The number of Americans age 55 to 74 is projected to nearly double by 2030, and already we’re seeing signs that the Baby Boomer generation is reaching senior-citizen status.

The Baby Boomer’s Influence on the Auto Industry

Not that it’s a bad thing. These folks grew up in a post-World War II era when Americans were so happy about not being in a terrible war that they thrived, had large families and bought suburban homes.

That flight to suburbia actually helped trigger the automobile’s Golden Age, where nearly everyone got on the bandwagon and bought a car. Whether to tackle longer commutes or take advantage of the new interstate highway system that FDR championed.

Now those drivers created, in part, by the war are using those freeways and highways en masse. And it’s prejudiced to think all senior citizens are poor drivers.

Automakers are keenly aware of special needs and are providing features to make senior citizen driving more comfortable and safe.

What Automakers are Doing to Keep Older Drivers on the Road

Following is a look at some of these features – some of which are attractive for any driver regardless of age.

Adjustable pedals – This can help any “height-challenged” driver whether you are a teen-ager or just started collecting Social Security. Push a button and a driver can adjust how close the accelerator and brake pedals are to the feet. This also prevents scooching forward to use the pedals, which can get a driver too close to the airbag.
Brake assist – This automatically applies the right amount of pressure depending on the situation, assisting those who cannot press down hard for whatever reason. Take note, gout sufferers.
Active head restraints – These head restraints moves forward upon a rear-end impact, helping to prevent head injuries.
Tilt/telescoping steering wheel – This is not just to make it easier to climb into the front seat.  A tilt-able steering wheel keeps drivers safely away from the airbag, and also, perhaps equally important, allows comfortable driving positions to alleviate back, hip, shoulder and other driving-related pains.
Stability control – This feature, which is gaining considerable attention in the media, allows the car to assist the driver in tough situations. It helps maintain control in turns, particularly in wet conditions.

What it Means to be a Mature Driver

Many people assume it’s harder to drive at an older age due to diminished sight, or height, there are many reasons.

By age 40, believe it or not, everyone starts to lose some mental sharpness. It’s more difficult to manage several tasks simultaneously – so definitely don’t talk on a cell phone and drive after 40.

After 50 reaction time starts to go. The ability to see something and act begins declining.

At 60 and beyond, muscle strength and motion range decreases considerably, making things like looking over your shoulder that much harder.

What’s this all mean? Well, for instance, the safety of driving a car in Los Angeles not only depends on the traffic conditions, but your age.

Also, when buying a car in Long Beach, know your daily and long-term driving conditions and look for the appropriate car. Many new cars come with the features outlined above, and if not, ask about them.

Or, if you’re selling a car in Orange County, know which features your vehicle has and market it appropriately. Perhaps tap a local senior citizen center and pitch the vehicle as perfect to make it easier and safer to drive around.

Spending a little more on options might be very worthwhile. Again, no matter how old you are.

The post Older Drivers More Prevalent; Auto Industry Reacts appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

Nonetheless automakers are taking substantial and prolonged hits, perhaps equaling damages sustained by the homebuilding industry.

And when you’re down, look out for antagonists ready to pounce.

Auto Industry is taking A Beating

Environmentalists, no-growth advocates and bicycle riders alike seem to be relishing the opportunity to kick a dying dog. Everyone who ever hated cars is chipping in.

Take, for example, excerpts from “50 Reasons Why Cars Suck” on Bike Reader.

Too many cars – The site says that the number of cars grew faster than the population. So? So did cell phones and personal computers.
Danger – With too many cars out there, accidents are bound to increase. Every day in America, an average of 121 people are killed in car accidents.
Danger Part II – With no cars there would be no drive-by shootings. We’re not making this up, Bike Reader actually published it.
Traffic – It is estimated that Americans spend 8 billion hours per year stuck in traffic.
Additional topics on the list include: global warming, oil addiction, waste, and plenty more.

The list must be taken with a grain of salt, as it was compiled by a website for bicycle enthusiasts.

Anyone can come up with a quick list of why bikes suck, such as: you have to physically make them move; bicycling in the rain or snow is no fun; those crotch-rash-causing little seats; and riding a bike also is dangerous regardless whether any cars are around.

