Automobiles Review

Author: autoview

Cars are probably the most precious toys for men

Cars are probably the most precious toys for men and sometimes we spend a lot of money for improving or restoring our vehicles, instead of buying things for ourselves.

People like different cars depending on their nature. Some of them prefer super sports vehicles bringing a lot of adrenaline, other like big cozy limousines or even old-school cars having a real spirit. However, all auto lovers want to improve their vehicles, because neither the speed is never enough nor the comfort.

A very good opportunity to upgrade your car is buying parts online, because most of the times you’ll find the needed spare fast and even cheaply than in normal conventional store. EcklersChevelle offers a wide range of car spares at decent prices for Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Porsche and even for some old Chevy models.

Whether you need a single car part or you run a major restoration project, Ecklers will provide everything you need in order to repair your vehicle. All car parts are individually selected for quality and value, so you don’t need to worry if you need ultra-rare or historical pieces.

Customizing parts are also available including sports suspensions, brake kits, seat-covers, gifts, and carbon fiber trim kits. Practically, you can fully redesign your vehicle in order to make it look better as well as the performance.

Using online parts suppliers like ecklers is a great way to customize your car quickly and inexpensively. soon, youll have the tricked out car youve been dreaming of and can show off your toy with pride!

July 26, 2012
Review of Audi A3

German car manufacturer Audi has released a new version of their A3 model in 2012 with their idiosyncratic style and panache. The badge itself will stir interest from their diehard fans but how well equipped is the model for the run of the mill car owner?

First of all let’s look at the price; the newest model comes in at around upward of £20,000. When visiting the Audi website, you may be inclined to add a couple of their added extras, whilst the manufacturer has always offered the most luxurious of extras, adding on just a couple could see the price soar.

Fortunately for buyers, a new model always means used car prices fall. This is not, though, good news for those looking to sell a used Audi A3. If you are looking to buy or sell, make sure you do so through legitimate sales platforms, used car reviews are always thorough enough to paint a fairly detailed portrait of what’s on sale.

2012 Audi A3 2.0 TFSI S-Line

The exterior design is as sleek and stylish as ever with a sharper body and slimmer headlights. Although a little wider, the new model is substantially lighter than its predecessor making it far more energy efficient.

The Multi Media Interface comes as standard with all new Audi models and the A3 is no exception. A slim touch screen appears from within the dashboard that allows the user to control anything from music to air conditioning.

With regards to room there is a lot to give in the front seat of the new Audi. A little less can be said about the back seats but there shouldn’t be too much discomfort, even for adults. The boot space in the new hatch back has grown to 365 cubic litres from the previous 350. It may not seem like much, but it can really make the difference if you are part of a large family.

All in all, the new A3 is a very smooth ride, although some test drivers have claimed its gear change to be a little sticky as well as the steering to be somewhat heavy handed for a small family car. Its CO2 emissions make it a lot more economical in terms of car tax and its agronomical design and weight loss add to reduced running costs.

The new A3 comes only in a 3 door model for now, so despite a large boot capacity, the family car owner may want to wait to see if a 5 door option is offered in the future.

July 5, 2012
Citroen C3 Picasso

Camping is a great way to spend time with your family without the demands of the real world providing interference. Before setting out on a camping holiday, preparations must go into the trip to ensure you have everything you need. After all, there are not nearby stores out in the wilderness. With so much that has to be brought as well as unique driving conditions that may be faced when accessing the camp site, it should be of no surprise that not just any sort of vehicle will do for camping. Certain models works much better for camping than others. One model that makes a good camping car is the Citroen C3 Picasso.

When one climbs into the Picasso, they will easily notice the space. This makes the Picasso a comfortable vehicle for drivers of any shape or size to feel comfortable behind the wheel. Both the seat and steering wheel can be easily adjusted. They feature a good range of adjustment settings. The rear seat bench is split 60/40 and can easily slide either backwards or forwards to accommodate people or cargo.

