Volkswagen - Now is a Great Time to Buy a Used Polo

There is a great deal of competition in the super mini sector of the automotive industry at the moment. Every single manufacturer seems to be releasing their take on what they consider to be the perfect super mini. Even prestige super car manufacturers like Aston Martin are developing small hatchbacks at the moment. This influx of new models means there is a lot of choice for the discerning small car buyer at the moment. It also means that the previous models that will begin appearing on the used market will be at very attractive price points indeed.

The brand new Volkswagen Polo was released a month or so ago to some pretty favorable reviews. However, for the bargain hunters amongst us, this means that there will be a great deal of Used Mark IV models appearing on the market as their owners trade up to the newer model.

I personally think this news will be of interest to the young and inexperienced drivers amongst us, as the VW Polo has always been a popular car choice amongst those who have recently passed their driving tests and are looking for their first foray into car ownership. I recommend visiting as many dealers in your vicinity to track down the best of the available bargains.

So whilst the thronging masses queue up for their brand new VW Polo, I thoroughly recommend biding your time and checking the used market regularly. I doubt there has ever been a better time to buy yourself a quality Used Volkswagen.

Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Used Volkswagen cars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Ridgard

READ MORE - Volkswagen - Now is a Great Time to Buy a Used Polo

General Grabber HTS - Best SUV Tire

General Grabber HTS.Consumer Reports and the Tire Rack rate this tire best. Tires are the most important safety feature of your vehicle - it is important to get a top performer. These tires are outstanding. Tire Rack ran 22 tests on these next to Bridgestone and Pirelli - no slouches in tire performance. The Grabber HTS was highest in EVERY test. Not only that but General engineered these with low rolling resistance meaning better gas mileage and better for the environment. AND they are priced affordably. Bottom line is that this tire has the best of all worlds.

I had assumed that low rolling resistance meant poor stopping - after all how can you have low resistance and still grab the road to stop. General figured it out. I can personally attest to the stopping power and grab of these tires. They performed exceptionally in a couple emergency situations. Reports indicate that the Grabber HTS also does well on snow and ice. Best yet, these tires are less expensive than many of the tires that perform worse. For me putting my wife and family on the best tires at the best price is a no brainer.

External Testing

The Grabber HTS is an SUV and Light Truck tire in the "all season tires" grouping.

This tire places General at the top of the list by Consumer Reports. Often there are trade offs between traction, rolling resistance, noise factors and comfort but the Grabber seems to be able to roll all the best qualities into one tire.

Consumer Reports is not the only source rating this tire highly though. FourWheeler Magazine tested the tires on the Ford F-150 4WD. Even though this is not a snow tire, they found the Grabber HTS to be very good in snow.

If you want to save money on your tire purchase these tires are priced on the lower end of the spectrum enven though their performance is tops. I found the Grabber HTS for under $100 I am looking at a 235 70R 16 for my Pilot and they are $96 each. I was looking at tires with worse performance in the $150 range from other tire dealers. My local tire dealer would have mounted them for me but the wait was too long that day. I drove to a big box retailer across the street to have my tires mounted. I saved money and got a lifetime balance and rotation. And I'll be able to find one of these stores wherever I go.

Tested against two top brands, the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenze and the Pirelli Scorpion, the General Grabber HTS was the clear leader. The Grabber bested these two top of the line tires in every category (except one tie with the Bridgestone in cornering).

Tested against the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza and the Pirelli Scorpion STR - the General Grabber HTS was the WINNER in EVERY TEST below except the tie noted

Testing Categories

Ride comfort - winner

Noise Comfort - winner

Handling - winner

Overall Road Rating - winner

Performance - Dry Track - winner

Cornering Stability - winner

Steering Response - winner

Braking Modulation - winner

Handling Predictablity - winner

Overall Track Rating - winner

Performance - Wet Track - winner

Cornering Stability - winner

Steering Response - winner

Braking Modulation - winner

Handling Predictablity - winner

Overall Track Rating - winner

Slolam Time Dry - winner

Slolam Time Wet - winner

Lap Time Dry - winner

Lap Time Wet - winner

Stopping Distance Dry - winner

Stopping Distance Wet - winner

Average Cornering (g-force) Dry - tie with Bridgestone

Average Cornering (g-force) Wet - winner

Consumer Survey Results:

Rated against 68 other Light Truck / SUV Highway All-Season tires and based on consumer experience, the General Grabber HTS is the highest ranked among consumers purchasing this type of tire.

