Unique Auto

Archive for March, 2009

Every day we’re told the world is becoming more Americanised, but that, as all the best things are from America this is no bad thing.  Space travel, fast food, blues and jazz, theme parks, telephone numbers such as 0-8-0-0-F-U-N-T-I-M-E have all found their way over here.What’s wrong with using numbers on the telephone anyway, why use lthe alphabet?  No, for me the US of A has contributed more than enough for the time being and rather than our culture becoming further Americanised, I vote for us to become Japanised.  I mean that’s where the really cool stuff comes from: computer games, Manga cartoons, toilets that shoot water towards your…well you know, that cool robot from television (not available at your Honda dealer) and the most reliable cars on the planet.

Yep for cool stuff that 99 percent of the time will never be used in mainstream markets, Japan is the place to go.  It’s the one percent that really does work however that excites me the most.  The Sony PlayStation has been the market leader since its inception and the gaming industry as a whole is a multi, multi billion pound yearly business.  In fact Japan’s economy alone generated £120 billion through the sale of publishing, games, films and music in 2006 alone.  The cars are fast becoming market leaders too.  Gone are the days of reliable vehicles that looked like a baby had styled it – enter the simply stunning Nissan GTR or Honda’s most successful hot-hatch the Civic Type R (this unlike the robot is available at your Honda dealer).

The reason why the latest cars from Japan are so well styled whilst maintaining the build quality and reliability you’d expect from the country is that they’ve embraced their culture, which to Western society is, well, bonkers.  We’ve all seen the clip shows on TV that showcase the mad game shows Japan have as entertainment.  In the UK you answer a few questions correctly and you win some money.In Japan you answer a few questions correctly and then you only have to eat ten spiders, jump through rings of fire and have your leg chopped off to win the grand prize.

Then there’s the Bosozoku.Essentially they were a motorcycle gang that started sometime in the mid fifties, but thanks to Manga comics and Anime films such as Akira and Fat Don the Pirate, the image has been glamourised so the modern day Bosozoku are more style than actual gang fighting and.  They have also branched out to modifying cars with crazy features such as exhausts that reach skywards and end above the roofline.  Japanese culture is the perfect ying and yang – they work really hard, they play really, really hard.

You can see now why channelling all the above into a car such as the Nissan GTR is pretty exciting.  You have the reliability and build quality from the hard-working Japanese culture, the mad styling from the Manga culture and the incredible handling and on-board computer wizardry from the gaming culture.  You can see these elements filtering through to many Japanese car-makers and most notably across their range, Honda.

When judging a car brand, I like to see what their entry-level car is and if that’s good then it’s a good rule of thumb to assume this standard is maintained as the pound signs increase.  Using this logic and a trip to your Honda dealer will bring the Honda Jazz before you.  It’s a fun little hatchback from the styling to the way it drives around town.In fact it’s not entirely dissimilar to Doctor Who’s Tardis.Admittedly the Jazz doesn’t transcend time and space, but it’s far bigger on the inside than its exterior suggests.  The front and rear lights wrap around both ends and a simple arched line down the side completes the shape.  It is once again Japan in microcosm: small, functional and stylish.

There are two engines available, a 1.2 litre unit or a 1.4 VTEC litre version.The later is also available with a 6-speed i-SHIFT gearbox that is arather intuitive semi automatic.The funky features don’t end there, with the Jazz offering a panoramic glass roof, a refrigerated glove box and rather handy iPod connectivity.Crucially your sweating Honda dealer will take pride in declaring the Jazz emitting just 130g/km CO2 and returning a combined fuel consumption figure of 51.4mpg.  The Jazz is cheap to run then, but it’s reasonable to buy in the first place, with prices starting at £9,990 in the UK.

The verdict on the Jazz then is a glowing one.Obviously I’d deeply adore a Nissan GTR to embrace my love of all things Japanese, but to suit my wallet and I’m sure the vast majority of readers, nip to your Honda dealer for a small slice of Tokyo.

It’s amazing what people will do if they feel it is socially acceptable.  For example auditioning to be locked in a house for three months surrounded by cameras is the gateway to ‘stardom’, jumping off a tall building to your imminent death before a piece of cloth catches the air is seen as ‘fun’ and jumping into a freezing cold Scottish lake on New Year’s Day is ‘tradition’.  People also think nothing of taking a screwdriver to the family Volkswagen Polo and having a bash at ‘improving’ it themselves.

