Sports cars are built for speed, not comfort. Some prefer to drive in the fast lane watching the other cars go by which makes these people go to a dealer and buy one. There are other reasons why a person will prefer to buy one brand over the other. This can be the appearance of the vehicle, the smart engine onboard, or how fast it can accelerate in less than 10 seconds.

With the price of fuel going up, people are more conservative about buying a sports car and one of the main questions that a customer will ask the sales person is how many miles per gallon of fuel does the car consume.

For comparison, 2 cars will be chosen and the figures given will be based on the records of the Department of Energy.

One car that is very well known throughout the world and is one of the best sports cars ever made is the 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster. This car uses premium gas and gets 20 miles per gallon for city driving and 28 miles per gallon on n the highway or an average of 23 miles per gallon.

Another good brand that is known worldwide is Jaguar. Its sports car, the 2004 Jaguar XK8, gets 18 miles per gallon in city driving conditions and 26 miles per gallon on the highway for an average of 21 miles per gallon.

As the figures show, one is able to use less gas in city driving conditions while the other performs better in the highway. The figures above are not definite since the fuel economy varies and is dependent on how the person drives the sports car.

There are many other sports cars in the market that one can compare before choosing the right vehicle to drive off the dealer’s lot. The deciding factor will then depend on a person’s preference.

The sports car is truly an amazing machine that will keep the driver and passenger on the edge of there seats at all times. Though there is not that much difference between these 2 sports cars, the gasoline mileage per gallon is an important factor that people will think about before choosing to buy one sports car over another.

Pretty self-explanatory isn’t it? It’s a stereo system in a car, you say. Whoa, hold your horses, it’s not that simple. Although some people like to put home stereos in their cars and vans (out of dire need for some sounds), sometimes it just doesn’t work. Yeah, maybe before it could’ve worked just fine, all you needed was radio and a cassette player (or 8 tracks, for the inner dinosaur in you) so sure, lug those big box speakers into the back seat and you’ll be blaring down the highway. But nowadays there are things like cd players and mp3 players and your popup LCD panels and all that techie knickknack you’d think they’d like to build a home theater system right smack on the console of your van. If you don’t know anything about these things but would like to have some sounds in your car anyway, here are some things to know about a car stereo.

As mentioned above, at first units and speakers from home audio systems and professional markets were just simply installed into vehicles. However, they were not well suited to the extremes of temperature and vibration which are a normal part of the environment of an automobile. Car stereo enthusiasts were not satisfied with the sound quality of regular car sound systems, and with the advent of the CD player, they really had to start modifying some of these home stereos in order to work well in a car environment and voila!, now we have the modern car stereo.

If you have a new car, first hand bought, say from about 90 to present, chances are you already have a “factory” car stereo in your car. It means the car manufacturer already included a car stereo system in your car, unless specified in the car model but most often this is the case. Some car manufacturers make their own car stereos, like BMW which includes a pretty decent car stereo package head unit and speakers. It is a standard which comes with all their cars (which isn’t surprising considering that BMW is included in the league of “luxury car manufacturers”). Or like Mercedes Benz or Volkswagen, they use car stereo systems from a German audio manufacturer called Blaupunkt.

A standard car stereo (also called a head unit) usually includes an auto-reverse tape deck, a cd player and sometimes the optional changer – a device which automatically changes the cd in play. On newer car models, the car stereo can also play mp3s and other digital audo file types like WMA and AAC, whether on a cd or a memory device which can be hooked up to the head unit.

The car stereo head unit is connected to several speakers. Older car models usually just had one speaker mounted underneath the dashboard, pointing through perforations towards the front windshield. The standard for car stereo nowadays is a pair of “tweeters” (used to bring out high treble) on the driver side/front passenger side dashboard, a pair of normal “mid” speakers on both doors, sometimes even the backseat passeger doors if it’s a large car and larger speakers capable of bringing out low ends at the back protion of the backseats.