Positives for Car Enthusiasts

It’s easy to criticize the automobile, but there are positives emerging. Emissions keep improving, and the popularity of hybrid engine-motored vehicles such as the Toyota Prius bodes well for the future.

Airbag placement and technology have improved greatly and airbags have actually become a marketing tool to sell new cars.

American car buyers have more choices than ever, with new models arriving from Europe, Japan and even South Korea. American automakers are borrowing ideas from overseas and delivering neat packages such as the Mini Cooper.

Then there is the social aspect.

A blog on Edmunds.com noted, “One of the great things about cars is that it can bring people with common (and not so common) interests together. And surprisingly often, those people don’t fit the stereotype of the typical car enthusiast. One such example is the Mini Skirts, a mostly girls Mini rally group based in Southern California.”

No Hope for a Compromise When Buying Cars Won’t Subside

Maybe there’s a middle ground. During the 2008 Olympics, China Car Times published an article about a Mini club promoting itself with a new invention.

A half-car, half-bike. Basically the vehicles are the back end of a Mini Cooper, welded to the front two-thirds of a bicycle so it’s motorized by a single bike pedal-pusher, with covered seating in back for two passengers.

Don’t hold your breath to see many of these things on American roads, but the concept is interesting.

The anti-car underground most likely will have none of it. With a proliferation of websites dedicated to their cause, including unabashedly one-sided missives such as Carectomy.com, there won’t be much reasoning in the debate.

Attacks on the car will never end, because Americans will always tap the automobile as the main mode of transportation. That’s because riding a bike to work sucks when you have to wipe off sweat, change clothes and fix your hair before clocking in.

Plus, it’s not reliable every single day, because the weather can scare even the most expert bicycle rider. Those days, you better have a car or a car-pool buddy lined up.

And let’s not even talk about getting to work in a metropolis like Los Angeles, where 40-mile commutes are the norm. Talk all you want about riding a bike to a train station, but that means a transfer of modes and time lost.

Americans demand convenience, and that fact is not going to change any time soon. Time is too valuable today.

Ultimately the car will always be around because Americans want everything as easy as possible. And who can blame them?

The post The Cars versus Bikes Battle Drags On appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

California’s new hands-free mobile phone law has been in effect a month now, and media reports outline some interesting consequences.

First, there’s the cheaters. “I looked to my left, and there was a dark-haired woman driving a gray SUV with a towel draped over her head”, wrote a Bakersfield Californian columnist on July 30.

She was talking on a cell phone, trying to hide from authorities.

The Text Messaging Phenomenon

“I’ve learned one thing: It may be time to change my service plan”, the same columnist wrote. “I’m making 90 percent fewer phone calls. I am, however, texting like a high school girl.”

There are reports that text messaging while driving is even more dangerous than talking on the phone.

The same lawmaker who proposed the new hands-free law already is legislating to ban text messaging while driving.

Others report that Californians are using their mobile phones less, and driving better. Incoming calls to mobile phones are being ignored.

“Not having a Bluetooth, I find myself ignoring phone calls while driving. This makes me feel virtuous. I can’t take your call because it’s against the law”, the columnist wrote.

And Bluetooth devices are flying off shelves. 

The Mother of Invention

It seems that California’s new law is doing it’s job and making the streets of California a safer place.

“In July 2008, California and Washington joined New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C., in banning the use of mobile phones with your hands while driving. In California the law was no surprise, as it was passed several years ago and lawmakers gave plenty of lead time to explore communications options inside your vehicle.”

California drivers are going to continue to see options to help them abide by the law, beyond Bluetooth wireless hands-free contraptions.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers general information about the law, but steers clear of offering motorists any options.

Inventors are trying to fill the gap. For example, on July 29, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office reported the registration of an invention to provide “A small-footprint hands-free speakerphone apparatus (that) includes a loudspeaker, at least one main microphone, at least one reference microphone, and openings for receiving sound.”

“The apparatus may include one or more interface units to provide interface to external devices”, the report stated about the invention by Fortemedia Inc. or Cupertino.

