Auto Industry News & Updates

How Used Cars Sale Help You Save Funds

2012-01-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

Everyone does not have budget to afford buying a new car, so they go for used cars. So if you are one of them, and decided to buy a second hand car, then you need to search for the dealers who offer used cars for sale.

As there are lots of dealers available in the market, so it is recommended to do your proper research before selecting one. You need to compare the features and price quotes offered by these dealers so that you can make a wise decision. If researched well, then you will be able to find a second hand car very easily and also at reasonable rates in the market.

There are lots of dealers available in Sydney that offers Used Cars for sale. You can go for the option of online dealers as well.

The next thing that you should consider while going for used cars sale Sydney is to check out the availabilities of accessories and their rates. After comparing all the rates, you will be able to decide the car that suits your budget. People going for second hand cars can be cheated by the owners or dealers that offer Used Car Sales Sydney, so it is advisable to consult a mechanic or your friend, who is aware of cars mechanically so that he will guide you properly. They can easily spot defects or faults in the cars, if any, as compared to us.

If you want to go for online dealers, then there are various second hand car listing sites available on the Internet that provide car inspection facilities by experts while cars are being listed for sale. Therefore, it makes the task of the vehicle buyer a much simpler one.

Searching for online used car sales Sydney is the best way that you can go for. There are numerous websites available that can offer you used cars for sale at cheaper rates.

Used Car Finance – Do’s and Don’ts

2011-12-12T02:30:00.000-08:00

Owning a car has become a very easy task today. And it does not hold true only for brand new cars but even for used cars. Used Car Finance is available very easily these days and it just takes some paperwork to get your dream car home. However, contrary to that it is not that easy to understand the intricacies of the process involved in obtaining a used car loan. We aim to provide few dos and don’ts with reference to second hand car finance.

· Dos

Know your Budget – One of the basics of getting used car finance is to know your budget as it is the first question that the car dealer or the financier will ask for. You have to be sure of the amount of money you want for the car that you have chosen.

Research – There is lots of information available online for used cars and one must thoroughly asses the pros and cons of the various vehicles available in the market before opting for used car finance Sydney.

Calculate – It always helps to calculate the costs involved in getting used car finance. There are a number of schemes and packages available and you must work out every possible option before choosing to go for a Used Car Loan.

· Don’ts

Overspend – One of the most common mistakes that people make is overspending. When used car finance is available at ease with a good scheme people usually end up spending more than required and buying a car that is ill affordable for them.

Make Haste – Never ever make haste in purchasing a costly thing as a car just because a plethora of second hand car finance schemes are available. This is another common mistake that people commit and then end up paying more than required.

It is not always easy when it comes to understanding what it takes to successful obtaining used car finance Sydney from the dealers but the time spent in researching, calculating and becoming knowledgeable has its own benefits.

Car Finance Sydney Lets You Explore Various Benefits

2011-11-21T21:27:00.000-08:00

…..a feeling of owning a car can be related to sheer passion and gusto for driving! Speeding by high-ways with loved ones is just a wonderful moment to be cherished. Passing by the scenic landscapes, majestic views of far- away places all these are followed when you go for an excursion tour by car! In short, to experience this, you need to have finest car, well equipped with comfort, elegance, and of course style! More often you will see people discussing car finance policies, packages, new cars, Car Sales, car parts and accessories!

You just name the car and you will find large number of luxurious cars in the market. Nowadays, having a car symbolizes the status; hence, our personality is reflected while making a choice. People quite often go crazy for sedan cars like limousine, Mercedes etc. Today’s market of automobiles caters multiple models, involving latest car parts, accessories. Car Finance Sydney endows you with varied policies, finance packages and other useful information.

….mistakes may take place while purchasing swanky New Cars from sellers, dealers or retailers. Obviously you would find different finance packages, in a city like Sydney! Car finance Sydney leads you to better car finance space, where buyers would have all possible quickest way to find out car finance arrangements. For this, what you can do is, search online for car finance Sydney, various results would show you best sites/portals, where you need to fill up enquiry form to get basic ideas of pricing.

By filling up your income, and other details, you would get an idea about myriad of options for finance packages and schemes, fitting into your budget and needs. Online finance application forms are the easiest way to get response within few hours! You can reap the rewards of good competitively priced car finance by spending some more time on net.

How Car Finance Works to Buy Cars in Sydney

2011-10-18T02:01:00.000-07:00

Individuals and businesses have range of car finance options available to them. Individuals looking for Car Finance in Sydney have a range of options to them depending on how often they use their vehicles for business and whether they job offers them salary packaging.

When a financier provides car finance to a customer, the customer gets to take ownership of the car at the time of purchase while the financier gets to take an interest in the car as security of the car loan. Once the contract has been completed, the financier lifts the interest in the vehicle, hence giving the customer clear title.

The best thing about personal car loans is that the contract is usually flexible and a balloon can be applied to the contract along with the choice of either fixed or variable interest rates. Deposits of either trade-ins or cash can be used as well. A tax deduction is available in case the vehicle is going to be used for business purposes.

An individual Car Loan is suitable for people who wish to buy a new car but do not have major business use of their vehicle or the choice of novated leasing.

Companies which are looking for Car Finance in Sydney have a whole range of options available to them. The financier buys the vehicle for the customer who then leases the car from the financier and pays a monthly rental depending on the terms of the lease. When the lease ends, the customer can pay the final instalment and take ownership of the car or he can re-finance the residual and continue the lease.

The benefit of a business car loan is that there is a fixed interest rate along with fixed monthly lease rentals and all costs are known in advance. There are tax deductions available when the car is being used for business purposes.

Getting the Best Used Car Dealer

2011-07-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

There are many used car sales in Sydney, but which one is the best? Out of all the options, which used car dealer is the perfect one? Here are some tips to get the best options to buy used cars.

1. Check the reputation:
When you select a dealer, make sure you check out his reputation. He should be honest, accommodating, and fair in dealing with customers. Unfortunately, this is very hard to judge, and you can rely on your friends or family to give you some references.

2. See their services:
Make sure that you get the best services from them. These services include:

• Check in/check out: Many dealers offer express service and maintenance appointments to their customers.
• Finances and loans: Some dealers also provide loans and finance options to their customers. This makes buying cars easier.
• Rates and discounts: There are many dealers that offer discounts based on some factors. Ask the dealer if you are eligible for any discount.
• Warranty: While all dealers do not provide them, some offer extended warranties on vehicles and services.

3. Compare prices:
Most people think that they are paying for the entire vehicle. Majority of dealers of used Ford cars envelop add-ons, which might include interior accessories, undercarriage coating, paint protectors, and window tinting etc.

There are some extra charges like dock fees and dealer handling to setup a car for sale and making the sale documents. You can negotiate with the extra fees.

These are just the three basic factors that you need to consider to select a used car dealer. There are some other factors as well- the dealer should be honest, dignified and respectful. The car you are buying is used, but the person who is assisting you should be genuine and helpful. This is an important factor when you buy something for long term, like a car.

Buy car parts online and save lots of efforts

2011-06-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

With the latest boom in internet technology and wide spread of e-commerce and social networking sites, the world has become a global market place. Buying and selling of products has become much easy and is just a click away. The internet users now have the comfort of making online purchase by just sitting home. Products like pre-owned cars, two wheelers and used car parts can now be easily sold and purchased online.

There is a vast pool of people who prefer buying pre-owned products especially car parts, in order to save some money. Now days there are e-commerce sites which are specifically dedicated to automobiles. The automobile e-commerce web sites gives an option to the sellers to advertise their automobile products such as two wheelers, car parts and pre-owned car free of cost. Once the product is advertised on these sites, the buyers have the option to compare the products as per choice and if they find it worth the deal then they can easily buy them. Certain e-commerce web sites charge minimal fees once the deal is cracked, while some offer you services free of cost. Such e-commerce websites can be easily found on internet by using search engines.

These e-commerce sites also have discussion forums which are very helpful. For an instance, if a person wants to buy certain car parts, but he/she is unsure whether to buy it from a website or a local dealer, the person can raise his/her query to other users and get instant replies. Often the moderators are also very helpful and address the queries. Apart from using e-commerce site, one can also get in touch with certain authorized car companies over the internet. These authorized dealer generally follow a set pattern of rules through which they decide the price of the product, hence the person has lesser chances of selling his/her product at a less price. Some authorized dealers also provide a valid certificate of purchase along with certain discount vouchers which can be used on their products. So you have plenty of options these days, even if your need expensive tools all you need to do is to sign in on a website and ask about your questions!

Hire car Service to airport and enjoy the ride!

2011-06-26T22:53:00.000-07:00

Having a luxury car with all the facilities pick you up and drop you to your destination surely sounds perfect, and to turn this into a reality, you will have to consider hiring a car service. Getting home after a long flight is very tedious and a bad ride back home makes it worse. What makes things even more unpleasant is when you have to attend a meeting or go somewhere after the flight. However the time between getting off the plane at the airport and arriving at the destination can be used in a much better way. You can hire airport car service if you want a ride that can actually rejuvenate you on your way to your destination. These car services are very reliable and will pick you on time and drop you wherever you want. You don't need to worry about anything on the way, just specify which route you want to take and you will be there in no time! There are several rental airport car services that will provide you with maximum comfort as well as convenience.

It does not matter if you are travelling alone or with a group, you will have various types of services to choose from. Airport car service is the best option for you as they have an array of airport shuttle buses, airport cars and minivans. If you are travelling in a group consider hiring a minivan or a bus depending on the number of people. If you are alone and want to travel comfortably you can hire airport luxury car service. These services ensure your safety and are never late they are so comfortable that you can take a nap on your way to the airport or home. If you are going to a different country or a place that you are not aware of, you should definitely opt for these services as the experienced drivers of the cars know all the routes. All you need to do is to call these services and tell them where you want to be picked and dropped off. After the car picks you up just sit back and enjoy the ride in your luxury car!

Used Cars In Sydney

2011-05-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

Are you planning to buy a car so as to enjoy a comfortable journey? Well, then you must have set certain budget for the same. Buying any car is not an easy task, however these days, you will come across the concept of used cars which are comparatively affordable. If you are interested in getting a used car, then you have to ensure certain things in advance and for that pre-purchase check has to be there. In order to get the right information on a specific model, various online portals can be consulted by the party interested in the purchase. You can actually enjoy a good bargain in the used cars market; however you need to do an extensive online search.

Make sure that the registration number of the used cars which are being considered by you has to be valid and legal. With second hand cars, it is important for you to be extra careful in order to avoid any kind of problem. What we see is actually what we believe in and this is the reason why the complete inspection of the used car has to be done beforehand. Apart from this, whenever you are out for the used cars search, it is also important for you to get some information about the car model and the payment options. But first of all you have to look for the condition of the tires, working of the engine, condition of the audio system fitted in the car and the car battery.

Ford ranger Sydney

2011-05-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

For all those who want to try their hands at every car model, leasing cars is a very good option. If you are in Australia, then you can lease Ford ranger in Sydney which is going to enhance your overall driving experience. You can easily get the car on lease and you also need not spend huge money on buying one for yourself. By getting the Ford Ranger in Sydney on lease, you can stick on to your old car as well and without any hassles of disposing it off. Leasing is really advantageous and many of the top companies offer this option to its prospects and Ford Ranger is one of the most sought after cars in the leasing section.

If you are interested in driving this classic car, then you must get Ford Ranger in Sydney on lease. All you need to focus on is getting the right deal in the market and once you have that in your hand, you should not let it go. You can always consult your friends before getting Ford Ranger in Sydney on lease so as to get the most fun at reasonable prices. You should have all the required documents ready with you beforehand in order to get the right deal at right time. For you, it is also important to maintain a good reputation with the leasing company so as to be the first one to know about the most profitable option in and around your area.

New Ford Cars

Ford Escape

2011-04-16T03:05:00.000-07:00

Ford Escape is a SUV designed and made by the famous car manufacturing company Ford Motors. Ford Motors came into existence in the year 1903 and is named after its founder Henry Ford. The company is based in the Car Capital of the World – Detroit, Michigan.

Ford Escape was first launched in the year 2001 and is a variety of the Crossover car. Crossovers are cars which are built on the platform of some other car model and their body is built later accordingly. But, for marketing purposes the car is still tagged under the category of SUVs than Crossovers.

Further modifications were added to the Ford Escape in 2004. The modifications were done to convert the car into a hybrid car that can use more than one mode of fuel or power for their running. Apart from fuels such as petrol and gasoline, Ford Escape can also run with the help of electric motors.

In the decade since the car was launched, there have been two versions or two generations of the car that have come up:

- Generation I was the original version of the car launched in 2001. The first generation Ford Escape was in operation till 2007.

- The second generation Ford Escape was launched in 2008 and is still under operation.

However, after 2011, it has been said that the manufacturing of the second generation Ford Escape will be stopped and a third generation model will be launched. Considering the way these two versions were accepted all over, it can be safely predicted that even the third generation Ford Escape will be a huge success.

Ford Escape Sale in Sydney

Ford Escape: The Escapade from Ford you can't escape!

2011-03-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Ford Escape, the compact SUV from Ford is a five seater with unibody construction and outstanding fuel efficiency, designed exclusively to suit long distance travels for work, fun, recreation or relaxation. With a 3.0L Duratec V6 engine having a fuel efficiency of 23-28 mpg, Ford Escape is being claimed to be the most fuel efficient SUV on the planet.

Ford Escape is available in five superb models; namely Escape XLS, XLT, Escape Limited, Escape Hybrid and Escape Hybrid Limited; XLS being the basic standard model and Hybrid Limited being the most superior model. However each model has unique equipment and can be customized with a number of additional equipments available. Ford Escape having 133.9 cubic feet of interior room is designed for comfort and versatility. On folding the back of both rear seats down, one gets a space of 67.2 cubic feet for carrying cargo.

