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As I sit here in my dingy subterranean office (well almost, there’s certainly no window to speak of!) I couldn’t prevent my mind from wandering. Initially my thoughts turned towards the weather which has been frankly awful for a number of summers now. I can remember a time when me and my little collection of pals would pack a few items (mainly beer and instant noodles!) and head off on a Friday after work for a spot of camping.

The summers seemed never ending with sunburn for everyone, due to lack of protection, which nearly led to another story but I won’t go there! Copious amounts of warm cider (West Country Lads) were consumed. This usually resulted in some pretty degenerate behaviour and got us thrown out of numerous campsites! A record I’m not proud of as you can imagine.

I recently tried to recapture these halcyon days with my wife but women just don’t seem to enjoy the same experiences. You know freezing to death at night, unbearably hot by 6am the next morning. Warm lager for breakfast, uneasy silence for the entire 3 hour journey home, that sort of thing! It started me thinking that there must be a more desirable outdoor experience that doesn’t start with attempting to erect a hideously complicated tent and ends in divorce proceedings. I suddenly had a moment of clarity and remembered the legend of the Volkswagen Camper!

Of course, I should have thought of it before especially as I only had to recall my teenage years when after enduring soggy tents and cold showers my parents finally decided to invest in a VW Camper. I remember it was a 1974 type 2 1.6L , a Devon conversion I think although no doubt some VW fanatic will correct me on this statement. What I do know is that my Stepdad bought it from a lorry driver and the next day several generations of my family embarked on a journey of discovery that ended about ten miles away when a few valves in the engine decided that they had had enough of life.

Luckily my Stepfather was quite mechanically minded and we were able to fit a reconditioned engine. Regrettably our problems did not end here and over a number of years a pattern emerged of family holidays starting out all smiles and I-spy games, only to end prematurely on the back of an AA recovery truck. I seem to recall we were on first name terms with some of the AA patrol men.

I remember one year in particular I was somehow deemed to be responsible enough to be left at home whilst my parents went away virtually dragging my long suffering sister with them along with some French student by the name of Gaston or Christophe. Yes! I thought a week of partay-ing for me. Imagine my horror when only a few hours later the all too familiar flashing orange lights of an AA truck appeared through the curtains with the smouldering remains of the camper on the back. It was quite serious this time as it had caught fire in the car park of the Swansea Leisure Centre. Luckily the plucky French lad had managed to extinguish the flames by using a shaken bottle of lemonade as an improvised fire extinguisher, (a handy tip to remember) thus preventing an inferno. The poor old camper looked rather forlorn though complete with blackened air intakes and a melted distributor amongst other things and another holiday had been cruelly cut short.

I’m happy to say though that the latest generation VW camper is about as far away from the aforementioned nightmares of yesteryear as you can get. The California is the latest incarnation and having recently checked one out they are the business. With car-like performance and luxury interiors you could happily spend the rest of your days languishing away in one of these.

Some say they don’t have the soul of the good old air-cooled VW’s. True there are a few die-hards who spend hours removing rust from their beloved vans you may encounter many in North Devon during the summer months holding all the traffic up!

However after recounting the above tales I know which one I’d go for. Don’t take my word for it though there are plenty of specialist VW Van centres who will point you in the right direction.

Why have we been buying big comfy cars with too many options? Causing all those environmental woes? Consumers want these rich cars for the same reason they want big new houses and kool short-term fads. Corporate marketing and branding! And they are continually at work.

Commercials often sensationalize a car model by showing it driven at extremely high speeds on highways, mountain roads, city streets and even in parking lots. They are sending the wrong message. Speed can look exciting but speed is costly and speed kills. But those exciting commercials apparently sell cars.

Automobile commercials are amongst the noisiest on TV and can interfere with the family conversation if they are not muted. But the invasive clamor attracts attention and the results are increased sales.

Advertisements often exaggerate the product and underestimate the cost to lure and snare buyers.

The marketing pressures to sell more expensive autos will not let up even though they may become more fuel efficient. Other perky features will be promoted and become standard in newer models to keep prices rising over the coming years.

Cars have played a major role in our current social makeup and are owned by most families. That they are important and useful is undisputable, however too much of the overall product is undesirable for society as a whole. They are a major polluter of our cities and the world, exacerbated by their larger than needed size and power. Why do consumers who only use their cars a few hours per week need ‘luxury’ transportation? Persuasion.

