Choose a Vehicle that Suits You and Your Family

Even if you have a car of your own, it may not be best suited to the kind of trip you want to make.  By hiring a car specifically for your holiday you can make sure you get one with plenty of room for the kids, the dog, all of the stuff you want to take with you, and even (if you want it) racks for things like bicycles.  If you are going away with your extended family, or taking some of the kids’ friends, you can even opt for a people carrier or minibus, which will give you a lot more options and a much more comfortable time if you are driving a long way.

Complete Freedom While You Are Away

Travelling to most popular holiday spots by train or coach is possible, if not easy, but what about once you get there?  Many places favoured for family holidays are in places that aren’t brilliantly served when it comes to public transport, such as Cornwall, the Lake District and most of the coast.  When you are on holiday you want it to be easy to take the whole family to the beach or to some of the local attractions, and this is infinitely easier when you have a hire car.  Otherwise, due to the lack of train routes in more rural areas, you can find yourself shelling out for expensive cab rides, or trying to figure out baffling local bus timetables.  A car also means that you don’t have to worry about what time you want to leave or return; you are completely free to make your holiday your own.

The Most Affordable Option

Whilst you may expect car hire to be a more expensive option, in many cases, thanks to the many budget car hire companies now available in the UK and the great rates when hiring a car for a week or more, you may be surprised by just how much you save compared with using public transport.  It will of course be more expensive than using your own car, but not by as much as you might think, and it could be that the benefits of having a larger or more reliable vehicle make that extra cost more than worthwhile.

Compare prices on car hire for the trip you are planning, you may well be very pleasantly surprised. You may even find that the car hire option allows you to plan an even better and more exciting holiday than you previously thought you could afford!

Image courtesy:freedigitalphotos.net

Mount Fuji (Japan)

Catching your first glimpse of Mount Fuji from the window of a speeding bullet train couldn’t be more quintessentially Japanese, but for true mountain aficionados a lot more time is needed to really take in the majesty of this beautiful and mystical landmark. One of the best ways to get up close and personal is to rent one of the many tourist-friendly dwellings that lie at the foot of the mountain.

At more than 3,700 metres, Fuji is the largest mountain in Japan, although it’s less than half the size of the major peaks in the Himalayas. Fujiyama, as it’s known to the locals, is actually an active stratovolcano, although it hasn’t erupted since 1708. It’s located around 100km to the south-west of Tokyo.

Corcovado (Brazil)

Despite being just 710 metres in height, Corcovado has become one of the most famous mountains on the planet, and continues to be a source of fascination for tourists from all over the world. Part of the Tijuca National Park, it soars majestically above the hustle and bustle of Rio de Janeiro, the second-largest city in Brazil.

Corcovado, which means hunchback in Portuguese, also has a very special addition which has proved to be a magnet for millions. The imposing statue of Christ the Redeemer is almost 40 metres high, and looks across the city with arms outstretched, as if in welcome to the millions of local residents and visitors. It really is a stunning sight.

Mont Blanc (France/Italy)

Even in the middle of summer, the peak of Mont Blanc is shrouded in snow, giving it a wonderful glow when the sun is shining and the sky is at its bluest. It lies on the border of two countries, and is known as Mont Blanc on the French side and Monte Bianco on the Italian side.

More than 4,810 metres in height, the ‘White Mountain’ is the highest in Europe, and in the winter months various local towns and villages offer the finest skiing conditions you’re ever likely to find. But it’s equally as good to visit in the summer, as evidenced by the thriving tourist trade in the local vicinity.

Table Mountain (South Africa)

This flat-topped masterpiece overlooks the modern metropolis that is Cape Town, and has become a significant tourist attraction in recent decades. At less than 1,100 metres in height, it’s not a particularly tall mountain, but the strange shape makes it a unique backdrop to any holiday for visitors from all over the world.

As well as admiring it from afar, it’s also impressive to get to the summit. The views across Cape Town and out to the ocean have to be seen to be believed, so if you’re visiting the area make sure you take advantage of the cable-cars that transport people up Table Mountain.

