Autosavings

Now wait a minuteare they called hubcaps or wheel covers? Is there a difference between the two? And while were at it, why did they start using hubcaps to begin with? These and similar questions have baffled the great minds of the world for many years. So to get to the bottom of these questions, its best to examine the long, tortuous and yes, actually interesting history of the automobile hubcap.

Car enthusiasts have had a running love affair with hubcaps for decades. Some say that the art deco styling of the famous Chrysler Building in New York is a tribute to the hubcap. But, how did hubcaps come about in the first place? Well, originally there was a functional necessity for the cap. See at first, autos were made with wooden spokes like a buggy or wagon wheel. The wooden spokes connected the outer steel rim to the center hub which contained the wheel bearing. The wheel bearing was packed with grease. Something was needed to cover the center hub which could keep the dust out and the grease in. What was needed was a hub cap. Some people today actually spell it hub cap rather than the technically correct spelling of hubcap. So this hub cap (which could have also been called a dust cover) came into existence strictly for functional reasons, but it was a small center cap designed to go over the center hub leaving the wooden spokes exposed. Unfortunately, the wooden spoke wheels were not long for this world. Although they were varnished and sometimes even decorated with pin-striping when new, they would soon begin to age and crack and look pretty lousy. You could always hear from a distance a car with aging wooden spoke wheels creaking down the road.

In the late twenties and early thirties, steel wire-spoke wheels began to replace the wooden spoke wheels. These also required the center cap over the hub, which still left the steel welded wire spokes exposed. By the thirties, function gave way to style and decoration. The hubcaps became larger and stamped with the auto manufacturers name in brass or stainless steel and were utilized as a decorative design feature, but still covered only the hub. The wire-spoke wheels were a problem because they were hard to keep clean and made an annoying wind noise as the cars would go down the street.

In 1934, Cadillac fitted its new model with a stainless steel disc which was held in place by the screw-on center hubcap which fit over the top of the disc. The disc actually covered most of the wheel, covering up the wire-spokes completely. This new styling feature gave the wheel a luxurious streamlined look.

So where does the term wheel covers come in? In 1938, Cadillac began using pressed steel wheels similar to what is used today. They covered the wheels with luxurious full sized hubcapsor wheel covers. So the term wheel cover was born, but for some reason the term hubcap has never yielded its top position as the most commonly used term for that thing-a-ma-jig that covers up the wheel of a car. The important thing is that Cadillac made the full sized wheel cover the symbol of luxury and class. Soon, hot rodders began to seek out the old Cadillac wheel covers for their 1930-1950s custom rods. Probably the most classic Cadillac hubcap was the heavy, brilliantly chromed 1950 wheel cover nicknamed the Sombrero because its profile resembled a sombrero hat. Cadillac owners soon began to realize that their hubcaps were very much in demand. They would usually figure this out when they would go to get in their car and happen to notice that they no longer had any hubcapsouch; another victim of hub capping (hubcap stealing) which was the sad state of affairs in the forties and fifties.

Youve probably heard the term Moon (or racing disc) hubcap which became popular in the fifties. Interestingly enough, the first spun aluminum Moon wheel cover was not invented in the fifties. Bob Rufi, the fastest man alive in 1940, used spun aluminum hubcaps from, of all things, a WWI Jenny war plane to help streamline his 140 mph record breaking speed machine at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Early drag racers used to soup up their cars and on weekends drive them to the drags. Drag racing soon became as American as apple pie. As cars got faster, some safety issues arose. The hubcaps had a nasty habit of flying off and giving unprepared spectators a new part in their hair. New rules were instated that required drag racers to remove their hubcaps before racing, for safety reasons and also for proper inspection of the wheels. Racers began just leaving their hubcaps off after the drags and driving around town like that. Soon, seeing a car with no hubcaps came to mean drag racer. Drag racers began painting their wheels and decorating them with chrome lug nuts and chrome dust covers (center caps). Some believe this led to chrome wheels followed by the mag (magnesium) and aluminum wheels which became very popular in the sixties.

Finally, in the 1970s auto manufacturers began fitting their new vehicles with ABS plastic hubcaps. These wheel covers look like chrome or brushed aluminum caps. By the 1980s, ABS plastic wheel covers virtually replaced the use of steel hubcaps by auto manufacturers. Although plastic might sound cheap or flimsy, the fact is, ABS plastic is rugged and durable and most importantly, it is light. The lighter the hubcap, the less likely that it will fly off. Now, you need to know that some plastic wheel covers made by auto manufacturers are not that great at all; they fly off too easily. Being sturdy, rugged and light alone is not enough. The wheel cover needs to have a good solid retention system. The best is an all steel 360 degree retention ring that can really grip the steel wheel and help the hubcap stay on the wheel.

