Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Decorating a Room with Disney Cars Room Decor


With the popularity of the recent Disney Pixar Cars movie, chances are that your little boy is wanting Lightning McQueen, Mater, and all their friends to now grace every surface of his bedroom. Decorating a room with a Disney Cars room décor is fairly easy and inexpensive. Merchandise is available all over the web and if you are lucky, you may also find an item or two in the stores. Because of the popularity of the movie, all Cars merchandise has been extremely popular so I have learned that when you find an item you want that isn’t sold out, you have to move quickly and buy it.


So what is available for decorating a Disney Cars theme room? Well first, you will have you choice of a couple of beds. A Disney Cars toddler bed is available as is a Lightning McQueen Race Car bed that comes in a twin size. You will also be able to find Disney Cars toddler bedding and twin size bedding sets.


It doesn’t stop with just beds and bedding though. The amount of Disney Cars room décor available extends to wall art, room decals, lamps featuring Lightning and Mater, and even dresser knobs featuring many of the movie‘s key characters. You will also be able to find Disney Cars furniture pieces including toy boxes and table and chair sets for your Disney Cars theme room.


So if your little boy has been dreaming of a Disney Cars themed bedroom, you will have no trouble coming up with enough Disney Cars room décor to create the Lightning McQueen room of his dreams!








© Copyright Rebecca Johnson, All Rights Reserved

Rebecca Johnson is the mother of a three year old son who is a Disney Cars fanatic. She owns a website about decorating rooms for babies and young children. Visit it for more information about decorating a Disney Cars theme room including the best places to find Disney Cars room décor.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Learn About Sports Cars Before You Buy One


Nothing beats the exhilaration brought about by speed. Anyone who has ever driven an automobile has at least dreamt of taking the role of Steve McQueen in "Bullitt", getting into a high-speed car chase. If not Bullitt, each driver has dreamt playing Michael Caine's Charlie Cosker in "The Italian Job", driving that gorgeous convertible into the very heart of the gold heist.. Anyone who has ever taken control of the wheel has at least once dreamt of driving not just to get from point A to point B but to go from point A to B in flair. And driving a fantastic sports car fulfills this dream.


In making an automobile or any land vehicle for that matter, a lot of factors are being considered: cost of material, safety, efficiency, and performance are only some of these at play on the drawing board of a car maker. A sports car however, in definition gives priority to performance above all other factors. By performance, speed is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Speed relies heavily on the power of the car's engine.


Most sports cars do have muscle engines which can outrun even the fastest sedans easily. A sports car engineer therefore puts it first on the list of factors that he has to consider: how to travel the distance with the least amount of time possible.


But of course, even if performance is a cut above every other consideration, the other factors are never neglected. Safety cannot be compromised, because even the fastest sports car needs a driver on the wheel at all times, and safe at all times. Besides, everyone wants to drive from start to finish in one piece, after all. So a performance-oriented vehicle must pay attention to the other factors and not rely solely on the car engine's power.


A number of sports cars compensate for a not-so-powerful engine with a light body, paying due respect to the laws of physics: the lighter the mass, the smaller amount of force required to move this mass. This is also the reason why a sports cars usually are smaller, and do not have backseats. If these cars do have backseats, these are not as convenient as a sedan's and is only a throwaway to please the insurance companies. One may also notice that a sports car quite often only has two doors, and it shares the same reason as that of the backseat.


Because it can outperform any of the regular four-seater cars out in the market, sports cars are sold obviously at a higher price. Another reason is because quality materials are almost always being used to withstand the heavier wear and tear in this type of vehicle. This also explains why purchasing a sports car remains a pipe dream to most car enthusiasts. But it doesn't have to be that way anymore. It is easier to get one's hands on the steering wheel of a sports car than most people think. One just has to have the imagination and acumen to do so.


Buying a sports car does not have to mean going to your nearest car dealer and getting a brand new vehicle off the rack. There are quite a handful of these vehicles beyond the dealer's garage, in very good condition and sold at a lower price. You can always check out car auctions and watch out of sports car models being sold at pancake rates. Pre-owned sports cars are always available on your local car magazine or website; sometimes it just requires you to pay more attention to these ad placements; you'll never know when the sports car of your dreams is right under your nose.


Buying second-hand sports cars maybe the best way to go if one is facing monetary constraints. If a pre-owned sports car is taken cared of properly, it will give one the same excitement that a new one can provide.


There are also private sellers particularly of sports cars. More often than not, owners of these sports cars found themselves short of cash and are willing to dispose of their sports cars at considerably low prices, much to their resistance. Desperation is in a way good for buyers on the look-out: they get their dream vehicles at bargain prices.