An excellent people carrier, the Citroen C3 Picasso, features a lot of space for both camping gear and passengers. The boot of the Citroen C3 Picasso is quite large when makes it a great place to stow gear and provisions for your camping trip. It can provide a range of 385 litres or 500 litres of storage. By folding down the rear bench, the storage of 500 litres can be realized. In comparison to other people carriers, the C3 Picasso is only slightly longer. However, overall it does provide a lot of room inside. The high roofline of the vehicles adds additional space.

May 31, 2012
What’s in Store at Ford for 2013?

The 2013 model season is an exciting one for the Ford Motor Company. Financially and creatively, Ford is in the midst of a renaissance, and the consumer is already reaping the benefits of that resurgence. This is especially true in the car markets, where the exciting options range from sedans to hatches to coupes. In that spirit, let’s examine the top five car models that will cause a stir at Ford Canada dealers this year.

Ford Fusion

Ford Fusion

The Fusion has been a best-seller among mid-size sedans in America for several years, so it surprised many when Ford announced a total redesign. The new model will get a dramatic style overhaul, and consumers will have their choice of three conventional engines or a gas-electric or plug-in hybrid. The base engine will be a 2.5L four-cylinder that makes 170 horsepower. A turbocharged 2.0L makes 237 hp. The Fusion Hybrid uses the 2.0L along with a li-ion battery pack, which lets it outperform the Toyota Camry at 47 mph in the city.

Ford Focus

Ford Focus

The biggest change with the 2013 edition of the Ford Focus is the ST, a performance model that many are affectionately referring to as the “hot hatch.” The ST is the successor to the Focus SVT, which was available in the early 2000s and gave the best German and Japanese front-wheel-drive compacts a run for their money. The biggest upgrade that the ST brings is a 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 252 hp, which is 92 hp more than the standard Focus model makes. The ST includes a 6-speed manual transmission, and Ford does not plan to offer an automatic version.

Ford Taurus

Ford Taurus

The Ford Taurus boasts a large trunk and a big, comfortable interior, and it is one of the most appealing interpretations of the classic full-size sedan on the market. For 2013, Ford is simply refreshing the exterior and adding an array of conveniences to all trim levels. The biggest change is under the hood, where the base engine will now be a 3.5L V6 that makes 290 hp. The EPA estimates the fuel performance at 19/29/23 city/highway/combined mpg. The standard equipment package is quite nice and includes 17-inch wheels, cruise control, air-conditioning, and a six-speaker audio system.

Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

In North America, there’s been a great deal of focus — pun intended — on the 250-hp ST, but in Europe, the focus has been on the Fiesta, an even smaller hot hatch. The 2013 Fiesta ST, which will also be available in Canada, is a 3-door version of the ST concept car that turned heads at last year’s L.A. auto show. Like the concept, the Fiesta ST has a 1.6L EcoBoost inline-four engine that makes 177 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, and Ford has promised 60 mph in less than seven seconds.

Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang needs no introduction. It is classic American musclecar, and while there is a new Mustang generation on the horizon, the current one is still a top muscle car and one of the best values on the sports car market. The Mustang is available as coupe and convertible and in six trim levels: V6, V6 Premium, GT, GT Premium, Boss 302, and the Shelby GT500. The basic 3.7L V6 makes 305 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, and the Shelby 350GT makes a whopping 662 hp and 613 lb-ft of torque.

May 28, 2012
The GT 86, Toyota’s Headline Car of 2012

The car Toyota fans have been waiting for is finally here. The GT 86 was announced to a lot of hype way back in 2009 at the Tokyo Motor Show, and since then the Japanese automaker (in partnership with Subaru) has kept us cooling our heels waiting to drive its fastest accelerating sports car.

Hailed for its incredible 1239kg weight, the GT 86 still manages to pack a powerhouse under the hood. Equipped with the Toyota Subaru “D-4S” boxer engine, which is a 2.0-litre engine that accelerates from 0 to 62 in 7.7 seconds, the Toyota also has plenty of cruising speed, reaching up to 137mph. Although it probably won’t win awards for its powertrain, the GT86’s performance is totally satisfactory considering its visual appeal and trappings.

Built to classic coupe proportions, this Toyota has a long bonnet and low roofline, with sporty touches like the tailgate spoiler, twin-exit exhausts and contoured roofline. Taking design cues from the earlier FT-HS concept, which was a hybrid sports car concept released in 2007, the GT 86 certainly looks the part of an aerodynamic behemoth.

