The Second Biggest Purchase

Last week I started the process of shopping for a new car…gulp…this also means a fond farewell to Black Betty*

OK it wasn’t that daunting; actually it was quite an enjoyable process.  Especially if the man in your life is an avid car connoisseur and thoroughly enjoys the entire process…that helped.

 Pulling up to these multi level mega glass structures was a little overwhelming, especially when you’re accosted the moment you step through the automatic doors by eager beaver sales reps who all want a little piece of you.  That being said we were prepared for this and booked appointments ahead of time to avoid “the lions”.

TIP: If you take anything from this blog post, let it be known that a strong recommendation from a friend, colleague or family member is the best way to start the process of finding the right sales representative to work with.  I was fortunate to have met three great car salesmen (yes all men…that’s an interesting observation that I will come back to).

Now let me go back to my first impression of each dealership and compare it to that of “The Hollywood Squares” (you remember that cheesy game show with celebs giving a TRUE or FALSE answer to lame quirky questions to form a Tic Tac Toe?)  Anyway instead of Gilbert Gottfried, Whoopie Goldberg or Penn and Teller in each square, I saw 4 wheels, chrome and sunroofs and all calling out “Buy me, buy me, buy me!”

Deep breath.  Enter. 

Rob and I did a lot of research before I even got behind the wheel of any car; do I finance or lease, new or pre-owned, what are the rates based on 36 or 6o months, how many kilometres do I drive/year, what is the residual at the end of a finance term, front/rear/all wheel drive, horse power, torque and not to mention the laundry list of extras and options…all for a mere $1,600-$2,000/package.  Having this knowledge was what kept me on track and focused during my search and not to mention the help and guidance of a good sales representative.

Each sales rep offered their own “pitch” on their product and why I should be behind their wheel over any other, but there definitely were some things that I appreciated more from one rep over others.  Were they listening to my needs, were they addressing me vs. Rob only and were they considerate to my level of knowledge?  This is the second biggest purchase I have ever made, not to mention the most unfamiliar.  Therefore having Gilbert really take the time to get to know me and put together great options to chose from truly made my decision that much easier.

One big observation and in my second life, I’m coming back as a car saleswoman!  There seems to be a very large, untapped market out there for women who want to succeed in the automotive biz.  All you need to do is brush up on your “car skills”, have a genuine interest in the product you’re selling, know your competition and be able to close a deal…seems pretty simple doesn’t it?  By no means am I taking away from the dudes selling cars, I just think that if majority of car buyers are men and families, why wouldn’t a knowledgeable woman be able to succeed?  Put her in a sharp suit, some clickity clack shoes and have her talking torque and horsepower and see how well she does!!

To summarize I took three cars out for “spins” and one really stood out:  The BMW 128i coupe in titanium silver and black leatherette…yummmmy, this car has power, style and just enough bells and whistles to bring a smile to my face…and not to mention 230hp, heated seats and steering wheel, sunroof and top rated for customer satisfaction. 

I sell homes.  One of the biggest purchases that you will ever make and I know how imperative it is to have the guidance and knowledge of  a friendly, knowledgeable and devoted Real Estate Agent.  With this experience fresh in my mind, I have harboured a strong perception of what consumers want and expect in a sales person…no matter the size of the purchase.

*Black Betty,  2004 SAAB 9-3…thanks for the ride.

Cheers,

Amy

[Via http://amywilliamsonrealestate.wordpress.com]

Audi Car

Audi Hybrid Car

Source audi.com

Audi A1, whole new dimension to the compact class this summer. It is dynamic and high quality, emotional and individual. The agile chassis and powerful engines make the A1 the sportiest car in the segment.

Thanks to its compact dimensions, it is very agile and nimble in city traffic and offers a high degree of everyday utility.

Audi A8 Hybrid Vehicle concept It is equipped with Audi’s fully developed

• Turbocharged,
• Direct-injection 2-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine, linked to a 33-kilowatt electric motor (or 44 horsepower) via a wet clutch.
• The A8 Hybrid Vehicles makes combined power equivalent to 245 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, which is good for a zero-to-60 mile per hour time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 146 miles per hour.
• Conversely, it is also capable of sipping fuel at rate of just 38 miles per gallon. It can also travel on electric power alone, at speeds up to 40 miles per hour, for about a mile and a half.

