iDirect's new search feature saves you time!

iDirect`s new ''Search Preset'' feature allows you to save your favorite or preferred searches and avoid having to input the same searches each day. The result is you find the ''deals'' you are looking for faster! • It`s easy! You can easily spot the Search Preset button located at the top right corner of iDirect`s Search Page.

• Set your preferences! Just fill out the search criteria with your preferences, assign a Search Preset name (title) for that set of parameters and click save! • Done! View your search presets by clicking the Search Preset button every time you make a search. You can even save as many searches as you want! For more questions on how to use this feature, you may send email to csc@ibcjapan.co.jp or call (81) 75 622 5091. Bid through iDirect now!!

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IBC's Buy More Save More Promo: Extented 'til June 2009!

You heard us right! We`re extending our ''Buy More Save More'' program until June 30, 2009! That means more savings for you! Vehicle prices around the world and ocean freight rates have fallen - take advantage of the savings! The more units purchased, the bigger the credit amount earned! Use the credit amount earned for future purchases! Earn more than JPY 1,000,000 in credit! Click here to view the full credit terms! Send email to csc@ibcjapan.co.jp or call (81) 75 622 5091 for inquiries. Start the year right at IBC! Order now!!

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Great Deals for 2009: Get your dream car at a very low price!

Economy Cars more vehicles 2003 NISSAN MARCH AK12-198*** 1C 70TH 61398 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2003 NISSAN MARCH AK12-751*** 2C 70TH 98440 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2005 Honda FIT GD1-2210*** A 90755 kms 5 Door Hatch Petrol Auto 2006 HONDA FIT GD1-2334*** 13A 94264 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto

Sedans and Sports Car more vehicles 2003 NISSAN SKYLINE CPV35-502*** 350 GT 60019 kms 2 Door Coupe Petrol 6spd 2001 HONDA INTEGRA DC5-1005*** IS S Pakkage 60460 kms 3 Door Hatch Petrol Auto 2004 MAZDA RX8 SE3P-123*** base 40204 kms 4 Door Petrol 5spd 2005 NISSAN FAIRLADY Z Z33-401*** Base 10081 kms 3 Door Hatch Petrol 6spd

Station Wagons & 5 Door Hatches see more vehicles 2002 SUBARU LEGACY BH5-206*** GT 34767 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2002 SUBARU LEGACY BH5-225*** - 62894 kms 5 Door Petrol 5spd 1997 MITSUBISHI LEGNUM EC5W-0021*** VR-4 76559 kms 5 Door Wagon Petrol Auto 1997 SUBARU IMPREZA GF8-029*** WRX 72175 kms 5 Door Petrol 5spd

Crossovers more vehicles 2002 TOYOTA ESTIMA ACR40-0048*** Aeras 4WD 97653 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2001 HONDA CR-V RD1-5314*** Fullmark 95375 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2001 SUBARU FORESTER SF5-149*** S/0 110384 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2001 SUBARU FORESTER SF5-154*** S/TB 107275 kms 5 Door Hatch Petrol Auto

Wagons and Vans more vehicles 2002 TOYOTA ESTIMA ACR30-0187*** X 96575 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2002 TOYOTA ESTIMA ACR30-0199*** Aeras 79259 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto 2000 NISSAN Elgrand ATE50-006*** V TB 81711 kms 4 Door Diesel Auto 2004 NISSAN CUBE BZ11-148*** X 70TH-2 77120 kms 5 Door Petrol Auto

For inquires, you may email us at csc@ibcjapan.co.jp or call (81) 75 622 5091.

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Low 2009 Prices from Auction in Japan - IBC's iDirect makes it easy!

We bring you great news at the start of 2009!

• Low prices are even lower - The global financial crisis has made vehicle prices lower than ever! Get the best bargains and deals buying direct through iDirect!
  
  
• Time is money - No one knows how long the fall in prices will last. Now is the best time to take advantage of this opportunity!
  
  
• We`re better and faster than ever - Using iDirect`s auction search engine is better and faster than before with new features! Experience easier access to auctions in Japan and the USA using iDirect!
  
  

Start the new year right! Sign up now and bid through iDirect!

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How to choose the best tires for your vehicle

by Edon Canada

The “right” set of tires greatly affects your vehicle's performance and handling, road worthiness and safety, and fuel economy. Here is the spin on how to choose the right tires for your vehicle.

There are so many brands available in the market today and they all claim to be the best performance-boosting-safety-enhancing-fuel-efficient-super-tires. Well, maybe they really are but how would you choose the right one for your vehicle?

It all depends on the type of vehicle you drive, the climate and terrain of your locality and how you intend to use your vehicle. After considering these factors, your decision should be based on the tire’s performance and safety, price, brand and appearance.

