Archive for May, 2009
Test Drive Offers – Are They Worth It?
Ever get one of those test drive offers in the mail? You might not believe that car companies will pay you to come to their location and test drive their vehicles. It’s true however and often they won’t even insist on the actual drive once you get there!
Many offers provide a Visa gift card in the amount of 40 50 or gas cards for similar amounts. Gift certificates to various stores are another favorite or free meals at fine restaurants. This is a great hobby for stay at home moms and provides a way to afford special things!
If you want to get paid to test drive you first have to receive the offers by mail. We all know how easy it is to get on a mailing list! All you have to do is visit an official website and ask for some simple information like a brochure on their latest model and give them your mailing address.
All the main car manufacturers have test drive offers so hit Buick Chrysler Ford GMC Honda Toyota and Dodge as well as any other major players you can think of. You might want to concentrate on companies that have dealerships within easy driving distance of your home.
Use your husband’s email address to double the opportunities and don’t forget to request that the brochures be sent by regular mail. Don’t input your phone number you don’t want to get on that list!
After a month or so the test drive offers should begin arriving. They normally look like a postcard or a slick ad and tell you what location to go to and how to redeem your prize.
When you show up at the dealership tell the dealer right up front that you received the card in the mail were in the area and thought you would drop in to claim your prize. Let them know that you are not planning to purchase a car that day.
Often the dealer will simply sign the card for you on the spot and not waste their time or yours by actually making you drive the car. This way you still get paid to test drive and they can concentrate on a customer who might actually purchase a vehicle.
Once your card is filled out make a copy and mail the original into the address provided so the company can forward your prize to you. The Visa cash cards and the gas cards can be saved for a vacation while the shopping cards and gift certificates ensure that you are never short if you need to buy a present for a party or the holidays.
If you are a stay at home mom and your family lives on a tight budget eating out often might not be an option. Steak dinners or gift certificates for high end restaurants are a common giveaway so you can treat your family to a special night out!
Once you have started taking advantage of test drive offers you may be surprised at how the prizes can add up. All it takes is a few minutes to get on a mailing list and a short trip to your local dealership!
About the writer: Rayven Perkins has been doing test drive offers for more than 5 years. For free information and resources on this topic check out: Test Drive Incentives
Tesla Alleges Fisker Design Thievery
Tesla Motors has a bone to pick with Fisker Automotive a rival allelectric car producer some day maybe accusing the companys design firm Fisker Coachbuild LLC of stealing Teslas design for their next model a fourdoor sports sedan. Tesla has filed suit against Fisker in a California court alleging that the Fisker stole the design for their own sedan a concept which went on display at the Geneva Auto Show in March.
The design allegedly stolen was for the Tesla White Star and the vehicle in question is the Fisker Karma. Tesla paid Fisker Coachbuild 800000 in 2007 for its design service which the company said was substandard and they decided not to use it. The lawsuit against Fisker and related parties seeks punitive damages and an injunction barring the defendants from using Tesla trade secrets and proprietary information to build a competing model.
Tesla Getting Sued Too
Tesla is also the recipient of a lawsuit this one filed on behalf of Magna Powertrain which alleges it was never paid for design and development work completed on a twospeed transmission installed in the initial Tesla Roadster production run. The transmission was never used and Magna is suing Tesla for 5.6 million. Technical issues forced Tesla to scrap the transmission one of many hold ups for the Roadster which is just now being produced.
Fisker Automotive Production Plans
While many consider the Fisker Karma to be a long shot pipe dream perhaps the company says that their plugin electric car will hold four people travel 50 miles on a single battery charge and be able to extend that range to 500 miles thanks to a onegallon fuel engine that generates enough electricity to power the sedan.
The Fisker Karma is expected to retail for about 80000 and the company says that its top speed is 125 mph with the ability to go from 0 to 60 in six seconds. The company is in discussions with American and German automotive manufacturers to use one of their plants to build the car.
Source: Motor Trend amp; Wire Services
About the writer: Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary North Carolina. Matt provides magazine web content and article writing services to clients all over the world serving the automotive human interest and business communities. He invites you to explore the many quality auto parts sold by Andy’s Auto Sport including BMW Z8 mufflers and Buick LaCrosse lambdo doors.
Teen Driving
If you’re a parent you should be wary once your kids start to think of driving. After all these are the people who will likely get into a very dangerous vehicular accident than adults and even seniors. But it doesn’t mean you should stop your kids from doing so. What you can do is to take note of these safety measures about teen driving:
1. Show him how it’s done. As they say the best teacher will always be experience. If you want to teach your kids the right way to driving then you have to let him experience it with you. When you’re going to a mall or traveling on a vacation allow him to sit beside you. Obey traffic rules and don’t go over speed limits. Learn to respect other vehicles and pedestrians. Most of all avoid talking on the phone.
2. Enroll him in a reputable driving school. There are just some things that you can’t possibly teach him. Thus it’s highly ideal if you can enroll your teen to a wellestablished driving school in your area. Majority of these schools don’t only have lectures about how to drive safely and the proper ways to deal with accidents but they will also experience simulated driving. There shall also be examinations to test their knowledge and readiness in driving their car out on the streets. If you want him to get the most out of his training course you may pick those schools that also have defense driving training. These are courses wherein facilitators teach students how to deal with harsh weather conditions and vehicular accidents.
3. Avoid letting him drive at night or when in parties. As much as possible you should put limit in his driving time. Don’t let him drive at nighttime especially when he’s out with his friends or attending a party. There’s a huge possibility that he’s on a drinking booze and if he is he’ll likely meet an accident if not get arrested for DUI. He may also be influenced by his friends to go speed racing which will surely place your kids in grave danger. It’s even ideal that you’ll be the one to pick your children after their drinking session to ensure that no one gets to drive a vehicle drunk. Definitely your teen will understand this setup if you can just be objective and open about it.
4. Let him drive. He will never learn unless he drives. Thus permit him to drive the car while an expert perhaps you sits beside him. This way he’ll be conscious with his driving ways. You can also provide him feedback which he definitely needs from time to time. You can both look for a place where there are less or even no vehicles around so all of the road will be yours.
5. Always remind him to wear his seatbelts. Majority of the injuries happen because drivers are not wearing their seatbelts. Your children may not fully understand why you have to keep on repeating things to them but if it’s the only way to make sure that he stays safe then do it.
About the writer: Mark Robinson writes for AutoLoans.GuideFin.com. Visit his website for information about car loan rates.