It’s an amazing fact but many auto purchasers do not take the time to even walk around and inspect their prospective purchase fully with a simple 360 walk around of the car. Perhaps their mind is elsewhere – these days it is financing terms and even simple availaibility of financing for their new purchase. Perhaps they are just enamored with the vehicle from the start and want to purchase the car promptly as the early bird gets the worm. Nothing takes the place of a full 360 inspection before discussing purchase price and terms. Indeed one car purchaser only discovered after purchasing and examining the vehicle that the previous owner had only repainted one side of the car – the driver’s side as it was the only side of the vehicle he ever saw. Not only that but the set of more expensive impressive hubcaps was only placed on the drivers side as well not on the passenger’s side as well. The owner’s reasoning was that since no one could compare the hubcaps while he was driving the car it was an inexpensive means to spruce up his vehicle purchasing a partial set of impressive hubcaps? Of course the driver’s side was the side of the car that got the upgrade.

What should an inexperienced or experienced vehicle walk around inspector look for and examine. First of all of course look for obvious collision damage. Of course most used cars will have the usual parking lot dings and scrapes and perhaps a bit more. However be on the attention to note extensive collision damage to the auto body or its components such as trim, light reflectors, mirrors, bumpers or the radiator. One should pay particular attention, especially in some more rust prone geographic area where a lot of salt is used on the roads in the winter, for rust on the metal of the car body. Always remember that in most cases the rust you see is the tip of the iceberg eating up from the metal base as opposed to being surface rust only. Next see if you can spot or note any obvious structural damage to the body or frame. This of course in addition to your inspection for obvious collision damage. By looking under the hood and listening to the engine and examining the exhaust you may quickly be able to note an engine or transmission drive train that is on its way out. Leakage of fluids – radiator coolant, transmission fluid and engine oil under the car, on the pavement may be another indicator to watch out for and note.

In terms of the interior of the vehicle it’s anyone’s guess. Sometimes the best maintained mechanically cars are the dirtiest. Still at the worst calculate the price of having the car cleaned up to your specs as one of your out of pocket costs.

In the same manner have an estimate of costs out of your pocket when discussing price and terms in the purchase price of the car. If you are unsure of the price and complexity of any repairs – that it is beyond your technical expertise, then it is never a sin to ask someone more qualified. Better a moment now spent in finding out than a lot of time, trouble and money down the road. In these days of portable cell phones it’s only a case of a simple call to your trusted mechanic, an auto repair shop or chain or at the worst a more automobile mechanically knowledgeable friend or family member.

By conducting a thorough and full walk around inspection you will be a much better position to both negotiate and purchase the vehicle or is need be walk away from the deal and travel further down the road so to speak on your automobile purchase quest.

North End Winnipeg Automotive Blogs Bid Link Directory

The fact is that American consumers are spending less, driving fewer miles and many in the retail sector are anticipating a lower fourth quarter earnings.

With new companies closing daily and the unemployment rate may top million in 2009.

How does it all affect the average home based online merchant? Many of whom have already seen a decline in sales and traffic. So what do you do?

Interestingly enough, the other day a friend of mine said something I thought was extremely profound and it totally re-framed my own outlook on what’s going on in our economy and in many ways how we run our businesses.

Down the street from my office is a simple deli type bakery restaurant. And it seems that regardless of time of day I go stop in, it is always packed.

Which of course makes me wonder why? Now it’s true that the owner is a very good marketer who knows what his customers want. He’s built his stores brand; he’s built rapport with his client base and this all ensures that they keep coming back.

But the reality is that the US is still suffering a recession and people just don’t have as much spendable income, or are not spending as much as they did just a year ago.

With my curiosity peaked, I pulled the owner aside and asked: “What exactly is going on here? We are in the midst of a deep rescission, our economy is getting worse by the day and yet your restaurant is always packed! How do you do it?”

He responded with one of the most insightful replies. He said, “I’ve decided not to participate in the recession.”

He was completely serious; I could it by the resolution in his face. It took me a second or two to grasp the ramifications of his reply.

It was a mindset that allowed his restaurant to flourish while others were locking their doors.

What he was saying was simple: It was that his mindset was such that because he was focused on his customers, built up loyalty with his customer base and sold a quality product, he was not going to be affected by the downturn in the economy because he had something his customers wanted.

