Los Angeles Driving School

2007-02-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles (Part 3)
Andrea Susan Glass
Energizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem while production, transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen remains difficult
Reforming hydrocarbons via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not actually environmentally friendly
The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer, while the driving range is shorter than in a conventional vehicle
Fuel cells are normally somewhat larger than comparable batteries or engines, however, the size of the units continues to decrease with research and testing
Fuel cells are currently expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made and some use expensive materials
The technology is not yet fully developed, therefore few products are readily available
Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits. They offer air quality advantages through reduced emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. There's significant research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for example, is recognized as a world leader in the development and use of alternative transportation fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in use across Canada. Some of the most promising alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use in motor vehicles are;

2007-01-16T06:04:00.000-08:00

Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles (Part 2)
Andrea Susan Glass
AdvantagesFuel cells reduce pollution that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels-their only by-product is water
If the hydrogen used in the fuel cell comes from the electrolysis of water, then using fuel cells will eliminate greenhouse gases
Because fuel cells don't need conventional fuels like oil or gas, they eliminate economic dependence on politically unstable countries
Since hydrogen can be manufactured anywhere there is water and electricity, production of potential fuel can be allocated in various areas
Fuel cells operate at a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines which makes them an ideal source of efficient power for alternative fuel vehicles
Most fuel cells operate silently, while internal combustion engines do not
Fuel cells can operate for longer times than batteries, therefore to double the operating time, only the fuel needs to be doubled and not the capacity of the unit itself
The maintenance of fuel cells is relatively straightforward since there are few moving parts in the system
Disadvantages

2006-12-27T18:54:00.000-08:00

Fuel Cells & Alternative Fuel Vehicles (Part 1)
Andrea Susan Glass
FUEL CELLS & ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLESThe history of the fuel cell can be traced back to the 19th century. Since then the development and usage of fuel cells in a variety of applications have come a long way. Fuel cells hold great promise for fueling alternative fuel vehicles. Here is some of the history of the development of fuel cells:William Grove invented the fuel cell in 1839.
General Electric invented proton exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s Francis Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.
NASA's use of fuel cells during the Apollo space missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of fuel cells.
Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in spacecrafts operated by NASA.
The US Navy has been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s
Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the world, the largest being the European Union backed CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe).
All major automakers have prototypes of alternative fuel vehicles using fuel cells on the road-some have already been leased to customers.
Iceland has plans to convert its fishing fleet from diesel engines to hydrogen fuel cells as part of a national project to create a fossil fuel free economy
Several car manufacturers are hoping to produce their first semi-commercial models of fuel cell cars by 2005, yet they will most probably not be mass produced until 2010.
Numerous fuel cell products will be coming to market-portable direct methanol fuel cells will power mobile phones, laptops and cameras in the near future
A fuel cell is around 60% efficient at converting fuel to power, double the efficiency of an internal combustion gas engine-which makes it perfect for alternative fuel vehicles.
Fuel cells have several advantages over conventional power sources like internal combustion gas engines or batteries. Additionally, there are disadvantages facing manufacturers hoping to commercialize fuel cells. See how they stack up as the next best fuel for alternative fuel vehicles.

2006-11-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

200HP Civic Si Concept Points at Future Direction for New 2006 Civic Si Coupe (Part 3)
Jenny McLane
"The 2006 Civic Si Coupe will be the most powerful, fastest and fun-to-drive Si we've ever put on the street, and the Civic Si Concept sets the direction in terms of its styling, package and performance," said John Mendel, senior vice president of American Honda. "It's part of a new family of Civic vehicles that build on the already class-leading values of the Civic in terms of safety, styling, performance and fuel efficiency."The Civic Si Concept is designed to be an "Advanced Personal Compact. It features a sweeping rooflines and ultra-fast windshield rake that highlights the vehicle's one-motion profile, low, wide stance, and superior aerodynamic performance. The forward motion conveyed by the overall vehicle shape is further accentuated by a long trunk deck and a frontward sloping bumper. for better performance, the gap between the tire and the body has been minimized thanks to optimized wheel openings. Boosting further the Civic Si's sleek aerodynamic features are and side aero kit, rear deck wing and a lower rear bumper diffuser with an integrated center exhaust system.

