Fenwick's Blog

Whether you buy a new or used vehicle, fuel efficiency–good gas mileage–is high on the list of most buyers’ concerns. The difference between choosing a fuel-efficient car or one that guzzles gas, will either save or cost you money over the life of the vehicle, which could be substantial. Fuel efficiency varies widely from one car to the next. Obviously you can check the EPA rating for city/highway MPG on the window sticker, although most of us know the average car never reaches those numbers.

You can also check consumer guides, car magazines and Web sites, Web site forums or ask friends, relatives and co-workers which vehicles they recommend as fuel-efficient cars. Don’t buy more car than you need, as larger vehicles generally have bigger engines that are less fuel-efficient. Find the most fuel-efficient car in the size group you’re interested in, whether a two-seater, compact, mid-sized, SUV or pickup truck. There are several online sites where you can compare fuel consumption ratings of any car.

Your choice of transmission can also affect the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Generally, a car with manual transmission is a more fuel-efficient car than one with automatic-assuming you shift properly. And a manual with overdrive, tachometer or shift indicator is the biggest fuel saver, saving up to 10% on fuel costs. If you do buy an automatic, which makes more sense for larger cars, the more gears the better.

Under normal driving conditions, smaller engines offer better fuel efficiency and economy than larger ones. All other things being equal, the larger engine and the more cylinders it has, the more fuel it consumes. Additionally, cars with smaller engines usually cost less and gas costs are lower because you don’t need higher octane gas. That doesn’t mean a bigger engine is never a good choice. In some cases, a larger, more powerful engine may provide the greater fuel efficiency. If you use your vehicle for work or often tow heavy loads, a smaller engine could burn more fuel if it has to work too hard and function beyond its most fuel-efficient range.

Depending on the type and size of motor vehicle you purchase, you may have the choice of front-wheel, rear-wheel, four-wheel or all-wheel drive. The majority of passenger cars and minivans have front-wheel drive, a design that supplies better traction and more interior room than rear-wheel drive. Although front-wheel drive was originally adopted to improve fuel economy over rear-wheel drive by reducing the weight and size of cars without giving up driving performance or interior space, there’s really not much difference in fuel efficiency between the two.

And although four-wheel and all-wheel drive provide better traction and braking in certain driving conditions, the weight and friction of the additional drivetrain parts may increase fuel consumption by up to 10% over a two-wheel drive vehicle. Most often in SUVs and pickup trucks, four-wheel drive is enabled at will by the driver when additional traction is necessary. All-wheel drive is an option on some SUVs and a minority of passenger cars. Full-time all-wheel drive, however, makes for the least fuel-efficient car, because all four wheels are always being driven, drawing power from the engine and thus using more gas.

Another way to be a fuel saver, is by limiting the options you select for your car. You may not have realized that many conveniences from power windows, seats and mirrors to air conditioning and seat warmers decrease fuel efficiency and cost you more in fuel consumption. They add either weight, increase aerodynamic drag or pull extra power from the engine or through the alternator.

Aluminium wheels are one of the few options that actually reduce weight and thereby increase fuel efficiency.

Obviously, considering other fuel options such as a hybrid electric car, is another choice for a fuel-efficient car.

On your first date, you should avoid giving her too much information. Steer clear of topics relating to your traumatic childhood or your secret latex fetish which are ideal topics for when you have gotten too know each other better.

It is rude to take a call on your cell phone when out on a date. This rule will never change. So be sure to turn your cell off, and do not place it on the table either. Hide it away in your pocket and focus all your attention on her which will show her that you care.

Do not discuss your ex on your first date. It’s fine to mention that you have an ex, as well as the length of your relationship with them. What you don’t want to do is go on and on about how mean and evil she was, or how she keyed your car and poisoned your pet Chihuahua. Abstain from revealing how in love with her you were or how she was your soul mate.

