



By N2H

Choosing Between a Coupe and Sedan

One of the vexing questions for many car buyers is what type of style vehicle should one buy. Today, for many people looking to buy typical passenger vehicles, you usually have a choice between a coupe (2 door) and a sedan (4 door). While in years past, there were big differences between the two, today both car styles are popular and many manufacturers offer a choice of either coupe or sedan. There are obvious benefits and downsides to each. Here are just a few tips on choosing the best type of vehicle for your needs.

Honda Accord - Coupe vs Sedan

The Benefits and Downsides of Both Coupes and Sedans
Owning either a coupe or a sedan has both its benefits and downsides. For instance, a coupe is usually more sporty in styling. A coupe is generally made for drivers that use their vehicles to commute or for pleasure. Generally not made for the family, a coupe dedicates more space and functionality to the driver. Finally a coupe is usually more affordable new and retains more of its value when sold later on. Sedans on the other hand are specifically made to carry more than just the regular one or two individuals. Having four doors does reduce sportiness in styling, however most newer sedans look great. Sedans make it convenient for passengers to enter and exit the vehicle and many sedans offer specific amenities for passengers such as LCD screens on the back headrests, additional cup holders and separate climate control.

Which One to Choose
Choosing between a sedan and coupe is really a personal preference. If you have a family, definitely opt for the coupe. However if your single or don’t necessarily drive others around a coupe can be a great choice. While the styling might be different generally speaking most manufacturers usually put the same engine and powertrain into either a coupe or sedan.

Tags: Car Reviews, General

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2009 Mercedes/McLaren SLR Stirling Moss

The SLR has had a fine run and Mercedes is extremely proud of the media and car enthusiast’s attention towards their SLR vehicles. These sports cars are some of the best that have ever been built and they have definitely pushed Mercedes Benz back to their drawing boards to reengineer and create incredible achievements. So, to commemorate the final run of their SLR exotic sports cars, Mercedes has found a way to really put the cherry on top of the sundae- the Mercedes Benz/McLaren SLR Stirling Moss.

These incredibly beautiful vehicles will unfortunately only be offered in Europe and a total of only 75 vehicles will be produced. The body of this SLR is incredibly beautiful with wonderful swooping lines, no windows and no roof. However, what you do get is plenty of power, performance and a definite wow factor. The car is named after race car driver Stirling Moss who won a wide variety of races using the 300 SLR in 1955.

Under the hood you will find a supercharged V8. This V8 is incredibly strong and offers 650 hp. What this power translates to the road is sheer acceleration. For instance, the SLR Stirling Moss can accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than 3.5 seconds. This is faster than most exotics and in the range of cheetah territory. Since this vehicle will only be available in Europe, drivers will surely enjoy the autobahn and this vehicle’s whopping 217 mph top speed. Again, it should be emphasized that this vehicle will be made in very small numbers- 75 total and Mercedes has made it known that only their most loyal customers will even be considered. However, for those wondering the price tag of this beauty- its one million plus.

Tags: Car Reviews, McLaren, Mercedes

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2010 Lexus HS250h

Since Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand division, there has always been talk of upgrading the style and luxury of the hybrid Toyota Prius for the Lexus buyers. Well, the 2010 Lexus HS250h is probably the closest thing you will see to this idea being realized. The HS250h is a fine looking automobile that offers a more formal sedan body instead of the usual 5 door hatch back that the Prius is known for. In addition, the HS250h is well sized for a Lexus hybrid- right in between the IS and ES models. In fact, the HS250h is built on the same platform of the Prius, but is definitely higher in its shape. In the same tradition, the HS250h offers fine aerodynamics with one of the best drag coefficients around.

Under the Hood of the HS250h
While there is plenty of technology under the hoods, since this model is still being worked out, plenty of its final numbers haven’t been stated directly to the press. However, you will find a very capable engine that delivers a total of 180 horsepower- which is surely enough to power the vehicle on the highway entrance ramps and around town. The interior is finely done with plenty of touches to accent the “green” nature of the vehicle. And for the most important number- the fuel economy, you can rest assured that the HS250h will please the many that are looking for an upscale Prius. While final numbers aren’t in yet, the Lexus HS250h is expected to have a fuel economy of about 30 percent more than a traditional Lexus of this size. Again, price details haven’t been offered as well, but expect it to be a very small premium above what the normal cars in this class cost. However, once the info does become available, we will keep you updated.

