The general population will never know what it feels like to drop the hammer on a Testarosa, Enzo, Bentley, or other type of super car.  However, there are companies entering the market  that want to make it a reality, by offering super car rental.  So, just like you would stop down at your local Rent-A-Car place of choice and pick up a white 09 Impala, you would be able to pick up a new Ferrari Enzo.

I know I'd rather cruise into my next business meeting in a Lamborghini or Ferrari, rather than some tired Prius or stock white Dodge Neon.  Also, depending on which part of the country you live in, prices can range from very reasonable to a once in a lifetime weekend splurge.  For example, one company in California offers a Porsche Boxster for uner $200 per day, but also a Ferrari 360 Modena for $1200 per day rental.

Quick access to super car rentals can be seen best in Las Vegas.  Money flies around this town and a lucky person at the black jack table can walk out of the casino and rent a lambo for the night.  For the rest of us a little more planning may be involved, but at least there are options for the fraction of the price of a new super car.  I'm thinking I would just be happy renting a Shelby Mustang.

If you are interested in renting a Ferrari or Lamborghini, check out the Exotic Car Rental Directory for the rental car company near you.

Auto Loan

Under no circumstance am I recommending anyone run out and get a loan they cannot afford, but getting a loan with bad credit or no credit for a vehicle can be a great way to start building your credit back up again.  At one point the big lenders would not allow such a practice, therefore making it almost impossible to get back on the right track.  Thanks to some changes it's now much easier to secure an auto loan with bad credit.  Furthermore in some institutions it's as easy for someone with bad credit to get a loan as for people with 800+ credit scores.

Although it is easier for those with bad credit to get an auto loan, there are some pitfalls to watch out for.  First of all, make sure you get plenty of quotes, because this market can be very volatile.  Interest rates, the term of loans, and the type of auto you purchase can have a big impact on what type of auto loans you may qualify for.  Generally there will be two types of loans available to people with bad credit, SubPrime and Hard Money.

These two lending types make it possible to auto finance for bad credit applicants.  Generally it means you will be subjected to a higher interest rate or shorter terms, which translates into higher monthly payments.  However, if you are getting your feet placed firmly on the ground and ready to start building credit again, there is no faster or easier way.  Don't get discouraged, this economy has everyone feeling the pinch, so if you have bad credit, remember, there are options available.

Interested in adding some cool Ferrari 599xx wallpaper to your computer desktop?  Search no further than The-Grayline automotive forum, where our crack team of graphic designers are churning out hot wallpapers in a variety of sizes.

This is a maiden launch of available wallpapers, with more to come, covering different vehicles.  Download for free the Ferrari 599xx and Ferrari badge wallpapers below.

With spring comes one of the classic American past times; cruising on a joyride in a convertible.  Whether you drive a Mazda Miata or a BMW Z3, new or old, it doesn't matter... there's no feeling quite like cruising down a country highway with the top down, music blasting, and the summer sun shining down on you.

However one of the dilemmas many owners face are the need for replacement convertible tops after a few years. Unlike automotive paint which is designed to withstand the elements, the sun and snow can be particularly brutal on your canvas top. Even if you are lucky enough to have no rips or tears in it, the harsh UV rays are almost guaranteed to fade the fabric overtime... turning your black cloth top into an ugly gray. You see this frequently with the VW and Miata convertible tops. Unfortunately, this can make an otherwise meticulously maintained late model convertible look aged beyond its years

How to care for a convertible top?

Keep it Clean – Be sure to always keep your canvas top as clean as possible. Using a simple DIY pressure washer (such as at the self-service car wash) will help remove sediment that is build up within the fabric. The last thing you want is the top on your late model Mazda Miata to become permanently stained already because you allowed the dirt to stay on it too long.

Use a Protectant – Just like people wax their paint to protect it, you can also use certain products to protect your convertible top. There are a number of inexpensive ones on the market which you rub on using a cloth. Your local auto parts store should carry several. This is especially important with the early generation Mazda Miata convertible tops because they were made with a less durable, softer fabric which is more susceptible to the elements. After the initial application, be sure to apply the protectant regularly (as often as the instructions recommend).

