Ford Motor And Georgia Tech Working On 'Green Eco School Bus'

Georgia Institute of Technology is working in partnership with the Ford Motor Company Fund on the country’s first conversion of a traditional school bus to a hydraulic hybrid vehicle running on recycled biofuel.  

Ford Motor Company

The project conducted by Georgia Tech, one of the world’s premier research universities, is financed by a $50,000 Ford College Community Challenge Grant.  It is one of five given each year for a student-led project that matches university resources with an urgent community need related to sustainability.  Focusing on converting existing school buses to hydraulic hybrid, this project could reduce transportation costs for schools and lower greenhouse emissions.

Georgia Tech assistant professor of mechanical engineering, Michael Leamy and his students designed and developed the hydraulic hybrid system for the 16-passenger school bus donated by the Atlanta Public Schools (APS).  

Its installation is close to complete and students at Mary Line Elementary School are painting the “Green Eco School Bus” green.  The elementary students are also organizing a collection drive for used cooking oil for processing into biodiesel.

“Our students are eager to learn about new ways to care for the environment,” said Brian Mitchell, principal, Mary Lin Elementary. “The Green Eco School Bus turns a theoretical concept into a fun and exciting reality that stimulates their learning. Together with Georgia Tech and Atlanta Public Schools, we are taking innovation from the classroom to the community,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

  “This is a noteworthy example of the types of programs we are bringing to Atlanta as part of our new Operation Goodwill partnership with local Ford and Lincoln dealers with the goal of expanding our engagement with this community.”

Please note, we take no credit for this article. Article taken from: AutomotiveDiscovery. 

EA Games and Ford Come Together

The immensely popular life simulation video game, The Sims 3 which was created by Electronic Arts, is working with Ford to gain brand awareness for Ford's new Focus.

The pixelated Ford Focus Sedan available for download for The Sims 3 gamers.

The Sims is a video game in which the gaming community can create lifelike human characters called Sims, give them personalities, construct their surroundings, and give them life goals and desires, and then decide to grant their wishes.

As part of the 'Focus Neon Nights' expansion pack, enthusiasts of the popular game can download a pixelated Ford Focus Sedan available in several different colours, with a stereo, neon lights and also a t-shirt that their sim characters can wear. 

The Ford Focus has been part of The Sims video gaming community before, the previous generation being featured in The Sims 2 along with the Mustang GT, Edge, Fusion and Escape Hybrid. The 2012 Ford Focus joins the Ford Fiesta in The Sims 3 which was first released as part of the 'Fiesta Urban Streetscape' downloadable package which was available for download on the EA (Electronic Arts) website.

Ford's social media specialist, Brian McClary, said "Our involvement with The Sims 3 demonstrates how Ford is looking for alternate ways to talk to the consumer outside of print, television and radio. Gaming is a key area we are focusing on and The Sims have proved it can be an effective channel".

According to Electronic Arts, The Sims 3 has been the most successful launch of the game series to date and already over 8 million of the Ford vehicles available for download have been downloaded by gamers wanting a Ford Focus Sedan in their game.  

Orchestra Plays Instruments Made From Ford Car Parts

We saw this and thought we'd share it with you. I bet you can spot some familiar looking parts on the video!

Tips On How To Insure Your Car For The First Time

If you are a new car owner by law you have to buy car insurance. It is illegal to own a car let alone drive a car without this coverage. Many insurance companies will penalise you as a first time car owner regardless of whether you consider yourself to be the best driver in the world or not, as you have no past history of driving or accidents, they basically can charge you the highest, premium rates. Rates can come down for you as a first time car owner if for example you are over the age of 25 rates are considerably cheaper than say an 18 year olds insurance. Unfortunately being young in an insurers eyes means that you will get judged regardless of how little faults you received when you passed your driving test!

But do not despair, there are ways to try and get the best possible deal for you in the form of price comparison websites. This should be your first port of call to compare rates. Things you will need to use these websites are: 

• Car Brand (e.g. Ford)
• VIN Number/Vehicle Registration
• Model of car (e.g Fiesta Freestyle)
• Year of car (e.g. 2006)
• Driving License Number (Found on your driving license)
• The mileage of your car.
• Address/contact details

And finally you might need your financial details if you choose to proceed. If the car is not owned by you and you lease the car, you will need all of the details of the company that you are leasing the car off too. 

