Are You A Car Owner? These Tips Will Help Save You From Undue Stress

Owning a car in Nigeria can come with mixed feelings, for those who can afford the brand new type, they have little or no stress to worry about as the car comes with a warranty for a specific mileage which the company can shoulder on, but for those who buy the Tokunbo (second-hand) type, they are likely to encounter some issues and have a regular and standby mechanic at hand.

Being a car owner entails a lot of responsibility. You need to be responsible not only while driving but in ensuring that your car is in good running condition to minimize the risks of a vehicular accident. Thereby, the tips below will surely be helpful for every car owner.

Know your vehicle’s fluids

There are several car fluids such as your engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid among others. Check all your vehicle fluids to ensure that your car will be running smoothly. For instance, regularly check your engine oil because it is designed to lubricate, cool, and clean your engine. Without sufficient engine oil, your car can experience thermal degradation, oxidation, and compressive heating.

Read: Top 12 Most Common Car Problems and Issues

Monitor your tire pressure

The pressure of the tires of your car is one of the most significant safety features of your vehicle. When your tire pressure is too low, there is greater friction between the tires and the ground, causing your tires to wear out faster. This can also lead to overheating and tread separation. On the contrary, when your tire pressure is too high, it causes less traction and the ride is bumpier for everyone in the car. Check your vehicle’s manual for the recommended tire pressure. There are already several tire pressure monitors that can give you an accurate overview of your tire pressure even while you are driving.

In addition to this, make sure that you have a spare tire in your trunk. Most vehicles already come with a spare tire pumped in the recommended pressure. Your spare tire is a sigh of relief when one of your tires decides to give up on you, or when you experience a flat tire. Thus, it is also essential to familiarize yourself with how to change a flat tire, together with the tools that you need in doing so.

For one, you need to loosen the wheel bolts before raising your vehicle with a car jack. You can then proceed in removing your tire and replacing it with a new one. Lower your car before tightening the wheel bolts, and you are done.

Check your windshield

Life hacks: repair small windshield cracks with clear nail polish. This will help prevent the cracks from spreading and will buy you some more time to have your windshield repaired. But keep in mind that this is only a temporary patch and you still need to get your windshield fixed. Apart from your windshield, regularly check your wiper blades. It will really be frustrating to drive under the rain and find out that your wipers are not working. A general rule of thumb is to have your wiper blades replaced every six months, but it is best to refer to your vehicle’s manual.

Related: How To Detect Unbalanced Tires In Your Car

Make sure to have an emergency roadside kit

There is really no way of telling when a mishap can happen. Apart from knowing how cars work in general to know how to deal with things that may happen when your car breaks down, you also need to be equipped with an emergency roadside kit. Your kit can include reflective warning triangles, a tire gauge, jumper cables, utility tools, and a flashlight. It will also help to have a fire extinguisher, foam tire sealant, extra batteries, gloves, rags, duct tape, and tow ropes. For your own use, include a first aid kit, drinking water, and a warm blanket.

Religiously keep up with your car maintenance

Generally, your car maintenance schedule depends on the mileage of your vehicle. You can refer to your vehicle manual for the ideal service intervals necessary. Your vehicle’s shocks and struts will be checked during this maintenance to know whether these are already worn out. If these parts are worn out, you may already experience your car rocking back and forth from time to time as well as hear some rattling whenever you pass over a bump.

Your car’s engine will also be checked together with your air filters. It is important to change your car’s air filters every six months because when your engine gets dirty, the dirt tends to clog up these filters. Aside from your car’s engine, the headlights and taillights of your vehicle will also be inspected. As a general rule of thumb, both your headlights and taillights need to be replaced yearly.

Other miscellaneous life hacks

There are several life hacks that can make your life easier in terms of maintaining your car. For instance, you can use a plunger to pull a dent in your car in its original shape. You can also put indicators in your garage to know when to stop when you are parking your car. For instance, you can hang a tennis ball and use it as an indicator or put a squeaking plush toy as a marker. A hand sanitizer is also a great tool to meltdown a frozen car, but you can prevent your car doors from freezing by using a cooking spray. You just need to spray on the inside of your doors and this will keep your doors from freezing.

You can also clean cloudy headlights with toothpaste. Just apply a pea-sized amount on a microfiber rag and wipe your headlights in circular motions. Coffee filters are also great for cleaning your dashboard instead of using a rug. You can apply your traditional cleaning material in the coffee filter and proceed in cleaning your dashboard as usual. Alternatively, if you keep on forgetting where you parked your car, it will help to take a picture of it before you leave it for an easier recall on where you parked your vehicle.

While driving your own car can prove to be more convenient compared to riding public transport, it also entails a whole lot of responsibility. Aside from knowing the driving rules and regulations by heart, a car owner is also responsible for his vehicle’s upkeep. Ensuring these will greatly minimize the risk of car crashes and road accidents.


Credit:
CFJ

Acura Type-S, Successor To The Acura TLX Sedan, Unveiled

Acura is trying to bring more performance back to its lineup, and the Honda luxury brand is reviving a name that hasn’t been seen in more than a decade to do it. Debuting during Monterey Car Week, the Acura Type S concept heralds the return of the Type S name to Acura’s lineup, as well as new, sportier versions of Acura’s current models.

