Motor Show review

What to Turn On to When Shopping for a Car Audio System

2007-09-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

What to Turn On to When Shopping for a Car Audio System

For most people, a great sounding car audio system is a stereo or head unit and two good quality speakers and maybe an amplifier. They don’t realize that they also need sometime two amps, two sets of speakers for the back and a superb set for the back and a small subwoofer for an extra kick in sound. That, my friends, has the makings of a great sounding car audio system.

Now, true I make it sound like having a good car audio system is easy but it honestly isn’t. You can spend a lot of money on a system that doesn’t sound any better than stock if you’re not careful. Sometimes getting the best sound out is more than just a matter of buying the best or most expensive components but instead is a combination of choosing the right pieces and then installing them correctly. For example, if you own a powerful amplifier, you better have the ability to send enough electrical current to it or else the end results will be very disappointing.

Here are a few other components you’ll need to think about buying for the best sounds coming from your car audio system:

Automatic volume control – This feature is often referred to as a few different names depending on the manufacturer, but the overall idea is the same. A volume control system automatically adjusts the radio volume loud or quiet, depending on the vehicle's speed and the sound level of road and wind noise in the cabin. This is a pretty neat feature for anyone who commutes in traffic with lots of speed changes.

Large, well-spaced buttons – When shopping for a car stereo, pick one with large buttons versus small. The whole idea in operating a radio is to make it as easy as possible, and have it the least amount of distraction on the driver, keeping his attention on the road. Large buttons are easier to find and use than smaller ones. Find a car stereo with open spacing between the buttons too. This makes the stereo easier and safer to use too.

A juiced up power amp –If you can, buy a system with a good amp included. If not shop around for the best one you can find that is compatible to your system. Amps tend to blow speakers, not vice versa. You can tell a amp has a lot of power by turning the system above half volume and still hearing clear amplification. If the sound begins to distort and sounds funny that means it's running out of steam.

Separate tweeters – Tweeters are never a guarantee of quality sound, but systems with separate tweeters generally do sound better. Look around for tweeters that are well positioned or at least can be in your vehicle. A new trend is mounting the tweeters into the dash. The sound then fires up into the windshield and reflects into the cabin. It’s a pretty creative approach that sounds great and looks better.

Separate subwoofer – Normally found in trucks, SUVs and luxury sedans, a separate subwoofer provides a great thump for your buck. A good sounding subwoofer also fills in the lower end other styles of music besides hip hop.

Volume limiting – Anyone that knows anything about car audio knows that distorted sound is the enemy of speakers. If turned up too high, even top-quality amplifiers can send sloppy signals to the speakers, causing them harm. Avoid this by shopping for a car audio system which limits the sound at a certain volume level. Simply put, a volume limiter let’s you turn the volume up as much as you want but it won't go any louder. This is caused by an internal circuit preventing the amp from damaging speakers.

About the Author: Electra Warehouse does not only offer mobile electronics, it also carries brand named pro dj equipment and home audio equipment. Electra Warehouse strives to give each customer a great one stop shop for the best bargain mobile, home and pro dj electronics. Visit them at www.electrawarehouse.com.

Honda Super Cub and 50cc Honda Cub - The Volkswagen Beetle of Motorcycles!

2007-06-02T10:22:00.001-07:00

Honda Super Cub and 50cc Honda Cub - The Volkswagen Beetle of Motorcycles!

A very clever design: the Honda Super Cub was the combination of a moped and a scooter. It attracted many people due to its friendly and non intimidating look. People who before had felt threatened by bigger motorcycles, approached and adopted this model very quickly.

It was a versatile motorcycle and had enough power to carry two passengers or a passenger with luggage. Its large diameter tires and wide seats made the ride almost as comfortable as the touring bikes from that time.

>> Honda 50cc Cub and Super Cub FACTS

- In 1952 Honda built 7000 units of this bike which represented the 70% of the entire production of Japanese motorcycles for that year.