The lesson here is clear. We can all see that the US economy isn’t in very doing well at the moment, and certainly there will be periods of economic slowdown where our businesses may match that slow down curve.

However, this doesn’t mean the end of our businesses.

In fact, it may be the very thing that prompts many online merchants to really start to focus on the foundations of their businesses. Things to focus on are building customer devotion and customer retention, offering and providing fantastic service and finding ways to deliver higher value for to their customers.

Many merchants will see new opportunities to provide value to their customers and be rewarded with new growth even while their competition dies on the vine.

Yes, the economic crisis is painful and all indicators tell that the US is officially in a recession, like my friend the successful deli owner, “I’ve decided not to participate in the recession” in the mindset of “doom and gloom.”

The sky may seem like it’s falling, but those business owners that create new value for their customers will create new opportunities for the growth of their online business, or brick and mortar business.

Don S Schnure is the chairman of 1AutomationWiz.com an online e-commerce shopping cart software provider specializing in online business software solutions and Cyber Samurai Marketing, an online software and marketing company.

Make money online worldwide. If you have an internet connection you can use Cash Crate. The only requirement is that you are at least thirteen years old. What a great part time job for a teen!

Companies need people to review and try their products and services and they are often willing to pay for this. This make money online opportunity matches people with the advertisers and they get paid by the advertiser and then pass 75% of their payment along to you. This works very well for everyone involved and is totally sustainable which keeps Cash Crate in business.

If you are from a country outside of the U.S. and Canada you can still make loads of money through Cash Crate’s referral program. It is one of the best that I have seen yet. I’ve compared it with other “get paid to” referral programs and it beats them all hands down.

If you are like me, you are tired of looking for ways to make money online. I literally have clicked thousands of links promising to teach me the secrets to making money online, make money today, and make money over the Internet etc. Each of these sites themes was conducive; if I paid them $790.00 they would teach me how to make money online. There was no information for me anywhere. All I wanted to do was supplement my income. Yet all I found were dead ends. I would get so frustrated that I would contemplate giving up daily. I was like a dog chasing his tail. I don’t want anyone to go through the same frustration I had to go through.

Below is a description about a GPT program that pays for completing surveys and offers. It is one of the most known and best paying of it’s kind.

Is it a scam?

No, it is not a scam. Once you join, you have access to their forum, where you can see hundreds of payment proofs from users getting from $100 to $1000+ each month!

Companies need people to review and try their products and services and they are often willing to pay for this. This make money online opportunity matches people with the advertisers and they get paid by the advertiser and then pass 75% of their payment along to you. This works very well for everyone involved and is totally sustainable which keeps it in business.

Even if you can make enough money just by completing offers and surveys, CashCrate has a very good referral system available. Because the earnings from CashCrate are so high, getting even one active referral will bring you some money. If you get enough referrals, CashCrate will higher the percentage of the earnings you get from them. Below is a table with the information about referral levels and their percentages.

Bronze - 0 Active Referrals - 20% First Level, 10% Second Level

Silver - 50 Active Referrals - 25% First Level, 10% Second Level

Gold - 150 Active Referrals - 25% First Level, 15% Second Level

Platinum - 300 Active Referrals - 30% First Level, 15% Second Level

Elite - 500 Active Referrals - 30% First Level, 20% Second Level

Make money online get paid 20% of your first level referrals earnings and an additional 10% on second level referrals (the referrals of your referrals). Plus they increase the payout amount based on the number of referrals you have. At the top level you get paid 30% for your first level referrals and 20% for second level referrals.

You start making money and you literally watch as your money increases daily, while not doing anything. At first, yes, you have to put a little time into it, but if I can do it with two babies, so can you! It is very easy and worth it.

Your revenue possibilities and limits are endless. The more time you put in it, more money you’ll make. For reaching a high payout every month, I suggest you complete the Daily Survey every day, complete as much offers per day as you can, and refer as much people as you can to join the program under you.

If you want to make money online, make money on the internet, make money from home, make money today, and make money online fast you can be assured that this is the safest way to begin making money online. The synopsis, learn what search engine optimization is, write an article about the product, submit the article to an article directory, and lastly sit back and make money online, make money on the internet,make money from home, just make money.

http://www.chingching.co.cc

Just a few years ago this wouldn’t have been much of a problem as the photos would be condemned to the family photo album or remain imprisoned on a friends’ memory card. Nowadays with the advent of social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook I’m splattered all over the place looking ugly as sin.

