Archive for July 31st, 2008
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Around the roadways of our country, it seems that “bigger is better” is a common theme. Despite rising gas prices and fears across the nation of emissions causing environmental issues, it seems that just as many, if not more people are buying and driving SUVs and large Pick Up trucks.
It’s also interesting to note that this affinity for large vehicles is occurring not only in urban areas, but also in areas that are laden with conservationists and environmentalists who would normally see them as disadvantageous because of their potential harm on the environment.
One reason for this is that in areas - such as New Mexico, for instance - with large populations of people who oppose emissions for environmental purposes are the same areas where outdoor recreation is prevalent.
Higher elevation areas are particularly flooded with larger trucks and SUVs, because of the power that they provide in steep, snowy and icy areas. Also, many people find them convenient for their towing capacity, attaching trailer hitches and a trailer lock and using them to haul boats, ATVs, and recreational vehicles.
Another major consumer of large SUVs, are the soccer mom types — those who don’t use them for their power or towing and likely have no idea what a rapid hitch is — who find them convenient for hauling their children around town. Many family-oriented people are proponents of SUVs because of the extreme versatility and spaciousness. Their convenience in size is a trade-off, obviously, for their tendency to guzzle gas, and their higher levels of emissions.
Additionally, they tend to offer more safety — due to their size — than their smaller, more fragile counter parts (rollover tendencies notwithstanding). Safety ratings, however, are usually based on vehicle class, so it is difficult to compare a compact to an SUV or a mid-size to a sports coupe. But the general consensus is (particularly in multiple car accidents) that larger vehicles can better withstand accidents and therefore are more likely to protect the occupants within.
Many people would also argue that larger vehicles present more versatility than smaller ones. How often do sedan owners have to rent or borrow a truck to make a move across town? A larger vehicle allows for day-to-day transportation as well as the versatility to act as an emergency vehicle of sorts when more labor intensive tasks become necessary, the idea being that large vehicles can do anything that smaller ones can do, but smaller ones can’t necessarily do everything that large ones can.
Whether or not you endorse or despise the “bigger is better” notion, it is becoming obvious that large vehicles are not going anywhere and that, despite absurd prices in gasoline and potential detriment to our environment, SUVs and Trucks are going to continue their influence as a major part of our roadway traffic.
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Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Dr. Gridlock asked original owners of high-mileage vehicles to weigh in on what their odometer reads and how they have kept the vehicle running so long.
We got responses from all over the metropolitan area, and the local owner with the most reported miles was Lee E. Paige Jr. of Herndon, who said he has a Toyota pickup truck with 445,843 miles on it. Wow!
I’ve never been able to break 200,000 miles, but a lot of readers have. They said they achieved vehicular longevity by changing the oil every 3,000 to 6,000 miles or three months, whichever comes first; by meeting regular maintenance schedules; and by attending to little problems before they become big ones.
Seems to me that is the best way to own a car. With depreciation lowering the value in the first few years, an older, well-cared-for car — already paid for — provides travel at minimum cost. Of course, I’m not hearing from owners of used cars that blew up.
I heard from original owners who had 200,000-plus miles on their Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, Volvo, Saab and BMW vehicles, and also on domestic vehicles, such as Ford, Chevrolet and even Oldsmobile.
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Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Buying a car is like a dream come true. It is always better to know the pros and cons of a particular car to get the best deals, especially when you would be spending so much. A beautiful car, with the latest techniques and the right color – will make your life. Assortments of cars are available in the market, but the individual choice differs. It’s advisable to analyze properly different cars and your budget before you invest your hard earned money. After all, sitting in a right car will make you feel like a king or a queen, particularly if you have chosen an antique car. A little bit of market research from the car dealers and other buyers will help you to make an apt choice. Don’t forget to ask about crucial factors like the gas mileage, warranty and insurance. The buyers can save a great deal if all these factors are thoroughly analyzed.
Antique car is the choice of the royal people. As it is mainly bought by the elite classes, the price of this car is quite high as compared to other traditional cars. Very often it is seen that people with high spending powers have the hobby of collecting antique cars- after all money does speak! The process of buying antique cars is quite complicated. If you are among those fortunate ones who are keen to own one of these astounding cars, then always try to follow few tips to make your purchase an easy affair.
Internet is the best medium to search for the information about cars. A good range of websites and blogs are available which provides reliable and complete information on purchasing and features of the antique cars. It is feasible to buy a car from the nearby dealers so that incase of any issues, the servicing could be easily done.
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Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Purchasing heavy equipment is a necessary part of the construction business, but the steep asking prices on just one crane, dump truck, excavator, skid steer, loader, tractor, or any number of heavy equipment pieces that your business will use in its daily operation could easily finance an entire home construction project. Any time one of your employees points out that you need new machinery, you cringe, right? Then it’s time to take out the accounting books and see how you can afford new construction equipment.
Need a crane? Be prepared to spend around $250,000 or more for a brand new crane model. How about an excavator? It’s relatively cheaper at around $25,000-50,000. A brand new skid steer costs around $25,000. Buy a new dump truck and you could easily be spending hundreds of thousands—if not millions—for a really big heavy dump truck.
That’s why buying used machinery can save your company so much. A used crane can cost as little as $75,000. A used excavator can cost $17,000. What about a used skid steer? An asking price of $10,000 or even $6000 for a used skid steer is not unheard of. Used trucks start at as little as $3500. Depending on the size of the used dump truck you have in mind, your company could pay only $2500. Since a dump truck tire alone can cost $40,000 if the heavy dump truck is big enough, it might be more economical to replace the entire dump truck than replace the tires!
How do you find prices like these and better on used heavy equipment? By searching for a reputable third-party used heavy construction equipment classifieds website to act as mediator between buyers and sellers.
If you’re looking to buy used heavy equipment or any other kind of used machinery, try a reputable online classified website You’ll find classifieds for used heavy trucks, used excavators, used skid steers, heavy loaders, heavy tractors, cranes, and many used heavy construction equipment pieces. Search for used heavy equipment by manufacturer and machine type.
Many of the used construction equipment prices are negotiable, so you could easily get a deal on a used excavator, used skid steer, used dump truck, or any other piece of used heavy construction equipment for far less than the prices listed. Don’t see the used heavy equipment you’re looking for? Place a Want Ad with a description of the used construction equipment you want and your price range!
Purchasing heavy equipment, even used heavy equipment, can consume a large amount of funds. When heavy dump trucks, cranes, or any other heavy equipment is on the fritz, some construction companies might just need to borrow some heavy equipment for a short time while their heavy equipment is being fixed.
New heavy construction equipment can cost so much of your construction company’s funds that even the best jobs can turn little profit. While quality machinery is of course essential to any construction project’s success, quality used machinery is easy to find with the right classifieds website. Before you buy new, buy used heavy equipment and save the accounting books at your construction business from going into red.
Posted in Construction Equipment | No Comments »
