How to Personalise Your Car? Custom Window Sticker

It is a well known fact that people like to personalise their cars and a custom window sticker is one very useful option. You will find there are numerous types of window stickers which can be used and some of these are quite useful for other places besides that of cars. One of the best uses that you can find for using one of these stickers is to state your name on a personal item of yours. Instead of just having your name emblazoned on the surface of the item you can have this sticker embellished with different colours, raised lettering or etched on looking writing.
You will find there are many different types and looks to these stickers for your windows. Before you start thinking about which shop to visit and buy a custom window sticker you might like to visit the internet first. Here you will find lots of helpful information about these window stickers. In addition to knowledge about the stickers you will find out how to identify the best types of stickers from those which are low in quality and sticking power. From various internet sites you will also come across information about how you can apply these stickers to a window or glass surface. Additionally any cautions that you might want to know about can be found here as well.
Once you have done some preliminary research into this matter you might want to take a look at the different window stickers which are available. The various online shop sites for the most part will have thumbnail images which you can look at to gain an idea of what is available or how you can get a custom window sticker. Some sites will provide you with the option of being able to zoom and enlarge the image.
As the tastes of customers differ you will find that these numerous custom window sticker shops provide for their customers tastes by having lots of different looking designs. You can choose from designs which are tribal in nature, ethnic motifs, fantasy figures, landscapes, patriotic scenes and even a swirl of numerous colours. One of the best aspects of choosing these personalised stickers is that you have the ability of choosing the background colours, the image designs and colouring and if there is any text what it will say and how the letters look. This is one of the easiest ways for you to express yourself artistically without any undue messiness.

Fancy Up Your Car: Custom Cover Car

If you have bought a st`ndard size of car seat cover and you felt disappointed that it did not fit your car well at all, you may still solve those snagging borders by requesting a custom cover car.
Considering that there are many car models, designs and styles, cars seat manufacturers offer customization solutions for clients who do not take "normal" looks for their cars. If you have car seats of 40/20/40, 70/30, 60/40 or any other type of hard-to-fit seats as in trucks, jeeps, tractors, SUV's, etc.; then you might be interested in get a free-charge visit of a car seat agent that will take the measurements of your car and give you a quotation.
Leather car seat cover is one of the most demanded nowadays -it is the great comeback of leather- in many colors than just the typical black to give a fancy and lustrous car, especially the sporty ones. You have many materials to choose from, according to the needs and use of your car as: cotton, vinyl, neoprene, sheepskin, imitation sheepskin, denim, velour cloth, tweed cloth and so on that have presentations in different patterns, prints and colors. Actually, the material is one of the determining factors for manufacturers for the final cost.
However, material does not determine the final look of you seat cover. You may play with combinations. Seat covers car accessories as zippers, buttons, floor mats, strings and Velcro fasteners can enhance the look and security of your car seats. You may also buy separately armrests and the headrest.
With this you do not have to worry anymore about doing a big quest to find a car seat cover that matches perfectly with your car, especially if your car is new or from an imported brand easy to find here. Custom car seat manufacturers can offer high end customization to exclusive cars as BMW's, Mercedes or Porsches.
Of course, a custom-made car seat cover will cost more than an all-car-fitting covers that are costing from a range of $30 to $70 per cover. The customized covers are up to $60 per cover.

