Friday, December 31, 2010

Why European Cars Are Better


Why are European cars better than those from other countries? This is a video to remind us a-bit what European car makers are offering us and that they invented most of the stuff related to the automotive world.

Please note that this is a relatively old video (around 2 years old now)...I'm doing a new version with more cars; if you'd like a particular car to be shown, do not hesitate to post a comment.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Thursday, December 23, 2010

US Foreign Car Companies Get By


US car makers are shutting down factories in a bid to avert collapse, but foreign firms operating in the southern US are managing to keep their heads above water.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Monday, December 6, 2010

European Car Rental - Top Ten Tips For Europe Travel - Tip #1: Car Size and Type



More often than not, a person will base his or her entire decision on the price. This is especially true when one is on-line creating their own itinerary without the help of a travel agent or trained professional, something that within 5 years from now will be standard practice. While price is undoubtedly one of the most important things to consider when making a reservation, it is not the first priority. The first priority should be to determine what kind of car you will need, based on a few different factors.

To begin, you must know how many people will be accompanying you on this trip. Remember that the European equivalent of a rental category will be smaller than its US counterpart, so make sure that you take notice of the model that they are quoting you for, along with the supposed size. Once you know what the model is, look it up on the internet and make sure that it will work for you. Some companies will quote you for what they bill as an intermediate car when it is in reality a compact size. Usually for 1 or 2 people, an economy will suffice, provided you have one suitcase apiece. In the event that you have more luggage than this, you may opt to put it in the back seat or upgrade to a larger vehicle. Keep in mind that if you are planning on stopping at any places where your luggage will be visible from outside the car, it is best not to keep it in the back seat.

For 3 people, a compact should be suitable. Sometimes, if you do not mind being a bit cramped on shorter trips, this will also accommodate 4 people. You may have to put some luggage in between the people in the back though. A car this size should be roughly the equivalent of a Ford Focus or Toyota Corolla here stateside. If you can afford it, I would definitely recommend an intermediate 4-door vehicle for 4 people.

For anything above 4 people, it is best to get a van, or more than one car. Once again, if you don't mind being cramped, then get an intermediate wagon. This will allow you to seat 5 people and have room for the luggage. However, luggage for 5 may not fit under the pull-shade most wagons are designed with to eliminate luggage visibility, therefore increasing your chances of a break-in if you leave the vehicle unattended. Vans are typically much more expensive and use a lot more gasoline, which is a commodity in and of itself in Europe (current average of about $4.00 USD per gallon, less for diesel) and sometimes even more expensive than two compact vehicles.

There's nothing less embarassing than trying to squeeze too many bodies and suitcases into a car that's not designed to take them. That is, unless you get a stickshift vehicle and don't know how to drive one. Americans (myself included) have generally been spoiled with unlimited access to automatic transmission. Most of the rental cars in the States are automatic as well. The opposite is true in Europe. While most major locations do stock automatic vehicles, you will not get a very good selection to choose from and those that are there will cost anywhere from fifty to one hundred percent more than the manual version. On top of that, you will lose 5 to 10 miles per gallon in gas efficiency. However, if you are uncomfortable with a stick, it costs a lot less in the long run than taking a chance in getting in an accident, which costs you time, money and overall enjoyment of the experience. This is especially true in countries like England, Ireland and Cyprus, where the cars (and drivers) are on the opposite side.

In conclusion, remember that in most cases you are planning for a vacation. Sometimes in order to enjoy it, you have to be willing to spend a little bit more. Keep an eye out for my next installment, when we discuss the best way to get the car you really need for the price you really want.

Murdoch Morris has worked in the European Car Rental industry for 4+ years, helping drivers to find the best way to get the most out of their itinerary for the least amount of money. Feel free to contact him with any questions you may have specific to your next trip to Europe.

Europe Casual Car Rental [http://www.casualcarrental.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Murdoch_Morris

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Choosing the Right European Car Parts for a Volvo


European car parts, for maintenance or upgrading, can be purchased and installed in most automotive service centers. For instance, Volvo owners go to Volvo repair centers to get correct, quality Volvo parts. There are some situations where one has no access to an auto center or would rather get the parts they need for a cheaper price, since official auto centers will cost car owners more money. Car owners would then have to look for an alternate resource for car parts; the question is, "Who can be trusted for quality, long-lasting parts?"

