Latest Articles by terrybrown

Ford F-150 Just Got Better

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The Ford F-150 has been the best selling truck in the US for almost 30 years and this vehicle is also known globally, being the world’s best selling vehicle for 23 years. As if that is not enough, figures show that there are 29,000,000 units of the truck already sold in its entire lifespan. That makes it the second most popular vehicle of all time and quite an impressive achievement for the Ford Motor Company. While the success of the model is phenomenal, the company never rests on its laurels and continually seeks ways to reinvent the F-150 and make it better.

Such is the case with the Harley-Davidson Edition F-150, a culmination of the joint efforts between the makers of the king of pickups and the king of all things two-wheeled. The monster of a truck can be described as good looking, not only in its exterior design but also inside. It has two proper doors and two more rear-hinged doors just in front of its 65” bed which you can load up your goods and protect its contents with an Extang tonneau cover. The truck bed is just like an ordinary Ford F-150, a long and deep and the tailgate is that easy to raise despite being the biggest in its class. Unlike other trucks where the rear seats are best left to children, the special editions rear seats can sit full sized passengers with relative comfort.

The exterior design of the vehicle is not the only good looking part of the truck. Once you step inside the spacious cockpit of the car, you will not be disappointed either. Plush leather bucket seats and a piano key black trim add to the luxurious feel that the car exudes. Add to that the various goodies integrated in the vehicle like the upgraded CD-6 stereo system with the optional Audiophile speakers and subwoofers which give the occupants the optimum in audio experience. The digital climate control and the buttons on the stereo are large enough to be used even when wearing gloves. The shift knob is as hefty and big as the Harley Davidsons hogs are huge.

The performance of the vehicle is also awesome; every system is perfectly engineered to bring to life this masterpiece. Its handling capability is the best in the Ford F-150 series and the suspension is also up there too. Suspension parts which are sport tuned added to the already sophisticated handling capability of the Ford F-150 just boosted the ride comfort for the occupants.

One of the best pickups in recent years to surface from Ford, this special edition is surely going to make heads turn.

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For more information about Extang tonneau, visit Extang tonneau

Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Ford Explorer Sport Track: a Vehicle for the Whole Family

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Ford Motors has been known to produce exceptional vehicles through its lengthy history. Dominating the pickup market with their Ford F-150 for the past thirty years, the company continues its tradition of setting the bar higher for themselves and the competition.

The 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Track is no exception to that. This all new radically revised vehicle looks like as if it is a hybrid of the Ford F-150 and an Explorer. But it is not. It is a completely new car which has been making waves in the automobile industry due to the fact that American consumers are appreciating its looks and performance level.

The vehicle comes with a 4.6 liter V8 engine which can produce 292 horsepower, also common on most Ford trucks in production. The engine is complemented with a six speed automatic transmission with a gear span ratio of 6.04:1 which makes the car more energy efficient and reduce its emissions. Its towing capability is a respectable 6,800 pounds and has a cargo capacity of 1,390 pounds. Fuel economy is also a huge issue and the new Ford Sport Track is one of those cars which can give a lot of power but does not consume much fuel having a gas mileage rating of nearly 15 mpg in 60/40 per cent highway or city driving.

The suspension system of the vehicle is also unlike that of the Ford F-150. This vehicle has the Independent Rear Suspension which provides a smooth ride to the occupants. But if you want to even further increase the stability and the handling performance of the truck and further increase its good looks, you will not go wrong with an Eibach Pro Kit springs.

What specially makes this vehicle a great car is its styling. The positive response to the trucks exterior design can be heard from almost anyone regardless of gender. It is a great family vehicle that can perform the duties of a pickup truck well enough. Another added bonus to the styling of the vehicle both in and out is the quiet drive comparable to a sedan; it may be even quieter than some sedans. Good steering is also one plus for the truck for it has one of the more responsive steering systems in the market. The vehicle can be driven on a straight highway or twisting side roads and the steering prowess can be felt easily.

The truck also has one of the best and user-friendly navigation systems. It not only shows the driver what street he is traversing but also tells him onto what street to turn to, this is a very convenient accessory added to the car and will no doubt be of great help for any driver behind the wheel of this vehicle.

