Classic Car Gallery

Saturday, March 14, 2009

The New Worlds Cheapest Cars


When I was 9 years old I remember my parents surprising us and driving home in what appeared to be a large metal box with 4 bicycle tires attached. We couldn't believe our eyes as they pulled up in the driveway with a $3990 sales sticker still on the window. What was even more shocking was that this large metal box wasn't a box at all it was actually a brand new car called the Yugo. At that time the Yugo was just being introduced to the United States and they were marketing it as the world's most affordable car. We immediately hopped inside to take a look at the simple interior and went for a ride around the block. I immediately compared the ride to that of a roller coaster because from start to finish it just felt very unsafe due to the poor cheap quality of the car.

All it took was one ride to realize that $3990 was actually over priced for this hunk of garbage. The Yugo became quite the phenomenon for a few months, but very soon later most people started to realize that when it comes to quality and safety with an automobile, $3,990 wasn't going to get you very far. Within a year, the seats on the car both fell out, the clutch went bad, the heating system broke, and the engine was shot. At first we thought maybe we just got a lemon, but soon realized that this was common with almost every Yugo. The Yugo only lasted for a few years after becoming more of joke than anything else, as dealerships couldn't give that car away.

Now it's the year 2009 and similar to the Yugo, India is releasing the "Tata Nano" which is being advertised as the world's cheapest new car at roughly $2500. The Tata Nano is a small, rear-engined, four-passenger car aimed primarily at the Indian market and yet to be released to the United States. Newsweek identifies the Nano as a part of a "new breed of 21st-century cars" that embody "a contrarian philosophy of smaller, lighter, cheaper" and portend a new era in inexpensive personal transportation - and potentially, "global gridlock" . The Wall Street Journal confirms a global trend toward small cars, which includes the Nano. Now I don't know if the quality of the Nano will be as poor as the Yugo, but in my opinion $2500 for a brand new car sounds a little sketchy. As a comparison, here is a breakdown of some of cheapest new cars sold in America at the moment:

1. Nissan Versa: $9,990
2. Hyundai Accent: $11,070
3. Kia Rio: $11,495
4. Chevrolet Aveo: $11,965
5. Smart fortwo: $11,990
6. Toyota Yaris: $12,205
7. Kia Spectra: $13,550
8. Suzuki Reno: $13,839
9. Hyundai Elantra: $14,120
10. Pontiac G3: $14,335

Now, I'm not sure if the Tata Nano will ever make its way to the United States or if it is a quality automobile. However just from past experience with the Yugo, I will not be one of its guinea pigs lured in by the ridiculous cheap price!


The Buick Regal 2010


The news is just coming out that Buick's Regal will be making a return to the brand's line up. Produced by GM from 1973 to 2004, the Regal was at one time one of the best selling Buicks, offered in two and/or four door body formats. The most well known iteration of the Regal was the Grand National, a stock car that won several titles in the 1980s.

GM has been considering reviving the Regal name for some time. The company is turning to its European division, Opel, to produce the Regal, a model currently sold in China. Right now the Opel Insignia is sold across much of western Europe, thus GM is expected to offer a Buick version of that car by swapping out its grill and replacing Opel badging with Buick.

2008 Introduction, Replacing the Vectra

First introduced for the 2008 model year, the Insignia has been a success for Opel. Replacing the Vectra, the Insignia is stylish, luxurious and very comfortable. Sold as a four door sedan, five door hatchback and a wagon, the Insignia seats five passengers. Only the sedan version will be sold in the US.

Like so many European vehicles, the Insignia has numerous engine choices, nine to be exact. Gas and diesel engines ranging from 1.6L I4 to a 2.8L turbo-charged V6 are available. Likely, a larger in-line four and one or two V6 powered engines will be offered with the Insignia. Unfortunately, no diesel option will be available, given the cost of meeting stringent US pollution requirements.

What the US Model May Look Like

Though US specifications for the new Regal have yet to be announced, we know that the same six-speed manual and automatic transmissions offered in Europe will be paired with the engines sold in cars in the United States. Furthermore, given that Buick is an upscale brand, leather seating surfaces, navigational controls, wood and aluminum inlays and dual zone air conditioning will either be standard features or packaged optionally.

