I've yet to see one flying car, but that doesn't mean advancements in the automotive industry can still have the flavor of science fiction.  For example, today Ford announced that they will be releasing 2 different models of Lincoln's that are capable of parking themselves.  The target audience for the Lincoln model cars will no doubt appreciate the ability of a self parking vehicle, saving scratches and the lives of small animals everywhere.

The self parking mechanism and technology being developed by Ford will focus on parrallel parking.  This leap in auto technology will be featured of the Lincoln model MKS Sedan and MKT crossover.  This new advancement will be demod at the North American International Auto Show, for a sneak peak of what 2009 will bring, check out the Ford booth.

In other auto show news, Ford plans on debuting their hybrid Ford Fusion, which is capable of producing 41 miles per gallon.  Yes, 41, which is exactly 8 more mpg than the nearest competitor Toyota Camry hybrid.  Domestic vehicles will be stepping up their focus on technology and economy for 09, showing the foreign group that they still have some tricks up their sleeves, at least Ford does.

BMW announced yesterday that there will be a price incrase on their 750i and 750li model cars.  From 08 to 09 there will be a $3,500 price in crease on their 750i and $4,300 price increase on their 750li models.  In a time when most auto manufacturers are posting lost sales and driving prices down, BMW says they saw a 15.3 percent increase in sales since 07, confident their increase won't hurt sales.

It's not surprising that luxury vehicles will be going up in price, since their sales are not nearly effected as much as standard vehicles.  Standard vehicles being bought and sold by common Americans start feeling the pinch anytime the economy takes a dip, but luxury vehicles have a history of remaining unchanged during tough times.  One of the oldest examples of constant sales in automobiles is of the Chevy Corvette.  Even during tough times in US history, Corvette sales remained unchanged.  A different class of people buying a different class of cars...the minority.

Meanwhile in the real world, I'll keep my 97 F150 chugging along.

Looking to turn up the heat in Detroit, Audi plans to debut their latest A7 4 Door Coupe.  This initial concept by Audi plans to look sleek and fast, but with 4 door appeal.  The A7 has high hopes of increasing the manufacturers sales figures, specifically up to 1.5 million by 2015.  According to Audi they hope to sell close to 40,000 A7's per year once released, although a specific date has yet to be made.

Audi A7

Audi A7

Expect to see a lot more of the Audi A7 in the upcoming months.  Specifically the A7 will be debuted at the North American International Auto Show.

Going into 09 the US is attempting to pull itself through a recession, but every gray cloud has a silver lining, hence The Grayline.  The grayline amongst auto enthusiasts is the drastic drop in prices for new and used cars, especially those that are a little harder on the gas mileage.  Specifically Ford Mustangs are dropping in price and the upcoming models like the 09 adn 2010 models are dirt cheap compared to previous years.

Demand for 09 Mustangs is significantly down, but it's hard to point the finger at one specific factor.  Gas prices may be a leading cause, but lately those prices have plummeted as well.  Mustangs are considered a luxury item, after all Mustangs are the best thing to go get groceries in, nor can they hall a load of kids to soccer practice.  So the price of an 09 Mustang plummets and the enthusiasts, with a little extra dough, get to reap the benefits.

09 Mustang

I'm always on the look out for a deal, specifically online where the market place for Mustangs is much larger than my podunk local lot.  The really good deals I've found are coming off of eBay, where they regularly offer low priced entry fee auctions.  This means that somebody looking to unload a cheap car can do so, well cheaply.  The initial listing fee was completely dropped a few months ago in eBay motors, flooding the marketplace.

What may not mean good news for sellers is great news for buyers.  Currently looking at eBay there are over 25 listings of 09 Mustangs for under $1500.  Now, this doesn't mean there is not a reserve, but obviously the demand is low and it's still possible to snag a deal.  I've had experience where even though the reserve has not been met, the auction ends and then the seller contacts the buyer with a second offer.  Generally this second offer is below the initial reserve, allowing the seller to cut their losses and get out from under the access inventory.

Moral of the story, keep your eyes peeled because 09 is going to be the year of  Mustang Deals.

Projector Headlights F150

Safety equipment becomes a major concern for car buyers as they become older, wiser, and add a little mini-me to the family.  I know my taste in vehicles changed abruptly when I had my first child and the questions I ask when buying a new vehicle changed too.  My focus changed to safety and what a certain car offers as protection for my now growing family.  A safety feature on newer cars are projector headlights, something older cars may not have, but can be installed easily.

