Car News: Oct. 17

The quirky French company Peugeot, pronounced like Poojoe but in a French like accent, might have a crossover like vehicle for their halo car. The car might be called the HX1 and looks to be a cross between a mini-van and a car. Pictured here is just a concept, so don't expect those giant attractive wheels to make production in any form. To make a case like this car plausible, Peugeot's sister company Citroen would need to green light their Metropolis concept. I think the Citroen is much better looking.
The Citroen is on the right, Peugeot on the left.


Do you own a Mini Cooper S? Well, you might want to have it taken back to the dealership. Reports of engine fires have caused the NHTSA to start an investigation which includes about 36,000 Mini Cooper S models from 2007-2008.

Speaking of recalls, Mercedes is recalling some of their diesel models. These include about 6800 cars from their E-class, GL-class, M-class, and R-class models. The suspected problem being that the fuel filter can develop leaks.

Anyone you know in the market for a good sedan that elicits no excitement whatsoever? For that category, the standard choice had always been a Toyota Camry and for those who wanted to enjoy driving a tiny bit would get a Honda Accord. Now there are so many good choices in this realm, the new Sonata from Hyundai, the Optima from Kia, the Ford Fusion and many others. Motor Trend took the Sonata, a Camry, and a Passat to find out which one is the best. And by best, it seems like they meant most comfortable. I do not agree with their results, as I would take the 2 "losers" over who they put in first. Here is the link if you want to read it for yourself. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1112_2012_hyundai_sonata_gls_2012_toyota_camry_le_and_2012_volkswagen_passat_se_family_court/

Modifications on a Budget:

Have you ever gone on a long trip and wished, or at least any passengers you had wished that they had a movie to watch? But dvd players in a car are just for minivans, right? Wrong, there are some aftermarket applications to get a dvd player into your car.

One way is in the dash, the front of it looks just like a normal cd player, then it flips up to reveal a screen. These used to be very popular in the early 2000s. I remember wanting one of these way bad. Now the new thing is touch screens for these devices. These are available on Amazon, I found one for $150 for the cheapest. If you go to a audio warehouse it might be possible to get one for a little cheaper. I am not sure how much professional installation would be, not much as these are simple to install. I remember the first time I saw one of these, I thought it was so cool. The novelty soon wore off.

Something that more high end luxury car companies are doing now is to put in small monitors with dvd players in the headrests of their vehicles. I think this option is more convenient, those in the back seat can watch the movies. Sometimes it is even able to hook up a video game system to the small monitor. A search on Amazon and I found some of these for pretty reasonable price. I think a company named Pyle is having a huge sale, found 2 headrest monitors for $130. That is a good deal. If I had a 4 door, I would snatch them up.

One other way to have a dvd player in your car isn't as clean looking as the other two. But, it is set up so the dvd player can be taken anywhere. Sometimes Walmart or Target will sell a dvd player that has straps on it so you can have it strapped to the headrest. Another thing to do is buy a portable dvd player, which from Walmart are about $60 for a cheap one, then buy a headrest mount, which goes for about $20 on Amazon. So this way is the cheapest, but it also looks the part.  

Car News: Oct. 13

Anybody else already sick of the Toyota/Scion/Subaru rwd coupe? I just wish they would make it already. It has been in concept form for a few years now, so long that even the concept form has been refreshed because the look was getting old. Toyota and Subaru better get some good use out of this platform, they have spent a lot of money building different versions. The latest will be a pre-production racing car that will debut at the Nurburgring in the German VLN.
Electric cars are starting to pop up more often, each car company seems to be either making one or on the verge of producing a car propelled by electrons. The newest one to join the Nissan Leaf is the Mitsubishi i. I personally find it ugly and it looks similiar to the Tata Nano. Other markets have experienced electric cars, electric vehicles are more popular in Europe and Japan. Electric vehicles have been available over seas for the last few years. This new addition, the i, can travel just under 100 miles and takes a whole day to charge in a normal 110 volt. Here is a picture of the i and the Nano. The Mitsubishi is on the left in blue, the Nano on the right in white.

