Reviews

Actron CP9180 AutoScanner Plus Review

Have you been perusing catalogs of auto devices and accessories? Do you wonder if the Actron CP9180 OBD II AutoScanner is an item you should buy? For those who take operating a motor vehicle seriously, the answer is most certainly yes. This piece of electronic equipment is one of the most important you can own.

For some drivers, a car only serves the purpose of going from one place to another. But, what if you use your car for business purposes? If so, you need to make sure it’s always in good running order. Family routines can be just as important, and you need to keep your car in top shape to get everyone where they need to go. But, we all know that cars break down. And when they do, we need to get them fixed asap and fast.

Unfortunately, cars are fallible machines, and most of them will break down at some point. When a car begins to malfunction, it’s imperative to fix it right away. This is why equipment like the Actron CP9180 OBD II AutoScanner is helpful. This type of devise can diagnose certain critical problems with your car, helping you identify the problem sooner and get your car fixed right away.

The way the device works isn’t complicated. It simply scans and reads your car’s internal computer and provides a report of the information it has obtained. It will then give you “trouble codes” that tell you what the problem is with your vehicle. In sum, you will have easily and quickly identified the problem without having to spend even more money at the repair shop on diagnostic tests.

Another significant benefit of this device is that it also helps you with preventative maintenance of your vehicle. You can run a diagnostic check even if your car isn’t showing signs of malfunctioning.

Try hooking up the scanner every so often as a check up for your car to make sure everything is in good running order. If you encounter a trouble code, then you can anticipate potential problems and take the right steps to correct them. This can help you avoid a dramatic breakdown along the side of the road, and keep your car functioning for important day to day activities.

But, surely, such a device must be difficult to use. And wouldn’t the connection of this device to a PC be complex? Actually, the Actron CP9180 OBD II AutoScanner plugs right into your PC with very little hassle. It is a user friendly system and even someone that is a relative novice can operate it. So, do not assume you have to be a tech wizard in order to gain the most benefit from it. The manufacturers understand the need for a simple to operate device and that is what they have provided.

Would you prefer to be in charge of your car’s repairs or would you rather be in a situation where the repairs are in charge of you? Obviously, it is the former that would be more preferable. So, why not swing the odds more in your favor and purchase the Actron CP9180 OBD II AutoScanner? It can greatly save you from a lot of hassles.

Audi s3 hatchback manual car

This is a review of the Audi s3 hatchback manual car.
It had a fuel Economy of approx 6.7 Litres per 100km [This figure is based on the Audi S3 Sportback]

CO2 Emissions 158 Grams per kilometer [The amount of CO2 emitted when a litre of fuel is burned. These figures are obtained from controlled tests conducted to Australian Design rule 81/01 and are provided to assist you in comparing the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of vehicles. Note: the actual CO2 emissions will depend on many factors, including your driving habits, the prevailing conditions and your vehicles equipment, condition and use. This figure is based on the Audi S3 Sportback ]

Audi’s S3 Sportback is High-Tech, Dynamic and Very Fast

Audi’s superb S3 Sportback embodies everything the Ingolstadt, Germany company does well – impeccable quality, superb driving dynamics, lots of technology…and it’s rapid – very, very rapid. Under the bonnet is the superb 2.0-litre TSFI turbocharged engine which delivers 188kW and 330Nm. Drive is to all four wheels via Audi’s acclaimed Quattro system and the S tronic dual clutch six-speed automatic transmission (or you can have an S3 with a six-speed manual). On the outside is a superbly designed bodykit of spoilers and diffusers, Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights and ‘S’ design 18-inch alloy wheels.

Under The Hood, the 2.0-litre turbocharged TFSI engine is a remarkable piece of work – no surprise that an international jury of motoring journalists awarded it ‘Engine Of the Year’ on four consecutive occasions – 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. It’s German automotive technology at its best. Maximum power is 188kW and peak torque is 330Nm. Audi says the combined cycle fuel economy is 8.3l/100kms. One of the features of FSI engines is the very high-pressure injection of the fuel into the combustion chamber. In the case of Audi’s 2.0-litre TFSI, that pressure is up to 110bar.

Turbocharger boost pressure is up to 1.2 bar and this is made possible partly by the beautiful one-piece casting of the turbocharger’s steel casing which can withstand exhaust gas temperatures up to 1,050 degrees. The rewards for all this effort are clear – a 2.0-litre engine that is economical yet delivers performance to surpass many six-cylinder powerplants. It’s also light and compact (just 152 kgs and 652mm long, 648mm wide and 666mm high) which means the stylists can produce a smaller, more aerodynamic front end design and the suspension engineers can deliver enhanced ride, handling and steering response.