The Ford Escape is characterized by a number of standard and optional facilities that make its driving and travelling experience worthwhile. It has handsome looks with full upper and lower body chrome grill, bright and luxurious black charcoal cloth or leather trimmed seats and distinctive exteriors and interiors. Ford Escape is a combination of excellent SUV capability and exceptional fuel economy alongwith environment friendly features such as reduced emissions that make it easy on the environment. The appealing looks, ultimate performance, impressive fuel economy and advanced engineering make Ford Escape a go-getter SUV.

Ford, New Ford Cars

New Ford Cars

2011-02-08T01:52:00.000-08:00

The Ford Motor Company is amongst the best car companies in the world. After the great achievements of past years, The Ford Motor Company is all set to unveil many new Ford cars that will set the tone of competition in various car segments. The new ford cars which are expected to grace the roads over the next couple of years include the much awaited Ford Explorer, For Fusion Hybrid and Ford Focus Electric.

All these new Ford cars are amongst the new Ford car models that the real Ford enthusiasts are said to be looking forward to with bated breaths!

The most talked about amongst the new Ford cars is the Ford Focus Electric. This new Ford car offers the consumers real freedom from fuel expenses as it is Ford Motor Company's first fuel-free, rechargeable passenger car. This new Ford car from Ford Motor Company is its first zero-emissions passenger car that sports several eco friendly features. If you are amongst the environmentally conscious breed of drivers you are sure to love this new Ford car.

Another of the new Ford cars eagerly awaited for is the Ford Explorer, which is said to be 100% reinvented and billed as the most fuel-efficient full-size SUV. An eminent jury of journalists has already named this new Ford car the most fuel-efficient, capable 2011 North American Truck of the Year.

Another new Ford car that has caught the imagination of eco friendly drivers is the Ford Fusion. The gas-powered and hybrid models of Ford Fusion deliver plenty of responsive performance with an impressive fuel efficiency.

New Car Dealers

2011-01-05T00:13:00.000-08:00

Buying a car requires a lot of research and understanding of needs. A new car should suit your needs and should be in the budget. Understanding a car is again an issue with a lot of people as most of the times the typical automotive language sounds like some alien language to us. New Car dealers are the most easy and convenient source to understand what your car would be. The best thing about any new car dealer is that they offer some most exciting offers on the purchase.

New car dealers help individuals to identify the model and makes of cars. Under one roof you can find many variants of cars and their models. This makes the task of choosing a car much easier and takes away the trouble of visiting different showrooms of specific car sellers.

The most important aspect of negotiating with any new car dealer is to make sure that there are no fraudulent practices involved. Always choose the car dealer who has a reputation for selling with honesty.

New Car dealers are available physically in every part of the globe and proffers great services. Off late online new car dealers have gathered a momentum in popularity among people. These online new car dealers save the effort of physically going to a car dealer and checking out the specifications of car, its price and many other things. While being in your dwelling you can grab an idea of the car that you want to buy along with its prices. Many people share their experiences online as well. This even gives you an idea about the reputation of the car dealer.
New car dealers are a great help to buy cars in the most effortless manner.

Getting the Best Deal When Buying A Ford Car

2010-12-15T00:43:00.000-08:00

Another popular way to research and learn about a Ford car dealer Sydney is using the Internet. You can use the Internet to look through directories of companies, which often include multiple car dealerships. You can also use the Internet to determine the quality of service that a Ford dealers can have. It is common for business directories or websites that allow guests to review a business or service to be Ford. You should use these comments in the same way you would use a comment from a friend.

You can also search an area of Sydney Ford car dealership by using a phone book in Sydney. Ford car dealers can typically be found in the business directly from the phone book, commonly known as the Yellow Pages. Most phone books will separate the new car dealers and Ford, making your search easier. If you live outside the Sydney area you can use the Internet for an online telephone directory.More...

Buying used cars can have great advantages. It saves you from expenses attached to new cars. A new car depreciates as soon as you drive of the dealer’s lot. After three years, its value is between 50 to 70% of the original price, and even less depending on the brand. The idea that a car depreciates between 15 to 20% every year makes second hand cars attractive.

when trying to buy a used car

2010-12-04T02:27:00.000-08:00

There are several things one needs to consider when trying to buy a used car.This is to be prepared before starting the process of buying. Try getting as much information as possible from family, reviews and websites that help compare options. Most of the time, car buyers are torn between purchasing a brand new car and getting a pre-owned one. This sentiment often hinders buyers from acquiring a car that’s worth their hard-earned money.

Here is a list of some more used cars to buy:

* Ford Focus
* Ford Crown Victoria
* Ford Mustang
* Volkswagen Golf
* Volkswagen Passat VR6
* Acura Legend
* Mitsubishi Eclipse GS - T and GSX
* MAZDA MIATA

So, these were the top rated second hand cars which you can consider buying. Start saving immediately to buy one of these wonderful cars and enjoy their driving pleasure. All the best!

Choosing the Right Used Cars

2010-12-04T00:39:00.000-08:00

There are several things one needs to consider when trying to buy a used cars.This is to be prepared before starting the process of buying. Try getting as much information as possible from family, reviews and websites that help compare options. Most of the time, car buyers are torn between purchasing a brand new car and getting a pre-owned one. This sentiment often hinders buyers from acquiring a car that’s worth their hard-earned money.

Check List

Here is a check list that will help you when you go out there looking for a suitable car. This is not a comprehensive list but can act as a good guideline when buying a second hand cars.

* Paint
* Dents
* Corrosion
* Engine Oil
* Oil Leaks
* Transmission Fluid
* Upholstery
* Dashboard
* Stereo
* Air Conditioning
* Tires
* Vehicle Identification Number
* Ownership Paperwork
* Test Drive

Also take notes of any faults that you might find you can use these as bargaining chips during the final negotiation.

Ford Mondeo Sydney

2010-11-28T23:48:00.000-08:00

Ford Mondeo, designed as a world car, was expected to replace earlier models like the Sierra in Britain, the Telstar in Asia and Ford models in Sydney. The car design, built on an entirely new platform, incorporated advances in automatic and manual transmission, and better designing courtesy subtly designed rear and front.

Ford Mondeo was launched in 1993 in four door saloon, five door hatchback and five door estate variants, and came in the petrol as wells as diesel version. The launch of the Ford Mondeo was seen as facelift for the company which was supposedly overrun by accountants. The six billion dollar car was seen as an attempt to revert the control back to the engineers.

Newer versions of the Ford Mondeo, the Mondeo LX Hatch and the Mondeo Zetec Hatch, feature the latest in passenger safety including ABS braking technology and airbags. These cars have become very popular in Sydney because they include the latest in comfort and style including the latest in climate control technology, dynamic stability, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control and speed control.

The Mondeo was the first car to feature airbags in all its versions; also, featuring side-impact bars and seat belts as standard features in all its models. Its higher models featured ABS for better control in tricky driving conditions. This front engine car came in front wheel drive and four wheel drive capability. The four wheel drive transferred power to the rear wheels in slippery conditions helping the car to navigate through tough driving conditions in Sydney.

With a maximum curb weight of 1611 kilograms, Ford Mondeo provided comfort and drivability in all kinds of conditions making it very popular in places like Sydney, London and so on. The car has won all kinds of awards for its performance including "Car of the year" award from Top Gear.

Ford Mondeo Sydney

Used Cars

Ford Car Parts Sydney for a Genuine Ford Model

2010-11-28T20:59:00.000-08:00

When it comes to cars, a Ford Motor Company has been as good as stays a single of a many devoted names in car manufacturing. Automobile production story fanatics substantially will recollect a initial Ford automobile each built that was a Ford Model A.

The Ford Model A was not as renouned as a after indication called a Ford Model T. Though it would be flattering tough to find Ford Car Parts Sydney for a genuine Ford Model A or Ford Model T, there will substantially be genuine suppliers of Ford Car Parts for alternative Ford automobile models.

Cumberland Ford is one of western Sydney's most central Ford parts suppliers. Whilst retail customers are being served at our parts and accessories shop in Main Street Blacktown, our wholesale team schedules multiple daily delivery runs to Ford partners, workshops and trade partners in Sydney and most regional areas.

Our parts manager and his experienced team offer friendly and prompt advice over the phone as well as convenient and cost saving solutions with online ordering and real-time processing. If you would like to personally discuss your future options with Cumberland Ford our team parts advisors are happy to meet you and discuss the very best solutions available to further enhance your daily operations.

Used Cars

Ford Cars Finance and Insurance

2010-11-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

The Ford brand is synonymous with quality, reliability and style, deciding on which vehicle to purchase is often the easy part.

What can be daunting is deciding how to run and pay for your new purchase.
Our business managers are here to offer advice on financing and insuring your vehicle, be it new or used and irrespective of the value.
Offering a range of finance choices and a helpful approach with no pressure means that we can help you create a package that suits your lifestyle.

Loan Contracts
Loan Finance for new and Used Vehicles for term up to five years. The minimum value is $5,000.00. This product is one of the most popular choices for used vehicle financing.

Corporate Hire Purchase
Choice for semi-employed people and companies. Payments can be a mortised over the whole contact period or structured around a balloon payment. This plan can enable the car buyer to achieve desired tax savings or a more comfortable monthly repayment, or both.

Car Finance Sydney
Used Cars

Ford Mondeo - The ideal Family Car

2010-10-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a family car, the Ford Mondeo a number of great features make life a little easier. The combination of space, style and technology, the Ford Mondeo powerful and practical.

I often think that a lot of family car, you should look or sacrificing performance. There are some good cars on the market that offer maximum space and storage, but the disadvantage that they look like a box with wheels. Ford Mondeo does not detract from the convenience aspect of daily life, however. Ford's kinetic design means it looks elegant and dynamic, but with a purpose. There are plenty of options to convert your car to a gadget lover's dream, and there are twelve exterior colors to choose from.

Inside, the Ford Mondeo is spacious and welcoming. The rear seats in the hatchback version to a maximum of 1 time. This is perfect for when you have larger items such as new furniture, or providing transportation for his latest DIY project. There is also an opportunity for a sliding load floor behind the rear seat to take. This provides an additional 120 kg on the back and up to 200 kg with extended outward. You can also choose to have a watchdog in the yard, so you will never be allowed to leave. If you need more storage, there are some other great Ford Mondeo accessories that fit perfectly.View more

Ford Mondeo Sydney
Used Cars

Ford Mondeo Zetec Hatch

2010-10-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

What cars can meet these requirements? A number can, but you have to find the right one that appeals to the individual. And it's good to be able to announce that the Ford Mondeo Zetec Hatch passes all the tests.

With plenty of equipment, the Ford Mondeo Zetec has enough gadgets to please the techie fan. The standard cloth trim looks Smart and the seats are comfortable to sit in. They don’t feel like an old park bench after a couple of hours at the wheel, so they are very easy to live with. For those who like the leather appearance, the Ford Mondeo Zetec can be kitted with premium leather.

All the features of the Mondeo LX
Hatch PLUS:
Optional 2.0L 4-cylinder Turbo Diesel
17" alloy wheels3
Fog lamps
Dual Zone Climate Control
Sony 6-stack CD Player
Park Assist
Rain sensing wipers

Used Cars

Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo

2010-09-23T02:02:00.000-07:00

The new turbo engine is fantastic; it offers good throttle response (at least as good as any other turbo car on the market) and it’s supremely flexible at all revs. No need to row gears in the XR turbo because with a 450Nm torque plateau available between 2000 – 4500 rpm she’ll pull away instantly. Oddly, though, the engine is dead easy to stall when gently driving away from a standing start – you need a few revs onboard before you release the clutch pedal.

Ford Australia has held nothing back with the release of its new Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo and the result is good enough for it to become the next cult car. Consider the XR6T ‘big picture’ for a moment; here’s a freshly styled full size sedan with a modern tech turbocharged engine capable of 240kW and enough low-to-mid range torque to make a big 5.7-litre V8 cry.Ford Falcon Sydney

Cumberland Ford is one of western Sydney's most central Ford parts suppliers. Whilst retail customers are being served at our parts and accessories shop in Main Street Blacktown, our wholesale team schedules multiple daily delivery runs to Ford partners, workshops and trade partners in Sydney and most regional areas.

Used Cars

The Stylish Ford Mondeo

2010-09-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

The elegant, muscular exterior and well-equipped interior are designed with uncompromising quality, but they aren’t designed to draw attention for attention’s sake. Every curve, every line, every intuitive and innovative piece of technology is there to do its job quietly and efficiently

Mondeo Zetec Hatch
Prestige colour shown
5 door hatch
2.3L Duratec 4-cylinder petrol engine
6-speed automatic with Sequential Sports Shift
Dynamic Stability Control#
7 air bags & ABS
Dual zone climate control
Premium audio system

Cumberland, a Ford Delearship from australia offers a wide range of ford mondeo sydney, used ford cars, new ford falcon cars, ford territory, ford focus sydney, new ford fiesta australia at discount price.

Used Cars

Finding the Best Service Packages For Ford Car

2010-08-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

Traveling is an important part of everyone's life. And these days, traveling has become much more complicated. Now a day, it's not only about traveling from one place to other, but it is about how you travel. There is lots of way to travel once place to another palce But People can prefer travel from car for travel very easily. The mode of travel has become more important than the travel itself. People prefer to travel in cars as traveling in a car is the best way to travel. Car is very perfect vehicle for traveling. By having a car you will feel more comfortable.

In this modern age, there is lots of cars provided in the market and Now we have purchase car from online, It is very easy way to booking online. Online car booking facility gives very nice.

