The Original Back To The Future DeLorean Is Getting Restored!

Putting a new turbocharger or supercharger won’t turn your ride into a time machine, but Bob Gale, co-writer for the Back To The Futuresaga, is going to need one to accomplish his next project: a full museumquality restoration of the original "A car" from the Back To The Future trilogy.

There were several vehicles used in the making of the BTTFsaga, but the A car was the best, most detailed unit used on all three films.Apparently it has been left outside for a long time and is in need of seriousTLC. Some say it sat outside the BTTF ride at Universal Studios, others say itsat in a car lot with other busted movie vehicles, but either way the car is now in a state of seriousdisrepair. 

The people he has hired to do the restoration are Joe Wasler, JRyan, and Terry Matalas, all of whom have been involved in creating perfectBTTF DeLorean replicas in the past. Not only will they need a team ofspecialists to restore the vehicle to working order, they will also have to payextra special attention to the many elements that make this car a unique pieceof film history.

Bob Gale has taken tothe internet to appeal for all fans of the movie to return any original partsof the car to them,  or to let them know where they can get new ones (if anyone hassuch information). The movie’s popularity has seen original parts get sold andpassed around over the years, so some pieces of the original are missing.  He has created a Facebook page and Twitteraccount to connect with fans that may have information on the missing parts,and for anyone interested in following the restoration process.

 It will be fun to see this unique car go through its owntime machine – question is, when it’s done, where do you think it will end up?

Now here is a good idea 5Star has printed a QR on the label of their new 5062 bodyfiller. Simply pull out your smart phone scan the code and the web page with the Technical Data Sheet and the MSDS are available on your phone. the link takes you to http://5starxtreme.com/msds-tds/5062.aspx

I like the implementation the page is free of images that would slow the loading of the page on mobile devises and with out the distraction of of up sell or advertising.

Nicely done I hope this is adopted industry wide.







This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

What To Do If You Are Involved In A Minor Car Accident

Any car accident can be very distressing - buying a brand new front wheel hub or rear wheel hub and then having it destroyed is never fun. However, if you areprepared it can help make a stressful situation more manageable. This guide isfor cases in which there are no injuries to either party in the accident. Ifyou are involved in an accident where there are injuries to either party, youmust stop immediately and dial 911.

 The first thing to do if you are involved in an accident is,if possible, to move your car to a safe nearby location out of the way of othermotorists. Be careful not to go too far, and never leave the scene. Leaving the scene of an accident is a highlypunishable offense and a felony in cases where someone is injured.

Stay calm. Regardless of whether the accident was your faultor not, don’t panic, remain polite, and do not admit fault. Contact your localpolice, who will inform you whether or not a patrol officer should come andassess the situation.

Then exchange information with the other party. Collecttheir contact information, insurance information, the year make model and colorof their vehicle, and their license plate number. Take a picture of the damage toboth vehicles at the scene of the accident. Take pictures from multiple angles,and try to get as much detail as possible – from close-ups of the damage towider shots of the scene itself. If you do not have a camera on yourmobile phone, purchase a disposable camera and keep it in your car at all timesin case of an accident. Also collect contact information from the tow truckdriver and any witnesses (if present).

After you have exchanged all of the information necessary,you should be ready to get on your way. Make sure to keep all of theinformation you gathered in a safe place so you can reference it once youreturn home to complete the necessary paperwork, and ensure the responsibleparty pays for the repairs.

Mid West Title Loans in St. Joseph Missouri Thumbs Down Review

Ruining Family"s Lives

Being in the automotive business over 25 years I can not believe the way a so called Business called Midwest Title Loans located in St. Joseph Missouri operates within the law. Charging well over 300% interest on their car title loans. The worst part is, no matter how long you have been doing business them they will come and secretly steal your car after missing a few payments due to the economy. The smiles and greetings they give to you are just fake. As a matter of fact the smiles and greetings could be them laughing at your mistake of taking out a loan with them. I never thought of it that way. So as for Midwest Title Loans in St. Joseph Missouri the Autodude gives this so called business two thumbs down.

Midwest Title Loans St. Joe Mo.

I think its time for them to pull the plug on ruining peoples lives and charging this kind of interest. My review of them is from a real life drama that happened to me and my little boy having our vehicle repoed miles away from home. Why did they have to stalk and follow us visiting a relative in another state then pounce on us lke a wild animal to steal our car. Were they afraid to  greet us at our home before we left and bring up this debt? Midwest Title Loans in St. Joseph Missouri are possibly millionaires by now preying on the poor with these high 300% rates.

Repo Men?

What are your thoughts on this car title loan place in St. Joe? I feel the place is pretty shabby in appearence compared to the newer car title loan places springing up there in St. Joe. I am not sure but I think these Newer places may be even lower on their interest rates than Mid West Title Loans in St. Joe! I would not go there for a car title loan but would rather shop around there on the Belt Highway for a cleaner place with lower interest rates. If you decide to go to Midwest Title Loans in St. Joseph Missouri and god forgive you if you do, ask them at what point will they come take your car away from you and your family. So in short, the Autodude gives Midwest Title Loans in St. Joseph Missouri TWO THUMBS DOWN!

keywords: midwest title loans, st. joseph missouri, car title loans, review, repo men,

Why Are Many Diesel Cars Not Available in the U.S.?

