High Gasoline Prices Changing Market Share for Imports; Lance Rants

Recently we see the small foreign Auto Makers doing very well against the SUV building American Auto Makers and some 140,000 auto manufacturing jobs later, it is starting to take its toll on middle class America. But there is more to this if you talk to auto industry folks on the street.

In 2000 when the oil prices went up here is what we learned on the street; “Well this is interesting data. Talking to a Kia dealership the other day, a small one moving 100+ cars per month. Kicking the crap out of the other local small dealers and selling cars for $199.00 per month on a lease and Volkswagen doing the same thing with the little Bug. Is this a repeat of the of the Dinosaur car sales of the 70s?”

Well this revelations shows that US Automakers had plenty of time to work things out and start changing their market mix towards smaller better gas mileage vehicles, but they did not. The Deming Years repeat? You see in 2000 America got caught with her pants down when the Japanese opened the floodgates with smaller cars by Honda, Toyota, Datsun (now Nissan, actually always Nissan which built WWII warplanes) and Mitsubishi who built the Japanese Zero, which bombed Pearl Harbor along with the Kate torpedo bombers.

Speaking of which in 2000 Pearl harbor day came and went and barely a mention of our History, we were focused on CHADs? Interesting how we Americans deal with History and now the same thing. SUVs being sold and everyone surpassing the Jones family next door. These all terrain SUVs never see dirt, but hey they look cool. In 2000 KIA from Korea was taking the lead in many markets right after the Daewoo scandals.

In 2000, we again got caught off guard by our own inability to turn and adapt to changing markets, but how could this be in an era where Sun Micro, Microsoft, Intel, Oracle, HP and Dell sink or swim by their ability to change directions on a dime. If they cannot they are out of business in that particular market and the Auto Industry, why is it that they cannot do it? Relying on the dealers to jam four wheel SUVs down consumers throats or else lose their five star franchise dealerships with the big three?

Now let’s look in second quarter of 2006 and the top executes at both Ford and GM are playing musical chairs, admitting mistakes and losing over 11% more market share to Toyota. Meanwhile Toyota is sold out of hybrids and has waiting lists. Do you honestly think that high oil prices do not affect the American Economy? Think again.

By Lance Winslow
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

High Gasoline Prices Changing Market Share for Imports; Lance Rants

Recently we see the small foreign Auto Makers doing very well against the SUV building American Auto Makers and some 140,000 auto manufacturing jobs later, it is starting to take its toll on middle class America. But there is more to this if you talk to auto industry folks on the street.

In 2000 when the oil prices went up here is what we learned on the street; “Well this is interesting data. Talking to a Kia dealership the other day, a small one moving 100+ cars per month. Kicking the crap out of the other local small dealers and selling cars for $199.00 per month on a lease and Volkswagen doing the same thing with the little Bug. Is this a repeat of the of the Dinosaur car sales of the 70s?”

Well this revelations shows that US Automakers had plenty of time to work things out and start changing their market mix towards smaller better gas mileage vehicles, but they did not. The Deming Years repeat? You see in 2000 America got caught with her pants down when the Japanese opened the floodgates with smaller cars by Honda, Toyota, Datsun (now Nissan, actually always Nissan which built WWII warplanes) and Mitsubishi who built the Japanese Zero, which bombed Pearl Harbor along with the Kate torpedo bombers.

Speaking of which in 2000 Pearl harbor day came and went and barely a mention of our History, we were focused on CHADs? Interesting how we Americans deal with History and now the same thing. SUVs being sold and everyone surpassing the Jones family next door. These all terrain SUVs never see dirt, but hey they look cool. In 2000 KIA from Korea was taking the lead in many markets right after the Daewoo scandals.

In 2000, we again got caught off guard by our own inability to turn and adapt to changing markets, but how could this be in an era where Sun Micro, Microsoft, Intel, Oracle, HP and Dell sink or swim by their ability to change directions on a dime. If they cannot they are out of business in that particular market and the Auto Industry, why is it that they cannot do it? Relying on the dealers to jam four wheel SUVs down consumers throats or else lose their five star franchise dealerships with the big three?

Now let’s look in second quarter of 2006 and the top executes at both Ford and GM are playing musical chairs, admitting mistakes and losing over 11% more market share to Toyota. Meanwhile Toyota is sold out of hybrids and has waiting lists. Do you honestly think that high oil prices do not affect the American Economy? Think again.

By Lance Winslow
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Deceptive Car Dealer Ads and Activities - Pervasive As Ever

You hear them on the radio and TV everyday. Some have outrageous ads and sales gimmicks. "Push, pull or drag your trade in for $4000 minimum trade", "Best price in the world!" "Best bumper to bumper warranty ever - we cover everything." "Repo'd car sale today." Bet you didn't know that these ads can be and usually are very misleading and can be illegal.




