Jan
1
Filed Under Nutrition | Leave a Comment
Gigi Andreini Gaggero asked:
Take a minute to reflect back… Remember when you were kid? Now, try to conjure up this specific childhood memory - your wonderful lunchbox! You were cool, fun, and felt confident sporting this brand new piece of gear. This box and what it was filled with often reflected who you were. It was your first independent introduction into society. After all, didn’t your very own lunchbox mean you were finally a big kid!
Boys often carried western or space themed lunchboxes, girls went with Barbie, and younger children with a wide variety of Disney characters. All I remember is that I was stuck carrying the plaid design and the girl across the street, Cheryl Shelmadine, had a Lassie the Wonder Dog lunch box. I didn’t. What were my parents thinking? Regardless of the style, lunchboxes have represented, as well as reflected, a major part of American cultural history.
Luckily for our children, we live in a dynamic area. We can gain access to the wonderful traditions of so many cultures. Once incorporated with our fresh local foods, and given a twist on presentation… POOF! The new American lunch box – the bento box.
Bento boxes surfaced in Japan about 900 years ago with the creation of hoshi-ii. Hoshi-ii means “dried meal” – it is rice that has been cooked and then dried. Bento boxes were once simple containers housing individually packaged portions of rice, meat or fish, and pickled or cooked vegetables. Through the ages, they have progressed from oak or bamboo leaf wrapped portions into lacquered wooden boxes, shiny aluminum, and modern day plastics.
There are contests held where people compete to win prizes and prestige for designing the most elaborate bento boxes. This type of artistic bento is called a kyaraben. They aesthetically arrange the foods to resemble people, flowers, plants, or animals. Some are so beautiful they look too good to eat… well almost!
Of course, bento boxes are still available today in many locations throughout Japan, but now bento boxes are taking America by storm! Traditional Japanese bento boxes are quickly becoming the must have lunchbox for otherwise brown paper baggers. A visit to today’s school cafeterias might have some parents thinking they’ve stepped into a new culture when they see these trendy new lunch containers. It’s not all about appearances though - bento boxes are fun to fill, pleasing to the palette, prevent foods from getting smashed, and make packing a lunch both cost and time effective.
Lunch boxes today are still the ultimate in personal style and expression. Even not carrying one is often for the sake of fashion. Whatever your taste, lunchboxes continue to be a reflection of American culture. The bento box is simply a plastic container housing other various shaped containers for your foods stuffs. Sometimes they are stacked, square round, flat, or whatever your desire. There are designer bento boxes are available featuring popular cartoon characters and fun designs – hopefully not plaid. You can even accessorize your bento with fun flatware to match, and miniature bottles no larger than your thumb for salad dressings, soy sauces or other flavorings of your choice.
I recently purchased a “laptop bento” for my daughter, Danielle. It came in a thermal cooled case that resembles a notebook computer – and of course, it was almost the same price. It is a typical bento for a “Middle Schooler” - not too flashy. Once opened, the case reveals spaces for all different kinds of goodies. Each space has its own lid and they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. She absolutely loves it!
Packing A Bento
No matter how old my kids get, they still love helping to pack their lunches with fun foods. When we go hunting for bento box fun we frequent the Japanese dollar store in downtown in San Mateo. They have a great variety of kid friendly lunch packing items. One of my favorites are the food molds. With absolutely no major artistic kitchen skills you can shape foods into simple animals, cars, trucks, trains, plants, or people shapes. Try them out with brown rice and veggies for an Asian flair, tuna or chicken salad, eggs, or even make must-have-meatballs with them!
Just like the use of the Japanese containers – use fusion when packing them. California nouvelle cuisine is a blend of cultures, using fresh local ingredients and new fun presentation style on any classic meal. These tiny treasure chests are great for serving up leftovers in a fresh new way that will have your children eager to see last night’s meal again. Remember to be creative and artistic when packing a bento and to involve your child. Use cookie cutters to make uniquely shaped “tea sandwiches”, layer foods for presentation, and include little containers of their favorite dips. The better it looks and the more input they have the more likely they are to eat it!
Use these fun lunch packs and fuse some of your own cultural sensations inside. Here are some ideas to get you going. Incorporating a variety of foods your child enjoys will make them much less likely to succumb when they hear “I’ll trade you!” in the cafeteria.
Mac ‘n Cheese – Left over macaroni and cheese, fresh sliced tomatoes, steamed veggies, and fresh finger fruits (grapes, berries, cherries, cubed melons, sliced kiwi, etc.). They’ll be sure to devour this child friendly favorite. All housed in the separate containers or pressed into fun shapes.
Snack Attack – Diced fresh finger fruits and veggies, sliced cheeses, cubed turkey ****** or ham, and multi-grain crackers make for a delightful blend of flavors and nutrition. Don’t forget to add crackers and your favorite vinaigrette in a small fun sized bento squeeze bottle.
Dinner for lunch- –Your favorite shaped meatballs, brown rice, sliced fresh veggies, and low-fat yogurt to dip. This bento is also great with leftover spaghetti!
Pot Roast Personified – Diced left over pot roast, roasted root veggies, fresh finger fruits, and a garden salad. Served cold, with a piece of buttered whole grained pita bread.
Super Salads – Molded tuna, chicken, or seafood salad, whole grain crackers, fresh fruits and veggies, and cute baby cheese. Don’t forget to add sliced red bell peppers. They are really sweet to eat - especially with cream cheese to dip them in.
Now, with some bento experience under my belt I can honestly say that not only do kids love these crafty containers – but I do too. They are also great for picnics, travel lunches, or any time you’ll be away from home. They just make sense! One more important thing… bento boxes do require some washing after the box arrives home. This is another great opportunity though to get the kids involved and teach some early childhood responsibility as they help wash up their lunch box and get it ready for the next day.
Looking for some more creative lunch suggestions or ways to fuel your child’s passion for cooking? Check out the fun filled classes and summer camps at Kids Culinary Adventures. We’ll even teach them about the importance of clean up! Chef Gigi is founder and owner of Kids Culinary Adventures. A professional cooking school for children and teens in the San Francisco bay Area. Check them out on line at
www.kidsculinaryadventures.com
REFUGIO
Take a minute to reflect back… Remember when you were kid? Now, try to conjure up this specific childhood memory - your wonderful lunchbox! You were cool, fun, and felt confident sporting this brand new piece of gear. This box and what it was filled with often reflected who you were. It was your first independent introduction into society. After all, didn’t your very own lunchbox mean you were finally a big kid!
Boys often carried western or space themed lunchboxes, girls went with Barbie, and younger children with a wide variety of Disney characters. All I remember is that I was stuck carrying the plaid design and the girl across the street, Cheryl Shelmadine, had a Lassie the Wonder Dog lunch box. I didn’t. What were my parents thinking? Regardless of the style, lunchboxes have represented, as well as reflected, a major part of American cultural history.
Luckily for our children, we live in a dynamic area. We can gain access to the wonderful traditions of so many cultures. Once incorporated with our fresh local foods, and given a twist on presentation… POOF! The new American lunch box – the bento box.
Bento boxes surfaced in Japan about 900 years ago with the creation of hoshi-ii. Hoshi-ii means “dried meal” – it is rice that has been cooked and then dried. Bento boxes were once simple containers housing individually packaged portions of rice, meat or fish, and pickled or cooked vegetables. Through the ages, they have progressed from oak or bamboo leaf wrapped portions into lacquered wooden boxes, shiny aluminum, and modern day plastics.
