(ARA) - While most of us are far from experts on our car’s inner workings, we do appreciate the technology behind it. From fuel injection to anti-lock breaks, innovations have come quite a way since the days of the Model T.

Even paint jobs have improved through the years, employing features that make new cars gleam on the showroom floor. But once the real-life driving begins, that sparkle can fade or even be buried beneath a layer of grime. Keeping your car looking new used to mean hours of weekend labor, repeated every few weeks. But today, drivers can keep that showroom shine for years.

Whether your car’s odometer is at 100 or 100,000 miles, a few simple steps can help protect your investment for years.

* Get Rid of Grime. Consistently washing your car will help prevent build-up of dirt and debris that can mar your paint’s finish. In areas with heavy construction, pollution or road chemicals, it becomes even more important.

* Go High-tech. After washing comes waxing, right? Not necessarily. Most car waxes are made from carnuba waxes, which can get sticky (and attract dirt) and wear off quickly. “People really like the idea of polishing their vehicle every few years, instead of every few weeks,” says Glenn Canady, president of 5 Star Technolgies. His company produces 5 Star Shine, a patented car polish so unique, it’s the only paint protection system to have a U.S. patent.

“Our product uses PTFE, the same substance that makes nonstick cookware slippery. That means it repels dirt and grime, instead of holding it. The best part is that it actually bonds with the molecules in your paint, so it lasts through hundreds of car washes. It will last about five years for a new car and three years on most used cars.” In fact, 5 Star Shine is so effective the U.S. Navy uses it to protect their radar antennas from exhaust fumes and sea spray.

* Protect from the elements. We’re entering a season of sloppy, messy driving. Mud, slush and snow can leave your car looking bad, and may lead to damage in the future. Be sure to include an undercarriage wash for your car on a regular basis to avoid a build-up of dirt that may hold moisture against the metal, leading to rust. Ice-melting chemicals and, of course, road salt, can lead to corrosion as well.

By taking the time to care for your car, you ensure years of reward with a great-looking vehicle.

To learn more about 5 Star Shine, call (866) 395-7827, or visit http://www.5starshine.com

During the winter, driving can be risky and difficult at times. Before you can even think straight, you are slamming on the brakes and plowing into a head-on collision. Unfortunately this scenario plays out several times during the winter travel season. As a seasoned driver you may think you can handle the winter roads, but one factor that you may be overlooking is the inexperienced, unaware drivers.

There are definitely tips and precautions you can put into practice to make sure you are fully prepared for safe winter travel. Do not try to act brave and assume no precautions need to be taken because of your years of driving experience. As this may be true, not even experienced drivers can always control a car on ice. The ice overtakes control of the automobile leaving you the one without control.

Here are some tips to plan and have organized before driving in the winter:

1) Dress appropriately for the winter driving. In case of an accident you want to keep warm in order to have free movement and not be restricted.

2) View the weather reports on your local station or go to The Weather Network to check on local conditions before doing any winter travel.

3) Make sure you are well rested and alert before you get into the car. During winter driving, you need to be awake and have full attention on your driving.

4) Prepare the car with non-perishable items and plenty of water incase you are caught in a snow storm. Keep your cell phone on at all times so you will be able to make that quick call.

Now that you are ready to depart for winter travel, here are some tips to help you stay safe while driving.

1) Allow extra distance between cars.

2) When you realize you are on ice, accelerate slowly and brake steadily. Do not slam on the brakes. Make sure you are continuously pumping the brakes until you can come to a safe stop.

3) If you do start sliding on the ice, make sure you always steer into the skid. This means steer the car in the direction of the backend. Do not jerk the car as this will send you into a spin.

4) If you have ABS, remember in the winter weather this system will need more distance to come to a complete stop.

5) The most important tip is to stay alert and keep your eyes on the road at all times during winter travel.