With the nickname of 2+2, and despite its “impressively comfortable” front seats, there’s also a little legroom in the back for passengers, although it’s probably a better fit for kids. Standard interior features are impressive and include dual-zone air-conditioning, leather wrapping on the steering wheel and gear lever, keyless entry and dash-mounted touchscreen with navigation and entertainment.

The Coupe car joins a line-up of eco-friendly cars this year that includes the Prius Plug-in, the Prius+ and the Yaris hybrid, all of which are set to hit showrooms sometime from mid-2012.

May 28, 2012
1950 Chevrolet Bel Air – Ecklers Early Chevy

Chevrolet Bel Air was firstly introduced in 1950 and it was produced until 1975. In the middle of the 20^th century, the manufacturer offered a revolutionary style that would set a pattern for decades.

The Bel Air Hardtop was styled as a convertible with a non-detachable solid roof. There were a lot of early models like this, but they weren’t appreciated. However, the customers liked the new style a lot and Bel Air had quite huge success.

1950 Chevrolet Bel Air came out with independent front suspension. The car cost “just” $1 741 and weighed 1463 kg (3225 lb), which was very light compared to other vehicles from the same era.

The Bel Air has a wide chrome strip of molding from the rear fender bulge, to the rear bumper. The interior also featured a lot of chrome for example on the lower part of the dashboard, and a de luxe Bel Air steering wheel with full chrome horn ring.

There were two engine choices, depending on the transmission ordered.

More than sixty years passed since, the first Bel Air came from the production line, so finding parts or upgrades for such cars is a bit tricky. There are companies, which offer some parts for early Chevys, but you can find almost anything for your car at Ecklers Early Chevy.

However, if you cannot find specific part, you can always contact Ecklers.

May 7, 2012
Are Renault Set to Electrify the Car Market?

62% of motorists have reduced the amount of time they spend behind the wheel as a result of rising running costs. Remarkably, a further 5% of motorists have been forced to give up driving altogether.

This is a problem for which there has appeared to be no obvious solution. Public transport is often not on time and certainly not convenient; while efforts by major manufacturers to produce a viable green car option have been sparse. The green cars that have been produced have not been viewed as a viable alternative by motorists in general either due to high initial purchase costs or impracticality.

However, French car manufacturer Renault believes that it finally has the answer to these problems; and is so confident in the concept that it has gone about launching a complete electric vehicle fleet.

Why have others failed?

Nissan became the first major manufacturer to put an electric vehicle into mass production in 2010 with the Nissan Leaf; a car with a selling price of £25,990 (after a government subsidy) which is capable of about 100 miles between charges.

Since the launch, it has been the high initial selling price which has prevented the vehicle from becoming mainstream, despite the obvious consumer demand for more fuel friendly options. After all, a brand new Focus would cost close to £12,000 less than a brand new Leaf.

It has been estimated that it would cost just £2 for an electric vehicle such as this to recoup its total charge. Based on this logic, it would cost just £180 per year for the average driver to complete their annual 9,000 miles of on-the-road travel. This works out at a remarkable saving of about £1,150 compared to what the average Vauxhall Corsa driver would spend each year on fuel.

However, while this is a significant amount, it would still take over ten years to recover the additional purchase costs before overall savings could be experienced.

What has Renault done different?

Renault has therefore set about dramatically reducing these high initial purchase costs so that they are not too dissimilar from those charged for conventional fossil fuel vehicles. The cheapest of their offerings is the Renault Twizy city car which available from just £6,690 but is still capable of completing 62 miles between charges.

This low cost mentality has been maintained across the whole of the vehicle range even with the new Renault Kangoo electric van which is actually £4,000 less expensive than a conventional Ford Transit.

However, it is the Renault Zoe which is perhaps the most impressive offering in Renault’s electric range. The Zoe is equivalent in size to the Clio and available from £13,650. Most impressive of all is the fact that it has a range 130 miles between charges which will no doubt be more than enough for the average motorist to complete their daily commute. The fact that it is just under £4,000 more expensive than a Fiesta means that running cost savings wouldn’t take half as long to be experienced.