2006-11-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

200HP Civic Si Concept Points at Future Direction for New 2006 Civic Si Coupe (Part 4)
Jenny McLane
The 2006 Civic Si Coupe will be the sixth generation Si, which first appeared as a three-door hatchback in 1986 with subsequent Civic Si models appearing in 1989, 1992, 1999 and 2002. The production Si will make its world debut at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November. The Civic Si Concept was designed at Honda R&D America's Los Angeles design center.Meanwhile, Honda Civic and Civic Si parts can be purchased even in the comfort of our own homes. Dozens of sites offer excellent deals on Honda Civic Si parts that are definitely hard to miss. One of the best sites to purchase from is Parts Train. Check out www.partstrain.com and browse through the thousands of choices of Honda Civic Si Parts.

2006-11-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

200HP Civic Si Concept Points at Future Direction for New 2006 Civic Si Coupe (Part 2)
Jenny McLane
The latest Civic Si Concept marks the 20th anniversary of the Civic Si Legacy in the US. With a 200-horsepower, 16-valve, DOHC i-VTEC engine with an 8,000 rpm red line, mated to a close ratio 6-speed manual transmission, this new Civic Si further establishes its performance heritage. A helical-type limited slip differential that improves launch traction and cornering performance helps put all that power on the ground. Among the many performance features of the Civic Si Concept include 18-inch cast aluminum wheels, 225/40R18 high performance tires and 4-wheel disc brakes with large cross-drilled brake rotors and 4-piston Brembo calipers.

2006-10-26T23:24:00.000-07:00

200HP Civic Si Concept Points at Future Direction for New 2006 Civic Si Coupe (Part 1)
Jenny McLane
The new Honda Civic Si concept made its world debut last February 10, 2004 at the Chicago Auto Show. The concept provided hints at the styling and performance direction of the new breed of Civic Si coupes to be introduced later this year. This new production Civic Si Coupe will serve as the performance leader for the 2006 Civic model lineup which will be completely redesigned. The 2006 Civic will feature more emotional styling, enhanced performance, and the latest generation of "intelligent" i-VTEC engine technology. The new 2006 Civic lineup will include a 4-door Sedan, a 2-door Coupe and Si Coupe, an even more fuel efficient Civic Hybrid and a natural-gas powered Civic GX.

2006-10-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

Understanding the 4 Square (Part 6)
Robert Little
Be aware that car manufacturers control their inventories with the use of incentives such as rebate and special rates. The higher the incentive the more of that product they will sell. This insures that they sell the inventory they sell. These incentives will change throughout the year, depending upon shortages or surpluses of inventory. An incentive is anything that adds extra value to a car. For example of a car list for $30,000 and has a $4000 rebate, then the car is really selling for $26,000. In another example, a car that sell for $30,000 at a 7% interest rate would have payments of around 595.00 a month. The same car at 0% would have payments of only 510.00 a month. This is a huge saving to you. Find out what vehicles have what incentives. This could save you thousands! Check the Edmunds.com Web site for the latest incentives and rebates available for the car you want to buy.

2006-09-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Understanding the 4 Square (Part 5)
Robert Little
Many dealerships have their sales people practice what are called Word Tracks. Word Tracks are pre-rehearsed statements that sales people learn, that help them respond to commonly asked customer questions. A "Word Track" system is a sales training program designed to put every customer through similar sales steps with the goal of closing that customer for the maximum dealer profit. The dealers goals are always the same: They want you to pay full sticker for their car. They don't want to negotiate - only you do. Do you want to spend $300 a month? A savvy seller will get you to pay $400. If you refuse, he will simply switch you to a different car for $300 per month, but it will be a car you could have bought for less. Your job is to negotiate a fair deal. A fair deal is simply a price and payment that you are willing to pay, at a price and payment the dealer is willing to accept. Easy right � Not quite�

2006-09-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

Understanding the 4 Square (Part 4)
Robert Little
Open a Sunday paper, for example, and just look at the dealer advertisements: They promise super low payments, top dollar for your trade-in, and the best prices in town. But, as with most selling, buyers beware! The simple truth is that dealers are always having a Big Sale! That's because consumers automatically translate the word "sale" into "save." Dealer advertising is designed to get you to shop today! They want you to drop everything and rush down in a fit of excitement without stopping to think.

2006-08-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Understanding the 4 Square (Part 3)
Robert Little
The hard truth is that you will always be at a disadvantage when shopping at a car dealership. You are a part time buyer, and the sales professional is a full time sales associate. If he is a professional, he is likely to win at any game playing you get involved in. Arm yourself with as much information as possible before going shopping. This should help to even out the odds a bit. The first thing you have to understand is what the dealer is trying to accomplish, and why. Games starts even before you visit the dealer, either on-line or in person.