- Thanks to this model Honda Motorcycles were absolute market leaders during 1953 and 1954.

It's worth mentioning that those were very competitive days. There were many manufacturers competing for a very fast growing and demanding market.

- The Honda Super Cub was the equivalent of the Ford T or the Volkswagen Beetle for automobiles. As of 1992 Honda Motorcycles had built 20 million of these machines.

- The Honda 50cc Super Cub was exported to 120 countries.

As the Volkswagen Beetle, the Honda Super Cub didn't change much through time. Just take a look at the technical data below:

1959 Honda Super Cub Specifications

-> Four stroke horizontal engine.
-> 49 cc of displacement
-> Three speed semi-automatic gearbox.
-> U-shaped frame in stamped steel.
-> Weight: 155 lbs. (70 kg.)
-> Speed: 35 mph (57 kph)

1992 Honda Super Cub Specifications

-> Four stroke horizontal engine.
-> 49 cc of displacement
-> Three speed semi-automatic gearbox.
-> U-shaped frame in stamped steel.
-> *Weight: 122 lbs. (55 kg.)
-> *Speed: 50 mph (80 kph)

Enjoy the ride!

Daniel Levy

Daniel Levy is the owner and contributing writer of http://www.Japanese-Motorcycles-Only.com . He loves motorcycles and Web development. For more great info visit http://www.japanese-motorcycles-only.com/

Common Mistakes Motorcycle Buyers Make When Looking For a Motorcycle Loan

2007-06-02T10:20:00.001-07:00

Whether interest rates are high or low or it's the end of a model year with lots of incentives, motorcycle buyers tend to make the same mistakes when shopping for a motorcycle loan. Here are four common mistakes motorcycle buyers make with motorcycle loans.

Shopping for a motorcycle before shopping for a motorcycle loan. Many motorcycle buyers enter the showroom looking for a motorcycle before they determine how much money a motorcycle lender is willing to loan to them for the purchase of a motorcycle. There is no need to shop for a $20,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle, if a lender is only willing to provide a loan amount of $10,000.

Additionally, once motorcycle buyers enter the showroom slick salespeople often pressure them into motorcycle loans with much higher internet rates than they could have gotten had they shopped for a motorcycle loan at a bank, credit union or online. Salespeople do not like motorcycle buyers to leave the dealership to get a motorcycle loan. In the salespersons mind this only increases the chance of loosing a sale and commission. Therefore, salespeople frequently try for a quick sale which normally results in pushing motorcycle buyers to get motorcycle financing at the dealership.

The bottom-line is that it is always best to shop for a motorcycle loan before entering the showroom.

Diving into the unknown motorcycle loan. Motorcycle buyers often jump into motorcycle loans that they do not completely understand or may not be the best alternative for them. For instance, in today's age manufacturers frequently run credit card motorcycle loan promotions on their private-label credit cards. But these promotions typically offer a low interest rate for a short term like 12 or 24 months and have a much higher interest rate after the short promotional term. On a credit card promotion if motorcycle buyers can not afford to pay off the loan during the short promotion period, then they are typically better taking a slightly higher interest rate on an installment motorcycle loan for a longer term.

Borrowing too much.

The most common mistake the first time motorcycle buyer makes in not having a clear sense of how much motorcycle they can afford. This is especially true for young motorcycle buyers who look to buy the top sport bikes that cost up to $10,000 - $15,000. What they fail to realize is that financing a $10,000 - $15,000 motorcycle can stretch them to thin, resulting in them having little cash to enjoy themselves and the motorcycling lifestyle. They may also have too little cash to pay for insurance, maintenance, registration or new accessories for their motorcycle.

Not asking the right questions.

The first warning sign that motorcycle buyers should see is that if they do not understand the type of motorcycle loan, then they should be sure to ask a lot of questions.

Here are some good questions to ask:

? Is the interest rate fixed or variable? If fixed how long will it be fixed for?

