For our Oakland, CA readers, you can trade in your older Segway with the purchase of a newer model at Segway of Oakland.  According to Steve Steinberg, the trade-in program works well for commuters who put in a lot of miles onto their Segways.

Segway Trade-in Program is Incentive for Repeat Customers

When it comes to buying a Volvo, you know you are getting a safe car with a million great safety features. You also know that even if you are looking a pre-owned Volvo, you are still going to be driving one of the safest cars on the road.

The Volvo s70 was considered a compact executive car. These cars were produced from 1997 to 2000. The car represented a new style in cars and featured a revised suspension system. There were five basic body styles available in these cars including the Base, SE, GL, GLT and the T5. The exterior featured new headlamps as well as a stylish rounded hood at the time. The Volvo s70 featured an optional TRACS traction control system that applied to the front brakes to limit wheel slippage.

The Volvo v70 was the station wagon version of the s70. The car featured the same revised suspension system as well as the newer rounded hood design and headlamps. Both vehicles possessed the new electron brake modulation system that increased performance in normal stops. The benefit of a v70 was in the space for a large family. You were able to pick up the kids from school and fit all of your groceries in the back.

Both models were among the first US cars to feature side airbags as an option. They also featured disc brakes and an anti-lock braking system. Some versions were also available with four-wheel drive. In 2000, the cars were fitted with modified side air bags to improve the protection of the head and chest in case of impact. The dashboard airbags were also improved with additional sensors that would match the deployment force to road speed and seatbelt use. A unique system also automatically unlocked the doors when the airbags were employed. The WHIPS system was designed to prevent whiplash injuries in rear end collisions. This may very well be a feature that many US cars still do not have today. These cars were all around some of the safest cars to be driven in this country.

The Volvo s70 R was a version that was not released in North America. This vehicle was designed more as a sports car and featured all wheel drive with higher performance.

Whether you choose the sportier Volvo s70 or the family style Volvo v70, you are going to be driving one safe car. These are cars that, despite their age, are going to remain some of the safest cars on the road.

By Mike Cain

The MGF, designed and produced by Rover, is a small mid-engined sports car, with a soft top roof and plenty of boot space. Despite this, it is not renowned for its practicality, but if that is what you are looking for then you are missing the point of the MGF – it is intended to be fun to drive and something of a head turner. The driving position is quite low to the ground, which means when the top is down you get a unique driving experience, it is ideal for the summer months. It grips the road well and has good balance when driving, which is just as well with a 0-60 time of just 8.5 seconds. It responds immediately to the slightest touch on either the accelerator or the break, roaring into life with a great burst of energy, yet slowing quickly without much effort.

However, the slightly cramped cabin (especially when the roof is up) and hard body styling makes for an uncomfortable time when taking in long journeys or negotiating bumpy roads and sharp corners. The plastic rear windscreen means is liable to cloud up, and can become creased and folded where the roof has been put up/down many times. Frequent problems have also been reported with head gaskets on the older models, and this is a common cause of breakdowns.

Second hand values have stayed quite strong, due to Rover restricting the supply, and cars can be picked up from around £3,500 for a 1995 model and upwards, and it proves relatively cheap to run. Fuel consumption is good, at around 38.4 mpg, and with an insurance group of 9/10 cover is cheap as well.

Production is due to begin once more in 2008, courtesy of Nanjing Automobile, at the old Longbridge plant in West Midlands, as well as in their yet to be completed Chinese factory. The MGF is expected to go back on sale in 2009.

All in all the MGF is a fun sports car, with great style and personality, suitably cosy and enjoyable during the winter, and a fast, thrilling ride in the summer sun. —————————————————————-

Hyundai Sonata Review

It’s difficult to imagine, but Hyundai worries that even if it has one of the highest customer faithfullness ratings in the industry, attracting new purchasers into the showroom has been a real challenge. The new Sonata slogan is: “A Hyundai you’ve never seen before” and it is true that the Sonata which was redesigned has more power, more space and better fit and finish than it has ever had previously.

