Little Vince
Little Vince
Archive for May, 2008
Looking for sports-car kicks, but with the abundance of speed
parts and vast modification potential of a Civic? Look no
further than Honda’s feisty little CRX.
These pocket-size coupes made their debut for 1984. Essentially
a two-seat version of the redesigned Civic also introduced that
year, the CRX was initially aimed at people who sought frugal
commuting (base 1.3-liter versions had EPA fuel economy ratings
of 51 mpg city, 67 highway).
But the real news for enthusiasts came the following year when
Honda gave the CRX its sporty Si version, which included
upgraded suspension, performance-oriented tires, and a hotter
91-hp version of its 1.5-liter engine — good for
sub-nine-second 0-60 mph times in the featherweight car.
For 1988, an all-new CRX bowed, based again on a new Civic
platform. CRX’s wheelbase increased, and this second-generation
design was somewhat heavier and bigger overall. Fortunately,
performance remained in the same league, with the Si’s
horsepower rating increasing to 105, then 108 the following
year. For 1990, CRX got four-wheel-disc brakes.
As sweet of a car as it was, this generation of CRX was destined
to be the last — Honda discontinued the line after 1991,
replacing it with the similar but open-roofed Del Sol several
years later.
Today, used CRXs are pretty easy to find, but it can sometimes
be hard to gauge their true value — completely stock ones are
showing up less and less since these cars became immensely
popular with sport-compact fans. The price of a particular CRX
can often depend on the various upgrades it’s received.
Popular mods include body kits, custom paint, aftermarket
wheels, and hotter VTEC engine swaps. As with any modified car,
look closely at how well upgrades are executed. In most cases,
the work will have been done by the car’s owner, whose talent,
budget, and experience are unknowns.
Most CRXs now sell for less than $5000, with many of them below
$3000. Those sub-$3k CRXs tend to be unmodified. And unmodified
CRXs also tend to be unrestored.
That can be an important point, because all CRXs are at least 14
years old — a lot them are pretty tired. You aren’t likely to
find a CRX with less than 100,000 miles at this point. Therefore
buyers who want a completely stock example to start with will
need to carefully consider how much money and patience they’re
willing to devote to basic mechanical repairs.
First-generation CRXs are getting kind of scarce, but if you
have your heart set on their lighter weight and trimmer
dimensions, those cars can be found with a little patience. And
one plus is that they tend to show up in the lower end of the
price range.
Regardless of what generation or level of modification, Honda’s
little CRXs can offer big-time fun. They’re good performers to
start with, there’s plenty of aftermarket stuff available, and
prices are about as low as performance cars go. Check ‘em out.
For more on affordable performance cars, along with drive-test
articles on today’s hottest sports cars, sport compacts, and
muscle cars, go to http://www.autiv.com/
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The quickest way to ruin the wheels on your car is to let brake
dust gather unimpeded. Sure, you can clean the dust off on a
daily basis, but who has the time? What if you ruin them by
using an abrasive cleaner? However, if you don?t do something
about the problem, your wheels? finish will most certainly
corrode and deteriorate.
This is not something you want to see:
your pricey AMG 129s eating dust! Fortunately, in this world of
ever improving technology a permanent and cost effective
solution will take care of the problem for less than $100.
Brake dust shields [also known as
dust shields] can successfully protect your wheels from
dust. Made of high strength aluminum alloy, brake dust shields
fit securely between the hub and wheel just like an inside
hubcap; the turbo-venting design of the shield enhances brake
cooling.
Properly installed brake shields are a great idea for the
following reasons:
They will keep your wheels shiny and like new; protects them
from damaging brake dust.
Are easy for you to install; no special tools are necessary.
Are made of a one piece no-maintenance aluminum alloy.
Come in a variety of sizes that fit virtually all cars, trucks,
and SUVs equipped with factory wheels.
Will not impact your new car warranty.
Brake dust shields are sold in pairs and are custom made for
your wheels. In most cases you can order and receive two pairs
and have them shipped to your home for under $100. When you
consider that your AMG 129s cost $863 each, the investment is
well worth it; almost like having wheel insurance without
reoccurring annual charges!
Currently, there is only one manufacturer of wheel dust shields,
Kleen
Wheels. Some cars come factory equipped with these
shields as the importance of protecting pricey wheels is not
lost on some car manufacturers, particularly those marketing
high end car lines.
A tip: When ordering brake dust shields you are ordering
them for the wheel not the car. Shields will be
different if your wheels are factory delivered or after market
installed. Make sure you are clear on this when placing your
order as you could learn that the shields you ordered do not
match your wheels.
Yeah, AMG 129s are totally cool. Without the brake dust, that
is!
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Braking into a pothole
Author:
Imagine you are driving along a nice smooth highway. You drive over a hill, and suddenly see a giant pothole just a few feet ahead. You brake as hard as you can, and you manage to slow down your car significantly, before its front wheels hit the pothole.
BUM! BUH! BAH! Immediately, you feel there is something wrong with your car. Slowly you pull over to the shoulder and take a look at your front wheels. Hmm, looks like your front suspension is damaged….