If you are unsure of how to drive in the winter, then you may want to consider taking an advanced driving course for winter weather. Here are a few winter driving courses to consider:

Ottawa Area - http://www.mco.org/cms/index.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=11

East GTA Area - http://www.accentdrivingschool.com/course-driving-schedule.php

Eastern Ontario Area - http://www.drivingskills.on.ca/

West GTA Area - http://www.skidcontrolschool.com/

As always, the best option is to stay off the roads during severe winter weather. If this is not an option, then make sure to use the above tips to be prepared for your winter travel.

Liane Wood is a chartered insurance professional and registered insurance broker specializing in personal and small business insurance. Visit her website at: http://www.Insurance-Rates.ca.

Swanky automotive manufacturer press trips are common occurrences.
But with the long-anticipated debut of its 2005 line, Audi went to extreme
lengths to introduce its new fleet.

And amid fancy media kits and proclamations, high-end
accommodations, unique cuisine and scenic test drives along the
Northern California coast, one part of the two-day U.S. presentation last
fall in San Francisco remains most vivid: An Audi engineer spent more
than one hour describing in exhaustive detail how he redesigned the
car’s new extended front grill.

The engineer’s presentation showcased his work pride and marketing
and public relations skills. But it also served as an ideal microcosm of
Audi’s well-deserved confidence in its new line.

Maligned for years and slipping in customer satisfaction rankings, the
new A6 instantly helps reverse those woes. It’s a classically styled,
powerful and overall impressive vehicle that shouldn’t be overlooked by
anyone considering a car in the above-$50,000 price range.

My test drive for the week was the A6, 4.2-liter Quattro AT6, the most
powerful and luxurious model in the line. With the two other A6 models,
the Quattro offers new styling, more room and more power than the
2004 version. It features a DOHC V8 aluminum alloy engine with five
valves per cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Quattro
designation is Audi’s trademarked All-Wheel Drive system.

Combined with the $1,500 sport package option (18-inch alloy wheels,
front sport seats, sport suspension and summer performance tires), the
A6 offers a superior drive. Its acceleration is confidently quick but not
jolting. The ride quality is quiet and smooth, and the steering and
handling is impressive in all driving circumstances. In short, driving or
riding in the A6 is an exercise in comfort and confidence.

Beyond performance, the A6 is equipped with a wide-ranging list of
features, vanity mirrors with regular and magnify glass options to an
electromechanical parking park.

Beginning the latter, the electronic parking brake can throw an
unknowing driver into immediate search mode. The parking brake light
was brightly lit for my first journey in the car. But where was the brake
pedal or handle release? Alas, there wasn’t one, rather a lever on the
console that sets or releases the brake with a slight one-finger flick.

The parking brake luxury sets the tone for the rest of the instrumentation,
interior design, myriad appointments and a state-of-the art sound system
($1,300 option).

The navigation system ($1,500 option) is extraordinarily detailed. It’s not
a quick study, but the seven-inch screen is highly visible and the
system’s functions are superior. Voice responses, for example, are
available in several languages.

The 12-way power front seats have two driver seat memory positions
and the power functions extend from the adjustable steering wheel
sunroof with tilt and slide functionality to folding, heated exterior mirrors.

The vehicle’s leather front and rear seats are plush, sturdy and
comfortable. The wooden inlays on the dash, console and doors further
add to the car’s interior good looks.

Add Xenon highlights, bluetooth phone availability, the keyless or key
ignition system and Sirius satellite radio, and the new Audi 6
comfortably aligns itself other well-known and highly touted vehicles in
its class the Acura RL, Lexus LS 430 and the Mercedes Benz E class.
Given the choice of any of the four, it would be hard not to pick the new
Audi A6.

Safety features - Driver and passenger front, side and curtain
airbags; Antilock brakes

Fuel Mileage (estimates) - 17 (city), 23 (highway).

