With four trim models starting under $18,000 (the S model starting under $15,000) the front wheel drive 2009 Ford Focus is competitive on price. Ford Focus 2009 SE, SES and SEL are each a step up, but all very reasonable. At 24 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway, it holds the line on gas mileage as well. Economy is not hurt by the warranty, which is competitive, if not outstanding. And to protect your investment further, Ford throws in a standard theft-deterrent system.

Economy is what drives the Ford Focus 2009. This is a car with a limited audience. First time drivers, college students, new families, or established families needing a dependable, but cheap, second car will find the Focus interesting.

But economy only goes so far. No matter what you pay for a car, you want to feel safe inside. That’s always a challenge for small cars, but the Focus answers adequately. For one thing, dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags and a built in tire-pressure monitor are all standard.

New for this year is an available antiskid system, as a part of the available antilock braking system, which includes traction control. The Focus gets mostly fours and fives (out of five) on the NHTSA crash tests. It’s not a tank, but for the money it is a solid safety investment.

Competition for the Focus includes the Chevy Cobalt, Dodge Caliber, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, among others. The 2009 Ford Focus is among the shaper looking compacts with its wrap-around front, beltline reminiscent of the Mustang and aerodynamic rear. Likewise, the inside seems well laid out, with an instrument panel that’s easier to read than most and seating for five (four comfortably).

Bookmark to:
         

I have been walking round regional galleries the past month across North Wiltshire, West Wiltshire, Kennet and South Wiltshire and found that the numerous art establishments be they in Chippenham Wiltshire or Malmesbury Wiltshire are filled with some amazing local artists works and a quantity of brilliant national artists prints. I thought I would provide a break down of some excellent artists that are about at this time that are producing pieces that are of benefit taking a look at. Art is for everyone and a decent print placed in the right area of a room can create a different kind of atmosphere.

The 1st painter I needed to look at is the Scottish artist Jack Vettriano who I feel is painting brilliant works of art if you like film noir. For me when I look at his work I get the feeling of looking at a clip from an American detective series or a scene from Miss Marple. Seems a little flippant perhaps but add to that a real aura of femininity and strength and you will begin to get a feel of his paintings. Jack Vettriano’s work can be found in print all over the world and develops strong tones to a room when you want to add depth and tension.

The second artist I wanted to moves away from moody tones to humorous large characters. I think Beryl Cook was one of Britain’s best painters of United Kingdom character scenes. Many people will recognise her characters as big ladies on a beach, but the diversity of her work brings so much humour to real events of normal people having a moment. Look at her work as I’m sure she will make you smile, her work is light and lifts the mood of a place.

The Third Artist I wanted to share with you is Philip Gray the Irish painter who produces beautiful moody scenes that are so dramatic and effective that you have a real sense how it must have been to be looking onto them in real life. His painting is very inspiring using colours that only nature’s beautiful sunsets and dawns can provide. There is always a sense of dramatic silence about his work and is really worth a look if you like dramatic landscapes. Most rooms will benefit from pieces of this artists work.

The 4th painter I needed to talk about was Duncan Macgregor who makes scenes that reflect his passion for the ocean. Many of his scenes have ships travelling through their expanse which for lovers of the sea like myself puts in points of focus in very reflective scapes of the ocean. His work is often quite striking using strong colours to show the brightness of the ocean.

These are good artists to look at to provide you a wide range of styles that reveal the huge impact art can have on yourself or other people as they go into a room. Art I feel should be something that allows you to daydream about something else outside of your day to day. It can make all the difference to a room with empty walls, providing just the feel you need to show an aspect of self.

Bookmark to:
         

This brand is a household name for every car audio enthusiast. Mention the name Kenwood car audio and they will know what you’re talking about.

Kenwood car audio have produced high quality consumer electronics, test equipment and communication equipment since 1946. Kenwood car stereos primarily specialize in the design, engineering and manufacture of wireless communication infrastructure but are also renowned in the production consumer mobile and home entertainment systems. Kenwood car stereos are also committed to creating the finest quality components with state of the art technologies that has earned them a huge following in the audio products scene.

Kenwood has always been tops in the audio market and for any car enthusiast For the regular Joe who isn’t really into technical stuff, and is just looking for something nice to put into his ride, Kenwood car stereos offer sleek designs that will surely satisfy anyone’s craving for aesthetic. Tech-freaks and geeks will also be impressed with the specs a Kenwood car stereo has. Kenwood Car Stereo Speakers are some of the best the market offers.