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For more information about Eibach Pro Kit, visit Eibach Pro Kit

Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Honda Ridgeline: the Pickup you have Been Looking For

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The past years have been good to Honda as its soars high in the US auto market. The company has produced award winning models and bestsellers which is a feat that the company is aiming to continue this year. This is not a surprise coming from this forward thinking company. In the past, the brand has been associated with reliable cars and precision engineering as well as with great exterior and interior designs of vehicles.

The new addition to their already powerful lineup of cars is the Honda Ridgeline. This pickup is one of the trucks being given much praise thanks to its awesome design and high performance level.

The Honda Ridgeline truly is a truck when it comes to size for it provides a large cargo space and a roomy interior for the driver and the passengers. Talking about passengers, this truck can easily seat 5 passengers with even room to spare.

The interior design of the vehicle is one that would not disappoint. Once inside, you can almost forget that you are in a truck and think that you are inside a luxury sedan or a SUV. An added bonus to the interior is the abundance of little extra storage areas; it may have gotten straight out of the Honda Odyssey or Pilot.

It is loaded with features which anyone would surely want to have in their cars. Cruise control, heated front seats, satellite radio, compass and temperature gauges are just some of the goodies this vehicle offers. It all adds to that luxury feel that this vehicle is giving off. To further add to the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle, users can lower the ride height of the vehicle and use Eibach wheel spacers to complement the lowered look of the pickup.

The power plant of the truck is a 24 valve, 3.5 liter, VTEC aluminum alloy V6 engine which is capable of producing 255 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. The V6 may be a large engine but the truck is noticeably quiet. It is so quiet that it almost feels like you are driving a sedan while you are behind the wheel of this truck another addition to the features it has that makes it a luxury pickup.

The fun thing about this pickup is that it is not only good for in road driving, it has got an off road capability which is quite respectable. This is all because of the precision engineering employed in the design of the suspension system of the truck which keeps the truck on its toes during off road driving.

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For more information about Eibach Pro Kit, visit Eibach wheel spacers

Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Auto Interiors Get New Upgrades

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

When vehicles get restyled, most car fans and aficionados most likely have thoughts on these vehicles having new exterior parts or getting new features like having additional Extang RT covers as standard features. There are also people which may think of the restyled vehicle having a new type of engine that could give the vehicle a further boost in power.

However, this is not all of the things that a vehicle can get when it goes through restyling or redesigning. One of the main parts of the vehicle that we often neglect is the interior. And most of today’s vehicles have come with restyled and redesigned interiors that we may not notice much from the outside but we most certainly would be appreciating once we get the chance to take a seat in the cabin.

Most vehicles come with tons of features for the interior. Examples of these include the GPS navigation system, heated seats, and also wood trims that are authentic. And yes, these features come as standard ones so there is no need for you to shell out more just to have these for your brand new vehicle. However, for most vehicles today, there is a new kind of upgrade that could maybe get you more interested than you are already now.

Auto manufacturers in the United States are now using the Alcantara®. This is some kind of enhancement that is most often used to decorate the seats of your vehicle. It serves as a headliner and this actually gives both drivers and passengers the luxury of comfort. Plus, you also get to admire the kind of style it adds to the cabin of the vehicle as a whole.

Although most vehicles in the market already use headliners such as the Alcantara, these are commonly dull and do not add life to the design of the interior. Experts say that that the common types of headliners are made up of a low quality kind of cloth that is also lightweight so much so that there is not much effect to the cabin. However, the Alcantara exudes quality. The benefits are also greater compared to the usual types of headliners.

The very first auto maker in the US to use Alcantara is Cadillac and it was used with the Cadillac Platinum Series. Derick C. Fronda, the executive director of Toray Ultrasuede America, Inc. says, “The Cadillac brand defines automotive luxury in the US. The use of Alcantara as a headliner is an innovative approach to provide vehicle interiors that utilize the finest materials and fabrics from top to bottom.”

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Terry Brown is a 32 year old from Houston Texas, and an enthusiast for anything auto-related. He currently writes auto-related articles for several publications.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Your Car: Tomorrow’s Collector Favorite

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Do you know if the car that you driving right now is the car that is going to be quite a collector car in the future? No, this is not most certainly a joke. Collector cars of the future are most certainly cars that belong to this day and age. And your trusty vehicle may be included in the list.