Will such inventions put a dent in Bluetooth’s domination of the market?

Bluetooth, Texting and Drawbacks

Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento topped all metro markets nationwide for Bluetooth wireless headset sales in July.

It wasn’t just the law, industry analysts said, but also a love by Californians for technology.

But the law holds a hammer, too. First-offense fines are $20, with subsequent offenses at $50. Add state penalties and processing fees, and tickets range from $76 and $190 respectively.

Not everyone is keen on Bluetooth wireless as the ultimate solution. A University of Kansas phsychology professor in an article on Salon.com July 25, 2008 said:

“People are led to believe that as long as they have their Bluetooth wireless headset they’re safe, when in fact they’re probably at more risk, because now that they think that they’re safe they’re probably going to make more calls and be at risk for even greater periods of time.”

Those not technologically inclined, or who cannot afford wireless mobile phone contraptions, continue to either ignore incoming calls inside the car, or try other automobile communication techniques.

Text messaging is an option, but the media and lawmakers are already onto it.

Automobile mishaps nationwide have been blamed on texting. Four states already have outlawed sending or viewing text messages while driving, and California and legislatures in 13 other states are weighing bans on driving and texting.

The post Unforeseen Consequences of Hands-Free Law appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

So many features can be considered when comparing cars for safety, where do you start?

There is crash testing, but some ratings are by the government, some by the private insurance industry, and they differ.

You will hear about air bags, seatbelts, head restraint, stability control, rollover resistance, antilock brakes and more.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Which is most important depends on the person, driving conditions, and what’s most important to that person. Or all of the above.

For example a new mother is undoubtedly going to rank child safety much higher than, say, air bags.

Professionals who commute, particularly in areas where it rains or snows, might have more interest in antilock brakes.

Pickup truck owners, and particularly buyers of sport utility vehicles, are going to want to know more about rollover resistance.

Each safety feature is tested or weighed differently. If safety is a top priority as you buy a new or used car, make a checklist of what’s most important to you, and learn about the vehicle you have your eyes on.

Here we’ll give you some tips about what to look for.

Crash Testing for Dummies

Crash-test ratings grab headlines and the term itself is easily understood by the car-buying public. But are all rankings the same?

No. First let’s look at the insurance industry ratings.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an organization focused on auto safety. It researches, conducts its own crash tests, and sets ratings.

Historically it has focused on the front-offset crash, where a vehicle at 40 mph hits a barrier with 40% of the front of a car, in front of the driver.

Instead of crashing head-on, the offset angle tests a car’s ability to protect the area around the driver.

The IIHS scores its results as Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. To see its ratings, visit Hwy Safety. Recently the organization began side-impact testing as well.

Side-impact testing is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s two types of crash tests. It does full frontal and side impact.

Both are scored on a five-star scale, with more stars meaning safer, and the possibility of bodily injury weighing heavily.

These stars are fairly well-known by auto consumers. To see scores, visit Safer Cars.

The NHTSA’s frontal test focuses on a car’s safety belts and air bags in terms of protecting occupants in specific impacts. The frontal test crashes cars into a rigid barrier at 35 mph.

The Administration’s side-impact test simulates a car going 17 mph and getting hit on the side by a 3,000-pound car rolling at 34 mph.

Stability Control, Antilock Braking, and More

Beyond how a car will respond in a crash, there are many features in automobiles designed to protect a person in a collision, and to prevent vehicular mishaps.

Electronic Stability Control
Helps keep a car under control during cornering and prevent sliding or skidding in emergency situations.

If a vehicle starts to go out of control, the system automatically applies braking where needed and reduces engine power to maintain the intended course.

Carmakers might carry different names for their stability-control systems, so if you’re confused, ask if a car has electronic stability control.

Antilock Brake System
Prevents wheels from locking and skidding during a hard stop.  Skidding can cause loss of control of a car.

Such systems can result in shorter stops, a straight course and better maneuvering during a difficult situation.

Front Air Bags
Every new car today is required by law to have dual front air bags. A challenge may be figuring out which air-bag system a car has, and what it means to passengers.

