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Metaphors of the Self: Roads and Wheels

January 20th, 2012 Posted in Automobile Tags: , ,

When the rubber meets the road, everything is put to the test.  This is the metaphor that speaks most poetically to the testing of the mettle, and it’s one that is entirely useful in making one’s own plans for a successful future.  Metaphors are very much like positive affirmations, but there’s a difference.  With positive affirmations, their effectiveness is based on simplicity and repetition.  They are usually statements that reveal a powerful truth in a new way, and can still carry their power of meaning even when they are repeated numerous times throughout any given day.  With metaphors, there is a complexity to them that is rather hidden.  They begin like affirmations, with a simplicity that is attractive, but they are also juicy enough that more can be understood from them with deeper contemplations.  The road metaphor can take on something as general as the open highway, or as specific as kmc wheels and still encourage and strengthen one’s inner convictions.

 

In many cases, the metaphors that work the best are also the ones that are the most familiar.  One experience can serve to bring wisdom to another experience.  Life as a journey, as an adventure, or as a temporary trip is a metaphor that seems to run across time and culture, revealing a common thread of experience in the human story that speaks to the notion of the road.  West African proverbs often speak of the road, and it serves as a very rich metaphor that stands for many kinds of experiences in the world.  In the North American myths of the road, there are stories of expansion, discovery, loss, and coming of age.  Although these can be seen as very specific to the literatures from here, the same stories do tend to repeat all over the world.  There are some connotations to road and travel metaphors that are particular, like linking runflat tires to notions of power and performance, but even these sentiments do translate across rivers and oceans.  The power of a metaphor, then, is one that can cover enormous distances, and their usefulness is really proven only by the test of time.  In terms of finding useful metaphors for self-improvement, the road is one of the more useful ones.  It is common across time and space, but it is also part of most people’s daily experience, suggesting that even the every day is more mythical than we might imagine.

 

Buying a Car That Will Last

Driving down the road you have probably noticed that there are many different types of vehicles from many different manufacturers out there. With so many options to choose from it can be hard to make a decision.

Even though there are a lot of car manufacturers that promise great things, one that has been known consistently for reliability and durability is a Honda.
One of the things that has always been appreciated about Honda’s is the price. They are affordable for nearly every budget. But when you buy a Honda Civic you have expectations that it will get you where you need to go for years to come.

Another expectation of Honda is that it will get great gas mileage. Whether it is the way they are designed or the fact that they are typically smaller, light weight cars, Honda’s always seem to have much better fuel economy than their comparable counterparts.

Unfortunately there are many cars that are produced today that do not last. But a few cars, like Hondas, are still built to last. Although any car that is well-taken care of will last longer than a car that is treated poorly.

In the tough economy we are all facing right now we need vehicles that will endure. A reliable car that goes the distance is worth much more than constantly having the newest, fanciest car as soon as it becomes available.

Repairing Cars Can Save You Money

July 28th, 2010 Posted in Automobile Tags:

If you don’t have a lot of money and you need a car fast, there are a lot of ways to get one. Usually it is not buying the car that is going to cost you too much money, though. The one thing that will cost you the most money over the lifetime of the car is the car repairs that are bound to happen. One way to combat this is to buy a Chevrolet Cavalier repair book s for these things are cheap and pretty easy to read, which is part of what makes Cavaliers great cars to start learning basic repair . What you find out from repairing your own car might surprise you and you might even find out that it is a lot of fun.

After you have had a lot of time repairing your Cavalier, it can make a lot of sense to graduate up into the next level if you want to continue with this. At this point, you may want to buy a Nissan repair manual and start getting the parts for a Nissan as well to give you a little variety. Using the repair manual for guidance, rebuild the car from the ground up. This will give you a really good idea of all the inner working of the car and the engine. By the end you will know how to repair any vehicle and save yourself a lot of money.

How to Maintain Tire Safety

February 18th, 2010 Posted in Automobile Tags: , ,

Tire safety is relatively easy to ensure. To many people, consistently checking the tires of their vehicle may seem at the time, to be a bit of a nuisance, in the long run it will solve many problems. Financial problems, inconvenient blow outs or flat tires, or even worse–collisions which could have been avoided it the tires had simply been looked over before hitting road. Even the higher quality, extremely well made tires such as the Hankook tires, must be cared for not only for the safety issues, but proper maintenance will ensure that life of your tires will be long lasting.

