Visalia Car Show

Great show! 200+ cars and naturally my favorite green one. We had a chance to talk up cars and real estate from our new downtown location with Avedian Properties.

Visalia Car Show

Downtown Visalia Car Show! Saturday, May 19th. Ruben and Vince will have their rides parked in front of Avedian Properties at 209 W. Main. Stop by and say hi and we'll talk up everything real estate and classic cars.
Here are a couple pics from the Tulare Cars on "K" show:

Cars on "K"

Yeh! First car show of the season! Cars on "K" in Tulare is tomorrow, Saturday the 7th. Be sure to stop by and say hi and we'll talk up cars and all things real estate...see you there.

Protect your ride for best resale value

(ARA) - As inclement weather and uncontrollable conditions hit the roadways, it's essential not to let the environment wreak havoc on your car's resale value. It's hard enough avoiding flying debris and ravaged roads, let alone keeping the kids' muddy cleats off your leather seats.

And while you might not hear praise for all of that hard work, it's important to keep you and your car's resistance to the elements top of mind during the peak car buying and selling season.

"It's important to keep your car or truck in top physical condition," says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director of Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. "Late summer to mid fall is peak car-buying season, and those planning to purchase a used vehicle will look at everything from the state of the fabrics to sun damage to the condition of the paint. The sun can cause more damage than even the wind or rain."

Nerad advises car owners to take the little steps that will yield big results in the long-run, like those offered by 3M Automotive's Aftermarket Division. "If you're trying to get the most re-sale value for your car or truck, it's more than worth your time and investment to protect both the inside and outside of your vehicle," he says.

Add mileage to your car - and you, too.

Many drivers aren't aware that windshields are typically the only window equipped with the capacity to block out harmful UVA rays. That means every passenger in a car is vulnerable to severe sun exposure. A simple solution is to install window films - they may only require a one-time application, but they achieve long-lasting results. By reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the interior of your car, you not only protect your health, but you preserve the condition of your vehicle's interior.

What about that spiffy paint job?

The sun doesn't have to worry about its ability to shine - but your car does. You may think you're doing all the right things to maintain its glistening coat, like parking in the farthest corner of the lot, cautiously opening your car door, or minimizing recreational off-road adventures.

Five ways to ensure your older car costs less to keep running

(ARA) - Which is cheaper - a monthly car payment for a new vehicle that will almost certainly have lower maintenance and repair costs than an older car? Or keeping on top of regular maintenance and repair of an older car, and saving yourself the monthly car payment?

If the numbers are any clue, it would seem more Americans believe holding on to an older car costs less than paying for a new one. The average age of passenger cars is now more than 9 years, according to data from R.L. Polk. And the average price of a new car tops $28,000, according to the Federal Trade Commission. What's more, older cars depreciate less and often cost less to insure.

Hanging on to a car - and taking care of it - can definitely save you money versus taking on a new-car payment. The key to maximizing your savings on an old car is actually to spend a little on regular maintenance. That will allow you to avoid more costly, emergency repairs caused by the breakdown of poorly maintained parts.

Follow these simple steps to ensure good maintenance helps you avoid expensive repairs:

1. Get to know the owner's manual. Your owner's manual will provide vital information on your vehicle's systems, and should include a maintenance schedule. If you no longer have the owner's manual or want more detailed maintenance information for your car, you can buy a factory service manual online. Auto parts retailer RockAuto.com sells manuals for $12 to $50 - money well spent if it helps you avoid a repair that costs hundreds or even thousands.

2. Take care of the timing belt. Most cars newer than 20 years old have timing belts that need to be changed, sometimes as often as every 60,000 miles. When the timing belt breaks it may either simply leave the car immobile or, worse, if the car has what the RockAuto.com auto parts catalog calls an "interference engine," then a broken timing belt will likely cause expensive damage to other engine parts. Look in your owner's manual to see if your car has a timing belt and when it must be replaced.

3. Check your fluids. Make sure you know the manufacturer's recommendations for what type of oil, antifreeze, transmission, power steering and brake fluid your vehicle uses. Using outdated or the wrong fluid can cause damage - and void any remaining warranty on your car. Check your owner's manual to determine what kind of fluid to use and when each needs to be changed.

Hot wheels: The top five muscle cars

(ARA) - Baseball, barbecue, pool parties - when you're tallying ways to celebrate summer, don't overlook one uniquely American invention that some devotees say is the epitome of summer fun - the muscle car.

"Summer and muscle cars go together perfectly," says Steven Magnante, former technical editor of "Hot Rod" magazine. Magnante will be SPEED's on the block reporter during the Inaugural Barrett-Jackson Orange County Collector Car Auction in Costa Mesa, Calif., this summer. "Summer is a time for enjoyment. Winter snow and frigid temperatures become distant memories when you're motoring along in a high performance car on a sunny summer afternoon."