Its Advantages are:

– Acceleration – The possibility to avoid accidents – Comfort and convenience – Gas mileage

There are two acceptable disadvantages:

– Suspension noise – Handling

Reliability and Maintenance

The Sonata is easy to take care of, with very little in the way of programmed maintenance until 100,000 miles is reached, unlike oil changes at regular intervals.

It is backed by one of the longest powertrainn warranties in the automotive industry at 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Performance and Handling

The new Sonata is adequately equipped with a standard 4-cylinder which offers 162HP. The 3.3-liter V6 with 234HP is smooth but responsive and reaches average speed with little effort.

Acceleration is brisk in the four-cylinder and it is surprising in the V6. Hyundai officials say the V6 will turn 0-60 miles per hour times of about 7.5 seconds, with a maximum speed of 130 mph. Shifts are executed easily with the five-speed manual, and the front tires are chirped even more easily. Kicking down for passing with minimal hesitation, the Shiftronic automatic transmission moves between gears smoothly. When the engine bumps up against redline, and it declines to downshift at all, leaving that to the driver’s preferences,in manual mode, the Shiftronic will upshift automatically.

It provides more room and power than previous years. However, there is a least favourite feature, cheap interior look with fewer features, and new external redesign. But let’s see the positive aspects of Hyundai sonata.

Even if the interior seems cheap and bare compared to 2002-2005 models, seats are comfortable and the general aspect is all right for those who prefer simplicity. The on road performance and handling of this car is very good.

The Hyundai Sonata’s new interior marks a major step up the quality ladder. You can notice some rough edges on a few plastic molds and a less-than-lustrous finish on some dash panels. But the overall look is highly competitive with most in the class and better than some.

Three round dials in the hooded instrument cluster communicate the necessities of operational data to the driver, with the largest the speedometer which is positioned inside a polished circle. To its left is the tachometer, and to its right conjoined water temperature and fuel gauges. In the lower dash to the left of the steering column are a bank of five switch plugs, one of them is the dash-light rheostat, and there also can be seen a flip-down storage bin. The ignition key slides into a slot placed properly, in the dash to the right of the steering column instead of on the steering column itself.

Gas powered Scooters are making a comeback as the preferred mode of transportation.

No longer are they just for kids. Gas powered scooters are rapidly taking over as the preferred method of transportation to work and school. They are economical, can maneuver through tight spaces and with a gas scooter, you can take short-cuts that an automobile can not.

Gas powered scooters are also known as mopeds which is a two-wheeled (normally) low powered vehicle. In most states its small size and low power output allow it to escape many of the licensing, insurance, and driver restrictions placed on motorcycles. However, be careful of the true description of moped.

a. A moped is traditionally defined as a motorized 2 wheel vehicle that is part human and part motor driven. A moped has pedals so that it can be propelled by human power. As you can see, gas powered scooters do not fit most states definition of moped.

Don’t fret though, a gas scooter used properly will not get you into any trouble in most places. If used responsibly and traffic laws are obeyed, most law enforcement won’t touch you.

Gas scooters were first introduced in the mid 1950’s. The first design was little more than a bicycle with an engine mounted on it, it was called a cyclemotor. The cylcemotor can still be seen on the road these days in the form of electric bikes.

One reason some people have a gas scooter is to circumvent loosing a driver’s license. Many states don’t require a driver to have an operator’s license if they are over eighteen years of age, sixteen in some states. They also don’t require insurance and registration.

Gas powered scooters have several advantage that should be noted.

a. No parking spots required. Some gas powered scooters can fold down for easy storage right in your office, or you can tie it up at the door with the bicycles right in front of the buildings door or on the sidewalk.

b. A gas powered scooter is faster than the average electric scooter. They can travel at speeds up to thirty-five miles an hour.

c. Gas powered scooters can maneuver rather well – A gas powered scooter is a great way to move through traffic. They dart in and out between cars, especially gridlocked traffic. Imagine sleeping in an extra twenty-thirty minutes. With the time you save avoiding traffic, you can afford to. how smart are you?

d. Gas scooters have very cool body styles; some gas powered scooters look more like miniature motorcycles than scooters.

e. Gas scooters save tons of money – While the cost of gassing up gas powered scooters might seem expensive compared to the low cost of running an electric scooter, the mileage they get quickly makes up for the gallon of gas they require.

f. Maintenance is a breeze– A Gas scooter is easy to maintain. With a basic grasp of tools and a decent book about mechanics most people are able to maintain their gas powered scooters in their own garage.