There are a few different ways that you can do this. However, the easiest way of finding out how much your car is worth is to use one of the many free online car valuation calculators that are available. The good thing about these calculators is that they can give you an accurate figure within just minutes. This takes away a lot of the hassle of getting an estimate on the web. Once you have figured out how much your car is actually worth, you are ready to sell your car online.

However, there are some things that you are going to need to think about if you want to be successful in selling your car online. First of all, it is important that you include all of the required and relevant information. The best way that you can do this is to think about what sort of information you would be looking for if you were planning on buying a car. By doing this you can make sure that the potential buyer has no questions when it comes to buying a car from you because you will have included all of the necessary information that they may need.

If you want to sell your car online then it is very important that you are completely honest about it. A lot of people exaggerate the quality of their car which then lands them in trouble for being misleading. However, what you can do is to emphasise the best features of your car. By doing this you are still being truthful, but you are much more likely to get more potential buyers interested in buying your car from you. A lot of people think that selling a car online is complex, but this is definitely not the case. It is an easy process if you go about it the right way – so visit a website and get your car valuated online today.

You are advised to check with the country you are driving to/in and with one of the UK driving organisations such as the RAC to establish all laws and recommendations relevant to the region before you depart. A speeding offence could be committed or a drink driving penalty could be easily suffered if you make assumptions without checking the details. Driving age limits vary from country to country.

• Documentation: Passport (and visa if necessary). UK driving licence – both parts. Vehicle documents. A letter of authorisation will be needed if you are driving a car that is not yours, e.g. company car or one you have borrowed. Your insurance details, and in some countries you will need an International driving Permit (IDP). You should check with your insurer on the policy conditions relating to travel overseas. You may also need a Carnet de Passage but only in a few countries such as Middle East, Far East, Australia and New Zealand. European Health Insurance card and travel/medical insurance documentation. A GB sticker may be required.
• Safety equipment: You may need to carry a warning triangle and a reflective jacket. In some countries it is mandatory to use winter tyres (marked on the sidewall) at certain times of the year or when conditions dictate. Snow chains may be recommended or compulsory. A first aid kit.
• Speed limits: Police radar detection devices are illegal in most European countries and may not be permitted in cars even if not in use. This applies to Satnav devices with fixed camera location as well. Limits are more vigorously enforced in many countries.
• Drink driving laws: These vary regarding the amount but it is safer to not drink at all if you are driving. Many European countries’ rules for drink driving are a lot stricter than the UK
• Headlights: The headlights or beam pattern should be adjusted or converted for driving on the right. In some countries it is compulsory to use your lights during daylight and in others when visibility is poor so you should check before you travel to avoid an unintended driving offence.
• Carbon emissions: Leaded petrol is no longer available in some countries. As in London there may be Low Emission Zones banning certain vehicles or charging above certain levels.
• Tolls: Check for toll roads on your planned route. In Portugal a meter is needed. In Italy you will be fined for entering some areas where there are access restrictions.

Image courtesy:freedigitalphotos.net

1) Get to Know Your Car

The first thing you need to do is get to know your car. The pedal to the left is the clutch pedal. You use the clutch when you want to put the car in neutral or if you want to changes gears. To disengage the clutch you push the pedal in. The pedal in the middle is the break pedal. Don’t feel afraid to use this one while you learn to drive a stick shift. The pedal on the right hand side is the gas pedal. When you’re learning to drive a standard make sure you take it easy on the gas pedal.

2) Get to Know Your Gears

With most cars, the second gear is the workhorse and the gear that you will use a lot, especially if you drive in the city. The second gear is good for going around corners, driving in traffic, and going up steep hills.

3) How to Up Shift

Up shifting is one of the first things you must learn when driving a standard. You need to find a fine balance between using the gas pedal and pushing down the clutch. You’re probably not going to get it the first time so don’t worry too much about it. The best place to practice is an empty parking lot. Learning to drive a standard is never easy but the best way to learn is to get out there and practice a lot.