The Latest Trends in Car Customizing

Over the years, many different trends have come and gone in the car accessory field. Trendy fads that were once popular include neon under body kits, 13" wire wheels pushed out, neon washer nozzles, headlight and taillight covers, air shocks and huge rear spoilers, just to name a few. These days, many of the same styles from the past are still popular but with a slightly different interpretation or style.
One such item that has come and gone over the years is smoked headlight and taillight covers. These items were very popular in the mid to late nineties and sales slowed down early in the new millennium. However, many people still like the look of blacked out headlights, just without the many downfalls of lexan covers such as bad fitting parts, issues with the covers coming off due to installation with double-sided tape, and the biggest downfall of these items: dramatically reduced light after dark. These products also came under close scrutiny by local law enforcement officials over the years for their reduction in light that caused many accidents.
While many customizers still like the look of blacked out headlights and taillights, the newest fad is to actually tint the factory or aftermarket headlights, marker lights and taillights. There are companies that sell kits that use a type of film to accomplish this project; however, the problem with these kits is that they are hard to get full coverage, often leaving gaps uncovered around the edges. The most reliable way to tint automotive lenses is to actually spray-tint them with automotive paint. Starting with a black basecoat, the painter reduces the transparency of the paint by adding reducer and then sprays that onto the light. The light is then clear coated and wet sanded to create a very glossy, glass-like finish. In the past many of the custom lighting options on the market were only available to owners of popular models such as the Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Dodge Neon, Ford Focus, etc. By painting the factory lights, this is a custom lighting option available to the owner of any vehicle, not just the most popular models.
The next few items that are popular today in the car accessory field actually had their beginnings in the truck accessory industry and only recently made a crossover. One trend that is making a comeback in the car accessory field is chrome trim products. In the past, many saw cars that had chrome edge trim on every conceivable edge on the car including the door edges, gas cap, trunk lid, rain guards, etc. Rather than using universal stick on chrome trim, many parts today are custom made for specific vehicles and are designed to appear as if they are factory made. These items include chrome door handle covers, mirror covers, pillar post trim, rocker panel molding, headlight and taillight trim and even chrome rain guards and bug shields. Most of these items are easy to install, installing over the top of the factory parts using double sided adhesive. These items are made specific for each vehicle and can greatly enhance the looks of a base model vehicle when used in moderation.
Another item that also had its beginnings in the truck accessory market are custom grilles. Over the years, custom grille packages have been popular among many car enthusiasts. However, these items were often hard to find for cars, and many vehicles that featured these products had items that were custom made by custom auto shops or by their owners.
Today, there are a wide variety of grilles available for cars, trucks and SUVs. These include billet grilles, chrome mesh grilles, honeycomb style speed grilles, chrome factory style grille shells, chrome custom aftermarket grille shells, aluminum mesh, and many different styles of grille overlays including flames, "punch-out", and many other different designs. The current and most popular style is the chrome mesh that resembles the mesh grilles found on Bentleys. Among the companies that offer this style of grille are EFX, Grillecraft, T-Rex, Strut and Precision Grilles. These grilles often are more expensive than the billet style grille, but the finished product on many vehicles is much more impressive than what the billet grille can offer.
Many companies have recognized the appeal of upgrading the grille on the vehicle to consumers and have made tremendous strides in the availability of items in this area. Today, there is a custom grille option for just about any make and model of vehicle, allowing this type of customization on just about any car.
These items are just a few of the newest trends in the car accessory industry. As described earlier, many of these items have been around for years but have found different styles or interpretations in today's marketplace. Hopefully some of the items of the past will never return, but only time will tell.

Chevy Car Customizing - Making it Your Own

Owning a vehicle is an amazing opportunity in that you have access to transportation anytime you want to go somewhere. So it goes without saying that we like to take extra care of our cars to make them an extension of our personality. That's why Chevy car customizing, along with other makes and models is a growing trend.
When you decide to add personal touches to an automobile you need to first decide what you are trying to convey. Are you going for a street rod look or just to individualize your vehicle to your specific tastes? This is important so that you know which direction to start from.
Once you decide what look you want to achieve, the best advise would be to talk to a few experts in that related field and see what their take is. If you want a street rod look then talk to some people who have successfully completed one. Advise is one thing, but personal experience is invaluable. Listen to what they went through, what to look for and what to avoid. This will help you know if you are willing to go through with it to the end.
Another reason to talk to people is so you find out what is cool and what will be frowned upon. You don't want to invest in curb feelers if that trend has passed. Just because you see it on the street doesn't mean it is a wise investment of your time and money. You shotld also realize that if you go all out to make your vehicle specialized it may reduce it's value. That may be a detrimental if you are planning to sell it in the near future.
If you decide to go ahead with your project then think about safety issues as well. If your vehicle is older this may be the perfect time to install more seat belts, better lights, or increased suspension. But don't go overboard until you consider the end results. All of these are key ingredients to a successful Chevy car customizing job, but the most important thing to remember is take it slow and responsibly.

New Car Customer Gifts

What is your dealership doing for your new car customers? New car customer gifts can improive your CSI scores. In many dealerships, everything from mailing chocolate chip cookies, to giving out gourmet food baskets (my personal favorite), a wet-wipe and trash bag set with the dealerships logos on everything and the ever so popular calendar with the customer photo with their new vehicle.
In choosing the perfect customer gifts, first try to think of what would make you as a customer happy to receive. Would you use the calendar with your picture on it? Would you hang it on your wall? How much stuff (mugs, key chains, logo'd trash bag) would you actually keep and use with the dealers logo on it? What would you actually enjoy or find useful? Also, what would stay visible? What would stay on your desk? On your counter? Then, choose price points - it's much easier to look at a huge range of items in your price point and choose from there.
Have you considered adding an imprinted gift card with your dealerships logo on it for parts accessories or service performed? This would need to be a "surprise" gift and would give the customer incentive to come back to your dealership and give your dealership the chance to form a relationship with this customer.