Tags: Car Reviews, Lexus

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The Evolution Of The Toyota Camry

When it comes to looking at the most popular cars made and sold today, few companies can compete with Toyota. This is especially true when speaking of economical cars. Toyota has long been known as one of the best economy car makers in the world. Of all the cars that Toyota manufactures, the most popular by far is the Toyota Camry. Through the years there have been a number of changes to the Toyota Camry. What started out as a pure economy car has evolved into one of the nicer affordable semi luxury cars on the market.

The evolution of the Toyota Camry

For a brief time, the car that would become the Toyota Camry would be known as the Celica Camry. This vehicle was launched in 1980 and was primarily made available only in Japan. The car was a combination of elements of the Toyota Celica as well as the Toyota Carina, and was a rear wheel drive automobile. It wasn’t until 1982 that the Camry emerged as its own independent line of automobile. The car was made available in four door and five door hatchback versions and kept with the box type design of the early 1980s. The Camry was available from the start with either a five speed manual transmission or a four speed automatic and both models were front wheel drive.

In 1986, the Camry was retooled and the second generation of the model was released. This time around the line included a station wagon as an option and the hatchback model had been dropped from availability. 1987 saw Toyota manufacture the first Camry outside of Japan when production began in Australia. By 1988 a fuel injected V-6 engine was added to the long list of options and the car still qualified as a compact. Production of the Camry began at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant in 1988, where including the base model, the DX, and the LE, three different versions were manufactured. 1989 would see the 1.8 litre engine dropped from the line to be replaced by a carburetted 2.0 litre engine. These late 1980s models manufactured in the United States remain popular to this day.

While Toyota had updated the Camry in Japan in 1990, the main design wasn’t changed on the United States models much until the release of the third generation models in 1992. These new models consisted mostly of body styling changes including larger grilles. For a short time, Toyota began producing two door coupe versions of the Camry as a direct way of competing with Honda’s Accord Coupe. These two door versions were phased out by 1997 only to be reintroduced as the Camry Solara in 1999.

The fourth generation Camry was again primarily a Japan-only release for Toyota, with most major changes to the model waiting until the fifth generation Toyota Camry saw the Japanese and export versions of the car come in line with each other in 1996. These 1997 model Toyota Camrys saw a huge bump in popularity with Camry going on to become the number one selling automobile in the United States for nine of the next ten years. The year 2000 would see the Camry get some major body retooling, but other than that it remained largely the same. 2001 would see the Camry receive an increase in power, eventually including an option for a 3.0 V-6 engine.

As popular as the Toyota Camry had become, there were no major upgrades until 2002 saw the release of the sixth generation of the car. The Camry’s body was completely redone this time around as a larger sedan, owing much of the look to the Solara model that had begun to separate from the Camry line just a few years before. It was at this time that Toyota dropped the Camry station wagon from production, replacing that model with both the Sienna minivan and the Highlander sport utility vehicle. The sixth generation Camry was noticeably taller and longer than its previous versions. The length was however deceptive though because the front of the car appeared to relatively shorter while the riding area of the vehicle was enlarged. 2004 and 2005 saw exterior upgrades like a new grille, new headlight and taillight design, and bumper redesign. Interior upgrades saw things like storage areas in the doors, new gauges, and steering wheel mounted stereo controls.

Toyota would once again redo the Camry when it released its seventh generation in 2007. The highlight of the 2007 Camry would be the availability of a true hybrid version alongside the standard engine models. The wheelbase was lengthened for this version of the Camry and the trunk space was decreased by a bit. Buyers now had a choice of ordering their Camry with either a four or six cylinder engine. The four cylinder engine was available with either a five speed manual or five speed automatic transmission, while the V-6 came with a six speed automatic transmission only. This seventh generation Camry also came straight out of the factory with full airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, ABS, and Brake Assist. All of these additions significantly boosted the Camry’s ratings in crash testing experiments.

The continual upgrading that the Camry has undergone through the years has only enhanced the popularity of the vehicle. Though consistently changing the vehicle, Toyota has always kept its eye on the customer that the model is aimed at. The Camry has proven to be the ultimate economical and family car. The recent models carry with them a decent amount of luxury for the price they are offered with and customers who buy the Camry have apparently been appreciative of this based on how well the Camry has sold. There is nothing in the future that appears to be able to slow down the popularity, and model sales, of the Toyota Camry.