Looks like SAAB might be saved, and from China no less. China's economy has been improving and their auto industry is booming. They are starting to snatch up car companies when they can. They took Volvo and almost took Hummer. A Chinese company also bought the rights and tooling to an older SAAB model. And now another Chinese company is helping out SAAB. I wonder how long this can go on, how long SAAB can limp around. Just for kicks, enjoy this Buick Regal playing jump rope.

Modifications on a Budget: What to do now?

Are there any suggestions or requests for certain modifications for your car? I am still working on mine. There are some small things wrong with it, there is a small fuel leak and an oil leak I need to take care of. I have found the parts for it and just need to work on it and fix it. 

I plan on getting a wide band O2 sensor, it measures the air to fuel ratio. That will probably be it for a while, it is taking a lot more money and time than I thought to get the car fixed. 

What modifications have you done to your car? What modifications do you want to do to your vehicle? Leave a comment below. 

Car News: Oct. 11

Remember that Juke-R I talked about a few days or so ago? Well, here is a video roughly explaining how the feat is going to be done. I am still surprised that Nissan is going to build at least one of these, this little SUV is going to be insane.

Mercedes is known here in the states for premium luxury vehicles and the AMG branch is known to make some scary fast cars. Recently, AMG has come out with even faster cars and slapped on the Black Series tag. The newest Benz to join this family might be the C63 AMG, which is already quick enough. Word has it that only suspension modifications, including brakes and a larger oil cooler, are going to be fitted to the Black Series. Here is a picture of the C63 AMG Black Series driving around the Nurburgring. Thanks to autoblog for the picture.

After the many years that Mercedes' AMG branch and BMW's M division have been around, it seems like other companies are dipping their toes into a performance division line of their own. Ford has been on and off with SVT, Chrysler products use SRT, Lexus might have F, and recently Infiniti started with the idea of using IPL and might be using Sebastian Vettel in the future. Sebastian is some sort of race car driver, F1 I believe. It uses the same engine, but with a new intake and exhaust as well as a re-flashed ECU. Output is rated at 414 horsepower and claimed to reach 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. That isn't that much faster than stock, but it can reach a top speed of 186 mph. That is fast for anything, let alone an SUV. Here is what it will look like when it reaches production.
Do you enjoy Legos as much as I do? Then what is better than a Lego set that looks like a car? Enjoy the video.

Car News: Oct. 8

Remember Tesla? And no, I don't mean the crazy brained inventor, in my opinion he was way smarter than Thomas Edison and I am sad to know that he is not talked about enough. I mean the small electric car company located in California. A few years back they made the Tesla Roadster. It was a pure electric car based off the Lotus Elise and had an estimated range of 250 miles, which is insanely far for an electric car. Here is Jeremy Clarkson's ridicilous review of the Tesla Roadster.  As with all Top Gear reviews, it is all scripted and all entertainment. But, I still believe it has a valid point and it is entertaining. Tesla has come out with more information on their new car, the Model S. It is a 4 door electric car that can supposedly seat up to 7 people. Behind the rear seats is a rear facing bench, just big enough for little kids to sit in. Tesla claims a 0-60mph for the sedan at 4.5 seconds. That is pretty quick for a 4 door.

I have some very sad news for all Honda fans everywhere, the rumored Mugen version of the CRZ has been cancelled. Though most guessed this would happen, it is still heart breaking to see it come to pass. All of us Honda fans were cheering for it to come to production, or just any hot hatch from the CRZ body frame. We were all hoping for a CRX Si revival of some sort. Well, all we can do now is adore the pictures and wish what could have been. Enjoy.

Modifications on a Budget: Join the party

I have recently discovered another way to save money on modifications to your car. Just like anything, it is cheaper to buy used. One way to do this is to join a forum or group that is based on your car or make. If you don’t think there is one, I imagine there has to be a fan base out there somewhere. If there is a fan group for the Chrysler PT Cruiser, there has to be a fan base for any car.