INTERMEDIATE SERVICE PACKAGE

Oil & filter replacement
Sentry oil & oil fuel additive
Rotate & 2 wheel balance
Wheel Alignment
Visual inspection of front suspension
Visual inspection of rear suspension
Inspect brakes
Visual inspection of steering
Check fuel lines & vapor lines
Check all fluid levels
Check cooling system
General under body inspection
Inspect lights, instruments and controls
Visual inspection of engine drive belts
Check battery condition & report
Carry out road test for drivability
Inspect exhaust system

Ford Service

Used Cars

Choosing the Right Way Sydney Ford Car Dealer

2010-08-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

You've been saving for a new Ford vehicle and now it's time for you to go on a search for a new vehicle. You may have done research over the past months, the comparison of the wide range of makes and models out there. You may have considered buying a foreign vehicle, but eventually decided on a national vehicle. And not just any procedure, which settled in a Ford. Now that the decision to purchase a Ford vehicle you need to take certain issues into account before choosing a Ford Dealers to do business. Taking the extra time to examine these issues will save not only time but also money and some anxiety.

Finding a quality and reputation of Ford Dealer Sydney car is possible, however, may take some time and research. Unfortunately Ford car dealerships are taking advantage of unsuspecting customers. This is a perfect example why the investigation of a Ford car dealer Sydney before purchasing a vehicle is recommended. Although it is likely that you are dealing with a company that belongs is a good idea to verify it.

There are a number of ways to find quality Ford car dealer Sydney. One of the easiest ways to do this is by asking your friends, family or colleagues. There is a better chance that someone you know has recently purchased a new Ford vehicle. Most individuals would be more than happy to tell about their experiences from automobile dealers. Your advice would submit to a quality of Ford car dealer Sydney and even prevents you from doing business with a bad one.View more

Used Cars

How easy it is to Get Approved Car Financing Online

2010-08-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

It is not always likely to get huge cash for buying a car and this is the cause why individuals go for car finance. If you stargaze for a elevator car which doesn't fit into your budgets, then it is better to choose the cars. These cars are obtainable at a low priced rate for that you could even get finances without any fuss. Individuals arrange for the car finances through their relatives as well as friends, however these days there're finance companies which offer car finance. The car loans are pay out on the as per to the usage cost of the cars and not the original cost. This signifies that the finance companies could offers loans through figuring the percentage of the car's usage in spite of the original cost.

The car finance is appropriate for the somebody's who are in search for buying cars through availing minor loans or who are running a bit low on the finances. One expects paying a fixed amount as the first payment and this is normally the difference among the original price of the car and the loan amount. This is normally a small amount in evaluation to what one need to pay as first payment as availing new car finance. The car finance is obtainable for the cars which are below the 5 year usage mark. The loan paying back period could range something between two to five years.Source
Car Finance Sydney

Used Cars

Make the Better Use of Money for Used Car

2010-07-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

It is not extraordinary enough to hear that used cars are having better markets than the newer cars market. Used cars are having so many benefits that claim superiority the possibilities of preferences of the newer cars. Let's see the plus points of using the used cars than the newer cars.

Used cars for sale are the cheaper options

When the world is heading towards the price rising in all the sectors, the used cars for sale are the options that are available at the logical and cheaper rates. Even if you plan for the branded cars, you can never serve the option of buying them in the original cost of you are having a budget in your minds. So, any of the deluxe cars and also the royal cars can never become the pert of your life if the used cars for sale are not available!! But, thanks God that there are almost all the reputed brands of cars available in the used car section. So, the cheaper option makes the used cars section more attractive to the people.

Used cars for sale give you better selections

As we see, used cars for sale are the cheaper options that one can have. Now, if someone is having stipulated budget, he definitely has to make compromise in the newer car options as the prices of the cars are quite higher and this restricts the choices produced by the budget. But, if you are searching in the used cars for sale option, you can have the wider verities of your choice cars and that also perfectly in your budget!! So, there is no chance of compromise in selecting the option of used cars for sale.

To get more information about Ford Spare Parts & Used Car

It is Very Importance Thing of Car Parts For Car

2010-07-18T23:19:00.000-07:00

The extensive use of cars, trucks and other types of vehicles create so much demand on their engines such that it was able to support a giant industry in car parts. An automobile can be defines as a vehicle that has a motor engine which is used to carry passengers and cargoes around. The word “automobile” is translated to a transportation that moves by itself from the Greek origins of the term.

Various fuels such as gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, electric, and bio gasoline or bio fuels power modern cars. Each car engine type has different requirements. The type of car also requires different engine maintenance. Racing cars for example has racing engines which are specifically made and maintained for speed, which requires much attention compared to a regular car. Such specialty car items cannot be found in an ordinary supply stores hence, they usually have to be ordered from the manufacturers or their authorized distributors. Since they are specialty items, they are priced beyond what is normally expected in Car Parts.

The use of Car Parts is vital to keep an engine in a smooth running condition. Everyday usage produces wear and tear that downgrades the performance of each part that composes a car engine. To upgrade it to a satisfactory performance, such ailing parts need to be replaced regularly. The price of a particular engine part depends on the locality and the source of parts. Those that are manufactured and sold within a territory are relatively cheaper than parts that have to be imported from other countries. Some countries such as Japan, the United States and Australia are well known for the quality of the automobile parts they produce. Their products are chosen over other products from other countries for their dependability and durability, even though they might be more expensive.View more

For more information, Visit: Ford Car Parts

Used Cars

Getting Quality Ford Car Parts Online

2010-07-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

Ford has been manufacturing automobiles for over 100 years. That means that there are literally thousands and thousands of different makes and models and hundreds of thousands of Ford car parts made. Eventually, no matter how well made, components of your vehicle will break down. If you are looking to get quality replacement Ford car parts then this article is here to help.

Researching and Finding Your Ford Car Parts

A quick online search for Ford car parts reveals a multitude of different websites that offer parts for you. Choosing which site to use can be difficult however. The first thing you want to make sure of is that the website is selling genuine Ford parts and not knock off copies. The genuine article is what your car was designed with and as such will perform up to standard. Make sure that the part is approved by Ford Motor Company.

In addition to that there are many sites that offer parts from different manufacturers for all makes and models. Personally I would avoid those sites and look for a Ford car parts specialty store. These sites will generally have better inventory and sometimes a better price as well.

While having both inventory and a competitive price is important, the other thing that a Ford car parts specialty site can offer is their expertise. You can purchase a part with confidence if you actually talk to some one and they help guide you to the correct part. It is definitely in the sites best interest that you get the right part and are satisfied with it.

You can also find many used parts online although I would use extreme caution in those cases. Many times used parts will be of inferior quality and sometimes can be stolen. Although this is very rare it does happen. You do not want to risk compromising your vehicle with stolen parts so I would suggest only buying new.

If you are looking to buy used you can probably do much better at a junkyard or used specialty dealer. These places you can physically examine the part before you purchase so that you can get it with confidence.

Hopefully you have a better idea of how and where to get your auto parts. While it can be somewhat confusing it is in your best interest to spend some time doing research before getting something. Good luck and hopefully your car project goes well.

To Buy Used Cars Online

2010-06-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

Buying used cars for sale is not as easy as it would appear on the surface. When you buy used cars online, you would definitely face certain risks. You should consider a few crucial factors in used car buying. The first thing that you should look into is to decide on the brand and the model of the car that you wish to buy. Once this is clear to you, you should do a fair amount of research by reading reviews of used cars in various used car selling websites. You should find out the maintenance costs of the used cars online and the complete history of the models that are offered.

If you approach a dealer without knowing everything about the model that you wish to purchase, you might not be able to get exactly what you want.

Before you buy used cars online, you should test drive a few cars of the model that you wish to purchase. Through this process, you would be able to understand their condition and compare the cars being offered. If you test drive different models, you would only become confused. Hence, you should be clear in your mind about the exact model that you wish to purchase. This would make used car buying much easier.

It is very essential to find out the history of the used car as that will assist you to eliminate the cars which you don't like from your list, as those cars can become a problem in future. There are several used cars in the market which have been rebuilt after they have had a serious accident, being sold online. It is possible that the cars you are shown have their odometers rolled back. Some of the cars would have been used heavily, like being used by car rental companies.

The used car offered could have outstanding lien. You must remove such cars from your potential list of cars you want to buy, immediately. Validate everything about the cars yourself and don't believe everything that the car dealer of used cars for sale tells you. In case you don't have much knowledge about cars you can take help from a person who has good idea about cars.

Are Ford Car Parts Easily Available?

2010-05-28T02:12:00.000-07:00

When it comes to cars, the Ford Motor Company has been and remains one of the most trusted names in automobile manufacturing. Automobile manufacturing history fanatics probably will remember the first Ford car every built which was the Ford Model A. The Ford Model A was not as popular as the later model called the Ford Model T. Though it would be pretty hard to find Ford Car Parts for a genuine Ford Model A or Ford Model T, there will probably be genuine suppliers of Ford Car Parts for other Ford car models.

There are two well known models of Ford Motor Company vehicles – the Ford GT and the Ford Mustang. Nowadays the Ford Mustang is still being used by the company for races where this model is used as its official race car.

To get authentic Ford Car Parts for your prized Ford motor vehicle, you may need to specify to the supplier what year your Ford motor vehicle was introduced. At one website of a Ford Car Parts supplier, parts of cars for the following years were available: 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and now for year 2008 as well.

You might also be able to order Ford Car Parts by the model name itself. The known models for which Ford Car Parts might be available are: Ford Windstar, Ford Victoria, Ford Torino, Ford Thunderbird, Ford Tempo, Ford Taurus, Ford Super Deluxe, Ford Sunliner, Ford Starliner, Ford Sprint, Ford Skyliner, Ford Ranger, Ford Ranchero, Ford Ranch Wagon, Ford Probe, Ford Pinto, Ford Park Lane Wagon, Ford Maverick, Ford Mainline, Ford M-450, Ford M-400, Ford LTD, Ford Granada, Ford Gran Torino, Ford Galaxie, Ford Fusion, Ford Freestyle, Ford Freestar, Ford Ford 300, Ford Ford, Ford Focus, Ford Five Hundred, Ford Fiesta, Ford Festiva, Ford Falcon, Ford Fairmont, Ford Fairlane, Ford F550 Truck, Ford F450 Truck, Ford F350 Truck, Ford F250 Truck, Ford F150 Truck, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Ford EXP, Ford Excursion, Ford Escort, Ford Escape, Ford Elite, Ford Econoline Van, Ford Deluxe, Ford Del Rio Wagon, Ford Customline, Ford Custom, Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Crestline, Ford Courier, Ford Country, Ford Contour, Ford Club Wagon, Ford Club, Ford Bronco, Ford Aspire, and the Ford Aerostar. View more.....

Visit Us : Ford Car Parts

Used Cars

Used Car: Tips on Increasing its Value

2010-05-16T22:11:00.000-07:00

Whether you’re trading your vehicle in or selling it private party, you want to get the most for it. With a little elbow grease and a few dollars, you can increase the value of that used vehicle, as well as increasing the probability of selling it.

Cleaning/Reconditioning

First impressions are everything. A potential buyer will assume if you didn’t care what the inside or outside looked like, that you didn’t care what happened under the hood either. Take the time to make sure that these areas look impeccable. A simple vacuuming, shampooing, wash and wax will take care of this. Don’t forget the engine compartment. A simple degreaser and a rinse will take care of this. If you don’t want to do this yourself, for about $100, you can have it done.

Cosmetic Repairs

Anything that makes the vehicle look as though it is in disrepair needs to be fixed. This can include anything such as broken mirrors, glass, headlight, tail lights, missing heater and radio knobs, and tires. These items are inexpensive to replace and a simple trip to a junk yard can save you a bundle. Many items are attached only by a few screws and can be changed in minutes.

Remove aftermarket parts and accessories

If your vehicle has any modifications that aren’t factory installed, a suggestion would be to remove these and replace them with the factory parts. If a buyer sees these modifications, they may assume that the vehicle has been beaten on or taken for one too many joy rides.More...

Used Cars

Ford Falcon Engine – The Best Performance

2010-05-06T00:52:00.000-07:00

Ford falcon engine refers to the level swept by all the pistons of an engine within bores from top to bottom. Falcon engines is powerful and provide greater torque at lower rpms excluding as well as consuming more gas compares to other certain types of car engines capacity.

Ford falcon engine is the finest attractive and stylish machinery, you can easily re-building ford falcon in your garage using used ford falcon parts buying from renovate shop. You know the pride and fortunate enough to own a ford falcon.

The ford falcon is one of the most modern selling traditional cars in the region because of its powerful engine. Falcon engine is superlative automobile beams with luxury. Ford falcon engine parts locator service makes simple to input the part, you need to construct, remodel of motor vehicle.

In the marketplace, you find ford falcon engine and other accessories but convinced to test out in essential places. The ford performance motor vehicle division is manufacture sky-scraping variants of the falcon for racing team to generate a nearer connection between the performance vehicle positions in Melbourne, Australia

Trade-In or Sell Your Old Car?

2010-04-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

Is it better to trade in your old car or sell it outright? In many cases, you’ll come out ahead if you opt to sell your car on your own. However, it is not an easy thing to do, which is why so many people decide to let the dealer take care of their used cars.

Cleaning the vehicle: If trading in, just remove personal items. The dealership takes care of the rest. If selling, you will need to thoroughly clean the unit and get it detailed for sale. These costs will come out of your profit, so keep this in mind.

