All drivers require car insurance, regardless of the type of vehicle that they drive. If you own a sports car, your need for vehicle insurance is similar to everybody else’s. Sports cars are not cheap to buy and if you are involved in an accident, you would have to pay a great deal of money for replacement parts and repair of the vehicle. For this reason, sports car insurance is imperative. However the cheapest sports car insurance can often prove hard to find.

When you buy a sports vehicle, contact an insurance company as soon as possible. Prior to deciding on the best insurance company to use, obtain several comparative quotes in order to make an informed decision. Do not forget that the lowest priced quote may not necessarily be the best one. If you agree to a higher excess, you will find that your premiums are lower and vice versa. If you desire lower premiums, make sure that you will be able to afford to pay the excess should you have an accident. With an expensive fast car, you are likely to have to pay a large amount of money even for small repairs. Insurance firms may also refuse to pay the cost of certain types of repairs.

It may not surprise you to realize that if you own a fast, sporty car, you will have to pay more for your premiums. One reason for this is that sports vehicles are designed to travel at fast speeds and this can make them more of a danger on the roads. Statistically, speed is a major cause of vehicle collisions. If you own a fast car, you will therefore incur the cost of higher premiums. Furthermore, sports vehicles are highly favoured by thieves as their constituent parts sell for a high price.

In order to acquire sports car insurance at a low price, lower the risk profile of your car. Many sports vehicle owners modify their cars to enhance their appearance or speed. However, this will not serve to lower your premiums. By far the best thing to do is install a security system. If your car possesses a high quality alarm system and immobilizer, this will substantially reduce the cost of your premium.

Owning a fast car can be a pleasure. However, always drive safely and adhere to the rules of the road in order to prevent involvement in collisions.

Photo Credit: Flickr uggboy

Automobile Magazine announced today that the Audi R8 is the Car of the Year for 2008.

“The R8 absolutely captivated the automotive world this past year,” said Jean Jennings, President and Editor-in-Chief of AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE. “It propels Audi into a whole new league of driving dynamics, and it emphatically caps Audi’s steep ascent from the somnambulant lull in which it languished in the early 1990s. The R8 is a thrilling new sports car from a company that’s stronger than it’s ever been.”

The R8’s incredible ride and styling provides car enthusiasts a lasting feeling of enjoyment that will last for many years to come.  With a top speed of 187 mph, the Audi R8 will launch you from 0 – 60 in 4.4 seconds.  With a base price of $109,000 USD, it’s well worth the investment

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The Volvo s70 was introduced in 1997 as an executive luxury car. The T5 was a model that offered a 5-speed transmission, which made the car a lot more fun to drive. The Volvo v70 was the station wagon version of the s70. The Volvo v70 R featured a better engine and offered 300bhp for the driver that was somewhat demanding on the car.

The Volvos s70 T5 is still sought today by many Volvo enthusiasts. Many of these seekers love the fact that the Volvo s70 T5 features explosive power and power that the standard s70 didn’t possess. The car is also fun to drive with its manual transmission. The 5-speed transmission shifts smoothly and the all wheel drive kicks in the minute you shift into gear. The car features an excellent and luxurious ride over highway and a little fun off the main roads. The Volvo s70 T5 is also considered one of the quickest cars in Volvo’s line. Plus, it has all the safety features that you would expect from Volvo. From the looks of this car you see traditional Volvo written all over it, but that’s just because they were trying to hide the sports car that lives within. Buyer beware, it could be very easy to get a ticket in this car!

Volvo has introduced a reworked and upgraded car in the Volvo v70 R. These cars featured an upgraded engine in 2004 along with more luxury accessories. The car was made to look sport inside and out, despite being a station wagon. The cars also featured better handling with a new braking performance system that works in a well-balanced fashion. The R line Volvos also come with standard all-wheel drive, monitor traction by Haldex and an aggressive new chassis. As Motor Trend puts it, these cars feature both sport and utility.

Either car has the power you want and desire as well as the safety features you want for your family. These cars are excellent whether you are traveling down the highway or picking your kids up from soccer practice. If you are looking for something fun and feisty, go with the Volvo s70 T5. If you want something with a little get up and go but still room for four kids and the family dog, then the Volvo v70 R is for you. Either way you won’t be disappointed.

