Car Chute

Munich (dpa) – Automatic car headlamps often fail to switch themselves on in fog, warns Germany’s leading ADAC motoring club.

The sensors fitted to many new cars as standard do not recognise swathes of fog so drivers should remember to switch on their running lights manually.
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Buying a second hand car can be a great way to grab a bargain and also a trap into much angst and annoyance for many years to come. There is more than looking at the car service history when it comes to buying your new, but used car. Here are some tips to get you thinking.

• Know the market. With the rapid expansion of internet car sales sites, it is a good idea for you to spend some time and get a real thorough understand of the market. You will be able to see over any period of time, how long and for how much similar cars in your price range or car type are actually selling for.
• Remember there is always another one. This is the key to being a good buyer. You may pay too much if you think that you have found the car of your dreams. There is always another one, and if you are not buying it at bargain price then you will have paid too much. That is the rule. Remember there will come day that you have to sell it. When people want to sell, that means they want to get rid of it. You will be in the same position.
• Car history. There are many ways that you can check up on the history of a car. Services on the internet are very inexpensive and allow for detailed car history, including accidents and car repair. Know if the vehicle that you are intending to purchase has financially encumbered or not. Check all details regarding the history of the car quickly and accurately online. A small investment with large implications.
• Roadworthy certificate. Some owners will try to sell their car without a roadworthy certificate. It may seem that the vehicle only needs a minor attention and a little more to get the roadworthy certificate. If that is the case why has the owner not done that in the first place. Unless you are taking on a project care, DO NOT buy any vehicle without a roadworthy certificate in any situation. You are looking for trouble.
• Modifications. Modifications to the car may have made it illegal, you should know fully what that means for the car that you are buying. Make sure that you can see all receipts of these modifications and they should have been performed by reputable companies. Remember that the money spent by the previous owner on these modifications was not an investment and money that they spent for personal pleasure and enjoyment. If you like modified cars, buying one second hand is a great way to take advantage without expense.
• Expert check. A test drive will never be enough, and you should always make the purchase of your vehicle being subject to the full and independent check of a professional. Think about this, do not take the car to the local service point as the owner may already have a relationship with that company or individual that is not in your best interest.

Buying a second hand car is an excellent way to purchase a car at very good cost. Look for car owners who are as fanatical in the way they treat their pride and joy as you do.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., today announced that Lexus intends to conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 39,000 2003-2007 Model Year LX 470 vehicles to address a steering shaft condition. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this safety recall.

This action follows an announcement made by Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan on July 29, 2010.

Lexus has determined that the construction of the steering shaft on involved LX 470s is such that the snap ring on the shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels, such as striking a deep pothole. If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then repeatedly turned to the full locked position, the steering shaft may disengage over time.

Lexus is not aware of any accidents related to this condition.

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3,800 Lexus LS sedans were recalled in the U.S. to address a steering system problem. This is a similar recall made by Toyota Japan earlier. The recall covers 2009 and 2010 LS 460 and LS 600h sedans.

The recall is designed to fix a problem in which the steering wheel becomes off-center after a specific driving maneuver. The problem should not occur during normal driving. Lexus dealers will be contacting owners to set up appointments to have the repair performed.

The company has received 12 complaints of the problem in Japan but no accidents caused by the problem were reported either in the U.S. or Japan.

The LS 460 is Lexus’s highest-end four-door sedan, starting at $65,380 in the U.S. The LS 600h is the hybrid version and is priced at $108,800.

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