There are contests held where people compete to win prizes and prestige for designing the most elaborate bento boxes. This type of artistic bento is called a kyaraben. They aesthetically arrange the foods to resemble people, flowers, plants, or animals. Some are so beautiful they look too good to eat… well almost!
Of course, bento boxes are still available today in many locations throughout Japan, but now bento boxes are taking America by storm! Traditional Japanese bento boxes are quickly becoming the must have lunchbox for otherwise brown paper baggers. A visit to today’s school cafeterias might have some parents thinking they’ve stepped into a new culture when they see these trendy new lunch containers. It’s not all about appearances though - bento boxes are fun to fill, pleasing to the palette, prevent foods from getting smashed, and make packing a lunch both cost and time effective.
Lunch boxes today are still the ultimate in personal style and expression. Even not carrying one is often for the sake of fashion. Whatever your taste, lunchboxes continue to be a reflection of American culture. The bento box is simply a plastic container housing other various shaped containers for your foods stuffs. Sometimes they are stacked, square round, flat, or whatever your desire. There are designer bento boxes are available featuring popular cartoon characters and fun designs – hopefully not plaid. You can even accessorize your bento with fun flatware to match, and miniature bottles no larger than your thumb for salad dressings, soy sauces or other flavorings of your choice.
I recently purchased a “laptop bento” for my daughter, Danielle. It came in a thermal cooled case that resembles a notebook computer – and of course, it was almost the same price. It is a typical bento for a “Middle Schooler” - not too flashy. Once opened, the case reveals spaces for all different kinds of goodies. Each space has its own lid and they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. She absolutely loves it!
Packing A Bento
No matter how old my kids get, they still love helping to pack their lunches with fun foods. When we go hunting for bento box fun we frequent the Japanese dollar store in downtown in San Mateo. They have a great variety of kid friendly lunch packing items. One of my favorites are the food molds. With absolutely no major artistic kitchen skills you can shape foods into simple animals, cars, trucks, trains, plants, or people shapes. Try them out with brown rice and veggies for an Asian flair, tuna or chicken salad, eggs, or even make must-have-meatballs with them!
Just like the use of the Japanese containers – use fusion when packing them. California nouvelle cuisine is a blend of cultures, using fresh local ingredients and new fun presentation style on any classic meal. These tiny treasure chests are great for serving up leftovers in a fresh new way that will have your children eager to see last night’s meal again. Remember to be creative and artistic when packing a bento and to involve your child. Use cookie cutters to make uniquely shaped “tea sandwiches”, layer foods for presentation, and include little containers of their favorite dips. The better it looks and the more input they have the more likely they are to eat it!
Use these fun lunch packs and fuse some of your own cultural sensations inside. Here are some ideas to get you going. Incorporating a variety of foods your child enjoys will make them much less likely to succumb when they hear “I’ll trade you!” in the cafeteria.
Mac ‘n Cheese – Left over macaroni and cheese, fresh sliced tomatoes, steamed veggies, and fresh finger fruits (grapes, berries, cherries, cubed melons, sliced kiwi, etc.). They’ll be sure to devour this child friendly favorite. All housed in the separate containers or pressed into fun shapes.
Snack Attack – Diced fresh finger fruits and veggies, sliced cheeses, cubed turkey ****** or ham, and multi-grain crackers make for a delightful blend of flavors and nutrition. Don’t forget to add crackers and your favorite vinaigrette in a small fun sized bento squeeze bottle.
Dinner for lunch- –Your favorite shaped meatballs, brown rice, sliced fresh veggies, and low-fat yogurt to dip. This bento is also great with leftover spaghetti!
Pot Roast Personified – Diced left over pot roast, roasted root veggies, fresh finger fruits, and a garden salad. Served cold, with a piece of buttered whole grained pita bread.
Super Salads – Molded tuna, chicken, or seafood salad, whole grain crackers, fresh fruits and veggies, and cute baby cheese. Don’t forget to add sliced red bell peppers. They are really sweet to eat - especially with cream cheese to dip them in.
Now, with some bento experience under my belt I can honestly say that not only do kids love these crafty containers – but I do too. They are also great for picnics, travel lunches, or any time you’ll be away from home. They just make sense! One more important thing… bento boxes do require some washing after the box arrives home. This is another great opportunity though to get the kids involved and teach some early childhood responsibility as they help wash up their lunch box and get it ready for the next day.
Looking for some more creative lunch suggestions or ways to fuel your child’s passion for cooking? Check out the fun filled classes and summer camps at Kids Culinary Adventures. We’ll even teach them about the importance of clean up! Chef Gigi is founder and owner of Kids Culinary Adventures. A professional cooking school for children and teens in the San Francisco bay Area. Check them out on line at
www.kidsculinaryadventures.com
REFUGIO
Dec
31
Filed Under Rentals | Leave a Comment
mark asked:
GLOSSARY
A
Additional Driver
When there is more than one driver associated to a rental, the second, or subsequent, driver is referred to as the additional driver. There may be a charge applied for each, or all, additional drivers.
Airport Surcharge
An additional charge which applies at certain airport locations, and which is included in the rate quoted at the time of reservation.
B
Barn Doors
Barn doors are the name given to the twin rear doors on most vans - each opens to the side, just like traditional barn doors. These are good for getting tall objects inside the back of the van.
Box Van
A van with a box body - completely square and giving the appearance of having been mounted on top of the vans chassis, rather than being an original part of the van. Vans with box bodies are usually referred to as Luton vans.
C
CDW
An abbreviation for Collision Damage Waiver issues you for the cost of repairs if your Cheap Beep Rentals vehicle is damaged (an excess applies). This is also known as Vehicle Damage Cover.
Check-out/Pick-up
The location, or time, from which a rental starts.
Check-in/Return
The location, or time, at which a rental ends.
Crew Cab
A van or pickup with a crew cab has two rows of seats. The front row, (including the drivers seat and 1 or 2 passenger seats) and a second row, allowing a further two or three passengers to travel in the cab.
I
IRF
The Incident Report Form, which you fill in with rental office staff if there’s new damage to the car when you bring it back.
L
Load Space
The internal space in a van that can be used to carry a cargo.
Long Wheel Base (LWB)
The name given to longer vans with bigger load areas. The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear wheels - the longer it is, the more you can fit in.
Luton
A Luton van is a 3.5t van with a box body that extends over the cab. These have a bigger, more flexible load space than a panel van (see below) and are ideal for furniture and household moves.
M
Maximum Laden Weight
The weight of a vehicle including its load. The maximum laden weight is the maximum total weight allowed.
Medium Wheel Base (MWB)
Medium Wheel Base - halfway between SWB (short wheel base) and LWB (long wheel base) in length.
O
One-Way
To rent a vehicle at one location and to return it at another is referred to as a one-way rental.
P
Panel Van
A standard Transit-style van, with a panelled body that is similar to a car body.
Payload
The load of a van - usually used to describe the maximum weight load a van can carry - e.g. a payload of 900kg
Product
The rate, and other rental conditions, which is applied to a reservation and rental.
R
Refuelling Service
A service provided at check-in which enables a customer to return a vehicle which does not have a full tank of fuel.
Renter
The person, who is not the driver, but who is responsible for payment on a Rental Agreement.
