A Complete Guide to Cars

Audi A7: first drive

2010-10-03T17:48:00.001+10:00

From: Car Guide - Australia

Another week, another Audi - though the latest version to emerge in the German carmaker's almost manic quest to have 42 distinct variants on sale by 2015 is among its most visually striking to date.

The A7 Sportback is a physical and logical extension of the equivalent A5, with which it shares two drivetrains and takes the luxury "five door coupe" design language to its fullest extent. Crucially, the A7 shares its underpinnings with the forthcoming new generation A6 sedan and wagon that, while successful elsewhere in the world, is a feeble sales performer in Australia.

Aside from being a designer's delight and an alternative to cars as diverse as Mercedes-Benz's CLS and Porsche's Panamera, the A7s we drove in Sardinia last week bode well for the A6 and suggest Audi Australia might at last have a challenger in more than name to the massively dominant E-Class and 5 Series.

DESIGN

In a word, stunning. If the A7 photographs captivatingly, its physical presence is overpowering. People stop and stare.

For all the talk of a "practical coupe", this is unapologetically an exercise in form over function. And for all its imposing dimensions (4.9m long by 1.9m wide) the A7 is only 1.4m high and houses four seats, though with 535 litres rear seats up/1360 down (accessible via an electronic hatch), its load space is capacious.

The more candid Audi folk smilingly call this a "styling decision". In other words they've done it because it looks great. The cutting edge shape is enhanced by a body-length tornado line almost sharp enough to draw blood, a reshaped single frame grille and a new line of daytime running lights. From the pert sloping rear hatch, a wing automatically raises at 130km/h - which means that it'll never be seen on an Australian road. Right?

As bold as it looks without, the interior statement is even more successful, with its cosseting, wraparound cockpit feel. Audi's inside story is as seductively class leading as ever, the option of a high quality wood finish a welcome and warm departure from the usual leather and metal look.

While, unlike the smaller A5 Sportback, taller adults can sit in the A7's rear pews without removing their heads or legs, the driver can barely see out back of the thing and the rear windows do not wind down.

VALUE

If your idea of bliss is a marriage of luxury feel and drop dead looks, then this is money well spent - whatever the sum. With local release not due for six months, Audi Australia is in negotiation with headquarters over specification and price.

Common sense points to it sitting above the rest of the A6 range and beneath A8 - so a $150,000-$160,000 starting point is our educated guestimate. What's certain is that Australia gets quattro all wheel drive and seven speed S tronic dual clutch automated transmission as standard, along with a start-stop system and energy recovery.

A Bose sound system is also standard, as is Valcona leather and either wood grain or aluminum finish, MMI navigation with touchpad and 8-inch display, convenience key, a three spoke steering wheel with shifting paddles and four zone air conditioning.

Options include quattro sport differential at about $3000, sports air suspension, which is an extra $2200 in the new A8 sedan, side assist, adaptive cruise control, Bang and Olufsen sound system, and an S line sport package with lowered suspension, 19-inch alloys, sports seats and bespoke trim. The brand's first self-reverse parking function is also on the options list, but its first heads up display is a possible standard fixture.

TECHNOLOGY

Aside from the fruit mentioned above, the A7's tech highlights are its excellent engines. The ones we'll see are familiar.

The 3.0 TDI six cylinder turbo diesel is good for 180kW/500Nm, 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds while using six litres of the good oil per 100km on the combined cycle. Its petrol companion 3.0 TFSI uses the supercharged V6 form the S5 Sportback that packs 220kW/440Nm, a 5.6 second sprint time and uses 8.2 litres of 98 RON per 100km.

A version with the 2.8 naturally aspirated V6 from the current A6 is under discussion. The use of aluminum sheeting on the door bonnet and hatch, and cast aluminum keeps weight down, so that even with AWD, auto transmission and diesel donk, the TDI is 1770kg unladen, the TFSI 1695.

The standard quattro varies torque constantly between front and rear axles and brakes the inside wheels in hard cornering. The optional sports differential actively manages torque between wheels. The stop start function, new to this transmission, switches the engine off when fully halted, resuming when the accelerator is pressed.

SAFETY

The five star crash safety rating is a given with the full raft of active and passive safety features including ABS, ESP. There are airbags for the driver and passenger, at the front, side and curtains. Active cruise control and side assist are among the likely options.

But as visible as the lane filling A7 is, LED lights ablaze, the driver doesn't ensconced in those high sills and thick pillars. Vast wing mirrors and reversing camera compensate for the mail slit of rear window. The spare is a space saver.

DRIVING

The A7 doesn't alter those Audi inevitabilities. You know them by now: BMW provides a sharper drive, a Merc will likely ride better in our patch of the planet, and the steering cries out for more feel.

But Audi's growing army of customers could care less. Treat the A7 as a grand tourer with infusions of sport and you're on the right track - though preferably a wide track with a seamless surface.

The TFSI, especially when equipped with the air suspension to compliment its adjustable steering, throttle and accelerator response, is a surprisingly agile and abundantly responsive drive, very much a bigger brother to the S5. The diesel, with all its extra weight over the front axle is more obviously the GT of the two, though far from disgraced when going through the third and second gear bends, its massive and immediately accessible torque almost enough in itself to win the day on straights, to say nothing of its greater cruising range.

And carp as we might about the weighting of the steering wheel in any mode, the new electro-mechanical system is linear and progressive. Ever more sophisticated, quattro is seamless and confidence enhancing, a boon to safety and dynamics. Brakes abet the cause, with the just the right combination of progression and bite.