In these groups are people that love cars and can help you out on what you should do next and give you some good ideas. Of course you are going to get a range of expertise within the group. There is usually even local forums you can join. For example, I am part of Utah Hondas group. Through this, I was able to buy a rear disc brake conversion kit for ¼ the price it would cost brand new. Also, if you just like to hang out with other car guys some places have meetings. I believe Salt Lake has recently started a Cars and Coffee type deal where enthusiasts of any kind gather to talk. I believe the meetings are Saturday mornings.

You can also read the stories of what others have done to their rides and ask questions. It would be worth it to Google search for a local car club or some type of internet forum you would be able to join. 

Car News: Oct. 6

Chevy has taken its new Camaro ZL1, the uber Camaro that makes 580 hp, around the famous Nurburgring. Though times on this track are never official, it is always a good bragging point for automakers. They claim a time of 7:41. Not a bad time, not great, but not bad. For comparison, that is just a tad slower than the Ferrari F430 Scuderia.
Speaking of Ferrari, the successor to the polarizing Enzo is due to come out soon. Every 10 years Ferrari comes out with an ultimate super car and that time is up. All that is known is that it will have a V12 and some sort of hybrid system. I am hoping for the kinetic energy recovery system that has been shown in concept form on the 599. This gives the driver an extra shot of boost at the push of the button. The system recovers the energy lost from braking and stores it in a battery unit to be used later.

In true Bugatti fashion, their 4 door Galibier has been post-poned  until 2015. The reason being design issues between the concept and a production car that might actually be called the Royale. Here are a couple pictures of the Galibier concept. I love those openings on the engine, they are stunning. I hope those make it into production. While the 8 tips on the exhaust might be a little much.
What is the coolest/scariest undercover cop car you have seen? The only cop car I have spotted before was a Dodge Charger. What about a Nissan GTR? Ever thought you could run from the cops? Think again, this is one of the fastest accelerating production cars ever made. Here is a youtube video of the super cop car. No word on what department has it or where. The engine is said to be kept stock. Keep an eye out for the GTR police.

Modifications on a Budget: The Junk Yard

Are you a handy man and like to fix things yourself? Or would you like to learn this trade to save some serious cash? Well I have some great news for you, well it is new to me at least. Today I visited a magical place known as the junk yard. It is a great place to learn how to take apart a car, cause if you mess it up, who cares? It isn't your car. I needed a part that a mechanic would charge me over $100 for, got it for $6 at the yard. Plus, it was a lot of fun taking part of the car apart to get to the little pump that I needed. If you know what is wrong with the car and what part needs to be replaced, it is a great way to save lots of money.
Also, it could be a way to change your car up a little bit. A popular thing to do is to add Acura Integra seats to pretty much any small car. If you can find them at a junk yard, it would be a cheap way to add some good seats. Or there are other aftermarket parts left on cars there that are available, for instance I found a racing steering wheel on a older Honda CRX, but I was in a hurry and couldn't grab it. There was a 300ZX there as well, but someone already grabbed the twin turbo set up.

If you know what you are doing and what you are looking for, a junk yard could save you a lot of money.
This isn't the exact junk yard I went to, but it was a similar set up.

Car News: October 4th

It is crazy that October is already here, time flies when having fun with cars.
Bentley is rumored to be planning an even more powerful and lighter version of the Continental Supersports. Rumored to have about 650 hp, and weigh about  440 lbs less than the standard Continental, that is a hefty sum of weight to take off. But, remember that the Continental is no super model, it weighs in around 5000 lbs. That is a fat beast, and even taking off over 400 lbs, it is still very heavy.

