Vauxhall’s little Corsa started life way back in 1983. Back then it was known as the Nova in the UK and was a replacement for the ageing Vauxhall Chevette. I remember the Chevette well as my friend’s Mum owned one and we persuaded her to let us borrow it the day after my friend passed his driving test on the fourth attempt (you could tell he was a natural behind the wheel). The car was a pretty revolting shade of purple and showed a few battle sCars as my friend’s Mum wasn’t exactly an expert driver either. What a historic moment this was as we could now roam free wihout having to display learner plates. We were then ready to hit the streets with our puny cassette radio blaring. What we did manage to hit within about ten minutes was a car full of rather large Rastafarian gentlemen who were none too pleased with the damage that we had caused to their bright orange Fiat Super Mirafiori. It took a considerable amount of diplomacy to resolve the situation but luckily we managed to escape with our dignity, and our front teeth intact. A few years later I got a job with a company that had a Vauxhall Nova “Club” as a pool car and I must admit I did not enjoy driving that thing around at all. It was not actually so bad to drive but the car was white with yellow trim and had a yellow and white checked interior that made you feel like you were driving a deck chair. This was finished off with some tasteful white windscreen wipers. It was truly hideous and I was glad the day when somebody stole it and set it on fire which was a very popular past time back in the late eighties. I’m not sure who left the keys in it making it easier to steal though. I’m sure it couldn’t have been me. Vauxhall dropped the Nova name in 1993 and adopted the Corsa title as everyone was getting confused, as indeed they always have been between Vauxhall and Opel names over the years. The more rounder Corsa B model was quite a departure from the previous squarer Nova but proved to be just as popular although the A model British Nova still has a loyal following although they are becoming rare these days. The Tigra was a model that was also launched, although based on the Corsa B sales were poor. The new millennium heralded the appearance of the Corsa C model which was a more technologically advanced version of what had gone before. General Motors who are Vauxhall's parent company named the new chassis "Gamma." This was intended to be a base that could be utilised for a number of other models.This system has been adopted across the industry. “Ecotec” engines were carried over from the previous model due to their proven reliability although a few alterations were made in particular to the old DI diesel engine which made way for the improved CDTI version. The Corsa C was a huge success in the UK consistently selling in large numbers and achieved best selling car status as well as best sales in its class of “Supermini” throughout the early part of the decade. As a result of this success Vauxhall even resurrected the Tigra again in 2004 although it is now known as the “Twin Top”. 2006 saw the arrival of the Corsa D which has a new Gamma platform that was co-developed with Fiat and also features on the Grande Punto. The latest Corsa looks and feels like a bigger car and is more refined than its predecessors. Sales have been good to date with the Corsa still ranking in the top five of best selling small Cars. A clever option on the Corsa is the “Flexfix” integrated bike rack which can be pulled out from the car’s rear bumper and incorporates the number plate together with the lights; which are often obscured by traditional bike carriers.
Archive for December, 2008
Looking to ditch that gas-guzzling SUV and find an economical scooter? You’re going to return home with a scooter that will do little more than collect dust in your garage unless you follow some quick guidelines.
Power
Motor scooters might come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from small-engined “knock abouts” to large motorcycle replacements. Consider your needs and where you’ll be using the scooter. If it’s only for recreational rides, there are any number of small, cheap scooters that would serve you just fine. Perhaps a 125 or 150 would be the largest to consider.
Fit
Many purchasers choose a style, rather than purchasing a fit. This is the surest way to ensure a wasted investment. Fit becomes increasingly important as mileage increases and is one of the primary determinants of safety, so don’t brush it aside!
Ensure that your hands are in a good, comfortable position when riding, and that the controls, brakes, and clutch are all within easy reach. And don’t forget to check the seat. While soft seats seem to be more comfortable at first, they usually result in soreness faster than firmer seats.
Style
Check out various models online before you head into a showroom where buying pressure will often result in you leaving with something you would not have purchased without pressure. There are plenty of new, sleek models, but you’ll also find a wide variety of retro models out there.
Price
Like Cars, motor scooters lose their value immediately upon leaving the lot. Exacerbating this situation is that scooters generally don’t receive the same level of yearly mileage as Cars or even motorcycles, so the immediate depreciation is a harder hit. In a year, you could see a 30 percent or more decrease in resale value for a scooter that has barely been used.
