Selling Nitrogen In Tires - Is It All A Lot Of Hot Air?
By James Burchill

Actually, no. But it will require a little explanation and some basic chemistry discussion so here goes.

The earths atmosphere is composed primarily of Nitrogen (78%), the remaining balance is a mixture of Oxygen (21%) and a small percentage of Ozone, Argon and Carbon gases. Isnt it ironic that the very gas (oxygen) that sustains life also causes organic materials to decompose and metals to rust?

Remove The Oxygen And Stop The Rot

To stop this decomposition you simply need to remove the oxygen from the air. (Incidentally, removing oxygen also means that you remove water because water is two parts Hydrogen gas, and one part Oxygen gas.)

Removing Oxygen from products is not new, we do it all the time with our food and drink. In fact, if we did not remove the oxygen our food would not likely last long enough to make it into the hands of the consumers or it would taste stale and unappealing.

Nitrogen In Tires

Here are a few other benefits of using Nitrogen in tires:

[1] Nitrogen is denser than Oxygen: This means the larger molecules escape less easily from tires resulting in a more gradual loss of pressure over time. According to the Michelin Tire Manual, a tire that is inflated with Nitrogen loses its pressure 3 times slower than if it were inflated with air.

[2] Nitrogen is moisture free: Pure Nitrogen inflated tires experience less steel belt and rubber degradation. Nitrogen use also reduces valve and wheel corrosion.

[3] Nitrogen provides longer tire life: Nitrogen inflated tire run cooler and require less maintenance according to the Goodyear application bulletin.

[4] Nitrogen is non-flammable: Nitrogen technology has been used in aircraft, military and race car technology for over thirty years.

Does Joe Consumer Get It?

But can we expect Joe Consumer to start paying for this new air anytime soon? As always, the answer is, it depends. If enough businesses and corporations get behind the idea and promote it steadily, uniformly and explain the numerous safety and cost savings, then eventually the message should make it through.

However, you do need to be realistic its still considered by Joe Consumer to be new and anything new is usually avoided until it becomes familiar its called the product adoption process.

Its Still Weird Science

The other point to consider here is selling Nitrogen is still science and most people are not that comfortable with the whole science thing. And if you recall I mentioned that regular everyday air is 78% nitrogen anyway so what would they be paying for?

Regular air is approximately 80% nitrogen anyway, are we to believe that an extra 20% makes all the difference Ironically we now know that the answer is yes.

A Moral Dilemma

You and I both know that if using Nitrogen means your clients tires last longer they will save money by not having to purchase as many tires. So Nitrogen use could mean less tire sales And thats the moral dilemma for you. Do you want to make a few dollars on tire inflation services that might ultimately reduce your tire sales or do you want to keep on doing business the way it is now?

Make Mine A Light Air

One things for sure, with regular air and diet air (or is that Air2 with half the carbs) Nitrogen as a tire inflation option will slowly seep into the main stream (and yes the seep pun was intentional).

Now take a deep breath you just inhaled 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and a few other lesser gases. Could you tell? Did it taste or smell different? Thats part of the challenge isnt it. If regular customers are wary about the things they cannot see, what makes you think selling new air is going to be any easier.

JAMES C. BURCHILL is a 20-year veteran entrepreneur and information technology executive who now provides strategic marketing consulting services to a select group of clients. He is a published author, a passionate advocate of technology and the Internet, as well as an avid study of classical advertising and marketing strategies (which he uses during Internet alchemy experiments.) James is an expert in information and data management, Internet marketing and online networking. A self confessed information and technology enthusiast, James brings a wide range of valuable skills to any venture. Of singular note is James ability to assimilate complex subject matter and produce clean clear 'easy-to-understand' messages. James has been interviewed many times and caused quite the media buzz when a client double-dog-dared him to prove you can get front page coverage for $0. The details and that dumb stunt are now part of EBay legend. Currently James lives in Ontario, Canada with his wife and family, their Siamese cat and one very nervous fish. Visit http://www.JamesBurchill.com for details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Burchill

We're big fans of the 80s Chevrolet Caprice - the Brick. The Caprice was big and it was fast. There was really nothing else to it. And if you're going to have a cheap car, have yourself a big one.

