Unique Auto

Posts Tagged ‘cars’

Mercedes SLS

In today’s luxury car world, the Mercedes has been the most coveted car of all time. You will notice it sashay along roads and be the most watched out of all vehicles. Mercedes has proven itself to be the new king of the road. The Mercedes SLS was unveiled at the 2009’s Frankfurt Auto Show and seems to have what it takes to become one of Germany’s finest sport cars. This new and very promising grand tourer was developed by Mercedez-Benz AMG as a replacement for the old SLR McLaren. The German manufacturer describes it as a spiritual successor to the 1954’s 300 SL Gullwing, which was one of the most exciting sport cars of the 50’s.

With its 6.2L V8-engine, the Mercedes SLS has nothing to envy to its recent predecessor and clearly presents itself as one of the most breathtaking launches of 2010. Sales are set to start mid-2010 in Europe and mid-2011 in the United States. There will be 4 different versions of the Mercedes SLS – including a roadster version – that will all be released between 2010 and 2013. To be able to acquire this beuaty, you need no less than 177,000 in Euros (tax inclusive) to be able to obtain it or no more than 0,000 inclusive of taxes.

As previously mentioned, the Mercedes SLS is patterned after the 300 SL Gullwing. This becomes very obvious if you compare them next to each other. The proportions of the Mercedes SLS are rather classic but exhibit modern styling themes and contemporary surface treatment. The revival of classic features such as the gullwing doors bring class, style and charisma. The classic Mercedes is well blended into the features of the modern and refurbished Mercedes SLS.

The Mercedes SLS features a spaceframe body made of aluminium powered by a 6.3-litre front-mid-mounted engine that generates 571HP and 650Nm of torque. Add to that a 7-speed dual clutch transmission in a transaxle layout configuration for a total weight of only 1620kg. This is quite an achievement and it’s now time for you to watch the official presentation video!

Saturn cars on sale

People shopping around for cars and auto loans should take notice: You might have an opportunity to get a brand new Saturn car for a used-car price. Same goes for Pontiac.

General Motors is discontinuing both brands, so Pontiac and Saturn cars are basically going into fire sale mode now. I am still trying to understand exactly how this sale works, so perhaps someone out there who is more business savvy could leave a comment to fill in the missing information.

Incentives plus price slashing

First of all, GM says it will pay dealers “$ 7,000 for every new Saturn or Pontiac on their lot that is moved to rental-vehicle or service-vehicle fleets operated by the dealers,” says the Wall Street Journal. So, basically, GM will pay dealers to take ownership of the cars. That’s kind of odd. Right?

Then, dealers must label these cars as “used” because technically the dealers are the first owner, not the customer. Obviously, most of them won’t be used, and they’ll have either zero or test drive mileage on the odometer.

A little help?

What’s missing here? It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Why doesn’t GM simply give a bonus for Pontiacs or Saturns sold? Why not slash prices instead of going through the motions and justification of labeling the cars as “used” at lots?

I’m still waiting for this to click. The brands are both being discontinued, so it can’t be for the purpose of maintaining value attached to the Pontiac and Saturn names. I’m at a loss. Let me know what you think.

The bottom line

Anyway, regardless of exactly what GM and its dealers are doing and why they are doing it, you could be able to buy Pontiac and Saturn cars for super cheap, so if you’re thinking about getting a new car sometime soon, you might want to set your plan in motion sooner rather than later.

Cars are becoming a lot more advanced. One thing that shows this leap more than ever is the cars driving school are now using for driving lessons and one week intensive driving courses; this has changed dramatically over years with cars having so much more gadegets. We now have satellite navigation systems, which can track exactly where we are, entertainment systems throughout the vehicles and cruise control.

But cars are literally progressing technology wise at huge speeds and experts are stating that within the next decade or so we could actually see cars driving themselves. At this moment in time you are most likely thinking that this is something that can only be seen in movies, but I can guarantee you that if you look at the technology that is behind this then you will surely see that we are close to it.

As mentioned above we already have satellite navigation systems which are able to track exactly where you are and the speed that you are travelling at. With the expansion in the internet, we do not have long left until we begin to see vehicles actually talk with each other online.