McKeel Hagerty is the CEO of Hagerty and he is also a very much known expert on collector cars valuation. He did say that there are vehicles at present that has the possibility of being those sought after ones in a span of years or so. And to help out consumers and customers find out if their vehicles are going to be worth it in the future, he has listed out his top choices and listed them out as part of the Hagerty’s Top 10 Future Collector Cars.

According to Hagerty, the vehicles listed in his choices for the top collector cars of the future have been chosen so not because he does appreciate the vehicles himself but because of some criteria that he has seen in the present set of collector cars. He also included the criteria that he knows would be looked at for future collector cars. The criteria includes the vehicle’s popularity in pop culture, the limited number of production units, and the vehicle’s style as well as the wants of the next set of people who would be collecting the vehicles. He also did choose those vehicles that were not only affordable but were also quite fun to drive around.

Hagerty emphasizes his choices by saying: “Many consumers may be driving a future collector car right now! Our goal was to find cars that drivers find appealing now, and that they may consider nostalgic in 15 to 20 years. Each car on Hagerty’s Hot List possesses a ‘buzz’, a Wow Factor that resonates with consumers of all ages, many cars being daily drivers that turn heads already.”

Included in Hagerty’s list of future collector cars are two Toyota vehicles: the Toyota FJ Cruiser and the Toyota Scion. Two very notable vehicles included in the list for their size are the Mini Cooper and the Smart Car. Other vehicles you would be finding comprise of the Lotus Elise, the Dodge Viper, the Acura NSX, the Audi TT, the Jaguar XK, and the Chrysler 300.

If, by any chance, you are driving one of those, you may want to consider keeping them in the best condition possible. You may add in some of those Extang Black Max units you can easily purchase in the market to give your vehicle that added protection from wear and damage. It is most certainly up to you.

But there is one thing you may want to think of. Hagerty says, “Unlike the vagaries of the stock market, certain models not only retain their value but escalate in popularity and price far beyond expectations.”

Think about that.

2007 NAIAS: A Gathering Of Vehicles And Auto Fans

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

It is not everyday that the coolest vehicles are found in only one location. And it is not everyday that people who simply have their lives revolving around the paragon called the automotive world can find all kinds and types of vehicles in just one event. This is the kind of opportunity that auto shows like the 2007 North American International Auto Show offers.

In just one huge event, everybody and anybody who loves being with and around cars would be able to converge here and exchange ideas. After all, car shows is just like going to a huge auto parts store and you simply could not think where do you start choosing the right Eibach Pro Kit for your vehicle or if you are going to simply be purchasing accessories for your car.

During the scheduled Press Days of the 2007 NAIAS, throngs of journalists coming from sixty various countries have trudged to Detroit. They had the choice to attend 35 various conferences where they could get ideas about the new vehicles and new exhibits set on display. After all, statistics from the 2007 NAIAS says that there are already more than fifty auto products, concept vehicles, and production automobiles. “The quote made famous by the movie Field of Dreams, ‘if you build it… they will come,’ I think is personified at the NAIAS,” exclaims Robert Thibodeau, Jr. who holds the position as the senior co-chairperson for the event. He even does add, “With show-stopping displays and spectacular press conferences, it’s no surprise that media flock to Detroit and Cobo Center to take in all that the NAIAS has to offer.”

However, it looks like journalists were not the only people attracted to the event. You see, the 2007 NAIAS also became the venue for other stars and celebrities to meet up and talk about cars. Emmit Smith and Cheryl Burke, both champions of the show ‘Dancing With The Stars’, showed up. Singers Seal, Kelis, Tamia, and Sisqo, all R&B performers, were also there to take part of the fun. Even Bill Gates, Microsoft’s chairperson, came to see the show.

If Detroit may be too far for you, you actually can go and watch the various coverage done by the journalists who attended. The Press Days of the 2007 NAIAS were attended by people from shows like Good Morning America, Weekend Today, Inside Edition, Today Show, and ABC World News Tonight.

Camera Junkies Get Chance To Win 2007 NAIAS Photo Contest

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Do you love your camera? Do you love taking pictures with your camera?

You just might win the big prize during this year’s 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). You see, for the very first time, the event is going to hold yet another grand activity – the 2007 NAIAS Photo Contest. This contest is going to be sponsored by WWJ.

When does this happen?

