tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84198697654011152732024-03-05T02:38:09.221-08:00Classic Cars CollectionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-85567876001947252642012-06-01T15:23:00.002-07:002012-06-01T15:23:24.683-07:00Insurance groups and cheap car insurance<div style="text-align: justify;">The theory of buying a new car is always straightforward. You watch Top Gear, see something spectacular, toddle off to the nearest dealer's showroom, plonk down cash and drive away contented. Well, if that's your approach, you're either a company director who gets one of these eye-watering bonuses, or you've never tried to buy and insure a car before. Let's go back to Jeremy Clarkson and his happy band of cartoon-like presenters who often sacrifice intelligent comment for humour. Many of the cars shown are expensive to own and repair. Before you even begin dreaming of buying one of these often sleek speedsters, check which insurance group it belongs to. Remember, you're looking for cheap car insurance...<br />
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Until 2010, there were only 20 groups. This reflected a general feeling that insurers could predict the costs of repair with enough accuracy to set premiums. However, following work done by Thatcham, the motor insurance repair research centre, the groupings were expanded to 50. This is now adopted as standard by the Association of British Insurers and Lloyds Market Association. For each group, there's now an estimate of the cost of parts and labour following a crash test at 15 mph. The other factor influenced by Thatcham is vehicle security. This takes account of the locks and any other security features fitted as standard. So the car you would like to buy may be allocated to Group 18 and have an A for an adequate level of security (E shows the security provided exceeds the group expectation, i.e. the car would be shown as a 17E). For obvious reasons, it's unwise to buy a vehicle which has a D or U security classification.<br />
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The rule is that you get cheap car insurance when the car is in a low group. The majority of newly manufactured cars intended for the mass market are within the range 1-20. But do not assume that small underpowered cars will belong to a low group. Some of the Fiat Bravo range are in Group 17, the HGT is in Group 29.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-35847521789724994062012-05-29T01:22:00.002-07:002012-05-29T01:22:49.290-07:00Insurance rates with respect to car types<div class="articlecontents" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">A large number of drivers usually get surprised when they learn about different insurance rates for different car types. They think that it doesn't matter whether it's a small car or a hot rod as long as they have a good driving record and don't get in trouble in traffic. With all that, insurance companies have a different perspective on things and they will charge you with different premiums depending on the type of car you're trying to insure. That's why you should always bear in mind the following characteristics of each car type and make your decisions correctly if you want your auto insurance budget to be limited:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Small vehicles<br />
Small sized vehicles are usually very affordable and rather comfortable in the conditions of a big city with heavy traffic. They typically have low engine volumes, top speed, get stolen quite rarely and are inexpensive to handle at repair. Even so, auto insurance can be a bit expensive for small cars because they tend to get damaged very bad during accidents. Basic physics aren't on small cars' side during collisions because the smaller object tends to get the most damage regardless of the safety features the manufacturer has included. That's why costly claims tend to arise more often with such vehicles, and the insurers respond with respective pricing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mid-sized cars<br />
Mid-class vehicles are often considered to be the safest and the cheapest to insure. Naturally, it depends on the particular make and model, but the in general these cars are quite safe, have low repair costs and theft rates, and tend to get damaged much less than smaller vehicles during an accident. That is why you will usually get the best <a href="http://www.vehicleinsuronline.com/car-types.html">auto insurance rates</a> for this car type.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">SUVs<br />
Large cars, trucks and SUVs that fall into the same size category are certainly very comfortable and give you a whole different perspective in traffic. But the size can be a problem with these vehicles. Due to their increased mass as compared to other vehicle types SUVs tend to produce more damage during accidents, especially involving other cars. Third party liability claims with SUVs are likely to be higher because the other car tends to get damaged quite bad and there are likely to be injuries as well. Added to the higher repair costs for such vehicles SUVs are usually more expensive to insure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sports vehicles<br />
Fast sports cars often look like a great option for car buyers since they are both cool and cheap. However, when it comes to insuring a typical sports car, you will actually have a hard time getting cheap <a href="http://www.vehicleinsuronline.com/">auto insurance</a> because insurers tend to classify such cars as high risk. High top speed, engine volume, elevated theft and accident rates as well as the likelihood to produce a very serious car crash all contribute to expensive auto insurance rates for sports vehicles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Expensive cars<br />
It may look natural for expensive cars to be costly in terms of insurance. But it has nothing to do with their initial price as there are other reasons to charge higher rates for such vehicles. First of all, they are usually very costly to repair, often requiring exclusive and overpriced repair parts that are hard to find in an ordinary repair shop. Besides, such vehicles are often targeted by car thieves and burglars due to their value and exclusivity. That's why getting cheap auto insurance for any luxury car is problematic.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-86235109226908485842012-05-29T01:21:00.002-07:002012-05-29T01:21:45.208-07:00Auto insurance and driverless vehicles<div class="articlecontents" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the movie Minority Report, Stephen Spielberg has an extended sequence showing cars of the future being assembled and how they drive themselves. It's pleasing how well a film made some ten years ago has been predicting the future. The multitouch computer interfaces are here as are the retina scanners. Facial recognition software is routinely used at airports and other safety-critical locations, and we are now carrying pads around on which we can read the latest newspapers and books. Strangely enough, the driverless vehicles are also on our streets being tested. That might surprise you. Except the states of California and Nevada have already passed laws making it legal to have these vehicles drive you. So what's the problem?