If you got the police package, you had yourself a Camero that cooled better and sat five. Plus spotlights!

Still, this eBayer found a way to improve on a perfect car. Not just by adding 26' Cabo rims but also making a custom suspension for them, monster truck-style.

The obligatory Lambo doors and lots of subwoofers are here too and this phat ass whip was also featured in East Coast Ryders: Volume 3 which we all know was the Godfather 2 of the ECR franchise.



The seller now 'needs money for a situation that's come up' and Buy It Now is only 15 grand!

This will be the Dusenberg of our time.

There no doubt in this writer’s mind that Champ Car needs to do some work on the rule book for 2007 and beyond. There are two areas in need of serious change!

The idea that every track may have some special “ground rules” to be approved by the drivers at the drivers meeting is ludicrous. Come on this ain’t baseball. This was never more obvious than at Surfers this year.

Tracy got caught by the chicane Nazis and was penalized two positions, not one but two, as a result of a “ground rule” instituted by the so called competition gurus. Supposedly the rule was only for this track and this race and was approved by the drivers at the drivers meeting. What are the drivers doing approving rules?

Ok the rule book states in 6.29 Shortcutting he course during the race: During the race, any advantage or position gained during an off course excursion (four wheels off the racing surface) must be relinquished. Any reported shortcut or off course excursion that, in the opinion of the officials, improves a driver’s position during the race will resulting penalties per chapter 10. Event specific instructions that pertain to shortcutting the course may be issued as conditions warrant.

Event specific instructions........that is the problem here!

Additionally 10.3.5 states, the race director shall have the authority to assess as loss of position penalty of one or more position for any violation of a Champ Car rule.

Ok here is where subjectivity comes into play. How to decide the loss of position is purely a subjective matter. If a chicane is shortcut for any reason and positions gained then the driver should be put back to the running position before the violation, period end of conversation. No drivers meetings or special instructions needed. With this clearly stated rule, application would be the same for all chicanes no matter what track.

To carry this logic further all turns could be defined and racing violations therein could be written into the rule book with the penalties clearly defined. All race courses have the same elements, and a common set of rules can be applied to them. Why should the penalty for shortcutting be different at Surfers than it is anywhere else?

It seems to me to be quite simple, make the rules specific and apply them across all courses and drivers, what more could be asked.

Now let’s look at 6.29 further. Why is running up on the curbs allowed? Isn’t that shortcutting the course? Why must you put all four wheels over the curbing to be guilty of shortcutting? Why do these drivers insist on changing the design of the course?

Change the rule to any wheels on the curbing will be considered shortcutting and apply the new rules accordingly. This will have the additional benefit of helping the teams that can’t afford special shock programs. The racing should be even closer.

We still have to talk about avoidable contact; I have some things to say about that too. Come back later for my rant.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser has a rugged look and has some popular standard equipment to include; Two-tone exterior color (color-keyed body with white roof top), Multi-reflector halogen headlamps, Black bumpers with metallic silver trim, Silver painted mirrors Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers, Rear window defogger with intelligent timer, Rear hatch glass window with release lever, Two full doors and two access doors with silver trim door handles, Black overfenders with integrated mudguards, 17-in. black steel wheels with P265/70R17 tires and full size spare (exterior rear door mount), 17-in. 6-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with P265/70R17 tires and full size spare (exterior rear door mount).

Optional Equipment for The Toyota FJ Cruiser
Convenience Package -- Remote keyless entry system, cruise control, power outside mirrors with illuminated markers, rear privacy glass, rear wiper, rear Intuitive Parking Assist, Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

Toyota FJ Cruiser Upgrade Package 1-2
17-in. 6-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with P265/70R17 tires and full size spare (exterior rear door mount), Active Traction Control (4WD models) (click here to see A-TRAC in action), locking rear differential (click here, to see the locking rear diff. in action), 115V/400-watt power outlet, AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3/WMA playback capability and eight speakers, exterior color-keyed door trim inserts, multi-information display floating ball type (inclinometer, compass, temperature), leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, aluminum brush transmission lever and transfer lever (transfer lever on 4WD models)