2006-08-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Understanding the 4 Squar� (Part 2)
Robert Little
Credit Life insurance & Disability insurance, Gap Insurance, Alarm Systems and other aftermarket products. Be sure to choose the ones that are right for you, but make sure you know how much you are paying for each, and don't pay too much. The idea behind the 4 square is to help the dealer satisfy you in one area, while maintaining profits in the other. That's why dealers can sometimes sell cars for "a loss" and still make thousands on each car deal - be sure to pay very close attention to the entire process. The idea of the 4 square is to get you to focus on only one area of the sale and not look at all four. You must make sure you know what is happening on all four corners of your car deal. Here are the 4 things that make up a car deal.

The price they are asking for their vehicle
The dollar value they are showing for your trade
The amount of down payment you need
The total monthly payment (including all options, Tax, title and fees)

2006-07-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Understanding the '4 Square' (Part 1)
Robert Little
Car Buying TipsA '4 square' is simply a sales tool used by many car dealers. We will discuss how this works a little later. For now, it is important to understand that buying a car isn't one negotiation, it's many: the price, trade-in value, monthly payments, down payment requirements, and the financing. It is important to understand that just because a dealer is making a profit, there are still products and services they offer that are of value to you. Some examples would include: Extended Warranties;

2006-07-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

Teen Driving Statistics (Part 4)
Melih Oztalay
In 2003, 3,657 (3,827 in 2002) drivers 15 to 20 years old were killed, and an additional 308,000 (324,000 in 2002) were injured, in motor vehicle crashes. Nearly 31 percent of teen drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2003 had been drinking and 74 percent of this group was not wearing their safety belts.National Safety Council
In 2000, 6,495 people between the ages of 15 and 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes�the leading cause of death for this age group. And although young drivers represent only 6.6% of the nation's licensed drivers, they are involved in 14.8% of fatal crashes. The National Safety Council urges all parents to familiarize themselves with the risks associated with young, inexperienced drivers.
Traffic crashes are the number one cause of death among children and young adults.
More than 3,800 young drivers age 15-20 are killed every year in traffic crashes.
More than 326,000 young drivers are injured.
Young drivers are involved in fatal traffic crashes at over twice the rate as the rest of the population.
Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving at an unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal accidents.
About 30% of crashes killing young drivers involve alcohol.
More than 1,000 young drivers lose their lives every year in crashes because of an impaired driver... be it themselves, or someone else.
Sean Mullsteff Teen Driving Foundation
The number one cause of death for 15-20 year olds is car collisions.
This age group makes up 7% of licensed drivers, but suffers 14% of fatalities and 20% of all reported collisions.
53% of teen driver deaths occur on weekends.
Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle collisions had a youth passenger in the automobile 45% of the time.
In 2002, The National Center for Statistics and Analysis reported that 8,278 adolescents (ages 15-20) were involved in fatal crashes.
324,000 teens were injured in collisions in 2002.
65% of teen passenger deaths occur with a teen driving.
Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile collision due to drowsiness.
More than any age group, teens are likely to be involved in a single vehicle crash.Melih Oztalay, CEO
Auto Safety Magnets
www.autosafetymagnets.com

2006-06-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Teen Driving Statistics (Part 2)
Melih Oztalay
We know that the current requirements for driver education are not sufficient. Both commercially and by parents. We can add that a younger age teen is not mature enough to control a vehicle and might as well be considered to be driving a deadly weapon. Teens with permit licenses are driving with their parents in an unmarked family vehicle only increase the likelihood of accidents. Using car magnets that are thick, reflective for the night and are durable can help reduce this likelihood. These types of auto safety magnets can be found at Auto Safety Magnets. Identifying these almost 2 million vehicles on the road should be a requirement on a national level.

2006-06-15T23:09:00.000-07:00

Teen Driving Statistics (Part 1)
Melih Oztalay
As a parent, if you search for any information about Teen Driving Statistics you will find statistics similar to those below. I have reviewed various websites to summarize the information from these sources, however, please feel free to search the web for �teen driving statistics� for more websites and information on this subject.The information allows us to ponder if teen driving needs to be revisited on a national level. How are teen drivers being educated by driving schools? Do we need to increase the amount of time for driver training? How about requiring higher levels of car driving education (not just traffic education, but how do drive a car education)? Should driver�s licenses only be issued at age 18? What are the economic implications to increasing the driving age? We will visit these questions in the next article. For now we need to understand what is happening on our roads today.