Making Your Car Custom Decals

Introduction
Building a scaled model is a favorite pastime for several people. But remember building a model is only a part of the whole process. There are also several scale modelers that enjoy the process in which they customize their own creation by using custom decals. The decals may show branded logo, creator's name or any other design that may appear on the body of the scaled model. These custom decals are quite easy to create and apply to your model by using right tools available.
Designing Your Custom Car Decals
The custom car decals can be used as versatile advertising portions that maybe applied to any part of the vehicle. You can get the decals custom printed by using any design of your choice or they may possibly be die-cut for fitting a range of shapes. You will find it hard to go wrong while using custom made decals on your car for advertising. Here are some design suggestions that may be significant before you create a custom design and place your order for the decals.
1. Measuring your vehicle
Remember the custom decals design always gets affected by the size of the decals portions, so you need to measure the actual size of the area on the vehicle where the custom decals are going to be applied. When you have realized and understood the size limitations, you can actually start designing the custom decals as per the collected data.
2. Fill the available space completely
The car custom decals of any size should look as if some effort has been put in while designing. You may also get a professional designer for creating the artwork for you. In case your budget doesn't permit, you may try yourself. Always make the text used for decals bold, large and simple to read from distance. This is extremely important if you want the name of your business and your phone number imprinted on the mind of your possible clients. Never go overboard though. Things that are not necessary to the custom decals design should not be there as they may cause distraction.
3. Use Contrasting Colors
Similar to any car signs, the car custom decals design must make use of sufficient contrasting colors. This is quite useful in making the significant message stand out from the custom decals background which is the body of the car. If you make use of designs having similar hued colors, it makes the decals hard to read and don't go too well with the potential clients.
4. Using Die-Cut
All vinyl car stickers can be cut to the shape of your choice. It will cost more but will also make your decals portions more interesting and unique. In case you are looking for simple letters on the side, get vinyl lettering. You can type exactly what you need and then get the words cut from the vinyl and apply onto the car as decals.
Summary
Sometimes it is also possible that you will have some trouble in getting inspired for designing the custom decals. In such cases you can go online for customized templates offered by many sign companies. This also makes the process fast and simple. You can pick a custom decals design of your choice and make changes in it to suit your requirements. You can take advantage of this facility today.

Car Customization For the 21st Century - Mobile Electronics Dealers Offer Much More Than Just Audio

If mobile electronics stores make you think of bass-blasting subwoofers and car stereos, you're still stuck in the last century! Today many mobile electronics specialists have branched out well past audio and into the realm of complete car customization. From aesthetic personalization like rims and decals to electronic upgrades like remote starters and seat heaters, mobile electronics dealers are bringing customers the best in 21st-century vehicle customization.
Customize Your Car
When you're tired of driving an ordinary, boring vehicle, it's time to visit your local mobile electronics dealer to personalize your car and give it some real character! Today's car electronics shops also feature rims and tires, vinyl body graphics and decals, sunroof installation, and window tinting to create truly one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Stop blending in with the crowd: make your car stand out with some serious customization.
Enhance Your Driving Experience
Mobile electronics stores are the best place to go if you're looking to enhance your driving experience. They now offer sales and installation of the little luxuries that make driving a comfortable, relaxing experience. Have Bluetooth hands-free cell phone technology put in your car to make talking on your cell safe and easy. Hate cold seats: invest in seat heaters to gently wrap you in warmth as you drive. Or choose GPS navigation installation so you'll never get lost again.
Add-on Hot Electronics
Whether you're looking to beat the temperature extremes of summer and winter with a remote car starter or safeguard your vehicle with a car alarm system, mobile electronics companies now feature a wide range of hot electronic products. In fact, the latest trend in vehicle electronics today is in-car DVD and video screens. While drivers have to miss out on the excitement (and keep their eyes on the road!), passengers can watch movies and play video games all from the comfort of their car. Drop by your mobile electronics specialist to find a car DVD add-on, a complete car audio video system, or any other mobile entertainment set-up.
Of course, if you're looking to upgrade your car stereo system, your car audio/video showroom [http://ultimate-car-audio.oswego-biz.com] is still the best place to go. You'll be able to find the latest in high-quality audio components and qualified audio/video technicians to competently install them. But if you're looking for more than just a car audio system, your vehicle electronics specialist is still the one for the job: with a huge range of car customization services ranging from aesthetic work to electronic upgrades, you're sure to find what you're looking for!

Take Car Customization to the Next Level With Custom Bodywork and Painting

If you're tired of blending in with the crowd, if you're ready to make a statement with your car or truck, if you're ready to take car customization to the next level, then why not consider going truly custom! While some shops tout aftermarket wheels or window tint as the best way to customize your car, those alterations are mere cosmetics compared to custom bodywork, interiors, and paint.
Custom Paint
Why limit yourself to boring stock colors? From broadening your palette to more creative colors to adding designs and graphics, you can turn your vehicle into a work of art with custom paint. With both long-term solutions (custom paintwork) and temporary options (car wraps and vinyl graphics) available, you can choose to make your vehicle's custom look as permanent as you'd like. From detailed paintwork that emphasizes your vehicle's styling and personality to advertising car wraps and so much more, custom paint jobs can make your car or truck look awesome.
Custom Interiors
Just because your vehicle came from the factory with a particular interior style doesn't mean you're stuck with it forever. Complete custom interiors can totally revamp the look of your car or truck, changing it from uninspiring to fabulous. From custom upholstery, carpeting, and headliners to custom trim, you can redo just about any part of your vehicle's interior. Material selection is practically unlimited, with wood and metal available for trim options and designer fabrics, leather, suede, and more as possibilities for upholstery. You can even have your car customization shop integrate custom lighting to highlight your new custom interior!
Custom Bodywork
Even your car's silhouette can be customized to give it a unique look. With a complete range of car body customization services available, including widebody flaring, you can get precisely the look and line of your dreams. Custom bodywork is one way to ensure your ride won't ever get lost in the crowd again!