I must admit that I’m guilty of having a go at modifying my current and previous wheels with mixed success.  It’s funny to think that despite the millions of pounds spent designing the car you own; people automatically assume a few hundred quid here and there will improve it.  Imagine if you applied this to your household items.  Your washing machine for example spins at 1,000 a minute.  Have you ever thought of turbo-charging it to boost spin power by 50%?Of course you haven’t as the professionals who built it would’ve done that already if it improved the cleanliness of your clothing.

I’ve got a toasted sandwich maker loving stored at the back of one of my cupboards that’s never seen the light of day.  Do I have the urge to mould grooves to make it cook faster on the hot-plate?Obviously not.My PlayStation 3 doesn’t come with a spoiler fitted to make it load quicker and my bed hasn’t been lowered to impress the ladies.

The furthest extreme I’ve seen car modifying taken was courtesy of my mate who quite frankly I keep as a friend purely for his humorous antics.  Not content with buying a Volkswagen Polo from eBay of all places and then travelling 300 miles to collect a car that clearly wasn’t as specified in the advert, he’s spent a large amount of time flushing his money down the drain modifying the poor car.Let me throw some interesting figures at you.  He bought the car for £3000 and has since spent £750 on a exhaust, £100 on silver door pin covers for when the door lock pops up, £150 to have the rear boot handle spray painted, £500 on a sound system that flattens the car battery in five minutes, £150 to have the front grill replaced and the icing on the cake – £200 to have the engine re-mapped.

Now re-mapping isn’t changing the location of the engine parts, but having a boffin with a laptop plugging up to the engine and magically generating more power from it.  This sounds great and for £200 you can’t go wrong you must be thinking.  Only problem is that Volkswagen are German and no-one designs machinery better than them, particularly when you consider the people employed to do the tricky calculations under the bonnet barely see daylight and instead see numbers flashing before their eyes.  As a result, £200 laptop man has managed to confuse the sophisticated computer that controls all facets of the engine working correctly and my mate now drives around with so many warning lights on his dashboard it’s permanently Christmas for him.

What he should’ve done if he wanted a Volkswagen Polo with more oomph is to have purchased the GTi version.The Polo comes with a similar turbocharged 1.8 litre engine found in the Audi TT; albeit one that produces 148bhp rather than 237bhp.  Clearly Volkswagen have put their sensible hats on as anymore power than the 148 would quite frankly be scary, so no need to get the laptop out then.

Thanks to this relative restraint under the bonnet the chassis can cope with the power, giving you the confidence to throw the car into any corner and feel confident you won’t end up in a hedge.  It’ll still race to 60mph in just 8.2 seconds bear in mind.The Polo GTi is what made the original Golf GTi so exciting before it got bloated with age – it looks like the standard hatchback save for a few subtle modifications to the front grill and ride height, but it has real spirit and the feeling that there is nothing superfluous to distract from the joy of driving it.

It’s far closer to the cost of the original Golf GTi too with a new Polo GTi costing under £15,000 which taking into account inflation is marginally more than the original GTi’s £5,700 price tag in 1981.  Compared to the massive £22,000 the Golf GTi now commands new this really is a no brainer.  It would save my friend a fortune in time and money – especially a second hand version.

The Volkswagen Polo GTi is perfection – so keep your hands off.

If you love the James Bond films and are fascinated by the gadgets that are involved like covert cameras, multi purpose watches or night vision goggles, then you will have to take a visit to Keswick.

A new James Bond museum is set for it’s grand opening on April 5th. The new museum has been set up by film buff Peter Nelson in Keswick, he has a collection of over 25 vehicles from a range of the 22 Bond films.

The film fan said that he had been collecting the vehicles for over 20 years and now it consists of cars, motorbikes, speedboats and submarines, all from the films including Die Another Day and Diamonds are Forever.

Some of the spy gadgets and vehicles have been donated by actors that stared in the 007 films, however, Mr Nelson also bought some of them, including the gun from the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun which he bought in an auction. This is just one of the many gadgets, vehicles and collectibles that will be shown at the museum.

Mr Nelson has said that his favorite Bond film is Goldfinger because it features the Aston Martin DB5.

The upcoming museum has already built up alot of attention, and from the above items it’s understandable. People from all corners of the world including America and Australia have contacted Mr Nelson to say that will be be visiting to see the range of vehicles and gadgets that are being put on display.

The grand opening of the museum will be accompanied with the unveiling of a statue of Albert Brocolli, the man who produced many of the Bond films. The set open date for the museum is the 100th anniverary of Brocolli’s birth.