With all the talk today about fuel efficiency and reducingemissions, you would think that more diesel powered cars would be available forpurchase in the United States. Along with O2 Sensors, Air Fuel Ratio Sensors, and newultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, new diesel cars are not only very clean but getexcellent gas mileage.  So why don’t wesee more of them?

Diesel powered cars are popular around the globe, especiallyin Europe where diesel gas is often less expensive. There are many European carmakers that produce diesel cars for their European markets, but they seldommake it to U.S. shores. This is mostly due to automakers reluctance to bringdiesel cars to the U.S. because of low demand. 

2012 VW Passat

Diesel cars do not have the best reputation in America. Twentyyears ago (or more), diesels were noisy, clunky, and produced a thick cloud ofsmoke whenever you pressed down on the gas pedal. They also rarely passedemissions testing, especially in ultra-strict California. Today’s diesels areworlds apart from their ancestors, but the poor qualities associated with thempersist in public minds. 

In addition to already poor attitudes toward diesels, thegreat qualities of new generation diesels are often overlooked. Despite gettingsimilar gas mileage and often better emissions than hybrid vehicles, it’susually the hybrid sector that gets the most press for being green.  This is in spite of the fact that thebatteries used in hybrid vehicles are full of toxic and carcinogenic materialsthat are downright hazardous to obtain. Chalk it up to good marketing on behalfof the hybrid car industry, and a lack of marketing dollars spent on pimpingdiesel cars as the new ultra-green hybrid alternative.

2012 Audi Q7 TDI

The last major obstacle in an increased demand for dieselcars here is the heavier tax levied on diesel fuel. Typically the price ofgasoline is about 18% federal and state taxes – with diesel fuel it’s about25%. This is due to outdated tax code and results in higher prices for dieselfuel at the pump: although owners may get much better gas mileage, they arestill paying more per gallon. This can offset thebenefit of fuel efficiency to the consumer.

With gas prices soaring, public attitudes are beginning tocome around. In 2012 VW released the Passat, Jetta, and Golf TDI, BMW releasedboth 3 Series diesels and the X5 XDrive 35d, and Audi released the A3 TDI andQ7 TDI.  If this trend continues we mayget a decent selection of diesel engines available in the U.S., and if we’relucky, new legislation to make taxes on diesel vs gasoline more fair. Withgreater awareness of the benefits plus some serious marketing push byautomakers, more diesel-powered cars can definitely be in our future.

Chrysler Delta Review

Chrysler Delta Review

Here’s an odd thing: the badges on this car invite you to think of it as hailing from the USA, home of Chrysler. Not so. If you have travelled on holiday or business in mainland Europe, you might very well have seen exactly the same car wearing Lancia badges. Confusing? Maybe, but the reason behind this unusual dual identity is Fiat’s takeover of Chrysler, adding the American brand to a portfolio of companies that already included Italian-based Lancia. Perversely, Fiat chose to badge-engineer both the Delta and its smaller stablemate the Ypsilon, and launch them for the UK and Ireland under the Chrysler brand name.

Who's Driving Tonight?

Won’t it be great when our cars can be the designated driverand we’re not left drawing straws to see who can’t drink on a Saturday night? Whenthe wheel hub and bearing assembly are controlled by the car’s computer ratherthan a driver? It may have seemed like something out of a science fiction moviejust years ago (cough, cough iRobot), but this idea is becoming more of areality every day.

Google has been working on autonomous vehicles for a fewyears now, with several of their concepts already having logged over 160,000miles in test runs. And how many accidents have been reported? Zero. Relying onwhat I assume to be a combination of the GPS system, cruise control, as well assensors and cameras to detect other vehicles on the road, these cars have beentesting in a sort of “legal limbo”. That is until this month when Nevada passedthe first legislation that embraces what seems to be the future of theautomobile industry. The new rules, which will allow autonomous vehicle testingin the state, still require there to be an “operator” available in case of atechnical glitch. Yep, that means cars DD-ing you home will remain illegal fornow (so no napping in the backseat while your car drives you home from the bar).However, you will be able to talk on your cell phone.

This technology is already available in many newer modelcars. Companies like BMW and Audi have also been testing their self-drivingsystems which will probably appear for highway-only use in the coming years. The factthat Nevada recognizes this as the future and is adopting laws to aid itsdevelopment is pretty awesome, and I’m sure in time other states will followsuit.  But for now, we wait.

How to Get Warranty Work Done at the Dealership

A great way to ruin your day is to have your diesel engine parts or diesel injectors go out on you. It's even worse when the parts aren't warrantied; or worse still, when the parts ARE warrantied by the manufacturer but your local dealership doesn't want to warranty the parts for you.

