the road and can prevent drivers from becoming stranded in severe weather conditions,” advises Tony Mougios, Brand Manager for Michelin in Canada. “Michelin has incorporated new technologies and rubber compounds into our winter tire lines to give drivers extra control and performance in winter conditions.”

In the event you find yourself stranded on the highway or a secondary road this winter, Michelin offers the following tips:

• Move your vehicle as far off the road as possible to avoid being hit

• Turn on your hazard lights to attract help

• Keep additional clothing in your vehicle and put it on to keep warm

• Use a cellular phone to call for help

• Do not drift away from the car and run the engine periodically, but not continuously

• Move your arms and legs to improve your circulation and to keep warm

• Consider the outside temperature and wind chill before leaving your vehicle

The most important tip to remember is not to run your engine continuously, especially if snow is accumulating rapidly. Internal combustion engines produce exhaust fumes known as carbon monoxide a colourless, odourless gas that, if inhaled in sufficient quantities, can cause drowsiness, unconsciousness, coma and even death. If snow accumulates and blocks your exhaust pipe, you are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Take the time to have your vehicle checked before venturing out on the roads this winter because a little preparation and prevention can go a long way. Just as you never expect to get stranded, you can never tell what old man winter will have in store.

- News Canada

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

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Sometimes when you’re trying to find top-quality information on automotive, you’ll find it easier said than done separating superior advice from amateurish automotive suggestions or help so it is wise to recognize ways of moderating the information presented to you.

Hoovers: Automotive Industry Business Intelligence
Provides in-depth business and public/private company information, including profiles, industry overviews, financials, officers, competitors and news.

Here’s several tips that we think you should use when you are trying to find information about automotive. It is important to remember that the guidance we offer you is only pertinent to web based information about automotive. We do not give you any assistance or guidance for conducting research offline.

Aftermarket parts from 1A Auto
1A Auto has a large selection of quality auto parts; Headlights, mirrors, grilles, exhaust, carpet, restoration products, and much more. Expert customer service and dependable parts.

A great hint to follow when offered information and advice about a automotive website is to ascertain who owns the site. This may reveal the operators automotive qualifications The quickest way to work out who owns the automotive site is to find the ‘about’ page.

Any worthwhile website providing information on automotive, will almost certainly provide an ‘about’ or ‘contact’ page which will record the site owner’s contact details. The details should let you know some advice about the owner’s skill and understanding. You can then decide for yourself about the vendor’s insight and appreciation, to provide advice to you regarding automotive.

About the author:
Tom Brown is the webmaster for http://www.hession-burrinjuck.info

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Since its inception, the market of used cars has suddenly escalated at an unprecedented rate for the past few years. In fact, surveys show that the number of people who buy used cars is almost tripled when compared to the number of people who buy new cars.

That is why many people are enticed to buy used cars because it is gradually becoming a trend in the car buying industry.

However, it does not necessarily mean that buyers will just take the process of selecting used cars for granted. Hence, it is important to take note of the ways to check the car prior to the closure of the deal.

Therefore, for people who wish to know the different ways on checking the condition of the used car, here are some pointers:

1. Test drive

There is no better way to check the condition of the car than to do a test drive. In this way, the buyer will be able to know the actual condition of the car and its parts like the brakes, accelerator, etc.

Also, the buyer will be able to detect at once if there are some “clunks” and rattles on the used car, even if the test drive is just a short trip.

2. Personal inspection

Aside from test-driving, it is also important for the buyer to personally inspect the details of the body make-up and its condition.

In this manner, the buyer will be able to identify any signs of rusts and damages, the condition of the tires, oil leaks, etc.

3. Mileage check

Usually, an average user or driver will consume 12,000 to 15,000 miles in a year. In this way, the buyer will be able to know the approximate age of the car by looking at its mileage.

4. Mechanic check

Another way of checking the condition of a used car prior to its purchase is to seek the help of a mechanic. This may cost the buyer some charges but the money would surely be spent for a good cause. The mechanic is the best person who could instantly assess technically and professionally the condition of a certain car.

5. CARFAX Report

Knowing the history of the car is also one of the best ways to know the real condition of the car. Hence, it is important for the buyer to seek the help of CARFAX report in order to know the full details of the used car’s history.

Take the proper steps and research your purchase. Doing so will guarantee a happy car buying experience.