Here are the steps for up shifting:

-Rev your engine to around 3000 RPM (may vary depending on your vehicle)
-Push the clutch in while letting off on the gas
-Move the shifter smoothly from first to second (or second to third etc.)
-Let your foot off the clutch
-Starting pushing down on the gas pedal

These steps are the exact same for the other gears in your car. Most cars made these days have five gears but your car may also have four or six.

4) How to Downshift

The steps are reversed when you are downshifting. Don’t be afraid to downshift either – it is a great way to slow down your vehicle, especially when you’re driving in the mountains or in bad weather.

Those are just a few tips for learning to drive a stick shift. The best way to learn is to take a driver’s training course with an experienced teacher. You can also learn by heading to an empty parking lot and learning from someone that knows how to drive a standard. Good luck with your driving!

Image courtesy:freedigitalphotos.net

The Bat Mobile

Just like the DeLorean, the Bat mobile has become a cinematic icon and a movie star in its own right. Unlike the DeLorean, the Bat mobile’s image has changed from movie to movie as different directors give their own interpretation to how they believe Batman’s car should look. The Bat mobile plays a vital role in all of the Batman movies and it played an equally important role in the popular 60’s television series.

The Mini

Unlike the previous members of this list, the Mini is both a movie icon and an accessible, much used everyday automobile. The mini was made famous in the 60’s by the British film, ‘The Italian Job’ in which 3 Mini’s were used in an unforgettable heist and car chase. The Mini’s were used to transport stolen gold and their size allowed them to abscond from the following police cars as they sped their way through the streets of Rome.  The Mini remains cool and relevant today as they are still a popular car to buy and a remake of the Italian Job in 2003 further cemented its cinematic icon status.

The Cadillac Miller-Meteor

The Cadillac Miller-Meteor, known better as the Ghostbuster’s car to millions of movie fans, has become one of the most iconic movie cars of all time. The car features prominently in both ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Ghostbusters II’ as it is an important part of the quirky collection of tools and gadgets that the ghost busting team used to catch ghouls and ghosts. Like the other cars that are featured in this list the Ghostbuster’s car has taken on a life of its own and continues to be a popular attraction for movie fans across the world.

Sam Qam is a movie and car fanatic. He loves to buy and sell popular cars and often asks himself how much is my car worth and how can I sell my car and he finds the answers to these questions online.

Window Care
Tips It is important that you keep car windows spotlessly and clear, for you require a forward, peripheral and rear sight as possible.  Try to remove anything that is dangling from the back view mirror and substitute big speakers on your shelf with low and flat ones.

Make sure that you remove all the stickers from your car windows especially those that are dopey and have sticker saying “Drive Safely or Baby On Board”.  That is not an indication that the other driver will drive more carefully simply because you are carrying a baby in your car that is entirely your job.

Remove The Muck
For your aerial sticks, rub them with graphite powder, don’t use squirt WD40 into it. This oil will soon leak out into the body of your car attracting dust to sticking more into your car.

It is advisable to clean your car to get better results than polishing or waxing it.  When spraying, use a piece of cloth to spray the liquid on it; don’t spray it on the car. Spraying your car directly will cause concentrations of paint in some patches resulting in lots of extra rubbing and smears. Meanwhile coarse dust will begin to stick on this surplus. The cleaning motion might cause scratches on your car; and small quintiles of spray will be lost to the wind.

Glass Cleaning
The best method to clean the glass of your car is up and down and side-to-side on the other this allows you to see the smear on the glass therefore saving on energy used to half. Bird droppings should be cleaned after you notice them. These droppings are acidic and will eat up your paint when wet. Never park under a tree to avoid this droppings and rain drips. Warm weather brings oil or sap from the tree which hardens making it difficulty to get rid of it when it dries.Make sure that you regularly clean your car engine. You will be delighted you did that if ever get under your car bonnet. Do likewise to the spare wheel. Ensure that you keep an old pair of gloves in the car for use when changing the wheel.

