7/13/09
Mazda RX8 Horsepower Controversy
In connection with the RX8’s horsepower rating: the original marketing material from Mazda North America (MNAO) advertised the 6 speed manual transmission RX8 at 247hp @ 8,500rpm. Assuming parasitic drivetrain loses between 17%-20% –common for modern rear wheel drive vehicles, a stock RX8 should measure between 205~197 horsepower at the rear wheels (rwhp) –depending on elevation, barometric pressure, temperature and correction factors applied. Instead, a stock RX8 chassis dyno run shows results ranging anywhere from mid-high ~160 to ~185rwhp. Such readings would represent parasitic drivetrain loses in excess of 25%. To say that, it is unacceptable to experience such a high level of loss through the drivetrain of a “sports car” with a carbon fiber drive shaft –amongst other things- is an understatement.
To further consolidate doubts about the actual power output of the new Renesis, several owners were unable to reproduce mid-low 14 second quarter mile passes -as seen published by well known U.S. car magazines. Low trap speeds were another hint towards the apparent lack of power output.
Shortly after, several debates on online enthusiast forums and discussion boards turned into heated arguments as to what was causing such poor "straight line performance." Many former Miata owners remembered a previous "snafu" in Mazda's history, when the manufacturer admittedly overstated the horsepower figures of their redesigned Mazda Miata.
After a few months, MNAO came forward and explained that they had misrepresented the Renesis' power output. The revised figure was now 238hp @ 8,500rpm; however, according to MNAO, this revision did not change the previously achieved track performance results.
7/12/09
Mazda RX 7: Legendary, Mythical

A legend of a sports car. The Mazda RX 7 had its humble beginnings going back to the year 1978. This vehicle may be that popular for most people around the world. This is certainly because the Mazda RX 7 has been known for various names around the world. In fact, the very same vehicle is also known as the Mazda Savanna and also as the Efini RX 7. The name Mazda Savanna was actually used in Japan. Certainly, the Mazda RX 7 has become a legend and a myth in itself because of the power, performance, and delivery that it is capable of. Proof of that is its being included in the Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best list for a total of five times in its lifetime.
7/11/09
Fast Subie Guide to Subaru WRX STi
Best Uppipe: COBB Tuning inconel uppipe.
Reasoning: Inconel is twice as strong and insulates twice as well as stainless steel.
Honorable Mention:
a. Crucial Racing uppipe. Comes coated inside and out for good heat retention.
b. TurboXS cast iron uppipe. Cast iron piping for good heat retention.
c. APS uppipe. Cast iron piping for good heat retention.
Best Uppipe on a budget: Gutted stock uppipe.

Reasoning: Gutting your stock uppipe can have the same benefits as using a more expensive aftermarket uppipe. Dyno Proof.
Honorable Mention:
a. GT Spec uppipe. Cheapest aftermarket uppipe.
b. Used uppipe by any manufacturer. Some don't want used components on their car, but for those that don't mind, you can get an expensive aftermarket uppipe for 25-50% off its retail value. Keep in mind that many warranties are not transferable though.
Further research: Uppipe FAQ
The Best Downpipe
Best Downpipe: COBB Tuning Downpipe.
Reasoning: Cast design is better for heat retention than the other downpipe offerings on the market. More heat retention = quicker exhaust velocity.

Honorable Mention:
a. APS Downpipe. Cast iron design is better for heat retention than the other downpipe offerings on the market.
b. Helix Downpipe. Cast design is better for heat retention than the other downpipe offerings on the market.
c. Crucial Racing downpipe. Comes coated inside and out for good heat retention.
Best Downpipe on a budget: Gutted OEM downpipe.
Reasoning: Stock appearance and good heat retention. Probably for the more mechanically inclined considering the work required, but even with professional welding, it will be under $100 for a catless downpipe.
Honorable Mention:
a. Stromung, HKS, and Oakos offer flat plate downpipes for around $175.
b. Bosal and Stromung offer twin dump downpipes for between $200-$250.
c. Used downpipe by any manufacturer. Some don't want used components on their car, but for those that don't mind, you can get an expensive aftermarket downpipe for 25-50% off its retail value. Keep in mind that many warranties are not transferable though.
Further research: Downpipe FAQ
The Best Exhaust
Best Exhaust: There is no best exhaust.

