(Vacation destinations) Do You Need An Extended Warranty on Your Car?

March 8th, 2010 admin Posted in travel |

By Roberto Garabell

Extended warranties amount to extra protection beyond what you get from the dealership or car manufacturer when you buy a new or used vehicle. While some people have settled for pat answers - don’t get one for a new car, do get one for most used cars - a careful look at repair records, maintenance costs and automotive build quality yields a much more complicated picture. There is no easy answer, just the right answer, and stopping your search for the former to find the latter instead is a good start. This article will summarize the findings for you, but you are invited to continue your research and make up your own mind if you remain unconvinced.

If you are buying a new car with a super service record over many years, such as a Toyota Camry, you might think there is no need for an extended warranty. Of course, statistics deal with averages, medians or means, and you could instead fall at either end of quite a long, large curve. Yes, your risk for non-warranty problems might be less on the Camry, but this was thought true of all Toyotas until they recalled millions of different vehicles in late 2009 and early 2010.

Despite the fact that these recalls cost most owners nothing, Toyota owners who had problems after their warranties expired, but before the recalls were announced, had to shell out their own money. If you can’t trust Toyota on build quality, you need to revisit all your assumptions about extended warranties. Don’t forget, either, that you can buy an extended warranty at any time, not just when you are purchasing your vehicle. If you said “no” when you bought it, you can still change your mind!

Playing by the rules

Most people decline the dealer offer of an extended warranty, as well as third-party offers, on vehicles with historically high user ratings. They assumed that whatever was “part of the usual deal” with, say, Toyota (the company or the dealership) was good enough. For the average owner, during average times, this was probably true. If you follow recommended service schedules for oil changes, belts, hoses and brake pads, the thinking goes, the odds should dictate that you turn out fine. Again, this is true for the average user during “normal” times. Are any times normal anymore, though? Like life insurance (or any other kind), you can’t wait until you need it to buy an extended warranty.

For used cars, it is more about the amount of warranty coverage you need than a question of needing it or not. All people have their own tastes in cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles, and the plain fact is that some vehicles need more service, including some very specialized services, than others do. This means you won’t get an answer about your needs for an extended warranty without doing your homework, which at the very least means checking out various consumer reporting services concerning the vehicles you are considering. This will at least give you an idea as to the cars requiring more protection on an extended warranty, rather than less. It is that simple. The more you know, the more nuanced and precise your decision can be.

Other used car issues

The main thing to remember about used cars is not that they are used, but that you don’t know precisely how they were used. You can never really tell how previous owners treated the vehicle, whether it was a “beater” or even if the “service records” in the glove box really belong to it. This doesn’t mean you should automatically opt for the broadest possible extended warranty coverage, but it certainly adds weight to the “default position” vis-a-vis warranties on used cars, namely, that they are usually indicated.

If, in fact, you are purchasing an extremely low-priced auto that historically has been inexpensive to service - and you don’t intend keeping it long, anyway - you might consider any money spent on an extended warranty to be wasted. Of course, much depends on the make, the mileage and the maker’s reputation for build quality, but leaves unanswered the main question: What if something breaks and you don’t have that extended warranty?

The answer?

So, do you need an extended warranty on your car? When does it make economic sense to get one? Despite their so-so repair record, BMWs are always in high demand - partly because of the cachet and partly because of the driving experience. For a used BMW 750Li, which will set you back between $40-60,000 if it’s within a few years of new, the added cost of the extended warranty makes good sense. It is very costly to service this car and keep it running right. Still the flagship of the BMW line (although the engine is now six liters, yielding a 760 nameplate) the 750Li is gorgeous, classy and powerful, but an oil change can cost almost $300.

With all the electronic gadgets and computer-controlled gizmos in the Big Beemer, it is a perfect candidate for an extended warranty. As explained previously, for any car of recent enough vintage to be subject to recall - and that could include a bargain-priced VW, too - an extended warranty just, plain makes sense. Frankly, it makes sense whether you have the Big Beemer or the aging VW, since you don’t know what tomorrow may bring. The extra cost is not exorbitant, especially as it provides the feeling of “extra insurance” and will certainly support your peace of mind - and isn’t that what it’s really all about anyway?

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The Secret of Packing

By Lance Rush

”Survival of the fittest,” is a term that is thrown around liberally, but what does it mean? The meat of the phrase means that those who are most prepared, equipped and alert will be the ones that will come out on top of the pack. Going into a battle situation, it is to your benefit to give yourself every advantage you can think of which means to more than satisfy the criteria of the definition of being “fit.”

The secret to being prepared and equipped is having with you everything you may need in any given situation. This can be challenging when you have to carry all of your gear. However, with the right TA-50 or deployment bag, you can have enough room for everything you need, and if you pack carefully, perhaps even a small kitchen sink! The perfect deployment bag begins with essentials in an orderly arrangement. Essentials will be different for everyone, but at the core should be your body armor, some ammunition and a small first-aid kit. Here are some tips for packing the perfect bag:

1. Combinations are KEY! Try combining articles such as putting gloves, a pair of socks and a couple extra rounds in the cavity of the body armor. This will enable there to be more room in the bag as well as keeping things that you will need to use together also packed together so there is no time or energy lost in grabbing something you need. Body armor is bulky and odd shaped for packing, and chances are that if you need one piece, that you will need the same things each time so put them together in a way that they all work together. For example, if you have an extra pair of shoes to pack, consider putting something else that you will be using at that same time in the shoe to save room in your bag.