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a sense, we have most of the technology already available off-the-shelf. Cameras can be fitted to give 360 degree vision. Radar can tell the vehicle when anything else is moving nearby. GPS transponders tell the vehicle exactly where it is. Computers can easily be configured to talk to each other so that each vehicle can be told when there's something else nearby on the road. We have voice recognition software which will allow owners to input the desired destination and route preferences. Many of the standard vehicles are already drive-by-wire, i.e. electronic rather than mechanical links to the accelerator, brakes, and so on. All we need are the software packages to interpret all this data and translate it into instructions for the vehicle. For the record, in March, Google announced that its driverless car has traveled over 200,000 miles on roads in all types of traffic conditions. There has not yet been an accident. Indeed, so confident is Google that it has begun discussions both with government and the insurance industry.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The theoretical advantages are enormous. A computer never takes its "eyes" off the road to answer a cell phone or comb its hair. It never drives too close to the vehicle in front. There's no reckless overtaking or speeding. If this technology was adopted across all our roads, the number and seriousness of traffic accidents would be significantly reduced. Given that more than 30,000 people are killed on our roads every year, this would be a major improvement. With the number of accidents falling, insurance costs would fall and premium rates could be reduced. Except we all know technology can break down. There's a world of difference between trusting the PC on your table at home to keep your personal information safe and allowing the same PC to drive you at 70 mph down a busy interstate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">It seems the discussions with the <a href="http://www.autoinsurproviders.com/driverless-vehicles.html">auto insurance</a> industry have been going well because Google recently announced a more positive testing program for the software. Instead of this being ten or more years in the future, it has lost its speculative nature and could be approved in the next two or three years. The question for you as individual drivers is whether you will surrender your hands-on control to a computer in return for significant reductions in <a href="http://www.autoinsurproviders.com/">auto insurance</a> rates. It's actually a very good deal and only dangerous if a few reckless people insist on continuing to drive themselves or it amuses hackers to take over vehicles and stage crashes.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-1580339066290491302012-03-17T01:33:00.000-07:002012-03-17T01:33:20.094-07:00Photo Effects<div style="text-align: justify;">Online photo editor sites providing full facility effect, cool, funny and unique free. Trend of editing photos with online facilities is easier for us to edit images. If your hobby making funny photos you can use PicJoke online photo editor that provide services <a href="http://en.picjoke.net/">funny photo effects editor free online </a>. You can just click and get a <a href="http://en.picjoke.net/">funny photo effects editor free download </a>. If you have hobby to edit photo using funny photo effect, you can get the funny photo effect software as well as provide facilities PicJoke <a href="http://en.picjoke.net/">funny photo effects editor free software </a>. Another advantage of PicJoke is to provide a wide selection of photo effect because PicJoke always create new effects every day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-66941845715762633502011-10-28T04:48:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:48:59.033-08:00Top Classic Car Museums<div style="text-align: justify;">If you are an auto enthusiast, then you probably have a passion for everything cars. You probably love classic cars, new cars, and all the features that have come in between. There are plenty of places all across the world that share your passion. This article will take a look at the top automobile museums. Now you can make a trio and marvel at all the wonders available for viewers to see.<br />
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Sarasota Classic Car Museum. This museum is recognized as the second oldest continuously operating Antique car museums in the United States. They offer you a chance to walk among antique, exotic, European, and even one of a kind classic cars. If you are lucky you can go and view various celebrity cars such as John Lennon's 1965 Mercedes Benz.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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Volvo Auto Museum. Nestled in Volvo, Illinois is the Volvo Auto Museum. This place is a must see attraction. They have a special kid's zone, movie car collection, military autos, vintage cars, and many more. If you are interested in purchasing or selling a classic care then these are the people that you want to talk to.<br />
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The Auto Collections. This attraction is the world's largest classic car museum. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, this showroom is open every day so that visitors can bask in the glory. The showroom features over 300 car models. You can gaze at cars that date all the way back to the 20s and include most classics till now.<br />
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The Gilmore Car Museum. This museum is located in America's auto industry heartland. If you are traveling to Michigan then you will want to check out this museum. Started from a passion for cars, this museum grew into a bigger idea and now operates on a farm with over 8 barns to showcase the classic beauties.<br />
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Canton Classic Car Museum. Travel back in time and see more than 45 rare, unusual, classic, and special interest cars. Not only does this museum offer visitors a look at these cars but they also offer historical memorabilia so that you can see what was going on through the time periods when the cars were created.<br />
