Car Audio

Archive for January, 2009

It is a common held belief that the Volkswagen Golf is the epitome of a cool car; style, performance and an impressive history all firmly place it in a very favourable light with the general public. Since its introduction in 1974 the Golf has walked that precarious tightrope of great motoring, but at a reasonable price. When I put some thought into it though, I can’t help but question the Golf’s credibility. Let me take you through my thinking and see if I can convince you.

I have nothing but fond memories of the Volkswagen Golf. My Grandfather owned a dark blue 1984 Golf MkII which was a huge part of my childhood; providing the transport for thousands of excursions over many years. I remember the grunt of the engine, the sporty shape of the bodywork and the slightly musty smell of the interior…but that may have been my Grandfather’s fault rather than an intentional Volkswagen specification. My point is that the VW Golf has a marvellous heritage and undoubtedly holds a place in the heart of anyone who has spent time in one. The question is, how can a car I associate with an elderly relative ever be considered cool?

In most circles, the VW Golf is recognised as ecologically sound as the automotive industry is going to get without resorting the poorly-performing hybrids, electric powered cars that will only get you to the end of your drive before conking out, or bio-fuel which will probably involve you shovelling tonnes of bovine excrement into your car. But since when has environmentally considerate motoring been considered cool? It may be important for the future of the planet, but it is without a doubt entirely uncool. When have tree-huggers looked like anything more than tussled-hair layabouts, with personal hygiene issues.

In recent years every other car manufacturer has began to produce hot hatchbacks and stylish superminis that have reduced Volkswagen’s uniqueness to practically zero. The Vauxhall Corsa, Seat Ibiza, Toyota Aygo and the Fiat 500 have all jumped on the bandwagon and have started pulling some of the market share away from VW. It is perhaps through reputation alone that the Golf has remained one of the brand leaders in this increasingly saturated marketplace. So as well as committing some anti-cool mistakes, it appears the Volkswagen Golf has lost almost all of its individuality.

To top it all off, Volkswagen’s Bavarian lineage hardly reeks of the Fonze does it? German engineering may be efficient and reliable but it rarely makes your body shake with joy, or reduce you to tears with its sheer great performance. If anything, German motors keep you on the straight and narrow, get you there on time and make no attempts to entertain or intrigue you on the way. So why is the Golf thought to be a cool car?

The answer is a mystery essentially; like Aurora Borealis or the Bermuda Triangle…it just is a car that exudes cool. There’s no reason or logic behind the VW Golf’s continued appreciation, it is just a naturally occurring phenomenon that even the hardiest of boffins would struggle to explain. The Golf is the equation for aero-elasticity of the automotive world; an enigma that continues to baffle and mystify.

The Golf is not the best looking car in its field, nor is it the cheapest or best performing, but for some inexplicable reason it remains one of the most popular, desirable and coolest cars available. I know that I would personally choose it over any of its price bracket competition…I will just never be able to explain why.

Why Choose a Honda atv

    Atv powersport machines are now becoming very popular and there is fierce competition between rival manufacturers but there is one make that we whole heartedly recommend and that is the honda atv. Honda is long regarded as the company that provides power and reliability in its machines. Why choose a honda atv with all the fierce competition in this market, well lets take a closer look. The first atv’s manufactured by honda were purely workhorses designed to access rough terrain.

 Creation of the Honda atv powersport

 It was not long before Honda realised there was a gap in the market driven by the sports enthusiast who wanted to exploit the fun aspects of their honda atv. Honda with all their experience designed and built the ultimate range of honda atv powersports to satisfy the nedds of their customers.

    The new range of honda atv powersports were designed to be ultimately robust, reliable and also very importantly to be safest machines available as you expect from one of the most respected and largest suppliers of atv quads. To create the ultimate honda atv, Honda encompassed all their previous and new research and development into the finished machines. Honda have a large range of honda atv to suit all ages from kid’s atv’s to adult atv’s. Honda atv’s have an impressive level of safety in built in all of there atv’s.

 Honda Atv Parts

    One of greatest benefits of purchasing a honda atv is the vast and readily available Honda atv parts, the honda atv parts backup is second to none. There are a large range of honda atv custom parts available to fully customise your atv. Ebay is a great place to search and find an excellent deal on your honda atv and all your honda atv parts.