And once you have spotted the car of your dreams, it is wise to exercise routine vehicle inspection, the way one does when buying a regular car. Do not forget to visually inspect the engine, the interior and the body. It is a folly to disregard these simple reminders, especially when buying a pre-owned sports car. You as a buyer can easily assess the condition of the car, how well it was maintained by the owner, simply by looking at it. Then, the proof of the pudding is in the eating: do not forget to test-drive your prospect sports vehicle before closing the purchase. Give it a go and see how it feels. If it feels good – and you feel like Steve McQueen in Bullitt – it is time to call that sports car your own.








Lee Dobbins writes for sportscars.unique-articles.com where you can learn more about the sports care and get tips on buying a sports car

Japanese Cars - Sporty and Sleek


If you are thinking of a car that is sleek, sporty, luxurious or cheap then the right choice is to look for a Japanese car model. Japanese cars are the highest selling cars in the world and are very much in demand. If you are looking for the looks then you can find the most beautiful looking cars and if your main concern is the safety then also these cars are amongst the best available cars in the world.


There are different Japanese car manufacturers and amongst the top producers are Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Mazda, Lexus, Subaru, Isuzu, and Daihatsu. Amongst all these car manufacturers, Toyota is on the top of the highest car seller list in Japan. It is not far behind if we take the statistics from the world, as Toyota is rated as the second largest car manufacturer in the world. General Motors is in the top slot for the number one car company in the world. Ford is not far behind from Toyota and few months’ back only Ford sales were ahead of Toyota’s. In Japan, Honda and Nissan are also close competitors of Toyota.


Recently Honda Accord was rated as the best selling car in North America. Honda is another very popular company in Japan and is known for its quality. Japanese cars can be easily imported almost anywhere in the world, as the Japanese government has simplified the exporting laws in order to promote their cars. The Japanese cars are the most fuel-efficient cars and the best of facilities available for comfort as well as for safety. Features such as top-notch sound systems, GPS, TV, cameras etc. are now part of the options available on many of these Japanese car models. Most of the Japanese cars if compared to the similar bracket car models are very light in weight and there is even a special group of cars in Japan known as k-cars derived from the word “Kei” that means lightweight. Generally such cars do not exceed 660 cc and are quite popular in Japanese market. These k-cars are available in 5 seater models as well as 2 seater sports models.


Demand of new Japanese cars is on a rise and if we have a look at the demand of used Japanese cars then one would be astonished to see the figures. Recently the car dealers in Asian countries are looking for a lot of small cars less than 1000cc. There is a huge customer base in Asia for Japanese cars, since these cars have a very good design and the condition of these used cars are pretty good. Most of the Japanese car owners get their cars serviced well in time and also keep their cars immaculate. Reports say that the production time spent on each vehicle by the top three Japanese car companies is far less than the production time compared to the top three American companies. Nissan is the fastest in the production time and takes almost 17.25 hours to produce one car where as Honda takes 20.65 hours and Toyota takes 20.69 hours. The American companies take on an average almost 5.5 + hours more than these Japanese car manufacturers. So, one can very well imagine the amount of production taking place for these Japanese cars is greater.


Many Japanese car companies manufacture their cars here in America. Therefore you’re not exporting american jobs by buying many Japanese cars, while by shopping at Wal-Mart or other big chains you are.


All in all, Japanese cars are a very good option for a car owner.








This article provided by ModernImage.net


For car graphics and decals visit ModernImage. Your Source for body graphics with over 5000 combinations of patterns and colors. Custom graphics and race logos also available.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Auto Industry's 10 Best and Worst Cars for Depreciation


Cars, unlike parcels of land, do not appreciate in value over time. They normally depreciate. Moreover, vehicle owners have to know the cars that hold value best. Which cars do not easily depreciate? According to the Consumer Reports' depreciation ratings, import brands lead in car resale value while the domestic models are on the adverse position.


It was found out that those affordably priced cars like the Toyota Prius hybrid, Scion vehicles and Mini Cooper hold their value better than sports and luxury vehicles in the market. The best cars are made by either Japanese or European nameplates. On the other hand, the worst cars with high depreciation are mostly domestic brands, which are commonly used by rental companies and fleets.


The best and worst cars in depreciation are rated by Consumer Reports based on the difference between the MSRP of a 2004 model when new and its present retail value. The average depreciation was approximately 45 percent over the first 3 years. Those cars that belong to the top 10 are above average while those at the bottom are below average. The Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) of the cars were rounded to the nearest $500.


The best car depreciating rating was given to Toyota Prius. As a fact, there is an overwhelming demand for this particular car. Toyota parts for Prius were further improved by several upgrades that include extra batteries, stealth mode, chargers and solar panels. A used Prius can be had at approximately $22,000. The top 10 best cars for depreciation are Toyota Prius, Mini Cooper ($17,500 to $25,500), Scion xB ($14,000 to $15,000), BMW M3 ($49,000 to $56,500), Lexus RX ($36,000 to $46,000), BMW 6-Series ($72,000 to $79,000), Lexus GX ($46,500), Acura TSX ($30,000), Scion xA ($13,000 to $13,500), and Honda Civic & Civic Hybrid ($14,500 to $24,500).


