wanna ride a leopard?

If you are a college driver like me, then this will also be one of your dream cars. This Geely Tiger GT may seem to be a virtual ride of a superhero isn’t it? But hey! That is the reason why you don’t need to spend countless hours at all as a kid in front of the TV watching your superhero’s mobile. Let’s take a closer look on this futuristic ride .

Geely Tiger GT is the putative successor to the current Leopard coupe in the comapany’s lineup. This is a two-door coupe that features swoopy styling that Geely hopes will set it apart from its Chinese rivals.

It has a dropped front snout that has a split grille, containing holes rather than traditional slats or mesh. The headlamps are nestled in fenders defined by sharp character lines that sweep upward and back down into the doors. The rear haunches have the same curve to them, having large tail lamps that are just above the centre line of the rear wheels. Greenhouse features two small rear quarter windows for the rear passengers.

The rear drive is powered by a 3.5 liter V6. The engine produces about 225 bhp and 340 lb.ft of torque. A multilink suspension rides on 19-in wheels and tires.

Now with all these good specs, I am again itching to convince my dad. Would it be too much for an honor student like me?

Geely Tiger GT

img from roadandtrack.com

Prevent Auto Repair Rip-Off!

Not all auto mechanics are out to rob you. This is especially true if you will provide service to your car through your own time, effort, and money. Haha. However, it will still be ideal to have your car worked over by an expert since they know best.

With a little effort, you can find a good, honest mechanic who can solve your auto problem. Nevertheless, you may encounter a few bad apples along the way. Better yet, follow these tips to help prevent auto repair rip-off.

First, find a mechanic whom you feel good about before your car needs major repairs. You can ask your family, friends and co-workers for some referrals. You can also bring your car into any new shop first for small repairs like oil change or brake check, then evaluate the overall service that they will give you.

Have a check list of what your car needs , and if possible, state the reasons for such necessities. Whenever you are dropping your car off, try to avoid bringing your car in and asking them to "do whatever it needs". Take time to talk to the mechanic who will be working on your car. Don’t forget to go for a test drive beforehand and clearly explain and point out the problem if possible.

Like what you do with your medical check ups, your car also necessitates second opinion if you feel uncomfortable with any diagnosis. It will be perfect to have your car towed to a second shop for another opinion if it isn't drivable. Now before you leave the shop, request for a written estimate, and then ask about the warranty for parts and labor on any repairs.

Also make a reuest that your parts be saved for your inspection. Always ask before the work begins. Now before you pay the bills, be wise. Go for a test drive before to make sure that your car drives well and/or was fixed to your satisfaction.

Be intelligent in assessing the bill before paying. You can always ask for clarification on any charges that don’t make sense at all to you.

Pay with a check or a credit card, on that way, you can stop payment on a check and some credit cards offer protection against consumer fraud.

Never let anyone fool you by getting exposed with knowledge on auto parts. This can help you have ideas on how much do the parts may cost, or how intense would a problem be. You can sense if the mechanic is telling you the truth or not. There are still lots of tips on preventing auto repair off, these will include special conditions for particular vehicles. I may offer your some detailed pointers for dealing with my crossover or roadster that will not be applicable for your ride. So better yet, have the responsibility to know your vehicle more.

Basic Car Maintenance

As I took long journeys with my own roadster and crossover, I have experienced lots of trouble with some auto systems and believe it or not, I have learned how to deal with them. Among the most important things that I have learned is keeping all auto systems well maintained- after all, prevention is better than cure. Now, I want to share to you some of the helpful measures regarding automotive maintenance.

As much as I want to count them all in the most organized way, allow my fingers to enumerate them randomly. Perhaps, we will understand each other as we are of the same language – vehicles.

I know you know this one, but let me put it on the top of the list. One of the most important procedures is checking the levels of power steering fluid, transmission/transaxle fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer solvent and antifreeze. These are like the blood of the different auto systems so better keep them flowing.

Getting far away from these fluids, let us now consider the windshield wiper blades. Nonetheless, the windshield is another important auto part, which you should first check out for cracking, tears and contacts. The blades should be replaced at least once a year, remember that!
With the tires, make sure that tire inflation is evaluated monthly. Underinflated tires can always waste fuel. Aside form this, you should also inspect the engine belts regularly and try to look for cracks or missing sections or segments. Worn out belts will affect the engine performance; and thus, reducing fuel mileage. The engine oil and filter should be changed every 3,000 to 4,000 miles.

Have your engine tuned-up regularly since a fouled spark plug or plugged/restricted fuel injector can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30%. Also have the fuel filter changed every 10,000 miles to prevent rust, dirt, and other impurities from entering the fuel system. You also have to change the crankcase vent filter every 24,000 miles. This filter needs to clean the air exposed to the crankcase and the working components of the engine.

Inspect the battery cables and posts for corrosion then clean whenever necessary. Remember that battery fluid should also be checked and filled if it is already low. Nonetheless, this is not applicable in the case of maintenance-free batteries. Oh gosh the auto lights! Be sure to inspect them once in a while especially the headlights, turn signals, brake lights and emergency flashers. You already know why. How will I forget the air filter. This should be checked approximately every other oil change along with the other filters. This will help you attain the perfect performance that you always want.

The transmission fluid and filter should be changed every 15,000 to 18,000 miles. This will help you protect the precision-crafted components of the transmission/transaxle from detrimental elements since such filter effectively removes dirt and other foreign material from the transmission/transaxle fluid.Additionally, keep the manual transmission fluid level measures along with the differential (rear-end) fluid level. Don’t forget to lubricate the chassis frequently to extend the life of the suspension parts. And even further, inspect the condition of all suspension regularly to extend the life of your tires.Change the vapor canister every 24,000 miles to keep the gas fumes from escaping into the atmosphere.

In case you don’t want to do the maintenance yourself, make sure that you will look for technicians who are ASE-certified. This means that they must have passed a voluntary competency test offered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Ask about facility's industry and consumer affiliations of these experts. These may include the business' affiliation. Always expect for the automotive facility to be neat, clean, and well-organized. The employees should be helpful and courteous. Lastly, a good service facility is often found by asking friends, neighbors, family, and co-workers’ recommendations.

2009 Toyota Matrix

2009 Toyota Matrix

Toyota is a big player in the compact wars. With its "foot soldiers" down the battlefield, both the brand and consumers are importantly considered. Canada's compact car segment is one of the key combat zonea for auto-makers, accounting for 26% of all cars sold last year.

As a result of Toyota’s pursuit in engineering more and better compact cars, the audience are continually amazed by the new models. The sporty Matrix compact crossover has undergone a makeover- the first since it originally debuted in 2002 as an '03 model. To retain the functionality and sporty dynamics of the original Matrix, the new edition is further provided with fresh look plus improved handling, enhanced power, more standard features, and take note; all these at lower price than the comparable 2008 base model. Just take a look at the 2009 Matrix starts at $15,705, $1,495 less than the previous version.
If you are one of the enthusiasts who were amazed by this cute crossover of Toyota, then get more stunned by its specs.

2009 Toyota Matrix is an all-wheel-drive compact crossover that is empowered by and engine of 2.4L DOHC four-cylinder, 158hp at 6000 rpm, 162 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. The transmission is four-speed automatic and the brakes are each installed with four-wheel disc with ABS.

Some other standard features include the telescopic and tilt steering column, MP3/WMA capable audio system, dual-stage front and side impact air bags, power windows and locks, Optritron gauges, roof rack, keyless entry, 60/40 split rear bench, and tire pressure monitoring system.