Short of some drastic facial surgery or being pinned to the ground and forced to remain solemn I’ve been struggling to think of how to get attention whilst maintaining my dignity and not pulling stupid faces in public. The good news is I’ve found the answer, it comes from Japan and is now in its tenth incarnation: the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (That’s ten in roman numerals to the uninitiated).

The Mitsubishi is undoubtedly a brilliant car as it appears on the showroom floor, but I’m a big fan of history and heritage and the Evolution models have a more extensive and impressive lineage than most. Formula One has always been accused of lacking excitement and being controlled by computers more and more as the years go by. The world of rallying however couldn’t be more of a polar opposite, sheer cliff drops, mud splattered cars and windscreens, sheep causing spectacular crashes and the only navigation the drivers have is a petrified co-driver reading the directions from a clipboard.

This is where the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution models come in. For years the Evo and its arch rival the Subaru Impreza slugged it out on the rally circuits before resuming round two on the public roads. For me though it was always Mitsubishi who I waved the flag for and in particular Tommi Makinen, who won the World Rally Championship four times in 1996, ’97, ’98 and ‘99 – every time in his Mitsubishi. It was a time when I was a young teenager developing my love of cars and the sight of Makinen winning the championship in Wales of all places will stick with me forever.

Perhaps now you can see why I’m so passionate about the latest Lancer Evolution, although it’s not purely based on my boyhood memories. In recent years the Mitsubishi/Subaru battle has moved firmly into Mitsubishi’s favour with Subaru’s stylists’ seemingly going blind judging by the exceedingly ugly cars it’s produced. Mitsubishi on the other hand has toned down (ever so slightly) its aggressive styling, made the Evolution one of the best handling cars money can buy and then stuck a price tag on it that undercuts anything that could rival it by at least £40,000.

The Evolution X is pure PlayStation generation styling with big wheels and spoiler, a front grill that could plough through snow and headlights that give the car the look of Mike Tyson in his prime. However it is still a more subtle offering than previous models and the more grown-up feel continues inside. Yes it’s not the most inspiring cabin I’ve ever seen, it’s a typical workmanlike Japanese offering rather than Italian flair, but crucially everything on the X is far better quality than its elders.

Whereas build quality may have been in question previously, performance certainly wasn’t. Needless to say, the latest model doesn’t disappoint, with the snappily titled Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-360 GSR the one in the range to plump for. In fact it’ll get from 0-60mph in a mere 4.1 seconds, which is a damn sight faster that 99 percent of the competition and much faster than you can say it’s name.

Yet despite this Ferrari beating performance the Mitsubishi’s best feature is how it handles. The most accurate way I can describe it other than that overused word ‘perfection’ is to say it manages to handle like a rally car should but won’t break your spine on the shopping run either. It is a racing car for the everyman (or woman). Well if the everyman (or woman) has £37,999 spare. Yes it’s not cheap initially but when you’re beating Ferrari’s with the wife in the front, two kids in the back and your shopping in the boot having paid at least £70,000 less than Ferrari man you’ll see where I’m coming from.

Besides with the credit crunch I’m hoping the prices will plummet on used versions. I just hope I can cope with all the attention I’ll get.

Mark Creese confesses to his undying love for the Mitsubishi Evo X. Harratts Mitsubishi is the place to go to find the Latest Evo.

“Many people have acquired great wealth building a network marketing business.” – R.K.

The preceding two quotes were taken verbatim from Robert Kiyosaki – America’s own Rich Dad. Mr Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad franchise speaks for itself. His books have been published in multiple languages and have sold millions upon millions of copies throughout the world. When it comes to straight forward, no-nonsense financial advice, Robert Kiyosaki stands without peer. In all of his teachings, his primary message is directed towards proven methods of building wealth. And he – Robert Kiyosaki – with absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose by way of protecting his world renowned reputation for dishing sound financial advice, wholeheartedly recommends network marketing as a viable method whereby ANYONE can build substantial wealth.

Think about that – millions of people have gotten ahead in life following the advice that Kiyosaki provides in his books. If he were to recommend selling used T-shirts as a path to wealth, people the world over would get into the used T-shirt business based on his endorsement alone. So what does it say about the network marketing industry that Robert Kiyosaki gives it his unequivocal endorsement?