What I am really trying to state is that cars will use the sat nav system to check where you are on the road and the speed that you are travelling at, it will then transmit the information over the internet which will communicate with other vehicles around you. By knowing the speed you are driving at, the vehicles themselves will be able to avoid collisions and they can take us to our destination without getting lost because they know exactly where they are going.

So for lorry driving jobs it could actually be a dream come true, because when you usually stop on a lay by to take a rest you can now sleep in the vehicle while it drives itself to your destination. In other words it’s a bit like an autopilot.

People who own Bentleys are lucky, lucky people. Of course, one could argue that there isn’t actually much luck about it at all – people who can afford these most luxurious of cars will have worked for it all their life, and generally will have made their millions being incredibly good at what they do. With that past behind you then it can easily and justifiably be argued that having a car that is as special as this is your due, and a thing you should do if at all possible.

But why are Bentleys quite so decadent? With too many cars price is top, you expect to pay a lot not for quality but for a status symbol that turns head simply because it ought to. Many people, mainly people who don’t like or care about cars, would argue that pride and vanity is the only reason these cars sell. For owning a Bentley, however, the reason is rather different. Sure, you pay lots to own one, but you get that back in luxury and craftsmanship a million times over.

To start with, the outside of this car. What used to be a hulking frame of a car is now constructed out of delicate lightweight materials, which explains the speed that such huge cars can easily reach. Perhaps most dramatically, these Bentleys are smoothed and coaxed out of massive chunks of steel, so that they fit together accurately enough to look like they are all one cohesive whole. Any joints there are are thin and delicate, and when a line of a shape transverses panels it looks like they are all from the same initial point. All in all, the exteriors are extraordinary from the shape to the headlights and everything in between.

Of course, whilst every Bentley model is lovely on the outside, the inside is even more spectacular. Built to last, these cars look as good a few years down the line as they do straight off the press, making them a sound investment. Of course, many people also opt to buy them from a used Bentley dealer just to make an extra saving.

If you do buy one, you can expect luxury. I am not just discussing an ashtray and armrests – I mean a real wonderful interior. Every piece of leather (leather that is officially certified flawless, I might add) is handcrafted by Bentley Milliners, from the steering wheel cover right through to the seats. Perfection is the name of the game, with everything sewn up by hand – no leather will ever be as wonderful. You also have a speaker set worthy of royalty and wooden touches that tranform the wya it looks.

It is fair to assume that there is no other car maker out there who produces cars like this. Noone else makes that much time to concetrate on every tiny piece of the car. Even better, owners of new or used Bentleys get to enjoy their status symbol in the ultimate comfort!

Driving your car down to a professional race track and pretending your in the grand prix for a bit is an activity that is getting more and more popular. A leading experience-day operator has recently stated that more than 25% of the population have bought a track day for friends or family, and around 30% of people have been on one themselves. They are also becoming increasingly popular as corportate entertainment. Because they are a relatively new trend however, there is still a lack of understanding about how they work. Lets take a look at some of the top track day tips.

Insurance. Most tracks have their own insurance that automatically covers you whilst you are using their facility. This is one less thing to worry about, but you should always double check before you go as some race tracks don’t cover guests.

Driver. Depending on what type of track day you go on, you may be driving yourself or you may have someone else doing the pleasure. If you do get the chance to be driven by a professional, its worth paying close attention to their advice as they will have been round the track a million times before.

Licence. Most tracks are on privately owned land and so do not work on the same laws as public roads. That said, you’ll probably find that the majority of tracks won’t let you on without a license as they don’t want to take risks themselves.

Tires. Unless you are on a team building day and are not paying for any wear and tear, you might want to take care of your tyres. Good ones can last many years of standard driving, but if your not mindful of them on a track day, you might just find you destroy them in hours.

Caution. Although race tracks are statistically safer places to be than public roads, this does not mean you can drive like Evil Knievel. Track days are a great deal more dangerous than Henley Regatta for example, so make sure you’ve woken up before you get in the car.

Valuing your disposable assets is a useful first step in managing personal debts because these could be sold to reduce he burden. Make a list and include:

• Property investments
• Stocks & Shares
• Antiquities & collectables
• Savings accounts
• Premium Bonds
• Leisure equipments – cameras, bikes, snowboards etc.
• Cars, motorbikes, boats

Car owners can unknowingly have large amounts of equity locked up in their vehicle, even if was bought with finance or hire purchase. What you will finally receive v. If the car was bought on finance a long time ago you may well have paid off most of the loan. If you acquired your car on a lease agreement the rules are entirely different. Find our how much you owe on your car by contacting the company for a balance. Repossession is the last resort of lenders who would prefer you sold your car to a dealer who will settle the balance including any missing payments.