Your car stereo is probably ok as it is, as car manufacturers ensure that the audio products that come with their cars can handle most dirver’s listening demands. But if you think that what you have isn’t enough, you can always CUSTOMIZE.

BMW or Bayerische Motoren Werke has long been conceived all over the world as “The Ultimate Driving Machine.” The company has proven this statement true in the past years.

The current models of BMW sports car will attest to that statement.

Here are some of the current models of BMW, with their corresponding characteristics.

-BMW M3 2006

Engine specifications:

BMW M3 has an in-line, 3.2 liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 11.5. It has four valves per cylinder. It promises to deliver 248 KW power and 333 HP at 7900 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features:

The car has electronic brake distribution, brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

BMW M3 is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differentia at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.35 drag coefficient, body side moldings, and 3771 lbs. curb weight.

-BMW M5 2006

Engine specifications:

The BMW M5 2006 car has a V10, and 3.2 liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 12. It has four valves per cylinder. It promises to deliver 373 KW power and 500 HP at 7750 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features:

The car has brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, electronic brake distribution, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

The BMW M5 is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differentia at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction. It is also equipped with a responsive suspension.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.31 drag coefficient and 4012 lbs. curb weight.

-BMW 6-Series

Engine specifications:

The BMW M5 2006 has a V8, 4.8 liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 10.5. It has four valves per cylinder. It promises to deliver 268 KW power and 360 HP at 6300 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features

The car has electronic brake distribution, brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

BMW M3 car is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differentia at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction. It is also equipped with an adjustable responsive suspension.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.3 drag coefficient, and 3814 lbs. curb weight.

With all the features these cars have, BMW truly is the “Ultimate Driving Machine.”

Have you ever watched a Formula D race before? Formula D Racing, also commonly referred to as Formula Drifting, is a sport that is rapidly increasing in popularity in the United States. Although the first professional event took place in 2004 in the United States, the sport has been popular for a number of years, especially in other areas of the world. However, as previously mentioned, Formula Drifting is increasing in popularity in the United States. For that reason, there is a good chance that you are a fan of the sport. If you are not, you will likely become one, sometime in the future. If this is the case, you will want to learn as much as you can about the sport.

When it comes to learning about Formula D Racing, there are a lot of things that you may be wondering about. Many individuals wonder why it is considered a form of racing, especially when not all events are termed as head-to-head events. Others want to learn more about the cars, other want to learn about the sport in general, and there are some who want to know more about drifting.

See, in Formula D Racing, drifting is essential; it is how many drivers are judged for their performance. Drifting is defined as intentionally allowing a car to go past the car tires adhesion. This results in a slip, known as a laterally slip. That slip causes the car to drift or, in a way, turn into a position that is hard to control. Despite being hard to control, professional drifting drivers are almost always able to gain and keep control of their car.

With drifting, there are a number of different techniques that are used. According to the professional Formula Drifting Championship, these techniques include a Kansei Drift, a Braking Drift, and E-Brake Drift, and a Long Slide Drift. Below is a simple explanation of each of the above mentioned drifting techniques. Although they look neat in writing, they are even better when seen live, in action.

The Kansei Drift is to be used only with a neutrally balanced car. Using another car will not only result in an unsuccessful drift, but it could also be dangerous. When the correct car is used, the driver will remove his foot from the car’s throttle. This will help to create an over steer, which the driver much manage throughout the rest of the high speed corner.

A braking drift, unlike the above mentioned Kansei Drift, is mostly used in corners that are defined as low or medium speed corners. Once in a low or medium speed corner, a driver will use their tail breaking, as soon as they begin entering into the corner. The use of this breaking will often result in the loss of grip, from the car to the car tires. To successfully maneuver this drifting technique, like all others, the driver must be able to balance the car through the use of the throttle and steering.