If you have been driving for a while but are only insuring your own car for your first time, the insurance companies may ask you for your full driving history. This includes any accidents where you have made a claim and also it is important to notify them of any accidents that weren't your fault. It is fraud if you do not admit to any accidents, even if you haven't claimed on your insurance.  

You will have various policies now to choose from. You can insure your car against theft, fire, car damage or injuries from car accidents. There are insurance policies out there for most budgets and preferences. You can buy coverage for any purpose you think you will need the most. It is also possible to get a policy for more than one car with a discount on the second car, so if you do own two cars - make sure you query the insurance company about possible discounts that could help you.

If you have been driving for a number of years and have barely any 'blips' on your driving history, in other words, barely any accidents or claims, than it is likely that you are able to justify a lower rate to your potential insurer. For a first-time driver, this will not be the case, however. Insurers unfortunately see first time drivers as big a liability as a learner driver as most accidents that do occur in a drivers life occur within the first 2 years of them passing their driving test.

Find as many quotes as you can, once you have all of the ones you are the most interested in being insured with, print out all of the quotes you have received. The reason for this is so that you can compare each quote side by side based on rates, coverage, monthly payments and premiums. You should also look at each companies reputation in the form of reviews which can normally be found online. Find out if other customers are happy with their service by reading online reviews about their company. Don't forget to read the fine print of each policy you are looking at.  You can either purchase a policy online or ring the company, the latter will help you to ask any questions or seek information that perhaps you could not find online just so you are 100% sure. Our advice when choosing an insurer is to go for a well established company that has a good reputation. Try and opt for an insurer that is known to release claims without giving clients a hard time.

Please also see: How to reduce your car insurance if you found this article interesting.   

The Difference Between New & Used Car Parts

A customer asked me not too long ago what the difference was between new and used car parts. I thought it was fairly obvious what the difference was but when I started thinking about it, perhaps there is a deciding factor for those that are unsure on what to buy - new or used. So I decided to look at the differences, including the pros and the cons of each.

New Car Parts:

Pros:

• There is normally a guarantee that the new parts will work especially if they are OEM parts, this is normally a much longer guarantee than on second hand parts.
• Brand new parts can normally easily be sourced from the original parts manufacturer or from a store, you do not have to search for it.
• These parts can normally be seen and ordered in the store or showroom or dealership.

Cons:

• They are normally nearly always double the price of a second hand, used part.
• Some parts may have to be 'worn in' to the car, like a new pair of shoes! 

Used Car Parts:

Pros: 

• For a used part, you would be paying an extremely low price in comparison.
• Used parts can work just as good as new parts.
• Some car spare shops (such as us, for example) have warranty's on all parts, so if anything does go wrong you are covered.
• If you are on a tight budget, a used car part will not break your bank account in comparison.

Cons:

• Unless you already have a reliable supplier of used car parts for your specific vehicle you could have a bit of a search on your hands to find a supplier for your car.
• Used parts are normally a lot dirtier than new parts, don't expect them to have a sleek, shiny finish. They may have oil on them, scuffs, scratches and scrapes.
• Photos of the parts are not always available. 
• They might not work as well or for as long as a new part would. 
• The warranty may be considerably less time than on a new part as they would likely have the original factory manufacturers guarantee.

If you are struggling to find a used car part and you have a Ford, firstly take a look at our online store to see if we can help you get the part you need, or call us on 01782205511.

Or you can use some of the quote compare websites that are available for you to use, all you have to do is type in your vehicle registration, the part you need and suppliers will contact you with their quotes.

Here are some we have found:

www.1stchoice.co.uk

www.carsparefinder.co.uk

www.partsgateway.co.uk

www.247spares.co.uk

TomTom Goes LIVE

Some people may remember the days of maps and trying to read from a scrappy piece of paper with directions scrawled all over as a distant memory.  Satellite Navigation technology took the driving community by storm and enabled drivers to have a pleasant, driving experience without the need to take their eyes off the road. TomTom was one of the first manufacturers to bring Satellite Navigation to the general public and they haven't stopped there. Their newest TomTom product - GO LIVE has brought a whole list of added extras and possibilities for drivers. The connected GO 2505 M LIVE comes with all of TomTom's LIVE services, including TomTom HD Traffic.

