General | Fast Lane

A Luxury Car That’s Safe and Fashionable

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Money can buy you a lot of things. Sometimes money can buy you things that the normal person wouldn’t dream of owning. So, when you are a self-made millionaire not yet forty, then you have the luxury of buying whatever you want, no matter how outrageous it seems. For Mark Ecko, the founder of the ultra cool and hip clothing company, Ecko Unlimited, that comes in the form of one of the most exotic armored cars on the planet.

The eccentric and always fashionable Ecko bought himself a Gurkha Armored Car. This car is not just an ordinary vehicle. It’s got the cache of a Hummer, but far more protection and unique features that make it one of the hottest cars on the market (not that there are a lot of stores that you can get it from).

The car has a five cylinder Diesel engine that can hold up to 63 liters of diesel gas. It comes equipped with a five speed transmission, making it a car that is not just durable, but fun to drive. In order to make sure that the ride is as smooth as it is safe, the car comes equipped with telescopic shock absorbers and it’s own anti-roll bar. The short version is that this car can’t be harmed and can’t put you, the driver, in harm’s way.

Of course a car like this comes with some other interior features as well. It’s got air conditioning, and all five sides of the car are armor plated to ensure that the people in the car have maximum protection. The battery in the car is protected by armor, and it seats up to six fully protected people.

Ecko could be doing the car for safety, or he could have chosen it because there is nothing more stylish than a car that no one else has. Either way, driving with him just got a whole lot safer.

Filed Under: Cars, General Tagged With: Luxury vehicle

Being Prepared for Anything

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When traveling, whether you are going down the street or thousands of miles away, you should be prepared. Emergencies, while infrequent, do happen and can happen at any time to anyone. Being prepared for all types of emergencies will ease your mind as you make plans for your trip.

You can have an emergency kit, “first aid for your car” if you will. Some car emergencies can easily be fixed by a handyman with the right equipment. Someone on the trip should know how to change a tire. If you don’t aware about that process need not worry, because we can easily learn from some short term health care online classes. Someone on the trip should also know how to check the oil and other fluids in the car, as well as knowing how to replenish them if needed. Your first aid kit should also contain a flashlight, flares, water, as well as a white flag if you need to leave your car abandoned.

It probably is not a bad idea to have available a personal first aid kit as well. Even a fender bender or a slip off the road can cause someone to have a minor cut or scrape that needs attending. You can stay focused on your trip if you don’t have to stop just to bandage a cut.

Make sure you have emergency numbers at your fingertips. We can all use 9-1-1 if needed, but if you know your destination, you can have the phone numbers for local help available if needed. Also, if your destination is with family members, keep them abreast of where you are on your trip. Let them know when they should be expecting you, and notify them if you should get held up, or are not be able to get there exactly as planned. They can keep an eye out for you as well, thus being keenly aware if you do not show as expected.

Now you can enjoy your trip as much as everyone else, knowing that you have prepared well.

Filed Under: Advancements, General, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Emergency, First aid, Injury

The Hybrid And The Environment

Since the first hybrid car, a car running on both gas and electricity, hit the US market on May 27, 2006, we have had a fascination and a curiosity as to whether this car is actually better for the environment. Being that the hybrid is so new to the market, and there are only a few automobile manufacturers who have made hybrid cars, it is an expensive investment. Is the investment worth it? Will the hybrid car really help the environment, is it truly a “green” car?

There are a few factors as to why the hybrid car is good for the environment. A long known problem with a solely gasoline-powered car is obviously the air pollution of the emissions. Cars are not going away, our highways are packed with gas guzzling, pollution emitting automobiles. Cars that run on gas emit large amounts of chemical fumes, polluting the air. The hybrid car has fewer and cleaner emissions, as part of the time the car runs on electricity. Reduction in smoke and chemical fumes on a large scale has been said to improve the plight of global warming.

As far as noise pollution is concerned, the hybrid is a much quieter ride, being virtually silent running when switched over to running on electricity. The hybrid car engines do not produce excessive noise when turned over or accelerated. The hybrid car also outperforms the gasoline-powered cars by 20 to 30 percent, making it much more fuel efficient.

While these steps are small on one car, they are huge on a large scale. If everyone considered the planet that we are leaving to our children and grandchildren being completely overrun by pollution, maybe we would think to do something about it now, while we still have a chance to contribute to a cleaner, safer world. Is the hybrid the right choice for you?