VERDICT

Looks and feels the goods. 70/100

AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

Price: from $150,000 (est)
Engines: 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (180kW/500Nm); 3.0 litre supercharged V6 petrol (220kW/440Nm)
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch auto
Thirst: 6l/100km (diesel); 8l/100km (petrol)

RIVALS

Mercedes-Benz CLS (from $150,000)
Porsche Panamera (from $193,000)
BMW 5 Series GT ($143,000)

Cool Cars and Girls Blog

2010-10-03T17:38:00.003+10:00

Cool Cars

The cool cars blog showcasing pictures and videos of rare cool cars, concept cars, modified cars, cool car paint jobs, fast cool cars, sports cars and convertible cars.

Click here or on the image to visit the Official Blog Site

Disclaimer: This is a blog I came across on the internet. Because of it's interesting content I decided to feature it in my blog. The purpose of this feature is solely for the awareness of this blog and any information on this blog (Cool Cars and Girls Blog) is not affiliated with my blog (A Complete Guide to Cars Blog). If for any reason the author of Cool Cars and Girls Blog wishes me to remove this content then I may willingly do so. For more information contact me on colinavosa@yahoo.com.

Cars produced in the World

2010-09-30T11:33:00.001+10:00

Article extracted from: World 'O' Meters - Cars

Cars produced in the world - sources and methods

The data on global car production displayed on the Worldometers' counter is based on the latest statistics on worldwide car production issued by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA).

A formula based on the current data available, historical trends, and projections is used to estimate total cars produced in the current year.

Because the auto industry is an important sector of the global economy, numerous analysis of sales data and future outlook are issued by financial and economic institutes worldwide.

National trade organizations are surveyed on their annual data by OICA. Each summer, a survey on the last six months provides a first estimation of the year’s production figures .

Definition of "car" and "production"

By "car" we are referring to passenger cars, which are defined as motor vehicles with at least four wheels, used for the transport of passengers, and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. Cars (or automobiles) make up approximately 87% of the total motor vehicle annual production in the world.
The remaining 13%, not included in this statistics, is made up by light commercial vehicles and heavy trucks (motor vehicles with et least four wheels, used for the carriage of goods), buses, coaches and minibuses (comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat)

By "production" we are following the convention used by national trade organizations and referring to completely built vehicle (CBU) as opposed to assembly of completely knocked down (CKD) or semi-knocked down (SKD) sets when vehicle parts originate in another country.

How many cars are produced in the world every year?

For 2009, global vehicle sales remain in the midst of a precipitous fall-off, led by sharp declines in the mature markets of the United States, Western Europe and Japan. We project total cars produced at 51,971,328.

In 2006 there were 49,886,549 passenger cars produced in the world, with an increase of 6.45% over the previous year. The increase for 2007 was more modest, and 2008 showed a decline. Analysts from various institutes had in fact pegged the year 2007 as the year which would end the 5-year cycle (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) of record global auto sales worldwide.

year	cars produced in the world
2009 (projection)	51,971,328
2008	52,940,559
2007	54,920,317
2006	49,886,549
2005	46,862,978
2004	44,554,268
2003	41,968,666
2002	41,358,394
2001	39,825,888
2000	41,215,653
1999	39,759,847

Which country produces most cars?

A third of all cars in the world is produced in the European Union (see chart below)

China became the world’s third-largest car market in 2006, as car sales in China soared by nearly 40% to 4.1 million units. China should become the world’s second-largest car market by 2010, as low vehicle penetration, rising incomes, greater credit availability and falling car prices lift sales past those of Japan. Furthermore, vehicle penetration in China stands at only 24 vehicles per 1,000 people, compared with 749 vehicles per 1,000 people in the mature markets of the G7.

For a breakdown of production by country in the world, see chart table below:

Country	Cars	Commercial Vehicles	Total	Total Change

Argentina	263,120	168,981	432,101	35,1%
Australia	270,000	60,900	330,900	-16,2%
Austria	248,059	26,873	274,932	8,6%
Belgium	881,929	36,127	918,056	-1,2%
Brazil	2,092,029	519,005	2,611,034	3,3%
Canada	1,389,536	1,182,756	2,572,292	-4,3%
China	5,233,132	1,955,576	7,188,708	25,9%
Czech Rep.	848,922	5,985	854,907	41,3%
Egypt	59,462	32,111	91,573	32,2%
Finland	32,417	353	32,770	51,4%
France	2,723,196	446,023	3,169,219	-10,7%
Germany	5,398,508	421,106	5,819,614	1,1%
Hungary	187,633	3,190	190,823	25,5%
India	1,473,000	546,808	2,019,808	24,2%
Indonesia	206,321	89,687	296,008	-40,1%
Iran	800,000	104,500	904,500	10,7%
Italy	892,502	319,092	1,211,594	16,7%
Japan	9,756,515	1,727,718	11,484,233	6,3%
Malaysia	377,952	125,021	502,973	-10,8%
Mexico	1,097,619	947,899	2,045,518	22,4%
Netherlands	87,332	72,122	159,454	-11,8%
Poland	632,300	82,300	714,600	14,2%
Portugal	143,478	83,847	227,325	3,7%
Romania	201,663	11,934	213,597	9,6%
Russia	1,177,918	330,440	1,508,358	11,6%
Serbia	9,832	1,350	11,182	-21,1%
Slovakia	295,391	0	295,391	35,3%
Slovenia	115,000	35,320	150,320	-15,5%
South Africa	334,482	253,237	587,719	11,9%
South Korea	3,489,136	350,966	3,840,102	3,8%
Spain	2,078,639	698,796	2,777,435	0,9%
Sweden	288,583	44,585	333,168	-1,6%
Taiwan	211,306	91,915	303,221	-32,1%
Thailand	298,819	895,607	1,296,060	15,2%
Turkey	545,682	442,098	987,780	12,4%
Ukraine	274,860	20,400	295,260	36,8%
UK	1,442,085	206,303	1,648,388	-8,6%
USA	4,366,220	6,897,766	11,263,986	-6,0%
Uzbekistan	100,000	10,000	110,000	14,8%
Supplementary	411,982	129,210	541,192