Audi A1 etron, The Audi A1 e-tron is a Mega City Vehicle (MCV) with an innovative drive technology. It comes equipped with a powerful electric motor for zero-emission driving in the city. There is also an internal combustion engine on board that recharges the battery in exceptional circumstances. The A1 e-tron is very agile thanks to the 102 hp peak power of its electric motor.

• The first e-tron, which debuted at the 2009 IAA in Frankfurt/Main, is a near-series high-performance sports car with electric motors for all four wheels.
• The A1 e-tron now presents another approach – a compact electric car in the premium class. The four-passenger, two-door MCV city car. The Audi A1 e-tron always drives on electric power; its internal combustion engine is only used to recharge the battery in isolated cases.
• The precise interaction of the components, their intelligent packaging, and the efficient management of the current flows are the product of the expertise that the company has developed in this area. The objective is to use the energy with the lowest possible losses.
• Behind the three e-tron models is a broadly diverse and modular technology platform that continues to grow very rapidly as Audi drives development forward.

[Via http://autodirect.wordpress.com]

Our ideal S4 Avant would look something like this

We love us some BBS RGRs with machined lips. Now it just needs a flat-bottom steering wheel from the Audi performance parts bin (spendy upgrade, but well worth it in our book), and maybe the front bumper from the S4’s optional DTM package, and it’s pretty much good to go, lookswise— these cars don’t need much in that department.

Images: jonnysundell

[Via http://bulgogibrothers.wordpress.com]

Horchaus to import Europe-only Audis to North America

Horchaus, the Canadian distributor for MTM, has been given permission by Audi to import Europe-only Audis into North America. The cars in question are the RS4 Avant, RS4 Convertible, S3, RS6 and RS6 Avant, Q7 V12 TDI and TT RS.

These models were intended for European consumption only, due to the North American market not really liking most of these products, though the RS4 Avant just didn’t get its rear-mounted battery to pass DOT certification.

Because of MTM’s connection in this, you can have your car of choice tuned before it is delivered. For instance, you could go berserk and instead of an RS6 Avant, go straight for the MTM RS6 R (Our Tuned Car of the Year runner-up). 735 hp in a station wagon. You know you like the sound of that.

The pricing looks like a bargain as well. Converting from Euros to dollars, the RS6 costs $150,000 in Europe. However, Horchaus is selling it for just $107,600. That’s not a very big discount compared to this: Supposedly Horchaus can sell you an R8 V10 for just $98,000: roughly half-price of what it costs in a dealership here. Sounds a bit fishy to me.

Nonetheless, it’s something to be excited about. Except that it might not be. While the RS4s shouldn’t have a problem getting through safety regulations and such, the RS6s haven’t been tested. They’ll need to get through tests to be imported here, so we’ll have to wait and see how that goes. Despite this though, some RS6s have already been imported into both Canada and the US. Hopefully it’ll end well and we can finally get our hands on some of those brilliant German masterpieces that Europe’s had for ages now.

Source: IEDEI via Autoblog

[Via http://theblogofcars.wordpress.com]

Minimizate jajaj k wenoo :p

Rafa M. Mora

Los minicoches SMART:

Que pronto tendrán que usarse en el mundo por la crisis económica…….

Pero miren todos las "nuevas elecciones" que estarán disponibles de los Smart cars….

El Smorvette! (hijo del Corvette)

The Smaudi A3 (Hijo del Audi)

The Smamborghini! (hijo de un Lamborginni)

The Smorsche! (Hijo del Porsche)

The Smerrari! (hijo del Ferrari)

Pero finalmente, para no quedarnos detrás en el ahorro energético,
tan..taran..tan..tan!!

El Mini Rociero

No te rías leche que esto es serio..

[Via http://thefrem.wordpress.com]

Confira as principais atrações do Salão de Genebra

O Salão de Genebra tem início no dia 04 de março e, com o fantasma da crise financeira mundial cada vez mais apagado, o evento conta com um bom número de lançamentos de peso. Alguns deles você confere abaixo.

