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Fifth Gear Top 5

What is the best Bond scene of all time, there have been a fair number of them here are my favourites.

Goldeneye- Tank

How about starting with the one that I love the most, the huge tank scene from Goldeneye. Although slightly unbelievable Bond was behind the wheel of a Russian tank for this one. This was actually the first time that something like this had happened and Bond had gotten behind the wheel of a real war machine. The only real reason that this one is my favourite is because it was the film that I grew up watching however I will say that Sean Connery is easily my favourite Bond and I never had a liking for Moore.

Casino Royale- Madacascar

The reason that this was done was to show off Craig for the first time, they did this well and it turned into a great film. Facing a rogue bomber he chases him across the streets and jumps across buildings, streets and even climbs and jumps off a crane. Just after he has been given his 00 license Bond lands himself in a spot of trouble by blowing up a embassy.

Goldfinger

This is the classic and another great Bond chase scene. This one is great as it features a machine gunner franny, a metal hat throwing guy, smokescreens and of course the ejecter seat! These few things by themselves have to make it a great chase scene! There were a fair number of deaths in this one and Bond almost gets killed several times in this chase sceneq.

The World Is Not Enough- Thames

Although I really liked the film, many Bond fans didn’t think ti was very good at all and thought that this scene was the only decent one. Although not as bad as the really terrible, Die Another Day, there was something about this film that just didn’t do it for many Bond fans. However the Thames boat chase was really great and featured everything a great chase should have in it, machine guns and a diving boat.

The next movie chase scene has got to be a great one considering the budgets that these films get nowadays and the fact the first two that Craig have done have been very good.

So although it isn’t likely that we are going to see bond go out and get Luton van lease the next Bond chase could be a cracker. He must have bad credit car loans.

2010 is going to be an important year for both cars and vans as it is quite unexpected on whether or not there is going to be a rise or fall in the sales of the motor industry. It has to be said that last year was one of the worst years the motor industry have had in a long time losing out on many profits and jobs. What is set to happen for the industry in 2010.

There is not really a way to tell as yet, these are two ways that it could perhaps go.

One Outcome

The recession finally eneds and people realise that they have a bit of cash in their pockets. It will then all go mad and people will start to buy cars again starting with the ones that they are really after. Although this could happen I don’t think that the average Joe is going to be able to afford to go out and buy the car of choice. If this happens I am certainly expecting a rise in the number of transit van lease as well as minibus lease simply because it will be cheaper to travel as a group.

The More Likely Outcome

The motor industry will see enough drop in general sales but a rise in eco-friendly vehicles. The fall in sales will be down to the tax increases that are on the way but if you have money you are still going to buy the car you want. Saving the world is now a big thing which is why people are starting to walk to work and ride bicycles everywhere, sooner or later this will make an impact on sales.

No more refrigerated van lease then?

To be honest it could go either way here and the only way to find out is to sit and wait.

The snow has and still is terrorising the country making it almost impossible for many people to make it into work. There have been hundreds of school closures across the country as teachers cannot make it in, accidents have occured both on the road and off too. A thought must be spared to some of the older people as they are very cold.

The snow is going to melt once again and this time it looks like it will be for good, this will cause many problems. Leaving the roads and pavements in a state is just one of the reasons why snow is a problem. There have been so many dirty cars driving over the place that once the snow turns to slush it just makes the roads terrible.

Potholes are going to be the major after effect of this big freeze as you will start to see more and more crop up in the coming weeks. This is because once the ice melts the water will go underneath the tarmac through the existing cracks. This is all fine until night falls and we reach freezing temperatures. Once the water has frozen it will expand and with nowhere to go it forces the tarmac to break and crack even more.  The traffic then drives over this and forces the tarmac to collapse on itself making the pothole larger and larger.

So what’s the best advice for the snow? Make sure that if you are travelling that you are wither in a 4 by 4 or something big. Failing this you could transit van lease or of course large van leasing as this will allow you to travel a bit easier.

If you need to get into work as a group why not try minibus lease.

A snow day certainly causes a lot more accidents than the average day does and this is obviously down to the fact that the conditions for driving are terrible and people will just not listen and drive into work regardless. How come there seem to be more accidents in the snow than there has been in a long time?

It would seem that the pain reason is because the snow has been so bad but it is the people on the roads that are causing the problems.