Online Car Customizing Games

When you are eager to play online car customizing games, you are searching initially on its meaning. For your information, car customizing has many definitions. You can imagine a passenger car modified in two methods. A full alteration will be provided for the car in order to be able to enhance its performance. Commonly, it can be made by changing its transmission or engine. There is another method to customize the car, which is represented in restyling the car for the purpose to be appeared as unique.
Interested? Great! Now, we can proceed to the basic topic. Online Car Customizing Games are existed online regularly. There are many categories of those games, which are beloved by most of internet users.
To tell the truth, playing Online Car Customizing Games may be done individually or by multi-players. The plot of the game is to arrive to the last point of your road before your opponents. Of course, you can encounter some naughty police officers or bad roads as well. Yet, you have to complete your way strictly with success.
Online Car Customizing Games are common among youth, especially those of high schools. Some of those fans can download any series of those games, either freely or via paying a moderate price. Downloading those games can be, as you like. You can ask for downloading to your mobile or your personal computer as well.
If you are one of those who are interesting in playing Online Car Customizing Games, especially those involved with adventure, I can offer you to try this famous game. This elected game is known as car wars. It is seen as a video game that you can play on your personal computer. You have to control well your car starting at the screen bottom and go ahead via grid full of dots. The target of this game is to gather all dots scattered, and at the same time, you must avoid crashing into other cars.
In this Car Customizing Game, you must move counter-clockwise. If you can never stop your car or do changing its direction, you will be able to control on the speed of your car. In addition, you can move among many lines of the grid. As soon as you almost gather all the dots, you will discover that the other cars are beginning their speeding ups.
Online Car Customizing Games include lovely categories. You can find Sports Car GT, Cruis'n, Grand Prix Legends, Battle Gear 4, Touring car racing, and car wars, as examples.
Spending most of your free times in these amazing games will provide you with energy and vial concentration. A little whisper! Do not try to practice this game while you are tired or starving!

Car Customization And You

Today, the deals on wheels go way beyond being just modes of transport and convenience. A general trend has been observed the world over of more and more car owners taking on car customization of their vehicles to fit further into their scheme of requirements. However, the way you attempt car customization of a vehicle is very important. You need to be focused on accessorizing the vehicle in a way that its overall look is further enhanced. For example, Low profile-alloy wheel tires, tinted windows and normal sized spoilers, could make your passion on wheels look a little hotter.
Similarly, massive supra spoilers and lowering the body to get the Formula One look only causes more damage and makes a great looking car look hideous. Huge bumper guards and company logo stickers not only spoil the overall appearance but also cause damage to the body paint and the structure itself. You need towards making the car look better. Keep in mind that certain car customization simply leads towards unexpected and garish visual results. The resultant look not only 'kills' your car, but also de-evaluates her ranking and sale value, should you ever attempt to sell her. The inevitable downward plunging resale value adds to your loss.
Car customization should be attempted after research and a lot of deliberation. Always seek the option of others and specially your mechanic or a professional in the field. The car customization should be enhancing and not destructive to the vehicle. A car, like a home, is usually a one time investment for many. When incurring the expenses that accompany customizing your car you should be dead sure that of the changes you want to bring on and work along simple guidelines. Just as you would sport a cravat to bring on the desired look at a special social 'do', similarly, ensure that the car customization does not hamper the body of the vehicle or the running and adds to the visual treat the car already is. Take on a small amount of car customization, instead of going overboard and ending up as owner of a hideous-looking beast.
You could focus on an infant seat if you have a baby at home or sun shield for the windows if the family travels around a lot, together. You could also consider the installation of a special 'disabled' seat for an elderly family member, but remember that any car customization should be attempted only after considering the car make and the space within. Hence, it is very important to take and act on the advice of a professional.
Also remember that many car manufacturers specify non-customization with good reason. Many also take on car customization of the cars at the service centers affiliated and ensure and guarantee the car customization. These are some of the options you should consider when attempting to customize your car.

Mazda's i-ELOOP: Mild Non-Hybrid Regen

Mazda is promoting its new i-ELOOP regenerative braking technology as part of its "Skyactiv" suite of fuel saving technologies.

i-ELOOP is a system that uses a capacitor to store electricity from the alternator, which is controlled so that it generates electricity mostly during deceleration.  

So this is a regen system which runs from the belt driven alternator, and the small amount of energy it captures is used not to move the car but only to recharge the battery and run the electrical system.

This isn't hybridization, it is just alternator duty cycle optimization.  It won't save much fuel, maybe 3-5%, but on the other hand, it won't cost or weigh much either.  

The big fuel economy savings are when you store lots of energy from braking in a battery or super-capacitor, and then use that power to re-accelerate the car.  Mazda, however, isn't up to making the investment, apparently.