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. —————————————————————-

Purchasing a new car is a major investment. Aside from buying a new house, it may be the biggest purchase you will ever make in your entire life. For this reason, you should be certain that you are dealing with a trustworthy maryland hyundai car dealer before deciding to part with your hard-earned cash.

We have all heard the horror stories about those shady car dealers who talk fast and separate a sucker from his money even faster. The good news is that they are the minority and that most car dealers are dependable and honest. Here are a few tips to help you find a trustworthy hyundai car dealership in maryland

(1) Do your homework

Before you start talking to car dealers, try to find out what they are all about. Research online and check their track record, the quality of their after-sales service and other information that will shed light on their reputation and trustworthiness.

At the same time, try to get a firm grasp of the kinds of hyundai that you may want given your particular tastes and budget. This way, when you start speaking to maryland hyundai car dealers, you can tell if their sales pitch about the car you want is accurate or just a lot of hogwash. Bear in mind, though, that just because a salesperson quotes you a price that is higher than what youve seen online, it doesnt mean hes a crook. Trying to make a decent profit is just part of their job.

(2) Trust Your Instincts

Sometimes you will come across a salesperson that you simply dont trust or are not comfortable with for no apparent reason. Those bad vibes mean something. Perhaps your subconscious has spotted something out of place about this person and is sending you a signal. In this instance, it would be better to ask for someone else.

(3) Use your head, not your heart

Oftentimes, the biggest reason why consumers fall for fast-talking, sleazy salespersons is that they make their purchasing decisions based on feelings and emotions rather than rational thought.

There is a lot of psychology that goes into buying a car. We may be enamored with the way it looks, the feel of the steering wheel in our hands, the way the seats press against our body or the feeling that a certain car is perfect for our personality. It just feels right. When you feel this way about a new car, think hard. Otherwise, it will be easy for a smart car dealer to persuade you into making that purchase.

(4) Be careful during negotiations

Once you enter the negotiation phase, be very careful since this is where most of the dirty tricks begin. For instance, keep your wits about you when a salesman offers you a car that is, say, $1,000 cheaper than their competitors because there may be some additional hidden charges that you will have to pay such as a documentation fee or handling charge or when your salesman forgets to charge you for sports rims. This is an old ploy. Sometimes you just have to stand up, say no thanks and look for another maryland hyundai car dealer.

(5) Do a full inspection

Finally, dont forget to make a full inspection of your new hyundai before leaving the lot. Check for scratches, flaws or other imperfections. The repair of these items should be covered in your deal with the car dealership. It pays to make sure.

Jerry is a college sophomore. This person was fond of extreme sports and would never back down when where there was a challenge.

When someone on television was able to go up a 65-degree slope using a motorbike, some friends dared this individual to do the same thing. Unfortunately the ending was different and Jerry had to stay in the hospital for 2 weeks.

Doctors who examined Jerry said that this person had a concussion on the head, a broken right elbow and a dislocated knee. The only good news was that the patient would be able to have 100% recovery.

The only way for this person to go around was on a wheelchair. Since Jerry didn’t like being pushed and couldn’t do it alone, the only thing left to do was to get an electric wheelchair.

The electric wheelchair is also known as the power chair. This is very similar to the ordinary model except for two things. First, the larger wheels on this one are in front instead of the rear. Second, it is powered by a battery with a joystick as the controls mounted on the armrest.

Booking for a rental is very simple. Here are the 5 steps that the parents took in getting the electric wheelchair.

First, the customer should get in touch with the store. Some may be found in the Internet while there are also some that could be in the local directory.

Second, the individual must explain the kind of wheelchair that will be needed. This depends on the need of the one using it.

Third, when the ideal wheelchair is found, it is time to book this using a credit card. Those who rent a unit for less than a month will be charged full price. Patient’s like Jerry who will use it for an extended period will just pay for the deposit up front then billed for the remainder later on.

Next, the person will pick up the electric wheelchair. This should be inspected for any damages so that the customer will not be charged for any damages if the former client used this.

Lastly, this should be returned after using it. This can be dropped off at the store, picked up at home or at a designated meeting place.

Renting an electric wheelchair is like getting a car for a few days. The person should take good care of it so that the next customer will also be able to use it.