An E-Bake Drift, is in a way, similar to the above mentioned breaking drift; however, it can only be used in professional drifting under certain circumstances. E-Brake drifting involves the use of a car’s emergency break. It helps to create a loss of traction, which is important in drifting. As with all other forms of drifting, the driver must successfully be able to maneuver the car once it begins to lose traction and control.

In addition to in an E-Brake Drift, the emergency brake is also used in another drifting technique. That technique is known as a Long Slide Drift. A Long Slide Drift involves activating a car’s emergency break on a straightaway. It starts to angle the car in a direction that is needed to successfully make it through a number of corners. It has been noted that the Long Slide Drift is only safe to be used when at a high speed. Not only will the drifting technique not work at a low speed, but it is also potentially dangerous.

The above mentioned drifting techniques are just a few of the many that are used in the sport. Additional techniques include, but are not limited to a Faint Drift, a Clutch Kick Drift, a Shift Lock Drift, and a Dirt Drop Drift. For more information on these drifting techniques, you are encouraged to visit www.formulad.com.

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Motorcycles are very popular, with thousands of them on the road. You will find them in a variety of makes and models for your enjoyment. Finding exactly the style you want that fits your body can prove to be difficult, especially if you are extremely short or very tall. Having a customized motorcycle made to your specifications is a great alternative, but it is also more expensive.

One of the most well known custom motorcycle makers is Jesse James, owner of West Coast Choppers. Jesse James has been passionate about motorcycles since he was seven years old. He has customized motorcycles for many celebrities including Shaquille O’Neal, Kid Rock, and Kyle Petty. The bikes range in price from $50,000 to $150,000.

While this is going to be much to expensive for the average individual, you can still get a great customized motorcycle from some other sources. There are many things you need to consider to get started. First, what is it that you need from a motorcycle that you can’t get from a standard one at any retailer? If it is simply the color, you will save a great deal of money by purchasing it from the retailer and having it repainted. In some cases, you may be able to contact the manufacturer and have the bike painted your ideal color at the factory.

Most of the time, individuals need to have a motorcycle customized to fit them properly. Take Shaquille O’Neal for example. He is such a large person, that the average motorcycle just doesn’t work well for him. Jesse James was able to use O’Neal’s measurements to create a motorcycle that was comfortable for him to ride. Customized motorcycles are a great choice for those with a disability that prevents them from being able to operate a standard motorcycle.

If you are determined to have a customized motorcycle, take the time to research the various manufacturers you have to choose from. Keep in mind that you may have to wait several months or even years to get the motorcycle you want if the manufacturer is very busy. Always discuss the options you want in great detail as well as the price. If the manufacturer won’t agree to your specifications then look for someone who will.

It is a good idea to conduct research about the manufacturer. Find out how long they have been customizing motorcycles. Ask for references and to see samples of their work. You will also want to inquire about warranty information and a guarantee if you aren’t pleased with the work. In most cases, you will have to pay a deposit before work begins on your customized motorcycle. Make sure they are familiar with working with the model of motorcycle you want to have customized.

Having your very own motorcycle is a great recreational item to spend your time with. However, investing in a customized motorcycle will allow you to have the very best motorcycle that fits your style as well as your body. Being comfortable on your motorcycle will allow you more enjoyment and you can also use it for long road trips. You are less likely to be involved in a motorcycle accident if the motorcycle is a proper fit. While a customized motorcycle is more expensive than a traditional model, it is an investment that is well worth it.

