Let’s face it, some folks derive immense pleasure from getting down on their knees and scrubbing away at their wheels with a toothbrush. What’s more, there are people who actually get into changing their own oil, swapping out air filters and even think it’s cool to add fluids to those enigmatic holes positioned all over their engines. And then, there are others who don’t give a rodent’s posterior about car care and can’t even manage to spray a hose on their vehicle once a month.

If you’re part of the former crowd, stop reading, this article isn’t for you. Go on and get back to your pristine machine and have at it with your dental instruments and filter wrenches. However, if you’re in the later group of grimy, clunking vehicle owners, this article is written to scare you clean and tune you up.

To get your motivation running, let’s hit you where you’ll feel it the most. No, not there – get your head out of the gutter. We’re talking about your wallet.

Do you realize that your lack of car care is going to cost cash money? Those Blue Book values that you drool over at trade - in or selling time are based on vehicles that have not been neglected. Not giving your car a bath on a regular basis is neglect. Not changing your oil according to a schedule is neglect. And, “neglect” translates to less money when it time to move on to a new ride.

The good news is, with a few minor tweaks to your regular car care routine, you can whip your vehicle into re-sale shape in no time. Warning: the following outline of suggestions isn’t the best practice, it’s what works for those of us that just can’t seem to find any sort of satisfaction in vehicle maintenance.

First, we’ll start with a little cleaning. Take your vehicle to a car wash. Touchless is best, but considering how you’ve maintained your vehicle in the past, even the scratchy gas station washes will do. You just want to get the bulk of the filth off.

Then, find yourself one of those parking lot detailers. For $10-$40, you get your vehicle looking pretty sharp. Plus, if there is a real problem with your exterior, such as paint oxidation, swirling, or fading, the detailer may have a solution like clay bars, rubbing compounds and even touch-up paint. Keep in mind, those extra services will cost a bit more. And, don’t skip the interior, your friends and family will thank you. By the time the work is done, you’ll be amazed at what your car is capable of looking like.

So far, you haven’t lifted a finger, other than pressing the car wash button and pulling a few bucks out of your wallet.

Next, the big step in the car care conundrum - going under the hood. Of course, you’re not going there, and here’s why - it’s cheaper and easier to pay the guy at the quick change oil place to do your dirty work. If you find a reputable place, they’ll get you fixed up in a jiffy (no pun intended). They can perform many services at a reasonable cost. And, you can bet they’ve seen some pretty ugly stuff, so you don’t have to be embarrassed when they point out that your battery terminals have corroded into nothing more than flaky, white gunk. They’ll probably swap out your air filter, which, depending on how long it’s been, will improve your gas mileage. They may start with the “flush your cooling system” or “change the transmission fluid” routine and, honestly, you may need it. But be careful, because if they recognize you as a sucker, they’ll keep working it until you walk out with a $300 bill, spoken from experience.

Now, thanks to a little car care your vehicle is looking and running better than ever. Your father-in-law isn’t scowling at you like you’re some sort of dirt bag any more. You’re no longer embarrassed about offering rides to co-workers. Heck, you can even take a date in your vehicle. Do you like that? Would you like to keep it that way? It’s really quite simple, just follow the steps mentioned earlier – wash it and get the oil changed every-once-in-a-while.

Once car care becomes a regular practice and then a habit, it’s not so bad. You might even start venturing out by adding custom aftermarket accessories such as an air intake, seat covers or even an exhaust system. Whatever the outcome, just remember that a little car care goes a long way.

[from the team at ]

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With so many people hitting the byways and highways this summer for vacation, work, barbeques and family outings, vehicular travel is sure to rise. So, why spend more than you have to on gasoline?

The following tips, from the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), will help save more of your money for fun times at the beach or mountains as you head out on your summer vacation.

Before setting out

Check your tires. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. Out-of-line wheels, as evidenced by uneven tread wear, should be aligned by a professional.

Follow the service schedules listed in your owner’s manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended, and have engine performance problems (e.g., rough idling, poor acceleration) corrected at a repair facility. Given today’s high-tech engines, it’s wise to have this type of work done by auto technicians who are ASE certified in engine performance.

On your trip

Break the speeding habit. Speeding to your destination can decrease your miles per gallon by 15 percent or more.

Sudden accelerations guzzle gas, too. Anticipate traffic patterns ahead, and adjust your speed gradually. Use cruise control where feasible.

Use windows and air conditioning wisely. Your mileage should improve if you keep the windows closed at highway speeds, since air drag is reduced. This is true even with the air conditioning on -; assuming that the system is in good working order. But try to avoid using your air conditioner in heavy, stop-and-go traffic.

When you get back

Make sure you remove all vacation items and clutter right away to reduce the weight your vehicle’s engine must push.

And take off that rooftop cargo carrier. Like closed windows, this will reduce air drag and increase your mileage.

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Last month, at the North American International Auto Show, Japanese automaker Subaru unveiled the latest version of the Forester. On February 26, the company announced the pricing for the new Forester. Interestingly, after the improvements made to the Forester, it is priced more than a thousand dollars lower than the outgoing model.