As a member of the Toyota clan, the Matrix does not offer heated seats. This is because of no leather option is available. This may or may not have something to do with providing a heating element in the seat cushion. Neverhteless, the 2009 Matrix is a great vehicle that offers practical utility in a package that looks and drives with a muscular flair.

Tight Budget?

Want to get behind the wheels of a high-performance vehicle but have no enough budget? I can help you assess the best car choices at low cost, yet capable of providing the satisfaction that you are looking for.

If you are looking for great cars that cost at most $20,000, why not choose the 2008 Saturn Astra 5-door hatchback. This seems elegant with its sleek exterior and modern interior designs. Though it is not a 200-ho turbo engine in sight, nor five-speed manual auto, its performance is yet considerably average. Another good choice is the 2008 Scion xB. This is like a junior minivan that looks luxurious and spacious. You can enjoy its power and quiet suspension and transmission. As redesigned for 2008, this xB is made better with stability control as standard. Nonetheless, some setbacks are still considered. xB has become 600 pounds heavier, and has become less frugal with fuel that the outgoing model. Also, the suspension becomes soft, making you feel that is it tossable.

The 2008 Saturn Astra 3-door hatchback is another option, if you want to keep your wallet at ease. Indeed, this car model has a stunning design inside and out with the standard stability control. It looks sporty and may seem to perform like a sports car as well.

These are just some of the best choices that you can have. Nevertheless, you can still have a lot more options, which include the ones that will perfectly fit with your own style preferences. When you surf the net, don’t forget to keep the specs assessed from edge to edge, and don’t get misled with unreliable reviews that evaluate such and such.

Sterling Edition S302E

Sterling Edition S302E

As Saleen Automotive celebrates its twenty-fifth year in business, they are offering the first $100,000 new, nonracing Ford Mustang . This is hailed as the Sterling Edition S302E.
The "302" refers to the 5.0-liter V-8's cubic-inch displacement that was amazingly achieved by stroking the Mustang's stock twenty-four valve, 4.6-liter mill. An intercooled, twin-screw supercharger and reinforced internal components will help attain a revised engine that can produce an astounding 620 hp at an enhanced 6400 rpm and 600 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm.
Saleen can run a 0-to-60-mph time of less than four seconds, imagine that! It is about a second quicker than the 500-hp Ford Shelby GT500. All S302Es will feature twenty-inch wheels, six-speed manual transmission, sports-car quality brakes.

You can getaway with the elegant touches on the exterior like the silver paint, carbon-fiber front and rear diffusers. This seem to be Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor-like face that highlights the aluminum hood. How about the inner beauty of this car? A custom-trimmed interior is harmonized with leather and Alcantara seats. Also, there are the sterling silver serial-number badge and the push-button starter.

This Saleen may not look like a $100,000 car. But the exclusivity is a big part of the equation since only twenty-five S302Es will be built. Would you want to be one of the few who can own this car model? If so, you can also receive a custom leather jacket and a first-class plane ticket to Detroit, where the factory is located. This place was where the car was unveiled in January 2008. You will also have the chance to dine with a Saleen executive.

If you think you have everything, this car may change your prerogatives. Once you fail to own one Saleen, you may lose something. Perhaps a six-figure Mustang makes sense or a lot of other cars on which we'd rather drive $100 grand, but being one of the few who will have Saleen, you can be someone.

Yes! Roadster

YES! Have you heard about it? The Yes? Not yet? Neither had I, until I found out that Funke & Will AG brought its wares to the 2008 Chicago auto show. This German company has been producing little sports cars since 2001; and this was when the first generation of the YES! Roadster was introduced.
American buyers soon plan to purchase version 2.0 of the low-volume two-seater already available in countries throughout Europe as well as New Zealand and Japan.
If you are one of the enthusiasts thirsty for roadsters like this, then start deciding on which flavor should you choose. There are actually two choices. These are normally aspirated 3.2 or 3.2 Turbo. These two flavors are powered by an Audi-sourced 3.2-liter VR6, mounted in the rear. The hand-built car uses an aluminum space frame that was designed and developed by Herbert Funke and Philipp Will- the company's namesakes. At approximately 2000 lbs, the roadster’s weight is similar to that of a Lotus Elise.
How about the performance? It is also Lotus-like, even if price tags are about one and a half times those of comparable Hethel-built cars. The $77,995 Roadster 3.2 can give 255 hp and will reach 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. An excess of $20,000 will get you the turbocharged version that produces 100 more hp and lowers the 0-to-60-mph time to 3.8 seconds. Won’t it be fast enough? If not, then you can add the $7995 turbo upgrade for a total of 415 hp.
Not cheap at all huh? Once you consider that creature comforts are all optional, seemingly to keep weight down, you will see that it is never expensive at all. If you need heated seats, removable hard top, and a navigation system, never fret, for they are made available at low cost.

Yes! Roadster

small but terrible?

Smart two-seater

The Smart ForTwo is here to finally get driven down the land of the free and the home of the Escalade. In case you want to get behind these wheels and drive anywhere exotic in the past few years, to places such as Europe or Canada, you must have seen the original Smarts scooting around and dicing up traffic like motorized pygmies on speed. You may either thought, "such things would never work in America," or "have I seen those in America? How I wish gurl!"
Soon enough we’ll possibly know which camp is right, because Roger Penske is bringing the second-generation Smart two-seater - in coupe and ragtop forms - to his vast dealer network. He further promises that a $99 deposit will get you a Smart of your own within six months. Hitherto, 30,000 people have signed up for that deal. This hence signifies that the Age of the Microcar is off to a favorable onset.

How about those who haven't plunked down a deposit? Anyway, will it testify its cost with its size and engineering? Will it be smart alternative to more conventional compact cars like the Chevy Aveo or the Honda Fit?

When you climb behind the wheel of this car that measures 40 inches less from nose to tail than a Mini Cooper, what must you expect? With its height, will passing along with an eighteen-wheeler on the highway cause me to wet my pants?

It may look scary, especially when you are bound for a drive on the highway. With this two-seater coupe, you feel like you got the slow car at the go-kart track.

With a 70-hp three-cylinder hanging over the rear wheels, it does not have a surfeit of power; nevertheless, it will climb to an electronically limited 90 mph. The setback somehow is this: at highway speeds, you are constantly at the edge of the performance envelope. It would be like driving a race car while looking far down the road and planning how to exploit every final drop of performance at your clearance. For example is when you are approaching a hill, you will click the left paddle and drop the five-speed sequential manual transmission from fifth down to fourth to spike the revs before you hit the incline. Once you wait until before getting there, it will be too late. Hence, momentum is a precious commodity in the Smart ForTwo.

Choose your line, when you are driving this cute coupe. This is important since at 80 mph, you do would not want to make a lot of steering corrections. In most modern vehicles, 80 mph on the interstate is already an exercise in dullness. This time, you can set the cruise control and try not to fall asleep. Remember that when you fell asleep, you might get crushed to death by an eighteen-wheeler!

There is fun to be had in Smart-for two! It doesn’t lie in the traditional metrics like acceleration or outright grip. Think about the Ferrari that measures its semiautomatic shift times in milliseconds – you can actually complete a customer-service call to Banga-lore whoel the Smart mover from first to second. The suspension? Your Smart contains soft springs that it can squat like 600 hp Camaro under throttle, though 60 mph is reached in about 13 seconds!

Though it is just small, you will still get contented with it performance. Indeed, size does not matter. But hey, you still need to consider other important feats. And always maintain situational awareness at a higher level than in most other cars. You may not be relaxed with this small coupe, but you will never get bored.

are you safe?

Driving is such a pretty cool stuff to learn and do. As going to places you want with your bare hands- while getting behind the wheels, will give contentment on your part because at last, your pal is not anymore the one giving you a ride!

