Members Only

Pop your clutch cause Your Car Care REPs are back and ready to go redline. I always like to keep things personal between readers and myself so that people can see that if your passionate about what you do sooner or later the pain of paying dues will turn into the pleasure of recognition. A few months ago I was having some serious dental pain. I called my dentist and they said come right in. After an examination I was told I needed to have a wisdom tooth removed. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t happen until 2PM, which was 2 hours later. So what the hell was I to do for the next 2 hours? I started to roam the streets when I came upon a police blockade and a sea of young military student cadets. Then I remembered, “oh yeah, today is Veterans Day”.

I decided to take a gander at the parade hoping it would take my mind off my toothache. As I got closer, I couldn’t help but notice all of the old school classic rides that were there; a souped up flame red Hot Rod, a ‘69 cherry coke colored drop top Mustang, a ‘73 denim blue colored Camaro with white racing stripes plus plenty more. My eyes were wide open and I swear someone handed me a tissue cause I was salivating all over my shirt. I walked over to a guy that was driving a pristine silver surfer colored ‘64 Chevy Impala and asked “What’s with all the old school rides at the Vet Parade.” He says the auto clubs are here showing support for our troops. I asked him his name and which auto club he was with. He said, “I’m with the Auto Technique’s and my name is Trini.” So today Trini of the Auto Technique’s this blog is dedicated to you and all the other Auto Club members that came out to the Veterans Day Parade and made me forget my pain ….for 2 hours at least.

Now some of you may or may not know what an auto club is and what they stand for. Auto clubs have been around for decades but have recently gained notoriety and recognition. Most auto clubs revolve around 3 main creeds; love of an automobile, the brotherhood/sisterhood between its members, and the exclusivity of its organization. Many people reading this may say it sounds like a cult. My answer to that - auto clubs are a part of car culture that do have cult like ingredients mixed into its stew. Certain auto clubs revolve around a particular car model. For example, there is a huge Corvette Auto Club that has thousands of members, which not only span this nation but the globe. And as you guessed, a prerequisite to joining the Corvette Auto Club is that you have to own a Vette. A good buddy of mine, Wax Daddy, is part of the Corvette Auto Club. If he is any representation of its other members, they are fanatically in love with their Corvettes. Wax Daddy is even a part of a cyber Corvette Auto Club called “Digital Vette”. Now that’s what I call true Corvette love.

I know a lot of guys and ladies (yes I said ladies) that are members of various auto clubs. (Shout outs to the SUV Lady Ryders of Queens, NY). One thing for sure, there is a special bond that exists between auto club members. I’ve seen auto club members greet each other with special handshakes, which they only do with each other. I’ve seen members of auto clubs wearing customized embroidery jackets with butter soft leather sleeves, which cost more than their wedding tuxedo. I’ve been to auto club events where people come out in droves to show support for the sponsoring auto club and love for their own auto club. It’s sometimes mind boggling how people can build a profound kinship around one thing, an automobile. But when you think about how complex an auto is and how many hands it has to pass through while its being manufactured it makes sense. When I’m at an auto club event I often listen to the conversations that are taking place. “How did you shave off those door handles?” “What kind of clear coat are you using?” “Did you see that episode of Top Gear?” (Which happens to be my favorite auto show by the way). All of these folks are building relationships around one common denominator, the auto.

You may be asking yourself, why would anyone want to join an auto club? I have love for cars and I even talk shop with my buddies about our rides all the time. Should that make me want to join an auto club? The answer to that resides on where you stand on exclusivity. The reason most people join auto clubs are because they are part of an exclusive organization that takes pride in its creed, language and culture. That creed and language are part of a bigger puzzle known as the Auto Club Culture. For example, when someone says, “Show your colors”, in Auto Club Culture this means to show which auto club you are affiliated with. Which is usually colorfully embroidered onto a jacket or shirt. If someone asks you to “REP-YOUR-HOOD” this means to show what your car has got under its hood and to “represent” for your auto club. “Representing” could be in the form of show and tell or even a street race. These are just a few of the many glossary terms that are used in Auto Club Culture. Sorry, I can’t reveal them all. You have to be a member for that. One thing is for sure, everyone feels special being able to walk through a door that says Members Only. That’s it for this edition of Your Car Care REPs, but stay tuned we will be back with a new episode. Deuces!!

Sssccrrrreeeech….