These days it seems like the price for everything is rising.  The cost of gas, the cost of food, even the car insurance cost has risen dramatically in the last few years with no reduction in sight.The high car insurance cost has caused many low income families to choose between paying for food and paying for car insurance, with car insurance most frequently losing out.But there are many factors that can affect car insurance cost and knowing what these factors are can save you money in the long run.

Age Of The Insured

The age of the insured person can have a big effect on car insurance cost.Generally, people under the age of 25 will pay a much higher premium for car insurance because insurance companies believe that they have not had their license long enough to demonstrate good driving habits.A large percentage of accidents in the United States are caused by people under the age of 25 driving in an unsafe manner.  To recoup the costs of these accidents, all people who are under the age of 25 are required to pay a higher car insurance cost.

Type Of Car

The type of car you drive can also be a determining factor in your car insurance cost.Sports cars typically have the highest insurance premiums while station wagons and older model cars have the lowest premiums.A general rule of thumb is the more expensive a car is, the higher the car insurance cost will be because of the higher amount the car insurance company will have to pay to get the car replaced if it is ever totaled.By simply choosing a later model car or a sturdier type of car, you could reduce your car insurance cost by a significant amount.

Prior Driving Record

Your prior driving record will have a great deal to do with your car insurance cost, regardless of your age.If you have any accidents, speeding tickets, or moving violations on your driving record, the cost of your car insurance will typically be higher than if your driving record was clear.Insurance companies believe that the presence of negative actions on your driving record indicates someone who is an unsafe driver and therefore has an increased possibility of filing an insurance claim in the near future. 

With the cost of everything rising steadily, it makes sense to do whatever you can to save money on necessary expenditures, such as car insurance.There are many factors that can influence the rise and fall of an individual’s car insurance cost.By knowing what these factors are, an individual will be better able to control the price they pay for car insurance. Online Car Auctions

Let’s be very frank and honest about this; Vauxhall is hardly a ‘glamourous’ brand. For as long as I can remember they have been churning out cars that have been…well…a bit underwhelming. The engineers at Vauxhall may be adept at producing comfortable, well performing and reasonably priced vehicles, but they’re hardly setting anyone’s world on fire are they? Until now that is to say…Enter the new Vauxhall Corsa.

Ok, you can stop cringing and come from behind the sofa; I’m not going to build the Corsa up to be a Zonda F or Lamborghini Gallardo, as it is clearly not. What Vauxhall have done though, is inject some much needed ‘ZING’ into their entry level vehicle. The old Corsa resembled a shoebox on wheels and had all the cool points and street credit of cordurouy trousers. A few carefully designed changes to the bodywork and all of a sudden Vauxhall have created one of the most stylish looking superminis available.

The Corsa comes with a veritable smorrgasbord of engine options ranging from the meek and rather forgettable 1.0 3 cylinder to the growling 1.6 Turbo VXR, the latter being something of a boy racer’s fantasy. The popularity of the Corsa has some minor drawbacks however. Due to the dinky size, responsive handling, stylish looks and cheap running costs, the Corsa has been adopted as the driving teacher’s car of choice. With leading driving school BSM operating a fleet of thousands of Corsas, you’ll be hard pushed to go for a drive in your Corsa without getting stuck behind another Corsa with a big trapezoid with a ‘L’ on top of it. Thus the illusion of cool is mortally ruptured and you end up feeling like a bit of a fool.

The snowball effect aside, you cannot deny that the Corsa probably deserves its popularity. It has challenged the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and Fiat Panda as the new driver’s first car and is putting up a very valiant fight. The current market for superminis has found itself in a state of saturation recently, with almost every car manufacturer vying for the precious profit to be made from entry-level vehicles. The Corsa was the 4^th bestselling car in the United Kingdom in 2007 (shifting 94,120 units in the UK) and has consistently been in the top 10 selling cars list since its introduction in 1993; quite an achievement in anyone’s book.