For this reason, be sure to look at more than just local dealers. There are several good resellers online who will provide you with a good selection at good prices. And you can find these motors scooters without putting up with pushy salesmen!
So remember, before you got to your local dealership and pick up that flashy new model, be sure that you’re clear on how you intend to use your new scooter, and then consider the power, style, fit, and price.
Want to buy a used car from the internet, but don't know where to start? The Internet is a big place, and has numerous resources for used car buyers, but you need to know where to look to find the best deals.
Firstly, it is easy to find used car listing on the website for your hometown paper. These are nice, because they are all typically sellers in your local area which makes it easy to stop by and take a test drive, which is critical for getting the best possible deal on a used car.
Stepping out a little more, you can check online classifieds sites, such as Craigslist, which will expose you to a broad range of sellers, many of whom will be near you, though not to quite the same extent as a news paper might. These sites can be gold mines, though, so be sure to give them a look.
If you’re looking to broaden your scope further, try sites like eBay Motors, which brings sellers from all over the country into one convenient location. These listings are both auction format and fixed price, so you have multiple buying options. These sellers will be located all over the country, but you can search for listings that are in your area. To make things better, you can also prevent scams by using eBay's basic buyer protection. Definitely worth checking into.
If you’re looking at a very specific model of used car, try search on car enthusiast forums. For example, if you want to buy a late '80s Nissan Z car, then visit some Z car forums to find sellers. Buying from these sorts of sellers can be great, because they are often very knowledgeable and passionate about the cars. You will be able to get a really good idea as to the condition of the car if you go with a seller like this.
There are many other places to find used cars online. You can find used car listings on a wide variety of websites. However, the places I’ve listed above have the highest amount of listings, and are thus the most “bang for your buck” locations for buying a used car online.
As always, be careful when shopping online. Don’t throw away your common sense, and make sure that you’re getting a good car at a fair price. If you do your research, check multiple sources for pricing, and check the car over thoroughly for buying, you can certainly buy used cars online and get great deals for it.
Hydrogen powered car. Doesn’t it sound too good to be true?
But it’s a fact that today this technology has seen a lot of improvement and has contributed to the invention of HHO generators that allows your car to run on water. These generators are not only used to make your vehicle move but they are also a significant factor in helping to lower the cost of operating your vehicle.
Understanding the principle on which this idea is based is the first step. We know that water is made of oxygen and hydrogen. The HHO or the Hybrid Hydrogen Oxygen generators work on the technology of using this hydrogen and oxygen.
The electricity from the battery of the car is obtained and then it is burned to produce a gas that is known as HHO. This gas is responsible for the energy required to cause motion in a vehicle through a process known as combustion.
It follows a simple concept; to remove the hydrogen from the water, which leaves the oxygen behind, oxygen that is required for combustion, thus making it possible to generate energy that would drive a vehicle.
This idea is not a new one. It was actually developed many years ago but was not given much importance then. This idea has gained more popularity, especially these days, with the continuous increase in fuel prices. Though some people still don’t believe that its possible to use water as an alternate fuel, but there are many who have been using it for some time now and are very happy with the results.
This technology is relatively cheap, affordable and contributes significantly to the accelerated mileage of a motor vehicle.
When you think about making an effectively operational HHO generator, it sounds like a complex task. You feel that experts and technicians with experience only can do it. But the fact is that it is not as difficult as it sounds.
It is better to learn how to build a HHO generator rather than going for the ready made ones. The ready made generators are not only hard to find but even if they are found, you will pay a huge amount for them.
Then, as well as, spending an exorbitant amount on it, you will also need professional help to get it installed. That means spending more and more money. It would therefore be advisable to build an engine on your own and install it too.
But before doing that, you should consult the various well reputed water fuel conversion guides that are posted on the Internet. The whole procedure is explained in an easy to understand, step-by-step approach. You can even get all your doubts cleared from them.
They definitely will help you save a lot of money that you would have otherwise spent on buying a ready made HHO generator and the cost of installation.
This technology is slowly gaining acceptance and popularity, as besides its affordability factor, it is also safe and reliable. The use of a HHO generator also increases gas mileage of the vehicle considerably, depending on the type and make of the vehicle.
It also causes less pollution when compared to other fuels.
You have to try it to believe it!