Totals	49,886,549	19,240,607	69,127,156	4,0%

Which are the manufacturers and how many cars they produce?

The statistics on world car production include the following auto-makers: Anhui, Avtovaz , Beijing, BMW, Brilliance, Byd, Chana, Changhe, Chery, China National, Chrysler, Daewoo, Daihatsu, DaimlerChrysler, Dongfeng, Faw, Fiat, Ford, Fuji, Fujian, Gaz, Geely, General Motors, Great Wall, Guangzhou, Harbin, Hino, Honda, Hyundai, Ij-Avto, Isuzu, Kamaz, Kia, Mahindra&Mahindra, MAN, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Multicar, Nanjing, Navistar, Nissan, Nissan Diesel, Paccar, Porsche, Proton, PSA, Renault, Saic, Scania, Suzuki, Tata, Toyota, Uaz, Vaz, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

For detailed statistics on production by manufacturer, make, country and type visit the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers

How many cars are there in the world currently?

It is estimated that over 600,000,000 passenger cars travel the streets and roads of the world today.

In the United States alone, 247,421,120 "highway" registered vehicles were counted in 2005, of which 136,568,083 passenger cars. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics U.S. Department of Transportation)

Car Joke of the Day

2010-09-30T11:30:00.001+10:00

From: The Joke Hold - Car Jokes

A hip young man goes out and buys a 1997 McLaren F1. It is the best and most expensive car available in the world, costing about $2,500,000. He takes it out for a spin and while stopping for a red light, an old man on a moped (both looking about 90 years old) pulls up next to him. The old man looks over the sleek, shiny surface of the car and asks, "What kind of car ya' got there, sonny?" The young man replies, "A 1997 McLaren F1. They cost about two and a half million dollars!" "That's a lot of money," says the old man, shocked. "Why does it cost so much?" "Because this car can do up to 230 miles an hour!" states the cool dude proudly. The moped driver asks, "Can I take a look inside?" "Sure," replies the owner. So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around. Leaning back on his moped, the old man says, "That's a pretty nice car, all right!" Just then the light changes so the guy decides to show the old man what his car can do. He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 230 mph. Suddenly, he notices a dot in his rear view mirror. It seems to be getting closer! He slows down to see what it could be and suddenly, whhhoooossshhh! Something whips by him, going much faster! "What on earth could be going faster than my McLaren F1?!" the young man asks himself. Then, ahead of him, he sees a dot coming toward him. Whoooooosh! It goes by again, heading the opposite direction! And it almost looked like the old man on the moped! "Couldn't be," thinks the guy. "How could a moped outrun a McLaren F1?!" Again, he sees a dot in his rear view mirror! Whooooosh Ka-BbblaMMM! It plows into the back of his car, demolishing the rear end. The young man jumps out, and it IS the old man! Of course, the moped and the old man are hurting for certain. He runs up to the dying old man and says, "You're badly hurt! Is there anything I can do for you?" The old man moans and replies, "Yes, could you please unhook my suspenders from your side mirror?!"

Interesting Car Facts

2010-09-21T14:13:00.004+10:00

From: Sports Cars - Fast Cars

Top fuel dragsters accelerate at up to 5g from standing start. The nitromethane injection produces 6000 BHP. The fastest time for removing a car engine, and replacing it is 42 seconds for a Ford Escort, on 21 November 1985.

An airbag moves up to 4500 mph within a second when triggered. A force of 200g is generated. They are designed to explode at an impact speed of 19 mph. The bag inflates within 40 milliseconds of a crash.

The Ferrari Formula 1 team is unique in the fact that it produces both chassis and engines for its cars.

Ferrari makes a maximum of 14 cars every day.

There were only 107 models of the Ford GT40 made of which only 7 were road cars.

The Worlds longest traffic hold-up was 110 miles long, between Paris and Lyon on the French Autoroute in 1980. A more recent contender for the title was a 100 mile long traffic Jam, near Hamburg in Germany in 1993.

The first known automobile was built in 1668, it was a two foot long steam powered model constructed by Ferdinand Verbiest, a Belgian Jesuit preist.

Luxembourg has the most crowded roads in Europe with 570 cars per 1,000 people.

The first car race ever seen in the United States was held in Chicago in 1895. The track ran from Chicago to Evanston. The winner was J. Frank Duryea, whose average speed was 71.5 miles per hour.

In 1924 a Ford automobile cost $265.

The first auto insurance policy is purchased in Westfield, MA, in 1897.

