If you were at your most desperate, down and out with literally nothing to offer but tears, Delphia Simmons’ smile is probably what you’d want to see. This year, Simmons is expanding Thrive Detroit’s scope to offer additional creative business opportunities that require little startup capital and low technical barriers

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UIX: People and Projects Profiled

When budgets get tight, many people are tempted to cut back on regular car maintenance. But that can lead to serious repair problems and even larger bills down the road. We’ve found that you can save a lot of money on maintenance simply by shopping around.

We called dozens of dealers and repair shops throughout the country to get quotes for regular maintenance service on three popular models. Here’s what we found:

• Think all dealers charge the same price? Think again. When we asked for the cost of a 60,000-mile checkup for a 2004 Ford Explorer, for example, prices varied by as much as $252, even among Ford dealers in the same general area.
• Dealers often wanted to charge for extra work that the automaker doesn’t require. We discovered that when we compared the service items included in quotes with the maintenance lists in the owner’s manuals.
• Check out independent shops, too. Quotes from independents that included all the items in the manual were sometimes $150 below the cheapest dealer.

Dialing for dollars

The maintenance schedule in your car’s owner’s manual is the automaker’s prescription for keeping the vehicle in good operating condition. Those regular checkups should be performed at the proper mileage intervals. But although the automaker sets the schedule, individual dealerships set their own prices.

We called 27 dealers in the Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York metro areas and asked, as a typical owner would, their price for a specific scheduled-maintenance interval and what service items they included. In each city, we chose dealers that were in relatively close proximity.

We asked for the 30,000-mile maintenance service for a 2005 Toyota Camry, the 60,000-mile service for a 2004 Ford Explorer, or the 120,000-mile service for a 2003 Honda Civic.

For the Camry’s 30,000-mile service, we were quoted $187 at one Chicago-are Toyota dealership but $388 and $400 at two others. In Los Angeles, quotes ranged from $273 to $389.

Similarly, for the Explorer’s 60,000-mile service, we were quoted prices of $400, $499, and $589 by different Ford dealerships in the New York City metro area. In Los Angeles, the same service drew quotes ranging from $338 to $590. For the Civic’s 120,000-mile service, we received quotes ranging from $392 to $560 in the Chicago area.

It’s a good idea to shop around. Also keep an eye out for maintenance specials. Several dealers were offering special prices for a limited time, which could carve more than $150 off the regular price.

Consumer Reports Magazine issue: April 2009

SAVE MONEY ON WINDSHIELD REPAIR – FIND OUT HOW TODAY!

Glass-Star America Do It Yourself (DIY) Auto Glass and Windshield Repair Kits are the best available. Glass-Star America Windshield Repair Kits are built with a unique “bridgeless” design that avoids unnecessary pressure on the glass surface – which causes many cracks to spread when you use the “other” DIY kits. The Glass-Star Do It Yourself system was designed for both ease of use and high-quality repairs.

If you’re looking for high-quality Do It Yourself auto glass repair kits look no further than Glass-Star America. We’ve been in the glass repair business a long time, and our Do It Yourself Windshield and Glass Repair Kits are widely known to be the best available.

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If you’ve been a driver for any length of time, you’ve inevitably been in this situation:  You’re driving down the highway, and a rock from the car or truck in front of you kicks up and hits your windshield, leaving a tiny crack. Chances are, you grumble in disgust as you think about when you’re going to find the time to have the windshield replaced.  And if you don’t have glass coverage, you probably figure that crack will just have to stay until you can come up with the money to replace it. But what you may not realize in this scenario is that your windshield does not have to be replaced at all.

Car glass repair has become quite popular, and for good reason; it’s safe, affordable, and actually so simple that most drivers can fix cracks or chips in their windshields themselves with a car glass repair kit.

First let’s clarify something about chips and cracks on windshields.  Most of the time, small cracks and chips under a foot long do not require complete replacement of the car glass. In fact, repairs are usually preferred, because the rigid tests on the bonds of windshields in brand new cars are not performed on replacement windshields. Using a car glass repair kit, therefore, allows you to retain the bond of the windshield’s factory seal.

Replacing an entire windshield can be expensive; most start at $300 and go up from there. But a do-it- yourself car glass repair kit is often less than a third of that price. There are quite a variety of kits available that are quite simple to use, with repairs taking up very little time.

Don’t let that chip or crack go on for too long-

It is advisable to repair any damage to your car glass as soon as possible-even the same day, if you can. Ignoring a crack or chip in your windshield is not advised, for several reasons:

• Ignoring a small crack could result in the crack growing until it is too large for repair, and you will have to pay for a complete replacement.
• Small cracks could compromise the integrity of the windshield, causing it to spread completely at the slightest bump.
• Chips and cracks can impede on the driver’s ability to see correctly.
• Dirt and grime can seep into your vehicle through a crack or chip.

