Say Goodbye to Those Yellow, Cloudy Headlights

Are you one of the few who take such great care washing and vacuuming the interior of your car but your yellow, cloudy headlight lenses drastically need replacement, yet you keep ignoring them? Many say that the reason why they do not want to go for replacement headlights is because these are expensive and that they could not afford the high prices. These may be true to some especially to those who do not want to do thorough research for affordable headlights. But for those who give extra effort, finding affordable headlights is not a tedious task at all.

Headlights are part of the lighting assembly of every vehicle. These are important safety devices because without these, it is impossible for a driver to have a clear view of the road especially during night time and periods of low visibility. There are basically three types of headlights used on vehicles today. These are the standard sealed beam, the halogen sealed beam, and composite. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages over the others that it is why it is necessary to know which type will work best for your vehicle.

No matter what type of headlights you choose, after some time, it will be susceptible to weakening and yellowing. Yellow, cloudy headlights are caused by elements such as sun, acid rain, harsh weather conditions, and chemicals like brake fluid, hot radiator fluids, and harsh cleaners. However, this problem can be easily solved by replacing the headlights. Replacement headlights can be purchased at Auto Parts Discount at affordable prices. At Auto Parts Discount, you say goodbye to your yellow, cloudy headlights without having to pay a fortune.

Pop and Hot

I came across Consumer Guides' website just recently. What piqued my interest were the website's lists of the Hottest Models and the Most Popular vehicles. Possibly, this could all be due to clicks and visits that these vehicles have received, or perhaps, yet, all about the website's top choices. Whichever that may be, here are the lists.

Hot Models:

• 2006 Toyota RAV4
• 2006 Chevrolet HHR
• 2006 Nissan Murano
• 2006 Hyundai Sonata
• 2006 Ford Mustang
• 2006 Forester
• 2006 Scion tC
• 2006 Buick Lucerne
• 2006 Honda Accord
• 2006 Hyundai Sonata

Most Popular Models:

• 2006 Honda Civic
• 2006 Mazda 3
• 2006 Toyota Camry
• 2006 Ford Escape
• 2006 BMW 3-Series
• 2006 Nissan Altima
• 2006 Audi A4
• 6 Volkswagen Passat
• 2006 Ford Explorer
• 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  

And you know what's also popular among car lovers, owners, and enthusiasts? Yep, low-priced quality auto parts found on the Internet like Auto Parts Discount. Form Acura parts to Volkswagen parts, they got you covered, and they simply suffice your every auto part needs. Personally, they are the coolest auto parts I've seen on the Web!

Technology’s Drawbacks

Technology has played a big role in shaping the auto industry into what it’s like today. Cars are now more advanced in terms of performance, fuel efficiency and economy, safety and are less harmful to the environment. And with it, the industry’s future is sure to continuously evolve and offer future consumers more driving satisfaction and safety.

However, technology has its drawbacks too. Instead of improving our lives, they can also be destructive and even fatal. But more often, those detrimental effects are due to our own negligence, misuse and abuse of certain technological products.

Take for example cell phones. A research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that more and more drivers are using cell phones while driving and this is a major cause of traffic accidents nowadays. About 1.5 million drivers, mostly women and young drivers are prone to use cell phones while driving.

Based from the research, many car crashes and near misses were preceded by the driver being distracted by the use of cell phone or by other electronic devices in the car. Even the use of hand-free phones and other devices do not guarantee safety while driving. The group has noted about 700 car accidents that involved the use of wireless devices.

Among the findings in the said research are the following:

• Hand-held cellular phone use increased among drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, from 5 percent in 2002 to 8 percent in 2004.

• For all age groups, hand-held cellular phone use increased among female drivers, from 4 percent in 2002 to 6 percent in 2004. Men using hand-held cellular phones remained steady at 4 percent from 2002 to 2004.

• Motorists are more likely to use phones when driving alone. In 2004, 6 percent of drivers traveling alone were holding cellular phones, compared to 2 percent of drivers who had at least one passenger. However, drivers who had at least one child passenger (7 years old or younger) were as likely to use a hand-held cellular phone as were drivers with no children on board (both at 5 percent of observed drivers in 2004).

Driving involves a lot of listening skills since a moving car is basically a complex symphony of sound. It also needs concentration so as to avoid crashing into common road hazards, including pedestrians and other vehicles. It’s hard to do two things at the same time, like driving and talking on the phone so it would be better to just pull over and talk on the phone or drive and not use the phone. I bet you would want to choose either of the two rather than crashing into another’s rear bumper.

