Benefits Of Keeping Your Oil Changed

Changing your engine oil on a regular regular basis is extremely important and brings many benefits to the owner and vehicle.

Oil plays a huge part in keeping your engine in good shape and lubricated. Not only does it keep your engine in good shape but also has other roles like keeping the engine clean, its helps keep the vehicle cool, it reduces pollutants and stops the formation of sludge in your engines sump. If not changed at regular intervals or every 10,000 miles for petrol engines or 6000 for diesel engines you can end up wear and tear and a loss of power or god forbid engine failure.

When changed regularly the benefits include better engine stability by improving the life and functionality of the engine. When changed at regular intervals your engine will be clean inside and this will lead to better engine performance and it wont show as many signs of ageing giving it a longer life.

When oil is not changed regularly the engine starts losing its ability to lubricate and protect delicate parts within the engine resulting in friction between the moving parts and the engine starts to wear. The more friction there is the harder the engine has to work to overcome the friction. This will increase fuel consumption  as performance decreases.

While on the flip side new oil is very smooth, creamy and viscous allowing engine parts to move smoothly with very little friction between the moving parts. This improves fuel consumption as the engine is now not working so hard and better mileage should be the end result. Regular oil changes also help to reduce noise made by the engine as parts move smoothly across each other producing less heat and friction and this will also help to keep your engine cooler.

Performance generally depends on the condition of your engine and if you service it regularly you can expect to get many more miles from your vehicle than if you don't. Changing your oil is a simple procedure and can be done on your driveway in about 15 minutes if you have a few tools and a jack. If you don't want to do it yourself you can take it to the many 1000s of garages and service centers dotted around the country.

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What Makes Luxury Cars Special

There are many vehicles today that are marketed as luxury vehicles, but some of them could be described as glorified metal boxes on wheels. Car manufacturers often produce a basic car model and include additions that you have to pay for, but this does not constitute a luxury car. In fact, depending on the brand, nearly all manufacturers today offer some mix of luxury features to enhance their advertising. In the past, luxury cars were defined by their size, comfort, space and presence, but today, the feel of the vehicle is also a significant factor.

Status
The intangible value of status adds to the worth of a luxury vehicle. Some people simply want the latest and greatest of whatever is in the market; having the money to buy a luxury car points to your success. Joining the elite group of luxury car owners is also easy since you can buy a used luxury car - you get to enjoy all the perks of a better class of cars and the after service associated with them.

Aesthetic value
A significant divergence exists between a standard vehicle and a luxury car, in which the latter has the distinct look that makes it stand out. Smoother design shapes and lines and vibrant paint are part of the luxury package - no flaws are visible on the bodywork or paintwork. They are also known for having some of the plushest interiors and the most options for customization.

Design quality
Luxury cars typically meet stringent technical requirements. There is a world of difference between the quality of fit, finish, overall performance and operating efficiency of luxury cars and those of lower priced models. A car's potential to go fast and handle well is a powerful lure characteristic of luxury cars, with some boasting horsepower upwards of 300 mph and going up to 500 horsepower. Luxury cars also offer advanced safety options and the best entertainment technology. Excellent aerodynamics is also an indication that a lot of resources and research have been pumped into the vehicle's design.

Size
Equating luxury and size is a worldwide notion. Size provides an extra level of refinement, craftsmanship, features as well as an overall presence and stance that is unique to luxury cars. However, there is also a market for compact, fuel-efficient luxury cars with the right features. An increasing number of luxury car owners today aren't pining for bigger vehicles. For instance, many owners of BMW 3 Series compacts have no intention of moving up to the larger 7 Series and have no problem paying 40,000 Euros for a 3 Series.

Reputation
A lot can be said about the emotional connections people can make with a brand and how that makes them feel, but there is a lot more to luxury cars than prestige. When it comes to the luxury market, the fact that a brand is time-tested is a key selling point. The customer experience associated with a brand is also critical - people want to walk into a dealership and feel that their needs are being met. Luxury car brands are also known for their credibility when it comes to safety, so much so that consumers are often willing to spend more on new innovations.

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Why Having Good Tyres Really Is Essential

The importance of having good tyres on your car really cannot be underestimated and indeed the consequences of having tyres that have low tread or are completely bald can actually be fatal in certain situations. You should, therefore, look at checking the state of them on a regular basis and as soon as they are getting close to being illegal, then you need to check out the tyres for sale that are suitable for your car and get them replaced immediately.