Rental Agreement (RA)
The formal contract, signed by Europcar and the renter at the time of check-out, which shows the terms of the rental.
Rental Day
Normally, a 24-hour period which starts at the time of check-out, however can also apply to a rental period which is of several hours duration.
Rental Duration/Length
Normally, the total of rental days, however can also apply to a rental of several hours duration.
Rental Qualifications
The conditions imposed by a rental location, or country, in order to satisfy their legal requirements. Details of these can be obtained from our Reservation Centres.
Roller Door
An alternative to barn doors - a sliding door that covers the whole of the rear of the van, and simply rolls up into the roof to allow goods to be loaded into the cargo area.
S
SIPP
Standard Interline Passenger Procedures. Vehicle category codes are often referred to as SIPP codes.
Short Wheel Base (SWB)
The name given to shorter vans - usually not much longer than a medium-sized car. The wheel base is the distance between the front and rear wheels. A short wheel base van will be easier to park and manoeuvre in small spaces but will have a smaller load space.
Side Loading Door (SLD)
Side Loading Door - the sliding side door on the near side of almost all panel vans. Very useful for loading from a pavement, or when there is not room to open the rear doors. Also allows you to access the front of the load space without having to climb in from the back.
Single Cab
A van or pickup with a single cab that has just one row of seats. This consists of the drivers seat and one or two passenger seats.
T
Tail Lift
A hydraulic platform that unfolds from the rear of a van or truck to allow heavy or bulky goods to be lifted from the load space down to pavement or road level. Unusual in panel vans, very common in Luton vans - but not all have one, so if you think you will need one, make sure you ask for it.
Tailgate
At the rear of a pickup, dropside or tipper van or truck, the load area will be enclosed by a vertical panel. This is the tailgate. Most tailgates are hinged at the bottom to allow them to open outwards and provide flat access to the load area.
On tippers, the tailgates are hinged at the top and can be unfastened at the bottom. This means that when tipping, the tailgate swings away from the load area, allowing the load to slide out underneath the tailgate, onto the ground.
Tipper
A tipper is a van or truck with a load area that can be mechanically raised up at an angle to allow the load (usually sand, gravel, etc) to be tipped out onto the ground behind the vehicle, thus saving it being unloaded by hand.
Truck
A term generally used to describe goods vehicles of 3.5t maximum laden weight upwards. Not usually used for vans.
U
Unladen Weight
The weight of a van (or any vehicle) without any passengers or luggage/load.
V
Vehicle Theft Cover
This insures you for the cost of replacing the vehicle – or parts of it – if it gets stolen (an excess applies here).
Wheel Base
The distance between the front and rear wheels of a van. Used to indicate the size of the van - i.e. the longer it is, the larger its load space will be.
X
Extra Long Wheel Base (XLWB)
The best-known extra-long wheelbase van is the Mercedes Sprinter - with a load compartment 4.2m long. Ford also offer the Transit Jumbo, which is almost identical in size. These extra long panel vans were developed to take a full-sized roll of carpet - 4m long - but have become popular with all sorts of people who appreciate the combination of 3.5 tonne rating and cavernous load space.
ALAN
GLOSSARY
A
Additional Driver
When there is more than one driver associated to a rental, the second, or subsequent, driver is referred to as the additional driver. There may be a charge applied for each, or all, additional drivers.
Airport Surcharge
An additional charge which applies at certain airport locations, and which is included in the rate quoted at the time of reservation.
B
Barn Doors
Barn doors are the name given to the twin rear doors on most vans - each opens to the side, just like traditional barn doors. These are good for getting tall objects inside the back of the van.
Box Van
A van with a box body - completely square and giving the appearance of having been mounted on top of the vans chassis, rather than being an original part of the van. Vans with box bodies are usually referred to as Luton vans.
C
CDW
An abbreviation for Collision Damage Waiver issues you for the cost of repairs if your Cheap Beep Rentals vehicle is damaged (an excess applies). This is also known as Vehicle Damage Cover.
Check-out/Pick-up
The location, or time, from which a rental starts.
Check-in/Return
The location, or time, at which a rental ends.
Crew Cab
A van or pickup with a crew cab has two rows of seats. The front row, (including the drivers seat and 1 or 2 passenger seats) and a second row, allowing a further two or three passengers to travel in the cab.
I
IRF
The Incident Report Form, which you fill in with rental office staff if there’s new damage to the car when you bring it back.
L
Load Space
The internal space in a van that can be used to carry a cargo.
Long Wheel Base (LWB)
The name given to longer vans with bigger load areas. The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear wheels - the longer it is, the more you can fit in.
Luton
A Luton van is a 3.5t van with a box body that extends over the cab. These have a bigger, more flexible load space than a panel van (see below) and are ideal for furniture and household moves.
M
Maximum Laden Weight
The weight of a vehicle including its load. The maximum laden weight is the maximum total weight allowed.
Medium Wheel Base (MWB)
Medium Wheel Base - halfway between SWB (short wheel base) and LWB (long wheel base) in length.
O
One-Way
To rent a vehicle at one location and to return it at another is referred to as a one-way rental.
P
Panel Van
A standard Transit-style van, with a panelled body that is similar to a car body.
Payload
The load of a van - usually used to describe the maximum weight load a van can carry - e.g. a payload of 900kg
Product
The rate, and other rental conditions, which is applied to a reservation and rental.
R
Refuelling Service
A service provided at check-in which enables a customer to return a vehicle which does not have a full tank of fuel.
Renter
The person, who is not the driver, but who is responsible for payment on a Rental Agreement.
Rental Agreement (RA)
The formal contract, signed by Europcar and the renter at the time of check-out, which shows the terms of the rental.
Rental Day
Normally, a 24-hour period which starts at the time of check-out, however can also apply to a rental period which is of several hours duration.
Rental Duration/Length
Normally, the total of rental days, however can also apply to a rental of several hours duration.
Rental Qualifications
The conditions imposed by a rental location, or country, in order to satisfy their legal requirements. Details of these can be obtained from our Reservation Centres.
Roller Door
An alternative to barn doors - a sliding door that covers the whole of the rear of the van, and simply rolls up into the roof to allow goods to be loaded into the cargo area.
S
SIPP
Standard Interline Passenger Procedures. Vehicle category codes are often referred to as SIPP codes.
Short Wheel Base (SWB)
The name given to shorter vans - usually not much longer than a medium-sized car. The wheel base is the distance between the front and rear wheels. A short wheel base van will be easier to park and manoeuvre in small spaces but will have a smaller load space.
Side Loading Door (SLD)
Side Loading Door - the sliding side door on the near side of almost all panel vans. Very useful for loading from a pavement, or when there is not room to open the rear doors. Also allows you to access the front of the load space without having to climb in from the back.
Single Cab
A van or pickup with a single cab that has just one row of seats. This consists of the drivers seat and one or two passenger seats.
T
Tail Lift
A hydraulic platform that unfolds from the rear of a van or truck to allow heavy or bulky goods to be lifted from the load space down to pavement or road level. Unusual in panel vans, very common in Luton vans - but not all have one, so if you think you will need one, make sure you ask for it.
Tailgate
At the rear of a pickup, dropside or tipper van or truck, the load area will be enclosed by a vertical panel. This is the tailgate. Most tailgates are hinged at the bottom to allow them to open outwards and provide flat access to the load area.