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Antique Auto Museum. Located in Hersey, Pennsylvania is the AACA museum. Visitors may be surprised that this is more than just a museum. It displays present original and restored vintage vehicles that show how the car developed throughout history. In the activity room, children can have a chance to get behind the wheel and drift back into time. This museum also holds larger events on location throughout the year so be sure to check with them for specific dates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-89976767980043079592011-10-18T04:46:00.001-07:002012-02-28T04:48:03.538-08:00Ferrari Classic Cars Past and Present Making the News<div style="text-align: justify;">The supreme luxury sports car marque Ferrari is never far from making news headlines, whether it is the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 racing team or, say, their ever popular sports cars like the Ferrari 458, winning even more automotive accolades than you can shake a stick at. One thing is for sure - the Ferrari cars, and the brand as a whole, has always been evocative.<br />
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Even from their humble beginnings at the start of the 20th century by their founder and automotive engineer Enzo Ferrari, the company owes much to its racing roots and heritage. The Maranello based super car manufacturer has long been synonymous with the motor racing world, especially as Ferrari is the oldest Grand Prix team in the world.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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Ferrari F620<br />
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This month was the time when Ferrari chose to announce their new successor for the hugely popular Ferrari 599, the all-new F620. The Ferrari F620 has got a hard act to follow, as the 599 has been a great success for the Maranello based company. This new car is expected to feature the same V12 engine which has also been used in the company's newly released Ferrari FF all-wheel-drive model.<br />
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The engine that will feature in the F620, however, is rumoured to have a higher power output engine that will deliver an amazing 700bhp, which is nearly 50 more bhp than the FF model.<br />
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Ferrari 250 GTO<br />
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Also in the recent news was the auction sale of a rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, which ended up selling for an epic £20.2million (or $32 million) by the auctioneer's company Talacrest, who specialise in luxury cars.<br />
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The 250 GTO is a legend and is widely regarded as one of the World's most sought after Ferrari's. Only 39 250 GTOs were ever produced from 1962 - 1964 and this particular 250 GTO was believed to be sold by its private English owner and alleged to have been bought by an unknown buyer from Spain.<br />
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250 GTOs are powered by a 3.0-litre V12 engine, which produces 300hp, allowing this special car to be able to achieve 0-60mph acceleration in a mere 6.1 seconds and 174mph as its staggering top speed. This is very impressive, even by today's standards, and especially so for a sports car produced in the early 60s.<br />
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The 2013 Ferrari California<br />
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This week, the company with the logo of the 'Prancing Horse' has just announced the replacement for the current Ferrari California model will be unveiled at the 2013 International Geneva Motor Show in the Swiss city of Geneva. The Italian sports car company have announced that the all-new luxury Grand Tourer will be more powerful, lighter and feature a new "handling speciale" package.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-27193800971913603522011-10-13T04:45:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:46:50.809-08:00Limousines Riders, Then and Now<div style="text-align: justify;">When I was a child, this particular question used to always pop up in my little head as to who really are these people riding in these pretty, large and absolutely longer than the usual cars? Growing up in urban area, it always fascinated me as to who were these limousine riders? Limousine itself was an exciting subject matter for me but far more than that, I was more curious about the people I could see inside it. I always wondered what they did? where they came from? and why they are using limousines in particular when there were so many other modes of transportation? Over the years, I have been around to see many things, they change and go, however the excitement of seeing a luxury town car or limousine in the streets is the same. Today, with added consciousness, I attempt to answer those questions that may be looming over the minds of many.<br />
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Even though limousine travel has come a long way today, owing to the advancements in technology and economy its definition in society amongst people and its denotations has never changed. Limousines have always been a symbolization of luxury and comfort. Even when looking back in time, limousines were always a higher status marker, a symbol of prosperity and prestige and a means of higher class transportation projecting the splendor and lavishness accompanied in luxury lifestyle and comfortable living.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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During the mid 19th century, limousine were primarily used by the 'Royals' and 'Bourgeois', the ruler class,aristocrat, rich and wealthy businessmen, political figures, legislatures and administrators. And when the success of Hollywood entered the scene, limousines were widely used by movie actors, actresses and celebrities. But before that, limousines were used by the big band leaders and orchestras with the intention of advertising their fame and fortune in various parts of the country. They were referred to as the "Big band bus".<br />
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In the 1930's when limousine started to rise on high, riders of the limousines were 'tourists' and 'guests' who were driven to and from the hotels and airport. This opened up an entirely new market for hoteliers in hospitality. Other tour operators and vacation renters joined in to offer exquisiteness and luxurious comfort in their services via offering limousines to their clients as a mode of transportation. In 1939 trend of presidential limousine started, it was "sunshine special" which was used by President Franklin D Roosevelt, Lincoln cosmopolitan and Bubble top was used by P. Dwight following the trend were President John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush. And now Barack Obama occupying the 73% of use of limousine under his administration for the safety of diplomats. Holidaymakers often used limousine service for sight-seeing and city excursions, hence it was named 'Airport stretch coach'. But then the technical advancements and exclusive amenities made available in limousines services gradually made its rental cost higher and completely out of reach of ordinary people.<br />