GM has been looking at separating Opel from its operations, possibly selling off the brand or at least a share of it. That may not affect the Regal as whatever agreement is reached would likely include a long lasting supply chain for Buick's operation. Moreover, the car is sold in Brazil as the Chevrolet Vectra in the UK as the Vauxhall Insignia and will soon be sold in Australia as a Holden model.

Clearly, the Regal is coming back. Perhaps as early as this fall in the form of a 2010 model.

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Buick rims and BMW wheels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis


Lexus and BMW should be seriously scared! The new 2009 Hyundai Genesis is turning heads and making quite an impression. If you're looking for a luxury car but not the high expenses that come with it, you might want to take the 2009 Hyundai Genesis into consideration. The new Hyundai Genesis is a luxury sport sedan that closely resembles the Benz S-Class exterior. It has chrome exterior accents and with all emblems removed the car could be mistaken for a flashy Lexus or even a Mercedes. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis has 18-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories: power and heated front seats with driver memory settings, dual zone automatic climate control, an updated seven speaker Lexicon audio system, a six disc CD player, satellite radio, iPod auxiliary input jacks, and an adjustable power steering wheel. It also includes rain sensing wipers, antilock disc brakes, leather interior seating with the matching leather/wood steering wheel and trim, traction and stability control, automatic dimming rearview mirrors, front head restraints, rear power sunshade, and front/rear seat side airbags.

In addition to all these luxury features, the new Hyundai Genesis has many other optional features. You can choose between a 3.8L V6 or a 4.6L V8 engine. The V6 has 290 horsepower with 264lb.-ft. of torque and an estimated EPA fuel economy of 18-27mpg. The V6 engine may have better fuel economy but the V8 is definitely faster. The V8 engine has 375 horsepower and 333lb.-ft. torque and also does 0 to 60 in just 5.9 seconds. In both models, the six speed automatic with manual shift capability gives ultimate power to the rear wheels. Optional for both engines is a Technology Package. This package includes a computer, front/rear park assist, Logic-7 surround sound audio, navigation system with "real-time" traffic patrol, xenon headlights, a rearview camera, and Bluetooth capabilities.

The new Hyundai Genesis is a sport sedan all its own. It has a premium luxury element, extensive convenient features, and more horsepower with better fuel economy than its rivaling competitors. Best of all, this Hyundai looks and feels like a top of the line Lexus but is cheaper! The going retail price for this striking Hyundai is around $30,000 to $40,000.

The 2008 Subaru Impreza


The 2008 Subaru Impreza could have been more better if the manufacturer would have care to put some more viable changes to the engine and other features. The affordable small car is ranked quite low for its outdated power train and uninspiring style. However the Impreza could only impress the drive when it comes to fuel efficiency and some amount of safety features. Subaru counts this car among the sporty vehicles of time but to be sporty small car it requires some quality.

The all new Subaru Impreza is a all wheel drive car which is ranked low because of its failure to provide good engine choices. The newly redesigned car could not match the new designs of today's needs. Subaru also provided Impreza wagon and Impreza WRX which are performance oriented cars. The performance of WRX is somewhat reliable but the Impreza midsize car could not impress the critics and auto lovers much.

Under the Hood:
The Subaru Impreza has been criticized for it's under performance and less powerful engine features. Let us see what it utilizes under the hood. The Impreza is installed with a standard 2.5-liter aluminum alloy 16-valve boxer engine which makes 170 horsepower and also 170 pound feet of torque. This power is not enough to give the acceleration the present American generation wants. The car can achieve the benchmark of 60 miles per hour in just 9.1 seconds. The smooth line of four-cylinder engine can perform but when it's a Subaru Boxer engine it must have added some more power. The car can achieve 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. This is not so impressive because there are other affordable mid size cars like Toyota Camry and others which have more powerful engine and can do the same.

The Subaru Impreza WRX which is performance oriented car has been able to offer impressive performance with its 305 horsepower, 290 lb-ft 2.5 liter four cylinder engine. This car can achieve the milestone of 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds.

