Auto Transport Blog for National Transport LLC » Auto Transportation

Cool Find of the Week: Mad Cow Motorcycle

Janelle — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:50 +0000

This cool find, courtesy of AutoMotto, looks like a motorcycle…or does it?

The above picture looks more like art on wheels than it does a motorcycle. However, apparently, it is quite interactive! The brainchild and creative genius of Billie Grace Lynn, this skeleton motorcycle incorporates the use of cow bones as well as a bicycle frame and electric motor within the cow ribs. And while it may sound somewhat gruesome, this eclectic find is actually quite eco-friendly.

The bigger question is whether or not a vehicle like this would even be ridable. Either way, it’s interesting to see different concepts for motorcycles floating around out there. It also brings up the issue of safety. Motorcyclists are at a far higher risk than regular motorists for becoming involved in vehicular accidents. Because they are driving a significantly smaller vehicle and also due to the fact that they are not protected on either side by the enclosed walls of a regular vehicle, they are at far greater risk for injury.

Even if your state doesn’t have a law that requires you to wear a helmet or protective gear while riding, it would probably be in your best interest to do so anyway. Just a friendly suggestion from the rest of us here at National Transport.

Safe riding!

Video: 2010 Ford Mustang SHELBY GT500 Review

Janelle — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:00:11 +0000

If you feel the need for speed, then you will probably want to take a second look at the 2010 Ford Mustang. To view all of the specs on this vehicle, you can visit the Kelley Blue Book site here. However, a quick breakdown will look something like this:

2-door Mustang Coupe (V6 Manual Transmission)- 18 mpg City | 26 mpg Hwy

2-door Mustang Premium Coupe (V6 Manual Transmission)- 18 mpg City | 26 mpg Hwy

2-door Mustang Convertible (V6 Manual Transmission)- 18 mpg City | 26 mpg Hwy

2-door Mustang Premium Convertible (V8 Manual Transmission)- 16 mpg City | 24 mpg Hwy

Video: How to Avoid Auto Repair Ripoffs (5 of 5)

Janelle — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:00:06 +0000

The following automotive video was made by the folks over at Auto Repair Help and is geared towards women and men who don’t know that much about cars.

European Car Market Gets a Boost

Janelle — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:37 +0000

According to a February article published in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the European car market may be getting a bit of a boost thanks to fleet renewals and scrapping incentives.

The first scrappage program was launched in Germany back in the beginning of 2009 in which car owners were encouraged to get rid of their old cars or “scrap” their old cars in exchange for purchasing newer vehicles. The thought behind this was that in exchange for a less fuel efficient, more pollutant-prone vehicle, people could instead buy more environmentally friendly vehicles. After Germany experienced success with the program, other European countries began to follow suit.

And it’s working. The WSJ published the following statement:

“Germany was the only major market to decline, with results reflecting the discontinuation of the country’s fleet renewal program in the autumn of last year,” the European Automobile Manufacturers Association said in a statement. Registrations, a measure of sales, last month climbed 14% in France, 18% in Spain, 30% in the U.K. and 30% in Italy. [source]

Kudos to Europe for figuring out something that actually works. Now, how about the United States? Any suggestions?

The True Cost to Drive Your Car

Janelle — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:14 +0000

With so many car buyers focused on getting rid of our gas guzzling SUVs and trading it all in for a more fuel efficient vehicle, some may be surprised to learn that the part of the sticker price where it indicates how many miles per gallon you are supposed to get may actually not be true. In fact, it is sometimes WAY off from what you really end up paying in gasoline expenses over the course of the year. But how can you tell whether the mpg rating is off for the car that you are interested in purchasing?

At Edmunds.com, they came up with a True Fuel Consumption Calculator (TFC) that calculates how much fuel you are really saving over the cost of the year. In order to get the most out of this handy dandy tool, it helps if you know what kind of a driver you are. For example, I know that I put a ton of miles on my vehicle each year because I drive back and forth to visit my immediate family (who live out of state). Therefore, having a tool like this is really convenient. It can also be a lifesaver if you are getting ready to purchase a new car and are concerned about fuel efficiency.

Burning Up Gas…and Money

According to Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor over at Edmunds.com, the current system that is in place to measure a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by its miles per gallon (mpg), creates an inaccurate perception about fuel consumption overall. He explains:

The current system of measuring a vehicle’s efficiency by mpg creates an inaccurate perception about fuel consumption. Because as the mpg rating of a vehicle rises, it appears that it does so proportionately. What this means is if you were to trade in a car getting 12.5 mpg for one getting 25 mpg, it would obviously deliver fuel economy that was twice as good. But if you later traded that car getting 25 mpg for one getting 50 mpg, that exchange would not save you twice as much.