Novo Kia Sportage:

imagem: divulgação

A nova geração do SUV Sportage marca a nova identidade visual da Kia e concorre com modelos como o VW Tiguan. O coreano divide plataforma com o ix35, da Hyundai.

Audi A1:

imagem: divulgação

A nova onda de compactos urbanos como o Fiat 500, Mini Cooper, Smart e Citroën DS3, fez com que a Audi buscasse a sua fatia nesse nicho de mercado. Eis a missão do A1.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid:

imagem: divulgação

O modelo da Porsche conta com o KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), sistema que foi utilizado na temporada 2009 de F-1. A diferença é que nesse sistema, além da energia gerada na frenagem, a energia do esterço da direção também será acumulada, gerando até 81cv a mais de desempenho para o esportivo de corrida.

A primeira corrida do bólido serão as clássicas 24h de Nürburgring, em maio.

imagem: divulgação

fonte: webmotors

[Via http://autoreport.wordpress.com]

Seen on the Ring

More cars we like (some of our very favorites here), courtesy of nordschleifenfan…

Cayman S:

Does this really need any introduction? Rolling on BBS LMs:

One of the top two or three most heralded FWD performance cars at the moment:

So aggressive and muscular, but going about it rather quietly (which we like), the weird color on this particular car notwithstanding:

We’re big fans of these:

This is a pretty rare sighting for the Ring (we think):

[Via http://bulgogibrothers.wordpress.com]

Why do we need group B back

This is a Lancia Delta, however it isn’t what you think when you think Lancia delta do you.

Oh no you think of this

This

The Delta Integrale took Lancia’s run-of-the-mill hatchback and turned it into something memorable, we owe all of this awesomeness to Group B. The Group B regulations fostered some of the quickest, most powerful and sublime rally cars ever built. However, a series of major accidents, some fatal, were blamed on their outright speed.

Group B regulations also said that 200 road legal models had to be sold to the public, this rule gave birth to some of the best cars including the totally awesome Audi Quattro and the Ford RS200.   Even Porsche had a go with the 959.

That's a car everybody could love

The thing is  cars can do fast so much better than they could do when Group B was removed from the championship, The technology has advanced considerably and cars are now safer.  Imagine the possibilities if we brought Group B back from the dead, it could also be a tribute for all of those who gave their lives behind the wheel.

source: Wikipedia

[Via http://theblogofcars.wordpress.com]

New R8 Spyder

Bad color, but the car is growing on me. (pictures from the team at  Automotive Addicts)

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[Via http://2autocritics.com]

2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet

When the luxurious four ringed German automaker introduced the all new Audi A5 complete with sleek styling and a sporty fastback coupe character thanks to its stretched mid section and its elongated lines the world took notice. So it was only a matter of time before they decided to drop the top and come up with the most attractive Audi Cabriolet of all time. The new Audi A5 Cabriolet was such a good new car design; featuring the fastest folding rag top in its segment, taking only 15 seconds to be stowed away and can even operate at speeds of up to 30 MPH, and not to mention that the Audi Acoustic Roof technology gives the new A5 Cabriolet interior noise levels on par with a hard top. That the folks back in the motherland decided to effectively use it to replace the smaller A4 based convertible, for good.

The model we were fortunate enough to become familiar with was a well equipped Ibis White 2010 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI FWD Multitronic Cabriolet set off by a Brown Roof and slightly sweeter Cinnamon brown interior. The combination of Xenon charged headlamps and LED driving lights and rear clusters ensured that we would clearly see the road ahead as well as being seen by everyone around us. On the inside we enjoyed such creature as Bluetooth hands free connectivity while sitting snugly inside the ventilated and heated sport buckets wrapped in perforated milano leather and get a little extra help from the large colorful LCD navigation display with built in back up camera that also controls the Audi Multi Media Interface (MMI).

