Auto Performance Racing Blog

By: Doug Smith..

Where do car dealerships get there used vehicles? Their main sources are government and police auctions because they can bid on the vehicles their customers are requesting at extremely low prices. Of course they will resell the vehicles to them at a larger profit then one would expect.

What if I told you that the general public is also often allowed to attend police auctions as well? Instead of going to a dealer and financing a vehicle, you can just attend a police auction to get a much better deal. If there is one less set of hands that take a profit before that car is yours, then you will pocket that incremental savings.

No matter what vehicle you wish to own, sports car, pick up truck, motorcycle, SUV, or jeep, you will find a good deal at a police auction. Most of these cars have been repossessed early on so they are in like new condition.

The police don’t have the time or the resources to inventory every vehicle, so they’re in a hurry to sell them to the public. Unlike a car dealership the government obtains all of these cars for free, and their only real cost is inventory. This results in the government motivated to unload all of there vehicles quickly at whatever price the bidding brings.

Plan ahead of time to have a vehicle expert or mechanic available to assist you at the police auction so you can inspect the vehicles you like. Also make sure you get there early enough to do some inspecting before the bidding starts.

You can find out where upcoming police auctions are going to be held in your area by browsing the listings at qualified government and police auctions sites. There are auctions throughout every state. To find legitimate auction sites among the thousands out there consider using an auction review sites.

By using a government auction reviews to find the appropriate police auction site you can be sure to be introduced to an established legitimate site. Their business is to source the best value in a government or police auction site and to direct you away from sites that can be misleading. If you follow this simple methodology in finding your next vehicle you’ll be receiving a better value then 99% of the public that purchase vehicles in the open market.

Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com

by: Colin R. Hogue
Here are some easy tips that can be done to generate improved performance for your Subaru WRX next time it appears to be running a bit sluggish. Enjoy.

CHANGE YOUR OIL

This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised at how easy it is to forget or overlook. The owner’s manual for the Subaru WRX suggests changing the oil every 7,500 miles under normal driving conditions. Under normal driving conditions? Seriously, who really drives a Subaru WRX normally? The owner’s manual also suggests an oil change every 3,750 if you drive ir hard. Enough said. I think we all know which of these recommendations to follow.

PROPERLY GAPPED SPARK PLUGS

The proper spacing for a 2002 - 2003 Subaru WRX is 0.028″-0.031″ (0.7-0.8 mm). If you have a different year of Subaru WRX, refer to your owner’s manual for proper specs. This tip may seem a bit petty, but any extra power that can be had for free is worth the time and effort.

CLEAN YOUR AIR FILTER

The manufacturer/stock Subaru WRX air filter leaves somthing to be desired, but if you don’t have the extra cash to purchase an aftermarket air filter, please make sure your stock filter is clean. The more air that gets to the engine, the more power you have. Seems simple so far, right?

USE PREMIUM GASOLINE

With gas prices being what they are at present, I know that this is a hard-to-swallow tip at this time. Gas is not cheap, and premium gas can never be purchased at a price that makes it a deal, but you are driving a Subaru WRX, afterall. So, spring for the good stuff! Your Subaru WRX deserves nothing less than the best.

The next few tips are more involved; however, we are dealing with the Subaru WRX. Extra time and effort results in improved driving performance so it is well worth it.

TRY INSULATING YOUR FUEL LINES

Insulating the fuel lines of your Subaru WRX permits the temperature of your fuel to remain cooler which allows more fuel to enter the combustion chamber in addition to permitting more airflow through the chamber as well. Consequently, the more fuel and air that you have moving through the chamber of your Subaru WRX, the more power you will have to work with.

The simplest way to accomplish this is with air conditioning / refrigerator insulation which you can get from any hardware store.

YOUR SUBARU WRX NEEDS TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT

This is a matter of basic physics. Less weight + more power = better performance. The less weight your WRX has to lug around, the better it will perform in every category. So, take an inventory of what has accumulated in your trunk from time to time and make sure to empty it every so often!

