Green Motorcycles

Recently there was a post in the The-Grayline.com automotive forum stating that motorcycles pollute more than trucks and SUVs.  The thread starter claims that the typical motorcycle will emit 10 times more pollutants compared to a passenver car, light truck, or SUV.  Personally, I find it hard to believe, but is there any truth to the inefficiency of motorcycles.

California has already taken steps to to make sure all motorcycles on the road are meeting or exceeding emission standards.  However, these standards are different than passenger vehicles and may reflect a lower requirement.  In February of 2009 California issued legislature to require maintenance and smog check checks every year for motorcycles.

An argument more fitting to the emissions of motorcycles is, don't we have bigger fish to fry?  I mean, motorcycles are typically driven only a few months out of the year, compared to passenger cars that are driven year round.  So, focusing on such a small percentage of the actual problem shouldn't we work on broader strokes?  Even more to the point, if it's a single person getting from A-B isn't it more efficient to drive a motorcycle than a 4 passenger vehicle?

Toyota has had to ramp up production of their hybrid Prius, especially after the recent launch of the second generation.  According to industry analysts Toyota has already received orders for 80,000 new Prius's, which will require increases in production to 7,000 more units per month.

Contributing factors to the increase in demand would be the new Prius lower price.  No doubt this is in response to the Honda Insight being released to compete in the passenger car hybrid market.  Also, in response to slumping sales in Japan, Toyota has revamped the last generation Prius to help compete with the newer advanced base model.

Hopefully this increase in Prius production is a sign that world economies are starting to turn around.  I'd love to start reading some positive automotive news in the near future.

The Mclaren Mustang was what the SVO was supposed to have been, pure crazy performance from a 4 cylinder and handling capable of hitting the track and laying solid numbers.  However, what we were given was a European inspired, under the thumb performance blunder.  It was an 80's attempt at making a fuel efficient sports car and it failed.

Now don't get me wrong, the SVO Mustang is a great collectors item.  Also, for it's time the performance wasn't that bad, but still wasn't enough to please enthusiasts, especially at $25,000.  But what we should have received was what Mclaren created in 1980, the M81 McLaren Mustang.

There were only 250 McLaren Mustangs built, but of those they were track ready and packed a big punch.  Of those 250, 7 were built by Bob Fehan and Ron Fournier and were created with all steel.  The McLaren Mustang was an F1 frame wrapped in bulging fenders, racing inspired lower skirts, and a functional hood scoop.  Under the hood of the McLaren Mustang was a timid 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine, turbo charged to the tune of 300 horsepower.

What Bob and Ron created was what the US should have received, that was later known as the SVO Mustang.  Imagine where Mustang enthusiasts would be today had the McLaren Mustang been mass produced?

McLaren Mustang

THE 1980 FORD SVO MCLAREN TURBO MUSTANG INFO ARTICLE    US $5.57

Ford GT 40 351 Mustang Ferrari Formula 1 Team McLaren    US $5.99

1980 SVO MCLAREN TURBO MUSTANG SPECS INFO PHOTO 80 79    US $8.55

Hyundai announced today that they are recalling 91,000 Sonata's made in 2002 and 2003.  The recall is a result of an interior door handle manufacturing problem.  Specifically Sonata models equipped with chrome interior door handles.

The recalled handles have a defect where after extended use will begin to crack, causing the chrome plating to separate.  After separation the handle becomes extremely sharp and poses a lasceration risk to the user.  So if you are driving a Sonata manufacturered in the affected years, get your vehicle into the nearest Hyundai dealership to have the handles replaced for free.

All affected Sonata owners will be contacted by certified letter with specific recall information.  Please discuss this recall in our automotive forums.

Comparing an SUV with a Truck many will say is like comparing an apple to an orange. Is a SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) considered a truck? Or better yet is a truck a Sports Utility Vehicle?  To figure that out we need to define what a truck really is. Can the two be separated into two different categories? Like this: a truck has an open back bed and the SUV is a heavier sporty van.

