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Buy It, Sell It...call Classified 576-6721 -CONSUMER NEWS - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 - PAGE

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8 - CONSUMER NEWS...Where Results Cost Less! - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012

Big Boys and Their Toys

page 2

Showing Some Muscle By Doris A. Black

The supercars of the muscle era hold a special place in the hearts of many car collectors. By definition, muscle cars are recognized by their two-door, midsized coupe or sedan style, and large-displacement V-8 engine. Even though all the major auto manufacturers produced them, they made up only a small fraction of the total automotive output from Detroit. These are the ones we remember the most: the GTO, GTX, Chevy 409 and Ford Camaro Z-28. Let’s look at a brief timeline: • 1959: The year started with the big Chevrolet Impala with its bat-wing tail end design, the Chrysler 300 and the Ford Fairlane. • 1965: By this time, Detroit was pumping out dozens of muscle cars—the Chevy Nova, Impala and Chevelle; the Dodge Dart; the Ford Galaxie and Mustang; the Plymouth Cuda; the Mercury Comet; the Oldsmobile 4-4-2; and the Pontiac Catalina, Grand Prix and GTO. With names like Mach 1, Challenger, Cyclone Spoiler, Road Runner and Eliminator, these muscle cars promised to be fast and rarely disappointed. The typical muscle car buyer of the ’60s wanted low cost, less weight and high speed. • 1969: By the late 1960s, there were still more models to choose from as muscle car popularity peaked. Added to the mix were the AMC AMX, Plymouth Road Runner, Mercury Cougar, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Charger and Pontiac Firebird. • 1971: Muscle car popularity started to wane, but with new styling, some continued to the end of the decade. It was the last year for the hugely popular GTX.

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According to the experts at Muscle Car Review magazine, the five fastest cars of this era were, in descending order: the 1966 427 Cobra, the 1966 Corvette 427, the 1969 Road Runner, the 1970 Hemi Cuda and the 1970 Chevelle SS454. Today the rarest muscle cars are the Chrysler convertibles with hemi engines. The reason for their rarity is two-fold: First, the hemi engine commanded a higher price tag than the typical muscle car buyer was willing to spend, and second, Chrysler only produced one Hemi convertible for every 47,000 automobiles. After the convertibles, the rarest muscles cars are the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL-1 427 2-door coupe, the 1969 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am and the 1969 AMC AMX SS 2-door coupe. In their heyday, these cars could be purchased for somewhere between $3,000 and $4,000. Today, you’ll spend quite a bit more to relive those memorable times. Collectors are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of these classic beauties. But no matter what your preference in YOUR GAS STATION’S muscle cars, proper winter storage can prolong WORST NIGHTMARE? the life of the car and protect your investment. Experts recommend the 56 MPG following: • Store the car indoors, as weather elements can quickly take their toll.

• Use a battery maintainer to keep the battery alive during winter. • Keep the gas fresh by adding fuel stabilizer to the tank before filling. This combination will help protect the engine during winter months. • Drain the cooling systems and insert a rustinhibiting anti-freeze for protection against freezing.

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• To protect interior finishes from drying winter air, apply a preservative to the dash, seats, backs and armrests. • Keep insurance current. Muscle cars bring back images of a more carefree lifestyle. With their speed and power, they reflect the days of youth.

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Buy It, Sell It...call Classified 576-6721 -CONSUMER NEWS - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 - PAGE

Big Boys and Their Toys Motorcycle Mania By Doris A. Black

The first step in owning a motorcycle is learning how to ride one. This may sound easy, but it really isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Sure, balancing on two wheels is part of the process, and if you know how to ride a bicycle, you could probably keep a motorcycle from hitting the pavement. However, controlling a motorcycle and learning to coordinate the use of hand and foot movements is a complex task, especially in traffic where unexpected situations can arise. Safe driving is the responsibility of all bikers. It takes knowledge and skill to safely control a motorcycle which is why all motorcycle enthusiasts are required to pass a driving course in order to be licensed. Once these basic skills are mastered and the coordination of hand and foot movements, the technique of shifting body weight and the knowledge of stopping distance becomes second nature, purchasing a motorcycle may be an option. How does one go about buying a motorcycle? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a novice, starting with a used bike is a good idea. As with purchasing any type of motor vehicle, a motorcycle can be a hefty investment, with minor repairs costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. Start by telling your friends that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the market for a used bike. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re patient and wait for word to get around, at least one bike worth looking at is bound to turn up. Another popular avenue these days is to purchase used bikes on the Internet. EBay, for example, is a very popular site where you can purchase a used motorcycle, but there are many other Internet sites available as well. It is wise to shop around for the best bargain before handing over your credit card. What should you look for when buying a motorcycle? According to experts, a beginning motorcyclist should choose a lightweight bike. Lightweight bikes are easy to maneuver in tight spaces, break quicker and have faster recoverability in a prone situation. Experts sug-

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gest the first bike be in the 300- to 500-pound range. Engine performance and acceleration differs, even among similar models. Choosing the biggest, fastest engine is not a good idea for beginners who may accidentally cause the bike to lurch by jerking the throttle or clutch and lose control. Bikes with touchy controls should also be avoided. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the market for a sport bike, choosing one that is 500ccs or less is the best option. Bodywork on sport bikes can be very expensive to repair, with minor scratches costing more than you expect, so you might want to wait until after you pass the novice rider stage before buying a new one. Cruisers and touring bikes are gentle giants, usually manageable because the engine power is offset by the weight of the bike. And almost any engine size will do on a standard motorcycle. Managing the cost of a motorcycle is similar to that of other road vehicles. Good credit goes a long way and shopping around for the best loan rates will save you money in the long run. Insurance is also a major concern for motorcycle owners. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll most likely need to get full coverage, which can be very costly, depending on the size of the engine and the type of bodywork. Your driving record also comes into play for insurance quotes, so shop around for the best rate. Carry a large deductible of at least $250 to get lower monthly payments. Smaller bikes tend to get lower rates, so unless you really have to have that top performer, opt for a smaller model. Annual maintenance for a motorcycle can be expensive. Most need a tune-up two or three times a year, but some high performers may need work twice as often. To minimize annual maintenance costs, professionals recommend riders take good care of their bikes and learn to do their own oil changes and basic checkups. Remember, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to pick a bike designed for your skill level and upgrade later after you have become more experienced. Drive safely and the emotional thrill of owning a motorcycle will last for years to come.