The Interior

Of all the cars tested by Car Showroom, the interior of the S3 Sportback was a standout – one of the very best. Beautiful Silk Nappa leather sports seats get things started – the fronts are a figure-hugging new sports design from the Audi Exclusive GmbH range and are adjustable for height. The steering wheel is thick, leather wrapped and has a flat bottom – just like a race car (makes access for the driver easier). Naturally it is adjustable for reach and rake and also contains buttons and dials for the trip computer, audio system etc.

We really liked the instrument cluster – which includes a function for timing laps should you venture onto a race track. Audi has a knack of presenting a mountain of information for the driver in a way that is logical and easy to read – others should follow. Our test car was finished with the optional brushed aluminium trim which matched the aluminium trim for the air vents, pedals and gear lever. Audio buffs will appreciate the BOSE sound system – 6-disc CD with MP3 and a six-channel amplifier. Bluetooth phone preparation is included. We liked the sun blind behind the rear seats and the luggage area is impressively voluminous – 370 to 1,100 litres. The rear seat splits 60/40 for extra versatility.

Exterior & Styling

You’ve got to hand it to the German automotive industry – it has been responsible for some of the best styling executions we have seen. Ultimately the S3 Sportback is a four-door hatchback, but the team at Audi’s Ingolstadt design studios has delivered a superb styling package that says ‘extreme high performance’ in a purposeful yet uncomplicated way, without the need for garish wings and afterthoughts. From an aerodynamic viewpoint there is a low front spoiler, side sills, a body-coloured roof spoiler on the rear hatch and a platinum grey rear diffuser between the two large oval-shaped exhaust pipes

The front sees chrome-plated vertical double bars for the grille, enlarged cool air inlets and chrome rings for the fog-lights. The S3 also gains unique exterior mirrors with integrated indicator lights and superb Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights (these are now mandatory in Europe). With its sports suspension lowering the ride height by 25mm, the large 18-inch alloy wheels with low profile 225/40 tyres seem to fill every square centimeter of the wheel arches.

On The Road

Remarkable, absolutely remarkable is how we would describe the driving dynamics of the S3 Sportback. Acceleration? Think the Space Shuttle blasting off from its Florida launch pad. Nail the throttle, let the S tronic snick through the gears in milliseconds and the Quattro system take care of the traction…and just 5.6 seconds later the digital speedometer will click through 100km/h. It was so accomplished over our mountain test route we actually drove it four times and by the last run it was raining pretty good. In all conditions S3 was ridiculously fast, precise and agile. At the front, Audi has employed a McPherson strut design with spring struts, triangular lower wishbones and an anti-roll bar. The rear sees a four-link set-up with two lower wishbones, one upper wishbone and one trailing link. Electronic shock absorber management allows the driver to select normal or sports settings but the system is intuitive and can adjust the operating mode adaptively. Stopping performance is equally impressive thanks to massive front 345mm front discs with back-painted calipers with the S3 logo prominent.

New Car Technology

Economy Mode

While we consider that most of us drivers are set in their ways and odds are we will never make the necessary changes to conserve on fuel. One example of such would be, we know that by simply not using our AC increases our fuel economy when we drive, but rather than just rolling down our window when we could to save fuel we opt to use the air conditioner to keep us cool. We are simply set in our ways when it comes to running our AC even when we could be just as comfortable at this time with a window down. With the new idea and innovation of the Economy Mode the car it will be able to determine what systems in your car are non-essential at the time and turn them off to save on fuel for the driver; examples could be the AC, Cruise Controls and others. The car would begin making these adjustments for the driver automatically. It’s not just an idea in fact; some Hybrids feature an economy mode that limits A/C use on several models right now.

Black Box Technology

Planes have them and cars will too, and why not the Black box on planes have be literally invaluable for many years with its ability to get detail records of trips and logs of what happens to a plane in flight or when accidents occur. It’s still being debated like most things that come to personal privacy and many people will no doubt object to the idea of the black box being implemented into their personal vehicles. The fact is that both Ford and General Motors already are using black Box technology in around two-thirds of the models built, but they are referred to as “recorders”. Drivers can expect the advancement of these “recorders” to be able to tell police officers and insurance companies about car accidents, how fast you were driving, where you had driven that day and much more.