On tippers, the tailgates are hinged at the top and can be unfastened at the bottom. This means that when tipping, the tailgate swings away from the load area, allowing the load to slide out underneath the tailgate, onto the ground.
Tipper
A tipper is a van or truck with a load area that can be mechanically raised up at an angle to allow the load (usually sand, gravel, etc) to be tipped out onto the ground behind the vehicle, thus saving it being unloaded by hand.
Truck
A term generally used to describe goods vehicles of 3.5t maximum laden weight upwards. Not usually used for vans.
U
Unladen Weight
The weight of a van (or any vehicle) without any passengers or luggage/load.
V
Vehicle Theft Cover
This insures you for the cost of replacing the vehicle – or parts of it – if it gets stolen (an excess applies here).
Wheel Base
The distance between the front and rear wheels of a van. Used to indicate the size of the van - i.e. the longer it is, the larger its load space will be.
X
Extra Long Wheel Base (XLWB)
The best-known extra-long wheelbase van is the Mercedes Sprinter - with a load compartment 4.2m long. Ford also offer the Transit Jumbo, which is almost identical in size. These extra long panel vans were developed to take a full-sized roll of carpet - 4m long - but have become popular with all sorts of people who appreciate the combination of 3.5 tonne rating and cavernous load space.
ALAN
Dec
30
What acceleration of a Car would keep a Box in front of it from hitting the ground?
Filed Under Physics | Leave a Comment
LBj asked:
the car is moving.. with the Box on the Grill of the car… not falling because the speed is pusing it forward.
(the box is not on the ground). How do i solve this with a free body diagram?
VALENTIN
the car is moving.. with the Box on the Grill of the car… not falling because the speed is pusing it forward.
(the box is not on the ground). How do i solve this with a free body diagram?
VALENTIN
Dec
30
Filed Under Automotive | Leave a Comment
Michael Thornessen asked:
Boy, these people are something special!
You know, while researching the cars, I read a lot about dealing with car dealers. People generally have a negative attitude towards them and the whole car buying experience, and you can find tons of information on how to avoid their scams, how to lower the price, how to negotiate with them, what to tell them, etc, etc. An excellent website to inform yourself on all aspects of car buying is Car Buying Tips: (http://www.carbuyingtips.com/). Now with all the great info and details I learned from various sources, I still thought that generally the prevailing attitude is not realistic. I mean, you almost get a feeling that if you pay anything more than a factory price, you made a bad deal. You can certainly succeed in lowering the price apparently to a large extent, but it is the fact that the dealers have to make money too. Ok, sometimes just selling the car, e.g. to meet their projected numbers, is beneficial to them, and they might give away even the whole of their profit for that sake. But come on, I can consider such situation just a crazy luck, not my goal! Anyway, I think that the current craze about “beating” those prices down to the floor is just as unrealistic and aggressive as the dealer’s craze to take as much money from you as possible.
However, after this buying experience, I lost pretty much any respect and sympathy for the dealers. And I will always advise anyone never to become one. Of course some of them were great examples of normal and pleasant behaviour, but unfortunately I must say that most of them have taken the activity of deceit and aggressiveness to such extent that for an honest and well meaning man the idea of going to a dealership must be repugnant. I very quickly got such a strong feeling of insecurity about everything I was told by them. I think everything was a lie, smaller or bigger. A lot of what I’ve heard I don’t believe, and none of it I trust.
Here are some of the examples, more or less funny, from my recent experience:
Systematic approach
I enter a dealership, with the intention of exploring a car that really caught my attention simply by offering all of the basic features I wanted. So I wanted to see it, test drive it, and ask a couple of questions. So I ask the dealer: “I’ve read that the crash test scores for this model are not that good, most are graded 3 out of 5. Now, I know that there are different tests, and you can’t judge simply by the grade. Do you know more details about those tests and the scores? What is tested exactly, and how did they score the cars?”
The answer was: “Yes, yes I know, the scores are not the best possible. I know. But you know — what do they mean really? (And I’m thinking — yes, that is exactly what I asked) You see, a grade of 3 is really not that bad. It’s almost like 4. What is the difference? Almost nothing let me tell you. And also, all of that means something only in most severe crashes!!”
Well, no kidding!! What a thorough explanation. Now I understand and my worries are gone. And what a relief. So, if a car is simply parked on a lot, I shouldn’t worry that it will suddenly open the hood and hit me right in the face!
Bonding
A question occurred to me about a car, and I decided to drop by a dealership to ask. My visit was about 10 minutes long — of course we exchanged numbers, I got the brochure and usual stuff. Tomorrow morning, my cell phone rings, I answer and I get this:
- “Hey Michael, Jord here from the dealership.”
- “Hey Jord, how are you, what’s up?” (I thought he might have just gotten some good used car)
- “Nothing, nothing…just wanted to see how are you.”
Huh… If this doesn’t sound as a start of a beautiful friendship I don’t know what does!
Then he goes on:
- “So have you made a decision on which car you want?”
- “No, not really, not yet. I told you I’ll need some time, and I’m not rushing really.”
- “Ok, tell me, what’s blocking it? Can I help?”
Man, of course you can! Go do something else instead of asking me questions…
Landing on all four whatever happens
I wasn’t sure about a size of a trunk of one of the models, so on my visit to the dealerships I brought couple of boxes and a cart that I use often to see how they fit into the trunk. Now this was one of the smaller cars, so I wasn’t sure about the trunk size. And I tell the dealer what I’d like to do and he says no problem. So I take out the stuff and he laughs:
- “C’mooon, how can you doubt it — that will fit without a problem. Don’t worry!!”
- “Wait, wait, let me try, I know what I’m talking about.”
And then I try, and he tries, but it doesn’t go so easy — the cart is a bit long and the boxes a bit high. Separately they go in no problem, but together, not that easy. Finally, he laughs again and remarks:
- “And you really thought ALL OF THAT will fit into this trunk??!!”
Wha…??
Get all the money you can
I receive a long talk describing how I should buy the replacement insurance. And the more expensive one (”better” in the jargon), which covers you for a longer time and gives you the value of the new car, rather the amount that you paid. Ok, that is a fine product. Now I also get a long description on how I should absolutely buy a VIN engraving package where they engrave the VIN on all windshields so that the thieves are less likely to steal it (they can’t sell the windshields for parts). It’s about $300. Well, I gave both of these things a good thought, but tomorrow I realized a simple thing: Why do I need two protections? If I get the replacement insurance, and if they are going to give me a new car if mine is stolen, why would I then protect it even more?? Damn, I should also probably buy two cars in case one is stolen after all.
And on top of that, I found on the internet that the engraving kit, very simple to use and apply, can be bought for mere $20.
Get all the money you can — again
This one is well-known, and usually titled as a “dealer scam”, but I decided I put it here anyways just as another example.
So I finally decide to buy the car and I arrive to the dealership at around 6:00pm. I expect the process to last about an hour. However, little thing here and there and I end up at the dealership for four hours. I think ok, nobody’s fault, there are simply a lot of things to do and a lot of people to involve — the dealer, finance guy, insurance girl, then the finance guy again, then the manager because there was an error, etc. So, I get the contract with all the figures there, and everything looks fine: all the figures match almost perfectly to mine that I calculated before. Except one thing — $900 of loan life insurance. So I ask:
- “Why is it there? Is that mandatory?”
- “Well, we made such an application to Company’s Finance.”
- “Ok, but is it mandatory?”