Tire Technology

Beside the performance the HTS demonstrated on the road, General also engineered the tire with a lower rolling resistance to get better fuel economy and thereby dropping CO2 emissions.

Major Tire Performance Technologies

The Grabber HTS is the flagship of the General Grabber line and it incorporates 4 key technologies that enhance the performance of this tire.

1. Duragen - Ultra-high strength steel belts, micro fiber casing reinforcements, and broader tire contour provides even wear, longer mileage and confidence in challenging conditions.

2. Adaptive Performance - Response Grooves, Stabilink Bars and 3 kinds of siping for enhances steering response and reliable performance

3. Comfort Balance - a tread cushioning and noise capturing system for a quieter, more comfortable ride.

4. Eco-Ride - Improved tire compound increases fuel economy and minimizes CO2 emissions.

Best Tires - General Grabber HTS

I love these tires. I honestly didn't expect to experience a big difference in ordinary driving. I saw the tests and statistics and recognized that in emergency situations, bad weather and such that the Grabbers have tested to function the best. That is valuable to me because when I am driving in bad rain or have to stop quickly I want my tires to perform. However, improved responsiveness was evident immediately to me. The next thing I experienced is a noticeably quieter ride.

These tires get 2 thumbs up. My hearty recommendation!

MyGGHTS.com reveiws the General Grabber HTS providing valuable links and product review to make provide information on your SUV and Truck tire purchase. More info on these tires at My General Grabber Blog You can also see my story with my General Grabber Tires at http://www.Squidoo.com/General-Grabber-HTS

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Lehmann

READ MORE - General Grabber HTS - Best SUV Tire

Chrysler - A Classy Saloon at a Great Price

There's something to be said for finding a bargain that really pays off. Whether it's an item of clothing that your friends think cost far more than it actually did, or finding a long-lost film in the bargain bin section of a shop for pennies, the warm feeling of satisfaction is a welcome one. Certain cars fall into this category too, especially if you're buying used. Chrysler, Hyundai and Skoda all offer fantastic cars for very little money.

I own the Hyundai F2 Evolution Coupe which is so rare I constantly bolt to my window to make sure no-one has decided to give it an impromptu test drive. It has 155bhp from its 2 litre engine, more curves than Kelly Brook and a suspension and aerodynamic package designed by Peter Stevens, the man responsible for Ayrton Senna's championship winning McLaren F1 car and the super car of the same name. It has leather seats, CD player, electric windows, electric sunroof, lambs wool carpets, racing dials, ABS, ventilated racing brakes and special alloy wheels.

New the car cost £19,995. I managed to pick up a super-low mileage used version for £1,500. For me it's the greatest bargain I've ever managed to procure, although there are two downsides. Firstly the car handles brilliantly in the dry, but as soon as the road surface becomes even the slightest bit damp, the rear end spins faster than a roulette wheel. The second downside is that no matter what this car can do, a big reason for the minuscule price tag is because the 'H' on the bonnet doesn't mean Honda, but Hyundai, which as my girlfriend eloquently put it "means it's made in a sweat shop".

Admittedly in car bore circles, owning a Hyundai is as respected as George Bush's tenure as the world's most important man, but to the everyman, my Coupe turns heads and the assumption is that it must have cost a fortune. Arriving at my school reunion in it, I had girls that had always been too pretty and popular during school draping themselves over me and the car too. In summary, it's a cheap car made in a sweat shop with cheap materials but somehow it's come out looking amazing and with real drivability. A bargain.

If the Hyundai has the bargain coupe market wrapped up, then Chrysler may very well have the bargain executive market sewn up with the 300C. The best way to describe this car is what my family thought it was when I turned up in the test car. There were a few mentions of Rolls Royce, one of Mercedes and two for Bentley. Far from the vast sums of money needed to buy any of the aforementioned, the 300c starts at £27,000. I promise there are no zeros missed off that figure.