The new Subaru Forester will soon be available at Subaru dealerships across the country starting this April. The automaker announced that the new Subaru Forester will have a starting price of $19,995.

The said crossover vehicle will be available with either a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated or a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. The naturally aspirated powerplant is available with either a manual or automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine on the other hand is only available with an automatic transmission.

There are overall five variants of the new Subaru Forester. For the Forester with a naturally aspirated engine, there are three trim levels while for the turbocharged engine, there are two available trim packages.

Subaru Coupes/Sedans/Wagons 1985-96; Covers All U.S. and Canadian Models of Subaru Brat, Impreza, Justy, Legacy, Loyale, Outback, Sedan, Covers all U.S. and Canadian models of Brat, Impreza, Justy, Legacy, Loyale, Outback, Std., Sedan, SVX, Wagon, XT and XT-6

For the Forester with the naturally aspirated engine, the three variants are X, 2.5X Premium Package and the 2.5X L.L. Bean. The third variant comes only with an automatic transmission while the first two can either be coupled with either a manual or an automatic transmission.

The turbocharged Forester meanwhile can be bought in either the standard X trim or the 2.5XT Limited Model. This Limited Model will have a starting price of $26,195 and it will come equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine which produces 224 horsepower. The package will also include 17-inch alloy wheels.

The naturally aspirated 2.5X trim will have a starting price of $22,495. For that, the Forester will be equipped with a power moonroof, roof rails, rear seat center tray, steering wheel audio controls, and reclining rear seat backs. On the outside, the package will also include 17-inch alloy wheels. The naturally aspirated engine will be mated to a manual transmission.

Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. proudly ticked off the selling point of the new Subaru Forester saying: “For 11 years, the Subaru Forester has been an icon of functionality, dependability and durability. The 2009 Forester now adds greater interior room, improved comfort and more amenities than before, yet with a starting price that is significantly lower than the outgoing model.”

Drift Subaru T-Shirt Drifting is not a crime. Only if you crash.

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Expecting a year of sluggish car sales due to our slumping economy, automakers are innovating to keep their inventory moving.

General Motors Corp. announced today that its 3,900 dealers will have free access to post used car listings on Ebay.

Many of the used car listings on EBay are from dealers, as well as individuals. But this agreement marks the first time a major automaker will leverage the power of the Internet to help its dealers move their used car inventory, GM spokesman Jim Labadie said.

“Dealers understand consumers are migrating online to find their next vehicle,” said Rob Chesney, a vice president at eBay Motors, motors.ebay.com, said in a press release.

An estimated 11 million shoppers search eBay motors each month for vehicles, he added.

The deal means “GM Certified dealers will have millions more eyeballs looking at their inventory,” Mark Mathews, director, GM Used Vehicle Activities, said in the press release.

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Shopping through the Internet truly is a breeze. Look at it this way: you can get almost any product you want from the comfort of your home, instead of having to go to the mall. You get to browse product reviews (still while sitting!) to see the boons and banes of the particular item you’re eyeing and know if it is really worth purchasing. Furthermore, with the ever-growing number of public and private sellers online, you can view so many products at the fastest time, anytime, all with one click.

Nevertheless, this benefit of seemingly endless options when you shop through the internet can be a hassle as much as it is a plus. Too many choices can leave you, the consumer, confused and having a hard time deciding which product to buy and which seller to patronize. Take the case of buying performance auto parts online. More and more car parts sellers are emerging in the Net, each with their own vast array of auto parts all marketed to appeal to the customers. These sellers all have their own gimmicks or promos to make you believe that when you buy any auto part from them, you have the advantage. The question is, how can you be sure that you’re truly getting your money’s worth (or even more) when you buy a performance auto part online? Here are the three most basic but very valuable tips to make sure you don’t get crooked.

Know your seller. As the Net grows larger each day, more and more frauds that prey on the not-so-knowledgeable consumers inhabit it. Make sure you’re buying from a reputable company or private seller that has a tried and tested record. Ask friends or colleagues who may have bought already from the seller you’re eyeing and know if they had any problems with their car parts purchases. Search online for testimonials about the company and/or the parts they sell. Always look for detailed product information (preferably third party reports) on the performance auto parts.

Compare prices and promos. Avoid getting immediately hooked on a deal that seems too good to pass up. Take the time to browse through several sites of performance auto parts sellers and list down what each offers for the particular auto part you seek. Sometimes what seem like the best promo at first glance turns out to be not, as there are other fees (i.e. shipping charges and tax) or even hidden charges that come with the deal. Be cautious of deceiving marketing and don’t purchase and pay until you’re sure you got the best deal.

Pay attention to details. Little details often not considered are important to ensure a trustworthy transaction. For instance, see if the “product checkout” page of the website you’re viewing displays a padlock icon in the lower right-hand border of the browser window. This indicates that the site is using secure encryption to protect your credit card information. When buying second-hand performance auto parts, check out all the specs needed and be aware of the risk that comes with buying a used part.

These are very basic tips, but when overlooked, will truly take you to Internet shopping hell. Indeed, many things need to be considered before you buy your desired performance auto parts online, but just take these three most important keys to heart and you’re good to go.

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