There has never been a better time than right now to start a home based business. As our domestic corporate structure continues to crumble – and the global economy continues to slump – the home based business industry is quickly becoming a viable alternative for anyone serious about their financial well being. Reason being is people are coming to the realization that the days of an employer assuring their financial security are over. Long gone are the days of J.O.B. security. No longer are employers capable of, or willing to, provide a lifetime of employee benefits. The only thing corporate America has to offer today is a paycheck just large enough to keep the uninitiated hooked on whatever workaday tasks they’re responsible for.

For those who want more from life than corporate America’s meager paycheck, a home based business is the answer. There are many options available to choose from, none better than a network marketing business. On many levels, network marketing – also referred to as social marketing or multi-level marketing – provides an opportunity for regular folks to build a serious business they can call their own. And when I say “business”, I mean BUSINESS.

Frequently, people have a day job they’ve created for themselves that they may euphemistically refer to as a business. Anytime you have something that consistently requires your direct involvement, you don’t have a business – you have a job. A true business is there to serve you whereas a job is there to be served by you.

The winner’s concept is to get into business in order to get out of business. In other words, yes, building a business does require your direct involvement and will require a good deal of work on your part UP FRONT. But, the eventual goal should always be to build something that generates cash flow with no, or very minimal, involvement. And that, my friends, is the promise of network marketing. After all, what good is the goal of having money without the time or freedom required to enjoy it?

A network marketing business is like everything else in life – you’ll get out of it what you put into it. If you treat your business like a hobby it will wind up costing you money. When you treat it like the legitimate business that it is, you’ll stand a great chance of making money. The most important thing for you to keep in mind is that the name of the industry is net-WORK marketing not net-SIT ON YOUR BUTT AND DO NOTHING marketing. The rewards are there for the taking but those rewards must be earned.

When you take a close look at a network marketing company, you’ll notice a structure quite similar to that of a more traditional business. But, the network marketing business model offers a very exciting twist.

In a traditional corporate structure, you may or may not be given the opportunity for advancement. As anybody who works within the confines of corporate America knows, climbing the corporate ladder and earning a greater income is dependent upon so many different factors. These many factors can include office politics, your present and past job performance, whether or not there’s an opening for which you’re qualified, whether or not you get along with the person who will make the decision to promote you and on and on and on. Advancement through a traditional corporate structure can be cut throat, frustrating, time consuming and is frequently at the discretion of somebody else’s whim.

In network marketing, all of the aforementioned traditional nonsense is non-existent. The structure of a network marketing company is such that those above you will bend over backwards to help lift you to new heights. Network marketing does not discriminate – your age, race, sex, religious persuasion and political beliefs have no jurisdiction over your potential for success. Everyone – and I do mean EVERYONE – has an equal opportunity in the network marketing industry.

At the beginning of this article I quoted the great Robert Kiyosaki from his book “The Business School For People Who Like Helping People”. In the book, Kiyosaki admits that he used to have a closed mind towards the multi-level marketing industry. After studying the industry more closely he came to realize the value to be found in a good network marketing opportunity. He has since changed his thinking and changed his mind and is now a major champion of social marketing. And mind you, Robert Kiyosaki does not have an affiliation with any network marketing firm. His support of the industry is as unbiased as you’ll ever find.

I bring this to your attention for one reason and one reason only: open yourself up to the possibilities. If, for some reason, you have a negative view of this industry, check those beliefs at the door and have another look. There is tremendous opportunity to be found in the network marketing industry and it’s up to you to seize that opportunity.

This is the first in a series of articles on the MLM / social marketing / network marketing industry. In the next article we’ll examine some of the crucial due diligence steps you MUST take when evaluating a network marketing opportunity. If you’d like to ensure that you don’t miss out on any installments in this series, I’d be happy to send future articles directly to you. Just shoot me an email and I’d be happy to include you on my distribution list.

dan@danielherzner.com 914-525-2487 http://www.LetsGetBackToBusiness.com Daniel Herzner is Founder and President of Lets Get Back To Business dot com, located in White Plains, NY. Dan has been a serial entrepreneur for the better part of his adult life and has worked tirelessly at building businesses. His latest endeavor is a web site centered around providing resources to help others.

