The BMW 6 series was relaunched in 2004 with the BMW 645i. This car was a two door, four passenger luxury sports car. This car is ideal for a sports car enthusiast who would prefer a larger, more practical car compared to the 650's 2 passenger, lighter peers. In 2006, BMW upgraded the 645i to a 650i by increasing the engine a little. When including options and taxes, the 650i tends to run at about $80,000, so it's not exactly cheap. Here are the pros and cons of the car:
Pros
Amazing handling: The car is amazing to drive. When you drive the car, you feel as if you have total control over the vehicle. A car such as the Mercedes CLS (also priced near $80k) just cannot match this car's handling. The BMW 650i definitely has the handling one would expect from a German-made luxury sports car.
Gadgets: The BMW 650i comes with BMW's Idrive, an all-encompassing electronic system. The Idrive controls the navigation system, music, air conditioning, as well as communication system. The Idrive also has voice command, making it easy to use when driving. Some believe the Idrive is a bit difficult to operate. That's hogwash. Within two weeks of owning the car, anyone competent enough to use a computer or a DVD should be able to operate the Idrive flawlessly. The Idrive is the gadget-lover's ultimate car toy.
Interior: The interior of the 650i is beautiful. It has modern, classy feel to it. Your taller passengers will certainly appreciate being seated in the front though, as the back is not exactly spacious.
Acceleration: With a V8 and 360 hp, the car isn't exactly going to be outrun by a Civic. The acceleration and amazing breaks can also help you get out of accidents that other cars wouldn't be able to avoid.
Cons
Reliability: Expect to make stops at the service center every now and then. While it is a wonderful car, it is prone to electronic and tire issues.
Price: At about $80,000, it's not exactly in the everyman's budget. But if you are willing to spend this much money on a car, the 650i is definitely a good one to check out.FreeWebSubmission.com
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Hybrid Cars
There are many reasons why people should drive electric hybrid cars. They are safer for the environment than gasoline engines. They also are more fuel efficient, and cost less money to operate than a gasoline powered car. However, they also cost a little more to purchase than a similar gasoline powered car, and because they are so new it is hard to find any inexpensive used models. They also do not burn less fuel when being operated at highway speeds. Since the biggest consumers of gas and the biggest polluters are tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles, the use of electric hybrid cars will make only a small dent in cleaning up the environment.
It is frequently advertised that electric hybrid cars are good for the environment. This is because they use less gasoline than regular combustion engines. They emit far less pollution than a regular car because at least part of the time they run on electricity which is a much cleaner form of energy than gasoline. If everyone drove an electric hybrid car, the environment would be a much cleaner place. Problems like smog and the hole in the ozone layer could be fixed.
Hybrid cars are also good for the environment not only because they are preventing pollution, but because they are using up less of our natural resources. It has been shown that if we continue to use oil at the rate we are presently using it, it will not be long before there is no oil left. However, with electric hybrid cars we can use less oil. In this way electric hybrid cars conserve our natural resources and prevent an oil shortage from occurring.
Another good reason to drive an electric hybrid car is because they can save their drivers a lot of money. Electric hybrid cars use far less fuel than gasoline powered engines. Their owners save money because they do not need to buy gas as much. The cars produce their own electricity. The cars operate on a combination of gas and electricity. When the motor is being powered by electricity it is not burning gas. Owners of hybrid cars can spend half as much or more on gas as people who own similarly sized gasoline powered cars. This is a very big selling point at this point in time because gas prices keep getting more expensive.
There are several reasons why not everyone is running out and buying electric hybrid cars even though they sound so great. At the present time, these cars cost a little more than similarly sized gasoline cars. For most people, price is very important when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. Many cannot afford to buy a new car, and buy used cars instead. Since electric hybrid cars are a relatively new invention there are very few used ones available, and most of those are not very inexpensive. Right now, there are not many choices available to buyers of hybrid cars. Those who desire minivans, SUVs, or pickup trucks need to buy gasoline powered cars for now until hybrid versions of these vehicles become available.
While it may seem that the use of electric hybrid cars could really clean up the environment, there are a few things that people need to be aware of. At present the hybrid cars that are available are better on gas and better on the environment only when they are being driven in town or at a slower rate of speed. The technology that exists at present has not produced a car than can run solely on electricity at highway speeds. This means that when a hybrid car is driven at sixty miles per hour it is running on gasoline and burning just as much fuel as an ordinary gasoline powered engine. Also the technology has not yet produced a hybrid engine suitable for tractor trailers or other large commercial vehicles which represent some of the biggest polluters and consumers of gas.