Reasoning: Exhausts are broken down into many catagories, the most popular of which are cost and sound.
Loudest Exhaust:
a. TurboXS RFL
b. Blitz NUR Spec R
c. Kakimoto
d. BPM Twister MKIII
e. Helix
Reasoning: These are the commonly known "loudest" exhausts on the market. No dB information exists, but to quote a famous saying, "If you have to ask, it's too loud".
Best Sounding Exhaust:
a. Prodrive
b. ScoobySport
c. Stromung
Reasoning: These are commonly known as the "best sounding" exhausts on the market. This is probably the most subjective catagory, but these are the three most commonly thought of exhausts.
Quietest Exhaust:
a. Prodrive
b. M2
c. MRT Twin Tip
d. Borla Hush
e. STi
f. GReddy Evolution
Reasoning: The comparative and subjective data on these quietest exhuasts is listed:
a. M2 Performance 94db @ idle, 94 @ 3000 RPM
b. GReddy Evolution 94db @ idle, 92 @ 3000 RPM
c. MRT Twin Tip: No data, but commonly known as quiet.
d. Prodrive: 94dB @ idle
e. STi Muffler: No data, but commonly known as quiet.
f. Borla Hush: New exhaust with few reviews, but all of them seem to point to quiet.
Best Exhaust on a budget: The most inexpensive exhaust is a custom exhaust using a skilled local exhaust shop and a few ordered components. Custom units can be fabricated for as little as $450. MattSpec Exhaust is one example of how to craft a quality, inexpensive exhaust.
Reasoning: Though not a name brand, a custom exhaust skillfully fabricated using quality components will be far cheaper and just as powerful as a Vendor purchased unit.
Honorable Mention:
Used exhaust by any manufacturer. Some don't want used components on their car, but for those that don't mind, you can get an expensive aftermarket exhaust for 25-50% off of its retail value. Keep in mind that many warranties are not transferable though.
Further research: Exhaust FAQ
The Best Intercooler Hoses
Best Intercooler Hoses: Whichever ones are on sale.

Reasoning: Functionally, they are all the same. Unless you have a color preference, the cheapest ones will suit you fine.
Honorable Mention:
Used intercooler hoses by any manufacturer. Some don't want used components on their car, but for those that don't mind, you can get an expensive aftermarket intercooler hoses for 25-50% off of their retail value. Keep in mind that many warranties are not transferable though.
Further research: Intercooler Hose FAQ
The Best Pulley
Best Pulley: Perrin
Reasoning: Perrin is the only major manufacturer of lightweight stock diameter pulleys. Though under-driven pulleys aren't a major concern, most people don't want to mess with any possible electrical issues they may cause.
Best Pulley on a budget: Mr Josh's.
Reasoning: Nearly identical to the Perrin unit with a greatly reduced price.
Honorable Mention:
Used pulley by any manufacturer. Some don't want used components on their car, but for those that don't mind, you can get an expensive aftermarket pulley for 25-50% off of its retail value. Keep in mind that many warranties are not transferable though.
Further research: Pulley FAQ
The Best Header
Best Header: Borla
Reasoning: Borla headers have the industry's best warranty, are extremely affordable, and are the only headers that come ceramic coated.
Best Headers on a budget: eBay headers.
Reasoning: These are so cheap, why not? There are several brands available on eBay through a couple different manufacturers.
Honorable Mention:
Used header by any manufacturer. Some don't want used components on their car, but for those that don't mind, you can get an expensive aftermarket header for 25-50% off of its retail value. Keep in mind that many warranties are not transferable though.
Further research:
Header FAQ
The Best Gears
Best Gears for 300WHP or below and non hard core drag racers: 2004+ OEM WRX gears that have been shot peened. 2003+ OEM WRX 1st, 2nd, & 3rd gears (AKA the ones that break the most) were increased to STi RA width, though no one knows the cut-off date in 2003, so the best bet is to go with 04+ gears. Shot peening increases their strength quantitatively by 20%. Some may also be interested in additional cryo treatment. A complete OEM gearset can be had for ~$850, shot peening is ~$150, & cryo treatment is ~$150. Any of these options are cheaper, stronger, and more readily availble than RA gearsets available through Vendors.
Reasoning: While going this route requires a lot of work via the end user, the benefits of additional treatment will make them stronger than their pure RA cousins and at the same time cost less.

Honorable Mention: RA gears available through Vendors (~$1300) or PPG 1/2 + OEM 3/4/5 (~$1600).
Best Gears for 300WHP and up and hard core drag racers: PPG gears. While not much data is available for the "better" gear sets, PPG stands alone as the only gear set that doesn't have any reports of broken gears. That isn't to say that users will have great success with PAR, Kaaz, etc., but they have all had their share of broken gears.
Reasoning: Based on tremendous amounts of research here and the MRT tranny forums (probably the best transmission resource available), PPG seems to be the king of gears that someone might be able to afford.
7/10/09
2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca: Ugly or Not?