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Europe, a continent filled with so much culture and history. A lot of people actually flock to Europe year after year to visit its sights and experience its rich culture. The modern yet still quite laid-back lifestyle that Europeans have been known for has always fascinated tourists, from being true-blue sophisticates who are very much adept to fashion, literature, history, culture and the arts, this is why a lot of people have been drawn to Europe’s simple yet elegant charm time and time again. Of course, traveling around Europe will be really much of a hassle if you don’t have the proper transportation to quickly and conveniently take you from one spectacular tourist destination to another. The most probable solution to this dilemma is a car, ever ready, you’re sure to get to where you want to go at your leisure. Europe car rental however may be quite tricky to some. Let’s face it, a lot of the countries in the European continent isn’t really comprised of English-speaking people and if they do speak a little English, it’s still highly likely that you won’t be able to understand what he/she is saying, it really is best, especially when it comes to Europe car rental, to book everything in advance. Even before your plane lands in the airport tarmac, make all the necessary arrangements that you need to have.

To help you get started on your Europe car rental quest, try to coordinate it with your trip. Which country/countries are you actually going to? Which one/ones will actually really need for you to rent a car (please be reminded that there are some European cities where it’s more favorable to walk instead of taking mass/private transportations)? How much will you actually need to spare for your Europe car rental fees? Is it worth it? Also, try to map out the places that you’re already planning to visit, calculate the distances that you’ll need to travel from one place to the next and if it’ll really be a lot easier (and cheaper) for you to rent a car than take mass transport then by all means, go check out the various Europe car rental agencies available in your area. You need to have everything fixed and taken care of before you embark on your great European adventure.
There are a lot of available Europe car rental agencies who are willing to lend you their services at really affordable prices – well to some extent. From small, typical European cars to luxury cars and RVs, you’re bound to get the vehicle of your choice since there are numerous Europe car rental agencies in the market.

Try to start your search for the ultimate Europe car rental agency by asking your travel agent on which Europe car rental agencies he/she can recommend. Also, if you have friends or relatives who’ve been to Europe, try asking them on which Europe car rental agency they prefer and if it really is a lot more convenient (and worth it) to rent around car for your grand European vacation. Also, help educate your self more with regards to Europe car rental by browsing through the internet. Surely, the internet really is best-known for easy-access research and it really is quite definite that you’ll land your self on a reputable Europe car rental service that will hopefully be able to cater to your needs, wants and budget. Plus, all the necessary transactions can even be done through the internet. So the hassles of trying to find a good enough Europe car rental specialist and booking their services, will clearly be not something that you have to go through anymore.

If high acceleration, top speed, and appearance are what you want in a vehicle, then a sports car is probably what you’re looking for.

Sports cars are a $4.5 billion industry with about 55,000 units sold annually.

Sports cars are built as performance vehicles ?meaning they are to be pushed in ways regular cars can’t. For example, acceleration is often no more than 5 seconds to go from 0 to 100 mph.

As it is more difficult to maneuver a speeding object, sports cars are specially designed to be handled at top speeds.

The term “sporty?was coined to refer to a sleek but robust design that exudes a powerful persona for the person behind the wheel.

What follows is a basic run-through of sports cars out in the marketplace ?their general designs and layout, as well as a listing of the more popular models and makers.

– FF ?front engine, front wheel drive.
The FF layout has a moderate capacity for high speed handling and is seen in select models such as the Fiat Coup? and the Lotus Elan M100.

– FR ?front engine, rear wheel drive
Considered the “classic?sports car layout, the engine drives the rear wheels but keeps the weight off the back. The FR is good at drifting corners while still maintaining control. Mercedes-Benz is recognized for using this layout for its models.

– RR ?rear engine, rear wheel drive
With the engine at the back driving the rear wheels, weight placement on a RR layout provides excellent traction for a car. However, without auxiliary driving aids like stability control, handling becomes difficult. As of today, the only maker who keeps the RR layout for its cars is Porche.

AWD ?all wheel drive
An AWD layout provides the easiest handling, making it ideal for those who are just starting out with sports cars. Audi started the widespread use of this technique with the Quattro. Japanese manufacturers like Mitsubishi used this layout to increase handling making it an excellent rally car.