According to the press release sent out by the organizers of the 2007 NAIAS and the Photo Contest, the competition would be taking place on the 16th this month. All visitors who come with a ticket to the auto show would be able to go about the show an hour earlier than most showgoers. That way, they can go about the displays and click away with their cameras.

Robert Thibodeau, Jr., is one of the senior co-chairpersons of this year’s NAIAS, and on the Photo Contest, he proclaims, “We are so excited to partner with WWJ to provide this unique opportunity to NAIAS attendees this year. Not only do attendees get to enter the show an hour early, allowing them a prime opportunity to take great photos, but they get to have their photos seen on the NAIAS web site and have a chance to win a really cool prize.” Indeed, who would not want to do about their favorite thing and get a prize in the process?

All photos must be taken with the use of a camera. However, your mobile phone’s camera does not apply. You can submit your entries starting on the 16th up until the 21st. You can upload them on www.naias.com and even check out the pictures other contestants have been taking and so you can also check out the competition. Who knows? Your cool snapshot of those Eibach wheel spacer units may have a twin among all other photos taken. “NAIAS attendees have a great eye for cars so I know we’ll get some great photo entries this year. This contest is a great way to add to the fun and excitement that the NAIAS brings each year,” shares Carl Galeana, yet another co-chair for the event.

There are some things you may have to keep in mind though. There are certain categories that you must follow or else your photos may not make it to the top. The list of subjects and topics include Fast and Flashy in 2007 (all photos on convertibles, coupes, and sports cars), Cutting Edge Concepts (all about those concept vehicles), Luxury (those that are simply glamorous enough even without the red carpet), Coolest Close-Up (small details or small parts that give people an even bigger story), Snapshots at the Show, and Black and White photos.

Tonneau Covers: An Important Truck Accessory

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Tonneau covers are very useful truck accessories since they protect cargoes from the danger of being stolen as well as protect the truck from the weather. Tonneau covers also add to the aerodynamic properties of the truck which in turn improve gas mileage. The Extang Tonneau is one of the best brands there is and highly recommended by most truck dealers.

There are different types of tonneau covers from which truck owners may choose from whether they are driving a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, GMC, Toyota, Nissan or other makes of truck. For the Extang Tonneau brand, car truck owners may choose from the following:
• Extang BlackMax Tonneau Cover
• Extang Folding Tonneau Cover
• Extang Hinged Tonneau Cover
• Extang Soft Roll Up Tonneau Cover
• Extang Classic Platinum Tonneau Cover
• Extang FullTilt Tonneau Cover
• Extang RT Tonneau Cover
• Extang Trifecta Tonneau Cover
• Extang Express Tonneau Cover
• Extang FullTilt Tool Box Tonneau Cover
• Extang Saver Tonneau Cover
• Extang Tuff Tonneau III Cover

History of Tonneau Covers
Tonneau covers are commonly known as truck bed covers. The name tonneau came from a French word that means rear seating compartment of a vehicle. Although the truck bed is far from a seating compartment the term tonneau is still applied.

The origin of the tonneau cover is not that clear since this type of cover have evolved from a number of versions designed to serve different purposes and because of this no one can really claim to have invented the tonneau cover. There are different styles of tonneau covers that are available in the market and these are as follows:

• Heavy-Duty Soft Tonneau
• Hard Tonneau
• Retractable Tonneau
• Toolbox tonneau

The Benefits of Tonneau Covers
Tonneau covers helps improve gas mileage. You see closed air truck beds tend to lower air resistance which means less drag. Lesser air resistance will allow drivers to drive faster and to save on gas. How? The air that flows over the front end of the truck, swerve into the hollow bowl of the truck’s bed and produces an opposite force. This force then help the truck to cover several miles and in the process saves about 10% of gas. Purchasing a tonneau cover is a great investment with countless of benefits truck owners should have one on for their trucks.

Transit Connect X-Press: A Union of Performance and Practicality

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Ford is known for creating great designs and high performance cars. But just imagine what the result will be if Ford fuses one of its low-roof’ Ford Transit Connect van with one of its legendary high performance Focus RS? The product is the remarkable Transit Connect X-Press which is considered to be one of Ford’s fastest and highly versatile small commercial vehicles to hit the market.

