2006 Volvo C70 Coupe / Convertible

It was the introduction of the C70 in 1997 that cracked the conservative, stodgy mold of Volvo's character. If there were any pieces of that mold clinging after almost a decade of fresh product releases, the 2006 Volvo C70 has left them in its dust.

Base priced, including destination charge, at $39,405 with the six-speed manual transmission and $40,655 with the five-speed automatic, the new-generation midsize C70 will make its appearance in showrooms this spring. This four-seater coupe/convertible cranks up charisma with a slick new form highlighted by a retractable hardtop that allows it to change personality in seconds. The C70's edge is its "two-cars-in-one" appeal, offering the advantages of both a sleek, precise-fit hardtop and open-air convertible.

With a touch of the button the three-piece top begins its show, splitting apart to fold into the trunk, than out again - operations accomplished in about 30 seconds in each direction. With out the top up, the trunk provides a relatively spacious 12.8-cubic-foot storage capacity. When the top makes its home in the trunk, storage is reduced to 6 cubic feet.

Body styling is clean and sophisticated, a bit understated and definitely recognizable as a Volvo - featuring traditional cues such as a short front overhang, subtly rounded corners and strong shoulders.

In terms of exterior dimensions, the 2006 model is about the same width, but 5.4 inches shorter in length and with a 1-inch shorter wheelbase. It sits lower and has a slightly shorter nose that Volvo touts creates a more powerful and athletic look.

In sync with its more muscular appearance is a potent powertrain and a balanced performance character, making the C70 exciting to drive. Power is sent to the front wheels via a T5 2.5 liter inline-five-cylinder engine. Boosted by a light pressure turbo, this powerplant delivers 218 horsepower and 236 foot-pounds of torque. With the manual transmission, its 0-60-mph time is 7.6 seconds.

Well-planted wheels, Dynamic Stability and Traction control, and on-center steering contribute to high-speed agility. Traction comes via 235/45/17 tires wrapping aluminum wheels with forked spokes. Eighteen-inch wheels and 235/40/18-V Rated tires are a $995 option.

The T5 is offered with a choice the two aforementioned transmission mates - a six-speed manual and a five-speed automatic with "Auto-Stick" manual shifting mode. Shifting the real manual is a slippery operation, great for those liking sophistication over notchy, traditional sports car feedback. The auto transmission slips into manual mode with a right tap of the lever into a vertical slot. Moving the lever forward upshits and backward downshifts. Driving the C70 on twisty roads and hilly terrain, the "Auto-Stick" feature was greatly appreciated.

The leather-grip shift lever is planted in the lower slop of a trim, refined-looking brushed-aluminum-accented center control panel. The steering wheel is leather covered, with an attractive aluminum strip lining the underside of the upper arc. The steering grip, enhanced by bulges, has a substantial feel.

Leather seats are an option that comes as part of a $1,395 Premium Package. Eight-way power adjustability on driver and front-passenger seats is standard. The front buckets are aggressively bolstered and supportive to provide comfort for long-term driving. Headrests are large, padded and contoured for excellent support.
Safety has always been the key feature for Volvo cars and the Volvo C70 is no different. Rollover protection system, Whiplash Protection System, front, door, rear side bags with Side Impact Protection System are all safety enhanced systems for the C70.

2006 Dodge Magnum RT Review

The new Magnum is a great looking car that will get your neighbors talking as you rumble around the block. The unique styling of the Magnum will also attract muscle car group in the form of 18-22 year old guys pointing for their friends to “check that out”. And a few people will approach you as you are filling up the gas tank to ask, “Does it really have a Hemi?”, with only a vague notion that it somehow makes the car better.

The Magnum is offered with many different engine sizes (either a 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder) with your choice of horsepower output of 190, 250, 340 and 425. The price of the vehicle also corresponds with the engine size starting at $30,345 to the expensive STR-8 model for $37,320. A big part of the mystique around this car is the Hemi engine. The Hemi is short for hemispherical combustion chamber, which creates more efficient fuel burning and allows larger valves for better airflow. Basically, it produces more power than an engine with its displacement would normally produce. (There are also drawbacks to the Hemi, which is why it isn’t the only engine that Chrysler produces).

