Car Garage

Mid-size sedan segment is still alive. At least in the US. The choice is still abundant, while we even saw some efforts in stirring things up, primarily referring to Ford Fusion Sport and its perky twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 boosting 325 hp. Even with usual offers, car makers are struggling to stay competitive and preserve as many buyers as they can from vicious lurk of crossovers, so we witnessed the arrival of the new Chevy Malibu which appeared as came from another planet, in the most positive sense, when you confront it with its predecessor. Things are becoming even more perplexed as queen of the sales of the sales-Camry decided to go visually berserk and to actually amuse in corners, while another buyer’s sweetheart or brand new Accord is just days away from official reveal and who knows what special treats it is bringing to us. How’s that affecting five years old gem from Mazda, let’s see.

BUYERS NEEDS TIME

New 2018 Mazda 6 doesn’t bring anything new to the closing part of this generation’s market life since we did have some nip and tuck in 2015, while last year we had some none visual novelties, among which G-Vectoring becoming a standard feature. Anyway, Mazda 6 pretty much still nails any comparison tests in its segment no matter which automotive magazine you pick, suggesting that it has enough potency to survive with dignity until a successor arrives. For some reason that didn’t translate into decent sales, leaving 6 sitting at the dead bottom of the segment with embarrassing figures, proving that sometimes buyers need some time to acknowledge radical changes and confronted with the past this Mazda changed a lot.

EYE PLEASER

Dull and plain visual approach perished with this generation and crowning it best looker in the segment might offend complexity of different palates, but sleekest and most elegant is hardly debatable. Despite some time on the market, passionate and curvaceous lines still make it well enough handsome, while special approach with interior might just seal the deal for you. Mazda pursuit for the premium feel paid its dues with strangely tight fittings and for this segment luscious materials, leaving you possibly grudging only about the excess noise and lack of visual flair, though restrained elegance is well suited for many.

FALLING SHORT

You don’t need to stress about engine choices as there is no any. 2.5-liter naturally aspirated L4 producing 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque is what you get and its sprint to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds seems fine as far as base engine offer in the segment is concerned. For some reason Mazda 6 haven’t applied for turbocharged 2.5-liter L4 found in CX-9 model, which pumps out healthy 250 hp, leaving it to fall short of rivals in case somebody asks for more peppiness. Naturally fed V6 is still an old norm in this class and those violating it, Sonata, Optima, Malibu, and soon Accord, managed to offer vigorous (read heavily turbocharged) L4s, while Fusion dared to strap its V6 with two turbos boosting by far highest power figures. Still, this Mazda has a neat trick under its sleeve.

DRIVING MATTERS

It is what Mazda claims and it is what Mazda delivers. Automatic with 6-speeds works just fine, but as rare delicacy you can go with beautifully precise and short shifting manual. And you should, as this mid-size sedan drives sublimely. Firm and solid chassis, properly weighted steering not afraid of communicating with you and proper cornering poise might as well push into oblivion lack of proper amount of horsepower. Combine that road poise with sophisticated cabin and refined looks, and you’ll note that 2018 Mazda 6 might as well keep its humble sales numbers floating until the new one arrives, which should be in charge of figures boosting as folks had enough time by now to comprehend what latest Mazdas stands for.

I know what you might be thinking when you hear the term insurance. You might be wondering why you need another type of cover. This is especially important to you if you happen to be driving for a living because this is where courier insurance comes in.

For some time now courier insurance has been a legal requirement in the UK. There are some hefty fines for not paying this sort of insurance and they can go as high as £1,000. Furthermore, if you don’t pay it your vehicle might be seized and you might be experiencing problems recovering it. If you use your van rarely, or even if you don’t use it at all, you still need to pay the premiums. It’s important that you comply with the latest legal requirements. The key here is to find the right courier insurance provider so that you don’t end up paying more than you need to.

Courier insurance is a legal requirement for anyone operating a courier business. This is true whether you’re self-employed or work for a courier business. If you’re unsure about the type of courier insurance you need, it’s important to speak with an expert, such as the team over at Insurance Revolution to ensure you’re getting the correct type of cover.