According to Leslie Anderson, AAA, Misleading advertisements and deceptive marketing from car dealers has been on the rise in recent years. Car dealers, due to a struggling economy are resorting to grey market sales tactics and ads. Many of these ads are either borderline or even illegal in nature. With all the publicity in recent years of scams and illegal business activities by businesses from every state you would think most states would have toughened up their laws and started to crack down on bad car dealers. Only one state, New York, has really done anything.

There are laws already on the books that make many of these advertisements and such illegal, but few states will even look into these activities. In New York, if you run a Push, Pull or Drag sale the odds are you will get fined. The thinking behind New Yorks laws is that if you promise someone a set figure for their vehicle it should not be factored into the discount or markup of the newer, replacement vehicle. This is deceptive advertising. Yet I hear these same ads, with even higher amounts promised on the radio and TV in North Carolina and South Carolina all the time. Then there's the matter of expressed and implied warranties.

Expressed and implied warranties are actually covered under federal laws. Every car dealer must have a federally approved warranty disclosure placed in the window. This is to show if a warranty exists and what is actually covered. This was done as there was too much discrepency in the past with car salesman blurring the line of what is really covered and what isn't. On a recent drive from North Carolina to South Carolina I saw 11 used car dealerships that did not have these in the windows - at one we found they were in the glove compartment. When we asked the salesperson why it wasn't in the window he said it wasn't necessary. In New York, every car dealer you drive by or visit will have these prominently displayed.

Then you have the usual lies - car dealers advertising a repossession sale, cream puffs, etc... They will lie about the origination of cars just like in a recent Carfax ad. Oh that was just a little fender scratch (complete repaint from a 50mph accident) or new upholstery (due to a flood and complete submersion). These repossession sales, like Repo Joe, do a media Blitz and claim they have all repossessed vehicles for a great buy. When in fact they probably don't even have one repossessed car that is for sale. Most car dealers get their cars from either trades or local auctions.

Regardless of what they claim they most likely do not know the vehicles history. You can't even rely on Carfax 100% as many vehicles are repaired without full salvage disclosure or even any repair history. A carfax report is only as good as the information that is actually entered into the system. Before you rely on that Carfax or what the dealer says is the cars history listen to this - Tennessee attorneys Frank Watson and David McLaughlin charge that Carfax's ads promise more than it can deliver. "Carfax fails to disclose the limitations of their database," says Watson. "People think they have a little insurance policy on their Carfax report, and it's just not accurate," says McLaughlin. Carfax is an online company that searches databases for a vehicle's history, claiming to be "your best protection against buying a used car with costly, hidden problems." But, critics say when it comes to many accidents, online reporting companies fall short. A class-action lawsuit against Carfax claims the company doesn't have access to police accident data in 23 states.


This article should be a wake up call to car buyers to be more on the alert to car dealer scams, lies and untruths. It should also be an alert to states from Oregon to Florida that more needs to be done to curb bad car sales tactics. Most car dealers aren't small mom and pop organizations. They are large million or billion dollar companies that will do anything to make a dollar. Even crossing the line or blurring what is legal and what isn't. And according to one big dealer in Charlotte, North Carolina whom didn't want his name or dealership mentioned for obvious reasons - "its all about that bottem line and if we get caught, thats what our lawyers are for. Per another car dealer, "it's a buyer beware market: Buyers must beware and be detectives too."

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight cleaner, repair and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.mdwholesale.com

Where To Find The Free Online Auto Repair Manual You Need?

If you need an online auto repair manual that can help you precisely fix your problem, the internet has an incredible amount of car care information. What you won't find however, is a Chiltons or a Haynes auto repair manual, because they're copyrighted material. You don't need them anyway, because there are a lot of good car repair web sites with individual pages or articles that can solve your specific problem.

In fact, you'll find articles on all kinds of car fix and vehicle maintenance topics, such as

auto body repairs
automatic transmission replacement
bleeding brakes
car audio systems fix
changing oil
finding the causes for a bearing failure
how to install a replacement ignition system
how to upgrade an exhaust system
troubleshooting car stalling
troubleshooting car starting problems
and much more.

Here is a good place to search for vehicle fix manuals: Go to the search site at 10w40.com and type in the problem you want to solve - and the likehood of finding the instructions you need is high. On this website you can also post your problem on an advice and discussion board, and get your problem solved almost instantly by an expert in this repair field or by an ordinary person who has experienced your problem and solved it already or might know where to go to get the answer you need. And it doesn't cost you a cent.

There are many other good websites where you can get an online auto repair manual that will fit your needs. Go to google.com and type in [the problem you want an answer to]+repair manuals, and you should find lots of valuable vehicle repair resources that might solve your problem.