It's sometimes difficult to realize that dealerships are not directly related to the brand of vehicles they sell. Though you hold high regard for the automaker of the car you purchased, the dealership can fall short of those high standards. Automakers try very hard to get their dealers to be honest and good to their customers (it affects their brand image a great deal), but still sleazy dealerships persist.

Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times

 Here are some tips to get warranty work done on your vehicle:

1. Know Your Warranty: The owner's manual for your vehicle will have a warranty section, or a separate warranty pamphlet. There are often separate warranty terms for different parts of your vehicle; an example is a Drivetrain Warranty. Make sure that the part in question is covered under the manufacturer's warranty, and that your vehicle is within the warranty parameters.

2. Be Polite But Firm: If a dealer argues with you that the part is not under warranty when it clearly is, ask politely if you can check the warranty section of your manual. If they are still being resistant, nicely ask if they would like you to call the automaker to get authorization for them. Maintain an attitude of trying to work to solve the problem, not trying to accuse the dealer. Unfortunately your best bet of getting the problem fixed lies with the dealer, so make sure to remain polite and genial but firm.

3. Call The Automaker: If the dealer still refuses, you can always repeat the process at a different dealer in hopes of getting better service. If not, however, it may be necessary to contact your automaker and let them know of your experience. They often have national and regional telephone numbers; check your automaker's main website and search for the regional telephone number (if you can get it). Once on the phone, still remain polite and calm and do not badmouth the dealer. You do not want to be labeled as one of those "insane customers" so it's best to keep your cool and emphasize you are just trying to resolve an issue with your vehicle, and you need help.

Think this is a warranty issue?

 4. Lemon Laws: If all else fails, you might need to get help from a lawyer. There are different laws for manufacturer's warranties in each state; finding out how many issues, and what kind of issues, you need to be experiencing to qualify could be useful to you. At this point you need to weigh the cost of lawyer's fees with the cost of buying a new part at your expense.

Hopefully, you will never need to follow all of these guidelines to get warranty work done on your vehicle. It can be an extremely frustrating experience but hopefully, armed with the facts, you'll get your vehicle taken care of.

You Can Brick Your 109k Tesla Roadster

It's always a bummer when your Air Conditioning Parts or AC Compressor quits out on you - you're stuck in the heat for a few days while you order another one and have it installed. It is a decently easy fix though, and (depending on where you shop) a not-so-costly repair. Other repairs are more expensive - as a few Tesla Roadster owners found out when their lithium-ion car batteries died and discovered a replacement runs $40,000.

 Yes, you read that right. After placing a $5000 deposit and then coughing up an additional $104,000 a few hundred people have driven home in a fully electric Tesla Roadster. The batteries that are used to power the Roadster are not unlike the ones used to power your cell phone - rechargeable, and apparently, once flat dead they cannot be revived.

Some technology enthusiasts will recognize the term "bricking" - it means when a piece of technology is rendered completely unusable, making it about as useful as a giant brick. Five Tesla Roadster owners so far have discovered that not only can they brick their Roaster, but the only solution is to purchase an entirely new and un-discounted battery from Tesla for 40k.

Surely, with such dire consequences it must be really difficult to brick a Tesla, right? Unfortunately, the parasitic load from the cars subsystems will render any unplugged Tesla a brick in time. With a full charge, that might take up to six weeks or so, but if the battery was already run down it could take as little as one week. Even plugged in, if the voltage going to the car isn't sufficient it can brick anyway as one unfortunate Tesla owner found out.

Insurance won't cover it, either. Tesla is no better - they specifically state in their terms upon buying the car that they are not responsible for "neglect" of the battery. You would think Tesla would recognize the danger here and go to great lengths to warn customers about this issue, but it is markedly absent from any of the paperwork and manuals given to new Tesla owners.

Given this information, buying a Tesla leaves you open for a huge un-insurable liability. There are those who want to go green while maintaining serious style, but with $40,000 in the balance, is it worth it?

Rear-Facing Camera's Might be Required by 2014

Last week we covered why it might be a good idea to install a dash cam into your vehicle. So many vehicles now come with a Car Navigation System and In Dash Navigation Screen stock, that adding a few cameras in the front and the rear can be easy and provide you with a range of benefits. Soon, however, automakers will not have a choice: rear facing back up cameras are set to be required for all vehicles made after 2014.

Based on a proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers must have the ability to see behind their vehicle when the vehicle is put into reverse. According to NHTSA, this "blind spot" regulation could save 95 to 112 lives per year, and prevent 7,000 to 8,000 or more injuries. Tragically, backover accidents cause an average of 229 deaths per year, 44% of which are children under 5 years old. Cars with lots of travel and small back windows (like SUVs) have very poor rear visibility, especially for children who are not taller than the back windows of the vehicle.