Repairing minor problems: If the vehicle has bad tires, a cracked or chipped windshield, missing knobs or other small things, or if it has scratches and/or small dents, you can leave as-is and the dealer will accept it. You might not get as much for the trade as if everything was repaired, but comparing replacement value vs. the wholesale dollars you recoup, it’s not worth it to go all-out in fixing “blemishes”. If selling the vehicle, however, you should easily recoup money spent in making these repairs. Do keep in mind that if the vehicle has several minor things wrong with it, repairing everything could severely cut into your net profits.

Legalities: When trading a vehicle, simply sign a few papers in the F&I office and the dealership will take care of everything. If selling a car, it is your responsibility to arrange the payoff on the lien. There will also be fees for notarization, title transfer, licensing and more. Since the laws vary from state to state, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles to get info on everything that must be done to make it a legal sale.

Source

New Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

2010-04-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

Australia's Most Fuel Efficient Car

Do you dream to be the proud owner of The Fiesta Econetic, the new model from Ford’s Fiesta range, which is effortlessly quite economical in driving? Cumberland Ford takes pride to announce “The Fiesta Econetic” is now available at our showroom for a quick test drive at your convenience.

The salient features of this new brand can be viewed as

A specially-efficient Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel engine
Low viscosity engine and transmission oils, developed in associated with energy partner BP
Low rolling resistance tyres
Inclusion of a green shift indicator light in the instrument panel, which signals the optimal point to change gear to optimize fuel economy
Longer final drive gear ratio
Improved aerodynamics, unique wheel covers, lowered ride height, and air deflectors

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Used Cars

Used Cars for Sale

2010-02-17T22:31:00.000-08:00

Used cars for sale by owner can make available a fabulous opportunity for others to hit upon their dream car for less. A new car buyer might be very interested if they found a used car for sale that had the exact same features as a new car but in very low and reasonable price. Successful buyers of used car are often just as happy with their used car as new car buyers are with a new vehicle.

Many people buy used cars just for the reason that they can afford to buy one. As any brand new car loses value on depreciation as soon as it hits the roads, so it is possible to get a low mile run used cars for a very less amount compared to its new counterpart.

If the car is financed, the owner can save money on the initial price as well as the car insurance and payments while buying a used car for sale. One might even finance through a loan company that specializes in used car loans to get a better interest rate.

Used Car For A Test Drive

2010-02-17T22:27:00.000-08:00

Looking for a used cars can be really exciting and when you find the right one at a price you can afford it really puts the icing on the cake. But it is very important to make sure that the car is the perfect one for you by taking it for a test drive.

You should use the test drive as a way to really see if the car is all it seems and not just as an opportunity to give it a spin. You would not want to realise a few weeks or months down the road that the car you thought was perfect, is actually not so great after all.

If you are looking for a used car there will probably be certain features that you will require the car to have. Anything else will be considered a bonus. Families with young children may need the car they buy to have a large enough boot to accommodate a pushchair.More...

Used Cars

Buy Used Cars in Recession

2010-02-17T22:20:00.000-08:00

Because of the worldwide recession, many of us are being forced to look for cheap used cars. A lot of people are worrying about their finances and buying a new car is not possible. Buying a new car is not really high up on anyone’s agenda at the moment.

But if you still require a car, you will be happy to know that the price of used cars has decreased due to so many people not buying cars because of the recession. So now would be a great time to get a cheap used car.

Although a lot of people assume that cheap used cars are not reliable this is not always so. But there are a lot of reasonably priced cars available that are in very good condition. There are many genuine reasons why people sell off their used cars such as being able to do without a second car and some good cars are simply repossessed.More..

Steps to Buying a Used Car

2010-02-17T22:10:00.000-08:00

If you decided to buy used cars, you already made a smart decision. You can travel by a car which is almost as good as very new, without suffering the depreciation purchasers from this car of large blows the new ones as soon as they drive the car in addition to fate. The used cars – even those which are only one years – are the cars that news 20 to 30 percent cheaper. But there are other good reasons to buy used cars: Money cash for the car of refuse

• Means of purchase of a used cars you can allow a model with more of luxe/d’ execution.
• You will save the money on the insurance.
• The superabundance of the cars coming to far lease makes find a close relation-new vehicle, or the cream-colored, easy breath.
• Moreover greater businesses are possible to the smart customer of used cars.
• Moreover, the traditional reasons to avoid the used cars – unreliability and the expenditure of repairs – are less exit. Consider these relative thoughts more…

Top 10 Worst Used Cars

2009-08-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

In its annual report of the Best of the Best, Consumer Reports magazine also gives a rundown of the Worst of the Worst. These are the worst used cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks out there in terms of reliability – at least according to data compiled by Consumer Reports. The full list is a lot more than 10, but we’ve looked at the bunch and grouped these 10 together. True, they’re not all cars (a crossover here and there, but that’s like a car in most consumer’s minds, anyway), but they’re all on Consumer Reports’ list of worst. So, here goes. And, no, we’re not picking on an automaker just because they have 2 (or 3) models on the list. It is what it is, folks.

For each model, listed alphabetically, we’ll give you a brief rundown of the vehicle. Consumer Reports doesn’t mention specific years for the Worst of the Worst list. Their data takes into consideration the years 1999 through 2008. We’ve also added insights from other sources, such as Edmunds.com.

* Audi A6 allroad quattro– Based on the A6 Avant, Audi introduced the Audi A6 allroad quattro in 2001. A crossover that seemed to be somewhere between a station wagon and SUV, the A6 allroad quattro was a luxury vehicle that offered a height-adjustable suspension to increase ground clearance. In 2004, the all-wheel drive (AWD) luxury vehicle had a turbocharged 250-hp 2.7-liter V-6 engine in the 2T wagon, or a 300-hp 4.2-liter V-8 in the 4.2 wagon. According to data from Automotive Information Systems, the 2001 A6 allroad quattro had significant steering and suspension problems, while the 2003 model had moderate engine problems.

* Audi A8 – Audi’s luxury flagship sedan, the A8 debuted in 1997. It featured extensive use of aluminum which gave it a weight advantage over competitors. An extended wheelbase A8L arrived in 2000. The second-generation A8 debuted in the 2004 model year, with an enhanced 310-hp 4.2-liter V-8 engine. An all-new A8 L model arrived in 2004 model year, powered by a 330-hp 4.2-liter V-8, and advanced aluminum air spring suspension, shock absorber control and quattro permanent AWD. The 2006 model experienced significant brake problems, according to Automotive Information Systems data.more car...

Top 5 Best Fuel-Efficient Used Cars

2009-07-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Consumers looking for the most fuel-efficient used cars should keep several things in mind. First, try to find the newest model possible that still gets the best fuel economy, and meets other criteria: all the latest safety equipment such as anti-lock brakes (ABS), side airbags (if available), stability and traction control. All things being equal, if the used car has the same fuel economy as new, but you can buy it for thousands less, as long as it’s in excellent condition and runs well, consider it your best used-car buy.

Here are the top 5 best fuel-efficient used cars, using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Vehicle Guide for the most fuel-efficient and cleanest vehicles since 2001. The models listed here meet the EPA’s toughest requirements and are all labeled SmartWay Elite cars.

Toyota Prius (2004-2009)

Leading the pack with 48 mpg city/45 mpg highway, is the Toyota Prius, with its 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine paired with electric motor, auto variable transmission, good interior space, although cramped for 6-footers, easy maneuverability and lots of available options. Check out 2002 and 2003 models (with 42 mpg city/41 mpg highway) for deals, since that’s when Toyota began offering optional navigation system, side airbags and cruise control. Edmunds calls Prius a “strong candidate” for shoppers interested in used hybrids but warns that the car is complex and “future repairs and part replacements could be quite expensive.” Both Consumer Reports and Kelley Blue Book list Prius models in their best cars for fuel economy roundup
more cars...

Buying Used Cars

2009-07-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

Deciding on buying a used car can seem like a huge decision. Buying a used vehicle often offers the best dollar value to the consumer, but with it can come many issues and problems. Many people feel that by purchasing a used car they are setting themselves up for a lifetime of sitting in the local garage and having a depleted bank account. All this can be true, but with a bit of research and careful consideration mixed with common sense, a good used car can be the perfect answer to all your vehicle needs. You just need to take time and balance the pros and cons of each vehicle you are considering.

A used vehicle offers a long list of advantages over trying to obtain a new one. Costs of expenses like insurance, taxes, better vehicle options, as well as the obvious lower price, are all bonuses on the side of the consumer. Also, compared to new vehicles, it is easy to research the history of the vehicle and learn about any mechanical issues it may have as opposed to a new vehicle, especially if it is the first year for the model.more...

Buying Auto Parts from Junk Yards

2009-07-17T22:38:00.000-07:00

One of the great places to go about getting cheap exterior auto parts is the junk yard. Even though the junk yard is absolutely not worth getting mechanical parts from, the exterior parts of an automobile are generally considered safe to be purchased. The main reason for this is that you automatically know what you're getting. Consider this: if you see a front bumper of a car with a dent on the right side, then you know that you'll be getting and buying a bumper with a dent on the right side. Furthermore, some of these auto parts flaws can easily be fixed if one knows enough about the auto parts that they're buying. All in all, though, junk yards are definitely some of the better places to get the cheapest and authentic exterior auto parts.

Establish Connections

The above two methods on saving money on your auto parts are both excellent ways to get good parts for your car. Another way, though, is through connections that can be made directly at a car dealership. For example, family members and friends are most likely able to take advantage of deep discounts if they work for a car dealership. Of course, this actually requires knowing somebody and may not always be available, but definitely is a good way to save money on auto parts.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=308483&ca=Automotive

Hiring a Limo for your Wedding

2009-06-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

To lend a little pizzazz to your wedding, hiring a limo is perhaps the best choice—classy, mouthwatering and an experience to remember. Now f you have decided on hiring a limo, perhaps you should look into your finances.

• Check your finances: Set up a budget or look it over to see if you have enough money to book a limo for your wedding. Remember that they are pricey, vary in price and are charged by the hour.

• Next, decide the model, type and color of limo: Take a hard look at he odels available and match them to your budget. Once you decide the color you want, decide the color of the bows and ribbons to be decorated on the car. After all, it’s for your big day, right?

• Examine the limo before booking: The limo company could send you a poorly maintained car or an untidy one, so be a little more particular with this than with anything else by choosing a good one at the time of booking. Or you won’t be able to impress anyone. If this is not possible, ask to see some high resolution photos of the cars and choose from among them. And if it’s your wedding limo, speak directly to the company operator instead of using a broker.

• Is the chauffeur licensed? You need to check this out because not all limo hire companies who ater to wedding parties need have licensed chauffeurs. This means he will need to have a clean medical and criminal record, and you will need to know his iform—a dark suit, white shirt and a traditional tie. You can also specify that your chauffeur wears a cap, or doesn’t—the choice is yours. Accordingly, include this in your contract form.

• Is the chauffeur on time? At least, at your wedding, everything must be done on time. If your chauffeur arrives on time, he can ferry you and your groom on time too. However, delays are inevitable, so it is wise to build into your plans a buffer of about 30 minutes or so. Put it down to traffic, photo sessions or delays caused by the bride.

• How much does it cost? You could, if you wish, enter into a ‘wedding package’ deal with the limo hire company of your choice. This usually includes ribbons, bows, champagne and use of the limo for about three hours. You could also use the limo to ferry your wedding guests, bridesmaids, family members in order to get the most value for your money. Don’t worry, your limo company will not charge you anything extra for this. But if your three hours are up while you’re still taking snaps, your chauffeur might just drive away leaving you there.

• Just one limo needn’t be enough: Perhaps you need more limos than one for you and your bride. If so, ask for additional cars and your limo service will be happy to provide them. You could get a discount on the entire deal if you book altogether.

• Be ready with directions: Your chauffeur may or may not know his way around—after all, he’s not a cabbie. So, be prepared with directions.
Article Source

Auto Parts Maker Proposes To Manufacture Electric Cars

2009-06-04T02:05:00.000-07:00

Aurora, Ontario (AHN) - The Canadian auto parts firm that purchased Opel offered to manufacture electric vehicles in Canada. Magna International chairman Frank Stronach's condition for that venture is a $150 million loan from Ottawa.

His proposal comes on the heels of Ottawa and Ontario jointly lending General Motors $9.5 billion to save thousands of auto jobs in Toronto.

Stronach showed to media on Tuesday a prototype of the electric Ford Focus which has an electrical system made by Magna. He said Magna has committed to the electric car business in a serious way 36 months ago.

He forecasts that by 2015, 15 percent of all automobiles sold in Canada will be electric and the number would double to 30 percent by 2021.

With Magna's buy-in of the Opel brand, Stronach said he is planning to make Opels in Canada within the next two years. To push through with Magna's planned foray into electric cars and batteries, Stronach estimates Magna would require $300 million.

* Auto Parts

How To Find The Best Auto Body Parts For Your Car

2009-05-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

If you have ever had auto problems or problems with your car then you probably already know about simple car shops like advanced and the simple car shops like that. You will want to go to all your sources when you need auto parts supplies you will want to go to all the stores that you can if you are looking for a certain part for your car. If one store doesn't have it then you just need to go on and go to the next store. If you cannot find it in any of those kinds of stores then you just need to go to a junk yard because when you are looking for a car part that is the place to find them.

The other place that you might want to check out will be body shops in general. A body shop might have what you are looking for if it is body work that you need to do yourself. They will be able to help you find it or the parts you need if they do not have the parts or cannot sell you them. You will always get some help from going to an auto body shop. If you do not get help or find what you are looking for at an auto parts shop then you are not going to find it anywhere else besides a junk yard.