By Terje Ellingsen
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like how to find the online auto repair manual you need as well as buying used cars online.

7 Things You Need to Know Before You Donate a Car

Have you ever wanted to donate a car to a favorite cause or charity? This is a great way to serve two purposes, the charity receives a donation that can be used in a number of ways and you get a tax deduction as well the satisfaction of knowing that you were able to help out in a meaningful way. The following information will help you determine if your vehicle is worthy of donation and, if so, how to proceed with the process.

1- If you are contemplating the donation of a vehicle to a charity, it is important to be sure that you are dealing with one that meets the governments' criteria for a charitable entity. These organizations will be registered as a 501(c)(3) or be a church that has also been qualified by the powers that be. This is the only way you will be able to claim the donation on your taxes.

2- Once you decide where you want the donation of your car to go, the market value needs to be determined. The easiest way to effectively determine the value of your car is to utilize the Kelley Blue Book, this is the same book that dealerships use to evaluate the price of a car when it is being bought and sold.

3- If you want to donate a car that has a value over $5,000, then it should be appraised by a professional that is certified in vehicles. This appraisal may be needed if the government should ask questions later.

4- You will need to get a receipt from the charity for your taxes. This will need to have the name of the charity that will be receiving the vehicle, the date that the car was donated, the tax ID number and the pertinent information for the car as well.

5- Most charities will use donated vehicles to help people get transportation back and forth to work. They sell the cars to clients, the price that they get for the car will be what you will be able to claim on your taxes, not what the car is actually worth, although you will need to know both numbers. For example, if you want to donate a car that is "blue booked" at $7,000 and it is sold for $2,500, you will only be able to claim the $2,500 on your taxes.

6- While you may not get the same amount of deductions on your taxes as you would in cash if you sold it out right, you will be able still be able to help people who need it while saving yourself the time and trouble that is involved with selling a vehicle on your own.

7- Don't forget to let the DMV as well as your insurance company that you no longer own and are no longer responsible for the vehicle. They will be able to help you with disposing of the license plate, if this is an issue in your state. Be sure to save the receipt that is given to you, as will as a completely filled out Form 8283 from the IRS.

By Peter Wallander
Visit http://cardonationsinfo.org or http://www.cardonationexplained.info to learn more about donating cars and vehicle donation.

5 Things to Know Before You Buy a Hybrid Car

With gas prices rising with every tank of gas, the popularity of hybrid cars is rising almost as quickly. The profile of the buyer of hybrid cars is changing as well, no longer are they seen as fringe environmentalists, they are the average American citizen who is tired of paying outrageous prices for a tank of gas and then not being able to afford to drive anywhere but back and forth to work. So, if you want to purchase a hybrid car, where do you start? What should you look for? The following information will help you navigate your way through the growing market of fuel-efficient automobiles that are on the market today.

1- Before you decide to tackle the hybrid car market, there are some general points of knowledge that you need to be aware of. For example, this type of car is often referred to as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle or HEV. It will have two engines as opposed to a traditional vehicle, which has one. The engines that are found in an HEV are combustion and electric, having the two engines allows the car to switch from one engine to the other when power begins to run low.

2- However, if needed, the engines will run simultaneously as well. This will happen if more power is needed than either the electric or combustion engine alone can produce. An example of this type of situation would be accelerating on an expressway.

3- Hybrid car dealers also have their own language, you should know how to speak "hybrid" before you decide to go shopping for one of these vehicles. You will need to know that these cars are, on average, have a 90 percent lower emission rate than traditional cars and are therefore known as Ultra Low-Emission vehicles.

4- Before you buy a hybrid car, it is imperative that you take into account your current driving patterns. If you do a lot of highway driving, you will not likely see much in the way of fuel savings. However, if you are the type of driver that mostly stays in traffic that requires frequent stopping and starting, you will be able to see significant fuel savings. This is because in these types of driving conditions the vehicle is able to utilize the electrical engine, using lower RPM's than a traditional car does.

5- Research is so important when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car. Thankfully, most people have access to the internet and therefore have access to information such as manufacturers' websites. These websites may be some of the most valuable information that you will find. They will contain information that will lead you to repair shops, vehicle maintenance requirements and other such information that is specific to hybrid cars.


By Peter Wallander
Visit http://find-hybrid-cars.info or http://ez-hybrid-cars.info to learn more about all hybrid cars and hybrid electric vehicle.,

Get Paid To Drive Your Car

If you need an online auto repair manual that can help you precisely fix your problem, the internet has an incredible amount of car care information. What you won't find however, is a Chiltons or a Haynes auto repair manual, because they're copyrighted material. You don't need them anyway, because there are a lot of good car repair web sites with individual pages or articles that can solve your specific problem.