The Type S concept is a four-door sedan with aggressive styling. Acura said some of the styling elements were influenced by the ARX-05 race car, but we see a lot of Chevrolet Camaro in the open-mouthed grille, slim headlights, and upright front end. The Type S concept wasn’t intended for production, just to herald the return of the Type S badge. As during the previous run in the early 2000s, all Type S production models be based on existing Acura models.

Between 2001 and 2008, the Type S badge marked the sportiest Acura models sold in North America. It may have been a step below the Type R models sold in other markets at that time, but it showed Acura was still committed to performance in the afterglow of the brand’s 1990s golden age.

During its first stint, the Type S badge was applied to sportier versions of the 3.2CL and RSX coupes, as well as two generations of the TL sedan. Acura said it will launch two new Type S models over the next few years. The first will be a Type S version of the TL’s successor, the TLX, Acura confirmed. The automaker did not say what the second new Type S model would be, but wouldn’t be surprised if a crossover, perhaps the RDX, got the Type S treatment.

Reasons Why Spare Tyres Are Smaller Than The Normal Tyres

Most at times, we see some certain things in our cars but we don't know how they come into place. Many car owners must have noticed that some of the spare tyres in one way or the other seems to be smaller than the actual ones that are with the car. We at AutoReportNG was a bit puzzled with this too until we came across an insightful post that explains the reason.

Nothing annoys a driver more than having a flat tyre especially if the driver happens to be a lady. Lagos road is not a place you wish or pray to have a flat tyre because anything can happen irrespective of the time be it day or night.

You did not expect it, but the car just got a flat tire and you are stuck somewhere on the way. The only option that comes to rescue here is that spare tire. The tire that was attached along with your vehicle the whole time. Many times, we see a spare tire to be somewhat lighter or smaller than a regular tire. Well, there is a reason behind ‘spare tire smaller than others’ and the same we are going to clarify here.

Spare Tire Smaller Than Others – Types of Spare Tires
The road conditions can always surprise you, and so the automobile manufacturers provide you with an extra tire. This tire can help you covering those miles that take you to a nearby repair shop or your home. Here we are describing the term ‘spare tire’ more clearly and the types of spare tire you can rely on.

The Definition of a Spare Tire
In some cases, spare tires are full-sized tires just like the other tires in your car. When a tire goes flat, these tires allow you to drive as usual. You can cover a distance to any repair shop. You would also not notice any changes in handling or driving the vehicle.

Another case is about a donut tire or ‘spare tire smaller than others.’ These are emergency tires that let you drive to a certain point so you can get a new full-size regular tire. While driving on a donut tire, you cannot and should not operate at a higher speed.

The reason behind regular spare tires got replaced with donut tire is the lack of usage. Manufacturers realize that the regular spare tires do not get used frequently and so they designed donut tires. Another reason was the weight and convenience. As donut tires are smaller and lighter in size, this type is more in use these days instead of those traditional and heavy regular spare tires.

A Run-Flat Tire
Other than regular and donut – the spare tire different size, there is a new type that is ‘Run-flat tire.’ It is a new approach in automobiles these days that is more advantageous over both types of regular and a donut. Though these tires also need replacement timely, they serve for longer than any other tires in case of a puncture.

A Run-Flat Tire serves even after a puncture that you can cover 50 miles before seeing it failed. It is a pretty good distance you can cover and reach the repair shop. You can even reach your destination without worrying about the replacement any soon. Maintain your car even better by reading out tips from Maintenance Tips.

Conclusion
The convenience is the primary reason on ‘spare tire smaller than others.’ These small tires are space-saving, and light in weight. They can make you reach to any nearby repair shop where you can get ready to drive again.

Though you can always approach for run-flat tires if they already come with your vehicle, ask experts before installing them to an automobile that does not add up run-flat tires by default.

Cristiano Ronaldo Did Not Buy The One-Off Bugatti La Voiture Noire

When reports recently surfaced that football sensation Cristiano Ronaldo was the owner of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, we were a little skeptical.

After all, these reports surfaced out of nowhere and came after months of talk about the one-off Bugatti being purchased by none other than Ferdinand Piech, the former chairman of the Volkswagen Group. While we still don’t know who the owner of the car is, we do at least know that it is not Ronaldo.

In a statement issued to TMZ, Ronaldo’s spokesperson stated “The story isn’t true. He has not bought it.”

Taking to Instagram, Bugatti’s head of PR, Tim Bravo, said that despite being repeatedly contacted by media outlets about who the owner of La Voiture Noire, the French automaker cannot comment on rumors and speculation, “even less when customers are involved.”

“We respect their privacy and it’s on them, not on us, to decide if they want to go public or not. So, I can’t deny nor confirm the reports.”

While some may interpret that as a sly way to say that Ronaldo is indeed the owner, we don’t believe that he is.