Toyota FJ Cruiser Upgrade Package 2-2
17-in. 6-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with P265/70R17 tires and full size spare (exterior rear door mount), Active Traction Control (4WD models) (click here to see A-TRAC in action), locking rear differential (click here, to see the locking rear diff. in action) 115V/400-watt power outlet, AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3/WMA playback capability and nine speakers (includes subwoofer with off switch), exterior color-keyed door trim inserts, multi-information display floating ball type (inclinometer, compass, temperature), leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, aluminum brush transmission lever and transfer lever (transfer lever on 4WD models)

Toyota FJ Cruiser Available Options
Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags and front- and second-row side curtain airbags,
17-in. 6-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with P265/70R17 tires and full size spare (exterior rear door mount)
Locking rear differential, Running boards.

Get your pricing NOW for the all NEW Toyota FJ Cruiser!

I have to say, I am a GM man, but the Toyota FJ Cruiser has really caught my eye! Watch for big things out of this one!

Consumers Digest Magazine Announces 07 Automotive Best Buys
By Margaret Adams

Thirty two vehicles and six companion models made it to the 2007 Consumers Digests best buys. Vehicles were grouped into 8 categories - Small Cars, Family Cars, Luxury Cars, Sporty Cars, Trucks, Vans, Compact/Midsize SUVs and Luxury/Full-Size SUVs. They were given ratings based on ergonomics, safety, behind-the-wheel testing, styling and amenities, warranty, ownership costs, and price. Further, performance is assessed according to starting and acceleration, shifting, steering, handling, ride quality, braking and fuel economy.

In the small category, best buy ratings go to Chevrolet HHR, Dodge Caliber, Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Jeep Compass and Nissan Versa. In the family car category, the auto best buys are Chevrolet Impala, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Azera, Hyundai Sonata, Mercury Milan and Toyota Camry/Solara. Luxury car best buys are Acura TL, Buick Lucerne, Infiniti M35/45 and Toyota Avalon.

Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Mazda6, MINI Cooper, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky are the best buys in the sporty car category. At the topmost list in the best van values are Chevrolet Avalanche, Ford F-150 and Honda Ridgeline are the top pickups, and the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona.

For the compact/midsize SUVs, the best buys are Honda CR-V, Jeep Wrangler, Mazda CX-7 and Toyota RAV4. Honda CR-V is loosely derived from Civic. Wrangler is the successor of the famed World War II vehicle. CX-7, on one hand, is the slot between CX-5 and CX-9. It uses some Mazda Miata body parts to boost its overall appeal. Finally, RAV-4 is a crossover SUV, is a vehicle that had most of the benefits of an SUV.

For compact/midsize SUVs, 4 vehicles made it to the best buy standard. They are Acura RDX, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Mercedes-Benzs GL-Class.

According to Randy Weber, Customer Digests publisher, Value, as we see it, is based on purchase price and ownership costs relative to quality, performance and subjective factors like comfort and design. Webber added, Few purchases are more important, or require more research, than buying a new vehicle. Our analyses underscore our commitment to ensure that consumers are as satisfied with their auto purchase years after making it as they were on the day they drove off the lot.

It was divulged by Rich Dzierwa, Consumers Digest editor that this is the first time the number of represented manufacturers reached 20. Also, for 5 years now, Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Caravan, GMC Yukon, Honda Civic, Honda Odyssey, MINI Cooper, Toyota Avalon and Toyota Camry retained the their best buy standing.

Consumers Digest, launched in 1959, is an American magazine publication that is intended to inform, evaluate and recommend products. It also tolerates other companies to use its reviews in their marketing strategies.


Margaret Adams is the present manager of the largest auto manufacturing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This 35 year old maiden is a certified car enthusiast. You can visit Mazda Miata body parts for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Adams

IRS Updates: Hybrid Tax Credits Following Industry Audit
Ezine Author: Richard Chapo

The Energy Act of 2005 created major tax credit incentives for people purchasing hybrid vehicles. The IRS has recently concluded the quarterly review of manufacturers and issued tax credit status.