One way to make sure that the tires wear evenly throughout their lifetime is to have them rotated occasionally. Most mechanics will recommend that you have this done each time you get the oil changed, once every five thousand miles. This is not only recommended for the mileage considerations on the tires, but it is a great way to remember when to do it, to schedule both procedures at the same time. This will also be the time for the balancing of the tires. If a tire is out of balance, the wheels will wobble, not only putting uneven wear on them but also making it very difficult to handle your vehicle. Other small elements that make for big problems are the brakes or shocks that are not operating properly, worn out bushings, and wheels that are bent. When checking the air pressure, just look to see what is recommended for your particular make and model of vehicle.

You can find this on the sticker that is attached to either the post of the car door, the door to the gas tank, the glove compartment or the edge of the door. If you cannot locate it in one of these places, you can always check the owners manual. When checking the pressure, be certain to use an accurate tire gauge. This should be done once a month, and every time you leave for a long road trip. Tires are expensive, whether they are those for a sports car, an SUV, or the vintage wheels used on the older roadsters, and simple maintenance will ensure that those tires provide you with the long term safety that is important, either driving day to day, or while on longer trips.

Taking the Mystery out of Buying New Car Tires

September 28th, 2009 Posted in Automobile Tags: , ,

For the average consumer, the time to buy new car tires can be a daunting time.  You know you need new tires, but there seems to be so much information that it becomes overwhelming.  Everyone wants to get the most for their money these days, and there are many options out there for finding the perfect discount tire that will suit your wants and your needs.

Many manufactures of tires began their businesses in the mid 1990′s, and this has served to give people many opportunities for shopping around, not only for the right tire, but for the right company for them.  With just a little bit of information and education, you will be able to make your way through all of the choices very easily.  There are many options for tires forSUVs, or sports cars, or even the perfect match for custom truck wheels,  that will be durable and safe and available at a fair price.

Located on every car tire is a code that will give you information as to the car manufacturers recommendation for the best tire for your vehicle.  This will detail the width and aspect ratio, as well the speed rating and the pressure limit, or carrying capacity of the tire that is recommended.  The information on the speed rating will help one choose a tire, as when a vehicle moves at high speeds consistently, the tire will heat up.

This constant heat will affect the life of the tire, so someone living in a small town, who just drives short distances on country roads, may choose a tire different from someone who drives long commutes on a regular basis.  The carrying capacity is one of the most important aspects to consider, and it is never recommended that one buy car tires that are under the recommended capacity.  All of the weight of the vehicle rests on the wheels and the tires of the car, and if this is not correct, the car will not handle correctly and may become dangerous on the road.

The Components of a Safe Tire

September 14th, 2009 Posted in Automobile Tags: , , ,

There are many factors that make one tire more safe than another.  One factor is the speed rating.  Driving heats up not only the engine of one’s car, but the tires as well.  This heat when unattended to, can cause the tires to wear out more quickly than usual.  If one intends to do a lot of high way driving, or drives for long periods at a time, a higher rating will serve to lengthen the life of their tires.  Another factor to consider is the load carrying capacity. The tires of the car carry the entire weight of the vehicle, and what is in the vehicle.

One mistake that many people tend to make is to replace their tires with a capacity that is less than what was originally intended.  This is something to be aware of, as it will affect the handling of the vehicle, the life of the tires, and the safety of all those riding in the car.  And regardless of these aspects, when one goes to buy new tires, one of the most important aspects is the tread of the tires.  A tire without sufficient traction will considerably affect the car’s ability to hold to the road.  Those who are savvy in the ways of the road and the vehicle will even have their tires balanced depending on the conditions of the season.

Traction plays a large role in keeping one safe and their vehicle on all fours, especially during the wet and rainy seasons, or during the winter time conditions of snow and ice.  There is nothing worse than putting on the brakes and sliding across the ice covered highway or hydroplaning on a rainy day.  And there is nothing more frustrating than trying to get out of a plowed in parallel parking space, and having one’s tires just spin and spin.  So many aspects affect safety when driving on the roads of today, and tires are one that are perhaps the easiest for the consumers to control, so be aware when it comes time to fit your car with new tires.

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