Indash Navigation Offers So Much More

By Daniel Stouffer

We live in exciting technological times and we wait with anticipation to see what new gadget or gizmo is just around the corner. Many of the latest inventions allow us to live a more productive and more efficient life and a lot of these applications find use within our "daily driver". Indash navigation receivers and similar fully featured systems really bring back the charm of driving.

Indash navigation is not just about getting from point a to point b, but provides us with quality audio features, superior navigational performance with turn by turn guidance and wireless connectivity. These systems represent all-in-one solutions when it comes to navigation, communication and entertainment.

There are a large number of indash navigation systems available on the aftermarket, and you don't have to buy one of those premium car models that are already equipped with these systems and displayed on your dealer's lot. Don't be discouraged into thinking that it is too complex, as you can fit these systems into your existing car.

If you do not want to have several different components scattered around your car's dashboard, you can choose a complete indash navigation system and eliminate the need for those other items. For example, you do not need to have a stereo system or CD/DVD player or one of those GPS receivers stuck to the windshield. These days you can fully interact with just one system.

The latest indash navigation systems are really quite powerful independent computers which can undertake a wide variety of roles. Proprietary PC software can be purchased allowing the user to work on that lengthy trip at home, and then import the custom route, points of interest, contact lists, photographs, specially designed colors and register a driving log. All of this can be transferred from home to car by using a standard SD card.

Today's high-tech indash navigation systems have the best quality audio integration and can be formatted to interact with compatible iPods or iPhones, for example. The most amazing flexibility is possible with convenience and productivity at all levels.

It is quite possible for you to fit an indash navigation system by yourself, as contrary to what you may think most vehicles are compatible. Many people think that the solutions must have been fitted prior to purchase or require expert installation and this is not the case.

When you are setting out for a journey onto our busiest highways, indash navigation systems feature real-time traffic information. Accident reports, construction or parking lot-style freeways are of great interest to us and most of these systems will recommend an alternative route to get you to your point of interest in the best possible time. - 21396

About the Author:

Expert Daniel Stouffer would like to provide you with further information about aindash navigation. GPS-catalog.com is a good resource for all GPS-related questions.

A Guide to the Fundamentals of Car Detailing

By Luke Lister

If you have a used car and want to make it look brand new again, car detailing is your best option. For many, it has gone far beyond simply making cars look better to the level of actually turning them into works of art. These auto experts know how to turn a car that was once old and dull looking into something worth more in both monetary value and admiration.

Car detailing is more necessary than you might think, particularly if you want to sell a car. You'll have trouble getting a good amount of money for a car that looks bad, no matter how well it runs. If you take the vehicle in for detailing, you will come out with something that is much more appealing and make far more than you ever had to spend.

You shouldn't try detailing until you get an idea of both what your car needs and what will happen to it. The process generally makes improvements on the exterior, the tires, and the interior of your car. The exterior will come first, as it makes an immediate impression and will probably be the biggest factor in appearance. You'll need to get a good spray painting job.

Before you can worry about the interior of the car, there's one last thing to take care of outside - a wheel and tire evaluation. Often, years of tar from brake dust accumulating on the wheels of old cars leads them to have black stains. It's helpful to keep washing your wheels as, otherwise, you will have to do a lot more to make them look better after the damage has been done.

Buyers, and car collectors especially, will want a car to look as though it was rarely used, or at least like it was well maintained. This is where your interior comes into play. You can eliminate wear and tear through detailing to completely erase most signs of damage. Once you've established these basic points, here are a few more you should look over.

Car detailing should typically be done in a garage or a similar area that will keep the vehicle cool and dry, away from the heat and moisture that can damage paint and wax. For your own part, you shouldn't leave your car standing in the sun if possible and should only wash it when you definitely have to, and then moving from top to bottom.

If you're doing your own auto detailing and you've just gotten off the road, let the car sit for at least 20 minutes before trying to eliminate excess wax, and begin. You should also not wash a car that's just pulled off the road, and avoid using cold water on hot parts of the car such as the engine. This can cause a lot of damage to these areas and your work.

