Pros and Cons of Financing vs. Leasing a Vehicle
Auto

Pros and Cons of Financing vs. Leasing a Vehicle

Investing in a vehicle is a big decision, regardless of the point in life where you are at. You may feel that the toughest decisions when it comes to buying a car are between the brand, type, and color of the vehicle. Truth is, these are the easier choices to make. The real problem is choosing between financing vs. leasing a vehicle. There are significant costs that you need to consider when it comes to paying for a used or new vehicle. If you’re dreading the prospect of having to save up for the full price of a vehicle upfront or if having to secure a vehicle loan is particularly daunting, then leasing could be a great option. That being said, leasing cars aren’t for everyone either. What makes one option better than the other? Read on to know the pros and cons of both, financing a vehicle vs. leasing it: 1. Pros of leasing a vehicle The monthly payments will be typically less than that of a vehicle loan. Under the leasing option, it is easier to be driving a new car every 2-3 years. Those who lease cars are almost always protected by a warranty. Those who lease cars do not have to worry about selling or trading the car later on.
Read More
Tips to Stop Windshield Cracks from Spreading
Auto

Tips to Stop Windshield Cracks from Spreading

Cracking your windshield not only ruins and damages the look of your car, but it also blocks the view while driving, making it dangerous to drive. What’s more, the crack can quickly spread too, burning a deep hole in your pocket when you finally get around to fixing it. So how can you stop a windshield crack from spreading and will it be an expensive process? The first step to stop the crack from spreading is preventing stressors, such as debris, dirt, or water, from entering the crack. To stop a crack from getting worse, use clear tape to keep the shattered glass in place. This, however, is a temporary solution that will not hold up in a car wash, extreme weather conditions, or even bumpy roads. The article below tells you about the ways in which you can go about fixing your car’s windshield and stop the cracks from spreading: 1. Buying windshield repair kits If you’re looking to repair cracks in the windshield yourself, buy a windshield repair kit. While there are various kinds of kits available in the market, most of them contain an adaptor and a specialized resin liquid, which gets seals the crack from outside elements.
Read More
Best High Tech Gadget Gifts for the Auto Enthusiasts
Auto

Best High Tech Gadget Gifts for the Auto Enthusiasts

Car gadgets and tech have come a long way since Hula dolls stuck to dashboards. Today, it’s the rise of state-of-the-art, ground-breaking car tech, right from 360-degree cameras completely rewriting Google Maps to wireless systems allowing drivers to check tire pressure. So, there isn’t a better time than now to gift your car-loving techy friends some amazing, never-seen-before cool gadgets and tech. Here’s a few of the trendiest, leading-edge car gadgets for auto buffs: 1. Verizon Jetpack mobile hotspot In today’s day and age, everyone wants to be connected to the Internet, whenever and wherever they go. For your tech-loving car freak friends, this Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot makes for a perfect gift, transforming their car into a roving hotspot. Not only can it work for up to 20 hours on a single charge, but it can handle 15 devices at once in that time frame. The added advantage is that Verizon’s is the largest network in the country, allowing you to stay wired no matter where you go. 2. FOBO Tire system Nobody wants to crawl underneath their vehicles on the ground to check the pressure of the tires. The FOBO system can help monitor the tire pressure easily.
Read More
7 Reasons to Buy a Luxury Car
Auto

7 Reasons to Buy a Luxury Car

Have you always dreamed of buying a luxury car? Have you been drooling over the images of the high-end luxury automobiles? Well, the reasons to buy a luxury car is endless. While some would buy it for its utility and technology, others would purchase it for mere fun. If you are looking for a customizable vehicle that has all the latest technology and gadgets that you can think of and is safe and secure, then you can opt for a luxury car that suits your requirements. Here are the top reasons that make buying luxury cars worth every penny: 1. Safety Luxury cars do end up offering a ton of safety features as compared to their non-luxurious counterparts, translating into better results in crash tests. Luxury cars, especially those manufactured after 2009, come with a host of standard safety features, including curtain airbags, side-front airbags, anti-lock braking systems, traction control, and stability control, among others. In fact, the base price of 50% of the cars chosen as top safety picks by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) is more than $50,000. 2. Resale value Every year, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) rates the vehicles with the best resale values for their class.
Read More
Motorcycle Safety Myths Busted
Auto

