Ten of the best 4x4 cars to buy

Motorists are eying up 4x4s and their snow beating skills after another dose of wintry weather. We round up ten of the best four wheel drive cars, in no particular order.

There's a 4x4 here for all budgets, from the discerning millionaire to the frugal family. (If you think you have a better 4x4 option than those listed, tell us in reader comments below.)

Range Rover
New: £68,945 to £85,695
Used 2008 58*: 3.6 TDV8 HSE £37,870

Range Rover

The classic luxury 4x4, the Range Rover is stylish, good to drive and capable of conquering anything thrown at it. What Car? gives it four out of five stars and says: 'No off-roader has a more prestigious image. Limousine comforts in a car that can go anywhere.' The only downside is they cost a small fortune and you may need a second mortgage to cover the running costs. The £68,945 TDV8 will do 0 to 60mph in 7.5 seconds and does an average 30mpg. A cheaper option is the Range Rover Sport, which has less off-road cache, but is still capable of handling the tough stuff, a 3.0 litre TDV6 will cost you £47,995.

Volvo XC60
New: £27,620 to £40,120
Used 2008 58: 2.4D SE - £21,740
Volvo XC60

The Volvo XC60 is a soft roader – it looks like a 4x4 but half the range only actually has two wheel drive. But don't let this put you off, the XC60 is a handsome car that drives well and even drew praise from Jeremy Clarkson, who said it was better than an X-Trail or a Ford Kuga and that 'the interior is Bang & Olufsen cool.' What Car? gives it four stars. Four wheel drive versions are available across the range and Parker's says the 'the ride quality is excellent, making it a superb long distance machine'. The 2.4 litre D5 diesel version will do 0 to 60mph in 7.9 seconds and an average 42.8mpg. A very smart car.

Nissan X-Trail
New: £23,995 to £28,820
Used 2008 58: 2.0DCi Sport - £14,975

Nissan X Trail

Britain loves the X-Trail. It is What Car?'s current most searched used car and that's thanks to it being good to drive, comfortable and well built. What Car? says: 'It's more capable off-road than many of its rivals.' Unlike the growing band of soft roaders that match it in price, the X-Trail looks the 4x4 part and all versions come with four wheel drive. It is only now available new with 2.0 litre diesel engines, but used models also have petrol options. Buy one of these if you want to look more rugged than your Qashqai driving neighbour.

Skoda Yeti
New (4WD): £17,585 to £22,640
Used 2009 59(10k miles): 1.8TSi 4x4 - £15,125

Skoda Yeti 4x4 car

The Skoda Yeti bagged the coveted top spot in Auto Express magazine's car of the year awards. That was thanks to the fact that it blends the appearance of an off-roader with the versatility of a compact MPV, but doesn't cost the earth. The engine line-up was said to be top notch and if you want four wheel drive the cheapest possibility is the £17,585 2.0 litre TDI. What Car? Gives the Yeti a four out of five star rating and it also won Total Off Roader's 4x4 of the year award - put that in your £70,000 Range Rover pipe and smoke it.

Skoda Octavia Estate
New: £14,225 to £22,730
Used 2008 58: 1.9TDCi 4x4 - £11,605

Skoda Octavia Estate

What's this, an estate car? In among the 4x4s? The Octavia may not sit high like a big four wheel drive, but that doesn't mean it won't get you out of a tight spot. The 4x4 versions start at just over £19,000 and the Octavia comes in 11th in the JD Power most popular cars to own survey and was named one of Auto Express' best used cars to buy. What Car? says 'Skoda 4x4 is a great-value alternative to bulky SUVs…Just don't expect hardcore off-road ability.' But then that's not a problem if you only want to get out and about in the snow.

Ford Kuga
New: £20,495 to £25,545
Used 2008 58: 2.0TDCi Zetec - £14,960

Ford Kuga

Ford has scored a hit with its Kuga crossover and buyers love its sharp looks and good handling. Like the rest of the soft road crew, Kugas start life in two-wheel guise, however, there is also a 4x4 option, starting at £21,995 for the 2.0 litre TDCi Zetec. The Kuga bags a four star rating from Parker's, which says: 'It's based on the Focus, one of the best small family cars around, so it's no surprise that the Kuga is good to drive with impressive performance and neat handling.' Just don't expect the full on 4x4 experience.