Avoid the Sun – While this may seem like an oxymoron considering it's a convertible... it's true. When you are not driving it, be sure to keep the car out of the sun. Sometimes this can be difficult though – i.e. Your new Porsche Boxster convertible top that sits in an unshaded parking lot when you're at work. What's the solution? Get a car cover to block those harsh UV rays from prematurely aging the canvas. Spending a little on a car cover and using it daily could save you a lot of money later on by extending the life of your car's convertible top.

It's true that it may too late and the damage has already been done to your car, if it wasn't cared for properly in the past. But, if your convertible top is still in prime shape, you can keep it looking good for years to come by following these simple steps.

That's right, it's happened to the best mechanics in the world on an old motor, stripped threads while tightening down a spark plug.  If this has happened to you before and you've been quoted upwards of $2,000 to have it fixed, then it's time we look at some options.  There are other fixes available other than just a new header replacement.

In a recent question sent into the Car Talk Guys asks the very question of what could possibly go wrong in a matter of hours and cost $2,000.  They not only suggest getting a second opinion, but to also consider plug inserts.  These inserts replace the once built-in threads that were in the header and the previous spark plugs tightened into.  Typically an insert will cost under $100, making the pain your wallet feels a little more outpatient related than month long sedated.

For more information on fixing your stripped spark plug threads instead of replacing the head, read what TimeSert offers in regards to Spark Plug Thread Repair Kits.  And just like visiting a surgeon or doctor, go for a second opinion instead of forking out unnecessary scrilla.

Also, be sure to read up on why it's important to change your spark plugs regularly.

Anytime you mix fast, mass service with anything mechanical you are sure to have issues.  Walmart Automotive Center is one such example where problems can arise, simply from mechanics being in too big a hurry, or inproperly trained.  It's quick and easy to find a Walmart when all you need is an oil change, but it could end up costing you in the long run.  Let's look at some of the complaints about the Walmart Automotive Center.

Two Gaskets Don't Make A Right

A recent complaint from earlier this month states that the individual took his car to the local Walmart Automotive Center for a basic oil change.  Besides the employees being extremely rude, there was also an issue with the oil change itself.  Reportedly when the old oil filter was removed, the mechanic failed to remove the old gasket.  When the new oil filter was installed it leaked badly, after only a few days the owner reported losing all oil in his drive way.  Obviously running an engine without oil will damage the engine, so the owner went back to the Walmart where the oil change was performed.

The manager of the automotive department agreed to file an insurance claim and get it taken care of.  Positive recovery is great, but unfortunately the insurance company doesn't agree and because the owner of the car didn't take it back to Walmart before fixing the issue, they are denying the claim.  This Walmart Automotive Center complaint is still in process.

Tire Rotation Confrontation

Earlier this year a complaint came in from a customer in West, Florida that purchased a slightly more expensive tire replacement and rotation package.  The package will supposedly cover tire rotations for the life of the tires.  When the customer returned back to Walmart to have her tires rotated, she was denied the free rotation she purchased, because Walmart no longer carries that brand tire.

What Oil Cap

At the end of last year a customer from Springfield, MO alleges that she had her oil changed at her Super Walmart Automotive Center.  After five days she started smell a strong burning smell, so she dropped by a local dealership.  According to reports the oil cap had been left off of the car, which caused oil to spray all over the underside of her hood and over the engine.  This caused a major fire hazard and a somewhat pricely fix, considering the extent of the mess.

When the customer brought the issue up with management at the Walmart Automotive Center there seemed to be hope.  However, after an initial inspection of her car(at the dealership) by a Walmart employee and further investigation, they claim they have video proof that a cap was put on the car when she left.  She was not allowed to see the video and this accusation is still under litigation.

Thoughts

I understand that no one is perfect and just going by the numbers Walmart should have more issues than other mechanics.  Consider the sheer amount of people that come through the Walmart automotive center, Murphy dictates that at least a small percentage will have faults.  But don't think just because the automotive center wears that all too familiar Walmart title that you will be protected from any issues and that every job will be perfect.  You get what you pay for.

It happened to me, I got a chip in my windshield a  few days ago, thanks to some sloppy driving by dump trucks carrying a load of rocks.  The rock jumped up and placed a chip in my auto glass smaller than the size of a quarter, but right in my line of sight.  It's frustrating and even more blood boiling knowing I'm responsible for getting it fixed since I was unable to get information from the culprit dump truck.

