Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Make Sure Your Auto Extended Warranty Includes the Right Coverage

Car damage and maintenance can be an unexpected and costly circumstance. If an individual is planning on holding on to their vehicle for a good period of time, they should look into buying an extended auto warranty. This is often a great way for them to keep unforeseen expenses at bay.

It is also more of an insurance policy for their car. It can help people lower the cost of having their car repaired, but choosing the wrong coverage can have detrimental effects. Not only will it render their extended warranty useless, they will also have to pay the entire cost for their car’s repair. There are several important things that people should remember when purchasing an extended auto warranty to make sure that they have the right coverage.

Always Read the Hard Cover

Finding the best car warranty company requires research. People should not base their extended auto warranty buying decision on data that is provided in the pamphlet or brochure. They should always remember to read the actual car warranty contract in order to review the conditions and terms of the plan along with its coverage. This will help people make sure that they are buying a warranty that meets their individual needs.

Always Determine the Type of Coverage

When considering what extended warranty they should purchase, people should also bear in mind what type of coverage it offers. There are two types of coverage that an extended warranty should provide. One of them is bumper-to-bumper coverage.

If an extended auto warranty has this coverage, people should determine if it lists the items that are covered. This is done in order to determine if it is real bumper-to-bumper coverage. Usually, true bumper-to-bumper coverage does not list all things that it covers, and it is also exclusionary.

It means that it will only list some of the things that are not covered. The types of components that are not usually covered are cosmetic and maintenance items. Another important thing that people should look into is wear and tear and mechanical breakdown coverage. The majority of extended auto warranties will only provide coverage for repairs that are caused by mechanical breakdowns. Extended auto warranties that have tear and wear protection ensure that an individual will be covered for the parts that break down due to constant use.

An Important Thing to Remember

People should also bear in mind that there are a number of extended auto warranty companies that include tear and wear exclusions within their plans. These exclusions can be for a number of items such as valves, struts, piston rings and other valuable mechanical components that will wear out due to use over time. People should always proceed with caution when they are dealing with these kinds of extended auto warranty plans.


Specialty Items and Over-Heating

People should also determine if their extended auto warranty provides coverage for overheating and specialty coverage. Overheating can often be a common factor in a car’s mechanical problems when it breaks down. People should always make sure that their extended warranty includes damage that was caused by overheating.

Aside from that, people should also determine if it provides coverage for important car components such as early ABS braking systems. This is because these are expensive items to replace and repair. People should avoid extended warranties that have special clauses that exclude these kinds of coverage.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Water Tubing

Margaux Triumphs Over the Tube
Margaux Triumphs Over the Tube (Photo credit: CliffMuller)

Water tubing is the perfect activity for those who are new to water sports. Unlike some of the more advanced hobbies like water skiing, water tubing requires only minimal skills. Instead of extreme agility and balance, water tubers need only be able to hold on tight! It’s also fun and exciting for lake goers of all ages. Tubing can be done at any speed, and can even be enjoyed by the youngest children if you have a large tube that accommodates more than one person. Tubing is also a great group activity as compared to other popular water sports. Even if you only purchase individual tubes, it is far easier to take turns while water tubing than other activities.

With new boat technology, it’s even easier to incorporate tubing into group outings on the lake. Before, tubing was most exciting with a fast speedboat that could zip the tubes along and create wakes that allowed for jumps. Now, pontoon boats can get in on the tubing action without sacrificing the speed and excitement. Pontoons from Manitou Pontoon Boats specifically boast V-Toon design and Sport Handling Package technology that combine the party atmosphere of a pontoon with the handling of a speedboat. These features are perfect for families or groups who are interested in recreational water tubing.

Safety is essential when water tubing, as with any sport. Life jackets should always be worn aboard a boat, but especially when tubing. Riders often become temporarily separated from the boat when an unexpected bump causes them to loosen their grip, so having a floatation device is essential. Having the right equipment is also important. Make sure your tube is appropriate for the weight you plan to have on it, and that the tow line used is securely tied and in good condition. Finally, everyone needs to be alert and aware of surroundings while tubing. Drivers should pay close attention to distance from other boats in the water, tubers should keep a firm grip and not be reckless, and others aboard the boat should keep an eye on the rider as well.

Tubing is a popular and easy sport for boaters of all ages, and is now even easier to enjoy as a family due to new pontoon technologies. As with any water sport, safety is essential, but if everyone remains vigilant tubing can add a lot of fun and excitement to water excursions.

Monday, February 25, 2013

History of the Swiss Plateau

Satellite image of Mittelland of Switzerland 3...
The Swiss Plateau, or sometimes referred to as the Central Plateau, is a fairly hilly area that rests between the Swiss Alps to the south and the Jura Mountains to the north. It is a significant area of Switzerland, as it is home to the majority of Switzerland’s population, with the majority of Switzerland’s cities and economic activity.

Roughly 40-60 million years ago, the area significantly rose and fell as a result of the folding of the Alps, and the area was flooded by a sea. This event happened several times, as recent as perhaps 5 million years ago, and many fossils of snails, shells and even shark teeth can be found today in such a high altitude. The events made the area relatively flat for a mountainous area, making it more habitable for living and growing crops.

If you’re interested in visiting the Swiss Plateau, I’d recommend staying in the Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof, which is a great hostel located in Interlaken, Switzerland. I'd recommend staying in hostels while traveling Switzerland, and they are a quality one that gives you the greatest value.