My own personal experience of the Corsa comes in the 1.3 CDTi. During my journeys I felt as though I was within a metal bubble, comfortable in the seats and the relatively heightened driving position. The plastics all felt rigid and of good quality, the only drawback being the stubby indicators which are as responsive as a dead camel. The central console’s screen was clear and concise, even though it shared a differing opinion to the speedometer regarding my velocity; only a minor irritation and nothing to detract from the driving experience too much.

The engine was zippy without being overly-dramatic, though it has to be said that it did often make a lot of noise without actually achieving very much…but I guess that’s typical of smaller diesel engines. The engine was also ecologically sound, producing around 57 mpg, which is not only a relief to the consumer, but also the planet. The gearbox was relatively smooth, though often refused to go into third or fifth without me resorting to violently aggressive manoeuvres.

The Vauxhall Corsa is ideally suited to those amongst us who want to feel very much a part of the driving experience, rather than just a passenger. The car seems to have been designed to be a relaxing drive, but jolts you every now and then to keep you alert. The race for the ultimate supermini hatch is still wide open, though it is refreshing that not everyone is automatically heading to their nearest Ford dealership. Now let’s all rejoice in free market capitalism and the consumers right to choose.

At any one time, in any city of the United Kingdom you care to choose, at least one hundred thousand drivers will be slightly irritated by the intermittent beep of the Ford Focus’ ‘the door is open’ / ’you haven’t done up your seat belt’ / ‘it’s a bit cold outside’ tone. They may also be bored to tears with the bland interior, the lacklustre plastics and the general feeling of 'greyness' that overcomes any Focus owner. So why do people keep buying them?

Ford’s tradition for outselling the competition has slipped slightly on an international scale. The Ford dynasty now sits 4^th in the table of highest selling car manufacturers behind Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen despite holding second place for something close to a million years. This has probably got more to do with globalisation, out-sourcing and recession as opposed to Ford making a colossal engineering boob. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting statistic considering that the Ford Focus is absolutely everywhere!

Any variation on the Focus theme can be witnessed umpteen times a minute on the average high street. I use the term ‘variation on the Focus theme’ as Ford have pulled the oldest car engineering trick out of the bag; by adding a couple of letters to the Focus badge, you can release a new edition and extend the car’s lifespan limitlessly. Does anybody know what Zetec, ST or C-MAX actually mean, probably not…but the public keep buying the Focus. Their only concern is the £12 Smoker's Pack.

The reason why Used Ford Focus’ outnumbers people by at least nine to one in this country is a relatively simple twofold paradigm; the Focus provides quality and value for money. In many ways it is the automotive equivalent of Tesco; popping up here and there in a stealthy manner, hoping no one will notice that it is slowly taking over the world.

In these economically dire times, the public demand value for money. The days of affluence, reckless spending and an insistence on remaining de rigeur at all times are long gone. Here to stay are the days of huddling round a solitary burning coal for warmth, eating cold beans to save on energy bills and wearing your grandmother’s hand-me-downs because you can no longer afford Levi’s.

So while we’re irretrievably sinking beneath the gloomy waters of a global recession, why not drive a car that is great quality for money, cheap to maintain and the best performer for its class? It may not be exciting…or fashionable, but it’s the Focus and it might just be the best you can afford. The 1.8 Petrol and 2.0 Diesel also better 50 mpg so it’s an ecologically sound vehicle as well.

For me, however, the Focus really shines when you put it to the test. I was glad to scare my passengers whilst driving around Cheshire in a Focus.6 Zetec (a relatively standard model). I was extremely surprised by how the Focus hugged the corners as my mother screamed in the back. I laughed as the engine roared from 0-60 in less than ten seconds, whilst my father put his hand over his eyes and wept. I simply laughed as the Focus slalomed round the wooded scenery whilst my dog howled in terror. The point is; as the driver I never once felt like I was not completely in control. My family were in fear of their lives, but I was as calm and collected as I could imagine.

For less than £10,000 you will easily be able to find a used Focus, with great spec and much better performance than its closest competitors (Citroen C4, Vauxhall Astra and the Volkswagen Golf). So in true form, Ford have manufactured a car that won’t ever be considered ‘cool’, ‘hip’ or any other trendy adjective you choose to bandy about, but what they have done is create a car for the masses. The Ford Focus is a success that speaks for itself.