Fisker's Bad Karma

Consumer Reports is a fairly tough judge of consumer vehicles.  I frequently disagree with their judgements, but they are very influential, so much so that the major automakers strive to develop their vehicles with CR testing in mind.

Consumer Reports does not like the Karma.  In fact, they give it a failing grade. 

The Karma ranks as our lowest-rated luxury sedan. Of all sedans, only three have lower overall scores: Chrysler 200,Dodge Avenger, and Nissan Versa SV.

Ouch.

It looks to me like Karma is going to be a beautiful failure.  With Tesla coming online, with a much more practical vehicle, and other big luxury players looking into electrification, customers will have few reasons besides styling to pick the Karma.  Years from now, collectors will gather to share horror stories about bad software and clumsy user interfaces.  

Still, I have to give credit to Fisker, even if they do fail, at least they managed to produce a beautiful and driveable vehicle, which is more than can be said for many other electric start-ups.

Leaf Batteries Wearing Out Early

Looks like Nissan's decision to use an air-cooled battery system on the Leaf is going to cost it a lot of goodwill.  Inside EVs writes up a well controlled test to determine if reduced capacity display Leafs also show reduced range.  Which they do.

Bottom line: if you live in a hot climate, don't buy a Leaf until they change the battery temperature management system design.

Dirty Blonde

I just discovered that Atwater Brewery's excellent Dirty Blonde beer is now available in cans.  

I love good beer in cans, because they are lighter and less fragile than glass bottles.  And, you might be surprised ot hear, beer stays fresher in cans because they are opaque, unlike brown bottles.  Light is bad for beer.

If you have never tried it, Dirty Blonde is a cloudy light ale, not too hoppy, with a hint of orange peel.  It is a great summery brew.

Return Of The Rotary?

Mazda recently killed off its consumer market rotary offering, the RX-8, but according to Motor Authority, Mazda may use a rotary engine as a range extender in a hybrid electric application.

The neat thing about using a rotary (or any other) engine as a range extender, is that you can optimize the engine for electricity generation duty, and run them at a more efficient operating point.  

Myths and Truths about 55mpg CAFE

Ranting against the CAFE regulations is one of my favorite topics.

Here are some of my reactions to some of the myths that the Obama administration is promoting about the new 54mpg-by-2025 CAFE plan.

"Cars will still be affordable"--no, not exactly.  The government's estimate on the average mark-up to meet CAFE was around $2,000/car.  However, realize that this is based on various assumptions, which may not play out, and probably does not take unintended market consequences into account.  If batteries continue to be very expensive; if there is a shortage of key materials because everyone is rushing to electrify; large vehicles may have to be over-priced to offset losses on small vehicles, and etc.  The other unintended side effects: if cars are more expensive up front, financing will be harder to get for some customers, causing lost sales.  People will hold on to used cars longer, making used cars more expensive, and ironically, reducing fleet fuel economy and safety.

"Consumers will be able to choose" -- Actually, I see consumers being pushed towards smaller, lighter vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles, giving up some utility and cargo capacity.  I also larger vehicles like pickup trucks becoming more expensive.  The wealthy will be able to buy whatever they want, even V8 powered muscle cars, but the average joe will be pushed towards small cars.

"This will create jobs" -- dubious.  Yes, you may need more engineers to engineer the advanced fuel saving powertrains.   However, that may be offset by losses in dealerships and other secondary jobs, if overall new car volume goes down.   And if China starts importing cheap fuel efficient or battery electric cars down the road, undercutting the American makers, expect job losses.  If new car volume is reduced, manufacturing jobs will suffer also.

"Energy Independence" -- sort of.  Less oil use is good, for that goal.  And so is electrification.  However, the raw materials of electric vehicles--rare earth metals like neodymium, and battery components like lithium, are overwhelmingly supplied by countries like China and Russia.  We will be at the mercy of a different sort of cartel.

"Good for the middle class" -- Higher cost vehicles, less choice in the market, older average age of vehicles on the road, possible job losses in dealerships and manufacturing plants.  The only thing good here for the middle class is a smaller gas bill.

Coda Recall: All 78 Vehicles?

BEV maker Coda is recalling 78 vehicles due to improper installation of side curtain airbags.

Now, what is shocking here is not the reason for the recall (stuff happens) but the number.

Has Coda really only sold 78 vehicles since March?  If so, that is a disaster for them.  They're going nowhere fast.

Tesla Model S Track Numbers

Edmunds was allowed to test a Tesla Model S with instrumentation, and it does put down some impressive numbers, particularly stopping distance, considering how heavy it is:

Acceleration
0-60 (sec): 4.3 (4.3 w/ TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 12.6 @ 108.3 (12.6 @ 108.2 w/ TC on)
Braking 
60-0 (ft): 108
Handling
Slalom (mph): 66.8 (66.0 w/TC off)
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.86 (0.86 w/TC on) 

 

However, one grain of salt: this car was not purchased, it was loaned from Tesla, so it may not have production software.   I'm not saying it is a magazine special, but it could be.

Aptera, again?

