Archive for August, 2009
The Audi Range Understated Luxury
In recent years Audi have been competing with the big players of the saloon car industry principally this has been with the Audi A4 and A8. These two cars can be seen as the bread and butter of the Audi range and should be a major consideration when looking into the purchase of a new saloon car.
It is estimated that the Audi A4 makes up half of all the vehicles made by Audi and is probably the most important car in the Audi range in terms of profitability; subsequently it is key that Audi get the formula right when developing this model. Now in its fourth generation it is a principal component of the Audi range and is packed with technology that seemingly defines the modern saloon car market place.
Technologically speaking the new Audi range is jam packed with boy’s toys and impressive safety features. The latest reincarnation of the A4 has LED daylight running lights as well as a full host of protective airbags. More impressive however is the lane departure and blind spot warning systems these systems work by detecting your lane during motorway travel and give warnings when you drift across the carriageway. The technology has been in development for a long time but is an essential component that adds a great deal of safety for the driver.
In terms of boys toys the A4 is as impressive as any in the range with Audi’s ‘Drive Select’ system the driver has ultimate control of the driving experience. With the ability to change the suspension the shift speed on automatic cars and the steering ratio the system allows drivers to set the car up to their own personal taste be that for comfort or hard driving.
The flagship of the Audi range is the A8; the car oozes luxury and prestige and is somewhat larger than the A4 model. It is a widely held belief in the motoring fraternity that the diesel models in the A8 range are some of the best in the world. They generate awesome power whilst also keeping a good fuel economy record. If driven frugally it is believed that A8 can make 590 miles on a single tank which is impressive and a serious financial incentive in today’s world of ridiculous fuel prices.
This fuel economy was proven on BBC’s Top Gear show when Jeremy Clarkson drove a diesel engine car in the A8 range from London to John’O'Groats on one tank. The impressive feat meant some extremely frugal driving and even some ‘coasting’ down larger hills but stands testament to this cars economical nature.
The reliability of all the cars in the Audi range means that they make brilliant used cars. Although depreciation is not a major concern it is still possible to grab a bargain and drive away with a luxury saloon that will be good for hundreds of thousands of miles.
There is no doubt that the Audi range contains some exquisite motors the A4 and A8 are in direct competition with Audi’s German rivals. The company’s attempts to break into the German saloon market have led to a raise in reputation worldwide. Due to the hard fought nature of the saloon car market in Germany there is little surprise that the Audi range has become so appealing. Competing with two companies that have dominated the German car market for so long has bred a range of cars that not only excel in performance but also in terms of sumptuous styling.
These two models can be seen as the biggest battlefield for Audi. The company has succeeded in building up a reputation for reliability and luxury. The A4 and A8 are not cheap but are worth every penny; a lot has been said about German efficiency in the past but Audi lives up to the old adage. The new range of cars is wholly underestimated by buyers some however have realised this understated luxury can make the driver stand out in a market place dominated by Mercedes and BMW.
About the writer: Motoring expert Thomas Pretty looks into two of the most popular models in the Audi range. To find out more please visit http://www.auditrader.co.uk/
The Advantages Of Buying Cars Online With Cars4thais
Online car buying in Thailand has many advantages over the traditional way of buying cars. However the number of disadvantages is just as many. The Web or the Internet is the most useful tool for planning and researching car prices and deals.
From the comfort of you own homes you can compare models and makes of different cars and make your mind up on what type of car you want to buy even before you go to the car dealership.
This is a huge advantage when buying a car because car dealers will most often try to sell you the car they want you to buy instead of the car you really want. This can be particularly important if you are buying a used car in Thailand you should have your mind firmly set and not be hasty in making decisions.
If the second hand car dealer does not have the car you wanted and you come upon a car you do no really want but is more like a good deal you should just go home and think about it and then return the following day. Looking for car for sale can be a very big investment so you do not want to rush into decisions that you might regret.
Most people do not like the hassle of regular searching for cars for sale and for them purchasing a car online is a blessing. However online car shopping makes several very important steps in car buying very difficult or even impossible.
Searching for cars for sale online can prove very hard to inspect the car you are interested in visually and there would be no way for a test drive. Because of that it is vital that you buy only from reputable dealers like Cars4Thais.
Check the Internet for forums and groups about cars for sale and ask around and read what others are saying about the company. You can get very useful information from other people in Thailand who have already experienced buying their cars online. Try to contact and talk with them compare the car models the dealer and the experience they had.
It can be very difficult to inspect the car you are interested in visually and there is just no way for a test drive. Because of that it is essential that you buy only from reputable car dealers.
Buying cars through Cars4Thais can offer several advantages including a wide choice in makes and models of new and second hand cars available. The company also offers a variety of choices in car color as well as the best deals and prices. And because it is online it is accessible not only to the citizens in Phuket where the company is located but is also accessible to other areas and even other countries. From he compact car Honda Jazz to the spacious Toyota Fortuner Cars4Thais can provide you with all your car purchase or rental needs. The company also sells and leases other vehicles such as bikes and motorcycles and also offers parts and accessories of different automotive vehicles. Cars4Thais is indeed a onestopshop for all your cars and automobile needs!