Your Car Care REPs

Obama fuel Efficiency

Your Car Care REPs are here and we’re pulling up to your bumper. There is a lot happening in the auto industry right now and Your Car Care REPs are giving you the 411. In July 2011, President Obama announced new standards to double all cars mpg (miles per gallon) by the year 2025. This standard would have a huge impact on the US gas consumption and our dependency on foreign oil. Currently new 2011 vehicles get, on average, 27 mpg (highway miles). 13 major auto manufactures have all acquiesced to President Obama’s goals and expectations. Doubling the miles per gallon your vehicle gets could solve the problem of gas prices being almost double at the pump. But this new standard has been met with resistance and concern from some. Today we’ll talk about this historical announcement and what it would mean for drivers in the year 2025 and beyond. Pop open your fuel tank as Your Car Care REPs give you the high octane.

On July 29th the Obama administration formally announced a mandate that would require all new vehicles to meet the standard of 54.5 mpg by the year 2025. The new target (if made final after a period of review and public comment) would become law in July 2012. Auto manufactures such as Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo have all committed to meeting the President and the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) goals for fuel economy. Let’s find out exactly what this mandate entails. Currently, the existing rules state that 2012-2016 vehicle models must get an average of 35.5 mpg. The rules for fuel efficiency are handled by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), an organization within the Department of Transportation. Since 1990, the passenger car fuel standard has been at 27.5 miles per gallon. According to the Obama administration, this new mandate would result in $1.7 trillion in fuel savings over the life of the program and reduce oil consumption in the US by about 2.2 million barrels per day by the year 2025. An average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg seems to be a challenge when you consider that the car with the highest fuel economy today is the Toyota Prius at 50 mpg, which is a hybrid vehicle.

So how does the auto industry expect to achieve these goals? They’ll be applying a portfolio of strategies like hybrids, plug-ins, pure electric vehicles, and range-extended electric vehicles. This will also mean that vehicles such as SUV’s and light work trucks will have to be manufactured from lighter materials and scaled down in size. Low-friction lubricants, low rolling resistance tires, better aerodynamics, and dual clutch transmissions are some of the suggested tactics to meet the goals and mandate standards. There is also talk among some auto manufactures about hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and diesel run vehicles. After the U.S. cleaned up its passenger-car diesel fuel (by greatly reducing sulfur content) several years ago, many auto insiders expected the market for diesel to open up rapidly, it hasn’t. Diesel fuel is a better alternative to ethanol-based fuel, which creates greenhouse gasses. In Europe, the 2010 auto fuel mix was 46% diesel and 54% gas run cars.

This brings us to a fork in the road. The European Union’s 2015 CO2 standard equals 45 mpg, and a proposed 2020 standard would equal 61 mpg. In Japan, the equivalent standard is 47 mpg by the year 2015. So why does the US seem so far behind in what other countries are readily embracing? In my opinion it’s the well entrenched US auto manufactures that are to blame. The problem of US dependency on foreign oil has been on the back burner for several years and they have ignored it, looking to continue reaping profits from their antiquated machine. Now that the industry is almost forced into change how will this reflect on auto buyers? The Center for Automotive Research says, the new passenger vehicle standards could eventually cost auto consumers an additional $5,000-$6,000 for each new vehicle. This is what has some folks so upset, the cost to produce these new cars will be passed onto us, the consumer.

I do a lot of research before writing and submitting an article and I’ve been reading a ton of comments about this topic on news and other auto blog sites as to what people think and feel about this mandate. I can tell you that it is being met with harsh resistance. Most folks that don’t agree with the mandate dispute it based on the fact that they would end up paying substantially more for a new vehicle. People also feel that by the year 2025 gas prices would rise so high that even if you squeezed 54 mpg out of your car, it would be the same as compared to today’s present mpg fuel economy. What I also found out is that the way in which auto manufactures have to adhere to the mandate is not by having every car and truck meet this quota, but their fleet vehicle models have to all average this new Obama fuel efficiency. For example if an auto manufacture only had 3 vehicles in their model lineup, let’s say a SUV which gets 44 mpg on the highway, a hybrid which gets 55 mpg and a plug in EV (Electric Vehicle) that gets 70 mpc (miles per charge) this fictitious auto manufacture would be in accordance with the new standards, because their total average fuel efficiency would be 56.3 mpg. I’m sure that lobbyist and manufactures will try and use all kinds of legal loopholes to comply with the mandate.

