Archive for the ‘Automotive’ Category
Info - The Travails of Collecting Sports Cars
The exact definition and classification of a sports car is sometimes difficult to tell the difference. Some people think they already know how to determine whether a car is a sports car because most think they should be flashy, expensive, fast, and certainly built for action on the road.
Sad to say, it is not the absolute description of sports cars. With all the artistic minds of car geniuses these days, they can develop something that does not look like a sports car, but is a sports car in actuality.
For this reason, more and more and people are fascinated by the way in which most sports cars retain their value evaluation. No wonder that the percentage of buyers of sports car has increased by nearly 30% of all car buyers compared to the last poll taken.
Many people find buying and collection sports cars not only a gratifying hobby but a lucrative one as well. This is because sports cars are absolutely remarkable investments. However, one cannot dismiss the fact that collecting sports cars can be as expensive as their value in the market. There are instances where collecting the cars for a hobby can drain your financial resources if not managed properly.
There are still many sports car collectors who are just dreamers sports car or fanatics. The average sports car collector can have as much as 10 to 15 cars in their collection. One of the best known collectors of sports cars is Ralph Lauren. Most people think that Ralph Lauren is only perfume and clothing for men. What they do not know is that Lauren also enjoys the gratification he gets from sports car on his own collection.
Many of the cars as Lauren collection contend that the collection of cars or sports cars is not just a hobby luxury, but also get something of value in return. For example, Lauren often comes into their cars in a big race in many countries. Very often wins the race, as well as senior monetary prize for the victory.
Therefore, if somebody is thinking that sports car collection is just a fad, think again. With the growing rate of sports car sales - and buyers, the sports car collection has come to stay. Wealthy people can afford the growing trend of collecting these wonderful cars. After all, for the rich and wealthy people, having these big toys is an absolute value for their money.
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Tags: Automotive, autos, collecting cars, collectors item, sports cars
Have The Facts Before Purchasing A Car Warranty
Whether buying a new or used car you should always invest in a car warranty as this will save you a considerable sum of money if the vehicle breaks down or new parts are needed. There are several things that you need to take into consideration before you sign the warranty on any new or used vehicle that you buy.
Below we offer a few tips to help you when it comes to finding the right car warranty for you.
1. In you are intending to buy a used vehicle then first check to see if the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid or if you are able to purchase an extended warranty for it. Normally such vehicles when purchased from dealers come with a limited short term warranty and which will certainly help to save you some money in the long term. However, if the used vehicle you are buying is only a couple of years old then the manufacturer’s warranty may well still be valid.
2. Ask to see a copy of the owner’s manual as this will tell you everything you need to know about the general warranty conditions for the vehicle. The general warranty provided by the manufacturer will either cover the owner of the vehicle for a three year period or 36,000 miles depending on which is reached sooner. Normally the warranty will list the parts of the vehicle which are covered by it.
3. Look for those vehicles where you can get an extended or power train warranty which cover the vehicle for 60 months or 60,000 miles. However, although some companies offer such warranties as standard many cannot be purchased until after the original warranty on the vehicle has expired.
4. It is important that if you are going to purchase an extended warranty for your vehicle whether new or used then do so through a reputable company. Look for those who offer not only a variety of warranty plans but have been providing them for some considerable time such as Wynn’s Auto Warranty, Carchex Auto Warranty or CNA Auto Warranty. Also arrange to read through all the terms and conditions of the plans before signing one. If you can go for those who not only cover the vehicle no matter where you are but also provide a money back guarantee if you are unsatisfied with it.
5. It is crucial that you read each of the car warranty plans you are considering through carefully before you sign on the dotted line. Look not just how long the warranty is in place for but also what time limits there are in place in which you can make a claim. Ideally you want a warranty that is going to protect your investment which is a considerable one.
Remember a car warranty won’t provide a guarantee in relation to how long the car will last, but is more to ensure that the vehicle is in good condition at time of purchase. Unfortunately if you choose to misuse use or mishandle your car then the claims you try to make are going to be invalid. So this is another reason why it is crucial that before signing on the dotted line you read through the car warranty documents fully.
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Tags: Automotive, cars, extended warranty, repairs, trucks, uesd cars
Tata’s acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover
Tata the giant Indian motor manufacturer acquired Land Rover and Jaguar in March 2008 for $2.3 billion, taking advantage of the weak Dollar. Tata appear to have got an excellent deal but only time will tell just how good a deal it proves to be. But what was this acquisition all about, an organization that is part of a former colony, getting it’s own back on the British? The answer is that most specialists in the industry feel that it was a very well thought out and sound investment for Tata and that was Tata’s primary motivation. Everyone’s gain is someone else’s loss and Ford’s loss is considerable; they invested in all some $10 billion in the two companies and then to add to the pain a further $600 million was required to make up the shortfall in both Jaguar’s and Land Rover’s employee pension fund. Although when you consider Daimler Benzs loss over its purchase and sale of Chrysler it doesn’t look so bad; Daimler Benz put a reported $36 billion into Chrysler. Nine years on they found themselves in a position where they had to sell the majority of the company (80.1%) for $7.4 billion. There is always a risk with these acquisitions but if you can buy at the right price, which Tata appear to have done, it’s a very good start.
