A Good Debut For A Great Car

Monday, August 4, 2008

Well with the showing that the 2009 camaro had, it's a good thing that GM is going to build the car, the camaro had had a long life with muscle car fans in this country, and it's poised to do it all over again, if GM can stay in business, they seem to be having a rough time along with all the other motor companies.

The camaro came out in 1967, to do battle with the Ford mustang, and a battle it was, either car could win with the right person behind the wheel, the right pilot if you will, and then in 1968 Don Yenko, owner of Yenko Chevrolet, in Canonsburg, PA. This brilliant man would create a monster that would give the camaro name a reputation befitting a king.

The sYc or “Super Yenko Camaro” would propel Don Yenko to super star status in the muscle car world, the cars were very expensive, so in turn not a lot of them were ever produced, 1969 turned out to be the magic year for these cars, in 1969 of the Yenko camaro two even meaner camaros would spawn, 1 known as the COPO or “Central Office Production Order” 9560 and the 9561, the only difference between these two cars was the engine, the 9560 “AKA” ZL1 had an all aluminum 427 CID engine rated by the factory at 425 HP, this of course was a serious under rating, the car actually made about 600 HP.

The 9561 was a cast iron block, so you can imagine the difference in performance between the two cars, the power to weight difference was phenomenal, and only the most experienced drivers could even handle one of these monsters, and Chevrolet is poised to do it again with the 2009 camaro, it’s not the exact same idea, but it is a great step toward Chevy getting their muscle car heritage back in order.

The 2009 Camaro runs a 400 HP LS2 6-Liter V8 engine, and sporting the power train from a Corvette, this car will be awesome, also sporting 22” rear wheels and 21” front wheels in it’s unrevised form, but the spokesman from Chevrolet says that when the car is released it will have 21” rear wheels and 20” front wheels, of course the difference won’t be noticeable to your eye, but it will save some cash for Chevrolet.

This car is a tribute to Chevrolet’s ingenuity and creativity, the one thing that will help to keep them alive in this economy that seems to be horrible for the automotive industry, if anybody can do it Chevrolet can.

I've been in the automotive business for about 20 or 25 years now, and worked in all facets of the automotive industry, from mechanical repair to restoration and parts, for American and import cars.

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Audi A6 2005 The Weekly Driver

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Swanky automotive manufacturer press trips are common occurrences.
But with the long-anticipated debut of its 2005 line, Audi went to extreme
lengths to introduce its new fleet.

And amid fancy media kits and proclamations, high-end
accommodations, unique cuisine and scenic test drives along the
Northern California coast, one part of the two-day U.S. presentation last
fall in San Francisco remains most vivid: An Audi engineer spent more
than one hour describing in exhaustive detail how he redesigned the
car's new extended front grill.

The engineer's presentation showcased his work pride and marketing
and public relations skills. But it also served as an ideal microcosm of
Audi's well-deserved confidence in its new line.

Maligned for years and slipping in customer satisfaction rankings, the
new A6 instantly helps reverse those woes. It's a classically styled,
powerful and overall impressive vehicle that shouldn't be overlooked by
anyone considering a car in the above-$50,000 price range.

My test drive for the week was the A6, 4.2-liter Quattro AT6, the most
powerful and luxurious model in the line. With the two other A6 models,
the Quattro offers new styling, more room and more power than the
2004 version. It features a DOHC V8 aluminum alloy engine with five
valves per cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Quattro
designation is Audi's trademarked All-Wheel Drive system.

Combined with the $1,500 sport package option (18-inch alloy wheels,
front sport seats, sport suspension and summer performance tires), the
A6 offers a superior drive. Its acceleration is confidently quick but not
jolting. The ride quality is quiet and smooth, and the steering and
handling is impressive in all driving circumstances. In short, driving or
riding in the A6 is an exercise in comfort and confidence.

Beyond performance, the A6 is equipped with a wide-ranging list of
features, vanity mirrors with regular and magnify glass options to an
electromechanical parking park.

Beginning the latter, the electronic parking brake can throw an
unknowing driver into immediate search mode. The parking brake light
was brightly lit for my first journey in the car. But where was the brake
pedal or handle release? Alas, there wasn't one, rather a lever on the
console that sets or releases the brake with a slight one-finger flick.

The parking brake luxury sets the tone for the rest of the instrumentation,
interior design, myriad appointments and a state-of-the art sound system
($1,300 option).

The navigation system ($1,500 option) is extraordinarily detailed. It's not
a quick study, but the seven-inch screen is highly visible and the
system's functions are superior. Voice responses, for example, are
available in several languages.

The 12-way power front seats have two driver seat memory positions
and the power functions extend from the adjustable steering wheel
sunroof with tilt and slide functionality to folding, heated exterior mirrors.