Sky Harbor Airport is part of the Phoenix Airport System, US, together with Deer Valley and Goodyear airports, all located within very convenient distance from the city of Phoenix. The largest of the complex, Sky Harbor Airport includes three terminals and a variety of facilities from shops and restaurants to ground transportation means and great parking lots. Easy access to all airport levels as well as help to move in the perimeter are professionally organized, with special services that cover large parts of the airport from the baggage claim area to the club and the rent a car center. The on-airport parking facility includes an 8,859 vehicle capacity with the shuttle transportation option between terminals.

Sky Harbor Airport

From the twenty three international and domestic airlines that operate on Sky Harbor Airport, US Airlines and Southwest are the largest. For a passenger who turns to the services of Sky Harbor airport for the first time, the intricacies of the location are striking, therefore you’d better get some information of general interest such as the special regulations, the runway rules, the traffic conditions, the access to terminals and so on. Sky Harbor Airport occupies an 8th position in the top ten of the airports in the United States handling the majority of the international flights in the Phoenix Airport System. Additional support comes from the other two airports with courses directed to Goodyear or Deer Valley rather than to Sky Harbor Airport for traffic reduction and fluency of service.

Sky Harbor Airport

At Sky Harbor Airport, customer service comes second after security on a list of management priorities. Following the motto of the company, all the stuff members are striving to make America’s Friendliest Airport, which is why they have all sorts of services that are not available with many other airports. Sky Harbor Navigators for instance are special teams who make the use of the airport a lot more friendly. The Navigators are volunteers who offer info, assistance and guidance.

Sky Harbor Airport

For further help you can always address Travelers Aid office open on the 3rd level in Terminal 4; emails, phone calls or recorded messages will be answered by an employee right away. In case you lose something on the airport premises, you need to address the Lost and Found office located in a separate building between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Sky Harbor Airport also provides access to entertainment centers, assistance and proper access for people with special needs, baby changing tables in bathrooms and wireless Internet. For details on any service you may need, contact the Info Desk.

A new design philosophy for Ford called the kinetic design has made its presence in the current generation Fiesta. The design certainly has a very youthful and distinctive appearance to it which gives Ford credit compared to its competitors. Of late most newly launched models seem to be a blend and mix of already existing cars, usually borrowing design elements of premium car makers.

The Ford Fiesta, it cannot be mistaken as Japanese or any other blend but stands out as a product of the Ford Kinetic Design. Ford explains it by directly translating the term to mean energy in motion. A car that looks to be on the move and energetic due to its angular lines and aggressive shape.

Ford brags abouts what is calls Cellular Logic central console arrangement. But in all honestly it is just another way of placing buttons on the cabin. As the name implies the most important controls are arranged in a pattern that resembles a cell phone for ease of access especially during driving. The cabin also features a central display unit mounted on top of the central console.

Ford’s design gospel aside, the Fiesta is quite a car worth it price with a number of features that in the past were only for expensive cars. The list is endless with features such as keyless entry, lights that can turn off after a few minutes, 6 speaker CD audio system, power steering and off course safety features.

Technically the car performs its primary purpose very well as it was intended for city driving. Fiesta does this with a breeze because it was well engineered. The new Fiesta weighs in at 40kg lighter as well as being 10% more rigid. Engine sizes are 1.4 producing 71kw (95hp) as well as a 1.6litre which outputs 88kw (118hp). Completing the engine line up is a 60kw (80hp) common rail diesel.

Even in accolades, the Fiesta was only 1 point shy from beating the Opel Insignia to Euro Car of the year. It is a very drivable car with many features at a very affordable price however the design philosophy might push other buyers off.

The styling is difficult to ignore as it falls toward the extreme. Either you like or do not like. Fiesta styling is too youthful, playfully and maybe too funky for anyone over the age of twenty one. Other Describe the styling as being too feminine. The interior is also likable or not with the standard trim being too bright with plastics. Perhaps a colour coded trim suits the car better.

If the Ford happens to sell well, the styling would definitely be a major contributing. Likewise should sales be dull, styling would be an area to blame. In these harsh economic times Ford does need a car like the Fiesta to lighten things up. For those who will be buying, this car will surely bring fun, a fiesta. They can have a fiesta. No doubt the competition will not let Ford enjoy the limelight for long and they will regroup for another round. VW Polo for Sale for a while now, Mazda 3 and Renault Clio Hatch Back. Interesting times.

