Horrible Car Paint Fails

Sometimes you see a paint job on a car and can’t help but laugh, or maybe just shake your head and wonder what the heck the owner was thinking – which was probably something along the lines of, “That looked so much cooler in my head…” The following list is a bizarre parade of epically horrible car paint fails. Boys and girls, please don’t let this be you.

Pretty in Pink – Pink comes in many shades, all of which are horrific when applied to a motor vehicle. Unless you’re a cosmetics salesperson or possibly a Cadillac owner, driving around in a pink car is just not a good idea.

I See a Pattern Here – When deciding on a paint job, car owners can be inspired by just about anything – including floral wallpaper, abstract print bedspreads or possibly an interesting coffee stain. If the paint job you’re considering would look better on a wall or a piece of furniture, then do yourself and your car a favor and leave the fleur de lis prints in your great aunt’s living room where they belong.

Cars Gone Wild – It starts innocently enough. Maybe just an animal print license plate holder or at worst, seat covers and floor mats. But before long, your car is covered in a paint job that would make an animal rights activist cringe. Nothing says “tacky” quite like a zebra or leopard print paint job – except possibly a pink zebra or leopard print paint job.

Cartoons on Cars – You love a certain sponge and his uniquely shaped pants. That’s all well and good – if you happen to be an eight-year-old boy. If you own a car, chances are you’re probably a bit older. It’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy cartoons if you’re a grownup, but aren’t you a little bit old to have those cartoons emblazoned on the side of your car? Why yes, yes you are.

Scenes from a Bad Paint Job – On a related note, how cool is it to have a scene painted on your car of people gunned down in the street while a woman smoking a cigar flips off anyone unfortunate enough to see your ride? Oh that’s right – not cool at all. If you want to make an artistic statement instead of just making a scene, skip the glorified graffiti and go for something with at least an iota of class.

Busting Out All Over – Why anyone would want to make it look as though a naked woman was bursting through the hood of his car is beyond me, but oddly enough, somebody did. Whatever statement that’s trying to make boggles the mind.

Optical Delusions – Holy smokes! Your car is on fire! Oh wait, no – that’s just the incredibly realistic flame job you’ve got going on. Flame jobs on classic cars and hot rods are cool. Painting your car or truck so that it looks like it’s really on fire is not. Nobody really thinks your car can go that fast anyway, and putting flames around the wheels isn’t convincing anyone.

Things Not to Paint Your Car With – I love spray paint and sharpies, don’t you? I thought so, because you painted your car with them. The sharpie paint job was especially impressive. Exactly how many markers did you go through just to cover the hood and left front fender? I’m sure it’ll look a lot better when you manage to finish the rest of the car. Not.

Paint Jobs That Aren’t Actually Paint – Wait! I think I just saw my lawn driving down the street. Oh, my bad – that was a car covered not in paint, but in grass. That is truly “going green” to a whole new level. It’s great when car owners get creative with what they use to cover their cars. Christmas tree flocking and five and a quarter inch floppy disks are great options as well. However, I think the Mythbusters did it best with their golf ball dimpled car. It got better gas mileage that way, too.

Back in the Day – There can’t be a list of horrible car paint fails without a nod to the paint jobs of yesteryear. I won’t name names, but who can forget those budget paint jobs where if you didn’t mask off the parts you didn’t want painted, you’d wind up with your windows and headlights matching the rest of your car? Ah yes, those were the days…

That’s a Wrap – Car wraps are a great idea gone horribly awry. What could have been a good way to get an incredibly smooth paint job wound up being a delivery system for visual blight in the form of garish advertisements. Because we don’t have enough advertising already.

So kids, let these horrible car paint fails be a cautionary tale, and remember, just because you can make your car match your cell phone case doesn’t mean you should.

This post was written and contributed by Edson Farnell. Edson writes on a variety of topics for Parts Geek. Check out other articles by Edson such as this piece on do it yourself oil changes.

