Showing posts with label small cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small cars. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Truly Worth Bailing Out!

Driving along in our choking air with clogged sinuses and a nasty headache, most likely due to our air quality I realized a profound truth this evening. Comming through my radio was a story about a company that inspired me. A company that deserved support. Not some global behemoth that occupied nostalgic history in this country. No it was a fairly new company that was innovative and struggling. Tesla Motors was first incorporated in 2003. CEO Elon Musk who also co-founded Paypal owns the first Tesla ever produced a totally electric battery powered sports car with a 220 mile range on one charge. The most recent models boast a 244 mile range on one charge and will do zero to sixty in 3.9 seconds. At pennies per mile the overall cost of over $100,000 dollars for one of these really doesn't sound to bad for this innovative technology. They also plan on developing a more price friendly model in the near future. This is just the type of company that in our day and time needs support and backing. I know if I had the financial resources apart from owning a couple of these beauties I would be heavily investing in this company and others like it. Hey Ford, GM and Chrysler want some sound advice? Make Tesla an offer they can't refuse, purchase the company and then run with their innovative sound ideas! Well that is if you want to save your own hides.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Simple Repair Saves Large Bill

I recently just purchased a 1998 Honda Civic. This little gas saver runs like a champ. The interior is practically new like the day it rolled off the lot. The entire overall condition of the vehicle is what I would consider to be very good. However there is a problem.
Even thought regular maintenance was performed on this vehicle every 3,000 miles I ran into something thats has not been done for this vehicle. The care has 176,000 miles on it and the timing belt has never been changed. Now most mechanics will tell you this should be done around 100,000 miles.
When your talking about auto repairs not changing the timing belt is a common problem with small cars today. Its a rather simple repair if you know what your doing and with most automobiles it can be completed in 4-5 hours. Although the price can range from $250 dollars to $700 its good to think about the economical impact of not having the repair done.
If your timing belt teeth break or the belt fails all together your looking at a minimum of a valve job. The pistons will slam up against the valves and cause you numerous problems. Not to mention most likely the car will never be the same again. Needless to say I'm scheduling a trip to a reputable mechanic to this item replaced. One more thing while they are doing the timing belt you also should have them replace your water pump. In most small cars today its located in the same general area and will have to be removed anyway.