Land Rover Discovery
New: £36,745 to £50,745
Used 2008 58: 2.7TDV6 SE - £26,050

Land Rover Discovery

The Land Rover Discovery is not cheap but like its Range Rover brother it does have a certain cache. There's no soft roading here, buy one of these and you can stand tall and say I bought a real 4x4 (and prepare for the flak that inevitably draws as this is not an environmentally friendly or subtle car). The Discovery scores a full five stars from What Car? and got the 2010 4x4 of the year award. It is described as 'brilliant on and off-road.' A 3.0 litre SDV6 GS will do 30.4mpg and 0 to 60mph in 9 seconds, useful for outrunning the green brigade.

Fiat Panda 4x4
New: £11,005 to £13,190
Used 2008 58: 1.3 Multijet 4x4 Cross - £6,990

Fiat Panda

The new Fiat Panda 4x4 has managed to pull off that rare trick, it's a new version of a once cherished little car that is also much loved. The original Panda 4x4 was the classic doors hanging off, dented, ski instructor car, that shot effortlessly up snow covered Alpine roads. The new Panda is substantially more comfortable and highly economical but not designed for anyone needing to get somewhere fast. The 1.2 litre version does 0 to 60mph in 20 seconds and the 1.3 litre diesel manages to shave 2 seconds off this and does 54.3mpg. One for those who like quirky cars, owners tend to love them and you can buy three for the cost of a Discovery and still have £3,000 left.

Kia Sportage
New: £17,015 5o £26,740
Used 2008 58: 2.0 XE - £10,490

Kia Sportage

It's unlikely any small boys have ever turned to their dad and said, 'when I grow up I want to drive a Kia.' But many of those dads might seriously be considering buying one thanks to the seven-year warranties the firm offers. What Car? says: 'The Sportage isn't the best car of its type to drive, but it looks brilliant, has a stylish, practical cabin and a long warranty, and is good value for money.' The cheapest 4x4 version costs £21,255.

BMW X3
New: £30,605 to £40,635
Used 2008 58 (old X3 version): 2.0d xDrive SE - £19,740

BMW X3

The BMW X3 never drew the same praise as its big brother the X5, but that didn't stop buyers snapping them up. A new version of the car is about to hit the roads and reviews are better, with a four star rating from Auto Express, What Car? and Parker's. The latter says: 'Compare the X3 with its rivals, including the Land Rover Freelander and the Audi Q5, and you will find that the X3 is more fun to drive.' It is only available with a diesel engine and in Parker's test it did well in snowy conditions, unlike all the BMW saloons you've seen struggling to get over an icy speed bump.

• *Used car prices are based on 2008 58 plate vehicle, average 20k miles, from Parker's Guide. Skoda Yeti not available in 2008.

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip-offs/motoring/article.html?in_article_id=520317&in_page_id=53949#ixzz18xE1MhZV

Car Articles Electric Car Of The Year 2010

This year’s electric car title can only go to one model in particular from a single manufacturer. This year’s winner of the Electric Car of the Year 2010 award goes to the Citroen Survolt. Granted, it’s a racing car, so you aren’t going to have one sitting on your driving just waiting to blast near-silently into the countryside. But that’s besides the point. Look at it!

Only a concept really, it’s a wonderful one and it works too. 62 is reached in less than 5 seconds and a top speed of 161 miles per hour is possible. Why is has it got the award? It’s this kind of outlandish design that helps developers understand the boundaries of what can be done and under what kind of budget. Citroen are forging forward and their C-Zero all electric vehicle is bound to take us forward in terms of zero emissions vehicles.
 

