It is 10 a.m. in the morning and you were supposed to be at work two hours ago.\u00a0 Now you stand in the rain on the roadside watching a tow truck driver hoisting your car onto a flatbed tow truck.\u00a0 You know deep in your heart, there is no possibility of a happy ending to this day.<\/p>\n
One of the worst experiences in modern times is dealing with car repairs.\u00a0 Like it or not, each of us will confront a mechanic regarding our disabled car at some point in our lives.\u00a0 The trick when it comes your time is to try to minimize exposure –\u00a0especially to your checkbook.<\/p>\n
The most horrific thing about having your car in the shop is not having the money for the repair.\u00a0 There is more to a car repair than meets the wallet.\u00a0 While the car is in the shop, the owner still has to get to work.\u00a0 Renting a car is expensive and could cost hundreds, maybe even a thousand dollars by the time your car is back in service.\u00a0 Some of us have been in this predicament; many who have not, eventually will.\u00a0 So, how can you avoid this ugly situation?\u00a0 Ah, that is the question!<\/p>\n
Amazingly, there is a way to avoid overly costly repair bills.\u00a0 It takes only minimal preventative maintenance on your part.\u00a0 With a little knowledge, you can keep your car or truck running well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One aspect of car ownership is the question of maintenance.\u00a0 With routine, dedicated maintenance, owners can avoid costly repairs and the loss of use of their vehicle.\u00a0 A regular maintenance schedule may even go so far as to save one’s life; a breakdown on a dark, busy highway at night could lead to an accident. \u00a0A busy highway is no place to deal with car troubles.<\/p>\n
Today’s cars are the most sophisticated and remarkable vehicles ever placed on American highways.\u00a0 They are lighter, stronger, and more reliable than their counterparts of 20 or 30 years ago.\u00a0 Automotive companies designed their new cars very well – to the point that they actually crash commendably in comparison to older cars.\u00a0 In other words, a person riding in a 2006 model car has a much better chance of avoiding serious injury than someone in 1992 model.<\/p>\n
Reasons for the enhanced crashworthiness of today’s new cars include novel construction techniques.\u00a0 The metal alloys and composites used to build late-model cars are lighter and stronger than those of the past.\u00a0 Many of the techniques and materials used in construction of today’s cars come straight from the aerospace industry.\u00a0 The rest of the equation is pure physics; the lighter the vehicle at the time of collision, the less dissipation of energy occurs.\u00a0 This results in less damage and fewer injuries to the occupants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One more plus for the lighter cars is better gas mileage.\u00a0 An integral part of late model automotive engines is the electronic ignition.\u00a0 The lighter car, coupled with electronic ignition and proper tire inflation, allows newer cars to achieve 25 to 35 miles to the gallon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That may very well be a great plus in the coming months of 2011.<\/p>\n
-30-<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2011 J. Clark<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is 10 a.m. in the morning and you were supposed to be at work two hours ago.\u00a0 Now you stand in the rain on the roadside watching a tow truck driver hoisting your car onto a flatbed tow truck.\u00a0 … Continue reading