Car detailing is something that you have to devote yourself to doing right. When you put in the time you need and work hard at it, you will be rewarded by a car that looks better than ever. - 21396

About the Author:

Let our professional automotive detailers and groomers, add value to your car on the sunshine coast

How To Lower Your 4x4 Insurance Premiums

By Susan Reynolds

Vehicles like insurance policies differ greatly. It?s important to understand that you may have difficulty finding the rate you want on a 4x4 vehicle because they can be singled out as a high risk vehicle. This automatically makes rates higher for all drivers of these types of vehicles. You can take several courses of action to help lower this rate. You can also search various insurance companies to find one that gives you the lowest rate.

Your first goal should be to assure your insurance agent that your 4x4 will be kept safe and out of site while it is parked at home. One of the biggest risks with these trucks and SUVs is that they will be stolen or vandalized. Keep your 4x4 either in a garage or behind the house where it will not be seen. While acknowledging that your vehicle is at lower risk for these occurrences you may get lower rates.

Extra driving experience on 4x4 vehicles is also a plus for insurance agents. You might have to borrow a vehicle from a friend or family member to gain this experience, but it can shave a few dollars from your monthly payments. With a little experience under your belt you will be more comfortable with the handling a 4x4 before you sit behind the wheel of your own. Obviously, a few years of experience driving one is better than a few weeks.

If you are a new driver then you should expect to have higher than normal rates as you are a higher risk as you have less time and experience on the road. However if you do have a history you will want it to be as clean as possible. The less tickets and incidences that you have on your record the better driver the insurance company will figure you to be. Insurance agents may look to see if you have gotten any claims bonuses. These are awarded to you after having insurance for a certain period of time without having any claims. A claims bonus will discount your insurance rates, and can be helpful in negotiating lower 4x4 insurance rates. In some cases it may be better not to file a small claim that you can pay for yourself, therefore avoiding the higher costs of insurance rates and deductibles.

By getting a 4x4 with a category 1 or 2 security rating you may end up getting lower rates as well. These categories indicate that your 4x4 is equipped with the finest safety features, making it harder to steal and safer in accidents. Your agents will look for these extra features while gauging your insurance premiums to determine the risk of your vehicle. Opt for the best security possible when choosing your vehicle.

Military personal, including those from the National Guard, can take advantage of special discounts. Even if you are not a part of the military you should always be on the watch for discounts that may help you. Search online for the best quotes before going to visit your insurance agents personally. - 21396

About the Author:

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Car Insurance Options.

Auto Protection How to Save Your Life and Your Car

By Luke Lister

Every young person looks forward to the day when he or she gets their drivers license. Oh the freedom that day brings! And greater still is the day when they buy their own automobile. Now life really begins for them. However, cars can be scary, too. In fact, they can be downright lethal, if you haven't taken the proper auto protection precautions. We're talking about things to do to protect your car from being the victim of crime, as well as things you should do to protect yourself while you're using your car.

Let's talk first about systems to install in your car to fight off would-be thieves. To do this, you need modern, state-of-the-art car security systems. We're talking about something that will alert when someone tries to open your vehicle without your permission. A car security system is generally designed to work with the maximum types of vehicles, however, it's possible to get one customized specifically for your own car. Of course, each car has its own concerns. Because of this, car makers create different sorts of auto protection systems. Here are a few of the best ones.

First on our list of helpful auto protection devices is something called an audible security system. As the name implies, whenever the car's doors or windows are touched, an audible alarm sounds. This alarm is loud enough for people sometimes blocks around to hear. The down side of this system is that many times, the alarm is triggered by someone simply close to the vehicle. How many times have you heard a vehicle alarm and ignored it, because you felt it was probably a false alarm? This is true of many people; they've trained themselves to ignore these, because they so often go off erroneously.