When browsing courier quotes, you’ll find a wide range of conditions and cover types. This is why it’s important to really get to know the type of cover you require. What type of goods do you usually carry? Are they left in your vehicle overnight? Where is your work vehicle stored when it’s not in use?

Another tip is to try and not base your choice of cover purely on cost. Some policies may cost less, but could end up costing you more in the long run. When it comes to insurance policies, you don’t always necessarily get what you pay for – some of the smaller, more niche insurers may offer cheaper prices than larger companies, for essentially the same policy.

The Mercedes 190 SL has stood the test of time as an iconic automobile. Built from 1955 to 1963, the little two seat roadster was considered a less expensive alternative to the larger 300 SL. But being less expensive than its big brother didn’t make the 190 SL a cheap car. It still carried the top quality engineering and design that Mercedes is known for.

It was designed to compete with the Morgan, the Jaguar and the Aston Martin in the two seat road car class. Though not specifically designed for racing, it provided enough handling and power to please its owners. The 1.9 L in line four cylinder engine sported twin two barrel carburetors and a four speed gear box. Mercedes was one of the first company’s to offer a fully independent suspension, both front and rear. The 190 SL came equipped with the double Y suspension as a standard feature, allowing it to grip the pavement better than most at the time.

For looks, the 190 SL retained Mercedes’ simple elegance, but with a far less boxy appearance than its larger models.  A convertible by nature, the 190 SL offered a soft top convertible and an optional hard top convertible that could be stored in the trunk. With leather bucket seats, a subtle accent of wood trim and Mercedes’ trademark lack of dashboard clutter, the interior was comfortable, functional and pretty to the eye.

Because of its quality and limited production, the 190 SL remains a highly coveted collector’s automobile. Those in possession of a 190 SL know that whatever the current condition, it is a vehicle worth restoration. A top quality restoration presents problems for some owners, as the availability of genuine parts; the skill needed to properly restore it may be beyond their limits. Many of these owners feel it may be wiser to sell their 190 SL to a deserving owner who will provide a good home to their collector car. As specialized dealers, they are a little more in tune with the limited collector’s market.

Fortunately, there are companies available that specialize in Mercedes’ automobiles and are willing to place a willing buyer and seller together and may help negotiate a fair price for both parties. Some dealers may be willing to purchase it on their own and complete the restoration process.  If the dealer offers a fair price to the seller, it is a win for both parties. The seller receives the going rate for a rare automobile and the buyer obtains the ability to restore an automotive classic to its original beauty.

Thinking about hiring a VW car for a big road-trip? One of the main considerations would be just how far you get on each gallon of fuel you fill up on.

UK based Volkswagen dealer, Inchcape Volkswagen, has put together some findings on how far each VW type would get you. The VW model with highest miles-per-gallon rate is listed in each case (unless there was more than one with the same figure):

Maybe you’ve had an accident. Maybe you’re just trying to personalize or accessorize a hot ride. Whatever your reasons for shopping for car parts, here are just a few tips for narrowing down your options and getting your money’s worth.

1. Know Your Brands

Some parts are made to be universal, especially those that are small or non-essential. Others are specialty products that should only be placed or matched with vehicles under the same brand. For example, if you’re repairing a Nissan Fontana, make sure that you’re using Nissan Fontana parts.

2. Debate New Versus Used

New parts have none of the wear and tear of used ones, so they can be an attractive option if you’re looking for both quality and longevity. On the other hand, if you’re shopping on a budget, used parts can be found for only a fraction of the cost of their factory-sealed cousins. You’ll have to decide for yourself if new or used parts are right for you.

3. Determine Your Specs

What size do you need? What power levels do you require? Are there any special functions or features that you’re willing to pay more to enjoy? These are important questions to ask regardless of the specific parts that you’re looking for; whether it’s lug nuts or grill hoods, you should know the exact specs that you need.

4. Read Online Reviews

Before you purchase anything from a particular company, make sure that you’ve read reviews of their brand. You might find that their low prices mask shoddy construction or that their return policy is a joke. Don’t take the word of their own testimonials, however; look for third-party review and ranking websites.