Some of the features this new technology offers drivers:

• Instant and continuous routing
• Excellent graphics
• Pinch-to-zoom
• Swipe from screen-to-screen using gestures.

It keeps the drivers' safety in mind by having Bluetooth hands free calling and intuitive voice recognition. A new click and lock mount keeps your device safely mounted while driving and it also features a 5" glass touch screen. 


What other features does it have?

• Real-time map updates.
• Street names are announced to you as you drive.
• Easy to use voice commands - drivers can now say "take me to the nearest petrol station" and a map will be routed for your nearest one. 
• Instant and continuous routing.
• GO's services are delivered via AT&T's wireless network and include Local Search, Fuel Prices and Weather Bundled. 
• Includes the award winning TomTom HD Traffic which is known to be the most accurate, comprehensive and frequent traffic information available.

  The goal of TomTom HD is to offer real-time traffic solution to their customers, in hopes to empower consumers with superior driving intelligence.




You can pick one of these up from most participating stores such as Halfords and Amazon.co.uk for between £160-£280.

Ford Develops Heart Rate Monitoring Seat

Using electrode sensing technology, Ford researchers have developed a heart rate monitoring seat that can check a driver's heart activity. The project is being developed by Ford European Research and the Innovation Center in Aachen, Germany and Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University. The seat is part of Ford's mantra of trying to create a car that can help drivers' health and well-being whilst driving, especially helping those people with chronic illnesses and medical disorders that they would be able to manage while driving instead of potentially putting other road users at risk. 

The seat is being developed by Ford engineers and uses six special embedded sensors that can monitor a drivers heart rate, heart beat and detects electrical impulses generated by the heart. Medical personnel and the driver are able to monitor the heart rate using   computer software which transmits signals directly to the driver via the vehicle and also remotely.

There are multiple possibilities for the seat according to Dr Achim Lindner, Ford European Research and Innovation Center medical officer, from linking to remote medical services and Ford vehicle safety systems to furnishing real-time health information and alerts of impending cardiovascular issues heart attacks. “The sensors use a very specially designed system and carefully researched materials to be able to give a good signal without contact on the skin,” Lindner said. “We are still fine-tuning their operation to work with some materials; certain types of synthetic fabric and lamb’s wool can cause electrical interference that upsets the signal, but we can achieve a strong signal through 10 layers of cotton,” he added.   

 “Although currently still a research project, the heart rate monitor technology developed by Ford and RWTH Aachen University could prove to be a hugely important breakthrough for Ford drivers, and not just in terms of the ability to monitor the hearts of those known to be at risk,” said Dr. Lindner.

Ford Develops Heart Rate Monitoring Seat - Image by Rennett Stowe. Source:  http://automotivediscovery.com/ford-develops-heart-rate-monitoring-seat/928650/

Even though it is still in the early stages of development, 90 to 95 percent of subjects proved to be compatible in stationary testing and on-road testing of the seat proved it was possible to achieve highly accurate readings for up to 98 percent of the time spent behind the wheel.

Ford To Build Smallest Engine Yet

Ford will soon build a 1 litre three cylinder version of its EcoBoost engine for small cars around the world. The whole EcoBoost idea — build smaller engines that get better fuel economy but maintain the power of their larger ancestors with turbocharging and direct fuel injection — has been a winner so far for Ford, with 180,000 EcoBoost-powered vehicles in North America to date. Derrick Kuzak, head of Ford's global vehicle development, says 90% of Ford's lineup will have an Ecoboost option by 2013.

The 1 litre three cylinder version was shown in china at the 'Ford Start' concept last year. Ford says it expects the 1 litre to make the same power and torque as a 1.6 litre four cylinder engine in a Ford Fiesta which makes 120hp today. It has been 2 years in development and Ford will finally announce the engines release date at Frankfurt Autoshow in September. 

The motor is small for American cars, but similar to the European Fiat 500 two-cylinder engine capable of achieving almost 60 mpg. 

Ford is also at work on an eight-speed automatic transmission it claims will boost fuel efficiency up to another four percent. 

Ford Most Purchased New Car In May

That's right, Ford was the most purchased new car in May 2011 in the USA. Ad-ology surveyed an online panel of 5,921 adults in the USA in May 2011 and we loved the results that they found.