Well that’s all I can think of for now. Stay tuned for more tips to improve your Subaru WRX.

Source: www.articlecity.com

by Fei Lim
Looking for a small but sporty car that looks great and offers excellent performance? If so, then you may want to take a close look at the 2008 Brabus Ultimate 112 and all it has to offer. The first thing that will let you know that this car is a cut above the rest is the unique paint job a beautiful orange and mother of pearl color that almost looks like it is flaming. Take a closer look on the inside of the car and then you’ll find beautiful black Brabus leather on the seats with seams that are done in orange. Of course not only does this car look great, but it has plenty of power under that hood as well. This car is truly a sports car for the city, and it brings together a great combination of excellent equipment, handling that is agile, as well as great performance. Not only does the 2008 Smart Brabus Ultimate 112 come with a great custom paint job, but it also has a very muscular body kit as well. This kit includes rocker panels, a front spoiler, as well as special Brabus widestar fender flares, both in the back and the front.

You’ll notice that this car has very large wheel houses that offer plenty of space available for a very unique tire and wheel combination, which is quite unusual for cars that are this size. The wheels are glossy black and they are special Brabus monoblock VI wheels that are double spoke, and these are mounted on the front axle. In the front the wheels are 7Jx18 and they have 205/35 R 18 tires designed for high performance, and in the back are 8.5Jx18 wheels with tires that are 235/30 R 18 tires. These tires are designed to help make sure there is plenty of grip on the road to take the power of the engine and put it on the road.

Along with these unique tires is a special coil over suspension, which is height adjustable. This helps to make sure that you get sporty handling, safe handling, and a ride that is very comfortable as well. With all of the modifications, this offers a great platform for the engine in the car a Brabus three cylinder engine that is turbo charged. This engine does a great job and provides plenty of power out there on the road. You can either let the transmission of the car shift automatically for you, or you can use the paddles that are mounted on the steering wheel, which are much like the paddles used in Formula 1 racing. When you really put your foot in it, you’ll find that you can go from 0-62mph in just 9.5 seconds and the car has a top speed of 106 mph as well. There is a convertible option too that offers excellent performance.

Along with the exceptional performance you’ll get out of the engine, a nice stainless steel sport exhaust that has dual tailpipes accompanies the car as well. Of course the interior has a variety of great highlights as well, with the luxurious leather that is breathable and soft. There are special Brabus emblems embossed on the interior as well in the 2008 Smart Brabus Ultimate 112. There is a special instrument panel, door handles, a clock, turn signal lever, and more that is all designed to match the exterior of the car. It also comes with foot pedals that are stainless steel, and the emergency brake lever and shifter made of aluminum give it a bit of a racing look. A climate control system cones standard as well as a navigation system and a radio.

This is a limited edition of cars that are being made. In fact, there are only 112 cars being made, each having a placard in the interior with the cars number on it. You can purchase this car for just 45,900 Euros, which is a hefty price. However, many people feel it reasonable to have such a small and sporty car that is designed to drive in the city. So, with a luxurious and comfortable interior, as well as a flashy and sporty exterior, this is a car that is fun to drive and that looks great out there on the streets.

Source: www.goarticles.com

by Sav D’Souza
Volvo has won the “Traffic Safety Achievement Award” at the World Traffic Safety Symposium held in New York.

One of the main safety features that won many plaudits was the City Safety system that has been developed by Volvo. The system was designed to prevent low-speed collisions which are most common in urban city traffic. Volvo have high hopes that the system could eliminate whiplash.

“City Safety is yet another example of Volvo’s aim to utilise real world traffic situations to develop solutions to prevent accidents. It is extremely gratifying that we are now being acknowledged with this prestigious award,” said Jonas Ekmark, head of preventive safety at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

Rear-end collisions at relatively low speeds are the most common cause of whiplash injuries. The City Safety system is designed to stop Volvo drivers from crashing into the back of car’s ahead. Along with other cars the system will also detect other potential hazards like pedestrians.

