Regular upkeep on your vehicle is a must. Even though you do remain diligent, there will still be things that will need to be replaced from time to time, the motor oil, the wiper blades, the 26″ rims, or the brake shoes, and the tires. I have experience with each of these items “breaking down” in my many years of driving. These are items on your vehicle that simply wear out or become damaged over time.

Aside from the rims, all the other items mentioned play a large role in the safety of yourself and all those riding in your vehicle. If the motor oil is not fresh, or if there is too little, the motor of your car may freeze–or more accurately, burn into itself, causing the engine of the car to seize on the freeway. This happened to me in college and it was a frightening experience. Going at high speed, my car slowed down drastically and the power brakes and steering not longer functioned.

The wiper blades? Again, nothing worse than being in a Phoenix monsoon storm without properly functioning windshield wipers. Again, I was caught in a storm and had to pull over and hail a cab. Brake shoes, not only is it extremely dangerous to not have truck wheels and braking systems routinely checked, it can get expensive when the shoes or pads wear out and damage the rotors. A simple brake job, inexpensive, I neglected and after just moving to Los Angeles found it necessary to spend almost a thousand dollars to fix my brakes on my truck.

Next stop, a trip to Idyllwild, California. for a wedding. This time it was not my overlook that got us into trouble, but my boyfriend’s. We were going down Interstate 10 at about 80 miles an hour, and not one, but both of the two back tires actually shredded as we were driving. We all of a sudden heard a sound like burlap flapping against the side of tin roof. We pulled over to see what was going on. His tires were in need of replacement, last year.

So we got back into the Jeep, and slowly made our way to Palm Springs. We found a discount tire distributor, and had all four replaced at once. We were lucky. We experienced an inconvenience, but no one was hurt. We had a great weekend and vowed to always, from that moment on, keep up on the small and easy fixes that make such a difference when driving–in town, and cross country.

Filed by Dylan at 10:31 am under Automotive
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The heat of a Phoenix summer wreaks havoc on the people of the city, the animals of the city, and the vehicles of the city. There are many aspects of one’s vehicle that one must pay special attention to during the summer time. The electrical systems and the cooling systems of a car during the summer months are put to the test. Belts and hoses are greatly strained by this extreme heat as well as the car battery. The batteries just do not last as long in Phoenix.

The heat of the pavement also increases the wear and tear on the brakes and the general tire. Proper air pressure must be maintained in the Cooper tire. however be careful as anything metal on the car, such as the chrome rims, the door handle, and the seat belt of a car can cause a severe burn when the temperatures are so high. One should also check all of the fluids regularly as well. Some other facts about the differences in driving during the heat include the heater of the car. Most people who have lived in Phoenix for a while have experienced the car overheating.

Rush hour traffic in the summer can be very hard on the engine of the car, and one way to take a bit of heat off of the engine is to turn on the heater. This will have the effect of lower the temperature of the coolant in the radiator, however, it is not a particularly pleasant experience for the driver, as this solution works for the car engine, but not for the passengers. If one is constantly needed to deal with this situation it is best to have the cooling system looked at by a mechanic, for not only is it bad for the car, driving in such extreme heat can be dangerous for the driver as well.

Filed by Dylan at 10:31 am under Automotive
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Using 11 months of design and development, the Bavarian design house “Unique Sportcars” has completed their first design concept: A Super Sports Car for the streets.

Limiting the series to the number of 11, the unique “Calavera” design is based on the Ferrari F430, collaborating exclusively with Ferrari Specialist Novitec Rosso and Airbrush Artist Knud Tiroch.

The “Calavera” concept (Spanish: Skull) is the brand of Unique Sportcars, mother of future design implementations. In touch with modern fashion, Unique Sportcars has combined “whats hot” with a luxurious sports car, the “Calavera”.

All involved create an inspiring team. For over 20 years, Novitec is well-known on the tuning scene. In the early 90s, Novitic received attention and recognition for their Turbo- and Supercharged motors for Alfa Romeo. 2003 was the year of the first Novitec Rosso twin-supercharger engine for Ferrari, making a statement to professionals worldwide.

Knud Tiroch is one of a kind. He belongs to Europe`s finest Airbrush artists and is responsible for creating the exclusive designs on chassis and interior. His finesse was of great use to David Coulthard, ZZ Top, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many more.

Unique Sportcars develops exclusive designs for customers wanting more than off-the-shelf. Custom-tailoring individual ideas and customer`s wishes, we are on the look-out for partners to make these come to life. Idea, concept and implementation, all from one source.

Besides design composition and project engineering, these Bavarians have developed a few special extras. “Calavera`s” front is suited with daytime lights, creating a more aggressive look, but not impeding on it`s aerodynamics. A real eye-catcher is the illuminated engine compartment. This non-standard gimmick puts the “Calavera” in spotlight, setting the tone for the brute rear and 707 HP engine.

The finishing touch is given through its interior. The “Calavera” design continues. Embroidered seats and a modified, extended middle console, leaving room for conventional functions and extensions like the new generation Apple iPod. The whole procedure of tuning includes completely dismantling the vehicle`s frame, including the tires and rims. The modifications of engine, aerodynamics, tire and wheel package, rims and sports exhaust system are done by Novitec.

All custom work is completed within about 3 months. A bolide, right on schedule for the last series of the Ferrari F430; creating a new sensation.

Filed by Dylan at 10:31 am under Automotive
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