- “We could reapply and see what happens — if you have life insurance elsewhere.”
Now, you see, I am not too easy to confuse, but it was late and I didn’t want to repeat the whole process again, so I’m thinking: “Ok, I’m going to think about it tomorrow.” And I let it by. Now good thing was that I had the contract with me (I had to take it home for my wife to sign), so I wasn’t too worried.
Anyhow, in the morning I realize that not only it is not mandatory to have the insurance and that I definitely do not need life insurance elsewhere, but another application without it will certainly go through. And, at that point I sincerely doubted that they need to make another application at all. So I get really angry and I go there and I get the exact same answer again. So I say:
- “Let’s apply again; I am sure the application will go trough. I simply don’t want it and I never wanted it and I never asked for it. And if it doesn’t we’ll see then what we do.”
And she does the paperwork, and seeing me irritated remarks: “Don’t worry I’m sure it will go trough.”
Of course it will — and it does.
Get on customer’s side — even if you overdo it
One of the dealers was affirming every little thing I said. It got funny and a bit annoying:
He thought that the features I wanted are absolutely the only important features in the car.
He was also in computer business just a few years ago.
The funniest was when we discussed payment options. He told me that leasing is a better option if I want to change the car every couple of years. So I say:
- “You know, I am more the other type of buyer, at least so far. I drive one car for years before I buy a new one, so I probably won’t go with the lease.”
- “I understand, I completely understand. You know, the worst part of the auto business for me is that you simply have to change the car every 1-2 years. I **** that. If I wasn’t selling cars, I would do the same as you.”
Well, this really made me feel like home. C’mon guys, we just met and will probably never see each other again; don’t do these things.
Advertise what you have
This one was not really on the negative side, it was just funny. I went to Subaru and dealers there were actually very cool. They were very cooperative, and without the aggressive edge. And they never called me to push or ask whether I’ve made a decision. They also have a great program where you can take the car for 24hr test drive. I had really a good experience with them.
Anyhow, I told this dealer that I know that their cars use specific technology in their engine that is different from all other cars, and that repairs can be expensive. And he says:
- “Yeah, it’s so called Boxer engine where pistons are opposed horizontally instead of vertically. But we are not the only ones to use it… Porsche uses it — you know Porsche Boxster. … And some smaller planes.”
Well, that much for the affordable repairs…
Then he also added that it’s an old technology that has been well perfected so far and that I shouldn’t worry really, which was a bit more reassuring.
Always fish for customer’s weak spots — even in the dark
Honda was giving rebate and they advertised it everywhere: that was very important sales pitch. Now I come to a dealership, and one of the first things the guy tells me is:
“You know, I’ll tell you one thing: we will give you a good rebate, and it’s Honda’s rebate but most of the dealers won’t even mention it.”
He made it as if he is letting me know a secret, and not only that it isn’t, but it’s all over radio, their website, everywhere. But I might have been uninformed and careless and would think that I’m getting a special deal.
Lie like there’s no tomorrow and hope you don’t get caught
I was quite close to buying a car so I called some dealerships inquiring whether they have a certain model and the color on the lot. I told them I don’t want the car to be brought from some other dealership. I want to see the car and get the one I saw. This is because I don’t want to get into whole new set of issues and questions. For example, one dealer told me that they charge extra delivery fee if they bring the car from other dealership, which is by the way ridiculous and perhaps deserves story on its own. It can also happen that the car that arrives is different in some detail than what you wanted, and you already signed the papers. Etc.
So I made sure they know what I want, and then came to one of the dealerships. We chat a bit and then I say:
- “So let me see the car.”
- “Oh, I was afraid you were gonna ask me that. I really don’t know exactly where the car is.”
I laugh: “But I told you I want to see the car before I buy it.”
- “Oh, don’t worry — it’s here, I’m just not sure where.”
- “Ok, I’ll go outside and look for it.”
- “But our lots are really big.”
- “I don’t mind, I have the time.”
- “But they are not really all here — we have two lots a few blocks away.”
I just don’t like arguing that much — in cases like these I give up and simply walk away.
A good guy
The positive highlight was a young dealer for which I could quickly tell that he is not (yet) turned his abilities into a deceitful routine — he even gets confused a bit when I ask him a stupid question. To me that is the normal reaction. And when I asked him what he drives, he said: “an old Volvo, you know it’s a really good car.” I am really sorry that cars he was selling were not suitable for me — I would have been very happy to buy one from him. And I didn’t even feel like negotiation with him at all.
—————————————————————————–
Read the rest on following pages:
Part One: Why and What?
Part Two: How?
Part Three: Models and Makes
DANNY
Boy, these people are something special!
You know, while researching the cars, I read a lot about dealing with car dealers. People generally have a negative attitude towards them and the whole car buying experience, and you can find tons of information on how to avoid their scams, how to lower the price, how to negotiate with them, what to tell them, etc, etc. An excellent website to inform yourself on all aspects of car buying is Car Buying Tips: (http://www.carbuyingtips.com/). Now with all the great info and details I learned from various sources, I still thought that generally the prevailing attitude is not realistic. I mean, you almost get a feeling that if you pay anything more than a factory price, you made a bad deal. You can certainly succeed in lowering the price apparently to a large extent, but it is the fact that the dealers have to make money too. Ok, sometimes just selling the car, e.g. to meet their projected numbers, is beneficial to them, and they might give away even the whole of their profit for that sake. But come on, I can consider such situation just a crazy luck, not my goal! Anyway, I think that the current craze about “beating” those prices down to the floor is just as unrealistic and aggressive as the dealer’s craze to take as much money from you as possible.
However, after this buying experience, I lost pretty much any respect and sympathy for the dealers. And I will always advise anyone never to become one. Of course some of them were great examples of normal and pleasant behaviour, but unfortunately I must say that most of them have taken the activity of deceit and aggressiveness to such extent that for an honest and well meaning man the idea of going to a dealership must be repugnant. I very quickly got such a strong feeling of insecurity about everything I was told by them. I think everything was a lie, smaller or bigger. A lot of what I’ve heard I don’t believe, and none of it I trust.
Here are some of the examples, more or less funny, from my recent experience:
Systematic approach
I enter a dealership, with the intention of exploring a car that really caught my attention simply by offering all of the basic features I wanted. So I wanted to see it, test drive it, and ask a couple of questions. So I ask the dealer: “I’ve read that the crash test scores for this model are not that good, most are graded 3 out of 5. Now, I know that there are different tests, and you can’t judge simply by the grade. Do you know more details about those tests and the scores? What is tested exactly, and how did they score the cars?”
The answer was: “Yes, yes I know, the scores are not the best possible. I know. But you know — what do they mean really? (And I’m thinking — yes, that is exactly what I asked) You see, a grade of 3 is really not that bad. It’s almost like 4. What is the difference? Almost nothing let me tell you. And also, all of that means something only in most severe crashes!!”
Well, no kidding!! What a thorough explanation. Now I understand and my worries are gone. And what a relief. So, if a car is simply parked on a lot, I shouldn’t worry that it will suddenly open the hood and hit me right in the face!
Bonding
A question occurred to me about a car, and I decided to drop by a dealership to ask. My visit was about 10 minutes long — of course we exchanged numbers, I got the brochure and usual stuff. Tomorrow morning, my cell phone rings, I answer and I get this:
- “Hey Michael, Jord here from the dealership.”