Avoid getting drunk on your first date as this is quite a turn off. Have a couple of drinks but keep your limit in mind. Don’t leave her worrying about how you will get home, or having to hold your hair while you throw up all over her Jimmy Choos. And avoid arranging a first date at your local hang out where all your friends are. Instead, go somewhere intimate where you can talk in private and get to know her better.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), India’s largest exporter and second largest manufacturer of cars has launched the automatic transmission equipped variant of its luxurious SUV Hyundai Santa Fe in India. Hyundai has already launched Fe last year in the month of October and sold almost 1100 units of Santa Fe till date. This new version of the Santa is available with a six-speed automatic transmission with more advanced features such as smart key and push butting start that ensures convenience with one-touch operation and new Supervision cluster in the instrument panel improves its clarity. Hyundai Fe price in India is Rs. 24,36,500 lakh (ex-showroom price Delhi).

In the words of H.W. Park, Managing Director and Chief Executive at Hyundai Motors India, the Hyundai has launched it’s SUV Santa Fe last year in Indian auto market and has been extremely well received by customers. With the new Automatic Transmission variant Fe further improves the value of company in India. The new variant will continue using the same engine as the current Fe 4WD.

Hyundai Santa review shows that the car adorns a a 2.2 liter Common Rail Diesel injected engine that delivers a maximum power of 197 PS at 4000 rpm and 436 Nm of torque at 1800 to 2500 rpm. The hi-tech engine, with huge power and ARAI certifications, the car offers an excellent mileage of 11.72 kilometers to a liter. The car has got a five star safety rating by NCAP, New Car Assessment Program.

The car is fully loaded with numbers of active and passive safety features such as electronic stability program (EPS) and anti-lock braking system (ABS)with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) to avoid skidding and to ensure greater driving stability. The six standard Airbags and active head rests are also fitted in the car which greatly enhances the safety of passengers and driver.

Santa AT variant comes with various advanced features such as navigation unit, steering mounted audio and phone controls, automatic climate control with double air-conditioning like in the manual transmission model and a 2-DIN in-car entertainment system with AUX and USB. The four wheel drive Santa Fe AT variant is available in five different colors. According to the Hyundai India, the addition of new automatic transmission system to its popular four-wheel drive SUV Santa Fe, offers a smooth and stress-free driving.

The four wheel drive Santa AT variant is available in five different colors. According to the Hyundai India, the addition of new automatic transmission system to its popular four-wheel drive SUV Fe, offers a smooth and stress-free driving.

YouTube is a terrific site that offers both mainstream professional recording artists as well as up-and-coming singers and songwriters. However, since there are literally millions of YouTube videos finding the one you are looking for can be a tiresome task. There is a simple solution and by following the instructions below you will be sure to find the YouTube Video you’re looking for.

First head over to the music section at YouTube where the current top music videos can be found. This page displays the current top YouTube music videos including popular mainstream bands and recording artists. Depending on the genre of music you are looking for you can select from pop, country, rock, classical and others. Once in the particular section you will see a large listing of songs listed in order of popularity.

The second way to finding the YouTube music you are looking for is by using the built-in search. By typing the keywords you are looking for (artist name, track name, etc.) you will be able to find both songs by the artist as well as related videos. This is perhaps the easiest way to find specific songs you are looking for but by doing such a specific song you might pass up and miss a song you might really like.

If you find a song that you really like take a look at the related videos. Chances are there is a song or video by another artist that you may really like. The related videos that are displayed often are very similar to the original in artistic style, melody or genre.

You like her and want to ask her out, but you don’t have any clue how to do it! It doesn’t matter whether you have known her for a long time or just met her, asking her out on a date can be nerve-wracking and hard to do.

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t want to be too pushy or too submissive. She doesn’t want an arrogant jerk to ask her out, but she also doesn’t want a guy with low self-confidence to approach her. She wants a guy that’s somewhere in the middle. He has confidence in himself but he doesn’t ‘know’ that she will say yes when he asks her out.