The Ford Escape is very old and has been due for a refresh for the last few years. The 2013 Escape is set to debut at the Los Angeles show this November. Though it is not sure how it will look, power trains are known. All of which are 4 cylinders and 2 of them will be turbocharged in the Ecoboost fashion. Pictured here, thanks to autoblog, is a picture of the Ford Vertrek concept. Though it is possible the Escape will look similar to this.
Nissan is thinking of reviving the Datsun name as a sub-brand, kind of the same relationship that Scion is to Toyota. But Nissan already has a sub-brand in Europe called Dacia, and if you watch Top Gear UK you know about Dacia and James May's fascination with the company. It is thought that Datsuns would only be rebadged Dacias. But I sure hope that they make a 240 or something along that lines. Something to compete with the Toyota FT-86.
Thirsting for another Italian super car? Don't think there is enough of those already? Well, you are in luck. There is a new Italian sports car maker on the rise, and its name is Vygor. And yes, I spelled that correctly. As of now, not much is known. But there is a picture, and here it is. Judging by the photo, I would say it carries its engine in the front, note the air-inlet in the hood and the giant tear drop holes in the front all used to cool the engine and force air into perhaps a turbocharger. As a start up company, it is likely that it will take an existing engine and cram it under the hood. My guess would be the 6.2 LS9 found in the ZR1 or any other Corvette engine. Those seem to be easy enough to get your hands on. Thanks to autoblog for the picture.

Modifications on a Budget: Super leggera super cheap

That is just a fun word to say, super leggera. Go ahead, say it. It is Italian for super light. It is a trick automakers do to make their cars faster and more efficient, they take out weight. Sometimes taking out a back seat, or less sound deadening, or using a thinner glass for windows, etc. There are a few different tricks automakers have. The funny thing is, they will usually charge you more for a car they took things out of, which doesn't make much sense. For example, the Porsche Boxter Spyder costs more than the Porsche Boxter S, and all they did was take out the radio, air conditioning, and even the door handles are traded out for little straps. Porsche takes all these out, and then charge the customer a few thousand extra for the car. It seems preposterous, but it works. Weight is the enemy of speed and handling. How many fat people do you see in the sprinting event at the Olympics? What about the skiing and snowboarding events? None.
There are a few cheap and easy ways to make your car go on a diet, that is if you are looking for better performance. One thing to do, is to remove the back seats. There are usually just bolted in there, so you will need to find a friend who has some tools. You might even be able to sell those seats. This is actually the next step for my vehicle, as soon as I pass the safety inspection. Also removing the sound deadening under the carpets and in the doors will save several pounds as well. I would only suggest this if you don't mind a loud interior. And if you want to be extreme, you can take out the A/C compressor and condenser. That will save you not only weight, but also power.
Good luck on in your endavours. If you have any more ideas on how to save weight, leave a comment.    

Car News: Sept. 30

Have you ever wanted an ugly and perhaps overpriced exotic car? Well a start up car company in California known as Vision has your back. They are trying their best to get this 90s looking super car into production. Rumored to have 6 liter V-12 with around 700 hp. Well at least you could get it going fast enough that no one would have to look at it long enough. Thanks to autoblog.com for the picture. I for one hope it doesn't get produced.

Were you a fan of the inline 6s BMW had slot into the M3? Have you been upset by the new V8 engine and yearning after the inline 6 instead? There might be some good news, rumor has it that the next M3 will be an inline 6. Here is a quick video of what is believed to be a proto-type M3. 

Want to rid yourself of the dependency of fossil fuels and drive an electric vehicle? Well then you are reading the wrong blog, as this is for petrol heads. But if that is you, Nissan has some good news. Production of the Leaf has been ramped up and the vehicle will be sold in more states. So if you were living in a state that couldn't get it yet, keep checking and you soon might be able to drive away silently in a brand new electric vehicle. 

Now to end on the best news of all, Lamborghini will be producing the awe-inspiring Sesto Elemento. Sad thing, is that only 20 examples will be made, with just over a handful coming to the United States. So the chance of seeing one is very slim. The car will be made entirely out of carbon fiber, helping it to tip the scales at a petite 2200 lbs. For comparison, you know those cute little Mini Coopers that seem to pop up everywhere? The Mini weighs 400 lbs more then the Lamborghini. Then factor in the horsepower ratings of each vehicle, and it is apparent this Lambo is going to be fast. Like crush your eyeballs in the back of your sockets fast. That is, if you can afford the estimated $2 million price tag. But one major downside of the car, it is rumored to be a track car and won't be road legal. Sad. For now, here is a picture you can drool over. 