Now that you have become an expert on the world history of hubcaps, you can dazzle all of your friends at the next party with your amazing knowledge of the mysterious hubcap. Well, maybe not dazzle themmaybe more like not completely bore them to death. Hopefully, you enjoyed the overview and actually learned something along the way.

An accident can take seconds to occur but overseeing the entire claims repair process may take days. Traditionally, drivers have been responsible for reporting the claim, arranging for the rental car, getting estimates on the repair work, checking with the shop to see when the work will be done, inspecting the car, picking up the car and returning the rental car.

Fortunately, this does not have to be the case and that’s why it’s a smart idea to investigate car insurance companies carefully.

For example, The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies offers drivers an accident claims repair process that takes only minutes-not days-of their time. Here’s how the process works:

• The customer calls to report a claim at any time of the day or night and brings the vehicle to a specially designed service center.

• In about 15 minutes, the customer is in a rental car, if needed, with the assurance that the company will update the status of his or her claim.

• A claims representative prepares a repair estimate and contacts an auto body shop that has met strict quality requirements. The insurance company and the shop reach agreement on the cost of the repairs; the shop transports the vehicle back to the facility and the repair process begins.

• When the work is finished, the vehicle is returned to the service center where representatives from the insurance company and the body shop inspect the quality of repairs.

• Once the insurance company is satisfied with the repairs, the customer is called to schedule a pickup. Repairs are inspected and the customer drives off with a written document, saying that the repair facility and the insurance company guarantee the repairs for as long as the customer owns the vehicle.

Progressive has 25 Claims Service Centers open and plans to open 50 more sites across the country over the next few years.

The ability to buy online auto insurance has changed the way people shop for insurance forever. Gone are the days of pulling out the Yellow Pages, calling multiple companies for quotes, waiting days for someone to call you back with a quote (if they called you back at all!), comparing the quotes, trying to figure out if the policies and deductibles were the same for all the quotes, and finally – purchasing a policy and hoping it will be as good as your last one.

Thanks to the magic of online auto insurance quotes, all of the above hassle is no longer necessary. Each of the major auto insurance companies has a system for providing quotes online, and many comparison sites have sprung up that allow you to quickly compare several major companies against each other.

The best part is that you can easily adjust your deductibles to instantly see how it will ultimately affect your total premium. This is the ideal way to learn just how much you are going to pay for auto insurance and to determine just which of the auto insurance carriers will offer you specifically the lowest of rates.

Purchasing your auto insurance via the web is very convenient and simple. Despite the fact that many insurance companies earn less money as a result of having a more informed consumer, this is offset by the fact that these companies don’t lose valuable employee time doing nothing but rate quotes all day long for people. You can search for rate quotes, and make changes over and over again, and you are under no obligation until you decide on a policy, and go through the purchasing process.

Many companies have even developed the technology to let you print out your mandatory insurance cards to place in your vehicle as soon as you complete your purchase. This saves the time and hassle of waiting for these insurance cards to show up in the mail. Some companies are even starting to provide your entire policy as a printout, though they still must send a form for you to sign and mail back.

For most of us, it is necessary to track down the cheapest possible rates, while making sure we choose a company that will stand behind us in the event of an accident. It’s the ultimate balancing act. Some of the review sites online will even provide you with a companies A.M. Best rating, designed to give you an idea of the overall quality of the companies you are comparing. Again, this removes another part of the uncertainty of choosing online auto insurance.

For all of the amazing ways that buying online auto insurance can save you time, money, hassles, and headaches, you may never have to open that section of the Yellow Pages again.

A car is the second largest investment most of us make after a house, so it only makes sense that we want to trust the person who is going to be repairing it. And while you might think finding a reliable auto repair shop and a good mechanic might be a difficult task, it really isnt if you know what to search for. Lets get you on the right track.

The best way to guarantee you find a good repair shop is to start looking for that quality shop before your car needs repairs. Once your car is broken you are forced to rush around trying to find a place to have it fixed, and you wont have time to research the quality of the shop.

Its much better to establish a relationship with a repair shop and the mechanic long before things break. In fact, regular maintenance will reduce the risk of your vehicle breaking down and its the perfect way to decide whether you like what a shop has to offer. Start small with a simple oil change and build from there.

Rely on word of mouth when you start your search. Listen to what others have to say about different repair shops. Ask friends, family, and co-workers who they would recommend. You can also check with the BBB to find out who has had complaints against them.

Never base your decision on just the price. A lower price doesnt always mean a cheaper bill. Some shops have a flat rate charge for each repair type no matter how long it takes them. Others charge for every hour that it takes, which might work out cheaper but it could also work out to more if the mechanic runs into a snag. A higher rate doesnt always mean better service, but a lower rate doesnt always mean poor service. Do your research.

Once you think youve found the right shop snoop around a bit. Check to see that the shop appears well organized and neat.