After doing some checking around I found that a chipped windshield can be easily fixed and in some cases can even be done with a home kit available from Wal-Mart.  I read some reviews and decided that fixing the chip in my windshield myself was not the best idea, again considering the chips location.  Therefore, I turned my research to my insurance providers website, Progressive.

According to them, like most other auto insurers, you can get a chipped windshield repaired for free.  That means no deductible, no out of pocket expense, only time to take your car to the autotive shop.  As long as the repair is done by a reputable and accredited company, Progressive will pay for the entire cost of repair.  Also, typically they will only cover the cost, no deductible, if the crack or chip is less than the size of a dollar.

Great news!  I plan on getting my windshield repaired by a reputable glass repair shop.  And for others looking to get annoying chips and cracked glass fixed, most insurance companies will cover the repair for free without out of pocket expense for a deductible.

Used Car Loan

Buying a used car is a little bit more difficult if you've got bad credit, compared to those with options as a buyer with good credit.  The restrictions on buying a used car with a loan can vary from bank to bank, so hopefully these tips will help those with good credit score the best percentage rate.  In my experience, the bigger the bank, the higher the percentage rate on your used car loan, so let's look at some options.

Factors when getting a loan for a used car include the age of the vehicle, Blue Book value, and obviously your credit score.  Generally speaking, the older the vehicle the higher the interest rate will be on your loan.  At one point most banks won't even loan you money for a used car, generally the cut off is 6 years old.  So, getting a used car loan for a model year 2003 vehicle will difficult, depending on the bank you use.  Also, your interest rate will be higher on the 2003 vehicle than the 2008 used vehicle.

When you get a loan for a used car, the vehicle you purchase is used as colateral to secure the funds.  So, once you license your new vehicle the title is sent to the lien holder, the bank.  Once you pay the vehicle off, the title is then sent to you.  To protect it's loan a bank will make sure the vehicle is worth at least as much as the loan they give.  Therefore a bank will use Kelly Blue Book to decide a market value for the used car, sometimes you can get a loan for 100% of the used car value.  As mentioned previously, the older the vehicle the less the bank will be willing to loan you for the car.

At the beginning of this article I mentioned that in my experience the highest interest rates were at the largest banks.  Three weeks ago I purchased a 2004 F150 and I needed a small loan (under $5000) to complete the transaction.  Interest rates were all over the board on a 48 month term, the highest being from 5/3, a bank I've been using for years.  Their current interest rate on a vehicle older than 3 years was 9%, which is outrageous, especially for me, a person with a FICO score over 820.

After talking with the loan officer I found out a few of my options.  I am a member of a local credit union, which was much smaller than 5/3 Bank, but their interest rates matched their size.  They were both small, to the tune of only 6% for 48 months!  By doing a little searching around and going with a smaller bank I was able to secure a loan for a used car with a much lower interest rate, saving me hundreds of dollars.

It's not always this easy, especially if you have less than perfect credit.  Furthermore, different areas of the country have different interest rates for small loans, depending on what the market can bare.  Considering the state of the economy, finding a good interest rate for small loans can be difficult, but whatever you do, make sure you search around before committing and signing on the dotted line.

It's thrilling and sad at the same time, but accidents are magnetic, and I can't help but look at them, especially if a car is on fire.  Here are the top 8 best cars on fire shots that I've found online.

In every case, I hope that the driver and passengers made it out safely.  And for the vehicles themselves, holy hell, what a hell of a way to go.  I hope you enjoy these cars on fire just as much as I have.

Mother Nature can be a real bitch, especially when she decides to drop mini bombs on our pride and joys.  Earlier this year I personally experienced some golf ball sized hail, luckily I was able to park my vehicles in a garage, so we didn't get any damage.  However, not everyone is so lucky.

Check out these pictures of hail damaged cars, it'll make you want to start parking your car in a garage or under a car port.

Of course, not everyone can afford a proper garage to park their vehicles in out of the weather.  So, next time your local weatherman is calling for storms and possible chance of hail, protect your car the cheap way.

Hail Damage Protection