Car Apparel: Shirts

Now not everyone wears belts, but everybody wears some sort of shirt. Car shirts could appeal to most anybody then, unless you live in one of those foreign countries where you don’t wear shirts or pants. But then again, those areas most likely don’t have internet either and you wouldn’t be reading this. A car shirt is an even bigger statement then the belt of showing what companies you appreciate or what cars you find interesting, or at times what car companies you would like to relieve yourself on.

Just as many different types of cars there are, there are more different types of shirts. There are shirts for babies and up to adults. I personally have only 2 car shirts. One, I got for free when I went to the Salt Lake Auto Expo and received it from a Ford Representative marketing the Fusion Hybrid. The other I got years ago when I got my drivers license, it is the Acura racing team, and it still fits. Just like any other piece of clothing, it tells about who you are.

When picking out a car shirt, it is best to find one that fits your personality. You need to know what you want. Maybe you want one to match your car? Or perhaps to display the fact that your vehicle has a turbocharger or supercharger under its hood? Or to dream about a car you one day hope to own? If you dream of owning a Ferrari or Lamborghini or any exotic, their t-shirts are usually very expensive. And you might look like a snob wearing one, unless it is an obscure brand that isn’t well known like Spyker or Koenigsegg.

For those into the import crowd, a good site is http://importbible.com/shop/. Those more into muscle cars might look here, http://www.motorbrandsusa.com/products. Another great site for cool shirts is http://gearheadshirts.com/. But the best thing to do is to just search in google, there are so many different styles that there is no way I could cover them all. 

Modifications on a Budget: Then there was light

One improvement to the car that can add some visual flair, especially at night, is putting in new lights. This is something very simple and relatively cheap. The newest technology in lighting is LEDs, as they are brighter and last longer than conventional bulbs. The same is true with interior lighting for your vehicle. You can get some LED interior lights for you vehicle for about $12 on Amazon or Ebay. One thing to make sure is that the LED set up comes with universal adapters. Most of the interior lights set up in cars are the same, but then again I have only installed this set up on 2 cars and both of them Japanese makes.

I bought my particular set up from Amazon. I have purchased ones from Ebay, Ebay seemed a little cheaper but I trust Amazon more. It was about $13 with shipping from Amazon for 1 LED, while the one I bought from Ebay a year ago was $18 with shipping and had 2 LEDs. The only problem with the product from Amazon was that it said it contained 3 universal adaptors, it had two, and it was supposed to be blue, it is white. In this picture you can see the two universal adapters. Usually the springy one is used for the major light for the car, and the other is used for map lights.

First step is to just remove the plastic covering of the light and remove the light bulb, but even before that make sure the light is switched to off. Be careful, the bulb might be hot if it has been on a while. Use a cloth or some material to remove if hot. Once removed, see what universal adaptor is needed. Insert the adapter, click in the LED, I am not sure if the colors need to match but I do just in case. You may need to work with it a little bit to make sure the contacts reach the wires. I had to push in the contacts in the light assembly to make them touch. Some LEDs have a sticky side you can use to make it stick to the ceiling or part of the light assembly. Make sure to test the light and make sure it works. If having problems, you need to make sure the exposed wires on the adapter are making contact with the contacts in the light assembly. Once it works, put the plastic cover on and you are done. Congratulations. It is a cheap and easy modification, about $15 and takes about 5 minutes. I had blue in my first car, it looked great at night with my brown interior. Warning, blue looks great but it is hard to read anything under that blue light. There are other colors, give your car that personal flair and unique look at night with a cool color.  

Before: without flash.                                                                                      After: without flash

Car News: Sept. 26

Are you a fan of the Nissan GTR? Love the all-conquering Godzilla monster from Japan? But you need more room for kids and or supplies? You just might be in luck. Pictured here is a very special Nissan Juke. It has the engine from a GTR along with the wheels and transmission to give the Juke its all-wheel drive. No word on price or if it will even be mass-produced. Thanks to Motor Trend for the picture.

Speaking of Nissan GTR, the 2013 Nissan GTR should be coming out with 570 horsepower along with other minor adjustments to suspension and aerodynamics. That is about 40 horsepower more than the current GTR and it is already one of the world’s fastest production cars. It is one of 3 production cars that can hit 60 mph from a standstill in under 3 seconds, which is crazy fast.