Pontiac built a total of 40,149 GTO’s in 1970, a mere 3,784 were convertibles. This Orbit Orange hardtop is ready to make a 12-second pass at the drag strip.

If you're lucky enough to have a muscle car in your garage, summer is certainly the perfect time to roll it out. If you're an admirer but not an owner, you'll find plenty of collector car auctions, auto shows and TV programs (SPEED will show 18 hours of live coverage of the Barrett-Jackson event) to indulge your interests this summer.

"America was the perfect breeding ground for the muscle car phenomenon," says Magnante, who has hosted "Off-Road Adventures TV" and "Classic Car Restoration" on cable's DIY Network. "We've got the best primary and secondary roads in the world, vast expanses between major cities and towns and a higher level of prosperity. Add in our free spirit, quest for individuality and competitive nature, and the arrival of high-performance passenger cars was inevitable."

Here are Magnante's picks for the top five muscle cars of summer:

5. 1983-'93 Mustang GT Convertible

"Many of us just can't afford to spend what it takes to obtain a classic '60s muscle car," Magnante says. "But if you can get past the somewhat dated styling, any 1983 to '93 Mustang GT convertible will bring you endless smiles without draining your wallet. Clean 5.0 drop tops are easy to find for under $7,500 and make great budget-conscious, summertime-fun machines." A 5.0 liter engine makes the GT a great performer. The 225 horsepower 1987 Mustang GT was a 14-second drag strip performer, capable of running with some of the Mustang greats of the '60s.

4. 1968-1974 Big Block Corvette Roadster

"Some say it's a sports car and doesn't belong in the muscle car category, but any car that can smoke tires at 60 mph, run 13s at the strip and strike fear into the hearts of Street Hemi owners is a muscle car," Magnante says. Big block 'Vettes with V8 engines deliver 427 cubic inches of brutal performance. Though earlier cars (pre-1971) were less encumbered by smog controls and reduced compression (for compatibility with unleaded gas), even a de-tuned '74 454 roadster (270 horsepower) has plenty of torque for excitement when you mash the gas pedal - especially when coupled to a four-speed stick.

3. 1968-1975 Plymouth Road Runner

"Plymouth went fishing in the shallow end of the marketplace by pricing the original Road Runner below $3,000 ($2,870 for a stripped pillar coupe)," Magnante says. Plymouth kept the price low by doing away with frills like power windows, bucket seats and air conditioning. A very potent 335 horsepower 383 big block engine and rugged four-speed manual transmission were standard equipment. "With no exaggeration, it was the first muscle car that was affordable to the average teenaged supermarket checkout clerk," he says.

2. 1965-1970 Mustang High Performance Convertible

"This selection is only valid for Mustang convertibles built with the top engine option for its respective year," Magnante says. "Mustangs built with lesser engines are fun to drive, but do not qualify as muscle cars." In 1966, Ford produced 72,199 Mustang convertibles - the peak year of production for the model.

1. 1964-1971 Pontiac GTO Convertible

"Experts will always argue about who invented the muscle car," Magnante says. "Controversy aside, nobody can deny that the 1964 Pontiac GTO was the first mass-produced Detroit muscle car to really get the mix of image, marketing and performance just right - and spawn a host of would-be imitators from every competing make." The car was so successful that although Pontiac expected to sell just 5,000 of them in 1964, by the end of the year Americans had driven 32,450 GTO convertibles off the lot ... and a legend was born.

Protect yourself -- and your car -- on the road this winter

(ARA) - Cold-weather driving definitely presents its challenges. Aside from the chance of getting stuck or stranded in less-than-ideal weather, there's also an increased risk of accidents when roads aren't in optimal condition.

In fact, 24 percent of accidents are weather-related, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The best way to avoid a weather-related accident is to refrain from driving when conditions aren't ideal. But since that's not always possible, you should take steps to protect yourself and your vehicle before the weather turns bad.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recommends taking the following actions before winter hits:

* Get your car serviced to see if you have any major issues that could leave you stranded in bad weather.

* Make sure your battery has enough power to start your car in cold weather.

* Make sure you have the proper amount of coolant to avoid freezing and consult your owner's manual to see if you should change the coolant/water ratios.

* Fill up on wiper fluid and inspect your windshield wipers.

* Check tires for cracks and worn tread. Make sure your tire pressure is at recommended levels as colder air can cause them to deflate.

* Stock your vehicle with emergency items like a shovel, sand, blankets and jumper cables.