A second type of auto protection device is the inaudible security system, or private alert. This one, as the name suggests, doesn't get the public's attention. Instead, if someone breaks into an owner's car, he or she receives a beep or private message to tell them of the situation. The downside of this one is that there is little the owner can do if they're too far away from where the car was left.

A third auto protection system is known as an ignition system immobilizer. This one shuts down a car if a would-be driver does not enter the correct code.

All of these devices protect your car from the bad guys. But there are other things you should keep in your car at all time to protect you against bad situations. Let's talk about just a few.

All three of these are kits. For instance, there's the roadside kit, which includes some small tools, a red flag to tie to your antenna, road flares, flashlight and batteries, and a small size fire extinguisher. This is also a good place to keep your jack and jumper cables The second kit is the first-aid kit, with bandages, medical tape, rubber gloves, scissors, antibiotic ointment, a CPR mask, alcohol swabs and painkillers. And your third kit is an emergency kit, for a situation in which you get stranded for a period of time. This kit will contain food, water, and a blanket.

Yes, these will cost some money. But is your car and, more importantly, your health, worth it? That's your decision, but we're thinking it probably is. - 21396

About the Author:

Save yourself 75% on new car protection on the sunshine coast, we save cars paint, fabric and vinyl from fading, damage, and wear.

The Legacy Of NASCAR Pioneer Lee Petty

By Ross Everett

Lee Petty may not be as well known as his son "The King" Richard Petty, but he also had a very important part in NASCAR history. He was a successful driver and helped grow Petty Enterprises into a dominant force in racing. And, of course, he is the father of arguably the greatest driver in NASCAR history.

Lee Petty was one of the first to take a businesslike approach to the sport of stock car race in an era when many teams and drivers still supplemented their income via bootlegging and running moonshine. He raced in the very first NASCAR stock car race ever on June 19th, 1949. Among his many firsts in the sport is the dubious distinction of bringing out the first caution flag in NASCAR history. To chronicle his achievements in the sport in a nutshell, he won 50 Cup races, including the first one ever on a paved track. He also caused his share of trouble and was never afraid to mix it up. He once hit Curtis Turner over the head with a wrench after a race, and another time got into a fistfight during the pre race festivities. Lees two sons quickly joined the skirmish but the fight was ended by Mrs. Petty (Richards grandmother) swinging her purse"made heavier than the typical pocketbook by the .44 handgun she carried inside.

Lee also won three NASCAR championships (the precursor to today's Sprint Cup) during his career. He also shepherded his son, Richard, into the sport. Surprisingly, things didn't immediately go well for the Petty offspring--he'd race only 9 times in the first season and ended up in a wreck more often than not. He'd eventually turn things around and the man now known as "The King" Richard Petty would go on to win a staggering 200 NASCAR races--a mark that may never be broken.

Lee's career as a driver was cut short due to a bad accident at the 1961 Daytone 500. His car hit a guard rail, flipped over a few times and caused a number of broken bones and internal injuries. He tried to race a few times upon his recovery before retiring for good in 1964. He was involved in the management of Petty Engineering for awhile, but soon stepped away content in the knowledge that it was being well run by sons Richard and Maurice. He was never one to seek the limelight, and spent the rest of his life enjoying his success and that of his family. An avid golfer, he played frequently until a few months before his death in 2000 at age 86 after surgery to treat a stomach aneurysm.

Lee Petty holds a few NASCAR records that may never be broken. He finished in the top five 231 times out of 427 races, and still holds the mark for best average finish for a full time driver at 7.6th place. Making this level of success all the more impressive, it was done in an era before big money sponsorships, on poorly maintained tracks and against legitimate criminals who spent most of their time bootlegging moonshine. The fact that Petty enjoyed so much success in that era is a credit to his toughness, dedication and courage. - 21396

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on UFC betting. He's a published expert sports handicapping theory, as well as stock market investing. He contributes to a number of online media outlets providing insight on how to bet on CFL football, MMA and boxing.