Making Money From Scrap Cars

2009-05-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

If you have a solid knowledge of cars then you could be someone who would do very well at making money from restoring scrap cars. You can make lot money turning people's junk cars into someone else's treasures and although it takes time to do this the initial investment isn't overly high. There are quite a few places to buy scrap cars and parts to turn a vehicle into something brand new and there are lots of people who but scrap cars that have been restored. In fact there are tons of car shows where people display and sell their restored jewels for great profit. More and more people are turning to part-time business to supplement their incomes in harsh economic times and one way to this is through restoring cars in your garage at night. You only need to buy one car at a time and then restore it, at which point you sell for profit and move onto the next car. Some cars may take months to restore, where other cars could take only weeks to restore basically the condition you buy the car in will reflect the time, as well as how good your knowledge on restoring cars.

The first thing you need to do when restoring a car is too find the car to restore. One of the best locations to find great cars in bad shape is your local junk yard, you'd be surprised what they have behind their walls and you can find amazing deals. If you can't find something at a local junk yard then you should move your search online where you can find amazing deals on scrap cars in good shape. Many online classified sites and online car auction
sites are filled with great old cars that can be restored for profit.

Once you have the car you need to decide on what needs done to it, usually you would need to take it to the bones and start with removing any rust and holes. After that you should follow a written plan that you have planned out and begin getting the car ready for sale. Like I mentioned before it could take weeks to months to finish restoring a car, depending on your experience and how much you can work on the car.

A car is more “green” when finances

2009-05-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

With a naturalness that is insulting, the ICO and the Ministry of Industry have Bless the Spanish people with 1200 milion uros VIVE plan for the absurd.

If the first drafts of the project and did intuit that this was a blunt paragraph, the final text leaves no doubt that this is an authentic tomadura dryer. If the first drafts of the project and did Intuit that this was a blunt paragraph, the final text leaves no doubt that this is an authentic tomadura dryer.

Not only by the fact that access to this Experience is necessary to remove the final (or turn into scrap) Free Junk Car Removal owner name with more than 15 anita old (the age at which a car is a great disjunction of its life: or lost it for meat and turn it into scrapping or save a few more years in the garage to give it a new life as “historic vehicle”). Not only by the fact that access to this Experience is necessary to remove the final (or turn into scrap) name a car owner with more than 15 anita old (the age at which a car is a great disjunction of its life: it lost or for meat and turn it into scrapping or save a few more years in the garage to give it a new life as “historic vehicle”).more..

Toyota Auto Parts

2009-05-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

Toyota is a brand that is highly demanded in the foreign market. Due to easy availability of Toyota auto parts in comparison to foreign auto parts it is quite convenient to order and dispatch this vehicle brand.

It offers car parts and accessories to a large number of models in contrast of any other foreign auto parts company. These models comprises of Avalon, 4Runner, Celica, Camry, Cressida, Corona, Corolla, Highlander, Echo, Matrix, Land Cruiser, Paseo, MR2, Previa, Pickup, RAV4, Prius, Sienna, Sequoia, Supra, Starlet, Solara, Tundra, Tersel, Tacoma, T100, Van, Yaris; etc. Certainly, there are some of the Toyota parts and accessories that are not easy to find.

FAQ - What auto parts are worth rebuilding?

2009-05-05T23:45:00.000-07:00

I would like to know what auto parts are worth rebuilding and which one would be best just to purchase a new one?

It is better to buy any auto parts new or already rebuilt because most new or rebuilt parts bought at a auto parts store carry some kind of warranty. if you have the know how and equipment to do it yourself then Starters,alternators, brakecilinders, carb… power steering pumps can be rebuilt to work almost like new.

Most parts that can wear-out usually are core-value replacement. Meaning if you goto a auto parts store, they will give you a discount on the part if you give them the old one.

Junk Old Car

2009-05-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

Who says that junk cars are of no use? A lot of people have underrated the value of junk old car as the advent of latest and modern cars proliferate in the market these days. However, do you know that a scrap car could lead you to helping people and other charitable institutions? As you share with them a common goal and interest, let this institution be of assistance as you and other satisfied car owners achieve a specific purpose.

Being part of a charity car donation entails a lot of advantages and perks. This comes with a rewarding feeling and the idea of how much you have helped your less fortunate fellowmen. Not all people have this kind of desire and you are lucky to feel and do this kind of act. Apart from this, you will also get the chance to generate a sizable tax deduction that will be based on factors like personal status and the exact cost of the car donated.

A junk old car can mean new life for you and your beneficiary. If you donate this to institutions like Cars Helping America you will be an advocate of goodwill to all people relying on these kinds of donations. As this will go directly to your charity of choice, you will be certain where your money lands and how you have helped other people. Your junk car can also be of good help to a third party user or to the person whom your car has been sold. This means if the one who acquired your car is a bachelor trying to build a life of his own then your car is a good way to get everything started. It can be of use to a student who just got his very first automobile through your junk car or this can be use by other business establishments as they bring their products and services to other people. All of these probabilities can be a reality with a simple junk car that was once parked in your garage without any use.
Cash for Cars | Car Removal | Car Junk Yards

Why Used Auto Parts is better than New Auto Parts ?

2009-05-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

For the last 60 years of automotive recycling, also known as auto wreckers or auto dismantlers with their Junkyards and salvage yards, have played an important role in the economy and the environment. More and more car owners are turning to used parts instead of new auto parts for maintenance and auto repair needs, for several reasons:

* Buying used auto parts instead of new car parts allows you to save money in about 55% on average.
* Buying used car parts means that you have a wider selection in the used parts market from which to pick the right car part that specifically meets the fit, functionality and quality requirement of your current car automobile parts.

By purchasing used auto parts that are helping to reduce pollution to the environment. The automotive recycling plays an important role in conserving natural resources and minimize the demand for scarce landfill space. Apart from reducing the negative impact on natural resources, automotive recycling plays an important role in reducing water pollution, air pollution and solid waste generation.

Guide to Buying Cheap Used Auto Parts Auto Recyclers

Maintaining your car to travel can be very expensive these days, especially in today’s difficult economic climate which makes it more difficult for many people to earn and save money. However, by using used auto parts, you can not only save money, you can also help conserve natural resources, and still obtain the correct specific to your car. For these reasons, thousands of people every year choose to buy used car parts.

With this increased demand, the Internet has become an ideal vehicle to bring buyers and sellers of used auto parts together. Before making your purchase of used auto parts online, here is a general guide to help choose the right auto parts at the best price.

When you buy a car part, make sure you have your vehicle identification number (VIN) handy. This number can provide the seller with a wealth of information about your car, including year, make and model. Having your VIN is particularly important when the purchase of the unit, such as engines and transmissions.

Make sure that the company will buy the car offers a guarantee of the piece. Be sure to read and understand the terms of the warranty before making your purchase.

Find out how many miles are on the automated, and whether the part is sold as used, rebuilt or remanufactured.

Plan LIVES

2009-04-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

The new plan LIVES (vehicles innovating and favorable to the environment of vehicle) underwent some reforms which were approved by the Council of Ministers. You point out that since last August and could apply for the arrangement which replaced the forecasts of plan. The plan SHARP is new help by financing the purchase of a new car, something other that what occurred with the plan considers, where help was direct about the price of the car.

Now, with the plan LIVES we can draw benefit from the assistance provided to buy the car of refuse of the occasion not to exceed 5 years, but this should send to reinforce a vehicle on our behalf with more than 15 years. The cars which they reach 10 years of seniority can be regarded as old women to be sent to the fall and to buy a new car. It is a change with regard to the initial approach, in which the car should have more than 15 years to provide and receive the assistance.

It also changed the maximum price went from a maximum of 20.000 euros to buy new conveys and favours plan, the 30.000 existing euros, which will give access to better cars and marks. It also increased the quantity of placement with an interest 0 at the beginning regulated with 5.000 euros, 10.000 euros are now, the excess of the price will have a rate with fixed interest of 2.5% something other that what was increased at the beginning, an interest rate of Euribor one year + 2.5% with the annual annual review. In the new reform passed, it also includes the possibility of having one year of economic quantity of space, C. - with-D., in a vehicle of 30.000 euros be paid only the interest on 10.000 euros during the first year.

Will be accepted without operations of age limit of car as long as your mileage exceeds 250.000 miles. Another interesting device is the elimination of the condition of having to finance 100% of the price of the junk car removal, something which has affected in particular those which saved to reduce the placement to provide a post.

In addition, an interesting fact, all the users who made any purchase with the plan presented in August, can apply for the necessary changes required to the loan under the new reform.

The plan of SHARP will be effective until 2010 and the quantity allocated by the government to finance it is 1.200 million euros, if you want to know all the details of the new plan, you can visit the official Web site of the ICO (official institute of credit).

At all events, it must say that we are in an economic crisis engraves and new help would not increase sales of the cars, remember the news about the Hall of Barcelona 2009, could not take place before the serious crisis of the engine. As with much of occasions, offered assistance and solutions in the least suitable moments.
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Junk a Car for Maximum Returns

2009-04-20T21:52:00.000-07:00

The cars of various makes and the models are available nowadays. The cars never failed to fascinate its spirit and it is one of the reasons for which people like with clean new models of the cars as soon as they are presented. However, there is a perpetual problem with which each one faced while the new car of purchase is what to make with oldest? The most convenient solution for this cash for old car sell it.

There are many sites by which you can easily sell cars for cash and also you obtain to tow in addition to your car for free. Thus, there are advantages duels which one can benefit in the car from refuse of sale. None matter falls however that your car is you cannot obtain the money yet on top cash. These kinds of sites generally accept cars of do everything or model, a SUV or a rv.

The cars which are sold for the money are then re-used if possible or steel is extracted starting from the cars from refuse. Thus, it is not only salutary you but also to your country because you contribute by providing steel.

To give a car of refuse for immediate the cash money can also obtain easy a cash money consequently if one needs cash to buy new cars or installment of wages for the new car then it is easily possible without going to the bank or requiring any other financial aid.

For more information visit on link: Free Junk Car Removal

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Check Used Cars Before That You Buy It

2009-04-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

The used cars by the owner which are sold in line and remote were largely extended in the world of the motor vehicles. According to outlines triple almost the number of people, preferred to buy the used cars rather than to buy nine. I can say that the second-hand cars is not only IN the principal current. It IS the current main thing.

Thus why the drivers and in love ones with car beseech do on buying the second-hand cars? Simply because this market is too hot today on the road, considering that it is much accessible that buying a new car.

But made attention. Purchasers should not be completely astounded with this mania of purchase. The purchasers should certainly check these second-hand cars cheap which are on the market before they even think of taking it at the house.

If you are a newbie here be some indicators which you would like to obtain more if you want to make the best out buying the second-hand cars.

1. Examine the order
There is no best manner of checking the state of the car than to make a trial order. In this way, the customer will be able to know the true state of the car and his parts like the brakes, the accelerator, etc

Moreover, the customer will be able to find immediately if there is clunks and rattles of it on the second-hand car, even if the trial order is right a short voyage.

2. Real inspection
Except the test-drive, it is also significant so that the customer personally examines the information of the make-up of body and his state.

In this way, the purchaser will be able to identify all the signs of rusts and the damage, the state of the tires, the escapes of oil, etc

3. Control mileage
Generally, an operator or an average driver will devour 12.000 to 15.000 miles in year. In this way, the consumer will be able to include/understand the approximate age of the car by looking at his mileage.

4. Checking of mechanic
Another manner of examining the state of a second-hand car before its purchase is to seek the assistance of a mechanic. This can charge the purchaser some expenses but the money would be absolutely spent for a good cause. The mechanic is the best person who could directly evaluate technically and professionally the state of a certain car.

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Know more about ford cars by visiting cumberlandford.com.au for great car deals for the best value for your money, which offers services for used car sales Australia, used car prices Australia, used cars Australia and more.

The Purchase Inclines for a Preowned

2009-04-16T22:34:00.001-07:00

If you are not an expert as regards car buying a second-hand car then can be difficult, since you do not know if the salesman hiding place something which is not documented. It is not the exit with new cars. To buy a new car to you can follow some standard controls but for a Used Car it can be very difficult.

Here some of the stages which could dissipate your concern considerably then having bought the car

Certainly, seek the type of car that you want to buy, and put you at the current basic facts so that you know what your car should have, and also all the 'special modifications like a worked engine or large wheels will be immediately obvious. The duration of research could take place anywhere little of days in the months, according to how much comfort you gain.

Now, it has suddenly put really your knowledge of research into practice. Initially to the top of we will treat the purchase of a private individual. You can ask as much or while few questions as you want, but as minimum strict raise the following questions:

. Which is mileage on the car?
. Do you have a history of complete service for the car (notebook)?
. Was it ever in an accident? It garaged?
. How long did you have the car?
. How much owners the car did it have?
. Does the salesman have really the car?
. Why do you sell it?

You would probably find the major part of information of CarFax as well, but it really does not wound to ask the current owner. If you find any discrepency between the report/ratio of the owner and CarFax, it should raise alarm.

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#Used Cars Sydney - Cumberland Ford offers a wide range of Used Ford Cars, Used Cars
Sydney(australia), New Used Cars at discount price.
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Buy Used Cars Australia!!

2009-04-16T02:42:00.000-07:00

Used Cars Australia can be a manner convenient and economic to see some cities or the interior while you 'about visiting or to make the full Australian excursion.

The purchase of a car if it is very new or of the car of used is enthralling, but does not import what the kind of method employ you; purchases on the fate, by paper or in line, you will have to still maintain your car in a1 state to draw the best party out of him. One of the paramount considerations that you must make as an owner responsible for a car, is constant maintenance and maintenance.

The changes of oil recommended to continue your car to run to the maximum execution, is every 3 months or 3.000 kilometers. One of the most common errors that you can make with your car is to leave the slide of things when it comes to something also simple like change from oil. The correctly programmed oil changes will help your car last during many years.