As an upgrade to my older pickup truck I decided to buy projector headlights, mainly for safety reasons.  The old tarnished and sand burnt headlights just weren't getting the job done, especially when adverse weather came into play.  Where I live it's not too noticable, even at night because I rely on city lighting to lead my way, but whenever I leave town at night it becomes a concern.  That's why I turned to installing projector headlights, the difference adds a new level of confidence in night time driving.

The younger crowd, or just those enthusiasts focused on the looks of their vehicle, may be more interested in the way the headlights look.  Projector headlights are unique to traditional 'bulb' style headlights in that they have a European look.  A typical projector headlight will feature a black background with a series of small circular lights in the middle.  The designs available differ depending on the vehicle model you are replacing the head lights on.  Personally, I went with something a little less flashy and more down to business, just to get the job done.

Because there are a number of different styles available, prices can vary greatly.  As an example, when buying the projector headlights for my 97 F150, I found prices ranging from as little as $130 up to $200.  That being said I still can stress enough how big of a difference it makes and how much more safe I feel driving my little girl around at night.
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Buying the right tire is much more involved than spending a few hours in line at Wal-mart only to have some snot nosed kid throw some cheapies on the rim.  Often times, for real enthusiasts, purchasing the right tire may be just as important decision as what type of rim to buy.  Factors involved with the purchase of tires range from use, to durability, life, and of course if they will look appealing on your vehicle.

When buying 4x4 tires the decision to purchase the right tires can be even more difficult.  4x4 tires can be a lot more expensive than your typical set of radials, typically durability and thread design has a bigger impact on the final value price.  Furthermore there are a lot of reputable brands to review and make sure they will fit your 4x4 needs.  For example a 4x4 tire for a real off roader looking to throw mud will buy a different tire than the soccer mom looking to outfir tires on their Lexus 4x4.

Xterrain is a 4x4 tire manufacturer that has a great reputation amongst the true off-road crowd.  Their ProComp series of 4x4 tires are used in competitions and are affordable enough to outfit any hobby truck or suv.  If you are new to 4x4 tire purchasing then it's important to realize that while you may not recognize the name, Xterrain is made by the Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.  It's typical of big name manufacturers to produce a 4x4 tire under a different name, so as you research your tires, expect to see some big names hiding behind popular 4x4 'extreme' titles.

It is no secret for car buyers that right now, some of the best vehicles are not made by American companies.  In fact, Honda and Toyota, and perhaps even Hyundai makes some of the best vehicles that the average consumer can buy.  They last much longer than their American counterparts, they hold their value well, and are very enjoyable to drive.  It is no small wonder that Toyota is now the biggest car company in the world.

It's also no secret that car companies in America are really struggling.  And this could mean the loss of many millions of jobs if something isn't done about it.  So I pose this question to you, would you buy American automobiles to save American jobs?

Personally, I don't think I would. That sounds harsh, but let me explain.  Many foreign vehicles are actually made America.  Did you know that? Down in the south, far from Detroit companies such as Toyota, build trucks and cars using American workers and American plants. So, is buying a foreign car actually destroying American jobs? Yes and no.

American jobs will be lost more because of poor management more so than from poor worker quality.  Of course, part of the blame does fall on the American auto workers union's for being greedy all of these years, constantly wanting to get paid more even if they are producing less.  The whole industry is very shortsighted and is now reaping the rewards of their shortsightedness.

If you really want to help the American car companies, buy the best car that fits your needs the best and don't worry about what company is.  If you buy a high-quality vehicle that shows the other companies that they are going to have to produce high-quality vehicle to get your business.  That is a lesson that every company needs to learn to succeed. If you really want to help the car companies and save American jobs in the long run, you should buy the best vehicle in your budget.

Right now is quite possibly the worst time in the history of car buying to buy a new vehicle. I'm not even kidding.  The car companies could fail, the banks don't want to loan money, and to be honest with the recession economy being what it is it is hard to say whether you even have your job a year from now. So, if you're thinking about buying a new car, don't. It is a terrible idea.

Of course, buying a new car is almost always a terrible idea.  The only thing you get with the new car is an overpriced warranty, a sleazy salesman, and the new car smell. Oh wait, you also get saddled with thousands of dollars of extra car payments that you shouldn't have to pay.  Compared to buying a used car, a new car is the scam of the century.