Fresh life breathed into Pontiac Firebird

2010-08-05T09:53:00.001+10:00

words - Gautam Sharma

Michigan-based customiser is offering 50 examples of its modern-day Pontiac Firebird, priced from $US60,000

Pontiac's iconic Firebird was finally laid to rest in 2002 after a 35-year lifespan and, disappointingly for fans of the screaming eagle, the rebirth of the Chevy Camaro in 2006 didn't result in a new lease of life for the former.
Well, said individuals need despair no longer because Michigan-based customiser Classic Design Concepts has conjured up a modern-day Firebird and dubbed it "The FireBreather".
The Camaro-derived coupe was originally conceived as a prop for the film Jinn (perhaps inspired by the Bumblebee from the Transformers), but its creator is now offering 50 examples of the FireBreather to the public.
Splashing out $US85,000 gets you a 6.2-litre (Camaro SS-based) tarmac burner with Eibach suspension, a tuned exhaust and a beefier wheel/tyre package. Those on a lesser budget can opt for the V6 version, which costs $US60,000.
Going on the accompanying images, we'd say the body mods are well executed, drawing inspiration from 1960s/'70s Firebirds, rather than the third-generation car that starred in the popular Knight Rider TV series.
The pronounced beak is there, along with partially hooded headlights and a TransAm-esque power bulge in the bonnet. Its creators have also emblazoned FireBreather logos on the steering wheel, seats and wheel centres.
Collectable status seems assured as each car will be individually numbered, and the not-unreasonable pricetag suggests it mightn't be a bad investment.
The idea for the car came from the director (AJ Ahmad) of the film in which it stars, and his goal was to link the developing Michigan film industry to the state's history.
We applaud the initiative, and we'd go so far as to suggest The FireBreather could inspire another Smokey and the Bandit sequel. Burt Reynolds has had enough facelifts to just about still pull it off...

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi

Published : Thursday, 5 August 2010

2010-08-03T12:23:00.000+10:00

Asian Car Comparison Guide

2010-07-26T14:06:00.002+10:00

Dallas High Speed Car Chase Video - June 29 2009 - Dallas Car Chase End in Crash

2010-07-26T14:05:00.002+10:00

smart car crash

2010-07-26T14:04:00.002+10:00

Neiman Marcus M6

2010-07-20T12:36:00.002+10:00

Pagani-Zonda R 2009

2010-07-20T12:34:00.000+10:00

Car Insurance: All You Need to Know

2010-07-04T21:54:00.001+10:00

Car Insurance
A car provides its owner with many advantages as well as can cause great financial risks. Auto insurance can help you to pay for the car repair, cover medical expenses or other bills concerned with car accidents. Get to know how to choose auto insurance company. Discover what auto insurance laws are in your state.

Car Insurance PoliciesChoose the coverage level of auto insurance policy that suits your needs best. Get to know how policies are priced, what deductible is and how you can save money. If you've decided to change auto insurance company read how you can cancel your old

Car Insurance ClaimsFirst or last you may face with an auto insurance claim. So you need to know how to behave in this case, what steps should be taken and how to get the maximum payment.

Article extracted by: http://www.myautoinsuranceweb.com/

Car Test - AUDI R8 SPYDER

2010-07-04T20:37:00.001+10:00

How to Know if Your Car Has a Fluid Leak

2010-07-02T15:05:00.000+10:00

Except for gasoline and windshield wiper solution, the fluids in your car shouldn't get used up or go anywhere. If you notice that any are low, there's a good possibility of a leak.

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need:

Clean Rags
Markers
Cardboard Boxes
Flashlights

Steps:

Understand that the fluids you may have in your car are gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, gear oil, power steering fluid and automatic transmission fluid. All cars will have at least gas, oil and brake fluid. Air-cooled engines (like old VW bugs) do not have coolant. Your model of car may or may not have power steering or automatic transmission fluid.
Open the hood and visually inspect the engine block and engine compartment. Many leaks are easily detectable with just a simple look.
Note that you don't need to know the name of the fluid that's leaking or the name of the part it's leaking from to be able to find a leak.
Inspect underneath the engine and the car with a flashlight. Look for wet areas or drips clinging to the underside of the vehicle's carriage.
If you don't see any signs of a leak, lay down a large piece of corrugated cardboard and park your car so that the engine sits over it. With a pen, mark the position of the wheels.
Remove the cardboard the following morning. Note the position of any drip marks relative to the wheel markings. This information will help your mechanic diagnose the problem.

Article extracted from: http://www.ehow.com/

CARS Birthday Party - Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

2010-07-02T14:55:00.001+10:00

Race with Lightening McQueen to this CARS birthday party just for kids!

Gear up for your birthday party with the birthday party games, decorating tips and fun activities provided below. Then, for convenient on-line shopping you'll find your CARS party supplies online from our partner Birthday On a Box! -- everything you need delivered to your door!

CARS PARTY DECORATIONS
Rev-Up the festivities by drawing a road with chalk on your driveway, or sidewalk and posting homemade road signs throughout the party area.
Hang car cut-outs, posters, or calendar pictures from the ceiling and on the walls. Add checkered flags, black and white streamers etc. Use clean tires stuffed with pillows for chairs.

When it's time for a pit stop, fill the party guests up at a race track table. Cover your table with white butcher paper. Tape black construction paper down the middle to represent a road. Add yellow lines, using paint or paper. Place a car pinata or a few toy cars on the track. Fill plastic trophies or, Piston Cups, with treats and place one at each place setting. Advanced Decorating:
For those of you who "go all out" for your birthday parties... Use large appliance boxes, paint and poster board to fashion Radiator Springs in your own backyard. The Cozy Cone Motel, Sarge's Surplus and Flo's V-8 Cafe will also provide a fun party activity for little ones, if you cut windows and doors.

