What you are looking at I cam upon as I was walking along a sidewalk, going to enter a business. Here are the facts as I observed them. This business has a VERY LARGE parking lot, if I were to guess there are well over 400 parking spaces. The lot was probably 3/4 full, but this spot was close to building, about 50 feet from the front door. I had to stop and take a photo of this and do a little venting. My questions are 2. 1 - Did the person actually back into this parking space knowing full well that they have this extension on the back of their truck so they didn't want it to stick out in "traffic" on the other end of the space thinking that was a better option to have the pedestrians walk around it into the landscaping of the business? 2 - Did the person not even stop to think about the extension on the back and backs into every spot and just walk out the driver door, out the front of the truck and "forget" about the extension? I guess the answer to either question would not be "OK" with this guy.

If it is scenario #1, then that person is a statement about a portion of our society that ONLY cares and ONLY considers what is GOOD FOR THEM, and does not care how their actions effect anyone else. The attitude of "IT IS ALL ABOUT ME!" If it is #2 and they are so caught up in their "busy life" and they are in such a hurry to rush into the business - it is another statement that says, "I am not smart enough to realize that when I back up into this spot that I have this extension on the back of my truck and the next time I do it I will probably back into another car, or maybe even my garage wall."

Maybe this is over analyzing or over reacting, but my thought is that more of us that do consider how our actions effect other people, should call out these "issues" to others and let them know that it is not OK. Don't even get me started on the lady that I saw on a news story that won ONE MILLION DOLLARS (OK the take home was just over half, so 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS) and thought it was still OK to collect her "food stamps" and government assistance money because she was "struggling"!!! WHOA! Call them like you see them, that is FLAT OUT wrong. Where are the ethics? Where are the morals? We need to get them back some how.

We found an interesting article from foxnews.com on used car buying tips. The cost of used vehicles is on the rise and has not leveled off yet as of March 1, 2012.

The value of used vehicles continues to climb. Buying a used car can be a minefield, so it's crucial to be well prepared before making any important decisions. The best approach is to narrow your search, decide on exactly what you're looking for and check the car out thoroughly. In order to get the best deal, you'll also need to be prudent and negotiate effectively with the seller. Here are find handy tips to help you find the best used car for you.

Research You're bound to find hundreds of potential cars, so having a clear picture of what you want should help you sift through the less desirable options more easily. Read reviews, consumer reports and any other material you can get your hands on to help you consider your options. It's also wise to consider less obvious factors such as maintenance costs and upkeep. Determine how readily available replacements are.

Search online Once upon a time, the best way to buy a used car was to scan the classified ads in the local newspaper. Nowadays, the used car trade is based almost exclusively on the web. Huge online databases allow you to peruse thousands of used vehicles without the pressurized environment associated with dealerships. Used car website aggregators, such as AutoTrader.com and AutoTempest.com are great places to begin your hunt, and the research you've already performed should help you refine your search more effectively.

Check the history When searching for a car, never buy based solely on what you've been told by the seller, for it may not be the whole truth. Some sellers have been known to roll back the odometer or omit important details about previous repairs, so checking the car out yourself before making any final decisions will ensure that you avoid any nasty surprises after you've paid for it. In order to perform a background check, you'll need the vehicle's “VIT number,” which can be found under the right-right hand corner of the windscreen. In exchange for a fee, a vehicle history report company can check the car's history for any missing details. For a more immediate indication of the car's condition, try looking at the vehicle's interior — the shabbier it is, the more likely that more likely that the car is in disrepair. Beware of worn seats and upholstery, broken switches and knobs. They are all signs that the car may be very old or mistreated.

Negotiate a fair price Once you're confident that the car is worth buying, it's time to negotiate a price. It's important to remember that the cheapest car isn't always the best car, and it's often worth paying extra for a more reliable vehicle. Always try to negotiate the seller down from the very beginning. During your first contact you should ask about cutting the price to determine how open they are about it. Don't be afraid to make a low offer - if sellers feel that you're truly interested in it, they will usually negotiate - and always be ready to walk away if they prove unyielding.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/02/24/five-tips-for-buying-used-car/print#ixzz1oRiaClaA

Have you heard the following message on KFAN on Saturday Mornings?