So you are it yet again, cruising down the highway in your stylish Porsche 911 Turbo, with the sun roof open and the wind blowing through your hair. Its Friday today, and you’re all stoked up as the weekend lies ahead. Everything seems just perfect! But, then it happens. There it is again, that menacing sound struggling to drown out your CD player. Just when you shoot a quick glance at your rearview mirror, that perfectly happy face turns into a tight frown. Sure we all know that mean…oh boy! you are been pulled over. How you wish it was not those annoying red and blue lights again. Perhaps you change lanes and hopes he goes the other away, but as it turns out he’s in fact chasing you.

Ah, those wonderful speeding tickets. Sure, you were going 76 in a 65 lane. Or maybe you were simply trying to keep up with the flow of traffic. Hey, whatever you do, “thank you” is the last word you need to say, after he passes you the ticket. Now who doesn’t hate speeding tickets, that’s for sure everyone does! Personally, no matter who you are or how wealthy you are, no one wants those dreadful speeding tickets. Sure, I remember the first time I received one when I was 19 years old. I was cruising home from college in my neat little Mazda Miata, which was one of those fun cars to drive in. Unfortunately cops are always looking out for sports cars. And apparently the colors red and black seem to get the worst.

Though it may have seemed quite inevitable, I was pulled over and handed the lousy speeding ticket. No matter how much I dreaded and hoped, I still got stuck with it. Now what to do? The next thing I did was talk to my older brother about speeding tickets, and then decided to show up in court and plead it out. My court date arrived and I must admit that I was quite nervous.

Luckily the judge turned out to be rather compassionate. I pleaded with her and she said it will not go against my record. At the end, I had to pay up a ticket fee and court costs, but that was the end of it. Showing up at court was a better choice rather than simply sending in a payment. In any case when it comes to speeding tickets, you clearly and simply don’t want them. This can cause your insurance to shoot up! Now, that’s not good for the old bank account.

How many speeding tickets have you received over the years? I hope there aren’t too many. Despite the consequences, you should try and have your ticket resolved as best you can. Of course if you can avoid it going on your record, you’re doing well. Obviously the best way is to not get speeding tickets by sticking with the posted speed limit. On the other hand if you do receive a ticket and you feel as though it was wrongly issued, I suggest pleading it out. No mater what make the officer prove it was you speeding past his radar gun.

Let’s face it guys; we’re not all going to be able to pay for a Ferrari or a Porsche. Despite this may be a sad fact to have to face up to, yet its there nonetheless. At times exotic cars are out of reach for all except for those who are affluent and even they occasionally have trouble keeping up with the payments and maintenance of a Bentley or a Lotus. Sure the allure is strong; simply imagine slipping into the leather cockpit of your Lamborghini and cruising around curves at hundred miles per hour with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face.

Sure you may have everything from your driving gloves to your sunglasses and your driver’s license, though the one thing you wish for is to have enough money for a Lamborghini. And then there’s the Camry or Taurus, which in spite everything just don’t have enough horsepower to take mountain roads at 100, and even though you could get it going that fast it would in all probability fly off the road due to its lousy suspension.

Nevertheless what if you didn’t have the chance to own a Lamborghini or Lotus to be able to drive it around those hairpin turns? Well, nowadays we do have a great way to try out a luxury or high-powered sports car of our dreams, with exotic car rental we don’t have to sell our house or steal one from one of your yuppie friends. There are a number of can rental companies, mainly in wealthier areas, starting to specialize in exotic car rental. In fact even the regular airport car rental companies like Enterprise and Hertz are starting to rent out exotics or perhaps luxury cars along with the standard economy and touring cars.

For those who would like to try one out, you don’t need to fly out of town or go on a holiday, almost any special occasion will do. Maybe you want to knock the socks off your date or perhaps impress your wife on your anniversary. Yes, you can either show up at the door behind the wheel of a Lotus Espirit or a Porsche 911. And for those who feel like making their son or daughter’s prom a night to remember then forget about the limo; a sleek black Bentley will get them there in style.

Despite the fact that the exotic car rental is generally a little more expensive than renting a Camry at the airport, it’s at all times a lot more memorable. Besides exotic car rentals also make great gifts; as some rental agencies which rent exotics also rent classic cars, so you could give your dad or uncle the ride of his dreams in a vintage Corvette or brand new Ferrari. Sure, it will make a great gift instead of the usual set of gold clubs or tie clip that you were considering as an alternative!