Corvette is saying “me too” with Porsche and their transmission choice. The C7 Corvette, within the next few years a new Corvette should be released, is rumored to sport a 7 speed manual transmission. The 2012 Porsche has a 7 speed manual and will be on sale soon, though the new model is visually very similar to the outgoing model and is hard to pick out.

A Hyundai Genesis Coupe has been spotted with a supercharger under its hood. This could be a R-spec version of the 3.8 liter V-6. Since Hyundai will not put their new 5 liter engine in the coupe, this supercharged engine could go against the Mustang GT and the Camaro SS.

Gordon Murray, the man behind the greatest supercar of all time the McLaren F1, is still designing cars. Though he no longer is designing legends like the F1, his most current work is looking into the future of automobiles. He is currently working on an electric vehicle. It is called the Teewave AR-1. The car features lots of carbon fiber, to keep it light weight. The engine comes from the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It has a limited range of 100 miles and can only go 100 mph. Electric cars have a long ways to go still. Thanks to autoblog.com for the picture.  

Car Apparel: Seatbelt belts

Yes you read that correctly, seatbelt belts. The manufacturers even claim that the seatbelt came out of an actual car, adding to the cool factor. There are a few different companies you can choose from: these include Acura, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Corvette, Dodge, Ford, GM, Honda, Hummer, Jeep, Lincoln, Nissan, Mustang, Pontiac, and Viper. So no matter what company you love and show devotion to, most likely you can find a seatbelt belt that will help you show your devotion even more.

I have bought two, a Viper seatbelt belt and an Acura logo one. I chose the Viper because the Dodge Viper was my first dream car and I still have a spot in my heart for the beast of a car. It was a man’s man car, with the latest version pumping out 600 horsepower and no traction control. It took a lot of nerve to drive any version of the Viper. It is still one of my dream cars and I hope one day to be man enough to handle one. With the seatbelt belt, I feel like I own at least a piece of my dream car and sometimes can feel the power of the Viper through the seatbelt. But that might be part of my imagination.

My first car was an Acura and the plan was to buy another Acura and the Acura seatbelt belt was to match with the car. Acura and Honda are my favorite mass production car companies that are imported to the United States and that was another reason for buying the Acura seatbelt belt.

What I like most about the seatbelt belts, is that they are just like seatbelts. They even make the clicking noise when put on, and to take the belt off you have to push the logo button. If you are a car fanatic and you are looking for a new belt, I would highly recommend one. They run about $16-$22 depending on which one you want. Search either on Amazon.com for cheap Corvette and Mustang ones. Or, check rockitrigs.com for a wider selection but a little higher price. And remember, buckle up.  

Modifications on a Budget: Meet my car

O the joys of car shopping. Some, including myself, enjoy it. On the other hand, there are many that loathe the prospect of searching for a new vehicle. I have recently sold my car just to turn around and buy another. One reason was to teach myself to drive a manual, yes shock shock, I don’t know how to drive stick. The other purpose was to find something more exciting and a vehicle I would enjoy modifying. After much enjoyable searching I found a Honda Civic that had a small turbocharger. I am not a mechanic and don’t completely understand how it works. All I know is that it is attached to the exhaust tubes and spins off the waste from the explosion from the engine. For a more in-depth look into turbochargers feel free to visit http://www.howstuffworks.com/turbo.htm. And if there is anybody that knows more, please comment. One thing I have learned, if you want a modified car, go out and buy a used car that already has those modifications you want. The seller can’t sell it for what they put into it, though they often try. Here are some pictures of my new project. This first picture is the boost gauge that keeps track how much pressure the turbo is building. It was machined into the spot where a small cup holder used to be on the stock vehicle.

Here is a picture of the turbo. It is a td04h1 turbo set up with a custom blow off valve. The turbo, I believe, is from a Saab. You know, those quirky cars from Sweden. I love the sound of the turbo boosting, and if you haven’t heard a turbo spooling it is necessary.