The other model of Subaru called Legacy too used the same engine which the Impreza uses but it has more power options that the 2008 Impreza model. Legacy has a choice of another engine of the car is a 2.5 liter four-cylinder turbo charged engine with 243 horsepower and 241 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. Moreover there is the is the 3.0 liter six cylinder Subaru boxer engine which makes 245-horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. This engine with a five-speed automatic transmission with SPORTSHIFT rev-matching control can give only 17/24 mpg at its bes

Got Engines Inc. specializes in
used engines, and
transmissions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Hanson


Monday, March 9, 2009

Renault Avantime

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Renault Argos

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Renault Operandi car photos

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Opel Meriva car pictures

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The Lamborghini Gallardo


To sell my Lamborghini is something I thought I would never have to do. My Lamborghini Gallardo was one of the dearest possessions I had, and the idea of parting with it was, quite simply, very disheartening. But life can be harder than we expect it to be. After my marriage last year, I had to take out a new personal loan and I was sure I could handle it: after all, my wife and I were in well paid careers.

Nonetheless, neither of us had thought that the current recession would be this daunting. I lost my job, in fact the management decided to pull down the shutters. That was four months ago, and despite a gruelling job search, I had not been able to find a job that suited my qualifications. Anyway, no point moaning about it. I made the decision that I had to sell my Lamborghini.

To sell my Lamborghini I found it was easier said than done. I had thought deciding to sell my Lamborghini would be the most difficult call, but as it turned out, the process of finding a suitable buyer proved even more difficult. I was just simply clueless about which direction I should go; after all a Lamborghini is a prestige car and needs a specialist buyer. I felt I needed a magic navigator to point me in the right direction. But there were no supernatural powers to guide me, so I had to undertake the research and find out how to sell my Lamborghini by myself. I have now completed the legwork, and have actually managed to sell my Lamborghini for a good price, and I would like to pen the process for others who are contemplating selling their car.

Considering all available options, it was the online route that appealed to me at first. With the online option there would be more enquiries, easier communication options and therefore better chances of getting the price I wanted to sell my Lamborghini for. Online advertisement option is also cheaper than the print option, and it is easier for buyers, as they can have a look in detail at all the photos of the car that have been uploaded.

The next step was figuring out a respectable channel for posting the advert. There were various specific motoring website that enable postings. I then had to select which one I wanted to sell my Lamborghini. The websites usually charge listing fees and other charges such as a commission fee, a fee for formatting, etc. The motoring websites also offer handy tips and suggestions which, help to place the advert successfully, and there are online tools to assist with the endeavour. While searching for a motoring website, do check the advert modification clauses and get an idea of the website's popularity and number of hits a day the website receives. Ensure that the advert includes detailed vehicle description, along with photographs, and if possible a video clip to support the advert.

However, while I was doing the research on how to sell my Lamborghini, I came across some very interesting websites, that basically did all the legwork for me. They were companies that specialised in buying and selling prestige cars and knew what they were talking about. They gave me a good quote over the phone, pending on the condition of the Lamborghini, when they collected my pride and joy from my home address. It was just a matter of deciding which company to go for.

Although selling a car through online advertising is a good option, I'm glad I decided to sell my Lamborghini with a prestige car buyer and seller, as they made the experience as painless and hassle free as possible.

David Barber wrote the Article 'When I Had to Sell my Lamborghini Here's What I Did' and recommends you visit http://www.iainmutch.co.uk if you need a Lamborghini buyer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Barber

Sunday, March 8, 2009

The Greatest Car in the World?


Recently hailed as the best car in the world at the World Car of the Year Awards 2008, the Mazda2 excelled in every category to edge out the Ford Mondeo and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Starting with the exterior the Mazda2 puts other so-called 'hot-hatches' to shame. The sleek and stylish curves make this award winning Mazda youthful and dynamic. This is not surprising seeing as the chief designer was also in charge of the sporty Mazda RX-8. The contours and lines in the body shape suggest that the Mazda2 is ready for action; the sports version is even better with its 16 inch alloys and stylish body kit.

The interior keeps on form with the sporty theme and smart layout although it has been suggested that the plastic used for the dash could be better. The designers have made sure that there is plenty of space inside the 2 which is another plus with this supermini.

The new Mazda2 is light and agile which is great for fuel consumption and for lowering your CO2 emissions. Out of all the cars entered into the World Car of the Year awards the Mazda2 received the highest environment score of them all. This car is a great choice then if you are looking for a new engine that is friendly on the environment.