Are there any drawbacks?

The fact that the electric vehicles are more limited in terms of their total range between charges/re-fills is obviously a handicap, but the total time it takes to recharge is actually a larger concern. This limited range would surely not be half as problematic if it didn’t take between 6 and 8 hours to recoup total power.

Nevertheless, as Renault itself has pointed out, a range of 130 miles on a Zoe will be more than sufficient for the average commuter. In addition to this, the fact that the Twizy is not liable to road tax or congestion charging makes it the ideal city runabout in a place like London.

However, the one problem which has been created by Renault is the contract governing battery hire. Anyone who purchases a Renault Zoe for instance must commit to paying £70 to rent the battery for the next 3 years otherwise they aren’t going to be moving very far. The contract also stipulates that owners will not be able to do more than 6,000 miles per year within paying an additional unspecific “excess mileage charge”.

Battery rental charges are therefore likely to go some way to eradicating the fuel savings made by motorists; with Zoe owners set to pay at least an extra £840 per year; reducing the potential saving to just £310 over the cost of buying fuel for a Vauxhall Corsa.

Have Renault got it right?

Renault have made a significant step forward with these vehicles, creating affordable electric vehicles for the first time which are likely to financially viable to the public at large. On top of this Renault are the kings of marketing and brand perception in the motoring world, and if anyone is capable of carving out an attractive image for an electric car it is them.

However, these battery rental fees are a massive cause for concern which will likely prove off putting for the majority of motorists. This along with the limited range and length recharging times will likely prove to be off putting for the majority.

But this doesn’t mean that Renault’s electric range won’t appeal to anyone, with city dwellers likely to find the Renault Twizy a very attractive proposition. Battery rental on the Renault Twizy is just £45 per month; a fee which would be recouped by spending just 5 days in areas covered by the London congestion charge. Owners could then start to benefit from a heavily reduce annual fuel bill despite spending well under £7,000 for the initial vehicle.

May 3, 2012
Car tires – the right decision

The tires are some of the most important parts of the vehicles. There are hundreds of models car tires, but only few of them will give you safety and confidence, when you drive in low-traction surfaces such as wet asphalt. To understand, how important the tires are, think about them as the only contact of your 1500kg vehicle with the road.

You can find a lot of information on the internet for brands, prices and tests of tires, but you have to know what you are searching for. Tires information is very important, when you make your choice. Often people do not pay attention, what are they buying and in several months they sorry for that. A set of good tires in regular 16 or 17 inches size starts around $800 and if you want nice grippy car shoes you will pay almost double of this.

Remember that tires offering more traction are softer and they will wear out fast. Often this happens in 15 to 20 thousand miles. Other important thing is the tire age, because the rubber is getting old, especially, when it is put on harsh conditions – cold, heat, sun, etc. So, tires older than two years will not have the same qualities as brand new.

Car winter tires are obligatory, if you live in areas, where snows or the temperatures are below 7 degrees C for more than a week. The winter tires improve the safety and performance of your car during such conditions, because they don’t lose their qualities in low temperatures unlike the summer sets. On the other hand, it is not recommended to drive with winter tires during other seasons. Remember that the winter tires should be more narrow than the summer sets, because it is easier to drive on snow surfaces. For example, if you drive 225/45 R17 during the other seasons, pick something like 205/50 R17 for the winter. It will be a good choice and those tires are less expensive than the wider.

So, before you head on buying you next set of tires – summer or winter, check out for the information you need to make the right decision.

May 3, 2012
Accident Injuries and Claims Due To Driver Negligence

In some cities and towns, there is extremely high population of people; this means more sources of transportation and vehicles on the road. With this, accidents are also going to be higher and there are going to be many more individuals injured or lost during these accidents. It is not just the drivers of these vehicles that will feel this cruel truth; passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists are also prone to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In such a highly populated area, what would normally be a minor wreck can quickly involve several individuals, higher risks of injury, and possible fatalities. It is important to recognize how and when to file injury claims for motor vehicle accidents, while being able to find an appropriate legal representative.