Candy Race Cars
These edible cars make a super place setting and double as a fun party favor!

You'll Need:

Large packs of gum 3"x1" -- car body

Snack size candy bars --spoiler and headlights

Round hard candy or peanut butter cups -- tires

Low temperature glue gun and glue sticks

Use the glue gun to attach the tires onto the sides, spoilers off the back and and headlights on the front to the pack of gum. Position the back tire candies lower on the pack of gum, to simulate a "dragster".
Tips: the new mini candy bars no longer have silver wrappers. So we covered ours with aluminum foil to make headlights. If you don't have
a low-temperature glue gun, a standard glue gun can be used, but it
will melt the chocolate so be cautious.

Personalize Your Party
Your birthday child and guests will feel extra special with personalized party items; invitations, banners, zipper pulls and more! Personalize it here >>

CARS BIRTHDAY PARTY GAMES AND ACTIVITIES
When it comes time to plan your party activities, you'll want to keep your space, age of the children and amount of guests in mind. Select of few of the birthday activities listed below that will best suit your needs. Try to schedule extra help by asking friends, or responsible teens to assist you with decorating, coordinating and especially during your party.

Entrance Activities:
It's always a good idea to provide a simple activity at the beginning of your party. This helps to break the ice and entertains the children while they wait for all of the guests to arrive.

Color-a-Card
Before the party, cut a race car shape from a large piece of poster board. Provide glue, scissors, magazines car pictures, crayons or markers on the floor or table. When children arrive direct them to help make the birthday child a card. Your child can save it for a poster and you can save
it for a memory.

Face Painting
Detail your party guests with face painted flames, cars, racing stripes or numbers.

Piston Cup Championship
Have your own Piston Cup Championship with wind-up cars.

Before the party, mark a start and finish line with tape.

Use a permanent marker to write each child's name on a wind-up car.

Use a flag or cloth to start your race...

Winners get a piece of candy, blue ribbons or a plastic trophy.

Guido's Pit Row Race
Can you change a tire as fast as Guido?

To play this game divide the children into two or three teams.

Give each team a car tire.

Mark Start and Finish lines for each team and place a few cones in each team's path.

The children will need to roll the tire from start to finish around the cones, back to their team and pass the tire to the next player.

The next player takes his/her turn and so on until all players have had a turn. Fastest team wins!

Red Light Green Light
This traditional playground game is a simple yet perfect addition to your cars party theme.

Pit Stop Obstacle Course
If you have the space...

Use old tires, cones, chairs and boxes.

Prepare the obstacle course buy creating challenges.

The children are cars. They must get through the challenge course: around tires, under tunnels (cut boxes), through cones...

They run the course as many times as they want, receiving a candy or small treat every time.

Variation: Before the party fashion some cars, using cardboard boxes, poster board and paint. Cut the tops and bottoms from the boxes, so the children can step inside and hold the sides of the car while they run the course. Adding handles with pieces of clothesline, will make it easier for the players to hold their cars.
Mater Tow Relay Race
Not recommended for younger players.

Place cones marking a start and finish line; not too far apart. If you have several children divide them into relay teams.

Provide cones for each team.

The first two players from each team will take the first turn. One is Mater the tow truck and the other is the car.

The tow truck walks on his hands while the other player holds his feet.

They go as quickly as they can to the cone and back to their teams.

The next pair takes a turn. This is a simple wheel barrow race.

Who Am I?

Before the party, prepare one 3x5 card for each child using pictures of the CARS characters, or simply write the names.

Attach one picture to each card.

Have the children form a circle.

Tape a card to each of their backs.

When you say go… players look at each others cards and give clues until every player has guessed who's on their card.

Example:
You are a Classy - Chassis (Sally)
You like to tow-hook fish (Mater)
You can only say "Pit Stop" -- (Luigi)
Luigi's Tire Bean Bag Toss

Place an old tire laying flat on the ground.

Mark and "X" a reasonable distance from the tire.

Provide a few bean bags for the children to take turns tossing the bean bags into the center of the tire.

Ramone's House of Body Art
Make your own car to take home!
Purchase wooden cars, kid-safe paint and paint brushes, or use with spray painted shoeboxes. Be sure to provide large shirt smocks and a protected space for painting. A large tarp on the ground will do just fine. Also provide wet-wipes for messy hands. Encourage
the children to decorate their cars with racing stripes, numbers etc.
Va-Va-Vroom Art
You'll need:

Old matchbox cars

Black paper

White and yellow paint (or any light color)

Pour paint in meat trays, or cookie sheets. Place a few cars in each paint tray. Children "drive" the cars through the paint and then drive them onto the paper. Use a white crayon to label each picture with the artist's name. Very little paint is actually used, so that these dry quickly.
Flo's V-8 Cafe Tire Treat Cupcakes
Place a round candy, Life Savers work best, in the center of a chocolate sandwich cookie using frosting to secure the candy. Place the cookie tires on top of a frosted cupcake.

Re-fuel hungry party goers with car sandwiches. Use a car cookie cutter, to cut simple sandwiches like P,B&J or ham and cheese. You may also choose to simply cut slices of lunch meat and cheese and served w/ crackers. Add carrot sticks, orange wedges and grapes.