To help you weigh your options, here are a few basic tire classifications to start with:


TIRE DIAMETER and WIDTH

Each vehicle model has a specific range of appropriate tire sizes. This is usually listed in the owner's manual or on a label posted on the vehicle. Anyway, it's easy to get this information online.


TIRE TYPE

There are three basic tire types: radial, bias-ply and bias belted. Most vehicles today come equipped with radial tires because they generally offer better performance and more durability.

Of course, you don't need to know that some tires specify in their labels that they are for use as temporary spares, for passenger cars or for light trucks. But now you also know.


TREAD DESIGN

Tread, here, refers to the rubber on the circumference of the tire which is designed to make contact with the ground.

The most common are all-season tires which can be used for regular highway conditions, rain, snow, slush and mud. This type of tire usually has an “m + s” (mud + snow) label. Then there are also specialized treads for snow or for regular highway conditions only.

All tires made by manufacturers who distribute to the US (most likely those also available in your area) must meet federal safety standards. Grades are assigned by manufacturers after performing tests designed by the government.

Except for off road tires and temporary spares, each tire has a label printed on paper or molded on the side of the tire. The quality ratings are based on the tire's tread wear, traction and temperature resistance.

Tread wear grade

This tells you how long the manufacturer expects the tire to last in comparison to other tires if all were subjected to the same usage conditions. For example, a tire rated 200 is expected to last twice as long as a tire rated 100.

Traction rating

This is scored A, B or C, tells you how well the tires can stop your vehicle on wet roads. Those tires rated “A” offer the best traction.

Temperature resistance

This rating, also scored A, B, or C, measures how well the tire will resist overheating during sustained high speed use. Yes, a tire graded "A" represents the best performance.


MAKING SENSE OF LABELS

Here’s how a typical tire label looks like: P205/60R-16 91V

In this tire label, "P" indicates that the tire is for passenger cars. Variations are “LT” for light truck or “T” for temporary or spare tire.

"205/60" means that the tire is 205mm wide and its side walls are 60mm tall.

"R" in this case means that this is a Radial tire.

“16” refers to the diameter of the wheel rim which is 14 inches.

“91” is the tire’s load index.

And the last letter “V” refers to the speed rating, the maximum safe speed that the tire can still be performing under ideal conditions. Variations are: Q (99mph), S (112mph), T (118mph), U (124mph), H (130mph), V (up to 149mph), Z (more than 149mph), W (168mph), and Y (186mph).

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Driving and Child Passenger Safety

by Mark Lorenzana

When driving with children, especially while going on long trips, it is important to take into account the safety of your passengers. Making sure that your car has seatbelts and airbags is not enough. Depending on your country and location, there are special local laws and legislation in place to ensure that child passengers traveling in cars enjoy the utmost safety on the road.

With this in mind, here are some general car seat safety tips for children:

1. Children under 12 years of age do not belong in the front seat, which is the most dangerous place in a car. Put children in the back seat, especially if your car has passenger side air bags.
2. In the case of infants they should be placed in a rear-facing infant seat until they are one year old and at least 20 pounds in weight. Children who reach 20 pounds before their first birthday still need to use a rear-facing seat.
3. After children reach 20 pounds and have passed their first birthday, they can now use a forward facing car seat until they are about 40 pounds.
4. A belt positioning booster seat should be used for children over 40 pounds.
5. A car’s regular seat belt should not be used on a child until they fit correctly. The minimum weight and height for a child to be able to use a seatbelt is about 80 pounds and 4 feet and 9 inches tall.
6. A child is not ready to use regular seat belts until the shoulder strap fits across his/her shoulder and not his neck. Also, the lap belt should fit across the child’s hips and not his/her stomach.
7. Be sure to read the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and your car owner's manual to ensure the correct installation and usage of the car seat.

There has been great progress achieved in recent years in preventing child occupant deaths and injuries, especially in increasing the correct use of child safety seats, booster seats and safety belts. However, more work needs to be done to protect child occupants who remain at heightened risk.

There is no denying the costs involved, because child seats and other safety accessories for children do not come cheap. But it's an expense a growing number of people are willing to bear. Every part of a car is replaceable unlike the people inside so keeping the kids safe and secure is invariably a price well worth paying.

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Common Biofuels for Cars

by Guile Canencia

If you’re gonna go get yourself an alternative fuel vehicle (read about Types of Alternative Fuel Vehicles) then you better get acquainted with the types of biofuel. It is defined as any type of fuel derived from biological sources. Biofuels are used in households around the world as fuel for heating purposes and in some countries, they are used to propel vehicles. Here are the most common types:

Vegetable oil. It’s not only useful in the kitchen but on the road, too. Used vegetable oil usually undergoes treatment (which usually involves heating) before they’re ready to be used as fuel. However, there are certain engines available today that are compatible with non-processed vegetable oil.

