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Author: Cory Lynch

Driving down the street with the setting sun at his back, Bob Cummins navigated around parked cars and fire hydrants to find the right place to park. It just wasn’t something that was easy to do – finding a vacant spot – on his narrow, winding suburban street. Wedged between two business districts, Bob’s block was frequently filled with cars from outside the area, taking away from the already limited on street parking. While he knew he could simply pull into his own driveway and park, he also knew that he’d have to move vehicles around later when his wife, Susan, returned home with the kids.

Glancing out of his right mirror he noticed it and slammed on his breaks. A car pulled out of a spot down the street behind him and its driver pulled into a nearby driveway and exited the car. Bob slowly backed up halfway down the block and slipped his Volvo XC90 into the empty spot. A little tight, he thought, as he left just enough room between the driveway in front of him and the car behind him for his SUV. Within moments Bob left the comfort of his Volvo and stepped inside the foyer of his center hall colonial.

Less than ten minutes later the sounds of sirens filled the neighborhood. At first, Bob did not give it much thought, but as the sirens drew closer he decided to step outside to investigate. To his utter horror, a car just two houses down from his home was engulfed in flames. Within moments his worst fears were confirmed: his new Volvo XC90 was on fire! Minutes later the fire was extinguished but Bob’s SUV was destroyed.

An important part of your vehicle’s emission system is the catalytic converter. It is tasked with reducing harmful emissions that pollute the atmosphere and it has been a part of nearly every passenger vehicle built since the mid 1970s. Unfortunately, the catalytic converter can also run very hot and, at the same time, spark ignition of anything that it comes into contact with. In Bob’s case, it was his 2005 Volvo that was parked directly over a small leaf pile that started the fire that destroyed his XC90.

When parking your vehicle, take care to make sure that no debris is on the ground directly underneath your car. Even a small pile of dried out leaves can be just enough fodder for a fire. In the case of a high profile vehicle, such as the XC90, the clearance between the bottom of your vehicle and the ground is higher, meaning you many not notice anything underneath when backing into an empty parking space.

Hundreds of vehicle fires every year are attributed to motorists who park their cars over leaves; unfortunately this practice almost always results in the total loss of the vehicle due to excessive fire damage.

Play it safe when parking your car, truck, van, or SUV by examining the area underneath it to make sure that is completely free of all debris.

About the Author:

Visit the Talking Parakeet website to learn about parakeet health and parakeet illnesses.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Risk of Catalytic Converter Fires

strong>Author: Louie

It is true the car’s basic purpose is to get you from one place to another. It needs to do that safely, comfortably and quickly. Yet a car today does much more than that. Just as your clothes do much more than protect you from the elements.

And though just like the clothes, the car has a great impact on how others perceive you, it also just like clothes has a big impact on how you feel about yourself. And when you improve the looks or performance of your car, you also improve how the car affects your life. And if you have ever performed better because you feel better about yourself, you will know the value of feeling good about your car.

The great thing about car body kits is that unlike stock cars where you have a fairly limited choice, when it comes to body kits you have a very wide selection available to choose from. And you can widen it further by choosing to get a custom paint job done or by mixing and matching components from different body kits.

You also get an additional benefit with some body kits of an improved aerodynamic performance. Components such as a car spoiler have a significant impact on the aerodynamic performance of the car. A car spoiler creates a downward force which is higher as the car moves faster. This means that when the car is moving at top speed it has the maximum downward force. This makes the car hug the road better at high speeds when a good road grip is needed the most.

Although body kits are often used to create youthful exuberant outgoing looks they are also great when it comes to a sober, muted style statement. Therefore whatever your personal taste and style maybe you will be able to find body kits that reflect your style.

Body kits need to be installed by a professional and you should take care to factor in the time and cost involved for doing that when you plan your purchase of body kits. You can see the latest body kits at www.ilovebodykits.com

About the Author:

Louie Liu has been in the car aftermarket products industry for 5years. He has specialized in body kits, headlights, cold air intakes and other aftermarket products. He has deep knowledge of a wide range of products including knowledge of benefits of body kits and other products, product options and how to choose a car aftermarket product. You can learn about a wide range of body kits and other car aftermarket products at his site www.ilovebodykits.com.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Body kits give more than great looks to your car

Author: arnoldgaltine

Nissan is a car company based in Japan. It is an international car manufacturer that has launched cars that are all loved because of its design. The company was recognized because of the innovation that it has applied in car making. They’ve got a lot of cars. And one of the most popular unit they have is the Nissan Skyline GT-R. It is a sports car based on the Nissan Skyline Range.

Checking out the history, this car brand had a hiatus of 16 years. GT-Rs were first produced in 1970s, suddenly gone but went back in 1989 with a new name, Skyline R32. This is called “Godzilla” by the Australia-based motoring publication called “Wheels”. And it didn’t got a monster-like monicker for nothing. Because from the day they re-enter the car manufacturing industry, their name soared and speed up into international recognitions.

GT-R dominated almost all the motorsports in Japan. They take home 29 victories from 29 competitions that they joined in. After that, the GTR continued storming by winning the JTC Group A series. The car was the champion for 4 consecutive years. It also made name in the Australian Touring Car Championship after dominating the competition from 1990 to 1992. The Skyline GT-R (R33) was also the first production car to lap the legendary Nürburgring in under eight minutes. And from that on, the Nissan Skyline GT-R has set a norm for sports car manufacturing. It become the basis for many sports car racer and enthusiast.