The Chrysler is unmistakable too and has real road presence. The 300C is one of the most unmistakable cars on the road, with its gigantic front grill, reminiscent to that of a Rolls Royce, chunky styling, huge wheels and flared wheels arches. Chrome adorns the door handles, boot lid and accents other key areas of the car which gives it a real sense of the epic.

The dimensions of the car certainly are epic, yet despite this the car is surprisingly agile. Grip is plentiful and allows for the type of driving you'd normally associate with a sports saloon to be rewarded. Despite the sporty handling, ride quality is excellent, making the Chrysler outstanding on motorways - definitely the venue of choice for an executive saloon. It must be said that the car's proportions do hinder it considerably in city traffic or when trying to park so even though it's a bargain to buy, consider where you'll be driving most often.

The gigantic bonnet houses one of two engine choices. The most popular is the Mercedes-sourced 3 litre CRD turbo diesel, attached to an automatic gearbox, although for those who enjoy filling up with petrol, a monstrous 6.1 litre V8 SRT-8 performance engine is option two. To maintain the symmetry on the options list, there are just two trim levels, standard or the muscle car inspired SRT-design variant which maintains the car's luxury feel but with added attitude.

Costs had to be cut somewhere and much like my Hyundai, the Chrysler's interior looks stylish, but is made of low grade materials. Even if you were blind, there'd be no doubting you were sitting in a sub-£30,000 car. The interior is redeemed with rear legroom which is simply massive and makes the car's exterior proportions seem sensible. You'll also find more gadgets as standard on the 300C than from any rivals which in my book more than compensates for cheap interior plastics. Remember the bargain price of £27,000 is for a new 300C, any used Chrysler that appears will save you even more.

Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Used Chrysler cars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Ridgard

READ MORE - Chrysler - A Classy Saloon at a Great Price

Steps to Buying a Hybrid Car

Buying a hybrid car is a big decision, even more so nowadays because there are many more hybrid cars and hybrid trucks to chooes from. Having a larger choice is both a good and bad thing. Not only do you have to decide which company to buy from but you also have to decide between getting a hybrid car or a hybrid truck or even a hybrid SUV. The decision can be simplified by knowing why you’re buying the hybrid; the issue of saving gas mileage versus just getting a hybrid vehicle in order to say you are driving a hybrid.

Hybrid cars combine two or more sources of po

wer, usually consisting of an electric motor that regenerates energy through braking power and a standard gasoline engine, Because of the regenerated electric power, you are able to use much less gasoline to get where you want to go, which is how a hybrid vehicle saves you money. A hybrid is not an electric vehicle, and does not have to be recharged at night or anything like that. A hybrid is simply a gas powered car with electrical motor assistance.

Many forms of hybrid cars, hybrid trucks, and hybrid SUV’s are currently on the market or coming to market. These include but are not limited to the Toyota Prius, the Lexus GS 450h Hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid, the Toyota Highlander and 2007 Toyota Camry hybrid, and the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV.

Because of the large influx of hybrid cars, the cost premium of buying one has started to go down. President Bush even said that to cure our addiction to oil, we must invest in hybrid cars and other energy technology, so now is the time to consider buying one, especially with the world’s oil fields being so unstable and gasoline rising almost daily.

Which leads us to the key question, how do you best go about buying a hybrid car? Of course the start of that answer lies in 6 simple steps, which I have titled HYBRID.

• H – How to know if buying a hybrid is right for you.

• Y—Your personal driving habits might determine your choice

• B—Before you even think about buying, be aware of your options

• R—Research thoroughly the manufacturer and dealer to get the best price

• I—Investigate other dealers, and also check online, it may be cheaper to buy in another state and have the hybrid car shipped to you

• D—Don’t ever go by sticker price. A MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) is just that, a Suggestion, so if you have done all the previous steps you will be armed sometimes with even more information than the salesman, thus allowing you to have the upper hand in the negotiation.

Read more about Hybrid Cars.

Tracy Robinson is President of Zen Solutions - providing eco-friendly advice worldwide. More Hybrid Car Information can be found at http://www.HowToBuyAHybrid.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Robinson

READ MORE - Steps to Buying a Hybrid Car