Here are 3 ways to use that confidence and ask her out:

1. Ask Her What Her Favorite Food Is

Don’t want a long conversation? Get her talking about her favorite food and why she likes it. She will probably have a story to go with her explanation. Listen to it carefully because the information she gives you will help you make her feel like you really listen to her later when you bring it up in conversation.

Once you know what her favorite food is ask her if she would like to go to a restaurant you know of that serves the best of the best of whatever her favorite food is. Tell her that you think she will be impressed by it! If she asks for the name, and you don’t have one, then tell her that you can’t remember the name and you are going to have to check with your friend or uncle or whomever because they will know the name.

And remember to use the story she gave you later in on during the date. She will be really impressed by you and you will be on your way to second date!

2. Use Information That You Get From a Conversation with Her

If you’ve known her for a while then you should know some of her favorite things, but if you don’t know here then start a conversation with her about things she likes or events that she has enjoyed. From that information pick a place or event that you think she would like to go and ask her if she would like to go there.

For instance, if she spends a lot of time talking about dogs then ask her if she wants to go for a walk in the dog park later. Or maybe there’s a dog show that you can go see. Get creative, but focus the date around something that she likes. Chances are she will say yes to that date.

3. Get to the Point – But Not The Usual Way

If you don’t have a lot of time to chit-chat with her and get to know her, then get to the point! Tell her that you are interested in her and you would like to go out with her.

The trick is to let her know why you are interested in her without making it look like you just like her body, hair, or booty. You want her to think that you’ve noticed something about her that goes a little deeper than those superficial things.

A lot of girls get picked up on their looks alone and it annoys them because the guy knows nothing about them. How can you really like someone if you know nothing about them?

So let her know that you liked the way she treated someone or that you like the intensity that she has towards whatever she is doing. Pick a quality that you find endearing and let her know you see it. She will love the fact that you find something about her cool and you took the time to notice it!

It is now a well known fact that car stereos are moving to digital media at an ever increasing pace. 10Years ago a car stereo that did not play CD’s or even cassettes would have been a ludicrous idea, nowadays its what people want. Why carry a large wallet of CD’s that will get scratched and damaged when you can have your whole music collection on a card the size of your thumb nail?

There have been two major developments in the last 12months in the way we connect digital media to our vehicles, namely our iPods. Sony released their latest concept, the TuneTray, last September. This was met with much anticipation from the industry and public alike, featuring full speed digital media control and a connect anything attitude, Sony have had a big success with the DSX range. Starting at only ?100, the TuneTray is not a technology that is exclusively for the rich and famous, it is available to everyone.

You may have never heard of Oxygen Audio. They were a fairly small French audio manufacturer until they had an idea that will again change the way we use our digital media. The O-Car is Oxygen Audio’s take on how we should integrate digital media into our daily lives. It features a similar concept to the TuneTray in that it only caters for the digital world of music, leaving CD and Cassette firmly behind however it currently only for iPhones. What it does with the iPhone is why I am sat here today comparing these two innovations. Conventional stereo’s will connect your iPhone via a cable or USB port, the O-Car allows your iPhone to BECOME the stereo.

I have had chance to use both systems recently, below are my findings.

Idea

The TuneTray was and still is a fantastic and innovative idea. The ability to connect any piece of USB hardware and hide it away within the stereo is unrivalled. No other stereo on the market can do what the TuneTray range can.

The O-Car is also innovative in how it turns your iPhone into a car stereo. This is easily the best way to integrate your iPhone into your car. The down side to this particular idea is that it has to be an iPhone 3GS or newer and has to be plugged into the stereo for anything to be heard. The radio tuner is an app that you can download for your iPhone.

Features

The TuneTray range has a huge list of features including bluetooth, multiple USB ports and high end equalizer controls. It comes with everything you would expect from a high end car stereo.

The O-Car allows you to provide the features! It comes with the standard RCA pre outs and high power amplifier that you would expect but it also enables you to use any features or apps that you have downloaded to your iPhone. You can use a TomTom sat nav app with it whilst listening to music, or make calls using a connected microphone. You can even turn your car into Digital Radio using apps such as Pandora or Spotify. The possibilities are only limited by the apps you buy.