If every family owned just one electric hybrid vehicle it could significantly help the environment by creating less pollution and using less gasoline. Families who can afford these cars can save themselves money on gasoline. However, this technology is new and there are still several areas in which the hybrid car can be improved so that it could have an even bigger positive impact on the environment and the people who drive them.
Exotic Sports Cars - What You Should Know, Before Spending Any Money!
Before we start, let's define the term 'super exotic sports cars'. Sports cars, by definition are borderline racing cars; boasting powerful performance and sleek looks. Their prestige makes them expensive, and thus the domain of a select few. With reference to sports cars, the term “exotic” refers to vehicles produced in very limited numbers. This of course increases their exclusivity and by virtue of this, their value. Exotic sports cars will, in all likelihood, be built by smaller manufacturers or perhaps the super high-end vehicles will be created by some of the better-known car companies outside of the United States, as exclusive models.
Many exotic sports cars are the stuff of legend. The world’s fastest car, the McLaren F1, for instance is a well-known exotic. Although only around one hundred F1s were produced and the manufacturer is not a household name (outside of the Grand Prix circuits of course), the McLarens are coveted sports cars. All exotic sports cars are highly sought after and, as status symbols, are second to none in the sports car world.
But, assuming that you can afford it, is an exotic sports car for you?
It is easy to be seduced by the allure of owning an exotic sports car. Owning one can be very tempting. Amongst the purists, the cars themselves are often considered the pinnacle of design. Any enthusiast who has the means will tell you that when an opportunity to invest in an exotic sports car presents itself, resistance can be very difficult.
One should try and be objective about the proposition though.
Before making such a major commitment, there are three factors you should consider.
Exotic Sports Cars Are Very Expense
The cost of owning such a prestigious car, does not end when you part with the initial payment. Even if one can afford the initial asking price of an exotic (and not many can), one needs to be aware of the likely ongoing running expenses , which can be significant. The maintenance and repair of an exotic car is certain to be expensive compared to non-exotic vehicles and a buyer should attempt to discover what kind of costs he or she is likely to experience in order to keep the car in running order. There can be no cost cutting on parts for these high end vehicles.
Parts for prestige cars are likely to be in short supply, if they are available at all. The likelihood that the owners of exotic sports cars will need to have some parts custom made during their ownership of the vehicle is quite high. And the cost will be significant. This is especially true of older exotics, many of which will have been orphaned when their original manufacturer stopped making cars. Not only will this prove extremely expensive, one can also expect it to be time consuming as well. And, as time passes, the necessary investment will only become greater.
Your usual mechanic cannot be expected to be able to repair exotic sports cars. You will need specialised mechanics with specialised tools to be able to ensure that appropriate and professional repairs are carried out. Not only will such individuals be, in all probability much more expensive than your usual mechanics, you would be very fortunate if you found one in your town. You should expect to have to do a lot of traveling in order to find suitable mechanical help.
All too often a sports car buff will purchase an exotic, without though to the ongoing costs, and, as a consequence be completely unprepared to handle additional future expenses. A thorough planning of expected costs and the means to meet those costs would certainly be in order.
Reliability Of High End Vehicles
Even though an exotic sports car may represent the ultimate in performance, One cannot assume that it will also be reliable. This will hold particularly true for the older 'classic' exotic cars. As with any high performance machine, exotic sports cars can be quite delicate (temperamental) which will, in all probability, require that you, or someone close to you be regularly on hand to make the adjustments to ensure that the vehicle stays in operating order. Exotic sports cars are well known for the spectacular side of their performance when they running well. However, the other side of the coin is that they are notorious for being among the most temperamental of vehicles that one may encounter.
If you plan to run an exotic sports car on a regular basis, you should be prepared for the highs and los of motoring. The sublime feeling of driving a top car with top performance can often be forgotten if the same car stops and refuses to start many miles from any assistance.
The Drivability of Exotic Cars
Most owners of high performance cars will tell you that such vehicles take 'some getting used too'. Optimum performance comes at a price, and will depend very largely on the skill of the driver. So, if you are relatively inexperienced, then please do not expect to get the best out of your car straight away. This in itself could prove too frustrating for many potentials owners. One should also take into account the relative risk of driving a high performance cars whilst still inexperienced.
For those to whom the additional cost of time in learning to drive a prestige car optimally and safely is not an issue, an additional, problem arises in the adjustment of seats and pedals for example. Small things that are irrelevant in normal cars take on much greater significance when applied to exotic sports cars.
When considering the purchase of an exotic sports car, one must look past the romance and excitement of owning a legendary vehicle. There are real concerns and obstacles to be overcome before the full enjoyment and benefit of owning such a car can be achieved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)