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- United Law Group Offers Relief to People Struggling With Auto Loan ... - YAHOO!
| Get hitched affordably - St. Petersburg Times Posted: 14 Jan 2010 05:56 PM PST By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor TAMPA — Sometimes I dream about owning a luxury recreational vehicle with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and all the comforts of home. Then I awake, take a look at my kids (8 and 6 years old) and the inch of sand they've deposited inside the tent, and decide that the little creatures would surely ruin an otherwise sound investment. RVs, I've always assumed, were for retirees who have put their child-rearing years behind them. But Dave Kelly, marketing director for the Florida RV Trade Association, was determined to prove me wrong. "You are crazy," said Kelly as he drove me through the 25th annual Florida RV SuperShow at the Florida State Fairgrounds. "There are plenty of affordable RVs out there that are the ideal fit for families." Judging from the kids in the crowd Wednesday, the opening day of this year's show, Kelly might have a point. "But my kids are animals," I said affectionately. "They would tear one of these things apart." Kelly smiled and patted me on the shoulder. "Let's have a look around," he said. Simple is better When many people think of an RV they picture the behemoths parked outside a football stadium. Many of those luxury liners cost more than my house. If I owned a nice RV, I would undoubtedly be a nervous wreck, and for sure I would drive my kids crazy each time they let a lizard loose or got mud on the upholstery. "I bet you your kids couldn't destroy this camper," said Don Mills, manager at the Conibear RV Center in Lakeland, as he showed me the Quicksilver automotive camper. "This is all aluminum. There is no wood. You could wash this out with a garden hose if you wanted to." Now that's my kind of RV, I thought to myself. I could clean the camper and the kids in one fell swoop. "They are light (600 to 1,500 pounds) and easy to pull," Mills said. "You can pull one with a minivan." The Quicksilver is a bare-bones popup camper that sleeps two adults and two children. There is no stove, toilet or refrigerator. But most campgrounds have restroom facilities and showers, and I usually pack my food in a cooler and cook over an old gas stove on top of a picnic table anyway. "Most people just sleep in the camper anyway," Mills said. "If it starts to rain there is still plenty of room inside." The price range of $5,500 to $8,500 will also prove attractive to many first-time buyers. For more information, go to www.livinlite.com or contact Mills at (863) 858-4455. Light, easy to tow Another option for cost-conscious campers is the lightweight, low-to-the-ground, easily towable Aliner camper. You don't need a big pickup or sport-utility vehicle to get this beauty to your campsite. "You can pull this camper with just about any car," said Rick Como of Como RV Sales in Inverness and Homosassa (1-866-344-1411 or www.comorv.com). "That is a real plus for a lot of people." The Pennsylvania-built popup has a hard top with sky lights and many of the amenities of a larger, heavier RV. Aliners, which range in length from 9 to 18 feet, are surprisingly comfortable for their size. The middle-of-the-line model, the Classic, is 15 feet long, 6½ feet wide and weighs just 2,000 pounds. It sleeps two adults and two children and retails for about $13,000. "If you include airfare, hotel, meals, etc., it is not hard to spend $5,000 to take a family of four on vacation," Kelly said. "If you take the money you would have spent on two vacations and put it into an RV, you can have fun every weekend instead of just once or twice a year. If you think about it, that's a real bargain." IF YOU GO 2010 Florida RV SuperShow When: Today-Sun.; Hours — Today-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: Adults, $8 (two-day pass); children under 16, free Where: Florida State Fairgrounds, Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 301, Tampa What: The largest recreational vehicle show in the country with more than 1,100 models on display. For more information, go to www.frvta.org. [Last modified: Jan 14, 2010 08:59 PM] Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Videos From the Web: Car Videos - San Francisco Chronicle Posted: 14 Jan 2010 04:38 PM PST Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 14 Jan 2010 12:06 PM PST Would a Cadillac be a Cadillac if it wasn't Cadillac-sized? Of course not, which is why GM's flagship brand gave the cold shoulder to the carmaker's other Detroit offerings — a sack-load of small, B and C-segment vehicles — and took the wraps off its next luxury family Don. Besides just showcasing Cadillac's emerging Platinum series of models, the XTS packs a host of styling and technological updates. But a few extra rolls of hide and smatterings of brushed aluminium aren't all that this grand Cadillac's promising; the XTS packs a plug-in hybrid propulsion system. Lookin' good You probably spend a couple of dozen hours in your car every week, especially if you live in Sharjah and work in Dubai. Keeping our long commutes in mind, Cadillac designed the XTS Platinum with images of a mobile home, but not the RV kind. Sounds weird? Caddy's general manager, Bryan Nesbitt, doesn't think