It’s kinda cool to drive but always remember that your skill in driving can also take you into several consequences? This is for the reason of road accidents. You need to get responsible; otherwise, you will lose your life anytime, anywhere.

You should therefore know the best ways on combining skills and responsibility. With this, you are not alone, as manufacturers are definitely aware of your safety necessities. However, you got to do your own part. Know what you can do for your own safety. Here are some auto parts that you may acquire to start traveling safely with your car.

Safety Belt

It has been found out that 63% of fatalities due to vehicular accidents are caused by ignoring the use of safety belts. Some people just don’t care using this important safety gadget while driving. Some say it’s just a trouble and will cause discomfort. Some are brave enough to play with their lives, or should we say fool enough to make fun of the consequences that threat their lives.

Safety Belts are not just made as for decorative purpose or as a compliance of the manufacturing company to the standards stated upon them. It’s the primary safety device that a car can offer to its passengers to assure their protection from accident. Nowadays seat belts are being polished and develop by car manufacturers for its suitability and comfort ability to make them more dependable. So why not try considering what kind of belt suits your style while keeping you comfortable while driving.


Air bags

Invented between the 50’s and the 60’s, and formally introduce publicly at the 70’s, Electromechanical Automotive Air Bag system was considered as one safety mechanism to further enhance the safety features of cars/ This system is basically designed to save lives during collision or other type of vehicular accidents.

Continuous development of this mechanism is being done today so that you will drive and enjoy your travel better. Although air bags are not as reliable as the safety belts, it will be advisable to have them yet- after all, these will prepare you from most life-threatening accidents.


Hand Brake

The use of hand brake has been a requirement in almost all states now. Some people/ enthusiasts call it parking brake though its basically intended for emergency situations like when the primary brake fails or malfunctions.

This brake is useful when you wan to let your car remain exceptionally motionless while parked. This is usually mounted at the car floor between the driver and its front seat passenger. A lever type (yes, the one that is normally at the right side of your seat) handle with a ratchet locking system which is pulled so that the brake engages. A button located at the tip of the lever is pushed to disengage the brake and leave the car to be operational again. Other hand brakes however, are located somewhere near the steering wheel column or beside the driver and the door.

***

These are some of the most important safety parts/ gadgets that you should include in your ride. If ever you have them, but you suddenly realize that one or more of them are already damaged, then never hesitate to have them replaced. Once you find a quality replacement, make sure that it is well installed otherwise, your life will not be kept safe. Be responsible and as much as possible, don’t think twice spending for your safety – it’s your life that’s at stake after all.

Happy earth day!

It’s earth day and it is one of the best times to give back the energy to our mother earth. After all, the fuel empowering our vehicles, which carry us into different places, is originally extracted from our planet. Now, isn’t it too much to save fuel and become more responsible with managing our emissions?

In the states, Oil tankers from OPEC filled with $100 barrels of petroleum are doing what decades of screeching environmentalists failed to do. These bring the virtues of fuel economy and efficiency home to consumers in the world's biggest and richest car market.

As the sales of big personal-use trucks sag, the small cars deals boom again. So that to ensure environmental advocacies, particularly rising social awareness about the issue of climate change, consumer attitudes are being conditioned though it is hard to argue with economics as a motivator.

Mother earth somehow owes its salvation from the green segment or those people willing to pay more and not just those who say that they like a cleaner, more efficient car if it didn't cost them any coin. These people are truly committed environmentalist sector amounts to the same 3 to 5 percent of the market as it did 10 or 20 years ago. This is about the same size as the enthusiast sector, defined as those willing to pay more for performance. The greens find are often trapped in interests aligned with pocketbook issues and even those patriotic visions of increasing the nation's independence from foreign sources of energy. Though economics drives the consumer, governments and business cooperatives, a lot of initiatives that were deemed good ideas have went nowhere before.

Price instability in the oil sector opens the door for venture capitalists who view opportunity today where the prospects for alternative fuels, however this did not pencil out when oil went for $30 a barrel. Government offer incentives to pursue these ideas grow more abundant.Whatever will emerge after a period of fits and starts and hiccups, we should continue promoting the protection of the environment. Let us promote one alternative over the others, and embrace an era in which those competitive claims are made to prove themselves. These may not need proofs for pandering politicians or puritanical self-appointed guardians of the planet. But these have to prove themselves to the consumer. Let us balance our interest in efficiency and environmental issues against affordability and convenience. Be a responsible driver and citizen of this world.

In the years to come, just imagine how will our world look like if we won't do anything for the shelter of our mother earth. Remember the prophecy in the book of revelation that all destroyers of the earth will be destroyed when God's wrath comes. Would you count yourself as one of these destroyers?

Happy Earth day everybody!

How much does a 2008 Lotus Elise SC cost?

Lotus has recently announced the pricing for the 2008 Elise SC, the newest addition to the 2008 Lotus line-up. As expected of a car with 217 hp and weighing only 903 kg (1987 lbs), the performance of the Elise SC is electrifying! With the 0-60 mph in 4.4 secs; 0-100 mph in 10.7 secs; top speed 150 mph, what can you expect from its cost?

The price? $104,990! And this amount excludes the dealer delivery and government charges, plus the extra $8000 for the Elise Touring Pack or $7000 for the Elise Sport Pack.
In addition to the extreme performance, the fuel economy of the Elise SC is evenly impressive with an estimated combined figure of 8.5litres/100km. On the other hand, the light weight has benefits for handling, acceleration, ride comfort, and braking. Braking comes from AP Racing callipers at the front and Brembo calipers at the rear linked to 282mm vented and cross-drilled cast iron discs .

For the “green people”, Elise SC is undoubtedly environment-friendly. You can trust the construction of its exhaust and engine systems.

Regarding the security, an advanced ABS system incorporates an anti-lock system which is so unobtrusive. Most drivers will not realize it’s working otherwise needed. This is still true even if the system keeps a subtly low profile. The ABS system is connected to a lightweight pedal box with steel pedal arms and extruded aluminum pads. Such unit has an electronic throttle for smooth, quick, and more linear engine response.

Behind the face-lifted appeal of Brabus

BRABUS

Since Mercedes SLK has recently launched its face-lifted appeal, Brabus has also unveiled its new version of the little coupe cabriolet. Indeed, Mercedes bears the crown when it comes to luxury rides as far as this car and other great Mercedes models are concerned.

So what can this Mercedes SLK give? Its power coming from a 6.1 liter V8 engine can deliver 445 hp, which can offer a sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds while the top speed is of 305 km/h. Brabus offers various alloy wheels with diameters of 17, 18 and 19 inches. Designed with the calibrated suspensions, the car is lowered by 30 millimeters in order to make it more stable at high speeds.

In the interior, the German tuner offers highly polished stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated Brabus logo, Mastik leather and Alcantara and a specially designed speedometer with 330 km/h dial.

With unrestricted top speed, Brabus has apparently brought a nice and clean style successfully.
At the same time when the updated Mercedes SLK-Class was launched, BRABUS presents an exclusive customization program. The palette of products has ranged from engine tuning with up to 445 hp (438 hp SAE net) / 327 kW of power to a sporty-yet elegant aerodynamic-enhancement program. This also includes custom-tailored light-alloy wheels and suspensions as well as individual interior options.

The existing BRABUS suspension modifications for the SLK are specifically calibrated to the use with such sporty wide tires. The engine-specific Brabus sport springs lower the ride height of the roadster by some 30 millimeters. The sport suspensions combine such lowered center of gravity with a sturdier but calm damper setup. For lesser body roll fast corners, stronger sway bars were featured in Brabus.