Three Car Types To Buy In Winter

Winter is a funny time to buy certain cars – but better for others. Bearing this in mind, here are three cars that are good to buy in winter:

* Most convertibles – you’ll find you can grab a bargain, especially on a soft top due to the inclement weather coming in
* Rear wheel drive sports cars – in winter, these tend to be much less frequently purchased. They don’t like ice after all. This can mean lower prices
* Older body shaped four wheel drive motors like a Subaru Forester will see off any inclement weather that you throw at it and you can pick them up extremely cheaply

Ultimately, one way in which to drive a bargain on the forecourts whether you’re after a new or an old motor is just to show up at a time when salespeople are probably struggling that particular day or week.

Choose a reasonably late on time when it’s darker (after having seen the choice motor in the light of course), maybe raining. If the sales haven’t been coming in that day, the manager will be much more likely to meet you part way in a deal.
 

Used car prices fall

The average value of used cars fell last month, according to vehicle remarketing firm British Car Auctions (BCA). It found that average used car values were down by 2.5 per cent in October, in line with the typical annual price movements.

BCA's most recent Pulse report also showed that volumes reduced by about 5 per cent compared with September, and the fact that demand is currently greater than supply is maintaining values at a relatively positive level. Although recession and economic cutbacks have affected the industry, the auction group argue that supply issues are also still having an impact on the market.

The report revealed that values in the fleet and lease sector took the brunt of the downturn, falling by 3.8 per cent, and that part-exchange values remained stable.

Tony Gannon, communications director at BCA, commented "October has heralded the typical slowing in demand that the market usually experiences in the run-up to the Christmas period. However, the effect has been tempered this year by the continuing shortage of retail quality stock - the competitive pressure for the best examples in the wholesale arena has meant average values are probably stronger than expected.

He added "Used cars continue to be the battleground for dealer profitability and this will remain the case while new car retail sales continue to be slow."

Nissan GT-R for 2011

This is the enhanced Nissan GT-R for 2011 and it is even more powerful than the last car, if that can be believed.

The new version of the car features better aerodynamic bodywork, meaning a low drag coefficient (making the car more slippery) which improves performance.

Engine output is also significantly improved to 530PS (390KW)/6,400rpm, with the maximum torque of 612Nm from 3,200 to 6,000rpm. The engine cover is, enigmatically, painted red to illustrate its enhanced performance.

Bodywork has also been strengthened by using a new supporting strut brace linking right and left struts to quickly receive suspension input, the vehicle body’s responsiveness has also been enhanced.

The enhanced 2011 GT-R is available now to order, priced at £69,950. The standard ‘no extra cost’ specification list remains as strong as always with Premium Connect HDD satellite navigation, Bose stereo system, iPod™ connectivity, hard drive music storage, Bluetooth phone connection, 20” alloy wheels, runflat tyres, and individual climate control air conditioning. Add that to the performance delivered from the V6 twin turbo through the GR6 twin clutch system, with the aid of the 4 wheel drive system, and the on the road price, the GT-R remains untouchable.

 

Manheim Remarketing delivers ground-breaking new website

Manheim Remarketing has launched a brand new website that, for the first time in the UK remarketing industry, allows trade buyers to search for all stock in all Manheim Remarketing sales channels from one location. This includes physical auction, live Simulcast link to auction as well as ‘Buy Now’ stock from the all-new Manheim Direct service and a range of other stand alone electronic auctions. The new stock search engine, called Connect sits within the new website at www.manheimremarketing.co.uk, the homepage of which can be personalised, ensuring that users only see those services that are of interest to them.

For vendors the key benefits of the new site are:
•    First truly multi-channel remarketing service allowing vendors to list all vehicles offered through Manheim Remarketing via a single integrated search engine.
•    Provides options for stock to be cascaded between sales channels – i.e. selected stock offered on ‘Buy Now’ before going to physical auction, or offering ‘not solds’ as ‘Buy Now’ before scheduling for next auction at selected centres.
•    Provides easy access to the ‘Buy Now’ channel which gives vendors greater flexibility within remarketing strategies and significantly increases exposure of their online stock to all Manheim Remarketing buyers.
•    Tactical use of new CyberAuction as channel with much greater buyer visibility. •    Greater exposure to more buyers across the whole of Manheim Remarketing division supports
achievement of highest sale values.