Some of these people causing the accidents to not listen to the warnings and think that going slow in means around 40mph this is certainly not good and it is easy to see how the cars slip at these speeds. There are so many people out there that are driving all over the place and at high speeds and do not seem bothered if they get someome killed.

Although this isn’t always the cause of accidents it often is and if speeds were cut I am almost certain that the number of accidents would fall significantly.

Of course the other reason is just down to many people just being very stupid indeed. The most important thing to do is not go out if you do not feel that comfortable in the snow and it is as simple as that. By going out and not feeling comfortable driving you are just as bad as the people that are speeding! It is very hard and expensive to get a hold of bad credit car leasing and if you have crash on top of bad credit it will do you no favours at all.

If you do not feel that comfortable then go out and Luton van lease as you are likely to get across the roads a lot better. On the plus side you will not need to refrigerated van leasing!

The Mercedes Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” is one of the coolest sports cars of all time. So named because of its unique, roof-hinged doors, the Gullwing was the Enzo of its era: stupendously fast, outrageously expensive, and styled to make an entrance. Clark Gable owned one; Andy Warhol painted one; Ava Gardner crashed one. No Mercedes sports car since, not even the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, has come close to matching the Gullwing’s iconic appeal. And now the Mercedes SLS.

The SLR was a bastard-child of a supercar that neither McLaren nor Mercedes-Benz engineers truly felt was their own. McLaren’s Gordon Murray, designer of award-winning Brabham and McLaren’s grand prix racers are the driving force behind it all, thought the SLR overweight, the antithesis of his personal automotive touch. For their part, the Mercedes-Benz engineers were uneasy with McLaren’s free-wheeling, fast-moving development culture, and skeptical of its methods. The culture-clash car that resulted was blindingly fast and supremely robust, but oddly styled and strangely uninvolving to drive.

All of which perhaps explains the new Mercedes SLS AMG, a lightweight, high-tech, 571 hp super-coupe that represents the distilled wisdom of some of the best and the brightest engineers at the world’s oldest automaker. And yes, it has gullwing doors.

Like the SLR, the SLS is a front mid-engine coupe, with its 6.3-liter V-8 (actually, it’s 6208 cc) positioned entirely behind the front axle center-line. Its engine is based on the M156 V-8 from the SL63 AMG model, but has been refurbished and pimped to warrant a new design- the M159. Mercedes SLS claims over 120 parts and components that have been redesigned. The very most notable change, however, is a very dry sump system that allows the M159 to nestle very low down its frame. The engine delivers 571 hp at 6800 rpm, and a 479 lb-ft. at 4750 rpm. Some 402 lb-ft is available from just 2500 rpm.
The engine drives the rear wheels via Mercedes SLS new 7-speed dual clutch transmission, repackaged in a transaxle housing at the rear of the vehicle to aid deliver the SLS’s 48/52 front/rear weight distribution. Engine and transmission are connected by a sand-cast aluminum torque-tube, inside which is a carbon-fiber drive shaft. The transmission offers four modes — basic, Sport, Sport+ and Manual — each with different shift protocols. The transmission also has a launch-control mode that allows full-commando starts with electronically controlled wheelspin to prevent the engine bogging down off the line.

I am not talking car movies with huge budgets and more CGI than 2012 (is that possible?) I am talking about the real stunts, ones that can actually be done. These stunts should be left to the people that know how to do them and should never be tried at home, it sucks but it keeps you alive! Here are the best ones.

Extreme Hill climbing

It would seem that the only way you can pull off something like this is by getting in a dune buggy and just going for it. These are vehicles that are made for these kinds of things, okay maybe not these but they are the only ones that could do it. We are not talking a few steep hills and that's it but vertical climbs that would be impossible in any other vehicle.

Rally Jumping

Jumping a car isn’t the easiest of things to do and although rally cars are built to maintain small jumps jumping 171ft certainly isn’t what the cars were designed to do. Believe it or not there are people that have done this and survived. The one thing that has been questioned, how far can it be jumped?

Two Wheelers
This is something that is more commonly seen and just because more people have been recorded doing it, that certainly doesn’t mean that it is actually easy to do at all. It does take a lot of effort to do this along with a bit of luck and a lot of skill. The really tricky part to this is making sure that the car doesnt flip over.

