Some cars are simply, for lack of a better word- disposable. Not because you did not ‘pay enough’ for it to last a long time (although admittedly, this happens as well) but because they did not turn out to be sturdy enough for your daily routine and occasional challenges, whatever they may be. But enough about the ‘rotten batch’ let’s take look into the list of some of the most trustworthy vehicles ever designed. Excluding the Moon Buggy, the Pope Mobile and armored cars, of course…
Land Rover… Range Rover… these Rovers are the full package. They are spacious enough to carry you, your family, you camping gear and perhaps some of your closest friends. These amazing rides are easy on the eyes but relentless and tough.
The Ford 150 is a monster, no matter how you look at it. But it’s a monster that a lot of people love. The size and the entire bulk appear menacing but the looks are only trying to live up to the performance and utility of this vehicle.
The Japanese try to respond to the same demands by designing gorgeous looking trucks that sometimes even out-perform their Western counterparts. Toyota and Nissan are the two leaders in this field.
A car is a good investment. This well-received maxim has been put to a lot of scrutiny since the prices for fuel started soaring. Aside from the sustained comfort, convenience and status boost, what would make keeping a car worth your hard-earned cash?
A car that definitely runs its course is a good investment. The longer the life that your car lives, the longer the use of your money. So how do you preserve the life of your precious four wheels?
Start with the basics: Get a sturdy car that will live up to your demands. One that is not susceptible to fail under “normal, everyday” use.
Keep it clean. Clean means spotless… inside and outside. Maintaining your car includes keeping the coat sparkling, the upholstery dirt free, and the engine ‘fresh’. If your car is always up-to-date with tune-ups, you will not be needing any major overhaul any time soon.
Know your car. Know how it works, recognize the tell-tale sounds and smells from your own engine. Be knowledgeable about the limitations of your car’s performance.
Invest. Think of your car as if it were your own offspring. Never sacrifice quality for a (seemingly) cheaper alternative. The long-term advantage of a brand you trust can’t ever be traded off.
In some places, car colors used to be a basis for traffic-handling schemes. Color-coding for cars used to be an easy task, much like counting or simply categorizing the cars by the last digit of their plate numbers. Lately, different colors have sprung out; variations to the usual basic hues that have turned out to be quite difficult to even give a name to.
What used to be known simply as blue, Dark Blue or Royal Blue have transformed into shades of blue with names such as Canal Blue from Honda or Westminster Blue and Pacific Blue from Jaguar. The classic Red has taken on such incarnations and monikers as Jupiter Red, Carnival Red, Blaze Red Crystal and Inferno Red.
What used to be just plain old Silver may be known as Viper Bright Silver, Silver Steel or Brilliant Silver for 2006’s Daimlerchrysler. There are cars that have the color Calcite Yellow, Chrome Yellow, Zinc Yellow or School Bus Yellow.
Even the color White has taken on different names and a slight difference in the shade – Ceramic White Pearlcoat, Ivory, Linen White, Ghost White and Bright White.
Black cars may be colored Black Licorice, Black Mica or Lamp Black.
Mary Kay Pink is girlish and young Torch red is playful and striking while Sunset Orange is sober.
Since the invention of the car in the 50’s a lot of innovations, renovations and what-have-you have come and gone in efforts to pimp up the automobile. What follows is a rundown on some of the best inventions related to the car; some of which relate to safety, increased road performance, fuel efficiency and comfort.
Car stereo. This nifty little gadget has nothing to do with safety, increased road performance or fuel efficiency. In fact, it even eats up your car battery charge. However, any driver would attest to the great benefits of having the car stereo. It keeps you awake during long drives, it cools you down and relaxes you through traffic jams and it also provides a good background to pleasant conversations. Roaring through the freeway with rock music blasting through your stereo is pure heaven.
The hand brake. This work of genius provides a mechanism that gives double safety. Because of the hand brake, cars lifelessly sliding down hills has simply become a thing for comedy films.
The windshield wipers. When you find yourself driving through heavy rain, sleet or snow, you’ll realize that these wipers are an invention that may only come from nothing less than divine inspiration.
They say that keeping a car costs a lot of money; especially now that the price of the stuff they (appropriately) call ‘black gold’ is soaring. But if you love your car and you’re just itching to pimp it up or to splurge a bit on your beloved vehicle, here are things for your car that you can guiltlessly spend your hard-earned cash on:
Regular car tune ups. Keeping your car in its top condition is always, always a good excuse for parting with your money. This ensures your safety on the road. This also helps you save on fuel as much as you can. If all that is not enough, it also helps you save a lot of cash on major repairs as well as the time spent getting from one place to another or time spent waiting for the car to ‘come back to life’ from repairs.
New tires. If your old tires are so worn out that it could hardly sustain the optimum amount of air for long periods of time, it’s probably time to give them a well-deserved rest. Not only would your car look easier on the eyes, it would also increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
A good quality (although expensive) car wax. Anyone would agree, the long-term effects of the best brand is worth every penny.