2006-06-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

Teen Driving Statistics (Part 3)
Melih Oztalay
As parents we must take the responsibility of protecting our children. Should you reconsider your decision the next time your teen asks to take the car?
The Facts from reliable Sources

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

2006-06-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 8)
Dan Baldyga
All of information necessary for you to deal with and handle the above issues are spelled out within the contents of Dan Baldyga's third "How To" Insurance Claim Book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com OR http://www.autoacccidentclaims.com. This book also contains BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA will tell you exactly how many dollars the "Pain and Suffering" you endured - - because of your accident - are worthCopyright (c) 2004 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved.

2006-05-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 7)
Dan Baldyga
And why not you may ask? The answer to that one is very simple: Because when presented with these the adjuster will become a willing buyer, whether your have a lawyer representing you or not!
DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article SETTLING YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CLAIM YOURSELF is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident process.

2006-05-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 6)
Dan Baldyga
WHY? Because rather than resisting a payment the adjuster only wants the claim to be supported by documentation. Proof that will provide him and his superiors, in the Home Office (via the evidence of value received) which has been nailed down with Medical Bills, Lost Wage Letters, and similar documents. You don't need a lawyer to obtain these for you because you can get these yourself. So, don't believe the legal fraternity's typical mumbo-jumbo con-job regarding, 'My expertise when dealing with the Insurance Company'.

2006-05-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 5)
Dan Baldyga
HOWEVER - AND USING THOSE SAME STATISTICS - THE FOLLOWING WAS ALSO TRUE: After deducting the lawyer's fees on all tort lawsuits in that same year, the victims wound up going home with a Net compensation of approximately $14 to $15 billion. These figures proved that the injured party received 56% of that figure, while the Litigation System got the rest = 44%! (The combined lawyers fees alone constitute a whopping $11 to $13 billion dollars of the amount paid!) So, you may ask: Does the average claimant need a lawyer (who more often than not knows little or nothing about How To settle a (motor vehicle ) accident claim)? The answer is: No, they don't!

2006-05-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 4)
Dan Baldyga
QUESTION:
How can Dan Baldyga be so sure about what he's written regarding the above?�
ANSWER: -Because Dan was an Insurance Claims Adjuster, Supervisor, Manager and Trial Assistant. He observed all of that come to pass - for over 35 years!

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT OF LEGAL FEES: The Rand Corporation for Civil Justice in Santa Monica, California found that accident victims who filed claims in Federal and State courts in the United States were awarded $21 to $25 billion of the $29 to $36 billion in total national expenditure made on all tort lawsuits in 1985. (Just imagine how much that figure has increased , over the many years, since then!).

2006-04-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 3)
Dan Baldyga
Most of us believe that lawyers have passed rigorous examination, so we assume that when it comes to the proper execution of legal documents and knowledge of the law, that surely they know what the're doing. But, How To properly handle and investigate a client's motor vehicle accident case, is not a skill learned in law school. Most lawyers don't have it - nor do they take the time to develop them. It's not for his great knowledge of the law, or his great expertise in courtroom skills, that an attorney can be effective in securing for his client the best possible settlement in their motor vehicle accident cases. Rather it's possessing the skills and ability to make patient, painstaking investigations, to gather information and document a claim. But, here's the problem: The vast majority of lawyers lack those essential attributes so as to position themselves to correctly process a clients motor vehicle accident claim.

2006-04-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 2)
Dan Baldyga
#3. More often than not (in comparison to the 10 to 15 percent that do) their are relatively low financial stakes and also minor economic losses involved.
#4. They're processed by the insurance company (who will ultimately be responsible for a payment to be made) in a highly routine, assembly-line format.
#5. Both parties are ordinary citizens (rather than institutions) and demand no specific expertise to undertake.There are thousands of laypersons who are under the impression that when they gave their case to a lawyer that the large Contingency Fee which the attorney will eventually take is in exchange for a guarantee of SKILLED and PROFESSIONAL representation. Too often they suddenly learn differently (but by then it�s to late) because by the time that realization arrives they've already been taken to the cleaners!