- “Hey Jord, how are you, what’s up?” (I thought he might have just gotten some good used car)
- “Nothing, nothing…just wanted to see how are you.”
Huh… If this doesn’t sound as a start of a beautiful friendship I don’t know what does!
Then he goes on:
- “So have you made a decision on which car you want?”
- “No, not really, not yet. I told you I’ll need some time, and I’m not rushing really.”
- “Ok, tell me, what’s blocking it? Can I help?”
Man, of course you can! Go do something else instead of asking me questions…
Landing on all four whatever happens
I wasn’t sure about a size of a trunk of one of the models, so on my visit to the dealerships I brought couple of boxes and a cart that I use often to see how they fit into the trunk. Now this was one of the smaller cars, so I wasn’t sure about the trunk size. And I tell the dealer what I’d like to do and he says no problem. So I take out the stuff and he laughs:
- “C’mooon, how can you doubt it — that will fit without a problem. Don’t worry!!”
- “Wait, wait, let me try, I know what I’m talking about.”
And then I try, and he tries, but it doesn’t go so easy — the cart is a bit long and the boxes a bit high. Separately they go in no problem, but together, not that easy. Finally, he laughs again and remarks:
- “And you really thought ALL OF THAT will fit into this trunk??!!”
Wha…??
Get all the money you can
I receive a long talk describing how I should buy the replacement insurance. And the more expensive one (”better” in the jargon), which covers you for a longer time and gives you the value of the new car, rather the amount that you paid. Ok, that is a fine product. Now I also get a long description on how I should absolutely buy a VIN engraving package where they engrave the VIN on all windshields so that the thieves are less likely to steal it (they can’t sell the windshields for parts). It’s about $300. Well, I gave both of these things a good thought, but tomorrow I realized a simple thing: Why do I need two protections? If I get the replacement insurance, and if they are going to give me a new car if mine is stolen, why would I then protect it even more?? Damn, I should also probably buy two cars in case one is stolen after all.
And on top of that, I found on the internet that the engraving kit, very simple to use and apply, can be bought for mere $20.
Get all the money you can — again
This one is well-known, and usually titled as a “dealer scam”, but I decided I put it here anyways just as another example.
So I finally decide to buy the car and I arrive to the dealership at around 6:00pm. I expect the process to last about an hour. However, little thing here and there and I end up at the dealership for four hours. I think ok, nobody’s fault, there are simply a lot of things to do and a lot of people to involve — the dealer, finance guy, insurance girl, then the finance guy again, then the manager because there was an error, etc. So, I get the contract with all the figures there, and everything looks fine: all the figures match almost perfectly to mine that I calculated before. Except one thing — $900 of loan life insurance. So I ask:
- “Why is it there? Is that mandatory?”
- “Well, we made such an application to Company’s Finance.”
- “Ok, but is it mandatory?”
- “We could reapply and see what happens — if you have life insurance elsewhere.”
Now, you see, I am not too easy to confuse, but it was late and I didn’t want to repeat the whole process again, so I’m thinking: “Ok, I’m going to think about it tomorrow.” And I let it by. Now good thing was that I had the contract with me (I had to take it home for my wife to sign), so I wasn’t too worried.
Anyhow, in the morning I realize that not only it is not mandatory to have the insurance and that I definitely do not need life insurance elsewhere, but another application without it will certainly go through. And, at that point I sincerely doubted that they need to make another application at all. So I get really angry and I go there and I get the exact same answer again. So I say:
- “Let’s apply again; I am sure the application will go trough. I simply don’t want it and I never wanted it and I never asked for it. And if it doesn’t we’ll see then what we do.”
And she does the paperwork, and seeing me irritated remarks: “Don’t worry I’m sure it will go trough.”
Of course it will — and it does.
Get on customer’s side — even if you overdo it
One of the dealers was affirming every little thing I said. It got funny and a bit annoying:
He thought that the features I wanted are absolutely the only important features in the car.
He was also in computer business just a few years ago.
The funniest was when we discussed payment options. He told me that leasing is a better option if I want to change the car every couple of years. So I say:
- “You know, I am more the other type of buyer, at least so far. I drive one car for years before I buy a new one, so I probably won’t go with the lease.”
- “I understand, I completely understand. You know, the worst part of the auto business for me is that you simply have to change the car every 1-2 years. I **** that. If I wasn’t selling cars, I would do the same as you.”
Well, this really made me feel like home. C’mon guys, we just met and will probably never see each other again; don’t do these things.
Advertise what you have
This one was not really on the negative side, it was just funny. I went to Subaru and dealers there were actually very cool. They were very cooperative, and without the aggressive edge. And they never called me to push or ask whether I’ve made a decision. They also have a great program where you can take the car for 24hr test drive. I had really a good experience with them.
Anyhow, I told this dealer that I know that their cars use specific technology in their engine that is different from all other cars, and that repairs can be expensive. And he says:
- “Yeah, it’s so called Boxer engine where pistons are opposed horizontally instead of vertically. But we are not the only ones to use it… Porsche uses it — you know Porsche Boxster. … And some smaller planes.”
Well, that much for the affordable repairs…
Then he also added that it’s an old technology that has been well perfected so far and that I shouldn’t worry really, which was a bit more reassuring.
Always fish for customer’s weak spots — even in the dark
Honda was giving rebate and they advertised it everywhere: that was very important sales pitch. Now I come to a dealership, and one of the first things the guy tells me is:
“You know, I’ll tell you one thing: we will give you a good rebate, and it’s Honda’s rebate but most of the dealers won’t even mention it.”
He made it as if he is letting me know a secret, and not only that it isn’t, but it’s all over radio, their website, everywhere. But I might have been uninformed and careless and would think that I’m getting a special deal.
Lie like there’s no tomorrow and hope you don’t get caught
I was quite close to buying a car so I called some dealerships inquiring whether they have a certain model and the color on the lot. I told them I don’t want the car to be brought from some other dealership. I want to see the car and get the one I saw. This is because I don’t want to get into whole new set of issues and questions. For example, one dealer told me that they charge extra delivery fee if they bring the car from other dealership, which is by the way ridiculous and perhaps deserves story on its own. It can also happen that the car that arrives is different in some detail than what you wanted, and you already signed the papers. Etc.
So I made sure they know what I want, and then came to one of the dealerships. We chat a bit and then I say:
- “So let me see the car.”
- “Oh, I was afraid you were gonna ask me that. I really don’t know exactly where the car is.”
I laugh: “But I told you I want to see the car before I buy it.”
- “Oh, don’t worry — it’s here, I’m just not sure where.”
- “Ok, I’ll go outside and look for it.”
- “But our lots are really big.”
- “I don’t mind, I have the time.”
- “But they are not really all here — we have two lots a few blocks away.”
I just don’t like arguing that much — in cases like these I give up and simply walk away.
A good guy
The positive highlight was a young dealer for which I could quickly tell that he is not (yet) turned his abilities into a deceitful routine — he even gets confused a bit when I ask him a stupid question. To me that is the normal reaction. And when I asked him what he drives, he said: “an old Volvo, you know it’s a really good car.” I am really sorry that cars he was selling were not suitable for me — I would have been very happy to buy one from him. And I didn’t even feel like negotiation with him at all.
—————————————————————————–
Read the rest on following pages:
Part One: Why and What?
Part Two: How?