If you want something better, then you can try to buy a cheap second-hand car of an authorized retailer and my last end for the used cars Australia would be to join one of the clubs circulating in the car.

What can be daunting is deciding how to run and pay for your new purchase.
Our business managers are here to offer advice on financing and insuring your vehicle, be it new or used and irrespective of the value. Offering a range of finance choices and a helpful approach with no pressure means that we can help you create a package that suits your lifestyle.

The Ford brand is synonymous with quality, reliability and style, deciding on which vehicle to purchase is often the easy part.

The genuine Ford parts and car finance booking is available with Cumberland ford in Blacktown, Sydney. Cumberland ford also offer instant finance approval for new Ford cars, used cars, demo cars or business vehicles and also offer best affordable ford car service for commercial and passanger vehicles.

Why one should buy a used car!

2009-02-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

Since past couple of years used cars have become more and more popular all over the world. They forced people to comprehend that a good used car can be bought at half or even a quarter price of a brand new car. Despite the fact that a used car may have a few thousand miles, this does not connote that the car is not in good condition bearing in mind the fact that cars are made to last unless the car is botched by the owner.

Used cars also allow you to get enhanced features and more options than you might have been able to afford if you were buying the car new. Used cars are a great option if you're looking for a new car that just might be a little out of your budget range. Next time you buy a car, mull over a used car as an alternative and see how much you'll save by looking for used cars in your area.
A dependable and consistent used car is hard to come by. A customer needs to carry out a lot of research while buying a used car. Many people now a day have a preference for used car as it proves to be more inexpensive and reasonable compared to a brand new car. Customers require exercising a great deal of carefulness in order to evade being sold a sub standard or defective car. They should bare in mind a number of factors that prove to be very significant and noteworthy while making a purchase.

New car dealers are generally the safest place to buy a used car, because they have a propensity to sell used cars that are in good condition. On the other hand, they may tend to be pretty expensive. Reputed dealers have enormous inventories of good cars, and usually have no barter pricing. Used cars usually tend to have a bad reputation. Taking a mechanic or a person experienced with cars along, people can check a used vehicle for damages or faults. People who wish to buy a car should do from a dealer who has been in the surrounding area for a long period of time; as such dealers generally are inclined to sell good quality, reliable cars.
Before buying a used car, buyers are counsel to carry out a satisfactory examination of the car using an inspection checklist. They are also counsel to test-drive the vehicle themselves on different or diverse road conditions to check for defects or faults. People needing advice, tips or any sort of suggestions can also visit a number of websites that offers information on the same.

Used Cars Sydney

Peugeot’s bush picnic

2008-09-30T02:03:00.000-07:00

NOT content with unveiling a stunning new four-door hybrid luxury GT “coupe”,
currently known only as the “RC…”, Peugeot has revealed it will also use its
home-turf bi-annual motor show to debut what appears to be a production-ready
compact hybrid crossover. Dubbed the “Prologue…”, the second petrol-electric show car to appear from Peugeot in Paris on October 2 is claimed to offer 147kW and “unexpected levels of performance”, yet produces the same meagre 109g/km of CO2 emissions as the RC hybrid sportscar (which delivers a claimed 233kW). The compact five-door crossover concept features trademark swept-back Peugeot headlights and a sweeping roofline with full-length glass roof, but new jewellery items include fresh triangular-shaped tail-lights, a gaping new cross-hatched grille, and chunky SUV-style matt-black highlights in its wing mirrors, side rub strips and bumpers.
Further exaggerating the off-road theme are pronounced wheelarch blisters on
bodysides that seem unusually slabby for a Peugeot hatchback, and what looks like
a tailgate that drops down under the rear hatch, splitting the rear bumper.
The French maker has revealed few other details to accompany these images, other than
describing it as being “derived from the fusion of different worlds” – presumably in reference to its employment of petrol and electric power and, for the first time in a modern Peugeot, its on- and off-road capability. “Anticipating future trends, the
‘Prologue…’ is an innovative combination of ideas at a number of different levels: its architecture, its style, its interior ambience, its modularity, its original high-tech equipment and also its new-generation hybrid technology,” said Peugeot in a
statement released last week.

Used Cars, Used Cars Sale

Lamborghini’s “new world” breaks cover

2008-09-30T02:01:00.000-07:00

LAMBORGHINI has now revealed two teaser detail shots of a model that it describes as "a new world", ahead of its official world debut at the Paris motor show next week.

“It’s not just a new Lamborghini, it’s a new world," said the official Lamborghini press release that accompanied a single image of the car's (carbon-fibre) rear diffuser and central exhaust outlet on September 16.

A second image issued three days later on Friday (September 19), shows a section of the bonnet in profile above the front left wheel, tyre (a 295/30-section 19-inch Pirelli P-Zero, no less) and guard, which features a carbon-fibre front splitter and front side vent garnished with Italian colours.

An entirely new front bumper shut line proves the “new Lamborghini” is not a lightweight “Superleggera” version of the Italian maker’s 2001-based flagship Murcielago LP640, nor another Reventon-style special-edition.

But the new bodyshell’s go-faster front quarter venting supports speculation the car will be an all-new concept that breaks tradition with years of mid-engined Lamborghini models by being a front-engined, four-seat (and perhaps even four-door) rival for cars like Aston Martin’s Rapide and Porsche’s upcoming Panamera.

Some reports have even suggested the all-new Raging Bull model could be based on the latter through the two sports car makers’ separate ties with the Volkswagen Group, which owns Lamborghini and is now a subsidiary of Porsche.

All will be known on October 1, when Lamborghini appears set to do what Ferrari would never dare.

Used Cars, Used Cars Sale

9-X Air previews small topless Saab sibling

2008-09-30T01:51:00.000-07:00

SAAB has signalled its intention to develop an all-new compact model range, widely expected to go by the 9-1 name, when it presented the smooth Volvo C30-sized 9-X BioHybrid hatch concept at the Geneva motor show in March.

Now General Motors’ Scandinavian subsidiary has revealed it plans to evolve the 9-1 series into a complete entry-level model family by announcing the 9-X Air concept, which will preview the 9-1 Convertible when it makes its global debut at the Paris motor show on October 2.

With a redesigned 9-5 flagship sedan finally expected to emerge next year and both an all-new 9-3 and the 9-4X SUV expected to be released in 2010, it’s unlikely the 9-1 hatch will hit the road in production guise before 2011. Some reports suggest the 9-1 could appear before both the redesigned 9-5 and 9-3, but either way we don’t expect to see a road-ready convertible version of Saab’s C30 rival in dealerships until 2012.

And while the Saab 9-1 model family is expected to reside upon a small front-drive next-generation GM platform that’s shared with the Holden/Vauxhaul/Opel Astra, it’s unclear wether its most striking feature, its so-called Canopy Top, will ever see actual rain or sunshine.

Of course, officially, Saab has not acknowledged plans to produce a direct premium hatchback rival for the likes of BMW’s 1 Series, the same company’s Mini Cooper range or the Audi A3, let alone a convertible version there of.

It says the 9-X Air is “an innovative design study exploring what a future open-air Saab could look like”, which also underlines Saab’s history of producing landmark convertible designs – including its first topless model revealed at the Frankfurt motor show exactly 25 years ago.

The four-seater 9-X Air, like the 9-X BioHybrid, features a wraparound glasshouse but this time it also includes the rear screen. Prominent rear pillars define the distinctive silhouette and also mount the flat-folding Canopy Top roof system, as well as the separate recessed rear screen.

Saab claims the design presents a coupe-like look with the roof up and a turbulence-free interior with the top down. Developed from the Targa-top principle, the fabric Canopy Top is said to differ from both a folding metal roof and a folding soft-top by folding away fully automatically into three small sections stored within the boot.

Saab says the rear screen between the buttresses then retracts automatically into the underside of the raised tonneau cover to allow stowage of the Canopy Top, before the screen then moves back into position to provide a complete glass surround for the cabin in open-top mode.

This,along with an active wind deflector on top of the windshield header rail, is claimed to minimise buffeting, reduce back drafts and eliminate the need for a wind deflector, while separating the rear screen from the folding top allows the employment of a glass area that is larger than feasible when integrated into a soft-top.

Measuring just 4.43 metres in length, 1.39 metres wide and 1.83 metres high, the 9-X Air also dispenses with a conventional boot. Instead, a spring-loaded storage compartment - large enough to accommodate two golf bags - slides out from underneath the rear lights.

The 9-X Air shares its 1.4-litre turbocharged BioPower hybrid engine with the 9-X BioPower concept, which it says was designed in tandem. Running on E85, it is claimed to produce 147kW, 280Nm of torque, projected average CO2 tailpipe emissions of just 107g/km and fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km (4.9L/100km on straight petrol) – despite 0-100km/h acceleration in a respectable 8.1 seconds.

Used Cars, Used Cars Sale

S-class spawns hybrid

2008-09-30T01:39:00.000-07:00

Benz unveils its first hybrid passenger car, but it is not coming here

MERCEDES-BENZ will launch its first hybrid passenger car in overseas markets during 2009, but the Australian branch of the German manufacturer has told GoAuto this week that it was not engineered for right-hand drive. The S400 BlueHybrid will premiere at the Paris motor show next week – in the same hall as BMW’s first 7-Series hybrid, which uses the same “mild” hybrid technology with a different engine and transmission combination. A Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific spokesman said that although the S400 would not be sold Down Under, hybrid power should be available on select sub-S-class Mercedes-Benz cars by 2010. Dubbed the “world’s most economical luxury saloon with a spark-ignition engine”, the S400 BlueHybrid combines a
“thoroughly re-engineered and improved” version of the German marque’s 3.5-litre V6
petrol engine – now producing 205kW (up 5kW) – with a 120V three-phase AC electric
motor that generates 15kW and a “starting torque” of 160Nm. The combined output is
220kW and 385Nm. In another first for a series-production model, the S400 hybrid also uses a high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack, rather than nickel-metal hydride as seen on its most obvious rival, the Lexus LS600hL. Mercedes claims lithium-ion offers a number of advantages, including a higher energy density and better electrical efficiency, together with more compact dimensions and a lower weight.
Driving through a reconfigured version of the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic
transmission, the green S400 Blue returns a 7.9L/100km fuel consumption average
– a saving of 2.2L/100km over the S350 upon which the hybrid car is based – and
190g/km of CO2, which represents a 21 per cent reduction. Indeed, the CO2 figure
is claimed to be the world’s lowest in this vehicle and performance class. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is achieved in 7.2 seconds, with top speed reached at an electronically governed 250km/h. Additional weight of the overall system is just 75kg.

Used Cars, Used Cars Sale

GM celebrates 100 years by revealing the production Chev Volt and its vital stats

2008-09-30T01:33:00.000-07:00

GENERAL Motors marked its 100th anniversary this week by officially unveiling the production version of Chevrolet’s Volt plug-in hybrid sedan, which it says will lead the company into its next century of car-making.

Bearing only a vague resemblance to the low-slung concept that emerged under the same name at the 2007 Detroit motor show, the production Volt and its preliminary specifications were presented in Detroit on September 16 by GM chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner.

The road-going Volt surfaced more than a week ago when pictures of the vehicle, in each case partially obscured by senior GM officials, were made available for 12 minutes on GM’s media website in what appeared to be either a poorly handled media release or a deliberate pre-publicity “leak” ahead of this week’s official unveiling. The result of an official investigation into the matter by GM is yet to be announced.

“Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century,” said Mr Wagoner this week. “The Volt is symbolic of GM’s strong commitment to the future – just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today’s and tomorrow’s energy and environmental challenges.”

GM’s belated answer to Toyota’s super-successful Prius hybrid, the third generation of which will emerge at the 2009 Detroit show next January and should also eventually feature a “plug-in” recharge function, will enter production at the company’s Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility – “subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives”.

The 2011 Volt is due for release in the US in late 2010 and has been earmarked as a model for global consumption - priced around the same as the current Prius, which costs $37,400 in Australia.

Like the Prius hatch, the Volt sedan is a relatively conventional small family car that, in this case, rides on the same next-generation front-drive Delta platform that will underpin GM’s new Astra, which is reported to have been developed to accommodate fuel cell technology.

It measures 4404mm long (40mm shorter than the current Prius), 1798mm wide (73mm wider), 1430mm high (60mm lower) and rides on a 2685mm wheelbase (15mm shorter). The four-seater Volt, however, offers a boot capacity of just 301 litres, compared to 456 litres for the five-seater Prius.

Other vital statistics include the fitment of MacPherson struts front suspension, a “compound crank twist” solid rear axle, four-wheel disc brakes with full regenerative function, electric power steering and 17-inch forged alloy wheels with special low rolling resistance tyres.

Toyota announced last week that it has begun UK public-road testing of a plug-in system for the Prius and expects to bring forward delivery of its plug-in system from 2010 to late 2009, but GM product chief Bob Lutz has been vocal in his claims that GM and Toyota are not in a race to produce the world’s first rechargeable car because the two designs are so fundamentally different.

Toyota’s plug-in Prius is expected to debut globally in small numbers in late 2009 - around the same time large test fleets of the production Volt will hit the road.

“A plug-in hybrid with a limited range is a very nice thing to have. It’s wonderful that Toyota is working on this. If they have some test fleets out next year that's great. But it’s not the same thing as a Chevy Volt, which is not a plug-in hybrid,” said Mr Lutz on August 28.

“After eight or 11 miles (13 or 18km) it (the Prius) reverts to being a completely normal gasoline-electric hybrid, which means you get about a 25-30 per cent fuel saving, but the point is they do burn fuel.”