Personally, I think that this mandate is a very ambitious plan set out by President Obama. I believe that it has the potential to change our dependency on foreign oil, and stimulate our crippled economy. Here’s why. When the great recession hit the 3 major US auto manufacture were shaken badly. Millions of people lost their jobs, companies filed for bankruptcy and many have still not returned to their field of work within the auto industry. In order for auto manufactures to meet these new standards, new production procedures, manufacturing equipment, technology, materials even tools have to be instilled into the industry. Auto part suppliers have to also adjust their way of producing parts. This could mean more jobs will be created for our struggling economy. Plus let’s not forget the main issue here folks, fewer tailpipe emissions, cleaner air and less dependency on foreign oil. It might well mean that new cars of the future may cost a pretty penny, but isn’t that the way it has always been with new technology in the beginning? Just look at the mobile phone or the personal computer, both of these items came with hefty price tags with their initial release. So to those people that are spewing anti Obama sentiments about this mandate, are you really concerned about our future and our children’s future? Or are you following the bandwagon because some media outlets are leading you down that highway? Your Car Care REPs will continue to follow this groundbreaking automotive news, and let you know how it pans out. By the way I welcome all comments to this blog, because at the end of the road we want to hear your opinions as well.

Your Car Care REPs

E-Mission

Your Car Care REPs are back on the scene and the ride is looking so fresh and so clean, clean. This years 2011 auto show was much bigger than previous years. The Jacob Javits Center had to open up a 3rd level to accommodate all the vehicles and even make room for the Dub Auto Show that represented this year along with the usual suspects. In fact, this show was so huge with so much to report on, that I have to break this article into 3 installments. This 1st installment is what most of the audience and manufactures were buzzing about during this years NY International Auto Show, the Electric Vehicle / EV, and rightfully so. With gas prices continuing to rise, EV’s are quickly becoming a viable alternative. Today we’ll discuss what the NY International Auto Show had in store for spectators seeking gasoline alternative cars.

Before going to the NY auto show (been going about 11 years now) I always check their website for more information and special features. Good thing I did, because this year they had an EV ride along treat. As soon as I entered the Jacob Javits Center I asked a rep where could I find the EV pavilion. I was directed to the appropriate escalator. To my surprise there were a lot of folks headed in the same direction. Once I arrived at my destination I couldn’t believe how long the line was. After signing a disclaimer saying that I’m riding at my on risk (no jokes) I took my place on line, I was greeted by a “Connect” representative. Connect is a new rent by the hour car rental company brought to you by Hertz. This was undoubtedly created to compete with the ever-growing popularity of the Zip Car Company. The representative asked me would I like to sign up to become a member? If I choose to sign up now the membership fee would be waived. Plus I would receive $10 off my next rental of any EV from Connect. I said “Sure why not”. She asked for my email address, which I gave her (facety@carcarereps.com), she said “Hey I heard about you guys”. It feels good to be recognized amongst the herd.

The 1st EV that I rode along in was the Chevy Volt. I’ve been doing a lot of research about the Volt and was anxious to take a spin and feel how it handled (as a passenger at least). Our driver’s name was Stan, who explained a lot about how the car handled under real world driving conditions as opposed to a closed track. Upon entering the car I didn’t know what to expect. Because the Volt is an EV, I sometimes forget…it’s still just a car. I was surprised to feel how comfortable the front seats were. I was also impressed with the dashboard display especially the center console that shows how much power is being used and how it’s being distributed throughout the vehicle. I asked folks that were in the back row how it felt, they told me that it wasn’t a luxury rear seat, but didn’t feel cramped. As Stan drove the course he hit us with a barrage of quick facts. Charging times, Miles Per Charge – MPC and instrument gauges were a few things he spoke about. He even discussed the vehicles torque. He demonstrated for us how the torque felt by suddenly pressing the accelerator pedal. Quite honestly the car wasn’t just peppy it took off like a pit bull after a yorkie, quite impressive. Stan mentioned that there are other Chevy Volts throughout the auto show and to ask the reps as many questions as you want.

Next up for this EV explorer was the Mitsubishi MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle). The MiEV is a much smaller car than the Volt. You could see and feel it, once inside. I don’t discriminate against small cars. My theory is a compact car doesn’t have to feel compact. For example the Mini Cooper looks small from the outside but feels big inside. Unfortunately, the MiEV felt as cramped inside as it looked from the outside. The gauges and controls were also very minimal. It looked as if they sent in the beta version. News alert guys! You’re supposed to send in the deluxe version!! We have no problems envisioning what it looks like without the bells and whistles, but we have trouble envisioning what it would look like with the upgrades. What I did appreciate was the MPC – Miles Per Charge and the charging time in comparison to the Volt. Supposedly the MiEV would be able to travel for 100 Miles on a single charge. Charging time is around 6-8 hours on a standard household outlet. When the driver drove the course the car felt stiff and contentious, but it zipped along quickly and quietly. I didn’t have to ask anyone how the back seats felt because no one wanted to be adventurous and explore the tiny back row seats.