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After the great depression, all the political, social and industrial revolution that were made by the revolutionists throughout the country brought the rapid fundamental social, economical and cultural changes over the following years, hence limousines were no more the cases of have's and have's not. And now due to today's sustained and developed economy, different limousine companies are breaching the consumer market, allowing regular people to hire limousines for almost any occasion including weddings, birthdays, prom parties and graduations. I often see ordinary people enjoying the high life on their special day in a limousine, celebrating their weddings or birthdays in style and with much desired elegance and highlighted presence.<br />
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It is a tradition for the bride and groom on their wedding to share the joy and excitement of their new life ahead by hiring a wedding limo. We see limousines in use among general people today and the trend are gradually becoming part of our daily life. Limousines are hired for funeral processions highlighting the respect and dignity for the dear ones. Prom Limousines are available everywhere for high school students who wish to celebrate their prom night with full youthfulness adding extra possibility of a very memorable event for all. Celebrities and sports stars make very frequent appearance in limousines whenever there is a function, party or celebration. It highly elevates their presence and adds glamor and elegance to the red carpet they tread on. Lately, it is the business people and entrepreneurs making their big day a hit or political figures making history they are using limousines to make their presence significant to society.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-19842353372824427352011-09-20T04:44:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:45:27.063-08:00New Car Dealers in High Gear<div style="text-align: justify;">In Frank McClure's office, protected in a velvet-lined box, is Arizona auto license number 178. It was issued in 1914, the year that Monte Mansfield opened his Ford dealership in Tucson. McClure worked for Mansfield from 1954 to 1958, the year Mansfield sold his Ford dealership to Holmes Tuttle. When Monte Mansfield died, his widow gave the license to McClure, who is now the president at Holmes Tuttle Ford. It is in gestures such as this, as well as through memory and remembrance, that the history of the dealerships in Tucson is told.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
While the idea of going to the dealer to buy a new car makes sense to us, things weren't always done that way. The first cars were sold factory-direct, and the first independent car dealers got their start by buying cars from the factory and then reselling them alongside reliable products, like bicycles and horses. The first dealerships were even referred to as stables, until Percy Owen opened a site to display automobiles in New York City in 1899 and called it a showroom.<a name='more'></a><br />
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The distribution of automobiles was not particularly organized in those days. The manufacturer sold them to a distributor, who sold them to a dealer, who sold them to the customer. The distributors were mostly large urban dealers who sold to the smaller rural dealers. Factories continued to sell cars directly to the public at the same price for which the distributors purchased them.<br />
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But in the early part of the century the manufacturers began to formalize agreements with individual dealers, who would pay cash for cars, then wait for them to be built before they could be delivered and resold to the public.<br />
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By 1906, the City of Tucson Directory listed two auto dealers: the G. A. Wells Auto Co. at 208 W. Congress St., representing Winton, and the Huntsman-Sheldon Auto Co. on Scott Street, distributors for Oldsmobile.<br />
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By 1912, the number of Tucson auto dealerships and repair facilities swelled to nine, among them the F. Ronstadt Co. and F. J. Villaescusa--both of whom were also dealers of buggies, wagons, saddles and equine equipment. J. Breck Richardson owned a dealership at 231 E. Congress St. that would be sold two years later to Monte Mansfield.<br />
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"I have never known anyone else who had so much empathy for people and who was so good to his employees," Frank McClure said of Monte Mansfield.<br />
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Indeed, Mansfield is credited for a lot more than selling cars. He lobbied Congress to bring Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Tucson, got the Stone Avenue underpass built and helped convince Hughes Aircraft Co. to locate here, to cite a few of his accomplishments. Mansfield died the year after he sold his Ford dealership to Holmes Tuttle, who had begun his association with Ford in 1923 at their assembly plant in Oklahoma City.<br />
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When Tuttle came to Tucson, Frank McClure was the used car sales manager for Ford. The dealership, which had moved from Stone Avenue to Broadway Boulevard in 1947, had an open-air showroom that flooded during the monsoon season, sometimes badly enough that the cars were washed out of the showroom.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-75601974833382659282011-09-11T04:43:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:44:21.125-08:00Auto History - Engine<div style="text-align: justify;">APPERSON TOURING CAR</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At a time when vehicles had not yet agreed on a common form, the Apperson six-passenger touring car showed incredible vision. Built by the Apperson Brothers Automobile Company, its four-cylinder inline engine produced an astounding 40 hp. It used an advanced jump-spark ignition synchronized by a commutator supplying four coils. Its combination water tank and radiator was a forerunner of today's design, with an upper and lower tank, connected by finned copper tubes. A belt-driven fan pulled air across the fins, and a gear driven water pump circulated coolant. The car also had a friction clutch and sliding-gear transmission that provided four forward speeds plus reverse. It used two independent braking systems, one acting on the gear case, and the other on brakes of a rear drum design. Perhaps the car's most memorable feature was its rear-passenger parlor seating with walk-in rear entry door.<br />
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SPRING WHEEL<br />
The answer to solid rubber tires and cart springs? Perhaps. A manufacturing nightmare? Probably. As you can see, each spring attached to its own upper perch, which joins at a hinge to the previous unit. Also note the work that went into the lower spring perch.<a name='more'></a><br />
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MILITARY VEHICLES<br />
