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New car and/or tire buyers. Read the following from Tire Tech, it could prevent/save you from wrapping around a pole!
Tires are comprised of many layers of rubber, steel and fabric. Due to these different components, your new tires require a break-in period to ensure that they deliver their normal ride quality and maximum performance. As tires are cured, a "release lubricant is applied to prevent them from sticking in their mold". Some of the "lubricant stays on the surface of your tires", "reducing traction until it is worn away". Five hundred miles of easy acceleration, cornering and braking will allow the mold release lubricant to wear off, allowing the other tire components to begin working together. It is also important to note that your old tires probably had very little tread depth remaining when you felt it was time to replace them. As any autocrosser or racer who has tread rubber shaved off of his tires will tell you, low tread depth tires respond quicker."Don't be surprised if your new tires are a little slower to respond (even if you use the exact same tire as before). Their new, full depth brings with it a little more tread squirm until they wear down. NOTE: Be careful whenever you explore the capabilities of your new tires. Remember that every tire requires a break-in period for optimum performance. |
Car dealers can use your drivers license to access your credit report!
Considering all the time we spend fretting about protecting our Social Security numbers, this may come as a shock: Your SSN isn’t necessary for a car salesperson to surreptitiously peek at your credit report. He or she has the technological ability to unlock your file using only the information on your driver’s license. “An auto dealership checking a consumer’s credit through TransUnion is not required to have the individual’s social security number (SSN) in order to submit the request,” says Steven Katz, a TU spokesman. Does the dealer need your permission to do that? “The dealer does not need ‘permission’; rather, it needs only certify a permissible purpose (such as extension of credit),” says Katz. Equifax told us the same thing about the ability to get your credit report without your SSN, but stressed that anyone who pulls your file must get your permission to do so. Experian did not respond to our query. TransUnion prefers to get the SSN, because it more reliably helps locate your exact credit file, but it’s not absolutely necessary. The credit report access keys on the license are your name, address, and date of birth, all of which are essentially public information. The driver’s license number itself is not relevant, since the credit bureaus don’t use that as an identifier. Car dealers commonly ask for and photocopy your driver’s license before they’ll let you take one of their cars out for a test drive, says Charles Cyrill, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association. If you encounter this situation and are worried that your privacy may be compromised, explicitly tell the salesperson that you are not authorizing use of your license to pull your credit report. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, a car dealer must always get your permission to look at your credit report. He or she can get that permission in writing—when you sign a release or a loan application—or by implication, without your signature, if there is a “legitimate business need.” What does that mean? According to the FTC, simply shopping around, checking deals, and even taking test drives does not constitute a legitimate business need by itself. Rather, it’s only when you’ve gone further along into an obvious purchase transaction that your actions qualify as business that possibly involves a need to check your credit, according to a 1998 FTC staff opinion letter. “Only in those circumstances where it is clear both to the consumer and to the dealer that the consumer is actually initiating the purchase or lease of a specific vehicle and, in addition, the dealer has a legitimate business need for consumer report information may the dealer obtain a report without written permission,” says the FTC opinion. |
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came across this certain auto repair online. would just like to ask if this is similar with the other shops i've seen around this forum? i heard this also a good site for car repairs and services. thanks for any response.
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It's the 350Z, not the 370, but not bad info., nor good!
http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4204.pdf |
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Question... Why is this thread under suspension and brakes? I just stumbled on this, shouldn't this be moved to General Discussion or something else appropriate? There is some great info here that others may be missing out on.
Just a thought.... |
Agreed!
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Oakley sunglasses a little bit of a discount:
The Oakley Military and Government Sales program is for active duty military, reserve, federal and local law enforcement, fire, EMS and those holding military retiree credentials. https://secure.usstandardissue.com/Index.cfm |
Top Car Dealer Scams To Avoid
1. The Ambush Beware of being shuffled among a never-ending team of auto pros--you shouldn't have to talk to the sales guy out on the lot, the sales manager, the finance manager, the floor manager and the used-car manager just to buy a car. Pick one to deal with and stick with him. 2. The Confiscation Whatever you do, don't give up the keys to your current vehicle--even if the "used-car manager" asks for them to asses the car for its trade-in value, even if the "sales manager" asks for them as collateral while you take a test drive. If negotiations should go amiss, it's impossible to walk out on the deal if you have no way to start your car. 3. The Bum Rush Salesmen love to hurry you into a deal today. They'll try all kinds of things: On-the-spot delivery, haggling over details, one-time offers. Don't let them pressure and bully you into an impulse buy. Show up knowing what kind of car you need and what you can afford to pay--and if they can't provide that, leave. 4. The Buried Bill Read over final invoices carefully before signing anything, in order to make sure you're not charged for something you didn't request. Alarms, extra cleaning, "prepping," rust-proofing, fabric protection and paint sealant are all common add-ons that sometimes appear on the invoice unknown to the buyer. Hint: Consider doing the VIN (Vehicle Information Number) etching yourself. Dealers charge hundreds of dollars to do it, but a home-etching kit costs as little as $20. 