CARS Birthday Party Favors
Send your guest home smiling with a fun filled CARS goody bag ...

Article extracted from: http://www.amazingmoms.com/

Car Theft - Statistics & Guide to Car Theft Insurance

2010-07-02T14:40:00.006+10:00

Driver complacency is the car thief's greatest friend. Many car owners without car theft insurance cling to long-held myths like it will never happen to me, or no-one would want to steal my old bomb, or I'm insured, it doesn't matter. The truth is, if it does happen to you, you may be thousands of dollars out of pocket and greatly inconvenienced when looking for the stolen car and then searching around for a replacement.

There's also the added danger of personal papers being left in the car, giving the thieves your address or ready details for identity theft. For the sake of a few simple precautions, it's not worth the risk.

World Top Ten Countries With Most Car Thefts Rates
Country	Car Theft Rate
Switzerland	962.80
New Zealand	818.01
England & Wales	752.95
Sweden	738.47
Australia	726.19
Denmark	604.18
Scotland	555.33
Italy	537.00
Canada	521.20
Norway	518.25

Table extracted from: http://www.mapsofworld.com/

The good news is that the number of car thefts has been decreasing over the past few years. The bad news is that the recovery rate of stolen autos is also down. This may change if federal anti-crime agency CrimTrac has its way. According to a recent edition of the Australian Financial Review, the number may be up for stolen cars. Apparently, there are proposals in the wings to introduce a national number plate recognition system that would give police and other law enforcement agencies the ability to automatically track down stolen vehicles anywhere in the country. Cameras alongside roads would take pictures of licence plates and, using character recognition technology, compare the plates with information stored in the database.

Prevent car theft by taking the following steps:

Insure your car properly. It's the best defence you can have against car thieves.
Fit an immobilizer, especially if you drive an older model car. Not only will this make it impossible for thieves to de-activate and thus steal your car, you will probably benefit through a cheaper premium from your insurer.
Don't be an attractive target. You probably already know to keep your wallet or purse out of sight of passers-by but don't forget to hide other things like your mobile phone, iPod, laptop or any other fun gadgetry you have in your car. Among the favourite items on the black market are GPS units. If you have one, conceal it as well as the stand it's mounted on. Leaving it on view can be a sign to a thief to search your car.
Lock your car. It sounds obvious but it isn't. People tend to leave their cars unlocked when they're at a quiet, peaceful and seemingly safe location among friends. That's when thieves can strike.

Article extracted from: http://www.canstar.com.au/

Note: Some of the information extracted here have been modified to suit your viewing.

Be on the Lookout for Sleazy Car Dealer Tactics!

2010-07-02T14:17:00.005+10:00

By Tony Iorio

In the same way that I give you tips, tactics and strategies to save you money by outsmarting the car dealers, they have their own set of tactics and tricks that they use to separate you from your hard earned money!

Keep in mind that the salesperson you deal with in a car dealership is just one "cog" in the "sales machinery."

Backing up the salesperson are the Sales Manager, the Used Car Manager, the Finance Manager and often the Floor Manager or the "Closer!" When you walk into a car dealership you're going up against a whole Team of Sales Professionals!

For the most part the salesperson is the only person you interact with during a car deal. They will however, bring out the "Big Guns" if the deal is falling apart and you're ready to leave.

Nevertheless, behind the scenes this entire team puts their heads together, and brings enormous expertise and creativity to bear on the process of getting you to buy a car from them. . . "TODAY!"

Don't be intimidated....just be prepared! Make them conform to the way YOU want to deal. Not visa versa! Explore this website for all the information you'll ever need to stay one step ahead of them!

BEWARE OF THE LIES!
Of course, you must always be on guard against the salesperson flat out lying to you. I'm not saying that they all do it, but some will tell you anything you want to hear in order to close the deal.
Here's an example as written by the person it happened to:
"In April of this year, I needed a new car. I went and found something I liked...2001 Explorer Sport Trac. So I decided to get it . . . LEASED it for 4 years.
"The Business Manager rushed us through paperwork, because there were many people waiting in the lobby. He told us that they were new with this financial company, but that if we ever wanted out of the lease, just pay $375 and walk away.
"My husband said 'That's it? Just pay $375 and walk away?' The Business Manager said 'yes . . . that is it!'
"He said we would get a payment book in the mail, and just wait until that happens to start making payments. Two months later the bank calls wanting to know why we have not paid. So we ended up putting 2 months on a credit card to get caught up.
"Well 4 months into this lease, I lost my job. (You know what's coming huh?) I called the dealer and told him I wanted to pay the $375 and get out of the lease...come to find out, I would have a repossession on my credit if I did that!
"I am so angry that they did this. Yes, I guess I should have asked more questions or something, but I trusted him to do the right thing. I had never leased before, and thought that it sounded good. And he basically lied to us. The whole experience just seems to keep getting worse and worse. Help!"

Listen To Me, Please. . . before you sign anything, read it, in order to verify the truth of everything you were told and promised.
The Finance Manager that this poor unfortunate person dealt with should be tarred and feathered and hung upside down by his ankles from the dealership sign!