The best thing about a gas scooter is the freedom to literally go just about anywhere. While you ride your scooter along the trail or the beach, you can go more places than most automobiles. Hop on your new gas scooter and get ready for a new adventure. Take a minute and smell the roses or take in the sights like never before. What more could you ask for?

When you have found a car that you are interested in you will want to inspect and test-drive the car that you are considering purchasing. This is the best way to weed out the bad cars from the ones that have potential.

When you evaluate a used car, you will want to keep two main considerations in mind. The first is whether or not you even like the car. Do you like the color? Do you like the interior? Does it have enough headroom and legroom? Secondly, you will want to know if the car is mechanically sound. These two factors will help you decide whether or not you actually like the car. If you do like the car then you will have a few more questions to ask yourself. Will the car work well in the long run? Will it be in good condition in six months or will you begin to have to repair and put money into it? It is important to realize that in many situations you will need to put a certain amount of money into a used car. You cannot typically find a used car that doesn’t need some kind of repair or sprucing up.

While you are test-driving the car, take it to your mechanic. If you are seriously thinking about purchasing the car, you may have doubts as to whether it is mechanically sound. Take the car to your mechanic and have him check it out for you. Many mechanics are more than happy to test drive the car quickly, check for leaks, and do a compression check. Then they will give you their expert opinion and you can make your decision from there. They may tell you that you would need to have something replaced and it would cost you so much. It would then be up to you to make the decision as to whether or not you would be willing to spend the additional money on the car.

Before you drive the car you will want to inspect the car. Walk around it and get a good overall visual inspection. Ensure that there are no ripples in the door panels, as that may suggest that the car has been in an accident. Look for uneven gaps between the doors and along the hood. Check for leaks such as coolant, oil, transmission fluid or gasoline. Examine the area where the car is normally parked to look for spots from leaks. You will then want to open all doors and the trunk. Test the lights, controls, heater, air and radio. Open the hood and look for leaks or sprays. While the engine is running you will want to listen for knock, ticking, hissing or whining. Check to see that all the tires have enough tread left on them.

Once you are driving the car, you first impression should be the way that the car feels. Does it fell comfortable to you? Are the gauges and controls easily accessible? Do you have enough leg space and headroom? If it is possible to drive the car when it is completely cold you will want to do so. Some older used cars may have difficulty starting when they are cold and this will reveal any chronic problems the car may have. Adjust the seat and mirrors before taking off and drive with the radio off. You will want to hear the engine and listen for other noises.

Be certain to include these factors in your test drive:

-Accelerate from a dead stop -Check for blind spots -Listen to the engine noise -Listen for how the car downshifts -Braking -Cornering -Suspensions -Listen for rattles or squeaks -Be sure to get on the highway and get the car up to highway speeds

Following these key points will help you make an accurate assessment of the vehicle before making your decision.

For more Car buying tips visit Atlanta Used Cars at http://www.UsedCarsAtlanta.us and Dallas Used Cars at http://www.UsedCarsDallas.us.

At last you have the car of your dreams and you spent large amounts of both time and money on restoring it and you now want to keep it in the same pristine condition. Unfortunately winter is coming and you do not want to drive it in now the weather is turning bad. So you have decided that you want to put your car into storage for the winter months and as cheaply as possible? Yet you also want to be able to get it back onto the road as soon as the weather is good again and find it in the same condition as when it went into storage?

Well hopefully the information contained within this article will help you to make an informed decision on the type of car storage you will use.

Indoor Storage Of course this is the best way for any one to go when looking for storage for their prized car and is the best option especially if you will be away for any extended period of time.

But because you don’t have a garage you are now looking for an alternative. Luckily there are many indoor storage facilities around which will gladly rent storage space that is big enough for a vehicle. If you can try and find a facility where they will run the engine on your car for you every month or two. However, you may find that they will charge you extra for this facility, but it will save you money in the long term as the vehicle will be ready for you to drive after a long lay over period.