Warranty - Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Corrosion,
12 years, limited; (24-hour), four-year roadside assistance program via
third-party supplier

Base price - $50,500.00

James Raia is a journalist, author and publisher in Sacramento, Calif.
Read more of his car review columns ,various other sports, fitness and
human-interest articles and subscriibe to his free electronic newsletters
on on his web site: http://www.ByJamesRaia.com

No matter how you look at it, even with fluctuating prices, gas continues to go up. Good for the oil companies, bad for us. But there are things you can do to save money.

People seem to be in a hurry these days and are rushing from point A to point B. If you were to slow down a bit you will save on gas. Lets look at this. If your vehicle gets 12 miles to the gallon and you have a 20-gallon fuel tank, and you travel at 75 miles per hour on the highway, you will be able to go 240 miles. If you were to slow down and travel at 65 miles per hour instead, you could get as much as 15 miles to the gallon. In this case you would be able to go 300 miles! That is an additional 60 miles you are getting just for slowing down a bit. Over a one year, period that can be a significant savings.

A little organization goes a long way. If you have several places you have to go, do them all at once. You can also double up with family, friends or neighbors and combine shopping trips or car pool to work.

Check your tire pressure on a regular basis. Under inflated or over inflated tires can cost you in gas. Also keep your engine tuned up.

Important note; gas prices fluctuate daily. Generally the gas prices are at their cheapest on a Saturday. It slowly goes up from there as the week progresses and peaks on Thursday. As you drive by your gas station on a regular basis take a mental note of the daily prices. If you buy gas when it is at its peak then you let the gas companies know that you are willing to pay these high prices. There is a motivational print called ‘Teamwork’, which has an appropriate saying “Together We Achieve More”. If we were all on the same page and bought gas on the cheapest day, we may be able to send a message to the gas companies. It’s a thought!

Check the owner’s manual or a mechanic for your vehicle. Most cars are made to use regular unleaded gas, which is quite a bit cheaper. You may be unknowingly paying too much for more expensive gas.

And finally, take unnecessary weight out of your vehicle. If you are storing things in your trunk or car, then you are using more gas.

Willie Jones

Willie Jones is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist. “When Art Inspires, Dreams can Become Reality”. http://www.artinspires.com “Make sure you enroll in the free motivational poster drawing. All winners receive a free framed print.”

The present Toyota Camry cars belong to the fourth generation Toyota Camry. Most of the Toyota Camry cars are sedans but the Camry was also sold as a station wagon. Three models of the Camry are available in the market right now: the Toyota Camry LE, Toyota Camry SE and the Toyota Camry XLE.

The Toyota Camry

The first Camry was introduced to us as the four-door Toyota Celica Camry sedans in 1980. As expected from Toyota, which always had strong marketing strategies, this vehicle got into the lime light in no time and thus, in 1983, Toyota decided to release it in the market as a model independent from the Toyota Celica, the Toyota Camry.

Since its introduction, the Toyota Camry has been competing for the top spot in the midsize sedan market and in recent years, it has been consistently strong in the passenger car category.

The Toyota Camry was first built in U.S in 1988 and since then the Camry virtually remained unchanged in substance. It was only in 2003 when Toyota released a completely redesigned Toyota Camry. It got the first new platform in ten years; also, a sporty trim the Toyota Camry SE got into the line-up.

Features

Toyota Camry’s sporty and confident stance is one of its most admirable features. The sleek body lines speak of its refinement inside and out. Your impression is further validated from the moment you enter the cabin and feel the cozy ambience and start the 210-hp V6 or the standard four-cylinder DOHC 157-hp engine.

Exterior looks of the Toyota Camry is enhanced by its set of handsome steel Toyota wheels with all-season tires, the Toyota spoiler, the aerodynamic and uniquely designed multi-reflector halogen Toyota headlights with auto-off feature, and the unique blackout sport Toyota grille with chrome trim. The dual color-keyed power outside Toyota mirror and the stylish full Toyota wheel covers also add some flair to your driving.