Almost as soon as the automobile appeared, military minds began to explore the possibilities it offered for the battlefield. The Fighting Motor Car appeared in our pages in 1896. Very modern in appearance, it featured armor plating and two machine guns, one facing front, the other facing rear, for a full 360° field of fire. The Simms Motor Scout was built by the British War Office in 1899. It was a quadricycle with a Maxim gun and light steel shield mounted over the front tires. A small motor powered the vehicle...but just in case, it also came with pedals.<br />
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FORD'S FIRST MODEL A<br />
Henry Ford launched the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with this Model A, but received only a passing mention in The Horseless Age. Not because his product was bad, rather because 88 other new car companies launched that same year! Still, the simplicity of Ford's car would eventually bring it to the forefront of vehicles of that era. At 1000 lb., the vehicle was light, allowing its eight horsepower engine to push it to speeds of 30 mph. To aid serviceability, the body could be completely removed from the angle iron frame with six bolts. With a retail price of just under $800, Ford sold 1708 units that model year.<br />
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VARIABLE VALVES<br />
Though variable valves didn't become popular until late in the 20th Century, the De Dion-Bouton Motorette Company had variable exhaust valves on its cars in 1901. The company's New York model had a variable lift exhaust valve that could be regulated to give quieter running. A lever shortened the lift, preventing all of the exhaust from leaving the combustion chamber. This also lessened the amount of fresh charge admitted into the cylinder. We felt the device was an advantage in "traffic driving, and when stopping for, or passing, restive horses." The device could be activated at will from a lever on the steering column. Renault introduced its own variable lift technology in 1904 (shown). The device had two arms connected to a circular pivot plate, which could rock around its axis by means of a lever near the vehicle operator. A roller on the lower arm rode on the cam, and moved the upper rocker arm.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-72759704002419720902011-08-28T04:42:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:43:04.227-08:005 Good Reasons to Move Up in a Micra<div style="text-align: justify;">1. It's a Nissan. And that says a lot. You can't go wrong buying from a brand that has been around for decades and has built a solid reputation for creating great quality products that last. For you this means great resale value, so when you're ready to trade up, you won't lose out. What's more, as Nissan vehicles are assembled locally, parts are readily available so you won't have to wait weeks for it to be imported like some European badges will have you do. Plus, you won't have to look far and wide to find a reputable dealership to service your Micra as Nissan boasts a countrywide network offering professional support in and around all major cities and even smaller towns.<br />
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2. It makes good financial sense. Not only is the new Micra competitively priced, retailing from under R100 000 at leading South African dealerships, but you'll also be able to find a value-for-your-money deal in the used Micra market. The Nissan Micra has been around since 2004 and since been released with 1.2L, 1.4L and 1.5L engines with petrol and diesel options in both 3-door and 5-door derivatives. Smaller yet punchy drivetrains in this case equal low fuel consumption figures for further savings. The latest 1.2L petrol Micra boasts an astoundingly low 5.2L/100km fuel economy reading, so you can go pretty far on a tank and even further on your fuel budget.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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3. It's just the right size. The Nissan Micra might look small from the outside, but it's considerably bigger on the inside. With ample headroom, legroom, luggage space and various little storage nooks it can easily fit a family. Also, as the Micra is lighter, it's more agile and can move around comfortably in congested traffic. Its exceptional rear and downward angle visibility and class-leading turning radius make it easy to get into and out of the tightest parking bay. Add smooth handling to the mix and you're ready to enjoy a hassle-free drive whatever the conditions.<br />
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4. It's packed with features. You'll get a whole lot more than you'd expect in this price range. Comfort features such as air conditioning, an audio system at your fingertips and modern info display add to your driving pleasure while top safety measures such as ABS, EBD and multiple airbags provide added peace of mind.<br />
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5. It looks different. Love it or hate it, the Nissan Micra's quirky design lets it stand out in a crowd. And for those who don't like following the masses and driving the same car as their friends and neighbours, the Micra makes for a clever alternative. Nissan even has a range of accessories available such as bonnet and headlight guards, chrome mouldings, sporty pedals and even a roofbox, should you wish to add your own stamp of individuality. Plus there are numerous fun colours like Tangerine, Active Blue and Dark Red to choose from in the latest range.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-6090620226024539002011-08-21T04:40:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:41:34.556-08:00What Constitutes A Classic Car?<div style="text-align: justify;">What constitutes a classic car, Who determines if a car is a classic, when does a car become a classic?<br />
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How many times are those questions asked? This classic car debate is a very subjective one and in my opinion there is no right or wrong answer.<br />
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There have been iconic cars that attained classic status upon introduction, the Jaguar E type roadster for example is a case in mind, when introduced at the Geneva motor show it stole the show. The model on the stand had been driven to the show over night and had rolled off the production line a day or two previously.<br />
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The Aston Martin DB 5 attained classic status as James Bond 's choice of car.<br />
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Preston Tucker and the Tucker Torpedo became an iconic car and gained classic status from inception due to the publicity and the court case. The interest it created in 1948 has not waned in the intervening years. I was fortunate to see one in the flesh and found it difficult to believe it was created pre 1960 never mind pre 1950.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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The majority of us will never get to own any of these super cars however that does not stop us owning and enjoying our own classic cars. For most of us the cars of our childhood constitutes our definition of a classic car. Who would argue the Mini or the fiat 500 are not classics, yet these models were created as transport for the masses, produced in very large numbers, and yet fifty years after their introduction are very desirable.<br />