The system uses senses to monitor the traffic ahead. A laser sensor is built into the windscreen’s upper section at the same height as the rear view mirror. It can detect vehicles or people that are up to 6 metres in front of the car’s front bumper. City Safety is programmed to react to things in front that are either stationary or moving in the same direction as the car itself. On the basis of the distance to the object in front and the speed of the car itself, the system makes 50 calculations a second to determine what braking speed is required to avoid a collision. If the calculated braking force exceeds a given level without the driver reacting, it interprets this as an imminent danger of a collision. City Safety then helps to avoid or reduce the consequences of a collision by preparing the car’s brakes or braking automatically and disabling the accelerator.

If the car approaches a pedestrian, a red warning light will come on first on the windscreen’s head-up display and a warning signal will sound. This helps the driver to react, and in most cases an accident can be avoided.

If the risk of a collision increases further, assisted panic braking is activated to provide more pressure when the brakes are applied. If the driver still doesn’t brake, and the collision is imminent, the car’s brakes are activated immediately.

The system is ideally designed for lower speed activity and although it has the capacity to reduce a car’s speed by approximately 15mph, it will be unable to prevent collisions at much higher speeds.

City Safety has the same limitations as all optical systems in that the detection capacity can be limited by fog, snow or heavy rain. It is therefore necessary to keep the windscreen free of dirt, ice or snow. If the sensor is blocked, the driver is advised via the car’s information display to clean the area. The system works equally well during the day and night.

“It is important to underline that the system does not relieve the driver of the responsibility from maintaining a safe distance to avoid a collision. The automatic braking system does not react until it considers that a collision is imminent. The system therefore helps to limit the consequences of or, in some cases, avoiding an imminent collision,” said Jonas Ekmark.

With 75 per cent of all reported collisions thought to occur at speeds up to 30 km/h, with many under 20km/h not reported to insurers, the new technology could prevent a lot of accidents.

The City Safety is just part of the new technological developments that Volvo is developing in the next generation of car safety measure. Next to be introduced is collision avoidance steering by auto steering. Collision avoidance by auto steering is a further development of lane departure warning, which uses a camera to monitor the car’s position between lane markers. If a car wanders across any of the lane markers without using the indicator, the driver is warned by an audible signal.

Collision avoidance by auto steering is significantly more advanced. The system is designed to help prevent a frontal collision caused by temporary distraction by using both a camera and radar to monitor the position of the car itself and the oncoming traffic.

If the car is about to move into the wrong lane and the system detects that an oncoming vehicle is on a collision course, the car is automatically steered back to a safe position in the original lane. The high demands for reliability mean that Volvo experts are still assessing which degrees of steering wheel intervention are relevant and the exact speed range the system can operate within.

If this all sounds like something from the futuristic film I Robot then Volvo’s next big project goes even further cars that talk to each other.

Cars that can communicate with other vehicles and the surrounding traffic environment should enhance the potential for safer driving and fewer traffic accidents. For communication to work, it is necessary to have a standard “language” which makes it possible for all vehicles to talk to each other irrespective of make. There are currently several international projects that endeavour to contribute to this standardisation.

www.GoArticles.com

by Hunter Taylor
People come up to me all the time as ask me if there really is a secret to buying a new vehicle and getting the best price. My answer is always a resounding “YES”! You must first do a few things that will help you in this quest for a new vehicle. 1. Do your homework. There are several websites now that will give you what the dealer’s invoice is on that vehicle. Remember that these costs sometimes do not include freight and other options. 2. Test drive, test drive, test drive. Once you have found the vehicle that you may be interested in, take it for a test drive. A test drive should be more than 5 minutes long. One can not possibly know how the vehicle will effect their backs, legs, and shoulders on a five minute test drive. Let the salesperson know that you would like to take it on a extended test drive. Some dealerships will even let you take the car overnight. 3. Once you have decided on the vehicle that you want, be prepared with what you want to pay and what you can afford. Most people get themselves in trouble by getting a payment far more than they can afford because they are keeping up with the neighbors. Decide on a payment and stick to it. Maybe you really do not need that sunroof. 4. If you have a trade in, make sure you know what that car is worth. There are also several websites that will give you an estimate to what your vehicle is worth. Be honest with your evaluation. Do not expect to pay wholesale for the dealer’s vehicle and get retail for yours. 5. Profit is not a bad word. The dealers have on average a $20,000 investment that they are paying interest on. Would you want to make $400 on a $20,000 investment that you have had for an average of 45 days? And then pay a commission on top of that? Probably not. If dealers let you walk out the door in today’s economy, you know that they are not making any money.