After leaving the EV pavilion I continued on my quest to seek out new unexplored EV’s. I ran into a unique looking vehicle named the EN-V. I’m not sure if I can classify it as a car because these vehicles have 2 wheels as opposed to four. The EN-V is a Japanese made concept which is futuristic in it’s look, controls, function, even it’s parking. There were two types of EN-V’s on deck and a 3D rendering animation of what the vehicles would look like in motion. Here’s the plot. You ever see the movie iRobot starring Will Smith? If you have, you’ll remember that the cars are actually driving themselves with the driver able to override the autopilot mode and manually drive the car. The cars in iRobot did this by driving on sort of electrically charged roadway principle. This is exactly the concept behind the EN-V. One of the things that I enjoyed watching in the 3D anime were cars criss-crossing each other at a busy intersection, with no one slowing down for a stop sign or red light. This is because the vehicle is equipped with anti collision detection sensors that can detect the speed and direction of all EN-V’s present. These sensors adjust the speed and course of your vehicle so you don’t hit anyone. In theory this sounds good but wouldn’t this make it hard for people to actually cross the street (using their legs & feet)? Or possibly, in the future no one walks in cross walks.

The EN-V animation showed how unique the vehicle would be in terms of driving. It used methods of platooning several vehicles together (4-5) in order to be more efficient. The parking of the vehicle took me by surprise. The occupant got out of the EN-V exiting from the front glass retracting center cockpit. He then pressed a hand control remote which whisked the vehicle away along a track to be engulfed by a revolving automatic parking machine. While listening to spectator reactions to the vehicle, I was surprised that younger audience (25 or <) disliked the way it looked, thought it was unsafe or laughed at its uniqueness. Older spectators (30 or >) were intrigued with the vehicle and inquired more with the representative on hand. Interesting observations.

I felt as if I was on the yellow brick road looking for the EV Wizard when I came upon 2 companies that provide charging to EV’s. They are Leviton and Beam. Beam stated that they presently have over 85 charging stations and offer customers unlimited monthly charging for $98/month. Their stations allow you to rapidly charge your EV. Using your home’s 110V AC power source can charge EV’s up too, but this usually takes 10-12 hours on average to charge the vehicles lithium-ion battery. A Leviton rep told me that soon you would be able to get a machine installed in your home (by the Geek Squad) that will allow you to charge your EV in 3-4 hours. The rapid charge is made possible by converting your 110V power source to a 220V power source.

I crossed borders at the NY auto show and moved into BMW’s showcase. I saw something different this year. BMW unveiled their all-new EV to the public. The Active E is an EV that looks similar to the BMW 1 series. The technology that BMW uses for its powerplant is 32-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The styling of the car has BMW all over it, fierce and fast looking even when standing still. I use to drive a BMW so I’m familiar with the handling and the precision that goes into the engineering. I wonder how the EV will handle compared to their gas driven vehicles?

With a large bulk of auto manufactures having a version of EV tech or hybrid in their car model lineup, it would seem that the industry is serious about eradicating fossil fuel emissions. I like to call this the E-Mission. It’s important to note that this article described mainly EV’s (Electric Vehicles) but there were dozens of hybrids present. When I go to auto shows / events it’s always good to see the vehicles present but more importantly, I listen to what spectators have to say about a particular car. The 2011 NY International Auto Show has more and more people gathering information on what seems to be the inevitable – the EV. Stay tuned! Your Car Care REPs have got more to give. Next time we’ll discuss the DUB Auto Show Tour.

Your Car Care REPs

Drop your Top like its HOT!!

Your Car Care REPs have come off a long needed engine overhaul and are ready to get back on the track with our readers. Summer is about to officially begin. We can look forward to sunny days with temperatures averaging 90 plus every week. When the weather is like this there’s nothing better than riding in a Drop Top convertible. To tribute the summer of 2011 we are going to talk about some of the iconic Drop Tops of our times. Get ready to drop it, cause its HOT!!!

