As much as auto critics love to wring their hands over GM’s and Ford’s misfortunes the two automakers are locked in a perpetual battle for the coveted big pickup truck category. The Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F Series continue to duke it out for the number one spot. There is more at stake here than meets the eye…and just what would that be?

For 28 years running the top selling vehicle in the US has not been a car, rather a pick up truck. That’s right, America’s love of pick ups extends to the point where the Ford F Series traditionally outsells the bestselling car by a factor of nearly 2 to 1 [the Toyota Camry is the best selling car, FYI]. Indeed, the second best selling truck for most of that time has been the Chevy Silverado, nemesis of the Ford.

If you are a GM fan, your immediate thought is to cry “foul” over the whole matter. In reality, Chevrolet’s parent company — General Motors — sells more full size pick up trucks than Ford year in and year out. However “the general” markets its truck under two different nameplates: Chevrolet and GMC. So, what appears to be a long running streak for Ford is just not that. At least according to GM fans.

Beyond the pick up truck sales, the matter of who is number one is a source of pride for the big automakers as they have been beaten and bruised over the years by increased competition. Asian automakers continue to take away sales, as even Toyota and Nissan are now building full sized pick up trucks. Dodge, too, has grown in size and influence ever since its redone Rams hit the market in the early 1990s. So, the last area of dominance for Ford and GM is also being chipped away and no one wants to be the first to admit defeat.

If you want to influence the battle, you have only one month to make a difference. Both manufacturers are certain to have amazing end of the year clearances, so shop smartly and you will come out as a winner no matter whose product you choose.

Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

The Statistics:
Most searched for term on eBay: Xbox 360
Most Watched Item: One Owner 1942 Vintage Martin D-45 Guitar
Hmm. No collector cars here!

Most Popular Make and Model Listed
1969 Chevrolet Z-28 Camaro. Low Retail $19,100
Average Winning Bid: $7,296.
A staggering $11,804 off a low market price.

Top Auction:
1968 Shelby : Shelby GT500 Matching #s
Auction ID: 4611842807 - Winning bid $118,000

Auction Results From February 9 to February 22 2006
1,000 Collectible Automobile Auction listings were examined
280 Sellers appeared to be dealers
4,944 Bids Were Placed
120 Cars Had 0 Bids
263 Cars Reached the Reserve Price (Successful Sale) estimated gross $1,911,000
738 Cars Did Not Reach Reserve (No Sale) estimated gross $5,400,000
Volume of Non Winning Bids $2,900,000
Average Winning Bid: $7,296
Successful Sales $1,911,000

*Estimated eBay Revenue $58,000 (based on current eBay insertion fees)
$24,000 from Auctions reaching the Reserve Price
$34,000 from Auctions not reaching the Reserve Price (No Sale)
Estimated Fees Collected: $58,000

The eBay Money Machine
Keeping the above statistics in mind, the emergence of new online auction sites has been a bit slow partially because of the tremendous marketing power of a multi-billion dollar behemoth that rivals Wal-Mart in the marketplace. Most have gone the way of the Mom and Pop stores. One of the biggest challenges faced by alternatives to eBay is attracting sellers who are willing to give them a shot. You need listings to attract bidders and you need traffic to attract sellers. It’s the whole chicken and the egg story.

Challenges with eBay.
The good news is millions of buyers and sellers meet online every month to look for bargains, rare and unique items and yes even collector cars. The bad news, fake cashiers checks, stolen cars, fraudulent emails and more. As you can see from the stats we gathered many individuals spent $45.00, answered a lot of questions, sent a lot of pictures and unfortunately the car still sits in the garage. Are there other options?

The Route 66 Auction
The Route 66 Auction an emerging online auction site that touts “No Dolls, No Knick Knacks…just everything automotive”. You can place your vehicle online for $29.95 and they will relist it until it sells at no additional charge. They also have a marketing program that will place your vehicle in an online auction and then advertise it in car classifieds sites like Hemmings, Old Car Trader and Collector Car Trader Online. The owner of The Route 66 Auction, Shane Corliss has chosen more of a grass roots ad campaignCar Clubs, make and model specific websites, discussion board postings and every link exchange he can get their hands on. Adoption is slow but steady. You might want to show them your support by registering at http://www.theroute66auction.com.

Cal Cruising
With over 12,000 members nationwide, CalCruising is one of the largest online auction sites for Classic and Muscle Cars. In addition to auctions, they are a full service transportation super-site with many site features including, Auto-Dispatch, Auto Directory, Dealer Programs, Muscle Car Directory, and much more. CalCruising Members can post auctions for free in our Member area or for $39 post their vehicles in featured auctions and be seen by thousands of collectors and enthusiasts. Already members have run over 5,500 auctions and placed over 26,000 bids. As far as presentation CalCruising needs a huge face lift but their results speak for themselves. Your can check them out at http://www.calcruising.com.

Online auctions can be a great way to sell your collectible automobile. Explore your options and do not become discouraged. A collectible automobiles is sold every day. The keys are persistence and effective targeted marketing.

Shane Corliss is one of the leading sales and marketing strategist for the automotive publishing industry. He can be reached at shanecorliss@gmail.com.