Perhaps the main reason why you need good tyres is due to the stopping distance because when they are old and have very little tread, then you can expect to stop in dry conditions quicker, but when the road is even slightly damp, then that stopping distance is going to increase with you then being more likely to have a crash. The reason why this happens is because the tread helps to push the excess water out of the way, but when the tyre is quite bald you lose grip and are unable to stop as that water remains under the wheel for longer resulting in the distance being increased.

Good tyres are also going to help when it comes to the handling of the car because you must remember that this is the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, so when the tyres are relatively new, then you can stay in control as you go around the corners rather than constantly having to correct the steering wheel as you drive along. This point becomes even more important if you have a high performance car because top makes will often have low profile tyres with harder sidewalls to handle not only the speed, but the acceleration as well, so if they are wearing thin, then you can expect to spin off at any point.



Finally, there is the fact that not having good tyres with the correct tread on them is actually illegal because your car is simply seen as being unfit to be on the road as you are endangering other motorists and even pedestrians due to your inability to stop. If your tyres are not fit for purpose, then you can expect a fine and of course if you are in an accident, then you can expect your insurance company to have something to say about the matter as well with your premiums then increasing as a result.

Those are just a few reasons why having good tyres really is essential along with what can happen if they are past their best and checking the tread on them is something that you need to do on a regular basis in order to make sure that you have at least 1.6mm of tread on there at all times. Failure to do so can result in your car being forced off the road and you being given a fine as your car is then classed as being a danger to not only yourself, but other road users as well, so when they are bald go and check the different tyres for sale for your model and drive safely at all times.

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New 131 Registration Plate

After quite a bit of debate and superstition about the 13 reg plate, Ireland has introduced a 2 tier registration plate in 2013, new cars will have either a 131 reg plate if registered up to June 30^th or a 132 reg plate if registered from the 1^st of July. This year the motor industry will attempt to spread sales across the whole year and not just sell the bulk of their cars early in the year.

Alan Nolan, director general of The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), told Irish Independent : "While it is too early to tell how new car sales are doing, there certainly has been a lot of interest. The motor industry is often used as a barometer for the economy and we hope, with consumer confidence seeing some slight pick up, combined with the new number plate, that interest will grow in coming weeks."

Car sales were down 12% last year according to new car sales figures from the SIMI. We wish the best of luck to the Irish motor industry for 2013 and hope it will a good year for all involved.

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The Motor Industry Has Come A Long Way

The Motor industry has come a long way since 1885 when Karl Benz put together the first contraption in Germany. The industry quickly became viable with loads of  investors getting into the field. By 1929, more than 38 million cars were in the US alone. This meant that there was a car for every 5 people in America. This already was an achievement and with the US providing 90% of the cars. Soon Japan took over as the largest producer of cars and China are pushing for that spot today. The advancements have been nothing but phenomenal from simple steam engines to petrol engines and now hybrids and Electric. The development has seen new car brands develop to provide cars for many different needs and styles. The initial purpose was for transportation and functionality. The luxury need was later developed and today we see high flying concept cars coming to being every other day.

Materials

It is almost impossible to tell where we are heading in the industry. The materials that were used back in the day were purely metal and leather for interiors. The industry has taken to plastics and carbon fiber among others for improvement and luxury. Engines have been developed using light aluminum and bodies carbon fiber for lightness. Different plastics have been used for support and lining while wood and fabrics ranging from leather and rexin are incorporated into the designs. Cars have become purely instruments of innovation. Functionality and elegance gaps are slowly closing in with earth movers being developed to provide comfort during work. Trucks have been fused with state of the art technology to provide a peace of mind and unmatched comfort for long distance drivers.

Speed

30 miles per hour was a killer speed in the 1890s. Speeds have since been improved with engines and car systems being developed to give more power. With present speeds of over 260miles per hour, very little is left to the imagination of many. The Buggati Veron, Ferrari, Lamborghini and other supercars have made speed their opium. Cars are being built to provide more horse power like jet engines, and this speed  comes with a price in terms of both risk and cost. The motor industry has also claimed many lives on the roads so standard cars come with standard speeds too.

Safety

The main concern of the car industries now is safety and functionality. With such speeds being developed. It has become crucial that cars are fitted with more safety features. Airbags have been developed with a fusion of anti-roll bars to increase the chances of survival in high speed crashes, impact and rolling. Volvo ranks as one of the safest vehicles.  Mercedes Benz are proving to be very safety conscious too.

These factors are a major concern when buying cars whether used or new. Laws and regulations have been put in place to regulate the automotive business and driving for the safety of the users. The concept car developments however give a good idea of where the industry is headed in the future.

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