The thing I loved about the Honda was that the standard Civic was so boring to look at and drive that you seemingly needed at least 65 years of life experience before being able to own one. Don’t get me wrong, just because it was boring to drive doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good car, it was just very safe and sensible and, well it was for old people. The Type R badge didn’t just add a few thousand pounds to the price tag; it transformed the retirement home company car into a snarling piece of motoring exotica that I aspired to own one day if I studied hard.

I’d struggle to win the argument that it looks much different from the standard model, with 17 inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and twin exit exhaust the only obvious external differences. This however was more than enough for me to start salivating and by the time I read the performance figures I needed oxygen. A 2 litre VTEC engine lurked under the bonnet producing 197bhp, revving to a crazy 8,250rpm and dragging the car from 0-60mph in a mere 6.6 seconds. To put it more succinctly, it was as if Honda had strapped a rocket to a mobility scooter.

Inside you weren’t met with the most luxurious cabin but racing seats, white dials and a brushed aluminium gear knob offered further evidence that speed really was the only priority for this car. The gearbox is mounted on the dashboard which appears odd at first but it falls so easily to hand and changes so slickly, you’ll be converted in minutes. Despite it being front wheel drive, the car handled superbly thanks in no small measure to it’s expensive independent rear suspension (something Honda have skimped on with the latest derivative) and communicative feedback through the steering wheel.

Quite rightly in the little Honda’s lifespan (2001 – 2006) it became the biggest selling fast hatchback, smashing all modest targets Honda HQ in Japan had. Priced at a tad under £16,000 and delivering all you could want in a driving experience, this was hardly a surprise.

The big question then is, three years on from graduating from university do I have a Honda Civic Type R on my driveway? Um, no but my ‘I really want one of those’ radar is still twitching very strongly. The very exciting news however is that prices are now reaching a level where this extraordinary car is accessible to the majority – and very possibly me too. A low mileage four-year-old car is now valued at £8,000 (add £400 for air conditioning).

This being a Honda, there should be very little to worry about with a car of this age, the VTEC engine is one of the most reliable in the world and the car itself is well put together, so don’t expect to find doors hanging off. As with any used car though it’s important to check some key points.

Firstly the car was available in red, black and silver. If the one you’re looking at is white it’s an import from Japan which may have an extra 20bhp but will be difficult to insure, will depreciate quickly and will have your Honda dealer running for the horizon. The turning circle isn’t great on the Type R so check the alloy wheels for signs of a struggle against the kerbs and whilst you’re there, have a look at the side skirts for speed hump damage.

Other than that the Type R is as widely praised now as it was when new and with the new model now on sale this version should become more readily available. As a final plus point (if one was needed) it’s faster and handles better than the new model. Right I can’t wait any longer…I’m off to buy one.

Mark Creese talks passionately about his love of the Honda Civic Type-R. Bristol Honda has a wide choice of new and used Honda for sale.

Also there is a hybrid technology that aims to help you run your car on water just the way it is. Gas4Free is a simple yet effective technology that will allow the car you own right now to run on water. It may sound like something out of the future, but the technology is available right now. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and you don’t have to wait for it to come rolling off an assembly line.

What are Gas4Free and water4gas?

Gas4Free and water4gas are a do it yourself systems that are cost effective and easy to install. So easy that anyone can do it without prior knowledge of car mechanics. Gas4Free or water4gas allows you to use water along with diesel or gasoline engines that doubles and in some cases triples the mileage you normally get with your car. Imagine owning a car that can net you over 60 miles per gallon.

Using water has a number of positive benefits such as cleaning your engine, boosting the performance of your car and prevents smog because it reduces emissions thereby shrinking your carbon footprint. There are thousands of regular people just like you that are utilizing this new technology across the globe. You can find reviews and testimonials of numerous customers that are more than happy using Gas4Free.

Did you know that by using Gas4Free you can also get a refund from the government? Whenever you implement green practices whether it is in your home or your automobile, the government is more than willing to pay you for your efforts.

Gas4Free is so sure that you will be more than happy with their product that they offer a 100% guarantee that if you are not satisfied they will refund your money. Though you won’t be able to eliminate trips to the gas station using Gas4Free you will be able to decrease the amount of trips you do make.

How can This be Possible?

Though this technology is fairly new, only being about 4-5 years old, it has been proven that you can use water as gas converters. It is a device that is simple that allows you to utilize the electricity that your battery emits to separate water and convert it to a gas called HHO. This HHO is 1 part oxygen and 2 parts hydrogen. It is a gas that is supercharged and will burn effectively and produce energy that is significant enough to improve the use of conventional fuel in your vehicle. The only waste that is produced is water.