Biodiesel. Derived from processed organic oils and fats, it is one of the most common types of biofuel and has the least emission level. In the last ten years, most diesel engines are already configured for biodiesel compatibility. Its use has also dramatically increased in the US in the last two years.

Alcohol fuel. Prime examples include ethanol, propanol and butanol. Ethanol is widely popular worldwide, especially in South America where motorists use it in place of gasoline or a mixture of both. However, ethanol can be very corrosive and is often diluted to decrease its corrosive effect.

Biogas. This is produced when biodegradable materials undergo anaerobic digestion (through the help of microorganisms). In compressed form, it can be used to fuel internal combustion engines in cars.

Syn-gas. Synthesis gas is basically combined carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It can be used easily as fuel on internal combustion engines.

New generation biofuels. These are newly discovered bio-derived types which scientists are currently exploring as feasible alternative fuels. These include non-food crops which when subjected to further processing can yield usable fuel. In some countries, algae are being carefully studied as a possible source of fuel.

Of course, the effective use of this type of alternative fuel is still being discussed today. The main issue is how to achieve sustainable production and accordingly, the manner of distribution to consumers. On the upside, if they do become the primary source of fuel for vehicles, it could cause far less damage to the atmosphere compared to fossil fuels. Will biofuels ever replace petroleum fuels? Only time will tell.

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IBC offers even lower prices at the start of 2009

Get ready for an exciting 2009! We are pleased to inform you that the global financial crisis has made vehicle prices even lower than ever in the US and in Japan! We invite you to log in to IBC and see for yourself! Hurry, take advantage of this opportunity now!

Current trends have also resulted to better price accessibility and availability of shipping space! Shipping to your port of destination is almost immediate upon confirmation of your order! We require that payments of the required deposit are confirmed no later than January 21. Please confirm as soon as possible so we can make sure your vehicle(s) is shipped immediately! For questions, email me direct or at csc@ibcjapan.co.jp or contact me via phone (81) 75 622 5091.

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Risk Factors and its Effects on Car Insurance Premiums

by Bianca Villares


The premium that drivers pay for auto insurance depends on certain factors, specifically called risk factors. Based on previous driving records, miles driven per year, age, etc, a driver’s risk factor is evaluated and is directly proportional to the insurance premium he or she must pay.

To make sure you pay the lowest premiums possible, think about these factors and what you can do to make them advantageous for your situation:

Driving Violations and Accidents
Insurance companies have one thing in mind: a significant number of accidents or moving violations equals to greater accident risk. Some insurance companies even penalize drivers with a bad record, which usually lasts for a number of years. Bottom line is, the more driving violations you have, the higher the premium. If you want your premiums to decrease, keep your record clean.

Vehicle Type
This is where insurance companies and car owners understand each other’s demands. Car owners of the latest, most expensive models usually get insurance with better coverage, which means higher premiums. Cheap cars cost less to insure because car owners have the option to disregard other types of coverage that are not applicable to their vehicles.

Occupation
No, they don’t check your salary. Not yet, at least. For insurance companies, a significant relationship exists between the business use of your vehicle and the premium you must pay. If your job description includes long hours of driving such as being a door-to-door salesman, expect a higher premium.

Credit Rating
A better credit rating will save most drivers from higher premiums since many insurance companies believe that poor credit history is susceptible to higher risks.

Geography
The place where you reside can also dictate your insurance premiums. Living in congested cities or areas with a lot of traffic prone to vehicular accidents raises the risk factor of drivers. High crime rate, specifically of vehicle thefts, also leads insurance companies to charge higher premiums.

Education
Drivers with higher educational attainment are charged with lower premiums.

Others
Years of driving experience, lower miles driven each year, theft protection devices and multiple cars and drivers also offer opportunity for premium discounts.

Some factors which cannot be adjusted, such as age, gender, and marital status can also affect a driver’s risk factor. Most insurance companies see drivers under the age of 25 with higher potential risk of being in an accident. Women are also considered as safer drivers than men, while a married person has lower premiums compared to a single one with the same driving record.

By calculating your risk factors, you can easily get lower premiums which could save you a lot for the years to come. Just remember though, each insurance company has a different take on insurance premiums, so it’s always best to compare the rates of multiple companies for your particular situation.