Transit Connect X-Press is lowered by up to 70 mm with 18-inch OZ alloys and emitting an exhaust note that is likened to that of the Ford’s Focus RS WRC. It has a race-spec roll cage inside while its exterior is done in a pearlescent white paint job and set off with a tri-color X-Press graphics.

According to Barry Gale Ford of Europe’s Chief Engineer for Commercial Vehicles, "Transit Connect is such a strong and dynamically capable vehicle to begin with, that we knew this project would be feasible from the outset. Certain drivetrain and suspension components are common with the first generation Ford Focus, so the transformation was relatively straightforward from an engineering point of view. We now have a unique commercial vehicle that performs like no other. If pushed, it is capable of a 0-60mph time in less than 7 seconds and a 130mph top speed. As you might expect from a Ford, it handles, steers and stops like a sports car.”

The team of engineers that developed the Transit Connect range found it a challenge on how to fit a high performance, turbocharged and intercooled 215PS engine into a vehicle with only minimal changes required. Unfortunately, the X-Press calls for something more and has pushed Ford’s engineers to develop the X-Press from the ground up. But according to Gale, "It wasn't difficult really. Once everyone understood what we were doing they all offered to help in their spare time to make special parts or work on the vehicle. It became a true labour of love and as we're basically all car nuts, we're very pleased with the end product."

The X-Press also shows Ford’s solid commitment in developing vehicles that are not only high performance but offer rewarding driving experience. This does not only cover the passenger cars segment but also applies to other lines of Ford vehicles.

One of the features that make the X-Press really standout is its lowered suspension which makes it look meaner and sleeker. The lowered suspension also makes the X-Press or any car for that matter more stable especially when making turns since it tend to drop the vehicle’s body closer to the center of the gravity. There are lowering springs available like the Eibach springs that are applicable for 2-wheel-drive car, van, SUV, trucks including a number of 4-wheel-drive trucks which private car owners may use on their cars.

Tuning CARburetor The Scientific Way

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The carburetor, found in the internal combustion engine, regulates and maintains the right mixture of air and fuel in the engine. When the engine ignites the fuel, the energy in the form of gas is distributed to make the vehicle run. The carburetor is an important auto part and tuning it is crucial.

Making vehicles in tune is a common practice. However, there are still a number of car owners who are not acquainted with the scientific way of tuning automobiles; they stick with the traditional way. However, according to auto experts, more often than not, the traditional way is not always right.

The carburetor performs multiple tasks all at the same time. It calculates the ratio of air to fuel, filters air intake, and distributes the right amount of fuel to feed the engine. Because of the complex nature of carburetors, some automakers are replacing it with the electronic fuel injection. The latter distributes its subtasks to various systems that can handle them efficiently. Hence, the complex process is made easier and simplified.

However, if the car owner knows the scientific and most practical way of tuning his vehicle’s carburetor, he could save a lot. Compared to the fuel injection system, the carburetor is much simpler. Every driver should know that the proper level of fuel is just at the base of the sight hole. If the fuel does not trickle out of the sight hole, you should adjust the float up. Moreover, if the car's gas spills or the carb drips fuel, there is likely a bad seat assembly and needle. The owner of the car should take it away from the top without removing the float bowl. There are several carburetors manufactured in state-of-the-art standards. Weber carburetor parts are meticulously assembled to make them function efficiently without compromising functionality and safety.

Never move the secondary float bowl to the primary and vice versa. The rear float bowl level is lower compared to its front counterpart. This is done to keep fuel from dripping out and into the carburetor's throat during heavy braking. Also, when gas flows out of place due to a bad float, valve or too much fuel pressure, said pressure should be checked. It must be between 4 psi and 7 psi. If the fuel pressure is right, then the problem is on the float or its valve. This situation calls for an immediate replacement. It is better to purchase a complete conversion kit. Weber carburetor conversion kits and other well-regarded brands in the industry offer a complete line of sophisticated carburetor and parts.

In choosing carburetors, one should look into its tuneability and performance. They must be proven by car owners and other auto authorities. In addition, one should also consider the carburetor's versatility. There are those manufactured to suit on a great number of vehicles. The companies offering this kind of carburetor concentrate on quality engineering hence; they have earned trust and loyalty among car owners.

A well-tuned carburetor provides a consistent flow of fuel at nearly all angles. This will prolong the service and ensure good performance of the car.