For buyers the key benefits of the new site are:
•    Single sign-on into one stock locator to access all vehicles within Manheim Remarketing irrespective of sales channel.
•    Greater choice of stock from the whole of Manheim Remarketing. •    New online ‘Buy Now’ purchase option. •    Access to greater volumes of ‘Buy Now’ vehicles. •    Ability to discuss vehicle specifics using new ‘Live Chat’ functionality. •    Ability to create preferred vehicle searches and keep in touch with interested stock through
‘watchlists’. •    Choice of channels gives greater flexibility in purchase options to suit journey planning and
available buyer resources.

Mike Pilkington, Managing Director, Manheim Remarketing said: “The introduction of this ground- breaking new website further enhances Manheim’s position as the leading vehicle remarketing company in the UK. The benefits to both vendors and buyers are unsurpassed and set the standard for the rest of the remarketing industry.”

Toyota Tacoma test drive

I stopped by the Toyota Dealership yesterday for a look at the new
Tacoma . Just for fun, I took it out for a test drive. I wanted to sense that "new" feel.

The salesman (wearing an Obama "change" lapel pin) sat in the
passenger seat describing the truck and all its "wonderful" options. The seats were of particular interest.

He explained that the seats directed warm air to your butt in
the winter and directed cool air to your butt in the summer heat.

Feeling like messing with his mind, I mentioned that this must
be a Republican truck. Looking a bit angry, he asked why I thought it
was a Republican truck. I explained that if it were a Democrat truck,
the seats would blow smoke up your ass year-round.

I had to walk back to the dealership... Damn guy had no sense of
humor.
 

Financial Concerns When Buying A Car (Part 2)

 

This is the second part of an article that covers the financial aspects of buying a new or used car.

6) Insurance group – how much is the car going to cost you to get insured? If it’s a cheap vehicle, could you afford to go third party, fire and theft only?

Find out which insurance group the car falls in to. If in doubt, call up a few insurers, they’ll be able to give you a free quotation and you could find yourself getting a lower premium than expected

7) Servicing for some cars is notoriously expensive. How often is another factor. Some highly tuned engines need serviced more than others. Get an idea of servicing costs from the local branded garage as well as an independent specialist.

8) Parts – how readily available are they? Are they much more than you’re used to paying? For example tyres for a BMW3 can give you a shock particularly when you've been used to a smaller hatchback.

9) Known faults issues in vehicles that are out of warranty can be expensive to repair. Check out Parkers, VOSA and other sources to see if the type of car you’re buying has anything apparent. It may not happen to yours but if it does you’re better off knowing it’s a possibility beforehand.

10) Tax bands are now quite wide these days. Are you prepared to pay more for a vehicle that emits CO2? If so, make sure you get the performance to match.

11) Hidden costs (such as a car that drinks a lot of oil) should also be thought of but often aren’t revealed until you take a look at specialist/enthusiast sites.

12) Hidden history – does the vehicle have outstanding finance, is it stolen or has it been in an accident? Any one of these factors could have a massive impact and if not disclosed could lead you to all manner of heartbreak.

Your car is a huge purchase so be a more aware consumer and bear all these things in mind. Go in fully aware of at least some of these points when looking at a new car.
 

A Guide To Car Loans And Finance Deals

Please note options do change so keep an eye on special offers, etc.

Cars are expensive purchases and when you’re looking at a gleaming new set of wheels, you can quite easily get emotionally involved in the purchase. This is why it’s so important to know what type of finance or loan will best suit your needs prior to visiting the forecourts.

Personal Loans

Perhaps the simplest option is to go for a personal loan from a bank. APR (Annual Percentage Rate) can vary, but essentially the way this works is the interest you pay on the amount you borrow.

These are normally to a maximum value of £25,000 and over a ten year repayment period. One thing to note is that your credit status can dictate the maximum value you can borrow along with the APR itself.

A better credit rating means you’re more likely to have to pay less in the long run as there is less risk for the loan provider.

Check the APT as this makes a huge difference.

Secured Loan

This type of loan is secured against a property so you’d need property to secure it against. A longer repayment period and a higher maximum value can be borrowed with this type of loan but obviously comes with the risk that you property could be repossessed by the bank should you default on the loan! Not really worth risking your home for an expensive car.