You really will be looking at some seriously large discounts on second hand motors, and although there’s no ‘set’ figure, you should expect to see around 10-20% off normal showroom prices at least. In fact some popular models can even have 40% or more taken off, and this is a monstrous amount of money when you think about it. The great thing is that it’s right across the board, so everyone can benefit.

Photo by harry_nl

So where is the best place to bag a bargain then? In actual fact it’s the internet, and here’s why. There are millions of websites out there that make shopping around very easy, costs are even lower than used car ‘warehouses’, and you can go from seeing something on the screen to taking it for a test drive in no time at all. It’s a fast process that has proved successful, and the transparency means dodgy deals are nowhere to be seen.

Teletextcars.co.uk is like a beacon of light guiding the way through a dark ocean. It’s a fantastic source of awesome deals, and you’ll be looking at some of the absolute best cars around. Only those of the highest standard make the grade, and prices are some of the lowest around, which makes it a dream factory for all drivers.

Basically, with second hand cars for sale you can save an absolute fortune, and it’s more than clear that the internet is the best place to go in order to locate some truly epic deals. Browse around, click the mouse, book a test drive and park in the garage- it’s that straightforward, so why not join in the fun?

First, you must be at least 18 in order to obtain an HGV driver’s licence. You also have to be under 65 in order to get the licence. If you are looking for a career change and are an older person consider how many years you will be able to drive or if you will be able to get a job driving even at the age you currently are. You can be sure companies are looking at how many years you are likely to give them before they hire you.

Photo by slickimages

To begin HGV training you will need to start the Cat C or Class 2 licence course. Cat C is for rigid vehicles like vans, and large good vehicles that do not have a separate trailer from the cab. They are considered easier to driver because it is all one unit. You see this type of licence used for such things as mail delivery. FedEx vans for an example would require a professional Cat C licence. Training can be a five day course or longer depending on the location you have chosen. It will run about 600 to 1200 pounds depending on your choice of including CPC training and the facility you train at. It is important to compare the different facilities to find the best price. Additionally, you want to consider if the company will provide you with a discount for going through the Cat C and then going on to the Class 1 licence programme.

A Class 1 or Cat C+E requires you to have a full, not a provisional, Cat C. The Class 1 licence is for articulated vehicles meaning you have a separate cab and trailer. They are harder to drive, but you can haul more and go further distances. If you get on with the right fleet company you may be traipsing between Wales, England, and Scotland on deliveries. You may even get a chance to go to Europe depending on what the company offers.

You have to undergo CPC training whether you do so as part of the Class 1 or 2. You can also do the training as a separate course, but it must be taken.

A great way to show your support for the team and its drivers is to sport some McLaren F1 clothing. The 2012 range is the best one to date and it features both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button collections as well as team McLaren. There are collections for both Men and Women along with a smaller collection for the kids. You can also purchase the genuine McLaren team kit slim fit T-Shirt designed by Hugo Boss which is made of Polyester jersey and features a V-neck and zipped breast pocket with moisture management and UV protection.

The McLaren lifestyle collection of clothing is a stylish up-market range that includes a McLaren t-shirt, Sport Jacket, and top of the range limited edition leather jacket that is worth every penny of the £1,499.00 you will have to pay for the privilege of owning one.

If that is a little out of your league, then the McLaren Sports Selection features a uniquely designed Hugo Boss bomber jacket which is short and sporty and combines both shiny and matte sections. Made from 100% polyester, it is lightweight with a knitted stand-up collar a front zipper, zipped pockets on the chest and a soft comfortable lining. Naturally it discreetly features the McLaren logo on the inside.

Also in the McLaren Sports Selection there are long and short sleeve polo shirts, sports sweaters, along with accessories and shoes.

One car which was launched with the intention of overcoming these price rises was the all-electric Nissan Leaf which was handed the prestigious European car of the Year award upon its launch at the end of 2010. However, in light of this difficult sales environment, how has the Leaf performed over the course of its first year on sale and is it still on track to revolutionise the motoring landscape?

