5 Electric Cars

Is the world yearning for an affordable electric car? Electric vehicle enthusiasts believe so, maintaining that the electric car is the answer if we really desire clean, sustainable mobility. In recent years, low volume electric cars have come and gone amid much controversy and speculation. The problem now, as then, is the battery. Storing the energy needed to propel something as large as a passenger car for any distance requires serious battery power…and despite intensive research and development, a powerful but inexpensive battery does not yet exist.

Until that battery breakthrough comes, there is a class of low speed electric vehicles using conventional, and affordable, lead-acid batteries that can partially fill the void. Here, we present five readily available examples priced for $6,800 to $24,000:

Cadillac CTS

BMW and Mercedes-Benz have long been considered by many to set the standard in the sport-sedan category. But this month a newly redesigned Cadillac outscored cars from both of the German automakers in our 2008 upscale sport sedan review in our 2008 upscale sport sedan review, earning high marks for agility, powertrain, and refinement.

The 2008 Cadillac CTS beat out the BMW 328i and the redesigned Mercedes-Benz C300 in our upscale sport-sedan group. It also outscored the freshened Saab 9-3.

While the CTS vaults past most competitors, the Infiniti G35 and Acura TL still outscore it and lead the 2008 upscale sport sedan class in our Ratings.
Upscale sport sedans emphasize style and performance more than traditional luxury cars. They tend to have less interior room and ride more firmly, but they have better steering and nimbler handling, which makes them fun to drive.

While German cars have historically dominated this category, more recent offerings from Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus have proven their worth. Now the CTS gives them a run for their money.

The new CTS carries over the taut ride and agile handling of the previous model and is now more refined. There are more safety features and interior amenities in the new model. Fit and finish is greatly improved, and the interior is much more pleasant than in the outgoing car. Our tested CTS had the base 263-horsepower, 3.6-liter engine, which was the top offering in the previous model. Also offered is a stronger 304-hp, direct-injection version.
In this group, the Cadillac, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are all rear-wheel-drive cars; the Saab sends its power to the front wheels. But in catering to the needs of drivers in northern climates, each vehicle in this test is available with optional all-wheel drive. That gives significantly better traction, but we found in our 2008 upscale sport sedan review that the extra weight and friction of the additional drivetrain components often has a slight negative impact on fuel economy and acceleration.

Two models in this test are recommended. The 328i and 9-3 both have average or better reliability as of late. The reliability of the redesigned CTS and C300 is unknown, so we can't recommend either vehicle.

For this 2008 upscale sport sedan review, we tested the most-common versions of the CTS, 3 Series, and C-Class, whose prices range from $37,325 for the C300 to $40,835 for the CTS. More powerful and luxurious versions of those cars can easily add thousands to their prices. For the Saab 9-3, we chose the comparably priced Aero version.

There will be new competition in this category soon: Audi will introduce a redesigned A4 later this year as a 2009 model. The current A4 is a strong competitor in this market and is available in both front- and all-wheel drive. Audi says the new A4 will be longer, with more rear -seat space, which answers one criticism of the current model.

Tips To Save Money on Car Parts and Maintenance

Here the tips
1. A well tuned car can has a fuel consumption from 25% to 33% lower than a poorly tuned car making a tune-up cheaper than driving without it, tuning your car for better performance can save you between $150 and $250 per year.

2. Regardless of the number of miles the manual recommends a oil change and filter change you should change them every 3,000 miles. This is one of the most important factors in your engine's life since it's going to prolong your engine's life and you're going to save on engine car parts. The potential savings are $500 to $3000.

3. Dirty air filter means more gasoline used and reduces the engine's life so you should check it regularly, maybe monthly. The air filter can be cleaned by blowing it with a hose or can be replaced. You can save about $130 per year..

4. Using steel-belted radial tires can increase the number of miles you make per year by up to 10%, saving this way about $130 per year.

5. Most cars, don't work better on premium gas, so, unless your car is pinging or knocking you shouldn't use higher octane gas. If your car doesn't have a high performance engine, using the gas that best suits your car's engine can save you $200 to $400 per year.

6. Having under inflated tires makes your engine burn about 6% more gas so make sure you check your tire pressure regularly.

7. If your tires are improperly balanced the tread on them will be destroyed. In addition, your suspension and shock absorbers can be damaged leading to more expense on car parts and service. Balancing your tires once a year can add thousands of miles to their life.

Sunny California car rental

California has been able to generate quite a number of tourists year after year, with its sunny skies, favorable weather and nice beaches, a lot of people have really been flocking to this golden paradise to enjoy and live their life to the fullest. Unlike other states, like New York for example, wherein it’s pretty to get around Manhattan even without the aid of a car, California however, with its wide and long streets, actually requires you to rent a car for your own vacation pleasure, independence and best of all, convenience. Here are some quick tips and reminders when it comes to California car rental.

For first time California tourists, its best if you have a friend or relative who can actually show you around the place but if not, a reputable California car rental service is what’ll help you make your vacation be an unforgettable one. Arm your self with the proper materials and information when it comes to choosing which California car rental that you wish to avail the services of.

To help get your self started onwards your quest to finding the perfect California agency that’ll best suit your needs, wants and most importantly, budget, it’s best to consult your travel agent on which California car rentalcar rental agency that he/she would actually recommend to you. The number of available California car rental agencies may tend to overwhelm you at the start, making you unsure whether or not you’re getting the services of a reputable agency. Well do try to heed my advice and ask around, it really won’t hurt you if you do. Apart from knowing what California car rental agencies are actually out there, you even get broaden your knowledge about travel prerequisites such as this one.

Try to map out the places, beaches, amusement parks or wherever it is that you want to go to, way before you actually embark on your trip. It really is much wiser if you plan things carefully and thoroughly way ahead of schedule because this way you get to free yourself from possible headaches and hassles that can be usually caused by not planning ahead. Try to see if the services of a California car rental is really what you need, if it’s actually a cheaper way for you to get around the city as compared to taking mass transport. Evidently, opting to take the California care rental will make your vacation a lot convenient, think about it thoroughly and assess what actually are your priorities when it comes to taking this trip.

There is really a lot that you can do to make your vacations worthwhile and fun, just always remember to plan, plan, plan ahead. Weigh out all the options that you can find and try to be practical in picking out the best possible one. California car rental, to be honest isn’t really that bad, you’re bound to get a good deal somewhere, somehow. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look and having the patience to canvass and compare prices for California services. In addition to asking your local travel agent on which California car rentalcar rental agency that he/she would like to recommend, you can also try asking for you relatives’ and friends’ advice. Ask them if they’ve actually availed the services of a car rental agency, more so, a California car rental agency, ask them how it went and which particular California service agency would they recommend to you. Lastly, go to your ever-reliable PC and look-up Californiacar rental car rental in the internet. You’re bound to get a long, long list of service companies who are more than willing to give you a good and fair deal.