The Mazda may be light but safety is not compromised. The use of high-tensile steel is the reason behind this and has resulted in the Mazda2 being awarded a 5-star NCAP rating. The light-weight Mazda also means that it is easy to drive and is great for nipping around the town.

There are lots of different specifications to choose from which allows you to personalise the car to suit your own specific needs. You can choose from the 3door or the 5door and prices start at under 9000 GBP which is great considering you are getting yourself the "best car in the world."

Insurance costs are reasonable too which shows that the Mazda2 is a good investment economically. The Mazda also comes is a range of colours from the sporty 'brilliant black' to the bright 'spirited green metallic.' Oh, and then there is the special edition Mazda2 Tamura Special Edition to choose from which is even sportier with its sports bumper, grille and side skirts.

It is not surprising that the demand for the Mazda2 has been so high considering its impressive environmental credentials combined with its stylish looks. With motorists becoming more aware of environmental issues when choosing a car the Mazda2 is a great contender and compared with other 'environmentally friendly' cars on the market the Mazda2 wins on looks hands down.

Tony is an online marketer and writer. He is currently researching Mazda and the new Mazda2.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Hill

Honda Hybrid Cars 2009


Modern buyers and car owners are getting brighter through the years. That is because there are lots of car models and car makes out in car market today.

Every car brand and car model is shooting to get to the highest level of support and patronage that would sustain for a very profitable and profitable revenues and sales not just currently but also in the future.

Car buyers have become more and more demanding as years goes by. Hybrid car buyers expect car makers to address the concerns and issues they raise against the current cars they own.

Car buyers anticipate upcoming new car models to eliminate the unlikely traits and restrictions of the current car types.

It is in this manner that hybrid cars came to become the most interesting and most wanted cars of the next generation.

Giant car makers Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Honda have all at the same time embarked on a tight and pressuring race to become the best hybrid car manufacturer and distributor.

Honda cars

Out of scrap, Japans Honda has been highly productive in building their niche in the global car business. Two decades ago, Honda was nothing. It was an unknown Japanese car maker that seemed to hang around on its prototype cars.

As the years have gone by, Honda emerged hard to win the battle. Its perseverance has paid greatly, and now, it is competing head on against fellow Japanese car manufacturer Toyota in the worldwide number one spot for car producers.

In the United States alone, gross revenue of Honda hybrid cars have been constantly been on the climb in the past few years, and rivals , particularly the local based Ford and General Motors, are starting to feel the grind in their individual gross revenue.

Honda has become areal threat to other car manufacturers. There are more than enough reasons for that.

Hybrid cars

When the tight race for hybrid cars started a few years ago, Honda was among the first few car makers to have really stood up and take the subject seriously.

Over the years, Honda has made a patient, determined and capable confident team to set up R & D efforts for the brands own hybrid cars lines.

With their massive effort. Now, the most modern and most wanted hybrid car models are displaying the brand trade mark of Honda.

The Accord hybrid

One of the most popular Honda hybrid cars is the Accord hybrid vehicle that is now out in the market and loving a huge and warm support from hybrid car drivers.

Honda claims that their hybrid car is zero-emission, but at the same time, the driver and car purchaser will get to know once again the exhilaration and feeling of driving a hot high-performance car.

This hybrid car model by Honda is labeled as the makers most environmentally friendly. The costs are high, though, in the higher premium to the most priced traditional or conventional car model in the market today.

The Honda Civic Hybrid Car

Honda has recently released its 2006 Civic Hybrids. This Honda hybrid car features of a capacity to importantly reduce on gasoline consumption while at the same time savoring the same old, well-loved characteristics of the traditional Honda Civic cars.

It is understood that hybrid cars are somehow more inferior and fall well behind compared to the traditional counterparts, because maybe of the limitations rising from the consolidation of electricity and gasoline burning inside its engine.

The honda Civic hybrid boasts that it has broke that limitation. The Honda Civic hybrid is currently available on the market at not so reasonable prices.

But do not let it set a setback for you to own one of these hybrid cars. The features and benefits of owning and driving the Honda Civic hybrid for sure would outpace or break the disadvantages.

Dave Leonard writes many articles on different topics. Find out more about Hybrid Cars at http://www.thehybridcarsite.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Leonard