The matter is not cut and dried, however: there is some heated debate on whether measures like this are necessary. The NHTSA says the total approximate cost to equip their estimate of 16.6 million vehicles sold in 2014 would be between $1.9 billion and $2.7 billion. Of course it's impossible to put a price on a child's life, but it is possible to hold drivers responsible for making sure there is nothing behind their vehicle, especially if there are children around.

There is also the responsibility of parents  to keep an eye on their children to make sure they are not playing behind cars, and not in the driveway when a car is running. Given that in 2009 33,808 people were killed in automobile related accidents, back-up related deaths are relatively rare.

The decision has been delayed on several occasions so the jury isn't out yet on the issue, but if passed we could be seeing even the lowest base model cars with in-dash screens to support rear-facing cameras as early as 2014. Do you think the burden of responsibility lies with automakers or parents?

Green Hybrid.. Military Vehicles?

When you typically think of "green" in the auto industry, things like O2 Sensor, oxygen sensors, and hybrid cars like the Toyota Pruis come to mind. I bet the last thing you would think of is the Army's all-terrain Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle (CERV), and yet here it is:

The advantage of going hybrid on a vehicle like this is not only to save gas (getting gas in the field in Afghanistan can cost upwards of $400/gallon... think about that next time you're at the pump); this vehicle can also run in silent (fully electric) mode for up to 8 miles. Combined with it's diesel engine it maintains the ability to go up 60 degree grades and reach a top speed of 80mph.

These capabilities make it extremely versatile: running a diesel engine at 3am isn't the best way to go unnoticed in stealth operations. The silent mode on this vehicle can sneak up on terrorists faster than a Prius when you step into the crosswalk. Plus there is admittedly some novelty to having a giant machine gun mounted to the top of a hybrid vehicle.

Fiskar Karma hybrid-electric vehicle.

This vehicle is part of a larger effort to save money and help the environment without sacrificing power and usability for soldiers in the field. It is being produced by Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide (QTWW), the company that makes the Q-Drive, the 400 hp drive train of the Fisker Karma. If you  haven't heard of the Fisker Karma, here's a few details to fill you in: a claimed total range of 300 miles (483 km), the first 50 miles (80 km) of which is on tailpipe-emission free electric-only charge, and it looks absolutely amazing.

There was a time where it was difficult to even get pictures of CERV's, but as the Army has entered one to be on display at the Chicago Auto Show it seems the times are changing. The 25% better fuel economy this hybrid offers not only saves money, but enables military personnel to go longer without filling up. Time will tell if these become a permanent installation in the military, but it certainly seems a step in the right direction to save money and increase utility for today's soldiers.

Revised Prices for the Corvette C6 And Z06

• Adjustment made to prices of 2008 Model Year Corvette C6 and Z06 models
• Corvette C6 now available from £39,999 OTR
• Corvette Z06 now available from £54,995 OTR

Corvette ownership has just become more affordable with the revision to 2008 Model Year prices of the C6 and Z06 models in its line-up. Front-engined, rear-wheel drive Corvettes have always offered an unbeatable combination of blistering performance, everyday comfort and driveability and they are now better value than ever before.

The Importance of Having a Dash Cam

Have you ever thought about getting a dash camera? Most people are more concerned with whether their Pre-Cat Oxygen Sensors and Post-Cat Oxygen Sensors are functioning properly, and that dash cams are just for police vehicles.

The driver pointing out his dash cam.

You might want to think again - there are several advantages to having a dash cam, first and foremost having a recorded account of anything you witness while driving. There is a video circulating online currently of a driver with a dash cam who had a car in front of them BACK INTO their vehicle. By law, this would normally be his fault as anything that looks like a rear-end is the fault of the rear driver. However, despite attempts of the front driver to threaten to call the police unless our driver pay him $500 on the spot, because of the dash cam he had evidence for his case.

This is also handy in case you witness a crime while driving, even if it doesn't involve your vehicle. Events like accidents and crimes can happen fast - human memory can prove to be hazy when pressed to recall exact details about a certain moment in time. A dash cam can be very useful in these situations to provide an accurate account of events, and to identify anyone involved.

Serious matters aside, footage from a dash cam can be entertaining. I'm sure you can think of a time when you've seen something while driving that is almost beyond belief, but upon telling the story to your friends it turns into one of those "you had to be there" moments. Showing the footage to friends, and even uploading it to popular video aggregating sites, enables you to share your hilarious moment with potentially thousands of people.

Lastly, footage from a dash cam can be artistic. Want to remember what that road trip was like a few years ago? A neat video compilation of normal hand-held video camera footage mixed with dash cam footage of your trip can provide a very cool experience for you and your loved ones to share.


Whatever you use it for, a dash cam can come in handy in the right moment. For all of it's uses, it seems worth the average $60 investment.

Own a Remarkable Piece of History for a Cool Million

On March 10th on Amelia Island, Florida RM Auctions will be auctioning a very unique piece of automotive history.

While we complain in modern times when our AC Compressor and AC Evaporator aren't keeping us cool enough, this beauty had no such amenities and yet it is a sight to behold.

