Treadmill Comparison: 3 Things You Must Know Before Buying

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Buying a treadmill? You'll probably be making several treadmill comparisons when doing your research.

Here are 3 things you must know when making treadmill comparisons in order to find the best one for you.

#1 Compare Apples To Apples

Don't compare prices between treadmills online and treadmills sold at a store. They are two different marketplaces, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

When I was selling a Proform treadmill many years ago, the gentleman buying it had gone online and seen the same model for less. I had to explain to him that this price was an online price only. Buying a treadmill online can sometimes be considerably cheaper, depending on the manufacturer, sales, closeouts, etc.

So when comparing treadmill prices side by side, make sure you compare online treadmills to online treadmills and store treadmills to store treadmills.

Also make sure you're comparing the same models. It sounds obvious but some treadmill brands have so many similar sounding treadmills in their line-up it's easy to get confused!

#2 Know the Key Ingredients to a Quality Treadmill

Make sure you know the top 4 key ingredients to a quality treadmill:

- Motor Power
- Stability
- Warranty
- Cushioning

Your motor is the heart of your treadmill and adequate motor power is extremely important. Most experts recommend at least a 1.5 HP motor although I prefer a 2.0 HP or higher to ensure you don't burn the motor out (and then have to pay costly repair fees).

Stability ensures that your treadmill will not shake or wobble when you start to run on it.

Your warranty will protect your investment and quality treadmills will include a warranty. (You shouldn't have to pay extra for a treadmill warranty - unless you want to, of course!)

Cushioning is the ability of the treadmill to absorb the force of your step. Higher cushioning means lower impact on your joints and ligaments. Cushioning is extremely important as poor cushioning can cause injury and muscle strain

#3) Know What YOU Need When Reviewing Treadmills

Many people get sold on all of the 'neat' features of the treadmill - but don't ever consider if they'll really use them.

For example we'd all love to own a commercial-grade, luxury treadmill - but for many people, it's MORE than they need. On the other hand, a serious runner might actually need that kind of stability and cushioning in a treadmill.

If you don't really care about 30 workout programs, why pay extra for them? If you know your 6'2" son will be running on the treadmill, remember to look for one with a longer running area and adequate user weight capacity.

By knowing what you you need before comparing treadmills, you'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

So there you have it - keep these 3 points in mind when making treadmill comparisons and you'll be well on your way to making an excellent treadmill purchase! Enjoy and have fun!

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Where To Buy A Treadmill

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Buying a treadmill? Chances are you'll want to comparison shop to find the best deal for you. Looking at all of the options available can often save you hundreds of dollars.

But where can you look?

There are in general 3 places you can buy your tread mill. This article will outline what you should know about each. You'll learn the advantages and disadvantages - to help you find the best treadmill buy.


#1 Department Stores

Department stores like Walmart, Sears, and Target sell a variety of name brand treadmills in their sports and fitness departments.

What you should know: Although these stores may appear to offer several different brand names they are almost always produced by one manufacturer - Icon Health and Fitness.

Icon is one of the largest treadmill manufacturers on the market today and produces such brands as Proform, Weslo, Epic, Image, Nordic Track, Free Spirit and Reebok.

These treadmills have lots of neat gadgets like CD players, TV's, iFit compatibility and more. However, they are not necessarily known for high quality cushioning, stability or durability.

They also typically offer short warranties. For many of the cheaper treadmills, 90 days on parts and labor is all you get. If you want a longer warranty you'll have to pay extra for it.

Salespeople at these department stores are often not very knowledgeable about treadmills, fitness or how to choose the right treadmill based on your personal needs. So if you need to buy from a department store make sure you do your homework before you go.

Also, at a department store, you'll usually have to pay extra for shipping and delivery of your treadmill (around $150 - $200) so that's also an extra cost to consider.


#2 Specialty Sports and Fitness Stores

These are stores like Fitness Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods, Sport Chalet etc.

What you should know: These stores typically offer you higher end treadmill brands like Precor, Landice, Trimline, Star Trac, Keys and more.

You technically get a larger selection at these stores because the treadmill brands are made by more than 1 giant treadmill manufacturing company.

Sales people are typically more knowledgeable at these stores and can tell you more about the treadmill models, what you need, etc. However be careful as these salespeople are often on commission and may try to pressure you into buying a higher priced machine than you actually need.

You'll also typically have to pay for shipping and delivery of your treadmill when you buy at one of these stores (which could cost you $150-200 depending on the size of your treadmill). However if you hit these stores on a sale, you may be able to get a discount or free shipping.


#3 Online - Direct From the Manufacturer

Buying a treadmill online is an option that is growing in popularity with buyers. There are both online fitness stores and online treadmill manufacturers.

What you should know: Online manufacturers sell direct to the consumer, in effect skipping the middleman of the store. Consequently customers can save up to $800 on a brand name treadmill.

Buying online is also easy and convenient since you can research treadmill brands and prices from the comfort of your living room. You have a much larger selection of treadmill brands than either option above and can thus make a better buying decision.

Another bonus is that online distributors typically offer free shipping which can also save you a couple hundred dollars. There are no pushy salespeople to deal with so you can take your time to decide without any pressure.

The downside of buying a treadmill online is that you don't get to walk on the treadmill first. Many people get around this by trying them out at stores first and then buying the treadmill online (if possible).

Or you could do the research and invest in a high end treadmill brand with high ratings from experts and users. (Several treadmill websites will list any expert awards or user reviews for you to read.)