Traveling with infants requires extra caution and attention. Safety measures have to be taken into consideration you start your trip. To give extra protection infant car seat covers are a good idea. Not only does this extra cover give them ample guard, a cover also keeps the seats clean and tidy. Whenever a mess occurs due to food or otherwise, the infant car seat cover can be removed, cleaned easily in the laundry, and replaced into the car for the next mess. That way, your car stays nice.

Baby Snugger, Vermont One, Rittenhouse Industries, Goodnight Sleeptight, Shower Your Baby, Net Kids Wear, Snazzy Baby, 2littlemonkeys and Besigns are some companies that provide excellent quality seat covers especially suited for infants.

Car seat covers by Baby Snugger come in two colors. Lined with fleece, they are most suitable for cold climates. Baby Snugger offers complete satisfaction and refunds money if the product fails to match your expectations. Vermont One offers infant seat covers in several designs that are machine washable and easy to maintain. Goodnight Sleeptight and Besigns have beautiful covers as well. Both companies offer hoods with the covers for additional comfort. There covers are made from polar fleece to snuggle in the baby and keep he or she completely warm. Snazzy Baby offers covers made of cotton and silk. These covers are reversible and can have four different looks. Normally, delivery charges are included in the price of the products, or charged separately. However, some companies like Shower Your Baby and Net Kids Wear offer free shipping.

One of the easiest ways to improve the gas mileage for your car
is checking the tire pressure in all four tires. Simply doing
this routine tire maintenance can save fuel and increase the
life of your tires. A government study concluded that by
correctly maintaining your tires is like getting 2 “free” tanks
of gas a year. With today’s fuel prices that could easily be
$140! You will also increase the life of your tires and could
save at least one new set of tires during the life of your car.
Now that I have you convinced of the value of good tire
pressure, let’s discuss the basics. First you will need to
purchase an inexpensive tire pressure gauge. These are easy to
find and easy to use. Buy a good one (They don’t cost that much)
and put it in your glove box. The next big question is “How much
air do my tires need?” You will need to find out what the
manufacturer’s recommended pressure is for your vehicle. You can
find this information in a couple of places. First you can look
in your owner’s manual or check the information placard glued on
the inside edge of the doors. Remember, the tire pressure on the
side of the tire is the maximum pressure for that particular
tire. This is different from the manufacturer’s recommended
pressure. Now you are ready to check the pressure in your tires.
The best time to check your pressure is when your tires are
cold. The car should have been sitting for at least three hours
or have been driven for less than 2 miles. If your tires are
hot, then the air is hot and the pressure will read higher than
normal. This is why using the manufacturer’s recommended tire
pressure is so important. If you use the maximum tire pressure
printed on the tire and then drive out on the road, the pressure
will increase because of the heat. This can be potentially
unsafe. If they are low, take a quick trip to the neighborhood
gas station. There you can add a few pounds of air and recheck
the pressure. One tip, don’t trust the gauge on the air
compressor at the gas station. These are generally in bad shape
and have been treated poorly. Use your new one you just
purchased instead. Repeat this process every month. You will
save gas and extend the life of your expensive tires.

Your car may have had its tint for so long that you have already gotten tired of it. Or, maybe, your car’s tint is already peeling off the edges that you would rather have everything taken off rather than let it stay that way. Try to bring your car to a professional and have them remove the tint of your car. More often than not, they would ask you to pay a whole lot of money than you expected to.

In fact, the prices could range from around $50 up to a whooping $100. Mainly, they claim that removing the car tint would be a difficult task at hand, keeping in mind that they would also be making sure that your car windows do not get any scratches. However, by just knowing what type of materials to use as well as how to do it, you might as well be on your way to saving a lot of money to spend on other non-trivial matter.

The process is easy. You need a single-edged razor, a clean rag, and an all-purpose spray cleaner. You may also try to use other solvents that could work well on removing any kind of adhesive but is gentle on your car window and paint. When you have all these handy, start the process by grabbing a corner of the film of the window tint using a razor. Remember that the car tint is not something painted on the glass of your window. It is a specially designed thin film applied to your window.

When you have successfully taken hold of a corner of the film, pull the film off. When the film is already out, spray the cleaner on the glass. Then, put back the film on the window and let it stay there for around 15 minutes to 20 minutes. After that, remove the film again. Spray on more cleaner on the glass and use the razor to scrape off any film residue as well as any adhesives. When you have done so, wipe the glass clean using your rag.

On the other hand, if you think that this is not your kind of work and you just feel like you might be damaging your window, you can check with a local maintenance shop which offers such a service of removing window tints. However, just keep in mind that you would have to shed out quite an amount of money for a simple task as removing tint film.

Car Parts Rush

Dodge parts and Pontiac parts

——

Joe Ratzkin is an avid fan of anything automotive. This 34-year old bachelor wanted to be a mechanic when he was a kid but changed his mind and became a freelance writer and researcher instead. He is currently based in Chicago, Illinois.

Tell me how your windshield wiper blades are and I will tell you the condition of your car. Worn out wiper blades are symptoms of neglected vehicle maintenance that put drivers and passengers at serious risk during rainy or snowy periods.