In fact, you'll find articles on all kinds of car fix and vehicle maintenance topics, such as

auto body repairs
automatic transmission replacement
bleeding brakes
car audio systems fix
changing oil
finding the causes for a bearing failure
how to install a replacement ignition system
how to upgrade an exhaust system
troubleshooting car stalling
troubleshooting car starting problems
and much more.

Here is a good place to search for vehicle fix manuals: Go to the search site at 10w40.com and type in the problem you want to solve - and the likehood of finding the instructions you need is high. On this website you can also post your problem on an advice and discussion board, and get your problem solved almost instantly by an expert in this repair field or by an ordinary person who has experienced your problem and solved it already or might know where to go to get the answer you need. And it doesn't cost you a cent.

There are many other good websites where you can get an online auto repair manual that will fit your needs. Go to google.com and type in [the problem you want an answer to]+repair manuals, and you should find lots of valuable vehicle repair resources that might solve your problem.

By Jeffrey Strain
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website cheap-used-cars.w-eland.com Terje gives advice and helps people with automotive issues like how to find the online auto repair manual you need as well as buying used cars online.

Want a Chopper? Build Your Own!

Motorcycle chopper kits are a growth industry. But what does that mean to you and me? Well one thing that we know is that we will have more choppers to ogle at. There is not a single day that goes by without more and more pictures of chopper bikes that have just been finished showing up in all the motorcycle magazines. Then at the weekends, when we are on our “hot” rides, we will see four or five show finish level bikes. There are more choppers around now than there have been in the last twenty five years.

Most of these choppers have been built from motorcycle chopper kits, the “bike in a box” approach. But hey, don’t knock it! Building your own chopper has never been easier. There are rolling chassis kits, complete bike kits, and frame manufacturers give you a multitude of choice when it comes to take the plunge and buy a motorcycle chopper kit.

Thirty years ago, the old school chopper builders had to start with a stock bike off-the-shelf and literally chop it to pieces. With the modern chopper kits, there is a viable alternative to taking the cutting torch to your favorite soft tail!

Nowadays, you have a cheap and easier way to build the bike from the ground up. When you take the cost of buying a new bike and the expense of chopping it, it works out much cheaper to start from step one, and your chopper kit. Instead of tossing away the parts that you'll never use again, you can start building your own bike with the parts that you really need. All the parts are included in the motorcycle chopper kit, along with comprehensive instructions.

One of the first questions that people ask when considering buying a kit is how will my bike stand outs from all the other chopper kits? Well think of it this way, you are going to buy a chopper kit. A pile of unassembled raw metal. No paint, no real finish, just a blank canvas. Is your taste in paint jobs likely to be the same as the next guy, who buys the very same kit? I don't think so. What about your taste in bolt-ons, seats, exhausts? Just because you buy the kit doesn’t mean every little thing has to be just so. That is the whole point isn’t it? It's very easy in this way to build your own custom chopper from a chopper kit.

Another big question is, “How long”? The answer to that is as long as it takes. Even on the kit bikes, which are supposed to be designed to fit together like a glove, you are going to run into some snags. It can’t be avoided!

If you want a more concrete guide, try this. An experienced kit builder (though not a professional) I spoke to reckons it took 10 full days to build his last chopper from a kit. For someone less experienced it could take a couple of days longer. Twelve 9 hour days works out at 108 hours. Over evenings and weekends, this could drag out to three or four weeks of living in a pile of motorcycle parts! So be prepared to literally live the experience if you are going to take the plunge.

What about the practical side? Well, there is no substitute for experience. The place to start building up your experience with the mechanical side of building to kit bike is with your current ride. Make sure all you can do the basic maintenance on your motorcycle, and then start to do some simple disassembling. Take off the tires, take off the exhaust, real basic stuff; all of this will help to build a new confidence in the shop side of things. You can also get some great videos on maintenance, and even on building the custom bike of your dreams. Read the books, watch the videos, and buy the t-shirt! Believe me, all the preparation you make will stand you in good stead.

If you really are hopeless at the mechanical side of things, why not pay someone else to help you build it, or even get them to build the whole thing for you? The cost of the kit plus labor could well work out cheaper than buying a chopper “off the shelf”.

And of course, when that beautiful chopper is standing on your driveway, and your friends are asking you “Was it worth it?” you can turn to the chopper, drag your hand across the flames on the tank and the polished chrome, turn back to them and say, “What do you think?”





By Michael Holmes
Michael Holmes is a enthusiast for all thing motorcycle. His website, http://www.motorcycleparts-accessories-andmore.com, is a great resource of articles aimed at motorcyclists of all levels, and includes a page specifically about the motorcycle kits resources available online.