In the following video, the folks over at AutoTech go over some of the fundamental differences that distinguish front wheel drive from other types of systems (i.e. four-wheel drive). The video is a great tutorial on how to check to make sure that your front wheel drive is operating properly.

1. Drive slowly & carefully- Most accidents (if not all) can be prevented by simply taking it down a notch or two when you’re behind the wheel. Especially when it is raining or damp outside, you will want to start braking well before you reach a full stop. Doing so will help to prevent your wheels from locking up and your car from skidding across traffic.
2. Skidding- If your vehicle ever starts to skid, remain calm and steer your vehicle in the direction that you want it to go.
3. Keep tires properly inflated- Take care no to over inflate or under inflate your tires, as this can lead to skidding on both wet and dry roads.
4. Standing water- If you see standing water, slow down prior to driving through the water in order to prevent your vehicle from hydroplaning.

by Yuliya Libkina on Flickr

Whether you’re using an auto shipping company to ship your car to the next classic car auto show, or if you’re just traveling for a weekend jaunt; auto enthusiasts finally have a place to stay where people truly understand them.

The V8 Hotel is located in Stuttgart, Germany and boasts a four-star quality status for all of its 34 auto-induced rooms. Out of this, there are four single rooms, 19 double rooms, a tower suite and 10 theme-based rooms designed especially for auto geeks. It’s enough to drive any auto enthusiast crazy with excitement. From international cars to classic cars and luxury lines such as the Mercedes, each room is quite the experience for any car lover.

This four-star hotel is comprised of differently themed auto-inspired rooms all contained within the Böblingen’s Meilenwerk, an exclusive car museum on the site of Baden-Wurttemberg’s first airport. Perhaps what’s even cooler, however, is the fact that many of the rooms feature actual vehicles that guests can sleep in! Some of the themed rooms are pictured below:

(V8 Hotel via This Blog is Mine via Daily Mail via Oddity Central)

In the following video, fellow motorcycle enthusiasts challenge themselves to purchase three classic motorcycles for no more than £1500 each (or the equivalent of just over $2,000 in United States currency). To see how their challenge panned out, check out the following video below.

Most people have to drive to work on a daily basis, and on most work days, it is almost inevitable that you will sit in traffic. And while you may have to deal with slow moving traffic for up to an hour or so, imagine being stuck in traffic for NINE HOURS.

According to a recent article published by National Public Radio (NPR), vehicles were brought to a virtual standstill on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway on August 19, 2010, and the traffic stretched for almost 60 miles:

Since August 14, thousands of Beijing-bound trucks have jammed the expressway again, and traffic has stretched for more than 100 kilometers between Beijing and Huai’an in Heibei Province, and Jining in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China…

Think about that little tidbit the next time you are stuck in bottlenecked traffic for a few minutes during your local commute.

According to one Global Times published in late August, the traffic jam is expected to last almost a month as maintenance construction (begun on August 19th) is expected to continue until at least September 13th. Couple this with the fact that the roadways were poorly planned as they are not equipped to handle the massive amount of traffic traveling to and from Beijing.

The article goes on to state:

Traffic congestion and road safety have become major concerns for Chinese motorists. About 400 traffic police officers have been on duty to maintain order and to prevent further accidents. [source]

For the time being, those who are stuck in the traffic delays kill time by playing cards or purchasing overpriced food and beverage items from eager vendors who saunter up and down the stopped traffic. In the end, one thing is probably for sure:

No one is getting to work on time!

(Global Times via NPR)

The point of this action is to prove just how solid of a vehicle the VW Beetle is. It is only because of the quality of the VW Beetle that it is able to float above the water for an extended period of time without sinking (although it is not going to float forever!).

Check out the following video in order to see the classic VW Beetle in action. It’s interesting to note just how much has changed about this vehicle over the years!

According to the article, published on Automotive News,

VW will introduce either the Up city-car or the Golf compact, its best-selling model, as an all-electric vehicle in the U.S. by 2013. Before that, the automaker plans to sell a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Touareg sport-utility vehicle later this year, followed by a Jetta hybrid in 2011.

Volkswagen’s goal is to surpass Toyota Motor Corporation, which is currently the world’s largest auto manufacturer. Given Toyota’s recent woes and a deadline of 2018, Volkswagen just might pull it off. We’ll have to wait and see.

(Via: Automotive News)

If you’re already familiar with the Cadillac line of vehicles, then you immediately recognize the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe as being one of the most aggressive-looking designs that Cadillac has put forth, and it doesn’t disappoint. With a flat, planed body design, it definitely appears as though this coupe was built for speed and handling on the roadways.

But how does it actually measure up? It is a harsh ride with a lot of bumpiness, rear visibility is not that great and there is very little leg room in the back seats. Another issue is the trunk space. However, the coupe is equipped with a 306 horsepower 6 speed automatic and has been clocked on the track going from zero to 60 miles per hour in approximately 6.7 seconds.

Check out the video below for more details on this vehicle.

Click to Enlarge

When traveling outside of the United States or to a foreign country, it is important to remember to pack smart and keep the following food and water tips in mind:

Avoid stomach problems

For most of us, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. However, when traveling, try to eat smaller, more reasonably-sized portions. If you know that you have sensitivities to certain foods such as spicy or fried foods, avoid them. Also, be wary of water when traveling. Avoid local tap water, and don’t forget that this includes ice cubes as well as when you brush your teeth!

Collapsible Cups

You don’t have to be a complete germaphobe to pack a collapsible cup to take with you on trips. These cups come in handy whenever you need to share a bottled beverage with someone else or if you simply don’t trust the washing job on the glassware at the local restaurants.

Food Allergies

If you have severe or even moderate food allergies, jot these down on a piece of paper and bring it with you when you travel, this way proper care can be given to you in the event of an emergency.

Invest in a Water Purifier

Depending on where you are traveling as well as how long you plan to stay away, these can come in handy and may save you a lot of grief (and sickness) in the long run.

(Via: Magellan’s)

The photos were taken when the newly restored Art-Deco bike was revealed at the Rhinebeck Grand National Meet in New York. As it turns out, the bike is powered by an inline 4-cylinder engine. The guy responsible for so meticulously restoring this piece of history, Frank Westfall, obviously cares a great deal about this particular motorcycle. And for that, the rest of us are incredibly grateful.

(KnuckleBuster via Wired)