According to this piece in the Press Democrat, the assets of Aptera were purchased by Jonway Group, a Chinese carmaker who also is tied up with Zap Motors (Zap Jonway).  Jonway plans to build the composite shells for the Aptera trike and ship them to Santa Rosa, where they will be assembled into vehicles and sold by a new company, Aptera USA.  

Me, I'll believe it when I see it. 

Condolences To The Sikhs

I wish to extend my condolences to the Sikh community for their tragic loss.

No religious community should be attacked with violence.  In the United States, we are historically tolerant and welcoming of minority religious sects.  I work with several Sikhs, and they are to a man generous, kind, hard working, cheerful people.  I have never been approached by a Sikh with the intent of converting me to their faith.

Anyone who feels threatened by Sikhs is an ignorant jerk.

Right To Repair Compromise

Where I stand on "Right-To-Repair".   Right-to-repair is a requirement that automakers allow independent repair shops (outside of franchised dealers) access to their proprietary diagnostic tools and information.  There is a big battle brewing in Massachusetts over RTR.

There are already generic diagnostic interfaces (OBD-II, SAE J1979) mandated by law which all automakers must support.  However, they are also allowed to keep proprietary DTCs and diagnostic routines, which may require proprietary tools or information use.  This hinders independent repairers from doing many procedures, for example, reprogramming a vehicle with modern encrypted anti-theft keys to accept a new key.

I do not think that automakers should be required to divulge proprietary information which could be used by competitors to reverse engineer some of their technology, or by thieves or amateur modders to easily hack into cars.  However, independent mechanics should be be able to do most repairs on a vehicle, at least as far as being able to accurately diagnose a problem by pulling information from the on-board diagnostics.

Perhaps the right way to go is to enlarge the industry standards for diagnostics, so that more specific failure codes are publicly known.  That way, generic tools would have access to more details.  Sensitive functions, like re-flashing modules, should remain proprietary, to prevent easy tampering with the software or disabling of important functions.  

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Swedish Magazine: "Jeep Grand Cherokee Unsafe"

Swedish Car magazine Teknikens Varld has posted more video on the shocking tip-up of the Jeep Grand Cherokee on their "moose test", which is similar (though not identical to) the Consumers Union lane change test.  

After Chrysler's engineers checked out the vehicle, and re-loaded it according to their measure of GVW (which was 200+ lbs lighter than Teknikens Varld's weight), the vehicle no longer tipped up.  However, if you watch the video, you'lll see that it is roll-hopping substantially, with the front wheel in the air much of the time.  And in multiple runs, the Jeep suffered a tire de-bead.

A de-bead is when lateral forces on a tire push it so far that it loses its bead seal, and allows air to escape.  This results in a nearly flat tire on the de-beaded wheel, and is dangerous because if there is a rim hit, that wheel could dig in and increases the risk of a rollover.  

You can watch the video for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaYFLb8WMGM&feature=plcp (and I highly suggest you do)

Teknikens Varld conclusion is that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is not safe.  I don't entirely agree, as this is a very demanding maneuver, and the vehicle is loaded to maximum capacity.  For most people, who will be driving the vehicle at a lighter loading, there is probably ample safety margin.  However, it is significant that competitors such as the Volvo XC90 pass the same test.

I think Chrysler has some more ESC tuning work to do on this product.  

Jeep Moose Test Failure

The reason that the Grand Cherokee failed the Swedish Moose Test run by Teknikens Värld is that they unintentionally overloaded the vehicle.  Apparently, Chrysler filed the wrong curb weight with the Swedish government. 

Since the behaviour of the Jeep Grand Cherokee was both dangerous and potentially lethal, we suspected that the car was actually packed with too much weight. We immediately proceeded to weigh the car on a scale and got our answer. The Jeep Grand Cherokee does not have a curb weight of 2 347 kilos (5 174 lbs) that the Swedish certificate of registration indicates (see the attached image below), a figure that Jeep/Chrysler has provided to Transportstyrelsen. In fact, the car actually has a curb weight of 2 505 kilos (5 523 lbs) with a driver in the car. That is a full 158 kilos (348 lbs) more than what Jeep/Chrysler claims the car to weigh in the official documentation provided to Swedish authorities.
Add the 602 kilos (1 327 lbs) that Jeep/Chrysler claims the car being capable to load and the total gross weight is now at 3 107 kilos (6 850 lbs). This can be compared to the claimed total gross weight in the vehicle's registration papers – 2 949 kilos (6 501 lbs). This, again, is a number that Jeep/Chrysler have provided. In other words – if one packs a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.0 CRD V6 with the maximum allowed capacity, one overshoots the total gross weight of the car by 158 kilos (348 lbs). Worth mentioning is that we only overshot the total net weight by 58 kilos (128 lbs) since we unloaded 100 kilos (220 lbs) out of the car when we performed the test as can be seen in the video clip. The car still went up on two wheels.

Coda: EV Penalty Box

A very unflattering review of the Coda sedan has been published in the NYT, written by Brad Berman.