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The cars our parents or other relatives owned often stay in the mind as being a thing of beauty, each time we see one it evokes pleasant memories and perhaps the aspiration to own one. For me it was a Humber Hawk MK VI, my childhood memory of seeing one being driven by a factory owner, it looked so graceful as it glided along and in comparison with other cars of that era it was so silent. I spent many evenings as young boy looking in the showroom window of the local dealer and dreamed of owning and driving such a beautiful car. Forty-four later I realised my dream. To me it is a classic car to others it has no meaning.<br />
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We can have a yearning for the car we learned to drive in, again it evokes pleasant memories. When I attend classic car shows and see the cars from each of the decades I also notice the choices of the various generations represents the cars of their youth. So the debate of what constitutes a classic car is often personal to the individual as our memories are personal.<br />
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Each decade produces a car that will appeal to almost everyone however due to cost it will be out of the reach of the majority, equally each decade produces cars that are affordable to most and will reach classic status.<br />
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The Fiat X 19 a mid engined two-seater is an example of what is considered a classic today, it was not expensive and was built in large numbers and today is considered an iconic design.<br />
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My conclusion is there are no boundaries as to what constitutes a classic car. The appeal of a particular model or manufacturer is often deep-rooted in our childhood. If you are considering attaining a classic join the owners club before you purchase the car, the knowledge of current owners as to spares availability and what to look for when looking at your potential purchase is invaluable. They may know of your potential purchase.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-81312992596134395612011-08-10T04:38:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:40:23.926-08:00Dreams Can Come True But Not Without Some Effort<div style="text-align: justify;">I am the original owner of my 1969 4 speed Porsche 912 Coupe. The car's 1969 factory paint was Light Ivory 6804 - 131, a standard '68 -'69 color. The only factory options were tinted glass all around. It was very basic, even for 1969.<br />
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Long after delivery, I discovered the car was built on a Karmann 911S/E chassis, complete with dual battery boxes up front, rocker panel trim, factory 911 suspension fittings and cable harnesses.<br />
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When I purchased the car I arranged for the dealer to paint the car the now very rare Golden Green 6828.<br />
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I drove it daily from until mid-1976. Then I drove it only occasionally until early 1981 when I removed the battery and garaged the car.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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Almost 25 years and several garages flew by. In May of 2005 I delivered my sadly neglected but complete, well preserved and rust-free car to North American Racing Werks (NARW).<br />
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My instructions to NARW's Klaus Holthaus were to, "...make the car roadworthy".<br />
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Klaus and I also agreed this was not a restoration project. We would improve and modernize the car where doing so made sense with the objective of making it suitable for safe and economical long-distance highway driving.<br />
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NARW's first job was to completely rebuild and modernize (Pertronix ignition, remanufactured carburetors, improved oil cooling/filter system, 1,750 cc displacement, Bursch exhaust, etc.) the engine. All the way down to the main bearings.<br />
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The chassis received NARW's equal attention with a new fuel tank & sending unit, fuel lines, brake lines, brake cylinders, master cylinder, axle boots, instrument panel, Hella H-4 headlights, clutch and transmission bushings, etc. Klaus and Mark devoted many hours over several months to produce a mechanically "new and improved" 37 year old car. We had plenty of discarded parts to show for the effort, too. Pico Wheel completely cleaned, sandblasted, aligned, balanced and repainted my 6" factory steel wheels (from a 1971 911).<br />
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Concurrently, on another temporary set of wheels/tires and sans engine, we delivered the chassis to Automotive Innovations & Restoration for a complete (some minor body work and new chassis rubber, wheel opening trim, driving lights, dash, windshield, etc.) top quality paint job.<br />
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Owner Kevin Mentzer and I agreed on Grand Prix White for three main reasons.<br />
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First, this more modern "clear coat" finish would be easier to maintain than "original" enamel paint. Second, my plan was to drive the car often in desert areas where a car color should be as light as possible. Third, Grand Prix White is a Porsche factory color.<br />
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After mostly just sitting for 30 years, the black vinyl seat center panels were intact but had seen better days. Since I had to do something, I wanted to do something different. My 912 Owner's Manual has a single black and white photograph of a hound's-tooth upholstery in the seat panels. My seat panels were black perforated vinyl, so I found that photo very interesting.<br />
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When I purchased the car, Competition Motors also gave me a now very rare 1969 issue of "Christophorus" magazine featuring, among other things, a full page Recaro ad showing hounds-tooth upholstery on those panels. My interest was growing.<br />
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Finally, the 1969 movie "Downhill Racer" starring Robert Redford and Gene Hackman includes scenes where the Redford character and his girlfriend sit in and drive (in the snow which looked like a lot of fun) her yellow '69 912 with this upholstery in the seat panels.<br />