Cost

Sony have been very clever in the way that they have branded the TuneTray. They haven’t just made it exclusive to a single, high priced model in there range, they have created a whole range around the idea. Starting at only ?100 for the basic model and reaching ?200 for the best, Sony have made the TuneTray accessible for everyone.

Oxygen Audio do not have the luxury of having multiple models due to the concept behind the unit. They have however priced the O-Car at a price that is very affordable. At ?250 the O-Car is towards the top of the Single Din price range but for the features and quality of the unit I would still class it as very good value for money.

Ease of Use

This is where the Sony TuneTray is at a disadvantage when compared to the Oxygen O-Car. Displaying the full iPod menus on a 4line display is tricky and to do it right, Sony have had to make the control a little complicated at times. It is still a case of Albums, Artists and Playlists but there are hidden features like the searching by letter and quick search that when pressed by accident can throw you off target. When combined with the fiddly thumb stick control this accounts for a sometimes frustrating user interface.

The O-Car is the complete opposite, simply insert the iPhone into the dock and use it in as you would naturally. The O-Car does not impose onto the iPhone, even the Radio and Equalizer settings are altered using Oxygen’s Apps that were developed in house specifically for this stereo.

When put side by side these two huge step forwards are both equal to one another. The only difference is that they are two huge steps in slightly different directions. If you have an iPhone, you will want the Oxygen O-Car, it is simply the best iPhone compatible stereo on the market. If you have an iPod or any other USB device, the Sony TuneTray range is easily the best choice for you. No-body will be disappointed with either of the stereo’s I have featured in this article, it will be purely based on your own personal preference as to which will suit you best.

If you wash your own car, you may notice that fine scratches, swirl marks and spider webbing seem to be attracted to your car’s paint like a magnet. If this is the case, then you need a lesson in proper car washing techniques.

Washing your car regularly is to exterior car care as changing your oil is to good engine maintenance. As we used to hear on TV, “You can pay me now or pay me later!” As with the engine, dirt and grime are the enemy of your vehicle’s paint, glass, plastic and polished metal finishes. It causes scratching and it’s a catalyst for corrosion. That means that regular washing is essential, but are you doing it the right way?

The Double-Edge Sword of Car Washing

Car washing can be a double-edged sword. That’s because your average jug-o-car-wash product is more likely to strip your car wax than not, leaving you with a dull, unprotected paint finish. Dish washing detergents, a favorite of many car owners, are even worse. Products like Dawn work great cutting through grease and grime, making them a very effective car wax remover. Sure, your car will be spotless, but it won’t have a bit of protection.

The Importance of a Quality Car Wash Soap

If you’re going to wash your own car, be sure to use a quality car wash shampoo product. Trust me, spending a buck or two extra on a good product is money well spent. You can’t go wrong with Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash and Conditioner or Mothers California Gold Car Wash. They are both easy to find at your local auto parts store and they won’t remove your wax protection. Plus, these wash shampoos offer conditioners designed to prevent scratching and maintain the shine.

Cheap Wash Mitts & Household Sponges are a No-No!

If you are already using a quality car wash, and you get swirls and scratches anyway, the problem could be your wash mitt or sponge. Cheap, synthetic wash mitts are bad news, and household sponges are even worse. What your car needs is a high quality wash mitt that holds lots of soapy water and is free-rinsing. I highly recommend a lamb’s wool mitt or one of the big, shaggy microfiber wash mitts. They work great and they don’t scratch, unless you don’t use it correctly.

I can’t tell you how many times I have watched people use their wash mitt, then toss it on the ground while they rinse the car. On the ground the wash mitt picks up dirt and grit like a magnet. Almost as bad is tossing the mitt into the bucket of soapy water where it sinks to the bottom and picks up all of the grit and grime you just washed off. The best solution is to put it across the rim of your wash bucket or use a device called a Grit Guard to keep it off the bottom of the bucket altogether.

Try Using Two Buckets… It Works!