Loop

I have to say that this is going to be the hardest one to pull off simply because the risks are a lot higher and if you fail you are pretty much dead. The one thing you need to do is get the speed to the right place and it would seem this is the easy bit. It really does take skill and knowledge of the car you are driving to do this one.

There is no way you should be going out and Luton van lease or pickup lease (I would recommend a car) as these stunts are dangerous and best left to the people that know what they are doing.

In the 1950’s, the war was over and the American economy was on the upswing. The future looked so promising and customers were in the lookout for something new and exciting, so a race car can best match the enthusiasm of the generated interests. Mercedes responded with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL in 1954, an icon of design and innovation. Its doors were hinged at the roof and when opened, looked like the outstretched wings of a seagull. Given the name ‘Gullwing’ for its authentic upward-opening doors, the Mercede SLS was the first ever car to be equipped with the fuel injection technology. This doubled the engine’s power from 115 hp to 240 hp and helped the Gullwing achieve a top speed of 260 km/h, making it the fastest production car of the period.

Following the success of the Gullwing on many racing circuits, Mercedes Benz decided to create a luxury sports car class based on it. Minus the Gullwing doors, the body make and style remained as a 2-door coupe convertible with a hard roof that can be retracted well lower down the body frame. Body styling emphasized aerodynamics, given the nature of the Gullwing as a race car. This was also to attract more buyers since body styling at the time favored aggressive, curvilinear forms. Owing to its heritage of technical brilliance, Mercedes SL parts boasted precision steering and independent suspension, allowing better drive control and comfort. The class was named SL which stood for Sport Light.

In 1957, the Mercedes 300 SL roadster rolled out of the assembly lines. A similar looking line 190 SL was also started. The 190 SL had a 105 hp engine and enjoyed a bigger production than the 300 SL, selling a total of 25,881 units. Both W198 models were discontinued in 1963, replaced by the “pagoda-roof” W112 models. Cars of this line sported advanced Mercedes SL parts like a fuel-injected, six-cylinder engine and lightweight aluminum fittings. All models were rear-wheel drive and equipped with independent rear suspension. Many early models came with both a retractable hard top and a soft top, but there were also versions such as the “California Coupe” that only had hardtop configurations. Members of this line included the 230 SL, 250 SL, and 280 SL.

During the period between 1972 and 1989, several SL models in the R107 (Reihe series) were introduced to replace the aging W112 line. These models were a cross between the SL line and the Mercedes W114 model, carrying a small chassis with the SL’s large engine. R107 was later replaced by R129, starting with R129 300 SL in 1989. A variant of this class, the 600 SL, was most luxurious and heaviest SLs ever built. It featured options such as a CD changer, all-leather interior, V12 engine, and other standard Mercedes SL parts. While the SL series underwent slight design modifications in 1994 and 1999, it was becoming apparent that the decades-long SL series is losing ground to its more aggressive competitors.

Mercedes SLS completely overhauled the SL line in 2001, it showcased the brand new SL which prides itself of a brand spanking new body style and elerconically controlled folding steel roof. This was followed by the 2004 Mercedes Benz SL and 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG. In the year 2005, the entire SL lineup was again given a tweak and refreshed. Mercedes SL parts for these models included automatic climate control, power steering and locks, active body control suspension, anti-theft system, and cruise control. Safety features, which Mercedes has been known for, were standard in all models.

As a prestigious company, AMG was created in 1960’s in Germany by two noted engineers that has previous works with Mercedes and they produced amazing racing engines. Design and testing of brand new engines was the new AMG’s early role. They expanded their business into building bespoke road cars, based upon standard Mercedes cars but it wasn’t until 1993 that the first true AMG Mercedes Benz was unveiled with the C36.

You may notice that when you compare the rates of AMG Mercedes SLS as against the production models, the upgrades do add to the price ticket.

Through the early 2000s, AMG Mercedes Benz focused on two engines, both V8, both 5.5.liter, one standard four stroke and the other a supercharged engine. In early 2006 however, AMG scrapped both of these versions of M113 engine and exchanged it for the M156. Again a V8, 5.4ltr, but updated and also now available in a turbo charged configuration.

The tiniest, current, turbocharged AMG Mercedes SLS is the G55 and its standard V8 powered sibling is the SLK55.For those looking for a slightly larger AMG Mercedes Benz, the SL63 and the E63 are the models on offer, unless you really want to make an impression? In which case, the mystical Black Series CLK63 is top of the tree.As if this wasn’t enough, there is always AMG’s offering of a true super car!