The history of the convertible starts at the very beginning of automotive history, because all vehicles produced from the beginning of mass automotive manufacturing were convertible or open top cars. It wasn’t until 1910 that car manufactures made closed vehicles. Unmistakably, one of America’s well-known convertibles is the Cadillac. In 1902, Henry Martyn Leland, William Murphy, and Lemuel W. Bowen formed the Cadillac Automobile Company. Their goal was to create luxurious automobiles with the latest innovations in engineering. The first Cadillac was finished on October 17, 1902 and was called the Model A Cadillac. It was a convertible car with a solid body and an optional attachable soft-top canopy made from leather or rubber for inclement weather. The Model A Cadillac sold for

1959 Caddy Drop Top

$750. In 1904, the canopied Model B was produced with the addition of a bull horn and boasted the highest volume sales of any automobile produced that year. The Caddy Drop Top that is highly recognizable is the Caddy Shark (Caddy that sports rear fins). GM’s flamboyant Harley Earl designed this car in 1959. Earl loved fast airplanes, and the first Caddy fins were inspired by the then-secret Lockheed Lightning P-38 fighter airplane he saw. The first Cadillac fins were subtle but gave definition to the rear of a car for the first time. Soon after, cheap add-on fins were sold by auto parts outlets for cars of lesser stature than Cadillac. Because of its fish like appeal, whenever it was seen swimming thru the streets the car was nicknamed the shark. Movies like “48 Hrs”, “3000 Miles to Graceland”, and the “Blues Brothers” helped in making this car an American icon.

The second Drop Top on our list of all time favorite convertibles is the Mustang convertible. Ford Motor Company manufactured this Drop Top from 1964 through 1974 and then 1983 onward. This ride is an American icon of the 1960’s pop culture. More than 100,000 convertibles were produced in its first year, boosting the image that the Mustang was a hip car that represented the youth culture. The convertible and coupe were the first Mustangs sold in March 1964. The first convertible was painted Wimbledon white and was equipped with a 260-ci V-8 engine and automatic transmission. It had a power convertible top and a full-length console. To prove this is one of America’s iconic Drop Tops, it is now in a museum that people can see on tours. This car will make any one void of assurance reek of audacity.

Next up we could not forget the undeniable Chevy Corvette convertible. Designer Harley Earl back at it again, developed something fresh for the sports car scene. His vision and leadership combined with the support of his team resulted in the creation of a sports car that car enthusiasts are still enthusiastic about today. Harley Earl introduced a car designed with high style as well as high performance in mind. The 1953 Corvette Drop Top was made by hand

so production of this car was limited to 300 cars total. An antique 1953 Corvette Convertible in excellent or mint condition is a highly sought after collectible. This is a true classic car and was dubbed one of the ‘dream cars’ of the 1950`s. The two-seat car started out as a sporty stylish car for motorist who wanted more from a car than just basic transportation. It has maintained that reputation ever since. The 1953 Corvette convertible represented a bold new approach to car making. To reflect the boldness of this new design, the Corvette sported a bright white paint job that contrasted sharply with its red interior. A black canvas soft top that added to the sporty look topped off the feel of the car. An even bolder move was to make the outer body of the car in fiberglass instead of steel, which was revolutionary at the time.

There are of course many other convertibles out there but these are the top 3 (in no particular order) iconic Drop Tops. They represent a piece of history that American drivers have carved out. There is something special about driving with the wind in your face and all the power under your hood. I guess it’s because the first automobiles were designed this way. So the real history of the convertible starts at the beginning. There you have it! We’re about to Drop our Top and let her loose on the open road. Hope you enjoy this 2011 summer. Until our next episode……..keep shining.

Your Car Care REPs

Get A Grip - Your Car Care REPs

Your Car Care REPs have just rolled into the shop and are ready to chop it up with you. A car just wouldn’t be a car without 4 important components…wheels. Your tires and rims are vital parts of your vehicle and they greatly enhance the look and feel of your car as well. Most people overlook their ride’s tires and rims until disaster strikes. Today we’ll be talking about proper tire and rim care. So get a grip as your Car Care REPs get it in.

Let’s first start with tires. Tires are the only part of your ride that should come in contact with the road. Tires may seem like a simple piece of equipment but they are vital not only to your car’s performance, but also to your safety. Car tires’ main purpose is to allow your car to adhere to and “GRIP” the road. Tires should be strong enough to withstand not only driving on the road with a load, but also braking and rough weather conditions. Tires have oils in the rubber that like to be flexed so that they can stay dispersed. When tires are subjected to extreme weather conditions such as hot or cold temperatures and poor maintenance, they can experience cracking especially in the sidewall area. If your tires show signs of collecting brake pad dust on them, don’t ignore it. Brake pad dust can contribute to premature tire break down. Keep tires clean from brake dust and road grime frequently. If you are using a tire dressing its suggested not to use silicone-based tire shines because they will draw moisture away from your cars tires. Try to use water-based tire shines when possible.