Other ideas: Try to buy as close to the end of the month as possible. Dealers are more likely to take a smaller deal to get another vehicle sold. They may have objectives they need to reach.

Rebates do go away and they are not always better.

Do not go into a dealership with a chip on your shoulder. You will ALWAYS get a better deal if you do not treat the salesperson has if they have no idea what is going on.

I hope this helps you in your quest to buying a new vehicle. It really is an easy process once you have determined the vehicle you want, the fair price you will pay, and the fair value of your trade.

Article Source: www.goarticles.com

by Richard Shrayck

Corvettes for sale are displayed online with descriptions and photographs. Classic corvettes for sale are in demand. These Chevrolet Corvettes for sale are prized by their owners and now on sale for you to buy. Corvettes for sale are displayed online with multiple photographs.

We always see a burst of activity following the Labor Day weekend as sellers try to move their Corvettes before winter approaches. Corvette Classified Ads are only $25 and run for 3 months. Jim placed the ad earlier this week and the Corvette has already received a ton a page views and requests for additional information. Do you have a Corvette for sale that you think would be worthy of being featured.

I’m not against a dealer trying to make a buck or two, and perhaps the auction format is the best way to allow the market to decide who wants the Corvette the most. If you want to get behind the wheel of a new or classic Corvette and have a little fun during summer, now is the time. Where other auctions are higher profile and attract the crazy money like Barrett-Jackson’s two events, the Corvette auction at Bloomington is a real harbinger of where the Corvette Market is. As usual, a large contingent of 1967 Corvette Big Blocks, making up a remarkable 13% of all Corvettes for sale at the Palm Beach event, will be available for collectors. If you’ve been dreaming about getting behind the wheel of a Corvette, there is no better place to start looking than VetteFinders.

Corvettes for sale are detailed online with plenty of photos. With over 500 Corvettes for sale, from C1s to C6s, you’re sure to find the Corvette of your dreams. Red is the power color of Corvettes and buying a red Corvette will one day make it easier to sell. So buckle up and get your checkbooks ready because these featured Corvettes won’t be available for long.

Red Corvettes tend to have a higher resale value and sell faster than most other colors. Even in the later models, Red Corvettes outsell their peers. In 2006, the two reds, Monterey and Victory, combined for nearly 1/3 of all Corvettes produced.

With some many Corvettes on the road and so many Chevrolet Corvette for sale ads, it can be difficult to scan through the Corvette listings for your perfect car. Classic corvettes for sale create interest amongst corvette enthusiasts. Easily compare options and pricing on used Corvettes in your area, from both dealers and private parties. List your used Corvettes for sale here. You may meet someone who has some classic corvettes for sale.

I love looking at Corvettes for sale and it’s always fun when I can bring something unique to the table. These Corvettes don’t come up for sale very often, but already this year we’ve seen three 1953 Corvettes sell and with each sale, the bar is raised. Cars for sale displayed online with detailed pictures. Classic car articles provide excellent details about acquisitions, body and interior restorations, parts for sale and owner�s enthusiasm and dedication.

Classic car value appreciates over time, and original unrestored well cared for cars generally reflect a higher value. You can still get into a very nice small block midyear for under $50,000, and trust me, there’s nothing small about owning a 327 ci 300 hp American Classic. Fully documented, longtime ownership and an optional motor all work in favor of this classic. Website shows classic cars for sale with detailed descriptions and multiple photos. The classic car restorer and trader newsletter provides up to date information on classic car news.