GUARD AGAINST THEM TAKING CONTROL!
It's important for the salesperson to gain some control over you when you are dealing on a car, so that you can't just get up and leave when they "tick" you off! And trust me, they will "tick" you off!
So, to that end they will keep your keys to your trade after appraising it, or they will try hard to get a deposit out of you before you make a deal, and then use it as leverage to keep you from leaving.
They know that you're not leaving without your deposit, and you can't leave as long as your keys are in the manager's drawer!
This gives them more chances to close you . . . which is the sole purpose for them wanting control.
I once worked for a sales manager who wouldn't even talk to me until I brought in a deposit. Even if I got the customer to sign a deal stating that he or she would buy the car at a set price, this manager would throw me out of his office until I got a deposit! Very frustrating!
Then if I came back in with $50 or $100 I would get yelled at for being too weak! He wanted thousands not hundreds! The theory is the bigger the deposit the more serious the customer is, and the more control the dealer has over you!
The bottom line here is don't give a salesperson any deposit until after you have a firm deal signed by the Sales Manager. And if they appraise your trade get your keys back before you continue with the deal! If they won't cooperate tell them you're "gone!" Go somewhere else, and eventually you will find an honest and decent salesperson to deal with...or at least an inexperienced one!

BEWARE OF BEING TURNED INTO A "TODAY BUYER!"
Car salespeople know they have to get you when you're "HOT," or when you're all worked up emotionally. Their goal is to get you to this "fever pitch" the first time you're in the dealership. Have you ever heard a car salesperson say "What's it going to take to get you in this car TODAY?"
They will go to great lengths - as we car people call it - to turn you into a "Today Buyer!" And if they can get you to agree to buy your first time in, they are going to do everything they can to get you down the road in your new vehicle "Right Now!" Everything is Now, Now, Now! In the car business there's No Tomorrow!
They don't want to give you a night to think it over. You may start having second thoughts after the euphoria wears off. This is called "Buyer's Remorse"...the car salesperson's worst nightmare!

BEWARE OF THE "SPOT DELIVERY!"
Now, they have this thing they do called a "Spot Delivery." Once you agree to buy they're going to cram you into the Finance Office and rush you through all the paperwork. While this is going on, the salesperson is scrambling around trying to get the car cleaned up and ready to go!
As far as they are concerned you are going down the road in your new or used car NOW! They're not going to give you the chance to think about it!
From my own experience, I have noted that no matter how apprehensive the customer gets when you rush them into their new car, they clearly sigh in relief once the paperwork is signed and they are about to leave in their new vehicle. In their own mind the deal is done, so there is no reason to give it any more thought!
SO BEWARE. . . the Psychology Works!
Often, if you are allowing the dealer to handle the financing (Bad Idea), the Finance Manager will throw together some bank papers for you to sign, and then, usually, after you're down the road, he'll get the deal approved at the bank, and hope they go along with the rate and terms that he signed you up for!
If for some reason they can't get the deal put together with the bank whose paperwork you signed, they have to go to another bank then get you back in to sign new paperwork!
If this happens Watch Out! I guarantee you the payment is going up, or the term is going to be longer. If they can't get the loan bought anywhere then they have to get the car back from you! Not a pleasant situation for them or you!

It's a crazy, high pressure system and you don't want to get caught up in it. This is why it is so important for you to be fully prepared before you ever step foot on the car lot!

Article extracted from: http://www.insidercarsecrets.com/

Essential Items to Keep in Your Car

2010-07-02T13:58:00.000+10:00

Video extracted from: http://www.driverside.com/

A Case Study: Green Cars

2010-07-02T13:33:00.001+10:00

Problem

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wanted to lead by example with its business taxi policy. Government departments have come under increasing pressure to account for and manage business mileage and reduce carbon emissions. As a result Defra required a radio controlled taxi company that could provide a reliable car service for its employees based at its London offices, and one that mirrored its own sustainable development aspirations.

Solution

Defra chose Green Cars for a number of reasons: The Green Cars fleet is made up entirely of Toyota Prius hybrid’ cars which emit up to 63% less carbon emissions than black cabs*. The drivers are security cleared government employees, providing a 24-hour service to government and the wider public sector. Also, because both Defra and the Government Car and Despatch Agency – which runs Green Cars – are part of the Crown Estate, Defra did not have to go through a lengthy tender process. “Green cars are reliable, efficient and match our customers’ high expectations.”

Martin How –
Defra Travel Branch

* source: VCA New Car Fuel Consumption and Emissions.

The Outcome

Defra are currently one of Green Cars’ biggest clients and the service has proved very popular with users. Using Green Cars has resulted in significant savings in carbon emissions. As black cabs hailed on the street are discouraged, a greater understanding and control of business miles travelled and their environmental impact is being achieved. “CO₂ emissions from taxis contribute to Defra’s Carbon Footprint – a footprint Defra, along with the rest of Government, must reduce. To achieve this aim, Defra required a radio controlled taxi service that provided the vehicles, staff, service and management information to meet our business need. Defra works in partnership with GCDA, and we are seeking to leverage further efficiencies – both in terms of cost and CO₂”

Jonathan Green – Defra,
Civil Service Travel Group

Article extracted from: www.gcda.gov.uk

Tutorial: How to reduce Car Sludge

2010-07-02T13:19:00.004+10:00

Oil Sludge is one of the most costly problems facing car owners today. More advanced engine designs often result in unexpected problems that cause sludge to build up in the engine’s oil system. The sludge is particularly dangerous on screens or in small passages, where it can cause a clog that prevents oil from reaching critical areas. This will ultimately result in catastrophic engine failure, which can only be repair by replacing the entire engine. Fortunately, you can dramatically reduce your chances of having an oil sludge problem. Simply follow these basic steps to help prevent your car from developing oil sludge.

