second hand cars

The looks about as ballistic as a poached egg and feels as quick as a prostate exam. It weighs about 2300 pounds and goes 45 miles on a charge if you drive like a typical American—that is, primarily on freeways. It’ll whisper along a bit farther on city streets, when it can better recharge its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack through regenerative braking. It’s sold in Japan in tiny numbers, mainly to utility company fleets, and will come to the U.S. in the fall of 2011. If this is the future of motoring, at least it looks like a good, healthy breakfast.

Remember that silly question “Who killed the electric car?”

Who cares anymore? Electrics are back, and they look fab. More and more poached eggs with batteries the size of steamer trunks and electric motors instead of engines are spinning on auto-show display stands. They’re running up and down Los Angeles freeways pretending to be normal cars, and they’re softly humming in the night, sucking spare kilowatts off an aging electric grid. Lots of real, green money is already being exchanged for

, and Nissan will hit the market later this year with the

, which doesn’t look like deciduous foliage so much as a Nissan Versa with paunch. Ford has built a one-off

, and Tesla is using a half-billion-dollar federal loan to noodle out the many technical knots in the design of its Model S, an electric luxury sedan said to go up to 300 miles on a charge and cost less than $55,000.

If you’re the type who scans only headlines, you can’t be blamed for believing that all cars will soon be of the plug-in variety. But here are a few reasons why that won’t happen, at least not before your breakfast gets cold.

For a while yet, all electric cars will be way too expensive.

The i-MiEV will run roughly $30,000 to $40,000, or about twice what a gas-powered version would. A Tesla costs $110,000 to start. Although rumor places the Leaf’s price at $25,000, the battery pack will likely be leased separately, and the real price might be closer to $40,000 before tax-credit discounts. That’s for a car that is basically a $15,000 Hertz economy unit with a $25,000 battery pack. Wouldn’t you rather buy it with a $1200 gasoline engine instead? One that can be fully refueled in five minutes instead of eight hours? Most people would.

Consider one problem with massive electrification: A mammoth global industrial complex supremely efficient at producing 50-to-60-million light vehicles with internal-combustion engines every year would have to be largely scrapped, replaced by one comparatively clueless about making cars with electric motors and batteries. Such huge, entrenched efficiencies don’t go away quietly.

Even hybrids, for all the praise they receive, currently amount to less than five percent of monthly U.S. new car sales. This is not a take rate that encourages automakers to scrap their massive investment in the development and production of internal-combustion engines. Electric vehicles face a classic chicken-and-poached-egg conundrum: Low volumes ensure that the price of electric-vehicle components, from batteries to transformers to drive motors, will remain prohibitively high. In turn, that depresses demand, which then discourages automakers from committing billions to developing dedicated electric-vehicle platforms; such dedicated platforms would better demonstrate an EV’s full potential than today’s meager offerings, which are all derived from existing production-car architecture. Men and women might be strolling on Mars before the industry can build an electric car that is price competitive with a petroleum burner. And that’s if it can do it at all.

Battery technology is the major choke point,

still awaiting the gotta-have-it breakthrough that will allow electrics to achieve the kind of cost-to-performance ratio required by the mainstream. Rolled up in barrel-shaped cells or, better yet, laid out in sheets where the voltage-sapping heat can be better dispelled, lithium ion is today’s “it” chemistry. Lithium ion offers high power density, manageable operating temperatures, and easy rechargeability. Lithium is, to use the parlance,

so hot right now.

However, lithium’s development into useful battery material has been—and continues to be—glacially slow, taking the past 40 years to reach a weight-cost-power ratio that is still just a dim flicker compared with that of oil-based fuels. And we can only expect an 8-to-10-percent increase in storage capacity—and commensurate drop in cost—per year.