Okay, Subaru fans…listen up! Do you think that the all new B9 Tribeca is a beautiful vehicle or is it an ugly duckling? As for me, I have mixed feelings. This particular SUV certainly doesn’t look like any other Subaru, nor does it easily get confused with any other SUV on the market. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; let’s take a look at what sets the B9 Tribeca apart from the pack.
The first time I saw Subaru’s new entry up close I first thought it was Porsche’s Cayenne. No, the vehicles don’t look alike, but the B9 Tribeca evoked a similar response for me: like the Cayenne, it represents a major departure from all other models. For example, the B9 Tribeca offers the following:# 5 or 7 passenger seating. This is the first Subaru built that will seat more than five adults.
# Big prices: The B9’s base price starts at about $32K.
# Side curtain airbags for front seating passengers and second seating passengers [except for the person stuck in the middle seat]
# All wheel drive, but you knew that already.
# A plush interior. Subaru says that leather trimmed upholstery is available as are heated seats, rear cabin air conditioning, and a sliding glass moon roof.
The B9 is built on a stretched Outback platform and at 66.4 inches it is the tallest vehicle made be Subaru. Oddly, it shares the same 3.0L V6 engine as the Outback, so one can only wonder how hard it will work with 7 passengers onboard navigating steep hills and rounding corners?
I searched far and wide for the reason behind the name B9 Tribeca and found nothing definitive. One auto critic contended that the B9 part of the name came from a previous concept car that was shown by Subaru at car shows, while two reports say that the Tribeca part of the name is from the area of New York City that is the TRIangle BEneath CAnal Street neighborhood of Manhattan. Other than the vehicle being built in Indiana, there isn’t any relevancy in the name. One may think that the B9 portion of the name will prove to be more of a nuisance to remember as consumers have a difficult enough time remembering some two syllable model names, let alone two words.
7/7/09
The Legendary Sports Car - The Jaguar E-type
One of the most popular sports cars from the 1960s is the Jaguar E-type, which was manufactured in between the years 1961 and 1974. The car, which is sometimes known as the Jaguar XK-E, has ranked high on many sports car lists, because it was unique, powerful, and certainly ahead of its time. The cars were sold for over 14 years, and coupled with a low price, this lead to over 70,000 E-types sold.
Over the years there were three different versions of the car released. In the beginning, the car was designed to be a race car. However, it gradually turned into a sports car and was first shown to the public in Switzerland in 1961 as a car for long trips and as a convertible. The public immediately enjoyed the car, most likely due to its shape. The aerodynamic shape of the car was unique for its time and highly influenced other sports cars that came after it.
When the car was introduced in the United States, it was shown in its gold color and was accompanied by a popular actress named Marilyn Hanold.
For a car released in 1961, the power was also unheard of. There were four wheel disc brakes, which was only found on race cars at the time, a double overhead cam engine, and completely independent rear suspension. The price at the time was only $5,600, which proved the Jaguar E-type to be a great deal.
In 1969, the second version of the car was released. New features included open headlights without glass covers and a better cooling system. The car now offered an air conditioning and power steering options, while the car seats were designed to be more comfortable. The interior and dashboard also experienced a redesign, as new American health and safety regulations had to be met. The second series of the E-type lasted on three years, but that was because the third version was released in 1971.
An upgraded Jaguar V12 engine was used in the third design of the car. This also came with better brakes and standard power steering. The third series of the Jaguar E-type also had its own unique look, with a front grill and a V12 badge on the rear. The car's wheel arches were also different.
This was the last series of the E-type, as the Jaguar XJ-S attempted to replace the car in 1975. Most can agree that the car did not pass the legendary status of the Jaguar E-type.
To this day, the Jaguar E-type is considered to be one of the best sports car ever built. It's truly a popular coupe, as it is still shown on the cover of some car magazines. The car hasn't slowed down in recent years either, as many E-types are sold online, ranging in price from $10,000 to $60,000. Fans of the original might even be interested in the current Jaguar model, the XK8, which is regarded by many fans as being the spiritual successor to the legendary sports car.
7/6/09
Young Driver Car Insurance - What Type of Car Insurance Policy is Best For Young Drivers?