Steps:

Recognize if your engine is prone to mechanical failure caused by oil sludge in the engine. While any engine can potentially develop oil sludge, some are more prone to the problem than others. If your car has an engine with a known history of sludge problems, extra care should be taken to protect your car from sludge damage.
Change your oil frequently. Some manufacturers will recommend that you change your oil every 5,000 or 7,500 miles. Over time they have changed this to increase the frequency of oil changes. If you are fighting oil sludge, your motor oil and filter should be changed every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. Changing it more frequently will not hurt.
Perform a Seafoam treatment every 18,000 miles, or every 6th oil change. Seafoam is a brand of engine treatment that will push its way through the passages where oil flows. This cleans any sludge out and washes it into the oil pan, where it can be easily drained away. Not only will the Seafoam treatment help fight the battle against oil sludge, but you will probably notice improved gas mileage after using the product.
Take your car to the mechanic every 40,000 miles to have the engine flushed. Flushing the engine will completely clear any passages and make the inside of the engine like new. This treatment is done in place of the Seafoam treatment mentioned in Step 4.
Monitor your engine closely. If you start to see oil appear on the top of the engine, it could be an indication that your PCV valve has become clogged and is leaking oil. Replacing the valve is an inexpensive repair that can increase your car’s performance. Ignoring the problem could lead into serious problems. Keep a close watch for oil on the engine, and replace the PCV valve as soon as it is noticed.

Article extracted from: http://www.ehow.com/

Interesting Car Facts

2010-07-02T13:11:00.000+10:00

Top fuel dragsters accelerate at up to 5g from standing start. The nitromethane injection produces 6000 BHP.
The fastest time for removing a car engine, and replacing it is 42 seconds for a Ford Escort, on 21 November 1985.
An airbag moves up to 4500 mph within a second when triggered. A force of 200g is generated. They are designed to explode at an impact speed of 19 mph. The bag inflates within 40 milliseconds of a crash.
The Ferrari Formula 1 team is unique in the fact that it produces both chassis and engines for its cars.
Ferrari makes a maximum of 14 cars every day.
There were only 107 models of the Ford GT40 made of which only 7 were road cars.
The Worlds longest traffic hold-up was 110 miles long, between Paris and Lyon on the French Autoroute in 1980. A more recent contender for the title was a 100 mile long traffic Jam, near Hamburg in Germany in 1993.
The first known automobile was built in 1668, it was a two foot long steam powered model constructed by Ferdinand Verbiest, a Belgian Jesuit preist.
Luxembourg has the most crowded roads in Europe with 570 cars per 1,000 people.
The first car race ever seen in the United States was held in Chicago in 1895. The track ran from Chicago to Evanston. The winner was J. Frank Duryea, whose average speed was 71.5 miles per hour.
In 1924 a Ford automobile cost $265.
The first auto insurance policy is purchased in Westfield, MA, in 1897.

Article extracted from: http://www.2sportscars.com/interestingcarfacts.shtml

Joke of the Day: Blonde Car Accident

2010-06-30T15:55:00.000+10:00

One day, while a blonde was out driving her car, she ran into a truck.
The truck’s driver made her pull over into a parking lot and get out of the car.
He took a piece of chalk and drew a circle on the pavement. He told her to stand in the middle and not leave the circle.
Furious, he went over to her car and slashed the tires.
The blonde started laughing.
This made the man angrier so he smashed her windshield.
This time the blonde laughed even harder.
Livid, the man broke all her windows and keyed her car.
The blonde is now laughing hysterically, so the truck driver asks her what’s so funny.
The blonde giggles and replies, “When you weren’t looking, I stepped out of the circle three times!”

Joke extracted from: http://jokesblogger.com/2008/12/26/joke-of-the-day-blonde-car-accident/

Tutorial: How to Jump-start Your Car

2010-06-30T15:22:00.007+10:00

Nothing is more irritating than going to crank your car only to find out your battery is dead. Don't let a dead battery get the best of you. My step by step guide will get you on the road in no time. Click here to follow the video tutorial or follow the next steps.

Steps:

Pick up a pair of jumper cables at the nearest auto part store.They range from around $20.00 and up. You would want to invest in a decent pair of jumper cables for future use.
Get a working car. Park the working car next to the non working car.
Open both car hoods. Make sure both engines are turned off. Adjust the positions of the cars until the jumper cable ends can reach both batteries.
Attach the red end of the jumper cable to the (+)positive terminal on the non working battery.
Attach the other red end to the working cars battery.
Attach the black end of the jumper cable to the (-) negative terminal on the non working battery. Attach the black end of the jumper cable to the (-) negative terminal on the working battery.
Disconnect jumper cables in reverse order that they were put on. Try to start the non working car.When it starts leave it crunk for about 10 to 15 minutes so it can recharge.

Article extracted from: http://www.ehow.com/

The Ultimate Automotive Guide!

2010-06-30T15:10:00.005+10:00

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Article extracted from: World 'O' Meters - Cars

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Which country produces most cars?

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Prevent car theft by taking the following steps:

Be on the Lookout for Sleazy Car Dealer Tactics!

Essential Items to Keep in Your Car

A Case Study: Green Cars

Tutorial: How to reduce Car Sludge

Interesting Car Facts

Joke of the Day: Blonde Car Accident

Tutorial: How to Jump-start Your Car

The Ultimate Automotive Guide!