Ad-ology is a American based research company that analyses key marketing and advertising trends in over 440 industries and what motivates end-customers. Over 2,000 advertising agencies, media properties, local governments and product marketing departments across the USA use this research. 

According to Ad-ology, consumers say that gas mileage prompted their initial desires to buy a new car. Nearly half of the amount considered buying a Ford, this is a significant increase in comparison to January 2011's results with a 35% increase. We personally think that nearly half of consumers is a cracking result, especially in comparison to those brand names they are up against - Honda, Chevrolet, Toyota and Nissan - all renowned for their eco friendly approach to vehicle design and innovation. The decision by consumers to choose Ford could also be due to the high gas prices. This has also meant that there has been considerably more interest in electric and hybrid cars, which is great news for the strong brand contenders mentioned above earlier. 

Some more interesting statistics found from the research were over half of those surveyed that were considering purchasing a new car considered themselves as 'technology lovers'. Almost three fourths said the dealers willingness to negotiate was key in choosing a dealership. American brands are considered 'best cars and trucks' according to 37.7% and finally, 28.5% say they buy 'American' where possible. 

Do us Brits agree? Please feel free to comment below.

  

Ford Technology Wakes Sleepy Drivers

Every year thousands of accidents are the result of drivers falling asleep behind the wheel.  Ford’s new Driver Alert safety system is giving motorists in Europe the technology that could be a real lifesaver. 

“Driver fatigue is a serious problem and one that can affect anyone,” said Ford engineer Margareta Nieh, who helped develop Driver Alert and is an expert on drowsy driver behavior.  “When drivers become drowsy they tend to drift off line as they lose concentration and then make sudden corrective steering inputs.  What we’ve developed is a Driver Alert system that picks up on these erratic driving movements by detecting sideways yaw.”

Using advanced technology and sophisticated algorithms; Ford’s Driver Alert analyzes driver performance and issues a warning if the driver shows signs of drowsiness or erratic steering.  A small forward-facing camera connected to an on-board computer is mounted on the back of the rear-view mirror.  The camera is trained to identify the lane markings on both sides of the vehicle and predicts where the vehicle should be in relation to them.  If markings are detected only on one side of the roadway, the camera will continue to function.

As the vehicle travels along the road, the computer looks at the markings ahead and predicts where the car should be positioned relative to the lane markings.  Then it measures where the car actually is and if there is a significant difference, a warning is sounded by the system.  First there is a soft warning that will pop up in the instrument cluster as a text message, staying there for 10 seconds, as a chime sounds.  If the driver continues to demonstrate drowsy behavior, a hard warning will appear that must be acknowledged by the drivers pressing the OK button.  In the event that the driver does not press the button, the system can only be reset by stopping the car and opening the driver’s door.

Source: AutomotiveDiscovery.com

Ford Focus Star Of American Idol Series 10

Ford is marking its 10th season as a sponsor of the American Idol TV Show, which has recently been in the process of deciding between Scotty McCreery or Lauren Alaina. It was McCreery who eventually grabbed the crown, with the highest number of votes in the show’s history. 

 This season, it was the 2012 Ford Focus that grabbing all the attention from consumers who watch the show.

In fact, the American automaker has not only donated each of them a new Focus, but they also got to deliver one to their favorite teacher during the American Idol finale.

“As a gift for their accomplishment, we award Ford vehicles to the final two Idols,” said Crystal Worthem, Ford Brand Content and Alliances manager.“The added twist this year is that the Idols are going to surprise their favorite teachers with their own Ford Focus.”

Furthermore, Ford has decided to strengthen the impact of the Ford Music Videos by creating a virtual scavenger hunt within the videos on the American Idol website, that drives consumers to log on and re-engage with the videos to find hidden icons. The grand prize was two tickets to the American Idol finale and a new 2012 Ford Focus.   

Ford also used the American Idol forum this season to showcase its Drive One 4 UR School test-drive program, an initiative that brings together local dealerships and neighborhood high schools to raise money. The program will be highlighted in a video that will air during the finale.

“When the final three Idols went on their hometown visits, we took our Drive One 4UR School program to their local high schools and raised $10,000 for each school,” said Worthem. “The Idols also surprised their favorite teacher from high school with a trip to the American Idol finale, courtesy of Ford Motor Company.”