High performance and low cost were Plymouth’s design goals for a brand-new model in 1968. The company believed that the time was right for a factory hot rod for the youth market, and its guess was right on the money. It would have the macho name of Road Runner.

It was also a very “B Body” budget-friendly machine which made it another very important reason for purchasing. The high cost ruled out many of the muscle cars of the era.

Less money meant less chrome on the body, along with fewer options. In fact, those that intended their Road Runner for the drag strip sometimes ordered the Runner with the small hub-cap-style wheel covers and even deleted the radio.

A member of the Belvedere line, the new model came with a stock 383cid engine capable of 335 horsepower. But that was just the beginning, the awesome 426 Hemi and 440 Six-Barrel engines would become available the following model year.

Of course, the Hemi has been a legend for many years, but that triple-carbed 440 engine had adopted a cult following of its own. A significant body change had been planned for the ‘70 model, but that would be put off until the 1971 model year.

The 1970 440 continued to be capable of 390 horsepower when equipped with the so-called Air Grabber induction system. That interesting system provided a solid connection between the hood scoops and engine once the hood was closed. The sides of the pop-up Air Grabber door were eye-catching with evil-looking shark’s teeth etched on the sides.

The front end was menacing-looking with the blackout grille containing twin headlights mounted in its ends. The aggressive bumper contained a pair of round parking lights on either side of the license plate.

When looking at the ‘70 Road Runner, and comparing it with the other garnish MOPAR muscle machines of the era, it appeared downright stripped. Oh, there was a stripe and 440+6 lettering on the hood, but that was about it. About the only eye catcher was the simulated rear-fender-scoop cut-out.

Some of the models did, however, have a dust trail that reached from near the front of the front fender and disappeared into that scoop.

The only sizable name identification externally was the “Road Runner” lettering contained in a stripe located on the rear end of the car, just above the tail lights. As far as engine identification, in addition to the aforementioned 440+6 designations on the hood, there was also a “440” in the rear of a hood bulge.

With that famous name, the company made the most of it with a special horn to sound like that famous cartoon bird. The horn made the Road Runner ‘Beep Beep’ sound which was unmistakable.

Mike Cenky of Huber Heights, Ohio owns this ‘70 Road Runner hardtop with such an six-barrel 440 engine installation. A retired phone company employee, Mike acquired the four-speed model in 1988 in “fair condition.” I redid the powertrain and suspension system which both needed attention.”

As he was restoring the Road Runner, Mike came across some interesting clues that provided firm indications of the car’s early history. “The engine had a scatter shield, there was an indication of once having a drag-style line-lock set-up, and the rear wheelwells had been trimmed for large racing slicks.

“I bet that it made many runs down the drag strip during those days.” He indicated, though, that type of activity is not in his plans for the orange beauty. “Oh, I might get on it once-in-awhile, but that’s about it!”

Cenky did, however, make several minor changes for better driving comfort. “I used a wider eight-inch rear wheel. Then too, I changed the factory 4.10 ratio rear end to a 3.54 unit which makes the car much more streetable.” For a cleaner look, the small Road Runner decals-normally on the front quarters-and small chrome RR emblems on the rear quarters.

The car is coated in a flashy Tor Red color, a color which is carried to the exposed wheels which carry the small wheel covers, and in MOPAR style, also into the engine compartment. It’s highlighted with that broad black hood stripe which contains the hood scoop and is outlined by two narrow stripes. There is definitely a racecar look about this stunning machine.

The car also carries the Super Track Pack which included front disc brakes, heavy duty cooling package, special cooling fan, and the Dana rear end. The interior is done in black vinyl and sports bucket seats.

Cenky explained that even though the car is 36 years old, most people at car shows know exactly what it is. “I am always hearing from them that they owned one or knew somebody that did,” he explained. Mike’s long been a Chrysler fan, and it comes naturally. “My dad worked for the company for many years and all we ever had were Chrysler cars.” And over the years,

Mike has owned a number of vintage performance MOPARs, including a ‘67 440 R/T, a ‘70 Dodge Challenger 440 Six-Pack, a ‘72 340 Plymouth Duster, and a ‘70 Chrysler 300.

There is no mistaking the look of those Chrysler-built ‘60s and early muscle machines, and they are certainly a favorite of mine.”

And ours too!