Various versions of high-performance brake systems for the new SLK are also featured. Among the largest version features is the six-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 355-mm (14 inches) vented and slotted discs on the front axle. The rear axle is fitted with 300-mm (11.8 inches) discs then with the four-piston aluminum fixed calipers. Special flex-steel brake lines ensure continuous high brake pressure.

SLK cockpit is yet another BRABUS specialty when it comes to aesthetics. The list of customization components includes highly polished stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated Brabus logo, a variety of versions of the ergonomically shaped Brabus sport steering wheel and a speedometer with 330-km/h (206 mph) dial.

The interior upholstered with soft yet durable Mastik leather and Alcantara is one of the best features of the interior. The brabus upholsterers have not limited themselves to working on door panels, dashboard, seats, and center console, since upon customer request, they will meticulously sew miles of thread to cover areas, where it is necessary.

Want to drive this vintage Chevy wagon?

Different modern vehicles are rampantly swiveling their wheels down the road. Most of these amaze us with their wonderful modifications while others remain attractive with their simple bodyworks. With all these modern auto designs, other enthusiasts are yet more amazed with vintage cars.

We can see a lot of vintage cars such as sedans and coupes, and we know that the cost of these kinds of car is not a joke. Oftentimes, these cars are more expensive than a brand new sports car. This is especially true if you will see this vintage station wagon from Chevy that I am going to share to you.

Station wagons were first facilitated in railroad stations, carried campers and worked for tradesmen. And in 1948, one covered the length of Africa. If you want to drive this vintage wagon, take a quick view of its history.

Henry Donner, a professor of astronomy and geology at what was then Western Reserve University in Cleveland, drove a 1947 Chevrolet with his wife through Africa. During that travel, he was studying geological formations and comparing star measurements with those made on previous trips. His vehicle had heavy-duty springs and fan, spotlights, dual batteries, a winch, and a skid plate. It was also outfitted with a screens, bed, and curtains, spares and extra supplies.

The Donners drove their Chevrolet wagon from New York to Le Havre, France, then from there, they’ve traveled on to Paris and then to Marseille, and to Algiers. The English travelers leaving in four-wheel-drive military vehicles predicted the Chevrolet's defeat. The Donners and one English truck followed and were joined en route by an ex-military Dodge. Subsequent to fighting sandstorms, getting stuck, searching for gas and food, breaking the winch and pushing for hours in first gear, they wedged up to the Brits who had doubted the Chevrolet. After 74 days, across 9400 miles, they reached Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The car that was owned by the university and used later by Donner on student trips to Colorado was later sold several times through the years. And in 1971, Larry Nagode bought what he thought was simply a 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Special Deluxe woody. The seller told him that Western Reserve had owned it as traces of the name remained on the body. Nagode learned the car's story from the school.

He started to clean it up. As he took some of the molding off, it was packed with red dust. Then these things started to make some sense. He contacted the Donners and arranged to meet.
The original owner was very happy to see the car again. Since it was his home for many, Nagode was crying when he pulled into the driveway. The sheetmetal was repainted in 1955, and most modifications were removed. Nevertheless, Africa left evidence behind then lettering remains barely visible on the wood. The fenders show waves from the ships' lifting slings. Plating on the rear bumper's corner is worn away from having served as a seat during the Colorado trips. Nagode did not hurry to change that. He said, the car has needed only exhaust replacement and front-end work.

The Chevrolet is easy to drive. This is asserted by the steering that demands little strength, and the brakes that stop the car smoothly and quickly in a 1947 way, together with a heavy pedal pressure. The vacuum assists help the column shifter through the standard three-speed pattern with only gentle direction. The transmission is as well of great sturdiness. The gearing is low enough, though, that shifting is infrequent. Similar to the Chevrolets of its time, it would make any competent driver comfortable, and that is something Donner recognized.

Chrysler rescues Nissan or the other way around?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Chrysler plans to build Nissan’s next pick-up truck to Nissan’s designs. On the other hand, Nissan will build a small car for Chrysler to Chrysler’s design. This partnership leads to rampant speculation that the futures of the two companies may become even more entwined.
Chrysler has been desperately looking for a chance to find foreign sales that I has even considered emerging markets as the future of the auto industry. However, it has virtually no presence in any of these markets. This auto maker has been looking for a way to get a small car on the market in the United States, which has a market having the highest rate of growth in production and profits, as energy prices rise.

Nissan seems to solve both problems. Though it has become a non-entity in the full-size pick-up market, it cannot justify leaving that market. Aside from the yearning to retain its credibility as a full-line manufacturer, the market seems too large to be thrown away. Nevertheless sales have been disappointing for Toyota’s new Tundra, a lot of new trucks are yet to be sold. In some areas indeed, the rising energy costs will not appear to have dented pick-up sales.

Chrysler is Nissan’s solution to that problem. Interesting indeed but then these are manufacturing deals and not nameplate engineering deals. Taking a look back, Chrysler’s deal with Volkswagen with the version of a minivan as a Volkswagen, involved manufacture by one company of the designs of the other, and then for the showrooms of the other. Such partnership lead to the production capacity being used for manufacture of products for which the production facilities were best suited and its manufacturing techniques were best adapted. Chrysler got the added bonus of being able to move some of its Dodge pick-up production back to the States, from Mexico. This has provided way for the Nissan production lines. And that ought to mollify the UAW even a bit.

Though both companies deny it, speculations become rampant that this is only the first step toward much greater cooperation between the two companies. Nissan said that there were no discussions ongoing with Chrysler . However, the denial preceded the latest announcements by a mere two months.

The combination of Nissan and Chrysler may lead to a more successful purchasing and lower costs. This can also result to the Nissan-Renault alliance that can break into non-American markets.

Nissan has a lot to gain with Chrysler and no doubt about it survival. It needs cash from building vehicles for others, and it needs a small car. All these and more just from a big deal with Chrysler. Nonetheless, other deals can profit Chrysler as well.

In case Nissan is a bit more difficult to understand, it will be manufacturing a car that Chrysler will use to compete with Nissan. In this case, Nissan must succeed to remain competitive. In a market that is crucial to Chrysler – light trucks, a potential rival for market share comes with Nissan. This can be one reason for Nissan to refuse the deal.

While United States manufacturers, particularly General Motors, focus on world markets as the key to their future growth, Ghosn has always looked upon the US market as the key to the future growth of his companies: Nissan and Renault. With the emerging markets in the total automotive sales picture, US remains the largest market in the world for motor vehicles and will remain the second largest once Chinese auto sales grow as exponentially in the future. Such large share of market would basically benefit Nissan, as it has already made the investment in image and distribution that is the cost of entering new, emerging markets.

Is your car safe from code-cracking robbers?

Scientists issue warning against remote-control robbers so beware! Yes, it is possible for car robbers to be on your wavelength. Scientists in Belgium assert that they were able to unlock the code to millions of keyless entry devices used to open vehicles. This means that maybe one of these days, your ride will be driven away by a wise robber.

The researchers from the University of Leuven say that the remote key fobs to all Honda, Toyota and Volvo models can be easily cloned. The codes in cars produced by General Motors, Jaguar and the VW Group can be duplicated as well. If your vehicle is made by one of these manufacturers, be warned otherwise, you will lose your precious investment.

The code-cracking was first on track when an equation was posted on online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, allowing the universal master key to be obtained for vehicles using the KeeLoq coded software. Hackers emphasize that with only one hour’s remote access, from up to 100 metres away from any car’s fob they the key for that particular model can be simply clones. The robbing operation will only require them a capital of only £1,500 worth of specialist equipment! How is that for an illegal business? Wheew.