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Buying cars through Cars4Thais can offer several advantages including a wide choice in makes and models of new and second hand cars available. Visit online resource for used car Phuket and Car for sale Phuket .
Suicide Door Hinge Installation
Although the 1961 Lincoln was not the first car to have suicide doors it marked the beginning of a trend. Mercury employed the suicide rear doors on the convertible and hard top Lincoln models to eliminate excessive weight hanging on the B post. ON the HBO show Entourage the beginning has an overhead shot of the four lead characters exiting a vintage convertible Lincoln and then closing all four doors simultaneously. This really shows off the openness of the opposing doors.
Since the Lincoln many hot rodders low riders and custom car builders have employed the suicide door hinge on their projects. Most of the early deployment meant plenty of work and planning on the customizers part. A few years ago Autoloc began to produce a kit allowing even the novice car craftsman to trick out his car door operation.
Although the kit simplifies much of the designing and planning this is not a project for someone with at least above average metal working skills. A good body man should have no problem installing a set.
Warning: this involves cutting holes and welding pieces into the holes in both the door jamb and door edges of your ride. If you feel brave enough fire up the torch and get started.
Step 1 Before cutting remove any and all interior the windows latches and handles from the doors and anything that you even think might catch on fire. Scraping away undercoating is a good move as well. If you insist on leaving the seats or carpets in the vehicle cover them to prevent damage from sparks. Its just better to move them to a safe place. Leave the doors on with their original hinges. This will make alignment easier later.
Step 2 Mark out the location for the hinges on the door jamb. Square holes will have to be cut and these should be located as far apart as the contours of the body and doors will allow. The location should have the hinge pins close but not touching the inside of the body panels. If you use the single piece hinge assembly kit the spacing has been determined for the suicide hinge mounting and the alignment of the hinge pins is guaranteed to work. Using the separate hinges necessary if the hinges have to be placed close together it will be critical and more difficult to keep the pins in the same plane.
Step 3 Insert the hinge assembly into the holes from the back side. Trim the openings as needed and tack the assembly in place. The hinge pins should be vertically plumb with the door jamb. If you cannot get a level inside the body work of the car use one of the hinges butts installed with its pin and check for squareness to the door jamb. It should also swing in a flat plane parallel with the ground.
Step 4 Install both of the hinge butts into their hinges. Close the door on them and mark where they hit.
Step 5 Cut out the slots for the channel shaped door pieces to be welded into the doors. These pieces should be too long on the channel legs. They will be recessed into the slots cut into the inner door panel. Once aligned and bolted to the hinge butts with at least one shim under each these should be tack welded to the inner door.
Step 6 Unbolt the new hinges from the inner door and open the door on the old hinges. Remove the old hinges. At this point the operation of the door should be verified. Make any adjustments and weld in the hinges and the channel pieces. There will be some patches needed where the old latches used to reside. If the decision was made to reuse those latches a larger section of the door jamb or edge of the door may have been removed. The patch material should be of sufficient thickness to reinforce this area. Some bracing may need to be welded in to reinforce this critical area.
Step 7 Establish and mark a location for the relocated or new latches and strikers. They should be centered along the front of the door. This area may have been filled in to cover the old hinge holes.
Step 8 Weld in the sheet metal to which the latch will be bolted. It may be the piece cut from the back of the door or the new piece supplied with the bear claw latch kit. The bear claw latches are simple to use and provide a strong latch for the door.
Step 9 Install the striker pin in the door jamb to align with the latch. Autoloc has a nice weld in piece with a captive nut attached. The piece retaining the nut has room for the nut to be adjusted up and down or side to side. This allows the fine tuning of the door closing.
Step 10 Reusing the stock door handles could be a challenge. If you want to go for that Lincoln style the best bet would be to install the left handle on the right and vice versa. This would put the front and rear handles facing away from each other. Or buttons pointed towards each other. A simpler approach would be to use the solenoid kit and shave the door handles completely. With a set Autoloc spring loaded door poppers and the remote control the doors should pop open at the touch of a button.
Step 11 Align the doors. Use the shims under the door hinges to adjust the depth of the door in the opening. Moving the hinge butts in the slotted holes in the channel pieces will raise or lower the door in relation to the opening. The striker pin gets moved to control the depth at the latch end of the door.
Step 12 Finish welding reinforcing and patching any remaining holes. Prep the area with grinder and get after it with the Bondo and the sander. Get the painter to freshen up the body and enjoy the new open look.
The same hinge kit can be used to eliminate the exposed hinges on older model cars as well. The installation is simplified because the latch and handles do not require any work unless you want to shave the doors.
These kits are not recommended for the inexperienced. If you have some metal working skills or have a friend who is talented this modification could make your ride special.
About the writer: Clark has been a gearhead most of his life. Always interested in tinkering with mechanical things. He drag raced for over 30 years. With his son Tom Flying Hammer is coming to be. In the Spring of 2009 the new 6000 sq. ft. shop should be completed. This facility will be the home of hot rods race cars and parts sales and installations