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Types of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

by Guile Canencia

As the new millennium begins, people have never been so eco-conscious. In recent years, the imminent threat of global warming has compelled us to re-consider how we do and make things. This is most especially true when it comes to our daily means of transport — the car — which unfortunately, ranks among the major contributors of air pollution (and noise pollution) in the world. Thankfully, scientists are continuing to explore new ways to address this. One of these is the use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFV).

An AFV is any vehicle that doesn’t run on petrol or diesel fuel, although a car can be considered an AFV if it doesn’t rely exclusively on petroleum to function (like hybrid cars, which rely on petrol fuel and electricity). What are the different kinds of AFV? Let’s find out.

Hybrids. Hybrids use both gasoline and electricity to run. These vehicles normally feature an internal combustion engine and a battery pack which combine to give the vehicle its propulsion power. Hybrid cars have gained popularity over the years — the most common examples are the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight.

Battery Electric Vehicles. As its name applies, a BEV depends on the power of its battery pack. BEVs are among the cleanest vehicles because they don’t produce any carbon emission at all. Battery types may include nickel cadmium, lithium-ion, zinc-air or lead-acid batteries.

Biofuel Cars. Bioalcohol (or Ethanol) and Biodiesel are two types of biofuels that can be used on automobiles. There are still biofuel cars available today but most prefer the flexible-fuel vehicle.

Flexible-fuel Vehicles. With FFVs, you can use more than one type of alternative fuel. This is possible through the use of a multifuel engine which allows you to mix certain alternative fuels in the tank and is combusted as one. These cars are mostly found in the US and South America.

“Gas”-Powered Cars. Certain types of AFVs also run using compressed natural gas, biogas, liquid petroleum gas (or autogas), nitrogen gas, propane and hydrogen. Usually, these cars are your standard petroleum-using vehicles whose engines are modified to burn the alternative gaseous fuels.

The Solar Car. Solar cars use solar panels in order to harness the power of the sun. This type of AFV has been around for decades but unfortunately, no practical prototype has been developed yet for the masses. Nevertheless, countless solar car contests and races are being held every year and participated in by schools and universities all over the world.

AFVs may be environment-friendly but it has its disadvantages, too. AFVs are still a bit more expensive than the usual cars in the market and the availability of alternative fuels is still very limited. But still, the future promises more developments, new possibilities. Who knows? The first commercially-successful AFV may just be around the corner.

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Preparing Your Car for Winter

A treacherous road condition during winter is a bane to all drivers. Driving through snow and sleet doubles the travel time, or even worse, you and your car can even end up immobilized because of the extreme conditions.

While moving to a region with warmer climate may be the permanent solution, there are always certain precautions that are more realistic and achievable for drivers living in winter lands. To make it through the snow season without major issues, here are a few suggestions:

Check the Battery. Fact: Cold weather decreases the performance of a car’s battery. To avoid this situation, you may want to get a plug-in charger. Plug it in at night and attach it to your battery and in the morning you will be assured of a charged battery. It is also important to have your car’s battery and electrical system tested every once in a while. If the battery is almost 3 years old, it may be a good idea to have it tested at local service stations on a regular basis.

Check your Anti-Freeze. Good anti-freeze protects water in the radiator system against freezing and increases the boiling point of the water in the radiator system. To avoid it from leaking, it’s best to check your anti-freeze a couple of times a year. Experts also advise to change your anti-freeze every 2 to 3 years to keep it from breaking down. Anti-freeze is usually diluted with water following an estimate of 50/50 normal ratio. Check the directions on your specific brand to know the exact proper mix.

Pressure Check for Leaks. Conducting a pressure check can wash away any impurities such as rust that may clog the vehicle’s system. Don’t forget to inspect the cooling system for any visible leaks, especially around the water pump, radiator, hoses, freezing plugs, heater core, and clamps. If you notice that the belts are worn out, replace it right away. Frayed belts cannot drive the water pump, no matter how new or unclogged your system is.

Oil. Synthetic oil works well in both low and high temperatures. While conventional oil might lose its viscosity during the bitter cold months, the chemical makeup of synthetic oil keeps the lubrication fluid from freezing up, resulting to better lubrication of engine parts.

Tires. You may want to switch to all weather tires or get specially made snow tires for better handling when driving through the slippery and snowy roads. Keep your regular tires though because all weather tires are not advisable for prolonged normal road use. You can also attach snow chains to tires for increased traction.

Windshield Blades. Proper windshield blades can save you from a snowstorm as much as a good engine and cooling system can. Remember that visibility is the key to accident avoidance.

As for you, it’s best to keep a flashlight, a cell phone, and a medical kit in your car, just in case the weather is too much to bear for your vehicle. Think of survival, so pile up on essential items that will help you get through any unforeseen accidents or situations while driving until the winter season ends.

by Bianca Villares

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