Filed Under: Advancements, General, Travel Tagged With: Environment

Budgeting For Your Vacation

We all need to get away once in a while. There is a large percentage of people in this country today who feel they cannot afford to take a vacation. Our pockets are stretched to their capacity just trying to feed our families and keep our houses. We are pinching pennies at every turn and there is nothing extra at the end of the month. More than ever, people need to get away from the daily grind of their jobs and just sit back and take a breather.

A lot of families today are doing the day trip vacations. Take a day off here and there and visit a local, or not too far away, amusement park or attraction. This type of vacation is a little less expensive in the fact that you only have to save up for one day, not a whole week of hotel bills and restaurant checks. The price of entrance into a particular attraction may seem exorbitant, but if you are just splurging for the day, it can be done.

There are plenty of things to do for next to no money at all. A day at the park with the kids is, for the most part, free. You can pack a lunch and small children think a day at the park is about the best thing anyone can do. For older children, a museum or two is always an education as well as a vacation. If it is just the adults, you can pick and choose where you would like to go. You can take the car or join one of the many bus trips available throughout most cities.

Whatever decision you make, the important part is being together, putting down the telephone and spending some quality time with family. Just getting away from the grind, even if it is for just one day, can rejuvenate your soul.

Filed Under: Advancements, General Tagged With: Amusement park

Who Makes Our Cars Safe?

When purchasing a new or used car, you take many things into consideration. What exactly are you looking for? Purchasing a car, whether new or used, is a huge investment. You want to make sure that your purchase is exactly what you want and has all the necessary things you need in a car. What kind of car do you want? Is it an SUV, a sedan, a luxury model, or are you open to all models? Maybe the car company itself is the most important factor, you will only buy American made or one company has always had your family’s business. Whatever choice you make, you count on the car company to make sure the automobile you will be driving for years to come is safe. How do we know it is safe?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues the minimum federal motor vehicle safety standards and regulations that the car manufacturers must comply with. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent group that conducts crash tests and issues safety ratings approved by insurance companies. Crash tests are performed for front impact, side impact, rear impact. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the only body that tests rollover type accidents. These tests are done with different weights of passengers, sitting in different seats within the car, using different passenger or driver “dummies” that represent the weight of an adult or a child. The crashes are simulated and the damage is observed.

Different cars are tested from different manufacturers, and are given ratings from poor to excellent. The “star” rating is then given based on these ratings. These ratings are across the board for car manufacturers and insurance companies all using the same system, thus regulating that cars have a minimum overall rating to insure the safety of its passengers. It is comforting to know that these regulations will keep us safer on the road. And just like taking the time to meet with your CPA, do your taxes and file now rather than late, it is a smart move to make sure you check out the safety reports and buy a safe vehicle.

Filed Under: Cars, General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Automobile, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Sport utility vehicle

How Should We Travel?

Making the decision on how you should travel is almost as important as deciding the where and the when. Once you have decided where you are going, you then have the decision to make of how to get you there. Many factors come into play at this point. Do you need to get there in a short amount of time, as in a business trip planned with very little time to spare? The only option may be air travel, depending on how far you have to go and how soon you have to be there. If it is a business trip, the company you work for may have their own set way of traveling, thus taking the decision out of your hands.

However, when you are making the decisions for, perhaps a family vacation, you can decide how you want to travel. Is the expense the most important factor? If it is, you may just want to load up the car and head on out to the open road. Obviously if you are traveling abroad you are limited in the form of travel available to you. Even if you do decide to go by boat, you will need to use some other form of travel to get you to the boat. This may just be the way to travel if you want your family to experience it.

Some people have a fear of flying, or going by boat. These factors will play an important role in choosing your form of transportation. It may be just as economical to fly as it is to drive, if you are going a far distance. When you take into consideration the expense of gas in the car, having to stop to eat and paying for hotels, an airline ticket might just be more economical.

Do your research before you go and you will feel better knowing you made the most informed decision for you and your family.

Filed Under: General, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Business trip, Preparation, Tourism, Travel

Cross Country Travel

When you think of traveling a long distance, for example, across this great country of ours, the first form of travel that comes to mind is the airplane. Air travel is considered safe and probably the fastest way to get from point A to point B. It is not the most economical way to travel, however if you have chosen to travel by air you have probably already considered the cost of air fare in your vacation budget.

Coast to coast travel is very popular. The west coast offers many attractions that people from the east coats do not see on a regular basis. The east coast has the same appeal. From New York to Hollywood, coast to coast travel can be done several ways. You can get on an airplane in New York and be in California in roughly five to six hours. Short and sweet, considering how long it takes for other forms of travel.

