The Individual Guide

Our neighbor Jose doesn’t speak much English, which makes it tough to live here in northern Michigan. Despite that, he made a profit of over $30,000 last year selling cars out of his front yard. It’s true that he’s a mechanic, and that helps, but it isn’t the key to his success.

The Key To Buying And Selling Cars

To make money selling cars you have to know the value of cars. Knowing which cars people most want might help too, but any car will sell for some price, and you need to know that price. Drive around looking at cars for sale, or cars just sitting idle in people’s yards. When you can easily look at a car and guess how much it will sell for, the rest is easy - just offer $1000 less. You’ll eventually buy a car, and sell it for a profit. Then you can and repeat the process.

To start learning about the used car market, you can watch the classified ads, keeping in mind that the asking prices are not the sales prices. Take notes. Used car pricing guides, such as the “bluebook,” generally show inflated retail prices. Use them, but assume you’ll sell the car for the “loan value”, or average wholesale price. In any case they are good to show to your prospective buyers.

If You Know Nothing About Cars

What if, like myself, you know nothing about buying and selling cars and don’t want to learn? Find a friend who knows cars and wants to make money. For example, I gave my brother $950 to buy an old truck because he said it was worth more than twice that. Sure enough, he sold it in a week and returned my money, plus half of the $900 profit.

I gave another friend $3200 to buy an old plastic-bodied car. He paid $2200 for it, and put a transmission in it, along with other minor repairs. I didn’t know what a Corvette was, why anyone would want a car from 1976, or where to go to get a transmission put in for $800. Fortunately, my friend did.

Less than two weeks later he sold the car for $4200 and returned my money plus my half of the profit: $500. I’ve done this a number of times now with friends who know more about cars than I do. Are you cash poor? A short term cash advance on a credit card would have cost me about $50, still leaving a profit of $450.

Here in Michigan, the law says you need a dealer’s license if you sell more than six cars in a year. You could have six titled in your name, six in your friend’s name, and six in your wife’s name. That gives you a good chance to see if you like the business enough to get a car dealers license. Check the relevant laws in your state.

The key to buying and selling cars for profit is knowledge - but you can get that from a friend.

Steve Gillman has been studying every aspect of money for thirty years. You can find more interesting and useful information on his website; http://www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com

In the E.U., despite attempts at standardisation of many regulations including the areas of Driving and Driving Tests the gap between compliant Nations and particularly new entrants to the E.U family seem to be growing further apart. This is particularly evident in Ireland where there is explosive growth in immigrant numbers. The fact that most of these immigrants are emanating from countries where there are very few adequate Driving regulations only adds to the growing number of fatalities on the roads.

The number is growing exponentially due to the failure of the Authorities to put in place an enforceable and achievable regime. Unfortunately there are few votes to be had in Road Safety but many to be gained in Job creation.

We are creating many new jobs and filling them with migrant workers only to be shipping these same workers home in boxes since we have no real Road Regulation enforcement!

With the ever increasing number of road accidents culminating in not just tragic deaths but many life changing injuries, it is essential to train with a Professional Driving School! This is a costly exercise but will be repaid in time since you will be much less likely to be involved in one of the constant daily incidents (AKA Accidents !) most of which are TOTALLY avoidable ! !

A Professional School will teach you above and beyond the current standards required to pass the Driving Test! The Current Driving Test regulations, while a significant improvement on previous years, still have a long way to go before reaching the top of the European ladder!

It is anticipated that Mandatory Tuition will be introduced for Car Drivers before very long! It is imminent for Motorcyclists and as I write this page there have been nine fatalities in the last 24 hours ……… two of these tragedies involved Motorcycles!

Since the start of 2006 in just 10 weeks we have lost 80 lives on the roads here in Ireland. This is not a figure to be glossed over and needs to be contained by Professional Tuition and Law Enforcement.

To give you an example of a top European Standard, take Germany for instance…….Here one has to complete fifty hours of tuition (yes 50 ! ) before you are allowed to sit the Driving Test! This comprises 25 hours of Theory and 25 hours of Practical! As a Parent who has needed the services of two Au-Pairs in the last few years, both of whom were German, I can honestly say that their standard of Driving was so far ahead of the average Irish Driver it was embarrassing. Both these Girls were 21 years old with full German Licenses and had been driving on these for approximately 18 months!

All the recent changes to the Driving Test and those coming in the future are as a result of E.U.Directives which have to be implemented by the Government and are really long overdue.

Copyright- Astral School of Motoring © 2006

The Astral Driving School is trying to make a difference int the number of drivers who reach their 25th birthdays.The Web Site and blogs written by Robin Piggott continue to evolve.You can find out more by visiting a valuable Learner Driver Resource and looking at the blog from time to time at

http://astraldrivingschool.blogs.ie.

Stock exhaust systems are designed to adequately convert unsafe emissions into minimally harmful exhaust. Unfortunately, these particular types of systems are prone to corrosion. It is not unusual for owners to have to replace their muffler, a tail pipe, or even a catalytic converter at some point during the time that they own their vehicle. If automobile manufacturers would only fit their vehicles with premium exhaust systems this problem would cease to exist. Unfortunately, it is the “bottom line” that determines that decision. Let’s take a look at premium exhaust systems as they are definitely something you many want to consider the next time your exhaust system has to be replaced.

When it comes to premium exhausts systems, a Borla exhaust system is the benchmark by which all others are designed. The reason? Aircraft quality material, specifically T-304 stainless steel the same steel that goes into building all those lovely Boeing aircraft you see in our skies, is what a Borla exhaust is made of.