The edge of this car is seen on the technologies being adopted by Nissan. The Skyline GTR has become the company’s flag bearer. Their advent is notable on cars like ATTESA-ETS 4WD and the Super-HICAS four wheel steering. But other than that, what made the car very popular is its price. With its beauty and quality, it is sold in a very inexpensive price, even if it has already made a name in the car industry.

Even though it is exclusively manufactured in Japan, though it has Australia as the sole export market, there’s no way that it speed to fame was halted. It became well known on bigger countries like UK, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada. It also become visible on popular cultures. You can see, or has a vital role, the Nissan Skyline on video games or films like The Fast and the Furious, Initial D and Gran Turismo. The car was also named by Top Gear as the “only true” Japanese contribution in the line of Supercars.

In 2002, Nissan decided to separate the GTR model from the Skyline name. They came up with an entirely new vehicle but with the same platform. This is now called as the Nissan GTR. Now the car is a popular car import when it comes to Drag Racing, Circuit Track, Time Attack and events hosted by tuning magazines.

About the Author:

TopSpeed offers you Free car reviews, Car Videos, car wallpapers and fast cars reviews.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Godzilla Nissan Skyline GT-R

Author: Brenda Williams

Driving in bad weather is not something that should be done- especially by a nervous driver. However, at some point in each of our driving lives, we will have to get behind the wheel during inclement weather. Bad weather is, for the most part, unavoidable. However, by practicing having better driving skills as well as following a few basic rules for safety, we should be okay.

Depending on the area that you live in, snow might be a rarity. When I first came down to North Carolina for college a few years back, North Carolina (up until that point) wasn’t used to seeing snowy weather. Being from New York, I was used to having to drive on snowy roads during the winter time- it was almost expected. Well, one year after I had been down here for a few years, North Carolina got hit with a sudden “snow storm”. What I mean here, is that North Carolina wasn’t used to getting snow, so when it started snowing one day, people panicked. The weather people predicted that we would get some sort of precipitation, but the Department of Transportation didn’t have the resources or perhaps didn’t really think ahead to salt down the roads in preparation for the wintery weather. As a result, you had nervous drivers crowding the roadways one day as they all tried to leave work early. The result? Disaster.

What should’ve been a thirty minute commute (at best) for me to get from school back to my apartment took me over eight hours sitting in my car on a highway that had turned into a parking lot of abandoned vehicles and nervous drivers. You would think that because the weather was bad out that people might have been a little more cautious with their driving right? Wrong. Everywhere I turned, people were literally sliding off the sides of the highway shoulders and into embankments. Cars that were following each other too closely misjudged the roads that were now icing over as it grew darker and were crashing into each other. It was like a scene out of a bad movie. If you got into an accident, you might as well just take the report yourself because all of the police and emergency vehicles were tied up with more important accidents.

My point is this. When the weather is bad out, you need to keep three times the distance that you normally would between your car and the car in front of you. You need to make sure that you’re using your windshield wipers and that you have your full headlights turned on (not just your parking lights). Most importantly, just because you might own an SUV doesn’t give you license to tear down the roads like you’re at a Nascar race. To the contrary, you should be driving under the speed limit at this point. This is especially true if there is black ice, snow or standing water on the roadways. Caution is your best friend on days when the weather is bad.

About the Author:
Auto Transport Long Beach Car Shipping Long Beach

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Driving in Bad Weather

Author: Adam Singleton

During the Christmas holidays many people set out to visit friends and relatives to spread some festive cheer, but driving throughout the winter months can be a daunting experience for some. Icy and snowy roads can cause unpredictable and dangerous driving conditions which can take the pleasure out of any journey. At this time of year there are more accidents and breakdowns on the roads than at any other time but there are a few precautions you can take to make sure your winter journey is as safe as possible.

Before heading out in your vehicle it’s important to remember a few quick and easy checks that can ensure your car is ready for travel. First you’ll need to make sure your car is free from ice and snow. Falling snow and ice can build up on windows, restricting your view and becoming a potential hazard to yourself and other motorists. It pays to keep some defrosting spay, a scraper and some old cloths in your vehicle just in case you need to remove any fresh snow or ice on the journey.

Checking your tyre tread and pressure is also vitally important if you’re going to be driving on icy roads. Ideally you should check the pressure once a week – changing temperatures can lower your tyre pressure dramatically, so keeping it at the correct level should make your vehicle sturdier. You should also test you lights and make sure you have enough fuel for the trip.

If you’re heading out on a long journey it’s advisable to check the weather forecast for your journey so you know exactly what precautions to take. It’s also worthwhile stocking up on some supplies before you set off. Cars are more likely to break down during winter travel so it’s important to have a few essential items to hand. Pack some warm clothes, a blanket, and a flask with a hot drink to help you stay warm if you’re stranded and remember to charge your mobile phone if you’re heading off the beaten track so that you can contact the emergency services. A shovel and a torch might also be prudent if you’re likely to be travelling on minor roads.

Before you begin your journey it’s an ideal time to check all your driving documents and insurance is up to date and if you’re journey is an important one make sure your car insurance quotes include a courtesy car should your vehicle fall foul of the cold climate.

When you’re driving on icy roads it’s very important to watch your speed and stay a safe distance from other vehicles, remembering that speed limits are set for ideal driving conditions so slowing down in bad weather is a must. Whatever your journey, a few small precautions can help you feel safe and secure on the wintery roads.

About the Author:

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Tips For Safe Driving This Winter