There is the “smart” air-bag system, which uses electronic sensors to deploy differently depending on the situation, such as severity of a collision. Basically the air bags can deploy differently for a parking lot mishap, than they would with a head-on collision.

Some systems will not deploy the passenger side if the seat is empty, saving money for replacements.

Side Air Bags
Are pretty common for new cars, and separate side bags to protect the head are growing in availability.

The Rest
Other key safety features include head restraints, which protect against whiplash and neck injuries, and child-safety seats.

Every new car now has a system called LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) designed to make attaching a child seat easier, and to make an attached child seat more secure.

Safety is important to everyone, however the type of enhancements vary from manufacturer and from model. Be sure to do your homework when shopping for a car to ensure you get the safest model for your lifestyle.

The post Navigating the Auto Safety Maze appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

The report cited the 1995 Honda Civic as the most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2007, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Called its annual “Hot Wheels” report, the Bureau noted second place went to the 1991 Honda Accord, followed in order by the 1989 Toyota Camry and the 1997 Ford F-150. The top four did not change from statistics logged in 2006; and the ’95 Civic has been in the top 10 for four straight years.

Know Which Cars Are At Risk

All of this is valuable news if you are currently eyeing one of these models. Also of interest is why auto experts believe these vehicles are being targeted.

Overall the report wasn’t all bad news. It noted that auto theft rates have dropped nationally for every year since 2004, including by 8.9% in ’07.

Experts cited efforts by law enforcement and the insurance industry for the ongoing drops.

But that doesn’t mean auto theft has gone away, or ever will, despite improved prevention mechanisms such as car alarms, or police investigative tools.

Age, Make and Model Play a Role

Always at or near the top of the Bureau’s list are older-model Hondas and Toyotas. The theory is, they are popular and dependable, meaning more older versions are on roads as targets.

Also, some old Hondas and Toyotas hardly changed for several years which increased their value for parts.

Rounding out the top ten were the 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup, the 1994 Acura Integra, the 2004 Dodge Ram pickup, the 1994 Nissan Sentra, the 1988 Toyota Pickup, and, in just its first year, the 2007 Toyota Corolla made the list.

Owners of newer models are more likely to invest in theft-deterrent systems, such as alarms, kill switches, and tools that can cut off fuel. Owners can also invest more and get tools that track cars if stolen, helping police find and recover them.

The easiest and least expensive deterrent is locking your cars and taking the keys with you, experts said.

Deterrents can help shoo a thief away from your car to target another, especially if your car has a sticker or something to show off the item. Dealers often will place stickers on side windows, near the locks, to show a car has been fitted with an alarm.

Catching Car Thieves

Law enforcement practices have evolved greatly regarding auto theft, including increased use of license plate readers, and “bait cars” – imagine an undercover officer near a 1995 Civic in a high-crime area!

The art of tracking vehicle identification numbers, or VINs, has evolved greatly especially now that computers can be tapped.

Investigators can be tipped by auto mechanics about a suspicious engine being ordered for placement into a car, take the VIN, and investigate whether the engine matches the vehicle.

Recovery of stolen vehicles can be unpredictable. Many car owners have heard stories from other people whose car was stolen, and within weeks they feared their vehicles were already being sold for parts.

Interesting new security devices, such as DotGuard microdots, let individual car parts be identified and possibly returned.

Recovery rates depend on a jurisdiction’s police department’s focus. It helps if location devices have been installed.

Police might order random checks of cars that patrol units roll behind, or order checking all vehicles parked along a specific street or within a parking lot.

They also can keep a “watch list” of all vehicles reported stolen within their jurisdiction or a certain area.

The post Cars More Likely to be Stolen appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

The plan is to expand the traditional program of grading vehicles from one to five stars.

To be added to the usual stars will be an overall safety rating that will combine scores from multiple crash tests.

Consumers Want Real Testing and Real Facts

The new program also will add new front-end tests, and other specific-instance situations such as a car’s side hitting a pole, or the use of crash test dummies representing women and large children to see how they respond to certain collisions.

The changes were made in response to consumer complaints that too many vehicles earn top grades in testing, four or five stars.

