I’m in Michigan.
So I need good in winter.
And I travel pretty often, once a month, a good five hour drive downstate and then back up.
So what kind of car would be best with that price range?
—We can go up to 14,000—but prefer to keep it under 12,000.

How about a 2007 Chevy Equinox- AWD? Should sell around 12-15k depending on miles? Will give you good traction, has four doors for convenience and good safety rating.

I am looking for wheels for my 2005 chevy impala and need to know what other cars out there have the same bolt pattern. Or is there any other way to tell.

Every chevy buick pontiac oldsmobile with 5 lugs will fit.

I would like to work in the automotive maintenance industry. I plan on attending a university and getting my bachelors in business management. Afterwards I’m planning on going to an auto trade school somewhere in Arizona preferably. From what I have seen online UTI seems like the best place to go. Is this true? Any tips or pointers?

There is no reason that you can’t got to a college and get a degree in Automotive TECHNOLOGY with a business minor. Either way you win…if you decide to pursue business later…return and get the full business degree or Masters in Business if you want. Many 2 and 4 year schools offer very good training in the automotive trades. No matter what you decide, you will still have to take general education courses to receive a diploma. Chico State in California has a Automotive program and I am sure there are 4 year schools in Arizona..that offer a similar degree!
The main thing is school is good for you..and College graduates with desire earn more money then others with out higher education. (I know there are always exceptions, but No one has ever gotten hurt from higher education. Work Hard and you will do fine at anything you want to do~! Good Luck.

Number of antique cars in Florida?

Lots of antique cars and car owners.

I was told to research the internet to find out how many major automotive chains there are that specifically fix brakes for an assignment in one of my classes, "Basic Auto Repair." Can anyone help me out here?

This isn’t researching the internet. This is asking us to do your work for you. Type into your browser what you want and RESEARCH it!

I went to an auto repair shop (Meineke?), and the technician was smoking while checking my brakes. Is that illegal?

If nothing else, it is incredibly stupid. Looks like your mechanic is in line for a Darwin award.

I have Ford Focus 2006 1.6 car, I have been using 20w40 fully synthetic oil. Yesterday i saw 10w20 and 20w 40 oils and was confused which to use. Would appreciate if anyone could help. Also note that i live in UAE where the weather goes up to 50 degrees Celsius.

Assalomu aleykum wr wb,
Would recommend using more expensive one. Common rule: the better quality, the higher price. Cuz I think it doesn’t make much difference in any place, let alone UAE.

I have already been teased about my HHR looking girly. I have purchased one of those front end masks for it. I was wondering if it will make it look more like a girls car.

Car bras will scratch your paint when dirt gathers up under it. And it’s a b*itch to have to take it off every time you wash your car. It does make you look girly, because only girsl would be worried about covering the front of their car to make it look nice.

i.e. cooking, automotive maintenance skills
Im looking to learn things that would come in handy in life, and make me less reliable on others

That’s a great question! Here are a few:

Cooking - you eat every day, so every human should be able to feed himself.

Car maintenance - change a tire, change your oil and other fluids (power steering fluid, brake fluid), check your window washer fluid, tire tread depth and pressure, and put correct pressure in tires.

I also recommend knowing how to change your air filter, your oil filter, your fuel filter, drain and fill your oil, check your battery and charge it if necessary, and check belts.

You should be able to sew on a button, whip stitch a hem if needed, or fix a seam that’s coming undone,

Everyone should know how to iron their clothes without burning or ruining or making them look bad. How to use starch. People should know how to separate their laundry, what clothes should be washed together or separately, washer/dryer settings, etc..

Know how to prepare a wall (interior or exterior) for painting, and how to mask and paint it.

Computers - be able to format a hard drive, install their operating system, and install their software. Know where to find service packs (updates) to your operating system and run them and antivirus programs (and update those programs) to keep your system from being vulnerable to known flaws. Know how to upload an image from a camera or scan a printed image, adjust or crop it as needed, and save it to the folder of your choice, then be able to upload it to Facebook or some other website if you so desire.

Hardware tasks should include how to add RAM to your computer. Be able to swap out a hard drive. Be able to defragment your hard drive, do system clean up, schedule tasks, set your time/date, and do a system restore. Know how to burn a CD or DVD–and how to do it so that it is a file OR how to burn it as audio or video that you can play in a stereo or set-top box/DVD player. Know how to purchase songs online (for example, iTunes) and load them onto your MP3 player, as well as organize your songs on your mp3 player.

Everyone should know how to start a fire under various conditions. Just as important is knowing how to properly douse and put out a fire. Other life and death must-know things: how to swim reasonably well, how to tread water for long periods of time, KNOW HOW TO PERFORM CPR.

Other important adult skills: when it’s necessary to "tip" someone, how to tip, and how much to tip, how to eat in public at a social function. In fact, the broad subject of etiquette is something that everyone should know about. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart or Miss Manners, but there are excellent books out there on etiquette for men and women. Knowing proper etiquette makes you seem much more of a professional person of the world, and makes you more comfortable in every kind of situation. In fact, 90% of etiquette is nothing but making other people and yourself more comfortable in social situations by having a code of proper action and ways of going about various things.

Know–how to safely change a lightbulb or a whole light fixture or ceiling fan. Know how to use various power tools, including safety precautions, maintenance, and proper preparing them for service, as well as how to use them, clean them, and put them away. Included in these should minimally be a power drill, a table saw, a circular saw, chop saw, and band saw. Become familiar also with the proper use and care of basic hand tools.

Know how to check the pilot light on a gas stove or gas hot water tank, as well as how to safely light them and adjust the temperature. Know how to change fuses, as well as reset the breakers, and how and where to turn the water to your house. Learn how to unclog a clogged drain or toilet.

You should know how to hang a picture on the wall, as well as how big a picture needs an anchor bolt instead of a lightweight picture hanger or nail. Know how to patch gypsum board, and how to safely replace a light switch. Learn how to replace a door knob.

Learn what is involved in shopping for and purchasing a house, as well as selling one.

Even this is really a starter list, but it’s a good start. I’m sure there are many really good and important ones that I’ve left out. Hope you find it helpful.

My husband’s boss asked him to report any problems in the auto repair shop and what the company should do to fix these problems in a letter to be sent to the management. I tried to find a sample letter for that, but no success. he already has the points that are needed as problems "of course". it’s just how to write a report is not his expertise. any help?

Well, you don’t really need to write like an essay or something. Just use bullet points. Here’s what I mean:

Dear (whoever),

My review of operating practices at XYZ Auto Repair Shop’s reveals these points which I consider need to be addressed:

* Lack of politeness and courtesy to customers.

* Slower than industry standard ‘turnaround time’ for accepted jobs.

* et cetera

I hope that this information will be of use to the company to address these problems and hence enable it to become more efficient and profitable.

Sincerely, (hubby’s name)
——————-
Naturally, I have no idea what problems the shop is facing so I just made those up, but the format should work for such a letter. (I suppose that he should also propose at least some kind of solution beneath each bulleted ‘problem’. I kind of overlooked that part of the question. . .)