Tire pressure gauge.. Very Necessary....

Another overlooked tire aspect is air pressure. So many people do not check their car tires pressure until it is visibly low. When tire pressure is low or not the same all around you are not riding as efficiently as you could be. You have probably seen (maybe have even done it yourself) people play the “kick the tire” game to check if their tires air pressure is low. Low pressure or over pressurized tires are not a game. This can cause a tire blow out which is extremely dangerous. Tire pressure gauges are as essential as a wheel jack. Always keep one in your ride and check your tires’ air pressure frequently.

Tire tread inspection is another tire check that you should do monthly. Tire tread ensures that your car grips the road especially during wet and snow conditions. To see if your tire tread is getting low you can use the good old “Abe Lincoln penny” method. Place the penny within the tire’s grooves and channels. Insert the penny so that Abraham Lincoln’s head faces downward. Check to see whether you can still see Abe’s face. If the tire tread obscures his face, then your tires probably don’t need to be replaced. If the tires grooves are shallow enough that all of Lincoln’s face can still be seen, it may be time for new tires. Tire tread depth should be 1/16” or more. Upon entering into the winter season you should change tires to winter tires. Winter tires will help your car ride better during snowfall and help avoid black ice. A good time to rotate your tires is at the end of a season.

Tires are not only essential for an auto’s operation but can also give a particular look and feel to your car, adding more character. Do you remember the days of White Wall tires?? I sure do. If you wanted to have a stylish car back in the days, your car wasn’t complete unless you had White Walls on it. Today Low Profile and High Performance tires have taken the place of White Walls. Low Profile tires are also known as rubber bands on the streets because of their extremely short sidewalls. Low Profile tires average price range is $105-$200 each. Low Profiles give more appearance of the rim on vehicle. Because they are thin in nature, Low Profile tires don’t absorb impact of speed bumps and potholes well and have a tendency of damaging rims – which is our next topic up for discussion.

Car rims are also known as Car Shoes in-car culture. Typically, wheel sizes start around 13” for smaller cars and go all the way up to around 22” rims even 26” for larger automobiles. You may have heard the term “Riding on DUB’s”, this refers to a car that sits on 20 inch rims. Common materials used to manufacture rims are alloy and chrome metal. Both have their pros and cons. Alloy material is light and adds less weight to your vehicle overall, but they lack shine and durability that chrome rims provide. Chrome rims are a lot stronger and give off a remarkable luster to them but they are heavy and expensive in some cases. Relatively new to the game of rims are Forged Alloy Rims which give you the best of both worlds. Forged Rims are strong and lightweight and if polished can give off an outrageous shine.

Rims have become a popular item used to accessorize autos in the past 20 years. I personally remember when spoke rims were the craze. You either had to have BBS rims or Dayton rims on your ride for it to be complete. Then 5 star rims hit the scene and it changed the landscape of car rims forever. Many years later Spinners a/k/a Sprewells came onto the scene and it was like heroine to a 4-deuce junkie. Everyone had to have some. I must admit Spinners are one of the most creative rims I have seen on the market to date. I never imagined that there would be a rim that would keep spinning after the car has come to a complete stop. (Chris Rock voice) Look!! They still Spinnin!! Nowadays there are a plethora of rim manufactures and styles that have flooded the market; Deep Dish, Teardrops, Colored Rims plus many more. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the latest styles. A new style that I truly appreciate is Lipstick style rims. These are the rims that have an accent color painted on the lip or edge of the rim (colors can be red, yellow, green, etc.) that goes around the radius of the rim. It’s a thin colored line about ¾” wide, hence the term Lipstick. This accent color can be the same color as one’s brake pads and tops off a car’s look to a tee.

Depending on the manufacture or brand of rims they can cost a pretty penny. Average pricing of rims go for $1,200 to $3,500. Remember, always do your homework when rim shopping, it’s a big investment. It’s worth finding out the pros and cons before purchasing. Be sure to protect your rim & tire investment with wheel locks. Because there’s nothing worse than coming out the dance hall only to see your baby sitting on cinder blocks instead of sitting on chrome. OK, thanks for chillin with us. Your Car Care REPs have got the windows down & ready to roll out! Until our next episode, keep shining.