Shopping online for extended warranty coverage isn’t as easy as shopping for, say, an MP3 player or even the car itself. Generally, when we’re looking for consumer goods on the web, we consult a trusted nonprofit publication like Consumer Reports; however, when it comes to extended warranty coverage for autos, Consumer Reports issued a report that they’re ALL a lousy deal! It’s easy for them to say, but some people aren’t that great at saving huge chunks of money or who worry incessantly “What will I do if I have a breakdown?” For these folks, finding a warranty company is critical for peace of mind. Even without Consumer Reports, there are many sites offering a free online warranty quote, in exchange for a little information, of course.
When you’re dealing with a warranty company online, there are a few things to look for. Be sure they’re BBB approved and that you can find their address or executive names somewhere on the site. Check to see if the warranty company is backed by an insurer or financial backer, which will guarantee that you’ll be covered even if the company suddenly goes belly up. You can then cross-check the financial backer with the AM Best website to see how reliable they are. Your State Insurance Commission can also tell you if any complaints have been filed with the company. Your warranty quote should deliver a clear, comprehensive detailing of what you will get for your money. If they can’t provide you with the level of detail you need or if they seem vague, then look elsewhere.
If you’re planning to keep your car for a long time, then getting a warranty quote or two is probably a good idea. Keep in mind that your car will be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty automatically for the first few years. Some manufacturers are extending their traditional 3 year/36,000 miles warranties to 5 year/100,000 miles extended warranty coverage. Often, when a manufacturer’s warranty is about to expire, owners will consider trading the car in for a new one. However, this plan isn’t feasible for everyone. Some people prefer to hang onto their Cars until they can’t drive them anymore, sometimes for a duration of at least 10 years.
Are you afraid of searching for a warranty quote because you don’t want to provide personal information or receive spam email? You can check MyCarIsCovered.com for a quick, free quote that only asks for vehicle make/model/mileage/state. Generally, it’s difficult to find free quotes without providing some sort of personal information because the businesses are, first and foremost, sales-oriented. This is how many businesses get juicy leads for solicitation purposes. However, on the bright side, if you’re willing to invest a little extra time, then you can research company websites that have ballpark prices and coverage details to comparison shop. Then you can follow up with the ones that seem legit. A little bit of reading can go a long way towards saving you thousands of dollars!
As gas prices continue their shocking rise, many individuals are searching for a way to save money on gas. When you look for advice on how to save on gas you’ll more than likely be told to keep your car tuned up and schedule routine maintenance. These maintenance tips usually include using the right oil grade in your car, checking the air pressure in your tires and changing the spark plugs to improve gas mileage. These practices can definitely help, but only on a minimal scale. People are searching for a magic bullet so to speak and many are finding it in a hydrogen gas saver.
The hydrogen gas saver will boost your Cars gas mileage and also drop the emissions let out. These little gas savers, known also as a hydrogen generator gas saver, are a fantastic way to fight high gas prices. What this generator does is it makes oxygen and hydrogen gas, otherwise known as HHO. How this works is it utilizes your Cars electrical system, some distilled water and a little bit of baking soda. There are estimates out that say using only one gallon of distilled water can bring about two thousand gallons of fuel for your vehicle.
What most people don't realize is that these great little gas savers can be put together and installed by you. This saves on installation fees by your local mechanic. There are only a few guides out there that show you how to build one of these hydrogen gas savers yourself.What most don't know is that these guides supply you with detailed instructions and also point you in the direction of where to get the parts you need. Upon installation of one of these generators, your Cars fuel efficiency will rival those of current hybrids.
With the hydrogen gas saver installed on your car, it will also help lower your Cars emissions. This will also help your car run more efficiently thus providing up to seventy percent better gas mileage.Just imagine for a second what a 70% boost in your fuel economy could mean for your wallet?Think about it for a second, the money you would be saving on fuel would allow you to either save more money or spend it on what you see fit.
Listen, we all know that gas prices are not going to go down anytime in the near future, if not ever. So if your like many and want to save on gas, purchasing a hydrogen gas saver guide may just be what the doctor ordered. We all know that it is a good idea to keep your car maintained and schedule it for routine maintenance but this will only keep it’s efficiency at factory standards. There is only one way that you can boost the gas mileage and it is done with technology and a little water.