There are also some questions worth asking:

1. Do they have up to date equipment
2. What type of diagnostic equipment do they have
3. Can they provide references from other customers
4. Do they specialize in a certain type of vehicle
5. Are their technicians certified
6. What brand of parts do they use
7. What is their policy relating to customer satisfaction
8. What is their warranty
9. What type of payments do they accept
10. What is their labor rate

Its important to keep a record of the maintenance and repairs youve had done to your vehicle. Make sure you keep the repair records in a safe place.

Using these tips, finding a reliable auto repair shop wont be that difficult.

The history of Porsche began in 1948, June 8th to be exact. That is when the first two seater 356 was produced. There were 51 hand built Porsche 356/2 automobiles built in Austria. This model had a 40 hp 1.1 liter center engine.

The Porsche 911 rear engine automobile was introduced in 1963. It has been one of the biggest selling sports cars in the world. Over one million have been sold.

Porsche has a new offering for the sports car enthusiast in 2006. Positioned between the Boxster S and 911 Carrera, and marketed as an alternative to the BMW Z4 and the Mercedes SLK, the Cayman S is to start appearing in showrooms in January 2006 and will carry a price tag of $58,900.00. Porsche is only offering this hot-rod Cayman S and will not say when they will offer an entry level model.

The Cayman S is a two seater modified version of the Boxster convertible. The Cayman has a 295 hp 3.4 liter six cylinder mid-engine that goes from 0-60 mph in an impressive 5.1 seconds. Similar to the Boxster S, the Cayman S has a precise six speed manual gearbox with a double inertia flywheel and hydraulic clutch and power rear wheels. The Porsche Active Suspension Management is an electronic damping control system that is an option on the Cayman S. Switched on this system assures a smooth ride and it improves stability and grip for sharper steering responses.

Inside the Cayman S offers an on-board computer system with continuous indication of mileage, time and speed, automatic climate control, digital radio with in dash CD and a 7 speaker Bose Surround Sound System.

Porsche expects the new Cayman S to attract the upwardly mobile market. The company expects that Cayman buyers will be customers moving up from the Porsche Boxster.

Help with Auto Repairs Is a Cell Phone Call Away

Mobile phones have become a lifeline for North American motorists. According to the Cellular Telephone Industry Association, more than 73 million calls are placed to 911 hotlines from cell phones every year. AAA handles an additional 14 million calls for emergency roadside assistance from cell callers.

“Your cell phone can be perceived as a companion or a status symbol, but when you really need it, it can be your most important personal safety device,” said John Nielsen, director of AAA’s Approved Auto Repair Network. “Like a best friend, a cell phone can be comforting to those driving alone; they feel safer just knowing help is within reach.”

Now with assistance from AAA, this help can include referrals to trustworthy auto maintenance and repair businesses throughout the United States and Canada.

This service is a boon to those traveling far from home, or just across town, if access to the closest reputable repair shop is required due to mechanical trouble on the road.

For reliable assistance with vehicle repairs and maintenance, AAA has identified a network of approved repair facilities that include new car dealerships and independent repair shops. These shops meet AAA’s strict quality standards and display AAA’s logo. A phone call to 1-800-AAA-HELP or to a local AAA club phone number for emergency road service is all that is required to find the nearest AAA-approved shop.

Calling ahead is always a good idea when arranging for auto repairs. Find out if the shop will be open, if they have time to work on your vehicle, if the repairs can be completed in a timely manner and if they have experience working with the make and model of the vehicle you drive.

Cell phones and safety go hand in hand. However, to maintain safety, AAA suggests that motorists always park safely off the roadway when using a cellular phone.

Running a car can be an expensive business these days, especially with the continually rising cost of petrolgas. The last thing that most car owners need is the added expense of replacing worn out parts. The majority of people rely on their local auto shop to find the parts, and then fit them. There is a far cheaper way, and that is to source your own parts from an auto salvage yard.

Auto salvage yards, as their name suggests, specialise in salvaging autos, or more specifically auto parts. The way that they work is simple; they take junk cars and strip them down, keeping any parts that are still in working order. These parts are then sold to anyone who wants to buy them at a much lower price than a new part would be. You could find the part that you are looking for, and save yourself a lot of money. Of course, it would be ideal if you could fit the part on your car yourself, but just buying the part from an auto salvage yard can save you a considerable amount even if you have to pay a mechanic to fit it.

The key to buying from an auto salvage yard is to spend a lot of time looking for the part that you need. There may be a lot, or a little, but you should always shop around to find the best part for you. Some auto salvage yards will recondition parts, while others will simply sell them as seen. If you dont know much about cars it is a good idea to take a friend with you who does. The last thing you want to do is to buy a part from an auto salvage yard and think that you have found a bargain, but then find that it isnt the right part for your car or not in working order.