It is common knowledge that the domain of the light commercial vehicle belongs firmly in the vice-like grip of the Ford Transit and has been for decades. There are, however, certain manufacurers that have emerged are doing all they can to topple the Transit’s stranglehold on the market. Amongst these competitive spirits are such respected manufacturers as Peugeot and Renault, there is one particular rival that seems to be making a very good case for themselves indeed. The manufacturer I am quite take with is Vauxhall.

Vauxhall have seen great success already with their range of vans, each designed to better suit a particular light commercial endeavour. The Vauxhall Movano is the biggest of the vans and is well suited to those who need to transport a large amount of tools or other haulage to complete their mandate. The Vauxhall Vivaro is more style orientated and perhaps the smaller and more mobile brother to the Movano. The Astravan and Corsavan are pretty self-explanatory and provide the small van suitable for the more fledgling business or the smaller end of a fleet.

What is impressive about the Vauxhall Van range is how they have taken everything that is desirable about the Ford Tranist and have added extra elements. For example; the Vivaro has all the practicality of the famous Transit, but has the updated looks and image that will appeal to business owners if they are keen to make a great impression on their clients. In turn, the Movano is available with various wheelbases, to help you make a more informed decision of what vehicle to buy based on the kind of strains that will be placed on your fleet.

 The Transit will continue to be a bestseller based upon its deserved legacy, but it is definitely worth at least investigating the Vauxhall range of Vans, as they will provide an excellent service to you and your business.

Hybrid cars are gaining popularity in the market for its fuel saving capacity and being environmentally friendly, it is also popular among environmentalists.Hybrid cars mostly derive their energy from electricity and hence they lower the rate of fuel consumption and also they protect the environment from getting much polluted.The purpose of fabricating hybrid cars was to provide a solution to the rapidly deteriorating environment due to the excessive use of fuels in cars.

The hybrid car cuts down on fuel usage and emission by using an electric motor to supplement a fuel engine; this allows the car to get as much power as required, remaining friendly to the environment.This allows the car to minimize fuel usage and thus emit less.By making a proper juxtaposition of these two forms of energy, you get a vehicle that doesn’t pollute and doesn’t waste as much fuel.Hybrid cars will take you very well on the freeway using minimum fuel, and if ever you are stuck in traffic, you won’t waste much fuel by stopping and going continually.

You can simply plug in your hybrid car into a normal electric socket to get it charged.The car’s gasoline engine or the car itself can provide for the power that is lost due to continuous coasting and braking.It is often said that the hybrid cars are better than the gasoline cars; here are the reasons for the same.

The main reason behind the depletion of the ozone layer is because of the greenhouse effect which is caused due to the heavy amounts of carbon dioxide released in the environment by the cars.A vehicle will emanate carbon dioxide in direct proportion to the amount of fuel it uses up.The primary benefit of the hybrid car is here – since it uses electricity and not completely gas, it will not pose many dangers to the environment.

Hybrid car purchases have tax deductions associated with them; so, you stand to make some real money benefits.A hybrid car can retain a higher resale value so if you ever want to trade or sell a previously owned hybrid car you can be sure that you will get more of what you paid for it.Since the hybrid cars get their power from two different sources, the engines are smaller in size.As the engines are used together with the electrical power, they are good performers, even though they are smaller in size.

The technology of the hybrid car is a very good answer to the present day problem of increasing pollution due to vehicle exhausts.Fuel consumption and hence environment protection is something that really sets the hybrid cars apart from the other conventional cars of the world.There are so many advantages of hybrid cars, but there is one stumbling block – the price; hybrid cars are expensive to many people, yet, a large number of people are considering these cars to be a good investment. While many of us can’t afford to get a hybrid car due to financial hardship, we can always check out Aston Martin photos to cheer us up.

Vehicles are part of everyone's life; folk cannot get anywhere without driving a car, but as cars develop further they start to get a lot more costly then they usually would be as the technology gets piled in. But some people argue that new cars are just not as strong as old ones used to be. So let us take a brief look at the benefits of owning both a new car and an older model

New Car Benefits
1) Things in vehicles such as in car entertainment and heated seats are just a lot more regular than they used to be.
2) When purchasing a new vehicle you are guaranteed that the car will not break down in its first three years.
3) New cars tend to have a lot more space then older models and are built a lot deeper.