Once you drive a new car off the lot.  Its value drops by thousands of dollars.  In the first two or three years, the value can drop anywhere from 25 to 50%.  Yet, if you have a five-year loan, after two years your vehicle is likely to be worth less than what you owe. Not only that, but you are likely to be stuck with the vehicle because of it.  For that much longer. After 5 years, a used car doesn't lose its value as fast, so you don't get hit with the same depreciation penalty that you get with a new vehicle.

One time I actually sat down and ran the numbers, and I quickly realized that the difference between buying a new vehicle, or even a one-year-old vehicle to buying a three or four-year-old vehicle is staggering.  If you were to compare a five-year-old sedan for $7,000 and a new sedan for $15, 000, you'll find that over the life of the vehicle, say over the five years you own it, you're likely to pay well over $15,000 more for the newer vehicle.

Actually, if you were to hold onto the vehicles for 10 years, it gets even worse. the amount of interest you pay on a new vehicle is so much higher, that in 10 years, you could buy a used vehicle, drive it for a few years, pay off the loan and get another one, and still end up paying less than the purchase price of the new vehicle. What a deal right? That doesn't even figure in the extra cost of interest on the new vehicle.

Don't be a fool, by used and save yourself thousands of dollars.  Also, I'm pretty sure new car smell rots the brain anyways, so you're not missing out.

Lincoln Town Car 1992 Lincoln Town Car Used Sedan MS    US $189.50

Plymouth Cranbrook Blue Used 4dr sedan    US $569.59

Nissan Maxima SE 2003 Nissan Maxima White Sedan 4 door used    US $8,750.00

Every town has that one police car that has to show off how some sort of customization.  Generally these cars are only used for PR reasons, usually DARE related to help intimidate those underage looking to start doing drugs or alcohol.  But for whatever reason they capture the attention of anyone looking upon them, in amazement, and possibly defiance.

Yeah, I think I could outrun one of these police cars.

It's great when you have a car enthusiast that's also a police officer, because it would mean it's not just adding police car lights to the roof.  Hopefully, like some of these police cars, the customizer has taken the time to supe up the engine, add a little boost, and make for a very intimidating law enforcement tool.

Muscle Cars are fast performance cars manufactured for the most part in Detroit, Michigan from 1964 through 1975. Muscle car manufacturers placed substantial V8 engines in mid-sized vehicles, giving them lofty levels of performance and setting off a strong rivalry between the manufacturers to produce the most powerful and quickest muscle cars on sale throughout those times.

Although auto makers had occasionally experimented with placing the performance based V-8 engines in a lighter mid-size platforms, and full-size cars such as the Ford Galaxie and Chevrolet Impala had high-performance models, Pontiac received most of the credit for starting the muscle car era with its Pontiac GTO. Started by Pontiac a, the GTO was far more trendy than anticipated, and inspired many imitations and an  advance towards performance, both in the true muscle car class of intermediate vehicles as well as smaller muscle cars like the Ford Mustang, Plymouth Barracuda and AMC AMX, and more luxurious and pricey cars such as the Buick Riviera.

However, a large part of the demand behind muscle cars was that they were mostly reasonably priced models that young drivers could manage to pay for and use them for drag racing. For example, Chevy placed an exceptionally large 396 cubic inch engine in its small Nova body. This would be equivalent to taking Chevrolet Cobalt and putting a  Corvette Z06 engine in it. Mopar also had several low-cost models, such as the Super Bee and Roadrunner.

Between 1964 and 1971, the Detroit corporations were in a competition for the bragging rights to the highest horsepower engine and offer the fastest muscle cars for sale. Horsepower numbers generally hit their peak in 1970, with the Chevelle SS 454 from that year is usually considered to have had the highest output, producing 450 horsepower. By 1971, most muscle cars began to fall out of support with Pontiac's Trans-AM model being the only lingering one by 1975.

While they were fast cars in a straight line, most had poor performing brakes, suspensions and tires which were inadequate to handle the acceleration and speeds the engines made possible. These factors have mostly been addressed by after-market suppliers.

Nash METROPOLITAN PROJECT CAR RAT ROD DRAGSTER RESTORATION MUSCLE    US $10.00

Chevrolet Chevelle Chevelle A 1966 Chevy Chevelle hotrod hardtop muscle car    US $21,000.00

Ford Maverick 1972 Ford Maverick MUSCLE CAR Good Easy Project    US $415.00

Plymouth Duster 72 Plymouth Duster Demon Muscle Car MOPAR NO RESERVE    US $1,399.00

Chevrolet Chevelle 1968 chevelle bbc 427 300 deluxe sport coupe muscle car    US $12,000.00