The other way that you can use an auto salvage yard is to actually sell them your scrap car. All cars eventually reach the end of their working life, but you may find that you might get a little money from a salvage yard for your rusting hulk. At the end of the day, thats better than nothing. Be prepared to negotiate a price and dont take the first offer that they make you.

When I explain to someone that there are several lines of vehicle air filters available that are environmentally sound I usually receive a quizzical look back from that person. For some motorists the idea of environmentally compatible automotive parts is a foreign concept to them. Yet, when you think about it many parts that come standard on just about any vehicle qualifies for that title. A catalytic converter is one part that everyone knows about, even if they don’t understand exactly how one works. So, exactly what is an environmentally sound air filter? Lets take a closer look for all the details.

As you probably know the air filter that comes with your car is made predominately of paper with plastic molding holding the filter together. If you change the air filter at recommended intervals once a year is common you can easily go through 3, 5, or even 10 or more air filters depending on how long you keep your car as well as how many miles you put on your car. All of these air filters end up in your trash and then go straight to the dump. The paper in the filter will probably disintegrate quickly, but the plastic sits in place perhaps for thousands of years.

If this sort of thing disturbs you then take heart. Thanks to race car technology, manufacturers have developed reusable air filters for many production vehicles. If you purchase one for your vehicle it likely will be the last one you ever need. How is that? Because a reusable air filter can be cleaned and put back in your car over and over again. In fact, quality reusable air filters are designed to outlast your car with many guaranteed to last 500,000 miles or more, even up to one million miles!

A reusable air filter costs more, with prices running approximately 2-4 times the price of a standard air filter. If you keep your car for any length of time you will get that money back, but if do not you are still helping to show environmental responsibility by keeping our landfills free of unnecessary throw away parts.

Two additional benefits of a reusable air filter — the type that K&N and other top manufacturers produce — is that it will give your vehicle a boost in horsepower as your engine will run more efficiently. Furthermore, a more efficient engine burns less fuel so your fuel economy goes up too.

So, what is there not to like about a reusable air filter? In reality, not much! By installing a reusable [or performance] air filter you help the environment, realize a noticeable gain in horsepower, and you burn less fuel. A true win-win-win proposition, dont you agree?

Donating An Automobile To Charity? Dont Forget The Tax Deductions!

When donating an automobile to charity, youll want to think about tax deductions. According to Publication 4303, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state charity officials provide general guidelines for donations.

In the case than an individual is eligible to deduct charitable donations for federal income tax purposes, there are steps that must be taken. Only if the charity receiving the vehicle is a qualified organization, can this happen. Charitable, religious, and educational organizations usually qualify.

To verify a charity organization, simply call the account services division of the IRS and see if it has tax exemption status. If an organization is located at a church, synagogue, temple, or mosque, it is not required to apply for exemption.

Some charity only allows for limited tax deductions. Your tax deduction cannot exceed 50 percent of your adjusted gross income and other limitations may apply as well. You can research a specific type of charity contribution and learn how it will affect your taxes. Generally though, the largest amount of money you can deduct from your income tax return is simply the fair value of your automobile whatever price a person would buy it for.

It is important to take care of the vehicles records, as they may be required to authenticate your donation. Furthermore, if you plan to deduct more than 250, you should ask for a written acknowledgment from the charity about the donation. The document should feature the name of the charity, a description of the automobile, a statement that clarifies that no goods or services, beyond religious guidance or instruction, were exchanged for the automobile.

You must obtain this written acknowledgment on or before the due date of your return; the same year you donated the vehicle. It can be a paper copy or a mere e-mail.

As for charities, they must be available for public inspection so as to secure their tax exemption status. As well, they must provide documents that show their annual returns.

Automotive service and repair has changed dramatically over a generation, according to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an independent group that tests and certifies the competence of auto technicians nationwide.

Today, high-tech systems that were unheard of 30 years ago – anti-lock brakes, electronic engine controls and computerized diagnostics – are commonplace. It doesn’t appear that the swift pace of technological advancement will slow any time soon, either, with the advent of hybrid vehicles and such features on the horizon as interactive suspensions, constantly variable-speed transmissions and 42-volt batteries.

For automotive service professionals, this means continual training and coursework to keep up with the torrent of changes. Disparaged years ago as “grease monkeys,” mechanics today have become automotive technicians, every bit as comfortable behind a computer screen and keyboard as under the hood with a wrench.

ASE is reminding motorists to follow the service schedules listed in their owners’ manuals before making a long-distance drive. While few people would ignore an ominous service engine light, many do skip oil changes. Yet in survey after survey, ASE-certified master auto technicians say that the old-fashioned oil change is one of the most vital services for getting the most from your automotive investment.

ASE was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive professionals. Its 400,000 certified technicians wear blue-and-white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact areas of certification. Their employers often display the ASE sign.