If you are really paranoid about swirl marks and fine scratches (black car owners, listen up), you might want to use the two bucket method. That’s where you have one bucket with your soapy water and a second bucket of clean water for rinsing your wash mitt. This makes your soapy water last longer because you never put your wash mitt into the soap before rinsing it.

The two bucket method has a very practical benefit. Most importantly it keeps dirt and grit out of your soapy water, which keeps it off your car’s paint. It also makes your soapy water and wash suds last longer.

Old Bath Towels for Drying… Never!

After washing, it’s time to dry. A thorough drying off prevents water spots and streaking, but what’s the best towel to use? It isn’t a bath towel, I can tell you that.

Household towels contain polyester threads and backing for durability. Pure cotton is nice and absorbent, but it isn’t strong enough. That’s why bath towels, kitchen towels and beach towels contain polyester. Unfortunately, polyester is stronger that steel and it scratches just like steel wool. If you use household towels to dry your car, they will cause swirl marks.

The old timers used leather chamois. They work great, last a long time, and don’t scratch, but they have to be put through a wringer. A more modern solution is the microfiber drying towel, often called a waffle weave towel. Although these towels are synthetic, they are super absorbent and the cloth fibers are so fine and soft they don’t scratch. You can buy microfiber drying towels at your local auto parts store.

A scratch-free, swirl-free car wash isn’t difficult or a mystery. Use a quality car wash, wash mitt and drying towel and your swirl mark problems will be gone forever.

If you’re looking to get a great sound system for your car, there are many things to consider. Car stereo systems come with many different features from the quality of the sound to the different audio formats it supports. Along with the various features, you have to consider your budget. Let’s start with the features to consider.

The first important thing when it comes to car stereos is the audio format it supports. The simplest systems these days will come with a CD player with some that reads data. That means that you can burn MP3 files into the CDs to fit more songs in the CD. Many of the newer car stereo systems come with docks that can hold and charge your iPhone or iPod to play your favorite music.

The next thing you need to consider is the sound settings on the car stereo. Can you control different aspects of the sound from the bass, treble, balance, and more? There are stereo systems that give you control of the sound and even come with multiple presets from rock, classical, pop, dance, and more.

Third, you want to think about the speakers. If you want a surround sound experience, you will want to get rear speakers, door speakers, and other additional speakers. If you already have speakers installed (most cars will), you will probably want to upgrade to higher quality speakers. Most standard car speakers do not compare to the ones you can buy from specialty stores.

Fourth, you want to consider installing a subwoofer when it comes to car stereos. To get the best bass sound, you will want a subwoofer. A good subwoofer will make your music sound more full. It also won’t distort the music if the bass is too loud and balance. Bass is very important if you listen to music such as hip hop, rock, and dance.

Finally, you will want to buy a tweeter. A tweeter is what will play high frequencies in car stereo systems. These are small speakers that will need to be installed. A complete car stereo system usually consists of a subwoofer for the low frequency sounds and a tweeter for the high frequency sounds. You need to make sure that you install them correctly to get the right sound.

So those are some of things that you need to consider when setting up car stereo systems. There’s the actual stereo system itself, the speakers used in the system, the subwoofer, and the tweeter. You need to consider your budget when it comes to setting up your sound system. You will also need to learn how to install everything before you go out to set your system up. When in doubt, get help from an expert that knows how to set up audio systems in cars.

The most valuable asset anyone can have, in interactions with others, is trust. Trust is the number one value between parties of any interaction. Even when first meeting someone we automatically begin to evaluate their trustworthiness.

Trust is an intrinsic part of human nature. It is part of our natural protection system and has been one of the most important foundations of all human connections since the beginning of time.

Therefore, if you want to develop good relationships with other people, it is very important that you know how to get people to trust you.

If you want to gain the trust of others there are some things you can do:

1. Get to know people well if you want them to trust you

People develop trust for others through familiarity and experience. The more you get to know someone the more they will trust you, and vice versa, unless you specifically break that trust.