There are many resources that one can find online when searching for online European car parts distributors and one will just have to consider which one, out of the whole lot, is the best one to use. Car owners should consider the following when deciding on an online resource for Volvo parts: pricing, product range, delivery speed, and positive company feedback. Pricing dictates how well and how competitive an online resource is doing. The lower the price, the more competitive the company is. This can attract many buyers since price is one of the main reasons why many of them go shopping online in the first place.

Product range can tell online shoppers how connected, and how trusted, a European car parts distributor is. Most online resources that deal directly with big companies, like in this case, Volvo, can tell shoppers that they are licensed to sell these Volvo parts. People should also make sure to check if the product in question is brand new or secondhand. It is always a big plus when one can get online purchases right away. Online companies that promise fast delivery should be top of the list when choosing who to buy; the sooner one gets the parts, the sooner he can get back on the road.

With European car parts retailers, it is also best to go through online reviews and forums to make sure about the quality of service that the company provides. Usually typing the company's name in a search engine, coupled with key words like "review" or "feedback", will lead to articles one can refer to. Finding the right online resource for Volvo parts is important in ensuring buyers quality products. By following these tips, one can be more confident when purchasing their car parts online and get their Volvo in top condition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_M_Peterson

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Cool Cars


Just a video with some car pics! I chose like the best and coolest cars ever and made a slideshow of them!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!


Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863, when during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26.

The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony survive their first brutal winter in New England.

The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. The feast consisted of fish (cod, eels, and bass) and shellfish (clams, lobster, and mussels), wild fowl (ducks, geese, swans, and turkey), venison, berries and fruit, vegetables (peas, pumpkin, beetroot and possibly, wild or cultivated onion), harvest grains (barley and wheat), and the Three Sisters: beans, dried Indian maize or corn, and squash. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "Thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Travel Skills: Driving in Europe


Renting a car in Europe is a breeze; cars get great mileage, distances are short, and roads are in excellent conditions.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Error Free LED Bulbs For European Cars License Plate Lights


LED lights have been increasingly more and more popular for automotive industry, many auto makers like Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes has adapted this new technology for LED turn signal lights, LED tail lights, LED license plate lights, etc. In order to "catch up" this new trend, many people have installed the aftermarket LED bulbs to make their cars look like the newer Audi, BMW, Lexus or Mercedes.

However, in this process, people have found very difficult to get the LED lights work properly for European cars like Audi BMW or Mercedes since the conventional LED light bulbs will cause the Error warning message on the dashboard because most European cars have on board computers.

Finally, here you will find the solution.

Introducing the all new Onboard Computer (OBC) Error Free 1.50" long 6418 (aka C6W) LED light bulb with built-in CAN-bus controller for Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, or Volkswagen license (number) plate lights without error!

For this newly invented CAN-bus Error Free LED bulb, it equips with 2 pieces High Power 5050 SMD LED lights made by CREE to ensure excellent lighting output, with built-in CAN-bus controller, so they will work properly for European cars license plate lights without the "broken bulb" warning showing on the dashboard anymore.

The secret is the CAN-bus controllers that will raise up the total wattage from 0.5W to 3.5W, therefore the onboard computer will be "fooled" that it is the actual filament bulbs, therefore no error message will show up on the dashboard.

When installing these CAN-bus error free LED bulbs, please make to remove the key and have all lights turn off. When you have done with the installation, please test the LED light by simply turn on the lights. If the LED bulb won't turn on, simply turn off the light and have then LED bulb turn 180 degrees and try this again.

Once make sure both LED bulbs light up, please then start the engine and allow the on board computer to scan the new lights. After the first time scanning, the error message will disappear.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Wu

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

European cars


European cars in European union by Lubos Galbavy

Major brands like Audi Rosemeyer, Audi RSQ,Audi Roadjet, Audi A1, Bugatti Veyron, BMW CS, Bmw X6, Bmw Gina, Porsche, Mercedes benz, Lamborghini Reventon,Peugeot 4002, Skoda Superb, Seat Tribu, Bentley Hunaudieres GTZ, Maserati Granturismo, Aston Martin AMV10 - luxurious cars which are manufactured in European Union, teuere Autos and PKWs aus Europa rapid voiture