In addition to a long list of missing basic equipment (no cruise control, no one-touch windows, etc.), Coda adds to its sins a stiff ride and poor NVH.

Perhaps Coda will find a large base of customers willing to sacrifice ride quality and amenities in exchange for a dependable range of 100 miles. I'm not in that group; in the production version I drove, the high-pitched whine was just the beginning of the Coda cacophony.
 
When starting out, the electric motor groans in low deep spasms as speed builds. At higher speeds, wind noise and buzzing intrude. The ride is harsh, giving passengers intimate knowledge of every imperfection in the road.

 The question for Coda is, will enough private buyers overlook creature comforts, and buy a $35,000 car based only on its range, or will they trade down in range to buy a more up-to-date EV like the Leaf for Focus?

Wheego, Where Did It Go?

Remember Wheego?  The BEV company selling a Chinese sourced ripoff of the Smart, upfitted with electric powertrain?

In this telling article, we learn that they have only sold "a few dozen" cars.  And, better yet, new sales are on hold because they need a waiver to sell highway vehicles in 2012 that don't have stability control.  Apparently, Wheego didn't have budget to develop stability control the first time out.

My only interaction with Wheego was sitting in a Whip demo car at a local ex-Chrysler dealer, which has since gone defunct.  The ex-Chrysler dealer struggled mightily to sell Wheegos, but couldn't move a single one.  

Tesla Model S Regen Strategy

Early reviews of the Model S have been published, after Tesla allowed some journalists a short guided test drive of the vehicle.  Here is one:



What is interesting to me here is the "one pedal driving" comment. What Tesla apparently has done is tuned a very aggressive off-throttle regen.  In the gas side of the biz, you would say that they used very little "dashpot", in other words, allowing the throttle plate to close quickly.  In this case, of course, you get electric regen braking, not engine vacuum based braking.

This is interesting because many efficiency gurus actually prefer a lot of dashpot--this allows for an efficient "pulse and glide" driving style, while saving heavy regen for actual braking events.

Songs Of My Youth

I'm sitting here working on some stuff, and listening to "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" by Iron Maiden.  I can't believe this came out in 1988... it is so tight and so progressive, it's still amazing music.  You have never heard it, you must check it out.

Here's the best song, IMHO:  "Infinite Dreams".

Mini Review: Volt Vs Focus EV

At a supplier demo event recently, I was given the chance to test drive, back to back, a Chevrolet Volt and a Ford Focus EV.

Image courtesy of Edmunds.com

Image courtesy of Edmunds.com

I was amazed at how obviously different the two vehicles were in driving character, and  particularly, in their sounds.

The Volt, from the driver's seat, was a little cramped, I found my head a bit close to the headliner at the sides, and had to lower my seat a bit more than I would like.  The center stack was a mess of graphical buttons, which were not fast to learn, though I am sure with time you would get used to it.  The interior finish was a mix of shiny hard plastic and crinkly hard plastic, for the most part.  I wasn't really a fan of the high-gloss finish on much of the plastic.
  
The driving experience of the Volt was pleasant, with lots of torque from standstill and good acceleration through about 50mph, which was as fast as I had a chance to take it.  The car felt fairly heavy, but body movement was smooth and controlled. 

The regenerative brakes didn't fell bad, they had a bit of a grabby feel until you got used to them.

The rear passenger space on the Volt isn't good for adults.  I was banging my head on the headliner near the windscreen, and the seating position was not pleasant.  I would not want to be a rear passenger for more than a short trip in the Volt.

I thought the IP graphics were nice, but I was annoyed at the animated green ball that GM is using to indicate regen.   It is constantly animated, rotating in place or shrinking/growing, and I found it distracting. 

Next I had a chance to sample the Focus EV.

The Focus EV had a much sportier character, handling wise, than the Volt.  It also had a much more conventional interior, basically the same as the gasoline Focus in high-end trim.  The switchgear was normal and easy to use, and the LCD IP had more traditional style bar graph/pie chart type graphics. 

The Focus also had lots of lower speed torque, and accelerated easily to 50mph without trouble.  The regen braking was smooth and wasn't obtrusive, to me.  I thought the pedal feel was more linear than the Volt.

I didn't have a chance to ride in the rear seat of the Focus, but I heard that the battery package does compromise the leg room and cargo floor.

The big difference between the two vehicles, other than the interior, was the overall sound in the cabin.  The Volt was much boomier than the Focus, letting in more low to mid frequency road noise, combined with noticeable whine during regen braking.  There was also a quiet, high frequency sound when accelerating, almost a whistle.  The Focus also had some electric whine during acceleration and braking, but it was noticeably quieter than the Volt.  Comparing either vehicle to a gasoline car of the same class is eye opening--these vehicles are shockingly quiet in electric propulsion mode.  I would even say the quietness is a major rdason to buy an electric vehicle.

Neither vehicle would really work for me as they stand.  For about the same price, I would like a Focus EV with a gasoline range extender, though this beast would not have room for the extra equipment.   The Volt is a great car, if you are willing to overlook seating utility and funky controls in exchange for a range extending gasoline engine.  The Focus EV is a fantastic car, if you can live with the restrictions on range (76mi EPA estimate). 