The technology used is almost one hundred years old but it has been updated and simplified. You just have to visit your local hardware store and purchase a few parts and you will have a simple, affordable and very effective device to convert water to fuel along with gasoline or diesel. The Gas4Free manual will show you exactly how to proceed in order to make your car more fuel efficient and more importantly save you money on gas. Once you install the simple system it will require very little upkeep and maintenance on your part. No matter what type of vehicle you own, Gas4Free will work on any and all types of vehicles.

gas4free water4gas hho kit hydrogen gas saver

The main problem however is they are just plain dull, mere boxes on wheels with all the design aesthetics of a house brick with similar handling qualities. Some of the names aren’t terribly well conceived either, the Lucida and Estima immediately spring to mind which both sound a bit like the sort of names that C-list celebrities burden their kids with.

I read somewhere that the Vauxhall Sintra was deemed by Euro NCAP the European car safety agency to pose a serious threat to passenger occupants during a collision and so vanished rather hastily never to appear again. All of this seems to have led to the major manufacturers sitting their design teams down and saying “right lets get this sorted once and for all.”

The last couple of years have witnessed the emergence of a new breed of MPV which is stylish and versatile and packed with the latest safety features. We have also seen a lot of compact MPV’s to counter the “family bus” image of previous models.

This brings me nicely on to a car which caught my eye when I first saw it and made me realise that the age of driving a sporty car hasn’t completely passed me by.

The Ford S-Max is claimed by Ford to be unique mainly as it doesn’t fit into traditional MPV classification. In spite of another slightly dubious choice of name the main cause for excitement is that the S-Max was designed to be sporty. At last we finally have an MPV that is cool to be seen in. In fact there is even an S-Max owners club in the UK!

The S-Max can still carry seven if required but thanks to its sporty stance it doesn’t appear that huge. The roof slopes down at the rear whilst the slightly aggressive front end styling and side vents set it apart from its rivals. There is an air of quality about the car both inside and out thanks to well fitted trim and use of high quality cabin materials.

The driving position is excellent and more car-like than other MPV’s as it uses the same platform as the new Mondeo which has a large floor pan and gives good interior space. The back row of seats folds on to the floor of the boot rather than into it which gives more room for luggage and the space created when you fold all the seats down is truly enormous and also creates a totally flat load area.

As for driving the steering is impressive and turn-in is positive and sharp. Body movement is limited and the suspension is fairly stiff compared to the usual wallowing ride you get from larger vehicles. The damping is good and the S-Max feels composed and relaxing to drive.

The controls are well positioned and there is a six-speed gearbox which provides a slick gear change. General levels of equipment are good on all models with the base level “Edge” model coming in at the lower end and the top of the range being the “Titanium.”

The optional extras do start to get a bit expensive, cruise control etc which come as standard on a few competitors’ models but with the looks and the drive qualities of the S-Max you’ll be prepared to sacrifice these luxuries and look forward to enjoying yourself behind the wheel again!

The Ford S-Max is an MPV with a lot to offer with its sharp design and sporty handling. Jon Barlow has been checking it out at FordDealsDirect

I am slightly concerned that unless Fabio Capello can work his magic soon I might not ever see an England world cup victory in my lifetime.

It started me thinking about the historic moments I have witnessed albeit on TV. These include the Berlin Wall coming down, Nelson Mandela’s release, 9/11 and of course Barack Obama’s historic election victory to mention a few. One occasion I do remember vividly was when me and my little school mate Colin spent a sunny day in May 1977 queuing outside the Odeon Cinema in Bristol with what felt like most of the World’s population to see the movie Star Wars.

We waited all day and finally got to see the film just as it was getting dark. I remember thinking as we sat there excitedly waiting for the curtain to open clutching a bag of butterkist popcorn that life couldn’t possibly get any better.

I watched Star Wars on TV the other day and although it doesn’t have all the amazing CGI effects of a modern sci-fi movie the plot of good triumphing over evil is a timeless one.

I must admit though that I did get a bit confused when the Star Wars sequels started to appear and we learned that the first film was actually the fourth episode on so on. I think even the most die-hard fans may have started to question whether the later instalments were made for artistic purposes or providing a pension plan for George Lucas.