Your Car Care REPs

Smart Talk – Your Car Care REPs

Your Car Care REPs have arrived and ready to give you some smart talk. I like to keep things personal between readers and myself so people can see that I’m just your average over achiever that has a passion for automobiles. While thinking of topics to write for this installment of Your Car Care REPs (around 11:45 PM) my doorbell rang and I wasn’t expecting anyone. When I opened the door I was surprised to see my neighbor who looked upset and frantic. She was asking if she could use my telephone because she had locked herself out of her house and wanted to call a locksmith to open it. I asked if she had left a window open because I had a tall ladder that I could use to climb in and avoid her having to pay a locksmith $200 for 2 minutes worth of work. She said, “Yeah the kitchen window is open”. Low and behold I was able to climb in through her kitchen window and open her front door. Avoiding her the headache and pain of having to wait for a locksmith, getting a new lock, changing her set of keys, etc. This success story also gave me the next topic for this article, which is about Smart-Phone Applications for your Car. In this article we’ll discuss the various types of applications that will allow your car to graduate from Simple Simon to Smart-Phone University.

Right now Smart-Phone Application makers are swarming around the auto market with fierce competition heating up. For automakers, applications provide new ways to deliver infotainment and tele-matic services to customers. For motorists, Smart-Phone applications allow them to enjoy their infotainment systems to the fullest, while paying only for the applications they want. I’ve learned that there are a host of applications readily available for your Smart-Phone. One application that appears to be very popular with iPhone and Blackberry users is the Viper SmartStart. The SmartStart will allow a user to remotely start up a vehicle, turn on you’re A/C in the summer time to cool your car down or turn on your heat in the winter to warm your ride up before stepping inside. Now I hear some people with the moans and groans “Remote start is nothing new!” Ahh this is true but what makes the Viper SmartStart unique is that you can be literally be anywhere in the world and start your vehicle or open and lock its doors. That’s because SmartStart works in conjunction with your Smart-Phone & satellite, not inferred technology like handheld remote starts. You may be saying why would I want to remote start my car that’s in Brooklyn, NY if I’m somewhere in the Maldives? This is true. But if you accidentally locked your keys in your car like my neighbor did her house keys you would be able to open it back up immediately, because most people walk around with their cell phones in their pockets or cell phone hip carriers. No need to call a locksmith, no need to break a window or even go get your extra set of keys. The Viper SmartStart even comes in handy if you parked your car in a crowded parking lot and can’t seem to find your ride (which happens more often than one thinks). There is a neat function that will sound your cars horn and flash its lights alerting you where your baby is hiding out.

GM plans to offer a mobile application for Smart-Phones that will let OnStar users access information and control their vehicle directly from their handsets. The application will provide users with vehicle information such as fuel level, fuel range, remaining oil life, tire pressure and fuel economy averages. The app will also be able to start the vehicle, turn on the lights and control the door locks. GM has also announced agreements with Google that will allow drivers to select destinations using Google Maps and then sends those destinations to OnStar's turn-by-turn navigation service. One of the things that GM is doing is make their apps brand specific. For example if you own a Corvette and have this app it would be tailored to your Corvette needs and if you own a Cadillac Escalade and have the GM app it would be tailored to your Cadillac’s needs. This is a breakthrough for OnStar because with the cost of monthly subscription fees one is subjected to, most users have opted out of the OnStar plan once their free trial period is up. This Smart-Phone app option may now justify monthly fees drivers will have to pay to have their cars equipped with the technology.

Ford, which has been trying to fast-forward its automobiles in the digital space, announced its 2011 Fiesta model would be the first vehicle in which Smart-Phone apps can be voice-controlled via its in-car synching software. Ford said it would make the next generation of its SYNC-enabled vehicles into Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing drivers and passengers to connect to the Internet everywhere much more seamlessly in a moving car. Fords touch Sync will allow users to control their phone applications through voice commands and on-screen touch commands. Pandora Internet radio, online talk radio aggregator Stitcher and mobile Twitter client OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications. I think all these are a great breakthrough in Fords automotive infotainment department as long as it won’t distract the driver and cause more vehicular accidents.

The apps that are described above are some of the more popular ones, but there are several car applications out there for your Smart-Phone. There’s apps that will reveal where speed traps are located throughout the US, apps that will tell you how efficient or how much horsepower your vehicle is getting, there is even an app that will allow you to drive your car by remote control. (No kidding) You can get your 007 on in 2011 for real. We just got the green light and ready to peel out, until the next episode, keep shining.