Selling a car for cash, particularly if it needs to be done quickly, often means taking less than the car is really worth. Your local dealer will only want your old car if you buy a brand new one at full list price. So few people now read local newspapers than private classified advertising of used cars is often a waste of time.

Websites such as Sellmycar4cash buy used cars to use as stock for main dealers and offer to value and buy your car quickly without any fees or risk. Values can only be ontained on cars newer than 7 years and under 100 k mileage. Record all the deatils of your second hand car on the webpage form and a representative will call you back with a cash offer. Agreement of valuation would result in a call to make an appointment to meet, pay for and collect the car. If agreement is reached on the value of the car you are selling the next step is to arrange the meeting to view and pay.

We all know that Xmas is fast approaching and there has never been a better time to check that things in order, which includes checking the status of your car. Heading off to the relative’s house 150 miles away isn’t a pretty prospect if your car has something wrong with it. It may be that you need a new gearbox, and car gearboxes aren’t cheap.

Xmas On The Cheap

You could view it as an early Christmas present to yourself if you discover that everything is okay with the gearbox. If you’re not so fortunate and find you have to set some money aside for a gearbox replacement this Christmas, it can seem like a sad situation. A new gearbox in your car doesn’t have to be costly though, thanks to some repair centres doing great deals on motor parts this season. If costs are mounting up already this Christmas, see if the repair centre offers the option of a reconditioned gearbox, which is a great cost-effective solution.

Anyone thinking about going on holiday for Xmas will want to know their car is working and driving fine before they set off, in order to minimise the risk of anything untoward happening such as the gearbox failing. You would be surprised at just how many people risk it with their car and then find it needs repairing, which scuppers their holiday plans.

New And Old Can Suffer

And its not just old cars that might need the gearbox replacing. There are cars that might have only done 10,000 miles and yet they start with gearbox problems. The unlucky people in this world sometimes cringe when they find their newly-purchased car needs gearbox attention. So, if you don’t want your Christmas ruined by a faulty gearbox, its time to get your gearbox checked now before its too late!

If there are any new drivers reading this, chances are that you are excited about being able to get your own car, but there might also be some apprehension about it all. Once the driving instructor isn’t in the passenger seat next to you, its up to you to make the decisions. In most cases though, the majority of drivers are just relieved that they finally have some independence!

Do You Know The Inner Workings Of Your Car?

Many drivers neglect the fact their car might encounter some technical problems, because in most cases the car new drivers get simply isn’t going to be new. It could be that your parents have bought you a vehicle and it is verging on being an old banger. Brand new cars are expensive so old cars just have to suffice for many new drivers, but then they do have to be aware of potential issues occurring with the vehicle since it is quite old. For example, gearbox problems are a dangerous reality of old cars and some new drivers simply aren’t away of what to look for or how to go about fixing it.

Look And Ye Shall Find

You could speak to your parents if they bought you the car and they might be able to point you in the right direction for where you can get gearbox problems sorted, or you could be pro-active and find the information yourself. Head online and see if any gearbox repair centres are local to you, as there are sure to be some with a prominent presence on the web. Don’t leave your car with a dodgy gearbox – find someone close by to repair it.

Its only natural that you will have to pay for your gearbox sorting out. Gearbox problems aren’t cheap to fix – especially if you go to a main dealer – but there are some cost-effective options out there. Plus, some specialist garages will be able to offer you the reconditioned gearbox option will save a lot of money.

“The slowest car we have ever built”.

Audi’s famous strapline and beautiful advert were the first things to catch my eye about the R8, back when it had first been released to the world in a flurry of speed and sleekness. I remembered being sat in front of the TV, drifting off, when this car being gradually put together caught my eye. Within a second of watching that was it – I was hooked.

It turns out that it wasn’t just me who fell in love with Audi’s first ever supercar, the R8. In fact, the months following the launch were jam packed with new stories, Top Gear reviews, articles and blogs all covering the same subject – just how very beautiful the car actually was. I have yet to come across anyone who actively dislikes the car, suggesting that maybe Audi have managed to get it perfectly right.

