With the popularity that hybrid vehicles are enjoying in the media and with all the attention they have been getting from environmentalist groups and advocates, one wonders how sales of these hybrid cars are going. Let us look at some secondary data provided to get a glimpse at just how marketable these hybrid cars are.As of the first quarter of 2007, data from Forbes show that in the US alone, hybrids garnered a combined sale of more than 17,000 units, a remarkable 10% increase from the same period in 2006. The demand is definitely rising, and this demand is translating into actual sales. Sale of hybrid vehicles vis--vis the total number of light-duty vehicles sold also increased by as much as 1.4% compared to previous year levels. This only means more and more buyers prefer hybrids to conventional-fuel models.Why the Rush to the Hybrid Section?As fuel prices soar, more and more car buyers are prompted to go for hybrid cars. Since 2003, hybrid car-makers have been raking in profits from hybrid car sales. In 2004 in the US alone, "hybrid car sales" were almost 88,000 units. And with the increasing awareness about climate change and global warming, hybrid car sales are yet again expected to surge.With great expectations for hybrid car sales to reach record highs in 2007, carmakers are rushing to put into the market new models, packed with all the environmental protection and fuel efficiency features that they could muster, not to mention the technological come-ons. New models are also widening the array of offerings, from compact to mid-sized sedans, to SUVs and minivans, even to pickups and trucks.Car buyers can afford to be choosy with the broad range of hybrid units being offered in the market today. Moreover, fuel-efficiency and environmental friendliness features of these hybrids are reaching new heights, captivating a new kind of socially conscious and responsible breed of buyers.Prices are reasonable enough to guarantee a following. Moreover, tax incentives and breaks are given to buyers of these eco-friendly hybrid units. Doing the math, the hybrid buyer is aware that he can easily recoup the few thousand dollars difference of a hybrid model over that of a conventional one, through reduced fuel consumption.And these hybrids come safe for the buyer and his family, too. In addition to fuel efficiency, hybrid safety features are bringing in more buyers. Open the windows and the low emissions of your hybrid ensure that your kids are breathing fresher and cleaner air inside and outside the hybrid van. Navigation and stability systems for the hybrids are also a notch higher, adding to the safety factor more. A hybrid car buyer is assured of efficiency not only fuel-wise, but overall car performance-wise.As buyers become more fuel-price conscious and more aware of climate change and the effects of greenhouse gases; as they realize that safety is paramount, and begin to expect comfort and enjoyment from riding safe and eco-friendly vehicles, hybrid car sales will continue to rise. Car makers are thus capitalizing on this trend and are coming up with one innovative hybrid model after another. Every car dealer will surely have one hybrid in his stable.

Impact Wrench Maintenance Tips

Water contamination is the great enemy to your prized air impact wrench and other expensive air tools. The common misconception is that if you just drain the air supply tank in your air compressor of excess water, you are protecting your air tool from water damage. While draining your air supply tank is good, you are only preventing rust damage in the tank. The air outlet is generally at the top of the tank and the water in the bottom doesn't make it up there to damage your impact wrench. How then does water get into your air lines and then to your air tool? The answer is condensation. Water condenses and builds up in the air hoses and then travels to your air tool. Also, on a cold winter morning the water that has accumulated in your air lines will freeze and cause even more damage. Frozen water can break loose and damage your tools or even block the air flow in the line. The solution to this problem is install a water filter in your air hose. A good place to put it is midway down your air hose. There it will be out of the way when use your impact wrench under your car and you are trying to get into a tight space. A small investment in a water filter will go a long to prolong the life of your expensive air tools.Some air tool users try to compensate for water that condenses in air lines by using an air tool oil designed to drive out moisture. Beware of air tool oils that claims to clean, degrease and eradicate water. These types of oils contain isopropyl alcohol or some other solvents. These will destroy or rot out all of the seals and o rings in the air tools. Marvel Mystery Oil and similar products will give a quick fix to gummed up air impact wrench, but the improvement will be short lived. Eventually it will eat the air tool apart and cost you a lot more money in the long run.Contamination of dirt, grit, sawdust is the second greatest threat to your air tools. Many contractors diligently clean or change air filters on their air compressors, but still suffer contamination damage to their air tools. Hose couplers are the weak link in the chain. You can have a air compressor delivering clean air and then have a dirty air hose ruin it before it gets to the air tool. Air hoses get dragged through dirt, mud, oily water etc. These contaminants then make into the air hose and then to the tool. By using an air hose reel instead of loose air hoses, you will keep them out of the muck and clean for the next job.In line oiler Lubrication is critical to extending the life of your valuable air impact wrench and increase productivity. An air tool that has not been properly lubricated will result in low power output. The usual culprit is a dry motor starving for some oil. Your impact wrench is an expensive investment and you must take the time to properly lubricate it. The easiest and quickest way to make surein line oiler it is constantly lubricated is to install an in line oil lubricator. One of these will insure your air tools are receiving oil every time they are used. In line lubricators attach right into the air hose and you fill them with the correct lubricating oil. (see your manufacturers specs.). You should also do routine external lubrication through the hammer case grease fitting. A well lubricated air impact wrench will deliver more torque, last longer, run quieter and increase productivity. Dont forget to add an in line oiler to your next impact wrench or air tool. It will pay for itself several times over.