Car Finance

Generally speaking, when you go to buy a new or used car, the dealer will either have their own credit provider or be linked with an established company. When a dealer offers you credit, look over all of the paperwork very carefully. You may find it a good deal, or alternatively choose to arrange a loan through your own bank, depending on what sort of APR is being offered.

PCP

PCP (or Personal Contract Purchase) is an alternative way to buy a car. It’s actually a good way to get a higher priced vehicle but at a cost. Simply put, PCP can be better for some people as it includes road tax, sometimes maintenance too and comes with fixed monthly payments that are quite often lower than other forms of finance.

The drawback comes from the fact that once you paid off the initial period, there’s a balloon payment at the end, called an ‘optional final payment’. It’s at this point that you can hand the car back, pay off the money and keep the car or use it as a deposit on a new vehicle.

The choice is entirely yours. Overall, PCP tends to come with lower monthly costs associated but a higher total payable when the optional final payment is taken into consideration.

Fees To Consider

When organising a loan, sometimes you’ll find there are ‘hidden’ costs. A good car dealer if being arranged on the day of purchase, should discuss with you all of the options and where additional costs are accrued on the loan.

Here’s a breakdown of some of those additional costs when arranging finance:

* Application fee: A fee that is charged when applying for the loan
* Arrangement fee: Normally added to the cost of the loan when your credit has been checked and agreed
* Courier fee: Depending on what is required, some companies will charge a courier fee.
* CHAPS fee: Clearing House Automated Payment Service – a way to transfer money from one bank to another, quite often in a single day.
* Early settlement fee: Some companies charge if you settle the loan early, as it means they won’t be getting the full interest. This tends to be based around the amount of interest remaining so depends on the value of the loan
* Optional final payment: Should you choose the option of PCP, the optional final payment is the lump sum you pay at the end in order to keep the car

Other things to consider

When purchasing a car, unless it is brand new, it is recommended to run a vehicle data check. It’s fairly cheap to do could well help you spot a bad buy.

Consider putting down a larger deposit. This will reduce your monthly repayments when it comes to your loan, which can be very useful.

Perhaps most importantly when considering finance, choose the right car for you. Remember that you are getting into debt for what could be a significant amount of money so it is important that you’re happy with your purchase.

Should the worst happen and you fall behind on your payments, do not panic. Talk to the loan provider, they may be able to arrange something to help you. Alternatively, seek financial advice from a specialist, your bank and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Financial Concerns When Buying A Car (Part 1)

Different financial aspects that you should consider when buying a car. Some of them you may be aware of already, others may be completely new to you. All should be taken into account though when you arrive on a forecourt, to ensure you’re not stung at a later date.

1) How will you finance the purchase? PCP? Personal loan?

2) Deposit – if you can put down more, quite often you can negotiate a greater discount on the car.

3) Petrol or Diesel? If you’re buying new, diesel engines tend to cost more, but you’ll recoup that if you do a lot of miles by having a greater MPG.

4) Depreciation – if you are buying new, do you mind taking the hit? Why not look at a car a few years old, which could save you the greatest part of the depreciation.

5) Miles per gallon is the usual old performance vs economy debate that comes into play when considering miles per gallon. However, this is becoming less of a factor as cars are now using smaller engines which return greater fuel economy and better performance but you may need to pay more to get one of those newer cars!

One Million BMW X5 Vehicles Sold

Within 11 years, more than 1 million BMW X5 vehicles have been sold, which is a testament to how popular the big SUV (or SAV – sports activity vehicle) has become.

When it premiered in 1999, the four-wheel driven BMW X5 was the first vehicle of its kind. Since then, the concept of combining superior dynamics on tarmac with outstanding traction on off-road terrain, has been a show-stopper worldwide.

The spacious five-door car offers up to seven seats, its intelligent four-wheel drive system BMW xDrive guarantees awesome acceleration, both on and off road. Permanent, electronically controlled four-wheel drive technology distributes motive force to the front and rear wheels variably and according to each specific situation. Furthermore, a luxurious interior ambience and a wide choice of innovative driver assistance systems contribute towards the characteristic manifestation of driving pleasure so typical of a BMW.