This last picture shows a Skunk works strut bar. This is to help with the handling, so it can turn faster in the corners. It seems to be doing its job, the car handles well. The car also has a sport suspension kit, but that proved hard to capture on my digital camera with my limited photo abilities. There are more modifications, and I will show those later. I will also document future modifications I make to the car. I am also open to any suggestions. 

Car News

The automotive industry is a living, breathing entity. It is ever changing and forming around what the customer wants and future technology that will making driving safer. Saab seems to be in constant trouble and Volkswagen is trying to take over the world, one automotive manufacturer at a time. But even Volkswagen won’t touch Saab; the only company crazy enough to buy Saab was a peculiar car manufacturer from the Netherlands. In this section will be a short recap on what is going on in the automotive world each week. With the recession, the last couple years have been turmoil and a lot has changed. GM has shed itself of Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile, and Hummer. Ford has sold off Land Rover and Jaguar to an Indian car company, how surprising is that? To top it off, they sold Volvo to a Chinese company.  But that is years in the past, and lots has happened. It would take up too much time to explain all that has happened in between. Instead, let us talk about more recent events.

Ford has finally ended production of the Crown Victoria. The final Ford Crown Victoria rolled off the assembly line in Ontario, Canada. Some might find it funny that the last of such an American vehicle was built in Canada and bought by a customer in Saudi Arabia. Don’t have enough room in your garage for a Lamborghini Aventador? Well, you can buy a 1/8^th scale model. It is made out of diamonds and gold and platinum and is going up for auction with a starting bid of, sit down, $4.7 million. For that price it should clean the house and mow the yard without complaining. Once again Americans have a hot wagon to drool ever, but never experience. Audi is testing their RS4 Avant around the Nürburgring in Germany. And Land Rover has decided to change the way they have been naming their SUVs. They will go to naming their vehicles instead of using abbreviations and numbers. 

Car Apparel

No, this has nothing to do with dressing your car up in clothes, though a bra for your car could be a good idea, depending on how far you drive and the areas in which you commute. But no, I am referring to clothes and accessories to wear. Want to show your allegiance to a certain car brand? Or you might just think it looks cool. Whatever your reason to wear car apparel, this section will go over different types of apparel and will include ways to obtain these different types of apparel.

One in particular that I have really gotten interested in is the seatbelt belt. Manufacturers of these products claim that the belt part is actually from the car. To me, that adds to the cool factor knowing that this was actually part of a car once, not just some cheap manufactured belt to look like it was once a seatbelt. But, that is if I believe and trust the manufacturers of the product. It is somewhat disappointing that some car companies’ seatbelts are not available for purchase. For example, I was sad to see that companies such as Abarth, Renault, Ferrari, Lotus, along with other European brands. But there are some other brands that have a strong following, such as Jeep, Honda, Hummer, and others. These are pretty cool accessories, they click shut and to release the belt, you need to push the central button. They are usually a big hit with friends. 

Modifications on a Budget

Have you ever wanted to modify your vehicle? Not completely pleased with an aspect of the car or just wanting to improve the dynamics of the car or truck? Have you wondered what you could do with the money you have? I am a huge car guy and I like modifying, making the car my own and different than others on the road. But being an average college student, I don’t have an unlimited source of cash to draw from to do whatever modifications that I want, I have to limit myself to what I want most out of the car.

Different modifications for the car can be divided into 4 categories; performance, handling, audio, and visual. Depending what you want most out of the car, will determine what you will spend most of your time and money into. If your main priority is to humble the guy in the Vette next to you, or maybe you just want to blow out the old man’s ear drums. While others want to make their car stand out in some way, whether in a good or bad way. It is all a matter of personal choice.

I have been obsessed with cars my whole life and religiously studied them for the last decade. To my friends I am known as the “car guy” and they come to me with their car questions. I try to read car blogs and car magazines every day, and if I don’t, I catch up on Sunday with any car news. I have a close friend that is a car mechanic and I am a member of the SAE club, which standards for Standards of Automotive Engineering. Another great way to learn more is from each other, I encourage any information or questions from any reader. Throughout this blog I will talk about modifications on my vehicle and go through the process for a few of them. I will also have two other sections, car news and car apparel. The purposes of these will be discussed later. Enjoy.