The interior of the car looks much more expensive than you’d expect for the price of the Magnum. Since Mercedes bought Chrysler, the Dodge vehicles I’ve sampled have had a sharp improvement in interior quality. While on the road, the car is very solid and the seats are comfortable even on long highway runs.

As much as I like the looks, after driving it a while I really have to question the design concept that the Magnum offers. It is a station wagon built to transport a lot of people and a lot of stuff. But mating this with a powerful engine with the taught racing-like suspension is uncomfortable for both. It is like having a Corvette tow a small trailer, and you are in the trailer and the Corvette driver is 15 years-old, pushing the car to its limits. (Only an actual Corvette has a much more comfortable suspension than the Magnum). Even driving on smooth roads, the steering is very darty and difficult to control. And with a large car, all that weaving and road feedback is exaggerated for the passengers and everything you’ve stored in the back.

I like having a navigation system, but figuring out how to use it with the steering wheel controls made me frequently refer to the user’s manual. In spite of the high horsepower and low-end torque I played with when starting from a full stop, the RT model I drove averaged 20 MPG on the highway.

What I presume to be the target market for this car, those 18-22 year-old guys that I mentioned, will probably love this car. And as much as I love driving sports cars, the darty steering and sharp suspension make it too uncomfortable without any spectacular payoff. The 0-60 sprint is fun for a little while, but I’d pass on buying a Magnum as a daily driving vehicle.

by: Andrew Kier

2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Review

Whenever a carmaker launches a new coupe, it is not unusual that a convertible version arrives shortly thereafter. Usually, the convertible models are pleasant but ultimately not as complete a packages as the hardtop version, but in the case of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder the opposite is true.

For some odd reason, Mitsubishi has made the Spyder a much nicer car than its coupe siblings. Just take a look at the Eclipse's styling, for example. The Coupe's sporty roofline, distinctive face, and rounded, bulgy haunches are positives, however, the backside is large and totally at odds with rest of the car.

In convertible form, the canvas roof extends several inches beyond the coupe's roofline, giving the Spyder a stubbier and tidier rear end. It also looks wider and squatter overall, while its topless shape also highlights the neat design of the doors and the sporty rake of the windshield. It is just so much more visually arresting and elegant than the coupe, regardless of whether the top is up or down.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder's interior is essentially the same as the coupe. The rear seats in both coupe and convertible derivatives are something of an afterthought, so much so that Mitsubishi did not bother to put headrests in the back of the Spyder. And the engineers even stuck an 8-inch subwoofer in the middle of the rear seatback. It is part of an impressive 650W six-CD Rockford Fosgate system that is included with every Eclipse Spyder and is just another example of how there seems to be more love in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder than the hardtop.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder's roof is solid and slick. Top comes down in at about 19 seconds. Two windshield rail latches have to be released before the roof can be folded away electrically. Roof-up wind noise is well suppressed, though there is still a bit of tire noise. Even with the windows wound all the way down and driving along at highway speeds, the interior remains relatively calm and free from buffeting.

On the move, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder's chassis is evident in not only the virtual elimination of cowl shake, but also in the way the car feels. At 3,472 pounds the four-cylinder convertible is about 200 pounds heavier than the coupe, but its 162 horsepower, 2.4 liter engine doesn't struggle as you might expect and compensates for its lack of power by revving happily and sipping gas sparingly in the process.
The six-speed, 260 horsepower, 3.8 liter V-6 is best avoided because a fidgety suspension and excessive torque steer makes it too much work to drive even with moderate enthusiasm. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder's steering does not offer enough feedback but at least it is reasonably quick.

Body control and rider quality is impressive on the 2.4 liter model too, while the five-speed manual gearbox is light and precise.
At $25,389 for the 2.4 liter and $28,269 for the V-6, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is not cheap but it somehow feels better value than the coupe because it is so much more desirable.

2006 Toyota Camry Review

So you want a Toyota Camry? That’s an excellent choice. The Toyota Camry has been one of the highest rated mid sized cars of all time. Its safety ratings are all excellent, and the comfort this car provides is remarkable for the price. The Toyota Camry is perfect for the average family.

Here’s what the different models of the Toyota Camry offers:

Entry Level Standard Toyota Camry:

The entry level standard includes such features as power locks, power windows, cruise control, a CD player, but the options for the entry level standard are very limited.