Toyota has not revealed its electric-only traveling distance target for the plug-in Prius, which currently employs a 1.5-litre petrol engine that both drives its front wheels and recharges its nickel-metal-hydride battery pack for a limited electric-only range of up to about 18km. The next Prius will improve dramatically on that.

The Volt, meantime, will employ a new 16kWh lithium-ion battery pack that will enable the Volt to travel at least 65km when fully charged.

After that, a small E85-compatible petrol engine turns itself on and charges the electric motor enough to extend its range - but not to charge its battery, as in the Prius, returning fuel consumption of as little as 1.5 litres per 100km. The current Prius officially averages 4.4L/1]00km.

The Volt's battery pack contains 220 lithium-ion cells and delivers the equivalent of about 111kW and 370Nm of instant torque, for a claimed top speed of 160km/h.

GM says that, unlike the Prius, the Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds and, if driven less than 65km a day and recharged nightly, the Volt promises electric-only, emissions-free operation indefinitely.

Once depleted, however, the Volt’s battery needs to be charged via a main outlet, which GM says takes less than three hours with a 240-volt outlet or about eight hours with a 120-volt outlet – less if the battery has not been fully depleted.

According to GM, at US electricity prices (about 10 US cents per kWh), the Volt costs about 80 cents per day to fully charge at peak rates – about one-sixth that of a conventional petrol-powered vehicle.

“When the battery’s energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt’s electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery,” says GM.

“This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle’s battery can be charged.”

GM says the finished Volt, which is claimed to herald “a new era of electrification of the automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV)”, is one of the most aerodynamic designs it has ever produced following hundreds of hours of wind tunnel testing.

It claims it will offer the space, comfort, safety and amenity expected of a small four-passenger sedan, with a variety of interior colour, trim and lighting options never before offered in a Chevrolet sedan.

Features include a standard seven-inch touch-sensitive “infotainment center” with integrated gear-shifter, a driver-configurable liquid crystal instrument display, Bluetooth connectivity for phone and music functions, and an optional navigation system with onboard hard drive for map and music storage.

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Court finds Saab Grrrrrreen claims misled

2008-09-30T01:19:00.000-07:00

GM HOLDEN has been ordered to train the marketing staff of its subsidiary, Saab Australia, in relation to misleading and deceptive ‘green’ marketing claims after the Federal Court declared that its “Grrrrrrreen” advertising campaign was misleading.

The Federal Court ruling, announced on Thursday (September 18), relates to newspaper and magazine advertisements published between July 27 and September 1 last year, which claimed “Every Saab is green” and “With carbon emissions neutral across the entire Saab range”.

It upheld claims by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), dating back to January 18, that the advertisements represented to consumers that by planting 17 native trees the company would offset the amount of CO2 produced by any Saab vehicle over the life of that vehicle, when in fact its CO2 output would be offset for only one year.

As part of the settlement of the ACCC’s legal action against GM Holden, trading as Saab Australia, Saab agreed not to republish the original advertisement and to have its marketing staff training reviewed as part of a scheduled review of its trade practices compliance program later this year.

GM Holden has also voluntarily undertaken to initiate the planting of an additional 12,500 native trees through government-approved abatement provider Greenfleet, which Saab estimates will offset the CO2 emissions from all Saabs purchased during the two-week perdiod from when the advertisement was first published until it was replaced by a revised version - for ten years, which is the official average lifespan of a new vehicle in Australia.

The ACCC warned it would take similar action against other companies it deemed to be “greenwashing”.

“Companies risk breaching the Trade Practices Act if they give an overall impression to consumers that their product is environmentally friendly when it isn’t,” said ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel in a statement.

“The ACCC will continue to be vigilant on ‘greenwashing’ and will not hesitate to take enforcement action, including Federal Court action, against traders who make false or misleading representations to consumers, as has been demonstrated by this case.”

Saab Australia umbrella group GM Premium Brands issued a statement the same day saying it had agreed to settle the ACCC’s legal proceedings, but pointed out that ACCC’s settlement documents acknowledged Saab did not intend to mislead customers.

“We take our responsibilities as an advertiser very seriously and we welcome the ACCC’s acknowledgement in the settlement documents that we did not intend to mislead consumers about the carbon dioxide offset program,” said the director of GM Premium Brands, Parveen Batish, who in February described the matter as “rather like taking a sledgehammer to crack a small egg”.

According to Saab, the advertisement intended to advise readers that 17 trees would offset one year of CO2 emissions for each car, however “some readers could have interpreted the advertisement to mean that Saab vehicles were carbon dioxide neutral over their life. The revised advertisement described more clearly that the 17 trees would offset carbon dioxide emissions for one year only”.

Saab commenced this carbon dioxide offset program in January 2007 and said that in August 2007 it identified that one advertisement was “not as clear as it could be”.

It said that it amended the advertisement and issued a revised version for publication of its own accord, before the ACCC had issued any guidelines regarding ‘green’ marketing.

“The advertisement was one of a number of promotional materials around the program and was only published for a very short time before we identified it was not as clear as it could be and replaced it," said Mr Batish.

“It is important to reiterate that we had no intention to mislead consumers and we welcome the ACCC’s leadership in recently releasing publications concerning ‘green’ marketing, carbon claims and environmental issues.

“As well as this, Saab has also initiated the planting of an additional 12,500 native trees through Greenfleet. Saab estimates these trees will offset 10 years of CO2 emissions from Saabs purchased during the period the advertisement was first published until it was replaced by the revised version on 12 August 2007.

“We took these steps because we feel it is important to demonstrate how committed we are to building and maintaining a relationship of trust and honesty with our customers,” said Mr Batish.

“When combined with the trees which Saab has already arranged to be planted pursuant to the program, it means that over 47,500 trees have been planted or are scheduled to be planted on Saab’s behalf.”

Mr Batish said that Saab is yet to receive any complaints from any Saab purchasers about the original advertisement, and that he believed environmentally conscious drivers would continue to support Saab, which would continue to drive environmental initiatives for General Motors in Australia.

“Being an environmental leader is extremely important to Saab,” he said. “Saab launched its BioPower range of vehicles last year and is proud to be the first and only car company in Australia to offer drivers a renewable driving alternative.”

Saab’s 9-3 and 9-5 BioPower “flex-fuel” models remain the only production cars available in Australia that can run on E85, despite the fact the 85 per cent ethanol fuel blend remains available only at three filling stations nationally – Rozelle in Sydney and Mawson Lakes and Parkholme in South Australia.

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New Fiesta's full specs revealed

2008-09-30T01:12:00.000-07:00

Ford to launch new Fiesta in two weeks with two petrol engines and two transmissions

GOAUTO has obtained full official specifications for Ford Australia’s crucial new light-car, the redesigned WS-series Fiesta hatchback, more than two weeks ahead of its launch at the Sydney motor show on October 9.

As before, the new Fiesta will be available in both three-door and five-door hatch body styles, with three specification grades and two engines on offer – led by a more powerful 1.6-litre DOHC inline Duratec four-cylinder delivering 88kW of power at 6000rpm and 152Nm of torque at 4050rpm (up from 74kW/146Nm).

This time around, however, the 1.6 will be a five-speed manual-only proposition, in which guise it returns a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.1L/100km and produces 143g/km of CO2 emissions.

And, instead of the 110kW/190Nm 2.0-litre engine that powers the current Fiesta XR4, which will not initially be replaced, the new Duratec 1.6 will be sold alongside a new entry-level 1.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine that produces 71kW at 5750rpm (just 3kW shy of the outgoing 1.6) and 128Nm at 4200rpm.

Mated exclusively to a four-speed automatic transmission, the 1388cc four returns a higher ADR81/01 fuel consumption figure of 6.9L/100km and higher CO2 emissions of 164g/km.

There will be no diesel option, though both 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines are 91 RON and E10 unleaded fuel-compatible (via a capless refuelling system).

The CL specification grade will replace the LX as the entry-level Fiesta variant, while the LX becomes the midrange variant for both body styles. Previously the midrange variant, the Zetec becomes the flagship version for both body styles, replacing the WQ-series Fiesta XR4 three-door and Ghia five-door.

The CL 1.4 three-door auto should replace the LX 1.6 three-door manual as the entry-level Fiesta variant, and could even undercut the current model’s $15,990 starting price.

Standard equipment across the range will include twin front airbags and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), plus air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, remote central locking, a rear foglight and 15x6.0-inch wheels with 195/50-section tyres.

The midrange LX variant, available only in five-door guise, adds alloy wheels, cruise control and voice-activated Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

Electronic stability control (ESC) with emergency brake assist (EBA), twin front side airbags and a driver’s knee airbag will be standard only in the flagship Zetec variant, and is collectively available as a safety option pack on CL and LX versions. Zetecs also gain 16x6.5-inch alloys (with 195/45-section tyres) as standard.

A 17x7.0-inch alloy with 205/40 R17 rubber will be available, but only a temporary-use (14x5.5-inch) spare wheel will be fitted, with a 175/65-section tyre.

The new “Kinetic Design” Fiesta is on average 40kg lighter than before due to the increased use of high-strength steels – which now form more than half of the body structure and are claimed to make it more torsionally rigid.

Kerb weights for the three-door Fiesta are 1061kg (CL), 1065kg (LX) and 1067kg (Zetec), while the five-door is 10kg heavier at 1071, 1075 and 1077kg respectively.

As a result, for what it’s worth, the five-door Fiesta has a 5kg (525kg) unbraked towing capacity, though all models are rated to tow 900kg with a braked trailer.

All new Fiestas ride on a 3mm longer 2489mm wheelbase, and while the three-door measures 3950mm long (8mm longer in Zetec guise), 1709mm wide and 1481mm high, the five-door is 13mm wider – not longer.

MacPherson strut front and solid beam rear suspension configurations continue, as does a ventilated front disc and drum rear brake set-up, while a new electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system is fitted.

Australia’s supply of the European-designed WS Fiesta will switch from Cologne in Germany to Rayong in Thailand, which has a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia, from late 2009.

This could allow Ford to make the Fiesta nameplate more price-competitive than ever with direct light-car rivals like Toyota’s top-selling Yaris, the next generation of which could come also to Australia from Thailand, as well as other Japanese-built cars like the Suzuki Swift and Mazda2 - and even Korean-built models like the Hyundai Getz, Kia Rio and Holden Barina.

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Jaguar eyes new XJ flagship

2008-09-30T00:45:00.000-07:00

New XJ range-topper here next year as Jaguar Land Rover consolidates under Tata

THE managing director of Jaguar Land Rover in Australia and New Zealand has confirmed that the next-generation XJ flagship sedan is just 12 to 18 months away.

In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with GoAuto, David Blackhall has also revealed that it is business as usual for the two British brands in Australia following their acquisition by India’s largest car-maker, Tata Motors, and that he intends to position the Jaguar brand closer to Bentley and further away from German rivals like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

“We’ll have new XJ in the next brief period of time, in the next 12 to 18 months or whatever and that car I expect to be… positioned significantly upmarket from where the current vehicle is.

“We talk about Jaguar as premium niche. The way I explain this to people is… closer to Bentley than BMW. That’s the territory we’ve got to keep heading towards in my opinion.”

Mr Blackhall conceded the current XJ’s styling was too retrospective to attract larger numbers of premium large sedan buyers, but said Jaguar’s new flagship will rectify this.

“I think everyone concedes the styling (of the current model) could have been different. It’s dynamically one of the best cars you ever could drive (but) the current XJ always for me personally was looking in the rear-view mirror far too much.

“I think the new car will be true to the Jaguar tradition. (But) This car will be a forward-looking car. No question.”

“I don’t have a firm date on it (arriving here) because there are not firm declared dates out of the UK, but they are actively working on the car. I did see some very close to final executions of the car that looked terrific.

“We want it as soon as we can get it. I definitely feel good about it,” he said.

Mr Blackhall said Jaguar’s current entry-level model, the X-Type, still attracted about half of the brand’s sales volume in Australia – much more than in other markets. He said that the $100,000-plus XF may need to be repositioned if Tata decides to discontinue the X-Type beyond 2010.

“Interestingly enough, it sells well especially for us. It still contributes probably about half our volume.

“A job for us will be if there’s a decision made for that car not to continue beyond 2010, then we’re going to have to obviously think about how we structure ourselves and what XF can do for us - what other opportunities there will be with that car.

“But you know that decision as far as we know is not taken yet. We are active on the car, we have a confirmed product plan through 2010 - beyond that it’s not visible to us so…”

Mr Blackhall confirmed an R-badged performance version of the XF sedan was previewed by a prototype at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, which should morph into a production version here by mid-2009.

“There’s a plan around a higher performance vehicle (based on the XF), which would logically be an R. There was car that broke cover (at Goodwood) that was not called an R, but it was certainly headed in that direction.

“We’d be very keen to have one and we’d like to get one into Australia as soon as it could be done, so we’re anticipating something would develop out of that prototype that was shown at Goodwood.

“Personally, I’d love to see something probably before the halfway mark of next year if I could, but again I don’t have that confirmed by anybody - I am lusting after units.”

In terms of Land Rover, Mr Blackhall said the lightweight compact LRX concept heralded the future of the iconic British off-road brand, but its production future was net yet confirmed.

“There is tremendous effort going into making sure Land Rover’s future is not compromised by being flat-footed.

“Certainly the global SUV slowdown which has affected everybody in the SUV market is impacting Land Rover in the short to medium term, but the answer lies in having products that continue to fulfill the multitude of uses that our customers require them to do, but do it in ways that are acceptable in the company environment.

“I haven’t got a (LRX production) date and as far I know the last time I had any sort of official word on this it was still on the drawing board as a concept and something we’d love to get into the cycle plan.

“Size, light weight, fuel efficiency, alternative solutions - they’re all part of the mix, aren't they? Phil Popham, our global MD, has said LRX represents the future direction as far as we can tell.”