Such duplicity presents challenges to car buyers who want to compare vehicles for safety aspects.

There is More to it Than Just Smashing Cars

Crash testing is not as simple as meets the eye. Beyond smashing a car into a stationary object – and watching crash-test dummies bounce to and fro – there is a great science involved.

Researchers use computerized crash data to estimate the likelihood of injuries that might occur in a crash. Tests are performed under meticulous scientific and safety guidelines.

Crash data through the years was utilized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to create the star system.

What Do They Test?

You hear about crash testing all the time, but do you know how they test and how they calculate ther results? Here is a quick rundown on crash testing and their rating system.

There are two main types of crashes tested today.

Side Impact

Crashes that result from a side impact are rated using stars which are determined by the worst of two sets of criteria:

• Thoracic Trauma Index
• Lateral Pelvic Acceleration

To get a five-star rating, both criteria must be in the range indicating less than a 5% chance of serious injury.

The Star System

• 5 stars for 5% or less chance of serious injury
• 4 stars if chance of serious injury is 6% to 10%
• 3 stars if chance of serious injury is 11% to 20%
• 2 stars if chance of serious injury is 21% to 25%
• 1 star if chance of serious injury is 26% or greater

Frontal Impact

Crashes that result from a frontal impact are rated using stars which are determined by the worst score of three sets of criteria:

• Head injury
• Chest deceleration
• Femur load

To get a five-star rating, all three must be below the level that indicates a 10% chance of severe injury.

A star rating is set for each of the front-seat passengers, for both side impact and frontal impact tests.

The Star System

• 5 stars for 5% or less chance of serious injury
• 4 stars if chance of serious injury is 11% to 20%
• 3 stars if chance of serious injury is 21% to 35%
• 2 stars if chance of serious injury is 36% to 45%
• 1 star if chance of serious injury is 46% or greater

What Else They Test

Frontal- and side-impact aren’t the only tests being used to keep motorists safe, because lets face it, they aren’t the only types of collisions that exist.

Offset Tests
Where only a portion of the front of a car collides with a barrier. The concept is to test for situations such as cars turning into oncoming traffic.

Roll-Over tests
Check a car’s tendency to support itself in the case of a dynamic impact. Roll-over tests became more known in recent years following reports of sport utility vehicle roll-overs. Consumers wanted to know if they’re SUV was going to roll with them in it.

Roadside Hardware Crash Tests
Tests the effectiveness of roadside barriers, crash cushions, guard rails, sign posts, light poles and other stationary roadside hardware designed to keep cars on the road where they belong.

Test results can be dramatic for certain cars. For example, the Rover 100 in 1998 received a one-star Adult Occupant Rating from certain crash tests. An 18-year-old design was dumped in response to fast-falling sales.

The Isuzu Trooper was scrapped just two years after Consumer Reports ranked 1995-1997 models as “Not Acceptable” due to findings that they could roll over during testing.

The post Seeking the Perfect Crash-Testing Program appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

In California the law was no surprise, as it was passed several years ago and lawmakers gave plenty of lead time to explore communications options inside your vehicle.

A Long Road

Motorists did not plan well. What we’ve seen so far is just fewer people talking on their phones in cars – as if they had no better solution than to screen calls coming in and pull over as soon as possible to respond.

What went wrong? Well, cost, and simply the unknown of using hands-free devices, resulted in procrastination.

Small fines haven’t helped. Many motorists will await their first-offense $20 fine before going hands-free. Some even will pay the $50 fine for each subsequent offense.

By that time it would seem logical to investigate going hands-free, and avoiding getting pulled over repeatedly.

California’s law holds certain peculiarities, such as not applying to commercial truck drivers. Likewise, Washington’s, which makes a handheld mobile phone a secondary offense. Drivers can only be cited if pulled over for another violation.

Still, motorists in affected states should explore solutions. What’s out there?

Useful Bluetooth

So far Bluetooth is making out with all the new hands-free laws, a short-range wireless communication technology.

Most popular so far are Bluetooth headset that fits over an ear. Such headsets work with a Bluetooth-compatible phone so calls can be engaged hands-free, or simply by pushing a button to answer or end a call.