Cars That Park for You

Yes, a car that actually will do the parking is already in production today. There is already one type of system where the driver keeps his foot on the brake while the car amazingly enough parallel parks it’s self. Its future looks bright, as this type of application could be very useful in the future not just in parking but also use in other tight places like garages.

Crash Detection

Is already a reality with the Acura RL and it’s called the Collision Mitigation System. Hopefully, one day all cars will include this type of safety feature. Where the cars decides on its own that a wreck is unavoidable and will warn the driver to brace for impacts as it automatically takes action for the driver by deploying the airbags hitting the brakes and tightens up seatbelts etc. all own its own.

Things to Reflect on Before Buying your Dream Car

Are you searching the web for car reviews, car shopping or a vehicle that is right for you? Well, congratulations; that’s good news! On the other hand, as if choosing the features while buying cars is not enough, you also have many other aspects to look at. There are some tips that can help you while buying cars though; to not only buy the right car for your needs, but also one that doesn’t hurt your bank balance too much.

The first thing to do is to determine the budget that you can safely set aside. You should be aware of the fact that apart from retail car prices, there are also certain other costs involved. This includes title, tax, registration and other fees related to your car purchase. You should also think about the monthly amount that you will have to set aside for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and the other annual expenses such as vehicle registration. If you are buying the car through a car loan, your credit record will have an effect on the loan type that you get; this also affects the interest rate. So you need to consider all these in your budget.

Go for a car that is right for your requirements; this is not that easy though. You need to consider how and for what you will be using the car. To make the right choice, you should compare the various available options. You can find excellent resources on the web on where book car values, do car shopping, read car reviews and informative car blog, apart from comparing car prices. Try it now.

Porsche 977

A new Porsche 911 is always fascinating because it’s interesting to see how after more than 40 years of development the Porsche team still manages to bring changes and improvements to this icon model.

The new 997 bodyshell combines the sleek modern looks of the 996 series with the popular retro styling cues from older 911s. The front end is completed with round lights and separate parking/fog/indicator lights. This change, combined with wider hips echoes the last of the air-cooled 911s, the 993. Other changes in the bodyshell are the new door handles, wing mirrors and the stylish cut of the rear wings into the bumper/lights.

Even if the 997 looks a lot like the previous model, the 996, the new car is actually 38mm wider which creates a more aggressive appearance. With each new model introduced, Porsche has aimed to reduce the drag co-efficient helping the 911 slide through the air more effectively, and so aiding performance. The same thing has been done with the new car, and if we compare the 993 Cd of 0.34 to the 997`s 0.28 we can see how far the aerodynamic game has moved on. The latest body shell and rear wing combine with new underbody paneling to also offer increased levels of down force for this latest evolution of Porsche’s finest.

The latest Porsche model is the best handling 911 ever. Improving a car’s rigidity helps ensure the suspension can work more effectively and while not making such a quantum leap as the team did with the 996. Porsche improved torsional rigidity by 8% and added as much as 40% more flexural strength.

For the new car, Porsche wanted to improve crash safety so they added two new air bags located in the side of each front seat back-rest, designed to protect the thorax. They kept the previous two front and two side airbags, which means that now there are six in total. For the same reason, crash safety, the reinforced body shell features further protection such as a more extensive use of super high strength steel.

The latest model is also 50 kg heavier than the 996. The reason is that modern crash safety regulations kind of force the new cars to come with increased weight, despite the usage of a large range of weight saving measures, including an aluminum bonnet.

Aside from the crash safety improvements, much of the additional weight can be attributed to the higher standard specification of the new cars. Power to weight is similar with the latest car offering 233 bhp per tone against it’s predecessors 238 and the new models improved aerodynamics must help it post Porsches claimed performance figures, which are identical to the 996.

Fiat 500

Fiat debuted the 500 city-car in Brazil as it was presented to the media prior to the market release later this month. Before December 2009, the 500 will spread throughout Latin American, as it will be

launched in Colombia, Barbados, Panama and Jamaica. The car is already sold in Argentina, Chile, Curacao, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Saint Martin and Paraguay. For the Brazilian market, the 500 will be available in two trim levels, Sport and Lounge. There will be only one engine available, the 1.4 litre, 100bhp 16v petrol mated to either a 6 speed manual or a 5 speed Dualogic semi-automatic transmission. To adapt the car for the country’s requirements, the 500 was revised and received new suspension with increased flexibility of both the spring and the shock absorber. On the safety front, 500 comes with twin front, side and a driver knee airbag, ABS with EBD, ESP and hydraulic brake assistance.