Truck owners will say that a truck is a pickup in which you can carry 4'x8' sheets plus. The SUV owner has this to say: a SUV is a passenger vehicle which can combine the towing capacity and strength of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan meshed with on or off road capability.

With today’s gas prices there are quite a few Trucks and SUVs for sale countrywide. The following are important facts to consider when looking for new or used trucks and SUVs.

Drive/Tranny: Most trucks come with either manual and automatic transmissions as well as two- and four-wheel drive---SUVs also have both transmission options however most SUV’s are 4x4s

Size: Trucks fall into the compact or full-size category, although there are a couple considered mid-size---SUVs come built on either truck or car chassis.

Safety: Most trucks offer such safety equipment as front air-bags and seat-belts for each passenger---SUVs come with the same.

Passenger Capacity: Trucks have 3 body styles. 1) Regular cab has 2 doors and seats 2-3 comfortably. 2) Extended cab mainly adds extra storage space behind the front seats. 3) Full sized Crew cab version can seat 3 additional passengers with 4 doors---SUVs offer full seating in the front for 2 and 3 in the real with 4 side doors.

Versatility of Interior Seating: Most trucks with crew cabs offer the ability to either fold the entire rear seat up or at least one half---most SUVs have fold down seats too or the rear seats can be taken out too.
Towing Ability: This all depends on the size of the truck and its engine---SUVs can also be used for towing, the weight varies with engine size.

Operating Costs: A compact truck is relatively fuel-efficient and fairly cheap to insure however as you add size and cylinders so will the cost of insurance as is the addition of four-wheel drive to any trucks---SUVs are higher to insure them trucks.

Fuel efficiency: This again depends on the engine and body size of the truck—SUVs can be slightly more gas-thirsty, especially if they’re towing.

When buying a used Truck or SUV the only consideration has to be given to the purpose of the vehicle. With other words the construction worker would probably get better use out of a pick-up truck and the SUV would deliver a slightly sportier experience.

I'm scratching my head trying to find out the specific details around the GM Hummer that is reportedly getting 100 mpg.  An article on ConsumerEnergyReport.com indicates that this new hybrid Hummer is the brain child of Raser technologies.  The Hummer is reportedly a plug-in type hybrid designed for daily local travel.  Basically that last part means that the numbers are slightly scued, to the tune of about 70 miles per gallon over statement.

According to information direct from Raser the Hummer is only capable of up to 33 mpg on the high way.  Now, I'm not saying that 100 mpg in the city isn't great, but obviously to arrive at these figures there are limits that must be set and gray areas to interpret.  Does that mean that the Hummer will get infinite miles per gallon if it stays under 30mpg?  I mean, I'm not sure of any city where 30+ is the norm, but they could just as easily be talking about an island city with 15 mph speed zones.

Also reported by Raser is that the engine found in the H3 Hybrid is the strongest electric engine available in a passenger vehicle.  Raser claims teh engine found in the H3 Plug-In is 4 times more powerful than the hybrid engine found in the Toyota Prius.  According to reports it can be recharged at home, obviously from the plug-in name plate, but the cost is $.60 per equivalent gallon of gas.  Again, this information is much better than paying an alternative now $2.50 per gallon of gas, but there is still a cost to driving such a hybrid.  Where do you think most of our electricity at home comes from?  I'm willing to bet it's not wind turbines yet, most likely coal, so saving fossil fuels has still yet to be accomplished.

Pictures of the Raser H3 Plug In Hybrid 100mpg

It becomes pretty obvious that perhaps a vehicle the size of the Hummer is required to fit all the drive train components into the package.  There is some serious weight, size, and limitations of fitting this much technology in any lesser vehicle.  No doubt, nows the time to start buying some Raser stock though.