How To Avoid Buying A Bad Used Car

We have found a cracking article from carconnection.com offering advice about the purchasing of used cars, they offer some great tips and advice, so please read for some free information :)
Here it is:

Bad used cars can turn what should be a happy occasion--fresh wheels in your driveway--into a nightmare.

But buying a used car has all of the pitfalls of buying a new car, plus many of its own, not the least of which is inheriting someone else's problems. “Let your mechanic look it over” is good advice that you might not hear from a seller of a car, unless he is very confident of the vehicle’s road worthiness. But it's absolutely necessary.

The question for any used-car buyer then becomes, what should your car guy be looking at to keep you out of trouble? It might be a moot point if you have a relationship with your repair facility, since he will most likely treat the assignment as though he were screening a purchase for a family member. But what if you need to give some guidance to the shop? What are the conditions that would prevent you from buying that car which goes down in family folklore as “the” big mistake?

These problems should be major warning signs you're about to buy a bad used car:

Fluid leaks. Wear and tear are not kind to vehicles, especially to those which have suffered from neglect or trauma. So consider evidence of fluid leakage as a concern and possible evidence that the vehicle did not have problems corrected in a timely fashion--or that the car had experienced some critically damaging episodes like overheating or a lack of lubrication.

Noises. An experienced technician can tell from the way an engine sounds whether it is worthy of your purchase dollars. On a road test he might detect a worn axle shaft, worn brake pads or a sound alerting him to worn struts or other suspension problems. While all of these are sort of maintenance items that would not necessarily be deal-breakers, their detection is important so that you can factor their replacement cost into your offer.

Drivability issues. You definitely want your expert to drive the car you are considering. Besides being able to check it for noises, the road test will give your person the opportunity to feel how it handles and how responsive it is. Drivability problems are some of the most difficult to diagnose and repair, so by catching one prior to purchase you can avoid a hassle down the road.

Big-money items. There are some components that are deal-breakers and these should be checked for their integrity. These would include the engine, transmission and exhaust/emissions system. You really don’t have enough money and the garage doesn’t have enough time to do an in-depth analysis of these major items, but in conjunction with the other things that are being checked,  an experienced technician can arrive at an overall “feel” for how good the car is.

Purchasing a used car can be gamble if you go into it without sufficient knowledge of the vehicle. Having it checked out prior to purchase by a qualified automotive person can drastically reduce the chance of buying a lemon.  

For your refrence: A lemon is a defective car that is found to have numerous or severe defects not readily apparent before its purchase. Any vehicle with these issues can be termed a 'lemon,' and, by extension, any product which has major flaws that render it unfit for its purpose can be described as a 'lemon'. Source = Wikipedia. 

Source = http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1058958_how-to-avoid-buying-a-bad-used-car 

10 Things To Ask When Buying a Used Car From Private Seller

Make sure you are prepared when buying a used car from a stranger’s driveway. We’ve found 10 of the best and most essential questions to ask a private seller when looking to buy a used car:

1.       Ask for a description of the vehicle over the phone. Don’t describe the vehicle you are after, wait for them to describe it. In other words, don’t ring up and say “You have a Ford Mondeo for sale, can you describe its condition?” wait for the seller’s response. If the seller asks “which one?” straight away you should be on your guard. What you have here is a con artist who sells multiple vehicles while posing as a private seller. There’s no point rewarding criminal behaviour – our advice? End the call.

2.       Ask the mileage of the car. Normally the average car will rack up about 12,000 miles per year – the distance manufacturers use to determine standard warranty coverage. As a guideline, a seven-year-old model should have between 40,000 -60,000 miles on the odometer. If it has travelled considerably more than this, than this is your ideal opportunity to negotiate with the seller to lower the price for high mileage.

3.       Is the private seller the original owner? It is always a good idea to find out how many people have owned the car previously. If the car has been passed around from owner to owner it could be that the car is troublesome and is expensive to upkeep – bear this in mind. If the car has only had one owner this is your ideal opportunity to quiz the seller on any recent maintenance undertaken, oil-change intervals and any other maintenance habits. One-owner cars fetch a premium for this reason, so expect to pay slightly more. If the car has had a few owners, ask if the car has had previous owner’s history documents, this should allow you to see any maintenance or repairs to the vehicle. This moves us on to our next point.