So those are 3 main places to buy your treadmill. Regardless of where you buy your tread mill, remember to take your time, have fun and consider your own personal workout needs before buying.

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Ins and Outs when Buying a Sports Car

Many financially gifted individuals are thinking wondering what to do with their “fat wallets” – should they put it in the bank for future investment use it for something that is tangible. They might just say “hey, this is exciting!” and what better thing to buy that can cause a phrase like this - a brand new sports car!

But here's how to look at both the positive and negative sides of spending cash for a sports car.

Fanatics can find the most interesting and beautiful reason to own a sports car and the good news are is:

- Sports cars fit the lifestyle of the rich, the famous and the elegant.

- These sports cars have more powerful engines with up to 750 horsepower.

- Sleek, convertible types depreciate more slowly than hardtop rivals.

- The newer the sports car model, the more impressive the driver is.

- Fans of pricey sports car can choose between the coupe type and convertible type.

- Automatic transmission sports cars have better resale values.

- High-end exotics have been largely immune to the recession

- Less striking cars do best, often losing as little as 6 to 10% of their worth over five years.

- Sports cars are used in many cases for car racing. Both men and women are starting to become addicted with the sport.

Although fitting, as it can be, for their lifestyle, it’s not all that easy when it comes to buying a sports cars, the not so good news is:

- Sports cars are prone to being affected by recurring and financially viable trends.

- Some sports cars have very expensive and hard to find repair parts.

- Sports car buyers should not expect to ever get back their full investment when reselling the car.

- Expensive sport cars infrequently serve their purpose as just a means of transportation. They just become the collector’s item that is rarely used.

- Driving an expensive sports car means spending extra money for gas.

- Models that were sold at special discounts decrease in value faster than other models.

- Various exotic sports cars that only a minority can find the money for are often resold because of costly maintenance.

On the other hand, sports cars have become a passion for some. It could indicate that the buyer would spend more than he should, since it brings enjoyment to the owner, and he is willing to sacrifice the costly price of owning one for the joy and prestige it gives.

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Buying Luxury Imported Sports Cars

Imported luxury sports cars are longed for by many car buyers and collectors. The US is one of the many countries who love to import luxury vehicles like sports cars. There are new ones but there are also used luxury cars that are sold in the car market.

Brand new imported luxury cars are very expensive so many buyers are turning to used luxury sports cars as an alternative. Although pre-owned, many buyers still wish to buy them to be part of their collections. Others purchase these used imported luxury cars to lift their public images and add class and prestige when driving.

Here are some tips that need to be considered when buying used imported luxury sports cars:

1. The real cost of the imported luxury sports car should be determined. It is not advisable to buy the used car without having it appraised. Many car sellers price the imported cars very high because most buyers are not familiar with their true cost. It is important to determine the value before buying a car whether it is new or pre-owned.

2. Buyers of these cars should research the car before purchasing. It is important to remember that they are imported cars and you should be aware of, and informed about the car’s capacity, gas mileage, speed, and engine performance.

Know the depreciation rate and how the cars are sold in the market. By so doing, the research will help the buyer obtain some tips to use when buying imported luxury sports cars. The way to research is to use the internet or seek the advice of other car owners/buyers who are familiar with these types of cars.

3. When shopping for a car, it is recommended that you enlist the assistance of an experienced car mechanic that is not employed by the dealer. The mechanic should be an expert in checking the engine and other parts of the used car. This is to ensure that the car is in good shape and that it will not make the dream of the buyer become a nightmare.

Take time to think about the purchase before making the final decision. The same applies when buying an imported luxury sports car. All things must be considered before buying so that you will not regret buying the used car.

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Tips when Buying Sports Cars: Consider Safety Features

When buying a sports car, you should consider how safe it is to drive. There are two kinds of safety features that you need to consider: functional safety and inactive safety.

Functional safety requires the features to prevent the automobiles from accidents. This includes efficient brakes, responsive grips and reliable suspension. Below are some of these functional safety features. You should be aware of each feature so that you know when you have spotted your ideal sports car.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY SYSTEMS. This feature has the ability to sense when a car is out of control and intercedes the wheels by using discriminatory braking to specific wheels. It includes the traction controls and anti-lock brake system. This feature is seen mostly on luxury sports cars as it is expensive.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM or ABS lets automobiles to halt quickly and still continue to be easy to maneuver. Anti-lock brake systems are activated by using intense pressure so you need to learn how to do this. Do not just rely on moderate pressure to avoid sliding.

Effective TRACTION HANDLING helps cars maintain their grip even during acceleration. This feature is mostly suggested for rear-wheels as it helps reduce clog and the use of power-assisted brakes to a rotating wheel.

On the other hand, inactive safety features are those that protect the driver and other passengers whenever the functional safety features are unsuccessful. This includes the following:

Adjustable headrests are better called head restraints because this prevents the driver’s head from snapping back and forth when there is a collision. It should be compatible with the occupants’ height to be more effective.

Most vehicles have airbags for a safety feature. Cars that have airbags for all passengers and cover the front and sides are ideal and important.

When you go for a test drive, remember to check the distance of the airbag from you - the most reliable gap is 10 inches away from the airbag. In order to do so, move the seat back to a relaxed position and check to make sure there is 10 inches between the airbag and yourself.

Seat belts are also an important feature in car safety. You should also check and make certain that there are workable seat belts. Seat belts can help save you and your family in case of car accidents. Make sure that the vehicle has adjustable shoulder belts so that the belt can be adjusted to correspond to the passenger’s height.

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