? Are there circumstances that can make the interest rate on the motorcycle loan change in the future?

? What happens if a payment is 30 days late? Does the interest rate increase?

? What happens if a payment is 60 days late? Does the interest rate increase?

? How long is the term on the motorcycle loan?

? If the loan is an installment loan, does it use rule of 78 or simple interest? (Simple interest is always better because it does not penalize the motorcycle buyer if the loan is paid off early.)

? What is the down payment requirement to get the motorcycle loan?

? Is full coverage insurance required?

? How much is registration and are these fees included in the motorcycle loan?

? Are there any administrative fees to get the motorcycle loan and if so how much are the fees?

Overall, motorcycle buyers can avoid these common mistakes by spending a little extra time focusing on shopping for a motorcycle loan and asking lots of questions.

Copyright (c) 2004, by Jay Fran This article may be freely distributed as long as the copyright, author's information and an active live link to http://www.motorcycle-financing-guide.com is published with the article.

A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the site where the article is posted is greatly appreciated.

Jay Fran is a successful author and publisher at http://www.motorcycle-financing-guide.com. A comprehensive resource on how to have the best experience and get the best deal on motorcycle financing, bad credit motorcycle loans, high risk motorcycle loans and motorcycle buying.

There were so many interesting new cars

2007-05-24T10:32:00.001-07:00

There were so many interesting new cars at the 77th Geneva show, some with huge power outputs, that you might have thought the motor industry was not heading for intensive care.

The show room: Andrew English and Peter Dron search for the star of the Geneva Show

Last Tuesday, Rolls-Royce took firm deposits on 10 cars - or was it 11? CEO Ian Robertson could not remember. Hang on, we asked, how can you have sold 10, or 11, cars on press day? With a sly grin, he replied: "I don't think the buyers were journalists." Quite so: Palexpo's halls were seething with bling merchants accompanied by trophy totty, the organisers having (once again) succumbed to the temptation to sell tickets to "VIPs". On press day.

Moving right along, with difficulty among the throng of "VIPs", what is the star? Well, it isn't the impressive R-R Phantom Drophead, unveiled in Detroit. It must be a hybrid, but which - Honda or Toyota? The rivals faced each other off from opposite sides of the main hall, each with two hybrids, each with one world debut.

You may dismiss the new what-a-wonderful-world paint scheme of Honda's F1 cars as marketing hype, but when Japanese manufacturers embrace new technologies, they do so seriously. On balance, we nominate as our superstar the Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept (not only because it was finished in an attractive deep scarlet), a "clean" car people might actually want to buy.

Ah, concept cars; what do they mean? Thinly disguised forthcoming production models, indications of future design/engineering trends, or merely column-inch magnets? Apparently, there is no intention of turning Honda's cute concept, which might be based on the next Jazz platform (due in 2009), into a showroom model. But for its looks alone it deserves to be more than a mere styling exercise.

The two-seater was designed at Honda's Offenbach studio in Germany, under Italian project leader Fabio Miniati. What is under the skin, combining the Civic's 1.4-litre petrol engine and electric power ("60-70mpg, about 120mph"), will definitely go further. Honda's CEO, Takeo Fukui, has previously said that hybrids are cost-intensive and difficult to turn into profit. So we asked the ex-racing engineer whether he has changed his view or is following an irresistible market trend.

"Current hybrids have such high costs," he said, "that if you try to match price to cost, you cannot make profits. Customers in Japan are prepared to pay a premium of 200,000 yen [about £880] for a hybrid. For Honda, the volume is limited.

To make business sense, we need to increase volume and reduce cost. In 2009, our all-new hybrid will meet these requirements, with 200,000 units per year, in addition to 100,000 Civic hybrids." In the longer term, Mr Fukui says Honda is focusing on hydrogen fuel-cell power for long-distance transportation. He is dismissive of "pure" battery cars, except perhaps for inner-city use, unless there is a major technological breakthrough. "Hybrids will ultimately make no CO2 emissions."