4.       Ask for all service and maintenance records. Every legitimate seller should have at least some repair receipts. Take note of expensive repairs involving engine or transmission. Beware of the seller who has no records. They may well be selling a vehicle purchased from someone else and they don’t want you to discover its chequered past.  

5.       Ask the seller if it would be okay for you to take the car for a test drive, even if you don’t want to test it (although we strongly recommend that you do). Anybody who can’t surrender the vehicle for a quick drive is probably hiding something (it may not be plated properly). And demand more than just a spin around the block. Drive the vehicle on a motorway as this will give you an inclination of the cars mechanical fitness and speed. Make sure if the seller drives with you that they do not put the radio on – to mask out any unusual noises or sounds. Anything that sounds like a suspension knocking or a whining transmission or something that just does not sound right – quiz the seller on the noise.

6.       Ask if it would be alright for your mechanic to check it over, again, even if you aren’t planning on using a mechanic to check it first (although, again, we recommend that you do!). If the seller has anything to hide about costly repairs or maintenance they will become reluctant to cooperate, they might try and make it awkward for you to book an appointment – perhaps saying they are going on holiday or another excuse. To be fair, don’t spring this one until you are nearly certain that you’ve settled on this particular vehicle. It does take time to arrange a garage visit and the seller may not want to be without the car for a day. The best advice is to make arrangements ahead of time with your mechanic, especially if he or she is available on a weekend.

7.       Don’t be afraid to ask the seller why they are selling the vehicle. If the answer is they’ve ordered a new car, they are obviously trying to get a higher price than the low figure the new-car dealer offered. Do a price comparison of the vehicle you are enquiring about to ensure you are getting the best price possible for the vehicle, there is a website called http://www.priceanycar.com which will help you find cost comparisons. If they’re selling a family member’s car, i.e. “My elderly father can’t drive anymore” check the ownership slip against the history records of the car to verify this first. If they are lying about this what else could they be lying about?

8.       Ask if the vehicle has been involved in any accidents since ownership. Of course the seller here could lie about any damages incurred on the vehicle, however a quick examination for paint overspray will reveal the lie. Inspect window and door seals, wheel wells and mufflers. Typically, the seller will under-report the collision damage. The best advice would be to get a trusted mechanic to check the vehicle over before committing to a purchase.

9.       If there is no way that you are able to see the car in person, i.e. you are buying a car at auction online -  ask for photographs of everything including the interior, exterior and under the bonnet. Be wary of any signs of rust or damage as this could lead to a pricey repair job. Also it would be an idea to pay by escrow just in case the car gets to you in thousands of little pieces, if at all. - We have heard the horror stories.

10 .  And lastly, don’t forget to haggle. The seller will have a price in mind that they are willing to drop down to, especially if they know that the vehicle might need repairs soon or if they know that the mileage is particularly high in comparison to other vehicles of its age. Some people might take a lower offer just to guarantee a quick sale so they might be prepared to reduce the price to ensure a quick sale. 

Used Car Prices In USA Highest In 16 Years

Used car prices in the USA are the highest they have been in the last 16 years according to USA today. Since 2008 alone, prices have gone up close to 30% and dealers are paying well over $10,000 in average for a used vehicle.

So why the sudden price increase? Well there are a number of factors and contributors to the change in pricing. One of the main factors is the recession. According to sources, studies show that people in the USA are keeping their cars for a longer period of time than before the recession hit. There are reports that cars are on the road about a year longer than in 2007. Since people aren’t selling their used vehicles, the used car inventory has gotten much lighter.

Another reason is that people are unwilling to sell their vehicles because they can’t get another car to replace their old one at a reasonable rate or can’t seem to get one at all. The devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is also a large factor in the used car price surge. Parts and vehicles that were once easy enough to get hold of are now becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, so car dealerships all across the USA are holding on tightly to vehicles that are typically made and imported from Japan, thus the demand has risen for these cars and so naturally the prices also rise.

Johnathan Banks, executive auto analyst for the National Automobile Dealers Association Used Car Pricing Guide says “You’re not going to find a situation like this very often. It does seem a bit odd that you can get a better deal on a new car than a used one. Lease or finance, a new car will, in many cases, cost about the same or less monthly.” But the increase in prices is not going to last much longer according to David Whiston, an auto analyst for Morningstar, he says that prices are at or near a peak. This indicates that it will soon be turning back around.