Powered by a combination of forward thinking and fuel efficient turbocharging and direct injection, the 2.0 Liter TFSI four cylinder produced a total of 211 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque being routed to the 18 inch 15 spoke rollers via Audi’s FrontTrak front wheel drive Multitronic CVT transaxle to a top speed of 130 MPH while returning an estimated 23 MPG in the city and as much as 30 MPG on the highway all starting at $42,000 and climbing up to a nicely equipped $51,525.

[Via http://autowheel.wordpress.com]

Don’t Surrender to The Ecofascists

I, like so many others that I know, enjoy watching Super Bowl commercials.  Although most are forgettable, there are always one or two that stick in my mind.  This year, Audi’s “Green Police” was the most memorable and controversial of the day.  It has captured the attention of many conservatives like Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, Senator Obenshain, and fellow bloggers such as SWAC Girl, and Virginia Virtucon.  I suppose if you didn’t watch the game (or was using the bathroom during the commercial), you should see it for yourself.  For the record, for those who don’t know, the theme for the commercial is a rewording of the song “Dream Police” by Cheap Trick.

In a recent email, the Attorney General calls the spot, “eco-funny…or not-so-funny”.  As Senator Obenshain puts it, the ad “would be funny if had been a little more farfetched”.  In recent years environmentalists have been getting more and more vocal and they are now relying on the government to enact their agenda.  From cap and trade, to the upcoming banning of incandescent light bulbs, to the regulation of thermostats in new homes in California, the green movement continues to flex their political muscles.  No longer simply content to “live in harmony with mother nature and her creatures”, some have become increasing radical, forcing their neighbors to adopt their lifestyles choices as well.  Such tactics mirror the fascist movements of the 1930s, and, like it’s historical predecessor, I fear that a police force designated to enforce this code of ethics can’t be too far behind.  Going through a person’s trash and spying on their activities in their own homes and yards without a warrant is not only an invasion of privacy, it is a clear indication of a police state, not a free society.  Although my critics will declare me to be an alarmist, without any safeguards, we will one day have a green police.  It will happen, and it will happen within our lifetimes.

Although Audi might think differently, after watching this ad, all I can say is “green has never felt so wrong”.

[Via http://virginiaconservative.wordpress.com]

Audi A4 Car Leasing Deals From £209 + VAT

HelpFindMeA.co.uk locates another Audi car leasing deal in the UK. The German’s popular brand, the Audi A4 can be leased from as little as £209 + VAT with 12 initial payments upfront. Initial payments are the number of down payments made on a car lease. The 1st payment for the Audi A4 Business Contract Hire is therefore £2508 + VAT followed by 35 payments of £209 + VAT. The rest of the balance is spread across the remaining months of the contract hire.

The most popular business contract hire terms are 24 months and 36 months. Alternative initial payments are available and HelpFindMeA.co.uk does one thing no other leasing comparison site does. We use your desired initial payments and convert all the adverts to match your criteria. This gives you an estimated price in which the leasing company may be able to achieve if you make direct contact with them.

HelpFindMeA.co.uk also displays running costs, technical & standard specification of the lease car. Personal contract hire offers are also available.

Save money and compare UK’s best car leasing offers @ HelpFindMeA.co.uk.

[Via http://helpfindmea.wordpress.com]

Super Bowl Ads

So with the nearest Super Bowl party 90 minutes away, I lamed out and watched Lost instead, catching a glimpse of the game and falling asleep just as the Colts put 10 points on the Saints at the end of the first quarter. And of course the first thing i did when I woke up this morning was start watching the ads. Some of them are 60 seconds of art genius.

Being the liberal left-learning environmentalist with hard-hitting conservative views, this ad was my favourite:

Closely followed by the beautiful simplicity of this.

You can watch them all here. Or go to the reviews that I read first by my friend-who-don’t-know-at-all-but-read-his-blog-a-lot, Brett.

[Via http://keepfishing.wordpress.com]

VW and Audi purchase Super Bowl Ads

Volkswagen and Audi have both signed up for Super Bowl commercial spots this year. It’s the third year in a row for Audi of America, but it marks the return of Volkswagen of America after eleven years of absence.