But what about the Small Hybrid Sports Concept? Fukui says the 2009 car will borrow the concept's design elements, but will be "a sporty and aerodynamic five-seater". What if journalists and the public demand that something exactly like the show car should go into production?

"Then I shall take those opinions into consideration." (Twinkling smile.) Why not produce it without the hybrid element? Mr Fukui merely laughs. That does not necessarily mean "No".

Latvia's 555bhp supercar

Ever heard of Russo-Baltique? This little-known manufacturer from Riga is celebrating its centenary with this new two-plus-two coupé.

It is powered by a 555bhp Maybach V12, with retro styling apparently inspired by some versions of the Bugatti Type 57SC and an Alfa grille treatment. Photographs do not do its visual violence justice. Yet who would not want a bumper sticker reading "My other car is a Russo-Baltique"?

Toyota Hybrid X

"So it's the new Prius, right?" "No." "OK, so it's not the new Prius, but really it is." "No, it is not the new Prius." "Yeah, so it's not the new Prius, but there are lots of styling cues that will be used on the new Prius?" "No." It might not be the new Prius, but Toyota's Hybrid X is pretty good looking, using two U-shaped pillars to support the roof (hence X moniker) with a pleasantly airy and spacious cabin, injected foam seats and some silly stuff like the headlamps that display animated graphic forms to passing pedestrians.

My other chauffeur drives a Roller

OK, you're in the car supermarket sweep and you've got £341,000 to spend in 60 seconds. Go! It's a no-brainer, but 71 Perodua Kelisas won't fit in the trolley and it takes 30 seconds to find that out. So what about this: a Hyundai stretch with a body kit... sorry, a Maybach 62S.

Yes, several have been sold, and not all to Simon Cowell. The 603bhp, 738lb ft, twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 is a vital aid to smooth chauffeuring and we presume the pewter goblets have replaced the standard car's glass items to prevent breakages under ultimate cornering forces.

Badge engineering news

Competition between the Peugeot and Citroën twins is fierce on either side of La Manche. Representatives (French and English) of each company were keen to tell us how much better "ours" looked than "theirs", referring to the 4007 and the C-Crosser, PSA's first 4x4 models. Mechanically and in all essentials, they are identical, with a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, fitted with particle filter. You could alternatively buy the new Mitsubishi Outlander, on which they are both based.

Volvo: I roll downstairs

Volvo's new V70 estate launch had been widely telegraphed, but driving the XC70 version of the car down the stairs wasn't.

Unfortunately, the cross-country estate also blocked the only way into what has become, over the years, our office during any motor show anywhere in the world. The V70 and XC70 go on sale in September.

Not the II-XI

"I insisted it couldn't be called the XI," says new (and former) Lotus boss Mike Kimberley. So it's 2 Eleven, then. The car is intended to capture the spirit of Lotus's classic 1960s racer, but with its lightweight, Elise-based chassis and a 1.8-litre supercharged Toyota engine producing 255bhp, it will be a lot quicker. This is a "track-focused" car, but it will be road legal too, despite its rollcage and absence of doors or windscreen. Production begins in June, and the price will be £40,000. "There will be a race series for it next year," added Kimberley.

The car behind is a Vauxhall Vectra

Remember BMW's "halo" headlamps? They have a sort of incandescent circular glow like the retina burn from a fashion photographer's ring flash.

You are never in any doubt what the following car is, and now the idea has been picked up by Vauxhall. The GTC concept, essentially the new Vectra, revealed the idea of tick shapes on the front and rear lamps, which for ever mark you out as a Vectra driver. Whether you think this is a good thing or not will depend on your affinity to the crazy world of Jeremy Clarkson, but the GTC did at least prove that good design is still alive at the company, even with the departure of design head Martin Smith to Ford.

Gentleman's express: Audi A5

Opinions differed on the four-ringed coupé that sits between Audi's R8 and TT; the rear had shades of Lexus about it, but we thought it pretty grown-up.