If I had to pick one for my $40,000 before credits, I would take the Focus EV as a better place to sit as driver.  It is really neat to drive, as long as your range holds out.

Volt Pluses:

• Unobtrusive gasoline range extender
• Decent handling
• Good acceleration
• Snazzy graphics on IP

Volt Minuses:

• Glossy or crinkly hard plastic interior
• Animated graphics annoying
• Road noise and braking whine
• Cramped rear seats
• MSRP

Focus EV Pluses:

• Gasoline Focus interior
• Gasoline Focus chassis
• Very quiet

Focus EV Minuses:

• 76mile range
• Rear seat leg room
• Compromised cargo space
• MSRP

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Sad news.  Tom and Ray Magliozzi (aka Click and Clack, the Tappet Bros) are hanging it up after 25 years on the radio.

At least there are many years worth of back shows to listen to via streaming.

The Scam Marches On

Amazingly, my #1 most popular post is still the eBay Motors/Western Union scam.  And, sadly, people are still falling for it!

Here is an email I just received from Kathy.

I believe we have fallen for one of the scams you describe on your blog.  Is there any recourse we may try to get our money back?

Feeling sick,
Kathy

My response:

Hi Kathy,

If you sent the scammer money using Western Union/Moneygram, and they picked it up, then I am afraid you are basically screwed.   You can file a report, however, you are unlikely to see a penny back.  If they did not yet pick the money up, call WU right away and see if they can cancel the money order.

Take this as a very expensive, harsh lesson: never buy ANYTHING using non-reversible payments (e.g. Western Union money transfers).

--TAP 

Kathy:

We made the call to Western Union etc and the money was picked up.  We are filing a report with the FBI and State Attorney General in case we have a chance of getting anything back.  Painful lesson for our 21 year old son!  Thank you for your response.

Kathy 

The sad truth is, Kathy's son is basically out of whatever money he sent, probably several thousand dollars.  The FBI is unlikely to recover a penny.

Remember some ironclad rules of internet commerce:

• If it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is
• NEVER pay ANYONE using non-traceable money transfers such as Western Union or Moneygram
• NEVER buy goods from ANYONE on Craigslist who isn't local to you. 

Ford May Sales Thoughts

Ford released its sales figures for May today (here).  I took a quick look, and two things really jumped out at me.
First, the redesigned Explorer is doing well, much better than the old truck-based model.  The new Explorer is running around 160,000 units annually, while the old Explorer was around 50,000.
Second, Lincoln is in BIG trouble.  In a rising tide of sales, Lincoln is down 2%, mostly due to the aging of the MKZ.  May saw only 7,274 Lincolns sold.  I suppose a new MKZ will help that, but still, Mustang outsold the entire Lincoln brand in May!
Ford needs to fix Lincoln, quick, or its dealers will starve to death.

Those Who Live In Glass Houses...

Obama is attacking Romney over Bain Capital's unsuccessful run with a Michigan auto supplier, Cambridge Industries.  Obama should be careful, because Romney's supporters might start reminding everyone what happened under Car Czar Steven Rattner. 

A very "Private equity" like takeover of GM and Chrysler, under which plants, dealers, and many many jobs were cut, in order to re-organize the companies.  The only difference here is that Rattner was using taxpayer money instead of investor money to back the re-organization, but his goals were essentially the same as Bain's would have been: improve shareholder (taxpayer) value by re-structuring the operations into profitable enterprises. 

EPA's Hybrid Payback Calculator

The EPA has posted a very nice interactive hybrid vehicle payback calculator.  It lets you quickly adjust assumptions to see how long a hybrid or electric vehicle would pay for itself based on fuel savings.

For example, comparing a Chevrolet Malibu Eco to a base gasoline Malibu, 12,000mi/year, 60% city driving, gasoline at $3.75, the tool says that you would save a whopping $200/year on gasoline, and that the $550 MSRP difference would be paid off in 2.7 years.

Clearly, the Malibu Eco isn't an irresistibly good deal, because that $200/year in fuel savings is going to cost you several cubic feet of trunk space. 

Ethics of Manuals?

Over at Salon.com, David Sirota asks if it is "ethical" to drive a manual transmission.  The reason for his question is recent news that more people are choosing manuals, and also, that automatics are now sometimes equal to or better than manuals in fuel economy.

I find it odd that he only considers fuel economy in his question. 

A more careful ethicist would also consider the resources going into the transmission.  For example, a manual will over its lifetime consume one or two clutches.  An automatic (unless it is one of those rare CVTs) will consume several changes of automatic transmission fluid, a.k.a. oil.

Also, consider that automatics usually cost about $1000 more than a manual.  Why is that?  Simply, omplexity.  The automatic has more parts, including electronic controls.  More parts means more manufacturing footprint to make it.

It seems to me that manuals are more "ethical" than automatics until such time as their fuel economy gains can overcome the manuals advantage in simplicity.