By: M.E Bapela

Hybrid Autos Video

By hybrid autos we refer to any vehicle that relies on two separate power sources for propulsion. There are all sorts of alternative power sources among which we can count wind, natural gas in liquid or compressed form, rechargeable units, wood, coal and the like. The very concept of hybrid car designates electric vehicles that adapt the usage of an internal combustion engine to that of the electrical batteries.

As mentioned above, there are other hybrid vehicles beside the hybrid car we will mainly deal with here. Mopeds and electric bicycles make the most relevant of examples here. These are the rather basic forms of hybrid vehicles. They combine the power from an internal combustion engine or electric motor with the power of the rider’s muscles. The heavy hybrids cover the industrial or supply vehicles such as ships, hydraulic machines, buses, locomotives and so on. Normally, the term hybrid car-vehicle is used to refer to hybrid electric vehicles. This category includes the next types of automotives: AHS2 (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, Saturn Vue), Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and many others. A gas-electric hybrid car usually gets its power from an internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel engine) and an electric battery.

The origins of the hybrid car are to be found in the early 1900s when David Arthurs created the first hybrid ever. Besides the hybrid car as mentioned above, which uses two or more different propulsion devices, there are also vehicles which use distinct sources of energy or input types but only one engine. Though there is a certain similarity to a hybrid car, distinctions do exist. Actually the latter should be more appropriately called dual mode vehicles (electric trolleybuses, dual mode buses, flexible-fuel vehicles, etc).

A hybrid car presents a number of advantages from the environmental perspective and there are two sides to consider here. First, there is the aspect of fuel economy, and secondly, the benefit for the environment and, implicitly, for humankind is undeniable in the fight to reduce pollution. These two advantages and benefits brought about by the hybrid car are tributary to at least three elements in the design: the combination of gasoline and the electric motors, a battery with plenty of storage capacity and the possibility to re-capture important amounts of energy, which are normally wasted while braking.

Get more info on hybrid cars visit Hybrid Car Comparison.

Toyota hybrid cars were the first to hit the market. After decades of quality gas-fueled vehicle manufacturing, Toyota Motor Corp. redirected its creative efforts in an environment friendly direction. The initial design from the Toyota hybrid cars was Prius that made a true revolution in the world of automakers. Toyota hybrid cars stand out from among the other models on the market by their multi-leveled superiority: the the properties of the internal combustion engine, the mph rate it gets within a few seconds and all the road conditions it provides are some of the best, not to mention that the reliability of the concept and the price are equally advantageous for car owners.

Some of the Toyota hybrid cars are also expected to bring modifications in terms of cylinder performance so that they may come to mark a total change in independent circuit racing. Not everybody is prepared to embrace vehicles in the green line, and this is the reason why the production as such is kept pretty limited. Anyone who’d like one of the Toyota hybrid cars manufactured in series production can place an order and a deposit with the local Toyota dealers. Before going for the purchase, have a look at the technical data and even compare them together with a pro in the field .

The main inconvenience with Toyota hybrid cars is that they are worth a fortune, with prices climbing up to $165,000. The next Toyota Prius model expected to be presented in January 2009 will probably be more accessible to the average user. It is designed as a more powerful and larger vehicle with an engine upgrade to 1.8 liters. The range of all-electric fuel-free driving possibility will be extended without making Toyota models bulkier.

Even if the future Toyota hybrid cars will undergo some upgrading, they will still operate on the nickel metal hydride batteries without providing an independent autonomous solution. Thus, the Prius is expected to be provided in a variety of models from the compact and the small SUV to the wagon and the pickup. The new Toyota hybrid cars are tributary to the first Prius models with the fuel-free mode available for anything below high speeds. Then, the combined power engine of the gas and electric motor systems will let the owner enjoy the speed of a cozy ride while saving on fuel.

To get more on hybrids vehicles visit Hybrid Honda as well as Lexus Hybrid.

Get more info on hybrid cars here Honda Hybrid Cars and also here Hybrid Honda Accord