Benefits of Older Cars
1) The engines are and always will be much more tougher, olden cars used to be built to last the same cannot be said for new vehicles, these are only made to have a short life term.
2) They cost a lot less to fix whn they do break down, unless you buy a really expensive model.
3) They cost a lot less to buy. If you are on a low cost budget then going for a new car would not be the choice for you, you would have to go for a stable used vehicle.

Whichever path you ultimatley decide to choose, you should be sure to read the review and motoring news sections carefully.

Your number one destination to buy a new ford and buy a Renault 

Are you looking at upping the street credibility of your ride by urban-tuning it a bit with a new set of rolling stock? Then, take it to the limit with TIS Rims. A lot of folks say they even look good in the box, but even better on the car. And, in what’s a first in this market, TIS rims show off their large size right in the middle of the hub of the rim.

Size them up and up. TIS rims don’t come in the little guy sizes that are standard on most cars these days. They’ll come at you in the 20 inch “dub” size and grow up from there right to the 26 inch size popular on larger urban -tuned SUV-type vehicles.

Get thee down the road. Wheels and rims differ mostly in only very technical, engineer-type terms. If you’re looking into putting a tricked out set of rollers on your ride, though, don’t get caught referring to them as wheels. In the urban-turned street ride world, they’re only known as “rims.” And if you call dubs anything else but rims, you’ll could be made fun of pretty quickly.

Make a deposit, make a withdrawal. When we used to think of a car’s Custom Rims, we almost always thought of steel as being the material they were made of. It’s the old reliable, in that sense. But it weighed a bit more than today’s modern alloys, even though it’s a good compromise between performance and weight.

Put on your Sunday best. Nowadays, if a rim maker isn’t using aluminum or some other metal alloy, it’s not really a serious player in the aftermarket tuner world. Aluminum has come to dominate because it’s not only lighter, but the color and finishes available when using an alloy are far more varied than what can be done in steel. In fact, steel is mainly the material of choice on entry-level, budget-minded production vehicles and such.

Forever joined in bolt-on matrimony. Putting on new wheel or rim sets is simplicity itself. Take several bolts and use them to attach the rollers to the car’s hubs, and you’re done, mostly. The really large specialty-type wheels may require several more, but you don’t usually see them on the typical street-tuned ride out there.

Buying good looks is easy. TIS wheels and TIS rims make a statement with their seriously-memorable looks and custom finishes and colors. They could even make one of those 1970s era station wagons look a far sight better! And if you want to give your ride the look of having just come from the custom car maker, you might want to think about investing in a set of these babies.

Ending it all. Adding a little style and fashion to your car is good. So, take it to the limit with TIS Rims, and you’ll find you won’t be sorry for having done so. The street ride or urban machine making its way down the road can be what your own vehicle might look like after you tune it a bit with these wheels or rims. For more information, check out our site http://www.hubcap-tire-wheel.com/.

You wouldn’t get dressed to go out on the town and wear shoes that mismatched your clothes would you? If you put on a blue suit you certainly wouldn’t wear brown shoes, that’s just tacky. You’re proud of the vehicle that you drive and want everyone to know that you’re proud of it. You’ve put a lot of work into paint and interior. Don’t neglect the wheels that your ride is sitting on. People look at the wheels just as they look at shoes. Do your wheels match the rest of your ride? If you have Boss Chrome Rims, you can be sure that they do.

Boss wheels are the finishing touch for your ride. These wheels feature superb styling, and immaculate craftsmanship in their construction. Advanced computer programs design Boss wheels to insure their styling and more important their structural stability. Boss wheels not only look good but also they will stand up to the punishments inflicted on them during both daily and performance driving conditions.

Boss wheels come in a variety of styles, sizes and finishes. Boss wheels are available for passenger cars, trucks and SUV’s. Boss wheels are made in the United States at plants in California and South Carolina. These aluminum wheels are created with counter-pressure-casting technologies providing a strong and safe wheel. Boss wheels are a division of American Eagle Wheel, which maintains its own distribution network in North America and the Caribbean.

Wheels aren’t the finishing touch to your ride. Boss Custom Rims can be equipped with matching lug nuts and center covers. These lug nuts and covers are finished with the same color and finish as the wheels. Boss wheels are available in eleven different finishes ranging from chrome to gray to black chrome. Lug nuts can be specified in an exact match or different color depending on the taste and style selected.

When you are out showing off your ride, you want it to look good from the road all the way up to the top. Cheap rims show that you’ve taken shortcuts in creating your ride. Over time the coatings on those cheap rims can deteriorate. Nothing looks worse than a set of rims that are discolored or flaking chrome. You will never have to worry about Boss wheels looking cheap or discoloring.

