There’s That Mustang

Vehicles of virtually every type and make have been steadily growing over the past ten years. “Entry level” cars by companies like BMW are almost the same size nowadays as a mid-size car from a decade ago. One of the consequences of vehicle sizes expanding is that parking now is harder than ever.

Nowhere is this gigantism more visible than in the pickup truck segment, where even previously ’small’ trucks like the Dodge Dakota have inflated until they now dwarf their predecessors. In turn, full-size trucks have fought their own battle of the bulge, getting heavier, wider and taller. Toyota has not been immune to these market forces. The first generation Toyota Tundra was a mid-size pickup marketed to the full-size crowd, and when Toyota realized that they could cram more buyers into a larger vehicle, the 2007 Tundra re-design greatly increased the capacity of the truck in almost every dimension.

Size may have its benefits, but it has its downfalls as well. The biggest problem with bigger vehicles is that parking has become a lot harder. Sitting behind the wheel of a new Toyota Tundra, it might be hard to gauge just where the truck begins and ends. To make things easier, vehicle designers have introduced “parking assist” as an aid to drivers struggling with parking their new vehicles.

On most vehicles, “parking assist” is a system of sensors in the front and/or rear bumper that create an audible “beep” when your vehicle gets close to an obstacle. Depending on the system, the beeps will begin when you’re about 6 feet away, and then increase in frequency until you get about 6 inches away, when the beeps will become a continuous tone. This is a great feature - it can really help with parallel parking, as well as warning you if something small (i.e. a fence post, a mailbox, or even a small child) is near your vehicle. But how does it work?

The system works using a set of “eyes”, or special sensors, mounted in the vehicle’s bumpers. The sensors regularly transmit highly focused sound waves from the bumpers, which are reflected back towards the sensor whenever they hit a solid object. Since sound travels at a fairly constant speed through air, a computer can calculate the distance between the bumper and object based on the amount of time it takes for the signal to return to the bumper. Submarines using active sonar underwater employ the same basic principle, although water transmits sound better than air, which results in better range for the submarine sensors.

Although the sensors can effectively detect stationary objects such as parked vehicles and garage doors, they’re not sensitive enough for smaller mobile objects, such as animals or children. These objects might not generate a warning beep, or at least not consistently. Therefore, drivers still need to use caution and be aware of their vehicle’s surroundings when parking. Parking assist, also called parking sonar, is definitely a useful tool, but is not a replacement for a careful driver.

High-end luxury cars have started to move on to the next generation of parking assist systems, which use a video camera and complex computer program alongside the sound sensor system. The result is more accurate input to the vehicle, which instead of merely warning drivers close to an object, will actually steer and park the vehicle for them. This is very useful with parallel parking - you just have to let the car control the steering, gas and brake. What interesting and amazing technology we have these days!

Many debate whether or not original automobile parts or aftermarket parts are better when a vehicle must be repaired. Some may believe that the original parts are better since they are made by the manufacturer, but others claim that the aftermarket parts are equal to or even better than the original parts. So which is it? Is it just a matter of opinion or is there fact to either one of these claims?

There may be one factor that affects whether or not a repair shop may use the original or aftermarket parts and that is state regulation. Each state has different regulations regarding which parts can be used on a vehicle. This is because the state regulates the insurance industry and if the state allows, the insurance company you are with may allow the use of aftermarket parts, which could play to your advantage. You may or may not be asked permission, depending on your state. Then again, there are situations in which you can make the decision yourself, especially if the insurance company is not involved.

Original parts

It is fair to say that some original parts are up to par and some are not. Many times a vehicle breaks down because of something that is wrong with the original parts. This is also true when a recall occurs. This may deter an automobile owner from using the original parts if they have that choice. If it is a recall that is leading to the replacement of the part, the dealership making the repair or replacement will use what they are instructed to use.

But when you go to a local parts store, you are usually given options as to which parts to use. They will more than likely quote you the price of an economy part that will save you money, the original part that is just like the part you are replacing, and a more expensive part that costs more because it is of a better quality. Some people may go for the original part since it was made by the manufacturer, but is that always the best way to go?

Aftermarket parts

Let’s look at the other two parts: the economy part and the part that is more expensive. These are aftermarket parts. There are many aftermarket parts at the economy price that perform well and sometimes this performance can be equal to or better than the performance of the original. Then there is the more expensive aftermarket part, which more than likely performs better than the original. You can possibly get a longer life out of that aftermarket part than you can the economy part or the original. It may cost more, but the cost is usually not a significant amount more than the original part.

What it comes down to is that the price difference becomes worth it because you will not have to replace the part as quickly as you did the original part on the car. These parts also frequently come with guarantees or lifetime warranties so that you can have the part replaced for free if it prematurely fails.

The benefits

So it is fair to say that purchasing an aftermarket part is more cost-effective than buying the exact same part that failed. Unless modifications have been made by the manufacturer to keep that part from failing in the same way, you can count on the part failing in the same manner as it did the first time. You can save yourself many headaches by investing in the aftermarket part that has made improvements on the failures of the original.

Check out a government or police auction the next time you buy a new/used car. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a car, truck, or SUV, you can find them all there at super discounted prices.

Previously, it has been very hard for the general public to be able to take part in these auctions. Today though, you can gain admittance to public car auctions fairly easily, although the “dealer only” auctions are still closed to us. You can also use one of the online public auctions as surprisingly it really doesn’t cost too much to ship a car - especially if you have saved a lot on the car purchase.

If you are wondering if people are going to these auctions in droves you might be surprised by the answer. A common misconception by the public is that all you will find there are old, delapidated cars which is definitely not true. Also, people still haven’t got used to the idea of these auctions now be readily found instead of some closely guarded secret.

Are you wondering just where all these vehicles being auctioned off came from? Well, some of the vehicles are seized by government agencies such as local and state police, the FBI, IRS, DEA and ATF for various offenses. Still others come from government agencies that are trading their vehicles in for newer ones. Even though these are top quality cars, trucks and SUVs, they still need to get rid of them.

Save yourself thousands and go to a car auction. Here, you can buy a car much cheaper than you could if you had to pay the regular going rate. If you keep in mind what you are looking for, you will be able to find just the car you want and in tip-top condition to boot.

If you are considering purchasing a vehicle at one of these government or police auctions, make sure to give it a mechanical inspection before bidding on it. If you’re buying a later model vehicle, it should come with whatever Manufacturer’s Warranty still remains on the vehicle. Regardless, even if the vehicle is still under warranty you are still wise to check it out.

There are a few simple tests that you can perform yourself and if the prospective vehicle doesn’t pass these tests with flying colors, find another car! Start by placing your foot on the brake, and then putting the car in drive and reverse several times. Make sure the car doesn’t lunge at all or make a clunking sound when you shift into another gear. Take a moment to check for any leaking, spots, or stains under the car, and take a pass on any car where the oil is thick to the point of being pasty.

Before you take in any government or police auction, make sure you know what kind of car you have in mind and its’ approximate retail value to ensure you are getting a good deal. Mechanical inspections, either done by yourself or by a pro, are a must. One thing to always keep in mind is that the police and other governmental agencies really don’t want to have an inventory of used cars on their hands, so they are only too happy to sell them for a remarkably good price. This truly is the easiest way to buy a new vehicle as you will never have to deal with haggling or back and forth negotiations again.is no more stressful negotiating or haggling that you have to be a part of.