2. Zip tight bags are awesome! Water leakage inward to your bag (if it’s not waterproof or if it gets a hole in it somehow) or liquid/gel leakage outward of a container can prove to be a huge problem if you are traveling or on deployment. Zip tight baggies can save your day! Put shirts or outfits, socks, underwear into gallon size baggies if you are going to be deployed to a wet area with a lot of rain or will be trekking through water. If not, zip tight sandwich baggies around your toiletry items individually can prove extremely helpful. If one thing spills then it doesn’t get on each item turning it into a gooey mess. Also, with the use of zip bags, you will know that socks are always in one bag, underwear is always in another bag, and so on alleviating wasted time spent rearranging or hunting down items that you need NOW. Time spent hunting should be for your adversary instead of for your socks.

3. You can pack your kitchen sink and your bathroom medicine cabinet. Just because you are deployed or traveling does not mean that you have to go without necessities due to lack of space anymore. There are some deployment bags out there that are so ultra-roomy and sturdy that you can pack what you need; one of which is a safety/medical kit. Keep a few bandages, muscle pain patches, minor pain meds in travel packages, snap-light fishing glow sticks, all in one mini-tool, and snap-released hand warmers. Maybe put those in a round of duct tape or a funnel and put that in a zip baggy or just in a little toiletry case.

4. Why leave strategy to the battlefield? To win the war on clutter and mess, you have to plan a method of attack. Strategize and think about putting together your bag right the first time. What will be easiest for you and save you time? What will be something that you will actually do and maintain? Will zip baggies be something that you can do? Will arranging socks with socks work better for you rather than arranging whole outfits together? Does it make sense to pilfer through your bag each time you need something? Plan what you are going to do and then keep it up so you know exactly where everything is! Arrange things considering shape and frequency of use. Does it make sense to put something you use three times daily on the bottom of the stack? Arranging in slices instead of stacks helps. Think bread slices in a bag. That way you don’t have stacks of stuff to look under but rather can see a small sliver sample of each thing you have. Planning your bag will make your time more efficient and lower your stress level because you are more prepared in a shorter amount of time.

Incorporating a few of these ideas or using them as a holistic system really can aide you in being more prepared, more equipped and more “fit” than your counterparts or competition. Saving time, energy and mental stress will aide you in keeping your performance at an optimum while still not compromising your personal comfort. Performance levels at their optimum will ensure you are among the most “fit” and will help to guarantee your success at your mission, both on the battlefield and beyond.

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A Tourist’s Guide to Antwerp

By Lance Rush

Antwerp is the second largest city of Belgium. The capital city of the province of Antwerp, it is also the second largest harbor in Europe after Rotterdam. It is a leading commercial center famous for cutting, trading and polishing of diamonds. Since the last 15 years, Antwerp has been elevated to the status of being one of the leading cities for fashion design in Europe.

The name ‘Antwerp’ has been linked to the word “aanwerp” (alluvial mound), which was the geographical feature in the early settlement period in this place. The earliest records of fortification for this historical place take us to the seventh century BC. In the 10th century, Antwerp became a provincial border for the Roman Empire. By the 14th century, the city of Antwerp was already ranked as being the prime center in Western Europe for trading and finance, thanks to its flourishing wool market and seaport.

The city went through a low phase economically during the Reformation period and the subsequent conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants. The city rose again in the 17th century with painters like Reubens and Van Dyck becoming famous names. It was Napoleon who realized the strategic importance of Antwerp and undertook the modernization of the Antwerp port. As times passed, Antwerp went on to progress and became what it is today-the tenth largest port in the world.

Places of interest:

The Antwerp’s Grote Markt (town square) is the wonder of the 16th century architecture. The Stadhuis (town hall) is a popular Flemish Gothic structure built in the Renaissance fashion. In the middle of the town square lies a statue of the first hero of Antwerp Brabo. He was the man who had killed a giant, who according to a legend used to control river traffic and extract money from people. The roman soldier Brabo cut the giant’s hand and threw it into the Schedlt River.

Our Lady’s Cathedral is another important landmark. With its Gothic architecture, the 123 meter lofty tower is a sight to behold. The cathedral is home to two of the masterpieces of Reubens, ‘The Descent from the Cross’ and the ‘Elevation of the Cross.’

The Antwerp castle, known as Steen (stone) is called such because castles in the 13th century were built of wood. This was the first castle at that time to be built of stone.

The Meir is another tourist attraction. It is a shopping street and a busiest one at that. The Osterrieth House and the former royal residence of the Belgian kings in Antwerp are two of the important buildings in the Meir. The first stock exchange building in the world was built on Meir. It was gutted down in the middle of the nineteenth century and was reconstructed in Neo-Gothic architecture.

