What Type of Vehicle is Right for You?

Deciding on the right vehicle to buy can be difficult. The buyer needs to consider a number of things when deciding between a car, van or truck. These tips will help you determine which vehicle best suits your needs.

Over 60 million cars were produced in 2012. This means that over 165,000 vehicles rolled off assembly lines every day of the year and headed towards car dealerships. This number is expected to increase annually into the foreseeable future. Choosing the right type of vehicle is not always an easy decision. Auto manufacturers have recently started to blur the lines between the different types of cars, vans and trucks that are now available. Anyone looking for a new vehicle will need to think about how it will be used. There are several areas to look at when deciding between a car, van or truck.

Fuel Efficiency

One of the first considerations should be the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. This is especially important for families that will be driving long distances each week. Cars currently have the best fuel efficiency of any vehicle. Trucks tend to sacrifice efficiency for performance. New injection technologies, fuel mixtures and computerized optimizations are increasing the mileage of nearly all but the heaviest vehicles. Smaller vans can achieve close to the same mileage as a sedan when not loaded to full capacity.

Cargo Capacity

Some thought must be given to the cargo space available. A car has the least amount of space. Vans have a large amount of interior cargo space that can often be reconfigured by repositioning or removing the passenger seats. Trucks have the largest cargo capacity although the open bed of most models will require some protection when hauling groceries or other light items. Drivers who need to move long, bulky or very heavy items on a weekly or monthly basis will want to consider a van or truck.

Passenger Seating

Standard sedans are one of the most popular types of cars sold in the world today because they provide a balance between passenger space and cargo space. Families who need to transport many people every day will want to purchase a van. Vans can hold anywhere from two to six more people than a standard car. Cars are good for smaller families who do not car pool. Trucks can normally hold only between two and four people depending on the design of the cab and provide the least amount of passenger space.

Parking Space

The physical size of the vehicle that is chosen might be an issue for some people. Cars have no problems on the roads or even in indoor storage spaces. A large truck might exceed the clearance of a smaller garage or certain bridges in rural areas. They can also be difficult to park comfortably in a crowded parking lot. Vans vary greatly in size. Some are nearly the same size as cars and will have no problems parking or driving into a garage. Others are much longer than a car and could present problems in tight spaces.

Towing

Families who have a recreational vehicle, a trailer or a rack for a boat or bicycles will want to look at the towing capacity of the vehicle. Trucks have the highest towing capacity and can even be outfitted with different hitches such as a ball mount to pull very heavy loads. Vans sometimes have hitches attached and can tow moderate loads. The towing capacity of a car varies greatly between manufacturers and models. Drivers who will need to tow a trailer or other item should check with the car dealership to determine whether the vehicle can handle the weight.

Article courtesy of: http://www.jorgeamortecedores.com/what-to-consider-when-choosing-between-a-car-van-or-truck

Car from the Future

No one likes walking up to the pump and spending over $3 a gallon for gas. But what if you could run your car on something else, something that is everywhere and inexpensive to get? What if you could be driving a car that ran on nothing but air?! It seems too good to be true, almost like something out of science fiction, but...

“That's what Peugeot-Citroen says it will be selling: A hybrid car that runs on a combination of gasoline and air. Digital Trends has an explainer on how they think it works, but they admit they were looking at poorly translated press releases. It seems to use hydraulic power to keep the car running and powering it up to speeds of 43 mph.

In recent years, volatile gasoline prices and worries about long-term supply have sent consumers and entrepreneurs alike searching for alternate fuels and alternate energy sources to power their cars.

Companies all over the world are looking for the newest fuel that will power our vehicles in the future, under the belief that at some point, oil will start running out. In fact, here's a look at some wacky, yet plausible, fuel alternatives that are in the process of development right now that could eventually find their way into your car's gas tank.

Peugeot isn't the first company to think about using air. A small British company is making fuel out of thin air, developing a process that uses air and electricity to manufacture a synthetic fuel that has already powered a Lotus in test drivers.

This one is still a ways away. The company behind the technology, Air Fuel Synthesis, wants to build a full-scale refinery, but that could take 15 years. Still, don't bet against it. Britain's deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, recently visited AFG's testing facility and came away saying, "I feel I've glimpsed the future."

More info and a video here: http://aol.it/10EeWkK

The 10 Most Dangerous Distracted Driving Habits

It’s easy to get distracted. But one of the worst places for distractions to happen is behind the
wheel. Read about the 10 most dangerous distracted driving habits so you can avoid them and keep
yourself and other drivers on the road safe.

It's probably safe to reason the 18-year-old man didn't leave the house with intentions to kill someone that day. As he went about his business, he casually held his car's steering wheel in one hand and a cell phone in the other. He certainly hadn't planned on running that red light. That was when a semi-tractor trailer swerved to avoid clobbering his car. Instead of hitting the negligent driver, the rig plowed directly into the vehicle carrying Jacy Good and her parents, Jean and Jay Good. The trio was returning from Jacy's 2008 graduation from Muhlenberg College near Allentown, Pa. 

Jacy's parents were killed instantly. She was critically injured and endured agonizing rehabilitation sessions to regain her speech and her ability to do just the simplest of tasks. The Goods' story is just one of thousands each year of the pain inflicted by distracted driving. 

It's no wonder that "distracted driving" has been called "the new drunk driving" [source: The Economist]. 

Distractions inside our vehicles abound. For many professionals, their car, truck or SUV is truly their office on wheels. For younger drivers, the car continues to serve as a social hub as it has for decades. But now vehicles are not just a mobile party; they've also become a spot to place calls and send texts -- all too often with deadly consequences. 

Every day, distracted driving kills more than 15 people and injures more than 1,200 [source: Centers for Disease Control].

Article Courtesy of: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/accidents-hazardous-conditions/
10-most-dangerous-distracted-driving-habits.htm