How will this change things for the two companies? The likelihood is very little will change at Land Rover; the Range Rover Sport will continue to be ordered in large quantities by contract hire companies that are still having difficulty in meeting demand. The Discovery and Freelander models are also very popular and selling well. The demand for Land Rover continues in spite of all the attention it attracts from critics, who say the vehicles use far too much fuel. The company is very profitable. Changes will probably be needed in Jaguar.
The fuel efficiency of these vehicles will be the real challenge for Tata in the future; the demand for Land Rover seems assured but how are they going to deal with the constant downward pressure by governments on carbon dioxide emissions? Even the Freelander that is quite economical compared with other Land Rover models has emissions far above the European Union’s proposal, of manufacturers having an average carbon dioxide output of 130g/km across the range. It is however planned that in 2009 the Freelander will be fitted with a system that that switches off the engine when it comes to a stop, for example at traffic lights and then re-starts it when it is ready to go again. Presumably they are also going to have to look at making their vehicles lighter across the range.
A major benefit to Tata as a result of the purchase of Jaguar and Range Rover will be the latest technology that they are acquiring. There own cars are very old fashioned; perhaps more like the cars we were producing in the 1950’s. It presumably won’t be long before they start to harness that technology and apply it to there own production.
Jaguar is likely to be far more challenging for Tata, the company is loosing money and certainly contract hire companies have seen a considerable drop off in demand for Jaguars in the past five years. Ford made considerable progress in terms of Jaguar’s manufacturing technology, although in practice, as with any takeover, there is a limit as to how much a company can interfere with a long established organization, before it knocks it off track. That is certainly what appeared to happen, when Ford took over Jaguar, Ford has been strongly criticized for interfering too much.
The X Type Jaguar is an example of how Ford disrupted the Jaguar tradition and produced a small economical model aimed the mass market but that is not what Jaguar is about. The model was aimed at the BMW 3 Series buyer but completely failed to attract the younger buyer. Instead it attracted those who had retired and wanted a Jaguar but not a large car. The more they bought the X Type, the more they put off the younger buyer. Jaguar tried to change the car’s image through advertising but it didn’t work. Many observers thought they would scrap the X Type but it continued in production. At least in other countries it does not have the same image problem as in the UK.
It is likely that Tata’s intentions are for Jaguar to concentrate on producing high quality prestige cars and distance itself from Ford’s plan to make Jaguar a mass production car; a move that stemmed from Ford’s fear that motorists were going to turn their backs on large luxury cars. In spite of government and environmentalists’ attempts to stigmatize large engine cars, they remain highly popular amongst those that can afford them. Contract hire companies report little change in the public’s buying habits.
Tata’s takeover of Jaguar has coincided with the launch of the elegant XF model; contract hire and leasing companies are seeing a strong demand for the car. The XF should do well in the US, once the Dollar starts to regain its strength. Jaguar has inevitably suffered in America as the weak Dollar has increased the cost of its cars to the American buyer. The takeover of Land Rover and Jaguar should prove beneficial to both companies in the long term. Ratan Tata has made it clear that he does not intend to meddle with the companies, as he wants them to retain their individual character. Some complained that Jaguar and Land Rover would no longer be British, forgetting of course that there is nothing British about Ford, their previous owner. Most people probably think that Tetley Tea is very British but Tata also owns Tetley Tea.
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Tags: acquisition, jaguar, land rover
Honda Hybrid Automobiles: Affordable For You
Hybrid cars seem to be the answer to the unstoppable increase in the cost of fuel prices thus they are deemed to be the automobile of the future with its suitability to the gas economy of the present. Honda hybrid automobiles reduce gas use by 50 percent, which enables you to travel 60 miles or more, with just one gallon of gas. Of course, this is a great profit for automobile owners but even individuals who do not have cars can profit. It can do this by emitting far lower poisonous fumes than traditional car and this will mean that it is environmentally green and also makes air healthier and more breathable.