Conclusion 
It is important to treat your car like a part of your body because that is what it is ensure that all the car parts are well maintained by cleaning and you will be surprised how long and new your car will look, your driving will be pleasant and the cost for maintaining it will drastically fall.

Image courtesy:freedigitalphotos.net

If you are someone who cares about your car and want to keep it new and shiny for the next few years, you must avoid all these car wash mistakes. The top 3 common mistakes are:

Rinsing

Mistake 1: Tools

Many car owners are using an old piece of cloth or sponge to wash their car. These tools also get the job done. But they are harmful to the car surface. Cloth contains material which will cause minor scratches to a car. Over time, these scratches will become obvious and form swirl marks. Most sponge will drag the dirt along and scratch the car. Avoid using them in car wash.

Washing

Mistake 2: Dish Washing Liquid

For convenience, many car owners use dish washing liquid to wash their car. Although it can achieve clean and shiny as well, dish washing liquid normally contains harsh chemicals which could potentially damage your car surface. Every time you use it to wash your car, you might be removing some of your car paint or clearcoat.

Mistake 3: Drying

Do you spend anytime to dry your car after washing? Many car owners will leave their car aside after washing or try to dry it under the sun. If you are one of them, you will start to see ugly water spots on your car after some time. These water spots are very hard to remove and can be avoided by simply drying your car with microfiber cloth.
So, what’s the best way to wash a car?

Most importantly, how the professionals and car enthusiasts do it to keep cars clean and shiny?

These are the 4 steps most of them used for regular car wash:

Step 1: Rinsing

Start using water rinse your car. Remember to use low water pressure do not try to wipe off any dirt. This step is just for loosening the contaminants and lubricating the surface.

Step 2: Washing

Use the 2 bucket method. Fill 2 buckets with water and one of them with car wash shampoo. Soak your wash mitt in the bucket with car wash shampoo and start washing your car. When the wash mitt is getting dirty, soak it into the bucket with clean water. Always start from your car wheels first. Then, wash the car body from top to bottom.

This is by far the best way I learned on car wash. Instead of washing away the contaminants and put it back on the car, you know rinse them away in another bucket. With this method alone, you can see a huge difference on your car.

Step 3: Rinsing

After using your wash mitt to wipe your car, it is time you use water to rinse your car. You do not need to use wash mitt to wipe in the process. Just gently use the hose the rinse every part of your car.

Step 4: Drying

Before your car dries itself, you need to quickly dry your car before water spots are formed. Use a good microfiber cloth to dry your car. Spread the microfiber cloth on the car surface and very slowly move from one side to another. Squeeze off the water and wipe again. The key is not to wipe off the water but to let the cloth to absorb the water. That is why ‘slow’ is the key.

If you avoid the common mistakes and use these 4 steps in your weekly car wash, you will see a huge difference. After one car wash, you could probably see your car shine brighter than before.

Travel Off Season
If you travel during the season– to wherever you are looking at going– you will pay more. It’s that simple. If you want to visit the mountains of North Carolina, you are going to pay more from October to March. First you have the fall foliage that people travel from all over to see. Then you have skiing and you can rest assured that hotel, motel and lodge accommodations are not on the budget travelers list of approved sites.

So look at visiting the sites you want to see at the non peak times. You can generally save a great deal of money since hotels and other accommodations are looking to raise their occupancy rates.

Vacation Rental
One alternative in trying to cut down on travel expenses – especially if a group of adults who are traveling together- is to look into vacation rentals. Remember that North Carolina fall mountain trip? Three siblings and their families traveled together to the mountains in the middle of October and rented a three story mountain cabin for less than the cost of a hotel room for three nights. By splitting the costs, a great family vacation was enjoyed by all.

There are several reputable websites that have proven reliable in finding rentals like this. Sites like Vacation Rentasl By Owner (www.vrbo.com) have vacation homes all over the globe and you can narrow down your location and look for the amenities that suit your needs. From a mountain cabin to a condo on the beach to a Manhattan skyscraper right in the middle of Broadway, you can find accommodations to suit your fancy and budget.