For added safety, make sure to check your car parts regularly to ensure that they won’t fail you, especially during the most difficult time. If some of the parts need replacement, replace them as soon as possible. You can go to Auto Parts Discount for a wide variety of replacement parts including wheels, headlights, bumpers, towing mirrors, turn signal and corner lights.

Two New Vehicles from Toyota Launched at LA Auto Show

The 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV and 2007 Toyota Yaris Subcompact are having their world debut at the 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show today, January 6, 2006. The FJ Cruiser is an early 2007 model and was inspired by the FJ Cruiser concept Toyota had introduced three years ago. This all-new sport utility vehicle is designed with more power and agility yet it bears the intrinsic characteristics of the legendary FJ 40, the first 4Runner and 4x4compact pickups of Toyota. It offers no less than the toughest and most dynamic performance both on-road and off-road.

Powering the 2007 FJ Cruiser is a 4-L V6 engine that delivers 245 horsepower. It is mated to either a five-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. It is based on a modified 4Runner platform and carries a host of features adopted from the original FJ 40, including the Toyota grille with Toyota logo badging, round Toyota headlights, upright windshield and white cap roof. The new FJ Cruiser however is more compact and is set on a wide track that enhances its stability and improves its stance.

Noticeably new to this model are its two-part rear hatch with flip-up glass, black overfenders with Toyota mudguards, silver painted Toyota bumper extenders, Toyota mirrors, Toyota door handles, skid plate and 17-inch steel Toyota wheels. It comes with Star Safety System that includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and traction control (TRAC), anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and brake assist.

On the other hand, the new Toyota Yaris replaces the compact Toyota Echo. It is available in sedan and sporty S Sedan versions. It belongs to the second generation Yaris and come with new and wider platform compared to those of European Yaris. It features new integrated Toyota bumpers and Toyota headlights, steel or aluminum alloy Toyota wheels with tires pushed outward and full Toyota wheel covers.

Like the FJ Cruiser, the new Yaris has a straightforward design yet its simplicity translates to so much practicality and versatility. Powering this subcompact is a small yet very fuel efficient and clean 1.5L engine with VVT that allows the Yaris to go 34 miles per gallon in the city and 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

For more information on these two models, you can go to Toyota’s official site. And just in case you are in need of high quality replacement parts for an old Toyota car, say a 1990 Toyota Corolla, you can go to Auto Parts Discount for a great variety of Toyota parts. The store is also offering great discounts on other top quality parts such as Ford parts, BMW parts, Acura parts, Honda parts, Chevy parts and a whole lot more.

Vehicle Theft Rampage

Browsing through Auto Parts Discount and searching through the Internet for Subaru floor mats and Ford headlights for my vehicle, I came across several articles about car theft. It has certainly plucked my interest.

It was astounding to know that according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB®), imported vehicles are what the vehicle thieves favor over the domestic brands. This organization, the NICB, has made a list of the 10 vehicles that are most repeatedly stolen and reported in the U.S. in the year 2004. These are:

* 1995 Honda Civic
* 1989 Toyota Camry
* 1991 Honda Accord
* 1994 Dodge Caravan
* 1994 Chevrolet Full Size / C/K 1500 Pickup
* 1997 Ford F150 Series
* 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup
* 1990 Acura Integra
* 1988 Toyota Pickup
* 1991 Nissan Sentra

Upon reading this list, I was certainly concerned. After all, I owned a Honda Accord. That’s the number three on the list! So I decided to find out how to prevent car thefts, and luckily I was able to discover how. This list could probably help you out, just like it has given me peace of mind.

1. Park your car in the garage, behind a locked gate or in your driveway. You see, most cars are stolen on the streets or parking areas. Parking your car in these locations could prove to be a hindrance or give much difficulty to any would-be thieves. Just make sure that your car would be a little difficult to get to.

2. Install a car alarm especially if your car is in an apartment parking lot. By doing so, it could alert you or anybody else if there are any thieves trying to steal away your car, especially if there are no security guards to keep an eye on the premises.

3. Try putting in automobile security tracking devices. This would ensure you a fast recovery for the GPS-based system computer can locate your car anytime anywhere. That is, if the thieves have not disabled them yet.

4. Never leave your car running unattended. For you, it may be “just a moment”, but for a car thief, it could be the perfect opportunity to jump in and drive away.

5. Get theft insurance. Losing you car ensures you that you would at least be getting something back.