When the information are already taken, the unique code for any model by that maker can be cracked in just seconds. The cloned keys can’t just be used to unlock doors as alarm systems and immobilisers can be controlled too.So what shall you do to get prepared? The KeeLoq system of the Microchip Technology based in Arizona, US – was thought to be uncrackable, due to the fact that each key fob uses a unique security code from billions of possible combinations. This can probably help you ease the fear of code-cracking thieves.

Keeloq was cryptanalyzed by a certain Andrey Bogdanov using sliding techniques and efficient linear approximations. On the other hand, another expert named Nicolas Courtois attacked Keeloq with sliding and algebraic method. The attacks made by these two experts do not pose any threat to the actual implementations that seem to be vulnerable to simple brute-force of the key space that is reduced in all code-hopping executions of cipher known to date.

The individual code-hopping implementations are usually vulnerable to a replay attack exploited by jamming the channel while intercepting the code, since code hopping is normally done by incrementing the IV on each use instead of using the current time. This has made Keeloq “code grabbers” quite popular among the most car thieves. Although some of them use FPGA-based devices to breal Keeloq based keys by brute force within about two weeks. This is credited to the reduced key length in the real world implementations.

In March 2008, Ruhr University Bochum researchers presented a complete break of remote keyless entry systems based on the Keeloq RFID technology. Such vulnerability applies to all known car and building access control systems that rely on Keeloq cipher. The Bochum team aimed to recover the secret cryptographic keys embedded in both the receiver and the remote control.

Devastating attacks on car keys from Keeloq can be possibly cloned by eavesdropping two messages transmitted by a remote control. However, if you own a car having the Keeloq series that is at least manufactured in 2002, you have nothing to worry since it is designed with effective countermeasures that prevent those upsetting attacks of professional thieves. Now if you are anxious with your old Keeloq series, better have it replaced immediately. The worth is high but the risk of having your vehicle robbed will be trimmed down. Get secured today.

Keeping the transmission in shape

Most transmission problems are products of overheating.Under heavy load like towing a heavy trailer, rocking the vehicle from the snow, racing, recurrent stopping, getting trapped in traffic under hot weather, etc. the transmission can normally overheat.

The transmission fluid burns at higher temperatures, losing its lubricating qualities. It also gets oxidized, leaving deposits all over the transmission. When exposed to the heat, the rubber seals and gaskets inside the transmission are hardened and will eventually cause leaks. Metal parts warp and lose their strength as well. These will sooner or later result to transmission failure. How will you prevent this?

Regular check up of your parking space for leaks is one of the best tips. Once leak of engine oil, power steering fluid or transmission fluid are discovered, be sure to get it fixed before something serious happens. Once in a while, check the transmission fluid level and condition.

Not all cars have the automatic transmission dipstick. In some cars, the transmission fluid can only be checked by the dealer. In this case, consult with your owner's manual for details.

Low transmission fluid level can signify a leak. This has to be fixed at the soonest possible time.
Change the fluid as required in your owner's manual or when it becomes too dark (rather brown than red) or dirty. An automatic transmission can not be drained completely so there is always some transmission fluid left inside the transmission (the torque converter, in the valve body and others). This means that you can change about 60% of the fluid at once.

Use only the same type of the transmission fluid, which is usually specified in your transmission manual. Some vehicles are very sensitive to fluid type.

When driving, never shift to the reverse or parking until the car is finally stopped. Also, do not shift if parking mode when engine rpm is higher than normal idle. Always hold the brake down when shifting from Parking.

When towing, the automatic transmission can be damaged if not properly handled. Always use a dolly or place powered wheels on the towing platform (for FWD).

For perfect treating of transmission problems, it is best to have the original parts. Have your car brought to your trusted shop to know exactly what type of fluid is needed. Even if you go to the independent garage, always ask to use original parts since most after-market parts are not of as good quality as the original.

used to dream of having this roadster

2005 audi tt convertible

Aside from exotic cars, I am also into sports cars. And one of the ultimate dreams I had before was to own the 2005 Audi TT convertible car. Audi's sports car heritage is indeed as rich as any manufacturer's, dating back 100 years to competition at the Isle of Man. And this fact has been marked in my head since I have discovered this Audi TT car from a famous online magazine.

In the 1930s Audi achieved real fame with its awesomely powerful Auto-Union grand prix cars. Today, it continues rushing forward with the RS6 sedan that is winning in the Speed Challenge touring car series. The R8 prototype, which is the fastest sports car in the world, is currently dominating the 24 Hours of Le Mans and international endurance racing, including the American Le Mans Series. This heritage drives the 2005 Audi TT!

Why do I want the 1005 Audi TT? Aside from the sexy and luxurious appeal, the powerful beast under the hood rushes me in. Included are the one turbo compressor- featuring 1,781 cc 1.8 liters in-line 4 front engine with 81 mm bore, 86.4 mm stroke, 9 compression ratio, double overhead cam and five valves per cylinder. It is premium unleaded fuel 91, designed with fuel economy EPA highway (mpg): 29 and EPA city (mpg). With the Multi-point injection fuel system, there is also 16.4 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank. A monstrous 168 kW engine is hyped with 225 HP SAE @ 5,900 rpm; 207 ft lb , 281 Nm @ 2,200 rpm.

Now, do you think I have to pursue my dream to have this convertible coupe?

another supercharged exotic car

Farbio Supercharged GTS

Does your car have to be branded with the most renowned name in the automotive industry. Perhaps, not all the time. Looks and performance are everything right? Concerning the appeal, nothing beats exotic cars! That is for my own opinion huh. These cars amaze me like I don’t wanna miss the chance to get behind those wheels. Whenever I see a new exotic car, I am itching to phone my dad and let him check it out himself. Consequently, I will run to him and try hard to do the sales talk for the nth time.

Today, I have discovered another great exotic car. And while my dad is not around, let me impress you with its specs.

Before my tongue loses its brake, can i ask if you have seen some exotic car trend of unusual names, having low volume and high performance? Have you heard about Koenigsegg, Gumpert or even Pagani? Well these names might not roll right off the tongue, but their namesake cars definitely have the right to fly down the road. Following their trend is the Farbio Supercharged GTS.

GTS came out through the vision of pharmaceutical CEO/journalist/car enthusiast Arash Farboud and the development of Chris Marsh with his team near Bristol, England. It may take few more years to catch up with demand, especially from the UK and U.S. They are responsible for a considerable chunk of the several hundred orders and deposits placed thus far!Taking a bit closer to the Farbio Supercharged GTS is really worth the wait. First, let us know why it is such a beautiful ride.

Smaller engines lacking cred against V8s, V10s and V12s, the Farbio Supercharged GTS does well with its mid-mounted 3.0-liter Ford Duratec V6 and Rotrex supercharger. Harmoniously coupled with a six-speed manual transmission, the engine is tuned to dust off with 384 horsepower at 6,700 rpm with 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. With this, you can dash from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, and cross 175 mph in this 2,350-pound car.
Handling is just ok. And thanks to the adjustable suspension, with a good dose of feedback in the steering too. In spite of the power-assist, GTS reassure weight and precision.

How about the chassis? The carbon-fiber body draping of GTS’ tubular spaceframe chassis is not considerably different in appearance from the first prototype some from five years ago. “Voluptuous Lotus” can be an adequate description for it has substance, but is far from porky! Perhaps it has aged well though it can be an understatement.

GTS still looks fresher and firmer without desperately trying to be noticed . Indeed it is another supercar that should be watched out. If the reverse-tapered side ducts appear a little unusual at a first quick look, take another glance and notice the uniqueness that adds character to the otherwise nondescript flanks.Drawing closer into the GTS, the harmonic balance does not pander to gadgetry like some other aspirants, although some buyers associate doodads offer sticker price. The Sparco Milano leather seats provide just the right support and comfort., while providing great interior looks. You can disregard the rows of switches and gauges cluttering the works since the leather dash is offset with a carbon-fiber center console. This has a few aluminum accents, where control buttons are studded unto. HVAC, satellite navigation, sound system, and Bluetooth capability are all operated through the console’s touchscreen. Also, the front and center, the straightforward analog speedometer and tachometer are designed with blue backlighting right there. The tach takes it a step further, moving ahead in illumination from blue to purple to red as the revs build.

Farbio Supercharged GTS has all the right stuff to run with the pack. Wait and see.

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High performance sedan

LEXUS IS F

On the record, Toyota Motor Corporation’s amenity-laden American affiliate, Lexus, was seriously scrutinized. This was not for the grade of the vehicles produced but for the catalog itself. Such criticism barrage was spurred by the complete absence of a single performance model rolling off of Lexus assembly lines.Lexus have remain competitive with rivals like Mercedes, Acura, Infiniti, and specifically BMW. It also took on the challenge with gusto.The IS 430 prototype seem to serve as any indication of Lexus' performance capabilities, hence preparing us for the power of IS F. With just the looks, the IS F could knock you to the ground. And what more if the performance numbers are revealed? , You will agree with me if i give a total of 100 points for this Lexus model, basing on the performance and luxury.

Why is it luxury? Once your brand has been renowned as the highest-selling manufacturer of luxury rides and your car sits atop the J.D. Power and Associates scroll of the most reliable brand stateside for 13 years running, aren’t these enough to say that you own a luxury car?

British automotive connoisseurs Auto Express and Top Gear have said that Lexus is the cream of the automotive crop according to their satisfaction survey ratings since the marque’s inception into the luxury division in 1989.

Nonetheless, Lexus had generally been omitted as an option when seeking performance sedans over a decade, with seemingly no track-worthy platform. But just on the horizon was the IS brand in 1998, when it has excelled.
To overcome the stigma of lackluster engine capabilities, the IS F was outfitted with a naturally aspirated DOHC, 5.0-liter, 32-solenoid-titanium valve, this is designed with electronic variable timing, V8 engine, with dry sump lubrication. The 90-degree, aluminum mill and its uniquely engineered heads are fed by a two-stage intake system, giving you a 416-horsepower at 6,600 rpm and over 371 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm. The powerband spreads and propels the Lexus IS F to a maximum speed of about 170-mph mark, hurling the 3,780 pounds of creative engineering from 0-60 mph in a flaming 4.4 seconds. Just a reminder friend, this is a SEDAN. This RWD missile is firmly planted on the road with a double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension. It takes corners like a champ, measuring an inch lower than the standard IS models. Be amazed with the slightly asymmetrical weight distribution of 54/46, as it allows the IS F to be tossed around without even loosing rigidity.

You can look at the tri-mode Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) with a Sport configuration. This technology enables this sedan to be driven harder before the throttle, braking, and steering control systems kick in. Here’s more, the bold six-piston Brembo brake calipers and high-friction brake pads can drive you to a competitive race. And how the racing-inspired paddle shifters impress you? Well it just controls the world’s first eight-speed, direct sport-shift transmission!Sexy and luxurious it is. And so powerful indeed.The IS F target consumer is foretold as the family man who does not just crave for the edgiest of grocery getters, but also makes the most of a $60,000 budget. You heard it right, the price is under $100,000!Although the Lexus IS F is not perfectly fabulous and powerful to be crowned as a supercar by technical standards, it is still great choice among all performance sedans today. From street savvy to comfort levels, this Lexus model can be boasted by any enthusiast.

According to Lexus their goal was to create a true performance sedan in a uniquely Lexus way, which is totally authentic. And as for the facts revealed, a refreshing take on a luxury sedan IS F will definitely take you to a unique journey.





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3 Best SUVs on 2008

In the age of emerging winged sedans, SUVs have remained a great choice of vehicle type either for on or off roading. In spite of the rapidly changing sales environment, including the escalating fuel prices and concerns about exhaust-gas content, SUVs still claim a big chunk of our new-vehicle market. Sounds strange? Isn’t it ironic that while we are worried about mpg and CO2, we still love vehicles with carbon footprints redolent of the tracks left!

If you are an enthusiast craving to know the leading SUVs for the year 2008 (while fighting with your asthma), then better continue rolling your eyes down!

Style is a big factor in the equation, particularly with SUVs. Nonetheless, there are really two key reasons. First is that we still want the added utility in this realm. Sedans and Coupes do not cut it when they are loaded with heavy cargos and equipments. Second, those big carbon footprints shrink. Hybridity has found its way into the truck world, plus the traditional body-on-frame big boys, Chevy’s Tahoe hybrid being the first example.

The nature of trucks is changing relative to the time. This is particularly true among SUVs, where crossovers, handily shapeless term we use for want of anything better, are gradually becoming prevalent. Reviewing the vehicles identified as crossovers, we look at the bodyworks that trace their engineering heritage to front-drive passenger-car origins. Unit-bodied vehicles are generally lighter than body-on-frame designs that are of higher structural rigidity. This rigidity level refers to as a prime prerequisite for ride and handling. On this regard, nothing beats lower curb weights for achieving higher mpg.

Let me cut this intro short! Let’s reveal the top 3 SUVs this year and discover the characters that made them to be recognized among all fabulous trucks.

2008 Toyota RAV4

Size matters, regardless of the category under analysis. The third-generation RAV4 is a 5Best repeater for 2008! It has put the baby-ute concept into the mainstream since its debut for the 1996 model year. The increased size has improved usefulness. Seemingly, the baby has grown. Since the 1996 original, the five-door RAV4 has formed wheelbase stretched 9.8 inches, while the overall length has increased by more than a foot and a half (19.1 inches), the width by 4.8 to 6.3 inches, and height by almost an inch. RAV4 has a third-row seat option, as well as an exceptionally robust V-6 engine option (269 horsepower, 246 pound-feet of torque). All these are harmonized with the choice of front- or four-wheel drive.

2008 Mazda CX 9

Honda did not design the large crossover SUV, part car, part minivan, part ute— but the Pilot came to define this promising segment. It is no surprise that several manufacturers, especially Mazda, used the Pilot as a template for their own models. Some succeeded in improving on the formula. This has finally brought us to the 2008 CX-9, Mazda’s first large SUV. Its exoskeletal origins have been traced to the front-drive Mazda 6 sedan. This has a roomy three-row cargo and people hauler with the option of all-wheel drive.

The usual family peacekeeping options, airbags galore, slick styling, high-quality materials and assembly, excellent driver sightlines, count them on. And more with the high chassis rigidity and consistent with Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom ethic—best-in-class agility! This Mazda’s truck is just fun-to-drive, making it easy to carry loads that are weighing more than two tons! Wheew..

Mercedes-Benz GL-class

Mercedes expanded the GL-class from a class of one to a family of three! Imagine that? If you want thrift and torque at the same time, then this will be your truck. There is the GL320 CDI turbo-diesel, which is an impressive powerplant that is currently creating compression-ignition converts in service with ong-term test fleet. But if you still find the GL450’s 335 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque a bit too tame, then take another drive with the GL550, with a 5.5-liter V-8 generating 382 horsepower and 391 pound-feet.

Power matters relative to loads weighing 2.5 tons or up. However, in GL class, there are other important factors. Packaging is one of these. GL-class provides useful three-row seating and comfortable accommodations for seven in a wrapper, shorter, lower, and not so wide as most of the luxo leviathans. These are classy, don’t worry.