Nissan Leaf

Sales figures

Nissan sold 9,674 Leaf models globally over the course of 2011. This is a disappointing figure, particularly when it considered that Ford sold over 100,000 Fiesta’s in the relatively small British car market alone over the same period.

Electric car critics have been quick to pounce on the revelation; claiming that it supports their view that demand for electric vehicles simply isn’t substantial enough for manufacturers to warrant interest. It is a commonly held view that the high initial purchase price of the Leaf is the biggest handicap as it often negates the potential running cost savings available.

Indeed, taking into account potential fuel, insurance and tax savings available; Leaf owners would be spending £1,302 per year less to keep their vehicle on the road compared to the running costs required for the average car. However, taking into account the initial purchase price difference between a conventional Fiesta for instance and a Nissan Leaf; it would take 12 years to recover this additional expense through these running costs alone. This is a statistic which is one of the largest reasons why motorists are failing to adopt electric cars with there not actually being overall cost savings available.

However, Nissan President Carlos Ghosn has squashed these accusations, claiming that the only reason why sales were not higher is that the company simply didn’t have the resources to build any more. Ghosn has claimed that he expects Leaf sales to double in 2012 and that there is a “pent-up” demand for electric vehicle which has not been recognised by manufacturers as of yet.

Confident of success

Indeed, Ghosn appears to be so confident in the eventual success of the electric car industry that he has committed Nissan’s sister company Renault to launching a complete electric vehicle range in the summer of 2012.

In total four fully electric Renault vehicles will be released over the course of the coming year, spanning all different size. Where these differ from the Nissan Leaf is in price; with them being far more obtainable for the average motorist. This could well overcome the major impediment which critics claim has held back the Nissan model.

The smallest of the Renault range is the Twizy which is expected to sell for £6,690. However, it is limited to a range of 60 miles between charges and only has room for one passenger. Battery hire costs are also not included in this price, with owners being forced to commit to this £40 per month expense in order to keep the car on the road. Nevertheless, even when electric consumption is taken into account, the total running costs of the Twizy will still be dwarfed by those required by the average motor.

Next up is the Renault Zoe, which is equivalent in size to the Renault Clio. This has enough space for 4 passengers and also has a vehicle range of 100 miles between charges which is the same as the Leaf. Despite this, it is expected to be put on sale for about £15,000 (once the government subsidy for electric cars has been taken into account) which will be approximately £11,000 less than the Leaf which has a similar level of performance. However, the monthly battery rent charge is still likely to apply.

The equivalent of the Megane in Renault’s electric vehicle fleet the Fluence which is capable of an even more impressive 115 miles between charges despite only costing £17,850 along with a monthly £69.60 rental charge for the battery. Like the three other electric vehicles launched by Renault, the Fluence is also blessed with a modern aesthetic appearance which in no way highlights the different nature of its design as has been the case with previous attempts on the electric vehicle market.

Renault also has commercial ambitions, with the largest vehicle in its electric fleet being the Kangoo van. Available from £16,990, this is not the most expensive of the four options; with the monthly battery rental price only being £62. However, it does have a slightly more limited vehicle range between charges compared to the Fluence of 106 miles which could preclude its overall performance for business purposes.

Victim of its own success?

The Leaf was the most popular electric vehicle in terms of global sales last year; beating its big rival Mitsubishi with their Volt model across the majority of different regions in terms of vehicle sales.

However despite being equivalent to the Nissan Leaf in terms of overall performance, the Renault models are significantly cheaper and only slightly more expensive than what motorists would otherwise pay for conventional motors. In addition, the monthly battery rental charge is not a particularly significant handicap when the overall fuel cost savings available are taken into account.

It could therefore turn out that the Nissan group becomes a victim of its own success, with the likely popularity of the Renault electric vehicle fleet having the potential to significantly harm Nissan Leaf sales in the regions where both manufacturers have a presence; this includes the significant European market.