The worst car in depreciation is Ford Freestar, which has replaced Ford Windstar. Last year, the sales figure of the car was down by 20 percent. Now it has a depreciation value of $19,500 to $29,500 far below the average. Next to Ford Freestar are Ford Crown Victoria ($24,500 to $27,500), Buick Rainier ($31,500 to $33,500), Lincoln Town Car ($42,000 to $50,500), Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan ($18,500 to $27,500), Mercury Grand Marquis ($25,000 to $29,500), GMC Envoy ($26,500 to $37,000), Ford Explorer ($26,500-$36,000), Buick Rendezvous ($25,000 to $28,500), and Chrysler Town & Country ($21,500 to $36,000).








Mark Clarkson is a 35 year old marketing consultant for a leading auto parts store. This native of Denver is also an offroad enthusiast. You can visit Toyota parts for Prius for more information.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Diecast Model Cars - A History

Since the early 1920s Frank Hornby had been making increasingly complex train sets. One of the sets, Meccano Set No 21, was embellished with six diecast models, consisting of a motor truck, a sports coupe, a delivery van, a sports car, a farm tractor, and an Army tank. These were the first Dinky models, issued under the "Meccano Modelled Miniatures" label, as Set No. 22.

These early diecast cars were fairly crude by modern standards, being cast from an alloy with high lead content which didn't lend itself to a high degree of detail. Also they didn't attempt to depict genuine vehicles, although the sports car bore a resemblance to the S.S.1, a popular make of the period and a precursor of the Jaguar.

In terms of scale, they were not very well suited to the train sets which they were intended to adorn.

It soom became apparent, however, that there was a healthy market for such models, and it wasn't long before individual diecast replicas based on real cars and trucks were produced and sold separately. Dinky Set 30 was based on the Rolls Royce, Set 36A on the Armstrong Siddely, 36B a Bentley, and 36F was a Salmon sports car.

With the passage of time the quality of detail and reproduction greatly improved. The Dinky sets had diecast alloy bodies and tinplate radiators and rubber tyres. The later models also came with drivers and passengers. The Armstrong Siddely had a footman and chauffeur. Just before the Second World War some superb military models were produced, including tanks with catterpillar tracks and rotating turrets.

Few models from that era have survived in acceptable condition, and examples in good condition are extremely collectable - pre-war Dinkies can fetch prices up to $1000 in auction.

In the 1950s, new production techniques heralded a new era in the history of diecast model cars. Lesney, famous for their splendid Coronation Coach, and Corgi, ("the ones with the windows"), entered the market to provide competition to Dinky.

This new generation of diecast vehicles, with finer detail, better running gear, and better color finish, leads up to the present day, where millions of precision diecast replica models are produced, at quite affordable prices for the collector.

For beautiful, precision-built die-cast motor car replicas, visit diecast model cars

The Comfort That a Car Can Provide

Many people today are willing to invest a lot of money only to have a car of their own. In today’s world, cars can be classified as one of the needs of an individual. Why is it so? The reason behind this is that cars can provide comfort, protection and convenience to people when they travel. Today, as our technology improves, the cars that most of us use are also improving. Now, the cars’ purpose is not only to give convenience to the people in terms of traveling, but it can also provide comfort and entertainment. Most newly made cars have some entertainment systems contingent with them.

There are cars that have DVD players installed in them with a matching sub-woofer to enhance their sound. There are also cars that have LCD monitors mounted to them to provide additional entertainment to the passengers. There are also some cars that are computer operated and all the commands are done with only a push of the button. This is how technology affects the usefulness of cars.

These cars do not only provide us the comfort that we want, but it can also provide us the protection that we need. Cars’ advancement in its technology does not end with comfort and entertainment. Cars also provides us the protection from accidents. These cars have seatbelts installed in them to protect the driver and the passengers in cases of car crashes. But aside from seatbelts, these cars also have airbags for additional caution and protection. Some cars are built with a durable body to withstand collisions. There are even cars that have bullet proof windshields built for the protection of the passengers.

This is how modern and advanced are the cars we have right now. But these cars, because of their characteristics, most of the time can cost a lot of money. And because of their cost, they should have proper car insurance protection. In this changing world, the cars’ services to the people also improve. In the near future, we can expect more convenience, more comfort and more protection that these cars can provide to all of us. The comfort that a car can give is based on the technology that made it.

Clive Green is a writer with expertise in the fields of self-improvement, real estate and finance. Look here for free car insurance quotes.