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Two Japanese car models are terrific rivals in the market today. These are the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD whose price is $28,815 and the 2007 Toyota RAV4 4×4 whose price is $23,574.

According to the news, the redesigned 2007 Outlander is a make-or-break product for troubled Japanese automaker Mitsubishi. The midsize crossover vehicle hits the U.S. market with new competitors Mazda CX-7 and Ford Edge.

But one of the most potent rivals of the Outlander is the Toyota RAV4, which was redesigned last year.

Both offer optional third-row seating and can be ordered in either front- or four-wheel drive.

In comparison with Toyota RAV4, the Outlander’s exterior is refined and larger in size. The exterior shape looks fresh modern, and stylish. On the tail, the rear three-quarter view is generic and clunky, with massive rear pillars and a narrow rear window that tends to restrict vision.

Toyota offers a much more contemporary shape in the RAV4, far more stylish than the Outlander. This is quite an accomplishment for Toyota, considering the previous RAV was one of the original “cute utes,” while the latest iteration is considerably larger and more grown up.

Inside the cabin, both cars have excessive fake-metal gray plastic. But Mitsubishi’s instrument panel is a mixture of mismatched parts and materials that according to a press release is “a virtual jigsaw puzzle that cheapens the overall ambience of the cabin”.

The Outlander, with its $1,600 luxury package, has leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat, while the RAV4 makes do with manual, cloth-covered chairs.

The RAV4 has two rows of seats. The second row ca be reclined and be adjusted for additional leg space, and the split folding seatbacks flip down at the pull of a lever on either side of the cargo bay. There is an ample under floor storage bin in the rear.

The RAV4’s controls and displays are simple and easy to comprehend. Materials are of high quality, although some pieces do not fit as snugly as people come to expect from Toyota.

The Outlander’s front seats are comfy and supportive. There is less space in the second row, and there have no many amenities for occupants back there. The rear center armrest lacks a pull strap, and while the tiny third-row folds neatly into the floor that it looks cheap and flimsy and is a chore to use.

The Outlander has some nice touches, including steering-wheel controls and simple rotary dials for the HVAC controls. But there are some questionable designs and engineering choices, too. For instance, the switches for the heated seats are stuffed between the inner seat edges and the center console.

When it comes to safety, both vehicles come fully configured in terms of occupant safety systems with standard antilock brakes, traction and stability control, side air bags for front-seat occupants, and side curtains for the first and second rows.

Next: the power train. Even the base Outlander comes with a standard overhead-cam 3.0-liter V-6, there is no four-cylinder version. The RAV4, in comparison, is equipped with a standard twin-cam 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, with a DOHC 3.5-liter V-6, which is available as an option.

The Outlander has the V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission, while the four-cylinder RAV4 comes with a four-speed automatic. The Mitsubishi V-6 is rated at 220 horsepower, and the EPA fuel-economy numbers are not too shabby, at 19 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 on the highway.

The RAV4’s base configuration is rated by the EPA at 23 in the city and 27 on the highway. The optional V-6 is considerably more potent than the one in the Outlander, delivering a whopping 269 horsepower; it comes with a five-speed automatic.

Both cars display the supple car-like ride that is typical among crossovers. The Outlander rides on 18-inch wheels and tires, while the RAV4 comes with optional 17-inch wheels and tires. Further comparison by car enthusiasts between the Mitsubishi and the Toyota outer tie rod end is also needed to comprehend which steering control is safer on the road.

Both cars are relatively easy to maneuver and park, and while they don’t exactly feel like sports cars, they are fairly nimble and responsive.

James Russell
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/mitsubishi-outlander-versus-toyota-rav4-97780.html

Second only to the walls in terms of surface area, the flooring in your home offers a real opportunity to make a large scale style statement. Unlike walls however, flooring has the added task of standing up to a lot of wear and tear. Finding a good balance is crucial to successful flooring.

Carpeting is currently making a huge comeback. A decade of laminate flooring has left us all yearning for a little comfort and warmth underfoot. Most people ditched their carpet in an effort to toe the minimal line, but today this really is unnecessary as a modern clutter free finish can still be achieved with carpets. The trick is to opt for the pattern free variety. A biscuit or oatmeal coloured carpet will really blend well into a minimal setting whilst creating a warm ambience. Do not be afraid of warm colours when trying to achieve a contemporary look, clinical is not what you are looking for. Generally speaking, it is best to avoid cream or off-white carpets as no matter how careful you are, they will show up any mark- you want to be comfortable not tip toeing all over the sitting room. If you must have a really light carpet, restrict its use to the bedrooms where you are usually barefoot anyway and can also be sure guests won’t be traipsing in and out. If you have children or a dog, you can still enjoy the comfort of carpeting whilst retaining a modern look, simply choice a darker shade. Plum, aubergine, slate, burgundy or even black are all really up-to-the-minute shades that will allow for a few mishaps.

Wooden flooring is probably the favourite of British homeowners at the minute, and not without reason. A wooden floor really does add something indefinable to a space. It natural and comforting and brings a real sense of history and timelessness. Yet at the same time is still amongst the most contemporary and urban chic flooring opting on the market. Available in so many variations it is extremely versatile- a dark oak or mahogany floor will help create some classic British stateliness, whereas walnut or Bamboo creates a real youthful vibrancy. And it is not only the huge array of styles that makes a wooden floor so usable, it is also the unique blend of comfort and durability that means wood is possibly the only flooring material that can be used all over the House. Equally as at home in a light shade in the kitchen when paired up with simple trimmings like a cheap roller blind and chrome bar stools, as it is in a dark stain sitting under the ornate bay WINDOW CURTAINS of a Georgian town house, wood really can do it all.