 It is an extremely rare 1913 Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII, chassis #718 - one of only four ever built. It was named after the King of Spain at the time, a young auto enthusiast who bought many of Hispano-Suiza's models - eventually building a fleet of 30. In honor of their best and most respected customer, they named this model the Alfonso XIII, and with a 3.62cc inline four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 80mph (which was excellent for the time) it certainly lived up to it's namesake.

 The attention to detail in the making of this vehicle is striking: original Belriot two bulb headlamps (an early example of a hi-beam low-beam set-up), intricately woven and fabulously preserved interior upholstery, wood-framed windows, and special markings on the trunk hardware, leaf springs, and the original dash chassis plate to name just a few highlights.

It also features both an open, summer body and a closed winter body (winter body shown): both are immaculately preserved. The story goes in the mid-80's two avid car collectors were in Seville, Spain. They met an antique dealer and asked him if he knew of any Hispano-Suiza cars that might be in the area, and he pointed them in the direction of his client, the Marquis de Sanlucar de Barrameda.

After going to his estate and sampling some of the local wine, he agreed to sell them his grandfather's car - kept in a storage area for wine barrels and untouched for 40 years. They were blown away with how preserved the vehicle was and happily received their purchase.

 Lucky find, which will now move to the hands of the next lucky auction winner with a million dollars to spare.

What Documents Are Important to Keep for my Vehicle?

There are several documents you are required to keep withyou when you drive in the United States. It is easy to forget about necessarypaperwork when driving – most of us are only concerned whether our CD Playerand navigation units are functioning to make sure we are entertained and comfortable. Howevernot having a piece of the necessary paperwork required for driving on publicroads can leave you with a huge headache.

 One of these is a driver’s license, which alsoserves as a valid form of identification. As it is your license to drive, and aform of identification, it is best to carry your driver’s license with you atall times. These are issued by your home state, and the requirements forobtaining one vary from state to state. To check the requirements where youlive, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website for your home state.

You are also required to carry a liability insurance policyfor driving. The minimum requirements of these policies also vary from eachstate, but regardless, a card will be issued to you either physically orelectronically. There are many insurance companies switching to paperlesspolicies, and while this is more efficient and “eco-friendly,” it is importantto make sure you print a copy of your insurance card and keep it with you ifyou received it electronically.

You are also required to register your vehicle in the statein which you live. After filling out a registration form, and a check for thefees for registering your vehicle, you will receive a document and a sticker toapply on the top right corner of your license plate. Make sure to keep thedocument that comes with the sticker – this is your vehicle registrationpaperwork and should be kept, along with your insurance information, in theglove compartment of your vehicle.

Why are these documents important to keep with you? If youare ever pulled over by any law enforcement officer, you will be required tofurnish these documents as proof you are legally able to drive in the U.S. Ifyou are caught without these documents you will most likely be issued aseparate ticket for not having them on you, along with whatever violation youwere cited for in the first place. Additionally, if you are ever involved in anauto accident, you will be required to exchange the information on thesedocuments to the other party involved (if any), and depending on the severityof the accident, report it to the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is best toavoid any problems by making sure you have your paperwork in order at alltimes.
 

 Lastly, it is very important to keep the original documents thatprove your ownership of the vehicle – typically called a title. The title toyour vehicle is critical in proving that the vehicle belongs to you, and isrequired for registering the vehicle in your name for the first time. Neverkeep the title inside the vehicle – if the title is lost, getting another copycan be difficult. It is best to keep the title to your vehicle in a safe placeat home where you can find it if you need it.

Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel averages 62.9 MPG

 A British team has crossed North America, from New York to Los Angeles, in an XF 2.2 Diesel averaging an incredible 62.9 mpg over 2,884-miles – making it the most efficient Jaguar ever created.

Finishing in Los Angeles, California on Monday, November 14, the journey – the equivalent of travelling from London to the Sahara - took in 11 states, three time zones and eight days. Yet the XF only required four stops for fuel – its peak economy of 67 mpg being achieved on the penultimate day of the trip.

Tesla Model X

The best thing that cars have done for the environment sincethe invention of the catalytic converter or cat converter has been the electriccar. And, the most exciting electric car company has been Tesla, whom recentlyrolled out its new SUV crossover, the Model X. Similar to the other Teslavehicles the main distinct feature is that it is electric.  It comes with either 60 or 85 kilo-watt-hourbattery.  The 60 kWh has a range of200-210 miles, while the larger 85 gets 260-270 miles. Although, the electricaspect of the Model X makes it comparable the other Teslas, there are a fewfeatures that make it unique.

The first is its size. The Model X can fit up to seven fullsized adults, unlike the Roadster which could fit only a rich man and his tinytrophy wife.  However, the big stand outfeature which Tesla is pushing is the rear Falcon Doors.  The doors lift and fold upward, making itmuch easier for a person to enter and exit the vehicle.  With the doors up, a person can be standing upin the backseat.  Tesla has not made asafety statement yet, but I highly recommend not driving around with the reardoors up and a passenger standing.