"Does your vehicle have damage? A broken side mirror, a cracked or broken tail light, or maybe a radio that doesn’t tune in quite right to Race Horse Radio? Aaa Auto Salvage can help save you money with quality recycled auto parts. With locations in Rosemount and East Bethel you are never far from a great deal on auto parts. Visit www.aaaparts.com, go to the blog, and find a printable coupon for $25 off your next purchase and....Get USED to it."

If you have maybe that is why you are here on this page of the blog, looking for your $25 off coupon. We are glad that you have stopped on aaaparts.com, and hope that you have found the part that you were searching for. If you have not found the part via our online search function, please do give one of our industry leading sales staff a call, and have them assist you in the search. We want to help solve your automotive part problem.

If you do find your part, please cut out, or print out this page and bring it in with you. When you check out we will discount your purchase $25. We ask that you only use one coupon per household. If you need more parts in the future let us know and we can make sure that you get a good deal on the parts that you need.

Click this link for the PDF copy of this coupon.

A local television station did a story on speeding tickets in the 7 county Metro Area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. If you want to see the full story you can go to kstp.com, but one mention in the story caught my attention. The story reported that the Minnesota State Patrol has issued 41% less speeding tickets, but has increased the citations for Seat Belt use. The story says that is one main reason that traffic deaths in Minnesota is at lowest point since 1944.

As I thought about it I thought there are many other factors at work in the safety on Minnesota Roads and I want to use the blog to get that information out there. Since aaa is an auto recycler that has been in business for 28 years, we have seen the drastic changes in automobiles over that time. I have my thoughts on the top 5 reasons that go along with Seat Belt usage (it probably is the #1 reason for safety if they are used) for the reduction in traffic deaths.

1. Air Bags. The introduction in SRS systems that are designed to work in conjunction with the seat belts have done an incredible job in keeping occupants safe in vehicle crashes. Not only are the number of airbags in vehicles increasing with each model year release, but the places they are installed in vehicles is just plain great engineering.
2. High Strength Steels – The auto industry has made the occupant areas of vehicles out of high (no very high) strength steels that are so very rigid that they stay intact while in crashes and transfer the collision energy to other parts of the vehicle.
3. Drunk Driving awareness. The MADD and SADD chapters have helped the awareness of drunk driving and the dram shop laws that forced bars and restaurants to train their staff on serving alcoholic beverages. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show that in 2010 about 1/3 of all traffic accidents involving a fatality, also involve alcohol.
4. Motorcycle safety. Here in Minnesota the helmet law is only applicable to riders under the age of 18 or riders with an instruction permit, but you will notice on the roadways that more riders are wearing helmets than are not.
5. Gas Prices & Behavior changes.   I know it seems like the easy thing these days to blame, but if you follow the logic – I think it does contribute to a reduction in traffic deaths. As gas prices increase more people turn to Mass Transit options to “save money.” I think there is also a bigger squeeze on the younger drivers, who tend to make less money and thus have less money to spend on higher gas. If the younger drivers are off the road the statistics for fatalities will follow. Less young drivers on the road will bring the numbers down because motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for persons between the ages of 3 – 34.

10 things you should do in a Minnesota Summer.

When and IF, the summer of 2011 ever arrives, below are 10 things that the employees at aaa Auto Salvage think that you should do, see or take part in during the Summer of 2011. If there are some that you think we missed or that you think should be added to the list, let us know!

10 – Have dinner outside on a patio, could be a restaurant or your own.

9 – Get a neighborhood game of kick the can or capture the flag going, AFTER DARK

8 – Take in a day of racing at Canterbury Park; you could turn $2 in to $200 or more!

7 – Go to Duluth – Canal Park or even farther North to the North Shore. See Lake Superior, the largest fresh water body of water in the world.

6 – Have beverage, doesn’t have to be alcohol J, at a waterfront establishment.

5 – Go fishing – most employees here would say on Lake Mille Lacs. If you can’t go there go anywhere.

4 – Go to races at Brainerd International Raceway, try for Nationals in August.

3 – Go to a Twins game @ Target Field.

2 – Back to the 50’s car show @ state fair grounds

1 – The State Fair, for people watching and eating.