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The Independent Seen – Your Car Care REPs

I’ve just backed into my spot and ready to talk Independence. One of the things we love to do (but cant get enough of) at Your Car Care REPs is travel. Every time we cross, state or country borders we are amazed at how each individual city or town has their own unique independent style in this thing we call Car Culture. For example out in the west the Low-Rider scene is huge and no one does it better than the auto clubs over in Cali. While on the other side of town the Whips in NY are flashy with a variety of modified vehicles that run the streets day and night. Down in the Dirty South the S.L.A.B.S are candy colored every flavor you might find in a bag of Skittles. In Motor City you can find a mint ’56 Chevy Belair convertible looking like it was driven off the dealers lot yesterday. Lets take a trip to each one of these locations separately.

The Low-Rider culture has been around since the 60’s. Low-Riding has such unique origins. The Chicano Mexican culture that migrated to California are the founders of this movement. While white counterparts of this generation were living it up, casting off older cars for newer ones. The Chicanos saw these older vehicles as a way to gain a part of the American Dream at a fraction of the price. The term Low-Riding (supposedly a derogatory term turned positive) got its origin when drivers would load their cars up with an entire family of 8 or more. Their cars would be so low to the ground people called it Low-Riding. The Chicanos determined to make something out of nothing began transforming these unsightly eyesores into lavish artful beauties. They not only restored the engines on these vehicles they began putting one of a kind artwork on the exteriors of these cars that transformed them into rolling canvases. The Low-Rider is not just a unique type of vehicle style but it is also a statement saying to all “Look at what can be transformed from nothing into something”.

The East coast wouldn’t be the same without the reigns of the flashy fast Whips. The term Whips came into play in NYC during the 80’s. Some say named after the song “Whip it” by the band Devo. During this time period a lot of street racing was going on. Guys not only wanted to run their cars fast on the streets they also wanted to be noticed by spectators. Riders started to apply exterior accessories to outshine their competition while racing. Early Whips would have side panels saying “Down by Law” or “Eat my Dust” which were in a bright gold or chrome paneling. Five star rims were also a craze that the Whip era begat. Today is no different as Whips continue to peruse chromed out accessories, high tuned engines, amplified audio systems and even colored light show effects that gets noticed as they “Whip” by you.

Lets take it to the south where the S.L.A.B.s run the roost. The word S.L.A.B. stands for Slow Loud And Bangin. Opposite from its northern peers the southern car culture likes to drive slow and steady. Once you are in the south it is easy to spot a S.L.A.B on the road. They usually have a paint job that looks like a Jolly Rancher flavor, most sit on chrome or Dayton rims, their speed hovers around 20 MPH on a main Boulevard and there is most definitely bump in the trunk. S.L.A.B owners take pride in transforming used and abused vehicles such as Crown Victoria’s or Chevy Impalas into custom beauties. Every S.L.A.B that is created is a ritual in its own right. The interior is gutted out and transformed to an updated but vintage appeal. The exterior is resurfaced with a paint job color that looks like it might give you a cavity. The final piece of this puzzle is the audio system. A S.L.A.B is just not a S.L.A.B if its audio system is not bumpin.

Lets take a run over to Motor City a.k.a Detroit. Some of the best Classics, Hot Rods, and Muscle cars are in this part of town. Rightfully so this is Americas car capital. Detroit is infamous for having some of the cleanest classic rides out there. Engine bays that look like you can grill out of them. I’ve seen a pristine red ’29 Chevy that would have had Henry Ford turning green with envy. Detroit lives up to its history of Old School rules. During the summer you can find plenty of picnics, BBQs and good old outings surrounded by these classic vehicles. That’s what makes this part of town so unique everyone either works or knows someone that works in the auto industry. These cars are more than just a form of transportation; it is a way of life for these folks.

This is just a few of the unique style of vehicles out there that has emerged from the blossoming Car Culture. There are plenty more (especially overseas) that was not included in this article. During this time I want us all to remember, being Independent means being able to have a unique identity while still being considered as part of the whole union. Your Car Care REPs appreciate all the support and that we’ve been getting on this Blog. We have just launched a new site called www.chop.wegotpull.com Here you will be able to get your daily dosage of Your Car Care REPs as we chop it up in the shop। So make a pit stop and please drop us a line.

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