Audi’s previous ads included the ‘Godfather’ inspired R8 commercial and last year’s ad featured Jason Statham driving an A6. This year’s ad is going to spotlight the A3 TDI Clean Diesel and emphasize the green aspects of the vehicle. Volkswagen’s spot will be focused on a game of ‘Punch Buggy’, but instead of just the Beetle, kids in the commerical will be playing whenever they see a new VW. The commercial will showcase almost the entire VW model line-up and the goal is to create an understanding amongst U.S. consumers that VW sells much more than just Beetles.

The ads will only be aired in the U.S., but we can always watch them on Youtube the day after the game.

[Via http://crosbyauto.wordpress.com]

Tips for parents of a teenage driver

Don’t rely solely on driver education.

High school driver education may be the most convenient way to learn driving skills, but it doesn’t always produce safer drivers. Parents also should set good examples when they drive while reinforcing the lessons their teens learned in drivers ed.
Restrict night driving.

Most nighttime fatal crashes among young drivers occur between 9 p.m. and midnight, so you can reduce their risk of a crash by restricting nighttime driving after 9 p.m. The problem isn’t just that late-night driving requires more skill. Outings late at night tend to be recreational. In these circumstances, even teens who usually follow all the rules can easily be distracted or encouraged to take risks.
Restrict passengers.

Teen passengers in a vehicle can distract a beginning driver and/or lead to greater risk-taking. Because young drivers often transport their friends, there’s a teen passenger problem as well as a teen driver problem. In 2003, 59 percent of teenage passenger deaths occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. While night driving with passengers is particularly lethal, many fatal crashes with teen passengers occur during the day. The best policy is to restrict teen passengers, especially multiple teens, all the time.
Supervise practice driving.

Take an active role in helping your teenager learn how to drive. Plan a series of practice sessions in a wide variety of situations, including night driving. Give beginners time to work up to challenges like driving in heavy traffic or on the freeway. Supervised practice should be spread over at least six months and continue even after a teenager graduates from a learner’s permit to a restricted or full license.
Remember you are a role model.

New drivers learn a lot by example, so practice safe driving. Teens who have crashes and violations often have parents with poor driving records.
Require safety belt use.

Don’t assume that seat belt use when you’re in the car with your 16-year-old means belts will be used all the time, especially when your child is out with peers. Remember that belt use is lower among teenagers than older people. Insist on belts all the time.
Prohibit driving after drinking.

Make it clear that it’s illegal and highly dangerous for a teenager to drive after drinking alcohol or using any other drug. While alcohol isn’t a factor in most crashes of 16-year-old drivers, even small amounts of alcohol will impair teens.
Choose vehicles for safety, not image.

Teenagers should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and offer protection in case they do crash. For example, small cars don’t offer the best protection in a crash. Avoid cars with performance images that might encourage speeding. Also, be mindful that certain vehicles with a higher center of gravity may be more prone to roll over.

(Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Launching New Window , 2003; other sources credited within article).

http://www.progressive.com//vehicle-resources/teen-driving-parent-tips.aspx

Longmont Kia

Toll Free (888) 894-8644

[Via http://longmontkia.wordpress.com]

Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron Concept Unveiled

Dubbed simply (and oddly) ‘Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron’, Audi has revealed a new variant of its upcoming e-tron all-electric sports car.

While Audi has confirmed that around 1000 e-trons will be built to order, it has offered no firm details on whether this latest variant will follow the earlier e-tron into production.

With its more traditional coupe styling, the Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron sets itself apart from the ‘regular’ e-tron by utilising just two electric motors instead of four, powering the rear wheels only.

The combined output of the two electric motors making 150kW and 2650Nm of torque (although Audi has chosen to measure the total combined torque of its e-tron cars at the wheels, making the actual figure closer to 200-300Nm), the new e-tron concept is designed for a 0-100km/h sprint of just 5.9 seconds.

Top speed is limited to 200km/h, and thanks to the instant torque delivered by the electric motors, it will run from 60 to 120km/h in just 5.1 seconds.

Weighing in at 1350kg, the DSA e-tron maintains a 40:60 weight distribution thanks to the 400kg lithium-ion battery pack sitting fore of the rear wheels.

Keeping weight down, the Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron is built with Audi’s Space Frame technology, combining aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced composites.