Bad Economy, Good Deal

A bad economy and slow sales means that it's a buyers market in the automotive market.  Dealerships are in a hurry to push old inventory to make room for the 2010's that will start showing up any minute.  Furthermore, the slumping economy means there are less customers even walking through the door, so they will be more willing to make a deal on the spot.

Let's also look at the threat of dealerships being closed by the manufacturer themselves.  Already in the news there have been reports of General Motors and Chrysler closing dealerships all over the US.  Typically these are smaller volume dealers where their territory is grouped into a larger dealership organization.  When these places are closed down, usually all the receive is a letter in the mail from the manufacturer, and a lot of inventory to unload before they close their doors.

This last example is a sad state of affairs that we are currently faced with.  But it gives buyers a strong opportunity to go out and buy brand new GM and Chrysler vehicles for a fraction of what they would have cost even a few months ago.  A dealership doesn't want to take an even lower cost from a competing dealer buying inventory, so if they can unload on customers, they will.

If you are in the market for a new car, start making some phone calls.  Also, watch the news, find out what dealerships have been notified they are closing, you might just find a deal and a reason to buy new over used.

No longer must winter drivers rely on luxury SUV's to get around, welcome the 2009 Lexus LS460 All Wheel Drive.  According to most reports the new Lexus is fully capable and exceeds at slippery wintery time driving, being able to master even some of the steepest snow covered driveways.

Other benefits of the LS460 AWD will be it's stability on wet roads or any adverse weather for that matter.  And it does so with luxury in mind, with an updated navigation system, over 357 horsepower, and 344 ft lbs of torque.  Style, function, and luxury are bound in a nice Lexus badge.

Pictures of the 2009 Lexus LS460 AWD:

News is rittled with information on dealerships going under every single day.  This isn't just affecting domestic car dealerships either, it's affecting those like Kia, Hyundai, and others.  However, one question that always hung in the back of my mind, is how safe is all the information I give to a dealership anytime I buy a car?  Obviously they have to know everything about you before qualifying you for a loan, so what guarantees of privacy do you have after a dealership closes?

Today I found an article about a Kia dealership in Boulder, Colorado that left bins outside filled to the brim with previous customers information.  We're talking real personal information, like contact info, mother maiden names, social secutiy numbers, etc.  Thankfully, the police showed up and put a lock down on the bins, however it's not known if any information was stolen.

Officers have not yet taken an inventory of the bins, which were “stuffed to the top,” and do not know how many people might have been affected, Huntley said.

Unfortunately police have not been in contact with the defunct dealerships owners.  Local residents and previous customers are calling out for prosecution for not properly disposing of private information.  It's like coming home to a robber, your belongings are just left out in the open.

“We felt very violated, disrespected and angered,” Nate Snyder said. “They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Boulder Kia Dumps Personal Information - Source

Let's look at the difference between UK and US based car insurance policies.  I'm looking at the giant elephant in the room when I note that either we are paying in dollars or lbs.  When looking for a car insurance policy over seas, keep the exchange rate in mind, because it could make a big difference in your monthly premium.  But let's find out a way to see what UK car insurance companies have to offer.

Car insurance in the UK is much like the insurance market in the US, right now it's a buyers market.  Insurance companies are trying to come up with ways to win new customers and keep existing ones.  Two the top car insurance companies in the UK right now, Direct Line and HSBC, both are offering some great incentives.

Direct Line car insurance promises protection in case you get in an accident with an uninsured motorist.  This promise means that the accident will not affect your no claims discount.  HSBC's standard policies seem to be growing, where items of an insurance policy that used to be options are now standard.  Take for example, New Car Replacement and options to protect your no claims discount.

Although there are some differences in car insurance policy requirements from the US and UK, there is one huge similarity.  Any driver, in either country, are required by law to carry car insurance.  This isn't a suggestion, it's the law, where if broken can mean you lose your license or risk having your car impounded.  Furthermore, driving without insurance could have devastating consequences for your financial future.  For more imformation on what insurance in the UK is all about, please read the UK Insurance Overview.