Because of higher restrictions in the states, sports car manufacturers are more prevalent in Europe than in America. Nevertheless, American brands are in equal competition with its European and Asian counterparts. Some recognized makers and models are:

Alfa Romeo
Alpine
Aston Martin
Austin-Healey
BMW
Bugatti
Caterham
Davrian
De Lorean
Ferrari
Fisker
Jaguar
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Lotus
McLaren
Maserati
MG
Morgan
Panoz
Porsche
Triumph
TVR
Vector

Now that you’ve gotten started, take your next step by discovering the excitement a sports car can bring you today, just like it has for generations.

Owners of sports cars may be the ‘kings of the streets? Sports cars offer great features and benefits that many car buyers look for. However, sports cars may sometimes be a problem when obtaining the car insurance.

It is a known fact that the insurance for sports cars has much higher premiums than any other car. It can be a problem when applying for car insurance since the fees and premiums are ‘hard on the pocketbook? Here are some tips that can help in getting the best insurance rates for sports cars:

1. The car owner should have a very good credit rating and have maintained that rating for a number of years. Insurance companies offer better rates for those people who have very good credit scores. Before applying for car insurance policies, the owner should make sure that he has no credit card debt…

2. Car owners can enjoy better insurance rates if they pack their sports cars with safety features and gadgets. The owner can purchase safety airbags, install antilock brakes, and stability/traction controls. These are recommended for the protection they provide, and safety features on sports cars will allow car owners to obtain discounts on their car insurance policies.

3. Sports car owners should also maintain very good driving records. Insurance companies offer lower rates to safe drivers.

4. Premium quotes are reviewed based on the information that is provided to insurance companies. Sports car owners should always make sure that they provide correct and accurate information when getting insurance quotes for their cars. This will help car owners enjoy the insurance rate that is best for them.

5. It is very important to so research before buying car insurance. Insurance companies offer different insurance rates. Some offer discounts during special events or when promoting their company. Car owners should always keep informed about discounts and rates. They can also make use of the internet to get insurance quotes and compare rates before making the final selection.

6. Once a final choice has been made, car owners should not stop there. They should update their policies and their information on a regular basis. They need to continue to check their insurance policies to ensure that they are still enjoying the same rates and terms that were initially offered.

Sports cars are for enjoyment and prestige, so they should not be a burden to their owners. Even if sports cars have higher premiums, compared to other cars, the owners will still be able to enjoy the best insurance rates available to them.

Want to save some money? Ever wonder if you could do a car stereo installation yourself? Yes, you can do it yourself! Go ahead, spend that money on your hardware! Don’t spend it on labor. Besides, doing a car stereo installation yourself can be a very rewarding experience, not to mention you can learn a lot from it too. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing your “creation” in action, running smoothly and perfectly.

But be very careful, you really won’t want to damage your expensive hardware. Well, most car audio hardware are no-brainers to install, you’d find that most of the time the parts have specially shaped sockets and slots etc. and would only fit where it’s supposed to be installed. Still, it’s best to proceed methodically.

In a car stereo installation, you have to determine what kind of rig you’re going to put into your vehicle. If you’re a beginner, it’s best you do a car stereo installation if it’s just a simple system. You may want to leave the complicated stuff to the professionals, like installing delicate equipment like LCD panels, motorized parts etc. especially if it requires the creation of custom panels and such.

Head units are one of the easiest to do in a car stereo installation. Fortunately, most units follow the same size standards (DIN). In many cars, once the factory radio is removed the aftermarket radio will fit in the hole. In many other cars, a kit is needed if the factory hole is too big, or not deep enough. In some cases the dash has to be cut. Any car stereo store should have kits required for installation.

There are two types of mounting in a car stereo installation. ISO mounting is when the radio can be screwed to existing factory radio brackets, such as in most Japanese cars. Ring mounting is when an aftermarket radio comes with a metal ring that gets mounted to the factory radio hole or aftermarket kit via bendable tabs. In many cars, dash and trim rings have to be filed to enlarge the radio hole. Once the ring is installed, the radio slides in and is held by snaps. In most cases, special tools are required to remove the radio.