However, the other forms of travel available, car, train, or bus, each have their own unique way to get from coast to coast. While these other three forms of transportation will definitely take longer, at least a full day even if you do not stop, this type of travel offers ways to vacation along the way. You can plan your route with specific stops at landmarks throughout our country, or perhaps a certain state or attraction friends or family have told you about and you always wanted to see. If you take your car, you have the freedom of planning every mile of your trip. The bus or train may have the route you want to take, but will they allow you to stop and see the sights? These are things you can plan in advance. Looking into this ahead of time, you can make sure that the way your travel is as much your decision as the destination you have chosen.

Filed Under: General, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Tourism, Travel

Train Travel

It is time to take that all important vacation with the family. You have decided where you want to go, your destination. How you get there is just as important as the destination, and may be an integral part of the vacation itself.

For example, if you decide to arrive at your destination by train, there are several ways to make this happen. There are express trains, which will take you directly to your vacation destination, no stops. If you are traveling a good distance this can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a day or more, riding the rails. Trains have dining cars, where you can a snack or even take in a full meal if you are traveling a far distance. Some trains have a place for you to sleep, if you are going to be traveling for ten or more hours, and you can choose to sleep in your seat if you would like. Some trains even have cars that will carry your car. The auto train is very popular if you would like to have transportation locally once you arrive at your destination. You rent a space on the train for your car, and once you arrive you claim your car as you would your luggage at an airport.

You can also plan a train trip with multiple stops. Researching the railways and which trains will be stopping and where, can be a vacation within itself. There are trains that stop in every state, sometimes in several places within one state, so you can check out the local sites and attractions. There is a lot to see in this great country of ours. Many of us just want to get to our destination and choose the fastest way possible. Fortunately for us, there are cultures and sights all across the country, and a stop at any one of them will make for a memorable vacation.

Filed Under: General, Modes of Transportation, Safety, Trains, Travel Tagged With: Train

Hop On The Bus

Taking the bus. Often considered the poor man’s choice for travel, going by bus can be both economical and good for Mother Earth. Bus travel often does not bring to mind the most sanitary way to travel. The truth is the bus you hop on to go short distances, to take to work, or use to take a trip into the city might not be the nicest accommodations you have seen.

However, planning a trip with a coach bus, one that is comfortable, has its own bathroom, and offers the passenger chances to see the countryside, can be quite an enjoyable trip. You certainly don’t have to do the driving. For some main drivers in the house this is a vacation itself. You also do not have to worry about the wear and tear on your car, or emergencies popping up that you have to figure out how to fix. A bus trip can be planned with stops at interesting sights along the way, making for an even more enjoyable vacation.

In this day and age we all must be keenly aware of the damage that pollution is doing to our environment. When we think of taking the bus, we often think of a lot of pollution from the emissions from a bus. However, if you break it down, a bus has the same emissions as roughly four cars. Yet a bus filled to capacity is carrying enough people to take up to 50 cars off the road, thus actually cutting down on the pollution that is being emitted into our air. When we were first made aware of the environmental nightmare known as pollution, one of the first solutions was car pooling. Taking into consideration cutting down on the noise pollution of 50 cars, as well as freeing up some traffic congestion, why not take a vacation with a group of other people who are also riding the bus?

Filed Under: General, Safety, Travel Tagged With: Bus, Travel

Keeping The Tires Inflated

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Vacation time, that time when we pack up the family, pack up the car and head to that destination where we do not have to worry about our jobs or work for a week or more. We all look forward to that precious time of the year. We save up all year for the trip. The family gets together to decide where they would like to vacation this year. The pros and cons are weighed and a destination is chosen. We will be driving this year. While other forms of transportation may be available, the decision has been made to take the family car this time.

As the main driver in the family, it is your responsibility to make sure the car is safe and ready for the trip. A good check up at the local garage is a good idea. Let your mechanic know you are about to embark on a long trip and you need to be sure the family is safe and you arrive at your destination with little to no issues. Your mechanic will check the fluids in your car and replenish them as needed. He will also check all the important things, like brakes and the motor, to make sure your car is running in tip top shape.

If you are taking a long trip, you will need to keep an eye on the tires. Before leaving make sure your tire tread is not worn, and that you have inflated the tires to their proper air pressure. Check frequently, maybe each time you stop for gas, to make sure that the tires have maintained their proper air pressure. If your tires are losing pressure, you need to have this checked out. Long trips can wear on your tires, and it is essential to a safe trip that the tires can handle the road. Making sure this one thing is taken care of can make your trip easier.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Atmospheric pressure, Automobile, Parts and Accessories, Tire