Part Three: Models and Makes
DANNY
Dec
29
Filed Under Environment | Leave a Comment
Amy Nutt asked:
When moving, it is inevitable that you need boxes to place all of your belongings in. Could you imagine taking all of your things and placing them inside a moving truck without having something to put everything in? That would literally take you forever and it is that very reason why moving boxes are so important in the moving process. That’s worse than going to a supermarket and having all of your items placed inside the cart without bags. Your time placing the items in your car could double, triple, or even quadruple without them. Now just imagine moving an entire house that way. But the invention of the moving box has made the entire moving process easier.
However, boxes are made out of paper and paper is made out of trees. That means that more and more trees are cut down to make these beloved moving boxes that make our lives easier. Then there is the fact that many of these moving boxes end up meeting their demise in the dump rather than being reused. It is here that they become mushy messes of wet paper that really isn’t all that great for the environment. That box could have been sold or given to a moving supply store to be reused by other movers. That means less demand for moving boxes, so fewer trees are cut down to meet the demand. That also means no mushy cardboard adding to the demise of our environment.
Acquiring used moving boxes
You can go to your local moving supply store and purchase boxes to move with. You can buy them brand new in bulk, and boy do those new boxes look beautiful. They look so beautiful that it is hard to resist them. However, the moving supply store may also give you the option to purchase used boxes at a cheaper price. This can leave you rather torn because those new boxes look so great, but those used boxes are so much cheaper. What do you do?
Here’s another scenario to think about: If you have ever called your local supermarket and told them you needed large boxes, then you are reusing boxes. There was some type of merchandise that was shipped in that box before you got a hold of it and it seemed to hold up pretty good, right? So why not go for the used boxes at the moving supply store? Or if you have enough time, you can call up your local supermarket and ask them to hold boxes for you when they process their next shipment. No matter what you do, you are doing something great for the environment by not going for those brand new boxes that will perform in the same manner as the brand new ones.
Are there any cons?
There are cons no matter which way you look at it. The new boxes are more expensive when moving is expensive enough. The old boxes have been used by others and could possibly have fleas or spiders in them. The supermarket boxes have come from places that you are not familiar with, so you don’t know what might be inside of them. However, spiders, fleas, and other annoyances exist within the moving supply store. You never know when a spider might crawl up into that crisp new box. You don’t even know where those boxes were before they arrived to the store. They had to be shipped there somehow as well, right? So don’t let any of that bother you. Think about the environment and what you are doing to make the world a better place to live. Every little bit counts.
JOHNNIE
When moving, it is inevitable that you need boxes to place all of your belongings in. Could you imagine taking all of your things and placing them inside a moving truck without having something to put everything in? That would literally take you forever and it is that very reason why moving boxes are so important in the moving process. That’s worse than going to a supermarket and having all of your items placed inside the cart without bags. Your time placing the items in your car could double, triple, or even quadruple without them. Now just imagine moving an entire house that way. But the invention of the moving box has made the entire moving process easier.
However, boxes are made out of paper and paper is made out of trees. That means that more and more trees are cut down to make these beloved moving boxes that make our lives easier. Then there is the fact that many of these moving boxes end up meeting their demise in the dump rather than being reused. It is here that they become mushy messes of wet paper that really isn’t all that great for the environment. That box could have been sold or given to a moving supply store to be reused by other movers. That means less demand for moving boxes, so fewer trees are cut down to meet the demand. That also means no mushy cardboard adding to the demise of our environment.
Acquiring used moving boxes
You can go to your local moving supply store and purchase boxes to move with. You can buy them brand new in bulk, and boy do those new boxes look beautiful. They look so beautiful that it is hard to resist them. However, the moving supply store may also give you the option to purchase used boxes at a cheaper price. This can leave you rather torn because those new boxes look so great, but those used boxes are so much cheaper. What do you do?
Here’s another scenario to think about: If you have ever called your local supermarket and told them you needed large boxes, then you are reusing boxes. There was some type of merchandise that was shipped in that box before you got a hold of it and it seemed to hold up pretty good, right? So why not go for the used boxes at the moving supply store? Or if you have enough time, you can call up your local supermarket and ask them to hold boxes for you when they process their next shipment. No matter what you do, you are doing something great for the environment by not going for those brand new boxes that will perform in the same manner as the brand new ones.
Are there any cons?
There are cons no matter which way you look at it. The new boxes are more expensive when moving is expensive enough. The old boxes have been used by others and could possibly have fleas or spiders in them. The supermarket boxes have come from places that you are not familiar with, so you don’t know what might be inside of them. However, spiders, fleas, and other annoyances exist within the moving supply store. You never know when a spider might crawl up into that crisp new box. You don’t even know where those boxes were before they arrived to the store. They had to be shipped there somehow as well, right? So don’t let any of that bother you. Think about the environment and what you are doing to make the world a better place to live. Every little bit counts.
JOHNNIE
Dec
29
Filed Under Cars | Leave a Comment
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:
A custom car audio box is necessary in a vehicle to protect the system and to provide a good clean space. You can have boxes for speakers and subwoofers. For the subwoofers there are very many types of box enclosures and they include a sealed enclosure. Here, the subwoofer is completely sealed in a box while isolated from the rear and front woofers. The advantages of this custom car audio box is that they need less space and they are easy to assemble. But, they have a low bass and less efficiency because they require more amplifier power. Ported or vented enclosures are more efficient but, their design is more complex than the sealed enclosures and they are much larger, requiring more space.
The more complex boxes are the reflex pass band enclosures and they are designed to bring more efficiency to the system. Another advantage is that they have a filtering characteristic which enhances its function. Some of its disadvantages are that is is very complex and very large. It also has decreased frequency power and a decreased power handling capacity. When building your own custom car audio box you must refer to the manufacturer to be given the right information about suitable boxes. If boxes are not compatible with the system, the sound will be of poor quality and sometimes one can ruin the functions of the system. You can find easy steps on the various sites to follow while building your own custom car audio box.
Firstly, your box must be very rigid and preferably made out of fiberglass. It might be difficult to work with fiberglass especially because you need some layers since you want it to be firm. Gluing and sealing all joints will make sure that your subwoofer makes the right noise. Leave your glue for at least 24 hours for it to cure well. You need screws to hold the ***** joints together and they need to be as firm as possible. A box for each subwoofer may not be always common but it can be necessary. This is just in case one subwoofer collapses, if you have only one box for two, the noises can get out of control. You can get the steps to build ports from your manuals. Follow each step carefully so that you can achieve your desired results.
When you are done bracing, it is good to put a damping material inside the box to increase the efficiency of the subwoofer. While on the finishing touches, you will need to apply paint and do not forget to use primer under the paint. A carpet or padding will be necessary as well as applying adhesive to box and carpet. The volume of a box should be calculated properly and if you need additional help, there are sites that provide that information and more. When you are done, it is time to test the box and if it is okay, you should be pleased with the results of your custom car audio box. Depending on the make of your car and subwoofer, you can view the various processes on the internet and other sources. It can be enjoyable making these boxes and it is a good opportunity to add your personal touch.
ALBERT
A custom car audio box is necessary in a vehicle to protect the system and to provide a good clean space. You can have boxes for speakers and subwoofers. For the subwoofers there are very many types of box enclosures and they include a sealed enclosure. Here, the subwoofer is completely sealed in a box while isolated from the rear and front woofers. The advantages of this custom car audio box is that they need less space and they are easy to assemble. But, they have a low bass and less efficiency because they require more amplifier power. Ported or vented enclosures are more efficient but, their design is more complex than the sealed enclosures and they are much larger, requiring more space.