Copyright © 2005-2006 Muscle car News Magazine Privacy Policy

High performance and low cost were Plymouth’s design goals for a brand-new model in 1968. The company believed that the time was right for a factory hot rod for the youth market, and its guess was right on the money. It would have the macho name of Road Runner.

It was also a very “B Body” budget-friendly machine which made it another very important reason for purchasing. The high cost ruled out many of the muscle cars of the era.

Less money meant less chrome on the body, along with fewer options. In fact, those that intended their Road Runner for the drag strip sometimes ordered the Runner with the small hub-cap-style wheel covers and even deleted the radio.

A member of the Belvedere line, the new model came with a stock 383cid engine capable of 335 horsepower. But that was just the beginning, the awesome 426 Hemi and 440 Six-Barrel engines would become available the following model year.

Of course, the Hemi has been a legend for many years, but that triple-carbed 440 engine had adopted a cult following of its own. A significant body change had been planned for the ‘70 model, but that would be put off until the 1971 model year.

The 1970 440 continued to be capable of 390 horsepower when equipped with the so-called Air Grabber induction system. That interesting system provided a solid connection between the hood scoops and engine once the hood was closed. The sides of the pop-up Air Grabber door were eye-catching with evil-looking shark’s teeth etched on the sides.

The front end was menacing-looking with the blackout grille containing twin headlights mounted in its ends. The aggressive bumper contained a pair of round parking lights on either side of the license plate.

When looking at the ‘70 Road Runner, and comparing it with the other garnish MOPAR muscle machines of the era, it appeared downright stripped. Oh, there was a stripe and 440+6 lettering on the hood, but that was about it. About the only eye catcher was the simulated rear-fender-scoop cut-out.

Some of the models did, however, have a dust trail that reached from near the front of the front fender and disappeared into that scoop.

The only sizable name identification externally was the “Road Runner” lettering contained in a stripe located on the rear end of the car, just above the tail lights. As far as engine identification, in addition to the aforementioned 440+6 designations on the hood, there was also a “440” in the rear of a hood bulge.

With that famous name, the company made the most of it with a special horn to sound like that famous cartoon bird. The horn made the Road Runner ‘Beep Beep’ sound which was unmistakable.

Mike Cenky of Huber Heights, Ohio owns this ‘70 Road Runner hardtop with such an six-barrel 440 engine installation. A retired phone company employee, Mike acquired the four-speed model in 1988 in “fair condition.” I redid the powertrain and suspension system which both needed attention.”

As he was restoring the Road Runner, Mike came across some interesting clues that provided firm indications of the car’s early history. “The engine had a scatter shield, there was an indication of once having a drag-style line-lock set-up, and the rear wheelwells had been trimmed for large racing slicks.

“I bet that it made many runs down the drag strip during those days.” He indicated, though, that type of activity is not in his plans for the orange beauty. “Oh, I might get on it once-in-awhile, but that’s about it!”

Cenky did, however, make several minor changes for better driving comfort. “I used a wider eight-inch rear wheel. Then too, I changed the factory 4.10 ratio rear end to a 3.54 unit which makes the car much more streetable.” For a cleaner look, the small Road Runner decals-normally on the front quarters-and small chrome RR emblems on the rear quarters.

The car is coated in a flashy Tor Red color, a color which is carried to the exposed wheels which carry the small wheel covers, and in MOPAR style, also into the engine compartment. It’s highlighted with that broad black hood stripe which contains the hood scoop and is outlined by two narrow stripes. There is definitely a racecar look about this stunning machine.

The car also carries the Super Track Pack which included front disc brakes, heavy duty cooling package, special cooling fan, and the Dana rear end. The interior is done in black vinyl and sports bucket seats.

Cenky explained that even though the car is 36 years old, most people at car shows know exactly what it is. “I am always hearing from them that they owned one or knew somebody that did,” he explained. Mike’s long been a Chrysler fan, and it comes naturally. “My dad worked for the company for many years and all we ever had were Chrysler cars.” And over the years,

Mike has owned a number of vintage performance MOPARs, including a ‘67 440 R/T, a ‘70 Dodge Challenger 440 Six-Pack, a ‘72 340 Plymouth Duster, and a ‘70 Chrysler 300.

There is no mistaking the look of those Chrysler-built ‘60s and early muscle machines, and they are certainly a favorite of mine.”

And ours too!

Copyright © 2005-2006 Muscle car News Magazine Privacy Policy