Besides, batteries aren’t like fuel tanks; they can’t be topped off full or drained of the last drop. To ensure battery longevity, they can’t be fully charged or fully discharged, leaving the top

and bottom 25 percent or so of charge capacity as a sort of necessary ullage. That means you’re paying for—and lugging around—battery capacity that can’t be used. It’s expensive capacity, too. The latest estimates put one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of battery at about $1000, which means the Tesla’s 53-kWh pack—worth about $53,000—is toting around $26,500 of unusable zap. Factor in that 8-to-10-percent improvement over a decade, and the Tesla’s battery pack will still cost about $20,000 in 2020.

And there are more sinister problems with batteries. Like oil, lithium threatens to cause geopolitical headaches in the future.

About half of the known lithium reserves lie under salt flats in Bolivia,

where the locals are already being fitted for sheik’s garb. Even if more is found, such intensely localized concentrations promise political and ecological trouble as the world races to grab its share. Are electric vehicles really that progressive if you have to pay off dictators and dig up pristine landscapes to power them?

Lithium is recyclable, but the infrastructure to do so is almost nonexistent. The process is also fussy—the batteries must first be chilled to minus-325 degrees Fahrenheit to make them inert. And it could get trickier as battery formulations become more exotic to reach power targets.

To charge a lithium-ion battery, you need electricity. Executives at the local Los Angeles electric utility, Southern California Edison—no doubt the nation’s first utility that will face large numbers of EVs—tell us that they’re readying the system to service up to 400,000 electric vehicles by 2020. Generation is not a problem—the utility currently produces 22,000 megawatts (about 16 percent of which comes from wind and solar power) and has up to 8000 to spare, mainly at night when power demand is low but capacity necessarily remains high to ensure grid stability.

The problem isn’t with power transmission, either.

Edison says its desert-spanning trunk lines have plenty of capacity. The issue is with local distribution. Edison sizes its neighborhood transformers for the number of houses they serve, which is generally a stable quantity. However, electric vehicles are such power suckers that each one added to the neighborhood is the equivalent of hooking up an entirely new residence—its lights, furnace, air conditioner, washer and dryer, TVs, sex toys, everything—to the local line. If you and your four neighbors decide to buy EVs all at once, Edison fears there could be transformer explosions.

A public-awareness campaign is aimed at getting EV buyers to alert the utility before they bring their new juice hogs home so Edison can evaluate and upgrade the local power supply as necessary. Also, the utility is encouraging nighttime charging with a plan for favorable rates and developing “smart” meters that can tell the difference between an electric car’s nocturnal recharging and a particularly feisty three-way up in the bedroom and charge the bill accordingly. Although the rest of the country will have to follow suit in this major upgrade of our electric infrastructure if EVs are to displace the internal-combustion engine, emissions from power plants are another topic entirely.

Will all this be free? Is your breakfast still hot?

Article source: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q1/what_s_new_fast_forward_2020_the_myth_of_the_ev_future-feature

Back To The Future The Game | release trailer (2010)

:: Applying for auto loans on-line may be one of finest choices if you’re planning to buy a car anytime soon. You’ll discover that you’ll find plenty of benefits of availing auto money advance on the internet. First of all, no a lot more running about to different banks or other lending firms. The old way of processing loans that needs plenty of paperwork that could at times get discouraging.

Now everything can be carried out on your laptop or computer at the comfort of your property. The most beneficial component about it too is it is possible to apply for reasonably priced auto funding anyplace you might be and anytime. The internet brings a rapidly and effective way in obtaining the best car deals in the market. When it comes to approval, it does not even take a whole hour for the loan to be granted.

Among the obvious benefits you can get from getting a car loan online is convenience. You have the ability to select probably the most cost-effective financing strategy which will meet your requirements and has low interest rates. The procedure involved is truly fundamental and demands a great deal less time than by going to an on-site branch.

All that you should do would be to present the needed data pertaining to your monetary and individual background. When your lender sees that the information provided by you in your application form meets their eligibility requirements, you will be notified that your loan has been granted within 1 hour. You now have the funds that permit you to buy your desired car.

Each financing firm has their own loan terms including loaned quantity, repayment period, and interest rates. It truly is critical that you simply request for quotes from diverse providers to know their terms and conditions. Becoming conscious of all this data can allow you to make a decision which provider you are going to decide on when you finally decide in taking out a loan.