The Toyota Camry LE
With the Toyota Camry LE, you get options added from the standard such as keyless entry, a power driver seat, and color-keyed external mirrors.
The SE

The Toyota Camry SE is equipped with similar features if the LE. A few of the features that set the LE off from the SE are: interior trim, the upholstery, suspension (sport tuned), larger, allow wheels, a sporty rear spoiler, fog lamps, and the front grille.

The Toyota Camry XLE
One more step up and you have some of the latest vehicle technologies including climate control, a dimmed rearview mirror for driving during the night, a larger, more powerful audio system, and leather seating.

The Safety Aspect
On every Toyota Camry model, anti-lock breaks are standard, though side airbags are still an option. The Toyota Camry earned a five start front impact protection rating by the NHTSA crash test. For front occupant protection, the Toyota Camry earned four stars, and was rated three stars for rear impact.

Toyota Camry Key Specifications:
Standard Engine
2.4L I4
Standard Transmission
5 Speed Manual
4 Cylinders
Horsepower @ RPM
154@5700
Torque @ RPM
160@4000

The Pros
The Toyota Camry provides a large amount of room.
Has a reputation of being a very quiet ride.
Number of Safety features
Number of luxurious features
Resale value is good
Reliable reputation

The Cons
Vehicle is considered more expensive than the wrest of its competitors.
Lack of power

by: Aaron Brandon

Top 10 Ways to Prevent Auto Theft

Every 27 seconds, another vehicle is stolen. More than 1 million motor vehicles will be stolen this year. Is it just a matter of time before you become a victim of auto theft? Not necessarily, if you follow these 10 auto theft prevention tips:
1. Install an antitheft device
2. Never leave your car running or leave the keys in the ignition when it is unattended
3. Keep your car door locked at all times
4. If you have a garage, park your car inside and lock the garage door
5. Don't store packages or valuables in plain sight
6. Park your car in a safe, well-lit, or well-traveled area at night
7. Have your vehicle identification number (VIN) etched into the windows and major parts of your car to make your car harder to resell on the black market
8. When you park on the street, turn your wheels toward the curb, use the emergency brake, and try to park between other cars (this will make it harder for a thief to tow it)
9. Avoid parking your car in a long-term parking lot
10. Take out any removable electronic devices (e.g. CD player) when you leave your car

Radiator of Automobile

In automobiles with a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine a radiator is connected to channels running through the engine and cylinder head, through which a liquid (coolant) is pumped. This liquid is typically a half-and-half mixture of water and ethylene glycol or propylene glycol (with a small amount of corrosion inhibitor) known as antifreeze.
The radiator transfers the heat from the fluid inside to the air outside, thereby cooling the engine. Radiators are generally mounted in a position where they will receive airflow from the forward movement of the vehicle, such as behind the grill. Where engines are rear- or mid-mounted, it's usually still necessary to mount the radiator behind the front grill, so as to achieve sufficient airflow, even though this requires long coolant pipes.

Lubricant

Motor oil, or engine oil, is an oil used for lubrication of various internal combustion engines. While the main function is to lubricate moving parts, motor oil also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing and cools the engine by carrying heat away from the moving parts. The majority of motor oils are derived from petroleum. Motor oil mostly consists of hydrocarbons, organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen, and carbon.
Motor oil is a lubricant used in internal combustion engines. These include motor or road vehicles such as cars and motorcycles, heavier vehicles such as buses and commercial vehicles, non-road vehicles such as go-karts, snowmobiles, boats (fixed engine installations and outboards), lawn mowers, large agricultural and construction equipment, trains and aircraft, and static engines such as electrical generators. In engines there are parts which move very closely against each other causing friction which wastes otherwise useful power by converting the energy to heat. Contact between moving surfaces also wears away those parts, which could lead to lower efficiency and degradation of the motor. This increases fuel consumption and decreases power output and can, in extreme cases, lead to total engine failure.
Lubricating oil creates a separating film between surfaces of adjacent moving parts to minimize direct contact between them, decreasing friction, wear, and production of excessive heat, thus protecting the engine. Motor oil also carries away heat from moving parts, which is important because materials tend to become softer and less abrasion-resistant at high temperatures. Some engines have an additional oil cooler for this purpose.