What is Driver Negligence?
Driver negligence is the circumstance in which a wreck or accident occurred not because of an unavoidable situation, but because the driver was not paying attention to what he or she was doing. Some examples of this may be ignoring the road while playing with the radio or a cell phone, putting on make-up while driving, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driver negligence is generally at fault for many accidents, with texting while driving being an incredibly popular concern among law officials. This has been made illegal in many states, in an attempt to lower accidents due to this activity. When driver negligence is at fault for an accident, it is much easier to file a claim and be able to receive compensation once injured. Injuries due to these wrecks can be very serious, just as with any other accident. However, when one driver is not paying attention to the road, they can cause much more damage than if they had attempted to avoid the collision.

Seeking Compensation for Injuries Sustained in Motor Vehicle Accidents
It is quite often that individuals will sustain injuries when in a wreck. Sometimes, they will require medical attention, and they may even require multiple visits; possibly lifelong medical attention. These bills are a good reason to file for medical compensation. In some cases, these injuries may severely alter one’s ability to work, or lower their quality of life. This usually results in much higher compensation amounts. In order to start the long road of filing a claim, you must first find a reputable legal representative. Personal injury lawyers are specialists when it comes to injuries inflicted due to accidents. They can assist you in recognizing and organizing your claim, determining the amount of compensation that is appropriate, and helping you to begin the process. While this process is going on, you should not sign any papers or contracts with insurance companies, and you should not accept any money that they offer. This can result in you having received a much lower amount of compensation than recommended by the lawyer. Once your lawyer has your case ready, it can take a while to settle. The many peace offerings being made could be tempting, but remember: you’re worth more than what they offer, and your lawyer will help you to get it!

April 9, 2012
Best Selling Cars in February 2012

There are cars being sold every day, with thousands of people buying a car every day. This means that almost every type of vehicle is on the market at any given time. Different people are seeking cars for various needs. It may be for fuel efficiency, work vehicles, vehicles that can carry a large number of passengers, for safety concerns, or for power. No matter what type of car someone might be looking for, there are particular models that are always selling hotter than others. Usually, these vehicles are highly versatile to suit many different types of people and needs. Below are the ones which were the hottest as far as February 2012 was concerned and topped the charts.

Ford F-Series

Many of the top selling cars are generally the average sized cars or sedans- however, the Ford F-Series is high on the list. These vehicles are a line of full sized pickup trucks, which can be used for many different objectives. All are capable of work related hauling or loading, while many are fairly efficient on fuel. They can also come with full sized cabs, some of which can seat up to six people. These full sized trucks are very spacious, and are also able to go off road. The high versatility of these vehicles makes them incredibly popular. Over 47,000 were sold in the last year.

Toyota Camry

This model has been popular for several years, and really made a mark for the 2012 line up of new models. It is no wonder that this model has sold over 34,000 units. The Camry is a classical family car, and is highly dependable. It is also a great choice for fuel economy. This car has continued to sell in strong numbers for years, and will probably continue to do so for many years to come.

Nissan Altima

Although this model of car does not exactly rival the quality or performance of many other vehicles, it has still managed to make a high number of sales for the 2012 models. Almost 33,000 of these cars were sold, and it is probably associated with its price. The Altima is quite a popular car, and is rather quite cheap compared to the other popular vehicles. It does have many great features, but it may not provide all of the fuel economy features or power that other cars can provide.

Chevrolet Silverado

This is another popular pickup truck, but did not claim the top position in relation to sales for Ford. This model sold just over 32,000 for the 2012 year. Chevrolet plans to take the top spot when it comes to the 2013 line of Chevy Silverados.

Honda Civic

This car is incredibly popular, mostly due to its fuel economy, long lasting engine, and dependability. For years it has continued to provide buyers with contentment in their purchase. Honda only managed to sell just over 27,000 of these cars, but they are still high in popularity.

In conclusion, these models are some of the top selling vehicles in the country. If I wanted to sell my car, I would probably opt for one of these models. The numbers do not lie, and if these particular vehicles are so incredibly popular, the manufacturers must be doing something right!
This is a guest post by Raj. Wondering how to sell your car online?