Somehow this brings me around to talking about the latest Volkswagen Golf. I think because we were talking about sequels and the 2009 Golf is the continuation of a story that started a long time ago (1974) in a factory far far away (well Germany).

We are now into the sixth evolution of this up market alternative to the likes of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, and just like “A New Hope” the newcomer has been given something of a makeover for the digital age.

We start with a new ultra-efficient engine, six-speed gearbox and optional touch screen control in the 2 litre TDI model. You’ll also find computer-controlled suspension and cruise control that cleverly scans the road ahead for slower traffic and maintains a safe distance accordingly.

In stark contrast with the original Golf which only came equipped with a cigarette lighter, the latest model might as well have come from another galaxy.

Its styling is not as striking as a lot of new models and from a distance you would be hard-pushed to distinguish the old Golf from the new one. There is now a crease running along the flank of the car, and a new front grille, though these changes are hardly radical.

It’s a slightly different story on the inside however. The Golf has a revised interior, which gets more equipment, new-look materials and more luxurious seats. Most striking is the new instrument cluster, which has aluminium-trimmed black dials with white, backlit lettering, while the steering wheel is given extra functionality with new buttons to control the sound system and trip computer.

Volkswagen has worked hard to reduce the engine’s fuel consumption and emissions. The 138bhp 2 litre TDI returns almost 58mpg while CO2 emissions are cut from 159g/km to 129g/km.

Fortunately, performance is not sacrificed in this quest for efficiency. The 2 litre TDI is powerful and never feels short of pace, particularly when overtaking. This is helped by the automated Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) optional in place of the six-speed manual gearbox. It provides smooth, instant gear changes via steering-wheel-mounted paddles, allowing fully automatic shifting.

The new Golf has a similar chassis to that of the previous model but feels more solid on the road due to Adaptive Chassis Control which automatically optimises suspension damping and insulates the occupants from harsh road surfaces.

You’ll also find extra safety equipment aboard the new Golf, including knee airbags for the driver. There is also a new head-restraint system designed to reduce whiplash injuries, and further reassurance comes with the latest electronic stability program.

Only time will tell if this episode of the Golf will feature in automotive mythology in years to come.

The Volkswagen Golf has an enduring presence and has been revised for 2009. Jon Barlow has a look at the latest version at Alan Day VW

What makes them work is the fact that these junk yards possess auto parts that may not be found in local auto parts stores. This is because there are certain vehicles that are made in other countries that require their parts to be ordered. There are also some cars that are so old the parts cannot be found just anywhere. That is another instance in which the part may need to be ordered from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, that can be extremely expensive.

Their availability

Every town has at least one junk yard, which it is commonly called an auto salvage yard because they salvage the parts. Some parts on these vehicles are not functional, but even the most dilapidated vehicles have something that is useful on the inside or outside.

If you find that you are in need of a hard to find part, it pays to check out the auto salvage yard. Many individuals will search several junk yards before they find the part they need, but it beats having to order a part that is no longer made. The price difference is considerable and the ease of acquiring the part is significant.

The best way to find the part you need is to call the junk yard first. Ask them if they have the part and give them an opportunity to look. If they do have it, they will tell you. They assess vehicles when they receive them to see what parts are in good shape and which ones are not. They will collect both the internal and external parts that are in great shape. They will even collect tires that can go a while longer. Whatever it is you need, just ask.

When you arrive at the salvage yard, they will let you see the part and you can decide whether or not to purchase it. If you do, you simply carry out the transaction right there and it is done.

Other services

For parts that are large, some auto salvage yards will haul them for you. This is something to ask when you make the phone call. Some people will buy the entire vehicle in order to scrap it themselves. Other parts such as trunk lids, hoods, door panels, and roofs can be too large for some to haul as well. If you need them to haul it for you, ask them how much they will do it for. Make sure that you comparison shop if you feel the price is too steep. If no one else can do any better or they don’t have the part, you can always call them back and tell them you will be there to make the purchase. You are not obligated the moment you make the phone call.

As you can see, the junk yard is a great place to find those hard to get auto parts. They might be used, but many parts will still last the life of the vehicle. Even if it needs replacing in the future, the cost of replacing it again still won’t exceed the cost of having to order parts. Even if you don’t have to order parts, you will still find them cheaper at the auto salvage yard.

Auto salvage selling used car parts. Visit the junk yard and our friendly staff will help you.