Evropská auta
Auta v EU
Auta v Evropské Unii
europäische Autos

European cars are the best!
European cars are the best!
EU cars are the best!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Take a Spin in a 1965 Porsche 356 C


We catch up with a friend of PressPassTV, Marlon Goldberg, as he lets us take a spin in his 1965 Porsche 356 C.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

How to Properly Remove a Decal Or Sticker From Your Car Window


If you've recently purchased a used car in the past or know someone who has, you may have come across an unsightly sticker or decal left on one or more of the vehicle's windows. While the original owner may have found this auto accessory as an attractive addition to your ride, chances are you don't feel the same way. Removing decals like these can be a nerve-wracking task, especially if the decal has been sitting on the window for multiple years, but the right tools and procedures will make the process much simpler.

Start by gathering the items you'll need to take off your car's decal most effectively. These tools include a commercial razor blade, a window cleaner and a razor blade holder for added safety if you can locate one. Both the razor blade and holder can usually be found at a minimal cost at your local hardware or automotive store. The razor blades are usually sold in packs, but some specialty stores sell them individually as well. Standard household glass cleaner is all you really need to get the decal or sticker off of your automobile's window, but if you have the opportunity you may want to invest in a small can of commercial foaming glass cleaner.

After you've collected your materials, spray the decal with glass cleaner and let it soak for a few seconds. Once the decal has had a chance to absorb some of the glass cleaner, begin to slowly peel away the decal on any of its corners. For maximum effect, be sure to introduce the blade to the sticker at an angle, somewhere around 45 degrees. Doing so will give the razor blade a better opportunity to get underneath the automotive decal. Make sure you don't put any more force on the razor blade than absolutely necessary as swapping your decal for fresh scratches is not the best of trades.

If you find a decal or sticker on your vehicles back windshield, exercise extreme caution before attempting to remove it. Those black horizontal lines that run across the width of your back window are responsible for delivering heat to the rear windshield of your car, truck or SUV. Damaging any of these small coils could cause permanent damage to the defrost feature of your back window, so try to avoid contact between the razor blade and these heating elements at all cost.

If you find a decent sized corner of the sticker peeled off of the window, attempt to remove it the rest of the way by hand. Utilizing the razor blade as little as possible will help reduce the chances of accidental damage to your vehicle's expensive glass. Thin or especially old decals may break into pieces when removed by hand. If you find this to be the case with your decal, simply proceed as normal using the razor blade until the automotive decal has been removed completely from your car's window.

Once you have removed the offending sticker from your car, truck or SUV, you may find a sticky residue left behind. If so, gently chisel away at the remaining residue with your razor blade at the same 45 degree angle you used to peel the decal away. Once the decal and any leftover residue has been removed from your vehicle's exterior, use some glass cleaner to give your window one last polishing and wipe away any remaining cleaner with a paper towel.

Your car windows are now completely free of foreign decorations left by the previous owner. You may choose to leave your windows bare or accent them with attractive automotive decals of your choosing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_McGavock

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Mercedes-Benz Type W111 Heckflosse (Fintail)

You don't have to be able to understand German to understand what a gem the Mercedes is.  Check out this cool video brought to you by Star Tech European.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Air Filters - Which Gives the Best MPG to Your Car?

For the sake of fuel economy, it is not hard to see how easy it would be to overlook the air filter as a way to save gas, but save gas it does.

Air filters are devices which strain air through a membrane to separate particulates from the air that normally goes into an internal combustion engine. This is to prevent these particulates, such as dust, fiber, pollen and such to contaminate sensitive and hard-to-reach parts of the engine.

Air filters are judged according to two types of attributes: filtration and flow.

Filtration is the ability of the filter to separate particulates from the air. Flow is the ability of the filter to let air move through the filter element with minimal restriction, including the piping that guide air through the air filter and beyond.

Filtration elements are normally composed of paper, cotton, foam, and cloth components.

Paper. This is the most common and cheapest form of filter available. They are efficient, idiot-proof and costs less than other types of filters. The filter is normally a wide, round cylindrical shape about 3 inches in high. Particulates are easily spotted on the pleats of the air filter and can be cleaned off for further use. Paper filters have a shorter use life and are considered easily disposable.

Foam. Foam filters are oil-damp polyurethane elements. These are usually used in rally-type environments with the capacity to trap lots of dust.