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I live in Palm Dessert, California and that was enough for me - I wanted cooler fabric seat panels with a direct factory connection, and this was it.<br />
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After some electronic looking I finally found and purchased the material from a custom upholstery shop in Oregon. They certified in writing that this was a 1969 Porsche pattern. The new upholstery arrived promptly but sat in my garage for several months while other work on the car was in process.<br />
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NARW and North Hollywood Speedometer upgraded the 912 instrument panel to a more functional and very "911 looking" instrument panel.<br />
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The factory Blaupunkt AM/FM/SW radio worked but the tuning knob was balky. I took the radio to Hi-Tech Electronics (an authorized Blaupunkt service facility) for a complete cleaning, new rubber knobs and any necessary adjustments. It is a 1969 monaural unit, but still has that great Blaupunkt sound. After I picked up the beautifully reconditioned steel wheels at Pico Wheel, I put on a set of P195/HR65 X 15 Dunlop Sport Plus (DOT rated 400-AA-A) tires. They would do just fine for long distance, moderate speed highway driving.<br />
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After the body/paint, engine and chassis work were done, North Hollywood Auto Upholstery carefully installed my black and white hound's-tooth in new black vinyl upholstery for both seats. They also put the hound's-tooth fabric on both door panels and the horizontal strip across the dash. What a difference!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-77942922667833653352011-07-20T04:37:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:38:47.527-08:00US Route 395 in Washington and Oregon<div style="text-align: justify;">My 1969 Porsche 912 and I drove through eastern Washington and Oregon on our way from Canada (starting at Laurier WA) to Southern California on Route 395.<br />
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The 1955 Sturgis Bridge (southbound) in foreground and modern concrete bridge (northbound) in background cross the Columbia River at Umatilla OR.<br />
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Pendleton is home to the world famous Pendleton Woolen Mills. Because of my lifelong fondness for Pendleton products, I wisely locked my wallet and credit cards in the car before I entered the building.<br />
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I stopped again about ten minutes later to check my oil (it was OK) and enjoy some Oregon history at the Battle Mountain historic marker.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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Earlier in my trip I photographed a cautionary highway sign not seen in the Los Angeles area. I intended to keep it as a rural highway curiosity unknown in the City. But very soon the previously photographed sign took on new meaning to me.<br />
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This is a curious highway sign to a city guy like me.<br />
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Cruising effortlessly (at legal speed, of course) north of Seneca, Oregon, I first saw what looked like a dark blur on the highway far ahead. I immediately began to slow. The blur soon became a herd of cattle accompanied by real cowboys mounted on horseback. Wow!<br />
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Already off the throttle and slowing, I quickly downshifted to third gear. Then light braking and second gear. By that time the cowboys were giving me enthusiastic "Slow down pardner!" gestures - or at least that's what I thought they were.<br />
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Outside Spokane one of my almost new tires suffered a fatal injury. I had a good spare and, with the help of my Auto Club membership, we were soon on the road again.<br />
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Premature death of a new P195-65 R15 Dunlop Sport Plus<br />
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Not wanting to tempt highway fate with no spare so far from home, I stopped at Pasco Tire.<br />
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Unfortunately, Dunlop Sport tires are not widely available in southern Washington, so Manager Dan Suarez asked one of his crew to trash my unusable mount another suitable tire for me. I was soon on my way. These are my public thanks to Manager Dan Suarez and Pasco Tire's friendly service to a traveler in need.<br />
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Oregon greeted us at the 1955 Umatilla Bridge, now used only for southbound traffic. At the nearby Visitor Center, I learned that traffic before 1955 crossed the Columbia at Umatilla by ferry. I'm sorry I missed that.<br />
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The Pendleton Mills retail outlet is part museum and part shopping mall.<br />
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Quickly back up to cruising speed south of Pendleton, mountains loomed ahead. The eager 912 almost seemed to anticipate having some safe fun on a near-deserted mountain highway.<br />
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The highway, history, scenery and weather combined for a perfect Oregon day.<br />
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The highway was spectacular throughout this clear but cold afternoon. Traversing Dale, Meadow Brook, Ritter Butte, Long Creek and Branch Creek summits, we had just driven through Porsche heaven. My 912 and I stopped for the night in John Day. It had been quite a day.<br />
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The next morning, after the usual pre-trip inspection and safety checks, my 912 and I said goodbye to John Day (the town, not a person) and headed south.<br />
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Earlier in my trip I photographed a cautionary highway sign not seen in the Los Angeles area. I intended to keep it as a rural highway curiosity unknown in the City. But very soon the previously photographed sign took on new meaning to me.<br />
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This is a curious highway sign to a city guy like me.<br />
<br />
Cruising effortlessly (at legal speed, of course) north of Seneca, Oregon, I first saw what looked like a dark blur on the highway far ahead. I immediately began to slow. The blur soon became a herd of cattle accompanied by real cowboys mounted on horseback. Wow!<br />
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Already off the throttle and slowing, I quickly downshifted to third gear. Then light braking and second gear. By that time the cowboys were giving me enthusiastic "Slow down pardner!" gestures - or at least that's what I thought they were.<br />