Audi cars are always attractive, in a somewhat bulky way. They used to be a dull brand, until they started advertising themselves like a bull running to the front of the TV screen, and from then on I have alwasy visualised them as powerful and bold. The TT always used to be popular in a bubbly kind of way, and then they moved a step closer to perfecting the look in the new version TT. The next step up the design ladder resulted in the amazing car we see before us.

The Audi R8 looks stunning. With a low to the ground build and aerodynamic grooves running down the sides, this just looks like it should go incredibly fast. Add to that a brilliantly “Audi” front grill and the attractive dual rear grill, and suddenly the car looks more and more like the supercar it is. For me personally, this shape could be a strong competitor for the nicest car ever made, and I never fail to gasp when I see one drive past on the street. Alongside the stunning supercar R8, Audi are now releasing the Audi R8 Spyder – although personally I prefer the shape of the original.

I haven’t even started on the engine – but the V10 strength is just an added speedy bonus on top of those elegant good looks. I can read the stats and specifications – but hearing the engine roar in real life and whilst watching films such as Iron Man tells me all I really need to know.

Impressively, if you want to own a used Audi R8 rather than an expensive new one, the cost is quite dramatically reduced. I have seen them in dealerships for around £65k, not much more than the much less attractive (but beautiful to drive) RS6. If it was the first cost that was putting you off, therefore, it really isn’t as much of an issue as you would imagine it would be. Of course for those of you for whom that is still out of your price range, a normal used Audi will do the trick, and you can build your way up from there!

When consumers write reviews on the vaious GPS products from the major brands, they sound as though they focus just on the the device itself; the overall look, speed and accuracy, and the user-friendliness of the unit. What these reviews usually ignore, though, is the GPS Software that each product needs in order for the GPS unit to interact with the Windows or Mac systems properly. GPS software is necessary for tasks like synchronizing and installing new and updated maps and POI’s to your GPS device. Just like any other software, GPS software that appears unnecessarily complex should be kept away from. Appreciating the differences between GPS software might not be the deciding factor that makes you choose one given brand, but understanding the supporting software is required after you already decide on one GPS device. The kinds of GPS software are going to normally be nearly identical for the range of models within a particular brand. A nice model to look into is the Garmin Nuvi 465t Truck GPS Navigator.

Garmin Nuvi Software

Garmin Nuvi markets a respectable range of different GPS software that a person might obtain from Garmin’s main website. Software updates could be downloaded manually or by using another kind of software called WebUpdater. Any time you’d like to make WebUpdater download software, all that is needed is to attach the GPS unit and follow the easy wizard steps. There are also several mapping programs which support both Windows and Mac systems. There is actually a special section exclusively for Mac users allowing them to get more use out of their Garmin Nuvi GPS devices.

TomTom HOME

The TomTom HOME lets you search your GPS unit for existing software and run upgrades when required. As well as the basic abilities like transferring maps, TomTom HOME also helps customers to download files currently used in the device, then change and reinstall them to create unique screen graphics, giving your TomTom a more personal look. Adding to that, TomTom has managed to produce software for mobile phones, the majority of which has been discontinued. Fortunately TomTom still makes an application that supports an iPhone 3G.

Magellan Software

Magellan is thought to have the well-known image of marketing inexpensive products, but they now offer plenty of software intended to be downloaded without payment, including two individual versions; VantagePoint and MapGuard. VantagePoint is a multipurpose application that can bring all the GPS functions to a home computer. Every one of the maps, trails, routes, and landmarks are offered and your maps can be perused using both the 2D and 3D effects.

MapGuard is Magellan’s other program and offers MapSend Manager as well as Mapsend Lite. The MapSend Lite is a state of the art application that can see any map on your PC, enabling you to select waypoints and plan directions. This software also support Geocaching, and the consumer can also convert coordinates and mileage into many different formats. A great unit to consider is the Garmin Nuvi 465t Truck GPS Navigator.

Judging Each Application

Please remember that, GPS software ought not be the sole reason in deciding on your latest GPS device. This technology is  only marketed to support their GPS systems and tap into that product’s maximum potential. Out of the ones listed, TomTom HOME easily beats out the competition thanks to the option to tailor the user interface. Some of software can also be sampled even if you have not yet purchased a supported GPS device.