Buying Used Cars Directly From Its Owner

When seeing advertisements involving cars for sale by the owner, you dont have to automatically suspect. If youre a smart customer, youll read the whole advertisement and decide for yourself whether or not the owner is a legitimate seller selling a viable vehicle. Some advertisements will reveal themselves as just nonsense; others will involve the sale of used automobiles by dealers. Still others will be legitimate advertisements for cars offered by owners who are giving you a great deal for their used vehicle. Again, reading carefully makes all the difference.For example, I recently was in the market for a used automobile and decided to go for one that was for sale by an owner, feeling this to be the most effective way to get a used car at a reasonable price. I found a selection of advertisements on Craigs List, an online community bulletin board. Amazingly, there were many choices for me, some of which looked great but werent in my budget, some of which were very affordable but lacked all the necessary parts (like the engine) and some that looked great enough to actually contact the owners and test drive the vehicles. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any response back from the owners, even after I called back and left an offer.Unfortunately, I found ads on that site that really werent those for cars selling by owner but were ads that clearly came from dealers. Even the dealers information was listed in the ad. I didnt think this would be a problem, however, the information listed four contact numbers, misspelled information and the same information showed up in ads for more than one vehicle. I was looking for a 1970s Chevy truck and, in a search of over 1000 vehicles, it became obvious that the same dealer was selling many more than just one car. The same contact phone numbers and misspelled words were in each and every ad.Personally, I think that dealer was a fraud. While the vehicles probably really existed the photos and information were in the ad but I could tell from the background in the photos in which the cars were shown were taken in the same place and that, unless this was a guy with a lot of vehicles, I was looking at a dealer and not just an owner trying to sell a car. This was more likely a person trying to avoid paying dealers taxes by passing himself off as an owner. The guy wasnt going about it in a terribly sneaky way using the same contact information and putting all the vehicles in the same category where they would likely get picked up by skilled and attentive buyers. As one of those buyers, I felt like he was wasting not only my time, but the time of serious buyers out there, trying to get a good deal on a car. Such behavior only serves to make the whole used car business look bad and its not good for those legitimate sellers out there just trying to sell a decent car.

Finding Your Best Deal By Using Car Auction Sites

Your old car just went to pieces today and you have very little money in your pockets. Perhaps you could look at the very limited selection at one of those local car dealerships that offer financing on a high sticker price made even higher by the interest rates they plan on charging you. You could go to the bank for a loan and beg the loan officer to give you some cash at a very high interest rate. You could do either of these things but you wish there was another option. Well, there are other options and they are called car auction sites.How Do Car Auction Sites Work?If you want to avail yourself of this great money saving opportunity, it may prove helpful to learn a bit about "car auction" sites first. Car auction sites offer a wide range of vehicle choices due to their very nature. The automobiles being auctioned are usually placed up for bid by individuals or small auto dealerships so prices can range from the no reserve car auction to items that have a preset price or at least some reserve on the car where the seller has the right to refuse to sell unless the price goes higher than his stated reserve price. Thus if a seller put a vehicle on an car auction site with a reserve of two hundred dollars and the highest bidder only bid one hundred ninety dollars, the seller would have the choice of selling the car for the one hundred ninety dollar bid or refusing the sale and relisting the car thru another car auction site.There are a few things to consider before bidding on car auction sites as well. One major consideration is the location of the vehicle and the cost and method of shipping. The automobiles sold on car auction sites are located around the globe so pay close attention to where the car is located before bidding because all bids are considered final and legally binding as contracts and if you win the bid you will be expected to fulfill your contractual obligations towards the purchase.Another consideration before bidding on car auction sites is the reputation of the seller offering the vehicle you are looking at. Car auction sites such as Ebay Motors have a great way of making sure you know the sellers reputation. Every buyer and seller on Ebay has a rating. It is generally considered a very good practice to buy from sellers who have high ratings and good feedback. This helps to insure that your experience with car auction sites will be a pleasant one.