A lot of Kenwood Audio units nowadays include popup LCD panels for watching VCD/DVD movies. The kenwood dnx7100 Wide, Fully Motorized In-dash Monitor DVD/WMA/MP3 Receiver is a good candidate for any situation.

• 7.0 inch Wide Color TFT Active Matrix Display

  Full-automatic Open/Close with slide and angle adjustments

  Interactive Touchscreen Control with OSD

  Audio Easy Control Mode while Playing Visual Source

  Selectable Wall Paper (6 Patterns)

  Installer/Backup Memory of Audio/Video Setup

  Maximum Output Power : 50W x 4 (MOSFET Power IC)

  3 Preouts with 5V Pre-out Level

  2 RCA AV Inputs / 1 RCA AV Output

  Video Input for Rear View Camera

  RGB Input for Navigation System

  System Q/ System E’s+

  DVD Menu Direct Touch screen Control

  MPEG 1/2 Video files (.mpg) and JPEG files (.jpg) Playback

  Dual Zone Source & Volume Control

  DVD R/RW Compatible

  External Media Control iPod Ready

  Optional TV Tuner

For those who might not get what the hell all of these means, just imagine this: a really thin monitor panel that smoothly retracts and extends at the push of a remote, crystal clear movie and picture playback, all encased in a beautiful black matte finish polymer casing done with a space age design.

If all you want is a just a regular car stereo for playing CDs’, listening to mp3s or the radio, Kenwood car stereo have a lot to choose from. A good head unit would be the KDC-MP928 AAC/WMA/MP3/ CD Receiver with External Media Control.

• Auto-Slide Detachable Faceplate

  Rotary Encoder & Jog Control Knob for Easy Operation

  4096 Color OEL Display

  Display Customize Function

  Maximum Output Power : 50W x 4 (MOSFET Power IC)

  ACDrive (Advanced Codec Drive)

  AAC/WMA/MP3 Playback

  G-Analyzer (Graphic Motion Analyzer)

  Built-in DSP : DTA/System Q(4band P-EQ)/Digital E’s/SRS WOW Digital Effect

  O.D.D. (Offset Dual Differential) D/A System for Sound Quality

  Installer/User/Backup Memory of Audio Setup

  SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ready

  HD Radio Ready

  External Media Control iPod Ready

  Dual Zone Source & Volume Control

  AUX Input

  Gold Plated 3 Pre-outs with 5V Pre-output Level

The Kenwood car audio - auto slide detachable faceplate allows you to take the faceplate (one which has all the buttons) in order to prevent theft by taking away the functionality of the unit left in the car.

You can also find the Kenwood GPS Receiver

Bookmark to:
         

From the moment you mention the words Breitling watches, you automatically think that they are going to be expensive and out of your price range. Well believe it or believe it not, second hand Breitling watches are no more expensive than a typical designer Gucci watch or a Tag Heuer watch, with the vast amount of second hand Breitling watches available in the market place today I’m sure the right one is out there waiting for you.

Prices are now very competitive and certainly affordable to most consumers with an average Breitling watch available for sale from as little as £350.00. The second hand market is now probably the best way to buy your first Breitling watch and you should be able to find the perfect watch for you.

Here are some tips to find your individual perfect “genuine” Breitling watch. When you think you have found your ideal Breitling, be it any of the Breitling Navitimer watches range or Breitling Emergency watches, or even the superb Breitling Bentley watches, before any commitment of offer to purchase, always ask a few very important questions and the answers should determine the authenticity of this watch. You’ll need to be 100% assured this is not a fake watch as there are many copied watches sold via the internet.

1. Has the Breitling watch in question have the original box & certificate? If so, the numbers from the watch will match the numbers on the certificate.
2. Was the watch purchased in the UK or from abroad? If it was purchased abroad, has the tax been paid? Was it declared through customs?
3. Check the company’s returns policy as some will state strictly no returns; Beware, there is always a reason for this and you should probably stay well clear.
4. Past experience means that some companies are reluctant to answer any question regarding a particular watch enquiry. Why is that you should ask?
5. Please remember there are as many fake watches on the internet for sale as there are real ones, and a lot of copied watches are also sold with fake boxes and fake paperwork!

On a good note, there are a lot of genuine companies out there who are very reputable and established retail and online jewellers who offer a second to none service to their customers offering a full 100% no quibble full refund if not totally happy with the watch. These are the companies you need to be searching for to guarantee that your first Breitling watch is genuine. Check the website thoroughly, most have landline numbers clearly listed. If you see any that only list a mobile phone number then you should beware. Give them a call, speak to a real person, ask the questions above and this way you’ll get a real feel for the company. Good luck with your first Breitling watch purchase.

Bookmark to: