Monthly Archives: April 2009

Author : Gregg Hall

When person thinks about hybrid sports cars are the person may be thinking oh yeah those cars the ones that are awesome on gas but are poor on performance So with gas prices raising it is inevitable that sports car will come on to the line of the market

The Japanese auto manufactures are continuing to spend time in trying to find a way to make a hybrid car and mix it with a sports car Subaru Mitsubishi and others are trying to progress in making a hybrid sports car

Most of the cars being made into hybrids are still being run on batteries which will not get into the performance area like others are looking for Even though batteries and electric motors are a good way to counter act gas emissions there is some talk about them making an electric sports car that is capable of producing 470whp If you ask me that is insane for an electric car to produce that kind of power and I don’t believe it until its running down the track or I see the dyno sheet right in front of me

So even though there are hybrids already on the market there are still many trying to make an electric hybrid sports car A few years back Mazda saw that their rotary motor ran pretty well on a different fuel Since that was discovered I am pretty sure that they have been messing around with making a rotary motor that is either a hybrid or an electric high performance motor

The most well known hybrid of today is the Toyota Priapus, a gas/electric car that will be priced at over 70 grand Even though it may still be running on a propane or type of hydrogen gas it will still be more fuel efficient over regular gases Many experts think that the car will cost into the six figure range but will do awesome in auctions since many people with great deals of money are looking for the new and sleek versions of car even in the senior class The Priapus will go 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds which is very good considering it will still get 30 mpg that is good if you are going to just be cruising around or traveling

The Japanese makers are not the only makers that are looking into hybrid performance Two of the former jaguar designers have made a good accomplishment they have designed a v10 that will be considered a hybrid

With so many nations and countries demanding for better gas prices there needs to be an answer That is why there are so many designers and makers trying to make a hybrid that will do such things

People just want a car that gets good mpg and still will be able to be a high performance sports car Today you won’t find that anywhere but maybe in the future you wont be able to find a gas powered car That is why makers today are trying to get started because they want people to buy their hybrid cars over gas high performance street cars

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about cars as well as car care products at http://www.5starshine.com

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →

Author : Jill Black

As winter weather strikes, the risks of traveling increase as well But not all winter weather situations have to be dreadful With the addition of a few items to your car, you’ll be able to handle almost anything that drifts your way The Indiana Department of Homeland Security advises drivers to prepare a winter emergency safety kit for every vehicle that contains a few items critical to your safety Whether you have a minor slide off or a significant crash, the following items will help you mitigate a variety of winter emergencies

A key component to remaining safe is maintaining body temperature For that reason, it is recommended that every driver keep at least two blankets or a sleeping bag handy for added warmth Experts also recommend keeping extra clothing in a vehicle; specifically warm weather clothing such as jackets, boots, hats and gloves If blankets or extra clothing are not available, floor mats and seat covers are a viable secondary option for warmth The Indiana Department of Homeland Security also recommends keeping a bottle of water in the vehicle Not only does this help avoid dehydration, it also keeps drivers and passengers from eating snow, which can further lower body temperature

Drivers and passengers are also encouraged to stay in their vehicle as much as possible While in the car for an extended period of time, it is best to run the engine for no more than 10 minutes every hour When the vehicle is running, leave the downwind window slightly open for ventilation and ensure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow This keeps poisonous gas from the exhaust filtering into your vehicle If you must leave your vehicle during the emergency, it is recommended that you secure a line of rope to yourself to avoid getting lost or disoriented

Another key to survival in winter emergencies is obviously drawing attention to the accident Lighting an emergency flare or shining a flashlight draws attention to an area that may not have been previously observed This is particularly important for travelers in rural areas Equally as important is a cellular phone in order to contact emergency services It is also a good idea to keep a cellular phone battery charger or booster in the vehicle If road flares or a flashlight are not available, a secondary option may be to tie a brightly colored fabric, such as a handkerchief or towel, to the antenna, mirror or door handle of the car Ultimately, the goal is to catch the eyes of people that may be in the area so be creative and as resourceful as needed

Not all emergencies, fortunately, are of the disastrous type However, even minor incidents can present significant challenges to the unprepared The first item that belongs in a car for winter weather is an ice scraper The more important part of that item is using it! It is not a good idea to travel with ice or snow covering portions of your car Before putting a vehicle into drive, make sure it is cleaned off In the event of a slide off, it is beneficial to have sand or cat litter available for tire traction Bags of sand are also handy for adding weight to trucks that have a lighter rear end and therefore a tendency to slide The occasional slide off can also lead to tire damage, so it is a good idea to have a tire repair kit and pump handy for minor repairs Cold weather is also hard on car batteries To give your car the jump-start it needs, keep a pair of booster cables or a battery charger handy Finally, for those times that you may be caught in deep snow courtesy of a plow truck, having a shovel available is beneficial

While the optimal choice would be to avoid winter weather emergencies as a whole, you never know when an emergency will arise Above all, the most important tool for safely mitigating winter emergencies is maintaining your cool By remaining calm and rationale, your chances for a safe rescue are dramatically increased

Jill works for Inside Real Estate a company devoted to top service for people looking for their next home. They have sites covering El Paso Texas real estate and Corpus Christi Texas real estate. They also keep a blog covering Corpus Christi real estate statistics

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →

Author : Samantha McCartney

So many of us want a new car because new cars look nice, smell nice and make us feel good when we drive them With the economy in such bad shape now many of us are not able to afford or want to take a risk in buying a new car However, just because your current car does not look good right now doesn’t mean that it can’t or won’t There are so many things that you can have done to your vehicle to get it looking great! Find out if some of these great services will help your current car look like new

If your vehicle has dents and dings in it chances are your vehicle is not looking too great right now But, it doesn’t have to look bad anymore You can get a service called paintless dent removal Paintless dent removal is a process used by most auto reconditioning specialist, which involves the use of reflective sources, rods and other special tools They uses these resources to massage the dent out from the inside, resulting in a smooth finish There is no use of paint or fillers which means the original finish of your vehicle will not be affected and you will not have to pay extra for materials The paintless dent removal process can be completed quickly and affordable at most auto reconditioning shops

If your vehicle has any interior damage to it such as the headliner falling, tears or rips in the upholstery, cigarette burns, cracked dash, soiled spots in the carpet or anything else you should get interior repair You can get interior repair service at most auto reconditioning shops as well You would be surprised what can be repaired in your vehicles interior and how affordable it is as well since you do not have to buy replacement materials

Also if your vehicle has any cracks or chips in the paint you will want to get paint touch up for those areas This will not always make the cars appearance 100 better, but you will be protecting your vehicle from further body damage Your vehicle paint is a protective sealant for the metal frame which will rust if not protected

Lastly, if you really want to get your vehicle to look like new you should get a professional auto detailing for your vehicle A professional auto detailer will bring your vehicle as close to show room conditions as possible from the inside out! They will clean the inside and spot clean the carpet as well if needed You can also get a scent in your car, you may decide to try new car scent to really get the new car feeling They will also clean and put a protective coat of wax on the outside You car will be shining in no time!

So, if you want to feel like you are driving a new car, but cant quite afford a new one, make a few repairs and pamper it a little and you will see a new car emerge from your current car!

If your car is in need of auto reconditioning start looking for a qualified professional to handle your concerns. Look for an auto body professional to take care of your ride from auto detailing to fixing the major auto body repairs at http://www.autoreconditioning.com/

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →

Author : Hilal Abdelwali

Just like with any new, slightly controversial subject, there will always be pros and cons to talk about and that is no different with the new drive toward the use of alternative fuels to power our vehicles People who support alternative fuels the pros could list a hundred ways that alternative fuel helps On the other hands those who oppose it the cons could also list a hundred ways we should use alternative fuels

To begin with, alternative fuel is cleaner burning than gasoline which is good for the environment definitely a pro rather than a con As we are confronted with many environmental problems these days such as global warming, many people feel we really need to take a moment and realize that it is up to us to help stop these problems When you use an alternative fuel in your car instead of gasoline, you are helping to stop the release of counter-productive elements into the air

Many alternative fuel vehicles also get better fuel mileage which is another pro over con in the use of alternative fuels Especially in hybrid vehicles, miles per gallon can be increased by more than 20 percent over a period of time! That can make a world of difference to many drivers

There are many tax incentives that can be found when you buy and use an alternative fuel vehicle The government knows that there are pros and cons to the use of alternative fuel, so they want to make it as attractive as possible to the consumer to make the switch Who does not want to save money on their taxes? If you can get a tax break, it can greatly benefit you and you will be helping the Earth as well

As for the cons of alternative fuels, while not as numerous as the pros, the problems can be a bit bigger in the general mind of the consumer Alternative fuel vehicles are often more expensive than regular gasoline vehicles Even though you can get a tax break for buying one of these vehicles, you can still expect to pay anywhere from 10 to 40 percent more retail price for an alternative fuel vehicle

The availability of alternative fuels is another huge con to offset the pros While many places now carry E85 fuel (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline), it may be difficult to find other alternative fuel types Even the stations that do carry E85 are not as plentiful as many people would hope and they often find themselves driving out of their way just to gas up their cars

The pros and cons of using alternative fuels can forever be debated What side you are on depends on your commitment to our environment and what you can do to stop some of the deadly effects of the gases we release from our vehicles

For A Limited Time, Hilal Abdelwali owner of
http://www.thehybridcarssite.com
is giving away a FREE REPORT on secrets of choosing alternative fuels. Get your
free report worth 27 USD now at

http://www.idoiteasily.com/alternativefuels/report.htm

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →

Author : Brenda Williams

When Henry Ford first started manufacturing automobiles, the idea was to produce a car that would transport people from one place to another, be easy to maintain and be affordable by working people Prior to Ford s era, cars were luxury toys for the rich and famous Such features as style, design, and image had no part in Ford s plant in 1927 Ford s cars were utilitarian

Fast forward to the 1970 s when cars were now designed to project an image And car manufacturers advertised to the image Put yourself in the driver s seat of a given car and you were on the road to all your dreams come true, whether it be success in a career or romance

America has always been a youth oriented society And from the days of the frontier, individual freedom has always been prized in America So the Pontiac Firebird TransAm projected both images – young and free

The TransAm was a muscle car While the definition of muscle car is somewhat ambiguous, it is generally accepted that a muscle car has two basic requirements It must be a small car with a stylish exterior and a big engine The Trans Am met both criteria

The Firebird also flew into the movies While it has a long cinema career, there are two films that stand out In 1977, the TransAm appeared in Smokey and the Bandit Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields, and Jackie Gleason, the film centered around Burt Reynolds trying to win a bet by attempting to bootleg a truckload of Coors beer into Georgia from Texas Burt Reynolds talked a friend into driving the truck Then, to distract attention from the truck, he drove the TransAm over the same route On the way, Reynolds picked up a runaway bride whose intended groom to be was the simple minded son of local Sheriff Justice Both the son and the Sheriff started after Reynolds Keeping Sheriff Justice occupied and distracting his attention away from the truck involved many car chases and mishaps All of this action together with the comedy resulted in a box office hit

Five black TransAms were modified to perform the stunt jobs required by the script Yet, these stunts were so rigorous that all of them were damaged during the shooting of the film

It is rumored that, prior to the filming, a high level Pontiac executive offered Burt Reynolds a free Pontiac Firebird if the movie was a hit However, when Reynolds went to collect his prize, the executive had retired and his replacement refused to honor the agreement But Reynolds did purchase a TransAm

The TransAM was featured in another film, Cannonball Here, David Carradine plays a former stock car driver and ex con who has just been released from jail and is out on parole His parole officer also happens to be his current girlfriend In order to win the prize money, Carradine decides to drive in the Trans American Grand Prix, a cross country race that runs from Los Angeles to New York City Caroline s girlfriend and parole officer tries to dissuade him But he talks her into accompanying him and they take off in his red TransAM

http://www.nationaltransportllc.com/phoenix-auto-transport.php Phoenix Auto Transport http://www.nationaltransportllc.com Auto Transport Phoenix

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →

Author : Gregg Hall

Although bumper stickers are a worldwide phenomenon, it seems that Americans are more fascinated with the use of them than others When driving down the highways and streets of the United States there is no telling what you might find emblazoned on one of these So, when did all this begin? Well first of all you had to have cars with bumpers which didn’t happen until 1927 with the introduction of the Model A by Henry Ford The first so-called bumper stickers were not stickers at all and were attached to the bumpers by wires These first started showing up right before the onset of WWII and were rather large The first person to actually make stickers that could be attached to a bumper is thought to be Forest Gill, a silk screen printer from Kansas who began making the bumper sticker in the 1930s

Bumper stickers are used for a wide variety of reasons, most of which are simply to let others know what the driver’s view is on a certain issue, make a statement, or just to be funny The most widespread use of the advertising medium is for political campaigns and this dates back to the 1940′s with politicians handing them out to their constituents to have them advertise their support for all to see During elections times you will see a huge increase in these kinds of political stickers, though some staunch supporters never remove them, even when their candidate loses

Another use of bumper stickers in a support role is that of displaying stickers embossed with the logo of their favorite sports team or the name of the team that their child plays for Along these same lines are the those that express pride in a child’s accomplishments as an honor student or like the ones that parents of military children that state something like, “My son is a U S Marine”

Sometimes it’s fun just reading some of the stickers I see on cars I happen to be behind, they are very telling of someone’s personality If you are behind someone with surf shop stickers on the back of their car, they are most likely involved in surfing If you see someone with religious statements on theirs, they are usually people who are very serious and outspoken about their faith And there is no denying that anyone that has one of the political stickers that simply states “W” is a die hard Republican