When preparing your car for storage it is important that it is clean. Wait until you have a warm dry day and then completely wash and wax the car. Also make sure that you clean the underbody and around the wheel areas as well as any dirt left on the car holds moisture and when combined with air will result in result being allowed to grow.

Also thoroughly clean the car inside. Use either a shop/garage vacuum or a household one in order to get into all the nooks and crannies in your car (it is important to get rid of any dirt or crumbs etc., from the car prior to storage). Leaving such items in the car will only make it a place that small creatures (mice, rats) will be drawn to and make their home inside it.

If you can get the carpets thoroughly cleaned and do this before you do any thing else so that it gives them time to dry out before you put the car into storage.

Next take out the spark plugs and put some oil into the cylinders as this will prevent the cylinder walls, pistons and valves from rusting. You can use regular motor oil but a can of fogging oil from a marine supply store is a good alternative. Now you need to turn the engine by hand half a dozen times to make sure that the oil coats everything. Before you reinstall the spark plugs apply a little anti-seize to them.

Also make sure that the petrol (gas) tank is full as this will reduce the risk of how much water is available to be absorbed by the petrol (gas).

Now we come to the electrical system of your car. Remove the battery cables (negative cable first) and then lift out the battery from the engine. Next you need to wipe the batter down with a battery cleaner (this removes any moisture holding dirt or grease from it). Now you place the battery on a clean dry surface. Attach the battery to a trickle charger which will help preserve the battery’s charge. Also inspect the battery for any rust or corrosion.

You will then need to lubricate the hood latches, hinges and door hinges if you are able to check the brake fluid (flush it out and replace if necessary). Now you will need to check the coolant level (make sure there is enough to protect the cooling system from winter temperatures).

If you want to keep rodents and other small animals from chewing the ignition wires and other wiring in your car (place clean rags into the engine air intake, fresh air intake (under the windshield) and the exhaust. A good idea is to get a big box of mothballs and spread them around and under the car (this seems to keep undesirable elements away from the car).

As for the tyres they will after extended periods of time when not moving they will develop flat spots and the best way to prevent this is to put the car up on jacks.

Now remove the wiper blades as this will prevent them from becoming glued to the windshield.

Now you carried out all the necessary things about there is nothing left for you to do but to put it in to storage and lock up knowing you can enjoy it in the future?

For decades we have seen the national auto shows, where the major manufacturers roll out their new models and a few flashy "prototypes" that will never see an assembly line. Then there are the rod and custom shows, populated thirty years ago by twenty- and thirty-somethings and filled these days with middle aged and older auto enthusiasts who still love classic American cars, both stock and in all the different permutations of customization they have gone through over the years.

And of course there’s the Concourse D’Elegance crowd, oohing and aahing at priceless Ferraris from the fifties and sixties as well as the older exotics such as Packards and, going even further back, Hispano-Suizas and Auburns.

For those who lived American Graffiti and those who live for the foreign classics, if you’re involved at all in building, maintaining or participating in the fellowship that has built around classics and exotics, you should consider utilizing a website.

First of all, it’s a great way to show off your car or cars, whatever you’ve got in the garage that is carefully driven once a week and towed, gleaming, to car shows. Secondly, it’s a communications device for like-minded collectors or builders that may be interested in your specialty – whether old Corvettes or sixties Alfa Romeos. There are current web sites for national and regional organizations as well as a number of sites that specialize as classified advertising for scarce auto parts.

A personal site, however, is going to give you a far different type of interaction with your fellow wrench addicts. Instead of searching impersonal national websites for parts or people with similar interests, you can use your site to bring them to you. Proper use of keywords and perhaps a classified ad or two online will bring potential contacts to you personally, and there they will find a site with photos of your car(s), your shop and a little history about your involvement.

You don’t have to find contacts like that at shows or in pulp publications for parts and project cars. A properly designed site for a car enthusiast that elaborates on his area of interest and the history of his cars will give that person a potentially national social role in the company of his peers, just as the kids are using MySpace to communicate.