Boss wheels are available in 5 and 6 lug patterns and wheels are available from 17″ to 24″. There is a wheel that will fit the taste of the owner whether they drive the smallest import or the largest SUV. A set of Boss wheels shows the world that the owner of the ride truly cares about their ride and is willing to show it off in the best manner.

Whether cruising the main drag in town or displaying your ride at a car show, you can be assured that the rims that your ride is sitting on are of the highest quality if they are Boss rims. Boss rims always look good and are always in style.

Every Boss Wheels is a product of advanced engineering. The highest quality materials and craftsmanship went into the wheels that are on your ride. State of the art technologies of CNC machining and coating provide attractive, strong and safe wheels. American Eagle and Boss have mission statements that insure the owner of Boss wheels have the best product at a price that compares very favorably to their competitors. Boss wheels with their beauty and strength are always a welcome addition to anyone’s ride. For more information, check out our site http://www.hubcap-tire-wheel.com/.

Despite the pleading protestations to convince the general public to leave their cars at home and step aboard public transport, the Government and local authorities don’t exactly make it the convenient and cost-friendly solution that one would hope. The prices on buses and trains consistently sky rocket and the quality and frequency of service invariably falls dramatically. So what most of us are looking for is cost-effective transport, which is easily maintained, reliable and isn’t full of litter or smells like a particularly abused dustbin. What the general public are crying out for is a series of cars that are suitable for city driving; great handling, good performance at low revs, economical and ecologically sound. With some research I found, with relative ease, a great choice of car to fit the bill.

Vauxhall have been manufacturing popular cars for years now, but in the emergence of more ecologically aware society, many manufacturers have come under scrutiny for their ‘green’ (or not) policies and products. Fortunately Vauxhall have next to nothing to worry themselves about in this matter. The Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi produces class-leading low CO2 emissions and is capable of reaching around 70 miles to the gallon, which is not only kinder on your wallet, but considerably kinder on the environment.

 With more and more of us learning to drive every year and with the social stigma placed on gas-guzzling cars, there is a huge scope to be mobile yet environmentally friendly. The Diesel Corsa has all the style and panache you would find desirable in a city car, yet maintains all the practicalities that we are being forced to pay more attention too.

The Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi is a popular seller in the hatchback market and a suitable vehicle for learners who may not drive the most economically, city dwellers and those who need affordable transport from day to day.

Are You Looking At Buying a New Hybrid Car?

If you’re looking at buying a new hybrid car, you’ll be pleased to know there are many benefits you can look forward to. Everyone is already aware that a hybrid car is run on fuel and battery power, which can reduce fuel consumption greatly. But there are some more benefits you should be aware of.

Increasing Fuel Economy

The first thing that comes to mind when you decide to purchase a new hybrid car is the fuel cost savings. Being able to run your car on battery power instead of gasoline to get around the city means that you save on fuel consumption can travel around more economically. An electrical motor also requires no energy when it’s idling, which means it simply switches off when you don’t need it.

New hybrid car technology is always being improved upon with each passing year so you can expect to cut costs by gaining even greater fuel economy.

Weight Reduction

Most new hybrid cars are much lighter in weight than their traditional counterparts. Because of a decrease in weight, this can even further increase fuel efficiency, because less energy is required to move a hybrid car.

Less Emissions Means a Greener Earth

Carbon emissions are extremely bad for the environment. In larger cities, air pollution is the main cause for many respiratory and health problems and can even make your allergies worse. An electrical motor produces no exhaust emissions so by owning a new hybrid car, you’re not only helping the environment but you’re actively helping to reduce smog levels too.

Great For The Environment

{The sheer number of cars on our roads contributes enormously to the damage we’re doing to our planet.The large number of vehicles on our roads is gradually damaging the planet.} Driving a hybrid car can help to offset some of the damage by helping to keep carbon emissions low. The biggest benefit to a car with the ability to run on electrical battery power is that you’re helping to lower the demand for so many fossil fuels.

Self-Charging Batteries

As you run your hybrid car on electrical mode, your batteries are recharging themselves. The alternator actually helps to generate more power to be stored back in your car’s batteries while you drive.

Tax Incentives

Initially the cost of a new hybrid car might seem a little higher when you compare it to the price of a traditional gas-powered car, but the amount of money that you eventually save will help to offset the cost. Aside from the obvious fuel-cost savings, for US hybrid owners there are a range of tax incentives available to help you make your decision to switch to a more economically and environmentally friendly mode of transport.