Owners get tax exemptions, since the hybrid cars consume less fuel and emit less pollution. Owning and using a hybrid car can give you the enjoyment of not having to pay any parking space costs. You have to consider that it is important that individuals today should conserve gas, especially when the gas reserves in the world are only limited. Given this situation, deciding to use Honda hybrid automobiles is indeed a good idea since it can help us save gas thus prolonging the life of the fuel reserves. Even if the price of gas is on a constant rise, hybrid car keepers virtually don’t feel it.
At present, one alternative being campaigned to cut off gas consumption in the form of hybrid cars are promoted by many automobile manufacturers. One of these manufacturers is Honda - in fact, now has a line of Honda hybrid automobiles available in the market today. Honda is one of the top fuel-efficient hybrid car manufacturers. Honda, for a very long time now, is a renowned and most reputable car manufacturer ever existed that produces cars of magnificent quality due to its fuel efficient internal combustion engines which they really take pride on. Honda is now taking the subject further by building-in the hybrid technology into their cars.
Honda has integrated the hybrid technology in one of their models called Honda Civic Hybrid. While Honda Civic is no longer a new introduction, this latest version of the model has the hybrid technology included in its engines. The Honda Civic is already renowned to be fuel efficient but now, with the hybrid engineering installed, it can allow you to benefit from far greater gas mileage. In fact, the Honda Civic Hybrid belongs to the progressive technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle category. This makes it eligible to be a green or an environment-green car, which is advantageous to every user. The integrated battery pack in the car is designed to take you to the distance and with an eight year/80,000 mile warranty, you will truly enjoy the Civic Hybrid for years to come.
Honda developed another hybrid automobile in the form of the Honda Accord Hybrid. This sophisticated vehicle is a four-door sports automobile wherein you can actually save tons on reduced gas expenditure. You will love this Honda Accord Hybrid if you are craving for speed since it has a V6 engine with 253 horsepower and also a way to save money by cutting down your fuel consumption in the form of advanced electric motor and battery that is installed in the system. It is without any doubts that Honda is the most conspicuous maker of hybrid automobiles so therefore, choose only Honda whenever you decide to buy any of these advanced cars.
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Tags: energy efficient, gas economy, green vehicle, honda hybrid, hybrid car
Finally, Proven Ways to Cut Your Gas Costs Permanently!
Sometimes it seems as though there is no end in sight, as gas prices continue to rise and neither the government nor the oil companies seem to be doing much to stop these high gas prices from continuing. In order to save a little bit of money each month, there are several different ways of improving your car’s MPG rating that will help you reduce gas costs overall.
Purchase your gas when it is cold outside, because the cold causes the gasoline to concentrate. During warmer weather, gas expands which gives the pump the impression that more gas is coming out, when it reality the gas is simply expanded - not greater. If you would like to get more gas for less money, purchasing it when the gas is contracted is one way to save money on gas.
When your tires are low on air, you do more than simply risk using a spare tire - you also decrease your overall MPG by up to 25%. Keep your tires filled with air and you can save countless hundreds of dollars in the long run as well as improve the life of your tires and your car.
Keep your drive speed between 30 and 60 MPH - This is the optimum level for cars. Below 30 miles per hour and your car is receiving a lot of strain while not going at a very fast speed. Over 60 MPH and your engine is working much harder than it needs to for not much more speed. Keeping within the standard 30-60 MPH range can be very effective for gas relief.
There is also a new technology that has been making its rounds with the ability to improve your gas mileage by up to 300%. It was founded on the idea of hydrogen technology - using water (H20) to create energy - but it is much safer and costs a lot less. It is known as HHO gas, and it is created using a small machine you add to your engine to turn your car into a makeshift hybrid car.
And what an improvement - reports of miles per gallon almost tripling amongst casual users have been commonplace with those that use one of the water car systems report a substantial savings of thousands of dollars a year. All it takes is a small addition to your engine that you can make yourself using standard hardware parts.
This new form of alternative fuel works by extracting hydrogen particles from ordinary tap water and placing it in your engine to be used as fuel. This way your car is receiving power from both hydrogen cells and gasoline, allowing it to work much better and be far more cost efficient.
And if you want to run your car on water, you’ll see that it is 100% safe. Hydrogen powered cars, at least those that were temporarily in production for testing purposes, have often been seen as dangerous because of their combustible material. Not so with these water powered cars. If you are looking for relief from the high gas prices, consider using one of these engine additions to save money on gas.
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Tags: alternative energy, clean fuel, hydrogen, safer fuel, water to gas
Hydrogen Gas Fuel - Alternative To Gasoline
Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element on the planet. It is found in water and almost every other natural material and in every living thing. Algae, plants, and composting material are all rich sources of hydrogen. The abundance of hydrogen means that it is viewed as a potential source of fuel for many man-made machines. For instance, hydrogen gas fuel can theoretically replace fossil fuels in most of their uses without being concerned with depleting the resource considerably. Separating hydrogen from its chemical bond to these elements produces hydrogen gas fuel. Heat and water are the only emissions produced when mixing this purest form of hydrogen gas fuel with pure oxygen and igniting it, which is as environmentally friendly as you can get.