You can advertise for parts, show vehicles for sale – with unlimited photos and videos, if you wish – and put the word out for a car you might be seeking for your next project. This approach will also limit your needs for entering ads in national locations. All you need to do is mention "55 Chevy for sale at www.old55.com" or whatever your site address is, and the interested parties will come to you. No more details listed in long paragraphs done in tiny print – and no more photos of your car on a page or in a lineup of dozens of other vehicles.

Why Have A Car Sub Woofer?

Why should you have a car subwoofer? First you need to learn what one is. Well a subwoofer is a speaker that is powered by an amplifier tuned in to and plays back low-frequency sound or bass. Subwoofers create low-frequency sounds and contain those low notes that are missing from most car stereo systems. They are heavily used in the streetcar-tuning scene; many cars out there have massive I.C.E (In Car Entertainment) installs. There is even a whole range of music designed to push subwoofers to their limits and give them a thorough workout. The genre is known as “the bass track”.

The Many Types Of Car Subwoofer:

Subwoofers are either passive or powered, with the passive systems drawing power off of the car’s head unit, and the powered systems have an independent powerline hooked up to them, usually right off the battery. Car subwoofers are mounted in boxes and placed in the boots or trunk of the car, or in other places such as the cars parcel shelf or the space beneath the car’s rear window. Car subwoofers also vary dramatically in size, on average from 6.5 inches all the way up to 60 inches in the crazy monster subwoofer category. There are plenty of relatively inexpensive subwoofers that are available, however the car subwoofer is a bit of a luxury item, so buy the best you can afford.

A Typical Car Subwoofer Setup:

The car subwoofer is mounted in a box made of MDF usually, although some of them come in tubes, known as bass tubes. Typically they are hooked up to a single channel amplifier set with a low crossover to provide the bass tones. Independent amplification is necessary, because the amount of power subwoofers need, can be too much for the car’s standard audio equipment. Since the car subwoofer is usually mounted in a box, they can take up a lot of room. If you want to fit a subwoofer you must be ready to sacrifice a substantial amount of space in order to house this specialty item. However, there are systems these days that place the car subwoofer and unused nooks and crannies of the car, these are specially built pod’s if you like and can be found for most popular makes of car.

Getting A Subwoofer Of Your Own:

A car subwoofer is a must in the overall high-end I.C.E setup. It is wise to choose the best product that you can afford, and not sacrifice price for quality. However that said, because of the big business there is in car audio products and subwoofers in general you can often find a bargain. My advice would be to search on the Internet and the online auction sites and see what you can pick up.

We live in an age of information and technology that has made everything around us smarter. Electronic and digital components have made life easier in our homes, offices, and automobiles.

Some of life’s bells and whistles, like nose hair trimmers, are no more than budget-grabbing gizmos. However there are many intelligent tools that can bring convenience and safety to our daily tasks.

In the vast world of "smart" technology, the automotive electronics market is king. Indispensable features such as anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability control are perfect examples of smart and safe automotive electronics.

Recent developments by industry experts have created a huge increase in the number of electronic devices installed at automotive plants. Just to give you an idea of how quickly cars have evolved electronically, the Apollo 11 space craft traveled to the moon and back using a mere 150 kilobytes of onboard memory. It’s remarkable to think that the typical CD player uses a whopping 500 kilobytes just to keep our favorite songs from skipping.

Listening to uninterrupted music is a mere iota of how electronics have impacted a car’s performance in order to benefit drivers.

Telematics is the term used for the technology that involves automobile communication systems. The term was originally used to describe the blending of telecommunications and informatics or information technology. This industry has been gaining more and more attention from car manufacturers over the past years. In the mid-1990s, industry insiders predicted that telematics would become "the" go-to technology; increasing overall sales and more importantly, transforming the automotive industry into a major player in mobile technology. In reality, these forecasts panned out to be less than what was predicted. From an initial industry projection of over $40 billion dollars, the figure has been whittled down to half as more conservative measures were considered.