According to Audi, the latest e-tron variant will cover a range of 250km before needing a recharge. A full recharge is achieved in 11 hours.

An electro-mechanical brake system allows better energy recovery, with a hydraulic fixed caliper brake mounted on the front axle and two electrically actuated floating caliper brakes mounted at the rear axle.

The floating calipers are actuated by wire rather than any mechnical or hydraulic mechanism, eliminating friction loss from residual slip when the brakes are not in use.

As a result of their isolation from the brake pedal, the the e-tron’s electric motors are able to convert all of their deceleration energy into electric current, recovering it for additional power.

Like the e-tron concept before it, this new e-tron variant sits on 19-inch, 35-spoke wheels, shod with 235/35 tyres at the front and 255/35 tyres at the rear.

With the unveiling of this new Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron, it remains to be seen which of its electric sports cars Audi will put into production, or whether the newer technology shown in this new variant will make it into the limited run of 1000 built-to-order cars.

[Via http://vehiclez.wordpress.com]

Pet safety Traveling Tips

Look for services that cater to pet owners.
Pet-friendly hotels make it easier than ever to bring pets with you on the road. Many offer amenities such as pet sitting, dog walking and even pet-pampering spa treatments. Do research ahead of time to find the perfect hotel that fits your needs. Be sure to ask about their policies — for instance, many hotels require your pet to be on a leash at all times and never be left unattended in the room.

Also, check with your car insurance company to see if your pets are covered. With Progressive’s Pet Injury coverage, your dog and cats are covered — at no extra charge — if they’re hurt in a car accident and your Progressive policy has Collision coverage.

Get your pets used to the car and make them feel comfortable.
Often, the only time pets ride in the car is when they’re visiting the vet or groomer — so they may not always associate a car ride with positive feelings and may even be afraid to ride in the car. Teach them instead that car rides can be fun by taking them for short road trips to a dog park, a friend’s house for a play date, or just to a new place to take a long walk.

If your pet’s anxiety persists, consider over-the-counter products that can help reduce stress and anxiety.

If you plan to keep your pet in a travel crate while riding in the car, it’s important that you familiarize your pet with its crate by having it rest inside the crate around the house — the more familiar pets are with their surroundings, the more comfortable and secure they’ll be once inside the car.

Some pets tend to get car sick. Try not to feed them for a few of hours before the trip.

Make sure your pet has proper identification.
Just in case he or she gets lost while traveling, you want to be sure your pet is wearing up-to-date ID tags. The most important thing that needs to be listed on the tag is an emergency contact phone number, but it’s also a good idea to mention if you’ll offer a reward if someone returns your pet to you or if your pet needs any medication.

Prepare a doggie bag.
A pet travel pack is a great way to make sure you’re prepared for anything — and is something that can remain stocked, so it’s ready to go with you at a moment’s notice. Make sure it contains cleanup supplies, a towel or bed to serve as a comfortable resting place, portable feeding/watering bowls, food and water, a pet first aid kit, and lots and lots of toys to keep pets busy and well behaved!
To Keep Tails Wagging in the Passenger Seat

Restrain your pets for safe car travel.
Free to paw their way around the car, unrestrained pets can be a distraction to drivers and can get injured if the car makes a sudden stop or is involved in an accident, even if it’s just a fender bender. Secure your pet in a crate or with a harness to keep it safe.

Don’t let your pets ride with their heads out of the window.
While most dogs love to hang their heads out of the car window and feel the wind in their fur, it’s best not to indulge them. They can easily be injured by debris flying into their eyes.

Never leave your pets unsupervised in the car.
Just like people, dogs and cats are susceptible to heat stroke — even if it isn’t that hot outside or the car windows are left open — and can even be stolen. Make sure you know where your pet is at all times.

http://www.progressive.com/vehicle-resources/pet-safety.aspx

Longmont Kia

Toll Free (888) 894-8644

[Via http://longmontkia.wordpress.com]

Assorted grab bag of stuff we like

No further commentary necessary, so let’s get right to it.

All photos via tcl.

[Via http://bulgogibrothers.wordpress.com]