Unfortunately, another aspect that differentiates the ModelX from other Teslas is its styling.  TheRoadster has looks that would turn your head so fast your neck would break. TheModel X’s styling on the other hand is almost as exciting as watching grassgrow. “Almost,” which I guess means it is as exciting as watching trees grow?There are no aggressive lines or anything that makes it stand out from the restof the crossovers.

There are not any official specs out yet but Tesla says theModel X will go 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. Pricing has also not been released but theassumption is it will be in the range of the Model S, $67,000 to $77,000.  Customers seem to be OK with that price,because Tesla just announced it has already got $40 million worth in presalesfor the car. The deposit to reserve one is $5,000 for the base, and $20,000 fora Signature Edition.  Deposits are fullyrefundable if a customer wants to back out, and first deliveries are set forlate 2013.

Dodge Charger Police Vehicles Recalled

If you were ever thinking of getting away with that high speed chase you've always dreamed of, now might be the time!

Chrysler is recalling almost 10,000 Dodge Charger police cars manufactured in the last two years. You would think a leaky power steering rack or bad fuel injectors might be the cause, but it's actually a faulty bulb harness connector of all things.

The connector can overheat, causing the low beams to fail. Wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to catch expired tags or, heaven forbid, get pulled over by a fellow officer for not having your headlights on at night. Those fix-it-tickets are a force to be reckoned with!

“The conditions tend to occur when police vehicles are exposed to severe police-duty vehicle cycles for an extended period of time, including long durations of high speed, evasive driving when used as training vehicles for police forces and extended idling,” said David Dillon, head of product investigation and campaigns. “We will continue to monitor the retail fleet for any occurrence of this condition beyond police vehicles.”

Read: conditions tend to occur when chasing the General Lee on those pesky country dirt roads going 90mph.

Looks like many police stations will have to take the cars in to a Dodge dealership to get fixed. Dodge dealerships just got a whole lot safer... for the next few months.

How Many Knots per Gallon Does Your Car Get?

If you’ve ever owned a boat you know there is almost nothingmore relaxing than being out on the open water. However, if you don’t have adock or want to pay an arm and a leg to store it at a boat yard, you’re lefttrailering it back and forth from the water every time you want to use it. That’swhere the day-dream of amphibious vehicles comes in: cars you can drive intothe water like a boat without worrying about destroying your engine,transmission, fuel pump or navigation units. Well, there seems to be an answer fromthe company WaterCar and it goes by the name “Python”.

This five passenger land/water-craft is almost 21’ in lengthand looks like one heck of a good time. They claim it hits speeds of 60mph inthe water and is made of non-corrosive materials such as fiberglass to avoid wear.The vehicle will need to be registered as a boat and a car, but you only need alicense to operate it on land. What’s the catch? Well, the first catch is thatit runs at roughly $200,000. Ouch. The second? It doesn’t come with an engineor transaxle, which is quite the “disclaimer”. They estimate this install wouldcost about $40,000, but if you have enough money to spend $200,000 on anengine-less car-boat then it shouldn’t be the biggest drawback.

This year I keep seeing more and more crossovers on the road,but these vehicles bring a whole new meaning to “crossover”. While this isn’tthe only concept of its kind, the fact that WaterCar makes the experience look likea Jimmy Buffet tailgate on the water has gotten them a bit of attention. I want.

Midwest Title Loans-Say no to Car Title Loan Place in St. Joe Mo.

Do you live in or around St. Joseph Missouri and was thinking about a car title loan place to go to? The Autodude recommends that you stay away from Midwest Title Loans located at 603 S Belt Hwy in St. Joseph Missouri. (Phone: (816) 232-9100. My personal experience with them has been very bad and I should of went elsewhere’s where they show a lot more professionalism. There are other car title loan places to go to in St. Joe Missouri that will show you some courtesy that you deserve. If you love your car do not go to Midwest Title Loans.

Midwest Title Loans

My experience with them has been a nightmare. I can not believe how nice and kind they are to you when you take out a car title loan with them. I only owed them $300 and thought I would be ok by missing a couple payments due to the bad economy. Midwest Title Loans located in St. Joe Missouri had their repo men follow me through 4 counties and through 2 states then within minutes, I call it stole my vehicle, which I paid $8,000 cash for. I immediately called them and offered to pay the $300 owed but I was told that their interest rates went from $300 to $1,300 and demanded it all paid in full or they will put my vehicle on their auction block in 10 days!

My advice would be to go to another car title loan place and stay away as far as you can from Midwest Title Loans located on the south Belt Highway. (.603 S Belt Hwy) The other title loan places located there in St. Joseph Missouri looks more professional and cleaner. As a matter of fact I understand if you currently have a car title loan with Midwest Title Loans you can go to one of the more respectable places there and have them pay off your car title loan and get as far away from Midwest Title as you can. I have been a certified auto repair tech. for over 25 years and have never screwed a customer as bad as these people do every day at Midwest Title Loans charging over 300% interest rates and repo your car no matter where you are or who is with you like your children.