Cotton. Oiled-cotton gauze filters are usually found in performance after-market air filters. Employs multiple layers supported by a metal mesh to trap dust and particulates.

Cloth. Cloth are oil-wetted as well and are considered on the same level as cotton-gauze filters. They also employ the same layering as cotton-gauze and are reusable to the point of just washing and re-oiling them.

When air flow is considered, the "plumbing" of the air filter system must be observed. What manufacturers usually attached to air filter systems is a complex set of pipes that flow up and down to slow down air flow somewhat. The purpose of this is to reduce ambient noise, sometimes at the cost of fuel efficiency.

After-market performance components have solved these problems by doing away with the plumbing system entirely and going for a more simplified straight or curved piping system topped with the filter element. This immediately shows better performance over the plumbing-type system but these do not filter out particulates as well.

Some after-market performance filter components usually include cone-shaped filters for cotton and cloth filters, mushroom-shaped filters for foam elements, and some two-stage hybrid filters, which clean out air much more efficiently but at the cost of some air flow.

What else can I do to immediately improve performance?

If all else is held constant, what you can do to improve performance would be to improve the quality of air that is drawn through the air filter. The best value for money-addition to a factory installed or improved-air filtration system would be to add a hydrogen-on-demand (HOD) generator to be drawn in through the air filter.

HOD generators are devices that produce hydrogen and oxygen as electricity passes through an aqueous medium. This gas is more known as "oxyhydrogen" or Brown's Gas or HHO. This gas is generated on-demand only (i.e. when the engine is turned on) so there is no hydrogen stored in its pure form to cause a risk to life and limb.

What does an HOD system do?

Hydrogen when compressed an introduced to an internal combustion engine:

-Releases more energy than ethanol-based mixes, maintaining the overall power of the car

-Completely burns the fuel which gives cleaner emissions

-Raises the octane level of the fuel, preventing knocking, making the engine quieter

-Lowers overall engine temperature slightly

-Requires the engine to use less gas per cycle

Cost?

Fairly inexpensive. Parts can be sourced from everyday parts found in hardware shops and basic electronics stores. Total cost for a basic unit can range between $70 to over $200 USD.

What's offered by most HOD enterprises are plans for do-it-yourself systems, with offers to build the system for the consumer if they so wish. This way the customer can opt to build it himself or to buy a unit once the concept is understood after obtaining the plans to prevent fraud.

For more information on HOD systems, increasing fuel economies, and support, please visit the url below.

Erwin Chua MCP, MCDST has been involved with cars since he was 22. In his youth he would take the car out for a ride without a license, and never get caught. He has a still-pending Master of Arts in Philosophy from De La Salle University - Manila after he decided to leave the academe in pursuit of the true Way. Currently, he is based in Penang, Malaysia spending his time working out, tinkering and puttering away on his Toyota, practicing the Way, building web sites, and writing articles on technology, health, nutrition, body conditioning, healing and travel.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erwin_Chua

Friday, October 29, 2010

Mercedes Benz Inventions Commercial

A Mercedes Benz commercial from the United States that shows all the things Mercedes Benz have introduced to cars over the years.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Mercedes' Air Conditioning

History can vouch for the fact that Mercedes has always been known for comfort and style, with a special mention always, to its air conditioning. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the evolution of the car industry as whole is quite dictated by the developments made by Mercedes as one of the world's biggest automobile companies. Mercedes has been given the tag of the 'cool' car not just for its style factor, but also for its AC condenser. However, even with the best of the aircon systems, you might still need to get the Mercedes air-con repair sometimes. In the event you do experience some problems, you can always take you car in for the Mercedes air conditioning repair procedure.


You can even prevent many of your air conditioning problems by ensuring that you recharge the entire system at repeated intervals in order to maintain its maximum level of efficiency. Research has shown that the refrigerant that the Mercedes air conditioning system uses, reduces by almost 15% in a year. It is also possible that at times, there might be a leak which would need to be foxed, before the refilling of the refrigerant as the refrigerant might be lost due to the leak. However, the detection of this leak is hardly possible without the help of particular specialized test equipments.