Here’s why: Imagine three cars lined up side by side. They all drive 100 miles. Since each car has a different fuel economy rating, they each burn different amounts of gas to travel that same distance. [source]

So, what does this mean to you, the driver? According to Reed, it means the following:

Trading in a gas guzzler for a midsize sedan provides substantial savings.
Trading in a midsize sedan for a high-mileage hybrid would hardly be worth the expense in fuel (especially when taxes and other fees are considered).
Fuel economy improvements from 12-20 mpg are significant.
While extremely high-mileage hybrids provide eco bragging rights, they don’t save much more gas than midsize sedans

For Women: How to Avoid Auto Repair Ripoffs (Part 3 of 5)

Janelle — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:43 +0000

There is a reason why we pay auto mechanics, and it is because they are generally more knowledgeable as well as willing to get dirty-all in an effort to make sure that our vehicles continue to run and perform smoothly. However, this doesn’t mean that we can be just as knowledgeable as they are when we bring our vehicles in to be serviced. That being said, it is an unfortunate fact that many women are taken advantage of on a daily basis when they bring their vehicles in for even the most routine of services. Knowledge is power, and if you know more about how your car functions, then you will be better able to make sure that you don’t fall victim to unscrupulous auto mechanics. The following video is the part 3 in five-part series on how to avoid auto repair ripoffs.

10 Best Places to Live For Pet Lovers

Janelle — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:00:22 +0000

Recently, one of my friends adopted a puppy to make a nice addition to their family. However, they aren’t the only ones making moves like this. In fact, a good chunk of American families own at least one dog, cat or other animal. That being said, if you consider yourself an animal lover, then you may want to consider the following list of places in which Pet Lovers thrive.

According to an article published in U.S. News, the following cities/states take the cake when it comes to finding the perfect environment to raise your furry friend.

Ellicott City, Md.
Rocky Point, N.Y.
Auburn, Ala.
Butte, Mont.
Yankton, S.D.
Lewiston, Idaho
Glasgow, Ky.
Aiken, S.C.
Flower Mound, Texas
Wolf Trap, Va.

Besides finding the most ideal place for your pet to live, don’t forget other things such as traveling with your pet. For instance, just because you live in a pet friendly area doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to travel freely outside of the area that you live in with your pet. Cats typically do not enjoy being taken out of their environment, for instance. Therefore, unless you are moving into a new home, you are better off having someone stop by your apartment to feed the cat, etc. OR you can board it with your local vet hospital. With dogs, travel is even harder because unlike cats who can be left for a few days with plenty of water and food. A dog needs to be fed, exercised AND walked so that he/she may use the bathroom.

Whatever you decide to do, just make sure that you always put your pet’s needs first, and you should be good to go!

Hummer Skepticism

Janelle — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:23 +0000

In a news article published back in January, the China Automotive Review displayed skepticism over whether GM’s decision to sell Hummer to a Chinese company would be approved.

Are people seriously even driving Hummers anymore? After all, the Hummer is notorious for being right there in the top ten gas guzzling vehicles of all time. This is also one of the major reasons why it hasn’t been able to sell ever since people wised up after the economy turned south.

According to the news article, the reason that GM is trying to generously sell the Hummer is all part of a major plan to restructure its failing company (i.e. Saturn, Saab and Pontiac are all heading out the door). The article goes on to state:

In October, China-based Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. reached a tentative deal with GM to acquire the Hummer brand.

GM said at the time that it hoped the deal would be finalized by the end of 2009 or early 2010. Last week, GM Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre indicated that the Hummer deal faces a Jan. 31 deadline to close. [source]

If you ask me, it’s time to let bygones be bygones. No one within their right mind is even thinking in the direction of sport utility vehicles during a time like this!

For Women: How to Avoid Auto Repair Ripoffs (Part 2 of 5)

Janelle — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Every day, countless numbers of unsuspecting women are taken advantage of when they bring their vehicles in to be serviced by a mechanic or dealership, and most of this is due to their lack of knowledge about how their own vehicle works. The following video is part two of an ongoing five-part series on how to avoid auto repair ripoffs.

10 Questions to Consider When Buying a New Car

Janelle — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:02:29 +0000

Buying a new car should be something that is exciting. After all, you’ve arrived and are finally able to own that brand new car that you’ve had your eye on FOREVER. But before you consider the vehicle, consider the following questions:

What kind of car do you need?
How much can you afford?
Should you lease or buy your next car?
Have you considered all vehicles in that class?
Have you considered all of the costs of ownership?
Have you researched your options?
Have you scheduled an appointment for a test drive?
Do you know how to test drive a car and what’s involved?
What happens after the test drive?
Have you looked over the buyers cycle checklist?

When you are preparing to purchase a new car, you should never buy a car that you have an emotional attachment to because it will only wind up causing you heartache in the end. For example, I chose to purchase a sport utility vehicle because I liked the commercials and thought that I would look good in one. However, what I didn’t factor in was practicality such as the fact that I am a high mileage driver. This also helped to make the next decision for me NOT to lease a vehicle since I knew that I wouldn’t be able to keep my miles down.

When you become emotionally attached to one type of car or vehicle, it is often difficult to see any other vehicles outside of that little box you have built. If you have to, bring a friend or family member to the dealership or have them sit down and help you sort through ads online in order to keep you focused, grounded and on track to purchase the vehicle that is more suited to your current needs.

When you test drive a vehicle, pay close attention to any defects such as alignment, tire tread or other wear and tear as you are driving. These are things you will want to ask the salesperson about when you arrive back at the dealership.

Perhaps most importantly, however, is the fact that you should know what you can realistically afford to own. To help you in this regard, check the Edmunds financial calculator to help you estimate what your monthly payments would be. You can also go to Edmunds’ finance calculators in order to calculate your monthly auto loan payment versus your monthly lease payment.