Net Auto News

It has been raining hard here for the past couple of days and I have been feeling antsy – I am used to being outside, and being cooped up indoors is not good for me.  Okay, I am going a little crazy, and I need something to clear up my mind.

But it looks like it is going to be a sunny afternoon.  To make things even better, since it has been raining so hard lately, it will give me a chance to take my truck out and go mud bogging!

Now, mud bogging isn’t for everyone, but I love it.  It gives me the chance to push my truck to the limit, see the outdoors, and make a mess.  Besides, I need an excuse to wash my truck for the second time today, so getting it messy is perfect.

There is a nice trail just a half hour from my home, and that is where I am going to go.  It goes through a pasture and a creek, so there should be plenty of opportunities to make a mess and make some noise.

Speaking of that – I should get running.  If I don’t go now, chances are I won’t make it out for the day, and that will mean that I will be glum tonight – and that is something no one wants to see, right?

Technorati Tags: mud bogging, outdoors

Tags: Trucks // Add Comment »

For a long time now my husband and I have been talking about buying a truck for a second vehicle if we ever get a chance.  We have a lot of reasons to need one, maybe not as a daily driver but hey, I work from home so that shouldn’t be an issue.

We really do need a truck, though.  For instance, I really like antique furniture, so we frequently have to ask a friend with a truck to help us haul something we’ve bought.  And since I sometimes sell at doll and antique shows, having a truck to haul everything  in would be really handy.

I also have a horse but no way to move him on my own.  I’ve been hiring someone with a trailer to move him every time we need to change barns, but it would be really handy to have a truck and (a horse trailer) of our own.

Of course, since I need to be able to pull a trailer — and stop while pulling a trailer — just any little truck won’t do.  I’ll need a full-size truck with either a tow package, or I’ll need to upgrade the brakes.

I’ll be looking into which full-size trucks will suit our needs best.  Besides what I’ve already mentioned, I want a truck that will be easy to maintain.  I usually prefer foreign vehicles, so I’ll have to look into how much Toyota Tundra parts cost and how reliable they are.

Buying a truck is a big decision, especially when you have very specific needs to fill.  If you have any recommendations for what makes and models we should consider, please feel free to comment!

Technorati Tags: horse trailer, Toyota Tacoma parts, Toyota Tundra parts

Tags: Trucks // 1 Comment »

With the nice weather we’ve been having, I’m seeing a lot of people out on scooters and motorcycles.  In fact, a good friend of mine recently got a scooter, and took me on a joy ride around the block on it.  It reminded me a lot of an ex-boyfriend of mine and the rides we’d take on his motorcycle — except that riding on the back of a scooter just wasn’t as hot as riding on the back of a motorcycle.

Don’t get me wrong.  Scooters are cute, practical, and environmentally friendly.  I wouldn’t spend a lot on gas, and I’d know that I wasn’t creating a lot of pollution.  Plus I could park a scooter anywhere — and who wouldn’t love that?

There’s a lot to like about a scooter.  But they just don’t have the same sexual appeal as a motorcycle.

It’s something to keep in mind.  I’d been thinking about getting a scooter, but perhaps instead, when I visit the car dealers in Fort Worth I should look at some small motorcycles as well as their scooters.

Whatever I get, of course it will have to be on the smaller side — as little as I am, I just don’t think I could control a bike that was too big and powerful!

Technorati Tags: car dealers in Fort Worth, scooters

Tags: Motorcycles // Add Comment »

Used car dealerships were once the bane of my existence. Right after I graduated college from Michigan State, I needed to find myself a good quality, used car, and set out to get the best deal possible. Now you must realize this was quite some time ago, and generally speaking the used cars Michigan offers today are much better, and the dealers really stand behind their sales.

But in the 80’s when I needed a car, the last thing you wanted to do was step foot on a used car lot. The sales people were only about pushing the crappiest cars for the most money. They cared not about offering you financing, but would rather sell you a bogus extended warranty.

Clearly the used car dealers today have seen the light. Just recently I went with a female friend to a car lot. I was battle ready to protect her from being ripped off. To both our delight, not only was she treated with respect, neither of us felt she was getting taken advantage of during the negotiations for her new, used vehicle.

I’ve definitely a new found respect for the used car industry, at least those dealerships that are in the greater Michigan area.

Technorati Tags: used car dealerships, used cars Michigan

Tags: Auto Dealers // Add Comment »

“Get your wheels, let’s rock,” is usually my wakeup call every Sunday morning in my neighborhood.

I have become quite popular in my neighborhood when it comes to driving.  I don’t know if it is about me or my Porsche.  I own a 2008 Porsche Cayenne that has been my “priority girlfriend” since I bought her last year.

My Porsche, sporting a deep marine blue painted body, is a regal beauty to behold.  But behind the royal exterior lies the real beauty and power:  500 horsepower twin turbo 48.

Having read all those reviews that this car can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, I made sure I had to get quality Porsche wheels.  I cannot compromise burning the road and burning my tires as well with cheaper wheels.  My friend suggested experimenting with other kinds of wheels to suit the tracks.  One other friend highly recommended trying exe wheels but I will need to research it carefully.  That is how much I love my “girlfriend” car.