Repo Men Midwest Title Loans

In my future blog posts I will keep you updated on this car title loan place called Midwest Title Loans located in St. Joseph Missouri.

　

Keywords: Midwest title loans, st. joe Missouri, car title loans, repo men,

Why Should I Lower My Tire Pressure?

So, you’re cruising down the white sand beaches of Mexico inyour truck with a Diesel Turbocharger, and all your buddies are flying by.  What’s going on? How come they seem to befloating on the sand while you’re struggling? They have exactly the samevehicle as you, right down to the exact same Diesel Injector.  The answer is probably tire pressure.

You may have heard people say that it is good to lower yourtire pressure anytime you go off-roading, but might have never known why. Youprobably don’t want to ask, because not knowing something about off-roadingwould make you seem unmanly. Well, no need to wonder anymore, because I amabout to tell you. The answer is a simple one word solution, FOOTPRINT. Justthink of a camel.  Those things havebigger feet than Shaq, and Mother Nature gave the camel those aircraft carriersfor a reason.  The bigger the foot, thelarger the area to distribute the weight of the camel, which keeps the camel ontop of the sand instead of sinking into it.

When you let air out of you tires it increases the size ofyour cars footprint.  More of your tiretouches the sand.  When you do this youmay think that more of the tire touches in width just by looking at it, but itactually increases the length of the footprint. With this increased length your friends will no longer be leaving you inthe dust… or should I say sand?

Driving in the sand is not the only time when lowering yourtire pressure optimizes your ride. Anytime you are off-road it will help, especially bumpy or rockyroads.  When you go over a rock, a fullyinflated tire has to climb it. Even a small rock can cause the car to thinkit’s about to go up a steep hill. Just driving over a 2x4 piece of wood createsthe same increase in angle as a hill with a 30 degree incline.   When you lower your tire pressure the tiredoesn’t climb the rock or piece of wood, it engulfs it.  Your car stays flat on the road while yourtire eats up the rock and spits it out the back.

Remember when you get back on a hard surface to reflate yourtires.  Tires with low pressure easilybend and break wheels, and driving too fast could overheat your tires. Thelower your pressures are set the lower the speed you should drive.

Why Add Fender Flares on Your Truck

Have you ever thought of adding a set of fender flares to your rig? That is a great idea! You can't prevent the mud that splashing on your wheels, but you can reduce unwanted dirt by using fender flares.

Fender Flares are originally manufactured to prevent mud from splattering across the side of your vehicle. These are exclusively designed to keep road debris away and to avoid the risk of damaging your wheel wells. Although dirt can be easily washed off by cleaning them, however, the discoloration of your truck's coat is highly at risk. Fender flares are easily installed to the side panels providing wider tire coverage.

If we are going off-road with your truck, Fender Flares are very effective from protecting your vehicle from tough terrains and other harmful elements along the road. You don't have to spend almost thousands of dollars to keep your vehicle in good condition. With just a set of fender flares installed, all is well!

There are a lot of advantages of using fender flares to your truck. Since it gives wider tire coverage, the bigger tire, the greater force that will throw off debris on the side of your truck. It also adds styles to your vehicles and gives you an aggressive off-road look.

Two reasons to add set of Fender Flares to your vehicle.

1. Being extended tire coverage for oversized wheel/tire combos. If you have upgraded your vehicle's stock tire size, Fender Flares are an aesthetic requirement and in some states a legal requirement. They provide a new, tough and powerful look.

2. Even if you want to stick with the stock tire size, a set of Fender flares can noticeably enhance the look of your vehicle.

Two types of Fender Flares:

1. Universal Fender Flares this are off-the-shelf products that can be customized with paint and graphics. These types of Fender flares are available in the auto shops or via online.

2. Custom Fit Fender Flares are specially designed to fit a particular truck, SUV, or van.

You may choose any of these depending on your needs and requirements. But before you add fender flare, you have to determine the size of your vehicle's wheel wells. Fender flares are easy to install with no drilling requirements and comes with different sizes and colors.

There are lots of fender flares to choose from with different styles that gives your ride different and distinct looks. Choose from; OEM Style, Rivet Style, Cut out Style and Street Style. From different style, you can also choose with the trusted brands such as the Fender Flares, Prestige Fender Flares, Rugged Ridge Fender Flares, EGR Fender Flares and Warn 4x Fender Flares.

Car Sharing... the Future?

I like everything in my car to be set just right. The climate needs to be at my perfect temp, at all times. I don’t want anyone else messing with my air conditioning. So, quit turning my AC Compressor on and off, and stop putting my AC Parts through so much wear and tear. You may think that I am super anal and you are super correct. Due to this, I am not a good candidate for a car sharing programs, but it might be the right fit for you.