IRS Updates Hybrid Tax Credits Following Industry Audit

As part of the Energy Act of 2005, the federal government took a major step towards promoting the use of hybrid vehicles. In simple terms, it converted the tax deduction for purchasing a hybrid vehicle into a tax credit. This change was remarkable because a tax credit is very valuable because it is a reduction from the actual amount of tax you owe, not your gross income. Given the fact the tax credit could be over $3,000 for some models, this was a major boon for hybrid car sales!

Alas, the hybrid tax credits were not set in concrete in the tax code. Instead, they are known as phase out credits. In this case, the amount of the tax credit is first set by the IRS after a review of the car model in question. Each quarter, the IRS then totals all of the hybrid sales by manufacturer. Once the total sales reach certain milestones, the tax credit amount is reduced by a percentage. Eventually, the credits are completely phased out and the relevant automobile executives openly weep.

The magic sales threshold for hybrid manufacturers is 60,000 cars sold. Once a manufacturer hits this level, the credits phase out in a labored manner as is typical with taxes. Once the 60,001 car is sold, you still have until the end of the next quarter to buy and claim the full tax credit. Once that date is passed, you can still claim a credit for a new purchase, but at a rate of half the credit amount originally assigned by the IRS so long as you buy during the next two calendar quarters. After those dates pass, the credit is reduced to 25 percent of the original amount for two more credits. Thereafter, it is eliminated completely. Nice and simple, eh?

The IRS recently completed the quarterly audit for the manufactures. As of June 2006, the credit amounts for any Toyota hybrid have been cut in half as the company has met the first hybrid sales threshold. All other manufacturers, however, still qualify for the full tax credit amounts as they have not met said sales levels. The manufacturers include Honda, Ford and GM.

Richard A. Chapo is with Business Tax Recovery - providing information on taxes.

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Hybid Cars, Whats the Big Deal?

One of the most costly things about repairing a car is finding the problem. Most cars have a computer that will set a code and activate a Check Engine light to let you know there is a problem. When you take your car to a mechanic to get the problem diagnosed, an $80 diagnostic fee is pretty common. If there were no charge for diagnostics, most would find the problem and take it to a shadetree mechanic to get it fixed. But, try this handy device that Reads and erases DTCs and turns off check engine light. Enables you to quickly and easily link to your vehicle and diagnose the problem. Compact tool fits in the palm of your hand. It is updateable, accommodating future vehicles. This would be a great gift for anyone and pays for itself with the first use. Reader includes a one-year limited warranty.

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15 Ways To Lower Your Car Insurance

Andrew Bowen

1.Shop around

The difference in price between various companies can be significant. What one company may consider a high risk factor another company may not view as so important. Insurance companies arrive at a price for your Car Insurance.

by adding or discounting money after each answer you give to the questions they ask you. Each company has its own rules as to what they consider should increase or decrease your premium. By shopping around you get a better list of prices to compare.

2.Buy a lower group car

One of the important factors that insurance companies take into account is of course your vehicle. There are thousands of different cars on the road so companies divide them up into groups. Most companies will adopt the ABI (Association of British Insurers) group rating. This splits up vehicles into 20 different groups. Generally speaking the higher the group rating for your vehicle, the higher your premium will be. Some companies may also combine your driving experience with the vehicle group to get a better idea of how high the risk is. This is one of the reasons why young drivers should consider buying a lower group car if they want to lower their insurance cost.

3.Consider Third Party Only cover

A Third Party Only insurance policy is the minimum amount of cover legally required - it is also the cheapest. Generally speaking you should consider opting for this type of policy if your vehicle is of low value. In the unfortunate event of having an accident, any damage to a third party vehicle will be covered but any damage to your vehicle is not. However, if your vehicle is of little value then you may not be too concerned. It may not be worth paying extra for a Fully Comprehensive policy in these circumstances.

4.Maintain a good credit rating

More and more insurance companies are adopting credit scoring techniques as part of the overall calculation of your car insurance premium. By keeping a good credit history you may avoid any additional premium that companies add to your price for having a bad credit score.