2006-04-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

Settling Your Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Yourself (Part 1)
Dan Baldyga
Handling a property damage and/or personal injury (motor vehicle) claim yourself is a simple and routine procedure for ordinary individuals to process on their own ! The vast majority of motor vehicle accident claims require no specialized expertise which allows one to successfully settle it.There are five characteristics found which makes them easy for one to undertake without handing their case to a lawyer:
#1. The vast majority of them are 'Ordinary' in character.
#2. By and large they don�t involve serious injuries.

2006-04-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

Thrifty Car Rental Extends 'Double Credits' for Blue Chip Rewards Rentals Through Jan. 15, 2005 (Part 5)

To book a reservation with Thrifty, visit http://www.THRIFTY.com, call 1-800-THRIFTY in the U.S. and Canada, or consult your professional travel agent. Thrifty Car Rental is a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., a Fortune 1000 Company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Together with its corporately-owned locations and those of its franchise owners, the Thrifty Car Rental brand serves value-conscious travelers from more than 1,100 locations in
64 countries.

2006-04-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

Thrifty Car Rental Extends 'Double Credits' for Blue Chip Rewards Rentals Through Jan. 15, 2005 (Part 4)

To sign up, new customers may visit THRIFTY.com or call Blue Chip Member
Services at 1-888-400-8877; current Blue Chip members can update their profile
using the same contact information. Credits may be tracked online at
THRIFTY.com. Free days are redeemable in the U.S. and Canada and apply to time
and mileage only.Free day certificates are available for use on rentals of compact through
full size cars and minivans. Blue Chip Rewards credits are valid for one year
from the date of issue. To sign up, visit THRIFTY.com or call Blue Chip Member
Services at 1-888-400-8877.

2006-04-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Thrifty Car Rental Extends 'Double Credits' for Blue Chip Rewards Rentals Through Jan. 15, 2005 (Part 3)

"Customers have wholeheartedly embraced Blue Chip Rewards," said Rainey
Talbot, Director of Advertising and Customer Retention for Thrifty. "We have
awarded thousands of free rental days since the program first launched in May.
Customers appreciate the great service element of the Blue Chip Express Rental
Program, especially combined with the rewards component."Blue Chip Rewards is an enhancement to the company's Blue Chip Express Rental
Program(R) promising expedited service, and is available to members who elect to
sign up for the program. Members will have to choose whether they earn Blue Chip
Rewards credits or frequent flyer miles/points when they rent ... but not both.
Those choosing to earn frequent flyer miles/points must provide their frequent
flyer number on the enrollment form or at the time of rental. Members may change
their Reward selection at any time by modifying their profile on THRIFTY.com, or
by calling Blue Chip Member Services.

2006-03-20T15:08:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Car Rental Extends 'Double Credits' for Blue Chip Rewards Rentals Through Jan. 15, 2005 (Part 2)

Thrifty Car Rental Extends 'Double Credits' for Blue Chip Rewards
Rentals Through Jan. 15, 2005 TULSA, Okla., Nov. 22 - Thrifty Car Rental, a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty
Automotive Group, Inc. has extended its "double credits" promotion for Blue Chip
Rewards members through Jan. 15, 2005, when members book their reservation on http://www.THRIFTY.com . Blue Chip Reward members earn free
days on qualifying rentals at participating Thrifty locations in the U.S. and
Canada. Members are awarded one free day when a member earns 16 credits.
Ordinarily, members earn one credit for each rental day based on a 24-hour
rental day starting at the time of rental. Due to the success of the program -
launched in May - Thrifty has decided to extend double credits through Jan. 15,
2005 for members who book via THRIFTY.com. (Single credits will be awarded for
rentals made through other booking channels).

2006-03-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Car Rental Extends 'Double Credits' for Blue Chip Rewards Rentals Through Jan. 15, 2005 (Part 1)

Thrifty Car Rental, a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. has
extended its "double credits" promotion for Blue Chip Rewards members through
Jan. 15, 2005, when members book their reservation on http://www.THRIFTY.com. Blue
Chip Reward members earn free days on qualifying rentals at participating
Thrifty locations in the U.S. and Canada. Members are awarded one free day when
a member earns 16 credits. Ordinarily, members earn one credit for each rental
day based on a 24-hour rental day starting at the time of rental. Due to the
success of the program - launched in May - Thrifty has decided to extend
double credits through Jan. 15, 2005 for members who book via THRIFTY.com.
(Single credits will be awarded for rentals made through other booking
channels).