Trust is the result of the reciprocal familiarity and experience with those that are around you and involved with your life on a regular basis.

You can’t expect people to trust you from the start, but you need to work on being trustworthy from the beginning of a relationship. That way, you don’t begin from a deficit of having already appeared untrustworthy. Once trust is broken, it is difficult to get back.

2. Spend time with those you are interested in getting to know and whom you want to trust you

The best way to build the trust that you want people to have in you is to be around the people you are wanting to build a trust with. This of course goes hand in hand with getting to know people. Courting is a good example of spending time to gain trust of another. As the relationship develops and grows the more trust that is given to each partner from the other

3. Be available to help those around you

A great way to help build trust is to think beyond ourselves when it comes to the needs of others. You might ask, “How can me helping others build trust?” The answer is this: “People will gain trust in you due to your positive behaviors and the help that you give to others with positive behavior.”

4. Be honest with all those around you, even when that honesty might hurt

One of the strange things about honesty is that it can hurt in some situations. But when you are honest in all situations you will get respect which will translate into people trusting you. If you are dishonest with someone, word has a way of getting around to others and gaining trust from any of those people then becomes more difficult.

5. Be sincere in your intentions with everyone

The key to people believing your intentions is in your follow through. If you say “I will do that” then do it to the best of your abilities. If you can’t do it for some reason then let the other person know.

Most of trust building is founded in your communications with others. Part of your communicating with others requires you to be sincere if you expect to gain the trust of those around you.

Getting people to trust you is totally your responsibility. By demonstrating trustworthy behaviors you will gain the trust of those around you. The flip side to the coin of trust is: “if you violate people’s trust its a challenge to regain”.

These are some simple methods for how to get people to trust you and avoid losing trust. Use these as a your starting point to get peoples trust.

How can you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, right? How do you climb a ladder? One rung at a time. How do you build-up your confidence? One step at a time.

When you take small steps, the frustration and anxiety you inevitably feel is more manageable. That’s why it’s very important to have a go at things which you would previously have found scary on a regular basis. Do you find it hard to talk to people, mainly the opposite sex? Strike up a conversation with one new person every day! Are you quiet even when you have something to say? Speak up, talk your talk! You gain encouragement and feel more confident every time you build on each small success.

* Do something practical to boost your self-confidence every day. Take measured risks. Each small step should be accompanied by a clear intention, an affirmation (or change of thinking) and mental rehearsal.

* Adopt the Boy Scouts’ motto, ‘Be prepared’. Before taking each step, do your homework. Find out what you need to do, practise the skills and acquire the relevant knowledge. Ninety per cent of the outcome in any activity depends on the quality of the preparation undertaken.

* Mentally rehearse each step. Imagine it done well and ‘see’ it working out perfectly.

* Now go ahead and do it! Ignore any anxiety or discomfort, and remind yourself that anything your mind can conceive and believe; you can achieve. If it doesn’t work out, change your approach if necessary, and try again. Above all, keep your mind on what you want, never lose sight of your goal, and persevere.

*Do you have fear of speaking with the girls you like? Are you always waiting for the perfect situation where you will miraculously safe her from danger? Try out this exercise. Everyday try and meet a new girl, say “Hello” and introduce yourself, nothing engaging, have just a little chat about the weather or something interesting that has happened just near you. You don’t have to take phone numbers if you don’t want to. The practice is important, overcoming your fear of communication. It will amaze you how much easier it meeting new women will become.

*And there’s always fear of rejection. The mistake most people allow when being rejected is letting the doubt and frustration take over their emotions. That only deepens the problem. Actually, every rejection has to be used as an unprecedented possibility to learn and to stimulate your motivation, not the opposite – to bring you down mentally. Actually most of the times the mistake may not be in you! The girl could be having a bad day, or has torn her skirt and is embarrassed , or is a sociopath that hates all human kind. Or it could be that she is a sociopath that hates all man kind, that is having a bad day and has just torn her skirt . Anyway it’s her mistake to have let you go…