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12 - CONSUMER NEWS...Where Results Cost Less! - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012

Big Boys and Their Toys

page 6

Boat Design For The Rookie By Doris A. Black

In the early years boats were made of wood. Their designs were based on the flexibility of that wood, which proved to be limiting. The development of fiberglass opened the door for boat designers to create new hulls, which led to the creation of new models of boats with superior speed and seaworthiness. What model best suits your needs? Here’s information that can help you with your decision. The interior layout of many boats determines what type of model it is. The runabout, the most commonly purchased boat for fun, has a closed bow deck, windshield, two sets of forward- and rear-facing seats that fold down, and a canopy for weather protection. Bowriders have an open bow, walk-through windshield and the same seating as the runabout with two additional stern seats. Bowriders provide more room for passengers but less storage space. Center console designs work well for the lone angler. With no additional seating, they are perfect for holding a lot of fishing gear and are fitted with rod holders and bait tanks. Because of the self-bailing feature, there is no need for a canopy. Cuddy cabins and cruisers are larger boats designed for overnight stays. Cuddy cabins provide sleeping room, usually a small cabin with toilet convenience and extra storage space, below deck. They are slightly larger than any of the boats mentioned above, but smaller

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than a cruiser. Cruisers often have larger below-deck areas, incorporating a galley (kitchen complete with refrigerator and range) and dinette area for eating, in addition to sleeping quarters. They are designed for longer trips with less emphasis placed on above-deck accommodations and more on below-deck amenities. They are perfect for overnight water-skiing, fishing and skin-diving adventures. Day cruisers are just that—boats designed with no cabin for overnight stays. Because of the open-deck design, cockpits are larger. There are three main hull shapes found in today’s powerboats; tri-hull, deep-V and modified deep-V. The tri-hull actually looks like three v-shaped hulls placed side by side. Because of the broad platform the hull creates, it is very stable and fast in smooth water. You’ve probably seen these boats with the bow up in the air which makes them look like they are bouncing off the water. The ride can be quite bumpy and the passengers can get soaked with spray. Tri-hulls are perfect for water skiing or fishing and are fun to drive. The deep-V hull is best for speed in choppy waters due to the hull strakes. Strakes are horizontal strips placed on the hull below the waterline. They help lift the hull and push spray out the sides when going at high speeds. The wedge-shaped hull runs smoothly in choppy conditions but is unstable when at rest in the same conditions. This is usually the hull shape of the powerboats you see racing offshore. The modified deep-V is actually a combination of hulls. The bow incorporates the best attributes of the deep-V by providing a smooth ride with little spray. At the stern the hull is flatter, providing better stability at low speeds than the deep-v. Most of today’s pleasure powerboats are of this design. Now that you know the difference between the boat styles and hull designs, you’ll be better equipped to determine what type of boat will best serve your needs.

Buy It, Sell It...call Classified 576-6721 -CONSUMER NEWS - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 - PAGE

Big Boys and Their Toys

page 7

How to Choose the Best RV for Your Family Your getting ready to buy an RV, maybe it’s your first RV, maybe your family has grown and now you need a larger RV. Now is the time to choose an RV that’s right for your family. But how do you know what RV is perfect for your family’s size and lifestyle. There are two categories of RVs, Towable and Motorized, do a little research to help you decide which would fit your family better. The towable RVs that are available are: Travel Trailer, Fifth Wheel, Toy Hauler Travel Trailer, Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel, Pop-up Tent Camper, and Expandable. For Motorhomes there are: Class A, Class C, Class B, Diesel, and Toy Hauler. Type of RV can also be determined by how much you plan on using your RV, if you are only going around to nearby camp grounds on the weekend and you don’t have a big family, you may only need a Pop-up Tent Camper, Expandable, or a Class C Motorhome. Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, and Class A Motorhomes are recommended for longer camping trips and larger families, due to the fact that they can hold up better on those long trips, plus there is more room for everyone when you are gone for longer amount of time.

Once you figure out what type of RV you want, you then need to find out how much your tow vehicle can tow. After you find out how much your vehicle can tow, you can decide on the size of RV you need. The size of the RV will help indicate how many people it can sleep. If you need to sleep many people you might want to look for a larger RV that has a floor plan that includes bunk beds or a whole room for the kids with a double bunk setup. If your family lifestyle is more active with toys such as ATVs, dirt bikes, and go carts, maybe a floor plan is not as important as fitting all your toys into your RV. Choosing a Toy Hauler with a large enough garage would be more of a benefit to you. Most Toy Haulers can sleep many people, because of the garage area converting into a sleeping area with fold down beds or queen beds that drop down from the ceiling. There are many options out there to help you find the RV you want. Check out the RV dealers in this section to help you find the one you like and that fits your family best.

Besides the multiple types of RVs, there are multiple floor plans available. Some floor plans will only be found in certain types of RVs. A floor plan is basically how the inside RV is laid out. Some RVs will have a front bedroom, a rear kitchen, or a rear living room. There are multiple ways of having a layout, but understanding which floor plan will best suit your family is important.

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