The automobile industry’s focus on safety in the past two decades has completely changed the way consumers shop for vehicles. Now, features such as side airbag protection and anti-lock brakes are as important to a consumer as fuel efficiency or reliability. There is one aspect of automobile safety, however, that most people give relatively little thought to, yet it is pivotal to the safety of a car:  the windshield.

Most people don’t realize that today’s windshields are actually safety devices in themselves, designed to work in conjunction with the car’s other restraining systems. Airbag systems, for example, need the strength of a properly bonded windshield in order to work properly. If the airbag deployment caused the windshield to pop out, the airbag would not provide the intended protection to the driver’s head.

Windshields are also strong. Structurally, they account for about 20% of the overall strength of a car, which is important for many reasons.  Besides preventing passenger ejections, the strength of the windshield helps prevent roof cave-ins in rollover type accidents.

Luckily, the US government requires that all new cars be certified to meet specific standards and to be thoroughly tested. Problems occur, however, when windshields become damaged. Even a tiny chip or crack can compromise the integrity of the entire windshield, leaving the driver at risk in an accident.

A chip or a crack in the windshield does not require complete replacement (In fact, repairs rather than replacements are preferable, because the rigid tests on bond strength required in new vehicles are not performed on replacement windshields). Repairs should be performed promptly, and can actually be done safely at home, with a reputable do-it-yourself windshield repair kit.

“I’ll take a car-any car will do”.  Most car salesmen will agree that is not a statement they are likely to ever hear.  That’s because in America, as in other countries, a car is rarely just a means to get from one place to another.  Here, a car is also a reflection of its driver-a rolling personal statement about you and your lifestyle.   So, what kinds of people drive what kinds of cars?  The answer is as diverse as the vehicles on the market today.

One of the most basic factors that determines the type of car one needs is how many passengers will be traveling in it.  This is why families with 3 or more children almost always go for a minivan or SUV.   Most passenger cars can fit three rear occupants, but when car seats and sibling rivalry are added to the mix, the result is a tight fit and unhappy passengers (mom and dad included)!

“Green” vehicles, cars that run partially or wholly on fuel other than gasoline, are becoming especially popular these days.   Typically, green vehicles have been driven by the young, single segment of the population whose concern for the environment extends beyond pollution issues.   The recent fuel crises, however, nearly guarantees that the popularity of hybrids and other alternative-fuel vehicles will continue to grow, and will cross over to the general population.

What about cars that are status symbols?  You know the ones-the flashy Mercedes Benzes, Jaguars and Rolls Royces that scream “Look at what I can afford”!   Surprisingly, most people who go for status symbol cars are from middle and upper middle class backgrounds and will often go into debt to afford their pricey vehicles just to “keep up with the Joneses”.    Studies have shown that the true wealthy, who could afford any vehicle they want, often choose comfort and practicality over status symbols when it comes to their cars.

Yes there truly is a car to fit every lifestyle.  And with the variety of vehicle styles, features and fuel choices ever changing, there may soon be two (or three) cars for every lifestyle!

The Glass Star MV 24 Windshield Repair System contains everything needed to make high quality professional windshield repairs. MV systems specifically outfitted with additional accessories to allow technicians to duplicate the high quality repairs achieved in an indoor workshop. All in a neat, compact and portable case. This system is easy to use, No special training is required.

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It is no secret that gas prices have been shooting higher and higher with no visible end in sight. Here are a few pointers on how to save the amount of gas you use daily without resorting to taking a bicycle onto the expressway.

1.       Engine Warm-Up : 30-45 Seconds, Max

You don’t need incredibly extensive amounts of time to warm up your engine when 45 seconds will do. Any longer, and you are doing nothing more than wasting gas.

2.       Buy Gasoline When It Is Coldest Outside

By purchasing gasoline at the coolest point of the day, you are getting the most gas for your buck. Cold air causes fuel to become denser than it is at warmer points of the day. Gas pumps only measure the volume of liquid gasoline you put into your car. They don’t measure the concentration.

3.       Drive the Speed Limit

Not only does the speed limit help ensure your safety, but by exceeding it you waste more gas. And, if you are worried about getting somewhere on time, traffic lights are programmed based on the amount of time it would take to reach one if you were driving the speed limit. That means you are more likely to hit all greens if you keep your pace consistent and at the limit.

4.       Avoid Rough Roads

Driving on gravel or dirt can slow down your vehicle and therefore require more gas to get over. Keep on paved roads whenever possible.

5.       The Shortest Distance

If you have to travel far every day, find the best route to get you there using the least gas. Turns and corners all require more gas, so the straightest route you can find is probably the best one.

6.       Drive Steadily

Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Keep your speed consistent.

7.       Use Your Environment to Your Advantage

Don’t use gas if you can get a little help from Mother Nature. When approaching a hill, accelerate before you reach it, that way you can let the slope glide you down without having to put your foot on the pedal.

8.       Keep Your Car Light

Extra weight causes your car to do more work and use up more gasoline. Keep your car empty of any superfluous objects to ensure the best mileage. In the winter, clear out any icicles that form at the bottom of your car, since they can create up to 100 pounds of extra weight.