Numerous awards document the outstanding product quality with regard to design, driving pleasure, safety and reliability. In 2007, the BMW X5 received, inter alia, the design prize “autonis” awarded by the trade journal “auto motor und sport“ for the most attractive design, as well as a Gold Award in the J.D. Power Study on customer satisfaction in North America.

The American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) voted this Sports Activity Vehicle as the “Top Safety Pick” for outstanding crash test behaviour both in 2007 and 2008. Current proof of the vehicle’s exceptional reliability is given by the latest breakdown statistics issued by Europe’s largest automobile club ADAC, in which the BMW X5 ranks second place behind the BMW X3 in the all-terrain vehicle category.

These are all the reasons why BMW’s X5 remains at the top of the tree and also why it is such a common sight amongst the ‘Chelsea Tractor’ crowd taking their children to school!
 

What is the best car to own?

Where does your car rank in the latest JD Power and Associates and What Car? survey for performance, design, comfort and features, ownership costs, fuel consumption and insurance?...

Lexus and Toyota cars may have been subject to recalls over recent months but UK owners still rate them highly.

Lexus topped tje 2010 UK vehicle ownership satisfaction study table compiled by JD Power and Associates and What Car?.

Toyota was fifth in the table, which was based on the responses of more than 17,000 UK car owners.

The Jaguar XF upheld its reputation for satisfaction, coming in second place on the league table getting an overall score of nearly 84%.

The Lexus RX was rated best sports utility vehicle and the Lexus IS was the best compact executive car, while the Toyota Aygo was the best city car and the Toyota Yaris was joint top (with the Honda Jazz) in the small car category.

For Lexus, it was a 10th successive year at the top of the charts in this survey.

The company scored 846 points out of a possible 1,000. The points were based on vehicle appeal, which includes performance, design, comfort and features; vehicle quality and reliability; ownership costs, which includes fuel consumption, insurance and costs of service/repair; and dealer service satisfaction.

In February this year Toyota recalled more than 8,500 of its third-generation Prius models to fix a braking glitch.

In April, we reported that Toyota were carrying out safety tests on all their 4x4 models amid fears they could overturn in an accident.

For a full list of results click the table below.

15 Tips for Buying a Used Car

Buying a quality used car can be difficult unless you know what to look for. Many people only look at the selling price and see a bargain, indeed this can be very tempting but you could in fact be putting you and your family at risk. You should make sure the car has had a full check and seek professional advice to avoid getting a dud deal.

Below are some tips on finding a good and safe bargain

1. Make sure that when looking at the selling price you also take into account any work that may need done, insurance and tax. Do some price research beforehand on a site like Teletextcars.co.uk
2. Do not look at a car at night as it can look completely different and you may miss many faults.
3. Check all documentation thoroughly, such as the MOT certification and make sure they are up to date and detail the cars history. Make sure the owner also has valid insurance.
4. Make sure you see the V5 vehicle registration as this will ensure that you know who the owner is. Many people sell on behalf of others so you need to meet the real owner.
5. Make sure the car comes with the keys that were originally issued as these can often be very expensive to replace.
6. Always test drive the car before you purchase to ensure you like the way it feels and that it works properly.
7. Look for any traces of a DIY repair job; check for markings of spray paint, replaced door panels or tailgate.
8. Keep an eye out for damage to the underneath of the cars seats, seats can be expensive to replace.
9. Do not give the seller any money until you have finalised all arrangements such as a scheduled delivery or collection and any work to the car that has been agreed to be fixed.
10. Do not be bullied into buying a car and if you feel unsatisfied by what is on offer then remember that you are perfectly within your rights to walk away.
11. Be sure to check the warranty before signing anything to ensure you know what is and is not covered and to make sure it will not cost you any extra.
12. You can also attend auctions to buy a used car but make sure you do not get too carried away with the excitement of bidding. Set yourself a budget and stick to it.
13. Always read the terms and conditions of any sale that you may commit to.
14. When possible, take someone that has some experience/knowledge on buying used cars
15. Always fully test the car as soon as possible after buying.