Problems may also occur more during winters when the system is hardly used, there is a chance of the seals drying out and this leads to the system losing its productivity and can also result in the air conditioning system becoming unusable. But this is not a reason for great concern as the leakages can be easily detected during the Mercedes air conditioning repair procedure. During this procedure, even the refrigerant can be filled in again, without you spending much time or money on the same. One aspect that you need to be careful about is the strange sounds coming from your Mercedes aircon system. Besides the sound of the pump when it turns on and off, any other noise needs to immediately be looked into, lest it leads to major damage in the your air conditioning system.

Regular servicing is the key to keep all you Mercedes problems at bay. You can save yourself the worry of spending time, energy & money if your air-con problems are detected well in time

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_P_Wright

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Mercedes in the Movies!

Mercedes Touts Its Role in 'Sex and the City' Movie - 20 March 2008


NEW YORK - Mercedes-Benz USA will likely spend a "few million dollars" advertising its product integration in New Line Cinema's upcoming big-screen version of the hit HBO series "Sex and the City," VP-Marketing Steve Canon told Advertising Age during the New YorkInternational Auto Show.

The movie's director, Michael Patrick King, will helm the Mercedes-Benz co-branded effort breaking on national U.S. TV, Mr. Canon said. The automaker's national creative agency of record, Merkley & Partners, New York, will work closely with New Line Cinema, one of the producers and the film's U.S. distributor, to develop the ads, he said.

The automaker is also studying whether to stage private screenings for owners and prospects or special ticket offers, Mr. Canon said.


Source: http://www.speedace.info/automotive_directory/mercedes_benz.htm





Saturday, October 2, 2010

David Gallo Shows Underwater Astonishments


David Gallo shows jaw-dropping footage of amazing sea creatures, including a color-shifting cuttlefish, a perfectly camouflaged octopus, and a Times Square's worth of neon light displays from fish who live in the blackest depths of the ocean.

A friend shared this with us and we thought we would share it again! Fascinating!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Your Vehicle's Service


Although we use the manufacturer's recommended inspection specifications, we will never sell you something you don't need. At your time of service, we'll inspect your filters, spark plugs and other maintenance issues and make our recommendations based on your car's needs.

Let us inspect your car and tell you what we see your car needs to keep it running at it's best, without spending more money than you need to.

We proudly use Mobil 1 products and original equipment filters.

Monday, September 13, 2010

How Often Should I Change My Oil?


Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the oil once a year or every 7,500 miles in passenger car and light truck gasoline engines. For diesel engines and turbocharged gasoline engines, the usual recommendation is every 3,000 miles or six months.


If you read the fine print, however, you'll discover that the once a year, 7,500 mile oil change is for vehicles that are driven under ideal circumstances. What most of us think of as "normal" driving is actually "severe service" driving. This includes frequent short trips (less than 10 miles, especially during cold weather), stop-and-go city traffic driving, driving in dusty conditions (gravel roads, etc.), and driving at sustained highway speeds during hot weather. For this type of driving, which is actually "severe service: driving, the recommendation is to change the oil every 3,000 miles or six months.

For maximum protection, most oil companies say to change the oil every 3,000 miles or three to six months regardless of what type of driving you do.

A new engine with little or no wear can probably get by on 7,500 mile oil changes. But as an engine accumulates miles, blowby increases. This dumps more unburned fuel into the crankcase which dilutes the oil. This causes the oil to break down. So if the oil isn't changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear and all the engine problems that come with it (loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption).

Read more...

Monday, September 6, 2010

Porsche

Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE, a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury high performance automobiles, which is majority-owned by the Piëch and Porsche families. Porsche SE is headquartered in Zuffenhausen, a city district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg.
Porsche SE has one main subsidiary – Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (which stands for Doktor Ingenieur honoris causa Ferdinand Porsche Aktiengesellschaft), often shortened to Porsche AG, which is responsible for the actual production and manufacture of the Porsche automobile line. The company is also the majority shareholder in Volkswagen AG, the parent company of the Volkswagen Group, which includes (but is not limited to) the automotive marques Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles, Å koda, Lamborghini and SEAT.
Read full article by Wikipedia

Sunday, August 15, 2010

1970 Custom El Camino Project Photos

We do custom projects from taking it to the bare frame to just customizing a small part. With racing in our blood, we are huge fans of Detroit heavy metal. Whether it's a hot rod or your dream car, we are happy to help you attain your goals. Give us a call at 707-455-8870.