There are a number of reasons why a premium [also known as performance] exhaust system makes sense:

Long Lasting — Quite frankly, it helps to make an exhaust system out of something that cannot easily corrode. The makers of Borla exhausts discovered that aircraft quality stainless steel was the most likely to endure changing temperatures and road conditions, therefore they build them with only the best materials and back them up with a one million mile warranty. Gee, just how many people do you think will even keep their cars that long? Not many; likely a performance exhaust system would be the last exhaust system for that car.

Economical — Say again?! Yes, your cash outlay will be much higher than a stock exhaust system, but your car’s resale value could get a boost and you won’t ever have to pay for another exhaust system again.

More Horsepower — Did you know that your stock exhaust system is not all that efficient? Sure, it does the job by keeping pollutants to a minimum but it also works against your engine by restricting power. Top quality performance exhaust systems, including those made by Borla, free up energy, thereby helping your engine to squeeze out more power.

Improved Fuel Economy — A side benefit of a more efficiently working engine is a bump up in fuel economy. Since your engine works smarter, it doesn’t need to burn as much fuel. The resultant spike in fuel economy is an attribute few take into consideration.

A Cool Sound — Performance exhaust systems are designed to emit a cool sounding note to let you and everyone else know that your vehicle has been transformed into a Formula 1 racer. Okay, we can pretend…however, the sound that a performance exhaust system makes is pleasing to all.

So, there you have it. I shared with you a brief overview of a performance exhaust system and the many benefits of owning one. If you install one yourself you can save money; order online through an established and respected wholesaler and you can save even more cash.

Copyright 2005 — Matt Keegan is a car fan and automotive writer for the
Winning Exhaust, an online automotive retailer,
Borla Stinger Exhaust and
Borla Pro XS Mufflers.

Automobiles are highly responsible for the alarming rate of air
pollution affecting the global environmental condition today.
Everyday millions of cars, trucks, and other vehicles around the
world belch out fumes and gases that are harmful to the
environment. When an engine burns fuel, it produces hazardous
gases namely carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons or volatile organic
compounds and nitrogen oxide molecules. These gases are very
dangerous to any living organism and has been steadily
degenerating the earth’s protective ozone layer for years now.
Thus, to counter this, carmakers have sought ways to minimize
the damaging effects of car exhaust fumes by installing
catalytic converters.

Catalytic Converters are usually stainless steel containers and
tubing which provide an environment for chemical reactions where
unburned hydrocarbons combust, using platinum and rhodium as
catalysts. Catalytic Converters are designed to stop hazardous
gases from being released by transforming them into harmless
gases. For instance, Ford catalytic converters have reduction
catalysts that divide nitrogen oxide into nitrogen and oxygen,
its main components. Similarly, oxidation catalysts convert the
highly lethal carbon monoxide gas into carbon dioxide, which is
less harmful to the environment. Catalytic converters are auto
parts that are an ethical and legal necessity. In fact, it is
required in most states that your car has a working catalytic
converter. Your car will not pass an emission inspection if your
catalytic converter is defective or damaged.

Corrosion, regular wear and tear, and internal clogging are just
some of the many causes of a damaged or defective Ford catalytic
converter. Once your car’s catalytic converter is damaged, it is
wise that you replace it immediately with a new one. When
picking out a new Ford catalytic converter, you have a choice of
either aftermarket Ford catalytic converters or OEM. If you are
planning to purchase a catalytic converter, it is important to
consider the type of road and weather conditions you will be
driving in. Thus, you should look for a tough, durable and
resilient catalytic converter. One made of stainless steel will
help you avoid damages to your converter. Price is another
consideration. Usually aftermarket Ford catalytic converters are
cheaper compared to OEM.

Fortunately, there are numerous auto parts dealers that offer
high quality catalytic converters. If you are in the market for
catalytic converters, you will find that there are many options.
However, one of the easiest ways to shop for a top-quality Ford
catalytic converter is by visiting some of the most trusted
online auto parts wholesalers. Inner Auto Parts is one of the top
ranked auto parts suppliers today. They have an extensive
inventory of Ford catalytic
converters as well as other essential Ford auto parts such as Ford headlights, Ford fuel tanks, Ford radiators, and
Ford exhausts.
External parts such as Ford bumpers, Ford fenders, Ford spoilers, Ford wheels and
others are also available at Inner Auto Parts. Their Ford
catalytic converters are guaranteed high quality, giving your
car years of excellent service. All the good qualities you
should look for in a catalytic converter, you will find in the
Ford catalytic converters from Inner Auto Parts.

Windshield repair kits are sets of tools that help repair a chip or a crack on a windshield quickly and easily, saving the expense of replacing the entire windshield. These kits allow you to repair chips and cracks up to several inches long, restoring the strength and improving the clarity of a windshield. Windshield repair kits include an easy to use instruction manual that tells how to fix the damage in very little time. The kits available are compact and lightweight that make them easy to carry to any location. The kits are reusable and allow for multiple repairs. Windshield repair kits are designed to fix bull’s eyes, star breaks, cracks and combination breaks on a windshield with ease.

The basic windshield repairs kits available generally include a windshield resin that helps bond the glass, so that it becomes stronger and prevents further damage. Curing lamps are used to provide UV lights to ensure that the resin is properly cured. A bracket that has a built-in suction cup pump that adheres securely to the windshield is also provided. A drill bit that can create a tiny opening into the damaged area for the repair resin to flow into is usually included. Other items in the kit include a battery powered drill, mirror, pit, polishing wheel and compound, drill bits, 12-volt extension cord, misc. seals and glass pick.

Different types of windshield repair kits are available to suit the budget and requirements of different individuals. The cost of a windshield repair kit could range from $10 for a basic kit to more than $2000 for a professional kit. The number of windshields that can be repaired using one kit should be a criterion for selection of a suitable kit. One needs to evaluate the available windshield repairs kits in the market and find the most suitable one.