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I was soon surrounded by the herd. At no more than a very cautious 10 mph in first gear, I couldn't resist documenting this very effective form of Oregon highway speed control.<br />
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Eastern Washington and Oregon boast enough scenery, history and excellent roads to satisfy any Porsche enthusiast, with highway cattle drives possible for added interest. I'll spread the word, pardner.<br />
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Michael "Mike" Newlon Retired in 2005 after a dual career in private sector corporate management and as a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve.<br />
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When he is not exploring current or former U.S. highways, like CA 99, in his Porsche 912 or Lincoln Town Car, Mike enjoys reading 20th Century history and popular action novels.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-67718834938276943992011-07-18T04:36:00.000-07:002012-02-28T04:37:27.297-08:00Mercedes-Benz Classic Cars Past and Present Making the News<div style="text-align: justify;">The much celebrated German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has always offered high quality motoring along with expertly engineered technical automotive design. Mercedes-Benz has always been competitive and had an active racing presence over the years, which has helped with the company's car development and design.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
This can still be seen today, with Mercedes having a major role in many areas of motorsport around the world, including the high-profile Formula 1 World Championship and the DTM (or Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters - German Touring Car Masters) race championships, as well as world-renowned races like Le Mans.<a name='more'></a><br />
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Ultimately, Mercedes-Benz is always in pursuit of driving and motoring excellence and that's what can be found across their range of cars. Some of these classic Mercedes-Benz cars past and present are never far from the news and it is easy to see why this occurs.<br />
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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing<br />
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Recently, an über rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing sold at an auction in Arizona for an amazing £2.95 million (or $4,620,000). This was a particularly rare Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, as it was only one of 29 built with aluminium bodies.<br />
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This special, alloy bodied 300 SL Gullwing represented cutting edge technical design at the time of its launch in the early 1950's, as this was a car you could buy in a showroom but was powerful and lightweight compared to its counterparts that were seen on the race track at that time. This was the car that won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1952.<br />
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If you fancy purchasing a 300 SL Gullwing, you could always buy one of the less rare steel bodied models, as there were 1400 made during the time of its production from 1954 - 1957. In recent years, however, these famous Gullwing Mercedes cars have seen auction prices rising substantially and even a steel bodied 300 SL Gullwing will set you back well into a six figure sum.<br />
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SL-class Roadster 2012<br />
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Mercedes have just unveiled the all-new SL-class Roadster at the prestigious 2012 Detroit Motor Show. The new SL Roadster is a completely new design which features a chassis and body that is almost completely made from aluminium. This means the new SL-class model is up to 140kg lighter than its forerunner, with an added 20% increase of torsional strength. This is sure to improve the car's handling, plus making it quicker off the mark and ultimately faster to the electronically limited top speed of 155mph.<br />
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The S-Class<br />
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Once again, the S-Class Mercedes-Benz has won the prestigious 'Best Luxury Car' for an astounding seventh consecutive year at the recent 2012 What Car? awards in London. The S-Class managed to beat all of its rivals to the top award, as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was chosen again for building a quality luxury car whilst retaining good value.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8419869765401115273.post-7819376315552493512011-06-08T04:31:00.001-07:002012-02-28T04:35:48.415-08:00The Elantra Tops Everybody's List<div style="text-align: justify;">Whatever your age, whatever your budget, when shopping for a new car we all strive to find the best possible value for our money. And we'd like it to be wrapped up in an attractive package that's guaranteed to make us the envy of our friends. In the compact sedan market segment there is one particular new kid on the block that has everybody talking, test-driving and signing on the dotted line. The new Hyundai Elantra is all of the above and then some. Even the critics agree, which is why it's been named North American Car of the Year and is a finalist and favourite for the South African title to be announced soon.<br />
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Nothing beats a great first impression and the Elantra has this down to a t. Whether viewed from the front, side or back, Hyundai's new generation 'fluidic sculpture' design language will make you want to do a double-take. Every element from its swept-back headlamps and sloping roofline to its lowered profile and sleek door lines contributes to the Elantra price appearing far more expensive than its R192 900 price tag will reveal. Inside, it's much the same. Quality materials, sleek surfaces and top of the spectrum finishes contribute to a modernised interior that gets the nod from especially style conscious buyers.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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Comfortable seating, optimised driving position and a spacious yet quiet cabin in turn, make the Hyundai Elantra a top choice for longer journeys.<br />
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One aspect of this popular sedan that will pleasantly surprise is its performance. Available in 1.6L and 1.8L engine choices with both auto and manual transmission options, the Elantra delivers ample power and torque. One reason for this is that unlike many heavier competitors, Hyundai has kept the Elantra's engine weight as low as possible, resulting in a power to weight ratio you'd more often find in a sporty hatch. Another contributing factor is its aerodynamic design that creates less drag. As a result the Hyundai Elantra also consumes less fuel and produces fewer emissions.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0