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about bumper stickers and get Bumper Stickers online at http://www.bumperstickersplus.com

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →

Author : Everette Jamison

Most of us take our car’s braking systems for granted No matter how fast we’re driving, we’re confident that we’ll be able to slow our vehicles But, there are a number of factors which can influence our ability to come to a complete stop Without having a rudimentary grasp of these factors, our expectations are little more than a gamble In truth, your vehicle’s brakes play a limited, though critical, role

Today, we’ll explore the process of braking in the context of factors that contribute toward stopping your car I’ll explain the impact of reaction time, weather, road conditions, as well as the value of anti-lock brakes

The Time It Takes To React

Imagine that you’re driving at 65 mph At that speed, you’re traveling at approximately 95 feet per second Suddenly, you realize the need to stop your vehicle There is an average length of time that passes between a recognition to stop until a driver actively engages in a stopping action It is known as “perception and reaction time ”

On average, it takes 3/4 of a second to perceive the need to stop Similarly, it takes 3/4 of a second for a driver to react by transferring his foot from the gas pedal to the braking pedal During the combined time (1 5 seconds) required to perceive the need to stop and react, a car will have traveled over 142 feet (assuming it is moving at 65 mph) Keep in mind that another 150 feet (approximately) is needed to come to a complete stop

No matter how good your vehicle’s braking system, it is limited by your ability to recognize the need to stop and react

The Influence Of Weather

Bad weather can compound the problem If the street is damp and slippery, the time and space required to stop grows If there is snow on the ground, the requirements expand even further That’s why experts suggest driving more slowly while allowing more space

The Value Of Anti-Lock Brakes

In circumstances that require immediate stopping, drivers usually hit their brake pedal, slamming it into the floorboard Without an anti-lock braking system (ABS), the brakes will often lock up, causing the wheels to skid along the surface of the road When this happens, the time and space that you need to bring your vehicle to full stop increases significantly ABS prevents this from happening, providing your tires with greater traction and giving you more control over steering

Being Aware Of The Limits

The key point to realize is that your car’s brakes are limited in how they contribute to slowing your vehicle Most drivers don’t take the time to understand the impact of perception and reaction time Nor do they completely appreciate how weather can affect their ability to stop, even with a perfectly maintained braking system I recommend that you invest in ABS and try to maintain a “bubble” around your car while driving If there’s a need to stop quickly, you’ll have a much better chance of doing so successfully

For all your used auto parts and used Ford Parts needs consider the leader in parts, http://www.everdrive.com

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →

Author : kenneth kwan

Even though your car may not be an expensive Italian imported sports car does not necessarily mean that it can’t act like one One of the best ways to improve the performance of your car is to get a cold air intake system

All cars already come with intakes but don’t perform the best way to give you what you want To increase the performance in your vehicle, altering the engine will allow a greater flow of cooler air to get into the engine, creating great effects The more cool air, the more bang that happens in the combustion process causing your car to drive better than ever

So, it makes you wonder how it actually works The cold air intakes aid in combustion where fuel burns to generate energy to make the car move forward Next time you see a sports car, take a good look at it The kits that you see added onto the car with the extra vents and bumpers all help with the air intake that makes the car run more efficiently

The most basic cool air intake is called the short ram intake that allows air come through the engine bay into the motor In order to create this effect, all you have to do is replace the car’s air box that first came with the original model with a tube that is connected to a cone filter This is one of the quickest and best modifications you can make It will make your car make a nice roar sound since there’s less coverage of the engine

To make further changes, you can change the car’s respiratory system with a cold air intake system The intakes will pull the air that is around the front bumper and from inside the body kit You can also add a turbocharger to put more air into the engine, causing greater combustion to occur However, you must remember to take care of all the new modifications

Maintenance is key since any pieces of dirt or dust should be cleaned away These small pieces can greatly disturb the mechanics of your car Watch out for hydrolock on rainy days since this can lead water into the intakes Therefore, spending that extra money on those extra parts may actually pay off in the end A lifelong air filter that can be taken out to be washed and cleaned out regularly would be best to buy

Ultimately, intakes are one of the best ways to improve your car Fuel efficiency and performance will increase Your car can look stylish and execute proficiently with a simple addition of this system, making it worth the effort For new intakes, check out your online auto parts dealer or ask your local mechanic for tips

Andy’s Auto Sport has the hottest and most stylish selections of Cold Air Intakes. Click here for all of the latest styles:

http://www.andysautosport.com/cold_air_intakes.html

Syndication Source: Article Mind Continue reading →