Another suit of refinement is the exceptionally quiet attitude. The seven-speed automatic is at the top of the charts for seamless operation. The ride quality is creamy so for a vehicle that is unusually responsive by large-SUV standards. None of the foregoing comes cheap but luxury is as luxury does. Indeed, GL does it best!

Toyota RAV4

2008 Mazda CX 9

Mercedes-Benz GL-class

Ford F-150 Raptor

Looking for an attractive truck that you can bring on and off road? Here is the Ford F-150 Raptor!

Ford’s muscular truck- F-150 Raptor, is becoming more genuine, presumably with its long-awaited Boss V-8 engine. Do you want the latest spy shots of this ride? Know these facts as you anticipate the new model’s release on 2010 or 2011. Yes, you heard it right. You still gotta wait for two years or three. Haha.

Ford’s new marketing chief Jim Farley seemingly was downright excited with the Ford name stamped into the grille’s black mesh. This was based on his expression on one pictures captured by photographers during the automaker’s 2008 Dealer Show. The audience were teased with video footage of a Raptor mule bombing across the desert at high speeds!

The “boss engine” was lined as being rated at 380-horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque- different from some expectations of 400-plus hp 6.2-liter V-8 from the new modular Boss family. This would one-up the 5.7-liter V-8 in the Toyota Tundra and the 6.1-liter Hemi, and then GM’s 6.0-liter V-8. And because the Ford’s future powertrain evolves around EcoBoost—direct-injection and time and again turbocharged gasoline engine technology—this will be a trademark of the Boss engines, although the 6.2 in the Raptor would be logically aspirated.

Ford engineers who idled Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario, have been in anticipation of approval to build a new fuel-efficient V-8. Ford officials have not confirmed the product tentatively slated to be built at the Canadian plant, but the low-volume Boss appears to be a good fit. Windsor designed the Triton modular V-8 as Ford SVT F-150 Lightning pickup until it was stopped in 2004.

Timing of the Raptor dovetails is what Ford’s product development chief promises with a new modular V-8 for trucks by the end of the decade. This would be fruition of a project that dates back to 2005 when the engine was codenamed Hurricane.

One of the Raptor's long-travel shocks is sourced from Fox Racing and specially built for the Raptor program. This is reportedly the same as that of Fox's 2.0 Piggy Back reservoir shocks with 12 inches of travel, which is four more than the eight-inch shocks on Ford's FX-4 off-road trim package. Hence, on and off the road, this raptor can always get it on.
Ford execs are fired up, telling dealers that the Raptor is the first and only Baja 1000 Trophy Truck anyone could buy.

In 1992, Ford created its Special Vehicle Team, who made the Mustang Cobra and F-150 Lightning pickup, which was later followed by SVT versions of the Ford Contour and Focus. When the Lightning was phased out in 2004, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 used to be the undisputed performance-pickup king.

The most recent use of the badge was to produced, and 1000 of them will slap on the limited-run 2008 Shelby GT500KR Mustang. The last SVT vehicle prior to that was the 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Ford has insisted the division was on break, but then it has been working on an SVT truck—presumably the Raptor, since the fall of 2006.

or the Raptor itself, the front clip of the mule running around looks like a modified version of the new and pending 2009 F-150. The air intake in the front bumper is larger and sports a wide grin. It may look like it is to feed more air to an intercooler for a turbocharger but at least not initially. You will see that the cooling vents atop the hood are not just ordinary vents, they function to lower engine compartment temperatures when at is in full steam.

“Premium fuel only” labels can be too obvious not to see on prototype instrument panels. Further fueling our optimism the Boss is on track. So, will you wait for the release of this beast? Dream on for now. Peace out!

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when was the last time you have cleaned your interior?

Clean your interior pleeaaaaaassssse!

Cleaning the interior for me is more difficult than that of washing and waxing the exterior. But we have to do it in our car! A clean interior looks great and most of all, better for your health.

Some of the common things that you should do in the interior are vacuuming and polishing. You can start the vacuuming by removing the floor mats and have the carpet set free from dust and dirt. Vacuum the seats and make sure that you will use proper attachment to reach under the seats, around the pedals and area between front seats and central console. After these, you can then vacuum the floor mats separately.

Use soft bursh attachment in vacuuming the dashboard and door panels. Be careful with the knobs and other sticking parts. Use the same attachment in vacuuming the seats. Leather seats are too sensitive to damage so be careful about scratching them with the vacuum hose.

Cleaning the seats and door upholstery can be complicated. It will be necessary to choose the right cleaning agents for them. One common agent used today is the spray cleaner from turtle wax. This is sprayed on the seat or door upholstery and rubbed vigorously. This is wiped thoroughly with a dry cloth. If you do not have the right cleaner, simple laundry detergent can work. Just mix small amount of this with warm water, dip a clean cloth into it, wring out good and then wipe the seat and door. Work harder on dirty areas and then rub dry with clean, soft cloth. Never soak the seat with water! This will cause stains and duh, it will manifest mould smell!

Cleaning the carpet can be done in the same way as what you did on the seats and door. Spray evenly with the carpet cleaner, rub vigorously, and wipe it thoroughly with a dry cloth. You can also use the laundry detergent on the carpet. Damp a rag with detergent and water then squeeze the excess of water and run the carpet. Rub dry with a clean dry cloth. Again, never soak the carpet with water for it will not just leave stain and mould smell, as it can also lead to corrosion in the sheet metal flooring.

Cleaning and polishing the dashboard can be done easily as well. You can clean the dashboard, central console and other plastic parts using slightly damp cloth. Take a small amount of laundry detergent to remove the stains. Dry with a clean soft dry cloth and to make it shinier, spray plastic polish and spread it evenly with soft brush. Never spray directly on the stereo. You can use a brush on this part instead.

Dry polishing is gently done by simply using a clean soft dry cloth. This will make the dashboard shiny and have the plastic protected. After polishing, you may use a soft duster periodically to maintain it.

After cleaning the interior, you may get bothered by the musty smell that will annoy your senses once the airconditioner is turned on. You can solve this by getting an odor treatment, which kills bacteria and removes that mildew smell. Conversely, the cleaning is not the sole reason for having musty smell in the interior. You can check the AC for some clogging in the drain tube or accumulation of leaves and other debris under the cowl cover. These can also cause damp mildew smell.

Your interior is like your living room while far from home. Make sure that you have it cleaned all the time to have a more comfortable and enjoyable travel.

Engine oil and transmission fluid check/change

Car maintenance can be done in a lot of ways, through a long checklist. I have done a lot of these with my roadster and crossover so now, I want to share some points to you.

The cleanliness of your vehicle should be from the inside and outside. You will need to wash your car and wax it once in a while to keep the body shiny and corrosion-free. If you found some minor concerns, take care of them as soon as possible and make sure that these will not cause serious problems and expensive repair later. When replacing interior and exterior parts, ensure your car with the original parts. More than these, true cleanliness really comes from within. This will nromally involve regular oil change, which is very important to keep the engine in good shape.

Oil change is too important, but how will you do it yourself? This can be done by carefully following the necessary steps that I will share to you. your car the level spot then stop the engine. Wait for a while and let the engine oil pour down to the oil pan. Pull the engine oil dipstick and then check the owner’s manual, which usually has a bright handle saying “engine oil.”