Young driver car insurance is something that most teenagers and young adults should have but what are the best ways for you to lower your monthly payments to a level that is best manageable so that you can afford to drive your car and still afford to buy your first car insurance policy? This is a lot for someone to think about is specially with her 19 years old, paying their way through college and also trying to juggle payments for a new car and getting their automobile insured. When trying to get a great auto insurance policy at the lowest price possible there are a few factors that one would need to take into consideration.
The first thing you should consider when getting the car insurance is what type of car you have or what kind of car do you want to buy. We all know that 19 year olds want the flashiest, fastest and the sexiest cars that are out on the market. This is especially true if you are a teenage male trying to impress the ladies, but remember, with a flashy car that has lots of force power also comes a high-priced car insurance policy. Car insurance companies know that when you have a car that is very powerful you are going to drive it very fast and very recklessly and when this happens you are more likely to get into a car accident than someone who has a car that is not flashy and just wants to get from point A to point B.
The next factor you should take into consideration is what type of car insurance policy you want for your car. There are a few major types of policies for you to consider. The first one is called third-party car theft insurance. This type of insurance is a very basic one and the converse your vehicle in case it is stolen or if you damage someone's property while you are driving your insured car. If you really want to protect yourself fully then you probably want to get a full comprehensive car insurance policy and this covers you for everything that the third-party car theft insurance policy covers you for plus it covers you fully in case you get into an accident.
7/5/09
Sports Cars
From powerful purring beauties like the Mercedes Benz SLK 350 to thundering thrillers like the Ford Mustang V-8, you can choose a sports car that matches your personality. In fact, sports cars are as much about personality as they are about performance – smooth aerodynamic bodies of carbon fiber, chrome pipes and fittings, rich leather upholstery, wide wheels, shiny wooden panels and snazzy paint jobs.
Different brands of sports cars adopt different principles of design. Some cars may be light in order to achieve greater acceleration, others may boast of extremely powerful engines for better car handling and performance, while still others may stress safety and comfort rather than style. The majority of contemporary sports cars have front-wheel drives as opposed to rear-wheel drives, which were more common in the earlier generation of sports cars. Many cars also have the engine in the center, driving the rear wheels, which is unique to sports cars. In these cars, the engine is placed behind the driver, at the middle of the chassis. Porsche is the only sports car that has the engine mounted at the rear, driving the rear wheels. This aspect is a crucial part of car design, as it affects the maneuverability or handling of the car, which is critical at high speeds.
The most well known brands today are Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Triumph. Companies which manufacture other cars also make some sports models; prominent among these are Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Nissan. Today, the design and manufacture of sports cars is becoming more specialized and competitive, with newer, more attractive designs and a higher degree of technical sophistication being utilized.
The World's Fastest Sports Car
Many things go into making a car a sports car, but chief among the factors that separate standard autos from sports cars is speed. Speed is not the sole measurement by which a sports car can or should be judged, but great acceleration and top end speed are factors that are always considered by sports car enthusiasts. While there are cars that can reach 60 mph quicker, the overall fastest production sports car in the world is the McLaren F1.
The McLaren holds all known records for speed among publicly available, street legal sports cars. Its 6.1liter V12 engine (which was designed by BMW) provides an awesome 627 bhp. To put that number in perspective, 627 bhp is more than double the power output of the engine found in one of the world's most famous sports cars, the Astin Martin DB5.
Various sources have tested the McLaren F1. All have been able to push the vehicle to speeds in excess of 230 miles per hour. Some have reached speeds over 240 miles per hour in the F1.
The world's fastest sports car is quick off the line, too. It can go from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in only 3.1 seconds, an amazing clip. It took only slightly more than 6 seconds for the car to achieve 100 mile per hour rates from a dead stop. The McLaren F1's body was constructed from carbon fibers; an automotive innovation and it boasted gull-wings similar to the Lamborghini Countach and Delorean DMC12.
The F1 was originally offered in 1993. Production seems to have stopped in 1998. According to one noted source, only around 100 McLaren F1's were ever produced-and only 65 were designed for road use, making it not only the fastest sports car ever, but one of the most rare, as well. It is considered among the most exotic of all exotic sports cars.
The 100 F1's in existence are sure to fetch more than their original price tag if offered for sale today. That is of particular interest because the McLaren F1 was not cheap to begin with. The limited production sports car listed at one million dollars new. The car's seats were custom molded to fit their owner's physique perfectly and every purchaser was given a custom made Tag Hueur watch engraved with the F1's chassis number. Purchasers were also rewarded with a gold-plated titanium tool kit. As of the late 1990s, there were only seven F1's in the United States, two of which were maintained in Ralph Lauren's private collection.
The McLaren F1 is a notable sports car for a variety of reasons. It's rare nature, high cost, unique story, construction innovations and gorgeous design alone would make it a noteworthy piece of automotive history. When one also considers the massive power supplied by the V12 power plant and the resulting acceleration and speed, the McLaren F1 is elevated to the status of legend.
7/4/09
Car Audio and Video - Travel Entertainment at Its Finest
7/2/09
Toyota Shows Off Space Concept Vehicle