Plan Early
One of the best pieces of advice you can ever receive when looking for budget friendly travel tips is to plan early. Narrow down your location and a general time frame and start saving early. A few dollars saved here and there will greatly help when paying for this budget friendly vacation. Booking your accommodations far in advance lets you be assured that you have the room at the rate you want for the dates you want. Planning early gives you time to research the area you are going and find interesting, cheaper activities.

BYO… Food and Drink
If you are traveling with children or plan to be staying for a few days, consider taking your own food and drink or staying in a place with a kitchen. Staying in a place with a kitchen allows you to eat one or two meals a day at “home” and get a taste of your travel destination at the other meal. This lets you save a great deal of money.

If you are traveling with kids, make sure you take your own snacks or stop at a grocery store once you reach your destination. Purchasing real food in a real grocery store is generally cheaper than eating in restaurants or hotel room service.

National/State Parks
With over 380 National and State Parks in the United States, these are often an untapped resource when really trying to be budget friendly. Look at the Park website and find a list of all of the state parks. One is bound to be near a place you have always wanted to go. Many of these offer great rates and have reasonably priced accommodations nearby if you aren’t the adventurous camper family.

1) A dedication to “leaner” options
We all know that KFC has recently undergone a bit of a change, right? The organization decided that it wanted to re-shape its image. Tired of being the leader in fried chicken, KFC started selling grilled chicken. The insanity of it all was almost too much to bear. But the grilled chicken worked out alright and it is now a popular product. If KFC sold car insurance, you can bet they would bring on some leaner alternatives. How about some cut-rate, cut the fat kind of coverage? Who needs stolen car protection, anyway?

2) Insurance agents with headsets
Have you been in to buy car insurance in the last few years? It takes a ton of your very valuable time. You have to spend your precious moments talking to people who may or may not care about you. You have to walk into an office and sit down. You can’t just get the insurance right away and be out the door. What if our friends at KFC sold car insurance? Your insurance agents would be wearing nice little headsets and asking you for your insurance order. These people would listen, record your order, and give you the product. That sounds simple enough, right?

3) Can we get Sunday specials?
Across the country, people go to KFC on Sunday to get a big bucket of chicken. These people come home to feed their families with a healthy dose of cholesterol and the best fixings money can buy. On Sundays, the chicken is cheaper and people just flock down to their local KFC. Can we get that kind of Sunday special on insurance? If KFC was doing the selling, you can bet that the Sunday insurance bucket would be the most popular deal. How about a 10% savings or a lower deductible with your bucket of chicken? That sounds like an idea that we can all get behind right now.

4) Who wouldn’t want to be insured by Colonel Sanders?
Are you looking for the perfect guy to provide insurance for your family? Who is better than a guy named Colonel Sanders? After all, he’s got the military pedigree. He’s also got the mustache to provide even more credibility. If there is one person who seems secure enough to provide insurance for my pride and joy, it is the colonel from Kentucky. Not only did he come up with a recipe with special herbs and spices, but he’s got the look of a man who knows how to make you feel at ease.

5) Drive-through insurance at its finest
Go to KFC on a busy night and you will recognize one thing. The drive-through window always moves pretty quickly. Those people know how to get you in and out. If KFC were in the business of selling insurance, we could drive right through once per year, getting the coverage we need. How about drive-through claims? That would be great because the adjuster could take a look at the vehicle right then and there. Imagine how much quicker claims would be processed if it was all handled with a fast and easy drive-through window.

If KFC sold car insurance, the world would be a much better place. We already love their chicken – both fried and grilled – so why wouldn’t we love what they have to offer with their auto insurance. The fact of the matter is that the insurance industry could use a little infusion of greatness from these world-renowned companies. Kentucky Fried Car Insurance might just be the next big thing, helping people get the most out of their policies just like they get the most out of their Sunday bucket of chicken.