Super Bowl XLVI will be the 42nd annual championship game of National Football League and this year it will bring lots of fun and excitement for game lovers. Bridgestone Americas has intelligently designed theme of its new ad campaign and associated it with Super Bowl because it is well aware of the fact that the whole world is desperately waiting for this championship series. Theme of this performance focused brand campaign is “Time to Perform”, Bridgestone seems to be very serious and focused this time because it knows competition is very tough and hard in international market.

Philip Dobbs smartly defended this ad campaign and said, “As the Official Tire of the NFL, the NHL and the PGA TOUR, Bridgestone Americas is excited about our new brand campaign, which creatively integrates our sports marketing initiatives with our specific product lines and their unique characteristics. We have created an imaginary environment in which our proprietary technologies transcend the traditional bounds of tires, and we investigate the impact Bridgestone performance attributes could have on professional sports.”

Bridgestone Americas is very optimistic about the success of “Time to Perform”; time will judge the fate of this new brand campaign.

The brain’s tissues can be easily damaged as they are a fragile construction; this can lead to chronic disruption of the brain’s function, causing someone to experience violent symptoms such as painful headaches, depression, memory loss, loss of motor functions, and inhibitions to processing capabilities – a victim of brain damage may lose control of their body and/or mind if not treated quickly and carefully. These symptoms are serious and should be checked out immediately if they are spotted.

Photo by +++CoolValley+++

Other symptoms can also be caused by serious head injuries, reflecting a change in hormone levels throughout the body. This can happen if the pituitary gland, which lies at the base of the brain, is damaged. The gland controls almost all of the body’s hormone systems, so if it becomes damaged those hormones become disrupted. It is very important to remember that these symptoms are not always immediately obvious – anyone who has suffered an injury should be wary of any change in their health in the following weeks and months.

Head injuries may also lead to skull fractures – this kind of injury is not always obvious either, unless an x-ray is taken. A skull fracture, although subtle, can cause bleeding and serious damage to the brain within the skull if it is left untreated. This is why it is important to see a medical professional after any head injury, and they will administer an x-ray if necessary.

If you want to discuss your case with a professional then you should visit the Irwin Mitchell RTA website. You can find the Road Traffic Accident website amongst other services at irwinmitchell.com.

The Drive for Innovation with UBM and Avnet Express will make it convenient for the people to know about what technology they will use in the future. Already there is a lot of debate on the use of conventional cars as they increase our dependency on fossil fuels and pollute the environment as well. Hence, the introduction of electric technology will things better in the future because it is cheap and does not pollute the environment. This is the first of its kind project which will go across the country and innovators and engineers will drive Chevrolet Volt and stop at various places and cities where they will spread the information.

This is also going to be good for both consumers as well as car makers. Consumers will interact and discuss the technology with innovators, engineers, and experts and on other hand, EE Times Editorial Director Brian Fuller will take some interviews of the engineers to bring forward the best questions that people have about new technology. This is going to be a good project where people can blog their posts and even write down their experiences which car makers can take into consideration in the future. A lot of interactive content, games and prizes are to be won as well.

Road Trip Cars

However, there are people who love to make the most of their road trip and therefore they look out for cars that can help them to make the most of the road journeys that they make. Here, we take a quick look at the top 10 best road trip vehicles for 2011.

1. Camaro Convertible

If you are more interested in the journey rather than the destination then Camaro Convertible is the right car for you. This one definitely has more space for you and your family or your friends and therefore you can relax while you are moving. The sitting factor in this car is very convenient and comfortable and therefore no matter wherever you are sitting you will feel at ease and the convertible factor of the car works very much for all kinds of weather. However, if you are in hurry you can still make use of the 6.2 liter V8 enhanced Camaro SS that can produce 426 horsepower to accelerate you to your destination. This is certainly among the best road trip cars that you can find this year.