2006 Toyota Camry

For the 2006 model year, the Toyota Camry substantially remained the same after some interior and exterior updates in 2005. A DVD navigation system, however, is now a stand-alone option for the Toyota Camry SE V6 model. Still the multi-reflector halogen Toyota headlights, stylish Toyota taillights and luxurious standard leather seats (for the Toyota Camry XLE V6) new to the 2005 models provide a fresh look and a comfortable ride for the 2006 Toyota Camry cars.

Owning a Toyota Camry

Driving a Toyota Camry tells something about your own style and taste for high quality cars. Toyota Camry holds a reputation for quality, durability and reliability and this is precisely the reason why it continuously outsells other midsize cars, especially in America.

Owning it brings not only pride but great driving satisfaction so it is only right for you to give it the best attention and care it definitely deserves. Also, as your Toyota Camry gets older, it needs to be continually upgraded so it can always perform with maximum efficiency. Toyota Parts Online helps you do it with ease and convenience.

Check out Toyota Parts Discount deals offered at Toyota Parts Online on all Toyota Camry parts, and discover thousands of ways for you to improve your car.

Mark Clarkson is a 35 year old marketing consultant for a leading auto parts store. This native of Denver is also an offroad enthusiast.

Rust prevention is very important if you want to extend the life of your car. Rust can destroy more cars than accidents! Think of rust as a chronic illness, whereas a car accident is more like a sudden heart attack. Many chronic illnesses can be held at bay, if you know the right medicines to use and how to treat your body well.

Similarly, the proper rust prevention technique will helpf prevent the event of a chronic illness, like rust, happening to your vehicle.

What are the factors that can cause rust on your vehicle? The main cause of rust on your car is salt:

During the winter, salt is used on roads to keep them ice-free and therefore safe to drive on.

Unfortunately, while salt does help prevent your car from many potential accidents, it is not good at rust prevention. In fact, salt is a catalyst for rust.

Salt can carry moisture into even the smallest parts of your car.

Salt-caused oxidation is brought on by rising temperatures. So, although the salt finds its way into the crannies of your car in the winter, the real problems begin to arise in the spring.

Besides salt, acid rain is also bad for your vehicle.

Here are some clues and tips on rust prevention:

The best form of rust prevention is cleanliness. Cleanliness is next to godliness, especially when it comes to your car. Keep the body of your car clean.

Wax your car.

Wash your car regularly, even during the winter… You need to make sure that you wash the salt off from your car. Be sure to wash the underside of your vehicle, too!

After you are through washing your car, let the water drain out by opening your doors.

You want to get rid of all possible moisture around your car… clean your wheels. Dirt or leaves can hold moisture, and this moisture is not friend to rust prevention!

Check the drain holes in the bottoms of the doors, the frame, and the floor, and make sure that they are clear.

Check your car regularly for rust. It is best to find spots of rust while they are still small and easier to fix!

Do not ignore any light brown stains that you might see. It is possible to repair your rust problems, but rusty chrome parts are going to need to be completely replaced.

Another form of rust prevention is rust-proofing. You can have a specialist rust-proof your vehicle by spraying a certain waxy paste into the body panels of your car. You can also have a clear silicon-based spray applied to your paint.

New and modern cars tend to have warranties against corrosion and are built with protection against it.

Rust prevention is an important part of maintaining your car. Nothing can make your car depreciate in value quite like rust can! If you let the rust of your car get bad, it can be very difficult to fix. Just follow these simple steps of rust prevention, and hope that you never have a problem!

Viper car alarm system is considered to one of the best in the business. They provide you a security level for you car that no other alarm system provides. When buying a new viper car alarm system you will need to search a lot, there are different models available so you will need to know which the best one is. You can go to an auto mechanic and ask him about it or you can ask your friend or you can search the internet and read customer reviews about the system.

When installing a viper car alarm system always keeps in mind two factors; first is the price and the second is the security options it provides you. You want to keep your car safe so you will need a good security system. Always read customer reviews before purchasing a system, this allows you to know the features of that system and the type of problem that can occur with it. It’s always best to select two or three alarm systems to choose from. This gives you more flexibility of options and does not limit you to purchase a single alarm system. You need to have your car secured so always look for the best.