Around 1960 I was out to purchase my first new car. Having a long drive on weekends, I had set my mind on a particular smaller car to economize. There were only a few sub-compacts available and they were not that small. In a dealer’s showroom I was intent on completing a deal but I was continually steered to other larger models. It took awhile until I realized that he would not sell me the smaller car! The salesman and I both became irritated and I left.

Slow Forward 48 years >> A while ago I walked through a new car show in the local mall. All were higher priced and mostly larger in size, even as interest in pollution and the environment was spreading.

On TV during the previous oil crisis a spokesperson from the Automobile Association was defending why they aren’t marketing more smaller cars. “People couldn’t just sell their cars and buy smaller ones.” The TV commercial which immediately followed the newsbyte was for a flashy full size SUV.

Consumers buy these cars because the manufacturers want them to. But this necessary means of transportation needs a review of its design, effects, marketing, and use. The average person does not need luxury when spending only a few hours a week in the car. Nor does the car require fast speed and polluting power to drive at the speed limit.

The car needs to take a less negative and a healthier place in our society.

What the heck! Are corporations major shareholders in government??

“We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.” – Albert Einstein

Many companies can not maintain a good performance or not even show any significant progress. Some companies are not able to adjust themselves to the global change which occurs continuously. The presence of competitors may also give impacts to the company. In such situations, the company may try to have self inspection to find where the mistakes are. Or if the issue can not be addressed internally, the company may hire the consultant to help solving the problem.

Consultants are everywhere, so a company which needs a consultant should be careful to find a proper consultant. A proper consultant provider is the one who possesses comprehensive services and extensive experiences in handling clients. The good consultant must have certification and adjust the service using the modern tools.

CriticalEdge group is a gold certified consultant which upholds the use of Microsoft GP Connecticut. The consultant will analyze the company first to identify the goal as well as problems. After that the hardware recommendations will be given to the client by the consultant on what hardware and software to use in order to answer the problems.

Training will be prepared to the company workers to help them understand the use of software. CriticalEdge Group is absolutely different compare to the other consultants as it adjusts the solution with company’s requirement as well as company’s goals.

With zero emissions, solar cars present a sunny solution to eco-friendly car buyers. It also makes good sense to develop a green car technology that doesn’t call for a complicated infrastructure or any type of fueling station. What could be easier than using an already existing solar energy source from the Sun, right? If it were only that simple, we’d probably already have done it. In spite of universities and corporations building solar cars every year for the past 20 years for the annual Australian World Solar Challenge solar car race, we’re not quite there yet.

How do they work?
A solar car is really an electric car powered by solar energy. Photovoltaic (PV) cells in the form of solar panels convert sunlight into electrical energy. The process generates heat, which is converted into electrical energy and stored in an on-board battery. The battery serves the same basic purpose as a gas tank on an internal combustion car.

In spite of the great bounty of sunshine there for the taking, solar car technology is elusive. The solar electric power source needs a lot of PV cells, which are expensive, and the efficiency level of PVs is estimated to be only 10% to 15%. These are daunting challenges facing engineers, and it’s more likely a hybrid solar with another fuel source is the only viable option in the near future.

Are there any solar cars out there?
French manufacturer Venturi says their solar electric AstroLab hybrid concept car yields an improved PV cell efficiency level of 21%. It’s not exactly a family car with its 2-seat tandem cockpit configuration, but it’s one possibility. The Hungarian manufacturer Antro has designed a solar gas-electric hybrid scheduled for production in 2012, and Tesla Motors has an electric car that can be recharged with solar power with 2009 models available in the U.S. and Europe.

The current economy is making a lot of people consider the benefits of hybrid vehicles, including hybrid pickup trucks. Some people, however, are not very well informed as to what hybrid vehicles even are or what they do, which can make them a bit leery about even considering one. Between the faltering economy and gas prices constantly on the rise, a lot of the people who rely on pickup trucks, for whatever reason, may want to consider the possible advantages of switching to hybrid pickup trucks.

