Archive for January, 2010

Necessary Items to Detail Automobiles

January 30th, 2010



When starting a car detailing business, or just detailing your own personal car, there are a few car detailing supplies that are needed to get the job done properly. The first step in detailing a car is give the car a basic wash, preferable with something that will strip any residual wax that the car may already have on it, that way you start your detailing from scratch.

Now it is time to start detailing, and some needed car detailing supplies to have on hand are:

-sponges
-microfiber towels
-A good paste or liquid wax
-wax applicator pads
-drying towels
-detailing brushes for the interior
-carpet cleaner
-shop vacuum
-interior plastic dressings
-tire dressing

Many of these items can be obtained from automotive specialty stores or local hometown stores that have an automotive section. Many new products are available to make car detailing easier as well as to give a better shine. Manufacturers of liquid wax now offer “synthetic wax” which is very easy to remove and gives a deep shine. Wax typically should be applied at least twice a year, one before summer and once before winter.

Cotton towels are now being replaced with newer microfiber towels, which are said to not leave scratches on painted surfaces. Wax applicator pads are now available in both cotton and microfiber styles. A good set of quality 100% cotton or microfiber drying towels should be used to thoroughly dry the car before applying any wax. These towels should be kept for automobile use only and washed separately from household towels.

Having a proper area to clean and detail automobiles will make the job go by much more efficiently. It is best to wax/detail a car under a shaded area, with a garage being the ideal place. Working indoors will prevent unwanted contaminants such as dust from falling on the car while you are working on it. A person with a car detailing business should have multiple garage bays, that way more than one car can be worked on at once. It is also to have storage racks and shelving to put your entire car detailing supplies in one area so you know where everything is at and how much you have left of it.

A shop vac for cleaning the interior of vehicles will come in handy for picking up large particles inside the car. A car business may have several heavy duty coin operated vacuums by their business for self serve customers.

There are several detailing supplies on the market and it is best to try them out to find the right combination of price and quality for your liking. An individual may spend more money on products while a business may focus more on getting product at a lower price, as long it meets the company’s personal requirements. Repeat customers are very important to a car detailing business, and with many happy customers may come expansion into other areas as well as franchising your business.

By: Edward Dean

Personalizing Your Ride With Auto Accessories

January 29th, 2010



There is a huge selection of auto parts and accessories that you can use to personalize your vehicle. We spend a lot of time in our vehicles, so it make sense to make it as comfortable and appealing as possible. The possibilities are almost endless, so where should you start?

It is always wise to look for the most value. I will affectionately define value as “a lot of bang for the buck.” How can we get the most value out of customizing our vehicles? I like to start with the interior for several reasons. 1) You spend a lot of time in your car. 2) Interior accessories are typically less expensive than exterior accessories. 3) The results of some well chosen interior accessories can drastically improve your driving experience.

We can begin with some dash trim. There are lots of varieties out there, ranging from carbon fiber, wood grain, aluminum, and vinyl. Vinyl kits are relatively inexpensive, and can really complement the exterior of the car if you choose to match colors. You can also choose a vinyl dash kit that has a carbon fiber, aluminum or wood grain look to it for a fraction of the cost. This upgrade alone will create a new and exciting environment. These kits can be purchased for around $100.00.

Next, you can look at shift knobs and pedals. These are also a cool upgrade, and come in a variety of styles. Match these to your dash trim for an added appeal. Shift knobs can come lit with L.E.Ds for a really dramatic look. Pedals and shift knobs can both be found for less than $100.00 for both.

The next place we can turn is to the gauges. There are also some good options here, such as reverse white face gauges, digital gauges, and designer gauges. Keep the existing color scheme going and you will find yourself driving a new exotic version on your old car.

With all these in place, lets turn our attention to some aluminum floor mats. These floor mats can really add value to your vehicle by giving you a custom finish and protecting your existing carpet. Once these are installed, put a little neon underneath the dash to glow off of the floor mats. Match the neon colors to your dash trim and other accessories, and sit back and enjoy what will feel like a new ride!

The interior modifications are by far the most personally gratifying since we spend a lot of time in our cars. Start with your exterior colors, or an accent color on the inside, and create a color scheme. The results will give you a majestic modification.

By: Matt Brooks

Saturn Aura: Concept Car No More

January 28th, 2010



This is a concept car from the Saturn Corporation. A mid-sized sedan, this is the future vehicle Saturn Aura. Starting this summer, the production of the Saturn Aura would commence. This sedan would then be built on a long wheelbase that shares the same chassis with other vehicles such as the Pontiac G6, the Chevrolet Malibu, the Saab 9-3, and the Opel Vectra. Designed through the collective efforts of Ryan Vaughan, Tim Kozub, and Ed Welburn, the Saturn Aura would be making its debut this summer for sure and would be the start of the Saturn line of vehicles’ dramatic change in style and power.

This concept car from Saturn was introduced to the public this January. This vehicle has been specifically designed so as to replace the Saturn L-Series. The Saturn Aura uses the Epsilon platform, yet this platform is also used by other vehicles that are quite affiliated with General Motors, as listed above. With this long Epsilon wheelbase, the Saturn Aura would be sporting ample legroom for a sedan in the midsize division. This vehicle would also sport 19-inch chrome wheels, along with a new front end, and the very distinct grille that is found on each and every Saturn vehicle since the Saturn Aura is no exception. This vehicle also will hold and feature a four-paneled panoramic glass roof which is very much unlike the glass roof that comes with the Pontiac G6. As per the Saturn Aura’s interior, Dave Rand, General Motor’s executive director of interiors claims, “The interior of the Saturn Aura epitomizes GM’s global design approach to brand revitalization. Seven GM Design studios from around the world used technology that allowed them to contribute to product designs that will make up Saturn’s new portfolio. The result is seamless connectivity between the interior and exterior.”

This mid-sized sedan is made to be top of the line and is expected to boast around 250 horsepower with the 3.6 liter DOHC V6 engine from General Motors. More likely, a five-speed automatic would also be used for this one. It will also feature a variety of standard features for safety that could include electronic stability control, side airbags and head curtain airbags. It has a European influence as per its exterior and a character that makes it fun to drive. Also, the exterior of the Saturn Aura is considered to be fluid, muscular, and very powerful. It holds bold projector beams with trapezoidal headlamps. These are flanked by a new rendition of the Saturn chrome bar. Its front end has a distinctive mesh grille and circular fog lamps. Helping in cooling the engine compartment are horizontal hood extractors also punctuate the concept’s styling up front.

Jill Lajdziak, Saturn’s general manager speaks about the Saturn Aura, “The Aura is a sneak peak at a new generation of emotionally compelling Saturn vehicles. It’s the kind of vehicle that perfectly supports Saturn’s firm commitment to provide great customer service combined with equally outstanding vehicles.”

The Saturn Aura is fun to drive and is promised to provide an excellent performance that is the trademark of Saturn vehicles.

By: Terry Brown