To help develop the newest generation of technicians, GM has many training-specific initiatives that assist dealers. The GM Mechanics Training Strategy is a three-tiered approach for allowing dealers to train technicians at every level. The students begin as early as high school.

Mechanically apt students seeking employment in servicing and maintaining GM vehicles are offered training through the GM ASEP. This practical program is a joint effort between GM, GM dealers and selected colleges across the United States and Canada. GM ASEP wants the best results and therefore teaches with the most up-to-date technologies and tools made by GM. Students may choose between working at a GM dealership for 2 years and attending a college that suits the requirements. Students will receive an Associate’s Degree in Automotive Technology upon graduation.

GM ASEP includes within the studies an advanced automotive technical training with a strong academic foundation. Students cover math, reading, and electronics, as well as both diagnostic and technological skills. Students earn an Associates Degree while working and learning on the job, resulting in a solid education combined with invaluable work experience. GM’s continued commitment to identify and support GM ASEP colleges and universities has produced over 15,000 service technicians since 1979.

More information can be found here if you want to become a certified GM technician through the GM Automotive Service Educational Program.

Auto insurance is a legal requirement in every US state and
Canadian province. Costs are continuing to rise. How can you
reduce some of these expenses and still get the best coverage?

First, get multiple quotes from the Internet and your
neighborhood broker. You can shop for different types of quotes
from a direct-sell insurance companies and offline and online
brokers.

Auto insurance that is cheapest isn’t always the smartest move.
Ask yourself, is the company financially secure? Are they
reputable and will they pay out if you have to make a claim.

The first piece of the policy is almost always liability
insurance. If you only have minimum liability coverage and you
injure someone, their attorney can go after your personal
assets. Many insurers feel that minimum liability is a gamble.
In fact, that is why it is often only a little more money for
more protection.

Auto insurance varies on car types. Coverage for a sports car is
very different from insuring the family sedan or mini-van.

If you are looking to buy a car, consider buying a car that
“looks good” to insurance companies. For instance, insurance
companies know what kinds of cars are prone to problems. They
also know what kinds of cars are most often stolen. If you
haven’t purchased your car yet, find out what cars make this
“good list” among auto insurers.

Consider how much coverage you really need to buy and the price
each of these coverages will pay. Think about collision and
comprehensive coverage, which is how much you will be reimbursed
for the loss or destruction of your vehicle. Are you carrying
$30,000 worth of collision coverage for a $12,000 vehicle?

If your car was totaled, would you be able to afford to replace
it? If not, you will want comprehensive and collision coverage.

The decision to buy this coverage is usually based on the value
of your car. Guidelines usually suggest that if your car is
worth less than $2,000, it won’t be worth it to buy
comprehensive and collision.

If you own a $50,000 car though, it would most certainly be
worth it to pay an extra $200 annually or so to insure that your
car will be replaced if you get in a serious accident.

If you’re driving a used car from 10 years ago, dropping
collision and/or comprehensive coverage can usually give big
savings.

Run through various scenarios such as if I totaled someone
else’s car, will my insurance cover it? How much will I have to
pay out of my own pocket?

Paying a higher deductible can also keep your policy costs down.
Remember, the deductible is what you pay out of own pocket when
making a claim.

Buying a low mileage car and insuring with a good driving
record, will all help bring insurance rates down. Don’t speed,
don’t drink and drive and you’ll save.

Single, young males under the age of 25 get the short end of the
stick in this deal so if you fall into this category make up for
this price increase by purchasing a more sensible vehicle.
Consider delaying the purchase of that cherry red Mustang until
after you’re 26 and married.

Keep yourself adequately covered. You can get away with having
the bare minimums required by each state to keep you in
compliance with state laws, but that may not be enough to
protect your assets if you have a major incident.

Insurance experts recommend that you review your insurance
policy often and thoroughly.

Many insurance companies offer discounts for anti-theft devices
and advanced driver-training courses.