One of the benefits of even considering hybrid pickup trucks is the sheer cost of gas for trucks in general, especially those which are used to haul heavy loads. In understanding hybrid vehicles, it is important to realize that not all of them are “fully” hybrid. For instance, GM Chevrolet, which is one of the Big Three of trucks and a favorite among truck drivers, recently came out with a hybrid version of their Silverado. It is marketed as a “mild” hybrid, which means that it utilizes its electric motor for such things as the power accessories and assistance with the engine. Ford’s F-Series also implements hybrid technology. The Sierra is another model which has gone at least partially hybrid. As for the Silverado, reviews indicate that it comes with extra batteries which store extra power; these kick in to help when it is necessary, which can come in handy when you are carrying a heavy load. As well, on its own, the Silverado comes with a V8 engine. This is actually quite common for a lot of hybrid pickup trucks, so by all indications, buyers would not be giving up much in the way of power.

Many consumers who rely on or simply prefer pickup trucks also worry that hybrid pickup trucks will not have the features they have come to know and enjoy, but by all accounts, hybrids have most, if not all, of the same features and accessories that traditional trucks have. As mentioned, quite a few of them come with a V8 engine; it is simply a Hybrid Vortec 5.3 liter engine. They still look as rugged and powerful as “regular” trucks, and the same safety and luxury features are included, such as power windows, mirrors, and locks, anti lock brake systems, and air bags. Many of them also include the popular navigation systems, as well as DVD entertainment capabilities.

Often times the diesel engine truck is used to haul very heavy items, opting to pick a diesel engine will not only benefit for the heavy load, but it will also help with the miles per gallon (mpg). Diesel truck mpg is much better than that of gasoline engines. While regular unleaded gasoline runs more smoothly and is easier to find, the engine that runs on diesel fuel should still be considered when buying a new truck.

If a consumer is in the market for a new truck and they need to haul heavy loads regularly, that person should probably stick with diesel. Since diesel trucks can get better mileage (for they are built to go 250,000 miles more) they are ideal for heavy loads and many trips back and forth. Because of all these reasons, and although diesel trucks tend to cost more, they will end up being well worth the money in the long run.

One reason diesel fuel might have a higher cost than most gas is that it has higher energy content than gasoline, and diesel performance is usually better in terms of engine output. These reasons also mean that vehicles running on diesel put less global-warming pollution into the air. Thanks to its higher energy content and its efficient combustion process, diesel performance enables cars and trucks to travel at least 30% farther on a gallon of fuel than comparable gasoline models. The improved efficiency of diesel engines can also help reduce oil consumption.

Many dealerships are not offering a choice of either a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. While both are equal in different ways, the diesel engines have less keep up. Gasoline engines need a tune up every thirty thousand miles, while a diesel engine can go much longer without a tune up.

General Motors, Ford and many other companies are doing extensive research on putting forth a car that does not run on gasoline, but currently there are many consumers that are opting for a diesel engine over a gasoline engine. While most gasoline engines are a standard in cars, in order to keep diesel truck mpg down, a lot of companies are making the diesel engine a standard in most trucks. Hybrid trucks are also becoming quite a popular commodity as well, but until the price of hybrid trucks goes down, the diesel truck will still be one of the best choices.

Everyone needs their car to be maintained properly and run for long time. Therefore as car becomes older its maintenance is also very important. Now a days automobiles do charge a lot of amount for even a small part which we are not aware off. For these reasons it is important for every customer to know knowledge of automotive tools to save money and for maintenance of car.

1) To maintain an automobile the most important feature is the oil change. Quintessential to a successful oil change is having an Oil Wrench that takes the oil filter off and allows the oil to be changed expediently. If a customer does not have a oil wrench then the customer should spend some money to change the oil from a auto shop. Oil should be changed once every 3000 miles.

2) A 3/8 inch socket set is helpful for a car owner to loose or tight a varieties of bolts. This set is very important as it is difficult to reach the spots in the different parts of the car especially the engine. This set comes with different extensions which makes the work easier for the car owner.

3) Every car owner should have a Jack and a Jack stands. This helps for simple procedures like rotating tires etc… This is necessary for all car owners as they can in trouble where ever they go and with the help of this tool their problem can be solved easily.

4) Having a funnel, a bucket and some rags are important as many car owners do not have proper tools and knowledge for successful oil change. A funnel is useful when refilling any other fluids in one’s car. It serves to make sure that fluids do not get over filled.

5) A pair of Solid vice grips is very important. Vice grips can hold a wide variety of car parts and allows user for either tightening or loosing a part. Having vice grips can help one to avoid this problem All the above 5 tools is very important for any car to be maintained properly. These tools are easier to solve small problems and by doing this many auto owners will save their money and give up their idea of going to any car shop…