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Off to College: Vehicle Prep

August 9th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 3 Comments | Filed in Campus Cars

Get your ride ready to hit the road

You’ve been shopping for dorm items and academic supplies for the fall semester…that’s a good thing. Hopefully, you found many bargains and were able to take advantage of your state’s tax free weekend.

Is your college ride road-ready?

Another task you should handle now is your car, if you’re planning to have one with you this year. Before you fill it up with all of your stuff, you’ll want to make sure that it is ready to hit the road and able to give you reliable service over the coming months.

Car Check

The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. through its Car Care Council is reminding students heading off to college to examine the following items before heading out:

  • Tires and tire pressure — Look for visible signs of wear. Rotate or replace your tires as necessary. If your school is located in the snow belt, place a set of winter tires in the trunk or bring chains.
  • Hoses and belts — Fraying or loose connections can cause a problem if not handled now. Don’t get stranded: fix these items now!
  • Air filters — Dirty or clogged air filters can sap your engine of much needed power.
  • Wipers — If you haven’t changed your wiper blades since last winter, now is a good time to replace them.
  • Exterior and interior lighting — Have someone do a walk around while you are in your car, checking headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other lights to make sure that they’re working.
  • Fluid levels, including engine oil, power steering, brake,
    transmission, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant — Replenish or replace as necessary. If you can’t do the work yourself, find a trusted mechanic to give your car a thorough inspection.
  • Inspection — Make sure that your car has been inspected by the state and that your registration and insurance information is up-to-date.

The Car Care Council also recommends that college-bound students have important telephone numbers in their cell phone or glove box in case of a breakdown or emergency. Vehicles should have a roadside emergency kit that includes items such as flares, a first aid kit, a tire-changing jack, a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables and a blanket.

Finally, consider joining a service club such as AAA to have towing and other car services available to you as needed. You’ll pay an annual fee, but the peace of mind is priceless.

Adv. — Do you need some funs this semester? A Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan could be the right choice for you.


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Easy Ways to Improve Your Gas Mileage

July 16th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Campus Cars

How to save money on gas.

Mothballs in the gas tank. Super chip to improve performance and fuel efficiency. Converting your car to run on water.

When gas prices soared past four dollars a gallon a few years back, drivers were scrambling for ways to save on gas. Some methods were total cons while others did the job, but were costly to implement.

Efficiency Methods

Most methods for saving gas are not that costly and include common sense measures that are easy to implement including the following:

Tire Inflation — Just how under inflated are your tires? You can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 2-3 percent if your tires are inflated at the recommended psi. Plus, properly inflated tires last longer and are safer. One more thought: New tires may be the best way for you to save money. According to Consumer Reports recommends drivers shop to “…look for high-rated tires with low rolling resistance.” You may be able to save $100 each year if you choose new tires.

Car Maintenance — Dirty air filters on older models can impede performance and sap gas, as can a car in desperate need of a tune up. Follow manufacturer recommendation change intervals for spark plugs and spark plug wire and other filters to enjoy improved fuel economy.

Speed Control — The interstate speed says “75” which means you can get there faster. But also means that your fuel economy will take a hit, dropping by as much as five percent for every five mph over 60 mph according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Drive Sensibly — Besides keeping your speed in check, keep your right foot under control too. Jack rabbit starts and other aggressive driving methods consume much gas especially on the highway. Use cruise control too as Edmunds reports that you’ll save on average seven percent in fuel consumption.

Save Gas — Though not having all that much to do with saving gas, using the right fuel can save you money. If you don’t need to use premium fuel, choose regular. Conversely, protect your sophisticated engine if it requires premium fuel. The operative word here is required…don’t risk voiding your warranty.

Avoid These

As far as other possible methods for saving gas, some are not as helpful as you might think including turning off the air-conditioning and opening up the windows. It also does not matter what time of day you gas up and as far as those fuel saving gadgets go, if they really worked manufacturers would include them as original equipment.

Photo Credit: Daryl Mitchell

Adv. — Are you suffering from college tuition shock? Colleges are sending out tuition invoices right now; you can handle that shortfall by considering a Sallie Mae loan option.


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Ford Makes Texting While Driving Safe

July 12th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 2 Comments | Filed in Campus Cars

Your texting while driving alternative.

Of all of the bad driving habits we’ve seen over the years, e.g. applying make-up while cruising down the interstate, reading the newspaper or eating a sandwich while tooling around town, the most dangerous of them all seems to be texting while driving. Indeed, the practice has become so prevalent–and deadly–that talk show diva Oprah has taken it up as her cause célèbre, advocating the banning of the practice.

Texting Banned

On the state level, 30 states are now or soon will be banning texting while driving with Delaware recently passing a ban that will kick in on January 2, 2011. That isn’t likely to satisfy critics who want to see the practice banned nationally and are pushing the remaining state legislators and jurisdictions to enact similar restraints.

One automaker, however, thinks a different approach is worth exploring. Specifically, the Ford Motor Company is updating its SYNC technology to enable text messaging and give drivers more control over how messages are received and sent. SYNC is the company’s in-car communications and entertainment system developed with Microsoft. Since it was first offered in 2008, Ford has made numerous changes to the technology including offering SYNC across its entire model line.