The final flooring must have for the home is tiling. Once restricted to the kitchen and the bathroom, the massive increase in tile variations over the last few years has meant they have began to pop up in less conventional places. This can only be a good thing as a lot of tiles on the market are far too beautiful to be hidden under the bathroom sink. A dark slate floor would provide the ultimate base to a chic minimal living room, and with it being a natural material, it actually won’t appear cold if paired with a big fluffy rug. Mosaic tiles are also a wonderful way to spice up a room. They are available in so many finishes and colours and create an amazing speckled effect on whatever surface they cover. A hallway is a really great place to experiment with tiling. Being the main thorough-fair in the home, it needs to have hard wearing flooring. It is also not a room you spend a lot of time in, so you can afford to add a little more colour than you might in the sitting room.

Terry Henman
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/flooring-fundamentals-698478.html

Wooden blinds offer the opportunity to use the natural beauty of wood to enhance just about every room in a home. They are unpretentious yet elegant and very stylish when used as a sole window treatment.

There are many different types of wood, each with its own unique qualities to bring a touch of nature indoors in an effective and effectual way. The uniqueness of the wood is one of the key factors people opt for when choosing a blind.

Modern style wooden Venetian blinds are coated with special finishes which help reduce the risk of fading, warping and scratching. They are simple to install and equally as easy to keep clean and maintain. Simple dusting with a soft cloth will remove any light dust or the brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner is also an effective cleaning method.

Blinds are ideal for use in houses whose occupants suffer from dust type allergies as they are far easier to clean on a daily basis than fabric curtains. Blinds can also be said to be more hygienic than fabric as they will not retain odours and not susceptible to holes from moths! With all wooden blinds being given finishes and applications to prevent fading and distortion the risk of woodworm is so minimal that it is not worth worrying about!

Modern interior design concepts which incorporate wood are increasing in popularity. Made from sustainable wood sources they are an effective window dressing for ‘green’ Houses. Wooden blinds are available in different slat widths, window sizes, numerous different natural wood colours and paint finishes.

Using an individual wooden Venetian blind in each section of a bay window offers a modern alternative net curtains to prevent keep prying eyes from being able to see inside when the slats are angled. Looking stunning used alone or coordinated with fabric curtains to bring depth to the bay window area effectively.

Modern homes with specific design concepts such as individualised versions and replications of Japanese interiors, American loft spaces or French farmhouses will all benefit from the use of a wooden blind with or without additional curtaining.

Dark coloured wooden Venetian blinds made from hardwoods are very robust and durable. Wooden blinds are also a very cost effective window dressing as they coordinate, contrast or compliment with virtually every colour scheme. It is worth remembering that real hardwood blinds are generally heavier than basswood, therefore suit larger rooms extremely well. Larger slat widths are also good to use in larger rooms. With the slats angled they will allow more light to enter the room and better views.

Smaller WINDOWS benefit from lighter colours and lighter weight basswoods with narrow slat widths as they will provide more shade and privacy when tilted.

Most wooden blinds have colour coordinated ladder tapes, head and bottom rails and operating cords and wands. New wooden Venetian blinds styles include basswood which has contrasting coloured external tapes. These are great for including as an accent colour in a room or to coordinated with curtains and soft furnishings.

Terry Henman
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/wonderful-wooden-venetian-blinds-731416.html

When you want to install bay windows in your place you need some basic tools. These tools include, a framing square or other straight edge. You will also need a tape measure. You should also make sure to have a circular saw, bits and a good drill, a working level, a stapler, a caulking gun, tin snips, and crow bars.

You will need a laundry list of materials as well such as the bay window unit, the supporting brackets, special roofing paper and nails, the right shingles, silicone caulking for your caulking gun and some insulation of fiberglass. You also need the proper size boards for window skirting. If you are simply enlarging a window that is already there or if you are installing a window where there used to be a wall then you need 2X4s for the additional framing and for the cripple studs.

Steps for Installation

1. Decide wear the new window will go and remove the old window. Using the measurements from the bay window to mark on the outside of the house where the bay window will go and then cut the opening using the circular saw.

2. Cut through the studs already in place and put in jack studs, cripple studs, a new header, and a rough sill to begin building the framing for the new bay window.

3. If your window is up to five feet wide then you will need two support braces and if the window is even wider then you will need three support braces.

4. Put your bay window on the support brace to get it in place and then slide it in and follow by shimming to get it even. When this is done you can anchor it.

5. After putting the roof frame on the window then you can nail it in place. Between the roof and the window you can fill it with insulation. Afterwards you can attach the roof sheeting and the frame and then put roofing paper over them. Put the drip edges in, flashing, and finally the shingle.

6. Using window skirting for the window bottom. Add some insulation and put the skirt bottom underneath the window.

7. Finally you can use caulking to seal it.

This basic list will help you know what steps you need to do in order to install bay windows. Using a picture of a bay window and instructions you will get your bay window installed and will only need bay window curtains to add for a final touch.

We had two friends help us with installing our bay WINDOWS and working on them and had it finished in three days time. It was the best spot for a bay window and increased our home’s value as well as made us feel great about our place!

Peter Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/bay-window-curtains-are-great-additions-to-your-place-83711.html