so. "We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivity and luxury." The kind of technology Nesbitt's talking about is an intuitive electronics system with touch-screen sat-nav, laser etched leather seats, a flowing 'dead front' instrument panel (so called because it appears black until the car is turned on), bespoke Bridgestone tyres, adaptive LED lights, and of course, that propulsion system. But what stands out first is the styling. Cadillac's Art and Science philosophy allows a sweeping profile with a high rear (integrating a rear spoiler) as well as a high waist line, resulting in a sloped, dynamic stance. Flared arches flatter the dead-on view and wrap around the unique rubber, hugging 20in brushed aluminium wheels. Hy-breeding success Under the bonnet is a 3.6-litre direct injection V6 coupled with a plug-in hybrid system similar to that found in the Escalade Hybrid. The plug-in hybrid electric propulsion system enables full electric driving, and Cadillac claims that in urban areas the fuel efficiency will be far greater than other hybrids currently on the market. For an extra boost, allowing full usage of the 400Nm of torque and projected 350bhp locked up in the drivetrain, both electric and good old V6 muscle can be flexed in unison (much like the Lexus LS600hL). The XTS will also have the capability to run on petrol alone, allowing for increased range and removal of what GM dubs "range anxiety". Magnetic ride control, as on the CTS-V, ensures a silky ride to rival the Mercs and the Lexuses, thanks to shocks controlled by magnetorheological technology rather than the conventional mechanical valves. The system's sensors keep an eye on all four corners, making constant and minute adjustments to damping, so as to instantly control body motion. What's more, power is channelled all around, through a specially-calibrated all-wheel drive system tuned to deliver optimal grip in slippery conditions. The XTS' sporty credentials also stay intact with its styling, thanks to stability control and adjustable traction control. The only problem is that Cadillac isn't keen on letting us in on its XTS plans. When asked whether the car is on the way to production and Mercedes S-Class rivalry, all we got was a wry smile. We'll take that as a yes. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| United Law Group Offers Relief to People Struggling With Auto Loan ... - YAHOO! Posted: 14 Jan 2010 02:19 AM PST Repossessions are up. Auto auctions have 10-12 times more inventory than normal. People are literally hiding from auto repo companies. Who's to blame and how can people get help? With United Law Group, citizens struggling to make their auto loan payments can get legal relief from experts in auto lending law. IRVINE, California, January 14, 2010 – United Law Group announced a program to help distressed families who are struggling to make their auto loan payments. Auto Payment Relief is a service offered by the law firm to help people who have been victimized by illegal practices and those facing financial hardships. "The automobile industry has a history of unethical and illegal sales and lending practices," said Robert Buscho, Senior Litigation Attorney for United Law Group. "Everything from failure to disclose fees to misleading clients as to the terms of the lease and more has gone on in this industry." United Law Group pursues cases where lenders fail to accurately and truthfully disclose fees associated with a sale or lease (violations of 15 U.S.C. § 1607(c)); mislead people as to the actual terms/cost of the sale or lease (violations of 15 U.S.C. § 1607, et seq. & § 17200 Cal. Bus. Prof.); fail to accurately report income levels (violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1607, et seq. & § 17200 Cal. Bus. Prof.); and fail to make adequate disclosures. (violations of Automobile Sales Financing Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 2981, et seq.)). "Millions of consumers are in a precarious financial position because of problems with the system," said Buscho. "People who participate in our Auto Payment Relief program are empowered to stop auto lenders who engage in illegal practices and gain control of their financial situation." United Law Group's Auto Relief Program helps people to keep their cars. Seasoned litigators evaluate loans and leases for infractions, then litigate or negotiate to prevent repossession. The firm is also offering payment relief services for boat, RV, and motorcycle loans. "United Law Group has successfully helped countless individuals to deal with the ramifications of illegal practices," said Robert Buscho, Senior Litigation Attorney for United Law Group. "We are focused on helping people who've suffered because of illegal or unethical lending practices to improve their situation." In addition to loan renegotiation services, United Law Group also represents consumers in cases involving debt settlement, IRS settlement, breaches of contract and violations of state and federal laws. They have several class action lawsuits pending against major lenders. About United Law Group For further information on United Law Group, visit: www.UnitedLawGroup.com">www.UnitedLawGroup.com or call United Law Group at (800) 680-5717. United Law Group Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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