Each method of distilling the hydrogen to it purest form has its own unique set of pros and cons, from emissions generated by the refining process to finding the most cost effective method of producing hydrogen gas fuel. Currently, steam methane reforming is the most popular method in the United States. This method separates hydrogen from natural gas by heating the natural gas at various temperatures.
Producing enough hydrogen gas fuel to support mainstream use would likely require new infrastructure, making start-up costs an expensive proposition. Current technology such as electrolysis (passing of electrical current through water in an ionic transfer device) can be adapted on a larger scale by using electricity generated through methods such as windmills or solar panels. In addition, geographic concerns will play a major role in location choices for any hydrogen production facility as ideally any such facility requires a large expanse of open space and should be located away from densely populated areas. However, zero greenhouse gas emissions in the electrolysis method make this a worthwhile, long-term venture.
Hydrogen is very flexible and suitable as fuel since it can be stored and easily transported in the form of gas or liquid. Hydrogen fuel can be transported in vapor form from its refinery site to up to a distance of 200 miles. For longer distances up to 1000 miles, hydrogen is transported in super-insulated tanks in liquid form.
Hydrogen will produce more energy per unit weight than any other fuel known. Hydrogen gas fuel gives more than triple the energy of the equivalent amount of gasoline, and does not produce any of gasoline’s undesirable emissions like sulfur and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen gas fuel yields energy at a rate of six times more than an equal amount of coal.
Hydrogen gas has much better and more efficient combustion through a larger range of air fuel mixtures than gasoline. Hydrogen gas fuel has an octane rating of 130 and this is higher than the highest octane gasoline available at present at the gas station.
Hydrogen gas fuel could help us power nearly anything - from large cities to cellular phones, moped to rocket ships while still being eco-friendly. Transport vehicles can be designed to run on hydrogen gas fuel or retrofitted to be able to use it. As gasoline prices continue to rise, we will soon see if hydrogen gas fuel will be a workable replacement for gasoline. Provided the right structures can be set in place and continued research continues apace, it may be the solution to creating an abundant and environmentally fuel.
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Tags: alternate fuel, biodiesel, hydrogen, water to gas
Hydrogen Powered Cars Have A Promising Future
There are many different ways to make hydrogen fuel. Some of these involve burning trash to generate the heat required to break hydrogen out of natural gas or water. You won’t be able to drive on a banana peel, but that peel can be used by a hydrogen production facility to produce the fuel that your hydrogen powered car can use to operate.
There are several different ways in which cars can be adapted to run on hydrogen fuel, and eliminating the need to burn gasoline at all. The same exact internal combustion engine used for gasoline powered vehicles can be used for hydrogen powered cars with modifications to burn hydrogen as the energy source.
An existing auto can be modified to use only hydrogen fuel, completely eliminating the need for gasoline as the fuel source. You can also buy a kit or instructions to make a kit for your car that will add hydrogen to your car’s current gasoline-air mixture. Installing such a kit will reduce your vehicle’s pollution output and greatly improve its gas mileage.
Hydrogen powered cars are roughly three times more efficient than their fossil fueled counterparts and have low to zero emissions resulting in a carbon footprint free vehicle. Electric vehicles can be set up to utilize hydrogen as the fuel for on board electrical generation. An electric or fuel cell vehicle has a storage tank for hydrogen gas, which is fed into a fuel cell where the hydrogen is converted into electricity to power all vehicle systems.
Hydrogen fuel is cheaper to produce in addition to being a truly renewable source of energy. It takes 300 billion gallons of water to refine the gasoline Americans burn each year, but it would only take 100 billion gallons to refine the same amount of hydrogen fuel. As a result, hydrogen costs about half as much per gallon as gasoline.
The number of hydrogen powered cars will increase steadily as hydrogen fueling stations become more available. Starting in 2008, several hydrogen powered vehicles will already be available in limited numbers. Even now, every major automobile company is working on designing and engineering its own model. Some car makers are also trying to develop in-home systems that produce hydrogen, meaning that we could conceivably not only have pumps in the driveway to fuel up hydrogen powered cars in the future, but we could also supply hydrogen fuel to supply electrical power to our homes.
While you might think that safety could be an issue, a hydrogen-powered car is at least as safe as a regular car. High-stress testing has been done to insure that the tanks used for storing the hydrogen fuel can survive even the most serious accidents.
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