Of course my real girlfriend does not get jealous.  She is the real queen sitting on the front seat. Sundays are always the best time of the week for me.  It is always complete - me, my girlfriend and my Porsche.

Technorati Tags: exe wheels, Get your wheels, Porsche, Porsche wheels

Tags: Recreational Vehicles // Add Comment »

There’s a little debate running in my family about which car our Golden doodle, Lulu, likes the best.  She’s a big fan of the car, mostly because it takes her to the park, but also because she can stick her nose out the front like she’s a hood ornament that’s been turned the wrong way.  My mother has a RAV4 and I have a Corolla (obviously it’s really the Toyota car parts she likes).  The Corolla sits a lot lower, and the seats are higher in relation to the windows.  The car is a compact sedan, so it has that low slung feel, but in reality, the windows start pretty low.  In the RAV4, which is a small SUV, the windows are a little higher and there’s an armrest underneath the window, so she stands on that and kind of arches out the window. 

She seems to enjoy this, but if we have to stop relatively short she’s easily off-balance.  In the Corolla, the window is perfect height for her to just stick her head out while standing flat on the seat.  She’s never off balance, which I, as her owner, like, but she just looks so thrilled when she’s arched up and sticking her head out the window.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to settle the debate?

Technorati Tags: Golden doodle, Toyota car parts

Tags: Parts & Accessories // Add Comment »

What child doesn’t dream of a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida? What little girl doesn’t want to have her picture taken with her favorite princess? What little boy doesn’t want to meet Mickey, Donald Duck or Pluto? Disney is a favorite destination for families with small children who are amazed and dazzled by the wondrous world of fantasy.  Planning your children’s dream vacation takes planning from hotels, airplane reservations, rental cars and tickets to the attractions.

Once your dates for travel have been selected, it is important to ensure hotel accommodations as well as plan travel reservations. If you are arriving by air or train, schedule an Orlando car rental for pick up to shuttle you and your family to and from your hotel to the parks in and around Orlando. If you are planning on driving to Orlando from your home state, make sure to bring your DVD player for the kiddies to enjoy on the long journey.

Next time you are thinking about a family vacation, if you really want to score points with the children, book yourselves on a vacation of a lifetime to Disney World. While your children will be thrilled with your decision, you will have fun too. Just don’t forget your camera!

Technorati Tags: DVD player, Orlando car rental

Tags: Recreational Vehicles // Add Comment »

The U.S. Automotive industry is not the only country being adversely affected by the steep declines in new vehicle sales. The 12 manufacturers that comprise the Japanese auto industry saw declines of 15% over the past year ending in March.

Japanese exports fell nearly 17% over the past year; a 7 year low according to the Bloomberg report.

With more Japanese manufactured vehicles built outside of the country, most of the country’s automakers also saw decreases in production overseas for the second straight year. With many of the U.S. auto makers stating publicly they will have summer layoff periods to try and counter the decreased supply demands, to date, no Japanese automakers have released statements indicating their workers will be forced into unpaid vacations.

One can only wonder, however, if that news is likely to stand if overall production continues to decrease. Ultimately it is demand that drives the manufacture of new vehicles, and while the Japanese are world leaders in on-demand production, there is a key at work: DEMAND!

If the Japanese people and the rest of the world are purchasing fewer Japanese made cars, clearly, their auto industry may face some of the same bleak outlooks that are afflicting American manufacturers.

Technorati Tags: Mitsubishi parts, Suzuki parts, Toyota accessories

Tags: Manufacturers // Add Comment »

I am going today to go look for toyota 4×4 parts because I have decided I want to trick out my truck so that I can take it out to the desert or up into the mountains and really go crazy with it. I love off roading but I have not been able to do much with my truck because it is kind of wimpy right now. I think it needs to have a lift kit added to it so that I do not have to worry about those dumb old rocks and the little dips and ditches and potholes that there always are in the dirt roads that I like to take my truck out to when I go out in the desert or the mountains.

I have not actually bought a toyota part for a long time because until this I have not had to or wanted to really do anything about my truck because it has not caused me any problems or anything. So I guess in a way my giving the truck a lift and whatever else I decide to do to it to make it easier for the truck to be able to get around where I want to go is almost like a gift of thanks to my truck for never letting me down.

Technorati Tags: 4 parts, Toyota 4, Toyota part, truck

Tags: Parts & Accessories // Add Comment »

If you are coming into a new city in Florida, your cheap car rentals Florida options are many. There are some companies that stand out from the rest, though and these are the companies you want to work with. They provide you with good pricing, often very affordable. Some offer discounts that can help you to save even more money when you work with them. For other companies, quality customer service is what keeps their regular customers coming back. The good news is that with Miami car rental, you can have it all. These companies are available to provide you with a range of services to meet your needs.

Rental cars are perhaps most commonly used since they are located right at the hub of Florida Airports. They are also some of the best in the business for their ability to meet your specific needs. As you consider which company to work with, remember that customer service is one of the keys to success. You do not want to wait long, you do not want to pay too much and you may need some advance sometimes. A good quality company can provide this for you without any trouble. You want to count on them.

Technorati Tags: cheap car rentals Florida, Florida Airports, Miami car rental

Tags: General // Add Comment »