About the author:

Gregory Ashton, your resident automobile enthusiast, bringing to you over 20 years of vehicular passion, and expertise; presents for your approval his insider secrets on selecting, buying, and maintianing the car that is ideal for you. auto repair, Transmission Repair, Lee Myles Transmissions AutoCare, Lee Myles Auto Repair, Lee Myles Transmission Repair, Auto Care, Car Care, Auto Repair Shops, Automotive Services, Tranmission Services, Lee Myles, Transmissions

Most people know that it is possible to refinance their homes but did you know it is also possible to refinance your auto? Indeed for many people who have high interest sub prime car loans, refinancing their auto loans may be a wise decision. How do you know when refinancing your bad credit auto loan might be a good idea? And once you have decided to refinance, how should you go about doing it so that you actually improve your loan situation?

Just as when you refinance your home loan, when you refinance your auto loan the old loan is paid off in full and it is replaced by a new loan. If when you bought your car your credit score was below 620, the interest rate on your auto loan may be significantly above the interest rate you can qualify for today. By refinancing your bad credit auto loan the monthly payment may go down substantially. Also, over the life of the loan you may save several thousand dollars in interest payments.

You may be a candidate for an auto loan refinance if

Your car loan has become “seasoned”; that is, if you have had it for at least a year.

You have made your payments in a timely manner.

Your car s value is more than the amount you owe on it.

If all of the above statements are true, then it may be time to investigate refinancing your car.

First, make sure you are fully aware of the state of your current credit report and current credit rating. Both of these are easily available online. You are entitled to one free credit report each year. Your current credit score (FICO score) should also be available for a nominal fee.

Second, find out your car s value. Having your car appraised is not a requirement for refinancing your auto loan but you should know its value. Most auto loan refinance companies require that your loan be at least $7,500 so your car value must be at least that amount. At your local bookstore and online there are many resources for estimating your car s worth. Two of the most popular sources are the Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds Buyer Guides. Be sure and have a realistic eye when surveying your car s condition, you can be sure your lender will.

Third, research the available lenders. It may be that your current lender will be open to refinancing your car. However, you should shop around for the institution that will give you the lowest interest rate and refinance as small an amount as possible. When these two conditions are met you will then also get the lowest monthly payment available.

Fourth, as with any loan, have all offers put in writing. Take the time to read the fine print and compare the proposals.

Finding a lender to refinance your bad credit auto loan may take some time and effort. The savings to your pocketbook every month and over the life of the loan, however, can easily make the time and effort worthwhile.

About The Author

Carrie Reeder is the owner of http://www.abcloanguide.com, an informational website about various types of loans.

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If you want to get the perfect car loan that fits your budget, it is foolhardy to just sign-up when you have not determined all of your available options. Before doing so, you might to consider first the figures that you will be working with.

Once you have determined the model of the car that you want, where you will be getting the loan from, and your monthly allowance for the used car loan payment, you may proceed with signing up. Then you will be on your way to owning the vehicle that you want.

There are a lot of web sites online which offer auto loan rate calculators.

These rates vary by state and city. There are also online lenders who offer a cheaper rate, as compared to getting car loans via banks who - more often than not - deny your loan application, especially for used vehicles.

Research online and visit the used car dealers in your area. Collect the price quotes first to determine the current rates for the used cars available in the market.

You can also ask around for the rates. You are bound to get more results by word of mouth, especially if you know car enthusiasts.

Take the following as an example of the current used car rates:

In California, three lenders who offer used car loans are the Bank of America, Capital One Auto Finance and Wells Fargo Bank.

For a used car loan, the Bank of America offers 20% down payment and an 11.2% rate. You would add to this a $75 fee and a .25% discount with auto debit.

The second lender, which is Capital One Auto Finance, offers a 6.25 % rate and a 20% down payment. There are no application fees and prepayment penalties.

Wells Fargo Bank offers an 8.88% rate and a 20% down, a $50 application fee and a .25% discount with auto debit.

At the end of the day, just compare these three rates and determine which offer would fit your budget.

Also consider the distance, mileage and the final asking price.

One more thing that you should consider when comparing rates is the number of months for you to make the payments.

There are several options. Some lenders offer a 36 month used car loan. For higher asking prices, longer payment terms are available.

For a 36-month used car loan, for example, the rate offered is 8.31%. This rate increases as the number of months increase.

After researching and looking through all of your options, choose the lowest rate that you can get and remember not to overspend when you have already reached a certain target budget.

About the author:

Gregory Ashton, your resident automobile enthusiast, bringing to you over 20 years of vehicular passion, and expertise; presents for your approval his insider secrets on selecting, buying, and maintianing the car that is ideal for you. auto repair, Transmission Repair, Lee Myles Transmissions AutoCare, Lee Myles Auto Repair, Lee Myles Transmission Repair, Auto Care, Car Care, Auto Repair Shops, Automotive Services, Tranmission Services, Lee Myles, Transmissions