Which Car?

Friday, September 7, 2012

Diesel saving tips

Fuel Quality

We have noticed that not all fuels are equal and you do seem to get what you pay for. Cheap (supermarket) fuel gives worst economy and rougher running, whereas premium fuels like Shell Extra or V Power, and/or adding a Diesel additive, will give smoother running, better performance and reduced fuel consumption.
You may pay more at the pump, but it is likely that you'll get a better return on your mileage.

Tyres and Tyre Pressure

Wider tyres offer more rolling resistance than narrow tyres, so whilst they may improve the cornering and handling of the vehicle you are paying a price just to push the rubber over the road. Just like fuel, you get what you pay for with tyres too, cheaper tyres are likely to adversely affect your fuel economy. One key factor you do have control over is your tyre pressures - check them regularly and keep them correct or even 1 or 2 psi higher (but do not exceed the manufacturers high speed /full load pressure).

Driving Style

Remember you are driving a DIESEL not a petrol engine! Diesels should be driven to use the low down torque , most diesels product their maximum torque at just 2000 rpm, and above 3000 rpm it may drop off quite steeply. In Normal driving change up at around 2000 rpm. Also remember that it is a turbo-diesel and that below about 1400 rpm the turbo is not doing much so the diesel is in effect not a turbo and is much less efficient. By all means tootle along with the revs below 1400 rpm on a light throttle, but if you need to accelerate drop a gear to use the turbo.

Observation and Anticipation

You'd be amazed just how much fuel you can save by reading the road way ahead. For example in my Discovery TD6 I can take my foot of the throttle a quarter of a mile before a roundabout on a dual carriage way without a problem - that's 1/4 mile of free driving! Anticipate entering a roundabout so you can slot in without stopping. Don't drive close behind the vehicle in front and have to brake every time they do - the extra space is your 'coasting' space where you can slow without braking. Learn do drive smoothly round bends without braking and accelerating - it is actually quicker and more economical. Racing lines, turn in points, clipping points and so on are not just for racers!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Hybrid Toyota for 2012 Le Mans - SuperSport - Motorsport

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Which Car? 2011 Ferrari California?

Feature, Price & Picture of 2011 FERRARI CALIFORNIA

2011 FERRARI CALIFORNIA(NEW FERRARI CONVERTIBLE)

MSRP: $192,000- $192,000

The 2011 California is a 2-door, 4-passenger luxury convertible, available in one trim only, the Convertible GT.Upon introduction, the California is equipped with a standard 4.3-liter, V8, 453-

horsepower engine that achieves 13-mpg in the city and 19-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard.The 2011 California is a carryover from 2010.

Source:http://autos.yahoo.com

Monday, September 19, 2011

Which Car? Honda Odyssey? Looking hot for a minivan?

My family owned the previous generation of the Honda Odyssey and I ‘m a bit of experienced in driving.
The 2005 model was a good vehicle, but there was no denying it was a minivan in the way it looked and felt.
But, the Odyssey has undergone quite a journey since then, with a complete overhaul for 2011.
My first impressions of the work of Honda engineers is nothing but positive.

2012 Honda Odyssey

They deserve kudos for making a minivan that really doesn't drive like one and looks pretty darn good.
Standing next to the redesigned Odyssey, I found myself being able to look at the van's roof at eye level, something I definitely was not able to do with the previous generation.
While I thought they had made the Odyssey shorter, The Honda in fact just made it sit lower to the ground.
It has the added benefit of making entry and exit much easier for passengers. In fact, it feels just like getting in and out of a car.
But the "car" has room for seven passengers and my tester was loaded with just about every bell and whistle you could think of.
The Honda Odyssey comes in five trims, starting with the LX at $29,999 and goes to $46,990 for the top-of-the-line Touring model I tested.
For that price, you get a luxurious family mover that is sure to make everyone happy.
It comes loaded with plenty of good features to make driving it easier, including a rear-view camera, Bluetooth mobile phone interface, fourwheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and a parking sensor system.
Some of the many convenience items include driver's seat with eight-way power adjustment, passenger's seat with four-way power adjustment, heated front seats, power sliding doors, power tailgate, 115-volt power outlet, automatic day/night rear-view mirror, leather-trimmed interior, a power moonroof with tilt feature, 18-inch alloy wheels and auto-levelling high-intensity discharge headlights.
The Touring is the only model where you can get what is perhaps one of the nicest DVD entertainment systems I've seen in a vehicle. Honda's DVD Ultrawide Rear Entertainment System features a 16.2-inch display, which takes up more than half of the Odyssey's ceiling. Coupled with the 650-watt audio system that has 12 speakers -including subwoofer - and you have a seriously fun entertainment package.
IT’S DESIGN
Because of being a minivan, you might be shocked to hear this, but the Honda Odyssey looks darn good from just about every angle.
The new, wider front grille, narrowed headlights and reshaped bumper make the Odyssey look wider - which it in fact is.
Perhaps the best angle of the fourth-generation Odyssey is the profile shot.
It's got a distinctive wedge shape and the beltline that raises front to back enhances that look.
I also liked the handle treatment, which sees them indented somewhat, meaning they don't stick out as much as on previous generations.
At the back, wraparound taillights are joined across the tailgate by a chrome bar, making it look like one piece.
The spoiler at the top of the rear door also adds a sporty touch.
Inside, the Odyssey has also received many upgrades, including an improved gauge cluster and a much nicer centre stack, which is now split into several well-divided tiers that make operation easier.
At the top of the stack is the large display, followed immediately by controls for the ventilation system - and there are separate controls for the rear system.
The third tier has all your radio controls, as well as the control for the i-MID (intelligent Multi-Information Display.
The last piece of the centre stack is the shifter, which is something that has become fairly standard in minivans these days.
IT’S PERFORMANCE
The entire Odyssey lineup is powered by the same 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 that offers 248 horsepower and 250 foot-pounds of torque.
All trims except the Touring are equipped with a five speed automatic transmission, but the Touring gets a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Honda says the Touring consumes fuel at a rate of 10.9 litres per 100 kilometers in the city and 7.1 L/100 km on the highway. The other trims are rated at 11.7 L/100 km city and 7.2 L/100 km highway.
The sixth gear makes a huge difference on fuel efficiency, but also on how well the Odyssey drives.
That fuel efficiency is also helped by Honda's Variable Cylinder Management system, which shuts down half the engine's cylinders when they are not needed for power.
When the system is activated, the only way the driver knows is by the ECO indicator that lights up in the dash.
DRIVING/UTILITY
I never thought I would say this, but I actually had fun driving a minivan.
The Odyssey is quite nimble for a vehicle of its size and it's easy to forget you are driving a minivan since its feel and driving characteristics are more in line with a car.
Acceleration off the line is excellent, corners can be taken with alacrity - something not all minivans can handle - and the ride is extremely smooth even on some of the bumpiest roads.
Of course, being a minivan, there is room for seven passengers and access to the rear-most bench is fairly easy.
And there is 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space available behind the rear bench, an amount that increases considerably with the easy stowage of one or both halves of the rear seats.
The Odyssey has been a popular model for Honda for some time and the newest generation should only enhance its popularity. It offers plenty of room, good cargo space, an excellent ride and it looks really good.
It's hard to make a minivan look good, but Honda designers have figured it out.