It is now available in Europe, but sad to say it will be for public release come spring of 2010 in the US.S., the AMG Mercedes Benz SLS, a gull winged super sports car is unleashed. With a top speed of 197 mph, and that’s electronically limited! The SLS prides a 6.3ltr V8 that develops 571 hp at 6800 rpm.

This new AMG Mercedes Benz supercar has just been voted the world’s best super sports car by over quarter of a million readers of 25 European motoring publications, so if you’ve got a spare US5,000 you’d better get your order in quick.

Founded sometime in 1967, AMG was the brainchild os 2 former engineers from Mercedes who were set out to perfect racing engines. Their early days were spent on new engine
design and then re-testing of these designs. After several years have passed of tweaking the standard Mercedes cars, in late 1993 the engineers have signed up a gig with their former employers to provid the C36, the first mass produced Mercedes Benz AMG.

You will notice that when you compare prices of the AMG Mercedes Benz against the production models, the upgrades do add significantly to the price ticket.

Over in the German manufacturing place, each Mercedes Benz AMG engine is exquisitely and meticulously hand crafted by a single engineer to ensure it is well-done and boasts of quality make. Amazingly, you can track down any AMG engine right back to the engineer that built it by the stamped signature that is applied to every engine as it is completed. You will find the AMG Mercedes Benz lined up alongside it’s unmodified sister model at most dealers as a ploy to feature the enhancements.

The main engine stalwart for AMG Mercedes SLS earlier this decade was a 5.5 L V8 engine, designated the M113, that carried the “55″ designation and came in both naturally aspirated and supercharged models. Mercedes AMG phased out both the naturally aspirated, all-new improver and supercharged 5.4 L engines in favor of the new, M156 V8, with optional turbo charging, beginning in 2006.

The current smaller models in the AMG Mercedes Benz range include the G55, with the turbo charged M156 engine, and the standard V8, SLK55.For those looking for a slightly larger AMG Mercedes Benz, the SL63 and the E63 are the models on offer, unless you really want to make an impression? In this case, the mystical Black Series CLK63 is on top of the line.As if this does not suffice, there is always the AMG offering of a true and astounding super car!

To take us into the future, released in November 2009 in Germany and due in the Spring of 2010 in the U.S. is the new gull winged AMG Mercedes Benz SLS. With a top speed of 197 mph, and that’s electronically limited! The SLS boasts a 6.3ltr V8 that develops 571 hp at 6800 rpm .

The good news is that 250,000 European motoring readers have just voted the AMG Mercedes Benz SLS the best super sports car in the world for 2009. The bad news is that if you haven’t got 5,000 to spare, you can only dream.

Marion’s husband recently cashed some stock options to fulfil a long held dream of owning an AMG Mercedes Benz. Marion says that when he’s finished polishing it on a Sunday, they even sometimes go for a Drive!

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG coupe debuted this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, scheduled to go on sale as early as next year. For those of you who have seen this beauty, the concept of a convertible version makes perfect sense.

Yes the Mercedes SLS AMG convertible version has been leaked onto the internet, spurring rapid-fire rumors of its existence. The rumors, photos and videos have only served to amp-up anticipation for this exotic beauty.

So let’s compare the Mercedes coupe and the convertible. The notable disparity is that the convertible version spied lacks the suave Gullwing doors featured on its coupe predecessor, replaced by standard doors. It could be a James Bond like car, but it is very ideal for warm weather destinations. We perceived that it would make a graceful addition to any kind of fleet of for rent cars, adding a very trendy yet sporty alternative to appeal to the buying public.

If the rumors are true, the door marks the only difference between the SLS AMG coupe and the SLS AMG convertible. Both are believed to be a feature the similar 6.2-liter V8 engine capable of 563 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque.

For the 0-60 test, Mercedes SLS AMG is a very impressive pick.8 seconds, and that leaves us with the guesswork that the convertible version will lag somewhat behind, at a time interval of at least 4 seconds.

It is always a welcome addition when a great supercar paves the way to a “convertible” or often named “roadster” version of itself. The market for the most exotic and expensive convertibles will definitely rise to a boom this year!

While you await the release of the new Mercedes convertible, you can get in the mood behind the wheel of a Mercedes rental Miami style, or exotic rental car of your choice for y our next business or pleasure excursion.