The vehicle's leather front and rear seats are plush, sturdy and
comfortable. The wooden inlays on the dash, console and doors further
add to the car's interior good looks.

Add Xenon highlights, bluetooth phone availability, the keyless or key
ignition system and Sirius satellite radio, and the new Audi 6
comfortably aligns itself other well-known and highly touted vehicles in
its class — the Acura RL, Lexus LS 430 and the Mercedes Benz E class.
Given the choice of any of the four, it would be hard not to pick the new
Audi A6.

Safety features – Driver and passenger front, side and curtain
airbags; Antilock brakes

Fuel Mileage (estimates) – 17 (city), 23 (highway).

Warranty – Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Corrosion,
12 years, limited; (24-hour), four-year roadside assistance program via
third-party supplier

Base price – $50,500.00

James Raia is a journalist, author and publisher in Sacramento, Calif.
Read more of his car review columns ,various other sports, fitness and
human-interest articles and subscriibe to his free electronic newsletters
on on his web site: http://www.ByJamesRaia.com

Learn About Sports Cars Before You Buy One

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Nothing beats the exhilaration brought about by speed. Anyone who has ever driven an automobile has at least dreamt of taking the role of Steve McQueen in "Bullitt", getting into a high-speed car chase. If not Bullitt, each driver has dreamt playing Michael Caine's Charlie Cosker in "The Italian Job", driving that gorgeous convertible into the very heart of the gold heist.. Anyone who has ever taken control of the wheel has at least once dreamt of driving not just to get from point A to point B but to go from point A to B in flair. And driving a fantastic sports car fulfills this dream.

In making an automobile or any land vehicle for that matter, a lot of factors are being considered: cost of material, safety, efficiency, and performance are only some of these at play on the drawing board of a car maker. A sports car however, in definition gives priority to performance above all other factors. By performance, speed is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Speed relies heavily on the power of the car's engine.

Most sports cars do have muscle engines which can outrun even the fastest sedans easily. A sports car engineer therefore puts it first on the list of factors that he has to consider: how to travel the distance with the least amount of time possible.

But of course, even if performance is a cut above every other consideration, the other factors are never neglected. Safety cannot be compromised, because even the fastest sports car needs a driver on the wheel at all times, and safe at all times. Besides, everyone wants to drive from start to finish in one piece, after all. So a performance-oriented vehicle must pay attention to the other factors and not rely solely on the car engine's power.

A number of sports cars compensate for a not-so-powerful engine with a light body, paying due respect to the laws of physics: the lighter the mass, the smaller amount of force required to move this mass. This is also the reason why a sports cars usually are smaller, and do not have backseats. If these cars do have backseats, these are not as convenient as a sedan's and is only a throwaway to please the insurance companies. One may also notice that a sports car quite often only has two doors, and it shares the same reason as that of the backseat.

Because it can outperform any of the regular four-seater cars out in the market, sports cars are sold obviously at a higher price. Another reason is because quality materials are almost always being used to withstand the heavier wear and tear in this type of vehicle.
This also explains why purchasing a sports car remains a pipe dream to most car enthusiasts. But it doesn't have to be that way anymore. It is easier to get one's hands on the steering wheel of a sports car than most people think. One just has to have the imagination and acumen to do so.

Buying a sports car does not have to mean going to your nearest car dealer and getting a brand new vehicle off the rack. There are quite a handful of these vehicles beyond the dealer's garage, in very good condition and sold at a lower price. You can always check out car auctions and watch out of sports car models being sold at pancake rates. Pre-owned sports cars are always available on your local car magazine or website; sometimes it just requires you to pay more attention to these ad placements; you'll never know when the sports car of your dreams is right under your nose.

Buying second-hand sports cars maybe the best way to go if one is facing monetary constraints. If a pre-owned sports car is taken cared of properly, it will give one the same excitement that a new one can provide.

There are also private sellers particularly of sports cars. More often than not, owners of these sports cars found themselves short of cash and are willing to dispose of their sports cars at considerably low prices, much to their resistance. Desperation is in a way good for buyers on the look-out: they get their dream vehicles at bargain prices.

And once you have spotted the car of your dreams, it is wise to exercise routine vehicle inspection, the way one does when buying a regular car. Do not forget to visually inspect the engine, the interior and the body. It is a folly to disregard these simple reminders, especially when buying a pre-owned sports car. You as a buyer can easily assess the condition of the car, how well it was maintained by the owner, simply by looking at it. Then, the proof of the pudding is in the eating: do not forget to test-drive your prospect sports vehicle before closing the purchase. Give it a go and see how it feels. If it feels good – and you feel like Steve McQueen in Bullitt – it is time to call that sports car your own.

Lee Dobbins writes for sportscars.unique-articles.com where you can learn more about the sports care and get tips on buying a sports car