5.Buy on the web

Many insurance providers now offer some good discounts for buying the policy over the internet. The theory is that by purchasing your insurance over the web, you are saving the company money by not requiring telesales agent time and incurring free-phone costs. This saving is passed on to you in the form of a discount for buying online. If you have got prices by telephone then check your quote again on their website, you may be surprised at how much cheaper it is.

6.Have a higher voluntary excess

During the quotation process you will be asked how much voluntary excess you want to have. Insurance companies will generally include a compulsory excess amount on the policy but give you the opportunity to increase this if you wish. The more the voluntary excess the lower your premium should be. However, in the event of a claim, you will have to pay a higher amount yourself, up to the total amount of excess on your policy.

7.Reduce your annual mileage

How many miles you do a year is a common question that can affect your car insurance premium. The more miles you do the more your premium is likely to be. Quotation systems and telephone agents will often suggest an amount of miles for you. Try and work out how many miles you will genuinely do. It may be less than the amount suggested. Of course, you should always give an honest answer to this and other questions.

8.Keep a clean driving record

This may be easier said than done. However, by having few or preferably no driving convictions, you can avoid being penalised by increases in your car insurance premium. Getting caught with a speeding fine is often not the only financial penalty you incur. Insurance companies take very seriously all driving convictions and it is usually an important part of their rating process. You can expect an increase in the cost of your insurance if you do get caught with a driving conviction, so it pays to be a safe driver.

9.Keep claim free

This ties in neatly with number 8 above. The biggest factor affecting the cost of your car insurance premium is how many No Claims Bonus Years you have. Full No Claims Bonus is generally considered by most companies to be five years or more, this can give you huge discounts, in some cases up to 75%. By being a safe driver and avoiding potential road accident claims. You can continually benefit by building up your number of claim free years. Every additional No Claims Bonus year you get, the lower your car insurance cost should be. Some companies give you the option of paying a bit more on your premium to protect your No Claims Bonus.

10.Be realistic about the value of your car

Most of us have an inflated view as to what our car is worth. When asked the value of your vehicle during the insurance quotation process, people will often state an amount that is unrealistic and above the real value of the car. People do this as they believe that this is what they will get back from the insurance company in the event of a claim. The reality is that the company will only pay out what the car is worth at the time of the claim and not what you stated for the quote. In fact, by giving a high and unrealistic value, you can increase your car insurance premium as this is often a factor affecting your final price.

11.Remove unnecessary named drivers

Additional drivers on your policy usually mean a higher premium. A lot of people add a number of extra drivers on the policy just in case that person needs to drive the car. However, having all these drivers will push up the cost. By only naming drivers on the policy that will definitely driver the car, you can lower the final cost. If you find that an unnamed driver needs to drive the vehicle then most companies will allow you to temporarily add a new named driver for a small cost.

12.Improve your car security

Theft of and from your vehicle are important considerations when insurance companies calculate your price. Most companies will give you a discount for having better security of your vehicle. An alarm and immobiliser will usually attract a small discount whilst having a tracker device installed may give you a larger reduction. Some companies may insist on having such devices installed on more expensive and desirable cars before they even consider offering you a price.

13.Take an advanced driving test

Although not compulsory, taking an advanced driving test can not only improve your driving skills but also help to lower your car insurance premium. Some companies look favourably on people who have taken the advanced test as it shows commitment to safe driving thus lowering the chance of having a motoring accident.

14.Pay your premium in one go

By paying for your car insurance all in one go, you can avoid paying additional interest charges that would be added on if you opted to pay by instalments. The interest charges can be quite significant, so if your finances allow, you can save a good amount of money by paying for the whole lot up front. In some cases, companies may even give you a small discount for doing this.

15.Get married

Okay so this may seem like a dramatic final way to lower your premium. However, a number of insurance companies offer lower premiums when your named drivers are insured and spouse as opposed to two unmarried drivers. Some companies believe that this shows an element of stability which is a hallmark of safer drivers and give you a discount on this basis.

Copyright © 2004 Accept Direct Limited
Andrew Bowen is the CEO of Accept Direct Limited. Accept Direct sell UK car insurance through their website http://www.acceptdirect.co.uk/