Things to do:

One thing every visitor can look forward to are the fascinating museums and galleries of Antwerp. The city has been organized and maintained well. A tourist finds exploring Antwerp relatively easy compared to other places because places of interest and other pleasant sights in the town are within walking distance.

Take a stroll through the paved lanes and maze like streets of Antwerp. You will be amazed to see the streets lined with royal looking mansions, ancient churches and museums. The city is a pleasant mix of the ancient and the modern with a range of boutiques, restaurants and bars springing up continually. One thing you can do while you tour the city is pay a visit to the Royal Museum of Fine Art (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten). The museum is divided into two units-one containing the works of the Old Masters and the other for the artists belonging to the 19th century and later. Superior collection of European painting is available in the museum including the works of Rubens, Van Dyck, Hals, Van Gogh etc. Ruben’s the most famous child of Antwerp has his work displayed in the Old Lady’s Cathedral as well.

MoMu is the epicenter for Antwerp’s mushrooming design trade. If you are an aspirant designer, you can join an academy to learn the latest in fashion and style. MoMu is known the world over for hosting creative exhibitions for their work. As Antwerp is one of the leading centers of fashion, style and designer outfits, you can profit in many ways.

Since Antwerp is well known for diamonds, you can pay a visit to the city’s biggest showroom, Diamondland at Appelmansstraat to see craftsmen at work, cutting and polishing the most beautiful object known to man-exquisite diamonds. The Provinciaal Diamantmuseum which has just been shifted near Antwerp’s zoo holds fantastic exhibitions showcasing diamonds and informing people about the history and production of diamonds.

Food and Drink:

The citizens of Antwerp swear by Belgian cuisine. The cuisine is somewhat French and Flemish oriented. The hot favorite is mussels accompanied with chips and mayonnaise. Other seafood like herring are also favoured and eaten raw. Drinks consist of good quality French wine. Beer however reigns supreme as the country’s favorite drink. In fact Belgium has more than 100 brewers manufacturing more than 400 different beers.

People in Antwerp drink three kinds of beer-lager, white beer and the lambic beer. The lager beer comes as a dark double or triple beer. The white beer is self explanatory while the lambic beer is a naturally fermented strong drink having a fruity flavor. A unique type of soup filled with cream called waterzooi, non vegetarian food like chicken and fish, paling in’t groen (eels with vegetables and herbs) and vegetarian food are the other favourites. Antwerp is an inexpensive place for eating out. The food consists of customary Flemish dish with French and Mediterranean cuisine. The cafes open at around 9 am in the morning and work till late at night. T Fornuis is one of the popular restaurants in the city as it has the rich French cuisine in a traditional Flemish milieu. Another notable restaurant is La Rade - haute. Food is served in a mansion-like place, close to the river Ernest Van Dijckkaai.

Hotel and Accommodation:

Radisson SAS Park Lane Hotel

Minotel Colombus

Best Western Classic Hotel Villa Mozart

Miauw Suites

Theater Hotel

New International Youth Hotel

Hotel Scheldezicht

Tourist Hotel

Golden Tulip Hotel Carlton

Tulip Inn Hotel Astoria

Alfa Empire Hotel

Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Antwerpen

Fletcher Hotel Keyserlei

Plaza Hotel

Hotel Eden

Alfa De Keyser

Hotel Cammerpoorte

Hotel Ibis Antwerpen Centrum

Express by Holiday Inn Antwerp City North

Hotel Florida

Hotel Residence

Docklands Hotel

Arass Suite Hotel

Campanile Antwerpen / Anvers

Hotel Industrie

Hotel Antigone

Corinthia Antwerp Hotel

Prinse

Hyllit Hotel

Hotel Antverpia HR

Crowne Plaza Antwerp

Entertainment:

The meaning of entertainment can be summed up in the fantastic night life Antwerp enjoys and revels in offering its visitors. There are a whole range of zany bars and restaurants which can give any other city in Northern Europe a run for its money. If you are in Belgium and want to get the best night life entertainment, head to Antwerp, no questions asked! The best times to enjoy nightlife are Friday or Saturday nights. The liveliest and the most fashionable city of Belgium, Antwerp has found a unique place on the style map of the world thanks to the work of some brilliant fashion designers.

Belgians love their drink and so it comes across as no surprise that this passion has translated into setting up of many bars and pubs across the city. These bars work any time of the day or night offering choicest of Belgian beer, cocktails, drinks, and wines. Plus you get to enjoy thumping or mellifluous music (according to the public demand) in these bars. Dan Engel is known as Antwerp’s most famous bar facing the Grote Markt. You can stop by the bar at any time of the day or night for a sip of refreshing beer.

Antwerp makes everyone happy, be they adults or kids. The Zoo which is close to the station is the oldest and the largest zoo in Belgium. Children are head over heels in love with the dolphinarium. Other attractions include the lions, giraffes, monkeys and the snake house. Though the zoo is old fashioned, it still remains a craze with children.

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