Posts Tagged fuel efficiency
5 Tire Maintenance Tips
Posted on October 6, 2011 | Auto News, Auto Reviews.
Tires are an expensive part of your vehicle and are ones that need to be replaced due to wear. The more you drive the closer you get to having to replace them but there are some things you can do to ensure your tire last longer and don’t have to be replaced as frequently. This can save you money and time and will also ensure your tires remain safe to drive. Here are some tips to keep your tires on the road longer:
1. Keep them properly inflated: Tires that are improperly inflated can wear quicker and reduce your fuel efficiency not to mention become road hazards in extreme cases. Your vehicle will suggest one tire pressure to follow and the tires themselves will suggest another. Not sure who to trust? Stick with what your vehicle manufacturer says on the door of your car which is typically where the information is shown.
2. Change tires at the right time each season: Change your all seasons to winter tires once the temperature drops to 7 degrees celsius in the late fall. Changing them over sooner means you’ll be prematurely wearing the rubber with the warmer weather. Change them back to all seasons once the snow has gone and temperatures are going above 7 degrees because again, you’ll be prematurely wearing them out by keeping them on too long into the spring.
3. Rotate them on time: Your vehicle manufacturer will refer to the proper rotation schedule in the owner’s manual. Rotating them helps to ensure that they wear evenly and can help to increase their lifespan. Your owner’s manual will also recommend the proper rotation pattern so be sure that your tires get properly rotated as just switching them randomly doesn’t help.
4. Replace tires when needed: Your garage will help to inspect your tires and let you know when they need to be replaced. You can also inspect your tires for cracks, abnormal wear and other problems that you might need to get checked out by a trusted mechanic. Many brands of tires also come with wear warnings on them that actually tell you when the rubber has worn down to the point of needing to be replaced.
5. Stick with the same brand and model: Mixing and matching tire manufacturers and brands on a vehicle isn’t a great idea. Use the same brand and model of tire ensures that your vehicle is riding with a consistent tire tread and pattern which is the ideal situation. If you have to replace one tire, try to get the same brand and model.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle – Cool and Stylish
Posted on June 12, 2011 | Auto News, Auto Reviews.
The all new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle offers a stylish blend of 60s flair and modern technological oomph. While it will not be confused with the iconic make of decades past, the new Beetle is sportier, more powerful, and ready to take its passengers all across the country and back with plenty of room for cargo and good times. Aesthetically, it holds on to the smooth rear lines of the original 60s Beetle while moving beyond the circular design and replacing it with an edgier and more angular profile. This article will provide additional information about the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.
The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle comes with three engines so buyers can decide for themselves where they would like to strike the balance between fuel economy and red lining performance. At the base level is a standard 2.5 liter gasoline engine with 5 cylinders. This version is present in other offerings by VW, and it can put out up to 170 horsepower and up to 177 foot pounds of torque in the lower gears. This is more than enough to get anyone around town and up to speed on the fastest highways in the United States.
However, people interested in more speed and acceleration can opt for the 2 liter turbo charged 4 cylinder engine that will be capable of putting out up to 200 horsepower. This engine is the same one that buyers of the 2011 Golf GTI are treated to. It will cost you more in gas and in the initial purchase price, but if your primary priority is power, then you will probably find it worth it.
Alternatively, if you would like to have both an increase in power and an increase in fuel efficiency, then you might want to skip the gas powered engines and opt for the diesel. You can pick up a turbocharged TDI clean diesel engine in your Beetle and although it will cost you more at the start, you will be able to enjoy much improved mileage to the tune of up to 29 miles per gallon in the city and up to 40 miles per gallon out on the highway. The new Beetle truly allows you to have your cake and eat it too.
Another welcome feature of the modern 2012 Volkswagen Beetle is the plush and roomy seating on the interior. The rear seating area has been expanded in the 2012 model to allow for larger passengers and cargo, and up to 10.9 cubic feet of space are now included within the trunk, which itself is easily accessible if you venture to the back of the vehicle and pop open the wide opening back lid.
Inside, you can opt for add ons like a panoramic sunroof to let in the sun on those beautiful summer days. If you are a fan of good and loud music, then you might opt for the 400 watt fender premium audio system. Overall, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle indicates VW is interested in retaining old style and blending it with new performance.