More often than not, on the web creditors don’t charge any hidden or further fees. This really is also especially advantageous for borrowers which have poor credit score considering that credit records aren’t taken into account when they’re availing a bankruptcy auto loan. As a way to enhance your credit score, it truly is advisable that you simply attempt growing the quantity of your repayment.

The online car financing industry is loaded with several excellent auto loan selections. Once you have a steady flow of income as well as a bank account, there is certainly typically not dilemma acquiring qualified for a vehicle loan.

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Andrew-Scherer-8708/auto-loans-online-190260.php

How to Buy a Car Online : How To Use The Online Car Loan Calculator

We do all know that having a car entails maintenance, which too many people proved rather costly. As a matter of fact, one of the biggest expenditures you’ll make in order to keep your car in tiptop shape would be buying new parts for your car.

It is inevitable that your car will need scheduled replacements for some of its essential parts, especially those that have grown worn and old. But it would be very expensive to be buying new ones particularly the vital engine parts. That’s when used auto parts come in. They offer a cost effective, yet practical option to keeping your car in good condition without ever hurting your pocket.

The first is that these parts are available. So, like we said before an antique or a classic car owner will find it easier to get parts, which are no longer manufactured. Dealers who do business in salvaging cars and selling them will also be benefited.

Truth is told that, when it comes to used auto parts, value and cost effectiveness are two main issues to be resolved. If you want to get some for your next repair job, there are many places you could visit first to look for these hard to find second hand auto parts. Big car maintenance shops and dealers obviously would not be selling any used parts, so you will have to try a couple of new stores and merchandisers.

The most ideal place to look for used auto parts would be the nearest car scrap yard or junk shops. These places normally take in old and unusable car parts put in trash. They typically dissect parts and see if some components are still usable and can be sold. The parts they're able to find are cleaned and refined a little; they are certainly old and a little worn, but they still serve well for most vehicles.

The best thing about these places is the fact that they frequently sold spare parts at ridiculously low prices. It’s mainly because these items would have gone to the trash in the first place. Another thing would be that the seller is usually very experienced with cars and car parts, so he or she will be able to tell you a lot about the proper handling and installation of a certain part.

Another factor is that when these parts were originally built, they were built according to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) standards. So, they may not be total write-offs and can be as good as new if they are used right.

It is always handy to have with you the type of engine that is in your vehicle. This is usually called the Engine Prefix and is usually found preceding the engine number or cast in the side of the block.

The chassis or frame number of your vehicle assists the dismantlers in identifying exactly which model of vehicle you have, as it is possible for manufacturers to change a car model in the middle of any given year.

If all fails, it is best to look for used auto parts on the World Wide Web. There are several major websites that offer cheap auto parts with images and prices to look at. Even hard to find auto parts can best be found at these merchant sites. A lot of online merchants, although they might be selling brand new parts, sell slightly used auto parts and mark them as 'slightly used.' Looking around on auction websites like eBay or other similar trading posts is also a good way to unearth auto parts for peanuts. In fact, some merchant websites have entire sections dedicated to the buying and selling of used auto parts.

What I liked best about looking for second-hand auto parts online is the fact that they offer wide array of products at reasonable costs. Regardless of how exotic and arcane the part you're looking for, it's almost certain that someone out there is willing to sell or trade for it. The only warning would be that the additional expense from shipping and handling these used merchandise. Always bear in mind that auto parts are typically made of metal and are often heavy, so expect to spend more than the usual rate for a parcel. But still, it’s very convenient, though, because you don't even have to leave the house just to look for the spare parts you’ll be needing, by a simple click of the mouse, your order is all set and good to go.

Ultimately, used auto parts are ideal, when you want your car running and you are under a shoestring budget. In the end, utility and convenience is what matters.

There are many auto dealers that are available online, offering second hand car parts. However before buying used car parts online it is important to look at a few things in order to get the best price.