Wipe the oil off the dipstick with a clean rag or tissue. Consequently, insert it back all the way down to its original place. For the second time, pull the dipstick and check the oil level. This is normally at “full” mark. Once you see that the dipstick is marked with lower level of oil, do not fret for it is not a big problem yet. However, you need to top it up. Check the oil condition immediately. The color of oil will tell you how worse the condition is. If it is way to black, it is definitely time to have it changed. If it is slightly brown, it is just fine. It if is dark brown but still transparent, it is still admissible but you will rather have it changed sooner or later. If it is white (or coffee with milk color), it means that the engine coolant mixes with the engine oil because of some internal engine problem. An example of this trouble is the blown head gasket in the engine.

How will you top up the engine oil? It will be better to add the same type and brand of the engine oil as you already have in the engine. You may add up the right amount of oil and then wait for a minute to let it our down. Check the oil level again with the dipstick. If it is still low, add some more oil. Just make sure not to overfill it. Install the dipstick back and close the oil filler cap when you are through.

Checking the engine oil can be as hard as that of checking the automatic transmission fluid. Doing the latter starts with placing your car at a level surface and then engaging the parking brake. After these, start the engine and set the transmission shifter in “P” or park position. Let the engine idle and check and pull the transmission dipstick.

Wipe off the oil from the dipstick with a clean lint free rag and then insert it back to its place carefully. Pull again and check the fluid level. You must also check the fluid condition, through its color too (like the engine oil). If it is too black and dirty with burnt smell, the transmission is at its critical condition. It is normally clean and transparent. The new fluid comes red and over time, it becomes brownish. Some manufacturers require transmission fluid change every 30,000 or 50,000 miles of travel. Check what your car manual says.

Topping up the transmission fluid has to be done properly. Once wrongly done, the fluid will eventually damage the transmission. Add a small amount of the fluid through the dipstick pipe. Wait for minutes and let the fluid flow down. Recheck the level again and remember, do not have it overfilled.

Ease your wallet strain

Are you are having a hard time dealing with your boss while getting tired each day because you have not gotten a raise yet? Why not look for other options to save your money. Try to cut your gas cost down to 0 to ease your wallet strain even just a bit. Don’t know how to do it? I’ll tell you how.

Get a gas station branded credit card. A lot of gas stations will offer credit cards that provides rebate of up to 5% each time you buy gas from them. In case you live in an area where you can regularly fill up at one provider, the collected small rebate can add up in the long term. At first, you may not feel the benefits of doing this technique, but later on, you will surely reap what you have sown.

Get low resistance tires. You might have heard of new tire designs that promise reducing gas cost. Given the expense of the tires, you can consider this option unless you are already in the market for new tires. Relative to this, make sure that all your tires are at the proper air pressure since low tire pressure hurts fuel efficiency.

Tune up your car always. If you have your ride properly maintained, it will surely use less gasoline. Furthermore, tuning up your car will help you keep the engine running even longer.

Look for specials in your neighborhood since some local gas stations offer specials like “wacky Wednesday”. Other stations even offer $.10 discounts on some days.

Don’t forget to slow down and drive less. This may be ironic on your part but trust me, it works! Traveling at 55mph gives you up to 21% better gas mileage as compared to driving at 65mph. Also, since traffic lights are timed for the lower speed, you will decrease your odds of having to stop, which is another gas waster. Drive slower and your total gas bill will surely decline. Better yet, wake up early so that you will not be late on your work even if you drive slow. Your boss will not be angry at all. It is just a matter of responsibility right? Wake up early and drive slow, simply like that.

Avoid idling. This will take up more gas than stopping and restarting the engine. Turn your car off when you are waiting for someone. Go into a fast-food place instead of using a drive through! Do not bother warming up your car in the winter, It is not necessary with today’s vehicles.

Gasoline evaporates from your tank, did you know that? This is true especially when it is hot. Hence, when you are leaving your car down the street, make sure to park it in the shade. The effects are so small yet every drop counts! So read my lips: “never park your ride under the hot sun.”

Inside your car, do not put the pedal to the metal. Go easy on both gas and brakes. Anytime you do a jackrabbit start or a quick stop, it will increase the gas mileage.

Clean out your car. Weight, aside from cargos, will decrease the gas mileage. Clean out all the unnecessary items. You can opt not to transport things on a roof rack, instead, put them in the trunk or inside your vehicle to reduce drag.

While driving down the road, stick the paved roads, gravel, and dirt that can reduce gas mileage by as much as 30%.

These techniques that I have shared to you will surely help you save bucks. This I guarantee you since I myself have proven that with my allowance. You can save for your other expenses and you may also donate some for charity. Opportunities in sharing your blessings will be the best reward from getting wise.

The chopped box

This cool vehicle is obviously not for my dad. Not at all. Looking at its features, everybody would agree that this kind of driving machine is best for college drivers like me! so sorry dad.

The sporty version of a box. This is how most enthusiasts describe the Scion’s Hako coupe concept. This vehicle was clearly inspired by Scion's own xB however, the Tokyo Design Division has reportedly penned the shape, studied global, youth-inspired trends too. If we look closer to the concept's high beltline and chopped, blacked-out greenhouse, we will also notice that classic American coupes were part of the influence. Have you also recognized it? Oh well, I bet you had before I had.

The vertical windshield is the car's most striking feature isn’t it? This gives Scion the aerodynamic efficiency of a brick. Notice also the wraparound rear window that could make you believe that it would cut a cleaner hole through the air if driven in reverse.

The front end, where auto lights are installed on has an aggressive appeal yet, the driving machine appears cute and attractive. The car’s geometric profile conveys a powerful stance in a bold, compact package. Look at the trapezoidal LED headlights with the large and aggressive upper and lower grilles. The lower grille anchors the car’s strong attitude.

The lights and grilles contribute a lot of the attractive fascia, which seems to convey a smiling face. The fog lights that are symmetrically placed high on the front bumper are not just ordinary lights. You will then see that these lights are installed with turn signals too.

If you are looking for the neat features of this car, look at the race-car-inspired side mirrors that house integrated turn signals. Imagine how this ride gets more attractive at night once those turn signal lights blink up. At the rear end, its bumper has an integrated fog- and backup light as well. You can find it on the left and the exhaust outlet on the right. The LED taillights echo the shape of the headlights. Up top, a full panoramic roof will surely amaze you.

This concept car also features powerful, flared fenders that add up dimension and contrast to the boxy shape and smooth surfaces. It hugs the road with custom 18-inch deep dish five-spoke wheels and tires with a Scion custom tread.

If we get inside of the Hako coupe, two video monitor screens on the dash will greet you and offer you some entertainment. Videos and music can be uploaded to the entertainment system through a Bluetooth connection. The entertainment system has two video monitor screens mounted on the dash for radio, video, and music capabilities. The front passenger can control the system using a large rollerball on the cenrter of the dash. The orange driver’s seat has a gaming theme, which definitely blends with the youthful character of the driver.

The two front and two rear seats are covered with easy-to-clean urethane and rubber-like upholstery. The front bucket seats flow to the floor and incorporate a geometric design on the seatback. The seats are separated by a center console, featuring a large storage crevice for your cellphones, magazines, books, and other small items. There are two cockpit-like rear seats that will provide a storage crevice.

Instrumentation and warning lights cascade from the art inspired instrument panel to the steering wheel. The steering wheel has a simple button that will allow you to start the engine. There is also a track-ball type control for the Hako’s entertainment system located on the passenger dash. The shifter is intended to resemble a large joystick.

If you want to know more about the preliminary specifications of the Hako Coupe, check these out:

DIMENSIONS (inches)
Overall Length: 145.7
Overall Width: 68.1 without side mirrors
74.0 including side mirrors
Overall Height: 57.5
Wheelbase: 94.5
Ground clearance: 4.0
Wheels: 18-inch alloy wheels
Tire Size: 225/45 R18
Seating Capacity: 4

How cute!

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