Wonderful sentiment about illegal immigration!

SNOPES: CORRECTLY ATTRIBUTED

I find this very interesting reading; so let's keep it going if you agree. It only takes a few days on the Internet and this will have reached 75% of the public in the U.S.A. Seniors need to stand up for what is right, not what the politicians want or big Corporations want.

This was sent to Mr. Rand, who is the Executive Director of AARP.

THIS LADY NOT ONLY HAS A GRASP OF 'THE SITUATION' BUT AN INCREDIBLE COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!

Dear Mr. Rand,

Recently you sent us a letter encouraging us to renew our lapsed membership in AARP by the requested date. I know it is not what you were looking for, but this is the most honest response I can give you. Our gap in coverage is merely a microscopic symptom of the real problem, a deepening lack of faith.

While we have proudly maintained our membership for several years and have long admired the AARP goals and principles, regrettably, we can no longer endorse it's abdication of our values. Your letter specifically stated that we can count on AARP to speak up for our rights, yet the voice we hear is not ours. Your offer of being kept up to date on important issues through DIVIDED WE FAIL presents neither an impartial view nor the one we have come to embrace. We do believe that when two parties agree all the time on everything presented to them, one is probably not necessary. But, when the opinions and long term goals are diametrically opposed, the divorce is imminent. This is the philosophy which spawned our 200 years of government.

Once upon a time, we looked forward to being part of the senior demographic. We also looked to AARP to provide certain benefits and give our voice a power we could not possibly hope to achieve on our own. AARP gave us a sense of belonging which we no longer enjoy. The Socialist politics practiced by the Obama administration and empowered by AARP serves only to raise the blood pressure my medical insurance strives to contain. Clearly a conflict of interest there!

We do not understand the AARP posture, feel greatly betrayed by the guiding forces that we expected to map out our senior years and leave your ranks with a great sense of regret. We mitigate that disappointment with the relief of knowing that we are not contributing to the problem anymore by renewing our membership. There are numerous other organizations which offer discounts without threatening our way of life or offending our sensibilities.

This Presidential Administration scares the living daylights out of us. Not just for ourselves, but for our proud and bloodstained heritage. But even more importantly for our children and grandchildren. Washington has rendered Soylent Green a prophetic cautionary tale rather than a nonfiction scare tactic. I have never in my life endorsed any militant or radical groups, yet now I find myself listening to them. I don't have to agree with them to appreciate the fear which birthed their existence. Their borderline insanity presents little more than a balance to the voice of the Socialist mindset in power. Perhaps I became American by a great stroke of luck in some cosmic uterine lottery, but in my adulthood I CHOOSE to embrace it and nurture the freedoms it represents as well as the responsibilities it requires.

Your website generously offers us the opportunity to receive all communication in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Someone has broken into our 'house', invaded our home without our invitation or consent. The President has insisted we keep the perpetrator in comfort and learn the perp language so we can communicate our reluctant welcome to them.

I DON'T choose to welcome them.

I DON'T choose to support them.

I DON'T choose to educate them.

I DON'T choose to medicate them, pay for their food or clothing.

American home invaders get arrested.

Please explain to me why foreign lawbreakers can enjoy privileges on American soil that Americans do not get?

Why do some immigrants have to play the game to be welcomed and others only have to break & enter to be welcomed?

We travel for a living. Walt hauls horses all over this great country, averaging over 10,000 miles a month when he is out there. He meets more people than a politician on caffeine overdose. Of all the many good folks he enjoyed on this last 10,000 miles, this trip yielded only ONE supporter of the current administration. One of us is out of touch with mainstream America . Since our poll is conducted without funding, I have more faith in it than one which is power driven.

We have decided to forward this to everyone on our mailing list, and will encourage them to do the same. With several hundred in my address book, I have every faith that the eventual exponential factor will make a credible statement to you.

I am disappointed.

I am scared.

I am MAD and I'm NOT gonna take it anymore!

Walt & Cyndy
Miller Farms Equine Transport

ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD.

All The Best,

Billy McKee
ButterKee Books
Nashville, TN
 

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