Enthusiasts search for eBay classic cars every day. Find your dream car on eBay classic cars. You may also like to visit the classic car for sale page.

Barrett-Jackson announced last year that they would be bringing down the total number of cars in the 2008 Auction from 1,200 to around 1,000. Yes, it’s that time of year where chrome, corporate jets, unlimited checkbooks, and gavel to gavel television coverage converge on Scottsdale Arizona for what has become the Super Bowl of automotive auctions. This auction is traditionally one of the largest Corvette auctions of the year.

What’s also interesting about this list is that the venerable auction favorite, the 1967 Corvette will only be making 7 appearances whereas last year there was over 20 1967 Corvettes that sold. “Handing over the keys to these prized possessions is going to be tough, but I think there will be some worthy candidates at the Barrett-Jackson auction. We’re hoping to see more Corvettes added soon to this very important and historically well-attended auction.

By: Ken Wilson

Following the legendary tradition of Ferrari cars, the new Ferrari Enzo amazes with its incredible blend of good technical features and exquisite, luxurious appearance. A true leader in the field of speed cars, Ferrari Enzo addresses adrenaline fans and buyers and Formula One fervent watchers. However, if you are neither of the aforementioned you are also most likely to love it as the Enzo is quite a charmer.

With an attractive new design, aerodynamically shaped, bearing the traditional fiery red as a color, the Ferrari Enzo is sure to catch your eye. Its slick curves construct its image of a warrior in a race with other cars. As an innovatory feature Ferrari Enzo comes equipped with a carbon fiber front bumper and (this is quite astonishing), instead of having mirrors, the vehicle behind the car is displayed on an inside navigation system. Yet, there’s more to a Ferrari Enzo than its striking, appealing looks. Ferrari Enzo is indeed a head-turner, but there are plenty technical features that are not to be neglected.

For those who know mechanics, Ferrari Enzo is a 12-cylinder speed car, using the latest Formula One technology such as sequential shift transmission or carbon-ceramic brake discs. Its V12 engine takes the car to 100km/h in just a bit more than 3 seconds. As for its top speed, it is somewhere around 348km/h.Quite astonishing! For those of you who can’t figure out all the abovementioned, just note that Ferrari Enzo is a blast! - Fast, safe and strong. Just check out one of the many Ferrari Enzo videos and you’ll be convinced right then and there.

The above mentioned word “safe” is worth stopping for to examine. The Ferrari Enzo engineers deserve appreciation for the success in building up a model both fast and safe. Let’s face it, speed cars, super cars are supposed to make you feel like Superman: ready to fly. When you say super car you say thrill, action, but also a sense of danger that is necessarily involved. That doesn’t quite sound the same with safeness, does it? However, the experts that engineered Ferrari Enzo managed to put the two together and the many drive tests have proven it. The verdict is positive: the Enzo has a high protection degree, even if it is super speedy.

Due to its amazing features and appearance this car has rapidly gained popularity and you can now find Ferrari Enzo videos spread all over the www in any page that speaks about Formula One or speed and strength in general. You must have at least seen one of the many Ferrari Enzo videos - the red mechanical cheetah smoothly races on the tracks, sending shivers of thrill and excitement over you spine while watching. You unavoidably want to be in one of those Ferrari Enzo videos. You want to be its driver. You want to be its master, the master of that unleashed man made wonder.

Thus, while watching Ferrari Enzo videos, we identify our wishes to succeed with this winner car. It helps us express our unspoken dreams of being a leader. It helps us relieve the frustration we sometimes confront with in day to day life where things don’t always go our way and we are unfortunately forced to admit defeat. By associating ourselves with this super car, by experiencing action at its fullest while just watching Ferrari Enzo videos, we simply say “I want to be number one!”

To sum up, Ferrari Enzo is a wonderfully crafted speed car that definitely deserves its success and fame. Apart from being a good vehicle, the Enzo is a statement of power, the element we all long for. Therefore, if we can’t all be in a Ferrari Enzo, we at least want to watch Ferrari Enzo videos which can lend us a short sip of victory as an unforgettable feeling.

Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com