The A5 goes on sale in July with prices starting at less than £30,000, rising to more than £40,000 for the 4.2-litre V8 S5 version. It is based on the chassis platform of the next-generation A4 saloon. Engines will be a mix of V6 petrol and turbodiesel with 4x4 quattro drivelines on larger-engined models.

BMW M3 Mk4

The fourth generation of BMW's high-performance 3-series made its public debut, albeit in "concept" form, but the production model, due in late summer, will not be much different.

The engine will be a version of BMW's V8, and cabriolet and four-door versions will follow. Other news from Bavaria: a stop-start system will be fitted as standard to all 5-series and 1-series except automatics from April or May, as part of BMW's new "Efficient Dynamics" programme - what have they been doing until now?

Eat my shorts, Toyota: VW Polo BlueMotion

BlueMotion is VW's name for the Bluetec clean-diesel technology that it is working on with DaimlerChrysler. VW wants the most efficient model in its passenger-car range to get the BlueMotion badge (a Passat version was also launched at Geneva). T

he Polo uses a 79bhp 1.4-litre, three-cylinder TDI engine that delivers a Combined fuel economy of 72mpg and 102g/km of CO2. VW staff assiduously failed to point out that Toyota's Hybrid Prius produces 104g/km. No prices yet, but it goes on sale in the UK this summer.

Badge engineering news II: Seat Freetrack

Last year we refused to tell you about Seat's concept because it gave away hundreds of stupid trolleys that got pulled across one's carefully polished toecaps by unpleasant foreign hacks with no manners.

This year the company did exactly the same, but its crimes were shaded by Ford's heinous free press-day wi-fi system that had all the power of an Edison light bulb, so Ford gets ignored this year (actually it's the Mondeo, stupid) Seat's Freetrack is one of a host of medium-sized SUVs that will be appearing over the next year and will likely have Sir John Whitmore apoplectic with rage, especially when his baby-boomer friends drive them to Goodwood to watch him race a seven-litre AC Cobra. The production model will share underpinnings with the VW Tiguan. It has a Haldex clutch-operated four-wheel-drive system with a choice of a 2.0-litre turbodiesel or petrol engines. It was something of a vote of confidence for the troubled Seat brand that another new car was announced at the show - a Mondeo-sized saloon.

Renault's Grand Touring concept

Here is a concept closely previewing a production model. It looks good and apparently (minus the huge wheels) it embodies "70-80 per cent" of the five-door Clio Estate, due early next year, though it is unlikely that the interior will be as interestingly innovative.

Pipe down, Brilliance

"First Chinese Automobile Brand Conquers Europe!" screamed the Brilliance press release. First, for the record, Brilliance agent HSO is aiming to sell just 15,000 vehicles this year, which is only slightly more than Bentley. Second, where was this battle that Brilliance so brilliantly won, and did anyone get tickets? Third, does anyone know the Chinese translation for hubris? The BS6 is a pretty ordinary-looking saloon that was designed by Giugiaro on an off day (it looks like a Lancia) and engineered by Porsche (we understand), although Porsche seldom allows client companies to use its name in promotion materials - given China's occasionally lamentably lax corporate-governance laws, any ensuing court case will make interesting viewing. Brilliance reckons that while Japanese car makers took 20 years to establish themselves and the Koreans a decade, it will manage in just five, which is a pleasingly geometric regression slightly buggered by the claim that it will sell 75,000 passenger cars by 2010. A smaller saloon, the BC3 (above), arrives later this year, then a pretty dull coupé to back up the invasion. We know the Chinese are coming, but could they be a bit less shrill about it?

The great Outdoor

Nobody has yet done an "Indoor" concept, but meanwhile Peugeot's Outdoor gives a preview of the production 207 SW due in July.

The "Panoramic" roof of the show car will be standard, as will roof rails (but not in orange neon). The 207 CC, on sale in May, also made its world debut.