While you are waiting for help, you watch another car, exactly like yours, same make and model and year, approaching this pothole. Its driver is braking, too. Surprisingly, you hear the sound of reved up engine just before his car hits the pothole. His car got shaken, but you do not hear any really bad sound. Look, this guy is not stopping to check his suspension - his suspension is just fine, and he is continuing his trip!
Was his car stronger than yours? No. Did he drive slower than you? Probably not, may be even faster. May be he just did not notice his suspension is broken? No. This driver knows physics of braking.
It is really easy concept to grasp. Your car’s weight is distributed about evenly between front and rear axles. But when you slow down or accelerate, this weight distribution changes. When you are braking, the front axle is getting more weight, and when you are accelerating, the rear axle is getting more load. You probably noticed, that your car tilts forward, when you are braking, and tilts backwards, when you are accelerating. It does not seem like a big deal at the first glance, but it is a big deal for your suspension. The front axle load when braking can easily be two times more then when accelerating, or even more than that! And this directly translates to the load your suspension has to handle.
So, the correct sequence to follow in such a situation would be:
1.Brake as hard as you can up to the last moment. If you have a manual transmission, consider shifting one or even several gears down, to have the maximum possible torque on your wheels available for step 3.
2.Stop braking when you have just enough time to complete step 3, before your front wheel(s) hit the pothole.
3.Push your gas pedal all the way down to the floor, so you hit the pothole while heavily accelerating.
This method allows you to easily drive over deep and wide potholes without any damage to your suspension. On smaller obstacles you probably don’t need to push the gas all the way to the floor, and the key point is to stop braking just before the obstacle to transfer the weight out of front wheels. This way you use the laws of physics to your advantage, and your suspension will serve you happily for a long time.
This and many more driving related articles are available at: Fun and safe driving
.About the Author
Every pickup truck owner wanted their rig to be more functional and reliable as well as protected from all sorts of damages. That is why installing their trucks with various performance add-ons is always an option.
If you want to increase the usefulness and hauling capabilities of your truck bed while ensuring that its finish is free from scratches and dents, outfitting it with bike racks is a smart move. These are functional add-ons that are designed to carry and hold your bike(s) behind your truck. No matter how careful you place your bike on your truck bed, still they would usually cause the finish and components scraped or damaged during transport. For this reason that the bike rack is built to securely hold your bike(s) without damaging them as well as preventing them from causing some scratches and dents on your truck bed area. This will make your truck always armed to take transporting 2-wheelers to another level so there is no need to toss your bike in a damage-prone area behind your truck.
The popularity of competitive and recreational cycling is continuing to increase rapidly and more people are taking their bikes on weekend vacations and outings. As a result, people are becoming concerned on how to transport their bikes safely and without damaging them. With this need, the truck bed bike rack has become a desirable accessory for pick-up trucks. Good thing that this ingenious add-on is designed to safely haul your bike(s) upright and out of the tangled mess that can break and bend its spokes. This device can hold and carry multiple bikes without damaging them. It is guaranteed to be strong, weather resistant, tough, and adjustable to accommodate any bike sizes. This can turn your pickup truck a steady bike hauler. With this equipped in your truck, you can be assured that your valuable cargo area is secured and protected while keeping your bike(s) rigidly held. Even when driving through bumpy road surfaces, this add-on will keep its strong hold to your bike(s) so as to prevent them from all unwanted movements.
With the use of bike racks, your pickup truck is converted from being a beast on the jobsite to a status symbol for weekend adventurers who can haul their bikes on active outdoor activities. These add-ons can easily be attached to your truck bed area with no required cutting or drilling. They provide practical features that will make your hauling fast and hassle-free. These will keep your bikes secured as well as freeing your truck bed area from possible dents, scratches, and damages. Their tough construction will survive any situation so you can always count on them at all conditions. Make sure that they are always in a tip-top shape for an ultimate bike carriage. Now, with this device equipped in your truck, you can have the convenience of hauling your bike(s) safely and thus, increasing your truck’s hauling ability. Though these add-ons are made to be tough and can last for a long time, eventually wear and tear can take a toll on their lives and replacing them will require.
.About the Author
Boots are also made for Riding
Author:
According to Jessica Simpson’s song, ‘boots are made for
walking’. However, boots are also good for riding escapades.
There are different kinds of boots that will suit every rider’s
personality and performance.
They are tour boots, race boots and
shorty boots. Tour boots are long and slender boots that use a
number of protection shells. Race boots, on the other hand, are
a bit complicated and aesthetic. It uses armor shells on the
impact area so as to secure the feet in times of collision. They
also come in flashy colors and designs. Finally, we have shorty
boots. These boots are lighter versions of the normal boots that
we usually see.
When looking for a perfect fitting pair of boots, you must
consider ventilation. Boots usually heats up feet faster that
other shoe apparel. Therefore, it must have good ventilation
system to make your feet comfortable yet precluding rain from
coming in. Leather boots lets your feet breathe so you must have
a pair or two to give it an easy breathing during long rides.
Aside from leather there are newly discovered materials that
also increase the breathing ability of the feet.