5. The Bait and Switch Dealers may advertise one model in the paper, loaded with extras for a reasonable price, but then have only a lesser model (with less overall value) on the lot when interested parties show up to buy the one they saw in the paper. Best way to avoid this trap: The minute you realize the con, walk away. Pay Attention to the Little Things There are roughly 10,000 new- and used-car dealers in North America accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and an additional 15,000 that provide repair and service. While the total number of consumer complaints in North America was up 10% overall last year (cellular phone companies, television stations and banks topped the list) complaints at new-car dealerships declined 2.4%. More than 84% of those complaints were resolved, according to BBB data. "Our stats show that complaints against car dealers are kind of a wash from the previous year," says Alison Southwick, a spokeswoman for the BBB. "It's when you see sudden sharp increases, like 42% for banks, that you know you've got a problem." Still, complaints about used-car salesmen and repair shops were up 2.5% and 9.5% last year, respectively. The used-car industry has been doing especially poorly as of late--complaints about used-car dealers increased 18% from 2007 to 2008. What's more, one in five shoppers who leave a dealership without buying something leave because they received poor treatment or had problems with "pricing games, sales pressure tactics or discourteous treatment," according to a 2009 report from J.D. Power. And dealer traffic volumes are expected to decline by 20% by 2013, causing a 25% drop in revenue that will force car dealers to adapt to an "increasingly difficult environment and try new methods to keep customers coming back," J.D. Power says. Women buyers are particularly important to dealers. According to data from Ward's Auto, an automotive industry news and analysis firm, 85% of all purchase decisions are made or heavily influenced by women. But CNW Marketing Research Inc. reports that just 8% of U.S. dealerships are female-owned. Expert Advice To determine which car-sales tactics can be the most harmful, we culled advice from the experts at Better Business Bureau, J.D. Power and Associates, and AAA to come up with the best strategy to avoid getting ripped off. One important note: These scams aren't huge conspiracies that trick prospective drivers out of thousands of dollars. Instead, they're small corners cut, intimidation applied or minor untruths told that add up to one toxic car-buying experience. Hidden fees, for instance, could mean a difference of a couple hundred bucks, at most. But a couple hundred dollars is a lot for many consumers. The scam is easy to avoid: Just read carefully over any invoice or contract before you sign it (alarms, extra cleaning, "prepping," rust-proofing, fabric protection and paint sealant are all common but unnecessary add-ons that sometimes appear on the invoice unknown to the buyer). And consider doing the VIN (Vehicle Information Number) etching yourself. Dealers charge hundreds of dollars to do it, but a home-etching kit costs as little as $20. The same attention to detail goes for less-than-honest negotiation tactics. "Finance managers" will often start the process by talking about monthly payments rather than the total cost of a vehicle. But by stretching the payments over a long period of time, long-term loans coax people into buying cars they can't afford--and the car will have almost fully depreciated by the time it's paid for. Instead, choose the shortest-term car loan available. "Consumers should do some research on the vehicle or vehicles they are interested in purchasing or leasing," J.D. Power's Tews says. "They should talk to the loan officer at their bank or credit union before going to the dealership so they know how much they can spend and understand their financing options and can compare them to the options provided by the captive provider." A general rule of thumb is that a car payment should cost no more than 12% to 15% of your after-tax monthly income. Don't mention any price at all until you've selected a vehicle to buy, and then ask the salesperson for his or her very best offer. Don't discuss add-ons like warranties or trade-in prices until you've agreed on the price for the car itself--that will only muddle how much you're actually paying for it. The good news is that these days, buyers have substantial negotiation power at their fingertips--which will help with fending off a bait-and-switch or a lemon sale. Online sources like Autotrader.com, Kelley Blue Book and the National Automobile Dealers Association can significantly narrow down the list of what type of car might work best and provide a reasonable price range. And the Better Business Bureau Web site lists accredited car dealers by region as well. If all else fails, use common sense, Gerhard says. If something seems amiss, walk away. There will always be another car, another day. "It still is buyer beware, especially in these times," he says. "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." |
Nissan Custom Fit Auto "Snow" Shade
Nissanhelp.com | Custom Fit Auto-Snow-Shade |
GoPro’s HD Motorsports HERO is the world’s highest performance 1080p HD on-board video and still photo camera.
GoPro Official Store: Wearable Digital Cameras for Sports |
Brake bleeding-you do not need a second person
Actron/Vacuum pump brake bleed kit (CP7835) | Vacuum Pump Brake Bleed Kit | AutoZone.com |
Interesting.
Auto Sales |
Auto Warranties, Routine Maintenance, and Repairs:
Is Using the Dealer a Must? Auto Warranties, Routine Maintenance, and Repairs: Is Using the Dealer a Must? |
This is cool, it gives prices of models&makes, mpg, insurance cost, maintenance costs,re-sale value-
Kiplinger.com |
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Compare national, regional and local car prices to find what others paid for new cars. View comprehensive price reports to find the best new car deal.
New Cars Pricing and Comparisons Local, Regional and National Car Price Reports at TrueCar |
World Motor Racing Circuits
e-Tracks: World Motor Racing Circuits |
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Quote:
"Nissan Sport magazine has merged with Grassroots Motorsports magazine (GRM) effective January 1, 2013. Nissan Sport is in the process of liquidating all assets and will shut down permanently after settling past publishing debts. GRM will fulfill the full length of each paid Nissan Sport subscription. No further action from past subscribers is required, as they will begin receiving their first issues of GRM beginning in 2013. The ownership and staff of Nissan Sport appreciate the support of our loyal readers, advertisers and supporters during our six-year run. GRM expects to offer increased coverage of Datsun, Nissan and Infiniti stories in the future. Many of the features that would have been published in Nissan Sport will now be folded into the pages of GRM: grassrootsmotorsports.com " |
This is my new Google~!
Thank you :D |
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