BMW 320D

I really did feel like a ten year old. It’s that time in your life when you do not bother about a Yana Gupta passing by but ogle at some of the cars zooming past. And the ogle gets complimented by a salivating mouth if that car reads BMW
on its bonnet. Days spent with the 320d were reminiscent of my childhood years. I was instantly smitten by the looks of this car. Oozing individuality, the BMW helps you make an impact where-ever you go in it. It makes you stand apart. Even in a fast-moving city like Mumbai, where nobody has time for anything, the BMW 320d turned more heads than I had anticipated. It felt good. Damn good.
First look and a person’s eye gets hooked, such is the aesthetic quotient of the BMW 320d. That characteristic kidney grille dominates the front end of the car which is helped by the double round headlamps to make it appear very in-yer-face. One Bangle adopted the bold and controversial design philosophy for which a lot of criticisms were raised. contribution to the design world? Terms like ‘flame surfacing’ and ‘opposing curves’. Then came along a bloke by the name of Adrian van Hooydonk. He took the stylus and did some critical changes to the original design. What resulted were lines and curves of a gorgeous looking machine which shouts “I AM MEAN” from all sides.

BMW 320d Side I wanted to absorb everything about her, so I parked the car, climbed out and walked around it. Noticed every curve, every line. Walked around it again. Then moved away from the car. Then I observed. The shape of the car is very coupe-like, which is a darn good thing! It is characterized by the long bonnet and the C pillar which merges with the small-looking boot. As is typical of BMWs, the short overhangs do their bit to add to the coupe-like styling. The shoulder-line and waist-line are pronounced and make the car look elegant and lustrous
The run-flat R16s are housed neatly in the wheel-arches and lend an aggressive look to the Bimmer with some help from the neat and massive five-spoked alloy wheels. The rear is as smart and taut as it can get. I even liked the outside rear-view mirror design. But, like the famous saying goes – nothing’s perfect – even the BMW 3 Series isn’t. That chrome bit on the hood above the grille looks a little odd and could have been better carried out. Perhaps could have been a bit more slender. Argh, now this is nitpicking really! The bottom line is, this is a damn good-looking example of an automobile.

So we know that the BMW 320d looks fine. Good that. And it is bloody solid too! The sheet metal exudes strength while the shut lines add to the feel of fit and finish. The doors shut with a reassuring ‘thud’ and the overall stance makes it look very balanced and sturdy.
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Koenigsegg CC

The CCX is the latest of the Koenigsegg CC family.CCX stands for Competition Coupe X. The CCX commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC maiden prototype, which rolled out from the R&D Department in 1996. The CCX – literally, Competition Coupe X (the X is for the 10th anniversary of Koenigsegg’s first test vehicle, the CC – features a 4.7 liter V8 based Ford’s popular modular V8, twin-supercharged Koenigsegg motor with a six-speed manual transmission.

The CCX can accelerate from 0–62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds and from 0–124 mph (200 km/h) in 9.8 seconds. According to Koenigsegg it has a top speed of 259 mph (417 km/h), although this has not been officially verified. On 15th June 2008, a standard fully equipped CCX was independently timed by SportAuto in achieving a record 0-186-0 mph (0-300-0 km/h) in 29.2 seconds, beating SLR McLaren 722, Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Porsche 997 GT2, Alpina B6 S, Corvette Z06.

Lightning GT

Lightning GT is an electric powered sports car from the Lightning Car Company based in united kingdom. The Lightning GT mixes British sports car styling with racing car technology and state of the art NanoSafe™ battery power and Hi-Pa Drive™ electric motors.
The stylish body is crafted from carbon fibre/Kevlar.

Advantages of electric vehicles is that they offer maximum available power to the wheels at any speed, unlike a petrol engine where maximum power is only obtained high up in the rev range. To help effectively deliver this power to the road the Lightning GT uses electronically controlled traction control which negates wheel spin and unbalance in the power being applied

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia is trendy sports car . The new bodykit features a fusion of Italian exotics and Japanese tuning to produce the same aerodynamic performance while weighing several pounds less than the stock vehicle. One of the body modifications is a new front bumper that features new air intakes. No word yet on performance upgrades but judging on ASI’s previous work there is sure to be a boost in power. Some other mods to look for is a dry carbon rear wing set as well as a front rake system. Soon to be available will be diffuser fins and as ASI center tip exhaust system and 19-inch forged custom alloy wheels.