5. Ask for Discounts

Comparing and contrasting products is essential for getting a good deal, but what if you find something that you really want but can’t quite afford? Shoot an email to the company in question. They might have coupons or shipping codes that they’re willing to dangle in front of a potential customer, or they might have unadvertised price matching policies that can be a great help to your final bill.

These are just a few things to keep in mind as you shop for car parts. Whether you’re accessorizing a new vehicle or repairing one that was damaged in an accident, use these guidelines for getting your car just the way that you want it.

Using retread tyres on your vehicle can be an excellent way of saving money, but is it really safe to do so? You may have heard scare stories about retread tyres, and be wary of having them fitted to your car. After all, you want to protect your own safety, as well as that of any passengers you are carrying.

The truth is that the safety of retread tyres depends on the reputation of the provider you get them from. If you are going to invest in retread tyres you need to compare tyres carefully, and choose a product that is good quality. We are going to take a look at why these good quality retread tyres are safe to use. Let’s start by explaining what a retread tyre actually is.

What is a retread tyre?

As you will be aware, there comes a time when the tread on your car’s tyres is too low for you to be able to drive safely. This is when you need to have the tyres replaced. Retreading is a process which enables the worn tyres to be re-used.

Any worn tread that is left is removed from the tyre. New rubber is then molded to the tyre to replace the worn tread. The newly treaded tyre can then be fitted to a car, and driven on safely. You can see why it’s so important that you make sure you buy retread tyres from a reputable provider, so that you can be sure the retreading process has been completed in an expert manner.

Is a retread tyre ever really safe?

If the retreading of a tyre is completed in the correct manner, the tyre is just as safe to use as a new tyre. Do not forget that many haulage companies and airlines make regular use of retread tyres. Here are some of the situations in which you may have heard the safety and performance of retread tyres questioned.

• Excessive heat can easily destroy retread tyres. In fact, heat has just as much effect on new tyres as it does on retread tyres.
• Overall performance of retread tyres is not as good as the performance of new tyres. This is not the case. Retread tyres are even often used in motoring endurance events.
• Accidents can be caused by using retread tyres. If you use good quality retread tyres on your vehicle you are no more likely to cause an accident than someone using new tyres. Accidents are more often caused by driving on bald tyres, or tyres that are over or under inflated.

As you can see, driving on retread tyres should be just as safe as driving on new tyres.

Buying retread tyres can be a good cost-saving exercise, when it comes to replacing worn tyres on your vehicle. It’s a perfectly safe practice, as long as you make sure that you buy the tyres from a trusted and expert provider.

Most of you, my readers, are probably proud owners of a driver’s license, but a few of you, especially those younger ones, might be just getting to know the ins and outs of the driving world. This is for them that I would like to write this post hoping that they are going to benefit from it the way so many other new and inexperienced drivers have benefited so far. So, let me get started.

Thanks to the progress in technology, those aspiring to drive can learn a lot with the help of a driver training simulator. It is basically a lot like playing a video game, the difference is that you are actually learning to drive and are supposed to follow the rules you would be normally following while driving on the road.

You have to admit that it is a great way to learn the basics of driving. As a matter of fact, I wish I had that sort of tool when I was learning to drive. Let’s just say it that I had to learn to drive the hard way, but I am really glad that my kids are going to have a better tool at their disposal to learn to drive safely.

The main premise of the software is to allow the drivers to learn to drive safely. The app is actually quite advanced when it comes to checking whether you were looking at all the directions you were supposed to look when driving. This can be achieved because when using the simulator you will be using a camera to monitor everything you do.

One of the most attractive features of the software is that you have a chance to learn to drive in some very extreme weather conditions. It can be especially useful if you know that you live in a climate where the weather is usually bad and when your exam might fall on a rainy or foggy day. As it is with all driving tests, it is better to be overprepared, so make sure that you take all the necessary steps to make that happen. The more practice you get, the better, and if you learn at home in addition to driving on the road, you are a lot more likely to be able to pass the tests.