Rainy or snowy weather also affects driver visibility and control of the vehicle. Because 90 percent of driving decisions depend on good vision, a clean windshield is imperative. Streaking and smearing impair vision and are caused by worn windshield blades. One out of every five vehicles that goes through an inspection has worn wiper blades.

Replacement wiper blades are inexpensive and they are easy to change. Why put it off until there’s a downpour or a major snowfall and your blades are chattering and smearing the windshield?

Do you need different windshield wiper blades for the winter period ?

We all tend to run to the auto parts store when winter is approaching, to get winter replacement wiper blades. Usually, winter blades are covered with a rubber membrane which are supposed to better fight against icing. However, before you make the purchase you should carefully check them. Several types of winter blades listed in catalogs of aftermarket parts or even those recommended by car manufacturers are not that effective. Several models are shorter than the “summer version” and do not cover enough windshield surface. Others are long enough but do not have the “banana” shape allowing for proper contact on the windshield over the full lenght. In either case this results in reduced visibility for the driver.

Windshield wiper blades should be checked regularly to ensure they offer maximum performance. If you need to replace them do not compromise on the quality and ensure they provide good coverage and adherance to the windhield. If you are unsure if the model you are considering meets those criterias ask the auto parts store about their return/credit policy. Once tested, you should be allowed to return them if the results are not conclusive.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask your local mechanic for some sound advice. They constantly replace wiper blades on a wide range of car models and they should be able to tell you about the do’s and don’t for your particular vehicle.

Replacing windshield wiper blades should be simple process ….. but don’t jump the gun and make a quick desision. You may regret it next time you drive rainy or snowy weather.

Copyright 2005 Marc Deschamps

Marc Deschamps is the editor of Car Accessories Magazine, a free online publication dedicated to automotive accessories, car care and related topics. Other articles on car accessories can be found at
http://www.car-accessories-magazine.com/shopping-car-accessories.html

The new Chevy Corvette has all performance systems including
engine, transmission, chassis, tires and suspension. Standard
Active Handling works in conjunction with Traction Control and
ABS on select 03 and 2005 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvettes, making
maximum use of available traction to assist the driver, when
needed, in keeping the car in line with steering input.

The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette has a chassis, which is all
aluminum, hydro formed in similar dies to those used to build
the standard steel C6 frame. Magnesium and carbon fiber parts
are also used to help contain the total curb weight to less than
3150 pounds.

The front grille is larger, and an additional small scoop in
front of the hood gulps cool intake air. Barely visible from a
distance, 1-centimeter-wide black strips follow the wheel
arches, oriented at a right angle to the fender.

An all-new LS7 7.0-liter V-8 (the displacement works out to 427
cubic inches) is said to churn out 500 horsepower. It will also
be fitted with wider tires and larger Brembo brakes. Body
modifications include a high-rise hood, deep side skirts and
cooling ducts ahead of the rear wheels.

The car’s larger-displacement engine and lightweight are claimed
to deliver 0-to-60-mph acceleration times of less than 4
seconds, a 12-second quarter-mile and a top speed of more than
190 mph on the track. Just as the base engine grew to 6.0 liters
and became the LS2, the Z06 power plant has grown to 7.0 liters
and becomes the LS7 V-8. It’s rated for 500 hp at 6,200 rpm and
475 pounds-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm

Red brake calipers employ six pistons apiece up front, four
pistons per side in the rear and 20 individual brake pads, which
Chevrolet says deliver more even wear. The ventilated,
cross-drilled brake rotors measure 14 inches in front and 13.4
inches in the rear. ABS is standard.

Have a look at Inner Auto Parts’ extensive stock of dependable,
long lasting replacement auto parts, performance auto parts,
body parts etc. It could be the start of great savings for you
while preserving the performance of the car that exudes
performance and comfort.

For Replacement Chevrolet Parts,
Inner Auto Parts offers first-class quality auto parts at
discount prices to ensure one hundred percent satisfaction in
getting the perfect replacement Chevy parts and Chevy
Accessories. Its secured site and friendly customer service
staff ensures fast and convenient online shopping for repair
Chevy parts and accessories. Unlike any auto parts offered by
other auto parts stores, Inner Auto Parts’ auto Chevrolet parts
as well as Chevrolet accessories are the best in the market and
superior quality goes into its every detail.

Inner Auto Parts’ product line-up for Chevrolet includes Chevy Bumpers, Chevy A/C Condenser, Chevrolet Catalytic
Converters, Chevrolet Mirrors,
Chevrolet Radiator,
Chevrolet
Suspension, Chevrolet Tail
Lights, Chevrolet Wheels
and a variety of additional upgrades that compliments your car.

Its extensive array of maximum quality Replacement auto Parts
and great wholesale deals awaits you at Inner Auto Parts. A wide variety
of maximum quality Replacement auto parts, Aftermarket auto
parts, Performance auto parts and great wholesale deals await
you in our online store. In case you have any difficulties in
choosing your Chevrolet Parts, its customer service center are
always ready to serve you.