SYNC Improvements

On the driver experience side of things, Ford is revising the SYNC text message readback feature by giving drivers a “Do Not Disturb” button so they can choose the level of connectivity and communications they want while driving. In addition, Ford is taking the initiative to “lock-out” capabilities that are not relevant to the task of driving while the vehicle is in motion.

Commenting about these changes was John Schneider, Ford’s chief engineer of Ford multimedia and infotainment engineering. “Text messaging has become the default communications method for consumers of all ages. The power of SYNC voice control combined with Ford’s latest connectivity improvements will reduce the temptation to pick up the phone and take your eyes off the road, providing a safer solution for the use of mobile devices in the car.”

2011 Models

The SYNC enhancements aren’t available for current or older Ford models, but the automaker says that the technology will be part of every 2011 vehicle equipped with MyFord or MyLincoln Touch. Ford calls these systems its, “…intuitive driver connect technology that provides drivers personalized access to information and entertainment through voice control, touch screens and familiar five-way controls mounted on the steering wheel.”

Of course, not everyone is in the position to buy a new car nor will everyone consider Ford solely for the ability to text while driving. But, for hard-core text message senders please do everyone a favor by quitting your texting or go out and buy a properly equipped Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Adv. — Just six weeks from now the fall semester will be underway. Are you ready for college? Do you need funding? You can close the financing gap by choosing a Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan — explore your options here.


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Toyota Prius: The Future Is Now

January 25th, 2010 by Matthew C. Keegan | 3 Comments | Filed in Campus Cars

Is this the concept of things to come with car technology?

With degree in hand, you step off of the stage and work your way back to your seat, tassel turned and your whole life ahead of you. And if your searching paid off, you may have a new job waiting, one paying a living wage and offering a good start toward helping you launch your career.

Now for an important question: how will you get to your job?

If you live in the city, then mass transportation may be all that you need, but with so many jobs located in the suburbs and exurbs, having a dependable and efficient way to get you where you are going is essential.

Cars Of The Future

For students entering the workforce in 2015 and beyond, the types of transportation offered will be radically different from the cars available today. Though just a few years away, the cars coming online beginning later this year and over the ensuing years will be far removed from what you can buy right now.

The transition to a whole new breed of vehicles began more than a decade ago when both Honda and Toyota began to produce their first hybrid gas-electric cars. Earlier models were ugly, underpowered, and fairly cheap, but over time these cars have become more sophisticated and fuel efficient, keeping up with owner preferences and government mandates.

Concept Toyota Gets Noticed

The Toyota Prius is by far the best selling hybrid model of all, but it will soon have some strong challengers including newer versions of itself. One such model under consideration is the Toyota FT-CH concept (pictured), a vehicle that made its debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit this January.

The FT-CH changes things for Toyota and for customers as the model points to new direction the world’s top selling automaker plans on going: some models will still be gas-electric hybrids, but instead of using the current nickel-cadmium technology, a switch to lithium-ion will begin, perhaps even as early as this year. Li-ion batteries as they are called have a more robust lifespan then ni-cad batteries and offer a longer driving range. You will be able to plug these cars in to home electrical outlets to recharge the battery.

But FT-CH will not stop there. A pure battery electric vehicle is being readied, one that will not include a supplemental gas engine. Plug this car in at home or at your work place’s recharging port and you will have a ready and steady supply of energy available to you.

Hydrogen Powered Cars Too

Perhaps the most revolutionary vehicle to hit the market will be a hydrogen powered version of the Prius. Thought to be decades away from hitting the market when first conceived around 2000, the technology has been refined and improved to where production may start as soon as 2015.

Also called a fuel cell vehicle, these cars are already being tested with Honda Clarity FX available for lease in select markets. A fueling infrastructure needs to be put in place first, but that looks possible for Southern California and the New York City area.

Sustainability Movement Takes Off

Although what powers these cars is critically important to buyers, what is inside will be dramatically different too. Roomy cabins, the use of 8-bit microprocessor technology for video games and music, and a much greater use of recyclable materials will be evident throughout.

Indeed, most automakers are working on developing cars which will be nearly completely recyclable, meaning that few future models will clog auto junkyards when their lifespans have been completed.

You have heard the term “sustainable” for many years now – the auto industry has embraced the concept of producing more environmentally friendly vehicles and you will be the benefit of these cars once you are ready to make your purchase.

The Toyota FT-CH is just a concept but its styling, engineering, and technology point in the direction Toyota and other automakers will be heading. Come 2015 you may have a new job in hand, but you may also be driving a car powered by electricity or hydrogen, sustainable vehicles with a minimal impact on the environment.

Unfolding Before Your Eyes

If you’re just starting out in college, you will witness these changes from the vantage point of a student who is seeing a new world unfold. No, the internal combustion engine is not dead, but even these motors will be smaller, more energy and environmentally efficient then what we’ve seen, part of an across the board sea change making its way through the global automotive industry.

Perhaps what you’re seeing a glimpse at the first new car you will buy once you launch your career.

Resources

Autotrends.org: Three New Hybrids to Join Hybrid Fleet

Green Car Congress

The New York Times: Coming: 95% Recyclable Cars

Source: Toyota Motor Company


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