Tags: Car Reviews, Toyota

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Five Best Cars For Teenagers

Many people buy a variety of automobiles for a number of different reasons. Year round vacationers may be in need of a roomy vehicle, regular commuters may place their highest priorities on gas mileage, and a retired couple may seek first and foremost to acquire a car that will last for a number of years. When it is time to outfit a teenager with a car, there are a whole list of things to keep in mind. It isn’t the highest priority, but teenagers are usually going to be more satisfied with a sportier looking vehicle instead of a car that looks like something that could be a family vehicle. One of the biggest things to be considered when looking at providing a teenager with a vehicle is the safety level that the car possesses. Balancing an important issue like safety with a more superficial issue like the looks of the car is a delicate act when it comes to advising a teenager on the purchase of a car.

Here is a look at the five best cars for teenagers:

Ford Focus - One of the most affordable economy cars on the road today is the Ford Focus. It is not only economical to purchase, but it is also economical to drive and to have maintenance performed on. The popular SYNC system that can be included with the Ford Focus is one of the bigger draws to the cars for young people as it makes it possible to have many of the drivers’ electronic gadgets integrated with the vehicle including iPods and cell phones. Both the two door and the four door models are popular with young drivers and others alike, but the Focus has a solid enough grasp on the modern sporty look that teenagers choose it regularly as their new car of choice.
Honda Fit - Safety was a big concern with the designers who came up with the Honda Fit and it certainly paid off well. From the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system to the six air bags installed inside, there are few more secure feelings than driving the Honda Fit down the road. There are a number of top of the line options that can be added to the Honda Fit as well including a built in navigational system, electronic stability control, and much more. The car has a distinctive look that makes it popular with young people, and it is built strong enough so that it will survive a serious traffic accident in relatively good shape.
Pontiac Vibe - While the Pontiac Vibe has been made and marketed for people from all age brackets, it has a great appeal towards younger drivers. Like most newer economy cars, the Vibe has very good ratings in terms of vehicle safety and also is extremely affordable to drive and have maintenance performed on. For added safety considerations, the Vibe can be specially equipped with all wheel drive, this helps not only in adverse weather conditions but also in vehicle responsiveness during frenzied driving conditions. The modern looks of the vehicle are very appealing and add to the desirousness of it by young drivers. For economy cars, especially ones that appeal to young people, the Pontiac Vibe also comes with a surprising amount of interior room for both cargo and passengers.
Saturn Astra - One of the new vehicles on the market that has a great combination of sporty looks and economical operation is the Saturn Astra. The vehicle has high safety ratings and is made to be able to operate with enough responsiveness to be as fully functional on the nation’s freeways as any other car on the market. A nice hidden bonus that the Saturn Astra has is that although it is sporty looking, the vehicle doesn’t come with enough power to become involved in street racing or any other aggressive driving type of activity.
Toyota Corolla - The Toyota Corolla can be a beneficial car to a young driver for a number of reasons. The Corolla is one of the most popular cars in the world for a number of reasons. The car is one of the safest on the road with six airbags and plenty of other precautions. The car has more of a physical presence on the road than any of the micro economy cars on the market right now, but is still a very affordable vehicle to drive. The added bonus that a Toyota Corolla can bring to the life of a teenager is that it has the air of professionalism to it and is a little more mature of a vehicle than most young people drive. This could help prepare them for college and the real world as well by making them think in a little more of a mature manner, as well as help present themselves as having a more responsible outlook on life.

While it is important to keep in mind the wants and desires of the teenager involved in the purchase of the vehicle, it is also the parent or guardian’s responsibility to be concerned with factors that the teenager may not see as important in their mind. Safety is just such an issue. Teenaged drivers have less driving experience than their adult counterparts, and on average also get into more traffic accidents too. For this reason, the safety ratings of any car being considered for purchase either by or for a teenager need to be focused on as one of the overall most important aspects of the car as a whole. There are many cars on the market today that are economical to drive, attractive and up to date looking, and of course safe too. Anyone advising a teen on what car to purchase should include recommendations for the five cars mentioned above as well as any other vehicle that rates high for gas mileage and safety that they can find. Helping teenagers protect themselves by steering them to a safer vehicle to purchase is a great way to make a positive impact on their life.

Tags: Car Reviews, General

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