Speakers are very critical in a car stereo installation. No matter how expensive your speakers are, if they are not properly installed, the sound will not be up to par.

In a simple car stereo installation, you’ll probably be using speakers that fit into a factory location. Just make sure there are no gaps or holes. Sometimes building a wood or fiberglass baffle helps reduce holes and gives you much better sound. But always be careful when using power tools around speakers. Car stereo installation warranties usually don’t cover holes in speakers.

For unconventional speaker locations, sometimes metal has to be cut. You might want to leave this to the professionals, tools like plasma cutters and pneumatics drills are required. But if you’re going to insist, a pair of metal snips (left and right cut) will do.

A car stereo installation has to put up with vibrations and other noise sources in its environment. Even though it is impossible to eliminate these completely, there are products that will greatly decrease the noise and rattling, particularly on non-luxury cars. Liners, sprays and adhesive strips and even carpeting applied onto the panels can make a world of difference.

Are you a fan of Formula D Racing? If you are, there is a good chance that you will enjoy watching the sport, just about any chance that you get. Unfortunately, like many other sports, Formula D Racing, also commonly referred to as Formula Drifting, only takes place at certain times and on certain courses. For that reason, you may find it difficult to get your drifting fix. If this is the case, you do not have to worry; you will find that you have a number of different ways to watch Formula D Racing or other drifting programs.

When you think of drifting programs or Formula D events, that are not live, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? If you are like many other Americans, you would respond with television. Recently, the Formula D Series partnered with G4TechTv, also commonly referred to as G4TV. This popular television channel is most commonly known as a gaming channel. One of the reasons why Formula D is shown on this television station is due to the fact that Formula D or Formula Drifting is sponsored by the game Need for Speed. This is the connecting link between drifting and this popular television gaming network.

As nice as it would be to watch programs on Formula D, not everyone is able to. This is because the G4 channel is often perceived as a specialty channel. It is not available with all cable or satellite programming packages. In fact, to gain access to this channel, many cable and satellite providers need to purchase one of the highest costing programming packages. Unfortunately, this is something that not everyone can afford. However, if you do have access to a computer and the internet, you can still enjoy Formula D Racing programs. You can do this by using iTunes.

If you have the internet, watch television, or listen to the radio, there is a good chance that you have heard of iTunes before. iTunes is a program that is created by Apple. It allows you to legally download short movies, podcasts, music videos, as well as music. One of the podcasts that you can find on iTunes is centered on Formula Drifting. These podcasts are presented by G4. What is nice about these podcasts, unlike many of the other items that can be found on iTunes, is that they are free. Essentially, this means that you can easily view these podcasts, without having to pay a thing.

Once you have iTunes installed on your computer, you should be able to use the search feature to find Formula Drifting podcasts. You may want to search with the words Formula D, Formula Drifting, or Drifting. Once the results are displayed, you should be able to find a number of results. G4 is planning on adding additional podcasts, but currently you can find twelve podcasts that are available for viewing. These podcasts not only include clips from recent drifting events, but they also have other focuses. You can find information on the cars cooling systems, as well as information on the drivers. The length of each podcast varies, but most are around two minutes long.

If you don’t already have iTunes installed on your computer, you will need to install the program. You can easily obtain the download file for this program by visiting www.itunes.com. Like the Formula Drifting podcasts, you will also find that it is free to download and install iTunes on your computer. The only time that you will be charged is if you make the decision to purchase other entertainment items, such as a music album. Other than purchasing other items, which are clearly labeled for sale, it is completely free to view Formula D podcasts, which, as previously mentioned, are presented by G4TV.

Although these Formula Drifting podcasts are fairly short in size, you will still find them useful, fun, and exciting. Whether you are looking to learn more about the sport or you just want to pass the time, you are advised to examine iTunes and the Formula D podcasts that are available.

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