This option is attractive because it’s not specific to a car, so it can be used if you drive multiple vehicles.

It also can be used outside a car. You can get one as affordable as Nokia’s BH-100, at around $50. Other products are within the $150 range.

Automakers Going Hands-Free

Bluetooth has been used as a marketing tool for new cars for several years. Motorists who preferred safety over waiting for new laws took advantage.

Bluetooth can be a standard or optional feature in several new models. Initially it could be considered a toy of the wealthy, arriving only in high-end cars.

Automakers are starting to install the technology in more affordable vehicles. Nissan in particular has gotten the bug, making it standard in some Sentra trims, and optional on its Versa.

To help brand their vehicles some automakers invented names for their systems, such as UConnect in Dodge and Chrysler, or Hands-Free Link in Honda and Acuras.

Some of Your Bluetooth Options

If built-in wireless technology is not among your top features for purchasing a new car, automakers, technology companies and even car stereo manufacturers are trying to give motorists options.

You can get a Bluetooth kit to permanently attach it inside your car, or a portable kit you can use in any vehicle.

A hard-wired kit means not worrying about leaving it in the wrong car, losing it entirely, or running out of power. Some come with neat features.

Parrot’s 3200 LS-Color costs $249, plus installation, and has a color screen that could show photos to identify callers.

Portables usually cost less and come with fewer features, but can more easily be moved from vehicle to vehicle.

They often plug into a cigarette lighter to run right off the car’s battery, lessening worries that you’ll run out of power on the road.

Some run on rechargeable batteries, such as the Sony Ericsson HCB-150 Bluetooth speakerphone, for $199.

Car stereo manufacturers are getting into the act, producing Bluetooth adapters, or even radios with the technology built in.

Whichever route you choose, it will be yet another cost to your mobile phone system, or car. But it appears hands-free laws are here to stay, as several other states already are weighing similar restrictions.

The post Two More States Go Hands-Free in the Car appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

Interest in improving driver and passenger safety in cars increases every year. Things like side-impact safety curtains were unheard of only a decade ago.

Sweden – Cutting Edge Safety

In fact recently, according to Reuters, the head of traffic safety for the Swedish road administration said we now are in the “biggest revolution in the auto industry since the seatbelt.”

And Volvo is at the forefront. The same news article stated Volvo’s plan to create an “injury-proof” car by 2020. Some industry analysts view the announcement as the company’s attempt to maintain its high level of consumer perceptions regarding safety

Now, the concept may be dangerous to reckless American drivers. After all, if an automaker states that its vehicle is “injury proof,” you know some knucklehead will test it.

But the thought is interesting and offers a good platform to discuss auto safety, and Volvo’s history with it.

Safety Through The Years

Volvo’s history regarding passenger safety is well documented. Laminated glass in car windows was introduced with the PV model way back in 1944. 

Motorists certainly were impressed with windows that wouldn’t cut you up when they brake.

The modern three-point safety belt was patented by a Volvo engineer in 1958. A year later it was standard on all Volvo models.

The first rear-facing child car seat was introduced by Volvo in 1964. The company unveiled its own booster seat 14 years later.

That third brake light mounted at the top of your rear window? Blame Volvo. 

It introduced it in 1986, and the U.S. government mandated it for all new cars that same year.

In 1995, Volvo was the first to install side airbags as standard equipment in all models.

The 2007 Volvo S80 is one of five vehicles that received the highest rating possible, five stars, in the government’s front, side and rollover crash tests. The flagship of Volvo’s sedans comes with leading-edge safety features.

Today’s Models

Today, the V8 all-wheel drive comes with Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator (PCC) security package as standard. Nice touch, boosting engine power along with safety features.

The PCC allows a driver to review the security level and learn whether the alarm is set, before getting in their car. Plus, a heartbeat sensor warns if a person is hiding inside!

Of course you pay for that peace of mind…the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a 2008 Volvo S80 4-door sedan is $49,955. 

Today’s carbuyers certainly must make tough choices, such as whether to go smaller and save a chunk of change in gas costs, or pay the premium for a safer ride.