Manheim auction houses’ chief economist Tom Webb predicts that the price increase will only be around for another couple of months before levelling off. Numbers are also rising for the amount of vehicles being leased. Considering most leases are three year leases, the returns should put a good amount of used cars back on the market around 2014. Leases may have become more popular again due to more lenient terms from auto companies and lenders. With the used car shortage and better lending options, the marketing is certainly in favour of anyone looking to sell a used car and get a new one.

Source: USA Today, http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/05/28/used-car-prices-hit-highest-since-the-last-16-years/

Storing Your Car For A Long Time? Here Are Some Hints and Tips

Are you going to be storing your car any time soon? If so, here are some hints and tips to help keep your car in the best possible shape for when you need to use it again.

1. Wash your car, inside and out. Nothing worse than a musty car smell when you come to use it again! Car air fresheners are a good call!

2. After washing your car and ensuring it is dry, apply wax. This will act as a seal on your car from any dust or dirt. 

3. Avoid corrosion of the engine by removing the spark plugs and spraying oil into each cylinder. It is also recommended that you run the engine for a short burst with the spark plugs removed to prevent combustion.

4. Lay a plastic sheet on the ground to prevent rising damp.

5. Put a cloth or sheet in the exhaust to prevent rodents from nesting. Exhausts are a popular nesting place for little critters. Some even recommend using traps around the vehicle, although if you are a little squeamish this is probably not the best idea, especially if the car is being stored for a long time...

6. Wiper blades can stick to the glass if left for a long time, so put a rag or cloth under them.

7. After a while, the handbrake may bind so leave the car in gear and secure the wheels with a chock.

8. Remove the battery, car alarm, clock, radio/CD player and any other items that may drain the battery over time.

9. Remove any valuable possessions from the vehicle.

10. Investing in seat covers may be a good idea to prevent the car's interior from getting damp and damaged. 

May Photo Competition Winner

Mondeo Spares Ltd are club sponsors of Mondeo ST Owners Club forum and have been helping to choose winners for the photo competition that the forum runs on a monthly basis.

In May, the competition was to send in a photograph of your Mondeo with the theme 'water' in mind. 

Thanks to everyone who entered this month!

We'd like to congratulate Stuart Davy who won this months competition. 

Here is the winning photo:

The picture was taken at Stuart's home in SE London, with the help of his mrs being ordered to chuck buckets of water at the car until he was happy with the picture!

Some specifications about Stuart's Mondeo:

ST220 with Blueflame exhaust system, 

Pipercross induction kit, 

Bluefin Remap, 

approx 250 bhp.

Painted and polished engine bay with Roose Motorsport hoses.

Uprated EBC discs & pads all round.

Refurbed alloys.

Facelift front grills, 

fog light surrounds, 

door handles and rear light lenses. 

As the winner, Stuart receives a t-shirt from Mondeo Spares and gets to choose June's photo competition theme which he has chosen derelict buildings/wasteland or churches. 

If you'd like to enter the photo competition for June, the closing date is 24th June 2011.

To Enter:

June's theme is "derelict buildings/wasteland or churches" so your car must be in the photograph with this in the background.

You must be a registered user on the Mondeo ST OC forum.

Only 2 photographs per member can be submitted.

No photoshopped images allowed (lighting and contrast adjustments are OK)

Obviously must be a picture of a Mondeo ST.

Register at the forum here:

www.mondeostoc.com 

Ford Use Robot To Simulate Human Perceptions

Ford Motor Company have developed a robot machine that combines a computer's eye for detail with human perceptions of quality through touch and feeling. The purpose of using the robot is to minimise costs for Ford as it will help to avoid numerous iterations of testing needed under actual human interaction of interiors. 

Ford's Robot 'RUTH'

The robot has been aptly named 'RUTH', which stands for Robotized Unit for Tactility & Haptics. RUTH utilizes a number of parameters including friction, force, softness, roughness and temperature to measure how the interior of the car would 'feel' to a human. RUTH is able to mimic most complex actions that a driver would perform with interiors of the car, for example - pushing buttons, turning knobs, adjusting air vents and feeling surfaces. Although RUTH has been in action for about 4 years now, the robot is only just being reflected in Ford's production models which include European versions of Ford's Mondeo, Galaxy, S-Max and C-Max.