2. Honda Odyssey

Does your family need a SUV? Most people think that bigger family needs bigger car, but Honda Odyssey definitely debunks that myth. The all new Honda Odyssey is perfect for those who have more family members going for some weekend trip or vacation. It has everything that can keep family or friends happy during the trip and it is also rated as one of the safest road trip cars by IIHS so you can enjoy the safety and fuel economy options.

3. Mercedes Benz E Class

If you are looking for some kind of pamper during your journey then nothing looks better than driving in Mercedes Benz E Class. Although, the car is a bit expensive than the other new cars available in the market, but this car is meant to make your journey more interesting in every possible way. The Aircap system in this car ensures that the air is deflected over the passenger compartment making it one of the best road trip cars.

4. Toyota Avalon

Toyota has been making fuel efficient road trip cars that suit the budget of people who are budget conscious and long journey often means too much of expenditure on gasoline. On the other hand, if you have too many kids who are in the rear seat then you need Toyota Avalon. The suspension of this car makes your journey as smooth as sliding on ice. You will never feel those irritating jerks when your car rides over some bumpy road.

5. Chevrolet Corvette

For some people journey is not just about traveling from one destination to other, but enjoying the fun of traveling and what better than traveling in Chevrolet Corvette. The all new Chevrolet Corvette is designed to keep you well under control through your ride and your money under your budget. This is a fuel efficient car that can take you miles across the country at a speed that will impress you.

6. Toyota Sienna

Nothing is better than having a safe road trip and Toyota Sienna promises us to be the safest road trip cars that we can find this year. The car is loaded with safety features and that is what makes this car better than the rest. The car is very spacious and therefore more people can fit inside this car without compromising headroom and legroom. There is a lot of cargo space available as well.

7. Acura TSX Sportwagon

Do you love to make statements as you drive? Well, there are some drivers who love to show off while they travel and Acura TSX Sportwagon is a kind of entry level car which looks luxurious and spacious. The car has 2.4 liter DOHC engine that can produce 204 horsepower which means that car has speed, space and comfort all together.

8. Mercedes Benz CL-500

If you are traveling for business and you need to get rid of those boring trips then you should buy Mercedes Benz CL-500 which can allow you to get that executive style ride but in a different style. The car has 4.6 liter V8 engine that can produce 429 horsepower and the car also provides you with other safety features like BlueEfficiency which is good for environment. This could be your best road trip car which is also a green car.

9. Volkswagen Touareg

Volkswagen Touareg is a nice compact SUV which can provide you with tons of features that you can use while you are on the trip with your family. The car performs exceptionally well on all kinds of road and therefore it’s a perfect car for those who love to explore new places.

10. Ford Explorer

The latest Ford Explorer is based on the D4 Platform and is feature packed for those who love keeping options handy while they are on long trips. Although, it is a SUV, but you can consider it as crossover SUV recently launched. It is capable to withstand all kinds of weather conditions and perfect for those who love to drive a lot.

Director of merchandising at AutoZoneSteve Stoll said, “Spending a few minutes and a few dollars performing routine maintenance checks can ease the pain at the pump and help extend vehicle life. A small investment in car care today could pay off down the road.”

No doubt, tough economy and higher gas prices have affected the pattern of spending of people but never any problem arises without solution. You can well manage your spending and can accommodate with the rising gas prices by careful planning and proper care and maintenance of your vehicle. Simple maintenance tips from AutoZone can help you in this regard.

Let’s look into the details of tips shared by AutoZone;

• Check Fluids: Regularly check the fluids which lubricate your vehicle and make it sure that there is enough level of the desirable fluids in the vehicle.
• Test Battery: If you want to prevent breakdown, test battery especially in summers and in the start of winter because changing weather affects the battery performance of vehicles especially the old ones.
• Replacement and Maintenance of Vital Components: Keep it in mind that if you want to save gas and wish to keep your vehicle in good working condition never forget to replace and maintain the important components like spark plugs, oxygen sensors and air filters.