It is alleged that Bugatti held a secret auction for La Voiture Noire and only allowed its top clientele to bid. While Ronaldo owns both a Veyron and a Chiron, it is reported that Ferdinand Piech was the winning bidder, purchasing the vehicle for an extraordinary €16.7 million ($18.66 million). If Piech is indeed the owner, we may never receive confirmation as Piech is a polarizing figure within the world of Volkswagen. In fact, it was only a couple years ago that the German car manufacturer considered taking legal action against Piech after claiming he had knowledge of dieselgate before it became public.

Bugatti Releases 12million naira Bugatti Baby II Roadster to Celebrate Bugatti’s 110th Anniversary

2019 is the 110th anniversary of the Bugatti brand. It’s celebrating with not only a limited edition model of the Chiron and the most expensive new car ever made in “La Voiture Noire”, but another and surprisingly cheaper vehicle too.

Bugatti Type 35 was the car that brought Automobiles Ettore Bugatti to fame in 1920s, it is acknowledged as the most successful racing car of all time. In 1926, Ettore and his son Jean built a half-scale type of 35 for Ettore’s youngest son, Roland for his fourth birthday. Even though it was planned as a one-off car, it turned out to be official Bugatti car, the feedback from customers had been so positive that they decided this baby car went into production and sold between 1927 and 1936.

On the occasion to celebrate this company 110th anniversary, Bugatti and Junior Classics have teamed up to revive that same idea, presenting Bugatti Baby II Roadster that will available in limited 500 pieces, just like the original.

Bugatti Baby II Roadster is a contemporary tribute to Ettore’s masterpiece. However, unlike the original which was developed to suit only youngest drivers, Baby II is ¾ size replica of the original Bugatti Type 35, it can be driven by both adults and children. In this way, automobile enthusiasts from across generations can share and enjoy the love of driving the classic Bugatti. Similar to the original Baby II features a rear-wheel-drive battery-powered electric powertrain, but unlike its predecessor, this baby car is equipped with removable lithium-ion battery packs and regenerative braking. There will be two selectable power modes for drivers, a 1kW child mode with a top speed of 20km/h and a 4kW adult mode with a top speed of 45km/h.

The cockpit of Bugatti Baby II features aluminum dashboard, it also has a leather seat, a scale recreation of the iconic Type 35’s four-spoke steering wheel, and custom Bugatti instruments. The body of this baby car is painted in traditional French Racing Blue but buyers will be able to order custom color as well. The eight-spoke aluminum allows wheels are scale replicas of Ettore Bugatti’s 1924 design, they house modern brakes on each wheel. Bugatti will start production in autumn/fall 2019.

It is said that the baby's car costs $34,000 that is 12.3million naira

 

Li Xang: A Chinese Car With A Sleek Design And Amazing Features

The ever-growing world of Chinese car brands has just be joined by another newcomer: Li Xiang. In English, that name means Leading Ideal, and the vehicle you see below is the brand’s first production model. Dubbed the Li Xiang One, it certainly looks quite promising.

Powering the One is a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor. Unlike most hybrids currently on the market, the 1.2-liter engine doesn’t actually power the wheels and is used exclusively as a range extender to recharge the battery. This setup results in a total of 326 hp and 530 Nm (390 lb-ft) of torque and the large SUV will allegedly travel 700 km (434 miles) before needing some juice.

The Li Xiang One is big, measuring 5020 mm (197-inches) long, 1960 mm (77-inches) wide, and 1760 mm (69-inches) tall. Those dimensions are more than enough to support seven seats but the car manufacturer instead decided to fit two large seats in the second row rather than three, giving occupants have plenty of room. The company says a seven-seat configuration is also available if the customer so wishes.

Seating layout aside, the One comes with no less than four screens in the cabin. There’s a digital gauge cluster and next to it, two large infotainment screens. Positioned below these screens is a fourth display used to operate things such as the climate control. Nappa leather is also found throughout and has been sourced from the same company that supplies BMW with its leather, while a Level 2 autonomous driving system is standard.

Prices for the One in China start at around 400,000 yuan, that is about #22million. The brand, as well as its hybrid SUV, will debut at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show.

See The New 2020 Toyota Supra In All Eight Color Options

Toyota has unveiled the eight different color options which North American buyers of the all-new 2020 GR Supra will have to choose from. While no configurator has been released, we can at least play around with the available paints.

We have only seen the new Toyota Supra in a select few exterior colors—until now. Toyota's website now shows all eight of the new sports car's exterior hues, which include the following: Absolute Zero White, Nocturnal Black, Renaissance Red 2.0, Phantom Matte Gray, Tungsten Silver, Turbulence Gray, Nitro Yellow, and Downshift Blue. So we put together a gallery of the Supra outfitted in each of these paint options so that you can pick your favorite. There isn't a configurator live yet, but Toyota has released pricing and full info on the Supra's trim levels and options.

What about the standard models?

Base GR Supras will also be offered with these three paint options as well as Phantom Matte Grey, Tungsten Silver, Turbulence Gray, Nitro Yellow, and Downshift Blue.

Toyota will start deliveries of the new Supra with the Launch Edition models, arriving in dealerships this spring. Standard Supra models, available in the eight different colors and shades, won’t land on showroom floors until the fall.