March 30, 2012
The Top 5 Automotive Upgrades for a New Vehicle

Elevate the style and performance of your new ride from off-the-lot stock to aftermarket hot by spicing it up with performance accessories. Whether you’re looking to add some sizzle to your daily driver or give your free-time ride an extra jolt of juice, custom accessories take your car, truck or SUV to unheard of levels of style and protection. And, as any automotive junkie knows, the best place to start your journey is to add some flashy protection to your front end. And, for stylish defense from the elements, a car bra is the way to go. Car bras are custom-crafted to fit every line of your exact vehicle for the stylish accent your new ride deserves. These beauties defend your bumper from pummeling pebbles, torpedoing wasps and anything else the open road can dish out. And, they’re available in a wide variety of styles and materials to compliment your unique look.

With your front end taken care of it’s time to focus on keeping your interior fresh and looking fly. And, for that you need to hook up your ride with a set of seat covers. From taking abuse from unruly teenagers to blocking Fido’s fur flinging ways, seat covers offer the best defense out there. Like putting your seats in a time capsule, seat covers put your seats on lockdown to block anything from getting at ‘em. That snug seal is all you need to stop the upholstery aging process in its tracks. Plus, they come in an astounding variety of fabrics and styles so your interior style is helped while your fabric stays factory fresh.

Now that your seats are squared away, your next step is to take care of your floorboards. Floor mats offer an unbeatable layer of defense from everything your active lifestyle can dish out. So, from mud-covered cleats to spilled soda, your floors stay stylish and clean. They’re available in a wide variety of styles and protection levels to compliment your interior. That means from matching to leather to adding some Hawaiian flare to your floorboards, you’re covered.

With your car properly protected it’s time to get to the really fun part: performance. And, nothing sets your horsepower and torque soaring like a cold air intake. These beasts suck in massive quantities of power-producing icy air and feed it to your hungry engine. That brawny breath boosts the performance of your ride better than any other upgrade. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your 4×4 for an all-out off-road attack or want to add an extra jolt of juice to your weekend ride, a performance CAI is the way to go.

Meanwhile, you can’t add that much furious power without boosting your braking system to keep pace. Upgrading your brake rotors to a brawny aftermarket setup is an essential step in the journey of any performance geek. From cross-drilled rotors to dimpled or slotted and every combination in between, performance rotors come in a variety of different styles to suit any situation from the dirt track to the raceway. Either way you go, performance rotors massively increase the stopping power of your ride. All this great gear raises your ride to a personalized statement of excellence for all on the road to envy.

March 8, 2012
Dartz Jo-Mojo

Great news for “go-greeners” today! They come from DARTZ which are very pleased to present the Jo-MOJO – an electric modification of their bulletproof Roadster. Moreover it is also redesigned in their second collaboration with Eduard Gray of Gray Design.

As usual this vehicle is again following the armored tradition set by DARTZ. Although it has an open top, it is based on a pseudo-KAPSULA technology platform akin to its bigger brothers. In addition it has been equipped with patented bullet wheels, custom seating and made with chameleon paint, which will undeniably ensure that it will be as individual as its owner.

The designers of The Jo-Mojo revealed that the super-car has been designed to run through the streets of the Cote d’Azur. Additionally it comes armed with a styling that will light up any party. The advantages of this brilliant vehicle are numerous, but worth of mention are the compact format, low center of gravity and wide front wheel placement. Thank to them the car has fantastic handling characteristics to ensure a smooth ride around curved roads of the Blue Coast.

Dartz Jo-Mojo (2012)

However the greater advantage of this car lies in its solar batteries. The innovation around the Jo-Mojo is the retractable cover that incorporates a flexible solar cells created by former Soviet space manufacturers, Sidrabe. Moreover you will be amazed when you hear that the cover locks the car and charges it up while it stands under the sun! In addition there is an option of adding extra batteries when you plan to make a longer travel. And don’t worry about the speed because this car has all that it takes for an exciting drive. First, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h just in 9.5 seconds and the top speed is the almost unbelievable for an electric car 125 mph (201 km/h). This is due to the powerful electric engine which delivers the whole 68 kW (80HP) and 120NM (90 lb-ft).

Source: Gray Design

December 8, 2011