Another factor that you can consider is the boots water
resistance. Rain may keep splashing on your boots, however, if
you have water resistant boots, you will be dry and confident in
your every ride.
Design is crucial when you speak of footwear. Therefore
motorcycle boots must have a good foot design to give maximum
protection and to cater to the rider’s needs. It must have a
good grip on the heel and ankle. That will prevent the heel from
lifting. A shifter pad is also a good addition to the footwear.
Though some bikes do not need this but some bikes do. Thus, if
you can get, why have qualms about it? A heel under the sole let
your feet rest effortlessly on the foot peg. It also makes a
good grip in mud, sand, water, oil and sand. Chin, ankle, heels
and calf can be protected by carbon Kevlar. This material is
usually put in the most critical areas of the feet to protect
feet from harm.
Opening and closing is the next vital consideration. Be it
shoelace or Velcro, they must secure snug fit to keep the
rider’s focus and confidence.
Keep stompin’, keep rockin’- nothing to fear when your protected
all over by quality motorcycle apparel!
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You live in Hartford and your in the market for a new car, but you’re uncertain which one to buy. The moment you set foot on a BMW lot in Hartford, however, you get the instant impression of that sports car sensation.
Working with the BMW of Hartford dealers helps ease your buying decision. Let the helpful and professional associates at BMW in Hartford assist in helping you find the right car for you.
The features that are available with the BMW read like “a list of who’s who” in the automobile industry. The attraction of a BMW is based on performance and quality that is echoed from the admiration that a BMW car receives from onlookers. Making the right purchase at a BMW in Hartford dealership is assisted by representatives of the dealership that is made possible by extensive training of personnel.
Locating a Good BMW Dealership
One of the advantages a person who thinks of searching for a BMW in Hartford is the ability to shop around. When you’re thinking of buying a car such as one as pricey as a BMW, the last thing you want to do is buy too quickly or on emotion. When it comes to purchasing a BMW in Hartford, it is best to compare dealerships side by side like the one at BMW Stamford Connecticut. In doing so, you could potentially save thousands of dollars. This is money that is either saved or can be used to add more options to your purchase.
Inquire With Your Dealer About the Special Deals and Offers
When you walk into the BMW dealership in Hartford, ask them what kind of deals they are offering, along with what features come with that deal. Make a list and compare each place you visit against the other. When you find a dealer who is willing to work with you on the lowest price, without giving up quality, you know you’ve found the right BMW dealer in Hartford.
Craftsmanship of a True Automobile
The refinements built into your BMW came about only through decades of arduous but steadfast effort from the manufacturer. This quality is reflected from the moment that you first set foot into a BMW automobile. This type of refinement is also reflected in the price. This is why it’s vital to do your research beforehand to try and negotiate the best deal you can while you’re at your BMW in Hartford dealership..About the Author
BMW 2006
Author:
The BMW M6 is the most sophisticated and powerful BMW 6 Series
Coupe ever. Under the lightweight body of this luxurious 2+2
lurks a thoroughbred super sports car boasting a V10, 507bhp
power unit, providing 520Nm of torque.
A seven-speed sequential
manual gearbox and a superior chassis and suspension compliment
its engine.
The all-new M6 features weight-saving technologies such as a
carbon-fiber roof and 19-inch forged aluminum wheels that are
almost four pounds lighter than regular cast wheels. With almost
500 horsepower available, BMW claims the M6 will hit 60 mph in
under 4.6 seconds, and it will run to 20 5mph without the
traditional 155-mph speed limiter.
The suspension, though similar to that of the M5, is specially
tuned to take advantage of the M6’s shorter wheelbase and lower
center of gravity. Massive cross-drilled brakes enable the M6 to
pull up from 60 mph in less than 118 feet. The new M6 also uses
BMW’s new third-generation seven speed Sequential Manual Gearbox
(SMG) with Drivelogic. Drivelogic offers the choice of 11
different change patterns, depending on the speed of change
required.
The new SMG gearbox also offers safety benefits when
downshifting on slippery surfaces. If it detects the rear wheels
locking up, the clutch opens for a fraction of a second to
ensure traction is maintained. In automatic mode, the SMG
gearbox recognizes that the car is traveling on an incline and
holds gears uphill to maintain acceleration and selects lower
gears when progressing downhill to make the most of the
available engine braking.
The BMW M6 has deeper front valance with air intakes for the
engine and brakes, more contoured sills and rear valance that
includes a diffuser to increase aerodynamic efficiency. If you
want to maintain the superior performance of your BMW, then
Partstrain is the store for you. Partstrain is the leading
supplier of BMW discount- priced finest quality BMW Auto Parts.
For your performance demands, Partstrain offers electrical
parts, exhaust, catalytic converters, grille, head panel, engine
parts, spoiler, radiator support, rear body panel, turn signal
lights and a whole lot more.
A tremendous line of discount BMW auto parts guaranteed to be
the best of its kind is found at
http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/BMW . The services of
its highly trained and friendly staff do not end when parts are
delivered at your doorstep, call them and receive valuable
technical support.
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