It is important to have your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) whenever you buy a car part. This number gives the car part seller information about your car, the year, make and model of your car. VIN is important when you want to buy drive train parts like engines and transmissions. The 17 digit VIN# (Vehicle Identification Number) appears on all cars, in the dashboard on a metal strip. You can find the VIN# inside the driver side door on a factory sticker, the passenger door, the trunk, the hood, and sometimes the engine and other major parts have one, or it's engraved.

Check if the company you are buying the used auto parts from gives you a warranty on the parts. It would be wise to read and understand the warranty terms before buying the parts.

Check for the number of miles on the auto parts.Check that the dealer/wrecker you are communicating with has an ABN Number and that they are going to supply you with a written receipt and warranty.

Find out if the part is being sold as used, rebuilt or manufactured.

Sources: As you browsed ‘ Reasons to buy used car spare parts ‘ you may find interest in following news . . .

Article source: http://www.smartmotorist.com/car-accessories-fuel-and-maintenance/reasons-to-buy-used-car-spare-parts.html

:: Between their 1955 and 1971, Ford built the Fairlane and had a great degree of success with this vehicle. Perhaps, this is because of the fact that the word Fairlane happens to be the name of the estate of the iconic leader of Ford – Henry Ford.

The Fairlane automobile was released as a full sized car but later on was remodeled to be a medium build one. There was even a design that shocked most customers at the time and that was the retractable hardtop. Since that time, this became one of the ways many people would recognize a Fairlane.. Of course, there were other features about this car that made it so extremely popular back in the 1960s.

This is the perfect classification of a classic car, in my opinion, since it is being restored all around the country due to its durability and ageless style. Just like the Ford Mustang that had a debut in one of James Bond’s movies, the Ford Fairlane also starred in another adaptation of the classic film. It is indeed a true American car since it is very much associated with the kind of lifestyle and status that people lived with in that particular era.

True to its All-American built, this vehicle boasted a 2.8L engine. This meant that it could handle its own on any dragracing strip. Almost every Fairlane was built with the V8 engine, as this vehicle’s reputation was built on both power and speed. This kind of engine is what made it such an iconic car of its era. The Fairlane came in both the sedan and station wagon model. The sedan came in both two-door and four-door models, while the station wagon mainly came in four-door models.

When production stopped in 1971, the Fairlane had become one of Ford’s most recognizable models. This is why in my opinion, that next to the Mustang, it was Ford’s most popular muscle car of the 1960s.While it could never live up to the legend of the Mustang, I feel that the Fairlane deserves more respect than it currently gets from many classic car fans. Hopefully future generations will appreciate this car as much as I do, and it will one day get the accolades it truly deserves. However, I recently saw a 1965 model go for over $50,000 at an auction house and feel this is a great sign for how well this car will be remembered,

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/William-Jason-8914/fairlane-161512.php

Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990) Theatrical Trailer

Are you in the market for a new car or truck? Now you can see what we at

Car and Driver would choose to drive if we were shopping for new wheels today. We conducted rigorous instrumented testing and editorial evaluation of hundreds of 2009 model-year vehicles, including all the Editors Choice picks and their competitors.

These lists aren’t static. We will adjust our rankings continuously to reflect the merits of new vehicles as they come on the market, providing a real-time look at what we consider to the top entries in any given market segment. To that end, you may notice that we’ve marked several vehicles as Ones to Watch. Those are vehicles we have yet to either fully test or directly compare against the competition, but that we feel show a lot of promise.

Winners are chosen based on three criteria: practicality, value, and driver satisfaction, and they highlight our editors’ favorite rides in 20 vehicle categories, ranging from small cars to family sedans to exotic sports cars—and more. Click on a vehicle name below to go directly to our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide, where you can get full specs, pricing, capsule reviews, and more on every vehicle chosen as a 2009

Car and Driver Editors Choice.

* One to Watch

Article source: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/08q4/2009_editors_choice-feature

2009 Cadillac CTS at WK Chevrolet in Sedalia, Missouri