Mr Blackhall said that the Freelander’s idle-stop system would not be seen in Australia any time soon because it is engineered only for a manual transmission at this stage.

He said that, as promised, Tata had made no apparent changes to Jaguar or Land Rover’s future model plans out to 2013.

Left: Jaguar Land Rover Australia/New Zealand boss David Blackhall and Land Rover's LRX concept.

Mr Blackhall said that Jaguar Australia was on target to sell up to 1200 vehicles in 2008 – half of which are expected to be XF models – while Land Rover should finally achieve its stated target of 4500 sales, thanks largely to the Range Sport and Freelander 2.

“If you take our running rates, looking through the first seven to eight months of the year, Jaguar will probably be in the 1100-1200 range and I expect probably a good 500 to 600 of those will be XFs.

“Land Rover we’ve always publicly targeted 4500 (sales) and we think we will get close to that - we’re on a running rate to do that. The only thing that’ll stop us will be if the market continues to be difficult and tanks beyond what we think it will,” he said.

Mr Blackhall said the upside of slower sales in Europe, the UK and US was freer supply of both Jaguar and Land Rover models.

“The UK and European and US situation hasn’t really had a major impact on us so far, but the flipside of the difficulties in the northern hemisphere means that we can get pretty much get plenty of stock when we want it.”

He said the changeover from British to Indian ownership had occurred seamlessly so far, and that the company’s dated information technology (IT) system could benefit from synergies already offered by Tata.

“It’s remarkably calm and smooth. I guess I describe it as totally transparent as we are concerned operationally. I know in the UK there’s probably more routine contact (with Tata), but certainly for us in Australia and NZ and I know from talking to the other managing directors across the globe there’s no operational interface of any consequence whatsoever.

“So the philosophy appears to be very consistent with Mr Tata’s statement that we like to acquire business and have the professionals that are in them run them.

“Locally I have gone on the front foot a bit with the Tata general managers and CEOs that run the other businesses here in Australia, because I think they offer us, as a small operation, some opportunities. They have a very large IT consultancy, Tata Consulting Services, and so were engaging them.

“We have met with them and are doing a bit of preliminary scoping with them to see if they can help us with some local IT challenges.

“The biggest single suggestion we’ve had and the one we think will be most fruitful most quickly is on the IT and systems front. It’s no secret and we’re not on our own, by the way, but most car companies have a patchwork quilt of systems stitched together and ours is no different.

“So you’ve got systems that date back to the Inchcape days, BMW days, Ford days and what I’m saying is we need a properly thought-through IT strategy and Tata can help us on that - that would help me to make our business more efficient.”

Mr Blackhall said Tata could present other opportunities in the area of marketing, via its expansive worldwide hotel chain network.

“We have also met with the GM of the hotel group - they own the Blue Hotel at Woolloomooloo in Sydney and you know that is an interesting discussion.

“We might run a convention there if the price worked out and we might sell some courtesy cars, but the synergies are minimal frankly and as I said operationally there is no engagement at all,” he said, adding that Jaguar would continue to focus on customer-targeted events as its chief form of marketing.

“In the last couple of years we have stopped doing things like going to motor shows and running what I have called broad-based marketing campaigns in favour of highly focused high-end activities. We have a series of XK days running at the moment were we offer people high end experiences that they can’t get any other way.

“It’s something we need to keep working on. We have are having success… with very focused activities that try to build around the Britishness and uniqueness of Jaguar because were are not going to get anywhere trying to take the Germans head-on - it doesn’t work for us.

“My mantra to our team is we have a small enough business that we should know everyone personally and that’s where we’ve got to get to.”

Mr Blackhall said that, from Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith downwards, the company had a fresher outlook than it previously did under Ford Motor Company ownership.

He said Jaguar Land Rover Australia/New Zealand continued to be owned by the UK entity, despite the change in shareholding at global holding company level.

“The UK team is walking around with its chest stuck out a lot more in my opinion, saying ‘we run this business now’ and the delegated signing authorities and all that sort of stuff all stop with David Smith, who is the CEO. There is no reference to anybody outside of that.

“In the Ford system as you probably understand there was always someone in Dearborn who wanted to look at whatever was happening and the authority level stretched all the way up to Mr Mulally.

“Well that’s not longer the case. I think there’s recognition that we’re a small business in the context of the global car business - you know, 300,000 units a year is tiny. We need to be nimble and we need to run the business ourselves and make it work - make good business decisions and deliver.

“So, yes, I get a feeling of much more self-containment - we’re flying the plane, it’s up to us now and we’ve got to do a good job, you know.”

Used Cars, Used Cars Sale

ANCAP Crash Test - Ford Focus (LHD) without side

2008-09-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Focus (LHD) without side curtain airbags 5 dr hatch - June 2008 Occupant Protection
32.46 out of 37
Pedestrian Protection Rating
15.41 out of 36
Category Small Cars Variant 5 dr hatch Engine Size 1.6 litre Kerb Weight 1250 Airbags Dual front & side airbags Tested Vehicles Built 2004 Crash Test Date
June 2008 Tested By
Euro NCAP

Important note: The left-hand-drive European model with side curtains was tested by Euro NCAP. Australasian specifications may vary and therefore models sold in Australasia might provide different levels of protection to those described on this page. Australasian models have 2 or 2.5 litre engines.

Model History and Safety Features

The Ford Focus was introduced in Australia and New Zealand during 2005. Side curtains became standard in New Zealand early in 2007. Curtains are standard on the Australian XR5 variant and became optional on all other Australian variants from mid-2007. Side (thorax) airbags for both front seats and an intelligent seat belt reminder for the driver seat became standard on all models from March 2008.
Dual front airbags and antilock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) are standard equipment. Electronic stability control is standard or optional on all Australian variants but is only available on the Zetec variant in New Zealand.
The front seat belt buckles are mounted on the seats and the upper anchorages are adjustable. These features improve the fit of the seat belt. Pre-tensioners are fitted to the front seat belts to reduce slack in the event of a crash. These seat belts also have load limiters. A three point seat belt is fitted to the centre rear seat. This provides better protection than a two point (lap) seat belt.

Occupant protection: 4 Stars

The Ford Focus scored 15.66 out of 16 in the offset crash test. The passenger compartment held its shape well. There was a slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver.

The vehicle scored 15.80 out of 16 in the side impact crash test.

Frontal offset crash test (v4.1)

Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head/neck 4 pts, chest 3.66 pts, upper legs 4 pts, lower legs 4 pts.
The passenger compartment held its shape well in the offset crash test. The accelerator pedal moved rearwards by 51 mm. The brake pedal moved downwards 16mm. The steering wheel hub moved forwards 62mm, downwards 39mm and sideways 4mm. The front ("A") pillar moved 15mm rearwards. All doors remained closed during the crash and could be opened with normal effort after the crash.
The airbag cushioned the head of the driver and contact was stable. There were no knee hazards.

Side impact crash test (v4.1)

Body region scores out of 4 points each: Head 4 pts, chest 3.80 pts, abdomen 4 pts, pelvis 4 pts.

The side crash test rating is based on a Euro NCAP test of a vehicle with head-protecting side curtains. The base model Focus in Australia does not have side curtains but ANCAP was provided with evidence that the same results can be expected for this model. It was not eligible for the optional pole test which earned the curtain-equipped model an extra 2 points and a 5 star rating. A separate ANCAP rating is available for the curtain-equipped Focus.

Pedestrian protection rating

Tests on the bonnet showed that it offered good protection where a child's head might most likely strike it. It also protected adult heads, though less well. However, the protection offered at the bonnet's leading edge and by the Focus's bumper was found to be flawed.

Modifiers - Offset test scores

Head - No deduction
Chest - No deduction
Upper leg Variable & conc. loading - No deduction
Lower leg - No deduction
Foot score - Score 4 points

Note: Steering column and pedal movements are
measured relative to the driver's seat.

Other Modifiers Chest: No deduction

Safety Features
Driver airbag	S	Antilock (ABS) brakes / Electronic brake distribution	S/S/O
Passenger front airbag	S	Electronic stability control (ESC, VSC, DSc, ESP, VSA)	O (V NZ) #
Side airbags, front seats - chest protection	S#	3 point centre rear seat belt	S
Side airbags, front seats - head protection	O# (S NZ)	Active head restraints - front seats	X
Side aribags, rear seats - head protection	O# (S NZ)	Intelligent seat belt reminder - driver	S*
Driver knee airbag	X	Intelligent seat belt reminder - front passenger	X*
Front seat belt pretensioners	S/X	Rear seat belt status indicator	X

Key:
? = Fitted to vehicle that was crash tested (where not standard)
S = Standard on all variants
O = optional on base variant. May be standard on higher variants
V = not available on base variant but standard or optional on higher variants
X = not available on any variant.
* = not available on the Australian model
# ESC required by ANCAP for 5 star rating from 2008.

Injury Measurements

Refer to the information sheet "How the test are done"

Offset Crash Test
at 64 km/h
(v4.1)

Side Impact
Crash at
50 km/h
(v4.1)

Driver

Passenger

Driver

Head

HIC

280

158

Acceleration (g for 3ms)

39.9

31.3

27.9

Head Injury Criterion (HIC) is a measure of the potential for head injury. At a HIC of 1000 one in 6 adults will suffer from life-threatening injury to their brain.

Neck

Shear (kN)

0.61

0.43

Tension (kN)

1.23

0.68

Extension (Nm)

14.0

13.3

Chest

Acceleration (g for 3ms)

Compression (mm)

24.38

19.83

23.01

Viscous Criterion (m/s)

0.07

0.04

0.18

Chest compression of 75 or more, or chest acceleration of 90 or more indicates poor protection from serious chest injury.

Abdomen

Force (kN)

0.820

Pelvis

Force (kN)

1.950

Upper Legs

Force Left (kN)

0.14

1.96

Force Right (kN)

0.14

0.36

Knee Disp. Left (mm)

0.00

1.52

Knee Disp. Right (mm)

0.00

An upper leg axial force of 10.9 or more indicates poor protection from serious upper leg (femur) injury.

Lower Legs

Force Left (kN)

1.35

1.62

Force Right (kN)

1.49

1.58

Index (upper/lower) Left

0.35/0.27

0.19/0.14

Index (upper/lower) Right

0.38/0.20

0.24/0.2

A lower leg index of 1.2 or more indicates poor protection from serious lower leg (tibia) injury.

Bonus points (maximum 5):

Pole test:

Not eligible

Seat belt reminders:

Pedestrian rating

Child head impacts	9.41	Upper leg impacts	2
Adult head impacts	4	Lower leg impacts	0
Total (out of 36)	15.41 out of 36

Used Cars, Used Car Finance, Used Cars Sale, Used Cars Clearance

Tips to select Best Used Cars

2008-09-17T02:40:00.000-07:00

Used cars can prove to be huge savings provided probable customers conduct adequate research prior to finalizing a deal. This is a prerequisite or else the stake could prove to be costly. The demand for used cars is growing for the simple reason that showroom prices could be very high. This has proportionately boosted the number of cheaters who tend to trade doubtful and faulty used cars by classifying them as “affordable and best used cars”. Prior to completing a used car deal, clients may choose to indulge in comparison-shopping to uncover the best used car brands.

When company launch new car models, market happening and consumer demands decide their fate. The best-used cars are possibly to be those that are seen more on the roads. This is the easiest method clients can implement when choosing from the ten best-used cars. The Internet can assist in finding reliable best-used car sources. They put forward a wide range of used car types along with their price tags. This includes small cars, entry mid-sized cars, luxury cars, full-sized cars, coupes, and different sports utility vehicles (SUV). Apart from the type of car, clients may choose to be careful about the manufacturers.

Brands such as Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Porsche are well reputed. In case clients choose to buy used vehicles from individuals, the outcome may or may not be assured. This is because they may wish to hide significant facts. It is sensible to consult with experienced mechanics to determine the value and efficiency of a used car. When customers choose from ten best-used cars, it gives them a extensive range of options and allows people to find an reasonably priced vehicle that fits in an individual’s budget. The logical explanation behind selecting from the ten-best used cars is to save money and avoid being involved in long-term auto loans.

Why Certified Used Car Dealers are better?

2008-09-02T01:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone to your local car dealer with butterflies in your stomach because you don’t know what will be their rate for repairs? That happened to me last week. Because of that, it has made me think about spending in one of the many certified used cars at a local dealership. I know the majority of mechanics are simply trying to make a truthful living, but the few that are out to dodge people give others a bad name. Here are a few tips and tricks you should consider when you visit your mechanic so you won’t feel like you’re getting “ripped off” when you push away.

Examine the parts – One way to ensure the mechanic is really replacing parts instead of just saying they are is to ask them to see the old parts. That way, you know they are getting rid of the previous parts in order to change them.

Test drive before leaving – Before you sign for the completed repairs, take your car for a small test drive. Make sure to check the things the mechanic was supposed to fix. For example, if you took your car in to get the brakes repaired, make sure they work well before paying for the repairs.

Ask questions – Mechanics understand that repairs can be expensive. When they show the first written estimate, ask if there are any less costly alternative that you can use. Is it possible to use used or refurbished parts instead of new? Or is everything listed absolutely required? It never hurts to ask.

Look for reasonable prices – Realistic prices are different than “too good to be true” prices. Many auto shops present bargains that are not possible to meet simply to bring customers to their facility. If the price is “too good,” expect them to find other things that need to be mended.

You can forget about getting cheated by a shady mechanic by getting one of the certified used cars at your local Used Car Dealer. The authorised vehicles come with extensive warranties and guarantees that take the worry and disappointment out of dealing with mechanics.