Top-end Twingos

The RHD Twingo goes on sale next September, from about £8,000, but with only top-end versions, and the new diesel will not be offered, at least initially, to British customers. It looks cute, without the revolutionary feel of the original model, while the interior is more Logan than Clio, with some naff plastics and fabrics, but internal space has been improved and everything seems to be in the right place. It will be built in Slovenia.

The good, the bad and the ugly

"My dream is a car that makes the air cleaner as it drives and improves the health of the people driving it and can get around the world on a tank of gas. I am interested in city design and mobility, including a separation of human and vehicle traffic, no intersections on roads and perhaps inner city electric-only cars. I have told my team that is working on this to keep working." Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe on changing the world.

"There is a sharing of roles here: VW with its experimental fuel-cells, GM with its grand strategies, and us who just make things work." Honda's new project engineer for the fuel-cell-powered FCX, Sachito Fujimoto, on staying ahead in the fuel-cell race.

"We will be able to add vehicles that get average CO2 emissions lower, but if you want to move that needle significantly in the next few years, it's ethanol," GM's Rick Wagoner on biofuels.

"You've won: that is the best phrased question of the day, but we're still not going to answer it," GM's spin doctor supreme Tony Cervone deflects another intriguingly put inquiry as to whether GM will buy Chrysler.

"We have not made any decision, all options are open, but I cannot discuss any of the options." DaimlerChrysler's Dieter Zetsche refuses to answer the same question.

While Lotus's 2 Eleven promises to be an excellent track-day car, the first car from KTM, Europe's second-largest motorcycle manufacturer, certainly looks more innovative, and with prices predicted to start from around £30,500, the Dallara-built X-bow (which uses an Audi FST engine) is considerably cheaper. Performance of the two lightweights should be comparable.

Rinspeed had two innovations this year. First, Frank M Rinderknecht had shaved off his flamboyant whiskers, and second was the eXasis, a see-through tandem two-seater, as finely executed as any of the Swiss company's projects, and as usual made in collaboration with a number of industrial partners. Despite its tiny Weber engine, Rinspeed claims 0-60mph in 4.8sec and a top speed of 130mph. But the most astonishing statistic is the CO2 output, claimed to be 20g/km (yes, TWENTY). Unfortunately, there are no plans for production.

Two schools of car design put their student projects on display. The IED BeON is a full-scale concept by 19 students of the Istituto Europeo di Design in Turin. A two-seat hybrid "offroad sports car" with a hydraulic transmission unit within each wheel hub, it is designed to traverse "deserts, beaches and wild terrain." And why not the Old Kent Road?

Swiss designer Franco Sbarro's students generally produce some wacky ideas, and this year is no exception. We sat in the Jumpy Atlante. Yes, it is based on a Citroën van. Yes, they have taken a chainsaw to the roof. No, you probably cannot cross the Atlantic in it. There is only one door, at the rear. You and six others, plus the driver, step in and are driven between your hotel and the ski-lift. No, it isn't going into production. If that isn't weird enough for you, try the Assystem city car with diamond-pattern wheel layout. The name "Assystem" has been registered as a trademark, believe it or not.

You have to look hard to see anything new on the Nissan stand. However, the revised 350Z's bonnet bulge proclaims an extra 10bhp. It goes on sale on May 1. Four months later, you can buy the all-new X-trail. It is slightly bigger than the outgoing model and intentionally looks virtually unchanged. Since that outgoing model has been three times as successful as its predecessor, Nissan decided that change for change's sake was unnecessary. This is a theory that sometimes works.

Perhaps the most outrageous show car was the Stola, with possibly only one Brabus V12 under its enormous bonnet, but it may have been three. We wait with mild interest to learn whether the pedestrian-unfriendly hawk emblem on the bonnet will receive Type Approval.

Motoring Editor Peter Hall predicted that if 6ft 4in Peter Dron got into the back of the BMW 1-series 3-door, he would have to be cut out by firemen. Hall was proved wrong, but only just.