Motorcycle Safety Myths Busted

Motorcycles and their users have been painted in an unflattering light since they’ve been invented, but with changing times, they’re now finally accepted as an acceptable means of transport. The waning winter months see thousands of avid motorcyclists and novices ride across the country, and the media has conditioned us to expect these individuals to be loud, leather-wearing, dangerous people. But did you know that if the proper measures were taken, motorcycles are as safe a vehicle as any? Here are some important (and stubborn) myths regarding motorcycle safety that need to be busted right away, no matter whether riders are experienced or not. 1. Leather is worn by riders to look cool Yes, leather is a part of the biker culture and yes it looks cool—however, the culture of donning leather jackets began as a means for drivers to protect themselves. The riders prefer it for the unique safety properties of leather, making it a great insulator and keeping them warm against the chill of the wind, protecting them against cuts and scrapes, and being extremely resistant to all and any form of abrasion. Today, leather jackets for riders include protective shoulder, back, and elbow pads for extra safety.
Read More
The Best Winter Safety Features in Cars
Auto

The Best Winter Safety Features in Cars

Driving in winter isn’t an easy job. So, features to make your car winter-ready need to be chosen carefully. While a winter car doesn’t need to have all extra equipment, it does need to be one that has some specific winter-driving features which will not only make driving easier and safer but also prevent you from being stranded in the snow. So, which are the safety features that a car should have and which are the ones that you can do without? Here are some important features to look for when buying a car for driving around in the winter. 1. Winter tires Winter tires are perhaps the most important features that a car should be equipped with. Winter tires feature a special type of treads specifically designed to withstand the salt, ice, and snow. If you’re buying a used car with winter tires, be sure to thoroughly check them for wear and tear. 2. Windshield wiper defrosters The biggest deterrent to safety while driving in winter is when the ice freezes beneath the windshield wipers. Defrosters are heated elements that are placed under the wiper blades which help in melting away caked-on snow and ice. 3. Heated steering wheels While woolen mittens may be great for keeping your hands all warm toasty, they aren’t so great when it comes to you having to grip the steering wheel.
Read More
The Top Trucks Ranked for Safety and Performance
Auto

The Top Trucks Ranked for Safety and Performance

Looking for a new truck that offers top-of-the-line safety features? If you’re used to driving a gas or diesel truck, you may be surprised by the many electric truck offerings from top brands like Ford, GMC, Toyota, and Ram. Plus, a vehicle known for safey will often mean lower insurance rates. Look no further than the following five trucks, ranked for their advanced safety features and capabilities: 1. Ram 1500 The Ram 1500 is a strong contender with several safety features to protect you and your passengers. The truck has blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking to make sure you’re aware of your surroundings at all times. 2. Ford F-150 The Ford F-150 is a popular truck with advanced driver assistance technologies to ensure your safety on the road. It comes with features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking that help prevent collisions. 3. GMC Sierra 1500 The GMC Sierra 1500 boasts bold styling and advanced safety technologies, such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. These features ensure you’re aware of any potential dangers on the road. 4. Chevrolet Silverado 2500 The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 is a heavy-duty truck that is built to tackle tough jobs.
Read More
The Top SUV Brands for Safety (Ranked)
Auto

The Top SUV Brands for Safety (Ranked)

Sport utility vehicles, or SUVs, have become increasingly popular over the years, as they offer spaciousness, versatility, and ruggedness that many other vehicle types cannot match. In addition, buying an SUV that ranks high for safety can help save you on insurance rates, as insurers take safety features and crash test ratings into account when setting premiums. Here are five SUVs that stand out for their safety features and ratings. 1. Mazda CX-5 The Mazda CX-5 is a stylish and sporty SUV that has earned high marks for safety. It comes with a range of advanced safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. In addition, it has earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), thanks to its excellent crash test results. 2. Hyundai Tucson The Hyundai Tucson is a compact SUV that is available in electric, hybrid, and gasoline powertrain options. It boasts an impressive suite of safety features, such as forward collision avoidance assist, lane departure warning, and driver attention warning. The IIHS has given the Tucson a Top Safety Pick rating, making it one of the safest SUVs in its class. 3.
Read More