The more complex boxes are the reflex pass band enclosures and they are designed to bring more efficiency to the system. Another advantage is that they have a filtering characteristic which enhances its function. Some of its disadvantages are that is is very complex and very large. It also has decreased frequency power and a decreased power handling capacity. When building your own custom car audio box you must refer to the manufacturer to be given the right information about suitable boxes. If boxes are not compatible with the system, the sound will be of poor quality and sometimes one can ruin the functions of the system. You can find easy steps on the various sites to follow while building your own custom car audio box.
Firstly, your box must be very rigid and preferably made out of fiberglass. It might be difficult to work with fiberglass especially because you need some layers since you want it to be firm. Gluing and sealing all joints will make sure that your subwoofer makes the right noise. Leave your glue for at least 24 hours for it to cure well. You need screws to hold the ***** joints together and they need to be as firm as possible. A box for each subwoofer may not be always common but it can be necessary. This is just in case one subwoofer collapses, if you have only one box for two, the noises can get out of control. You can get the steps to build ports from your manuals. Follow each step carefully so that you can achieve your desired results.
When you are done bracing, it is good to put a damping material inside the box to increase the efficiency of the subwoofer. While on the finishing touches, you will need to apply paint and do not forget to use primer under the paint. A carpet or padding will be necessary as well as applying adhesive to box and carpet. The volume of a box should be calculated properly and if you need additional help, there are sites that provide that information and more. When you are done, it is time to test the box and if it is okay, you should be pleased with the results of your custom car audio box. Depending on the make of your car and subwoofer, you can view the various processes on the internet and other sources. It can be enjoyable making these boxes and it is a good opportunity to add your personal touch.
ALBERT
Dec
28
What ever happened to the good old days of making you’re own soap box car?
Filed Under Polls & Surveys | Leave a Comment
george asked:
You know… The soap box derby. Where you made you’re own car with little help from you’re parents… I sure miss those days..
GAIL
You know… The soap box derby. Where you made you’re own car with little help from you’re parents… I sure miss those days..
GAIL
Dec
26
Joe K asked:
I have a neon light (look at my other questions for further detail) I thought it would be okay to run it directly to the car battery, turns out I dont want to do that. Instead I’m going to run it to the fuse box? However I don’t know how to do this. How exactly do I wire something to the fuse box?
WM
I have a neon light (look at my other questions for further detail) I thought it would be okay to run it directly to the car battery, turns out I dont want to do that. Instead I’m going to run it to the fuse box? However I don’t know how to do this. How exactly do I wire something to the fuse box?
WM
Dec
25
Filed Under Automotive | Leave a Comment
Mark Markham asked:
Sure you could build your own subwoofer box - but how much do you really save? First you have to design the subwoofer box and make sure everything is just right. Then you have to drive around town finding the materials: Wood (MDF), carpet, glue, caulking and connectors (see estimated material costs below). Then you have to cut your materials, assemble the subwoofer box and then hope everything comes together as planned (Murphy’s Law not withstanding). The last thing you want to do is miscalculate and have to start over. Let’s just assume everything goes right up to this point in the project – now you are faced with the challenge of carpeting an odd shaped subwoofer enclosure. Best case scenario you are successful and accomplish this entire process in under 10 hrs – best case! Now your weekend is half over when you could have been out enjoying your tunes with our custom built, guaranteed to fit Subwoofer Box. Is your “spare” time not worth at least $15/hour? That subwoofer box you just built just cost you $150+ and that doesn’t include any materials*.
Here’s a rough estimate for a typical DYI subwoofer box:
* Estimated Material Costs:
Single sheet of MDF = $25
Glue = $15 (high end wood glue)
Nails or staples = $ 5 (16 to 18 gauge)
Terminal(s) = $ 3
Caulk to seal seams = $ 5
Carpet - $35
Total Estimated Material Cost = $88.00
Estimate labor cost $150
Tools Required:
Table Saw (ideal)
Jig Saw (or router)
Nail Gun (ideal)
Hole Saw (for terminals)
Clamps
Subwoofer boxes can be purchased online for reasonable prices. Many companies build Subwoofer enclosures for less money because these boxes are built hundreds at a time from templates. They also save on material costs because they buy in bulk from wholesalers.
You can easily order custom Truck Subwoofer Boxes or Car Subwoofer Enclosures online. For example, at SuperCrewSound.com, you can select from a variety of subwoofer boxes. Theses subwoofer boxes are custom built and professionally designed to fit specific vehicle models.
So before you contemplate on building your own subwoofer box, you might want to consider leaving the work to the professionals - enjoy your time, save money and get a better subwoofer box in the process. Makes sense doesn’t it?
WILLARD
Sure you could build your own subwoofer box - but how much do you really save? First you have to design the subwoofer box and make sure everything is just right. Then you have to drive around town finding the materials: Wood (MDF), carpet, glue, caulking and connectors (see estimated material costs below). Then you have to cut your materials, assemble the subwoofer box and then hope everything comes together as planned (Murphy’s Law not withstanding). The last thing you want to do is miscalculate and have to start over. Let’s just assume everything goes right up to this point in the project – now you are faced with the challenge of carpeting an odd shaped subwoofer enclosure. Best case scenario you are successful and accomplish this entire process in under 10 hrs – best case! Now your weekend is half over when you could have been out enjoying your tunes with our custom built, guaranteed to fit Subwoofer Box. Is your “spare” time not worth at least $15/hour? That subwoofer box you just built just cost you $150+ and that doesn’t include any materials*.
Here’s a rough estimate for a typical DYI subwoofer box:
* Estimated Material Costs:
Single sheet of MDF = $25
Glue = $15 (high end wood glue)
Nails or staples = $ 5 (16 to 18 gauge)
Terminal(s) = $ 3
Caulk to seal seams = $ 5
Carpet - $35
Total Estimated Material Cost = $88.00
Estimate labor cost $150
Tools Required:
Table Saw (ideal)
Jig Saw (or router)
Nail Gun (ideal)
Hole Saw (for terminals)
Clamps
Subwoofer boxes can be purchased online for reasonable prices. Many companies build Subwoofer enclosures for less money because these boxes are built hundreds at a time from templates. They also save on material costs because they buy in bulk from wholesalers.
You can easily order custom Truck Subwoofer Boxes or Car Subwoofer Enclosures online. For example, at SuperCrewSound.com, you can select from a variety of subwoofer boxes. Theses subwoofer boxes are custom built and professionally designed to fit specific vehicle models.
So before you contemplate on building your own subwoofer box, you might want to consider leaving the work to the professionals - enjoy your time, save money and get a better subwoofer box in the process. Makes sense doesn’t it?
WILLARD
Dec
23
How Does different shape of the nose of a soap box car affect its speed?
Filed Under Physics | Leave a Comment
needsomuchHELP! asked:
Shapes such as having a triangle, square, circular, oval, or a cone for the nose of a soap box car. How would each different shape affect its velocity. Which would have the least to the greatest amount of air resistance, and why. Explain if possible.
SCOTT
Shapes such as having a triangle, square, circular, oval, or a cone for the nose of a soap box car. How would each different shape affect its velocity. Which would have the least to the greatest amount of air resistance, and why. Explain if possible.
SCOTT