Follow the Leader

Other carmakers are not far behind. Many, including Volvo, are using aviation-like systems to prevent automobile mishaps before they occur. Use of radar in today’s new cars is not unheard of.

Ford is now adding safety features in their models from the Volvo division.

In the simplest terms, automobile safety is avoiding car accidents and minimizing the harmful effects of mishaps to human life and health.

The industry’s attention to the matter is a no-brainer. Despite all auto safety improvements through the years, traffic injuries still represent about 25 percent of injury-related deaths in the world, with an estimated 1.2 million deaths as of 2004 according to the World Health Organization.

On top of that, there were 50 million car-crash injuries.

Automotive history is littered with safety breakthroughs – and many different automakers can claim credit.  Among them:

• General Motors performed the first barrier crash test in 1934.
• SAAB in 1949 applied aircraft safety engineering and produced a model with a safety cage.
• The Mazda RX-8 was the only sport utility vehicle to get a 5-star rating by the NTSB in June 2004, when SUV rollovers were commanding headlines.

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Lets face it, if BMW made it you know it is safe, and stylish. In fact, what kid wouldn’t want to be the first one on the block with a Sauber F1 car seat?

In addition to a stylish look and supreme safety, the BMW Sauber car seat is also built for comfort and proper fit.

A car seat that grows with your child

This is a car seat that will grow with your child, and is built to hold weight classes II and III (roughly 3 1/2 to 12 years of age, or from 33-79 pounds). Chances are this snazzy seat will fall out of style long before your child outgrows it.

The backrest and bolsters adjust according to your child’s height and offer side support and a head rest for additional stability. The seat literally grows with your child, and that’s great because seriously some of them seem to grow so fast you can actually see it happen.

Great colors, great fit, great safety, whats not to like?

No matter which child seat you choose to keep your children safe, be sure to do your homework and make sure they have gotten good safety ratings. Check out our article on Car seat safety for more information.

The post Every kid needs a BMW Sauber F1 car seat appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

In other words, don’t buy your car seat on impulse because it’s on sale at K-Mart.

Car seat research

The importance of research when it comes to purchasing the perfect child seat cannot be stressed enough. Every child is different, every car is different and every situation is different so there is no cut and dry formula.

Regardless of the cosmetic differences between them, the important detail is how safe the seat will keep your child. So do your homework, and really folks most of the work has been done for you, all you have to do is read the results.

Safety ratings

Before you do anything you’ll want to take a look at the test results as presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the NHTSA.

They offer an easy to follow rating system which evaluates 5 different elements of the seats.

1. Assembly Almost self explanatory, this section tests the ease of use and whether they require any work for assembly. Do you need to add harnesses or seat padding to make the seat complete.

2. Evaluation of labels This section addresses the placement, clarity and hardiness of the labels on the car seat. Are the diagrams and/or instructions clear and easy to follow. Are steps for attaching the car seat using seat belts and lower attachments well placed?

3. Instructions Here they evaluate the instructions in much the same manner as the labels. In addition to how well the instructions and labels compliment one another for ease of use.

4. Securing the child This tests how easy it is to use the car seat. How straightforward the harness is and how manageable it is when adjustment and/or conversion is necessary.

5. Installing features Here the overall ease of use is tested, ease of installation, and of attachment once in the car trying to use it.

Cover all of your bases

It is easy to find feedback from any number of credible sources, and be sure you read the entire list of pros and cons given by all of your information sources before you make an informed decision.

ConsumerSearch also offers a comprehensive list of car seats tested by some of the top organizations when it comes to both car safety and child safety.

More good advice

For more great child seat evaluations and beneficial information on child safety in general, the American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP’s website has this Guide for families. Which not only offers good information about safety ratings and popular brands, but the AAP has put together safety rules and diagrams to help consumers.

Bottom line, aesthetics are important, but function is what you pay for. Child seats are often confusing and hard to use, especially to the random babysitter or family member. Not only should you strive to purchase a safe car seat, but one that is easy to use so you can feel good about others being able to strap your priceless package in with little hassle.

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