People have certainly been asking if the Toyota Auris Space Concept vehicle is going to be the very next Toyota Corolla that holds five doors. However, it looks like it would only be up to the auto parts Toyota creator to define if they are really planning on making this concept become a real production vehicle.
If you do take a look at the Toyota Auris Space Concept, you would think that the vehicle simply outstanding. It may not have the same kind of flair that you would find in most concept vehicles but this one still does stand out. You can say though that it looks like a Toyota Vitz or a Toyota Yaris. And according to the company, they had created the Toyota Auris Space Concept so as to be able to show off and inform the people about the new type of design that they are calling the “Vibrant Clarity”.
Many people have mistaken the concept vehicle to be a Toyota Yaris based vehicle. After all, it really does seem to show that it is a Yaris in nature, especially if you do take a good look at it from its front end. Some have even said that perhaps Toyota did not find the right type of inspiration to make a concept car so instead the company just took out a Toyota Yaris and put in new headlamps as well as a different grille. And the result came out to be the Toyota Auris Space Concept. However, it could only be the company who could answer such a speculation.According to some experts, they did find the Toyota Auris Space Concept’s overhangs to be quite okay. They were actually created to be short which helped make the vehicle quite unique in its exterior. Aside from the overhangs, the Toyota Auris Space Concept also has got wheels that measure a good nineteen inches. The brake calipers are also quite pronounced which give quite an outstanding overall effect for the vehicle. If this one does go into production, we all would do have to wait and see just how great this one does.
As a former news correspondent for an auto-related website, Stacey has gathered extensive knowledge and experience in the automotive industry. This 34 year old mother of two from Memphis is a genuine car lover. Want more information? Check this out
7/1/09
Saturn Aura: Concept Car No More

This is a concept car from the Saturn Corporation. A mid-sized sedan, this is the future vehicle Saturn Aura. Starting this summer, the production of the Saturn Aura would commence. This sedan would then be built on a long wheelbase that shares the same chassis with other vehicles such as the Pontiac G6, the Chevrolet Malibu, the Saab 9-3, and the Opel Vectra. Designed through the collective efforts of Ryan Vaughan, Tim Kozub, and Ed Welburn, the Saturn Aura would be making its debut this summer for sure and would be the start of the Saturn line of vehicles’ dramatic change in style and power.
This concept car from Saturn was introduced to the public this January. This vehicle has been specifically designed so as to replace the Saturn L-Series. The Saturn Aura uses the Epsilon platform, yet this platform is also used by other vehicles that are quite affiliated with General Motors, as listed above. With this long Epsilon wheelbase, the Saturn Aura would be sporting ample legroom for a sedan in the midsize division. This vehicle would also sport 19-inch chrome wheels, along with a new front end, and the very distinct grille that is found on each and every Saturn vehicle since the Saturn Aura is no exception. This vehicle also will hold and feature a four-paneled panoramic glass roof which is very much unlike the glass roof that comes with the Pontiac G6. As per the Saturn Aura’s interior, Dave Rand, General Motor’s executive director of interiors claims, “The interior of the Saturn Aura epitomizes GM’s global design approach to brand revitalization. Seven GM Design studios from around the world used technology that allowed them to contribute to product designs that will make up Saturn’s new portfolio. The result is seamless connectivity between the interior and exterior.”
This mid-sized sedan is made to be top of the line and is expected to boast around 250 horsepower with the 3.6 liter DOHC V6 engine from General Motors. More likely, a five-speed automatic would also be used for this one. It will also feature a variety of standard features for safety that could include electronic stability control, side airbags and head curtain airbags. It has a European influence as per its exterior and a character that makes it fun to drive. Also, the exterior of the Saturn Aura is considered to be fluid, muscular, and very powerful. It holds bold projector beams with trapezoidal headlamps. These are flanked by a new rendition of the Saturn chrome bar. Its front end has a distinctive mesh grille and circular fog lamps. Helping in cooling the engine compartment are horizontal hood extractors also punctuate the concept’s styling up front.