April 21, 2006
April Is National Car Care Month
That's right. April is National Car Care Month and what better time to get your car in shape for the summer. Make sure your car is following its recommended maintenance schedule.Maintenance Minder
Let's talk tires.
Did you know...
- Under inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by 3%.
- As tires get older they lose their moisture and begin to crack. This is often referred to as weather cracking. These cracks can lead to sudden blowouts on the highway. Check your tires if they are older than 4 years for any cracks.
Tire Tips
- Check your tire pressure at least once a month and don't forget about the spare. Check it today before you forget.
- Inspect your tires every week. Look for glass, rocks, nails or other objects imbedded into the rubber. Finding something early can save you money and prevent sudden tire failure.
- Have your tires balanced if you notice any unusual vibrating or shaking through the steering wheel or seat.
- Have your tires rotated every 6000 miles (10,000kms). This will wear each tire equally. Include your spare tire in the rotation.
News Brief
- General Motors posted a loss of $323 million for the first quarter. This is much better than Q1 of 2005 and shows GM is on the road to recovery.
- Ford posted a loss of $1.2 billion but this is due to restructuring charges of $1.7 billion.
- General Motors has sold a 51% stake in GMAC for $14 billion. GM also sold its 7.9% stake in Isuzu Motors for $300 million.
- Toyota plans to sell 1 million hybrid vehicles annually by 2012, which is about 4 times what it currently sells.
- Volkswagen drops 'Golf' name for the 'Rabbit' in North America
- New York International Auto Show is in full swing. It runs from April 14-23. Notable unveilings include the redesigned Audi TT, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, G35 Sedan, updated Nissan Altima and Maxima, Chrysler 300 Long Wheelbase, Jeep Compass and two new offerings from Saturn: The Aura sedan and the Outlook Crossover SUV.
- Ford will introduce a new 3.5L V6 rated at 265hp. The new engine will debut this fall in the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, Lincoln MKZ, and soon to be redesigned Ford Five-Hundred. That's right. After a slide in sales over the last year (18% drop in March alone) Ford is introducing a redesigned Five Hundred early next year.
- Honda has begun selling the Fit. Starting at $13,850 USD, The Honda Fit marks a return to the sub-compact class as the Civic has moved up-market.
- Toyota and BMW top resale value lists
New Car Buying Tip of the Month
*Never go into a dealership without knowing the invoice price of the vehicle you are interested in. This will help you negotiate a better deal.
Used Car Buying Tip of the Month
*Always do a vehicle history check of a used car you are interested in. It will indicate if the vehicle was in an accident, a flood, or if it was ever stolen.
Product News and Reviews
As summer is approaching, check out 5 Star Shine to restore the paint finish on your car, truck, RV or even boat.5 Star Shine is the only paint protection system that has been awarded a U.S. patent. In fact it's so effective that it's used on ships in the United States Navy.
Latest additions to all-about-car-selection.com
As always we've added a lot of content over the last few weeks. Here's a list of some of our latest pages:
Trading in your vehicle
New fuel economy regulations focus on large SUV's.
What does "Buy American" even mean?
Front Wheel Drive VS. Rear Wheel Drive. Which is better?
The most fuel-efficient cars in North America.
Thank you for subscribing to The Owners Manual and drive with care.Peter Johnson
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