Everyone loves the freedom that comes with car ownership. Owning and maintaining a car in Canada involves a number of expenses. There are a number of measures one has to take in order to keep a vehicle on Canadian roads. Failure to meet all government mandates regarding car maintenance can result in fines or seizure of the vehicle.

No matter what province you live in, you have to abide by the Provincial Ministry of Transport’s vehicle regulations. When you buy a car, you are responsible for securing and paying for the following: registering and renewing the vehicle, obtaining and making sure your driver’s license is up-to-date. You also have to secure the transfer of ownership, vehicle inspection stickers, administrative fees or handling taxes, and acquiring the appropriate vehicle insurance. All of these details are expenses that you will incur on top of the purchase price of the car. It is important to consider these expenses when you purchase the car.

If you are short on money, you may want to consider purchasing a used vehicle. As well, it is important to be aware of the fact that it is the law that all cars must be registered with the provincial motor vehicle licensing agency where you live, and must be insured. You should always keep your license, registration, insurance papers, and vehicle permit in the glove department of the car. Car insurance can be expensive, but it is the law, and will protect you and your car if you are in an accident.

Annual expenses that you will normally incur when maintaining a car include:

If you lease a car you will have to make lease payments. Fuel expenses Motor oil and other fluids Car insurance Maintenance and repairs Replacement of parts such as a muffler, battery, alternatoretc.

Over time, these costs can add up. Fortunately, there are measures that you can take that will lower costs. With the cost of fuel so high, you may want to purchase a car that has high mileage. Have your vehicle serviced on a regular basis as it will reduce the incidents of parts breaking. Make sure you have your oil changed frequently. Before winter, get an undercoating to protect the car from damaging road salt. Keep the exterior of the car washed, waxed, and free of scratches and dents. Don’t drive the car too much. Also, you should replace old and worn out tires and rotate the tires regularly. Your tires will last longer if you keep them inflated and aligned.

A used car can save a driver a lot of money. Insurance will be cheaper and the taxes you pay will be less than if you bought a new car. There is a good chance that there will not be any parts warranties so you have take replacement part costs into consideration.

Once you purchase a car, you have made a serious investment that requires regular care. By understanding all the expenses that are involved with maintaining your vehicle, you will have an easier time finding ways to cut costs.

Throughout the history of the Ford Mustang, the optional convertible top has remained a popular feature, and it is easy to understand why. There is no feeling quite like cruising down the highway on a warm, sunny day with the top down. The wind rushing in around you and the unobstructed view of your surroundings fills one with feelings of excitement and freedom.

Mustang Convertibles have long been a favorite of festival queens an politicians running for office during Halloween parades. The sharp, sporty appearance of the Mustang instantly captures the viewer’s attention, and the person of honor can sit perched upon the trunk with his or her feet resting on the backseat, which gives the parade goers full view of them. Dealers are usually happy to lend these cars out for these occasions, because it gives them plenty of free advertising.

The power convertible top of the Ford Mustang is fairly easy to operate. To put the top down, first start the car, which will save on the energy in your battery. From the inside, look in the upper right and left hand corners of the top. You will see two latches where the roof is connected to the windshield. Grab the latches and pull them out. If it is an automatic Mustang, the transmission will need to be in the “park” position.

If it is a manual transmission, the emergency brake will need to be engaged. In the center armrest, there should be a button that powers the top. Push the button until the top lifts and rests in its storage area. Mustangs come with a cover that snaps over the convertible roof while it is not in use. This is to keep foreign objects out of the holding area. Simply snap the cover over the area, and now you are ready to cruise!

The top cannot be operated while the car is in drive, so if you need to put the top up while you are driving, first find a place to pull over. Unsnap the top cover, and place it in the trunk. With the Mustang in park, (or with the emergency brake on) push the top button until the top is fully extended and resting against the top of the windshield. At the bottom of each latch handle will be a hook. Place the hooks over the latch bars on the windshield and then push the handles down. You may feel a bit of resistance, this is normal. When driving with the top up, it is important to latch it properly or the wind will cause damage to your convertible top.

Whatever year Mustang you may own, or are considering, the Mustang Convertible is a very attractive and fun car.

When the Ford Mustang was released to the public 45 years ago at the New York World’s Fair, on April 17, 1964, it was the most successful car launch in automotive history. Part of the innovative design was the wheels.

The 1964 Ford Mustang had 14-inch wheels, with wheel covers as standard equipment. They were constructed of hard plastic, with a simulated chrome accent. The indented area was painted charcoal black. The coolest feature of these wheels was the wheel center caps. The background of the center caps was painted either blue or black, and a simulated chrome mustang appeared in the center. Above the Mustang was the word “Ford,” and below it was the word “Mustang” in simulated chrome. The wheel covers complimented the cars overall sleek and sporty look.

The smaller, more fuel efficient second generation Ford Mustang hit the ground running in 1974. Although sales for this model were not quite as high as the original, sales remained brisk. The wheel covers were of a snowflake design, with simulated chrome. The center cap had a red background, with the simulated chrome Mustang in the center.

The third generation Mustang came out in 1979. While still clearly recognizable as a Mustang, it had a minimal design. The standard wheels were unimpressive three spoke black wheels, with a plain black center cap.

In 1994, the Ford Mustang went through one of the biggest redesigns in Mustang history. Borrowing from the original design, it was a sleek, sharp sports car. Mustang buyers had a large array of optional wheels to choose from. V-6 models came with silver plastic hubcaps, with the mustang logo on the center cap, or the star shaped polished steel rims with the center cap. Mustang GT had a choice of black spoked racing rims with a silver center cap that had the signature blue Ford logo embroidered on it, or black alloy wheels with the Mustang logo.

If you are rebuilding a Mustang, consider finding a set or replica of the original wheels. Mustang wheels have always been eye catching, sharp, and overall cool for the past 45 years, and having the set of wheels that goes with your model mustang will enhance its overall appearance, giving it the classic feel it deserves.