The first evidence of car sharing goes back to 1948. The idea of sharing vehicles has come and gone several times, lacking the ability to stick. No one has seemed to be able to get it right. That has not stopped the fad from, once again, coming back. However, this time there is a new approach.

There is the old car sharing business model; a company owns a whole fleet of cars and members can rent those cars for a few hours or an entire day. Zipcar is the largest of these corporations with 650,000 members, who proudly refer to themselves as “Zipsters.”I wonder if Zipsters wear their seatbelts extremely tight around their tight hipster jeans. Zipcar has almost 10,000 vehicles in 19 major cities. They account for 80% of the car sharing market.

The new car share method is a peer-to-peer model. The company doesn’t actually own the vehicles. Instead, members share each other’s cars. Everything else is basically the same. This seems like a great business idea because it eliminates fleet maintenance, which is a massive expenditure. The tough part is getting members to trust their car with strangers. To ease members’ worries companies run background checks, and provide insurance.

The big companies that operate a peer-to-peer style are Getaround and RelayRides. General Motors just invested in RelayRides and will use OnStar to help members find and track vehicles. GM acknowledges that a car share program causes less people to buy automobiles, but reports state that there will be 4.4 million people participating in car share programs by 2016. GM wants to be the company that supplies those cars.

Automobile Brakes/Car Brakes/Vehicle Brakes/What You Should Know

Front brake Assembly

What you should know about your car and truck brakes may surprise you. Most vehicle brakes are run by a hydraulic system which under pressure will slow or stop your car. Below I will go over some points to remember when it comes to your car or truck brakes. Some people believe that all you have to do is drive the vehicle until you hear noises coming from your wheels. By that time it is to lste for a normal routine brake job you see advertised all over the place. Here are some brake tips you should know as you are out cruising around town.

Brake Pulsation:



Brake Inspection

Your automobile brakes have brake rotors in the front and most of the time you have brake drums on the rear of the vehicle. When your brake rotors and brake drums heat up you creat a hot spot which will cause these two components to over heat and expand. Some times you can have the brake rotors and brake drums machined cut to fix this brake pulsation problem or you can just have the brake rotors and brake drums replaced.

Brake Squeaking:

Seventy percent of your braking is coming from your front brakes while the remaining thirty percent is coming from the reaes. Your front brake pads are equipped with squealers to let you know to have them inspected right away before you start rubbing metal on metal. which can be quite costly. If you get them inspected right away all you may be looking at is just a brake pad replacement and resurfacing the rotors. If you choose to ignore the noise then plan on replacing the brake rotors, brake hardware, and possibly a brake caliper or two.

Heaed up Brakes

Use Your Parking Brake as Much as Possible:

Most drivers out there will ignore using their parking brake every time they park their vehicles. The parking brake Is designed to help adjust the front and rear brakes evenly. If you do not apply the parking brakes then your brake cables will rust and freeze up not allowing your brakes to be applied evenly.

ASE Brake Technician

Flush Out Your Brake Fluid:

Unflushed brake fluid will turn into sludge and will not perform its duties. The rubber parts, seals, et. will start to leak and will not give you the stopping power that you need. Brake fluid is not suppose to boil when it gets hot. Here are just a few pointers you can keep.

Keywords: brakes, front brakes, rear brakes, cars and trucks, vehicles, .

10 Things to NOT Put Off!

With more and more used cars on the road today it isespecially important to keep up with regular car maintenance. At some point downthe road parts like the AC compressor or a fuel injector may unfortunately gobad, but there are certain things that every driver should keep an eye on toavoid unexpected car fails. The first of these are the brakes because oursafety is dependent on them. Brake failure is easily avoided by checking thefluid regularly and by replacing it every 24,000 miles. In addition to thefluid, the pads should be changed out depending on their condition and use. Just because they still make your car come to a stop, does not mean they don't need any help!

Other safety-related parts to keep an eye on are the tires.It’s easy to ignore tires that don’t have enough tread because you don’t wantto drop that extra cash on a new set. However, this can be extremely dangerousand you may leave yourself hurt or stranded because of neglect. A typicaltime-frame for tire replacement is 6-10 years, although it obviously depends on their wear. An easy test to check a tire's condition is to put an upside-down penny between the treads. If you can see thetop of the president’s head, time for a new tire! Check out the rest of a top10 car maintenance checklist below!

1. Brakes: Fluid 2 years or 24,000 miles
2. Tires: Dependent on use; roughly 6-8 years
3. Coolant: 2 years or 24,000 miles
4. Engine Belt & Timing Belts: 3 years or36,000 miles (Engine Belts) & 60,000-90,000 miles (timing belt)
5. Spark Plugs: Every 30,000-100,000 miles
6. Automatic Trans Fluid & Filter: Every 2years or 24,000 miles
7. Air Filter: 12 months/12,000 miles or asneeded
8. Battery: 48-60 months or as needed
9. Power-Steering Fluid: Top off as needed,inspect level with every oil change
10. Fuel Filter: Every 2 years or 24,000 miles