Nevertheless, that is by no means an indication that the development of this telematics technology has been or will be abandoned. In fact, on average automobile manufacturers spend $2000 on electronic systems for every vehicle that comes off the line — in incredible increase from the $110-per-car budget of the early 1970s. This huge increase in spending is reflected in everything from engine performance to entertainment systems, security features to safety devices. Every component of the vehicle works together to provide automobiles that perform better, are more comfortable, and ultimately safer to drive.

Some of the most common smart and safe automotive electronics are as follows:

Controller Area Network More than one computer runs your car. There is actually a network of computers called the Controller Area Network (CAN). Like a LAN (Local Area Network) that’s commonly used in home and business computers, the CAN links computers together. In your vehicle, the CAN basically links the many separate computer systems together and allows them communicate with each other. These interconnected systems involve everything from critical systems like engine management, cruise control and anti-lock brakes and cruise control, to less-demanding applications like automatic window and seat controls.

Fuel Efficiency Skyrocketing fuel prices have forced automotive manufacturers to realize the need for fuel-efficient vehicles, and to meet that demand. Smart automotive electronics are used to create the more efficient burning of fuel, such as the electronic fuel injection system (EFI).

The technology used in hybrid vehicles takes this one step further, with electronic devices that allow the driver to automatically switch between gas and electric engines.

Safety Devices There are generally two categories of devices designed to protect the safety of the driver and passengers: active and passive safety devices.

* Active safety devices: These are systems that constantly work to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers. Examples of active safety devices are dynamic steering response (DSR), traction control (TCS), and acceleration slip regulation (ASR).

While the average driver may not notice these systems at work, they are constantly sensing road and driving conditions and adjusting the car’s performance accordingly to create a safer ride. Electronic Stability Control has been shown by researchers to have a large safety benefit in reducing single vehicle skids.

* Passive safety devices: While these features may be more visible and seem simpler, they are also controlled by smart and safe automotive electronics. Thanks to developments in electronics and technology, airbag deployment has seen a tremendous amount of improvement over the years. Early airbags would deploy too early or too late, offering little or no benefit to the driver and passengers. Now, more advanced systems have created devices in your car that are actually programmed to the conditions that can lead to a high collision impact. Airbag and seating adjustment systems are deployed to minimize impact and decrease the degree of injury to the people inside the vehicle.

Think of the advancements over just a decade, and you’ll agree that the car of today certainly is a far cry from its predecessors. Modern automobiles offer more than simply a means of getting from point A to point B. Smart and safe automotive electronics make "getting there" as comfortable and as secure as possible.

With the issue of global warming taking on international importance in recent years, unsurprisingly the focus has fallen on car drivers, with cars seen as one of the major contributors towards global warming. Green cars have been held up as a potential solution, one that motorists should be embracing.

But are green cars actually ‘green’?

Firstly, let’s take pure electric cars. Unfortunately these electric cars are anything but good for the environment. The electricity that they run on is produced in power stations, where only 30-40% of the energy is converted into electricity. Transferring this electricity along electric cables then results in a further 30% being lost to heat energy. So by the time this electricity reaches an electric car a huge amount of the energy has already been lost. Good for cutting down inner city pollution but efficient it certainly isn’t.

Recently hybrid cars have been preferred, cars that contain both an electric motor and a petrol engine. The battery for the motor is powered by the energy generated from braking. When it comes to being ‘green’ these cars in theory offer many more environmental benefits.

In practice this isn’t necessarily the case. Consumer magazine Which? tested four hybrid cars by driving them throughout London. The results were disappointing, as mentioned by George Marshall-Thornhill, senior researcher for Which?, “Some of these should have performed much better.” And this is all without mentioning how to dispose of troublesome electric batteries.

Then there’s the cost of hybrid cars. The Toyota Prius is the most popular hybrid car and can be purchased for around £17,000. However, with fuel economy claims in doubt and 55% of people believing that green cars are too expensive, there is still some way to go before green cars arrive on a large scale.

The facts are that green cars use more energy to produce, are harder to dispose of, their fuel economy claims have been doubted, and they are simply too expensive. The age of the green car has not arrived yet.